Chapter 42: Secrets by the Lake
"Well, most of the fourth year Slytherins, a few people from the other houses, Ron, the twins, Snape and Dumbledore. I'm not sure how many that we were successful with yet though." Harry said the last bit thoughtfully.
"Harry James Potter!" Hermione half shouted.
Harry cringed at the use of his full name and the tone in her voice.
"Thank you. You didn't have to, but thank you just the same." Hermione said earnestly before she leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
Harry was very relieved when Hermione kissed his cheek instead of continuing to rail at him for his childish behavior. It was a mark of how much she had changed this year that she did not start berating him the minute he admitted to playing a prank on two teachers.
"When do you think it will begin happening?" she asked in a curious, yet eager, tone.
"Well," he glanced down at his watch before continuing, "It should have started by now. Everyone is affected a bit differently according to the directions but most people can't hold out that long." Harry said with glee.
"Should we go then or do you want to stay here for a while?"
"I think that we should head down to the lake and just take a walk. People will see us down there as usual so that won't be suspicious and we won't be around when things start to go awry."
"Okay. Let's get going then." She said as she stood and held her hand out to Harry.
On their way down the couple passed by the corridor leading to the Ravenclaw, dormitories and they had their first experience with the prank. Marietta Edgecombe was running up the steps towards them with a look of discomfort and beads of sweat running down her face.
Seeing an excellent opportunity, Harry stepped into her path and called out "Hello Marietta. Why are you in such a hurry? Is everything alright?"
Marietta was mortified. She was seconds from having an accident, she could feel the pressure building, and here was Harry Potter standing in front of her wanting to talk. Just as she was about to speak her colon decided that it had had enough and betrayed her wishes with a very loud wet squelching noise.
Not bothering with formalities, she gave a small shriek and dashed around them heading into the girls loo at the top of the steps. The effort putting into wrenching open the door caused another loud, and very wet, noise followed by a moan as she fought to maintain control. Her dignity was lost somewhere back in the hall and she never saw the satisfied smile on the face of The Boy Who Lived.
Continuing on their way to the main entrance Harry was humming merrily to himself. His Voldemort induced experience in the library temporarily forgotten; while he enjoyed the fruits of Dobby's plan silently wishing that it had been Malfoy that he had spotted instead of Marietta.
When they were down by the lake, safely away from eavesdroppers, Hermione smirked and said, "That was rather enjoyable wasn't it? Disgusting, funny even, but yet oddly satisfying."
"Yes, it was." Harry replied with a light laugh in his voice. "I only wish I could have seen Malfoy, Snape, or Dumbledore's reactions to the stuff. Can you imagine the shrieking from Malfoy, 'I spend more time grooming than Parvarti,' when he soils himself?"
"Ooh, I would love to have seen his face too. I just hope it happened around a very large group of people. He could use a good embarrassing moment; it's simply amazing how large his ego really is." Hermione said wistfully as she thought of watching Draco getting embarrassed in front of the entire Great Hall.
The two teens were coming up to the area near the Durmstrang ship when they noticed someone dive into the lake from the bow of the boat.
"Is he mad? That water must be absolutely freezing!" Harry declared.
Hermione had paused to watch Viktor Krum as he pulled out his wand and did a spell before diving underwater and disappearing from sight. "I think that he knows what the task is and now he is training." her voice held a note of concern as she watched the area where Krum had disappeared beneath the surface.
"Right, I guess that settles it then. What ever I have to do for the second task is in the lake and the egg must hold the details of the task." Harry had paused to gaze out into the middle of the lake a look of discomfort on his face.
"What's the matter?" Hermione asked as she came up next to him and leaned into his shoulder.
His response was low and mumbled but she was still able to hear his confession.
"I don't know how to swim. The Dursleys never sent me to lessons." he paused when Hermione stiffened at the mention of the Dursleys. "Can you teach me to swim in a month? I don't fancy drowning as it would put a definite crimp in my lifestyle."
"That will be easy." Hermione said reassuringly. "It's the staying underwater for a long time that worries me. Viktor is still down there and there is no way anyone can hold his or her breath for that long. We are going to have to find a spell or something for you to use too." her voice laced with concern.
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