MEMENTO MORI | DRACO MALFOY

FIFTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

     The morning of the Second Task crept up quicker than anyone could have expected. It felt as though the First Task was only yesterday, however, it had already been months. Ophelia wondered what the task would entail as she hugged her jacket tighter around her figure as she descended the grassy hill toward the Black Lake with a shivering Blaise and Daphne on her heels. Ophelia picked up her speed when she saw the familiar raven haired boy just up ahead walking alone.

"Hey Potter!" Ophelia called out, feeling relentless that morning. The boy turned quickly, hands buried in his pockets in order to keep them warm from the bitterly cold air. "Where'd your friends get off to? Did they realize that Cedric is the true Hogwarts Champion? They finally admit that its useless supporting the likes of you?" Her tone was as bitter as the winter air. Perhaps if Potter hadn't gotten on her nerves the last few weeks she would have kept her mouth shut.

Harry Potter scoffed and turned away from them once again as Blaise howled with laughter while Draco, Crabbe and Goyle joined them.

"Good one, Eff." Draco noted, glaring daggers at the back of Potter's head. "How pathetic, doesn't even have the support of his only mates! He has no one. Not even parents!"

"Easy, Draco." Ophelia snipped, cutting her eyes at the snarky blonde. Sometimes Draco forgot to lay off the dead parent jokes in front of Ophelia. He cowered slightly in response and continued badgering Potter as the group followed closely behind him.

When Potter separated to join the other champions, the group fell silent.

"What do you think the task is? Swimming?" Daphne questioned as they all clambered into one of the boats that seemed to be taking everyone to one of three stands in the centre of the lake.

"I doubt it's just swimming laps, Daphne." Ophelia replied. "Think of all the creatures in the Black Lake, I'm sure they have to get past them or something, just like with the Dragon."

Daphne nodded in agreement. "Right."

The boat arrived at the centre stand and the group climbed out and joined the other students looking over the ledge and into the water. The Black Lake sure was living up to its name that day. The water was so dark and ominous, you'd barely even see something floating just below the surface.

Before anyone could wonder anymore about what the Champions would have to complete during the task, Ludo Bagman emerged to the centre of the stand and placed the tip of his wand against his throat in order to magnify his voice.

"Well, our champions are ready for the second task which will start on my whistle! They have exactly one hour to recover what has been taken from them!" He bellowed as the champions lined up along the edge of the stands, ready to dive in. "On the count of three! One. . . Two. . . three!"

The whistle sounded and echoed loudly, rippling along the waters surface. Everyone was cheering as three out of the four champions immediately dove in, leaving Harry Potter lingering at the stand's edge. Ophelia noticed as Moody hobbled next to him and gave him a good nudge in the ribs as Potter shoved something into his mouth. Her eyes narrowed. Potter began to gag as if he was about to vomit, and then suddenly, Moody pushed him into the water. No one else around her seemed to notice the encounter, only that Harry had fallen not-so-gracefully into the water, causing an uproar of laughter, so Ophelia leant forward, squinting at the black water, wondering if Moody could have possibly sent Harry Potter to his death.

Suddenly, a body, something that was a cross between human and fish soared out of the water and into the air before diving back in head first. Ophelia was at a loss for words. Harry Potter's feet and hands had become webbed and the strange black markings on his neck had to have been gills. She glanced back at Moody and it all made sense. Gillyweed.