Disclaimer: I don't own any of the PJO?HP series.

~Flashback-some time back~

Hermione's P.O.V. (3rd person just because)

Hermione had listened with interest as Dumbledore explained the Triwizard Tournament. All this she knew. Three wizards from Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durnstrang, all battling to claim victory. Death was always possible, injuries common.

But the mention of the fourth school had caught her off-guard. She gave all her attention to Dumbeldore, ignoring her friends' mutterings.

"This year, we will also host the New World Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardary, an elite school of wizards and witches from the United States. They are elite in that they attend this special school based off their parentage and each student is trained in their own way. Many students ,therefore, are related in some way or another-as I recall, 5 of the 13 that their headmaster, Professor Brunner, is bringing are direct cousins. He also mentioned that 3 of them are prone to fighting each other, but that's not important." Hermione gazed up at the twinkling eyes of the Headmaster. He seemed be enjoying a private joke with himself at that remark.

Collecting himself, he continued. "As I said, there are 13 students coming-" At this, the Great Hall erupted into chaos. "Yes, yes, only 13. it is, of course, an overseas trip and Professor Brunner said he couldn't afford to take all his students, lest anything happened, as those who attend New World Academy are extremely prone to dying early in life, between 13 and 20 usually." More chaos emerged. People were yelling questions, Harry and Ron were gaping at each other.

Hermoine paid no attention to them. She contemplated, instead, on why she'd never heard of this school. Surely it would have been mentioned somewhere in a book? But she'd read them all. She knew about Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the American magic school. But she thought it was the only one in that part of the world.

She turned her attention back to Dumbledore as he finally managed to settle everyone down. "Yes, it's quite the shock. However, the students of this school face different enemies then you or me, not just evil wizards running loose but monsters of all kinds as well. Many of them have family and friends who died at the hands of these monsters, and some have witnessed their own family and friends killing each other. I advise you, do not pry into their histories. Especially if they get defensive about it. I hear that there's always a possibility of getting electrocuted, set on fire, dunked into water, or chased by unearthly beings set on revenge." The students were getting curious now. How good at magic were these elite students? And how much had they seen that they would openly hurt if asked about the past?

"Blimey, they must not be a friendly lot!" Hermione turned as Fred Weasley yelled out.

Dumbeldore just smiled and shook his head. "On the contrary. Their Headmaster informs me that they are extremely social. As long as you don't immediately start questioning them on their backstories and how many deaths they've seen, you should all be fine. Oh and I must mention that fighting without wands is normal for them, so definitely do not try to confront them without, they carry weapons designed to protect them against monsters that our spells will simply rebound off of." Dumbledore added. "But," he clapped his hands together, " That is enough for now. Have a wonderful evening!" He sat down again and students started to leave the Great Hall, whispering and chattering.

Hermione turned to Ron and Harry. "They must have a very hidden school, I've never heard of New World Academy and I know all the wizarding school names. The only school in America is IIvermony."

"Merlin's pants, they must be really good at magic if they're being allowed to join the Tournament!" Ron said.

"Yeah but they usually die before 20, Dumbeldore mentioned that. They're probably hunted down a lot or something. And didn't you hear him say that they can be killed by their own friends and family?" Harry asked.

Hermione nodded. "It's really strange...I'll have to look into it."

"Yeah, you do that Hermione." Ron snickered. Harry elbowed him.

"Oh shut you." Hermione smirked back as the Golden Trio went back to their common room.

(line break, flash forward to the present day-Dumbledore's talk after the Great Feast about the Cup)

"...there will be an age line, and there is only one exception allowed to this: any student of New World Academy may also enter the tournament."

Ron bellowed, "That ain't fair!" That started the outburst from everyone.

"Yes it is, Ronald. They probably have more training in combat then we do." Hermione said crossly.

The commotion raged on, until one of the New World students (who for some reason was at the Ravenclaw table) stood up and yelled, "There is a good reason why the members of my American school can all join! Let the Headmaster of New World speak!" over the roar of angry students.

The Hall immediately quieted down and the centaur, Professor Brunner, stepped forward. "Thank you, Lou. It is true. My students are well used to fighting in combat. As you saw earlier, they are trained in extremely advanced magic forms. Now, granted, they don't all learn how to summon lightning or make archways of bones, but each of them is skilled in a specific area, and in some rare cases, two or more." The centaur glanced towards the corner where Hermione and her friends were sitting. Across form her, Nico and Percy were laughing quietly. Reyna hushed them.

