"...I don't reckon it can be done."

Teddie stuck her head around the bookcase and spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione sitting at a table in the far back of the library. They had an arrange of different books beside them, many of which consisted of Charms and Transfigurations.

"I see you spying, Green," Ron snapped. "The only question is why?"

Teddie rolled her eyes and stepped out from behind the bookcase. "For your information, Weasley, I wasn't spying. I was looking for a Charms book, you're the one that was talking loudly."

"Sorry about him, Teddie," said Hermione. "He doesn't realise how loud he can be. Did we disturb you?"

Teddie shook her head. "Can I ask what you're doing?" she asked.

"No, you cannot," said Ron.

Hermione nudged him with her elbow.

"I'm trying to work out the clue for the Second Task," said Harry.

"Isn't that tomorrow at 10:00 am?"

Harry nodded.

"And you haven't figured out the clue yet?"

Harry huffed and shook his head.

Teddie lightly laughed. "And here I thought I was a procrastinator," she said. "Do you need any help?"

Ron opened his mouth to retort but Harry beat him to it.

"I don't think you can help," said Harry. "We've looked through every book imaginable, but there just isn't a way."

"Can I ask what the clue is?"

"It's a riddle," said Hermione. She tore up a piece of parchment and handed it to Teddie. The young Slytherin took it and read the riddle to herself.

Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching ponder this;

We've taken what you'll sorely miss,

An hour-long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour, the prospect's black,

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.

"Hm. Cryptic," said Teddie, thoughtfully. "So, I'm guessing you have to figure out what has been taken and by who?"

Harry nodded. "I already figured out the first half of the riddle," he said. "The part that says 'come seek us where our voices sound. We cannot sing above the ground' that's referring to the mermaids in the Great Lake."

Teddie nodded, listening.

"But I don't know what they've taken from me," said Harry. "All my personal items are in my dormitory, and I don't know anyone who can get in there and confiscate them. At least, I don't want to think the Professors would do that."

"I can't see why they would," said Teddie. "Besides, no offence, I don't see how something as invaluable as say a broomstick or school book would be worth stealing from a champion."

"Harry's Firebolt is a very valuable item! I know people who would kill for one!" Ron said, indignantly.

"Maybe so," said Teddie. "But, it's still not worth stealing just for Harry to try and hunt for it back. Prices on the Firebolt have dropped since last summer, they're much easier to purchase now. If you have the money for it, that is."

Ron went pink in the face. He looked like he wanted to say something in return, but Teddie turned her attention back to Harry.

"What exactly are you looking for?" Teddie asked. "In terms of this riddle?"

Harry shrugged. "I need a way to spend an hour underwater without drowning," he said.

"We've considered Transfiguration," said Hermione. "But we don't learn human transfiguration until sixth year. It's too dangerous to attempt at the fourth year level."

"Have you considered the Bubble Head Charm?" Teddie suggested.

Harry cocked his head to the side and then turned to Hermione. "The what -?" he asked.

"Of course!" Hermione said, reaching for the discarded Charm's book on the table. "The Bubble-Head Charm produces a bubble around the head of the caster, giving them a continuous supply of oxygen."

"It's great for places that oxygen levels are low, like underwater, for example," said Teddie.

Harry turned to the charms book that Hermione was flipping through. When she found the right page, he scanned the contents.

"It seems pretty easy enough," said Hermione. "I could cast the spell, I'm sure you could too, Teddie."

Teddie smiled.

"I'm willing to bet it's not going to be that simple," said Ron. "What if Harry has to show the judges what he has come up with? What if they're awarding points not only to him rescuing whatever the merpeople have taken from him but how he manages to survive underwater for an hour? They could be expecting him to cast whatever spell he is going to use before entering the water."

Hermione deflated. "That's a good point," she agreed. "They could deduct points or even disqualify you, Harry, if either myself or Teddie cast the Bubble-Head Charm for you. It would prove that you've had our help on the tasks, and not worked them out alone like you're supposed, too."

Harry sighed.

Teddie bit her lip and looked back at the parchment in her hand. "Just a sec," she said, dashing behind the bookcase again. The trio shared a confused look, only to realise what Teddie was doing when she returned two minutes later, her younger brother in tow.

