1ST NOVEMBER 1994 - 10:00 AM

The next morning the garish orange decorations from the day before had disappeared and the Great Hall had returned to its normal state. It was nice to see the simple beauties such as the sparse sunlight glistening through some of the tall arched windows in the Great Hall. Somehow the pleasantly warm days from the start of September had hurried away, slowly taking their comfortingly temperate warmth with them. All that was left behind was a chill that was becoming more and more prominent as the weeks passed. Meera had woken up shivering that morning and had pulled her duvet over her tightly to try and get comfortable and fall asleep again.

At breakfast Meera could still feel remnants of the excitement from last night buzzing through the people in the castle. One thing odd she'd noticed however was Lorelei Black arguing with Ron Weasley rather loudly at the Entrance Hall. 

"Well he said if he were going to enter he'd have entered the night before...when no one saw him!" Ron snapped. "And you and he are technically related. You're famous...I mean so many people would recognise you're name! Yet you still wanted to compete to gain more glory."

Lory exhaled forcefully, her fists clenched. She then turned towards the Grand Staircase, where Meera was standing."Oi Weasley!" She called pointing her wand towards the twins who were a little further up. "See if you can instill any sense into the little one, he's chosen to be a fucking imbecile."

"Hey!" Ron snapped. "Don't call me that unless you want to be called little miss..."

"I'll talk to him." One of the twins cut off quickly. Behind them Cedric and Evie had just made  their way up the staircase leading to the kitchens. The latter looked rather annoyed and seemed to be berating the taller boy, but she stopped as soon as she became aware of the fraught situation they'd walked into.

Fortunately the group cleared and Meera hurried down the stairs to catch up with the two Hufflepuffs.

"Good save there."  Cedric commented. "If Fred hadn't stepped in she'd have probably cursed his brother for even daring to start saying that particular moniker."

"What happened last night? Who's competing?" Meera asked ignoring his comment. "And how are Lory and Harry related?"

"They gave us instructions to await till our next summons. Everyone's competing, and Lory is Harry's godsister. She tries to look out for him as she's the closest thing he hasto family and its kinda the same thing for her." Cedric shrugged.

"Everyone meaning, all the people's names who came out of the Goblet?" Meera clarified.

"Yes Meera what else could it mean!" Evie snapped.

"I mean it was a little ambiguous...everyone could mean only the authorised players."

"You guys should talk to Harris if you want to know more...honestly don't know why he wouldn't tell me I wouldn't have minded if he joined neither would Lory...but not like this." Cedric said opening the door to let the two girls enter.

"Who are we kidding! Because he's an idiot. Oh look there he is...let's go ask him Meera!" Evie declared grabbing onto her friends arm and beginning to make her way to the Slytherin table.

"I'll see you later I guess." Cedric called after them before walking over to the Hufflepuff table where he was greeted with several cheers and applause.

"Maybe we should talk to him elsewhere." Meera suggested. "Wouldn't want to risk exposing him..."

"Considering he's entered this tournament I don't think his true identity will remain under the wraps for long." Evie cut off. 

"What makes you think he voluntarily entered it? I mean don't you think he would have told Cedric or Lory, his best friends...or us?" Meera asked. "He seemed just as surprised as we were yesterday." 

"The surprise could be because he got picked as an extra champion not because he didn't enter." Evie said. "Look who he's talking to." 

Freya was sat next to the Slytherin boy and the two seemed to be having a rather animated discussion. She was nodding solemnly as he eagerly went on about something gesticulating exuberantly. A moment later he waved towards them and Meera smiled tightly returning his wave.

"He doesn't seem too phased about the fact that he's ended up in a tournament with a death toll." Evie said. "If he hadn't entered don't you think he'd be a bit more sober or irritated."

"I'm sure he's just happy to have the opportunity to catch up with an old friend." Meera disagreed adamantly. "If he was entering he'd have told us...or you at least, even if not me. If Merlin was going to enter the tournament you'd be one of the first to know Evie." 

Evie remained unconvinced and only quickened her pace towards the Slytherin table. "Hey Harris." She said icily, ignoring some of the Slytherins who were trying to "protect" their champion from a Hufflepuff. "A word?"

