Trip Through time

Dragons

I quietly ate my food as Ron suddenly sat down. “Harry, we have a problem,” he stated as I gave him a confused look.

“What’s wrong?” I asked quietly as he took a deep breath.

“I saw Charlie, he has brought dragons for the tournament.” Ron told me as I gulped nervously.

“That's… that’s the first challenge?” I asked while shaking violently.

“Yeah, we need to come up with a plan. There is no way you’re going against a dragon without one.” Ron told me as I nodded.

“What kind of dragon will I go against?” I asked as Ron shook his head, lowering it.

“It’s randomly chosen, you won’t know till the day. They have a dragon for each of you. The worse is the Hungarian Horntail.” Ron told me as I nodded again.

“I could try flying,” I mumbled to myself as Ron’s eyes widened.

“No way!” He practically shouted causing me to flinch away from him and shake even more. He took a deep breath before continuing in a low whisper, making sure to not upset me more, “You haven’t touched a broom since the accident, you’re not trying against a dragon.” He hissed at me as I let out a shy laugh.

“That... That’s not exactly what I meant,” I said with a small smile.

“What did you mean?” Ron asked me, confusion clear in his voice.

Deciding it would be easier just to show him, I got up and dragged Ron to the Quidditch pitch. When we arrived, I spun to look at Ron, who was struggling to catch him breath from the run here.

I smiled brightly as he looked at me, “Why are we here if you’re not planning to use a broom?” He asked me between breaths.

I noticed a few others on the pitch but it was mainly empty. Taking a deep breath I calmed my magic and switched. I shrunk in size as I grew bright orange and red feathers. I gained a white fluffy stomach and large, sharp, yellow talons. My vivid green eyes became a deep blood red as I let out a power screech which brought Ron out of his shocked stated and caused a few passers to look at me.

It wasn’t every day a phoenix just appeared on the pitch.

Carefully Ron held out his arm as I landed on it, doing my best to avoid hurting him with my talons. I gave him a soft cue as I gently rubbed my head against his fingertips.

“Harry?” Ron called as he gently lifted his other hand to pet my feathers. I nodded before leaning into his touch. “How?”

I laughed before jumping and turning back into my human form. “It’s one of my animagus forms.” I explained as Ron stared at me in awe.

“Wait, one of? You have multiple?” He asked in shock as I nodded.

“I have my phoenix, cat and one other but I don’t use that one often.” I explained as he stared at me.

“How?” He gasped again as I laughed once more.

“A lot of training, but don’t tell the teachers, technically I’m breaking the law but if I can fake a lack of knowledge they might let me off.” I joked as Ron continued to stare at me. “We should go.”

I gently dragged Ron off the pitch as the Hufflepuffs came to practice.

I quickly said goodbye to him before tracking down Fleur and Viktor, warning both of them about the challenge.

I was attempting to find Cedric when a group of students started to show off their badges while shouting at me.

I lowered my head, hating the onslaught of insults, as I walked towards the opening, spotting Cedric with his group of Hufflepuffs.

“Cedric, can we talk?” I asked as he jumped up and followed me, his friends were shouting at me but I ignored them.

“Dragons, that’s the first task, they’ve got one for all of us.” I told him as Cedric gave me a shocked look.

“Seriously?” He asked as I nodded. “Do Fleur and Viktor know?” He asked as I once again nodded. “Listen, I’m sorry about the badges, I’ve told them not to wear them.” He quickly apologised.

I smiled at him as I turned around to leave. “Don’t worry, it's fine.”

Not as if this happens every time I do anything at this school.

I tried to leave when I heard Malfoy sneering at me, “Potter, me and my father have a bet you see, I don’t think you’ll last ten minutes in this competition; he disagrees, he doesn’t think you’ll last five.”

I rolled my eyes and kept walking forward. I heard Malfoy mutter something I didn’t catch as he drew his wand.

Before I could react, Moody drew his own wand. “I’ll teach you to curse someone when their back is turned.” Moody quickly turned Malfoy into a ferret as he scratch at the dirt. Moody growled as he lifted Malfoy up, levitating him high in the air, all the while throwing insults at him like freshly sharpened knives.

Before anyone could do anything I drew my own wand. “Explearmus.”

Moody’s wand flew out his hand as Malfoy fell on the floor. I didn’t hesitate to turn him back before turning to glare at Moody.

Everyone stared at me in shock as I turned back to Malfoy and held out my hand for him.

“I’m sorry…” I apologised quietly before smiling. “I guess some people don’t know when to follow the rules.” I sent another glare to Moody as Malfoy took my hand and I pulled him onto his feet.

With Malfoy unhurt I turned around and left the area, not saying anything.

I could hear the whispers but I could care less. Not even Malfoy deserved that. Moody had no right to do that. He shouldn’t have done that. He has no idea what’s like to be trapped as an animal. He shouldn’t have done that!

Something is wrong about him.