Chapter 18 – Asleep for the Task

Hermione was at her wit's end now as she sat in the library with Harry and Ron, a candle so close to her that it threatened to catch her hair on fire, and her nose so close to the book, she feared the words were rubbing off on it as she moved across the page. She had begun to nod off once or twice, she was thankful for the overly large stack of books in front of her though because it hid this from Harry.

She was twice as thankful for them earlier when Viktor had entered the library. He peered around, returned a book, and left with his head hung. Hermione hated to avoid him, but he was becoming possessive and obsessive.

He had complained about Cedric talking to her that day when they were in the library, and he had even questioned her on why she had been talking to him. He was worse than a little kid who thought that someone was going to take his favorite stuffed animal and give it to someone.

Hermione sighed, she was letting herself get off subject, but it was so hard to concentrate, and seemingly, she wasn't the only one that thought so. Ron grunted from behind his stack of equally high books and Hermione heard him slam a book shut as he spoke up.

"I don't reckon it can be done. There's nothing. Nothing. Closest was that thing to dry up puddles and ponds, that Drought Charm, but that was nowhere near powerful enough to drain the lake," he sighed in frustration.

"There must be something," Hermione encouraged, she didn't want them to give up hope and leave Harry in the dark to look like a fool the next day. That's the last thing he needed. "They'd never have set a task that was undoable," she continued.

"They have. Harry, just go down to the lake tomorrow, right," Ron advised, "stick your head in, yell at the merepeople to give back whatever they've nicked, and see if they chuck it out. Best you can do, mate."

Hermione wasn't finding Ron's lack of enthusiasm and giving up amusing at this point as she became angered with the books around her. Books had always told her what she wanted to know, what was wrong now? Why wouldn't they just give her a simple charm Harry could use?

"There's a way of doing it! There just has to be!"

"I know what I should have done," Harry sighed as he too gave up and began to rest his head on the book he was buried in. "I should've learned to be an Animagus like Sirius."

"Yeah, you could've turned into a goldfish any time you wanted!" Ron's words were hardly helpful to them, and Harry was getting just as bad.

"Or a frog," Harry mumbled.

"It takes years to become an Animagus, and then you have to register yourself and everything. Professor McGongall told us, remember... you've got to register yourself with the Improper Use of Magic Office... what animal you become, and your markings," Hermione informed. "So you don't abuse it..."

"Hermione, I was joking," Harry muttered. "I know I haven't got a chance of turning into a frog by tomorrow morning..."

"Oh, this is no use," Hermione grumbled as she slammed shut yet another book and wished that she could begin to bang her head off the table. She was getting frustrated and Harry and Ron's readiness to give up was killing her. What bothered her even more was the ridiculous things that books seemed to contain at the moment. "Who on earth wants to make their nose hair grow in ringlets?"

"I wouldn't mind," Fred Weasley laughed. "Be a talking point, wouldn't it?" Hermione hadn't expected an answer, possible a laugh, but not an answer, and this seemed to aggravate her further. She groaned and dropped her head onto a book as she listened to Ron and the twins converse.

"What are you two doing here?"

"Looking for you," answered George. "McGonagall wants you, Ron. And you, Hermione." This caught her attention and made her sit bolt upright. What could McGonagall want with her?

"Why?"

"We're supposed to take you down to her office," George replied to Hermione. Hermione turned to Ron who looked as confused as her at what was going on, the both of them in turn looking to Harry who was equally as puzzled.

"We'll meet you back in the common room," Hermione said to Harry as she and Ron got up. "Bring as many of these books as you can, okay?"

"Right," Harry answered. Hermione sighed and left the library, she followed Fred and George with Ron at her side. Apparently he had been thinking the same as her as he spoke up.

"Do you think McGonagall's going to tell us off for helping Harry out?"

"I'm not sure, Ron... as Fred and George, they might know," Hermione suggested nervously.

"Hey, Fred, what does McGonagall want?"

"I'm not real sure," Fred sighed unknowingly. "She just said to bring you to her office and then go back to the common room." Hermione was sure now that this couldn't be good. She feared reaching McGonagall's class, but it came sooner than later while Fred and George left them outside with a 'good luck' and a nod.

"Well, no sense in delaying this," Hermione sighed as she stood up straight and tall and looked to Ron for reassurance, but the nervous look on his face did anything but reassure her.

She swallow back her fear, nodded and nudged Ron, and began to walk into the room with him close behind her. McGonagall was sitting at her desk, a pot of tea steaming as she transfigured two mice into tea cups.

