Survival is the Key (Harry Potter fan fiction)

Chapter Eight - The First Task

I brushed out my hair and looked at myself in the mirror. I wore the Gryffindor colours . The back it had 'POTTER'. I smiled. Although I didn't get a choice I was excited. I walked down the stairs were I heard "POTTER! POTTER!" My house was very supportive of me and I was glad. I walked down to the Pitch and saw it was totally different. I saw a bed with my name on it and sat down. "Champions over here" said Bagshot. I stood up and walked to him. "In a circle" he said. We gathered in a circle. "Now in here is the next task, dragons. You will pick out a dragon at random and that will be the dragon you will face" he said.

He put the bag in front of Fleur, "Go on don't be scared" he said. She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of a dragon, a Welsh Green. It had the number two around its neck And I knew, by the fact that Fleur showed no sign of surprise, but rather a determined resignation, that I  had been right: Madame Maxime had told her what was coming, I think everyone was told what was coming, I knew Ced did as Harry told him.

The same held true for Krum. He pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. It had a number three around its neck. He didn't even blink, just sat back down and stared at the ground. I couldn't beleive that people were so calm when the were about to face a huge dragon. I started to panic as after Cedric I was next and I knew there were only two left.

Cedric put his hand into the bag, and out came the blueish-gray Swedish Short-Snout, the number one tied around its neck. Knowing what was left, I put my hand into the silk bag and pulled out the Hungarian Horntail, and the number four. It stretched its wings as I looked down at it, and bared its minuscule fangs. I gulped. I knew it was the minuture figure but I could help wondering what the real one looked like. And if it was as scary then I'm in deep shit.

"Well, there you are!" said Bagman. "You have each pulled out the dragon you will face, and the numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons, do you see? Now, I'm going to have to leave you in a moment, because I'm commentating. Mr. Diggory, you're first, just go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right?" I looked at Cedric "Stay safe" I said

"Of course" he said back "You too", he kissed me and then went to the arena door. I heard all the noises, the crowd screaming the oohs, the ahhs, and then the final beel. But he didn't come back. The same with Fleur and Krum. "Go on Naomi" said Bagman. I had butterflies in my stomuch as I was pushed out there. The first thing I saw was the dragon at the end of the arena. I ran quickly behind a rock. Think Naomi, Think I thought to myself. Then I got it.

Avis, I thought as I pointed my wand. Birds shot out and the dragon was distracted. I used that time to run to another rock closer to him and try to see the egg. There it was by the dragon. But by the time I was at the rock she wasn't distracted anymore. I pointed my wand at rocks far away from her and kept repeating Reducto. I ran to the next rocks and finally I was at the closest rock. But it had seen me. It aimed fire at me. I screamed at it caught me. I heard the screaming crowd. But it had stopped. I looked to see a wall of water protecting me . I stood ignoring the pain on my right side and walked to the egg. The wall of water kept me safe as I grabbed the egg. The watter wall came down and I sprinted. Ignoring the pain I ran to the exit.

I was sat down on a bed and fussed over for 10 minutes. I saw Mum, Dad and Harry come rushing in. "Oh my poor baby, are you okay , how bad-" I cut Mum off. "Mum, I'm fine" I said

"That was awesome" Harry said

"But dangerous" said Mum

"I have to say though that was much cooler than everyone elses" Dad said. Mum and Dad started an argument over me. "So what happen" I asked Harry.

" Well Cedric did this weird thing where he Transfigured a rock on the ground. . . turned it into a dog. . . he was trying to make the dragon go for the dog instead of him. Well, it was a pretty cool bit of Transfiguration, and it sort of worked, because he did get the egg, but he got burned as well - the dragon changed its mind halfway through and decided it would rather have him than the Labrador; he only just got away.

And that Fleur girl tried this sort of charm, I think she was trying to put it into a trance - well, that kind of worked too, it went all sleepy, but then it snored, and this great jet of flame shot out, and her skirt caught fire - she put it out with a bit of water out of her wand. And Krum - you won't believe this, but he didn't even think of flying! He was probably the best after you, though. Hit it with some sort of spell right in the eye. Only thing is, it went trampling around in agony and squashed half the real eggs - they took marks off for that, he wasn't supposed to do any damage to them." Harry said quickly. He pulled me to see what score I got.

Squinting up the field, I saw the first judge - Madame Maxime - raise her wand in the air. What hooked like a long silver ribbon shot out of it, which twisted itself into a large 7

"Not bad!" said Harry as the crowd applauded. "I guess she took some marks off for you side and the rocks."

Mr. Crouch came next. He shot a number nine into the air.

"Looking good!" Harry yelled.

Next, Dumbledore. He too put up a nine. The crowd was cheering harder than ever.

Ludo Bagman - ten.

"Ten?" I said in disbelief. "But I destoryed most of the rocks and got hurt badly"

"Mai, don't complain!" Harry said

And now Karkaroff raised his wand. He paused for a moment, and then a number shot out of his wand too - four.

I didn't care. I heard the shouting but I didn't care at all. I walked back inside where Mum and Dad were both still arguing. My life was great.