Saving People Pays Off Sometimes

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Harry Potter or the world J. K. Rowling created.

This is one of my first fanfictions and I'm only doing this for fun. If you like it, read it. If not, that's okay. For this story, know that Fleur's father died a few years ago, but I'll give more detail about that later on.

AN: - S.P.P.O.S. – denotes a scene break

Chapter 1

"Boss, you have to wake up!" Dobby pleaded loudly as he shook Harry awake. The elf had been trying to wake up his master for almost five minutes. Out of frustration, he had to resort to physically shaking the wizard to draw him out of his slumber.

Harry bolted upright in shock, taking a few seconds to collect his bearings. "What time is it Dobby and where am I"

"You have 30 minutes until the task starts, because you stayed up too late and fell asleep in the Room of Requirement," Dobby informed him. Harry found this room – which he nicknamed the ROR – during his third year and had been using it as his secret hideout since then due to its ability to be almost any room he wanted. It could even form doors that exited into almost every part of the castle, except the professor's quarters and the dorm rooms.

Harry looked down at his watch to confirm that it was indeed 10:30 – 30 minutes until the task officially started at 11. He groaned as he realized his mistake of staying up so late. "Aww crap," Harry said, panic in his tone.

"Don't worry Boss, I got your swimsuit, dagger, and gillyweed ready for you. You just need to get dressed," Dobby said, calming his master. The elf wanted to feed Harry but knew that he couldn't eat since he had to go into the water for this task.

"Thanks Dobby, you're a lifesaver," Harry replied gratefully. He got up and went into the bathroom the ROR provided for him. He quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth before throwing on the red and black diving shirt and shorts he got the other day for the task.

As he got dressed, he reflected on how good of a decision it was to bond Dobby to him. After he tricked Lucius Malfoy into freeing the elf, Harry had asked what would happen to him now that he was free. This led to Dobby explaining how house-elves had to rely on either their master or mistress's magic or be bonded to a magical building to live. Not wanting Dobby to be forced to bond to someone that would mistreat him for the sake of survival, Harry bonded to the elf himself, though this bonding was different than normal. Instead of thinking of Dobby as a slave or servant, he saw the elf as his friend and the bond responded to that intent. This caused Dobby to become stronger, healthier, and grow a few inches while straightening his posture. It even improved his speech. Since that day Harry strove to treat Dobby as his friend, not relying on him for everything and giving him time off every week. He even managed to get the elf to call him "Boss" most of the time unless they were in public; it was "Master Harry" then.

Finally dressed, Harry had the ROR make a door that would exit out near the main entrance to help him get there faster. Dobby handed him the gillyweed and the dagger and wished him luck before Harry ran out of the door. The elf could only shake his head at his master.

- S.P.P.O.S. -

Down at the dock by the Black Lake, the other three champions waited impatiently for Harry to arrive. The audience was also getting a bit restless in the stands that had been set up for them by the dock. There were two people who were more worried than the rest however – Fleur and Appoline Delacour. This morning, they woke up to discover that Gabrielle was missing and quickly figured out that she had been taken as Fleur's hostage for the task. Appoline, Fleur's mother, was incensed by this and wanted to tear into the judges for involving her six-year old daughter in this perilous tournament without her permission. However, she was conflicted because she didn't want to risk her daughter losing her magic if she interfered before the task was complete. Fleur managed to calm her mother down before Appoline did so, but she herself was just as worried for Gabrielle as her mother and wanted to start this task as soon as possible. The fact that it was the merpeople's voices singing from the egg only worried her even more. Veela and merpeople were sworn enemies after all.

Thankfully, Harry came running onto the dock 5 minutes before the task start time, skidding to a stop by Fleur's side. "Sorry I'm late," he apologized sheepishly, running a hand through his hair.

Ludo internally sighed in relief while smiling broadly on the outside. "It's alright Harry. The important part is that you're here now." Then he began explaining the task to them. They had an hour to find their "hostage" placed deep in the Black Lake in the merpeople village. Harry saw the worry he felt reflected on his fellow competitors' faces though the fear and sorrow on Fleur's bothered him the most. It took him a few seconds to realize why his friend was so upset.

"They took Gabby, didn't they?" Harry asked Fleur in a whisper. She nodded in response, anger flaring on her face for a moment. He realized it was because of Treaty of 1861 between the veela and the merpeople. The treaty had been signed to end a long and bloody war between the two enemy races. With a sinking feeling, he remembered that they were supposed to stay out of each other's territories to avoid killing each other. Now, because of this tournament, two veelas were somewhere they weren't supposed to be. I really wish I could trust them to have taken all necessary precautions but unfortunately, I doubt that, Harry thought bitterly. He made a vow to make sure everyone made it out alive, not caring about winning the stupid task.

