“Harry,” Hermione said, smiling widely.
“Congratulations.
I’m so glad you’re okay.
When did you decide to try and summon the egg?”
“It occurred to me over the weekend,” Harry said.
“I figured that if I could summon a broom, why not try and get the egg itself first?”
“Thank goodness it worked,” Hermione said.
“Could we talk, privately?” Harry asked.
“Of course,” Hermione said, turning around and leaving the crowded common room.
Once they were mostly alone, he quietly said, “I’m sorry about earlier.”
“Don’t be,” Hermione said.
“I was the one who froze on the spot awkwardly.”
“I was briefly reminded of second year,” Harry said.
“You’re not usually that affectionate,” Hermione said.
“It’s not something I’m used to,” Harry admitted.
“I just realized what a pillock been all weekend, disappearing on you without a word, and I felt guilty.”
“It’s okay,” Hermione said, turning and stopping in her tracks as she looked up at him.
“You made it through the task without getting a scratch.
If it took you going off on your own for a couple days to figure out how to pull that off, it was well worth it.”
She hugged him then, and he let out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding.
“For the record, you can hug me any time,” Hermione said softly.
“The way you took off, I worried that you thought it was weird,” Harry said.
“Not at all,” Hermione said, smiling up at him.
After a moment, she pulled back and said, “Did you look at that egg?”
“No, I decided to wait for you,” Harry replied, pulling the egg out of his pouch.
“I figured it had to be hollow from the weight.
“This decorative part on top seems to be the only thing that isn’t seamless,” Hermione said.
“Right, just let me try pulling on or twisting it,” Harry said, gripping the supposed cap and applying pressure.
It twisted easily enough, and soon the egg opened, only to emit the most awful screeching noise either of them had ever heard.
“Agh!” Harry cried while Hermione covered her ears.
As his hearing returned to him, he noticed a couple students had rushed over to see what the noise was.
Mrs.
Norris was also there, standing with her back arched and hissing in his general direction.
“Sorry!” Harry called out.
“Tournament thing.”
“That was singularly wretched,” Hermione said, wincing.
“That was supposed to be a hint,” Harry said, grimacing.
“Maybe the next task will require ear protection.”
“Doubtful,” Hermione said dryly.
“That awful screeching must signify something.
We’ll need to do research, though I’m drawing a blank on where to start so far.”
“I have three months,” Harry said as he pushed the egg back into his pouch.
“We’ll think of something.”
“We always do,” Hermione said.
“Well, you always do,” Harry chuckled.
“I wouldn’t be here without you.”
“That’s quite mutual,” Hermione said, her warm brown eyes staring right into his.
“Do you want to start now?
We could go to the library.”
“Harry?” Rias’ voice sounded in his head.
“Huh?” Harry asked, freezing in place.
“What’s wrong?” Hermione asked.
“Relax, Harry,” Rias said, sounding amused.
“I placed a spell in your ear to let us talk remotely.”
“No…nothing,” Harry said.
“I think I might need to relax a bit.”
“You’ve earned yourself some time off from all of this,” Hermione said.
“I’ll see you later.”
“Later, Mione,” Harry said, smiling as she left.
“When you’re alone, just let me know, and I’ll head your way,” Rias said.
“Just a tick,” Harry said quietly as he made his way towards Myrtle’s bathroom. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“Hello, Harry,” the teenage ghost said.
“It’s nice of you to come visit.”
“Hello, Myrtle,” Harry said.
“It’s been a while.”
“It has,” Myrtle said.
“Did you come to chat?”
“Actually, I came to see the chamber,” Harry said.
“Why?” Myrtle asked.
“Well, the last time I was down there, I killed the thing that killed you, but I didn’t have time to really look around,” Harry said.
“Oh, well, it’s a dangerous place,” Myrtle said.
“I can handle myself,” Harry assured her.
“Oh no, I just meant that if something goes wrong down there, you’re welcome to share my toilet with me,” Myrtle said, smiling.
Harry just blinked at her a couple times before laughing and saying, “Thanks Myrtle.”
“Open,” he hissed, and watched as the wall and sink in front of him transformed into the entrance to the chamber.
He was about to slide down when a thought occurred to him, and he hissed, “Stairs.”
Before his eyes, the smooth tunnel that he and Ron had ridden down the first time transformed into stairs.
He laughed out loud, though realizing that he wouldn’t be able to laugh with Ron about how stupid they were the first time put a damper on his mood.
He drew his wand and started casting cleaning charms on the steps as he descended.
“Was that yet another girl I heard you talking to?” Rias asked.
“That was Myrtle,” Harry replied.
“She’s a ghost who was killed back in the forties by the dickhead who killed my parents.”
“Did he teach in your school?” Rias asked, sounding confused.
“No, he was a student back then,” Harry said.
“I can only assume that he was born the way he is.”
As he reached the bottom, he cast a quick lumos spell and pulled out the ornate little paper she’d given him.
“Before you go, I just wanted to make it clear that you’ll need to summon me again to get me back into Hogwarts,” Rias said.
“Can’t you just come in now that you know where it is?” Harry asked.
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