I've now re-uploaded chapters 44-50 due to uploading errors. No one said anything about 48-50 but I think that was because they weren't available to read yet. Since I uploaded them at the same time, I figured to just err on the side of caution.

A/N: Okay, this is the last chapter that I've gotten written. I had to stop writing chapter 51 while I went back and updated my notes for this story. Having now done that, I'll start writing it. On average, it takes me around three months in order to write a chapter so don't expect anything new until December unless I get head by a sudden bout of energy.

A/N 2: On another note, I've decided to post the first two chapters of some of my other stories. I'm including the summaries here, so if your interest in those stories go and give them a read and let me know what you think.

Prevailing son of Adam: Harry, twin brother to the 'boy who lived' gets pulled into the world of Narnia where he discovers himself as he becomes confident and shadow to the true Kings and Queens of Narnia. It's a confident, well educated, worldly young man who returns to the Wizarding world and sees though the lies and deceit to find his true friends, and perhaps even his true family.

My Mad Man: After committing a Great Crime against Magic, the Mistress of Death is reborn into a new world. Adopted by Pete Taylor, she becomes the older sister to an inquisitive young lady. and then, she stumbles upon a Mad Man who might just show her the stars and remind her what it means to laugh and live once more.

Into the Dawn: Raven Smith was always her name, but it was the name she had taken up to protect the sisters she would never see again. Jack Harkness wasn't always his name, but it was the one he had taken as his own, and he strives to be the man that the original would be proud out. Two lost souls, bound together, find themselves slowly healing and learning to see the light even as they fight in the dark. The Twenty First Century is when it all...

Disadvantaged Traveller: Nine families looked out upon the world they lived in, saw the Pokemon who were dying because of the actions of man, and they decided to make a difference. And now, thousands of years later, from the Islands of Jura, a young trainer emerges having already faced death and danger. With his loyal Ralts at his side, our young trainer begins his journey and he just might be able to teach the Chosen One what his teachers failed to convey before his journey.

Victoria Weasley: Reborn the seven daughter, of the seventh daughter, Victoria was always bound to have a great destiny ahead of her. When she decides to break from the mould and become the first Slytherin Weasley, Victoria is determined to help Harry Potter reach his destiny by doing something unheard of – turning the dark house to the light.

Sasuke Uchiha: Trauma triggered the merging of two souls, allowing the young man who would turn against his friends and village to kill his brother, suddenly finding himself with a new outlook on life and the strong will of fire burning within his heart with one goal – bringing his brother back to Kanoha in honour.

For those of you have read one of my other posted stories, or who might be interested in it, I've renamed Σύνδεση to Conjunctionem, since so many people were getting annoyed with a title they couldn't read. The original version of that story was simple called 'connection' but when I reincarnated the story I turned in into Σύνδεση which is Greek for connection. So, now I've decided to call it the Latin form of this word.

Conjunctionem: Life used to be simple. Now life was complicated. A Twin Brother proclaimed saviour of the wizarding world. A Godfather vanished into isolation. An uncle wrongly locked up in prison. A manipulative light lord twisting the perceptions of the wizarding world. A not so insane evil Dark Lord.

After breakfast with the twins, Aileen remained hidden with them until the time of the first task was approaching. Twenty minutes before, as Dumbledore informed her, she needed to be at the champions tent, for the start of the task, they left their quiet sanctuary. The twins created a very effective barrier between her and the student population, even pulling their wands and glaring at anyone who thought to intercept or speak with Aileen on her way out of the castle. Their reputation as pranksters, and their known vicious retaliation to bullying, meant that no one dared do anything. Although Aileen would have liked to see her friends before entering the tent, they appeared to have already headed to the stands or been in the Great Hall, since they didn't cross paths.

Aileen received one last hug from her twins before she separated from them and entered the tent. She was the last one to arrive. Each of the champions where stood with their respective School Heads, while Bagman was stood glancing nervously at his watch.

"Ah, Aileen. Running a bit late, aren't we?" Bagman greeted her with a joyful smile.

