Hey, everyone! Mystery Critic here, back with another chapter of Ma Fleur! I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter! Sorry again that it was a little short. With that out of the way, there's really not much to say. As for the disclaimer, I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the rights affiliated with it. With that out of the way, enjoy chapter thirty-one and the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament!
Chapter 31
Italics – French
Walking towards the Great Hall with her arms wrapped around Harry's bicep, Fleur hums happily. A blush on Harry's face blares brightly as they walk together towards their awaiting breakfast. Stepping inside with Harry, the pair sits at the Gryffindor table. Serving herself up food, Fleur continues to hum as she does so.
"What's got you so happy?" George asks, raising his eyebrow in amusement.
"Oh, nozzing!" Fleur responds happily as she flips her hair to reveal a small purple mark on her neck.
"Is that a hi-"
"NOT ANOTHER WORD!" Harry screams, blushing madly as he points his finger at Fred. "It is absolutely not that."
"Harry, mate," Fred says.
"You're an awful liar." George finishes.
"I know..." Harry groans, waving his hand and conjuring a bucket of water over each of the twins' heads.
"Oi! What in the world.." George screams, jumping up.
"Did you do that for?!" Fred finishes, following suit.
"I can," Harry deadpans, looking up at them before smirking. "Would you like to do something about it?"
Whipping out their wands, the twins point them at their potential adversary. Chuckling mischievously as he looks between the two wands. "Before I thoroughly thrash your arses," He begins, pulling out his wand and conjuring fire in his open palm. "Do you really want to take on the guy who kicked the ass of a Marauder in a prank war?"
"Wait, what?" The twins say together, lowering their wands as they stare dumbfounded at Harry. "You beat Padfoot?! We don't believe it! We can't we shan't!"
Snapping his fingers, the twin's wands fly into the air and onto the ground. "Yes, I beat Padfoot's scrawny mutt arse from here to France and back again," He corrects. "He didn't tell you who the Marauders were yet, did he?"
"No, we didn't have time for anything but prank discussions." George says, his eyes widening.
"Would you tell us, Harry old friend?" Fred says, his expression mirroring his brother's.
"Well, as you already know, Padfoot is my godfather. Moony is Professor Lupin, and Prongs… Prongs was my dad." He responds, a warm smile on his face.
"What about Wormtail?"
His expression darkening, Harry looks away with a sigh. "We don't talk about him..." He mutters darkly. Standing up from the table, Fleur wraps her arms around Harry's shoulders and holds him close. Rubbing her arm, he turns to give her a weak smile. "Merci, love."
"Harry, we're sorry," George says.
"We didn't mean to strike a nerve." Fred finishes softly.
"It's fine, you didn't know." He says, waving them off. "However, as the next generation of Marauders you have a right to know of those that came before you. Wormtail was… Peter Pettigrew."
"The one who betrayed your parents?" Fred asks.
"And got Sirius thrown in jail?" George chimes in, the pair of them glaring heatedly.
"The very same..." Harry says quietly, dragging his hand through his hair. Staying silent for a few moments, Harry takes a deep breath before continuing. "I'd appreciate it if this was kept quiet. Good name of the Marauders, and all that. Even if Wormtail was a rat, we can't deny the happiness the Marauders spread in their time. When they were all good and… Alive."
"We understand, mate," George says, throwing a thumbs up.
"We've always got a couple of ears if you need to talk." Fred finishes, throwing a thumb up.
"Thanks, guys. You really don't know how much this means to me. I'm glad I can trust you both, and I can't wait to see what the New Marauders have planned for Hogwarts and the world." He says, smiling at them. Walking out of the hall a few minutes later, Harry and Fleur begin their trek towards the Black Lake. "Are you nervous?"
"Of course I am," Fleur responds in a whisper. "They have a person held hostage under the lake for both of us, and we don't even know who it is."
