Chapter 145: Tears
“What a pity…” Mr. Bagman shook his head. “It seems Mr. Hart has failed…”
“Wuuu—” A long, furious howl erupted from the Ukrainian Ironbelly.
“Wait… what’s happening? The Ironbelly… it doesn’t look quite right…”
...
Jon struggled out from the pile of rubble, his right hand completely numb and sharp pain throbbing in his left leg.
The Shield Charm had blocked the rocks’ impact, but it couldn’t stop the brutal force that had slammed him into the ground.
Seems I’m in rough shape this time...
Jon staggered to his feet, trembling, and looked ahead.
“Roar… Wuuu…” The Ukrainian Ironbelly had collapsed onto the ground, groaning in pain. Its legs seemed to have lost all strength, unable to move another step.
Its eyes glowed blood-red as it glared at Jon. Had its gaze carried the same deadly power as the Basilisk’s, Jon would have dropped dead instantly.
But it didn’t.
Jon limped toward the dragon’s “nest,” ignoring the furious roars behind him. The short distance of just a few hundred yards felt endless, taking him several minutes to cross. Finally, he picked up the golden egg and raised it high with his left hand.
“Whoa!” A deafening cheer erupted from the stands.
...
“He did it!” Bagman shouted excitedly. “He’s got the golden egg… but how? How did the dragon collapse on its own?”
Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey rushed onto the field, lifting Jon onto a stretcher.
Charlie Weasley and the dragon handlers charged forward as well, working quickly to calm the Ironbelly and lead it back to the Forbidden Forest.
On the judges’ platform, Madame Maxime and Professor Karkaroff looked utterly bewildered, while the other professors stared on in shock.
“Dumbledore, what just happened?” Professor Flitwick asked curiously, stepping away from his tray.
“Because it wasn’t just Devil’s Snare binding that Ironbelly,” Albus Dumbledore said lazily, rolling a blueberry between his fingers.
Several teachers immediately rose to their feet, carefully observing the dragon before it was dragged off the pitch.
It was clear that, besides the remnants of Devil’s Snare, another spiked vine had sprouted around the dragon’s thigh. Many of its thorns had pierced the gaps between its scales, stabbing deep into its flesh.
“Oh, what a brilliant idea!” Professor Flitwick exclaimed in amazement. “That’s Ghost Vine! Alongside the Devil’s Snare, he used Ghost Vine. The Ghost Vine paralyzed the dragon…”
Ghost Vine is a powerful paralytic herb. Its thorns can pierce through thick leather and even scales with ease, though its resilience is poor and it can be torn apart without difficulty. But combined with Devil’s Snare, its weakness is effectively covered.
“Pomona will be delighted—she’s truly gained an exceptional student…” Flitwick muttered, almost to himself. “What is it, Dumbledore?”
“Filius, do me a favor and tell Hagrid later,” Dumbledore said casually. “These blueberries taste excellent. He might consider planting some near the Forbidden Forest.”
“What… Oh, yes, Professor Dumbledore!”
...
Jon lay on the stretcher as Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout carried him toward the hospital wing.
“Damn Trelawney…” Jon cursed silently.
“Jon, that was absolutely magnificent!” Professor Sprout praised, tears glistening in her eyes. “You managed to defeat the fiercest Ironbelly…”
“Dragon?” Madam Pomfrey exclaimed with a look of irritation. “Two years ago it was a Basilisk, last year Dementors, and now a dragon—what will they bring next… a talking toad?”
As she spoke, she waved her wand, setting Jon’s arm in a plaster cast. “It’s all right, dear, your injuries aren’t too serious… Just two broken bones—I can mend them easily. Still, you’d better stay in the hospital wing overnight.”
As he was carried off the Quidditch Pitch, a group of Hufflepuff students gathered around.
“Jon, you were incredible!” Zacharias Smith shouted excitedly.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack… when you were thrown by the dragon!” Hannah Abbott clutched her chest.
“Well done!” Cedric Diggory came over and clasped Jon’s hand.
“Thanks…” Jon tried to sit up.
“Stay down!” Madam Pomfrey scolded sharply. “He’s a patient—he needs rest! All of you, move aside!”
She flicked her wand, scattering sparks that forced the Hufflepuff students to retreat.
...
Madam Pomfrey washed Jon’s right hand and left leg with a hot, foul-smelling orange liquid, then jabbed them with her wand. A prickling sensation rushed through him at once.
“Don’t scratch!” she warned. “Sleep on it, and you’ll be fully healed by morning!”
Jon nodded seriously.
He was probably the “worst injured” of the four Champions. Krum had escaped unharmed, Fleur had only lost part of her dress to the flames, and Harry had taken just a glancing blow on the shoulder from the Horntail’s tail.
“Clear off!” Madam Pomfrey shouted as she stepped outside the ward. “The patient needs rest!”
“Madam…” A soft, familiar voice came from outside the door. “Please, let me see Jon, just for a moment…”
“Oh, it’s you, child…” Madam Pomfrey’s voice softened slightly. “Very well, go on in… but don’t stay long.”
Jon saw a figure slip quietly into the ward. She closed the door softly behind her, then walked over to his bedside.
Jon turned his head—
Astoria stood there, flustered, her eyes brimming with tears.
“I’m fine…” Jon whispered gently. “It’s nothing at all.”
“I’m sorry, Jon… it’s all my fault…” Astoria sobbed, leaning over the bed. “I should’ve told you myself that the First Task was a dragon. I shouldn’t have been so stubborn, sending Madeline instead—and she never found you… I’m sorry, Jon. I didn’t know the dragon would be so terrifying… When I saw you struck by its tail, I nearly broke down completely…”
“It’s fine… really, it’s fine…” Jon reached up with his left hand and brushed her cheek.
“Time to leave, young lady!” Madam Pomfrey’s voice called from outside, cutting through the moment.
Astoria seemed to steel herself.
She looked straight into Jon’s eyes, leaned down…
…and pressed a gentle kiss against his cheek.
“Get well soon!” she whispered, then fled, her face flushed red.
Jon could still feel the soft dampness lingering on his cheek.
Comments (0)
Please login or sign up to post a comment.