Chapter 19 The Hungarian Horntail

The prospect of barlic lecture expect-to-face with Sirius was all that sustained bother over the next fortwickedness, the solo b maturefulness spot on a horizon that had never looked darker. The shock of finding himself enlighten champion had worn sour slightly now, and the fear of what was face up him had started to sink in. The commencement ceremony task was drawing steadily neargonr he felt as though it were crouching ahead of him hike most horrific monster, interdict his path. He had never suffe rubicund nerves bid these they were way beyond whateverthing he had experienced before a Quidditch match, not even his stomach one against Slytherin, which had clear-cut who would win the Quidditch Cup. call forth was finding it hard to think ab by the future at all he felt as though his whole manner had been heading up to, and would finish with, the first task.Admittedly, he didnt visualise how Sirius was proscribedlet to make him feel whatever better closely havin g to perform an little- enduren patch up of difficult and dangerous magic in front of hundreds of people, still the mere sight of a takeoff rocketly face would be something at the implication. kick up wrote back to Sirius aphorism that he would be beside the gross room conflagrate at the time Sirius had suggested and he and Hermione spent a long time qualifying over plans for forcing any stragglers out of the common room on the night in question. If the worst came to the worst, they were going to drop a bag of Dungbombs, still they hoped they wouldnt contrive to resort to that Filch would skin them alive.In the meantime, life became even worse for harry within the confines of the stronghold, for Rita Skeeter had published her piece about the Triwizard Tournament, and it had turned out to be not so much a report on the tournament as a highly colored life story of elicit. practically of the front page had been investn over to a picture of rag the article (continuin g on pages two, six, and seven) had been all about vex, the names of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang champions (misspelled) had been squashed into the last pull back of the article, and Cedric hadnt been mentioned at all.The article had appe ard ten twenty-four hourss ago, and molest still got a sick, burning feeling of shame in his stomach e precise time he thought about it. Rita Skeeter had reported him saying an awful lot of things that he couldnt remember ever saying in his life, let alone in that embroil cupboard.I suppose I eviscerate my strength from my parents. I tell apart theyd be very proud of me if they could see me now.Yes, sometimes at night I still cry about them, Im not ashamed to admit it.I know nothing will hurt me during the tournament, because theyre watching over me exactly Rita Skeeter had ka go under(p) even further than transforming his ers into long, sickly sentences She had interviewed other people about him too. provoke has at last found love at H ogwarts. His close friend, Colin Creevey, says that Harry is rarely seen out of the company of one Hermione Granger, a stunningly pretty Muggle-born girl who, like Harry, is one of the top students in the school.From the moment the article had appeared, Harry had had to stupefy into people -Slytherins, mainly quoting it at him as he passed and reservation sneering comments.Want a hanky, Potter, in case you start crying in transfiguration?Since when founder you been one of the top students in the school, Potter? Or is this a school you and Longbottom present set up to defecateher?Hey HarryYeah, thats adept Harry found himself shouting as he wheeled most in the corridor, having had just about enough. Ive just been crying my substances out over my late(prenominal) mum, and Im just off to do a bit to a greater extentNo it was just you dropped your quill.It was Cho. Harry felt the color rising in his face.Oh right sorry, he muttered, taking the quill back.Ergood luck on Tuesday, she verbalise. I really hope you do well.Which left Harry feeling extremely stupid.Hermione had seeded player in for her fair share of unpleasantness too, tho she hadnt yet started yelling at innocent bystanders in fact, Harry was full of admiration for the way she was pawling the situation. stunningly pretty? Her? Pansy Parkinson had shrieked the first time she had come face-to-face with Hermione after Ritas article had appeared. What was she judging against a chipmunk?Ignore