While all this was going on, Holly and Viktor's relationship was blossoming. For New Year's Eve, the couple sat on the Astronomy Tower watching the fireworks that the professors were setting off. It was rare to see one without the other. Viktor started walking Holly to all of her classes, and he and Aleksandur would now eat their meals at the Gryffindor table with Holly and Hermione, much to the dislike of Ron and Karkaroff, but the boys would ignore the looks they would get from their headmaster and anyone else.
On Valentine's Day, Viktor planned a special dinner for him and Holly. He made arrangements with Dobby to have a candlelit dinner in one of the abandoned towers. He charmed a violin to play music softly in the background. Viktor also had the tower filled with scented candles and red roses. There was a roaring fire burning in the fireplace for extra warmth and light.
Viktor blindfolded Holly and led her up to the tower. Holly gasped when she saw all the effort that Viktor had gone through to make their first Valentine's special. She jumped into his arms and kissed him.
"This is so lovely, Viktor, thank you. But you didn't have to go through all this trouble."
"No thanks needed, moya malŭk gŭlŭb, and I vonted to do this for you."
Viktor waves his wand, and the violin started playing, he bowed to Holly and offered his hand, "May I have this dance?"
Holly giggled and took his hand; they slowly start dancing around the room, holding each other close. Viktor would peck Holly on the lips as they danced. They suddenly heard a crack, and Dobby showed up with their dinner. Snapping his fingers, Dobby made their dinner appear on the table. He served them prime rib with asparagus and potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding.
"Thank you, Dobby," Viktor said to the house-elf.
"Yous be welcome, Mr. Viktor Krum, sir."
Victor led Holly over to the table and pulled the chair out for her. She blushed and sat down. Viktor then took his seat across from her. Since Holly wasn't old enough to drink, Viktor made sure that Dobby served them both pumpkin juice for their meal. As they had their dinner, the violin continued to play in the background, and they had a lovely dinner with lively conversation.
At the end of the meal, Viktor gave Holly a red rose. She took the rose and smiled, "Thank you, Viktor."
Viktor smiled and waved his hand over the rose; it suddenly changed into a small jewelry box. Holly's eyes widened when she opened it; there was a gold necklace in it with a golden snitch pendant.
Holly gasped, "Viktor, it's beautiful, but I can't accept this. I didn't get you anything."
"It is alright, Holly, you did not have to get me anything. I vont you to have this. It is the first snitch I caught as a professional."
"Oh, then I surely can't take it. This snitch is something special to you."
Viktor reached out for Holly's hand, "So are you, Holly. I vont you to know how special you are to me. Please accept it."
Holly couldn't resist the look in his eyes; she blushed and nodded. Viktor stood up and walked over to Holly. He took the necklace out of the box and clasped it around Holly's neck. He then bent down and kissed her neck, "Thank you, Holly, you haff made me very happy."
"Oh, Viktor, no happier than you have made me," Holly said as she looked at him. Viktor captured her lips in a passionate kiss. He pulled her up from her chair, and they danced the rest of the night away.
While this was going on, Hermione was in the library trying to find a way for Harry to breathe underwater for an hour. Her nerves were already frazzled, worrying about her two best friends, and she wanted to help both of them. But Holly insisted that Hermione help Harry. Holly told Hermione that Luna and Ginny would help her.
So, that's where Aleksandur found Hermione with quills in her hair holding up Hermione's hair and her chewing on the end of a quill. He smiled at how cute she looked. Aleksandur sat down across from her and picked up a book. Hermione looked up at him with a curious look.
"Hello, Alek, what are you doing here?"
"I haff come to help you with your research for the second task. I am assuming that Harry has figured out the clue, Da?"
"Yes, he figured it out, and we know he has to breathe underwater for an hour, but why are you helping me? Shouldn't you be helping Viktor?"
"Viktor already has a plan. I vont to help you find something to help Holly's brother. And I am being a bit selfish as vell."
Hermione narrowed her eyes, "How are you selfish?"
"I vonted to spend Valentine's day vith you but could not find you today, and if this is the only vay we can be together, then so be it. Vill, you accept my help?"
