As soon as the situation was deemed under control Madam Pomfrey joined the group, carrying thick blankets that she rapidly wrapped around Fleur and Hermione. It was followed by a draught they had to drink.

Fifteen minutes later, just after the clock had rang to remind them all it was supposed to be the time limit, another champion was back.

The enormous bubble around his head disappeared after his head broke the surface of the lake. Beside him was a sputtering Cho Chang, she wiped some water away from her eyes then pushed her hair back as it was sticking to her face.

The crowd had been quiet when a fully transformed Veela had appeared, but when they recognized the Hogwarts champion most of them got on their feet, screaming and shouting.

Dumbledore and Bagman walked down to the bank of the lake to be there when the students reached land. Madame Maxime didn't care that much but Karkaroff was looking a little green.

Madam Pomfrey whisked them away, getting them to join Fleur and Hermione. Cedric winced as he realized there were already here, but it could have been worse, as he looked around her saw he had come in second.

After that it happened fast. A shark face appeared before Viktor Krum's reformed, his best friend by his side.

Not even a minute after them Harry surfaced with Ron. All around them, wild, green-haired heads were emerging out if the water, most of them smiling.

All the champions were back. It was unexpected to see Percy run, looking very white and somewhat younger. He didn't stop when he reached the water, he was splashing out to meet them. He seized Ron and dragged him back to the bank, his little brother complaining along the way. "Get off! Percy, I'm all right!"

Bagman helped Harry, pulling him upright, while Dumbledore was with Cedric.

Karkaroff didn't seem overly warm in his welcome back to his champion.

Madame Pomfrey was quick to seize and regroup them all. She wrapped each of them tightly in a blanket, then forced a measure of a very hot potion down their throat. Ginny laughed as she watched steam gush out of her brother's ears.

Hermione moved closer to her friends, Fleur followed, seeing as her arms were wrapped around her mate. She didn't feel ready to let go yet.

"Harry, well done!" Hermione cried. "You did it, you found out how, all by yourself!"

"Well…" Started Harry, before making a face. "Yeah, that's right."

Krum who was close by with Karkaroff walked closer and raised his hand. Fleur slapped it away before putting her arm back around the smaller girl, with a glare at the other champion. It was not the time; it would take more time for her to feel completely secure about Hermione.

Durmstrang champion explained. "You have a water-beetle in your hair, Hermione."

Hermione brushed the beetle away impatiently and said. "You're well outside the time limit, though, Harry…Did it take you ages to find Ron?"

"Who could blame him?" Mumbled Fleur against Hermione's shoulder. She wouldn't have bothered to bring that one back, well…she would have because for some unknown reason her mate seemed to care about him. Hermione ignored Fleur's comment as she listened to Harry's small voice. "No…I found you OK…"

"When I got here he was already waiting next to the hostages. Merlin knows why." Said Viktor.

Ron joined the conversation "Harry was a prat on this one. He took the song seriously, he thought that whoever was left down there would be left to drown."

Hermione felt Fleur's arm tighten around her. She raised her hand to grab her girlfriend wrist to give it a little squeeze.

Harry looked annoyed and embarrassed, he blushed. "Would you stop?" He said to Ron.

"It's not my fault you can't help yourself and wasted time down there acting the hero!"

Hermione smiled at Harry. "You did the right thing." She had barely finished her sentence that Ron exclaimed. "We could have won!"

Hermione and Ron stared to argue about the fact that Harry, was the one who would have won. Fleur tuned them out as she looked around. She saw Hogwarts' Headmaster.

Dumbledore was crouching at the water's edge, deep in conversation with what seemed to be the chief merperson, a particularly wild and ferocious looking female. He was making the same sort of screechy noises that the merpeople made when they were above water; clearly, Dumbledore could speak Mermish. Finally, he straightened up, turned to his fellow judges and said. "A conference before we give the marks, I think." The judges went into a huddle.

"So…who came in first anyway?" Wanted to know Ron.

Fleur raised her eyes towards the boy but didn't do anything else, she remained wrapped around her mate. It was Hermione who answered. "It was Fleur, then Cedric, Viktor and you guys."

"At least Cedric came in second this time too." Said Ron, as he thought that Hogwarts still had a chance but didn't want to offend Harry by saying it wasn't with him.

Ludo Bagman's magically magnified voice boomed out beside them, making them all jump, causing Fleur to hold on a little tighter onto Hermione, while the crowd in the stands went very quiet.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our decision. Mercheiftainess Murcus has told us exactly what happened at the bottom of the lake, and we have therefore decided to award marks out of fifty for each of the champions, as follows:

Miss Fleur Delacour, she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by Grindylows as she approached her goal. She managed to rescue her hostage within the imparted time but had to transform into a Veela, and use non wizard resources. We award her forty-three points.

There was some applause from the stands but whispers as well. Hermione's voice joined them. "What?! This is discrimination."

"I don't care amour. You are back with me, that's all that matters." Told Fleur to her girlfriend, before kissing her on the cheek.

"But…" Started the bushy haired Gryffindor but stopped as Bagman's voice resonated once more.

"Mr. Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, returned with his hostage one minute outside the time limit of an hour." He had to stop due to the enormous cheers from the Hufflepuffs in the crowd. "We therefore award him forty-seven points."

