"Huh."

She asks a few more questions about the rules and what Ellie's allowed to bring to bear.

Ellie reiterates what the proctor had said.

She doesn't have a lot more ideas right off the bat - other than the obvious like 'invisibility cloaks are helpful.' Ellie's Animagus form's an option, too...

Means she will have to register, though. Probably worth it, it's an edge she won't be expected to have.

"Especially since probably the Prophet won't be watching the registration rolls - if they did learn a Champion was an Animagus I bet they'd report that..."

"Everyone else would learn it at the same time."

She nods. "We can ask Fay how long confirming a registration takes, maybe get you on the records like the day before the First Task..."

"There's just under a month. Should be enough time."

"Even the Ministry's not that slow."

"Not quite."

"We'll still want to give them some time."

"But not too much. It's a fine balance."

"Fay'll help the timing."

"Yeah."

Shoulder bump.

Fay gets there soon enough.

"You alright, Ellie?" is the first thing out of her mouth.

"For now I am."

She nods. "And we'll try to keep it that way."

A frown, and: "Obviously getting you through the tasks in one piece is a concern... But I'm more worried about why you were thrown into the tournament."

"Professor Dumbledore said only one of the school heads could have added a new school."

"Easily. The Goblet could be overridden or tricked by someone powerful and skilled enough - but mages that powerful are rare."

"Add that to 'wishes me harm' and it's kind of a short list."

"Though it grows again if you add 'wants something else and doesn't mind you being harmed in the process.'"

"Which means we need to find out what's to be gained from this - quite frankly, there's easier ways to arrange your death. Even in front of an audience."

"The prize is only a thousand Galleons..."

"A prize for school children. Not nations."

She leans back, frowning. "And most of what would be possible to pull through the tournament, a hostile wouldn't need you for... A distraction, perhaps, but a damn fool one - we weren't at high alert earlier. Political maneuvering - it'd look bad on Fudge, if something happened to you or the tournament. But there's cheaper ways to discredit him..."

"He does a good job at that all on his own," she grumbles.