Eino continued to carry Io's body as the lake's darkness slowly dissipated. The sunlight's illumination comforted the boy, because it meant he was close to the surface. It was only a few kicks until Eino emerged from the lake and gasped for air. The gillyweed's effect was slowly but surely wearing off. It was first noticeable in his movement due; due to the lack of webbed feet and hands, Eino swam significantly slowly as he pulled Io along to the edge of the lake. Her blue eyes were hid behind her eyelids and his arm around her chest could not feel a heartbeat. Finally, they reached land. Land, sweet, solid and warm land.

Daniel's body seemed to be getting heavier and heavier, or maybe it was because her fins were fading, so were her gills. She was a good swimmer alone, but dragging an unconscious 8 year old was harder. Carrying a conscious 8 year old on the surface with both hands was hard enough.

Breathing was getting harder, she felt her neck- the gills were gone, so were the webs between her fingers. She kicked harder than ever, rising ever so slowly, not fast enough her air had run out. She was still a long way from the surface.

Quentin's sight was fading, her limbs becoming heavier.

Dammit no! She wasn't giving up like this! She pushed her brothers still unconscious body up to the surface and clawed her way up herself. Holding Daniel's head to her shoulder she took deep gasping breaths of air. He still wasn't breathing, why wasn't he breathing?!

She would have to get back to dry land.

Despite the fact that she was very deep underwater, Sierra began flailing about, kicking her arms and legs in several different directions. This resulted in her tiny body being propelled this way and that. Why was she here?! SO DEEP UNDERWATER!!!

...and why was she so small?!

Time was ticking, though, and many of the others had made their way back to land with their loved one. Realizing she was getting nowhere fast, Sierra calmed herself down, wishing she could take a deep breath but knowing that was impossible at the moment. She shot forward, reaching her target in no time. She almost wanted to cry, but that was neither impossible nor her style.

She fought with the bindings, wishing she could just rip them away. Of course that wasn't so easy, though. She struggled to get her wand, pulling it out a few seconds later. "Relashio!" she said. Her voice sounded funny trying to come out through the water, but something must have worked, as the chains binding her future stepmother snapped and freed the woman. Sierra reached over and wrapped her tiny arms around the woman's body, tugging her away from the chains and through the water. She held onto her with all her might, as she kicked through the water and made her way to the surface.

Finally, she broke through the surface of the water and took in a deep breath of fresh air.

That song! Beezus couldn't help but gasp as a stream of bubbles came from her mouth. It was the same song from the Potter's time, she was sure of it. But what did it mean? More importantly, why were the anglerfishes---

The eaglet froze on that spot, her webbed hands and feet didn't seem to want to move. After the said group of fishes passed, all of a sudden the other students came lurching forward and swim towards...people? Beezus swam slowly around. Why were the other students somehow a bit hysterical upon seeing those people underwater? What was happening? Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Beezus wouldn't have known if she she did not see Kurumi untie Jonathan Kim from a bunch of odd looking ropes. She frowned, why was Jonathan there? Last time she checked he did not attend the said lesson. And why did he seem unconscious? And then it hit her. THE SONG! We've taken what you'll sorely miss. Based from that, Beezus concluded that somehow each of them had been taken something that they treasure and care for. With that thought in mind, she kicked harder. She ought to have one person to save. But she can't see anyone who was in any way related or important to her?

She swam more and carefully looked at each of the tied people. Where was the thing they took from her? She badly wanted to scream and call for help but all that got out from her mouth was bubbles. She was shaking as she kept swimming. An hour long you'll have to look, And recover what we took, But past an hour - the prospect's black, Too late, it's gone, it won't come back. The song kept swarming into her mind. Time is running Beezus, a voice inside her would say.

No, she won't let that happen. She'd find that thing and she'll save it.

