A/N: Happy Christmas you guys! And just in time I give you the first task...
The First Task: The Kelpie and the Key
I awake the next morning in a state of euphoria. Everything was perfect in my world. That was until I remembered the date. Sunday November 26th. Or preferably, the date of the first task. And then let me tell you, the nerves kicked in. It was still dark outside and everyone in the room was sleeping. I got out of bed and dressed quickly into jeans and a warm jumper. I then skidded out of the room and barged straight in to Professor McGonagall's office. She was sitting stiffly at her desk; waiting for me it seems.
I walk over and take a seat and she begins. "The task will take place in the lake, I have a track suit and swim suit prepared for you." With a swish of her wand a bundle of clothes land in my lap. The clothes are a midnight blue with silver. Ravenclaw colours. She continues "It's a good thing we worked on that bubble head charm Miss Weasly, I'm sure you're to need it. You have mastered it... haven't you?". The truth was I had only a handful of these meetings with Professor McGonagall, and her office was the only place id practiced it. And that was only the theory.
"Yes, of course" I answer. Oh I am a smooth liar. "That Zukanov fellow has had Mr. Krum swimming laps in the lake for weeks now. And Mr. DeFlamme will know the lake better than any of you as he lives here. This leaves you at a disadvantage." I nod my head obediently and wait for her to offer the solution to this problem. She doesn't.
"I'm a strong swimmer" I say, trying to instil some confidence into her, thus instilling confidence into myself. And it is the truth; I grew up by the sea after all. And if I can handle the unpredictability of the sea then I'm sure I can handle the lake. It's what's gonna be inside the lake that's bothering me. And mark my words; there will be something in that lake.
"Alright Miss Weasly" Professor McGonagall says "If you you're ready". And I suppose I am. Ready that is. I mean sure, I should have practiced that bubble headed charm, but I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
A little white tent is set up near the lake. This, supposedly is where the champions are to assemble, so this is where professor McGonagall and I head to. I've changed into my blue track suit and it's only when I see the enormous crowd gathered around the perimeter of the lake that the true nerves set in. I enter the tent to see Alek standing close by Zukanov looking confident as always. He gives a nod of he's head in my direction and I smile weakly back at him. Kevin looks nervous, standing beside Madame Maxime who has one huge hand on he's shoulder. Aunt Angelina looks "Super excited!" and smiles happily at me as we enter.
Professor McGonagall leads me over to the "Hogwarts" segment of the tent and gives Angelina a look that clearly means hurry up. "The objective of this task champions" she begins "will be to retrieve something." Retrieve something, I tell myself. Well that should be a piece of cake. "But there will be a major obstacle in your way." Never. "This obstacle will be in possession of what you are trying to retrieve. However it won't be much interested in that. It will be much more interested in you." Great, just fantastic.
Then she pulls out a red pouch from her pocket. "I would like each of you to choose something from here." "Lady's first!" she says happily, approaching me. I insert my hand cautiously into the bag, but there is nothing dangerous in there. All I can feel are some chains. I choose one and pull it out. In the palm of my hand I now hold a thick silver chain. I have no idea what this means. Angelina however, does as she says "Silver Dom, that means you're going last." I nod my head and McGonagall takes the chain from my hand and begins examining it.
Angelina then walks over to Kevin. Zukanov gives a loud "Hmph!" of disgust at being made to wait until last. Kevin inserts he's hand less tentatively then I did and pulls out a thick brass chain. Angelina smiles warmly and announces "Brass means second!". And then finally she approaches Alek, who swiftly throws a hand in and extracts one solid gold chain. "And you Mr. Krum" Angelina says "Will be going first."
Alek is the first to go and all the adults leave the tent to do the judging. That leaves Kevin and I alone with our nerves. "It's gonna be fine you know" I tell him. It seems like he's a lot more nervous than I am. He nods he's head while fingering he's brass chain. I walk over and take a seat beside him, holding my chain in the palm of my hand. "You know, I think these chains mean something you know" I say "Like... they're the piece of a puzzle." "What makes you say that?" Kevin asks, finally looking up at me. I'm about to tell him that's how a Ravenclaws mind works but he probably wouldn't have any idea what I'm talking about. Instead I say "Chains, they're too insignificant to be... insignificant." And he just smiles that fascinated smile.
I think about Lorcan, wonder if he's out there amongst the throngs of people, if he's worried about me, or if he's quietly confident. And Teddy's got to be out there too. And James and Fred. And... Roxanne I think with a smile. Which is swiftly replaced with a frown as I realize it's more than possible that I'm going to make a fool of myself out there. I'm awoken from my thoughts as Madame Maxime enters the tent and whispers "Kevin" and he stands up to depart the tent. "Bonne chance" he says to me as he leaves. "Et vous!" I call after him.
And then I frantically wonder what's out there.
Professor McGonagall enters and calls my name 30 minutes later. And by then I've worked myself into a panic. "Come on" she says, trying to hurry me up. At this point id like nothing more than to stroll back to the palace. But I have no choice. In the split second before we leave the tent she grips my arm like a vice and hisses in my ear "Don't let it drag you under!". And if I wasn't frightened before you can imagine how I felt at this particular moment.
The moment we exit the tent a rush of loud cheering erupts from the stands. My eyes scan the crowds to see if I can make out Lorcan but there are too many people. Professor McGonagall gives my arm a brief squeeze and begins walking away from me, towards the judge's stand, towards safety. Which leaves me standing in the middle of the clearing beside the lake with absolutely no idea what to do.
I jump in shock when I see it and begin stepping backwards. Standing just feet away from me and feet away from the water was the most eerily beautiful creature I had ever seen. A jet black, dripping wet but undeniably beautiful horse was staring straight at me. Its eyes were a magnificent jade green but they seemed almost sad... lonely. And then the most important thing of all caught my eye. Hanging around the horse's neck on a bit of string was a large glistening silver key.