"I wouldn't go alone Harris...your girlfriend seems pissed." Malfoy said smirking. 

"She's not my girlfriend Draco and I'm sure she won't hurt me." Merlin replied. Evie's eyebrows shot up at the second part. "At least I hope she won't."

"Don't worry Harris, you've got a chaperone." Lory commented amusedly as she watched Meera summon the last two muffins that two Slytherins had been reaching for.

Evie held out a hand and Meera shook her head. "Get your own."

Evie shook her head in mock disapproval and swatted Malfoy's hand away before taking the last set of hash browns "Hey!" 

"That was for that comment." Evie said.

"You guys could have come over after eating." Harris said. "Breakfast is the most important meal you know."

"Either you come with us to the library to have a conversation or we have that conversation here." Evie said, in an uncharacteristic cold tone. 

The tense uncomfortable silence between Evie and Merlin became more evident as they exited the Great Hall.

"Before you ask, I did not put my name in the Goblet of Fire. If I was going to I wouldn't have to lied to you about it." he said seating himself on the Staircase. "I understand that you were really happy that Hufflepuff finally got its long overdue chance to shine and now..."

"Now it has to share it with not only Gryffindor's wonderkind, but also a Slytherin champion as well." she complained. "This whole tournament will most definitely become a Gryffindor vs Slytherin pissing contest!"

"Listen guys...as much as the houses are important...like its kind of a bummer that every house has a champion now except Ravenclaw...as much as all that is important, can we talk about how Merlin and Harry's name were able to come out of the Goblet after the original three were picked?" Meera asked. 

"Moody thinks someone managed to hoodwink the Goblet with a powerful Confundus charm. I mean I'd understand for Harry, but why me? Who would want to go to those extents to get me in?"

"I heard a few of your housemates joking that they might put your name in. Could it be them?" Meera asked.

"No, and there's no one in the present who wants to kill me except..."

"Morgana." a taste of bile rose in Meera's mouth as she uttered the sorceress name. Her skin crawled at the idea that she could have been in Hogwarts, just a few nights ago; in the very same Entrance Hall she was standing in now.

"It can't be her Meera she can't have gotten in Hogwarts." Evie assured her. 

"But that's the only reasonable explanation. If Harry was entered by someone trying to kill him, then the same applies for Merlin...no mere prankster could fool the Goblet of Fire so easily. It has to be someone who is able to perform powerful magic. Who better than a high priestess?" Meera asked. 

"Ok I may believe that Harris didn't enter out of his own volition, but I have no opinion one way or another about Harry. I mean..." Evie said. 

"If Harry didn't choose to enter himself...which I believe he didn't. What are the chances that he and I were entered by the same person?" Merlin asked. 

"No way." Evie said immediately. "It doesn't make any sense. Why would Morgana give a damn about Harry?"

"Because he is widely known as the chosen one...she could have found out that I am at Hogwarts under an alias, assumed that I'd settled there as I'd found my chosen one: Harry." he pointed out. 

"But if Morgana thought Harry was the chosen one...how could she manipulate my dreams?" Meera asked.

"While seers can reach out to other seers they don't necessarily know exactly who they are immediately. Morgana may have been the last high priestess, and capable of some dark magic, but she was never properly guided in the craft. Her visions were rarely under her control." Merlin explained.

"So you think Morgana somehow got into Hogwarts and put your names into the Goblet of Fire." Evie said sounding sceptical. "So many prefects were patrolling the night before, including Meera. Don't you think she would have noticed if the woman haunting her dreams was there?"

"Well as Meera herself pointed out yesterday morning, this is a huge castle, and Morgana has probably found ways to move undetected over these years. Blend in." he shrugged. 

"Could she still be here?" Meera asked. 

Merlin shook his head. "I'd recognise her Meera, she'd be a fool to hang around here." 

"What if it isn't Morgana? What if she has an accomplice instead?" Evie suggested. "Any ideas who else it could be?"

Merlin shook his head. "I'll have a think about it, but now I'm afraid I must leave, my friend's waiting." He gestured towards the door to the Great Hall from which Freya had emerged. "I presume you guys already know her."