"I was told to be here for nine, to be informed of what the task was. It is now eight forty-five. Unless the time of the start of the task has changed, and this information not conveyed to my person, I am in fact early." Aileen responded simple, moving to stand with Dumbledore. Despite the fact that she was not in this tournament as a representative of Hogwarts, he was still her head of school.

"Well," Bagman coughed in embarrassment. "Now that we are all here, I shall explain what the first task is. As you were informed a month ago, this task is about testing your bravery in the face of the unknown. To this end, we have organised for each of you to face a different bread of the same magical creature. The aim of the task is to retrieve the golden egg placed within the arena and then get outside of the enclosure with your prize. The judges all have a list of things that they will be looking out for in order to score you." Bagman pulled a bag from his belt. "Now, you will each take it in turn to draw from this bag the beast you will be facing. Lady's first."

Fleur stepped forward, and with a look of extreme distaste on her face, put her hand in the bag. After a moment she withdrew a miniature model of a dragon, around its neck was the number two. The dragon was a Welsh Green. Krum was next, drawing out the Chinese Firebolt with the number three around it's next. Cedric was last, drawing out the Hebridean Black with the number one around it's next. That left just the one dragon four Aileen: the Hungarian Horntail.

Aileen's research into dragons in her first year, and again when she figured out why Charlie was in the country five days ago, along with her friendship with the red-haired dragon tamer had taught her a lot about the different breeds of dragons. Once she had learnt that dragon's where part of the first task, Aileen had snuck into the forest on her broom and discovered the four breeds being used so that she could research more in depth about them.

The Common Welsh was one of the smallest dragon breeds known to the wizarding world at only eighteen feet, from tail to head, and fifteen from claw to head when they reach up to the sky. They had a wingspan of near thirty feet. Alongside their small size, the Common Welsh is easily distinguished by their green scales which allows them to blend into the greenery of their natural habitat. Of the four dragons in the competition, this dragon had the most mellow of temperaments and yet could still be vicious particularly when defending their territory.

The Chinese Firebolt like the Common Welsh, was not the largest of breads, and yet it was still significantly taller at 25feet from head to tail. This highly aggressive, extremely territorial and vicious dragon made up for its lake of hight with its ability to take down opponents swiftly and with prejudice. Further to its aggressive nature when provoke, the Chinese Firebolt was also agile and clever. When confronting this breed in its own territory, it was best to be warry because the Chinese Firebolt has been known to work with up to two male members of its kin in order to ensure that the most amount of territory was protected and the chosen females (up to three, one of each male) and their children where safe.

The Hebridean Black was an averaged size dragon at thirty feet from head to tail. As well has being larger than its fellow British dragon, the Common Welsh, this dragon was ferocious in appearance with black scales and piercing purple eyes. Just as it was ferocious in appearance, so was the Hebridean Black in action. Despite not being as agile on the ground as the Chinese Firebolt, it is extremely swift in the air and capable of gouging into the scales with its sharp claws.

Finally, the most dangerous and vicious of the four dragons was the Hungarian Horntail. Fifty feet tall, it's spine and wing tips where both coated in deadly spikes. As well as it's physically dangerous form, the Horntail was extremely territorial and agile, and capable of shooting flames hot enough to melt flesh further than any other breed of dragon.

Aileen had ensured that the other three competitors knew not only what they were facing, but the name of the four species involved. This was supposed to be a friendly competition, and she didn't want to see someone die because safety measures had been inadequate. It was because of Aileen's forewarning that the others looked scared, but not surprised, about what their task had been revealed as.

"Now you have your dragons, and the order in which you will face the task. When you hear the cannon, you will leave the tent and proceed to the arena. First up is Mr Cedric Diggory, then Miss Fleur Delacour, Mr Victor Krum and finally, Aileen Potter. Good luck, all of you." Bagman nodded once to all the competitors before leaving.

"As you are all aware, myself, Madame Maxime, Headmaster Karkaroff, Mr Bagman and Mr Crouch are all the judges for the tournament. However, there is a fifth completely impartial judge who will be joining us on the panel. Mr Samul Grievance, of the Magical Congress of the United States of America. Once the first task is complete, he will be joining us all here in order to explain the second task. I wish all of you luck in completing this task." Dumbledore offered them all a smile, before he led the other heads out of the tent.

