[Disclaimer: I do not own or claim any rights to the Harry Potter or Hunger Games.]

Flashes of green and red shot out from every direction. The battle of Hogwarts was total chaos. There were students of every house and age scattered everywhere in the war.

Ginny looked around at all the death eaters and her fellow students, dead and alive.

Ginny figured that the whole school will most likely be completely burned down, so it would be best to save some possessions. As she ran inside, shooting at a few snatchers along the way, she soon found out that she wasn't the only one who had the same idea.

Hermione, clever as always, was making her way to the headmaster's office. It never occurred to her about Dumbledore's items, so she decided to tag along.

She and Hermione ran into the room, grabbing anything worth value. While Ginny was looking through one of the cabinets, a piece of parchment with fine writing addressed to Dumbledore didn't look completely worthless. She picked it up and read it to herself:

Dear Albus Dumbledore,

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has started a rebellion in America. He has kidnapped about eight kids between the ages of 12 and 18. Now he plans on taking two students, one boy and one girl, from each house within the ages of twelve and eighteen. Then, all the selected tributes will compete against each other in a fight-to-the-death battle held in America. Please protect your students and warn them.

Sincerely,

Kingsley S.

Is this what the war was about? He must have got this sometime near his death. There wasn't a date on it so it could have been from a long time ago but there really wasn't any telling.

"Hermione! Check this out!" Ginny said. Hermione came over and read the letter. After she was done, Hermione's expression was unreadable.

"We have to go tell the others!" Hermione finally said.

"But how? What would their reaction be? Besides, it might already be too late!" Ginny cried.

But she knew Mione was right so she stuffed the letter in her pocket, along with some of the valuables, and she and Hermione ran back into the battle.

They sprinted side by side through the corridor, Ginny having decided to follow Hermione. Explosions erupted from the walls, causing debris to soar through the air.

Ginny skidded to an immediate halt upon hearing a familiar voice.

"Hermione! Ginny!" Harry called from behind. He jogged toward them, ducking as a spell flew past his head.

"Harry!" Ginny yelled in joy, throwing her arms around Harry. She was infinitely glad to see him in decent shape, but the worst was still to come.

"Tell him, Ginny. Tell him what you found in Dumbledore's office." Hermione instructed through labored breaths.

Ginny explained everything to him, showing Harry the parchment as proof. His emotion was full of shock, disgust, and concern.

Then they all got the same idea and started running to the front of Hogwarts. But when they got there, everything was ruined. On fire, destroyed, or blown up. The remainder of living students were lined up in front of Voldemort and many death eaters.

"Everyone... SILENCE!" Voldemort shouted to the grief stricken students.

The crowd faded into whispers before all sound dispersed into the tense air. A shallow breeze floated through the scene, causing a chill to run up Ginny's spine as they awaited Voldemort's next move.

Ginny looked over to where Hermione was staring and noticed some students crying in fear. As bad as she felt, she and the other two had to stay hidden until the right moment.

"Students, students. Listen up! Eight of you poor fools will be chosen to enter a deadly battle with eight other children in America. Two from each house, one male other female. Now all of you get in four groups by house! Go on!" Voldemort barked at them.

Then out of the corner of her eye, Nigini noticed the three hiding. She hissed their presence to Voldemort in snake language, which he knew very well.

Voldemort turned his bald head to see and spotted them immediately. Bellatrix, along with all the other death eaters, also saw them and she casted the cruciotous curse strait at Hermione in anger.

"You filthy MUDBLOOD!" she screamed in anger when Hermione blocked her attack. She tried to run forward to snatch them, but Voldemort stopped her quickly.

"Miss LeStrange! Please behave. That is no way to treat our possible tributes! Away with you!" he ordered.

Bellatrix stomped away, full of rage.

"Don't worry, you'll get your chance in time. Promise." Voldemort assured with a bitter smirk. But it was hard to tell if he was talking to Bellatrix, or Hermione.

Ginny, Harry, and Hermione stood there in fright, not knowing what to do at a moment like this. Then Harry bolted behind the students while shooting spells at the death eaters.

