The Black Lake Effect Part 1

Summary: Harry tirelessly prepares as the Second Task looms, trying to figure out the egg, while James and Lily prepare themselves for the task. Will Harry figure out the egg in time?

Harry stared at the egg sitting on the desk in his room in his mother's private quarters. The second task was now just a month away. He hadn't figured out what the egg says. It still screamed shrilly any time Harry opened the egg. Loudly. Staring at it wouldn't get him any closer to figuring out what the egg was meant to tell him. He stood up, left it on the desk, and left his room.

He stopped by the cold box in the kitchenette and pulled out a can of Coke. He cracked it open, leaning against the counter as he thought about how he would figure out what the egg said.

Hermione didn't bring it up anymore as Harry nearly lost his patience with her the last time she had asked.

As he drank the soda, his mind tried to think of other things, like James coming up to stay for the weekend. He was scheduled for one of his talks with the seventh-year students who were interested in joining the Aurors on Monday. In addition, Professor Moody asked him to speak with the fourth, fifth, and sixth years. Harry was looking forward to it. He knew a few details of his job, but James's lectures went into more detail.

Ron commented on how cool he thought his Dad's job was. Harry agreed. He had spent a lot of his time back when he was in primary school during half term in James's office at the Auror department. The highlight was the lunch at either McDonald's or the canteen. Back then, Sirius's office was the only place besides James's office, the break room, and the restroom Harry was allowed to enter.

Harry hadn't gone to work with James since the summer before he started Hogwarts for the day. Now, Harry's visits to James's office were with Lily or when he needed to borrow one of James's defense books that he kept in his office at the Ministry.

Finishing the Coke, Harry tossed the now empty can into the rubbish bin and headed to the door, picking up his rucksack as he did. His robe and scarf were hooked through the straps of his rucksack to keep him from carrying them.

Entering the corridor, he shivered momentarily before pulling on his heavy winter-weight robe. He had opted for the cardigan that went with his uniform that morning because his jumpers were all in the laundry. Lily had ordered more jumpers and shirts when they were home for a few days during the Christmas holiday. The jumpers in Harry's size and house had to be ordered. Lily had arranged for the delivery to be made at Hogwarts.

Harry turned the corner, seeing his best friends up ahead. Ron and Neville's back were to him as he approached them.

"Boo!"

Ron and Neville jumped. Neville screamed. They turned around when they heard the familiar, almost hyena-like laughter.

"I hate it when you do that!" Ron exclaimed, lightly punching Harry's shoulder.

"But it's fun to watch you two jump," Harry said.

"One of these days, we'll get you back, Potter."

"We'll see about that, Weasley."

"Now that my soul has returned to my body, I'm going to ask, have you ever figured out the egg?" Neville inquired.

"Not yet," Harry admitted.

"Don't let Hermione hear you say that," Ron deadpanned.

"I'm not. Mum hasn't hounded me about the egg like she has," Harry admitted.

Ron and Neville knew it was true. Harry had admitted it during one of their conversations while getting ready for bed after Christmas break.

Lily knew Harry would get it done, even though it would most likely be at the last minute.

As they walked to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures, they met up with Hermione, who had come from the library.

"Is the egg still in Lily's quarters?" Ron whispered.

Harry nodded.

Hermione was usually quiet on their walk. The look on her face made anyone second guess approaching her.

"What happened to her?" Neville whispered.

Ron paused. "Harry, is it that time?"

"Judging from the I'm about to rip someone's head off look on Hermione's face, I'm going to go with yes," Harry replied.

Hermione's mood was quickly forgotten when Hagrid began the lesson, which started with the announcement that his classes were being moved to an unused classroom on the first floor due to the pending colder weather.

There was enough of a break between Hagrid's class and Divination that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville took advantage of the extra time and headed to Lily's quarters for some hot chocolate. Hermione had Arithmancy, but it started at the same time as Divination.

Lily was in her quarters when they entered, sitting at her desk in the sitting room.

"Hi guys," She greeted them as they walked in. "Do you want some hot chocolate?"

