Cedric left me standing alone in the Entrance Hall and I felt more vulnerable than I had ever felt in my life. I doubted any other the Slytherin students would want to celebrate my being chosen as a Hogwarts Champion. Most of my House didn't even like me, and that wasn't even including the unknown number of Hogwarts students whose parents were death eaters. There was no way I'd be able to sneak into the Gryffindor tower to see Harry, by then all of the Gryffindors were surly in their common room or already sleeping. Severus was still in the small dimly lit room with Dumbledore, McGonagall and Moody. I sat on the stone steps of the Entrance Hall with my head in my hands, warm tears brimming at the bottoms of my eyes. I wished I hadn't taken advantage of Remus in my earlier years at Hogwarts, if he were there he would have known exactly what to do. Remus would know exactly what to do. I repeated to myself jumping to my feet. Although Remus was at home and I wouldn't be able to get an instant answer from him, I could still send him a letter explaining everything. I raced to the back of the library where Madam Pince kept a collection of quills and parchment for students to copy down small sections of library books.

Dear Remus,

Hope everything is well at home! I can't tell you enough how much I wish you were here! Since I know you'll ask, my courses this year are challenging but I'm still doing well, and Professor Snape maintains his usual brooding mood. Unfortunately not all the news I have for you is pleasant, in fact something quite terrible has happened. Hogwarts is hosting an international event known as the Triwizard Tournament. Students, of age, from three different schools are encouraged to enter, and tonight one champion was supposed to be selected from each school, but something's gone wrong. Somehow I was entered into this tournament without knowing, and now I'm forced to compete in this tournament as one of two Hogwarts champions without any choice in the matter. Honestly it really scary, they're saying people have died in this thing and I'm terrified. I'm sure you can gain more information from my Head of House, but the most important thing for you to know is that I did not enter this contest willingly and I just wish I could go home. In other news, Harry recently told me that his dog likes to stay close to home, and is also within range of our home. I miss you more than words can say, and I look forward to the Christmas Holiday more than ever. –Alice

I read my letter over again several times before I was satisfied. I just hoped that Remus would understand the last bit about Sirius returning to be closer to Harry. If I was any more specific, and something were to happen to Apollo or the letter it could put Sirius as risk. I quickly made my way up to the owlry, and once Apollo was soaring off towards home, I made my way down to the Slytherin common room. Surprisingly there was a large sprawling mess of food and drink throughout the common room as if the Slytherins had indeed had a celebration in my honor. I smirked at the sight of Emily passed out on a plush emerald armchair that decorated the common room. Draco sat awake in a similar armchair with a small table separating them.

"Suppose I should wake her and get her to bed." I told Draco as I nodded in Emily's direction.

"She's exhausted. Since you didn't come back right after dinner, she was bombarded with millions of questions. Most of them just wanted to know how you'd done it, got your name in that is, and you know Emily, she's too polite to tell any of them to buzz off. I think they only stopped asking about you when she fell asleep in the middle of talking to some second year." An awkward silence fell between us as Draco thought of repeating every question our fellow Slytherins had asked, but he was too polite to ask.

"Slytherin house sure knows how to throw a party." I said kicking away some of the dirty dishes that littered the floor.

"Some of them are angry, they think you cheated, some think you'll get expelled for it, and then some of them think it was cunning and downright beautiful. I saw Professor Snape's face once you left the Great Hall and entered the other room. His face got really dark and he zoned out from the rest of what Dumbledore was say, once we were dismissed, he practically wrestled McGonagall for the door. It was if he thought you had something to do with your name coming out of that goblet."

"What do you think?" I asked dragging a third armchair over to the table and sitting.

"At first, I thought you'd played us. All month whenever the subject came up you talked about how stupid you thought it was, and then your name shoots out of the thing? I was suspicious and I assumed you'd been putting down the Triwizard Tournament so that we'd all be surprised if your name came out. Then I talked to Emily. She said that when Dumbledore called your name, you looked terrified, said she'd never seen you so scared, not even when you chased after Professor Black at the end of last year. That was enough to convince me."

"Thanks." I said yawning.

"What does Snape think of the whole mess?"

"I don't know." I answered as I stretched my arms above my head and yawned again. "I didn't have a chance to talk to him privately. Dumbledore, seemed to believe me and that was good enough for McGonagall and Moody. Severus seemed less than impressed, but when we're at Hogwarts I can never tell if he's expressing his true feelings or not, there are so many layers to our relationship, and who he is as a person…"

"I know what you mean, my dad can be like that sometimes." Draco told me looking at something only he could see.

"Is that where you get it from?" I asked wondering what he was picturing in his mind.

"Yeah, I suppose so. Did you say Mad-eye was in the room? What did he have to say?"

"Only that he thinks someone entered my name in the Goblet of Fire, hoping I die in the tournament." I stated trying to sound off handed.

"Well that's pleasant."

"Tell me about it. Well I think it's about time I get Emily and I into bed, I want to get up early before anyone else is up so that I can see Severus without any trouble."

"That's probably a good idea. I'll cover for you if I have to."

"Thanks Draco."

"For what?"

"Being my friend."

"So now would be a bad time for me to tell you I've got 100 galleons on Krum?"

"I notice you and Severus share the same sense of humor." I told him rolling my eyes. "But I wouldn't count your galleons before you've earned them." I woke Emily gently as I finished my sentence, her usually bouncy curls matted from her awkward sleeping position. "Hey Em, let's get you to bed, I'm sure it's much more comfortable than this chair."

"Alice!" She whispered half asleep. "ImSo gladyourok." Her words were running together as she sleepily got to her feet. "ItoldDraco youdcomeback." I pulled one of her arms over my shoulder propping her up so she didn't fall down. "Imgladyourok"

"Come on Em let's get you to bed, you sound exhausted. We can talk in the morning. Goodnight Draco!" I waved as I ushered Emily past him.

"Goodnight Emily, goodnight Alice! Oh and Alice," I turned my head slightly in his direction but continued guiding Emily forward. "Between you and me, my money's on you."