I'M GOOD, I'M GONE ? george weasley

# 013 ━━ the black lake

   "You may begin at the sound of the cannon," Dumbledore announced, his voice firm yet tinged with anticipation. Moments later, the cannon boomed across the grounds, and the champions plunged into the water. Three of them dove with purpose, the effects of the Gillyweed taking hold as they vanished beneath the surface.

   Indigo, standing with the group, couldn't shake the unease that gnawed at her. "Guys, I've got a bad feeling about this," she muttered, her eyes never leaving the inky waters below. She exhaled deeply, exchanging a worried glance with Cassia.

   Their apprehension only deepened when Dumbledore's voice echoed again, "The Beauxbatons champion, Miss Delacour, has unfortunately been forced to retire. She will take no further part in this task."

   George's anxiety spiked as he turned to Cassia, desperation creeping into his voice. "Fine—no explanations then. But if Deleine's really down there, what happens if no one gets to her in time?"

   Cassia's eyes were wide with worry, but she tried to keep her voice steady. "George, I wish I knew," she replied, her gaze fixated on the lake, the surface deceptively calm, hiding the chaos below. The thought that Deleine was being treated as a "treasure" was unsettling, to say the least.

   But before panic could fully set in, a splash broke the surface of the water. Cedric's head emerged, and with him, Deleine. Her face was pale, eyes wide with fear and confusion. She clung to Cedric as though her life depended on it, coughing up water as she struggled to catch her breath. The roar of the crowd felt overwhelming, each cheer a jolt to her already frazzled nerves.

   Her friends immediately rushed to the front, pushing through the throng of students to get to her. As Cedric was pulled from the water, so was Deleine—George and Cassia helping her to her feet. Deleine shivered violently, a towel quickly wrapped around her trembling frame. George didn't waste a second, pulling her into a tight embrace, both to comfort her and to warm her up. His worry was loud, but relief washed over him now that she was safe.

   "Bloody hell, Chang," Kenneth breathed, still in disbelief. "When—how did you even end up down there?"

   Deleine's teeth chattered as she tried to make sense of it all. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice shaky. "The last thing I remember was talking to Professor McGonagall... then nothing."

   Fred, never one to mince words, blurted out, "George thought you were a goner."

   "I did not!" George shot back, though his defensive tone only earned a smirk from Fred. Despite her chills, Deleine couldn't help but grin slightly at the familiar bickering between the twins. Her gaze flickered over to her sister, Cho, who stood a short distance away. Their eyes met briefly before Deleine quickly looked away.

   She hadn't spoken much to Cho all year, and now here she was, dragged out of a lake and branded as some sort of "treasure" for her boyfriend. The whole situation was beyond ridiculous—it was humiliating.

   As if to add to the chaos, Viktor and Hermione surfaced next, the crowd erupting in cheers. Minutes later, Ron emerged alongside a blonde girl, both coughing but alive. A Beauxbatons student hurried to help them out of the water, their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion. And then, with a sudden rush, Harry burst from the depths, rocketing towards the surface and landing with a thud on the decking where the crowd was gathered.

   "Harry!" Dumbledore called out, his concern evident. "Get him another towel! I want all the judges over here now."

   The scene was a whirlwind of activity, students and staff alike hurrying about, tending to the champions, and assessing the aftermath. Fleur rushed to Harry and Ron, planting kisses on their cheeks in gratitude, while Cedric, still catching his breath, couldn't help but steal glances at Deleine. Meanwhile, Deleine looked up at George, who still held her close, though he was now laughing with Fred, trying to dispel the tension of the last hour.