The fear that we feel in our troubled hearts
Is told to be what will make us last
We'll prove that we are strong
Though our lines are bleeding through
We are becoming whole, slowly now
We just need some sleep
To dream away these fears
We just need some time
To clear our crowded minds

"Slowly, Now"
Sleeping At Last

LUCY:

"The Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!"

The room exploded as Cedric headed into the chamber with Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum.

You did it, Ced, I found myself thinking, smiling and clapping along with everyone else. Now you have the chance you said you wanted.

When the uproar was finally reduced to excited whispers, I made eye contact with Henry across the room and flashed him a thumbs up. He sent one right back.

"Party?" he mouthed. "Our common room?"

I nodded. "I'll be there!"

"Excellent! Well, we now have our three champions!" Professor Dumbledore said. "I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real-"

The Goblet of Fire suddenly flared red... a fourth time. Every student in the room watched, transfixed, as a fourth piece of parchment emerged, and Dumbledore reached up a fourth time to grab it out of the air. He stared the name, blinked, and stared at it some more. A fourth champion?

Professor Dumbledore's deep voice filled the silent hall. "Harry Potter."

I felt as if I'd been punched in the gut. I turned to face Harry. His face was pale, and he looked just as stunned as everyone else. He looked at Ron on his left, then Hermione on his right, then at me across the table.

"I didn't put my name in. You know I didn't."

I nodded. But Ron and Hermione only stared at Harry, as if they had reason to doubt him. I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry, and tried to find the words to say, but before I got the chance, I was interrupted by Professor Dumbledore.

"Harry Potter! Harry! Up here, if you please!"

"Go on," Hermione hissed, shoving him up from the table. He sent me one last despairing look before walking to the front of the room.

When Harry had disappeared into the same chamber that we had all watched Viktor and Fleur and Cedric walk through, Professor Dumbledore addressed the hall with only a fraction of his typical confidence.

"Well... that concludes the selection of the Triwizard Champions! You are now all free to return to your dormitories, carriages, and ships."

"Harry did it!" Fred shouted as the Great Hall erupted with hundreds of voices at once. "I think this calls for a party! Hey, without Quidditch, we need something to celebrate!"

The masses of Gryffindors around us cheered, but I couldn't shake the fear that had wrapped itself around my stomach.

The twins were so caught up in their rushed party preparation I was able to fall to the very back of the crowd without them noticing. Thankfully, no one else noticed either, so I followed everyone up to the common room in silence.

When everyone else jumped through the portrait hole, though, I turned on my heel and started heading down the stairs to the Hufflepuff common room, suddenly jolting from my stupor and remembering I had promised Henry I'd be there at Cedric's party.

Halfway down the first flight of stairs, I stopped. I needed to talk to Harry first.

He must be terrified.

I sat down where I was on the steps, pulling my knees to my chest and burying my head in my arms.

My mind was racing.

I knew Cedric would be alright. He was smart, and brave, and strong, and capable of handling whatever the tasks threw his way. And above all of that, I understood that he was doing the Tournament for the right reasons. The Tournament was his way of proving to himself that he was worth more than his reputation. I understood that, and I was ecstatic for him.

But... but Harry.

He was smart and brave and strong, just like Cedric, but he was fourteen. Cedric was seventeen. And on top of all that... I recalled all too well our conversation at four in the morning after the Quidditch World Cup attacks. He had told me he just wanted to be Harry. Not Harry Potter, the boy who saved the Philosopher's Stone. Not Harry Potter, the boy who killed the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. Not Harry Potter, the boy Sirius Black escaped Azkaban for. Not Harry Potter, the legendary Boy Who Lived. He just wanted to be Harry.

"Just Harry, Quidditch player?" I had asked, smiling because I knew just how much he --- we --- loved Quidditch.

I had heard the smile in his voice when he replied. "Yeah. Just Harry, Quidditch player. That's a title I wouldn't mind."

I felt my chest tighten. Harry couldn't even have that much, because of the Tournament. I didn't know what had happened with the Goblet, but whatever it was, it wasn't fair.

I lifted my head when I heard distant footsteps beginning to head up the stairs. They were soft; Harry's no doubt.

I understood in that moment why he walked so softly, as if he were afraid of being heard. The Dursleys made him that way. He was afraid of being heard on Privet Drive, and the habit never left him, even at Hogwarts. The thought of the Dursleys made a familiar fiery anger flare in my chest. Having to continue to live with those horrible people every single summer was yet another part of Harry's life that was completely unfair.

