25. IT'S FUCKING MERMAIDS MAN!

The rest of their date went by swell, Theodore took Elara to Honeydukes, where they both stocked up on tons of sweets, then Elara dragged Theodore to Zonkos so that she could grab a ton of pranking material. Then, they spend the rest of the time wandering around the village, popped into a few of the other shops, Theodore buying himself and Elara new pairs of Beater gloves.

Then, they walked back to the castle, and spend the rest of their day either in the dorms or by the lake, sitting against a tree and watching the Giant Squid flopping around in the water. And it was then that Elara realised she could tick another two things off her list.

She kissed Theodore's cheek, and walked towards the lake after giving him a reassuring look. She waded into the lake, still dressed, and then swam over to the Giant Squid, still in the shallows. She reached a hand out and tickled him where the twins had told her was the best spot, and then the Squid gently wrapped its tentacle around her, and after she performed a Bubble-Head Charm, it took her under the lake.

Swimming with the Giant Squid was an experience Elara would never forget. She saw things that she never knew existed. Like beautiful castles and homes that belonged to the mermaids of the lake, she saw glimmering fishes swimming around colourful coral. And when she emerged once more, her eyes glinted in awe and wonder.

She walked out of the lake, performed a drying charm on herself and headed back towards her boyfriend, who was still sat in the same spot. "Had a nice swim?" He asked.

"Oh Theodore, it was brilliant. It's bloody gorgeous down there." Elara sighed, dropping down and planting her head on his lap. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh as he began dragging his fingers through her hair gently.

Sometime later in the week, Harry came up to her, accompanied by Hermione and Ron. "El, El, I need your help."

Elara turned from her conversation with Adrian Pucey. "Excuse me for a second, Rian." She faced the trio and smiled. "Yes, dear little brother, how can I help?"

"The- the uhm, it's the second task." Harry lowered his voice slightly. "It's a riddle, and I need your help solving it."

"Sure. I love riddles. Have you got it written down, or something?"

"I didn't have time to memorise it." Harry shook his head.

Hermione lifted her hand slightly. "I did!" Then, she closed her eyes for a second, recalling the riddle, opened them and said it.

"Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching ponder this:

We've taken what you'll sorely miss,

An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour – the prospect's black,

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back."

When she was done, Elara looked slightly shocked that the younger girl had managed to memorise it. "Right, brilliant, Hermione. So, the riddle. Well, the first thing, the creatures in the riddle will be taking something of yours, an object, a person, I'm not all that sure. And you'll have an hour to find it. The creatures are underground, or underwater, either way, they're not above the ground. Or actually, they could be, and they just can't sing above the ground. So, creatures that are known to sing, and sing underground, or underwater. Let's go with underwater, it sounds more realistic. Well, I would say those siren-like mermaids in Greece, because they're known to sing, but they're in Greece, and also if they can sing, why can't the ones in the lake sing?"

Elara went silent for a while as realisation came over her. "HARRY! IT'S THE BLOODY MERMAIDS!"

"There are mermaids in the lake?" Ron spluttered.

"Yes, Ron, come on! Where have you been? Anyways, Harry, you've got to start pulling out books on breathing underwater, I'll see what I can do to help. But go get started whenever you can, alright?" Elara ruffled his hair.

"Thanks El, I owe you one." He hugged her and started to leave.

"Oh, Harry, you owe me thousands." She laughed as he walked away, and Hermione linked her arm through his and Ron's, dragging them in the direction of the library. She shook her head before turning to Adrian and smiling. "I'm brilliant, aren't I?"

"Very." He grinned back, before continuing his conversation with her. "Anyways, don't think because he interrupted us that I'm gonna forget you don't support the Magpies."

"Oh come on, Adrian, the Harpies are obviously better, they just don't get appreciated as much because they're all women." Elara wanted to play Beater for the Holyhead Harpies one day, perhaps in the future. Only for a few years though, she wanted to either be a Hit Witch for the Aurors, or a Dragonologist. Charlie had gotten her hooked with his stories, and she was a dragon after all. Hit Witch probably wouldn't happen though, considering she despised the Ministry of Magic.

"I'll admit, the Harpies are a brilliant team, truly impressive. But the Magpies are the best team. No doubt." Adrian countered.

"You believe what you want to believe, Adrian." Elara rolled her eyes.

"I'll make you a Magpie supporter one day. Maybe you'll support them if I play on their team." Adrian replied.

"Lot of faith in yourself, Adrian. Besides, what's to say I won't be playing against you?" She finished the argument with that final statement and went back to her food.

Soon enough, it was the day before the second task, and in the evening time, Fred and George approached her, Theodore, Bianca and Daphne who were sat outside near the lake. "El."

"Hello twins." She lifted her head from Theodore's lap, and ran a hand through it. "How can I help you?"

"Professor McGonagall." Fred started.

"She asked us to find you and send you to her." George finished.

"Thank you, I'll head over now. Have a good day, boys." Elara waved at them.

They grinned back. "You too, Black." Before they turned and went back into the castle.

Elara turned to her friends. "I'll see you all in the common room later. Bye." She kissed Theodore's cheek and waved at the other two before heading for McGonagall's office. She got there quickly and knocked the door.

"Come in." Elara pushed the door open and walked in.

"Evening, Professor. Fred and George said you wanted to see me?"

"Yes I did, thank you for getting here so quickly, Ms Black."

"No worries, Professor."

"Now, I'm sure Mr Potter has told you the riddle for tomorrow's task." When she got a nod back, she continued. "The riddle states that something precious to him will be taken away and he will have to retrieve it. That something is a someone, and that someone is you. You are the closest person to him in this castle. I have to put you under a sleeping spell and place you in the lake with the other three people chosen for the other champions. The spell will be broken when you are above water once more. And if Mr Potter does not succeed in saving you, then one of the teachers will intervene. But I do need your permission to do this."

"Hell yes!" Elara exclaimed. "Sorry." She muttered after seeing McGonagall's disapproving look. "But yes, go ahead Professor. I give you my full permission to make me sleep."

"Very well." McGonagall took her wand out and muttered a few words whilst pointing the wand at Elara. Elara felt dizzy and just as she was about to fall to the ground, asleep, she realised something.

"Theodore's gonna be so pissed I didn't tell him."

Then,

Black.