Recently, the corridors of Hogwarts Castle have been bustling with competitors clutching golden eggs, a testament to the ongoing challenges of the Triwizard Tournament. Among them, Fleur Delacour is particularly troubled. Aware that John has the capability to decipher the egg's secret yet striving for fairness, she resolves to solve the mystery independently. Cedric Diggory, leveraging his intimate knowledge of Hogwarts and his privileges as a prefect, discovers the egg's secret somewhat more swiftly.
One evening, while indulging in the luxurious bath service afforded to prefects, Cedric accidentally drops his golden egg into the water. As he retrieves it, the egg begins to sing a mysterious song, revealing the clue to the next task:
"Find us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing upon the ground.
In your search, think carefully about:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour's all you've got to fix,
Fail, and what's gone will not be found."
Emerging from the water with his hair full of bubbles, Cedric is astounded. "Could this be the clue for the second task?" he muses, contemplating whether to share this revelation with others. Recalling Harry Potter's generosity in sharing information about the first task, Cedric feels a strong sense of camaraderie and obligation.
His thoughts then turn to Fleur, a fellow member of the Quadwizard Club, and he decides to consult John. John, perceptive as ever, praises Cedric's noble spirit and advises him to follow his heart but to allow Fleur the chance to uncover the secret on her own, given her pride.
As days pass, the harsh winter weather besieges the ancient castle, and the students find themselves battling the elements. Hagrid, preoccupied with the care of the goddess's twelve rune horses, neglects the Blast-Ended Skrewts, leading to a fierce competition for survival among them. John, observing the skrewts, contemplates harnessing their unique properties for a potent explosive spell.
During this time, Rita Skeeter, a reporter notorious for her daring exploits, defies Dumbledore's ban and sneaks into Hogwarts in her Animagus form of a beetle. John, recognizing her, watches as she transforms back into her human form, dressed in a magenta robe and exuding a palpable sense of greed.
Hagrid, though simple-minded, is aware of Dumbledore's ban on Rita but is taken in by her feigned interest in the Blast-Ended Skrewts. As an enthusiast of magical creatures, he can't help but share his knowledge with her, unaware of her ulterior motives.
Rita, seizing the opportunity, turns her attention to Harry, planning to exploit her visit under the pretense of writing a column on magical creatures. Her eyes gleam with the prospect of uncovering more sensational stories, oblivious to the brewing storm her actions might unleash. To ensure Hagrid wouldn't fall into a trap, John cleverly devised a plan to counteract Rita Skeeter's scheming. Before departing, Rita Skeeter approached Harry, ready to flash her golden teeth in a teasing smile at the handsome student, John. However, upon catching sight of John's intense, burdened gaze, her words faltered, and the image of a silver mask flashed through her mind, instilling fear in her and causing her to hastily retreat. John, maintaining his composure, watched her leave with a detached air and mused, "Given Rita's nature, it's likely that the interview on Friday is a setup." Rita was notorious for her relentless pursuit of sensational stories, and while she might target anyone to achieve her ends, Hagrid was John's friend, and he couldn't stand idly by and watch him be deceived. Thus, he delegated the task to Tang Mi, who didn't need to take direct action but merely had to remind Rita about the time Hagrid was unjustly imprisoned by the Ministry of Magic, and how John Silver Hand had generously posted bail for his release. This reminder dampened Rita's enthusiasm for exploiting Hagrid's situation.
The second task of the Triwizard Tournament involved retrieving objects from underwater within an hour, presenting a significant challenge to the competitors on how to breathe underwater for such a duration. John observed Cedric Diggory emerge from the Black Lake, his head encased in a bubble. Impressed by Cedric's ingenuity, John felt compelled to commend him. "The Bubble-Head Charm, I see you've found a solution," he noted. Cedric, modest in his achievement, replied with a smile, "I'm not quite proficient yet. I need more practice."
Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy had not been idling around. Tasked by John to provoke Neville as a form of revenge, Malfoy found such tasks within his wheelhouse. However, his appearance by the Black Lake, disheveled and with bruises, told a different story. "John, I think it's nearly done," Malfoy said through a pained grin, the bruises on his face a testament to Neville's retaliation. "Neville's temper has flared up. He attacked me the moment I provoked him."
John, skeptical of Malfoy's claim of a fair fight, raised an eyebrow as Heinrich approached with a different account. "Draco took Goyle and Crabbe to ambush Neville, but Neville managed to chase them all the way back to the common room," Heinrich reported, revealing the imbalance in Malfoy's tale. John couldn't help but marvel at Neville's unexpected resilience and Malfoy's unique talent for inciting hostility. It was clear that Neville, typically mild-mannered, had been pushed to his limit.
Reflecting on this, John advised Malfoy, "The day Neville confronts you with his wand, that will be an acceptable outcome." Despite Malfoy's discomfort at the prospect of facing Neville's wrath directly, John encouraged him to have faith in his own abilities, highlighting Malfoy's indispensable role in their group's dynamic.
As Cedric successfully completed his hour underwater, Heinrich reminisced about his family's ties to Durmstrang and their own experiences with underwater challenges. John listened, appreciating the complexities of Heinrich's family dynamics and the diverse backgrounds of his peers. As the day drew to a close, John pondered the unique qualities and stories of those around him, recognizing the strength and resilience in each of their journeys. Heinrich sat on a large rock, his gaze tinged with a hint of imperceptible nostalgia. "My uncle has a knack for disguising himself as an Animagus. Sometimes, he transforms into our grandfather just to scare people. At home, he's left behind a wine cellar filled with many exquisite wines."
"My father, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of my uncle. He's more like a scholar, never one to follow the crowd. He has a preference for tea over wine, except on rare occasions. His passion lies more in academic research. If it weren't for Edgar, he might have been highly respected."
"I don't want to end up like my father. I want to prove to them that the path of light that Edgar shunned is worth following. Edgar's legacy has been tarnished by two generations of Dark Lords, casting a shadow over our family name and associating it with madness and dark magic. Though it's unspoken, the alienation from everyone is palpable."
John placed a reassuring hand on Heinrich's shoulder, his voice earnest. "There will come a day when you'll be proud of the path you've chosen."
Heinrich's golden eyes sparkled with determination and zeal as he nodded emphatically. As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, the light that danced in his golden eyes faded away. It was time for them to make their way back to the castle.
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge