Chapter Text
When Valentine’s Day came around Harry didn’t even notice until he heard others talking about it on his way to breakfast, about their plans for the Hogsmeade Weekend that was coming up, and the teasing of whether one person had finally confessed to another. All of it repeated a dozen times over by people he knew and far more he didn’t.
He liked Hermione. He knew that. It wasn’t something he would bother trying to deny anymore. He knew it, Sirius knew it, Luna probably knew it and they had barely been friends for two weeks. Hermione… Hermione knew it before he did, he was sure.
It wouldn’t surprise him if half of Gryffindor thought he had been dating Hermione since the Yule Ball.
As Hermione slid up beside him and matched his pace Harry was pulled out of his thoughts.
“We need to do something about Luna; she was even worse last night.” She said quietly.
“How?” He knew what it was like to be bullied. Not that he knew it wasn’t normal back then. “We don’t even know what she needs help with.” Even if they could make a good guess.
Hermione stayed silent until they were almost in the great hall. “I don’t know. She doesn’t want to say, doesn’t want us involved. But I hate seeing her like that.”
Harry made an agreeing noise, but their conversation was lost in the throng of the Great Hall. It was never the best place to have any kind of private conversation.
It wasn’t until he spotted Cedric as everyone was getting up to head out to their first class of the day that Harry realised that, while they couldn’t find out what was happening with Luna – let alone stop it – since it was happening in the Ravenclaw Dormitories, they did know someone who was close with a Ravenclaw. Someone who had said he owed them.
Seeing Cedric meeting up with Cho in one of the corridors, Harry decided now was as good a time as any. “Had an idea, need to talk to Cedric and Cho.” He said as he rushed off towards them.
“Harry?” Hermione said confusedly, before hurrying to catch up with him, grumbling quietly about him running off without explaining.
“Cedric?” Harry said as they reached the pair. “I’ve got a favour to ask. More of Cho than you, but… it shouldn’t be too bad.”
Cho glared at them for a moment before sighing, pulling away from the embrace she’d been giving Cedric. The Hufflepuff seemed surprised, but not annoyed by the interruption.
“Go on,” Cedric said.
Harry quickly explained his friendship with Luna and the state she had been in several times when he had seen her recently. Cho frowned at his description but nodded when Cedric asked if she’d seen anything like that.
“Do you think you could keep an eye on her? Find out what’s happening?” Harry finished.
“And, if you find evidence of anything truly bad, report it to Professor Flitwick?” Hermione added.
Cho looked at Cedric for a moment, finding him giving her his own, expectant look, and sighed. “I’ll do it. But Cedric won’t owe you anymore, right?”
“I know all the prefects in my year, I’ll talk to them as well.” Cedric put in.
Harry nodded. “Thanks. We weren’t sure what to do…”
“You couldn’t help and went to find people who could. It’s very Hufflepuff of you both.” Cedric said with a grin. “Now, we’ve all got classes to get to.” Cedric turned and gave Cho a kiss on her cheek, He whispered something to her that left her blushing before setting off at a jog down the corridor, heading to his class. Cho quickly turned and headed off herself.
Harry turned to Hermione, looking her in the eye for a moment. He nodded slowly, she replied in kind; then they both set off at a run.
--oOoOo--
That Friday in the Great Hall there was an odd air around the Ravenclaw table, separate from the expected buzz of the looming Valentine’s Day and accompanying Hogsmeade weekend. From the staff table Professor Flitwick could be seen giving his house a gimlet eye, his gaze lingering on a number of the students. No words were said but rumours quickly spread across the hall.
“Look, see?” Hermione pointed at an older Ravenclaw girl, one Harry recognised from asking him to the Yule Ball. Not that he could remember her name. “That’s Elizabeth Thorpe, she was the sixth-year prefect. But her badge is gone.”
Harry hummed in response, looking for prefect badges on the Ravenclaws.
“Huh, Cho got the fifth-year badge.” Hermione said after a moment. “Good for her.”
“Where?” Harry asked, craning to see the Ravenclaw table.
