The next day
Cross was walking to class reading a book as usual, students from Hogwarts passed by him and started whispering amongst each other. Cross ignored them but the mutterings were getting annoying, he was pulled away by Harry.
Cross looked at Harry and said "Yes?" Harry said "We have to go take a picture for the Daily Prophet." Cross sighed and said "Really? So annoying." Harry nodded in agreement and they went to the room under the great hall.
Krum and Fleur were already there, Krum snorted and said "Wasting everyone's time." Cross ignored him and looked at Harry as he said "Did you hear something?" Krum was incensed and Harry decided to not get involved.
Cross walked to the chair and said in French "Beat it." Fleur blushed again and got out of the chair. Cross sat down and leaned his elbow on the chair, resting his cheek on his knuckles as he looked at the blonde reporter.
Krum clicked his tongue and Harry just stood behind the chair awkwardly, in between Fleur and Krum.
Cross had a bored expression on his face as a man took a picture. The flash receded and teh woman said "What a charismatic quartet!" she walked forward and said "I'm Rita Skeeter and I write for the Daily Prophet, but you already knew that." she touched Cross' cheek only to be slapped away by him.
Rita looked around, not bothered, as she continued "It's you nobody knows. You're the juicy news, what quirks lurk beneath those Rosy cheeks, what mysteries do those muscles mask, does courage lie beneath those curls? In short, what makes a champion tick?"
She looked around with a big smile and added "Me, myself, and I want to know. Not to mention my raved readers, SO who's feeling up to sharing?" Nobody answered and Rita hummed before saying "The arrogant Ice prince, you're first. Come on!"
Cross rolled his eyes and said "No thanks." Rita clicked her tongue and replied "Don't be such a stiff. This way!" as she left, expecting Cross to follow. The other three looked at Cross, who groaned and muttered "Fucking..." before following, keen on finishing this as soon as possible.
Cross entered a broom closet and Rita said "Quite comfortable, isn't it?" Cross said "For someone like you, you must love places like this." as he sat down. Rita ignored the comment and sat down, a pad and quill flew out as she started speaking "So tell me, Cross. An unknown boy like you, competing with legends like the boy who lived, the 'world's greatest seeker', and the most beautiful girl at Beauxbaton, how does the pressure feel?"
Cross looked at her and replied "No pressure at all. I would like to ask you a question, Ms. Skeeter. Does the Ministry know that you are an Animagus?" Rita made a throat cutting motion and the quill stopped as he said coldly "What do you want?"
Cross smiled and said "I wonder what would happen if they found out?" Rita was silent and Cross added sweetly "If a lovely woman such as yourself, could write a normal interview instead of" he cleared his throat and continued "'His eyes shook with fear at the thought of his insurmountable competitors' then perhaps you could continue on with your insect spying."
Rita smiled and said "Very well." she gave the quill a thumbs up and the quill started writing again as Cross said "No pressure at all. I will win, I am the best of the competitors." Rita was surprised and smiled as she said "What are your thoughts on the others?"
Cross replied "Krum is just a big fish swimming in a small pond, Harry could be an interesting opponent while Ms. Fleur Delacour could do to pay more attention to herself than others." Rita was excited and continued "Why did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?"
Cross narrowed his eyes and made a silence gesture, Rita waved and Cross said "I didn't, but you can just write that I thought the other Hogwarts students were too weak to win, so I took matter into my own hands." Rita clapped and said "So arrogant! It will be my best interview!"
Cross said "Well, we can help each other in the future perhaps?" Rita raised a brow and said "Oh? How so?" Cross smiled and said "In the future you will know. There's more going on that could make you the most famous reporter in the entire wizarding world."
Rita got excited and said "Then, I will wait with bated breaths." Cross smiled and left the broom closet saying "You can also say this 'Krum's 'World's best Seeker' title will be mine before the year ends." Cross slowly sneered "Of course, if he isn't too scared to step up to the challenge." before opening the door and walking away, leaving Rita beyond thrilled as the Quill wrote frantically.
Cross left and said to the others "You're turn." before leaving the room with his book.
A few days later
The newspapers circulated around the school already and the Durmstrang guys were enraged. The Hogwarts students were a bit angry as well, the only one's who weren't mad were the Beauxbaton girls, but they get excited over everything he did so he ignored them.
Cross was reading in the courtyard while people whispered, looking in his direction. Cross noticed that everyone was wearing a badge that said "Potter Stinks." he looked up and saw some kids from Hufflepuff stopped Harry to show him the badge.
Harry ignored them and walked over to Cross.
Luna also walked over and sat next to Cross with a smile, Harry stopped in front of him and said "A word?" Cross said with a smile "Is it about the badges? I wouldn't be bothered, the students from Hufflepuff are irrelevant anyway."
The Hufflepuff students snorted and Cross said with a louder voice "Are you even a real house? Haven't heard you win a house cup or even get any points since I've been here!" They blushed in embarrassment, not able to come up with a reply, as they ran away.
Cross chuckled and Harry shook his head as he said "Thanks." Cross said "No problem." Harry said seriously "The first task is dragons. I saw 4 dragons in the forest with Hagrid." Cross' eyes lit up and he asked "Really?! Can I keep it after?"
