Despite the huge temptation to think about the ongoing investigation into the Blanchards and the Locksleys and the desire to inform her friends about what was going on, Emma heeded her godmother's words and keep it all to herself. Instead, she chose to concentrate on the upcoming Task. It was still three weeks away, but as her mother had also said, just because she'd figured out how to find out what the clue was, and now she knew how to breathe underwater, the problem remained that she still didn't fully understand what was required from her and she needed all the time she had to figure that out before it was too late.

For once Emma knew that she would be unable to find her answers in the library, much to her dismay that her beloved books didn't hold all the answers (although unlike the younger version of Hermione Granger, Emma wasn't completely book dependent). The mermaid song held all the information that she needed to work out what the next Task was going to entail. It just didn't make sense to her at the current moment.

She'd read the words of the song over and over but it still wasn't clear. Victoire had suggested going back to the Prefect's Bathroom to listen to it again to see if just hearing it once more would get the information to click. However, she'd not managed to find time to take a trip there just yet.

Fortunately, the weekend after the trip to Hogsmeade, she could put the Task away as she and her friends made their way down to the Quidditch pitch for the penultimate match of the Cup, Hufflepuff against Slytherin. While Emma loved playing herself, she also enjoyed watching games, especially ones like this. The result would make it clear how many goals Gryffindor would need to score against Ravenclaw the next month to ensure they won the Cup.

Despite Slytherin losing both of their matches, if they won against Hufflepuff with enough points, they could still walk away with cup. Emma didn't fully agree with that, but she knew when not to challenge Hogwarts rules that were created centuries ago. Some should be challenged but she knew which battles to fight and this was definitely not one of them.

As the Gryffindor Trio walked down to the Stadium, they made their way towards the Hufflepuff end as they were supporting Teddy for the final match of his Hogwarts career. Win or lose, it would be an emotional match for him. They piled in beside Hagrid who was showing his support for the Hufflepuff team as well. It wasn't typical professor behaviour, but everyone knew Hagrid still saw himself as one of the students so it was never questioned.

"Mornin' girls!" He boomed in greeting. "Yeh did well in the last Task, Emma. Mightily impressed! Yer parents will be proud as well."

Emma grinned. "They were pleased. I hope they get to come to a Task though. It would be nice for them to watch."

"I'm sure they will!" Hagrid assured her. "Gotta be there when yeh win! Got all the faith in yeh."

"Thanks, Hagrid," Emma said, still smiling before she turned her attention to the Quidditch Pitch, just as the teams were filing out of the changing room as a green and yellow blur.

Emma watched as Regina and Teddy walked up to each other and shook the other's hand before Madam Spinnet called the match to order and everyone launched up into the air. It was a strange sight to see, despite it having occurred the year before as the two were Captains then as well. Regina's brunette head was at least a foot shorter than the flaming bright turquoise, showing that Teddy was excited for the match ahead. Yet it wasn't just their appearances that contrasted, but Emma's feelings towards them.

She had known Teddy since as long as she could remember. Her mother had been friends with his mother, Tonks, when they were both part of the Auror Department and friends with Harry for the same reason. She liked to check in on Andromeda and Harry when they were looking after him, she was almost a second mother to him so he was always over at the Swans. He was like a brother.

Yet Regina she barely knew, but she had such strong feelings for her as well, albeit in a very different way, it was hard to know which one she really wanted to win for that reason. However, if she thought with her Quidditch head, she needed Hufflepuff to annihilate Slytherin so Gryffindor could have an easy game against Ravenclaw, but that was likely a pipe dream.

"Go Teddy!" Victoire called as he flew past them towards the goals. He glanced to the side and winked at his girlfriend and friends before steadying himself at the centre of the goalposts. His game face now plastered on his face as the whistle blew.

