What Happened Underwater
~How it Began~
The passage in italics is a direct quote from the American copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, page 487. I don't own Harry Potter, or any of the characters, franchises, or concepts you may recognize.
"Oh, this is no use," Hermione said, snapping shut Weird Wizarding Dilemmas. "Who on earth wants to make their nose hair grow into ringlets?"
"I wouldn't mind," said Fred Weasley's voice. "Be a talking point, wouldn't it?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked up. Fred and George had just emerged from behind some bookshelves.
"What're you two doing here?" Ron asked.
"Looking for you," said George. "McGonagall wants you, Ron. And you, Hermione."
"Why?" said Hermione, looking surprised.
"Dunno… she was looking a bit grim, though," said Fred.
"We're supposed to take you down to her office," said George.
Ron and Hermione stared at Harry, whose stomach dropped. Was Professor McGonagall about to tell Ron and Hermione off? Perhaps she'd noticed how much they were helping him, when he ought to be working out how to do the task alone?
"We'll meet you back in the common room," Hermione told Harry as she got up to go with Ron – both of them looked very anxious. "Bring as many of these books as you can, okay?"
"Right," Harry said uneasily.
Ron
Oh, Merlin. We're in for it, aren't we? I followed Fred and George from the library, glancing back at Harry, who was frantically flipping through the pages of Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts.
Fred looked back at me and said " You don't happen to know the time, do you?" I pointed to a clock, and Hermione, asked "Why do you want to know the time?" He looked sheepish. "Er, McGonagall might have threatened us all with detention if you weren't there in- Oh, look at that. The deadline was about a minute ago."
Hermione and I looked at each other incredulously, then at Fred and George, who shrugged apologetically. Without a word, we all started sprinting down the corridor, knocking other kids aside as we rushed towards McGonagall's office. Hermione called out apologies behind us (She was the only one that bothered). After what seemed like forever, we skidded to a halt in front of her office door, which opened almost immediately.
"Ah, good, you're here. Thank you Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley, you may go."
Hoping she meant me, I started to walk away with Fred and George, but McGonagall called out. "No, not you, Mr. Weasley."
"Ah, bloody hell." I muttered, and we all turned around and came back, looking at her expectantly, and she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fred and George Weasley, go away. Ronald Weasley, stay here."
George bumped my arm, saying "Nice try, Ickle Ronniekins." They snickered as they walked away. I felt myself go red. Hermione was attempting to keep herself from laughing, and McGonagall rolled her eyes.
"All rights, now that that's done, you two follow me."
"Professor? Aren't we going to your office?" said Hermione uncertainly.
"No, Miss Granger, we are not." McGonagall said curtly.
"Then, er, where are we going?" I ventured.
"The Headmaster's office. To discuss… the task." she said, her voice lowered. McGonagall must've seen us panicking, because her expression softened a bit. "You're not in trouble. Well, not with me, anyway." That only served to make us more curious, but she would say no more. Eventually we fell silent, walking behind her at a brisk pace, drawing strange looks from passing students in the hall.
The task… if we're not in trouble, than what could it be? Maybe Dumbledore wants to know if Harry's figured it out yet, so he can help! Nah, he wouldn't. He may be partial, but he's not a cheat. So what could it be?
Hermione trailed a bit behind, looking nervous, like she was worried about something- or someone. That's right, she's got two champions to worry over. She's scared for Vicky, or is it Harry who was causing that anxious look?
Lost in thought, I don't notice when McGonagall stops, and I bump into her. She shoots me an irritated glare as I flush. "Er, Sorry, Professor."
Hermione hid her smile behind her hand as McGonagall harrumphed and said clearly "Fizzing Whizbee."
The Gargoyle stirred, stretching lazily, startling Hermione and me. "Urgent business, Minerva?" it said mockingly in its scratchy, deep voice.
"Quite" she replied curtly. It chuckled wryly, and slid aside, revealing a circular staircase leading to a pair of oaken doors. She led the way, Hermione and I following slowly, feeling rather like we were climbing the steps to the gallows. We reached the top, and McGonagall rapped soundly on the doors. I shakily took a deep breath.
We waited a moment, then McGonagall impatiently flung the doors open. Dumbledore was facing a cabinet, and a silvery mist was escaping it, and McGonagall cleared her throat. "Headmaster?"
He snapped the cabinet shut, turned, and seeing us standing there, said "Ah, yes. Sit down, children." Still can't shake that feeling of going to the gallows. Ah, well. Here we go anyway.
Hermione
The room was full of curios and portraits of old headmasters. I could've looked around all day, but for now, I had to focus on the silver-bearded man behind the desk. Professor Dumbledore had his back to us, and was facing a wooden cabinet that shone with an eerie silver light.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat "Headmaster?" He turned quickly, shutting the doors so that only a glimmer of light could escape. He saw whom it was and visibly relaxed, but he seemed heavy-hearted still. "Ah, yes. Sit down, children."