When Harry appeared at the base of the flight of stairs I was sitting on, his head was bowed and his shoulders were slumped. It was the unmistakable posture of defeat, and my heart broke ever so slightly at the sight of it.

I waited until he had nearly reached me to call out to him. "Harry?"

His head snapped up, and there was a wild, wild fear in his green eyes as they met mine. "Lucy." The way he said my name, tampered with equal parts desperation and relief and terror, made my heart break even more.

"Want to sit with me for a minute, before heading up to your party?" I asked softly. "A chance to catch your breath?"

"Party?" he managed after a moment's hesitation.

I nodded. "Everyone's amazed, trying to figure out how you did it."

"I didn't! Lucy, I swear, I-"

"I know," I interrupted, feeling my own emotions swell as I watched him begin to lose control over his. "I believe you."

He lowered himself next to me on the step, staring straight ahead and not meeting my gaze. "Does anyone else believe me?"

"I don't know."

He made a small sound of frustration in response.

We sat in silence for about a minute, each lost in our own thoughts, before Harry spoke again.

"I don't want to do this, Lucy."

"I know."

"Cedric was nice enough about the whole ordeal," he said uneasily. "He remarked that we'd be competing against each other again, just not on the Quidditch Pitch this time. And... he asked how I put my name in."

"I'm heading down to the Hufflepuff common room, I'll tell him you didn't. I'll tell everyone you didn't."

"You believe me? You really do?"

The honest surprise in his voice made me turn my entire body to face him. "Harry..." He stared straight ahead still. "Harry, look at me." He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, nothing more, so I reached out and turned his face to mine with a gentle touch. I shyly returned my hand to my lap, careful not to break eye contact. "You've never lied to me before, at least not as far as I know."

He shook his head. "I've never lied to you, Lucy."

"So why should I doubt you now?"

Harry hesitated. "I don't know. Are you upset because I stole Cedric's spotlight?"

"No, not at all. It's not your fault that..."

"That I'm Harry Potter?"

I looked down at my hands, fingers awkwardly intertwined in my lap. "I guess you could put it that way," I whispered.

He rose to his feet, rubbing the back of his neck. "I should let you go. I could hear Cedric's party from where he and I talked in the hallway; sounds like it'll be fun."

I glanced up to see that he was offering me a hand up, which I accepted. I tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear as I met his eyes again. "Your party should be fun, too," I said, painfully aware of my own awkwardness. "I'll come up before curfew and catch some of it." As soon as I said it, the gravity of what the next year would hold hit me all at once. Cedric and Harry... in the Triwizard Tournament...

Some of my anxiety must have shown on my face, because Harry's brow furrowed in concern. "What is it, Lu?"

I blinked hard. Harry, of all people, didn't need to worry about me on top of everything else. I smiled. "Nothing. I'm alright. Go enjoy your party, Harry, and I'd recommend asking around to see if anyone has firewhisky. It really does help with headaches, believe it or not."

"I didn't say I had a...? How did...?"

"You rubbed the back of your neck," I said, face turning slightly red as I said it. I really did pay a little too much attention to Harry. My smile faded. "It's not your scar, is it?"

He shook his head quickly. "No. It's not. I promise. Just..."

"Stress?"

He nodded, sighing. "Yeah. I guess."

"I understand. I'll be back soon. Try to enjoy the party, okay?"

He nodded again, turning and heading up to the Fat Lady. I raced down the stairs, taking them three at a time, realizing I had talked to Harry far longer than I intended to.

By the time I reached the Hufflepuff common room, the party was in full swing. I fought my way through the crowd to Cedric.

"Ced!" I screamed over the music, launching myself at him. "You did it! I'm so proud of you! Are you excited?"

"Yeah, I am," he replied, grinning from ear to ear.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, Little Diggory!" came Archie's voice from behind me.

I whirled around to see him striding toward me, Cam clinging to his arm and trying to keep up. "Archie! Cam! Hi!"

"You look like you need a drink," Archie declared, grabbing me by the elbow and dragging me deeper into the party. I shot an apologetic glance at my brother, who laughed and waved as he disappeared behind a massive wall of people dressed from head to toe in black and yellow. Even Archie and Cam were in on it, each sporting yellow and black face paint.

Archie didn't let go of my elbow until I was standing in front of a massive table of drinks. I looked at the line of various cups and bottles apprehensively.

