Transelementation was simple in theory but surprisingly complicated in practice. An increase in the size of the base subject added on to this difficulty. There was a reason why the first thing first-years learned was to turn a matchstick into a needle, and why it was amongst the assignments that took the longest for the inexperienced to complete. While not overburdened by a size factor, the match to needle transformation required the conversion of cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, and extractives into iron: multiple molecular compounds into a single base metal. It wasn't exactly Alchemy, but for a child still young enough for accidental magic — which tended to be charmwork — it was like trying to put on a shoe that was too small and made for the other foot.
Heri did not have this trouble with transfiguration. If there was one class she could claim that she breezed through with nary an effort as everyone believed, it was transfiguration. If Professor McGonagall's fond words on the matter were to be believed, she had inherited the talent from her father. This was why she had decided to forgo jumping in the Black Lake in the freezing February chill.
The stands that had been circling the dragon enclosure during the First Task were now all placed along one side of the shore of the Black Lake. Once again, they were packed with people. Heri wondered what kind of show these people were expecting considering the Task would be set underwater. Perhaps the champions would have cameras following them?
By the time Heri got there, the three other champions were milling about. The three headmasters were all seated already, as was Mr Bagman, but instead of Mr Crouch, Percy Weasley was seated there.
"Percy?" Heri said, surprised. A smile lit her face. She trotted up to where the redheaded young man was seated. "What are you doing here?"
"I've been promoted!" Percy said brightly, and from his tone, he might have been announcing his election as supreme ruler of the universe. "I'm now Mr Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him."
Heri blinked and cried, "I didn't know you got a position in the Department of International Magical Cooperation!" She gave Percy a cheery grin. "Suppose that's what I get for not visiting much last summer. Congratulations! And you're already a personal assistant? You work fast."
Percy beamed and would have said more if it wasn't for Mr Bagman calling out, "All champions to the starting line, please!"
Heri waved to her friend and made her way to the ribbon stretched out across the sand that served as a starting line. Mr Bagman placed them at ten feet intervals from each other, and they all began their preparations.
Delacour took off her robes to reveal a periwinkle one-piece swimsuit, earning herself some rude catcalls from the stands that she haughtily ignored, tying her hair back into a messy bun. Cedric stepped out of his cloak in a pair of trunks and a tank-top, shivering visibly and rubbed warmth into his arms. Viktor was already standing in nothing more than a pair of trunks and was glaring at the Lake as if it was some beast to be tackled. In stark contrast, Heri merely removed her boots and stockings, leaving on her winter uniform — thick skirts and heavy cloak all — and her hairpins.
The other gave her funny looks — Viktor looking endearingly confused — but Heri had no plans of getting in that icy lake.
Mr Bagman returned to the judges' table, pointed his wand at his throat as he had done at the World Cup, and said, "Sonorus!"
His voice boomed out across the dark water toward the stands.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the second Task of the Triwizard Tournament! In this event, our champions will be braving the Black Lake in search of what has been taken from them, which they will have precisely an hour to recover!
"For the viewing pleasure of our audience here today, each champion will be followed by a Watching Eye, which will project their progress onto the crystal tablets everyone has under their seats."
As he spoke, four Watching Eyes — literal eyes with little bat wings attached to the back — flapped over from the judges' table and hovered around the champions' heads. Heri's rushed at her face for a second before veering off to watch her from her left.
"Does everyone have their tablet ready?" Mr Bagman asked, after a moment for the audience to retrieve the said object. "Right-o then!
"Well, all our champions appear to be ready . . . We will start on my whistle! Countdown from three, now. Three . . . two . . . one!"
The whistle echoed shrilly in the cold, still air. The stands erupted with cheers and applause.
Paying no mind to the other champions in their advance to the water nor to the Watching Eye trailing after her, Heri padded forward to the edge and removed her transfiguration wand — made from mahogany — from her hair. She now held a wand in each hand. With a steadying breath, she pointed both foci at the water in front of her.
Transfiguring water was a complicated task, as was any classical element, especially if one did not intend to transfigure all of the water. A simple solution that was often overlooked by those unfamiliar with the task was to remove the portion you wanted to transfigure.
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