My objective: To retrieve the key. My obstacle: The pretty pony
The horse turned from me and began trotting towards the water. I found myself wanting to follow it, not to get the key but because it felt unbearable to look away from the beautiful creature. "Wait!" I called desperately after it, stumbling forward. It turned to wait for me just as its hooves were submerged in water. I was so close to it now I could almost feel the cold moisture radiating off its body. I couldn't look away. It was just too beautiful... too enticing. I wondered if this is what it's like to look at a true veela. That's when something struck me as wrong. No normal horse has veela like properties. It was stupid of me to think this was a normal horse in the first place.
I took a step towards it and reached out a hand. I felt the watching crowd holding their breath. If I could just grab that key and tug it off it would be finished. Just as the tips of my fingers rushed the key the horse choose to move its neck, causing my fingers to come in to contact with its glossy black mane. I tried to pull away but my fingers were stuck fast. And whether I had mastered the bubble head charm or not there was no time to use it as the horse galloped forward and dived headlong into the water. Dragging me along with it.
The gasps of the crowd were replaced with that other worldly under water sound that reminds me of home, playing in the sea, shell cottage. Focus Dominique, focus. If I could just grab that key. I was careful not to let any other part of my anatomy touch that horse as I was pulled deeper under water. But I was okay for now, I'd been deeper. Right now I had to worry about the fact that three of my fingers were glued to the side of this beast's neck. It was diving deeper and deeper and I realized if I didn't start fighting back I was going to drown.
I leant back; my fingers still stuck like glue, and gave the horse one fierce kick in the face. My risk payed off. I didn't stick as it wasn't bare skin that touched its body, but it did roar and kick and become severely distressed. I tried to reach for my wand which was tucked into the right back side pocket of my track suit pants. But with the horse bucking and kicking I couldn't grasp it. Instead I reached for the key which was dancing enticingly in the water due to the beast's struggles. But again, I couldn't reach it.
My breath would run out if I didn't get that key and get out of here soon. And then I'd be dead and they would all be right. So I gave the beast another almighty kick in the face, but this time as it reared up I dived forward and my other hand closed around the key. I pulled as hard as I could and it gave away surprisingly easily. As soon as I grabbed the key my fingers were released and I began kicking upwards. But the horse had other ideas. I shoved the key into my bra; it was the safest place and began manoeuvring upwards.
I let out a silent scream which released what was left of my air supply as I felt strong jaws clamp around my leg. I gripped my wand, spun around and thought as hard as I could Expelliarmus. Nothing happened and I silently screamed again in agony as the claws clenched tighter around my leg and began pulling me down. I tried one last time Expelliarmus I screamed inside my head. And thank Merlins beard this time it worked. And powerfully too. But not without the beast's teeth tearing my leg as it spun away, deep under water.
As the horse went spiralling backwards I kicked forwards with all my might. My left led (the injured one) putting up a weak attempt. When I reached the surface I took a huge gasp of air. Coughing and spluttering and falling to the ground. I was instantly surrounded by people, fawning over me, calling my name, checking if I was alright. I heard a loud scream from the stands and turned to see why whoever it was, was screaming. I felt like screaming too when I saw the answer to my own question. The lake water, which I was now sprawled in, was stained red with my own blood.
"But did she get the key!" I heard Angelina's familiar voice state frantically. My leg may have been half chewed off, I may have been literally sitting in a pool of my own blood but that didn't stop me from turning to them with a huge grin on my face, reaching into my bra and pulling out a key. The judge surrounding me started applauding which soon spread to the crowds. "She did it" Angelina stated, as if they hadn't quite got that "and with the fastest time too!".
Then Teddy came into view, swooping down and pulling me into he's arms, laughing wildly, which I joined in on. He released me and I was then held by Professor McGonagall and Madame Maxime. "Kelpies" she was saying "Nasty creatures." But I wasn't listening anymore, not after spotting Lorcan. Who was standing a few feet away and seemed to be gazing worriedly at my leg and glaring angrily at Teddy at intervals. "Lorc!" I cried "I did it!".
And then I rush forward (as fast as I could on a torn up leg) and kiss him. At first he looks regretful, but then changes he's mind and says with a smile "I knew you could do it!" "Oh did you!" I say, laughing despite the pain in my leg. And the James and Lorcan are there too. "Yeah total belief" James says, he's hand pressed against he's heart, giving me a little wink. But I forgave James a long time ago, and Fred was stuck in between me and Lorcan. So I pull my best friends into a hug, which leaves the four of us laughing wildly and clinging to each other. They don't even seem to care that I'm sopping wet.
"Come on Miss Weasly" I hear Professor McGonagall's voice behind me "we need to get your score." I break away from the embrace. Nervous now, about what score I'll retrieve. "Eight" Madame Maxime says warmly. "For er bravery and quick theenking when faced with ze unpredictable." "Eight" Professor McGonagall says proudly. "Five" Zukanov grunts unhappily. "That means you're 1st!" James announces. But I don't believe him, I look to Professor McGonagall for confirmation of this fact and she nods her head.
"Quite enough Miss Weasly" she says "we need to get that leg looked at." And so I'm lead away from the clearing, the crowds, my friends, Lorcan. But still, nothing could wipe the smile off my face. Professor McGonagall turns to me and says "Miss Weasly, I don't think I have ever seen you smile so much. Infact, I don't think I've ever seen you smile!"
Back in the tent I'm made to sit down while a healer tends to my leg. Alek and Kevin come to sit beside me, distracting me from the pain. At last I think, I'm at peace with the world.
Little did I know that the so called peace wouldn't last for long.
A/N: I hope you guys liked it and have a happy Christmas: D xxx