Ch. 841Ludo Bagman, the Mood-Setter

On the morning of the first task, Vizet and the other Champions waited anxiously as Hogwarts prepared the students to watch. Ludo Bagman arrived and eased the tense atmosphere with his cheerful, awkward chatter.

  • Students and Vizet's dormmates offered him support, while Vizet explained that Cedric suspected the Champions would need to take a Fire Dragon egg.
  • Cedric's knowledge of Magical creatures came from helping his father, Amos Diggory, during the holidays.
  • Dumbledore announced that afternoon classes were canceled so students could watch the first task from temporary stands.
  • Professor McGonagall led Vizet, Cedric, Draco, and Harry to the Champions' tent and encouraged them to trust their abilities.
  • Champions from the other schools paced nervously in the tent, but Ludo Bagman arrived and tried to make them feel at home with cheerful remarks.

Ch. 842Drawing Fire Dragons

The champions learned that the first task would require them to face two fire dragons and another XXXXX Level creature, then drew their dragon pairings. Vizet drew a Hungarian Horntail and a Norwegian Ridgeback, leaving Harry, Draco, and Cedric concerned as the champions prepared for the task.

  • Fleur Delacour prompted Ludo Bagman to announce the start of the first task, and Old Barty Crouch explained the challenge and its extra XXXXX Level creature.
  • The champions drew their fire dragon pairings, with Vizet scheduled to compete last.
  • Vizet drew a Hungarian Horntail and a Norwegian Ridgeback.
  • Harry, Draco, and Cedric worried about Vizet's difficult draw and considered how they might help him.

Ch. 843Birds Battle Fire Dragons

The Uagadou champions entered the first task and used their Animagus forms to provoke two fire dragons. As the dragons spread their wings to attack, Vizet suspected Zuri Nkrumah’s second Animagus form was central to their strategy.

  • Old Barty Crouch gave the judges a parchment listing the fire dragons, and Dumbledore raised a magical energy field over the arena.
  • Ludo Bagman announced that champions would face dangerous creatures and retrieve a golden egg; Luna identified a caged Cat Leopard alongside the two dragons.
  • Ludo Bagman introduced the Uagadou champions’ Norwegian Ridgeback and Hebridean Black Dragon as they entered the arena.
  • Ayo Oduwale and Kwame Mensah transformed into a Gyrfalcon and a sea eagle, while Zuri Nkrumah transformed into a Gray Parrot.
  • The Gyrfalcon and sea eagle used the sunlight to conceal themselves, dodged the dragons’ fire breath, and provoked the dragons into spreading their wings.

Ch. 844An Unexpected Animagus

The Uagadou Champions used coordinated Animagus transformations and magic to restrain the Norwegian Ridgeback while their sea eagle distracted the Hebridean Black Dragon. Ayo Oluwale then raced toward the Golden Egg as the sea eagle continued to draw danger.

  • Ayo Oluwale and the other Uagadou Champions provoked the Fire Dragons, while Vizet identified Zuri Nkrumah as the core of their plan.
  • Zuri Nkrumah transformed into an elephant and landed on the airborne Norwegian Ridgeback, forcing it back to the ground.
  • At Vizet’s suggestion, Ayo Oluwale used magic to bind the Norwegian Ridgeback and elephant together, allowing Zuri Nkrumah to restrain the dragon with her trunk.
  • The sea eagle continued to lure the Hebridean Black Dragon despite suffering scorch marks and losing speed and agility.
  • Ayo Oluwale transformed into a Gyrfalcon and flew toward the Golden Egg while the sea eagle kept the Hebridean Black Dragon occupied.

Ch. 845Beauxbatons' Approach

The Uagadou Champions completed the first task despite suffering serious injuries, and Beauxbatons entered the arena with a strategy involving a broomstick and ritual magic. Beauxbatons’ Champions were still facing their dragons as the chapter ended.

