"Well, she's horrible! Why else would I say that- and it's the truth!" The auburn-haired girl walked with her posse of sycophants towards where Lena was hidden in the shadows of a secret alcove that was blocked from prying eyes. "I mean honestly- I heard Roger saying he'd get with that skank and I just had to do something! No way is she prettier than me! Not in a million-"

Suddenly she cut off, holding her throat as she tried to speak.

Lena smiled, looking at the ugly pink orb that she'd acquired, before slipping back into the secret passageway, content that by the time the girl got her voice back that she'd have seen the importance of watching what lies she spouted.

Walking into the Slytherin Common Room, she looked around and then smirked. Moving to the fireplace mantle, she used her wand to carve out a small space in the metal above the fire, setting the stone into the metal and then fitting it with small edges to keep it in.

"Collecting trinkets?" Daphne's voice was curious, but her eyes sharp.

She hummed. "If you clip a bird's wings, it will find the strength to hate you, but take away it's the ability to sing… Well, I believe this bird will come to understand, in its despair, that it earned its fate." Turning to smile at the watching Common Room, she caught a few of the students shiver in fear, Ginny looking satisfied. "Plus… hasn't that that stone has always been there?"

There was no argument, the room taking that as a cue to go back to their own business.

It was a rumor the next day that Marietta Edgecombe had lost her voice permanently, some eyes lingering on her as this was said, though she just ignored it.

She shouldn't have insulted her family.

Lena had left her friends after almost a whole day of sitting at the Hog's Head and teasing Aberforth about the man keeping butterbeer in the tavern just for them, as they were the only kids that took to the musty bar.

Walking along the streets with students moving around her as if she was just another kid, she put her hands in her pockets and made her way towards the train station where she could sit in silence and just look at the sky until she would have to go back to the castle.

Almost bumping into a girl who swerved in her way giggling, she moved quickly to avoid the girl and-

She froze.

There, in a sea of students, was a man with neatly styled hair and fine robes- eyes like garnets watching her intently.

Tom?

But a boy walked in front of her, and when he'd passed, there was no one there. Blinking a few times and then shaking her head, she started towards the train station.

"Lena!" Charles Potter ran to catch up with her, face in a hesitant smile. "I- I wanted to tell you that both I and my family don't think you put your name in the Goblet."

"Thanks, I guess."

The boy caught her arm when she moved to keep walking, moving to stand in front of her. "Lena… I know that we aren't very close and that we've both been a bit standoffish to each other this last year or so, and that you don't want to be a Potter… but can we be friends at least?"

Looking at the eyes like two bright brown pools of milk chocolate, she nodded slowly, wondering why the boy's hand didn't give her a single feeling other than the cold tips of his fingers and the subtle warmth of his palm. "I can do that."

"Great! Because Cedric really likes you and he's a close friend and I didn't want it to be awkward, y'know?"

She didn't understand- why would that be awkward?

Smiling softly, she shook her head anyway, if just to placate the boy. "Of course, that wouldn't do." Pausing, she looked towards the road to the train station. "I was headed to the train station to sit and watch the clouds. Would you like to join me?"

Charlie blinked as if he wasn't expecting her to offer up her time. "Um- sure!" Taking his hand away, they started to walk that way. "Sorry about grabbing your wrist. I know- well- Ginny told me you don't like to be touched."

"It's not that. Not really." Her voice was soft, not looking over as she reached to take his hand, interlacing their fingers. "Some people it's okay, like you and my friends… but others- It's like I can feel through their skin how much of a threat they are to me. Like Blaise and Theo are both warm, comfortable, whereas Karkaroff feels as if someone's slowly taking a knife and skinning off the top layer of wherever he touches me."

"Oh." The boy smiled softly at her. "I noticed you avoided him… it makes sense now."

