The Girl Who Lived

Dobby the House Elf

There was a week to go until February 24, the day off the second task.
I had no idea how to breath underwater, though, unless I somehow grew gills or became a fish.
Basically, someone, probably merepeople, took something that's mine, and I have an hour to get it back. After an hour, it's gone forever.
How am I going to do it?
6 days went by, and i haven't eaten in 3 days. Mione finally got me to eat some bacon this morning, and now I'm stuffed after shoving half the table in my face.
The classes went by quickly, then the next thing I know, I'm sitting in the library with Ron, Mione, Ginny, and Harry, still with no clue about how to do the second task.
Ginny and I had become much closer over the past couple weeks. We were practically inseparable. We told each other everything- she had a crush on my brother, and I had a crush on hers.
We were going through books, looking for a solution.
"Oh this is no use," Hermione said, snapping shut Weird Wizarding Dilemmas. "Who on earth wants to make their nose hair grow into ringlets?"
"I wouldn't mind," said Fred Weasley's voice. "Be a talking point, wouldn't it?"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up. Fred and George had just emerged from behind some bookshelves.
"What're you two doing here?" Ron asked.
"Looking for you," said George. "McGonagall wants you, Ron. And you, Hermione. And Gin. And Harry."
"Why?" said Hermione, looking surprised.
"Dunno . . . she was looking a bit grim, though," said Fred. "We're supposed to take you down to her office," said George. Everyone stared at me, who felt my stomach drop.
Was Professor McGonagall about to tell Ron, Gin, Harry, and Hermione off? Perhaps she'd noticed how much they were helping me, when I ought to be working out how to do the task alone?
"We'll meet you back in the common room," Gin told me as she got up to go with them — all four of them looked very anxious. "Bring as many of these books as you can, okay?"
"Right," said I uneasily.
Gin waved at me, smiling nervously.
They all followed George out.
That left me and Fred. He helped me do a bit more researching.
"So, H . . . I just wanted to talk to you. I can't stand avoiding each other." Fred said after a minute. It startled me.
"Um . . . Yeah. It kills me, but I don't want to ruin our friendship."
"Neither do I, but I think we both have feelings for each other."
I sighed. It was true. "Yeah,I guess we do. I almost wish I didn't. For George's sake."
He nodded. It would get super awkward. With us pranking, if Fred and I were together, it could make George feel weird.
"I can't ignore my feelings, either. I really like you."
"I like you too," I reply, smiling.
I lean into him, and we sit there for a minute, not saying anything.
It was amazing. I can't believe we both like each other. It was like a fairytale.
"H?" Fred asked.
"Yeah?"
"Doyouwanttobemygirlfriend?" He asked super fast.
"What?" I couldn't catch any of that.
"Do . . . You . . ." Fred smiled, taking really slow this time.
"Fred, get serious for once," I said, grinning. "Oh, and yes."
"Yes . . . Wha-? Oh! Wait really?"
I nodded.
"Wait so we're a thing now?"
"Fred Weasely, there is no need to make a big deal out of it!" I smile.
The library closed at eight, so we walked back to the common room, hand in hand, grinning like idiots.
We sat in the common room, looking through books.
Newt came over and jumped into Fred's lap. He curled up and purred.
"I think your cat likes me. I think he approves of us," Fred declares.
"Wait- us?" Harry and Ron walk in.
"What? Oh, umm nothing. Where are Gin and Mione?" I ask.
"McGonagall didn't need us- George told us we just needed to get out of the library."
I raised an eyebrow at Fred, who shrugged, but I still saw him smile.
"Seriously, though, what did you mean by 'us'?" Ron asked.
The gears in Harry's small mind must've clicked.
"Wait-are you two . . .?" Harry smiles.
"Wow, how'd you guess ding dong?" Fred grins.
Ron looked bewildered. "Are-you-two what?" He looks to Harry for help.
"Keep guessing Ronnikinz."
"What? No fair! How can i- oh wait! You're together!" Ron looks pleased with himself.
"And that's why your not a Ravenclaw," I mutter just loud enough for only Fred to hear. He laughs.
"So, H . . . Find anything yet?" Harry changed the subject.
I shake my head, still half skimming my book.
Then Dobby the house elf bursts in.
"Miss Potter! Harry Potter has told Dobby much about you! All good, all good," he squeals.
"Umm, hi Dobby. What brings you here?" I ask, almost scared.
"Miss Potter hasn't had any luck with the task, so Dobby help!" He looks very pleased.
Now I am scared. Help . . . From a house elf . . . Even Mione would be surprised. I looked at Fred. He looked very surprised.
"What . . . What of help?"
He thrusts something into my hand.
It was a ball of what looked like slimy, grayish-green rat tails.
"Eat it before you go into the lake, Miss Potter! It make you breathe underwater!" Yeah, he was definitely very pleased with himself.
"How did you know-"
"Dobby knows, Miss! Miss Potter has to go into the lake and find his Wheezy-"
"My what?"
"— and take her Wheezy back from the merpeople!"
"What's a Wheezy?"
"Your Wheezy, Miss, your Wheezy — Wheezy who's brother is giving Dobby his sweater!"
"Wait, who gave you that sweater?"
"Mr. Weasley!" Dobby squealed, looking at Ron.
Ron, Harry, Fred and I all looked at each other.
Then it clicked.
"Ginny," I said. "They have Ginny. Dobby, why do they have Ginny?"
"They have Ginny?" Fred gasped.
"The thing Miss Potter will miss most, sir!" squeaked Dobby. " 'But past an hour —' "
"— 'the prospect's black,' " I recited, staring, horror-struck, at the elf. " 'Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.' Dobby — what've I got to do?"
Ginny could be gone forever.
"You has to eat this, Miss!"
Then, I realized something else. "They have Mione, too!"
I am not going to sleep well tonight.