They stood on a wooden platform, looking past the edge to the shimmering water beyond. It already looked freezing, the sort of cold Harry could feel in his bones, and he hadn't even touched it yet. They'd practised warming charms the night before, realising rather belatedly that the temperature would be a factor, though he wasn't sure that any such attempts would be able to fend off the effects of the icy domain. Harry could sense Hermione shivering beside him and he placed a hand on the small of her back, hoping it would provide some level of comfort. She gave him a weak smile at least.
They weren't alone on the platform. They were joined by the other competitors, looking just as grimly at the location of the next task as they were. Their fellow Champions were also dressed in appropriate fashion for what lay ahead, telling them that they'd figured out the clue too. Harry idly wondered how long they had known and whether they had worked out some sort of advantage. He was also curious about what they must have been thinking about their own appearance. He and Hermione, with no other option, had gratefully chosen to use the underwater gear Matthew had provided. As much as magical attire was absurd at the best of times, he reckoned they must have cut a peculiar sight.
Some of the judges, on the dais along with them, had given them queer looks as they'd arrived. Karkaroff and Maxime had worn frowns when they'd appeared, evidently confused by their apparatus. Dumbledore had simply nodded his head, making Harry wonder whether he knew about Muggle deep sea diving. It wouldn't have surprised him. The Ministry electives appeared just as interested. Bagman had been particularly eager to ask them questions about how they felt about their chances in succeeding…or, in Hermione's case, simply finishing the task this time. Crouch, on the other hand, had kept his distance, choosing to simply stare at them with that unreadable expression he always wore.
"I'm worried," Hermione said, cutting the tension that had slowly crept up on them.
"I think it'd be weird if you weren't," Harry replied. "I've got to find out whether I can actually swim properly. I'll just kick my legs and hope for the best."
"It's not just that. We haven't seen Matthew since last night. Where is he? Surely he wouldn't miss the start of the task." She pictured him turning up, fully bedecked in supportive gear with their faces painted on, like an over eager quidditch fan. There was no such disturbance in the crowd around them, no comforting face to keep her grounded and calm.
Harry looked at her sympathetically, understanding where the nerves were coming from. "You know what he's like. He disappears all the time. He did the same yesterday when he went to get this equipment for us. For all we know, he's just in the Tardis on standby, waiting to swoop in and save the day if he needs to."
"This is different. What if…" She pointed at the water anxiously. "...he's down there? We did hypothesise that they could take people instead of objects. What if they've trapped him down there and it's up to us…up to me…to save him? He's relying on me."
"Then he's in safe hands," Harry assured her. "I know there's no one else's hands I'd rather put my life in. And we're jumping to conclusions. We can't panic about something that hasn't happened yet, otherwise there's no chance of us getting through this unscathed." He idly thought about who would be there for him if their theories were correct. He looked back to the crowd, spotting Lupin nearby, who gave him a small nod of the head in reassurance. The professor was standing next to Moody, who somehow looked more on edge than he usually did, probably because the task would be the best chance for someone to attack. "But…now you mention it…I can't see Sirius anywhere. He told me there would be nothing that could stop him watching me. They wouldn't have kidnapped him…would they?"
"I think we're going to find out very shortly." Hermione's voice wavered.
In the background, they could hear someone talking, the rules getting explained. Harry's heart was thundering now as it clicked that he could be tasked with saving the life of the only family he had left. That wasn't the sort of pressure he'd expected to be dealing with today. Just getting through the task would be difficult enough. He could picture Sirius helplessly trying to escape the watery clutches, desperately looking for Harry for help. What if Harry didn't arrive in time? What if he didn't make it all? He couldn't lose him forever. That wasn't fair, not when they'd just been reunited.
There was a splashing sound off to one side and he was shocked to find that the other Champions had already jumped into the water. It seemed that, in his panicked daze, he'd stopped listening to the announcer and had completely missed the countdown. Hermione had sorted out her mask, placing it over her face, and she made sure to give him a little nudge, making him speed up. One hour. That's all they had. He wanted to wish his friend good luck but she was already hurtling towards the lake, driven now by her desire to find Matthew. It wasn't long before he was throwing himself in too, equally as desperate to complete the task now a life could be on the line.
