Harry Potter 04 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

‘two’ around its neck. And Harry knew, by the fact that Fleur showed no sign of surprise, but rather a determined resignation, that he had been right: Madame Maxime had told her what was coming.
    The same held true for Krum. He pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. It had a number ‘three’ around its neck. He didn’t even blink, just stared at the ground.
    Cedric put his hand into the bag, and out came the blueish-grey Swedish Short-Snout, the number ‘one’ tied around its neck. Knowing what was left, Harry put his hand into the silk bag, and pulled out the Hungarian Horntail, and the number ‘four’. It stretched its wings as he looked down at it, and bared its minuscule fangs.
    ‘Well, there you are!’ said Bagman. ‘You have each pulled out the dragon you will face, and the numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons, do you see? Now, I’m going to have to leave you in a moment, because I’m commentating. Mr Diggory, you’re first, just go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right? Now … Harry … could I have a quick word? Outside?’
    ‘Er … yes,’ said Harry blankly, and he got up and went out of the tent with Bagman, who walked him a short way away, into the trees, and then turned to him with a fatherly expression on his face.
    ‘Feeling all right, Harry? Anything I can get you?’
    ‘What?’ said Harry. ‘I – no, nothing.’
    ‘Got a plan?’ said Bagman, lowering his voice conspiratorially. ‘Because I don’t mind sharing a few pointers, if you’d like them, you know. I mean,’ Bagman continued, lowering his voice still further, ‘you’re the underdog here, Harry … anything I can do to help …’
    ‘No,’ said Harry, so quickly he knew he had sounded rude, ‘no – I – I’ve decided what I’m going to do, thanks.’
    ‘Nobody would know , Harry,’ said Bagman, winking at him.
    ‘No, I’m fine,’ said Harry, wondering why he kept telling people this, and wondering whether he had ever been less fine. ‘I’ve got a plan worked out, I –’
    A whistle had blown somewhere.
    ‘Good Lord, I’ve got to run!’ said Bagman in alarm, and he hurried off.
    Harry walked back to the tent, and saw Cedric emerging from it, greener than ever. Harry tried to wish him luck as he walked past, but all that came out of his mouth was a sort of hoarse grunt.
    Harry went back inside to Fleur and Krum. Seconds later, they heard the roar of the crowd, which meant Cedric had entered the enclosure, and was now face to face with the living counterpart of his model …
    It was worse than Harry could ever have imagined, sitting there and listening. The crowd screamed … yelled … gasped like a single many-headed entity, as Cedric did whatever he was doing to get past the Swedish Short-Snout. Krum was still staring at the ground. Fleur had now taken to retracing Cedric’s steps, round and round the tent. And Bagman’s commentary made everything much, much worse … horrible pictures formed in Harry’s mind, as he heard: ‘Oooh, narrow miss there, very narrow’ … ‘He’s taking risks, this one!’ … ‘ Clever move – pity it didn’t work!’
    And then, after about fifteen minutes, Harry heard the deafening roar that could mean only one thing: Cedric had got past his dragon, and seized the golden egg.
    ‘Very good indeed!’ Bagman was shouting. ‘And now the marks from the judges!’
    But he didn’t shout out the marks; Harry supposed the judges were holding them up and showing them to the crowd.
    ‘One down, three to go!’ Bagman yelled, as the whistle blew again. ‘Miss Delacour, if you please!’
    Fleur was trembling from head to foot; Harry felt more warmly towards her than he had done so far, as she left the tent with her head held high, and her hand clutching her wand. He and Krum were left alone, at opposite sides of the tent, avoiding each other’s gaze.
    The same process started again … ‘Oh, I’m not sure that was wise!’ they could hear Bagman shouting gleefully. ‘Oh … nearly! Careful now … good Lord, I thought she’d had it then!’
    Ten minutes later, Harry heard the crowd erupt into applause once more … Fleur must have been successful, too. A pause, while Fleur’s marks were being shown … more clapping … then, for the third time, the whistle.
    ‘And here comes Mr Krum!’ cried Bagman, and Krum slouched out, leaving Harry quite alone.
    He felt much more aware of his body than usual; very