– Chapter Twenty Six –
The Second Task
Although they watched the newspapers carefully for the next couple weeks, and listened to other people, and looked for signs that another Horseman was coming, the four of them didn't notice a single thing. Soon though their attention was diverted as the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament was quickly approaching.
It was about a week before the task when Romi came down to breakfast one morning with Neville, and joined Ginny at the Gryffindor Table. Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting nearby. Everyone in the school was flashing glances at her, and Romi looked around and then at the table, all the Gryffindors were looking at her.
"Why is everyone staring at me?" Romi asked.
"Have you read this?" asked Harry seriously, holding up a copy of Witch Weekly magazine.
"Obviously not," replied Romi. "Judging by your tone it might explain the stares…"
Harry tossed her the magazine. Romi looked at the cover showing a large picture of Harry, and there in the small corner was a picture of her, with the title 'Harry Potter's Friend's Betrayal, by Rita Skeeter.'
"Oh, brother," Romi said, and she tossed the magazine in front of Neville, without even opening it, and pulled some porridge towards her.
"Aren't you going to look at it?" Ron asked, watching her suspiciously.
"Why? All she writes is garbage anyways," replied Romi. "The minute my father finds out that she's written an article about me without approval, he'll have the magazine recalled. That's how it works, unless Ministry Approved, nothing is written about me or my family."
"How did you manage that?" Ron asked.
"My dad's an ambassador, can't have foreign dignitaries reading tabloids about every tiny rumour about my family," Romi replied.
"I still think you should read it," Harry repeated.
"I'll read it," Neville said, opening to the page. He read the first couple of lines and then started to read out loud.
HARRY POTTER'S CLOSE FRIEND, NOT SO CLOSE?
Miss Romi Black, known quite well as Ambassador Hector Black's vivacious and brilliant daughter –
"Ooh, I'm vivacious and brilliant!" Romi interrupted with mock happiness. Neville cleared his throat and kept going.
– Who has been attending Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the last four years, has befriended the famous Harry Potter.
"Are we friends now, Harry?" Romi said.
"Stop interrupting," answered Neville, and he continued.
According to sources inside the school the two have become close friends, but others say that Romi Black isn't a loyal a friend as she pretends to be. Despite rumours of there being animosity between some of the Gryffindor students and the Slytherin ones, Romi continues to keep up her relationships with both sides.
As most readers know, our esteemed Ambassador, though quite pledged to our cause, has family that were known to associate with He Who Must Not Be Named. As such, it is our belief that Romi has been brought up with less than savory ideals. She stands between Gryffindor and Slytherin as a chance to create peace, but instead works behind the Gryffindor's backs. Romi has sidled up close to Harry, in a seat of power to possible spread false rumours about our hero.
"She talks bad about him all the time," says Pansy Parkinson, a fourth year Slytherin girl. "Whenever she comes to visit us in the Slytherin common room, that's all we hear about."
"Oh, that little-" Romi started, crushing the piece of toast that she was holding in her hands, but Neville interrupted her before she could continue.
"Do you want me to read this or not?" Neville asked, looking at her annoyed.
"Not particularly," answered Romi, "I already don't like it."
"Keep reading, Neville," insisted Harry.
Neville watched Romi for a second longer and then went back to reading.
And talking bad is not the only slight Miss Black has done against Harry. She has allegedly started dating Draco Malfoy –
This time Neville interrupted himself, glancing at Romi with wide eyes. Every Gryffindor within ear shot was staring at her. Romi had her hand to her mouth, staring ahead, trying to keep her head.
"I – I just threw up in the mouth a little," she said finally. Ginny, across the table, snorted and then tried to stifle her laughter. The Weasley twins who were also sitting nearby, openly laughed after Ginny, and there were a few smiles tugging a people's lips.
"I'm sorry, Neville," Romi said, swallowing. "I think – I think I just hallucinated, could you read that again?"
"You didn't hallucinate," Neville answered, straightening the magazine again.
Allegedly dating Draco Malfoy, the son of esteemed Lucius Malfoy, Hector Black's nephew and Romi's cousin–
Romi pretended to gag again, and Neville raised an eyebrow. "Sorry," she said, coughing a little, "continue, I'm fine."
Romi seems to have no dilemmas betraying the friendship that Harry Potter has so trustingly relied on. The readers of Witch Weekly wish Harry luck on choosing better friends in the future.
There was a little silence, then Romi cleared her throat.
"So I'm dating Malfoy," Romi said, to the silent table. "Good to know. It doesn't say perhaps how long I've been dating him, or if we're going to get married or how many kids we're going to have –"
"Romi," said Harry, disapprovingly. "Really?"
"Oh, come on, Harry!" Romi said sharply, "three quarters of the stuff that she wrote about you wasn't true, what suddenly makes you think is?"
"Yeah," Hermione said smiling slightly, "Why would go for short, skinny and pale, when she could have tall, dark and handsome."
Romi looked at her, slightly confused.
"What?" Ron asked. Ginny giggled.
"What's his name again, Romi?" Ginny asked. "The one you spent the whole night of the Yule Ball with?"
Romi blushed. "I did not spend the whole night with him! I came back at the end just like everyone else."
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Neville added, folding up the magazine and tossing it back to Harry. "I saw that kiss at the bottom of the marble staircase."
"What!?" Romi said, startled. "Nothing happened!"
"Sure," answered Ginny, "that's why you spend so much time in the Slytherin common room."
"Are we done with this conversation, please?" Romi said. "Besides, you're just replacing one Slytherin with another. Blaize is still in Slytherin."
"Yes, but he's handsome," replied Hermione.
"Are you dating Blaize?" asked Harry, he still hadn't relaxed his serious face yet.
"Why is my dating life so interesting to people?" Romi said exasperated. "I'm not dating anyone." There were quite a few raised eyebrows in her direction. "Steadily," she added, "I'm not dating anyone steadily."
There was a long pause and then Harry broke it.
