I swam closer to the bodies, examining them. They didn't seem to be dead, small bubbles arose from their lips once in a while. I just had to find a way to cut them from their restraints and take them back to the surface.

I could just take Draco and leave... but what if the other Champions didn't come on time?

 Hermione was my friend too. Leo, I knew well enough. And I wasn't going to leave the little girl all alone. But how could I cut the kelp holding them down? I swam down to the bottom of the lake floor. I rummaged the sandy ground until I found a sharp rock.

I swam back up and started cutting Hermione first. My hands worked fast as I rubbed the rock against the plant. Slowly I felt it give. As I was working, I felt a shape move beside me.

It was a mermaid.

Much different than the Disney movie though. It had green shiny scales littering its body. Its mouth was wide and inside were fangs. It had wisps of hair, but they floated around its head. It was holding a trident and jabbed it towards me, stopping me from freeing Hermione.

"But she's my friend too!" I hoped the mermaid could understand what I was saying.

"Only one." It shook its head.

Just then another figure appeared in the water. I turned my head in fear but relaxed when I realized it was just Timothee. Timothee swam up to Leo. I moved out of his way. He pulled out his wand and with two quick spells removed the kelp from the feet.

Of course, I could just use my wand. I mentally face palmed myself. Timothee grinned, taking a hold of Leo and swimming upward. The body, once released from the kelp, seemed to float up by itself. So, I couldn't release them completely yet, unless their person showed up. Besides even if I tried, I knew that the merpeople could get very aggressive.

I looked out into the open waters hoping someone else would show up. Then, out of the murkiness, I saw a shark come straight at me. I didn't even have time to react as I flinched backward. But the shark swerved past me and went down to cut Hermione's restraints.

I noticed that the shark was just a head... the rest of its body was human. Just as fast as he came, he left, dragging Hermione up towards the surface. Of course, only Krum would turn half into a shark. I wondered if the spell had gone wrong or he had just chosen to keep half of himself human.

Now... I just had to wait for Fleur. I thought back to in the seaweed grove when I had watched her get attacked. What if she never made it out...?

I looked back at the little blond girl and Draco. I could feel my breathing getting heavier. I was probably reaching the end of the hour. The gilliweed would soon start to wear off. And I didn't want to be trapped a hundred feet underwater when that happened.

I shot two spells at the girl's feet, and she loosened, starting to float slightly upward. I quickly pointed Draco's feet and he was released as well. Just then the merpeople started to emerge, crowding all around me. They were promising to attack.

Before they could come at me. I shot a spell at both Draco and the girl. It shot them upwards at a faster pace so that they could get to the surface quickly. I myself tried to swim upwards but now the mermaids started to attack.

Each one came up and jabbed me with their trident or cut me with their surprisingly long nails. Now I had started to feel my gills disappearing. Water started to fill my lungs. I desperately tried to hold my breath while kicking upwards towards the surface, but also fending off the attacking merpeople.

Each stroke made my limbs heavy. My vision started to blur as the saltwater cut through my eyes. Just a bit farther... I could see the surface closer now. I launched one hand upward. The minute that my fingertips broke through the surface, the merpeople immediately stopped attacking. Without the obstacle of them constantly attacking, I paddled to the surface.

My head broke through, and I took in a big gasp of air. I could barely keep myself treading water above the surface. I was so tired.

Luckily, I felt someone grab my arm and pull me up onto the deck.

"Y/N!" I heard Dumbledore shout.

"Hey, you're fine..." Cedric said as he pulled me closer.

"Get her a towel." I opened my eyes to see Barty Crouch, from the Ministry, standing above me as well. Cedric wrapped a towel around me as I sat shivering in his grasp.

"I want all the judges over here now." Dumbledore ordered.

As they came over, I let my eyes wander. I saw Hermione sitting next to Krum, both wrapped in towels. Leo and Timothee were talking to each other. I saw Draco leaning against one of the pillars. 

His hair was wet and dripping in front of his eyes. He didn't have any emotion on his face. His gaze was transfixed onto Cedric behind me. I tried to get his attention, but Fleur came up to me.

"You saved her, even though she wasn't yours to save. My little sister!" She gasped, placing a small kiss to my cheek.

"Of course." I smiled at them both. Fleur led her sister away. I leaned back and realized I was still in Cedric's grasp. "Sorry, I'll get you wet." I mumbled, straightening again.

"Nonsense. Are you alright? You must be freezing!" He grabbed another towel and wrapped it around my shoulders, providing extra warmth. He then started to use a spell to heal all the minor cuts I had gotten from my fight with the merpeople.

"The gilliweed worked but-"

"Personally, I think you behaved admirably." He smiled.

"I finished last, Cedric." I told him.

"Next to last." He corrected.

"Attention! Attention! The winner is... Timothee!" Dumbledore announced. I looked over to Timothee smiling ear to ear, as his friends cheered all around him. "...For showing unique command of the bubblehead charm. The way I see it, Miss Y/L/N would have finished first had it not been for her determination to rescue not only Mr. Malfoy, but the others as well. We've agreed to award her second place! For outstanding moral fiber." Dumbledore said.

I smiled as a cheer went up from Hogwarts.

"Second place!" Cedric shook me as I laughed. He helped me stand up. Amidst all the crowds, we dispersed some ways. Cedric went to go hang out with his friends and I walked over to Draco.

"Are you okay?" I asked as he stood up.

"Fine." He answered sharply.

"Draco please don't give me an attitude." I scoffed. I was so tired. "I just spent an hour in the lake, fighting for my life." I didn't want to fight with him now.

