The First Task

The first task was quickly approaching and the Champions were all busy preparing themselves for the upcoming challenge. All the Champions were aware that they were facing dragons thanks to the everlasting tradition of cheating.

Art wasn't very worried about facing a Dragon as he had met one before. Although he knew that these dragons wouldn't be as lazy or friendly as Arthur, he was still not worried.

He had a pleasant surprise when he saw Newt and Tina talking to Dumbledore in one of the corridors.

"Mr and Mrs Scamander!" Art yelled with a smile, running over to them.

Mrs. Scamander gave him a hug, "Art you are even taller than last time I saw you." she said ruffling his hair.

Art gave her a crooked smile before shaking Newt's hand.

"Are you here to watch me win tomorrow?" Art asked cheekily.

Newt frowned, "Don't get arrogant, these tasks are dangerous."

Tina poked Newt's side and scolded him, "Let the boy be arrogant. Yes we are here to watch you, make sure to put on a good show."

"Of course Mrs. Scamander."

Newt looked at Art carefully, "We also came to tell you that your grandparents are coming to watch. Dumbledore didn't let them come into the castle to meet you due to the task being tomorrow but they will probably want to meet you after."

Art's face didn't change at all as he nodded his head. "That's fine. It is about time we met."

"I also heard they offered their help on the upcoming task…" Newt trailed off before stopping due to a look from Dumbledore.

"Understood. I will be careful, don't worry." Art assured him.

He talked to the Scamanders and Dumbledore for a bit longer before excusing himself. He turned in early and the twins didn't disturb him, letting him get his rest before the first task.

The next morning Art walked into the Great Hall and was welcomed with a thunderous applause and cheers. Waving at everyone, he sat down next to Fred and George who filled his plate for him.

"Do you think this is my last meal?" Art asked slightly amused.

"Need your strength." they said.

Art shook his head and gave Harry a worried look as the boy was pale and not touching his food. Art walked over to him and gently said, "Relax Harry. Eat some food and remember what you learned. Always play to your strengths."

Harry nodded and put some food in his mouth. Art told Ron and Hermoine to take care of him before returning to his seat. Art could see Bagman and Crouch at the head table. Bagman was having a conversation with anyone that was listening while Crouch kept to himself, looking a little ill.

Art and Harry were soon guided down to the grounds for the first task by Professor McGonagall. She seemed very worried but didn't say anything. She led them to a large tent which she didn't enter.

Fleur and Krum were already inside with Bagman. Fleur looked pale but still flashed Art a smile while Krum seemed even surlier than usual.

"Harry! Artland! Now that we are all here I can explain. Once the audience gathers I will ask you to choose from this bag," he held up a purple bag to show them, "to choose what you will face as there different varieties. Your purpose is to… collect the golden egg."

Everyone nodded in understanding. Soon the feet of thousands of people could be heard filling up the stadium. Bagman called them over again and said, "Ladies first, Miss Delacour if you would."

Holding out the bag for Fleur, she reached in and pulled out a miniature size dragon, A Welsh Green with a number two around its neck.

Krum did the same and pulled out a Chinese Fireball with a number one around its neck.

Art went next and pulled out a slightly larger dragon with dark rough scales, ridges along its back, and a tail tipped with an arrow-shaped spike. It had brilliant purple eyes that glared at Art with a number three around its neck.

"Hebridean Black…" Art muttered, recognizing the dragon.

Harry went next and pulled out the last dragon, a Hungarion Horntail with the number four around its neck.

"Well there you have it! Each of those will represent a dragon you will face and the numbers are the order! Mr. Krum please exit the tent when you hear the whistle. Harry, may I have a word?" Bagman said, pulling Harry along with him.

Art took a deep breath and calmed himself down, preparing himself to face a dragon.

---

Sitting in a private part in the stadium, an elderly couple with dark robes were nervously staring at the arena.

"Are you sure that we should have volunteered Daisy? She is one of the most protective mothers we have." the women asked worriedly in a strong scottish accent.

The old man let out a sigh and crossed his arms, "The boy is our blood. According to Scamander he is gifted with beasts, it shouldn't be a problem."

"He doesn't recognize us as family." the women sadly said.