Lena looked at him, wondering, hoping... "Do you get that too?" But when he shook his head, she just nodded slightly and looked back out across the landscapes, trying to ignore the slight disappointment lingering in her throat. "I had a theory it was because humans are social creatures and we tend to seek out touch from people we trust… but I didn't trust anyone but Jack when I was young. And he didn't like people in his space because of the war."

Charlie was quiet, a slight frown on his lips. "Sorry."

They walked to the station and sat on the bench, their hands still clasped together.

"Your birthday is July 31st, same as mine. Though I was born sometime around noon and you were born just before midnight." The boy didn't look at her as if she would reject the information. "I didn't know if you would want to know, but-"

"Thank you." Lena squeezed his hand gently. "I never had a specific date… Jack estimated my birthday was around June."

Sitting for a while, not looking at the time, they shared the quiet peace and pointed out shapes in the clouds whenever they found one. Finally, as the day was winding down, they started back towards town.

Charles swung his arm, and by attachment, hers, as they walked and she smiled slightly at the childish habit. But there was something that needed to be addressed. "You didn't find me here to talk about birthdays and clouds."

"I did. Kind of." The boy didn't stop swinging his arm, but his voice was defensive.

"And the other thing?"

Stopping, the boy turned to her with eyes that looked almost… worried. "Ron Welasey's my friend and he told me that he saw Charlie Weasley in the forest." When she blinked slowly, he huffed slightly in amusement. "Charlie Weasley is his older brother, a dragon tamer that works in Romania."

Eyes widening slightly at the implication, she looked at Charles. "You think they would-" Then Barty Crouch's gleeful face came to her mind and she sighed, pulling her hand from his. "In turn for the information, I'll offer this advice: Next time you want to make friends with someone who doesn't trust easily, start with that information so they don't think you only told them because they accepted your friendship."

"I didn't-"

Raising a hand to stop him, she shook her head. "Doesn't matter now. I'll ignore it this time because you might have saved my life." Turning, she walked to where her Court was waiting for her.

Blaise studied her. "Everything alright?"

"Wonderful." She ignored the glances and shoved her hand into her pockets. "It literally couldn't get better." Lena was then proven wrong as she thought she saw Riddle out of the corner of her eye, turning and clenching her jaw when no one was there. Huffing to herself, she stalked faster towards the castle. "Absolutely bloody wonderful. "

She was seeing things and she had to face a dragon head-on in about a week.

Oh yeah, everything was just dandy.

Spotting Cedric getting mooned over by a group of girls as they were walking back- Theo and Daphne arguing over the best type of candy like an old married couple- she whistled sharply and waved slightly at the older Hufflepuff. "Cedric, do you have a moment?"

"Oh, uh, yeah sure. Hey Lena." The boy gave out a few false platitudes to the girls who glared at her, before stopping in front of her with a questioning smile. "What's up?"

"Dragons, apparently." She smiled thinly, voice just quiet enough for the girls watching them not to hear. "They're the first task, according to a friend."

The group behind her went silent.

Cedric swallowed, looking suddenly sick. "What- Lena- What am I supposed to-"

"You should definitely learn disillusionment charms and scent-blocking charms if you haven't already. I assume we have to either solve some puzzle or get something from the dragon so start practicing levitating increasingly heavy objects, just in case."

"And- and you?"

Lena shrugged. "I think I'll try to talk to it, maybe bring it a cow as a sacrifice." When the boy sputtered slightly at her, she patted his shoulder, looking to her Court. "I am the daughter of a dragon tamer, after all, and you'd be surprised what tips Jack had."

Theo laughed, shaking his head. "I have a feeling you're going to have a new pet after this."

She just grinned something that would have looked far too broken and bloody on her face had the others not gotten used to it, and took Blaise's hand as they started back to the castle.

Because Karkaroff and Madame Maxine were cheating cheaters, the other two already knew, both trying to tell her at the same time, which led to them staring at each other in betrayal and her laughing brightly.

