Chapter 91: Octopus' Garden
Harry stirred his tea and willed himself to eat his usual breakfast and tried to look calm. Despite Dumbledore's assurances, there was a lot that could go wrong. He looked around the Great Hall and the students all seemed excited. There was a buzz in the air as every student appeared to be postulating what the second task would entail. As he picked up his fork to eat his eggs, he felt a tug on his sleeve. When he turned his head, he saw a concerned-looking Nancy Mulligan.
"Mister Harry," she whispered timidly. "Have you seen Miss Hermione? I have an issue with my transfiguration assignment and she's usually up early to help me. I can't find her anywhere."
Harry soothed the girl, lightly rubbing her back.
"Hermione is away for the morning," Harry said. "You'll see her after the second task."
"So she's part of the task?" Nancy whispered.
"You're a very smart girl," Harry said. "Yes. This task will have each champion rescue a hostage from the Black Lake and Hermione is mine."
"That's unfair!" Nancy shouted, prompting Lavender and Parvati to shush her, to keep her from attracting attention.
"We know," Parvati said. "Professor Dumbledore has ensured their safety but it's still uncomfortable that they would do this for a tournament. But don't worry; Harry won't let anything happen to her."
"In that case, you need your energy," Nancy pushed Harry's plate closer to him. "Miss Hermione needs you at her best. Eat! Eat!"
"Merlin," Harry whined. "She's starting to sound like Hermione."
"Well then don't let her down," Neville said. "Eat up, Potter!"
As breakfast wrapped up, McGonagall walked down from the Head Table to collect him.
"Mr. Potter," McGonagall's face was as stony as ever but Harry spotted a tightness around her eyes. "It is time."
"Good luck, mate," Neville gave Harry a quick side-hug while Lavender, Parvati, Ginny and his Quidditch teammates started clapping. The rest of the hall joined them as all four champions stood up.
McGonagall lead the champions to the Black Lake wherein they found a large tent erected with stands lining the bank around it. Over the top of the lake, four large mirrors were floating above the water. Before they could enter the tent, Iris landed in front of Viktor.
"It's okay," Viktor lovingly stroked the dragon's snout. "I vill be fine. Stay on the bank and vait for me."
The Chinese Fireball huffed and stomped off, laying down next to the lake with her snout inches from the water.
With the dragon gone, McGonagall ushered them inside the tent to a dressing room for each of them.
"You will find new battle robes for this event," she informed them. "They are not as bulky as the ones you had for the first task and have watertight and warming charms placed on them so you will be better able to take the cold of the lake. You have ten minutes to get ready. After that, the judges will call you to the dock to start."
Drawing the curtain, Harry changed into the red robes that, once he put them on, sized themselves into a makeshift wetsuit. He put his wand holster around his waist and stuck the bag of gillyweed to it with a sticking charm. Stepping out, Harry did his final checks to make sure everything was secure.
"Ready Harry?" Cedric asked as he stepped out in his gold wetsuit.
"As ready as I can," Harry answered. "I just want this to be done with."
"I know what you mean," Cedric nodded solemnly. "If anything's happened to Fay or the others."
"If something happens to them," Viktor growled as he stepped out of his changing room in his black wetsuit. "I vill let Iris roast them all."
"As interesting as they would be," Fleur was the last to step out in her light blue wetsuit which the males were certain to love. Harry wondered if that was by design as Fleur hurriedly braiding her hair behind her. "I would rather zey just keep their 'ands off our loved ones, oui?"
"Agreed," the other three said.
Just as Fleur finished her braid, sticking it to her back with a sticking charm, Bagman's voice echoed in the tent.
"Welcome one and all to the second task of the Triwizard Tournament!" Bagman's overly cheery voice grated on Harry, as if he was taking great joy in people being put in peril. "First let's all welcome the champions!"
"From Durmstrang, currently trailing with 31 points, the Seeker Extraordinaire, Viktor Krum!"
Viktor walked out to cheers, giving the audience a half-hearted wave.
"From Hogwarts, currently in third place, we have the Hufflepuff Hunk Cedric Diggory."
The Hufflepuffs made their voices heard while Cedric scowled.
