Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Hunger Games. Those belong to Jo and Suzanne, respectively. What you recognize is theirs, anything you don't is mine.

I wake up to find the bed opposite mine empty. Hugo has probably gone into one of my cousin's rooms for comfort. The sun just barely peeking over the horizon indicates that it's about seven o'clock in the morning. I pull on a new green t-shirt and lace up my black boots. The wood floor is like a minefield with its creaky boards and I do a little jig to slip out of the house silently. Might as well let everyone else sleep in longer.

The streets are empty save for the few homeless families living in the dark alleys. I try to avoid their pleading stares. When I reach the fence surrounding District Seven, I find the loose connection in the metal chain and climb through.

Away from civilization, I'm surrounded by nothing but trees, grass, and the occasional animal or two. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before following the familiar path to the clearing by the lake. He's there waiting for me, just like every year.

I sit down next to the teal-haired boy and take a thermos of apple cider out of my jacket pocket. He unwraps a loaf of bread and tosses the fancy napkin aside. The loaf smells fresh and the warmth is still radiating off of it. We take turns breaking pieces off the end and sipping from the thermos. Like the bread, the cider is fresh, as well.

I clear my throat and force out my next words. "Hugo is entered this year."

Teddy Lupin just nods and looks at me sympathetically. He knows how worried I am. "Rose, his name is in the bowl once. Just once. There are hundreds of names in that mix, and many of them are multiples. The odds are completely in his favour."

"I know that. But you know what happened to Rigel two years ago. His name was entered once and he still got picked."

Teddy sighs and takes my hand in his as he lies down in the soft, green grass. "If you're so worried, do something about it. Let's run away. We can take all the kids and live in the woods. With your skills, we'd make it."

"Please. We'd be caught not even five miles in. And I don't fancy death by the Ministry, thank you very much."

I swallow the last bit of cider and screw the lid back on. Teddy stands and pulls me up but doesn't let go of my hand. In a voice hardly above a whisper: "Just think about it, okay?"

I'm shocked by the emotion laced in his voice and the intensity in his eyes. I nod, sure that I wouldn't be able to speak if I tried. He drops my hand and we walk back to the fence, which he holds up as I crawl under. Then I do the same for him.

"See you in the square. Wear something pretty." He turns left towards his house and I turn right towards mine.

When I open the front door, I find that everyone is already up and preparing for the Reaping Ceremony. My aunts and uncles are brushing their teeth and having quick lunches before going to help dress their children. Victoire is pinning the back of Hugo's pants and his bare feet peek out below the hems. I kiss his head and give her a smile before going into my room and locking the door.

I rifle through my closet for my nicest outfit and come up with a blue dress my mother passed down to me. It's the exact shade of my eyes – my father's eyes – and looks lovely with my hair. I pull up the zipper and attach the tiny clasp before smoothing out non-existent wrinkles. There's a timid knock at the door and my mother walks in with a small smile, if you could even call it that.

As I sit down on the stool in front of the looking glass, she picks up my hairbrush and starts combing through my curls. Then she begins twisting and plaiting my hair in an elaborate style I could never even dream of recreating. By the time she's done, it's nearly two o'clock. She leaves to go change her clothes and I look at my reflection in the mirror. Ironically enough, Reaping Day is the only day of the year where I look somewhat pretty. Every citizen is required to "wear their best" for the ceremony, and there frankly isn't a justifiable reason to during the rest of the year.

Ten minutes until two o'clock, I, along with the rest of my family, walk towards the district square. I'm holding Hugo's hand tightly and my mother walks on my other side. We reach the crowded area and I am forced to leave my brother to join the group of sixteen year old girls. Teddy catches my eye across the way and crosses his heart with his finger – our secret sign. I attempt a smile and cross my heart back.

As the clock tower hits the fourteenth hour, Mayor Mowbray steps up to the podium and begins to tell the tale of the new Wizarding World. It's the same every year, and I could probably recite it myself.

My Uncle Harry defeated the dark wizard Voldemort when he was seventeen years old. A few years later, however, a revenge-seeking Death Eater murdered Harry and took over the Wizarding World. In order to keep everyone from attempting to overthrow him, magic was limited, districts were controlled, and every year brought forth a Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games. It's completely barbaric. Every year, each of the twelve districts sends a boy and a girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to compete in a fight to the death. The Ministry considers it entertainment and we are all forced to watch as our neighbours kill or be killed.

The reaping can't be controlled; anyone can be chosen as tribute, whether it be friends, family, or even yourself. No one is safe. Perhaps that's why I'm so nervous this year in particular. It's Hugo's first year eligible as tribute. I try to protect him in every way I can, but I'm powerless against the reaping.

Mayor Mowbray finishes his speech and proceeds to read the names of previous District 7 victors. There are only two: Stewart Ackerley, who won the Second Hunger Games, and Abigail Zeller, who won the Eleventh Hunger Games. Both are present, but do not stand when their names are called.

Eric Munch, District 7's escort, leaves his seat and steps up to the podium. He's an average looking fellow, if you ignore the green hair and shimmery silver skin. He gives the crowd a crooked smile. "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!"

I'm reminded of the fact that my name is entered twenty times, and Teddy's is entered thirty-five. The odds are most definitely not in our favour.

"Ladies first."

Eric sticks his hand in the giant glass bowl and draws out a folded-up slip of paper. Time slows and I squeeze my eyes shut. Please don't be me, please don't be me, please don't be me. He calls out the name in a clear voice. And it's not me.

"Trinity Brown."

I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding and look over towards the seventeen-year-old girls' section of the crowd. Trinity is looking up at the man behind the podium with wide eyes. One of her friends – or maybe her sister – gives her a small nudge and she begins to walk forward.

Trinity had been in the year above me when we were in school. She wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but was always surrounded by a group of friends. We never really spoke.

I feel terrible for her as she shakes Eric's hand. There is no way she'll survive the Games. Between her tiny figure and average-at-best skill with a wand, the Careers will crush her almost immediately. It's a shame, too; Trinity's a beautiful girl and could very easily find a husband in a few years. She had a future, but now that future's lost.

Eric then sticks his hand in the bowl of boys' names. I search the crowd for Teddy and he looks just as scared as I am. I pray to any god that's out there that his name is not on that slip of paper. Eric reads the name in a clear voice. And it's not Teddy.

It's Hugo Weasley.

Author's Note: Okay, so this idea has been in my head for months now. The other day I suddenly had a burst of inspiration and typed out a few hundred words on my iPod. We'll see how it goes, eh?

I am in the process of writing some other stories/one-shots, so hopefully those will be up soon.

This story is in the Harry Potter section, not cross-over, because while it has the overall plot of the Hunger Games, it won't have any characters from that series. I don't consider that a cross-over, so it'll stay here.

I hope you enjoy this, and reviews, as always, are appreciated.