Gideon was more then glad for Kacie's small frame and weight at the moment. For as the time swindled for them to return to the surface, it was already a challenge carrying her soaked form as well as his own through the water. And as the gillyweed's effects started to fade back to normal it became harder and harder to travel through the lake as well as he had before. Finally he could see the light of the sun above them and the Gryffindor swam the last few feet to the surface, gasping as he broke through the water into the air. His gills having disappeared from his neck sometime during the last small leg of the journey.

That was close!

PULL IT TOGETHER OAKEY! He angrily thought to himself. He began to see others going to rescue their loved ones! No time for grief or hatred right now! Harvey needs me! He kicked his webbed feet as fast as he could making it to Harvey. He looked around for some kind of help but none came, he had to do this alone. With his wand in hand he concetrated as hard as he could pushing back all the bad thoughts.

Difendo he thought as the chains holding Harvey down split in two! Grabbing hold of Harvey he struggled as he swam back to the surface, Damnit Harvey this better not have been something you agreed to for my sake! He kicked as hard as he could to go up and up and up! Good he could see some light, the surface wasn't to far now! I've already worked hard to reach the point where I'm at now! I can't have you leave. You've got Granny and Aegis back at home! He thought long of the past year and the time He and Harvey spent together, Harvey helping him overcome and withold his bad luck.

The light was getting brighter and larger! Oakey began feeling the effects of the Gillyweed going away. Then there was a loud splash and he took in the largest breathe of air he'd ever taken in his life! Oakey swam back to the shore and laid Harvey down and made sure there wasn't anymore perminent damage done to his Foster Father's left leg.

O____O

Auggie had swam over to Slyvia's side as quickly as he could after he saw the other students begin to try and save their loved ones. How many people where down here? How could the Professors think they could just do something like this?! This Gryffindor was not happy.

Time was ticking as August began to yank frantically at the ties holding his little sister to the bridge thing--he couldn't for the life of him get her hands free. Finally he pulled his wand out and after three unsuccessful tries, he finally was able to cast Diffindo, and release and begin to swim to the surface with his sister.

He angrily noticed the Professors had already began to leave.

She continued extending her arms and kicked faster and harder as she swam, where was this thing that had been taken from her? More importantly, how was it taken from her? Was she really that careless that she'd be to lose something precious and significant?

Passing through her classmates who had successfully released her their loved ones, Beezus saw a few others still struggling. Merlin, help her. She only got about ten minutes left. She did not want to drown nor did she want her important thing to be gone and never come back. She turned her head here to there, just then..

ERIN! Her bestfriend was there, tied up by some weeds next to a small girl. Upon instinct, she swam closer. Oh Erin..I'm sorry I took so long, she told her best friend mentally. So, that's why she hadn't been there to attend the lesson. She simply caressed her friend's face as she pointed her wand at the weeds that tied her to a big stone. Relashio! she stammered, but only a stream of bubbles came out from her mouth. However, it might've worked for the weeds were immediately cut off and she watched as they sunk deeper underwater. Now then..to the surface! She took a quick glance around, a few still were on the move of untying their loved ones. She wanted to lend a hand but upon seeing the time remaining on her watch, she decided against it. Those Professors won't allow any of them to die or drown right? Riiiiiiiight?

With difficulty, she hugged Erin and she kicked hard. She managed to push the two of them upward when she felt a sudden pain near her neck. The gills! Her gills were starting to close. Hurry Beezus, a voice said inside her. The eaglet lurched forward with more force, she was almost on the surface. Just a bit more.. She could see the sunlight and shadows of some people above them.Just a bit..a bit..

Last thing she knew, her hand which was holding her wand had touched the warm ground.

It had been a long journey for Kimalia swimming into the unknown and relying on well.. nothing but a booming deep Squid's voice and a beautiful song.. sung by the merpeople? She figured, she didn't look around much because of the one person who was.... so tiny but yet... there. Kimalia blinked.. Why was she.. here?
"MMMM!!!"
Panic rose making her heart beat faster. Where was her dad at if her mom was right here.. Right here! In her condition.. No, no, no, no, this can't be happening. How did she get here?! No wait, calm down! Kimalia swam as fast as possible to her and immediately started to work onto untying the ropes.