The game was very fast paced, which Emma loved watching. The Quaffle zoomed around the pitch, being flung in all directions and knocked away by the Bludgers successfully. Graham looked disgruntled as he was paired with the new Slytherin Beater, Jafar, and not Neal. Emma saw the previous Beater in the stands looking miserable, something Ruby spotted at the same time.

"Neal looks miserable," she muttered.

"As he well should," Emma replied. "Bastard."

"And that's Regina Mills, the Slytherin Captain, with the Quaffle heading towards Teddy Lupin in the goals!" Margot Hood, the usual commentator called out, pulling both Emma's and Ruby's attention away from the disgraced Beater. "She shoots and it's blocked by Teddy!"

Victoire cheered so loudly that Emma thought she might have to put a silencing charm on her to protect her ears from the squeal of delight. She knew Vicki was happy and impressed at her boyfriend's skill but if she did it every time he saved a goal, Emma would quickly go deaf.

The charm was becoming more and more tempting throughout the match as despite how hard Regina and her other Chasers tried, Slytherin was quite unsuccessful with scoring with Teddy saving almost all of them with two not getting anywhere close to the target.

Fifty minutes into the game and Hufflepuff were leading the match a hundred to nothing. It was a new record; Emma was sure of it.

"This game is going to last ages," Emma muttered as Teddy's Chasers scored another two goals. "There's no sight of the Snitch anywhere!" As the Seeker, Emma often found herself trying to locate the golden ball herself when watching to see what she would do in the situation herself. However, try as she might, the Snitch had disappeared as soon as it had been released from the chest.

However, being more than a hundred goals down, Regina clearly wasn't happy. She called a time out to the referee, which were very rare in games and it was down to the referee if they allowed them. In this case, Madam Spinnet allowed it and blew her whistle to pause the game. Taking advantage of the moment, Teddy also gathered his team together as the Slytherin Captain huddled her team in together for a few minutes. Once happy, everyone rose back into the air and the game continued.

It seemed with the minute's pause, the Slytherins had managed to reboot themselves and ten goals were scored in twenty minutes. Emma was half convinced that Regina had given everyone a potion to help, but she knew, despite how competitive Regina was, she'd never cheat. She must have given them an inspiring pep talk. Well, either that or she'd threatened them.

The match continued with Slytherin slowly but surely scoring goals and chipping away at Hufflepuff's previously, seemingly unassailable lead, until the Badgers were in the lead by a three hundred and ten to one hundred and ninety. Despite the large gap in the score, Emma knew better than most, that if Smee of Slytherin caught the Snitch anytime soon, Hufflepuff would still lose.

Another ten minutes passed with both Scarlett of Slytherin and Teddy pulling off some immaculate saves. It was only when Marian scored another goal that the tension started raising. Hufflepuff only needed another three goals until they were completely out of the danger zone.

Unfortunately, Alice Wonder of Hufflepuff was not on her A-game in this match as finally, the Snitch was spotted. Emma saw it hovering in the bottom corner of the Pitch by the Slytherin goals and sadly for Teddy and his Hufflepuffs, it was Smee of Slytherin who spotted it and shot across the pitch, capturing the golden ball in his hands before Wonder even realised what was going on.

"Smee has caught the Snitch!" Margot cried. "Slytherin win three hundred and forty to three hundred and twenty. Congratulations to Slytherin and commiserations to Hufflepuff, what a brilliant game!"

The applause from the crowd thundered loudly both with happiness from the Slytherins and their supporters at the jubilation of winning but also in commiseration from the Hufflepuffs as they cheered the end of the match and the final ever match for four of their members.

As everyone landed, the Hufflepuff team surrounded Teddy, and his Beaters, Tiny and Mendel, despite both being Seventh Years along with the Captain and one of their Chasers, lifted their Captain in the air on their shoulders for a lap of honour. It was as if they'd won the match with the way they celebrated. Despite not winning, it was Hufflepuff's best game all season, potentially the best they'd played in years.

