Chapter 10: Beneath the Water

It was a week before the task, and I was anything but ready for it. I'd been stressing over classes, family, friends, and the tournament. Hermione had all four of us in the library for the past four weeks, looking for anything and everything relating to the riddle I was given.

"Say it again." Hermione asked. It was lunch time and she still wouldn't let us go to eat.

"Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground." I recited for the hundredth time.

"The Black Lake, that's obvious." She said, for the fiftieth time.

"An hour long you'll have to look, to figure out what we took."

"Again, obvious." She said.

"How is that obvious?" Ron asked.

"She will have one hour to search the Black Lake for something they're going to take from her." She answered. "The question is, what is it?"

"The lake is huge, it will take any normal person longer than an hour to search that thing." Ron said.

"And there's still the problem of you not being able to breathe underwater." Harry commented.

"Above the ground…" I said. They all looked at me. "They can't be above the ground or they'd die." I had lost them. "Mermaids! Mermaids live in the Black Lake!" I exclaimed.

"You think the mermaids will take something?" Ron asked.

"No, obviously the judges will take it, but the mermaids will hide it." Hermione said.

"And they reside at the heart of the lake." I added.

"That would make sense. But you still need to breathe underwater for an hour." Harry said.

"Well, I can't think off the top of my head for anything that can help me breathe underwater." I said.

"Do you think Snape might know of something?" Hermione asked.

"Even if he did, he wouldn't tell us." Ron said.

"Then we'll have to figure out another alternative." Suddenly the toll bell rang, and classes were going to start again. "Well, off to Charms. Perhaps Professor Flitwick won't have another fit when Seamus decides he's going to blow up another door." We all snickered at the thought.

That night I went to bed, thinking about what could be done. I debated whether or not sending a letter to Lauren, asking for an underwater breathing potion, but I knew that even with a week's notice she wouldn't be able to get it ready in time. Potions like that took months to brew, and the ingredients I was sure were hard to come by. I could always have asked Neville if there was a plant that could make me breathe underwater, but I'm sure he didn't have the time to go looking for one for me. The only option left was to look for a spell, hope that I could master it in a week, then hope that it actually worked.

Suddenly, there was a crack! sound in the dorm room. I looked around at my sleeping dorm mates. Lavender and Pavarti were both asleep and so was Hermione. Suddenly I heard quiet footsteps and I slowly sat up in bed. The moonlight shining in didn't illuminate much. I grabbed my wand off my desk.

"Lumos!" I whispered. The tip of my wand illuminated and I was staring right into a great big pair of blue eyes.

"Ah!" I screamed falling out of bed. I hit my head roughly, and I sat up rubbing it. I looked at the scrawny house elf on my bed. "Dobby?" I stuttered, recognizing him. "What in the name of Merlin are you doing here?"

"Oh! Beg your pardon, Eleanor Phillips. But, Dobby has come to help!" He declared quietly. I looked around and saw that all the girls were still sleeping.

"Help with what?" I asked getting up and sitting on my bed. "And how did you get here?"

"Oh, Dobby works here now Miss! Down in the kitchens, Dobby is a free elf!" He declared again. "Dobby is demanding pay now, but, no one wants a paying house elf. So, Dobby was walking for a long, long time when Dobby is met the Headmaster!" I stared at him.

"Our headmaster?" I inquired.

"Oh yes. He's a nice headmaster, and he offered to pay Dobby for work! He even offered Dobby some vacation and-and 'benefits', though Dobby's still not sure what those are."

"That's great Dobby, but tell me why you're here." I pressed.

"Oh yes! Dobby came to bring you this." He pulled out a bag from his pillow sack dress. It held, what looked like, slimy green worms. I cringed in disgust at the sight.

"What is that?" I asked.

"Gillyweed."

"What's that?"

"It will help you in your next task." He said. I took the bag.

"This-stuff, will help me breathe underwater?" I asked. Dobby nodded his big head. "Where'd you get it?" When I asked, he looked a little guilty. "Oh." Was all I said.

"Please don't be telling on Dobby. Dobby only wanted to help." He looked so sad, his big round eyes looked like they might cry.

