SKREIGH- C.DIGGORY

28

Delilah could sense Harry's stress as he bites his nails, pacing back and forth. How he hadn't burnt a hole in his shoes, Delilah didn't know. Cedric was stood next to Delilah, his arm around her as they watch Harry pace back and forth.

"What do we say?" Cedric whispers.

"He's fighting a dragon at fourteen," Delilah whispers back. "What are we supposed to say?"

"That is a good point,"

The sound of a quiet hissing fills their ears, causing the siblings to turn to find where the noise was coming from. Their eyes lock on the back flap of the tent, moving towards the piece of the material that was gently moving in the breeze.

"Pssst! Harry? Is that you?" Hermione asks.

"Yeah" Harry whispers.

"How are you feeling? OK?" Hermione asks. "The key is to concentrate. After that you just have to-"

"Battle a dragon," Harry says.

Hermione is quick to shove the flap out of the way, launching herself at Harry as she pulls the boy into a crushing hug.

A loud flash causes everyone to blink in surprise as spots fill their vision. Delilah turns to see an offensive block of neon colours. Rita Skeeter steps out of the smoke of the camera her arms spread wide.

"Wonderful, you're here," Delilah says and the photographer snaps a photo of her and Cedric.

"Young love!" Rita says. "Ohh how.. stirring. If everything goes, unfortunately, today you might make the front page"

"You have no business here," Viktor says, stepping up behind Hermione. "This tent is for champions and friends"

"Basically," Delilah says. "Piss off"

"No matter. We've got what we wanted" Rita says. "It's a pleasure, Miss Potter"

"Wish I could say the same" Delilah snorts.

The offensive blast of colour exits the tent, her lap dog photographer chasing after her. Rita's exit was quickly followed by the entrance of Dumbledore, the other two headteachers and Barty Crouch.

"Good day champions. Gather around, please. Now you've waited, you've wondered and at last, the moment has arrived. The moment only four of you can fully appreciate,"

The champions gather around him in a circle. Delilah stands behind Harry, a supportive hand placed upon his shoulder.

"What are you doing here Miss Granger?" Dumbledore asks.

"Oh um- sorry I'll just go," Hermione says.

"I'll catch up in a minute," Delilah says as Dumbledore nods at her.

"Barty. The bag" Dumbledore says.

"Champions, in a circle around me. Miss Delacour over here, Mr Krum, and Potter over here. Right. Miss Delacour, if you will-"

Barty holds up a burgundy bag with a golden drawstring. He turns to Fleur whose face was deathly pale to the point where Delilah was sure she could see her skeleton. Fleur's hand was shaking as she reaches into the bag, pulling out a small green dragon.

"The Welsh green," Delilah was unsure whether the shake in Barry's voice was apprehension or excitement. "Mr Krum-"

Viktor Krum's face was almost unreadable. But Delilah could see a hint of fear in his eyes that was only noticeable if you were good at reading people. The dragon Viktor pulled from the bag was scarlet and smooth-scaled with a fringe of golden spikes around its stub-snouted face and extremely protuberant eyes.