Chapter 38

Last Time:

"What happened?" Ron asks kneeling down in front of Alex, and Hermione sits on the chair next to Alex, rubbing her back.

Alex flinches but realises it's just Hermione.

"Malfoy." Snape informs them and tells them everything that he saw. With every word he says, Ron and Hermione grows angry.

Before they could say a word, Harry rushes over.

"Is she ok?" Harry asks. Snape shakes his head as Alex tightens her grip on Snape's cloak.

"I'm going to take her to the apartment." Snape stands up and releases Alex's grip on his cloak. Snape takes off his cloak and wraps it around her. The cloak goes to her ankles. Snape picks Alex up and carries her out. Harry, Ron and Hermione leaves as well and walks up to Gryffindor tower.

Now:

January arrives, and it is January 15th 2013. The day of the second task. Ever since the Yule Ball, Alex has been nervous around guys.

George and Harry walk over to Alex in the courtyard and sits down beside her on the bench.

"Hey." George whispers making sure there is enough space for Alex not to feel scared.

"Hey." Alex answers dully. To the guys, the surprise happens. Alex rests her head on Harry's shoulder and her left hand laces with George's right. Harry wraps his left arm around Alex's waist. George smiles and kisses Alex's cheek.

"You ready for the task in a half hour?" Alex nods.

"Dad is bringing what I need." Alex looks at Harry to see him pale, "you have no idea what the task is, do you?"

"No." Alex stands up. She pulls Harry up to his feet and George kisses Alex's lips before saying that he will go find Fred and meet them at the second task.

Alex and Harry runs down a path toward the Black Lake. As they walk down the path, Alex sees Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville all talking to one another. Hermione and Ginny are sitting on the rocks with Ron as Neville is in the water.

"Hey guys." Alex forces a smile before looking at Neville.

"Hey Alex." Ginny and Hermione smiles with Neville. Ron just glares at Alex and Harry.

"You still believe Harry and I entered ourselves in the tournament?" Alex questions Ron.

"Well I know you did but Harry didn't. Harry and I are just having a fight..." Harry cuts in.

"Ron, you said that I entered myself in the tournament for 'internal glory'!" Harry snaps, "I didn't! Someone entered me! I DO NOT want to neither be in this tournament nor want internal glory."

Ron rolls his eyes and stands up. He storms up to Alex and Harry.

"You both are idiots. Alex, you are an attention seeking bitch! Harry, you are the male version of Alex." And just like that, Ron storms off down the path. Alex snorts and rolls her eyes.

"I have been called worse than that. The only part that hurts is that Ron used to be my friend." Alex looks at Neville, "hey Neville. Do you know what Gillyweed is?"

Neville nods.

"Ya. Snape has some. Why?" Neville asks.

"Do you know what it looks like?"

"Yes I do."

"Good. Could you help us get some so Harry could use it for the task?"

"Sure." Neville gets out of the lake and the three of them walks down the path to the castle.

Hermione and Ginny watches after them slightly amused on how Alex didn't even care what Ron said.

"She's one strong girl." Ginny smiles.

"Yes she is." Hermione agrees with a smile.

~H&A~

In the castle, Alex, Neville and Harry walk to Snape's storage. To their surprise, there is Shaby Taylor and Toni Dumbledore, searching Snape's storage.

"We... need... Dragon Scales... and... Worm Root..." Toni breathes standing on her tippy toes trying to find the two items as Shaby holds the ladder.

"Hey Shaby, hey Toni." Alex smiles. Shaby looks over her shoulder to see Alex.

"Hey Alex." Shaby smiles then at Neville and Harry, "what are you up to?"

"We are looking for Gillyweed. Are there any up there?" Toni looks around her.

"Ahha." Toni grabs a jar and tosses it down to Shaby. On the jar says Gillyweed.

Shaby smiles and passes it to Alex.

Alex opens the jar and passes Harry a piece of it.

"Eat it when we are about to jump in the water." Alex directs as Harry takes it and puts it in his pocket.

"Thank you." Harry smiles and kisses Alex's cheek. Alex closes the jar and passes it to Shaby who passes it to Toni, who puts it away.

"DRAGON SCALES!" Toni grabs the jar that she was looking for, and right behind the jar is the Worm Root.

Toni grabs both jars and climbs down the ladder.

"There, now we can make the potion." Toni passes Shaby the jars with a smile.

"Potion? What for?" Alex asks slightly amused.

"Homework?" Toni questions.

"Highly doubtful."

"Ok. I found a potion that can detect evil inside a person. It will be ready by the final task in April." Alex looks up at Toni amused yet surprised.

"You are one smart, yet weird, person." Toni shrugs her shoulders.

"It was Shaby's idea. I'm just the potion genius out of us two." Alex nods accepting the answer.

"Cool. Anyway, we have to go and get ready for the task." Alex pushes Harry toward the way that they came.