Ron and I uncertainly sat in the two chairs in front of his desk. Professor McGonagall spoke "Albus, I've got a class. I must be going. Granger… Weasley… good luck." Her voice cracked a little at the end, and she hurried out of the room.
What? Good luck? Why would she wish us good luck? Our eyes followed her out the door, and when she was gone, we looked back at Professor Dumbledore, in search of answers.
The headmaster folded his hands and looked at us gravely over his half-moon spectacles. He then reached into one of the many tiny compartments in his desk and pulled out a small tin. "Lemon Drop?" he offered. I don't think this is quite the time for lemon drops! Honestly, wizards and sweets. They're all going to end up with cavities. I declined, saying "No thanks, Professor, if you'd-"
Then Ron interrupted saying "Yeah, sure I'll have some." He then took the tin and proceeded to shove half of them in his mouth. Disgusting. "Go 'head 'mione" he sputtered. I raised my eyebrows at him and he shrugged. "What, they're good!" I rolled my eyes.
He opened his mouth to retaliate with another dose of that sharp Weasley wit (note the sarcasm), but then Dumbledore cleared his throat, and we turned to look at our headmaster, lemon drops forgotten. His eyes for once weren't twinkling under his spectacles, and I knew. I just knew that something was very wrong. "Before I begin, let it be clear that you will be in no danger."
That was when I started to be afraid.
Dumbledore
I tried to think about how to explain this in such a way so it didn't seem as insane as t actually was. "I suppose you could say... Congratulations." Karkaroff and his plots, they would see a student killed, and have them congratulated for it! Touching though, that these extraordinary students were those dearest to the most extraordinary of them all. But of course he is being set up for failure as he is too noble to leave any of them behind…
I saw the confusion and fear in these children's eyes; children, but not for much longer. This pair would know such hardship in so short a time… But at least now I could spare them this one painful experience.
"I assume Harry has shared his clue with you?" They flushed, and nodded, hanging their heads, confirming my suspicions.
"Not to worry, children. Indeed, it is easier you already know the nature of the task. Can you summarize it for me, Miss Granger?"
The girl perked up immediately when given the chance to show her knowledge, and she readily answered "The thing the champions will miss the most, really, what matters most to them, is taken by the merpeople, and they have a set amount of time to get it back."
Ah, I do wish it were that simple. I said gently "Correct, Miss Granger, on all but one point. It's not a material thing that will be taken, but rather, a person." I watched their faces as that sunk in. Mr. Weasley looked rather shell-shocked, but Miss Granger put two and two together "So, we're…"
I sighed "Yes. You are what matters most to two of the champions, Harry and Viktor, and you are what will be stolen."
"Hmm, I wonder which one of us is Harry's?" said the young Weasley with a smirk.
Miss Granger sighed. "Okay Ron, we've been over this. I realize that you're Harry's best friend, and I don't have a problem with that. Now be quiet and let the Headmaster finish."
But Ronald persisted "It's just that I didn't realize you meant so much to Vicky. What did you do, use a love potion on him or something?" He looked at her, and I think he could tell that he had crossed a line.
Miss Granger sat up straight, and said in a deadly calm voice "Excuse me, headmaster, there's something I've got to say." With fire in her eyes, she turned to her red-headed companion, and said "This is just like the Yule Ball. You have always thought I wasn't good for anything but homework help, have you, Ron? Did it ever occur to you that there is more to me than that? I am my own person, I have my own problems, and unlike you two I don't dump them on my friends. Viktor… he was the first person to see me for who I was, not just Harry Potter's bookish sidekick, and he likes me for it. And you just come in here, and ruin the first real… Ronald Weasley, you know nothing about me, so you just shut your mouth before I curse you into oblivion." She looked away, her hands clenched in her lap, the fire fading from her eyes and tears welling in its place, as so often is the case. Ronald, red-faced, looked like he wanted to say something back, and he opened his mouth, but then closed it upon seeing her face.
Oh, teenagers and their dramatics… Well, I've got to explain, so how to proceed… Oh, I know. I'll make a joke! "Ronald, I would advise you to stand down; Miss Granger is more than adequate at many, many curses, the least of which involves boils sprouting from a most unpleasant place…"
Miss Granger chuckled weakly, and raised her head, her eyes dry. "Adequate, and willing, Ron." she said, though most of the anger had faded, and she looked simply tired.
Mr. Weasley looked rather horrified, and also guilt-stricken. "Listen, Hermione-"
She cut him off. "It's okay. We can talk about it later. Now let's just get on with it."
Yes, let's. I cleared my throat, and they both looked at me attentively. "Now as I was saying…
A/N Okay! Welcome to the new version of What Happened Underwater! Now with edited, properly formatted (hopefully) better-written versions of each chapter! Woo! I'll be replacing each chapter with an edited version sometime today.
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I just want to say that my wonderful reviewers are the reason this story is still up, and the reason I've become (once again, hopefully…) a better writer. A million thanks to: syd004, (guest) chavi, chaosrin, Guest, (Different?) Guest, Rockerz013 and finally…. LoveisLouder94, for some of the most helpful, kind and well-written reviews I've ever received. Thanks.
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