"But a Pensieve is way too valuable. They're not exactly easy to come by," Harry said, sounding skeptical.
"No big deal," Draco replied breezily, as if he were talking about ordering a box of Honeydukes candy. "I'll have my dad send one over in a couple of days. He's got a spare sitting in his study."
Tch, and Draco didn't even have his own Pensieve yet.
"Let's store the memory for now," Dylan said, shaking his head. He raised his wand, pressing the tip steadily to his temple, and slowly drew out a shimmering silver thread of memory.
It was his research on dragons.
He pulled a clean potion vial from his robe pocket, uncorked it, and carefully placed the memory thread inside before sealing it and handing it to Draco.
"Draco, could you hold onto this for me?"
"You got it," Draco said, straightening up and taking the vial with a serious nod. He tucked it carefully into his robe's inner pocket, patting it to make sure it was secure.
"Shall we keep going?" Cedric broke the brief silence, gesturing to the parchment scrolls on the table. "Next up, we should check what other 5X-level dangerous creatures are out there."
"I'll look for records from other regions," Harry said, diving into a scroll. His finger slid quickly down the page before stopping. "The Horned Serpent is 5X-level, but it's aquatic. They probably wouldn't pick a water-based creature for the task, right?"
"There's also the Catoblepas," Draco added, flipping through another scroll, his brow furrowing. His tone was heavy. "It's about the size of a lion but can walk upright like a human. It's so fast it leaves afterimages, and it's skilled at hypnosis and even basic Legilimency."
He looked up, his expression tinged with resignation. "No surprise there—5X-level creatures are never easy to deal with."
Cedric let out a sigh, and Harry and Draco nodded in agreement, clearly grasping the challenge ahead.
"There are other 5X-level creatures…" Harry's finger raced across the parchment, pausing as his voice rose in shock. "No way, a Nundu?"
He jabbed at the text, reading aloud in disbelief. "It says here it's the most dangerous magical creature alive. It's massive, but it moves silently, like a shadow."
His voice faltered as he sucked in a breath, his Adam's apple bobbing. "The worst part? Its breath is toxic. It can give Muggles deadly diseases and, in bad cases, wipe out entire villages. And it takes at least a hundred wizards to subdue one…"
He looked at the others. "They wouldn't bring something like that, would they? It's way too dangerous. If it got loose, there'd be no containing it."
Cedric leaned over, scanning the parchment, and nodded. "Yeah, it's unlikely. A Nundu's too big. Transporting it across the ocean would be a nightmare, and they'd need special containment. The judges wouldn't go through that hassle."
"There are others, like the Chimaera or the Rainbow Serpent, but they've got similar issues—either too big or needing specific environments, making transport and setup a pain," Dylan added, his finger trailing over another scroll. "Compared to those, a dragon or a Catoblepas is more practical. A Catoblepas is lion-sized, so it's way easier to move."
They debated the possibilities for a while, ultimately leaning toward "dragons are the most likely challenge."
After all, dragons were widespread, easier to arrange, and fit the Triwizard Tournament's traditions.
"I've got an idea, whatever creature we face," Draco said suddenly, pulling three neatly folded parchments from his robe and handing them to Dylan, Harry, and Cedric.
"These are some magical plants I think could be useful," he said, pausing before adding, "I've got tons more notes at home, but they were too bulky to bring. These are the most practical ones. Take a look."
The three unfolded the parchments, revealing Draco's meticulous handwriting, packed with details and marked with emphasis symbols.
He'd clearly put in a lot of effort.
The parchments listed three magical plants: Venomous Tentacula, Chinese Chomping Cabbage, and Man-Eating Thorn.
Each entry detailed their growth habits, attack methods, and even cultivation tips.
"Here's my plan," Draco said, tapping the section on Venomous Tentacula. "We use growth-accelerating potions and spells to make these plants sprout fast. Their aggressive nature can keep a dangerous creature busy. The Tentacula's venom, especially, can paralyze a dragon if it gets into a wound, weakening its fighting ability."
"Venomous Tentacula…" Cedric cleared his throat, looking hesitant. "Those aren't cheap, right? I asked at a shop in Diagon Alley once, and just a seedling was crazy expensive."
Dylan blinked, instantly recalling Diagon Alley's prices.
A single Tentacula leaf cost ten Galleons, let alone a whole seedling—way out of reach for most students.
Luckily, he'd been cultivating a few in his own setup.
"The real challenge isn't the cost—it's finding the right growth potion and matching spell," Dylan said.
Draco shrugged, unfazed. "If it means troubling a dangerous creature, the cost doesn't matter. I've got enough to cover it."
He patted his pocket confidently, clearly backed by the Malfoy family's wealth.
Harry and Cedric exchanged a glance, silently agreeing the plan was solid. Any extra preparation boosted their odds.
"Wait, are there any restrictions?" Harry asked, frowning as he tapped the table. "I mean, can we even bring this stuff into the task?"
Worried they didn't get it, he rushed on, his voice speeding up. "Like, broomsticks or those plant seeds—will the judges let us bring them onto the field?"
"I already thought of that. I had my dad ask someone at the Ministry," Draco said, a hint of smugness in his voice, pleased with his foresight.
