Matt Santini sat in the stands outside the Black Lake and folded his arms around himself. It was the middle of February and incredibly cold. He had on his heavy brown leather bomber jacker and brown fedora to help protect against the icy winds, having left his school robes back in the dorm. Neville Longbottom sat next to him as they waited for the start of the Triwizard Tournament's Second Task.
"Where on earth is Harry, Hermione, and Ron?" Matt asked.
"I don't know. Last I saw him he was in the library." Neville said.
"What, last night?" Matt asked almost dismissively.
"Yeah, why?" Neville replied.
"We were all in the library last night Neville. All four of us. We couldn't figure out a damn thing to get Harry through this. Ron went to get a snack about midnight or so, then Hermione got called to McGonagall's office. I had to hit the head, so I went to the bathroom. By the time I came out, I was barely awake and able to stand so I went off to bed. I figured everyone else did the same, so I didn't think anything about it." Matt explained. "There's no way Harry's still in there. He's only got half an hour…" Matt said nervously looking around. "And where the hell is Hermione?"
"Maybe we should go look for them?" Neville suggested. Matt thought and nodded his head.
"I'll go look for them, you stay here. In case one or all of them show up…" Matt said to Neville and got up out of his seat moving quickly towards the castle.
This was by far the worst school year they had, yet. Yes, searching out the Philosopher's Stone was trying, but Harry came out on top of that one, even after he and Hermione had to drag Ron, unconscious, to the Hospital Wing. Matt had questioned whether it was worth staying though, after Second year and the Basilisk had attacked the school. His stomach dropped at the thought of Hermione petrified in the Hospital Wing. That was as close as any of them had come to dying.
As Matt ascended the steps, he was thankful that they had Mandrakes on hand to restore everyone who was petrified in their second year. Hermione had been a rock for him the last four years. Ever since moving from America to Britian and ending up going to Hogwarts it was not easy. He was glad that Harry, Ron, and himself had forced Lockhart into the Chamber of Secrets. But it was he and Harry who double teamed the Basilisk. Matt's hand went to his side reflexively. Three broken ribs and a fang in the arm later, the Basilisk was dead and so was he, almost. Fawkes saved him and then Harry helped haul himself and Ginny out of the Chamber.
As he rushed through the school their previous year had come to mind. Taking Hermione's side in the fight over Crookshanks and the Firebolt had won him no favors with Ron and lost him a few points with Harry, but it was all made up for by the end of the year. Not that doing every elective available had been the wisest course of action for him and Hermione. Sharing the Time Turner with her had been fun, though. And after the incident with Sirius Black, Matt and Hermione managed to save Black, Harry's godfather. What a surprising way to find out that Black was innocent. Matt shuddered to remember the fact that Harry had essentially convinced both he and Hermione they could cast a Patronus to save themselves from Dementors. That was a feat they would joke about between themselves as Harry's best achievement to date.
But now, Matt was worried. He and Hermione had agreed they had feelings for each other while they were waiting for their past selves to emerge from under the Whomping Willow and officially started to date. They chose to not make a public scene about it but the Yule Ball this year had changed that.
As he neared the library Matt really kicked himself for not immediately asking Hermione. No one else knew yet they were officially a couple, so Matt was not upset when Harry, in a flurry, asked Hermione to go with him. She did not turn him down or say yes right away. She told Matt and he encouraged her to go with Harry. He knew he would get a dance with her regardless but also knew it would be incredibly special if she went with a champion. Because of that, Matt decided to not take anyone and flew solo for the event.
He had some custom dress robes made and he looked good in them. As a result, he did get to dance with a number of girls, Ginny Weasley, Hannah Abbott and both Patil twins. Although, most of his dance floor time was with Hermione. She looked stunning in her Yule Ball dress. It was almost midway through the dance when Ron had his little tantrum with Hermione after she reluctantly agreed to dance with Viktor Krum and one of the other Durmstrang boys. Matt could have killed the redhead, but he wanted to make sure that Hermione's evening was not spoiled. He took her out to the dance floor for the final dance of the evening. As the music ended, he and Hermione had a passionate kiss, in front of the attendees of the ball. So, it was official, they were now a Hogwarts couple.
Matt's eyes grew wide when he walked into the library and found Harry asleep.
"Harry!" he shouted coming over to his best friend. "Harry! You've gotta get up!" Matt hauled Harry to his feet as the raven-haired boy slowly started to come around.
"Wha-what time," Harry began.
"Harry, there is no time. You've got to get to the lake!" Matt said as he gave Harry a little shake to wake him up.
"Harry Potter must rescue his friend!" said a small squeaky voice.
"Dobby?" Harry asked as Matt and Dobby pulled him out of the library.
"Yes, Harry Potter must hurry!"
"He's right, c'mon!" Matt's voice was gruff as he was rushing through the school.
"But I don't know how I'm going to-" Harry said but was cut off as Dobby handed him Gillyweed.
"Gillyweed Harry Potter!" Dobby said.
"Of course! How could I have been so stupid!" Matt replied as they reached the Entrance Hall. "It grows all around the lake. It's so simple!"
