In order to not be a total liar, Evie did make her way to the Hufflepuff common room after her confrontation with Malfoy. Unfortunately, her brother was not feeling very generous.

They sat in two earth toned plush chairs near the entrance to the common room, facing each other. Cedric leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. Evie could see the vein in his forearm disappearing into his rolled up shirt sleeve.

"I've already repaid the favor I owed him for telling me about the dragon. I can't keep helping him, it's not fair to the other players." He looked a bit like their father when he told her no after she asked for something and he thought she knew the answer already.

"You think their Professors aren't helping them find ways to win?" Evie, who had seated herself Indian style, let her arm fly in the general direction of the school grounds, before it flopped back into her lap.

"So, just because everyone else is breaking the rules I should too?" Cedric narrowed his eyes at his sister, tilting his head.

Evie huffed. "I'm not saying that," she grumbled. Taking a deep breath she tried again. "What I'm saying is, if you don't help me help Harry you're leaving him at an unfair disadvantage."

Cedric smirked. "Do go on." On anyone else that would have seemed incredibly condescending, but Evie knew Cedric actually appreciated when she could argue her case adequately.

"So," Evie paused to plant her feet on the ground and scoot to the edge of her seat. "Harry is at a disadvantage because he knows less than the rest of you. He's too young to be in this contest, but here he is, right?" She paused until Cedric nodded. "I contest that, while helping Viktor and Fleur is giving them an unfair advantage because they already started on even footing with you, helping Harry would actually only be putting him on a fair playing field."

"You're presenting a very clear and convincing argument." Cedric nodded.

"Thank you," Evie smiled and started to sit back.

"However, your argument is flawed for two reasons."

"What?" She sat back up.

"I submit to you that Harry is already back on even footing with the three of us at competing level."

"How?"

"Two reasons. You and Hermione."

"What? But we don't know a spell that can allow him to breathe underwater for an hour."

"But you do know the library like the back of your hands and when the two of you put your minds together it's a little scary what you can manage."

Evie smiled for a moment, then frowned. "Don't do that." Her eyes narrowed. "Don't play on my pride to make saying no go over smoother."

Cedric sighed, leaning back. "First, I'm not playing on anything. I know you're smart enough to figure this out. Second, don't be upset. You always want to challenge yourself, so stop wasting time with me and go figure it out."

Evie scoffed, pursing her lips. "That's a definite no then?"

"Yeah."

Fine." She rolled her eyes and stood up. "Thanks for nothing."

Diggory,

I changed my mind. I'm not telling you about my life. I'm not letting you have any unnecessary information about me. This whole thing is a waste of time.

DM

Evie rubbed her forehead the next morning at breakfast. Malfoy was already ten times the headache Zabini had been. It was only made worse by the fact that it was her fault he was causing her such suffering. She couldn't understand why it was that when he was involved she couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"You alright?" Hermione nudged her right arm.

"Yeah, just tired. But also frustrated. I'm sorry I couldn't get the book from Cedric."

"It's alright. It was sort of a long shot." Harry shrugged it off, but Evie had the feeling he was more panicked than he was letting on.

Evie smiled sadly, before pulling out a quill and parchment. With furrowed eyebrows she wrote out a curt response.

Malfoy,

You'll do what we agreed to or you'll be on your own. Those are the rules. You don't get to tell me how this goes. For once, your entitlement and your whining will get you nowhere. Write the bloody letter or forget about my help.

Evelyn

She then stuffed the letter in her bag to send off later.

"How's your friend?"

"Hmm?" Evie glanced up at Harry.

"Your friend," he repeated. "How is she?"

"Good. She says her school year isn't nearly as interesting as ours."

Ron snorted. "Nobody ever has the years we have."

"We do have a penchant for finding trouble." Hermione smiled.

"Not true!" Evie countered, already feeling better. "Harry has a penchant for finding trouble. We all just go with him."

"No," Harry shook his head. "Trouble finds me. It's the scar." He pointed to his forehead.

"Maybe we should try a concealing charm next year and see if we have a normal one for once," Evie laughed.

The bell signaled the end of breakfast. The food disappeared from the table and the quartet grabbed their bags and walked off towards their first class.

