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Harry stayed treading water, his legs moving rhythmically beneath him as he watched some of the students helped haul Gabrielle and Hermione out of the water. His chest felt heavy with the effort of the task, but his mind was clear. He had done it—rescued both Hermione and Gabrielle. He watched as they were wrapped in thick towels, the color returning to their cheeks as the warmth enveloped them.

The crowd above was cheering madly, and though Harry didn't look up, he could feel the energy radiating from the stands.

With a final push, after a brief pause to catch his breath, Harry swam to the edge of the platform, hoisting himself out of the icy water. His legs were shaky, and his muscles ached, but he managed to stand upright. Someone—he wasn't sure who—handed him a towel, and he accepted it gratefully, drying off his drenched hair and dripping robes. The cheers from the crowd reached his ears, louder than he remembered from the first time around. It occurred to him that this might be because he had been the only one to do anything above the water during the task before eventually he too disappeared beneath the water. People must have noticed.

He smiled slightly at the thought. At least he hoped his performance had been memorable.

"Well done, Harry!" a voice shouted over the din.

Before Harry could really process everything, he saw Ron barrel through the crowd, grabbing him in an enthusiastic hug. "Harry!" Ron yelled, his voice loud in Harry's ear to be heard over the noise of the crowd. "Mate, Cedric got here just before Krum, but you were only seconds behind them! You were so close! But at least your run was more exciting than theirs was."

Harry grinned, clapping Ron on the back, his friend's excitement infectious. He glanced over at Cedric and Krum, who were both still drying themselves off. Cedric caught Harry's eye and gave him a thumbs-up and waved, while Krum gave him a nod of approval.

Ron, however, furrowed his brow and looked back at Harry. "Hang on a second … Why'd you bring up two people? I thought you were only supposed to save one?"

Before Harry could answer, movement in the crowd caught his attention. He turned just in time to see Hermione pushing her way through the throng of people, still wrapped in a towel but moving with purpose. She reached him quickly, her eyes wide with relief and something else that Harry couldn't quite place.

Without saying a word, Hermione threw her arms around Harry and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the cheering crowd. Her breath was warm against his cold skin.

Harry smiled, feeling a surge of warmth that had nothing to do with the towel wrapped around him. "Hermione—"

But before Harry could finish, he noticed something—or rather, someone—pushing through the crowd, approaching from his right. He turned his head slightly, and his breath caught in his throat. It was Fleur, her face streaked with tears. She wasn't walking; she was almost running toward him, her emotions laid bare for all to see. She reached him in moments, her eyes glistening as she gazed at him filled with a mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, and something else that he couldn't quite place. And without hesitation, she kissed his other cheek, murmuring something in rapid French that Harry couldn't catch.

The world seemed to freeze in that moment. The cheering stopped as if someone had flipped a switch, and an eerie silence settled over the stands. Harry, stunned, felt his heart skip a beat as he stood there, Hermione's kiss still warm on one cheek, Fleur's lips brushing the other. His eyes widened in surprise, his mind struggling to process the absurdity of the situation.

And, of course, that was the exact moment Colin Creevey chose to take a picture.

The flash from Colin Creevey's camera lit up the scene, freezing the moment in stark clarity. Harry blinked against the sudden brightness, his eyes wide, feeling completely caught off guard. The noise of the crowd completely absent as he stood there, motionless, with Fleur on one side and Hermione on the other.

For a few heartbeats, Harry didn't know what to do. His face burned with embarrassment, and he could feel the heat creeping up his neck.

He could hear the murmur of the crowd, their gasps and whispers blending together, but his mind was too preoccupied with the awkwardness of the situation to make out anything specific. It was strange—surreal, even—to be standing there while everyone around him watched.

Then the camera flashed again, snapping another image, and the sudden burst of light seemed to cause the crowd to erupt into cheers that were even louder than before, their voices ringing in Harry's ears. Fleur and Hermione, startled by the sudden noise, took a step back at the same moment. They each took a step back, their eyes wide as they finally noticed each other. Hermione's expression was a mixture of confusion and shock as she looked between Harry and Fleur, her brow furrowing as though she couldn't quite make sense of what had just happened.

