Chapter 7: The Second Task: Water
Harry woke up later than usual the morning after the Yule Ball. Not surprisingly - the ball had lasted past midnight, and he had first brought Susan back to the house of the Bones family where her aunt had been waiting. Afterwards he had headed back home to Grimmauld Place so Luna could formally return Hermione to him. And then Sirius and even Remus had demanded to hear everything that had happened at the ball, and between his talk and Hermione's report, he had been dead tired by the time he finally hit his bed. It hadn't kept him from dreaming though. He held up his hand, and stared at it. After that close dancing with Hermione, with his hands on her bare back, his dreams had gotten even more vivid.
He sighed. He was her Patron, as Sirius reminded him often, and if he wanted… he closed his eyes. He'd never do that to her, never abuse his power. It was bad enough to know he could. That he even was allowed to. For all the protectiveness that the Patron Oath caused him to feel, that part seemed not to register as a threat to her.
Cursing the archaic magic having a hold on him, he got out of bed, cleaned himself with a few charms, and threw on a robe to head down to the kitchen for breakfast. Or lunch. Not that it mattered - soon after moving back into the house Sirius had made it clear that no matter the time of day, he and everyone else would be able to eat what they wanted. Hermione had as quickly mentioned a number of cultures around the world with quite different breakfast dishes than England, which had prompted Sirius to try as many of those dishes out as possible. He smiled - that had been a quite memorable month, and he still wasn't sure how many of the dishes had been real ones, and how many the result of a prank from Remus, Sirius, or even Hermione.
"What does Master's godson want?" Kreacher asked, a tad haughtily, as soon as Harry entered the kitchen.
"Tea and scones." Harry had long since decided not to react to the elf's tone and instead interpret his sentences in the best possible way. He had not sat down yet at the massive table in the middle of the kitchen before his breakfast had appeared at his usual place, with an assortment of honeys and marmalades. For all his acerbic manners, Kreacher did excellent work when not abandoned with only an insane portrait to direct him. He summoned the Daily Prophet from the countertop and skimmed it. Lots of pictures from the ball, a few puff pieces on the Ministry and the Champions, including himself. No picture of him dancing with Hermione, though. No scandal either, it seemed, or Rita would have mentioned it in detail. At least if it involved adults - she knew better than to gossip about the dalliances of teenagers at Hogwarts, that was not a topic to write about in Wizarding Britain. Every rule had its exceptions though, so one never could assume too much.
Harry was halfway through his second scone and third cup of tea, magically kept in stasis until drunk, when Hermione joined him. His best friend looked still a bit sleepy, but she was already wearing one of her usual robes.
"What does Master's godson's slave want?" The elf sounded even haughtier than usual. Hermione briefly glared at him before smiling widely, if a bit forcedly. "Tea and croissants, please, and orange juice."
Her selection appeared across from Harry's, cup and glass already filled. Kreacher had only once dared to have it appear on the ground in a bowl. Harry still didn't know what Sirius and Hermione had said - or done - to him after that, but the elf had never dared to do something similar ever since, and had even treated Sirius with more respect afterwards. He had also informed Harry repeatedly that "the 'discipline' chamber of the old Mistress" was ready, should his Master's godson feel the need to use it, but Harry had steadily ignored that.
"Slept well?" he asked once Hermione had had her first two cups of tea.
She nodded, smiling. "Like a log. That was a great ball. Even better than I hoped. The orchestra… the dancing… perfect!"
Harry nodded and finished his last scone. "At least one good thing came of the tournament then." He saw the witch lose her smile, and wanted to hex himself. He hurriedly tried to fix his mistake. "Did you enjoy your date with Luna?"
"Yes." Hermione answered, lifting her chin in answer to his teasing tone. "She was a perfect gentlewoman. And we had a very entertaining dinner conversation." Harry could imagine that.
"Was everyone enjoying it?"
"I would think so." Hermione shrugged in a manner that made it clear she didn't really care what others might have thought. "How was dinner at the Champion's table?"
"Like one of our evenings with them, just with their dates instead of you and Ron."
"How quickly we are replaced!" Hermione sighed theatrically, and Harry was sorely tempted to throw a scone at her in response.
"Susan and Cedric were pleasant company. Not as pleasant as you, of course. Or Ron." Harry added.
"How reassuring." Hermione giggled at his frown. "I trust you behaved as a true gentleman?" Her tone was teasing, but there was some concern in her eyes.
"Of course. Her aunt is a scary witch." That prompted more giggles from his best friend.
"And if she weren't?"
"I'd still have behaved as a gentleman."
That seemed to satisfy his best friend, though he didn't know what exactly she had been worried about. They spent the rest of the meal talking about the ball, and their friends' dates.
*****
"Aw, you are actually studying." Harry and Hermione, both sitting in the Black Family library, looked up at Nymphadora Tonks. The young witch was wearing her auror robes, a slightly paler red than those for senior aurors, but cut from the same material. Hermione knew from her research into clothing enchantments that all auror robes had the same basic spells on them to provide the wearer with protection and mobility, but each auror routinely placed personal spells on the robes as well.
"What else would we be doing in the library?" Harry sounded puzzled, but Hermione knew he was probably thinking of Sirius' off-color jokes.
"Well… what could a young wizard and a young witch be doing, in private?" Nymphadora leered at them in such an exaggerated way, she had to be using her metamorphmagus ability, or so Hermione thought.