Diggory,

On the day I was born the heavens opened up and the Midwife proclaimed to my mother that she'd never seen a more perfect-

Malfoy,

I didn't bother to even finish the first sentence of that self indulgent drivel you call a letter. If you can't take this seriously then you can run back home to your Death Eater Daddy and take the Dark Mark because I'm not going to put up with this any longer. You might feel like you're the only one being asked to do something here, but I'm taking a huge risk trusting you enough to bother to listen to you. So write a real letter or this is over.

Evelyn

Diggory,

What do you want to know?

DM

Malfoy,

Tell me about your childhood. How did you grow up? Did you always know your father was a Death Eater? Also, come up with another name for yourself. You're also a girl to my friends so come up with something feminine. As I told Zabini, do try to be clever.

Evelyn

The days were passing by with what seemed to be unnecessary speed. Each day Evie's panic grew, not just because they were no closer to figuring out a way to keep Harry alive for an hour underwater, but also because she hadn't heard from Malfoy in two weeks. She was beginning to think she'd made the biggest mistake of her life when she received an owl.

Diggory,

I was delivered at St. Mungo's. I never knew my grandparents as they all died before I was born. I have a cousin and aunt I've never met because my aunt married a mud-muggleborn. I grew up in our large and lavish home never wanting for anything. I was cared for primarily by my mother and the house elves we employ. I'm told I, unsurprisingly, displayed my magical prowess at an early age.

My parents surrounded me with the most influential people. That's how I met Pansy, Blaise, Theodore, Crabbe, and Goyle. We spent many afternoons together, entertaining ourselves while our mothers sipped tea elsewhere in the house. I was aware, practically from birth, of my status and influence as well as the weight my name held. I was, and still am, proud of that. Something you couldn't even begin to understand.

That is why the day I met you was the most infuriating of my life. Your status was barely a whisper of my own, if you had any at all, and yet you dared insult me. You're still not forgiven, not for the slight, or that annoying shrieking voice you once had.

Evie set the letter aside. No matter what form she dealt with him in, Malfoy was hard to deal with. She felt like banging her head against one of the many books stacked in front of her.

They were down to the last week before the Second Task. They still hadn't even come close to figuring out how to keep Harry alive, and she was sure there were still hundreds more books in the library that they could look through to try to find the answer. Not to mention the Restricted Section, which Harry had been denied access to. Though Evie was sure the answer they were looking for could find the answer with the book in the regular part of the library.

Rubbing her eyes and glancing around the library, she considered asking Padma Patil and Penelope Clearwater for suggestions, but she didn't know the two well. Not only that, but they were Ravenclaws. They'd probably figure out why she was asking and quickly shut her down anyway. Ravenclaw was still firmly on Cedric's side.

Evie considered lying but there were two problems with that. The first was, Harry had only just given up and left the library, so it would be obvious she was asking for him. The second was,even if she could get away with the lie, she wasn't sure she wanted to. Evie figured she was probably at her lying quota and perhaps very nearly over it.

The brunette turned from the Ravenclaws, yawned and rubbed her eyes again. The giant tower clock chimed nine times. Evie groaned as quietly as she could while digging her palms into her eyes. She pressed so hard she started to see spots behind her eyelids. Stopping, she kept her eyes closed a second longer, before reaching for the letter.

That wasn't the most frustrating thing, though. The most frustrating fact of our entire meeting was, with a single question, you made me question everything my father taught me. My father, who had been infallible up until that moment.

I raged, perhaps too openly and too often, about your disrespect. Ultimately, however, I decided you couldn't know more than my father and no amount of your screeching could change my beliefs.

Up until three years ago you were the one person I despised more than anyone. Then, in the course of a week I met Potter, Weasley, and Granger. I also met Longbottom, but I don't despise him. It'd be sort of like wasting the energy hating a House Elf, wouldn't it? What's the point? They're already pathetic and useless.

Evie packed up the letter and stood abruptly from the table. She needed very desperately to punch Malfoy. She was resolved to do so next time she saw him.

The scrapping of her chair caught the attention of Padma and Penelope. It also elicited a stern shushing from Madame Pince. With an apologetic wave, Evie rushed out of the library.

