Hogwarts: My Grandmother is the Queen

Chapter 328 Henry's Guidance

Cedric chuckled. "I practiced that roll myself. I tried it a few times during Quidditch practice and almost fell off the broom, but I gradually got the hang of it."

"You practiced all by yourself?" Cedric asked, somewhat surprised. "No one taught you?"

"No," Harry said. "I just practiced in the air, and after falling a few times, I figured out what to do."

Cedric looked at him for a moment and said, "That means you not only have talent, but also courage. Some people have talent but don't dare to try, some people dare to try but don't have talent, you have both."

Harry was a little embarrassed by this comment: "It's not that exaggerated—you just learn by falling more often."

"Falling a lot is a skill in itself," Cedric said. "Most people wouldn't dare try again after falling once."

Harry wasn't sure what to say, so he changed the subject: "By the way, I wanted to ask you something. Have you opened your golden egg yet?"

Cedric shook his head: "Not yet. I've tried several methods but nothing works. It's like a solid piece of metal; nothing can open it."

"Me too," Harry said. "I tried several methods last night, but none of them worked."

"So what are your plans?" Cedric asked.

"I'm going to the library to look it up," Harry said. "People have participated in the Triwizard Tournament before, and they should have won the golden egg. Maybe the book has instructions on how to open it."

Cedric nodded. "I had the same idea. But I have a herbalism class this afternoon, so I can't go to the library until after that."

"I'll go check first," Harry said. "I'll let you know if I find anything."

"Okay," Cedric said. "I'll let you know when I find out."

The silence between the two was brief, but Harry could sense it—Cedric didn't see him as an opponent, nor as someone to be wary of. Cedric's attitude was clear: we're both in a competition, but this isn't a life-or-death situation.

"I'll be going now," Cedric said. "I have classes this afternoon."

"Okay," Harry said. "Goodbye."

Cedric turned and walked to the other end of the corridor, while Harry stood there, watching him walk away.

Ron walked over from the side, chewing on a cookie he'd somehow acquired: "What did he say?"

"He said his golden egg hadn't been opened either," Harry said. "He'd tried several methods without success and was even planning to go to the library to look it up."

"And what about you?"

"I'll look into it too," Harry said, "but I want to find someone first."

"Who?"

"Your Highness Henry."

Ron paused for a moment, then asked, "What do you want with him?"

"He has a very special ability," Harry said. "There are things he may not have experienced himself, but he can always help others come up with solutions to problems. I'd like to hear his perspective on this."

"Then you'd better hurry," Ron said with a smile. "I also think His Highness Henry must have a way. I was just about to suggest it to you. You go ahead, I'll go back to the common room first. I have Potions class this afternoon, and I need to finish my homework."

"When did you start taking this so seriously?"

"It started when Professor Snape said that if I failed this assignment again, I'd put you in solitary confinement until Christmas," Ron said. "I was forced into that situation."

Harry smiled and turned to walk towards the stairs.

He didn't go straight to the Slytherin common room, knowing Henry might not be there. He thought for a moment and decided to check the tea room first—Henry often spent his afternoons in that abandoned classroom, sometimes reading alone, sometimes having tea with some of his Slytherin friends.

Harry walked down the corridor to the second floor and arrived at the door of the abandoned classroom.

The door was closed, but it seemed like someone was inside.

Harry knocked on the door.

"Please come in." It was Henry's voice.

Harry pushed open the door and saw Henry sitting in a high-backed chair with a pot of steaming Darjeeling tea in front of him. Draco and Daphne were sitting in the chair opposite him.

Theodore sat by the window, holding a notebook and writing something.

Blaise leaned against the low stool by the fireplace, his legs stretched out like a cat sunbathing.

Pansy was sitting next to Draco, holding a cup of tea. Seeing Harry walk in, she raised an eyebrow: "Potter? What brings you here?"

"I'm sorry to bother you," Harry said, standing in the doorway. "I have something I'd like to ask His Highness Henry."

Henry put down his teacup, glanced at Harry, and said, "Come in and sit down."

"7

Harry came in and sat down in another chair by the fireplace.

Lucy appeared out of nowhere, poured him a cup of tea, and then quietly disappeared.

"You look like you have something to say," Henry said.

"Yes," Harry said. "I asked Cedric today—his golden egg wasn't opened either."

"So you came to me to ask how to open it?" Henry picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"I suppose so," Harry said. "I've tried several methods, and Cedric has tried several methods too. We're both planning to go to the library to look things up, but I'd like to hear your opinion before we do."

Henry put the teacup back on the tray, leaned back in his chair, and seemed to be thinking about something.

Draco spoke up from the side: "Your Highness, didn't you say yesterday that the golden egg wasn't meant to be opened?"

"Yes," Henry said. "The golden egg isn't a locked box; it's a container for transmitting information. If you try to pry it open with brute force, you're going in the wrong direction."

"Then what should we do?" Harry pressed.

Henry glanced at him: "What do you think?"

Harry was caught off guard by the question: "I—I don't know, that's why I'm asking you."

"You've come to the right person," Henry said, "but I can't give you the answer directly. I can help you clarify your thoughts, but you have to find the answer yourself."

Harry paused for a moment, then said, "Could you help me sort out my thoughts?"

Henry nodded. "Okay. First question—what do you think the golden egg is for?"

"It's used to hint at the content of the second item," Harry said.

"Yes," Henry said. "The second question—what do you think is the relationship between the three events in the Triwizard Tournament?"

""

Harry thought for a moment: "The first project is a dragon, the second project—I don't know. But it should be different from the first one."

"What are the specific differences?"

"The first project was on the ground," Harry said. "Although I flew up into the sky, I got the golden egg on the ground."

"If the second project is to be different, where might it be held?"

Harry paused, then said, "You mean—it might be in the water?"

"I didn't say that," Henry said. "I was just helping you clear your head."

Harry sat there, his mind racing.

Henry didn't give him the answer directly, but the question itself pointed in a direction—if the first project was on land, the second project, in order to be different, would most likely be carried out in the water.

What about the golden egg? What does the golden egg have to do with water?

"Does the golden egg need to come into contact with water to open?" Harry asked tentatively.

Henry's lips curled up slightly: "I didn't say it, but you're thinking in the right direction."

Harry felt a chord being struck within him. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and calmed himself down. "If the golden egg needs water to open, is it ordinary water or special water? What conditions are required?"

"You'll have to try these things yourself," Henry said. "But the question you just asked is very close to the right direction."

Draco listened silently the whole time. Finally, he couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, what's the difference between what you said and not saying anything at all?"

“It’s a big difference,” Henry said. “He came in a state of confusion, but now at least he knows which way to think, and that’s enough.”

Harry sat there and took another sip of tea.

The question was still on his mind, but he didn't press it further because he knew Henry wouldn't give him any more hints.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Harry said.

"You're welcome," Henry said. "Let me know when you find any leads."

"Okay." Harry stood up. "I'll be going now."

"Wait a minute," Henry said, "You have classes this afternoon?"

"No," Harry said. "I don't have classes this afternoon."

"So you're planning to start researching the golden egg now?"

"Yes," Harry said. "I want to go to the library to check if there are any similar records before."

Henry nodded and said nothing more.

Harry left the tea room and walked back down the corridor.

Henry's words were still echoing in his mind. "The golden egg needs to come into contact with water to open"—this was just a direction, but he had no idea how to do it or what conditions were required.

But at least he knows which direction to research in.

Next, all he needed to do was go to the library and find some information.

Harry walked through the foyer and into the library.

Mrs. Pince was standing behind the lending desk. When she saw him walk in, she gave him a sharp look before lowering her head to continue organizing the catalog in her hands.

Harry walked deeper into the library and came to the corner of the old bookshelves.

He remembered flipping through several books here yesterday, but he couldn't find any specific record about the golden egg.

Today he plans to change his approach and look for books about the history of the Triwizard Tournament, especially records left by previous participants.

He squatted down in front of the bookshelf, his fingers tracing the spines of the books.

Some book titles were blurred, some spines were cracked, and some pages had curled and yellowed edges, as if no one had touched them for a long time.

He pulled out a copy of "Chronicle of European Magical Games" and turned to the section on the Triwizard Tournament.

That section, consisting of only three pages, recorded the year the most recent competition was held and the participating schools, but made no mention of the Golden Egg.

Harry continued searching, flipping through several books, but found no relevant information. Some books even only stated that "the first challenge requires the warrior to obtain a certain item as proof."

He sat on the library floor, looking at the few books laid out in front of him, feeling somewhat frustrated.

Then he suddenly remembered something: Henry had said, "The golden egg is not meant to be opened; it is meant to be a container for conveying information."

If the golden egg wasn't meant to be opened, how did people in the past obtain information from it?

Could it be not by opening it, but by some other method—like putting it in water?

Harry stood up.

He looked at the golden egg in his hand, then at the bookshelf in front of him, and made a decision: he would give it a try.

He mentally reviewed the map of Hogwarts and then thought of a place—the women's restroom on the second floor of the castle, the haunted one where Moaning Myrtle was said to reside.

The taps there are big enough, and the pools are deep enough.

Harry took the golden egg, walked out of the library, and went up the corridor to the second floor.

He arrived at the door of the women's restroom, pushed it open, and went inside.

The room was empty; there was no one there, only the dripping of the faucet.

Myrtle is not here; she's probably wandering off somewhere else.

Harry walked to the sink, turned on the tap, and placed the golden egg under the running water.

The surface of the golden egg was wet, but nothing changed.

He then tried submerging the golden egg entirely in the pool—the pool wasn't deep enough, and half of the egg was sticking out.

There has been no change.

"What are you doing?" a voice came from behind.

Harry was startled and turned to see Moaning Myrtle floating down from the ceiling, staring at the golden egg in his hand through her thick glasses.

"I—I'm trying something," Harry said.

"Is that a golden egg?" Myrtle leaned closer. "I heard people in the corridor say that each of the warriors in the Triwizard Tournament will receive a golden egg."

"Yes," Harry said, "I tried to open it, but I didn't know how."

Myrtle floated to the sink and looked down at the golden egg: "You put it in the water?"

"Yes," Harry said, "but there was no response."

"The water isn't deep enough," Myrtle said. "You should try somewhere bigger."

"I know," Harry said, "but I can't get into the prefects' bathroom."

"The prefect's bathroom?" Myrtle thought for a moment. "You mean the one on the fifth floor? I sometimes go there—it's deserted, the water's warm, and there's a lot of water."

"I can't get in, I'm not the prefect."

“You can’t go in yourself, but you can have someone else take you in,” Myrtle said. “For example—there are so many prefects in your school, there will always be someone willing to help you.”

Harry paused, then said, "You mean, I should find someone to take me in?"

"If you don't want to go to the prefect, you can figure it out yourself," Myrtle said. "I've seen students use a lock-picking charm to get into that bathroom before."

"Can a lock-picking spell open the bathroom door?"

“Sure,” Myrtle said, “but it will alert the police, and Filch will be notified. If you don’t want to get caught by Filch, you’d better ask a prefect for help.”

Harry thought for a moment and said, "Thank you, Myrtle."

"You're welcome." Myrtle floated back to the ceiling. "If you open that egg, remember to let me know. I want to hear what's inside."

"Okay," Harry said. "I will."