Back at the Castle, the Great Hall was buzzing, especially around the Gryffindor table. George and Fred were cheering around Harry. Jerry scanned the room, but Fleur was nowhere to be seen. Hermione wasn't among the celebrating Gryffindors either.
"Harry, have you seen Hermione or Fleur?" Jerry asked quietly.
"Madame Maxime took Fleur Delacour away. Hermione went back to the Gryffindor Common Room alone just now." Harry hesitated. "Jerry, she seemed a little angry."
"Right. I see." Jerry sighed softly.
"Hey, Jerry, congratulations!" George and Fred called when they spotted him. "You got the highest score of all the Champions!"
"Yeah, but Karkaroff only gave you and Harry four points!" Ron added indignantly. "He gave Krum ten. That's blatant favoritism!"
"You two made up?" Jerry looked curiously between Harry and Ron. They seemed completely at ease, as if their arguments had never happened.
"All right, I admit I was wrong," Ron said. Watching the competition today had made him realize this wasn't about showing off. It was risking your life.
"But Jerry, you were incredible out there!" George was so excited he nearly jumped. "I bet you'll be on the front page of every newspaper tomorrow! You're going to be famous! And that Fire Dragon was... so cool!"
"I can't believe it was fake. You fooled every last one of us!" Fred added.
Jerry only smiled.
"This thing's pretty heavy." Lee Jordan picked up the Golden Egg Harry had set on the table and hefted it in trembling hands. "Harry, open it! Let's see what secret's inside!"
Harry took the Golden Egg from him, his heart racing. He fitted his fingertips into its delicate groove and carefully pried it open. The egg was empty. As everyone stared in confusion, a scream unlike anything they had ever heard burst from it,