(Gilderoy Lockhart)
Friday, February 24, 1995
The day of the Second Task had finally arrived.
One would have thought the tournament organisers might have waited until the weather became slightly warmer before asking teenagers to dive into a Scottish lake.
Apparently not.
According to the Ministry, freezing to death merely added character.
Personally, I suspected they simply enjoyed watching people suffer.
The morning air was bitterly cold.
A thin layer of frost covered the grass surrounding the Black Lake, and every breath escaped in little white clouds. Even the giant squid had apparently decided that exposing so much as a tentacle to the February weather was beneath its dignity.
Rows upon rows of enchanted stands surrounded the lakeshore, already packed with spectators wrapped in thick cloaks, scarves, and enough warming charms to heat a small village.
The excitement in the air almost made people forget how cold it was.
Almost.
I adjusted my winter cloak and glanced across the enormous crowd.
Aurora sat beside me once again, wrapped elegantly in a midnight-blue cloak lined with white fur. Baby Gienah was bundled up so thoroughly that only her bright eyes peeked out from beneath a tiny woollen hat, making her resemble an exceptionally adorable puffball.
Rosmerta sat on my other side, smiling as little Gilderoy Junior slept peacefully in her arms, blissfully unaware that his father was once again attending an event with a distressingly high chance of involving mortal danger.
But thankfully...
No dragons this time.
Probably.
As for Tonks? Well, she still couldn't make it, too busy with work, though she said she was definitely making it to the final.
Months earlier, when I'd confirmed the Second Task would still take place underwater, a rather important question had occurred to me.
What exactly were the spectators supposed to do?
Sit around staring at a perfectly ordinary lake for an hour?
Every now and then someone might point excitedly and proclaim,
"I think I saw a bubble!"
Not exactly thrilling entertainment.
Fortunately...
I had solved that particular problem with a little help from alchemy.
Directly in front of the judges stood a crystal sphere roughly the size of a beach ball, resting upon an ornate silver pedestal engraved with dozens of delicate runes.
Floating several feet away nearby were four much smaller crystal spheres.
From the audience they appeared almost decorative.
In reality...
They were one of my finer inventions.
The large sphere served as the receiver, while the smaller ones acted as enchanted cameras.
Three had been assigned to follow each champion throughout the task, hovering invisibly nearby while transmitting everything they witnessed.
The fourth will remain stationed beside the sleeping hostages deep beneath the lake.
As the task progressed, the large crystal would project whichever viewpoint was most interesting at any given moment.
No delays.
No blurry images.
No need for the audience to squint suspiciously at ripples in the water while pretending they understood what was happening.
I rather liked it.
Judging by the expressions around me...
Everyone else did too.
"It is remarkable."
Madam Maxime studied the crystal sphere with open admiration.
"I 'ave never seen anyzing quite like zis."
"It combines alchemy, illusion magic, and divination principles," Dumbledore explained pleasantly. "Professor Lockhart has been rather busy over the past few months."
"Rather busy?" I repeated modestly.
"I do occasionally find time between saving students, teaching classes, answering fan mail, and being extraordinarily handsome."
Aurora smiled into her cup of tea. "You forgot changing nappies."
"...I choose to remember only my heroic achievements."
Rosmerta laughed softly. "You changed three yesterday."
"Four," Aurora corrected.
"...The children shall never learn of this slander."
Nearby, Amos Diggory carefully examined the large crystal.
"I must admit, Professor, this solves one of the tournament's biggest logistical problems."
"I thought so."
"The Ministry had been discussing possibilities for weeks."
"And what was the best proposal?"
He hesitated.
"...Posting commentators around the lake to describe what they imagined was happening."
I stared at him. "They were going to narrate... guesses?"
"...Yes."
I slowly turned toward Aurora. "You see? I saved the tournament."
She patted my shoulder sympathetically. "Again."
Sometimes I truly wondered how the wizarding world had managed to survive before my arrival.
Probably through sheer luck.
…
The excitement around the Black Lake reached its peak as the three champions emerged from their preparation tent.
Thunderous applause rolled across the stands.
Ludo Bagman practically bounced to the front of the platform.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he announced through a Sonorus Charm. "Our champions are ready!"
The cheers grew even louder.
I tapped the armrest of my chair with quiet satisfaction as the great crystal sphere beside the judges shimmered to life.
Its surface rippled like water before revealing the depths of the Black Lake.
The audience collectively gasped.
Far below the surface, four figures floated peacefully amidst long strands of lakeweed.
Hermione Granger.
Little Gabrielle Delacour.
Luna Lovegood.
And...
The fourth camera drifted back slightly to reveal the Giant Squid lazily watching over them from a distance, one enormous eye half-open as though wondering why humans insisted on making everything so complicated.
"They're really down there..." someone whispered behind me.
Bagman gestured dramatically toward the crystal.
"As you can all see, each champion has had something precious taken from them."
He paused for effect.
