Diggory Is A Loser

21- Gillyweed

Celia walked with Benjamin for hours, and she finally felt happy again for the first time since the ball.
Even though Amos had told her not to talk about the article, Celia had decided to tell anyone who spoke to her, that Benjamin was her boyfriend. She hoped that this would put a stop to the rumours.
Celia kept her promise to Harry though and met up him the following morning, hoping that he had made as much progress as she had.

"Well?" Questioned Celia, when Harry arrived in the owlery that morning.
"I've figured out the clue" answered Harry.
"And I made up with Benjamin. It seems that both of us were successful last night" smiled Celia.
"I nearly got caught by Filch and Snape for being out of bed though, but luckily Moody was around to get me out of an awkward situation"
"Moody is good at being around when you need him. It's probably because he has an magical eye than can see through walls".

"I may have figured out the clue, but I've still got no idea how to succeed in the second task" admitted Harry glumly.
"Well, what exactly does the task involve?" Asked Celia.
"Mermaids, you were right about that" replied Harry.
"I usually am, go on, what else do you know?"
"Well, I opened the egg under water and listened to the mermaids song that came out of it. The song says that the mermaids in the Black lake, are going to take something of mine, and I have one hour to find it, or it's going to be lost forever"
"Wow, that's a bit harsh".

"How I'm supposed to hold my breath under water for an hour, while I look for whatever has been taken, I've no idea. I'm not even that good a swimmer" revealed Harry.
"Viktor will be happy, he swims every morning in the lake, so he'll have an advantage" admitted Celia.
"Great. I suppose Cedric is a pro swimmer as well" groaned Harry.
"There's nothing my brother is bad at unfortunately"
"This just gets better and better. Do you have any ideas on how I will be able to hold my breath under water for an hour?"
"I think you're meant to work that out for yourself. I helped you with the Mermish, but I can't tell you how to complete the task. I'm not a champion, you are".

"Oh come on, I need all the help I can get. Besides, I haven't got much time left to figure it out" reminded Harry.
"You've still got several weeks before the second task. I'm sure you will find what you're looking for by then" reassured Celia.
"And if I don't, then I'm going to be standing by the lake for an hour, looking like an idiot, while everyone laughs at me"
"You've got Hermione Granger as a best friend, I'm sure she'll be able to help you. Besides, I'm not even sure I know how you can breathe under water for that long".

Harry's face fell, "You don't?".
"Contrary to popular belief, I don't know everything" replied Celia.
"So, you can't think of anything that can help me?" Questioned Harry.
"No spell comes to mind, unless you transfigure yourself into a fish. But neither you or I have learned human Transfiguration yet. And I don't want to turn you into a fish permanently, by doing the spell wrong"
"No, I wouldn't want that either. What about Potions, can you think of any that allow you to live without oxygen?"
"No... Wait, there is a very rare ingredient called Gillyweed, that can allow you to breathe underwater. But it's not a common plant, and I've no idea where you would even find it. I thinl your best bet is to scower the library over the next few weeks and look for a spell that you can use".

"Thanks for trying to help" sighed Harry.
"You're welcome. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more use to you" admitted Celia.
"That's alright. I'm happy to see you smiling again" informed Harry.
"The whispers about me and my birth, might not have stopped, but at least I have Benjamin by my side to help me through it all"
"I'm glad that you have him... Well, I'd better head to the library"
"Good luck"
"Thanks, I'm going to need it".

****
Celia saw Harry, Ron and Hermione in the library every day leading up to the second task.
She kept praying that they would find something out, but each day they returned looking even more defeated than the day before.
Celia couldn't join them in their search, as she had OWLs to revise for, which were very important.
But she liked Harry, because he was always nice to her, so she wanted to try to help him if she could.

On the night before the second task, Harry was alone in the library, as Ron and Hermione had been summoned to McGonagall's office.
Seeing the defeated look on Harry's face, made Celia even more determined than ever to help him.
So she left her table and made her way over to him.
"I'm guessing you still haven't found anything?" She whispered, hoping not to upset Madam Pince the librarian.
"Nothing" groaned Harry, as he placed his head into his book.

"Well, I'm not saying that I can guarantee to give you what you're after, but I have an idea" she revealed.
Harry lifted his head, hope glimmering in his eyes.
"Go on" he encouraged.
"I've been thinking about Gillyweed. I know it's really rare, but there is one person in this school who might have some" informed Celia.
"Who?"
"Snape. I don't know for sure, but I think there might be some Gillyweed in his office"
"You want to help me break into Snape's office and steal from him?"
"I don't want to, but I don't think we really have any other choice".

"But Snape locks his office, and I'm sure we won't be able to get in there by just using Alohomora" admitted Harry.
"No, but there are other spells that can gain you entry to places you are not supposed to be" grinned Celia.
"You never fail to suprise me" replied Harry.
"Thanks. Let's get going then. Snape should be at dinner right now, so it's the perfect time to break into his office"
"I think you could be quite scary if you put your mind to it"
"I'll take that as a compliment".

Once out of the library, Harry revealed that he had an invisibility cloak, so the pair hid under it and began to move through the school.
When they reached Snape's office, Celia began trying every spell she could think of to get inside.
"It's a shame that we can't apparate inside" whispered Harry.
"Even if we were old enough to apparate, you can't inside Hogwarts" replied Celia.
"I know. Hermione's always saying that" admitted Harry.
"Well, she's right. Now, shut up and let me concentrate".

Eventually Celia succeeded and they were able to enter Snape's office.
The pair then began rummaging through the shelves, looking for Gillyweed.
"I found it" announced Celia after several minutes of searching.
Harry made his way over to her and crinkled his nose in disgust as he looked at the green object in the jar Celia was holding.
"That looks gross" he commented.
"Well, unfortunately you have to eat it, before going into the lake" replied Celia.
"And you're sure this will work?" Questioned Harry.
"I'm positive. You just have to trust me"
"Seeing as I've got no other choice left, as the task is tomorrow, I guess that I have to trust you".