The morning of the second task was warm. It seemed a day of such promise when they were all taken outside. The goblins had setup one of their rare portals to the campgrounds. Everyone could just walk through.

The contestants arrived in the arena only to be given enchanted necklaces that would project what they were ultimately doing to the audience. The goblet of fire would be made into a portkey that got them there.

Wizards were said to be on standby at every one of their possible destinations, to assist if needed.

Albus Dumbledore took to the main platform and cast Sonorous on himself, facing the champions, not the audience. "The Ministry for magic has chosen all the possible tasks for our competitors today. They did this against my direct advice. I know not what you will face today. You do have a choice in how you will face it though. You can choose together or..."

They all stepped one step forward.

"Together it is. I wish you all good fortune. When you are ready everyone touch the Goblet. It will activate when everyone is touching it, and return when everyone is touching it, but only if everyone has completed their task, died, or is too injured to finish."

Several of their eyes widened as to the conditions to return, but they all walked forward and touched the Goblet regardless.

At the exact moment they touched the goblet the gem below the new room in the room of requirement flared bright blue, as did the cup and the gem in the original room below Atlantis. They vanished in a flash of blue fire.

Albus immediately ran off the platform and down into the field where the cup was and started casting spells. The real Moody joined him.

Albus said, "There is no trace. Something hijacked the portkey, but there is no trace."

Moody said, "The cup was a part of it. It blazed right as it happened. I don't think this was just a spell added to the cup."

Albus yelled, "Fawkes!"

His familiar did not respond.

Albus yelled again, to yet another irritating lack of response.

Samantha made her way down to do her own analysis of the residue but it was just as useless as the headmasters. "Magic spill obscured the residue. Deliberate by the looks of it. Whoever did this did not want followed. Damn."

They were surprised when a moment later the necklaces the champions were given began working, turning the field they were standing in into a copy of them crawling through ruins.

On either side of the participants large decorated concrete columns rose, although not far. They were crawling because the floor was filled with ice leaving less than two feet between the floor and ceiling.

Just ahead of their field of view, Fawkes flamed in with both Hermione and Luna.

Albus asked softly, "Just what are you doing my old friend?"

Harry was already tired of crawling over ice. Not knowing their destination, they had worn warm clothes they could take off. They weren't allowed anything other than non magical clothes and their wand, which was no doubt to prevent them from wearing their flying suits. People had checked.

He was surprised Fawkes had brought both Luna and Hermione, who were doing better than they were, but then they had on their flight suits under their normal clothes before being transported, so they could sort of float along.

Fleur had tried to apparate. Victor had tried creating a port key. Both failed.

Lafiel had surreptitiously tapped a few spots on her tablet in her pocket only to hear in Barohn, "Connection cannot be established."

They were on their own.

The area they were in opened out onto a great city of crystal, frozen on all sides by ice.

"Where are we?" asked Harry to no one in particular.

Luna looked around and grinned. "Atlantis. We have found the lost city of Atlantis."

"Found?" queried Lafiel.

Luna shrugged. "Found. Kidnapped. Same difference."

Lafiel nodded. The distinction truly didn't matter at this point.

Back at the field increasing demands to do something were stated, with Fudge's being the loudest. The only lead they had was the image, and the magic used didn't relay position. Patronuses were sent, but none actually arrived, which implied a great distance, or special wards, or both.

All they could do was watch and know the champions, plus the other two, were on their own.

The city was pristine, but so very sterile. It was bright, but lacked a true sun and the lack of people made it seem colder than it was.

They started to spread out when Lafiel called out, "We should remain together. We do not know why we are here. We do not know a path out. We do not even know what danger we are in." She turned to Fawkes. "Are we in danger Fawkes?"

Fawkes bowed his head in sadness.

Harry asked Fawkes, "Can you take us back?"

The bird shook his head.

"You can't take us out at all?"

The bird nodded his head. It then looked to Luna and Hermione as if to state, "I wouldn't have brought them if it was that simple."

Lafiel said, "We aren't here because you want to open this city to the magical world. You could have done that at any time. Even if you couldn't bring people through the wards easily, you could have led them here. They would have found a way eventually."

Fawkes nodded.

