Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
In Too Deep
Adrian was pale and shaking. He tried tensing every muscle in his body to hide it, But I still noticed. Standing side-by-side on the edge of the prefects' bath, we stared through the water at the tiled tub floor. Or should I say, the tiled pool floor? Because that was a more accurate description than a bathtub. "You can see the bottom", I said in an attempt to be encouraging. "The water's only four feet. We can stand and it won't reach our shoulders".
His eyes remained focused on the water. Almost transfixed. Adrian only managed one sharp nod to show he heard. Still, he made no move to enter the water.
It had been a good ten minutes since we entered, disrobed down to our swimwear, and began to stand at the pool's edge; staring. Adrian stared at the water. I stared at him. I'd never seen him this… uncomfortable before. Adrian was confident and competent. He was steady and operated with a sense of assuredness that I've always envied. But now…
As if waiting for Adrian to ask what I was doing, I moved forward slowly. It was a short jump into the water. More of a step really. Since there wasn't much of a splash. The water was warm and as predicted, it only came up a little higher than my waist. Maintaining the same speed, I turned to face Adrian and stepped directly into his line of sight. He flinched as the water rippled around my disturbance. "You can see me", I started. "I'm in the water. And I'm safe". Adrian's nostrils flared as he inhaled. Almost as if he had to remind himself to do so. "The water's clear. You can see there is nothing in here but me. No hands are going to grab me and drag me under".
A curt nod in response. But still, no steps forward. My top teeth dug into my bottom lip. If we can't manage a pool, how were we going to tackle the bottom of the Black Lake?
"Alright, how about… you don't get in the water today?" Adrian's fingers twitched until they were curled up into fists. Just another body part he was struggling to hide his tremor. "All you have to do today is sit on the edge and get your feet wet".
Long seconds passed. Enough that I didn't think Adrian was ever going to respond. However; just when I was about to call it quits, Adrian took one jerky step forward. His hands flattened themselves out so he could press his palms against the bathroom floor as he lowered himself. Taking a half step back in the water, I watched as shaking knees dragged his lower legs over the side of the pool. And slowly, Adrian submerged his feet. The bottoms of his toes and heels first, he kept going until the water was circling around his ankles; awkwardly holding his knees up rather than letting the water rise any further.
"Good", I said in my best big sister voice. Keeping my movements calm and predictable, I started inching forward; my eyes on his face. Adrian wasn't blinking. His eyes were held wide open as he stared at the water. But the trembling had finally stopped. Now, he was frozen. Almost as if someone had cast glacius on him. "Breathe, Adrian", I reminded him. "That's kind of important". Tentatively, I reached out, intending to massage his calf muscles. Maybe that would help break some of his tension.
I never made contact. "Don't touch me!" Adrian barked with a start. At once, my hands flew up until they were next to my arms; palms facing Adrian. And I kept them there.
"No touching. I promise". It was an easy promise to make. Given what we were currently working on. "Just talk to me". Would that be enough to get Adrian to think about anything other than the water?
Except, Adrian didn't offer a word. He sat ramrod straight. His hands gripped the edges of the pool as if that was the only thing keeping him there. Adrian had his lips pressed together so tightly that they lost all their color. At least, there was a visible rise and fall to his chest this time.
Sighing at my own inability to help, I moved to the side and came to stand next to Adrian's left leg. Folding my arms on the edge of the pool, I rested my chin on top of them. With my head resting next to his thigh, Adrian and I looked in the opposite direction. Him; at the bath water. And me at the enchanted glass window of the mermaid.
"You don't have to do this", I said after a moment of no one moving. "Failing the second task won't prevent you from going on to the third". Adrian let out a ragged breath that rattled in his chest. "You'll enter the maze last. That's okay. We can… put a tracking spell on Harry and tell him to wait for you".
"No, I have to", Adrian forced out; a nauseous tinge to his vowel sounds.