"Good," Harry said sounding immensely satisfied. "That good for nothing scum bag wouldn't be worth it. He's just a little jumpy ferret that couldn't be dated by anyone, and especially if he was dating you, and he hates me and I hate him –"
"Glad to see that you are so decided upon the subject," Romi said dryly. Romi went back to her breakfast, and tried to put the whole article out of her mind as best as she could.
Ginny and Neville made forced attempts to talk about other things with the rest of the Gryffindors to keep them from bringing up Romi and Draco again.
At the end of breakfast, they started to make their way towards the Entrance Hall when Harry came up beside.
"Walk with me?" he asked, pointing to outside. Romi nodded and the two split off and headed outside to walk around the lake. The snow had disappeared some, but the ground was still rock hard, and the edges of the lake in the shallowest parts were still frozen.
The twins walked in silence for a moment and then Harry spoke.
"I'm not going to ask about the article," he said.
"Good," Romi replied, "I think we've discussed my love life enough for one day."
"I don't actually know the answer to that egg yet," he said, suddenly. "I have no clue."
"I wasn't around to hear what it sounds like on the inside," Romi answered. "I'd help you if I could."
Harry nodded. "It's just that it seems that Sirius was right and all of this was just to get me killed."
"That's a very elaborate way to get you killed," Romi said, nudging Harry, "who would go to so much trouble to kill you?"
"Voldemort," Harry answered, "well, at least he's the only one I can think that wants me dead, not sure about the elaborate scheming though."
"I've always kind of imagined him being very elaborate and scheming, don't know why," Romi said. They walked around the lake in silence for a while.
"Don't fret over this tournament, Harry," Romi said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. She was starting to feel anxious even though it wasn't her that was under pressure.
"It's just everyone expects me to win and with the judges…" Harry trailed off and sitting down as they reached the edge of the lake by a pile of rocks.
"Harry, I don't give a damn who wins," Romi answered sitting beside him. "I just want you to live."
Harry watched her carefully. "You're frightened I won't?"
"Yeah, a little," Romi said and she looked down. "I don't know what it is, but something is coming, and… take care of yourself. Don't try to win, please, just try to survive."
Harry nodded watching her carefully. "Why would you care anyways," he said with a light laugh.
"I dunno," Romi replied, sarcastically. "Maybe my children would want to know their uncle one day."
"You think you'll have children?" Harry asked.
"I dunno," Romi repeated. "Someday I suppose. I'm only fourteen."
"And you'd need a husband."
"Yah, that too," Romi said as though an afterthought. "That would be difficult."
"Finding a husband?" Harry asked. "As long as it's not Malfoy, and besides I'd think a lot of guys would want to date you."
"No, that's not what I meant," Romi said, looking down and thinking about Draco. "I meant trying to meld my two families together."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked again. "I like your adopted parents just fine."
"They aren't the only people I consider family, Harry," Romi said looking at him. He nodded without keeping eye contact.
"Malfoy," Harry stated.
"I'm sorry," Romi said. "I know you don't like him, but I've known him for so long. He's my cousin." She paused. "Draco was my only friend growing up. I spent so much time travelling with my father, and you know, I can be a little frank and rude."
"Really, I had no idea," Harry said sarcastically.
"Shut up," Romi said, pushing his shoulder. "But still, Draco was the only person my age who would hang out with me, and not because he was forced to. I'm sorry, but if it comes to a choice between you or Draco. I've only known you for three and a half years, brother or not. I've known Draco for fourteen – he's got a few years on you."
"You would chose Draco Malfoy over me?" Harry asked her. She looked down to her hands, playing with her own fingers.
"Don't make me choose," she said softly. "Please."
Harry watched her for a moment longer and then with another sigh, put his arm over her shoulder. "I won't."
Romi snuggled under his arm for a moment as they watched the lake ripple, and then when the bell went off to signal the start of classes, the two jumped up and ran full tilt for the castle.
The day past without much incident. Pansy tried to goad Romi about the Witch Weekly article, but it didn't get too far after Romi lifted a textbook to throw at her. Neville took it out of her hands before she managed to chuck it Pansy, but apparently the memory of the ink bottle was enough to make Pansy stop talking about it.
At lunch, she received a letter from her father, which pretty much entailed exactly what she thought it might. The Ministry was taking over, and refusing any more prints, recalling and having a blurb in the next one about inaccuracies of the article. There was just a little bit too much mention of Hector's unfortunate family relations, something that the Ministry did not want to bring up.
That afternoon, they had Defence Against the Dark Arts, and at the end, Professor Moody asked to speak to Romi.
Romi waited until everyone had left the room, and it was just Professor Moody and her.
"You did well today," he said, as he gathered up his supplies, "you've really got a handle on that Shield Charm."
"Thank you," Romi said, not entirely sure where he was going with this.
"I understand that you are taking a Healership with Madam Pomfrey," Moody continued.
"Yes," Romi said, slowly. "Why do you care to know?"
"Just making conversation," Moody said, "I must admit tack is not my strong suit. I'm a little more attack first and ask questions later."
Romi smiled, "What do you want to know?"
"I want to know if Potter as figured out his egg yet?" Moody said. "Miss Granger and Mr Weasley seem very intent on keeping appearances of not helping him."
Romi laughed, "Yes, well. That sounds like them."
"I was hoping that you might know," Moody said, leaning against his desk, and taking a drink out of his flask.
"Well, he hadn't at breakfast this morning," Romi replied.
Moody huffed, and shifted his weight against the desk.
"Do you think he will?" Romi asked after a moment. Moody watched her for a long moment.
"This Tournament is designed for wizards three years older than him," Moody said, finally. "He has got his work cut out for him. He's smart though maybe not as powerful as some people I know," he added pointedly.
Romi frowned slightly, "what do you mean?"
"That day with the Unforgivable Curses…" Moody started, then paused.
"Which one?" Romi asked.
"Both, when the class was introduced to them, and again when we were practicing with them," Moody said. "The first time, you broke my spell on the whip spider as though it was second thought. Your first was about getting to your friend. How did you do that?"
Romi shrugged, "I don't know, honestly," she said. "I just did."
"And the second time, you acted like you were under the spell – but you weren't, isn't that right?" he asked.
