So, just a heads up, but I return to classes on Monday, I have up to chapter 19 written as I type this A/N so I do have updates ready for you guys, to post while I get back into the swing of school, I'll probably get a few more chapters done before the 14th, and as I finish up the school arc I am excited to get into the movie plot and the plot points I've already started adding in at the start of year 5, some of you might like the idea, and other's may absolutely detest me for my decision, but I don't care too much, it's all worked out in my head how this ends already.

P.S: !Trigger warnings present!

The forest was incredibly dense, but nothing like the familiar terrain of the forbidden forest back at Hogwarts. sun light streamed through the thick groves of pine and spruce trees.

"All right…All right, they said survival is a key factor here…so, we need to build shelter and a place for a fire. At least it's April, so we know we won't freeze at night, so we'll only need a small supply of wood."

"I can handle getting fire wood if you wanna get started on cutting down trees to build the shelter, it'll be easier with magic than with an axe, at least." Newt nodded and set off on his task as Anna walked a bit down the way to find some fallen or near dead trees.

An hour later Anna returned to their location, several piles of logs floating in behind her, Newt had chopped down a decent number of taller trees from the outlying area, making sure not to draw attention to themselves. Flicking her wand to the side the wood neatly arranged itself and they set to work on building a shelter.

"We should work on a plan for if the other teams attack us with our guard down. However, if we're smart about this…we can let them take one another out and then only have to deal with one of the other teams as opposed to two." She cast a basic spell and rope started to spout from her wand.

"Catch." Newt quickly grabbed onto the rope and started pulling it until they thought there was enough. The Hufflepuff pair made quick work of building a shelter, newt had the idea of adding an undetectable extension charm to the small shelter they built so at least they might have some privacy

"I think we'll likely all have had the same idea, but to be safe I'll put a protection charm around the camp so we'll be safe for tonight, I'll need your help though, it'll be stronger with the both of us casting." Once the area was secure Anna quickly lit the fire and the two settled in.

After what felt like eons, Newt broke the silence. "So, you really think we stand a chance." The brunette stared at the fire, "I think so, we're pretty crafty when it comes to hiding out." She certainly wasn't wrong, His anti-social nature and her unwitting ability to blend into a crowd (most of the time) certainly left their lives peaceful during the school year, this year being the first exception since he'd rescued her in second year.

"Do you…" He wasn't sure how to ask the question on his mind, "Do you still wish I'd have just let you drown?" The Hufflepuff boys voice was soft as he watched the fire dance. Anna finally looked up.

"honestly?" he nodded, "There were a few times last year, with Leta and you spending so much time together…I actually thought about it…but I settled for less conventional methods of dealing with my pain instead." She rolled up the sleeve of her shirt to show some scars on her wrists.

Newt was stunned and hurt that he'd caused her such pain, "I thought about using the killing curse on myself, but I knew I couldn't do that…not to you."

"Anna I—"

"It's not your fault."

"But it is! It is my fault! I was a terrible friend last year, because of me you…" she caught the tears forming in his eyes.

"I couldn't live with myself knowing I was the one who killed you." Anna looked back at the fire, "Why…why didn't you ever tell me?"

"I didn't want to bring you down, besides, the three of us worked past our issues and we're all friends, so what does it matter." He gripped her shoulder, forcing her to face him, " What does it matter?! Anna, It matters because you wanted to die! We made you want to die, that's why it matters!"

She'd never heard him so angry before, "I don't ever want to be the reason you do this." He showed her her wrist, a few tears streamed down his freckled cheeks, glowing orange with the firelight. She leaned forward, her head resting on his shoulder now.

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry." He looked puzzled but wrapped his arms around her, running a hand through her hair.

"You shouldn't be apologizing—"

"I'm selfish, a trait I inherit from my muggle born status, and being an only child. I didn't want to share you." Newt felt his breath hitch in his throat.

"You have every right to be angry with me, Newt." He rested his head atop hers. "Shh, Anna." The brunette's eyes suddenly felt heavy.

"Newt…what did you…do?" she felt tired. "Shh, sleep now." He felt her breathing even out, he'd cast the Somnambulist charm on his friend, she was clearly distressed and needed rest. They could start with fresh and clear minds in the morning, carefully lifting her he headed towards their make shift shelter and laid her on the ground, laying next to her before drifting off.

A caterwauling charm scared him awake, but Anna remained asleep next to him, had one of the other champions found their camp? Peeking his head out all he saw was a deer that had rammed it's head into their shield charm.

"Go on, shoo!" he urged the creature who only stared at him with dark and dazed eyes before prancing off into the trees. The Somnambulist charm was powerful and he really wanted her to rest longer, but they couldn't afford to waste time, so with a flick of his wand he woke her.

"Newt?" she looked around in confusion "When did I fall asleep."

"I used the sleep charm on you, I wanted you to rest." He awaited her anger, but none came, instead she just smiled in adoration.

"Thank you." She got up, dusting the dirt off her clothes, "And about last night… I really am sorry."

