February 24, 1995
Draco, Neville, and Ginny rushed down to the lake, finding Harry pacing the new decks that somehow appeared overnight…
"Harry!" Ginny said running over and hugging him.
"Thank Merlin," He said hugging her back. "Have you found them."
"Nope," Neville said leaning against a pole, yawning. "No one has seen either of them since they left the Library last night.
"Fred and George have a bet going," Draco smirked. "They have you getting second."
"Bastards." Harry huffed.
"Here, I stayed up all night working on it," Ginny asked, finally pulling away from him. "I checked it around one and four this morning in the lake to make sure the parchment is still waterproof. This is where the Mermaids should be based on the water patterns from the past twenty years. McGonagall may or may not have checked it at breakfast as well."
"This is perfect," Harry said, giving her a quick kiss. "Thanks."
"We should get going," Neville said staring at Krum who was watching them cautiously.
"Yeah," Draco said, glaring at Harry, "we should get good seats."
Harry waved at his friends as they headed off to the stands. The other champions were standing on their platform, staring down at the frigid water, wondering what exactly under the water that was so precious, and whether it was really going away after the hour was up.
Madame Olympe stood behind Fleur, whispering advice into her ear. Karkaroff glared at Krum, willing him to win without having to say anything. Dumbledore just stood between Cedric and Harry, smiling into space while sucking on his lemon drop.
"Any advice, Sir?" Cedric asked, looking around. Dumbledore continued smiling, not answering.
"Any advice at all?" Harry asked, trying to get his attention.
"I'll give you some advice," Moody said to Harry from behind him. He pointed to the gillyweed in Harry's hand, "Put that in your mouth."
When the gong rang, it shook him to the core, and he fell into the lake, still chewing the Gillyweed that tasted like a bad every flavored bean. When the pain was over he could see his newfound fins. Pulling his wand out of the issued calf-holster, he set off through the lake to find out what was most precious to him.
"Did- did they just- Are we expected to just sit here are watch an empty lake?" Fred asked as the champions dove under the water.
"The champions are now on their way to rescue the person most important to them. Mr. Potter is looking for Mr. Ronald Weasley. Mr. Krum is after Miss Granger. Mr. Diggory is after Miss Chang. And, finally, Miss Delacour is after her sister, Miss Delacour." Ludo Bagman announced so that everyone could get an idea of what was about to take place.
"Since when is Granger Krum's most important person?" Sirius asked, plopping himself next to the twins. "And are we going to stare at the lake for an hour?"
"Freddie, are you upset that 'Mione is in the lake?" Adara asked, climbing into his lap.
"No. Freddie knows she's a girl. Girls have cooties." Rigel answered, standing in front of George.
"That's right, mate. Girls have cooties." George encouraged.
"Is no one going to answer me?" Sirius asked again.
"Fred! George! You are the oldest ones here! Why didn't you inform me that your brother was going to be a pawn!" Molly Weasley asked, making her way to the twins. "Oh, hello, Ginny dear. Despite what that horrid woman wrote, you looked splendid in the Prophet pictures of the Yule ball."
"We didn't know, did we?" The twins said in unison as Ginny hid her face in her hands.
"You did escort them up to the headmaster's office." Neville pointed out.
"Does that mean you drove 'Mione into someone else's arms?" Adara asked.
"Okay! No more princess novels from the library." Sirius interrupted. "Molly, weren't you informed before your son was dunked in the lake for hours on end in this weather?"
"Oh look!" Rigel cried. "They've put up a screen so we can see what's going on!"
"Yes, they have, luv!" Molly cried with false joy for Rigel. Then she turned to Sirius and said, "No, I wasn't informed. Were you informed that Hermione would be down there? With an international quidditch star going to her rescue?"
"I was not informed. And seeing as the Doctors Granger did not ask my advice, I shall assume that they were not informed either." Sirius noted.
"Dumbledore probably assumed that since we trust the staff enough to send our children to a mixed gender boarding school, and since several of our children play death ball- I mean quidditch- without permission, submerging them in the lake in February wouldn't be totally uncalled for." Remus shrugged.
"While that is an astute observation, that has to be the most idiotic logic I've ever heard!" Hestia cut in. "The twins aren't being a bother, are they?
"Not a bit," The Weasley twins replied, cuddling their respective Black twin a bit.
"Good," Hestia nodded. "Now, let's get back to watching this event unfold."
Harry had no idea what he was looking for. He'd heard someone announce something about the task, but he couldn't make out the words underwater. He pulled out Ginny's map and followed it. There were still a few places that were questionable, places that Ginny wasn't completely sure of, but it was more than the other champions had… unless the ginger had passed a similar copy to her new Veela friend.
