Cool air replaced the water in my lungs. Cool, moist, wonderful, sweet air! What had just happened? The last thing I remember was being called down to McGonagall's office? I feel a scaly touch on my back and sharply turn to see myself face to face with a shark!
I let out a yelp and then noticed the shark seemed quite odd, like it was fighting to swim? I watched in terror as the monstrous creature slowly evolved into a sadly familiar face. It was Victor.
My face quickly flipped from terror to disgust and he took notice. I turned to swim over to the middle of the 3 tall docks filled with spectators, keeping my face hidden from Victor, not wanting to look at him.
When I crawled up onto the dock, Victor fell on top of my legs holding me down. Then he awkwardly wrapped his arms around me in a failing attempt to keep me warm. I narrowed my eyebrows, crunched up my nose and looked him not quite directly in the eyes. Giving him the idea I didn't want his comfort or sympathy unlike all the other girls.
He loosened his grip enough I could pull myself up off the ground. I turned around in search of Dumbledore who was conveniently standing right at the front of the dock nearly meters away from me.
I dragged myself over to him, rubbing my hands over my freezing arms even though it didn't help much. "Excuse me?" Dumbledore looked my way, looking somewhat worried compared to usual, "I'm sorry Professor but what is going on, is this the 2nd task?"
"Why yes it is Miss Granger," He spoke calmly, "Impressive how quickly you caught on."
"Thank you." I said even though what I figured seemed quite obvious, "I, um. I was just curious as to who all has come out of the water." I quivered like a nervous wreck even though Dumbledore wasn't the problem with my speech.
"Cedric came up quite a few minutes before Victor. Fleur came back up before either but without her hostage because she could not seem to get past zee grindyloes." He said the last part with a descent French accent. "But no Hermione, Harry has not yet surfaced and not to worry you but I am very frightened myself." Dumbledore said looking up into the air instead of at the water.
I followed where Dumbledore's eyes were fixed up in the air at a gigantic clock. The hands ticked away, Harry didn't have much time left, nearly 40 seconds before there hour time limit was over. I felt the teeth chatter from not the chills this time but fear.
I looked back up at the clock, 30 seconds.
I started breathing heavier.
20 seconds.
My chest heaved.
15 seconds.
I couldn't breathe!
10 seconds.
What should I do? I can't interfere and even if I wanted to what was I supposed to do? There was absolutely nothing I could do to help.
I stared at the water like the more I concentrated the better chase he would surface. Then I saw something ripple under the water, something orange? It popped up out of the water like a cork. Ron!
Ron carried a little blonde girl on his back as he swam over to the dock. I am guessing the little girl was Fleur's hostage because as soon as he climbed up Fleur started kissing him like mad all over his face. Ron's expression was so hilarious I couldn't help but let out a laugh.
After Ron had had his moment with Fleur he saw me and rushed over with a blanket someone had given him.
"Hermione you must be chilled to the bone, you're almost blue!" He touched his simply cool hand to my ice cold cheek then threw the blanket around me. "Wait, where's Harry?"
I bit my numb lip, "Harry hasn't come up yet! Cedric and Victor have obviously already come up and Fleur didn't complete the task. I'm scared." I looked up at him not knowing his reaction, not knowing if he was still mad at me for his own silly reasons or if he was over it. It had been months but Ron could hold a grudge.
I stared at him, he hugged his goose bump covered arms shivering almost as bad as what I was. "Ron get in the blanket you're just as cold!" I demanded.
He didn't argue. We got ourselves situated in the blanket and then all of a sudden a thin straight figure emerged out of the water, wand pointing high. We dropped the blanket and cheered.
After Dumbledore had announced the champion's places all the students headed back to the castle. I walked along the outline of the trees surrounding the pathways up. I waited in the forest letting everyone pass by. Then I saw Draco walking alone, kicking a stone up the hill that just kept wanting to roll down. He would lose it and then just start kicking another one.
Right after he passed me I made my way out of the forest and back on the pathway. I silently sneaked up behind his then jumped on his back!
"What the?" He shouted confused. I jumped off and he turned around to face me. I smiled proudly like I had accomplished something very important. He peered at me and I wasn't sure what to make of it. We just stared at each other for a few seconds and then both burst out into laughter not being able to be serious in each other's presence.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the trees so no one would see us talking. "You know if you wanted a piggy back, all you had to do was ask?" Draco said somewhat sarcastically.
"Well scaring you were more of my goal than getting a piggy back ride," I teased, "but I'll take one of those too!" I jumped back up and he carried me through the brush.