"No," Romi lied, "No, I was."
"Don't lie," Moody said, "I always know liars."
Romi sighed, "I don't know what you want me to say, I don't know why I could do that."
Moody eyed her for a moment, and then spoke again.
"Well, just keep an eye on Harry, will you. He could use someone with your powers watching his back," Moody said, "and if you ever have any questions, you can come and talk to me."
Romi nodded and started to walk out of the classroom, when she turned and looked back at Moody.
"Professor," she said on a whim, "do you know anything about Familiars?"
"Familiars?" he said, looking surprised. "Like – cats and animals and things?"
Romi nodded. Moody sat thinking for a moment, rubbing his temple as though he had a slightly headache.
"I know that they used to be a common sight with a witch or wizard, especially back in the days of the witch hunting. But recently, I don't know any wizard who actually has a Familiar, currently. I suppose some must."
"But, how do you get one? Is there like a spell or something?" Romi asked.
"No," Moody replied, "Familiars choose the witch or wizard, similar to wands, but Familiars can have a lot more power and they have a mind of their own."
"You could say that about my wand too," Romi muttered. "Thanks anyways."
"You're welcome," Moody replied. "Anything else?"
Romi stood for a long moment thinking. "Does Phoebe Capello have brothers?"
Moody stared at her. "You are just full of random questions, aren't you? I was expecting something to do with Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Sorry," Romi replied, "I'll go. And I'll try and get Harry to figure out that egg." She turned to leave, and just as she made it to the door, Professor Moody spoke again.
"I don't know Phoebe Capello very well," he called, "but as far as I know, she does not have any siblings."
Romi frowned slightly, but then smiled and nodded, leaving Professor Moody alone.
"You said you'd already worked that egg clue!" said Hermione sharply the next day, cutting through Romi's head like a knife. Despite having almost slept straight through their first class, and actually sleeping through breakfast, she was still exhausted.
"Keep your voice down!" said Harry crossly. "I just need to – sort of fine-tune it, all right?"
They were sitting at the back of Charms, practising the Banishing Charm, the opposite to the Summoning Charm, and this allowed for a great amount of confusion and an excellent cover for having secret conversations at the back of the room. Neville was sitting beside Romi, but he was extremely focused on banishing his pillow, and Romi was half watching him work, and half listening to Harry's story.
"Just forget the egg for a minute," Harry said. "I'm trying to tell you about Moody and Snape. That someone's been stealing from Snape's office and it looked like it was Mr Crouch – but why would he have come in the middle of the night. And Moody's been searching it, possibly more than once, with permission from Dumbledore. Snape did not look too happy about it."
"Why would he?" Ron whispered. "But what do you reckon Moody's here to keep an eye on Snape as well as Karkaroff?"
"Well, I don't know if that's what Dumbledore asked him to do, but he's definitely doing it," said Harry, waving his hand without paying much attention to that his cushion did an odd sort of belly flop off the desk – much to Romi's amusement. "Moody said Dumbledore only lets Snape stay because he's giving him a second chance or something…"
Romi stared thoughtfully into the far side of the classroom. What would he have screwed up to need a second chance with?
"What?" said Ron, his eyes widening, his next cushion spinning high into the air, ricocheting off the chandelier and dropping heavily onto Flitwick's desk. "Harry… maybe Moody thinks Snape put your name into the Goblet of Fire!"
"Oh, Ron," said Hermione, shaking her head sceptically, "we thought Snape was trying to kill Harry before, and it turned out he was saving Harry's life, remember?"
True as Hermione's statement was, it was also clear that Severus still hated Harry, but on the opposite side, really cared for Romi. It was strange to think that maybe he wanted one sibling to be kept safe while the other dead.
"I don't care what Moody says," Hermione went on, "Dumbledore's not stupid. He was right to trust Hagrid and Professor Lupin, even though loads of people wouldn't have given them jobs, so why shouldn't he be right about Snape, even if Snape is a bit–"
"Evil," said Ron promptly. "Come on, Hermione, why are all these Dark Wizard catchers searching his office then?"
"There is only one of them actually searching," Romi pointed out.
"Not helpful Miss-Allegedly-Dating-Draco-Malfoy," Ron snapped at her.
"Hey!" Romi said indignantly. Ever since the article, even though it had been sorted out by everyone as inaccurate, thanks to her father's interference, Ron seemed to think it funny to tease her about it. "No need to be nasty."
"Why has Mr Crouch been pretending to be ill?" asked Hermione, talking over Ron and Romi. "It's a bit funny, isn't it, that he can't manage to come to the Yule Ball, but he can get up here in the middle of the night when he wants to?"
"You just don't like Crouch because of that elf, Winky," said Ron, sending a cushion soaring towards the window where it exploded into Neville's. Romi laughed.
"Sorry," Neville said, watching the feathers float down to the ground, but Ron was still engrossed in talking with Hermione.
"You just want to think Snape's up to something," said Hermione, sending her cushion zooming neatly into the box.
"I just want to know what Snape did with his first chance, if he's on his second one," said Harry, uttering exactly what Romi was thinking.
Harry had asked for Romi's help that night, and seeing as there didn't seem to be an immediate Horseman arrival, Ginny and Neville insisted that she should go with him. They said that they would meet up with Luna, and make sure everything's okay.
Because Harry had left it for so long, they only had one week to figure out the riddle that was in the egg. The only clear thing so far was that he would have one hour to go down to the bottom of the lake and retrieve something.
But it did provide the question, how was he going to be able to do that. He couldn't exactly hold his breath for an hour. Ron was all for using the Summoning Charm again, summoning an underwater breathing apparatus from the nearest Muggle town, but Hermione squashed that idea. It was too much to hope that no Muggle would see an aqualung zooming across the country side.
Hermione suggested that there should be some simple charm that should be able to do it, but whatever she was coming up didn't sound helpful. Romi suggested that the Bubblehead charm should do the trick, as she had used it in her first year. But it became apparent, very quickly that Harry would not be able to master it in the time that he had, and if it failed while he was underwater that would be a terrible idea.