From there the three other champions and she had taken to all meetings in the Slytherin Common Room (Luna tagging along with Fluer), practicing spells and talking strategy.

Because Viktor was irritated at only being thought of as good at Quidditch, he was taking the idea of the charms while Cedric decided to try to appease his father by outflying the dragon, to which she demanded she let him buy a Firebolt for him or she'd blame her lack of sleep on him worrying her. Fleur was exceptionally good with charms too, the French girl working with Viktor to both master their respective charms (practicing on the Slytherins that volunteered to either be put to sleep or floated in the air).

Lena, however, was taking a different path.

Sending a letter to the goblins and finding Jack had his old war uniform stashed in his vault, she contacted the best tailor the goblins knew and had them replicate most of the uniform with a few… modifications.

Going down to the kitchens the night before the tournament, she made a bag of supplies and then gave the bag to Theo at breakfast with instructions to bring it to the first task, not to hold it too tight, and not hook it over his neck.

Wearing Janus' long cloak over her clothes to heighten the surprise, she accepted a hug from the older boy and then from Theo and Daphne and Draco, who wanted to get there early to get the best seats.

"I worry about you." Blaise and she walked to the Champion's tent, stopping outside it so he could grip her hands tightly. "You won't tell anyone what you're planning and other than your runes and helping others, you haven't been practicing any high-level spells that aren't already in your repertoire..."

"You watch me that closely?" She teased with a smile

Blaise huffed, giving her a look as if she was missing something. "Always."

Lena smiled, pulling the boy into a hug. "Then you should know that I'm never without a plan." Her voice softened slightly. "I don't want to let my House down, do I?"

"You know, for all the times you say it to others, I don't think you believe it yourself. Even if no one else likes your or is supportive, you are enough in the eyes of Slytherin… and my eyes." With a quick grin, the boy glanced to where the officials were starting to move towards the tent, pressing a kiss to her forehead (that had her blinking in surprise) and winking. "Good luck."

Before she could say anything about not needing luck, he was gone.

"Helena! Good!" Ludo Bagman, the idiot, smiled at her and pushed open the tent flap. "Well in you go! Come on, there's not much time!"

"Obviously, or I wouldn't be here." She muttered a string of unhappy words under her breath, moving to where the three champions were all sitting on one of the four beds, seeming to find solace in the closeness. Viktor moved so she could sit in between Fleur and him, and she brought out four bars of chocolate, giving the three out and then looking to where the fake Moody looked more worried than she'd ever seen him. "You want half, Moods?"

The man jolted a bit, looking at her incredulity for a second at the nickname, before giving a grizzled smile. "Sure, kid."

Seeing Snape entered, looking just as worried, if not more, and she threw the whole bar to Moody after only a second pause. "Second thought- share with Sev. You both look like you're going to need it."

"Are we?" The dour potions master narrowed his eyes on her.

Lena shrugged. "Is belladonna poisonous?"

The man snatched the bar of chocolate from Moody with a glare to both of them, muttering about 'grey hairs' and 'idiot children' as he broke off half and reluctantly handed the rest back to Moody.

"My dear, do you have anything else on you other than your wand that would invalidate the conditions of the Tournament?" Dumbledore stepped forward, also looking worried.

"I only brought the chocolate. My wand is here, I'd rather not take off my lordship rings, I have my clothing, and I'll take off the cloak beforehand. Other than that? Nope." She smiled brightly at the man. "No need to worry old man- I have Jack on my side."

The blue eyes widened for a moment before the man smiled and the worry dimmed. "As he is always."

"Well, now we're all here- time to fill you in!" said Bagman brightly. "When the audience has assembled, I'm going to be offering each of you this bag," he held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it at them, "from which you will each select a small model of the thing you are about to face! There are different- er- varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else too.. ah, yes, your task is to collect the golden egg!"

They wanted them to get an egg from a nesting mother?! What kind of fuckery-

Oh, yeah… They were trying to kill her.