"Does Sirius know you're using his lines?" Harry shot back, and Nymphadora's frown in return caused Hermione to grin. Harry had been more curt, and more annoyed with Sirius' lewd jokes recently, an attitude she approved of.
"My lines are much better than his outdated ones." Nymphadora grumbled while walking over to the table Hermione and Harry were sitting at. "What are you reading? Muggle newspapers?"
"That's a muggle magazine." Hermione explained, wishing she had stashed the November issue before starting on the tome about water spells she had found.
"They have magazines about time?" Nymphadora was already browsing the contents. "What's Star Trek?"
"A Science Fiction TV series from the USA." Hermione launched into a brief - for her - but detailed explanation of Star Trek, television series, movies, science fiction, and Dr. Who. To her surprise and delight, Nymphadora didn't look bored, but interested, and even a bit impressed. She still had not dropped the magazine, nor asked why the pictures were not moving. The only other wizard Hermione knew who was interested in her parents' culture was Ron's dad. And his patronizing attitude grated a bit on her nerves whenever she tried to explain something to him.
"Wow. I thought muggles liked football and bugs."
"Bugs?" Hermione was lost for a moment, before she made the connection. "Do you mean the Beatles?"
"Yes, the beetles. Dad told me a muggleborn friend of his was all crazy about them. Weird right?"
"Those are musicians, not bugs." Hermione changed the topic back to books and movies - muggle musicians, no matter how good, simply were not in the same class as magical musicians. At least not when it came to concerts. "But there are lots of books and movies, for every taste, actually."
"I guess that comes with the territory, if you've got so many customers, right?"
"Exactly!"
"We should go see a movie." Harry had been silent so far. Hermione had seen him smile at her enthusiastic explanations, but he had not commented.
"Great idea! Can we see Star Trek?" Nymphadora pointed at the magazine cover.
"It's not out yet in Britain, only in the USA." Hermione often cursed the release delays. It was not likely she'd be able to watch the movie in the cinema. "We can watch another movie, or we can watch a video at my parents' house." They were currently in the Alps, skiing, so she didn't have to ask for permission to bring guests over.
"What's a video?"
"A movie you can match at a muggle home on television." Harry's explanation was far too imprecise for Hermione's taste, but it was far quicker too.
"The video it is then!"
Harry went to inform Sirius of their plans for the evening, at which point his godfather invited himself to come along, claiming someone responsible had to do the side-along apparition. That claim made Remus join them too.
It was a very entertaining movie evening, even if Hermione had to write a lengthy letter to her parents afterwards, to explain why they would have a new television, a new stove, and and a new VCR. At least the fridge had survived Sirius' curiosity and Nymphadora's clumsiness. And maybe her parents would not go skiing without her. She knew she was being a bit unfair - they had known before the term already that she'd be going to the Yule Ball, and she had told them they should go ahead and enjoy their usual holiday to France, but it would have been nice if they had stayed anyway. Even if she would have felt guilty herself since she'd still spent most of her time with Harry, seeing as his life was in danger due to that tournament and he needed all the help he could get. 'Hypocrisy thy name is Granger', she thought.
*****
The Hogwarts Express after the Yule holidays was under much closer scrutiny than the one on September 1st. Neither the Ministry nor the school, and certainly not Harry's godfather were taking any chances with security. Aurors patrolled the cars openly, which rendered the prefects' patrols a bit redundant. Nymphadora was "undercover", disguised as a Hufflepuff student of their year, and sitting with Harry and Hermione as a 'last line of defense', in her words. As she had told them at Sirius' house, the Ministry even had spread the rumor that Harry would be traveling by floo back to Hogwarts. Hermione had thought that was actually a good idea, but Harry was glad he 'would not let that cowardly saboteur force us to deviate from tradition', as Sirius had put it. The train would forever hold a special place in his heart. Not only because he had met both Hermione and Ron on the train, but because it represented, even more than the Hogwarts letter, that he was a wizard.
Hermione and he had been busy over the holidays, that entertaining - if a bit expensive - movie night at the Grangers' notwithstanding. He had been studying all sorts of water spells in preparation for the next task, while Hermione had upgraded the protective spells on his and her robes. She had also started to research some spells she thought would be useful in the next task, but she hadn't gotten far yet. He glanced at her, nose buried in notes she had taken in the Black Family Library. She'd not rest enough until she had finished, he knew. Harry felt a mixture of pride and guilt at that sort of loyalty and friendship, even if it was caused by magic. He didn't deserve it, not that much, at least.
"Hello you two!" Ron's arrival interrupted his brooding, as Hermione would have called it. While Harry and Hermione returned the greeting he noticed Nymphadora. "Ah, hello Miss." He beamed at the disguised auror, and for a moment Harry was tempted to claim she was what she appeared to be. Nymphadora would play along, he was sure. Hermione though would not.
"Ron, this is Nymphadora Black-Tonks, an undercover auror and the daughter of Sirius' cousin Andromeda. Nymphadora, this is Ron Weasley."
"Wow, you look young." Ron smiled and offered his hand to the witch, then gasped when he suddenly was looking at a witch older than Dumbledore. "Merlin's ghost!"
Nymphadora giggled, which sounded very creepy coming from a crone, and changed back.
"A metamorphmagus!" Ron exclaimed. "How old are you actually?"
"Old enough to be an auror." Ron wrinkled his forehead for a moment, obviously calculating the age requirements. Nymphadora grinned, and went on. "I was in my 7th year when you three were firsties."
"Ah. An older woman then." Ron nodded sagely, while Nymphadora huffed.
