Disclaimer: Nothing in this story belongs to me, it all belongs to J.K. Rowling and any company with a claim to the Harry Potter Trademark. I make no money out of this. Please don't sue me!
The Cold Water
Harry strode purposefully through the Hogwarts Grounds with his eyes set on the Black Lake in the distance. The uneven cobblestone path wound its way past the Quidditch pitch and through the lush gardens that were dotted with enchanted rose bushes, their petals shimmering as if they were made of precious metals. A chill February breeze nipped at Harry's face, causing him to curse at the ridiculous grey swimming suit he was wearing.
As he walked, he mentally prepared himself for the Second Task. He couldn't help but feel a sense of reassurance after not seeing Ron or Hermione all morning, which likely meant that the hostages were the same as in the last timeline.
The grounds eventually gave way to a grassy expanse near the edge of the Black Lake, where a wooden stage had been constructed. It stood, somewhat precariously, on stout oak legs that sank into the muddy shore. A large banner depicting the Triwizard Tournament logo — three interlocking wands — fluttered above it.
As Harry approached, he could see that the other champions were already waiting on stage: Cedric Diggory, resplendent in yellow and black Hufflepuff attire; Fleur Delacour, looking elegant in her Beauxbatons robes inspired full-body swimming suit; and Viktor Krum, the Durmstrang colours in his attire making him appear even more imposing than usual. They each exchanged friendly smiles with Harry as he climbed onto the stage.
"Nice day for a swim, eh, Potter?" Cedric joked, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Only if you fancy freezing your bits off, Diggory," Harry retorted, earning a chuckle from the others.
All around them, the stands were filled with excited students who chattered animatedly amongst themselves, eager for the task to begin. The vibrant colours of their house scarves and hats gave a festive air to the otherwise bleak winter day.
Harry stood on the stage, feeling the rough wooden planks beneath his feet. He observed the other champions' expressions, trying to gauge their strategies. They all reciprocated his smile, and with their eyes locked, Harry couldn't help but wonder if they would use the same approaches as in the previous timeline.
"Good luck, everyone," he said, a mischievous glint in his eye. The champions exchanged nods of agreement, each hoping for victory.
Harry spotted Dumbledore seated at the judges' box, his long silver beard resting against his chest. Harry nodded at him, acknowledging their mutual understanding of the task's importance. Albus discreetly returned the gesture, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles.
"Welcome, one and all, to the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament!" Ludo Bagman's voice boomed across the lake, amplified by a sonorous charm. The crowd erupted into cheers, and Harry felt a shiver of excitement run down his spine. He shook himself, trying to shake off any lingering doubts. "This should be easier than the dragon," he thought.
"Today, our brave champions will face the depths of the Black Lake and its mysterious inhabitants," Ludo continued, the anticipation in his voice palpable. "They have precisely one hour to retrieve something that has been taken from them – a personal treasure hidden beneath the waves!"
The crowd gasped collectively, murmuring excitedly amongst themselves. Harry could hear snippets of conversation, some expressing elation while others expressed concern for the champions' safety.
"Champions, prepare yourselves," Ludo instructed, his voice suddenly serious. "When I give the signal, you'll dive into the icy depths and begin your search. Remember, you have only one hour. Good luck!"
"Ready... set... go!" Ludo cried out, and with a flick of his wand, Harry quickly cast a warming Charm and a Bubble-Head Charm on himself. The frigid air around him instantly became more bearable, and a shimmering bubble formed around his mouth and nose, supplying him with fresh air. Without hesitation, he leapt into the dark water below.
As soon as he was submerged, Harry felt the icy grip of the Black Lake's depths tighten around him. Determined to keep up with the other champions, he pointed his wand at his lower half and whispered, "Transfiguro." His legs fused together, the bones and muscles shifting beneath his skin until they formed a long, powerful fishtail. Harry now bore an uncanny resemblance to the mythical mermaids that were said to inhabit this very lake.