"They don't bite," Cam said, nudging me forward.

"How do you know which ones are spiked?" I asked. "None of the bottles have caps, and the cups have all been sitting here unattended for Merlin knows how long."

Archie laughed. "You spend too much time with Gryffindors. These are all perfectly fine, Diggory. I recommend the purple one, personally, it's plum-flavored butterbeer."

"What?"

He reached for a cup of it and placed it in my hand. "Just trust me."

I hesitantly lifted it to my lips and took a sip. My eyes widened. "This is actually good."

"Actually?" Archie repeated, sounding very offended. "Actually? What do you mean, actually? Of course it's good, it's my recommendation, isn't it?"

I laughed. "Alright, alright, you're right. It's good, of course it's good." I looked between Archie and Cam. "So are you two...?"

"Yup!" Archie enthusiastically threw an arm around Cam's shoulders and pulled her closer, kissing her temple.

Cam smiled, looking a bit sheepish. "Can you believe it?"

"Cam, he's been mad about you since first year," I chuckled. "Yes, yes I can."

Cam blushed, and before she could reply, we were swarmed by all of the Hufflepuffs in our year, bursting with excitement over Cedric.

About half an hour before curfew, I found Cedric again. He and Cho and Henry and Bea were sitting in the corner talking, seemingly enjoying the relative calm.

"Good night, everyone! I'm going to head back to my own common room," I said.

He rose from his seat and wrapped me in one last hug before I left. "You know I wouldn't be here without you."

"You would be," I replied, "but for the wrong reasons. Dad's, not yours."

"You know... you're right," he said as we pulled away. "I think I like my reasons better."

I laughed. "I can support your reasons. Dad's... not so much. G'night, Ced."

"G'night, Lu."

I practically ran all the way up to the Gryffindor common room. I had the feeling I'd be making the trip back and forth between the common rooms quite a bit the next several months.

Fred's face was the first I saw when I stepped through the portrait hole.

"Oi, there you are!" he shouted, dragging me into the room. "Where have you been?"

"Down at Cedric's party, sorry," I said.

"Ah, it's just as well. Harry's left, anyway."

"He left? Where did he go?"

"Up to their dormitory," George answered from my other side. "Ron and Hermione headed up to their dormitories straight away, too."

I frowned. What had I missed?

Fred cocked his head. "What's bothering you? You have the most reason to be excited out of all of us, your brother and your-"

"-best friend," George cut in, looking at Fred meaningfully, for which I was grateful.

"-your 'best friend' who will eventually become your-"

"Anyway," George interrupted. "Two of your favorite people in the world-"

"-aside from us of course-"

"-are Triwizard Champions! How bloody cool is that?"

"It would be cooler if Harry had meant to enter," I mumbled, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Oh, you don't believe him, do you?" Fred asked with a roll of his eyes.

"Though I am surprised he didn't tell you how he did it," George added. "If he would tell anyone, we would think it would be you."

"I believe him," I said in an even softer voice. "Why would Harry want to enter?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Fred countered.

"Because he... he just wouldn't. Trust me on that."

"Alright," George said. He didn't sound convinced --- rather, he sounded like a parent responding to a child who's insisting there's a monster hiding in the closet --- but he at least tried to sound convinced, which I appreciated. "If you believe him, well, that's alright. What's bothering you?"

I forced a smile. "Nothing. It's just been a long day. Not to be a buzzkill, but I'm tired, too, and I need to talk to Hermione. Good night, boys."

I hurried away before giving them a chance to respond, going straight to my dormitory. Hermione was the only one there, and she was staring at the ceiling with a troubled look on her face.

"Hi," I said, going to sit on the edge of her bed.

"Hi," she replied, sitting up and running a hand through her bushy hair. "I'm guessing you were down at Cedric's party?"

I nodded. "I came back up to try to talk to Harry, but the twins said he went to bed already. Where's Ron?"

"The same," she said uncomfortably. She looked away, a sure sign that she was hiding something.

"What is it?"

"Ron's furious," she burst out.

"With Harry? Why?"

"He's jealous."

"Jealous? Jealous that Harry's basically just received a death sentence?!" I froze, suddenly aware that I was shouting. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be upset. Lots of high emotions today." I sighed. "Did he tell you why he was jealous?"

Hermione shook her head. "No... but he doesn't have to. Think about it, Lucy. Ron's got all those brothers to compete against at home, and Harry Potter's his best friend, and he's really famous. Ron's always shunted to one side whenever people see Harry, and he puts up with it, and he never mentions it, but I suppose this is just one time too many."

