Disclaimer: All character and the world in this story belongs to JK Rowling. I own nothing.

A/N: Slow paced chapter, kind of a filler for the days before the second task. Please Review.

Chapter Eleven: On the way to the Black Lake

February 13, 1995

Percy Weasley was an eighteen-year-old wizard who had just graduated from Hogwarts in the Batch of '94. He was not just a part of a graduation party, he was the Head Boy, top student in his class since his second year; he had scored seven 'Outstanding' in his NEWTs, thus joining an elite club of individuals who had achieved the feat and gone on to achieve greatness. He had his life planned out since his first Hogwarts journey when he came across a fellow first-year Adrian Jugson. He was insulted from being a poor and powerless pureblood family by the junior Jugson and he had decided that he would show these bastards that he can achieve power on his own. He had planned to become the future Minister of Magic; he had worked hard all his school life to make sure he had the solid foundation on which he will make his dream palace.

The first thing he had done after graduation was to apply for a job in the ministry. He was aware about the internal politics and working of system and understood that if you want to be the next minister, you should either be the Undersecretary or Director of DMLE or Director of DIMC as these were the three most powerful posts after the minister, in that particular order. He knew that he was not the one for Auror Academy, fighting was not his strong suit. He was good at planning and negotiations, he had good understanding of the international wizarding relations and magical law; hence, the best option he had was Department of International Magical Cooperation (DIMC). He was very fortunate that his educational record and his skills during his selection process had ensured the job of junior assistant to the Director of DIMC.

He was working hard, he had dedicated all his time and energy to build his career. This had skewed his relationship with his girlfriend Penelope Clearwater but he knew that she will understand. He was going to ask her to move with him tomorrow as he had moved out of his family home after he had accepted the job; he living in a rented apartment in Bromley.

This morning was a very interesting one as something big had happened. For a couple of weeks, actually since mid-January, Mr. Crouch had been a bit unwell and had preferred to work from his home. It was his job to send him daily and weekly reports and Mr. Crouch will respond with letter in which all the instructions were clearly written. Today, when he reached his desk, there was an official letter on the desktop with the seal of the Director of DIMC. As he opened the letter by breaking the seal, his eyes went wide like saucers, for a few moments he could not believe his eyes so he read the letter again; if it was said that he was stunned, that would be an oversimplification. The letter was written on the official letterhead of the Director.

Percival Ignatius Weasley

Junior Assistant

Director's Office

Department of International Magical Cooperation

Ministry of Magic of Great Britain and Ireland

February 13, 1995

Dear Mr. Weasley

It is being announced that you have been promoted to the post of Secretary to the Director. This will be effective immediately and the monthly salary of a Senior Assistant.

The job responsibility would include being the Director's representative to in any and every official event where the presence of the Director of DIMC is necessary. You would have the power to direct the staff according to the instruction sent by me on regular intervals.

The Office of the Director had put its trust in you to fulfil the responsibility with utmost commitment and dedication.

Warm Wishes,

Yours Faithfully,

Bartemius Crouch Sr.

Director of DIMC

Ministry of Magic of Great Britain and Ireland

Enclosed: Letter's Copy to the Undersecretary to the Minister.

He was ecstatic, he was just got promoted to the second highest post in department and he was beyond happy. He had just climbed a significant part of the ladder that was the ministry administration.

-X-X-

February 14, 1995

Mysterious Illness of Bartemius Crouch

By Rita Skeeter

There has been a major but mysterious development in the ministry at present. The Director of DIMC, Mr. Bartemius Crouch Sr. who is known for his strong opposition of You-Know-Who's regime and the infamous case of his son's imprisonment for being an active Death Eater.

Mr. Crouch hasn't been seen in public since his early exit from the Yule Ball, held at Hogwarts. In the bid to investigate the case, the reporter checked the house which appears to be deserted. St. Mungo's hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries have declined to comment. The Ministry officials have categorically refused to confirm the rumours of the mysterious illness.

This was brought into attention as a letter arrived in the department, promoting a junior assistant to the post of Secretary to the Director. He ministry employee in question is a fresh graduate from Hogwarts. This leads the author to question, 'what exactly is happening?' The wizarding world deserves to know the truth behind these mysterious developments.

