Over the next couple of weeks, Dudley and Lockhart worked on the bubble-head charm. Dudley could cast it pretty easily now, the only trouble was, getting it to stay active. The most he had managed was 15 minutes, and by the sounds of it, he would need it for at least an hour. Still, they had plenty of time until February.
They had all, Dean included, ground to a halt in progress at casting a Patronus. Lockhart assured them it was very advanced magic and that even casting a cloud of vapour was impressive at their age. At least he was doing better than Hermione. Her Patronus barely lasted a few seconds before disappearing.
"How are you and Neville getting on with the egg?" Dean asked, after one session with Lockhart.
"I meant to ask you about that—I want to check that we're on the same, idea, don't tell Neville I asked—he really wants to work on this himself,"
"Sure," said Dean.
"Well, I finally recognised it's Mermish," Hermione said. "When you opened yours underwater, did you hear a song?"
"Yeah," Dudley said. "Saying we had an hour to find something."
"Same as us," Hermione said. "Have you had any luck finding a spell to breathe underwater?" she asked, lowering her voice as a gaggle of Hufflepuffs passed by.
"Yeah, Lockhart knew something straight away, we've been working on it," Dudley said.
"Neville too, I can't say what it is—but we know how to do it. Anyway—I think it's stupid us not helping each other out, we're all friends and all Hogwarts and all Gryffindor," said Hermione.
Dudley sensed there was a point coming soon.
"I'm not saying we should train together—you've got Lockhart, but we might as well share information. I mean, those dragons could have killed you. So, do you know what is living in the lake what Neville might face?"
"Grindylows, I expect," Dudley said.
"There's also the squid," said Ron.
"Yeah, but he's harmless,"
"No he isn't, he's got eight of them," Ron said, and quickly apologised when nobody laughed. "Sorry, my dad told me that one. No, but, you never know, if you're under the lake ..."
"I was wondering if there are Kappas down there, might be something we need to prepare for. Neville thinks there might be spikeweeds ..."
"What are those?" Dudley asked.
"Professor Sprout mentioned them last year," Hermione said. "Carnivorous seaweed."
"I expect a good fire spell will see that off," said Dudley.
"You'll be underwater, Dud," Ron reminded.
"Oh yeah ... a severing charm then."
Hermione nodded. "I've been practicing that with Neville."
They stopped talking about the tournament when they headed into the Common Room. Fred and George were loudly demonstrating a new joke sweet they had made. "Squeaky sweets!" Fred proclaimined. "Make you speak in a squeaky voice! Two galleons each!"
He swallowed one and immediately starting talking in a veyr high-pitched voice. "Absolutel bargain, we'll do three for five galleons!"
"They're hoping to raise money for a joke shop," Ron said. "Would be pretty cool. I don't think mum'd be pleased. She wants them to go into the Ministry with Dad and Perce."
Dudley snorted. In no way could he ever imagine Fred and George holding down a Ministry job. A joke shop was right up their alley.
'
"Hello, Dudley," Luna said, glancing up. She had been playing wizarding chess with Katie Bell and had just beat her. "Want a game? I've learnt a new attack I want to try out."
Dudley had still yet to even come close to beating Luna at chess. She was also the only one who ever came close to beating Ron when they played.
Dudley sat down to have a game with Luna. Ginny was sat nearby studying and, across the room, Neville was relaxing, feet on a stool with his arm around Lavender as they did their Divination homework together.
It was this that he liked best about Hogwarts, Dudley decided as he took one of Luna's pawns with his knight. His knight hurled abuse at him when Luna's bishop gleefully captured it.
The next morning at breakfast, an owl dropped off Hermione's issue of the Daily Prophet. She gave a small gasp. "They've sentenced Nott?"
"Theo Nott?" Dudley asked, glancing around.
"Yes, listen ..." Hermione said started reading. "... Theordore Nott aged 14 had been held in a Ministry holding cell until a decision was made about what to do with him. He is the youngest person to face trial for casting one of the unforgivable curses and the Wizengamot debated long and hard over whether he should be tried as an adult. Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge announced that the decision had been made yesterday and that Nott would recieve a life sentence in Azkaban.
'We need to show that dark magic will not be tolerated,' Fudge said in a statement. 'Regardless of Theodore Nott's age, he used the crucio curse on another student. We believe that 13 is old enough to be accountable for your actions.'"
Ron whistled. "Life in Azkaban."
"That makes him the youngest ever prisoner," Hermione said. "Surely that's not right ..."
"He did use crucio on me, remember," Dudley said gruffly.
"I know,but still ... he's 14. Imagine, a life with the dementors."
"Good riddance," Dudley said. "Nott was a garbage person. He deserves it."
"I'm with Dud," said Dean. "It's unforgiveable for a reason."
Hermione looked thoughtful. "It took a long time for them to decide. I wonder why they made the decision to send him there now."
"Probably Fudge wanting to look like he's doing something," Dean said, wisely. "He can't find Malfoy's dad, so he throws Theo Nott behind bars instead. He's gotta do something to win back a bit of support."
"You know, that sounds very likely. I wouldn't put it past Fudge to have thrown anyone in jail really. Remember, like he did to Hagrid?"
"Dad reckons he'll be gone soon—course, keep that quiet," Ron said. "Fudge is still in charge, it can't be known that dad's been badmouthing him. Fudge already doesn't like him very much."