Chapter 17: The Second Task
The evening before The Second Task Peri was in the library to plan how to breathe underwater. She was searching through many books that were scattered across the many desks around her when Hallie, Holly, and Ida found her, "Fred said that George said you needed our help," Hallie spoke, approaching her as she wrinkles her nose at the books around them.
"I need help. I just found out the clue and the meaning a couple of days ago. I've been stuck in the library every day since trying to figure out how to help me," she looked at Holly, "Please. Help me. You know everything."
"Peri! You were supposed to have already figured out the clue weeks ago!" Holly slapped her sister's arm.
"Shhh," Madam Pince hissed at her.
Holly gave an apologetic wave and then turned back to Peri to fuss, "Sorry."
"Look I have been a little busy," Peri spoke as she began to flip through the books before them on the table.
Holly groaned, "I really should not be helping you. I am still mad at you for taking Draco from me."
Peri gave an exasperated sigh, "He was never going to date you, Holly. He may care for you, but he was never going to date you. He respects his family and their values too much."
"Yet he can date you. A halfblood as well."
She did not even look up from her book as she was scanning over trying to figure out what to use to help her breathe underwater for an hour, although she was more worried about Draco and George than learning to live.
"Snape has loyalty to the Malfoy family along with Richard being from a well-known pureblood family it helps me more than you. And as I have explained countless times my relationship with Draco is only for the press, they love it so we give it."
Holy picked up a book herself still not pleased with the answer but she was learning to accept it, "I wish they would pay attention to me," Hallie spoke up from where she was writing in her journal, "I love receiving attention from the press, but we always had lots living in the Upper West End."
Holly gave her a confused look, "We lived in the Hamptons."
Hallie rolled her eyes, "We had a penthouse in the Upper West End."
"True, but we did not live there."
"I do not care for the press," Ida spoke up, "All they do is ask me now about my father's location."
The three sisters looked at her, "I know it is hard on you, Ida. Can't imagine knowing your father is there but you cannot have him," Hallie told her.
"Yes, well he chose to find Harry first, not my brother and me. Probably would have ignored him if he had come for us first but instead he wanted Harry."
Peri shook her head, "He wanted Peter Pettigrew."
"Uncle Remus mentioned that last summer when he came back to France," she grabbed a book, Magical Water Plants of the Highland Lochs.
"Your father loves you. He wouldn't abandon you and your brother."
She gave a saddened nod.
"So what is the clue?" Holly asked as she reviewed an advanced spell book.
"Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground."
Holly nodded, "Easy the Black Lake. Merpeople live there, so that is easy. Whatever you have to capture this time is being guarded by one of them instead of a dragon. What else?"
"An hour long you'll have to look."
"Again easy. Give us a specific time frame to find something to help you breathe underwater for an hour."
"Easy?" Peri looked at her, "When did you last hold your breath underwater for an hour or at all?"
"Fair point…" she continued flipping through her book.
Hallie stood up from her place at a nearby table, "Well, it is not that hard. I do it all the time with Fred."
"Ew!" Holly and Peri shrieked, turning to look at her.
"Ladies," Madam Pince hissed at them, "Quiet. I will not ask again."
"Sorry," they said in unison as she walked away from them.
Holly shook her head, "I could have gone my entire life without knowing that."
Her sister shrugged and gathered her things, "I have an outfit to design because someone," she shot Peri a look, "took forever to find the clue, and now I have to create a waterproof outfit within hours that is cute and sexy but also school appropriate now."
Hallie made her way down the row, "Thank you, Hal. I love you for this," Peri told her.
"I know. None of you would understand fashion without me. Except for Ida, but she's French."
The two rolled their eyes as Hallie left the library and returned to their books when Ida gasped, "Gillyweed! Clearly another champion is going to use it, too. This page is very well used," she looked up as they rushed over to her and the book.
"Yes! How could I not think of this before?" Holly gasped and then let out a groan, "But we need to get gillyweed? Any idea?"
Peri looked at the page, "Snape's potion cupboard," she spoke in a whisper-monotone voice.
"I thought he was mad at you?" Holly asked, confused, "Hallie mentioned earlier that Fred said that George said that he is not speaking to you at the moment."
"He is just mad at me for using occlumency on him."
"Occlumency!" Holly gasped, "That is very powerful. You know how to use it."
She shrugged, "I tried…but for now I need to go get some gillyweed."
Ida and Holly nodded, then helped return the books that had been taken out to their spots as Mad-Eye rounded the corner, "Ladies, may I have a word alone with King?"