I absorbed this in silence for a moment. "I understand. Thank you for explaining."

"Of course." She sighed. "Lucy, Ron was... really angry. I don't know if... well... I think it might be like last year again, when Ron thought Crookshanks had killed Scabbers."

"Meaning our group of four will be two and two again?"

"I... I'm afraid so."

I groaned. "Harry doesn't need this, he needs all three of us, now more than ever-"

"I know. But Ron needs someone, too."

I nodded slowly. "You're right. So... so which one of us will... well... who will pair up with who? Merlin, Hermione, this feels so wrong."

"I know," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Lucy, who do you think you can help more? I... I'm not like you. I'm better with books than people, you know that-"

"Hermione-"

"Don't try to deny it, Lucy, I know it's true. Are you going to choose or not?"

I shook my head. "How can I choose a side? I understand both, Hermione. I understand how Ron feels, because I've always lived in Cedric's shadow. But I've never been angry about it, I've just accepted it. And I understand how Harry feels, thrown into a life-and-death experience he never..." My voice trailed off as sudden tears clogged my throat.

"I think you should take Harry's side, Lucy. You two understand each other more than you and Ron do, and even more than I think you and I do. You'd be able to help Harry more than I would."

A memory, one I hadn't considered in quite a long time, rose to the surface of my mind. Professor Dumbledore's words, spoken so long ago.

I understand that Harry does not yet trust me as fully as he trusts his friends. As one of his friends, and perhaps as the one who understands young Mr. Potter best, all I ask is that you help him as best you can, whatever may come next.

I nodded, feeling more confident in the decision. "I think you're right." I swallowed hard. "The two of us are still on good terms, right?"

Hermione reached forward and wrapped her arms around my neck. "Of course, Lucy. We're going to need each other, too."

"You know... maybe if you talk to Harry in the morning, telling him what you just told me about Ron... maybe we can fix this tomorrow. Because you don't know yet how Harry reacted to Ron, do you?"

She shook her head. "I don't know, but... I don't feel good about this, Lucy."

"Me neither," I said, "but I want to try."

Hermione nodded. "Okay."

She did her best the next morning, but to no avail. I was in the Gryffindor common room pretending not to be waiting for Harry when he entered. I could tell from the look on his face that the situation with Ron had very much not been resolved.

His scowl lessened, though, as he made his way over to me. "Lucy, can I borrow Malachi? Hermione thinks I should tell Sirius about what happened last night."

I nodded, tucking my textbook into my bag and rising to my feet. "Of course. Want me to walk with you?"

He nodded. "Please?"

We walked to the Owlery in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Really, it was the most calm I had been since Professor Dumbledore read Harry's name --- the passage of time had helped soften the initial blow, and in that moment, Harry was alive and well and safe, right beside me. In that moment, it didn't matter that I had been too worried to sleep more than a couple hours, and it didn't even really matter that Hermione and Ron were not going to play much of a role in my life for the unforeseeable future. In that moment, I had Harry, and that was all that mattered.

He swore under his breath when we reached the top of the stairs. "I didn't think to grab parchment or a quill. I was too busy thinking about-"

I wordlessly reached into my bag and passed him a quill, then a piece of parchment.

"Thanks," he said, sitting with his back against the wall to write the letter. I whistled for Malachi and stroked his feathers as I waited.

Harry came over after a couple minutes. "Would you mind reading it? I don't want it to be too worrying, since we all know what happened last time I wrote him a letter."

"Sure," I said, taking the letter from his hands.

Dear Sirius,
   You told me to keep you posted on what's happening at Hogwarts, so here goes. I don't know if you've heard, but the Triwizard Tournament's happening this year, and last night (Halloween) I got picked as a fourth champion. I don't know who put my name in the Goblet of Fire, because I didn't. Nobody really believes me other than Lucy and a couple others. The other Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory, from Hufflepuff. He's Lucy's brother.
   Hope you're okay, and Buckbeak.
      Harry

"I think it's good," I said as I handed it back to him. "It sticks to the facts."

He nodded absently, still trying to think through a dense fog of worry. "Thanks. I... well, I tried."

He tried to tie the letter to Malachi's leg, but his hands were trembling too much to successfully tie the thin string.

"I can do it," I offered softly, laying my hands over his and tying the knot.

