*Ginny*

I was fidgeting while reading my assignment for Charms the evening before the second task. It was on summoning and banishing objects but my head was elsewhere. Harry was next to me working on the same. Finally, he gently put his hand over mine and gazed at me with those emerald eyes I loved.

"I really don't want to do this," I said.

"Flitwick didn't give us that much to read…"

"Prat." He knew I wasn't talking about homework.

He smiled. "The Ginny I know doesn't let people try to control her."

"Not even a roguishly handsome boyfriend?" I was going to see how far he'd take this.

Harry kissed my forehead. "I'd be a very badly hexed bloke if I tried."

Good answer. "Too right." I tried hiding a yawn. "We both have a big day tomorrow," I said and we gave each other our goodnights. I hope he would get a decent sleep. His nights had been interrupted at least weekly with visions of Tom.

I was woken up far too early to a particularly inquisitive-looking cat. I was about to toss it across the room but my brain started working before I chucked my head of house into a footlocker. I sat up, looked around, and saw Hermione already up and getting dressed. We did our best to let Lavender and Parvati stay asleep.

The cat left the room and I dressed into jeans and a tee (no way was I going to risk swimming in school robes). After a moment's thought, I slipped in my wand holster under my left sleeve.

Professor McGonagall met us outside Gryffindor Tower in her human form and escorted Hermione and I to a makeshift shack near the Black Lake. It was not much more than a lean-to and my skin tingled as I approached it.

The girl Cedric was seeing, Cho Chang was there in her robes, sitting in a wooden chair and waiting. A minute later and a younger version of Fleur appeared, shaking like a leaf. They served us some pastries and I had a few bites but no one else seemed hungry.

Mr. Crouch was there in an expensive suit looking on while Ludo Bagman was giving instruction while dressed in very nice robes. "You four lovely ladies have all been picked to participate in today's task. Your champion has been told that hidden inside the lake will be what they will miss most, and so we decided it would be most motivating to use their dates to the Yule Ball, except in Miss Delacour's case where her sister Gabrielle was available."

Did we have the Yule Ball just so Ludo could take a guess as to who was sweet on whom? I wouldn't want to be Hermione after this.

He waved his hands downward trying to stop any protests. "Now, the challenge has a time limit of sixty minutes. You'll be put into a hibernation trance that will keep you from needing to breathe. You'll wake up when you break the surface, hopefully in the arms of your hero. If the time expires, an adult will get you out... Please take your seat and remain calm."

He was placing the charm alphabetically. Ludo quickly had Cho dead asleep and then Fleur's sister. Then Hermione and then he looked at me…

"No. You're not putting me to sleep."

Ludo took a step back in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"Mr. Bagman, I didn't sign up for this. Of course, neither did Harry if we're keeping a tally. Given the record of how things have gone so far, I'm not going to be left unconscious and defenseless on a pier or at the bottom of a lake. Also, the task is stupid anyway; if I ever was at the bottom of a lake, I wouldn't depend on my boyfriend to get me out, even if he is Harry Potter."

"Miss Weasley, most girls would consider this an honor. If you don't want to be a willing participant, I'll find someone else who is."

Low blow. Just what Harry didn't need was him splashed over the Prophet with Lavender "falling out of her dress" Brown. I gritted my teeth. "Fine. I'll go along for Harry's sake. But no charms from you. Professor McGonagall, I'm sure you could cast a spell that would keep me breathing and awake. I'll give you my word to not try to escape on my own, but I'm not going to be blacked out."

Ludo finally nodded as my professor gave me an actual smile and carefully drew her wand. "Yes, Miss Weasley. I'll put you in a bubble head charm, it'll last plenty long. And I'll make sure the other girls aren't left alone prior to the task either."

Half an hour later, we moved to the lake. Ludo and Mr. Crouch took Cho and Hermione under the water to wherever they were going to be tied up. Forty minutes later, they reappeared. Mr. Crouch took Gabrielle and Ludo cautiously took my hand. I definitely didn't have a pleasant look on my face.

