Dear Harry,

How's it going there at the Dursley's? I do hope you're alright. I'm doing very well here at my parent's house. By the way, I would very much like to remind you about our essay in Potions and History of Magic. I hope that you've already started on your homework. I'm already finished with mine.

Hermione

Hermione tied the note on Hedwig's leg, who had just previously delivered Hermione's letter from Harry. As soon as Hedwig took off, Hermione plopped down on the bed and started reading a book. Not long after, Hermione put the book down and stared out the window. It was a beautiful day to be outside for a walk. She pocketed her wand and took off for the park.

There were no people around as she walked down the street. There was nobody to be seen either when she arrived at the park. It was quiet for a little while until Hermione arrived near a clump of trees. There was a faint ticking sound that grew louder and louder. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. It was coming from the tall bushes on the opposite side of the park. Then the figure of a man holding a watch in one hand and a wand in the other emerged from the bushes, glaring at Hermione. It startled Hermione that she stumbled into the trees as the ticking sound grew deafening. It made her dizzy as the sound bounced around in her head but she didn't stop running. After a few minutes of passing through branches and tripping on tree roots, the sound finally stopped and Hermione's head stopped spinning as she emerged from the trees into a clearing on the other side; but it seems more like a new world.

The ground under her feet slowly turned from grass to rock as she made her way toward the houses. The buildings weren't like anything she's ever seen. They were tall, bright, and technologically advanced. The place seems deserted though. She turned around and faced the trees to get back to the park but there was a fence blocking her path which she was sure wasn't there before. She turned back around and saw a girl about her age coming out from one of the houses. She wore a pretty yellow and blue dress and she had ribbons in her black wavy hair. Hermione ran forward and caught the girl's attention.

"Excuse me," Hermione said. "I'm very sorry to bother you, but can you tell me where I am?"

The girl looked at her puzzlingly. "Uhmm… What do you want to know? You're in Panem, District 3, Music Microsystems Department. Who are you anyway?"

"I'm Hermione and I don't think I belong here."

The girl gave her a skeptical look. "So does everyone. I'm Lectra by the way. Why aren't you in your reaping clothes?" She pointed at the mudstained jeans and jacket Hermione was wearing. Hermione looked at herself with surprise and noticed a bunch of twigs in her hair.

"I don't know how this happened. I was just running through those trees and…"

"Never mind that. Come inside and I'll lend you some of my clothes since the reaping is about to start."

"Thanks… I guess," Hermione said as Lectra led her into the house. After Hermione had changed, Lectra sat her down in front of a mirror to fix her hair.

"By the way Lectra, what's this reaping you've been talking about?"

"Okay, Hermione. I know we all don't like it but pretending it doesn't exist won't make it go away." Hermione looked at her questioningly. "Wait. You seriously don't know? Maybe you really don't belong here," Lectra said.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you," Hermione said pointedly.

"If that's the case, where do you come from?"

"I don't know. I arrived here through those trees but when I tried to return, all I found was a fence. I think I may have been transported here by someone." Hermione was thinking of the man with the watch.

"Okay then. We'll try to get you back after the reaping because we'll be in big trouble if we're late."

"But what is this reaping thing you're talking about?"

"It was created by the Capitol. Every year, a boy and a girl tribute from each district get chosen to take part in the annual Hunger Games. There are twelve districts so that means twenty-four children from ages twelve to eighteen are thrown into an arena to fight to the death where only one survives. And another thing, it's all on live tv."

Hermione was quiet for some time. "So, there's a chance for you to get chosen?"

"Yeah, but the chances are small since there are a lot of us. I'm actually more scared for my sister who had entered her name a lot more times. Lectra looked at the clock. "Oh, we'd better go. It's almost time."