Platform 9 3/4
Group: Fantastic Ferret
Posts: 28
Joined: 1-December 04
Member No.: 416
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Mice Sized Madness
“We better hurry if we want to meet up with Hagrid before Potions,” Harry said as he, Ron and Hermione hurried towards Hagrid’s hut.
“I wonder what he wants,” Hermione said.
“Dunno. His owl just said to stop by this morning,” Harry replied. “Said he had something exciting to show us.”
“Maybe it’s food,” Ron said hopefully. “I’m starving. We should have stopped at the Great Hall for toast or bacon or something.”
“Doesn’t look like he’s outside,” Harry said as they approached Hagrid’s door.
Before they could knock though, Hagrid appeared in the doorway and quickly ushered them into the house.
“Hurry up. Get in ‘ere before someone sees yeh,” Hagrid said, closing the door behind them as fast as he could. “Don’ want anyone ter know I showed yeh.”
“Showed us what?” Ron asked.
“One o’ the creatures from the first task,” Hagrid said beaming and pointing to a bare spot in the corner of the room.
“I don’t see anything, Hagrid,” Harry said, wondering what he was missing.
“Course yeh don’t,” Hagrid said proudly. “He’s invisible.”
“Oh,” Hermione gasped. “I know what that is. It’s a Tebo. They’re very rare. Similar to warthogs, but they have the power of invisibility and their hide is very thick, so it repels most spells. They’re normally a very aggressive creature.”
“This one’s ‘ad a Calmin’ Draught. Settles ‘em right down. Professor Snape made it. But don’ worry, it’ll be worn off in time fer the first task,” Hagrid reassured them.
“And that’s a good thing?” Ron asked.
“Well, yeah,” Hagrid replied. “Wouldn’t be anythin’ to get past ‘em if he was jus’ layin’ there.”
“So, the champions have to get past this Tebo. To what, Hagrid?” Hermione asked.
“You’ll see,” he replied mysteriously.
“I can’t wait to watch the first task. It’s going to be so exciting,” Hermione said.
“Yeah,” Harry agreed. “I wish one of us could have competed though. We’ve faced more dangerous things than invisible warthogs.”
“Now don’t be tellin’ anyone I showed ye,” Hagrid warned. “Keep it a secret.”
“Who else knows?” Harry asked
“Well there’s me, Dumbledore o’ course, and’ the Ministry ‘cause they arranged everything. Oh, an’ Professor Snape too, ‘cause he made the Calmin’ Draught,” Hagrid added. “Madame Maxine an’ Kakaroff have been trying their best to find out, mind yeh.”
“They haven’t been trying to cheat?” Harmione asked, sounding positively scandalized.
“You’d be surprised, Hermione,” Hagrid said wisely. “Everyone wants their school ter win, see.”
“I hope that meathead Diggory can win it for Hogwarts,” Ron said. “Ah, speaking of meat, you got anything to eat around here, Hagrid?”
“Check the canister on the table, Ron. There should be enough rock cakes in there for all three of yeh,” Hagrid said, reaching down to pet the invisible Tebo. “Yer a sweet little fella, aren’t yeh?”
Harry watched Hagrid disbelievingly. From what Hermione had said, the Tebo didn’t sound very sweet at all.
“Agh,” Ron screamed from across the room. “Hagrid, something in your canister just bit me!”
“Well yer in the wrong canister,” Hagrid said, crossing the room to check Ron’s finger.
“What bit me?” Ron asked nervously.
“Don’ worry,” Hagrid said, lifting the canister Ron had stuck his hand into and pulling out something furry. “They’re jus’ mice. I found them in my pumpkin patch this mornin’.”
Hagrid held out his huge hand and revealed three white mice within his palm.
“They’re blind,” Hagrid said mournfully. “I thought I’d take ‘em up to the castle later on an’ see if Madam Pomfrey could mend ‘em.”
“You have three blind mice,” Harry said, fighting the urge to laugh as he remembered the old nursery rhyme that Aunt Petunia used to recite to Dudley.
“I’m sure Madam Pomfrey will be able to do something,” Hermione said, patting Hagrid’s large arm reassuringly.
“As much as I hate to say it,” Ron interrupted. “We better get to Potions. If were late, Snape will give us detention for sure.”
Harry, Ron, and Hermione said their goodbyes quickly, thanking Hagrid for showing them the Tebo. On their way back up to the castle, they tried to guess what else might be in store for the champions.
When they finally reached the dungeons, it was obvious they weren’t going to make it on time. Rounding the corner to get to the Potions classroom, Harry heard Karkaroff’s voice rise in anger. Harry threw out his arm to stop Ron and Hermione.
