Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 20

Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching ponder this:

We've taken what you'll sorely miss,

An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour, the prospect's black,

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.

Almost an hour after dinner, with his body freezing and his ears still ringing from the awful screaming, Harry finally managed to get the Egg to cooperate. Remus' theory looked much better on paper than in reality. At first, Harry followed his former teacher's advice to the letter, opening the Egg next to the Lake, which resulted in another series of screeching from it before he managed to close it again.

It took him over half an hour to find a clue in Remus' letter, causing him to silently question his and his friend's intelligence. It was literally written in black and white that the merpeoples' voice was incomprehensible outside of water. Harry slapped himself for his own blindness while at the same time he cursed fate's cruelty. After all, it was only a day earlier that he wished he didn't have to enter the Lake like Krum.

When he finally figured out Remus' unintentional instruction, he opened the Egg under the water, hoping against hope that he wouldn't have to dive after it. The sense of victory that appeared in his mind when the Egg didn't start screaming for all the heavens to hear it quickly evaporated when Harry still couldn't understand the details of what he was hearing. And so, cursing his luck once again, standing knee-deep in freezing water, he took a deep breath and dipped his head in the Lake.

It felt as if a thousand tiny daggers pierced his ears as soon as his head was beneath the water's surface, though it had nothing to do with his previous experiments with the Egg. It took him some time before the Lake's temperature became bearable, and Harry had to resurface twice or thrice to get some much-needed air before he could start paying attention to the song.

It surprised Harry how much the voice differed from what he had grown used to outside of water. As soon as he got adjusted to the water's temperature, all his senses became overwhelmed by the Egg's song. The feminine voice was gentler and more pleasant to the ears than anything Harry had ever heard, and his eyes were glued to the golden hue of the Egg's interior. Despite the water, he felt warmth spreading through his body, starting with his hands in which he held the Egg as if it was the most precious thing in his life. Even the scent of the muddy water faded away into nothingness.

Only when his lungs started screaming for air and the song replayed itself a few times, did Harry finally resurface. He coughed a few times, spitting out water that found its way into his throat and even deeper. As soon as the voice became nothing more than a stifled sound, the captivating song lost its hold on Harry. Warmth was quickly erased by the chilling wind, and his nose was filled with the mud's odor.

Partially soaked and trembling from the bone-chilling wind, Harry returned to the Lake's shore. He quickly cast a Warming Charm on himself, once again thanking whoever discovered magic for making life slightly easier. After using his robe as a towel, Harry quickly wrote down the song he heard on a spare piece of parchment. Even though the feminine voice was practically impossible to forget, there was no guarantee he would recall the song in the morning. And he certainly didn't fancy another trip to the Lake.

Despite its poem-like structure, the song was quite easy to understand, Harry deduced some time later when he was safely hidden in the warmth of his bed. The first two verses made it pretty obvious where the Second Task would take place – in the Black Lake. Harry cursed silently again, not for the first time wondering if the Tournament's organizers wanted the Champions dead. Unless a miracle occurred, in a month, the water would be even colder than it already was. For a few seconds, he entertained the idea of dragging Ludo Bagman and other Ministry workers into the Lake to see if they would find the Tournament nearly as amusing as before. He shook his head a few times. Tempting as it might have sounded, it wouldn't really help him to prepare himself.

The merpeople were going to have something that belonged to him, something that he would 'sorely miss' as the song said. Those two verses gave him a pause. Other than his school stuff, Harry didn't own many things, and he seriously doubted that he would 'sorely miss' some random textbook. It has to be something personal, something important, he decided, mentally making a list of his most priced possessions.

The first thing that came to his mind was Firebolt. It was a possible candidate. True, it was one of, if not the fastest, broom in the world, but it was still just a broom. Remembering the contents of his vault, Harry was more than certain that he could buy a few identical ones if he wanted. The only thing that made his Firebolt stand out from the rest was the fact it was a gift from Sirius. But it isn't something that used to be something precious to him, Harry countered himself in his own head. It was a gift, a very thoughtful one indeed, but he was more than sure that Sirius wouldn't even notice if he replaced his Firebolt with an identical broom. And so, Harry mentally pushed the Firebolt to the bottom of his things that he would sorely miss.