I took one step into the lake and wanted to know who the bloody idiot was to have a water challenge in the dead of winter. Professor McGonagall quickly waved her wand twice around me and I felt warmer and also could barely see the shimmer of the bubble around my head that would give me air. I plunged in all the way and waited for Ludo to dive in.

Being a perfectly capable swimmer, I followed him through the lake rather than being tugged around like a sack of potatoes. After a few minutes, the bottom dropped suddenly and I was left wondering how deep the lake really was. I looked down and saw nothing but murky blackness with only Ludo's wand providing some light. At one point, I thought I saw the shadow of the giant squid, but it also could have just been my eyes tricking me.

We finally reached the outskirts of what must have been the mer-people's village. There were several caves that had some different plants decorating the entrances, definitely not growing wild. Then I saw two blurry bodies in the center that gradually turned into Hermione and Cho as we got closer. Next to them were two stakes. Mr. Crouch tied Gabrielle to one of them and I reluctantly stood next to the last one and Ludo wrapped a vine around me. It was tight enough that it was a bit uncomfortable, but I endured it.

Then the two men left and it was me and the other three girls. I realized a flaw in my plan — being alone at the bottom of a lake is rather boring.

Eventually, some of the village inhabitants came out. I stretched my neck the best I could to see them. There wasn't anything in particular, just what I assumed were families going about their day. They looked happy. I wished I could get to know them better, but students weren't supposed to be down here and I couldn't speak mermish anyway. That part of my memories of Tom weren't strong enough for me to want to attempt it.

I thought of what living under the water would be like and I must have drifted off for a little bit. I opened my eyes and saw someone with the head of a shark swimming towards me. I couldn't tell by the legs if it was Cedric or Krum, but then he centered on Hermione. I was a tad nervous that Viktor wouldn't be able to get through the ropes without getting a bite of my friend in the process, but he ended up managing. Once she was free, he too her in his arms and quick sped upwards.

A few minutes later or so (it was difficult to tell time under the water), a bubble-headed Cedric Diggory showed. He used a spell to cut Cho's ropes and they too were gone, leaving Gabrielle and me behind.

I was starting to get nervous for Harry, wondering what had gone wrong. Just when I was believing I was going to have to wait for Ludo to come get me after time expired, Harry and Fleur arrived together. He looked fine but Fleur had nasty welts on her arms, feet, and even neck. Harry came towards me and smiled when he noticed I was awake.

He reached towards his leg and produced a small knife that Sirius had gave him. It was charmed to be able to unlock most doors that had been guarded against alohamora. However, with its jagged edge it also seemed to function well cutting vines. It made short work of my bonds and after waiting for Fleur to be done with her sister, Harry and I swam together towards air.

As soon as I broke the surface, my bubble disappeared. "What took you so long?" I demanded as I tread water next to him. "We've been practicing swimming for weeks."

"Fleur… I thought I was doing well, but I ran into Fleur being attacked by grindylows. They were swarming, much worse than with me or the others, and she seemed to be in a lot of pain. She was getting really bad marks wherever they touched her. I couldn't leave her there." He looked down and then back in my eyes. "Maybe it's stupid, she probably would have been ok."

I guess it was my turn to be a git that day. "No, dear… I'm sorry. You shouldn't… don't apologize for caring too much. I'm just not happy that either of us had to do this." I put a hand on his chest and smiled. "You stay exactly who you are. But we better start swimming back or we're both going to be icicles."

"Yes, Gin."

Within a few minutes we were being picked up And placed onto a pier by Hagrid. He also gave us each a towel that we wrapped ourselves in. Fleur and her sister were along soon after. Before he knew it, she had him in a tight hug. "Thank you, 'arry. You saved me and mon petite soeur." Even though I knew I didn't have to worry, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy at the knockout in a bathing suit with her arms around Harry.

