Chapter 219
The moment Albert slipped into the cold waters of the lake, an unexpected sensation washed over him. He didn't feel the sharp, refreshing chill he had braced for; instead, a strange lightness spread through his body. His eyes no longer blinked, and his vision sharpened until he could see everything beneath the surface with crystalline clarity.
He swam deeper, descending until the lakebed itself came into view. The sounds of the cheering crowd above faded completely. As he pushed forward, he caught sight of something resembling long, dark water plants swaying near a cluster of rocks. Curious, he drifted toward them—only to let out a silent laugh the moment he crossed through.
There was nothing there. Just an empty stretch scattered with a few small stones.
No champions. No merpeople.
Not even Hermione.
Albert remained perfectly still, scanning the quiet depths, straining to hear or see anything out of place until a voice suddenly echoed around him:
"How are you!!"
A shiver of tension ran through him. Hearing such a clear voice underwater was… impossible.
He spun around and found Moaning Myrtle drifting before him, staring at him through her thick glasses. Albert tried to respond, but no sound left his mouth. She, however, continued speaking clearly.
"You need to go over there!"
She pointed toward a distant spot on the lakebed, where Harry was already heading.
"I'm not going with you. I don't like them—they chase me whenever I get close…"
Albert gave her a grateful thumbs-up before darting off in the direction she indicated, careful to steer clear of the Giant Squid gliding lazily through the water. He swam for nearly seven minutes before another voice boomed through the depths:
• You have ten minutes left. •
• To recover what we have taken. •
Albert kicked harder, speeding through the dark waters until a massive stone mural emerged ahead. It displayed mermaids wielding sharp spears, attacking what looked like a giant squid. As he approached, the voice echoed again:
• Half the time is gone. What you seek lies here. •
Moments later, dozens of rocks came into view—and from behind them swam merpeople, staring intently at him. As more emerged, the scene formed what looked unmistakably like an underwater village. From the caves swam the males of the species, their silver skins glistening, powerful tails slicing through the water.
At the far end of the village stood a towering statue of a mermaid. At its base were four bound figures—sleeping peacefully, heads bowed, small streams of bubbles escaping their noses.
Among them was Hermione.
Beside her, the Durmstrang girl.
And the youngest of them, a tiny girl who looked no older than eight—Gabrielle Delacour, Fleur's little sister.
Albert's heart tightened.
His eyes snapped to the watch strapped to his wrist—the time was running dangerously thin. He rushed forward, expecting spears to be pointed at him, but the merpeople did nothing. They simply watched him.
The ropes binding the hostages were thick and strong. Albert glanced at the sharp spears clutched in the merpeople's hands, then approached one and pointed questioningly toward the weapon. The merman only laughed and shook his head:
"We do not offer help."
Albert turned away only to realize that none of the other champions were in sight.
He immediately moved toward the young Beauxbatons girl, recalling from the original story that Fleur would fail to save her. But the merpeople surged forward, blocking him, shaking their heads mockingly.
"Take your own hostage," one of them said.
"Leave the others."
"Impossible."
"Your task is to save your friend no one else."
Albert's eyes swept the village once more, hoping Fleur would appear to rescue her sister. His mind raced.
Should he bring Hermione up first and then come back for Gabrielle?
Before he could decide, several merpeople pointed upward. Albert looked toward the surface—and saw a shape rushing down through the water.
Krum.
He had transformed himself into a shark, slicing through the currents with frightening speed. He tore the ropes binding the Durmstrang girl with his newly formed teeth, grabbed her, and shot upward without so much as glancing behind.
A sharp, gleaming blade fell from him in the process, sinking slowly through the water.
Albert lunged for it—but the merpeople encircled him again.
He drew his wand and raised it instinctively.
The reaction was immediate—fear flashed across their faces, and they backed away.
Albert seized the opportunity. He swam directly to Hermione and Gabrielle, slashing the ropes with the blade. He lifted both girls, bracing himself for the weight—but found them far lighter than he expected.
Kicking hard, he set off toward the distant light of the surface.
Every muscle in his body screamed with effort.
