Author's Note: Still own nothing!
Chapter 19 The Second Task
Alex awoke and sat up, a sharp pain in her arm. She looked to see it had a freshly changed bandage on it. She was just about to lie back down and go to sleep when she realized what day it was. She sat back up with a start and started getting out of bed.
"I can see you're up then," said Madame Pomfrey, walking over with a screen and a change of clothes for Alex. "Miss Patil and Miss Brown brought them for you. Don't worry though, you still have an hour and a half before the task starts."
Alex changed into her clothes and thanked the matron as she dashed out of the Hospital Wing. She ran to her dormitory where she found Parvati and Lavender playing cards on the floor.
"Oh good," said Parvati with a sigh of relief, "You're here. We thought we'd have to go downstairs without you. Where's Hermione?"
"She's not here?" Alex asked, looking around for her best friend.
"No, she never came back last night," said Lavender worriedly, "We thought she was with you in the Hospital Wing."
"She's probably just in the Great Hall getting breakfast," said Alex, but she was nervous too. They were probably still in the library, which meant they hadn't found out about the gillyweed.
As they went to the Great Hall, Alex took the others through a detour to the library. Madame Pince was just opening it up when Alex arrived.
"Excuse me," said Alex politely, "But have you seen Hermione Granger in here today?"
"No one's been in here yet," Madame Pince said briskly, "The library closes at night, I make sure of that, and I only just opened it."
Alex went down to breakfast and found no sign of Hermione anywhere. She looked and saw Ron and Harry were absent as well. Alex started panicking then, the task started in less than fifteen minutes. She ate something quick and raced out of the Great Hall and straight into someone.
"Sorry," she said and saw it was Draco who she had run headlong into.
"Watch where you're going, Ratcliff," he said but she knew it was all an act, "I can see you're a klutz today so I'll let you off this time." He gestured to her bandaged arm.
"I have your Head of House to thank for that, Malfoy," said Alex coldly, there was no need for acting there, "You haven't shoved my friends into a toilet or something, have you Malfoy?"
"Has someone really done that? I'll have to send them flowers," sneered Malfoy, but barely hiding a smile, "Is poor Potter hiding because he doesn't want to compete?"
Alex stormed off, winking at him as she left. So Draco hadn't seen her friends anywhere either, where in Merlin's name were they? Alex went outside to the stands that had been built by the lake for the challenge. She scanned the area and didn't see Hermione or Ron anywhere. Finally, she spotted Harry running to the lake, just barely making it in time for the challenge. Alex was soon joined by Parvati and Lavender as Professor Dumbledore stood up.
"Good morning everyone!" he shouted, "Our champions must go into the depths of the lake to find something the merpeople have taken from them. They have an hour to do so, starting at the sound of the clock bell. Champions, you have five minutes to prepare yourselves."
Alex saw Harry holding a slimy substance in his hand. She pushed her way through the crowd until she was at the front.
"Harry!" she shouted. He turned and waved to her, smiling nervously. "Where are Hermione and Ron?"
He tilted his head to one side and held a hand to his ear. Alex shouted her question again but Dumbledore told the champions to get ready. Alex went back to her seat with Parvati and Lavender and waited. The bell sounded and Alex watched Harry shove something into his mouth and dove into the water. He didn't come up again and Alex closed her eyes in fear.
But instead of the darkness of the inside of her eyelids, she found herself underwater with Harry swimming by her side. Or was it? The face was Harry but he had flippers and webbed hands and…gills. Startled, she opened her eyes and found herself above ground. Parvati and Lavender were too wrapped up in the event to notice Alex's jump of fear. Seeing that she was safely in her seat, Alex closed her eyes once more and found herself alongside Harry. She followed Harry through the lake, going deeper into the unknown.
Alex had tried talking to Harry, but he ignored her. Alex was reminded of their first year when she had seen Quirrell attacking Harry like she was there too. It was cool, but extremely weird for Alex because she found she could breathe normally under the water.
A noise on her left caused Alex to turn. A shadow passed next to them but she couldn't make it out. Harry had pulled out his wand and waited for a few seconds. When nothing appeared, he continued onward. It was a long time before they saw anything, Alex wondering what time it was. She found she couldn't move her arms or legs that she just drifted along, somehow keeping up with Harry.
