Hermione never expected for Ron and Harry to ever experience a falling out in their friendship, but it seemed the two were going through a bit of spat after Ron felt he would forever be cast in Harry's shadow. She tried to reason with both of them, but Ron's stubborn nature got in the way leaving her stuck between the two. Worried for her dear friend, she recommended that Harry send an owl to Sirius explaining what was going on, before she left to carry about her own business. Her mind drifted to the other surprise selected champion. She could understand if someone held ill intentions towards Harry, but she didn't understand what anyone would hold against Pierce Holmes.

The boy was never one to have trouble follow him or go looking for trouble. If the Goblet was rigged there had to be a reason behind his selection, and she wanted to find out. Her curiosity brought her to the Great Hall where she found the Ravenclaw boy accompanied by his friend, Julius. Pierce sat quietly at the table, his hands folded before him as he stared off at nothing, but judging by the concentrated look on his face, he was in some sort of deep thought.

She walked over and opened her mouth to call out his name, but as she did, Pierce didn't respond.

"He's not going to answer you." Julius told her.

"Why not?" Hermione asked.

"Because he's in his weird little mind trance that he goes into. It's best not to disturb him, he gets rather cranky otherwise."

"I do not get cranky, Julius." Pierce glanced over at him finally. 

"You kinda do." Julius grinned. Pierce glanced over in Hermione's direction.

"Morning. I would say good morning, but it doesn't look like either one of us are having a good one, are we?"

"That's an understatement." Hermione said sitting down at the Ravenclaw table. "Ever since last night, this whole thing has been ...been.."

"Mass chaos." Julius finished for her.

"Yes. That's a good way to describe it." Hermione agreed. "Quite accurate actually."

"I see your friends have had a lover's quarrel." Pierce pointed out.

"I beg your pardon?" Hermione looked at him.

"Ron and Harry...not on speaking terms?" Pierce peered up at her.

"How did you-"

"They each showed up to the Great Hall at separate times, looking around as if they were waiting for the other to show up so they could leave. I could only assume that the results of last night created some nasty tension between the two."

Hermione's eyes fell onto the table. "Well, you aren't wrong."

"He normally isn't." Julius said.

"How are you holding up? I'm sure this is all coming across as insane to you."

"What's worse that I doubt this is the peak of insanity I'll be experience this year." Pierce said holding his chin in his hand and looking at her.

"Would anyone have reason to put your name in the Goblet?" 

Pierce knew there were plenty of people who hated his mother and plenty of other people who hated his father. If someone wanted to get to them it seemed like a reasonable idea to go after their son, however, little did people know if they really wanted to get to his parents, it wasn't smart to go after him, because they certainly didn't care enough.

"I'm sure someone had a reason, what it is, I'm not entirely sure."

"I can't believe they're going to make you and Harry compete." Hermione shook her head. "Why can't they just start it over? Start another selection?"

"Oh because the great Goblet of Fire has spoken!" Pierce said in a dramatic tone. "And no one shall question the Goblet, the Goblet's word is law. We are all mere peasants to the word of the King Goblet."

"Oh there he goes." Julius whispered to her.

Hermione couldn't help but smile at Pierce's strange antics as he ranted on about the Goblet. Suddenly, he stopped and composed himself.

"Sorry about that. Would you excuse me?" he said. "I have...I have something I need to do."

Hermione nodded and watched as Pierce stood up from the table and proceeded to leave the Great Hall.

"Is he going to be okay?" she looked to Julius.

"Of course." Julius said. "I hope."

As soon as Pierce exited the Great Hall he quickly pulled at his hair in frustration. To add onto his problems, he had received an owl early that morning with the post from his mother claiming she would be there later on during the day and that was not what he needed. She would arrive for an interview with all the champions, and the Wand Weighing ceremony. John nor his father had responded to his letter which only added to his stress.

"Pull yourself together, Pierce." he said to himself. "You can do this...you can handle that wretched beast. Perhaps that's the first task," he mused," if that's the case, I have more than enough experience."

He placed his hands on his knees as he bent over as he began to feel sick to his stomach.

"Are you alright there?"

Pierce pulled away as a hand touched his back. He straightened himself and his robes glancing up to see Mad-Eye Moody standing before him.

"Easy there." Moody said.

"I don't like being touched." Pierce told him.

"Just seeing if you were alright, boy. You've been under a lot of stress within the last twenty four hours."

"Try fifteen years."

"Would you like to come to my office and gather yourself?"

"No thank you. I'd like to be left alone. Is that alright with you? Good."