Dumbledore suddenly clapped his hands. "Alright then, you've all hear from Professor Brunner himself. Remember, students of Hogwarts, that the students of the other schools will be attending classes with you and try to be polite. Also, many of you will have noticed that Miss Blackstone of Ravenclaw came with the Americans, however, she has informed me that she wishes to stay with her friends in the Hogwarts dormitories for personal reasons. Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she is obliged to see the tournament through to the end. The placing of your name in the goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you drop your name into the goblet. Now, I think it is time for bed. Good night to you all!" Students started getting up and moving around, some went to insert their names into the Goblet, others left the Great Hall.

"Guess we should go enter, huh?" Reyna asked Percy and Nico, who nodded. "See you guys tomorrow I guess?" She asked Hermione.

"Yeah. Good night." Hermione answered as the three New World students left.

The moment they did, Ron turned to Hermione and Harry. "Did'ya see them? They voluntarily threw perfectly good food into a fire! A fire! That Percy dude dumped half his plate in that thing!"

"Oh calm down Ron, You heard them-they also said that food would taste like trash if they didn't burn some of it." Hermione retorted.

"Yeah but Percy threw half his food in while Reyna only burned a small part!"

"So? Maybe they have strict regulations on that!"

"Guys, just drop it. They're American. Things are probably different where they're from." Harry intervened.

"But that Ravenclaw girl doesn't do that and she came with the Americans!"
"Lou is a transfer from America, Ronald. I heard from one of the Patil twins that she was going to come with the Americans because apparently she goes back in the summer." Hermione stated.

Ron sulked and was about to say something when some raised voices coming from the direction of the Cup drew their attention. The trio glanced at each other before moving closer to see what the fuss was about.

As it turns out, the voices were coming from the New World Academy students. In particular, from three prominent figures. Hermione recognized at once Percy Jackson and Nico di Angelo, as well as the black-haired girl that had been one of the two students summoning lightning earlier.

"I don't care what either of you say. I'm not doing it." Nico was growling.

"Leo, Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Frank, Piper, and Reyna already submitted their names." the black-haired girl said crossly. "You agreed to come, you might as well do it too, Death Breath."

"Shut up Thalia, i did not agree to this! I literally was dragged from my nice comfortable bed, told that I was gonna ride a pegasus across an ocean no less, and you expect me to happily enter my name for a deathmatch?"

The girl that had been summoning jewels rolled her eyes. "Oh c'mon Nico, it's probably gonna be a pace of cake compared to what we just finished dealing with. Besides, remember why we're here? Besides, you're one of our strongest."

The blond flashed a grin at Nico. "And anyways, it can't be a deathmatch. I don't think the headmasters would allow that right?"

"So? I'm the guy that helps the people who get themselves into sticky situations. Not the guy that gets into it himself."

"Also the guy who really likes McDonolds and entered a midlife crisis the moment he found out who his dad was." the boy that'd turned into an eagle shrugged.

Percy nudged Nico lightly. "Dude, we literally pulled you out of a jar. Unless eating pomogranate seeds for a weeek isn't what you call, "a sticky situation"..."

"Ugh, alright fine. But if I die from this..." Nico warned as he scribbled his name on a piece of paper.

Percy laughed. "You'll what? Strangle us? Dude, you'll be dead. Probably living the life in your dad's p-OW!" One of the students, a blond girl with long curly hair, had elbowed him in the gut. "Annabeth!" he complained.

"You've tried strangling me a couple dozen times before. It never worked out." Nico noted as he threw his name in.

"Of course it hasn't. His brain is full of seaweed." Reyna smirked. Percy just glared at her but rolled his eyes. "That's everyone who wants to enter, right? C'mon, let's head back to camp. It's getting late." She started leading the others towards the doors. Harry, Ron, and Hermione quickly made to look as if they were talking about something else and not evesdropping on the visiting students.

The moment the group had left, the Golden Trio hurried up to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione said goodnight to the boys before going up to her dorm. But it was a long time before she could sleep.

To be clear who entered:

Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, Nico, Piper, Jason, Leo, Frank, Hazel, Reyna, and Lou entered. (If you're wondering why Cecil isn't here, my excuse is that he's devastating Camp with his siblings XP). Will and Calypso didn't enter, mostly because they're the healers.