My wand, he thought, instinctively reaching to his bedside table, simply to make sure that no one had taken it from him. The touch of wood in his hands gave him a small sense of comfort. It was a good candidate, that was sure. His wand would be much more difficult to replace than the Firebolt. After all, wands were more like living creatures, forming connections with their owners. Without them, a witch or wizard was practically incapable of doing magic.

After a few minutes, Harry dismissed that idea as well. While they were capable of making questionable decisions at best, the Tournament's organizers weren't just some psychos who would take away his only means of defense for the Task. After all, the whole point of the Tournament was to check one's efficiency with magic. If they wanted the contestants to suddenly know wandless magic, they would have announced it… right?

With some doubts lingering in his mind, Harry decided they wouldn't take his wand. Although, taking one's only means of defense most certainly sounded like something Bagman would deem as 'fun.' After a few seconds, Harry decided to tag his wand as a possible candidate. After all, all four Champions owned wands, so it would make some sort of illogical sense.

The Cloak? Could be too difficult to find if it became invisible. The Map? Possibly, but they would have to know about its existence, he went through his other belongings. The album with photos?

That thought gave Harry a pause, and he chewed on his bottom lip. It surely fell under the category of things he would sorely miss, as there was no way for it to be replaced if he lost it. They wouldn't be so cruel, right? He argued with himself.

Harry sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair. Thinking about what the merpeople could steal from him would do him no good. There were too many pros and cons for each option, and unless they took his wand, it wouldn't change the course of the Second Task. Deciding to think about it later, Harry returned to deciphering the song.

The next two lines were pretty straightforward as well, though they surely were quite frightening. He would have an hour to find whatever it would be that the merpeople were going to take. He was more than certain that the Second Task wouldn't be limited to checking the mud at the shores for something he would sorely miss, as even he couldn't see anything entertaining in it. Besides, if the merpeople were going to take something from Harry and he was supposed to seek them, then that would mean he would have to travel deeper into the Lake.

I'll have an hour, not a second more, he commented, reading the last two lines of the song. On the one hand, an hour was quite a lot of time, but only if he knew where he was supposed to be searching. The Black Lake was enormous, far larger than Hogwarts' surface, and Harry could only guess what the depths looked like. For all he knew, the bottom of the Lake could be swarmed with caves and tunnels, and the merpeople could be hiding in there.

That led his mind to another thought: was he supposed to be under water for an hour? Once again, Harry ran his hand through his hair, pondering that possibility. A single breath could give him a minute at best, including the time he would need to dive and resurface again. Of course, whatever he would be searching for could hover somewhere near the Lake's surface, but it could also be hidden in the depths. Maybe that's why Krum was diving into the water yesterday. To see if he could reach the bottom while holding his breath, Harry thought, massaging his temples.

Not for the first time, he wished he could talk to Daphne. Harry was certain that she would be able to come up with some spell with an unpronounceable incantation that he would have to master before the Second Task. He smiled weakly, noticing how similar Daphne was to Hermione in that aspect. In terms of knowledge, there probably wasn't a question she would be unable to answer.

But it seemed that she wasn't going to give him an answer this time. Not like Harry would even be able to question her about that. The Slytherin girl has made it pretty obvious that their relationship, whatever it was, has ended. For a split second, Harry considered asking Hermione for help. After all, she said herself that she wanted to help him with the Second Task. I'm not Granger – I'm not going to do everything for you, Daphne's words resonated in his mind, effectively wiping away his previous idea.

Harry frowned. Was that how he was perceived by others? As someone incapable of doing something for himself? He rubbed his eyes, barely resisting the urge to fall asleep. Of course, he faced Quirrell and Voldemort on his own, killed the Basilisk on his own, and defended himself and Sirius from the Dementors on his own, but not without being previously led by others. Ron has made it possible for them to go through the Chess Board, Hermione helped him pick the potion that allowed him to walk through those flames, Fawkes made it possible for him to deal with the Basilisk, and Lupin taught him the Patronus Charm. Not to mention Daphne, who made it her own mission that he mastered the Summoning Charm before the First Task.

