61. The Second Task
**Fred's POV**
"George! Have you seen 'Mione? I've looked for her everywhere in the castle and I can't find her" I said to my worried brother.
"Don't worry. She might be at the stands to get good seats!"
"I'm gonna go check the champion's stand. We'll be going there anyways" I said running to the stands.
I ran into Lavender Brown and asked "Hey, Lavender. Have you seen 'Mione?"
"Hermione Granger? Not at all. She didn't come back last night, ``she explained.
"Thank you," I said and headed for the stands.
"'Mione! 'Mione!" I yelled for her but she didn't respond.
This is bad. This is really really bad.
I continued to search the stand but couldn't find 'Mione.
Harry then caught sight of me and asked "Where is Hermione and Ron?"
"I don't know. I asked Lavender Brown if she saw 'Mione but she said she didn't come back last night" I said worriedly.
"Ron didn't come back either. Where are they?" Harry looked out to the lake and went back to the champions.
'Mione, where are you? I've looked for you everywhere. I'm praying to Merlin that you're okay.
"I welcome all of you to the second task. Last night, something was stolen from each of the champions. A treasure of sorts. These four treasures, one of each champion, now lies at the bottom of the Black Lake. In order to win, each champion need only find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough, except for this:" Dumbledore said.
"They will have but only one hour to do so, and one hour only. After that, they'll be on their own. No magic will save them. You may begin at the start of the cannon" Dumbledore said before the cannon blew.
Harry had already eaten the Gillyweed and looked as if he were to choke.
The other three champions dived into the lake and Harry was pushed in by Mad-Eye.
"What is he doing?" I asked George.
"No idea."
We waited for a few seconds and Harry jumped out of the water with gills on his neck and fins on his hands and feet.
"Yes Harry!" George yelled.
A fifteen minutes or so, we watched the waves move back and forth.
"This is getting boring!" George whined.
Fleur Delacour then came out and she told everyone that she was attacked by grindylow .
"The Beauxbatons champion, Miss Delacour, has unfortunately been forced to retire and will take no further part in this task" Dumbledore announced.
"One champion up and alive-" I started.
"Three still down and barely alive" George finished.
"Are you sure you looked everywhere for Hermione?"
"Yes! A million times I've searched for her in the castle but she was nowhere in there. Not the Owlery, the Great Hall, the common room, I asked her roommates if she was still in her dorm and they said no, and not even the Library!" I exclaimed.
A ten minutes after Fleur's retirement, Cedric came out with Cho Chang by his side and he was awarded first place.
"Yes Cedric!" I yelled cheering.
"Mate, I forgot to tell ya, Hermione went to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum," George said.
"Oh. Okay. Great. Brilliant. Wonderful" I said trailing off.
"I'm sorry, Mate" George said patting my back.
"No, no. I'm fine. If she's happy with him, then I'm happy" I said pretending to smile happily.
After that, Viktor Krum came out with-
It couldn't be.
" 'Mione?!" I yelled.
I ran over to her once she got on the stand.
" 'Mione! Oh! I've been worried sick! I thought you were gone! I asked Lavender Brown if you came back last night but she said you didn't and Ron didn't show up either!" I said fast and gave her a hug and kissed her forehead.
"I'm fine. I'm fine. Don't worry. I'm alive" She said hugging me tightly.
I got her a towel and a bathrobe and put the towel around her and put on the bath robes.
"Thanks," She said.
"No problem. I'm just so glad you're okay" I said hugging her again.
She grabbed my arm tightly and we waited for Harry.
A few minutes later, 'Mione asked worriedly, "Where is he?"
"I don't know, 'Mione. I don't know."
It soon was twelve and was an hour done. Harry hadn't come up yet, but Ron and Fleur's sister did.
"Ron!" I yelled and 'Mione, George, Ginny, and I ran to him.
"Are you okay?" Ginny asked, handing him a towel.
"Brilliant. That was fun" He said taking a deep breath.
Harry soon came jumping out of the Black Lake and he fell hard to the stand.
"Harry!" George and I yelled.
Seamus put a towel around Harry and Mione said, giving him a kiss on the head, "Harry!"
"Hermione?"
"Are you all right? You must be freezing!" 'Mione said, taking off her towel and putting it around Harry.
"Give us a good scare there, Mate" George said patting him on the back.
"Personally, I think you behaved admirably" 'Mione said.
"I finished last, Hermione."
'Mione gave him another kiss on the head which made him yell quietly "Agh!"
"Next to last! Fleur didn't get past the Grindylows" 'Mione explained.
"Attention. Attention" Dumbledore said before getting out his wand and putting it to his neck.
"ATTENTION! The winner is Mr. Diggory! He showed innate command of the bubble-head charm. However, seeing Mr. Potter would have finished first had it not been only his determination to rescue not only Mr. Weasley, but Miss Delacour as well. We've agreed to award him, second place!" Dumbledore said.
"Second place!" 'Mione said.
"Well done, mate" I said smiling.
"For outstanding moral fiber!" Dumbledore finished.
Drumstrang were yelling and we got on the boats.
We got off and George said "Right on."
"All that moral fiber, eh?" I asked Harry putting my arm around 'Mione.
"It's great," George said.
"Moral Fiber?" Ron asked laughing. "Blimey. Even when you go wrong, it turns out right!"
"Ya, well done 'Moral Fiber'" I said patting Harry on the back.
"Congratulations, Potter," Crouch said.
"See you at Hagrid's, Harry!" 'Mione yelled.
Harry went off to talk to Crouch and we went back to the castle.