For a brief moment, the two girls locked eyes, and Harry could almost see the thoughts racing through Hermione's mind. Before he could say anything, a deep blush crept up Hermione's cheeks as she bit her lip, and she quickly turned, pushing her way back through the crowd with a sense of urgency. The sea of students seemed to part for her, giving her a clear path to retreat, and then, just as quickly, the crowd closed again, surging forward to crowd Harry, who could only watch as she disappeared from view.

" Wait—Hermione!" Harry called after her, but his voice was drowned out by the sea of cheers that had resumed, even louder than before.

What a complete mess. And Colin's camera had captured it all.

Fleur, who had been trying to speak, looked up at Harry, her face full of gratitude. "'Arry … I—I just wanted to zank you," she said, her voice trembling. "You saved Gabrielle, my sister … I couldn't … I couldn't do it …"

Harry turned to face her, nodding slightly, trying to focus on her words even as his mind whirled with concern for Hermione. "It's alright, Fleur," he said, his voice distant as he tried to peer over the heads of the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Hermione. "She's safe now. That's what matters. But I felt that she probably would have been safe no matter what."

But just as he was about to make an attempt to go after Hermione, Harry found his path blocked by two adults standing directly in front of him who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback. Standing directly in front of him were an older couple—Fleur's parents. He recognized them instantly. Fleur's mother was strikingly beautiful, looking as though she could be Fleur's older sister rather than her mother, and her father stood tall beside her, his expression warm but serious.

The two of them were gazing at Harry with such intensity that he almost felt embarrassed. Fleur's mother was the first to speak, her voice soft but filled with emotion. "Monsieur Potter," she began, her French accent delicate, "you saved our Gabrielle. We cannot express 'ow much this means to us."

Fleur's father stepped forward, his eyes steady as he addressed Harry. "We are forever in your debt," he said, his French accent barely noticeable. "Thank you for bringing Gabrielle back to us."

Before Harry could think of an appropriate response, her silver-blonde hair still wet and tangled from the lake, rushed forward, her wide eyes shining with gratitude. Gabrielle threw her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. The sudden embrace caught him off guard, and for a moment, he froze in place, unsure of how to respond. Then, the warmth of the gesture settled in, and Harry slowly returned the hug, gently placing his hands on her back.

"Merci … merci, 'Arry," Gabrielle whispered, her voice trembling. She tilted her head up, looking at him with a mixture of awe and relief. "Mes parents … they said you saved me."

"It's alright, Gabrielle," Harry said softly, giving her a reassuring smile. "I wasn't going to leave you there."

Gabrielle's grip on him tightened slightly as if she didn't want to let go.

"Gabrielle, ma petite, let Monsieur Potter breathe," her mother said with a kind laugh, though her voice was filled with emotion. She looked at Harry with eyes that mirrored both of her daughter's gratitude. "Once again, I cannot express how thankful we are, Harry. You saved our Gabrielle. We will never forget your kindness."

Gabrielle reluctantly loosened her grip on Harry but stayed close by his side, her small hand slipping into his. She held on tightly, as if afraid that letting go would somehow diminish her connection to him.

Harry felt a flush of awkwardness creeping up his neck and feeling increasingly awkward, shifted on his feet. "It's really nothing," he mumbled. "I couldn't just leave her there. I'm sure she'd have been okay, but felt that Fleur would have been worrying."

Fleur's mother smiled warmly at him, though her eyes were still misty with unshed tears. "It shows great character, what you did," she said softly. "Gabrielle was not your hostage to save, yet you did so. That speaks of a true hero, one who does not think only of the rules."

Harry blushed at the compliment, but before he could respond, he felt Gabrielle's hand tighten around his. He glanced down at her and saw that her wide eyes were still fixed on him, filled with admiration.

Fleur's mother started talking again. "The three of us were so worried when we saw Fleur come out of the water. And she was beside herself when she realized she couldn't complete the task and rescue Gabrielle herself. She felt she had failed, but you—you brought our daughter back." She paused, her gaze softening as she looked at Harry. " We are so grateful to you for stepping in. But … it must have cost you time in the task … and you were only seconds behind Viktor Krum."

Harry opened his mouth to respond, but shook his head as he raised eyebrow his eyebrow in confusion. "The three of you?" He asked confused.

Fleur's mother's smile widened, and she exchanged a glance with her husband. "We brought along our niece —Fleur's cousin, Rosaline," she said, stepping aside slightly.