As she drifted, Alex saw a small village coming into view. Everywhere, merpeople were coming out of their homes and staring at Harry. Alex guessed that they couldn't see her because no one even looked her way. Soon they came to the center of the village where four people were tied by their ankles and were floating ominously. Gasping, Alex saw Hermione and Ron were among the group. She also saw Cho Chang and a little girl that resembled Fleur.
Harry swam over to Ron and tried to untie him. Alex looked around and saw a sharp rock.
"Hey, try to cut him loose with that rock," she said, knowing he couldn't hear her but it made her feel better.
Harry stopped what he was doing and looked down, as if he knew where Alex was pointing. Picking up the rock, he cut away at Ron's binding. Once he was finished with that, he swam over to Hermione. Quick as lightning, a muscular merman pointed a trident at Harry's chest and shook his head. Harry opened his mouth but all that came out were bubbles. Suddenly, the merman and the others fled in fright and Alex turned to see Cedric swimming towards them with what looked like a fish bowl on his head. He pulled out a pocket-knife and cut Cho's bindings. He pointed to his watch and then at the surface. Harry nodded and watched as Cedric took off. A few seconds later, Alex saw a shark coming. She let out a shout but then saw it was only the head of a shark and the body of a man.
Must be Krum, thought Alex.
Krum tried biting at the ropes but Harry handed him the rock instead, obviously afraid Krum would take off Hermione's arm. Krum nodded in thanks and took off upwards. Alex waited for Harry to take Ron and go but he just stayed there.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked angrily, "For heaven's sake, just go!"
But Alex knew Harry wasn't leaving until he knew Fleur's hostage was safe. The minutes ticked by until finally Harry picked up the rock and cut the little girl free. He then took Ron and the girl and began the journey up to the open air. As Alex glided along, invisible to all, she noticed Harry's flippers turning into regular feet and his webbed hands return to normal. Unable to do anything, Alex watched in horror as her friend struggled upwards. He finally pushed Ron and the little girl up in front of him. He was just about to reach the surface when a long-fingered hand grabbed his ankle and dragged him down.
"Harry!" Alex shouted as she saw her friend go down into the depths of the lake.
…...
Someone was shaking her roughly and Alex's eyes snapped open. Parvati and Lavender were standing next to her, looking scared but relieved.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with you, Alex?" Lavender asked.
Alex ignored them as she pushed her way to the front and over the barrier. Hermione was dripping wet with a towel around her, looking out as Ron helped the small girl to shore. When she saw Alex standing there, she looked at her worriedly.
"Where's Harry?" she asked, "Did he ever figure out how to breathe underwater?"
"Yes, and a lot of good that did him," said Alex as Fleur swooped down on the girl and hugged her close, "He didn't want that girl to not be rescued so he brought her up as well. But something grabbed him and pulled him back down before he could get up."
"Alex, how do you know…?"
"I saw it!" said Alex anxiously, "I was there, but not really. It was like in our first year with the Sorcerer's Stone. He…"
But her voice trailed off when she saw something rise to the surface of the lake. She'd recognize that head of hair anywhere, it was Harry! He was okay!
Harry swam to shore, coughing up water as he did so. As soon as he was within arms reach, Alex threw her arms around him and began talking so fast that Harry held a hand to his head.
"Harry, take this or you'll freeze," said Hermione, handing him a towel like the one she had, "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said with a smile, "A grindlylow grabbed my leg just before I reached the surface. I had to fight him off but I'm alive."
Seeing that Harry was fine, Alex gave him a hard slap on the back of his head, saying, "That's what you get for being stupid! You were the first one there, for Merlin's sake!"
"I wanted to make sure no one got left behind," said Harry, rubbing the back of his head where Alex had slapped him, "And how did you know about that?"
Just then, Dumbledore began talking and the entire group became silent in an instant.
"Congratulations to everyone!" Dumbledore said with a smile, "We have had a hard time deciding the points. I have been told by the head merchief that it was Mr. Harry Potter who arrived at the sight first, but was the last to leave because he wanted to free everyone. The standings are as follows: Fleur Delacore comes in fourth place because she never reached the sight, Victor Krum comes in third place, Harry Potter comes in second, and Cedric Diggory comes in first. We have a tie for first place between Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory. Let us give a round of applause to our champions!"
"Well, at least you didn't come in last," said Alex with a laugh while patting Harry on the shoulder.
