Chapter 8
The day of the second task dawned and Harry was nervous as could be. The others were around him preparing to walk with him to the lake where the second task would take place. He knew they would be supporting him and that was amazing in his mind. He was glad to have someone other than a single Professor in his corner. He made sure the swim shorts he wore didn't slide off his hips. They were made out of a strange material that Marcus still hadn't told him. Something about keeping him warmer while he was in the freezing lake. Speaking of Marcus, he hadn’t seen the other yet this morning and it was starting to make him worry.
“Are you sure Marcus wasn’t up in his room?”
Adrian shook his head, “No, we couldn’t find him. I don’t understand, this isn’t like him. He would be here.”
Terrence nodded from on the bed next to him, “It is odd. He could have gotten pulled away by Professor Snape though. Captain business. Wouldn’t be the first time. He is probably going to meet us there.”
Harry grabbed the robe that all the champions had been provided and began filing out with them. Most of the morning had been spent just trying to get his nerves in check. He made sure he had his wand harness and wand settled and all his important things tucked away in his trunk. The two gillyweed balls in his shorts pockets. He was ready. He could do this.
“Oh here.” Cassius stepped up and held out a small wrapped gift, “Welcome to Slytherin Harry.”
He took it and opened the fabric to show another harness. This one looked like it went on his calf but instead of a wand, it was a short sharp blade. “Oh wow.”
Cassius grinned, “I asked Marcus if he had gotten you your first blade yet. He said no. So I took it upon myself. The handle is ivory and the blade is dragon bone. It can be used in combat and ceremonies.”
Harry smiled at him, “Thanks Cas. How do I put it on?”
The older stepped forward and knelt, taking Harry’s leg carefully and fitted the straps on the harness snuggly against his calf. “Like this. Every practitioner of the Old Ways should have their own knife. The more you use it, the more connected to you it becomes. Noone else can wield your blade.” He stood and pulled Harry into a hug, “I’ve come to think of you as my little brother. So be careful out there today.”
“I promise.” Harry flushed as the others hugged him or ruffled his hair before they began making the trek to the lake for the task. He could already see crowds of people hovering about the lake in the temporary stands. Large globes hovered in the air to display what was happening beneath the surface. The judges were already situated on their podium. Harry nodded to the other contestants and took his position.
Crouch Sr. made his way to a hovering platform above the lake and slid his wand to his throat, “Welcome everyone to the second task of the Tri Wizard’s Tournament. Champions, deep in this lake you will have to find what we have taken from you and bring it back to the surface before the one hour mark. You may use any means at your disposal except harm to your fellow Champions. At the cannon fire. Get Ready. Set.”
The cannon fired and Harry swallowed the wriggling ball of green rat tails before jumping into the water without the robe. The crushing cold slammed into him and sunk to his very bones. Whoever thought diving in a lake in February was a good idea was clearly an idiot. He felt the twisting changing sensation and his body warmed as the gillyweed took effect and he breathed in his first gulp of rich oxygen from the water around him. He looked around him, trying to orient himself from the surface to the bottom. It was most likely towards the bottom of the lake. Whatever it was that they took.
Harry swam deeper passing by a few fish when a swarm of small creatures were upon him. He pulled to the side as he felt small claws and teeth rake across his skin. He casted a quick wordless blasting spell and watched several keel over and start floating to the surface. The rest scattered. He broke away to quickly begin swimming deeper and deeper. He could feel the cuts bleeding into the water around him and hoped it didn’t attract more attention. Swimming deeper and deeper until he could see pillars and shapes of buildings at the bottom. The merpeople! There in the very center of the city was a pedestal with four pillars, a person tied to each one floating.
Harry drifted to them and saw all four were still there, how was he the first person here? He saw a young blonde, Hermione, Cho Chang, MARCUS! He swam towards Marcus and touched his cheek, the sharp cold of the other's skin had him panicking. He pulled the blade at his calf and began to cut at the ropes holding Marcus down. A dark shape made him look to the side to see a horrid cross between a human and a shark. It grabbed at Hermione’s bindings and snapped at her clothes carefully before dragging her up towards the surface.
He cut at the robes and pulled Marcus to his chest before watching Cedric come closer with a bubblehead charm. No sign of the other contestant Fleur. He hesitated and looked at Cedric and pointed at the little girl and Cedric shook his head and made a signal. Fleur wasn’t coming. Shit. He couldn’t leave the girl here. What if the spell they were under broke and she died? He glanced at Marcus and kissed his cheek. Marcus would understand. He reached for the girl and began to swipe at her rope bindings. A sharp pain and he whirled, a merfolk jabbed at him with the spear again.
Harry cast a quick bombarda flinging the merfolk back into a wall spidering the side. Blood coated the water and then they came from the sides and above. Harry flinging spells to get them off and away from him and his now two people. He felt the bite of the stone against his skin before grabbing at Marcus and the little girl and began swimming towards the surface. He had to get to the surface before the gillyweed ended. He could feel the bone chilling cold seeping back into his bones.
