Chapter 15

Harry sighed as he closed yet another book that covered water based spells and ran a hand through his hair as he glared at the books before him. He was on the search for a spell or anything really that would let him breath underwater. But it seems the library lacked much in that subject. Not that it was lacking in water based magic, as he and Hermione had already gone through several books already, just none of them had a spell to breath under water.

His annoyance was because not only had Twilights guess turned out right. But the clue given to him once he was able to actually listen to it, told him he needed to be able to survive at least an hour underwater. And the only way that he had found so far involved transforming himself into part fish. Even the spells that Twilight knew, there was not a spell that allowed a pony, or human to breath underwater for over thirty minutes. And you needed to be above water to recast the spell to begin with.

"There is not really a lot here," Hermione said, "Or at least nothing that would be useful."

"Well there are some useful things, but I don't wish to drain the entire lake just to complete the task," Harry said.

"Do you even have enough magic to drain the lake?" Hermione asked.

"About fifty, fifty. I am not sure how deep the lake is, which is the main problem. I kind of need Melody's help to figure that one out. But that is besides the point as I don't think they would want me to drain the lake away in, let alone in an hour," Harry said pulling up a yet another book from the stack and began looking through it.

"You know we could just ask for help from the Madam Pince," Hermione pointed out.

"I asked, this is where I got this stack of books from," Harry pointed out.

"Oh," Hermione said, as she closed yet another book.

"So, any other random ideas? Besides what you might have seen in the book," Harry asked flipping slowly through the pages.

"None really," Hermione said after a few moments of thought, before grabbing another book.

"Oh well," Harry said.

They continued like this for nearly two hours before they finally called it a day and moved on to other things. They had given up for that day, but they would be back at it first thing tomorrow. The rest of the day was spent in classes or studying and doing homework. And thanks to how the day was going with everything else it was slowly turning into a stressful day.

Harry, after dinner, went to the one out of the courtyard were everyone had met up originally to calm down when he was met with a little surprise. Twilight and Applejack, who were currently taking a break, were sitting out and talking quietly with Applejack looking a little less than happy. Harry's brain told him to walk away and let them alone for now, but he could not just walk away from the pair currently.

"You two okay," Harry asked, after a few minutes of watching them in indecision on leaving or not.

"What?! Oh it's just you Harry," Twilight said as the pair spun around in surprise.

"Yeah just me," Harry said walking over, "Anyway, are you two okay?"

"Well… not really," Twilight said, not really able to lie as Applejack turned and looked back out over the castle grounds.

"What is it," Harry asked, brushing off some snow from one of the benches and sitting down by them.

"It is nothing really," Applejack said, with a small sigh.

"Are you sure," Harry asked.

"It is something I dealt with before, just never had a way of not fixing it is all," Applejack said.

"Homesick," Harry asked.

"How did you guess that," Twilight asked a little surprised Harry had guess it.

"Educated guess, your missing your home which you can normally fix by going back in your world. But in my own it is impossible currently. Plus Rainbow has had a few down moments as well," Harry said, with a small smile.

"Yeah I am," Applejack said sighing sadly, "And I am worried. My family is a strong group but without me around to make help finish up Apple Bucking season. Big Mac will have to push himself extra hard, not to meantion I am the main sales pony, and… well yeah."

Harry nodded placing a hand on her back, "I understand slightly."

Applejack looked at Harry confused, "How would you even understand in the slightest."

"Applejack?" Twilight said a little shock at the rudeness.

"No it is quite okay," Harry said, with a small smile, "I understand why she says what she does. It is true I have never been in her situation before. For that matter very few people or pony can probably ever claim to be in your position. But I know the feeling."

"How," Applejack asked.

"Well simply I feel at home in any location were my family is. But for two years a part of my family has been missing. Of course missing your family and being homesick are not quite the same but they are close," Harry explained.

"I… I guess you have a point," Applejack admitted finally as it was true.

Harry smiled, and rubbed her back a little bit, "Either way it will be okay. If your family is anything like you I am sure they will make it through the winter without a problem. Plus this is not forever only a few more months and we will be headed home."

