Out of The Shadows (Golden Trio Era) {1}

Battle A Dragon

"Mikayla! What happened to your neck?" Hermione asked after Mikayla had gotten her shower and dressed in yellow and red and curled her hair, supporting both Harry and Cedric. "Cedric but if anyone asks you, I burned myself with a curling iron." Mikayla whispers, so Lavender and Parvati wouldn't hear. "Oh my.." Mikayla laughed, looking at her watch, "I'm going to be late. See you at breakfast." Mikayla ran out of the dorms, through the common room and into the Great Hall. "There she is Professor." Cedric beamed pointing out Mikayla. Mikayla rushed over to the group, "Alright Miss Black. We want to rehearse one more time." Mikayla nods, when Flitwick turns his back, Mikayla gives Cedric a quick peck hello.

"And now for our pre-tournament entertainment. Hogwart's Elite Choir." Everyone got into their positions after Dumbledore announced them. Mikayla and Avery shared a nod before the music began. (A/N Rachel- Mikayla, Santana- Avery, Artie- Draco, Blaine- Brian, Finn- Cedric, Mercedes- Ginny, Pansy- Brittany)

The crowd erupted in applause, Mikayla beams brightly, she holds hands with Cedric and Brian as they all take a bow. Whistled filled the crowded hall, before the choir split into it's houses. Dumbledore dismissed the students giving them two hours before the first task. The four champions were escorted to their tent.

Ron went with Ginny to the stands, saving Mikayla and Hermione seats, whilst they snuck down to the champions tent. "Psst! Psst!" Hermione hissed at the tent, they felt someone brush against it. "Harry? Is that you?" The girls whispered, Harry responded that it was him. "Call Ced over," Mikayla whispered to him, "Cedric, could you come here for a second?" Harry called in his normal voice, the girls heard shuffling before it stopped. "Ced?" Mikayla questioned, she heard a hum in response. "How are you feeling?" The girls asked together, "Okay?" They didn't answer, Mikayla assumed that this meant they were scared and anxious. "The key is to concentrate." Hermione blurted out, Mikayla nodded, "After that, all you have to do is-" Harry cuts her off, "Battle a Dragon," a lump formed in Mikayla's throat, "Oh this is stupid." She opened up the tent, instantly wrapping Cedric in her arms, whilst Hermione held Harry, a blinding flash went off meaning someone had taken a picture. Mikayla groaned almost knowing instantly who it was, Rita Skeeter.

"Young love." she gasped. "Two cases at that." She spoke gleefully. Their cheeks turned red. "Oh, how... mmm... stirring." She pointed to her magic quill to write what she said down. "If everything goes... unfortunate today, you four may even make the front page." She pursed her lips. "You have no business here." A deep voice threatened from behind Rita, it was Viktor Krum. "This tent is for champions... and friends." He looked at Mikayla and Hermione reassuringly. She spun around to face him, obviously liking what she saw, a gagged somewhat. "No matter.. We've, uh, got what we wanted." She batted her eyelashes and caressed Krum with the feather quill.

At that moment Dumbledore parted the tent fabric and walked inside. "Good day, champions. Gather round, please." Dumbledore called, Hermione held onto Harry's arm whilst Mikayla did the same with Cedric. "Now, you've waited, you've wondered, and at last, the moment has arrived. A moment only four of you can fully appreciate." Dumbledore gazed at all of the champions and the two Gryffindor girls, doing a double-take back at the girls. "What are ye doing here, Miss Granger and Miss Black?" He questioned, the girls cheeks burned in embarrassment, saying they will leave, Mikayla have Cedric a support kiss on the cheek before giving Harry a quick hug and following Hermione out of the tent. Mikayla and Hermione got to their seats with Ron and Ginny, Mikayla sitting in between the girls because she is still mad at Ron, he hasn't even tried apologising.

Professor Dumbledore, pointed his wand to his throat and was now speaking loud enough for everyone to hear over the disgruntled dragon's roars. "The first task for the champions, starting in a few, short minutes, it will be to dodge the dragon before them and take the golden egg safely from its nest. We have staff on standby if things get out of hand." A whistle blew in warning and after a minute or so, Ludo Bagman appeared beside the other judges. He, too, held his wand up to his throat before clearing his throat and announcing, "Cedric Diggory is our first champion to go with the Swedish Short-Snout!" There was a great roar of the crowd as Cedric stepped out of the champion's tent, a determined look on his face, Mikayla's heart sank at the reality of her boyfriend's situation. With another blow of a whistle, Cedric quickly moved, brandishing his wand, pointing it at a rock, and shouting something Mikayla couldn't make out. The rock slowly Transfigured into a dog, its golden fur glinting in the sun. The crowd cheered in approval as the dragon's attention turned from Cedric to the Labrador. Cedric darted forward across the field, trying to get to the golden egg while the dragon was distracted. The dragon sauntered toward the dog but it spotted Cedric from the corner of its eyes. With horror, Mikayla watched as the dragon turned its head toward Cedric and opened its mouth, letting out a blast of fire. The crowd gasped as some of the flames hit the side of Cedric's head, burning the skin. Mikayla threw her hands over her eyes, no longer able to watch the torture of watching her boyfriend battle a dragon. Cedric leaped out of the way and extinguished the fire with a prod of his wand. He ran forward, toward the dragon's nest and scooped up the golden egg. The crowd went wild as the dragon handlers moved into the arena and subdued the Swedish Short-Snout as Ludo Bagman shouted, "Very good indeed! And now the marks from the judges!" Mikayla clapped and cheered loudly for Cedric as he got his score, which was good, but points were taken off for his burnt face. He was ushered out of the arena quickly by a furious-looking Madam Pomfrey and a relieved Professor Sprout.

"One down, three to go!" Ludo Bagman yelled as the whistle blew again. "Miss Delacour, if you please!" Fleur Delacour slowly walked out of the champion's tent. Even from where the Gryffindors were sitting, they could see that she was trembling from head to toe. Still, she had a blank mask over her face, not showing the fear she was feeling, which Mikayla admired. The whistle blew again and Fleur started forward, making her way to the dragon, the Welsh Green and getting as close as she could without being eaten or burned to death. She raised her wand, pointed it at the dragon, and cast a spell at it. She must have wanted to put the dragon in a trance. Almost immediately, the dragon swayed, its eyes fluttering. It dropped to the ground, looking sleepy, and fell unconscious. The crowd watched with bated breath as Fleur sneaked past the dragon. She was halfway to the nest of eggs when the dragon let out a great snore and a jet of flame shot out of it. Fleur shrieked as her skirt caught on fire, but she put it out with a bit of water. The dragon was still asleep as she snuck forward again and grabbed the golden egg. The crowd burst into cheers as the dragon keepers once again came out, taking the sleepy Welsh Green out of the arena. Fleur stood for her score, which was a bit below Cedric's, and smiled and waved before walking out of the arena. "BIEN JOUÉ FLEUR!" Mikayla screamed at the tops of her lungs, telling the blonde she did well.