Mason was carrying a book under his arm.

"From the sounds of it," said Mason. "You're looking for an easy, but different way of succeeding. Most people automatically think that they need a charm or spell to survive something, but there are easier ways. Have you heard of Gillyweed?"

Harry shook his head.

"Gillyweed is a magical plant that was first discovered by Herbologist Beaumont Majoribanks. The properties were unknown until another herbologist, by the name of Elladora Ketteridge ate the plant and nearly suffocated," Mason explained. "She only survived because, instinctively, she stuck her head in a bucket of water and was able to breathe again."

Harry's eyes widened. "So, you're saying, if I ate this plant before going into the lake, I'd be able to breathe underwater?" he asked.

Mason nodded. "The only problem is getting your hands on it," he said. "Gillyweed is used in Potions, which means it should be stored in Professor Snape's storage cupboard -"

"Good luck getting it from there, mate," said Ron, bitterly. "Snape would much rather see you drown before helps you."

Teddie shot Ron a dark look.

"Or," Mason added. "You can get it from the Herbology greenhouses."

"Professor Sprout would probably give you some," said Hermione. "We could go see her? She might be in the common room."

Teddie checked her watch. "It's nearly curfew," she said. "You may not make it on time. I could ask Professor Snape for you."

"Won't he be curious as to why you want Gillyweed?" Harry asked.

Teddie shrugged. "Most likely," she nodded.

"What if he says no?" Hermione asked. "We don't have time to figure out another way."

"Trust me," said Teddie. She turned her attention back to Harry. "Meet me in the Entrance Hall tomorrow, after breakfast. I'll have the Gillyweed for you then."

Harry nodded. "Thanks, Teddie," he said. "You, too, Mason."

Teddie and Mason smiled, said their goodbyes, and then left the library, passing Fred and George Weasley on their way out.

~X~

Blaise couldn't believe it.

But then, neither could anyone else.

Teddie had managed to get Professor Snape to supply her with an ingredient from his own personal supply, something he never did for any student.

"How did you do it again?" Daphne asked.

"I just explained the situation to him," said Teddie. "I also pointed out that I could've easily stolen the Gillyweed, but figured he would've appreciated it more if I had asked him first, instead. He agreed and then gave it to me."

"I can't believe he just gave it to you," said Theo. "Professor Snape hates Potter more than any other student at Hogwarts, why would he be so ready to help him during the Second Task?"

"Maybe the idea of a dead student isn't something he wants on his conscious?" Mason suggested.

"Do you think that it would come to that?" Astoria asked. "Would Headmaster Dumbledore allow a student to die during this tournament?"

"A champion died once before, didn't they?" Mason asked.

"Yeah, but Professor Dumbledore wasn't the Headmaster the last time the tournament took place," said Astoria.

Mason shrugged, even though he agreed.

Teddie checked her watch and sighed. "Where is he?" she wondered aloud. It was nearing 10:00 am; the second task started in twenty minutes and Harry was nowhere to be found. She kept a lookout for him as she ate her breakfast at the Slytherin table, and even scanned the Gryffindors as they made their way out into the school grounds, but Harry was nowhere to be seen.

"I don't see Granger or Weasley, either," said Theo.

"They could've slept late," said Astoria.

Teddie shook her head. "Technically, today was supposed to be a school day; classes have been cancelled for this specific task," she said. "Hermione would've been up and ready by now."

"I agree with Teddie," said Daphne. "Granger is always punctual and on time. She also makes sure that Potter and Weasley are ready, too."

"How are we going to figure out where they are?" Mason asked. "If they are in the Gryffindor Common room, how do we get to them?"

"Professor McGonagall?" Theo suggested. "She is Gryffindor's head of house."

"There's also Nearly Headless Nick," said Blaise.

"Would he help us?" Astoria asked.

Teddie shrugged and glanced back into the Great Hall. She could see Nearly Headless Nick floating near the staff table, and brushed past her friends, heading for him. "Nick!" she called, catching his attention.

"Miss Green, why are you not down at the lake with the rest of the school?" Nick asked, astonished to see her.