The water wasn't as cold as he'd been anticipating, thanks to the rubbery suit covering the entirety of his body and the heating charm that was just about making its presence known. It took him a few moments to orientate himself once submerged, finding it difficult just to open his eyes. He fully expected the water to sting them, and yet the mask was doing its job. He could see, which allowed him to watch the retreating forms of the other competitors as they swam deeper into the lake. Harry gripped his wand tightly (he'd even attached an impromptu strap to the end so that there was less chance of him losing it) as he decided to follow them in the same direction.
His surroundings were murky. As much as the water glistened on the surface, the rocks and the dirt kicking up as he waded by turned it into something much cloudier. He ploughed on regardless, doing his best to see through the gloom. He wanted to keep Hermione in his sights, constantly checking to see if she was still safe. Threats could hide all around them with how dark it was, without having to find actual places to obscure themselves. Harry was sure that a creature could be right beside him and he wouldn't know until it was too late.
Obstacles would only appear in his eyeline once he was less than ten feet away, meaning that his surroundings could change in an instant. One moment, he would be surfing over smooth, dull rock, only to have tall weeds trying to entangle themselves around him the next. Up ahead, he could just make out what looked like a forest of weeds, all clumped together. He was sure that Hermione had ventured near there but it was gloomier the further they travelled.
Movement caught his attention through the vines, a shape twisting and writhing up ahead. Harry picked up his speed, forcing his arms to cut through the water. The oxygen tank was heavy and weighed him down, slowing his progress. As he reached the collection of weeds, he discovered that it was Hermione who was struggling, having ventured too near to the plant life. Grindylows, horrid demons of the water, were clinging onto her legs, punishing her for entering their home. He watched as she was able to get one away with an unspoken spell, only for three more to take its place. It was only when Harry got close enough to help, attracting his own contingent of the ugly creatures, that he was in the position to help. He wasn't able to say any of the spells he wanted to, thanks to the breathing tube covering his mouth, but jets of hot water shot from his wand all the same, scaring the Grindylows away.
Despite having the mask over her face, Hermione still managed to give him a sheepish look, as if this was a reminder of why she shouldn't have charged headfirst into the challenge. Perhaps she had been blinded by her need to save their friend. Whatever the cause, they silently chose to stick together from that point, swimming above the weeds so as not to attract any further unwanted attention. Although they couldn't talk (what would they speak about anyway?), it was just comforting to be in one another's presence. In such a strange world, it was pleasant to have that slice of normality beside them.
Harry's limbs were growing tired and he contemplated taking a break. If he had to fight off any more creatures, he would require as much energy as he could preserve. Yet, just as he was thinking of that possibility, the distant echoes of music reached his ears. The same lyrics he'd heard from the egg, the same eerie melody. It spurred him on as he realised they must have been close. A large rock came into view, drawings etched into the surface of merpeople with snarling faces carrying weapons, and the singing grew louder still.
He was startled to find the crude village that suddenly loomed into view as they swam. The dwellings were small and basic, blocks of stone bound together with algae covering patches of the walls. Through the holes that constituted windows, faces could be seen staring back at them. Yellow eyes blinked rhythmically as they stared at the strange visitors, made all the more striking by their dull, grey skin. The Merpeople were much more hideous than the drawings Harry had seen, though he wasn't planning on saying that to their faces. He was wary enough as it was as some of them emerged from their homes, venturing into the open water to get a better look at them. Harry wondered whether they had any understanding of the equipment attached to them, or whether it made them look as odd as the merpeople did to them.
Hermione appeared to want to explore the signs of civilisation in much more detail, her eyes lighting up in fascination whenever something new was available to be learnt. And yet even the pursuit of knowledge wasn't enough to distract her from the sight beyond. More dwellings, circling a mighty statue of one of the creatures. It would have been magnificent on its own, but it was made all the more glorious by what was attached to it. Five figures floated in the water, clinging to the statue by weeds wrapped around their wrists and ankles. Harry spotted Matthew first, with Sirius separated from him by a young, blonde girl. Two other girls made up the contingent, one he recognised as Cho Chang, the other one he was sure he'd seen on the arm of Viktor Krum during the Yule Ball.
