Harry saw Ron in his bathing suit already. They're heading to the Black Lake now. They already brought their towels with them. They passed Gaby in her bikini also heading to the Black Lake. Ron and Harry are walking together with Neville , Seamus , and Dean.
"You seen Hermione ?" asked Ron. Harry and the other boys shook their heads. "I haven't seen her all morning ! Where could she be ?" Then Neville said that she could be already in the Black Lake so they ran there quickly.
"Okay champions ! Are you ready ?" asked Professor McGonnagal. Ron placed the transfiguration charm on him. Harry found out the bubble head enchantment. Gaby ate Gillyweed , she found it somehow. The cannon was shot and the champions dive under water.
Harry found himself in the same place he has been the last time he was there. He swam forward and then noticing that Ron is following him from the back. The two stupid boys were now playing tag along the way. They finally found the Merpeople's village. There's Hermione , Ginny , and a little girl which probably is Gaby's little sister. They swam closer to the girls and try to untie them. Ron even bit Hermione's feet rope.
"Won , thwaats dwigwustwing." mumbled Harry. Ron replied him in shark language. Ron finally cut Hermione's rope and he waved his hand to Harry signaling that he'll swim to the surface first.
As Harry started to cut Ginny's rope , Gaby arrived and cut her sister's rope too. The two then swim together to the surface. But then accident happened. Ginny's toes are somehow stuck in the rock. Harry's as well. Harry struggle to let himself go. The Merpeoples noticed him and started to gather around him and Ginny. Gaby didn't notice them actually.
Meanwhile , the same thing happen to Ron. He and Hermione were strangled under many dancing seaweeds. It's not hard to get off of a seaweed , but the dancing ones ? Ron tried as soon as possible get rid of those seaweed from Hermione first , then him. He saw Gaby swam to the surface but she didn't seem to notice him. Ron finally got out of the dancing seaweed with Hermione. He hold her close and swam to the surface.
"Ah." said Hermione breath as she made it to the surface. Ron was holding her. He's not moving. "Ron ! Go there ! What are you waiting for ?" said Hermione again.
"Now tell me why are you mad at me." said Ron still not moving. They are probably in the middle of the lake. Hermione turned her face from Ron's. "Mione , you know I'm not moving unless you told me why. I know you can't swim so you won't fool me by saying you'll swim back by yourself." said Ron again , tighting his hug around Hermione's waist. "Spill it out."
Hermione said nothing. She just slowly close her eyes and then her head fell on Ron's shoulder. "Hermione ! Hermione !" said Ron poking Hermione's cheeks. It doesn't work at all. She seems to be unconscious. Ron quickly swam to the edge of the lake where everyone is waiting for them. When he arrived at the edge , Hermione opened her eyes and run upstairs to grab a towel.
"HERMIONE ! YOU TRICKED ME ! COME HERE YOU !" shouted Ron as he grabbed a towel too.
The time is only around five minutes left before the magic will clear off. Harry is still trying to get out from the rocks. He shouted confringo a few times but for some reason it doesn't work. Harry ducked and found the seaweed. He used it to make his foot more slippery and it finally is out. Harry did the same thing to Ginny's foot. The magic clears off. Harry quickly swam while holding his breath to the surface. They finally made it to the surface. Everyone cheers. Harry lead Ginny to the edge.
"You okay Gin ?" asked Harry putting his towel on Ginny. Ginny nodded and hug him.
"Now tell me why would I tell you ?" yelled Hermione.
"If you tell me , I can apologize for it and I won't do it again !" said Ron grabbing Hermione's wrist while she struggle from him.
"Now what are you guys on about ?" asked Harry still putting his arm around Ginny.
"This guy forced me into telling him something I don't want to talk about !" yelled Hermione struggling again.
"If you won't tell me what's wrong , then I can't fix it ! Hermione !" said Ron.
"You're a liar !" shouted Hermione again.
"Hey Ron !" called a voice from the back. Hermione stopped struggling for a while when three boys walked towards her and Ron. Harry is pretty sure he never sees those boys before.
"Hey. Harry , Ginny , Heermionee meet my Durmstrang friends. This is Steve , Robert , and Octavious." introduced Ron. He let go of Hermione's wrist since she has stopped struggling. Ginny and Harry waved at Ron's friends. Hermione looks at the ground.
"Hello evveryone. So , Ron , Vhich one he took ? That one ?" asked Octavious pointing at Ginny.
"No. This one." said Ron moving Hermione to his front. Hermione smiled weakly at them.
"Took what ?" asked Harry confused.
