After the First Task
By: Sheltie
I don't own Harry Potter at all
Chapter 4
Though Harry and Hermione both knew they had to take the egg to the bath, both were quite reluctant to do so since it meant revealing parts of themselves they weren't really ready to show.
"Oh sod this, Hermione, we're both Gryffindors we can't let this stop us, come on" Harry said one night.
Hermione blinked.
Harry left to grab the egg, the Marauder's Map, and his invisibility cloak. When he came back Hermione was waiting for him and looked ready too, she had her book bag on her shoulder.
The couple left under the cloak and made their way to the prefects' bath, they said the password and entered.
"Wow, I can't wait to be a prefect" Hermione said in awe as she took in the whole room.
"Yeah."
They looked around the bath and found that it was probably the most elaborate bath they have ever seen. There were depictions of mermaids practically everywhere in a Romanesque manner. Hermione began to run the water.
"Well, let's get this over with" Harry said nervously.
"R-r-right" Hermione said just as nervous as Harry.
They both turned around and started to undress. Hermione was in a one-piece swimsuit and Harry was in a pair of baggy shorts.
"Harry, don't you have swim trunks?" Hermione asked staring at her boyfriend's attire.
"Um, no, the Dursleys never taught me how" Harry said sheepishly.
Hermione just added this to her list of reasons to punish the Dursleys.
"Alright, let's go" Hermione said, but paused when she saw that Harry was staring at her.
"Harry, is everything alright?" she asked nervously.
Harry didn't hear her as his eyes and mind were trying to memorize every curve of Hermione's developing body. This made Hermione feel a little uncomfortable, but also very happy too.
"Harry, Harry" Hermione said waving her hand in front of her boyfriend's face.
"Huh, what?" Harry said blinking.
"Are you ready to go?" Hermione asked trying to keep the pleased smile off her face.
"Yeah, let's go" Harry said still not totally there.
They walked into the tub and got in.
"Feels nice" Hermione said with a content sigh.
"Yeah."
"Alright, let's try the egg," Hermione said in 'lets get down to business' voice.
Harry nodded and dunked the egg after he did that he opened it up underwater.
"It sounds like voices," Hermione said.
Harry nodded and dunked his head underwater not knowing Hermione did the same.
'Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching, ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took,
But past an hour – the prospect's black,
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.'
Goblet of Fire pg. 463
When they surfaced Hermione went to her bag that she brought with her and pulled a piece of parchment and a quill and wrote down the clue.
"Okay Harry, lets break this down," she said still in her business mode.
"Um, now?" Harry asked.
"Yes Harry, while it's still fresh" Hermione said ignoring her boyfriend's hesitance.
Harry nodded knowing there was no way he could argue when Hermione was in this mode.
"Okay, well the first two lines are obvious, mermaids they mean you'll have to swim in the Black Lake" Hermione said in an obvious tone.
"Okay" Harry said nodding.
"Now, they'll take what you sorely miss? What could that mean?" Hermione thought out loud.
"They'll take you, I mean you mean the world to me and that means I'll have to save you" Harry said.
"Harry, that's brilliant" Hermione said smiling.
"Thanks."
"But it looks like you have a time limit, that could be a problem" Hermione said frowning.
"Well, luckily I have the brightest witch of her age to help me" Harry said wrapping his arms around Hermione's waist.
Hermione beamed at this and spun around to kiss Harry. They kissed for a while until Harry suggested they head back. After they dried themselves off and got changed they got back under the cloak and headed back to the Gryffindor tower now knowing what the next task is.
The rest of the winter holiday the couple spent working on homework and finding a way for Harry to breath underwater. Neville joined them. They were in the library going through book after book trying to find a way for Harry to breath underwater for an hour.
"There has to be a way," Hermione said in a frustrated tone as she slammed another book closed.
"What are you looking for Hermione?" Neville asked.
Harry explained the situation, as Hermione was too busy looking through books to explain.
"Oh, have you thought of Gillyweed?" Neville asked.
Hermione looked up.
"Neville, I could kiss you," she said looking very happy.
Neville blushed, "I don't think Harry would like that."
"I'll let it slide, since you helped Hermione out," Harry said chuckling.
Hermione kissed Neville on the cheek then pursued another book.
"Here it is, Gillyweed, it gives the person gills after eating it" she said.
"That's great, but where can I get it?" Harry asked.
Hermione frowned.
"I haven't thought of that," she said.