Applejack nodded giving Harry a small smile, "I see, thanks."

"You're welcome," Harry said.

Harry decided to remain with them for a while longer. It was not his place really to be, but he was not about to leave them alone. When one felt alone it was almost always nice to have a friends and love ones around. They remained there for a while just watching as it began to snow.

Nearby Luna watched quietly, hidden under the effects of her spell. She had seen this coming for a while now. The Elements of Harmony had never been away from their homes for a long period of time before. Even Twilight how had moved away from her home, had always had a way to meet up with their family in under a day or letters back to them.

Rainbow was just missing her home, but she was slowly get getting better as time went on. She now had both Night and Harry, who were keeping her company and if Luna had to guess Rainbow was even happier for it. But this splitting up of the Elements of Harmony caused what comfort that they had taken and torn a small hole right in it. Now Twilight and Applejack only had each other to draw comfort from. Then there was Hermione who now had no home to speak of, with her parents having been killed.

Luna sighed, it seemed over all their group was just a sad bunch. And all they had right now was each other to draw strength and comfort from. Hogwarts was not the home they had once thought it to be, for that matter this world had never been a home for at least three of them. Luna could not help but hope that Equestria turned out to be the home they truly needed.

Weeks slowly passed along till finally the Second Task was upon them. Harry and the others were ready for it finally too. It had taken nearly the entire time, but they had come up with two possible solutions to dealing with the time need. The first, which Harry had carefully practiced and mastered was the Bubble Head Charm. It gave him a none stop supply of fresh air as long spell stayed in effect.

The problem with the spell is that any sharp object could cause the spell to pop without warning. This would rob Harry of his air supply. It also had the bad side effect of making Harry looked like he was wearing some sort of fish boll on his head. This is why they had the secondary option of using a weed called -. They had tested it three times to see just how well it worked including how it worked on a pony.

For Harry it turned his feet and hands into a set of fins, while a set of gills appeared along his neck. The fins allowed him a large amount of manverability to move about underwater. While the gills allowed Harry to breathe underwater till the effects wore off. And Harry was making sure he had enough of the Gillyweed to make sure he was able to breathe underwater for about an hour.

The effects on the ponies, Twilight being the test subject, were interesting to say the least. While the gills had appeard in the same location their other changes were a lot different from Harry's own. As the Gillyweed would just change Harry's hands and feet into a set of fins, the changes to the ponies caused their entire limb to change. Their legs vanished and were soon replaced by much smaller fins, while their entire tail fused together forming into a mermaid like tail.

Harry and Hermione could not remember the name of the creature that Twilight reminded him of. But it was truly interesting to say the least. After this test, Twilight was rather determined to bring some of the Gillyweed back to Equestria. She wanted to run a few more tests just to see just how many uses it really had, and if she could turn its effect into a spell.

As such it was Harry was now standing ready for the second task, along side the other contestants. Kurm looked as grim as ever. While Fluar looked a great deal less than happy, while Kedric looked calm and ready. Harry was taking deep and slow breaths as to stay calm and focused, he was ready for this as much as he could be anyway.

They were currently on a large platform with the Judges. Anyone else who wished to watch were in stand sitting along the lake side. Harry could not help but wonder just how dull this actually would be to watch. After all most if not all the action would be taking bellow the water, were no one could actually see anything.

It was at this point Ludo bagman moved forward and began his small speech about the task that was ahead of the four Champions. Harry listened only a little bit enough to understand the time limits and his objective. They had an hour to reclaim what had been stolen from them, from the lake and then make it back.

Harry looked out over the crowd and sighed as Ludo told the Champions to ready themselves. Harry looked at the others as they drew their wands. Harry did the same, and double checked to make sure his backup plan was ready. The pouch full of Gillyweed was still in a pouch at his side in case the bubble broke.

"Okay Champions, start in three… two… one… GO!" Ludo said using his wand, to let off a loud bang signaling the start of the task.

Harry flicked his wand against his head then dove right into the cool lake. As such the second task began.