"Ok. We're rooting for you both in the tournament." Shaby smiles at Alex.

"Thanks. Good luck with the potion and your O. !" and just like that, Alex, Harry and Neville runs down the hall and to Gryffindor tower.

At Gryffindor tower, Alex runs up to her dormitory and changed in her bathing suit and shorts.

She ties the wand holder, that they are provided with, to her leg and puts her wand inside it.

Once she is done, she puts her boots on and winter coat and hat, before running down the stairs to the common room, where Neville and Harry await.

~A&H~

At the dock on the Black Lake, Alex, Harry and Neville climb out of the boat. The two 14 year olds stand side by side in the age older that they are told. Neville climbs the ladder and joins his friends Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas, at the rail over the water.

As Snape walks over behind Alex, he hands her the potion.

"Drink it." Alex nods and pops the cork off and drinks the potion. She hands the vial over to Snape and holds her throat as she swallows the potion.

Once done Alex gives Snape a disgusted look just as Justin walks over and gives Alex a hug, then Michael and Terry. Luna and Cho are missing.

Alex nods at Harry after catching his eye. Harry smiles and stuffs the Gillyweed into his mouth before swallowing.

"Today we are gathered here for the second task of the Triwizard Tournament!" Dumbledore announces, "Each champion has someone they care about deeply, has been taken. The task is simple. They have to search and find that person and bring them to safety. They have one hour... beginning... NOW!" the cannon goes off and each person dives into the ice, cold water.

~H&A~

As Alex swims she begins to hear music. She looks at her watch to see it is 11:30. The task began at 11.

Alex hears a cannon go off and Dumbledore's muffled voice.

Alex swims toward the music and once she reaches the clearing she sees Fleur's sister Gabrielle, Hermione, Luna, Cho and Ron. Alex hears the cannon again and Dumbledore's muffled voice again.

Alex pulls her wand out and unties Luna's rope from her ankle. She fires a spell at Hermione's rope and pushes them both to safety. She turns around in time to see Cedric and Harry break through the clearing.

"Where are Krum and Fleur?" Alex asks them.

"They were taken and are on the docks right now." Cedric tells her. Cedric releases Cho as Harry releases Ron. Alex looks at Gabrielle and fires a spell at her rope. She pushes her up to the surface as Harry and Cedric does the same to their treasures. Alex looks at her watch to see it is now 11:45.

"Let's go." Alex begins to swim toward the surface with Harry and Cedric by her side. Alex puts her wand back in the holder.

At the surface, they break through all at the same time. Just then, Alex gets pulled under again by the mermaid.

Snape's eyes widen as Cedric and Harry swims to the dock, not seeing that Alex got pulled under. Snape sees Alex struggle to get her wand, for self defence but can't. Snape removes his cloak, before running off the dock and diving into the water. As Snape swim quickly to where Alex was pulled under, he pulls out his wand before swimming down.

Snape sees Alex release her last bit of air, before blacking out. Snape swims deeper and deeper to Alex and attacks the mermaids. Once they swim away, he grabs his daughter's arm and pulls her to the surface.

As they break the surface, Snape wraps his arm around her waist and makes sure she is on her back. He pulls her to the dock and lifts her unconscious body onto the dock, before lifting himself up.

"Anapneo" Snape whispers pointing his wand at Alex's throat. Alex gasps for air and begins to cough. Snape rolls her onto her side, letting her cough up all the water. Alex sits up as Snape grabs his cloak and wraps it around her. He casts a spell, making his clothes dry and does the same to Alex. Alex shivers and buries herself into Snape's warm, protective arms.

Snape strokes Alex's soaked hair and pulls the hood of the cloak up to protect her from the wind.

"Last place is Fleur Delacour for unfinishing the task. Second last is Viktor Krum for the same results. Third place is Harry Potter. Second place is Cedric Diggory. And first place is Alex Russo-Snape for not only rescuing her treasure, but Fleur's sister Gabrielle Delacour and Hermione Granger." Dumbledore announces.

As everyone leaves, Alex is still sitting on the dock as Snape talks to Dumbledore. Alex watches the water not noticing Gabrielle, Luna and Hermione sit down on both sides of her.

"Thank you for saving me Alex." Gabrielle thanks Alex. Alex looks at her and smiles softly.

"Anything for the only girl at our school that is the same age as me." Gabrielle smiles at Alex and hugs her gently.

"I will stop glaring at you. You are good enough for my sister." Alex rolls her eyes and hugs Gabrielle back.

"Thank you." Gabrielle nods and stands up. Just like that she waves at Alex once more before disappearing into the crowd.

"You're amazing." Hermione hugs Alex before getting up as well and hunts down Ron and Harry.

Alex looks at Luna who stares back right at her.

"You're my little sister and that explains why they took you as my treasure." Alex explains to her.

"I already knew that." Luna whispers and hugs Alex tightly, "I love you Alex."

"I love you too." Alex whispers back.

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