“There, next to Luna. There, I only saw because she turned to talk to Cedric.”
Harry nodded and smiled. “Good for her.”
Hermione bumped Harry’s shoulder, giving a smile before she dug into dinner.
Watching Luna and Cho from behind Harry was glad to see that Hermione’s odd friend had someone to talk to in her own house now. He could hardly forget what it had been like with Dudley turning everyone at school against him, he wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Maybe Draco.
--oOoOo--
Harry hadn’t cared for Valentine’s Day in his previous years. He hadn’t really noticed in his first year, being too young to notice or care, but in second Lockhart had turned it into a horrible spectacle. He could still remember the singing valentine he got and how mortifying it was. Last year he’d had to sneak out of the castle to visit Hogsmeade, but it wasn’t something he’d done for Valentines
Now? Now he was staring into the mirror. Remembering Sirius telling him that Hermione was waiting for him to say something, to do something. And wondering how in the world he was going to ask his best friend out on a date without making a fool of himself.
“Hermione, will you go to Hogsmeade with me?” He tried, only to shake his head at his words. “No, sounds like we’re just going as friends. Hermione, will you go on a date? A proper date, to Hogsmeade, for Valentines?”
Better. But still not what he wanted. He wanted to do it right. He’d asked her to the ball, and he had been such a mess. And he’d said he wanted to ask her as an apology. As if he wasn’t asking her because he liked her and wanted to go to the ball as a date.
“Why does this have to be so hard?” Harry groaned, leaning forward and planting his head onto the mirror.
“Why’s what have to be so hard?” Neville asked as he stepped into the bathroom.
Harry froze stiff, “Uh,”
A voice, his own reflection, piped up from the mirror. “The poor dear is having trouble deciding how to ask his friend out for Valentines.”
Neville snorted as he reached for his toothbrush. “Oh. It’s Hermione– ”
“Never said who it was,” Harry said reflexively, but Neville just rolled his eyes.
“It’s Hermione,” Neville repeated, “you went to the ball with her. Didn’t you hear Lavender gushing over how she had the best date of our year? How no other girl got a handmade gift for the ball?”
“No,” Harry avoided paying attention to most of the gossip around the castle. He certainly didn’t seek it out, even if it found its way to him most of the time. Either via Hermione… or Ron. “I didn’t.”
“Honestly I’m surprised you aren’t dating properly yet. If you haven’t asked, I would’ve thought Hermione would have.” Neville shrugged, “Surprised she’s been so patient mostly.”
The same thing Sirius had said, that Sirius kept saying. “I’m going to ask her.” Harry declared. “Tomorrow. I just… want to do it right.”
Neville paused for a moment, turning to Harry, then tentatively clapped him on the shoulder. “I think ‘right’ is just saying that you want to take her to Hogsmeade on a date, Harry.”
Harry steeled himself, looked at his reflection in the mirror – which unhelpfully winked at him – and tried again. “Hermione, would you go with me to Hogsmeade for a Valentine’s date?”
Neville laughed. “Sorry, it’s just… you look so serious, mate.”
Harry shook his head but at least he felt up for it. “Thanks Nev. For being a friend.” He said, clasping Neville on the shoulder as he headed for bed.
--oOoOo--
The next morning Harry pulled Hermione aside on their normal trip down for breakfast. She seemed puzzled but didn’t object as he pulled her into one of the many secret alcoves around the castle.
“Hermione, would you go with me to Hogsmeade? As a date for Valentines.” Harry said, proud that he managed to not stutter at all.
Hermione blinked, her mouth opening slowly before closing again. For a moment Harry was worried but then a wide smile bloomed across her face.
“I’d love to.” She said, grabbing his hands with hers and squeezing tightly. “But not just for Valentines, you aren’t getting rid of me that easily.”
“As a first date,” Harry replied, “as boyfriend and girlfriend, if that’s alright?”
He didn’t even have time to register that she had let go of his hands before her arms wrapped around him, her full weight tackling him backwards into the wall and her head nuzzling against his neck.