"Then there is something else. Some remnant… No, if it was a mere bauble you would have got it yourself. You need us. Our magic, our skills, something. You brought Hermione and Luna. I doubt you would have endangered two more people for a thing."

Fawkes warbled agreement.

She made a guess, "Someone still lives here but needs us to get them out safely?"

Fawkes trilled a happy warble.

Fudge pointed his finger at Albus. "You will stop this nonsense. There is no way in hell anyone authorized attempting to bring any ancient Atlantians back to life."

Albus said dryly, "If my phoenix is involved in this, and he seems to be, then I doubt it is in support of such dark magic."

Fudge blinked in confusion. "I never said…."

"You said bring back to life. That is well known the realm of Dark Magic. No, if someone is there, then they are living, after a fashion. Perhaps something like drought of the living death, but for it to last this long. What could do that?" he pondered.

"You still have to stop this," commanded Fudge.

"I would like nothing better than to do so, but how am I to do this?" asked the old Headmaster.

Fudge threw up his hands and stalked off.

Fawkes reluctantly lead them through the city then down into the deepest part of it. The crystal walls only grew more ornate as they descended into what must be the oldest part of Atlantis.

Their journey appeared to end in a blank room until Luna touched the middle of a blank wall and was pulled through. The others quickly followed only to see a copy of the ritual room they had recently used.

In the middle of the room were two crystal coffins. In one was a dark blue haired girl with dark skin. In the other was a late middle aged dark skinned man. Fawkes hopped onto each crystal container and looked down sadly at their frozen faces.

Luna was the first to speak. "We should help them. Think of what they could teach us."

Hermione asked, "Why us? Surely a Gringotts team would have been better."

Luna said, "These people have been sleeping for a long time. If just anyone could wake them, then I doubt Fawkes would have brought us."

Fawkes trilled on the last part, indicating his agreement with at least that sentiment.

Fleur moved over to the caskets casting a dozen different spells. Luna, Hermione, and Lafiel also cast what detection spells they knew.

Luna said, "They are tied to this place. It has sustained them for all this time, but they are a part of it as well."

Hermione asked, "So we have to disconnect them? What happens if we manage that?"

Luna said, "Bad things, I should think."

Victor said, "The ice above us. If they are tied into whatever wards are keeping that from crushing us..."

Harry asked Fawkes, "Can you flame us out once we save those two?"

Fawkes turned his head sideways.

Harry sighed. "I still can't believe he also brought Hermione and Luna, if he can't take them back. They were safe."

Fawkes bowed his head in shame.

Fleur said, "The wards probably allow him to pull them in, at least to where we were, but not get back out. He was probably trying to help us."

Fawkes nodded.

"Lovely," muttered Hermione. "So we need a rune scheme to separate them from this city, give them some of their energy back so maybe they can walk, and then we need some part of the rune array to take their place and keep the ice from killing us until we what, somehow find the exit to the surface and then what, walk back to Hogwarts? Assuming this is the north pole or thereabouts, not the south pole it is still several thousand miles!"

Lafiel said, "I'll stay here with Hermione and work on the rune scheme to try to do what we can. Everyone else should probably try to find a way out, or maybe food, but that seems unlikely."

Hermione blushed. "Actually I have my bag with its extension charm, and um have a bunch of books and I think like twenty bags of trail mix."

They all looked at her dubiously.

"What? They had a sale and this is the good kind." Hermione reached her hand way down in the apparently small pack pulling out one of the large bags of trail mix and handing it to Fleur who was closest.

Harry held out his hand for a bag. Hermione blew her blue hair out of her eyes before reaching in and fishing another bag out.

Victor said, "Let's get going. How about we meet back here in about four hours, even if we don't find anything?"

They all agreed and headed out.

Back in the fairgrounds at the judges table Albus Dumbledore, the leader of the light, could not help but laugh, even as he pulled his own version of Hermione's bag out and pulled from it a bag of lemon drops.

He had ordered the house elves to provide food for everyone. The magic that tied their necklaces to this area could not be moved without destroying it. Technically the muggles expected to use this facility for something else tomorrow. He wasn't sure what. Something involving tractors he thought, whatever those were. The ministry was already securing the area. This promised to be awhile before it was resolved.

