While Fred's face showed enjoyment and excitement my heart could only feel guilt.
I decided since today was Saturday I would find an area to be by myself.
Surprisingly enough the only place that was not crowded was the owlery.

I walked around avoiding the many owls flying around. I did not have an owl, or any animal for that matter.
My parents didn't know I needed one and I didn't even get to read the letter from Hogwarts so… If I do stay here next year I made a point to get an owl.
They are amazing creatures. They stay loyal to their owner and how many animals can be taught to carry letters?

Tonight Dumbledore will chose the winners out of the goblet, and I know he is going to be very confused… How can someone out play Dumbledore?
From what I could tell, he truly was an amazing wizard… How can he not suspect what is going on? Does Barty Jr really make a convincing Moody? I guess I wouldn't know that one…

"Ms. Carlson, what are you doing up here on a beautiful day such as this?"

I jumped, speak of the devil. Professor Dumbledore came through the doorway.

"Sir! Oh I was just... I needed… This was the only place with no one in it." I smiled weakly.

"Sometimes the comfort of what our minds can bring when we are alone is exactly what we need."
He started walking towards a barn owl sleeping peacefully on its post.

"I don't know about comfort, sir."

"Cali, if there is something on your mind that needs to be figured out, I hope that you would be able to trust your friends with them?"

I could almost scoff at that, not in a bad way, but, "Sir… What if you don't know who your true friends are?
Torn between two possible futures, both of them seem out of reach. Who do you stay loyal to when both sides need your help?"

Dumbledore looked at me long and hard before answering, "Cali, first and most of all stay loyal to yourself. What you are feeling can not be because of a certain Weasley boy?"

With nothing else to do I blushed, I am not about to talk about my dating life with my headmaster, "Sir, what do you know about my family?"

"I know enough about your parents to know what you are feeling is indeed because of Mr. Weasley. Sometimes love can do strange things to the mind. Can you not love the person your parents want to place you with?"

I shrugged, "They haven't picked anyone yet… If it is Draco then maybe but he is too young, it is going to be Marcus.. I know it but it hasn't happened yet."
I stopped myself, how embarrassing, talking about this with him.

Dumbledore shook his head, "Sometimes in rare occasions, family should not decide your future. Know this," He tied a letter to the owl and took it to the window.
He watched it start flying away before continuing, "Once you learn to be loyal to yourself, and most importantly to your heart, you will know which side to be on. Good day Ms. Carlson."

With that he disappeared.

For a moment I just thought about what he said. It would make sense… Except I still don't know which side my heart wants me to be on.

A familiar clunking sound came from outside. I groaned, the last person I want to see just after talking to Dumbledore.
To double my pain there was Marcus Flint walking next to him.
"What are you two doing?" I accidentally snapped. I forgot Flint didn't know Moody was Barty.
"What a way to talk to a professor Ms. Carlson," Barty smiled, "It is I who should be asking you. Writing a letter to someone?"

I shook my head, "No one really needs to know what I am thinking right now." Marcus was watching me closely.
He and I haven't talked recently. What was there to say? Sorry Marcus I don't like you, I am dating Fred? I wonder how he would take that.

"Well no matter. I will leave you two then, I'll send my letter later." Moody walked away.
Curse him.

"Hi." I said.

"hey." He smirked, "So are you ready to tell me what is going on?"

"I hardly see you as the person I need to talk to." I stated simply.

"Not according to your parents."

"If my parents wanted me safe they would come here themselves."

"They are." He smiled, "Did you forget your mother helps in the Tri-wizard tournament?"

My insides dropped. Yes.. Yes I did forget my mother's cover in the world. "Why would I forget my own mother coming?"
I lied. "Have you written them again?"

"Yes. They told me a bit more about what you are doing."

I froze, "Really?"

"Well yeah. I more then anyone should know what you are doing. They didn't do it over letter though. I used floo powder to get home for a weekend."

I was suddenly scared, how obsessed was this guy of me? Use Floo powder to go question my parents?

"I will tell you that you can do whatever you want, but if I see you kiss that Weasley…"

My eyebrows rose, "What is it to you?" What is this guy's problem?

"It's about time you knew something…" He started, but the footsteps from the stairs distracted him.

Who else wanted to come up here? So much for this being a private day!
We turned around to see Fred, George and Ron coming up them. "Oh! Cali! There you are! We were kind of worried, not seeing you at lunch... Is this git giving you trouble?"
Fred stopped smiling and came over to me. His arm reached for my hand.

"Ron would have been worried too, but he was too busy stuffing his face."
George laughed, took out his letter but his smile dropped when he saw Marcus and Fred staring at each other.

I grabbed Fred's hand, "I'm hungry. Come on." I pulled him out of the room

"Who are you guys writing to?" I asked to change subjects.

"Well our mother of course, telling her not to worry we didn't get past the age line."
Fred shrugged, thankful for the distraction from almost beating up Marcus.

"Why aren't you with Harry and Hermionie?" I asked Ron. He and George came out a few minutes after us.

He shrugged, "Hermionie is sitting in the library like normal, and Harry had some important quidditch meeting.
Since there is no quidditch this year, they all want to be assured no one is losing their spot next year."

"Makes sense! And yeah, sorry I was just roaming around. I am actually surprised I found this place by myself. So what else have you done today?"

Fred shrugged, "Well we were about to go play with the giant squid.. Or check his mouth to see if he ate you. Have you been up there all day?"

