Inglorious Bastards [Theodore Nott]

Chapter Forty-Four

When autumn arrived, everyone was excited about the first task. They didn't mind the cold winds that would freeze them to the bone outside, they've waited for months with anticipating to finally watch the first of three games of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Wearing their warmest clothes, Carina and Hermione first went to the tent where the Champions were waiting, both anxious to see Harry. Though they were confident about Harry's ability to summon his Firebolt, the fear of facing a dragon – a full-grown dragon, and not a baby one like Norbert – made them worry still. Creeping to the tents, Carina had Hermione were at the back entrance of the Champion's tent, waiting for an opportunity to come in and see Harry.

Inside the tent, Harry and the other champions were already pacing around, Cedric has been circling around, while Harry was fidgeting his wand. From the front entrance of the tent, Morgan Diggory came, his presence had the Champions confused, but for Cedric who found comfort to find his brother.

"Ced," Morgan went to Cedric and brought him to an embrace.

"Here to read me my final rites?" Cedric joked, but his voice was slightly shaky, and Morgan did not appreciate the cynical joke at all.

"You'll be fine," Morgan said. "Just... just don't trip on anything, alright?"

"I won't," when he saw his brother trembling in fear, fear for him, Cedric held Morgan by his shoulder and bent down to his height, "I'll be fine, don't worry... no go back there and make find yourself the best seat there is, because..." Cedric then whispered to his brother, "I'm going to win this."

Morgan chuckled, "I know you will... you're the best there is."

Cedric chuckled when Morgan didn't even try to lower his voice when he said it. Now he was sure the other Champions were after his neck. As a good luck and temporary goodbye, Cedric held out his hand to his brother. The Diggory brothers did a high-five but then clasped their hands together and brought each other to a hug.

"Remember, you're strong, and you're the best there is. You're Hogwarts's Champion," Morgan said.

"Co-Champion," Cedric smirked.

"You're my Champion."

Just as Morgan left, Harry heard someone calling for him behind the tent, approaching the tarp, he leaned towards it and heard Carina and Hermione's voice.

"Harry, is that you?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," Harry replied.

"How are you feeling?" Carina asked.

"Fine – I'm about to face a dragon, what could possibly go wrong?" Harry attempted to joke, but failed as Carina did not even chuckle. He knew jokes were her way of coping or getting over her nerves.

"The key is to concentrate – you've done it before, you can do it again," Carina said.

"After that, you can just... you just have to..." Hermione whimpered.

"Battle a dragon?"

Hermione opened the tent and jumped on Harry to hug him, Carina followed after them, when Hermione let go, she then gave Harry a hug as well. She could feel him trembling, his hands cold. She then took his hands with hers and tried to warm them.

"Didn't Roman and I tell you over and over – it's best to have... to have warm hands when casting a spell because it –"

"Tickles the wand," Harry chuckled. "Still doesn't make sense, but I'll keep that in mind."

Finally smiling, Carina brought Harry to an embrace once again and placed a sisterly kiss on his cheek. Just in time, a flash shocked the three teenagers, and to their shock and annoyance, they saw Rita Skeeters standing in the tent with her photographer.