What Words Can Do (TOMARRY)

Year 4 ∆ Part 9

It's been about two months and the second task was near. Tom has been acting weird lately. He's been disappearing a lot. When Harry sees him by himself, he's staring into space. When he would ask what was the matter, Tom dismissed him, saying it was nothing.

Harry had learned about the next challenge from Cedric Diggory. Then Dobby had stollen some gillyweed from Snape. Now it was the only a couple days from the task. And still, Harry didn't know how the gillyweed worked. When he asked Tom, he was told that he had to figure it out.

The day of the second task and Harry and the rest of the champions were waiting by the Great Lake. Everyone from all the schools were watching. Ludo Bagman's voice counted to three and the champions-save for Harry-casted a spell on themselves and jumped in. Harry stood there stupidly, wondering what to do. He took the gillyweed out of the pocket of his swimming trunks, sighed to himself, then ate it.

It tasted nasty. Like dirt. Harry could feel his throat closing and he tried to breathe in. A step back led to him falling into the lake. He closed his eyes, expecting himself to pass out. Instead, much to his surprise, the feeling of his throat ceased and he was able to breathe. As much as his mind encouraged him to, Harry couldn't stick around to marvel at the plant's abilities.

A few seconds after catching his breath, he was able to start swimming. He noticed his quick movements and looked down. Fins. Not feet anymore, fins. Harry brought a hand up to his neck, flinching when his breathing was lost again. Gills, Harry concluded.

Before he could look anymore, a sound brought him out of his thoughts. Behind him, a male, who vaguely resembled Viktor Krum came by quickly. Harry waited a few seconds before following the Durmstrang student.

For a while, he was able to follow him. It was only when they came across a barrier like seaweed patch did Harry lose sight of the boy. A screeching brought his attention away from the plants.

When he turned, he was met face to face with a mermaid. She screeched again, pulling something out. Fear overran Harry he tried to swim past her, only to be stopped. Looking past her, Harry noticed four people. Cho Chang, a blonde girl he didn't recognize, Hermione, and Tom.

Also past the mermaid, Harry could see Cedric Diggory swim toward Cho, breaking her free, and then resurface. Harry could hear the faint cheer of the crowd. Slowly, he tried to swim past the mermaid. When she put her weapon out, Harry grabbed it. He wasn't the strongest person, but the water made him feel like he was.

After battling it out with the mermaid, he swam toward Tom and broke him free. As they swam up-Harry pulling Tom along, Harry turned back to see Viktor freeing Hermione. There was no sign of Fleur tho.

Harry felt the cold air hit his face harshly. He pulled himself and Tom to the docks. When he forced Tom up, Harry was met with the older boy gasping. "Harry Potter was the second to complete the task. He freed Mr. Timothy Randolf," the voice of Ludo Bagman yelled over the crowd. Cheering brought Harry out of his daze as he was pulled out of the water.

Tom through a towel around Harry. He was confused as to why Tom was down there. What would have happened if Harry hadn't saved him? Dumbledore was probably hoping that Harry wouldn't and just let him die down there. That's when Harry remembered the blonde girl. If it wasn't for Tom slinging his arm Abscentmindedly around Harry, he would have jumped in and rescued her.

A few moments later, Viktor Krum came up, dragging Hermione with him. Harry didn't pay attention though. He kept staring at the water. People began leaving right as Fleur popped out of the water. It was 20 past the hour, but she was still dragging the girl with her. The few people that were left congratulated her, telling her that there was still the third task. She nodded, but didn't believe.