"I'm looking for Harry," said Teddie. "He wasn't at breakfast, and I haven't seen him heading down to the lake."

"Mayhaps he has already gone down?" Nick suggested.

Teddie shook her head. "He can't have," she said. "I have something to give him. We made a deal to meet in the Entrance Hall after breakfast."

"Alright. What would you like me to do?" Nick asked.

Teddie took a deep breath. "We're nervous that Harry, Ron, and Hermione have slept late," she explained. "But, being Slytherins, means that we can't get into Gryffindor tower to check. Could you do it for us?"

Nick looked considerate, and, for a split second, Teddie feared that he would say no. Instead, he smiled and nodded. "I shall do as you request," he said. "I will only be a moment." He floated upwards, disappearing through the ceiling.

"Now what do we do?" Mason asked.

"You should all head down to the lake," said Teddie. "I'll catch up once Nick has returned."

"Are you sure?" Daphne asked.

"Yeah, go. Save me a seat."

Daphne looked around at the others and then turned back to Teddie. "Alright," she said. "Don't be too long."

"I won't," said Teddie. "If Harry is still in the common room, Nick should wake him up. I'll come down with him."

As her friends left her alone in the Entrance Hall, Teddie checked her watch again. Harry had less than fifteen minutes to get his butt down to the lake before the Second Task started.

~X~

"Teddie!"

Teddie looked up, her eyes widen as she spotted Harry running towards her at a fast pace. She side-stepped, but he caught her arm as he sped past, dragging her out into the crisp February morning air.

"You're cutting it close, Harry," Teddie said, as she ran alongside her friend. "Where were you? Did you sleep in?"

"Something like that, yeah," said Harry. "Dobby woke me up, and I was surprised to find Nick looking for me in the common room, he said you sent him."

Teddie nodded, but it was missed as Harry kept looking ahead. "I got the Gillyweed," she said, sticking her hand in her pocket as they run towards the Black Lake. The stands that had been erected around the Dragon enclosure back in November had now been set on the opposite bank, they were already packed to bursting point by the other spectators and judges.

Harry skidded to a stop and Teddie almost past him, stopping short a few steps away. "Are you sure this will work?" he asked, taking the wad of slimy green weeds from her.

"I trust that Mason knows what he is talking about," said Teddie. "He hasn't led me astray before."

"I believe you," said Harry. "When this is over, you're going to have to tell me how you managed to get Snape to give you this."

"That's an easy answer," said Teddie. "Contrary to popular belief, Harry, Professor Snape isn't a bad person. I trust him."

Harry wanted to argue, but given the time constriction, he chose against it.

"Have you figured out what it is the Merpeople have taken from you?" Teddie asked. She grabbed Harry's arm and the pair of them run the rest of the distance to the judge's table.

"Dobby says that they have taken Ron," said Harry.

"Why Ron?" said Teddie. "I mean, I know he's your best friend, but why take him?"

Harry shook his head. "They seem to think I can't live without him," he said.

Teddie cocked her head to the side as they slowed their pace again. "Now that I think about it, if I were in your position, and they had taken either Theo, Mason or any of my friends, for that matter, I would do everything within my power to get them back."

"I guess it links back to what you said last night," said Harry. "A broomstick or school book isn't as valuable to be as my friendship with Ron."

Teddie smiled. "Yeah, but I was thinking generally," she said. "I didn't think they would actually take another human being, you know?"

Harry nodded.

They had finally reached the judges' table, both panting hard from running - although Harry seemed more out of breath than Teddie - when a bossy, disapproving voice cut through the air.

"Where have you been?" the voice snapped.

Teddie looked up to see it was Percy Weasley. He was sitting in Barty Crouch's seat at the judges' table. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Never you mind," Percy said, pulling himself up to his full height. "You were almost late, Potter! The task is about to start."

"Now, now, Percy!" said Mr Bagman. "Let the boy catch his breath."

Dumbledore smiled at both his students, but Karkaroff and Madame Maxime didn't look at all pleased to see Harry.

Harry bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath.