When she finally let go, he was more than a bit red at the attention. "It was nothing," he quietly said.

"I'm freezing. Where's some bloody dry clothes?" I demanded.

Harry smiled, "Are you a witch or aren't you?" He pointed his wand at me and soon my shirt and pants were bone dry.

"I'm still cold."

"Another warming charm?"

"No, something better…" I launched myself at Harry and kissed him with every ounce of strength I had left.

He wasn't prepared and ended up tripping backwards, with me tumbling over him.

"Ginevra Weasley!"

Ugh, that could only be… "Mum, what are you doing here?" I tried picking myself back up as quickly as possible.

"Family members were invited to the last two tasks. We weren't told until it was too late to let you know. Sirius and your dad are visiting with Amos Diggory."

"Oh, well, glad you're here."

She looked a little cross to me. "Good. You need to learn that there is a time and a place and an age…"

Harry interrupted as he put a gentle hand around my shoulders. "My fault, Mrs. Weasley. I've just been worried about her and then I slipped."

Professor McGonagall saved me from words I didn't need to say. "Mr. Potter, this way, they are about to announce the scores." He kissed my hand and then had to leave again.

The starch was gone from Mum's argument at least. A minute later, Mr. Crouch stood, ready to announce the scores. Karkaroff looked very happy, Madame Maxime was fuming, while Crouch looked upset as well.

"Returning first with his hostage after using a brilliant partial transformation, Viktor Krum has been awarded forty-five points." The news was followed by gleeful cheers from the Durmstrang section.

"Cedric Diggory made use of a bubble head charm and came in shortly after for second and is awarded forty points." He received much enthusiastic applause from Hogwarts, minus Slytherin.

Then Crouch paused for a moment. "Unfortunately, we have had some irregularities in the task that must be dealt with. Miss Fleur Delacour required assistance from Harry Potter to complete her task. She has broken a cardinal rule of the tournament and we have therefore been forced to reluctantly bar her from the third task and disqualify her from the Cup."

Fleur looked shocked and heartbroken, and then I heard plenty of French words that I would not have learned in a school setting. She regained her composure and stood there silently next to the other champions.

Once the jeers had died to a soft roar, he finished. "For providing said assistance, Harry Potter is docked his points from the second task but will still participate in the final task... Thank you and I hope everyone will have a pleasant after and return for the third task on Mayday."

We caught up with Harry a few minutes later. He was trying to apologise to Fleur. Finally, she said, "They've 'ad it in for me since ze selection. I was never winning."

But her headmistress wasn't giving up as easily.

*Arthur*

Sirius nearly yanked my arm out of socket as he dragged me towards the judges table. Madam Maxime was furious, towering over Bagman and Crouch. "Zis is an outrage! First you give 'ogwarts a second champion and then you remove Beauxbatons' only participant!"

Crouch held his ground, which was surprising in itself. He calmly responded. "There are quite firm rules regarding interference that Miss Delacour broke."

Maxime said, "Those rules are to prevent unfair tampering, not assisting a champion who is in real danger."

Dumbledore quietly stood by while Karkaroff said, "Bagman, Crouch, and I felt differently and we voted for the disqualification. Apparently Grindylows react badly to Veela. Quite unfortunate that the champions' course led them through a mass of them." He gave a tight, sinister grin.

One look at Maxime and I didn't need to guess who had picked the course. She took one step towards him. "You are a pig."

"Next time, I suggest making sure you have a worthy human contestant. One with pure blood."

To her credit, Maxime didn't toss him in the lake right then and there. Sirius interjected. "She may not be a hundred percent human, but you are a total jackass."

Crouch wasn't impressed by his cleverness. "If you don't have anything useful to say…"

Sirius continued, "If Fleur can be disqualified and prevented from entering the third task, why didn't any of you think try to do anything about Harry? He could have gotten himself removed from being forced to participate in something he never wanted."

Crouch said, "You seriously think he wants out? After all the effort he expended to cheat his way in?"