His friend surged forward, buoyed by the fact that they'd found their targets. Harry couldn't quite believe that the organisers had gone through with this idea, even if he'd resigned himself to the fact. How could they be willing to risk their lives so needlessly? Their eyes were closed, almost as if they were sleeping, partially explaining how they were surviving so long underwater. Who had placed the charm on them? Had it been done willingly? Harry glanced around, trying to see if the remaining Champions were nearby, trying to figure out how much time was left. What would happen to those who weren't saved?
There was a crowd of merpeople standing guard around the prisoners. Were they truly prisoners? If so, Harry was pleasantly surprised that they received no resistance as they moved closer. He'd half expected to be faced with the sharp ends of the spears they were holding, yet they were allowed to get as close as they wanted. Hermione clung onto Matthew's arm, which moved lifelessly under her touch. She tenderly raised a hand to his cheek, a burning ire growing in her chest for what those in charge had done to him. Harry checked over Sirius, watching as his long hair waved about through the water.
The vines binding them were thick and, with magic not really an option, they needed to find something sharp to cut them with. The possibility crossed Harry's mind of asking one of the guards for their spears but they gave him a dark look, as if they could tell what he was contemplating. Pulling at the weeds did very little, especially because the vegetation was slimy and difficult to grasp. He frantically looked around, always thinking about the ticking clock, his gaze landing on the ground far below. There were a pile of rocks there of varying shapes. It would be crude but hopefully effective.
Harry gestured his head in that direction to Hermione, who quickly understood what he was implying. The two of them swam away from the hostages, battling against the darkness of the water. Most of the rocks had been rounded by the current of the water but there were a few that were sharp enough to do the job. Even still, it took several strikes with them to finally tear through the vines, using up a lot of the energy that Harry had left remaining. But he felt it was all worth it when he saw Sirius float slightly upwards, free from his green chains. With Matthew bobbing up and down as well, they had the opportunity to get back to the surface, ending the task with barely a scratch.
Something stopped Harry. He looked around. Where were the other competitors? Why were they taking so long? Hermione seemed to be thinking along the same lines, for she was hesitant as well. Couldn't they at least give the other students a helping hand? They weren't in this to win anyway. All that mattered was that everyone survived. Harry took matters into his own hands, grasping the rock again as he aimed it at the vines clinging to Cho.
Almost immediately, one of the guards was pulling him back. "Only yours!" it hissed. "You only save yours!"
Harry wanted to argue but being underwater put that option to bed. He grimaced at the creature, trying to calculate whether he could free them without being noticed, or whether he could do it quickly enough so that they couldn't stop him. But what if it went against the rules and had him disqualified? Would he lose his magic? He'd been willing to suffer that fate at the start of the tournament, and that was just when his life had been on the line. Three people were potentially depending on him so the sacrifice would be worth it in his eyes.
He pointed towards the surface, Hermione following the gesture. He wildly flung his arms, doing his best to tell him to swim away, taking Matthew and Sirius with her. They were oddly light in their current state, meaning she should have been able to carry them with her. Judging from her facial expression, she looked as if she didn't want to leave him behind. Harry tapped his wrist as if there was a watch there, hoping she understood. He needed to wait for a bit, assessing whether the others were coming. He didn't need to risk Hermione to do that. After a few seconds of more silent debate that probably would have been rather funny from an outside perspective, she nodded her head, constituting one of the few times when she had allowed him to win.
Watching his friend glide away, Harry turned his attention back to his surroundings. He'd almost grown accustomed to the music now. He would likely hear it when he slept now it had been drummed into his skull. He thought about starting a conversation with the merpeople to pass the minutes, looking to use this unlikely meeting to his advantage. What would they talk about, even if it had been possible? Small talk was difficult. You couldn't exactly ask them about the weather because it didn't really change in these watery depths. But they grew excited for some reason, ruining any chance of a chat, pointing to a spot just behind him.
Cedric was swimming towards them, his head covered by a giant air bubble. Harry had to admit that it was probably a decent feat of magic, though it made him look just as silly as Harry must have done in his scuba suit. He headed straight for Cho, peering curiously at Harry, silently asking why he was still waiting there. He got a shrug of the shoulders in response, prompting him to get on with the job. Cedric pulled out a knife from his pockets, a dangerous thing to have on your person at any time, let alone when swimming in an unknown body of water. But it made his efforts go much more smoothly than what Harry and Hermione had been put through, with Cedric quickly able to drag the unconscious girl away.
