86 Year Four - Chapter Thirteen

I actually went to the History of Magic lesson on that Tuesday, just so I would be easy to find when the task began. Professor Flitwick came to get me, and bring me all the way across the Hogwarts' grounds to where my destiny waited. "Remember that the jitters are the real enemy, Mister Umbrus," the diminutive professor said. "Fear clouds the mind. Always have a plan. Plans make even the most scared mind work!" he then looked up at me, "Don't worry about the results. Just worry about making it work."

I knew I was supposed to make it work.

If I didn't, I'd be dragon chow food. I gave him a small nervous nod, and then stepped inside the champions' tent.

"Now remember," Ludo Bagman said, after having explained the quick and dirty version of the rules. "One dragon each, you go in order," and I hoped I would be the first. Just so I could wrench the teeth out.

I wasn't that lucky.

Funny, the Horntail looked peculiarly aggressive even in miniature form. I would have hoped that the fourth dragon, the one that Harry Potter faced, would also be the extra one. Instead they had apparently decided to go without another, whichever it would be.

I still went last, if at number three rather than number four.

I wondered if Ron and Harry were nervously looking on from the rows together with Hermione, the three utterly unfazed by this year's events. I wanted the same. I wanted to make bets about Harry Potter's survival, and earn fat stacks of future-knowledge Galleon gains. Instead here I was, facing the incredible risk of permanent injury, death, and cooking.

Without Cedric to go first, it was Fleur who had the dubious honor. "I'd say good luck, but you've got it in the bag," I told her, and she gave off a pretty, if quite weak, smile. Thus, Krum and I remained, the Seeker quite surly and pale. The crowd cheered. It roared. Bagman said something. I wasn't listening. I was pacing back and forth, feeling like the next victim of a peculiarly vicious dentist, or the next to be examined for a peculiarly terrifying oral exam.

Then, Krum was called.

He too took his time. Finally, it was my turn.

I took a deep breath, and the swung open the tent's flaps. Silence settled at my entrance, the dragon at the far end of the enclosure scary, most certainly, dangerous, without a shred of doubt, and yet also...protectively hovering over its eggs.

It didn't charge at me. It didn't rush in my direction. It eyed me, warily and with snarls, its tail leaving deep, gouging marks on the ground. I neared my wand to my robes, and wordlessly cut them away.

Only our wands and our clothes, those had been the only things we could bring inside with us.

"He's cut free of the Hogwarts' robes! Might he want to try running for it?" Ludo Bagman's voice echoed up in the air, the dragon's growl growing ever so threatening.

Then, I lifted my wand up in the air.

There had been ideas that had gone through my mind on how to do this. There had been many thoughts, many plans, and yet, as I watched the tip of my wand sparkle with unquestionable faith, I smiled and twirled it.

"Symphonia Cantatio," I said cheerfully, a smile blossoming on my face as the music began to pick up.

The drums. The guitar. They began.

At first I was afraid, I was petrified. Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side. But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong.

The first of the dragon gargoyles slammed its claws down on the sand of the arena, students gasping at the music, and at the sudden appearance.

And I grew strong. And I learned how to get along. And so you're back. From outer space.

The second Draghul appeared, widening its wings in its normal, large dog size.

I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face. I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key, If I'd known for just one second you'd be back to bother me!

The third and the fourth floated down, flapping their wings with the natural ability of a real flying creature. The crowd began to look around for the source of the music, or for the Draghul's origin point.

Go on now, go, walk out the door.

The fifth, the sixth, the seventh, they all landed at the head of the already moving formation. They walked forward, their jaws open, their eyes stone-like. They moved, and the Horntail's tail slammed on the ground, it yapped its mouth, it growled, but yet the stone dragons neared.

I began to move forward, following the rhythm of the music. The eighth, the ninth, the tenth, they descended smoothly by the dragon's side.

"It's-It's a veritable army!" Ludo Bagman whispered. "An army of singing Gargoyles-"

Just turn around now. 'Cause you're not welcome anymore. Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye. Do you think I'd crumble. Did you think I'd lay down and die?

The Horntail's tail took down a gargoyle, slamming it into broken stones from its strength alone. The others kept nearing, the real dragon's wings flapping to try to get them to move away. Yet, they refused. I kept on nearing, moving while holding my wand as an impromptu microphone.

Oh no, not I, I will survive!

A shadow blotted out the light briefly. Students began to scream, but the music drowned them out, now coming far louder, from a far larger mouth.

Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive!

"Mother of all dragons-" Ludo Bagman mouthed in disbelief, "That's-"

I've got all my life to live! And I've got all my love to give and I'll survive!

The flesh and scales Horntail found itself pinned down, large claws slamming down on its neck from above, a hefty weight plummeting it down to sprawl on the ground, the smaller ones rushing forward to grapple on and add weight on its tail. Then, Shadowdrake opened its mouth, blaring not just the music, but also a cone of frost that made the Horntail's flaming breath come less, as if sapping its strength.

I will survive, hey, hey!

As the music kept going, disorienting the dragon itself who had a loudspeaker by its ear, all things considered, I walked towards the golden egg that nestled amidst the others, and grabbed it with my fingers.

Then, I moved away, I walked till the far end of the arena, and lifting my wand, I gave the signal for the music to stop.

The deafening silence lasted only until I made a polite bow, dismissing the orchestra.

The roaring of cheers and the furious clapping of the students was the most heartwarming music of them all.

Then, I looked up at the judges' panel, and waited patiently for my vote.

Dumbledore pointed behind me with one of his fingers, and I turned just in time to watch the dragon handlers try, and fail, to get the dragon statues to let go. With a snap of my fingers, the statues began to disentangle themselves one at the time, while the handlers got the Horntail under control. In a matter of minutes, I had the Dragon Gargoyles nestling around me, the larger Shadowdrake towering over me, eye-level with the panel of judges high above.

Needless to say, even Karkaroff didn't dare give me less than a seven with Shadowdrake staring at him with vivid, burning green-violet eyes. The rest ranged in the tens, and the tens, and the tens. Literally, Karkaroff had to fight his desire to appear even with his desire to ruin the competition. He had compromised, the poor man.

"I gave it my best," I said cheekily as I entered the tent with the other contestants since Ludo Bagman wanted to say something else to us there, Fleur was looking happy to see me alive and unscathed, but that would last only until someone told her what I did, and then she'd realize I had played her for a fool. Luckily, one-quarter Veelas couldn't throw fireballs from their hands, I hoped.

Ludo Bagman came down barely holding his breath, not a few seconds after me, "Absolutely stunning! Fantastic work! That was-that was one awesome way of dealing with it!" his breathing was labored, "The level of charmwork-the flair! Why! Dumbledore's apprentice through and through!" he slammed a hand against my back, much to my dismay. "Even the music! The music was the best touch! Muggle-one, if I'm not wrong? Bloody-damn-excellent-"

There were startled looks.

I simply kept my smile on my face and hoped that the twinkling of my eyes would work. Come on eyes, do your twinkling thing.

February the Twenty-Fourth, the day of the second task, of the second, cold, freezing as hell task.

I swam like a reef.

That is to say, I didn't even plummet...

...I just let water do its thing and erode me slowly.