CW: life-threatening situations, relationships, water
:SEVENTY-SIX:
They had a great evening catching up with Harry and all of his friends. Hermione loved her book, talking to Remus most of the evening about everything that had happened after the article came out. She'd been struggling under the surface, both because of the article and because of Ron's callous attitude towards Krum.
"He's really a gentleman." Hermione explained to Remus. "Viktor mostly just watches me study in the library, or tells me about his home and schoolwork. I don't know if I like-like him, but it's nice to be appreciated, you know?"
Remus nodded sympathetically. "He seems like a nice guy, Hermione. I'm glad he's treating you well."
Sirius, on the other side of the table, was gossiping about the tournament with the Weasleys, Draco, and Harry.
"The Hufflepuffs are refusing to give up anything!" Draco complained.
"And believe me," Fred intoned. "We've tried everything."
"Totally air-tight." George added, glaring at the Hufflepuff table. "It's infuriating, really."
"It's kinda cool, though." Harry admitted. "We'll all be surprised this way."
"Yes, Harry." Fred rolled his eyes. "But how are we supposed to bet on the outcome properly?"
"You're betting on the tournament?" Draco asked, looking over Harry to see the twins.
"Course we are - it's very lucrative." George chuckled. "Want to get in on the betting?"
"I just hope it's safer than the last task." Neville added, shaking his head. "That dragon business was scary."
They continued to talk about the second task right up until curfew, when Sirius and Remus had to head out for the night. Remus had reserved the room for them in advance, as the place was absolutely packed. Not wanting a repeat of last time, they both just went up to the room and crashed. There'd be time to talk to Madame Rosmerta in the morning, without the nosy reporters.
"Morning!" Sirius called the next day, waking Remus up to coffee and breakfast. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Remus said sleepily, sitting up and stretching. "This is very sweet of you, bringing me breakfast."
"Right, well," Sirius shrugged, sitting down next to Remus and helping himself to some toast. "I know you felt anxious yesterday because we woke up late, so I wanted to make up for it."
Remus hummed appreciatively, getting up to use the restroom and then returning for coffee. They ate quietly together, watching the sun come up outside their window. It was a nice day outside, if a bit chilly.
"I do wonder what the second task will have to do with the lake." Sirius mused.
They'd been told to meet at the lake for the second task at around 11am. It didn't make much sense, the golden egg and whatever was in the lake being connected. But Remus only shrugged, taking another bite of his eggs.
After breakfast, they both got ready for the day and meandered down to see Hagrid again. They intended to meet everyone at the lake, as classes would be going on the rest of the morning. Remus was relieved to see most of the snow had cleared up overnight, but it would still be chilly by the lakeside.
"We'll need to cast some warming charms when the kids get out here." Remus observed as they walked. "It'll be even colder the closer we get to the water."
"Maybe Hermione will make one of those mason jar fires too - she's great at them." Sirius chuckled.
Hagrid welcomed them in, practically vibrating with excitement. He'd been so busy prepping the area around the lake that he had barely made any time for himself. Remus made him take a break, insisting he at least eat some breakfast. He'd sat down, beaming underneath his beard.
"It's gonna be a right treat!" Hagrid talked excitedly, pouring himself a mug of tea. "I can' spoil the surprise, but wai' till you see what Dumbledore and them have cooked up!"
Sirius did his best not to pester Hagrid too much with questions, and then they were off to the stands. Harry and the others were waiting for him, talking to each other excitedly. Only one of them didn't look happy - Ron was looking around with a concerned look on his face.
"Come on, let's get decent seats!" Sirius clapped his hands together. "It's going to start soon!"
"Have you seen Hermione?" Ron asked them both, still looking around. "She got called to talk to Professor McGonagall last night, but we haven't seen her since."
"No, we haven't." Remus answered, looking around with him. "I'm sure she's alright though, Ron."
"Yeah." Ron murmured, his brows furrowing.
They took seats in the stands, and then paid attention as a Ministry official spoke out to the crowd.
"Welcome to the second task of the Triwizard Tournament!" He cried out loudly.
The man then explained the task and beckoned the champions into the water. Once they were all inside the lake, the wizard gestured up into the sky.
"Blimey." Remus murmured. "That's amazing, isn't it?"
There was a misty-looking square up in the sky, which had been separated into three scenes. Each scene showed the progress of the three champions as they swam through the murky water. It was a fascinating magical feat, one that Remus couldn't help staring at for the first few minutes.
"Oi!" Sirius yelled, yanking Remus out of his intellectual reverie and back into the present.
Fleur was surrounded by grindylows, sending them flying with her wand even as more appeared in the water. She looked about ready to give up, when suddenly she seemed to remember something. She spun, using her wand to create a sphere around herself that sent grindylows shooting through the water. When they had all swam away, Fluer stopped spinning and continued on.
