Chereads / Black Truth / Chapter 11 - The First Task

Chapter 11 - The First Task

The First Task

During breakfast on the sixteenth of November, a regal black owl

arrived with a letter stamped with the Gringotts crest. Harry checked

it for curses before opening the letter.

Harrison James Potter

It has recently been made aware to the goblins of Gringotts that you

have been declared a legal adult. Your presence is requested to

reopen the Potter family vaults and to perform the inheritance ritual.

Please visit the Diagon Alley Gringotts as soon as possible.

Ironclaw, Potter family account manager.

"What's that one about Harry." Fred asked.

"Gringotts summons, guess my plans for today just changed. I better

let Remus know I am leaving to Gringotts for today." Harry said,

standing from the table.

"Hey Harry, what's up." Remus asked when Harry entered the suite

of rooms Remus was given.

"Read this." Harry handed him the letter.

"So I assume you need to get to Gringotts then." Remus asked.

"Yeah, I'll get changed and then maybe floo from here if that's okay

with you." Harry replied.

"Sure thing, just be back before dinner and keep an eye out for any

shady looking people. We still don't know how you ended up in this

tournament." Remus warned.

"Thanks Moony, see you in a second." Harry left the room and

walked down the corridor to the nearest Slytherin banner. A quick trip

to the chamber and Harry was changed into some navy blue, open

robes with matching trousers, a grey shirt and matching tie.

Harry landed gracefully in The Leaky Cauldron and walked briskly

towards the marble stairs of Gringotts. He was bowed through the

door by two goblins as per usual and made his way to an empty

teller.

"Good morning Master Teller, I am Harry Potter here to see

Ironclaw." Harry said evenly.

"Grimjaw will show you to Ironclaw momentarily." The goblin

responded.

"Thank you Master Teller, may gold flow to you faster than your

enemies blood." Harry said when Grimjaw arrived. The teller gave

him a strange look but didn't speak.

Harry followed Grimjaw, a slightly taller goblin than usual with slightly

greener skin than others through a maze of halls. It was similar to

riding in the carts with all the turns and stairs. After what felt like ten

minutes of walking the pair arrived at a plan wooden door, the first

door Harry had seen along the journey. The door had a plaque

labeled 'Ironclaw - Potter Family Accounts Manager.'

"Good morning Mr Potter, glad to see you know how to be prompt.

As you would have understood from my letter, your emancipation

has meant a few things for your accounts." Ironclaw greeted.

"Yes, I assume you are referring to claiming the head of house

Potter." Harry asked.

"You are correct, usually this would happen on your seventeenth

anniversary of birth. However your emancipation means you can

now claim your inheritance immediately." Ironclaw explained.

"Is it necessary to do it now." Harry asked.

"Not compulsory but highly advisable. Currently as there is no head

of house, nobody can access the vaults. That means a lot of

investments are missed. Along with this, you need to claim the head

of house ring to reopen any estates attached to your accounts. By

claiming your lordship it also means you are required to attend the

monthly Wizengamot meeting as a part of the noble houses in the

sacred twenty eight. You may if you choose to, do nothing in such

meetings but you must be present. That is the only potential negative

of claiming your inheritance but the Wizengamot only meet every

fourth Sunday for the full sessions so very little intrusion." Ironclaw

said.

"Okay, I see the benefits, what do I have to do." Harry asked.

"Well to begin with, you will slash your hand with a ritual knife over a

Potter ritual bowl. Then you must call forth the Potters Stagg by

saying 'Familius Magicus.' Next you give the oath, I, your name,

hereby claim the head of the Noble House of Potter as is my right by

blood and magic. I do hereby swear to serve the Noble House of

Potter with honour and duty, to uphold its values and work for the

betterment of my house. The stagg will judge you and either leave

you or grant you the ring. So let's begin."

Ironclaw removed a quart bowl from a draw in his desk that was

covered from top to bottom in runes. In the bottom was the Potter

family crest, A shield with a stag head facing outwards on each side.