Harry was stunned and said "I- I don't know." Cross clicked his tongue before saying "Thanks, Harry. What type of dragons did you see?" Harry shook his head and said "I only know one of them and it was a Horntail." Luna hummed and chimed "Dangerous one.. Full of scalefleas."
Cross nodded and said "That's right. Good luck, Harry." Harry nodded and walked away. Cross watched him go before saying to Luna "Wanna bet he gets the Horntail?" Luna shook her head and replied "I already know he will."
Cross clicked his tongue and went back to his book as he said "Want to learn Elven?" Luna's eyes lit up as she said "Can I?!" Cross smiled and nodded, Luna cheered and scooted next to him as Cross started teaching her.
They were interrupted by a scream. Cross noticed how close Luna was to him, their faces were centimeters apart. They looked into each other's eyes and Cross turned his head to the scream as he said "What's going on over there?" Luna smiled sweetly and leaned on his arm as she looked over.
Moody was bouncing a Ferret in the air while shouting curses.
Cross chuckled and said "Draco is being impulsive again. Can't he just stay out of things? Honestly..." Luna added for own two cents "Maybe he likes to get embarrassed?" Cross smiled and said "I guess he does.." before turning back and saying softly "Shall we continue?"
Luna smiled softly and nodded as Cross started again, spending the rest of the time teaching Luna how to speak Elven.
A few more days later
Cross was sitting in a tent under an arena, reading his book as the rest looked nervous. Harry was talking to the curtain, while Fleur and Krum were pacing with serious looks. Cross wasn't too worried, it was just a dragon/wyvern, not a problem at all. The problem for him was how to make it as arrogant as possible...
Suddenly a flash of light occurred.
Rita walked in and said with a sigh "Ahhh young love! How sweet!" Cross looked over to seen Hermione hugging Harry. He was surprised, since when did Hermione like Harry.. It seemed like he spoke too soon.
Hermione looked nervous and glanced in Cross' direction before letting out a breath of relief seeing no change in expression.
Krum stood up and said to Rita "You shouldn't be here. It's for Champions and friends only." Rita smiled and said "Of course!" as she took a picture of Krum, Fleur, and Cross as well.
Cross rolled his eyes and kept reading from his book, looking bored.
Dumbledore walked in with Bartimus, Igor, Maxime, and Filtch. Dumbledore said "Good day, Champions! You've waited and wondered and finally the day has arrived! The day only 4 of you can fully appreciate! Hm? Ms. Granger, what are you doing here?"
Hermione looked awkward and Cross said "I asked her to keep my book with her." Dumbledore looked at Cross deeply before smiling as he said "Very well." Cross handed his book to Hermione and whispered "Open it later." Hermione nodded and left with the book.
Bartimus said "Alright everyone! Circle up!" The four circled up and Bartimus held out a bag as he said "Ms. Delacour, if you will!" Fleur reached her hand in the bag before pulling out a small dragon, Bartimus said "The Welsh Green." before moving to Viktor Krum, who did the same.
Bartimus said "The Chinese Fireball! Ouuuu." he moved to Cross and said "Mr. Greengrass." Cross reached his hand in the bag and pulled out a small dragon, Bartimus said "The Swedish Short-Snout." before moving on to Harry as he said "And finally, Mr. Potter."
Harry pulled out the dragon he already knew he was getting and Bartimus confirmed it as he said "The Hungarian Horntail!" he closed the bag and stepped back as he looked at all the students saying "These four represent very real dragons. Each of which has been given a Golden Egg to protect. Your objective is simple, collect the egg. This you must do, because the egg contains a clue without which you cannot hope to proceed to the next task. Any questions?"
Cross said "Can we keep the dragons afterwards?" Bartimus was stunned and said "No, my apologies." Cross clicked his tongue and Dumbledore said "Moving on. Mr. Greengrass at the sound of the canon you may-"
BOOM!
The canon went off and Filtch said from above "Sorry." Dumbledore looked at Filtch before saying to Cross with an unreadable expression in his eyes "You may start us off, Mr. Greengrass." Cross nodded and threw the little dragon sculpture at Krum before leaving the tent without hesitation.
Cross walked out of the tent to the arena and everyone cheered, chanting "Cross! Cross! Cross!"
Cross ignored them and looked at the chained up dragon, he pulled out his wand and flicked it as a barrier blocked the flames. Cross walked forward leisurely, getting closer to the dragon.
The dragon roared angrily and snapped his head forward at him, the crowd screamed in fear.
Cross sneered and his eyes turned sharp as the pressure he unlocked gushed out of his body, falling on the dragon alone.
Cross put his wand away and slapped the Dragon's head right into the ground. The entire arena was silenced and had their mouths wide open in shock. The dragon roared and Cross said "Hmm?" before slapping it again.
The dragon reeled back in fear and Cross said coldly "Go get me the egg. Now!" the dragon trembled and flew over to the egg, holding it in it's mouth before flying back over and dropping it in Cross' hands.
The dragon nuzzled it's head against Cross and whimpered.
The audience was stunned silly and someone said "Oi.. Is that a dog?" there were gulping sounds and Cross stroked it's head softly, coo'ing it. He stepped on it's head and whistled. The dragon raised him to the crowd and Cross stepped off with the egg as the Dragon went back to the arena.
The announcer gulped before saying "C-Cross is successful!" Cross waved to the crowd and left the arena.