Maybe that's her odd way of helping me? He mused. Perhaps she wants me to do something myself for once. In his mind, it sounded like a much better possibility than her simply growing tired of him. At least, if nothing more, it eased some of his worries. She wasn't a part of the Tournament, and he wouldn't be able to turn to her for help during the Second and, if he lived long enough, the Third Task.

If we are supposed to search in the Lake for an hour, there has to be a way to be able to breathe under water, Harry decided. He quickly grabbed the parchment with the clue and made a provisionary to-do list. His first goal was to find that way. Besides, it wasn't as if he couldn't turn to the teachers to ask for directions, right? For example, where should he start looking for a spell which would help him achieve his goal? In the Library, he chuckled, imagining receiving such an answer.

Too tired to keep thinking, Harry put the parchment and his glasses away. It was too late for him to go to the Library, and he still had well over a month before the Second Task. He made a mental note to browse through the book about the Triwizard Tournament as well. Who knew? Perhaps there was a Task similar to the one he was about to face.

"Are you finally going to tell us what's wrong?" Tracey moaned, stretching her back as she put the book she was reading away. Daphne rolled her eyes, barely resisting the urge to groan that was oh-so-tempting to let out. The question, seemingly innocent, gathered Astoria's and Blaise's attention.

The four Slytherins were sitting in a secluded corner of the Library, catching up with their homework or even going well ahead of their schedule. Madam Pince's small kingdom also somewhat guaranteed that Daphne wouldn't be bothered by her other Housemates, who apparently interpreted her pairing at the Ball with Potter as a personal insult. And so, Daphne often found herself cornered by a handful of Slytherins, forced to answer some questions or to scare them off with her wand. After a few days of this constant nagging, Daphne started going everywhere with Tracey and Blaise. Astoria joined some time later after finding herself on the receiving end of the Slytherins' questions as well.

Unfortunately, the Library didn't protect Daphne from Tracey.

"I don't understand why you think that something's wrong," Daphne replied, making sure to keep her voice low; Astoria chuckled quietly, and Blaise snorted slightly while his girlfriend groaned, not caring at all about Madam Pince. "You have something to say, Blaise?"

"Are you going to threaten my future offspring?" he countered, earning himself another chuckle from Astoria.

"Depends on your answer."

"I think Tracey's right," Blaise replied, completely ignoring Daphne's hidden threat. "I think something is wrong."

"Really?" Daphne challenged him with a raised eyebrow, earning herself a smirk from Blaise. "Go on, explain."

"While I greatly enjoy yours and Tori's company, I cannot help but notice that you're not someone I would call a social person," he replied easily, relaxing himself into the comfortable armchair. "Trust me, it would flatter me greatly if you simply decided to spend some time with your friends, but I know you too well to believe it. So, what happened? Except for you going to the Ball with Potter, of all people, of course. We're not talking about the obvious things here."

"I got tired of people pestering me about the Ball," Daphne replied with a huff. "You are here simply to scare others off."

"Potter isn't noble enough to defend his date?" Blaise countered, once again earning himself a chuckle both from Astoria and Tracey. Daphne put as much cold and hatred into her glare as she was able to, though Blaise seemed not to be affected by it. If anything, his smirk only widened.

"Potter wasn't my date," she seethed through gritted teeth.

"You looked quite taken with him at the Ball," Tracey countered.

"And after," Astoria chimed in. If looks could kill, Daphne's friend and sister would have dropped dead at that moment. "But Blaise made a good point. You're not spending as much time with Potter as you used to." Tracey chuckled again, Astoria smiled innocently, Blaise blinked twice, and Daphne tried to murder her three Housemates with nothing but her gaze. "What? It's true."

"Potter wasn't my date," Daphne repeated, summoning all her strength not to slam her book against the table. "I went with him because I wanted my partner to have something that would match my gown," she said, silently thanking Astoria for her previous accusation. Sometimes, the little rascal could say something clever. "Potter's eyes did. End of story."

