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-After the Enchantments and Wards Class-
As soon as Penny's class ended I prepared to leave the classroom, but I felt a hand on my arm stopping me, and turning around I saw Penny behind me.
"Ethan dear, why don't you stay a little longer and talk to your grandmother?" she asked with a slight smile.
"Oh, okay" I nodded.
The two of us then waited for the other students to leave the classroom, and when everyone left Penny closed the door.
She then removed all the objects from her desk and transformed her chair into a two-seater sofa.
"Come on, sit down" she said, sitting on the couch and patting the remaining seat next to her.
And as soon as I sat down next to her I saw a cup of tea and a mug of hot chocolate appearing on the table in front of me.
"Demisweet hot chocolate with caramel, your favorite" Penny said with a smile as she picked up the cup of tea.
And hearing this I didn't need to think much before picking up the mug and drinking some of the delicious and sweet hot drink.
"I don't know if this is some kind of flattery or bribery, but you can continue because it's working" I said drinking the hot chocolate with a happy and satisfied look.
"No, this is not a bribe" she laughed, "This is actually just a grandmother wanting to spoil her grandson a little"
And hearing this a small smile appeared on my face, "Well, then a toast to this wonderful grandmother that I love so much" I said, raising my mug.
"Now who is trying to flatter who?" she asked amused.
And in response I just hid my mischievous smile by taking another sip of my hot chocolate.
The two of us then spent some more time just sitting next to each other relaxing and enjoying each other's presence, until Penny put her cup down on the table and looked at me.
"So, what did you think of my first class?" she asked, and I could see she was anxious about my answer.
"Well…" I started to say, placing my mug on the table.
And I could see Penny tense up, and I could feel her nervousness, which made me shake my head with a slightly exasperated and affectionate look.
"Your first class was... spectacular" I replied, smiling at her, "And I'm sure the other students loved your class too"
"Really?" she asked hopefully.
"Uhum" I nodded, "I believe that neither I nor my classmates have had a class here at Hogwarts that was as incredible, exciting and magical as yours."
And hearing this Penny smiled happily, and I could feel that she was relieved.
"Well, that's good to hear" she said, "I just hope the next few classes are as interesting for you as this first one"
"I guess you don't need to worry about that" I snorted, "Even if the class was boring everyone would still enjoy it just because you're the one teaching them"
"Well, that might be true…" she started to say, but I interrupted her.
"I'm sure of that" I said, "And the main proof of this is that all the fourth year students were in your class, and I never thought I would see so many students excited and eager to take classes on the weekends."
'And really, I don't think I've ever seen anything as strange and surprising as this... And whoever's saying this is the same boy who killed a giant deadly ancient snake and found an almost sentient magical room that held an object with a piece of the soul of the dark lord' I thought.
"Well, I can understand why that would be surprising..." she said amused.
But after she said that I realized that Penny and I had been talking for a long time, and a question then came to mind.
"Wait, shouldn't you be getting ready for your next class?" I asked her.
And hearing my question, Penny waved her hand dismissively, "Oh, the other students can wait, for now I want to spend time with my beloved grandson."
"That's not professional at all," I said, but the smile on my lips didn't fool Penny.
"What can I say? I am a carefree and free person" she said with a slight shrug.
"And besides, my curriculum for students isn't as complex as other teachers', since I'll only teach them the basics of Enchantments and Wards," she said.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes, and it's the same for Nick" she nodded, "The only person we will pass on all our knowledge to and teach with all our heart is you, since you are our only true student"
"Well, that's good to hear" I said a little emotionally, "But are you sure? I know you like teaching, so won't you be missing an opportunity?"
"Oh Ethan dear, have you forgotten how old I am?" Penny asked amusedly, "Just my 'basic' knowledge is superior to the knowledge of many witches and wizards who have spent their entire lives studying"
"And in fact many of these wizards and witches have already begged to learn from me, even if just a lesson" and hearing this I blinked, having actually forgotten that Nick and Penny were greater sources of knowledge than most libraries in the world wizard.
"But let's stop talking about classes and lessons" Penny said, before taking my hand in hers, "Tell me, how are your days at school?"
And feeling her gaze full of affection and care on me, an ironic smile appeared on my face.
'Just like a grandmother' I thought.
I then decided that I would take advantage of this time to relax and talk to my grandmother, and I started to tell her about my days at school while also talking about my advances in magic, something that she really liked to hear.
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-A little later-
After spending some more time talking to Penny, I left the classroom and started looking for my friends, but in the middle of this search I found the golden trio leaving the library.
And looking at their backs I remembered that there was something important for me to talk about with Harry.
"Hey Harry" I called the Gryffindor boy, who turned to me.
"Oh, hey Ethan, what's up?" he asked, with me approaching them.
"Oh, I wanted to know if you've already solved the clue to the golden egg" I said, looking at him curiously.
"Not yet" he said, sighing slightly, "We just left the library, but we couldn't find anything in the books that could help us unlock the clue in the egg."
"Yes, and I think my fingers have calluses from turning pages so much" Ron complained.
"Come on guys, I said we just need to research a little more" Hermione tried to motivate them, "I'm sure there must be a book talking about those golden egg screams and what they mean"
And she said that, but even I could see how tired and stressed she was.
"Oh, I know what they mean... They mean pain to our ears," Ron said with a grimace, putting his hands to his ears and rubbing them.
And the other two members of the golden trio also grimaced as they remembered the golden egg's loud and shrill screams.
'Apparently they are suffering more than I expected' I thought with a sympathetic look.
"Well, it looks like you guys need help" I said, and that made the three of them look at me.
"Wait…" Hermione started to say, narrowing her eyes, "Have you figured out the meaning of the golden egg clue yet?" she asked.
"Yes" I shrugged, "It was actually easier than I expected"
And as soon as I said that I could feel three pairs of intense eyes falling on me, and looking at the golden trio I saw them staring deathly at me.
"Hehe, just kidding" I said, raising my hands in surrender.
However, this didn't do much good, and to prevent a possible murder I decided to change the subject.
"Ahem" I cleared my throat, "Actually the clue in the golden egg is not just a screechy, hysterical scream, it is a creature's magical language, and it can only be heard by human ears under certain conditions."
"Really? What creature?" Hermione asked.
"Try to guess... It involves the black lake" I smiled enigmatically.
And the trio then looked at each other before they began to reflect, and I waited while they thought.
"Oh, I know!" Ron said excitedly, "It's the Giant Squid's language!"
...
...
...
...
"And that's why you're in Gryffindor," I said dryly, and he backed away offended.
And Hermione, who was still thinking, looked at me, and by the sparkle in her eyes I knew she had solved the riddle.
"It's the language of the Merpeoples," she said, and I smiled.
"Ding Ding Ding! 10 points for Gryffindor" I said.
And upon hearing my confirmation of her answer, the bushy-haired girl smiled proudly.
'Well, it looks like Harry will have a lot more time to properly prepare for the next task' I thought, remembering that the day of the second task was just under three months away.
End.
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