The redhead was earlier than usual. He must have noticed Harry's glance to his watch, since he explained. "Mum made Dad take the floo today, since she said there might be more checks at the gates and we might be actually late if we drove."
"Did you have a good holiday?" Hermione looked up from her notes, but did not put them away.
"Dodged more pranks from the twins than not, I think. So, a good holiday." Ron grinned, and heaved his trunk up to stash it instead of levitating it. Showing off his muscles, Harry thought, but Hermione didn't seem to have noticed. His friend had barely sat down before his lap was filled with a half-kneazle demanding food. Harry grinned while Hermione muttered "traitor" at her pet.
"What about you?" Ron asked, after feeding two treats to Crookshanks.
"We spent the holidays at Sirius'. He was immature enough to prank us at Yuletide, but we were prepared for that." Hermione sniffed. "He should have known better."
"What did he do, and what did you do to him in return?" Ron leaned forward eagerly. Harry knew he was always hoping to find something he could use against the twins back home.
Hermione sighed, making her view on pranks quite clear, though Harry had had the impression she had liked preparing a revenge prank for Sirius in advance. Liked it very much. Not that he would have voiced that belief.
Nymphadora was already telling the tale, despite, or because, of Hermione's frown. "He put a spell on a retainer's collar, turned it into a dog collar with a leash." Ron chuckled briefly until the victim of the prank glared at him.
"We turned his gift into a muzzle and a pink straightjacket, with 'Mad Dog' written on the back." Hermione proudly smiled.
"What's a straightjacket?"
Hermione explained the garment to Ron while Harry hoped they'd change the topic soon, before Ron asked why Sirius hadn't pranked Harry harder.
*****
Hermione had returned to studying her notes while Harry, Ron and Nymphadora chatted about Quidditch. She needed every bit of time to finish the spell she wanted to create in time for Harry to learn it. If it worked he'd have a big advantage in the second task.
A bit after the train had left London Susan Bones visited their compartment. Since the door was locked with a number of spells, Nymphadora had enough time to change her robe's badge to that of Ravenclaw. The red-haired witch was in a good mood, though she did look at Nymphadora for a bit longer than expected when she presented herself as "Deborah Bailey, 6th year Ravenclaw". Was that some jealousy there? Hermione wondered silently. She hoped not, even though the Hufflepuff sat down a bit close to Harry. She felt slightly uneasy at that sight herself, but didn't know why. Susan was a nice girl, and seemed to like Harry.
"Did you know you snubbed me to dance with your retainer?" Susan grinned.
"What?" Harry sounded as surprised as Hermione was at the accusation, in jest or not. She was sure Harry would not have made such a faux-pas. It had been daring enough to dance with her. Daring, but nice. "I asked for your permission!" Harry sounded indignant.
Susan giggled. "Yes, you did. But someone's spreading the rumor that I left in a huff at that insult." Hermione didn't feel like laughing. Such rumors could harm Harry's reputation, and her own, if left unchecked. "Don't worry, I made it clear there was no snub." She leaned forward, almost conspiratorially. "I haven't found out who started that rumor, but I will."
"I am sure it was Malfoy through Parkinson." Harry growled. "I wondered why he was not doing anything at the ball."
"Ah… it could have been Patil and Brown too." Ron had the attention of the entire compartment. Even Nymphadora's, who should be more concerned with attacks by the still unknown assassin, Hermione thought. "I think they blame Hermione for not getting the dates they wanted. And… I might have tweaked their noses a bit about going with Padma instead of Parvati." He smiled apologetically at Harry and Hermione. "I am sorry."
Great. If she had helped those two, she'd not have to deal with yet another rumor. But the thought of helping those two, after their needling remarks, had not sit well with Hermione.
"Don't worry, we'll find out. All of Hufflepuff will be helping. They were quite proud that two champions picked a Hufflepuff for a date." Susan beamed at Harry. Hermione thought that was not much to be proud of. She would have hated to be known as the best date instead of the best witch. Susan, as the niece and heir of Amelia Bones, head of the DMLE, should know better! "And when we find out, they'll pay." Susan's grin was now more feral than amused. Hermione reminded herself not to underestimate the witch. Not that she was planning to get into a conflict with the redhead. Unless Susan would hurt Harry. Should that happen not even the entire House of Hufflepuff would be able to protect her.
*****
Harry stole a few glances at Hermione. She had been behaving a bit odd since Susan had visited. Maybe the rumors hurt her more than he had thought? He resolved to find out, in private of course. No one hurt his retainer!
A knock at the door had Nymphadora draw her wand and everyone else tense up at least. He noticed Hermione had hers behind her notes, and smiled. "Yes?"
"It's me, Luna, and Aicha is with me. Can we come inside?"
Harry looked at Nymphadora, who cast a few quick spells at the door, then changed her badge back to Hufflepuff and nodded at him. He undid the locking spell and opened the door with his wand. The blonde witch, wearing what looked like a roman-style short tunic, and Aicha, wearing her customary arabian-looking outfit, entered, trailed by Aicha's genie-kin.
"Hello everyone. Oh, you're new. Or are you?" Luna cocked her head sideways, staring at Nymphadora.
"Deborah Bailey, Hufflepuff 6th year."
"If you say so." Luna all but dismissed her and sat down next to Hermione and pulled her legs up on her seat as well while Aicha sat down more demurely across from her. "I have to thank your retainer once again, Harry. It was a lovely evening." Before Harry could answer, she turned to Hermione and hugged the surprised witch. "Thank you for a lovely evening! Our robes were perfect thanks to your spells! We'll have to create more like them, but suited for the warmer weather of summer this time!"