"I'm sorry I ran off on you yesterday, I was supposed to help Harry but I completely forgot!" I apologized, "Maybe if you wanted we could meet up again tomorrow, there's something I want to show you."
"Sure I'd love to." He spoke enthusiastically, "And Hermione you don't have to apologize its fine, it was getting late anyways."
I smiled with relief then hopped off his back, "Well I think I should go find Harry and Ron before they start wondering where I've gone off to this time." I said and then reached over to hug Draco and spun around to race up the hill.
I eventually ran into Ron and Hagrid, Harry walked alone drearily in front of the group soaking wet. We started singing Hoggy-Hoggy Hogwarts and after we got back to the castle I headed right for the girls dormitories and went straight to bed because even though I had been asleep for almost a whole day, I was exhausted.
After a good night's rest and lots of boring classes followed by piles of homework I left the evening meal and made my way down to the boathouse as usual. I finished my Dark Arts paper which wasn't due until next Monday but still. Then I pulled out a book my mother had given to me the summer before I received my letter. Grimm's Fairy tales.
I heard footsteps and got up off the dusty ground. I tucked the muggle book back in my bag and casually walked over to the staircase to see Draco coming down.
He saw me and smiled. I couldn't help but smile back. Once he finished heading down the stair case I grabbed his arms and pulled him back up them.
"Where are you taking me?" He shouted laughing. We got to the top of the stairs and I ran to hide in the corner with him.
I stared at him wide eyed, a giant grin on my face even though I bit my lip, nervous someone would see us. I pressed my index finger to my lip, "Shh." He lifted the neck of his robe to cover his face from blushing with laughter.
"Follow me." I instructed, "But not too close." I headed out into the hallway and pulled out the muggle book to hide my giggling. No one would be suspicious if I was reading. I saw Draco walking along the edge of the corridor fingers grazing the wall.
I silently teased him by speeding up my pace, just to see if he could catch up, marching through big crowds, testing him to see if he could find me amongst all the students. He passed.
After a while we got to a part of the castle where barely anyone walked. We were close. I looked back and he was still there following me. I came to a small cracked wooden door that didn't quite shut all the way. I looked back again before shutting the door behind me and saw Draco across the hall leaning against the stone wall in an awkward pose pretending to act casual. I giggled and quietly shut the door. I stepped down a couple steps and waited a few seconds until Draco walked in, the door creaking shut behind him.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him down the steep narrow steps. I heard the sound of clanking pots and pans coming from the bottom, running water and chattering squeaky voices.
"Where are we?" Draco laughed just before we reached the bottom of the stairs.
I turned around to face him and walked backwards raising my arms to present, "Hogwarts kitchen!" I spun back around and faced all of the little clothed elves washing the platters and silverware.
"Dobby?" I called, "Dobby where are you?"
"Right here Hermione!" A familiar high pitch voice cried suddenly appearing out of a crowd with Pinky sipping up butterbeer from a straw.
"Draco!" He yelped his eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head and roll around the floor.
The strangely little elf ran up to Draco and wrapped his boney arms around his legs. "Oh how I have missed my dear old friend Draco!" Dobby snuggled his leg then looked up at me, "I used to be his house elf you know." He smiled proudly.
"Lucius may have been very mean to me," Dobby confessed, "But Draco was so nice to me, he was my best friend!" Draco crouched down on the ground to be face to face with the cheerful little elf. Dobby glanced at me and cupped his hand over his ear and started whispering.
"What's he saying?" I questioned a little frustrated that Dobby was keeping something from me.
Dobby pulled away and Draco stood up straight laughing, "He just wants me to tell you that the house elves like working in the kitchen and that they do it on their own free will! They aren't being worked like slaves like when they worked as house elves."
"Oh," I said embarrassed. There I was trying to save a bunch of magical creatures that were perfectly happy. "Well sorry Dobby," I looked over at Pinky now gulping her jug of butterbeer, "and Pinky."
"It's okay Hermione!" Squeaked Pinky like she was on helium, "You were just trying to help!" She was so enthusiastic, always smiling whenever she wasn't drinking from her butterbeer jug.
"Well this has been fun," said Dobby sarcastically, "But we have got some work to catch up on." I chuckled with Draco at how serious cute little Dobby could be.
"Well I hope to see you sometime soon Dobby." Draco spoke smiling as he hugged Dobby once more and we headed back up the stairs.
"Well I'll see you next Thursday okay?" I asked once we got to the top of the stairs.
"Sounds great. I have something I'd like to show you next time. " Draco replied. We entered the empty corridor and went our separate ways back to our common rooms.