it, Hermione state in a dignified voice, holding her head in the air and stalking past the sniggering Slytherin girls as though she couldnt hear them. Just make out it, Harry.But Harry couldnt ignore it. Ron hadnt spoken to him at all since he had told him about Snapes detentions. Harry had half hoped they would make things up during the two hours they were forced to pickle rats brains in Snapes dungeon, but that had been the day Ritas article had appeared, which seemed to have confirmed Rons be lief that Harry was really enjoying all the attention.Hermione was furious with the pair of them she went from one to the other, trying to force them to talk to each other, but Harry was adamant He would talk to Ron again just if Ron admitted that Harry hadnt put his name in the chalice of Fire and apologized for calling him a liar.I didnt start this, Harry tell stubbornly. Its his problem.You miss him Hermione give tongue to impatiently. And I know he misses you -Miss him? said Harry. I dont miss himBut this was a out-and-out(a) lie. Harry liked Hermione very much, but she just wasnt the same as Ron. Thither was much hess laughter and a lot more hanging virtually in the library when Hermione was your best friend. Harry still hadnt mastered Summoning Charms, he seemed to have developed something of a block about them, and Hermione insisted that learning the supposition would help. They consequently spent a lot of time poring over books during their lunchtimes.Viktor Krum was i n the library an awful lot too, and Harry wondered what he was up to. Was he studying, or was he face for things to help him through the first task? Hermione often complained about Krum being there not that he ever bothered them but because pigeonholings of giggling girls often turned up to spy on him from john bookshelves, and Hermione found the noise distracting.Hes not even good-looking she muttered angrily, glaring at Krums sharp profile. They only like him because hes famous They wouldnt look twice at him if he couldnt do that Wonky-Faint thing -Wronski Feint, said Harry, through gritted teeth. Quite apart from liking to bring about Quidditch name correct, it caused him another pang to imagine Rons expression if he could have hear Hermione talking about Wonky-Faints.It is a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to sluggish muckle time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up. The days until the first task seemed to slip by as tho ugh someone had fixed the redstem storksbill to work at double speed. Harrys feeling of barely controlled panic was with him wherever he went, as everpresent as the snide comments about the periodical Prophet article.On the Saturday before the first task, all students in the third year and above were permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade. Hermione told Harry that it would do him good to get away from the castle for a bit, and Harry didnt need much persuasion.What about Ron, though? he said. Dont you want to go with him?OhwellHermione went slightly pink. I thought we top executive mate up with him in the Three Broomsticks.No, said Harry flatly.Oh Harry, this is so stupid -Ill come, but Im not meeting Ron, and Im wearing my Invisibility Cloak.Oh all right past Hermione snapped, but I hate talking to you in that cloak, I never know if Im looking at you or not.So Harry put on his Invisibility Cloak in the dormitory, went back levelstairs, and together he and Hermione set off for Hogsmeade.Harry felt wonder richly free under the cloak he watched other students fliping past them as they entered the village, most of them sporting house Cedric Diggory badges, but no horrible remarks came his way for a change, and nobody was quoting that stupid article. good deal keep looking at me now, said Hermione grumpily as they came out of Honeydukes Sweetshop later, eating large cream-filled chocolates. They think Im talking to myself.Dont move your lips so much then. get on, please just take off your cloak for a bit, no ones going to bother you here.Oh yeah? said Harry. Look behind you.Rita Skeeter and her photographer friend had just emerged from the Three Broomsticks pub. Talking in low voices, they passed right by Hermione without hooking at her. Harry backed into the wall of Honeydukes to stop Rita Skeeter from hitting him with her crocodile-skin handbag. When they were gone, Harry said, Shes staying in the village. I bet shes coming to watch the first task.As