"I won't tell on you. You have been a big help Dobby. Thank you." I looked around for something to give him in return. I went to my trunk and pulled out a single purple sock. I hadn't found the other one and I figured he wasn't picky. "For your troubles, Dobby." I said handing him the sock. He looked at it in awe, a look of appreciation on his face. It was like I had handed him the greatest treasure in the world.

"Thank you Eleanor Phillips." He said, and in a snap, he was gone. I stared at the slimy green goo that was in the bag.

"Yuck." I muttered putting it in my drawer. I drifted off to sleep, hoping that the next week would go by quickly.

In no time at all, the day of the second task came. I was scared, nervous, terrified, and I my best friends wasn't there yet. I looked around for Hermione, Ron, and Harry but they were no where to be found. I stood on the dock to the Black Lake freezing. Even in February, it was still cold. My red Gryffindor robe pocket held the Gillyweed. I only hoped it would work. I turned to see the other champions lining up.

Fleur was beside me in a silky blue robe, her blonde hair tied up high on her head. Krum was next to her, already in his shirt and swimmers. Professor Karkaroff was whispering to him, and he caught me looking at him. I quickly turned my head towards the Black Lake. It didn't get its name from nothing; the water itself absorbed all sunlight, remaining black as an abyss. I certainly felt like I was going to be jumping into an abyss. I already knew who was at the end of the line, and I didn't want to make any eye contact with him.

I turned around and saw the massive crowd of students from all the schools. This was very intimidating. My brothers and sister were at the front of the crowd, all smiling at me. I tried to smile back, but my nerves wouldn't let me.

"Silence!" Dumbledore commanded from behind me. Everyone quieted down. "We are about to begin the second task. Last night, something was stolen from each of our champions. They must search the Black Lake, and they have only one hour to do it in. First up we have Cedric Diggory. After a minute, Viktor Krum will go in, with Fleur Delacour third, and Eleanor Phillips last. On my count of three, Mr. Filch will sound the cannon." Everyone silenced for the moment when we would enter the water. "Three-" The blast was deafening and not on the right count. Dumbledore looked up Mr. Filch and rolled his eyes. Cedric dove in and didn't resurface. As I waited for my turn, I took off my robe my red bikini showing. I quickly stuffed the slimy green stuff into my mouth. Better to do it quick and fast than to have stared at it. Viktor was in the water by the time I had finished dry heaving. The stuff was absolutely horrible. I could hardly keep myself from crying it was so ghastly. Fleur was now in.

I suddenly felt pain in my neck and fingers, even my toes. I felt horrible, but I heard my name called and I dove in. Soon as I did, immediately I felt a sort of relief. As I sunk to the bottom, I felt my neck. They had these-ridges on them. My feet and fingers had become webbed! And they weren't ridges, they were gills! I was a fish! No, that's not right. I still had legs, but it looked like someone had sewn skin together on my toes and fingers. I looked at my watch from Paul. I was already five minutes in. There was no time to delay, and I began to swim to the center of the lake hoping I'd find what I was looking for.

As I swam towards the center, I came across a large field nestled on the bottom. The tall grassy kelp was very unnerving, and I figured I'd best stay away from them. Suddenly, I heard music. The most angelic music exactly like from the egg! I followed it, and in the distance I thought I saw a mermaid swimming away with its friends. I followed them to a clearing. Beside stone arches and a city made out of coral, I spied four figures. They were held down by ropes and rocks. I gasped as I recognized all four of them.

Hermione, Ginny, Fleur's little sister (I assumed since she looked like a mini Fleur) and Mr. Diggory. They were all petrified in a state of sleep. I quickly swam to Hermione. She was my best friend, she was my first priority. But as I pulled out my wand, I saw a shark coming my way! It pushed me out of the way and bit off the rope holding Hermione down. I realized it was Viktor as he swam to the surface. It looked like he'd attempted a transfiguration, but since only his head was transformed, it appeared it didn't go too well.

I turned to cut Ginny loose when I saw Cedric coming. He had a bubble over his nose and mouth, most likely giving him air. He cut away his father with a knife he had brought. I looked at him and then he tapped on his watch. I looked at my own. Only five minutes left in the task. I nodded to him and he took his father up to the surface.

