The Competition Begins

Hermione's sudden piercing scream nearly shattered the glass in the common room. The friends surrounding her all wore pained expressions; for a moment, they almost thought Hermione had provoked something unclean again. Some sort of curse.

"I actually!" Hermione stomped her feet in near collapse. "I only just realized!"

Everyone in the common room was staring at Hermione, but she offered no explanation. Instead, she shoved aside the Weasley twins blocking her way and raced toward the portrait hole, vanishing behind the portrait of The Fat Lady in a flash.

No matter how foolish they were, they knew something bad had happened. Harry and Ron's roommates, the Weasley siblings, the two Creevey brothers—all of them exchanged stunned looks for a second before setting off after her at once.

They had been delayed less than ten seconds, but by the time they caught up with Hermione, she had already reached the fifth floor.

"What on earth is going on, Hermione?"

Since returning from St Mungo's, Neville had begun to display something of a leader's bearing. His steadiness stood out sharply among the underage wizards. Taking several steps at a stride, he was the first to catch up with Hermione.

"Have Harry and Ron gotten into trouble?"

"The second task is beneath the Black Lake, Neville!"

Every leap Hermione took carried her nearly half a flight of stairs. At that speed, it would be easy to twist an ankle, so she had to concentrate and could only offer that brief explanation.

The fact that the second task would take place beneath the Black Lake was no longer news. The tournament organizers had already set up the stands over the past few days, and everyone had long since suspected it.

"But what does that have to do with Harry and Ron?"

Neville was