-X-X-

Today was Hermione's first Valentine's Day with her boyfriend and she was excited about it. She understood it very clearly that it was difficult for Harry to show his affection towards anyone, especially in public. She understood that there was very high probability that Harry and she will be going through a relationship where she would need to take the initiative as Harry was ill-equipped to do so, courtesy his relatives; she would need to make sure that Harry's commitment does not waiver if he ever got the idea that he was somehow hurting her, she would need to show him how a normal relationship works. She was happy to wait for Harry to feel comfortable in a new relationship dynamics, she knew that there wasn't much change but the small changes were the important ones.

She wanted to spent her time with Harry, snuggling, holding hands, routine kisses, gentle touches, evening walks around the castle grounds with their arms around each other; all in all, a warm and sweet harmony where they were like a single unit but with their individual identity remaining intact.

Hence, she was happy when Harry gave her a bouquet of red and yellow roses and a gift box of Honeydukes' best chocolates. But this was just the minor part of the reason of her happiness, the main reason was the kiss Harry gave her.

As she stepped down from the dormitory stairs, Harry took her right hand in his left and gently pulled her towards himself, with his right hand he gently caressed her cheek. He placed his hand just below her ear, his thumb stroking her cheek gently, she leaned into his warm touch, this brought a deep blush on her face. She was momentarily speechless due to his action, she was looking in his deep emerald eyes which had the intensity that was possible only with deep feelings. She could feel that how deeply Harry cared for her, he would not be able to voice the feelings yet but she understood that she was a major part of his life.

He slowly leaned in, Hermione shut her eyes closed and moved her left hand so it was resting on Harry's chest. As Harry lips touched hers, he deepened the kiss, there was no urgency or raw energy but an underlying feeling of bliss and contentment. Hermione, for that moment, just wished that this should never stop. She commented to herself that this felt right, they broke the kiss fifteen seconds later but Hermione now knew that this feeling, this moment was one of the most special ones in her life. They stood there for a minute or two, their foreheads touching each other, Hermione was lost in the emerald lake that was Harry's eyes and Harry was lost in the pool of chocolate that was Hermione's eyes.

-X-X-

February 20, 1995

Neville Longbottom was walking towards the Gryffindor common room, his mind playing the events of the past year. The shy and chubby kid was now losing some of the baby fat he had for the last few months, puberty was a bit gentle on him. Who would have believed a year ago, that Neville would have a girlfriend by the end of his fourth-year? Hermione and Harry had to encourage him to ask Hannah to be his girlfriend and he had asked the question during the Hogsmeade weekend.

When Hannah answered that she would answer him after a couple of days, he was worried to the core. The next two days were difficult for him as the waiting he was doing for the answer was killing him. She then asked him after the breakfast on Valentine's day for a private conversation, he was nervous beyond his wits when he agreed as he was certain that she would refuse. His self-confidence would have taken a serious hit if the answer was anything but a 'yes'. He was put out of his misery when Hannah answered that she would be delighted, he was happy beyond the scope of a verbal explanation.

He was aware that he was friends with Harry-Hermione-Ron since first-year but they were never close, this year their friendship had seen the change for better. He finally had a group of friends, he finally had the feeling of belonging to a group.

Then there was professor Moody, he was a teacher, except professor Sprout, who believed that Neville had talent; Moody appreciated his talent in herbology and encouraged him to learn more, he suggested that Harry would need his friends this year when his name came out of the goblet.

He was sitting in the common room with a herbology book given by professor Moody. He could see that Harry-Hermione were worried about something, talking in hushed tones while sitting around a small table in the corner of the common room. He rose from his chair and walked towards them.

"Hey guys!" He asked in a cheery tone. Their conversation paused as he came closer to them.

"Hey Neville! What are you reading?" Hermione asked, looking towards the book in his hand.

"oh, it's 'Magical Water Plants of The Mediterranean' by Hadrian Whittle, Moody gave it to me. It's very interesting book if you like herbology." Neville answered, he knew that neither of the two was genuinely interested in herbology. Hermione knew the subject and its theories but she was not interested in it. "So, what got you guys all worried?" He asked with genuine concern.

