Chapter 3
A lone hut sat on the edge of the forest. Suddenly, three figures descended from the sky and landed in front of the rustic house. The small dwelling erupted in barks.
"It's been a while since I've visited Hagrid!" grinned Harry, "I can hear Fang barking!"
"Shut yer barkin' Fang," came a deep voice from inside the hut. "It's probably jest some squirrels." The door opened.
"Hey Hagrid!" chorused the trio. The gigantic man framed by the doorway beamed through his tangled brown beard.
"Oh it's you three," he growled gruffly. "Long time no see." His equally gigantic dog, Fang, bounded out from behind Hagrid and bowled Harry to the ground.
"Geroff me Fang!" groaned Harry as Fang licked his face. Harry had forgotten how nasty dog slobber was.
"Come on in you three," grunted Hagrid, motioning them into his very humble abode. The three humans and the dog followed Hagrid into the hut.
Hagrid busied himself preparing tea and his infamous rock cakes. He placed the platter of cakes and the teapot on the table, and then poured four cups of tea.
"How have you been Hagrid?" asked Harry from over the rim of his cup.
"Fine, fine," grunted Hagrid as he sat down at the table as well. "What 'ave you three been up to?""
"Harry has a new quest!" spoke up Hermione from her seat.
"He's going to get married," sniggered Ron. Harry shot him a glare as Hagrid jolted in surprise.
"Yer a bit young ter git married!" exclaimed Hagrid. "Who's the lucky girl?"
"She's a princess," muttered Harry, "And I'm up against Sir Cedric Diggory to get her. Whoever completes the quest can marry her."
"I dunno 'arry," said Hagrid seriously, "Sounds pretty risky ter me."
"Well yeah, but I already promised Voldemort," grumbled Harry. He stared grumpily into his tea. Hagrid flinched so hard that he upset his cup and kicked the table. Hagrid and Hermione's cup fell from the table and shattered. Hermione repaired them instantly with her wand.
"YOU-KNOW-WHO?" bellowed Hagrid, "WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YER, 'ARRY?"
"It seems Harry was swayed by Princess Cho's beauty," snorted Hermione dryly.
"Yeah but—" began Hagrid, who had calmed down.
"I know, I know," grumbled Harry, "It was stupid me okay? But I dunno what got into me. I just did it."
"What's yer quest 'arry?" questioned Hagrid.
"Oh that reminds me!" piped up Hermione, "We were going to ask you about Harry's first task!"
"I have to get a golden egg from a Hungarian Horntail," stated Harry in reply to Hagrid's question.
"'ungarian 'orntail!" breathed Hagrid in awe, "I've always wanted ter get one myself!"
"We were hoping you knew where it is," put in Ron.
"If an'one shou' know, it'd be you Ron!" admonished Hagrid, "Your older brother Charlie 'as the last 'orntail in captivity!"
"Seriously?" cried Ron, "I never knew that!" Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
"Well you three better git goin'," grumbled Hagrid, "You dun wan' Diggory gettin' there firs'."
"Thanks Hagrid!" grinned Harry. He got up and headed to the door. Ron and Hermione followed.
"No problem 'arry!" beamed Hagrid. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione mounted their brooms to prepare for take off, Hagrid sidled up to Harry and glanced around the clearing furtively.
"If you dun mind 'arry," whispered Hagrid into Harry's ear, "Can you git me one of them 'ungarian 'orntail eggs? I've always fancied an 'ungarian 'orntail myself."
"Er…sure Hagrid," answered Harry, though he wasn't really going to. He remembered when he was young and had visited Hagrid's hut one time. Hagrid had traumatized him when he had insisted Harry to meet his new friend, a giant spider named Aragog. Aragog had tried to eat him! Since then, Harry had always been wary of Hagrid's new "friends".
"Hagrid!" yelled Hermione reprovingly, "You know it's illegal to breed dragons unless you're licensed and educated at one of those schools on dragon training!"