"He will. He just needs to hear our side." the man assured.

They both quit talking as the first champion entered the arena.

---

Harry, Art and Fleur all listened as Krum faced his dragon, the crowd gasped and awed but a round of applause signalled his victory.

Soon the whistle blew and Fleur's hand was shaking. Taking her hand, Art gently kissed it.

"You will do fine. You are the most talented witch I have ever met." he said softly.

She gave him a strained smile before nodding and exiting the tent.

A few minutes later Art let out a sigh of relief as she had retrieved the egg.

Art turned to Harry and gave him a confident smile. "Good luck Harry. Remember to always keep a calm head."

The whistle rang and Art exited the tent, briefly blinded by the bright light. After a second his sight came back and a giant black dragon glared at him from across the arena, guarding some eggs behind her.

It had dark rough scales, ridges along its back, and a tail tipped with an arrow-shaped spike. Her brilliant purple eyes followed Art's every move and her batlike wings spread out behind her. The dragon was an adult female, around thirty feet long with a wing span even larger.

Art could feel her aggression towards him but didn't dissuade him. Art walked calmly towards the dragon, taking out his wand.

The dragon growled before releasing a stream of dragon fire at him. Fire from a dragon was different than normal as it came from a magical beast. The fire was 5x as hotter and was able to burn through magic.

Art didn't stop walking and simply raised his wand, the flames were split and left him unharmed. The dragon was smart and saw that the fire wasn't working so she swung her massive tail at him.

Art waved his wand and a wall of two foot thick steel appeared to his left, blocking the tail. The tail struck the steel with a thunderous boom, causing the wall of steel to fold like a napkin.

Art frowned, clearly not thinking that the dragon was so powerful. He waved his wand quickly and large steel chains sprang from the ground and circled the dragon, pinning her down.

The dragon let out an angry roar and fought ferociously agaisnt the chains. Art reinforced the chains with a spell and walked towards the head of the dragon.

"What in the world is Artland doing!?" Bagman yelled, clearly confused by Art's actions.

"He is going to talk to her." the old man said, his eyes shining with anticipation.

The dragon continued to struggle against the chains and glared at Art with hateful eyes.

Art stretched his arm out but reeled back when a stream of fire was shot at him through her nostrils.

Art chuckled and said, "Not that wasn't nice. I just want to talk, okay?"

The dragon continued to glare at him but Art tried again and gently touched her nose.

'This two legger is going to die!' an angry female resonated in her head.

'Calm down. I just wish to talk.'

The dragon was stunned and looked at Art.

'Can you hear me two legs?'

'Of course. That's why I asked to talk.'

The dragon was silent and simply looked at him with wary eyes.

'There is a fake egg among the real ones. The gold one, I am asking you if I have your permission to retrieve it.'

'A fake?' the dragon was stunned.

'Yes. I can release you and let you inspect if you want.'

The dragon nodded and Art retracted the chains, causing everyone to gasp.

The dragon stared at Art for a few seconds before turning around and inspecting her eggs. She soon found the fake one and sniffed it. Surprisingly she gently bit it and dropped it in front of Art.

'Now leave.'

Art laughed loudly and picked up the egg and faced the crowd before lifting the egg above his head. The crowd erupted in voracious applause, Bagman was stunned for once and didn't know what to say.

Art turned to Dumbledore who raised his wand in the air, a smoky 10 appeared from his wand. The crowd cheered loudly for his score.

Madame Maxime raised her wand and a 9 appeared with another round of applause. Her face was scowling as she did it making Art feel good.

Turning to Karkaroff, Art raised his eyebrow wondering what this bastard would score him.

"A 5!?" Art yelled, glaring at Karkaroff who glared back at Art.

The crows booed and the other judges looked at him with disbelief. In front of thousands of people and teachers, Art raised his wand and a smoking fist rose from his wand with only the middle finger raised.

The crowd erupted in laughter with Karkaroff's chest rising and falling rapidly. He was about to stand up when Dumbledore shot him a look.

The laughter died off and everyone looked at Bagman's score.

"Another 10." Art smiled before leaving the arena. "The house of Cason rise starts today." he muttered to himself.