"We'll get her out of there," he said confidently, trying to ease her worry. Fleur looked up at him but didn't have time to respond, because Ludo was gesturing for them to line up at the starting positions.

After Ludo informed the audience that the task was about to start, he began counting down from three. At three, a pop sounded out, signaling for the champions to jump into the water. Harry had to wait a minute for the gillyweed to work so he watched as Fleur and Cedric used the Bubble-Head charm while Krum did a partial transfiguration, turning his head into a shark's head with gills. Then the gillyweed started working and soon Harry was sporting flippers on his hands and feet and gills on his neck. He quickly dove in the water once the transformation was complete, heading for the merpeople village and hoping nothing bad would happen. He was thankful that he, Hermione, and Fleur managed to make a rough map of the lake and knew the general direction to head into.

About 7 minutes into his search, he came across Fleur who was surrounded by a swarm of grindylows. They were viciously clawing at her, and she struggled to get away from them, losing too much blood as they cut into her skin. Harry rushed to save her while also noticing a merman a few feet away, watching the attack with a cruel look of enjoyment on his face. I guess any attempts to get the merpeople adhere to a temporary truce for the task failed, he thought angrily. Harry sent several Ebublio jinxes at the grindylows, trapping some in bubbles before blasting them away from Fleur. Several of them tried to attack him as well, clawing at his legs. A few even managed to attach to his head, but he used the Revulsion jinx before they could really hurt him. Fleur was able to do the same to the few remaining grindylows around her. Then he swam over to her, ignoring the look of hate the merman sent his way for saving the veela, something Fleur also noticed. She sent her own glare back at the angry merman.

Harry looked over his friend in concern, seeing several lacerations along her body. "Fleur, you're hurt pretty badly. You need call for help to come get you," he said after sticking his head in her expanded bubble, though his neck was left in the water so he could breathe.

"Non! They 'ave Gabby and will kill 'er if I don't get 'er out of there," Fleur argued stubbornly, despite the immense pain she was feeling.

"You can't help Gabby if you're dead. I will get her out of here," he countered.

"You are injured as well. We would be more effective if we worked together," Fleur declared.

"No, they will try to capture you the moment you enter their village. If I go on my own, I will stand a better chance of getting her out of there before they can attack me or her. Besides, my injuries are minor while you're losing a lot of blood. You could bleed out before we even get there," Harry replied firmly, leaving no room for argument. "I promise you that I will save and protect Gabby with my life. She will get out of here alive." Fleur stared into his eyes for a few seconds, seeing the truth and determination in them.

"Okay, just be careful," she relented before sending out red sparks to signal that she needed help. She didn't want to leave but knew she would only slow him down in her condition. Harry hesitated for only a moment before leaving at Fleur's urging. Feeling even more urgency now that his fears were confirmed, he used the Aqua Eructo spell to propel himself through the water. Why is the Wizarding world led by such idiots? he thought angrily. He couldn't believe they would put two innocent people in so much danger. Well he could, but he was still furious about it.

Don't worry Gabby, I'm coming for you.

- S.P.P.O.S. –

Appoline was sitting in the bottom row of the audience stand on the side near the dock where the champions would appear. She was fretting terribly over every single minute that passed without her daughters coming out of the lake. After this task was over, she planned on ranting at every single person who thought it was a good idea to keep a veela hostage in a merpeople village. She was also worried about Harry, knowing first-hand his habit of putting his life in danger to save people. She hoped it wouldn't come to that.

When the red sparks appeared from the water, she immediately knew it had something to do with one of her daughters. Getting up from her seat, she raced onto the docks hoping that they were alive. Her heart clenched as she saw the medics rescue Fleur from the water and bring her to the docks. She followed them as they went straight to the healer's tent, noticing all of the blood surrounding her and her barely conscious state.

Poppy, upon seeing Fleur's bloody and bruised body and after scanning her with a diagnosis charm, sent the medics to fetch Blood-Replenishing potions and Murtlap essence. Poppy cleaned up the wounds o before starting to close the lacerations up. When the medics returned with the supplies, Poppy had them help Fleur drink the potion while she applied the Murtlap to the cuts she had closed up. After about fifteen minutes, Poppy had finished her work and finally turned to address Appoline who had stood by with barely restrained impatience.