Krum's arrival was much more bombastic. Harry ducked in fright as a human figure, wearing normal swimming trunks and bearing a lean chest, came towards him. That wasn't the scary thing. It was more to do with the giant shark's head that completed the look, as if Krum had tried to transfigure himself into an animal but had only succeeded halfway through. Harry wasn't given the chance to ask questions. With his new, razor-sharp teeth, he hacked through the vines wrapped around his date, making easy work of them. Well, if Harry had given himself the head of a shark, he probably would have done it just as quickly too. Not that it was a competition. Though it actually was.
More minutes ticked by without any sign of Fleur. Harry grew anxious, looking at the little girl who cut a remarkable likeness to his French opponent. Did he dare defy the Merpeople? He couldn't leave someone so young on their own. But then, through the weeds that had proved so dangerous during his attempts to get through, a figure emerged, attempting to close the distance between them. Fleur's movements were strange, only using one arm to propel herself. It seemed like she was struggling to kick her legs as well. A thin red trail was being left in her wake, mixing with the water.
Harry didn't have to think too long about it, choosing to swim towards her. They didn't have long left and her slow progress would likely put the stranded girl in jeopardy. When he reached her, she looked at him with questioning eyes, a bubble covering the lower half of her face much like Cedric. Her body was covered in scratches and deep gashes, a few Grindylows threatening to come after them. All Harry had to do was hold his wand out in warning and they retreated once more, fearful of a repeat performance.
By the time he reached the surface, he had two French girls clinging to both of his arms, his muscles straining to keep supporting them. He could hear the crowd cheering once he'd properly removed his mask, though he was more focused on the youngest of the two opening her eyes with tired blinks, slowly coming to her senses. Fleur flapped against the water, ignoring her injuries, to hug her sister closely, bringing Harry awkwardly into the embrace. He didn't have the heart to break it up.
Madam Pomfrey was quick to drag Fleur away once they were by the podium, Harry helping to push both girls out before he got a helping hand. Sirius beamed down at him, wrapped in a towel. Hermione and Matthew were off to one side, laughing about something. Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eye, though Harry didn't understand why. He'd come last in the end. He knew that it didn't matter but it just confused him why everyone seemed so…happy. It made a change. Most of the student populace had been taunting him since his name had come out of that infernal goblet.
"What took you so long?" Sirius barked, pulling him up onto the wooden decking.
Harry frowned. "I had to make sure that everyone was okay!"
"What are you talking about? They wouldn't have left us to drown down there! Do you really think I would have agreed to that?"
"Well…I didn't really…think about it like that. But you weren't down there! It felt…real!"
"You saved them!"
Harry looked up to see Margot had escaped from the barriers blocking the crowd, running over to them. He didn't have the energy to react as she jumped down to her knees, wrapping him in a hug. Sirius simply laughed, backing away. He knew when he wasn't supposed to interrupt.
"You saved them!" she echoed.
"I didn't have to in the end," Harry grumbled. "They were safe all along." He was feeling rather stupid for truly believing that they'd be hurt. The tournament had gotten into his head.
"Oh, Harry," Hermione said. "We all believed it was a possibility. You took the bravest option. I should have stayed with you, really."
Harry shook his head. "I wanted one of us to do it properly, at least. I got lucky in the First Task. But Hermione…just think…you won!" It hadn't really sunk in yet as he struggled to comprehend everything else. "That's amazing!"
"Only because of you," she replied bashfully, though she couldn't hide the smile emerging on her face.
"I'll take some of the credit," Matthew said, drying his hair with a fresh towel. There wasn't a lot of it to sort out. "If you're dishing it out. I got you those snazzy outfits after all. And I obviously spurred you on to swim faster than you've ever swam before."
She nudged him whilst rolling her eyes. "Don't let it go to your head."
"It was rather pleasant, actually. The last thing I remember was speaking to McGonagall, then I had you dragging me across the water. I haven't had a nap like that in ages."
Margot was clutching Harry's face, bringing his attention back to her. "The Beauxbatons students are calling you a hero. Fleur is already talking about what you did, helping her finish."
Harry had never liked being called a hero but it did have a nice ring to it coming from the girl in front of him. "Honestly, I did what everyone else would have done in that position."
"Obviously not. The two other boys did not stop, did they?" She smiled at him. "A true hero. My hero." Margot leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.
Maybe this tournament wasn't so bad after all.