"Yes, please," Hermione said, answering for the group.

Lily flicked her wand at the kettle, filling it with milk and sending it to the stove to heat. "Should be ready in about five minutes."

"Thanks, Lily," Ron, Hermione, and Neville chroused.

"Thanks, Mum."

"You're welcome."

Lily couldn't help the soft smile on her face. Her quarters gave Harry and his friends somewhere they could come to. It was a safe space for not only Harry but his friends, too.

"Did Hagrid seem off to you?" Hermione asked as she accepted the mug from Lily.

"He's been like this since the Yule Ball," Ron noted. Harry and Neville agreed.

"I think it's a combination of this Rita Skeeter article in the Prophet and Madam Maxime," Hermione added.

Lily handed the boys each a mug before setting a platter of biscuits on the table.

"He came back to teaching because of you three," Lily informed them. "He's still processing all that's happened. In the case of him and Madam Maxime, there's a difference there. While Hagrid is proud to be a half-giant, Madam Maxime isn't."

Hermione reached for a chocolate biscuit. "How can you be ashamed of who you are?"

Lily picked up her mug, wrapping her hands around the warmth.

"There are some people and creatures who aren't. I am proud to be a Muggle Born just like you are proud to be one."

Hermione nodded.

"Remus isn't ashamed to be a werewolf, is he?" Harry asked.

Lily gave her son a knowing look. Harry knew the answer.

"He was, at first, keeping it a secret from your father and Sirius as long as he could. He thought he would lose the first friends he ever met. Instead, James and Sirius found a way to help him. They became Animagus and joined him on the full moons."

"How?" Hermione asked.

"Illegally," Lily replied. "They were successful in their transitions in our fifth year."

"They are registered now, right?" Harry inquired.

"Yes, they are."

They sat silently for a moment before Neville asked the question on everyone's mind.

"How did Rita Skeeter find out about Hagrid?"

"That, my dear, is the million galleon question." Lily took a sip of her hot chocolate.

Harry could see the wheels in his mother's head turning. She was going to find out how Rita Skeeter found out about Hagrid if it was the last thing she did.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Madam Pomfrey was startled when she heard the door to the hospital wing slam shut. She jumped out of her chair, rushing out of her office to see who slammed the door.

An angry Lily greeted her when she stepped out into the hospital wing.

"Have they lost their bloody minds?!" She exclaimed.

"Who?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

Lily took a calming breath, even though she was anything but calm.

"The second task involves Harry retrieving something taken. Guess where?"

Madam Pomfrey had a feeling where.

"Say it's not so," She deadpanned.

Lily nodded. "The Black Lake."

Madam Pomfrey's eyes widened.

"It's February! The lake would be freezing!"

"Exactly what I said, Poppy."

Lily approached a bed and began making it the Muggle way—a clear sign of an angry Lily. She sometimes made the beds at home the Muggle way when she was changing sheets on the bed.

As part of their agreement, James and Lily were informed of the tasks when the headmasters and headmistress were told what each task was. Professor Sprout and Minvera joined them as the Hogwarts participant's Head of House. Ludo Bagman was trying his best not to face the wrath of one Lily Potter. While never on the receiving end, Barty Crouch had witnessed Lily going off on Rufus when James was hurt during the summer. The man thought James could return to work after only a week after the accident.

When Lily spoke softly, Dumbledore and Minvera merely took a few steps away from Lily before she erupted. Ludo was blubbering when Lily reached her full volume.

Dumbledore and Minvera were positive that he felt the ground shake.

"Does Harry know?" Madam Pomfrey asked, fluffing a pillow on one of the beds that hadn't gotten Lily's treatment.

Lily paused, holding a pillow in her hand.

"As far as I know, he hasn't figured out the egg. I'll tell him if I have to."

Madam Pomfrey nodded. She didn't want to be Ludo or Barty if something happened to Harry. Lily was a force to be reckoned with regarding her son. James wouldn't need to do anything except step in when needed.

She turned at the sound of the door opening to see Minvera stepping into the hospital wing.

