Pink || Fred Weasley [discontinued]

15 || beginning of the end

Gaia thought that there was no way things could get worse – absolutely no way. As usual, she was proven wrong when she found herself beside Harry, at their usual spot by the lake, as he told her about the next day's task.

"Dragons?" Gaia groaned as she buried her face into her hands, "Please tell me you're joking."

"Unfortunately, no. You think I want to face a dragon?" Harry snapped, rolling his eyes.

"Watch your tone," Gaia scolded as she lightly hit the back of his head, "Honestly, you are so temperamental these days."

"Gee, I'm sorry. Not like I'm potentially about to die in a tournament that I was never even supposed to be part of or anything," Harry said sarcastically, though his tone was less hostile.

"Well your attitude isn't going to get you anywhere," Gaia said, letting herself lay down on the grass, "Have you told anyone else yet?"

"I told Cedric," Harry answered.

"Cedric? I didn't think you two talked," Gaia said.

"I only told him because he probably would've told me," Harry said.

"How'd you even find out about the dragons without Cedric knowing in the first place?"

"Hagrid showed me the dragons," Harry answered.

"And the other champions? Do they know?" Gaia asked.

"I think their headmasters told them," Harry said.

"How kind of Professor Dumbledore to inform you, then," Gaia said, laughing sarcastically as she shook her head.

"To be fair, even the headmasters weren't supposed to know," Harry defended.

"Anyone else you told?"

"I've told Hermione. You think I should tell anyone else?" Harry asked.

"No, I'd say hold off from telling anyone else. Like you said, no one's even supposed to know," Gaia answered.

"Yeah, you're probably right." Harry said.

"So," Gaia leaned back to rest her weight on her arms, "I trust you're prepared, then?"

The hesitation in Harry's eyes made Gaia regret asking the question in the first place. Before she could open her mouth to speak again, Harry beat her to it.

"But we have an idea! M'just – still not sure if it's going to work," Harry admitted.

"Mind telling me? I might be able to help, y'know," Gaia offered.

"I'm sure you're busy on your own... I really wouldn't want to bother you. You've done enough for me with this whole champion thing," Harry said.

"Harry, that's nothing. You know I wouldn't leave you alone with things like that," Gaia said.

There was silence as Harry stared out into the lake while Gaia waited for his answer.

"A summoning charm," Harry finally answered.

"A summoning charm?" Gaia tilted her head to the side in confusion.

"I'm going to summon my broom during the task," Harry explained.

"That's..." Gaia stared off into nothing as she thought of possible scenarios, "That's actually pretty smart. You're good at maneuvering with a broom, so it'll probably be easier for you to avoid the dragon. You know, assuming that you're not supposed to face it head on."

"Problem is, I can't get the spell down. We've been practicing since lunch, actually," Harry said.

"What're you doing here then?" Gaia asked.