"Yep...we also know how you know her." Evie replied a touch icily. Merlin's eyes widened a little and he looked at Meera who nodded. "Funny you've never mentioned her before."

"I've never really had a reason to bring it up. Freya and I are ancient history Evie, there was no reason to bring it up." he said.

"When you say ancient history do you mean that metaphorically or literally?" Evie asked. 

Merlin ignored the question, getting up hastily. "I've gotta go, we'll talk more about this later guys." 

Meera noticed Evie's irritation as she watched the Slytherin boy leave with the Beauxbatons girl.

"He's just being friendly Evie. You know Merlin, he's amiable with everyone, regardless of what may have happened in the past." Meera said. 

"Sometimes I wonder if that's a quality of strength or a failing." Evie said softly. 

"I'd say strength, considering all the horrors he must have seen over all these years. First under Uther's reign where magic practitioners like him were persecuted and killed, then seeing his friends die...it's a wonder he still manages to have a hopeful outlook despite it all." Meera said. 

"He is hopeful because of it all Meera. He probably feels that when he finally completes his destiny the world would be such a place where people who have magic can trust anyone without fear of persecution." Evie explained. "Its shocking to see that he still believes in his destiny, but I guess that is the only constant in his life now, after losing so much. I just hope he realises that, that's not the only thing that will be around for him forever."

Meera nodded, hearing her friend's unspoken promise. "Let's go we have quite a bit of homework to finish off. I then have to go to one of my sessions with Trelawny again." 

Evie nodded and hurried to follow her friend up the staircase. 

------***------

3RD NOVEMBER 1994 - 1:00 PM

Over the next few days Meera had little time to catch up with the others.  The leniency they'd had in last week's lessons disappeared, and the teachers seemed to be more driven than ever to kill them with homework. The cause of their sudden change in demeanour became evident once Madame Maxime had taken the empty seat near her in Charms on Tuesday morning. It was rather unsettling to have the French headmistress so near her as she now had to actually focus on the task at hand instead of using her time to read up more on the Arthurian legends. 

Each time Professor Flitwick asked a question there was a heavy silence in the class; her fellow Ravenclaw and Gryffindor classmates were very aware of the woman in the room and none were keen to volunteer, which made the double period even slower than it had been. To help move things along Meera called out the answers to a few questions, but after two or three answers Flitwick had stopped her as he noticed the pattern of when she decided to answer. Though no one would dare to admit or show it explicitly a collective sense of relief was shared by the fifth years when the second bell signalling lunch rang.

"You have a rather excellent grasp of ze subject." the headmistress commented as Meera hastily rolled up her notes not even waiting for the ink to dry as she hurried to gather her things. 

"Thank you." Meera mumbled her eyes trained on the the books she packed away. 

"A student of mine has zis exact same book." Madame Maxime said picking up the copy of L'Morte D'Arthur, Meera had borrowed from the library. Meera nodded, subconsciously tapping her foot as she waited for the headmistress to finish examining it. "Unless I'm mistaken I think you may know her."

"Freya?" Meera frowned as Madame Maxime returned the book. 

The tall woman rose and nodded, before gliding away towards Professor Flitwick, who'd been pacing across his table as he watched the exchange. Meera noticed a subtle gleam of approval from his eyes and smiled before hurrying out of the classroom.

"Finally!" Padma Patil exclaimed loudly startling Meera. 

"What's up Padma?" Meera asked. "Why were you waiting for me?" 

The younger girl rose her eyebrows at her. "DId you forget?" 

"Forget what?" 

"You were supposed to be helping me, Parvati and the rest of us with Diwali decorations...we've been planning this for the past month Meera. Besides how could you have forgotten, doesn't your mother send you a gift every year?" Padma asked.

"I...I guess she was busy this year." Meera said. "Sorry about that. Things have been a little crazy."

"When are they ever not in Hogwarts? We can't let that get in the way of our celebration! My mum's already gutted that Parvati and I are not going to be home for holi." Padma exclaimed.

Meera smiled. "You're right, lets just get something quick to eat." 

