For 16 Galleons

The choosing of the champions had been rather anti-climatic other than the Weasley twins, the Weasel's older brothers, growing floor-length beards when they tried to fool the age line. Everyone knew that Viktor Krum would be the Durmstrang champion and no one was really surprised when the veela girl, Fleur Delacour, had been chosen for Beauxbatons. The Gryffindors had grumbled at the choice of Cedric Diggory as Hogwarts' champion, since they were sure that only a member of their house could hope to win the tournament, but everyone else seemed pleased with the choice. Cedric was a 7^th year Hufflepuff, good looking, tall, pureblood, Captain and Seeker for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team and a prefect. His father worked for the Great Lord in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Draco thought he stood a good chance of winning. So, no surprises really.

The days proceeded mostly as normal. Harry was aware that the champions were doing a few official things, including giving press interviews, but none of it affected him or Draco. As the date for the first task approached, he quickly became swept up in the excitement. There were all sorts of bets going round, not only about who would win the task but about what the task would actually be. Personally, Harry thought it would be grand if the task involved dragons, but not many people seemed to think that would happen. The sheer logistics of keeping the beasts in the area safely would be a nightmare.

Draco had become bored with Viktor Krum fairly quickly. The young man walked like a duck, was only interested in Quidditch and had an accent so thick having a conversation with him was too much work. Neither of them wanted anything to do with Fleur. She was about the snootiest girl Harry had ever met. Draco made many remarks about it but Harry kept his mouth shut. Frankly he thought Draco could give the girl a run for her money any day.

The most amusing thing was watching the groundskeeper, Hagrid, moon over Madam Maxime and follow her around like a huge hairy puppy dog. Most of the Slytherins thought that woman was downright scary. She was as big as Hagrid, so they were sure she wasn't completely human. The woman dressed in extremely expensive robes and jewels but what added most to her intimidating air were her high-heeled black lace-up boots. One of the older boys said he was sure she was a dominatrix. That had led to an hour-long discussion of just what a 'dom' was. Harry and Draco spent many an afternoon observing her, trying to see if she had a riding crop hidden somewhere on her person.

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Morning classes flew by the day of the first task, near the end of November. Harry rushed through lunch and joined his master outside the front doors. Together they rushed with the crowd of students along the designated path, around the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and stopped to stare in awe at the sight before them. There was a huge tent decked out in medieval style with banner and pennons flapping everywhere and a sign that said 'Champions Only' over the flap. Beyond it was a tall, brightly painted enclosure partially surrounded by viewing stands. From inside the enclosure came the growls and roars of some sort of beasts. Draco and Harry looked at each and grinned before sprinting through the crowd toward the stairs. Harry was glad he could sit with his master today. This was going to be great.

As they reached the top of the stairs, they were accosted by a saleswitch. Master Draco grabbed a few treats and drinks and handed them to Harry, then they made their way around the rows, looking for the best seats. They had just found a section for themselves and their friends when the obscuring screens were removed and they saw the beasts that the champions would have to face.

The enclosure was divided into three smaller areas. Each area held a nesting female dragon. Harry recognized them as a Welsh Green, a Chinese Fireball and a Swedish Short-snout.

"Merlin, Harry!" Draco exclaimed. "You were right!"

Harry was startled. "I thought I sucked at Divination."

The two boys laughed. They soon spotted some of their friends and waved them over to sit down. Draco grabbed one of the drinks and winked at Harry when he scowled at his master's manners. Soon the entire group was excitedly pointing out things about the dragons and wondering exactly what the challenge would be.

They were interrupted when a rather rotund man, who Harry vaguely thought was a former Quidditch player, announced that the challenge was about to begin. The first champion called out was Cedric. He would have to steal a golden egg from the Swedish Short-snout. Harry was glad neither he nor Draco were in the tournament. He'd hate to have to face an angry mother dragon.

