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Right now I'm assuming that we can't figure out how to remove the Horcrux from Harry, though if that works it makes my job a lot easier. If it goes how I think, then...well...
"You alright in there, mate?" Ron calls in.
"Be right out!"
I exit the shower to find Harry doing our usual pre-run stretching, an hour before the Task. He smiles at me. "Alright, William?"
"I'm feelin' good about today, how about you, Harry?"
"Well enough, I suppose."
"Excellent! Let's go eat a bit and then you can go kick the Second Task in the balls!"
He laughs. "Do Tasks have...what do you call them...balls?"
"Well, if not, you can always pretend either Karkaroff or Snape is the personification of it," I point out, grinning. "If anybody deserves a kick in the stones it's those two."
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Making our way down to the lake, Ron and Neville walk confidently on the opposite side of Harry. Luna is walking next to Neville, but of course she appears neither confident nor concerned.
In fact, she spends most of the time not even looking at the Lake. I try to match them – well, the other two Gryffindors – but I have to admit I am quite nervous.
Harry's rigid walk is not helping, either. The impressive wooden dock constructed for Tournament – built almost opposite of the shore where the Durmstrang ship floats majestically – is already full of spectators, so at least one of the Champions is probably already there.
A pair of black-and-green robed students break off and scurry towards us. As they near, I see they are young girls, and soon enough I recognize the one with raven-black hair just before she calls out to me in a worried voice. "William! Harry!"
"Hey, Stori," I call back. I give it a moment and the concern in her violet eyes is plain. "What's wrong?"
"Have you seen Daph? She didn't come back last night! Tracey and Blaise are looking in the Castle and I came out here but I can't find her!"
Astoria and her friend fall into step with us as Harry and I share a glance. He gives me a nod, so I turn back to the worried younger sister.
"I think she's down there already, actually. Somebody came and got Hermione last night and she didn't come back, either."
"What does that mean, Will?" If anything the worry is even stronger now.
I put my arm around her and squeeze her to my side, which makes us walk slower. "They're both okay, Stori. It seems this Task is for the Champions to rescue somebody from the bottom of the lake.
Dumbledore and the Ministry wouldn't let anything happen to them, so don't worry about them having to hold their breath all this time."
"But...but why Daph? Why Hermione?" Thankfully Astoria is starting to calm down.
"Well you aren't supposed to know this, but the hint said something like, 'we've taken what you'll sorely miss.' So I assume Hermione is Harry's hostage, and Daphne is Viktor's."
"Really? But he and Daph don't spend as much time together as you and her." Her worry turns more to confusion, so that's good.
"Your guess is as good as mine," I say with a shrug. "I think Viktor is a bit lonely from his fame, and Daphne was the first one who treated him like anybody else. You know, it may have been love at first glare."
Astoria bursts out laughing, and I notice her friend hadn't heard a single word. She's just looking between Harry, Astoria, and I with wide eyes.
"I'm William, by the way," I say to her.
"Oh, sorry! Will, this is Ursula, one of my roommates. Ursula, this is William, he was my date for the Ball, and then that's Harry, Ron, Neville, and Luna." She didn't wait for their greetings. "You're sure she'll be okay?"
"Positive," I say. "Now, I would ask why you gave up your positions, but I'm afraid there won't be much to see since most of the action will be underwater."
"Most? We'll only get to see the Champions diving in," she says bitterly.
"Oh, I think you'll find Harry's dive a little more fun," I say with a grin. "Don't tell anybody, though."
Astoria's eyes widen with excitement and she spends the rest of the walk trying to get me to tell. The crowd parts for Harry when he starts to break off from us and head toward roped-off area with Dumbledore and the other judges. I see Cedric and Viktor there, but I imagine Fleur is waiting as long as possible.
The three of us Gryffindors and the two Slytherins say our goodbyes and good lucks – Astoria with a hug, much to Ursula's surprise – and head off to find a good spot.
We pass Fleur's delegation as we make our way back from the docks. I give Veronique a smile and a wave, which she returns with a tiny, hidden smile and a nod and earns me a glare from the Champion herself.
"Popular with the Beauxbatons girls, William?" Astoria asks with a grin.
"I think Fleur's starting to like me," I say.
That earns a snort from Astoria and nervous laughter from the others. "Where are we going, anyway?"
"Right here, for a moment," I say. "Okay, Stori, stand here and face the lake, then draw your wand."
Her eyes snap up to mine in concern for a moment. I realize I could have said that a little more tactfully. "Okay..." she says uncertainly.
I hold my hand out, palm facing up. "Now hold your hand like this, and balance your wand on top. Try to point your wand directly toward the center of the docks behind us."
She does so. "Okay."
"Now think about your sister...picture her in your mind, the long, flowing, raven-black hair, the intense ice-blue eyes, the way she presses her lips together when she wants to say something but is holding it back."
"Fill your mind with memories of her, concern for her, and your desire to find her. Think about how you want to find her more than anything else. Now, say, 'Point me.'"
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Hey guys if u like the fanfic and want to read ahead by 27+ chapters or just want to support take a visit on my patreon.
(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
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