"Today marks an important milestone... but every trial in the Triwizard Tournament carries inherent risks. Please remain in your designated areas to minimize the potential for injury..."
The stands vibrated with the roar of the crowd, each spectator fervently cheering for their chosen champion. Even Fred and George Weasley, ever the entrepreneurs, were undoubtedly scheming to capitalize on the frenzy by offering bets on the outcome of each contest.
After thoroughly laying out the safety precautions, accompanied by the resounding blast of a cannon, Cedric Diggory emerged from the tent. He stepped forward, the first to brave the challenge.
"Diggory! Diggory! Diggory!"
Though the cheers of the crowd were nearly deafening, Cedric couldn't suppress the gnawing anxiety in his gut. No matter how he looked at it, he was facing a fire-breathing dragon.
There's no way around it.
Arriving in the arena—a landscape dominated by massive, jagged rocks—Cedric's objective was clear: a golden egg nestled atop a makeshift dragon's nest constructed of rubble.
Cedric carefully surveyed the scene, his eyes fixed on the Swedish Short-Snout dragon in the distance. He needed a diversion. Quick thinking was essential. With a flick of his wand, he cast a Transfiguration spell, transforming a nearby boulder into a wild dog.
The dog's sudden barking immediately caught the Swedish Short-Snout's attention. Seizing the opportunity, Cedric darted toward the rocky nest. He sprinted across the arena, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
But halfway there, his luck ran out. The dragon spotted him and lunged, its massive form hurtling toward him with terrifying speed.
At the last possible moment, Cedric snatched the golden egg from the nest. Seeing that he had secured the prize, officials rushed into the arena to subdue the Swedish Short-Snout, preventing it from roasting him alive.
Cedric's success had hinged on a hefty dose of luck. Had fortune not favored him, the consequences could have been dire. He was promptly escorted off the stage by the staff, leaving the arena for Fleur Delacour to take her turn.
Fleur, boasting the advantage of her Veela heritage, attempted to bewitch the Welsh Green dragon with a hypnotic charm amplified by her blood. It seemed to work, but dragons will be dragons.
But, in a bizarre twist, the enchanted dragon began to snore in its sleep, accidentally unleashing a jet of fire that nearly incinerated Fleur. Nevertheless, she managed to snatch the dragon egg without sustaining severe injuries.
Next came a Durmstrang student, the poor soul who had the misfortune of drawing the short straw – or rather, the basilisk. Despite his best efforts, he failed to pilfer the golden egg from the monstrous serpent. Instead, the basilisk swallowed the egg whole, only to spit it out moments later in disgust.
Following this unsavory encounter, the Durmstrang student promptly forfeited the competition.
Then came another Durmstrang student, but his performance was even more humiliating. Apparating directly in front of him, a Zouwu immediately swatted him to the ground.
Fortunately, Tom had forewarned his magical pets; otherwise the unfortunate student would have been paste.
After two Durmstrang warriors were taken out of the competition, the last warrior, Viktor Krum, managed to seize the golden egg, salvaging what little honor remained for the school. This achievement visibly improved Igor Karkaroff's mood. Madame Maxime, standing nearby, couldn't resist a sarcastic jab at him, but her amusement was short-lived.
Because one of Beauxbatons' champions had also been eliminated.
The Peruvian Vipertooth, known for its incredible speed and potent venom, proved too formidable. The Beauxbatons student couldn't even get close to the golden egg before being eliminated. Aside from Cedric and the three initially selected by the Goblet of Fire, all other champions had been eliminated.
However, this didn't necessarily mean the other champions were weak. After all, Beauxbatons still had another champion yet to compete.
Upon learning of these eliminations, Harry, waiting anxiously in the common room, felt a surge of apprehension. It was his turn to face the gauntlet.
After a staff member informed him it was time, he inhaled deeply and strode determinedly from the common room.
...
"Potter!"
"Victory!!!"
"Potter!"
"Victory!!!"
"..."
In the stands, Malfoy and his cronies cheered raucously for Harry.
Across the arena, "Moody" wore a worried expression. He had intended to give Harry additional training before the match, but Tom had intervened. Although he understood Tom's reasoning, he couldn't shake the fear that Harry might not survive.
Entering the arena, Harry's gaze immediately locked onto the Hungarian Horntail perched atop the Stonebreaker's lair. His luck had seemingly taken a turn for the worse; the monstrous creature had obviously sensed his presence and was beginning to stir.
Seeing the Horntail preparing to strike, Harry drew his wand, ready to fight.
"Roar!"
The Hungarian Horntail unleashed a deafening roar and launched its attack. The force of its movements sent debris flying, but the dragon was already upon him in the blink of an eye.
"Conjunctivitis Curse!"
As Harry swung his wand, the Hungarian Horntail experienced a sudden and sharp discomfort in its eyes, abruptly halting its advance.
Seizing the opportunity, Harry didn't hesitate. "Demacia!"
A dazzling pink light erupted, and a pink Mjolnir materialized, hurtling toward the Hungarian Horntail's chin with a resounding crash!
"..."
The arena fell silent. The students stared in bewildered disbelief, while the teachers...
Severus Snape: ? ? !
Seeing the other students' bewildered expressions, Severus Snape sneered dismissively. "Hmph!"
Feeling the scrutinizing gazes of the other headmasters, who seemed to question the very foundations of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore coughed awkwardly. "Why the sudden concern, my friends? Do you actually believe our students are capable of harming a dragon?"
"..."
Dumbledore's words immediately prompted the two headmasters to avert their eyes.
On the field, the Hungarian Horntail, stunned by the sudden attack, swayed unsteadily. The blow had clearly had some effect, but not enough to incapacitate the dragon.
The Conjunctivitis Curse soon wore off, and the dragon, its eyes now burning with ferocity, scanned the arena in search of its impudent prey.
But Harry had already bolted toward the golden egg. He had no intention of engaging in a prolonged battle with the gargantuan beast.
Seeing this, the Hungarian Horntail unleashed a torrent of dragon fire, the raging flames bearing down on Harry.
Sensing the intense heat and realizing he couldn't outrun the inferno, Harry swiftly transformed his Mjolnir into a pink shield, using it to deflect the flames.
Then, in a scene that defied all expectations, the raging fire was deflected to either side by the shield—Harry had successfully blocked the dragon's breath!
Anything else would have been incinerated instantly by the dragon's breath.
The crowd, previously stunned into silence by Harry's outlandish display, erupted into thunderous cheers once more.
As the dragonfire subsided, Harry sprinted toward the golden egg. He was now closer to the prize than the Hungarian Horntail.
Enhanced physical prowess granted by his Transformation, he seized the dragon egg in his hand nearly instantly.
As expected, Harry had won.
---
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