The Problem with Veela

Chapter One: The Second Task

"You seem a little tense Harry." Said Neville Longbottom.

"Do I?" Came the sarcastic response of Harry James Potter, who was about to take on the momentous challenge of the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament. He had barely made it in time. If it hadn't been for Dobby, Harry would've slept through the Second Task and wouldn't have found a solution to his breathing problem.

"So Gillyweed.." he said to Neville, "Works for an hour?"

"Most likely." Replied the other Gryffindor.

"Most likely?" Hissed Harry.

"Well there is some debate between herbologists about the impact of fresh water and salt water."

"And you're telling me this now?! You must be joking!" Exclaimed Harry.

"I just wanted to help." Said Neville, his voice trailing off.

"Sorry, didn't mean to shout Neville." Apologised Harry.

Neville smiled at the stressed boy.

"It's okay Harry, good luck."

"Thanks!" Said Harry, grateful to have one friend who was there for him. He hadn't seen Ron or Hermione at all and felt betrayed. Harry expected his two best friends to be supporting him. But judging by Ron's attitude when Harry's name was shot out of the Goblet, he wasn't too surprised. Harry had never felt so alone before. His best friend, his first friend, hadn't believed him. That however was in the past, and Harry had to concentrate on the task at hand. He ran to where the other champions stood, clearly awaiting his arrival.

"I'm here.." he gasped for breath, "so sorry I'm late."

Cedric looked at him and smiled encouragingly, Krum stared straight ahead and Fleur rolled her eyes. She was clearly not impressed.

"Not to worry Mr Potter." Said Ludo Bagman, "Sonourous." Muttered the retired Quidditch player. His voice now boomed across the lake. "All four champions are now present. They have one hour to recover what was taken from them. If anyone returns empty handed… well." Bagman cleared his throat. "Champions! Prepare yourselves!"

The four contestants edged towards the water.

"Put that in your mouth." Hissed Professor Moody to Harry. He took the Gillyweed and popped it into his jaws. Harry bit down and chewed on the plant. It was slimy, like a mussel, and tasted a little like courgette, but he managed to get it down. The starting canon fired. BANG!

Three champions leaped into the lake, while Harry required a hefty shove from Moody. He fell into the icy water, clutching his neck. He shook around in the water, the Gillyweed was making him feel incredibly uncomfortable. Harry felt like he was drowning, he couldn't breathe, his vision was blurry. But then he felt something on the side of his neck. He had gills. Harry breathed in, sucking in oxygen from the water around him. He looked at his hands and feet, they were webbed. He could swim with little to no effort. Wanting to try out his new swimming skill, Harry shot upwards to the surface, performed a somersault before diving back into the water, amid thunderous applause from the crowd. Worried that he was wasting his hour, Harry kicked towards the deeper end of the lake. It took no time at all to reach the kelp forest. Harry was wary, his wand close by. A visit from the giant squid wouldn't be very welcome at the current moment. A shoal of fish skimmed past his head, making Harry jump. He didn't know what he was supposed to be looking for. Suddenly a voice echoed around him.

"Oh hello Harry."

Harry spun round to find Moaning Myrtle sitting on a pipe. "Myrtle." He said but all that came out was bubbles. She giggled.

"Lost are we?" Asked the ghost. Harry nodded and shrugged, gesturing his puzzlement. He pointed in various directions with a quizzical look.

"I shouldn't be giving help, but…. I'd recommend going that way." Said Myrtle, in response to his crude sign language. Harry gave her a thumbs up and a massive grin before setting off in the direction she had said.

Fleur Delacour was not having a great time at Hogwarts. Not only did she have to endure three times the amount of stares she got, she'd had to battle a dragon and now rescue her sister from the bottom of a lake! The staring was usual. Being part Veela, her natural allure was powerful enough to make boys stare and to make girls angry at her for the opposite genders attraction. Fleur wanted to constantly shout "It's not my fault!" at every jealous girl she encountered. Teenage girls were so infuriating. Fleur couldn't even begin to comprehend why they were jealous of her. Why someone would want to be looked at like a piece of meat baffled her.

Therefore she had spent many years perfecting her outer image, the perfect combination of snobbery and shallowness, which she used to push ordinary people away. It offered a counterweight to the natural magical allure that drew them to her in the first place, resulting in a scenario where people loved to watch from afar, but were unwilling to approach her directly. It was the only way she could have any peace.

Unfortunately, it also meant that she had no friends.

And now it was even more insufferable due to her name being picked by the Goblet of Fire. She didn't need more money or power, her family were very rich and her father had a strong position in the French Ministry. By becoming the Beauxbatons champion she was distanced even further from her peers, who now saw her life as way too perfect. She scoffed, which turned out to be quite difficult to do underwater, if only they could see her now. Fleur powered through the weeds, towards the place where Gabrielle would hopefully be. Her little sister was the only thing that kept her going. Gabrielle's constant positive attitude had always inspired Fleur and it was this attitude that was giving her the desire to win. To show that she was worthy to her peers but also to make Maman and Papa proud.

