THE LAKE TRIAL

The next morning, Alex woke up happier than ever. It was Sunday, so they all had the day free. She got some warm clothes on and walked to the Great Hall. She saw Draco sitting there, having breakfast, and she couldn't help but smile. Did last night really happened? She got closer to him and hugged him from behind.

- Morning! – she sat next to him. He smiled widely at her.

- Morning. I grabbed some breakfast for you. – Alex looked at the plate in front of her.

- Waffles! – she grinned. Draco smiled at her.

They had breakfast together. Soon, the Great Hall was filled with students having lunch and chattering about the day before. When Pansy arrived, she looked at both of them with anger, and walked away.

- I should probably talk with her…apologise. – Draco took a bite to his toast. Alex nodded, finishing her waffle. She looked at the Great Hall door and she saw Fred and George walking towards the courtyard.

- I need to have a conversation as well. – Alex got up and kissed Draco on his cheek as she walked away, following the twins. When she reached them, she called out for Fred. – Fred, hey! – both twins turned to look at her. – Can we talk? – George looked at his brother, and gave him a sympathetic smile.

- Sure… - Fred got closer to her as George walked away to give them some space.

- Listen, I'm…I don't really know where to start… - Alex looked at the red headed boy. He had baggy eyes, like he hadn't slept all night. – I'm sorry.

- You don't have to apologise, Alex…I misunderstood the situation, it's not your fault.

- You didn't misunderstand the situation, Fred, it's just that…

- You like him more. – Fred smiled at her sadly. – I'm not stupid. I know. I've always known, I guess. You don't put up with someone like Malfoy if you don't actually like him…

- I'm so sorry, Fred, really… - he nodded. – I don't want to lose you… - she knew it was selfish of her to ask him to stay next to her after everything, but he was one of her best friends. She couldn't lose him.

- You're not getting rid of me that easily, Black. – he smiled, this time brighter. – I just need a couple days to take it all in. Don't worry, I'll get over it. – he patted her shoulder and turned around to reunite with his brother. As she watched them walk away, Draco got next to her.

- How did it go?

- I think it went better than expected… - Alex looked at Draco and softly smiled. He returned the smile. – Did you talk with Pansy?

- I was going to, but she threw me a croissant, so…maybe I'll try later. – he smiled at her raising his eyebrows. They took each other hands and went for a walk.

A couple days later, Alex was at the library getting some potions homework done. Neville was with her, still obsessed over his new book about plants. However, that night, he had other things on his mind.

- With Malfoy?

- Yes, Neville. For the fifth time. With Draco.

- You're with Malfoy? – Neville looked at her in confusion. Alex was starting to get exasperated.

- If you keep repeating yourself, the whole school will know by tomorrow.

- I just don't get it. What happened? You were with Fred at the ball! How did you ended up… - Neville was being way too loud.

- Neville! – some people asked then to shut up. – Lower your voice.

- How did you ended up kissing Malfoy on the Astronomy Tower? – he whispered getting closer to her.

- We just did, okay?

- But Fred…

- Fred's great! I know, trust me. I know. But…I don't know. You don't get a choice in those matters, I guess…

- Are you two okay? I mean. You're still friends, right?

- I think so…But I haven't talked much with him. I don't want it to be weird or to hurt his feelings more than I have already hurt them.

- …Do Harry and the others know?

- No! And for now, it's going to stay that way. The last thing I need right now is all of my friends giving me pep talks about who I date and who I don't. I have enough with you for now. – she smiled at her friend.

- Longbottom! Black! – they both turned around. Moody was calling for them. – Why don't you help Potter put his books back?

- Sure. – they got up and walked towards Harry. He was laying on his arms. – Are you okay, Harry?

- No…The trial is tomorrow and I have no idea what to do about it.

- You know, if you're interested in plants, you'd be better with Gorshok's Guide to Herbology. Do you know there's a wizard in Nepal whose growing gravity resistant trees? – Neville started talking once again about his book. Alex smiled to herself.

- Neville. No offense, but I really don't care about plants. Now if there's a Tibetan turnip that will allow me to breathe underwater for an hour then great. – Harry looked really tense.

- Don't pay it off with him, Harry…

- I don't know about a turnip but you can always use gilliweed. – they both looked at Neville in surprise.

The next morning, Alex and Neville accompanied Harry to the trial. Hermione and Ron were nowhere to be seen. The trial would be at the lake. The school had settled a platform in the middle of the lake, magical TVs on, like the last trial. They had to take a boat to get to the platform. On their way, they saw the Weasley twins shouting and taking bets.

- Step up, mates! Don't be shy. - Fred was saying.