Cedric appeared confident as he strode out into the pen. The dragon spotted him and began to pace in front of her eggs while snarling like some big cat at the intruder. She watched him closely and swished her tail. Cedric stood very still and cautiously looked around. He seemed to have spotted whatever he was looking for and swished his wand. The spectators couldn't hear what incantation he used but saw a nearby boulder transfigure into a large dog. The dragon noticed too and shifted her gaze between the wizard and dog. The dog bounded up to Cedric, who was beginning to look worried. He tried shooing the dog away but it seemed to think it was a game. Finally Cedric picked up a stick and threw it to the side but near the dragon. The dog gave chase and the dragon's attention was solely on the canine. Cedric darted in behind the distracted dragon and grabbed the golden egg. Just then the dragon remembered that there were two threats in her pen and turned to look. She saw Cedric and screeched. As he sprinted away she spit flames at him, burning the side of his head. He dashed out through the gate to safety and the dragon went back to her eggs, keening in distress. A couple of dragon handlers appeared over the enclosure wall and cast calming charms on her.

The crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief. The boys promptly began talking loudly and excitedly about the champion's brush with death.

Next up was Fleur from Beauxbatons. The girl strode out into the pen calmly. The Welsh Green just glared at her from atop her pile of eggs. There was a low growl-like rumble coming from the angry dragon that could be felt more than heard by the crowd. Fleur did not seem daunted in the least. She began waving her wand, weaving an intricate pattern with it in the air. Harry could tell that she was speaking a rather long incantation. He wondered just what they taught at Beauxbatons since this was nothing like any of the spells they taught at Hogwarts. The dragon's head began to weave like one of those cobras they charmed in India. Its eyelids drooped slightly and it lowered its head. Slowly, Fleur began to advance, still weaving her spell. She walked right up to the dragon and began looking around for the golden egg. After a bit she found it and bent down to pick it up. At this point there was an odd burbling sound and the Welsh Green belched a tiny jet of flame at the girl. The edge of her robes caught fire and she jumped. She quickly put out the flame with a jet of water from her wand and immediately went back to her incantation. The dragon's head swung to follow Fleur's progress all the way out of the pen.

It was quite an ingenious approach to the problem but wasn't nearly as exciting as what Cedric had done. The boys were completely unimpressed.

The last champion was Krum. He walked into the pen haughtily. The Chinese Fireball reared up and roared at him. Before he even threw his first spell the dragon was breathing flame at him. She had heard her companions fighting and was in no mood to play around. She placed herself in front of her eggs and prepared to defend them with her life. Krum dodged the flames clumsily and aimed a curse. Either he missed or it didn't have any effect. He tried to circle her but she wasn't leaving her eggs. As she thrust out her head to spit fire again, he cast his curse. This time it hit. The dragon was now obviously in pain and enraged. She whipped her head around and thrashed her tail. Harry thought the curse must have blinded one eye since she kept trying to turn her head to keep Krum in sight. Krum ducked past her to grab the egg but the dragon seemed to sense him. She stepped back to get him in sight. The crowd gasped as everyone heard a loud crunch as she crushed one of her eggs. The dragon heard it too. She let out a bellowing wail and began snapping blindly at the space around her trying to find her attacker without hurting any more of her eggs. Krum grabbed the golden egg and raced out. The dragon handlers had cast the first of their calming charms before he had cleared the gate.

The handlers swarmed the Chinese Fireball's pen, trying to assess the damage. The crowd seemed shocked. Dragons were protected creatures and not easy to breed and raise. They all wondered what effect this would have on Krum's score.

Krum was the only champion who had not been hurt. He'd lost points for causing damage to the other eggs but still managed to come in first. The boys were not pleased.

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The first week of December, Headmistress McGonagall announced that there would be a Yule ball this year for those in fourth year and above. Students were allowed to bring dates from other years, including those recently graduated. Slaves were also encouraged to attend. At first they had been excited, until Draco received an owl from home informing him that his date would be Pansy and that Harry was to take Sally Ann. Both boys grumbled about it. Miss Pansy was an even bigger pain in the arse than usual. Sally Ann just looked at Harry with trepidation. He finally promised not to push her down if she promised not to kiss him. They agreed to each other's terms and Harry was surprised to find that he felt much less stressed. Master Draco, on the other hand, was a basket case.