Daphne, Samantha, and Garnok were in the copy of the ritual chamber at Hogwarts, along with Flitwick, Septima, Bathsheba, and Severus which gave them a solid group of seven. They had no idea what to do yet, but they were here.

Flitwick was the first to notice the crystal floor start to fill with runic sigils of light. He pointed and said, "This room is echoing that room. They must be preparing a new array."

Severus said, "That is nice and all, but they have to break the link between those two who are tied to wards older than almost all civilizations and then someone keep the wards from collapsing long enough to escape. I for one, don't have a clue how to do that."

Septima said, "But they do. Look at what they are writing!"

Samantha said, "I follow some of this. They are flailing. There are ideas there that make some sense, but don't fit with others. Look, see how symbols are fading out even as others are added."

Daphne asked, "But what can we do to help? If we start drawing some random rune pattern, wouldn't that just confuse them."

"No, it can't be random," Bathsheba agreed. "What we need to do is to check their work, erase anything that is wrong, and suggest others if they are missing an area."

Severus said, "Can't we just write. We are at Hogwarts. Can we help?"

Garnok said, "I'll do it. I can make it inert, yet still visible."

Garnok touched his slightly clawed hand to the crystal. He wrote, "This is Hogwarts ROR. Daphne, Samantha, Garnok, Filius, Septima, Bathsheba, and Severus are here. Can we help?"

Lafiel immediately stopped drawing runes with her wand when she saw the text appear. She turned to Hermione who shrugged, having no better idea.

Lafiel wrote, "Unknown. We have not come up with a viable plan yet. We think we are somewhere deep near the North Pole, but that is only guesswork. We don't know. Fawkes can't return us."

Filius suddenly jumped up. He said, "I've got an idea. Why can't they just shove those two into Hermione's bag? The inside space will cut them off from where they are, snapping the ward."

Septima said flatly, "You want to put a living being inside of a magically created space that was created without provisions for living things?"

Severus asked, "Are we sure Hermione didn't create her bag with living things in mind?"

Bathsheba said, "Unlikely. I know the design she likely used. One that would be safe for humans would be almost useless as she is using it. That is the trade off. They could, however, build a bag with those features, though it would not be easy without materials."

Samantha said, "There is also the possibility that just shoving them into an isolated dimension like that will result in an instantaneous ward failure and death for everyone involved. A less drastic method would be preferred, and that is even assuming the wards linking them to that place would allow them to close the bag and seal the dimensional space. It may not. You saw that city. That the people of Atlantis could build something that lasts thousands of years with no maintenance whatsoever doesn't point to their magic having such obvious holes."

Severus asked, "Why not just feather light the caskets and carry them out with them? If they actually manage to carry them outside the wards, then everything is simple."

The idea was suggested and immediately replied to. "Tried that already. Wards are locking the caskets down tight, nor can they be opened while they are connected to them."

"Figures," Severus muttered.

Harry continued to marvel at this relic of the past that he could not but wish they could save. It was a massive submarine frozen in ice. Still, saving themselves and those other two were the priority. He wished he had Hermione's flight suit, but it was too late to go back and get it this trip. The fact that the suit would not work well for someone other than its intended target didn't help matters. At least Luna was here and able to fly up and get a look at things.

They had found no sign of a way out. It was surprising that the air still seemed fresh and that they had light, but they presumed it was more of the same warding scheme that was keeping the ice from crushing them.

They kept looking.

Severus said, "Do not make me out to be the bad guy for suggesting this, but could the problem not be simplified if they just separated one of them from the wards?"

Samantha responded. "Possibly, though the wards may still start failing. It would give them a person who might know how to get out of there."

Filius added, "Its a fair bet that the person frozen isn't going to know English, and translation spells aren't a thing."

Garnok sighed. "I've had to leave people behind before to save the team. I don't like it, but I'll convey the idea and that we are still working on coming up with a better one."

Daphne asked, "What about their link? For that matter maybe I can link from here somehow?"

"What do you mean?" asked Filius.

"When they link they often understand each other. If someone knows how to cast a spell when they, or heck when I'm part of it, the other rapidly learns it."

Garnok said, "I suspect it will help will at some point, but I've no idea when."

Daphne nodded.

