Forbidden Fruit

Trial One

I woke up ridiculously early the morning of the first trial. I couldn't sleep. There was no way to prepare for any of these trials. They were all incredibly secretive to keep the competition fair. I decided to make a cup of coffee which only made my jitters worse. I felt my stomach turning wildly. "okay okay okay okay....everything's fine everything's fine..." I said under my breath trying to contain my worries. I threw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt with my sneakers. I thought the best way to get rid of my jitters would be to run. I walked down to the common room and out to the front of Hogwarts. I ran from Hogwarts gate halfway to hogsmead and turned back. 

I got back to my room and my door was covered in streamers and banners and there was confetti all over my room. "NATTY FOR CHAMP" and "NATTY BEAT POTTER" written all over the banners. At the bottom, was a small drawing of a snake wrapped around a lions neck. Morbid, but quite funny. I smiled looking at all their signatures and immediately felt a little more at ease. I found Draco's signature and ran my finger across it with a small grin. I took a quick shower and got dressed in the trial one issued gear. Jumper with a hood that was black and green and the back read "Schuyler". 

Potter and I are pacing the Champion tent waiting for Dumbledoor to finish his announcements to the crowd. The crowd was loud and roaring. Hermione stopped by to talk to Harry. She stepped into the tent and threw her arms around me. "Oh! This is terrible!! I mean!! You're gonna be just fine!! The both of you are! I'm just so worried for you both!" Harry and I nodded both trying to stay calm. "The key is to concentrate...after that you just have to.." Harry replied "battle a dragon.." I nod "Light work guys, I mean really.." We all chuckle. Dumbledoor enters the tent "Champions..gather round please..gather round..now! You've waited, you've wondered.. at last! the moment has arrived. A moment only the five of you can appreciate. Miss Granger..what are you doing here?" "Oh..sorry..I'll just.." She backs out of the tent and gives us both a thumbs up. "Barty, would you do the honors?" Dumbledoor backs out to allow space for Barty. "Campions, in a circle around me" Fluer picks the Welsh Green dragon. The easiest out of them all...if you can call dragons easy. Krum drew the Chinese Fireball..the second most difficult of the dragons in the trial for today. Cedric drew the Swedish Short-Snout another easy dragon. Which leaves me and Harry. It was my draw next. There were two dragons left. One was slightly easier than the last, but they were both going to be a difficult feat. "Miss. Schuyler..your draw, my dear." I nodded and stuck my hand inside the black bag. I found the tail of one of the dragons and pulled it out. I rested it in my hand. "Ukrainian Ironbelly....which leaves Mr. Potter." Harry drew the Horntail. The Horntail was easily the most aggressive dragon out of all of the dragons we were dueling today. I felt kind of bad for Harry, but I didn't have time to dwell on his task as well as mine. "These represent five very real dragons. Each of which has been given a golden egg to protect. The task is simple: collect the egg. This, you must do, for each egg contains a clue. Without which you cannot proceed to the next task." We nod. "Very well. Champions, good luck!" Dumbledoor says and trial one begins. 

