Later:
As I entered the common room, Anita and Jared called me over to them.
"What's up?"I asked.
"A lot!"Jared announced,"Anita got the final part of the riddle!"
"Have you?"I asked,"how did you do it?"
"It's a long story,"Anita said, grinning.
"Tell her!"Jared said.
"Well,"Anita said,"remember you said I wasn't allowed to sneak into the Hufflepuff common room?"
"Yes,"I said,"and you better not have!"
"Well, I didn't have to,"Anita said,"I remembered the house-elves in the kitchen. They got me Gillyweed that time, so I thought maybe they would borrow the picture for me. I told them where the picture was, and what picture it was, and one of them went to get it for me; but when he was getting it, these kids spotted him and asked him what he was doing, and he told them. I forgot to tell the house-elf it was supposed to be secret."
"What happened then?"I asked.
"Those kids found me and asked me why I wanted a house-elf to steal a picture from their common room,"Anita went on,"I remembered the warning about using deceit, and I realised I had to be honest and true. So I told them I needed the picture because it was part of a riddle I was trying to solve."
"And?"I asked.
"They said I could use the picture, and offered to help me solve the riddle,"Anita continued,"would you like to hear the final piece?"
"I certainly would,"I answered.
"I can't show you the picture, because it's back in the Hufflepuff common room now,"Anita said,"but anyway, it was a picture of a frog diving down into the pool and getting the ball out of the water. On the back, it said: 'keep it in the ground, tend it like a plant, listen for the sound, and noon sun shall grant'."
The whole riddle altogether read as: 'To whomsoever would retrieve, the golden ball within this pool, then that person would receive, a rare and useful tool, keep it in the ground, tend it like a plant, listen for the sound, and noon sun shall grant, the power revealed, but take great caution, for within is sealed, a deadly portion, to they that deceive, so be honest and true, and ye shall receive, that which ye are due.'
"Keep it in the ground?"I said,"you have to plant the ball in the ground?"
"That's where we think,"Anita said,"Jeffrey - he's one of the Hufflepuff kids I was telling you about - he had an idea of a place he could plant it, and look after it secretly. So we were going to do that. I gave the ball to him to keep safe, and we were going to bring it to the place, but then Horrible Hector..."
"Horrible Hector?"I said.
"He's this Hufflepuff kid that has been annoying Jeffrey and Emily ever since they started helping me,"Anita explained,"Horrible Hector tried to steal the golden ball off Jeffrey, but Jeffrey said you managed to stop him."
"Yes,"I said, remembering.
"Well, unfortunately, Horrible Hector discovered the place Jeffrey thought of. He tried to steal the ball again, but Emily stopped him. She's a 2nd Year, she's Jeffrey's older sister. Anyway, we asked Hoppy (he's the house-elf that got the picture) if he knew of a place, and he suggested the kitchen gardens. The kitchen gardens are where the house-elves grow food and stuff. No students can go in there, so it'll be completely safe. Hoppy planted it in there, and he's going to tend it like a plant, like the riddle said. He's also going to let us know when he hears a sound."
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"Well, that's very interesting,"I said,"but shouldn't we be the ones tending it like a plant? We shouldn't be getting someone else to do it for us."
"Hoppy is one of us, as far as I'm concerned!"Anita objected,"he is one of the protectors of the golden object, just like we are! And how else could we do it? Horrible Hector has been following us around, me as well. We don't want him finding out about it and ruining our plans!"
"So, what will you do when the sound is heard?"I asked.
"We have to take it into the noon-day sunlight, I think,"Anita said,"when we're about to do that, I'll let all of you know!"
"That's not going to be easy,"I said,"we're usually always in classes at that time."
"Not if it's on a Saturday or a Sunday,"Anita said,"when we hear the sound, we'll have to to wait until one of those days. I already told Hoppy, Emily and Jeffrey that is the plan."
"Have you told Lotty and Ed yet?"I asked.
"I've told Ed, but I haven't had a chance to tell Lotty yet,"Anita answered,"you can tell her, if you want."
