HARRY POTTER STORY: Lions in snake den

Part 22

The day of the second task dawns with a thick blanket of mist rolling over the Black Lake, casting an ominous stillness over the castle grounds. The cold air is sharp against Harry's skin as he stands by the water, glancing around at the gathered crowd. His mind is racing with thoughts about the challenge ahead whatever the second task involves, it will undoubtedly be dangerous. Harry stands with his group of friends Draco, Hermione, Blaise, Theodore, and Tracey. He's trying to focus on his breathing, trying to calm his nerves. But something feels off, a tension that has nothing to do with the tournament. As the minutes tick by, Harry feels a strange, nagging sense that something is missing. Or rather, someone.
"Has anyone seen Daphne?" Tracey's voice cuts through the fog, sounding more anxious than usual. Harry's head snaps up at the mention of Daphne's name. He hadn't even realized until now that she wasn't there. Usually, she would have been by his side, offering some last minute advice or giving him that sly, confident smirk she was so good at. But this morning nothing. He hadn't seen her since the night before when they had talked briefly about his plans for the task.

"No," Hermione replies, frowning as she glances around the shoreline. "I haven't seen her all morning. She wasn't at breakfast." "I checked the dorms before we came down here," Blaise adds, his usually calm demeanor slipping as his dark eyes scan the crowd. "Her bed was empty."
"She's not the type to just vanish," Tracey mutters, crossing her arms tightly, the worry in her voice growing. "Especially not today of all days." Harry feels a knot tighten in his chest, though he tells himself it's probably nothing. Daphne's not the type to run off, but maybe she had something to do some Slytherin business she hadn't mentioned. He doesn't even realize he's started looking around frantically, his eyes searching the crowd for her dark blonde hair. But nothing.
"She probably just overslept or something," Draco says, though his tone lacks confidence. His grey eyes shift uncomfortably as he glances back at the lake. "Maybe she'll show up any minute now."

But Tracey shakes her head, pacing nervously. "No, you don't understand she wouldn't miss this. Not for anything."
Harry's mind spins as he tries to reassure himself. Daphne was a Slytherin through and through always prepared, always calculating. She had been the one who'd helped him perfect his spells for this task, who had dragged him to the empty classrooms late at night to make sure he was ready. Her absence now feels... wrong. But why is he so rattled by it? He doesn't even know why he's so on edge about Daphne being missing. It's not like...
"Harry?" Hermione's voice pulls him out of his thoughts, and he realizes he's been clenching his fists tightly. He forces himself to relax, but the unease doesn't fade.
"I'm sure she's fine," he mumbles, though he doesn't quite believe it. "Luna mentioned something strange," Theodore speaks up, his brow furrowed. "She told me last night that the merpeople seemed restless more active than usual. Maybe Daphne went down to the lake early to investigate?" "That sounds like something she would do," Hermione says thoughtfully. "But she should have told someone."

Harry's pulse quickens as he glances at the still waters of the Black Lake. Daphne was always curious, always pushing boundaries, but going down to the lake on her own? He shakes his head, telling himself she wouldn't do something so reckless. Would she?
Tracey's pacing becomes more agitated. "I have a bad feeling about this. Daphne doesn't just disappear, and she wouldn't leave without saying something. This isn't right." The knot in Harry's chest tightens further. He's trying to stay calm, but Tracey's worry is contagious. And that strange feeling like something is missing, like something is wrong keeps creeping into his thoughts. He rubs the back of his neck, trying to brush it off, but it lingers. "You don't think she... got into trouble, do you?" Blaise asks quietly, his voice low as if not wanting to speak the words aloud.Before anyone can answer, a loud horn sounds, signaling that the second task is about to begin.

The champions are being called to the platform, and Harry feels a sudden wave of panic. He's about to dive into the Black Lake without knowing where Daphne is. The very thought makes his heart pound harder than the idea of the task itself. "Harry," Hermione says softly, noticing the look on his face. "We'll find her. Just focus on the task for now. She's strong, she'll be alright."
He nods numbly, trying to push down the unsettling feeling swirling in his gut. He's not even sure why he's so worried. Daphne is just his friend she's smart, resourceful, she can handle herself. But there's something about the way her absence weighs on him that he can't quite shake. It's confusing, and now of all times isn't when he should be thinking about this. He needs to focus on the second task.