By the time they let Teddy down, Regina was still waiting in the centre of the pitch to shake hands. They grinned at each other before shaking hands, with Regina saying something to Teddy that made him laugh (most likely banter between two Captains who respected one another). Emma heard Victoire grumble something about who did Regina think she was flirting with her boyfriend, but she chose not to comment on it to save an argument.

Instead, Emma just suggested that they made their way down to the Pitch as well so they could congratulate Teddy and the team on their great game playing.

"What a match," Ruby said. "I bet Teddy is disappointed, but you can't deny his playing, and all of Hufflepuff actually, was fantastic."

"Yeah, they're were brilliant," Emma agreed.

The three walked towards the Pitch just as Regina was leading her team off. Ruby and Victoire continued walking, completely ignoring them but Emma grinned at the Slytherin.

"Nicely done," she commented. "Although, how did you get them to pull themselves together?"

Regina chuckled. "Oh, that. I told them I'd duplicate the miniature Hydra and hide them in all of their dorms if they continued playing like that."

Emma raised her eyebrows. "Did you even keep it?"

"No, of course not," Regina replied and smirked devilishly in a way that made Emma's breath quicken unintentionally, "but they don't need to know that."

The Gryffindor barked out a laugh. "I suppose not."

"So, the pressure is on for you now," Regina murmured. "Got to score at least three hundred or you're going for a swim."

"It's still going to be you," Emma said confidently. "I'll see you later."

Emma then walked away, still smiling, before reaching her friends.

"Teddy Lupin, what a game!" Emma cried as she high fived him. "That was some of the best goal keeping I think I've seen. I hope August was taking notes. If Wonder was just a little bit more awake, that would have been yours in the bag!"

Teddy grinned before shrugging. "We did what we could and Alice is brilliant when she's on her A-game but today wasn't to be. I'm proud of how we played though. It's the best we've done the entire season. So, as it seems that we can no longer win the Cup, you better make sure that you thrash Ravenclaw."

Emma smirked as she thought back to the bet and Regina's skinny dip. "Oh, I intend to."

oOoOo

"Why don't I come with you when you next listen to the music box?" Victoire suggested as the two of them walked towards their Arithmancy lesson after Potions, where Emma had received nothing but rave reviews from Professor Gold over the perfection of her potion brewing that had left her red at the ears with embarrassment. "We can then listen to it together and figure it out."

"Wouldn't Ruby be annoyed that she's not been asked join us?" Emma countered, knowing how much Ruby was still suffering from her father's death and wouldn't want her feeling left out from something they would normally do together.

"She's going to the lounge with Billy tonight," Victoire revealed.

The lounge was a new area that had been built after the Battle of Hogwarts so that students from different Houses could spend time together. It was quite a large space and allowed couples from different Houses to see each other as well, so it proved quite useful for both Ruby and Victoire. The tiny voice in Emma's head said it would be great for her and Regina if anything ever happened between them.

"So, we could go tonight," Victoire continued, naturally not having heard Emma's sly thought.

"I don't see why not," Emma agreed. "But we still need to give her the option."

Victoire nodded. "Of course."

As they reached their classroom, they walked in and took their seats, just as Percy was calling everyone together and started the lesson.

When the lesson was over, Emma and Victoire met up with Ruby in the Great Hall and presented their idea. As Emma had expected, Ruby looked torn. She glanced behind her to the Ravenclaw table and Billy automatically looked up from his plate and smiled at her.

"I'll stick with seeing Billy," she decided. "I haven't spent that much time with him recently and I actually quite like him. I mean, we've been seeing each other for almost four months." Ruby sounded a little incredulous at how much time had already passed for them.

"You're very cute together," Victoire said with a warm smile. She loved having another couple around. "So, you're okay with me and Em solving the song?"

Ruby nodded. "Yeah, as long as you tell me everything."

