Chapter 144: The Dragon Still Fights
“Backpack, Accio!” Jon Hart raised his wand.
Once again, he forced aside distractions and focused completely.
From the Hufflepuff stands, a black backpack soared onto the pitch from the seat beside Zacharias Smith.
The Ukrainian Ironbelly, still fixated on the stone-turned-hedgehog, failed to notice the incoming object and made no attempt to stop it.
The backpack thudded to the ground before Jon, spilling several herb pouches into the dirt.
At the same time, the Ironbelly crushed the “hedgehog” beneath its foot, reducing it to rubble. Its blood-red eyes then locked on Jon, glaring at him with murderous intensity.
“Hey, you bastard!” Jon waved his wand, deliberately taunting the dragon.
“Roooar!” The Ukrainian Ironbelly bellowed furiously.
A red flash of light struck its body, enraging it completely.
...
“What is Mr. Hart doing?” Ludo Bagman exclaimed in astonishment. “Did he just cast a Petrificus Totalus on a Ukrainian Ironbelly?”
“…Yes, but it’s useless. A dragon is no mere oversized lizard. Their thick scales deflect nearly all spells—save perhaps the darkest of magics… And this one, the mightiest Ukrainian Ironbelly, is nearly impossible to injure with ordinary spells...”
“Without question, Mr. Hart will pay dearly for this mistake. He’s enraged it completely...”
...
Yes—Jon had utterly infuriated the Ironbelly.
It abandoned its nest and eggs, charging straight toward him. Each thunderous step of its massive body sent tremors rippling through the gravel floor of the arena.
“Waddiwasi!” Jon calmly aimed his wand at the fallen herb pouches.
The bundles shot forward like missiles, striking the dragon’s body.
“Diffindo… Diffindo… Diffindo…” Jon chanted, each spell striking a bundle in turn.
As they struck, the pouches burst apart, releasing spores and seeds that clung tightly around the dragon’s hind legs.
“Herbivicus!” Jon shouted, slashing his wand through the air.
In an instant, countless vines sprouted at lightning speed, coiling upward around the dragon’s legs before spreading further across the ground.
“Aaaargh!” The Ironbelly roared in pain.
By the time it reached the center of the arena, its pounding steps came to a halt…
For it had to tear free from the stubborn, biting vines before it could move again.
...
“It’s Devil’s Snare!” Professor Sprout cried out in surprise, joy lighting her face. “He’s using Devil’s Snare!”
“A very clever idea,” Madame Maxime said with a thoughtful nod.
“Hmph…” Karkaroff only gave a cold snort.
Albus Dumbledore, sipping rum with quiet amusement, watched intently as the Ironbelly struggled against the vines, less than two hundred yards from the small figure facing it.
The stands of Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw erupted with cheers. Even the Slytherin stands occasionally broke into applause.
“Well done, Jon—keep going!” Zacharias Smith’s voice rang out loudest of all.
“Astoria, he did it!” Daphne Greengrass clutched her sister’s shoulder, crying out in excitement. “He actually did it!”
Astoria, trembling, lifted her head from her sister’s embrace and stared at the massive dragon entangled in vines.
She exhaled shakily, a look of relief softening her face.
But her smile vanished almost at once—
“No…” she whispered, despair creeping into her voice.
...
“Brilliant!” Ludo Bagman roared in excitement. “What kind of magic is that?”
He turned toward the podium just as Professor Sprout shouted, “Devil’s Snare!”
“That’s right—Devil’s Snare!” Bagman echoed enthusiastically. “Mr. Hart truly lives up to being Hufflepuff’s Champion. His command of hazardous plants is exceptional… Even a Ukrainian Ironbelly as powerful as this one is firmly bound under his control…”
“…Oh—wait!” Bagman’s tone changed abruptly. “Something’s wrong…”
A sharp snapping sound echoed through the arena.
“No—the Devil’s Snare has been broken by that damn Ironbelly!” Bagman shrieked. “It’s free—oh no!”
Every spectator tensed, eyes fixed on the pitch; only Dumbledore still had the composure to sip his rum.
The Ironbelly’s roar of pain reverberated across the entire castle grounds.
“The Conjunctivitis Curse… Mr. Hart has cast the Conjunctivitis Curse…” Bagman’s commentary trembled with tension. “A direct hit to its eye! Could this work as effectively as Mr. Krum’s strike earlier…?”
“Oh no—the Ironbelly’s tail… Merlin’s beard—watch out!”
...
The moment the Ironbelly tore free of the Devil’s Snare, Jon raised his wand, aiming straight at its head.
Several Conjunctivitis Curses shot out in quick succession, striking the dragon’s eyes with precision. Having studied this spell obsessively at the very start of his magical training, Jon wielded it with natural skill.
As the Ironbelly shrieked in agony, Jon seized the chance to sprint toward the opposite side of the arena.
He needed more time. Just a little more time!
But though its eyes were seared with pain, the Ironbelly’s gray-white tail lashed violently forward.
A massive boulder, taller than a man, hurtled straight toward Jon.
Without hesitation, Jon raised his wand and shouted, “Protego!”
The shield flared to life, absorbing the strike. Even so, the impact slammed into him with brutal force, sending him crashing to the ground.
...
“Can Mr. Hart continue fighting…?” Ludo Bagman said with deep regret. “His performance has been truly remarkable, but the Ukrainian Ironbelly is undoubtedly the strongest of the four dragons… What a pity…”
Many girls covered their eyes, unable to bear watching any further.
Professor Flitwick leapt onto a chair, then onto the judges’ table…
Just as he raised his wand to intervene, a withered hand closed gently over his wrist.
“Wait a moment, Filius,” said Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, his voice carrying unquestionable authority.
Author's Note
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