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"Potter, can I speak with you," Professor Moody cornered Harry after class was over. He didn't really understand why he was being called up as he didn't think he was doing anything wrong.
"Um… sure," Harry followed the Professor in to his office and sat down in a chair while the Professor shut the door behind them.
"I wanted to speak to you before, but I haven't found the time yet. Would you like some tea?" Moody offered. Harry found this extremely out of place from what he knew of the Professor. He didn't seem like the type of person who liked to have chats over tea.
"Sir?" Harry asked confused.
"Tea. Do you want any?" Moody asked again. "I don't make the best cup, but its decent enough."
Hesitant, Harry uttered "Sure."
It was strange watching the supposed famed auror prepare a pot of tea. It would be just as strange as seeing Albus Dumbledore at the beach or the minister taking a knitting class. There are some things you just don't picture certain people doing but Harry supposed that he shouldn't be so quick to judge.
"You certainly have a talent with Defense, Potter. That last paper you turned in was beyond the skill of an average forth year." Moody congratulated. "Although under the circumstances, I guess that would be a good thing wouldn't it?" The kettle was placed over the fire and Moody sat down with a groan in his chair facing Harry. The metal leg that he wore was taken off with another groan. Moody took a moment to rub at the stub on his leg, Harry tried to avoid looking at it.
"Thank you, professor. That means a lot." Harry smiled shyly. "I've had a lot of time to study." He had better habits now too. Draco made homework more enjoyable. Rather than focusing on how quickly he could finish, they had been using their rivalry to their advantage and had been trying to one up each other in classes. It didn't hurt that Draco was willing to tutor him in potions as well.
"Don't have that Weasley kid holding you back anymore, eh? I shouldn't be spreading any personal information, but that kid's grades dropped dramatically since you kicked him to the curb. I don't think anything that Granger girl has done has helped him either." Moody barked out a laugh and it was strange on Harry's ears. "If you ask me, he wouldn't last a day in the real world."
"If you say so, Sir." Harry was uncertain if it was appropriate for a teacher to be talking to his students like this at all. Gossip or no. "Why don't you have the house elves make the tea, sir? If you don't think that yours is very good I mean."
"What is the main lesson I have been teaching you all semester? CONSTANT VIGALANCE!" The sudden loudness of the Professor's voice made Harry nearly jump out of his seat. "Don't know if those house elves can be trusted not to let anyone put anything in my drink. Besides, I could use the practice, eh? Shouldn't be too hard to make tea and yet… Mine is always lacking."
His office was just as cluttered with the strange objects as the last time he was in here. Although the last time, the professor helped Harry figure out just how he was going to survive the first task. It seemed like a life time ago now. "Thank you, by the way, for helping me before. I don't know what I would have... Or what would have…"
"Think nothing of it, Potter. I'm sure with your skills, you could have done something to survive once again," Moody nonchalantly said.
"It's more luck than anything," Harry disagreed.
"That flying you did, that wasn't luck that was skill. Practicing that since you stepped foot on the school I've heard. You don't out fly a dragon with just luck." Moody scoffed. "I wouldn't be wasting my time on you in here if I thought you didn't have any drop of skill in you."
Harry couldn't describe what he felt at first, but he was surprised by his professor's words all the same. "Thank you, sir." He scratched at his arm, just to focus on anything else but the embarrassment burning in his cheeks.
The kettle whistled and Moody didn't even bother to get up. A wave of his wand sent to kettle floating over to them and with another wave, two cups along with milk and sugar appeared in front of them. Harry never got over his amazement at what magic could do. A cup floated its way over to him and he took it with both of his hands, and told his professor another thanks. It seemed he was saying that a lot during his visit.
Harry thought that Moody might have been right about the tea as he took a sip. It did taste a little funny to him…
"So tell me Harry, how have you been getting along with the Malfoy boy?" Moody asked.
