Thank you again for all the positive, lovely comments and reviews. I really do appreciate it and they do spur me on to write more. I hope you all continue to enjoy my story. I've been having a few problems with it at the moment but I've still got a few more chapters to post up.
Again I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
Chapter 14 – The Second Task
Fred awoke to the sound of George and Lee laughing at something which happened to be because Lee fell out of bed.
"Second task today guys, I wonder what the champions will have to do?" Fred wondered placing his hands behind his head.
"Goodness knows mate. What could be worse than battling a dragon?" Lee answered picking himself off the floor.
"Did you find out what Dumbledore wanted Hermione for last night?" George asked his brother.
"No I didn't see her afterwards. She must have come back really late." Fred answered.
"He was probably asking them to help Harry out with the challenges or something." Fred bounced out of his bed and got himself dressed.
"I'll meet you guys down at the Great Hall." Fred said as he left his dorm.
"He's turned into a love sick puppy." George commented watching his brother leave the room in a hurry. The common room was buzzing with students who were all showing their support for Harry with banners and badges.
"Have you seen Hermione?" Fred asked Parvati and Lavender.
"No I haven't actually. She didn't return to our dorm last night." Lavender replied. Fred dashed from the common room and straight to the library in the hope she'd went there and fallen asleep. However the library was deserted.
"Madame Prince have you seen Hermione Granger?" Fred asked anxiously.
"No I haven't seen her since last night Mr Weasley." The witch answered pushing her glasses further up her long nose.
Fred checked the Great Hall next but she wasn't sat with Harry. Ron wasn't there either.
"Where is Hermione?" he asked Harry who was sat pushing a piece of egg nervously around his plate.
"I have no idea. I haven't seen her or Ron since they went off to see Dumbledore." Harry replied.
"What if they had an argument and are both in the hospital wing?" Fred gasped at that realisation. He dashed off again taking the stairs two at a time. There were only a few students in the hospital wing.
"Yes can I help you Mr Weasley?" Madame Pomfrey.
"Have you see Hermione Granger anywhere?" Fred questioned for what felt like the 100th time that morning.
"No unfortunately I haven't seen her." She answered.
"I can't find her anywhere." Fred sighed feeling deflated. He left the hospital wing and went back down to the Great Hall to get some breakfast as his stomach was rumbling like a blatter of thunder. He was worried sick about where Hermione had vanished off too but managed to eat a decent breakfast. He found out that Harry would have to find something he would miss the most during the task which would be taking place at the black lake.
"Maybe she's gone down to the lake to get a good spot." Ginny spoke as she followed her twin brothers out of the castle and down to the lake. There was no sign of Hermione or Ron and Fred began to panic.
"What if something has happened to her?" He stated his voice shaking slightly. It appeared he was more interested in Hermione's mysterious disappearance than his brother Ron's. He wished Harry good luck then headed off to the stands which were about 20 feet high and over looked the black lake.
"She'll turn up soon mate." George spoke in an attempt to reassure his brother. It didn't work however. The four champions had an hour to go into the lake and retrieve something that they would miss the most. As the four of them jumped into the lake something seemed to twig in Fred's head.
"Hold on a second, they have to find something they'll miss most right?" he gasped as the penny finally dropped.
"Yes." Lee and George spoke at the same time.
"So Harry will have to find Ron and Hermione. They are his best friends after all." Fred spoke. It did make sense.
"But surely he won't have to find both of them?" Lee wondered.
Anything was possible. It was the Triwizard Tournament after all. As the time ticked on there was no sign of any of the champions and the panic began to set in amongst the crowd. Fleur was the first to appear after failing to find her hidden person. She burst into tears as she emerged from the water only to be comforted by some of her fellow students while speaking frantically in French. Cedric appeared next with Cho Chang in his arms. She began coughing and spluttering as she emerged from the water. The two were whisked off to get checked out by Madame Pomfrey.
"Come on Harry!" a few of his fellow Gryffindors shouted. The waters went quiet for a short, worrying time with no sign of Krum or Harry. Just then Krum appeared with a brown haired girl in his arms.
"Bloody hell that isn't Hermione is it?" George shouted making Fred jump slightly at the mention of Hermione's name. Sure enough it was Hermione.
"What in Merlin?" Fred gasped darting over to the edge of the stand to help bring Hermione out of the water, grabbing a towel from Dean Thomas and wrapping it around Hermione's shivering body.
"Are you alright Hermione?" he asked hugging her tightly.
"Yes I'm ok thankfully. I'm a little cold though." She stuttered, her teeth chattering. Fred grabbed another towel and wrapped her up in it. "Where's Harry?" George questioned kneeling down beside his twin.
"I think he's still down there. He has to save Ron." Hermione answered.
"Why the hell did Krum have to save you though?" George wondered.
"I have no idea. Maybe because we've became quite friendly recently." Hermione answered.
Unlike Ron, Fred wasn't jealous of the friendship Hermione had struck up with the Bulgarian seeker. He apparently liked to watch her study. After what felt like forever Harry made an appearance but not just with Ron, he had managed to save Fleur's younger sister Gabrielle which meant he was joint first with Cedric due to showing a great deal of moral fibre. As Ron gave him a helping hand it earned him a kiss on the cheek from Fleur. All four of the champions and the other four students went to get checked out by Madame Pomfrey then everyone headed back up to the school.
"You had be bloody worried Mione. I searched everywhere for you this morning." Fred spoke as he walked back to the school with Hermione, George, Lee, Harry and Ron.
"Dumbledore put Ron and I into a very deep sleep last night and we were taken to the lake early this morning. We had no idea what was going on until I came up from the water." Hermione explained.
Celebrations took place in the Gryffindor common room that evening to celebrate Harry completing the second task.
"Two down just one more to go. At this rate Harry you could win the thing." Dean Thomas spoke patting Harry on the shoulder. Ron thought that it was time, once and for all to make up with Hermione. He walked slowly over to Hermione who was sat on Fred's knee.
"Hermione can I speak to you for a second?" he asked nervously.
"Yes. As long as you don't have another go at me." Hermione answered. The two headed outside the portrait hall to talk.
"Look, I'm really sorry about everything, how I treated you at the ball and how I've been acting since you've been dating Fred. I've been acting like a total and utter git." He spoke. Hermione's features softened.
"I suppose I should be happy for you dating Fred. I know he cares about you a lot. But if he does hurt you he'll have me to answer too." "It's ok Ron I forgive you." Hermione spoke softly then pulled Ron into a hug.