"HARRY!" Ginny and Hermione gasped in unison. All the students ran out of the way as death eaters ran after him and shot spells in his direction. Bellatrix, disobeying her master, surged forward and locked her fingers around Hermione's throat. Ginny screamed in terror.

"Stupefy!" she shrieked.

Bellatrix, blown back by Ginny's attack, let go of Hermione and left her gasping for air.

All the commotion seemed to really tick Voldemort off.

"EVERYONE STOP NOW!" he yelled. He began to speed walk up to Harry and accidentally kicked Nigini out of his way. When he finally got to Harry, he grabbed the collar of his shirt before he could make a run for it again.

Ginny screamed when she felt arms wrap around her, then a hand cover her mouth and silencing her screams. She struggled even though it was no use and she glanced over to Hermione who was seized by Bellatrix and in the same position as Ginny.

"NOW ALL OF YOU IDIOTS GET BACK IN YOUR GROUPS!" Voldemort bellowed angrily, shaking Harry with each word.

All the students returned to their spots. Voldemort threw down Harry and cast a spell to tie him up in ropes. Before leaving, Voldemort slapped Harry across his face and spit on his sneaker.

"Students, why? I was trying to make this easy. I was trying to be kind, which is something I never do!

This could be a great opportunity for you! One of you may win and if you win, you will be rich," the Hufflepuffs smiled at the thought "powerful," the Slitherins smirked "loved," the Ravenclaws started to daydream "and, become a hero" he had the Gryffendor's attention. "But," he added quickly, "when you show me disrespect like this" he looked at Harry, "I WILL make sure that you die in the games!"

Bellatrix cackled outloud at Voldemort's last sentence. She was most likely going to enjoy the games more than anyone else.

Peter Pettigrew then came out from the crowd. Ginny didn't even notice him there and by the look on Voldemort's face, he didn't either.

Peter walked over to Voldemort but it was obvious that he was scared to death. He was probably thinking of what to say in case he says anything Voldemort didn't like.

"Ah my old friend! What brings you here, hmm?" asked Voldemort.

"M-m-my lord. I have a suggestion that I would like to share." Peter stuttered.

"Well then by all means please tell! I am sure that we would all like to hear it right?" Voldemort asked.

Some death eaters nodded, but no one spoke. Peter then walked over towards Neville, shaking with each step. When he got to Neville, he asked him to take out everything in his pockets. Neville emptied his pockets but the only thing he had was a hat. Not just any old hat, the sorting hat!

Peter retrieved it and handed it over to Voldemort. Pleased, Voldemort thanked him and shoved him aside. He asked the hat if it could sort the children again to see if they would be tributes. The hat didn't approve, so he got cursed to follow by Voldemort's orders.

"The contenders, Lucius..." Voldemort gave a flourish of his wand.

The nervous death eater approached the clearing, his eyes never meeting those of his master's. "Our tributes..." Lucius began his speech, "are to be fighting in the Dark Lord's honor... To show his triumph over the inferior muggle world with muggle peoples."

It all clicked for Ginny, and she clenched her fists, wishing this were all a dream. She clutched Hermione's hand, their fears alike.

"First and foremost," Lucius' lips quivered hesitantly, his only son on his mind. "Slytherin..."

The crowd remained in a painful silence as the remaining Slytherin students shuffled into the clearing.

Having not knowing the student's names, Voldemort pointed to a random student among the group of exhausted children.

Ginny watched, eyes wide, as the young boy clad in green and black stepped forward. It was obvious he was afraid, but he held his chin up in a valiant manner. He glanced over his shoulder back to his friends, fear present in his features.

He stood beside Lucius and another smarmy death eater grabbed his shoulders, quickly spinning him around to face the audience. Lucius retrieved the hat from Peter's clutches, straitening it out before placing it ceremoniously upon the boy's head.

They all waited in utter silence, waiting for something to happen. The hat shook his head before speaking. "I hope you do realize that I do not and will not serve the Dark Lord..."

