Chapter 217
"This champion has not yet come into direct contact with the dragon! Let me take this opportunity to remind everyone—the goal is to retrieve the golden egg behind it!"
Ludo Bagman's voice echoed across the arena.
Hermione, seated high in the circular stands, let out a long breath and pressed a hand to her chest.
That meant the champions didn't necessarily have to fight the dragon head-on.
"I knew it," Ron muttered, relaxing slightly. "No way they'd make them fight dragons directly."
Then he added, half under his breath,
"Still… it'd be great if that dragon dealt with him quickly. I'd gladly campaign for better food in the Great Hall in return—just like someone here campaigns for house-elf rights."
"Don't joke about that," Hermione snapped, glaring at him.
"Look! That champion's movements are… strange!" Bagman's voice rang out again.
"What is he doing? Walking straight toward it? That can't be a good idea!"
On the field, Draco Malfoy advanced step by step toward the massive silver-blue dragon.
The creature didn't seem to notice him.
It yawned lazily, blue sparks flickering from its nostrils.
"It seems this battle may take some time to begin!" Bagman continued energetically. "Allow me to introduce the species—this is the Swedish Short-Snout! Native to Sweden!"
He paused briefly, then went on.
"In terms of brute force, it may be slightly less aggressive than the Hungarian Horntail—but its flames are among the most dangerous of all! Did you see that blue fire just now? It can reduce wood and bone to ash in an instant!"
In the stands, Narcissa Malfoy covered her mouth, her eyes wide with fear.
The pride she had felt earlier was gone—replaced entirely by anxiety.
Beside her, Lucius Malfoy placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, offering silent reassurance.
Below, Malfoy continued forward.
Perhaps because of his light steps, the dragon remained unaware—its eyes closing again as it drifted into a shallow sleep, guarding the golden egg behind it.
Why hasn't it started yet? Bagman thought irritably.
Then he remembered—he had placed a large bet on Malfoy.
Regaining his composure, he resumed his commentary.
"Observe the dragon's thick scales and hide—like all dragons, it possesses tremendous defense and magical resistance! Ordinary spells struggle to penetrate its skin! And the Swedish Short-Snout excels even among dragons—its hide is highly prized for magical equipment!"
Then suddenly—
"He's casting a spell!"
The entire arena tensed.
Pansy Parkinson clutched her clothes tightly, her thoughts spiraling.
Don't lie to me… if you get hurt… if you end up like me… who will take care of whom…?
For a fleeting second, an absurd thought crossed her mind—
If both of us were crippled…
She shook her head violently, forcing it away.
On the field, Malfoy was now less than fifty feet from the dragon.
At that distance, the beast could crush him in an instant.
He raised his wand.
"Shatter!"
The rock formation beside the dragon exploded violently, shards blasting outward.
The dragon did not immediately attack.
Instead, it spread its massive wings—shielding the golden egg.
A furious roar shook the arena.
This human had dared to threaten its treasure.
The dragon inhaled sharply—its abdomen swelling as it gathered power.
"Look at its eyes!" Bagman shouted. "Narrowed—that's a sign of extreme rage!"
Then—
it opened its jaws.
A torrent of blue fire burst forth.
The flames surged like a living beast, devouring everything in their path. Smoke and fire engulfed the arena's center.
For a moment, nothing could be seen.
The audience held their breath.
Then—
the smoke began to clear.
The ground was scorched black. Not a trace of life remained where the flames had passed.
"Seems your aim isn't very good."
Malfoy stood atop a stone block, completely unharmed.
At the last moment, he had read the dragon's movement—predicted the direction of the flames—and stepped aside with precise timing.
A simple dodge.
Nothing more.
The dragon roared again—this time with true fury.
Its dignity had been challenged.
It lashed its massive, spiked tail through the air—
"BOOM!"
The stone beneath Malfoy shattered instantly.
But he had already leapt aside, landing lightly to the right.
The tail didn't stop.
It continued sweeping outward—
straight toward the spectator stands.
"BOOM!"
The entire structure trembled.
Now—
everyone could truly feel the terrifying power of the dragon.