Chapter 15: Dragons revelation and Morning Chaos
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. IT BELONGS TO JK ROWLING.
A/N: Read, enjoy, and remember not to take either life or my writing too seriously.
Harry and Hermione spent the rest of the evening in the Gryffindor common room composing a letter to Sirius Black.
Harry had meant to write earlier. Sirius had previously sent a message after hearing that Harry's scar had hurt, and he had sounded worried enough that he might return to Britain.
Harry definitely didn't want that.
With Hermione helping him edit the wording, they eventually finished the letter.
Dear Sirius,
My scar hasn't hurt since that night. I might have imagined it. There really isn't anything you can do here, so please don't risk being captured.
I'm not sure if you read the Daily Prophet, but Hermione and I are together now.
Also, my name was entered into a tournament here at school. Luckily my very brilliant girlfriend found a way for me to get out of competing, so everything is fine.
I just wanted you to know that I'm safe. Please stay safe too.
—Harry
P.S. Hermione sends her love.
They carried the letter up to the Owlery and attached it to Hedwig, who immediately launched herself into the night sky.
Midnight
Shortly before midnight Harry and Hermione slipped out of Gryffindor Tower beneath the Invisibility Cloak.
They walked slowly down the path toward Rubeus Hagrid's cabin.
Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist to keep them both covered by the cloak.
They had grown a little too tall to fit comfortably underneath it together.
"Any idea why Hagrid wants to see us?" Harry whispered.
Hermione smirked.
"Maybe he wants us to take one of those Blast-Ended Skrewts for a midnight walk."
Harry shuddered.
When they knocked, Hagrid opened the door almost instantly.
"That you, Harry?"
"Yeah," Harry whispered. "Hermione's with me."
Hagrid grinned broadly.
"Course she is."
They slipped inside and removed the cloak.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"Got summtng ter show yeh," Hagrid said excitedly.
His appearance suggested he had made an effort to look presentable.
A large flower was pinned to his coat, and Harry noticed that Hagrid's comb was still tangled somewhere in his wild hair.
Hermione and Harry exchanged worried looks.
"What exactly are you showing us?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Come along," Hagrid said.
"Bring the cloak."
The Dragons
Hagrid led them across the grounds toward the massive Beauxbatons carriage.
He knocked on the door.
Olympe Maxime stepped outside wrapped in an elegant shawl.
"Bonsoir, 'Agrid," she said warmly.
Hagrid helped her down the golden steps.
"You'll like this," he promised.
They walked along the edge of the forest.
Soon voices could be heard shouting in the distance.
Then came a tremendous roar.
And a crash.
Harry and Hermione stepped out from behind a cluster of trees.
Their eyes widened in shock.
Dragons.
Several enormous dragons chained inside a large enclosure.
Nearby stood a familiar red-haired wizard.
Charlie Weasley.
"They're beautiful, Charlie," Hagrid said emotionally.
Charlie laughed.
"Beautiful maybe, but dangerous."
"I've counted the eggs. Don't get any ideas."
"How many dragons?" Hagrid asked.
"Four," Charlie replied.
"One for each champion."
He looked uneasy.
"Mum's going to have a fit when she finds out Ron has to face one of these."
Hagrid frowned.
"They gotta fight 'em?"
Charlie shook his head.
"Not exactly. They just need to get past them."
"Still dangerous though."
He pointed toward a particularly vicious dragon.
"That one's the worst. Hungarian Horntail."
"Tail's just as deadly as its teeth."
Harry and Hermione had seen enough.
They slowly backed away.
Once they were out of earshot, Hermione grabbed Harry's arm.
"Ron has to face one of those!"
"We have to warn him!"
Harry nodded.
"That's why Hagrid showed us."
They turned to leave.
Suddenly a twig snapped.
They froze.
Harry slowly pointed.
A tall figure stood nearby watching the dragons.
The distinctive goatee was unmistakable.
Igor Karkaroff.
Hermione nodded silently.
They retreated quietly before running all the way back to the castle.
The Next Morning
Harry and Hermione woke early so they could talk to Ron before breakfast.
They found him in the common room.
"Ron, we need to talk," Harry said urgently.
Ron rolled his eyes.
"What now, Potter?"
"Your first task," Harry said.
"We found out what it is."
"Dragons."
Ron stared at him.
Then snorted.
"Yeah right."
"You expect me to believe that?"
Hermione stepped forward.
"We saw them."
Ron crossed his arms.
"Sure you did."
"Trying to scare me so Harry can take my place back?"
Harry shook his head.
"Ron, listen. We're serious."
Ron waved his hand dismissively.
"Even if there were dragons, we've faced worse."
"We fought a basilisk."
Harry blinked.
"We?"
Hermione buried her face in her hands.
"Oh Ron…"
Ron turned away angrily.
"Stay out of my tournament."
He stormed out of the room.
Harry sighed.
"What do we do?"
Hermione shrugged.
"We tried."
Breakfast
When they entered the Great Hall, Harry noticed something unusual.
Draco Malfoy was sitting completely alone.
Every other Slytherin student had moved at least ten feet away from him.
Across the hall Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis watched Harry anxiously.
When they saw him looking back, they nodded slightly.
Harry turned to Hermione and grinned.
"I think our plan worked."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully.
"We should probably tell the twins."
"If the Slytherins ask them about pranks, they might accidentally ruin everything."
Harry laughed.
"Fred and George are going to love this."
Later in the Common Room
They found Fred Weasley and George Weasley studying a piece of parchment.
"Perfect timing," George said.
"Operation Ronald is about to begin."
Harry quickly interrupted.
"You might want to delay that."
"Why?" Fred asked.
"Ron's first task involves dragons."
The twins stared at him.
"Dragons?"
"Real dragons?"
Harry nodded.
"Charlie's here."
Fred and George exchanged a worried look.
"Maybe we should postpone the prank," George admitted.
Harry then explained everything — the Slytherin contract, the switching spell, and the deal Daphne offered.
By the time he finished, the twins were laughing so hard they were nearly on the floor.
"That smell was you two?" Fred gasped.
"Dumbledore and Snape think it's us!"
George wiped tears from his eyes.
"Filch has been following us all week!"
They quickly helped Hermione modify the spell.
Instead of always sending the smell to Slytherin, it would now randomly switch between several locations.
Including:
the Slytherin common roomoutside the castleand occasionally Snape's office
Hermione finished the charm.
"That should work."
Slytherin Fallout
By the next morning, the Slytherins looked much happier.
Except for Malfoy.
No one would sit anywhere near him.
Even when he moved seats, everyone nearby immediately fled.
Draco finally decided to write a letter to his father.
Meanwhile…
At Malfoy Manor, Lucius Malfoy read Draco's complaint.
Lucius sighed heavily.
His son had once again managed to cause enormous trouble.
He glanced at another letter on his desk — one from the Parkinson family cancelling Draco's betrothal to Pansy Parkinson.
Lucius rubbed his temples.
The Malfoy family fortune seemed to shrink every time Draco opened his mouth.
The Day Before the First Task
Harry decided that if Ron wouldn't listen to him, he would at least warn someone else.
He caught up to Cedric Diggory.
"It's dragons," Harry told him quietly.
Cedric stared at him.
"You're serious?"
Harry nodded.
Cedric shook his hand.
"Thanks."
And the stage was finally set.
Tomorrow would be the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament.
And Ron Weasley had absolutely no idea what he was about to face.
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