"I can guess what your thoughts are on the matter, Minvera," She commented.

"They're idiots!" Minvera exclaimed. "Imbeciles!"

She picked up a cup of tea, muttering how it needs to be something stronger than tea, and swallowed the contents in one go.

"Does James know?" She asked Lily.

"He was listening in on the mirrors. I bet he had to put a silencing charm on the door to his office before I started shouting."

Minerva nodded. "I guess now that we know you're going to prepare for any emergencies."

"Like hypothermia? They better have a warming station. And my son is one of the participants. I wish I could pull him from this," Lily admitted.

"I know you. I wish there were something we could do. We would have done it months ago," Minvera stated.

"Have they figured out how Harry's name even got into the Goblet of Fire?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"It was hoodwinked, thinking there are four schools instead of three, and Harry was put in for the fourth school. That is what James has figured out." Lily sighed, sitting down on a stool. "I told James that Moody was the one who mentioned it, and Sirius knew where to go to find the information. This is just the first time anyone has heard of this happening."

Minvera picked up her teacup, summoning a bottle from Madam Pomfrey's office.

"I'll replace it, Poppy," She said as she uncorked the bottle of whiskey.

"If James calls before he comes, I'm telling him to bring me the bottle of wine in the cabinet at the house," Lily said, propping her elbow on the table and resting her head in her hand. "I might be an alcoholic before this is over."

Minvera looked at Lily over her glasses. "And what is James using to cope?"

"Firewhiskey," Lily said promptly.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about." Minvera took a drink of her whiskey, adding a little bit of tea from the pot beside her.

Lily knew Minvera was right. She only drank it when she felt stressed, and with Harry in the tournament, she drank more than her usual weekly glass or two. However, Lily did finish a bottle in a week following Harry's name coming out of the Goblet of Fire. The more details she learned, the more she drank.

Remembering James was still on the mirror, she pulled it out of her pocket. When she saw her own reflection in the mirror, she knew James had disconnected.

"When is James coming up?"

"Tonight. He's going to talk with the seventh-year students about the Aurors tomorrow, and Moody asked him to speak with his classes."

Last year, when Remus and Sirius taught Defense, they asked James to come in and speak with the fourth-year students and older about the Aurors. The third-year class was a last-minute add-on to the schedule. Lily knew why. Harry had commented the day before how he never got to see any of James's lectures on the Aurors. It was Sirius's idea to include the third years, but Lily knew it was because of Harry's comment.

They purposefully didn't tell Harry, leaving it a surprise. The look on Harry's face was priceless when he walked in and saw his Dad.

Lily knew she and James would debrief on what they learned about the second task tonight after returning to Lily's quarters.

In the meantime, she knew she had to prepare for the second task herself. As the school healer, it would be her job to take care of any injuries that came from being in the water in the middle of winter. Hypothermia was at the top of her list. Frostbite was coming in a close second. While she knew illnesses weren't a concern, she didn't want to be unprepared.

"You can't get sick diving into a freezing lake, can you?" She asked Madam Pomfrey.

"No. I know why you're asking, and I don't think you have that to worry about."

Lily nodded, knowing Madam Pomfrey was right. As she heard James say a million times she worried enough for the both of them.

And she would worry about her son until this bloody tournament was over.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

James knew when he flooed to Lily's quarters that afternoon, Hogwarts was still standing.

He knew how his wife would react when she found out the details of the Second Task, a condition Lily asked James to add to their list of conditions while Harry competed in the Tri-Wizard Tournament following the first task. They had agreed out of fear of Lily's wrath.

James listened to the details over the mirrors as Ludo and Barty explained the Second Task to Professor Dumbledore, Madam Maxine, Professor Karkaroff, Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, and Lily.

"I'm sorry I didn't catch that. Care to repeat that, please?" Lily asked.

James paused what he was doing, eyeing the mirror lying on his desk. He knew that tone well. He knew what was coming and wasn't surprised. He reached for his wand, which was beside the mirror, and picked it up.

Ludo repeated what he said, confirming Lily's suspicions.

"Did you say the Black Lake?"