"So you really didn't get any packages this year?" Padma asked. "I mean last year I understand it was because of the Azkaban lockdown, but this year everything's actually pretty normal." 

"I guess the owl's late or maybe my mum just couldn't get one in time its no big deal." Meera said as nonchalantly as she could. 

It wasn't like her mother at all to forget something like this as she was very persistent on getting Meera to observe all of the traditions she herself had as a child, with family and friends. She had been quite happy when Meera had told her about the group of Indian friends she had in Hogwarts as she felt it was important that Meera always had ties to her roots. 

"Hey Evie...I'm going to be helping Padma setup for the Diwali thing we have later, so I won't be around at lunch." Meera said to her friend before sitting down. 

She noticed Evie's slight disappointment but the Hufflepuff quickly masked it with a smile. "That's fine I'll just hang out with Cedric." The sixth year's head perked up at the mention of his name and he frowned. "Meera's busy at lunch so you're stuck with me." Evie explained.

He glanced at Meera raising his eyebrows. "Diwali decorations."

"Why don't you take Evie with you? She's pretty creative and could probably help you guys setup faster." he suggested.

"Is this your way of saying you don't like spending time with me?" Evie asked him.

"No! Of course not!" Cedric exclaimed. "I just think you'd have more fun making decorations with Meera than hanging around with me and Roman...all you'll get out of that are me failing miserably at exploding snap and Roman making about fifty million innuendos."

"Hmm...that actually sounds quite fun." 

"Some of them would be about Harris and the Beauxbatons girl." Cedric said. "Though he insists that there's nothing there, Roman believes...and his exacts words are this: 'the gent doth protest too much'."

"On the other hand decorations sound lovely." Evie said. "That is if you'll have me." 

"Of course, we need as many as we can get, we're actually short on hands because Raj and Arjun are in detention with Snape and some of the others are out trying to source out some fireworks."

"Didn't Snape ban fireworks after the last incident?" Cedric asked. 

Meera glanced at the Potions Professor in the staff table before saying. "What he doesn't know doesn't hurt him...the only people who would get hurt are those who decide to enlighten him about them or those who decide to confirm their existence if questioned about them."

"What are fireworks again, Professor?" Cedric asked with a rather convincing tone of bewilderment, before grinning at the Ravenclaw girl who was trying to contain a smile. Evie rolled her eyes and Padma rose her eyebrows at this particular exchange. "Let me know if you need a hand by the way."

"Don't you have homework?" Meera heard Evie ask.

"The teachers have decided to go easy on his highness as he is a champion." Roman responded dryly. "They're setting very little homework until he completes the first task."

"Lucky bastard." Meera said bitterly getting up from the Ravenclaw table with Padma. Evie rose her eyebrows at her friend's rather harsh words. "You're getting a free pass whilst the rest of us are getting set twice as much." 

"Hey I did not make these decisions." Cedric said. "I warned you about O.W.Ls, guess they're not as much of a cakewalk as you thought they'd be."

Meera rolled her eyes. "Let's get working on that setup Evie." She hurried ahead to get to the courtyard which is where they were setting things up.

"Is anything wrong?" Evie asked Meera. The Ravenclaw shook her head. "You seemed a little tense back there." 

"It's nothing." Meera insisted. "Just the workload that's all."

With lessons interrupting their work it was difficult to get all the setup with the rangoli and clay candles done in time, especially with other students loitering in the courtyard until late hours. Despite the fact that it was a small space and a small event, Meera wanted to make the best of it as she loved Diwali and found it to be a great thing to share with friends. 

"These look great." Meera heard a familiar voice say as she drew the last of the rangoli designs, which were rather clumsy in comparison to Evie or Padma's. 

"These are shit. Those are great." Meera said to Cedric. "You can be honest about that."

"Yeh, but its the thought that counts right?" Cedric said smiling. "You need any help." 

"I'd have asked if I did." Meera said still ignoring him, as she concentrated on placing a charm over the candle to prevent it from being blown out by the wind. "Watch your cloak, there are all sorts of candles everywhere."

"So why do you celebrate Diwali?" Cedric asked. Meera rose her eyebrows at him. "What does it commemorate?" 