At this, a young woman stepped out from behind Fleur's parents. She had been hidden from view until now, but as she moved forward, her face came into full focus. Harry blinked in surprise. There was something familiar about her, though he couldn't quite place where he had seen her before. Her eyes widened when they met his, and for a brief moment, she seemed much more shocked than he was.

Fleur's mother raised an eyebrow as she glanced between Harry and Rosaline, noticing their reaction. " She came from Bulgaria to watch the tournament."

As soon as Fleur's mother mentioned she was from Bulgaria, Harry's brain clicked into place. The memory came rushing back like a tidal wave. She's the Veela I saved at the World Cup! His body froze for a few seconds, the realization hitting him square in the chest. His mouth opened to speak, but the words got stuck in his throat.

Before Harry could say anything, Professor McGonagall appeared beside him, almost smiling as she looked at him. "Mr. Potter, if you would join me for a moment," she said, gesturing for Harry to follow.

Harry took one last look at Rosaline, who was still staring at him with wide eyes. As he passed her, he caught her whispering to her aunt and uncle, "He's the one I told you about. He's the one who saved me."

Fleur's parents immediately swung their heads around, shock evident in their expressions as they stared at Harry. He inwardly groaned, trying to suppress the rising embarrassment that he felt under the weight of their gaze. Great, just what I needed, he thought, but he nodded at them politely before walking past them and following Professor McGonagall.

As they approached the judges' area, Harry noticed Fudge and most of the other judges waiting for him with an impressed look on their faces. Professor Dumbledore, however, was in conversation with the Merpeople's chieftainess, who nodded respectfully at Harry when she noticed him.

This, more than anything, seemed to surprise the other judges. Harry caught sight of Fudge's puzzled expression and saw Professor Dumbledore's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. For a moment, Harry thought Professor Dumbledore's eyebrows might disappear into his hairline, and he stifled a laugh. But Dumbledore quickly resumed speaking in Merish, the odd, bubbling language of the Merpeople. They were speaking so fast Harry barely picked up any words, his limited vocabulary in Merish making it impossible to follow the conversation.

After Professor Dumbledore finished his conversation with the merchieftainess, the tall, gray-skinned merwoman turned toward Harry, her sharp, green eyes meeting Harry's with an unexpected warmth. With a slow, deliberate motion, the merchieftainess raised a webbed hand and gestured for Harry to join the two of them.

Harry hesitated for a moment, still feeling the weight of the crowd's cheers and the awkwardness of the earlier situation with Hermione and Fleur. But curiosity—and a sense of respect for the merchieftainess—drove him forward. His legs felt heavy as he walked to the edge of the platform, his muscles still aching from the challenge. The lake glistened behind the merchieftainess, its calm surface now betraying no sign of the chaotic rescue mission that had taken place just minutes before.

As Harry approached, the merchieftainess inclined her head slightly in greeting, her long silver hair shimmering in the sunlight. Her powerful tail swayed gently in the water.

Professor Dumbledore gave Harry a reassuring nod, and then, in a deep voice the merchieftainess spoke in Merish.

Harry, still not fluent in Merish, could only catch bits and pieces of what was being said, but Professor Dumbledore quietly translated in his usual calm tone.

"The chieftainess wishes to congratulate you, Harry," Professor Dumbledore said softly, his eyes twinkling with a mix of pride and curiosity as he glanced between the two of them. "She says it is not often that surface dwellers interact with merpeople—and even less often that they do so with the honor you displayed."

The merchieftainess continued speaking, his voice deep and melodic..

"She wishes you the best in the remainder of the competition," Dumbledore said after a moment. "She says that your actions have earned not just her respect, but that of her people."

Harry's throat felt tight as he processed the words.

The merchieftainess turned her gaze toward Harry, holding it for a long moment before speaking again, her tone softer this time. "Loiich," she said in Merish, his voice carrying a weight that Harry instinctively understood. It was a farewell—but more than that, it felt like a blessing.

Dumbledore nodded solemnly and translated the final words. "She says that she hopes you remember what you've learned here, Harry. She wishes you well on your journey, not just in this tournament, but in all your journeys from this moment onwards."

