This chapter will have some dialogue from my fanfic Harry Potter and The Other Side.
Chapter 105: The Second Task
"You said you'd already worked out that egg clue!" said Hermione, scolding.
"Keep your voice down!" said Harry crossly. "I just need to - sort of fine-tune it, all right?"
We were sitting at the very back of the Charms class with a table to ourselves. We were supposed to be practicing the opposite of the Summoning Charm today - the Banishing Charm. Owing to the potential for nasty accidents when objects kept flying across the room. Professor Flitwick had given each student a stack of pillows on which to practice, the theory being that these wouldn't hurt anyone if they went off target. It was a good theory, but it wasn't working very well. Neville's aim was so poor that he kept accidentally sending much heavier things flying across the room - Professor Flitwick, for instance.
"Just forget the egg for a minute, all right?" Harry hissed as Professor Flitwick went whizzing past us, landing on top of a large cabinet. "I'm trying to tell you about Snape and Moody..."
This class was great to have private conversation in, as everyone was having far too much fun to pay us any attention. Harry had been telling us everything that had happened the previous night for the last half hour.
"Snape said Moody's searched his office as well?" I whispered, as I Banished a pillow with a sweep of my wand. It soared into the air and knocked Parvati's hat off. Bullseye.
"What...do you reckon Moody's here to keep an eye on Snape as well as Karkaroff?"
"Well, I dunno if that's what Dumbledore asked him to do, but he's definitely doing it," said Harry, waving his wand without paying much attention, so that his pillow did an odd sort of belly flop off the desk. "Moody said Dumbledore only lets Snape stay here because he's giving him a second chance or something."
"What?" I said, shocked. "Harry...maybe Moody thinks Snape put your name in the Goblet of Fire!"
"Oh Ron," said Hermione, shaking her head skeptically, "we thought Snape was trying to kill Harry before, and it turned out he was saving Harry's life, remember?"
She Banished a pillow and it flew across the room and landed in the box we were all supposed to be aiming at.
"For once, can you just fail?" I joked.
"I don't care what Moody says," Hermione went on, ignoring me. "Dumbledore's not stupid. He was right to trust Hagrid and Professor Lupin, even though loads of people wouldn't have given them jobs, so why shouldn't he be right about Snape, even if Snape is a bit -"
"- evil," I said, promptly. "Come on, Hermione, why are all these Dark wizard catchers searching his office, then?"
"Why has Mr. Crouch been pretending to be ill?" said Hermione, ignoring me once again. "It's a bit funny, isn't it, that he can't manage to come to the Yule Ball, but he can get up here in the middle of the night when he wants to?"
"You just don't like Crouch because of that elf, Winky." I said, sending a pillow soaring into the window. "Dammit."
"Language, Ronald. And you just want to think Snape's up to something," said Hermione, sending her pillow zooming neatly into the box again.
"I just want to know what Snape did with his first chance, if he's on his second one," said Harry, flying his pillow straight across the room and landing neatly on top of Hermione's.
"You two sicken me." I said, as I made two pillows hit them in their faces
We started trying to help Harry with one major problem with his task: figuring out how to survive underwater for an hour on the twenty-fourth of February.
I liked the idea of using the Summoning Charm again to summon those muggle Aqua-Lung's things from the nearest Muggle town. Hermione squashed my plan by pointing out that, in the unlikely event that Harry managed to learn how to operate an Aqua-Lung within the set limit of an hour, he was sure to be disqualified for breaking the International Code of Wizarding Secrecy - it was too much to hope that no Muggles would spot an Aqua-Lung zooming across the countryside to Hogwarts.
"Of course, the ideal solution would be for you to Transfigure yourself into a submarine or something," Hermione said. "If only we'd done human Transfiguration already! But I don't think we start that until sixth year, and it can go badly wrong if you don't know what you're doing."
"Yeah, I don't fancy walking around with a periscope sticking out of my head," said Harry. "I suppose I could always attack someone in front of Moody; he might do it for me."
"I don't think he'd let you choose what you wanted to be turned into, though," said Hermione seriously. "No, I think your best chance is some sort of charm."
So for the next few days, we spent hours upon hours in the library, trying to research on a perfect solution to Harry's problem.
With two days left. Harry started to go off food again. The only good thing about breakfast on Monday was the return of the brown owl he had sent to Sirius. He pulled off the parchment, unrolled it, and saw the shortest letter Sirius had ever written to him.
Send date of next Hogsmeade weekend by return owl.
Harry turned the parchment over and looked at the back, hoping to see something else, but it was blank.
