The next morning found Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur in Cedric's room discussing how to attack the Second Task.

"So," piped up Cedric, "We need to be able to breathe underwater for an hour."

"I remember that we agreed that we will each take a different approach, " Harry reminded him.

"Yes," said Cedric seriously, "Let's each play to our strengths. Harry, what is your strength?"

"The only things I'm really good at are Flying, Quidditch, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, none of which are very useful for this task, " admitted Harry.

"I'll come back to you then," said Cedric simply, "Viktor?"

"I was thinking of transfiguring myself into a shark. Sharks can breathe underwater, " replied Viktor.

"That's not a good idea," said Cedric seriously, "If done improperly, and especially if done incompletely, human to animal transfiguration is extremely dangerous. If anything, an attempt to temporarily transform into an animal can be more dangerous than trying to become an animagi and that's saying something. "

"I'll give it some more thought," said Viktor uncertainly. "

"There are magical creature costumes that you can buy and wear that give you the properties of those creatures while you're wearing them. There are shark costumes that give you the ability to breathe underwater, " explained Cedric.

"That would be perfect," said Viktor happily, "I'll look into seeing if I can find such a costume."

"Fleur?" Cedric asked, "Any ideas?"

"My best subject is Charms so I'm going to use the Bubble Head Charm," said Fleur confidently.

"I'll have you perform the Bubble Head Charm several times before the Second Task to be sure you can do it," promised Cedric.

"That's smart," agreed Fleur, "Let's have all our ducks in order before the day of the Second Task arrives."

"Exactly," said Cedric in a businesslike voice, "I'm a prodigy at Transfiguration so I plan on temporarily transforming a path in the Black Lake from water to land. I know it sounds highly ambitious. However, I'm going to practice some magic over the next few weeks and if it becomes clear I can't do, I'll go to plan B."

"So," interjected Harry, "It's good that we're crossing our Is and dotting our Ts before the Second Task. I'm still not sure about my plan though."

Cedric decided to give Harry a bit of a prod.

"Neither Viktor, nor Fleur, nor I plan to use magical plants to help us breathe underwater so that's a strategy still available to you," declared Cedric.

A minute and a nanosecond of silence followed this declaration.

Suddenly, Harry burst out, "I've just remembered! Gillyweed."

"Yes," nodded Cedric happily, "That's the direction I was trying to push your brain in. Gillyweed will allow the eater to breathe underwater for an hour. I'm curious about something."

"What?" asked Harry simply.

"Did Hermione tell you about Gillyweed?" wondered Cedric.

"It was actually Neville," said Harry matter of factly.

Cedric looked very surprised.

"Herbology has always been Neville's best and favorite subject. He's an O student in that discipline and always has been," revealed Harry.

"I didn't know that, " admitted Cedric, "You have become closer with Neville since the First Task then?"

"Yes," said Harry warmly, "Hermione is my bestie, but I'd say Neville is now my second best friend amongst Gryffindors in my own year. Unlike Ron, Neville believed me without questioning me that I hadn't put my name in the Goblet of Fire, just like Hermione did and that counts for a lot with me."

"You're never going to forgive Ron, are you Harry?" realized Cedric.

"I don't forgive traitors and I don't need fair weather friends. Ron PROVED that he is a disloyal fair weather friend who doesn't deserve my friendship by not sticking by me one thousand percent after my name came out of the Goblet of Fire. I gave Ron three plus years of friendship and what he gave me in return was a lack of belief in me, a lack of faith in me, and a lack of trust in me with some jealousy of my fame and attention mixed in. Ron took my friendship for granted and lost it because he took me for granted. Hermione is my bestie now. People like Luna, Neville, Fred, George, and Ginny have also elevated their friendship statuses with me by trusting me and believing me after my name came out of the Goblet of Fire. None of them have the slightest bit of jealousy of me either," said Harry clearly.

"it's A Very Good Thing that you have standards," Cedric told Harry, "You can't just stay friends with people who walk all over you or whose loyalty waivers. To do so would be toxic."

"Exactly," said Harry bluntly, "So, we've all decided on how we plan to attack the Second Task and we'll do some practicing before the Second Task to get our feet wet."

"We won't start practicing until after Christmas, " said Cedric cheerfully, "We're still going to take some time to enjoy our holidays. I think you'll all enjoy a Diggory Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!"

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