Harry Potter and the Hidden Treasure (Volume 3)

Chapter 597 The Noisy Golden Egg

When they entered the Gryffindor Common Room, it erupted with applause and cheers once more.

There were heaps of cakes and pitchers of pumpkin juice and butterbeer on the tables and chairs.

Lee Jordan had set off some Filibuster fireworks, so the air was thick with stars and sparks.

Dean Thomas, who was very skilled at drawing, had put up some impressive new banners, showing Ron soaring through the air around the Hungarian Horntail on the Firebolt, and Avon using the magical barrier to withstand the fire and defeat the dragon.

The huge banner in the middle kept changing. Up top, Evan stood out alone in the crowd, raising his wand. In front of him was the fearsome dragon, baring its fangs and spewing fire from its mouth.

The next second, the image changed, and the dragon was flying backwards like an insect.

Underneath the banners, all the Gryffindors were celebrating, laughing, and indulging in delicious food.

Everyone approached Evan and Ron to have a chat, asking for more details, and many thanked Evan.

They had also been in the stands. If Evan hadn't saved them, they could have been hit by the fire.

Ron was no longer so nervous. He had overcome the first task, and wouldn't have to face the second one for three months.

"Wow, this is heavy," said Lee Jordan, lifting a golden egg that was on a table, and weighing it in his hands.

"Indeed, I dare say this must be pure gold!"

"Open it, Ron, come on! Let's see what's inside!"

"Come on, open it!" Several chimed in.

"All right!" mumbled Ron, also very curious.

He took the golden egg from Lee and dug his nails into the surrounding seam and opened it.

It was hollow and completely empty. But the moment Ron opened it, the most horrendous noise, a shrill and loud scream, filled the room.

The closest thing they had heard before was the ghost orchestra at Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday party, where all had been playing musical saws.

"Shut up!" shouted Fred, hands over his ears.

Ron snapped the golden egg shut and gasped.

"What was that?"

"It's a terrible noise, maybe something you have to deal with in the next task."

"It sounded like a banshee. Perhaps you have to pass beyond one of them, Ron!" said Seamus Finnigan.

"No, it was someone being tortured!" said Neville, who had gone very pale and spilled sausage rolls all over the floor. He looked at Ron with concern. "You... you're going to have to fight the Cruciatus Curse!"

"Don't be daft, Neville, that's illegal!" said George. "They wouldn't use the Cruciatus Curse on the champions. It sounded a bit like Percy singing... maybe you have to attack him in the shower."

"Haha, in a way, Percy is even more dreadful than a dragon."

This noise was the singing of a siren. The golden egg needed to be underwater before it could be easily used, but Evan didn't mention it.

After all these wild guesses, Ron stored the golden egg away.

He was ready to solve this riddle alone as a champion and without any help, relying on his own skills.

After overcoming the dragon task, Ron had grown a lot.

Whether he succeeded in the end or not, this tournament was proving beneficial for him.

"Let's talk about something else, don't just sit there. Do you want a jam tart, Hermione?"

Hermione looked hesitantly at the plate he offered her. Fred smirked mischievously.

"It's fine," he said. "I didn't do anything to them. It's the custard creams you should watch out for..."

Neville, who had just taken a bite of a custard cream, choked and spat it out. Fred and George laughed and looked at him.

"It was just a little prank, Neville..."

"Speaking of which," Hermione grabbed a jam tart. "Did you get all of this from the kitchens, Fred?!"

"Yes," said Fred, smiling. He put on a high-pitched voice and mimicked a house-elf. "To serve you in whatever way, sir, in whatever way! They are very helpful... if I say I'm hungry, they bring me a roast ox!"

"How do you get in there?" said Hermione with an innocently casual tone.

"Easy," said Fred. "There's a hidden door behind a painting of a fruit bowl. You just stroke the pear, it laughs and..." He paused, eyeing her suspiciously.

"Why, why are you asking?"

"Nothing," Hermione quickly said.

"Are you going to try to lead the house-elves on strike now? Are you going to abandon the whole flyer business and try to incite them to rebellion?" George said.

Several people laughed. Hermione remained silent.

Evan knew her too well; obviously, Hermione intended to do so.

"Don't go upsetting them by telling them they have to accept clothes and wages!" Fred warned, giving Evan a gentle nudge under the table. "You'll dishearten them in the kitchen!"

Regarding the struggle for the house-elves' rights, Evan couldn't convince Hermione to give up either. Furthermore, he made it clear that he would support her, although in reality, he hadn't done anything.

Just then, Neville caused a small distraction by turning into a large canary.

"Oh... sorry, Neville!" exclaimed Fred, ignoring Hermione, jumping up hastily and shouting above all the laughter. "I forgot... it was the custard creams we hexed!"

In a matter of minutes, however, Neville had shed his skin, and once his feathers fell, he appeared completely normal again.

He even joined in the laughter and found this enchanted custard cream quite fascinating.

George explained to Evan that he and Fred had been experimenting since the summer break, continually making improvements. The finished products they had now released were even more intriguing than the shape-shifting sweets that made Dudley sprout a pig's tail.

"Come on, Canary Cream!" yelled Fred to the excited crowd. "Our latest product, invented by George and me... only seven sickles each, a bargain. Start placing your orders now!"

The young wizards placed their orders eagerly; the Weasley twins' pranks were now highly sought-after. Whenever new products debuted, they often sold out. Many even bought them to resell to students from other Houses.

Some time ago, Fred and George even debated with Evan the possibility of promoting them to Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students, to tap into foreign markets, unsure if it would work or what the best approach would be.