"She had twenty lacerations along her body, but I was able to close them up for the most part. She'll be sore for the next few days and will need to apply the Murtlap on the cuts twice a day," Poppy informed Appoline gently. "She'll be okay though."

"Thank you, Poppy," Appoline replied gratefully, moving to sit in the chair by Fleur's bed. The healer scanned over Fleur once more before leaving the two alone to have some privacy.

"Maman, I am sorry I failed Gabby," Fleur apologized profusely, tears rolling down her face. "I tried to get to 'er, but I was surrounded by many grindylows and they were able to overwhelm me. There was a merman watching the entire time, but it did nothing to stop them. I think it set the trap for me. If it wasn't for 'arry, I would have died."

"It is not your fault," Appoline assured her daughter. "You should never have been placed in a lake full of merpeople to begin with. They should have realized the danger violating the Treaty would put you and Gabrielle in." She had to take several deep breaths to calm down enough so she wouldn't act on the urge to send fireballs at all of the judges and organizers of the tournament. Again, she had Harry to thank and if he managed to save Gabrielle from danger, he would activate a rare phenomenon, though she didn't have time to worry about that at the moment. I don't care what it activates. As long as Gabby is safe, I will deal with whatever results come from it, she thought determinedly.

"I hope 'arry manages to get Gabby without getting himself killed," Fleur muttered. Since she arrived at Hogwarts, she and Harry had developed a close friendship, mainly because they had met previously at the World Cup after he saved her mother. Over many deep discussions, they found out they had a lot in common and both understood what it felt like to be ostracized for being different. When his name came out of the Goblet, Fleur knew that the young man who had so selflessly saved her mother couldn't have cheated to get into the tournament and came to his defense. Not wanting something to happen to him while he was forced to participate, she helped him train for the tasks, teaching him how to perform his spells nonverbally. Harry had even escorted her to the Yule Ball, though they only went as friends. Fleur had decided that Harry was too old for her spiritually for a romantic relationship to work between them. In spite of that, she truly valued his friendship and had a lot of faith in his ability to keep his promises. This is why she knew he would save Gabby.

"I hope so as well," Appoline said after a moment. When she was assured by her daughter that she would be okay by herself, Appoline exited the tent. Instead of going to sit in the stands, she marched toward the judges' box, intent on letting them know how pissed she was. Now that Fleur wasn't in danger of losing her magic, she could deal with those in charge of this idiotic tournament.

When Appoline arrived there, the judges and officials were talking amongst themselves about what happened to Fleur. They didn't realize her presence until she loudly cleared her throat.

"I demand to know who thought it was a good idea to place two veela in a lake full of merpeople. Have none of you heard of the Treaty of 1861?" she asked coldly, her voice cutting off all conversations. "The treaty where it explicitly states that Veela and merpeople are to stay out of each other's territories or risk retribution?" Appoline looked every single one of them in the eye as she questioned them – the three leaders of the school, Fudge, Ludo, and Mr. Crouch. The British minister was the first one to respond.

"Who do you think you are talking to me like that?" Fudge asked imperiously, trying but failing to be intimidating.

"I am the mother of the two veela whose lives you recklessly endangered for your entertainment. I am the mother whose six-year-old daughter you took as a hostage without my permission, something that equates to kidnapping," she snapped, causing Fudge as well as Ludo to become very nervous. They realized the legal implications that could result from her statement. Fudge was also a bit afraid of Appoline's intimidating posture and tone.

Dumbledore sat up as he tried to diffuse the situation. "Madame Delacour, I assure you that all possible precautions have been taken for the safety of those involved. I personally received the merpeople's word that a temporary truce would be established for the duration of the task." His attempt didn't work.

Appoline laughed scornfully. "Tell that to Fleur who was almost killed by an ambush of several grindylows set up by the merpeople. If it wasn't for Mr. Potter, she wouldn't have made it out alive."

"I understand that you are upset about your daughter's injuries, but that doesn't mean it was caused by the merpeople," Dumbledore chided condescendingly, thinking Appoline was allowing her emotions to cloud her judgement.

"It does when a merman watches it happen without attempting to help her," she argued, causing Dumbledore to become worried. Appoline's next statement only increased that worry. "I demand that you get my daughter out of that village immediately."

"We can't do that. It's against the rules to interfere in the task after it has started. If we do so, the other champions could lose their magic," Ludo said nervously, knowing the veela in front of him wouldn't like his answer.