"Thanks," he said, looking somewhat embarrassed as Malachi took flight. "I-I don't know what's wrong with me. I just can't stop thinking. And Ron not believing me, on top of everything... I thought of everyone, at least he would trust me, but he doesn't." Harry reached out to stroke Hedwig's feathers, but she stiffened and flew away, clearly offended that he had used Malachi instead of her. "First Ron, then you? This isn't my fault!"

I stood beside him in silence, watching as Hedwig soared to the top of the Owlery. Harry released a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Lucy, what do you make of all of this?"

I glanced up at him, curious. "What do you mean?"

"Professor Moody thinks whoever entered my name wants me dead."

"I mean... I certainly hope that's not the case," I replied slowly. "But I... can't really think of a good reason for someone else entering your name."

Harry shook his head in agreement. We started to head down the stairs, but like the night before, I sank down onto a step.

He sat beside me without a word, so close to me, I realized, I could have laid my head on his shoulder. Before I could act on this random thought, he pulled his knees to his chest and dropped his head. I could tell that with every passing moment, the shock was wearing off, and the fear was setting in. I reached forward and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, a reminder that I was there, that I'd always be there.

We remained that way for a long time, undisturbed by any of our fellow students. Little did we realize exactly how precious that solitude was.

The next morning, it became immediately clear how the rest of the school felt about Harry being chosen as champion --- that is to say, they hated him for it.

First came the Hufflepuff hostility in Herbology. Then the Slytherin hostility in Care of Magical Creatures. Then the Ravenclaw hostility at lunch. It was a vicious, demoralizing cycle.

For what it was worth, Hagrid believed Harry didn't put his name in, bringing the grand total to six: Hermione, Hagrid, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Moody, and myself.

Our first double Potions of the week was Tuesday, which was nothing short of horrible for both of us. Draco Malfoy made sure he and Pansy Parkinson were our partners at the table, and it was a verbal bloodbath. It started with Draco reminding Harry that he thought Harry would die within the first ten minutes of the Tournament, and reminding me that Cedric would always be the superior Diggory. Pansy didn't offer much original criticism herself, but she encouraged Draco at every turn with her high-pitched giggles and additional supporting comments. Whenever I defended Harry, they would start attacking me. Whenever Harry defended me, they would start attacking him again.

We headed to Defense Against the Dark Arts in silence, neither wanting to talk about the horrible things that had been said. I wanted to say something to help him feel better, but I was coming up empty. I was beginning to feel defeated, too, and terribly stressed. Every passing day meant the first task was drawing nearer.

As bad as Tuesday's double Potions was, Friday's was even worse.

It seemed everyone in our year in Slytherin (except Archie and Cam, who were standing off to the side with matching murderous scowls directed at Draco) was waiting outside the Potions classroom, wearing identical badges.

Draco swaggered over to the pair of us with a smile. "Like them, Potter?"

Written on the badges in red letters were the words "Support CEDRIC DIGGORY, the REAL Hogwarts Champion!"

"Did Cedric approve those badges?" I asked, wrinkling my nose. "Because I can't imagine he did."

Draco ignored me, stepping closer to Harry. "This isn't all they do, look!"

He pressed the badge with his finger, and the words changed to "POTTER STINKS" in luminous green letters. One by one, the other Slytherins changed their badges so the whole dungeon glowed green.

I was too angry to speak, so I instead stepped closer to Harry and laid my left hand on top of his right --- consciously or otherwise, he was reaching for his wand, and the last thing we needed was a confrontation.

"Oh very funny, really witty." Hermione had broken her silence, coming to stand on Harry's other side. Harry and I both glanced back at Ron; he was standing off to the side, not helping, but he wasn't laughing, either.

Draco offered Hermione a badge. "Want one, Granger? I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed it, you see; don't want a Mudblood sliming it up."

Harry and I reached for our wands simultaneously, all precaution forgotten. Draco started to reach for his wand too, but someone spoke first.

"You know how much I hate that word," someone growled. To my surprise, Archie had drawn his wand too, and he was pointing it directly at Draco.

But Draco ignored him, looking only at Harry. "Go on, then, Potter. Moody's not here to look after you now. Do it, if you've got the guts."

I tucked my wand away in an instant, eyes widening in realization. "Harry, don't, he's trying to goad you into-"

"Furnunculus!"

"Densaugeo!"

"Depulso!"

Harry and Draco's spells bounced off of each other in midair, flying off in opposite directions. Archie's, however, hit its mark --- Draco flew several meters backward and hit the ground with a soft thud.