“I think I should take that as a yes?” Harry said, hugging his best friend – no, his girlfriend back.
Hermione pulled away, letting out a soft laugh, “Yes, my hugging the stuffing out of you was a yes, Harry.” She leaned forward, about to kiss him on the cheek again, but rather than passively accept it Harry turned his own head.
Their lips met, more than a little awkwardly, but all Harry could feel was how soft her lips were. Watching as her eyes widened in surprise before glinting with happiness. How her mouth curved into a smile as he felt his own do the same.
After what felt like far too short a time Hermione pulled away, the tingling of her lips lingering.
“It’s a date, Harry.” She said, the widest grin he had ever seen on her showing off her teeth and her tongue, which he had never really considered before.
Kisses could involve tongues and looking at Hermione, taking in things he’d never noticed before, Harry wondered what hers would feel like when they kissed more.
“That it is.” Harry said dumbly, barely able to think as he relished in the sensation of Hermione pressing herself to him so tightly, of his arms around her and hers around him.
They stood there like that for several minutes before Hermione shifted. “We have classes,” she said.
Harry groaned but started to let go. “We could skip breakfast?”
After just a moment Hermione nodded and pulled him tighter again. “We can make it up at lunch, we’ve got an hour or so.”
In the end they were nearly late to their first class that morning, but it had been more than worth it.
--oOoOo--
Harry was understandably nervous, fidgeting with his robe, as he waited by the carriages. He couldn’t help but wonder if he should have tried dressing up, wearing something different than his uniform. It wasn’t like he had much else; all his muggle clothes were hand-me-downs from Dudley and… worse. His dress robe from the ball seemed like too much.
“Harry!”
Harry looked up at the sound of Hermione’s voice, a wide grin splitting his face as she jogged up to him. He felt a bit of relief seeing she had decided to just wear her school robes as well, he didn’t mess up.
“Hi Hermione,” he said, happily accepting her hug.
“Hi Harry.” She replied, grinning giddily at him. “Ready for our date?”
Pushing down the twisting knot in his stomach Harry nodded, not entirely trusting himself to speak. They had been kissing more and more, sneaking moments in odd corners between classes, but this was their first proper date. The Yule Ball didn’t count, Harry had just asked her as a friend for that.
“Then let’s go!” Hermione grabbed his hand, entwining her fingers with his, and they scrambled their way into one of the first carriages.
Harry was rather annoyed they didn’t manage to get a carriage to themselves, having to refrain from doing much more than leaning on one another in front of a seventh-year couple who clambered in after them. It didn’t look like they were happy with the situation either, but in the interests of being first to get to Hogsmeade he could tolerate it.
They had all day after all.
What were you even supposed to do on a date? He knew a lot of dates went to Madam Puddifoots, but it was just so… garish.
“Where do you want to go first?” He whispered to Hermione.
“Honeydukes.” She replied, just as quietly. “Then just walk around, maybe find a secluded spot for a picnic with some sweets.”
“Sounds good.”
Neither of them felt much need to talk more, simply luxuriating in each other’s presence as the carriages trundled on to Hogsmeade. Harry was honestly wondering if the day actually mattered or if he would have felt the same way for any Hogsmeade weekend he asked Hermione out on a date.
Hermione would probably know the history behind the day, why it was considered special. He certainly didn’t.
They were quick to disembark the carriage when they arrived, though the seventh years were slower. Harry was fairly sure he heard them start snogging the moment he and Hermione were out of sight. Maybe the two of them would do that later, and he felt his cheeks burn at the thought.
Honeydukes was packed as always and Harry appreciated the excuse to continue holding Hermione’s hand, with all the bumping and pushing it would’ve been easy to get separated if they didn’t. It wasn’t just that he really, really liked knowing she was there. Being able to feel her squeezing his hand every time she wanted his attention, even if it was just to smile at him for a moment.
Not that he didn’t do the same. He absolutely did, and each time Hermione beamed right back at him which only made him want to do it more.
