Here we go again. I hope you have all enjoyed the wait between chapters and the wait for the decision on Percy's fate. Just what am I going to put him through? Well we'll just have to read on and see.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter Thirty-Three
By Rosa241
Percy POV:
Swimming through the kelp forest in front of me is so disconcerting that I almost want to turn back and just say no. Swim back up to the surface, wrap up nice and warm and just forget about this stupid tournament. I can't though. I know that. Firstly there are far too many people in that school who'd make the remainder of my time here not worth it. Secondly I won't get back whatever they've stolen but thirdly, and most importantly, I'd never forgive myself. I can't, I won't, turn back now.
Focus!
Shaking those thoughts out of my head I force myself back to the task at hand.
Bottom of the lake.
Gazing down I can't even see the bottom of the lake, no way do I want to go down there unless I have to. Shaking back to my original thoughts I continue making my way through the forest in front of me. There has to be a clearing somewhere up ahead. Once I find it I'll have a much better idea of where to go from here. Taking off in the same direction I finally begin to make some headway as the kelp begins to thin. Thank the lord. Maybe I'm finally getting somewhere. My thoughts are cut off when all of a sudden I'm pulled down.
The scream that comes from my lips is swallowed up by the bubblehead charm and the surrounding water. The pressure on my ankle is sharp and tight. It takes a moment before I find myself able to look down and my eyes meet the creature below. Through the murky water and the kelp, which is getting thicker by the minute, and my dizziness from being pulled down I make out the figure holding onto my ankle.
Merfolk.
Grabbing my wand it's instinct that takes over and I shout out the curse before I've had chance to think about it.
"Depulso!" The sparks fly from the end of my wand and shove the creature down away from me. Within an instant it makes to come back but a second shot makes it think twice and, thankfully, it takes off into the darkness of the kelp.
With my heart hammering in my chest I gaze around and realise with a start how far I was pulled down. Ignoring the pain shooting through my ankle I swim back up to where its lighter. With no idea exactly which direction I'm facing I'm almost tempted to stop and gather my bearings. However with the knowledge that I'm running out of time and the thought of another one of those creatures coming back I shake the idea from my mind. Picking a direction I swim as fast as I can, choosing to ignore the pain running through my ankle, and finally strike lucky.
Sighing as I reach the clearing I look at the surrounding area and feel grateful for the first time all day. No one seems to be here yet. Thank Merlin. Seeing that I'm alone I take a moment to look down and check on my ankle. Once I see blood I quickly look back up forcing the bile back down. The last thing that I need to do is throw up down here. Focusing on finding the treasure instead I swim ahead and round the rest of the kelp to see something I never expected.
"Oliver!" Swimming forward I catch sight of the merfolk surrounding Harry.
"But he's my friend too!" He protests as they shove him away from Oliver. "Percy!"
Catching sight of me the merfolk swim their separate ways and form a sort of protective circle around the three figures tied to the bottom of the lake. Turning my gaze from Oliver I don't recognise the girl floating next to him.
"Ron." Harry breathes a sigh of relief as I finally swim over to him. Looking him over I breathe a sigh of relief at seeing that he seems to be alright. "Get him."
Gesturing to my brother I quickly release the tie around Olivers foot and watch as Harry follows suit. With the same thought running through both of our minds we quickly swim upwards towards the light.
Thank merlin.
Harry POV:
Following Percy upwards I stop for a moment and look down. The girl is still there. Looking round I can't see anyone else coming and time is still running out. Feeling a tap on my shoulder I look up to see Percy floating besides me. He tilts his head in confusion and I gesture down to the girl still trapped. Thankfully he seems to be on the same wave length as me and pushes Oliver towards me. Shaking my head I push Ron over to him instead and point to his bleeding ankle. He's already injured the last thing he needs is to risk more. He hesitates as he looks between me and the Merfolk who are still surrounding the girl before nodding his head. Pulling Ron from me he pulls both him and Oliver up to the surface.
I know what will happen the moment I attempt to free her and I make it quick. Whipping out my wand I quickly snap the vine tying her up and grab hold of her. The moment I do…
Merfolk fly out from every direction and grab hold of me despite my best attempts to swim away. Letting go of the girl I breathe a sigh of relief as she begins floating her way back up to the surface. It's at this moment however that I realise something terrifying.
I can't breathe.
The gillyweed.
It's wearing off.
Of course
Panic sets in and I attempt, to no avail, to get out of the grips of my captures. As I wave my arms about in a desperate attempt to wriggle free I catch sight of my wand. If it weren't for the face that I couldn't breathe I'd berate myself for being so stupid. Pointing my wand towards the surface I use my remaining breathe to yell out.
"Acendio!" Before I have time to panic further, before the pain in my chest increases, I fly upwards and the hands that had been holding me down disappear. Finally, just as darkness begins to settle on the edges of my vision, I break free of the water and land with a painful thump on the wooden stand.
"Harry!" Recognising Hermione's voice I'm not surprised to find her arms around me. I can't help shivering as the cold air hits my wet skin and the wind picks up around me. Thankfully someone senses my shivering and a warm towel finds it way around my shoulders.
"You saved 'er. Even though she was not your 'ostage." Before I can blink Fleur plants a kiss on my cheek and hugs me tight. Pulling away she wraps up her sister and steps off to the side. Turning a questioning glance to Hermione she smiles.
"Fleur pulled out. She didn't make it past the grindylows." Oh. Turning to my other side I try to speak to Ron, to ask if he's okay, but his eyes are glued to something else.
Percy.