"Well not really I was walking around lost, but yes I stayed up there once I found it.

"You are ridiculous. Well it is almost time for the champions to be chosen, or do you want to go back to talk to the owls?" Fred smirked.

"I like the owls; they don't talk back!" I poked his arm.

"I like your poke better then your punch." He jumped back before I could punch him.

"You said you were hungry? Well I bet the great hall isn't set up for food, so let's stop by the kitchen. Harry's friend Dobby can sneak you some food."
George said, leading the way past the Great Hall where all the other kids were filing in.

"You are allowed to visit the kitchen here?" I asked.

Ron looked happy as well, "This is great; I bet they have more dessert leftovers!"

Fred hit Ron's head, "Dobby can't get us a whole feast… Just enough to feed Cali."

"Oh right." Ron shrugged.

I hated eating in front of them for some reason. Maybe because I am a girl and they are all guys and I am the only one eating?
I ended up giving the two cupcakes to George and Ron. It made me feel a bit better.

"Alright let's go before we miss something cool." Fred said, leading us back to the Hall.

We made it inside just in time. Dumbledore must have just finished his little speech and was walking towards the Goblet, which was now in the middle of the room.
We took a seat next to Lee and Katie Bell. Ron looked around for Harry and Hermionie, but decided they were too far away, and sat with us.

We sat back and watched as the Goblet spit out the first name. Somehow the room got even quieter, "Durmstrang's champion is Victor Krum!"

The whole school erupted in cheers along with Durmstrang as Victor stood and headed to the door behind the teachers' table.

I tensed as the names came out. The next one was Fluer Delacour. She beamed as she stood up, her school looked a bit ashamed but clapped politely.

Everyone thought there was only one more name to come out, but I knew there were two. Who was coming from Hogwarts?
"Cedric Diggory!"

I tightened my grip on Fred's arm, "What is it?" he asked, "Cedric will be fine. He is a good friend…
And you said Fluer is alright with her spells? And I doubt Krum will lose. But I wonder if he is still hurting from the quidditch match?" Fred smiled.

I wanted to laugh at his attempt of a joke, but I knew what was coming next. Sure enough, the goblet's flames turned red and spat out a little slip of paper.
Everyone caught their breath. I stole, what I hoped was an unnoticeable glance towards Harry.

"Harry Potter?" Dumbledore sounded confused. Nobody moved.

"Harry Potter!?" Dumbledore yelled again.

Eventually Harry had to stand up and walk over. He muttered something as he walked away. The whole school broke out in whispers.

"My gosh what just happened?" Fred whispered. I turned around to look at them. Ron looked extremely mad.

"Why couldn't he tell me how he did it?" Ron asked.

I felt terrible. "You can't honestly think he put his name in?"

"Well who else would have done it?" Ron asked, now outraged. He didn't wait for Dumbledore to excuse us, he just left.

"Fred… How do you think it happened?" I asked.

"No idea Cali. But I guess Dumbledore is dimwitted. Where is the Granger girl?" He started looking around.

I stopped myself from laughing, how could Fred be laughing at this? Why doesn't he find it odd? This is obviously the work of dark wizards….
Does no one suspect that? I watched the rooms' reaction, they seemed utterly surprised, but more than that they seemed angry. "I tried everything to get over that line!" People were saying.

All the teachers disappeared through the back door, where the champions were waiting.
I could only imagine what they were saying down there. I wondered how Barty was acting down there.

The only person who noticed me watching the door was Marcus Flint. He was starring at me with an expression that said, 'you look weak. I know the plan; you better not give it up.'

"Well let's go before the crowd decides to all leave at the same time." George laughed, standing up. That started it.
Everyone seemed to stand up and start walking out. A few little groups were still so amazed that they continued to sit where they were.

When we finally made it back to the common room, it seemed like the whole Gryffindor house was sitting down here waiting for Harry to come up.
However as it grew later into the day, people started drifting up the stairs to go to sleep.

It was actually only me sitting there in the end. A few minutes after the others went to bed, the door opened and Harry came in.

"Ron is incredibly mad." I said without meaning to.

"I think everyone is." Harry said. His face was almost unreadable, masked behind all the confusion I knew he was scared. "You don't think I put my name in there, do you?"

"Harry.. I know you didn't. There was no way you could have. And honestly, why would you? I'd think you had enough attention."

"Oh believe me. I do. Why are you still awake?"

I shrugged, "I can barely sleep anyways. Besides someone needs to warn you.
The school isn't going to react well to this. Prepare to lose some friends for awhile. But I also want you to know that I will be here for you."

He slumped into the couch next to me, "Thanks. It means a lot. I do have a question, if you are a pure blood and your family runs with the Malfoys… Why aren't you in Slytherin?"

Crap… what is a good comeback for that? "Well, it's kinda like that Sirius Black, his whole lot was in Slytherin except him. Well I guess that isn't a good example given he is a murderer."

Harry tried to hide a smirk, "No that is a good example. Have you heard about what goes on at this school?"

"Everything. My mom works with the ministry remember?" I smiled.

"Ah. Right. Alright well if I have to face the whole school tomorrow, I am going to get to sleep. Thanks Cali."
He attempted to smile. I know that feeling of not being able to smile, so I just nodded back.

When he closed his dormitory door I was still sitting by the fire. I stared into it; I guess it is time for the next phase to begin.