“Think you grabbed enough treacle tarts?” Hermione teased as they stepped outside.
“Hey! They’re really good! And they’re not as bad as some of the things I could’ve gotten.” He grumbled. “Like you’re one to talk with all your sugar quills, aren’t your parents dentists? What would they think?”
Rather than answer immediately Hermione pulled one of her quills out and started sucking on it. After a moment she raised an eyebrow. “They’d ask if I brush and floss twice a day, which I do, though a flossing charm I found makes it a lot quicker than they’d think appropriate, and then tell me they’re giving me a check-up like they always do and find my teeth are perfectly healthy.
“And besides, sugar quills keep! These will last me until the end of the year. Those tarts go bad in a week or two.” She poked him playfully. “Guess I’ll just have to help you finish them all, won’t I?”
Harry mock gasped, taking a step back – though not even considering letting go of Hermione’s hand – “No, not my tarts!”
For a moment they stared at each other before breaking down into giggles.
“If you can help me heat them up, you’re welcome to have some.” He said, but Hermione’s gaze had wandered off and narrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“Just some people staring, c’mon, let’s go find somewhere to sit. I packed a blanket and we can use heating charms.” She pulled him away and out of the village. Glancing behind them Harry could see Ron staring after them, an odd look on his face. When he caught Harry looking he turned away, back to Dean and Seamus, and gesticulated wildly.
Turning back, Harry put Ron out of his mind. He wouldn’t let thinking about his first friend mess up this day.
They made their way out of the village proper and Hermione picked out a tree to sit under, draping a blanket over the light dusting of snow. Rather than sit, she pushed Harry down and wriggled her way into his lap, leaving Harry to wrap his arms around her.
It was a little awkward, Hermione’s hair getting into his face, since he really wasn’t much taller than she was but it was still nice. He was a little worried she might notice something he’d rather she didn’t but he wouldn’t have her move for the world; enjoying the chance to relax peacefully against a tree with his girlfriend – Hermione, his girlfriend, it still felt amazing – and look out over the winter landscape of Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, and the valley.
He must have drifted off at some point as Hermione nudged him, drawing his attention. “Harry, we’ve got a guest.” There was no irritation in her voice so Harry was curious to see who it was.
A large black dog striding through the snow, looking for all the world like he had just found the most wonderful thing ever.
“Sirius!” Harry exclaimed, louder than he intended. “Um, come here boy.”
Sirius obligingly bounded forward, shoving his face into Hermione’s lap and whining piteously, then contentedly as Hermione started rubbing his face.
“Nice to see you too, Sirius.” She said, and Harry could tell she was smiling. “But you need to get off!” She pushed him away, then twisted around to give Harry a peck on the lips. “My legs are going to sleep, need to move a bit.”
She stood up slowly, wobbling a little, before setting down next to Harry this time. Sirius watching with a wide doggy grin, and then immediately taking the opportunity to plop himself across both of them.
“You been doing alright?” Harry asked, brushing his godfather’s fur. He couldn’t ask him to change back, not here, it wouldn’t be safe, but it was good to see him.
Sirius thumped his tail once.
“Once for yes twice for no?” Hermione asked, and Sirius thumped his tail again. “I’ll assume that was a yes. We were going to have a private picnic, but before you go would you like some treacle tart? Harry bought way too many.”
Harry grumbled slightly as Sirius thumped again. He had bought just enough, it wasn’t often he could grab as much as he wanted. Hogsmeade only came around a few times a year.
Still, he happily bit down into a freshly heated tart, savouring the taste, as Hermione laid one out for each of them. There were plenty of other things he’d bought too, and maybe he had gone a little overboard. But with Hermione suggesting a picnic he wanted to be sure there was enough.
Once he’d had his snack Sirius nuzzled them both and let out a happy bark, pushed them towards one another, and bounded away, occasionally looking back and wagging his tail happily. It was strange to see Sirius act so much like a dog even though Harry knew he’d spent a long time as one, but it was good to see him happy. And healthy, he looked a lot better even in his Animagus form than he had last year.