"Are you actually interested or are you just trying to make small talk so you can stay to watch the fireworks?" Meera asked.

"I'm actually interested." Cedric replied. Meera rose her eyebrows at him, sceptical of his sincerity, but there was no sign of deceit in his eyes. 

"It commemorates the return of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu from exile after 14 years. These lights that we've lit and the fireworks...any light basically is believed to bring prosperity and growth with glow to you and your friends and family." Meera explained. "Its another good triumphs evil celebration."

"If this about good triumphing evil, why do you sound so depressed about it?" Cedric asked, leaning against a wall. "What's wrong?" 

"My mum didn't send me a gift." Meera said. 

"And?" 

"My mother has sent me a gift for Diwali every year Cedric, its her way of showing that she does care for me even though she isn't always there for me. Diwali is also associated with a lot of homemade sweets and treats which I miss out on if I am in Hogwarts, which I am most of the time around this time, so she somehow manages to package them and send them too." she explained. Cedric looked positively bewildered by her explanation and she sighed. "Never mind."

"Maybe the owl's just late...or she couldn't find one in time?" Cedric suggested. "It's hardly cause to be upset. I mean it was late last year and you didn't seem this bothered."

"Last year there was a killer lose Cedric. I was a bit more concerned with that and all the Dementors hanging around then a present." she said dryly. "And if possible this year is even worse and more weird than last. I mean I actually forgot that she was supposed to send me something."

"Well you've been busy...I mean you're clearly tired and..."

"OWLs aren't that big of a deal. I've managed with one more elective than normal along with playing a musical instrument in an orchestra, you've got to understand that getting on top off schoolwork is not something I consider to be difficult." Meera said. "It keeps me busy but its nothing I'm not expected to be good at." 

"No ones expecting you to exhaust yourself." Cedric countered. "Except you maybe, which is why Evie, Merlin and I are there to remind you to take a break."

"Interesting that you've added yourself to that list." Evie said joining the pair. 

"Well...I mean, I'm happy to help out if she needs it that's all." Cedric said. "I know we're not that close and stuff, but..."

"Thanks." Meera cut off the babbling Hufflepuff,  smiling softly before turning to Evie.

"Fred and George have got us some sick fireworks." Evie said."Lets go check it out."

"I'll be with you in a second, I've got to make sure these don't go out." Meera said.

"I'm sure they won't..." Evie began.

"Its windy Evie so they could, my mum would say its a bad omen." Meera said. Evie nodded and waited for her friend. "Go. I'll manage." 

"Don't just stand there Cedric help her out." Evie ordered the Hufflepuff, he quickly moved. 

"Are you using the Flame Freezing Charm?" Cedric asked. 

Meera nodded. "Its the closest thing I could find to what i needed. I just hope it works." 

"You know for someone who claims to find to complying with their parent's beliefs difficult you sure do quote and follow through with a significant number of their beliefs."

"Habits are hard to break Diggory. My mum's been telling me this since I was a kid. Ironically I believed in things like these more when I didn't have magic. I didn't believe in these things that much for a while...curses maybe but omens not so much. However, I'm not so sure anymore." Meera said after lighting another candle. 

"What changed your mind?" Cedric asked, he noticed the Ravenclaw tense up at the question, her wand pattern faltering a little. 

"Nothing much to be honest, just some things I've been reading and learning that's all." Meera said. "Plus 1994 has been a pretty strange year for me." 

She stepped back from the row candles on the ledge. "Let's get going." 

 "So that's why you're mother's gift not coming through worries you?" he asked as they walked towards the crowd gathered around the Weasley twins. Lory waved towards them briefly as she handed out sparklers. "Because its another strange thing?" 

Meera nodded, she smiled as she saw Evie run towards them with three sparklers. "Careful with that."

"These are for you to." Evie said passing two to her. She then started drawing patterns with her own.

"Maybe you and Harris could draw out half a heart each with yours." Meera joked waving the piece of metal around. 

Evie rolled her eyes. "I'm sure he would much rather do that with Freya." 

"Is this all your supposed to do with this?" Cedric asked uncertainly swishing the sparkler around. "Kinda boring if you ask me, why would Snape ban these?"