"Nothing, just the tournament." Harry answered flatly. He was disappointed that he was unable to maintain the bubblehead charm for longer than twenty minutes. The feeling of dread that he was going to drown in the lake.

"Something I can help you with?" Neville asked, he knew that if Hermione and Harry can't get something done than he wouldn't be able to but there was no harm in asking.

"Not unless you can give me gills!" Harry sniped at him, he just wanted to be left alone with his thoughts for a few minutes. Neville thought for a few seconds before answering, he could understand that it was the pressure of the tournament that had Harry sniping at him. Than he started laughing, it took a minute or so for his laughter to subside. Harry and Hermione had a confused expression on their faces, not understanding the reason for this positive outburst. When Neville looked at their faces again, he realized that it was not a joke. "You are not joking?" Harry shook his head in the universal sign of 'no'.

"Ok, there is actually a plant which might be able to help with that." Hermione's eyes went wide in surprise, Harry on the other hand was looking at him like he had said the most outrageously impossible thing. "It's called Gillyweed, it was one on the initial plants in this book. Herbologists use it all the time for their underwater expeditions. Although its effects vary significantly depending on the type of water, same amount might work up to ten minutes longer in salt water than fresh water." The last part of the sentence was like thinking out loud and not for explanation purpose.

Hermione jumped from her chair and engulfed Neville in a bone crushing hug, she gave him a peck on cheek, all the while saying 'thank you'. As Hermione broke the hug and stepped back, Neville was stunned and unable to respond, a few seconds later his mind returned to normal.

"Thanks Neville, you are a lifesaver." Harry spoke, the relief evident in his voice. He offered his hand to Neville to be shook which he accepted graciously. For the next couple of hours Neville explained about gillyweed, its effects and side-effects, how it worked, how much quantity Harry would need to remain underwater for an hour in the black lake. The only remaining problem was how to get it.

"What should we do, Harry?" Hermione asked. Harry was going over possible solutions then suddenly the idea struck him.

"Dobby!" Harry called for the friendly house-elf he helped during his second year in Hogwarts. The elf appeared in front of the three students, on the table in the centre. He was bouncing on his feet with excitement, his ears were flapping like wings as he bounced from one foot to the other.

"what can dobby do for his friend, the great Harry Potter?" the elf asked excitedly.

"Dobby, please call me Harry or Harry Potter." Dobby nodded in response. "Dobby, can you bring me some gillyweed, if you don't mind?" Harry asked and the next moment the elf was gone with click of his fingers. Harry took it as an agreement for his request, he did not have to wait long for his confirmation as Dobby returned in less than thirty seconds with a big glass jar filled with slimy green tendrils. Dobby handed the jar to Harry who in turn handed it to Neville so he can take the required amount. Neville extracted a handful of the herb, closed the lid and returned the jar to Dobby. Harry asked Dobby to return the jar to its original position. "Thanks Dobby. You were a great help."

Neville told Harry that this amount would be enough for two hours so that Harry can practice once for a few minutes and then can keep some quantity as backup during the task. Hermione liked the idea immediately. They decided to test the plant the next day after dinner in the prefects' bath.

-X-X-

"Master, he is weak but his mental shield is getting stronger." Wormtail said to the form in the chair. His eyes were filled with fear, he was aware that it would do no good to make the dark lord unhappy.

"It's your job Wormtail to keep him in line." The hissing voice said, angry at the situation. "If you can't do it then ask my other servant to do it. His 'Imperius' is stronger than yours. We need to keep him under control."

"Yes master."

Harry woke up with cold sweat drenching his pyjamas, his scar had a slight pain. His dreams, better nightmare, were getting weirder day by day. He was unsure what to do about them. He checked the watch on the bedside table, it was half past three in the morning. He did not feel like sleeping so he moved the quilt away and swung his legs out of bed. He picked up the cloak and the map, put on the shoes and the Weasley sweater and walked out of the dormitory for a walk around the castle.