It didn't help that some of her classmates that she could now make out were leaving on their own with the Professors. "MMM!!!" Tugging wasn't going to do any good here. It definitely took such determination in her mind, she had to get her mom out of there, when she shouted with her wand aimed at the ropes. "Relashio!" Quickly wrapping her arms around her mom, swimming up with all her might, Kimalia didn't dare look at her mom right now, she just had one thing in mind. "Get to the surface, ask questions later."

Kennedy was more than a little startled when he saw that THING with MASSIVE eyes and lights everywhere. He shut his eyes tight, willing himself to never open them again. That things was SO hideous it would take years to cure him. That was a bit of an exaggeration, but that's how Kennedy felt. Although he wanted to keep his eyes close the song sparked curiosity in him.

They've taken something he would miss?

Huh?

Ever so slowly, the boy opened his eyes and kept swimming so that he wouldn't get lost. Soon enough he caught sight of something strange. Very strange. Then his classmates were rushing toward them? What in the holly guacamole was going on? As he followed, one of the floating figures caught his attention, freezing him in place.

Everything seem to stop. The rushing students, the creepy alien fish...even his heart beats. The only thing he was aware of was a ringing in his ears. It kept getting louder within this darkness he suddenly fell in. It was as if the world stopped spinning. As if air stood still. As if a ticking clock ticked louder and louder. And the suddenly, a strange heat ran through him and snapped him out of the darkness.

"Mahdasafds!" Was what came out of his mouth, but what he meant was mom.

What kind of sick joke was this. Bringing his mother into the freezing lake. She was a muggle for Merlin's sake! His only family. He swiftly moved through the water, and mentally thanking the Gillyweed for the effect. When he got to her, Kennedy wasted no time in wrapping his arms around her and pulling her toward him, but something kept them there.

Looking down he saw that her wrist was caught on something, he wasn't to aware of what it was. Just at that moment he felt his gills tingle and his breath became a bit labored. Oh no, this wasn't good. The Gillyweed effect was most likely wearing off.

Dang it!

Kennedy remembered that he still had his wand in his hand. He unwrapped his wand arm from his mom and paused. She doesn't like it when he has his wand out. She always cringes when she sees it and then gets a sad look in her face. Kennedy grimaced and turned around. He wasn't about to disrespect his mom by performing magic in front of her. So, he let go and turned her body around so that she was facing away from him.

"Relashio!" he yelled, trying to make his voice as clear as possible. As he did that, his mom's body was freed.

Wrapping his arms around her once more, he kicked up and hoped that he would make it above the water before his time ran out. He briefly looked down at her form and grinned, Don't worry, I got you mom.

Kurumi felt the sides of her neck burning as she continued to kick frantically towards the surface with her Slytherin Prince clutched tightly to her with her right arm. Her left arm continued to flail and it seemed like no matter how hard the flapped or how hard she kicked the surface was never getting any closer. Did this mean she wasn't going to see his smug when they were finally above the water and hear him tease her for once again doubting herself? Was she never going to have him pat her head and ruffle her bangs? Or gently flick her nose? Or lean in like he was going to kiss her only to say some sort of smug comment that would then turn her hair pink and, on occasion, cause her to sprout cat ears?

And then, Kurumi realized how many times she thought about herself just now. This wasn't about HER, it was more about HIM and getting him out of here. Yes, her lungs were beginning to burn as the gillyweed wore off so of course that increased her risk of drowning...but if she failed it wasn't just her life on the line, it was his. Although, she sure hoped that neither professor would allow anyone to really drown...even if she wouldn't put it past Professor Scabior. With a new resolve instill in the young lioness, Kurumi kicked harder than before and felt the water slipping through her fingers and toes more easily as the webbing completely vanished. Her surroundings lightened and she could see more easily until...she burst out of the water, gasping for air and began to swim backwards towards shore holding his upper body above water as best as she coul.d

Swimming upon the scene, Sky was horrified to see her MOTHER tied to some rocks at the bottom of the lake. She could feel herself about to lose it completely. Okay Sky, pull yourself together you have no time for this! She looked around for a jagged rock to sever the rope. Grabbing the first one she spotted, she set to work cutting the rope.

