The sky above Hogwarts was roaring even before the students gathered. Thick clouds trembled with heat, and distant thunder was not thunder at all — but dragons waking up.
The stadium was filled with students from Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang, banners waving, excitement and fear mixing in equal measure.
Inside the champions' tent, six nervous competitors stood together, accompanied by the Triwizard Committee, Dumbledore, Madame Maxime, Karkaroff, and the Valvas family — Darius, Clara, Grayfia — and of course, Roy, standing calmly as if dragons were nothing but oversized lizards.
Ludo Bagman bounced to the center of the tent with his usual overdone enthusiasm.
Bagman's Announcement — A Surprise Twist
"Ladies and gentlemen — and champions! Today's First Task is a special mixed round:Two champions at a time. Two dragons at a time. One egg each.Whoever secures their golden egg passes!"
Murmurs erupted. Even some teachers looked mildly horrified.
Bagman continued cheerfully:
"We will decide the pairs by lottery!"
He pulled out a wooden box filled with slips of parchment and began announcing the matchups.
The Match-Ups First Round — Camille & Viktor
Camille Rousseau (Beauxbatons)
Viktor Krum (Durmstrang)
Dragons:
Swedish Short-Snout
Chinese Fireball
A dangerous pairing—both dragons known for speed and aggression.
Second Round — Fleur & Ron
Fleur Delacour (Beauxbatons)
Ron Weasley (Hogwarts)
Dragons:
Common Welsh Green
Norwegian Ridgeback
Students who overheard Ron's dragon went silent.
A Norwegian Ridgeback was one of the most unpredictable dragons alive.
Even Roy lifted an eyebrow.
Third Round — Harry & Ivan
Harry Potter (Hogwarts)
Ivan Dragovich (Durmstrang)
Dragons:
Hungarian Horntail
Antipodean Opaleye
The crowd reacted loudly — the Horntail was infamous.Even Karkaroff looked pale.
The Pouch of Fate
Bagman then presented a dragonskin pouch.
"Each champion will draw a miniature model of the dragon they must face!"
One by one, they reached in.
Camille pulled out a snapping Swedish Short-Snout, silver scales glittering.
Krum drew a puffing Chinese Fireball, smoke curling from its nostrils.
Fleur reached in confidently and lifted a graceful Common Welsh Green.Roy nodded approvingly from the corner.
Ron trembling, pulled out a snarling Norwegian Ridgeback model. It bit his thumb.Students outside screamed with laughter.Outside the tent, someone shouted:"Whelp, Weasley's cooked!"
Ivan Dragovich drew the shimmering Opaleye without expression.
Harry reached last — and the tiny Hungarian Horntail unfurled its wings and roared at him.
Even the miniature looked deadly.
Reactions in the Tent
Fleur breathed slowly, her training with Roy keeping her steady.
Ron was already sweating through his shirt.
Harry swallowed hard but remained focused — Sirius' advice repeating in his mind.
Roy stood like a silent observer, analyzing every reaction, every fear.
Darius Valvas murmured to Dumbledore:"Some of these children will not survive without intervention."
Dumbledore replied quietly:"They will… because Roy has already prepared the most crucial ones."
Grayfia only smirked.
Bagman's Final Declaration
"Champions! Your dragons await!First round—Camille Rousseau and Viktor Krum—prepare yourselves!"
The crowd roared outside.
The ground shook.
The first two dragons were being chained into position.
Roy stepped forward and placed a hand on Fleur's shoulder.
"You're ready. Show them that you're not just a Veela… you're a warrior."
Fleur nodded, eyes blazing.
He looked at Harry next."Trust your instincts. Trust your skies."
Harry nodded too.
Ron… was praying.
And thus, the First Task began.