Harry's scalp prickled. He hastily leaped into the huge, scorched crater blasted out earlier by a stray shot from one of the dragons. It had yet to cool, and the scalding earth and stones made him hiss in pain.
Still, it beat being smashed into pulp by a tail.
Boom.
Sure enough, an enormous tail covered in iridescent scales swept over the crater an instant later, smashing a nearby boulder to pieces!
Seeing the Opaleye turn to pounce on the now-visible Harry, Draco hurried forward a few steps, flicking his wand frantically.
"Sectumsempra!"
"Confringo!"
"..."
Somehow, he outdid himself. Every spell he fired packed more power than usual, striking the Opaleye's scales one after another and leaving tiny scratches.
Although the spells still failed to penetrate the highly magic-resistant dragon scales, they hurt the Opaleye.
Enraged, it opened its fanged jaws wide and spat a thin stream of white-hot dragonfire at Draco.
Draco was no fool. Once he had drawn the Opaleye's attention, he took to his heels, sprinting sideways without forgetting to cast a precautionary Shield Charm behind himself.
That very Shield Charm bought him time to escape, holding back the dragonfire for a few seconds.
Draco ran up to the crater and found Harry grimacing as he tried to climb out.
Suppressing a laugh, he reached out and hauled Harry up, golden egg and all.
But before they could hug in celebration, the Antipodean Opaleye behind them tore free of the thick chain around its leg in a fury and thundered after them.
"Run!"
They shouted together, then turned in unspoken agreement and raced toward the Hungarian Horntail.
As they ran, the Opaleye flapped its wings and took to the air behind them, flying low in pursuit of its baby. The gusts it whipped up nearly sent the