HARRY POTTER Book 4: Chapter 25
Chapter 25
THE EGG AND THE EYE
Harry does not know how long it will take to discover the secret of the golden egg. He decides to open it late at night, when the castle is quiet and no one will disturb him.
Cedric Diggory told him to use the prefects’ bathroom. Harry does not want to accept help from Cedric, but the bathroom is private. Only a few students can enter it, so it is the safest place. Harry plans everything carefully. Once before, Filch caught him walking around the castle at night. Harry does not want that to happen again.
He decides to bring two important things. First, the Invisibility Cloak. Second, the Mischief Maker’s Map. The map shows the entire castle. It also shows the people inside it. Small dots move across the map. Each dot is labeled with a name. If anyone is walking near Harry, he will see them before they see him. Late on Thursday night, Harry goes to bed early. When the room is quiet, he puts on the cloak and walks downstairs quietly.
Ron waits near the portrait hole. “Good luck,” Ron whispers as Harry slips past him. Harry enters the dark corridor. The castle is silent. Moonlight shines through the tall windows. Harry checks the Mischief Maker’s Map frequently to make sure no one is nearby.
Soon he reaches the statue of Conrad the Confused. Conrad is a wizard who looks confused and wears his gloves on the wrong hands. Cedric told Harry the password. “Pine fresh,” Harry whispers. The door opens slowly. Harry enters the prefects’ bathroom and closes the door. Then he removes the cloak and looks around. The room is beautiful.
Light from candles shines from a large chandelier. The floor and walls are white marble. In the center of the room is a large bath. The bath looks like a small swimming pool. Around the bath are many golden taps to turn on the water.
There are long white curtains covering the windows. There is also a large pile of soft towels in the corner. There is a painting on one wall. It shows a mermaid sleeping on a rock. Her long blond hair covers her face. And she snores softly in her sleep.
Harry places the cloak, the map, and the egg next to the bath. Then he turns on several taps. Immediately he notices something surprising. Each tap pours something different into the water.
One tap sends pink and blue bubbles the size of footballs. Another pours white foam that covers the water. Another sends purple steam that smells strongly of perfume. Harry laughs. He tries several taps. Soon the bath fills with hot water and bubbles.
Harry takes off his pajamas and steps into the bath. The water is very deep. His feet almost do not touch the bottom. He swims a few times across the bath and then stops beside the egg. The warm water and colorful steam feel wonderful.
Harry still does not understand the egg. But finally he lifts it and opens it. The horrible screaming sound fills the bathroom again. The noise is very loud in the marble bathroom. Harry quickly closes the egg. The sound is just as terrible as before.
Cedric’s advice does not seem very helpful. He feels annoyed. Then suddenly a voice speaks. “I would put it in the water, if I were you.” Harry jumps in shock. He looks around quickly. A ghost floats above one of the taps. It is Moaning Myrtle.
“Myrtle!” Harry says angrily. “I’m - I’m not wearing anything! I’m naked!” The foam in the bath hides him almost completely, but Harry still feels embarrassed. “I closed my eyes when you got into the bath,” Myrtle says sadly. “You haven’t visited me for a very long time.”
“Well… I’m not supposed to go into your bathroom,” Harry says. “It’s a girls’ bathroom.” “That didn’t bother you before,” Myrtle replies unhappily. This is true. Harry used to visit Myrtle’s bathroom often. He and Ron secretly made Polyjuice Potion there.
“Well,” Myrtle says, “Put the egg in the water. That’s what Cedric Diggory did.” “You watched him too?” Harry asks. “Sometimes,” Myrtle answers. Harry quickly wraps a towel around his waist. He gets out of the bath and picks up the egg. Then he returns to the water.
“Open it under the water,” Myrtle tells him. Harry lowers the egg under the surface of the water and opens it. This time the egg does not scream. Instead, Harry hears a strange bubbling song under the water. “You need to put your head under the water too,” Myrtle says.
Harry takes a deep breath and lowers his head under the water. Now he hears the song clearly. Soft voices sing from the egg:
