tiny little ficlet for Bad Mum on the Drabble Request Thread on hpfc. hope you like it!

prompt was Gabrielle Delacour with the phrase, "But I don't want to go!"

The Second Task

"But I don't want to go!" She stamped her foot angrily. The old man's mouth twitched at the corners.

"Miss Gabrielle, I assure you that this is harmless. You will be asleep the entire time, and will be able to breathe easily."

"But it's underwater!"

"Gabrielle," her mother said, taking her hand. "You like the swimming. You like the lake. It will all be fine, ma petite cherie."

Gabrielle heaved a sigh that was rather incongruous with her tiny frame. The old man's mouth twitched again. "I know you're laughing at me," she told him, arms folded.

"Not laughing at you, Miss Gabrielle. I merely remembered a funny joke a colleague told me the other day. I would share it, but I don't think it's very appropriate for this situation. Sherbert lemon?"

She nodded. As she sucked on the lemon candy, the old man told her a story about the friendly merpeople in the lake.

Once she had finished, he smiled kindly at her. "Ready, Miss Gabrielle?"

Still scowling a little, she nodded.

"Semper Noctem!"

And with that, she was asleep.