Harry swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. A simple "thank you" didn't feel adequate, but he couldn't think of anything else. So, he nodded deeply, hoping his gesture conveyed the respect and gratitude he felt. "Thank you," he managed to say in Merish.

The merchieftainess's lips twitched upward in what might have been a smile—or the merpeople's equivalent of one—and without another word, she turned and slipped beneath the surface of the lake. Her body moved fluidly, seamlessly, as if he were one with the water. In a matter of seconds, she disappeared into the depths, the ripples from his departure spreading across the lake.

Harry watched as the water stilled once again, the quiet and calm returning to the shore. He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, the weight of the encounter settling in.

Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, pulling him gently from his thoughts. "You've done well, Harry," he said softly, his eyes full of understanding. "More than well." He nodded before gesturing for him to stand with the other champions.

At the judges' insistence, Harry took his place beside Cedric and Krum, who were both still drying off from the water. Krum gave him a brief nod, and Cedric smiled. But when Fleur joined them, Harry noticed her expression had shifted. Her previous look of gratitude, had been replaced with one of disbelief—perhaps Rosaline had already spoken to her about their shared World Cup memory.

Before Harry could dwell on it, Professor Dumbledore amplified his voice with a charm, and the crowd fell silent, eagerly awaiting the results.

"Champions and guests," Dumbledore began, his voice carrying over the water and across the stands. "I would like to congratulate all four champions for their performance in today's task. As you know, the task was not just a test of speed and results, but of resourcefulness, creativity, and bravery. The methods each champion used to complete the task, along with challenges faced, were also taken into account in determining their score, not just the timing."

Professor Dumbledore paused, turning toward Fleur first. "Miss Delacour demonstrated great bravery and determination, though she was ultimately unable to reach her sister. She showed commendable courage and receives twenty-five points."

The crowd applauded, and Fleur nodded politely, though Harry could tell she was still processing something from earlier.

"Mr. Krum," the headmaster continued, "used the partial Transfiguration of a shark to assist him in navigating the lake and locating his hostage. His performance was solid, earning him forty points."

More applause rang out as Krum gave a small nod, clearly pleased with his score.

"And Mr. Diggory," Professor Dumbledore said, turning to Cedric. "He displayed excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm and a remarkable ability to stay calm under pressure. Mr. Diggory is awarded forty-seven points."

Cedric's smile widened as the crowd cheered for him. Harry felt a sense of happiness for the Hufflepuff champion, but he couldn't help feeling a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach as Dumbledore turned toward him.

Professor Dumbledore smiled at Harry before addressing the crowd again. "And now, for Mr. Potter." His eyes twinkled, and Harry braced himself.

"For those of you who may not have recognized the magic involved, Mr. Potter certainly employed the most variety and complexity during the task," Dumbledore said, his voice full of pride. "He performed a corporeal Patronus—something even many grown witches and wizards struggle with—and he successfully carved runes into the metal arm bands he transfigured to aid him."

Professor Dumbledore gestured to Professor Babbling, who was seated nearby. "After consulting with Professor Babbling, who managed to glance at the rune sequence Mr. Potter etched into the stones before diving into the water, I can confirm that the runework was excellent. The runes allowed Mr. Potter to breathe underwater and survive the pressure of the depths."

A murmur of amazement spread through the crowd, and Harry felt his cheeks flush as the headmaster continued.

"But that is not all," Professor Dumbledore said, pausing for effect. "After speaking with the Merchieftainess, I have learned that Mr. Potter was, in fact, the first to arrive at the hostages. Rather than immediately returning with his own, he waited to ensure the other champions arrived safely. When it became clear that Miss Delacour was unlikely to show up, Mr. Potter convinced the Merchieftainess to allow him to bring up her sister as well, demonstrating a basic understanding of Merish, a language which is much more difficult than it seems."

The crowd was now entirely captivated, hanging on every word. Professor Dumbledore smiled down at Harry. "For his bravery, magical skill, and selflessness, Mr. Potter is awarded a perfect fifty points. He is solely in the lead of the champions going into the third task."

The stands erupted in applause, louder than any Harry had heard so far that day. His ears rang with the sound, but he hardly registered it. He glanced over at Ron, whose expression was one of pure shock. His mouth hung open as if he were trying to speak, but all that came out was a vague imitation of a fish gasping for air.

