Everyone was surprised when the Groundskeeper burst into the Great Hall with a broad smile on his face. "Merry Christmas, and Happy Solstice!" He called out to everyone. A few students responded, and others just went silent. Why was he making a scene?

"I have a little surprise for everyone! Thanks to the help of the staff, I have a present for you!" said staff looked surprised, as the Groundskeeper went on. "From my heart to your stomaches, I present to you- Arsene's Specialty Curry!" Mr. Amamiya clapped his hands above his head twice, and in front of every student appeared a plate full of said curry. A good amount of student's cheered but stopped as he continued. "Now, some of you might be apprehensive about curry! And that's fine; I was too at one point!" A few of the teachers laughed, as they couldn't believe it. He ate it almost every day.

"So, for those of you who are apprehensive, I also have for you:" He snapped, and at every four seats, a massive plate appeared full of thick fluffy crepes. Each student had two glasses placed in front of them. "Celestine's Crepes! Lucy's Coffee! And Agnes's Tea!" A few students looked apprehensive, but other's mouths were watering. "You will not hurt my feelings if you do not want to eat any of it, but I do recommend you at least try it before you reject it! On behalf of myself and my family, thank you for welcoming me! Dig in!" As Ren made his way to his seat at the Head Table, he heard the chatter return to the Great Hall. Maybe this time, he could enjoy Christmas without it being interrupted.

Ren spoke too soon. Come time after the Dinner Feast, when students were winding down for the night, an owl flew in and dropped a long wrapped present on the Gryffindor table. Directly in front of Harry Potter. "Minerva... you said before that Harry's only living family were muggles, correct?"

Minerva, who was talking with Pomona Sprout, looked back at Ren. "Yes, a real dreadful sort too."

Ren stood up immediately. "So, they wouldn't send him a broomstick?" Severus tensed up beside him as Minerva turned her head sharply to look at Harry.

"No."

Ren swapped to Yoshitsune, "Heat Riser." He cast before using the increased speed to appear next to Harry, who was about to pick up the broom. The Groundskeeper grabbed his arm.

"Huh?"

"Mr. Potter, I highly suggest you think for a moment before you touch your... gift." Ren activated his Third Eye and looked all around the wrapping. "Who sent you this?"

"Oh, uh... I don't know."

"No letter, no address, nothing?"

"No, Professor."

Ren sighed. "I'm not your Professor. Look, I get that it's a fantastic present- not that I know anything about brooms- but did it occur to you that this might be from Sirius Black? And that it's cursed to hurt you?"

"Uh, no, but-" Harry tried to explain.

"Listen, I'm not trying to be the bad guy here. But what happens if you pick this up and die? Tell me exactly what would happen." It went quiet all around the Great Hall. Harry didn't answer. "I'll tell you exactly what would happen. First, you die. Second," Ren pointed at Ron, Hermione, and Neville all around him. "Your friends would watch you die. Third," He gestured down the silent Gryffindor Table. "Your housemates would watch you die. Fourth," The Groundskeeper waved am arm out, now motioning to the Great Hall. "All of Hogwarts would live knowing that Harry Potter died within meters of being next to them. Fifth," Ren pointedly stared directly into Harry's eyes. "The person who killed your family will have sent you to them."

The Wild Card grabbed the wrapping and carefully picked up the broom. On its handle, read Firebolt. "I'll get it checked out first. Then, once it's safe, I'll give it back to you. If it turns out that it wasn't cursed in the first place, I will make a formal apology in front of everyone." Ren offered as he took the broom out of the hall and went towards Remus' office.

The next day, Hermione walked into the prep room for the tournament. Susan Bones and Su Li were talking to each other, and Draco was sitting in a chair reading a book, Arte Medendi. Having been told the teams were randomly assigned by Professor Flitwick and then was explicitly informed that hers was not random by Ren when Flitwick left. This whole tournament is supposed to be a test.

Malfoy looked up from his book. "You're the leader for the group, Granger?" For the first time in Hermione's life, there was no hostility in the Slytherin's tone. "Good. If someone has to lead me, I'd rather they be the best in our year."

Susan paused her conversation with Su. "Ah, Hermione! I heard that all the leaders had a meeting with Flitwick and Amamiya; what'd you talk about?"

Hermione sighed. "Our first opponents are sixth years." The Priestess felt the mood dampen immediately.

"W-what?"

Su Li ran a hand through her hair. "It seems like we were dealt a losing hand." She said quietly.

"Even if we are some of the best in our year, the sheer amount of magical knowledge they'll have... We're going to be outmatched." Susan frowned.

Surprisingly the voice of hope was Malfoy. "We could use that to our advantage."

Hermione felt herself nodding. "Malfoy has a point." She said slowly. She never imagined she'd ever say that. "If we can surprise them and take out their support unit, we could take them out."

It was quiet for a moment. "Okay, my Aunt taught me the Stupefy spell over the summer. They won't expect us to know that, so we can take them out with that." Susan thought aloud.

Su Li offered up following the Hufflepuff. "I can make a wall form up to prevent line-of-sight."

Hermione felt a plan coming together. "Alright, let's give it all we got!"

Ren watched as Hermione's team walked out of their prep room. The sixth-year group that stood on the dueling platform relaxed as they saw their opponents. He even overheard one of them say 'easy.'

"Team Eleven, are you ready?" The older students nodded in response.

"Team Six, are you ready?"

"Ready, Professor," Hermione answered.

"On my sparks!" The diminutive Professor called out.

There was a pause, and as soon as his coworker shot out red sparks, Susan Bones called out, "Stupefy!" And the sixth-year Ravenclaw dropped like a sack of bricks.

"Wha-"

"Flipendo!" Hermione cast, flinging the Hufflepuff into the Gryffindor.

A red beam of light shot out towards Hermione when Malfoy jumped in front of her. "Protego!" He called, causing the opposing Slytherin's Stupefy to bounce off his shield harmlessly. Su Li capitalized on the opening.

"Incarcerous!"

Within five seconds, his student's team was victorious. There was silence for a moment before Ren called out, "TEAM SIX, WINS!" An uproar from the younger years nearly shook the Great Hall that was hosting the duels.

Once the applause died down and Professor Flitwick resuscitated the other team, Ren spoke up. "Congratulations, Team Six. Let this show all the different groups and even non-combatants that you should never underestimate someone, regardless of gender or age!"

"Five points to Hufflepuff for studying ahead!" The Ravenclaw Head of House rewarded as he turned to criticize the other team.

"Go ahead and return to your prep room, team six. We will call you for the next match when it's your turn."

The Quarter-Finals were upon them, and in a blur of motion, it was only Hermione and a fifth-year Hufflepuff from Team three. The audience was watching in pure silence as the rest of the teams were stunned.

"Flipendo!"

Hermione rolled to the side to dodge the spell before pointing her wand at the opponent. "Glacius!" The Hufflepuff jumped over the attack before it hit him.

"Petrificus To-!" He began to cast before Hermione interrupted him.

"Orbis! Expelliramus!" She cast in quick succession. Then, seeing the direction of the spells, the Hufflepuff leaped away again, but this time slipped on a piece of terrain that Su Li made slick, falling entirely off the stage.

Professor Flitwick called out, "That's the match!" Once again, the whole Great Hall applauded both teams' ingenuity. Hermione went over to the still conscious member of the opposing team.

They both stuck their hands out at the same time. "Brilliant-" They both spoke at the same time and stopped before looking at the other quizzically. Then they both laughed.

The Hufflepuff recovered from laughter first. "Brillant Effort. You're Granger, right? Hermione?"

She nodded and took his extended hand in hers before shaking firmly. "Yes, that's me. I think I've seen you before. Quidditch right? You played against Harry."

The Hufflepuff nodded. "Diggory, Cedric Diggory. I'd love to team up some time; that was brilliant work you and your team did. Hey, maybe next year we can team up for the tournament?"

Hermione smiled at Cedric. "That sounds grand! I'd love to!" And just as she started to take her hand away, time stopped.

I am thou...

Thou art I...

It brings thee closer to the end...

Thou shalt be blessed upon obtaining Personas of the Fortune Arcana...

Time resumed as she pulled her hand away. "Well, better get going then." Cedric smiled and then turned away. Hermione went back to her team that Flitwick finished awakening. Susan was the first to respond.

"Nice job, Leader!" The younger Hufflepuff cheered.

Su Li chimed in, "I'm glad I was able to assist."

Malfoy bowed. "I shouldn't have been taken out so early. I apologize."

Hermione waved him off. "It's not easy being support. Let alone being a flex member, trying to do all three at once is exhausting." But then, the Persona wielder noticed the large chalkboard that Flitwick enchanted change.

Semi-finals:

Team 1 (Leader: Jason Bovin ) VS Team 13 (Leader: Daphne Greengrass)

Team 10 (Leader: Gideon Felide) VS Team 6 (Leader: Hermione Granger)

The Wild Card grimaced. Gideon Felide was in the top five students in the school, and a seventh-year Ravenclaw. From the way Ren looked at the match-up, it was clear to Hermione that each match she could have had would have been set up to challenge her.

Joker's Journal

Seeker's present seems to be harmless, so he will get the gift back before the end of the calendar year.

Aether is making great strides in the tournament, even when put up against older opponents with more knowledge and skill.

Hopefully, she recognizes that this Tournament isn't for her to win; instead to put the lesson in her head that there will always be someone stronger, smarter, or faster.

I'll be damn happy if she wins, though!