Chapter Text
“So, one of us for each Champion?” Ron asked when their roles in the task were explained. They all looked around the room. “Obviously Gabrielle is here for Fleur… Cho for Cedric…. Do you think Krum is going to save me!?” Ron gasped. “Wait… No that can’t be right. Is it you then? I thought you weren’t –”
“Ugh!” Hermione groaned. “Was there not anyone else for Viktor?”
“Not on such short notice I’m afraid,” Dumbledore shrugged. "Mr. Krum's acquaintances are… difficult to pin down.”
The adults continued discussing the details, notifying them that they would not be allowed to go anywhere else for the rest of the evening.
“Ron,” Hermione whispered. “Do you know if Harry was able to figure anything out?"
“We were kind of waiting on you to come up with something” he grimaced. "We were definitely trying!" He added when he saw the look on her face, "We just kept hitting walls.”
“Professor,” Hermione raised her hand again, sitting up politely. “Would it be possible, I mean, could I just step out and come right back, please?”
“Hah! After you've heard all the juicy details!?” Bagman laughed. “Absolutely not, my dear!”
“But I’ve made plans, sir!”
“I’m sure your friends will be okay if you don’t make it to book club tonight.” He chuckled. His patronizing attitude was really getting to her. “Now off we go, children! The chains at the bottom of the lake won’t tie themselves.”
“I am scared!” Gabrielle cried.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Hermione put her arms around the little girl. “I promise that everything is going to be just fine. We’re all going to be there with you. I will be there with you.”
“Mais… ‘Ow do you know!?”
“Dumbledore wouldn't let anything happen to us,” she reassured her. “And even more so, your sister would NEVER let anything happen to you."
Gabrielle nodded affirmatively between sniffles. That seemed to soothe her.
"Or to you," she added.
“Right,” Hermione forced a smile. She was confused about the little girl’s words and familiarity towards her. What had Fleur been saying about her? Was it a Veela thing? Or maybe just a Delacour thing.
"Ready, Ms. Granger?"
Her thoughts were interrupted when Professor McGonagall placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze before pulling out her wand.
“Well..." Hermione took a breath and braced herself, "I suppose I –”
...
Hermione woke up gasping for breath.
She was cold and wet. None of her senses were working properly.
The sun was bright, making it difficult to see clearly. Someone was carrying her across a body of water. She tried to make out the shape of the person holding her and immediately began to panic when she saw the mutant shark head staring back at her.
The creature was saying something, but Hermione couldn't hear him over the ringing in her ears. The fear calmed as the shark head morphed back into what she now recognized as Viktor Krum’s face. She tried to speak, but she couldn't even hear herself, and she was still sputtering water out of her mouth and nostrils.
She was swiftly pulled up out of the water and into a towel. Her teeth were chattering, and she was soaked. A burly figure guided her to the tent area where Madam Pomfrey was examining a shivering Cho Chang. She rushed to Hermione and sat her down, forcing an elixir down her throat.
“This should help,” her voice seemed far away.
The ringing faded and her ears popped. The sudden explosion of sound coming from outside of the tent was loud and disorienting.
"Not to worry, ladies," Madam Pomfrey went back to Cho after settling Hermione down. She looked highly annoyed. "Despite the reckless, irresponsible risks this tournament continues placing on students – As if a dragon wasn’t enough! You are both okay. The high sensitivity is normal, just give it a couple of hours and some rest."
"Can I just..." Hermione tried standing up, but she was quickly forced back down.
“No.”
The crowd outside cheered as an announcement was made, likely related to the scoring. It was all a loud garbled mess to Hermione.
“I am second place!” Viktor barged in alongside Cedric. The two of them were beaming with pride, towels over their heads and patting each other’s backs.
“First!” Cedric pointed to himself.
“My hero…” Cho rasped, lifting her arms towards Cedric. He tried to wrap his arms around her but was met with a series of swats from Madam Pomfrey.
What about Harry?" Hermione asked Viktor. She was acclimating quickly and was starting to collect her thoughts. "And Fleur?"
"Ah..." Viktor looked away uncomfortably. "They are fine, I am sure."
A commotion outside brought them all to their feet and running back out into the field, ignoring Madam Pomfrey's orders to stay put.
Viktor offered his arm, as Hermione’s balance was still a little off. She focused her attention towards the lake. Someone was being pulled out, but it was hard to see with all the people surrounding.
“FLEUR DELACOUR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!” the announcer revealed. “SHE’S… SHE’S BY HERSELF? WHERE IS HER DAMSEL – I MEAN HOSTAGE -TREASURE!”
“What’s going on?” Hermione tried to see through the crowd. Fleur was sitting at the edge of the dock. Madame Maxime hovered over her. There was no sign of Gabrielle.
