[142] A Knot of Flames

Floating at the bottom of the Black Lake were five bound figures.

Upon closer inspection, Hall found Sirius and Ron among them. Bound beside them were an Asian-looking girl, a girl who looked remarkably like Fleur — her sister, Hall guessed — and Krum's teacher. All five appeared to be fast asleep.

A mermaid approached Hall, her scales shimmering in the murky water. "You can only take one. That's the rule."

Hall fell silent.

Just then, Krum swam over and, without a word, took his teacher. Cedric followed, taking the Asian girl. Before leaving, he pointed to his watch — time was running out.

Hall could not leave. He had to wait for Harry.

He checked Sirius and Ron's condition. They were in no real danger — truly just sleeping. Their faces were pale, but they were alive.

Fortunately, not long after Hall arrived, Harry swam over from another direction.

Hall gestured for Harry to take Sirius. He would rescue Ron.

"We have to take her too," Harry shouted, pointing to the remaining girl — Fleur's sister. "Fleur lost. She's not coming back. Otherwise, she'll die."

Seeing Harry's stubbornness, Hall said reluctantly, "I'll handle it. You take Sirius up first."

"I can do it, Hall. Let me —"

"No. If you hesitate any longer, Sirius won't survive."

Hall could only use that reason to get Harry moving. The mermaids would not let them break the rules so easily. Harry hesitated, looking between the hostages, worry plain on his face. But seeing Sirius's pale complexion, he agreed. With Hall's help, he took Sirius and swam upward.

Hall untied Ron's ropes. Ron's complexion was poor — he had been in the water too long. Hall swam directly towards the surface with Ron.

Only one person remained floating in the water — Fleur's sister, Gabrielle.

The mermaids did not expect Hall to return. They rushed forward with their spears to stop him. To be honest, the mermaids of the Black Lake looked nothing like fairy tales — dark green hair, ashen grey skin, large yellow eyes, silver tails. Their upper bodies resembled aliens from Muggle films more than humans.

Hall cut the rope and quickly pulled Gabrielle and Ron upward. The mermaids chased them, letting out piercing screams.

Seeing Harry approaching the surface, Hall quickened his pace. But suddenly his ankle was grabbed.

Countless Grindylows emerged from the lake bottom. They looked like octopuses but had sharp teeth, waving their long tentacles, trying to drag Hall into the abyss.

Hall pushed Ron and Gabrielle towards the surface, but he was entangled by several Grindylows. He could not even wave his arm, let alone draw his wand. Without a wand, casting lightning magic in the water using only wandless spells would easily injure himself.

Several strong hands grabbed Hall.

He opened his eyes — Sirius and Harry had hold of him simultaneously.

Hall broke the surface, gasping for breath. The crowd drew in sharp breaths.

Molly ran over, her eyes brimming with excitement. "My children, are you alright!" She draped a blanket over Hall and hugged him tightly.

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Hall smiled helplessly and raised his hands.

Hogwarts was unusually lively that evening.

"Hey, Hall!" Harry urgently pulled Hall away from the bustling crowd.

"What's wrong?" Hall asked.

Because of the unexpected staging of the Triwizard Tournament and the champions' youth, the grand ball had been cancelled. Only a simple tri-school party remained. Hall considered himself an introvert, but his performance in the first two events had brought him into the spotlight. Many classmates pulled him aside, wanting to talk.

Logically, Harry should have been more popular than Hall. Yet here Harry was, finding him — and looking pale, clutching his head as if he had been crying.

"What's wrong?" Hall asked again.

"I don't know. My head hurts so much. It's been like this since this morning." Harry had been to the infirmary, but there was nothing wrong.

Hall placed a hand on Harry's head. No fever. "Didn't you sleep well?"

Harry hesitated. "Maybe. I've been having weird dreams lately."

Hall was holding a glass of juice. He took a big gulp. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he put the glass down and pulled Harry to a secluded corner.

"What's wrong, Hall?"

The corner was deserted — even the ghosts had been invited to the party.

"What did you dream about last night?" Hall lowered his voice.

A bad feeling settled over him.

Harry scratched his head. "I saw a man. Bent over, talking to someone. It was from my perspective — like I was crawling on the ground. It was really weird."

Sure enough.

Hall's expression shifted. What Harry saw was not a dream — it was Voldemort's perspective.

"Do you remember where they were?"

Harry nodded. "I looked out the window. It was the Quidditch pitch. I thought I was just missing Quidditch too much."

Right here in the school.

Hall's face darkened. Voldemort was indeed up to something.

"Let's go. I'll get you some painkillers. Don't think too much about it tonight."

They walked towards the dungeon. The school infirmary would not give them painkillers, but Snape had some in his private storeroom, which Hall could "borrow."

They walked down the dimly lit corridor, footsteps echoing in the silence.

Suddenly, a voice came from ahead.

"It's a signal, Snape! You and I both know what it means!"

A door banged open.

"He's back! I can feel it! He's calling us!"

The open door was right beside them. Hall and Harry found themselves face-to-face with Snape and Karkaroff.

Hall greeted them warmly. "Professor, what a coincidence!"

Karkaroff saw them and his face darkened. He lowered his sleeve — but not before Hall caught a glimpse of the mark on his arm. A snake with a skull. The Dark Mark. Hall had seen it recently — on Barty Jr.'s hand.

Karkaroff walked away without a word, glaring fiercely at Hall.

"What are you doing here?" Snape's eyes were full of suspicion. Anyone who had lost things several times in a short period would become wary.

"We were taking a walk. Yes, a walk." Harry was nervous around Snape.

"Congratulations. You two performed exceptionally well at the Black Lake." Snape paused. "Especially you, Hall. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were one of those Gryffindors."

Hall was about to speak when Snape gestured for him to be quiet.

"Gillyweed, is it?" Though Snape was looking at Harry, Hall noticed Snape's eyes flick towards him.

Harry glanced at Hall, then looked at Snape with a guilty expression. "Yes, Professor."

Snape forced a smile. "Truly a genius."

He walked into the open room. It was not large — three walls lined with cabinets, piled high with bottles and jars. Snape climbed a ladder, searching for something.

"Gillyweed. That's a very rare herb. You cannot find it in ordinary gardens."

He found what he wanted — a small bright green bottle. He climbed down and held it up.

"Familiar?"

Hall and Harry swallowed hard and nodded.

"Just three drops, and even Voldemort will reveal his darkest secrets." Snape's tone was like a snake's hiss. "I think you know how to use it, don't you, Hall?"

"Professor, you gave it to me." Hall weakly defended himself. He had returned the rest to Snape afterward.

"Is that so?" Snape gave a cold laugh. "How come I did not know my Veritaserum could cripple a person?"

Hall's heart skipped a beat. Snape had noticed.

He tilted his head, feigning ignorance.

Snape took the vial back. "I hope there will not be a next time. Otherwise — you would not want to know the consequences. Now, you can get out."

The door nearly slammed in their faces.

Harry was bewildered. "What did we do to offend him?"

Hall shrugged. "Looks like your painkillers will have to wait until tomorrow. I'll brew some for you tonight."

"It's fine. It does not hurt that much. Just persistent."

They walked back. "By the way, Hall," Harry remembered something. "Isn't Professor Snape's private storeroom in the cellars, near his office?"

It had been dark when they went last time, but Harry remembered it definitely was not in this corridor.

Hall coughed awkwardly. "The Professor has been losing too many things lately. He probably moved it."