"It won' hurt anyone," said Hagrid with a careless wave of his hand, "They're cute lil' critters!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at him disbelievingly. Then they shrugged their shoulders simultaneously. Hagrid was Hagrid!
"Bye Hagrid!" called Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they took off into the clear blue sky. Hagrid waved at them until they looked like little specks in the distance. He was extremely cheered by their visit, and hoped to own a dragon egg soon.
"I really don't believe that guy," groaned Ron, "If you heard him, you'd think he was talking about a little bunny or something!"
"Hagrid's been like that as long as I could remember," sighed Harry. "Remember when he took us to see Aragog?"
"Yeah," assented Ron with a shudder, "I've never been the same ever since!"
"Ron," demanded Hermione, "How could you not know that Charlie has a Hungarian Horntail? I mean, those dragons are legendary!"
"I dunno," shrugged Ron. Hermione sighed. They lapsed into silence and continue to fly. Finally, they could see Ron's home down below.
"Oh look! There's the castle Burrow!" shouted Harry over the rushing wind. Harry could see Ron's castle, with the funny crooked towers and the wild garden. They landed in front of the door. Ron knocked loudly.
"I'm home!" hollered Ron. The door flew open, and Lady Weasley bustled out.
"Oh Ron!" cried Lady Molly, "I was so worried about you! You were gone the entire night! I thought something terrible had happened!"
"Don't worry mum!" replied Ron, "You have that clock!"
"Yes but it's been pointing to 'mortal danger' ever since we joined Th—" Lady Molly lowered her voice significantly, "Ever since we joined the Order! Now hurry up and come in!"
"Is Charlie home?" asked Ron.
"Yes! He just got in a while ago," replied Lady Molly. They walked down the corridor of the castle and reached a large open space containing a huge table. A muscled man with a burn mark on his shoulder sat at the table.
"Hey Charlie!" chorused Ron, Harry, and Hermione.
"Hey!" greeted Charlie in a friendly manner. "How's everything going?"
"Fine, fine," muttered Ron. "We're sort of in a hurry. Where are you keeping your Hungarian Horntail?"
"Can't you say a proper hello?" groaned Charlie, "The minute I get home, you're already demanding things from me!" He grinned.
"It's for Harry's quest!" retorted Ron. Then he smirked very evilly. "Harry's getting MARRIED!" Harry glared venomously at Ron. He felt like strangling the rotten little—
"MARRIED!" screamed Lady Weasley joyfully.
"MARRIED?" gaped Charlie disbelievingly. He stared at Harry in astonishment, and then his face relaxed into a huge grin. "I never would have thought!" chuckled Charlie, slapping Harry on the back. Harry's spectacles nearly flew off from the strength of Charlie's thumps. There was power in those arms! Enough to tame a Hungarian Horntail at least.
"Oh Harry!" sobbed Lady Weasley rapturously. She squished Harry against her plump body in a tight embrace. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Who's the lucky lady?" asked Charlie. He could not seem to stop smiling or pummeling Harry's back. Between Lady Weasley's cuddling and Charlie's pounding, Harry could not get a word in edge wise.
"She's a princess," replied Ron with a smirk.
"Oh a princess?" gasped Lady Weasley, "Oh Harry!" She appeared speechless at Harry's good fortune, and clutched him tighter to her chest instead. Harry found himself suffocating in Lady Weasley's sizable bosom.
"When can we meet her?" inquired Charlie enthusiastically. Lady Weasley finally let go of Harry. She stared at him eagerly with her hands clasped before her. Hermione cleared her throat.
"Actually Lady Weasley," began Hermione, "Harry may not get married at all."
The hopeful expression on Lady Weasley's face wavered a bit.
"Why ever not?" she questioned with wide eyes.
"Well, he has to complete three nearly impossible ordeals in order to win the hand of the princess," responded Hermione, "And his first task is to get a golden egg from the Hungarian Horntail. That's why we were hoping to see you, Charlie."