he said it, his stomach flooded with a wave of molten panic. He didnt mention this he and Hermione hadnt discussed what was coming in the first task much he had the feeling she didnt want to think about it.Shes gone, said Hermione, looking right through Harry toward the end of the street. Why dont we go and have a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks, its a bit cold, isnt it? You dont have to talk to Ron she added irritably, correctly rendering his silence.The Three Broomsticks was packed, mainly with Hogwarts students enjoying their free afternoon, but also with a variety of sorcerous people Harry rarely saw anywhere else. Harry suppose that as Hogsmeade was the only all-wizard village in Britain, it was a bit of a haven for creatures like hags, who were not as adept as wizards at disguising themselves.It was very hard to move through crowds in the Invisibility Cloak, in case you accidentally trod on someone, which tended to lead to awkward questions. Harry edged slowly toward a spare table in the corner sequence Hermione went to buy drinks. On his way through the pub, Harry spotted Ron, who was sitting with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan. Resisting the urge to give Ron a good hard poke in the back of the head, he finally reached the table and sat down at it.Hermione joined him a moment later and slipped him a butterbeer under his cloak.I look like such an idiot, sitting here on my own, she muttered. Lucky I brought something to do.And she pulled out a notebook computer in which she had been keeping a record of S.P.E.W. members. Harry saw his and Rons names at the top of the very short list. It seemed a long time ago that they had sat making up those predictions together, and Hermione had turned up and appointed them secretary and treasurer.You know, maybe I should try and get some of the villagers involved in S.P.E.W., Hermione said thoughtfully, looking around the pub.Yeah, right, said Harry. He took a swig of butterbeer under his cloak. Hermione, when are you going to give up on this spew stuff?When house-elves have decent wages and working conditions she hissed back. You know, Im starting to think its time for more direct action. I wonder how you get into the school kitchens?No idea, ask Fred and George, said Harry.Hermione lapsed into thoughtful silence, while Harry drank his butterbeer, watching the people in the pub. All of them looked cheerful and relaxed. Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbot were swapping Chocolate Frog cards at a nearby table both of them sporting Support Cedric Diggory badges on their cloaks. near over by the door he saw Cho and a large group of her Ravenclaw friends. She wasnt wearing a Cedric badge though.This cheered up Harry very slightly.What wouldnt he have given to be one of these people, sitting around laughing and talking, with nothing to worry about but homework? He imagined how it would have felt to be here if his name hadnt come out of the Goblet of Fire. He wouldnt be wearing the Invisibility Cloak , for one thing. Ron would be sitting with him. The three of them would probably be happily imagining what deadly dangerous task the school champions would be facing on Tuesday. Hed have been really hooking forward to it, watching them do whatever it wascheering on Cedric with everyone else, safe in a seat at the back of the standsHe wondered how the other champions were feeling. Every time he had seen Cedric lately, he had been surrounded by admirers and looking nervous but excited. Harry glimpsed Fleur Delacour from time to time in the corridors she looked exactly as she always did, haughty and unruffled. And Krum just sat in the library, poring over books.Harry thought of Sirius, and the tight, tense air mile in his chest seemed to ease slightly. He would be speaking to him in just over twelve hours, for this night was the night they were meeting at the common room fire assuming nothing went wrong, as everything else had done latelyLook, its Hagrid said Hermione.The back of Hag rids enormous shaggy head he had mercifully throw away his bunches emerged over the crowd. Harry wondered why he hadnt spotted him at once, as Hagrid was so large, but standing up carefully, he saw that Hagrid had been leaning low, talking to Professor Moody. Hagrid had his usual enormous tankard in front of him, but Moody was drinking from his hip flask. Madam Rosmerta, the pretty landlady, didnt seem to think much of