I had had enough. "You're more of an idiot than ever. If all of you thought Harry snuck his way in, why didn't three of you vote him out?"

Dumbledore look sadly tired. "I tried, Arthur. Maxime and I voted to disqualify him based on his age, but no one else joined us."

Karkaroff said arrogantly, "He signed himself up, he gets to take his own medicine, as you English would say."

Crouch added, "It's not against the rules to be underage, that was a qualification Dumbledore himself added this time 'round. It would set a dangerous precedent. Next time the tournament is held, what would prevent the host school from voting out the competition?"

"And you, Ludo? I thought I knew you."

"It would have been bad form, Arthur."

I saw a something in the way his eyes refused to meet mine. Unfortunately, I did know Ludo too well. "No... Sirius, what are the odds on Harry winning?"

He looked at me oddly. "Not sure, I think Bill mentioned something about them being twenty to one before the first task." Some of the goblins at Gringotts had a side business as bookees.

"How much are you in for?" I yelled.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're a rubbish liar, Ludo." I looked around at the five judges. "If anything happens to my son… He's just a boy. He never asked for any of this… But that's never mattered to any of you."

I turned around and started to walk away as Maxime started a second round with the other judges. If my guess about Ludo was right, it threw the entire contest into even more suspicion. For as much as the wizarding world claimed to care about their children, none of them were doing a good job showing it. Least of all…

"Arthur, a moment please." Dumbledore called from behind. I turned around and saw him following Sirius and I. We were out of a whisper's earshot of the rest of the judges. "I regret that I wasn't able to stop this. I didn't think Harry needed to know about what happened, the poor boy doesn't need more distractions."

I corrected my earlier statement. "He hasn't been allowed to be a boy since his parents died. Certainly not here. Your action and inaction has forced him to be a man before his time. I'm just thankful he's becoming a good one."

Before he could say anything else, I added, "We are telling him everything after the third task. Everything. If we expect him to make adult decisions, we at least give him the knowledge he needs"

Sirius said, "I completely agree. And we might as well tell Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. They are a bright bunch, one of them may have some insight into Ginny's prophecy, once everything is brought together."

Dumbledore twitched.

"You already have a guess," I said, trying to not sound too accusing.

"I have… an inkling. I need some more time to verify, but I'll tell them and you that I think I know after the tournament concludes. You have my word."

Sirius said, "We'll hold you to that. These secrets aren't helping. There's too much that will be lost if something happens to you."

*Ginny*

Hermione blurted out, "For the last time, Lavender, I just went to the ball with Viktor. And that was almost four months ago!" It was the day before Easter weekend and the gossip train was boring full-stream towards the end of term.

Lavender was just taking the mickey on her, mostly. A picture of her in Viktor's arms had made its way to the front cover of the Prophet after he won the second task.

I almost ran into a Beauxbatons girl as she darted across the hall. She looked back and gave a look more sour than Hippogriff milk. Her school had decided to stay on the small chance that Fleur would be allowed to compete as the French Ministry was formally protesting what had happened. Most of the students were not happy about being here though. Fleur was actually the only one that was being pleasant to us.

We walked into Snape's classroom and immediately quieted. He had stopped singling Harry and I out, but he got Lavender and Parvati last week for giggling as they walked in. Hermione took the seat next to Ron, who was on Harry's right. I sat behind him, allowing me a nice view of his hair and ears.

The professor began his lecture. "You won't need your books for our time today, because we will be reviewing some spells that many do not believe you should see at your age. These three spells are known informally as the Unforgiveables, because the use of any of them can earn a lifetime sentence to Azkaban."

He actually paused for one moment to allow us to catch up with our note-taking. "The first one of these is the Imperius curse. Several prominent members of wizarding society were attacked with this curse during the previous war against the dark lord and were unjustly accused of helping him. With this curse…"

At that, he took a cover off a nearby cage that was revealed to contain several mice. He cast the spell on one of the creatures, who immediately started viciously attacking the rest of the group. A moment later, it stopped just as abruptly. It climbed to the top of the cage where Snape let it out. It climbed down the side and then stood perfectly still.

