Chapter seventeen - The Second Task
The next morning Gina went to breakfast early, unable to sleep any longer. It was the day of the second task. She was feeling pleasantly nervous when she entered the Great Hall. It was still early and there were only two other students. She sat down for tea and toast.
Gina was feeling a little grumpy by the time everyone had finished breakfast. Rita Skeeter had written a whole article about her and her family again, and had apparently thought it was a good idea to publish it on the morning of the second task. Gina wouldn't have minded so much if the story hadn't been filled with lies and inaccuracies. Especially the stuff about her little nephew Felipe made her shake with anger. It wasn't the first time a paper wrote he was faking his intellectual disability to get out from under the throne. And that Gina had been prepared by her family to become queen from the age of five was ridiculous.
'Forget about it,' Jonne said firmly. He hadn't wanted her to hear about the article at all, but to his and Gina's dismay José had read it to her, until señor Gonzalez had bustled over and jerked the paper out of his hands, snapping in Spanish not to upset Gina right before the second task.
Again, professor McGonagall brought them to the changing rooms of the Quidditch stadium after breakfast. Apparently the Quidditch pitch would be the stage for the second task too. Gina wondered what it would look like. Only yesterday is had still been a smooth Quidditch pitch.
Gina sat down on a bench next to Jonne, who was looking way too relaxed, Gina thought.
'Did you smoke weed or something?' she whispered to him when everyone sat down and professor McGonagall welcomed mister Bagman and mister Griffiths and mister Featherswallow from the Ministry of Magic. Gina noticed another, strict looking wizard standing with mister Griffiths and mister Featherswallow, who had not been present at the first task.
'What? No,' Jonne laughed. 'I'm just relaxed. Going with the flow. I'm not getting worked up about it. Won't help my chances anyway.' Gina rolled her eyes at him.
Bagman kept his talk short. Beaming at them, he merely said they needed to get to the finish line without apparating -which is not possible on the Hogwarts grounds-, the use of a broomstick or any other means of flying. 'The faster you got there, the more points you will receive,' he concluded.
They had to take numbers out of a bag this time. Gina took a number 1 out of the bag, with which she was quite glad. It meant she wouldn't have to wait so long. Gabriela, who had taken an 8, was again last. Her lips were tight and she was looking a little green. Gina tried to give her an encouraging smile but she didn't think Gabriela saw.
Sitting with the other champions, most of them were muttering spells and enchantments under their breath, Gina heard Bagman booming voice outside, magically amplified, welcoming the crowd and telling them the second task would start shortly. In what felt like no time, professor McGonagall came back to the tent and gestured to Gina it was time. Jonne gave her a quick hug and Gina smiled encouragingly at Jill, who was even greener than Gabriela. Gina followed professor McGonagall and mister Griffiths, who to her surprise preceded her outside. They stopped at the entrance at the entrance of one of the raised stands.
'All the way up miss Aldaya,' mister Griffiths said. 'Mister Bagman will give you the start sign.'
'Good luck,' said professor McGonagall.
'Thank you,' said Gina.
She started climbing the stairs, which was a long climb. It had to be at least thirty feet high. When she finally reached the top, her legs burning, she saw the rows of empty seats, but where there used to be a railing, there was a new, very small platform. Gina swallowed. She walked over the platform and stared at the sight in front of her. It was very high. Ignoring the cheering and screaming crowd, who were seated in the other raised stands, she pulled out her wand and quickly scanned the pitch, although it looked nothing like a pitch anymore. She saw a lot of rope, multiple erected wooden towers, a little lake and if she wasn't mistaken a swarm of Swooping Evil's. Gina swallowed and quickly glanced down the platform on which she was standing, making lot of people in the crowd scream. She saw a rope hanging just below the platform. Obviously she was supposed to make her way down first. She wondered for a fleeting moment how champions with fear of heights were going to manage this task, but Bagman didn't give her any more time to look around.
'First is miss Aldaya from Promodores School of Magic!' Bagman roared. 'Three, two, one... Go!'
Gina casts a protective charm on her hands and put her wand between her teeth, sat down on the platform and lowered herself a second later, hanging by her fingers on the small platform. She grabbed the rope underneath and started sliding down, her charm preventing her hands from getting hurt by the fraction. Looking down, she saw she was sliding down at a breakneck speed to the middle of a murky lake. Not listening to what Bagman was shouting, she got her wand out from between her teeth and preformed a freezing charm, praying it would be strong enough. It worked. Before she reached the bottom, a circle of ice appeared in the middle of the lake, expanding with the sound of crackling ice. She felt very relieved it hold her and she didn't smash through when she crashed into it.