He wrapped the cloak and activated the map so he would not come across Filch or his bloody cat, Mrs. Norris. It was a longstanding mystery and a joke that why Mrs. Norris was called 'Mrs.'. Some suggested that she was his wife and he transfigured her into a cat and couldn't return her to the original form but Harry knew that this was not possible as Filch was a squib. He walked towards the astronomy tower, he wanted to get some fresh air. As he opened the map to check the route, his eyes came across a shocking scene. The label named 'Barty Crouch' was moving around Snape's ingredient store. He pushed the idea out of his mind for the moment as he already had enough weird things for the night.

An hour later when he was returning from the tower, he stumbled across someone and collided into him. Harry was Holding the map but he wasn't looking at it, his mind was wandering about other things. The person he collided with was none other than professor Moody. Moody removed the cloak from Harry and gave him the crooked smile.

"Good morning, Potter. Sleep walking?" Moody asked, his demeanour strict. Harry paled at seeing the professor and was unable to form any response. "What's this?" Moddy asked, pointing towards the Marauders' Map. Harry hesitated for a few seconds but relented under the glare from Mad-Eye. He explained about the map and how to operate it, to Harry's surprise, Mad-Eye smiled. The surprises didn't end there as Harry didn't receive any detention or point-deduction for his nocturnal wandering but Moody confiscated the map. Moody warned him that he won't be this forgiving the next time.

"Sir, don't believe the map completely. I think it's malfunctioning." Harry said, eyeing the map in Moody's hand.

"And why do you think so?" Moody asked, curious like a five-year-old at a new place.

"I saw Mr. Crouch in Snape's ingredient store. I don't think Crouch will be wandering the castle, he hasn't been seen in a month." Harry answered truthfully.

"Do you know something, Harry. Crouch was DMLE head during Dark Lord's regime in '81 and Snape was a marked Death Eater. There are things you don't know, Potter." With that reply, Moody turned and left Harry standing in the middle of the corridor, more confused than before.

-X-X-

February 23, 1995

Ron was surprised, he was never got called by professor McGonagall. Agreed, he had been in some tricky situations but that never happened with the pair that was walking towards the Transfiguration corridor. A few minutes ago, Hermione and He were called to McGonagall's office by some third-year. The boy did not mention the reason and the curfew was going to be in effect a few minutes later.

"Hermione, do you have any idea?" Ron asked her as they walked side by side towards the destination. She just shrugged in response, it was a new experience when she was called by a professor and she had no idea why. The remaining of their walk was in complete and somewhat awkward silence. They reached McGonagall's office and knocked, they entered on receiving the permission to do so. McGonagall was sitting behind her desk, reading a parchment, she looked up from it as they walked towards the desk.

"Good evening professor." Both Hermione and Ron said together. McGonagall replied in kind, rose from her chair and asked them to follow her. They did not ask her where she was leading them but Hermione had some idea as they crossed through a couple of familiar corridors. She realized that this path lead to the infirmary but this realization confused Hermione even more. Her trips to infirmary were usually after Gryffindor quidditch matches and always involved Harry but she knew that Harry was sitting now in the common room. She had no clue as to who this person was in infirmary.

As the group entered the infirmary, they saw that the Hogwarts school nurse, Madam Pomphrey and Headmaster Dumbledore were waiting for them.

"Ah, good evening Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore spoke with a smile, his eyes twinkling.

"Good evening headmaster." The teenagers replied. "Professor Dumbledore, forgive me asking but why were we called here?"

"Do not worry Ms. Granger. You two will be in no danger and neither will be anyone else." He answered but before this answer registered in her mind, Dumbledore drew his wand and the next thing Hermione remembered was complete darkness.

-X-X-

It has been an hour since Hermione and Ron left Harry in the common room to meet McGonagall. Harry was sitting on the couch, waiting for them to return, a book on marine beasts and how to handle them open in his hands. He was resting on the couch such that his head was on the arm and his legs stretched over the couch. He fell asleep waiting for his two oldest friends, the book fell to the floor.