"Weekend after next," whispered Hermione. "Here - take my quill and send this owl back straight away."
Harry scribbled the dates down on the back of Sirius's letter, tied it onto the brown owl's leg, and watched it take flight again.
"What's he want to know about the next Hogsmeade weekend for?" I asked
"Dunno," said Harry, in a sort of downtrodden voice. "Come on...Care of Magical Creatures."
Hagrid had been continuing her lessons on unicorns ever since he'd returned to work. It turned out that Hagrid knew quite as much about unicorns as he did about monsters, though it was clear that he found their lack of poisonous fangs disappointing.
Today he had managed to capture two unicorn foals. Unlike full-grown unicorns, they were pure gold. Parvati and Lavender went into hysterical squeals that sounded like piglets at the sight of them, and even Pansy had to work hard to conceal how much she liked them. Who knew shrews liked baby unicorns.
"Easier ter spot than the adults," Hagrid told the class. "They turn silver when they're abou' two years old, an' they grow horns at aroun four. Don' go pure white till they're full grown, 'round about seven. They're a bit more trustin' when they're babies...don' mind boys so much...C'mon, move in a bit, yeh can pat 'em if yeh want...give 'em a few o' these sugar lumps...
While Harry went for a quick word with Hagrid, Hermione pulled me over excitedly to the baby unicorns.
"Oh Ron, aren't they positively precious?" she squealed as she gave one a sugar cube.
I was about to be a smartass, when the foal dropped a few loads all over Malfoy's expensive shoes.
I smiled widely and petted him on the nose. "Yeah, they certainly are precious. Good boy."
By the evening before the second task. Harry looked positively frightful about the breathing underwater ordeal. He sat with Hermione and I in the library as the sun set outside, tearing feverishly through page after page of spells, hidden from one another by the massive piles of books on the desk in front of each of us.
"I don't reckon it can be done," I said, sadly. "There's nothing. Nothing. Closest was that thing to dry up puddles and ponds, that Drought Charm, but that was nowhere near powerful enough to drain the lake."
"There must be something," Hermione muttered, "They'd never have set a task that was undoable."
"They have," I said with a shrug. "Harry, just go down to the lake tomorrow, right, stick your head in, yell at the merpeople to give back whatever they've nicked, and see if they chuck it out. Best you can do, mate."
"There's a way of doing it!" Hermione said crossly. "There just has to be!"
She seemed to be taking the library's lack of useful information on the subject as a personal insult; it had never failed her before.
"I know what I should have done," said Harry, resting, face-down, on Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts. "I should've learned to be an Animagus like Sirius."
"Yeah, you could've turned into a goldfish any time you wanted!" I said, jokingly.
"Or a frog," yawned Harry.
"It takes years to become an Animagus, and then you have to register yourself and everything," said Hermione. "Professor McGonagall told us, remember...you've got to register yourself with the Improper Use of Magic Office...what animal you become, and your markings, so you can't abuse it..."
"...Hermione, I was joking," said Harry wearily. "I know I haven't got a chance of turning into a frog by tomorrow morning..."
"Oh this is no use," Hermione said, snapping shut Weird Wizarding Dilemmas. "Who on earth wants to make their nose hair grow into ringlets?"
"I wouldn't mind," said Fred's voice. "Be a talking point, wouldn't it?"
We looked up. Fred and George had just emerged from behind some bookshelves.
"What're you two doing here?" I asked.
"Looking for you," said George. "McGonagall wants you, Ron. And you, Hermione."
"Why?" said Hermione, looking surprised.
"Dunno...she was looking a bit grim, though," said Fred.
"We're supposed to take you down to her office," said George.
"We'll meet you back in the common room," Hermione told Harry as she got up to go with me.
I walked with Hermione to Dumbledore's office. I honestly couldn't think of anything that I've done to merit a trip to the headmaster's office and Hermione doesn't do anything wrong (within reason) so she was just as nervous as I was.
Correction: She was more nervous than I was.
"Ron I'm scared. What if we are getting in trouble for helping out Harry with the task? Is there a rule that says he isn't too be helped?"
"How am I to know? It doesn't sound likely. And I'm sure the others are getting loads of help from their headmasters and friends. Unless it's downright cheating I don't think it is a crime."
She looked at me, slightly relieved. I look back at her and give her a smile. I never really noticed how cute she was when she was worried about something.
"Well now I really don't know what's going on." sighed Hermione. "Maybe they are catching on that you copy my essays sometimes. No more help for you"
"Oi! You dare hinder me from getting a good education Mione? I'm appalled. Its an outrage and I won't stand for it!" I teased her and she poked me with her wand.