Meera chuckled. "Oh no he didn't ban these Diggory. He banned those."

She pointed towards the rather large firework Padma and Parvati Patil were lighting before running back. The fuse burned out quickly and there was a pause. Seemingly nothing happened and people began to turn away, but seconds later the rocket shot up into the sky and exploded into bright colours. Some who were nearer covered their ears. A few moments later a shape began to form from the colours...

"Is that a..." Cedric began.

"Dragon." Harris finished, glowing with pride. "I put a little charm on that. What do you think Evie?" 

Evie's eyes were still engrossed on the emerging shape. "Its beautiful."

"Lets skedaddle, before they decide to use us as an excuse to not talk." Meera said grabbing Cedric's arm and dragging him away from them. "Evie's been worried about Harris and the tournament you know."

"I noticed." Cedric said. "That's why I suggested you take her with you to decorations. 'Cause otherwise she'd have gotten bored and then would be worrying in silence."

"That was very thoughtful." Meera admitted. "I can't believe I didn't think of that, I mean..."

"Don't beat yourself up over it, you can't think of every single thing you know?" Cedric interrupted. "Expecting yourself to do so is what's stupid. It's not your fault that Harris got picked for the tournament, so you don't need to feel guilty for Evie's worry."

Meera didn't respond to Cedric's comment. He didn't know the full picture, the reason Morgana was probably trying to get Merlin to compete is because she wants him to get injured or killed. Meera isn't sure how exactly that would happen considering Merlin's immortality, but the reason she's doing it now must have something to do with Meera's visions.

"You don't need to be able to solve your friends problem to be a good friend, just try and be there for them...if you invest yourself in everyone else's struggles you'll probably become even more exhausted." Cedric continued.

"I know, most of the time for Evie I let her come to me when she's ready so she doesn't feel forced to talk about her problems. She always does come to me because she knows she can confide in me." Meera said. "I'm just surprised you noticed that how worried Evie actually was, not many people do."

"Well we have been friends for some time you know. I know you and I have only started talking more frequently recently, but Evie and I are in the same house and team, and Harris and I have the same lessons so we are a lot closer. To be honest I'm surprised the two of us never really hung out before you tutored me." Cedric shrugged. He noticed Meera watching some boys lighting the firework, intently. "Do you want to set one off?" 

"What?" Meera turned away from the rocket. "Yeah, but...I don't know, I might screw it up."

"I'll go with you if you want." Cedric offerred. "If things go wrong you can blame it on me."

"Ok." Meera agreed. She approached the Weasley twins who were currently placed in charge of the fireworks, and picked up one of the smaller ones, before approaching the centre to set it up. Meera lit the fuse with a match before backing away into the gathering. The rocket burst into the exploding with bright colours of pink and green. 

"Seems like you and the Pretty Boy are becoming more friendly." Parvati said to the grinning at the older Ravenclaw. "What happened to the rivalry Meera?"

"Rivalry is all still there, Parvati...there's nothing wrong with being civil." Meera said.

"Seemed a bit more than that, when you were dragging him away from the others earlier." Padma commented. 

"That...that was not what it looked liked, I did that so we could leave Harris and Evie alone to talk things out." Meera said. "Speaking of...where's Evie?" 

"Right here." a voice said behind her. "Harris had to leave to get something else...he never showed up so I went to find out why and..."

"Right, parties over, back to your dorm rooms!" a snide baritone voice said loudly.

"Shit." Meera muttered, trying to hide amongst her friends.

"Not so fast Ms Ranga, you stay." Snape said. "You remember what I told you about fireworks."

"I swear I didn't know about them...I didn't alter any of them professor, we only bought small ones with permission from Professor Flitwick sir...at least that's what I thought we'd get but apparently, not." Meera said.

"You told me that you..."

"It's not Meera's fault Professor, she only organised the floor and candle decorations." Cedric said. "I don't think she even knows who brought the fireworks in...she was actually hoping there wouldn't be any to avoid disturbing people."

Evie's eyebrows shot up at the outright lie from the Hufflepuff Prefect. Meera nudged her to prevent Snape from noticing her surprise. 