"From Hogwarts, the Boy-Who-Lived Harry Potter!"
When Harry strode from the tent, the sun blinded him a little. Behind the tent, the crowd huddled tightly together to prevent the cold from penetrating all their layers and blankets. Just beyond the stands, Iris remained, casting dark looks over the water.
"And finally in first place after a decisive performance in the first task, we have the French Fancy, Fleur Delacour!"
Fleur exited the tent to cheers, wolf whistles and cat calls.
"Each of our Champions has something taken from them and held hostage at the bottom of the lake," Bagman announced and at his words, the mirrors lit up, showing the four hostages floating in the merfolk village. Harry blanched at how pale and lifeless Hermione looked. "They will have an hour to find the village, free their hostage and return them to the surface. They will be graded on speed and the magic they use."
Harry looked at the judges' table where Dumbledore sat next between Crouch and Maxime. Dumbledore gifted Harry a wan smile and nodded.
"Champions to your marks!" Bagman shouted as four markers illuminated on the dock corresponding to their colors. "Please remain as still as possible for a minute."
Harry felt a weird warmth pass through him as he stood on the red mark.
"Perfect!" Bagman said. "Your suits are now linked to the pad. If you are in any peril, tap your heart and the organizers will know to activate your portkeys to bring you back to the dock.
"30 seconds to the second task," Bagman continued announcing. "Champions do your final preparations."
A countdown began above the mirrors. Harry took one last look at Hermione's floating form and turned his eyes down toward the lake. The crowd gasped as next to him, Fleur's features sharpened and the flame moved from her hands to cover her body. At the sound of the canon, Fleur cast the bubblehead charm, sprinted into the water and dove in. On Harry's other side, Viktor directed his wand at himself, transfiguring his head and torso into that of a shark. When he stowed his wand as his hands turned into fins.
Meanwhile, Cedric cast a bubblehead charm on himself as well and dove in. Harry grabbed his first dose of gillyweed and stuffed it into his mouth as he waded into the water, casting warming and proximity charms on his body and impervious and sticking charms on his glasses. As soon as he found it difficult to breathe, he dove forward. Once his head dipped below the water, he took a big gulp of water.
Looking around, he cast the tracking charm telling him which way Hermione was. Turning his wand backward, he cast the Auguamenti charm, feeling a burst of speed, he propelled himself through the water, his eyes moving around, trying to spot any movement in the pitch-black water. As he continued to push forward, he felt his proximity alarm go off.
Canceling the water charm, Harry lit his wand. He knew he was well away from any Grindylows so anything in this part of the lake had to be bigger. Holding his wand up, the light spilled over two creatures fighting in the water. Cautiously, Harry approached closer once he realized one of the figures was the Giant Squid and the other Krum. Apparently, the squid did not take well to a shark being in his territory.
Feeling brave, Harry lightly tapped one of the squid's tentacles. The squid turned so it could look Harry in the eye. Harry extended his arm and grabbed one of the squid's free tentacles, beginning the handshake he knew only too well. Once they completed the handshake, Harry pulled one of the tentacles down Krum's body so the squid could feel that Krum was indeed human. After he was able to point out that Viktor was not in fact a shark, the squid released the young boy, moving off into deeper waters.
Harry quickly checked Krum over and after making certain he was able to continue, Harry turned away, recast his tracking spell to properly orient himself and then moved onward. Casting the Tempus charm, he realized he had almost used up his first dose. Slipping another in his mouth, Harry turned in the direction of the village and sped onward.
Knowing he was close, Harry canceled the charm propelling him through the water, preferring to his wand for light rather than propulsion. He still had yet to encounter the other champions and hoped they were okay. Just as he was going to advance, the water surged above him.
On instinct, Harry tucked into a flip and kicked backward just as something rushed the spot where he had just been. Harry extended his wand as high as possible, wondering if it might have been Viktor again. Once the light moved forward, he almost dropped his wand.
