figuring out the 2nd task
Harry had never been so grateful for Malfoy Manor’s ridiculously extravagant bathrooms. He was currently sitting in a massive clawfoot bathtub filled with warm water, clutching the golden egg like it was about to explode.
Draco sat on the sink counter, watching him with mild amusement. "You look ridiculous."
Harry shot him a glare. "You insisted on coming with me."
Draco smirked. "Well, someone has to make sure you don’t drown."
Harry rolled his eyes, took a deep breath, and dunked the egg underwater before slowly cracking it open.
Instead of the horrible screeching, a soft, haunting melody filled the bathroom.
Harry stared. "Oh."
Draco tilted his head. "What do you hear?"
Harry quickly dunked his head under, listening carefully:
"Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground.
And while you’re searching, ponder this:
We’ve taken what you’ll sorely miss."
Harry jerked back up, gasping for air. "Mermaids."
Draco blinked. "What?"
"The second task! It's mermaids! They’re going to take something of mine and hide it in the Black Lake!"
Draco looked thoughtful. "Well, obviously you’ll have to find a way to breathe underwater."
Harry nodded, already thinking. "Gillyweed might work…"
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Might? You’re planning on testing it out the day of the task, aren’t you?"
Harry grinned sheepishly. "Maybe."
Draco groaned. "You are the most reckless person I’ve ever met."
Harry just leaned back into the water and smiled. "Yeah, but you like me anyway."
Draco huffed but didn’t deny it.
---
The moment Harry and Draco rejoined the rest of the group in the Manor’s sitting room, they were bombarded with questions.
“Well?” Hermione asked eagerly, setting aside her book. “Did you figure it out?”
Harry nodded. “Mermaids.”
Nico, who had been half-dozing in an armchair, cracked open an eye. “We have to fight mermaids?”
“No, I have to find something they’ve taken,” Harry corrected. “It’s underwater, and I only have an hour to do it.”
Ron made a face. “So basically, they’re gonna kidnap something important to you and hold it hostage?”
Harry hesitated. “Yeah.”
The room was quiet for a second before Pansy snorted. “It’s obviously going to be Draco.”
Draco scoffed. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, please,” Blaise said, lounging lazily on the sofa. “They’re taking what he’ll ‘sorely miss,’ and no offense to the rest of us, but if Harry lost you for an hour, he’d probably have a meltdown.”
“I would not,” Harry said quickly.
Hermione and Pansy simultaneously raised an eyebrow.
Harry scowled. “…Okay, maybe a small meltdown.”
Draco just looked smug.
“Anyway,” Harry said quickly, trying to change the subject. “I need to figure out how to breathe underwater for an hour.”
“Gillyweed,” Ron suggested.
“That’s what I was thinking,” Harry admitted. “Only problem is, I have no idea where to get some.”
The room went quiet for a moment before all eyes turned to Snape, who was sitting in the corner with a book, pointedly pretending not to listen.
Sighing, Snape closed his book and looked at Harry. “If I happen to leave my potions stores unlocked in the coming weeks, I expect nothing to be taken.”
Harry grinned. “Got it.”
Draco shook his head. “Encouraging rule-breaking. What terrible behavior for a professor.”
“I blame Lupin’s influence,” Snape muttered, flipping his book open again.
Remus, who was curled up on the loveseat with a cup of tea, didn’t even look up. “Oh, definitely.”
Lucius, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. “If you plan to use Gillyweed, you should test it beforehand.”
Harry groaned. “Fine.”
Draco smirked. “Oh, don’t act like it’s such a burden. I’d love to see you flail around in a lake.”
Harry rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but smile. “You would.”