"You spent an hour? And how? Because if I remember correctly, you left the night before the tournament to sleep. And we hadn't found any solution until then. So, what happened?" He flared.

"I..." I faltered, taking a breath. "I went out for a walk, bumped into Cedric, told him about my problem, he solved it. That's it. That's all that happened." I tried to crush any of the fake scenarios that may be running through his mind.

"Really?" He huffed.

"Yes! Really! Don't be so delusional." I told him, turning away to get on the boats that would take us back to the castle.

"And him putting the towel around you?" He called out from behind me.

"I was freezing cold, so were you. I wouldn't expect you to help in a state like that. Of course, he'd come, Draco. He was being a nice friend." I answered without turning back.

"As long as he's just a friend." He replied. I turned back.

"A little trust?" I spat, before turning towards the boats. I got inside and sat down, bringing the towel around me closer. Draco got on the boat too, sitting quietly beside me.

"All that moral fiber, eh?" One of the Weasley twins grinned as they stepped on the boat. I think it was Fred.

"Blimey even when you go wrong it turns out right." George said, right behind him. "Well done 'moral fiber'." He grinned at the name.

Oh, please let that not be my new nickname.

The boat silently traveled towards the castle. I didn't say much except smile and nod as the rest of the students recounted their version of the task. I jumped in a little bit, talking about my experience underwater. Each person hearing me talk listened to me intently, hanging on each of my words. It was weird at first, but I slowly warmed up to it.

When I exited the boat, Draco was still silent beside me. I started walking towards the castle when I saw Barty Crouch walk towards me.

"Congratulations Y/L/N, fine achievement. Well done." He reached out to shake my hand. I took it gratefully. "I'm sorry we haven't spoken, after all your family is quite powerful in the Wizarding World. I'm sure your parents would be quite proud of your achievements today. You're making the Y/L/N name proud." Barty was going to continue when Mad-Eye walked up to us

"Bartimus! Not trying to lure her into one of the ministry's summer internships, are we? Last boy who went into the department of ministries never came out!" Mad-Eye guffawed.

Barty didn't bother striking up conversation with him and instead just walked away.

"And they say I'm mad." Mad-Eye rolled his eyes. Or well... eye.

I gave him a small smile and continued towards the castle. All I wanted was to take a hot shower and sleep. Me and Draco walked in silence towards the Slytherin common room. Until he was going to apologize, I didn't want to talk to him.

I didn't do anything wrong. I could understand his initial jealousy but if I had to explain myself every time a boy even looked at me, I couldn't stand that. All I asked for was a little trust. Draco Malfoy hasn't had the best track record of being a good boyfriend either. The lord knows how many girls he's been with. But I don't hold his past against him.

We walked into the common room. I started walking towards my own dorm when he grasped my wrist.

"I want to show you something." He said quietly. "In my dorm."

"I want to take a shower and a long nap." I answered.

"I have a bathroom too you know." He responded.

"Fine." I breathed, taking my hand out from his grasp, and walking over to his dorm. I waited at the door for him to turn the key and open it. Once inside I went straight to his closet. I pulled out black sweatshirt and matching sweatpants. I went straight to the bathroom and turned on the hot shower.

I took my time and let the water run until my fingers turned pruned. When I stepped out, steam arose all around me. I used the spare towels to dry myself and wear the clothes. They were far too big, but I managed to keep them on without them slipping off.

I walked outside and saw Draco sitting on the bed, a bunch of papers and notebooks out in front of him. He was searching through them, head down, and concentrated.

"What's all this?" I asked, sitting across from him on the bed.

"Look." He turned a notebook towards me. All I saw were pages and pages filled with notes. There were some x-ed out paragraphs. Some diagrams. A lot of side notes.

"Herbology homework?" I guessed, unsure why he was showing all this.

"More like 'Y/N homework'." He said, flipping another paper towards me. I peered closer at the words now. They were all referring to different ways about surviving the aquatics. Different properties of water. Dozens of spells. History referrals to when wizards had to go underwater.

"Is this... is this about the second task?" I asked. He had done all this... for me?

"I care Y/N. I know I have a short temper. I know I can be an ass. But I do care. I spent weeks working on this with you, for you." He explained. "So, you can understand why I got so angry when you spent one night with Diggory, and he solves your problem?"

I looked down at my lap, now understanding his viewpoint. I nodded slowly.

"Yes, I was jealous. But not because I don't trust you. Slytherins are known for their loyalty, and you're one of the most loyal people I know, especially to those who you keep close. Everyone saw that in the tournament today."

"I'm so sorry, Draco." I said softly. "I misunderstood."

"I'm sorry too." He mumbled.

We sat there in silence. I didn't know what to do. But I did know that hugs made things a lot less awkward. I shifted the papers out of the way and leaned forward, wrapping my arms around him. He didn't hesitate to hug back, pulling me even closer.

"Stay with me tonight?" He whispered. I didn't respond but squeezed him harder. He let out a small laugh.

We moved the notebooks and papers off the bed and settled underneath the blanket. I lay on my side facing him as he did the same towards me. He was staring at my face, a soft smile on his face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, my face getting hot.

"Sometimes I think it isn't real. That you're here. With me." He said.

"Is that really so hard to believe?" I rolled my eyes, smiling.

"Yes." His gaze was still fixed to mine.

"Okay, okay enough." I put my palm over his eyes. "Go to sleep and dream about something."

He pushed my hand away and pulled me closer.

"Why would I have to go to sleep to dream, when I live it every time I'm with you?"