"Great!" Harry found himself saying. "It was awkward at first, we used to hate each other you know. But then he told me to punch him in the face and I don't know. I like spending time with him now."
"How close would you say you two are?" Moody prodded.
"Pretty close I guess. I told him a few secrets that I haven't told anyone alive. If I had just taken his hand at the beginning of our first year, or actually gone into Slytherin like the sorting hat wanted me to, then we might be even closer than we are now."
"You were supposed to be in Slytherin?" Moody looked surprised.
"Yup," Harry said with a pop. He didn't even know why he was telling his professor all of this anyway. For some reason, he couldn't find himself stopping. "Said I would do great things in Slytherin. But the only people I have heard of who went there at the time were all dark wizards or people who were being an ass to me."
Moody seemed to shake the look of shock off of his face. "You said you shared some secrets with Malfoy what kinds of things did you mean?"
Harry wanted to say "I don't think I really want to tell you" or "that's between me and him" instead, he said cheerfully as though his brain and his mouth had planned it all behind his back "That I'm a Naga." His hand slapped over his mouth before he could stop himself.
Moody's face turned white. "You're a what?"
"A Naga. Well I'm almost there I mean, I haven't gone through the final transformation yet, but I'm supposed to get there before my next birthday. It's really weird watching your body change species. Especially when you think at any moment, your dick could-"
"Okay, okay." Moody shook his hands to stop him. Harry had been trying to stop himself all along, but no matter what his attempts he just kept on talking. "are you sure that's what you are? Are you positive?"
"Of course! Salazar told me himself. He was one two, so I guess that must mean we are related somehow, right? What do you think would happen if it turned out that I actually was the heir of Slytherin two years ago? That would have been crazy. Everyone would have-" Harry was cut off once again except this time it was by Moody's stunner. He fell back into his chair his head rolling onto his shoulder.
Moody did not move for a moment. He could not believe what he had just heard if what the boy said was true, and he couldn't lie to him under the influence of his veritaserum potion, then Harry might actually be…
But no, it wasn't possible, there had to be a mistake.
In any case, he would have to inform his master of what he had learned at once. But first, he had the boy's memory to erase.
Cedric had stopped him in the hall on his way out of the Professor's office. He was dazed and confused as to why exactly he went in there in the first place. They were having a pleasant conversation and he supposed he had just let time get away from him.
"Try taking the egg and mull things over in the water," Cedric had told him. Harry chalked it up to him still being confused but it was Daphne who figured it out, and Pansy had even given him the password to the prefect's bathroom.
It was far more luxurious than he imagined. The bath itself looked like he could swim in it and there were far too many options for bubbles in the bath than were necessary. Harry only had to touch the knobs and they turned themselves on to the perfect temperature.
Even though he knew he was in the room alone, he couldn't help but look around before taking off his clothes. The oversized tub filled quicker than he expected and the water turned itself off as soon as the tub was full. The room smelled of scented soaps and the bubbles, to Harry's surprise, changed into all kinds of beautiful colors. He could definitely see the appeal of becoming a prefect.
He didn't even touch the egg for a long while. He just enjoyed swimming around in the water, and playing with the bubbles like a child. His glamor's, which he was always reluctant to take off, were gone revealing him in his true form. The small moment that he had alone was unexpected but he was going to cherish it all the same.
When he finally pulled himself away from his childish actions, he took the egg in his hands, placed it under the water and opened it. The only change he heard was that the screeching sound he had heard when he had opened it with Draco was gone. Acting on an impulse, Harry dunked his head in the water and that's when he heard the beautiful song of the merpeople.
It took him a few tries to memorize the song; it took him several tries because he kept running out of air. When he was finished, he replaced his glamors and climbed out of the large tub that began draining itself all on its own.
As he was just about to leave, a pain unlike anything Harry could describe crawled its way up his legs. His legs felt like they were trying to tear themselves apart and then put themselves back together again. The strange pain made him fall to the floor. He wouldn't say it was the worst thing he had ever felt, just the strangest.