"They were just leaving," Peri spoke up as she put the last book back, "Goodnight," she said to them as they left.
"Goodnight. See you tomorrow."
"Get a good night's sleep."
Once they were gone, Peri resumed her focus back on Mad-Eye, "How can I help you, Professor?"
"Are you prepared?" he asked, examining her closely, "Took you a long time to figure out the egg."
She looked at the egg sitting beside her, "Just about. I got one more thing to do before I'm all set. I need to pay my fa…Professor Snape a visit before I go back to my dorm."
He gave a stiffened nod as his magical eye twitched down the row, "Longbottom!"
Neville quickly scampered over from a few rows down, "King will escort you to Professor Snape's potion cupboard. I am sure he won't have an issue with his child," his magical eye flipped back to Peri, "Using ingredients from his cupboard."
He became nervous as he approached them, "No, sir…I'm sure Professor…Snape won't mind if Peri borrows ingredients."
"Then you and Peri can get the ingredients you need."
Without another word, he left the two alone in the row of books.
"Come on, Neville."
The two left and made their way out of the library and to Snape's potion ingredient cupboard, "What are you needing?" Neville asked, breaking the silence.
"I need gillyweed to complete the second task."
Neville gave an excited gasp, "Really? So is Harry. I am supposed to get it for him. I was scared to have to break into the cupboard, but it should be ok since you need it, too."
She shrugged, "He is not speaking to me right now, though."
"Oh…um…I'm sorry to hear that. I never like it when my Nan and I are not speaking. It is hard, it must be really hard with a parent."
She gave another shrug, "I don't truly know him. He is sort of trying but not much."
They reached the cupboard, and Neville tried the knob, "It is locked."
She took out her wand from her inner robe pocket and pointed it at the knob, "Alohomora."
Placing the wand back into her robe she stepped into the cupboard after Neville opened the door, "Gillyweed," she looked at the many shelves of ingredients.
"There," he pointed up at a high shelf inside a glass jar.
She began to climb the ladder, and grasping the jar in hand she opened it, "It smells awful," she spoke giving the ingredient a small sniff, "And this should help?"
"Yes, gillyweed is a plant that allows the consumer to breathe underwater for an hour."
She nodded, handing it back to him, "Give this to Harry then."
He took the bit of gillyweed from her once she had climbed down, "Thank you, Peri," he quickly left down the corridor as she turned to put the jar back.
"Stealing are we?" a low voice spoke.
She turned to see Snape standing in the doorway.
"Um…I was hoping to use gillyweed for my next task. I need to breathe underwater for an hour. I would hope you wouldn't mind me using some."
He looked at the green slime in her hand, "I rather you ask first. I would have given it to you if you asked."
She gave a soft nod, "I'm sorry. You have not been speaking to me these past few days, I thought this would be easier. Again I'm sorry…I should go back to my dorm though," she stepped around him, "Thank you for the gillyweed."
He gave a stiffened nod as she left.
Making her way back to Slytherin's common room she ran into Draco coming out, "Where are you going?" she asked as he greeted her with a small peck to her cheek.
"To Snape's office. He said Dumbledore needed to see me."
Peri's breath hitched, "No!"
"No?" he raised a brow at her, "Peri, why don't you get some sleep."
"Please do not let them take you to the lake."
"To the lake? Peri, it is nighttime. I'm not going to the lake in the dark."
She was nervous, "Please, be careful. Come back."
He took ahold of her hand, "I'll be back. Don't worry," he kissed the top of her hand before letting it go and heading for Snape's office.
She watched him leave then hurried up to the Gryffindor common room. She was out of breath by the time she reached the Fat Lady, "Peri, welcome. Do you have the pass…" Fat Lady spoke then noticed her out of breath, "You alright, dear?"
"Is George in there?"
"George? Um…no he left moments ago for McGonagall's office."
She started crying, "No!" she took off again running for McGonagall's office.
She was beginning to panic, she could not lose them. She spotted George stepping away from his destination, "George!"
He turned to see her running to him, she wrapped her arms around him, "Don't do it."
Stunned he rubbed her back, "Peri…what is wrong? Are you crying?"
She sniffled as he pulled her more in front of him, "I can't lose you. Please, do not do it."
"I'm confused."
McGonagall approached them then, "Mr. Weasley. Ms…King? Are you alright?"