Fleur, too, seemed taken aback by everything Professor Dumbledore had said. She attempted to step forward, looking like she wanted to speak to Harry, but Harry was already scanning the crowd, his mind still on Hermione. He ignored the flood of congratulations from the crowd, the hands reaching out to pat him on the back, and the voices calling his name. He had one focus now.

Without a word, Harry bolted toward the edge of the platform, heading straight for the boats that would take him back to shore. He needed to find Hermione, to explain everything—though he wasn't even sure what needed explaining. He just knew he couldn't leave things like this.

As he neared the boats, he felt a hand on his arm. He turned, expecting Ron or someone else, but instead found himself face-to-face with Fleur. Her blue eyes were wide, and she looked almost desperate. "'Arry, wait!" she called out over the roar of the crowd.

Harry hesitated but shook his head. "I—I can't, Fleur. I need to find Hermione."

Fleur blinked, her lips parting as though she wanted to protest, but she nodded slowly, understanding dawning in her expression. "Of course," she said quietly. "Go."

With a brief nod, Harry turned and climbed into the boat, the wood creaking beneath him. As the boat began to move, he glanced back one last time, seeing Fleur standing at the edge of the platform, watching him go. Cedric and Krum were still talking with the judges, and the crowd was still buzzing with excitement, but Fleur was focused solely on him. Behind her, he saw Rosaline, her gaze also fixed on him, though this time her expression was unreadable.

Harry sighed and turned back to face the shore. He had enough to worry about without adding anything else to the mix. Right now, Hermione was the only person on his mind.

The boat cut through the water quickly, and as soon as it hit the shore, Harry leapt out, not even waiting for it to come to a full stop. He raced up the hill toward the castle, his breath coming in short, sharp bursts. Please let me find her, he thought.

He sprinted through the grounds, dodging groups of students who had already made their way back from the lake before the points were announced. His mind raced just as fast as his feet, replaying the scene over and over again—Hermione's kiss, Fleur's kiss, the stunned silence of the crowd, and Hermione's retreat. He understood what she must have thought and he couldn't blame her for running off. He only hoped he could find her and explain before she had time to let her nerves fester.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Harry reached the castle doors. He paused for a moment, catching his breath, before pushing them open and stepping inside.

Now, all he had to do was find her.

Kind Regards,

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If you like this content do not hesitate to smash that like button and subscribe. Haha but seriously if you do enjoy the story - do favorite it, other than messaging me or leaving a comment it's the only way I know if you are enjoying the stories and chapters.

Story Note 1 – And Rosaline makes her return! Congrats to everyone who guessed that she was going to be Fleur's cousin. Definitely was a little wait but your guesses were confirmed! Hope this was an enjoyable surprise to have her appear. Certainly she will appear a couple times in the upcoming chapters, as will the Delacours (including an official introduction), and of course Fleur …

Story Note 2 – I suppose that brings me to my next point, obviously the Fleur arc is about to began as she will become slowly more and more prominent. In this story I wanted to start by building the world slowly before introducing Hermione in a nice way and then eventually Fleur. So while Hermione and Harry are certainly still developing their relationship, Fleur will slowly become more of a presence.

Story Note 3 – I would imagine that if Rita gets a hold of Colin's picture there is no piece of information that Harry could offer her that would prevent her from not printing the photo. Certainly imagine even without an article below that photo itself will be a cover photo.

Thanks to those of you out to those of you who enjoy my stories, I promise to keep updating the stories as long as you enjoy them, and a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to leave feedback or reach out to me directly.

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cameron1812, Guest x 2, Mark1, dennisud, Hudy Leak613, 98fatfriar - Thanks so much for the feedback and I am really happy you are enjoying the story so far!

Hands Off MY Wolfie - That's a pretty good synopsis. Glad you enjoyed it. When trying to write Harry in character it just came off that even knowing that she would be alright it would have felt awkward for him to leave her there.

littleemberlou - Really appreciate the feedback! Certainly Harry always had the potential for more than he ever acheived so this feels right that he is gaining some notice for the hard work hes putting into this. Really happy the characterizations are working out though!

Fenrir070 - As always I really appreciate your feedback. I really like the thought out and pointed comments so thanks! But I agree there are a bunch of different ways this could have been done but I wanted to find a way that was new that worked in character for Harry, so I'm glad it seemed to have been very well received!