"Those treasures now rest beneath the Black Lake."
The image shifted back to the champions waiting at the shore.
"You have exactly one hour to recover what has been taken."
His grin widened. "Fail..."
He lowered his voice dramatically. "...and you shall never get it back!"
A few first years gasped in horror, but several older students looked sceptical.
I leaned slightly toward Aurora.
"I give it ten minutes before one of the judges admits that part is mostly psychological warfare."
She smiled knowingly. "Eight."
Amos Diggory coughed into his fist.
"...For legal reasons," he announced, "I should clarify that no hostages will actually be abandoned permanently."
Bagman's shoulders slumped. "...Thank you, Amos."
"You are welcome."
The audience chuckled.
Bagman cleared his throat. "Champions..."
He raised one arm. "...Begin!"
The cannon exploded.
BOOM!
The three champions moved at once.
Fleur stepped forward gracefully.
Several whistles immediately echoed around the stands.
She had exchanged her robes for a silver one-piece swimsuit that glittered in the winter sunlight.
The garment was elegant rather than revealing...
But that apparently made little difference.
Half the teenage boys present looked ready to dive into the lake themselves.
Ron Weasley, seated several rows behind me, had gone completely red.
I sighed.
"Teenage hormones truly are one of nature's greatest disasters."
Aurora nudged me lightly. "You weren't much different."
"I was a perfect gentleman."
She simply looked at me.
"...Most of the time."
Fleur ignored the audience entirely and pointed her wand at her own head.
"Bulle de Tête."
A shimmering sphere of air enclosed her face.
Without another hesitation, she dove elegantly into the freezing lake.
The crystal sphere immediately followed her descent.
Applause erupted as the underwater scenery unfolded before everyone.
Dark green lakeweed swayed gently.
Shoals of silver fish scattered before Fleur as she swam powerfully toward the lakebed.
"Magnificent image quality," Dumbledore remarked beside me.
"Thank you."
"I can count individual scales."
"I know."
The audience watched in fascination.
Meanwhile...
Harry had already begun his own preparations.
Instead of casting a spell, he reached into his pocket and swallowed a handful of unpleasant-looking green plants.
Several Beauxbatons students frowned.
"What was zat?"
"Gillyweed," I answered.
Almost immediately...
Harry's neck transformed.
Gills opened along either side, fingers stretched into webbed hands, and his feet changed likewise.
The audience murmured in amazement.
"He looks like a fish."
"More specifically," I corrected, "a remarkably determined amphibian."
Harry wasted no time and dove into the lake with barely a splash.
Within seconds he shot forward faster than Fleur had managed.
His new body sliced effortlessly through the water.
Even the merpeople watching from a distance seemed impressed.
The crystal tracking him showed him weaving through forests of lakeweed at astonishing speed.
"He may actually reach them first," Amos observed.
"I wouldn't be so sure," said Igor Karkaroff with a snort.
We all turned to look at Ivan Karkaroff, who appeared to be doing something completely different.
Instead of jumping into the lake...
He conjured a small wooden boat.
"...A boat?" Sirius blinked.
Ivan stepped aboard calmly.
"Point Me." His wand spun slightly before pointing straight toward the centre of the lake.
The little boat immediately began gliding across the surface entirely under magical power.
The audience watched curiously.
"What exactly is he planning?" Bagman wondered aloud.
"I have no idea," I admitted.
Reaching the centre of the lake...
Ivan calmly pointed his wand downward, and without any warning, the boat began sinking.
Several people screamed.
"What is he doing?"
"Has he lost his mind?"
The water rose steadily around him.
And then… A gigantic transparent bubble expanded from his wand, swallowing both Ivan and the entire boat.
Not a single drop of water entered.
The audience erupted.
The enormous air bubble continued descending toward the lakebed like a glass diving bell.
Inside...
Ivan remained perfectly dry, one hand casually resting on the side of the boat as though enjoying a leisurely afternoon cruise.
"...Well," I admitted.
"I certainly wasn't expecting that."
Even Dumbledore chuckled. "Remarkably inventive."
The bubble reached the bottom of the lake.
Ivan calmly stepped out for only a few moments, severed Luna's bindings with a precise Cutting Charm, led her back into the bubble, and allowed the enchanted boat to rise naturally toward the surface.
From beginning to end...
Barely fifteen minutes had passed.
As the bubble emerged from the lake with Ivan and the just awakening Luna inside, the entire audience rose to its feet in astonishment.
Thunderous applause echoed around the Black Lake.
"An incredible performance!" Bagman shouted. "Fifteen minutes! Dry robes! Dry hair! And not even a single encounter with the Grindylows!"
I narrowed my eyes thoughtfully.
Clever.
Very clever indeed.
The boy seemed determined to solve every task in the least physically demanding way possible.
I couldn't decide whether that made him brilliant...
Or incredibly lazy.
Perhaps both.
…
Back to Fleur, something suddenly moved under her.