James took that as his cue to put a silencing charm on the door to his office. Lily was speaking in her low voice. He imagined Minvera looking at Ludo and Barty with a tiny bit of sympathy, a tiny bit. Professor Dumbledore probably put a silencing charm on the doors to the room.

"I understand your concern for your son's safety…"

"Harry's safety is my main concern, but there are three others who not only are you putting their safety, but their health at risk."

And there was the healer in Lily coming out. James knew his wife's tone and almost felt sorry for Ludo and Barty. Almost.

He imagined the castle shook as he heard his wife shout.

Not finding his wife in her quarters, he dropped off his bag in her bedroom and a new bottle of wine in the kitchen. He left her quarters and headed to the hospital wing, where he thought he would check first.

Walking into the hospital wing, he found Madam Pomfrey cleaning up a first aid tray. She looked up briefly.

"She's in her office," Madam Pomfrey said, wiping the tray with a cloth.

James nodded and headed to Lily's office next to Madam Pomfrey's. He opened the door to Lily's office and found his wife sitting at the desk. She was writing on an order form for potion supplies and medical supplies.

"Hello, Petal," He greeted.

Lily looked up, smiling, when she saw her husband.

"Hi."

James leaned over the desk, kissing his wife.

"I see Hogwarts is still standing," James commented lightly.

Lily sighed, lying down the quill in her hand on the desk.

"They have lost their minds."

James nodded, agreeing. "Do you know if Harry has figured out the egg yet?"

Lily shook her head. "No. I haven't asked. It's in his room in my quarters."

James nodded. Harry was known for staying on task until he completed said task. He did procrastinate sometimes, but this was different.

"He'll figure it out."

Lily knew James was right.

"Sirius is coming with me when I come up for the second task. Remus might, depending on how he's feeling."

The second task was less than a week following the full moon. It sometimes took Remus a whole week to fully recover from a full moon. In the research Lily had done, it was typical of werewolfs as they aged.

"Harry would understand," Lily said.

"I know. Remus said he would definitely be there for the third task."

"If I remember correctly, didn't Ludo say that wasn't until June?" Lily inquired.

"Yes, it is," James confirmed.

The third task, or rather the date for the third task, was brought up in the meeting Lily sat in with the headmasters/headmistress, Ludo Bagman, and Barty. The date was set, but details would be released at a later date.

Lily didn't ask any questions. Her focus right now was that her son survived the second task.

"Are we eating in the Great Hall, or are you cooking?" Jamea asked.

"They're serving roast chicken in the Great Hall tonight. I smelled it when I passed the kitchen earlier," Lily said.

"Alright."

"I'm going to cook tomorrow night since it's Friday, and you're staying for the weekend."

"I speak with the seven years who are interested in joining the Aurors tomorrow and Moody's class on Monday. Wouldn't make sense if I went home only to return Sunday evening."

"True," Lily agreed.

"I thought I would spend time with Harry, take him to Hogsmeade just the two of us."

Lily smiled at the thought of Harry doing something normal.

"That would be nice. You two can spend time together."

James smiled as he thought of the bonding time he would get with his son this weekend.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the last class of the day. It would ring again in about twenty minutes to signal it was time for dinner.

"Shall we head on down to the Great Hall?" Jamea asked.

"Sure, and remember James..."

"I know. Behave if you're going to sit at the head table with you, or you'll send me to sit with Harry," James recited.

Lily could feel the earlier rage and anger leave her as she walked to the Great Hall with James. He told her about the meeting he had attended at work that morning. It was more about admin stuff than anything.

As they approached the Great Hall, Lily saw their son with Ron and Neville, Hermione trailing behind them.

Watching her son, she couldn't help but think it was unfair. Harry shouldn't have to compete in a competition he didn't sign up for—a competition where people have died.

She just hoped that her son would make it out alive.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Harry found himself sitting in his bedroom in Lily's quarters, staring at the egg again. This time, he had a solution to finding out the egg. Take a bath with it in the Prefect's bathroom.

Cedric had found him when he was coming out of the hospital wing. He had a headache and had gone to ask Lily for a headache potion. She gave him the potion and a cup of water, suggesting he rested in the hospital wing for a little while.

He had just turned the corner from the hospital wing when Cedric spotted and called to him. Harry stopped when he heard his name called and waited for Cedric to catch up.

"I wanted to thank you for warning me about the dragons," He said, his voice low.

"You're welcome," Harry nodded.

"I wanted to do something for you in return. Have you figured out what the egg said?"

"Not yet. It just screams or shrieks." Harry shrugged.

"Have a bath with it," Cedric suggested. "Just mull it over in the hot water. If you need somewhere to go, try the Prefect's bathroom on the fifth floor. The password is Pine Fresh."

Harry nodded. Lily had a bathtub in her bathroom. His bathroom only had a shower. The tub wasn't large enough compared to the Prefect's bathroom, which he heard was the size of a swimming pool. But he could make it work.

But the idea of using the Prefect's bathroom was too tempting.

Decision made, he picked up the egg and headed up to Gryffindor Tower.

When he returned to the tower, he headed up to his dorm to stash the egg in his trunk until later. It would be better to go after curfew, and he would need the Invisibility Cloak and the map. Ron and Neville were the only ones in the dorm when he came in. He explained his plan to his best friends.

"Take a bath with the egg?" Neville questioned Cedric's suggestion.

"What difference would it make?" Ron asked.

Harry shrugged. "That's what he said to do."

Ron and Neville looked at each other.

"Okay," Ron said slowly.

"What do you need us to do?" Neville asked.

Harry grinned. "I need some help."

At ten o'clock, Harry collected the map and the egg before slipping on the Invisibility Cloak. Neville distracted Dean and Seamus in the bathroom by showing them a plant he was keeping in the bathroom. The distraction was that he was telling them about it.

He caught Harry glancing at him through the cracked door.

"I owe you," Harry mouthed before rushing out the door.

Quietly, he crept downstairs to the portrait hole. When he approached the portrait hole, he knocked on the wood.

Ron was waiting outside in the shadows. When he heard Harry's knock, he whispered the password to the Fat Lady.

"Banana Fritters."

The portrait hole opened, and Harry slipped out, momentarily poking his head out from under the invisibility cloak.

"I owe you," He whispered.

"Good luck," Ron murmured. He was already planning on asking Harry for Doobles when they went to Hogsmeade next time.

It was awkward to navigate the hall under the invisibility cloak. This time, it was more because of the Egg Harry held under his arm.

The moonlit corridors were silent and empty. Harry checked the map strategically, ensuring he wouldn't run into anyone he wanted to avoid.

When he finally reached the state of Boris the Bewildered, a lost-looking wizard with his gloves on the wrong hands, Harry knew he had found the Prefect's bathroom. He located the door, hand finding the knob. Leaning close, he muttered the password.

"Pine fresh."

Sure enough, Cedric was right about the password.

The door creaked open. Harry slipped inside, bolting the door behind him. Once safely inside, he pulled the Invisibility Cloak, looking around the bathroom.

"This would be worth becoming a prefect," He thought as he looked around.

The bathroom was softly lit by a candle-filled chandelier. Everything was white marble, including what seemed to be an empty, rectangular swimming pool sunk into the middle of the floor. There were over a hundred golden taps that stood around the pool edges, each with a differently colored Jewel set into its handle.

There was even a diving board.

Long white linen curtains hung at the windows. There was a large pile of fluffy white towels sitting in the corner. A single blonde mermaid sat in the window asleep on a rock, her long hand over her face. It fluttered every time she snored.

Harry stepped further into the Prefect's bathroom, looking around, his footsteps echoing off the walls. He was debating on which tap he wanted to try out.

As magnificent as the bathroom was, he couldn't help but suppress the feeling that Cedric might have been having him on, a feeling shared by Ron and Neville.

How on earth was this supposed to help him solve the mystery of the egg?

He shook the thought aside and put one of the fluffy towels, the cloak, the map, and the egg at the side of the swimming pool-sized bathroom, kneeling down to turn on a few of the taps.

Mixed with the water, Harry realized each tab carried different sorts of bubble bath. He had never experienced it before in his life. One tap had gushed out pink and blue bubbles the size of footballs while another poured ice-white foam. It was so thick Harry figured it would carry his weight if he dared to test it. The third tap sent heavily perfumed purple clouds hovering over the water's surface.

When the deep pool was full of hot water, foam, and bubbles, which, to Harry's surprise, took a very short time to fill, considering its size, Harry pulled off his pajamas, slippers, and dressing gown. In just his boxers, he slid into the water.

The pool was so deep his feet barely touched the bottom. He did swim a couple of laps, swimming back to the side.

He stared at the egg.

As highly enjoyable as it was to swim in the hot foamy water with the clouds of different colored steam wafting around, no stroke of brilliance came to him, no sudden burst of understanding.

Harry stretched out his arms, lifting the egg in his wet hands, and opened it. The wailing, screeching sound filled the bathroom, echoing off the marble walls.

He snapped it shut quickly, worried that the sound would attach Filch.

Was this Cedric's plan all along?

"I would try putting it in the water if I were you."

Harry jumped, nearly dropping the egg onto the marble floor. So startled by the voice, he also almost swallowed a considerable amount of bubbles.

He turned around to find Moaning Myrtle in one of the toilet stalls in the corner of the room. What was she doing here? As far as Harry knew, she never left the bathroom three floors below.

"Myrtle!"

"Long time no see," Myrtle said.

Harry realized he was just in his boxers. He hadn't felt comfortable getting in without wearing anything in case someone walked in on him.

The foam was so dense that she couldn't see anything, but still, he had a feeling that Myrtle had been spying on him since he arrived.

"I closed my eyes when you got in," She said, blinking at him through his thick spectacles. "You haven't been to see me in a while."

Harry cleared his throat.

"Yeah, well, it's a girl's bathroom."

"You didn't seem to care before. You were there all the time."

This was true. That was when Harry, Ron, and Hermione had found Myrtle's out-of-order bathroom a convenient place to brew Polyjuice Potion in secret, their second year. Polyjuice Potion was a forbidden potion that had turned him and Ron into living replicas of Crabbe and Goyle for an hour to allow them to sneak into the Slytherin common room. Harry had stolen the book Lily had with the recipe to keep Hermione from having to use the restricted section of the library and had stolen the ingredients from Snape's potions cupboard or what he couldn't find in Lily's.

"Been busy," Harry explained, which was true. "I haven't had time to go in there. Plus, it is the girl's bathroom."

"Oh, I see," Myrtle murmured, picking at the spot on her chin. "Well, anyway. I would try putting the egg in the water. That's what Cedric did."

"Were you spying on him too?" Harry asked indignantly. "Do you sneak up here in the evening to watch the prefects take a bath?"

"Sometimes," Myrtle admitted rather slyly. "I've never come out to speak to anyone before."

"I'm honored," Harry deadpanned.

"You're welcome."

Harry realized what Myrtle was suggesting. "Are you saying to put the egg in the water?"

"Yes!" Myrtle exclaimed.

Harry turned around, reaching for the egg. Turning back around, he lowered the egg beneath the foamy surface. He opened it, and this time, it didn't wail. A gurgling song was coming out of it, the words of which he couldn't distinguish through the water.

"You need to put your head under, too," Myrtle ordered, seemingly enjoying bossing him around. "Go on!"

Harry took a deep breath and slid under the surface. Sitting on the marble bottom of the bubble-filled bath, he heard a chorus of eerie voices singing to him from the open egg in his hands.

"Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching, ponder this:

We've taken what you'll sorely miss,

An hour-long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour- the prospect's black,

Too late, it's gone. It won't come back."

Letting himself float back to the surface, breaking through the bubbly water. He shook his head to get his hair out of his eyes.

"Did you hear it?" Myrtle asked.

"Yeah. Come seek us where our voices sound…" Harry trailed off. "I need to listen again."