Harry didn't know exactly how to take that - their robes had had as much fabric as a bathing suit, not counting the cape, in his opinion. Hermione seemed lost as well, which probably explained why she did not protest when Luna twisted around and placed her head on the other witch's lap while propping her feet up next to the door. Hermione made a surprised noise while Ron snickered. Aicha seemed unfazed, but that was to be expected - she had been Luna's best friend since their first year, and was well-used to the quirky blonde's behaviour.
Luna asked about their holidays, and fortunately - for Ron, given Hermione's glare at him - no one mentioned Sirius prank while they exchanged news. Luna and Aicha had spent most of the holidays visiting each other, it seemed, split between 'hunting ice genies' and animating snow-creatures to reenact the last Goblin Rebellion. Hermione looked quite flustered since the blonde witch didn't show any indication of wanting to move her head out of his retainer's lap, even when she was gesturing animatedly while telling them about the climax of the battle, accidentally entangling her hand in Hermione's hair and pulling her head down towards her own.
"Oh, we almost kissed." Was her own comment while Hermione was busy recasting her hairstyling charms. To Harry's amusement, the comment almost caused his best friend to miscast her charm, something she hadn't done since their first year. Though he couldn't help thinking that Luna should have left Hermione's lap now.
*****
Ron had enjoyed watching Luna confuse Hermione until the two Ravenclaws had left for their own compartment again. His friend was often in need of some loosening up, he thought, or 6th year would be difficult for her. The blonde witch had certainly grown up in the last year. Like Ginny, his traitorous brain added, and he frowned. He would have preferred if Ginny had joined them in this compartment, but as usual she had wanted to sit with her friends. Unlike every time they boarded the train she had added that she might join Neville in his compartment. Ron had smiled at that, if a bit forced. If he had said a single word against that she'd have done it just to spite him.
Ron had enjoyed the Yule Ball, but he wasn't sure if Padma had really liked his company as much as she had claimed, or if that had just been born from the desire to one-up her sister. He certainly understood such a desire. In any case he would be lying if he said he had not liked the attention.
Speak of the inquisitor, and he appears, he thought, when he heard Padma - he thought it was Padma's voice - ask if she could come in. The Indian witch was let in after Nymphadora cleared her and sat down next to Hermione, greeting everyone. She didn't seem to question Nymphadora's cover, and smiled at himself. He liked that. Then he noticed that the rest of the compartment was looking at him, and he realized they were expecting him to ask Padma about the rumors. He was expected to gossip!
"How were your holidays, Padma?" It was not the best opening, but it got her talking about her family.
"They were great. Parvati was usually off with Lavender, and so I had some peace. It's hard to read if you're interrupted all the time because she wants a "third opinion" on something - which she doesn't, she simply wants to needle me. She is still steaming about the Yule Ball, by the way, going with Lavender didn't work out as well as she thought. They broke up a couple, but didn't manage to snag either of them." For a witch who said she was glad her sister left her in peace, she certainly knew a lot about her sister's actions.
"Ah, rumors. Did you know some people say Harry snubbed Miss Bones at the ball? Even though she said it wasn't the case herself?" Judging by the way Padma's eyes lit up, he thought she shared at least one passion of her sister as well.
"Oh, Parvati said she had seen Miss Bones storm off on a huff, after Mister Potter started to dance with Miss Granger. I am sure it was an honest mistake." Her smile belied her words, of course. And he had thought he knew what sibling rivalry was.
The expressions on his friend's faces didn't bode well for Parvati, and by extension, Lavender's near future. Ron himself was more concerned that even after Padma's visit he didn't know what she really thought about him. But he certainly did know that he did not wish to have her angry at him.
*****
The first days back at Hogwarts saw rumors spread like wildfire, overtaking each other. Harry snubbing Susan, Susan leaving in a huff and setting her aunt on Harry, Hermione snubbing Susan… Harry barely could track them all, though it didn't help that no one wished to tell them to his face.
"Mister Potter? What is this I hear about an incident at the Yule Ball that left your date in tears? Surely that is just a rumor." No one but Malfoy, apparently.
"Of course it is just a baseless rumor, Mister Malfoy. Miss Bones was not slighted, nor feels any ill will towards me."
"Of course. Only a fool would assume you'd be so crass as to publicly embarrass the heir of the Bones family to dally with a mere retainer so much below you. You are a wizard of honor, after all." Malfoy smiled graciously. It seemed he was getting better with his insults. Or lucky. Hermione's face remained expressionless, but Harry knew she was vexed by the Slytherin's comment. Before he could retaliate though Malfoy nodded at him and left again.
This time it was Harry who placed his hand placatingly on Hermione's thigh. Not that he thought she'd have to be kept from hexing the git. But he wanted to comfort her.
*****
Hours after Malfoy had insulted her Hermione was still fuming. That blond bigot personified most of what was wrong with Wizarding Britain. The arrogance built on nothing more than having been born into a rich pureblood family, the bigotry, the maliciousness hidden under a thin veneer of manners… she forced herself to calm down. She needed to finish her spell for Harry, she couldn't afford to waste time with angry thoughts about that idiot.
She returned her attention to the books in front of her, and her notes, glaring at the abacus. If only she had managed to get a calculator working over the holidays, but… she was getting closer, she knew, but it took so much time and effort. Neither she could spare a lot right now, with the next task, the next danger, looming so close.
"Are you creating a new spell?" Luna's voice startled her and broke her concentration right when she had managed to immerse herself in her work again. She hadn't noticed the blonde witch arriving at her table, but with the library's enchantments muffling noise and other sounds, that was no surprise.
"Luna!"
"Hermione!"
Hermione had to laugh a bit at the blonde, despite herself. Her table had already expanded to accommodate the Ravenclaw, and a new chair had appeared. Sighing, she resigned herself to losing more time. "Yes, I am. I hope it'll be useful to Harry in the next task." If it all worked as she planned, it would be very useful.
Luna peered at her notes, then looked up at her. "Just be careful. Spellcrafting is dangerous."
"It's safe. This is just a variant of an existing spell." Hermione had it under control. She wasn't about to try anything dangerous, after all.
Luna shook her head, looking more serious than Hermione had ever seen her. "It's never truly safe. I should know; my mother was a spellcrafter until she died when a new spell reacted in an unexpected manner."
Hermione didn't know what to say. She tried anyway "Luna, I…"
Luna grasped her hand, and stopped her. "Magic is not that predictable. Promise me you'll be careful, Hermione!"
The blonde witch sounded so earnest, so caring, Hermione could only nod. She hadn't known about Luna's mother, but in hindsight, she should have at least suspected something. Luna had only ever talked about her father, never her mother, when they had been shopping, or enchanting the robes, and at the ball. "I promise."
Luna smiled, though Hermione couldn't tell if it was with relief or satisfaction. "Good. By the way, why didn't you tell me Harry and Susan had come to an agreement about sharing you?"
"What?"
Hermione's plans for the evening were delayed further while Luna filled her in about the latest rumor. Apparently Susan Bones assurances that Harry had acted with her full approval at the ball had been slightly misinterpreted.
*****
Dumbledore was in his office, listening to Alastor's report on the security measures taken for the second task. It did look like the old auror had planned for every eventuality, but then, they had thought that had been the case for the first task as well. He couldn't think of anything they had missed either though.
"Very good, Alastor. This task should pass without trouble then."
"I'll believe it when it's over, and the culprit in custody or dead." The gruff auror answered, his eye spinning as usual, with Fawkes peering at it with open curiosity despite the number of times the phoenix had seen it.
"How goes the investigation into the attack on the Quidditch World Cup?" Alastor was not an active auror anymore, but he still knew everyone of importance at the department, and, as he put it, "a few even like me still, enough to talk."
"They managed to identify one of the attackers through the residue of a curse he was hit with at the Cup. Marcus Brownstem. One of the hanger-ons in the first Blood War, too young to implicate himself, and smart enough to play nice afterwards. He was interrogated extensively, but he doesn't recall who contacted him, nor does he know who had the idea for the attack. Whoever orchestrated the attack was smart - he only remembers meeting 'fellow wizards wearing masks'."
Dumbledore was disappointed, but not surprised. He had hoped to get at least a hint of who was behind this, but whoever it was, had planned this well.
"Too many suspects with the means and brains to organize this." Apparently, Alastor had picked up on his reaction.
"I fear you are correct, old friend. The whole incident doesn't make much sense. Those we suspect of being involved have so much to lose should they get caught, why would they risk that? Why now?" Dumbledore and Alastor knew one possible explanation, but to voice that without proof would invite scorn, and worse, from those who did not share their experiences.
"How are things in the Wizengamot?"
"Better than expected. Cornelius is holding up well, despite the pressure from France and Eastern Europe." But the Minister would blame anything that went wrong on him, Dumbledore knew that. It was not that much of a concern, as long as he could prevent a catastrophe. If the tournament finished without a serious incident, his standing might even benefit - and Cornelius would then try to claim credit for that as well. Judging by Alastor's snort, his thoughts paralleled his own.
"In other words, dirty business as usual." Alastor nodded to him and Fawkes, and stood up. "I'll check the perimeter once again. We'll have to pick a site to house the animals for the second task soon." The retired auror left, and Dumbledore found himself alone with his thoughts, and a phoenix, in his office.
*****
In the middle of January, two weeks before the second task, Hermione was preparing their training room for another evening with Fleur and Viktor. She was looking forward to it - she would not have to play the servant in private with them, and she hoped to be able to find out what spell Fleur had used on her robes at the Yule Ball. Ron of course was looking forward to more talking to Viktor, and maybe Fleur. Though Hermione had the impression that with Padma showing obvious interest in Ron her friend was likely to avoid even giving the hint of trying to court Fleur, no matter how unlikely him wooing a veela three years his senior was to begin with. The possible relationship between Ron and Padma irked Parvati and Lavender to no end, as she and Fay knew very well from the overheard complaints in their dorm. Between arranging the furniture and checking the snacks, Hermione looked her friends over. Both seemed more relaxed, less nervous than before. Good. She hated to see either one fret. She adjusted the floating trays a bit, to line them up better, and cast another cleaning charm on the chairs and table. Almost perfect. Maybe dim the light a bit?
She was still tinkering with the arrangement when the knock on the door announced that their guests had arrived. Running a last cleaning charm over her own robes - and ignoring Harry and Ron snickering at her - she walked to the door and opened it.
She still went to the expected formalities since they were, technically, in public as long as the door was open. "My Patron bids you welcome, Mister Krum, Miss Delacour, and offers his hospitality for the duration of your visit." The two accepted the hospitality as formally, but Fleur had a teasing smile on her face.