“Fleur!” She called out as she tried to make her way towards them, but Viktor held her back. “Fleur!”
“Maybe ve give her some room, da? She is okay."
Fleur stood up and turned in their direction. She refused the towel being offered to her and pushed her way through the crowd, dripping wet and with fury in her eyes.
“Putain de connard!” She shoved Viktor hard against the chest.
Madame Maxime and Hagrid stepped in quickly.
“Language, Ms. Delacour!” The headmistress warned as she wrapped her in a towel, trying to calm her down.
“That is all you have to say?” Karkaroff scoffed. “This girl has assaulted my Champion!”
“It is fine, Headmaster,” Krum shook his head. He had sat Hermione down when he saw Fleur advancing on them, as if he was expecting the reaction.
“It most certainly is not!” Karkaroff proclaimed. “She should be disqualified! Dumbledore are you seeing this?”
“Do not be so dramatique!” Madame Maxime shouted back at him.
“What is that?” Dumbledore feigned ignorance. “My attention was on the lake. One Champion still to go!”
"Fleur? Are you okay?" Hermione asked, looking up to talk to her.
“Non! I am not okay.” she hissed. “ I could not save Gabrielle.”
“oh... I’m so sorry.”
“Merde. Merde. MERDE!” she began to cry as she continued cursing in French.
“It’s okay, Fleur. Gabrielle is okay.”
“It is not okay! I have embarrassed my whole school. My family. My people!”
Hermione wanted to hug her but didn’t know if she should. “You did the best you could.”
“’Ow would you know?” Fleur spat back.
“What?”
"You were just unconscious underwater, distracting me! Waiting for... HIM.” she glared at Viktor.
“Fleur, come on." Viktor tried to smooth things over. "Do not be this vay.”
“Well that’s not my fault!” Hermione defended herself. “I didn't choose him!"
“Ok, ok, we are all very emotional," Viktor tried not to seen offended. "Do not vorry about her,” he smiled at Hermione and placed hand on her shoulder. “She will be fine.”
“Viktor, please..."
"NOT NOW!” The two girls yelled at him.
“Oh! You have beetle in your hair,” he plucked it out and smiled.
Fleur was immediately on him again. “YOU ARE A PIECE OF –”
A loud splash and more commotion had them all staring back at the lake.
“IT’S HARRY! THE ONE AND ONLY HARRY POTTER, EVERYONE! THE LAST CHAMPION OUT OF THE LAKE! AND DOES HE HAVE HIS – YES! YES, HE DOES! HE HAS COLLECTED HIS DAMSEL, ONE RONALD WEASLEY! I MEAN HOSTAGE! I MEAN TREASURE! AND WHAT’S THIS!? … IT APPEARS THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE UNDER HIS ARM! IS THAT WHY IT TOOK HIM SO LONG? WE ARE GETTING CONFIRMATION, YES, YES THAT IS IN FACT…”
“GABRIELLE!” Fleur cried, running towards the little girl and falling onto her knees to hug her.
Hermione watched as Fleur pulled Harry into a hug as well, kissing his face in gratitude as Madame Maxime and Madam Pomfrey arrived to help.
Hermione turned away. Much too quickly. She started to feel faint.
“The leetle girl vould have been fine,” Viktor whispered into her. “Everybody vould have been – Are you okay, Himinniny?”
He tried to help her, but she pushed him away, attempting to head back to the medical tent on her own.
"What did you do, Viktor?"
“I did nothing!”
It only took two steps until Hermione fell forward into familiar burly arms.
“I've got yeh Hermione! Don' yeh worry.”
She let herself be carried in Hagrid’s comforting arms. When she looked back up Fleur and Gabrielle were being pulled away with Gabrielle and Madame Maxine.
Hagrid gave her a light, what he considered light, pat on the head before heading out again, leaving her in the care of an increasingly exasperated Madam Pomfrey.
Harry and Ron sat on either side of her.
“You, okay?” Harry asked, still toweling off.
Hermione nodded. She was having conflicting feelings about her friend at the moment. Despite being thrilled to see him and knowing that he was okay, the images in her head of Fleur kissing him made her want to punch him in the nose.
“What happened?” Hermione asked.
“He thought we were all going to die,” Ron said from her other side, taking a bite out of a chocolate frog. “Waited down there until the very end. That's why he's last."
“And how are you doing so well?” she groaned at his spirited demeanor.
“Pepper up potion! Didn’t you get some?”
“That and a couple of sweet kisses from Fleur, am I right?” Cedric winked as he and Cho walked by them chuckling. Cho and Cedric were slowly walking along the perimeter together, regaining their balance.
Ron turned red and continued eating his snack.
“What the hell did you do to deserve any kisses?” Hermione fumed.
“She said I helped!"
You were unconscious!