19 - The Second Task

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'Morning', George greeted you softly as you slowly opened your eyes, once again snuggled into the crook of his body. 'Blimey, your forehead is cold', he added, after placing a gentle kiss on the top of your head as you closed your eyes again. The room you were in was reasonably drafty compared to the common room, which was usually warmed by a crackling golden fire. Under a thick quilt your body was warm next to George's, but you must have fallen asleep facing the escape route of the draft, causing your forehead to become quite a bit colder than what was considered a normal temperature. George placed his warm hand on your forehead and smiled blissfully as you subconsciously began to curl the corners of your lips in comfort. Laying there with George's hand warming your forehead, you couldn't help but feel like something was happening today - but what? Eventually curiosity got the better of you and you fluttered your eyelids open, before stretching out your whole body and yawning. George took his hand off your forehead and messed with your hair before heaving himself up and standing, twisting his torso so that his back clicked. You were used to this sound as you had a habit of clicking your back often, so naturally it didn't bother you. Getting to your feet, you walked to George and gave him a hug, which he returned, rubbing your back soothingly as you sighed deeply into his chest.

'George', you began, 'I feel like something's happening today but I can't remember what it is.'

George released himself from your grasp and placed his hands on your shoulders, keeping you at arm's length.

'It's the second task today, muffin', he reminded you. 'How did you forget that?'
-

It was minutes until the second task and you were worried. Standing beside the judges were Cedric, Fleur and Krum, however there was no sign of Harry at all. Maybe, as per normal, he was late - there was no way he could have forgotten something so big so easily. And yet, as you looked around from your place on the platform next to George and a scowling Draco (who you'd forced to sit with you), you couldn't see him anywhere. Not even running across the lawn, or hidden somewhere in the crowd. You did notice, however, that Neville was missing too, so perhaps he was explaining to Harry how the Gillyweed functioned. You also noticed that Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be seen, but, remembering the chant of the Merpeople emitting from Cedric's golden egg, you assumed that the 'what we've taken, you'll sorely miss'' was probably them. As you were pondering this, a small speck in the corner of your eye appeared to be hurtling at great speed across the lawn towards the three platforms. Please be Harry, please be Harry, you thought to yourself hopefully as the figure came fully into view, and thankfully, by possible sheer luck, it was him. Only one minute late.

'Potter sure took his sweet time', Draco muttered acidly as Harry, now on the platform below with the other champions, stood with one of his fists clenched, his deep red Triwizard tank top flowing gently in the wind. It was miraculous that he'd made it in time.

'At least he's here now', you replied, and Draco's expression became bitter. 'Look, it's about to start!'

You peered down at the platform below you and got an eyeful of Ludo Bagman, who had just pointed his wand at his throat and whispered an incantation, allowing his voice to boom loudly across the vast lake.

'It seems all our champions are prepared for the second task. They have exactly one whole hour to retrieve what has been taken from them, and can begin on the sound of my whistle - on the count of three. One... two... three!''

The loud screech of the whistle bounced across the lake and cut through the chilly air like a sharp, piercing knife as everyone around you stood to their feet and errupted into loud clapping and cheering, each yelling the name of their own school's champion. You watched carefully as all the champions dived into the icy water apart from Harry, who seemed to be violently choking on the item that was previously clasped tightly in his hand. It appeared obvious to you that Draco was watching too - he had burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter as his eyeline followed yours to Harry. Yours and Draco's expressions couldn't have been any different; you were worried for Harry's safety, whereas Draco was practically roaring with laughter at Harry's inability to breathe properly as he swallowed aggressively, trying to get what you assumed was the Gillyweed down his throat. George was rubbing his forehead as he looked at Draco, then to Harry, as if he was deciding who he should truly be concerned about. Fred, who was sat next to George, was finding Harry's struggle a significant amount less funny than Draco was finding it, but nonetheless had cracked a small smile. You decided that if Hermione were there with you, she'd probably be just as worried about Harry as you were. But those thoughts soon cleared, as Mad-Eye Moody almost glared at Harry before shaking his head, exasperated, and pushing him with great force into the black lake.

George Weasley x Reader ~ Jaffa CakeWhere stories live. Discover now