When she ran across the ice in the direction of the huge slope that was the next obstacle, Gina used the time running to consider the two options that came to her mind. The slope was too steep and smooth to walk on, she would slide down. She could turn back and cut down a piece of the rope she had just slide down from, or she could take a chance with a sticking charm. She drew a path with her wand.
'Lentum Fortis!' Gina yelled. She felt her feet stick to the slope as she ran, and taking a sprint, she managed to grab the edge with her hands. Instead of pulling herself up by her arms, which was very heavy, she saved energy by pushing up with her legs. One by one she hooked her legs over the edge to and she sat up. She heard the crowd cheer and Bagman yell 'Look at her go!'
Meanwhile, Gina was looking around. The only way forward was over a abyss, which by the looks of it stood full of thorny shrubs. Taking the rope had been a wise choice after all. Thinking Bagman hadn't said anything about them not being allowed to do any damage to the course or the pitch, Gina pointed her wand at the raised stand were she had started the task. The students in the other raised stands clapped and jeered when wooden planks came loose from the structure with a deafening bang, zoomed over to her and formed a neat bridge in mid air, over the abyss. She ran over it quickly, grabbing the rope which was hanging on the other side. It came from a tall tower in the middle of the pitch, which she was obviously supposed to climb. Holding the end of the rope tightly and focussing on the platform in the small wooden tower high above her, where it was attached to, she yelled 'Accio!' Gina was pulled forwards and up, higher and higher, and she managed to grab the rope at three-quarter-length. She pulled herself up the last few feet. Panting, she ran to the opposite side of the tower platform. Looking down, she saw the finish line, a white ribbon leading the way outside the pitch and into the grounds.
Without hesitation, she jumped. She heard people scream when she fell down. At the last moment, she murmured 'Arresto Momentum' which made her float inches above the ground, hoovering.
'Òh! She got guts, this one!' Ludo Bagman roared. Gina was already past the finish line. She had barely time to wonder where the swarm of Swooping Evil had supposed to come in the picture when señor Gonzalez came out of nowhere, beaming at her and clapping her on the shoulder.
'Well done Gina! Well done!'
Behind him she could see madame Pomfrey, the matron, mister Griffiths and mister Featherswallow and their strict looking companion, madame Maxime, professor Dumbledore, professor Flitwick, Hagrid the gamekeeper and, she saw with a jolt, professor Snape. Their eyes met for a second and she quickly looked away. She could barely hear señor Gonzalez over the deafening applause and cheering from the crowd. She grinned at him.
'Are you in any way injured or hurt, miss Aldaya?' madame Pomfrey asked, bustling over to her. Hagrid and professor Flitwick had hurried forward too, casting spells to keep the Swooping Evil's at bay, who had apparently been chasing after Gina.
'I don't think anyone thought someone would finish the course thìs quickly!' she heard Bagman roar.
'No, I'm fine,' she said to Madame Pomfrey. 'I don't need anything.'
It was complete chaos. Bagman asked the jury to consult with each other, and with a laugh, asked the staff to fix the course for the next round. Severus gave her a look before he and professor McGonagall made their way onto the pitch. Gina couldn't help blush when he passed her. Luckily the jury, comprised of señor Gonzalez, professor Dumbledore, madame Maxime, Griffiths and Featherswallow were having a whispered discussion. Gina knew they had to decide if she got any points taken for breaking any rules. They were done quickly and gestured to Bagman, who was standing on an erected podium, that no points would be taking from Gina.
'Well done,' señor Gonzalez said again very happily when he walked over to her. 'You will get your points after everyone is finished. Get out of the cold. Come.'
Gina followed him, smiling a little at his sudden kindness and care. She must really have done well to bring him in such a good mood.
'You completely skipped the Grindylo's,' Gonzalez said smugly.
'What Grindylows?' Gina asked surprised.
'Whàt Grindylo's?' Señor Gonzalez looked at her, stunned. 'You did not see them in z'e watèr?'
'I, uh- of course I did,' Gina said quickly.
