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❛CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
the second task:
underwater rescue❜
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PERCY HAD a book sprawled out in front of him as he sat in the library with the golden trio, as well as Wade who was trying to help out as best as he could. His hand was laced with Hermione's who stood close to him as they tried to figure out the riddle to the second task., something he had just learned about from Harry just minutes ago.
"Can you tell me again?" Hermione asks her friend, looking over at Harry.
"Come seek us where our voices sound." Harry repeated with a sigh, his head laying on a book that he wasn't at all reading.
"The Black Lake, that's obvious." Hermione states, rolling her eyes at how obvious it was.
"An hour long you'll have to look." Harry says again, raising his head a little.
"Again, obvious, though admittedly potentially problematic." Hermione stated again, making Harry's head shoot up.
"Potentially problematic?" Harry asks, raising his voice. "When's the last time you held your breath underwater for an hour, Hermione?"
"Calm down, Harry. She's just trying g to help." Percy sighs and looks at the boy, who only ignored his comment. Percy shook his head as he looked over at Wade who was chatting quietly to Locke who was resting on his hand.
"Hate to break up the skull session." Moody states, coming over to the five of them suddenly. "Professor McGonagall wants you in her office." The trio move at once but Moody stops them. "Not you Potter. Just Weasley, Granger, and the young Thayer."
Wade immediately looks up and at Percy with confusion, to which the older boy shrugged his shoulders, not being able to think of a reason why McgGonagall wanted him, espanol considering the second task was only hours away now.
"But sir, the second task is only hours away and-" Harry states but is quickly cut off by Moody.
"Exactly, presumably Potter and Thayer is well prepared by now and could do with a good nights sleep. Go. Now!" Moody yelled, forcing the three to leave. "Longbottom!" Neville jumps at his sudden name call. "Why don't you help Potter and Thayer put their books back."
Moody hobbles off after the other three, and Neville comes over as Percy places one his books back that he was reading, bow having Locke hanging out in his jackets pocket considering Wade was forced to leave, something that didn't settle right with him.
"You know, if your interested in plants, you'd be better off with Goshhawk's guide to Herbology." Neville said, seeing all their books on plants. "Did you know there's a wizard in Nepal whose growing gravity-resistant trees?"
"Hm, that's quite weirdly cool." Percy says, earning a nod and smile from Neville.
"Neville, no offense but I really don't care about plants. Now if there's a Tiberten Turnip that will allow me to breath underwater for an hour, then great. But otherwise..." Harry sighs, his frustration showing.
"I don't know about a turnip, but you could always use Gillyweed."
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PERCY WAS followed behind Neville and Harry down to the Black Lake, who was looking around for Hermione and Ron, and anxiously wringing his hands together. Percy was looking out for Wade, his worry clear as to not knowing where his brother was. He had never come back from McGonagall with Ron and Hermione, and it was making an unsettling feeling settle into him.
"Are you sure about this, Neville?" Harry asked the boy.
"Absolutely." Neville responded.
"His area of expertise is Herbology, Harry." Percy pointed out, making the boy glance at him. "Hell I trust him a bit."
"For an hour." Harry pushed, ignoring the wolfs comment.
"Most likely." Neville replied honestly.
"Most likely!" The two other boys said, staring at him with wide eyes. Percy immediately took back what he said about trusting the boy, he wasn't entirely sure about this whole thing anymore.
"Well, there is some debate among Herbologists as to the effects of freshwater versus saltwater." Neville stated.
"You're telling us this now! You must be joking!" Harry exclaims.
"Hey, its the best we've got, Harry." Percy said, trying to calm the boy. "We'll just stay together when we dive in, and if we die.. we die."
"I was just trying to help." Neville mutters, and Percy quickly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"And you tried, Neville. I'm gratfull for your help nonetheless." Percy says, earning a smile from the boy.
"Well its a lot better than Ron and Hermione missing." Harry says, earning the two's attention again. "Where are they anyway?"
"Probably at the docks." Neville says to his friend. "You seem a little tense, Harry."
"Do I?" Harry asks then looks at Percy. "How are you not freaking out?"
Percy looked down at the boy. "Oh I am, Harry. I am very much freaking out right now. Your not the only one missing someone before the second task."
Harry gulped and looked away, nodding his head at him as they made it to the docks at the Black Lake. They all three then settled themselves onto the boat, heading towards the wooden platforms already filled with many people in the middle of lake. When they got to the platform, they got off, and were immediately ushered over to where the other champions were standing, all looking anxious as they prepared for the second task. Luckily it wasn't long until it started as Dumbledore's voice was now ringing over all of them.
"Welcome to the second task!" Dumbledore yells to the audience, gaining many cheers and whoops. "Last night something was stolen from each of are champions. A treasure of sorts. These five treasures, one for each champion, now lay in the bottom of the Black Lake. In order to win, each champion needs only find their treasure and return to the surface."
Percy pulled his shirt off over his head, dropping it behind him on the deck. He checked to make sure that his wand was secure on his arm before looking at Harry, a unsettled feeling setting in at the mention of a treasure being taken from him. He couldn't help but feel that those words meant something about Wade and Hermione.