They spent their lunches and spare time in the library, even asking Professor McGonagall for permission to use the Restricted Section and the Librarian for assistance.
But there was nothing that would help Harry stay underwater for an hour and tell the tale. The days before the second task seemed to slip away again and yet they still had nothing to help Harry. He had half-heartedly tried the Bubblehead Charm again, but all he managed to do was make a vase explode beside Zhi and sent the cat straight up Romi's back in fright.
Two days before the second task, Harry started to go off food again and Romi had to almost force feed him. The only good thing, in Harry's opinion on the breakfast of Monday morning was the arrival of a letter for Harry, from Sirius. It was the shortest letter Romi had ever seen.
Send date of next Hogsmeade weekend by return owl.
Harry turned the parchment over and looked at the back, as though hoping to see something else, but it was blank.
"Weekend after next," whispered Hermione, who had read the note over Harry's shoulder, just like Romi. "Here – take my quill and send this owl back straight away."
Harry scribbled the dates down on the back of Sirius' letter, tied it back onto the brown owl's leg, and watched it take flight again.
"What's he want to know about the next Hogsmeade weekend for?" asked Ron.
"Dunno," said Harry dully.
"Come on," Romi said, breaking the silence gently. "We should head to class."
Whether Hagrid was trying to make up for the Blast-Ended-Skrewts, or because there were now only two Skrewts left, or because he was trying to prove he could do anything that Professor Grubbly-Plank could, Romi wasn't sure, but he had been continued her lessons on unicorns ever since he'd returned to work. It turned out that Hagrid knew quite as much about unicorns as he did about monsters, though it was clear that he found their lack of poisonous fangs disappointing.
Today he had managed to capture two unicorn foals. Unlike full-grown unicorns, they were pure gold. Parvati and Lavender went into fits of delight at the sight of them, and even Pansy Parkinson had to work hard to conceal how much she liked them.
"Easier to spot than adults," Hagrid told the class. "They turn silver when they're abou' two years old, an' they grow horns aroun' four. Don' go pure white 'til they're full-grown, round about seven. They're a bit more trustin' when they're babies… don' mind boys to much… c'mon, move in a bit, yeh can pat 'em if yeh want… give 'em a few o' these sugar lumps…"
Hagrid moved off so that he could have a conversation with a very pale looking Harry, and Romi moved forwards with the rest of the crowd to pat the unicorns.
The night swiftly passed and Harry was becoming exceedingly anxious, and Romi along with him as they spent another long night in the library.
"I don't reckon it can be done," said Ron flatly, as Romi stared at the page, every twitch of her eyes making them burn. "There's nothing. Nothing. Closest was that thing to dry up puddles and ponds that Drought Charm, but that was nowhere near powerful enough to drain the lake."
"It can be done," Romi replied wearily. "I've done it."
"Well, unless they let you perform the Bubblehead Charm on me, which they won't, it can't be done," Harry said, his head in his hands.
"There must be something," Hermione muttered, moving a candle closer to her. Her eyes were so tired she was poring over the tiny print of Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charms with her nose about an inch from the page. "They'd have never set a task that was undoable."
"They have," said Ron. "Harry just go down to the lake tomorrow, right, stick your head in, yell at the merpeople to give back whatever they've nicked and see if they chuck it out. Best you can do, mate."
"You'd have a hell of a time getting your voice to reach them," Romi said, putting the book down and rubbing her eyes.
"There's a way of doing it!" Hermione said crossly. "There just has to be!"
She seemed to be taking the library's lack of useful information on the subject as a personal insult; it had never failed her before.
"I know what I should have done," said Harry, resting, face down on the open book in front of him. "I should've learnt to be an Animagus like Sirius."
"Yeah, you could've turned into a goldfish any time you wanted!" said Ron.
"Or a frog," yawned Harry.
"Doesn't exactly work that way," Romi said stretching.
"It takes years to become an Animagus, and then you have to register yourself and everything," said Hermione vaguely. "Professor McGonagall told us remember… you've got to register yourself with the Improper Use of Magic Office… what animal you become, and your markings so you can't abuse it…"
"It's not like I'm the only Animagus to run around unregistered, Hermione," Romi said. "We know that there have been others, and there will probably be more in the future."
Hermione glared at her.
"I was joking anyways," Harry said. "Even if Romi could teach me, I wouldn't get it over night."
"Oh, this is no use," Hermione said, snapping Weird Wizarding Dilemmas shut. "Who on earth wants to make their nose hair grow into ringlets?"
"Some very confused people," stated Romi.
"There are some out there," said a grisly voice. All four looked up to see Professor Moody limping into their view. "Confused, but existing."
"Hello, Professor Moody," Romi said cheerfully.
"Hello, Miss Black," replied Professor Moody, glanced at the other three. "Professor McGonagall wants to see you in her office."
Harry with a sigh started to stand, but Professor Moody cut him off.
"Not you Potter, or Black, just Weasley and Granger," Professor Moody said briskly. They exchanged really confused glances and Ron and Hermione picked themselves up from the chairs. What on earth would Professor McGonagall want with Ron and Hermione? If she was going to be scolding them for helping Harry, then shouldn't Romi have been called too?
"Quickly, if you don't mind," Professor Moody said rather sharply and Hermione and Ron scurried away from the table with apologetic glances backwards. "You'd best get some rest, Potter," Moody said, when he looked back to find the twins staring after Ron and Hermione. Harry nodded and stood up, closing the books that where still open on the table.
"Longbottom!" Moody said sharply causing Romi to jump. Neville appeared, looking rather nervous around the corner. "Help Potter and Black put away their books. They seem to be overworking themselves again."
Neville nodded and Moody stumped off. Romi smiled gratefully at Neville as he held out a hand to take the book from her. He looked down at the title of the volume. Trees of Native England and What Magical Uses They Have Been Mistaken For.
"Why are you reading about plants?" he asked her.
"We're trying to find a way for Harry to breathe underwater for an hour," Romi replied with a sigh.
"Why don't you use the Bubblehead charm like we did?" Neville replied.