Draco didn't want to go with Pansy. He didn't want to wear the robes he'd bought. He didn't want to go to the dance. He didn't like Pansy's robes. Harry was going to break down and strangle him any minute now. He'd finally resorted to sitting his master down one evening in their room and trying to explain it logically. Since there was nothing they could do about it. There was no sense getting all worked up. They would still be there with their friends and they would have a good time. It finally occurred to him that there might be something else behind Draco's temper.

"Did you want to go with someone else, Master?"

Draco sat on the edge of his bed, staring across the room with his arms hanging between his knees. "No. I guess not. It's just not fair. Everyone else gets to pick their own dates."

Harry laughed. "You haven't been paying much attention then. Half the students are bitching about getting letters just like yours telling them who they can go with."

"Really?" Draco said as he looked up in surprise.

"Really. You're not the only person whose parents have already picked out a spouse for."

Draco just looked at him oddly.

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The day of the ball, Harry was extremely busy making sure Draco's robes and shoes were in perfect order. His own were just fine. Then he had to make sure the gifts for the girls were ready. Draco had gotten Pansy some jewelled barrettes and Harry had got Sally Ann one with a small flower on it. When the packaging finally met Draco's approval, Harry trotted off to find the girls. They were in their room. He delivered the gifts with a smile and a bow and rushed back to Draco to deliver the girls' thank you messages.

He spent the rest of the day trying to keep Draco in hand. He resorted to stripping the boy's shirt off and pinning him to the bed for a massage. He woke Draco up in time to get into their robes and change Draco's hairstyle four times. It ended up looking the way it always did and Harry wondered why they had bothered. He groaned thinking about the mess in the bathroom he was going to have to clean up after the ball.

They met the girls in the common room and Harry had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing out loud at Pansy. She was in the frilliest pink set of dress robes he had ever seen. Sally Ann looked slightly better in some sort of pale bluish/green get up that at least didn't have ruffles. It did have bows. Both girls were wearing their gifts.

Harry offered his arm to Sally Ann, who took it gently. Pansy didn't wait for Draco to offer before she was latched onto him like a limpet. Harry and Sally Ann glanced at each other and rolled their eyes. At least Harry's date would be semi-entertaining. They waited for the rest of their group to get there before setting off to the entrance hall, where they were supposed to meet Theodore and Justin. Theodore was taking Miss Millicent, which pleased both Harry and Draco. The two made a good couple. Justin hadn't said whom he was taking but it wasn't Hermione. She was going with one of the older Hufflepuffs' slave.

When they were finally all together, it was revealed that Justin wasn't taking anyone. Harry and Dean immediately set to harassing him. Justin turned beet red and threatened to hex them with the bat-bogey curse.

Soon the front doors opened and the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons entered. Harry could see the lawn outside had been transformed into a fairyland. There were more rose bushes than he could count and statues of Father Christmas and all his reindeer. There appeared to be hundreds of live fairies flitting about the whole area, lighting up the bushes.

Professor Snape called the champions and their dates over to him. Harry saw that Fleur had arrived with Roger Davies, the Captain of the Ravenclaw team. Cedric had brought Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw Seeker. Krum had brought Michael Corner, another Ravenclaw. It seemed Ravenclaw had a monopoly on the champions tonight.

His attention turned to the doors of the Great Hall as Professor Vector motioned them all to enter. Harry and Sally Ann followed their masters through the doors. Inside, the long student tables had been replaced by many small round tables. Harry led Sally Ann to a table next to the one their masters had chosen. They were joined by Justin, Dean - who had brought Lisa, and Hermione with - much to Justin's chagrin - her date.

They looked over the menus and placed their orders. The food was delicious and the conversation wasn't bad. They were highly entertained by Hagrid getting tipsy and trying to flirt with Madam Maxime. Soon everyone was done and stood up so the tables could clear themselves out of the way. A small stage was conjured and an eclectic mix of instruments appeared on it. Applause began in the back of the room and Harry turned to see the Weird Sisters entering the hall. They were dressed in their usual artfully torn black robes. They mounted the stage and picked up their instruments.