"How romantic," Tracey faked a swoon, pressing her hand to her forehead.

"How can it be the first time I hear about you spending time with Potter?" Blaise asked.

"I forgot to tell you about it," Tracey murmured, leaning toward her boyfriend.

"We were doing our Potions assignment," Daphne replied quickly.

"In Hogsmeade?" Tori countered. More often than not, however, Astoria apparently wasn't thinking about what she was going to say, Daphne deduced. She wondered quietly how difficult it would be to convince her parents that murdering Astoria was a necessary evil.

"In Hogsmeade?" Tracey repeated, clearly shocked, looking from Astoria to Daphne; Blaise raised his eyebrows. "Why haven't I heard anything about that?"

"Oops," Tori muttered, though her grin indicated that she wasn't sorry for revealing that information.

"He wanted to thank me for helping him with preparations before the First Task," Daphne replied after taking a deep breath to calm herself down. Tracey's snigger was the only indication Daphne got that she might have said something wrong. Blaise's amusement only reinforced that feeling.

"So you have been spending time with him," Blaise commented, rubbing his chin. Once again, Daphne directed her perfected icy glare at the dark-skinned boy. Again, there was no result. "No, I don't have a problem with that."

"I didn't ask about your opinion."

"You didn't have to," Blaise replied with a similar lazy smirk.

"I'm going to bed," Daphne replied with a huff, standing up from the armchair she was occupying. She grabbed the Arithmancy book she was reading and put it back in its place on one of the shelves, leaving the Library with her back straightened as much as physically possible.

If any of her Housemates, seeing the opportunity in Daphne being alone, wanted to bother her, the hateful glare that radiated not only from her eyes but from her body as a whole, quickly made them reconsider. She's answered enough questions already to be guaranteed at least a sliver of privacy. Not to mention that Flint's 'accident' was still fresh in the Slytherins' minds. And so, as she walked through Hogwarts' corridors, she was left blissfully alone with her thoughts.

A part of her wanted to go to Myrtle's Bathroom, to see if the entrance was opened. Since returning from Christmas, Daphne saw a few times Potter heading there, no doubt waiting for her to join him. And she would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't close to doing that. Until she saw Potter receiving a letter from his friend.

Truth be told, Daphne had no idea why she reacted the way she did. She didn't fancy Potter as many girls did, of that she was more than sure. She also knew that it wasn't fair to blame him for returning to London to meet with someone, but a small part of her – the one she wasn't even aware existed in the first place – didn't want to accept the possibility that the admiration she had seen in his eyes at the Ball could be directed at someone other than her. Of course, she knew about his infatuation with Chang – any person who wasn't blind could see that. That's why it impressed her so much when he refused her offer just before the Ball, and remained loyal to their agreement. In her youth, she attended many parties held by various Pureblood families, but none of them could be compared to the Yule Ball.

First of all, at those parties, she was nothing but a child – she was there only to show that the Greengrass family carried on and to show who would be the face of their family in the future. Daphne's only concern during those occasions was to avoid spilling pumpkin juice on her dress and to try to be on civil terms with her peers.

The Yule Ball was different. She didn't lie when she told Nott that she had more than a few boys approaching her before, or even after Potter. Daphne knew why most of them asked her – they hoped to get lucky afterward and, hopefully, would manage to drag her into a broom closet or some other obscure place. That's why she agreed so easily to go with Potter – she didn't see the same lust she had seen in other boys' eyes.

And at the same time, it was immensely satisfying to see his reaction when she appeared. Daphne doubted he had any problems with keeping up his end of the deal. It was the first time in her life that she had seen a boy around her age looking at her not as the center of his lustful thoughts. It was the first time she felt admired by someone whose motive wasn't getting into her panties.

That's why it hurt her so much knowing that Potter's mind was elsewhere – that his thoughts lingered on whatever friend he was returning to for Christmas. That would explain his behavior, Daphne thought as she entered the Slytherin Dormitory and headed toward her room. The smiles that appeared on Potter's face each time he received one of those letters he later ripped to shreds should have raised an alarm in Daphne's head. It wasn't the first time she regretted asking him about his friend. Never before had she understood the meaning of 'the less you know, the better you sleep.' And it came back to bite her arse.

