Beginners: book 1, Goblet of Fire

The Egg and the oaf

Ron and Hermione have gone back to their stiff politeness after Hermione came down to breakfast on the 26th with very red and puffy eyes. The only good thing from this is that no one brings up the hickeys that line my neck, only Hermione when we're alone, in the bathroom or at night, but never with them. I try my best with spells and concealers, but I still wear a scarf for the first few days. I haven't spoken to Luis since that night, on blurs of the Beauxbatons students in the hall and at meals. Harry and I are tasked with keeping all conversation going, which isn't difficult because he has new information on the second task.

"But how would taking a bath change anything?" Hermione says. "Ron, could you please pass the pumpkin juice, thank you."

"I dunno," Harry replies, pushing around his eggs. The night of the ball, Cedric came up to him and told him to take a bath with the egg, leaving all of us perplexed. "He was probably just trying to make a fool of me."

"But you can't be sure, maybe just try it," I say. Cedric took Cho Chang, Harry's crush, to the ball, and since then Harry has been very reluctant to do anything related to Cedric.

"I'll be fine, still got nearly two months." He grumbles out.

I sign, giving up. If he doesn't want help, I'm not going to force him into it. The Great Hall doors open, and periwinkle blue floods in. I catch Luis' eye, and he winks, I smile back, our code. Even with all of the classwork we have, and our complicated schedules, this is all we can do.

Hermione catches our little exchange and gives me an inquisitive look.

I clear my throat and look back at my food, praying she doesn't bring it up. The few times she has in front of the boys, things have gotten very awkward very quickly. As much as I want to see him again, our little game is almost as exciting.

Weeks later Harry still refuses to try Cedric's trick. Hermione and I have both all but given up on trying to help, now we have better things to do.

Rita Skeeter released an article on Hagrid, outlining that he is part giant. Other than trying to convince Hagrid to leave his cabin, the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher keeps assigning us essays on unicorns. And, even though I know it isn't true, he insists he's almost got it. Night after night I find him sitting in the common room, staring at the egg. Finally, after a day at Hogsmeade, Hermione makes us all go to Hagrids and convince him to come back. Much to our shock, Dumbledore is there too. After half an hour of talking, we've all been able to get Hagrid to come back.

Right before we leave, Hagrid says "Yeh know what I'd love, Harry? I'd love yeh ter win, I really would. It'd show 'em all... yeh don' have ter be pureblood ter do it. Yeh don' have ter be ashamed of what yeh are. It'd show 'em Dumbledore's the one who's got it righ', lettin' anyone in as long as they can do magic. How you doin' with that egg, Harry?"

I watch Harry pale a little, before quietly saying "great, really great."

Hagrid smiles through his huge tears and thanks each of us. I give Fang one last head scratch, and we head out to dinner.

"Right," Harry says over our Sunday night roast. "I'm going to try Cedric's hint."

"I thought you already cracked the egg," Hermione says, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"I have," Harry says quickly. "I just want to make sure I'm right."

So, that night Ron times coming into the common room so Harry can leave unnoticed, under his invisibility cloak. We all waited until late into the night, but by the time everyone goes to bed we give in, deciding to talk to him in the morning.

The next day in charms, Harry fills us in on his very eventful night.

"Snape said Moody's searched his office as well?" Ron whispers, ignoring the cushion we are supposed to be banishing. "What... d'you reckon Moody's here to keep an eye on Snape as well as Karkaroff?"