Yuri !!! At Hogwarts

Chapter 27: The Name's 'Sturb'

I was edging more and more towards the bottom of the lake. I opened my mouth to scream for help but only bubbles came out.

Duh. I hadn't figured how to talk underwater yet.

I looked under me. I still hadn't observe my tail. It was golden with specks of blue and yellow. I kinda linked it. Its end was like a fish's but bigger. I wondered what way Viktor had found to breath underwater. I tried to wiggle free of the plant's embrace. I moved my tail with all my strength. The algae didn't flinch. I felt tired and angry.

"Grhghllh !" I exclaimed.

The light was very dim. Even with my merman eyes, I couldn't see far away. I guessed it was because of my shitty eyesight.

I began to panick. I was stuck underwater. Who would find me here ? The effect of the potion was going to worn out sooner or later.

Then, I laughed. Though it felt more like I was choking. I was an idiot.

I reached for my wand. It was still where I left it, attached to my belt. I pointed it toward the algae and tried to concentrate. An orange bolt escaped my wand and cut the plant. I was free.

I swam far away from the plant. I had to follow the noise. I wasted precious time because of that thing. One hour wasn't long to explore the entire lake.

The sirena' voices were getting louder. I hope I'm doing it right...

There was some weird curtain made of algae right in front of me. I tried to swim over it, but it grew longer. This probably was part of the challenge. We had obstacles to overcome. Were were tested. The weaker ones didn't stand a chance.

I casted a spell on the plants. It was similar to the one I used earlier. The bolt fused. The algae parted to avoid my attack. I sighed. I had to think harder.

"Danca Botanica !" I chanted while swinging my wand from the right to the left (though it sounded more like a gurgle of some sort). It was better than a choking noise at least. This spell was one of the weirdest incantations I knew.

At first, nothing happened. Then, the plant began dancing. I'd say it looked like a Bollywood dance. I waited until the plant's movement started to get slower. I swam right across the algae. It didn't try to stop me.

Magic was the key to all my problems.

The voices were close, I realized. I lifted my head and noticed something unusual. There were fishes around me. It was the first time they approached me so far. Maybe I could communicate with the little fellows. I tried to imitate a dolphin. They looked at me with bulging eyes. Did they understand ?

Their scales were green and red. They reminded of Christmas lights. It was a disturbing concept. I tried to go past them. They let me move at first but one of them followed me. He was bigger and bulkier than the rest. Also, he only had one eye. I decided to call him Sturb, short for disturbance.

"Sup' Sturb ?" I mumbled. I was startled when I heard my own voice. I could talk underwater, now. How ? I didn't have a clue.

"Who are you calling a Sturb ?" exclaimed the fish. It had the voice of a sailor and was staring at me wide-eyed.

"Never mind," I answered. The fish didn't seem to like me. It opened its mouth to reveal razor-like teeth. I also caught a glimpse of its pinkish tongue.

"That's quite so-some teeth," I stammered. I was a bit startled. I continued to swim and tried to ignore Sturb.

The fish grinned.

"I know ! Right ? I brush em' with anemone every chance I get. That's what makes em' so white and sharp !" it whined.

I bit my tongue in order not to say something I'd regret. Sturb's teeth were yellow and rotten. If there was more air, I'd smell its infection for sure.

"Where are you going, merman ? The siren's will catch you," Sturb warned me. I was glad it confirmed what I thought. I was headed in the right path. I tried to ignore the swimming Christmas light next to me.

"You can't go there," Sturb warned me again. I didn't answer. I guess Sturb didn't like it.

He sprinted (swam faster ?) and crashed into me. He opened his mouth widely and closed it on my hand.

I screamed and shook it until the fish came off. It had lost two teeth. My hand was painful as hell and bleeding profusely. I wasn't an expert about lakes but even I knew it was bad to bleed underwater. It attracted predators like sharks. I shivered and swam as fast as I could.

In front of me, there were the sirens. I counted ten of them. They were singing the moledy of the poem. They were holding each other's hands and they formed a circle. I took a look at them as I got closer.

Their faces were tiny and pale. Their eyes were pitch black and their tails all harboured differea shades of green. Their upper-bodies were clothed with dirt and yellow algae. I stifled a whimp when I noticed their weapons. Most of them had sharp tridents. I could clearly picture them piercing my skin.

In the middle of the circle, there were two people. Their ankles were tied with algae. I recognized one of them.

"Phichit !" I yelled. The sirens glared at me with hateful looks.

They let me through when I approached. They stole my best friend away from me. It was the least they could do. I broke the algae with a spell and pointed my wand at the surface.

I was going to cast a spell to resurface but I couldn't. Being a merman, such a fast change of pressure wouldn't affect me. Phichit wasn't a merman. I had to carry him all the way through the surface. 

While carrying my friend, I saw Yurio. He looked injured and his air bubble was getting smaller. He didn't have long. I was tempted to help him but I had an inanimate Pichit in my arms. I tried to help him by yelling at the mermaids to make them distracted but it didn't work out well.

Yurio succeeded to rescue the last person. Then, he casted a spell to reach to surface. It helped him to move faster.

  He disappeared over me.

The light was stronger as I arrived near the surface.

My merman body began to tremble uncontrollably. What's happening ?
My lungs were burning. I realized the effects of the potion had started to wear out. By the time I reached the surface, I was a man again.

I was greeted by the roaring crowd.

The greatest challenge had now begun: exit the water without anyone noticing how naked I was from the waist down.

A/N: It's 11:00 PM ! I did it before the end of the day, guys. I'm proud of myself. Thank you for reading. Please let me know if you liked the chapter and what do you think will happen in the next one ? A clue: there will be blood and it will get, hum, a bit smutty. Only a bit, ok ?