By the time Gina had had a check up by madame Pomfrey, which Gina had stammered was not necessary, put on her thick winter cloak and a scarf and was brought to the raised stand were the champions could watch the others when they had finished the course, Jonathan Belby had just finished. By the sounds of it, he had took way longer than Gina to finish, and had sustained a bad injury by the Swooping Evil's. He didn't come to sit with her in the stands and she hoped he was alright.
Gina enjoyed watching the others, and with each champions, felt more certain she would be one of the four who would continue in the Tournament. Only Bill, Fleur and Lucian did well, and even they struggled. Her prayer that Lucian would be knocked off the rope by a Swooping Evil didn't seemed to have any results at least.
Just a mild injury would be nice, she thought gloomily when Lucian sped up the slope. Just enough to slow him down... She didn't want to kill him or anything. But she really wanted him to trip and fall on his face. She didn't want him to continue to the next tasks.
She watched Severus walk around on the pitch with professor McGonagall between each round, fixing the obstacle course where the champions had damaged or changed anything. He was an exceptionally talented wizard, Gina mused, having no trouble with the most difficult potions, transfiguration, healing spells, and -as rumour has it- advanced dark magic. He also was very observant, Gina had noticed. Staring at his dark appearance, she wondered if any of the rumours were true. She didn't like to think he had been involved with dark magic, even if it was years ago. Surely Dumbledore wouldn't have allowed him to teach at Hogwarts if he had. Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Jonne. Just like her, he had made quite a racket of the pitch, and she had been watching Severus fix the ropes Jonne had cut in at least seven places. She hurried over to Jonne and hugged him.
'You did amazing,' Gina said enthusiastically. Jonne had done really well, taking a little time to think each obstacle through before he acted but made his way through steadily, and unlike most champions, hadn't been held up at one or more spots, finishing in a very decent time.
'It was fun,' he said grinning. 'But honestly Gina. 'Vhàt Grindylo's?'. Everyone is saying it, he laughed,' seeing her face.
'I don't sound like that,' Gina said.
'It's señor Gonzalez you silly,' Jonne said, putting an arm around her and sitting down, pulling her next to him.
'He doesn't sound like that,' Gina said.
'He does. Vhàt Grindyló's?'
Gina burst out in laughter. 'Alright. He does,' she admitted. Most of the other champions had quite some trouble with the Grindylows, all being ambushed by them and taken by surprize by the horned water demons. Gina had been the only one to freeze the lake, although Bill had conjured a gang board. Gina had never seen a Grindylow, as it was native to Great Britain and Ireland, and was very glad she hadn't been ambushed by them in an ice cold lake.
'How did you do querida?' Jonne asked.
'It went really well,' Gina said happily.
'I wish I could have watched you,' Jonne said, squeezing her against him and planting a kiss on her hair.
They jeered and clapped for Gabriela when it was her turn, but she had a lot of bad luck, Gina thought sadly. An Swooping Evil flew into her when she was sliding down the first rope, startling her so much she fell, twenty feet down, unto the lake, where she was immediately jumped upon by the Grindylows. She recovered, but was off her game after that, and finished with a reasonable but not amazing time. Gina saw madame Pomfrey stand ready for her behind the finish line, and Gabriela, just like Jonathan, didn't come up to the stands.
Jill sniffed again and Gina gave her a squeeze. Jill hadn't done well. Taken by her fear of heights, she had taken a long time to descent from the starting platform. Honestly, seeing how scared she was, Gina thought Jill deserved a medal for descending at all. Although privately Gina thought Jill better had spared herself the fright and turned around. After lingering on the platform for so long, her chances of winning had already been almost non existent. Jill had been crying when she entered the stands after she had finished. She knew she was out of the running. Gina had hurried over to her and pulled her into a hug, and Jill had sniffed into her shoulder while they watched the rest. Sitting between her two sweet friends, watching Severus between the rounds, Gina felt very happy. She hoped Bagman would hurry up and tell them the scoring.
She didn't have to wait long. Ten minutes after Gabriela's turn, Bagman's booming voice rang out again.
'Ladies and gentleman, what a spectacle it has been! I would first like to ask you to give a big round of applause for the eight champions who have all completed the second task of the Triwizard Tournament!'
When Bagman started to call out the results, Gina returned Jonne's high five with a grin. She had received full marks, which left her with 99 points in total, and Bagman had told them the jury had to change the timetable and corresponding points, as no one had expected a champion to finish the course so quickly.
'Congratulations hon,' Jonne shouted in her ear over the roaring crowd. Gina felt elated and kissed him on the cheek.