Just as soon as it had started it was over and Harry was on his feet again. He knew what this meant. It wouldn't be long now until his transformation was complete. Hopefully, he would be in a safe place when it did happen.
Days turned into weeks and before he knew it, the second task was only a few days away. Thanks to the help of his friends, the only problem was figuring out a way for Harry to breathe underwater for an hour.
The library was busy in the afternoon. They had both just had lunch and were sitting at a lone table, several books in front of them. Harry had told Draco of the strange pain he felt in his legs he had felt. Unfortunately, Draco was just as clueless as to what to do when the time actually came as Harry was.
"What do you think they are going to take," Draco pondered while peering over a small book. "I'd take your invisibility cloak, but how do you know they even know it exists?"
"I don't know, maybe that means they will take my broom? Everyone knows I love that thing, it would be a more obvious choice," Harry added.
"Is there any parselmagic you can use to breathe underwater that long," Draco asked him in a hushed voice. "I would suggest using a bubblehead charm, but that's a seventh year spell. The other champions would probably think to use that one too. Wouldn't hurt to be different."
Harry turned a page of the book in front of him without really reading the pages. "I've thought about it, but what if someone sees?"
"Well, I don't know then. This is why they made it for students who are of age, they would know more advanced magic than you. Can't you ask a teacher for help?" Draco complained.
"No, I'm not allowed to ask for help. You shouldn't even be helping me." Harry put his head down on the book. They had been at this for too long already.
"So? You should get a small advantage at least. Go on just try." Draco pushed. He pulled the book out from under Harry's head making him hit the table.
"It's not right," Harry rubbed his head and tried to grab the book from Draco so he could hit him with it.
"Of all the stupid… this is no time to be a bloody Gryffindor." Draco pulled the book out from Harry's reach. Harry ended up grabbing another one to hit him with. "Ow, stop it."
From across the room, Hermione sat at another table focused on her homework, and Ron was facing her, glaring daggers at Harry and Draco. "Has he still not gotten over his little jealousy, pity party? He looks like he is going to attack you at any second."
"I don't know; he has been really weird lately. One moment, he will be trying to be my friend, and the next he is telling me to burn in hell." Harry blocked Draco's book with his own.
"It's me, I just bring out the best in people," Draco joked.
"Well that's what I thought too, but sometimes, you aren't even around and he just…. I don't know. He isn't even acting like how I used to know him." Harry ducked his head as Draco tried to swing his book at him.
"What are you doing to my books?" The shrill voice of Madam Pince called. "Out, both of you, out!" The two boys grabbed their things and raced out of the library, trying not to giggle like girls the whole way.
The answer came from someone who Harry least expected. When he wasn't spending time with his new friends, the only other person whom Harry really got along with now was Neville. He had only been half paying attention when Neville was going on about the new book that Professor Moody had let him borrow.
"Wait, what did you say?" Harry interrupted when he finally paid attention to what he was saying.
"They breed by eating the heads of off the male bulbs-"
"No, no the other thing. The Dillybead one." Harry sat up in his four poster bed and turned to face Neville.
"It's called Gillyweed," Neville rolled his eyes. "It grows in swamps and it's really difficult to harvest."
"But you said it can make you breathe underwater?" Harry prompted eagerly.
"Yeah, that's one of its uses," Neville pulled out his new favorite book and turned to the page that had bold letters titled Gillyweed. "But there are tons of other things that it can do."
"That's great Neville, but I need to know this for the task. How long will it last?" Harry went to sit down next to Neville to get a better view of the book.
"I guess it depends on how much you take." Neville thought. "But you can't take too much or it could have some serious side effects."
"Do you think that Professor Sprout keep some in stock?" Harry wondered.
"I don't see why not?" Neville shrugged and closed the book. "She has a lot of rare plants in her stock."