Peri nodded looking into George's eyes begging him not to leave, "She's fine…" he removed his gaze from her to McGonagall, "I was informed by Professor Moody that you wished to see me."
McGonagall nodded, "If you don't mind waiting in my office, Mr. Weasley."
George withdrew his hands from Peri as he went to her office door, he turned to look back at Peri, "I am not going anywhere."
He disappeared into the office.
Peri looked at McGonagall, "Please, do not hurt them."
McGonagall approached her cautiously, "Professor Moody warned me you might feel strong emotions since somehow you learned the true object you are supposed to retrieve during the second task. How you learned this I do not know, but regardless I have a dreamless sleep potion for you."
She withdrew the vial from her pocket and then handed it to her. Peri looked at the vial before accepting it, "Please, do not let anything happen to them," she begged as tears ran down her cheeks.
McGonagall withdrew a handkerchief from her pocket as well, "Nothing bad will happen to anyone. Dumbledore and those in charge of the tournament are in agreement with the merpeople to let nothing happen to the champions or those they have to save."
Peri nodded, drying her eyes as McGonagall left her standing there. She closed her eyes and then reopened them to make her way back to her dorm.
The following, morning Hallie was with Peri fitting her into her sleek, white, and black swimsuit while the cut came low to show off a bit of cleavage. Peri stared out the window of her dorm room, out in the Black Lake.
"Nervous?" Hallie asked as she put up her needle and thread.
Peri looked at her, "Did Fred mention seeing George this morning?"
She shook her head, "No, he said George never came back to their dorm last night after he went to go see McGonagall."
Peri shut her eyes, trying to hold back tears, "I should go. Are we done?"
"Not quite I still need to do your makeup and hair," Hallie approached her sister from behind; placing an arm around her to guide her to the vanity. She gently eased her into the black wood-stained chair with plush velvet seating, "I much prefer Ravenclaw Tower, despite the walk. It is dreadful in heels, but the common room is beautiful and the view is outstanding."
Peri simply nodded as she looked at her hands, "No one told you to wear heels to school."
"No, but they are very stylish and cute. Plus, I have a closet back home full of designer shoes: no-naj and wizarding designers. I do love my Louis Vuitton shoes," she looked down at her black pumps. They looked like they could easily pass for a simple cheap shoe but Hallie never did anything cheap. "But these are simply Madam Rosemund's."
"You should simply start a line of clothes yourself, I am sure the upper-class wizarding society would love to have one of your designs."
"Perhaps one day, I am content in this life I have now. I have Fred who is the sweetest boyfriend I could ever want plus he is super hot which makes everything better."
Peri gave a small snicker, "He does love you."
"He does," she smiled softly brushing Peri's hair, "I used to want fame and fortune in life. Marry a prince or at least of standards to match my own, but I have my sweet Freddie. I would not change him for anything…you do that for Holly, you protect her. You take the pain she would face from the world for being with him. You take the pain he would face for having her. You give up George to protect them both, I'm sorry they can't understand this."
She looked up from her hands to look at her through the mirror, "I would rather be with George in a loving relationship…I think he loves me. I don't know if he does. I want him more than Draco. Draco is nice and he is not bad looking either, but I don't want a romantic relationship with him. Friendship I would not mind, but not a romantic one."
Hallie nodded finishing Peri's hair and leaving it with a dusting of sparkle, "This is enchanted sparkle it will help ward off the dangerous creatures lurking in the water. This includes the merpeople you may find."
"Thank you. That will help me a lot."
Hallie came around to face her and began to do her makeup, "You're welcome. Just because Holly is barely speaking to you, that does not mean any of us want you to die."
"Well, I appreciate it anyway even if sparkles and glitter are more you than me."
She giggled softly, "Perhaps, but we can also spot you if we shine a light on you if we have to go searching for you. Another reason why you are in half black half white…think yin and yang, you will be easier to spot with white in the darkness of the lake."
"And people say you are not smart."
"As Fred says 'I've always felt my future lay outside the world of academic achievement' and I could not agree more. I do not to be successful with a Hogwarts diploma. I can make a name of my own without one. Harry did."
"Harry lost his parents and survived the killing curse. That is how he made a name for himself without a degree."
Hallie rolled her eyes as she finished Peri's makeup, "Fine then yourself. You might have a famous stepfather and a mother who became well-known for a scandal for having you, but you had your name become known for the tournament."
"A tournament I did not even want to compete in," she shook her head, "We should go. Thank you again, the outfit and the makeup are perfect as well as the hair."