We reached Dumbledore's office and walked inside. Dumbledore and McGonagall are there. As well as Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Cho Chang, and a little girl who looks like a miniature Fleur Delacour.
Now I was really confused.
"Ah Miss Granger and Mr Weasley please sit down. We were just about to go into details about why everyone is here." said McGonagall.
"As you know," said Dumbledore, "the second task is tomorrow morning. This task will consist of the champions diving into the lake and retrieving what they would miss the most. Meaning you four. "
The four of us looked at one another. Hermione and I looked at each other in confusion.
"But Professor, why does Harry get the two of us?" asked Hermione. "Wouldn't it be harder to retrieve two instead of just one?"
Dumbledore chuckled and said "Ah but Miss Granger, Harry will not be retrieving the both of you. Just Mr Weasley. You, my dear, will be retrieved by Mr Krum"
I glared at Hermione and she looked back at me, a look that said clearly she would rather be anywhere but here right now. I really didn't feel sorry for her in the least. I thought that the dance was it for her and Krum. Had she been seeing him without telling Harry and I? What the hell was going on?
I halfway listened to the rest of Dumbledore's words. Something about an enchanted sleep and us being in the lake for an hour and nothing would happen to us blah blah blah I really didn't give a fuck.
Hermione had a lot of explaining to do.
They led us to the infirmary where we were told we would be put under the spell and would be awakened once we were out of the water tomorrow. We were supposed to drink the portion given to us immediately and go to sleep. But sensing that we both needed to talk, Hermione and I delayed and waited for the professors and Pomfrey to leave.
"And just what the hell is this all about?" I said to Hermione as I stared daggers unintentionally at her. "Is there something you wish to tell me? Are you keeping secrets from me again?"
" No, not at all Ron." pleaded Hermione. "I'm just as shocked at this as you are"
"So why are you the one that Vicky will surely miss? Clearly there is more going on that what you are letting on." I sneered.
"His name is Viktor and no, there isn't. We have talked since the ball but that's it, nothing more. I mean, I do get the impression that he may like me, but he's just a friend."
"Friend. Yeah right. Clearly he must have more than friendship on his mind" I said, crossing my arms.
"Oh yeah, and clearly Harry has the same intentions for you as well then yeah?"
"That makes no sense you know it Hermione. I'm a bloke. I'm Harry's best friend and has been since 11. Seems more like a couple's affair, minus me and Harry, of course."
"Ron, it isn't a couple's affair. Fleur is retrieving her sister and I am not dating Viktor!
Leave it to Hermione to kill my wanted attitude with sound reason.
"Ron please don't do this. Please don't be mad at me right now. I need you" she said, her voice sounding worried.
"For what?" I said, more harshly than intended
"I'm scared Ron. What if something goes wrong? You know how bad I am at swimming. I wouldn't be able to save myself. And what if something happens to you?"
My anger is instantly replaced with concern. Hermione needed me? What would she need me for when she had Krum? He was an international Quidditch star.
And I was just a Weasley.
"It'll be fine Hermione." I said, calming down. "Dumbledore wouldn't put us in anything that he knew wasn't going to be safe for us. And you can swim just fine. You did well at the Burrow. And don't worry about me. Harry wouldn't let anything happen to me."
"But what if something happened to Viktor and he wasn't able to get me?"
"Well...I guess I would have to come to your rescue. I wouldn't let anything happen to you. You know that right?"
"Yes. I know." said Hermione, cracking a small smile. "Maybe I would feel better if it was you retrieving me instead."
She sure knew how to make a bloke feel good. I felt the butterflies start to awaken in my stomach.
"Okay. How about this. Hogsmeade is coming up after this. If you can promise me you will be okay and not freak out, I'll get you a box of sugar quills. Deal?"
She smiled fully. "Deal"
We took the potion and clink the bottles together like we were making a toast.
"Cheers" we said, consuming the entire thing.
And then the world faded.
When I opened my eyes, I was in the water, trying to keep my head raised. I found myself being clung to by Harry, and Fleur's little sister, a crowd roaring in the distance. I spit out the nasty lake water.
"Wet, this, isn't it? What did you bring her for?" I asked Harry.
"Fleur didn't turn up, I couldn't leave her," Harry panted.
"Harry, you wanker," I laughed, "you didn't take that song thing seriously, did you? Dumbledore wouldn't have let any of us drown!"