Five days until the Second Task and Evie was again in the library. Hidden in the book she ought to have been rereading was the remainder of Malfoy's letter.

I hated them for different reasons. Potter, within seconds of meeting me and in a manner that actually reminded me of you, rejected me. My father was furious Weasley got to him before I did. In turn, I hated Weasley for managing to steal my chance even though he was poor and badly dressed. I hated you for the same reasons I always did, but you became something worse when you became friends with Granger. She's muggleborn, and in some areas, she's better than me. It goes against everything my father has ever told me about my heritage, my birthright, and muggleborns in general. As if I wasn't questioning enough, there you were. Always next to her, the exclamation point of all my doubt. You words hung around the two of you, mocking my self assured younger self.

As much as I hated you for that I must also admit your self righteousness is also what led to this point. Every argument, every unanswered question, every clipped jab led me to the decision that's put me squarely here. Now I'm stuck telling you of my life and asking for your assistance, a fact you must be exceptionally smug about.

The simple fact is, Granger has proven you correct in the aspects of Muggleborns not being inferior to purebloods. I am not so convinced about muggles, but I am left with the question of what extent their inferiority is, as without magic they must still be inferior in some way. Regardless, since I am less inclined to believe muggleborns are causing inferior magic, I am also less inclined to align myself with those content to wipe them out. If I don't believe in the cause, I certainly don't want to risk death or imprisonment for it. Not to mention I certainly see no need to idealize the ghost of a man who was defeated by Potter, when he was still a baby no less. Potter is hardly a challenge now that he can speak proper English and is moderately toilet trained.

And now we're here. I hope this letter is more to your liking. I found it extremely tedious to write so I'm not starting again. Oh, and to satisfy your final request, my mother was partial to Cassiopea before they knew I was a boy.

Cass

Evie folded and pocketed the letter, slightly marveling at how, though he'd written two pages, he'd hardly written anything personal about his younger years. She still didn't really know him. She'd just read a list of events that happened to him and the sort of emotions she's already known.

"Anything?" Harry glanced across the table at her as she set her book down.

"We've been reading the same books over and over," she groaned. "If there's something we're missing it's not in these books."

"What else can we do?" Hermione lamented as she walked over to the table carrying more books. These were different than the ones she'd left with.

"We need a textbook."

"You already tried that." Ron's muffled and defeated voice sounded from underneath a book beside her.

Glancing in it's direction she found the lanky body of her redheaded friend protruding from the table and the pile of spell books around them. Sighing, she removed the book that rested on his head. He looked up at her in miserably, the bruising under his eyes seeming to grow as she denied him even a nap.

She was most likely dragging around the same baggage, though Evie hadn't dared look at herself in the mirror. Her sleeping pattern the last month had been sporadic at best.

None of her friends had slept much, actually. Harry had been having dreams about being tormented by the mermaids. Hermione spent most of her nights with her head buried in one book or another. And Ron was often kept awake by Harry's tossing and turning. Evie couldn't say for sure why she was sleeping so terribly, even ignoring the total lack of sleep when she stayed up with Hermione. She never remembered her dreams, she just always awoke feeling tense and desperate

Three days before the Second Task desperation was sinking into all of her friends. It permeated the air. People kept their distance from the haphazard table they occupied every break. Their clothes continued to decrease in tidiness. Evie was almost sure this was her third day in the same button down.

Two days before the Second Task Evie broke down and wrote to Malfoy and Zabini asking if they had any ideas. By dinner both boys had replied. Neither had any ideas that didn't include threatening or bribing an older student. Evie was pretty sure the latter, at least, was against the rules.

Talking to the Slytherins did give her the idea of examining a few potions books a bit more closely, however, so it wasn't a complete waste.

A few minutes later Evie was amending her mindset. It had been a complete waste. There was no potion they could brew that would give Harry the ability to breathe underwater. The only thing she could think of that would've given him the ability to grow some animal features was the Polyjuice potion and that had been very bad when it happened to Hermione. Evie knew better than to bring it up.

Hours before Harry was to jump into the lake Evie made a decision. Glancing around to make sure they still had their wide invisible perimeter, she looked at her friends. All three were flipping furiously through books on everything.

