Author's Note: None of this belongs to me. This story is based on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling and will feature "offstage scenes" as well as scenes from the book reinterpreted from Hermione's point of view.
Hermione's 4th Year
Part 14: The Prospect's Black
By Elanor Gamgee
Hermione shut All the Spells You'll Ever Need with a snap. "Nothing useful in there," she said with a sigh, reaching for another book.
They were in the library, where they had spent most of their time for the past few weeks. On the Friday after the last Hogsmeade visit, Harry had admitted to Hermione that he had been lying when he said he had worked out the egg's clue. In fact, he hadn't figured it out until he went sneaking out one night to test a hint given to him by Cedric Diggory. Hermione wasn't sure which annoyed her more: the fact that Harry had lied to her, or the fact that Ron had apparently known the truth all along, since he was the one who covered for Harry that night.
On reflection, however, Hermione was somewhat glad she hadn't known about this before, as the Hogsmeade weekend had been eventful and worrisome enough as it was. The awkward moment with Ron had been forgotten quickly when Rita Skeeter had entered the Three Broomsticks, and she and Harry had gotten into a shouting match with her.
Ron had seemed to want to stay out of it. Hermione could remember the worried tone in his voice: "She'll be after you next, Hermione." After what Rita Skeeter had written about his father, Hermione could hardly blame him for this attitude, but, as she pointed out to him, her parents didn't read the Daily Prophet and she didn't have any dark secrets for Rita Skeeter to dig up.
But things seemed to have worked out: Hagrid was back at work now, nothing new had appeared in the Daily Prophet, and Harry had found out the egg's clue. Of course, he still had to figure out how to breathe underwater for an hour while he retrieved whatever it was the merpeople were going to take from him.
Unfortunately, this last bit was nowhere near as easy as it sounded. The three of them had been spending all their free time in the library for days and hadn't found a thing. It was now one week to go before the Second Task.
"Here's one!" said Ron suddenly, sitting up straighter in his seat. "Oh, hang on...it's only meant to be used on fish."
Harry shook his head and went back to leafing through Magic of the Sea. "Oh, I think I've found something!" he exclaimed a moment later.
But he hadn't. And they didn't come any closer to finding a workable solution at any point during the next week. They had been through the Restricted Section, they had looked in books on nearly every topic imaginable, and Hermione had even searched through every page of her rather large personal library, but with no luck. As February the twenty-fourth loomed closer, Hermione could see the panic growing in Harry's eyes, and feel her own frustration mounting. Harry now talked very little and ate even less; he tended to get very quiet and introspective when nervous. Ron had become tense as well, as evidenced by the increased frequency and decreased humor level of his wisecracks.
On February the twenty-third, the three of them ate dinner as quickly as they could and retired to the library once more. They ploughed through as many books as they could; even Hermione's once-meticulous research style had been replaced by frantic page-turning. All three of them were so tense that they worked in utter silence.
Hermione sighed and shut the book she had been going through. "Nothing in this either," she said, standing up. "I'm going to go find some more books."
"Alright," said Ron. Harry nodded distractedly without looking up from the dusty book in his hands.
Hermione moved the finished stack of books over to an empty table, earning herself a reproving glare from Madam Pince. She walked over to the Charms section, which was at the back corner of the library, and began scanning the shelves for likely candidates. Spying a thick volume entitled Charm Your Way to Success! on the very top shelf, Hermione stood on tiptoe and tried to retrieve it.
Out of nowhere, a hand reached up and plucked a book off the shelf. Hermione spun around in surprise, losing her balance, and was caught by the person standing behind her. For one wild moment, she thought Ron had followed her (after all, who else was that tall?), but when she looked up, it was into Viktor's face.
Hermione straightened up quickly and took a half-step back. Viktor let go of her arm somewhat reluctantly.
Viktor held out the book he had taken from the shelf. "Your book," he said with a smile.
"Oh! Thanks!" Hermione said. She looked down at the book in her hand: Hexes That Perplex Us. Viktor had misinterpreted which one she had been reaching for.
