"DO IT!" I screamed, "DO IT! GO AHEAD!"
The rain was coming down hard, the wind was causing it fall down side ways. I never break eye I contact with him. His hair red hair drenched appearing to be a darker shade was stuck to the side of his face, his face was covered in mud and his clothes were tattered.
"Please." I plead with him. My voice comes out dry and raspy. I look down from his blue eyes at the sword in his hand. It's covered in dry blood, so clotted on that not even the rain was cleansing it.
His eyes don't leave me, he isn't moving but his breaths are coming out heavy. His chest is heaving up and down.
I suppose I should go back to the beginning before we get too close to the end.
My name is Hermione Jean Granger and I am from Realm 7.
Realm 7, the lowest Realm possible. The Realm for Muggles. Ever since the Wizarding take over all those years ago by Dumbledore and Grindelwald we've been put in our rightful place. There was actually 8 Realms but the 8th was destroyed by the High Wizard at the time for disobedience. They foolishly thought that they could overthrow the Wizards, and they were all punished just. So now Realm 7 is the final Realm and the only Realm the Muggles are allowed to live in. We may travel to other Realms for work, but that is all. Being caught in another Realm would result in a magical whipping. As you descend in Realm number the more prestigious the Realm is. Realm 6 is the lowest magical Realm, it's where half-bloods live. Witches and Wizards foolish enough to marry a Muggle. The highest is Realm 1, it's for the High Wizard and his family, along with the top officials and Nobles.
On the Picking Day, I woke up with a start. All of the Sickies and their families needed to be in the Realm Square by 10 that morning. It was mandatory forever to show up, and for anyone between the ages of 11 and 17 to participate. The Picking Day was the day they picked the contenders for The Wizard Games. A brutal fight to the death between a Pickie from each Realm. The Wizard Games were put in place hundreds of years ago not only for entertainment, but for some foolish sense of honor. Of course being from the Muggle Realm we are thrown in to be killed off quickly to be made a mockery of or slowly tortured for fun. Every year it is mandatory that everyone tune in and watch the Games on the magical televisions that the High Wizards have installed in everyones homes, businesses and it would be projected into the sky outside. The televisions only work to air the Games, anything related to the Games, and of course any important announcements. The national anthem would come blaring out of the speakers and you were to immediately tune in no matter where you were.
I strip out of my night gown and get into the tub of water my parents have left for me. It's gone cold since both of them have used it, but I could tell that Mother tried adding a pot of hot water to it. I quickly scrub my arms, legs and face. They are always covered with a layer of dirt from my time spent in the forest. The forest is forbidden for any one to enter, but my family needs to eat and I'm the only one small enough to fit in the hole under the fence. My Father taught me how to hunt, the things to look for and what not to do. My Mother drew pictures and told me of all the edible plants and herbs that I could find in the woods. I do my best everyday to get not only enough to feed my family, but enough to go into the local market and sometimes the Realm Square to trade. I get out of the tub and slip on my Picking Day dress, it's been the same dress since I was 11 and I'm now 16.
I find my parents at the table, Mother has made hard boiled eggs and the left over bread from last night is out. I quickly eat my eggs and bread and down a cup of herb tea. In Realm 7 this could be considered a luxury breakfast. So many people in this Realm go hungry, and starve to death. The Wizards just use their magic to remove the bodies and continue on as if nothing has happened.
My parents and I walk down the packed narrow road leading to the Square. I could imagine from above it would look like sheep being herded into their pen. We finally make it to the Square, my parents both give me a reassuring hug and I follow all of the other girls into our 'pen'. This year will be a female year for our Realm. Every other year the gender alternates between Realms. So this year Realm 7 is females and Realm 6 is males, and so on. Most of the girls will be saved by their brothers who step up for them, but I'm an only child so that could never happen for me.
I look around the packed Square, all of them Realms have almost assembled and filled their 'pens' with the possible Pickies. Directly across from me is Realm 1, I can see all the Noble girls and Ginerva Weasley lined up. The chances of Ginerva being picked are slim to none, and even if she was she has seven brothers, most whom are past winners, who will step up for her. I can tell by her bored expression that she knows this fact, she's looking off as if this was a school lecture she simply did not care about.
Realm 7 always goes first, I look around nervously at all my class mates and neighbors. I analyze each of them and realize most have siblings, most have brothers. My parents like most could only afford one child. They were Muggle dentists, but none of the Muggles could afford their full services. So most of their work was exchanged for food.
High Wizard Arthur Weasley rises up on the stage, every year he begins the Games with a long speech about power and nobility. The winners family will receive great respect and honor. I always laugh since it's usually his family or one of the Nobles who wins. Between Realms 1, 2, and 3 there is always the winner. That's because these kids are trained to win their entire lives.
I see the Realm 7 Noble, Daniel Clearwater approach the stage. Noble Clearwater is a wizard who never wanted to represent our Realm, in fact he makes this point clear every day. Normally he would be joined on stage by the most recent Realm winner of the Games to mentor the new Pickie, but of course no Muggle has ever won the games. He gets onto the stage a lone and the magical goblet spewing pink flames appears before him. He holds his wand to his throat.
"This years Realm 7 Pickie is." I can feel the tension in the air. Most of the girls have their eyes squeezed shut, praying not to hear their names, a few are looking around almost waiting to see which other girl would be picked. Finally the pink flames release a small paper with a name on it. Noble Clearwater's eyes scan the crowd and he announces; "Hermione Jean Granger."
A/N: Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed. Please review and let me know what you think! :D :D
This originally was going to be a longer one-shot, but I decided to make it a short story. Probably only four or five chapters.