Chapter 1; The Reaping
My Mother told me to never be afraid. She said that fear wasn't real, but it was just us being unsure of what is to come in the future. And I know what she means. And it's true. Because I'm scared. Petrified even. More so than before. Because this time, there is no one to volunteer for me. Last year there was Fred and George, who always promised they would go up if I was chosen. And even though I always argued, I felt safer knowing that I had them. But this year, this year I'm all on my own. No one will do anything if my name is pulled from that bowl. No one is close enough to me to take my place; not even Seamus, my closest friend in this district, would volunteer for me. When it comes to the games, it's every man for himself.
My Mother dresses me and Ginny up special for the reaping. Ginny is a year younger than me, but twice as fierce. She could probably win the games. I know she could. She would disguise as the little girl who doesn't know what she's doing, and sneak along. Only at the end, would she show what she could do. She can kick. And punch. And whiles it's nothing compared to having a sword, or bow and arrow, it's something. Deep down, I know it would be hard for her to kill someone, but when you're in the games, something would probably take over you. My Father always says that it is like a game of chess; you have to have a strategy, you have to make sacrifices, and you have to know where to move; you have to be one step ahead. And luckily for me, I am quite a chess player.
I have to admit, while I'm scared of being picked, if Ginny was was, I would volunteer in a heartbeat. I would kill anyone who came close to touching her, with my bare hands. And I mean it. Though, using a sword would probably be much easier.
She's wearing a green dress, and her hair is tied back in a neat bow. Her hair's bright red, like mine. Maybe a tad darker, but very similar. She's moaning at the moment.
"Mum! I don't want to wear these shoes! I can't walk in them!" She's holding up a pair of heels, and I laugh. It's true, she could never walk in them.
"What are you laughing at?" She snaps, glaring at me from across the table.
I smirk, before speaking, "You're just an idiot who moaning over shoes."
She has daggers in her eyes, and I swallow uneasily; her fierce streak is coming out now.
"You're the idiot," she says, rolling her eyes. "I just can't walk in these stupid fricking shoes!"
"Ginny!" My Mother yells, as I laugh again. My Mother shoots me a dark look, and I stop.
My Family's the Weasleys. We all have red hair. We all are wizards and witches. And, we all love eachother. There are 9 of us in all. Mum, Dad, Bill, Charlie, Percy, the twins Fred and George, me, and Ginny. Bill, Charlie and Percy have all left home, and live round the corner from us. They can't get away from us; we can't leave the District.
We live in District 7. You know, most known for trees and timber, and all that sort of thing. Mum hates it here. So does Dad. It was alright in the Districts, until 54 years ago. The Districts were at war with the Capitol, the city in which the Districts are based around. The Districts weren't getting the amount of supplies from the Captiol that they required, so the rebellion was born. I think alot of people were actually sick of the Capitol bossing us around.
However, during the war, Gillert Grindlewald, the President of the Capitol, was killed. The Capitol was so angry that they banned anyone from leaving their own District. However, it didn't stop there. Next, a new plan was concieved. Each year, as punishment, each of the 12 Districts would produce a Witch and a Wizard, age 12-18, to be put in an arena. In the arena, the 24 victims, would have to fight to the death. The last remamining survivor was the winner. It's called the Hunger Games. The worst bit is that the Capitol control it, own it, yet don't participate in it; their children are safe, even though they had a pretty large part to do with the war.
At the Reaping, the Witch and Wizard are chosen. Your name is pulled from an glass ball. If you are chosen, you're in; unless someone volunteers to take your place; but that's very rare. Only Career Tributes are known to volunteer. They are tributes from Districts 1,2 and 4. They are the wealthiest Districts. The poorer Districts, are Districts such as 11, and 12.
Here in District 7, we have an okay life. Ever since I've been 6 years of age, I've been climbing trees, and helping out with the work. I am pretty good with an axe, and various other tools, and I can carve pretty well; I'm the best! Well, after Mum. My best creation is a Dolphin, which took me a very long time to create. I started by trying to carve a replica of Mum's bear, the one from her Grandfather, that is her pride possession. However, it sort of didn't work out, so I turned it into something else; my Dolphin; I then gave it to Ginny for her birthday present, and I think she sort of treasures it.
I sit quietly for a while, every know and then, checking to make sure I look okay. We always wear our best clothes to the Reaping, to look good to the other Districts, and to the Capitol.
"Come on Ron, we're going now," Mum calls. I swallow, before getting up. Everyone's leaving now. We walk out the house, and I don't look back like many of the other teenagers do; if I look back, I know I won't be going back.
All my brothers walk towards us, hugging me and Ginny. As they do, I look around; two of these people around me, aren't going to go home; two of them, of us, are going to be leaving, most probably forever. I gulp loudly.
We arrive at the centre of District 7s small Village. Me and Ginny are pushed forward by Mum. I wince slightly, as a sample of my blood is taken, and I go to stand with the rest of the boys around my age. I see Seamus, but a crowd of people is inbetween us, so I can't get close enough to him. Anyway, I'll seem him after; we always go and climb the tallest trees after; sort of a tradition.