“Listen,” Harry said.
Karkaroff’s voice continued to increase in volume. “You said you would help me, Severus. And now you’ve changed your mind. Unacceptable.”
“Keep you voice down, Igor,” Snape hissed. “I said I would help you and I will, but it will be on my terms. Not yours.”
“Fine,” Karkaroff muttered angrily. “But it better be soon. The first task is almost set to begin. I can’t let Viktor lose.”
Harry didn’t hear what Snape said next because Ron began whispering, “That traitor! He’s going to help Durmstrang cheat!”
“Shush, Ron,” Hermione hissed. “I can’t hear what they’re saying.”
Suddenly, an idea came to Harry, a way to stop Snape from tipping off Karkaroff. Opening his bag and thrusting his hand inside of it, Harry dug around until he found the package of dungbombs that he had bought in Hogsmeade.
“Harry, no!” Hermione said, seeing what he was about to do.
Ignoring her protests, Harry stucked his head around the corner, aimed, and chucked a dungbomb right at Snape’s head. In an explosion of stink, the dungbomb burst, sending both Snape and Karkaroff into a coughing fit. Taking advantage of their distraction, Harry grabbed Ron and Hermione by their robes and propelled them and himself into the Potions classroom, hoping the entire time that Snape wouldn’t notice them slipping into the room.
Unfortunately, everyone who had made it to class on time heard the commotion in the corridor. When Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered, all eyes were on them. Harry saw Malfoy smirking and knew that they were in trouble. Malfoy would tattle on them first chance he got.
Snape entered the room a moment later reeking like dungbombs. His furious glare found Harry and he held up a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages. Harry groaned inwardly. He must have accidentally knocked the book from his bag when he was reaching for the dungbomb. Snape had probably seen Madam Pince’s magical removable ink on the inside front cover indicating that he, Harry had checked the book out from the library.
“We will discuss this after class, Potter,” Snape said before turning his attention to the other students. “Today you will be brewing a shrinking solution. Instructions are on the board. There will be no need for talking.”
The rest of Potions went by quickly and uneventfully. When the other students filed out of the room, Harry stayed behind. Snape was waiting for him.
“Well, Potter,” Snape said. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” Harry replied coolly.
“What are you babbling about, Potter?” Snape sneered.
“I know you’re helping Karkaroff,” Harry blurted, unable to stop himself. “I heard you talking to him before class.”
“Eavesdropping, Potter? Did it ruin your day when you heard that trouble was afoot in the castle and nobody asked you to help? Does your attention seeking know no bounds? Surely you must realize that solving the mystery of the three blind mice will not bring you the type of glory that you’re accustomed to?” Snape shot the questions off one by one, his voice becoming nastier with each inquiry.
“What do Hagrid’s mice have to do with you being a rotten traitor, sir?” Harry said the last word as sarcastically as possible.
“How dare you, Potter. First you throw a dungbomb at me and now you’re wasting my time spouting nonsense. Detention. Next Saturday. My office. Now, get out,” Snape seethed, pointing at the door.
Furious and thoroughly confused, Harry left the classroom and hurried to catch up with Ron and Hermione. On the way, he saw Viktor Krum, who was scanning the corridor floor as if he had lost something.
“Pinky, Blinky, Dinky,” Krum called, still searching the floor.
“Did you lose something,” Harry asked him.
“My mice,” Viktor said, sounding very upset through his thick accent. They are loose. I must find them. They are blind, helpless. I do not vant to start the first task until they are found.”
“You should check with Hagrid, the Care of Magical Creatures Teacher. He found three mice in his pumpkin patch this morning,” Harry said.
“Thank you, Harry Potter. Thank you,” Krum said smiling gratefully and shaking Harry’s hand.
Harry watched Krum hurry down the corridor before making his own way out of the dungeons. Ron and Hermione were waiting for him in the entrance hall. He told them about his conversation with Snape and the incident with Krum.
“Karkaroff must have wanted Snape to help him find Viktor’s mice,” Hermione said once Harry had finished his story. “I’ll bet that’s what they were talking about before class.”
“I don’t know, Hermione,” Ron said. “I wouldn’t put anything past Snape.”
Harry thought that Hermione’s explanation was perfectly logical, but at the same time, he couldn’t help agreeing with Ron.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione got up early the next morning to find good seats to view the first task. They watched Hagrid drag a large, but invisible creature, which they knew to be the Tebo, to the edge of the lake. Tying the struggling beast to a tree, Hagrid left and soon returned with a black horse. A glowing bridle was wrapped around the horse’s head and Hagrid used this to lead it to the water’s edge.