"Remember when I told you guys there are the Viktor Haters ? It's them ! Steve quitted from his Keeper position because he's tired of Viktor bossing around him. Robert's hair is cut bald because he became Viktor's bullseye when he practiced arrows. Octavious' girlfriend left him because Viktor flirted with her. And I became instant friend with them !" grinned Ron. Harry bursted out laughing. Ginny tried her best to not laugh.
"At least Viktor never lie to me." said Hermione again pouting.
"Guess ve'll catch you later Ron !" said Steve walking away from the four.
"And the winner is .. Miss Delacour !" announced Professor McGonnagal. "Second is Mister Weasley ! And the third is Mister Potter !". The crowd cheers again.
"Ron , you swam first than Gabriella ! What happened ?" asked Harry confused. He thought Ron and Hermione were the first to come back.
"There are these Dancing Seaweeds strangling Hermione and me so we can't move. I have to unstrangle Hermione and me first before we can make it to the surface again." explained Ron. Hermione walked away again. Ron chase after her.
"Hey Gin. I have something to confess to you." said Harry. Ginny gave him a 'What's that' look. "Well , I got another threat. It says that I'll go down but never up. It was put in my glass of WATER. Just now , a rock is keeping me and you stuck underWATER. Do you reckon it may be the work of those threater ?"
"Did Professor say Gaby came out first ? But you said Ron should be first and you're suppose to be second ?" asked Ginny again. Her suspicion is getting more realistic. Ginny shook her head slowly and asked Harry to go back to the Gryffindor Tower.
Harry and Ginny walk in and every Gryffindor cheer for them. The common room looks like a party now. There are many firewhisky and butterbeer. Hermione and Ron are nowhere to be found. Oh well .. Maybe they're solving their problems. Ginny doesn't seem so happy about the party. She has those suspicions and it kind of come true. If Harry didn't find those seaweeds , perhaps she and Harry are dead by now. This threater doesn't seem to be playing with them anymore.
"Hello there 'arry !" a familiar guy walk towards Harry. He must be one of those friends of Ron's from Durmstrang. "Ron still vith that girl ?" he asked again.
"Oh yeah. Steve isn't it ? Don't worry about Ron and Hermione. They're always fighting with each other. It will be all good soon. Don't worry." Harry said again.
"I veel sorry vor Ron though. Viktor always gets the girl he vants. I hope it doesn't happen to him too. Anyvays , I heard Viktor still recently send Her-my-ninny letters." shared Steve again.
"Definitely." said Harry shortly. He thought of Hermione's name. Now he thinks no Bulgarian can ever say Hermione's name correct. "I feel sorry for the owl." joked Harry. Steve laughed. Not long after then , he left.
Harry look at Ginny. He studied her eyes. Her eyes look worried. "Hey Gin. Don't worry. Everything's fine." Harry assured Ginny. Ginny hug him to find comfort. Which she always found in Harry.
...
"Go away ! Let go of my wrist !" commanded Hermione. Ron captured her again.
"Which part of me lied to you ? Let me slap it." said Ron again.
"EVERY PART OF YOU !" yelled Hermione sobbing.
Ron let go of her wrist and started slapping every part of him with his two hands.
"RONALD ! What are you doing ? Stop it ! You're hurting yourself. Stop it !" cried Hermione pulling Ron's hands away from himself so he would stop slapping himself. She sobbed even more this time and then fell on her knees. Her two small hands covering her face. Ron put his arms around her shoulder.
"Look , Hermione. I just want to fix everything. And to fix it , I need to know what's wrong first. So tell me. Tell me what's wrong." whispered Ron to Hermione's ear.
"What's wrong is that you're a liar. You know how I feel about liars ! Viktor would never lie to me ! And he would always be there for me ! He's better than you are !" said Hermione again. Ron let go of her.
"Hey Hermione. You know how my life is always in the shadow of my brothers ? I thought I'm not in there anymore. Because now I have you. The person that I thought would love me more than any other people. Not in my life of knowing you I thought I'll ever hear you comparing me to other people. Especially Viktor. I always try to be there for you and I think I've done everything I can for you. Now you proof me wrong. Thanks a lot." said Ron before he ran. Hermione just realized that she hurt his feelings.
"Ron ! Come back ! I didn't mean it. Ron ! I'm sorry !" Hermione ran after Ron. She is not athletic at all that she can't even reach him. He ran too fast. Thankfully , Ginny and Harry found Hermione.
"What's wrong now , Hermione ?" asked Ginny again.
"I hurt his feelings. I think I just stabbed him." said Hermione holding back her tears.
"You did what ?" asked Harry surprised. Ginny gasped. "YOU STABBED MY BROTHER ?" asked Ginny surprised too. Hermione shook her head. Harry and Ginny sighed in relieve.
"I think what I did is worse. I .."