As they reach the entrance hall, Jacques greets the couple with a half-hearted smile. "Are you both prepared for the task?" He asks, pulling both of them into a hug. "You both have several plans in place?"
"Of course, papa," Fleur says, looking around in confusion. "Where are maman and Gabrielle? Why aren't they here to wish us luck?"
Sighing morbidly, Jacques turns looks over his shoulder to the Black Lake without a word.
"No..." Harry mutters, wind beginning to swirl around the three of them dangerously. "They took maman and Gabby as hostages?"
"Yes, Harry," He whispers. "They volunteered, and they wouldn't back down on it. They said they knew they would be rescued, so they weren't worried."
"I'M GOING TO KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THESE OLD FUCKERS!" Harry roars before Shimmering down to the edge of the lake.
"Harry, wait!" Jacques yells, trying to stop him. Unable to stop him in time, Jacques takes off in a sprint towards the lake with Fleur close behind him. "Merde!"
~Fleur~
Appearing in front of the edge of the lake, Harry stalks towards the stands where the heads of the tournament stand in wait. Magic swirls around him viciously, the ground sizzling as the energy around him burns maliciously. "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!" Harry shouts, his voice striking fear into everyone present. "HOSTAGES?! ARE YOU ALL BLOODY MAD?!"
"Mr. Potter, please calm down!" Dumbledore pleads, raising his hands in placation. "I can assure you, they are perfectly safe!"
"Don't tell me to calm down, Dumbledore!" Harry snaps, his eyes burning red at the old wizard. "My mother and sister are down there! Both of them veela, in the merpeople's territory! No one should have been used as hostages in the first place, but to place veela in proximity to merpeople has to be the stupidest fucking move I've ever heard!"
As he screams the last words, his magic lashes out and whips against the ground, lighting it ablaze with crimson flames. Several people whip their wands out and point them at Harry as his head snaps towards them. Harry raises his hands, conjuring fire in his palms. "You'll be on the ground before you even try it," He spits venomously, glaring at them.
"Everyone, please calm down!" Dumbledore pleads, stepping in between everyone. "Harry, I swear to you they are safe. If anything, I mean anything happens, I will take full responsibility. I'm asking as a friend, please calm down."
Staring at Dumbledore for a few moments, Harry contemplates the consequences of burning several people alive. Sighing in irritation, he takes a few deep breathes to steady himself and dispel the magic around him. "One scratch, Dumbledore," He says angrily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "One scratch one either of them and I eradicate their entire village. The blood of all of them will be on your head. Understood?"
"Harry, please-"
"You've brought this on yourself, Dumbledore," Harry says, glaring at the aged warlock. "Before this task starts, let them know that if any harm befalls my family, I will wipe them off the face of the Earth."
"I will speak with the messenger..." He says, lowering his head in defeat. Walking towards the water, Harry turns away from the tournament heads with a final glare.
"I want 'im arrested!" Maxime yells, stopping Harry in his tracks. Turning around slowly, he glowers at the woman.
"On what charges?" Moody scoffs. "He didn't attack you, the magic was nowhere near you, and he only prepared for a fight after you all raised your wands at him. He was justified in his anger in the first place, his family is being used as hostages. Show some tact, you giant idiot. And yes, I did mean that as a pun."
"'Ow dare you? I should-"
"What? Attack a retired Auror and current teacher at Hogwarts?" Moody retorts, rolling his eyes. "You aren't going to do a thing, woman. Do us all a favor and shut your mouth."
"Thanks, Professor," Harry says, letting the grizzled teacher lead him towards his approaching father and girlfriend.
"No problem, lad," He grunts, patting Harry on the back. "I'd be as pissed as you are if I was in your shoes. Don't worry about the merpeople, just get your family out of there."
"Will do, Professor," Harry says, grinning. "I'll turn the lake into a desert if I have to."
"That's the spirit, lad," He barks, clapping him on the back once more. "Give 'em hell for me, aye?"