The empty seats around Harry, Ron, and Hermione filled up quickly, and the Tournament judges took their places not long after. Harry saw Bagman shaking Karkaroff’s hand enthusiastically. He wasn’t sure, but Harry thought he saw Bagman wink at the Durmstrang Headmaster too. Before he could ask Ron and Hermione if they had seen the same thing, Bagman’s voice boomed through a magical megaphone and announced that the first task was about to begin.
“Welcome, welcome. Thank you for coming. You’ll be glad you did, for you are about to see history in the making. The school champions have entered the Tournament to prove their mettle and achieve lasting glory. As they risk life and limb for your viewing pleasure, we ask that you do your best not to distract them from their task. And what is that task?” Bagman paused to prolong the suspense.
“To begin, the champions must get past an unknown adversary to the edge of the lake. There they will find a vicious water demon known as a Kelpie. They must ride the Kelpie into the lake to a floating platform which contains the magical plant they need to survive the second task. The time it takes the champions to complete the task and the means in which they use to complete it will be the deciding factors of the judges’ scores. Scores will not be given until all three of the champions have finished. Sounds easy, ay?”
“Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons will be the first champion to attempt this task. Please put your hands together for Fleur,” Bagman called.
Fleur emerged from the champions’ tent looking pale and nervous. The crowd clapped and cheered. Hagrid unbridled the Kelpie, which began running up and down the shoreline. With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore untied the Tebo. The first task had begun.
Fleur moved quickly to the edge of the lake. She had only made it a few steps before the Tebo knocked her to the ground. She was on her feet in an instant. Shouting an incantation in French, she spun in a circle. Brilliant blue liquid shot from her wand tip and arced through the air in every direction. Fleur let out a triumphant yell. Covered in blue dye, the Tebo was no longer invisible.
Staying clear of the creature, Fleur began making complicated movements with her wand, her hands moving so fast they were almost a blur. Within seconds, she had created a large net made of glowing golden threads that wound tightly around the Tebo, trapping it where it stood.
Wasting no time, Fleur ran past the enraged creature to the Kelpie. After two failed attempts, she managed to place a bridle over its head using a placement charm. Scrambling onto its back, Fleur rode the horse into the lake and to the platform which held the magical plant that she needed to retrieve. She was finished within fifteen minutes.
The crowd went wild, especially the group from Beauxbatons. Fleur took a bow before retiring to the champions’ tent. As soon as she disappeared, Bagman called Cedric’s name. Hogwarts was up next.
Cedric tried many different spells on the Tebo, including Incarcerous, Stupefy, Impedimenta, and a few others that Harry didn’t recognize. It seemed like all of the spells were rebounding off of the Tebo’s hide. Cedric was clearly becoming frustrated. The Tebo kept attacking him from behind, knocking him to the ground every few moments. With a look of desperation, Cedric waved his wand in a jerky motion after one such attack and muttered a combination of incantations. Finally, it seemed as though he had gotten lucky. The Tebo fell to the ground with a loud thump. The crowd applauded, but Cedric didn’t seem to hear.
Instead of waiting for the Kelpie to come to him, Cedric ran to the Kelpie. He bridled it on his first try and finished the task without any problems. He was done in less than twenty five minutes.
Krum was the last champion to compete. As soon as he emerged from the champions’ tent, he conjured a cage which he dropped over the Tebo. Moving on to the second creature, he bridled it as though he had been practicing placement charms his entire life. In less than ten minutes, Krum stood before the judges table, plant in hand.
After several long moments, Bagman announced that the judges were ready to show the champions their scores. Fleur, Cedric, and Krum all emerged from the champion’s tent once again, each looking very eager to hear how they had done.
Mission: Your main character is Harry Potter.
Describe how excited he is to watch the Tri-Wizard Tournament and how disappointed he is that he could not compete.
Show how, while on the way to class, Harry overhears a conversation between Karkaroff and Snape, which makes him believe that Snape is trying to help Igor win illegally. What does Harry do to subvert their efforts? Does Snape notice?
Include a conversation between Snape and Harry, in which each misinterprets the other wildly. Show the first task.
Required Objects,
A copy of Quidditch Through the Ages,
A pumpkin patch,
Three blind mice.
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Tri-Ferret Tournament - The First Task, submissions
Department_of_Mysteries Tri-Ferret Tournament - The First Task Oct 29 2005, 10:29 AM
Oct 29 2005, 10:29 AM
