The following afternoon, Harry, Hermione, and Victor occupied their usual table in the Hogwarts library.
Several books on magical creatures, underwater plants, and obscure spells were piled between them, while Harry had a sheet of parchment covered with notes from the egg's song.
Harry rubbed his forehead. "So... if I've understood this correctly, whatever's been taken from me will be hidden underwater."
Hermione nodded. "That seems to be the most obvious interpretation."
"It also says I've got an hour to find it."
Victor leaned back in his chair. "An hour to complete the task, not necessarily an hour to hold your breath."
Harry looked at him. "I hope you're right, because I can't stay underwater for an hour."
Hermione reached for another book. "There has to be a magical solution. The Tournament wouldn't expect champions to do something physically impossible without magic."
"Like what?" Harry asked.
"I don't know yet. But there are plenty of spells, potions, and magical plants that affect breathing. We just haven't found the right one."
Harry sighed. "I've looked through loads of books already."
Victor picked up one of the heavier volumes, flipped through a few pages, and set it back down. "If the answer were sitting on a library shelf with a big label saying 'Second Task Solution,' every champion would have found it by now."
Harry let out a tired laugh. "That's encouraging."
"It means you need to think differently. The clue tells you where the task is. It doesn't tell you how to survive it. That's the part you're supposed to figure out."
Hermione nodded. "We should stop looking for books about the Tournament and start looking for ways a wizard could breathe underwater."
Harry looked at the mountain of books surrounding them and groaned. "I've got a feeling we're going to be here all evening."
"I'm afraid so," Hermione said, already pulling another thick volume from the stack. "Start reading. One of these books has to contain something useful."
Victor, absentmindedly skimming an index, suddenly spoke. "Gillyweed."
Harry and Hermione both looked up.
"What does it do?" Hermione asked.
"Makes a wizard grow gills and webbing between their fingers and toes. Lets them breathe underwater for a while."
Harry's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Victor nodded. "I remember reading about it somewhere. I don't remember which book."
Hermione immediately reached for a roll of parchment. "Gillyweed..." she muttered, writing it down. "Then that's what we need to find." She hurried to the nearest bookshelf and began searching through the Herbology section.
Harry turned hopefully toward Victor. "Do you know where we can get it?"
Victor shook his head. "No idea. I only know what it does."
Hermione returned a few minutes later with two thick books. "I've found references to Bubble-Head Charms and some water-related spells, but nothing about Gillyweed yet."
Harry slumped back in his chair. "So we're back to searching."
"For now. At least we've got another lead."
***
The weeks slipped away, and the morning of the Second Task finally arrived.
Harry had still not found any Gillyweed. The previous evening had been spent desperately searching the library with Hermione, but they had found nothing useful.
Harry had gone to bed convinced he would face the task without any real plan.
Then, just before dawn, Neville Longbottom hurried into the Gryffindor common room clutching a handful of strange green plants.
"Harry!" He was slightly out of breath. "I found it! Gillyweed!"
Harry stared at it in disbelief. "You found it?"
Neville nodded eagerly. "I asked Professor Sprout about magical water plants yesterday. She mentioned Gillyweed and I managed to get some from the greenhouses this morning."
Harry grabbed it gratefully. "Thanks, Neville! You've saved my life."
Neville turned bright red. "Good luck."
---
Soon afterward, the champions made their way down to the edge of the Black Lake.
Temporary wooden stands had been erected along the lake, packed with students wrapped in thick cloaks against the freezing February wind.
Professors occupied seats near the front while the judges sat behind a long table overlooking the lake.
The surface of the water was dark and perfectly still.
Fleur stood quietly beside Madame Maxime. Krum spoke in low tones with Karkaroff. Cedric looked calm, though he kept glancing toward the lake.
Harry joined the other champions, fingers tightening around the Gillyweed hidden in his pocket. As he looked toward the stands, something immediately struck him.
Ron wasn't there.
He scanned the Gryffindor section again. Hermione was present. Victor was there. Ginny, Fred, George, the rest of Gryffindor. But Ron was nowhere to be seen.
Harry frowned. "That's odd..."
Before he had time to think about it further, a whistle sounded.
Ludo Bagman stepped forward, his magically amplified voice echoing across the lake. "Champions, take your positions!"
Harry tore his eyes away from the stands and walked toward the water's edge, still wondering where Ron had disappeared to.
*****
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