Vulnerability || George Weasley

The First Task

The news that Phoenix's step-sister was pregnant had the exact effect on Angelina and Alicia that Phoenix had predicted. They gaped at her for a few moments before Angelina had burst out:

"But she's only just left school!"

Hermione was just as gobsmacked when Phoenix told her during lunch before the First Task. Harry didn't really respond, he grimaced and proceeded to stare at his roasted pork as though he was about to be sick all over it.

"You'll do fine Harry," George said encouragingly, hitting him on the back so that Harry almost spat his pork all over Fred. "You've faced a Basilisk before, I'm sure that whatever you have to do it won't be so bad-"

"You wanna bet on that?" Harry said stonily and George removed his hand from Harry's back and shared a significant look with Phoenix.

There were hurried footsteps from behind Phoenix and she turned, along with most of the other Gryffindors, to see Professor McGonagall hurrying between their table and the Hufflepuff table, her expression unreadable.

"Potter, the champions have to come down onto the grounds now... You have to get ready for your first task."

Harry dropped his fork instantly, "Okay," he said as he got to his feet slowly.

"Good luck Harry," Fred, George, and Phoenix all called. Ron simply stared at his bread.

"You'll be fine!" Hermione added.

Harry gulped. "Yeah,"

They watched, along with everybody in the hall (apart from Ron), Harry and Professor McGonagall walking out of the hall.

She returned a few minutes later, her face white as she told the Gryffindors that it was time for the First Task. Fred, George, and Lee all jeered excitedly, they were wearing Gryffindor hats and scarves and even had drawings of lions on their faces - Phoenix thought that they looked ridiculous but she too was showing that she was supporting Harry; her hair was red with golden highlights.

Professor McGonagall lead the Gryffindors towards the edge of the forbidden forest, Phoenix's first thought was that the champions would have to do some sort of treasure hunt in the forest, until she saw, around a clump of trees, there was a large enclosure.

"Wow!" Angelina exclaimed. "That's impressive,"

"Wonder what's in ther-"

Suddenly there was a loud, mighty roar from inside the enclosure. Phoenix jumped and almost fell backwards over a tree stump but thankfully George grabbed her to keep her steady.

"Oh my-" Angelina gasped, her eyes wide. "Dragons!"

"Dragons?" Alicia squeaked, clutching Phoenix's arm with a vicelike grip. "Where?"

"In there!" Angelina pointed towards the enclosure, where Professor McGonagall was now ushering groups on students in through an entrance.

"You six, come through, there's six seats in the front row of the stands beside Miss Granger and Mister Weasley,"

Fred, George, and Lee all sprinted into the stands, George pulling Phoenix along with him. They came out at the very top of the stands; the seats were already filling fast. They walked quickly down the wooden steps and shuffled along the front row where Hermione, Ron, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan and Ginny were all standing, looking down at the arena apprehensively.

Phoenix cast a look down at the arena, which from their seats looked all the more closer, and gasped. The ground was completely covered in jagged black rocks and the rocky surfaces crept up the arena's walls. The parts that weren't completely covered in rocks were two openings in the wall, one of the entrances were big enough for a person to walk through; the other was large enough for ten Hagrid's to get through.