"Do you ever get the feeling that pep talking is lost on those running and organising this whole shindig?" Aileen questioned her fellow competitors.

"That is what our friends are for, is it not?" Victor returned, giving her a half smile in gratitude.

"True enough." Aileen glanced at all three of their faces. "Do you all have a workable plan?"

"Yeah." Cedric muttered, swallowing tickly. He was extremely pale. "And yet, that doesn't make me feel any more confident."

"I understand you feeling." Fleur agreed, speaking up for the first time. "I am just grateful I did not get the Hungarian Horntail. I feel that my plan would not work against that beast." She shot a look which was between sympathetic and pitying.

"I'm not sure which I would before Hungarian or Chinese. I'll let you know which of us where luckiest when we are done here." Victor agreed with Fleur's sentiment.

Before their conversation could progress further, there was the sound of a Canon Blast which caused Cedric to startle and pale in further.

"Good luck, Cedric. You can do this." Aileen told her fellow Hogwarts's student reassuringly.

"I hope so." Cedric muttered, straightening his shoulders and marching out the tent with a tight grip on his wand.

"I'm going to mediate on my plan, I would recommend calming exercises while you wait." Aileen suggest to the remaining to competitors, before settling into a corner of the tent and falling into a light meditator state.

She left her focus only to wish Fleur, and then Krum, good luck when she registered the sound of cannon blast. By meditating, she didn't have to listen to the sound of Bagman's voice as he commentated the actions of her fellows. She didn't need the extra stress of worrying about whether or not they were about to be injured or killed based on his cryptic descriptions. Finally, the fourth and final cannon blast sounded.

Taking a deep breath, Aileen calmly walked from the tent with her wand drawn and her senses open.

The tent had been set up next to a tunnel like entrance which let to a temporary arena which had been erected next to the quidditch stadium. At the end of the entrance tunnel there was a space of about a foot, before coming to a red line in the ground. Aileen assumed that the red line was the start and end line, once she crossed it the first task would officially begin for her.

Aileen stopped just before she crossed the line, and looked around the arena. The arena was around three hundred meets from where she stood to the other side, where a wall rose up to meet the seating. The tunnel she had just left was half-way between the sides, which was around 80metres away on either side. Jutting out across the arena flaw was rocks of various sizes, which she could use for cover. There was a nest, within which was eight normal eggs and the golden egg which was her prize, about twenty metres from the far end of the arena. The dragon itself was curl protectively around those eggs.

With the dragon curled around her eggs, the first point of business would be in getting the dragon away from them so that she could approach.

Aileen vaguely registered that she was getting jereed at by the stands because she didn't step over the start line straight away. However, Aileen valued her safety above her ability to 'entertain' the masses. Only once she was absolutely sure she was ready did Aileen step over the line and immediately moved so she was concealed from the dragon's sight by a bolder.

"Sursamiros." Aileen circled her wand over her head before tapping herself lightly on the forehead. This spell concealed her scent until she cast the counter curse or twelve hours had expired. The Hungarian Horntail, compared to other dragons, had poor eyesight and preferred to track it's pray using smell and hearing. Concealing her sent removed this first avenue of being found. Next, she cast "silencio" on her feet. She didn't need to silence her robes since one of the rune schemes she had sown into them ensured that they didn't make a noise as she walked. Finally, she cast "illusiont" on her person by twirl her wand around her body like she was wrapping herself in rope. This made her form vade from view by bending the light around her body so she wasn't visible.

Unable to be heard, seen or smelt, Aileen stepped around from around her bolder and moved to an open space in the enclosure. She made sure that the location in the enclosure she had chosen was big enough to hold the dragon, even if it should decide to spread its wings. Unfortunately, the location was within twenty feet of the nest, which means that the dragon's fire would still be able to reach her once she immobilised the dragon. Aileen's plan was to lure the dragon to the location she had chosen and trap it before retrieving the egg and releasing the dragon once she was safely outside the enclosure. She hadn't told the twins how she was going to achieve this since she didn't want them worrying about her.

