Chapter 128: Lerner!

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Bagman's voice booms over the dying cheers of the crowd. "Absolutely brilliant use of the Four-Point Spell, and my spotters have told me Mr. Potter ate something and engorged a rock before disappearing into the Lake."

"I daresay he's gained quite a lead over his older competition! That just goes to show you that it takes a lot more than age to—"

I tune out the commentary, which spends an inordinate amount of time praising Harry and unnecessarily reminding everyone of the popular version of his history.

I suppose they are trying to avoid the doldrums, now...apparently the organizers never thought about just how boring this Task would be for everybody else.

Five minutes into it, the crowd starts chatting and mingling amongst themselves.

Luna breaks the silence first in our little group. "No thank you, Neville, I am quite comfortable up here."

"Um, you can let me down now, William," Astoria says as the people around us wander off.

"Nonsense! I shall be your trusty steed, milady. Now, whither shall we frolic and sundry?" I know that doesn't make sense but I just wanted to say 'and sundry.' I spin around and she gives a yelp, after which I pretend to gallop away.

"Astoria?" A woman's voice brings me up short.

"Oh, hello, mother."

Oh, damn. I turn to the voice, hoping my face isn't too red. "Lady Greengrass," I say in what I hope is a confident voice, as if I'm not carrying her daughter around on my shoulders. The fact that this woman is a more mature – and thus quite beautiful – version of Daphne, does not help my blush.

"My name is William Lerner, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." I push a stream of magic out my left hand to gently levitate Astoria off of my shoulders and offer my right to her mother.

Her mother raises an eyebrow as Astoria floats slowly to the ground, then she places her hand lightly on my own. I bow over them and brush my lips over her knuckles. "Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Lerner."

"I assure you I am only perhaps three-quarters as awful as they've no doubt made me out to be," I say with a smile.

She cracks a small smile. "I was quite surprised when my daughter insisted on the most advanced wandless magic text we had, but I see that my husband's disbelief was quite misplaced. It's a shame he missed it."

"I did not," Lord Greengrass says, walking over to us from the main cluster of people. "It's a pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Lerner."

"And you, Lord Greengrass," I say, shaking his hand. Between the both of them seeing their youngest daughter on my shoulders, my reaction to the sight of Lady Greengrass, and the praise, I'm sure my face is thoroughly flushed by now. "And, uh, sorry for putting her on my shoulders..."

"Nonsense, my boy," the man says, clapping me on the shoulder.

"We watched you with her for most of the morning," Lady Greengrass says with a knowing smile.

"Mom!" Astoria whines.

"We were looking for you to let you know about Daphne," her mother explains. "We had a visit late last night asking for permission, and given assurances for her safety. It seems that Mr. Lerner here assuaged your concern."

"And taught you a new spell, unless I miss my guess," her father adds.

I try to apologize again, but Astoria jumps in first. "He did! He and Harry figured out why Hermione was missing and then he showed me how to get my wand to point to Daph! Watch this...point me!" Her wand spins toward the lake then halts.

"Very nice, Stori," her mother says with a big smile.

Her father looks at me. "The Four-Point Spell, same as the one Mr. Potter used from his broom, isn't it?"

I nod. "That's the one."

"Did you teach Harry, too?" Astoria asks.

I shake my head and smile. "No, Hermione taught him that one. If you need to learn a spell, she could teach you just as well as Professor Flitwick. That is, assuming she's not hanging out with the Selkies a few hundred meters underwater."

"This is the same Hermione that we've invited over for the upcoming holiday break," Lady Greengrass deduces, "is it not?"

"It is," Astoria says with a broad smile.

"Thank you again for inviting us," I say, hoping to put my embarrassment behind me, "I know I speak for the three of us when I say we're all honored and excited that you would welcome us to spend the holiday with your family."

Lord Greengrass waves it off, saying his daughters were most insistent and convincing.

Just when I think I've gotten past the embarrassment, Lady Greengrass brings up the gifts I made for them, causing me to blush all over again.

I have to explain once again that the Ophion pendant was entirely coincidental.

Some time later, a chorus of gasps precedes a rush back to the front of the docks. I look up and only twenty minutes has passed.

Ludo Bagman's Sonorus-enhanced voice once again reverberates through the valley.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Harry Potter has already surfaced, and he's making his way back! It appears—yes, his hostage is on some sort of flotation device and is being towed toward us at an impressive speed! Only twenty minutes into the hour, and Harry Potter is gliding to victory!"

I dash to the front with Astoria and her parents in tow. "How is he swimming so fast?" Astoria asks.

"That would be the gillyweed that Neville procured for him," I say with a smile toward the adults. "I believe he took about a half-hour's dose to start, so he's going to have to stay underwater for a bit."

This information must have been overheard, because Bagman soon announced what it was Harry had eaten just before he had disappeared, earning hefty praise for his strategy, of course.

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