"What do they look like?" Hermione asked.

"They're sort of look like feathers. Green, leafy feathers," I answered.

Hermione nodded and suddenly gasped, "Oh! There they are!"

I instructed, "Okay, you have to pluck them from the stems gently."

We each gathered a good bit and put them into the backpack.

"Let's head ba-"

Hermione thrust her arm out in front of me, cutting me off.

"Hermione, wha-"

"Shush!" She gritted out from behind clenched teeth, "Someone's watching us."

I heard it in the bush before us. Rustle, rustle.

I drew out my wand as Hermione pulled back an arrow.

"Who's there?" Hermione demanded.

"We're armed," I added.

"It's me," a scared voice behind the bush. He stepped out into the opening, his hands in the air, "Colin. Colin Creevey."

I lowered my wand but Hermione didn't move, "I don't know you."

"Lily, don't you remember me?" He sounded desperate, "You gave me the dagger."

I nodded, "Yeah, Hermione you can put the bow away."

Hermione relaxed but warned, "Don't try anything."

"Why were you watching us?" I asked.

"I need allies," he explained.

I looked at Hermione for her decision and she said, her voice sounding slightly choked, "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid not."

"Why not?" I asked.

"We can't take any chances."

"We took Scorpius."

"He was hurt," she replied.

"So what?" Colin said angrily, "What do I have to do? Break both my legs? Blind myself? Lose a body part or two?"

Hermione flinched.

"Why can't we take him?" And why was I helping him? I gave him a dagger, which he could've easily killed us with. And now I'm standing up for him, even though I didn't really know him. We just talked a bit during training.

"We have enough people. And it'll just make it harder for all of us to kill each other," Hermione muttered sadly.

"Fine, then," Colin snapped, "Thanks for the help."

We watched him walk away when suddenly Hermione yelled, "Colin, wait!"

He turned back, glaring, "What?"

"Hey, ally," Hermione smiled.

Colin smiled too.

It was almost nightfall by the time we returned to the cave with our new companion.

"What took you so long?" Albus said, "And who's that?" He pointed at Colin.

"Albus, this is Colin Creevey."

He stuck his hand out, "Pleasure."

Albus took and asked, "An ally?"

Hermione nodded.

James didn't look too happy about having another person tag along. But he didn't say anything. He was usually so loud and extrovert. He still talked, but he never talked as much as before. Before the Reaping, before the Games, before all of us were dragged into this mess.