Cedric is up first. You could hear the crowd go wild seeing him enter the arena. The Champions weren't allowed to view the competition in fairness of the game. Cedric seemed to finish quite fast. Next was Fluer. She tightened her ponytail and jogged out to the arena. She had a harder time than Cedric from the sounds of the arena. She took longer which I thought was pitiful considering she had an easier dragon. She advanced and next was Krum. I was to follow Krum so I began recalling everything I knew about my dragon to try and get a plan. The Ironbellies were known to have a massive wingspan, but it was a slower flyer. These dragons are also some of the largest dragons ever recorded in history, so that's not daunting at all. They have super long talons and their scales are extremely strong. Fighting this dragon head-on might not be the move. If I have to, I need to use its size to my advantage. I need to somehow wedge it between something. Confuse it. They didn't say anything was not permitted during the trial so I suppose I can use that to my advantage. Dumbledoor came over the announcement. "Three of our Champions have collected their eggs and they advance to the next challenge. Now, please welcome our fourth Campion to the Arena!" I walked through and heard chanting. As I got closer I heard it louder and louder "NATTY NATTY NATTY NATTY" I smiled and looked up at the section full of Slytherins. They had banners and were decked out in Slytherin colors. I spotted Draco and he was cheering as hard as he possibly could right beside Pansy and the boys. Balise spotted me and pointed and cheered even harder. He tapped everyone around him and pointed at me which made them even more excited. I took a deep breath and peaked out from the entryway. The golden egg was just a short distance from me. Too easy. Okay.. plan..I need a plan. I looked around at the terrain. Plenty of hiding spots. I heard the wings flapping above me. Shit. It's directly above me waiting to pounce. I grabbed my wand and held it at the ready. I casted a basic spell knocking some rocks over to try and distract the dragon. It flew to the spot I hit. I made a break for it but the dragon spotted me immediately. It threw me across the area with its tail and my back slammed against the rocks. The crowd "ouhhh"ed and winced at the sight. I got up and took cover out of sight to catch my breath. I'm going to have to fight head on, which is exactly what I feared. The cheering was getting louder with anticipation. The dragon roared and I turned the corner as fast as I could. I casted another spell directly to its mouth which is a common weak spot for dragons. It shrieked and fell over losing its balance. I ran as fast as I could to the egg, but the dragon was faster. It roared angrily and spewed fire. I took cover behind the rocks once again. I got lower and made my way around the corner. I climbed the rocks to get a higher vantage point and a better view of the terrain. I peaked over and Accio'ed a large rock. I forced it toward the dragon's head. It was knocked back which I used as an opportunity to cast another spell and the dragon's underbelly. Another common weak spot. It was down long enough for me to jump down to the egg and capture it. The crowd was booming with cheers and music. The Slytherins were going crazy. I ran back to the entry point and made it out of the arena. "THE EGG IS CAPTURED IN RECORD TIME BY NATALIA SCHUYLER!!! SHE ADVANCES!!" Dumbledoor announces over the intercom. I went to the finalists tent to gather myself. "Well done!!" Cedric said walking over to me. "Thank you! You as well! That was tough. I kept getting pinned down." Cedric touched my forehead with his thumb. I was bleeding and didn't even know it. "here, come here. We have bandages back this way." I walked with him and we sat down so he could patch my head. He took a cloth and some alcohol and dabbed my head. I winced a little "I know, I'm sorry. This gash is pretty deep..might need stitches."  I sigh "Of course.." He puts two small pieces of tape across it trying to hold the skin together. "So...I'm sure you've heard about all the buzz with the Yule Ball." I look at him "Yule Ball?" He nods "Yeah, during Triwizards, it's tradition to have the Yule Ball between the first and second trials." I nod "hmm" He nods "Well, I was thinking about who I wanted to ask to accompany me." I blushed slightly. Is he trying to ask me or get advice? "Oh?" He smiles and finishes patching me up. "Would you allow me to escort you to the Yule Ball?" I blushed and smiled "Me??" He laughed "Yes, you! Who else?" I smiled and thought about Draco. "Could I think about it? My head is spinning right now and-" he cut me off "Just think about it.. take say...four days from now." I smiled "You'll have your answer in four days." He beamed and helped me up and we went back to Hogwarts to celebrate. 

Golden Egg in tow, I went up to my room eager to open the egg and gain the hint. I sat on my bed and twisted the top. The sides fell open and a terrible screech belted from within the egg. I slammed the egg shut and closed the top back. My ears were ringing violently. "There has to be more to this.." I said to myself. I turned the egg upside down and inspected the sides, but it gave no clue. I sat the egg on my nightstand and shook my head. I'll worry about it later. I showered and changed into fresh clothes and headed down to the common room. I stopped dead in my tracks. Draco had Pansy against the wall and they were in a passionate state. His hands cupping her face and hips and Pansy kissing him as eagerly as she could. Pansy looked to her left and saw me standing there. She pushed Draco off of her. "Pansy! What the hell.." He looked up and noticed me. His face fell and he was too ashamed to meet my glance. Pansy giggled and tried to wipe the lipstick smears from her cheek. "Oops..busted.." Although Pansy didn't know of my feelings for Draco, I still felt hurt and angry. I forced a laugh "good thing it was only me.." She giggles once again absolutely elated. "Yeah!! It is a good thing!" Draco finally met my gaze. We didn't say a word. My eyes were pleading, but I gave a small smile. "How long?" I asked. Draco kept his eyes locked on mine. "Few days.." He looked at me expectantly. Like he was begging me to say something. I nodded. "Right..well, as you were." I turned my back and my eyes immediately welted up with tears. They began to flow at a steady pace. I let them silently fall. I wiped them away angrily. He didn't deserve my tears. I didn't mean anything to him. He's a player. He has no heart. He's self-absorbed. And I hated him.... I wish I hated him. But the temptation was just too much. I thought back to potions when he was towering over me. His scent. Us laughing in my dorm. His tenderness when we were alone. He wasn't heartless. In those moments, he wasn't self-absorbed. He was like forbidden fruit. Tempting. Enticing. Inviting. Everything you want it to be. But something you could never have. 

I noticed I had been walking the castle this whole time. I was so angry that I was hardly paying attention to where I was. I walked up a set of stairs and found myself in the trophy room. I looked around at the many accomplishments from different houses. "Hey!" I heard from behind me. I turned and saw Cedric "What are you doing up here?" He smiled. I smiled "honestly, I was just wondering and found myself up here." He laughs "you alright?" I nodded "yeah, you?" He nods with a grin. "So..I have a decision for you..." He smiles "Already?" I nod "I'd be happy to go to the Yule Ball with you, Cedric." He smiles and pulls me in for a hug. I hug him back and he looks down at me absolutely beaming. We walk out of the trophy room and down to the great hall holding hands the entire way.