Survival is the Key (Harry Potter fan fiction)

Chapter Nine - The Second Task and The Yule Ball

I smiled as I looked in the mirror. I wore a blue dress with hints of purple in it, it had a black belt and leopardy print top. I work a pair of heels. Ceezs dress was black at the top and baby pink at the bottom (hers is the external link). She wore black heels. We walked down to were Ced and Malfoy were waiting. "Look after her, otherwise I will personally kill you" I whispered into Malfoy's ear. He nodded and gulped.

Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and to follow her. We did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as we entered and started walking up toward a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting.

The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people. There was only three lines as me and Ced went together. Hermione went with Krum and Ron was with this strange girl. Fleur went with a guy I did not know at all. I spotted Harry who was happily sitting there with Cho. I had made him ask Cho out and she said yes.

Dumbledore smiled happily as the champions approached the top table, but Karkaroff wore an pissed off expression as he watched Krum and Hermione draw nearer. Ludo Bagman, tonight in robes of bright purple with large yellow stars, was clapping as enthusiastically as any of the students; and Madame Maxime, who had changed her usual uniform of black satin for a flowing gown of lavender silk, was applauding them politely.

When all the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked us to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomed back along the walls leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and some bagpipes were set upon it.

The "Weird Sisters now trooped up onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause; they were all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn. They picked up their instruments I had been so interested in watching them that he had almost forgotten what was coming, suddenly realized that the lanterns on all the other tables had gone out, and that the other champions and their partners were standing up. I quickly stood and walked to the floor with Cedric were we were ready to begin dancing.

The music started and we began dancing. I we danced the rest of the night. Through the rock tunes, slow tunes and the freaky ones. Until it was over. Ced kissed me goodnight and I headed upstairs. I undressed and fell into bed. That dream hadn't come back for a while.

I stood on the edge waiting for the go. I stared into the water. I felt Ced's hand entwine into mine. I heard the blast and we dived. Ebublio, I muttered. The bubble head charm. I swam into the depths. I saw some grindylows. Aguamenti. They where blasted away. I swam and I got to the place were the four people were. Harry, Fleurs sister, Hermione and a girl with a big nose. I heard from above something about Fleur being retired from this. I had to get her hostage. I muttered a spell and Harry was cut loose. I did the same for Fleurs sister. I felt something pulling me down

Merpeople. "Only your hostage, girl" they said in their scary voices. I fought them away and got there in time for me to go with Harry and Fleurs sister. "Gabrielle!" Fleur shrieked in her French accent. I was pulled up by someone and a towel was puled round me. I saw I was the last one. I sighed. But when they put up the scores I was surprised.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our decision. Merchieftainess Murcus has told us exactly what happened at the bottom of the lake, and we have therefore decided to award marks out of fifty for each of the champions, as follows. . . .

"Fleur Delacour, though she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by grindylows as she approached her goal, and failed to retrieve her hostage. We award her twenty-five points."

Applause from the stands. "I deserved zero," said Fleur throatily, shaking her magnificent head.

"Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was first to return with his hostage, though he returned one minute outside the time limit of an hour." Enormous cheers from the Hufflepuffs in the crowd "We therefore award him forty-seven points."

My heart sank. If Cedric had been outside the time limit, I most certainly had been.

　　"Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nevertheless effective, and was second to return with his hostage. We award him forty points."

　　Karkaroff clapped particularly hard, looking very superior.

　　"Naomi Potter also used the bubble head charm," Bagman continued. "He returned last, and well outside the time limit of an hour. However, the Merchieftainess informs us that Miss. Potter was first to reach the hostages, and that the delay in her return was due to his determination to return hers and Miss. Delcours hostages to safety, not merely her own."

Mum and Dad gave me a look. Although Harry didn't. He would have done the same If it were him.

"Most of the judges," and here, Bagman gave Karkaroff a very nasty look, "feel that this shows moral fiber and merits full marks. However . . . Miss. Potter's score is forty-five points."

I screamed. I was hugged and all sorts. This was going so well.