"Not just a pretty face, eh?" Sirius smirked. "That was bloody impressive."
They watched her progress, gasping along with everyone else as she entered the mermaid's village. It was beautiful, really, but the crowd was more interested in the sight Fluer met in the middle of the village square.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled, pointing at the screen.
Hermione, Cho, and a little girl they didn't recognize were floating unconsciously in the water. Their feet were tied by seaweed, which Fleur was cutting away with her wand. She got the little girl loose, swimming off to the surface as Cedric popped into view.
"I've got to get down there, now!" Ron attempted to get out of his seat. "Hermione!"
Remus stopped him, trying to calm the teen down. "Ron! She's safe - they wouldn't do anything to hurt her, alright? And look!"
He forced Ron to look back at the screen, where Krum had just cut Hermione loose.
"She'll be alright - they're coming back up to the surface right now."
Remus helped Ron and Harry back down to the main level, where they'd be able to make sure Hermione was okay. Fleur broke the surface first, followed by Cedric and Krum. The crowds cheered and clapped, but Ron paid absolutely no attention to anything as he helped pull Hermione up onto dry land.
"Hermione!" He grabbed her hands to help warm them up. "You scared me - are you alright?"
Hermione nodded, laughing slightly at Ron's hysterics. "I'm fine, Ron. McGonagall explained everything beforehand - it was just a sleeping drought."
"You 'ave a beetle in your 'air." Krum said gruffly, attempting to turn Hermione's attention back to himself.
"Oh," Hermione blushed, letting Krum pull the beetle off. "Thank you, for saving me too."
Krum smiled brightly, nodding. "This is Ron, yes?"
He reached out to shake Ron's hand. "You 'ave a very good friend, Ron. She made me feel welcome here."
"Right, well," Ron shook Krum's hand, torn between jealousy and joy at meeting his idol in person. "Thanks, for saving her."
Harry pushed his way through, hugging Hermione close. "I'm so glad you're safe."
"Safe, just freezing." Hermione smiled. "You better move, or Madame Pomfrey will run you down."
He moved just in time, as Madame Pomfrey whizzed past to administer a pepper-up potion and towels for Krum and Hermione. She was grumbling about the circumstances once again - putting kids in danger and all that. Harry moved back to where Remus was standing, letting him dry off the clothes he'd gotten wet hugging Hermione.
"He's a good guy, Ron." Remus commented. "What did you think about the task?"
"Well," Harry said, looking between his dad and Hermione. "It was really cool, until I saw Hermione down there. That was scary, papa."
"Yes, it was." Remus nodded. "But she's alright. And they wouldn't have let her drown or anything - the professors would have pulled anyone up that wasn't rescued."
Harry nodded, attempting a smile as Remus finished drying him off.
"That was brilliant!" Fred yelled, joining them in the crowd of people coming down from the stands.
"Is Hermione alright?" George asked, looking over people's heads to see her.
"Yeah, she's fine." Harry replied. "How'd your betting pool go?"
"Sexism worked to our advantage this time." Fred smirked slyly. "Very few people bet that Fleur would win."
"Well, good for you, I guess?"
"Great for us, Harry." George ruffled his hair. "Especially when we get the joke shop up and running."
Once Hermione was finished being seen by the nurse and talking to Krum, the whole troop walked back over to the castle for some hot chocolate. Ron kept looking over to Hermione, pushing a hair out of her face or touching her hand. It took everything in Sirius not to smirk, watching Ron figure out his feelings towards her.
"You see it too, eh?" Remus murmured softly. "It reminds me of us as kids."
"Yeah," Sirius replied. "You were so dense at that age - it took me ages to get your attention."
Remus shrugged. "I had a few other problems to work through at the time."
"What? You mean the wolfy problem and a wizarding war?" Sirius chuckled. "Child's play, love."
Remus smirked, holding his hand as he turned back to listen.
"It'll be amazing if Fleur wins." Luna said, taking a sip from her hot chocolate. "She's part Veela, you know."
"Wait, really?" Ron turned to her, listening with interest.
"Yes, you can tell by her hair." Luna said knowingly. "And her little sister was talking about it as well."
"Well that just explains so much!" Ron said with relief. "No wonder I can't talk around her. I mean, really."
"It's no excuse for you staring at her all the time." Ginny replied, her eyes glinting with mischief.
Ron blushed crimson, changing the subject quickly.
All in all, it had been a very eventful day. Harry walked them out of Hogwarts and down to the station, talking the whole way.
"Now, you promise you'll write and tell us how the interview goes?" Sirius asked, worry clearly on his face.
"Yes, I promise!" Harry said patiently, hugging them both again. "It'll be okay."
Notes:
Well, I've done it! Justice for Fleur and an adorable Ron scene. I always wondered how the audience could see what was going on during the tasks. I think in cannon they just stood around, but that didn't seem very interesting to me, so I made up a solution.
Happy Reading!