"What is that?" Looking up through a hole in the forest canopy, I spot an unusual bird; It's snowy white in colour and something about its brown rimmed eyes suggest intelligence and understanding. I recognize it from a picture at school but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was called.

"Shoot and we'll find out, won't we," Typical Gale. Just shoot it. I mean I enjoy hunting, in fact I love it, but gale is just a bit…a bit different about it. I reach for an arrow and gracefully slide it into position. I pull back the string so that my fingertips brush my cheeks. I line the arrowhead up with the approaching (maybe not so intelligent) bird. I let go.

Gale picks up the not-quite-dead bird and studies it, turning it over in his muscular hands then places it gently on the rock I'm leant against; turning to have a look at it myself, I notice a small, wax-sealed envelope, initially hidden from my view by a thick coat of brilliant white feathers- I reach out, and snap the string that ties it to the birds leg. The parchment feels cold in my hands as I turn the letter over and see the address, see who its for and understand why it was flying closer to its attacker.

Katniss Everdeen

The Seam

District 12

Panem

The Future

Excitement and curiosity tear through my veins and manipulate my fingers into ripping it open; like a puppet controlled by her master I jerkily take out the letter.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss. Everdeen,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Awestruck, I remember a time when my dad was alive…remember a day when he came back from the hob with not food, not clothes nor any of the essentials. He came back with a book.

Mum had gone mental, thrown it into the fire and told me never to think about it again. But that night, Dad had crept into my room and told me everything; My Dad was a wizard, but he ran way from his school and came to Panem to see what it was like…however, he couldn't get back home and Mum hated the fact he'd rather be somewhere else.

We await your owl by no later than July 31.

It was the 29th today. I had to find an owl, and quickly.