I hope you like this story. Of course, I don't own Harry Potter.
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Another book got placed on top of an increasing pile of hard-covered books. A loud sigh was heard and a girl asked, "Tell us again what the clue said." The boy with brunette hair grunted and said, "Come seek us where our voices sound…" The girl paced along the aisle and said, "The black lake, that's obvious." The boy continued, "An hour long you'll have to look…" She moved right by him and said, "Again obvious, but potentially problematic." The boy looked at her and said, "Potentially problematic? When was the last time you held your breath underwater for an hour, Hermione?" He turned back to the book and placed his head on it. Hermione sat next to the boy and said, "Harry, we can do this; the three of us can figure this out.
Just then, Mad-Eye Moody walked into the aisle and said, "Hate to break up the skull session; Professor McGonagall wants you in her office." Hermione, Ron and Harry got up and were about to leave, but Moody said, "Not you, Potter; just Weasley and Granger." Hermione then spoke, "But, sir, the second task is only hours away, and…" Moody interrupted her and said, "Exactly. Presumably Potter is well prepared by now and could do with a good night's sleep. Go. Now!" Hermione sighed and both her and Ron left the library.
Moody walked up behind Harry and looked over his shoulder. Harry was putting papers, books, and pamphlets back into their proper while continuing to glance over at Professor Moody. Moody then shouted, "Longbottem!" Neville came around the bookshelf and Moody said, "Why don't you help Potter put his books back." Moody passed by him on his way out, but before he left, he quickly slipped Neville a bottle filled with a green plant.
Harry was stacking books and he looked over at Neville. Neville put down on the desk some books and then said, "You know, if you're interested in plants, you'd be better off with Goshawk's Guide to Herbology." Harry turned back to the books as Neville continued. "Did you know that there's a wizard in Nepal who's growing gravity-resistant trees?" Harry turned back to him and interrupted him, saying, "Neville, no offense, but I really don't care about plants." Neville felt a little hurt and turned his head. Harry then said, "Now, if there's a Tibetan turnip that will allow me to breathe underwater for an hour, then great. But otherwise…" Neville quickly jumped in with, "I don't know about a turnip; but you could always use gillyweed." Harry turned to Neville and smiled.
The next day was a bit colder than normal, but that wouldn't stop the second challenge. Fred and George were again offering bets to get a little bit of profit from this tournament. They were offering different kinds of bets as they passed through the crowds.
Neville walked with Harry down to the Black Lake and quickly pulled the vile containing the gillyweed from his pocket and handed it to Harry. Harry took the vile and said, "You're sure about this, Neville?" Neville nodded and said, "Absolutely." "For an hour?" In a kind of unsure tone, Neville said, "Most likely." Harry looked at him with shock and said, "Most likely?" Neville answered back and said, "Well, there is some debate among herbologists as to the effects of fresh water versus salt water…" Harry interrupted and said, "You're telling me this now? You must be joking!" Neville shrugged a bit and said, "I just wanted to help." Harry sighed and said, "Well, that makes you a right sight better than Ron and Hermione." He looked around and he didn't see either of them. "Where are they anyway?" They walked onto the dock and Harry was looked back at the castle, truing to locate his friends. "You seem a little tense, Harry." Harry laughed sarcastically and said, "Do I?" He quickly turned around and he boarded the boat that held the other competitors.
Out in the middle of the lake, three towers had been conjured to hold everyone. On the lower platform of the middle tower, the four champions approached the edge of the platform as they listened to Dumbledore explain the rules of the second task to everyone. Moody came up next to Harry and said, "Put that in your mouth." Harry nodded and quickly placed the gillyweed into his mouth. It tasted horrible and he had a hard time swallowing it. Moody gave him a swift slap on the back, forcing him to swallow it. Harry had never tasted anything so disgusting in his entire life. As soon as the gillyweed had slid down his throat, Harry could feel the effects of the plant beginning. The canon sounded and the others three dived into the water. Moody quickly pushed Harry into the lake and smiled.
After Harry entered the water, he grabbed the sides of his neck as he could feel the changes. They were extremely painful and Harry thrashed violently. He reached for his neck again only to find a set of gills under each ear. He then looked down and gasped as his legs merged together and become covered with dark green scales. His feet then flatten out and became a pair of fins. Harry then felt something between his fingers and he looked to see webbing form between each finger. Harry laughed happy, for he never thought this possible.
On the lower platform, Neville was watching the event and he then heard Seamus and Dean talking. Seamus said, "What's the matter with 'em?" Dean shrugged and said, "I don't know, I can't see him." Neville gasped and placed his hands on his head and said, "Oh my God; I've killed Harry Potter." He quickly turned back to the lake and he looked to see if Harry's body surfaces.
Harry knew that it probably be a better idea not surface, for he kind of didn't want to be seen like this; but this did not mean he was not enjoying this. He flicked his tail and swam in and out of the plants that grew in the lake, but he kept a sharp eye out for grindylow. After having a little bit of fun, he soon came to a deep gorge and peered over the edge. He looked to his waist to ensure that his wand was still in place; and then with a flick of his new tail, Harry swam down to the bottom of the lake to where the mer-people lived.
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I hope you like the first chapter. Please review.