Death Parts Us

Part 13~Breathing

Sly tapped his foot as Fred and George rushed about the dock, trying to get as much money as possible. Wayne ran up, grinning. "Everything is ready," Wayne announced as Sly sighed.

'You sure?'

"Perfectly certain," Kevin added, wrapping an arm around Sly's shoulders. "When you're ready to come up, tug three times and hold on."

'And it can't get caught on anything? Or break?'

"We don't think so."

'Think so? That's not very reassuring.'

"It's the best we got in the time," Justin interrupted, patting Sly's back.

Sly chewed his lip, nodding. 'Thank you for the help.'

"Sure thing," Wayne slapped Sly's back before pushing him into the boat. "Now we've got to get to the start line before you get disqualified."

'I would prefer to be disqualified.'

~~~

"Welcome to the second task," Dumbledore began, using his wand to make him louder. "Last night something was stolen from each of our champions. A treasure of sorts. These four treasures, one for each champion, now lie on the bottom of the black lake. To win each champion need only find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough. Except for this, they will have only one hour to do so and one hour only. After that, they'll be on their own."

Mad-Eye glanced at Sly who was wrapping the rope around his waist.

"You may begin at the start of the cannon." Dumbledore didn't get any warning as the cannon fired and the champions jumped into the water. Sly slowly sank. The second her feet touched the ground, he began walking through the bottom of the lake.

He moved his hands in the way Kevin tried to teach him to make it easier. A complete underwater city was hidden beneath the lake. It was slightly breathtaking. Stepping forward, Sly coughed. The rope wouldn't move. Carefully pulling the rope, Sly panicked, pulling at it until finally, he fell forward. He had become unstuck!

Glancing around the water, he grinned, spotting the sight in front of him. Hermione, Cho, Gabrielle and Roger were tied up at the bottom of the sea, kept in place by their ankles.

Walking to Roger's side, Sly frowned. He wasn't breathing. He must be under some kind of paralysing spell.

Swimming forward, Cedric beat Sly to freeing anyone, grabbing Cho and tapping his watch before swimming away.

Sly nodded as he turned back to the 'treasures'. Freeing Roger, Sly gripped him tightly before turning to Hermione. He tried to free Hermione when something stopped him.

Pointing their tridents at Sly's throat, the merpeople hissed.

'But... But she's my friend too!' Sly glanced around in distress.

"Only one!" The merperson stopped, swimming away as a large shark charged at Sly. Jumping to the side, Sly stared, wide-eyed as Viktor freed Hermione and took her to the surface.

Glancing around, Sly waited for Fleur to come for her sister. She did not come. Biting his lip, Sly cut the rope holding Gabriella. Tugging on the rope, Sly held onto the two as tightly as possible.

The rope snapped awake in a second, jolting Sly back and throwing him out of the water. Sly coughed, the harsh landing hurting his back. Fleur rushed forward, her face lit up in delight as she hugged her sister.

"Sly! You made it!" Kevin grinned, throwing the blanket around Sly's shoulders.

"You saved her, even though she wasn't yours to save. My little sister!" Fleur approached Sly, kissing him. The second she left, Sly stuck out his tongue.

'Why do you like that?' He glanced at Wayne who shrugged.

"Kevin's a good kisser."

"Sly!" Hermione grinned as she rushed over, wrapping her towel around Sly's shoulders. "Are you alright? You must be freezing! Personally, I think you behave admirably!" Hermione reached out, kissing Sly on his forehead.

'I finished last, Hermione,' Sly pointed out.

"Next to last. Delacour never got past the Grindylows."

Sly smiled, closing his eyes tiredly.

"Attention! Attention!" Dumbledore walked out, his voice booming. "The winner is... Mr Diggory!"

Cedric's friends cheered, patting his shoulders.

"For showing unique command of the bubble-head charm. The way I see it, Mr Weasley-Potter would have finished first had it not been for his determination to rescue not only Mr William but the others as well. We've agreed to award him second place! For outstanding moral fibre."

The group cheered as Viktor's friends grumbled.

"Guys!" Kevin interrupted, looking pale. "Roger's not breathing."

On the ground, Wayne was completing CPR, trying his best to wake Roger up. The whole deck fell silent.

~~~

Pacing in a circle, Kevin couldn't sit still. Wayne had his head lowered, his hands having dried out since trying to save Roger's life.

Sly was curled up on the far seat, Wayne by his side. "You okay, φιδάκι?"

Sly shook his head, covering his head. 'If I hadn't waited, Roger might have woken up. It's my fault.'

"It's not your fault." Wayne shook his head, rubbing circles on Sly's back. "If it's anyone's fault, it's Dumbledore's."

Kevin nodded, sitting on the other side of Sly. "Wayne's right and I'm sure Roger will be fine."

'But...' Sly paused, unsure if he should continue. 'Roger's been so weak recently. He's been so tired and he was really pale. What if something's seriously wrong?'

Kevin and Wayne shared a look, trying to not let his words get at them. "I'm sure he'll be fine," Kevin tried to soothe him. "Madam Pomphrey is amazing, there isn't an injury she can't help."

"She couldn't help Ginny."

~~~

Groaning, Roger opened his eyes, coughing harshly. "Poppy?"

Madam Pomphrey rushed over, stopping Roger from moving. "Don't move. You're in no state to move."

Roger blinked, croaking as he spoke. "Wh-What happened?"

"You were used in the second challenge and put under a status spell. That spell didn't seem to affect the cells in your lungs letting them multiply and consume a large majority of your lungs. When you were released from the spell, you couldn't breathe. The cells are under control now, however... The treatment is no longer working. Your life expectancy has been cut in half. I am truly sorry." Madam Pomphrey placed a sad hand on Roger's shoulder as he blinked. "I'm going to contact your father. You are not to leave this room."

Roger blinked, curling in on himself. His lung hurt. Everything hurt but nothing hurt more than knowing he wasn't even going to make it to the end of the year.