Lucian Bole had done really well too, finishing second based on time, one and a half minute after Gina. He did get points taken for causing injury to two Grindylows, by using an -in Bagman's words- unnecessary amount of violence to get past them quickly. With his exceptional quick time finishing the obstacle course Bole jacked up the measly 19 points he had received in the first task up to a total of 67.
Gina groaned when Bagman called out Jonne's points. 66.
'You deserve more,' Gina said angrily over the applause.
'It's okay sweety,' Jonne said smiling at her indignation. 'I don't have to continue.'
When everyone's numbers had been listed, Bagman raised his voice to be audible over the enormous tumult coming from the raised stands, as all the students were yelling and screaming themselves hoarse.
'This concludes,' he said loudly. 'That we have our four champions who will continue to the third and fourth task. Gina Aldaya from Promodores School of Magic. Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. And Bill Weasley and Lucian Bole from Hogwarts School!'
Gabriela burst into tears. She had just entered the stands, being patched up by madame Pomfrey, and had received 65 points in total, leaving her sixth, only one point behind Jonne. Gina was bummed. If Jonne had received only òne more point he would had tied with Bole, two more points and he had gone though to the next part of the tournament. It would have been wonderful if Jonne had been the one to kick Bole out of the competition. Gina stood up and gave Bill an high five.
'You did very well,' Gina said, loudly to make herself heard over the noise. 'Congratulations!'
'Thanks Gina. And congratulations to you too of course. By the sounds of it you did amazing.' Bill said grinning widely. He leaned in and gave her a one armed hug. Gina gave Fleur a hand and, after a moments hesitation, walked over to Bole. She wanted to use the opportunity to talk to him in the open.
'We are really opponents now,' Bole said, looking down at her when Gina stopped in front of him.
'We already were,' Gina said coolly. 'Nice job. Especially sexually assaulting that Grindylow. I don't think she liked it though. Should get you thinking,' she added, a hard tone in her voice. Bole looked at her with a hard, steely look in his grey eyes which gave her the chills, but she didn't look away. 'Congratulations though,' Gina added. 'Maybe you can pick up girls now without harassing them.'
'You have made your point,' Bole hissed between gritted teeth, leaning over her meaningly.
'Good.' Gina gave him another long, hard look, than turned around and walked back to Jonne, Gabriela and Jill.
There was a surprize waiting for them in the Great Hall that evening at dinner. Instead of the four house tables, the space was filled with standing tables again, just like the night of the Triwizard Ball. Gina supposed it was suppose to encourage everyone to mingle, but she wouldn't have minded having a normal seated dinner. She was getting a lot of attention and compliments from everyone, having done so well in the two tasks and having an almost perfect score. She stood with Jonne and Jill, who was still very disappointed she didn't make it. Gina still wondered if Jill had an different reason for being so motivated with the Tournament and hoped she could talk to her in private that evening, but first she had to talk to the visitors at their standing table, which just kept coming. House-elves darted between the tables, carrying trays laden with food and drinks, which kept disappearing as quickly as a Diricawl spotting danger. Gina had seen Severus enter the Great Hall half an hour into dinner but had not seen him since.
When Gina came back from the bathroom Bagman waved enthusiastically at her to come over. When she walked over, she saw to her delight that Severus stood next to him.
'I wanted a word with the favourite,' Bagman said, his eyes twinkling. Even when he wasn't commentating his voice was booming. 'Your chances are looking very good, miss. I was just saying so to professor Snape here. Honestly,' he laughed hard. 'The way you went through the course, it looked like obstacle courses are a hobby of yours.'
Gina smiled. 'I do like them. They are great workouts.'
'You will like the next tasks too,' Bagman said genially. 'I can't tell you anything of course! But the Hogwarts champions will have to step up if we want to win, don't we?'
'Luckily you have two,' Gina said smiling. Bagman threw his head back and laughed.
'Funny too. I like that. It was a pleasure talking to you miss. But I just saw mister Tindale from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and I have a bone to pick with him on my nephews liquor license. Department of Intoxicating Substances is nitpicking as usual... Have a good evening, miss Aldaya, professor Snape.'
When he walked away, Gina glanced at Severus. He bore his black eyes into hers and it was like the music that was playing in the background and the people around them suddenly were mute.
'You can't blush when you see me,' he said in a voice so low and quietly she only just heard him.
