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I couldn't help but notice Ron and Hermione standing on opposite sides of the exit. As soon as Potter and I stepped out, we each "picked up" our friend, and in two different groups, we headed back to Hogwarts. The guests don't live in the castle, though, preferring the ship and the carriage, so that's where the remaining champions went.

As soon as we left the edge, Rita Skeeter popped out of the trees like a jack-in-the-box, in another bright, shocking outfit of gaudy color. The first thing this shark of a pen smelled was "Potter's blood" and immediately pestered the guys with questions.

"Emergency evacuation," I whispered quietly toward Hermione, who seemed embarrassed to take my hand. And a dozen minutes ago, she hadn't been able to tear herself away from me.

"What?"

"Let's get out of here quickly, or do you want to talk to a reporter who's going to twist everything?"

"Absolutely not," Hermione shook her head negatively, and we quickly cast a set of cloaking charms on each other. Here the girl took my hand because we couldn't see each other, either.

While the annoying lady was trying to get a word out of Potter and Weasley, we slipped past unnoticed and made our way easily to the castle, where we dropped our charms at the entrance and went quietly to the Chamber of Secrets - there was no more class anyway. We decided to get into this room in a tried and tested way through the second entrance on the fifth floor.

After a long descent downstairs, we were immediately greeted by Delphine, sitting on a chair near the tent in the middle of the room.

"It turned out very interesting, Max," she nodded to both of us with a smile, inviting us into the tent.

Already inside, in the makeshift study hall, sitting at tables and satisfying a slight hunger with dishes prepared in advance, Hermione and I listened to Delphine's thoughts on the other champions and my performance. Lady Greengrass didn't say much, but still. Krum, in her opinion, is a bit sick in the head, determined, very accurate, and quick-witted. Doesn't shy away from some quite brutal spells and causes concern. Potter is useless as a wizard and has passed the task on the ability to fly, which in some cases is also a lot. In Delphine's opinion, Fleur is the most dangerous to me: cunning, beautiful, clever.

"If I threw myself at every pretty skirt, it wouldn't be me anymore."

"Also true," nodded Delphine.

"Max, I think," Hermione, who had been staring at the golden egg the whole time, decided to talk, "that it's time to open this thing already."

"That's true. Let's see," I took the egg in my hands and twisted it this way and that. The sharper end had loops and a lock in the form of a dragon's paw, and judging by the structure of the egg, it should open like a bud, with petals on the loops. I opened the egg with a slight movement, and the tent was filled with a high-pitched noise, crackling and rattling as if on glass. Despite the wild discomfort of this cacophony of sounds, I tried to listen, catch the algorithms of its changes, and other things that I could then use to explain why I suddenly decided to put it in the water. Delphine also only slightly winced, and judging by the look, she tried to listen. On the other hand, Hermione immediately covered her ears with her hands and looked at us with a martyr's face. As soon as I closed the egg, the girl breathed a sigh of relief.

"Interesting," smiled Delphine. "I never wondered what that might sound like. Disgusting."

"You know what it is, don't you?"

"Of course I do, Max. But you know yourself, I can't so obviously suggest and moreover, answer openly."

"Then I'll try to reason. The squeak is heterogeneous, constantly changing, so it carries a meaning. Perhaps an acoustic one. Let's try it this way."

Taking out my wand, I pointed it at the egg.

"I'll open it."

Hermione immediately covered her ears with her palms, and I put one of the magical domes for potions on the egg. There are a great many of them, but with this particular one, I increased the density of the air inside. The effect was quite entertaining - the air inside refracted the light a little differently, and at the edges of the dome, the light curved slightly, as if it were a drop of a different substance.

As soon as I opened the egg, everyone immediately noticed a change in the tone of the sound, even if only slightly. It was still as nasty, but its configuration had changed, making it seem even more like it carried information. Closing the egg and canceling the spell, I voiced another thought.

"The change in the density of the medium had caused an uncharacteristic change in the sound. It even seemed to make sense to me. I think it's worth experimenting with other mediums. However, reasoning logically, what media do we have in direct access?"

"Water and earth. Stone, but I don't think..." replied Hermione.

"Water, then."

I transfigured an empty mug into a barrel with a wave of my wand, filling it with water using Aguamenti.

"Let's check in the water. Hermione," I pointed my hand toward the egg. "As the author of the water idea, you do the testing."

"No way," the girl smiled. "In case you're wrong. In water, sound travels much faster, and the vibrations of the medium have a much more destructive effect. Recall the fact that acoustic shocks from depth bombs exist. You regenerate quickly, and we'll take care of you if anything. Right?"

Hermione looked at a smiling Delphine, and upon receiving an affirmative nod, she pointed to my egg and barrel invitingly.

"Okay, I'll check it myself…."