Once the door closed behind them, everyone relaxed visibly, and even Viktor slouched a bit in his seat while the snack trays circled around. Fleur positively lounged on the couch with an air of casual but sophisticated elegance Hermione felt a stab of envy for.
They chatted about the Yule Ball, and the rumors it had generated. Both Fleur and Viktor were very familiar with rumors, and according to them, the newspapers of their own countries showed far less restraint when it came to rumors about students than the British publications did. Some of the more outrageous rumors were quite entertaining though, at least those that did not involve herself. The one speculating about her, Harry, Ron, Luna, Susan and Padma… honestly, did those reporters know nothing about Hogwarts? Hermione didn't want to think about the mental picture that generated. It was bad enough that she had had dreams of dancing with Harry and Luna making comments as if she was observing them in the bedroom.
She did use the opportunity to ask Fleur about the spell on the veela's ball robes, but apparently it was a family secret, or so the French witch claimed. Hermione managed to ferret out enough hints though that she would be able to attempt to reverse engineer it, or a reasonable facsimile.
"Were you planning to use the spell yourself, 'ermione?" Fleur asked with a wide smile. Hermione stiffened. She did not really plan to use that spell. It was just an intellectual challenge. Mostly.
"No, no. I was just curious. It looked like a very interesting blend of different spell effects." She sipped from her glass to hide any involuntary reaction, and wished she had dimmed the lights some more.
"You made quite the impression at the Ball, my dear. If I 'ad not given my word already, I'd be tempted to keep you after my victory." Fleur was smiling, and obviously jesting, but Hermione froze. This was not something she wanted to joke about. It cut too deep. Fleur must have realized, since she apologized right away, and changed the topic to Quidditch. Hermione felt Harry's hand on her back, and smiled gratefully at him.
The rest of the evening passed without other sensitive topics being touched. Fleur and Viktor didn't invite them to visit over summer, but Hermione expected that would come after the next invitation, or the one after that. Custom demanded that hospitality was returned, after all, and she was looking forward to seeing magical France and Bulgaria. Not that Harry knew that when he proposed such evenings.
*****
The next training session with Sirius and Remus - focused on water-based spells, of course - had Harry panting with exhaustion after two hours spent swimming and diving and casting in a transfigured pool. With the second task so close, his godfather and his Defense teacher had increased the intensity of the training. Hermione was not there, she said she really had to finish the modifications to the bubble-head charm. Harry was not sure if he should be worried for her - she was overdoing it again, he knew - or relieved he would not be distracted by a pretty witch in a robe transfigured into a skin-tight suit. Ron was there though and his friend was looking as tired as Harry felt. Sirius and Remus on the other hand were looking fresh. No surprise there - they had not been in the pool.
"Come on, kids. It's only been two hours. We've got another hour left until you can rest." Sirius stood there, hands on his hips. Before Remus could chime in as well, the spell on the door announced a visitor.
It wasn't Hermione, as Harry had thought, it was Nymphadora. The auror was in her usual red robes. "Hi everyone. Are you torturing the children as we planned? I don't see any weights on their feet."
"We're saving them for the next lesson." Sirius answered while Remus nodded at the witch. Harry was too tired to say more than "Hi Nymphadora."
"Good good. Take some pictures then, for next Yuletide." The three adults laughed at that while the two teenagers groaned in protest. "More seriously, though", a quick hex from the auror shut Sirius up before he could utter his usual pun, "we think we discovered how the next task was to be sabotaged."
Suddenly Harry didn't feel tired anymore. "What? What did you find?"
"It was Hagrid, actually. He checked the animals delivered for the next task, and found out a number of them were infected with poisonous parasites from Magical Australia. Everything is poisonous down there, you know, even the plants want to kill you. And that's just the muggle parts. The Magical parts are worse. Don't ask me the name of the beasts, I forgot, but if you had wounded any of the infected animals, they would have poisoned the water and spread."
Harry winced at that. Poison was bad enough, but to be infected with parasites… he shuddered.
"What are you doing about it?" Sirius asked, now as serious as Remus.
"We're keeping them and acting as if we did not notice anything. We'll swap them right before the task, so the one behind this will think it's working and won't try something else." Harry noticed that she was chewing something, but he hadn't seen her eat anything before.
"Good idea." Remus said approvingly. Harry agreed - it was a sound plan.
"What are you eating? Can I have some?" With the important matters settled, Ron was apparently focusing on something more practical. "Swimming makes me hungry."
"It's chewing gum, not food." the metamorphmagus answered, sticking out her tongue to show what she meant. Harry blinked. He was pretty sure, and the confusion of the other three wizards present confirmed it, that chewing gum was not something Wizards were familiar with. "A muggle thing. You chew it, you don't eat it."
"Why would you do that? That sounds barmy!" Ron answered.
"It's like a chewing toy." Harry could not resist. "You know, for dogs. You should try some." When the dog animagus, the werewolf and the witch currently chewing gum glared at him, he knew he should have held his tongue. The next hour was even worse than the two before combined. For him at least - Ron was mostly collateral damage.
*****
The arena had been completely rearranged again, Hermione noticed. In its centre stood a massive cube of water, filled with coral reefs, what looked like kelp fields, and even caves. She couldn't spot any walls outside the water, so it was likely just held together with magic. Given that it was also expanded on the inside, she noticed the telltales of those charms, there was enough water there that, should those spells fail, it would flatten the arena and everyone inside.
