Chapter 30 - Task Two

Your POV

Harry and I spent all day trying to come up with what spell to use during the tournament tomorrow. Suddenly Neville came up to us with Professor Moody.

"Y/l/n, Potter. I want Longbottom to help you with the spell since you don't have anything yet." He said and left.

I took Neville's hand in mine while Harry and I continued to look through spell books.

"Did you know there's a wizard in Nepal who conducted a study on gravity resistant trees-" Harry cut Neville off.

"No offense Neville but I really don't care" He said. I snapped my head up.

"HARRY! Even if it has nothing to do with this tournament you should care, especially since your sport uses wood that's gravity resistant." I informed him. Neville and Harry were both looking me in the eye to see if I was angry.

"Sorry I'm just stressed, so unless you have a magic turnip that can help me hold my breath for an hour." Harry said. I saw Neville's brain turning.

"I don't know about a turnip but you can always use Gillyweed." He said. I looked up at him.

"YOU GENIUS" I jumped up and hugged him.

The next day we walked down to take the boats to where Dumbledore set up the tournament.

"Where are they?" Harry said looking around.

"You seem a little tense Harry" Neville commented.

"Do I?" Harry said sarcastically. Neville was the one who seemed tense to me.

"Neville what's wrong?" I asked. He sighed.

"I...I could only get one of the Gillyweed" He looked down.

"And you're telling us this now" Harry said.

"I'm sorry I just wanted to help-" Neville felt really bad. I cupped his cheek softly.

"It's okay Nev, you did great. Harry you need it more than me, I have a back up plan" I told them both. Neville relaxed a bit. Dumbledore performed the spell that blocked my powers, after that Harry and I stood on the board waiting for the signal to start. I stood next to Harry and took my coat off so I was just in my swimmers. I heard some guys commenting on my body. Harry whispered for me to not listen to them. Suddenly it was time to start, I pointed my wand at myself and said the spell before jumping into the freezing water. I saw Harry turn part fish and swim down. I was slowly running out of air. I chanted the spell again. My legs fused together with a fin at the end, my neck grew prominent gills. I could hear the sound of the mermaids and swam with great speed towards them.

I found a bunch of my friends being guarded by the mermaids. I didn't see anyone else but I swam up to them, I waited not wanting them to be left. As the mermaids swam around my veins pulsed silver but I wasn't trying to use my powers. Cedric and Harry came up and Cedric took Cho, Harry told me that Fleur was out. The mermaids wouldn't let us take more than one which angered me because one person would be left. Krum swam past us scratching my arm with the shark skin. We took our chance to take everyone with us since he scared the mermaids off he took Ron and I took Fred as we helped each other with Fleurs little sister.

A group of Grindylow bit and pulled us down, Harry stunned them as I sent our friends up to the surface. I noticed Harry was struggling as the Gillyweed wore off. I tried pulling him up with me but he was running out of air and we had a long way to go. I pointed my wand up holding onto Harry.

"Incendio!" I said and we flew out of the water hitting the deck with a thud. Neville wrapped a towel around me.

Dumbledore unblocked my powers and announced that Harry and I would tie in second place.

Neville's POV

I was happy for Y/n she was so brave. I went with her back to the common room. I noticed that she was really cold and gave her my sweater. She cuddled me as we made our way back.

"Your arm, does it hurt?" I asked her. Her eyes widened.

"No of course not, I got rid of the mark so why would it hurt?" She seemed panicked. I frowned.

"No I mean what happened to your arm in the tournament." I corrected.

"Oh yeah it's fine" Y/n rubbed her arm.

"Are you okay? Is there something you're not telling me?" I questioned. She avoided my gaze completely. I stopped her before she said the password to the common room, I wanted her to tell me.

"Y/n please tell me, I want to help." I looked her in the eye. She just hugged me.

"I'll tell you when something happens, but for now I want you to know that you always help me and it means a lot. Thank you Nev" She smiled. I pulled her closer squeezing her.

"Anything for you" I kissed her forehead happily. Soon as we entered the common room a bunch of Gryffindors picked her up and started chanting her and Harry's name. I looked up at her just admiring how beautiful she was and how a guy like myself got so lucky. I still couldn't believe she was my girlfriend. I overheard some Gryffindors talking about Y/n and I.

"Did you hear at the start of the tournament that a group of guys were yelling out things about Y/n's body and Longbottom didn't do anything about it. Does he even care about her or was Rita Skeeter right about him?" One gossiped.

"Well whatever the reason he either needs to man the fuck up and stand up for her or Y/n needs to date a real man" Another commented.

Am I not man enough for her? Does she hate me for being weak? Will she dump me for someone better? I couldn't stop my mind from digging a grave for my heart. I couldn't help the thoughts that ran through my mind from crushing my self confidence and hammering my self-esteem lower than it already was. No one would notice if I left. I went up to my dorm and shoved my face into my pillow desperately trying to hold back my tears and chocked sobs. My heart ached.