Several Grindylows emerged from the weeds, their long fingers reaching greedily toward Fleur.
The French champion reacted instantly.
Jets of blue magic forced two away, but a third Grindillow caught hold of her ankle.
The audience gasped.
Fleur twisted sharply underwater and blasted it point-blank, sending the creature tumbling backwards in a cloud of mud before continuing onward without looking back.
"Excellent recovery," Sirius commented.
"Quick thinking."
"She's keeping her composure well," I agreed.
But while she was being delayed, Harry had already reached the hostages.
When he saw Hermione floating peacefully among the weeds, seemingly asleep.
Harry immediately reached for her...
Then stopped to look around and saw that another hostage still remained.
Fleur still hadn't arrived.
Harry frowned.
Even through the crystal, I recognised that expression.
"Oh no."
Aurora sighed.
"What's wrong?" Rosmerta asked in confusion.
"I know that face." I shook my head.
Harry folded his arms, and waited, looking into the distance from time to time.
"He is waiting."
Several judges looked confused.
"For what?" Bagman asked.
I rubbed my forehead.
"He is making sure Fleur reaches Gabrielle."
Harry clearly remembered the warning.
One hostage each.
But if Fleur failed...
He had already decided he would rescue Gabrielle himself.
"That's very noble," Aurora said softly.
"It is."
I sighed.
"It is also very Harry."
…
Fleur finally appeared moments later.
She looked relieved the instant she spotted Gabrielle still floating peacefully among the weeds.
Without wasting another second, she swam over, untied her little sister's bindings, and gathered the girl into her arms.
As if sensing her intentions, Harry immediately nodded toward her.
Even underwater, the gesture was unmistakable.
Go.
Fleur smiled gratefully before kicking powerfully toward the surface.
Only after watching her disappear into the distance did Harry finally turn back to Hermione.
He carefully untied the ropes binding her before wrapping an arm around her waist.
Then, with a powerful kick of his webbed feet, he began swimming upward.
The audience watched in near silence.
Thousands of eyes remained fixed upon the crystal sphere.
The image followed Harry as sunlight gradually pierced the dark water above him.
Then...
His head broke the surface and cheers exploded throughout the stands.
Harry gulped in fresh air while dragging Hermione onto the floating platform waiting nearby.
The moment she opened her eyes, Hermione blinked in confusion.
"Harry?"
"You alright?"
She looked around the crowded lakeshore.
"...Why is everyone staring at me?"
Harry laughed, still breathing heavily. "I'll explain later."
A few moments afterward, despite having left before Harry, Fleur emerged as well, Gabrielle clinging happily to her neck.
The little girl immediately hugged her older sister tightly.
"Fleur!"
"Je suis là."
Fleur kissed the top of Gabrielle's head several times before finally setting her safely onto the platform.
The applause that followed was nearly as loud as Harry's.
Bagman stepped forward, positively glowing.
"And there we have it!"
He raised both arms dramatically.
"Our final champion has completed the Second Task!"
The crowd erupted once more.
Professors, students, and foreign guests alike applauded enthusiastically.
Even Madam Maxime wore a proud smile despite Fleur finishing last.
Nearby, Igor Karkaroff looked thoroughly satisfied with Ivan's performance, though he tried very hard to pretend otherwise.
The judges quickly gathered for a brief discussion before revealing their scores.
Ivan had been undeniably the fastest.
His unconventional solution had impressed nearly everyone.
His marks reflected that, 50, full points.
Fleur received slightly lower scores due to the delay caused by the Grindylows, 45 points.
As for Harry...
Bagman smiled broadly.
"Although Mr Potter did not finish first," he announced, "the judges have unanimously agreed that remaining behind to ensure Miss Delacour's sister would not be abandoned demonstrated exceptional moral fibre, so we decided to award him full points!"
I resisted the urge to sigh.
Of course.
Harry Potter.
The only competitor capable of losing valuable time because he was worried someone else might need rescuing.
It was infuriatingly predictable.
...and admittedly rather admirable.
The audience certainly thought so.
His applause lasted considerably longer than anyone else's.
As the champions made their way back toward the preparation tent, I leaned back in my seat with a satisfied smile.
"No serious injuries," I murmured.
"No one drowned."
Aurora smiled beside me. "By Triwizard standards, that's practically a miracle."
"I'm pretty good at creating miracles, if I do say so."
She laughed softly. "I believe you've finally managed to civilise the tournament."
"I wouldn't go that far."
I glanced toward Ivan as he quietly left with Luna chattering beside him.
The Durmstrang champion hadn't celebrated.
He hadn't smiled.
He hadn't even looked particularly pleased with his victory.
He simply walked away as though completing the task had been little more than another item on today's schedule.
…
Score:
Harry Potter - 93 points
Ivan Karkaroff - 91 points
Fleur Delacour - 89 points
…
(Support with power stones or comments. You can subscribe to my Patreon /mysterion901 to read advanced chapters)