"Can't, doesn't work," Harry said, glumly.
Neville thought for a moment and then said, "Why don't you use Gillyweed?"
Romi and Harry stared at him. "Gillyweed?" they both asked.
"Yeah," Neville replied taking the next book from Romi. "Depending on how much you use, for an hour or more, well, there is debate about freshwater or saltwater. Some say–"
"Awesome Neville," Romi interrupted. "Know where we can get any?"
"It would be in Snape's private stores," Neville said going paler.
"All right," Romi said a plan forming in her mind. "Do you want to help Harry?"
Neville looked bewildered between the two of them.
"Sure, I suppose," Neville replied. "Depending on how much we have to do, Romi…"
"Okay, Harry, go to bed," Romi said and with a flick of her hand all of the books zoomed back to their places on the shelves. "Get some sleep, everything will be set for tomorrow."
"But," Harry started. "What are you doing?"
"Just trust me," Romi said, she turned to Neville. "You're coming with me."
"Oh god, what are we doing this time?" Neville murmured but followed her out of the library anyways.
"We need to get that Gillyweed, but I don't know what it looks like, nor how much we need," Romi said walking through the hallways. It was close to eight o'clock when everyone below fifth year should be in their own common room, the upperyearmen were allowed for another hour.
"Romi…" Neville started. "We can't go stealing…"
"Neville," interrupted Romi. "Harry needs your help, it's for the second task, he has to go down to the bottom of the lake, find something the merpeople have taken from him and then return, all within an hour."
"Sure he's not looking for a sword or the Spirit of the Lake – cause we could just give that to him," Neville replied.
"Very funny," Romi said sarcastically. "You know us, we never get caught."
"Stop saying that or one day will we be caught," Neville answered. "What are we doing first?"
"First we have to hang about and wait," Romi said. "Someplace that won't be checked, and near enough to Severus' office to steal from it later."
"Can't you just ask him for it?" Neville questioned. "Wouldn't he just give it to you?"
"I doubt it," Romi replied, "why would he give it to me for Harry – we're not supposed to be helping him right?"
"True."
They walked through the main part of the castle, Romi having already decided her favourite hiding place, consisting of a certain girls' bathroom on the first floor, led Neville straight to the entrance of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"You want to hide out in a girl's washroom?" Neville asked suspiciously. Romi tapped the 'out of order' sign.
"No one will come in – I've used it before," Romi said. "It's Moaning Myrtle's bathroom."
"Convenient," Neville said and followed her into the bathroom. Myrtle was once again occupying the far end of the bathroom, sobbing dejectedly, and Neville passed up the offer of actually going to meet her.
They hung about the bathroom, waiting for the rest of the castle to go to bed. Every minute that passed Neville became a little more uncomfortable with the idea of stealing from Severus' vital stores, and slightly more nervous that they were going to sneak around the castle in the middle of the night again.
Finally, after nearly four hours of sitting in the bathroom, and enduring Moaning Myrtle's final appearance to harass Romi, she finally led Neville out of the bathroom, and quietly through the really dark, still castle.
They were silent for a while as they made their way down to the first level, past the Great Hall and into the dungeons' below. Severus was most likely, if still up, in his office, which was just one door away from his store room. Romi tip-toed up to Severus' office door and placed an ear to the door. There was the sound of someone moving around inside, and satisfied that they sounded very busy, Romi went back to where Neville was standing looking both ways down the hallway.
"All right," Romi whispered to him. "We don't have a whole lot of time."
"Have any way to get in?" Neville whispered back, pointing to the locked door. Romi pulled out three lock picks and grinned at Neville.
"When did you get those?" Neville hissed.
"Last summer," Romi replied, "I've been opening doors in the Malfoy manner for quite a while now." Neville just shook his head as Romi knelt down and inserted the first lock pick into the hole.
Romi concentrated on picking the lock, turning her ear to listen at the same time. She placed the second one in, as there was a sound of muffled footsteps.
"Hurry up," Neville whispered, looking to the door of Severus' office.
"I'm trying," Romi hissed in reply. Neville surprisingly took her hands, with the picks still in them, and with a few movements, unlocked the lock, springing the door open slightly. Romi looked up to him surprised.
"Where did you learn to pick locks?" Romi asked. "And why have you never told me!"
"My great uncle Algie taught me," Neville said, opening the door and ushering Romi inside. "He thought that I should have some interesting traits seeing as I'm not that magical – and it never came up!"
"Like knowing how to ballroom dance?" Romi suggested.
"Don't start on that again," Neville said warningly.
"Relax," Romi said, "The guys might think it's stupid, but every girl is falling head over heels in love with you."
"Really?" Neville said sounding disbelieving.
"Sure," Romi answered. "If it was a choice between you and those hard-headed, stubborn, biased lunatics, it would be you."
"Hard-headed, stubborn, biased lunatics?" Neville said, trying to hide a smile. "Someone sounds a little bitter."
"Which one is it?" Romi asked, ignoring Neville's last comments. He looked around the room, his eyes sliding over all of the potions that were inhabiting the shelves.
"That one," Neville said pointing to the higher shelves. There was a mass of what looked like green rat tails sitting in a low bowl that still had water in the bottom.
"All right," Romi said, going to the ladder, and scrambled up to the Gillyweed. "How much?"
"About the size of your palm," Neville replied. "That should be enough for an hour."
"Kay," Romi said. "I'll grab a bit more just in case he can't make it back up in an hour."
"Right," Neville replied and looked to the door. "We've probably only got a few minutes."
Romi stuck her hand into the bowl of the squishy and suspiciously squeaky Gillyweed, pulling out a fist full. "Disgusting," she whispered, and tucked it into her robes. She turned and taking Neville's hand as he offered it, jumped off the ladder and headed for the door.
"Okay," Romi said, wiping her hands on her pants. "Time to go."
Neville went first to the door, poked his head out and then motioned to Romi that it was empty. The scurried out of the dungeons, locking the store room as they left. The Great Hall was silent as they skidded past, trying to make up to Gryffindor Tower before they were caught by ghost or teacher.