A tight ache flared along both sides of his neck.
Breathing was becoming harder.
He glanced down at his watch—
One minute left.
The water around him grew colder as he ascended, and the distant sun shimmered above him like salvation. He pushed harder, legs burning—
And at last, his head broke the surface.
Cold air slammed into his face. He gasped violently, as though breathing for the first time in hours. He pulled Hermione and Gabrielle up with him. All around, green-haired merpeople surfaced briefly, smiling before sinking back into the depths.
The stands exploded with cheers and applause. The entire audience was on their feet.
Hermione and Gabrielle sputtered and coughed before fully waking. Hermione blinked at him in shock.
"Why did you bring her?!"
Albert answered, breathless,
"Her sister didn't come. I couldn't leave her."
He turned to Hermione.
"Come on—help me carry her."
Together they brought Gabrielle to the shore amid roaring applause. Albert noticed Madam Pomfrey tending to the Durmstrang girl Krum had rescued, while Krum and Fleur were wrapped in thick blankets.
Dumbledore and Bagman watched Albert and Hermione closely.
Percy came rushing toward them, pale and frantic.
Meanwhile, Madame Maxime tried desperately to calm Fleur, who was nearly hysterical.
"Gabrielle!! Gabrielle!! Is she all right? Did something happen to her?!"
Fleur broke free, sprinted toward her sister, and sobbed,
"Gabrielle! The Giant Squid—it grabbed me—I thought… I thought…"
She wrapped her arms around the girl, trembling with relief.
Madam Pomfrey hurried over with a blanket for Albert and pressed a steaming drink into his hands. Harry rushed forward, beaming.
"Brilliant, Albert! You did it—you figured it out on your own!"
Albert smiled tiredly.
"Thank you, Harry."
He noticed Dumbledore speaking with the merpeople's chief before straightening and heading toward the judges' table.
"I believe we must confer before awarding the points," Dumbledore announced.
As the judges moved aside, Madam Pomfrey wrapped Hermione in another blanket. Fleur refused treatment, insisting,
"Take care of Gabrielle."
She then stepped toward Albert.
"You saved her… even though she wasn't your hostage."
Albert nodded quietly.
"Yes."
Fleur bowed her head slightly and shook his hand.
A moment later, Bagman's amplified voice echoed across the lake:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the judges have reached their decision!
Chief Marcus of the merpeople has told us everything that happened below the water.
Here are the scores—out of fifty points!"
The crowd fell silent.
"Miss Delacour, despite her clever use of an innovative charm, was attacked by the Giant Squid before reaching her hostage. She was therefore unable to complete her task. The judges award her—twenty-five points!"
Applause rose, though Fleur whispered bitterly,
"I deserve zero."
Bagman continued,
"Mr. Viktor Krum used a partially successful transformation, not fully completed, yet reached the surface first with his hostage. The judges grant him—forty points!"
Karkaroff applauded loudly, pride glowing on his face.
Then Bagman turned, voice rising,
"And now—Mr. Albert Black.
In a surprising turn of events, he was the only champion who used no magical aid whatsoever to breathe underwater. He cast no spells during the task, relying entirely on himself.
According to Chief Marcus, Mr. Black was actually the first champion to reach the hostages—and was delayed only because he attempted to rescue all of them, not just his own."
The judges exchanged looks—most of them impressed. Bagman shot Karkaroff a pointed glare.
"Such conduct reflects exceptional character," he added.
"For this reason, the judges award Mr. Albert Black—forty-six points!"
A wave of cheers surged across the stands.
Albert felt a swell of relief—
He was now almost certainly leading the Tournament, after taking first place in both the first and second tasks.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione cheered wildly. Even Fleur joined in, clapping sincerely. Krum, however, looked far from pleased.
Bagman concluded,
"The third and final task will take place on the evening of June twenty-fourth. Thank you all for supporting our champions!"
It was over.
The crowds began returning to the castle. The champions and their rescued companions were given fresh clothes. Albert had succeeded—he had completed the task.
Yet something inside him twisted.
A faint, unsettling pull.
As though something terrible… was about to happen.
To be continued…