The roar of the crowd echoed through the stadium as the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament began. The stands were alive with a sea of waving banners, house colors fluttering like restless flames under the crisp autumn sun. Daphne and I were seated among the throng of Hogwarts students, surrounded by a cacophony of excited chatter. Yet, I hardly heard a word. My focus wasn't on the cheering voices or the magical commentary booming over the arena.
My fingers fidgeted with the hem of my robes, twisting and untwisting the fabric until it bunched in uneven ridges. Anxiety sat heavy in my chest, a coiled spring that tightened with each passing second.
"Will you stop that? You're going to rip it," Daphne muttered, casting me an exasperated look as she leaned closer.
"I can't help it," I replied, my voice barely audible above the din. My gaze darted toward the arena, where the looming shadows of the dragons prowled within their enclosures. Their guttural growls reverberated through the air, a low rumble that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I couldn't help but picture Harry—pale and determined—stepping into that chaos.
"Relax," Daphne said, nudging me with her elbow. "He's faced worse, hasn't he? Basilisks, Dementors... He'll be fine."
I shot her a sharp look. "This isn't funny, Daphne."
She shrugged, unbothered, and leaned back in her seat, her blonde hair catching the sunlight. "I'm just saying, if anyone can survive this, it's him. Besides, he's not even up yet. Look, Krum's starting."
The crowd erupted as Viktor Krum strode into the arena, his movements deliberate and confident. The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium, introducing the Bulgarian Seeker and his formidable opponent: the Chinese Fireball.
My stomach churned as I watched Krum. He looked so self-assured, yet I couldn't tear my eyes away from the Fireball. Its scales shimmered like molten gold, and smoke curled from its nostrils as it paced the edge of its enclosure. Then the barrier dropped, and the dragon lunged forward, letting out a deafening roar that drowned out the cheers.
Krum wasted no time. His wand snapped upward, and a blinding streak of light shot toward the dragon's eyes. The Fireball recoiled, shaking its massive head as Krum darted forward.
"He's going for it already," Daphne observed, her tone tinged with admiration.
The dragon thrashed, its tail carving deep gouges into the dirt as it flailed blindly. My fingers gripped the edge of my seat as Krum seized the golden egg. For a moment, the crowd roared in triumph, celebrating the swift victory. But then the Fireball, still disoriented, swung its tail through the nest.
I gasped as a cascade of dragon eggs shattered, their glistening contents pooling onto the ground.
The announcer confirmed as much, and though Krum's retrieval was efficient, the judges marked him down for the unnecessary destruction.
Next came Fleur Delacour, her silvery hair catching the sunlight as she stepped gracefully into the arena. Her opponent, the Common Welsh Green, was slightly smaller but no less imposing. Fleur's approach was calm and poised, her wand movements precise as she cast an enchantment over the dragon.
The Welsh Green seemed almost mesmerized, its fierce growls softening into low rumbles as its body swayed under her charm. The crowd fell silent, entranced by Fleur's spellwork. Even Daphne, ever critical, looked impressed.
"She's graceful, I'll give her that," Daphne admitted.
But just as Fleur reached for the golden egg, the dragon snapped out of its trance. A torrent of flames erupted from its jaws, forcing Fleur to dive and roll to avoid being scorched. She scrambled back to her feet, her wand moving furiously as she sent a flurry of defensive spells toward the dragon.
YOU ARE READING
human again / hp.
Fanfiction"I already forgave you, so why can't you forgive yourself?" She's a Malfoy. He's a Potter. Celeste Malfoy has always walked a fine line between the world she was born into and the one she chose for herself. At Hogwarts, nothing is simple. Not friend...
