Chapter Two, The Second Task

After the first Task and the battle against the dragon where Khalida had used Parseltongue to speak calmly to the Mother Dragon to receive the Golden Egg (she hadn't received very high points from the other Heads and Ministry members but she didn't care she was in it to survive not to get the highest points), she had deduced very quickly the riddle within, and with Luna's help - due to their shared love of Creatures - they had figured out it was to be held within the Black Lake. This revelation had caused Khalida to have a panic attack and a meltdown in the confines of an alcove in the library causing Madam Pince to send for her Grandfather and Great-Uncle to help calm her.

In the months leading up to the Tournament after the Yule Ball, Khalida had needed the help of her brilliant friends just to get through the day, such was the height of her anxiety she was reduced to panic attacks all over the school and if it hadn't of been for privacy spells and her Grandfather training her and her friends in the Duelling Chamber in the dungeons, she knew she would've been a laughing stock and much worse if hadn't of been for this new structure provided by her beloved Grandpa Monty. That said, the day of the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament had arrived bringing with it a rise in Khalida's anxiety that she was reduced to a meltdown that very morning when she realised at breakfast that Fred had been her 'treasure' that had been taken, and run from the Great Hall.

"Freddie will be fine, Kali, you know why?" George asked, as he crouched in front of her in an alcove in the Entrance Hall.
"N-no." Khalida gasped, tears pouring down her cheeks like waterfalls.
"It's because you are going to kick ass and show these poncey wizards and witches what a strong, resilient, beautiful, powerful and incredibly smart witch you are." Pansy declared.
"Your Grandfather has given us all Duelling practice and I bet we know more spells than those of seventh year now." Millicent added.

"Plus, I've nicked some Gillyweed from the store cupboard that'll last much longer than any spells while in the lake as it won't drain your magic." Neville smirked, the sweet Hufflepuff had come way out of his shell since the first ride to Hogwarts, his hand outstretched with slimy-looking, grey-green weed curled up on his palm.

"You won't die in this task or the next one, Little Fox, even if we train from tomorrow until June, we will." Luna assured her first friend.
"Now, why don't we dry these tears and show them why YOU are the most powerful and most brightest witch of our age, not Granger." Tracey implored.
"Besides, we didn't dress up in Raven blue for nothing you know." Daphne and Astoria chided playfully, sending a wink at their friend who laughed and dried the tears from her cheeks.
"Thank you." Khalida told them emotionally, putting how grateful she was for all of them in those two words.

"You're welcome. Now, drink this. I know you're in pain." George said firmly, holding out the high dosage of pain potion her Grandfather makes.
"Now, let's get to the lake. I know there are some who wish to see you before the start of the task." Luna said mysteriously, almost dancing to her feet as she held a hand out for her friend.

* * *

Those that had wanted to see her before she entered the Black Lake, and were waiting for her on the towers that had been erected in the middle of the lake, turned out to be her Grandmothers Farrah and Caitrin, Grandpa Arthur, Uncle Padfoot, Uncle Moony, Uncle Aziz and his wife Aunt Mayra, Auntie Dorea, and finally Regulus. Almost at once a wide smile overtook her face as she ran towards them the moment Draco had helped her out of the boat, who like George, Neville, Blaise, Theo and the girls, was decked out in a Ravenclaw hat and scarf and a Raven painted on his cheek.

A squeal escaping her lips she stumbled into the safety and warmth Uncle Padfoot's arms held. However, when she had pulled back from the hug from Regulus, she noticed Headmistress McGonagall wink, causing Khalida to beam at Headmistress for allowing her family to come to Hogwarts once more. As McGonagall spoke to the spectators, Professor Flitwick was going around all of the Champions casting Screening Charms upon them which would activate once they hit the water and would allow them to watch what happens in the Black Lake while Khalida rapidly chewed at the Gillyweed trying to force it down before Filch set off the canon early like he did in the previous task.
"GOOD LUCK KALI!!!"
"GOOD LUCK LITTLE FOX!!"
"GOOD LUCK MY LITTLE JAMIE!!"

Khalida's family and friends roared above the raucous din of the other spectators, giving her the courage to strip out of her trainers and blue and black tracksuit emblazoned with the Ravenclaw emblem (that had been designed for the tasks) revealing a green and black swimsuit: which was made from dazzling multi-tonal zebra sequin fabric, and multi-way cross over tie strapping so you can choose how you style it. Finally as the cannon sounded from a separate tower so it was away from everyone for their safety, Khalida had finally swallowed the vile thing causing her to cough and gag and Mad-Eye Moody to thump her on the back which did nothing but cause pain to blaze from that spot on her back before he pushed her into the lake flailing around as her body morphed and adapted to the use of the Gillyweed.

* * *

On the surface the spectators watched the four screens with tenterhooks worried for their chosen Champions and could do nothing but watch as a quarter into the hour allotted, the Grindylows attacked the Beauxbâtons champion; however, when she failed to get free the D.A.D.A Professor the one who taught years four - seven: Professor Jordan Copper and Healing Professor: Madam Iris Torres, both dives into the lake to free the quarter Veela from the water demons clutches and take her to the surface. Unfortunately this rendered her disqualified from the Task and her 'treasure' which was her nine year old sister to be fetched from the lake by the Professors once Fleur was safe.

