Fortunately, things improve between Draco and Pansy thanks to my meddling.

Life is good again.

Except that the second task is approaching fast, and even though Pansy and I managed to get the clue out of the egg after a trip to the Prefects bathroom, I am still none the wiser as to how I am supposed to fucking breathe underwater.

"It'll be okay," Fred tries to reassure me as he spends night after night helping me research books in the library in the week running up to it. "We'll find something. I'm not going to let you drown."

Even Draco joins us, his panic evident from the fact that he doesn't mind spending his evenings in the library with a Weasley.

"This is ridiculous!" Draco spits, slamming his fist down on an open book called Wizards and Water. "There is nothing in here about breathing underwater. It should be such a basic thing!"

Fred reaches out and slides the book out from beneath Draco's offending fist. "No need to take it out on the book, mate."

Draco's face is almost comical as his eyes bulge out of their sockets. But after a pointed look from me, he calms down.

I appreciate, after all, Draco and Fred trying to make an effort with one another for my benefit.

The night before the second task, however, I find myself in the library alone, my usual companions not having shown up.

Great, thanks. I think grumpily as I flip through books I have already read, but in my desperation I hope that maybe I had originally missed something.

I search and search, until my eyes eventually cannot take anymore and give up on me.

"Miss Harriet Potter! You must wake up!"

When I open my eyes I find myself staring into a familiar pair of saucer like eyes. Dobby?

"Huh?" I mutter, lifting my head up from the book I'd fallen asleep on, the ink all smudged where I'd drooled all over it.

Dobby thrusts a clear packet of what looks like weed at me. Not a bad idea actually, if I'm going to die anyway, then I may as well go out on a literal high.

"You must eat it!" Dobby instructs. "Just before you go into the lake."

Unusual but whatever, anything to ease the fear of dying.

So, after thanking Dobby for being an excellent dealer, I reluctantly make my way down to the lakeside where everyone already is, waiting.

I don't bother stopping by the dungeons to change into swimwear. May as well drown in my robes.

I feel so hurt that neither Fred or Draco are around to support me, or even just to save me at the last minute. I am too numb to cry, and as I take my place beside Cedric, Fleur and Krum, I think what the hell and stuff the entire packet of weed in my gob, praying the effect will be instant.

What I don't expect, however, is to feel like I am drowning in the air.

Panicking, I run towards the lake, somehow knowing I need to get the fuck in the water before I pass out.

I literally breathe with relief the second I am immersed in the lake. Either this is the weed making me hallucinate, or it isn't weed at all, but some magical herb.

Thank fuck for Dobby.

Not really knowing what to do, I just swim, down, down, down. But I struggle with my robes which tangle all around me and slow me down. So I rip them off, stripping right down to my lacy white bra and panties, allowing my clothes to float up away.

I swim off a lot easier now, thinking how brilliant I am. I can always fish my clothes out later, of course.

Eventually I come across an underwater town which is cool except for the freaky merpeople guarding these unconscious figures tied to some rope.

As I get nearer, I begin to recognise these figures. There's Hermione! And Cho! There's also a child with long blonde hair, who I assume must be a Delacour. And right on the far end, is a fourth figure - a boy with flaming red hair.

My heart skips - Fred! Well, at least I think it is.

As Cedric shoots pass me and goes straight to Cho, I realise this must be our treasure, and without a doubt I know Fred is mine.

I pull and tug at the ropes tying him down, but they won't budge, and I panic because I know time is running out.

Krum comes along next and easily frees Hermione, but I still struggle wondering why the ropes around Fred won't budge.

Eventually I remember I have a wand clutched in my hand and use it.

Just as I begin to tug Fred away, I realise that the little girl with long silvery hair is still there. Where the fuck is Fleur?!

So I do the only sensible thing I can think of to do - I threaten the merpeople when they tell me I'm breaking the rules, free the girl and swim both her and Fred to the surface, saving them both like the hero I am.

"Bloody hell, Harri!" Fred laughs the second we break the surface to a round of applause and loud cheers, "you were only supposed to save me, you gorgeous witch."

