Chapter Four

Grindylows, Sharks and Spears, Oh My

The night before the second task Draco was very annoyed to find Mc Gonagall pulling him away from Fleur as they sat by a huge oak tree on the grounds.

"Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you Mr. Malfoy."

"Whatever for, am I not allowed to sit out here before curfew?" He growled

"That's enough Mr. Malfoy, come with me. Miss Delacour I suggest you go get some rest, the task will be here before you know it."

Looking defeated they parted ways. Draco was clueless to what he had done. He was even more at a lost when he was steered to Madam Pomfrey's and given a potion to drink. After fighting a losing battle with the two women he drank the potion and fell into a deep sleep before he was fully on the bed.

"Enfer sanglant," (Bloody Hell) The puzzle pieces finally fell together for Fleur. They have taken my Drago, He is what I will miss. How could I not see it before now.

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

The whistle echoed shrilly in the cold, still air; the stands erupted with cheers and applause. Fleur dived into the icy water but not before placing a bubblehead charm on herself. Pushing past the plants growing under the lake she had a hard time seeing. Suddenly something grabbed her ankle causing her to scream. Spinning around she saw the ugly face of a Grindylow. Soon there were two of them and she had to blast the water demons with her wand to escape. She was swimming over vast expanses of black mud now which swirled murkily as she disturbed the water. Then at long last, she heard a snatch of haunting Mersong.

"An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took"

your time's half gone, so tarry not

Lest what you seek stays here to rot. ..."

Pushing herself, kicking harder she came face to face with Merpeople. They had grayish skin and long, wild, dark green hair. Their eyes were yellow, as were their broken teeth, and they wore thick ropes of pebbles around their necks. They leered at her as she swam past; their powerful, silver fish tails beating the water, spears clutched in their hands. Turning away from their stares she looked upon a crude sort of statue; a gigantic Merperson carved from a boulder. Four people were bound tightly to the tail. Ron was tied between Hermione and Cho Chang. Fleur's eyes fell upon her Drago on the end, fine streams of bubbles kept issuing from his mouths. He appeared to be in a very deep sleep, his head was lolling onto his shoulder. Hurrying to him the best she could in the water she started to work on his weed ropes. They were thick, slimy, and very strong. For a fleeting second she thought she would not be able to get him free. She looked around franticly for anything to get him free. Looking down she saw there were rocks littering the lake bottom. She dived and snatched up a particularly jagged one and returned to the statue. Hacking at the ropes binding him she was near tears. After several long hard minutes they broke apart. Draco floated unconscious, a few inches above the lake bottom, drifting a little in the ebb of the water. Grabbing him she starting kicking with all her might back towards the surface. She had barely gone five feet when Harry came rushing past her. Seeing his gills she chided herself she should have thought of that. Pushing on she started to feel the pressure of the water lessen. She never met Krum or Cedric but she just assumed they where someplace below her. A huge shark suddenly appeared from behind her causing her to lose place as she pull herself and Draco out of the way. It was not until it had passed her that she realized it was only a half shark and it was dragging the Granger girl behind it. It had to be Krum. Running out of energy she grabbed onto the girls leg and let Krum pull them all to safety. Breaking the surface she was amazed to see Cedric sitting on the bank. A towel wrapped around him and his head on his knees. Draco started to sputter water next to her and she regained her senses quickly. Pulling him onto the bank she accepted the towels handed to them and cuddled close trying to warm both their bodies. Harry surface with the Ron shortly after but to everyone amazement he also had Cho with him. After everyone was safely seated the judges came to announce the scores. She had placed third again. Even though she was the second one out. The Judges thought Harry should get second since he saved two people even though it was over the hour limit, Draco was pissed. He muttered to her about how famous Harry Potter was always the favorite. Fleur was sad she did not do better but she had reason to be happy. Draco was safe and that's what mattered most to her.