"Nice shot," I muttered to Archie, looking around to see who had been hit by the stray jinxes. I saw Goyle's face first, covered in boils.

"Hermione!" Ron cried, rushing in her direction. Harry and I hurried over too.

Her hand was pressed to her mouth, and Ron and I worked together to gently pry it away. Her teeth were growing rapidly, already past her chin.

I gripped her shoulder. "I'll take you to the Hospital Wing, let's g-"

"And what is all this noise about?" came Snape's voice.

Everyone in the corridor seemed to try to talk at once, so Snape pointed at Malfoy, who was already on his feet, for an explanation.

"Potter attacked me, sir, and he hit Goyle, look!"

"We attacked each other at the same time!" Harry protested.

Snape looked at Goyle. "Hospital wing, Goyle."

"Malfoy got Hermione! Look!" Ron yanked her hands away from her mouth for Snape to see.

He studied her for a second. "I see no difference."

Hermione's eyes swelled with tears, and she sprinted away. Harry and Ron immediately began shouting at the top of their lungs as I chased after her.

"Get back here, Diggory!" Snape called.

I stopped dead in my tracks and turned around slowly, trembling from head to toe with anger. First he insults Hermione, then he won't let me follow her? "I was just going to accompany her to the Hospital Wing, sir."

"I trust that she can find it on her own at this point." He turned to Harry and Ron. "Let's see... fifty points from Gryffindor and a detention each for Potter and Weasley. Now get inside, or it'll be a week's worth of detentions."

I remained frozen in place for half a second longer before following the boys. I sat next to Harry, as always, but to my surprise, Ron sat on my other side.

"Hey," I said, looking at him shyly, "she'll be okay. Madam Pomfrey can fix it."

He nodded. "But she can't take back what Snape said."

"I know," I whispered.

I knew all too well how Hermione felt. I remembered all too well what he had said to me during our first-ever Potions lesson. I recalled all too well how his words cut to the bone.

You don't belong in Gryffindor. You think you can come to Hogwarts and have your every whim catered to, but that isn't the case. By all rights, you don't belong here, and you know it. If not for the pity of the Headmaster, you wouldn't even be standing in my classroom right now, daring to defy me. It would be wise for you to learn to control the monster within you in the future. For now, I fear it's already too late.

"Antidotes!" Snape said loudly, surveying the classroom with those horrible eyes of his. "You should all have prepared your recipes now. I want you to brew them carefully, and then, we will be selecting someone on whom to test one."

Harry stiffened as Snape's horrible eyes landed on him. I fixed my nastiest glare on Snape, hoping my message was clear. If you hurt Harry, I will hurt you.

A knock at the door interrupted whatever Snape was about to say next. Colin Creevey smiled at Harry as he walked in.

"Yes?" Snape asked.

"Please, sir, I'm supposed to take Harry Potter upstairs."

"Potter has another hour of Potions to complete. He will come upstairs when this class is finished."

"Sir... sir, Mr. Bagman wants him. All the champions have got to go, I think they want to take photographs."

It was Ron's turn to stiffen. He looked in the opposite direction of Harry, his jaw clenched.

"Very well, very well. Potter, leave your things here, I want you back down here later to test your antidote."

"Please, sir, he's got to take his things with him. All the champions-"

"Very well! Potter, take your bag and get out of my sight!"

Harry didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed his bag and quickly followed Colin out of the room.

Snape stared after them for a second before snapping back to reality. "Brew your antidotes, then we'll test one on somebody in this room."

The absence of Harry and Hermione meant that Ron and I were alone for the first time in a week. I had missed him, a lot, but I knew better than to try to force him to make up with Harry. It would happen when the time was right, and not a moment sooner.

"Ron?" I asked after we had been working in silence for about a minute.

"Yeah?"

I bit my lip. What should I say? "I just... well, I wanted you to know I miss you."

"Aren't you on Harry's side?"

"There aren't any sides, the way I see it," I replied. "Ron, I understand exactly how you feel-"

"No, you don't."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Ron, my brother is Cedric Diggory. And Harry's my friend, too. I understand."

He started grating his ingredient so quickly I grew concerned he was going to take off part of his finger. "No, you don't understand. You don't have five older brothers who are so much better than you, you only have the one, and you two are practically the same person-"

"Tell that to my dad, then."

He froze.