But wait! As she was bashing the rope, Sky spotted the rock the rope was tied to. She moved over to untie the rope. Once she had it untied, Sky grabbed her mom's arm and started towards the surface …

As she got closer to the surface, Sky found it harder to breathe. Oh no, was she going to drown in the lake?! Was that really how her and mother were going to meet their ends?! That thought didn't jive so well with her, so she forced herself to swim the final few feet to the surface.

Upon breaking the surface and pulling her mom up with her, Sky struggled to catch her breath. Which of the whacky professors had that brilliant idea?! Really?! A recreation of the second task of the 194 Triwizard Tournament?! Having her breath back, Sky started grabbed her mom's arm again and swam back to the shore, angry beyond all belief.

Daichi glared at the CoMC Professor but jumped a little when he looked like he was shouting in anger. The bubbles obscured his vision for a second and with one last glare he turned around to the hostages.

As he swam towards his father , Daichi suddenly remembered a part of the song and that was when he froze. An hour long you have to look did that mean?...

Finally, finally! the Slytherin got what they meant with an hour to look. An hour was the time the gillyweed worked, after that it would stop working and since Daichi couldn't swim without the gillyweed he kicked his legs as fast as he could.

He reached his father as he started to tuck on the bonds with his hands. He tucked as hard as he could but nothing seemed to happen. In his panic , he looked at the other students and saw a couple of them using their wands to break them free. Doh, of course, he was a wizard! Aiming his wand , the slytherin shouted "RELASHIO!" he tucked on the bonds for a second time. "Relashio!" again nothing, only a stream of bubbles came out of his mouth. "Relashio relashio relashio! " He took a deep breath of ...watery air? and looked back at the Professors with an almost pleading look.

But...where were they going?! the Slytherin watched in horror as he saw how they swam upwards. Did that mean time was almost up? it had to be! "Relashio!" he wasn't going to give up on his dad. "please dad, hold on...Relashio!"

Daichi had already lost his mother and if he lost his father now too... He was going to SUE the Professors if anything happened! He didn't notice that it were just dolls that looked like their beloved ones. And that his father was never in danger. "RELASHIO!" *snap* the rope snapped and his father was sinking now.

Daichi dove a little bit to wrap his arm around his chest and with his other arm he swam towards the surface.

Clutching his dad and praying that he wasn't going to drop him, he swam and swam and swam through the darkness. How long did he have? The doll was heavy and Daichi had a hard time holding him.

A source of light could be seen from afar and he knew he was getting closer. Just a bit more... He kicked , trashed whatnot his legs and still webbed hands as the light became larger and more brighter. Swimming as fast as he could , Daichi saw the sky getting nearer and he laughed in relief.

Reaching the surface in time, Daichi naturally gasped for air above the water but since the gillyweed was still working he couldn't breathe. holding his head in the water again he swam towards the edge of the lake and when he was just about pushing his father on the surface the gillyweed stopped working.

He made it~

Aurora's eyes widened at the sight of all the hostages. What..? That meant there was someone in there for her... Oh sweet Merlin... She wasn't strong enough to haul a person all the way back to shore. She swam around looking frantically for someone...

Kryspin.

Oh Krys what on earth... Aurora would have been crying if she wasn't underwater. She could feel the tears behind her eyes. She had very little time to get Krys out of the lake. She took her wand "Relashio!" she shouted, but it just came out as a stream of bubbles... it seemed to have worked though, Krys was free. Oh stupid stupid older brother how did he get himself into this mess? She grabbed his arm and started dragging him as fast as her little body could. This was hard...