In front of him was an underwater serpent. It looked more like a dragon than a snake with dark blue on the top and a yellow underbelly with razor-sharp fins by its head and running along its dorsal side, the sea serpent cut an imposing figure. Harry thanked his friendship with Hagrid that he knew at least enough about them to know their skin was as tough as a dragon and the crown on their head was hard enough to break through the wooden hull of a ship. They were commonly found in Norway and Sweden. From his explorations, Harry knew this creature was put into the lake for this task.
The beast roared and charged forward. Harry thanked his reflexes and underwater agility that allowed him to quickly dodge the assault. He launched cutting curses, bludgeoners and concussion hexes as the creature swam by. All the spells glanced off as the serpent swept its tail around to keep Harry from escaping, throwing him back toward its mouth. With a desperate last-ditch effort, Harry conjured a bone in its mouth, keeping the jaws from closing. Harry kicked off the serpent's blue head crest and pushed himself away from the thrashing creature. With a muted crack, the conjured bone snapped. Looking back, Harry saw the creature advancing on another offensive, roaring as it advanced.
Knowing he couldn't launch his signature through the water, Harry used his Kamehameha as a makeshift depth charge, pointing his wand downward, Harry left it behind him as the sea serpent was close enough that it would swallow the water where he was but still give him time to escape. Bubbles came from the mouth of the creature as it roared as much as the water would allow, as the spell burned the inside of its mouth. Now even angrier, the serpent launched itself at Harry who was flagging under the relentless assault. He tried to move away but his legs wouldn't respond quick enough. Harry readied his final suicidal option when bubbles obscured his vision. Expecting a sea creature to burst through them, Harry raised his wand.
Once they cleared, two figures struggled in the vicinity as the Giant Squid tried mightily to keep the larger creature contained but it was clear the squid was outmatched. With a powerful swipe of its razor-sharp tail, the sea serpent turned the pair and powered toward the bottom of the lake. With a muddled but-sickening crunch, the serpent drove the squid into one of the rocks lining the lakebed. The squid's tentacles slackened and the serpent swung around, sniffing the water until it locked back onto Harry.
Thanking the squid for the brief reprieve, Harry used the distance to plan his final, maybe literally, strategy. Kicking his flippered feet as hard as he could, Harry sped toward the serpent whose maw opened wide, its four fangs glinting in the light from Harry's wand. As they neared one another, Harry canceled his Lumos and readied his next spell. Acting on instinct, Harry shot a brief auguamenti to push himself laterally before igniting his green-colored lightsaber spell. The water sizzled as the blade drew outward from his wand right as the serpent was at attacking range. Harry thrust the blade toward the creature and pushed as hard as his legs would allow him as the blade sliced through the softer interior skin and down its flank. The sea serpent emitted a final, pained wail as the blade exited near its tail. A burst of blood floated in the water and Harry realized it wasn't from the serpent.
As he passed the serpent, one of the horns of its crest caught him, ripping his wetsuit down his right side. Harry let out a pained gasp, tucking his elbow into his side to staunch the flow of blood, knowing it wouldn't actually help.
"Ferula," Harry pointed the wand at his side as bandages shot from his wand to wrap around his midsection. He knew it was a stopgap measure but it would have to do for the time. He took a minute to check on the squid. When the creature gave Harry the equivalent of a weary thumb's up with its tentacle, Harry turned back toward Hermione's direction, his worry spiking. He knew that the serpent had to be for him, the way it went after him.
Either that or I'm becoming as paranoid as Moody, Harry thought mirthlessly. Either way, he had to make it to Hermione. He had to know she was okay.
"Aguamenti," Harry shouted in the water. As before, a burst of water shot out behind him. However, this time he was moving twice as fast, his panic and adrenaline overpowering his spells. Before long, he spotted the merfolk village. Canceling the spell, he held his wand at the ready. The seaweed-covered dwellings covered the lakebed. A few merfolk popped from the village to watch the new arrival to their village, their dull green skin and fangs looking nothing like Ariel or Triton. They looked more reminiscent of underwater goblins than anything. At the center of town, Harry saw a large statue depicting a merman holding a trident above his head. Floating in front of him he spotted her.
"Hermione!" Harry gasped out. Her features were hauntingly still. Her skin had a greenish tint and her bushy hair floated around her head. Looking around, he noticed two other figures with only Fay missing. As he cut the seaweed binding Hermione to the lakebed, a merman with a crown swam up, a smile on his face.