I'm so bloody knackered at this point that I'm relieved when Fred takes the girl out of my arms and swims her to the edge of lake, while I swim behind.

Fleur hysterically screams and cries, coming to meet us as we pull ourselves out. To my outrage, she throws herself at Fred, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

"My hero!" She exclaims in a throaty French accent, planting a massive kiss to his lips. "You saved my sister and now I'm all yours!"

"Oi!" I yell at her, not caring about our massive audience. "I bloody saved her! And put my boyfriend down, you hussy!"

Fred prises her arms from around his neck and gives a nervous chuckle. "She's right you know, I was unconscious for the most."

He turns to look at me and his eyes almost pop out of his head.

"Merlin Harri!" He says, quickly shrugging off his sodden jacket. "You're um-"

He nods down at my front, his face going bright red.

I look down and gasp in horror. For I may as well not be wearing a single thing thanks to my soaking wet underwear being completely transparent.

"Zat iz embarrazzing." Fleur snickers cattily as I try and attempt to cover myself with my arms.

Fred swiftly moves to my side and wraps his cold, wet jacket around me. But it's too late, nearly everyone has seen and all I can hear is laughter coming from the stands.

I just want to die.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," I grit, burying my face in Fred's chest as someone shouts "Nice tits, Potter!".

"Come on," Fred says, rubbing my back, "let's get you out of here and into some actual clothes."

I feel mortified that this is how he has seen me naked for the first time.

We go to the Quidditch changing rooms which is closer than the castle, and in there he grabs some red clothes off one of the pegs and throws them to me.

"My spare Quidditch robes," he explains as he allows me some privacy by turning around.

"You know, you didn't have to turn around," I say as I shrug off his wet jacket and throw the dry robes over my head. "You are my boyfriend."

Fred instantly groans. "Don't tempt me."

He turns back to me, his eyes widening as he looks me up and down. "You look damn sexy in my clothes, Harri."

He pulls me to him, catching my lips in his. His kiss is insistent and hungry, sending thrills through my nerves. My body flush against his, I can feel his racing heart and I suddenly desperately want more of him.

I don't want clothes between us, I don't want anything but him. So I begin to tug at my robes.

"Stop," Fred says at once, grabbing my hands before I can peel them back off me. "Please, don't. It doesn't matter how ready you think you are, it doesnt count."

I want to scream and cry!

"Are you a virgin?" I ask, my chest heaving up and down as he continues to restrain my wrists tightly.

He hesitates, his brown eyes flickering. "No."

For some reason, this information creates an unpleasant burn in my stomach.

Fred looks at me, his brown eyes boring into mine. "I do want you, Harri. But not until you're old enough to consent."

"Who?" I ask. "Who have you done it with?"

"It doesn't matter," Fred says, re-securing the robes around me. "It's the past, you're my present."

"Please? I need to know!"

"No you don't because it shouldn't effect what you and I have today. But if you must know, there's been two girls before you. One who I lost my virginity to and was a one time thing only. The second person I was in a relationship with, and - before you ask -yes, they were both sixteen."

My blood was burning with jealousy, hating the thought of Fred being with another girl, touching her, wanting her.

"If my age bothers you so much, then why are you with me?"

"Harri, honestly believe me when I say I didn't fall for you intentionally. I only agreed to go to the Yule Ball with you because I felt sorry for you standing there and begging the entire school for a date."

God, his words hurt so much that I want to burst into tears.

"But here we are," he continues, as though he hadn't just insulted me. "And it turns out that I'm absolutely fucking crazy about you, which is why I am respecting you enough to wait."

Fuck, I hate that he's so chivalrous.

"That was a good save," I mutter. "Luckily for you."

He chuckles, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me back against him.

"Thank you for considering me as your most prized treasure," he murmurs in my ear. "Now come on, I expect there's an entire school out there wanting to celebrate your memorable performance today."

"Oh, you mean the fact that nothing was left to the imagination?"

"If it's any consolation, you've got nothing to worry about. Believe me."

Grinning, he kisses my forehead, before taking my hand and leading us back out to the waiting crowd.

Fuck. Is it too soon to tell him I love him?

******