Chapter 112: The Golden Egg (1/2)
After a heart to heart conversation with Hagrid and Hagrid encouraging Harry to win the Triwizard Tournament, the four of them walked back to castle. On the way back Harry and Ron told Chris that they overheard Hagrid and Madame Maxime's conversation at the ball. There Hagrid told Madame Maxime that he's a half-giant but Madame Maxime took it as a insult and said that she's not a half-giant at all, which Chris didn't believe. Then after Ginny, Luna and Colin promised that they'll not tell anyone else, Chris told them about the conversation with Sirius, Rita and Hagrid.
”But it means she'll write bad about you... again.” Colin said after listening.
”So what? I don't care.” Chris shrugged.
”Sirius gave pretty serious informations though,” Ginny whispered. ”What're you planning to do with them Chris?”
”For now nothing. He only asked us to be careful.” Chris replied. ”And by us I mean you three too.”
”Hmm.. but I'm glad you managed to convince Hagrid to come back.” Luna said smiling.
”Tell me, how was your day?” Chris asked.
”Oh nice.” Luna replied. ”Shawn and I went to a walk around the Hogsmeade. We almost saw every store there.”
”Mine was also nice. We spent time in a tea shop.” Ginny said blushing.
”I was with Alex and William. We were having fun in Zonko's joke shop.” Colin grinned. ”I also met Susan there. She was with her friends so we didn't talk much but I guess we're going to be good friends.”
”What about you? Met Jason there?” Ginny asked.
”Nope. And also he doesn't like to talk much in front of people.” Chris replied casually.
Sunday morning Chris woke up late as usual. She jumped out of the bed and stretched. Ginny came in.
”Orning.” Chris said yawning.
”Harry is looking for you.” Ginny said urgently. ”He said it's really important. He said he'll wait for you in the Great Hall.”
”Al-ri-ght.” Chris said slowly.
Chris got ready fast and walked towards the Great Hall with Colin and Ginny. As soon as they sat down, Harry got up and pulled her aside.
”Chris. I need your help.” Harry whispered furiously. ”I haven't figured it out, I was lying. Please help me. I can't let so many people down. I want to win it for Hagrid.”
”Relax relax.” Chris replied smiling. ”I knew you were lying.”
”You did?” Harry said surprised.
”Oh c'mon Harry, Hermione only believes you because you're her friend and she have faith in you; other than her, the people, who know you really well, also know that you're brave but not intelligent.” Chris said cooly. ”I'll not say you don't have common sense but to solve a riddle? Nah.”
Harry stared at her blankly for few moments then looked confused then embarrassed then amazed.
Chris chuckled.
”I'll help you. Give me the golden egg, will you?” She said grinning. ”I was just teasing you.”
”Alright.” Harry grinned. ”Though you're right.”
Later that day Chris took the egg from Harry and went to Moaning Myrtle's out of order bathroom, where she was doing making new potions nowdays. She sat down on the bathroom floor and stared the golden egg. It was beautiful golden colored egg, plain and smooth. Chris stared at it for almost ten minutes then she dug her fingernails into the groove that ran all the way around it and prised it open, and the loud and screechy wailing, filled the bathroom. Chris shut it thinking if someone heard it, then she remembered she already put a silencing charm on the bathroom door. She sighed. There was no sign, no marks, nothing. Just the empty beautiful egg with a screeching noise.
”Chris is that you?”
A ghost of a very glum-looking girl came out from the last stall. It was Moaning Myrtle.
”Hey Myrtle. Didn't mean to disturb you.” Chris said rubbing her forehead.
”It's alright.” She said a little less gloomily. ”You're the only student who comes here a lot and also doesn't mind me. You're like a friend.”
”We're friends Myrtle.” Chris looked up smiling.
It was true; from her first year, Chris was always friendly towards this teenage ghost, who was the glumiest of all ghosts in Hogwarts. Also after Chris started to come into this bathroom to make potions or practice spells, she always talked with her. Turns out Myrtle was a very bright Ravenclaw, she clearly remembered the things she learned and read fifty years ago in Hogwarts. So it was a great help for Chris as she informed her many things.
”I know we're.” Myrtle answered a little more brightly. ”Well what're you up to this time?”
”Oh! Just trying to figure out this egg.” Chris said showing the egg.
”It's the champions' egg, isn't it? Part of the tournament?” Myrtle said coming close and sitting beside Chris.
”Yeah. It's Harry's. He asked for my help. I said I'll help,” Chris sighed, ”but honestly I've no idea what....”
”Put it in the water.” Myrtle interrupted.
”What?” Chris looked surprised.
”Put the egg in the water.” Myrtle said smiling. ”I saw Cedric Diggory doing that in Prefect's bathroom.”
”Really?” Chris asked. ”Wait Myrtle! What were you doing in the Prefect's bathroom? And why were you watching him?”
”I go there sometimes when the Prefects take bath.” Myrtle said shyly.
Chris stared at Myrtle for few moments in amazement then she burst into laughter.
”And they've no idea about it, do they?” She asked laughing hard.
”No. I've never went out to speak to anyone.” Myrtle giggled.
”Perks of being a ghost I guess?” Chris said still giggling.
”Why? You want to see them too?” Myrtle said looking at her, still giggling.
Chris abruptly stopped, she coughed.
”No Myrtle. Why will I'll try to see the boys when they're taking baths.” She said and shook her head, to dismiss the thoughts as she was getting red.
Myrtle giggled again.
”Ok so back to the point Myrtle.” Chris said seriously. ”I just need to put it in the water?”
Myrtle nodded. Chris got up pulled her cauldron out from a stall, filled it with water and put the egg inside it.
”Now open it.” Myrtle ordered as soon as Chris put the egg inside.
Chris opened it … and this time, it did not wail. A gurgling song was coming out of it, a song whose words she couldn't distinguish through the water.
”You need to put your head under too,” said Myrtle.
”But I can't put my head into the cauldron, Myrtle.” Chris said thinking.
”But then you can't listen to the song.” Myrtle said gloomily. ”Cedric Diggory put his head under the pool. That's how he understood.”
”Pool?” Chris looked up.
”Yeah there is huge pool inside the Prefect's bathroom.” Myrtle answered.
”Great. I can use the pool.” Chris said getting up. ”The other option is the lake, but if I went there and someone or some judges saw me with this egg, it'll create problem. Specially if Karkaroff saw me.”
”But it's Prefect's bathroom, Chris. You're not a Prefect.”
”Oh I'll manage.” Chris said closing the egg and putting it inside her locket box. ”See you later Myrtle.”
”Bye.” Myrtle said as Chris ran out from the bathroom.
”Cedric! Cedric!” Chris called as Cedric went to sit on the Hufflepuff table for dinner.
”Hey Chris.” He smiled and came towards her.
”I need to talk to about something.” Chris whispered.
”Alright.” Cedric said and they went out of the Great Hall and stood in a corner.
”Cedric, I need a little bit favor.” Chris said.
”You told me about the first task. I owe it to you.” He smiled. ”Ask away.”
”Can you tell me, how to access the Prefect's bathroom?” Chris whispered.
”It's about the second task, isn't it?” Cedric grinned. ”You figured it, didn't you?”
”Yeah.. actually...”
”I got help from Professor Moody this time. Or else I was going to ask you for help.” He said cooly. ”Like you said.”
”Really? Professor Moody helped you?” Chris asked surprised.