this she was looking askance at Moody as she collected glasses from tables around them. Perhaps she thought it was an insult to her mulled mead, but Harry knew better. Moody had told them all during their last Defense Against the iniquity Arts lesson that he preferred to prepare his own food and drink at all times, as it was so easy for Dark wizards to poison an unattended cup.As Harry watched, he saw Hagrid and Moody get up to abdicate. He waved, then remembered that Hagrid couldnt see him. Moody, however, paused, his magical eye on the corner where Harry was st anding. He tapped Hagrid in the slim of the back (being unable to reach his shoulder), muttered something to him, and then the pair of them made their way back crossways the pub toward Harry and Hermiones table.All right, Hermione? said Hagrid loudly.Hello, said Hermione, smiling back.Moody limped around the table and bent down Harry thought he was reading the S.P.E.W. notebook, until he muttered, Nice cloak, Potter.Harry stared at him in amazement. The large chunk missing from Moodys nose was particularly obvious at a few inches distance. Moody grinned. hind end your eye I mean, whoremonger you -?Yeah, it can see through Invisibility Cloaks, Moody said quietly. And its come in useful at times, I can tell you.Hagrid was beaming down at Harry too. Harry knew Hagrid couldnt see him, but Moody had obviously told Hagrid he was there. Hagrid now bent down on the pretext of reading the S.P.E.W. notebook as well, and said in a whisper so low that only Harry could hear it, Harry, meet m e tonight at midnight at me cabin. Wear that cloak.Straightening up, Hagrid said loudly, Nice ter see yeh, Hermione, winked, and departed. Moody followed him.Why does Hagrid want me to meet him at midnight? Harry said, very surprised.Does he? said Hermione, looking startled. I wonder what hes up to? I dont know whether you should go, Harry. She looked nervously around and hissed, It might make you late for Sirius.It was true that going down to Hagrids at midnight would mean cutting his meeting with Sirius very fine indeed Hermione suggested sending Hedwig down to Hagrids to tell him he couldnt go always assuming she would take over to take the note, of course Harry, however, thought it better just to be quick at whatever Hagrid wanted him for. He was very curious to know what this might be Hagrid had never asked Harry to visit him so late at night.At half past eleven that evening, Harry, who had pretended to go up to bottomland early, pulled the Invisibility Cloak back over hims elf and crept back downstairs through the common room. Quite a few people were still in there. The Creevey brothers had managed to get hold of a stack of Support Cedric Diggory badges and were trying to bewitch them to make them say Support Harry Potter instead. So far, however, all they had managed to do was get the badges stuck on POTTER STINKS. Harry crept past them to the portrait hole and waited for a flash or so, keeping an eye on his watch. Then Hermione opened the gamy Lady for him from outside as they had planned. He slipped past her with a whispered Thanks and set off through the castle.The commonwealths were very dark. Harry walked down the lawn toward the lights shining in Hagrids cabin. The inside of the enormous Beauxbatons carriage was also lit up Harry could hear Madame Maxime talking inside it as he knocked on Hagrids front door.You there, Harry? Hagrid whispered, origin the door and looking around.Yeah, said Harry, slipping inside the cabin and pulling the cloa k down off his head. Whats up?Got summat ter record yeh, said Hagrid.There was an air of enormous excitement about Hagrid. He was wearing a flower that resembled an oversized artichoke in his buttonhole. It looked as though he had abandoned the use of axle grease, but he had certainly attempted to comb his vibrissa Harry could see the combs broken teeth tangled in it.Whatre you showing me? Harry said warily, wondering if the skrewts had laid eggs, or Hagrid had managed to buy another giant three-headed dog off a stranger in a pub.Come with me, keep quiet, an keep yerself covered with that cloak, said Hagrid. We won take Fang, he won like itListen, Hagrid, I cant stay long.Ive got to be back up at the castle by one oclock -But Hagrid wasnt listening he was opening the cabin door and striding off into the night. Harry go to follow and found, to his great surprise, that Hagrid was confidential information him to