Lena sighed deeply, closing her eyes so she could listen to the hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of feet that could be heard passing the tent, the students talking excitedly.

Soon enough Bagman's voice spoke up again and when she opened her eyes he was holding up the purple silk sack. "Ladies first," he said, offering it to Fleur.

Looking to the others and getting encouraging nods, Fleur drew out a tiny model of a dragon- a Welsh Green with a tag reading '#2' around its neck. Krum pulled out a scarlet Chinese Fireball with its tag reading '#3', Cedric drawing a blueish-gray Swedish Short-Snout with a '#1' tied around its neck.

Bagman looked to her with a smile, but it was wavering. "Well… Miss Potter?"

Lena crossed her arms. "I don't see Lily Potter here."

"No- um- you, Miss Potter."

"That's not my last name and I refuse to answer to it." She tilted her head. "How about you use the name the Goblet even stated was mine?"

The other champions must have been giving the man dirty looks behind her back too, because he almost fumbled the bag, nodding quickly. "Right, right, sorry- um- Miss Farland?"

With a sharp glare, she reached into the bag, raising an eyebrow as she drew out her hand and stared at where a miniature Hungarian Horntail had sunk its teeth into her hand and was hanging stubbornly from her hand. Poking its side, she put a hand under it so it didn't have to dangle. "Stop that. You'll strain your jaw, silly thing."

Eyes flickering to her, the tiny dragon slowly let go of her hand and huffed as it curled up moodily in her hand as she sat down.

"Well, there you are!" said Bagman. "You have each pulled out the dragon you will face, and the numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons, do you see? Now, I'm going to have to leave you in a moment, because I'm commentating. Mr. Diggory, you're first, just go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right? Now Hel-... Lena... could I have a quick word? Outside?"

"No." She lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "I don't like you. Go away."

She heard both Snape and Moody snort, Dumbledore's voice highly amused when he spoke up. "Yes, well we better get to the stands Ludo, Crouch."

"Good luck, Champions."

Lena's hand twitched, her magic tripping Barty, the others in the tent stifling laughter as she heard him huff and mutter something darkly. Waiting until the others had left she pulled herself up and moved to hang up her cloak, moving to the middle of the tent floor so she could stretch.

"What… are 'ou wearing?" Fleur looked at her in surprise.

She was wearing a pair of heavy fire-resistant pants with the emblem of Jack's special forces division in the war on the side and specialized boots, but her entire top half was bare except for where her chest was wrapped with bindings that had been soaked with a special type of Delphi's venom and then dried for three days. The bindings would mark her as a friend of reptilian creatures, the bared skin to show she wasn't a threat.

Lena grinned up at where the three were gaping at her. "I'm wearing my plan. This and some food. That's my plan."

Viktor choked on his tongue. "The- the Minister is here! He- he will not want to watch you die and- and your friends! What about-"

"Breathe. I will be alright." She smiled and finished stretching. "Fleur, since you're not up yet, could you help me tie up my hair snugly? I need to make sure my neck especially is bared."

The girl gave her a strange look but did as she said.

A whistle blew.

Taking Cedric's hand, she smiled encouragingly. "It'll be there. Just call for the firebolt, as it's rightfully under your name."

Nodding, the boy left.

Soon enough, with the crowd going crazy with excitement, another whistle blew and she waved off Fleur from where she was worrying her hands. "If you can put all of Slytherin to sleep, you'll be able to do this, but remember to silence the crowds so it won't wake up too early."

"Good luck, chère." Then with a small smile, the girl nodded to Viktor, straightened her shoulders, and walked out.

"And you… just have to speak clearly, plus picture what you are transforming and what you are levitating." She moved to lean against the boy on the cot. "I'm proud of you for showing everyone you're more than just a Quidditch player."

The boy rubbed her back, hand warm on the bare skin, and it felt strange but not unpleasant. "I may not understand, but I believe in you."

It wasn't long before another whistle blew and she was alone.