Using his new tail, Harry propelled himself through the chilly water with surprising speed. He swam past Cedric and Fleur, both of whom wore Bubble-Head Charms and stared in astonishment at his transformation. Viktor, with his fierce shark-like features, was just ahead of them.
"Bet you didn't see this one coming, did you?" Harry thought smugly, enjoying the element of surprise. As he raced through the murky depths, he laughed inwardly at the idea of their faces when they saw him looking like something out of a fairy tale.
With a powerful flick of his new tail, Harry surged through the murky depths of the Black Lake, leaving his fellow champions behind in the watery gloom. As he swam deeper, the dim light filtering through the surface above gradually faded, giving way to an all-consuming darkness that seemed to swallow him whole.
Despite the Warming Charm, he shivered at the cold tendrils that brushed against his bare skin. The world around him was a symphony of eerie shadows and chilling whispers, as if the very soul of the lake had come alive to taunt him.
As he pressed on, Harry detected movement in the murk ahead. A field of algae swayed gently in the current, its tendrils reaching out like the fingers of a hundred ghostly hands. And there, hidden amongst the algae, a group of Grindylows lay in wait, their malicious eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Nice try, you slimy little creeps," Harry muttered, his voice bubbling with defiance. With a decisive wave of his wand, he cast an area Petrificus Totalus on the algae field. The spell struck true, and the Grindylows instantly froze, their bodies hardening into stone-like statues.
"Should have picked better camouflage," Harry quipped, watching with satisfaction as the petrified creatures floated away, their once menacing eyes now darting about in panicked confusion. He allowed himself a triumphant smirk before continuing his journey towards the Merpeople Town.
Just then, he spotted the Giant Squid swimming not too far off, its colossal tentacles undulating gracefully through the water. Although Harry had no reason to believe the Squid would attack, he preferred not to risk it. He gave the creature a respectful nod and steered clear of its path.
He swam deeper into the abyss when the murky water began to give way to a faint, ethereal glow. The source soon became apparent: nestled in the heart of the Black Lake was the Merpeople Town, its twisting spires and intricate coral structures glowing with an otherworldly light.
The town itself was a breathtaking sight – an underwater kingdom that seemed to defy the very laws of nature. Towering kelp forests and shimmering schools of fish surrounded ornate dwellings carved out of the very bedrock. Elegant merpeople lounged on stone perches or darted effortlessly through the water, their silvery tails flicking gracefully behind them.
Harry didn't allow himself to gawk and swam purposefully towards the centre of the town, where he knew the hostages were being held.
He reached the heart of the Merpeople's Town. Stone archways adorned with shimmering corals framed the entrance, and vibrant-coloured fish darted between the swaying aquatic plants.
His gaze fell upon the four hostages, suspended in the water like ethereal statues. Ron floated limply next to Hermione, Cho, and Fleur's younger sister, Gabrielle.
While keeping an eye out for any merpeople that might take offence, Harry hovered near the hostages, waiting for the other champions to make their move. He didn't have to wait long; within minutes, Viktor Krum appeared, his shark-like head slicing through the water with terrifying speed.
Viktor spared Harry a brief glance before his razor-sharp teeth made short work of the rope binding Hermione. With an almost graceful spin, he scooped her up and began swimming back towards the surface, leaving a trail of bubbles in his wake.
"Good luck, Shark-Boy," Harry murmured, watching him go. Then, he turned his attention back to the remaining hostages. "Alright, Ron. Just hang in there a bit longer."
As Viktor's shark-like form vanished into the watery depths, Harry scanned the murky surroundings, searching for any sign of Cedric or Fleur. The weight of his promise to Fleur hung heavily on his conscience, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something might go wrong if he didn't keep a close eye on the situation.