  • Ayo Oluwale dodged the Cat Leopard’s attack, used the impact to reach the Golden Egg, and was carried from the arena with Kwame Mensah and Zuri Nkrumah, who were also injured or exhausted.
  • Ludo Bagman praised Uagadou’s performance, and Vizet reassured the other Champions before Fleur Delacour, Claudia Laroche, and Adele Lefevre entered the arena.
  • Claudia Laroche used a Flying Broomstick to draw the Common Welsh Green’s attention while Fleur Delacour lured the Swedish Short-Snout away from it.
  • Adele Lefevre summoned materials for what Vizet identified as a ritual magic array intended to strengthen the Water-Making Spell.
  • Fleur Delacour disrupted the Swedish Short-Snout with magic as it attacked, while Claudia Laroche kept the Common Welsh Green calm; Fitzgerald Smith remarked that Beauxbatons had drawn less fierce dragons, and Viktor Krum said luck mattered in the arena.

Ch. 846The Strategy That Failed to Work

Beauxbatons used a cautious strategy to put the Swedish Short-Snout to sleep and retrieve the Golden Egg, though its Champions suffered injuries. Ilvermorny tried a Weather Charm and then Flying Broomsticks, but the Hungarian Horntail and Swedish Short-Snout stopped them, forcing them to surrender without the egg.

  • Adele Lefevre used a Ritual Magic Array and water spells while Claudia Laroche flew past the sleeping Swedish Short-Snout and Fleur Delacour shielded her from the Cat Leopard.
  • The Cat Leopard knocked Fleur Delacour down, but Claudia Laroche retrieved the Golden Egg; Adele Lefevre and Fleur Delacour were injured, and Claudia Laroche's broom was partly burned.
  • The Ilvermorny Champions cast a Weather Charm, but the Hungarian Horntail and Swedish Short-Snout dispelled the dark clouds with their dragon breath.
  • The Ilvermorny Champions summoned Flying Broomsticks and tried to reach the Golden Egg, but the dragons attacked them and destroyed all three brooms.
  • The Ilvermorny Champions failed to get past the dragons and surrendered without taking the Golden Egg.

Ch. 847Eye Affliction Curse

Vizet, Harry, Cedric, and Draco watched Durmstrang challenge two fire dragons and considered whether to use the Eye Affliction Curse or their Magical Plant plan. Durmstrang successfully blinded both dragons, leaving the next stage of their strategy unknown.

  • Harry, Cedric, and Draco worried about Vizet facing the Hungarian Horntail and Norwegian Ridgeback, while Vizet noted that Ilvermorny's champions had already weakened the Ridgeback.
  • Harry recognized Durmstrang's spell as the Eye Affliction Curse, and Draco and Cedric discussed waiting to see its results before choosing their own plan.
  • Durmstrang's three champions coordinated their attacks on the ground, and Vizet and Draco attributed their teamwork to Durmstrang's War Magic.
  • Durmstrang's champions struck both the Hebridean Black Dragon and the Norwegian Ridgeback in the eyes with magic.
  • The blinded dragons roared, thrashed, and sprayed fire across the arena, scorching the ground and burning away the plants.

Ch. 848An Unexpected Failure

Viktor Krum nearly reached the Golden Egg, but the Norwegian Ridgeback destroyed it with dragon breath before the judges awarded him any points. Harry, Draco, and Cedric began their own attempt, with Harry and Draco dodging the dragons while Cedric prepared a spell.

  • Viktor Krum summoned a Flying Broomstick, dodged the Norwegian Ridgeback's dragon breath, and flew past the Fire Dragons toward the Golden Egg.
  • Krum evaded the Cat Leopard's attack, but the Norwegian Ridgeback's dragon breath burned away the Golden Egg, forcing the judges to proceed to scoring without explaining the accident.
  • Harry, Draco, and Cedric were called into the arena, while Vizet comforted the Baby Thunderbird after it returned to him.
  • Harry and Draco flew low and dodged dragon attacks, switching opponents so Harry faced the Hebridean Black Dragon and Draco faced the Common Welsh Green.
  • Ludo Bagman noticed Cedric leaning on his Flying Broomstick and waving his Wand, and wondered what he was doing.