"You were there that morning," I continued in a softer voice. "You heard him. You're right, I don't understand exactly how you feel, but I reckon I understand how you feel better than Harry does. Better than Hermione, too, but don't tell her I said that. I'm alright with letting her think she's the best."

Ron managed a small smile at that, but it faded. "But if you understand, then why...?"

"Because Harry needs someone too," I said gently. "Ron, I know you don't believe that he didn't enter. And that's alright, I know that's what you believe and I know I can't change your mind, but the fact of the matter is, Harry's in the Tournament, and he's terrified. Surely you've seen that much?"

He hesitated for one second... two seconds... three seconds... then nodded. "Yeah. I have."

"I'm not going to ask you to try to make it up to him," I said, starting to crush my ingredients again. "But I know Harry misses you, and I know that you miss Harry-"

"I don't," he snapped.

I shrugged. "Keep telling yourself that, but I know the truth."

We worked together in silence for the rest of class, but it was alright. We both really needed to focus, and the air was clear between the two of us.

With fifteen minutes left in class, Snape got everyone's attention. "Longbottom, bring your antidote to the front of the room."

Neville gulped, hurriedly filling a small flask with the contents of his cauldron. He walked over to where Snape was standing, trembling from head to toe.

"It is now time to see if even Longbottom has somehow grasped how to brew an antidote. Diggory, join me at the front, if you will."

"No, not Lucy!" Neville burst out, sending a fearful glance in my direction.

Snape narrowed his eyes at Neville, a small smirk quirking his lips. "Is there a problem, Longbottom?"

"There's no problem, Professor," I said, hopping off of my stool and smiling.

"Lucy, no!" Ron hissed. "It's Neville's!"

I ignored him and stepped to the front of the room, meeting Snape's gaze defiantly, keeping my smile glued to my face. He looked somewhat taken aback by my confidence at first, but then his small smirk gave way to an undeniably sinister expression.

Snape pressed a cold vial into my hand. "I trust you are familiar with this particular poison?"

I studied the bluish substance. It was a wolfsbane ingredient. My smile disappeared in an instant. Merlin, I hated Severus Snape. "This is aconite fluid, Professor."

"You will have about thirty seconds to drink the antidote, brewed by Longbottom. There's a bezoar in that cabinet, just in case," he said, gesturing with his wand, "so if something goes wrong, hopefully someone here can find it before it's too late."

Poor Neville looked as if he were about to faint. I didn't feel great, either, knowing I was about to literally consume poison. I looked out at the class one more time, which ended up being a terrible mistake. Cam was gripping Archie's hand tightly under their table, her olive skin significantly paler than usual. Archie offered an encouraging nod, but I could see the thinly-veiled fear in his eyes. And Ron... Ron looked like he was resisting the urge to rush to the front of the room and smack the poison out of my hand and throttle Snape in the same motion. Harry and Hermione were off in distant parts of the castle, completely unaware of what I was about to do. And Cedric... well, I'd just have to hope he never heard about this.

I popped the lid off the aconite and downed it. Neville's hands trembled violently as he passed me the antidote. I grabbed it from him as calmly as I could muster and sent the contents down my throat in a single swallow.

And then I waited. I closed my eyes as a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I shuddered, making the whole class gasp.

But after about ten seconds... I was alright. I opened my eyes and turned to Snape.

"I think it works, Professor," I said, hoping he heard the biting edge to my voice. I smiled at Neville and softened my tone. "Good job!" I turned back to Snape, hardening my expression. "May we return to our seats, Professor?"

He nodded stiffly. "Class dismissed."

Ron grabbed me by the shoulder as soon as I was within reach. "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking better me than someone else," I replied with a shrug. "It worked out in the end, didn't it?"

He stared at me for a second, mouth moving but no words coming out. He sighed and dragged his hand over his face. "I can't believe Snape just..."

"Tried to poison me?" I finished for him. "Yeah, I know. Well, remember last year when we thought he poisoned Lupin but it was actually just wolfsbane? I don't think he would have let me die today... well, at least I hoped he wouldn't."

"You gambled your life on a hope?"

I pursed my lips and slung my bag over my shoulder. "Isn't that what we do every day, if you think about it?"

Ron hesitated, then sighed again. "I guess. I'm going to check on Hermione. Maybe you should come with me... just in case."

I nodded. "Couldn't hurt. I really do feel alright, though."

"Yeah, well... can't be too careful. C'mon."