------------------
Night 7, OM Day 6
Next day:
Finding a newt today took ages, but I got one eventually. I looked around to make sure I wasn't being followed by Antonius, who has been a bit of a nuisance of late, I'm starting to remember why I found him so irritating before.
I went to the King Serpent's Oak. I gave him the newt.
"Thankssss,"he said.
"I've completed all three tasks,"I said.
"Ah,"the King Serpent answered,"but I am afraid you have not sssucceeded."
"How?"I asked,"I brought all the food you asked for."
"Yesss, but the quality of the frogssss, I am afraid they were not ssssufficient,"the King Serpent responded.
I was furious! If that was the case, then why didn't he tell me before? I could have gotten more frogs! Then I suddenly had an idea.
My confidence in my idea was so strong, that I decided to risk losing any chance of ever winning the King Serpent's trust.
"Accio snake!"
It was the large, green grass snake that I had first spoken to! Just as I'd started to suspect!
"You're not the King Serpent!"I said,"you tricked me!"
"A snake has to eat!"the grass snake said, wriggling in my grip, trying to escape.
"Do you even know who the King Serpent is?"I demanded.
"No,"the snake answered.
"I bet that's the only honest thing you've actually said to me,"I said, frustrated.
I can't believe I got conned by a snake!
"I might eat YOU now that I've fattened you up!"I threatened.
"No! Please don't!"the grass snake begged.
"Fine,"I said,"go on then! Be off with you!"
I let the snake go, it slithered rapidly back down it's hole.
"If I ever find out who the King Serpent is, I shall tell you,"the grass snake said.
"If you do, I'll give you some properly earned food,"I said.
"Then I shall certainly consider finding it out,"the grass snake said.
"Thanks,"I said, starting to feel a lot less annoyed,"what's your favourite food?"
"Newt,"the snake answered.
"Well, then,"I said,"IF and AFTER you tell me the truth about the King Serpent, I'll make sure to find you a nice, juicy newt."
"That sounds good to me,"the grass snake agreed.
I returned to the castle disappointed, but not utterly disappointed. I supposed I'd gotten a lot of the 'practice' I needed, and there were still two more weeks to go.
I'd completely forgotten about the memory potion. Priscilla reminded me. We went to the Room of Requirement. I couldn't believe I'd forgotten! I'd been so wrapped up in that Parceltongue business, that the most important project had completely slipped my mind.
"Don't tell me you forgot?"Priscilla said.
"I actually did,"I said.
"One thing you really DO need is a memory potion, Catherine,"she went on.
"Well, when you NEED a memory potion, and it happens to be as complicated as this one, it's not exactly easy,"I said.
I chose to add the memory of when Lotty and I were exploring the tunnel, before our memories were obliviated.
"Good,"Priscilla said, as I added it.
When I did so, for a moment we could see into the cauldron like it was a window into my memory. I saw Lotty climbing down into the tunnel, then I saw us going up to the dead end wall and examining it. That was where it cut off. Priscilla saw it too.
"You and your sister found a tunnel?"she said, looking at me curiously.
"Yes,"I answered,"it's not a nice place though. Certainly not safe. Something happened there, and my memory of what happened has been obliviated."
"So that's why you need the potion,"Priscilla said.
"Yes,"I said,"for that, and any other possible occasions."
"I understand now,"Priscilla said,"but we need to add the next ingredient."
I read the instructions. All we had to do next was add powdered Mandrake root, do some more clockwise and anticlockwise stirring, and that was everything we needed to do - done.
"Now we just have to wait until it's finished,"I said, looking at the potion, which was purple with dark blue swirls, and a faint luminescence.
"I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful potion,"Priscilla remarked, admiring it for a while, before we decided to leave,"what colour does it say it will be when it's finished?"
I looked at the rune instructions,"it says clear like water,"I read,"but you'll see lots of different colours shimmering in it when it moves."
"That sounds wonderful,"Priscilla said,"I can't wait to see it."