"Remove a fin, take an eye, and give them forty scars. Check." He jokes.
"Cheeky bastard."
"Thanks for the compliment," He says before being practically tackled by Fleur. "I'm sorry for taking off like that, Fleur. I should have kept better control of my temper. We're going to take on the lake together and get maman and Gabby back."
"Yes, we are," She says, kissing his forehead and hugging him once more. "We will do this together, to hell with the tournament. We're only doing this to get our family back."
"I'm going to kick maman's ass." Harry mutters into her shoulder.
"Wait your turn," Jacques grumbles, glowering at the surface of the lake. "That woman can be so headstrong sometimes. I wouldn't have her any other way, but this is ridiculous."
"We'll give both of them a piece of our minds when this is over," Harry says, walking towards the platform with his girlfriend and father. "For now, let's just get through this task with as little murder as we can."
"Speak for yourself," Fleur practically hisses. "I won't be satisfied without some bloodshed."
"I love it when you're bloodthirsty," Harry says, hugging her to his side. "Let's go get our family."
~Fleur~
Stepping up to the wooden platform overlooking the water, Harry stands with his arm around his girlfriend's waist, the both of them ready to snap at the first person to annoy them in the slightest.
"Champions, gather round!" Dumbledore says, stepping up to the four young magic users. "This task will be quite difficult. You will be traversing the waters of the Black Lake to find something very important taken from you. You each have a hostage tied up in one of the Merpeople villages down there. Your job is to find them, bring them back up, and return here within an hour. Are there any questions?"
"What is the policy on lethality towards the denizens of the Lake?" Harry asks, barely containing his growl.
"You may get through the task any way you deem fit," Dumbledore says hesitantly. "However, points can and may be taken at the discretion of the judges for deadly action."
"You can take your points and shove them," He snarls, focusing on the surface of the lake. "All I'm focused on is getting my maman out of that lake."
"Seconded," Fleur says with a huff. "Zis tournament does not hold any appeal to me anymore. I'm only doing what I need to do to get zrough it."
"I have enough fame as it is," Krum says, waving his hand nonchalantly. "I say ve all vork together to complete this stupid competition."
"I'm more than happy to go along with that," Cedric says with a grin. "Teamwork makes the dream work, and all that."
"Alright, we work and move together," Harry says, pulling a wad of Gillyweed out of his pocket. "Remind me to make breakfast for Marie for getting this for me."
"She did work very 'ard to find it for you." Fleur says with a small smile.
"Yeah, she did," He agrees, the corner of his mouth pulling up into a smirk. "It's going to taste like rotten fish on a dragon's arse, isn't it?"
"Most likely," Fleur says, stifling her giggles. "You'll never find me eating somezing so disgusting, love."
"Oh, eat me." He grumbles, eyeing the slimy plant.
"Maybe later, love," She retorts, placing a kiss on his cheek. "For now, swallow that disgusting blob and let's go rescue our friends and family, non?"
"When the cannon sounds, you may enter the water," Dumbledore says. "I will remind you that all of you have only a single hour to rescue your hostages. Good luck, champions."
Rolling his eyes, Harry stuffs the glob of slimy flora into his mouth and swallows it with a shudder before jumping in the water. After a few moments, Harry begins holding his throat in pain as his internal organs shift. The trio of other champions stays beside him, waiting to make sure the transformation goes smoothly. After a few moments, Harry's fingers have webbing between them, his feet have changed into nearly transparent flippers, and gills sprout along the sides of his neck. Nodding to the others, the four champions start swimming away from the platform and deeper into the Black Lake.
Pulling out his wand, Harry silently casts a Patronus and smiles fondly upon seeing Prongs once more. Shaking himself out of his bittersweet nostalgia, his features harden as he commands the Patronus to lead them to maman. Nodding once, the Patronus turns around and bounds out as if running on solid land through the water. Motioning for the other champions to follow him, the four students swim after the ethereal silver stag. After a few minutes of swimming, they come across a thick forest of seaweed. Turning to the other champions, he raises an eyebrow as he motions for a vote for going around or through. Fleur crosses her arms while drumming her fingers against her bicep impatiently, Cedric rolls his eyes, and Krum seems to somehow manage to scoff as a half-shark. A chill goes through Harry as he deems the action impressive, yet terrifying.
Nodding in understanding, he follows the other champions through as he takes up the rear to cover the group for a moment before catching up. As the four swim through the seaweed forest, their eyes continue to dart around them, keeping watch for any threats. Feeling a shift in the placement of the water below them, Harry snaps his head down to see an army of grindylow swimming up at them. Pointing his wand at the approaching creatures, he sends a blast of magic at them and the resulting force of magic slams dozens of the water monsters spiraling back down. The rest of the champions turn around and follow Harry's line of sight to see the terrifying toothy beings set on devouring the lot of them. Following suit, they begin casting silent stunners and cutting hexes through the water.
Pointing his wand at the constantly approaching horde, Cedric sends out a blasting hex towards the grindylows from no more than twenty feet away. As it detonates on a small cluster of the aquatic denizens, the pressure propels outward around the explosion, super-heating the water around the epicenter. Seeing the initial explosion obliterating the grindylow and the wave of water boiling others alive, Harry makes a split-second decision and reacts quickly. He thrusts his hands out, halting the approaching pressure wave with his magic, struggling to hold back the incredible strength of the underwater explosion. Shaking in exertion, he slows the kinetic energy from progressing and quickly stopping the boiling wave of water from slamming into the other champions.
After a few moments to catch his breath, Harry turns towards a nervous-looking Cedric who just shrugs in apology. Pointing his wand at the sandy-haired Hufflepuff, Harry sends a stinging hex into the young man before flipping him off. Motioning for them all to move on, Harry leads the way through the last few minutes of the seaweed forest, the champions dispatching all grindylow they come across with haste. As the group emerges from the mess of seaweed, they see Harry's Patronus waiting patiently for them before looking behind it. It looks back to the young mages and nods before disappearing. Moving forward, they swim over the ridge to see a large merpeople village, their hostages in the center of the town. Tied up with seaweed around their ankles and appearing to be unconscious, the four champions move quickly as they swim over the ridge and towards their hostages.
His eyes darting around, Harry watches for any sudden movements from the merpeople around them as they swim through the crumbling structures of the village. As they reach the hostages, they all make quick work of the bindings before wrapping their arms around their respective hostages. Turning away from the village, the group begins their trek upwards. Feeling movement in the water, Harry spins around just in time to dodge a spear thrown at him. Scowling at the assembling force of merpeople, he directs his wand at them, the tip glowing menacingly. Shaking his head in warning as the merpeople tense up and prepare to attack, one dashes at the champions after a moment's hesitation. Turning his wand to the merman, he slashes an X in the air before flicking his wand in the direction of the merman. As the curse slams into the merman's chest, it stops in place just before bone fragments explode out of his body, the shards shooting in all directions.
The merpeople turn their heads towards their fallen brother for a moment, then back towards Harry, his wand back on them as it glows angrily once more. Their eyes widen for a brief second before they turn around and swim away. Sighing in thanks that he didn't have to destroy them, he sheathes his wand as a shadow begins to loom over him. Turning around, he sees the giant squid looming over the group with its tentacles in the air menacingly. "Bugger." He says, bubbles flowing from his mouth. Drawing his wand, he swims out of the way as one of the tentacles swipes at where he was. "Swim!"
Turning to swim away with the rest of the group, he stops upon seeing a tentacle shooting towards Fleur. Twisting out of the way, she avoids the impact but her leg is slashed by the serrations of the squid's suction cups. Screaming in pain, Harry moves into action. Swimming over to her, he kisses her forehead before launching her back towards Cedric.
"Get her out of here!" He screams, knocking one of the tentacles away. The group hesitates for a moment before seeing a glow surrounding Harry as he grins. "I've got this under control!"
The group begins to swim away while Harry turns around, the water swirling violently around him. Raising both of his glowing hands, Harry screams out a spell; "Depulso!" Launching the overpowered banishing charm from both hands, it slams into the tentacles approaching the young wizard. Channeling magic into his hands, Harry swims towards the giant squid, rolling and twisting around the tentacles as they try to grab him or slam into him. Stopping in front of the squid's head, he places his hands on it with a smirk before repeating the previous move. "DEPULSO!"
The squid shoots backward and is stunned for a few moments, allowing Harry the rest of the time to finish charging up his magic. Holding his hands out to his sides with his fingers spread, the glow around Harry grows brighter.
"'With this power, we crash upon our foes. With this power, we drown those in our way. With this power, I release your bonds so we may fight as one,'" The water cascades around Harry powerfully as the glow flares blindingly around him.
Flashback, training with Merlin
Harry sits up with a yawn, entering their realm to train with Merlin once more. Raising an eyebrow at waking up on a beach, Harry strolls towards the water curiously. Looking around and not finding Merlin, Harry shrugs and sits down on the sand, smiling as he lets the water drift against his toes.
"This is nice." Harry says, staring out at the calm water.
"Isn't it?" A voice says from behind Harry. Jumping up, Harry turns towards the source of the voice, his hands crackling with lightning. A man with a long brown beard and hair bundled behind him, blue eyes, and a warm smile on his face stands in front of Harry with his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Peace, young one. I mean no harm. I am here to introduce myself. My name is Lir, is it alright if I join you?"
"I suppose so," Harry says cautiously, dispelling the lightning and lowering his hands. Sitting back down on the sand, he watches the man nod in thanks before sitting down on the sand next to him with a sigh. "Where's Merlin?"
"Oh, he's taking a day off today," Lir says with a noncommittal wave of his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Harry. May I call you Harry?"
"Sure, Lir," He says, raising an eyebrow at the man. "Pardon my rudeness, but why are you here?"
"Oh, excellent question. Pardon me, I tend to space out," Lir says, standing up with a stretch. "Well, I am Lir, the Celtic god of the sea. I'm here to teach you how to make the most amazing of the elements to fight with you."
"Does every god think their element is the best?" Harry asks sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"Of course we do!" Lir responds enthusiastically before chuckling. "I'm the only one who's right, though."
"Of course."
"Harry, what do you know about water?" Lir asks, smiling at Harry genially.
"Besides it's wet?"
"I love your sarcasm, Harry," Lir says, patting the young wizard on the shoulder. "Well, you're not wrong. However, there's quite a bit more to it than just being wet. Water is the most versatile of elements for a very good reason. It has the ability to adapt, to change."
"What do you mean?"
"Fighting with water does not just mean water itself," Lir explains, beginning to walk along the beach with Harry. "Ice, steam, any form of water is yours to fight with."
"You keep saying fight with, don't you mean control?"
"You can't control water, Harry," Lir says, smiling for a moment. "Would you be able to change the current of a river, where it flows without obstructing it with a dam or digging another path?"
"No, I suppose you can't," Harry says, pondering this. "So, when you say fighting with it, I'm not controlling it? I'm just guiding it to help me?"
"Not quite, Harry. You're close, though." Turning to the water, he raises his hands to the sky as he stares out at the ocean with a smile. "Imagine something as big as the ocean. Quintillions of tons, all at once. Shifting, changing, moving. The ocean is alive, Harry, and not just the life within it. She lives, she breathes, she thinks, she feels. The ocean is just as alive as you or me, and she is not one to be controlled. When you fight with the ocean, you're asking permission for her to move with you, to stand by your side. Never assume she will, Harry. If you do, she may never fight with you again."
Lowering his hands, Lir sits down on the sand and drapes his hands over his knees, a sad smile on his face. Sitting down next to him, Harry does the same as he looks over at Lir. "You assumed she would, didn't you?"
"I had fought with her for so long, I became arrogant of the power I had with her," He says, sighing as tears begin to roll down his cheek. "I had become bragging and boastful in my many victories with her. I told people I fought I commanded the very sea itself, and that I would crash down the waves upon them at my whims. The next battle came and I didn't ask, I demanded she crash into my foes and wipe them out. She ignored me and the surface stayed as still as glass…
"I lost spectacularly that day, Harry. I was too arrogant of the power I thought I had, and I deserved the beating that came along with it. She never again allowed me to fight with her, and I never step foot within her again. I don't deserve to anymore, not after what I did to her. I hurt her, Harry," He says, tears freely falling from his eyes. "I hurt her in the worst way I could, and I can never make up what I did to her."
"She was your friend, wasn't she?" Harry asks in a whisper.
"The greatest friend I'll ever know." Lir says with a nod.
"Why don't you apologize?"
"You're young, Harry. I admire your naivety, I really do," He says, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder. "What I did, you can't apologize for. I betrayed her trust, Harry."
"I think you're just scared," He says simply, looking out at the calm water. "I think that you're scared she won't forgive you and that she's still mad at you. I think you're afraid to find out what the answer really is, and that she'll reject you even if you drop to your knees and beg for her forgiveness. You won't ever know until you try, though."
"Maybe you're right, Harry," Lir says after a moment's thought. "You could very well be right. Why don't you come back tomorrow, we'll start your training then when Merlin comes back."
"Alright, Lir," Harry says, standing up and walking away. "Just remember that if you're truly sorry, there's always a chance. My mother taught me that."
"She was a wise woman," He says, watching him Shimmer away with a smile. After a moment, Lir turns around and stares out at the water before dropping to his knees. "Aigéan, I beg for you to listen to me just once. I am so sorry for what I did. I have absolutely no excuse for how I treated you, and it was wrong and stupid of me. You didn't deserve what I did to you, and I can understand if even after this you want nothing to do with me.
"I am so, so sorry, Aigéan. I don't deserve to be by your side, let alone have you fight with me once more. I don't deserve to touch you again, and I doubt I ever will. I just want you to know that every day of my existence, I have and will continue to regret what I did to you. You deserved better than what I did to you, and you deserve someone who will always feel the honor of having you by their side. Harry will never betray your trust the way I did, and I hope you enjoy fighting with him," Bowing before the ocean, Lir stands up and turns to walk away. He stops in place as the waterline slides up the beach and over his feet, wrapping around his ankles. Gasping in shock, tears of joy fall from his cheeks into the water below as he turns around to see the waves splashing against the shore. "Aigéan… Thank you…"
Flashback end.
"I call out your name and ask that you fight by my side; Aigéan!" Thrusting his hands above him, the water around him explodes into motion, swirling in an enormous whirlpool around him. The blue glow radiates around Harry as the water of the Black Lake prepares to fight alongside the young mage. "Let's show this overgrown calamari what happens when you disrespect a friend of yours, eh?"
Spreading his hands outwards, the water swirls and recedes away from the squid and Harry, a pillar remaining wrapped around his entire body holding him in place. The tentacles shoot towards Harry at a nearly blinding speed, only for each of them to be knocked away by tendrils of water twice the size. Raising his arms in the air, he holds them in place for a moment as the water of the lake rises into the air. Twisting his hands, the edges of the water solidifies into a wall of ice spikes ready to impale the squid. Looking back down at the squid, he stares his foe in the eye as he prepares to wipe it out. Harry's eyes widen in shock as he sees the eye of the squid is a foggy gray and he remembers Moody's lesson.
'Creatures big and small succumb to the power,' Harry thinks, glaring at the squid. 'I can't kill it, it's under the Imperius. I thought something was up, the squid is normally so nice. I'll have to just take it out of the fight.'
Twisting his hands back, the spikes disappear with the walls of ice remaining on the edges of the waves. Thrusting his hands towards the squid, the water of the Black Lake crash into the squid with the walls of ice slamming into it. "Hold him in place, Aigéan!" Harry says, turning around. "We just need to hold him long enough for the task to be over, then we can get Professor Dumbledore to reverse the curse!"
The pillar holding Harry in place rears back before throwing him several hundred yards through the air. Screaming in terror, Harry splashes down in the water a few yards away from the rest of the champions and hostages. Swimming up to the surface with everyone else as the gillyweed wears off, Harry coughs up the remaining water in his lungs. "Real funny, Aigéan!" Harry yells sarcastically. "I had no idea the ocean had a sense of humor!" A large wave rises and crashes down on Harry while everyone else looks at the scene in confusion. After a few moments, Harry resurfaces with a deadpan. "Thanks. Anyway, come on everyone! Let's finish this task so we can help the giant squid!"
"What's wrong with it, Harry?" Cedric asks, turning around to swim towards the platform with everyone else.
"Someone has it under the Imperius," Harry explains, helping Fleur hold Gabby above the surface. "We've got to get the teachers so they can reverse it. Otherwise, I might not have any choice. Aigéan is holding it in place right now, but it might hurt itself if it struggles."
"Should I save ze questions for later, 'Arry?" Apolline asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Another god thing, but I'll explain later. For now, let's focus on saving the squid." He says as they reach the platforms and begin hoisting themselves up.
"Alright, Potter," Poppy says with a growl, holding a potion and a towel in her hands. "Take these now or I swear I will hold you down with a body bind and force them on you."
"I will in a bit, Poppy," Harry says, pushing past her and walking up to Dumbledore. "Professor, the giant squid is under the Imperius. The task is finished now, we can assign points or whatever afterward. Right now, there's an innocent creature who is always friendly who was forced to attack us."
"Let's go take care of this, Mr. Potter," He says, moving to go towards where the squid is held in place. Following the professors over to the edge closest to where the squid is trapped, Harry steps up to the edge of the water. "Harry, please step away and let us handle this."
"You won't be able to without me," He says, bowing towards the water and straightening back up. "Aigéan, would you please part so the professors can help the squid?"
The water of the lake swirls and churns as it begins parting and creating a path to where the squid is thrashing around inside of a bubble of ice. "Mr. Potter, what is this magic?" Flitwick asks in awe as he stares at the enormous frozen sphere holding the squid.
"Friendship," Harry says simply, smiling at the sight. "Do you need the ice gone?"
"just a hole we can fire into, lad," Moody says, drawing his wand. "This will probably take a bit of power. Then we need to find out who the bloody hell cast the curse."
"Aigéan, could you please open a hole in the ice about two feet wide?" The ice crackles for a moment before a small chunk falls away. The professors launch their spells into the hole repeatedly to purge the Imperius from within the great creature. After a few minutes, the squid stops thrashing around and the collective group sighs in relief. "Thank you, Aigéan. I will call upon your assistance again should I need it, my friend."
The group moves back to the edge of the lake before the ice shatters and the water crashes back down around the squid. Walking back towards the platform, the judges begin to discuss the results among themselves as Harry begins to approach Fleur for a hug. Fleur holds her hand out to stop him, and Harry looks at her in confusion before she points to her right. Turning his head, Harry sees an angry Poppy holding the towel and blanket as she taps her foot impatiently.
"Potion, towel, NOW!" She snaps, shoving them into his arms. "Your girlfriend has graciously accepted to assist me if you don't have that potion down your throat in the next ten seconds, and the towel around you in the following five. Ten."
Poppy doesn't even get to nine before Harry downs the Pepper-Up potion in one gulp and wraps the towel around his body. Wrapping her arms around her boyfriend, Fleur kisses him on the cheek. "I was very impressed by that magic, love," She says, nibbling on his earlobe. "I think that you should give me a private lesson sometime soon, don't you think? That magic could be quite useful to a veela, couldn't it?"
"I agree, my love," He says, turning to kiss her softly. "I can't teach you, but that won't stop me from giving you that private lesson."
"Attention everyone!" Dumbledore says, his voice amplified. "The judges and I have convened and have come to a decision! As all the Champions had decided to work as one, they all fought as one. So, in a majority vote, the judges have decided to give all four champions a full fifty points!" Assorted cheers and boos sound out throughout the assembled audience for a few moments before Dumbledore's amplified voice sounds throughout the area once more. "Yes, yes, I know. However, despite what you may think, I doubt the champions would have settled for anything less. That leaves the placings the same. Mr. Diggory in third place with eighty-eight points. Miss Delacour in second with eighty-nine points. Finally, Messers. Krum and Potter are tied for first with an impressive ninety points each! Champions, the final task is on the 24th of June, and we will call you to assemble before then to lay out the purpose of the task. Good luck, study hard!"
The assembled people begin to leave, filing out of the stands and from on the platform. Wrapping his arm around Fleur's waist, Harry lets Fleur lead him towards the edge of the platform. Before they can step off, Dumbledore places his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Pardon me, Mr. Potter," He says, smiling at the pair of them once they turn around. "Miss Delacour, Mr. Potter. Well done, both of you. I want to congratulate you on your incredible performance personally."
"Zank you, Professor," Fleur says with a smirk. "I 'ope we will not be ze only ones personally congratulated. Zat would show favoritism, non?"
"Just because you are both my favorite champions doesn't mean I would show favoritism, Miss Delacour," Dumbledore says with a mock disappointed look before a smile spreads across his face. "Of course I will personally congratulate the other champions. I also wanted to commend you on your powerful magic, Harry. You've come a long way since you've first been here, you know."
"Don't I know it, sir," Harry says with a chuckle. "I hope to do my parents, both here and in the next world proud."
"I have no doubt in my mind that you will, Harry," He says, wrapping his arms around the wet boy. "I have no doubt that you will become greater than any of us could ever imagine, and on that day I will be the first to smile."
"And say you told me so." Harry corrects.
"Now why on Earth would I say such a thing?" Dumbledore asks innocently, turning away with a smile. "Go on, you two. Go celebrate this victory."
"Have a great day, sir." Harry says, turning away with Fleur.
"You as well, Harry." The old wizard says, watching them walk away.
"That was quite an impressive bit of magic Potter displayed," Moody says, limping up next to Dumbledore.
"That's an understatement if I've ever heard one, Alistair," Dumbledore says with a warm smile.
"Aye, it is," He says with a shrug. "The truth is, he's going to change the world."
"That seems quite a bit more accurate, old friend."
"An Imperius on the squid, eh? A pretty smart plan to kill him, wouldn't you say?" Moody asks.
"Whatever do you mean, Alistair?" Dumbledore asks.
"We both know that squid could have ripped apart the girl in a second, yet it didn't," He explains before walking off. "You're getting senile, Albus. You forgot to hide your magical signature. Next time you want to challenge the boy, use something that could kill a god. He's well on his way at this point."
"I suppose you're right, old friend," Dumbledore says, staring out at the lake in disappointment at the failure. "I suppose you're right."
Well, everyone! That's chapter thirty-one and the second task! I hope you all enjoyed it, this was a tough thing for me to work past, but I got it done and I enjoyed it immensely. This is also the longest chapter yet, breaking six thousand words! Flames will be used to roast your ass right back, and constructive criticism is always welcome. As always, read, review, and spread this story like wildfire! I'll see you all next time! This is Mystery Critic, signing off.