"Not to worry, let's focus on gathering food and figuring out if both teams are left or if one took out the other yet. We can use Point me to get back to camp, marking a trail will only lead them to us if both teams are still in this thing." A look of admiration crossed the boys face as his partner turned her back, he loved that she was so focused.

The moment the two fourth years found the river they'd quickly been ambushed, the Castelobruxo team had set an elaborate trap, but in the process Anna's wand had fallen into the rushing water down below.

"NO!" Newt had been quick to act, using accio to pull her wand to him before quickly setting her free from the net trap. Kain and Idris shifted on their feet, the dark-skinned students heard rumors of the two Hufflepuffs.

"On your guard, Idris." Anna grinned, she finally had a chance to show off her dueling skills. Glancing up into the trees she grinned.

"The little one has a plan." the foreign, dark-skinned 7th year's accent was heavy.

"Oh yes, the little one does have a plan. How observant." Anna aimed her wand upwards, towards one of the pine trees.

"Anna what are you—" Newt didn't get to finish as she cast her spell, "Avifors." He watched as millions of the tiny green needles formed into bird like shapes, awaiting the spell caster's next order, Kain and Idris looked confused.

"Opugno!" the pine needle birds nose dived for the two Castelobruxo students, her own partner watched with intrigue.

"Hey, Headmaster black said anything goes, as long as we don't kill them." She winked, watching the two older students struggle to fight off the pine needle birds.

"Incendio!" Some of the little pine needle birds caught fire, an attempt to break free from the barrage of magically conjured creatures.

"Expelliarmus!" Kain tried to disarm Anna but Newt was ready for the attack, "Stupefy!" Kain was knocked backwards, unconscious. Idris held his ground.

"Petrificus totalus." The spell hit Anna who toppled like a domino to the ground.

"Anna!" turning to face his opponent, a determined look settled on his features, the two of them were left.

"What will you do? Surrender, or fight?" Idris felt himself blast backwards "Ventus!" Gale force wind shot forth from Newts wand towards the older boy.

"Stupefy!" he watched as Idris fell unconscious next to his partner as he hurried over to Anna, lifting the petrifying charm from her.

"I see you've been paying attention in the courtyard." She laughed "Well, why else would I show up?"

"Attention Students!" Anna and Newt looked upwards, "The team from Castelobruxo has been defeated, only Hogwarts and Ilvermorny remain." And looked over to see the two Brazilian students disappear.

"So that's Sarah and Leon, based on the previous challenges Sarah is skilled with defensive charms and location magic, so it's a good thing we decided to use the caterwauling charm back at camp."

"But we know nothing about Leon."

"Precisely, so that makes this task difficult, the Castelobruxo students are used to this type of terrain so it was easy to tell they would utilize the surroundings and offensive spells. From what I've read about Ilvermorny, it's located in Massachusetts, back in the states, surrounded by thick forests…which now that I think about it…is a commonality amongst all the wizarding schools…" Newt shrugged at the common trait.

"I think it's best if we gather some food and then head back."

"I agree." Anna waded through the river to check for berries on the other side while newt set to blasting fish from the river.

A sudden scream startled Anna from her thoughts, some of the fish they'd caught were cooking over the fire, she relaxed when she figured out it had to be the caterwauling charm, but what had set it off?

"Newt?"

"Yeah?"

"Something set off the alarm…" two heads poked out of their shelter and felt dread fall over them, just outside the protection charm was a raging fire.

"That's not good…" his ability to remain calm in this situation was a bit unsettling. "Not good?" she could ahve smacked him upside the head for the obvious statement but restrained herself and instead put on a dangerous smile.

"Newt…we're trapped in here until the fire goes out. And who knows how long that will be."

"You're right…" he seemed to think for a few moments before pulling out his wand, "We can use Geminio to duplicate the food so we have enough to last, and aguamenti can provide us water. We certainly can't open the barrier…" she was relieved to see the wheels turning in his head, he was finally getting to the survivalist part of the task.

"I wonder if Hale and her partner set the fire to delay us, we made quick work of the first team so maybe…Maybe they're scared."

"What is there to be scared of? We're 4th years."

"But we're fourth years with a very knowledgeable professor looking out for us, he must have known what this task involved and that's why he reminded you to work on your spell work, even though he knew you excelled."

"So we need a plan of attack."

"Right. So we can tell she's none to keen on playing fair, especially since she got in trouble for cheating in the last task, trying to sneak a bezoar into the challenge to save herself time."

"I see you heard about that."

"Yeah, it traveled school pretty quickly, she's banned from attending potions class."

"I didn't hear about that one."

"Well, you do spend an awful lot of time in your school trunk." She paused, that had to have been one of the weirdest sentences she'd ever said. Newt looked sheepish but Anna just shook her head.

"so, what did you have in mind." Anna thought on it before a Cheshire grin spread over her face.

"We're going to fight."

"What?" Newt wasn't sure about this plan, he needed more information.