Look at that, writing and posting yet another chapter when I should be sleeping. Oh well. I can sleep when I'm dead. And I don't think dead people like fanfiction. Prioritizing.

The next few days were difficult. Elizabeth had a hard time not thinking about her family. It was like she had opened the floodgates, and emotions came whenever they pleased, regardless of what she wanted. At one point she was laughing at a prank Fred had just pulled, (tricking Neville Longbottom into eating a cupcake that temporarily turned him into a canary) and the next minute she was excusing herself so no one would see her laughter become tears.

Ginny seemed to notice something was off and had asked her about it the night after Elizabeth's visit to her past.

"I'm just missing my family. My mother's birthday was a little while ago, and it's just got me missing her." She replied. She wasn't lying, her mother's birthday was actually a few weeks ago.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, E." Ginny said, using the nickname only she could use for Elizabeth. They hugged, and Elizabeth had to contain her tears yet again.

But, time passed. Elizabeth slowly started to heal. Of course, anyone who went through grief never truly got over their loved one's death, they just learned how to live on without them as best they could.

Elizabeth could feel herself become stronger though, even after so much loss. She knew she couldn't go back to her childhood days, no matter how much she would give to do it. So, that left her with the future. And, after some thought, she knew she had to make her future count. For herself, and for her family.

But, even though life had dealt her some new messed-up cards, it also gave her a few new good cards. Namely, tonight was the night that the Goblet of Fire would decide who would be the champions for the Triwizard Tournament.

Everyone, even Filch, and Miss Norris were gathered in the Great Hall for the announcement that night. And also dinner.

"It's got to be Angelina." Ginny said as she lifted her cup to take a sip of water.

"Oh, I hope so. I'm fine with it being anyone, as long as it's not a Slytherin. Imagine how they'd hold it over our heads all year." Elizabeth replied. Both girls shuddered.

Dinner passed painfully slowly, but finally, finally came to an end. The room went dark as Dumbledore went to stand in front of the Goblet of Fire, along with the other leaders of the other schools.

Fleur Delacour was called, then Viktor Krum. Everyone cheered extra loudly for him since he was one of the most famous Seekers in the world.

Then, it was time for Hogwarts. The fire changed colors yet again and spat out the desired slip of paper. Dumbledore caught it, read it, and called out, "Cedric Diggory!"

The hall was full of cheers, rivaling the amount Viktor received. Cedric stood up, smiling, and walked to the room that the champions were told to go to.

Everyone was immediately talking afterward, and Ron in particular was telling anyone who would listen how utterly brilliant Krum would be.

"I'm not so sure Ron's going to be rooting for Hogwarts to win anymore." Elizabeth whispered to Ginny.

"Oh, there's a major conflict of interest for him." Ginny said, sending them into laughter.

But, to everyone's surprise, the Goblet of Fire glowed once more. Heads turned as the legendary artifact spat out another slip of paper.

Dumbledore hesitantly grabbed the paper before it hit the ground, and read out a fourth name.

"Harry Potter."

An hour later, Elizabeth was in the headmaster's office, being interrogated for troublemaking. Again.

"I'm sorry to have to ask you this, Miss Gryffindor, but did you or did you not put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire?" Dumbledore asked.

"I did not." Elizabeth answered calmly.

"Preposterous! Surely you do not believe her, Dumbledore!" Karkaroff yelled so loudly it made Elizabeth flinch.

"What gave you the impression that she is lying?" Dumbledore asked.

"Well, consider her background! She is over a thousand years old! She would be able to cross the age line and put in Potter's name! She did it for those Weasley twins, so who is to say she wouldn't do it for him?" Karkaroff asked.

"But I didn't! I swear it!" Elizabeth protested.

"I do not know, Dumbledore, Karkaroff raises an excellent point." Madam Maxime said.

"I didn't put Harry's name! He's underage, and doesn't know all the stuff the other champions do!" Elizabeth spoke back.