Walking to the north point of the clearing, closest to the dragon, Aileen draw her dagger and began drawing a set of bind runes into the hard enough. The first set of bind runes was for Uruz and Perth, which would hold the power as she poured it into the runes and activate the ward when she called it to do so. Further to this purpose, she added Thirisaz, which would leave a gateway which she would be able to manual close with a 'mental push' once she had connected her magic to the circle. At the north-west, north-east, south-east and south-west point of the configuration she added the bind runes for Algiz, Eihwaz and Ehwaz. The Algiz and Eihwaz runes described the purpose of the shield – that is one for defence and protection and would ensure that the identified object (which she did by included the identifier rune she had been taught, alongside the Chinese zodiac symbol for dragon) would crossover the barrier line. The Ehwaz rune ensured that the power would flow from the activation runes into these and hold the barrier instead of dissipating once activated. The final important rune she included at the north point was Raidho, which would link this set of runes with the others once she had drawn them. The rest of the runes she carved into the sequence at the north point was for stabilisation and balance of power and ensured all the cluster were properly connected.

Moving from the north point to the north-east, she paused and began drawing a new set of inscriptions. The first the bind runes of Algiz, Eihwaz and Ehwaz, before she linked it with the first set using Raidho. Then she added the stabilisation and balance of power runes.

At the east point of her circle Aileen first carved the bind runes of Uruz and Perth, before adding the bind runes of Algiz, eihwaz and Ehwaz, followed by the final centre rune of Raidho. Again, she added the stability and power runes. Her rune configuration from the east point was then reflected at the south and west point. While the north-east grouping was reflected at the south-east, south-west and north-west points of the circle.

With all her runes drawn, Aileen returned to the northern most point of her circle and put her wand away. Now came the hard part. Drawing her wand, Aileen placed the tip of on the power rune Uruz and channelled a consistent stream of magic into the rune. After ten seconds, she began walking her circle while ensuring a consistent power was travelling from her into her ward scheme. As she passed over each set of runes, they began to glow a deep, golden hue.

She walked the circle once, twice, thrice. Each time she passed the north point, the glow would brighten until she came to a stop outside of the circle at the northern most point. She now stood between her rune circle and the dragon which was watching the glowing ground warily.

Aileen crouched low to the ground, and replaced her wand with the tap of her wand to ensure that she continued powering the circle and maintain the connection. She couldn't break the connection until she 'closed the gate'. It took a lot of focus to split her attention to ensure that she never lost her hold on the ward, but Aileen managed to achieve that while also powering her spell.

"Expecto Patronum." She casted firmly. From the tip of her wand the largest prong's she had ever summoned emerged. He was perhaps three times larger than a normal stag – big enough to be considered a threat to the Horntail instead of pray.

The dragon roared in challenge as Aileen sent Prongs in. The dragon lunged and tried to capture the Patronus in its jaws, but the stag simple danced out of reach. Ensuring that dragons remain up to fifteen feet off the ground, Aileen lured the dragon away from its nest and into the air. Once the dragon was flying – even if it was only a few feet – she ordered Prong's to lure the dragon into her rune circle. A light sheen of sweet had appeared on her brow as she continued powering both the rune circle and her patronus – both very draining pieces of magic.

Finally, the dragon passed over her head and into the circle. The moment the Horntail's spiked tail had cleared her head, Aileen released prongs and completed the rune circuit. The horntail's forward momentum was immediately stopped as it ran into a barrier which briefly glowed blue at the impact. The Horntail tried twice more to escape its invisible enclosure before she started prowling restlessly, growling angrily at its inability to get out.

Aileen, still hidden under her charms, walked over to the nest and lifted the golden egg which she immediately placed under disillusionment. There was no point in her being invisible if the item she was carrying was visible for all to see. And she wanted to be able to remain out of sight encase her barrier failed before she crossed the line and ended the task.

Waiting on the other side of the line was Charlie Weasley and a group of what she assumed where dragon tamers, all of them staring at where the Horntail was prowling, and occasional attacking the wards, in shock.