The inside of the shield was solid navy blue except for a large silver

P in the centre. Above the shields sat a silver helmet with blue

feathers poking out the top. Beneath the shield in a banner was the

family motto 'Sapiens Fortunam Fingit Sibi' which translates to 'A

wise man carves his own future.

"Let's get this over with then shall we." Harry says. He takes the

sapphire encrusted silver dagger and slashes open his palm. The

bowl fills with a blue flame from which a silver stagg emerges when

Harry called the family magic. He gave his oath, the stagg roared its

approval before it disappeared to leave a silver ring with the potter

crest etched into the top and a sapphire on each side.

"Place the ring on your right hand ring finger, it will merge with the

hidden Black heir ring. The same principles with controlling its

visibility apply. If you show both at once both crests will appear on

one ring. Now that you have claimed the rings we need to open your

vaults. If you would follow me." Ironclaw pressed a series of runes

under his desk and a door appeared behind him. Ironclaw led Harry

through the door which opened onto the track sides. A cart came

barreling down the track and stopped for them to get in. Fifteen

minutes of ridiculous dips, rolls, spins and turns they stopped outside

a blank wall.

"Place your hand against the wall and it will grant you entrance Lord

Potter." Ironclaw instructed.

Harry placed his hand flat against the cold stone wall. Magic flooded

through his hand and around the silver ring. The sound of a roaring

stagg could be heard as the stone turned to dust and feel away to

reveal an archway into a hallway.

"The vaults of these sizes are split into rooms. There are rooms with

only gold, gems, jewellery, books, parchment and other items like

weapons, armours and wands paintings and tapestries. The

parchment room will hold the receipts from all purchases, investment

details, contracts and estate deeds and details. That is where you

need to go and find the estates book. It will give you the location,

condition and size of all your estates. I cannot enter as I am not a

Potter." Ironclaw said.

Harry followed the old goblins instructions and looked for the correct

room. The room was set out similar to a library but instead of just

books there were drawers, filing cabinets, cases and books. One

wall was entirely covered with glass doors. Each door was only

around fifty by thirty centimeters and all of them were labeled with a

name and dates. The first door Harry approached read 'Jefferson

Potter - Born 23/04/1372 - Lord Potter 06/10/1401 - Died

14/01/1429.' Every other door held the name if one of Harry's

ancestors. Inside the door Harry found hundreds of small, red, wax

disks with a date, number and narration on the back and a Potter

crest on the front.

Moving on from the doors Harry moved through the ancient room

looking for the book cases. When he found the book case he looked

along the spine of each book until he got to a very thick tome simply

labeled 'Estates.' Flicking through the first few pages to confirm it

was what he wanted Harry returned to Ironclaw at the vaults

entrance. Ironclaw made a copy of it and gave it to Harry.

"That is for you to pursue in your own time and visit your properties.

Now the last thing that needs to be organised is how you want to

invest your money. Now the vaults are open more investments can

be made to increase your vault. You need to decide how you want it

invested or assign someone in your place." Ironclaw explained.

"I know the perfect person, I assume that you, like any good goblin

are willing to do almost anything for a bit of gold." Harry said.

"Anything other than break Gringotts code, I am a goblin after all."

Ironclaw grinned.

"Well then, I give you access to a vault with two million galleons to

invest. All dividends received by those investments goes back into

the vault. By quarters end I will pay you five percent of the vaults

profit. For the new quarter, seventy percent of the profits will go to

my vault and the remainder is your new amount to invest." Harry

said.

"Of course Lord Potter, that is very generous and I promise to bring

gold to your vault." Ironclaw replied with a wicked grin across his

face. Harry returned the original estates book to the vault before the

two rode back to the surface. Each gave a departing statement to

the other related to gold and victory according to customs and Harry

was in his way. Harry left one very happy goblin at Gringotts to return

to Hogwarts.

"Keep your eyes peeled today ladies." Fred said during dinner that

night

"The kings of pranking are about to make their stand." George

added.

Suddenly snow began to trickle down from the enchanted ceiling.

Within five minutes there was a layer of snow, two inches deep over

the entire hall. Wind blew through the hall from out of nowhere and

swept all the snow into a tornado that tore through the centre aisle.