“I think he’s doing alright.” Hermione said, and Harry hummed his agreement as he pulled her into a hug.
Her lips tasted like treacle, and it was even more delicious than the tarts had been.
Eventually time went by and they couldn’t stay out much longer, deciding to visit the Three Broomsticks briefly before getting a carriage back to the castle.
As it had been the previous times Harry had been there the Three Broomsticks was still bustling with students even this late in the evening. Getting to the counter wasn’t too hard but he couldn’t see anywhere to sit that wasn’t occupied, but an opportunity opened up.
“Hey, Harry! Hermione! Over here!” Dean yelled from a booth, where he, Neville, Lavender, and Parvati were sitting. No Ron. Or Seamus, or Sophie. “There’s space!”
Getting their drinks Harry and Hermione headed over, the occupants shuffling around so they could sit together.
“So, you two had a nice date?” Lavender asked, a wide smile on her face.
Harry’s knee-jerk reaction was to deny, to push it off, but what if that hurt Hermione? He didn’t want the attention or the fuss but…
Hermione spoke up. “Yes, we did. Harry has been an excellent date, just like he was at the ball.”
The squeal Lavender let out drew attention from nearby for a brief moment, but not long. She was hardly the only one making that kind of noise. “I knew it! You two have been extra cozy since the ball!”
“Congratulations mate.” Dean said, raising his glass towards Harry.
Neville smiled and nodded as he raised his own, clearly remembering Harry’s worries about asking Hermione from earlier. Harry knew he owed Neville something for helping him get his head out of his arse.
It was nice sitting with his housemates and just talking for a while, dodging questions about exactly what they did on it; Hermione refused to elaborate more than that they went out on a picnic. Not even saying who asked who, or answering if there had been kissing.
The others ended up getting a carriage back to the school together, but the two of them managed to snag an empty one for themselves. The first few minutes – closer to twenty – were spent kissing each other more and more, until Harry worked up the courage to try using his tongue. Hermione’s lips parted easily, and he finally came to understand just why everyone was so obsessed with kissing, more so than he already had, as Hermione let out a soft moan in his arms.
He felt dazed as they finally parted, taking in great lungfuls of air. Hermione’s eyes were twinkling and she had pressed herself into his side, moulding herself to him.
“I think,” Harry said, trying to put his thoughts in order, “I think that this has been a wonderful day.”
Hermione let out a laugh. “I think it has been a wonderful day too.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “Let’s have more like it in the future.”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
As the carriage trundled to a stop, signaling they had to get out and head back to their dorms for the night, Harry rather wished it hadn’t had to end. At least Hermione would still be there in the morning.
--oOoOo--
The weeks passed, Harry’s time with Hermione sadly being consumed with more practice as the Second Task approached, until it was finally here. He woke the morning of the twenty-fourth of February with more than a bit of worry. He had known – Hermione had guessed – that the task would take something, someone, precious from him for it.
And he wasn’t looking forward to going downstairs and finding Hermione missing. The sheer worry would have stopped him sleeping if Hermione hadn’t given him a sleeping potion to take last night.
“Hermione? But…?” He said, confused but greatly relieved.
“I don’t know either.” She replied, looking far more confused than Harry felt. After a moment she shook her head and put on a smile. “We should get breakfast, it won’t be that long until the task starts.”
There was plenty of hubbub about the task in the great hall as they ate, people wondering what exactly the task was, who would win, and Harry could see the Weasley Twins going around and making notes as they chatted to people from across the houses and schools. Were they taking bets? Eventually the pair made their way up to Harry as well.
“Think you’re going to do well?” Fred asked, or maybe George.
“If you want to place a bet on yourself, you can. The odds aren’t great after your showing in the first, but you’ll still make something back!” The other twin continued.
“We’re good, thanks. Even if Harry is going to win.” Hermione grinned at them.
The two laughed, though a more serious expression soon took over. “Have either of you seen Ron? He’s going to miss the task if he stays in bed much longer.”