The Tower was quiet when they returned.
"Excellent," Romi said as they got back into the Tower. "By the way, did you guys find anything?"
"Nope, all is silent with the Apocalypse," Neville replied as they headed towards the dormitories. "That sounds like it should be an oxymoron…"
Romi laughed through her yawn. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night," Neville replied and hopped up the stairs towards his bed. Romi went into her own dormitory. She only vaguely noticed that Hermione was not in her bed before Romi fell deeply asleep.
It was Ginny that woke Romi up the next morning, knocking on the door, and forcibly dragging Romi from her bed, exclaiming that Parvati and Lavender where already gone.
"Romi, get up," Ginny said, whacking her friend. "Harry's looking for you."
"Oh right, what time is it?" Romi asked, with a yawn.
"Quarter past nine," replied Ginny.
"What?" Romi said, sounding slightly shocked. She quickly threw on her robes, making sure that she had the Gillyweed and then hurried down the stairs, with Ginny tagging along behind her.
"Where have you been?" Harry hissed at her as she came up. He looked worse for wear, pale and clammy. Neville was standing looking concerned beside him.
"Sorry," she replied. "I was up late last night."
"Did you get it?" Harry asked, walking towards the portrait hole, Ginny and Neville following along behind them.
"Here," she replied, passing the squishy mess over to him discretely.
"What do I do with it?" Harry asked, taking it from her. Romi glanced back to Neville.
"Eat it, and you'll be fine," Neville prompted.
"You sure?" Harry asked, poking the green rat tails looking disgusted that he had to put it in his mouth.
"Yes," Neville replied. They made their way down out of the Portrait Hole and Romi looked around, realising that they were missing people.
"Where are Ron and Hermione?" Romi asked.
"Dunno," Harry said darkly. "Ron was gone when I woke up. Really supportive."
"I'm sure that they have an explanation," Romi said evenly.
"Well, hopefully they'll be able to give it to me, if I make it out of this task," Harry said moodily.
"You will," Romi answered, glancing at Neville and Ginny.
"I'm sure you'll do fine, Harry," Ginny added, trying to sound encouraging, though really she looked very pale. Harry glanced at his watch.
"Cutting it close," he said.
"Better run," Neville advised. Harry did just that. They hurried after Harry through the Entrance Hall and down to where the Quidditch stands had been placed around part of the lake. Ginny and Neville followed Romi down to the stands, as they watched Harry run straight to the judges table. Madame Maxime and Karkaroff did not look too pleased that he'd arrived.
"Did you ever succeed, Miss Black?" asked Moody as he appeared beside the three of them stumping his way down to the lake. "With that project?"
Romi looked at him confused. "With what project, sir?" she asked.
"The one where your friends lives until this afternoon," Moody answered.
"Oh, that one," Romi said, clueing in. "I say possibly, no way to find out until this afternoon."
"Humph," was Moody's only reply and he passed them to stand where some of the other teachers were standing.
Romi, Neville and Ginny made their way to where Luna was sitting, and waving them over.
"You guys are a bit late," Luna said as they settled in beside her.
"Last minute Champion problems," Romi replied.
"Well, all our Champions are ready for the second task!" said Bagman, his voice magically amplified again and a semi-hush fell over the crowd. "The task will start on my whistle, and they have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three then. One… two… three!"
The whistle echoed shrilly in the cold, still air; the stands erupted with cheers and applause. Romi watched Harry pull off his shoes and then wade into the water stuffing the Gillyweed into his mouth. Then he stood, waist deep waiting for something to happen. There was some nervous laughter filtering through the crowd as all three of the other champions had already gone under.
The laughter grew louder, especially from the Slytherin section of the stands.
"What's he doing?" Luna asked nervously, looking at Harry squinting. "Why isn't he doing something?"
"He's working on it," Romi muttered and a second later Harry flung himself face first into the water. "There we go. Neville, what exactly does Gillyweed do?"
"Essentially it gives you gills and flippers," Neville replied.
"Very nice," Romi stated, looking at the lake. "I'm sure Harry would have liked to have known that before he ate it."
"Yeah, I guess I should have warned him about that," Neville said thoughtfully.
"Now what?" Ginny asked, as most of the crowd was beginning to talk amongst themselves again.
Just then a large magical screen appeared over the top of the lake. It was massive in size, and was split into four quadrants. In each section, Romi could see one of the four champions.
"Oh, excellent," Romi said, "now we can watch all of them drown."
Romi focused on Harry's and tried to make out where he was. He entered a forest of rippling tangled black weed, wide plains of mud littered with dull, glimmering stones. Although she couldn't see it well, she guessed that Harry was moving deeper and deeper into the middle of the lake.
He seemed to be moving slowly, but steadily, leaving the black weed behind and going towards what looked like a meadow of very overgrown grass. He swam for what seemed for ages, without any scenery changing.
Without warning a tiny hand snapped out and grabbed onto his leg, trying to pull him under. Romi jumped, forgetting that she was sitting in the stands with air and friends surrounding her. A Grindylow, a small horned water demon was poking out of the weeds, its long fingers clutching Harry's leg, its fangs bared. Two more Grindylows rose out of the weeds as Harry went for his wand.
Romi couldn't hear anything that was going on in the bottom of the lake, all she could see that Harry pointed his wand at the Grindylow, a large bubble came out of his mouth and with a jet of water, created angry red patches on their green skin.
Dean and Seamus who were sitting nearby them, where talking about how the Giant Squid would come roaring through one of the pictures any moment now, while Neville was trying to explain to them that the Giant Squid doesn't like too much attention.
"Ow, look at Fleur!" Ginny said, suddenly, cringing. Romi stopped looking at Harry's square and glanced to the other champions. Diggory and Krum were doing fine, swimming through murky water, but Fleur was being attacked by Grindylows.
She was wearing the Bubble-Head charm, and the Grindylows seemed to be going straight for the fishbowl. They kept swiping at it with their pointy fingers. Fleur was doing her best to keep them at bay, she was already scratched all over from their claws.