"When we go under, stick together." Percy whispered to his friend, making sure he could only hear, and Harry nodded his head as the two prepared as Dumbledore finished his speech. The two threw back their heads and ate the Gilleyweed that Neville had given them.
Percy coughed at the taste, and then felt his throat closing in on him. He suddenly couldn't breath, and when the cannon went off he immediately dived into the water. After a second he could finally breath normally as the water entered into his system. He looked down to see his hands and feet turn webbed, and looked at Harry who also turned that way. Unlike him, Harry laughs and swims, before launching out of the water and letting out a loud cheer.
Harry let out a laugh as he suddenly leaped out of the water, before coming back in and looking at Percy who motioned for him to follow. Harry followed close to Percy, who had started following his gut, diving into a deep crevice in the lake. They swim in it for a few minutes before they come across a large seaweed forest. The boys look at each other for a second, before Percy nods his head and the two swim through it.
Percy tries his best to ignore the sounds of wailing and hissing that was echoing around him. He knew what they were, what was watching them. Merpeople. But he ignored it and the two boys finally swim out of the forest, coming face to face with an underwater structure. Percy's hands tightened into fists as he saw the treasure. They were people, Cho, Ron, Wade, Hermione, and also Fleur's little sister, Gabrielle.
Percy pulled his wand out, pointing it towards the vine that held his little brother. He swam over and used a spell, cutting the vines before he looks to Hermione to do the same thing. Though a trident is quickly pushed up against his throat, and a mermaid blocks his path.
"Only one!" It screeches, before swimming away.
Percy looks to Cedric, who taps his wand on his watch after he cuts Cho free. Percy nodded his head in response, turning towards Hermione again. Suddenly Viktor swims in front of him with a shark head, and bites the vine holding Hermione. Harry realeased Ron, ready to swim back up when he noticed Gabrielle left. He looked around for Fleur, but when he didn't see her he looked at Percy, pointing towards the little girl.
Percy sighs mentally before making sure Wade gets to the surface and goes to help Harry. He cuts the vine then lets him lead her up, while he grabbed Ron and followed after the other boy.
Percy makes it the surface with Ron and Gabrielle, but when he looks for Harry, he's no where to be seen. Percy looked at his now none webbed hands and cursed. He took a deep breath before diving back down into the water.
"Immobulous!" Percy said in his head, the merpeople that were swarming the other boy immediately were frozen, and he grabbed Harry's outstretched hand, pointing his wand up in the air. "Acendio!"
The two are immediately shot up and out of the water, landing hard on the wooden deck. Percy pushed himself on his back, staring up at the sky as gasped for air. Wade runs over to his older brother, helping him up as he threw a towel around his shoulders. Percy without hesitation grabbed his brother into a hug, clutching onto him like he didn't want to let go. When he saw Wade underwater knocked out, he felt genuine fear that he hadn't felt since the summer with his dad. Wade hugged him back, pulling away as Fleur ran over.
"You both saved her even though she wasn't yours to help!" Fleur states to Harry and Percy, hugging them and planting two kisses on both of their cheeks. She then turned to Ron, while Gabrielle came running over to Wade, hugging him and planting a kiss on his cheek too, making his cheeks flare up as she walked away with her older sister.
Hermione then came running over, hugging her best friend until she then hugged Percy for dear life. Percy wrapped his arms around her too, rubbing soothing circles on her back as she tried to calm her down best he could.
"You okay, Mione?" Percy asked her, looking at her eyes after she pulled away.
"I should be asking you that!" Hermione exclaimed to the boy, lightly hitting his shoulder. "Both you and Harry had to find us and saved Fleur's sister when she got pulled out!"
Percy only nods at her little rant, which she stares at him. He places a kiss on her head before looking into her eyes and silently saying that he's fine. Neville then finally pushes through the group, handing Percy Hus shirt when he walked over.
"Thank you, Neville." Percy said to the boy. "For your help."
Neville only smiles and nods while Hermione states how they did.
"We finished last, Hermione." Harry pointed out, looking at her.
"Next to last." Percy states as he throws his shirt on. "Fleur never got past by the Grindylows."
"How'd you know that." Harry asks.
"I observe and listen, Harry." Percy states. "Its what I'm best at."
Harry only nods and stands up, while Percy pulled Wade back into his arms, who was shaking. Hermione only cuddled into his side slightly, waiting for the announcements.
Dumbledore yells and catches everyone's attention as he gave Hus speech. "The winner is Mr. Diggory, who showed innate command of the Bubble-head charm. However, seeing as either Mr. Potter or Mr. Thayer would have finished first had it not been for their determination to rescue not only, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Thayer, but the others as well. We've agreed to award them tie in second place, for outstanding moral fiber!"
People begin to cheer and boo about the sudden winners, but Percy payed it no mind as he glanced at a beaming Harry who looked at him in shock. It certainly was a surprise to hear that the two won, and Percy couldn't help but feel slightly happy at the outcome.
EDIT: OCTOBER 10, 2021
AUTHOR'S NOTE
might come back to rewrite this again, but i'll leave it like this for now. have a good day or night and stay safe everyone.
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