As the supreme authority at Hogwarts, Harry asked to see the plans for the second task. Since he had already deciphered the message in the golden egg, there was no reason for anybody to oppose that.
Harry found detailed plans for the seating of the audience and the judges, as well as the platform from which the champions would start their task. The only other information found there was that the hostages would be handed to the merpeople chieftain during the night preceding the event. There was no mention of security, of helping any champion who got into trouble for whatever reason – nothing at all. The only precaution mentioned was of casting a charm to disable summoning the hostages, so the champions would need to physically rescue them. There was no provision for any of the hostages getting into trouble either, although a Veela girl, who didn't take well to water, was expected to be one of them.
The document was signed by the two ministry officials as well as Karkaroff. Both Dumbledore and Madam Maxim protested that it was too dangerous and didn't approve it, yet their opinions didn't seem to count.
"I can't approve of any hostages. The champions who put their names into the goblet were aware of the dangers and ready to face them, but nobody else should be put in any danger as part of the tournament," Harry insisted. "Besides, we should have some kind of security to allow for any accident while in the lake. I can't approve the task without them."
Despite Percy's objection, that it was not worth the bother, the other judges seemed quite pleased to make the required changes. The hostages were replaced by large gilded plaques, each bearing the champion's name. Four portkeys, easily activated under water, were given to the champions. These were intended for the champions to use if they encountered a severe situation that they couldn't tackle without suffering life-threatening damage. Using the portkey would strip the champion of any points for the task, of course.
"I'd rather not have to take part in it, but this task is now safe enough, at least, and can still test the champion's abilities just as well as the one initially planned," Harry said.
The second task, when the time finally arrived, was a cold and boring event. Once the champions jumped into the water, the audience had nothing to see for almost an hour. Fleur came out first, without her trophy, having barely escaped a pack of Grindylows. She didn't use her emergency portkey, though. She was bleeding from many scratches and bites, and her swimsuit was almost torn to pieces, but even the horniest boys in the audience couldn't pay attention to her almost exposed assets under the circumstances.
The other champions arrived almost at once, shortly before the allotted hour passed. Harry was first, with Cedric and Viktor emerging at the same time, a minute later. Cedric got the second place, as he arrived closer to the deck, allowing him to reach it two or three seconds before Krum.
..
With the second task over and the third one still far in the future, Hermione decided it was time to present her new family to her parents. "You've already met the Patil parents and Madam Bones. It's only fair to let my parents get to know you," she told Harry, who was quite apprehensive at the prospect. Although Hermione had kept her parents current with all the changes in her life, and they seemed to accept them, Harry still didn't feel too sure about it. He was sure that no parents, especially Muggle ones, would be happy about the situation, despite the evidence to the contrary.
They used the Floo to reach the Leaky Cauldron, and then took a taxi to reach the Granger residence. The two pureblood girls got really excited at the ride – their first – but calmed down along the way. They didn't talk much, not wanting to let anything unsuitable escape their lips, making the driver wonder. It was weird enough for one boy to be evidently very close with three girls.
Harry's apprehension grew stronger as they approached, despite both Hermione and Padma holding his hands tightly. He let Hermione handle the payment, not having used a taxi before. Susan made sure to hold the freed hand reassuringly. They stepped to the door and Harry pushed the bell button, although Hermione offered to open the door with her own key.
The door was opened by a woman who could have been Hermione, only a decade older. Harry felt momentarily confused by the similarity, and failed to notice that she stepped closer. He only came back to his senses when he felt himself hugged by her and heard Hermione giggle at his side. "Well, Harry, it looks like my mother likes you almost as much as I do."
Harry was unsure about the proper reaction. He hugged his hostess back quite hesitantly and felt relieved when she let go of him. "Hi, I'm Jean Granger. You may call me Jean or Mum – whichever you prefer, Harry. Hermione told us so much about you, that I feel like I've been knowing you for years."
Luckily, she didn't expect a reply, as Harry felt at loss of words. Jean turned to the girls. She hugged Hermione just the way she had done with Harry, and then looked her over, before turning to the other girls. "Let me guess," she said with a smile. "You are Padma, judging by your hair and your skin, and you must be Susan, the redhead. I'm glad to finally meet you and I'm looking forward to getting to know you."
She ushered them in and let them take off the winter coats before leading them all to the sitting room. "I would have liked us to sit in the kitchen, where it's cosier, but it's just too small for six people," she apologized.
As they came in, Hermione's father stood up. He first hugged her lovingly and then held her at arm's length and looked her over, as if making sure she was alright. He then smiled and said, "Now, dear, don't you want to make the introductions?"
Hermione laughed happily. She held his hand and turned to the others. "As you can guess, this is my father, Dr. David Granger, who prefers to be called Dave. Dad, these are my husband, Lord Harry Potter, who also holds a few more lordships, and his other wives – Lady Padma Gryffindor and Lady Susan Bones. You may call them all by their first names."