"Well then Neville, I have a job for you…" Harry smiled.
"Here," Neville handed Harry a handful of gillyweed on the edge of the black lake looking quite proud of himself. Students waved at them as they passed by on their way to the stands to watch the second task.
"Did you get caught?" Harry asked, the plan was for Neville to sneak into the greenhouses to steal some, but it looked like he could handle himself.
"Yup," Neville grinned happily.
"You what?" Harry blinked.
"You know, I thought about sneaking in there and just taking it, but that didn't right. So, I just went up and asked Professor Sprout if I could have some." Neville explained.
"And she just gave it to you," Harry asked surprised. He wasn't used to doing things that way. In his experience, adults were always trying to hinder him from doing the things he needed to do, especially if it contributed to his survival.
"Yeah, she likes me, and I think she knew what it was for. She didn't put up much of a fight when I asked for it anyway," Neville looked proud of himself.
Harry wrapped his arm around Neville and said "Don't ever change, Nev."
Hours passed, and Harry was starting to get worried. He would have expected to have seen Draco before he started the task, but it seemed that not even Daphne nor Pansy had seen him. Eventually, it was time to begin and there was nothing else Harry could do.
The water was colder than he expected, and eating the gillyweed did nothing to add to his comfort. Breathing the water in and out of his new gills was something he was going to have to get used to. He could only see up to thirty far in front of him which hindered his ability to search but it was better than drowning.
Fish swam by him unafraid and thankfully, the giant squid was nowhere in sight. Not that he could see very far. A small school of grindylow attacked him while he was trying to get close to what looked like an underwater castle that had long since eroded away its glory, but other than that, the first part of the task bored him.
It wasn't until he got close to the castle that he truly began to be worried. In the middle of the rubble he saw four people tied down to the lake floor. He recognized all of them. Cho chang, Hermione granger, a girl he had seen hanging around Fleur often, and Draco Malfoy.
Was this where was this whole time? How long had he been down there? He grabbed his friend's shoulders and shook him to see if he would wake up. Next he grabbed his cheeks to feel for warmth but he found none. As every second passed, his worry increased. One of the merpeople that tried to get near them had the misfortune of Harry baring his sharp fangs at it. The creature swam away in fear before it could get any closer.
Wasting no time pulling out his wand, Harry bit the rope away and as quickly as he could, pulled Draco to the surface. When his lungs first filled with air, his first instinct was to shout for help and demand to know who had done this to his friend. He stopped when he heard coughing in his ears.
"They really took me down there didn't they?" Draco coughed, making Harry feel relieved. "Wait until my father hears about this, they actually put us in danger letting us near those things. What if the giant squid was down there? I don't think any of that trash followed us down there too-" Draco couldn't continue, because he was too busy keeping his head above water with Harry hugging him.
"I thought you were dead!" Harry shouted, holding his friend tigher.
"No, it was a stasis spell. I mean they had some amount of sense." Draco struggled to keep them both above water. They both reached the edge of the lake and the crowd of students chanted his name as he walked onto land. "Quite the turnaround isn't it? Couldn't wait to switch sides as soon as you started winning." Nevertheless, Draco smiled and waved to the students who were cheering them on.
They were each given a drying charm by Madam Pomphrey and a blanket to keep warm. They sat together and waited for the other champions to arrive. One by one, heads popped out of the water. Unfortunately, Fleur arrived without her sister and two teachers had to swim down into the lake to retrieve her.
As soon as everyone arrived back on land, Harry saw one of the merpeople come out of the water and start speaking to Dumbledore. Chills suddenly went down Harry's spine.
"Dumbledore knows merspeak?" Harry asked shakily while he watched them speak.
"Yeah, He knows tons of languages. Why?" Draco looked worriedly at Harry and watched the blood drain from his face. He followed Harry's line of vision and saw Dumbedore turn to look at his friend with a grave look on his face.