Teddie turned to her friend and placed her hand on his shoulder. "You know what you've got to do, right?" she asked. "You need to eat the Gillyweed as soon as you get in the water; don't do it here or before you're under the surface or you'll suffocate."

Harry nodded. "I can't thank you enough, Teddie, really," he said, his breathing evening out.

"Good luck," said Teddie. She squeezed his shoulder and headed for the stands. She had just found her friends and was in the process of slipping into the seat beside Theo when Mr Bagman's voice echoed across the dark, rippling waters.

"Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle. They have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. One... two... three!"

The whistle echoed shrilly in the cold, still air; the stands erupted with cheers and applause.

~X~

"They didn't plan these tasks very well, did they?" said Daphne.

It had been half an hour since the Second Task had started, and the champions hadn't been seen since they had entered the water. The spectators in the stands had been left to do whatever they pleased, many of them were talking about what could've been happening under the lake's surface, with others were discussing the Hogsmeade trip the following weekend.

Teddie and Astoria had been playing a game of exploding snap, while Theo and Blaise played with the miniature chess set that Theo had received for Christmas of Derrick. Meanwhile, Mason had brought a book and was reading.

"How can you read with so much noise going on around you?" Daphne asked him.

Mason didn't answer straight away and only looked up after Daphne prodded him.

"Sorry, did you say something?" Mason asked, taking a small round ball from his ear.

"What is that?" Astoria asked.

"Earplug," said Mason. "I use them to read when a lot is going on, like now, for example." He motioned to the surrounding crowd.

Astoria blinked. "They block out sound?" she asked.

Mason nodded.

"Cool!"

Teddie smiled at Astoria's excitement.

"What are you reading, anyway?" Theo asked Mason.

Holding up the book, Mason showed his friends the front cover.

"Old and Ancient Wizarding Families," read Astoria. "Where did you get that?"

"Marcus sent it to me Boxing Day," Mason answered. "Ever since we spoke about the Sacred Twenty-Eight, I have wanted to know more. Especially about the Sutherland family. Teddie, did you know that the Sutherland family had abilities like yours?"

Teddie shook her head.

"Yeah, and they weren't limited to just shield's like yours, either," said Mason. He set the book down on his lap and flipped through the pages until he found a page titled: Sutherland. "Listen to this - the Sutherland family were prone to abilities outside the normal wand casting. These abilities included such things as Telepathy, Shapeshifting, Illusion Manipulation, Darkness Manipulation, and Shield Construction."

"Because they don't sound terrifying at all," said Daphne.

Mason bit his lower lip. "It gets worse," he said, his eyes flickering back to the text in front of him. "Have you ever heard of blood manipulation?"

The others shook their heads.

"It's also known as Blood Bending," Mason explained. "It basically means the user can create, shape and manipulate the blood of themselves, others or from their surroundings, like blood-banks, hospitals, and even battlefields."

"That's sufficiently terrifying," said Astoria. "So, they could control our blood?"

Mason nodded. "It all depends on how strong the person is, obviously," he said. "But there were those in the Sutherland family that had the ability. Emrys Sutherland, for example. Teddie, he could kill someone by making their blood boil."

Teddie winced at the mental image.

"Not that this is all interesting," said Blaise. "But what has this got to do with Teddie and her shield?"

Mason flipped a page in his book and traced his finger downwards. "It was believed that the ability to construct a shield was passed from father to daughter," he read. "Emrys Sutherland was able to construct a powerful shield, and so was his daughter Avery."

Teddie shared a fearful look with Theo. "What are you trying to say, Mason?" she asked. "That I'm the Sutherland child that went missing thirteen years ago? How would that be possible?"

"It's not," said Mason. "But, maybe it has something to do with that girl from your second year?"

Blaise frowned. "Why would the aura of a pureblood, one that came from a family that hated Muggles and Muggleborns, I might add, attach itself to a Muggleborn Witch?" he questioned. "It doesn't make sense."

"I know," said Mason. "That's why this is only a theory. I need more proof if I am to find out what is actually going on."

"What kind of proof?" Theo asked.

Mason shrugged. "We could try talking to this girl?" he suggested. "What do you think, Ted? Do you think you could get her to surface long enough for me to ask her a few questions?"