She could see the light at the top of the lake as she felt the gillyweed wearing off. Oh no... come on come on come on... she kicked extra hard, losing grip of Krys and having to fumble around to catch him again. Why did he have to be so... tall?! It was difficult to drag him.

The tears run free as she broke the surface of the water. "Kryspin you IDIOT!" she shouted at the body in her hands. Then she dragged him closer to the shore.

Thea stared at the school of brightly lit fish, as she listened to the voice. Oh please. Was this serious? Thea began breathing heavily, she honestly could not handle this. Bleurgh.
Head snapping forward, Thea's eyes widened to the size of saucers. There were people down there!! Tha was when Thea spotted him. Seth. The nine year old was just.. floating there. Why was he chosen for her 'loved one'? Oh wait.. he most likely thought this would be cool. Even under the water, Thea rolled her eyes.

Frowning, she began to swim. Keeping an eye out for more disgusting Grindylows, Thea got closer and closer to her little brother.
Pushing his hair away from his eyes, the Gryffindor smiled. Yep, definitely a ghost of a smile on the boy's face. Idiot...
'Diffindo!' A strong jet of light shot out of her wand and his the rope, binding her brother to a rock. After a few more tries, he was finally released. Gasping slightly, as she was out of breath, Thea just held noto the rope for a few minutes. They began to float upwards, so Thea positioned herself underneath Seth, and pushed.

Determination pushed on the Gryffindor, and also the light that was coming ever closer.
And....
They were there.

Thea burst out of the water, flicking her hair back as her face broke the surface. Panting and gasping, her throat felt like sandpaper. Ew.
Thea raised her eyebrows. 'I don't know why you were down there..' She scoffed at Seth. 'You should be at school playing with lego or whatever..' Shaking her head, Thea began swimming towards he shore. Never again.

As she started hearing the song that was played at the secon task of the triwizard tournament, Gwendolyn hoped this wouldn’t end up the same. People tied up under water, waiting for them to do something. Anything. Just save them. Psh… like that wouldn’t be too crazy, the girl told herself as she followed the other people deeper in the lake.

O__________________o

WHATWHATWHATWHAT!?!?!?, Gwen felt the need to scream, but only bubbles came out of her mouth. I-It can’t be!!!, the girl thought and started feeling her hands (… or whatever they looked like now) started shaking.

Quickly swimming towards her mum, the Ravenclaw grabbed her wand and pointed it to the chain. ‘Relashio!’, she said as clear as she could, and was a bit relieved to see that the spell worked. Let’s just go up…, Gwen thought and raised her head. Hopefully the effect f the gillyweed won’t end up now. It would be like a slap in the face!

As they woth reached the surface of the water, the third year took a deep breath. Phew. So his is OVER?!, she asked herself and looked around.

Just then Justin saw Minnie lose it underwater so he grabbed her by the arm and motioned her to follow him. As they got closer he saw the figure of what looked like her mother tied up. Then he knew why she had reacted as she did. And right next to her was his mother. He swam fast and hard, Minnie still in tow up to where they were tied up....But as he approached he realized that they were dummies tied up underwater and he felt a little better. ' How dare they play such an evil trick on students! " he thought. Just then Justin felt his gills disappear and noticed the webbing on his hands and feet were going away as well..Time to get out of the lake..Time was up!

Ira was becoming more and more frightened by the minute.. They were going deeper, with minimal light and maximum darkness! Ira was becoming very nervous as she couldn't see anyone clearly.

Then something happened! The loud voice of Mr Henry, the giant squid boomed, singing a song! She calmed herself and tried to focus on understanding the wordings. Th lyrics stated that something they treasured had been taken from them, and they had to get it back.. before it was too late or something like that.. What did that mean? It somehow made her very uneasy.