"Well, they do have uses in potions, so I bet Snape would have some" Neville said.
"Yeah, and what's the likely possibility that he'd give me any?" Harry asked.
"Well there is always Dobby" Hermione suggested.
With a POP the elf appeared.
"Yous called Harry Potter's Grangey," the house elf said excitedly.
Neville bit his lip at the sight. Here was Dobby wearing a tea cozy and looking so excited that he might wet himself.
"Yes she did Dobby, could you get us some Gillyweed?" Harry asked.
"Yes Harry Potter sir, Dobby will get it, but Dobby doesn't know what it looks like" the house elf said looking a bit ashamed.
Hermione showed him a picture and the elf was off.
"Well that was the oddest house elf I've ever seen" Neville commented.
"He may be odd, but I trust him" Harry said.
"Harry Potter sir trusts Dobby, Dobby is so happy" the house elf said exuberantly.
No one knew when the elf reappeared, but it them all jump.
"Yes Dobby, I trust you" Harry said smiling.
Dobby had tears in his tennis ball sized eyes.
"Here is the Gillyweed," the house elf said.
"Thanks Dobby" Harry said.
The house elf bowed and popped out.
"Well now that we have that out of the way what should we do?" Harry asked.
/Scene Break/
The days passed and Harry was feeling confident about the second task though he was worried about Hermione.
"I'll be fine Harry, you know Dumbledore won't let anything happen to me" Hermione said trying to reassure Harry. But Harry wasn't reassured so he went to see the headmaster.
"Harry, my boy, what can I do for you?" Dumbledore asked.
"I know the clue, I know you're going to take Hermione" Harry said after he sat down.
Dumbledore's twinkle went out a little.
"Yes, Harry, but what do you want me to do?" he asked.
"Just promise me that you'll make sure she's safe" Harry said.
"Harry I-"
"Sir, she means everything to me, I don't know what I'd do if she died, I wouldn't be able to go on, I need her too much" Harry said as tears threaten to fall.
Dumbledore reevaluated his thoughts on Harry's relationship with Miss Granger and knew that he had to do everything in his power to keep her safe, not for the wizarding world sake, but for Harry's.
"I'll do everything I can Harry, I promise" Dumbledore said.
"Thanks sir."
Dumbledore nodded and Harry left.
When Harry was gone Dumbledore leaned back in his chair.
"Well Fawkes, I think he's ready" he said smiling .
The phoenix trilled happily at the news.
/Scene Break/
On the day of the task Harry got up and dressed then he and Neville headed downstairs and headed to the Great Hall. They knew Hermione was taken as a hostage so they didn't have to wait for her, though that didn't make Harry feel any better.
"Everything will be alright Harry" Luna said calmly.
Harry just nodded, though he was still quite nervous.
Professor McGonagall led Harry to the lake and when they got there he waited. Thankfully Hermione got her mother to send him a bathing suit so he wouldn't have to wear his baggy pants.
"Hey Harry, how are you feeling?" Cedric asked nervously.
"Fine as can be" Harry said just as nervous as the Hufflepuff.
Cedric nodded.
Harry and Cedric said hello to Fleur when she arrived, but they could all feel the nervous atmosphere that had engulf the area. Krum came and he was his usual grumpy self. When all of the Champions were assembled Bagman told them that something that they sorely missed was in the lake and they had an hour to retrieve it. At the sound of the concessive hex the Champions were off.
Harry ate the Gillyweed and he felt the changes, he couldn't breath so dove into the water, that's when he noticed he had webbed feet and hands. He swam as fast as he could with his only thought was get to Hermione. He found the four hostages and his eyes immediately went to Hermione. He tried a few spells, but only bubbles came out of his mouth. So Harry concentrated on a cutting hex and it cut the bonds on Hermione. After Hermione was free Harry grabbed her and swam to the surface without even a glance back.
Hermione knew she was Harry's hostage, she knew when she was asked to go to professor McGonagall's office last night what was going to happen to her. The only thing she asked was to go to her dorm to put on her bathing suit so she wouldn't feel so exposed when she was rescued. McGonagall agreed and had a house elf grab Hermione's swimsuit. She didn't know anything until she awoke when they surfaced. She clung to Harry as he swam to the dock with her. Harry had to stay in the water until the effects of the Gillyweed wore off. Hermione was excited that Harry did so well.
After the effects wore off Hermione pulled Harry into a heated embrace, which left the poor boy dazed.
