Chapter 129: What I Saw in the Black Lake (Part 2)
The songs of the mermaids, though hauntingly beautiful due to their unique language, were incomprehensible in the air.
A peculiar characteristic of mermaid singing was that once the sound-transmitting substance left the water and entered the air, it caused dizziness, nausea, restlessness, and dryness in listeners—it was extremely unpleasant.
Strangely, when heard underwater, even those who didn't understand the mermaid language could grasp the meaning of the songs.
As the singing grew louder, Phineas and the others realized the submarine was heading straight toward the mermaids.
"Should we go in another direction?" George asked nervously.
The Grindylow attack earlier had rattled them. If the Grindylows had managed to damage the submarine, they would've been exposed to the open waters of the Black Lake.
Though they each had bubble-head charm hats made by Phineas, protective rings, and a Portkey boot for emergency escape, there was no second chance. If they had to leave now, they wouldn't be able to re-enter the lake's depths. This far down, only the submarine—Gryffindor's legacy—could take them.
The submarine pressed forward, and through the clear viewport, the group saw what lay ahead.
Stone statues littered the lakebed—serpents, fish, mermaids, and Grindylows carved in stone. Around them were simple stone houses, within which moved creatures with iron-grey skin, long dark green hair, bright yellow eyes, and malformed limbs.
These were the mermaids.
They wore pebbles, shells, pearls, and other trinkets strung around their necks with rough rope—nothing like the fairy tale mermaids. They weren't graceful, nor were they benevolent.
Mermaids—also known as sirens—appeared in ancient Greek mythology as creatures who lured sailors with their voices, leading ships to wreck upon rocks. These myths were rooted in truth. Most mermaids truly sang from the rocks to lure prey. As carnivores, their food was often drowned sailors.
As the mermaids spotted the submarine, they rushed out with spears in hand, slapping the lake water with their muscular fish tails to stir the current—clearly ready to fight.
Seeing this, Phineas and the others tensed. Unlike their encounter with the Grindylows, a mermaid attack meant they'd be surrounded on all sides. Grindylows, after all, were akin to the hounds of mermaids—servants, even.
"Phineas, what do we do?" Lee Jordan asked, his voice trembling.
"I don't know," Phineas replied grimly. "Everyone be ready. If they attack, use stronger spells—Blasting Curses, Splitting Spells—don't hold back."
He increased the submarine's speed, hoping to pass quickly through the mermaid village.
Sensing the motion, the mermaids grew more agitated. Their spears waved ominously, and the tail slaps intensified.
Still, they didn't attack—not yet. They looked to one among them—their leader—for instruction.
The tension mounted as the submarine crept deeper into the village.
No… The treasure is in the mermaid village, Phineas realized, staring at the pointer on the map. His heart sank.
This wasn't the same mermaid village that Harry would one day pass during the Triwizard Tournament. That one, closer to Hogwarts, had agreements in place with the school and a friendly relationship with Headmaster Dumbledore. They rarely attacked students, and Hogwarts even provided them food.
But this was a different village, deep in the lake—near the mouth of the sea. These mermaids had no pact with Hogwarts. They had little food, and rarely encountered humans.
The mermaids hadn't attacked yet for two reasons: they knew wizards were dangerous, and Phineas and the others had still been on the outskirts, able to leave. But now, heading straight into the heart of their territory, the situation was far more perilous.
"Get ready, everyone," Phineas warned. "We're in for a tough fight."
George, Fred, and Lee Jordan nodded grimly, already holding their wands tightly. They too saw the pointer on the map and knew the treasure lay directly within the village.
If fighting was inevitable, they would strike first.
Sure enough, as the submarine reached the village center, an ancient-looking mermaid let out a guttural cry. Instantly, the mermaids charged, swimming with frightening speed and spears in hand.
They were upon the submarine before anyone could react.
"Now! Shatter them!" Phineas shouted, aiming his wand at an advancing mermaid.
"Diffringo!" he cast, a blasting curse bursting forth.
"Diffringo! Diffringo! Diffringo!" George and the others joined in, their wands releasing glowing red jets. The spells lit up the murky water, pushing back the attackers and piercing the gloom.
The battle had begun.