homesick ☆ f.weasley

.:31:.

Nerves were surging through Emmeline. She was trembling and felt just as sick as she did before the first task. Daisy was nowhere to be seen and this angered Emmeline. Where was she? She hoped her younger sibling was already in the audience but she couldn't wrap her head around why she wouldn't find her to wish her good luck. Emmeline, Angelina and the Weasley twins were making their way down to the lake; where the second task was being held. Angelina and the twins were exchanging small talk but Emmeline couldn't concentrate on their discussion. Emmeline jumped at the soft touch of Angelina's hand. The sudden physical contact shocked her out of her thoughts.

"You've got this!" Angelina promised in a whisper as they shared a soft smile.

McGonagall appeared, struggling to conceal the worry that blossomed in her steel grey eyes. "Everything okay, Miss Walshaw?"

Emmeline nodded, the colour continuing to drain from her face. She didn't want to think about the task so instead, she focused on the absence of her sister. "Have you seen Daisy?"

McGonagall's face creased in a way that implied she knew more than she was allowed to let on. Uncomfortablely, she shifted in her emerald robes.

"Professor, what's going on?" Emmeline pressed impatiently.

McGonagall bit her lip, estimating that no matter if she chose to tell the truth or lie, the answer she gave would anger the Gryffindor.

"Where is she?"

The Transfiguration teacher hesitated. "She's involved in the task. That's all I can say."

Emmeline stopped. She whipped around and turned to view the teacher. "What?"

"That's all I can say," McGonagall repeated. "Now, I'll have to go and wish Potter good luck-"

"Why is Daisy involved? Professor, she better not be in danger!" Emmeline called after her, but she had already dispersed into the crowd of excited students. Emmeline inhaled sharply and looked at Angelina, an unhealthy concoction of fear and anger dancing in her eyes.

Dull February sunlight encouraged them to continue walking outside. They were greeted by large stands that housed enough benches to fit all the eager spectators.

Emmeline spotted Dumbledore, who was conversing happily with Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch. It's alright for him to smile Emmeline thought bitterly his sister hasn't mysteriously vanished.

"Professor, where's Daisy?" Emmeline demanded, forgetting her usual etiquette required for speaking to the headmaster.

"I told you they'd notice," Dumbledore murmured under his sheet of grey beard, to which Ludo only shrugged.

"Notice what?" Emmeline asked, her eyebrows raised. Her eyes didn't leave Crouch, who manoeuvred uncomfortablely in her gaze.

"Your sister and Potter's friend! They're in there!" Ludo announced merrily as he pointed over to the lake.

"What?" spat Emmeline through gritted teeth.

"That's the task," Bagman continued. "To rescue the hostages!"

"Hostages?!" Emmeline repeated. "Surely this isn't legal. She's fourteen! She can't be in danger!"

A pair of hands snaked around her shoulders and McGonagall's soft voice attempted to soothe her. "No one will let Daisy get hurt."

"Hurt? She's in a freezing river with God only knows what swimming about waiting to eat her."

"The merpeople have a bad reputation," chuckled Dumbledore.

"There's other stuff in there! She can't even swim. Oh Merlin, she can't even swim!"

"She doesn't need to swim," Dumbledore said calmly. He hesitated before selecting his next words. "She's...unconscious."

"Oh this just gets better and better! This is barbaric!"

Crouch coughed to silence the argument. "This is the nature of the competition, if you don't like it, Miss Walshaw, you shouldn't have entered."

"I entered. Not Daisy! You shouldn't have involved her!"

"Nothing bad is going to happen," McGonagall repeated. "Now, take your starting position with the others. I'd hate to see you spoil your chances at success."

Emmeline trudged over to where Fleur, Harry and Krum were. They seemed equally as agitated. Harry was rescuing Ron, Krum Hermione and Fleur also had her younger sister at risk. Her ears were ringing so loudly she hadn't noticed Bagman had already started narrating their every move.

She looked over into the lake. It was a void of blackness. Any fear she had was replaced with rage. This wasn't just a way to prove herself; her sister's life was at risk. She was so selfish to have entered. There was nothing she could do now, she just had to save Daisy.

Her flickering eyes swept across the crowd and they steadied on Fred. He smiled at her. Like he knew this would all be okay. Emmeline inhaled deeply and performed the Charm. The bubble appeared. She waited for the countdown and when Crouch yelled GO she plunged into the frosty abyss.

It took a second for her body to adjust to the temperature. She projected light from her wand as she began swimming. She didn't know where. It was all just dark. It intimidated her but then she remembered that Daisy was somewhere out here...alone. That thought propelled her forward. She wasn't thinking about the competition anymore. She didn't care if she won or lost. She just had to rescue Daisy.