章 234: Chapter 234: "The Dragons' Arrival"
The morning after the wand weighing ceremony, the Great Hall erupted into a frenzy of excitement as owls swooped in, delivering the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. The front page featured a large group photo of the champions, but it was Rita Skeeter's gossip column that truly set tongues wagging.
True to form, Skeeter had spun a sensational tale titled "Sibling Rivalry: The Dark Truth Behind the Potter Brothers." The article painted Charles as a jealous younger sibling, desperate to outshine his increasingly popular older brother.
"Sources close to the Potter family reveal that young Charles has long lived in the shadow of his prodigious brother, Hadrian," the article read. "With Hadrian's recent rise to fame as a dueling champion and now Hogwarts' true Triwizard contender, it seems Charles could no longer bear to be second best. In a desperate bid for attention, he somehow entered himself into the tournament, hoping to defeat his brother and reclaim his spot as the wizarding world's golden boy."
The piece went on to recount various fabricated incidents where Harry had allegedly outperformed Charles, each anecdote more outlandish than the last.
Harry, reading the article over breakfast, couldn't help but chuckle. Skeeter had heeded his warning, focusing her gossip-mongering on Charles instead. Satisfied, he passed the paper to Cedric, who let out a low whistle.
"Merlin's beard, Harry," Cedric said, shaking his head in disbelief. "This is some top-tier rubbish, even for Skeeter."
Roger, peering over Cedric's shoulder, snorted. "I particularly like the bit where Charles tried to transfigure your robes into clown suits out of spite but it backfired on him. I think I'd remember if that happened."
Harry leaned back, a wry smile playing on his lips. "You know, Rita's really not using her full talent here. She should have a go at writing fiction. With this imagination, she could be a bestseller in no time."
Reggy nodded in agreement, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "True that. Though given the current standard of wizarding literature, with Lockhart being a bestseller and all, she might already be considered a literary genius."
As they continued to dissect and laugh at the increasingly outlandish claims in the article, Harry couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Charles. He glanced over at the Gryffindor table, where his younger brother sat, red-faced and slumped over his breakfast, clearly trying to avoid the stares and whispers around him.
However, Harry's focus soon shifted to more pressing matters. Through his network of magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest, he had learned that the dragons for the first task had arrived. With the task only a few nights away, Harry decided it was time for a little adventure.
That evening, as the castle settled into its nightly routine, Harry gathered his friends - Cedric, Roger, Reggy, Angelina, Alicia, Arabella, and Elvinia. Under the cover of darkness and with liberal use of disillusionment charms, they slipped out of the castle and into the Forbidden Forest.
As they ventured deeper into the woods, excitement and nervousness crackled in the air like static electricity.
"Harry, are you really taking us to see dragons?" Angelina whispered, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and anticipation.
Harry nodded, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Yes and trust me, it'll be worth it."
Reggy looked skeptical, his face pale in the moonlight. "And you're sure we won't get caught? Or, you know, eaten?"
"Where's your sense of adventure, Reg?" Arabella teased, though her voice trembled slightly.
As they pressed on, the sound of distant roars grew louder. Suddenly, a burst of flame lit up the sky above the treetops, causing everyone to duck instinctively.
"Merlin's beard," Roger gasped, his voice a mix of awe and terror. "This is really happening."
They crept closer, hiding behind a thick cluster of trees at the edge of a large clearing. What they saw made their jaws drop in collective astonishment.
Four enormous dragons thrashed against their restraints, while a team of handlers struggled to maintain control. Sparks flew as spells collided with scales, and the air was thick with smoke and the handlers' shouts.
In the first enclosure, a Swedish Short-Snout paced restlessly. Its silvery-blue scales gleamed in the moonlight as it let out periodic bursts of brilliant blue flame, scorching the ground around it.
"Beautiful, but deadly," Angelina murmured, her voice barely audible over the dragon's roars.
Next to it, a Common Welsh Green thrashed against its chains. Its smooth green scales rippled as it moved, its long neck swaying as it snapped at any handler who dared come close.
The third enclosure housed a Chinese Fireball. Its scarlet scales and golden spikes around its face gave it a regal appearance, but there was nothing majestic about the way it spewed mushroom-shaped flames at its captors.
But it was the fourth enclosure that drew everyone's attention. The Hungarian Horntail, larger and more fearsome than the others, was a sight to behold. Its black scales seemed to absorb the light around it, and its bronze horns glinted menacingly. As they watched, it let out a roar that shook the very ground beneath their feet, following it up with a jet of flame that nearly engulfed one of the handlers.
Harry's friends turned to him, their faces a mix of awe and terror.
"I've seen dragons before," Harry explained, his voice low and calm. "On a vacation to one of the dragon reserves. But they were nothing like this. There, the dragons were calm, happy to rest in their caves. These... they're agitated. The trip to Hogwarts has clearly put them in a foul mood."
Reggy nodded, his analytical mind working overtime. "Makes sense. They've been displaced from their territory, probably separated from their normal food sources. No wonder they're irritable."
They continued to watch as the handlers struggled to maintain control. Despite their best efforts, the dragons seemed determined to make their displeasure known.
As they prepared to leave, Harry's eyes were drawn back to the Horntail. Even though according to the canon, the fourth champion, Charles, should get the Horntail, looking at the beast nearly burning one of the caretakers, Harry had a feeling that he was fated to face this particular dragon. However, instead of being worried, Harry felt a surge of excitement. He couldn't wait to test his skills against such a formidable opponent.
"Harry?" Cedric asked, noticing his friend's intense gaze. "What is it?"
Harry shook his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips. "Just thinking about how exhilarating it would be to face the dragon."
Cedric wiped sweat from his brow, looking at Harry as if he'd gone mad. "Only you, Harry. I'm glad I wasn't chosen as champion. I wouldn't want to face that beast."
Reggy, always the analytical one, studied the dragons closely. "They're all females," he observed. "And nesting mothers by the look of it. That's why they're so ferocious."
Elvinia turned to Harry, horror dawning on her face. "You're not telling me you have to fight one of these?"
Before Harry could respond, Reggy shook his head. "No, that can't be it. There's no way 17-year-olds could take on a dragon in direct combat. It's more likely you'll have to steal something from them. Probably an egg."
The group watched for a while longer, wincing each time a handler narrowly avoided a jet of flame or a sweeping tail.
"We should head back," Harry finally said. "We've seen enough."
As they made their way back to the castle, the roars of the dragons echoed behind them, a constant reminder of the challenge that lay ahead. The first task was no longer an abstract challenge – it was a very real, very dangerous ordeal.
Cedric clapped Harry on the shoulder, his face set with determination. "Whatever you have to do, mate, we're here to help you prepare."
The others nodded in agreement, their faces a mix of determination and concern.
Harry's eyes gleamed with confidence. "Don't worry, guys. I already knew about the dragon, remember? I have an amazing plan already in mind. Just wait for the show."
As they snuck back into the castle, Harry's mind was already racing with possibilities. He had a plan, one that would not only complete the task but also showcase his abilities in a way that would leave everyone astounded. The first task couldn't come soon enough.
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