The crowd roared in excitement as Ludo Bagman's voice boomed through the magically amplified speakers.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, our third contestant—Hogwarts' very own Cedric Diggory!"
The stands erupted into cheers, with Hogwarts students—especially those from Hufflepuff—chanting Cedric's name. Yellow banners waved wildly, displaying his name and house emblem in bold, enchanted letters. Even students from other houses clapped and whistled, showing their support for the well-liked Hogwarts champion. Among the sea of excited faces, Severus stood near the entrance, watching with his usual impassive expression. His eyes, however, were sharp and observant, analyzing every movement, every detail, every flaw.
The dragon handlers worked quickly, securing the Swedish Short-Snout within the arena. This dragon was smaller than the previous two but just as dangerous. Its silvery-blue scales shimmered under the bright sunlight, giving it an almost ethereal beauty. However, the creature's sharp talons and piercing blue eyes revealed its lethal nature. The handlers placed the clutch of dragon eggs in a protected corner of the enclosure, the golden egg sitting conspicuously among them. The dragon, sensing the presence of outsiders, let out a deep growl, smoke curling from its nostrils as it huffed impatiently.
A cannon blast signaled Cedric's entrance. The handsome, athletic boy strode onto the field, his wand already gripped tightly in his hand. Unlike Krum, Cedric had a calmer approach. His movements were measured, careful, and strategic. Severus narrowed his eyes slightly, watching how the boy took in the scene, his sharp mind undoubtedly working through a plan.
The dragon shifted, its enormous head lowering as it fixated its gaze on Cedric. It exhaled a gust of smoke, warning the young wizard to stay away. The crowd hushed slightly, anticipation thick in the air. Even the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students leaned forward in their seats, intrigued to see how Hogwarts' champion would fare.
Severus, of course, already had an idea of what was to come. If this Cedric was anything like the one from his world, then his strategy would involve Transfiguration—a clever and creative approach to dealing with a beast of this magnitude.
Cedric moved swiftly, raising his wand and muttering an incantation. In an instant, several large stones scattered around the arena shimmered and morphed, twisting and reshaping until they became a pack of large, barking dogs. The creatures sprang to life, their enchanted forms bounding toward the dragon, barking and snapping in an attempt to divert its attention.
The Swedish Short-Snout recoiled slightly, taken aback by the sudden appearance of these smaller yet seemingly aggressive creatures. Its massive head turned toward them, nostrils flaring as it tried to assess the new threat. The distraction worked—just as Cedric had planned.
Severus remained still, watching intently. The boy was competent, there was no doubt about that. His execution was smooth, and his timing was precise. But would it be enough?
Cedric wasted no time. As the dragon growled at the illusionary dogs, he bolted toward the cluster of eggs. The crowd gasped, their attention shifting between the champion and the dragon. The enchanted dogs continued to bark and snap, keeping the beast occupied—until, inevitably, the illusion started to falter.
The dragon quickly realized the deception. With a furious snarl, it swung its massive tail, shattering the stone-turned-dogs into rubble. It then turned its attention back to Cedric, who was just feet away from the golden egg. The beast inhaled deeply, its chest expanding as flames gathered in its throat.
Severus tensed slightly. This was the critical moment.
Cedric was quick on his feet. He spun around just as the dragon released a jet of bright blue flames. With a swift flick of his wand, he cast a powerful Shield Charm. The flames crashed against the magical barrier, spilling around him but never touching him. He held firm, his jaw set in concentration.
The audience held their breath.
Then, with one final dash, Cedric lunged forward, grabbed the golden egg, and rolled out of the way just as the dragon roared in frustration. The moment his fingers wrapped around the prize, Bagman's voice exploded through the arena.
"He's got it! Diggory has the egg!"
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, Hogwarts students on their feet cheering and clapping wildly. Even some Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students clapped politely, acknowledging Cedric's clever execution. The boy himself panted, his chest rising and falling as he stood up, brushing dirt off his robes. He turned toward the stands and lifted the golden egg triumphantly.
The dragon handlers rushed in, quickly restraining the still-agitated Swedish Short-Snout and guiding it back into its enclosure. The tension in the air eased slightly as the immediate danger passed.
Severus exhaled quietly, his expression remaining unreadable. He had to admit, the boy had handled himself well. He was efficient, resourceful, and composed under pressure. While Severus had no particular affection for this world's Cedric, he recognized skill when he saw it.
Still, his mind was elsewhere. He wasn't here to enjoy the spectacle. His purpose remained unchanged—to observe, analyze, and strategize. There were still so many unknown variables, and he had no intention of letting himself be blindsided by anything or anyone.
As Cedric made his way back to the tent, receiving pats on the back and words of encouragement from his peers, Severus shifted his gaze toward the remaining contestants. Only one more champion was left.
The real test was about to begin.
The Hungarian Horntail was next.