Teddie swallowed. "I don't know, Mason," she said, shaking her head. "I don't know if I am comfortable with that. Besides, the last time she was around, people got hurt. I don't want anything to happen to you, and if she is who you think she is, then something will happen to you."

Mason sighed. He could understand his sister's hesitation and worry and decided not to push it further. "Alright," he said. "I'll find another way."

"Just be careful, Mason," Teddie warned. "I don't want you getting into something that could harm or kill you, alright?"

"I promise," Mason nodded.

Teddie smiled lightly and turned her attention back to the lake. While she, her brother and their friends had been discussing possible identity issues, three of the four champions had returned to the judges' table. Cedric and Krum had both managed to secure their missing 'items' - Cho Chang and Hermione Granger, respectively - while Fleur stood, draped in a towel and shivering, staring at the lake with a look of dreaded anticipation.

"Where's Potter?" Theo asked. "The task ended fifteen minutes ago."

Teddie rose from her seat, her eyes trained on the lake, and her heart hammering painfully inside her chest. This was the second time today that Harry had failed to turn up on time, however, this time he was at the bottom of the black lake. Had something happened? The gillyweed was only supposed to last an hour, which meant it had worn off by now.

"Come on, Harry," Teddie whispered, fear creeping into her voice as she scanned the surface of the lake for a ripple or even a break. Then, on her third sweep, she spotted a dark head emerging from the centre and a rush of breath left her lips as Harry popped up, gasping, seconds later. Ron Weasley and a little girl with silver hair popped up beside him.

The crowd were going wild.

Teddie watched as Harry and Ron helped the small girl back to the bank, to where the other champions, Madam Pomfrey, and the judges' were waiting.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Ludo Bagman's voice echoed across the stands a few minutes later. "We have reached our decision. Merchieftaines Murcus has told us exactly what happened at the bottom of the lake, and we have therefore decided to award marks out of fifty for each of the champions, as follows..."

Teddie looked across at her friends. The first task was out of ten, how come this was much higher?

"Fleur Delacour, though she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by grindylows as she approached her goal, and failed to retrieve her hostage. We award her twenty-five points."

The spectators cheered.

"Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was first to return with his hostage, though he returned one minute outside of the time limit of an hour. We, therefore, award him forty-seven points!"

The Hufflepuff's in the stand cheered, loudly. As well did Judy Lloyd of Slytherin.

"Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was, nevertheless effective, and was second to return with his hostage, We award him forty-points."

The Durmstrang spectators yelled Krum's name as loud as they possibly could, whereas a few other's from both Beauxbatons and Hogwarts that were cheering for Krum, applauded.

"Harry Potter used gillyweed to great effect," Bagman continued. "He returned last, and well outside the time limit of an hour. However, the Merchieftainess informs us that Mr Potter was first to reach the hostages and that the delay in his return was due to his determination to return all the hostages to safety, not merely his own."

"Sounds like Potter," said Blaise. "Always the hero."

Teddie nudged him playfully.

"Most of the judges feel that this shows moral fibre and merits full marks," said Bagman.

"Who wants to bet that Karkaroff is against Harry receiving full marks?" Teddie asked.

"Of course he is," said Mason. "Full marks would put Harry ahead of Krum."

"Potter is already ahead of Krum," said Daphne. "This is the second time that Krum has messed up his task. His dragon crushed half of its eggs after he used the Conjunctivitis Charm on it, and now he's unsuccessfully tried to transfigure himself into a marine animal. What more could Karkaroff expect?"

"However... Mr Potter's score," Bagman continued. "Is forty-five points."

Teddie leapt to her feet, cheering and clapping has hard and loud as she possibly could. Hogwarts was in the lead as Harry and Cedric took first place.

"The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June," Bagman informed the crowd. "The champions will be notified of what is coming precisely one month beforehand. Thank you all for your support."

Her voice hoarse from shouting and her hands numb from clapping, Teddie slumped back into her seat.

While she was glad that Harry was safe, and the second task was finally over, she couldn't help but think about Mason's theory.

What if what he had said was somehow true?

What if the last remaining Sutherland child had attached some part of itself to her?

And if it had, why?