Chapter 367 (1/2)
Suddenly, the Horntail raised its head and moved forwards. The girls in the crowd shrieked in fear as everyone's hearts dropped into the pit of their stomachs. To everyone's utter shock the Horntail gently lowered its head to touch Rowan's upheld palm. No one could hear what Rowan was saying, but the Horntail began to purr.
More than one mouth flopped open as Terry was one of them. ”How in Merlin's name is she doing that?” Terry whispered in awe.
”I don't know,” Severus truthfully whispered. ”But ever since we were children animals always seemed to find her. They knew she'd take care of them. I can't count the number of broken wings, tails, or limps she fixed. Even Bowtrunkles seem to like her and will come out of their hiding spots to play in her hair or simply curl up on her.”
”Huh,” Terry sounded rather distant as he said, ”I'm sure that Professor Kettleburn right now must desperately be regretting that she never signed up for Care of Magical Creatures.” Those next to him dumbly nod their heads in agreement.
Tragically, Terry's comment proved true as sitting further away, Professor Kettleburn looked like he wanted to cry. How by Helga's rear did he manage to fail getting his hands on a student that had Newt Scamander's affinity with magical creatures? He'd lost the rare, valuable opportunity to raise the next world-renowned Magizoologist!
The crowd is utterly silent and awestruck as they watch Rowan simply waltz into the Horntails nest and pluck the golden egg, before walking out like nothing had happened at all.
Suddenly someone shouts, ”She did it!” Everyone wakes as the cheers begin to fill the arena. The Horntail that was previously calm begins to roar as the dragon tamers pour at as the dragon spews flames at them. And that was just as exciting to watch in its own way.
Professor Slughorn seems to be in utter shock as Rowan merely waits at the entrance for the dragon to be taken away. At last the Horntail is taking away as Rowan emerges back into the enclosure to receive her scores. The five judges were sitting on the other end in raised seats draped in gold.
”How cunning of them,” Rowan thought to herself. Of course, they'd be where it was safe. Yes, let's have the students remain seated behind the dragon. Nothing will happen. Not until the dragon starts flaming!
Madame Maxime raises her wand in the air. What looked like a long silver ribbon shot out of it, which twisted itself into a large figure eight.
The crowd applauds as Mr. Flint went next. He shot up a number nine into the air.
Dumbledore also gave a nine as the crowd cheered louder than ever.
Dano Amundsen gave her an eight.
And Vulchanova raised his wand in the air to give her a six.
Rowan couldn't find any fault with Vulchanova's assessment. Thorough impressive and daring, she hadn't used her wand nor the least bit of magic. It was still a fair score with a total of forty points.
Rowan was sent back out to wait in another tent, while the rest of the contestants went forth. The crowd could easily be heard from where she was sitting as well as the commentary from Amundsen. From what she understood is that Jean Delacour somehow managed to switch the eggs with a bit of clever magic. He earned a total of forty-two points.
Igor Karkaroff, on the other hand, stabbed the dragon in the eye causing the poor dragon to smash some of its eggs. He lost points for that and ended up with a total of thirty-eight points.
When all three of the champions were back in the tent, Dano Amundsen said, ”Excellent work all of you! Now a quick few words. You've all got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half-past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth.”