"Come on Kali." Theo muttered nervously, chewing on the back of his thumb, his eyes never leaving the floating screen which depicted Khalida swimming into the Merpeople village where the now three hostages were undergoing a Sleeping spell and tied to a statue. They watched as her eyes assessed her surroundings before she unsheathed her wand from her ankle holster and silently cast a cutting charm to sever the rope around Fred's ankle.
"YES!!" Her friends cheered excitedly as she was the first person to make it to the village and free her treasure. But time was quickly running out and with it the effects of the Gillyweed, and their cries of excitement soon turned to despair upon seeing the gills on either side of her neck, and webbed hands and feet had disappeared.

But Khalida had not been raised a quitter. Despite quickly running out of air and the surface seemed to be getting further away not closer, she still tried to drag herself and a slumbering Fred towards the surface by sheer will and determination that the Potters were known for.
"Do something!" Aziz shouted at the Professors and Barty Crouch, cursing in his mother language when nobody moved but stared transfixed at the sight their eyes turned to him briefly before they returned to the screens that held the three remaining champions: Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff a year ahead of Fred and George, Khalida - a Ravenclaw fourth year, and Viktor Krum a seventh year Durmstrang champion.

"Elle va se noyer !" Fleur exclaimed in French worriedly, before a scream tumbled from her lips as out of nowhere the little water demons that had attacked her grabbed onto Khalida's ankle pulling her down. She had always liked the Ravenclaw as Kali didn't treat her differently like the other girls of Hogwarts did. The more Khalida tried to kick the creature off the further down she went especially as they heard an audible - despite the water - crack from the left ankle that the Grindylow was holding tightly onto. A silent scream wrenched Khalida's mouth causing it to fill with water, but that wasn't her only worry as more Grindlows darted out of the kelp and reeds, and proceeded to attack her. Taking her chance she pushed Fred up to the surface, using her wand to further the distance and sacrifice herself. 

"NO!!!" were the screams that Cedric and Cho Chang were greeted to the moment their heads broke the surface. For a moment they were offended until they spotted the screen showing Khalida being attacked and Cedric's countenance changed becoming concerned for the outspoken, but sweet Raven who was a staunch feminist; while Cho's scowl deepened as they didn't get the attention they so deserved for arriving back first.
"Oh shut up you immature little girl!" Mayra scoffed at Cho, who had caused her little niece and her niece's Moon a lot of hassle with her bullying towards them.

"I'm going in!" Sirius and Regulus declared worry and determination fighting for dominance within them as Fred's head broke the surface at the same time and that Viktor returned with Hermione just outside of the hour time slot. Sirius didn't even have the heart to glare at his brother protectively over his pup, too worried for her.

"You will not interfere!" Barty Crouch denied them, standing in their path so they couldn't dive off of the platform and into the lake to rescue their Goddaughter (Sirius) and Soulmate (Regulus), just as Khalida used her wand to stun the pod of Grindylows attacking her, however, her lungs had filled with water and she started to sink to the bottom her eyes drifting open and shut very slowly as she tried to stay awake.
"WELL DO SOMETHING THEN!!!!" Sirius roared, getting in the man's face. "You have been a thorn in our family's side for thirteen years Crouch and still you meddle not allowing my Goddaughter to be with her Soulmate to the Yule Ball - even if it's my brother - and now you stop us from rescuing her as she's drowning!! Well screw you! Make the most of your day as a Ministry employee, as I can promise you this will be your last!"

"Are you threatening me!!" Bartimus Crouch roared, moustache quivering.
"No. It's a promise!" Fleamont and Aziz stated firmly, dark glares upon their faces.
"Look!" Fred shouted, pointing to the remaining screen.
"Ascendio!!" Khalida croaked, wand pointed into the air before she shot out of the lake like a rocket landing hard onto the decking of the tower at Sirius and Regulus' feet coughing and spewing up water that had been in her lungs as Fred wrapped her in the towel he'd been enveloped in.
"Pup!" Sirius exclaimed worry and relief now replacing the anger, fear and adrenaline he had just been experiencing. "Minnie!! Iris!!" Sirius shouted.

"Accio towels!!" Regulus muttered, grabbing all the towels that flew into his arms, quickly wrapping them around his soulmate who was held close to his brother's chest as he helped her cough up water while trying to raise her body temperature. Why they held the task in the lake in the middle of winter he'd never know.
"It's okay, love you're safe now. You're safe. We're proud of you but never EVER scare us like that again!" Regulus admonished wrapping the last towel around her with a kiss to the forehead. While Khalida was being checked over by Madam Iris Torres, her friends shared a worried look as they knew this was only the beginning.

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French to English translations:

• Elle va se noyer ! = she is going to drown!

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Author's note: DO NOT ask me to update!!!! There are other ways to say whether you liked this chapter or not!