"A job is never a job if you love what you do and I love design and fashion."
Peri stood up giving her a hug and the two left and began to make their way to meet the boats by the lake.
"Peri? Have you seen George?" Fred asked scanning the crowd of people for his brother.
She shook her head avoiding eye contact with him as she pulled her cloak around her, "Sorry I haven't. Excuse me…" she walked away from him approaching Harry, "Harry?"
He stopped when he heard his name and turned to her, "Hey Peri…what's wrong? You do not look well."
"Just nerves, but be careful. Watch out for the merpeople, they are not kind to strangers amongst them."
He nodded, "Thank you. I will try to remember that…did you ever figure out what to use to help you breathe?" he asked as they continued walking.
"Gillyweed."
He looked at her surprised, "Really? Me too."
"Neville said. We broke into Snape's ingredient cupboard together."
"You stole from Snape…I know he's your dad, but still."
They reached the boats and he got in first before offering her a hand where a camera flashed behind them. The two groaned ignoring her, "He won't mind. He caught me anyway, but Neville got away."
"That's good for both of you then," he then began searching the crowds of people getting in the boats and heading for them, "Have you seen Ron or Hermione? George is missing, too. And Malfoy…where is everyone?"
"We will find them soon I am positive."
He nodded as their boat took off for the platform out in the middle of the Black Lake. They got out and he separated from her going off with Neville and Mad Eye as she rejoined her sisters and parents, "Hallie you couldn't even of tried to not show off her entire body?" Cassie asked as Peri removed her cloak and handed it off to Mallory.
"She looks amazing and will survive. It is enchanted to keep her body temperature normal."
She nodded then looked out at the darkness of the lake, "Are you ready?" she asked not even looking at her daughter.
"I believe so, Mom. I got everything I need. My wand and some gillyweed."
"Good. Good. You remember how to swim?"
Peri nodded, "We grew up on the beach, of course I know how. We only left last summer."
"I know, but I am your mother I have to worry…and please be sure to save your object."
"I will."
"Peri," Ludo Bagman called over to her.
She looked away from her family to see the other champions, Bagman, and Percy Weasley at the judges' table, "Excuse me."
She approached the table, "Where have you been?" Percy asked in a bossy, disapproving voice, "The task is about to begin!"
"Now, now, Percy!" Bagman said, "She was with her family. I am sure they were wishing her luck, we can delay the task by a few minutes to allow the champion's families, if they are here, to wish them luck."
Bagman gave Harry's shoulder a quick squeeze then stood tall and pointed his wand at his throat, "Sonorus!" His voice boomed across the dark water and amongst the stands.
"Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle. 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. Peri kicked off her shoes and took the gillyweed out of the pockets that had been stitched into her swimsuit. She shoved the gillyweed into her mouth, it tasted awful she felt she may throw up but she swallowed it remembering she had to save Draco and George.
She looked back at the crowd as she heard her name throughout the cheers, "Peri! Peri! Peri!"
She turned to look at Harry, "Together," they said and jumped in at the same time.
The suit instantly began to work its enchantment by making her feel a comfortable warmth, but suddenly she felt as though an invisible pillow was being placed over her mouth and nose. She tried to take in a breath and scream to Harry for help, but he seemed to be having the same issue. Her head felt like it was spinning; her lungs were empty, and suddenly there was a piercing pain in both sides of her neck.
They clapped their hands over their throats and she felt two large slits below her ears, flapping in the coldness of the lake…she had gills. Looking at Harry, she found that so did she.
"Gills!" they mouthed.
Harry became overcome with excitement he swam up to the top and did a flip in the air before splashing down near her again. She repeated his same movement to show her family and friends she was alive, the crowd roared with cheers as she dove under the water once again.
She took a deep breath of the icy water which felt like a new breath of life. She felt as if she were herself again. Her gills had a slightly green look to them, she stretched her hands out to see that they were webbed along with her feet.
There was a tap on her shoulder, it was Harry informing her to come on.
She gave a nod and two swam off together to find Draco and George, and whoever had been taken of Harry. It was surely Ron or Hermione, if not both.
Together they entered a patch meadow of two-feet-deep seaweed, she was finding no danger in sight but had her wand in case. She felt a presence watching her movements but it was keeping its distance whatever it was. Suddenly she felt the water change, she turned around to see something grabbing Harry by the ankle.