Strangely, it took only the snow and everything else was left

untouched.

The tornado of snow split in half then again to make four smaller

tornadoes at the foot of each house table. The spirals of snow

shifted into a snake, a badger, a lion and an eagle. Each animal

slithered, ran or flew along their house table, freezing goblets of juice

and turning all the food ice cold. When the reached the end of tge

tables they turned inwards and crashed togather in a shower of

snow. When the snow settled a message was left in ice against the

great hall doors.

The Marauders' Heir

We accept your challenge

Wizarding Wheezes

The hall burst into excited whispers as they filled in the foreign

students about the prank challenge offered by 'The Marauders' Heir'

and the first prank. Dumbledore sat at the head table with a large

grin on his face at the prank.

A wave of the aged man's wand and all the juice was melted and the

food reheated. The atmosphere for the rest of the evening was that

much cheerful and exciting with the acceptance of the challenge

posed by the unknown 'Marauders' Heir'.

"So which are you Fred, George. Is it Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes

or Fred and George Weasley, heir to the Marauders." Harry asked.

"Don't know what your talkin about Harrykins." Fred replied.

"So it just happens that your joke shop is called Weasleys Wizarding

Wheezes and this mysterious prankster goes by the same name."

"Uhh, you will tell no one, understand." George pointed a threatening

finger at Harry.

"Of course, what's that thing Duders always used to say. Ah yes,

snitches get stitches. Doesn't quite have the same effect in the

magical world does it. Nevertheless, your secret is safe with me."

Harry said.

"Good." Both twins said together as they rose from the table, neither

staying for dessert.

Harry woke on the eighteenth of November in the large bed in the

chamber of secrets. Less than a week from the first task and he had

no better idea of exactly what it would be. Harry's morning routine

was completed as usual and included a sweep of the forbidden

forest on his broom. However this time Harry found a familiar face at

the edge of the forest.

"I wonder what Charlie's doing here, why would he be at Hogwarts."

Harry mumbled to himself. And then it all clicked. Charlies hints

about being at school for work, dangerous magical creatures

stashed in the forest. Charlie Weasley was a dragon handler, the

only reason he would have work at Hogwarts was if the first task is.

"Holy shit, Dragons." Harry said as the bursts of orange flame filled

the ground beneath him. The notice me not ward dissolving once

Harry knew what was behind it. Harry flew back to the chamber and

retrieved his invisibility cloak before returning to the forest.

There were four cages each holding a dragon, one for each

champion. The first dragon stood about fifteen feet high at its

shoulders. Its hide was an electric blue colour and it had a large horn

on the front of its snubbed snout.

The second dragon was slightly taller, around eighteen feet at the

shoulder. Its scales were a deep green colour that shined under the

fire light. Atop its head were a set of sharp horns and the same at the

mid joint of both wings. It blasted a jet of flames at its handlers that

went easily twenty five feet.

The third dragon was a fiery red colour, it stood the same as the

second dragon and had a mane of yellow spikes covering behind its

hairy ears. Beneath its chin was a long tuft of yellow hair like

Dumbledore's beard. Unlike the other two dragons which blasted a

continuous jet of flames for a few seconds, this dragon shot a large

ball of fire that went over fifty feet.

The last dragon was the most terrifying of them all in Harry's opinion.

It was the largest of them all, thirty feet tall with vivid black scales.

Large spikes surrounded its head and ran all the way down its spine

and tail. At the end of the tail was a ball of hard bone, covered in

huge, sharp spikes. It also had a fiery breath of fifty feet and lasted

for about four seconds.

Harry's luck seemed to be on his side as Ludo Bagman was talking

rather loudly with one of the handlers.

"Brilliant creatures aren't they Bob, four nesting mothers for our

champions to steal an egg from. I pity whoever gets the horntail

though, that is one vicious dragon." Bagman laughed.

"Yes, the horntail is said to be the most intelligent dragons. That's

what makes it the most dangerous, I hope whoever faces this beast

doesn't try to trick it." The dragon handler, Bob, replied.