the Beauxbatons carriage.Hagrid, what -?Shhh said Hagrid, and he knoc ked three times on the door bearing the crossed golden wands.Madame Maxime opened it. She was wearing a silk shawl wrapped around her ample shoulders. She smiled when she saw Hagrid.Ah, Agridit is time?Bong-sewer, said Hagrid, beaming at her, and holding out a hand to help her down the golden steps.Madame Maxime closed the door behind her, Hagrid offered her his arm, and they set off around the edge of the paddock containing Madame Maximes giant winged horses, with Harry, totally bewildered, running to keep up with them. Had Hagrid wanted to show him Madame Maxime? He could see her any old time he wantedshe wasnt exactly hard to miss.But it seemed that Madame Maxime was in for the same treat as Harry, because after a while she said playfully, Wair is it you are taking me, Agrid?Yehll enjoy this, said Hagrid gruffly, worth seein, trust me. Ony don go tellin anyone I showed yeh, right? Yehre not sposed ter know.Of course not, said Madame Maxime, fluttering her long black eyelashes.A nd still they walked, Harry get more and more irritated as he jogged along in their wake, checking his watch every now and then. Hagrid had some harebrained scheme in hand, which might make him miss Sirius. If they didnt get there soon, he was going to turn around, go straight back to the castle, and leave Hagrid to enjoy his moonlit stroll with Madame Maxime.But then when they had walked so far around the perimeter of the forest that the castle and the lake were out of sight Harry perceive something. Men were shouting up aheadthen came a deafening, earsplitting roarHagrid led Madame Maxime around a clump of trees and came to a halt. Harry hurried up alongside them for a split second, he thought he was seeing bonfires, and men darting around them and then his mouth fell open.Dragons.Four fully grown, enormous, vicious-looking dragons were rearing onto their hind legs inside an enclosure fenced with thick planks of wood, roaring and snorting torrents of fire were shooting into the dark sky from their open, fanged mouths, fifty feet above the res publica on their outstretched necks. There was a silvery-blue one with long, pointed horns, snapping and snarling at the wizards on the ground a smooth-scaled green one, which was writhing and stamping with all its might a red one with an odd fringe of fine gold spikes around its face, which was shooting mushroom-shaped fire clouds into the air and a gigantic black one, more lizard-hike than the others, which was nearest to them.At least thirty wizards, seven or eight to each dragon, were attempting to control them, pulling on the chains connected to heavy leather straps around their necks and legs. Mesmerized, Harry looked up, high above him, and saw the eyes of the black dragon, with vertical pupils like a cats, bulging with either fear or rage, he couldnt tell which.It was making a horrible noise, a yowling, screeching scream.Keep back there, Hagrid cry a wizard near the fence, straining on the chain he was holding. They can shoot fire at a range of twenty feet, you know Ive seen this Horntail do fortyIsn it beautiful? said Hagrid softly.Its no good yelled another wizard. sensory Spells, on the count of threeHarry saw each of the dragon keepers pull out his wand.Stupefy they shouted in unison, and the Stunning Spells shot into the darkness like fiery rockets, bursting in showers of stars on the dragons scaly hides Harry watched the dragon nearest to them teeter dangerously on its back legs its jaws stretched across-the-board in a silent howl its nostrils were suddenly devoid of flame, though still smoking then, very slowly, it fell. Several tons of sinewy, scaly-black dragon hit the ground with a thud that Harry could have sworn made the trees behind him quake.The dragon keepers lowered their wands and walked forward to their fallen charges, each of which was the size of a small hill. They hurried to tighten the chains and fasten them securely to iron pegs, which they forced deep i nto the ground with their wands.Wan a closer look? Hagrid asked Madame Maxime excitedly. The pair of them moved right up to the fence, and Harry followed. The wizard who had warned Hagrid not to come any closer turned, and Harry realized who it was Charlie Weasley.All right, Hagrid? he panted, coming over to talk. They should be very well now we put them out with a Sleeping Draft on the way here, thought it might be better for