The night was as serene as flowing water. The dark sky resembled a velvet curtain, with a solitary moon hanging high, casting a cold, silvery glow upon the Forbidden Forest, making it seem even lonelier and more mysterious.
Augustus walked alone along the forest path. His tall, slender silhouette shimmered under the moonlight, as if he were the only person left in the world. The giant carriage of Beauxbatons also shone brightly from within, its golden light flickering faintly, adding an enigmatic air to the Forbidden Forest.
Augustus knocked on the door of Hagrid's hut. Inside, Harry had been waiting for quite some time.
"You're finally here, Mr. Augustus," Hagrid greeted him with delight, and Harry offered a warm smile in greeting as well.
Augustus raised a questioning brow. "May I ask why you've called me here so late? Is there something important?"
"Indeed," Harry nodded in agreement. "What's going on, Hagrid?"
With a mysterious grin, Hagrid replied, "I have something to show you both—something very important."
Hagrid looked unusually excited. A fresh flower was tucked into his buttonhole, resembling a massive artichoke. He seemed to have stopped using machine oil as hair gel, but his hair was clearly combed with great effort.
"Harry's got his Invisibility Cloak to stay hidden, and you, Mr. Augustus, must have your own means to conceal yourself?" Hagrid asked with trust in his eyes. Seeing Augustus nod, he gave a hearty laugh. "Good! Follow me, then. We'll leave Fang behind—he won't like it…"
With that, Hagrid opened the door and stepped into the darkness outside. Harry and Augustus exchanged a glance before following him. In the moonlight, their silhouettes gradually faded into the night.
They walked along the edge of the Forbidden Forest for quite a distance, until the castle and the lake were no longer in sight. Augustus noticed some sounds in the distance—men shouting loudly, followed by an earsplitting roar.
That sound? Augustus's gaze sharpened with thought. It seemed to confirm his suspicions. But why bring them here now? Had Hagrid acquired something unusual again, intending to show it off?
The three rounded a thicket and stopped. Augustus's suspicions were soon confirmed, though he had underestimated the sheer scale of what lay before him.
Dragons.
Four ferocious-looking adult dragons were penned in a large wooden enclosure. They stood on their hind legs, roaring and snorting fiery breaths. Flames shot from their fanged mouths into the dark night sky. Their necks arched high, and their jaws loomed fifty feet above the ground.
At least thirty wizards worked tirelessly in the enclosure, with seven or eight assigned to each dragon. They tugged on chains, trying to subdue the massive creatures. The chains were attached to thick leather straps around the dragons' legs and necks.
Four dragons? Hagrid had brought them here to see this? Augustus frowned slightly. While he appreciated Hagrid's good intentions, showing them this gave an unfair advantage over the other champions. Such an act, born of goodwill, still violated his sense of pride.
"Magnificent creatures, aren't they?" Hagrid said softly, his eyes filled with admiration.
Augustus took one last look at the dragons, each distinct in form, before turning back toward the castle.
By the next morning, rumors of dragons being the first task had spread through all three schools. No one knew the source of the rumor, but many believed it, given the Triwizard Tournament's notorious dangers. Even if exaggerated, the idea of dragons wasn't entirely implausible.
"Mr. Augustus," Loki said with concern, "while rumors aren't always reliable, there's often some truth to them. If it really is dragons, you'll need to prepare thoroughly. A fully grown dragon is no joke—even adult wizards require a team to subdue one. Their natural magical resistance makes most spells ineffective, and even the Unforgivable Curses struggle against their innate defenses."
Liliane smiled faintly, her deep red eyes gleaming. "Instead of worrying about Augustus, perhaps you should pity the other three champions. If even he finds it challenging, they'll be completely out of their depth."
Augustus chuckled softly. "Underestimating one's opponent is never wise. Dragons, despite their resistance, have obvious weaknesses. Their eyes, for instance, are highly vulnerable. A well-aimed Conjunctivitis Curse can impair their vision. Moreover, dragons have little resistance to Occult Magic. It can be quite effective against them."
Loki nodded, his expression relaxing. "It seems you've already thought this through, Mr. Augustus. In that case, I wish you a resounding victory."
The day of the first task arrived swiftly.
The school buzzed with tension and excitement. Classes were canceled at noon, allowing students to gather at the dragon enclosure.
As Augustus walked toward the grounds, students from Hogwarts and the other schools offered their wishes of good luck. He smiled gracefully, exuding quiet confidence as he made his way to the Great Hall.
Severus Snape approached him quickly in the hall, drawing many curious gazes.
"Augustus, it's time for the champions to head to the enclosure. Come with me. Once in the preparation room, you'll get ready for the first task," Snape said calmly, exuding an air of certainty about his protégé's success.
With a polite nod, Augustus followed Snape.
The two walked along the forest's edge toward the dragon enclosure. A large tent now blocked the view of the dragons, its entrance facing them.
"This is as far as I can take you. Mr. Bagman is inside; he'll explain the next steps. From here, it's your stage to command. Slytherin's champion, yes?" For a moment, ambition glinted in Snape's dark eyes, a look Augustus had never seen before.
Augustus gave a poised smile. "As you wish, Professor."
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