"I have missed our talks," said Viktor, in that serious tone that always made her cringe slightly.
"Well, you know," said Hermione, a bit flustered, "I've been really busy with schoolwork...Ron and Harry too..." Viktor frowned slightly, and Hermione felt a small flash of irritation that he never bothered to speak to her when she was with her friends. Of course, as Ron could not be trusted to be civil around Viktor, that was probably not a bad thing. And, she added to herself, we can't exactly tell him what we're working on in here, can we?
Viktor didn't seem too concerned about the Second Task; she supposed he was prepared. Hermione wondered idly what Viktor's "thing he would miss the most" would be. She realized that, for all the times they had talked, she really had no idea what Viktor would value most. As for Harry, she was pretty certain it would either be his Firebolt, his father's Invisibility Cloak, or the photo album Hagrid had given him that contained pictures of his parents.
Viktor was looking her in the eye. "It is a beautiful afternoon," he said quietly. "Vould you like to go for a valk vith me?"
Hermione glanced quickly back in the direction of the table where Ron and Harry were sitting. "Er...no, I'm sorry, I can't," she said apologetically. "We...I mean, I've got so much work to do, I really can't right now...maybe another time?"
Viktor frowned again, but nodded. "Of course. Another time."
"Well," said Hermione uncomfortably, "see you later, then." She turned quickly and went back over to the table.
Ron looked up as she plunked Hexes That Perplex Us down on the table. "Is that all you found in all that time?" he asked.
Hermione looked down at the single book and turned pink. "Well, it looked like a really good one," she said in her most business-like tone. Ron gave her a doubtful look, but went back to scanning the index of Foil Your Foes the Fun Way without saying a word.
Across the library, Hermione saw Viktor emerge from a row of bookshelves and move toward the exit. When he saw her, he gave her a brief nod. Hermione smiled nervously and glanced over at Ron, who was sitting next to her. She wondered if he had seen this exchange (and, if he had, what he would say about it), but he was still looking down and didn't seem to have noticed.
Hermione wondered how Viktor was planning to spend an hour underwater tomorrow morning. She thought briefly of asking him for help. But why would he help his competitor? He probably would do it, said a voice in the back of her mind, if you asked him to. Hermione pushed the thought away and went back to her book.
After an hour, Hermione put her book down and rubbed her eyes. The many hours of poring over small print by candlelight were starting to get to her; she wondered how long it would be before she needed glasses like Harry.
"Oh, this is no use," she said, closing Weird Wizarding Dilemmas and Their Solutions in disgust. "Who on earth wants to make their nose hair grow into ringlets?"
"I wouldn't mind. Be a talking point, wouldn't it?"
Hermione looked up to see Fred and George Weasley grinning at her from the other side of the table.
"What're you two doing here?" said Ron.
"Looking for you," George replied. "McGonagall wants you, Ron. And you, Hermione."
Hermione felt her stomach drop. "Why?" she asked uneasily. She looked over at Ron, and saw the same uncertain expression on his face.
"Dunno," said Fred, "She was looking a bit grim though."
"We're supposed to take you down to her office," added George.
Hermione and Ron both turned to stare at Harry, who looked just as uneasy as they did. Were they going to get into trouble for helping Harry?
Hermione recovered first. "We'll meet you back in the common room," she said anxiously, as she stood up. "Bring as many of these books as you can, OK?"
Harry nodded nervously. Hermione attempted to give him a bracing smile, but wasn't sure she was successful. She and Ron followed the twins out of the library.
The twins left them at the top of the staircase on the first floor.
"McGonagall's in her office," said George.
"Behave, you two!" added Fred, with a wink.
Wondering what that was about, Hermione looked over at Ron. His ears had gone pink.
"Come on, let's get this over with," he muttered, leading the way down the hall.
Ron knocked on the door of Professor McGonagall's office and it was opened immediately. Professor McGonagall looked down at them with a serious expression on her face.
