12| the golden egg
Cedric was bothered. He'd already dealt with the issue of finding a date to the Ball, he didn't have to worry about that any longer. Now, he has not had to worry about the next task. He tried opening the egg, it was an unbearable screeching sound that he couldn't explain well. He couldn't understand what it was or how it would've supposed to tell him what he needed to know. It was becoming stressful, he couldn't really tell anyone and that's enough if he did ask one of his friends, it's not like they'd be able to understand fully.
All during lunch, he tried understanding what could possibly be the hint inside the egg? Anything that could help him understand but nothing came with it. In Potions he could barely concentrate on anything. They were in the Great Hall again, groups separated into their own sections. He sat next to Amara, like usual, her hair blocked his view of her face. She turned to the side, chin resting in the palm of her hand as she wrote rows after rows of words on parchment. He always wondered how she did so well in this class. It was the only one he was in close proximity to her to really notice how quick she was with just about anything.
"Cedric."
He felt almost insanely dumb for not being able to figure the egg out. It was almost taunting him, making him feel stupid for not being able to understand it properly. His mind drifted to another thought. Was it possible that Amara would know? She was smart, that he had known already, so he wondered if she'd be able to know what it was.
"Cedric!" Her voice grew louder. He snapped away from his thoughts, slightly flushed at being caught in a daydream. "Are you alright?" Her hair was tucked neatly behind her ear now, one piece falling over her eye. She kept her gaze locked on her work, waiting for a reply from him.
"What?" He watched the small strand of hair carefully, debating if he should move it behind her ear himself.
"You just seem a little out of it, is all," she shrugged her shoulders, reading over her textbook. William and Lennon were deep in conversation about their game against each other last year, and who had more fouls.
"Yes, I sort of feel that way as well," he played it off with a smile, sitting straighter attempting to refocus on his Potions work before Snape comes by and smacks the back of his head. He tried to ignore her stare, but it was hard not to when they were in such close distance to each other. "Is something on your mind?" She asked, "Sorry I'm not used to seeing you so... unfocused?"
A small tint of red filled his cheeks at the comment. He looked to their partners, they were still deep into their own conversation across the table. With a small sigh, he answered, "It's a little hard to explain. I'm just having a little trouble with the next task."
"The egg?" She asked head tilted in curiosity, "Viktor was speaking of the awful sound it made."
"Has he figured it out?" Cedric asked eagerly, moving closer to Amara for a second. Startled, she moved back, "I'm not sure, he didn't say anything of that sort. But I'm sure he's close to if he hasn't yet, Karkaroff seems to be the brains while Krum is the Braun. He nodded his head, biting his lip in thought, "I've no clue what I'm going to do."
"You have plenty of time to think about it," she shrugged, looking back down to her notes. He only huffed, irritated in himself for not figuring it out yet. He was beginning to think he was just a weak link. Everyone else had someone helping them in some way, that was evident. And even if they didn't have help, he was the last to know about the dragons. He was sure he'd be the last to figure the egg out. "Can I see it?" She dragged him out of his thoughts. He looked to her for a moment, trying to find if she was being genuinely curious.
"Yes but it's quite loud, so I'm not sure where I'd be able to show you," he turned away, trying to hide the smile that threatened to appear at the thought. She turned away, brows scrunched together, "Lets meet tonight then, we'll go to the bridge just above the courtyard. It's far enough from any dormitories or offices."
"And what of Filch?" He asked in concern.
"And what of him?" Amara shrugged carelessly, "He's a big oaf who can't run ten feet without needing a break. We'll outrun him if we get caught."
It was dark out. The moon was shaped like a fingernail, and Cedric was holding the egg tightly as he looked over the grounds. It was a little passed their agreed time and she hadn't shown. He wondered if she'd even show up at all. He was beginning to feel a bit ridiculous for thinking she'd actually come. She seemed eager to see it, and he jumped at the opportunity to spend even the smallest amount of extra time with her. He was ready to turn around, head to his room with a bitter expression.
"Sorry I'm late!" She called running over, "You can blame Peeves, snuck up behind me and I had to threaten to get the Bloody Baron to get him to leave me alone." She ran her fingers through her hair attempting to adjust it as best as possible failing miserably. "No worries," he smiled, holding the egg out, "Well here it is. Careful it's quite heavy."
"You're letting me hold it?" Her eyes widened as she shook her head, "Oh no, knowing me I'll drop it and it'll crack straight down the middle."
"Well then should I just open it?" He asked, "It's very loud, so just beware."
She nodded her head, hands already covering her ears slightly.
The nastiest screeching sound she had ever heard filled her ears. Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment as she tried getting used to the sound. Slowly opening them, she was met with a glow, Cedric was ready to close it but she stopped him, head tilting as she examined the glow. When he finally shut it, he sighed in relief but there was a ringing sound in his ear now.
"Did you see what was inside?" She asked him. He shook his head, "I'm too focused on not going deaf."
"It had... they kinda looked like bubbles."
"Bubbles?"
::.
