Hermione sat beside Ron in the stands beyond the hedge maze. The third task of the Triwizard Tournament was underway.

"Where is he?" Ron muttered.

The champions had all been in the maze for nearly two hours.

"It's a difficult maze, Ron. He could've gotten lost. There are a lot of things it could be, Ron. We can't always assume the worst," the brunette replied.

A loud cracking sound emanated from the courtyard below them. Hermione turned, hoping to see Harry looking up at them.

Instead, she saw Cedric.

Everyone was cheering. A Hogwarts champion had won the tournament. Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin Houses had real reason to celebrate. Gryffindor House could only worry. Where was Harry?

Cedric pushed his way through the onslaught of people crushing around him, up the stairs, to Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Charlie, and Mrs. Weasley. Hermione could see the conflict in his eyes.

"He might be dead."

That was all he said. But it was enough to start incite something akin to a riot. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny started crying. Ron screamed at Cedric in denial. Charlie sat back in shock. Hermione screamed in disbelief.

Dumbledore questioned Cedric, but the damage had been done.


The following September, Hermione sat in the Great Hall and watched as Lord Voldemort stood in Professor Dumbledore's place at the head of the room.

"Your…beloved headmaster is dead. Minerva McGonagall will be taking his place," he said, voice soft and venomous. "The school houses will remain the same."

Ron stood and walked toward him.

"Who is this?"

"Ron Weasley," he said through his teeth. Hermione bit her lower lip, watching the redhead carefully. "You imprison my family, kill my best friend, murder Albus Dumbledore, and then expect us to just comply?"

"Precisely."

"I won't do it."

"You will if you wish to live."

"Then kill me!"

Voldemort stared Ron in the face – the redhead never flinched once. And then, with a flick of his wand and a flash of light, Ron was on the floor, dead.

"No!" Ginny screamed. Hermione held the girl down.

"As I was saying," Lord Voldemort said, "I have decided to begin a new Hogwarts tradition. Four students from each house will be chosen to fight to the death in what I am calling The Blood Clash. Only one will walk out of the arena alive.

"Pureblooded students will have their names in the globes one time this year, two next, and so on and so forth. Half-bloods will have three entries into the globes this year, six next. Mudbloods, on the other hand," he smirked, "will have their names fifty times in the globes this year, one hundred next year, and so on, unless…they wish to secure the safety of their families. They will have fifty entries per year per life.

"Professor McGonagall has agreed to this, as well, so do not appeal to her for help." He started to walk away, but then turned back. "Oh, and purebloods formerly labeled blood traitors pay the same price as Muggle-borns."

Hermione and Ginny slumped in their seats. There was nothing for it now. The British Wizarding world was officially a dictatorship.


All right, there you have it – the origin of The Blood Clash. No Hunger Games characters will be in this! However, Harry Potter OCs will be featured every so often.

The real fun begins in Chapter One!

Read and review, please.

- xHx