"Come in," she said grimly. Judging by this reception, Hermione was sure they were about to be told off.
"Ah, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, excellent. Please sit down." Albus Dumbledore was standing behind Professor McGonagall's desk, beaming down at them.
Are we in that much trouble? thought Hermione wildly. Then she noticed the other people seated in front of the desk: a tall, blonde woman (who, from the haughty expression on her face, could only be Fleur Delacour's mother), a little girl with clouds of silver-blonde hair floating around her face, and Cho Chang. Hermione and Ron looked at each other quizzically for a moment, then took the two empty seats at the end.
Professor Dumbledore smiled around at the group. "You are, no doubt, wondering why you have been called here tonight. You are here because we request your assistance in the Second Task. This task will require the Champions to go into the lake to retrieve the thing they would miss the most from the merpeople—as some of you are, I believe, already aware." Dumbledore's light blue eyes swept over Ron, Hermione, and Cho, all three of whom looked away guiltily. Dumbledore just smiled.
"The reason," he went on, "that you have been called here is that you are the things the Champions would miss the most. You, Miss Delacour," he nodded at the little girl, who Hermione supposed must be Fleur's sister, "Miss Chang, Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley, will be the hostages whom the Champions will retrieve. I must stress that your participation is strictly voluntary. Before you make your decision, however, allow me to explain the process. You will all be perfectly safe throughout the Task, I assure you. I will put each hostage into an enchanted sleep here tonight, and then you will be taken down to the lake and placed in the care of the merpeople. Tomorrow morning at half-past nine, the Task will begin. Each Champion will have one hour to find his or her hostage and return to land. You will awaken as soon as you are above water once more. At no time will any of you be placed in any danger from the merpeople or any of the other creatures in the lake."
"Professor," said Hermione anxiously, "what if the Champions don't find us in an hour? What about 'Too late, it's gone, it won't come back'?" Ron and Cho both looked as if they had been wondering the same thing and were glad she had asked.
The Headmaster smiled down at her. "An excellent question, Miss Granger. As I said, you will not come to any harm. The purpose of that line was merely to ensure that the Champions would take the time limit seriously."
Hermione nodded, feeling relieved.
Professor Dumbledore seemed about to continue, but Ron broke in suddenly. "Hang on," he said, looking over the line of people sitting in front of the desk. "You said each Champion is supposed to have one hostage. Why's Harry got two?"
Hermione thought she knew what was coming next, and she would have given a sack of Galleons to keep the Headmaster from saying it. Professor Dumbledore gave Ron a look that was somewhere between pity and amusement as he said, "You are Mr. Potter's hostage. Miss Granger is here as Mr. Krum's hostage. She is the thing that he would miss the most."
Hermione felt her face turn red and she looked down at her hands, which were clasped tightly in her lap. She could feel Ron staring at her, but didn't look at him; she didn't want to see the expression on his face.
"Do any of you have any other questions?" asked Dumbledore calmly.
"How do you know?" Ron burst out. "How do you know who the Champions would miss the most?"
Hermione looked up at Dumbledore. She was rather curious about that herself. After all, she had only gone to the ball with Viktor and talked to him in the library; how could she possibly be the thing he would miss the most?
Professor Dumbledore smiled merriliy. "I am glad you asked that," he said. "It is a rather complex spell of my own invention. It reveals that which is most dear to any individual. And, as such, I must remind you that the Task will not be as effective without the four of you as hostages." He clapped his hands together. "And now, I must ask each of you whether you are willing to participate. Madam Delacour," he said, turning to the tall blonde woman, "you may, of course, choose not to allow Gabrielle to do this, though I assure you her safety would in no way be compromised."
Fleur's mother nodded curtly. "Gabrielle may do zis, if it is what she wants." She turned to the little girl and spoke rapidly in French. Hermione, who had picked up some French on holiday a few years ago, caught enough to know the little girl thought that being put into an enchanted sleep and placed in a lake was nothing short of a grand adventure. Hermione was reminded perversely of Dennis Creevey as the little girl turned back to Dumbledore and nodded her head excitedly.