"You can only bring your wand into the task. Nothing else," he said, then grinned. "But the rules don't say you can't summon stuff. If we stash things near the arena beforehand, we can use a Summoning Charm during the task without breaking any rules."
"So we need to nail the Summoning Charm," Draco said, eyeing Cedric and Harry. "You guys are good with it, right?"
Cedric nodded instantly. "Definitely. It was part of last year's Transfiguration O.W.L."
Harry chimed in, "I use it all the time to grab stuff that falls under the couch. No problem."
"But the Summoning Charm only works on solid objects, like a box of seeds," Cedric said, catching on as he glanced at Draco's parchment. "That's why you mentioned the growth potion. We'd summon the seeds, then use the potion to make them sprout right away."
"Exactly," Draco said with a firm nod. "Plus, seeds won't set off a dragon's alarm bells. It's sensitive to mature Tentacula because of the venom, but it won't care about tiny seeds."
"But a dragon's scales are so thick, venom can't get through," Harry said, frowning as he mulled it over. He looked at Draco, uncertain. "Are you thinking we toss sprouting Tentacula into its mouth?"
"Spot on!" Draco said, raising an eyebrow with a smug grin. "We use broomsticks to zip behind the dragon and toss it in when it opens its mouth to breathe fire. Guaranteed hit."
"But didn't you think about…" Harry pressed, not letting it slide. "What if they ban broomsticks? Sure, we can summon anything, but what if the judges throw in a last-minute rule against summoning flying tools like broomsticks?"
Draco's grin froze. He opened his mouth but came up empty.
He'd been so focused on using plants to attack that he hadn't considered rule changes.
Even the broomstick idea was a spur-of-the-moment thought during their discussion, and Harry had already poked a hole in it.
Clutching the parchment tightly, Draco looked to Cedric like he was grabbing a lifeline. "Didn't you… master Animagus? If you turn into a flying animal, you could deliver it, right?"
"My Animagus form is a cougar. Can't fly," Cedric said, shrugging with a touch of regret. "As for a second form, you need a deep bond with a pet. My owl was a gift from my dad—it's close to him, not me. I don't have what I need for the transformation potion yet."
"That's a problem," Draco muttered, sighing heavily and falling silent.
Harry and Cedric went quiet too, staring at the parchments, lost in thought.
Their hard-won plan had hit a dead end.
The classroom was so still you could hear the rustle of leaves outside, the mood heavy.
"Remember the five exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration?" Dylan said calmly, breaking the silence.
"Gamp's Law?" Cedric's head snapped up, his eyes lighting up as if a bulb had gone off. "Dylan, you mean… we could transfigure the seed box? Like, into a bird that flies into the dragon's mouth?"
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense, his words speeding up. "A transfigured bird is still a box at its core, so it wouldn't break the 'no conjuring living things' rule."
"Once it's in the dragon's stomach, we undo the transfiguration. The box reverts, the seeds inside sprout with the potion, and the Tentacula takes root inside the dragon!"
"That's a tough transfiguration," Harry said, scratching his head, worried. Turning a box into a nimble flying animal and guiding it to a precise target demanded serious skill.
Draco nodded, silent but sharing Harry's concern.
"I'll handle it," Cedric said confidently, sitting up straight. "I've got a knack for Transfiguration."
He gestured as he mapped it out in his head. "Here's the plan: Harry and Draco summon the box with the seeds and potion. I cast the Transfiguration Charm to turn it into a sparrow."
"When the dragon opens its mouth to breathe fire and lets its guard down, the 'sparrow' flies in."
"Once it's inside, I reverse the transfiguration. The potion kicks in, sprouting the seeds, and the Tentacula takes hold in the dragon's stomach."
"What about us?" Harry asked, his eyes sparking with determination.
"You'll distract the dragon," Cedric said. "Use Disarming Charms and Impediment Jinxes to mess with it, goad it into breathing fire, and give me the window to transfigure and deliver."
"Sounds solid!" Harry said, smacking the table with a fist, his gaze steady. "I'm good with Impediment Jinxes. I can hit its wing joints to slow it down."
"The Tentacula can handle a dragon, and the Chomping Cabbage and Man-Eating Thorn can deal with a Catoblepas," Draco said, snapping back to focus. He flipped to the back of his parchment, his tone firm. "A Catoblepas' Legilimency and hypnosis won't work on mindless magical plants. Summon the seeds, sprout them, and let the plants tangle its limbs to pin it down."
As Draco finished, Harry cleared his throat and pulled a crumpled notebook from his robe pocket, ready to share his own prep.
"I've been running scenarios for facing dangerous creatures and put together a list of useful spells. See if you can add anything…"
He tucked the notebook back and pulled out a stack of neatly written parchments from his bag—clearly recopied with care, the handwriting much tidier than the notebook's.
He passed them to Dylan, Cedric, and Draco, his finger tracing the page as he spoke earnestly. "I put the Summoning Charm at the top and marked a few syllables that are easy to mess up."
He paused, then went on, "There's also the Repelling Charm, Stunning Spell, Impervius Charm, and Shield Charm. These attack and defense spells will definitely come in handy."