Rose Between Two Thorns.

Chapter 16

"You may begin at the sound of the cannon" Dumbledore says, just before the cannon goes off with a loud BOOM. Putting my arms in front of me I aim for the water and dive forward.

Immediately after landing in the water, I reach down and yank my wand from the belt and perform the bubble charm. As the bubble encases itself around my head I release the breath I had been holding. Its remarkable how one needs air.

Blinking furiously, my eyes adjust to the murky water and wander around looking for the easiest way to reach the mermaids lagoon. I slip my wand back into its belt and wave my arms around, getting used to the unnatural warmth of the water. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a figure waving its arms around as if it is trying to get my attention. Well it now has, so I propel myself forward, the distance disappearing quickly as I near the figure. When I see who it is, I mentally smack myself in the head.

"Myrtle! What the hello are you doing down here?" I ask. I've never really liked Myrtle, due to her constant moaning in my ear whenever I absolutely have to go to the second floor girls bathroom. Which has happened only on rare occasions. Okay. Maybe more than rare. I was desperate for a pee okay?

"Well I waaas going to help you but because you are being mean, I may as well not" she says in an annoying singasong voice. For a twelve year old she sure is petty.

"Look I'm sorry Myrtle, I was just surprised that's all. How do I get to the Mermaids?" I ask breathlessly, the air bubble seeming to get tighter with every word I say.

"I don't like them Mermaids, but I guess I'll take you as far as I can" she moans, flipping around in the water. "Follow me" and with that she is off. I kick my legs and start breast stroking my way behind her, slowly gaining up with her.

We pass many things along our way. Schools of fish, which dart away when we get too close, pass over fields of water grass, which moves with the water, and I swear that I see the Giant Squid at least twice on our journey.

"I've only been to their lagoon once and they kicked me out. I guess due to me being dead and all" Myrtle sniffs as yet another school of fish darts away from us.

"But you must come down here often right?" I ask. She turns away from me.

"Yeah, I guess."

She stops when we near a tall field of water grass and points a ghostly finger towards it.

"Through there, you then swim for a little longer and then you reach the lagoon, its not hard to miss" she says.

"Thanks Myrtle" I say, and she half smiles. I swim upward till I reach the top of the ever swaying grass. Propelling forward, I let the light current carry me across the field until it stops, and I see it. More like her. A grisly half human half fish creature, with wiry green hair and sharp looking teeth floating at the edge of the grass. She carries a trident, and looks to be on the guard for something. I swim forward and she makes eye contact with me. BAM I should be dead or something, but she does nothing, but sort of smiles, a half grimace if you like. It looks very disturbing from my point of view.

She points a scaly arm towards something in the distance, and I have to squint to make out four figure's floating in the water. Kicking my legs I swim over to the figures and recognise them. Cho Chang, Gabriella, Hermione and;

"Fred" I whisper as I swim up to him. He looks pale, his ginger hair floating around his face. His eyes are shut and his mouth hangs open, almost like he is asleep. I pull out my wand and aim it at the rope holding him down.

"Reducto" I cry out and the rope snaps, with a few sparks coming from it. A horrifying scream comes from behind me, and I turn just in time to see a shark coming towards me. I wait for it to attack me, but it simply swims past me and towards Hermione, biting at the rope holding her down. I laugh at the tiny legs swimming behind the giant shark head, and realize that that must be Krum. Turning back to Fred, I grab his arm, and cast a spell to propel us forward in the water so it wouldn't waste my energy carrying the both of us.

I look down at my watch. Ten minutes to go. I am cutting it a bit close, I guess but as long as I can get to the surface, I will be fine. The spell gently carries us, cutting through the water quickly.

I notice something out of the corner of my eye, and I turn to see Fleur struggling to carry Gabriella. So I turn around, Fred in tow towards Fleur and I grab Gabriella's other arm. Fleur looks at me gratefully, so I smile and let the spell carry us up again.

We cut through the waters edge, and with a gasp I feel the bubble charm break and I take in a huge gulp of air. Hearing spluttering beside me, I turn to see Fred now very much awake and spitting out water.

"Hey" I greet him, grabbing his hand under the water.

"That's not my hand Tabs" he smirks, and I let go quickly, the embarrassment spreading over my face quickly.

"I'm kidding" he laughs and tackles me. I squeal as we both go under water again. As we pop back up again, a hand is offered to me and I look up to see Katie and Abigail looking down at us, cheeky looks on their faces.

"Have a nice dip there Granger?" Katie asks as I haul myself up onto the platform.

"Very refreshing" I answer breathlessly, as I haul Fred up as well. Towels are thrown at us and we accept them, wrapping ourselves in them.

"Tabitha" Hermione cries out, pushing her way through the crowd.

"Hey Hermi—oww not so hard" I cry out as she tackles me into a hug. She lets go quickly apologising with it.

"ATTENTION!!!!" Dumbledore yells and I cover my ears "THE WINNER IS MR DIGGORY" students around us erupt into cheers as Diggory celebrates.

"SECOND PLACE GOES TO MS GRANGER" the crowd cheers "BECAUSE ALTHOUGH SHE WAS LAST OUT OF THE WATER, SHE HELPED MS DELACOUR AS WELL" someone boos in the crowd, but I pay it no heed, as people swarm around me congratulating me.

***

"So what happened yesterday when you disappeared on me Freddo?" I ask, looking up at him as we sit under the tree next to the lake, watching the sun set and the Giant Squid play around in the water.

"Well after our little bathroom stint, I was walking to class when Flitwick comes and tells me to go to McGonagall. I thought we were getting into trouble for using the Prefects bathroom" he says running his hand through his mostly dry hair. "It turns out she wasn't wanting me for that, so then she explains what's happening, what the task is and what it means and what we were doing there and then she makes us drink a potion and I fell asleep......and that's all I can remember really" he finishes.

"Well, I say you were incredibly brave Mr Freddo, in taking that challenge" I snigger. He smiles down at me, showing his dimples. I reach up and poke one with my finger.

"What was that for?" he asks. I smirk

"I'm incredibly jealous of your dimples Freddo, I want them." I say. He starts laughing, so I do as well.

"You ain't getting them babygirl" he says. I pout at him and he laughs again.

"What do you think the third task will be?" he asks looking ahead.

"Dunno" I say folding my arms "But whatever it is, I think I can handle it."

"Im sure you can" he answers leaning down and pecking me on the nose. "You've fought a dragon and swum with mermaids, what else can they throw at you?"