"You have saved your hostage," he said, folding his muscly arms over his well-defined chest. "Congratulations. You are free to leave. Now"
His eyes flashed menacingly. Harry's eyes flicked to Susan and Roger who still floated lifelessly.
"They are not yours to save," the chieftain said. "Worry not. No harm will come to them. Go. Now."
Harry bowed respectfully, grabbed Hermione, and repeated his propulsion charm just as Fleur swam through the water, her flame barrier shining like a beacon. With a swipe of her taloned hand, she sliced the seaweed in a single strike. The chieftain swam up to her, repeating the same phrase he had told Harry just as Harry sped off, carefully keeping Hermione hugged to his body. As they neared the shallows, Harry felt his gills receding. Pointing his wand down, he shot for the surface. As his head broke the surface, two gasps could be heard, two individuals breathing as if for the first time in their lives.
"Harry!" Hermione's eyes shot open and she gathered her bearings. "You did it!"
"Of course," Harry said, plainly as his eyelids drooped. "I couldn't leave my lady down there, now could I?"
"My champion," Hermione smiled as Harry let her go to allow them to swim toward the bank and the cheering crowd. "Any troubles?"
"Oh the usual," Harry deflected as he held his arm over his wound. As his adrenaline wore off, the pain increased in intensity. "Had to rescue Viktor from the squid and then I followed the tracking charm to you. Steady as she goes."
"Why do I feel like you're leaving something out?" Hermione looked over skeptically. She knew he was exhausted and laboring. He was only swimming with his left hand. As she finished her perusal of her boyfriend, she felt solid ground under her feet. As they stood, a gasp echoed across the crowd. Looking around, it didn't take her long to find the issue. The water ran red with Harry's blood as his magic failed and the bandages dissolved. Harry collapsed down to one knee as blood poured from his side.
"Harry!" Hermione shouted as he tried to stand again and collapsed again. Hermione grabbed him by the shoulders and turned his face up so he wouldn't drown. Screams filtered throughout the crowd as Hermione tried to put pressure on the wound. The water splashed around her as three figures sprinted toward her, the first being Madam Pomfrey.
"Move your hands, Miss Granger," the matron instructed. "I need to treat him."
"He's losing too much blood," Hermione wept hysterically.
"I know," Pomfrey said. "We need to get him to the Hospital Wing. Albus! Open the portkey wards!"
"They are open for you, Poppy," Dumbledore's deep voice boomed, as grave as it was powerful. "Take him."
With a swirl of color, Pomfrey and Harry vanished.
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore leaned down onto Hermione's level. "Do you know what happened?"
"No idea," Hermione said through chattering teeth. "Harry was laboring when we were swimming to the surface. I think he had an injury"
"So you don't know what did this?" Dumbledore flicked his wand to lift Hermione from the water, depositing her on the bank of the lake. With another flick and he dried Hermione off just as Fleur and Viktor emerged with their hostages.
"'Ermione?" Fleur ran up to the brunette. "Where is 'Arry? 'E I could smell his blood as I passed him."
"Mr. Potter is in the Hospital Wing," Dumbledore said. "Did you see what happened to him?"
"I saw him," Viktor said after regaining his human head. When he did, Iris landed next to him, using the heat from her fire to dry Viktor off. "He helped me vith the squid. I did not see him after that."
"I only saw him exiting the village," Fleur said.
"There wasn't anything included for the task that could do that much damage."
At that moment, the giant squid surfaced and dropped the sea serpent on the bank, flipped everyone on the surface the bird and sank below the waves again.
"That shouldn' be there," Hagrid shouted.
"Why don't you all go to the Wing to visit Harry and get checked by Madam Pomfrey?" Dumbledore suggested. "I will confer with the judges and merchieftain and we will administer the scores when all the champions can receive them."
As Hermione walked toward the castle, she looked over her shoulder where Hagrid was advancing on one of the organizers gesticulating animatedly.
(A/N: The Sea Serpent is meant to look like Gyarados from Pokemon, just for reference.)