"Charlie." Aileen greeted, dropping her disillusionment charm once she passed over the line.

"Aileen…" Charlie jumped in surprise. "How… what…. Why?" Charlie spluttered, staring between her and the dragon.

"It's just a basic containment ward with a dragon identifier." Aileen frowned at the shocked Weasley. "I would have thought you utilised a more permanent version of these wards at the preserve."

"Well… I don't actually know what wards we use. That something we hired the goblins to do." Charlie admitted sheepishly.

"Maybe you should ask the ward master on site? A location which has an activate ward scheme which is continually tested, like it would be at the preserve, requires a ward master to be present encase of potential cast-cade failure or a breach. The ward master in such cases are typically also the holder of wards." Aileen suggested. Her work with Bill and the other ward breakers had taught her a lot about such things.

"I just might." Charlie agreed. "Looks like the judges are ready to score you." he added, pointing over Aileen's shoulder.

It was only then that Aileen decided to pay attention to the rest of the world. She had been blocking the stands, and Bagman's commentating, from the moment that she had stepped foot in the arena. Now she turned back in, in time to hear Bagan quiet the chattering audience.

"Having conferred with my fellow judges, it has been determined that Aileen Potter has designed and implemented what appears to be a novel ward scheme in order to contain the dragon after luring it to the correct location using her corporal patronus. I've been asked to remind the audience that the Patronus charm is a notoriously difficult piece of magic that even adults struggle to do, and that Lady Potter was able to cast this draining piece of magic while also powering and holding her wards open. Something previously believed to be impossible." This announcement from Bagman caused lots of shocked whispering across the stand. "Now, it's time to reward points."

Bagman pointed his wand in the air and a ribbon shot out to form the number ten.

Next along the line was Percy.

"Charlie, why is Percy here?" Aileen asked.

"Apparently Barty Crouch has fallen ill and Percy is acting in his steed." Charlie answered as his brother stood and shot the number nine into the air. "He probably docked you points since it took your forty minutes to complete the task, while the other's completed the task in under twenty minutes."

Karkaroff, after a long moment of hesitation shot a seven in the air. It was clear he wasn't happy giving such a high number, but he couldn't justify anything lower considering the type of magic that Aileen had used. Next was Maxime who gave her a nine, and then Dumbledore who gave her a ten. Finally, it was Samul Grievance who also gifted her with a ten.

"Wow, that gives you the highest score at fifty five out of sixty." Charlie said surprised.

"Miss Potter, please proceed to the Champion's tent where you will meet with the champions and the judges momentarily." Bagman ordered before he cancelled the voice amplification charm he had been using.

"Aileen, how do we bring the ward down to get to the dragon?" Charlie stopped her before she could leave.

"Oh, you'll have to wait ten minutes for the power to run out. I'd rather not have to place myself in direct line of fire in order to undo to the runes. It will take you at least thirty seconds to stun the horntail once the ward is brought down, and I'd rather not risk it." Aileen would have to place herself within reach of the Horntail's claws – let alone it's tail – in order to under her runes before the power ran out.

"Ten minutes," Charlie checked his watch. "I supposed that means we will be able to contain this dragon without an audience."

"Good luck." Aileen wished Charlie and his colleagues before heading to the tent. She was intercepted before she could reach it by her red-haired devils who caught her in a tight two-way hug.

"That was amazing." The said together.

"We didn't know you could make such a powerful ward without a key stone." George said in wonder. Although they weren't particularly knowledgeable on warding, they had picked up a thing or two from Bill and from their playing with runes in their inventions.

"Or split your magic like that." Fred added.

"And your patronus was amazing. He was so big." George finished. Aileen had shown the boys what her patronus looked like when she didn't overpower it, and was in the process of teaching them how to cast their own, but she hadn't shown them how large she could actually make Prongs. Aileen had been determined that if she should ever encounter a large horde of dementor's again, they would not be getting close to her and hers.

"I've got to go to the champion's tent, you'll wait for me?" Aileen requested.

