Hermione is trapped at the bottom of the Black Lake. How will everyone react?

It was the morning of the second task and the weather was cold and blustery.

The students en masse, were heading down towards the Black Lake—where platforms had been set up for the students to watch the next challenge being performed.

Draco, Blaise and Daphne were slowly making their way towards the lake, trying to see if they could spot Hermione, with her curly brown hair anywhere, but they were having no luck and it seemed as if no one else had seen her either.

“Where do you think she is, Draco?” Daphne asked with a concerned frown. “I doubt she would miss Viktor’s performance today, considering how much time they’ve been spending together.”

Draco sneered in disgust, not wanting to think about how close Granger and Krum were becoming.

“I don’t know, Daph—but we better hurry out to the platform or we’re going to miss the second task.”

Draco was trying very hard to stay calm and hide his own panic, but he knew that Daphne could see through his act. He had been up all night in the common room, waiting for Hermione to return, but she’d never did. Daphne found him sprawled out on the couch by the fireplace and woke him up with that knowing gleam in her eyes.

Thankfully, she’d refrained from saying anything.

When the Slytherin classmates finally made their way out to the middle platform—they found Theo, Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe waiting for them. There were three large structures that were in the middle of the lake that had different levels to watch the second task. Nott had managed to procure them a spot on the center platform just above the champions. Draco could see Viktor looking around as if trying to find something, and he was pretty sure that Krum was looking for Hermione too.

The Bulgarian seemed to have a pensive look about him, and Draco was starting to feel panicked again, wondering what in Merlin’s name was going on.

Soon Dumbledore appeared with Bartemius Crouch Sr. from Magical Games and Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic. Draco could also see his Father, standing off behind the Minister, talking quietly with Severus.

Draco leaned over and caught his Father’s eye.

Lucius noticed the worried expression on his son’s face, and raised an eyebrow in response. Draco nodded over to Krum and Lucius saw a similar worried expression on the Bulgarian’s face, too.

Lucius was aware of what the second task entailed, and had received a floo call late last night that Miss Granger was chosen by Dumbledore and Crouch, to be Mr. Krum’s ‘treasure’.

The witch was currently under a stasis spell on the bottom of the Black Lake.

Lucius was not able to intervene, for it would look highly suspicious—but he thought it would be prudent to be here just in case something went wrong.

He caught Draco’s gaze and shook his head once, letting his son know to stay where he was and remain calm. Draco nodded again at his Father, and moved back towards his friends.

After a few minutes Dumbledore cast a ‘sonorous’ charm and his voice boomed out over the water.

“Welcome to the second task! Last night something was stolen from each of our champions, a treasure of sorts. These four treasures, one for each champion now lie at the bottom of the Black Lake. In order to win, each champion need only to find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough, except for this...they will have one hour to do so and one hour only. After that, they’ll be on their own, no magic will save them. You may begin at the start of the canon.”

Filch set off the canon, and Draco watched as Krum, Diggory and Delacour dove into the water while Potter seemed to be struggling. Moody then pushed him into the water, and after a few seconds Potter flew out of the water and dove back in. Draco glanced back down at his Father, who stared back at him and nodded once.

Fuck!

Granger was Krum’s treasure and she was currently sitting at the bottom of the Black Lake!

Daphne moved over to Draco and put her hand on his arm to get his attention, causing him to shake his head in exasperation. Daphne couldn’t help the gasp escaped her lips causing the other boys to look at her strangely. When Theo turned questioning eyes on him Draco whispered, “Granger is at the bottom of the lake.”

Theo looked at him dubiously. “Krum?”

Draco nodded and heard Theo whisper ‘fuck’.

Daphne leant over and whispered into Draco’s ear. “Does Hermione even know how to swim?”

Draco just shrugged his shoulders and gripped his hands tighter on the railing watching the clock tick down.

After 30 minutes he started getting antsy and after 45 minutes...he could feel himself starting to panic. He honestly didn’t think Dumbledore would intentionally put students in harms way, but people had died in this tournament before. If the Dark Lord found out that his daughter had been killed as a pawn in some fucking tournament?

Draco shuddered at the thought and decided he couldn’t allow himself to think along those lines, if he wanted to keep from being thrown in Azkaban for killing the Headmaster.

One brief look at his Father told Draco that he might just be doing the job himself.

Even Severus looked worried.

After 50 minutes, Diggory broke through the surface with Cho Chang. The girl looked scared but otherwise alright.

A split second later Krum burst out of the water with Granger, and Draco felt his entire body relax in relief. Krum was helping her swim towards the platform and Draco had to give Granger credit, she didn’t even look upset nor scared.

If he had to guess he’d say she looked irritated.

He smiled inwardly—she was probably pissed at missing out on all the free study time.

He turned in Daphne’s direction, but she was gone. When he glanced down below him, he saw her pulling Granger out of the water and snatching a blanket from someone, trying to warm the little witch up. Draco could see Daphne asking Hermione something and the witch actually smiled and nodded at Daphne. He then noticed Krum come over and nod to Daphne, taking Hermione into his arms and casting warming charms over her.