Soon, everyone is here. I see Ginny standing with the other girls, talking excitedly, while the others look at her like she's mad; it's only an act, and I know it; deep down, she's petrified.
The Mayor, Cornelius Fudge, a right old bugger in my eyes, steps up to the podium. He's wearing he usual bowler hat, and a smart suit, and he isn't looking at any of us in the eyes; he always gets emotional, he does. Like I said, right old bugger, getting upset when he hasn't any children to be nominated, and he doesn't have to do anything himself; I swear he just puts on a show. Stupid bastard.
"Good afternoon, citizens of District 7," he says slowly. Wow, get on with it; I'm getting more scared by the minute.
He speaks the usual stuff, but I barely listen. Before I know it, Gracie Timones is at the podium. 2 glass balls are brought forward by the Death Eaters; they are like security incase the tributes try and run away after.
I swallow at the sight of the glass balls. There must be about 30 or more slips of paper in there, with my name on it; I had to sign up for tesserae, as my family is fairly poor.
I glance towards Gracie. Her hair is bright yellow, like last year. Her skin is greenish, and her eyes have bright blue eyeshadow around them; that's what is popular in the Capitol. Gracie must be atleast 45. But all she does, is try to look younger and younger; she even has a tattoo of a heart above her left eyebrow. Pathetic if you ask me.
"Welcome!" She exclaims, in a high pitch squeaky voice. It really gets on my nerves. "Welcome to the 54th annual hunger games!" I roll my eyes at her. Bitch.
For the next 20 minutes, the video plays; it's the most boring thing ever. It just goes on about how the Districts were wrong, and how what is happening is all our fault. The way it is portrayed is as the Capitol weren't involved. I actually thing they forget the amount of innocent people they killed.
After the video, Gracie turns back towards the crowd. She has a tear in her eye, like every year. "Well, that was just, just moving..."
The whole District is silent; clearly everyone thinks that video was rubbish.
"Well then, let's keep going!" She smiles, clearly fake, as always. "May the odds be ever in your favour!"
She steps towards the girls glass ball first, saying "Ladies first!". I clench my eyes shut, unable to watch. "Not Ginny, not Ginny, not Ginny..."
"LUNA LOVEGOOD!?" Gracie's loud voice makes my eyes open. I sigh in relief. "Ginny's safe! Ginny's safe!" I watch, unable to keep the smile off of my face, as a young girl with white blonde curly hair, steps up onto the stage. She doesn't looked scared, or shocked, but more like she's daydreaming. The smirk is wiped off my face, as I realise who she is. Luna. Ginny's bestfriend. I swallow and look towards Ginny; she's crying. Properly crying. I swallow again, before looking back towards the stage.
"Well, Any volunteers?" Silence. "Luna Lovegood everyone! Our female tribute!" No one claps.
Gracie's hand moves towards the boys glass ball. I shut my eyes again, swallowing. I'm scared. Very scared now. I peek, and watch Gracie take out a piece of paper. A tiny shred. I close my eyes again.
Don't be me.
Boom boom.
Don't be me.
Boom boom.
Don't be me.
Boom boom.
Don't be-
"RONALD WEASLEY!?" Gracie's voice errupts into the air. I keep my eyes shut. This can't be real. My name wasn't just- no it's not real. I'm shaking now, but I stay still.
"RONALD?"
Someone pushes me forward, causing me to open my eyes. The whole crowd is looking at me. Someone pushes me again. I cringe, taking a single step forward. Then another. And another. And another. Until eventually, I'm on the stage. "Any volunteers?" Again, no one does; all that is heard is sobbing.
"Ronald Weasley! Our male tribute!" No one claps again. I look, and see my Mother sobbing, with my Father's arm around her. I see Ginny weeping, hugging herself tightly. Before anyone does anything, I take out my wand. The Deatheaters clench their own, obviously thinking I am going to attack. However, I raise my wand up high into the sky, and shoot blue sparks out the end of it. Luna mimicks me, and then before I know it, everyone is sending blue sparks up into the sky.
"Wherever we go, wherever we be, we are together, you're here with me. Your heart might burn, mine might break, but I am a fighter, and that won't change. District 7, goodbye, farewell for now, pray for us eachday, in your hearts somehow." I speak the poem that each child is taught from a young age. In a few Reapings, you have someone who is brave enough to speak it up. And I wanted to, so I did. And then the rest of Distirct 7 reply.
"We will pray, this we swear. We will miss you, wherever you go, somewhere. Not ever will our hearts remain, the same that they use to be. For together, our District is more than one, a great big family."
I almost cry as the words are spoken, but I remain tough; I have never listened to them to them the way I do now, and I hoped that I never would have too. But I do. I watch my Mother cry even more, I watch Ginny fall to the ground, I watch my family break; and I can't do nothing to stop it; not now.