Chapter 242
"Today's homework is no less than two pieces of parchment on the application boundaries of Transfiguration. Hand it in on Friday. Alright, class dismissed," Professor Minerva McGonagall reminded them sternly.
As soon as class ended, Harry, Ron, and Hermione rushed out of the classroom.
They were heading toward the cabin where Sirius Black was staying. He had sent word that the scuba equipment they ordered from a Muggle shop had arrived.
"Oh, Harry, slow down. Don't rush," Sirius called out, waving at them from the doorway as they approached the path near the hut.
Only then did they slow their pace and walk over.
"Don't worry, it's not going anywhere," Sirius said with a smile, patting Harry's shoulder.
"Huff… huff…"
The three followed him inside, breathing heavily as they dropped into chairs.
"The process went smoothly. I'm quite familiar with Muggles now," Sirius said, pouring them each a cup of steaming tea.
"When I was on the run, I dealt with them a lot. Some kind ones even thought I was a stray dog and fed me."
He grinned.
"I even haggled a bit. Based on exchange rates, I saved a few gold coins."
"Here, take a look."
He pointed toward the large bed that once belonged to Hagrid.
The patchwork quilt had been pushed aside, revealing a large cardboard box.
"Let me open it."
Sirius flicked his wand. The box split open cleanly.
Inside was a full set of scuba gear—respirator, goggles, flippers, boots, oxygen tank, and more.
Ron immediately reached out.
"Stop! Ron—" Hermione snapped.
She stepped forward, rummaged through the items, and picked up two booklets.
"We read the manual first."
Ron looked away, clearly annoyed.
Sirius nodded approvingly. "The shop owner said the same. Without guidance, it's dangerous."
Hermione read aloud, "Beginner's Guide to Scuba Diving… and Drowning First Aid Guide."
"Oh, he insisted on adding that second one," Sirius said. "Thought I might need it."
He turned to Harry.
"I don't object to this plan. It's a good backup—but don't rely on it completely."
He paused.
"I also thought of a spell. If there's time, I can teach you later."
Then he looked at the equipment with curiosity.
"Muggles are fascinating. No magic, yet they can still do things like this."
The four of them began experimenting.
"Hogwarts doesn't use computers," Hermione muttered, setting aside a disc she found.
"We should focus on helping Harry put it on."
One piece at a time, they dressed him.
Soon, Harry stood fully equipped.
"I can barely walk," he said, his voice muffled.
The gear was heavy—especially the oxygen tank.
He took a few steps. Tap… tap… It was awkward and slow.
Just then, the noon bell rang.
"We have to go," Hermione said, holding her forehead. "Snape's class this afternoon."
"I'm not sleeping in that old bat's class!" Ron added.
They quickly helped Harry remove everything and packed it away.
"Let's go. I'll teach you that spell next time," Sirius said, walking them to the door.
"Thanks, Sirius!" Harry said.
"Wait!"
Sirius ran back, grabbed something, and returned.
"You forgot this."
He handed Ron the Drowning First Aid Guide.
Ron tossed it into the box.
---
The three carried the box back.
They needed to hide it before lunch.
"Hermione, you go ahead," Harry said. "Ron and I will handle this."
"Yes, we've got it," Ron added.
Hermione sighed.
"Alright. Hurry up."
Then she raised her wand.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
The box suddenly became lighter.
"Why didn't you do that earlier?!" Ron exclaimed.
"I just thought of it," Hermione said, yawning.
Then she ran off toward the Great Hall.
"Good luck," Ron muttered.
They continued.
As they passed the Quidditch field, something went wrong.
The box suddenly grew heavy again.
Harry nearly dropped it.
"Ron?"
"Keep moving!" Ron said urgently, voice trembling.
Harry didn't question it. They hurried on.
Soon, they reached the common room.
"Huff… huff…"
Ron collapsed onto a chair, pale and sweating.
Harry checked the box, then turned back.
"Who did you see? Snape?"
"Yes! That old bat was staring at us!" Ron said quickly.
"That's why I told you to hurry."
"I see," Harry nodded.
"We were lucky."
"Of course," Ron replied—too quickly.
He was lying.
Snape hadn't been there.
The truth—
Ron had seen Fleur Delacour.
---
"Harry?"
A voice startled them.
It was Neville Longbottom.
"Say something quietly," Neville said seriously.
---
Meanwhile—
Fleur walked along the path.
She bent down and picked up a small booklet.
"'Drowning First Aid Guide'?" she read softly.
She frowned.
Earlier, she had tried to approach Ron—to apologize.
But the moment he saw her, he ran.
"Am I a monster?" she muttered.
She had only wanted to make things right.
Now, the chance was gone.
---
That afternoon, before the second task—
In Slytherin's lounge, the fire burned brightly.
Draco sat with Pansy.
Her expression was relaxed.
His was not.
"Miss Parkinson, Professor Snape requests your presence."
Draco stood abruptly.
Pansy grabbed his arm.
"He called me, not you," she said gently. "Stay and prepare."
She stood and limped toward the door.
Her robe hung loosely, dragging slightly as she walked.