Hermione touched his cheek and seemed to be telling him something.

Krum then nodded at Daphne, and reluctantly made his way back over to his school mates to await the end of the task.

Draco had been watching his Father’s face during the entire exchange and he imagined it was likely they both had the same scowl on their faces.

Soon however, the Weasel and Gabrielle Delacour broke through the surface of the water and then Potter flew onto the platform just a spilt second after the clock chimed.

There was some commotion on the platform, Dumbledore was conferring with the judges and then surprisingly Potter was awarded second place after Diggory.

Krum didn’t seem too happy with the decision but Draco just smirked, pleased that Krum finished essentially last.

Keeping a close eye on Granger, Draco noticed that she didn’t seem too put out by Daphne hovering over her. When the boats came and escorted everyone back over the lake, Draco made sure to wait for Daphne and Hermione, wanting to see for himself that the little witch was alright.

Fortunately he didn’t have to wait too long before he saw the witch he was waiting for, so he made his way casually over to the pier.

Hermione was soaked and unhappy at being the center of attention. She’d been so used to be ignored for over three years, that all of the sudden the looks being sent her way, made her seethe inwardly.

She liked Viktor well enough. He was a good friend and very attentive, but she was in no position to be in a relationship. It wasn’t that she didn’t want one, perhaps someday when the right wizard came along she would be able to open her heart. But events over the past years had caused her to be mistrustful of everyone.

Even now she could see Daphne was genuinely worried about her, but despite the girls overtures, she just didn’t trust that deep down her actions were sincere.

When the boat docked at the pier, Daphne got out of the boat ahead of her and when Hermione looked up to step out onto the dock she saw a pale hand reaching out to help her. Flinching back with bewildered eyes, her amber gaze locked onto grey eyes that were considering her with amusement, concern and relief.

She stared at the hand again and then back up to the the wizard who was standing there waiting patiently.

“Come on, Granger, you must be freezing. Let’s get you back to the castle. I’m sure we can get a house elf to get you some hot chocolate sprinkled with cinnamon.”

Hermione just gaped at the blonde in shock.

Since when did Draco Malfoy care about how she preferred her hot chocolate?

When he smirked at her in that infuriating way, she raised an eyebrow in challenge taking his hand and squeezing it a bit too tight, watching him wince for a second. Their eyes locked again and he raised an eyebrow back at her, taking her hand and bringing it through his arm, guiding her back into the castle.

When Hermione glanced over at Daphne and saw the girl smiling to herself, she almost wanted to stop right there and push the smarmy blonde into the lake. Unfortunately Lucius Malfoy was directly behind them all, with Professor Snape, so she was fairly sure she couldn’t hex, maim or otherwise slap the offending git without getting detention.

“I need to go to the Headmaster’s office and get my wand back, Malfoy.”

“There won’t be a need for that, Miss Granger,” drawled Professor Snape, “I have your wand here presently, and you will find that Miss Greengrass still has your school bag should you require it immediately to catch up on all the reading that I am sure you’ve missed out on today, being stuck at the bottom of the Lake.”

Her classmates chuckled and even Lord Malfoy’s lips were fighting back a smile.

Hermione just stared at her Professor and smirked. “Actually, Professor it was a pleasant change of pace to have relative peace and quiet for once. Listening to people’s taunts, enduring stares of ridicule can be most tiring for even the most disciplined individual.”

She felt Draco stiffen next to her and saw his jaw tighten out of the corner of her eye.

She then looked to her other classmates who seemed a bit shocked at her outspokenness.

Surely they didn’t think she would be so forgiving after years of being cruelly taunted and almost killed at more than one point, did they?

“Was that really necessary, Granger?” Malfoy said under his breath.

Hermione stopped instantly and politely held her hand out for her wand. Professor Snape stepped forward and placed it into her hand, warmth radiating up her arm. She silently cast a warming and refreshing charms on herself and her clothes, watching the looks of awe being sent her way with a measure of satisfaction.

“Don’t, Malfoy!” She hissed, “Don’t insult my intelligence by pretending that none of you have an ulterior motive for your sudden change in attitude. I’m not dim-witted nor trusting. You have made sure of that. Do you really expect me to place a happy smile on my face and simper over the fact that you now condescend to talk to me?”

Hermione could feel herself losing her composure, and she promised herself that she would never give anyone in Slytherin House, especially this boy, the power or satisfaction of seeing her lose her emotions again.

She turned around with her head held high and walked alone back to the castle, alone. Draco gazed back at his father, who was staring at the little witch with a mixture of admiration and concern.

Draco made to follow her, but Daphne put a hand on his arm to stop him.

“Let her go, Drake. We did this and it is going to take more than a couple of months to undo the years of torment we put her through. We need to be patient and give her time to heal. If we act out now, we just validate her mistrust in us.”

He sighed, rubbing his hand through his hair.

He then noticed his Father and Severus who were speaking quietly to each other.

How was he ever going to gain Granger’s trust after everything he’d put her through?