"You-"
Draco's wand hand was trembling. If they hadn't been in a classroom, he would have shown the other boy what the honor of the Malfoy family meant.
The underwater tentacles came back, three of them this time, reaching toward the rocky platform from different directions.
Draco had to divide his attention, firing three Severing Charms in succession to drive the tentacles back.
But the instant he turned, a Disarming Charm from Hermione came flying at him, having taken some unknown, roundabout route.
He stepped sideways, and the spell skimmed past his ear, striking the rock wall behind him and blasting out a spray of fragments.
Draco's breathing quickened.
On one side were the Fantastic Beasts constantly emerging from the water.
On another were the spells Hermione kept firing from the lake's surface.
On another was Ron's damned dog chasing his Patronus.
And then there was the black mist seeping in whenever the dead mutt harassed his Patronus and its light weakened.
He was fighting on four fronts.
"This isn't fair!" Draco roared.
Ron wasn't doing much better, at least on the surface.
He had to maintain his Patronus while dodging the Fantastic Beasts beneath the water.
Although he had drawn those creatures over himself, they clearly couldn't distinguish friend from foe.
A tentacle covered in suckers wrapped around Ron's left ankle.
"Aaagh-!"
Ron stumbled and swung his wand downward. A Fire-Making Spell scorched the tentacle until it recoiled, leaving a burnt smell behind.
He panted heavily, his forehead covered in sweat.
Fortunately, Hermione wasn't firing anything at him, or he would have been in much the same trouble as Draco.
Out on the lake, Hermione was dealing with problems of her own.
A long eel leaped out of the water beside her, its serrated mouth snapping at her surfboard.