Fleur made her way into a grassy plateau under the water. She ran her hand through the weeds, they were soft and it reminded her of her sisters hair. The thought of losing Gabrielle only fuelled Fleur's energy. She kicked harder to glide through the water. Suddenly a large stone monument appeared from the gloom. There were four floating figures: Gabrielle, a dark haired girl, the bushy haired girl Fleur often saw with Harry Potter and a red headed boy. She remembered the red head as someone who was particularly affected by her allure.

Fleur was getting closer, less than 50M away. The Bubblehead charm allowed for clearer visibility in the water, and stopped the casters eyes from stinging. Being part Veela, Fleur had never really mixed with the water. Veela were creatures of fire and air, not water. Obviously she had swam before and enjoyed the sea back at her home, but being in a large deep lake wasn't her idea of fun. Suddenly she felt something swim past her leg, very quickly. Fleur turned in the water, but saw nothing. All of a sudden, the French Champion felt lots of small hands pulling her down. Grindylows. There were a bunch of them, all dragging at her legs. She pulled out her wand and shouted "Expelliarmus!" But it had no affect. The water had greatly diminished her magic. A rogue Grindylow snatched her wand out her hand and attempted to make off with it. The creature was stopped in its tracks by a jet of hot water. It dropped the wand and swam away. Fleur watched her wand being summoned to none other than Harry Potter. He shouted incantations that Fleur could not hear and the Grindylows let go of her. Fleur swam quickly towards the surface. Her charm was expiring and she had to get out of the lake. She was frightened and shaken by the encounter with the water demons. Fleur felt awful leaving Gabrielle down in the depths of the lake, but for some strange reason trusted that she would be okay. Perhaps it had been her raven haired rescuer that gave her the sense of relief. However it was quickly filled with dread as she knew what had just occurred, and what was to come next.

Harry swam over to the stone structure, both his wand and Fleur's still clutched in his hand. Seeing Fleur swim away without her wand had really confused him, but he had chosen to continue the task instead of chasing after her. She's obviously quite panicked. He thought. Another side of him started to respond and in the middle of the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament, Harry James Potter had an argument with himself.

Yeah, panicked. And very pretty.

What? No cmon Potter focus.

Let's go make sure she's okay.

No. I have to save RON first.

A voice echoed through the gloom.

"Talking to yourself again Harry?"

It was Myrtle. She had been following Harry's progress through the lake and seen him take on the Grindylows to rescue Fleur.

Harry spun around. With a sarcastic shrug at the ghost he got back to the task. Harry shot forwards through the water towards the hostages. He saw their pale ghostly faces as he got closer. Ron let out a few bubbles from his mouth. He recognised Hermione and Cho tethered to the bottom. Who's Hermione for? He thought. Harry's question was answered when a shark swam up to Hermione. It was Krum. He had tried to transfigure himself. His pale legs propelled him towards his hostage, snapping at the ropes that prevented her from floating to the surface. That done, Krum shot upwards towards the top of the lake. Harry watched him go before going to the nearest merperson and trying to negotiate with them for their large trident.

"We do not help." Sneered the water dweller.

Harry poked his tongue out at him in frustration. The Champion swam down to the lakebed. He grabbed a sharp stone and began to hack at Ron's ropes. It was hard work and only stopped when Cedric arrived to free Cho. The older boy tapped his watch. Harry nodded in understanding. He had to get a move on. After 5 minutes Ron was free. Harry looked around for Fleur but saw no sign of her. He swam over to her sister, evident by the large cloud of golden hair, and began to get her free. Harry glanced around for the merpeople, he knew they would stop him. Finally after a few agonising minutes she was free. Ron had started to move towards the surface. Harry grabbed Fleur's sister and swam towards his best friend. Wrapping one arm around each hostage he kicked as hard as he could towards the surface. However Harry could feel his strength draining. His hands were no longer webbed and his feet had changed from fins back to toes. Still he powered on. Harry pushed Ron and the young girl upwards, and they broke the surface. Yet, he was sinking. Harry could feel himself going down, to die under the lake. But then with his last bit of strength, Harry raised his wand,

"Ascendio!" He yelled. Harry felt his body fly upwards, out of the icy water and onto the platform. He coughed and spluttered as the crowd cheered. Seamus and Dean surrounded him in warm towels. He saw Fleur coming towards him.

"You saved 'er. Even zo she was not yours to save. Thank you!" She swooped down on him and planted two kisses on each cheek. She started away from Harry, before being stopped by his voice.

"Wait, Fleur I have your-"

Harry passed out.

(A/N: So here is the first chapter to my new story about Harry and Fleur. Please make sure to leave a review!)