my best friends brother - fred weasley

xix. underwater

Despite the Yule ball only being a few weeks ago, everyone acted as though it didn't happen. Hermione wouldn't tell me what happened with Ron, so I didn't tell her what happened with Cedric, I wouldn't even dare mention Fred's name. Only Harry had an idea what had happened, and he was too busy trying to figure out the clue for the next task, which was in two days. Even with the tournament, the professors had no problem with assigning just as much, if not more, homework. I was sitting with Hermione in the library doing our Potions work, while her new friend Viktor Krum sat and watched her. 

"You would think Snape would be in a good mood, Harry being in mortal danger and all, and not give us any work." I stretch and lean back in my chair. 

"Are you joking? This is the only thing keeping me sane." She scoffs, looking at Viktor and then back at my eyes, almost asking me to keep the conversation going. He is sitting and staring at her, as though she's the only girl in the world. 

"Um, so Viktor..." I think of something to ask. "How's the tournament treating you?"

"Is fine." He says with a thick Bulgarian accent, still staring at Hermione. 

"Have you figured out the clue for next task?"

"Yes. It was very easy." 

"Oh... that's nice." I hold back a laugh, turning back to my books. Hermione lets out a defeated sigh and continues writing. Once our study period is over Hermione goes to meet up with Harry, when I tell her I'll go find Ron, her face drops but then she quickly smiles and nods. 

I search what feels like the entire school for him, from the Great Hall, to the Astronomy tower and he is no where to be found. After half an hour, I give up and head to the common room. I walk in, looking at the ground, tired. I lay down on the couch, facing the ceiling. I hear Ron walk in with two other people. I sit up and stare at him. He's talking and laughing with Seamus and Dean.

"And where have you been?" I cross my arms and glare at him.

"Who are you? My mother?" He and his friends laugh. My face relaxes and I roll my eyes, laughing with them. Suddenly Harry and Hermione burst in. Harry runs straight up to his dorm and we all look at Hermione. 

"Cedric helped him with the clue." She informed us all, avoiding eye contact.

"Cedric? He's able to think of someone other than himself? Unbelievable!" I gasp dramatically and flop back onto the couch. Harry sprints back out with his egg in his hands, he leaves the room without saying a word. Hermione sighs and walks over to sit next to my legs. We hear the boys make their way up the stairs to their dorm and I look over to her. 

"Ron was a complete ass, he said I was a last resort. In case you were wondering what happened." She admits.

"He was being Cedric so I dumped my drink on his head." I replied. We wait a few seconds before bursting out with laughter. 

"Boys are the absolute worst." She giggles. 

"Oh come on, we aren't all that bad." Fred walks past, from the entrance to the stairs to his dormitory, sending me a wink as he leaves. Hermione looks over to me, raising an eyebrow. 

"Uh..." I try to hide my smile but it crawls across my face. "Nothing happened."

"I didn't ask if anything did." 

"I know, but it didn't." I keep grinning. 

"Of course! I completely believe you." She laughs. I throw a pillow at her head, she hits it back at me. 

⊱✿⊰

"What did the egg say?" I ask. We're sitting in the library after hours. Ron's sleeping in one of the chairs, Harrys almost asleep, laying on a book while Hermione and I are actually trying to help. 

"Come seek us where our voices sound." He repeats for what seems to be the ten-thousandth time.

"The Black Lake." I state.

"That's obvious." Hermione replies, whacking the back of Ron's head to wake him up. 

"An hour long you'll have to look." Harry continues.

"Again, obvious." I say.

"Although, potentially problematic." Hermione adds. 

"Potentially problematic?" Harry snaps, sitting up. "When was the last time you guys held your breath underwater?"

"Relax Harry, we'll figure this out." I say. Then Moody interrupts. 

"Sorry to break up the skull session, McGonagall wants you in her office." He stares at us. Harry starts to get up. "Not you Potter. Weasley, Granger and May." The four of us share confused looks. 

"But sir, the second task is tomorrow." Hermione interrupts him.

"Exactly. Harry should be well prepared by now and could do with a good nights sleep. Go, now!" He yells at us. We hurriedly make our  way to Professor McGonagall's office. We see a young Beauxbatons girl sitting with her headmaster, Madam Maxime. 

"Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, Miss May and Miss Delacour. I am so sorry to have to do this, but once you wake up you'll understand. She waves her wand over our heads and we all fall to the ground, unconscious. 

⊱✿⊰

The bright light blinds me for a second as I choke on cold water, I cough as hard as I can trying to get the water out of my lungs. My body is numb from the freezing water and all I can hear is people screaming and cheering. I gasp for air and continue to choke on water. Cedric pulls me through the Black Lake and helps me climb up the wooden stands that are full of students and Professors. I'm still dressed in my school robes, soaked in water from the lake. I continue to cough as people throw towels on me, trying to warm me up. 

"What just happened?" I ask over and over, not getting a reply from anyone. I look around for my friends but don't recognise anyone other than Cedric, sitting next to me, also wrapped in towels. "What happened?" I lean in to ask him, my voice is hoarse from the choking. 

"The second task, I had to find you and get you out of the Black Lake. Ron and Hermione are down there as well, for Harry and Krum." He explains, not looking at me. I nod slowly, realising that I was apart of the tournament for Cedric. 

"I'm sorry." I say quietly. He looks over and smiles kindly, his eyes look dark and tired, as though he hasn't slept in days.

"I'm sorry too. You were right, I never should've put my name in. It's just been the worst." He shrugs.

"You're only just realising?"

"Give me a break, I just had to swim through Mermaids to get to you." He chuckles.

"I'm surprised you didn't just leave me in there." I admit, looking out into the water.

"I'm not a monster, I would've even if it wasn't part of the tournament." 

"Awe you're so kind." I laugh, playfully hitting his arm. 

"That's what I'm known for." He gives me a charming smile. We look at each other for a second longer, silently reaching a mutual agreement to just be friends. 

We watch Hermione emerge from the water with Viktor, resulting in all the Durmstrang boys chanting for him. Several minutes pass and everyone's waiting to Harry. It's three minutes until the hour is up, Ron bobs up from the water, holding onto Fleur's sister, without Harry. They make their way over to the dock and are pulled up by Fleur, crying, she thanks Ron with kisses. He comes over to sit with me while we wait for Harry to come out of the water. The clock shows that the hour is up and everyone starts to worry, murmurs pass through the crowd as everyone watches over the water, looking for a sign of Harry. I hear Draco let out a laugh, it's small and has a hint of panic in it. Out of nowhere, Harry flies out of the water with his wand in hand, landing in front of Dumbledore and Barty Crouch. Everyone starts to applaud for him, while Dumbledore announces the placings. Cedric is given first place, he grabs my hand and hoists it up into the air to celebrate. Harry is given second place, despite being last out of the water, as he was able to rescue two people. Viktor was given third place, he celebrates by planting a kiss on top of Hermione's head, earning a scowl from a dripping wet Ron. And Fleur is placed last, due to her disqualification.