Daphne practically didn't recognize herself. It wasn't like her to shy away from something, especially something that bothered her. And yet, as soon as Potter mentioned that mysterious someone he spent Christmas with, something inside her snapped. That one, seemingly meaningless word served as a reminder of her failure – that she dared to believe that someone would look at her as something else than a trophy to show around. The fact that it was that single thought that erased her Patronus before it could fully form only served as a nail in the coffin.

Daphne pulled out her wand when she was safely hidden behind the curtains of her bed. She forced her mind to cooperate with her desires, recalling the Yule Ball and the countless dances she shared with Potter. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and Daphne didn't resist. The look of admiration she had seen in his eyes that night was all she focused on, all she wanted.

"Expecto Patronum," she whispered, pointing her wand at the ceiling.

The silver light she had seen before appeared again, causing her smile to widen. She did her best to follow Potter's advice, channeling all her happiness into the tip of her wand. She imagined how the Gryffindor boy would look at her if he could see her at that moment. Would he be shocked? Probably. Would his eyes hold the same admiration she had seen in them during the Ball? Hopefully.

It's not for you, a voice Daphne hated whispered in his mind, instantly causing the silver mist to evaporate. She blinked a few times to get rid of the tears that started stinging her eyes. Despite her promise, Daphne was well aware that she wouldn't be able to find a cure for Astoria's Curse unless a miracle occurred. Countless tried, and countless failed. Her sister was going to die, and there was nothing she could do about it. And if her parents reached an agreement with the Malfoys – something Daphne still dared to hope wouldn't happen – she would be trapped. She would become nothing but a trophy for her husband to show around on some occasions. And in privacy, she would be forced to give him an heir.

In her youth, Daphne dreamt of finding happiness in the marriage contract, just as her parents have. They were the perfect example that a contract didn't mean a loveless marriage. But she had no control over it. Ancient as it was - tradition was still a tradition, even if more and more families decided to go against it. Daphne wasn't stupid – she knew why a contract with the Malfoys would benefit her family, but that didn't mean she had to go willingly into that.

She put her wand away, placing it gently on her bedside table. Fortunately for her, the school wasn't ending the next day, which meant she still had time. Many things could change over the course of a few years, and that thought somewhat eased her mind. Daphne turned around, pulling the covers tightly around her body. She forced herself to fall asleep, hoping that the same admiration she had seen in Potter's eyes would follow her into her dreams.

Harry was ready. For the first time since his name came out of the Goblet, he didn't feel fear, but anticipation of what was ahead of him. The last month has been the most productive month in his life so far. He spent most of his free time in the Library, researching spells that could help him in the Second Task. He was sure that Hermione would be proud if she saw him. But she didn't. Each time he ventured into the Library, he was alone. Still, the loneliness didn't bother him. In fact, it even helped him focus on his studies.

True to his word, Cedric indeed found him a few days after their talk, though he didn't say anything Harry didn't already know about the Second Task. Just like he, the Hufflepuff Seeker also had no idea what they would be supposed to search for in the Lake. He did, however, share some information with Harry that sped up his research immensely. The Bubble-Head Charm was quite tricky to learn, but it wasn't impossible. And so, after a few trials in the Chamber and even behind his curtains in bed, Harry managed to learn the spell almost two weeks before the Task. And as long as the bubble didn't break, it could last far longer than just an hour.

Hagrid turned out to be helpful as well. If someone knew what lurked in the depths of the Black Lake, it could only be him. The Gamekeeper was a little surprised by Harry's sudden visit, but he appreciated it nonetheless, eagerly sharing his knowledge with the young boy. About the merpeople, Harry already knew from the Egg and Remus' letter, but the Grindylows were a surprise. Then came the time to increase his arsenal of spells that would help him against the water creatures.

He was more than glad to be proven wrong about his assumption that he would have to reclaim his wand from the Lake. It was still safely hidden in his holster as he made his way down to the Lake, just before the Second Task. With it, he was confident that there wasn't a thing he would be unable to find. He just had to do it in under an hour.