His body was twisting around, she was able to get a look at the creature. It was a grindylow, a small, horned water demon, poking out of the weed, its long fingers clutched tightly around his leg, its pointed fangs bared into his webbed hand. She lifted her wand to cast a spell at the grindlyow attacking him as two more appeared attempting to pull him down by his swimsuit.
"Relashio!" they both shouted, except neither one of them had a sound come out. A large bubble issued from their mouths as their wands sent sparks flying at the grindylows. Harry pulled himself free and swam quickly to Peri.
"You ok?" she mouthed and he gave a nod and then continued.
"How are you two getting on?"
Myrtle?
They whipped around and found her floating hazily in front of them, gazing at them through her glasses.
"Myrtle!" They tried to count but once again no words, this made her laugh.
"You want to try over there!" she pointed in the direction they needed to go, "I will not go with you, they do not like me and I do not like them. They always chase me when I get too close."
Harry gave her a thumbs-up showing their appreciation and they set off once more, careful to swim above the seaweed and being aware of any other creatures lurking around them.
They swam for what felt like ages. They were passing over vast expanses are black mud, which was swirling from being disturbed. Someone had to have been through the area recently. The song kept replaying in her mind as she looked at her watch, time was running out. She had two people she cared for to save. This made her begin to swim faster, Harry was keeping up with her as he was worried about the time, too.
She suddenly heard a snippet of that haunting song, unsure if it was in her mind or real.
"An hour-long you'' have to look
And recover what we took…"
They soon came upon a large rock that emerged from the muddy water. It had paintings of merpeople on it; they had spears and were chasing the giant squid that lived within the lake. The song continued, this time she knew it was in the real world not her brain.
"...your time's half gone, so tarry
not Lest what you seek stays here to
rot…"
Draco.
George.
She had to save them both, she wouldn't leave one behind.
They came upon a whole crowd of merpeople in front of what appeared to be their homes that were lined up like a village. A chair of merpeople was singing in the middle calling the champions towards them, and behind them rose a crude sort of statue; a gigantic merperson hewed from a boulder. Six people were bound tightly to the tail of the stone merperson.
Ron was tied between Hermione and Cho. There was also a girl who looked no more than eight, who looked like a child version of Fleur surely this was her person to save. And there next to the child were George and Draco, she quickly reached them as Harry went to Ron and Hermione.
"George," she went to him first, "Georgie!"
No response. He was in a deep sleep.
She moved to Draco, "Draco…Draco…" she pushed his hair from hanging in his face.
Looking around there were many merpeople around them with spears. She watched Harry swim quickly toward a seven-foot-tall merman with a long green beard and a choker of shark fangs. He attempted to mime a request to borrow the spear. The merman laughed and shook his head.
"We do not help. You and the champions save without help from us," he spoke in a harsh, croaky voice.
"Come ON!" Harry said fiercely as he tried to take the spear anyway, but it was snatched from him with a laugh.
Harry found two rocks and handed one to Peri then tapped his watch. She accepted the rock and thanked him as he went to free Ron first. She looked at George and Draco, who to rescue first.
Ron was saved before she even decided. Harry searched the area, there were no other champions in sight. He began to work on saving Hermione, but the merpeople instantly came to attack, "You take your hostage," one of them said with a spear pointed at his throat, "Leave the others."
He shook his head furiously.
"Your task is to retrieve your friend…leave the others."
Peri looked at Draco and George again, sucking in a breath she chose Draco first. He floated there unconscious for a moment before she pushed him up and he rose to the surface. She looked at George and began to start on him when part of the merpeople left Harry coming to her, "Choose one! Save only your friend!"
"Draco is my boyfriend! And so is George!" she yelled at them, but only a bubble came out. "There are five champions, not six champions. There are six bodies down here, release George. He should not be counted…"
Suddenly Cedric showed up, "Got lost," he mouthed looking panic-stricken, "Fleur and Krum are coming now!"
He withdrew a knife and cut Cho free then pulled her away to the surface.
Harry and Peri exchanged looks then searched the darkness for Fleur and Krum. They were nowhere in sight.
The merpeople were becoming excited as time drew closer to an end.
Suddenly the merpeople released their grip on Harry as Krum arrive, he had transfigured himself into a shark. He swooped in and bit the ropes around Hermione before disappearing to the surface just as quickly as he appeared. This left Fleur's sister and George to be saved.
The two looked at each other once more, "Get out of the way!" he yelled as he pointed his wand at all of them. Peri held her wand up as well to help him.