I looked at the little girl. She couldn't have been older than nine. I searched around for a sign that Fleur was coming. She's coming, she's just probably late. I debated in my mind. But what if she wasn't coming? What if this little girl was left all alone down here? I couldn't take the risk, I picked up a sharp rock from the bottom and was able to cut through Ginny's rope. I made a slip-knot and put it around my wrist so she wouldn't float away. I started to work on the little girl's when I felt a bunch of webbed hands grab me. I turned to look at a merman with a big trident.

"Only one." He rasped at me through the water.

"But she's my friend too!" I cried in a gurgled muffled voice. He shook his head. I shook the hands free from me and I drew my wand. The merman started to laugh at me until I shouted "Lumos maxima!" and the entire underwater was lit up for a single moment. When the light was gone, so where the mermaids. I quickly cut at the rope holding the little girl and grabbed their arms and made my way to the surface. It wasn't long before I started to feel pain in my neck, fingers, and toes. The Gillyweed was wearing off and I wasn't even there yet. I looked at my watch. Time was up. I had lost.

Suddenly, something pulled at my foot. I looked down to see that I was directly over the bed of sea grass, and Grindylows were lurking in them. The mean little octopus things were a menace. Their sharp pointed teeth began sinking into my feet and calves. The Gillyweed had completely worn off and my lungs were gasping for air. I reached for my wand.

"Stupefy!" I cried. The lot of them froze and I did my best to whack and kick them off. They took off as soon as they unfroze. I looked up, the surface seeming so far away. I did my best to swim, but my burning lungs turned to fire inside of me. I began to sink into the kelp below. I felt a shadow pass over me, and a hand pulled on me. They pulled me to the surface, where fresh air entered my lungs.

Hands reached for me, crowds were silenced as my body was pulled onto the dock.

"Give her some room." I heard someone say. "I want all the judges over here!" They called again. I felt hands gently shake me and I opened my eyes. I sat up, shivering, as a towel was wrapped around me. I looked at him his eyes liquid grey, his bronze hair all wet. His lips were turning blue.

"Cedric?" I breathed. "You saved me?"

"Least I could do, save you instead of trying to kill you." He said, chuckling.

"Yeah. I guess that works." I said. He stood up and extended his hand, which I took gratefully. I turned and saw the other champions as well as the captive people. I embraced a wet Ginny and Hermione.

"Oh Eleanor!" Ginny cried. "When we didn't see you come up, we didn't know if you were ok!" I smiled as I hugged her. I spied Harry and Ron.

"Where were you two?" I asked.

"Sorry, we had a late start this morning. By the time we got here, you were already in the water." Ron explained. Harry came up and hugged me.

"Glad you're ok." He expressed sincerely. My hands were wrapped around his neck, and I had the feeling neither of us wanted to let go. But the crowd of students were closing in to hear the judges nominations. We let go and waited for our results.

"Attention!" Dumbledore called. "After much deliberation, we have come to an agreement." He announced. "We award first place to, Cedric Diggory! For his astonishing production of the Bubble Head charm!" The crowd cheered and Mr. Diggory raised his son's hand in the air, basking in the praise. "And, seeing as how Ms. Phillips would have been first had it not been for her willingness to help the others, we award her - second place!" The crowd cheered the loudest I'd ever heard them. Hermione squeezed me tight at the honor. "Third place goes to Viktor Krum, due to his incomplete transfiguration. And last is Ms. Delacour, for her valiant effort." I turned to Hermione.

"What happened to Fleur?" I asked.

"Grindylows. Dragged her down, almost drowned her." She explained. I nodded.

"Now," Dumbledore drew the attention back to him. "The next task will be held on the last week in April. Be for warned," he said gravely "This task will test you the most. Be prepared for anything." He then smiled at me and turned and left with the other judges. Hermione, Ginny, and I continued to walk and made our way to school.

March was brisk and it felt like school was almost over. I had loads of homework to catch up on and I missed quidditch practices. Hermione helped me get caught up in all my classes. I enjoyed her company without having to worry about the next task. But, the times I spent by myself that's all I could think about. The final task… I had made it this far. I didn't want to fail. Or die.