Breathe Lena.

The fourth whistle blew, sharp and shrill, seeming to reverberate in her very bones.

You know what to do.

Walking slowly through the tunnel with her head held high, sending a wink to where McGonagall was gaping at her, she moved to the edge of the wards to the enclosure and paused, looking around. The dragon was nowhere in sight, and as she guessed, it probably didn't have the neural inhibitors as the other ones- meaning it was at the height of being an apex predator and she was the small squishy prey.

You remember what Jack used to say about approaching something that's obviously able to eat you in one bite. Give up some of your power in a sign you're not here to fight, show you're not a threat but a friend, don't patronize but offer help in whatever it needs, and keep your posture open.

She walked into the stadium just a few feet from the door, flicked her wand, summoning the messenger bag, and setting it to her side. Then ignoring the stares, she holstered her wand and tossed it past the barrier to the stadium, where she wouldn't be able to go until she had the egg.

Her eyes caught another glimpse of Riddle sitting in the stands, but she just rubbed the bridge of her nose and turned to the rocky stadium.

She didn't have time to be crazy right now.

Ludo Bagman was talking, words like 'what is she doing', 'half-naked', and 'insane' being thrown around but she ignored him.

"Hello!" She spread her arms, keeping her movements open as she shouldered the bag and moved forward slowly. "Can you please come out to where I could see you? I'm unarmed and would rather see who I'm stuck in this cage with."

There was a thick silence for a heartbeat, before a massive figure pulled itself out of a crevice, towering over her. Looking her in the eyes, it blinked slowly, a low hiss of a voice seeming to emanate from it. "You are not lying… there is magic on you, but no weapons." Lowering a single massive eye to her, it blinked slowly. "Why? You are human, the species of destruction, yet you carry no tools but a bag of what smells like food."

Lena smiled, making sure not to show her teeth. "Well I had to come in here and at least try to get a golden egg from you, but before that, I was rather thinking that we could sit and eat together because I've never gotten to spend time with a dragon before and let me tell you- you are magnificent. "

"You smell like a friend."

She nodded, even as she felt a headache building in her head, trying to ignore it. "Delphi, Salazar's familiar especially requested I soak my bandages in her venom, as she was worried for me. Apparently, I'm her hatchling now." Lena wrinkled her nose at the thought of the overprotective snake, sitting down and crossing her legs. "Anyway- my guardian used to work with dragons and he told me once that your kind like popcorn and apples because they crunch like bones, but won't splinter and get stuck in your gums as much."

The massive beast hissed in what she recognized as a laugh, moving to sit on the ground tamely, setting its massive head down next to her. "I would not know. I do not get fed anything but meat and bones, because most humans are stupid and think we are carnivores."

"Well, I have apples and popcorn balls then. But your popcorn balls are much bigger because as you probably noticed, I'm kind of small."

"Even for a human."

She pouted. "Rude!" Then with a sigh, she pulled out a football-sized popcorn ball. "But alright, I guess if anyone has the right to make fun of my height, it's you." Tossing the ball to the dragon, who snapped it up, she pulled out her own palm-sized ball and took a bite.

The dragon made a low vibrating hum. "You are a good snakeling... I think I will not eat you."

"Thanks. That's a relief." Lena tossed a few apples in the dragon's mouth, before looking at the chain around its foot. "Hey, you want me to break you out of that? I'd be more than happy to put your eggs in my expandable bag and let you leave, as long as you leave me the golden egg."

"And the wards?"

Lena laughed slightly, biting her bottom lip to hide a toothy grin. "Well, you see, I came here about a week ago looking at the stadium to get a good layout of it so I wouldn't be surprised by it- but I might have also set up a rune around the stadium so that when I entered it wouldn't let anyone in until I got the egg and wouldn't let me out until I got the egg, but that anything else in the stadium would be able to leave. Oh, and they can't hear a word we're saying."