"One…" Only bubbles came out of their mouths, "Two…"
They instantly began to scatter and they returned to trying to save the remaining two. It was slow, but she managed to save George first. She pushed him up to the surface and then looked at Harry who motioned her to go on as he continued to save Fleur's sister. She gave a nod and swam up to the surface.
The crowd erupted into cheers as she reached the surface with George coughing next to her, she looked at him. "Peri?" That was all he said. She said nothing and swam to the platform where the crowd was.
She was pulled up by Richard and Bagman while Fred and Lee helped George instantly wrapping him in a towel. She had one thrown around her, too.
"Peri!" Draco rushed over to her through the crowd and kissed her.
She was stunned by the sudden emotion, but she had just saved his life. She returned the kiss knowing Rita was nearby with a camera. Sure enough, a flash of a camera sounded as he pulled away.
"You saved me."
"Of course. You are my…" she looked at George who looked between angry and upset then disappeared into the crowd with Fred and Holly. She sighed looking back at Draco, "You are my boyfriend."
He kissed her cheek as Harry erupted out of the water with Fleur's sister. More cheers sounded. Everyone was already on their feet when Peri came up with the fifth person to recover, but now a sixth person had been rescued from the water.
Fleur began making a fuss over Harry and Ron for saving her sister as Madam Pomfrey approached her and Draco, "How are you both?"
"My father will hear about this? Giving me a potion to sleep overnight underwater in the Black Lake. That is dangerous and risking my girlfriend's life. The ministry will be hearing from my father."
Madam Pomfrey gave an exasperated sigh, "And you Peri?"
She gave a nod, "I'm fine. I stayed warm thanks to my sister, Hallie's, designs."
"Ms. King, you were down there a long time with Mr. Potter. Are you sure you are alright?"
"Yes. I was trying to save two people, not one. There were six people in that water, not five. Fleur was unable to complete her rescue therefore Harry did and I was saving my boyfriend and…friend."
Madam Pomfrey gave a small nod and then moved on.
"You used up all your time trying to save Weasley?" Draco asked her in a whisper.
"I saved you first, remember that. I had to choose because I did not know if I would be able to save both I chose you not him," she informed him sternly.
Bagman's voice then erupted over the crowd as Draco wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm more. His voice made everyone jump and everything grew silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our decision. Merchieftainess Murcus has told us exactly what happened at the bottom of the lake and we, therefore, decided to award marks out of fifty to each of the champions, as follows…"
"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 twenty-five points"
Applause sounded from the crowd around them.
"Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was the first to return with his hostage, though he returned one minute outside the time limit of an hour." Cheers erupted from the Hufflepuffs and Cho gave Cedric a glowing look. "We, therefore, award him forty-seven points."
"Peri King and Harry Potter both used gillyweed to excellent effect," Bagman continued, "Ms. King returned second to last and well outside the time limit of an hour, while Mr. Potter returned last as well outside the time limit. However, Merchieftainess informs us Ms. King reached the hostages at the same time as Mr. Potter. Making them the first ones to reach the hostages. They were delayed due to Mr. Potter saving Ms. Delacour's sister while Ms. King saved a hostage who never should have been in the water, to begin with. There was a mistake in selecting her hostage and two ended up in the water for her. We award them both forty-five points."
Draco looked at her, "You are in second place!"
"With Harry and we still have Viktor."
"Does not matter. You did it!"
Viktor was awarded third place.
Cheers sounded again as those around her congratulated her.
"The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June," Bagman continued, "The champions will be notified of what is coming precisely a month beforehand. Thank you all for your support of the champions."
The task was done, but she needed to find George.
They returned to land and began to make their way to the castle, "I need a hot bath after that…or a drink."
Draco laughed, "Both?"
"Even better."
The two laughed as she found Fred, George, and Hallie near a tree, "Excuse me."
Draco followed her gaze, "I will see you in the common room."
She nodded and went to the trio, "Hallie, dear how about we go back to Gryffindor common room and celebrate Harry?" Fred suggested.
Hallie looked at Peri and then him, "Much better than hanging around them. If I wanted drama I would read a book or turn on a no-maj show."
Fred laughed as they left.
"I'm sorry…" Peri started.
"I'm done."
That was all George said.
"I refuse to continue this life anymore Peri. Either you are with me or you are not. Choose? I had my life risked because they know you love me…if you can say it."
"I can't," she began to tear up."
"Eight letters. Three words It is all I ask of you. Tell me you want me not him."
She shook her head, "I can't."
"We are done."
He pushed passed her leaving her in tears.