Running up the side of his ankle and up the lower part of his leg is a thick cut that's pumping blood out onto the wooden floor beneath us. Oh god! Thankfully Madam Pomfrey bustles forward all but shoving a sodden Oliver out of the way as she pops down beside him and begins attempting to heal his wound.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached out decision." Mr Bagman's voice rings out around us and all of a sudden the place goes silent. "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."
Here it goes.
"Miss Fleur Delacour, thought she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head charm was attacked by the Grindylows. As such she failed to reach her hostage and we aware her twenty-five points." Ouch. Twenty-five points? That's way too harsh.
"I deserved zero." She moans as she wraps her arms around her sister again.
"Mr Harry Potter demonstrated excellent use of gillyweed and returned in last with his hostage although he was outside the time limit." My heart sunk. Outside the time limit? I'm done for. "However I have been informed that were it not for his determination to save not only his own hostage but the others as well he would have finished in second place. With this in mind the judges have decided to award him forty-five points for showing excellent moral fibre."
Forty-five? Really?
Gazing round in surprise my eyes caught sight of the nasty look on Karkaroffs face.
"Mr Percy Weasley came in second with his hostage having shown excellent use of not only the bubblehead charm but a calm head in after rather unfortunate run in with some of the lakes creatures." At this most eyes turned to where Madam Pomfrey was still working on the blood pumping out of his ankle. The pool of red liquid is steadily getting bigger and Percy seems to be getting paler as it spreads. Surely that should be okay by now? "Not only that but he also aided Mr Potter in rescuing young Miss Delacour and would, I am told, have gone after her himself had it not been for his injury. As a result we have decided to award him forty-seven points."
Of the cheers that erupt at that Fred and George are ultimately the loudest and I'm fairly certain I hear some rather choice words erupt from the pair that I'm sure Professor McGonagall will be having words about later. After Mrs Weasley is done with them no doubt.
"Mr Viktor Krum although first to return with his hostage used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which although effective, prevents him from gaining full points. As such we award him forty-five points." If Karkaroffs face turned nasty at my score the look on his face at that news was something else. Thankfully the look vanishes quickly and he turns to embrace his champion. "The third and final task will take place on the 24th of June at dusk. The Champions will be informed of what is to come precisely one month before hand. Thank you for all of your support."
Thank god that's over.
Arthur POV:
"Hang on say that again Hermione." Bill asks as he shoots a glare at the twins who finally quieten down on insistence from Molly.
"Krum's in first place, he's got eighty-seven points. Harry and Percy are in joint second place since they've both got eighty-five points and Fleurs in last with sixty-one." Both Percy and Harry blush at the cheer that erupts and again Molly quickly quietens the twins. They've still not been forgiven for their rather uproarious cheers at the lake this afternoon although I think it's more the particular words they chose to use rather than anything else.
Before long there are yawns erupting round the table and given the day we've had it's not a surprise. Thankfully it doesn't take much convincing for Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny to make their way up. Bill drags Fred and George off to one side. Although they're both ready to sleep they've made it clear they're not leaving Percy who, although he protested, was obviously thankful to have their support. It seems strange to see them getting along so well after so many years of them driving each other crazy.
Maybe this tournament will turn out all right in the end.
"Before you go dear. Can we have a word?" At those words Oliver darts off to the side where Bill is laughing along with he twins. "How's your ankle?"
"It's fine mum. A bit sore but that's to be expected." Madam Pomfrey had made it clear that whilst his ankle would be fine it had been a deep wound which meant that it would be fairly sore for a couple of days regardless of her healing magic.
"We're both so proud of you dear." As usual he smiles at the words but blushes as well. "But we've been thinking…" Trailing off she allows me to continue.
"We still think it would be better for you to be at home. We can come back for the final task but Dumbledore, and the others, have agreed that it might be better for you to be at home. That way we know you'll be safe." Having him walking round here in the same place as the monster who tried to poison him wasn't right. We need him safe.
"Honestly I think that's what they want." Molly tenses at that and I can see the fear building within her. It's the same fear building within me every day.
"What do you mean dear?" Her voice shakes with emotion and it's obvious to anyone how hard this is. He's our son. Someone poisoned our son. How are we meant to just settle with that? Albus had protested at first that he would ensure his safety but how could he? Hadn't this happened right under his nose? He, nor any of the teachers, saw nothing as someone tried to kill my son.
"It's something Oliver said. Whoever did this clearly doesn't want me in the tournament which means that there's a reason. Either they're worried I can win or there's another reason." Something crosses his face at that point and it makes me stop. What if there's more to this? "Whatever it is the only way that I can make sure that they don't succeed is by staying here and fighting it out. Besides if I go then there's no one to keep an eye on Harry and lord only knows that he's a magnet for trouble."
Pride flows through me as he speaks. As terrified as I am that something is going to happen, I know that something will, I'm more and more proud of him every day. He's turning into a more amazing person than I could have ever expected.
I'm so proud of you.
You see aren't I nice. He survived with minimal scarring and is now lying in second place alongside Harry.
Added Note: For anyone wondering about his ankle. Obviously Madam Pomfrey can heal wounds in a heart beat but this was a deep wound and I wanted it to have a little lasting impact for him. In my opinion the film/book missed a trick here and could have easily brought in some injuries for Harry. In terms of Percy still feeling pain well i referenced Prisoner of Azkaban here. After Ron is healed from Sirius' bite his leg is still bandaged up which prevents him from going back in time with Hermione and Harry. I'm not a fan of the idea that I have seen in some fics that portray magic as the be all and end all. Wounds are fixed with no lasting damage and, in my opinion, it can make it seem like things have no consequences. Just my thoughts.
Until next time,
Bye x