บท 17: Chapter 17
Chapter 17
FLEUR DELACOUR
Fleur walked towards the tent that had been erected for the champions. The roar of the crowd could be heard even at such a distance. She had received information about the task a couple of weeks ago. And suffice to say, she had been surprised.
Dragons.
Literal dragons. What were they even thinking? It was good that Fleur had been able to devise a strategy.
"Hello," she heard a very familiar voice. And she turned to see Edward walking towards her with his usual cheer. His face lacked even a hint of nervousness. She smiled as she waved to him.
"Hi," she waved as he joined her, and bother of them entered the tent.
"So, how are your preparation?" she asked him.
"Oh. They are just fine. How about you? Do you have a strategy in place?" She nodded. They had not discussed the task per se but had bounced strategies off each other over various scenarios.
"Yeah," she replied, though she was pretty nervous. And he probably felt that as his arm wrapped around her.
"Don't worry. You will be just fine," and he seemed more sure about her than herself. She felt a bit relieved seeing his confidence in her.
"OK! Everyone gather around. It is time for the first task!" came the voice as the tent's opening was flung open again. The representative from the ministry, along with Krum, walked in.
"Good. Good. The first task was about daring, and what speaks of daring more than FACING A DRAGON!" Mr. Bagman said with a cheer. The lack of surprise from Krum indicated that he had been informed about the task as well.
But if Mr. Bagman noted anything. He did not say as he continued.
"For your first task, each of you will have to get a treasure. A golden egg from a dragon." He explained animatedly.
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EDWARD WRIGHT
"Now, before further a due, each of you will pick a dragon from the bag. And then we can start."
And he put forward the bag in front of Fleur, who put her hand in and took out a greenish miniature dragon.
"The Chinese Fireball, a feisty little creature they are." He commented as he put it in front of Krum, who took out a rather pale-colored dragon nonchalantly.
"Common Welsh. It seems that you got lucky their, kid," he said as he placed the bag in front of me. I put my hand in and took out the only miniature dragon remaining in the bag. I pulled my hand out with a scaly black dragon in my hand. Its size was more significant than the other two, as it spews a torrent of fire from its mouth.
"The Hungarian Horntail. One of the deadliest dragons in the world." He commented ominously. Besides me, Fleur was looking at me a bit nervously.
"All right, that is it. When the bell rings, you will go in. First, Miss Fleur, followed by Krum, and Edward will be the last." He spoke up.
"Now I will leave you as I have to reach the box. Good luck to you all." He said as he rushed out of the tent.
"That was a bit unlucky. Will you be fine?" Fleur asked me, and I smiled in return.
"Don't worry about me. Focus. The bell could ring at any moment," I shrugged off her worry. I looked up at Krum and smiled as I spoke up.
"Good luck to you as well," I said.
"Thank you," he replied in his gruff tone as he also gave Fleur a nod.
TUNG.
The bell rang, and Fleur stood up, ready to leave, as I held her hand. Stopping her as I whispered lightly into her ears.
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HARRY POTTER
Harry watched from the stands as the first contestant walked into a massive cheer from the crowd. It was the girl from the French school. Fleur Delacour had already been famous amongst the boys due to her beauty, but after her duel, she had attained a very acclaimed status amongst the male population of the boys.
ROAR.
And his attention was drawn to another side of the arena where a Green dragon bellowed a colossal roar, shaking the whole stadium.
"It's a Chinese Fireball. They are only seen in China. The Ministry must have spent quite a sum to get one here," spoke up Hermione as she looked at the giant dragon.
"Would Norberta grow to such a size as well?" he questioned anxiously as he remembered the small dragon Hagrid had claimed as a pet.
"Of course not,"—Hermione said, and Harry was slightly relieved for some reason as he heard that.
"The Chinese Fireballs are smaller; she would grow to a much bigger size."
And the relief vanished into thin air.
'BEGIN.' Came the shout from the commentator box, and Harry saw the girl raise her wand as she pointed it at the golden egg.
Though nothing happened, Harry frowned.
"What just happened?" he asked Hermione.
"She just tried to summon it. But it seems there is some kind of spell on it. The egg can not be summoned. She will have to get it herself."