"Either way 50 points from Ravenclaw and 10 from Hufflepuff." Snape said. "And one toe out of line I will not hesitate to have your Prefecthood revoked."

"Hey!" Evie exclaimed, but Cedric put an arm on her shoulder.

"I interrupted him Evie...don't make it worse." Cedric muttered.

"No, Meera does not deserve to have 50 points taken from her just because she was trying to observe one of her cultural traditions with some friends. No harm was done Professor, except to your ego perhaps." Evie protested vehemently ignoring the Hufflepuff boy. Snape's nostrils flared at Evie's words. "They don't have an opportunity to go home and so they make the best of what they have, its not like Hogwarts didn't go all out for the Triwizard tournament because that's a big deal or even for Christmas, with all the decorations."

"Professor, I enchanted the dragon firework, if anyone should lose points is me." Harris said.

"Oh of course he wouldn't do that Harris." Evie said. "You're in Slytherin..."

"That's quite enough Miss Brooke." Professor McGonnegal exclaimed. "What is going on here Professor?" 

"Professor Snape, took 50 points in Ravenclaw from Meera, because one firework was too extravagant." Harris explained. "Evie was just trying to point out that it was unfair that students like Meera aren't allowed to celebrate their cultural traditions in the way they normally would."

"We were planning to leave in a few minutes, Professor. After all we all have lessons tomorow and work." Meera said picking at her sleeves growing rather uncomfortable with the attention this gathered. "It was just supposed to be a small gathering. I asked Professor Flitwick and he said it was a good idea to keep our spirits up and take short breaks with all the work we do."

"Of course, Miss Ranga. I'll ensure those house points are not deducted from Ravenclaw. Now of to bed all of you." Professor McGonnegal said ignoring Snape's irritation.

As they entered the Great Hall. Meera said. "Evie I use my authority as Prefect to grant Hufflepuff 10 points for firstly helping out with all the setup today, and secondly not being a bystander."

Evie grinned. "Wait but..." Cedric began.

"Prefects do have the authority give house points Diggory." Meera said. "Not to each other, so I can't give those points to you, but Evie's not a Prefect."

"I'm not sure Snape will see it that way." Harris commented amusedly. 

"What he doesn't know doesn't hurt him." Cedric quoted smiling at her. 

"We should get to bed." Meera said, hurrying towards the staircase. "See you tomorrow, guys." 

Harris yawned and waved to his Hufflepuff friends before he also left.

"So..." Evie began after they reached the common room. "What were you and Meera talking so intimately about before you two set of that firework?" 

"Nothing much." Cedric shrugged. "I was just saying I was surprised we hadn't spent more time together that's all."

"I thought Meera annoyed you." Evie said. "I recall you saying something along the lines of 'that girl needs an attitude readjustment'." 

"Well she did seem a bit snobby, before." Cedric admitted. "But I judged to quickly, you can't blame me though, I mean she can be a bit..."

"Blunt, crass and unfiltered?" Evie suggested. Cedric nodded. "That's why I appreciate her. Not enough people are like this these days."

"I must admit I don't mind it too much myself." Cedric agreed. 

Evie smiled coyly. "Course you don't."

"What's that supposed to mean?" 

"Nothing. Just something I noticed recently." Evie shrugged. "Roman mentioned something about you hanging out with a girl...and Lory said that you mention Meera a lot. It's not hard to put two and two together, however much Meera tries to emphasise the vastness of Hogwarts."

"Well there's nothing going on. We just talked." Cedric said emphasizing the last sentence.

"I know." Evie said still smirking.

"Well why did you make it seem like..."

"I didn't make it seem like anything, you did that all by yourself." Evie laughed as she noticed Cedric's irritation. "Night Diggory." 

Although Evie was still worried about Merlin's name coming out of the Goblet, she was glad that she finally had something that she could make fun of Meera with. Ever since Oliver Wood left Evie didn't have anything she could use to annoy her friend with, in light-hearted banter. Ever since that chat Meera had seemed to relax a little bit for at least a few hours before all this Goblet shenanigans happened. Perhaps this new development of civility with Cedric is exactly what she needs for now.