Sally Ann leaned towards Hermione. "Isn't Herman just gorgeous?" she asked.

Harry smirked. "I don't know. I rather fancy Gideon, myself."

The girls both sputtered and Hermione reached behind Sally Ann and smacked Harry in the back of the head. He tried to look innocent but seemed to fail. Just then the lanterns went out and the band began a slow dance. The students all waited while the champions got up to dance the first dance. Eventually the professors signalled that the rest of them could join in. Harry bowed to Sally Ann and offered her his hand. She took it and Harry wrapped an arm about her waist and went to swirl her out onto the floor, only to be stopped as she tripped over his feet.

Harry looked at her stunned for a moment and settled for shuffling her out onto the dance floor. He hadn't even thought that maybe she wouldn't know how to dance. They slowly made their way around, Harry trying to be careful to keep his feet out of range. He caught sight of Draco, who was looking extremely cross. As soon as the dance was finished, Harry escorted Sally Ann back to the table and told her he was going for drinks. Apparently his master also thought that was a good idea.

"I can't believe that cow!" Draco exclaimed. "She has already stepped on my toes a dozen times."

"Sally Ann isn't much better."

The boys leaned back against a wall and commiserated for a while longer before deciding they had been absent about as long as possible. They sat at their respective tables and tried to entertain their dates as much as possible so they wouldn't want to dance. As the night wore on, Draco got grumpier and grumpier. Sally Ann had improved but apparently Pansy had not. He was sure there was going to be a scene.

Sure enough, while he was carefully steering Sally Ann about, things went cockeyed. He heard a screech of outrage from nearby and turned in time to see Draco fling Pansy's hands off him. The blond looked around searchingly and finally settled on Harry before stalking over. Draco wrenched Harry away from Sally Ann and grabbed him about the waist.

"This is how you dance properly," he yelled at Pansy and proceeded to whirl them about the floor. The crowd parted and just watched, impressed. Harry realized that he had grown since the last time they'd done this. He now had to look down a few centimetres at his master. The look of determination on Draco's face made Harry break into giggles. Draco glared up at him. When it finally sunk in that he had just made a huge public scene, he began giggling too.

That was all it took for the boys to abandon their dates for the rest of the night. They had a great time and were immensely entertained by the death glares being aimed at them by their scorned dates. They didn't care. It was the most fun they'd had in ages. They danced and drank and laughed with their friends. When the ball was finally over, the two of them stumbled tiredly back to their rooms, occasionally colliding with each other. When they got inside the door, Draco grabbed Harry for an impromptu waltz to his out of tune humming.

"You make the best girl, Harry."

Harry laughed. "Hah, we're going to have to change that now that I'm taller than you."

"No you aren't," Draco retorted indignantly. They stopped twirling as Draco looked up. Harry felt the grin slowly disappear off his face. Draco was looking at him all funny and suddenly time seemed to stop. He saw Draco's face moving closer but couldn't quite comprehend what was happening. He hesitated and then leaned down to meet his master's lips. He felt Draco's sigh and closed his eyes. Their lips pressed softly together and it was just the most amazing thing Harry had ever felt. Draco moved a bit closer and Harry let his arm slip about the blond's shoulders, gently holding him close. Both their hearts beating like captive snitches. It was scary and wonderful and like something out of a dream. Harry opened his mouth slightly and nipped at the other boy's lips with his own. Draco melted into him. They just pressed their lips together, relaxing and tensing them inexpertly for several minutes before Harry became aware of his surroundings again and the fact that his glasses were askew. He pulled back just enough to gaze into his master's eyes. Draco softly smiled up at him.

"Wow."

Harry's smile got bigger. "That was much better than the first time you kissed me," he whispered hoarsely.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "The first ti- oh, when we were, what, seven, eight years old?"

"Yeah," Harry laughed softly at the memory.

"Well, that's good then, yeah?" Draco said very quietly.

"Yeah," Harry replied and bent his head to kiss Draco again.

To be continued.