"You-" Lucius began, but Voldemort stood quickly, holding his wand up to signal Lucius to stop. "Hat..." Voldemort spoke with a soft yet bitter voice. "You do not wish to comply?"

"I work for that of the Phoenix, the remaining Order of the Phoenix." The hat spat, his leathery wrinkles bending with his mouth.

"I see..." Lord Voldemort paused, clicking his tongue. "Well, then, I understand you might work for me under the threat of force." He waved his hand for Bellatrix to approach, her face twisted in a devious smile.

"You know what to do, Bella." Voldemort said, standing aside.

Bellatrix swung her hips from side to side dramatically, taking the hat in her hands. She held it firmly with one hand, while picking out the stitches with her other.

"No! No, don't do that I say!" The hat squirmed in protest.

Bellatrix stopped, tossing the hat into the air with a chuckle and kicking it back up as it fell, catching it in her hands again. She looked up to see that Voldemort was not impressed.

"Let's try this again, shall we?" Voldemort said irritably.

Bellatrix skipped over to Lucius, placing the hat it his awaiting palm.

Then, one by one, each student, starting with Slytherin to Hufflepuff to Gryffendor and ending with Ravenclaw, would wear the hat and find out if they were to compete.

Slytherin's tributes were easy. The girl, fifth year. Tall with short black hair and the same color eyes to match. The boy, was sadly Draco. The odds were more in his favor for winning than anyone else here. Ginny sighed. If anything Voldemort would take favor to him, and perhaps pull him out of the contest whenever he decided necessary.

Many students tried on the hat until the two were chosen. Next, the Hufflepuff girl was a second year. She had sandy blonde hair and sea green eyes. The Hufflepuff boy was a sixth year with dark long hair and it was impossible to see his eyes because they were covered by his hair.

Gryffendor was next. Ginny's heart nearly stopped at the thought. The hat was first placed on Harry. No. Relief surged through Ginny and Harry. Then the other students wore the hat and none were accepted until the hat chose the boy. The boy was Seamus Finnigan. Poor guy. He might actually win too if he could find a way to blow everyone else up.

Now there had to be a girl and there were only two left, Ginny and Hermione. Hermione was first to try on the hat. Ginny's face flushed when she heard the result. Even if Hermione made it in or not, it would still hurt Ginny, either way. But the answer was not in her favor. At. All.

Was Hermione going to compete in the games? The answer, is no.

The answer was clear who the girl tribute was but Voldemort wanted to torture Ginny even further and placed the hat upon her head. As predicted, yes. She was going to fight for her life against these people and eight others. For sure, she will not survive.

Ginny's worst fear was recognized. Yes. Ginny could only imagine how pale she must look. Something wet slid down her cheek and she noticed that she had been crying. Really hard and who knows how long?

Voldemort smirked and removed the hat to move on to Ravenclaw.

But she couldn't concentrate! How could she? She was guaranteed death. Fight for your life against fifteen other tributes!? Her mind filled with thoughts and questions, while her face surged with emotion.

Lucius carried a screaming and squirming Ginny into a pen where the other six tributes waited. A couple other death eaters had to pry her off of him. She couldn't stop.

Then someone quickly grabbed her in a hug and she noticed it was Seamus. She clung tight to him and cried on his shoulder. She couldn't hear who the Ravenclaw tributes were over the sound of her sobbing. But she didn't really care. She wished that this was all a bad dream. That it would just stop the moment she awakes.

But it won't. This nightmare will continue and she won't wake from it. Ever. All she could do is find comfort in her Gryffendor partner.

Seamus. He will be there for her and even though he isn't much, he will help. Ginny looked up at him to find that he was crying as well. She looked around to find all the rest of the tributes, except for the Slytherin girl, crying. In fact, all the students were in tears!

*AN: For those of you only looking for a short story, this is not one of them. I'm about ten chapters in and they will all be longer than this one. If anyone has questions, recommendations, or reviews, I am open to responses. Thanks for reading! :D