With his recon mission a success, Harry turns back and heads for

the chamber. He ate a hurried breakfast in the great hall and

returned to the depths of Hogwarts to form his plan.

The next six days Harry spends practicing and constructing his plan

to not only survive but win the first task. Many hours he spent

crafting his tool to ensure he doesn't get burnt by the flames.

"So what's the plan for the first task Harry." Fred asked during

breakfast on the twenty fourth of November.

"Well from my research, the tournament is judged mostly from

dramatics. You could use one kick arse spell and complete the task

but that wouldn't make a good show. The key is to be a show off with

big flashy spells and put on a good show for the crowd." Harry

explained.

"Ah I see, so you plan on being dramatic but what are you going to

do." George asked.

"Now that would ruin the surprise wouldn't it." Harry laughed before

making his way out of the hall to meet Remus.

"Morning Harry, ready for the task. What's with the cloak." Remus

asked. Harry was wearing white dueling robes and a very large and

thick, white fur coat.

"It's part of my plan for the task, gotta stay safe out there. Please,

lead the way to this task location." Harry replied. Remus lead Harry

along a path that had recently been marked out with a carpet and

barrier tape.

After about five minutes of walking, the trees gave way to reveal a

huge clearing. Harry could see a pop up stadium behind a tent

marked 'Champions.'

"Your in there Harry, I've gotta go to the judges table. See you in the

arena and make our school proud." Remus laughed, leaving Harry at

the tent entrance to find a place in the judges box in the stadium.

"Harry, our last champion to arrive. Just in the nick of time too, I was

about to explain the task." Bagman greeted him when he entered the

tent.

"Mighty fine morning for the first task isn't Mr Bagman. Before we

start I have a question about protective gear taken into the arena."

Harry asked.

"Oh yes, no protective equipment to be taken into the arena beyond

your clothing which can be of any material but not enchanted in

anyway. Clothing includes shoes, robes, cloaks, helmets and gloves.

Does that answer your question Harry." Bagman answered.

"It most certainly does thank you Mr Bagman." Harry replied

cheerfully.

"Well then, each of you is tasked to retrieve a golden egg from a

magical creature. Each of you will draw a figurine from the bag with a

number. The figurine represents the creature you will face and the

number the order you will go in. Ladies first I think." Bagman held a

cloth bag out for Fleur.

Fleur put her hand in the bag and winced as something bit her finger.

She pulled her hand out with the green dragon hanging from her

finger, a number two painted on its side.

"The Welsh Green, you will compete second Ms Delacour, Mr Krum

next I say." Bagman said, confirming Harry's research on the dragon

was correct. Viktor took the Chinese Fireball with the number three

and Cedric claimed the Swedish Short-Snout and first place in the

pecking order.

"Ha- Mr Potter, looks like you get the Hungarian Horntail, lucky you.

Well then, Mr Diggory you have ten minutes to determine a strategy

before the task begins. Please enter through that door when the

cannon sounds." Bagman gave a giggle from excitement and left the

tent.

"Man you're lucky Harry, last to face the task. You get like two hours

to think of something." Cedric said as he sat thinking to himself.

"My dragons twice the size of yours, nothing more than half an hour

would be truly useful to remember all the spells about dragons. I get

to sit here and listen to cheers and gasps to question my plan over

and over. I think second to go would be best, second easiest dragon

and enough time to think of a good strategy." Harry replied.

"I suppose so, let's hope this dragon doesn't fry me before I get the

egg." Cedric said as the cannon sounded.

"Cedric." Harry called out before he left the tent.

"Yeah Harry." Cedric asked.

"The short snout has a slow reaction time and small range, about

twenty five feet. Good luck." Harry said. Cedric smiled in thanks and

hurried out of the tent.

"Why give him help, you are the one that will need it most." Viktor

asked Harry curiously.

"Well the tournament wouldn't be any fun if it wasn't close now would

it. No harm in helping a friend." Harry smiled back.

"So 'oo do not plan on winning zee tournament. Eez eet your plan to

just let us win." Fleur asked.

"Of course not, I plan to take my dragon down a peg and put on the

show of a lifetime. But Cedric is the only one of us who did not figure

out exactly what the first task is. I bet both of you had your plan all

tidied up days ago. Cedric is at a disadvantage so two facts about

his dragon that only really help him not get roasted isn't giving him

the answer to completing the task." Harry said.

Cheers erupted loudly from the crowds outside as Bagman

announced Cedric completing his task. Two minutes later the cannon

sounded and Fleur left the tent with wishes of luck from Harry.

"You know what we should do sometime after the task." Harry said to

Viktor.

"What is that, assuming you survive the task that is." Viktor replied.

"We should hold an inter-school quidditch competition. I am sure

each champion could throw together a team. Wouldn't it be fun and I

can get to play some good seeker competition. Cedrics a good

seeker but he's about the only challenge I ever get and it's not a big

challenge." Harry suggested.

"That would be fun, I might need to steal a Hogwarts player or two

but I could form a team. First we need to survive these monstrous

dragons though." Viktor replied.

The crowd roared with cheers when Bagman announced Fleurs

success in retrieving the egg. The cannon sounded and Harry was

left to himself for seventeen minutes before Viktor finished the task.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, our fourth and final champion for today, the

underdog of the competition, all the way from the school of light on

the sun. HARRY. JAMES. POTTER!" Bagmans voice boomed

across the arena.

Harry walked into the arena and locked eyes with the dragon that

stood on the opposite side. Emerald green met wicked yellow as

Harry stared defiantly at the dragon.

:Hello dragon, I have come to strike a deal: Harry hissed towards the

dragon, one of few dragon species capable of speaking

parseltongue.

:I do not make deals with puny humans: The horntail hissed back.

The dragons namesake smashed into a large boulder in a show of

strength causing it to smash into tiny pieces.

"What a display by the horntail, at least our young hero is now aware

of its mighty tail." Bagman comentated.

Harry smiled in retaliation and pointed his wand at an even larger

boulder. "Reducto." He whispered and the boulder exploded into a

million tiny pebbles.

"What is Potter doing, a very well executed blasting curse but you

can't one up a dragon Harry." Bagman laughed along with the crowd.

:As I have said, I come to offer a deal. Allow me to retrieve the

golden egg from your best nad I will set you free along with your real

eggs: Harry hissed.

:I will never allow you to enter my nest: The horntail replied followed

by a jet of flames. Harry however, did not dive to the side nor try to

escape the flames. Instead he dropped to one knee and raised his

cloak to cover his body. The flames hit the cloak and for a moment

Harry was engulfed in flames.

:My word, dragon handlers get in there. Wait, our champion seems

to have survived somehow." Bagman's magically enhanced voice

called across the arena.

True to Ludo's word, Harry had survived the blast but his clothing

was different. The fur on his cloak had all burnt away to leave behind

a dark green, almost black, scaly cloak.

"How is this possible, he seems to have found a way to deflect

dragon fire. Remarkable!" Ludo said.

:You are stronger than most, a child with much potential indeed. How

unfortunate it is that you threatened my nest because now I will kill

you: The horntail hissed at Harry.

A second blast of flames was launched at Harry that soared straight

over top of him. Harry stood, wand pointed at the dragon as it's head

was forced into the air against its will. Harry forced it all the way until

it was standing on its haunches before slamming its head back down

to the ground. The dragon lay with its face squashed into the ground

under the weight of Harry's magic. Its head twisted so its fiery breath

could not harm him.

The dragons namesake swung with speed, power and accuracy as it

came down towards where Harry was standing. Harry stepped to the

side and cast a spell on the stone ground. "Liquificus." The spiked

tail soared past Harry and plunged deep into the now liquid ground.

"Solidificus." Harry changed the ground back to solid stone.

:Will you now accept my deal dragon: Harry asked, his foot pressed

against its cheek in a show of dominance.

:Set me free and you may take the fake egg, touch any of my young

and it will be the last thing you do: the horntail hissed. Harry laughed

in response and walked to the nest. He snatched the golden egg and

returned to stand in front of the dragon. He waved his wand and

released its tail first, next he removed his magic from its head so it

could stand upright. Finally Harry blasted the chains keeping it

locked up to set the dragon free.

With lightning speed the dragon raced to its nest and collected its

eggs in its mouth. It turned back to face Harry and to everyone's

surprise, the mighty dragon bowed to Harry. It was a bow to accept

Harry as an equal, its eyes on his and head low.

:Rise dragon and be free: Harry hissed as he bowed back to the

dragon. With a mighty roar, the dragon took flight and disappeared

into the clouds.

The crowd went mad, not only had Harry completed the task without

a single scratch and in eleven minutes. He had also earned the

respect of the deadliest dragon of them all in a show of dominance.

"The judges have there score for our youngest champion.

Unfortunately as he set the dragon free he has failed the task and

receives zero points." Bagman announced to many boos from the

crowd. "Yes I know, sadly it is how it is, I didn't make these rules you

know. Now with the last champion having completed the task the

scores are as follows. In fourth place on zero points, Harry Potter.

Third place with thirty four points, Fleur Delacour. Second place with

thirty eight points is Cedric Diggory and leading the bunch after the

first task, with forty points is VIKTOR KRUM!" Bagman gave the

scores.

The crowd all applauded politely as they made their way out if the

makeshift stands. The Durmstrang students however were blasting

red and black confetti from their wands chanting "Krum, Krum,

Krum."

Harry was rushed into the medical tent by Madam Pomfrey where

she fussed over him. Twice she went to give him a potion before

putting it back with mutters of "How can I heal him if he can't have

potions." It was the downside of the venom in his veins. Although he

was immune to poisons as the venom destroyed them, the same

applies to healing potions like blood replenisher or pepper up

potions.

"Harry, what a show that was. I knew you planned on being dramatic

but that was crazy." Katie Bell yelled from the hospital wing entrance

where he'd been moved to be monitored. She was followed in by the

other two chasers and the twins.

"Real shame they ruled it as failing because you set the dragon free.

I bet if you didn't you would have gotten full marks." Alecia said.

Harry was treated with many congratulations by all manner of people

while he sat in his hospital bed.

"Harry, you did amazing in the first task. To think you even did it

without my help, you have to tell me the spells you used." Hermione

demanded when she entered the hospital wing with Ron.

"Yeah, that was amazing mate. Listen, we're really sorry about what

we did after your name was drawn but you need to look at it from our

point of view, it was highly suspicious. Anyway, we both realised that

to perform like that you must have studied hard and neither of us

want to face a dragon. So can we put it behind us and you move

back into Gryffindor tower." Ron said.

"Right, so after you declare me a cheat, liar, traitor and the opposite

of all things Gryffindor. All because you were jealous of something I

didn't want and told you repeatedly. You both kick me out of

Gryffindor tower. Now though, you realise that actually you don't

want to be in the tournament so your jealousy was misplaced you

expect me to accept you back as my best friends, just like that."

Harry said, stunned by what they were saying.

"We know we shouldn't have done that but we are sorry. You can't

hold a grudge forever so it's easier just to drop it now." Ron said.

"No, you both abandoned me because you were thought I was an

attention seeking cheat who craves for glory. Three years and you

still thought that of me. If you were half decent friends you would

have known me better than to think that. I don't need people in my

life that will just ditch at the drop of a hat because something doesn't

go their way. Even worse is you aren't apologising because you

realised what you did was wrong, you're apologising because you

don't want to be me anymore. I don't want or need you as my friends

anymore. Go away." Harry responded.

"Harry, don't be stupid. You might of fluked the first task but you are

going to need us for the other three. Now let's go find a classroom so

you can show me those spells and we can open the egg." Hermione

said.

"Ah, so that's it, you're here because now you are jealous of me

knowing spells you don't. Piss off and don't talk to me again." Harry

snapped at them.

"I'm not leaving until you accept our apologies." Hermione glared at

him, folding her arms.

"Fine then, Depulso." Harry banished Hermione across the hospital

wing to land just outside the door. "Are you walking or do you need

help too Weasley." Harry asked sharply. Ron quickly ran out the door

which Harry closed and locked. The next morning Harry was

deemed healthy and allowed to leave.