Appoline was caught between a rock and a hard place, not wanting to risk the others losing their magic, but really wanting Gabrielle out of the lake as soon as possible. "Then you better hope that Mr. Potter is able to successfully rescue my daughter. If something happens to her, I will go to the ICW and explain the situation to them. I don't think they will be pleased to learn of your irresponsible actions and likely will call for an investigation into the handling and organization of this tournament," she threatened, fully planning on acting on it if necessary.

"Are you threatening us Madame Delacour?" Dumbledore asked, trying to assert his authority.

"That was a promise, not a threat," she replied fearlessly. Then she turned to Madame Maxine, an expression of supreme disappointment on her face. "I am most upset with you, Madame Maxine. I thought I could trust you to keep your own student safe, but apparently I was wrong." The Beauxbatons headmistress could only bow her head in shame, realizing how badly she had failed her student.

Then, without another word, Appoline walked back to the docks to wait for Gabrielle and Harry to return.

- S.P.P.O.S. –

Harry arrived at the merpeople village about fifteen minutes after he left Fleur and immediately began scanning his surroundings. The four hostages – Cho, Hermione, Ron, and Gabrielle in that order – were tied to pillars lined up in the middle of the village. He saw about fifteen mermen floating around them, noticing the looks of hate and disgust on their faces when they glanced at Gabrielle. They all had spears in their hands, looking every bit like the fierce warriors they were described to be. Harry tried to come up with a plan to save the little veela from them but realized he had to wait for the other champions to get their hostages before he could act.

After he had the situation fully assessed, he swam forward, stopping when he was about three feet away from the hostages. The mermen looked at him angrily but stayed put where they were. It was obvious that the merman from earlier had informed them of his rescue of Fleur. Instead, they watched him closely, ready for any attempt by him to save Gabrielle. When he refused to move from his spot and take his hostage, they got even angrier, snarling at him and baring their weapons menacingly. Harry only smirked in response.

Seven minutes after Harry got to the village, Cedric arrived and freed Cho. The Hufflepuff was curious about why he wasn't getting his hostage but kept going when Harry signaled for him to leave. Krum came three minutes later and tried to use his shark teeth to sever the bonds around Hermione. Thankfully, Harry was able to lend him his dagger before his friend was cut in half.

Now alone, Harry swam to Ron and began cutting through is ropes with the dagger while discreetly cutting through Gabrielle's with a low powered cutting charm from his wand. Then, he began to swim away with Ron pretending to leave Gabrielle there. When he was about ten feet away, he silently summoned her to his side, putting more power in it to get her to him quickly. When Gabrielle was in his arms, he realized that she was waking up and quickly cast the Bubble-Head charm around her so she could breath. She started to panic before recognizing that she was with Harry. His presence calmed her down quickly, though she had a confused expression on her face. It changed to one of fear when she looked back and saw that they were being pursued by angry mermen.

He didn't have time to reassure her because the mermen started gaining on him, some throwing daggers at him. He used the spell from earlier to propel himself through the water, but the weight of his two passengers slowed him down. Trying to slow down his attackers, he sent several Reductor curses at them, managing to knock six of them away and slow down the rest.

About five minutes later, Harry finally saw the surface, but the mermen were getting closer no matter how fast he tried to move. In an act of desperation, he sent Ron and Gabrielle to the surface before turning to face the mermen. Ron gained consciousness the moment his head broke through the water and he swam with Gabrielle to the dock after Harry urged him to get them both to safety. Then he began throwing as many spells at the mermen as possible to distract them from pursuing his friends. It was working well, and he managed to incapacitate another two of them.

Unfortunately, the hour ended, and he began reverting back to his normal form, the gillyweed no longer in effect. While he was distracted, one of the mermen managed to pierce him in the side with a dagger. An excruciating pain enveloped him because of the enchantments on the blade and he couldn't breathe. He began sinking down to the bottom of the lake as the mermen followed him, gloating at the pain he was in.

Desperate and not wanting to die, Harry reached out to his magic to get him out of there anyway possible. Just as he thought it was too late and that he had sunken too far down, he felt his magic respond, sending him shooting toward the surface of the lake. The mermen that were gathered around him screeched angrily, but he was moving too fast for them to stop him. They could only watch as raced upwards, shooting out of the water like a cannon.

While Harry was happy that he got away from the mermen, he still was too out of it to control his trajectory. If he didn't slow down, he was heading for a very painful landing. Thankfully, someone on the dock was paying attention to him and quickly drew their wand, slowing him down until he landed safely at their feet.

"It's nice to see you again, though I wish it were under better circumstances," Harry joked to the person who helped him.