He sank back down under the water. It took him three tries to listen to the egg's song before Harry memorized it. He floated back to the water's surface.

"Where is it talking about?" Harry murmured. Then it dawned on him where.

The Black Lake.

His mother wasn't going to be happy about this. She must not know. Harry figured if she did, Hogwarts wouldn't be still standing.

"Too bad it took you quicker than it did, Cedric. It took him ages, and all the bubbles were gone by the time he figured it out."

"So, it's in the Black Lake. Myrtle, what lives in the lake beside the giant squid?"

"All sorts," She replied.

"What about anything in there that has a human voice…" Harry trailed off as his gaze fell on the mermaid in the window. "Hang on.."

The more he looked at the mermaid, the more he realized who could live in the Black Lake.

"Myrtle, are there merpeople in the Black Lake?"

"Oh, very good. It took Cedric much longer to figure that out! She was awake then." Myrtle jerked her head towards the mermaid with an expression of great dislike.

Harry leaned back against the pool's wall.

"That's it. The second task is to go and find the merpeople in the Black Lake and…" Harry trailed off as he remembered the other half.

Realization dawned on him. He felt the excitement of figuring out the egg drain out of him.

It wasn't that he wasn't a good swimmer. He was. Lily made sure he took lessons as a child. She worried about him drowning in a nearby lake or the one further into the forest behind the house. It was where James and Sirius got a drink when they adventured into the forest on the nights of the Full Moon with Remus.

But the Black Lake was larger and deeper than the lakes near his home in Potter's Bar.

There was one other issue. How was he going to breathe?

There was a second issue, and it had to do with what the merepeople's song said: take what you'll sorely miss.

It sounded like they were going to steal something he had, and he would have to get back.

The question was, what was it they were going to take?

"If you don't mind, Myrtle, I'm getting out, so close your eyes."

He retrieved the egg from the bottom of the bath and climbed out. He dried himself off and changed into dry boxers. Neville suggested that he bring a dry pair. He pulled on his pajamas and dressing gown again.

"Are you going to come and visit me in my bathroom again?" Myrtle mournfully asked as Harry picked up the Invisibility Cloak.

"I'll try," Harry said, even though the only way he would ever revisit Myrtle's bathroom was if every other toilet in the castle was out of order. "Thanks for your help, Myrtle. See you later."

"Bye," She said gloomily.

Harry put on the Invisibility Cloak as she zoomed back up the tap.

Out in the dark corridor, Harry examined the Marauders Map to check that the coast was still clear.

He checked the map periodically as he made his way back to Gryffindor Tower.

Once back inside the common room, Harry removed the Invisibility Cloak. The common room was empty and dark, with only the light from the fire in the fireplace.

When he rechecked the map, he did a double-take.

Was that Bartemius Crouch in Snape's potion's office? What was he doing in Snape's office?

It was suspicious.

It would be something he was going to mention to James when he came the following weekend.

"How did it go?"

Harry jumped at the voice.

"Blimey Ron! You scared me to death!" Harry hissed.

"Sorry, well, did you?"

"Yeah, I figured out the egg."

Ron sighed, noticing the look on Harry's face. "What's the bad news?"

"It involves the Black Lake or swimming in the lake."

"In this weather? Are they nuts?" Ron asked.

Harry snorted. "I imagined Mum would say the same thing."

"I think she might know already. I swore I felt the castle shake the other day, and the last time we felt that was when your Mum told off Snape."

Harry shrugged.

"Well, what did the egg say?"

Harry explained what the egg had said as they climbed the stairs to head to the fourth-year boys' dorm.

"So it actually said something besides wailing," Ron commented.

Harry nodded.

"You'll never believe who was in the Prefect's bathroom."

"Who?" Ron asked.

"Myrtle."

"As in Moaning Myrtle?" Ron asked, his jaw dropped open. Then he pinched his face in a look of pure horror. "What was she doing in there spying on you?"

"And the Prefects. I'm just the lucky one she decided to speak to. And she said she closed her eyes when I got in."

Ron shuttered. "Still, it's creepy."

"I know."

