The man looked ridiculous in his too-small black and yellow quidditch robes. Harry faintly remembered him wearing them to the World Cup as well, and he had looked just as silly then.
"Well, now that you are all here it is about time to fill you in," Bagman said brightly.
"When the audience has assembled, I'm going to be offering each of you this bag," he held up a small sack made of purple silk, "from which you will each select a small model of the thing you're about to face."
Harry considered letting Bagman know that they were all well aware of the fact that there were four dragons, but he decided against it. He might throw the poor man off entirely if he did that.
"There are different, er, varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else too… ah, yes… your task is to collect the golden egg!"
Harry rolled his eyes. He couldn't stand the man, and he wasn't the only one. He walked over to a corner of the tent and sat down.
He took a deep breath and fell into a meditative state. He noticed as the students walked across the grounds to take their seats in the stadium.
He drifted slightly, and he reached out without realising it and softly calmed everyone's nerves.
Harry's eyes opened as Bagman started talking again. He noted how the other champions moved from him to Bagman.
He almost grimaced. What had he done now? He stood up and joined the others. Fleur pulled out a miniature Gravuun. While Viktor grabbed Britkrein.
Then it was Cedric's turn and he pulled out Dufo. So there was Ninriik left in the pouch, and Harry pulled the little model out.
He didn't mind; it might be better that he got the grumpiest of the four dragons. Each little miniature had a number around their necks and Harry was going last.
He walked over to Cedric who was the first to go out as Bagman walked up to him. "Could I have a word?" he asked.
"No thank you," Harry said. He reached out and grabbed Cedric's shoulder. "Breathe in. Breathe out. You'll be fine," he said.
Cedric looked at him a little wild-eyed, but he felt better and right now that was all that mattered.
The whistle sounded and Cedric turned green as he headed out of the tent. Harry walked back to Fleur and Viktor and sat down. His eyes closed as he listened to the crowd cheering.
Bagman introduced Cedric.
"Away. Stay back maljul, little human," Dufo roared. "You shall not touch zu kiir, my eggs."
"Oooh, narrow miss there, very narrow," Bagman commented.
"Stand back," Dufo roared.
"He is taking risks, this one!"
"Mey julle, foolish humans Krinahkro told us they would try something. Wants to get near. Have the other ones placed something with my eggs?"
"Yol Toor Shul!"
"Clever move, pity it didn't work!"
Harry really hoped that the dragons had listened to him and would keep their promise.
Then finally the crowd cheered.
Cedric had done it.
Fleur was up next. The poor girl was shaking from head to toe as she stepped out in the arena.
Gravuun roared at her. "Back away little girl," she said. "These are my eggs. What do they want with them? Krinahkro! You better explain later."
Harry wouldn't mind explaining things as long as everyone made it out alright. He listened to the fight, and he didn't like what he heard. He hoped Fleur was alright.
Harry saw Viktor leave the tent. He stood up and walked over to the exit.
Britkrein's roar moved through him and her anger was real. At first, she cursed the people around them. Then that changed.
"Niiiiid! Hi bruniik, you savage. You vile speck of dirt. Zu fen ag hin qethe wah denek, I will burn your bones to dust!"
What had Viktor done? Harry's fists clenched. He was the one who would have to try to mend this damage later. He took a deep breath. It was his turn next.
He walked outside. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear cheers from the audience.
"What did they do to Britkrein?" Ninriik asked angrily. "I will tear them apart."
She roared and flames danced out towards Harry who had simply summoned his broom as soon as he stepped foot in the arena.
He could tell that everyone was holding their breaths. He cast a few fireproofing spells just to show that he could, and then he grabbed his broom as it appeared.
"You will not touch my nest," Ninriik roared.
Harry took to the air and the crowd was breathing again. "There is a false egg in your clutch," he told Ninriik softly. He knew she would hear him.
"I will take that away. Don't do anything that could harm your eggs, but let me get close enough to get it."
"Come then," Ninriik roared.
Harry flew in. He spiralled around her and flew over and under her wings. He felt a little like a baby dragon showing off to his mother and the thought made him laugh.
They had to put up some kind of a show or it would seem strange and Ninriik was cursing all kinds of creatures as she followed him.
Then Harry miscalculated. He was pushed down as her massive tail slammed into him and one of the many spikes on it cut into his back. He had to stop himself from healing it, but he also stopped playing around.
He dived down and grabbed the golden egg from the nest before flying up into the air and showing it off.
The crowd cheered.
"Look at that!" Bagman yelled. "Will you look at that?! Our youngest champion is quickest to get his egg! Well, this is going to shorten the odds on Mr Potter."
Harry sighed. He didn't like Bagman. He could see Hagrid, Moody and McGonagall come walking across the field below him. He angled his broom and headed down to meet them.