The other twin sighed. “If only Percy were here, he would wake the lazy lout up for us. Mum’d have a fit if we let him sleep through the tournament.”
Harry looked around briefly, he hadn’t seen Ron in the hall, had he? And his bed had been neatly made, not the usual mess when they woke up. He certainly hadn’t been in it. “I haven’t seen him, he wasn’t in the dorm when I woke up.” Harry said.
Abruptly Hermione’s head snapped to Harry’s, meeting his gaze, before she turned to look at the staff table, at Dumbledore, then back to Harry. Her mouth opened and closed as she ran through a myriad of expressions. “Harry, I think–” she started, but Harry had come to the same conclusion.
“Ron’s my hostage for the task.”
“Yeah,” She replied, then turned to the twins. “He’s fine, and he won’t miss the task because he’s part of it.” Then continued, quiet enough that Harry could only just hear her and with more than a little venom in her voice. “Even if he really doesn’t qualify anymore.”
Fred and George, satisfied enough that their brother was safe, returned to their own business.
Harry wasn’t sure what he thought of Ron being his hostage. He didn’t hate Ron, and… and he kind of missed him at times. But between him and Hermione he knew who he would pick; and, looking Hermione in the eye, he was mostly certain that wasn’t just because he didn’t feel like snogging Ron.
The snogging was just an added benefit of choosing Hermione.
--oOoOo--
They made it down to the lake well within time, Hermione giving Harry a short kiss for good luck just out of sight before he went to stand with the other champions. Cedric shot him a knowing look before he turned back to the lake, a frown on his face. He must be worried for his hostage; Hermione had to spend a long time convincing him she would be fine, that the teachers wouldn’t let the hostages get hurt.
And now his hostage was Ron, not Hermione. It was actually kind of a relief; it would’ve been a lot more stressful if Hermione was the one down there.
Bagman sidled up to Harry, and started whispering in his ear. “All right, Harry? Know what you’re going to do.”
“Yeah,” Harry said calmly. He’d been practising for weeks and weeks, he would be fine. “I do.”
Giving Harry a quick squeeze on the shoulder Bagman returned to the judges’ table; soon his Sonorus enhanced voice was booming out across the water and stands.
“ Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle. They have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. One… two… three! ”
Harry slipped off his shoes and socks, then his robe, leaving himself in little more than a light shirt and swimming trunks in the brisk February air. As he started wading out into the lake he quickly found the water was freezing cold, and he sped through a warming charm as Krum dove into the water and began transfiguring himself. Cedric and Fleur both cast the next spell on Harry’s list first, while still out of the water and in their robes.
The Bubblehead Charm. Getting it right first try Harry briefly heard Bagman yell his praise for achieving an advanced spell at his age before he dove into the water.
If he hadn’t had so much time practicing swimming he would have been completely lost. He had gillyweed in his pocket, just in case, but that was for emergencies. He was warm enough and could breathe. A trail of bubbles streamed up above him as his breath escaped the charm and breathable air was pulled out of the water; Hermione would know exactly what was happening, all he really knew was that it worked .
The merfolk village was somewhere deep in the lake, and with all his preparations he had the perfect spell to guide him there. Remembering sitting with Hermione, leaning against each other while Sirius draped himself over their lap as a dog, a moment that was more than just him liking Hermione but a feeling of family , Harry conjured his patronus.
“ Expecto Patronum!” He cried, the silvery stag bursting forth from his wand. “Find Ron, down in the lake. Lead me to him.” He ordered it, though it knew full well what he wanted from the moment he conjured it.
There was a dull roar echoing through the water but Harry paid it no heed as he swam after his stag, which ran through the water just like it did the air; as if the ground was always beneath its hooves and there was nothing holding it back.
The Patronus had to stop multiple times, impatiently waiting for Harry to catch back up, as he swam after it as fast as he could. At one point he swam a little too close to a patch of dense green weeds, stretching out around him, and a hand lunged out to grab his leg. A Grindylow; but before Harry could even bring his wand to bear the silver stag had borne down on it, not harming the Grindylow but startling it enough that it let go of Harry’s leg.