Ch. 849I'd Be Happy to Score Again

Harry, Draco, and Cedric used magical plants to subdue the three Fire Dragons and completed the first task, though Harry was wounded during the attempt. After Karkaroff objected to their methods, the judges debated rescoring the Champions.

  • Cedric and Harry lured the Hebridean Black Dragon into breathing fire while their magical plants attacked it from within.
  • Harry was cut across the back, and Cedric healed the wound as Draco and Cedric used Venomous Tentacula to restrain the dragons.
  • Draco's Biting Cabbages slowed the Cat Leopard, allowing Harry, Draco, and Cedric to raise the Golden Egg and finish the task.
  • Karkaroff challenged whether the Champions had relied on their own strength, and Madame Maxime, Seraphina Piqueri, and Kamba Headmaster supported rescoring.

Ch. 850Vizet Takes the Field

After the judges scored Harry, Draco, and Cedric, Vizet entered the arena alone to face the Hungarian Horntail and Norwegian Ridgeback. The Ridgeback attacked first, but Vizet countered with Transfiguration that left the dragon wounded as the audience cheered.

  • The judges gave Harry, Draco, and Cedric mostly high scores, while Karkaroff awarded them four points.
  • The Hungarian Horntail and Norwegian Ridgeback returned to the arena before Vizet's trial.
  • Vizet approached the two Fire Dragons calmly as Hogwarts students cheered him on.
  • The Norwegian Ridgeback attacked Vizet with dragon breath, but he conjured a boulder to block it.
  • Vizet transformed the boulder's fragments into stone spears that pierced the Ridgeback's scales, leaving it roaring in pain.

Ch. 851Vizet and the Fire Dragon

After the headmasters settled the scoring dispute, Vizet entered the arena to face the Hungarian Horntail and Norwegian Ridgeback alone. The Norwegian Ridgeback attacked first, but Vizet countered with powerful Transfiguration that wounded the dragon and stunned the spectators.

  • Old Barty Crouch refused Ministry involvement in the tournament dispute, and the headmasters agreed to rescore the Champions.
  • Madame Maxime, Kamba, Old Barty Crouch, Seraphina Piqueri, Ludo Bagman, and Dumbledore gave Harry and the others high scores, while Karkaroff gave them four points.
  • The Hungarian Horntail and Norwegian Ridgeback returned to the arena as Vizet approached them alone, greeted by loud cheers from Hogwarts students.
  • The Norwegian Ridgeback recognized Vizet and ambushed him with dragon breath, but Vizet conjured a boulder to block the attack.
  • Vizet transformed the boulder fragments into rock spears that pierced the Norwegian Ridgeback's scales and left it roaring in pain.

Ch. 852Obstacle Curse and Repelling Charm?

Vizet used the Obstacle Curse and Repelling Charm to evade and constrain two Fire Dragons, prompting them to try to escape into the sky. As they hovered with their wings seemingly blocked, Dumbledore judged the timing right and waved his Wand toward the arena.

  • A Hungarian Horntail attacked Vizet with dragon breath, but Vizet used the Obstacle Curse as a foothold and the Repelling Charm to dodge it.
  • Dumbledore explained Vizet’s spells to the audience, while Fred and George joked that they could use the technique against the Moving Staircase.
  • Vizet laid invisible obstacles around the arena, using them as footholds and blocking the Fire Dragons’ attacks.
  • The enraged Fire Dragons spread their wings and began flying upward, but Vizet followed and cast spells at their wings, leaving them hovering in midair.
  • Dumbledore said the timing was right and waved his Wand toward the arena.

Ch. 853Water-Making Spell and Weather Charm

Vizet used the Obstacle Curse to bind two Fire Dragons, then countered their breath with a Water-Making Spell and turned the resulting vapor into a blizzard. He left the Cat Leopard cowering in a corner and approached the Golden Egg to complete the first task.