The Dragon while still having that massive chain, had now circled the Golden egg as it snarled towards the blonde.
The Girl waved her wand in an intricate manner and after some time a slew of lights began to shine out of her wand. And what followed the small burst of light was perhaps the most melodius tone Harry had ever heard.
The spell continued and Harry could feel even himself getting drowsy. And he was sitting quite far away from the arena.
"She is using enchantments and charms. Somehow she is enchanting her own voice!" Hermione commented in a wondrous tone. And Harry could see the sheer fascination in her eyes. But unlike that held by the hundreds of boys around him. This wasn't for the blonde orchestrating such a tone.
No, this was solely for the new magic Hermione had observed.
'Its fallen asleep. The dragon has fallen asleep!'
And Harry looked down and saw the dragon, whose eyes were now closed as it took periodic breaths. Though still coiled around the Golden egg.
Though it seems that this was exactly what the girl had planned, and she began to walk up to the dragon. Her steps were measured as she walked and Harry saw her scoop the egg.
The dragon had spewed a small flame from its nostrils, which she had avoided with a shield charm.
'she's got it. She has taken the egg!'
And then she got out of there with small and measured steps before rushing towards the tent.
RING.
The bell rang up once more. And the dragon keepers rushed in even though Harry thought it useless as the dragon was still slumbering away.
"She did well. She will probably get quite some marks with that performance." Hermione commented, and Harry could only nod. The performance had been quite perfect.
"Look. They are about to show her marks." Hermione said as she pointed towards the judge's booth.
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ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Albus smiled as he sat down once more. Fort-five marks was a good score. A well-deserved score for an excellent performance.
"That was an outstanding performance, I must say." He praised the French champion to her headmistress.
"Thank you, but I must say, Dumbledore, Igor is not being fair," she said with a frown, and Dumbledore just shook his head in dismay.
"I am afraid there is not much I can do about that."
And it was true. All judges were completely independent in making their decisions. So, while his score of seven from Igor was low. There wasn't much they could do.
"We shall see," and then he saw the second contestant walk into the arena. Viktor Krum walked in with his wand in his hand. The Welsh dragon snarled on the other side of the arena.
And Dumbledore shook his head as he saw Igor Kakaroff shouting encouragement for his champion.
BANG.
And the competition had begun. And he saw the boy raise his wand toward the approaching form of the dragon.
And the dragon would scream in agony and rage as a huge slash would be aimed at its eye.
ROAR. BANG. TRASH.
And due to the agony it would, the dragon would begin to thrash away as it let out huge swathes of fire around as its tail crashed into the golden egg itself. Demolishing it partly.
Dumbledore shook his head in disappointment as the dragon roared in pain once more. Viktor Krum was making his way toward the egg, showcasing the agility and senses of a professional seeker as he avoided the chaos around him.
'He has got the egg! Or at least what's left of it!' came the commentary, and now the kid was rushing back—running with all his might, without looking back.
A wrong move. As the dragon sent a ball of flame straight at his retreating back.
"AHHHHH!" The boy would scream in pain as the fire collided with his side. But it seemed that the boy had done enough as he crossed into the tent.
BANG.
'And Viktor Krum has run off with what appears to be crums of the Golden eff. BUT THAT WILL BE ENOUGH. HE HAS DONE IT! VIKTOR KRUM HAS COMPLETED THE FIRST CHALLENGE!'
"AHH! Such a show of courage. A true showing of courage!" Igor shouted up with mirth as the dragon keepers bombarded the Welsh Green with stunners to stop its rampage.
"Indeed. Indeed. A good showing from a star!" commented Ludo Bagman, and Dumbledore did not miss the scoff from Beauxbatons Headmistress at that.
"I believe that it is time to give out the marks," he cut in before this all could escalate, as he saw Krum coming back to the arena with Poppy by his side, casting spells on the burns the kid had received.
Dumbledore would step up first, and taking out his wand; he would send out a ribbon that would fly away as it would transform into a resounding eight.
A good score. But now he was getting a bit excited to see what Hogwarts champion would turn up with.
During all this, Harry Potter suddenly left the stands along with Hermione granger as they walked to a secluded area. However, they had not been alone and were accompanied by a dog. A black dog. The same dog who had roamed these grounds about a year ago.
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