- Three lads. - George followed.

- One lady.

- Four go down…

- But do four come up? - Ginny passed them hitting Fred on the shoulder. - Ow!

- Don't jinx it. - Alex laughed. Fred saw her laughing.

- What are you laughing about, Black? - he had a grin on his face.

- You deserve that. - as she passed them, she hit George on the shoulder. - You too. - she smiled and waved at them goodbye. Things still felt kind of awkward with Fred, but she was happy things were going back to normal.

- Are you sure about this, Neville? - Harry grabbed the plant Neville was offering him as they walked.

- Absolutely.

- If I eat this, will I be able to breathe underwater?

- Absolutely.

- For an hour?

- Most likely. - both Alex and Harry looked at Neville with fear.

- Most likely? - they both said at the same time.

- Well, there is some debate among Herbologists as to the effects of freshwater versus saltwater…

- Oh my god… - Alex facepalmed herself.

- You're telling me this now? You must be joking. - Harry looked pissed.

- I just wanted to help…

- He's right, Harry. At least thanks to Neville you've got a chance.

- Yeah, you're right… - they climbed up into one of the boats. - Well, that makes you better than Ron and Hermione. Where are they anyway? - Alex and Neville shook their heads.

- You seem a little tense Harry. - said Neville.

- Do I?

When they arrived at the platform, Alex saw Draco upstairs. He winked at her with a smile, and she smiled back. The Champions were waiting in line in front of the lake. Fleur looked imperious, oblivious to the Beauxbatons girls that buzzed about her. Karkaroff whispered to the impassive Krum. Cedric rolled his neck and stretched. Harry looked with doubt at the slimy plant in his palm.

- Your attention please! - Dumbledore started talking. He could be heard all over the platform thanks to the TVs around. - Welcome to the second task. Last night something was stolen from each of our champions. A treasure of sorts. These four treasures, one for each champion, now lie on the bottom of the black lake. In order to win, each champion need only to find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough. Except for this, they will have one hour to do so and one hour only. After that they'll be on their own. You may begin at the start of the cannon…- Filch fired the cannon way too soon. - …now.

Harry started eating the plant, and he started having convulsions, like he was choking, falling to the lake. For a moment, he was nowhere to be seen.

- What is happening to him? - asked Dean Thomas.

- He can't breathe, I think… - said Seamus.

- Oh my god! I've killed Harry Potter! - Neville placed his hands on his head and turned around, not wanting to look at the TVs.

- Neville, don't panic, okay? - Alex was trying to calm down her friend, when suddenly Harry emerged from the lake doing a pirouette. Everyone started clapping and screaming.

Harry started swimming down, to the depths. On each TV they could see each one of the champions. Fleur had used a spell that allowed her to breath under water thanks to a bubble of air, same as Cedric. Krum had decided on a transfiguration spell, turning himself into a shark man of some sorts. They saw how Fleur was attacked by some grindylows, and she had to be saved by the organisation.

- The Beauxbatons champion Miss Delacour has unfortunately been forced to retire. She will take no further part in this task. - Dumbledore spoke clearly.

- What happens now with her treasure? - Alex asked her friends, and they all shrugged.

They saw how Harry arrived in some kind of underwater city, with some merpeople around. That's when they saw the treasures.

- Are those…? - Neville started asking.

- People. - said Seamus.

- Not just people. Those are Ron and Hermione. - Alex said, looking at her friends through the screens.

- Yeah, and that's Cho Chang, from Ravenclaw. - said Dean.

- Who's the other girl? - Alex asked.

- It's my sister! - Fleur tried getting into the water once again, but they stopped her. It was against the rules.

- They won't let her die, will they? - Neville whispered to Alex.

- No! They'll never do that…would they? - they looked at each other in fear.

Harry got closer to the "treasures" and saw they were tied up by their ankles. He untied Ron first, but when he tried to untie Hermione, the merpeople attacked him. It was at that moment that Krum arrived in his shark form, scaring away the merpeople and freeing Hermione.

- Are you seriously telling me that the most important person for Krum in this place is Hermione? - Alex looked at her friends. - He doesn't have friends or what?

A moment later, Cedric arrived as well, casting a spell to free Cho. He pointed at the watch on his wrist, letting Harry know that they didn't have much time left. He was right, time had passed way too fast. Harry looked at Fleur's little sister and freed her, taking advantage that the merpeople were nowhere to be seen. Cedric and Cho emerged at that moment and swam towards the platform. Moments later, Krum and Hermione emerged as well. Alex got closer to the edge of the platform to help Hermione up.

- What a ride, huh?

- I don't ever want to do that again… - Hermione was shivering. Neville and the others placed some towels around her.

Now it was only Harry. There were 5 minutes left. Harry was swimming upwards with Ron and the little girl in his arms, when suddenly, he was attacked by grindylows, just like Fleur. Everyone gasped. Harry pushed Ron and the girl upwards and he sank under the attack of the creatures. Ron and the girl emerged and swam towards the platform, where they were given towels, as they all watched Harry trying to fight the creatures. The gilliweed effect was starting to wear off. Harry would drown unless he did something. The organisation was already getting ready to rescue him, when he got his wand out and screamed underwater as he could: Ascendio! He landed amongst the crowd.

- Harry! - Alex and Neville went to him with towels.

- I want all the judges over here now. - Dumbledore said. Fleur got closer to Harry with her sister next to her.

- You saved her, even though she wasn't yours to save. My little sister! Thank you! - she kissed him on the cheek. Then she walked to Ron. - And you…you helped!

- Well, yeah…a bit. - she kissed him too. - Merci.

- You have no shame… - Alex told him with a laugh of disbelief.

- Are you alright? You must be freezing! Personally, I think you behaved admirably. - Hermione hugged Harry.

- I finished last, Hermione.

- Next to last. Fleur was disqualified. - Alex said.

- Attention! Attention! The winner is…Mister Diggory! - people cheered. - For showing the unique command of the bubblehead shark, the second would be mister Krum. The way I see it, Mister Potter would have finished first had it not been for his determination to rescue not only Mister Weasley but the others as well. We've agreed to award him second place! For outstanding moral fibre. - the Gryffindors started cheering and screaming. Alex as well. On their way back on the boats, Alex went with Draco.

- Krum finished before Potter. It's not fair.

- He saved two people, Draco.

- Saint Potter… - Alex laughed. It was hilarious to see Draco mad every time something good happened to Harry.

- C'mon, if you don't support Harry, which I understand, at least support Cedric. I'd like for our school to win.

- He's not bad to be a Hufflepuff…

- He's probably the smartest student at Hogwarts.

- I disagree. - he grabbed her hand. - For me you are the smartest student at Hogwarts.

- Silly. - Alex smiled with Draco. They walked together towards the castle and people started noticing that they were holding hands. When they arrived at the castle, Hermione called her from behind.

- Alex! We're going later to Hagrid's. You're in?

- Sure! I'll see you later. – when the time arrived and she met with the Gryffindor trio and Hagrid, the conversation started a terrible way.

- With Malfoy? – said Harry and Ron at the same time.

- For the hundred time…yeah.

- What about Fred? – Ron looked actually offended.

- He is my friend.

- But he likes you! Besides…MALFOY?

- Leave the poor girl alone. – Hagrid intervened. – Alex, don't listen to them. If you're with Malfoy, I trust your judgement. You're smart girl.

- Thank you, Hagrid. – she smiled at the big man.

- Besides, that doesn't change anything. Alex is still our friend! – Hermione hugged her. They were walking through the dark forest.

- So, I remember, I remember when I first met you all. Biggest bunch of misfits I've ever set eyes on. Always reminded me of myself a little. And here we all are, four years later.

- We're still misfits. – Ron said, nudging Alex. They both smiled.

- Maybe. But we've all got each other, and Harry of course. Soon to be! The youngest Tri-Wizard champion there's ever been! Hooray!

- Let's just hope there's no more dragons or grindylows. – Alex laughed, and so did the others. Suddenly, Harry called out for them.

- Guys! Come, quickly! – he was ahead of them. When they arrived, they saw the lifeless body of Barty Crouch on the floor.

- Oh my…Don't look, c'mon, you four head back to the castle and alert Dumbledore. This is no place for children. – they all listened to Hagrid.

When they arrived to the castle, they let Dumbledore know about Mister Crouch. The next day, Harry went to talk to Dumbledore about his scar. Apparently, he had been having weird dreams about Voldemort and his scar hurt. He met Alex, Ron and Hermione at the library.

- What do you suppose it was? On Karkaroff's arm? – Harry had told them about Snape and Karkaroff talking on a hallway about something.

- I don't know… - said Harry.

- Boomslang skin and lacewing flies? You're sure those were the two ingredients Snape mentioned? – asked Hermione.

- Positive, why?

- Well, he thinks we're brewing Polyjuice potion, doesn't he? – Alex said. – If it's not us…then who it is?

- I don't care what Snape thinks. I've got bigger problems than detention. – Harry looked in the distance. - Something' s coming. Drawing closer. I just don't know what it is…

- Your name getting out of the goblet was a bad sign… - said Alex. – Whatever it is, it's clearly coming for you, Harry.