Frowning into my arms, I narrowed my eyes until I was glaring at the stained glass mermaid. Why? Why did he have to? Harry would be in danger just like every other contestant in the second task. But the real danger wouldn't happen until the maze. This underwater challenge was just a… placeholder. Let's be honest. There was nothing to lose if Adrian didn't compete in the second task. Then… Why?
"Does this have something to do with Lord Flint and the media campaign he's trying to puppeteer?" I asked. It was the only thing I could think of. Well… that and maybe Adrian's pride being hurt if the whole school watched him chicken out. But… the first question was a slightly nicer option.
"No", Adrian answered through grinding teeth. "... Yes. But that's not why I have to-"
"If it is Lord Flint, we can problem-solve a different solution", I said, trying to come up with anything to spare Adrian. "He wants to paint us as some devoted lovebirds who'll do anything for each other, right? To keep the press off of Harry? I can work with that. We could make up some story about how I begged you not to participate, or… I don't know. Something more dramatic. Skeeter would eat it up and if we're smart, we wouldn't need to mention your phobia".
Adrian exhaled loudly through his nose before he was able to say anything else. "Holly", He started; focusing on each work. "You are who they'll take from me".
With an idea of where he was going with this, I flinched. "Yes, I figured it would be me". In fact, once I got over the initial panic reaction of Adrian being selected as champion, I started thinking about how to get the stench of lake water out of my hair in my spare moments.
"So, I won't - I can't…" Adrian broke off to allow himself a few more breaths before finishing. "I can't leave you at the bottom of the lake to drown. The loss… I fear that most of all".
Turning my eyes from the stained glass mermaid, I laid my right ear against my arms and peered up at Adrian. It was an uncomfortable position. But I made it work. "I'm not going to drown. The professors and the game officials won't leave me down there". And that's without mention that Harry would probably try for a daring rescue along with Ron.
Adrian's jaw muscle twinged as he tore his gaze away from the water long enough to shoot me a disagreeing look. "But past an hour, the prospect's black", Adrian began to recite. "Too late, it's gone, it won't come back".
"I think that's the one part of the clue that isn't true", I said; trying to not sound sarcastic and probably failing. "Professor McGonagall would never agree to purposely kill students. Imagine the international outcry if students from Beauxbatons or Durmstrang, who weren't competing in the tournament, died because their hosts knowingly let them drown?
Or even more terrifying, imagine the howler my mum would write to the school if they organized the murders of her children. The whole ministry would be down on its knees, begging for mercy".
Adrian scoffed half-heartedly. Though at least he was starting to sound a bit more like himself. "Holly, be serious".
"I am being serious. My mum's terrifying. You just don't understand", I said using my normal voice. Adrian may not have realized it yet, but he wasn't looking at the water. Nor was he clenching his muscles. And slowly, he lowered his knees. "Your mother hosts dinner parties and uses small talk until people cave. My mum wields a frying pan and can make the bravest run away with their knees quaking after one of her scoldings".
Snorting, Adrian relaxed further. Maybe this would work out. "You only say that because you've never seen my mother truly angry. She can have just about anyone blacklisted if they cross her and she's skilled enough, her victims never suspect she's the culprit".
Raising an eyebrow, I went for the next obvious question. "So, in a duel, who do you think would win? My mum or yours?"
Adrian returned my look with one of bewilderment. "Why in Merlin's name would our mothers duel each other?"
I shrugged; causing the water to ripple around me a little. "It's just a hypothetical". The water was up to Adrian's calves now. "A way to determine whose mum is stronger or scarier than the other. Personally, I think my mum would win. Did I ever tell you about how my mum killed Bellatrix Lestrange? Er… Or how Mum may possibly kill her in the future".
As I rambled, Adrian looked away from me, shaking his head at the silliness of this conversation. It was a looking away, he found the water and saw how much of it was touching him. I barely finished my sentence as Adrian tensed and jerked back like someone who'd just gotten a tooth pulled.
