Secret Love

Chapter 4: The Fire and the Fall

The day of the first task had arrived.
The weather was bitterly cold, the skies an iron-gray blanket that stretched endlessly over Hogwarts. Students bustled with excitement, their breath fogging in the air as they gathered near the arena where the champions would face their challenges. The energy was electric, and while most students were caught up in the thrill of the tournament, Harry felt a knot of dread in the pit of his stomach.He stood on the edge of the arena, his breath shallow, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for his turn. The other champions—Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor—had already faced their challenges. Now it was his turn. He had overheard snippets of their struggles with the dragons, their brushes with death, but nothing could have prepared Harry for what lay ahead.The Hungarian Horntail.It loomed over the arena, a monstrous beast of dark scales and fiery eyes, its massive wings stretching like the shadow of death itself. Harry had seen dragons before, but never this close—never as a direct threat.He gripped his wand tightly, knowing what he had to do but feeling the weight of the impossibility of the task ahead.Ginny's face flashed through his mind, and for a fleeting moment, he found comfort in the thought of her. She had given him a quiet, encouraging smile before he'd left the Great Hall that morning, her eyes full of determination and pride. He wanted to do this for her—to survive, to come out of this unscathed and see her waiting for him afterward. But the truth was, there were no guarantees in this.The whistle blew, and the arena fell silent. His heart pounded in his ears as he stepped forward, squaring his shoulders and keeping his eyes locked on the dragon."Just get the egg," he told himself over and over. "Just get the egg, and it'll be over."The Horntail let out a ground-shaking roar, smoke billowing from its nostrils as it shifted its massive body, the golden egg shining at its feet. Harry took a deep breath, his mind racing as he considered his strategy."Accio Firebolt!" he called, hoping his broom would make all the difference. It was his only chance at keeping distance between himself and the dragon's lethal fire.Moments later, the Firebolt streaked through the air and landed firmly in his grasp. Mounting it swiftly, Harry soared into the sky, the wind biting at his face as he dodged the Horntail's snapping jaws. The crowd let out a collective gasp as the dragon roared again, lashing its tail with deadly force. Harry's stomach lurched as he narrowly avoided the spiked appendage, his Firebolt responding to every quick jerk and swerve of his body. His eyes were locked on the golden egg, glittering in the center of the arena, but the dragon wasn't about to let him near it.Fire erupted from the Horntail's mouth, a scorching blast that seemed to sear the very air. Harry ducked, the heat brushing dangerously close to his skin, and twisted the broom upward, rocketing above the beast. He circled it, trying to find an opening.Another roar—this time, it lashed its tail again, aiming directly at Harry. He dodged to the left, but the tail caught the side of his broom with a glancing blow, sending him careening through the air. Harry's vision spun as he tried to regain control, but the broom wobbled dangerously, and before he could fully right himself, the dragon unleashed another torrent of fire.It was too close this time.The flames licked at Harry's leg, searing through his robes. He let out a scream of pain, his hand slipping from the broom for just a moment as the agony spread through him. His leg felt like it was on fire, and the world tilted as he plummeted toward the ground.He crashed hard, rolling across the dirt, pain radiating from his leg, his side, and his head. But even through the haze of pain, he knew one thing: the egg was still there.Harry groaned, forcing himself to his feet, his vision blurred. His leg was throbbing in agony, but he had to finish this. With every ounce of strength he could muster, he limped forward, his eyes fixed on the golden egg.The dragon, momentarily confused by his fall, turned its attention away, giving Harry the window he needed. He sprinted—or rather, stumbled—toward the egg, his breath ragged, his body screaming in protest.And then, he had it. The egg was in his hands.The crowd erupted into cheers, but Harry barely heard them. His vision swam, the edges of the world blurring as exhaustion and pain overtook him. He collapsed to his knees, clutching the egg, just as everything around him went black.---Harry awoke to the soft sound of footsteps and the faint scent of antiseptic. His body felt heavy, and when he opened his eyes, the blurry outlines of the hospital wing came into view. The pain in his leg was still there, but it was a dull ache now, muted by whatever potion Madam Pomfrey had given him.For a moment, he blinked in confusion, trying to remember how he'd gotten there. Then it all came rushing back: the dragon, the fall, the fire. And then, a soft voice cut through the haze."Harry?"He turned his head to see Ginny sitting beside him, her face pale but her eyes filled with worry. She reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, her touch soft and warm."You're awake," she said, her voice thick with emotion."Ginny," Harry croaked, his throat dry. "What happened?""You did it," Ginny said, her lips curving into a small, relieved smile. "You got the egg. But... you got hurt pretty bad. Madam Pomfrey says you'll be okay, though. You just need to rest."Harry tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in his side made him wince. Ginny immediately pressed a hand against his chest, gently pushing him back down."Don't move," she warned, her voice soft but firm. "You need to stay still."Harry groaned but did as she said, sinking back into the pillows. "I thought... I thought I was going to die out there," he admitted, his voice hoarse.Ginny's eyes softened, and she leaned in closer, her hand still resting on his chest. "You're not allowed to die, Harry. Not when there's so much left for us."Her words sent a warmth through him, more comforting than any potion Madam Pomfrey could have given. Harry reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze."I'm sorry I scared you," he whispered.Ginny shook her head, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I was terrified, Harry. I didn't know if you were going to make it. But you're here. And that's all that matters."They sat in silence for a moment, the tension of the day melting away in the quiet comfort of each other's presence. Harry's heart swelled with affection for Ginny, grateful that she was there, that she hadn't left his side."You shouldn't be here," Harry said after a while, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if someone sees?"Ginny let out a soft, almost defiant laugh. "I don't care, Harry. You're more important than what people think. Besides, the hospital wing's practically empty. It's just you and Madam Pomfrey in the back room. No one's going to see us."Harry smiled, his heart feeling lighter despite the pain in his body. He knew they had to be careful, but at that moment, he didn't want her to leave.Ginny squeezed his hand and then, after a brief hesitation, leaned down to press a soft kiss to his forehead. "You scared me today," she whispered, her lips brushing his skin."I'll try not to do it again," Harry replied, managing a weak grin. "No promises, though."Ginny laughed quietly, but it was a strained sound, full of worry. "I'll hold you to that."---The hours passed slowly, with Ginny never leaving Harry's side. Madam Pomfrey had come by a few times to check on him, giving Ginny a stern look but not ordering her away. She seemed to understand that Harry needed her there.The only thing that darkened the peace of the hospital wing was the absence of Ron. Hermione had come by to visit Harry earlier in the day, her face lined with concern. She'd assured him that Ron knew Harry was hurt, but his absence from the hospital wing spoke louder than words."He's still upset, Harry," Hermione had explained in a hushed voice, glancing toward Ginny as she spoke. "I think... I think he just doesn't know how to handle it.""He's had plenty of time to come around," Ginny had replied, her voice sharp. "He's being ridiculous."Hermione had sighed, clearly torn between her two best friends. "Just give him some time, Harry. He'll come around eventually."But hours had passed, and still no sign of Ron.Harry lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to push the gnawing feeling of loss from his mind. Ginny's hand in his was a comfort, but there was a hole where his friendship with Ron had been—a hole that no amount of healing could fill.Finally, Ginny shifted in her chair, turning to look at Harry. "He'll come around," she said, as if reading his thoughts. "He's just being stubborn. He's always been that way.""I hope you're right," Harry murmured. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that things would never be the same.