"I'm going to borrow an advanced Charms book from Professor Flitwick's classroom."

"What?" Hermione asked the question, but all three heads snapped up to give her their attention.

"I'm going to sneak over to the Charms classroom and borrow one the the advanced books."

"It's late," Hermione pointed out. "You could get caught."

"I don't normally agree with Hermione on things like this," Ron started and the brunette next to him rolled her eyes. "But, she's right. If you get in trouble we'll be down a person."

"We're not getting anywhere right now. What else have we got to lose?"

There was silence as the group pondered her question.

"Alright," Harry sighed and nodded. "Just be careful."

"I'm always careful." Evie smiled and stood up.

She gathered her books so she had an excuse if she got caught, and rushed from the library as quickly as she could without getting fussed at by the hawk-eyed librarian.

The halls were very quiet as Evie walked. The loudest sound was the rapid clicking of her shoes on the floor. The lack of noise made her begin to wonder how late it was. She slowed down, making an effort to silence her footsteps.

Evie slipped through the halls, effortlessly avoiding Filch and Mrs. Norris. When she just just down the hall from the Charms classroom and feeling probably too safe, she hastened her pace.

"Miss Diggory," Professor McGonagall called from behind her and Evie's heart sank.

Turning slowly, she smiled hesitantly. "Good evening, Professor."

"It's past curfew."

"I'm sorry, Professor, I hadn't realized. I was just in the library and I needed Professor Flitwick for-"

"Breathe, Miss Diggory." McGonagall cut off Evie's rambling. "Professor Flitwick is not in his office. Come with me."

She didn't wait for Evie to speak. Instead McGonagall turned and started back the way Evie had just come from. Sighing in defeat, Evie followed her Head of House. She hadn't thought of what to ask Professor Flitwick when she saw him, and she was sure she'd be getting detention regardless. Cedrick was going to be so mad at her. Her father would be furious. She'd certainly let Harry down. All she could do was hope the rest of her friends figured something out without the book.

Evie was so distracted by her lamenting she almost ran right into Professor McGonagall's back. Looking up, she realized they were in the Great Hall. "Um...Professor?"

"Inside, Miss Diggory." McGonagall opened the door at the back of the hall. It was the same room the Champions had disappeared into after being chosen by the Goblet of Fire months ago.

Evie glanced up at her Professor for a moment before moving forward into the room. To her surprise, Hermione and Ron were already there. Accompanying them were all three Heads of Schools, Professors Snape and McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey and a small blonde girl Evie had never seen before.

"Ah, Miss Diggory," Professor Dumbledore smiled and beckoned her closer. "Now that we have everyone, we can begin."

Evie stared at the girl, who somehow looked familiar. Gears clicking into place in her mind as she stepped up beside Hermione.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why you're here." Evie knew why she was there now. "You are a part of this next task."

Hermione nodded beside her. Ron frowned.

"We're what they have to find," Evie whispered for him.

"Quite right, Miss Diggory."

"How will we survive underwater while we wait?" Hermione asked.

"A triggered stasis." Professor McGonagall answered.

"How does it work?" Evie pressed.

"You'll drink this stasis potion and once you're submerged the trigger will be activated." Dumbledore continued.

"What's the trigger?" Hermione's eyes lit up.

"Resurfacing, once you've been freed."

So, she was for Cedric, Evie was sure of that. Ron must be for Harry. Hermione for Viktor and the girl looked familiar because she was there for Fleur.

"Are we going into stasis now?" Evie turned her attention from the rest of the abductees to Professor Dumbledore.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Don't worry, you won't remember a thing." Madam Pomfrey assured them as Snape handed out small vials of an indigo liquid.

After sharing a look with Ron and Hermione, Evie opened her vial and downed the liquid. It was the texture of pulpy orange juice and tasted bitter. Evie felt her face twist, then turned to see similar expressions from everyone, including the blonde girl.

Within seconds though, she felt heavy. Her vision tunneled and focusing became hard. The three other people beside her seemed to be reacting similarly and Evie fought to remain lucid long enough to understand what was happening.

"Don't fight it, Miss Diggory." Professor Dumbledore pulled her faltering attention. "We'll see you soon."

His reassuring face was the last thing she saw before everything went black.