Both Lafiel and Hermione read the possible idea. Hermione replied that they didn't like the idea of only saving one either.

Lafiel said, "Well, I think with your help I could figure out a scheme to do it. We should get started."

"What?" exclaimed Hermione. "Are you giving up already?"

"No, but if you have only one plausible direction to go, you might as well explore it. We might think of something else along the way.."

Hermione sighed. "I'll tell them what we are doing, so they don't freak, but I really hope we don't have to go with this plan."

"I as well hope that."

They were distracted when a blue flash of light occurred from the casket with the young women that was about their age. They looked closer and could see the top of a blue crystal through the otherwise opaque lid. It was resting in the crease of her shirt.

The crystal continued to flash, as if trying to get their attention.

Lafiel hesitated before reaching out with both of her hands. A glance to Hermione had Hermione cover Lafiel's hands with her own.

The blue pulsing grew in speed and strength until suddenly they were gone, pulled in by the light right into the blue crystal.

They found themselves in a green field with the young woman who was in the casket.

The young woman said, "Hello?" in what appeared to be ordinary English.

Hermione said, "Hello to you as well. Where are we? Who are you?" Then realizing how rude she was being added, "I'm Hermione, this is Lafiel."

"The blue water pulled you into itself and is allowing us to communicate. It is where I've rested and dreamed even as my body slowly ages." She then smiled and said, "My name is Nadia."

"Why are you still here?" asked Lafiel.

"There were more of us. A rather evil man locked myself and Captain Nemo here so as to preserve the city, but we can't escape on our own. I'm still surprised he left me the blue water, but without its power we would have died long ago."

Lafiel asked, "Do you know how to get out?"

"The idea your friends sent would probably work, but I won't abandon Captain Nemo. The blue water might be able to do it, if its power wasn't drained over the centuries, but even then, the wards would break. Ice would kill us before we would be able to escape."

Hermione asked, "Can we talk to Captain Nemo?"

"Probably not, at least I don't see how. The blue water made me a special case. He is not." After a moment she added, "But if we can free him, I know there is a submarine that might still be usable."

Lafiel said, "So our options are to somehow recharge your gem, which I'm not sure we can do, or to possibly charge your gem somewhat, free him, then figure out how to free you later."

Nadia walked towards them. "I have blocked the transmission of our conversation with your necklaces. I cannot do so forever, unless I destroy them. I tell you this now in confidence. Restoring the blue water is safe enough, provided I keep possession of it. It is deeply linked to me and will largely cease to function should I pass without an heir, at least provided it can be kept out of the wrong hands long enough."

Lafiel asked, "You are worried how people will react if they learn of it?"

"Yes. It is the culmination of Atlantian science and magic. I believe we were left here, not just to preserve the city, but force me to drain the blue water, but not to destroy it. It has certain protections that also grow weaker as I grow weaker; as it grows weaker. It is more vulnerable now than it has ever been. I just hope no one remains alive with the knowledge to exploit it."

The blue water flashed several times. Nadia grew sad. "You should save Captain Nemoy. I will hold here for long enough, then will the blue water to destroy itself, dropping the wards entirely, which should allow the submarine to leave."

"Unacceptable," snapped Lafiel. "An Abriel never abandons others to save themselves."

Lafiel held her right hand out to cover the gem on Nadia's chest and let her magic flow. After a few seconds Hermione did the same.

For close to half an hour, all the spectators saw were the two young women with their hands resting on the crystal container. This ended when the blue water gem their hands were over flashed once, as if in warning.

In the virtual world Nadia took a step back.

Lafiel staggered, as did Hermione, but they caught each other as they sunk to the ground. Nadia immediately moved back to them, the blue water flaring as she touched them, restoring some of the color to each of them.

Nadia said, "I apologize. I have never done that before. Are you well? Do you need more returned?"

Lafiel smiled, "Just tired."

"What you did isn't enough for me to break the bindings holding us here. If anything you just made them worse."

Lafiel asked, "How much more would you need?"

On Nadia, the blue gem flashed several times, as if in code.

Nadia responded, "Months at least, though the city is safe enough with the extra energy. What would you eat?"

