House: Ravenclaw
Position: HoH
Category: Drabble
Prompt: [Emotion] Eagerness
Word Count (excluding header): 711
Betas: Sarah and LadyS
AN: Special thanks to Charlotte for explaining the British primary school levels. The science is based on the classic Cartesian diver science fair experiment.
"Alright, Arthur," Hermione said as he climbed into her car, "the science fair should last about two hours. Rose is really excited to have you come this year."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Arthur proclaimed. He was practically vibrating with excitement as he buckled his seatbelt. "She wouldn't tell me what her project was."
Hermione shook her head as she shifted the car into gear. "She was secretive about it. I volunteered to help her, but she wanted it to be a surprise."
The pair happily chatted as Hermione drove to the Muggle primary school Rose and Hugo attended. As a Year 6 student, Rose was eligible to participate in the science fair for her first and last time before she left Muggle school and headed off to Hogwarts in the fall.
Arthur was practically out of the car before Hermione could park. He ran to the door to meet Ron.
"Has it started?" Arthur asked.
"Come in, Dad," Ron said. "You're going to love it."
In his eagerness, Arthur burst through the gymnasium doors, leaving his laughing son and daughter-in-law in his wake. His eyes widened as he took in the cacophony of sights and sounds.
Nearly one hundred tables were lined up in rows across the gymnasium. Children stood in front of the tables, excitedly explaining their science experiments. Proud family and friends looked on.
Arthur heard a loud crackle and his eyes shot in that direction. A child giggled as his papier-mâché volcano erupted with bright red lava.
His feet automatically turned to race towards the volcano when he was halted by a small hand on his arm.
"Hi, Grandpa!" chirped Hugo. "Rose is over this way. Come on!"
Arthur happily allowed his nine-year-old grandson to drag him through the lively science fair. His head swiveled to observe all the amazing experiments as he planned his route to revisit them.
Turning a corner, Arthur stopped short when he spotted his granddaughter and her display.
'WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A RUBBER DUCK?' read the poster.
A ridiculously large smile broke onto his face as he approached Rose. Laughing, he scooped her up into his arms and gave her a giant hug.
"Grandpa!" Rose chastised. "This is a science fair. I have to be professional here."
"Sometimes she's too like you for her own good," Ron teased his wife as they arrived at the table.
"Ronald!" Hermione hissed.
"Kidding." He held his hands up in surrender. "I'm just joking."
"You'd better be," Hermione said. "Now Rosie, tell us all about your science project."
"Tell me!" Arthur pleaded. "I've always wanted to know what they are for."
"I know! That's why I picked it for my project. A rubber duck is a children's bath toy. The child can play with it and the duck always stays on the water's surface because it is hollow on the inside. The child can always find their toy and it makes bath time more fun."
"That's great, Rose. What are the scientific principles?" asked Hermione.
"It's all to do with buoyancy and the ideal gas law," Rose said as she placed a rubber duck inside a clear plastic container filled halfway with water. She stretched a latex covering over the container. "The duck is naturally buoyant at the natural air pressure, but when I increase air pressure by pressing down on the latex, the water pressure increases too and it fills up the rubber duck through the little hole in the bottom. The duck is no longer neutrally buoyant and it will dive below the water."
She demonstrated this by pressing down on the latex.
Arthur watched in complete amazement as the little yellow duck dove beneath the water's surface. When Rose released the pressure, the duck quickly floated back up to the top.
"Can I try?" he asked.
"Go ahead," Rose said. "Just place your hand on the latex and press down."
He did so and laughed out loud when the little duck sunk.
Hugo chimed in, "Show them the best part!"
"What could be better than this?" Arthur asked with eager anticipation.
Rose reached behind her table and pulled out four more rubber ducks in a variety of colors and sizes. "Duck races!"
Arthur's eyes lit up with pure joy.