A Second Chance for the Second Task’s Second PlacedFleur sat alone in the large Beauxbatons carriage with the small wooden box on her lap. For the past three hours she had been trying desperately to open it. It was more of a block of wood than a box for there were no discernable hinges or any way to open it.
She was about to give up for the day and put the box away when the door to the carriage swung open and Madame Maxime staggered in holding a rather large
pint of ale. “’Ave you oopened your box yeet?” she asked slurring her words.
“Non Madame,” she replied still holding the box between her hands. Suddenly Maxime lurched forward in an attempt to grab it. Instead she spilled her ale all over a rather distressed Fleur and the box.
“Madame!” she screeched bending down to pick up the box. What she found was not a box but a rather large piece of parchment. Hastily she picked it up and read it out loud.
Down deep is where I’m found.
Take a big breath
If that’s where you’re bound.
I may be quite smart
But I’ve still much to learn.
So get away from that beech
And come meet me and teach.
But please be kind and wait your turn. “What help that is,” Fleur said angrily. Taking her riddle she stormed out of the carriage.
She was still a little wet and the chill November air swept through her robes like ice. She walked until she reached a large tree by the lake. Frost gripped its branches and leaves lay scattered around it.
She looked up into it to discover a
gold and crimson scarf draped in some of the branches. Grateful for some warmth she grabbed it, wrapping it quickly around her neck to cover her mouth and nose. She slid down against the tree staring blankly out across the lake. She had now read the riddle so many times that she had it memorized.
All of the sudden it hit her. “Encornet! Encornet!” she shouted, realizing that she would have to face the giant squid that lived in the Hogwarts lake. Relieved, she leaned back against the tree and fell asleep.
Three months had flown by and Fleur Delacour had spent the majority of them with her nose in a book. She had looked through every book Beauxbatons and Hogwarts had on squids and water combined. She now believed she had a plan.
Fleur awoke early February 24th anxious (not to mention late). She grabbed a croissant lying on a tray next to her bunk and ran out the door. The stands around the Hogwarts lake were filled to the brim. Even though most of the action would be taking place underwater no one wanted to miss a thing.
Eating her croissant, Fleur swept herself into a large tent where the other three champions and Ludo Bagman already stood.
“Well, now that Miss Delacour has decided to join us I will explain the rules to you,” Bagman said eyeing a blushing Fleur. “You will have one hour to capture the Giant squid and teach it something- without the use of an Imperious Curse. Well you first then Mr. Krum,” he continued ushering him out of the tent. There was a tremendous roar as he did so.
Fleur was basically a nervous wreck. She paced back and forth through out each of the champions took their turns. By the sound of cheers from the audience, the Potter boy was making a spectacular performance. She could not stand that little boy with all his fame and respect. Well, to tell the truth she was rather inspired by him. He had courage and loyalty, even in the most frightening situations.
Finally, after three hours, Fleur was called out of the tent. Tying her long blonde hair back and standing up proud and straight she exited. The crowd roared in polite applause though the Beauxbatons students cheered the loudest considering they had used a voice magnifying charm on themselves.
Taking a deep breath she removed her robes and waded into the lake. It was colder and slimier than anything she had felt before. Well, ‘ere goes nozing,” she muttered under her breath. “Borrire,” she added tapping her head with her wand. A large bubble surrounded her head. She felt like her head was being dumped into a giant tub of Jell-O.
She walked out a little farther and on the blow of a whistle she plunged herself in to the water. Everything was dark and green. She could see large patches of seaweed growing here and there with little orange eyes peering out of them. Hastily she swam away.
She had been in the water now for fifteen minutes. How hard could it be to find something ten times as large as a whale? Eventually she stumbled upon a tentacle roughly the size of a bus.
“Parvus,” she said aiming her wand at the squid. Amazingly it shrunk down to size of a crab. Smiling, she swam over to it and picked it up. Obviously it was quite tired of being handled and suctioned itself to Fleur’s arm. Remembering something she had read in
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, she tickled the not-so-giant squid on top of its head and offered it some fish that was in her pocket. Gleefully it let go and gobbled up Fleur’s peace offering.
“Okay now, ‘ittle one I ‘ave to teach you zomezing. ‘ill you put on zeese for me?” Fleur felt a little silly talking to a squid but all the same it seemed to respond to her voice. Whipping up some ballet slippers with her wand she fastened them to each of the squid’s arms.
“I want you to dance for ze judges, s’il te plait,” she told it. She once more tapped its head but this time with her wand. She transmitted the image of what she wanted the squid to do from her mind to the squid’s using a very simple form of Legilimency.
With about twenty minutes left in her hour, Fleur swam as fast as she possibly could upward with the squid underneath her arm. Tired, she reached the surface of the lake to be greeted with thunderous applause from the Beauxbatons.
“And now,” boomed Ludo Bagman from the judges table, “ ladies and gentlemen, for Fleur Delacour’s presentation!” Once more applause broke out across the stands.
Fleur smiled down at the little squid and placed it on a table at the edge of the lake. It immediately began to dance and twirl like a prima ballerina. It leaped and spun so gracefully that many a professional dancer would be jealous. This went on for about two minutes. When he was done, Fleur returned the squid to normal size, removed the slippers, and sent the squid off into the water.
“Well, I certainly didn’t expect that! But a wonderful piece of magic all the same,” Bagman said. “Now, for the judge’s scores.”
The judges shot up there wands and green numbers were emitted from them. A ten from Madame Maxime, a nine from Barty Crouch, seven from Igor Karkaroff, and another nine from Albus Dumbledore. Fleur hung her head; she was in third place.
After many rounds of clapping, cheering, and confetti, Fleur, Krum, Potter, and Diggory were lead back into the tent. Barty Crouch was already there waiting for them.
“Wonderful job everyone! Absolutely wonderful! Before I dismiss you to your rowdy and rule breaking celebrations, I would like to tell you that the third task will take place on June 24th,” he said.
Not surprisingly Fleur wasn’t really in the mood for celebration. Instead of taking the usual path back to the carriage she ran off in the opposite direction to ponder on what could possibly be next.
Fleur's box reveals that the second task will involve capturing the Giant Squid and teaching it something which it must demonstrate to the Judges. Fast-forward to the second task, which takes place at the end of February. Describe her preparation, journey to the squid and the performance for the judges. Did she have help? How does Bagman behave throughout this?
Include:
a Gryffindor house scarf
a pint of ale
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, by Newt Scamander
Tri-Ferret Tournament - The Second Task, Submissions
Department_of_Mysteries Tri-Ferret Tournament - The Second Task Nov 11 2005, 09:40 AM
Nov 11 2005, 09:40 AM