"Miss Granger – Mr. Weasley... have a seat," McGonagall said as he nodded to two chairs in front of her desk. Hermione and Ron gave each other nervous looks and sat down in the chairs, though slowly and reluctantly. "So-"

"Professor, we can explain. We weren't really trying to tell Harry what the egg meant or how to win, we were just trying to help him find a spell, he found out the rest on his own," Ron babbled before McGonagall could say another word. "Please don't punis-"

"Mr. Weasley! I'm not punishing anyone," McGonagall interrupted with a half-laughing sigh. "Professor Dumbledore just wants to see you two. He should be here any moment with the other two."

'Other two what? What is she on about?' Hermione had no sooner wondered this when she was interrupted by McGonagall handing her and Ron a cup of tea. Hermione and Ron gratefully took the cups and began to sip from them. They had no sooner finished their tea when Dumbledore entered. He was accompanied by Cho Chang and a little blond haired girl.

"Good evening all," he greeted. "Miss Delacour – Miss Chang... take a seat next to Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, if you both will, please?"

'Delacour? That must be Fleur's sister' Hermione thought as she watched the little girl take a seat next to her. 'But what would Fleur's sister be doing here?'

"Now, I bet you all are wondering why you are here," Dumbledore began as McGonagall gave Cho and the little blond haired girl both a cup of steaming tea. "You are here because the four of you are part of the second task. Our champions must retrieve the thing that they would miss the most from the merepeople in the lake... and low and behold, you four, are the things they would miss the most."

'Who would be missing me? Harry? No, Ron's here' Hermione reasoned. 'Not Fleur because I don't know here and frankly, we don't get along, besides the fact, her sister is here. Cho is here for Cedric... Viktor!' Hermione watched as Dumbledore pulled out his wand and continued to speak.

"Now, what I'm going to do is put you all into a very deep sleep for this task. It will help the champions in dealing with you when the retrieve you from the bottom of the la-"

"But I can't swim," the little girl protested.

"Miss Delacour, calm down, please," Dumbledore chuckled. "I assure you that in this sleep, you will be able to breathe underwater and you will not have to stay down there. The merepeople will return you – contrary to the champions' belief – and no harm shall be done to you. So, who's first?"

Everyone looked around for a moment and Hermione took a deep breath as she stood up and stepped forward.

"I will be, sir," Hermione spoke softly as she saw Ron stand up next to her.

"Very well, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said as he pointed his wand at her and she soon became surrounded by a light blue and lilac mist with what looked like silver glitter in it. It was warm and breezy and Hermione felt herself drifting in and out of deep sleep. She was soon out cold and fell forward, Ron grabbing her by the arms and placing her in a chair just before she hit the floor.

"Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle," Ludo Bagman bellowed with his magnified voice. "They have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. One... two... three!"

A whistle sounded and Cedric pulled out his wand and did a Bubble-Head Charm. As he saw Krum doing a transformation to turn himself into a shark. Then as Cedric dove into the water, he saw that Harry had gills and webbed hands and feet. Cedric wondered for a moment as Harry passed him, what charm or spell he used, but Cedric soon stopped wondering as he saw Krum and Fleur pass him as well.

It wasn't long before Cedric passed up Fleur who had got her robes caught by some grindylows. He made a mental note to stay a good ways above the weeds as he watched her struggle. He thought about helping her and then remembered that it was wrong for him to work with her. He would just have to push his gentleman air aside for now and move on to the task at hand.

Cedric had been swimming for about ten minutes now when he noticed that he had lost sight of both Harry and Krum. Cedric had been closer to Krum and couldn't quite figure out where he had went. Cedric stopped for a moment and looked around, half expecting Krum to try and burst the bubble around Cedric's head, but it never happened.

Cedric remembered that he was inside an hour time limit, and went swimming off once more at top speed. He swam for another good fifteen minutes before finally spotting Harry who was fighting with some merepeople.

It seemed that Harry was trying to get to Hermione, Cho, and some little blond haired girl. Harry had a red head in his arms, Cedric guessed that this must be Ron Weasley. As Cedric neared, Harry turned to look at him as though pleading for help, but Cedric too soon found himself in a bind as he stopped to talk to Harry.

"Got lost! Fleur and Krum're coming now," Cedric mouthed through his bubble. Cedric watched Harry nod and then Cedric turned to the remaining three hostages, but some internal conflict arose in him. Who was he supposed to take?

'Wait' he thought 'Why am I wondering that? Cho is my girlfriend, not Hermione, but I want terribly to save her as well. Who is saving her if Harry has Ron and I've got Cho? Krum?'

Cedric realized that he was wasting time and finally decided that no matter what, Hermione was coming back, that they were just friends, and the thought of Cho's angry with him if he didn't take her made him choose. He pulled a knife from his pocket and cut the ropes that bound Cho as she hung there with her head resting on Hermione's shoulder while bubbles streamed from her mouth.

He started to swim upward with her, but something in him was nagging at him to turn around and take Hermione, too. 'I can only take one' he kept telling himself, but it was no use, his heart wouldn't listen. It seemed to beat in a rhythm that sounded and felt so much like the syllables to her name. Her... mi... one... Her... mi... one.