With a strangled breath, Adrian withdrew his legs and swung them out of the pool. Nearly kicking me in the head in the process. His hands clenched his kneecaps as he rolled away from the pool. The full body tremor from early was back as he forced himself to his feet to get as far away from the water as possible.
At first, I only watched; too taken aback to properly react. Yeah… this wasn't going to work.
Occupying one of the back tables in the library, Angelina, Alicia, and I were studying for end-of-semester exams. Or we pretended to be studying. Our books were open. We had the necessary supplies out to take notes. But like most students, our minds were on more pressing matters. "How did you ever decide on a color?" Angelina asked as we poured over the catalogue for Gladrags Wizardwear. Specifically, the formal wear section.
"Easy", I shrugged as my finger traced the empire waist of the dress in the picture. "Not all colors go with red hair so that limited my options. Besides, blue is my favorite".
Mindful of where we currently were, Alicia groaned softly. "I'll never be able to pick", she said as she examined the dresses pictured on the opposite page of the magazine; going back and forth between a short purple gown and a full-length burgundy one.
"It'll be easier in the shop", Angelina assured her as she turned the page back to the dress that had caught her eye earlier. A dark pink number with a single layer of ruffles twisting up the skirt. "Then we can try them on and make sure they look right".
"And you're sure you are okay with picking up my order?" I double-checked. This was a dress I'd been saving for. This dress was why I didn't spend any of my money at the quidditch world cup despite all the extra chores I did for Mum over the summer. I wanted this dress. I've been waiting for this dress. And now the only thing standing in between me and a royal blue velvet gown was my inability to pick it up. "I sent in my measurements and the payment weeks ago. So all you have to do is show the receipt and there shouldn't be any complications". Or so I was fervently hoping.
Growing up as Holly had changed me. Expensive things weren't nearly as attractive as they had been when I was Jessie. Comfort was king as far as Holly was concerned. And living in a strict-budget household taught me the value of a galleon. But there was just something that sparked inside of me when I started thinking about what I'd wear to the Yule Ball. It was a dormant part of me; almost forgotten. I had outgrown the cocktail dress Mum made me when I was a fourth year. It was time for something new. And… if I was being honest, I was looking forward to owning something that wasn't secondhand, or homemade.
Alicia flapped a hand at me. "It's fine", she assured. "But when is your Mum going to lift your ban from Hogsmeade? It's been ages since we all visited The Three Broomsticks together".
Sighing, I relinquished the catalogue fully to Angelina. "Not until Pettigrew and Lockhart are found and locked up again". Resting my elbow on the table, I propped my chin up in the palm of my hand and pouted. "But I can't complain. It's worse for Ron and Ginny. They've never been to Hogsmeade because of this mess".
Both Angelina and Alicia grimaced. Really no new bloody messages had been found for quite some time, sightings have been popping up in random locations all year. Most were probably false. But it was enough for Mum to continue her no Hogsmeade rule. And there really wasn't a strong argument to make against it.
"We'll just have to make up for it by having some punch together at the ball", Angelina said; if only to save the conversation. "Assuming Adrian won't mind".
"He won't", I promised with a small shake of my head. The action allowed movement on the other side of the library to catch my eye. "And even if he did, I'd do it anyway", I said as I leaned over a little to see more clearly. At the front of the library, a cluster of Beauxbatons students wandered in. Fleur led with her group twittering quietly to themselves behind her. What would it be like to have an entourage? I asked myself. Probably exhausting, I guessed.
"What about you?" I asked as I watched the group in blue silk stop in front of Madam Pince's desk. "Have you found dates?"
"No", Angelina answered.
At the same time, Alicia responded, "Yes. Lee asked me".
"And you said yes?" Angelina asked; sounding shocked. I would have been too. If I was fully listening. On the other side of the library, Madam Pince pointed in the direction of the charms section.
