y/n at hogwarts

Chapter 11 - Slipping Through My Fingers

Y/N, Harry and Neville killed time at the shore of the Black Lake, Y/N was deep in her book as Neville was knee-deep in the shallow water and Harry was deep in thought. "So, the second task has something to do with the lake," Harry began as he watched students pass on the trail close to them. "It's definitely underwater," The boy added, taking his glasses off. "How are you going to breathe underwater? Do you have a potion for that?" Y/N asked as she closed her book and put it in her bag. "Oh, I know. Gillyweed can help!" Neville exclaimed suddenly, turning to the pair on the ground. "I might have some in my dorm," The boy added. "Brilliant," Harry mumbled. Y/N eyed around the lake, knowing the depth of the water. "Merpeople," She muttered under her breath. "What?" Harry asked, eyes wide. "Merpeople live in the Black Lake. You'll have to swim through them," The girl explained. "You're joking. Why does it always have to be life-threatening?" Harry wailed. "Because it's the Triwizard Tournament. It wouldn't be if anyone didn't die," Y/N replied with an amused laugh.

The late February day was surprisingly warm. The traffic of boats on the Black Lake brought students between the ground and the magically built docks in the middle of the lake. Unlike the pitch for the first task, the newly built docks were sturdy and didn't sway in the wind, inviting many spectators to watch the second task. "Neville, have you seen Hermione, Ron or Y/N today?" Harry questioned Neville on the boat, on their way to the docks. The boy hadn't seen his friends during breakfast and it was freaking him out. "No? Maybe they're just late," Neville suggested as the boys eyed the docks, hoping to see familiar faces. Neville searched through his pockets and then handed Harry the Gillyweed plant. "Are you sure this will make me breathe underwater for an hour?" The boy asked as he took the plant from Neville, nervousness evident on his face. "I mean, it said so in the book but there also have been cases-" Neville began muttering. "Brilliant," Harry replied sarcastically and sighed. The short boat ride was over quicker than Harry had expected. He saw Cedric on the platform and marched up to him. "Hey, Harry," The Hufflepuff student greeted with a soft smile. "I was wondering if you've seen Y/N," Cedric added as Harry's eyes widened. "I was about to ask the same thing," Harry started saying, but Dumbledore's loud voice interrupted their conversation. "The champions have one hour to complete this task. We have hidden something in the lake that's precious to them and they must find their way to them. With that, let us now begin," Dumbledore announced as the spectators clapped and cheered. "Good luck," Cedric said to Harry as he replied with a thumbs up. 

The boy clutched the slimy Gillyweed in his pocket and examined it with disgust. The horn whistled meaning the task officially begun. Harry quickly took the green plant into his mouth and tried to swallow it but almost instantly began choking on it. The poor boy held onto the railing of the docks, trying to eat it when suddenly someone pushed him. Harry lost his balance and fell straight into the cold water. As he sunk deeper into the Black Lake, he felt a burning sensation on the sides of his neck and fingers. In a matter of seconds, Harry's neck grew gills, finding it easier to swim in the water. The boy looked around frantically until he saw a fortress in the distance. Merpeople were guarding the place and they started gliding closer to Harry as he tried to speed up. Four human figures were chained underwater, their shapes familiar to Harry. The order was simple - Hermione, Ron, Y/N and a younger girl who seemed to be Fleur's little sister, close to each other, unresponsive. Their hair was the only thing slightly moving. Cedric swam past Harry, stopping at his side to point at the clock, their designated hour almost over. Cedric pointed his wand towards the chain that was tied to Y/N and it broke. The boy grabbed the girl by the waist and began swimming up towards the surface. 

Y/N gasped as soon as they made contact with the air, her head popping up on the surface. She held onto Cedric out of fear of falling back into the depths of the lake. "What the hell happened?" Y/N asked Cedric as she coughed, shivering due to the water's coldness. The boy was smiling with triumph as the spectators on the docks cheered loudly for him. "I'll explain as soon as you're warm," The Hufflepuff student turned to the girl for a second, pulling her after him as Cedric swam to the wooden platform. Y/N was pulled out of the water first, Cedric jumping out of the lake himself. A blanket was given to the tournament participant as the girl shivered, her uniform robe not doing any justice to her. "What's going-" Cedric pulled the girl in a hug, stopping her sentence halfway. "Here, put this on," The boy said and handed her his sweater. "Thanks, Ced," Y/N replied, taking the robe off and replacing it with the wool sweater, giving just a little bit of warmth. "Thank god, you're alright," George's voice appeared behind the girl, hugging her as well, his breath on Y/N's neck. "You're freezing, love," The redhead added and backed away from her as he took off his jacket. "George, it's fine," With a quick move, his jacket was draped over the girl's shoulders, Cedric's sweater and the new piece of clothing slowly warming her. "I insist," George said and patted her shoulder. 

Harry was still underwater as Viktor Krum appeared from the depths as well with Hermione close to him. "Are you warm?" Cedric asked as he sat next to Y/N on the edge of the platform as the girl tried to catch a glimpse of Harry. "Oh, yes. Thank you, Ced," She replied with a smile. George was still behind them, eyeing the Hufflepuff student with extreme jealousy, his fists clenched. The redhead contemplated taking a seat next to the pair or just pushing Cedric back into the Black Lake to grab the spot so close to Y/N. The boy next to the girl placed the blanket over her, his hand staying around her waist. "Come on, George. Before you do something to Cedric," Fred pulled his twin from the pair, and the last thing he saw was Cedric kissing Y/N's cheek. "What a git," George commented. If only he was Cedric Diggory.

Hermione was placed next to Y/N, and her reaction to the cold air same as Y/N's. Hermione was coughing wildly as Viktor placed a blanket, similar to Y/N's, on her shoulders. "Do you remember anything?" Hermione questioned as she tried her hair. "Not one bit. It was like I woke up only to fall asleep again," The girl replied as she turned to Hermione. "I see Viktor appeared at the last minute," Y/N said with a smirk. "Stop it, Y/N," Hermione blushed, eyeing Viktor with his headmaster. Harry emerged from the water with two close to him. The boy's bravery caused him to take Ron and Fleur's sister. The platform erupted in loud cheers as the trio swam to the dock, getting pulled out immediately. Fleur ran to her smaller sister, apologizing in French as the small girl hugged her. Ron and Harry coughed, Harry holding onto his best mate, the dock's railings. Cedric smiled at Y/N as the girl got up with Hermione and rushed to Harry and Ron, Y/N embracing Harry in a warm hug. "You were there for such a long time, it was mad," Y/N exclaimed as she pulled away from the grinning boy. "I'm so glad you're okay," Hermione added, ignoring Ron next to her, with a relieved voice. Dumbledore announced the scores, Cedric and Harry sharing the first place, with Viktor in second and Fleur placing the last place.