Happy New Year's!! *Throws confetti* Hope you had a wonderful year! And I wish you the best of luck for the next decade.

Harry's POV

Harry and Hermione had been walking around the Black Lake, discussing Ron and Sirius. She suggested and convinced Harry to write a letter to Sirius about what was going on with him and the Quadwizard Tournament.

After he had thrown the last piece of toast Hermione had brought him into the lake and watched it being dragged down by a large tentacle, he remembered what Sirius told him.

I shouldn't send Hedwig, she is far too noticeable.

They started climbing the stairs to the castle.

"Whose owl am I going to use? Sirius told me not to use Hedwig again".

"Ask Ron if you can borrow -" Hermione started.

"I'm not asking Ron for anything," Harry said flatly.

"Fine", Hermione huffed, "Maybe ask one of the Americans or something".

"What if they don't let me? I mean, we've only known each other for a bit", Harry said.

"Well, they aren't very fond of Malfoy so at least they know not to trust him. Plus, they've just seen something that we've gotten used to -the powers Voldemort left behind", Hermione stated.

"Yeah, poor them", Harry said sarcastically, "They saw what we have to deal with on daily bases- "

"Harry!"

"Fine, I'll ask Will or something, he seems like the closest to our age", Harry said.

"I believe he's fifteen. Annabeth told me their ages. Apparently Hazel's the youngest since she's thirteen. But she doesn't have an owl", Hermiom recited.

"Yeah, let me write the letter first".

Dear Sirius,You told me to keep you posted on what's happening at Hogwarts, so here it goes - I don't know if you've heard, but the Triwizard Tournament's happening this year. But now, Dumbledore added another wizarding school -an America school. Now they call it the Quadwizard Tournament. And on Saturday night I got picked as a fifth champion. I don't who put my name in the Goblet of Fire, because I didn't. The other Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory, from Hufflepuff.

He paused at this point, thinking. He had an urge to say something about the large weight of anxiety that seemed to have settled inside his chest since last night, but he couldn't think how to translate this into words, so he simply dipped his quill back into the ink bottle and wrote,

Hope you're okay, and Buckbeak.

- Harry

"Finished," he told Hermione, getting to his feet.

"Good. Come on. I saw them earlier near the Great Hall. Maybe they are still there", Hermione said.

They continued walking and then stopped in front the Great Hall.

"Wait. Is Ron in there?" Harry asked. No way was he going in there after what Hermione said.

"Harry I don't- "

"Shh" Harry whispered, cutting Hermione off.

"Wha- "

"Shhh!"

Harry leaned against the wall, "I think I hear voices".

"Like the Basilisk?" Hermione asked, worried.

"No, these voices sound familiar", Harry said.

All of a sudden, the wall shook a bit. That made Hermione and Harry stumble back a bit. They ran behind another wall but within eye distance to the fire column.

Then, the column just pushed itself forward -something Harry has never seen happen before. It pushed out further until there was a open door-shaped hole. People came out of it. Twelve people. Twelve people that Harry and Hermione knew.

"I kinda wonder how Voldemort looks like", said Percy as they exited the... wall?

"Yeah, same", said Jason.

Harry heard a whisper, it's just he couldn't hear what they said but all of a sudden, Leo put his hands together and swung them over his shoulder. Then he started skipping.

"Oh. my. gods", Leo said, making all the Americas laugh, "We love Voldemort! Please sign our wands!! Better yet, make marks on our arms to show our worship to you!!"

Harry and Hermione gasped softly. When Harry looked over to Hermione, she was writing everything they said down with the leftover parchment she had.

Of course, she's always one step ahead.

"Maybe we'll see him soon," Percy said, snapping Harry put of his thoughts.

"Yup", they all said in unison.

See him soon?

"Besides", said Jason, "We already have our marks".

They started walking to the Gryffindor dorms.

"Well I mean, to call them marks..."

The rest was inaudible to Harry. He slumped up against the wall.

"The Americans... They- " Hermione said.

"They're with Voldemort" Harry finished, "There's no doubt of it. I think they were the ones to put my name in".

"Harry... Maybe we shouldn't jump to conclusions", Hermione said.

"What else could it be then?" Harry said.

Hermione stayed silent.

Harry turned around.

Just... Just when I thought that there was a group of people that would understand me.

"What do you suggest we do?" Harry finally said.

"What do you mean? We have to stay a way from them if that's the case", Hermione warned.

"I'm done letting Voldemort get the advantage, Hermione" Harry stated.

Hermione thought for a minute, "We can do one simple thing. Don't tell them anything and let them trick themselves into tell us what they're plan is".

"So let them reveal themselves without realizing it?"

Hermione nodded, "Let them believe that we trust them, then when they admit it, we can tell everything to Professor Dumbledore. He'll know what to do".

Harry sighed, "But how did they do it? To manipulate the cup like that..?"

"Hmm... I'm going to look through the library. Maybe I can find more information on the goblet and the Americans themselves.. "

"Yeah. You do that".

"Harry", Hermione said cautiously, "You know we should tell Ron about- "

"We are not telling Ron about anything!" Harry shouted indignantly.

Hermione gave Harry cold eyes, "Harry. This is life or death we are talking about here! And Ron is always there during these types of situations".

"Well, he's not here now- "

"Harry. He's your best friend".

"You are too!"

"Yes, but you know he's your closest friend. And you both care about each other, even if your prideful-selves don't want to admit it".

"... Fine", Harry gave in.

"Thank you", Hermione said, "Come on, we still need to mail that letter, and possibly write some more. Let's just use the school owls".

"Alright".

...

Hey! So I hope you enjoyed this chapter (even though it is short) and this year. Right now it's 2020 for me but for anyone who isn't in the new year yet... Well, enjoy the last few hours of 2019! Next update 1/5/19

-E.V

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