Dumbledore smiled. "Excellent. Miss Chang?"
Cho was slightly flushed, but nodded determinedly. "Yes, sir," she said.
The Headmaster turned to Hermione. "And you, Miss Granger?"
Hermione could feel Ron staring at her, practically willing her to say no, but she looked up at Professor Dumbledore and said, "Yes, I'll do it."
Professor Dumbledore gave her a smile before turning to Ron. "Mr. Weasley?"
Ron was still looking at Hermione with a disgusted expression. Upon being addressed by the Headmaster, he turned and said distractedly, "Yeah, alright."
Professor Dumbledore beamed around at them. "Wonderful!" he said. "Now, I must ask you all to remain here while we make some last-minute preparations. I will return shortly to put you into the enchanted sleep. Professor McGonagall will stay with you, should you need anything." The Headmaster went over to Professor McGonagall and spoke to her quietly before leaving the office.
Cho smiled at Hermione. "I didn't expect this, did you?"
Hermione smiled wanly back. "No…it's a bit of a surprise." On Hermione's other side, Ron stood up abruptly and became very interested in Professor McGonagall's collection of Transfiguration books on the other side of the room.
Cho looked at Ron and then back at Hermione. "It'll be alright," she said with a sympathetic smile.
"Of course," said Hermione with false cheerfulness. Cho gave her another sympathetic look, then turned to ask Gabrielle how old she was.
Hermione looked over at Ron. Once again, she wasn't sure whether she wanted comfort him or hit him. She stood up and reluctantly walked over to where he was standing, pretending to peruse the bookshelf herself. They stood there for a moment in silence. Ron's arms were folded over his chest and he didn't seem to have noticed she was standing there.
"Ron," she began tentatively.
Ron turned his head toward her, apparently with difficulty, an odd expression on his face. Hermione wondered fleetingly who Ron's hostage would have been, if he were one of the Champions. She had a brief vision of a grim-faced Ron battling some deep-sea creature to save her, but then she blinked, and it was gone.
Ron was still looking at her, his jaw clenched, with an unreadable expression in his eyes. Hermione opened her mouth to say, "Don't be jealous. Viktor may like me but to me he's just a friend" but what came out instead was, "This is a bit scary, isn't it? I mean, I know Professor Dumbledore won't let anything happen to us, but...well..."
Ron's eyes softened slightly. "We'll be fine," he said. "You heard Dumbledore, you'll be in an enchanted sleep the whole time. You won't feel a thing. Besides," he added, looking away uncomfortably, "I'm sure...your Champion...will get you out in plenty of time."
Hermione slapped a hand to her forehead. "Ron! What about Harry? He doesn't know it's you he has to save! What if he doesn't find a spell to use? How will he do it without help?"
Ron grimaced at her. "Thanks Hermione. I've been trying not to think about that."
"Miss Granger! Mr. Weasley! We are ready to perform the sleep spell," called Professor McGonagall.
Hermione gave Ron one more worried glance as she headed over to the desk, where Professor Dumbledore was waving his wand over Gabrielle. The little girl slowly grew limp and her eyes closed. Her mother was holding her hand. Hermione wondered what her own mother would think if she knew her daughter was about to be put into an enchanted sleep and dropped into a lake. This was one of those aspects of the wizarding world she was fairly certain her parents would not understand.
Professor Dumbledore had now moved on to Cho, who slowly relaxed and went limp as well.
"Ready, Miss Granger?" said Professor Dumbledore, stepping in front of her chair. Hermione shot a nervous look at Ron, who smiled reassuringly at her. She nodded at the Headmaster, who began waving his wand in a lazy circle in front of her face, muttering something under his breath. The office went out of focus, and Hermione felt as if she were falling into a large pile of feather pillows. She felt her body relax, and saw a sort of golden glittery pattern before her eyes. She vaguely felt something squeezing her right hand, and then she fell into blackness.