Hermione replied, "I have some food, and it can be magically duplicated. It's not particularly nutritious, and less so if we duplicate it, but months is possible."

"The ice should be drinkable once melted, though you should check it. There may be seeds still in storage that may be viable. I think I can sense the wards interacting with a storage area but I cannot pinpoint where."

Lafiel said, "We should destroy the transmitter necklaces. Let them think we have died until we return."

Hermione asked, "What about the tournament and the magical contract? The goblet is an ancient magical contract. What if you violate it? What about the people at Hogwarts?"

Nadia responded, "Are you referring to this?" A ghostly image of the goblet appeared in her hands.

Hermione nodded.

"You have my apologies then. Hundreds of years ago, when I still had some strength I sent the Goblet out into the world. If it sensed those who could possibly free me, it would try to bring them here. I know that your magical world has perverted but not replaced its original purpose. It was the copy of this room you accidentally called into existence that gave the initial energy for the Goblet to fulfill its original purpose but it destroyed itself pulling you here. Your magical contract is over."

Hermione said, "We'll, that's a relief."

Lafiel said, "I see no way for the people at Hogwarts to provide magic to your gem, unless they were here."

"Correct. The wards would prevent it. There is a weakness in bringing things in, but it is a small one. Fawkes can escape by himself, but it is a near thing, and he has to be near where you came in. He probably only managed the other two because the Goblet had just breached the wards.

Hermione said, "Wait, the magic we expended to that room. Didn't that come here to you? Isn't that why the goblet worked?"

"No, it went to the blue crystal I created below this room. It has little other purpose than helping to bring you here. I can't pull any energy from it, and I sense it is near to failing in any event."

Lafiel said, "Perhaps the people at Hogwarts could make something like the Goblet, that could penetrate the wards by using this other crystal. More food would be desirable. I'd rather not bring more people."

"Seeds," Hermione said. "If we can't find the Atlantian ones we will need to be able to grow our own food."

Lafiel nodded.

Nadia said, "You may get one more use out of it, but it would be incoming only."

They returned to the real world and explained that they had a plan to get out, but it was likely to take months. They also explained the blue gem linked to their copy of the room of requirement. That it might be possible to use it to send seeds and other food once, but they asked not to risk trapping anyone else. They also explained that the Goblet was destroyed in bringing them here. The Triwizard tournament was over.

In the room of requirement, Samantha stood and began pacing back and forth. It was on her third pass she said, "I understand how we might use our copy of this gem as a crack into their wards. They are, magically, almost the same gem, separated in space. I have no idea if it really will only work once more, but its better to assume that even that is risky. Have the house elves prepare what they will need. Seeds and enough food in stasis to last them months. Make sure they prepare enough for one more as well. I'm going."

Garnok said, "There is no need Samantha. I will go."

Samantha glared. "I didn't volunteer as one of your warders."

"I know. I would never give that order in any event, unless the alternative was worse. If action was likely to be required you would be the better choice. You are younger and more fit. On pure knowledge I am still your superior though."

"I very much doubt your expertise on Atlantis exceeds mine, given that we both thought it legend."

"Let's roll dice for it," suggested Filius. "Who all wants in?"

All of their hands rose, even Daphne's.

Daphne looked around and sighed. "I want to go, but not at the risk of increasing their risk. Surely one of you would be better. Actually, who contributes most? I'll agree it is not me."

Filius said, "I'm not so sure. Can you link with the others now?"

Daphne said, "I can with Lafiel. I haven't tried with the others."

Severus said, "Then your in the list. That is not to be underestimated, and they have months to ask us questions it seems. My own contribution is being competent in a fight and potions. Filius is also good in a fight, and I could only bring so many ingredients for potions. His charms mastery may be more important."

Bathsheba said, "I am probably the least useful. Oh there is rune knowledge that I have certainly not passed on, but that can be done here."

Septima said, "Count me out too. I can help here more than there. If I don't know the answer, I probably know the people that do."

Filius said, "I think Severus is the better choice. Potions ingredients do not take up that much space, and I'll bet you can make the equipment you need. Poppy is a better healer, but all around, I'd vote for Severus, if I was in their place."