  • Dumbledore revealed the obstacles Vizet had created, showing how they pinned the Fire Dragons in midair and formed barriers around them.
  • The spectators discussed the trapped dragons, while Anthony Goldstein warned Chris Moen after Gryffindor students’ spell experiment brought Professor McGonagall over.
  • The Fire Dragons attacked Vizet with a combined blast of dragon breath, and he met it with the Water-Making Spell.
  • Vizet moved the obstacles into a cage around the dragons as the water vapor gathered into clouds and poured rain over the arena.
  • Vizet changed the rainstorm into a blizzard, leaving the Cat Leopard huddled in a corner as he approached the Golden Egg.

Ch. 854First Project Score Rankings

Vizet passed the first project by using water vapor from a Water-Making Spell to cast a Weather Charm and trap the Cat Leopard in a blizzard. The judges awarded him enough points to give Hogwarts first place, and the tournament moved on from the project.

  • Harry realized Vizet had used the Water-Making Spell and evaporated water vapor to create the blizzard, while the other Champions wondered how he had managed the powerful magic.
  • Kamba Headmaster, Madame Maxime, and Seraphina Piqueri challenged Karkaroff's objections, and the judges began scoring the Champions.
  • Madame Maxime, Kamba Headmaster, Seraphina Piqueri, Ludo Bagman, and Old Barty Crouch gave Vizet tens; Dumbledore gave him a nine, and Karkaroff gave him an eight.
  • Ludo Bagman announced the scores: Vizet received sixty-seven points, and Hogwarts's average score was sixty-two, putting Hogwarts first ahead of Uagadou, Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, and Ilvermorny.
  • Hogwarts students celebrated their first-place ranking with cheers and Magical Fireworks.

Ch. 855The Golden Egg's Seam

After the First Task, Harry, Draco, and Cedric discussed Karkaroff’s biased scoring while Vizet was checked by Madam Pomfrey and reunited with the others. Old Barty Crouch announced that the Second Task would take place on March first and revealed that the Golden Eggs contained its clue.

  • Harry and Draco remarked that Karkaroff’s eight points for his own Champions seemed grudging after he had scored other schools unfairly.
  • Draco predicted that future scoring would be delayed until all Champions had finished, with Karkaroff scoring first.
  • Madam Pomfrey examined Vizet and confirmed he was unharmed, while Harry praised how he had handled the Fire Dragon.
  • Vizet pointed out a seam on the Golden Egg, and Harry suggested trying to pry it open.
  • Old Barty Crouch announced the Second Task’s date as March first and explained that the Golden Egg could be opened at its seam to reveal the clue.

Ch. 856Hiding Here for a Little While

After the First Task, Vizet spoke with the Beauxbatons Champions about his Water-Making Spell and suggested they submit their ritual magic to Hogwarts Voice. He then avoided the celebrating students and hid by the Forbidden Forest with Luna, sharing lemon cake as evening fell.

  • Madam Pomfrey detained the injured Uagadou Champion for more instructions, and a piercing scream made Harry, Draco, Cedric, and Vizet speculate about what had happened.
  • Fleur Delacour, Adele Lefevre, and Claudia Laroche asked Vizet about his Water-Making Spell and proposed a trade for its details.
  • Vizet told the Beauxbatons Champions that he had written about the spell for Hogwarts Voice and suggested they submit their ritual magic in return.
  • Fleur Delacour said the Beauxbatons Champions would need their headmistress's approval before sharing the principles of their Ritual Magic Array.
  • Guided by the Baby Thunderbird, Vizet found Luna by the Forbidden Forest and chose to hide from the crowd of students celebrating Harry and the others.
  • Luna fed Vizet lemon cake, and they walked hand in hand along the Forbidden Forest as the sun set.

