CH 69

The most annoying part was that she was not sure at all what deciphering the egg entailed. It was incredibly difficult to solve such a vague problem. She had tried revealing anything written on the outside, even throwing it into the fire in the hopes that it might reveal something. It hadn't. The egg had screamed just as loudly as before.

She was starting to wonder if the screaming itself was the clue, rather than just a noise to indicate failure. It might change to something recognisable if she cast a charm or altered the egg's surroundings, or the next task might be to defeat something that screamed just as unbearably as the egg did. Madame Maxime might know of any such creatures.

Fleur found her headmistress sitting in the communal area, a place Fleur normally avoided at all costs, drinking coffee from fine, white china mug. Fortunately there were no others in the area, probably as a direct result of the presence of their headmistress. If she knew of half the things that her students got up to once they came of age, or, in the case of many, once they came close to it, she would be both shocked and appalled.

'Madame Maxime,' she began, hoping her headmistress would not construe this as cheating, or, if she did, that she'd be as uncaring as she was about the actions of Harry Potter.

'Yes, Fleur?' She set down her mug of coffee and turned all her attention to Beauxbatons' foremost student.

'I was wondering if you knew if any creatures that emit such screams as the egg?' Fleur patted the golden object gently as if it were precious to her. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

Madame Maxime smiled. 'I'm afraid I cannot say,' she replied, 'but I would like to recommend you a book. I do not have it here, but Hogwarts' Library certainly will. It is called Magical Creatures of the Water and their Secrets.'

'Thank you,' Fleur said very gratefully. Her headmistress' help was the only chance she had at deciphering the egg, even though the task itself was not until after the Christmas Holidays. Casting her disillusionment charm Fleur all but ran to the library. The other champions might have been given similar hints and then had the foresight to take the book out to prevent their rivals from taking the same route they did.

Hogwarts' Library was one place Fleur had to concede it bettered Beauxbatons. It was not as attractive and open, Beauxbatons had terraces and balconies surrounding its domed equivalent, but it was far larger and just as organised.

Fleur found the book she was searching for tucked away in the section for magical creatures.

Someone, she noticed, had taken out all of the books pertaining to veela and she rather hoped it was not related to her. Veela had their weaknesses just like any other and she didn't want her rivals to be able to exploit hers.

Flicking through the book she ignored the sections on Grindylows and other lower forms of magical life. None of them were capable of emitting more than growls and squeaks.

It was almost an hour of poring through the pages of the book before she came across a useful passage.

The singing of the Merpeople cannot be understood above water, Fleur read. Any attempts to hear their singing above the waves will only be met by a loud shrieking.

Fleur snapped the book shut. She had her answer. The egg needed to be underwater to be understood. Saying a silent thank you to her headmistress and ending her concealing magic, she picked up the book and headed to the library exit.

It was with a slightly smug smile that she checked out the book. None of the others would learn the answer as she had.

Eager to finally decipher the clue she hurried back through the corridors towards the nearest bathroom. The sooner she discovered the clue the better.

Filling the sink furthest from the door with water and casting a charm to keep the bathroom locked she tapped her fingers impatiently along the length of her wand. She was so close to finding out what came next, waiting was unbearable.

The instant the sink was full enough to completely contain the egg she opened it and dropped it in. The screaming cut out instantly and Fleur could just make out the sound of singing from the basin.

It was not loud enough to hear, regardless of how close to the water she put her ear. Sighing she swept her silver hair over her right shoulder and gingerly dipped her ear into the water.

Come seek us where our voices sound, We cannot sing above the ground, And while you're searching ponder this; We've taken what you'll sorely miss, An hour long you'll have to look, And to recover what we took, But past an hour, the prospect's black,

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.

Fleur did not like the sound of any of it.

The first line alone was enough for concern. Merpeople could only be heard underwater and that meant the second task would be taking place there. As a veela she was weakened in such an environment. It was not a drastic reaction, but her magic would be sluggish in the cold, and less powerful in the wet, just as it was ever so slightly quicker and stronger in the hot and dry. There wan nothing she could do about her natural aversion to the wet and the cold. Hopefully it would not be noticeable to the judges.

The rest of the song was every bit as worrying. It was obvious that the Merpeople would either be given or would take something precious to her. Fleur did not really consider many things as particularly precious, but those she did she was very attached to.

Sorely miss will not do it justice.

Fortunately the majority of the things she loved were with her and as of yet untouched by any other. The first thing she would do when she returned to her room in the carriage was make sure they could not be removed by anyone except her. Fleur imagined they needed something, but after failing to find anything of clear value would settle for something less important. If she did fail to recover what was taken, it would only be a disaster in one dimension.

That just left finding a way to survive underwater for an hour.

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