Red Lion [2] // Harry Potter// Draco Malfoy

The Black Lake

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: The Black Lake

Today is the day, Barty Crouch Senior goes missing.
I've seen his death, but the weather doesn't match so, it's not today.

Wrapping my scarf around my shoulders, I tucked the fringed edges into my yellow coat, Drizella stood by the door ready to go.
The Ravenclaw girls and I walked to the black lake, our shoes crunching on the bronzed leaves that were on the ground. Around us, Drizella jumped through each pile of leaves, several of the small ones getting stuck in her fur and on her paws. Walking around the crowds, Fred and George were shouting their betting odds, a small crowd gathered around them as they passed tickets and took small piles of galleons.

Where is Hermione?" Hadleigh asked putting her hands under her arms to keep warm
I shook my head," No one has seen her or Ron since the Library."
"The Library?" Hadleigh asked
I nodded," Yeah, just before we broke several laws."
"Maybe she is already there?" Hadleigh suggested.
I shrugged," Maybe."
"Or she's part of the task," Hadleigh said.
"What?" Isabelle said, overhearing the convocation.
"People treasure friendships and relationships," Hadleigh explained," That's what the Champions could be after."
"That's messed up." I shuddered.

Hadleigh nodded, holding on to me," God this school is weird."
"No shit." I agreed.

Cueing up at the boathouse, Hadleigh got in first, holding her hand out to help us in. They were the same boats that were used in our first year when we cross, the Black lake the first time. I panicked a little as the boat rocked from side to side as Mandy climbed aboard.
Last on was Drizella, my dog lay her head on my knees as the boats rowed themselves to the middle of the lake where three towers had been put up overnight.
They were five stories high, with an almost vertical ladder going up to the top and four large metal beams anchored into the ground, the top of the towers was very similar to the spires that were on the top of the castle.

Our little boat docked at the middle tower, Isabelle and I huddled together as a strong wind hit us as we got off the boat. Waving us over Seamus pointed to, a large space at the front where he stood near the four champions.
Hadleigh didn't seem that fazed by the cold she pushed her way to the large space by the front of the tower.
There was an equal split of support, many were in Hogwarts hoodies with a full crest on the front to show equal support, some were in beige to support Krum and others were in baby blue for Fleur.

Sitting on the floor, Drizella sat by acting as a blanket of a sort as Seamus and Dean stood nearby with Neville.
Isabelle, Sue, and Mandy shivered together, their thick jumpers did nothing to fight off the cold, they stood with us for a couple of minutes before the cold got too bad for them and they took the ladder up to the top where there was more cover.
"Cold?" Seamus asked, crouching down next to me.
I nodded," A little."
Pulling me into his side, he rubbed my arm to generate friction made heat.
Looking around, I saw Draco climb off the boats, he had a look of jealousy on his face as he climbed the ladder with Blaise and Pansy.
Neville looked nervous behind me as he fidgeted with the end of his scarf.
"What's up with you?" I asked, looking over up at him.
He bit into his inner cheek," Gillyweed, it might not work; saltwater and freshwater have different effects on a plant like that."
Taking my brother's hand, I raised an eyebrow at him," Neville, plants are your thing, don't let Harry take that from you because you have started doubting your own intelligence."
Neville looked confused," You think I'm intelligent?"
"Yes, I always have, since we were kids; you just couldn't see it yourself." I smiled at him.
Neville instantly calmed down enough to stop pacing a hole into the platform and stand by Hadleigh and Dean by the rail.

"Welcome to the second task," Dumbledore's voice echoed around the towers," Last night something was stolen from each of our champions. A treasure of sorts. These four treasures, one for each champion, now lie on the bottom of the Black Lake. To win each champion needs only find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough. Except for this, they will have one hour to do so and one hour only. After that, they'll be on their own."