"Mr Bagman!" Harry shouted, trying to get the man's attention. The announcer looked Harry's way with a surprised and confused look on his face for a moment, and then broke in to a large smile.
"Well done Harry! I knew you could do it." Bagman said in congratulations.
"Yeah thanks. I need to know what is going to happen if the other champions aren't able to rescue their hostage before the hour is up."
"But you already saved your friend, Harry." Bagman pointed out. "Why don't you just relax and watch the rest of the competition?"
"Because one of my friends is still down there!" Harry yelled angrily. "And if you won't answer me I am going back down there and getting all of them."
"Settle down." Bagman said with a frustrated sigh. "Nothing is going to happen to them, even if the other champions can't reach them in the hour. Did you really think the Ministry of Magic would endanger children like that?"
"Yes, actually. I did." Harry answered and walked away feeling relieved. In Harry's opinion Ludo Bagman was a weak and stupid man, but he wasn't a liar. No one was going to be in life threatening danger in this part of the tournament at least. Once he reached Daphne he sat down beside her and pulled the towel back around them.
"Everything ok?" she asked, guessing from his reaction that it was.
"They'll be safe." Harry replied. Daphne nodded and put her arms back around him as they began to wait for the other champions to make it out of the lake.
"Thank you for coming for me, Harry." Daphne said after a few minutes.
"You weren't ever in any real danger though." Harry responded, still feeling a little angry that the tournament officials had not made that point clear before the second task began.
"True, but you didn't know that." Harry shrugged and thought she was giving him too much credit.
"I won't let you get hurt." he said earnestly. Daphne smiled, knowing he meant it.
"I know. That's one of the things I like about you." Harry grinned in response, happy to hear that she appreciated his concern for her safety. When he thought about it he realized that he cared a lot for her and not just for her safety.
"Daphne, will you be my girlfriend?" Harry asked uncertainly. He knew it probably wasn't the best time to ask, but he had been struck by the sudden urge to do it and his courageous Gryffindor side wouldn't allow him to back down. Daphne looked surprised by his question but her expression quickly changed to a happy one.
"Yes, Harry. I will. I'm just surprised it took you this long to ask." she answered, playfully teasing him. Harry shrugged and kissed her in response before realizing they were still in a very public place. He blushed slightly and then put his arm around her as they watched the rest of the second task. At halfway through the hour Fleur Delacour was brought back to the surface alone after being attacked by a group of grindylows. Harry thought he could guess exactly where that had happened. The Beauxbatons champion was clearly upset and tried to get back in the lake to rescue her little sister. She only calmed down slightly when informed that Gabrielle would not be harmed and would be returned to her as soon as the task was over.
By the end of the hour neither of the other two champions had returned. The crowd was growing restless as it eagerly waited and an announcement was made that the champions could still complete the tasks for fewer points if they were still able to rescue their hostage. Five minutes after the hour had passed Cedric Diggory finally made it back to the surface with Cho Chang held close to him. The crowd, mostly made up of Hogwarts students, was thrilled that their two champions had done the best. Viktor Krum was only moments behind Cedric but when he reached the surface he seemed quite disappointed in his performance. Despite his anger at himself, Krum was very careful with Hermione. He gently placed her on the platform and did not leave her side until she had woken up. Harry smiled at that as he realized that the large Bulgarian really did care for his friend.
Harry hardly paid attention as Bagman announced the results. He knew the most important part: he had once again come in first and should now be the favorite to win the tournament, just like he had planned. A date for the third and final task was announced, but no clue was given as to what it would be. Harry held Daphne close to him and found that at the moment he did not care. He had months to worry about the future and at the moment all he wanted to do was celebrate his victory with his friends and new girlfriend.
....
Want to read more exciting chapters, then join my P*atreon right now and get access to 60+ premium chapters.
Link: pa#treon.com/KittyLovesMilk (Remove the #)
Free members get 2+ advanced chapters for free.
JOIN NOW