"Promise," Emma said and the three continued eating their sandwiches before they headed off to Transfiguration.

oOoOo

That evening, the three girls bid each other goodbye, before going their separate ways, with Ruby heading to the lounge and Emma and Victoire going to the Prefect's bathroom, swimsuits and parchment in hand. When they arrived, they were happy to see that the room was just as empty as it had been when Emma went previously.

"I really should come here more often," Victoire murmured as she stared around the room. "It's magnificent."

Emma chuckled as she changed into her scarlet swimsuit. Despite being friends with Victoire since they were born, she still didn't feel too comfortable being naked around her. Looking up, she saw Victoire had already changed into her golden swimsuit and was walking towards the taps to get the water flowing.

"Ready?" She asked.

"Yep," Emma confirmed as she picked up her music box and brought it towards the bath along with some water-resistant parchment that they'd borrowed from Teddy. Although Emma wasn't entirely sure why he possessed it but thought it better that she did not ask.

Emma dived neatly into the pool but regretted it as she got a face full of bubbles. She spluttered as she made her way to the surface.

"Clever," Victoire snickered as she carefully slid in from the side. "Now, let's get down to business."

Nodding, Emma started the music box before the two took a deep breath and plunged underwater as the mermaid song rang out clear once more.

You've passed two tasks and now another comes,

In the deepest, darkest and dampest of slums.

Our voices in the freshest air remain unclear,

So, come seek us out if you have no fear.

An hour long you have to find,

Favourites that you would never leave behind.

But once the time's up, that's the end,

It's far too late and into the abyss they'll descend.

Victoire burst out of the water first, grinning madly. "I've got it!" She cheered as she pulled the parchment towards hers, already scribbling madly before Emma had even regained her breath.

"What?" She asked eagerly as she swam over to where Victoire was writing at the edge of the bath.

"It's easy," she revealed. "So, my mum told me what her egg said when she opened it and it was pretty similar. It described where they were going and how long they had, which yours also does. Hers also said "we've taken what you'll sorely miss," which turned out to be people, for my mum, my auntie Gabrielle and for Uncle Harry, it was Uncle Ron."

Despite Emma's intelligence, she still wasn't really keeping up, she was pretty sure they couldn't get away with putting people under the Lake again, McGonagall was not Dumbledore, so that was out. "Right?"

Victoire chuckled as she went back to her parchment. "This says "favourites of which you would never leave behind". Think about it Em. They're not going to take random things that don't mean anything to you, what would be the point of saving your Potions homework? What items would you never leave behind if you were going somewhere for a while?"

"My wand?" Emma said. "But they can't steal that because that's ridiculous to face a Task without it."

"Exactly," Victoire nodded. "So, it can't be that. Think further."

Emma ponded the question for a moment. "Well, my mirror for one. I'd always take that to speak to my parents or Mally."

Victoire nodded encouragingly, grinning with excitement that Emma was finally understanding what the song meant. "What else?"

"I don't know, my broom maybe?" Emma guessed. "I can't think of anything else."

"It may only be those two items, I suppose," Victoire murmured. "I can't imagine it would be that many items if you've only got an hour. However, whatever you do, do not listen to the last line. If you don't manage to find all the items, they will not disappear. Merlin, the school would be sued if your broom was taken away. Your grandfather would not be happy."

Emma chuckled. "No, he wouldn't." She released a deep breath of relief. "Well, I'm glad we did this. You're a star."

Victoire smiled and shrugged. "I just wanted to help. I don't know why it helped hearing it rather than just reading it. I suppose it's the way they said it that made it click."

"Well, whatever it was, you're a saint."

"I wouldn't go that far."

"I would," Emma said. "You and Ruby have been great this year. I wouldn't be in joint second if I didn't have you two."

Victoire rolled her eyes. "Shut up, yes, you would. You're better than you think you are. Now, let's get some laps in to make sure you can swim. Race you!"

