Author's note : No, you aren't hallucinating. This is indeed an update. I know, I know it's too late but I've been busy with studies and my other story, Bottled up inside. Please read this and don't forget to leave a review. I really value them a lot.

Listen to : Shooting the moon by Ok Go.

Disclaimer : Not mine. Move on.

The days after the Yule Ball passed at the speed of light. In no time the evening before the Twenty fourth of February had arrived. Hermione, Ron and Harry were buried in books in the library, with no new leads about the task. They hardly had time and yet, accomplishing the task seemed to be next to impossible.

Harry, however was still thinking about the night he had deciphered the code, revealing the nature of the task. Mr. Crouch in Moody's office? It was highly unlikely yet was true. The map never lied. It had happened only once before that the map had shown someone who couldn't possibly be there since he was supposed to be dead. But the map hadn't lied. The person had been alive. Then, it was certain that Mr. Crouch had been to Snape's office. But why?

'Stop it Harry. Concentrate on tomorrow' Hermione snapped,' I know what you're thinking about. We can deal with it after you emerge out of the lake alive.' Rita Skeeter's recent article about Hagrid, the increasing amount of studies and now, the second task had taken a toll on her and her temper was always close to threshold. One little provocation and she'd snap.

'There has to be something... something...anything..' she muttered under her breath as she read on and on. Her face was about an inch from Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charms.

In her mind however, she was thinking of something else. Draco hadn't talked to her alone after their encounter the day after the Yule Ball, in the Astronomy Tower. However, she didn't miss the furtive glances that he managed to sneak at her when he thought no one was looking. She didn't mind it. But what she was scared of was that someone would notice. Especially Ron.

Ron had been his usual self after the Ball. His mood had improved even more when he noticed that she showed no inclination towards Viktor anymore. Indeed, she hadn't talked to Viktor at all since the ball, save for a few sarcastic pleasantries. He had apologized again and again till she had finally agreed to meet him in Hogsmeade once. However, Ron didn't know this.

'Oh this is no use' she finally said, snapping shut Wizarding Dilemmas.

Just then Fred and George arrived to take Ron and Hermione to Professor McGonagall's office. With a few words to Harry to keep looking for a way and to meet them in the common room, they left the library.

'What d'you reckon she wants? Does she think we've been helping out Harry too much?' Ron asked anxiously. She shook her head, indicating that she didn't know. They reached the office soon and Fred and George left. Ron looked at her once before knocking on the heavy door.

'Come in' said a voice from inside.

They stepped inside nervously. Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore were inside and there were two goblets filled with an electric blue liquid on the table.

'Have a seat, both of you' said Dumbledore 'As you are aware, the second task comprises of retrieving from the lake what the champion would miss the most. Supposing-'

'You're going to put me and Ron in the lake! We'll drown by the time Harry finds us! How will he carry the both of us to the surface? You can't do this! You-' Hermione shrieked her eyes wild.

'Calm down Miss Granger. First of all, you are not going to drown since you are going to be asleep-'

'But-'

'Do listen to me. You will both be in a dreamless sleep. Harry will not have to carry the both of you since only Mr Weasely is his responsibility and not you. You will be rescued by Mr. Krum.'

She groaned and Ron glared at Dumbledore angrily, not daring to say anything.

'Drink up' ordered Professor McGonagall. She hesitated once but Ron nodded at her before giving her a small smile so she picked up her goblet and drained it in one go with Ron doing the same.

The last thing she saw was Professor Dumbledore's assuring expression before the blackness set in.

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Draco was in the Slyhterin common room the evening before The Second Task. He wondered how Potter was faring. Knowing Dumbledore's plan, he was sure Granger was asleep in McGonagall's office by now. So that meant Potter was getting nowhere. After all Granger was the brain behind the trio. Without her the imbecile wasn't even capable of brewing up the simplest of potions.

He snorted in disgust. Saint Potter and his useless worshipers. Tomorrow they would see what a load of trash their leader was.

He couldn't wait. Mainly to see Potter eliminated but also to meet Granger once she had been rescued from the lake by Krum. Honestly, he was surprised that she was still linked to him. They hadn't talked in two months. Wasn't that enough to move on?

He had been wanting to ask her out for weeks now. But the thought of what his housemates would say always stopped him from doing so. But now? He had a little something planned for her which would allow him to have a great time with her without bothering about his fellow Slytherins. He grinned as he thought of her reaction on knowing what he had planned for her.

Asking her out would be the greatest challenge though. Everywhere she went, Potter and Weasely always followed her like a couple of Bodyguards. He had to corner her when she was alone, perhaps in the library.

Thinking about Weasely always made him yell Unfair! in his mind. The Red-head never treated her the way she deserved to be treated yet, he got to be with her majority of the times. And here he was, willing to amend his ways, to be civil and to behave around her with gentleness and courtesy and he couldn't even have a word with her!

Saying that he was jealous would be an understatement. He liked her, for heaven's sake! What was his was supposed to be his alone and not shared by Krum and Weasley! For, he had seen the way the two of them looked at her. Weasely looked at her as if she was his saviour, like she was the one who was rescuing him from the Black Lake and Krum, like she was a piece of meat.

God he hated both of them. Now he certainly hoped that Potter wouldn't be able to find anything to enable him to survive an hour in the Dark Lake which would mean Weasley would drown. Well, technically he wouldn't since Dumbledore would never put any of his precious Gryffindors in danger but he could always hope right?

So he finally retired to bed, thinking about The Second Task and what would happen.

A/n : How was it? I know it was more of a filler chapter but please let me know if you liked it.

I love you all, those who have reviewed, are following and have added this to your favourites. You mean the world to me!

Aditi xoxoxo