Hermione beamed at Aleksandur, "I would love your help."
And so they sat there going over every book that Hermione had on her desk. They stayed there for a few hours researching until Aleksandur exclaimed, "Ah-ha, I haff found it. Harry can use gillyweed."
"What's gillyweed," Hermione asked.
"Gillyweed is a magical plant that, when eaten, allows a human to breathe underwater. It is said to resemble a bundle of slimy, grey-green rat tails. When eaten, it gives the consumer gills, allowing them to breathe underwater, and webbing between the fingers and toes, allowing them to swim underwater with ease.
Gillyweed is native to the Mediterranean Sea," Aleksandur read from the Herbology book.
Hermione sagged, "From the Mediterranean? How are we going to get it from here?"
"Easy, I could ask my house-elf to bring it," Aleksandur said.
Hermione stiffened, "You have a house-elf?"
"Da, I know what you are thinking, Hermione, but they are not slaves. House-elves depend on Vizards and Vitches to survive. They need our magic to sustain their lives. I once thought as you. I gave clothes to a house-elf once to set him free. A few veeks later, he came back, dying and asking to come back to be vith us. He had no more magic. It takes a strong house-elf to live vithout a master. Like Holly's friend Dobby, but he still needs to be around Vizards to replenish his magic."
Hermione looked at Aleksandur, horrified, "I had no idea. I thought that Wizards were taking advantage of house-elves."
"No, they work for us out of gratitude. Some Vizards indeed mistreat them, but it should not be so. Do you understand now?"
"Yes, I do."
"May I call my house-elf?"
"Please do."
"Tabby."
There was a crack, and a little female house-elf appeared dressed in a cute little dress, Hermione smiled, "Tabby, this is Hermione Granger," Aleksandur said.
"Hello Miss Granger, it is a pleasure to meet you."
Hermione was surprised to see that the house-elf spoke so well.
"Tabby, Ve are needing gillyweed, is it possible for you to bring some?"
"Of course, Master Aleksandur, I will go get some from the market in the Mediterranean for you. Be when do you need it?"
"As soon as possible. Before the second task."
"I shall return with the gillyweed, Master."
With that, she vanished.
Hermione stared at Aleksandur, "I know she speaks better English than I do. My grandfather made sure Tabby vas vell educated."
"You can do that?"
"Of course. Now that we haff solved Harry's problem, let us get something to eat."
Hermione smiled and nodded, "Let's do to the kitchen and get something to eat."
They stood up, and Aleksandur waved his wand, and the books put themselves up in their proper place, "You need to teach me that spell."
Aleksandur chuckled, "Of course."
He offered his arm to Hermione, and the two left for the kitchen.
After Valentine's Day, Holly and Viktor saw less of each other, each preparing for the second task. With the help of Luna and Ginny, Holly had found the perfect transfiguration spell to help her move through the water, and she would use a bubblehead charm to help her breathe underwater. Using the Room of Requirement, Holly would practice the spell to make sure that she could do it correctly before the second task.
The day before the second task, several professors came and gathered students to help with individual projects. On February 24th, the day of the second task, Holly and Harry noticed that Hermione and Luna were missing. They looked at each other confused, "Do you suppose they stayed inside the castle," Harry asked.
"I wouldn't think so; I'm sure they would be here to support us."
Holly looked at Viktor, who was looking around as well; Holly went up to Viktor to ask him what the matter was, "Viktor, what's the matter?"
"I cannot find Aleksandur; he said he would be here."
"That's odd, Hermione and Luna are missing as well."
"Ve vill haff to vorry about it later. The competition is about to begin."
"You're right, Good luck, Viktor."
"Good luck to you, Holly."
"Welcome to the second task. Last night something was stolen from each of our champions, a treasure of sorts. These five treasures, one for each champion, now lie on the bottom of the black lake. In order to win, each champion needs only to find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough. Except for this, they will have one hour to do so and one hour only. After that, they'll be on their own," Dumbledore tells everyone.
Mad-Eye had found out that Harry had gotten hold of gillyweed and told him to hurry and put it in his mouth. Then he looked at Holly, "Whatever you're going to do, Potter, you better do it fast."