Emma raised her eyebrow. "Oh, you're on, Weasley!"

oOoOo

The two filled Ruby in on what they had discovered over breakfast the next morning as Ruby hadn't got back to Gryffindor Tower until quite late the night before. Something Victoire had berated her for, just in case she got in trouble, which she hadn't, but according to the Prefect, that wasn't the point.

"That's brilliant," Ruby murmured over her cereal. "We'll just have to keep an eye on which of your belongings go missing just before the Task."

"That's a good idea actually," Emma said. "I hadn't thought of that."

"It's what I'm here for," Ruby replied with a grin before she changed the subject, gushing about her evening with Billy.

Their day seemed to pass in a blur, it usually did when Emma was stressing about an upcoming Task. Despite having it almost cracked, she was still feeling some pressure. If she had a chance of winning the Tournament, she really needed to win this Task.

She barely remembered what she'd done all day by the time she was walking into her final lesson of the day: Herbology.

"Emma, can you stay behind after class?" Professor Longbottom requested as she walked in.

"Sure," Emma replied, not one to deny her professors.

"I wonder what that'll be about," Ruby murmured as the three took their places.

"Probably something to do with the Task," Emma replied.

However, before they could discuss it any further, the professor called the class to order and started going through more revision. This time they were looking at Fanged Geraniums.

The class passed quite quickly with only Jeff Jefferson getting bitten by the plant and having to be rushed to the Hospital Wing. He hadn't learnt his lesson from when they first covered the plan to not provoke it. If memory served, Emma was sure he'd had to visit Madam Ella during that lesson as well.

Before they knew it, they were packing up their belongings and all the students, aside from Emma, were scuttling their way out of the classroom.

"I'll meet you in the Common Room," Emma said to her friends who were hesitating by the door, clearly not sure if they should wait for her or not.

Nodding, the two left the classroom as Emma made her way towards her professor's desk.

"You asked me to stay back, Sir?"

"I did," Professor Longbottom confirmed and pointed to the chair beside her. "How are you feeling about the next Task?"

"Good," Emma said as she took a seat. "I know it's in the Black Lake and I need to retrieve something or maybe a few things, I'm not sure which yet."

"You will find out in good time," Professor Longbottom said. "So, I have some news to share with you too. This Task, unlike the others, will take place in the morning so that there is more daylight. It is also not taking part on a school day, in fact, I think this was bad planning, but I didn't say that, it will be the final Friday of the Easter Holidays. At least no lessons will be cancelled but it may mean there are less students to watch because some will go home."

Emma chuckled quietly. "I don't think there will be much to watch if we're underwater the entire time, Sir."

"No, that is true," Professor Longbottom agreed. "If I recall correctly, the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament was rather dull. We only found out what happened afterwards but the anticipation of who was going to burst out the water first was high. It'll probably be the same this time I imagine. Do you have any questions or worries about the Task?"

"I'm just trying to figure out the best way to hold my breath for that amount of time," Emma revealed. "I've looked into the Bubblehead charm but haven't mastered it yet. I know I still have three weeks, but time is ticking and Holidays always fly by so it'll feel like I have less time."

"There is another way of holding your breath," Professor Longbottom revealed. He then stood up and walked over to a shelf in the far corner of the greenhouse that Emma hadn't really paid attention to in the past. After scanning the shelf, he picked up a jar and returned to the table, placing it in front of Emma. "This is gillyweed. It will give you gills and fins to breathe and swim underwater. It is an option, one that Harry Potter took actually, but it is up to you if you wish to proceed with trying the Bubblehead charm."

Emma contemplated the idea. She knew her Head of House would never give her anything poisonous and he would never provide something that would hinder her as he wanted his own House to win more than anything. Plus, she knew it was his way of making it up to her for not helping at all during the First Task.

"I'll use it," Emma confirmed.

Professor Longbottom grinned. "Brilliant. I shall provide it on the morning of the Task. Fresh is always best. Are you going home for any of the holiday?"