Harry woke up with a sore neck and uncomfortable sleep, it was still dark outside. His mind was continuously drifting towards task he had to face today, different monster attacking him from different side and he was trying to swim away from them. He rubbed his eyes and went up the stairs to the dormitory, he was too tired to change or remove his shoes or take notice of his surroundings. He just dropped on the bed and was fast asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

"Harry, wake up! Wake up!" somebody was shaking his shoulder violently, trying his best to wake him up. Harry opened his eyes but all he saw was a blur, he could not recognize the face of the person in front of him. The said person handed him his spectacles and as he put them on, Harry recognized that the person trying to shake him up was Neville. Harry jumped up from his sleeping position and moved his head to check the time. It was 8:25, the task was supposed to start at 9:00 am and the champions had to reach the arena before 8:45. There was no time remaining.

He turned towards Neville, who handed him a parcel which, he informed Harry, had arrived around half past seven. It was a two-piece men's' swimming suit with a robe, it had a black swimming shorts and a scarlet and yellow vertically striped vest. Harry quickly changed into the swimming suit and wrapped himself in the robe. He opened his trunk and extracted the small jar which had the gillyweed. He pocketed the jar in his robe and closed the lid of the trunk, immediately locking it. Harry and Neville started to walk towards the common room.

As they reached the common room, Harry was surprised to not finding Hermione and Ron waiting for him. "Where are Hermione and Ron?" Harry asked Neville, his anxiety coming to the fore.

"I don't know Harry, Ron didn't return to the common room last night." Neville answered.

Realization suddenly dawned on Harry, he sprinted towards the entrance hall, leaving a confused Neville in his wake. Neville followed Harry, running as fast as he could but he was slow compared to Harry after his daily morning runs and was left behind. Harry reached the great hall and looked inside to check if Hermione and Ron were sitting inside, hoping against hope that his assumption was wrong but he was not that lucky. A moment later, Neville reached Harry and found him staring inside the great hall from the threshold with a pained expression on his face.

The only thing on his mind was the clue inside the egg, the poem was running in his mind on a loop, especially the last two lines, 'But past an hour, the prospect's black, too late, it's gone, it won't come back'. Neville put a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder and turned towards him.

"They are in the lake Neville." He started to walk towards the lake boathouse with some pace. His eyes fixed forward, they had a look of determination. Harry was determined that he would be getting them out of it anyhow.

They reached the boathouse, there was a floating path going a hundred or so yards towards the lake. At the end of this floating footbridge was a platform, hundred feet square in size. Every student, host or guest, teachers and ministry officials were standing on the platform. Harry walked ahead with Neville on his left and reached the front of the platform where other champions stood, everyone looking pretty nervous.

Mad-Eye stood there, waiting for Harry and as Harry walked towards him, he verbally showed Harry that he was unimpressed by his lack of punctuality. Right now, Harry did not care about it one bit, the only thing on his mind was that Hermione and Ron were in the lake and it was his responsibility to get them out of there. The twins were busy collecting the bets for the task, completely oblivious to the fact that their brother was not here.

Dumbledore and the other headmasters walked towards the front where the champions stood. They were accompanied by Bagman and surprisingly, Percy Weasley. Dumbledore walked on step further ahead so that he was detached from the other, his raised his wand and the tip rested on the side on his neck.

"Welcome to the second task. Last night, something was stolen from each of our champions, a treasure of sorts. These six treasures, one for each champion, now lie on the bottom of the black lake. In order to win, champions need the find the treasure and return to the platform before the stoke on an hour. After that, they are on their own, no magic will save this." Dumbledore had magnified his voice using his wand and the words and their meaning hit Harry very hard. He opened the jar and put the gillyweed in palm, he handed the jar and the robe to Neville.

"Champions, take your places, the task will begin as with the canon blast." All the champions lined in the front of the platform, with their back to the audience. Dumbledore fired a spell in the sky, in front of the platform, a big round clock dial appeared there, floating in the air.

"On the count of three." Dumbledore announce and Harry ate the gillyweed, chewing on the slimy green tendrils, it tasted like stale fish.

"One…. Two…. Three"

BOOM

A/N: The chapter is short so that I can write the whole lake sequence in one chapter. I tried to change the way I write usually, I hope you like it. Any suggestions and criticism would be welcome. Please Review.