"Of course," Fred smiled brightly, pleased that Aileen now felt comfortable enough with the two of them that she would actually request them to wait for her. Normally, when she spent time with them, she simple joined in with whatever activity they were already engaged in or pre-arranged a time in which they could spend time together. Outside of those select times, it had always been the twins who had hunted Aileen down for some quality time together.

"We'll let Hermione, Neville and Ron know." George promised, pointing to the three figures which were striding purposefully in their directions.

"Thank you." Ailene kissed each twin on the cheek before she disappeared into the champion's tent.

She was the first one to arrive, so Aileen settled down in the seat she had been in previously until she was joined by the other judges and champions. She regretted not asking the twins to come in with her, but she figured that they would just be kicked out again when the others turned up.

She was there for perhaps five minutes when the other three champions where led into the tent by a grumpy Madam Pomfrey.

"Miss Potter, why didn't you come and see me immediately after completing your task?" she demanded.

"I wasn't injured during my task." Aileen answered simple. "I felt that your time was better spent tending to actual injuries then scanning me as proof that I made it without coming into contact with the dragon or it's fire." Aileen motioned to the burn past on Fleur's leg and Cedric's face. Krum seemed to be the only other champion that made it un-harmed.

"That's my decision to make, not yours." Madam Pomfrey grumbled, casting the diagnostic charm of Aileen who chose not to block or disrupt it. If anyone else had cast that charm against her person, she wouldn't have let it hit her – even if she recognised the spell.

"You three okay?" Aileen asked the other champions.

"It's just a surface burn, I'll be fine by tomorrow." Cedric waved off her concerned gaze.

"My 'urns will be fine, as well." Fleur admitted.

"I have bruises, but am fine." Krum shrugged without a care.

"What scores did you get?" Aileen asked curiously.

"I got forty-one." Krum was the first to talk this time. "I lost points for damaging the eggs."

"I got forty-six." Cedric smiled proudly. "unfortunately, my distraction didn't last long enough for me to get out unharmed."

"I got thirty-nine." Fleur admitted, unhappy that she hadn't been given as high a score. "I sent the dragon to sleep, but it snorted and my dress caught alight."

"What did you get?" Cedric asked curiously.

"Fifty five." Aileen answered.

"What did you do?" Madam Pomfrey was the one to ask in shock.

"I created and implemented an original ward scheme that trapped the dragon and it's fire within a certain area, and then I lured the dragon within it using my patronus. Once the dragon was safely contained, I simple picked up my egg." Aileen answered simple.

"What made you think to make a ward?" Cedric demanded. "That's master level rune work."

"I'm very good at runes and I didn't want to have to actually fight a nesting mother." Aileen shrugged.

"Champions," A distinctly American voice announced the arrival of the judges to the tent. Samul Grievance before in whatever he was about to say when he noticed Madam Pomfrey in the room and her "Madam, I trust that they are all okay enough for this meeting?"

"Yes, they're all cleared." Madam Pomfrey admitted grudgingly, although she seemed pleased that he had asked.

"Very well, then champions you should be aware that the second task of the tournament has changed." Samul got straight down to business.

"Changed? Why?" Cedric questioned, confused.

"Durmstrang's fault." Aileen answered before any of the judges could. "Now the Black Lake is strictly off limits,"

"That is why we have been moved to an abandoned wing of the classroom." Krum said in realisation. "Because of something we did."

"Your headmaster and ministry. The students and your deputy are blameless." Aileen reassured him while knowingly throwing Karkaroff under the buss with his students. He had managed to stop Alexander from telling the students, but he couldn't stop her. Something, his red and furious face said clearly.

"Anyway," Grievance changed the subject. "I have decided the second task. Within the golden eggs each of you hold is a different riddle. In order to enter the second task, you must answer the riddle. Then, you will be faced with a serious of challenges. To pass on to each stage, you must answer a new riddle. There will be five stages within the second task that you must successfully pass. This task is to test your critical thinking, intelligence and knowledge."

"The task will take place on the 24th February." Dumbledore tagged on to the end.

Edited: 31/07/2020

Word count: 4,594

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