'I-' She looked defiantly at him. 'I did ònce. I didn't expect to run into you just then.' She wondered if he was angry, but than she saw the corner of his mouth twitch.
'Someone had to fix the mess you made. You were the one who broke the most parts of the course,' he said with a slight sneer, his lip curling. 'Took us twice as long to fix your mess than the other seven combined.'
'Really,' Gina grinned. 'I thought it took by far the longest to heal that poor Grindylow yòur champion assaulted. I heard he had to be taken to madame Pomfrey. Severe emotional damage too.'
'Don't smile, Gina.'
Gina straightened her face.
'If you were a nicer person I could talk to you in public without needing to look like you just insulted me,' she pointed out quietly. She had trouble stopping her own mouth from twitching now.
'No insults. You did amazing actually,' he said sounding amused.
'Thank you,' Gina said in a husk voice. She quickly looked away from his intense gaze, not wanting to be seen by anyone staring in his eyes. She saw professor Dumbledore a few tables away, talking to madame Maxime and señor Gonzalez. She had the distinct feeling professor Dumbledore had looked at them a moment before, but she was feeling way too happy to worry. Deciding they had taken enough risk for one evening though, Gina turned around.
'One moment, miss Aldaya.'
She turned back. 'Yes?'
Severus bore his black eyes into hers again and she felt the feeling of electricity waver through her for the umpteenth time. He leaned over to her, under the pretence of putting his empty glass on the table, his voice a low growl. 'I want to take you against the wall again, long and hard. So be in my office by nine.'
'I-' Shocked he had said that, however quietly, in the middle of a room full of people, she felt her cheeks reddening and swallowed. He smirked and turned around. Gina quickly turned her back too and walked back to the table were Jonne and Jill were standing chatting to Bill. Jonne put an arm around her shoulder when she joined them.
'You smell like alcohol,' Gina said smiling. Her cheeks still burned and she waved some air towards her with her hand.
'I'm sure I do,' Jonne said, grinning. 'Might have spiked my Butterbeer.'
Gina snuffed the bottle he was holding. 'Whiskey?' Gina asked.
'Right in one. Good girl.' Jonne leaned over, stroking her hair to one side and caressing her neck with his nose. 'Want a sip?'
'Jonne,' she said warningly.
Jonne looked in her eyes with his innocent blue eyes, grinned and leaned in to kiss her neck. Gina ducked from under his arm and quickly began a conversation with Bill. She was suddenly desperate for dinner to be over and for it to be nine o clock... But when she interrupted Bill five minutes later, saying 'just one second!' and sped off following a house-elf carrying a tray with particular good looking cakes, she was surprised to find professor Dumbledore standing before her. When he saw what motivated her to cross between the standing tables he quickly grabbed a cake on a saucer from the tray on the top of the house-elf's head before it disappeared in the crowd.
'Looking for this?' he smiled, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. He handed her the cheesecake topped with blueberries. It really looked delicious.
'Um- Yes. Thank you sir,' Gina said feeling a little embarrassed.
'No need for that,' Dumbledore said kindly. 'The heart wants what the heart wants.'
'Right.' Gina smiled at him.
'I am glad I ran into you actually,' Dumbledore said. 'It's good what cakes can do sometimes. I have been meaning to ask you something.'
'Oh. Of course sir, anything,' Gina said surprised.
'I was wondering, Gina, if there is anything you would like to discuss with me. Anything that might be on your mind, bothering you?'
Gina gazed into his startling blue eyes.
'No, professor,' she said, even more surprised still.
'I want our guests to know that they can discuss everything, and they will be heard.'
'That's very kind, professor, thank you. I am very grateful for Hogwarts hospitality.' She smiled a genuine smile at him. 'I am very happy here, actually. I am so glad I got the opportunity.'
'I am glad to hear that.' He peered at her, than smiled. 'Well, you know where to find me, in case you ever do need anything. Enjoy your evening, Gina. And congratulations again on your splendid performance today.'
When Gina walked back to her friends, she saw señor Gonzalez watch her. Gina knew professor McGonagall had spoken to him about her night time wanderings last week, but he hadn't not mentioned it to her. She thought privately señor Gonzalez didn't mind her breaking curfew or sleep in Jonne's room every so often as long as she preformed well in the tournament. Holding her cheesecake happily, she pushed the thought of Headmasters out of her mind and decided to enjoy the remainder of the party, until she could, at nine, finally meet with Severus again.