Just as the worry began to gnaw at him, Cedric appeared, swimming with strong, steady strokes towards Cho. With a deft wave of his wand, he severed the rope binding her, then gathered her limp form in his arms. Turning to Harry, Cedric tapped his watch with a pointed look, bubbles escaping from his mouth as he chuckled.
"Time's ticking, mate," his expression seemed to say.
Harry nodded, glancing towards Fleur's sister, Gabrielle. "I'll wait," he mouthed, determined to ensure her safety even if it meant sacrificing his own chances in the task.
Cedric rolled his eyes but offered a good-natured smirk before setting off in the direction Viktor had taken moments earlier. As he disappeared from view, Harry mentally scolded himself for being so overcautious. He knew perfectly well that the hostages were in no real danger, but he couldn't bring himself to leave until all of them were safely on their way to the surface.
Time seemed to stretch in the murky depths of the lake, but Harry's eyes never wavered from their watchful vigil. The pressure weighed on him as heavily as the water that surrounded him, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for prioritising Fleur's sister over his own chances in the task.
At long last, a flash of golden hair caught his eye, and he watched with relief as Fleur appeared in the distance. Her expression quickly transformed into one of shock as she laid eyes on her sister, Gabrielle, floating lifelessly before her. Wasting no time, Fleur swam towards her sibling with frantic strokes, cutting the rope with a swift flick of her wand and pulling Gabrielle into a tight embrace.
As she caught sight of Harry, Fleur shook her head, an incredulous smile playing at the corners of her lips. She raised a questioning eyebrow, clearly impressed by his sense of loyalty and perhaps a bit bemused by his stubbornness.
"Promised I'd look after her," Harry mouthed to her, his expression a mix of sheepish pride and cheeky defiance.
Fleur's smile widened as she nodded in understanding, her gratitude evident. With another glance at her sister, she began swimming back towards the stage with renewed determination.
Now confident that all hostages were accounted for, Harry wasted no more time. He sliced through the rope binding Ron, gripped his best friend's arm, and propelled them both towards the surface with powerful sweeps of his fishtail.
Seizing the moment to add a touch of friendly rivalry to the mix, Harry sped past Fleur, shooting her a playful wink as he did so. This elicited an annoyed huff from the French champion, but Harry could tell it was more good-natured than truly irritated.
Harry caught up to Cedric just as the Hufflepuff champion was about to break the surface.
The cold of the lake's water whipped at Harry's face as he held onto Ron, using his powerful fishtail to propel them upwards.
With a final burst of strength, he broke through the water's surface, sending a spray of frigid droplets into the air. For a brief moment, it was as if time stood still, with Harry and Ron suspended mid-air like a pair of trapeze artists in the midst of their grand finale.
Gravity soon took hold, however, and they crashed back down onto the stage with an unceremonious thud. The impact jarred Ron's elbow, drawing a grimace from him as he glowered up at Harry.
"Blimey, Harry! What happened? And why does my elbow bloody hurt?" Ron grumbled, his annoyance only slightly tempered by curiosity.
Harry couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's expression. "You were the perfect hostage, mate," he replied, feeling the rush of adrenaline start to dissipate as he dispelled the Bubble-Head Charm and allowed his fishtail to dissolve back into his legs.
Just as Harry finished reassuring Ron, Cedric emerged gracefully from the water, cradling Cho in his arms. As he helped her onto the stage, he shot Harry an incredulous look before fetching a towel and wrapping it around Cho's shivering form.
"Harry, you're an idiot," Cedric declared as he approached, his voice tinged with both exasperation and amusement. "The hostages were always safe."
"Better safe than sorry, right?" Harry retorted, his grin unapologetic. Cedric simply shook his head and congratulated Harry on beating him before returning to Cho's side.
Ron, who had been watching the exchange, suddenly piped up. "Oi, mate, aren't you going to get me a towel like Cedric did for Cho?"
"Of course," Harry replied, flicking his wand with a flourish. To Ron's chagrin, the towel that appeared was emblazoned with Slytherin's green and silver colours.
