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"𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐘, this is heavy," said Lee Jordan, picking up the golden egg, which Harry had left on a table, and weighing it in his hands. Every Gryffindor was watching Harry, who was about to open the egg.
"Well it's not a bloody chicken Jordan." Marina scoffed.
"Open it, Harry, go on! Let's just see what's inside it!"
"He's supposed to work out the clue on his own," Hermione said swiftly. "It's in the tournament rules..."
"I was supposed to work out how to get past the dragon on my own too," Harry muttered.
"Yeah, go on, Harry, open it!" several people echoed.
Lee passed Harry the egg, and Harry dug his fingernails into the groove that ran all the way around it and prised it open.
It was hollow and completely empty – but the moment Harry opened it, the most horrible noise, a loud and screechy wailing, filled the room. The nearest thing to it Harry had ever heard was the ghost orchestra at Nearly Headless Nick's deathday party, who had all been playing the musical saw.
"Shut it!" Fred bellowed, his hands over his ears.
"What was that?" said Seamus Finnigan, staring at the egg as Harry slammed it shut again. "Sounded like a banshee... Maybe you've got to get past one of those next, Harry!"
"It was someone being tortured!" said Neville, who had gone very white and spilled sausage rolls all over the floor. "You're going to have to fight the Cruciatus Curse!"
"Don't be a silly, Nev, that's illegal," said Marina. "They wouldn't use the Cruciatus Curse on the champions. I thought it sounded a bit like Percy singing... maybe you've got to attack him while he's in the shower, Harry."
Fred and George laughed.
Marina suddenly felt exhausted from the egg's scream. What the hell was this tournament playing at? These champions lived?
"Well I guess everyone get back to your knitting." Fred sighed.
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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 December brought wind and sleet to Hogwarts. Drafty though the castle always was in winter, Marina was glad of its fires and thick walls every time she passed the Durmstrang ship on the lake, which was rather chilly. On the bright side, Lav and Pav were less busy with Divination Club. And lately Cedric was teaching Marina how to do non-verbal magic. Which surprisingly she was good at.
While she was having a good day so far, except when a certain blonde joined their Magical Creatures class one afternoon.