"Yeah, and we need to be quick about it or else Sir Cedric Diggory will get there first," added Ron.
Charlie scratched his head thoughtfully.
"Er…" said Charlie, "You might have a tough job getting an egg. Lately, the dragon's been a bit unruly. I had to summon a couple of my friends over in order keep it under control. I don't think it'll be possible getting a golden egg from her. She's already mad enough!"
"Well I must!" cried Harry determinedly. "Where are you keeping her?"
"In an enclosure a couple leagues north of here. I'll take you there tomorrow. It's late. We should be going to bed," answered Charlie. Suddenly, Harry felt very, very tired. He could tell that Ron and Hermione were exhausted as well, so he followed Lady Weasley as she led him to his room.
:x:
The next morning, Sir Harry Potter, Sir Ron Weasley, and Lady Hermione Granger woke up bright and early to get a head start on what promised to be a lovely, sunny day. The descended down the crooked stone stairways of Burrow Castle to the dining area. Breakfast was laid out, and Sir Charlie was already sitting at the table munching on a slice of bread and cheese.
"Awake already, eh Harry?" grinned Charlie from his seat. Lady Weasley was bustling about making sure Harry, Ron, and Hermione had enough food.
"Thanks, but I'm fine," said Harry for the third time when Lady Weasley offered him yet another loaf of bread.
Finally, everyone finished their breakfast, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed Charlie out to the broom shed to saddle up their brooms and prepare for the journey.
As they were about to launch, Lady Weasley hurried out of the castle and thrust a large basket into Harry's arms. Harry peered inside to see a whole roast chicken, a flagon of pumpkin juice, and a large loaf of bread and some cheese.
"For the journey," explained Lady Weasley tearfully as she bade goodbye to the quartet. Charlie rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry mum," groaned Charlie, "If all goes well we should be back by nightfall."
"But I can't help it!" sobbed Lady Weasley, "Everyone seems to be leaving me! With your father gone doing who-knows what for the Order and Percy gone working for Lord Crouch and Bill gone treasure-hunting and Ginny being chased by suitors, I don't know what to do!"
"Don't worry mum! We always come back!" soothed Charlie.
"We have to go now," reminded Ron.
"We'll be fine Lady Weasley!" assured Harry.
"I'll be watching them for you," promised Hermione.
"Goodbye!" cried Lady Weasley after them as they flew into the wide, blue sky, "Good bye!"
:x:
The quartet flew for about an hour, until they reached their destination. They landed beside a large stone enclosure, almost like an open stadium, where Charlie kept the Hungarian Horntail in captivity. The wilderness surrounding them was eerily quiet.
"The dragon usually naps at this time of the day," whispered Charlie, "So right now would probably be the best time for you to sneak in and grab the egg. You should keep your wand ready though, because she's a light sleeper."
"Sure," said Harry nervously, "Do you know anything that'll work against a giant, rampaging and probably furious dragon?"
"Nope, sorry, but try to aim your spells at the eyes; those are its weak points," answered Charlie. He slapped Harry on the back. "You can do it!"
"Yeah, especially since it's for the sake of your lovely princess, Cho Chang," smirked Ron. Hermione kicked him in the buttocks with her pointed shoe.
"Be careful Harry," said Hermione anxiously.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," lied Harry. His heart was beating rapidly, and he felt an odd fluttering in his stomach. He suddenly wanted to vomit, but he managed to keep his breakfast down, and mounted his broom.
Harry flew over the enclosure, and surveyed the landscape. The dragon was sleeping on one side of the oblong structure, and it was curled around a straw nest containing three or four glittering golden eggs. Harry decided to simply dive down on his broom, scoop up an egg, and fly away as quickly as possible. However, a figure flying on a broom in the distance distracted him.
Oh no, thought Harry, it can't be Cedric!
The figure zoomed closer toward Harry, and it revealed itself to be none other than…. Someone Harry didn't know!
The figure, a skinny man with a sullen face and bushy eyebrows stopped before him.
"Blabbady blah blah ooky gaboo fooodaa mmmmuuuchi igpiey mick mick mick mick," said the man.
"Er… excuse me?" said Harry.
"Oh, pardon me," replied the man, "But I vas vondering if you vere avter ze golden eggz as vell."
"Yeah," answered Harry to the foreigner. The man's surly face lightened a bit.
"Zen do you vant to accompany me to keel ze dragon and take ze eggs?"
"Kill the dragon?" gasped Harry, "But that dragon belongs to someone already! I was planning to just fly down, grab an egg, and fly away."
The foreigner mused over this a bit.
"Vell, zat zounds like a good idea. Pardon me, but vat is your name?"
"Harry Potter."
"I am Viktor, Viktor Krum."
"Nice to meet you."
"And you as vell." Viktor nodded gravely at Harry, "Shall ve do it?"
"Yeah," returned Harry determinedly.
"Vell zen, you can go first."
"Fine with me."
Harry began to descend, and gained speed as he plummeted. The wind whooshed through his ears, and the golden eggs began to grow larger as they came closer. Harry had eyes only for the golden eggs, when suddenly, one of them was snatched away from right before him!
"Wha--?" gasped Harry in surprise. He looked at the person holding the golden egg. "CEDRIC?"
"Shh…" hushed Sir Cedric, "Don't yell! The dragon just finally went to sleep! I've been crouching behind that rock over there waiting for hours for this moment!"
"Too late…" groaned Harry as the dragon gave a loud snort. It opened one of its bright yellow eyes, caught sight of the egg- thieves, and reared up with a huge roar. Fire burst from its nostrils, and it lunged toward the two.
"Well, since I've already gotten my egg, I better be going…." said Sir Cedric. With that, he flew away into the sun, his divine hair fluttering behind him in the wind and the golden egg glinting in his arms.
That git, thought Harry angrily. He decided on a different plan of action, and mounted his broom. Harry flew up, and began to sway hypnotically before the dragon. The Horntail followed Harry with its gleaming yellow eyes, and whipped its burnished black tail back and forth threateningly. Harry flew in circles around its head to antagonize it further, and finally, the black magical reptile could no longer take Harry's blatant teasing. It launched itself into the air, and lurched at Harry, but was pulled back to the ground by the thick iron chain coiled around its ankle. Harry flew a little closer, and the Horntail surged at Harry once again. Harry took this chance, and plummeted to the nest where he scooped up a golden egg. The dragon was too large to change direction so quickly, and Harry had enough time to soar away with his hard-earned prize clutched firmly in his hands. He whooshed to where Ron, Hermione, and Charlie were standing with a triumphant grin on his face. As he landed, a mane of bushy brown hair suddenly attacked him.
"You did it!" squealed Hermione ecstatically, "You did it!" She nearly strangled him.
"Good job mate, I was watching. You were awesome!" congratulated Ron.
"I knew you could do it," said Charlie proudly.
Just then, Viktor Krum landed beside them. Harry had nearly forgotten about that bloke.
"I see you haf succeeded in your quest," stated Viktor.
"Yeah, yeah, I did," beamed Harry. His euphoria was making him feel dizzy and lightheaded. "Aren't you going to give it a go as well?"
"Vell—" began Viktor, but Charlie interrupted him.
"As a dragon trainer, I have to step in," declared Charlie, "That Horntail already has had enough eggs taken from her. I need to ensure that they hatch and grow because I am hoping to revive the Horntail population."
"Why would you do something crazy like that?" protested Ron in horror, "Imagine, little baby dragons growing up into more Horntails like that!"
"Still," continued Charlie, "It's a rare magical creature and it would be quite a pity if all of them disappeared from the world forever."
"He's right," said Hermione, "And not to mention that dragons have many uses, especially its blood, and its heartstrings are often utilized to make wands."
"Anyvay," cut in Viktor, getting tired of all the talk, "I cannot leave vithout a dragon egg, or I vill haf shamed my family. I cannot return to Bulgaria in such disgrace."
"Oh," said Harry, trying to sound sympathetic. However, he was still titillated by his close brush with death and his sense of accomplishment.
"What do you need it for?" asked Hermione with interest.
"Vell, it iz a very important ingredient in a potion that I am brewing for my sick muzzer," replied Sir Viktor, "Ze Healer said zat she cannot be healed vithout an egg from ze Hungarian Horntail."
"What sort of sickness does she have?" questioned Hermione.
"Vell, my muzzer, she has a disease much like ze one zat zis boy here has," said Krum, pointing at Ron, "Spots are growing on her face and she look more gruesome, very much like ze boy." Ron looked very offended at this, while Charlie snickered appreciatively.
"Oh! You mean spattergroit!" cried Hermione in recognition, "You don't need a dragon egg to heal that! You just have to take the liver of a toad, bind it tightly around your neck, and stand naked by the full moon in a barrel of eel's eyes!"
"Zoes zat veally vork?" inquired Sir Viktor doubtfully, "Vell zen, much obliged Lady… er… vat vas your name?"
"Oh yeah!" remembered Harry, "I forgot the introductions! Ron, Hermione, Charlie, this is Sir Viktor Krum!"
"Viktor Krum?" gasped Ron in amazement, "THE Sir Viktor the Valorous, the Knight who can fly faster than a hippogriff? Sir Viktor who was the youngest winner of the Quidditch Battle Tournament by capturing the Snitch in less than three minutes? That Sir Viktor?"
"Yes," answered Sir Viktor the Valorous with a surly look at Ron. He turned backed to Hermione.
"I am much obliged, Lady Hermy-own-ninny, and I vish to zank you for your kindness. I am very grateful zat my mother has hope of being healed from ze disease that makes her look like zis boy here, and I vould like to take you back to Bulgaria vith me. Vill you, Lady Hermy-own-ninny, come back to my country vith me?"
"Wait, are you asking me to marry you?" gaped Hermione. Krum nodded his head. Her mouth hung open, and she looked at Krum like he had a unicorn growing from his toe. Harry, Ron, and Charlie gazed at Krum with stupefied looks. Suddenly, Ron began to guffaw.
"You're saying you want to get married with her?" snorted Ron with laughter. "That was a good one Viktor! You almost had me there!" Ron began to laugh boorishly, and he slapped his thighs. Then, he started to choke on his own spit. However, Hermione did not find it so funny. Harry noticed that tears were threatening to spill from her eyes as she glared at Ron doubled over amusement. Charlie noticed this as well.
"Stop laughing Ron," commanded Charlie, "Hermione is at a marriageable age, and it shouldn't be so surprising that a suitor should come seeking her hand."
"Yes, but why her?" howled Ron in merriment, "She doesn't even count as a woman!" A stunned silence (except for Ron gasping in amusement) followed this cutting comment. Hermione's hot tears spilled out of her eyes and into the ground.
"Ron, you disgusting, disgusting---" Hermione could not seem to find any words to express her anger, and she began to sob. She slapped Ron across the face, kicked him in the balls, and ran off into the woods with her broom over her shoulder. Ron fell to the ground in agony.
"What was up with her?" grimaced Ron, clutching his injured body part. Krum scowled at Ron, and looked surlier than ever.
"I vill go back home now, and heal my muzzer. Zen, I vill come back here and await Lady Hermy-own-ninny's reply," declared Sir Krum. Without another word, he smoothly mounted his broom and headed home.
"Wow, I can't believe Hermione actually got a marriage proposal," remarked Ron as the pain began to subside. Harry and Charlie did not reply, but instead looked at Ron with inscrutable expressions on their face. They turned away and began to walk in the direction that Hermione went.
"What?" cried Ron in befuddlement. He ran after the two. "What did I do wrong?"
To Be Continued...
I haven't updated in a while ;) Please Review! I really appreciate it!