The dragon hissed with laughter. "Humans are stupid and snakeling is smart." Then it bobbing its head. "Leave the food in the bag. I will watch you put the eggs in. Then I will go and you can have your golden object."

"Sounds good!" Standing and stretching, she moved over to the eggs, carefully putting one in at a time to the confusion of the crowd. Then she handed the bag over for the dragon to grip in its talon with a wide smile. "I hope you find a place with more apples!"

"Thank you. You are truly a friend." Putting its snout to her, it licked her from bellybutton to face, covering her in slobber. "You are now marked as a Child of Dragons. " Then, spreading its massive wings, it looked to the sky longingly.

Wiping the slobber from her face, she dipped her head and then flicked her hand to break the chain. "Goodbye, friend."

With a whoosh of wind, hearing the crowds scream as the dragon just kind of glided into the air, she saluted where the dragon flew into the distance and then took the golden egg.

Wiping off more of the slobber as she went, she ignored the judges' table and picked up her wand holster and used her wand to clean herself off, moving out of the arena, but almost fell backward when a familiar figure ran to envelop her in a hug. She looked to where Moody was guiding her Court to her.

"Mercy! Mercy! I'm being attacked!"

Blaise growled, shoving her to arm's length with a wide scowl. "You scared me half to death, throwing your wand away like that! What were you thinking! And just letting it stand over you- I thought that I was going to have to drag your charred corpse out of there myself!"

Lena smiled, glancing at where Theo standing with a frown that Draco and Daphne seemed to have copied. "All parts of my plan, I assure you."

"Was breaking rules part of that plan, Miss Farland?! You ought to be kicked out of the competition for releasing that dragon!"

Turning to where Barty Crouch was glaring at her and marching her way with the other judges and VIPs, she grinned toothily. "Oh, but then someone would have to fess up to having stopped the neural inhibiting potions on my dragon because it was not only clever enough to hold a full conversation with me but escape. Plus, my task was only to get the golden egg. I did that, just as I was told, so isn't the rest your fault for not having better wards and protection for the guests?"

The man sputtered, a few of the important people that had come to watch eyeing him now. "You- you cheated! Someone helped you!"

"Oh, but Mr. Idiot, if you didn't remember- I'm an orphan raised by a war hero who worked with dragons. Maybe instead, the person trying to get me killed shouldn't be so fucking thickheaded about how they try to do it! " Her fists clenched at her sides, the man's eye twitching.

"Lena," Janus spoke up with a slight smirk. "You lost some points for letting the dragon go, but overall your score was-"

She waved her hand. "I don't care about that, as I'm not in this to win, just to survive."

"Okay kid, enough of that- let's get you to Madame Pomfrey- I know you're hiding that nasty wound you got."

Ah. Right... Magical eye.

Cringing when the adults and her friends all looked at her pointedly, she tried to smile, even if it came out as somewhat of a grimace. "It's nothing bad, I just had to make sure that the dragon would know I wasn't a threat, and uh- it's best if you have some type of wound."

She'd cut across her side where the bandages covered right before her task, as the smell of blood would make sure the dragon saw her as a friend as it would combine with the scent of the venom and-

Shit.

She was an idiot.

"Okay, so I blame this on my lack of sleep, but I had to do some rune homework and soak my bandages, but I might have very dangerous venom… in my bloodstream."

She could put off seeing Riddle on this then.

And the headache.

Grabbing Blaise's shoulder to steady herself as she swayed, she smiled apologetically. "I had hoped to do- do this away from- from you lot... " Brain seeming to slow, she felt her knees weaken and realized that she had indeed been slowly poisoning herself with Delphi's immunity poison, berating herself mentally. Feeling someone catch her, she couldn't keep her eyes open for longer than a few seconds at a time, seeing brown hair and taking a deep breath as if felt like fire was spreading through her veins. "Sorr- sorry... Tom…"

Someone said something, but she was too gone to hear it.