Amour

THE GOLDEN EGG

'SNAP'.Hermione was momentarily blinded by the flash of the camera carried by the assistant of Rita Skeeter,esteemed journalist of the Daily Prophet.The four champions were posing for photographs and later they were also supposed to give interviews.Skeeter pulled Hermione by the arm and shoved her into a broom closet saying that they would start with the youngest."Now what would you say prompted you to put your name in the goblet?"Hermione was surprised by such a blunt question."I...didn't-""Of course you didn't."Skeeter continued without letting her finish."Would you say that the ghosts of your past are still haunting you so much so that you are eager to endanger your life?Or is this another example of your boastful nature?"Hermione didn't know how to reply and quickly excused herself out.On her way back she found Malfoy and his friends goofing around."She is just returning from her first official interview.Take her autographs while you still can,boys.My father and I have a bet on her.I bet she wouldn't last 10 minutes in the tournament;father denies-he says she wouldn't last 5!"and they all started guffawing."I don't give a damn about what your father thinks of me,Malfoy.He's vile and cruel;and you're pathetic!"Hermione said,unable to contain her anger after the Skeeter incident.As she turned around,Malfoy raised his wand and suddenly Moody came out of nowhere to turn Malfoy into a ferret,as punishment.Professor McGonagall arrived at the scene and told him off but before Hermione could escape,she found herself pulled by the arm and shoved into a classroom for the second time that day,this time by Moody."So,what have you planned to do about the dragon?"he asked."Umm...I dunno.I can fly well-I'm a fair flyer."Hermione searched desperately to find her strengths."Well so is Crum and Diggory.And Ms.Delacour maybe a fairy princess but her headmistress is certainly not.They'll come up with a strategy."Moody grumbled.Hermione could'nt figure anything out."I have a firebolt.On it I'm a formidable force.But we aren't allowed our broons in the competition,right?"she asked.Moody gave her a wicked grin,his mechanical eye spinning in his head,"You are allowed a wand."...............................................
Hermione had practiced the summoning charm with Professor Moody before their first task started.And to her dismay,she was to tackle the Hungarian Horntail to steal a golden egg from it.She eagerly awaited while the other champions had their turns,as she was to go last.Up in the gallery Snape was anxiously awaiting to see Hermione fight her dragon.Please God let her  not be majorly injured.As Hermione entered the field there was a rush of excitement and before she had time to bear her surroundings she was beaten off the ground by one swish of the Horntail's tail.She landed flat on her front but quickly cowered behind a boulder as the dragon unleashed its fire upon her.Everyone drew back in their seats as they could feel the heat even from up there.Snape's sweat rolled down the side of his temple.For the love of God!That's my lover.But he was surprised when she pulled out her wand from her waistband and summoned her broomstick.Wonder who taught her the summoning charm.Teachers weren't allowed to help.And did she think of carrying her wand with her, all by herself?He breathed a short sigh as she managed to haul herself onto the firebolt but now she,pursued by the dragon ,were aiming straight for them.The teachers barely jumped out of the way when the dragon flew right past them,turning their gallery to splinters.For the next tense twenty minutes,there was no sign of Hermione or the dragon;then some people pointed at a speck in the sky and then there was a deafening roar of appreciation as it grew bigger and bigger to reveal Hermione,with a triumphant smile on her blackened face,slowly making her way towards the ground where the golden egg was,on her charred broomstick.Snape's eyes began to water while he clapped the hardest.She crash-landed on the ground but managed to wrap her hands around her treasure............................................
Snape stroked Hermione's hand as they sat together on his couch.She had snuggled close to him in a comfortable position,with her legs folded under her."What happened after you flew out of our sight?"he asked."I managed to give it the slip.But it burned the end of my broomstick."Hermione told him,making a face.He put a lock of hair behind her ear and examined her burns and blisters."Who taught you the summoning charm?"Hermione looked at him sheepishly before replying,"Professor Moody.He was the one who informed me that we were allowed to use wands and I requested him to teach me the spell because it was almost the last minute."Snape furrowed his brow.But this is not right.Teachers aren't supposed to help with the tasks.Hermione also told him,"Professor Moody is really nice.He has been helping me a lot these days;he was the one who suggested I go talk to Hagrid,that's how I came to know about the dragons before anyone else.And he also had my back when Malfoy tried to hex me behind my back."Snape nodded,but he was intrigued.Moody,helping her?That's big of him.But why?Is there some other motive behind this?Or maybe I'm just being paranoid.He is an auror after all and a member of the Order."But,I don't understand what was the use of this?I got the egg but don't know what to do with it.It emits an ungodly sound when I try to open it.Maybe the next task will have a clue as to how to do it."Hermione said."Wonder what they'll give you next?"Snape tried to guess."Giants perhaps."Hermione joked.