Harry shook that thought off and focused on the task at hand. There were things, according to Ginny's map, that lived in the lake. Scary things. Things that would make Lord Voldemort curl up in fear. Or Lucius Malfoy. Definitely not Sirius' cousin Bellatrix. That witch was scary insane. But what freaked the crap out of incarcerated Death Eaters was a thought for another time. This moment was all about finding whatever the hell the mermaids took from him. However the hell they got on land and stole what he could only assume was the Marauders Map. That seemed like a thing he would miss the most. He really hoped it wasn't the invisibility cloak. He would drown before he could find that and he would lose a sacred family possession.
Harry was forced to focus as he came to the grindylow forest, or whatever it was. It was terrifying, and he was grateful for Sirius' Auror training lessons over the summer hols. He fought those off and continued his search through the lake's undergrowth. Finally, he found the mermaids and, more importantly, what they had taken. Harry thought he was prepared, thought he knew what was most important to him. He was wrong.
Ron and Hermione right next to each other, tied to the bottom of the lake by some kind of rope. He was pretty sure which was more important to him, but now he was confused. He had been convinced that he was after his Firebolt, after all. He looked back and forth between the two, not sure who to take. He moved toward Hermione since Hestia would murder him if he didn't choose the girl first, but that set off the mermaid guards in front of him, alerting him to who he was supposed to save.
To his surprise, Fleur Delacour, bubblehead charm and all, darted in and took off with a small, blonde girl and shot to the surface. Harry whipped his head around, looking for whoever would take care of Hermione. Seeing Viktor and Cedric in the distance, he shot off a spell and took Ron to the surface himself. He whipped the water out of his hair in time to see Cedric surface moments before Viktor. Cho, Hermione, and Ron were all coughing and fighting to stay adrift.
"Shit! Ron, don't drown, moron!" Harry said, dragging Ron up for air.
"Trying not to!" Ron shivered, swimming for the nearest platform.
They were dragged up by what were supposed to be the responsible adults judging this affair and warm towels were draped around them.
Fred stormed over to the champions' platform with his mother and Sirius Black. The others followed quickly, most likely to prevent a scene. As soon as Hermione was in sight, he pulled her away from the 'Bulgarian Bon-bon' and into his arms.
"Fred, what are you doing?" she asked, genuinely confused and it took him a moment to realize that she didn't know. He was still Ron's older brother in her mind.
"Checking you over. That was ridiculous." Fred said, wrapping his arms around her to warm her up.
"We were never in any danger," Hermione said with a coy look on her face. "Dumbledore is the one who enchanted us. Last night."
"Last night!" Molly Weasley shouted. "You were enchanted last night?!"
"Of course. Otherwise, someone might have seen us being brought down to the lake and might have alerted the champions to what was riding on the line." Hermione explained, a smug grin on her face.
"Albus Dumbledore! I expected better out of you!" Molly ranted, turning on the older wizard. "Why wasn't I informed my child would be used as a pawn in your death tournament!"
"Molly, the Tri-Wizard Tournament is sacred. You know this. You should feel honored that your son played a role." Dumbledore attempted to sooth the Weasley matriarch.
"Mother, don't make a scene." Percy managed to whisper into Molly's ear.
"You don't tell me what to do, Percival!" Molly shot back.
"Mother!" Percy exclaimed, shocked his mother would full name him in public. Fred and George were the only ones she ever called by their full names, and that was because it was so hard to tell them apart anyway.
"Dumbledore!" Sirius shouted. "You've gone too far this time! This young lady's parents have entrusted me with her care while she is in the magical world and you have caused me to break that trust by not informing me that she would be participating. Explain yourself!"
"Albus," Ludo Bagman started, "Did you not arrange parent permission before sending underaged students underwater for hours on end?"
"Their heads of house checked my work and signed off on it. We don't need parent permission for Quidditch, why is this any different?" Albus asked.
"You're telling me that Minnie is going to take responsibility for this?" Sirius asked in disbelief.
"Of course not!" Professor McGonagall replied, joining the group. "Filius and I washed our hands of this madness last night."
"Professor, were we down there all night?" Cho Chang asked, sniffling a bit.
"No, you were held in the hospital wing until early this morning." Professor McGonagall answered.
"Are classes canceled for today?" Ron asked, figuring out the date.
"Yes, of course, they are. No sense in trying to teach anything after all this excitement." Professor Dumbledore answered, eyes twinkling.
"Yes, no point going to classes when you're at a school." Hermione mouthed as Fred continued hugging her. Then, she sneezed.