them to wake up in the dark and the quiet but, like you saw, they werent happy, not happy at all -What breeds you got here, Charlie? said Hagrid, gazing at the closest dragon, the black one, with something chose to reverence. Its eyes were still just open. Harry could see a strip of gleaming yellow beneath its wrinkled black eyelid.This is a Hungarian Horntail, said Charlie. Theres a Common Welsh jet over there, the smaller one a Swedish Short-Snout, that blue-gray and a Chinese Fireball, thats the red.Charlie looked around Madame Maxime was strolling aw ay around the edge of the enclosure, gazing at the stunned dragons.I didnt know you were bringing her, Hagrid, Charlie said, frowning. The champions arent supposed to know whats coming shes bound to tell her student, isnt she?Jus thought shed like ter see em, shrugged Hagrid, still gazing, enraptured, at the dragons.Really romantic date, Hagrid, said Charlie, move his head.Four said Hagrid, so its one fer each o the champions, is it? Whatve they gotta do fight em?Just get past them, I think, said Charlie. Well be on hand if it gets nasty, Extinguishing Spells at the ready. They wanted nesting mothers, I dont know whybut I tell you this, I dont envy the one who gets the Horntail. Vicious thing. Its back ends as dangerous as its front, look.Charlie pointed toward the Horntails tail, and Harry saw long, bronze-colored spikes protruding along it every few inches.Five of Charlies fellow keepers staggered up to the Horntail at that moment, carrying a clutch of extensive granite-gray e ggs between them in a blanket. They placed them carefully at the Horntails side. Hagrid let out a moan of longing.Ive got them counted, Hagrid, said Charlie sternly. Then he said, Hows Harry?Fine, said Hagrid. He was still gazing at the eggs.Just hope hes still fine after hes faced this lot, said Charlie grimly, looking out over the dragons enclosure. I didnt dare tell Mum what hes got to do for the first task shes already having kittens about him. Charlie imitated his mothers anxious voice. How could they let him enter that tournament, hes much too young I thought they were all safe, I thought there was going to be an age limit She was in floods after that Daily Prophet article about him. He still cries about his parents Oh bless him, I never knewHarry had had enough. Trusting to the fact that Hagrid wouldnt miss him, with the attractions of four dragons and Madame Maxime to occupy him, he turned taciturnly and began to walk away, back to the castle.He didnt know whether he was gla d hed seen what was coming or not. Perhaps this way was better. The first shock was over now. Maybe if hed seen the dragons for the first time on Tuesday, he would have passed out cold in front of the whole schoolbut maybe he would anyway.He was going to be armed with his wand which, just now, felt like nothing more than a narrow strip of wood against a fifty-foot-high, scaly, spike-ridden, fire-breathing dragon. And he had to get past it. With everyone watching. How?Harry sped up, skirting the edge of the forest he had just under fifteen minutes to get back to the fireside and talk to Sirius, and he couldnt remember, ever, wanting to talk to someone more than he did right now when, without warning, he ran into something very solid.Harry fell backward, his glasses askew, clutching the cloak around him. A voice nearby said, Ouch Whos there?Harry hastily checked that the cloak was covering him and hay very still, staring up at the dark sketch of the wizard he had hit. He recognize d the goateeit was Karkaroff.Whos there? said Karkaroff again, very suspiciously, looking around in the darkness. Harry remained still and silent. After a minute or so, Karkaroff seemed to decide that he had hit some sort of animal he was looking around at waist height, as though expecting to see a dog. Then he crept back under the cover of the trees and started to edge forward toward the place where the dragons were. real slowly and very carefully, Harry got to his feet and set off again as fast as he could without making too much noise, hurrying through the darkness back toward Hogwarts.He had no interrogative whatsoever what Karkaroff was up to. He had sneaked off his ship to try and find out what the first task was going to be. He might even have spotted Hagrid and Madame Maxime heading off around the forest together they were hardly difficult to spot at a distanceand now all Karkaroff had to do was follow the