"You're a prick," Ron grumbled as he discarded the offending towel in favour of one from the pile of white ones on the other side of the stage. Harry laughed, transfiguring the Slytherin towel into one bearing Gryffindor's scarlet and gold before drying himself off.
Harry's eyes remained glued on the rippling surface of the lake, a measure of concern furrowing his brow. Despite the reassurances he had received from Cedric and others, he couldn't shake the nagging worry that something could still go wrong. He glanced at his watch; it had been ten minutes since he had left Fleur behind in the murky depths.
Suddenly, a splash broke his reverie as Fleur emerged from the water, clutching her little sister tightly to her chest. She swam towards the stage, her relief evident when she saw Harry waiting there. Madame Maxime hurried over with towels, enveloping both girls in their warm embrace.
"Harry," Fleur called out once they were dry, "I do not appreciate being made fun of."
"Who said anything about mocking?" Harry grinned, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I promised I'd make sure your hostage was safe, didn't I? Never said anything about letting you win."
Fleur shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips despite herself. Turning to her sister, she said, "Gabrielle, this is Harry."
"Bonjour!" Harry attempted a greeting in French, his accent abysmal. Gabrielle giggled, then launched into a rapid-fire string of French words that left Harry feeling utterly bewildered.
"Slow down, Gabrielle," Fleur chided gently. "Harry does not speak French."
Gabrielle muttered something under her breath, looking somewhat put off by the revelation. Fleur's laughter filled the air, light and melodic. "We should get going before the judges give out the scores," she told Harry, her eyes twinkling as she glanced back at her sister. "Thank you for looking after my sister."
"Any time," Harry replied, waving them off with a grin.
Harry rejoined Ron, who was now dry and sporting a white towel draped over his shoulders. The air buzzed with anticipation as Ludo Bagman's voice boomed across the grounds, announcing that the judges were ready to give out the scores.
"Viktor Krum receives forty-seven points!" Ludo declared, prompting applause from the Durmstrang students. "Harry Potter is awarded forty-two points!" A roar erupted from the Gryffindor section, Harry's fellow housemates cheering wildly. "Cedric Diggory earns forty points!" More applause followed, this time from the Hufflepuffs. "And Fleur Delacour gets thirty-five points!"
"Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen!" Ludo continued, grinning broadly. "After this task, Harry Potter is in the lead for the third task! The final challenge will take place on the 24th of June!" As he finished speaking, the crowd began to disperse, excitement still palpable in the air.
Ron's earlier annoyance seemed to have dissipated, replaced by a newfound enthusiasm. "You're first, mate!" he exclaimed, clapping Harry on the back. "That's brilliant!"
"Thanks," Harry replied, casting a warming charm on Ron, who shivered slightly in the cold February air. Grateful, Ron dropped the towel, revealing his still-damp clothes beneath.
"Let's get going," said Harry, a mischievous glint in his eye. "There's bound to be a cracking party in Gryffindor Tower tonight."
"Lead the way," Ron chuckled. He allowed himself to be swept away by the infectious energy of the moment, a grin plastered across his freckled face.
The brisk wind whipped around them as they walked back towards the castle, Harry's mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. The dimming light of the setting sun cast long shadows on the ground, a morose reminder of the looming darkness that threatened their world.
"Nice work, Harry," Ron said, grinning broadly. "You've really got this tournament in the bag now."
"Thanks, Ron," Harry replied, giving him a small smile. Yet, his thoughts were elsewhere - on the third task and the inevitable confrontation with Voldemort that he knew was coming.
Harry stopped for a moment and glanced up at the sky, where the first stars of the evening were beginning to make their appearance. They twinkled merrily, like tiny beacons of hope amidst the encroaching darkness.
As they resumed their walk towards the castle, Harry's mind returned to the task at hand - locating Hufflepuff's Cup and destroying it before Voldemort regained his full power. The countdown was on, and he knew that time was running out.