Chapter 11: The Second task

Ok cookie for QuidditchGirl30, witowsmp, Adm.Bones, gloworm06, Lo and beholde and narnia365 you guessed correctly it was Rita Skeeter. Now who would've thought? Of course Harry and Hermione wouldn't be getting married they're 14 for goodness sake! Thanks for reviewing.

Potions class had improved by everyone's standards except the Slytherin's. Harry almost looked forward to it now. Of course, the downside was that the ton of homework Sirius and the other teachers handed out didn't leave Harry, Ron and Hermione much time to work on the egg clue.

"Hey! I've got an idea." Ron said one day while they were in the common room finishing off their Potions essays.

"What is it Ron?"

"Why didn't I think of this before? We can ask Sirius-"

"Shhh," Harry and Hermione whispered angrily, leaning towards him from their position together on the armchair.

"I mean, we can ask Georgio if he knows of a potion or herb or something that can let Harry breathe underwater."

"Good idea though I'm not sure he's allowed to."

"Come on Harry; let's just give it a go."

"Oh all right."

Sirius Black cleared his desk and sighed. I wish I could be free so I don't have to use my disguise. Sirius sighed again. Then he heard a knock at the door. Oh no, got to change disguise!

"Just a minute!" He fumbled around for his wand, "Glorofus" He whispered and pointed it at himself. His hair colour changed from long and brown, his eyes turned to blue, he became musclier and taller, his short beard disappeared, and his broken nose straightened out.

Ugrh, every time I transform it wears me out. Sirius walked over and opened the door to see his godson and his two best friends.

"Harry you could've told me it was you I wouldn't have had to change." He said as he changed back into his old self.

"Sorry Sirius."

"It's all right kiddo. So what con I do for you?"

"We were wondering if you knew of a potion or something that could let Harry breathe underwater for an hour." Hermione asked. Sirius looked sceptical.

"Has this got to do with the tournament?"

"No"

"Sort of"

"Yes"

"Hmm. Well I do know of one herb… but I can't tell you what it is that would be cheating. Tell you what if you find out what it is yourselves, come back here and I'll give it to you."

"Sounds fair." Hermione said.

"Bye Sirius we have to go. Lots of… homework to do. Yes homework…"

"Er… ok then. Can't interrupt homework can I?" Sirius' face broke into a wide smile.

"Bye Sirius." They shut the door and stood in the empty corridor.

"So… who's Sirius?" a cold voice drawled from around the corner. Draco Malfoy came out from where he was hiding, smirking.

"Um er it's er…"

"Yes Potter?"

"It's professor McHinely's cat. It's called Sirius." Hermione piped up.

"Hmph." Draco scowled and walked off. The trio headed in the opposite direction to the library.

"Now that's the evil walk right there." Ron said.

"You think his father taught him?" Harry joked.

"Now where exactly are we going Hermione?"

"The library of course Ronald."

"What for?"

"To look for that herb Georgio mentioned."

"Der Ron, even I knew that." Ron scowled and stared at his shoes.

The trio pored over the books in a secluded corner until it was almost time for the library to close.

"Oh I've really got to go to the toilet." Ron said halfway through Aquatic Magic and dashed off.

"I bet he never comes back." Harry said causing Hermione to snigger.

"You're probably right. Hey… Harry I've found it!" she said clutching Harry's jacket. "Read here."

Gillyweed – (discovered by Sir Norton Thomson 1877)

Gillyweed is the only known herb to permit the person who eats it to breathe underwater, giving the person gills and fins. A handful would allow an hour of underwater breathing but there have been many debates between Herbologists about salt water versus fresh water…

"Finished Harry?"

"You're a genius Hermione!" Harry pulled her into a smooch.

"Why thankyou Harry," she replied, grinning. Now all we have to do is tell Sirius."

"I think we should go to him tomorrow," Harry stifled a yawn, "I'm tired." Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders and she snaked hers around Harry's waist.

They walked back to the common room to find it almost completely empty. They snuggled down on the couch. Hermione leaned back onto Harry and sighed. "It's going to be weird to have fins do you think we should practice in the lake?"

"That's actually a really good idea Harry. We should try tomorrow -it's a Saturday." she said sleepily. Harry ran his fingers through her hair before finally falling asleep.

Harry woke on the couch of the Gryffindor common room. His chest had an extra amount of weight on it. He realised Hermione was still on it, breathing deeply, sound asleep. Harry glanced at his watch, glad it was a Saturday for they would've slept all through their first lesson. She stirred, just like one does when they are about to wake up. Her eyelids flickered open and she looked confused at first. Then she smiled and turned to face Harry.

"Morning."

"Morning." he kissed her forehead softly.

"What time is it?" she asked rubbing her eyes.

"About eleven-thirty."

"Eleven-thirty! We have to get to class!"

"Calm down Hermione it's a Saturday."

"Oh that's good then. What about food?"

"Just wait a second." Harry dived behind the couch. He lifted the carpet and pried open a loose floor board.

"Let me introduce you to the Gryffindor boy's secret food stash!" Harry held up packets of sweets and chocolates.

"Sweets for breakfast eh? I like it." They ate through almost half of the stash and disposed of the wrappers thoughtfully (By means of throwing them in the fire).

"Harry do you remember what we have to do today?"

"Um go outside for a swim?'

"Close. We have to get the gilliweed from Sirius, then we go for a swim."

