Chapter 26 The Second Task

You say youd already worked out that egg hint tell Hermi sensation indignantly.Keep your voice down said kindle crossly. I respec evade need to sort of amercement-tune it, wholly right?He, Ron, and Hermione were sitting at the actu tout ensembley jeopardize of the Charms class with a table to themselves. They were supposititious to be practicing the diametrical of the Summoning Charm today the Banishing Charm. Owing to the potential for nasty accidents when objects kept flying across the room. Professor Flitwick had rendern each student a stack of moderates on which to practice, the theory macrocosm that these wouldnt hurt anyone if they went off target. It was a good theory, simply it wasnt working very well. Nevilles aim was so poor that he kept accidentally move often judgment of convictions heavier things flying across the room Professor Flitwick, for instance.Just forget the egg for a minute, all right? scourge hissed as Professor Flitwick went whizzing re h ou take heeddly past them, landing on top of a large cabinet. Im trying to tell you about(predicate) Snape and dismal.This class was an warning c all over for a private conversation, as everyone was having far as well overmuch fun to pay them any attention. harry had been recounting his adventures of the previous night in speak installments for the put out half hour.Snape said Moodys searched his office as well? Ron whispered, his eyeball alight with interest as he Banished a cushion with a sweep of his wand (it soared into the manner and knocked Parvatis hat off). Whatdyou reckon Moodys here to keep an eye on Snape as well as Karkaroff? tumefy, I dunno if thats what Dumbledore asked him to do, provided hes decidedly doing it, said chevy, waving his wand without paying much attention, so that his cushion did an odd sort of belly flop off the desk. Moody said Dumbledore scarce allows Snape stay here because hes giving him a second chance or something.What? said Ron, hi s eyes widening, his bordering cushion spinning high into the air, ricocheting off the chandelier, and displace heavily onto Flitwicks desk. encrustmaybe Moody thinks Snape put your name in the Goblet of FireOh Ron, said Hermione, shaking her oral sex sceptically, we melodic theme Snape was trying to obliterate Harry before, and it unloosened out he was saving Harrys life, remember?She Banished a cushion and it flew across the room and landed in the box they were all supposed to be aiming at. Harry looked at Hermione, thinkingit was true that Snape had saved his life once, scarce the odd thing was, Snape definitely loathed him, just as hed loathed Harrys father when they had been at school together. Snape loved taking points from Harry, and had certainly neer missed an opportunity to give him punishments, or even to suggest that he should be suspended from the school.I dont care what Moody says, Hermione went on. Dumbledores non stupid. He was right to trust Hagrid and Pro fessor Lupin, even though loads of people wouldnt cook given them jobs, so why shouldnt he be right about Snape, even if Snape is a enactment -- evil, said Ron promptly. Come on, Hermione, why are all these Dark wizard catchers inquiring his office, past?Why has Mr. Crouch been pretending to be ill? said Hermione, ignoring Ron. Its a bit funny, isnt it, that he postt manage to come to the Yule Ball, notwithstanding he can get up here in the middle of the night when he wants to?You just dont same(p) Crouch because of that elf, Winky, said Ron, sending a cushion soaring into the window.You just want to think Snapes up to something, said Hermione, sending her cushion zooming neatly into the box.I just want to k at present what Snape did with his first chance, if hes on his second one, said Harry grimly, and his cushion, to his very great surp turn off, flew straight across the room and landed neatly on top of Hermiones.Obedient to Siriuss wish of perceive about anything odd at Hogwarts, Harry sent him a letter by brown owl that night, explaining all about Mr. Crouch breaking into Snapes office, and Moody and Snapes conversation. Then Harry rancid his attention in earnest to the most urgent problem facing him how to spanner through underwater for an hour on the 24th of February.Ron quite a standardizedd the idea of using the Summoning Charm again Harry had explained about Aqua-Lungs, and Ron couldnt checker why Harry shouldnt Summon one from the nearest Muggle town. Hermione squashed this plan by pointing out that, in the un standardisedly event that Harry managed to learn how to operate an Aqua-Lung within the set limit of an hour, he was sure to be disqualified for breaking the International Code of Wizarding Secrecy it was excessively much to trust that no Muggles would spot an Aqua-Lung zooming across the country military position to Hogwarts.Of course, the rarified solution would be for you to Transfigure yourself into a submarine or somet hing, Hermione said. If exclusively wed done human Transfiguration already But I dont think we boodle that until sixth year, and it can go badly wrong if you dont know what youre doing.Yeah, I dont fancy locomote around with a periscope sticking out of my head, said Harry. I spose I could al steerings attack someone in front of Moody he talent do it for me.I dont think hed let you choose what you precious to be turned into, though, said Hermione seriously. No, I think your best chance is some sort of charm.So Harry, thinking that he would soon consent had copious of the library to last him a life m, buried himself once more among the dusty volumes, looking at for any spell that might enable a human to survive without oxygen. However, though he, Ron, and Hermione searched through their lunchtimes, evenings, and whole weekends though Harry asked Professor McGonagall for a note of permission to use the Restricted Section, and even asked the irritable, vulture-like librarian. m aam Pince, for help they rig cryptograph whatsoever that would enable Harry to spend an hour underwater and live to tell the tale.Familiar flutterings of panic were starting to disturb Harry now, and he was finding it difficult to concentrate in class again. The lake, which Harry had always taken for granted as just an another(prenominal)(prenominal) feature of the grounds, drew his eyes whenever he was near a classroom window, a great, iron-gray mass of chilly water, whose dark and diametric depths were starting to feelm as distant as the moon.Just as it had before he faced the Horntail, time was slipping away as though somebody had bewitched the clocks to go extra- quick. there was a week to go before February the ordinal (there was still time)there were five days to go (he was bound to find something soon)three days to go (please let me find somethingplease)With 2 days left. Harry started to go off food again. The only good thing about breakfast on Monday was the author ize of the brown owl he had sent to Sirius. He pulled off the parchment, unrolled it, and cuting machine the shortest letter Sirius had ever written to him.Send date of next Hogsmeade weekend by return owl. Harry turned the parchment over and looked at the back, hoping to fulfill something else, but it was blank.Weekend subsequently next, whispered Hermione, who had read the note over Harrys lift. present take my quill and send this owl back straight away.Harry scribbled the dates down on the back of Siriuss letter, tied it onto the brown owls leg, and watched it take flight again. What had he expected? Advice on how to survive underwater? He had been so intent on telling Sirius all about Snape and Moody he had completely forgotten to mention the eggs clue.Whats he want to know about the next Hogsmeade weekend for? said Ron.Dunno, said Harry dully. The momentary happiness that had flared in align him at the mint candy of the owl had died. Come onCare of head gameal Creature s.Whether Hagrid was trying to make up for the Blast-Ended Skrewts, or because there were now only two skrewts left, or because he was trying to prove he could do anything that Professor Grubbly-Plank could. Harry didnt know, but Hagrid had been continuing her lessons on unicorns ever since hed returned to work. It turned out that Hagrid knew quite as much about unicorns as he did about monsters, though it was clear that he found their lack of poisonous fangs disappointing.Today he had managed to capture two unicorn foals. remote full-grown unicorns, they were pure gold. Parvati and Lavender went into transports of delight at the sight of them, and even Pansy Parkinson had to work troublesome to conceal how much she liked them.Easier ter spot than the adults, Hagrid told the class. They turn silver when theyre abou two years old, an they grow horns at aroun four. Don go pure snowy till theyre full grown, round about seven. Theyre a bit more trustin when theyre babiesdon head wor d boys so much.Cmon, move in a bit, yeh can pat em if yeh wantgive em a few o these sugar lumps.You clear. Harry? Hagrid muttered, moving divagation slightly, while most of the others swarmed around the baby unicorns.Yeah, said Harry. Jus nervous, eh? said Hagrid.Bit, said Harry.Harry, said Hagrid, clapping a massive hand on his shoulder, so that Harrys knees buckled under its weight, Idve bin worried before I adage yeh take on tha Horntail, but I know now yeh can do anythin yeh set yer legal opinion ter. Im not worried at all. Yehre goin ter be fine. Got yer clue worked out, haven yeh?Harry nodded, but even as he did so, an insane urge to confess that he didnt have any idea how to survive at the bottom of the lake for an hour came over him. He looked up at Hagrid perhaps he had to go into the lake sometimes, to deal with the creatures in it? He looked later(prenominal) everything else on the grounds, after all Yehre goin ter win, Hagrid growled, patting Harrys shoulder again, so that Harry actually snarl himself sink a couple of inches into the soft ground. I know it. I can feel it. Yehre goin ter win, Harry.Harry just couldnt bring himself to wipe the happy, confident smile off Hagrids face. Pretending he was interested in the young unicorns, he forced a smile in return, and moved ship to pat them with the others.By the evening before the second line. Harry matte as though he were trapped in a nightmare. He was fully assured that even if, by some miracle, he managed to find a suitable spell, hed have a real job mastering it overnight. How could he have let this happen? Why hadnt he got to work on the eggs clue sooner? Why had he ever let his mind wander in class what if a teacher had once mentioned how to breathe underwater?He sat with Hermione and Ron in the library as the sun set outdoors, tearing feverishly through page after page of spells, hidden from one another by the massive piles of books on the desk in front of each of them. Harrys hea rt gave a huge leap every time he saw the word water on a page, but more often than not it was just now Take two pints of water, half a pound of rupture mandrake chairs, and a newtI dont reckon it can be done, said Rons voice flatly from the other side of the table. Theres nothing. Nothing. Closest was that thing to run dry up puddles and ponds, that Drought Charm, but that was nowhere near powerful enough to drain the lake.There must be something, Hermione muttered, moving a candle adpressed to her. Her eyes were so tired she was poring over the tiny print of Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes with her nose about an inch from the page. Theyd never have set a task that was undoable.They have, said Ron. Harry, just go down to the lake tomorrow, right, stick your head in, yell at the merpeople to give back whatever theyve nicked, and see if they chuck it out. Best you can do, mate.Theres a way of doing it Hermione said crossly. There just has to beShe seemed to be takin g the librarys lack of useful information on the subject as a personal insult it had never failed her before.I know what I should have done, said Harry, resting, face-down, on Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts. I shouldve learned to be an Animagus like Sirius.An Animagus was a wizard who could transform into an animal.Yeah, you couldve turned into a goldfish any time you wanted said Ron.Or a salientian, yawned Harry. He was exhausted. It takes years to vex an Animagus, and then you have to register yourself and everything, said Hermione vaguely, now squinting down the index of Weird Wizarding Dilemmas and Their Solutions. Professor McGonagall told us, rememberyouve got to register yourself with the Improper Use of Magic Officewhat animal you become, and your markings, so you cant abuse itHermione, I was joking, said Harry wearily. I know I havent got a chance of turning into a frog by tomorrow morning.Oh this is no use, Hermione said, snapping shut Weird Wizarding Dilemmas. Who on ear th wants to make their nose hair grow into ringlets?I wouldnt mind, said Fred Weasleys voice. Be a talking point, wouldnt it?Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up. Fred and George had just turn outd from behind some bookshelves.Whatre you two doing here? Ron asked.Looking for you, said George. McGonagall wants you, Ron. And you, Hermione.Why? said Hermione, looking surprised.Dunnoshe was looking a bit grim, though, said Fred.Were supposed to take you down to her office, said George.Ron and Hermione stared at Harry, who entangle his comport drop. Was Professor McGonagall about to tell Ron and Hermione off? Perhaps shed noticed how much they were helping him, when he ought to be working out how to do the task alone?Well meet you back in the common room, Hermione told Harry as she got up to go with Ron both of them looked very anxious. Bring as many of these books as you can, okay?Right, said Harry uneasily.By eight oclock. Madam Pince had extinguished all the lamps and came to chivvy Harry out of the library. Staggering under the weight of as many books as he could carry, Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room, pulled a table into a corner, and continued to search. There was nothing in Madcap Magic for Wacky Warlocksnothing in A Guide to Medieval Sorcerynot one mention of underwater exploits in An Anthology of Eighteenth-Century Charms, or in Dreadful Denizens of the Deep, or Powers You Never Knew You Had and What to Do with Them Now Youve Wised Up.Crookshanks crawled into Harrys lap and curled up, purring deeply. The common room emptied soft around Harry. People kept wishing him luck for the next morning in cheery, confident voices like Hagrids, all of them apparently convinced that he was about to pull off another stunning performance like the one he had managed in the first task. Harry couldnt answer them, he just nodded, perception as though there were a golfball stuck in his throat. By ten to midnight, he was alone in the room with Crookshanks. He had searched all the remaining books, and Ron and Hermione had not come back.Its over, he told himself. You cant do it. Youll just have to go down to the lake in the morning and tell the judges.He imagined himself explaining that he couldnt do the task. He pictured bagmans look of round-eyed surprise, Karkaroffs satisfied, yellow-toothed smile. He could almost hear Fleur Delacour saying I knew ite is too young, e is only a little boy. He saw Malfoy flashing his POTTER STINKS badge at the front of the crowd, saw Hagrids crestfallen, disbelieving face.Forgetting that Crookshanks was on his lap. Harry stood up very suddenly Crookshanks hissed angrily as he landed on the floor, gave Harry a disgusted look, and stalked away with his bottlebrush tail in the air, but Harry was already hurrying up the spiral staircase to his dormitory.He would grab the Invisibility Cloak and go back to the library, hed stay there all night if he had to.Lumos, Harry whispered fifteen minutes later as he ope ned the library door.Wand tip alight, he crept along the bookshelves, pulling down more books books of hexes and charms, books on merpeople and water monsters, books on famous witches and wizards, on magical inventions, on anything at all that might include one passing reference to underwater survival. He carried them over to a table, then set to work, searching them by the narrow beam of his wand, occasionally checking his watch.One in the morningtwo in the morningthe only way he could keep going was to tell himself, over and over again, next bookin the next onethe next oneThe mermaid in the painting in the prefects bathroom was laughing. Harry was bobbing like a cork in bubbly water next to her rock, while she held his Firebolt over his head.Come and get it she giggled maliciously. Come on, jumpI cant, Harry panted, snatching at the Firebolt, and struggling not to sink. Give it to meBut she just poked him painfully in the side with the end of the broomstick, laughing at him.That hurts get off ouch -Harry work must wake up, sirStop poking me -Dobby must poke Harry Potter, sir, he must wake upHarry opened his eyes. He was still in the library the Invisibility Cloak had slipped off his head as hed slept, and the side of his face was stuck to the pages of Where Theres a Wand, Theres a Way. He sat up, straightening his glasses, blinking in the beaming daylight.Harry Potter needs to hurry squeaked Dobby. The second task starts in ten minutes, and Harry Potter -Ten minutes? Harry croaked. Ten ten minutes?He looked down at his watch. Dobby was right. It was twenty past nine. A large, dead weight seemed to fall through Harrys chest into his stomach.Hurry, Harry Potter squeaked Dobby, plucking at Harrys sleeve. You is supposed to be down by the lake with the other champions, sirIts too late, Dobby, Harry said hopelessly. Im not doing the task, I dont know how -Harry Potter will do the task squeaked the elf. Dobby knew Harry had not found the right book, so Dobby did it for himWhat? said Harry. But you dont know what the second task is -Dobby knows, sir Harry Potter has to go into the lake and find his reedlike -Find my what?- and take his Wheezy back from the merpeopleWhats a Wheezy?Your Wheezy, sir, your Wheezy-Wheezy who is giving Dobby his sweaterDobby plucked at the shrunken maroon sweater he was now wearing over his shorts.What? Harry gasped. Theyve gottheyve got Ron?The thing Harry Potter will miss most, sir squeaked Dobby. But past an hour-- the prospects black, Harry recited, staring, horror-struck, at the elf. Too late, its done for(p), it wont come back. Dobby whatve I got to do?You has to eat this, sir squeaked the elf, and he put his hand in the pocket of his shorts and drew out a ball of what looked like slimy, grayish-green rat tails. Right before you go into the lake, sir gillyweedWhats it do? said Harry, staring at the gillyweed.It will make Harry Potter breathe underwater, sirDobby, said Harry frantically, listen are yo u sure about this?He couldnt quite forget that the last time Dobby had tried to help him, he had ended up with no bones in his right arm.Dobby is quite sure, sir said the elf earnestly. Dobby hears things, sir, he is a house-elf, he goes all over the castle as he lights the fires and mops the floors. Dobby hear Professor McGonagall and Professor Moody in the staffroom, talking about the next task.Dobby cannot let Harry Potter lose his WheezyHarrys doubts vanished. Jumping to his feet he pulled off the Invisibility Cloak, stuffed it into his bag, grabbed the gillyweed, and put it into his pocket, then tore out of the library with Dobby at his heels.Dobby is supposed to be in the kitchens, sir Dobby squealed as they burst into the corridor. Dobby will be missed good luck, Harry Potter, sir, good luckSee you later, Dobby Harry shouted, and he sprinted along the corridor and down the stairs, three at a time.The entrance hall contained a few last-minute stragglers, all leaving the Great Hall after breakfast and heading through the double oak doors to watch the second task. They stared as Harry flashed past, sending Colin and Dennis Creevey flying as he leapt down the lapidate steps and out onto the bright, chilly grounds.As he pounded down the lawn he saw that the seats that had encircled the dragons enclosure in November were now ranged along the opposite bank, rising in stands that were packed to the bursting point and reflected in the lake below. The excited babble of the crowd echoed strangely across the water as Harry ran flat-out around the other side of the lake toward the judges, who were sitting at another gold-draped table at the waters edge. Cedric, Fleur, and Krum were beside the judges table, watching Harry sprint toward them.Imhere Harry panted, skidding to a halt in the fluff and accidentally splattering Fleurs robes.Where have you been? said a bossy, disapproving voice. The tasks about to startHarry looked around. Percy Weasley was sitting at the judges table Mr. Crouch had failed to turn up again.Now, now, Percy said Ludo Bagman, who was looking intensely relieved to see Harry. Let him catch his breathDumbledore smiled at Harry, but Karkaroff and Madame Maxime didnt look at all pleased to see him.It was obvious from the looks on their faces that they had thought he wasnt going to turn up.Harry bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath he had a stitch in his side that mat up as though he had a knife between his ribs, but there was no time to get rid of it Ludo Bagman was now moving among the champions, spacing them along the bank at intervals of ten feet. Harry was on the very end of the line, next to Krum, who was wearing swimming underdrawers and was holding his wand ready. both right. Harry? Bagman whispered as he moved Harry a few feet farther away from Krum. get by what youre going to do?Yeah, Harry panted, massaging his ribs.Bagman gave Harrys shoulder a quick squeeze and returned to the judges table he po inted his wand at his throat as he had done at the World Cup, said, Sonorus and his voice boomed out across the dark water toward the stands.Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle. They have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. OnetwothreeThe whistle echoed shrilly in the cold, still air the stands erupted with cheers and applause without looking to see what the other champions were doing, Harry pulled off his shoes and socks, pulled the handful of gillyweed out of his pocket, stuffed it into his mouth, and waded out into the lake.It was so cold he felt the fell on his legs searing as though this were fire, not icy water. His sodden robes weighed him down as he walked in deeper now the water was over his knees, and his rapidly numb feet were slipping over silt and flat, slimy sways. He was chewing the gillyweed as hard and fast as he could it felt unpleasantly slimy and rubbery, like octopus tentacles. Waist-deep in the freezing water he stopped, swallowed, and waited for something to happen.He could hear laughter in the crowd and knew he must look stupid, walking into the lake without showing any sign of magical power. The part of him that was still dry was covered in goose pimples half immersed in the icy water, a inhuman breeze lifting his hair, Harry started to shiver violently. He avoided looking at the stands the laughter was becoming louder, and there were catcalls and jeering from the Slytherins.Then, quite suddenly, Harry felt as though an invisible pillow had been pressed over his mouth and nose. He tried to draw breath, but it made his head spin his lungs were empty, and he suddenly felt a piercing pain on either side of his neck Harry clapped his hands around his throat and felt two large slits just below his ears, flapping in the cold air.He had gills. Without pausing to think, he did the only thing that made sense he flung himself forward into t he water.The first gulp of icy lake water felt like the breath of life. His head had stopped spinning he took another great gulp of water and felt it pass swimmingly through his gills, sending oxygen back to his brain. He stretched out his hands in front of him and stared at them. They looked green and ghostly under the water, and they had become webbed. He twisted around and looked at his bare feet they had become elongated and the toes were webbed too It looked as though he had sprouted flippers.The water didnt feel icy anymore eitheron the contrary, he felt pleasantly cool and very light.Harry struck out once more, marveling at how far and fast his flipper-like feet propelled him through the vater, and noticing how clearly he could see, and how he no longer seemed to need to blink. He had soon swum so far into the lake that he could no longer see the bottom. He flipped over and dived into its depths.Silence pressed upon his ears as he soared over a strange, dark, foggy landscape . He could only see ten feet around him, so that as he sped throuugh the water new scenes seemed to loom suddenly out of the incoming darkness forests of rippling, tangled black weed, wide plains of mud littered with dull, inkling stones. He swam deeper and deeper, out toward the middle of the lake, his eyes wide, staring through the eerily gray-lit water around him to the shadow beyond, where the water became opaque.Small fish flickered past him like silver darts. Once or twice he thought he saw something larger moving ahead of him, but when he got nearer, he ascertained it to be nothing but a large, blackened log, or a dense clump of weed. There was no sign of any of the other champions, merpeople, Ron nor, thankfully, the jumbo squid.Light green weed stretched ahead of him as far as he could see, two feet deep, like a meadow of very overgrown grass. Harry was staring unblinkingly ahead of him, trying to discern shapes through the gloomand then, without warning, something grabb ed hold of his ankle.Harry twisted his body around and saw a grindylow, a small, horned water demon, poking out of the weed, its long fingers clutched tightly around Harrys leg, its pointed fangs bared Harry stuck his webbed hand quickly inside his robes and fumbled for his wand. By the time he had grasped it, two more grindylows had risen out of the weed, had seized handfuls of Harrys robes, and were attempting to drag him down.Relashio Harry shouted, demur that no sound came out.A large bubble issued from his mouth, and his wand, instead of sending sparks at the grindylows, pelted them with what seemed to be a jet of boiling water, for where it struck them, angry red patches appeared on their green strip down. Harry pulled his ankle out of the grindylows grip and swam, as fast as he could, occasionally sending more jets of hot water over his shoulder at random every now and then he felt one of the grindylows snatch at his foot again, and he kicked out, hard finally, he felt his foot connect with a horned skull, and looking back, saw the dazed grindylow floating away, cross-eyed, while its fellows shook their fists at Harry and sank back into the weed.Harry slowed down a little, slipped his wand back inside his robes, and looked around, auditory modality again. He turned full circle in the water, the silence pressing harder than ever against his eardrums. He knew he must be even deeper in the lake now, but nothing was moving but the rippling weed.How are you getting on?Harry thought he was having a heart attack. He whipped around and saw Moaning Myrtle floating hazily in front of him, gazing at him through her thick, pearly glasses.Myrtle Harry tried to shout but once again, nothing came out of his mouth but a very large bubble. Moaning Myrtle actually giggled.You want to try over there she said, pointing. I wont come with you.I dont like them much, they always chase me when I get too close.Harry gave her the thumbs-up to show his thanks and set off once more, careful to swim a bit higher over the weed to avoid any more grindylows that might be lurking there.He swam on for what felt like at least(prenominal) twenty minutes. He was passing over vast expanses of black mud now, which swirled murkily as he disturbed the water. Then, at long last, he heard a snatch of haunting mersong.An hour long youll have to look, And to recover what we took Harry swam faster and soon saw a large rock emerge out of the muddy water ahead. It had paintings of merpeople on it they were carrying spears and chasing what looked like the giant squid. Harry swam on past the rock, following the mersong.your times half gone, so tarry not Lest what you try on stays here to rot. A cluster of crude stone dwellings stained with algae loomed suddenly out of the gloom on all sides. here(predicate) and there at the dark windows, Harry saw facesfaces that bore no resemblance at all to the painting of the mermaid in the prefects bathroom.The merpeople had grayish sk in and long, wild, dark green hair. Their eyes were yellow, as were their broken teeth, and they wore thick ropes of pebbles around their necks. They leered at Harry as he swam past one or two of them emerged from their caves to watch him better, their powerful, silver fish tails beating the water, spears clutched in their hands.Harry sped on, staring around, and soon the dwellings became more numerous there were gardens of weed around some of them, and he even saw a pet grindylow tied to a stake outside one door. Merpeople were emerging on all sides now, watching him eagerly, pointing at his webbed hands and gills, talking behind their hands to one another. Harry sped around a corner and a very strange sight met his eyes.A whole crowd of merpeople was floating in front of the houses that lined what looked like a mer-version of a village square. A choir of merpeople was singing in the middle, career the champions toward them, and behind them rose a crude sort of statue a gigantic m erperson hewn from a boulder. Four people were bound tightly to the tail of the stone merperson.Ron was tied between Hermione and Cho Chang. There was also a girl who looked no older than eight, whose clouds of silvery hair made Harry feel sure that she was Fleur Delacours sister. All four of them appeared to be in a very deep sleep. Their heads were lolling onto their shoulders, and fine streams of bubbles kept issuing from their mouths.Harry sped toward the hostages, half expecting the merpeople to lower their spears and charge at him, but they did nothing. The ropes of weed tying the hostages to the statue were thick, slimy, and very strong. For a fleeting second he thought of the knife Sirius had bought him for Christmas locked in his trunk in the castle a withdraw of a mile away, no use to him whatsoever.He looked around. Many of the merpeople surrounding them were carrying spears. He swam swiftly toward a seven-foot-tall merman with a long green beard and a choker of shark f angs and tried to mime a request to borrow the spear. The merman laughed and shook his head.We do not help, he said in a harsh, cacophonous voice.Come ON Harry said fiercely (but only bubbles issued from his mouth), and he tried to pull the spear away from the merman, but the merman yanked it back, still shaking his head and laughing.Harry swirled around, staring about. Something sharpanythingThere were rocks littering the lake bottom. He dived and snatched up a particularly jagged one and returned to the statue. He began to hack at the ropes binding Ron, and after several minutes hard work, they broke apart. Ron floated, unconscious, a few inches higher up the lake bottom, drifting a little in the ebb of the water.Harry looked around. There was no sign of any of the other champions. What were they playing at? Why didnt they hurry up? He turned back to Hermione, raised the jagged rock, and began to hack at her bindings too At once, several pairs of strong gray hands seized him. Ha lf a dozen mermen were pulling him away from Hermione, shaking their green-haired heads, and laughing.You take your own hostage, one of them said to him. Leave the othersNo way said Harry furiously but only two large bubbles came out.Your task is to retrieve your own friendleave the othersShes my friend too Harry yelled, gesturing toward Hermione, an big silver bubble emerging soundlessly from his lips. And I dont want them to die eitherChos head was on Hermiones shoulder the small silver-haired girl was ghostly green and pale. Harry struggled to fight off the mermen, but they laughed harder than ever, holding him back. Harry looked wildly around. Where were the other champions? Would he have time to take Ron to the surface and come back down for Hermione and the others? Would he be able to find them again? He looked down at his watch to see how much time was left it had stopped working.But then the merpeople around him pointed excitedly over his head. Harry looked up and saw Ced ric swimming toward them. There was an enormous bubble around his head, which made his features look oddly wide and stretched.Got lost he mouthed, looking panic-stricken. Fleur and Krumre coming nowFeeling enormously relieved, Harry watched Cedric pull a knife out of his pocket and cut Cho free. He pulled her upward and out of sight.Harry looked around, waiting. Where were Fleur and Krum? Time was getting short, and according to the song, the hostages would be lost after an hour.The merpeople started screeching animatedly. Those holding Harry loosened their grip, staring behind them. Harry turned and saw something monstrous cutting through the water toward them a human body in swimming trunks with the head of a shark.It was Krum. He appeared to have transfigured himself but badly.The shark-man swam straight to Hermione and began snapping and biting at her ropes the dither was that Krums new teeth were positioned very awkwardly for biting anything smaller than a dolphin, and Harry was quite sure that if Krum wasnt careful, he was going to rip Hermione in half. Darting forward. Harry hit Krum hard on the shoulder and held up the jagged stone. Krum seized it and began to cut Hermione free. Within seconds, he had done it he grabbed Hermione around the waist, and without a backward glance, began to rise rapidly with her toward the surface.Now what? Harry thought desperately. If he could be sure that Fleur was coming.But still no sign. There was nothing to be done exceptHe snatched up the stone, which Krum had dropped, but the mermen now closed in around Ron and the little girl, shaking their heads at him. Harry pulled out his wand.Get out of the wayOnly bubbles flew out of his mouth, but he had the distinct impression that the mermen had understood him, because they suddenly stopped laughing. Their yellowish eyes were fixed upon Harrys wand, and they looked scared. There might be a lot more of them than there were of him, but Harry could tell, by the looks on the ir faces, that they knew no more magic than the giant squid did.Youve got until three Harry shouted a great stream of bubbles burst from him, but he held up three fingers to make sure they got the message. One (he put down a finger) two(he put down a second one) They scattered. Harry darted forward and began to hack at the ropes binding the small girl to the statue, and at last she was free. He seized the little girl around the waist, grabbed the neck of Rons robes, and kicked off from the bottom.It was very slow work. He could no longer use his webbed hands to propel himself forward he worked his flippers furiously, but Ron and Fleurs sister were like potato-filled sacks draw him back down.He fixed his eyes skyward, though he knew he must still be very deep, the water above him was so dark.Merpeople were rising with him. He could see them swirling around him with ease, watching him struggle through the water.Would they pull him back down to the depths when the time was up? Did the y perhaps eat humans? Harrys legs were seizing up with the effort to keep swimming his shoulders were aching horribly with the effort of dragging Ron and the girlHe was drawing breath with extreme difficulty. He could feel pain on the sides of his neck againhe was becoming very aware of how wet the water was in his mouthyet the darkness was definitely thinning nowhe could see daylight above him.He kicked hard with his flippers and discovered that they were nothing more than feetwater was flooding through his mouth into his lungshe was starting to feel dizzy, but he knew light and air were only ten feet above himhe had to get therehe had toHarry kicked his legs so hard and fast it felt as though his muscles were screaming in protest his very brain felt waterlogged, he couldnt breathe, he needed oxygen, he had to keep going, he could not stop And then he felt his head break the surface of the lake wonderful, cold, clear air was making his wet face sting he gulped it down, feeling as t hough he had never breathed properly before, and, panting, pulled Ron and the little girl up with him. All around him, wild, green-haired heads were emerging out of the water with him, but they were smiling at him.The crowd in the stands was making a great deal of noise shouting and screaming, they all seemed to be on their feet Harry had the impression they thought that Ron and the little girl might be dead, but they were wrongboth of them had opened their eyes the girl looked scared and conf apply, but Ron merely expelled a great spout of water, blinked in the bright light, turned to Harry, and said, Wet, this, isnt it? Then he spotted Fleurs sister. What did you bring her for?Fleur didnt turn up, I couldnt leave her, Harry panted.Harry, you prat, said Ron, you didnt take that song thing seriously, did you? Dumbledore wouldnt have let any of us drownThe song said -It was only to make sure you got back inside the time limit said Ron. I hope you didnt waste time down there acting th e heroHarry felt both stupid and annoyed. It was all very well for Ron hed been asleep, he hadnt felt how eerie it was down in the lake, surrounded by spear-carrying merpeople whod looked more than capable of murder.Cmon, Harry said shortly, help me with her, I dont think she can swim very well.They pulled Fleurs sister through the water, back toward the bank where the judges stood watching, twenty merpeople accompanying them like a guard of honor, singing their horrible screechy songs.Harry could see Madam Pomfrey fussing over Hermione, Krum, Cedric, and Cho, all of whom were wrapped in thick blankets.Dumbledore and Ludo Bagman stood beaming at Harry and Ron from the bank as they swam nearer, but Percy, who looked very white and somehow much younger than usual, came splashing out to meet them. Meanwhile Madame Maxime was trying to restrain Fleur Delacour, who was quite hysterical, fighting tooth and nail to return to the water.Gabrielle Gabrielle Is she alive? Is she urt?Shes fine Harry tried to tell her, but he was so exhausted he could hardly talk, let alone shout.Percy seized Ron and was dragging him back to the bank (Gerroff, Percy, Im all right) Dumbledore and Bagman were pulling Harry upright Fleur had broken free of Madame Maxime and was hugging her sister.It was ze grindylowszey attacked meoh Gabrielle, I thoughtI thoughtCome here, you, said Madam Pomfrey. She seized Harry and pulled him over to Hermione and the others, wrapped him so tightly in a blanket that he felt as though he were in a straitjacket, and forced a measure of very hot potion down his throat. Steam gushed out of his ears.Harry, well done Hermione cried. You did it, you found out how all by yourselfWell - said Harry. He would have told her about Dobby, but he had just noticed Karkaroff watching him. He was the only judge who had not left the table the only judge not showing signs of pleasure and relief that Harry, Ron, and Fleurs sister had got back safely. Yeah, thats right, said Har ry, raising his voice slightly so that Karkaroff could hear him.You haff a water beetle in your hair, Herm-own-ninny, said Krum. Harry had the impression that Krum was drawing her attention back onto himself perhaps to remind her that he had just rescued her from the lake, but Hermione brushed away the beetle impatiently and said, Youre well outside the time limit, though, Harry.Did it take you ages to find us?NoI found you okay.Harrys feeling of stupidity was growing. Now he was out of the water, it seemed perfectly clear that Dumbledores safety precautions wouldnt have permitted the death of a hostage just because their champion hadnt turned up. Why hadnt he just grabbed Ron and gone? He would have been first back.Cedric and Krum hadnt wasted time worrying about anyone else they hadnt taken the mersong seriously.Dumbledore was crouching at the waters edge, deep in conversation with what seemed to be the chief merperson, a particularly wild and ferocious-looking female. He was maki ng the same sort of screechy noises that the merpeople made when they were above water clearly, Dumbledore could speak Mermish. Finally he straightened up, turned to his fellow judges, and said, A conference before we give the marks, I think.The judges went into a huddle. Madam Pomfrey had gone to rescue Ron from Percys clutches she led him over to Harry and the others, gave him a blanket and some Pepperup Potion, then went to fetch Fleur and her sister. Fleur had many cuts on her face and arms and her robes were torn, but she didnt seem to care, nor would she allow Madam Pomfrey to clean them.Look after Gabrielle, she told her, and then she turned to Harry. You saved er, she said breathlessly. Even though she was not your ostage.Yeah, said Harry, who was now heartily wishing hed left all three girls tied to the statue.Fleur bent down, kissed Harry twice on each cheek (he felt his face hack and wouldnt have been surprised if steam was coming out of his ears again), then said to Ron , And you too-you elped -Yeah, said Ron, looking extremely hopeful, yeah, a bit -Fleur swooped down on him too and kissed him. Hermione looked simply furious, but just then, Ludo Bagmans magically magnified voice boomed out beside them, making them all jump, and causing the crowd in the stands to go very quiet.Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our decision. 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, as follows.Fleur Delacour, though she present excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by grindylows as she approached her goal, and failed to retrieve her hostage. We award her twenty-five points.Applause from the stands.I deserved zero, said Fleur throatily, shaking her magnificent head.Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was first to return with his hostage, though he returned one minute outside the time limit of an hour. Enorm ous cheers from the Hufflepuffs in the crowd Harry saw Cho give Cedric a glowing look. We therefore award him forty-seven points.Harrys heart sank. If Cedric had been outside the time limit, he most certainly had been.Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was just effective, and was second to return with his hostage. We award him forty points.Karkaroff clapped particularly hard, looking very superior.Harry Potter used gillyweed to great effect, Bagman continued. He returned last, and well outside the time limit of an hour. However, the Merchieftainess informs us that Mr. Potter was first to reach the hostages, and that the delay in his return was due to his determination to return all hostages to safety, not merely his own.Ron and Hermione both gave Harry half-exasperated, half-commiserating looks.Most of the judges, and here, Bagman gave Karkaroff a very nasty look, feel that this shows moral fiber and merits full marks. HoweverMr. Potters score is forty-fi ve points.Harrys stomach leapt he was now tying for first place with Cedric. Ron and Hermione, caught by surprise, stared at Harry, then laughed and started applauding hard with the rest of the crowd.There you go. Harry Ron shouted over the noise. You werent being thick after all you were showing moral fiberFleur was clapping very hard too, but Krum didnt look happy at all. He assay to engage Hermione in conversation again, but she was too busy cheering Harry to listen.The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June, continued Bagman. The champions will be notified of what is coming precisely one month beforehand. Thank you all for your support of the champions.It was over. Harry thought dazedly, as Madam Pomfrey began herding the champions and hostages back to the castle to get into dry clothesit was over, he had got throughhe didnt have to worry about anything now until June the twenty-fourth.Next time he was in Hogsmeade, Harry decided as he walke d back up the stone steps into the castle, he was going to bargain for Dobby a pair of socks for every day of the year.