𝐎𝐃𝐃 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 harry potter.

17: Dragon Fire and Butterbeers

ALLY WAS THE FIRST TO WAKE UP that morning. It wasn't even dawn when she began to feel uneasy, and her mind spiraled into strange, irrational fears—thoughts of being kidnapped and held hostage flashed through her head, keeping sleep at bay. Finally, she jolted awake, noticing Harry beside her, his back turned. Oh, Godric, I fell asleep. She tiptoed out of the room, careful not to wake him, and after a moment's hesitation, she broke into a sprint, darting back to her dormitory as if she had done something terribly wrong.

Fred and George had set up a betting booth near the stands before the first task. None of the students seemed concerned with mundane things like meals or schoolwork. Everyone was buzzing with excitement, fueled by the secrecy surrounding the event. They walked towards the Forbidden Forest, where a massive arena had been constructed, encircled by towering stands.

It was a chilly day, though whether it was the weather or nerves making them shiver, none of them could tell. The twins urged Ally and Ginny to bet on Krum, assuring them he had the best odds. But Ally, in charge of managing their finances, refused, earning herself a snarky remark from Fred and George.

Ally took a seat next to Amelia and Lottie, who had insisted she join them after spending her Hogsmeade weekend with Ginny. She never understood why they tried to compete with her twin, but feeling a twinge of guilt, she obliged, settling among a crowd of Slytherins.

Krum performed impressively, and the Slytherins cheered as though he were their champion. Fleur and Cedric also managed to retrieve their golden eggs, but it was clear Krum had set an exceptional standard. Last to face the task was Harry, and a chorus of support rang out for him louder than it had in days.

"Go, dragon!" Draco Malfoy jeered, his friends whistling at the sight of the Hungarian Horntail.

Harry raised his wand, his voice steady as he shouted, "Accio Firebolt!"

Oh, Godric, Ally thought at the sight of the Firebolt hurtling towards Harry, soaring into the enclosure, and stopping dead in midair beside him, waiting for him to mount. The crowd had grown wilder, and Bagman expressed an amused disbelief over his prowess. Harry swung his leg over the broom and kicked off from the ground.

Ally Weasley had to cover her face which had turned a violent shade of red. It was a life-and-death, and all she could think about was how attractive Harry Potter looked, flying after a dragon. She had to bite the insides of her mouth to prevent it from showing an unbelievably large grin.

"Ally," Lottie said, looking at her friend. "You're so red."

But Ally had pretended not to hear the girl, which was easy among the shouts of the onlookers. Harry dived, and pulled out of the dive just in time; a jet of fire had been released exactly where he would have been had he not swerved away. "Great Scott, he can fly!" yelled Bagman. "Are you watching this, Mr. Krum?"

"Look at that!" Bagman was yelling. "Will you look at that! Our youngest champion is quickest to get his egg! Well, this is going to shorten the odds on Mr. Potter!"

It was only Harry that she truly wished to watch for the first task, as per her request to the Matron who sought her assistance on aiding the Champions. Before Harry could even disappear, she quickly excused herself and ran back towards the tent. "Dragons!" Madam Pomfrey said in a disgusted tone.

"About time you showed up!" said a frantic Matron at the sight of Ally. She tightly smiled, "I had to attend to the three Champions on my own!" she scolded once again.

"Oh, Poppy, cut the girl some slack! She's thirteen, of course she'd rather watch dragons than be holed up in this tent," said Professor Sprout.

"I'll clean up Harry," Ally said meekly, her form of apology towards the Matron.