"Ah, another Malfoy," the hat sounded amused. "You are not what you seem, or what your family and peers see, are you? Your heart is double. A Malfoy in name, but your true lineage is hazy, which makes you quite tricky to place. You would do well in...
Two days until the second task. After much mulling, between us, Cedric and I had figured out what the clue was.
I had also received an owl from Hermione who wanted me to meet her in the library, and when I did, I found that Ron was there too, along with Harry who had his head rested on an open Herbology book.
"Any luck figuring it out?" I ask, biting my bottom lip.
Cedric and I had only just figured it out last night, so I didn't want to say anything just yet.
"It's a riddle," Harry said.
"I know," I say and perch next to him on the table. "Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground. An hour long you'll have to look, to recover what we took," I gently sing it.
The boys both look at me, transfixed, and I blush. "Isn't it obvious?" I add. "There are mermaids in the Black Lake! It's the only water source near the castle. You have an hour for the task, so that means you need to find a spell or something that will allow you to breath under water for that long. And recover, which can only mean something will be taken from you that you have to find again!"
"How did you know all that?!" Ron asked.
"Honestly Ronald, it's all there in the riddle! You've just got to piece together how it all fits," I tell them. "Hermione, surely you got it too?!"
Neville came over to put back some books that he had. He mentions something about Gillyweed to Harry after his little outburst over finding something that would allow him to breathe underwater for an hour.
Professor Moody came down and told Hermione, Ron and I that professor McGonagall needed to speak with us in her office. The last thing I remember after that, was seeing Fleur's younger sister and the rest of us in McGonagall's office.
When things came into focus again, I'd broken the surface of the Black Lake, Cedric had his arm wrapped around me as I hadn't quite got my bearings back yet. Someone gave me their hand and I was pulled up onto one of the three platforms in the Black Lake.
"I don't understand! What happened?!" I look around, baffled and freezing and soaking wet. I was draped with towels.
"You were the thing I had to recover," Cedric states.
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Cedric got first place, and Harry was awarded second for his outstanding moral fibre since he rescued Fleur's little sister as well, as she couldn't get past the Grindelows'.
***
Later that night, the trio and I went to Hagrid's Hut. While Harry seemed distant and wandered a bit away from us in the Forbidden Forest, we talked and sang.
Eventually, I broke off from the others to go see what was up with Harry. He didn't seem to want to talk, but I could see that each task had taken a significant toll on him. He looked exhausted, it was draining him, and I know the others must being feeling the same way. But Harry was younger, so it was hitting him harder.
I was about to ask him something but he stopped walking and I walked into him. I could see a familiar hat, and then further around the tree, there was Barty Crouch's body. It looked as though he had been dead for a while
Shouting Hagrid, who quickly came over. Harry and I were sent to Dumbledore's offer. He spoke to Harry first and then me.
"So, Miss Malfoy, or Miss Pond," he smiles at me. "How are you feeling?"
"You knew I never was never a Malfoy," I say. "How?"
"You were first brought to me as a baby. I was asked if I could protect you, River Song gave me the picture album to give to you when the time was right. It was me who suggested you go to the Malfoy's. Part of me selfishly hoped that having you would change their hearts, and I still do."
"How could you make that decision though? I know River only wanted to protect me still, after what had happened. But didn't you think there was even the slightest chance that I could have been with my parents?"
"No, I don't Miss Pond. It had to happen that way, as I'm sure you were told, and in only that way could you have been brought back to your parents. Our lives unfold in mysterious ways, ways we wish that they would not. But you are with your parents now, they get to see the bright witch you are becoming," Dumbledore told me. "It must be strange because they are so young, but even so, Amy is a mother and Rory is a father. You are their daughter now, as you always have been. Even if it is only recently you've come to know that."
When Dumbledore dismissed me from his office, Harry was stood waiting for me. I could tell he wanted to ask me what Dumbledore and I had discussed, but something in my eyes must have prevented him from asking.
"How are you feeling about the last task?" I ask him.
"Not sure, Ally. I didn't want any of this to begin with. About now, I just want this to be done with," he gave me a half smile.
"I know you do Harry. But isn't there a part of you that hopes you can win? You've come so far already, mostly on nerve! This last task isn't going to be like any of the others," I say.
He shrugs and I sigh. "Just remember," I add. "Use your wand, but be aware that a lot of what you may see isn't at first glance what it seems."
His face turns to more confusion as I leave him at the portrait of the Fat Lady, to go down to the dungeons.
"Ah, Miss Malfoy! Might I have a word?" I hear Snape's voice and groan. Why does everyone want to suddenly talk with me tonight?
"Yes professor?" I turn and look at him.
He quirks an eyebrow and motions for me to follow him into his office. Mother and father are there and I internally panic.
"What have you done to your hair?!" Mother asks.
Father cuts in. "Your time playing hero with the Weasley boy, Potter, and the Granger girl is over. But that's not to say your connections to them won't come in useful," he smirks. "After this year things are going to change, you and Draco are going to be privy to lots of things. I need to know that you are going to be true to the Malfoy name?"
"Yes, father," I say solemnly.
"Good! Now, enjoy the final tournament...while you still can!" He says with a malicious grin.
With that they both disapparate out of Snape's office. None of this sounded good, but I couldn't do anything if I had nothing to give.