Bagman didn't wait too long to keep going. "Mr. Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nevertheless effective, and was third to return with his hostage. We award him forty points." Karkaroff clapped particularly hard, looking very superior, until he looked at Madame Maxime by his side, clapping unenthusiastically, and they glared at other.

"Mr. Harry Potter used Gillyweed to great effect. He returned last, and well outside the time limit of an hour. However, the Merchieftainess informs us that Mr. Potter was second to reach the hostages, and the delaying his return was due to his determination to bring all hostages back to safety, not merely his own."

Ron and Hermione both gave Harry half-exasperated, half commiserating looks.

"Most of the judges" and here, Bagman gave Karkaroff a very nasty look, "feel that this shows moral fiber and merits full marks. However, Mr. Potter's score is…forty-five."

Hermione, caught by the surprise, stared with Ron at Harry, before laughing and applauding hard with the rest of the crowd.

"There you go, Harry!" Ron shouted over the noise. "You weren't being thick after all; you were showing moral fiber!"

Hermione rolled her eyes but didn't stop clapping. Fleur had a huge smile on her face, it wasn't so bad. Cedric took Cho's hand and led her to join the stands and his fellow Hufflepuffs. Viktor didn't look very happy at all, it meant he was coming last in this task.

"The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June." Continued Bagman. "The champion will be notified of what is coming, precisely one month beforehand. Thank you all for your support of the champions."

It was over and Madame Pomfrey began herding the champions and hostages back to the castle to give them a checkup. She wasn't about to let them go before making sure they were healthy and warm.

Families were allowed to join the champions and hostages in the infirmary. Fleur had to let Hermione go, and watched as the school nurse confirmed her mate was perfectly healthy. The blonde let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding in.

Marguerite rubbed her granddaughter's back. "Well, this was more exiting than I thought it would be."

"You said this was going to be boring and just wanted to see Fleur and her future mate." Said Marcel.

"And it was true, though I never dreamed Fleur could turn into a full Veela, your bond must be extremely strong to have that effect on your physiology." The elder woman looked very proud.

Apolline was the voice of reason. "It's time to go. The students are already assembling for their lunch and this is how long we've be invited to stay." She embraced her daughter. "It was lovely to see you. We are so proud oy you. We'll be back in a few months."

Marcel hugged his daughter too, but Marguerite wasn't done. "You know we can't leave yet?"

"Mom, I know how much you want to speak to Fleur about her heritage and her mate, but we can't just stay."

"I know." Marguerite raised an eyebrow, look disbelievingly at her daughter. "But I'd rather not leave without my other granddaughter."

Apolline looked around. "Where the hell is Gabrielle?"

"What's wrong?" Asked Hermione as she was finally ready to leave. Fleur had insisted that Madame Pomfrey should be particularly meticulous with her mate's checkup.

"It would seem my parents lost my little sister." Informed Fleur, frowning, it was like Gabrielle to disappear like that. She didn't have time to really worry. Hermione had seen her go. "Oh, I thought…I saw her leave with Laetitia and Ginny."

Apolline gave Fleur a look, as if it was partially her fault because Laetitia was her friend, or maybe it was because she had befriended the turbulent girl to begin with.

"It's fine! You know Laetitia would never let anything happen to Gabrielle." Felt the need to argue Fleur.

"It's not them I'm worried about." Explained her mother.

"It's not like they can set Hogwarts on fire." Fleur rolled her eyes.

"Could you translate please…I just…"Hermione needed to understand what was going on around her.

"Sorry." Apologized her girlfriend with a smile. "My mother is worried because the last time Laetitia was left alone with Gabrielle, they started a fire. Laetitia wanted to show Gabrielle how to roast potatoes and cheese in tin foil." The blonde grew very serious as she spoke. "Whatever happens, never let Laetitia try to cook. Never."

Hermione nodded as she followed the Delacour family down the stairs.

It didn't take long for them to find the tiny blonde. She was in the Entrance Hall, her face was bright red, she was laughing really hard surrounded by Laetitia, Ginny and the Weasley twins.

Apolline's voice rang in the corridor. "Laetitia Camille Louveau!"

Immediately the raven-haired girl grabbed the mini Fleur, putting her between herself and the angry mother.

Apolline crossed her arms as she asked. "What did I tell you about whisking my younger daughter away?"

Laetitia opened her mouth to protest when Gabrielle's mouth opened in a very loud and very realistic lion roar, making the little girl laugh hysterically again.

This time it was Hermione's offended voice that was heard. "Were you testing the twins' sweets on an eight-year-old?!"

Fred pointed his fingers to the side before George grabbed him. They were as brave as any Gryffindor but weren't stupid, they still knew when to run for it.

Laetitia was offended. "Of course not! These were perfectly safe!"

Gabrielle's feet were still off the floor, Laetitia had her in air, her hands under the girl's armpits. "Mom, this place is awesome! The stairs move! And they have real armors and ghost! There is this one ghost who can tear off his head…well not completely, but still. And we w…"

Laetitia had lowered the younger girl, so she could put her hand on top of her mouth as soon as possible. "Gabrielle!" The child had forgotten what was supposed to be their secret.

The raven-haired girl, looked around, thinking about following the twins' example, only to realize that Ginny wasn't there anymore either.

She looked back at Apoline Delacour before cursing, it was too late to run.