Then a school of angelfish passed from there and thankfully illuminated the area. And there before her was a horrible sight! A long row of hostages suspended by their wrists! What was going on? Ira swam faster to the bridge.

On reaching the bridge where the people hung, she looked at the faces. And there was her mother! OMG! Mom! "Mom!" she gasped. How could her mom come here? Her mom was a muggle! And muggles weren't allowed inside Hogwarts, right? So how was she here? in this horrible situation? She went over and tried to recall the spell taught. But in her agitated state, couldn't remember it.. And she had just an hour!!

Melanie swam through the hostages, looking for someone familiar. So many faces. Were they asleep? They didn't have gills, how could they- Suddenly, she spotted her loved one. A thousand 'NO's were screaming through her mind as she swam over to her step-father. He looked... Don't think like that, she talked herself down. She had to find something, something sharp. Swimming down to the sea floor, she found a rock that looked like it might do the trick. It wasn't incredibly difficult cutting through the ropes, but the panic complicated things, and all the while she kept getting distracted by her step-father's lifeless form.

As she finally freed her step-father, he sank down toward her. She caught him in her arms and shook him lightly, hoping he'd regain consciousness. What was he doing here anyway? He was supposed to be with mom! Throwing him on her back and holding his arms around her shoulders with one of her arms, she used her legs and free arm to begin the slow climb to the surface.

As she kicked through the water, her step-father got heavier and heavier, her legs weaker and weaker. Finally, a hint of light peeked through the murky depths. The surface, she thought, thankfully. Just then, she felt her lungs begin to burn. Oh no, the Gillyweed! She kicked frantically, feeling the last of her energy drain as her eyes began to blur. She broke the surface just as the last of her breath ran out, her lungs begging for the air she quickly inhaled. Just as quickly as she rose, however, she sank back down under the weight of her step-father. Swimming back toward the surface, Melanie began to drag her step-father toward the edge of the lake.

Ira was becoming more and more distraught! What if she didn't remember the spell in time and couldn't save her mother? Surely Professors wouldn't leave her here, right? Ira was a bit unsure of this though! Although knowing it was fruitless, she still tugged on the chains, forcing it to break. But of course, she wasn't successful! She wished she had paid a litlle bit more attention in class when they had been taught the spell. Well, she didn't know that this awaited her underwater!

Right then she recalled it.. Relash.. something. What was it? Relashe, no, Relashio? Yup that was it! But then how to cast it underwater? Ira desperately fished out her wand from her pocket and tried muttering the incantation "Relashio!" But all that came out was a bit of bubbles from her mouth. She tried again.

She focused her mind on the task. She first calmed herself and willed her mind. Then she with some effort, muttered, "Relashio!" as clearly as she could! Mom..wake up pls..

Nate swam to his hostage. He looked and it was his sister that he saw. "What why my sister? Anyways difindo!" The rope broke. He swam back up to the surface with his sister. Finally he could see the light. He kept on swimming he had to make it. He felt the gillyweed starting to lose its effect. He finally made it up to the surface just as the effect wore out. He was just so happy to see light.

Her spell had worked! Ira's spell had finally work! Ira was so relieved! But her time was nearly up. The hour was about to end.. Ira frantically hoisted up her mother's body on her back and began swimming back to the surface.

Ira was already very tired, both physically and mentally. She found carrying her mother's dead weight and swimming was tiring her too much! However with sheer determination she kept on, she flapped her arms as fast as she could and wildly kicked her legs. There, there she could see some brightness there. It seemed she was near to the surface. This kept her adrenaline rush going and she suddenly found the energy to keep going to the shore.

And then something was happening to her body. What was it? She could feel her gills slowly closing up. O yeah! Now she remembered! The gillyweed was losing its effect! And it was gone! Ira lunged forward with her last remaining ounce of energy. She could see the shore now as she was above water. Thank Merlins! She took a deep breath! That was maybe her largest breath of her life!