Finally, the day of the First Task arrived.
Behind the arena, the four champions waited inside the tent. Harry paced back and forth, every roar from outside tightening his stomach.
Cedric stood near the entrance, occasionally peering through the flap. Fleur sat clutching her wand, trying to look calm. Krum remained silent in a corner, expression unreadable.
Nobody spoke.
Then the canvas flap moved slightly. Two heads peeked inside.
"No professors," Hermione whispered.
Victor checked over her shoulder, making sure neither McGonagall nor Bagman was nearby. Then they slipped inside.
Harry looked up. "Hermione? Victor? What are you doing here?"
"Wishing you luck," Hermione said, hurrying over.
Victor looked Harry up and down. "You look like you're about to faint."
Harry gave a weak laugh. "I might."
"Trust yourself. That's the most important thing. Start doubting yourself out there and you've already lost."
"I've been practicing the Summoning Charm every night."
"Good." Victor folded his arms. "Then stop worrying about beating the dragon. Your job isn't to defeat it. Your goal is the egg. Keep that in your head."
Harry took a breath. "Right."
Hermione smiled. "You can do this."
Before anyone could say another word, the tent flap was thrown open. A bright flash exploded in the room.
A witch in acid-green robes swept inside, followed by a nervous photographer with a large camera.
Rita Skeeter.
"Wonderful!" Her Quick-Quotes Quill was already scribbling furiously in midair. Her sharp eyes darted around the tent before settling on Victor and Hermione.
"Well, well. A Malfoy and a Muggle-born visiting the youngest Triwizard Champion." A sly smile spread across her face. "Should I be writing about the Tournament, or is there a rather more interesting story here?"
The photographer raised his camera. Flash.
"Tell me, Miss Granger, are you and young Mr. Malfoy becoming... close?"
Hermione's cheeks reddened. "What? No!"
"Oh, teenage friendships, house rivalries, forbidden romances — my readers simply adore that sort of thing."
Victor looked at her with complete indifference. "Your imagination is impressive."
Rita smiled wider. "I'll take that as a 'no comment.'"
"No. You'll take it as whatever sells the most newspapers."
Krum, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. He looked directly at Rita. "This place is for champions and friends. Not people like you."
Rita arched an eyebrow and gave him a practiced smile. "Well, not the warmest welcome I've ever had."
Victor glanced at Harry. "Good luck." Then he turned to Hermione. "Come on."
"Why?"
"If we stay another minute she'll write that we're in a forbidden romance."
Hermione sighed. "Let's go."
They slipped out before Rita could stop them, leaving Harry alone with the other three champions as the noise from the crowd outside continued to build.
***
Hermione, Victor, and Ron found seats high in the stands. The stadium was packed — students from all three schools filling every row, their chatter mixing with the distant roars from the enclosures.
Bagman's magically amplified voice boomed across the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament! The champions must face a dragon and retrieve the golden egg from its nest. They are free to use whatever magical skill or wit they possess!"
Thunderous applause.
Cedric went first against the Swedish Short-Snout. He Transfigured a rock into a dog, the barking pulling the dragon's attention just long enough to sprint for the nest. It almost worked.
Then the dragon realized the deception, swung around, and released a jet of fire. Cedric barely dove clear, flames catching the side of his face and leaving a painful burn. He seized the egg and rolled free as the crowd erupted.
Fleur faced the Common Welsh Green next. She cast a Sleeping Charm with practiced calm, the dragon's eyelids drooping until its head lowered.
She collected the egg cleanly. Then the dragon snored — its claw lashed out involuntarily and crushed several eggs, setting them ablaze. A disappointed murmur ran through the stands. The judges marked her down.
Krum entered third against the Chinese Fireball. No hesitation — he hit it immediately with the Conjunctivitis Curse.
The dragon roared in pain and thrashed wildly while Krum sprinted past and snatched the egg. The frantic movements crushed several real eggs in the nest. The judges noted it, and Krum lost points despite finishing quickly.
Victor watched in silence as Krum returned.
One enclosure still hadn't opened.
The Hungarian Horntail.
Victor folded his arms. "Harry's in the most trouble. The Horntail is the most dangerous of the four."
Hermione tightened her grip on the edge of her seat. "So he really has the worst one..."
"It seems fate decided he wasn't going to have an easy first task."
Bagman's voice boomed across the stadium.
"And now — our fourth and final champion —"
The crowd went silent instantly.
"Harry Potter!"
A mixture of cheers and boos exploded from the stands.
Harry stepped out of the tent clutching his wand and walked into the center of the arena. The Hungarian Horntail raised its enormous head slowly. Yellow eyes locked onto him.
Neither moved for several seconds.
Then the Horntail roared.
The sound shook the ground. Flames erupted from its jaws and washed across the arena floor, smoke billowing into the air as the crowd pressed back instinctively in their seats.
*****
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