"This means that Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter are tied for first place, Viktor Krum is in second place, and Fleur Delacore is in third. Thank you all and stay warm!"
Fleur came over to Harry and Ron and gave them each two kisses on their cheeks. They both turned red and Hermione glared darkly at Fleur as she left with, they now knew, her sister. Hermione was talking animatedly with Harry, praising him, when Krum came over to their group.
"You 'ave a beetle in your hair," he said and pulled it out for her. Hermione smiled politely and continued her conversation, leaving Krum looking put out. Ron, however, was surprised.
"I thought you liked him," he said as Krum went to join his Durmstrang friends, "Why were you so cool with him?"
"He's all right," said Hermione nonchalantly, "But he isn't much of a conversationalist. He just likes to watch me study for the most part, it gets rather annoying actually."
They all headed back to the common room in high spirits. Her friends wanted to know why she had bandages on her arm so Alex told them everything that happened with Moody and Snape. When she finished, Ron said some rather rude comments about Snape but Hermione was looking intently at Alex.
"You mean that Professor Moody told you about the gillyweed?" she asked, "But that's illegal, the champions aren't supposed to get outside help."
"Oh yes," said Alex sarcastically, "And just look at how great we're sticking to that rule! Maxime's been using Hagrid to figure out the tasks so she can tell little miss sunshine and somehow Krum's always known about the tasks. If their all trying to one-up us, I say we don't be the goody two-shoes and cheat a little too. Harry deserves this more than anyone else!"
"So you were going to be the person Harry had to save?" asked Ron with a snort, "Thanks a lot, Alex. You just had to go and get yourself hurt. I, on the other hand, had to spend the morning in a lake waiting for my knight in shining armor to rescue me."
"Hardy har har," Harry laughed sarcastically while rolling his eyes, "Maybe if it was Alex, I wouldn't have waited around while risking your life, Ron." The others laughed as Harry managed to avoid a slap from Ron. "It makes sense they would chose you, though," said Harry thoughtfully, "You pretty much are like my sister."
"Aw, you're so sweet!" cooed Alex while batting her eyelashes flagrantly, causing the others to laugh as she reached over and ruffled Harry's already messy hair.
They spent the rest of the day resting and taking a break from the homework. Alex was sketching Fred and George leaning over a piece of paper, whispering quietly, when a tap on the window startled her. She looked and saw Monty sitting on the window outside. She let him in and he dropped a note in her lap, hooting happily.
"It's from your dad!" he said as he ruffled his feathers.
Alex took it and felt that it was a lot lighter than she expected, especially after her last letter to him. She opened it and scanned the paper, though there wasn't much to read. All it said was, "Hogsmede dates on back." and Alex called her friends over. They each read the letter in turn and Harry wrote them all down. She saw the next one was the end of the month. Alex then tied the letter to Monty.
"Be careful out there," she said, "Make sure no one sees you."
"No problem, oh Captain my Captain!" he said and took off. Alex burst into laughter and the others looked confused.
"Only my owl would make a reference to an American poet," she said through her giggles. She saw their confusion and stood up, hands clasped behind her back.
"O Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up-for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead."
"Merlin's beard!" cried Ron as Alex sat back down, "You memorized all of that?"
"In school back in the Muggle world, we had a poetry project where we had to pick a poem and recite it in front of the class," she explained, "I went back to my American roots and picked that one by a poet named Walt Whitman. I'll have you know I got top marks with that poem!"
"Kinda morbid, isn't it?" Harry asked, "I mean, the guy's father dies right before they win the battle. He didn't even get to see the end of the war."
"I think it's lovely," said Hermione with a smile at Alex.
"I wonder why Orion wants to know Hogsmede dates?" Ron asked curiously as they all stared off into the fire, the words of Whitman's poem in their minds.
"I don't know," said Alex with sigh as she returned to her sketch, "But I hope he's not planning on coming here. If anyone saw him…" She couldn't even say it.
"Don't worry so much," said Harry, but his face was full of it, "I'm sure he wouldn't do anything that would endanger his freedom."
Alex looked at him with raised eyebrows. If his actions in the Shrieking Shack were anything like his actual personality, Alex could imagine her father coming into the castle for a visit.
…...
The next morning at breakfast, Hermione received the Prophet and let out a shout of indignation. Alex jumped in shock and spilled her milk all over her eggs and Harry's porridge, causing both to be upset.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked as she wiped her plate clean and scooped new eggs onto her plate.