He shook his head and realized that he had stopped. He looked around and saw grindylows reaching out for Cho's ankles and wrists. He pulled her closer to him and looked back toward where he had come from to see Krum's half-shark form coming toward him with Hermione in his arms.

Cedric breathed a sigh of relief and then realized that if he didn't get moving, Krum was going to beat him. Cedric kicked his legs furiously and made it to the surface with Cho who awoke upon arrival at the surface of the water. He helped her out of the water and the both of them were immediately grabbed up by Madam Pomfrey who wrapped them in thick blankets and poured a hot solution down their throats.

At least she tried to get some poured down Cedric's throat, but the bubble around his head was still in the way. He pulled out his wand and removed the bubble. Madam Pomfrey didn't wait long before giving him the potion. She wasn't fussing over them for too long, though as Krum and Hermione became her next targets.

They were just emerging from the lake with the help of Dumbledore and Karkaroff when Bagman ushered Cedric and Cho to the judge's table and out of the way. Cedric watched Madam Pomfrey wrap Hermione up and give her some of the same potion while Karkaroff fussed over Krum. Karkaroff seemed to be more of a hindrance and Madam Pomfrey made this clear when she shoved him away.

"Cedric, you were more than brave," Cho sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and turned his attention to her. Cedric sputtered against her wet hair and smiled awkwardly as he noticed Krum now checking on Hermione. It was nice to know that she was in good hands, but for some reason, Cedric felt that his hands could care for her better.

When Cho let go, she was soon engaged in watching the lake for Harry. Cedric saw this as an opportune time to talk to Hermione. He wanted to chat with her about anything so badly at that moment that he felt he would explode if he didn't get to. He looked around for her, but didn't see her anywhere. Where was she?

Then he spotted her, she was across the lake shore with Viktor. They were whispering about something, well, Viktor was whispering something to her, but she seemed distracted slightly with watching the lake for Harry and Ron.

Cedric waited patiently as he watched her, but he couldn't make out what they were saying, though he tried to hard to read their lips. What they were saying, though was something that Cedric probably didn't want to hear in the first place.

"Herm-own-ninny, are you doing anything this summer?"

"I don't think so, Viktor," Hermione replied as she let her eyes dart to the corner of her eye every few seconds to look at the lake's surface. "Why?"

"I vas vondering if you vood like to come visit me in Bulgaria?" Hermione immediately became flustered by his question and felt herself blush. She looked at him seriously, but found that it gave her butterflies so she turned her sights to the judges. When she did, though, she noticed someone watching her.

Cedric Diggory seemed to be watching her intently as though he didn't trust Viktor, or like he was waiting on her to return to that spot. She soon found that this too made her nervous and she quickly turned her gaze to the ground as Viktor began to speak once more.

"Please, Herm-own-ninny. I haff never felt this vay about any other girl. You make me feel something strange and vonderful all at once," Viktor explained awkwardly.

"I'm flattered by that, surely you must understand that, but I'm just not sure at the moment, okay? I will let you know and thank you so much for the offer," Hermione spoke quickly before returning to the judges, Viktor close behind her.

"Hello, Hermione," Cedric greeted as Hermione neared him. She felt her heart begin to race faster than when Viktor had been talking to her only seconds ago. She smiled bashfully and nodded to him politely before stopping next to him to talk.

"You did magnificently, Cedric," Hermione congratulated.

"I did? I wouldn't think you would know," Cedric teased. "You were asleep for the whole task."

"Yes, but still," Hermione said with a bit of red creeping into her cheeks. "You were the first back and you did wonderfully with that Bubble-Head Charm."

"How did you know that's what I-"

"I saw you removing the bubble when I got out of the lake," Hermione explained.

"Oh, clever observation," Cedric laughed. He had forgotten that she had been getting out of the lake as Madam Pomfrey was giving him that potion. He began to somewhat panic now. He couldn't think of anything to talk about and Krum was obviously trying to stir Hermione's attention away from Cedric and back to himself. "I wondering what's taking Harry so long?"

"I'm not real sure," Hermione sighed. "I'm starting to worry, though. Do you know what he used to go into the lake? I mean, I honestly hope that the charm he used didn't wear off."

"I don't think it would," Cedric assured her as he mentally kicked himself. 'Great one, Ced, talk about something that strikes up worry in her. Real smooth' he cursed. "Whatever he used gave him webbed hands and flippers for feet... and gills, too."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it was pretty smart looking actually." Hermione seemed impressed, and Cedric was just happy to see that she wasn't looking worried anymore.

"Herm-own-ninny," Viktor spoke up. "Vood you like to go stand closer to the lake?"