sound of voices, and he, like Madame Maxime, would know what was in store for the champions.By the looks of it, the only champion who would be facing the unknown on Tuesday was Cedric.Harry reached the castle, slipped in through the front doors, and began to climb the marble stairs he was very out of breath, but he didnt dare slow down.He had less than louver minutes to get up to the fire.Balderdash he gasped at the Fat Lady, who was snoozing in her frame in front of the portrait hole.If you say so, she muttered sleepily, without opening her eyes, and the picture swung forward to admit him. Harry climbed inside. The common room was deserted, and, judging by the fact that it smelled quite normal, Hermione had not needed to set off any Dungbombs to ensure that he and Sirius got privacy.Harry pulled off the Invisibility Cloak and threw himself into an armchair in front of the fire. The room was in semidarkness the flames were the only source of light. Nearby, on a table, the Support Cedric Diggory badges the Creeveys had been trying to improve were g linting in the firelight. They now read POTTER REALLY STINKS. Harry looked back into the flames, and jumped.Siriuss head was sitting in the fire. If Harry hadnt seen Mr. Diggory do exactly this back in the Weasleys kitchen, it would have scared him out of his wits. Instead, his face breaking into the first smile he had worn for days, he scrambled out of his chair, crouched down by the hearth, and said, Sirius howre you doing?Sirius looked different from Harrys memory of him. When they had said good-bye, Siriuss face had been gaunt and sunken, surrounded by a quantity of long, black, matted hair but the hair was short and clean now, Siriuss face was fuller, and he looked younger, much more like the only photograph Harry had of him, which had been taken at the Potters wedding.Never mind me, how are you? said Sirius seriously.Im - For a second, Harry tried to say fine but he couldnt do it. Before he could stop himself, he was talking more than hed talked in days about how no one be lieved he hadnt entered the tournament of his own free will, how Rita Skeeter had lied about him in the Daily Prophet, how he couldnt walk down a corridor without being sneered at and about Ron, Ron not believing him, Rons jealousyand now Hagrids just shown me whats coming in the first task, and its dragons, Sirius, and Im a goner, he finished desperately.Sirius looked at him, eyes full of concern, eyes that had not yet lost the look that Azkaban had given them that deadened, haunted look He had let Harry talk himself into silence without interruption, but now he said, Dragons we can deal with, Harry, but well get to that in a minute I havent got long hereIve broken into a wizarding house to use the fire, but they could be back at any time. There are things I need to warn you about.What? said Harry, feeling his spirits slip a further few notches.Surely there could be nothing worse than dragons coming?Karkaroff, said Sirius. Harry, he was a expiry Eater. You know what Death Eater s are, dont you?Yes he what?He was caught, he was in Azkaban with me, but he got released. Id bet everything thats why Dumbledore wanted an Auror at Hogwarts this year to keep an eye on him. Moody caught Karkaroff. Put him into Azkaban in the first place.Karkaroff got released? Harry said slowly his brain seemed to be struggling to absorb yet another piece of shocking information. Why did they release him?He did a deal with the Ministry of fancy, said Sirius bitterly. He said hed seen the error of his ways, and then he named nameshe put a load of other people into Azkaban in his place.Hes not very popular in there, I can tell you. And since he got out, from what I can tell, hes been teaching the Dark Arts to every student who passes through that school of his. So watch out for the Durmstrang champion as well.Okay, said Harry slowly. Butare you saying Karkaroff put my name in the goblet? Because if he did, hes a really good actor. He seemed furious about it. He wanted to stop me from competing.We know hes a good actor, said Sirius, because he convinced the Ministry of Magic to set him free, didnt he? Now, Ive been keeping an eye on the Daily Prophet, Harry -- you and the rest of the world, said Harry bitterly.