"That Skeeter woman!" said Hermione angrily and her friends drew back. The only time she had been this mad was when she had hit Draco Malfoy across the face. Hermione slammed the newspaper onto the table and Ron picked it up, reading it aloud.
"Harry Potter: Hogwarts' Newest Player? Harry Potter, a young boy of twelve, is the fourth champion in the world-famous Tri-Wizard Tournament, writes Rita Skeeter. For those who have been living under a rock for the last few years, this was the same boy who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named when he was barely a year old. And yet, is he really England's innocent sweetheart?"
"I'm fourteen, for Merlin's sake!" Harry said angrily but Alex shushed him and Ron continued reading aloud.
"The latest information tells us that Harry Potter has, not one, but two girlfriends! They are, in fact, his close friends Hermione Granger and Alex Ratcliff. The two girls are said to be inseparable and do almost everything together. I do wonder how they will take to finding out the other is dating their boyfriend. But the fun doesn't end here. Hermione, an average-looking girl who loves to be in the library, is also dating the well-known Quidditch super-star, Victor Krum! If Harry's knows, he doesn't seem to mind, but then again he's dating two people as well. It seems Alex, a tall beauty with a bit of a temper, is the only one true to one man, since she has not been seeing the boy she took to the Yule Ball. Looks like love at Hogwarts can get very complicated!"
There was silence as Ron put the paper down and looked at his three friends with raised eyebrows.
"Hermione!" said Alex putting a hand to her mouth and pretending to be appalled, "How dare you steal my man when you have one of your own!"
"It's not funny, Alex!" said Hermione furiously, "First Harry with that stupid article about him being a crybaby, then Hagrid with the demeaning commentary about his background, and now us!"
"She's making you two," said Ron to the girls, "To be like some scarlet women who throw themselves at anything with pants."
Alex and Hermione turned to each other and laughed. Ron looked confused and turned to Harry, who was chuckling.
"What?" Ron asked.
"S-Sorry Ron," said Hermione, still giggling, "It's just funny hearing those words come out of your mouth."
So yes, during the day Alex and Hermione were stared at and whispered about while Harry received death stares from a lot of people. Alex had arrived at Arithmancy early and found Draco sitting in his seat with the Prophet in his hands. He looked up at Alex as she came in and smiled.
"So, I hear you're involved with some relationship troubles," he said, holding up the Prophet.
"Please tell me you don't believe a word of that bullshit," said Alex as she unpacked her books.
"I don't know…" said Draco with a playful smile, "I mean, you two are really close…"
Alex gave him a light shove and laughed. He put away the newspaper and got out his books too.
"How do you think she gets her information?" Alex asked thoughtfully, "I mean, she mentioned little things about us like my temper and Hermione's love for books. And then there was that thing about me and Nick not seeing each other, it's like she's invisible and watching us." She glanced over her shoulder as though she thought Rita Skeeter was there now, scribbling everything she heard.
"I haven't a clue," Draco said, shrugging, "She probably gets students to give her tidbits and then she makes up the rest, based on what she has. Listen, have you told Dumbledore what you saw during the Yule Ball?" Alex shuddered as she remembered that show of cruelty and shook her head. "You really should," Draco continued, "Dumbledore would want to know."
Alex nodded but just then other people came in and she took out her homework, trying to figure out how she would tell the Headmaster what she saw without putting herself in danger.
Author's Note: Okay, so I know that I promised you guys two chapters last night and another today, but the chapter I wanted to post today needs major work because, frankly, I don't like it. And since I'm getting ready to leave soon, I don't have time to doll it all up for my lovely readers and I'd never post something I really don't like. It's not fair to you all who have been so good to me. So hopefully these two chapters will be sufficient enough for you all.
Are you calling me crazy?: Yeah, that ride was so amazing! During the Quidditch part, I really felt like I was flying with them and was part of the game. As for the motorcycles, I would love to have a flying one too. Can you tell I like flying? :P Thank you so much for your review!
Please let me know what you thought of the last two chapters. I'm curious as to your reactions to everything because I love knowing how my readers like the stuff going on in the story. When I get back, I'll fix that one chapter and have it up as soon as I can. Thank you all for your reviews, favorites, and alerts. Missing you all already!