"And once under the curse, the victim is usually defenseless... The next of the Unforgiveables is the Cruciatus curse, which causes extreme pain throughout the entire body."

The mouse writhed and wiggled uncontrollably and let out horrible screeches, as if it was slowly and terribly being killed, one inch at a time. Hermione cried out, "Stop it!" Next to her, Neville was so pale I didn't know how he had avoided fainting.

Snape relented but announced, "Five points from Gryffindor for interrupting a lecture." He stared at Hermione, daring her to talk back. "The Imperius curse can be fought by a few, and the Cruciatus does not leave any permanent physical damage, although the weak-minded can be severely traumatized by the memory of the pain. However, the last Unforgiveable has no counter and is quite fatal if it makes its target."

A green flash illuminated the classroom. Harry stiffened for a moment — just long enough for me to notice — and the mouse went limp. "The Avada Kedavra is a favorite of the dark lord's, but usually only used after he has dispensed the other two to his pleasure. The only one to survive is Mr. Potter and there has been no explanation why he was so… fortunate. The chances of a repeat performance are quite slim so I would dispel any notion that any of you would survive a similar encounter."

The rest of the period was spent with us taking turns being imperiused by Snape. He said Dumbledore insisted we learn how to fight against the curse. Snape had us assembled in lines, so I was immediately after Harry. Snape had set up a bit of an obstacle course that he had directed every other student through, though some seemed to resist more than others. Hermione and Ron went through the course but both managed to bruise their shins several times. The first step was to climb on top of a desk and jump off.

Harry slowly climbed up the desk but instead of jumping off, he barely hopped in place once. Snape's scowl grew more intense. He tried over and over. I couldn't hear anything but I could almost feel a crackle in the air.

Finally, Harry fell over backwards, off the desk and towards the stone floor. Luckily for him, I broke his fall. I had imagined something similar to this scenario several times, but not exactly. I took what I could get though. Harry took a deep breath and then sat up. He turned around and then helped me up. "Sorry, Gin."

"Anytime, dear." Ron rolled his eyes at me and I winked back.

"An admirable attempt, Mr. Potter. Though you still took far too long to fight back to have mattered if this was a matter of life and death. Your turn, Miss Weasley, if you're done acting as his mattress."

Snicker from Malfoy's corner of the room at the double meaning. "For the time being, professor." I smoothed out my robe and stood before him.

I heard a voice urging me to climb onto the desk. It seemed like a good idea and the voice was very persuasive. I put my right foot onto the chair and shifted my weight onto it. I lifted up my left leg onto the tabletop and turned. My head was flooded with memories of my first year. Tom controlling my every step as I walked outside, strangling roosters. Writing on the wall in their blood and speaking in an unearthly hiss. Something that I couldn't understand, but that…

I had to fight. Harry would die if I couldn't be strong enough. I felt a pulse of energy leave my body and suddenly the voice was gone.

My senses unfogged and I heard a roar of murmurs. At the front of the room, Snape was flat up against the chalkboard, his wand on the floor. He quickly stooped down to pick it up and angrily said, "Class dismissed."

It was the first time he had ever failed to give us homework. We all shuffled out quickly before he changed his mind. Once we were out, I forced myself to ask Hermione, "What the hell happened?" Ron and Harry caught up to us, just as interested.

She looked surprised. "I was about to ask you! You started climbing up the desk like everyone else and then…"

"Bam!" Ron said. "Some sort of banishing or disarming spell. Bloody wicked. And you did that wandless! Snape's face was priceless, sis."

"I didn't know what I was doing," I tried explaining. "I just… I started remembering when Tom controlled me and I…" I paused trying to describe it. "I wanted Harry to be proud of me."

He slipped his arm around my back, as low as he could in public, and drew me close. "I am, Gin. I always am."