The crowd 'ow'ed and gasped sympathetically every time a Grindylow went for her. Then suddenly a Grindylow shot up and managed to get one sharp claw under her defense and popped her Bubble-Head charm. The entire crowd gasped, standing up and leaning forward. Fleur, now holding her breath, put her wand aimed at the bottom of the lake, and shot upwards to the surface. A minute later and her head appeared gasping at the top of the lake.
Her quadrant on the board stopped playing back the feed. Romi glanced back to Harry's as Fleur made her way towards the edge of the lake, looking very sore indeed.
Within a minute Hagrid and three other teachers had waded out to her and brought her back to the edge of the lake. Once there she looked faint, but awake.
Everyone in the stands was buzzing, many people on their feet trying to see Fleur. After a minute, Madame Maxime and Madam Pomfrey led Fleur away.
"After an unfortunate encounter with the Grindylows, the champion from Beauxbatons has been forced to retire," Ludo Bagman said loudly to the crowd, "She'll be fixed up in no time, and we still have three champions going strong."
"I hope she'll be all right," Ginny said, watching Fleur leave.
"I'm sure she'll live another day so that she can be just as stuck up as she is now," Romi replied. Ginny glared at her, but tried very hard not to laugh. They watched the screen with interest, but for almost twenty minutes nothing exciting happened. Romi looked to the clock again.
"They only have twenty minutes," Romi murmured.
"Look!" Luna said pointing, "Harry's met up with the Merpeople!"
"He must be close!" Neville said excitedly.
They watched the screen intently, and saw that Harry was approaching four long objects that were floating, tied to a rock.
"Wait a minute," Ginny said, squinting at the screen. "That can't be…"
As Harry got closer, they could see that it was in fact, four people. One of them had bright red hair and beside him, was another familiar face.
"I guess that solves the problem of where Ron and Hermione are," Neville said finally.
Romi looked closer at the other two figures. One was Cho Chang, and the last was a young girl of about eight or nine with clouds of silvery hair made Romi think that she must be related to Fleur.
"They look like they're sleeping," Ginny whispered, watching the picture.
"Well, I hope so, I wouldn't like to be down there if I wasn't sleeping," Romi murmured. Harry sped towards the hostages, looking to the merpeople on either side, none of them were doing anything. There were ropes of weed tying the hostages together. Harry went up to them, struggled for a moment and then stopped, looking around. He swam up to the merpeople and motioned violently. Whatever he was attempting to do, must have been rejected by the merpeople and so Harry turned and looked around on the ground. He swam down, picked up a rock and then returned to the hostages. A moment later and Ron was freed from the rock statue. Romi sighed a breath of relief, it would mean that Harry would now be on his way up and finished with this task.
Only Harry didn't move. He stayed right by the others treading water and looking around.
"What is he doing?" Ginny asked sounding slightly hysteric. Her eyes were watching Ron's head floating downwards with only a small stream of bubbles coming out of his mouth.
"That's a valid question, Harry," Romi muttered as though her brother could actually hear what she was saying. Harry turned and went to cut the bindings on Hermione. Suddenly several merpeople laid their hands on his shoulders. Whatever the exchange was it only made Romi wish that she could hear as well as see.
Just then the top left quadrant aligned with Harry's and Cedric appeared next to him. Cedric also had performed the Bubblehead charm, he swam directly up to Cho, cut her free and looking at Harry, tapped his watch. Harry nodded, but didn't move.
The merpeople were watching Harry suspiciously should he try and take the other two as well. Romi looked up to the clock. They had just under five minutes until the hour was up, and yet Cedric hadn't even reappeared at the surface yet.
Romi kept glancing from the screen to the lake hoping to see Cedric and wanting to see Harry get moving. A moment later, and Krum's screen came into focus and Romi could see exactly how he was breathing. He'd attempted to transfigure himself into a shark, but only managed the top half. All of the merpeople had scattered in alarm. He swam up straight to Hermione and tried to snap at the bindings that held her.
Romi cringed at the thought of him missing, but was relieved the torture of watching her friend get bitten by a shark when Harry swam up to Krum, hit him on the shoulder and gave him a rock to cut the bindings. Krum did so quickly and then shot off towards the top of the lake.
Cedric burst through the water in front of them, Cho right beside him. His quadrant disappeared and the crowd burst into applause and screaming, stamping their feet. The teachers waded up to help Champion and Hostage out of the lake and into warm blankets. Fleur, standing with Madame Pomfrey was staring anxiously into the screen.
Romi looked back to the screen.
"What is he doing?" Romi asked, surprised. Harry was currently facing off with a large group of merpeople. They had gathered in front of Ron and the little girl, but were looking suspiciously at the wand in Harry's hand. He held up three fingers and slowly put one down, and then the next – the merpeople scattered before he put down the last digit.
Harry darted forward, released the girl and then started to swim upwards with both Ron and Fleur's sister. It looked like slow work and another roar from the crowd caught Romi's attention. She looked to see that Krum and Hermione had broken the surface of the water.
"Okay," said Romi to Ginny standing up. "I'm going down there."
"Are you allowed?" Ginny asked.
"I'm a Healer," replied Romi with a smile. "Or at least I will be one soon. Come on."
"Okay," Ginny said, getting up.
The girls left Neville and Luna and hurried down to edge of the lake. Hermione was shivering violently but practically dashed out of the water to hug Romi. Krum, with his shark head returning to a human shape followed her out.
Madam Pomfrey hurried over with warm blankets, passing one to Romi as she got there. Romi wrapped it tightly around Hermione's shoulders.
"Really, Romi," Madam Pomfrey scolded once she had given Krum a blanket and a hot potion, handing one to Romi to give to Hermione. "Must you hug everyone? You might as well gone swimming in the lake yourself."
"It's not like I'd find it cold at this time of year," Romi replied but took the blanket that Madam Pomfrey had given her. Romi turned back to Hermione, but Krum had pulled her to the side to talk to her. Romi let it go and looked to Ginny; she was watching the screen. Romi looked up too, to the final square watching Harry struggle to swim up to the surface.
