A/N: Oops! The last one was Ginny's POV, obviously. Here comes the 3rd Chapter. It's a bit shorter, though. Reviews still make me smile :)
Hermione's POV
The underground room is dimly lit as I enter. Torches cast an eerie light on the dark walls. A glass platform stands in the middle of the room, waiting for me.
Sirius doesn't speak to me as he helps me change into soft brown pants and a belt, light green blouse and a thin black jacket that falls over my knees. He tucks it in my belt so I won't stumble and ties back my bushy hair in a simple ponytail so it won't obscure my sight.
"All right?" he says finally. "Everything comfortable?"
"Yes", I say. "But ..." I feel stupid saying this. "I haven't got a Corridor token."
Sirius grins at me and I can't help feeling reassured. He sticks his hand into his robes and produces my beaded bag.
"S-Sirius!" I say. "Thank you – how?"
"Victor", he said. "He found it on the train and guessed you might want it."
If I make it out of the arena, I have to thank Victor thoroughly.
Then I remember, if I make it out, Victor won't.
"You have to step on now", says Sirius. I gulp, tuck the bag safely into my left shoe and mount the glass.
Sirius bends forward secretively. "Hermione", he says quietly. "You can do it. You are not big, or strong, but you are smart. I bet whatever it takes, you can figure out what to do." He pauses. "Did anyone give you any last words?"
"Not really", I say. "Who would?"
"Well, then here are mine. Find water. Immediately. And avoid hand-to-hand combat." He breathes loudly. "One last thing. You know Harry Potter?"
"Yes" I say slowly.
"When you have figured out which side you're on, find him."
The glass shuts as I open my moth bewilderedly. I compose, and look at Sirius. He taps his jaw. Chin high. I smile nervously, and then I rise.
We stand in a circle of ten. Ron Weasley is to my right, Hannah Abbott on my left. I find Victor standing directly across me, Harry Potter beside him. "When you have figured out which side you're on, find him." What did Sirius mean?
A blue lake glistens in the sun that will play tricks on my eyes, as I know. A forest lies beneath.
The Cornucopia sits in the middle of our circle. Precious items are shattered around it. I see a silver, slender bow and matching arrows. I am a good shot, and they are the only arrows, the only bow. I will have to get them. Have to.
Sparks fly onto the air, accompanied by loud trumpet noises. I dash forward at once, grabbing the bow and one, two, three, four arrows, until –
WHOOSH! A knife zooms past my head and Millicent Bulstrode lets out a grumbling scream. I scramble up from the ground, sling the archery over my shoulder and run away, Draco Malfoy on my heels, and my mind is strangely clear.
The lake is before me. There is only one thing for me to do.
I dive, feel something soaring past, and plunge into the water.
It is freezing. My teeth clatter and Goosebumps erupt on my skin. I am suffocating, because there's something on my chest, pressing the oxygen out of my lungs, but I stay. Swim towards the nearest edge.
My head starts to swim, not only me. My hair whirls in front of my eyes. I let the air slowly out. My forehead aches with unbearable pain, and so do my ears. I grit my teeth, tears burning in my eyes. I will die if I don't get out now.
I kick my legs, but wait.
Ten seconds. Ten seconds. You can do that.
Ten.
My bow and arrows are still there. If they think I'm still alive, I can shoot.
Nine.
I have done that before.
Eight.
Keep kicking water.
Seven.
My ribcage will explode, six, if I stay any longer.
Five.
There is no air left.
Four.
I won't die in a lake!
Three.
Only three seconds.
Two.
I gurgle.
One.
I choke.
ZERO!
I give an almighty kick of my legs and draw breath, cool, wonderful clear air. I roll onto hard ground and get up, water in my eyes. They haven't noticed me. I run into the forest.