Come seek us where our voices sound, the song resonated in his mind as he approached the Lake's shore – the Second Task's starting point. Unlike before, the four Champions were supposed to compete in the task at the same time, so it wasn't a surprise to him that Fleur, Viktor, and Cedric were already there, surrounded by numerous Ministry officials and all three Headmasters. We cannot sing above the ground, he recalled, watching the calm waters of the Lake. A thin layer of ice covered a few meters of the shore.

Students, and other viewers, were gathered at the shore as well; their shouts and cheers clearly indicated that they were eager to watch the Second Task. Badges shone on some of the students' chests, though Harry paid them no mind. They were insignificant, just like the opinions of those who wore them.

"Ah, Harry, just in time," Dumbledore greeted him, pushing him further towards the shore where the other Champions stood. Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch were there as well, undoubtedly waiting for him to join them. And while you're searching ponder this: We've taken what you'll sorely miss, Harry recalled, listening to the explanation of the Second Task.

"I hope you've all managed to figure out the clue in your Eggs?" Bagman asked, rubbing his hands. He smiled upon receiving collective head nods from the Champions. "Very good, very good. So, I'm sure I won't surprise you if I tell you that tonight, something precious was taken from each of you," he continued, looking each contestant in the eyes. The happy gleam in his gaze made Harry wonder what kind of sick things Bagman thought meant 'fun.' "And you will have exactly one hour, no less, to reclaim it. Otherwise, it's gone for good!" he announced, telling the same thing everyone already knew. An hour long you'll have to look, And to recover what we took.

Harry glanced around, deciding not to listen to what he already knew. For the past month, he didn't really have time to think about Daphne or to try finding her and talk. However, as the beginning of the Second Task grew closer and closer with each passing minute, he hoped to see her once again.

"Now you must be wondering what the Second Task is going to be for our Champions!" Bagman said loudly – his voice enhanced with the Sonorus Spell – as he turned around to face the gathered crowd. "Our four contestants have an hour to find something precious to them that was hidden in the Lake!" The crowd cheered, but that sound faded into nothingness in Harry's ears. But past an hour, the prospect's black.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't locate Daphne. The Slytherins, as always, were gathered together, which made it fairly simple for him. He saw Malfoy, of course, with his badge proudly pinned to his chest; Crabbe and Goyle were next to him as well. It took him a while, but he finally saw another two students from his year – Tracey and Blaise. They were holding hands and glanced nervously around from time to time. A small girl accompanied them, standing a few steps ahead. She seemed to be more nervous than the two other Slytherins, not even bothering to hide it.

"Viktor Krum will be looking for… Hermione Granger!" Bagman announced. Harry felt all the blood draining from his face as he stared in disbelief at the Ministry official. Judging by the silence that reigned over the crowd, he wasn't the only one shocked by that.

Harry looked towards a large group of Gryffindors, but there was no sign of the bushy-haired girl. His Dormmates started whispering to each other as soon as Bagman made the announcement; some of them were waving their hands desperately as they tried to process what was happening.

"Cedric Diggory… Hannah Abbott!" Bagman carried on, seemingly unfazed by the public's shock. No, Harry thought desperately as he watched Cedric clenching his teeth and fists. He heard the Hufflepuffs behind his back gasping in horror. Blood in Harry's veins froze, and it had nothing to do with February's weather. "Fleur Delacour will have to find her sister – Gabrielle!" the announcer continued, earning himself a hiss in French from the Beauxbatons' Champion. Whatever it was, Harry was more than sure that it wasn't meant to be nice; the angry glare the girl sent at Bagman's back was a clear giveaway of that.

Please no, Harry silently begged. If he thought before that the Tournament's organizers were cruel, he was wrong. At least before, the lives of those who didn't participate weren't actively threatened. His knees shook as the final line of the Egg's song echoed in his mind. "And Harry Potter will enter the Lake to search for Daphne Greengrass!"

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.

As always, I would appreciate it greatly if you left a review after reading this chapter. See you in the next chapter!