Ch. 857The Screams Inside the Golden Egg

Vizet and Luna returned to Ravenclaw Tower, where their classmates celebrated Vizet’s success and opened the Golden Egg to hear its piercing scream. Vizet recognized that the egg contained a song and prepared a spell to make it audible, leaving the students gathered around as its magic spread through the common room.

  • Vizet and Luna returned to Hogwarts after wandering the Forbidden Forest’s outskirts and seeing Hagrid at the Fire Dragon Enclosure.
  • Roger Davies and the Ravenclaws welcomed Vizet with a celebration in the common room.
  • Vizet let his classmates open the Golden Egg, and its shrill scream made them cover their ears until Luna cast a Silencing Charm.
  • Vizet explained that Luna had hummed the melody hidden in the Golden Egg and that a medium was needed to make its voice pleasant.
  • Vizet moved the food table aside and cast the Moisturizing and Preserving Charm, spreading a magical field around the Golden Egg and the gathered students.

Ch. 858The Merfolk's Song

Vizet used a humid magical field to reveal the Golden Egg’s merfolk song, and the students discussed what its riddle suggested about the Second Task. They suspected it would take place beneath the Black Lake, where the champions would lose air and have to find something precious.

  • Vizet opened the Golden Egg in a humid field, revealing a merfolk song instead of its earlier scream.
  • Vizet explained that merfolk needed a moist medium to sing pleasantly and described differences between warm-water and cold-water merfolk.
  • Anthony Goldstein guessed that the Second Task involved merfolk, and Michael speculated that it would take place in the Black Lake.
  • Vizet said merfolk already lived beneath the Black Lake and that the Ministry would be unlikely to bring merfolk from Greece.
  • A Ravenclaw student concluded that the song’s reference to losing a treasure needed to live meant the champions would lose air underwater.

Ch. 859I Fully Support Headmaster Dumbledore's Plan

Ravenclaw students celebrated Vizet’s success while debating the Golden Egg clue, and the tournament organizers settled on Headmaster Dumbledore’s plan for the Second Task. Voldemort received a blood-filled potion and ordered Barty Crouch Jr. to exploit Karkaroff’s actions to turn Durmstrang students toward their intervention.

  • Ravenclaw students argued over the Golden Egg clue until Roger Davies urged them to respect the rule against telling Vizet and continue celebrating.
  • Padma Pettier reminded the students not to reveal the Golden Egg’s lyrics, and they resumed eating and drinking.
  • Ludo Bagman questioned the Second Task plan, but Old Barty Crouch explained the risks of the original proposal, and Bagman declared his support for Dumbledore’s current plan.
  • Voldemort drained the owl that delivered a package, examined a blood-filled potion that corroded his fingernail, and read the accompanying letter.
  • Barty Crouch Jr. asked whether they should act against Karkaroff, and Voldemort ordered him to spread word of Karkaroff’s behavior among Durmstrang students so they would welcome their intervention.

Ch. 860The Magic of the Golden Egg Itself

Vizet deciphered the Golden Egg’s riddle as an alchemical trial involving Wands and the Great Work, then used Magic Eye and Ancient Magic to extract a Merpeople soul mark from the Egg. The mark drew him into a perception of the Merpeople as a collective, and he began retreating along the thread that connected them to the Golden Egg.

  • Vizet interpreted the riddle through the stages of the Great Work and inferred that the Champions would retrieve their Wands and help an item complete rubedo at the bottom of the Black Lake.
  • Vizet examined the Golden Egg and discovered that the Merpeople’s song had been stored inside it through a threadlike magical connection to the Black Lake.
  • Vizet used Magic Eye, the Soul Stone Monocle, and Ancient Magic to peel a single Merpeople soul mark from the thread inside the Egg.
  • Vizet sped up the mark’s unlocking with Ancient Magic Power brewed through time, and his consciousness followed its Magic Circuit into an Otherworld-like perception.
  • Vizet sensed a mass of light and shadow that could represent one Merperson or the entire Merpeople tribe, then clung to the connecting thread and began retreating from it.
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