Clearly I had underestimated that Skeeter woman, because when I finished reading the article about the tournament when it finally arrived, Orion having brought me a copy, I'd slammed it down and bellowed at the top of my lungs. "THAT VILE WITCH!"

"BLACK!" McGonagall had also shouted me from across the hall so I'd angrily waved the paper at her then turned it into a paper crane, letting it fly across the hall to settle before her so that she could read it. Her eyes darted fervently across the page until she too was exclaiming in outrage. "Preposterous!"

"Exactly professor!" I agreed with her, and I was thus no longer in trouble. Rita Skeeter had written the article entirely about Harry, and a bunch of lies to boot. Having lost the pages I'd torn out, she'd gone ahead and just written what she wanted. Fleur and Krum were only mentioned once in the entire thing, and an entire paragraph had been dedicated to what a wild, outlandish, condescending attention-seeker who competed with Harry in every aspect of his life only to fail miserably I was. She even wrote that I was 'plain-faced and needlessly aggressive, which clearly stems from her questionable blood relation to mass murderer Sirius Black'. Now people were back to whispering about him and me which just got on my nerves.

"Is she really? We never found out the truth last year…"

"It would make sense. She is rather scary…"

"Should we ask her? No you do it!" Eventually, I got tired of the whispering and the rumours, and when the tenth person walked up to me during breakfast to ask if my dad really was Sirius Black, I slammed my hand down on the table.

"Alright fine! Yes my real father is Sirius Black, what's it matter to you? Now get out of my face and eat your breakfast before I make you wear it!" This time, McGonagall did scold me as everyone gasped. I didn't care. I knew my dad was innocent and I was proud to be his daughter, so once again I got up from the table having only had a single mouthful of food in order to storm off. I started off in a random direction, towards the library I think, only to hear numerous feet come racing after me. It was Durmstrang and even Beauxbatons students, all jabbering at me in their own languages as well as English. They'd read the article to and from the sounds of it, were angry that their champions had been severely underrepresented.

Eventually I managed to calm them down, having to shout over them at one point before I explained slowly in both French and Bulgarian that we as a school didn't have any control over how the Daily Prophet printed its articles, but I was on my way to write a very strongly worded letter and if any of them wanted their opinions to be heard, I would gladly transcribe letters for them too. So that's how I ended up spending all my free time in the library, writing letter after bloody letter, struggling to translate accurately as most of the students used a great deal of swear words and curses that I hadn't yet learned, so took me some time to figure out what they were saying. At least when I came away from the library, I could safely say I had an extensive and impressive new vocabulary range.

It had taken everything I had in me to keep the peace, the students eventually calming down and apologising for shouting after I'd told them that I agreed that it was very unfair that Krum and Fleur didn't receive the credit they deserved and assured them that every word in the article about Harry was a lie. So, armed with several dozen letters and even a couple howlers, I packaged them all up and addressed them to the Daily Prophet then sent them off, rubbing my head tiredly once my mission was complete. "Miss Black?" Surprised, I looked up to see McGonagall standing there. "My office, if you please."

Thinking that I was in trouble, I followed in a very subdued manner, hungry beyond belief and exhausted, but when she invited me to sit down she waved her wand and a plate of food appeared before me. Sandwiches and quiche, salad with apple slices and grapes, cheeses and crackers as well as a large pitcher of pumpkin juice. "It has come to my attention that you have not been eating properly as of late, Miss Black. You are not to leave this seat until I see a satisfactory amount of plate." McGonagall told me sternly so I started to eat. "Now, tell me what has been troubling you?"

"It's nothing major, professor. I'm just more irritable than usual. Everyone is giving Harry a hard time, even some of our mutual friends which is difficult. They won't even believe me when I say he didn't put his name in the Goblet. Also, that article this morning…that really hacked me off." I grumbled, already having wolfed down two of the sandwiches and had to slow down so that I could actually chew properly. "Also I've come to a standstill with my magical theory paper and project, I've been frustrated over it and with the tournament going on as well…I guess I'm just overwhelmed."

"I thought that might be the case. For a student as exceptionally bright as you, Miss Black, you do have a rather fatal flaw of overconfidence." McGonagall told me bluntly, making me smirk in amusement. She really didn't mince words. "I know that you do not take a…conventional approach to your prefect duties, but I must insist that you try to refrain from using threats to encourage the younger students to behave."

"I'd never really hurt them, professor, it's all talk."

"Yes, I may know that, but they certainly do not. Perhaps just tone it down a little, and from now on rather than walking away from situations that cause you irritation, try to at least eat properly first." She instructed me as she studied me closely. "However, it has not gone unnoticed all the effort you have put into creating bridges with the visiting students. You handled today rather well, assisting them with writing their letters and translating for them whenever they have struggled to communicate otherwise. You may not like to hear it, Miss Black, but you are a natural peace maker, despite your rabblerousing tendencies." Now selecting some fruit and drinking some juice to wash down the bread, I gave a weak shrug.

"It's only because I can understand them."

"Even so, no one else has made the same level of effort. I have heard it myself that your name has come up in numerous conversations among the students, and they all have good things to say about you, which of course is a positive reflection on the school. Madame Maxime herself has spoken to Professor Dumbledore about you, and how helpful you are." Giving me one of her rare smiles, McGonagall leaned in a little closer. "You should be very proud of yourself, Euphemia. Still, take some time to think rationally before you speak and act. Recklessness and impulsiveness will result in accident and injuries during the tournament, and I would very much hate to see you hurt." Pushing the food plate closer to me, I took it as a silent indication to keep on eating. "As for your little outburst at breakfast…about Sirius Black…"

"I know he's my real father, Professor McGonagall. I found out last year." I told her quickly as she blinked at me then nodded curtly, making to say something else. "It's alright, I'm not bothered by it at all. You might be surprised, actually, but I don't know if you know…"

"That yourself as well as Mr Potter, Mr Weasley and Miss Granger uncovered the truth of Black's unjust imprisonment? I have been made fully aware of the circumstances, Miss Black." A light glint touched her eye as she looked at me strictly, but with a softness to her stern face which made her seem all the more approachable. "I wish for you to know that you may come to me for any reason at all, Miss Black. There is no reason for you to carry so much on your shoulders alone. You may be of age, but there are plenty of adults around you who can support you."

"Thank you, professor. I'll remember that." Nodding her head with approval, McGonagall once more ordered me to eat then watched me clear everything in front of me before she allowed me to go, and although I felt a great deal heavier in the stomach, I felt much lighter than I had done before which came as a great relief as I shouldered my bag strap and walked away from McGonagall's office.