Garnok said, "Damn. Filius makes a good point. My knowledge can probably be shared here as easily as any. Count me out, though I still think Samantha is a good choice. She is my second in command for a reason." He then looked at all three, one at a time. "I can't narrow it down further. Each of the three contribute parts I'd prefer to have were I there." He asked Samantha, "How long do you think it will take you to figure out a way to get there, and whether or not three with all the rest will be safe?"

Samantha replied, "I figure once we all leave I can try to summon the room the crystal is in, and begin to study it. Risking my own life is one thing, but if we are going to send three, then I must be sure. Garnok, if you could begin training Daphne and Severus in spotting things that will kill them I would appreciate it. I still think this is more a tomb raider problem than a war. Septima, Bathsheba, I would be grateful if you could back me up in my design work. Mistakes must not be made. I assume that Severus can collect most of what he may need from his stores?"

Severus said, "I'll probably just raid Poppy's stock for starters. She will be annoyed with me, but she certainly has the skill to replace them, and St. Mungos will send replacements in an emergency. Completed potions take up less space and the rest can come from my stores. I'll ask her to supervise the food as well. They may all curse me for it, but she is certainly the best one to pick food that keeps us healthy that takes the least space."

Samantha said, "Must you? Can't you just have the elves put in our usual stuff?"

Severus said slightly gleefully, "We all must suffer together."

Daphne said, "At least tell her not to include more of Granger's awful trail mix. The girl is addicted to the stuff."

Severus nodded.

Daphne said, "Do you think we could include all our flight suits, or maybe some brooms?"

Samantha said, "I'd recommend against the flight suits. The less magic we transport the better. The people, potions, and potion ingredients are bad enough. You could include the raw material to make more though. That should be safe enough, and we are going to need clothes."

Severus asked, "I can get a set then?"

Samantha said, "Sure. They take some time to make, but I could make my own and you one if need be."

Filius said, "I want one too, but Gringotts is near to producing them. I can wait."

Severus said, "If I'm going, then someone needs to take my class, and I rather doubt I could talk Poppy into it after raiding her potions stores."

Daphne said hesitantly, "Perhaps a permanent replacement?"

Severus looked at her with a frown.

She exclaimed, "What? You hate your job! You may be a potions master, but why you still teach kids is beyond me."

Severus said dryly, "She does have a point."

Garnok said, "I'll get our teams Potions master to teach until Albus can find someone permanent."

"A goblin potion master?" murmured Severus. "That should make the pure bloods happy."

Garnok grinned. "We aim to please. Besides, the rest of the school will compare him to you."

Severus scowled but nodded. "Too much is happening this year. I should have quit the day I knew the dark lord was dead and the rest of them were rounded up. Still, if I did, I'd have missed this..." He grinned.

Harry and the rest returned to the crystal chamber a couple hours later. Each of the gems on their necklaces immediately flared and cracked, rendering them inactive.

After Hermione explained what happened, Harry said, "We'll we found some seeds. They might work, but aren't sure how to open the crystals holding them. We also found a gigantic submarine that was frozen in the ice. If we could melt the ice, and if it still worked..."

Fleur added, "It looked intact from what we could tell. Luna flew all around it, and didn't find any problems."

Lafiel went on to explain their plan, which meant they would be here months or more and for much of it eating Hermione's duplicated snack mix. They all frowned at that, but accepted the necessity.

Hogwarts was trying to use what was left of their way in to send food, seeds, clothing and such. They knew they had food for now, so were going to wait a couple weeks before making an attempt, since they were pretty sure they were only going to get one.

Hermione said, "We are going to need to adapt the magical array we were working on for propulsion to melt the ice around the ship. If we just melt it with fire spells and such, the wards around Atlantis would just refreeze it. We need to do something faster than the wards can undo it."

Lafiel said, "I think first, we could use a smaller array to clear and keep clear access to the ship. We need to get onboard and see if it it will work or can be fixed. We will probably need to pull the captain out before the final attempt to free Nadia, but for now it is probably better to wait. Once Nadia is free the wards may fail very quickly."

Hermione added one more thing. "If we are to probably destroy this place, we should document it. Paper and muggle pens should be on the list."

Lafiel went on to write the addition to the other work on the floor. She said, "I can record quite a lot with my tablet as well."

They had a plan. They just had to pull it off.