They quietly slipped into the fourth-year boys' dorm. Neville was already asleep. Ron had promised that he and Harry would fill him in the morning.

Harry decided to wait until morning to mention seeing Bartemius Crouch in Snape's potion's office.

But for now, he was happy he had figured out the egg. Now, all he needed to do was to figure out how he was going to breathe underwater for an hour.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Lily looked up from her paperwork and heard the roar of the floo. James stepped out of the fireplace, carrying a case of her favorite wine.

"I love you," She said.

James chuckled, setting the case of six bottles of white wine on the table.

"They had a special when I went to pick up a new bottle for you. I thought this way, you would have enough to get through the second task and the third."

"Definitely," Lily murmured. She didn't drink it much but drank more since Harry's name came out of the Goblet of Fire. Admittedly, Lily had finished two bottles the week of the first task. In her defense, one was finished the night she found out a dragon was going to be chasing her son. The more she thought of it and envisioned it, the more she drank.

James used Firewhiskey, while Lily used wine to cope with the stress and concern of their son competing in a competition he didn't sign up for.

Thank Merlin for the invention of hangover potions. Whoever they were, they deserved an award.

James used the potions more than Lily did. Lily never did because she had better control.

"Harry figured out the egg," Lily said, reaching for a piece of parchment laying away from the pile of paperwork Lily was working on, order forms for supplies for potions and the hospital wing.

"When?" James asked.

"The other night. This is what the egg said."

James read over the parchment before laying it down.

"Come see us where our voices sound is the Black Lake. He'll have an hour underwater to find what they took. Have they said what they're taking?"

Lily sighed. "Who."

"Who?" James repeated. "They're taking a person?"

Lily nodded. "Minvera told me. Apparently, Ludo didn't want to tell me."

James sighed, leaning back in his chair.

"He's obviously afraid of you," he murmured.

Lily nodded.

"Did Minvera say who they plan to take?"

"No, she didn't know." Lily gathered the paperwork from the hospital wing and banished it off to her desk in her office in the hospital wing.

James sighed, taking off his glasses to scrub his face.

"Well, we know he can swim."

"True," Lily murmured. She had made sure Harry took swimming lessons. He had passed with flying colors. But that was the least of Lily's concerns.

"How is he going to breathe underwater?"

Lily's question reminded James of their biggest concern. How was their son going to breathe underwater for an hour?

"We'll figure something out, or Hermione would find something?"

Lily knew James was right. Hermione, Ron, and Neville had been helping Harry prepare for the second task. They had been in the library almost every night this week to find a way for Harry to breathe underwater.

"Not to change the subject, but have you seen Barty lately?"

James's question made Lily realize she hadn't seen Barty since the meeting with the headmasters, Madam Maxime, Minvera, and Professor Sprout. Ludo and Barty were present for that meeting, but the latest one Minvera mentioned was that Ludo was present but not Barty.

"Since you mentioned it, I haven't."

"Rufus mentioned something today about how he's been sick. He seemed fine when I saw him last."

Lily thought about the last time she had seen Barty Crouch. He seemed like his normal self to her.

"He disappeared before the Yule Ball. He'll need to be there for the second task, right?"

"Right," James said.

He decided not to tell Lily about his conversation with Harry when he told him about something he saw on the map. He was checking the map before leaving the tower to go to Lily's quarters for a headache potion when he saw Barty Crouch's name in Snape's office near the potions store room.

Harry had made a mental note to tell James since he and Sirius had asked him to keep them in the loop regarding anything suspicious. Granted, their definition of suspicious and Harry's was entirely different. But it was still something James wanted to look into.

Something was up at Hogwarts, and James was going to get to the bottom of it if it was the last thing he did.

AN: On March 6th, 2015, I published the first chapter of Harry's Life with Parents. Here we are, ten years and SIXTY chapters later. It's hard to believe I've been writing this series this long. Thank you to everyone who has read this series, favorited it, followed it, left reviews, and even added it to communities. I know many of you have enjoyed this series as I have had writing it. There is still more to come, especially since this is part 1 of the Second Task. Thank you again!