"Um... yeah, sure," Hermione replied as she unknowingly let Viktor steal back her attention, but just as the two of them got ready to leave, Madam Pomfrey came over with Cho.

"You guys should be up in the castle. You're lucky I'm letting you watch for Mr. Potter... and that's even worse, he's going to need a really big dose of Pepper-Up Potion," Madam Pomfrey complained as she pulled Cedric's blanket tighter around him. He smiled at her as she touched her hand to his forehead and then rushed over to Hermione and Viktor.

Cedric watched Madam Pomfrey brush back Hermione's hair and feel her forehead. He gave a genuine smile as he saw Hermione roll her eyes. She truly was beautiful to him with all her independence and brilliance. She was a true match for him, it was too bad that he was with Cho and Hermione was with Krum.

"There's Harry!" Cedric jumped a little as Cho broke him from his reverie. Cedric turned to the lake and saw Harry and the youngest Weasley boy, Ron, pulling the little blond haired girl who had been the fourth hostage out of the lake.

"I'll be right back, Viktor," Hermione called as she ran off toward Harry with Madam Pomfrey, but Madam Pomfrey wasn't about to let her go as she turned and gave Hermione a crippling look.

"No you don't... You stay right there, Miss Granger," Madam Pomfrey instructed as she rushed off to Harry with a blanket. Hermione watched impatiently with Viktor constantly trying to attain her attention as Madam Pomfrey ushered Harry over to the others.

"Harry, well done! You did it," Hermione exclaimed, "you found out how all by yourself!"

"Well – yeah, that's right," Harry said as pride rose in him. Cedric watched from a distance and as he did, he finally saw just how jealous Viktor was of any guy who talked to Hermione, not just him.

"You haff a vater beetle in your hair, Herm-own-ninny," Viktor pointed out as he tried to pull the beetle gently from Hermione's hair, but she just swatted his hand away mindlessly out of annoyance. Cedric tried not to laugh as he turned to to Cho who was glaring at him slightly.

"What?"

"I think we need to talk later," Cho said somewhat angrily as she rolled her eyes and then turned to Bagman as he announced the points for the second task.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our decision. Merchieftainess Muscus has told us exactly what happened at the bottom of the lake, and we have therefore decided to award marks out of fifty for each of the champions," Ludo Bagman boomed, "as follows... Fleur Delacour, though she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by grindylows as she approached her goal, and failed to retrieve her hostage. We award her twenty-five points."

There was applause and Cedric now felt sorry that he hadn't gone back to help Fleur when she got stuck at those grindylows. He could have at least helped her out of there and she could have at least reached her hostage. He sighed and went on listening to Bagman though as Fleur seemed to accept that fact by saying she deserved zero points.

"Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was first to return with his hostage, though he returned one minutes outside the time limit of an hour. We therefore award him forty-seven points."

Cedric smiled as an enormous round of applause was given to him. He looked to Cho who was smiling at him with glowing features and he felt his face flush a bit. Cedric then looked to Hermione who nodded encouragingly and continued to clap with the rest.

"Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nevertheless effective, and was second to return with his hostage. We award him forty points," Bagman continued.

Cedric clapped along with the rest, but he felt that it wasn't needed because Karkaroff seemed to be clapping hard enough for the whole crowd. Applause died down sooner than Karkaroff seemed to have liked, and Bagman went on to announce the last score.

"Harry Potter used gillyweed to great effect. He returned last, and well outside the time limit of an hour. However, the Merchieftainess informs us that Mr. Potter was first to reach the hostages, and that the delay in his return was due to his determination to return all hostages to safety, not merely his own," Ludo roared.

Cedric felt that Harry was a true hero as he saw how Hermione and Cho looked at the Boy-Who-Lived, and Cedric wished that he could have Hermione look at him like that as well. Cedric then turned to Cho, seeing that she was still fixated on Harry. She smiled at him in a way that she used to smile at Cedric, but she just didn't do that anymore. It was like watching a fire be rekindled after a long, windy night. This is something that made Cedric feel that this 'talk' he and Cho were going to have later, was not going to be anything good.

Cedric had been so caught up in his thoughts, though that he had almost missed Harry's score. Cedric quickly broke away from his thoughts, figuring he would save those for later when he was in the hospital wing under Madam Pomfrey's care, and he turned back to Bagman who was glaring at Karkaroff.

"Mr. Potter's score is forty-five points."

That meant that he was now tied with Cedric. This should be interesting. Cedric would have liked it better if Viktor was tied with him because then he could prove that he was better when he beat Viktor, but Harry was a better opponent Cedric convinced himself as he continued to listen to Bagman.

"The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June. The champions will be notified of what is coming precisely one month beforehand. Thank you all for your support of the champions."

That was that then. Cedric wouldn't have to worry about anything until June twenty-fourth, or did he?