He could see the shafts of light in the water, his lungs burning as the gills disappeared and the webbing along his feet retreated to normal flesh. His vision spotted as he swam faster the heavy waterlogged clothes of his two people dragging him back down but he fought it with every muscle. Finally breaking the surface. He gasped for breath and heard the two in his arms gasping for it as well.
The little girl screamed and began sobbing, talking in broken French as she tried to get away. Harry clung tighter to her, “Calm, calm please. I have you. I won’t let you drown.”
Marcus groaned and leaned against Harry coughing and grabbing deep gasps of breath before talking, “calmez-vous s'il vous plaît, il aide.” (Calm please, He is helping.)
The little girl finally settled in his arms and he began swimming to the dock, Marcus helping now that he was awake and coherent. They were helped up onto the dock and Harry set the little girl next to him.
“Gabrielle!” Fleur ran over dragging the little girl into her arms. Tears rolled down her cheeks as they began speaking in quick french to help calm each other. Fleur looked at Harry and grabbed his arm, “You zaved my zister! Merci. Merci” She kissed his cheeks and pulled him into the hugging pile.
Harry tensed for a moment, not sure how to handle it before relaxing as the little girl hugged and kissed his cheeks as well. He looked next to him to see Marcus watching with a blank expression. “I am glad you're both safe. I am sorry she was taken as your prize. It is wrong to involve children in this.”
“I must say I agree with Heir Potter.” A calm deep voice stated.
The Gryffindor turned and saw a tall man with white blond hair in a thick braid draped over his shoulder. He was dressed in a soft gray suit with a blue tight and button up shirt. The silver eyes looked almost stormy and glowing. Harry looked to Marcus and was pulled close to the other.
“Harry, He is a member of the French court. Much like our Ministry.”
“Why is he here?” Harry asked back softly.
The man glanced at Harry and smiled kindly, “I am here young one because one of my people was in danger. Headmistress Maxime informed me that one of her young charges was missing. Taken without her knowledge.”
Harry’s eyes widened and he glanced at Fleur and her sister he was not sure what to say.
Marcus tugged him away, “Let him deal with it. We need to get you healed up. You're covered in cuts.” He nodded towards the man before helping Harry stand, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders.
The younger let himself lean on the larger as they walked to the medical tent. The others were still there getting their injuries tended to. Cho and Hermione curled up on pallets under mounds of blankets.
Pomfrey came over and waved her wand over them calmly. “No major wounds Mr. Potter. A small mercy it would seem. You and Marcus appear to be in much better condition than the others. Go ahead to your dorms and rest up.”
Marcus gritted his teeth, “He has open wounds.”
The nurse turned, “and I have two children with hypothermia and another stuck in a human transfiguration. You both are well enough. Please wait for your score then head back to your dorm and get warm.”
Harry just tugged Marcus, “Don’t worry about it let's just go to the dorm. I don’t even care about my score.”
Marcus didn’t look pleased but nodded and pulled Harry close and the two began making their way back spotting their group of friends on the way and waving them over.
Adrian was bright eyed, “Harry you were amazing. Taking on grindylows and then the merfolk. Ouch you still looked banged up.”
“Madam Pomfrey has other patients to worry about. I am fine. Just a few scrapes and bruises.” Harry responded softly.
Terrence scoffed, “I will be the judge of that. You're lucky I am training to be a healer.” He led the way not to the dorms but his prefect room and let them all in, “Sit by the fire. I will be right back.”
Harry flopped on the couch next to the fire, his trunks already dry thanks to a handy spell. The blanket and fire both warmed him. He listened to the others talking about him but his focus was lost to his thoughts. Why couldn’t he have an adult that gave a shit about him like that man had the Delacours. Did their government just not care? Or was he special in their disdain?
“Harry, can you remove the blanket so I can look?”
He jostled from his thoughts and smiled at Terrence before pulling off the blanket. Wincing lightly as a salve was smeared on the small scratches and bites. Soon the numbing kicked in and he relaxed further.
Terrence was mostly quiet as he worked, “You have quite a few scars.”
He shrugged, “Scars are just another part of life. I think my favorite one is this one.” He poked the small puckered scar just below his elbow, “Basilisk fang and before you get worried. Phoenix tears.”
The older one nodded and looked at the scar, “Basilisk venom doesn’t just go away with phoenix tears. They negate each other but the substance would still be there. It is not something you can just make disappear. Would you mind if I did a full scan on you one of these days?”
“Uhm. Sure? I don’t mind.” He rubbed at the scar and hissed when the bruise salve was being rubbed into the bruises along his shoulder and side. The merfolk hadn't cut or skewered him but their spears left marks. He felt the hand drift from a bruise to one of the scars along his back.
“Harry, what are these from?”
Harry shrugged, “I rather not talk about it.”
Terrence didn’t respond and he looked down at the floor. He could feel the others looking at him. Watching and listening even if they seemed to be talking amongst themselves. He wanted the floor to swallow him up but part of him knew. If he told them… they would understand. Right?