In what looked like a transpositioned piece of the sea, various fishes swam around, and she could spot other creatures lurking in the shadows, and the kelp fields and caves must be hiding more. She would have missed them entirely, if not for the enchantments that allowed the spectators to closely observe the entire event, no matter how far the champions swam. In the centre of the water rested a giant clam, and on it sat a blue-skinned female figure wearing floating, silken clothes - a marid, Hermione realized, a water genie. In that moment, the clam started to open revealed two fist-sized pearls - one golden, one silver colored one. The bonus tokens, as Hermione mentally called them. Getting one would give 10 respectively 5 additional points. There was no bronze pearl, so a pearl was not needed to use the portal next to the clam that would take the Champion out of the arena, done with the task.
The young witch wished she was with Luna and Aicha, and not sitting, as during the first task, with a broom and a necklace next to the judges. She had read up on marids, but not enough in her opinion. She didn't know how the tournament organizers had managed to persuade such a powerful genie to take part in the task, but she knew they were known to command magic wizards could not, and were said to twist wishes and offer poisonous deals to the foolhardy.
She glanced to the small platform where Harry was already standing next to Fleur and Viktor, facing the immense wall of water. Hermione hoped Harry would stick to the plan, and not try something foolhardy. It was dangerous enough to get to the exit. She saw a small shark cut through the water and dug her nails into her thighs to avoid making a scene in public.
*****
Pansy Parkinson was wishing she was sitting somewhere else as well, rather than next to Draco. Her boyfriend was trying to lord it over their fellow Slytherins again, trying to free the seats to either side of them just so he'd stand out a bit more. He still had not realized, or so she thought, that the students did not respect him, but feared his father. Though he had become a bit more subtle in mentioning his family. It was as if he did not care as much about how others saw him as he had cared before. She didn't know why, and that worried her. She liked her toys predictable. Easy to control and use.
Draco still was vain, proud and arrogant, but he had started to handle setbacks with more grace. Losing to Potter in a bout of verbal sparring wasn't grounds to moping around for a day anymore. He was acting as if he had something up his sleeve, something that would turn the tables on Potter, but he wasn't bragging to her about it, as he used to about his past plots.
And she couldn't ask easily about it, not without endangering her own image of a silly doting girlfriend. And it was not yet time for that particular twist. But it galled to not know everything about Draco. She didn't like it at all.
Her face betrayed nothing of her thoughts though. She smiled widely, her hand on Draco's arm, and pointed out the different couples that had formed after the Yule ball in the excited manner of Daphne Greengrass, just with a tad more decorum. As expected, Draco soon looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else. It was a small victory, but she enjoyed it anyway.
*****
Harry was studying the arena in front of him. Thanks to massive expansion charms it was a vast underwater area, divided by coral reefs and kelp fields. He spotted what looked like a miniature underwater volcano, another hazard. From what he could tell the open water above the reefs and kelp fields was actually a chaotic maelstrom formed of different currents, only made possible by magic, for water would not naturally behave so.
It was clearly designed to lure the unwary or foolish in, then throw them around before spitting them back out, all their time wasted. And yet, if one could reach the center of it, the way down to the goal would be clear. If one could. He didn't see a way, not even with Hermione's spell. The currents looked simply too strong to navigate. He and the other champions would have to swim through a maze of coral reefs and underwater canyons, or brave kelp fields which could be hiding anything - or pose a danger themselves. And they would have to deal with sharks, squids, probably salt-water grindylows and similar pests as well as water elementals.
Harry was prepared for that though. Or rather, prepared to cheat a little. To break the spirit of the rules at least, if not the letter. He patted the pouch where his emergency portkey was resting, strapped to his thigh, and glanced at Fleur and Viktor. Fleur would be at a disadvantage, he knew, due to her heritage, but he didn't know how big a factor that would be. She looked confident though. Viktor was harder to read, he looked stoic as usual. Neither had revealed their plans during the evening spent together, nor had Harry let anything slip. Smirking with more confidence than he felt, he nodded at both. They returned the gesture, and then the signal to start was given.
Viktor dove right into the wall of water while Fleur and Harry transfigured their competition robes into skin-tight suits - no one wanted to go swimming in robes, especially in a race, which meant Viktor was probably transfiguring himself. Fleur cast a bubble-head charm and slid into the water while Harry cast his own charm, grateful that his suit covered him from neck to toe - having his whole body surrounded by bubbles of air would be a distracting experience - and then jumped at the water wall himself.
To his relief the spell worked as expected. They had tested it, but not against enchantments holding water back, and as Hermione had said, spells could be very unpredictable when interacting with other magical effects. Instead of water he felt air around him. He wouldn't have to worry about the coldness of water, for one, nor about breathing. But more important was the other effect, the reason Hermione had modified the bubble-head charm. Supercavitation, she had called it.
It wasn't as if he flew through the water, but coupled with a slightly overpowered aguamenti charm as propulsion he could travel far faster than swimming. It took a bit of work to steer using his wand, but he had managed to get a few hours of training in, last night, and he soon dove into one of the underwater canyons to avoid the maelstrom, leaving Fleur behind and quickly catching up to Viktor, who had apparently transfigured himself into a shark, at least partially. Harry was reminded of McGonagall's warning tales of self-transfiguration gone wrong when he passed the Bulgarian.