Moody didn't like the fact that he had no idea what Holly's plans were, like in the first task, she was playing her cards close to the chest.
"You may begin at the start of the cannon," Dumbledore announces.
The cannon fires, and the champions enter the water; three of them dive in while Harry is pushed. Underwater the effects of gillyweed take hold,; Harry's hands and feet become webbed. While the other's dive into the water, everyone gasps that Holly hasn't jumped in yet. She sits on the edge of the platform with her feet dangling off the edge and transfigures her legs into a mermaid tail. Then Holly casts a bubblehead charm. She replaces her wand in her holster on her arm then jumps off the deck.
As soon as she hits the water, she starts pumping her tail and heading straight for the bottom. As she swims, Holly grabs her wand and holds it tightly in her hand, prepared for anything that might come at her. Holly sees the Giant Squid swim by and wave at her, she smiles and waves back. As Holly enters a patch of grass, a Grindylow shoots out, trying to grab her.
"Stupify!" Holly said, hitting the Grindylow right in the chest, knocking it out.
At the surface, Dumbledore announces that The Beauxbatons champion Miss Delacour has unfortunately been forced to retire. She will take no further part in this task.
Holly continues to swim towards the bottom, increasing her speed. When she reaches the village of the mermaids, Holly sees in their square several people tied and floating in the water. Luna, Hermione, Aleksandur, Cho, and Fleur's little sister, Gabrielle. Holly looks between Luna and Hermione, Holly decides to free both girls, but the mermaids stop her.
"Only one."
Holly frees Luna and swims for the surface. She is the first to surface. The crowd cheers when they see Holly and Luna. The minute they surface, Luna wakes up; Holly helps her swim to the deck, and the others help the girls out of the water. Fred and George hand Holly and Luna towels, "Nice going, Holly," Fred says.
"You look good as a fish," George comments.
Holly elbows him in the stomach. Holly hugs Luna and asks her if she was okay, Luna tells her that she's okay. Holly uses a drying spell on Luna and herself. A few moments later, Viktor and Aleksandur surface. They swim towards the platform, and Demitri helps them out of the water. Karkaroff hands both boys towels to dry off. When they've dried off a bit, Viktor cast a drying spell on him and Alek.
The third to surface is Cedric with Cho. There's a long wait until Hermione and Gabrielle; they swim to the platform and wait for Harry. A few seconds later, Harry comes shooting out of the water and lands on the deck. Holly rushes to her brother, "Harry! Are you alright, what happened?" She asks as she crushes her brother in a hug.
"Hol, can't breathe." Harry gasps.
"Sorry."
"Had a run-in with a Grindylow," Harry explains.
"Merlin, Harry, you scared me half to death," Holly said then hits her brother, who winces from the scratch he has, "Oh sorry, Har bear."
The twins snigger behind them, until, Holly gives them a death glare.
Fleur comes over to Harry, "You saved her, even though she wasn't yours to save. My little sister!" Then she kisses Harry.
Dumbledore calls the judges over to talk to them. They come back, and Dumbledore makes the announcement, "Attention! Attention! The winner is... Miss. Potter. For showing unique command of Transfiguration, and the bubblehead charm."
The crowd cheers, and Luna, Harry, and Hermione hug Holly, when they let go of her, Viktor comes over and wraps his arms around her. He kisses the top of her head and holds her tightly.
"Attention, seeing as Mr. Potter would have finished second had it not been for his determination to rescue not only Miss Granger but the others as well. We've agreed to award him second place! For outstanding moral fiber."
The crowd cheers again, and Holly breaks away from Viktor to congratulate her brother. They hug, and Holly kisses his cheek, "I'm so proud of you, Harry."
"Thank you, Holly."
"Mr. Krum has come in third, with Mr. Diggory in fourth," Dumbledore announces.
Holly walks over to Viktor, "Are you okay, coming in third?"
"Da, you're brother deserves to come in second."
"I'm glad you're not upset. Um I'm going to ride with my brother back to shore, do you mind?"
"No, that is fine. I will see you later?"
"Of course."
Holly and Viktor hug and kiss, then Holly gets in the boat with Harry, Hermione, and Luna.