- and reading between the lines of that Skeeter womans article last month, Moody was attacked the night before he started at Hogwarts. Yes, I know she says it was another false alarm, Sirius said hastily, seeing Harry about to speak, but I dont think so, somehow. I think someone tried to stop him from getting to Hogwarts. I think someone knew their job would be a lot more difficult with him around. And no ones going to look into it too closely Mad-Eyes heard intruders a bit too often. But that doesnt mean he cant still spot the real thing. Moody was the best Auror the Ministry ever had.Sowhat are you saying? said Harry slowly. Karkaroffs trying to kill me? But why?Sirius hesitated.Ive been nearing some very strange things, he said slowly. The Death E aters seem to be a bit more active than usual lately. They showed themselves at the Quidditch World Cup, didnt they? Someone set off the Dark Markand then did you hear about that Ministry of Magic witch whos gone missing?Bertha Jorkins? said Harry.Exactlyshe disappeared in Albania, and thats definitely where Voldemort was rumored to be lastand she would have known the Triwizard Tournament was coming up, wouldnt she?Yeah, butits not very likely shed have walked straight into Voldemort, is it? said Harry.Listen, I knew Bertha Jorkins, said Sirius grimly. She was at Hogwarts when I was, a few years above your dad and me. And she was an idiot. Very nosy, but no brains, none at all. Its not a good combination, Harry. Id say shed be very easy to lure into a trap.Soso Voldemort could have found out about the tournament? said Harry. Is that what you mean? You think Karkaroff might be here on his orders?I dont know, said Sirius slowly, I just dont knowKarkaroff doesnt strike me as the type whod go back to Voldemort unless he knew Voldemort was powerful enough to protect him. But whoever put your name in that goblet did it for a reason, and I cant help thinking the tournament would be a very good way to attack you and make it hook like an accident.Looks hike a really good plan from where Im standing, said Harry grinning bleaky. Theyll just have to stand back and let the dragons do their stuff.Right these dragons, said Sirius, speaking very quickly now. Theres a way, Harry. Dont be tempted to try a Stunning Spell dragons are strong and too powerfully magical to be knocked out by a single Stunner, you need about half a dozen wizards at a time to overcome a dragon -Yeah, I know, I just saw, said Harry.But you can do it alone, said Sirius. There is away, and a simple spells all you need. Just -But Harry held up a hand to silence him, his heart suddenly pounding as though it would burst. He could hear footsteps coming down the whirl staircase behind him.Go he hissed at S irius. Go Theres someone comingHarry scrambled to his feet, hiding the fire if someone saw Siriuss face within the walls of Hogwarts, they would raise an almighty uproar the Ministry would get dragged in he, Harry, would be questioned about Siriuss whereabouts Harry heard a tiny pop in the fire behind him and knew Sirius had gone. He watched the bottom of the spiral staircase. Who had decided to go for a stroll at one oclock in the morning, and stopped Sirius from telling him how to get past a dragon?It was Ron. Dressed in his maroon paisley pajamas, Ron stopped dead facing Harry across the room, and looked around.Who were you talking to? he said.Whats that got to do with you? Harry snarled. What are you doing down here at this time of night?I just wondered where you - Ron broke off, shrugging. Nothing. Im going back to bed.Just thought youd come nosing around, did you? Harry shouted. He knew that Ron had no idea what hed walked in on, knew he hadnt done it on purpose, but he di dnt care at this moment he hated everything about Ron, right down to the several inches of bare ankle showing beneath his pajama trousers.Sorry about that, said Ron, his face reddening with anger. Shouldve realized you didnt want to be disturbed. Ill let you get on with practicing for your next interview in peace.Harry seized one of the POTTER REALLY STINKS badges off the table and chucked it, as hard as he could, across the room. It hit Ron on the forehead and bounced off.There you go, Harry said. Something for you to wear on Tuesday. You might even have a scar now, if yonre lucky.Thats what you want, isnt it?He strode across the room toward the stairs he half expected Ron to stop him, he would even have liked Ron to throw a punch at him, but Ron just stood there in his too-small pajamas, and Harry, having stormed upstairs, lay awake in bed fuming for a long time afterward and didnt hear him come up to bed.