Today was the day of the second task already. Krum was ready, he had practiced the spell Archer taught him on his potions textbook ( for it was his least favorite, since Snape was always trying to find a way to give him a detention.)
Archer told Krum that if he smells rotting fish, he's on the wrong trail, if he smells a sweet smell which would be almost worth drowning to keep smelling, that he was on the right track.
Archer watched with the Durmstrang students from the docks. She looked to see Karkaroff whispering something into Krum's ear. At least Krum knew not to listen, because Karkaroff had no clue what he was talking about.
" Welcome to the second task, there are four treasures at the bottom of the Black Lake, each one is for each champion, you have to stay fully submerged underwater for an hour, and one hour only to find these treasures, if you fail, the mermaids will not likely give up their prize without a fight, and it will bring great sorrow to you." Dumbledore shouted. There was a loud applause.
" Mr. Filch, the canon please."
Soon after the canon fired and the champions dove into the water, all Archer could do now was wait.
Within twenty minuets Fleur surfaced, from what Archer could hear from the chatting Beauxbaton's was because of grindylows.
Archer was getting more and more anxious, why wasn't Krum back yet, with his speeds he should have been back already. The clock ticked on and on, with each minuet passing Archer grew more anxious.
Soon after someone had emerged from the water, but it wasn't Krum. It was Cedric Diggory, with Cho Chang. Archer gasped, these treasures weren't objects, these were people. Archer was compelled to dive into the water and rescue Fleur's treasure, but knew she couldn't. Soon after Krum surfaced with Hermione. Archer helped the two up and ran to get them towels.
" Krum, what happened?" Archer asked.
" I could only transfigure my head to become like a sharks, I don't know why it didn't take full effect." Krum answered.
" Well at least you'll be alive, unlike Fleur's treasure." Archer said.
The clock was close to the end of the hour. Soon at the chime of the new hour, Ron Weasley and Fleur's younger sister, Gabrielle, surface, but there was no Harry. Archer stood against the railing, did Harry trade his life for Gabrielle's?
He did not. He came shooting like a missile to the surface. Archer sighed in relief. She didn't have to go on a rescue mission after all.
The results were in. Cedric had won, but there was a twist. Krum had only gotten third because of Harry's determination to save all of the treasures, if he hadn't had the determination he would've been first, so Harry ended up getting second place. Archer was still proud of Krum, not as angered like she was at the first task. Karkaroff was disappointed with him and shouted at him. Archer intervened.
" Stop it Karkaroff." Archer shouted. Karkaroff looked at Archer angrily.
" Go to your common room you little git!" Karkaroff shouted at her.
" No, treat your student's with a little more respect now and then. Also, if Krum were to follow your advice he probably would have been gone with the mermaids!" Archer shouted back.
" Don't you tell me how to treat my students! You are just like your-"
" Got something to say Karkaroff?" Said a familiar voice, the voice of Snape. Karkaroff veered sharply at Snape.
" Stay out of this Severus." Karkaroff spat.
" I think I'll stay here and watch how you treat your students." Snape replied sarcastically.
" The only reason your here is because your daughter wouldn't be able to hear what I was about to say, and we can't hurt her poor, pretty little ears? Can we Severus?" Karkaroff schmoozed.
" It's alright dad, I want to hear it. Go on Karkaroff spit it out." Archer spat in Karkaroff's face.
" You are just like your death eater mother." Karkaroff said. Archer laughed.
" If I was anything like my mother, you would have been dead a long time ago. Oh I wouldn't be talking about death eaters like it's a curse Karkaroff, I know you have a certain mark on your left arm." Archer said smiling. She left in the boat Krum and Hermione left in.
" How did you live through that, I though Karkaroff vould give you detention for the rest of the year." Krum asked.
" Oh he couldn't do anything to me though, especially not with my dad watching him like a hawk." Archer replied.
" Karkaroff seems nasty, from what I've seen him do and what I've heard about him." Hermione said.
" Oh, you probably have seen nothing yet. Hear this, he made the students steer the ship during our voyage to Hogwarts. But there is much, much more, I could write many essays about it." Archer replied.
" My, I can't imagine what the teachers are like then." Hermione said shocked.
" Oh the teachers are much better, but think of this, the potions teacher at Durmstrang, makes my dad's strictest look like a helpless kitten." Archer said. Hermione's jaw dropped.
" Is that legal?"
" Durmstrang breaks many laws Hermione, but the ministry has left us be."
" My, thats awful."
" This year has been brilliant, the Durmstrang teachers hate me because I outdid the men in many things." Archer replied.
After Krum and Archer got back to the castle the two sat in their common room. All of the Durmstrang students were eager to punch Karkaroff in the face. But all of them decided that it would do no one any good and lived their lives just like normal.
Archer was happy to see that all was well. She and her father stopped fighting. That Krum was doing better than Fleur in the Triwizard Tournament at least. Her grades were still perfect, which she also got the extra credit on her transfiguration notes that she helped Krum decode. Aragog had finished his tests with her to see if she was trustworthy, Archer being unaware that those were tests for her trust. Karkaroff was treating her a small bit better, thanks to Snape. Archer also was excited because Durmstrang exams were coming up. Archer studied as hard as she could, going into the dark hours of the morning every night. When she wasn't studying during the weekend she spend lots of her time with George Weasley.