Hermione was absolutely stumped. There had to be something! As Harry stopped eating and drifted off in class, Hermione spent every waking moment in the library. She hardly cared what Sirius wanted to know about Hogsmeade for, it wouldn't matter if Harry was dead.

"There must be something!" Hermione muttered absent minded, pulling a light source (perhaps a candle?) closer. She blinked, having read so much she wondered if her eyes would fall out, "They'd never have set a task that was undoable!"

"They have," Ron said. He should feel ashamed for giving up when Harry needed them! "Harry, just go down to the lake tomorrow, right, stick your head in, yell at the merpeople to give back whatever they've nicked, and see if they chuck it out. Best you can do, mate."

"There's a way if doing it!" Hermione insisted, she, unlike Ron, refused to give up, "There just has to be!"

There had to be something in the library. It had saved them all from the basilisk, it had to give them answers now! Harry mentioned something about Animagus, and Hermione automatically replied about wizarding laws. Something about unregistered Animagus stuck with her, even as she snapped shut Weird Wizarding Dilemmas.

"Oh this is no use. Who on earth wants to make their nose hair grow into ringlets?!"

"I wouldn't mind," Hermione looked up to see Fred and George. Fred offered her a wink and said, "Be a talking point, wouldn't it?"

"What're you doing here?" Ron demanded, a little rudely. Hermione thought maybe they were looking for more enchantments for their joke store.

"Looking for you," George answered, "McGonagall wants you, Ron. And you, Hermione."

"Why?" Hermione asked. Did McGonagall want to know why Harry's grades were likely suffering? Was she going to stop them helping Harry?

"Dunno," Fred said a little sadly, "She was looking a bit grim, though."

"We're supposed to take you down to her office," George said.

Hermione saw the look of pure panic on Harry's face, "We'll meet you back in the Common Room. Bring as many of these books as you can, okay?"

"Right," Harry managed, and Hermione could tell he was not at all relieved.

Ron followed George out of the library, weaving through the shelves fairly easily. Hermione's eye caught sight of a book, and she lurched toward it.

"Give it up, Hermione," Fred whispered, grabbing her wrist.

"But that-"

"You've read hundreds of books, 'Mione, what makes you think that one is The One?" Fred asked skeptically, dragging her away from the shelf. Hermione resigned herself to following Fred. George and Ron had not waited for them.

"What do you think she needs us for?" Hermione asked quietly. Madam Pince glared down at them as they left, either for talking or because she simply didn't like anybody.

"I dunno," Fred repeated, "But she didn't look that happy about it. That could always be what we did though-"

"She found out about the Canary Creams?" Hermione couldn't help but feel relieved, even if it meant the twins were in trouble.

"Of course, we left a few for Crabbe and Goyle in her classroom," Fred laughed, "She said had they not been so traumatizing it would've been a good bit if magic."

"First Malfoy's a ferret, then his cronies little birds," Hermione grinned, "I think this has turned out to be a fairly good year after all."

"That's all that's good about this year?" Fred raised one eyebrow. He grabbed Hermione's wrist, "Watch the step!"

Hermione caught her foot from falling into the false step at the last moment. She breathed out a long sigh of relief. Fred delivered her to McGonagall's without further incident.

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall said curtly. Professor Dumbledore stood as Hermione entered the room. George was waiting, leaning against the wall by the door, glaring at Dumbledore. She supposed he'd not forgotten the rules prohibiting anyone under 17 from entering the Tri-Wizard Tournament, reslulting in the Twins growing rather stunning facial hair.

"There you are. We were beginning to wonder Ms. Granger," the elderly wizard smiled knowingly as the Twins turned to leave. She mumbled something about trick stairs and fell quiet as Dumbledore gave her a somewhat stern look and continued, "I assume that you already know that the challenge takes place under the Lake, due to the state of your frantic search in the library. However, the thing which the champion shall miss most is not an object."

"We are?!" Hermione blurted out, confused. How could she and Ron both be there then?

"Precisely," Professor Dumbledore beamed through his half-moon spectacles, "Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter will have one hour to retrieve you from the merpeople's care; Ms. Granger, Mr. Krum will be sent to get you-"

"Won't we drown?" Ron asked. Hermione was the person that Krum would miss most? Surely then, he did not remember the incident at the Yule Ball when Fred had tackled him.

"Even in the old Tri-Wizard tournament, only the champions ever died. Well, with the exception of poor-" Dumbledore shook himself from his tangent. Perhaps that was why the Professor no longer taught classes, "Your answer, Mr. Weasley is no. I will be placing you in a bewitched slumber, so that as long as you are under water you no longer need to draw breath."

Hermione had read about that particular charm, and it was a tricky bit of magic. She'd discarded the idea because Harry couldn't sleep and swim and the same time, no one could, nor could he perform the charm. Dumbledore should have no problem with it though.

"So we won't be hurt?" Hermione asked, still pushing aside the fact that she would be the thing Viktor would miss most. She honestly couldn't see that particular relationship progressing too much farther if she was honest.

"Of course not!" Professor McGonagall said quickly.

"As soon as you break the surface of the water, you will be quite awake. And don't worry of the time constraint, it matters not how long your Champion takes to release you," Dumbledore assured them, conjuring two lavish chairs, "Now then, sit down."

Hermione reluctantly sat down into the chair, very nervous. It was still at least 12 hours until the Second Task even began. Would Professor Dumbledore's charm hold?

"On the count of three," Dumbledore swirled his knotted wand, smiled and said, "Three!"

.o0O0o.

Thanks to jillcovey, Kittyinaz and LUNAGURLZ for reviewing. I aim to please *bows*