He was leading now, which usually would mean he'd be slowed down by whatever obstacle he'd run into first, allowing the others to catch up and maybe pass him again. Harry had no intention of slowing down though - he was a seeker, not a beater. He barely saw a school of grindylows ascend from the kelp field below before he was already past them. He couldn't ascend too much though, or he'd be sucked into the maelstrom and transported who know where, so he stuck quite close to the ground.
A man-sized shark turned towards him, but then decided he was too fast, and didn't pursue. As dangerous as it was, Harry couldn't help but starting to enjoy the trip. It was almost as good as flying on his Firebolt. Acting on impulse he rolled and let out a whoop and dove through an opening in a coral reef, skimming the ground. Their plan was working perfectly!
He was about to ascend a bit more, to avoid getting too close to a kelp field, when he suddenly saw a struggling figure in the middle of it. How could Fleur have gotten ahead of him? He moved closer and realized it was not Fleur, but Hermione! He didn't know why she was here, probably a result of more sabotage, but he'd save her. Without a thought he dove at her, then brought his wand up. A few cutting curses freed his retainer, and he took her into his arms. Her torn clothes fell off her, and he felt her hug him in return. He smiled then realized she needed a bubble-head charm as well. Before he could cast it though her grip on him tightened and she kissed him. Like in a dream.
He closed his eyes returned the kiss and felt her tongue slip inside. Her kiss tasted salty, like seaweed. Seaweed? His eyes flew open and he realized he was wrapped up in kelp, and being dragged towards the ground. He started to struggle, but barely could move his wand, and the plant's grip tightened, driving more air out of his lungs. Even with the bubble-head charm he'd have trouble breathing much longer. The temptation was there to give up, to trigger his portkey, but that piece of seaweed had used Hermione against him! Filled with fury he started to blindly send out cutting curses, until he felt the grass wrapped around himself give some, and then started to aim his curses. A few minutes later he was rising from the ground, through a cloud of cut and ripped plants. He longed to destroy the trap completely, but held back - he had to reach the center, not waste even more time. Casting aguamenti again, he continued on, a fair bit more cautiously than before.
By his estimation he still was in first place, with a sizeable lead. Or so he hoped. He did give the kelp field a far wider berth and stuck closer to the coral reef on the side when he had to pass another one. A few squids tried to make a grab at him, but he easily avoided, and left them to attack his competitors. Another reef loomed ahead. Any other time he'd have marveled at the colors and structures, but not now. Just as he was passing that as well, a sudden blow out of nowhere slammed him into the reef. The impact robbed him of his breath, and he skipped over the corals, his suit and skin sliced open from the shells.
Where had that come from? He couldn't see anything, or anyone. Another blow caught him from behind, then the next batted him back towards the reef, and more cuts joined the ones he already had suffered. His chest felt like a few ribs were cracked as well. He finally spotted a faint outline in the water, moving as if invisible - a water elemental. Cursing, he moved a bit away. He needed his wand to move quickly, but if he used it to move he could not strike at the elemental.
He winced in anticipation, and readied his wand. When the elemental moved to strike at him again, he hit it with a modified cooking charm while he got hammered into the chest again. Battered, he started to flee, using aguamenti again, pursued by the elemental. They played a game of seeker and snitch for a few minutes until the charm had finally managed to turn most of the creature's body into steam. Battered and bruised, Harry continued towards the centre, and the clam.
Shortly afterwards a school of smaller sharks, about the size of a shepherd dog, came right at him, apparently attracted by his blood. Again he had the choice of either fighting them, healing himself, or moving on and hoping to lose them. Wounded as he was, he chose to press on, and dove to the ground to get around them. He dodged the one coming closest to him, and soon was shooting through the water, pursued by the sharks.
He raced past another reef, into another canyon, under what looked like a shipwreck, and circled around the volcano, but the sharks did not give up. Either charmed, or some magical variant that was more stubborn than a mule. He didn't care right then. But he couldn't face the marid with a pack of bloodthirsty predators nipping at him. Turning around, he cast a bombarda at the leading shark. The spell turned the animal into bite-sized chunks of meat, and spread blood all over the other sharks, which seemed to be dazed by the explosion for a moment.
Good enough, he decided, and he turned away and shot towards the clam, where the marid, a beautiful, blue-skinned woman with long, pointed ears and turquoise hair was waiting. She made no move to intercept him, but kept sitting on the clam.
"Greetings, Champion. I am the guardian of the pearls. I will test your mettle, wit and power."
"I am Harry Potter, Champion of Hogwarts." He flipped her a salute and dove past her, straight for the portal. He had to grin at the surprised expression on the marid's face right before he was transported out of the arena.
*****
Hermione had been close to weeping with frustration and fear several times during the task, especially when Harry was being battered around by a water elemental, or when he suddenly dove right into a field of strangling kelp. By the time Harry was leading a school of sharks on a desperate chase she was pressing a fist to her mouth so she'd not scream. When her best friend shot past the genie to the exit, she sagged in her char with relief.
"Why did he not engage the marid for the pearls?" the young witch heard Karkaroff ask Dumbledore. She could have told them that it would have taken Harry too long, and carried a too big risk. He'd gain more points, relatively, if he simply saved as much of his lead by finishing as fast as possible. She didn't though. She was too angry still at the traps and obstacles Harry had had to deal with to explain his tactics to anyone.
He had won, and both of the other champions were still far from the centre. Too far to overtake him in points even with the pearls, Hermione noticed. She didn't care at the moment. All she cared about was Harry. He had survived. He was alive.
Chapter 8: The Third Task: Air
I liked the chapter. You've continued to do a great job with the world building.