I followed Ron out of the dungeons and up the stairs to the Hospital Wing. Hermione was sitting up in bed, and she smiled dazzlingly when we walked in.

"Hey, you two are together!"

"Well, without you and Harry, we needed partners," Ron explained, sitting at the foot of her bed. "And we talked things out. Besides, I was never mad at Lucy anyway. Not her fault she keeps company with... anyway. How are you?"

"Madam Pomfrey wants me to stay overnight, just in case my teeth start growing again. But I'm alright, really," she insisted. She offered me a particularly toothy grin, and I noticed all of her teeth were the same size now. "Better than alright."

"Looks good," I commented.

Ron glanced at me, still looking concerned. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Hermione turned to look at me, brow furrowing in confusion. "What is he talking about? What did you do?"

"This is my cue to leave," I said, walking backwards toward the door.

"What? Lucy!" Hermione protested.

I laid my hand on the knob. "Ron can fill you in. I really should go ask Cedric how the pictures went. Bye!"

I slipped out of the Hospital Wing and headed down to the Great Hall. Harry was sitting by himself, looking rather forlorn, so I slid in next to him.

"Sorry I'm late," I said quickly. "How were the pictures?"

"Those I could have lived with," he muttered. "But Rita Skeeter... Merlin. She's the worst. How's Hermione, by the way?"

"She's alright, don't worry."

"Lucy!" Neville sat down across from me. "Thank Merlin. I saw you heading to the Hospital Wing with Ron, and I thought, well, something had gone wrong!"

Harry looked at me, bewildered. "Hospital Wing? With Ron? Wait, Neville, what do you mean 'gone wrong?'"

"I went to visit Hermione in the Hospital Wing," I explained, glancing between the boys. "I'm alright, really. And I was Ron's partner in class today since you and Hermione were both gone for the whole period. But Neville, don't worry, I'm completely fine."

"Why wouldn't you be?" Harry pressed. His face fell. "Lucy, you're not sick again, are you?"

I shook my head. Not yet... I thought to myself. "Well, with you taking pictures, I was the test. Snape had me drink poison, then Neville's antidote. And it worked perfectly."

Harry's hand whitened as he gripped his fork. "I hate him. I hate him."

"Just think of him in Neville's grandmother's clothes," I suggested, managing a small smile. "That always helps me get over the anger."

Neville chuckled. "Seeing that was one of the best moments of my life, I swear on the name of Godric Gryffindor himself."

Harry and I joined in on the laughter. We spent the rest of dinner with Neville, actually, and it was quite enjoyable. We headed up to the common room together, and the boys headed up to their dormitory shortly thereafter. I lingered in the common room, curling up in the window seat to take a moment just to breathe and reflect on the chaos of the past week. I had grown a little over the summer, meaning the window seat was a slightly tighter fit than it had been the last three years, but I still fit.

I hadn't been there more than five minutes when Harry headed back down the stairs and held out a piece of parchment. "From Sirius," he said. "Thought you might want to read it."

I nodded, scanning the letter quickly.

Harry —
   I can't say everything I would like to in a letter, it's too risky in case the owl is intercepted --- we need to talk face-to-face. Can you ensure that you (and Lucy, if you want her there --- I haven't been properly introduced yet) are alone by the fire in Gryffindor Tower at one o'clock in the morning on the 19th of November?
   I know better than anyone that you can look after yourself and while you're around Dumbledore and Moody I don't think anyone will be able to hurt you. However, someone seems to be having a good try. Entering you in that tournament would have been very risky, especially right under Dumbledore's nose.
   Be on the watch, Harry. I still want to hear about anything unusual. Let me know about the 19th of November as quickly as you can.
      Sirius

"One in the morning next Saturday. Er, technically Sunday. I can do that."

Harry smiled a bit. "I don't know what exactly he has in mind for, ah, introductions, but I thought you'd like to meet him after all this time."

I laughed. "Yeah, that'd be nice." I moved over to create some space on the window seat. "If you want to sit here with me for a while instead of having to deal with Ron, you can."

He nodded gratefully. "Sounds great."

We sat quietly together for quite a while that night. After a week of dirty looks and vicious comments left and right, it was nice to be alone. I pointed out my favorite constellations to him, with extra emphasis on Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, of course, since my patronus was a bear.

In that moment, we weren't Harry Potter and Lucy Diggory, a Triwizard Champion and Sister of a Triwizard Champion. We were just Harry and Lucy, looking up at the stars and wondering what they held in store for each of us.