_________________________________________
The Hungarian Horntail was brought into the arena, and at once, the tension in the air shifted. Unlike its predecessors, this dragon was not merely irritated—it was furious. The beast let out a deafening roar that shook the ground, its massive wings flaring out as if it were challenging the entire stadium. Its amber eyes gleamed with unfiltered rage, and its spiked tail lashed against the stone walls, leaving deep cracks in its wake.
The crowd gasped in fear, the younger students clutching each other as the dragon snapped its jaws and exhaled thick smoke. Even with the magical barriers in place, the audience couldn't help but flinch at the sight of the legendary monster in action.
Severus stood among the emergency healers near the arena entrance, his eyes narrowing as the Beauxbatons champion stepped onto the field. She moved with a grace that was almost serene, her wand raised, confidence in her posture. But Severus could already tell—it wouldn't work.
She attempted to bewitch the Hungarian Horntail into sleep, her voice steady as she whispered the incantation. The spell traveled towards the dragon, shimmering faintly in the air before reaching its scaly hide. For a split second, the dragon's pupils dilated, its head lowering as if it might succumb.
And then—it snarled, shaking off the spell like it was nothing.
Severus sighed internally. Foolish girl. The same tactic that worked on lesser dragons would never subdue something as aggressive as a Horntail.
Realizing her mistake, the girl quickly switched strategies. She flicked her wand, and at once, the nearby rocks twisted and reshaped themselves into living creatures. Hounds with sharp barks, pigs squealing in panic—animated transfigurations meant to serve as distractions.
The Hungarian Horntail didn't even hesitate. With a single, powerful inhale, it let out a blast of scorching fire, instantly incinerating every last one of the creatures in a blinding inferno. The flames cast long shadows, their intensity making even the protective dome shimmer from the heat.
But Fleur had used the moment to sprint towards the golden egg.
Severus watched as she reached for it, her fingers barely grazing the surface before she finally grabbed hold.
She turned to run.
The dragon's eyes snapped towards her.
With a roar of fury, it thrashed violently against its restraints—and then, to the horror of everyone watching, the chains snapped.
A collective scream echoed from the stands as the Hungarian Horntail was freed.
The massive beast reared back, its chest expanding before it unleashed an enormous wave of fire in a blind rage. The inferno shot towards the retreating girl.
Fleur barely had time to react.
The fire engulfed her completely.
The screams that followed were deafening.
The audience shrieked in horror as Fleur collapsed just a meter away from the boundary line, her body writhing, her robes burning. The scent of charred flesh filled the air, thick and suffocating.
Severus didn't waste time—he moved immediately.
So did the other healers, dashing towards the field as dragon handlers scrambled to subdue the rampaging beast. But the dragon was no longer simply attacking Fleur—it was out of control.
It snapped its massive jaws at the approaching handlers, and when one of them got too close, the beast swung its tail and sent the man flying across the stadium like a broken ragdoll. The audience gasped as his body slammed into the barrier, his limbs twisting at unnatural angles before he slumped to the ground, motionless.
The Horntail roared once more, and then—another blast of fire.
Several handlers were caught in the flames before they could shield themselves.
Severus barely flinched as the scent of burning flesh grew stronger.
The screaming intensified. The people in the stands had never seen death this up close, never witnessed the gruesome reality of what happened when fire melted through flesh and bone. Some younger students were sobbing, others turning away, unable to watch as a few handlers were reduced to unrecognizable charred beings.
Severus knew that if they didn't act now, more would die.
He pointed his wand at the ground beneath the dragon.
With a sharp flick, the earth shifted instantly.
The ground immediately engulfed the Hungarian Horntail up to its thick, scaly neck.
The beast let out a furious screech, it tried to flap its wings, but it was trapped under the ground now.
Severus didn't pause. With another movement of his wand, heavy metal chains shot forward, wrapping tightly around the dragon's massive jaws before snapping shut, locking its mouth closed. The collective stunning spells from the handlers and the aurors, hit the dragon which completely stunned it.
The fire was contained.
But the damage was already done.
Severus turned his focus to the survivors. One of the dragon handlers was still thrashing on the ground, his skin peeling away in grotesque layers. Severus dropped to his knees beside him, swiftly casting a pain-relieving spell as another healer rushed forward with a salve.
The arena was in chaos.
Madam Pomfrey had already reached Fleur, her wand moving rapidly over the girl's smoldering robes. The Beauxbatons champion was still breathing—barely—but the burns covering her body were severe.
Ludo Bagman's amplified voice was desperately trying to maintain control.
"L-Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm! The situation is—!"
His words were drowned out by the panicked crowd, by the sound of more aurors rushing onto the field, trying to restore order.
Severus barely paid attention.
His mind was cold, calculating, even as he worked on the wounded.
This was why he preferred plans over carelessness. Because when things went wrong—people died.