He swam up and away, making a note to avoid the patches of grass as he continued following the stag. He couldn’t see far, but the illumination his Patronus gave off was enough to see by.
It couldn’t have been more than ten or fifteen minutes of swimming before he reached the bottom of the lake, and he heard a snatch of haunting mersong.
“An hour long you’ll have to look,
“and to recover what we took…”
Swimming towards a large rock in the muddy water Harry saw paintings of merpeople on it; carrying spears and chasing the giant squid.
“… your time’s a quarter gone, so tarry not
“Lest what you seek stays here to rot…”
Coming into an actual village the merpeople moved out of the way of the glimmering stag, watching it confusedly as Harry moved past it. He was wary as several of them bearing spears eyed him more viciously.
Eventually he came to his destination, his stag beating its hooves against the water in front of Ron; tied up to the tail of a statue of a gigantic merperson hewn from a single boulder. All around the hostages, Ron, Cho Chang, a girl that looked like Fleur Delacour’s sister, and a girl Harry didn’t recognise, there was a crowd of merpeople.
As soon as Harry had spotted Ron the stag snorted and started fading into silver sparkles. A few of the merpeople reached out, trying to grab them, but they disappeared quickly.
Harry approached cautiously, eyeing the merpeople as they gave way to let him pass and reach the hostages. As he reached Ron he looked at the bindings; he had the time to untie him manually… but he had spent a lot of effort learning the Bubblehead charm so he could cast underwater.
“ Diffindo,” he said, pointing his wand at the ropes. With little effort Ron was floating freely in the water, eerily still save where the current rustled his hair and robes.
Grabbing his former friend Harry turned to the merpeople and nodded his head. The toothy grins he got in return were unnerving but he took them as a good sign, starting his ascent towards the surface.
It was slower going dragging Ron’s weight, and especially Ron’s robe, behind him, but Harry was sure he had won first place as his head breached the surface.
“Great Scott! Is that Potter I see?!” Bagman bellowed. Harry had misjudged his angle and was well away from the shore. “Not three quarts of the hour past and he’s already back! And with his hostage too!”
Suddenly a great spluttering drew Harry’s attention, Ron was awake and flailing. For a moment Harry was worried he’d drag him back down with him, then Ron let out a great spout of water. “Bloody hell, I should never have agreed. I’m cold.”
Rolling his eyes Harry cast a warming charm on Ron. “Let’s get you back to shore.” He muttered, couldn’t Ron have said thank you or something?
As they came into the shallows and could reach the lakebed and start wading, Harry let Ron make his own way out. Seeing Hermione waiting for him with a towel he sped up. Sweeping her up into a hug he spun her around.
“Ugh! Wet! You’re soaking wet Harry! And cold!” She yelled, but he could hear the happiness in her voice. “You did really, really well, you know.” She said with a smile as he put her down. “Forty two minutes! And there’s – oh, there’s Fleur now!”
Just as she said, Fleur had breached the surface and was swimming to the shore with the little girl from the village.
“I think she followed your Patronus too, she seemed to recognise what it was doing.” Hermione whispered.
“Hey Harry!” Ron called out, and Harry took a glance at him, but honestly Harry didn’t care about him right then.
He took the towel from Hermione. “Let’s find somewhere to sit, how did it look from up here anyway?”
Hermione laughed. “We were watching a pitch black lake! As soon as your Patronus got too deep there was nothing to see. Bagman seemed to be just making things up to say.”
Eventually Cedric and Krum returned, both past the time limit of the task, and the scores were given. Harry received full points from everyone save Dumbledore and Karkaroff, winning forty six points, while Fleur came second with forty one; Dumbledore outright stating that while it was clever to follow a fellow champion to the village, he had to mark her down for not finding her own way.
Cedric was third while Krum was fourth. All in all Harry didn’t really care about the scores, or winning the tournament. He had what he wanted when Hermione helped towel him dry and let him snog her in the medical tent when Madam Pomfrey wasn’t looking for doing so well.