"I believe it's time to get everyone back to the castle and checked over." Madame Pomphrey suddenly burst onto the scene.
"We can continue our discussion, Albus, in the headmaster's office," Molly demanded. "Ludo Bagman, I insist you join us. And since you are here in place of Mr. Crouch, you'll be joining us as well, Percy."
"Before we go," Ludo Bagman said, finally performing his duty as Head of the Magical Games and Sports. "We need to announce the winners."
"Oh, yes, this is the time!" Molly shrieked, throwing her hands into the air.
"First place, Miss Fleur Delacour with 50 points. Second place, Harry Potter with 47 points. Third is Cedric Diggory with 45 points, and last place by mere moments is Viktor Krum with 44 points. We will announce the third task at a later time. Thank you to all for attending our lovely event!" Bagman concluded.
"Now, let's all head to the castle, shall we?" Dumbledore suggested as though it were his idea.
"'Moine, what's this?" Fred asked, plucking a water beetle from her hair. Before Hermione could get a good look at it, though, it bit Fred and flew away.
"I did not know those were in season?" Viktor asked, swooping in and taking Hermione away from Fred.
"They aren't." Hermione frowned. "Come with me to the hospital wing? You should get checked out, too."
After the children said their goodbyes to their parents, who were following Ludo, Percy, Moody, Dumbledore, and Minnie into the headmaster's office for a "talk" as Molly Weasley put it, they marched up the steps to the castle. Luna and Neville were right behind them, talking about the Gillyweed. Ginny and Draco were nudging one another, laughing at something that couldn't be heard. Harry and Ron were walking in a silence, trailing behind, both wrapped in a blanket towel.
They both randomly would glance at the other, before looking at their feet.
"So," Harry started. "How was being drugged by Dumbledore?"
"Urm," Ron said, shaking some water out of his hair. "I don't really remember it. Just Mione being Mione and questioning everything."
"Yeah, that doesn't surprise me." `
"Why me?" Ron whispered.
"What?" Harry said, stopping.
"Why me? I mean, there's Ginny and Neville or Draco. Hell, there's your Firebolt!"
"You're my best mate," Harry said. "Ginny, she's Ginny, and things with Draco are about as good as a cat getting along with a rat. Neville, well, he's great, but I can't tell him everything. You're the first mate I ever had and you trust and believe in me more than anyone. Why wouldn't it be you?"
Well, well, well, readers. It's that time again. Time to recap the Second Task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. And if the gossip following the Yule Ball wasn't enough, this will really whet your appetite. Miss Fleur Delacour stunned the crowd as she won the second task, rocketing her into first place. Harry Potter showed off the Potter luck and Black charm as he shocked crowds with his second place finish. Diggory and Krum were most notable not for their performances, but for their captives.
Cedric Diggory completed our fairy book charm by rescuing young Cho Chang. This reporter found that the two have been exclusive for nigh on a year and are a storybook love if ever there was one. We wish them all the best in the future.
"They're so romantic," an unnamed Ravenclaw commented.
Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Bon-Bon, embroiled himself further in the twisted love life of the Hogwarts' student body. Krum was charged with finding and rescuing one Hermione Granger. The same Hermione Granger who he escorted to the Yule Ball and is the doe-eyed fourth-year friend of Harry Potter. Immediately upon reaching safety after the task was complete, Miss Granger shattered poor Krum's heart by jumping wildly into the arms of one Fred Weasley. Weasley, for his part, lavished attention on the aforementioned fourth year. It seems Miss Granger prefers her men much older and more experienced.
"That little hussy should be ashamed of herself," Pansy Parkinson commented. "Running two older men in full view of society. This is what's wrong with the muggle world."
Potter did not join the pattern of rescuing Yule Ball dates, and this reporter discovered why prior to the task. Potter was seen kissing one Ginevra Weasley good luck before joining the champions. To add insult to injury, young Draco Malfoy was in the crowd of students present to wish Potter luck. No word on how Malfoy is dealing with the blow or which boy Ginevra prefers.
"Blasted Potter," was all Malfoy had to comment on the situation.
As you can see, readers, it was an eventful day. We can only hope the tournament continues to provide us with so much entertainment.
Gabs: For anyone keeping track, Fleur is beating Harry by 3 measly points. I know, I made a chart. I was severely confused prior to the chart.
Kat: Yes, Well, we figured Harry, being three years younger, might not be the best at all of the events.
Gabs: Also, Fleur.
Kat: Yes, Fleur! Review! We love reviews! Ask anyone with an account (come on Chris and Scrappy8) we love to send you a thanks and a snippet of the next chapter!
Gabs: We own nothing.
XOXOX
Gabs & Kat