Aurora Lupin-Black

Chapter 8: Mermaids?✔✔

"Harry, you told me you'd figured the egg out weeks ago." Hermione scolded as we walked across the bridge, stopping half way along to enjoy the view.  "The task is two days from now."

"Really, I had no idea?" Harry sassed, making me laugh a little in the quiet.

"I suppost Viktor's already figured it out." I spoke up from my spot beside Harry, leaning forward to see around him to Hermione who looked perplexed.

"I wouldn't know. We don't actually talk about the tournament. Actually, we don't really talk at all. Victor's more of a physical being." she spoke, looking between Harry and Inwho smirked, or well, I smirked, Harry was trying to hide his laugh.

"Really?" I asked, moving my eyebrows suggestively.

"I just mean, he's not particuarly loquacious." She laughed nervously as she realised how what she had said sounded. "Mostly, he watches me study. It's a bit annoying actually."

"Yeah, I can see why that is." I laughed, nodded.

"I watch you study all the time." Harry argued, faking offence at my statement.

"That's because I don't give you must choice baby, I do my studying in your lap, on your bed... at breakfast before classes... it's no wonder you haven't figured that egg out, always watching me." I grinned back, making him laugh.

"You are trying to figure this egg out, aren't you?" Hermione asked, making the situation serious once again. "These tasks are designed to test you Harry, in the most brutal ways. They're almost cruel and I'm scared for you." She admitted. "You got by dragons mostly on nerve, I'm not sure that's going to be enough this time."

"Hermione, he's trying, he is. When I'm studying, he's trying to figure it out. It's just difficult because he has to do it alone." I reminded her and she nodded, beginning to speak again but was cut of by a voice calling Harry and I.

"Hey Rory, Potter." I looked around, behind Harry to see Cedric walking over to us.

"Hey Cedric." I smiled kindly as I waved.

"How are you?" He asked, a nervous sort of look in his eyes.

"We're great, did you enjoy yourself at the ball, at christmas?"

"I did yeah, Cho and I had a great time, I think she really like me, which is great because we're sorta dating now." he chuckled making me laugh lightly. "Listen, Potter, I realised I never thanked you guys properly, for tipping me off about those dragons."

"Forget about it, I'm sure you would have done the same." Harry brushed him off, still feeling a little uncomfortable about all the 'Potter's a cheat' stuff that went on before the first task.

"Exactly." Cedric smiled a little, looking at me then back at Harry who looked at him confused. "You know the Prefects' bathroom, on the fifth floor?" The Hufflepuff asked, a knowing smile on his face.

Harry and I both looked at each other and then at Cedric, nodding.

He leaned in closer to us and gave us his hint.

"It's not a bad place for a bath." He told us, then lead back to his straight back posistion. "Take your egg and mull things over in the hot water."

Then he turned and walked away, leaving Harry and I confused... well, more confused that what we were.

"What was that about?" I asked, looking up at Harry.

"I don't know, but I think we should do as he says." He shrugged, grabbing my hand and pulling me with him into the school and towards the Gryffindor common room.