It seemed like an agonizing amount of time, but finally Harry, Ron and the little girl appeared on the surface of the lake. Romi glanced at Ginny with an exasperated face and sighed. The giant screen over the lake disappeared.
"I have a feeling that Harry's going to get it for staying too long down there," Ginny said with a smile.
"Maybe just a little bit," Romi replied. She ran and got the blankets from Madam Pomfrey and then headed towards the edge of the lake.
A figure dashed past her, and only when she had gone up to her knees in the water did Romi recognize that it was Fleur.
"Gabrielle! Gabrielle! Is she alive? Is she 'urt?!"
Percy seized Ron and was dragging him back to the bank. Romi went with Bagman to help her brother out, he smiled weakly at her.
"Nice," Romi whispered to him, wrapping the towel tightly around him, and forcing the hot potion in in hands. "Drink," Romi ordered, pushing the cup up to his lips. They made their way towards the rest of the Champions and Hostages.
"Harry, well done!" Hermione cried. "You did it, you found out how, all by yourself!"
Harry glanced at Romi, but with Karkaroff nearby – the only judge to not come down from the table – it didn't look like he wanted to say anything.
"You haff a water-beetle in your hair, Herm-own-ninny," said Krum. Romi had the distinct impression that he was trying to call her attention back to him. But Hermione just brushed the beetle away impatiently and said, "You're well outside the time limit though, Harry… did it take you ages to find us?"
"No… I found you okay…" something in Harry's blushing expression told Romi that he'd wished that he'd just left when he found Ron.
Dumbledore was crouching at the water's edge, deep in conversation with what seemed to be the chief merperson, a particularly wild and ferocious-looking female, which Romi was certain was Chiel, the merwoman she had met in her first year. He was making the same sort of screechy noises that the merpeople made when they were above water. Romi had an inclination to want to learn Mermish.
Finally Dumbledore finished with the merperson and straightened up, turned to his fellow judges and said, "A conference before we give the marks, I think."
The judges went into a huddle. Madam Pomfrey had gone to rescue Ron from Percy's clutches; she led him over to Harry, Romi and the others. Ginny stayed close to Romi's side and said little as she watched her brother return.
Fleur returned with Gabrielle, and Madam Pomfrey was trying to fix the cuts and scratches all over Fleur's face and arms.
"Look after Gabrielle," Fleur told Madam Pomfrey and then turned to Harry. "You saved 'er," she said breathlessly. "Even though she was not your 'ostage."
"Yeah," said Harry looking glum. Fleur bent down, kissed Harry twice on each cheek. Romi watched Harry's face go bright red and then Fleur turned to Ron as well.
"And you, too – you 'elped –"
"Yeah," said Ron trying not to look too hopeful. "Yeah – a bit."
Fleur swooped down on him, too, and kissed him. Hermione looked simply furious, and Romi and Ginny were holding in their silent giggles. Just then, Ludo Bagman's magically magnified voice boomed out beside them, making them all jump, and causing the crowd in the stands to go very quiet.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our decision. Merchieftainess Murcus Chiel has told us exactly what happened at the bottom of the lake, and we have therefore decided to award marks out of fifty for each of the champions, as follows…
"Miss Fleur Delacour, though she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by Grindylows as she approached her goal, and failed to retrieve her hostage. We award her twenty-five points."
There was applause from the stands and from the group of Champions and Hostages.
"I deserved zero," said Fleur throatily, shaking her head.
"Mr Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was first to return with his hostage, though he returned one minute outside the time limit of an hour." Enormous cheers from the Hufflepuffs in the crowd. "We therefore award him forty-seven points."
"Mr Victor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nevertheless effective and was second to return with his hostage. We award him forty points."
Karkaroff clapped particularly hard, looking very superior, just for that Romi crossed her arms without a single clap. Hermione gave her a very hard look.
"Mr Harry Potter used Gillyweed to great effect," Bagman continued. "He returned last and well outside of the time limit of an hour. However, the Merchieftainess informs us that Mr Potter was indeed the first to reach the hostages, and that the delay in his return was due to his determination to return all hostages to safety not merely his own."
Ron and Hermione gave Harry half-exasperated, half-commiserating looks and he had to look away into Romi's smiling face.
"Most of the judges" – and here Bagman gave Karkaroff a very nasty look – "feel that this shows moral fibre and merits full marks. However… Mr Potter's score is forty-five points."
There was a great cheer that came up from the Gryffindors, and Romi squeezed Harry's arm in excitement. That put him in first place with Cedric. Ron and Hermione, caught by surprise, stared at Harry then laughed and started applauding hard with the rest of the crowd.
"There you go, Harry!" Ron shouted over the noise. "You weren't being thick at after all – you were showing moral fibre!"
Fleur was clapping very hard, too, but Krum didn't look very happy at all. He attempted to engage Hermione in conversation again, but she was too busy cheering Harry to listen.
"The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June," continued Bagman. "The champions will be notified of what is coming, precisely one month beforehand. Thank you all for your support of the champions!"
Madam Pomfrey began herding the champions and hostages back to the castle, Romi went with them, when Madam Pomfrey called over for her help.
"I'll see you later, Ginny!" Romi called and headed off with the champions and hostages.
"I've got a question for you," Harry said, coming up beside her.
"What is it?" said Romi.
"Did you manage to see it at all?"
"Yes," Romi replied. "They had a screen up for all of us to watch. Very nicely done."
"Well, that makes me feel better," Harry said sarcastically. "Thanks though. I should really think of something to thank Neville," replied Harry. "He really helped me out."
"And what about me?" Romi asked. "I was the one who stole it."
Harry put an arm around her shoulder, the blanket now covering her as well. "I'll try and think of something," he said. "But you're talents are already in stealing. I doubt it was much of a stretch for you."
"You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Perhaps not," Harry replied, with a grin giving her a little squeeze. Romi watched Hermione and Krum up ahead, he was trying to talk to her again, but Hermione kept turning and waiting for Harry, Ron and Romi to catch up to her. All in all, Harry was alive, and everyone was out of the lake, Romi figured the rest of the day would be a nice one.