"Great I'll go get my trunks."

"The water's freezing." Harry said as he waded out until water covered his shoulders.

"I think that once we eat the gilliweed it'll get warmer."

"Alright. Let's go." Harry put the slimy thing that looked like a sea cucumber in his mouth. He suddenly felt like his head was being squashed between two pillows, preventing him from breathing. He felt a push on his head and was forced underwater. He inhaled a lungful of…air? He fingered along his neck and felt ridges which he knew were his gills. He looked at his hands and feet and saw that they were webbed, resembling those of a platypus. All around him he could see nothing but the gloomy darkness of the lake. That is until he saw a Hermione, wearing a disapproving look on her face.

"That's why you read the label." She said. To Harry's surprise he could hear her perfectly.

"Why can we hear each other?"

"Again a question that would've been answered if you had read the label. The Gillyweed has a magical effect that also allows you to hear underwater."

"You're so smart aren't you?" he said with a playful jab.

"No, merely observant."

"Hmm yeah right."

"Ok smarter than you." She teased.

"I'll give you that because it's probably true. So we've got a whole hour to kill what do you want to do?"

"Let's explore the lake. I've always wanted to do that."

"Alright."

On their excursion of the black lake they explored many caves and seen beautiful, strange and sometimes disgusting creatures. Harry also swore he had seen the giant squid.

Harry had been practicing his swimming skills and was swimming backwards when his head hit something hard and solid. He ran his hand over his head and flinched when he touched the bump where he had hit his head on the boulder at the first task. He turned to see what he had swam into and saw a giant, wooden rudder attached to an even bigger boat. A boat? What's it doing here? Harry had to think for a moment before he came to an answer. Oh yeah, the Durmstrangs. Krum said something about being seasick. I wish I could go up and prank them, the evil bastards. That'd give the Weasley twins a run for their money. Harry swam around the ship. He traced his fingers along wooden engravings on the ship, brushing the knotted wood with the palm of his hand. He paused for a second, deep in thought, before making up his mind and searching for a means of entrance.. After a while he reached a porthole and grasped the side, pulling himself up out of the water and into the ship, careful to move quickly as he was holding his breath

Inside was room very much like the boy's dormitory except much bigger- it had more beds and bore the Durmstrang coat of arms instead of Hogwarts', and the furnishings were a rich purple and silver.

A man sat on one of the four-poster beds. He had oily hair and a curly goatee. As his eyes darted around the room wildly, beads of sweat formed on his pale forehead and dripped slowly down his long, crooked nose. He tightly clutched his left forearm in pain and desperation, as if he thought it was going to fall off. His gaze swept the room before resting on the porthole Harry had just come through. His eyes grew large and he became even paler. He dashed over to the porthole, still grasping his arm, and stared out, his eyes bulging out of his sockets.

When he saw nothing he shook his head and cast the thought away. He wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand, simultaneously brushing away his suspicions. Probably just a Gryndilow or something. He climbed up the wooden stairs at the back of the room, which lead up to the deck. Little did he know Harry had left him a little surprise.

Meanwhile Harry was hovering under the bobbing ship clutching his scar. He had no idea why but the second Karkaroff had looked at him it had seared in pain. He waited until the pain had subsided before he swam over to Hermione. He found her studying a pink and yellow crustacean.

"Hey Hermione we've only got five minutes left" he said, tapping his watch which now read 4:47.

"Ok we should go." All the way back to sure Harry was grinning like a madman. This was awfully odd considering he usually felt depressed or worried after his scar hurt. He couldn't help it; the joke he had played on Karkaroff was just so funny. Finally Hermione noticed.

"What's so funny?"

"I- I dungbombed the- the Durmstrang ship." He managed between waves of laughter.

"Harry! Where did you find a dungbomb?" I always keep a dungbomb on me, he said, patting his front pocket and igniting a spark of laughter between them.

"Why are we laughing?" Hermione spluttered through uncontrollable giggles. Harry sobered up immediately, but Hermione kept up the hysterics. Thinking quickly, he captured her lips in a sweet, lingering kiss. It had the effect that I was hoping for, he thought as she met his lips again… and again… and again.

Unfortunately time was running out, so reluctantly they broke away and made their way closer towards the shoreline.

They reached the shallows and watched the seconds tick from the timer on Harry's watch reach zero. Nothing happened for a few moments. Then they felt a sudden tightness around their throats, and Harry watched his webbed hands and feet return to normal. He pushed up from the sandy bed and broke the smooth surface of the lake, drawing in large breaths of air. He saw Hermione do the same next to him.

They dragged their drenched bodies out of the water and collapsed onto the beach, exhausted.

"Now I know what to expect."

"Yeah this task will be no problem."

"I don't know- they've always got a trick or two up their sleeve."

"I guess." The two snuggled on the beach letting the sun dried them, until dusk. They changed onto their clothes and leaned up against to watch the sun set together.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah. Just like you." He said and planted a kiss on her forehead.

A/N: See I told you stuff happened. Thankyou SOOOO much to my beta Claire. Luv ya Claire! (Not in THAT way you WIERDOS). And to Claire, lol gave ya some stuff to attack with a red pen… or font (By the way to all u who aren't Claire, Claire's my best friend. Well one of them anyway)

I'll be updating less than usual coz skool's started again.

PLEASE REVIEW!

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Laura D