Dave turned to Harry. "I'm glad to finally meet you, son. I must also say that I admire your courage. Most men can hardly cope with a single wife. Getting three… well, I can only wish you luck."
Harry felt all his apprehension melt away and his heart overflow with emotions at being called "son". That was certainly something he had been wishing for since before he could remember. "Thank you, Dad," he said, his eyes getting tearful and his voice choking.
Dave smiled at him and turned to the girls, motioning them all to sit down. Jean came a moment later with some refreshments.
A few hours later, when they took a taxi back to London, Harry felt like he had really gained himself a family, much more than either the Patil or Madam Bones. Hermione's parents made him feel completely at ease. He had become sure during the visit that they cared for him just as much as they cared for Hermione and that he could trust them with everything, just as he trusted his wives. This was a kind of feeling he had never had before and he cherished it.
..
As the end of term approached, along with the third task, Harry turned his attention back to the tournament. Once again, he demanded to see all the plans. Once again, he found them barely adequate. The original plan called for the hedge that formed the maze to be almost twenty feet high, obscuring everything happening within the maze, so that the audience could see practically nothing. This also prevented everybody from noticing if any of the champions needed help, unless he sent red sparks. When facing a mortal danger, one wouldn't point his wand anywhere but at the danger, so this method seemed quite lacking.
Harry demanded much lower hedges, a bit over six feet high. These would allow the audience to monitor the advance of the champions and become quickly aware of any problem.
The original plans also had the goblet at the centre serve as a portkey to take the winner out and deposit him or her in front of the judges, leaving the other champions in the dark. Harry thought this was unfair. "Once we have a winner, why should the other champions continue to face dangers? I believe we should remove all dangers, once there is a winner, and help the champions out of the maze." He then gave it some more thought. "A portkey could be compromised, taking the winner anywhere. It would be safer not to use any portkey and to even raise a ward above the maze, one disabling any portkey as well as apparition."
Despite the additional work required, his demands were accepted. Harry felt much better knowing that he had improved the safety of the contestants as well as the interest for the audience. He now only needed to do his best to survive.
It was Susan who gave him an idea, quite appropriate for a Hufflepuff. "Isn't the tournament all about cooperation with other schools? Why don't you ask the other champions to join forces and act as one? Four wands will protect you better than one and eight eyes will spot danger better than only two. You may then grab the trophy together and share the money."
Harry shrugged. "I don't care about the money. They can share my part between the other three champions, but this may surely turn safer than doing everything alone. I'm not sure if the others would agree, though."
Susan smiled. "I'll talk to Cedric, if you like, and I'm sure that Hermione can persuade Fleur, especially since she got the least chance of winning. You may only need to talk to Viktor."
As expected, both Susan and Hermione had no problem doing their parts, yet Harry found the Bulgarian champion quite elusive. Viktor seemed to avoid any contact with others, arriving late for meals and disappearing as soon as he finished them, talking only with his school mates at the table.
"How can I talk to him if I can barely even see him?" he whined to Hermione.
"Where are you looking for him?" she asked.
Harry thought she knew quite well, but he still answered, "I know he comes for meals, so I try to intercept him on his way into the Great Hall or out of it, yet he walks so quickly that it turns impossible."
"Why don't you come to the library with me?" she asked teasingly.
Harry wasn't sure what she had in mind, but he trusted her. They walked to the library as soon as they finished dinner. Once there, Hermione took her usual place, at a table near the back, and motioned Harry to sit at her side. He did so. She pointed her hand at another table, practically hidden between two book cabinets.
Harry was surprised to see Viktor Krum sitting there with several thick tomes, his long hair obscuring his face almost completely. Hermione smiled and waved him onward.
Harry approached quite hesitantly. "Viktor?"
The Bulgarian lifted his head. "Oh, Harry Potter. Vot brought you here?"
Harry smiled nervously. "I'd like to make the last task safer for all champions. I thought that if we all cooperate, doing it together, we have much better chances of surviving."
Viktor looked suspicious. "I see vot is in it for you. Vot vill I gain if I do as you say?"
"If we work together, we can protect each other from dangers and we have more power than only one of us. I suspect some of Hagrid's 'pets' will be placed in the maze and you need more than one wand to pass them safely."
Viktor nodded and then frowned. "My 'eadmaster vill not like this. He vants me to vin at all price."
"So, should I not count you in?"
Viktor smiled. "I can't be seen cooperating before the task, but Karkaroff can do nothing once ve're in the maze. Ve all vork together, da?"
Harry smiled back and moved his hand forward. "Together, all four champions."
Viktor took his hand and shook it. "Da, all four together." He then let go of Harry's hand. "Now go. I vont nobody to see us together before the task."