Chapter 21 - The First Task
Megan found it difficult to shake off her fear now that she wasn't focused on the Summoning Charm any more. That had eased some of the nerves but now they were back in full force. So the result was she slept a lot less than would have been wise for such a dangerous task. When she went down the next morning, she felt oddly separate from the others. She stopped before the Great Hall door, hesitating.
"Are you okay?"
She looked up. It was Cedric. He looked about as tired as her.
"... Yes..." she managed to say. "You?"
"I'm all right. Don't worry. It'll be okay."
"... I know..."
Then, almost without thinking, he had his arms around her. She was breathing deeply.
"I know..." he said simply.
They parted ways and Megan sat down by Harry and Hermione.
"Oh, Megan..." Harry said, worriedly, seeing her tired eyes.
"I'm fine..." she said, pouring herself some milk.
Class was to be interrupted at noon, so everyone could see the task. Megan tried to concentrate, but her, and most of the other students, she noticed, were finding it very hard. She forced some lunch down her, even though she was too nervous to feel hungry. She glanced at Cedric, who didn't look too comfortable either.
"Potter?"
McGonagall came up to her.
"Yes, professor?"
"The champions are to head down to the grounds, to the location of the first task. Get ready."
Megan nodded and got up. She forced any sign of fear off her face to not give Malfoy the satisfaction of seeing her nervous. She glanced at Cedric who was walking out too. They joined up at the entrance.
"Now, don't panic," McGonagall said. "Just keep a level head. We have wizards on hand to help if need be. Just do your best and no one will think any less of you."
"Yes, professor..." they said.
Megan was surprised to see McGonagall seemed just as nervous as them. Cedric and Megan reached out for each other's hands instinctively. They exchanged a glance.
"Are you all right?" McGonagall asked.
"... Fine." They said.
They reached the spot where the dragons were kept. A tent had been set up.
"Right this way, you're to go in with the other champions. Mr Bagman will be there to tell you the procedure... good luck."
"Thank you, professor."
They let each other go and stepped in resolutely.
Megan was a little reassured to see that both Fleur and Krum looked rather nervous as well. She and Cedric smiled politely at them. There was virtually nothing in the tent aside from two benches for the champions to sit on. There was a wide opening to let them out the other side. To the dragons, Megan assumed.
"Ah, there you are!" Ludo Bagman said, beaming. "Come in, come in, have a seat."
They sat down beside each other. Megan would have liked Cedric's hand around hers but knew it would arouse suspicions, if there weren't any already about them helping each other because they were friends... Fleur and Krum were already seated, not speaking, not looking at each other. They were barely moving. Krum had joined his hands over his knees, while Fleur had crossed her arms nervously. Megan offered them a tentative smile which they did not return. Megan shuddered. If they were scared, how was she supposed to keep herself from panicking? She tried to reassure herself with the knowledge that she had done the right thing by telling Cedric about the dragons. Given the looks on Fleur and Krum's faces, they knew what was ahead, as well. Why else would they look so anxious? She glanced around. Bagman was eying them with a wide smile. She looked away, his cheeriness making her feel queasy. Her eyes caught Cedric's. He gave her a little smile of encouragement, which she did her best to smile back to.
"So. Here we are, the first task. Time to fill you in." Bagman announced. "Now, when the audience has assembled, I'll offer you this bag," he indicated a small purple sack "from which you will pick a small model of what you are about to face. There are different.... varieties. And your task is to collect the golden egg."
Megan remembered Charlie mentioning the dragons being nesting mothers. That was why, she realised. They would be over the eggs, making them more difficult to catch. Megan and Cedric looked at each other again. Both were pale and sweaty, and didn't speak. Fleur and Krum looked the same, but that might have been to not throw up if they opened their mouths. That was how Megan felt. But at least the three others had volunteered...
In no time at all, it seemed the stands were full to bursting. In the few last minutes they had before beginning, Cedric turned to Megan, looking anxious. He seemed to be trying to find the right words.
"You okay?" Megan asked.
"I'm more worried about you," he said. "You're so much more... well..."
"I know. But I've got it figured out, don't worry."
"Good. The key... is to concentrate, and then..."
"Battle a dragon..." Megan said.
"Yeah..."
"And don't you dare think about me once, while you're out there." Megan said firmly. "Understood? You need to have a clear head."
Cedric then pulled her into a tight hug. Megan instinctively hugged him back. Just then, the click sound of a camera and a flash made them break apart.
"Young love...!" Rita said theatrically. "How stirring..."
"You 'ave no business here, zis tent is for champions and friends!" Krum said.
"No matter. We have what we wanted."
"Gather round, please, gather round..."
Bagman came in. He came to the centre, the purple bag in his hand. Cedric squeezed Megan's shoulder as they got up.
"Well, here we are. Miss Delacour..."
She put her long delicate hand into the sack. She pulled out a small green dragon, which moved and seemed very alive.
"A Welsh Green..." Bagman said. "Very good. And it's number two, so you'll be second."
Given her lack of surprise, Megan knew now beyond doubt that Fleur had been informed.
"Mr Krum?"
He too, looked like he knew what was coming. He picked the Chinese Fireball.
"Number three. Mr Diggory, you next."
Megan crossed her fingers so he wouldn't get the Horntail. He pulled out...
"A Swedish Short Snout. Number one. You'll be the first."
Megan felt relieved on the one hand... but on the other, that meant...
"And that leaves..."
Megan took a deep breath, slid her hand into the bag... and pulled out the miniature Hungarian Horntail. It figured she'd get the most vicious one there.
"The Hungarian Horntail. Ooh, a feisty breed, that."
Cedric eyed her anxiously. Megan forced a smile and shook her head.
"Megan, a quick word?"
Mr Bagman had laid a hand on her shoulder.
"... Er... okay."
He led to the far end of the tent.
"All right?" he asked in a low voice. "Anything I can get you?"
"Uh... no, thanks..."
"Anything I can help you with about what's to come?"
"Uh... What...?"
"Well, no one would blame you, I can give you a few pointers, if you like. I mean, let's face it, you're the underdog, here, so if you need anything..."
Megan was a little irritated. Did no one believe in her at all?!
"Uh... no, thanks, Mr Bagman," she said. "I've got it figured out."
"No one will know," he winked.
"Really, I'm fine. Thanks." She said.
Just then, a whistle blew.
"Oh, sorry, got to run."
He shot out. Cedric was about to follow. Without thinking, Megan called:
"Cedric!"
He looked around, his face tense.
"... Good luck."
He nodded and headed out.
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