Alicia shrugged. "It's just one date, and despite how he talks, Lee is a nice guy. Don't have to worry about him doing something I wouldn't be comfortable with". Fleur nodded once to the old library, waved to her group, and started for the charms section alone. "Besides, the way he asked was big and very public. He got flowers and transfigured parchment into doves… I couldn't say no after all that".
"Hey, I just remembered", I interrupted; tearing my eyes away from the charm section. "Professor Flitwick asked me to do some reading before our next class with the first years". I started to stand; leaving the things behind as I did so. "I better go find the book he wanted to read before I forget again". And I hurried away before either of them could respond. Hopefully, they didn't mind. As amusing as I'm sure Alicia's story was, the conversation I needed to have with Fleur was much more important.
I found her perusing the bottom shelf and was faced with sudden nervousness. Last time I talked with her I was offering help. This time, I was asking for it. "Fleur, do you have a moment?" I asked; speaking softly and slowly.
Fleur's silvery blonde hair swished around her shoulders as she turned her head to look at me. Her blue eyes bored into me. Making it difficult for me to decide if I was a welcomed presence or not. Fleur didn't answer. She merely waited. So… I kept going. "Have you figured out your egg yet?"
She raised one poised and sculpted eyebrow. "If I 'ave, why would I tell you?"
Gesturing with a placating hand, I answered quickly in fear of losing her altogether. "It doesn't matter if you have or haven't. I suppose. We have. Adrian and me, that is. And-"
"Ze champions are supposed to solve ze clues alone", Fleur interjected with a harder edge to her tone.
"I know", I promised. "Adrian knows that. It's just…" I had to pause as I thought about what I was trying to say and what I couldn't say. Exhaling through my nose, I ran a hand through my hair before settling on the right words. "Look. Adrian doesn't care if he loses. If you win, we'd be happy for you. Yes, we're cheating, but-"
"If 'e does not want to win, why enter the tournament?" Fleur interjected again.
And there was a question I couldn't answer. "Adrian… his plans changed once Harry was selected. Now, he just wants to make sure Harry survives".
Fleur sniffed as she tucked some hair behind her ear. "Zat boy should never 'ave been allowed in ze tournament".
"That's something we can agree on", I said; anything to find common ground. "But I promise Harry didn't do it on purpose. If you got to know him, you'd see that Harry's just a fourteen-year-old boy with a brave face and rotten luck".
It was impossible to read Fleur's expression. She was blank as her eyes began to look me over from head to toe. As if she thought her eyes were some sort of lie detector. "Why do you talk to me about ze egg?" Fleur asked once she was done. Still giving nothing away.
Here it was; time for the big question. "What if the champions worked together instead of competing against each other?"
The raised eyebrow was back. Now with an incredulous air. "You want me to 'elp your champion?"
"Yes", the answer fell easily from my lips. And then I had to talk fast to make my argument before I lost Fleur completely. "And I want him to help you. And Harry, and Krum. This tournament is supposed to be about international cooperation, right? Wouldn't working together send a stronger message than wishing for the others to fail?"
Again, I couldn't get a read on Fleur. Was she annoyed? Interested? …Anything? Around us, the soft sounds of pages could be heard. Occasionally we heard footsteps or the muffled sounds of hushed conversation. But that was it. It made waiting for any form of a response more uncomfortable than it necessarily had to be.
Fleur knelt, bending only her knees and nothing else. With her long and nimble fingers, she slid out a book from the bottom shelf. Before I could glimpse at the title, she was back to her full height; the book held close to her person. "Unity, strength, and unvarying consideration", came her response.
Uh… "Yeah, exactly", I forced out as soon as I found my tongue. Whatever I was expecting, quoting Lord Flint wasn't it.
If my surprise was noted, Fleur didn't show it. "I will consider it", she promised before turning and walking away smoothly and confidently.
Watching her go, I bit the fingernail on my thumb; thinking. Adrian was not going to be happy when I told him what I did. But if it worked…