"So do the Weasley twins! They are not yet seventeen, and are only in their sixth year! But that didn't stop you from helping them, did it?" Karkaroff spat.

"I only did that so they would change my hair back!" she retorted, hoping he wouldn't catch onto her lie. She was in too deep now to come clean.

"Enough, everyone. This has been a long night, and I believe we could all benefit from a bit of rest. I know this situation is unprecedented, and for that, I apologize. But, I know Miss Gryffindor well, and if she says she did not put Mr. Potter's name in the Goblet of Fire, she did not. No need to challenge her any further." Dumbledore told them all, acting as the peacemaker.

"So, the boy must have put his own name in!" Karkaroff exclaimed.

"That is hard to believe, as Mr. Potter has demonstrated clearly that he is humble and intelligent. He would not be the kind of person to enter his name in, or ask another to do so." Dumbledore calmly replied.

Karkaroff huffed, and Elizabeth could barely hear him mutter, "unbelievable" under his breath.

Everyone was dismissed for the night, and Dumbledore apologized for dragging her in for questioning.

"It was unfair to you, but if I did not, it would make things worse for you and for Harry."

"It's alright, Professor Dumbledore. I understand." Elizabeth told him.

"If you don't mind my asking, how are you?" Dumbledore asked.

Elizabeth hesitated for her response. Every other time someone had asked her, she'd just say a half-truth or downplay it. A real answer took thought.

"I'm better. But I've also been better." she settled on saying.

"I am thankful for that, and my door is always open if you so need it." he told her. Elizabeth nodded, and left the office, eager for some sleep.

She arrived in the common room, after assuring her mother on her walk back that she was fine, and that she never put in Harry's name. Minerva had been waiting outside the office for her to leave, which Elizabeth thought was sweet.

The room was empty, as it was quite empty, except for one person.

"I thought I'd find you here." she said to Harry as she sat beside him on a couch.

"Well, I don't want to be upstairs, so here's my only spot." Harry replied.

"Did your roommates not take it well? I'm sure Ron can get through to them." Elizabeth said, shedding her cloak. It was warm in front of the fire.

"That'll be hard, since Ron's the ringleader of them."

Elizabeth's jaw dropped. "No. Are we talking about the same Ron Weasley? Your best friend?" she asked.

Harry nodded.

"What a prat!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah." Harry agreed.

A comfortable silence passed until Harry spoke.

"Sorry, you had to be questioned because of me."

Elizabeth shrugged. "It wasn't that bad, really. Dumbledore defended me and you pretty well. I'm sure the Prophet will still drag us through the mud, but if I've learned anything, Dumbledore's opinion means a lot, and lots of people will believe him about anything." she told him.

"You're right. He's the best wizard of the age." Harry agreed.

"So, what are you going to do about the tournament?" Elizabeth asked.

"I dunno. I can't get out of it, though. Your mum was really mad about that. 'Potter is a boy, not a piece of meat!'" Harry told her.

"Were you trying to impersonate her?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah. What, was it bad?" Harry asked.

She laughed. "Horrible!"

Now it was Harry's turn to laugh. "Way to kick me when I'm down!"

"Hey, when you butcher an impression that badly-"

"It wasn't that bad!"

"It was like nails on a chalkboard, it was that squeaky!"

"Well let's hear you do it, then!"

Elizabeth could only say a word before dissolving into laughter. It was nice, laughing so much after the week she'd had.

"You hypocrite!" Harry said after she was done laughing.

"How am I a hypocrite? I never said I could do it well! I can just notice when you do it awfully!"

"Not well, if I was squeaky, your voice was way too deep."

"I think you're taking this too seriously."

"You aren't taking it seriously enough."

"Is that a challenge? Bring it on, Potter!"

Might seem a little weird towards the end, but I seriously can't count the times I've been in a stressful, scary situation, and have used hysterical laughter to destress. And since Elizabeth was there and he wasn't alone, I like to think he would react like this, out of nerves.