"The song said -"
"It was only to make sure you got back inside the time limit! I hope you didn't waste time down there acting the hero!"
Harry looked at me as if he wanted to stab me.
"C'mon," Harry said shortly, "help me with her, I don't think she can swim very well."
We pulled Fleur's sister through the water, back toward the bank where the judges stood watching, with about twenty merpeople accompanying us like a guard of honor, singing some dreadful screechy song. Madam Pomfrey fussing over Hermione, Krum, Cedric, and Cho, all of whom were wrapped in thick blankets.
Dumbledore and Ludo Bagman stood beaming at Harry and I from the bank as we swam nearer, but Percy, who looked very white came splashing out to meet us. Meanwhile Madame Maxime was trying to restrain Fleur Delacour, who was quite hysterical, fighting tooth and nail to return to the water.
"Gabrielle! Gabrielle! Is she alive? Is she 'urt?"
"She's fine!" Harry tried to tell her, but he was so exhausted he could hardly talk, let alone shout.
Percy seized me, dragging me back to the bank.
"Gerroff, Percy, I'm all right!" I said, trying to get out of his Mum feeling hug
"It was ze grindylows...zey attacked me...oh Gabrielle, I thought...I thought..." I heard Fleur say to her sister after I got out of Percy's grasp.
Madam Pomfrey pulled Harry over to Hermione and the rest of us, wrapped him tightly in a blanket and forced Pepperup potion down his throat.
"Harry, well done!" Hermione cried. "You did it, you found out how all by yourself!"
"Well...Yeah, that's right," said Harry, raising his voice slightly so that Karkaroff could hear him.
"You haff a water beetle in your hair, Herm-own-ninny," said stupid as Krum, trying to draw Hermione's attention back onto himself, but Hermione brushed away the beetle impatiently and said, "You're well outside the time limit, though, Harry...Did it take you ages to find us?"
"No...I found you okay..."
Madam Pomfrey wrapped me up in a blanket and gave me some Pepperup Potion as well. She then did the same for Fleur and Gabrielle.
"Look after Gabrielle," she told Madam Pomfrey, and then she turned to Harry. "You saved 'er," she said breathlessly. "Even though she was not your 'ostage."
"Yeah," said Harry, shrugging
Fleur bent down, kissed Harry twice on each cheek, and then said to me, "And you too-you 'elped -"
"Yeah, yeah, a bit -" I said hoping for the same treatment. Fleur swooped down on me too and kissed me as well on both cheeks. Hermione for some reason looked simply furious. I couldn't help but smile stupidly.
Ludo Bagman's magically magnified voice boomed out beside us, making us all jump, and causing the crowd in the stands to go very quiet.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our decision. Merchieftainess Murcus has told us exactly what happened at the bottom of the lake, and we have therefore decided to award marks out of fifty for each of the champions, as follows...
"Fleur Delacour, though she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by grindylows as she approached her goal, and failed to retrieve her hostage. We award her twenty-five points."
Applause from the stands.
"I deserved zero," said Fleur throatily, shaking her magnificent head.
"Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was first to return with his hostage, though he returned one minute outside the time limit of an hour. We therefore award him forty-seven points."
"Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nevertheless effective, and was second to return with his hostage. We award him forty points."
Karkaroff clapped particularly hard, looking very superior.
"Harry Potter used gillyweed to great effect," Bagman continued. "He returned last, and well outside the time limit of an hour. However, the Merchieftainess informs us that Mr. Potter was first to reach the hostages, and that the delay in his return was due to his determination to return all hostages to safety, not merely his own."
We both gave Harry half-exasperated, half-merciful looks.
"Most of the judges," and here, Bagman gave Karkaroff a very nasty look, "feel that this shows moral fiber and merits full marks. However...Mr. Potter's score is forty-five points."
Harry was now tying for first place with Cedric. Hermione and I,caught by surprise, stared at Harry, laughed and started applauding hard with the rest of the crowd.
"There you go. Harry!" I shouted over the noise. "You weren't being thick after all - you were showing moral fiber!"
Fleur was clapping very hard too, but Krum didn't look happy at all. He attempted to engage Hermione in conversation again, but she was too busy cheering Harry to listen.
'Get it through your head, old man.' I thought. 'She doesn't want you.'
"The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June," continued Bagman. "The champions will be notified of what is coming precisely one month beforehand. Thank you all for your support of the champions."
With one more giant laugh, the three of us marched back up the hill. Harry and I on either side of Hermione, who had locked arms with us, chatting away, and poking fun at our best mate, who was filled with moral fiber.