Harry found that he was not only the first to the hostages, but was the first to arrive back. This stunned the judges since they thought that it would take a while for the Champions to get to the hostages. Well most of the judges, Dumbledore knew Harry would be the fastest, if Hermione was in any danger Harry would get to her as quickly as he could obstructions be damned.
The final score had Harry in the lead with Cedric in second, Krum third and Fleur fourth since she was unable to get to her hostage, who was her little sister.
The Gryffindor tower rocked in celebration of Harry getting passed the second task and being in first place. The twins had gagged Ron so he couldn't say anything and Ginny threaten him with another letter to their mother, which silenced the youngest male redhead. The last letter was a Howler and it clearly stated that his behavior was abhor and if they got another letter he'd be in great trouble when he got home.
/Scene Break/
Harry felt great though he wished everyone would stop asking him what happened down in the lake since he didn't pay attention to anything during the task. Sadly Hermione was also bombarded with questions about her time as a hostage and even after telling everyone that she was unconscious the whole time the whole student body wanted to know the 'truth'.
"Why can't they just leave me alone" Hermione groused.
"Because you hang around me and they'll want to know all of your dirty little secrets" Harry said.
Hermione grumbled about this as she flipped open a book to get started on her homework.
"Just ignore them sweetie" Harry said.
Hermione's head shot up, "what do you call me?"
"Uh, I called you sweetie, I thought you'd like it" Harry said nervously.
Hermione smiled and kissed her boyfriend.
"I love it."
Harry smiled and turned back to his own work.
/Scene Break/
"So they haven't given you any hint on what the third task will be?" Neville said.
Harry shook his head, "no, nothing and that makes me very worried."
"You're not the only one, I mean people have died in this tournament" Hermione said.
"Whatever the task is, Harry will do fine and come out on top," Luna said confidently.
"Really Luna?"
"Yes, you've told me about your adventures and I know that whatever will happen, I can always trust you to do the right thing and to win the day" Luna said.
"Thanks Luna" Harry said hugging the dreamy blond.
Luna had a beaming smile on her face.
"Luna, have I ever told you that you have a beautiful smile" Neville said.
Luna blushed at this.
Harry and Hermione decided to leave the two alone for a while.
"Harry and I have to do something, we'll catch up with you" Hermione said grabbing Harry's hand and tugging him away.
When Neville and Luna were alone they both became very nervous and awkward.
"So, um how are classes going?" Neville asked trying to make conversation.
"They are going well," Luna answered.
Neville nodded as he wracked his mind to come up with something to talk about. Luna looked unperturbed by the whole thing, but inside her stomach was in knots and had butterflies fluttering about also.
"Luna, I know that we never talked about us after the Yule Ball, but I think now we should talk" Neville said.
"I think it is time too," Luna said nodding.
"Um, well, Luna, I like you a lot, and was wondering if you would go out with me?" Neville asked keeping his head down the whole time.
Luna smiled at the shy Gryffindor and wondered where he stored his courage since it never showed up until it was needed.
"I would love to go out with you Neville, and I also like you a lot too" she said.
Neville looked up and smiled.
"Really?"
Luna nodded.
Neville was very happy that he moved forward and kissed Luna, then when he realized what he did he began to apologize profusely. Luna touched her lips unable to believe that she just had her first kiss.
"It's alright Neville, I liked it" Luna said as soon as she came back to her senses.
"Really?" Neville asked nervously.
Luna nodded and smiled.
"Can I kiss you again?" Neville asked hesitantly.
Luna just smiled, which gave Neville his answer.
/Scene Break/
Meanwhile Hermione and Harry were in the common room.
"So do you think Neville finally asked Luna to be his girlfriend?" Harry asked.
"Gossiping Harry, I'm ashamed that you'd stoop so low" Hermione playfully chided.
"Well then Miss Granger, you are guilty of it also, or I do recall you discussing with Ginny about your thoughts on Neville and Ginny?" Harry said with his eyes twinkling.
"I thought you were sleeping" Hermione said slapping Harry's shoulder.
"How could I sleep when I was lying in such a beautiful girl's lap?" Harry asked.
Hermione blushed.
"So Neville and Luna?" Harry asked.
"Definitely, I'm sure of it" Hermione said.
"Me too, they are good for one another" Harry said.
Hermione just smiled.
The couple enjoyed their day not worrying what the last task might be.
End of chapter
A/N: Thanks for reading and please review.
