Harry stood behind a massive oak tree, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Oh, look," Bagman said with a laugh. "Our other Hogwarts Champion looks a little nervous—no, very nervous. He's hiding behind a tree, and he seems to be hesitating."
Harry was hesitating.
Less than a hundred meters ahead, a Norwegian Ridgeback lay sprawled in a clearing.
Its scales looked cold beneath the sunlight, hinting at the deadly danger beneath them. A few feet from its side, a golden egg rested on the moss.
"Now we know why Mr. Potter is nervous. That's a Norwegian Ridgeback! This breed of dragon is highly aggressive, and its teeth are venomous!" Ludo's voice echoed through the Stands.
In the Stands, Ron suddenly felt something wet on his head. A large patch of moisture soaked into his flame-red hair.
"Oh, Hagrid!" Ron turned and saw Hagrid wiping his nose.
"Sorry, Ron." Hagrid wiped his nose with a filthy handkerchief. "I've had a bit of a cold lately. But that dragon's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Hagrid," Ron said irritably, "instead of admiring the dragon, how about checking on Harry?"
In the huge projected image, Harry seemed to be considering his options.
"Stay calm, kid," Strange's voice sounded in Harry's mind. "You're behind the tree, and the dragon hasn't spotted you. First, think about how to get that egg."
"I've got it!" Harry told Strange in his mind. "The Summoning Charm—my Firebolt!"
"Good idea," Strange said approvingly.
"Accio Firebolt!" Harry murmured, pointing his Wand at the sky.
A few dozen seconds later, a red streak shot in from the direction of the distant Castle, skimmed over the Forbidden Forest, and headed straight for Harry.
The Norwegian Ridgeback raised its head and looked up in confusion, but all it caught was a red blur flashing past.
The Firebolt