"Yes, it is, sirs! Harry Potter must save his witchy friend in the lake!" Dobby said.
"Wait…witchy friend?! You don't mean Hermione?!" Matt exclaimed as they were approaching the lake.
"Yes sir, Harry's witchy friend has been taken by the Merpeople in the lake!" Dobby said. Matt turned and looked at Harry, his heart breaking. Harry saw the look on his friend's face. Matt grabbed him by the shoulders.
"Harry," Matt started, his voice desperate. "You bring her back to me, you understand? You bring Hermione back to me safe and sound. And you bring yourself back too! I can't lose either of you." Matt hugged him and Harry nodded.
"I will. I promise." He replied as he then sprinted to join the other champions. Just barely in time too as the task started and he shoved the Gillyweed in his mouth and started to chew as he entered the lake. Matt sat back down next to Neville and Ron, who had shown up as Matt was looking for Harry.
"I see you found Harry!" Neville said. "But where's Hermione?"
"She's in there." Matt replied darkly, nodding to the lake.
"What'd you mean Hermione's in there?!" came Ron's voice.
"She's who Harry has to recover, the precious treasure." Matt muttered. He was on edge, his foot bouncing up and down with nervous anticipation.
"Hey, c'mon, it's Harry. She'll be fine…" Ron tried to reassure his friend.
"Ron, this tournament is brutal. And lethal. I can't lose them both!" Matt's voice cracked.
Time seemed to crawl to a standstill. Matt was constantly looking between his watch and the lake. He was getting increasingly anxious. This was only made worse when Fleur Delacour was dragged out of the lake, having to forfeit.
"Something's wrong…something's wrong." He was almost chanting. "It's nearly been an hour and none of the others are back. After an hour…the prospect's black, it's gone it won't come back…" Matt recounted the clue to them.
Suddenly, Cedric popped out of the water, Cho Chang swimming right behind him. Matt let out a breath he did not know he was holding. A few minutes later Viktor Krum emerged, holding his broom? Matt looked utterly perplexed. Why would Cho Chang be Cedric's hostage and Hermione be Harry's, yet Krum's is his Quidditch broom? Part of him felt bad for the Bulgarian Seeker.
Tense moments passed and finally Harry popped out of the lake, Hermione in tow with him, and another girl. Matt stood and almost cheered. After a few brief seconds, he realized something was deadly wrong.
"HARRY!" Matt bellowed as he forced his way out of the stands. "HARRY! SHE'S DROWNING!" Matt was yelling as loud as he possibly could as he ran at a dead sprint down the dock. The three of them were still in the middle of the lake, Harry and Hermione slightly more ahead of Fleur's little sister. Gabrielle bobbed upright in the water, not moving. As he got closer to the edge of the dock, he shouted for people to move out of the way.
As soon as his foot touched the edge Matt took an almighty leap from the dock and dove headfirst into the water, jacket, hat, and all. He resurfaced fast and swam as if his life depended on it. Even though his did not, someone else's did.
"Harry! Go back! Get the girl! I'll take Hermione!" Matt yelled as he got close to them. The Black Lake was frigid, but he was fresher than either of his friends. Harry nodded and turned back, swimming fast to get to Gabrielle. As soon as he did Harry took her under one arm and started to swim back towards Matt and the pier.
Matt got to Hermione and quickly turned around.
"Get on my back, quick! This water's freezing!" he said. Hermione immediately latched onto his shoulders, and he started swimming back to the dock.
"Thank you." She said to him, kissing his cheek as they made their way back to the pier. Ron and Neville helped haul them up as towels were brought over. Matt wrapped Hermione in a towel before taking one himself. Ron and Neville brought over more. Matt wrapped his arms around Hermione and held her close as they piled on towels.
"Bloody hell mate! How did you know she was drowning?" Ron asked.
"Because she wasn't moving. Bobbing up and down and not moving means drowning. It's not like in the movies where the person flails and ducks back under and comes up, screaming for help."
"Matt, you're a hero you know?" Hermione beamed up at him as Harry approached the dock.
"Only if she doesn't die." Matt said and they moved to help the prone form of Gabrielle and Harry up onto the dock. Towels were passed around and Matt did a few short chest compressions on Gabrielle until she gasped and spit up lake water. "Good girl." Matt said encouragingly as Fleur came over crying and embraced Gabrielle.
"Zank you both!" Fleur said gratefully.
"Sure thing." Harry said, modestly.
"Anytime." Matt replied with a shiver and Hermione held him close. Madam Pomfrey came over with Pepper upper potions and Matt almost took two. He thought it was hilarious, the group of them having steam coming out of their ears as they were warmed.
"Harry, do me a favor, next time you piss someone off, do it over the summer, will ya? I hate being both cold and wet." Matt said as they walked up to the castle, Hermione pressed tightly to his side.
"You know Matt, if you're really that chilled, I can think of a few different ways we can warm up…" Hermione said, taking his hand as they entered the common room.
"Oh?" he asked as she leaned up to kiss him. "Oh! I see…yeah, you know, that might be a good idea…" he grinned, turning a bright shade of red. Hermione's cheeks were the same color. The pair disappeared out of the portrait hole again.