11 February 1995
"Really, this is it? All we get to do for the second task is look at the lake?" Harry asked.
Harry was sitting in the announcer's booth with Ludo Bagman. The former Quidditch star had just announced the second task to the listening audience. The ministry official had just finished telling everyone in dramatic terms of the challenges facing the champions and or their hostages at the bottom of the lake.
Harry thought the whole thing was daft. And he said so. Unfortunately, the ministry official had not yet turned off the Wizarding wireless microphone and Harry's opinions went out to all of Britain to the amusement of many in the Stadium.
"Now, Mr Potter," bagman reassured Harry, "this test will be a great test for our champions. They must prove their ingenuity and courage to dive deep into the black Lake and rescue that which they will miss most."
Harry snickered. "Maybe, but for the next hour we get to sit and look at a lake."
"Yes well I'm sure it shall be very exciting."
"Maybe I can send Padma back to get my charms homework. At least then the next hour will be productive," Harry commented in a speculative voice. Bagman scowled at Harry's sarcastic comment. Then he realized that the microphone was still active and muted it in a sudden panic.
Unfortunately, Harry prediction turned out to be the more accurate.
The nine champions lined up at the side of the lake. A small dock jutted out into the water. The three headmasters stood nearby trying to support their champions. While Viktor looked bored, the rest of the champions all looked nervous about entering the Black Lake. Harry couldn't blame them. It was February after all - that water looked really cold.
Bagman gave the starting signal in the champions rushed to the water's edge. Fleur was the first champion to reach the water. She ran directly off the dock without pausing and making a clean diving entry into the water. Al was a step behind her. In moments all of the champions were in the water except for Malfoy.
The Slytherins fourth year looked very small and pale in his swimming costume. To the Muggleborn and -raised amongst the students it look like something out of the 1920s. While Harry wanted to laugh at the other boy's pale, thin chicken legs, his humour was suspended with the knowledge that Harry himself was the one intended to be in this Tournament. If not for Ernie's joking comment, and Harry's own paranoia then Harry's name would have come out of the Goblet of Fire. It was a sobering thought.
Draco paused at the end of the dock and looked back to where his parents stood with Professor Snape. He nervously reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wad that looked something like spinach. Taking in nervous gulp, to Slytherin champion shoved the wide into his mouth before diving into the water.
For the next hour the audience did not have much to see. They became restless until Dumbledore had the house elves deliver snacks and pumpkin juice to the stands. When the mumbling started again bagman started telling tales of his Quidditch triumphs and inside stories about his former teammates and competitors. Harry found it interesting for the first five minutes but it quickly got annoying.
"This should count as detention," Harry muttered no longer paying any attention.
Viktor was the only champion to return within the one hour timeline with his hostage, Tracey Davis. Cedric came in next with Cho Chang just after the hour expired. Surprisingly, Malfoy was the next champion to return. His hostage was Pansy Parkinson who looked a little worse for wear. Her one leg looked as though it had been chewed on with lots of little red bite marks. Mdm. Pomfrey immediately whisked her into a tent to treat her wounds.
The remaining champions all return within the next 15 minutes. Fleur arrived with a small clone of herself wrapped in her arms and crying. Al helped her ashore trailed by his own girlfriend, Emily.
Harry was glad that his friends had returned safely, even Fleur. Once the Veela Princess removed the wand from her arse she was actually pretty fun to talk with - and she was very easy on the eyes too. Harry just hoped that the final task was actually something worth watching.
...
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