Dumbledore's my granddad!? (A Harry Potter FanFiction)

Chapter 8

I woke up with only a few hours sleep, and already I had to make my way down to the next task in the tournament. I got dressed into a warm, white sweater, dark, navy jeans, and a black, velvet coat. With Ginny alongside me and Hermione no where to be found, we walked along with the horde of students who created an exciting buzz which filled the air. Where is she? Does Mad eye Moody still have her and Ron? I erased that from my thoughts, as I began to worry about Harry. Did he get that plant? Gilly-weed? 

"I can't believe the next task is today, Rica!" Ginny exclaimed, in a cheerful mood. She used the nickname she gave me as a kid. Before Ginny could pronounce a lot, she pronounced my name as Rica and as a kid, it stuck to me.

I smiled, but she had no idea that I had hardly any sleep, just like Harry and probably Hermione and Ron. "I can't believe it is this early in the morning!" I replied.

"I wonder what's going to happen at the lake?" Ginny wondered aloud.

"Swimming?" I laughed.

We saw Fred and George trying to sell their items to people on the way down to the boats. Those two are definitely going to become entrepreneurs! Ginny bumped into them and was quite angry about how they didn't move for her, she walked on and I stopped.

The twins just shrugged at each other and smiled at me, "Hey Erica!" they chorused.

"Hey boys! What you selling today then?" I asked.

"Actually it's bets on who wins! Want a go?" Fred explained.

"Sure. I bet on..." I pondered, what if Harry's Gilly-weed doesn't work? But I believe in him, "Okay then um-Harry! I bet 3 Galleons for him to make it to the next round." (A.N: In muggle money that's £15.00) I handed George the money and he gave me a betting slip to return for my money.

I followed the crowd down to the boats, and saw Ginny on a boat that was just about to set off. There was a space near her so I jumped on. Only to realize I was sitting next to Draco Malfoy. I looked to Ginny who was 3 spaces left of me and she was talking to Seamus.

"How are you Crawford? You look tired." Malfoy chimed in my right ear.

"I was up helping Harry with his task, so yeah other than that i'm fine. What about you?" I replied, staring at the three, wooden structures that rose from the middle of the lake. The audience stands?

"I'm feeling amazing, I bet Potter isn't." He smirked. I gave him a look as in to say shut up. He stopped smirking and looked at the structures. I reached out my hand to touch the water, and as my hand skimmed the lake's water I realized just how dark the water was, Well they did name the lake after the black water. How would Harry see down there?

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After reaching the structures and reaching our seats, Ginny and I watched as Harry and the others where below us. We sat at the front of the stands so we could look straight down. I saw Harry and yelled his name, he barely heard it due to the noise of the crowd's excitement. He looked up and I waved, so did Ginny. He smiled but he looked afraid. I linked my two fingers, please work I prayed. Dumbledore began a speech about how each contestant had something valuable took from them and how they had an hour to retrieve it. Everyone got ready and I watched Harry shove in the Gilly-weed and choke on it. Was he alright? He seemed to be choking really bad and all the contestants jumped in and Harry was still there choking. Mad eye Moody pushed him in, and Harry was gone. I was afraid that he was drowning, it didn't look like it had worked, what if he was dying?! The crowd was silent, and I was nearly about to rush down to Dumbledore and beg him to rescue Harry, when suddenly Harry burst from the water like a dolphin and did a back flip, while screaming yeah! He had webbed feet!

"What the?!" I heard Malfoy exclaim behind me. I looked back and gave him a smug look.

"See, Malfoy! Harry does feel amazing!" I laughed. Draco looked at me and actually smiled! Wow, I have seen everything this morning.

Everyone waited over the hour and it was quite boring. Beside from Fleur Delacour arriving early by herself due to the enemies in the lake getting her. Who are the enemies I wonder? I went down the structure to find Neville, Seamus and Dean who where looking out at the water and laughing at what Harry had did. 

"Hey guys!" I said. They looked at me and Neville looked ill but slightly relieved.

"Hey Erica!" Seamus replied. "Oh sorry about the other day and me scaring you an-all!" 

"It's fine, I was just wondering what you guys where up to, as I was getting a bit bored." I explained, while gazing out at the lake which in its darkness was all the more beautiful against the pale clouds behind it, and the several wooded mountains along the far away shore.

"We aren't up to much, just trying to figure out what spells the others used to swim, oh and talking about the Mermaids!" Seamus laughed.

"Wait-Did you just say Mermaids?!" I asked astonished.

"Yes, there are rumors on there being Mermaids living in the lake." Dean explained to me.

"That's beautiful!" I gushed. I can imagine them swimming through the lake with there long, golden hair and their clam bras! Well I guess this is a lake not an ocean so seaweed bras?

"Actually not so beautiful, the buggers are dangerous, and ugly!" Dean yelled.

"Quiet down Dean, they c-could hear y-you!" Neville, whisper-yelled while shying away from the water, as if one of the mermaids was going to rise up and drag him under.

"Oh calm down Neville, they are probably just folk-lore!" Seamus laughed. I doubt so...

Then suddenly up came Cedrick from the water with cho-chang! Cedrick had used the same spell as Fleur allowing a air bubble to reside upon there mouths. They must have learnt that due to them being older than Harry. The crowd erupted into applause. There was only 7 minutes left. I hope Harry makes it back!

Then again the water exploded revealing Victor Krum as a shark with Hermione?! This morning is getting weirder. The valuables which were stolen from them were people?! That must mean harry has Ron!

There was no minutes left... and just as I believed that Harry hadn't made it, Ron and a girl that looked oddly like Fleur floated to the surface of the water. Where was Harry? Moments went by and Neville was freaking out.

"What if it stopped working?! What if he is drowning?! I killed Harry Potter!!!!" Neville cried. I grabbed his arm for reassurance. Then suddenly Harry burst from the lake and flew onto the level of the structure I, Neville, Dean, Seamus and the judges including my granddad where on! he was coughing up water and Dumbledore was yelling for the judges to come back and rewrite the contestant charter. Fleur thanked Harry and Ron for saving her sister and Ron nearly died when she kissed his cheek. 

"Merci..." Ron whispered while rubbing his cheek. I laughed and went over to Harry to see if he was alright. Hermione gave him a towel and told him the good new, of how he made it to the final task because Fleur never made it back with her valuable. I gave him a hug even though he was soaked through. 

Harry smiled and I congratulated him, "You made it! well done Harry!" I cheered.

Dumbledore pushed through the crowd and yelled into his wand which transmitted his voice like a microphone, "The winner is Cedrick Diggory!" and then Dumbledore surprised everyone. "We have agreed that as Harry would have finished first if he had not been so valiant and saved not one but two valuables that he should be awarded second place!" Then Victor Krums school booed and his headmaster who judged looked outraged that my granddad bumped Victor to third even though having came second. Everyone including myself cheered.

Draco's P.O.V

A young Gryffindor boy next to me cheered and I hit his hat down so he couldn't see. I left, hating that Potter had yet again won despite having lost! Dumbledore always favored him. Wait till my father hears of this... While reaching the boats I saw Erica celebrating along with Potter, the mudblood and Weasley. How does she stand them I will never understand, she is different. Nothing like a Weasley, she is greater than that scum. It's in her blood... I wonder who her parents really are?