An Alliance of Necessity

"I will just get started then," said Hermione, "we invited you all here because Harry, Ron, and I agree that we need help. We stopped Bartemius Crouch Jr." The four of us all gasped at the same moment.

"We stopped Barty Crouch Jr.," said Padma, "Idius stopped him!" Ron had finally decided to speak up.

"Stopped him, your boyfriend was being thrown around like a quaffle," said Ron! I answered without thinking.

"You watch your tone when speaking to Padma, Weasley," I said. This time it was Harry who answered.

"It doesn't matter who stopped him," said Harry, "what matters is that after he was stopped. There was another attack. Two people died. And we have no leads. No signs to where the attack may come next."

"And it is coming next," said Hermione, "and one thing that isn't up for debate is that you found the culprit last time. You discovered that Moody wasn't who he said he was." We sat in silence. Me remembering how we put that plan together, risking expulsion and suspension based off of my whim.

"You could have died trying to stop Moody," said Hermione. Oh yeah, **** was also a thing that could have happened.

"You don't suspect Igor Karkaroff," said Michael.

"He was our first suspect," said Harry, "and isn't entirely clear of suspicion. But he could have gotten me when I dropped my wand at the first task. And I doubt anybody would have seen him do it." Why did Harry think that Igor Karkaroff not harming him cleared him of suspicion. That insinuated that they believed that Harry was the target.

"Why would him not harming you clear him of suspicion," said Padma?

"Because Harry is Voldemort's ultimate goal," said Hermione. She had just said his name like it was nothing. Even if he was dead, it was still very bad luck to do.

"But he who must not be named is dead," said Michael, "what are you guys even on about?" Were these three crazy? He who must not be named wasn't alive. So why would he be after Harry?

"Voldemort may be, less than living right now," said Harry. Again my side of the table cringed at the mention of his name. They just freely threw out his name.

"But his followers are still doing his bidding, and with my history and status as.. sort of a celebrity.. I am a target. You'll just have to believe me about all that for now. You know how neither of us entered our names into the goblet of fire Idius, but we were still chosen." I still had my questions on whether he had entered his name or not, but I definitely didn't enter my own.

"Yeah," I said.

"I was entered so that I could be harmed. By the competition, or by how it gets altered. And we saw last time how it was altered."

"What about Idius," said Padma, "why was he entered." The Trio was silent, before Hermione answered.

"By accident," said Hermione, "most likely. I mean Voldemort would have no reason to try to harm you..." She went silent after saying that.

"Hermione," said Cho! I could see Padma reach for her wand, but I stopped her.

"She just meant with your family being one of his biggest support--oof," said Ron. A subtle elbow by Harry shut him up.

"You aren't your family," said Harry, "and you singlehandedly thwarted their whole plan in the first task. But the tasks are only going to get worse. More dangerous, and we have no idea what to expect next. Which is why we are calling for your help, all of your help." Harry looked to each of us. Hermione however began to rub her neck and look away. Almost as if she were nervous.