Hidden In These Walls

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

 We all clambered out of our boats, trying to get to the five towers set in the great lake side by side on Hogwarts grounds for the next tournament's task, there were so many bodies, it was so crowded... It was in moments like this where I wish I had Padfoot, the large black dog that he was, to break me away from the crowd and keep me feeling safe and sound.

There was another part that wished Lupin was there, his presence would have been quite comforting. I would have said the same about Sirius Black, but I hadn't heard from him as of late. Not that I blame him, he was in hiding, but at the same time, it made me sad I hadn't heard a word, and there was a part of me that made me feel as though he wished not to speak to me, I wanted to respect that.

But that wasn't my main focus at the moment. My focus was resting on the five champions that stood at the front of each of the stands. I stood on the one with Harry at the front, he looked quite nervous and was wriggling his arms as he exhaled heavily. 'Moody' approached Harry and muttered to him, holding out something in his hand. There was a moment where I wanted to bolt forward, thinking that it may be poison, but I had to reason with myself, if he wanted to poison him he would have probably done so already.

"Your attention please!" Dumbledore's voice echoed across the vast waters, "Welcome to the second task. Last night, unbeknownst to our champions, something they value exceptionally was taken from them!" I listened closely, or as closely as I could with the stagnant voices murmuring, and while I watched Harry closely for any sign of struggle or strain.

"That something now lies on the bottom of the Black Lake. Their mission this morning is to retrieve it," I began to hear a sort of gurgling choking noise, and watched closely as Harry clutched onto the railing, his body convulsing and leaning over the side. My eyes widen and my body stiffens. Please don't let my weird future-seeing powers be true this time... Let this be the first damn time I am wrong! I took a step forward as Harry clawed at his throat, but as I was able to make my way to him I watched as Moody pushed him in, the cannon overhead shot off a bit too early.

"No!" I gasped and surged ahead, be damned this stupid task. But Moody caught me and pushed me back, I glared up at him, "What is wrong with you?!" I growled.

"Keep yer britches on," He spoke low, "He's just fine..."

I shoved away from him and pointed in his face, "He dies I'm coming after you!" I took a breath and stood back in my spot, watching Moody pace back and forth. I wondered if he took my threat seriously because truthfully it wasn't a threat at all. It was the tip of a promise, merely what I would do in the end with him. In my mind, I would do much worse to him if anything happened to Harry, Hermione, Ron, or truthfully anyone here.

"Oh my god! I've killed Harry Potter!" I glanced over hearing Neville Longbottom's voice, shrill and panicked, with his hands on the sides of his head. His eyes were wide with disbelief and shock. He was wrong, whatever he believed, if Harry was dead it wasn't because of him, it would have been Moody's fault. I shot another glare over at 'Moody'. I was stopped from crossing the way and strangling him with that stupid walking staff by Harry flinging out of the water with a back flip, water following suit, shouting and cheering, before falling back into the lake.

I took a deep breath, feeling my nerve ends ease. Neville spun around and glimpsed over the edge of the deck. He seemed just as relieved as I was. I decided I would try to sit with Neville and comfort him, "You alright Neville?" I asked him quietly as I crouched next to him. He took a shaky breath and bobbed his head. I gave a tight-lipped smile watching as he decided to take a seat with his back against the railing, this would be quite the wait indeed for the champions to come back.