Emma shook her head. "No. I'm staying at school. The sheer amount of homework we've been given in the last two days alone is going to keep me busy as it is. I won't get it all done if I went home."

"Understandable," Professor Longbottom murmured. "Now, I'll let you get going to tell your friends what I've said. See you later."

"Bye, Professor," Emma said before she picked up her belongings and left the classroom.

As she walked up to the castle, she walked past a few odd students who were going for a walk before dinner and paid no attention to them. It was only as she reached the top of hill, just to the side of the entrance to the courtyard where she heard angry voices. Voices which she recognised immediately. Not wanting to be caught eavesdropping, she hid behind a pillar.

"You know as well as I do the outcome if the Aurors and Unspeakables keep sniffing around," Robin hissed.

"I do, my mother and sister go down because your father and Leopold are spineless bastards," Regina snapped. "I know what happens. I don't want that either, but you are just proving that this entire thing is a sham, Robin. You're with her all the time, the rumours are spreading around the school like wildfire. You know what the Hogwarts rumour mill is like. This is all going to crumble, and our mothers are going to be bearing the brunt of it all."

Robin let out a strangled laugh. "Rumours about me and Marian? What about the ones about you and Swan? I know your secret, Regina. I know you're secretly in love with her. Is that why you want out of this suddenly?"

"No," Regina cried, her voice so powerful Emma was surprised such a petite person could make such a sound with one word. "Emma has nothing to do with this, and you know as well as I that there are almost no rumours about Emma and I, whilst there are plenty about you and her. I do not want to be with you because you're a monster. I agreed to this because I thought you genuinely wanted to be with me. It never occurred to me that it was for money until I found out that I was being sold," she spat the word as it tumbled out of her mouth. "It didn't seem to be a big deal because I loved you. Merlin was I wrong."

"Delusion isn't attractive, Regina," Robin jeered. "You didn't love me; you loved the idea of me. I never loved you. It's always been Marian. She is the one I love. She is the one I want to be with but you're in the way." He went to turn and walk away, ending the argument on his terms but Regina wasn't having that.

"Then get your father to end it!" She screamed as she stormed after him. "Neither of us want this. There has to be a way to terminate the contract that doesn't end up with one or both of us six feet under!"

"I can't!" Robin cried and for the first time, Emma thought she could hear desperation in his voice, but it was gone in the next moment. "My father needs the money that's signed into the contract, you know that. We have to continue with this so you're just going to have to lump it that I'm also with Marian. You don't have a choice, Regina."

Regina glared. "Then neither do you. The situation with Marian stops now or I'm out. I'll go to the Aurors and tell them everything. On my own head be it if I'm the one that is destroyed with the contract."

The sound of a stinging slap was heard and Emma's urge to run forward and stop what was happening was strong, but she had to wait. With the sound of the argument happening, her appearance now would only make it worse. So, she stayed, with great difficulty, rooted on the spot.

"You wouldn't dare," Robin hissed.

"I would," Regina swore. "I'll tell them everything. Just watch me."

"Your mother and your sister would go to Azkaban," Robin taunted. "You wouldn't want that, would you?"

"So would yours and your entire family and you'd stay penniless," Regina sneered. "So, you decide, Robin. Money or Marian?"

The silence that followed the question felt louder than the argument Emma had walked in on. Robin was clearly thinking deeply about everything. She realised there was a lot at stake for him. He was just as trapped as Regina, but he got something out of it, he got the money whereas Regina got nothing. However, it didn't excuse his behaviour towards the woman who was meant to be becoming his wife in two short years.

"This discussion isn't over," Robin hissed. "I will be with Marian even if it kills me, but money comes first for my family. We keep this up and get the Aurors away from our scent. Come on."

Emma waiting another minute before she final revealed herself from her hiding place to see Regina and Robin walking away, now hand in hand. The pretence was in full swing once more and Emma had no idea how she felt about it.