CHAPTER 2

I followed Riley down the long aisle of the train, while poking my head in each compartment until I found some familiar faces. Finally, towards the back, we found our friends. As we slid open the door, we were immediately greeted with "hello!" and "I thought you would never make it!" Sitting inside were three others. One was a tall boy with brown- blonde hair that was slightly spiked in the front. He was tan and wore black square rimmed glasses. That was Niall. He's in Ravenclaw like me. He is also really nerdy. Riley kinda has a thing for him. The other boy was a little bit shorter and had blonde hair that layed flat on his head. He always seemed to be messing with it. He is in fact very proud of his hair. Thats Aaron. He is in Gryfindor like Riley and really likes to bug her. He never seems to stop talking and is a bit of a smart-ass. The third person in the train compartment was Isabella, but we just call her Izzy. Her and Riley hang out a lot together because they are both in Gryfindor. She has shoulder length blonde hair and beautiful hazel eyes. Her and Aaron used to go out before she realized how obnoxious he really was. "If you guys were any later, the train would have left without you," said Niall to Riley, who immediatly blushed. "Oh.. yeah..." muttered Riley embarassed as she fumbled to put her trunk away. "Here let me help you with that," Niall said as he got up and helped. Riley blushed a little bit more and stepped back.

"Thanks goodness you got here," said Izzy as I sat down. I was almost stuck here with these two for the next couple of hours."

"Don't pretend like you would like that," smirked Aaron as Izzy glared at him.

It was nice being around my friends. It almost made me forget about the reaping later tonight. Almost.

The rest of the trip was a lot of fun. It was nice to hear from and see everyone again. Sure we wrote each other letters and stuff over the summer, but that wasn't quite the same. When the candy cart came around, I, of course, was the first one up and over there. As I walked back to my seat with my arms and mouth full of chocolate frogs, Niall just stared at me. "Wow." "I love me chcolate!" I responded, but it sounded more like "Agg muf ack o mef!" As we approached closer and closer to Hogwarts, the conversation began to die. It became quieter throughout the whole train as everyone began to think about what was waiting for them at Hogwarts.

Soon the castle was in view. When the train stopped, everyone shuffled out as if they were in a haze. A couple of the younger kids were crying because they were scared. After all the first years were loaded into the row boats, we were all divided and put into carriges. I could feel my heart beating a little faster and we neared the castle.

Soon we were in the castle. It was deathly slient in the dinning hall. When we were all seated at our house tables, our house teacher came around to take everyone's attendance. As Professor Evaline, head of Ravenclaw, walked around our table taking attendance, I couldn't help but to glare at the mark on her forearm. All the staff members here are death eaters.

After they were done checking to make sure everyone was here, they all took a seat at the staff table. Then the headmaster, Professor Wrowle, stood up at the front.

"Welcome back to another great year at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry!" He paused for applause. No one clapped. He continued, "I hope everyone is ready for another fantastic year of the annual Hunger Games! After our feast this evening we have a special guest who will be..." he continued, but I drowned him out.

It made me sick to know that there were people out there who actually enjoyed this and were looking forward to watching it on the TWC (televised wizard channel).

"Are you ok Al?" asked Niall, who was sitting right next to me.

I guess I must have had a funny face on or something. "Hmm? Oh yeah, I'm fine," I assured him.

"And with that," I heard Professor Wrowle finish his speech, "Lets get to sorting!"

I had totally forgotten about the first years huddled in the corner. As a death eater beconded them forward, another grabbed the sorting hat and proceded to place it on the first student's head.

I turned to Niall. "What? No song?" This was the first year I had ever heard it not recite a song for the school before sorting.

He shrugged, but seemed deep in thought.

As each kid was being sorted, there was a light applause from each table. Finally, it was Riley's brother's turn.

"GRYFINDOR!"

I smiled, happy they were in the same house. Riley gave him a hug as he came over. Trying to be cool in front of all his friends, he shrugged her off then went and sat with four other first years at the other side of the table. Izzy was stiffling a laugh besides her.

All the sudden, plates piled high with food magically appeared at each table. Yay! I thought, the sorting was over. Time to eat. I wasn't very hungry but I filled my plate anyways. I only ate about a third. I was really nervous now. What if I was picked? What about my grandparents? Would they be ok?

Just then, the doors the the great hall swung open. In walked a short witch with very colorful robes and bright pink pumps. Every pair of eyes were on her as she quickly made her way down the to the front of the room. You could hear her heels clicking with each step she took. Her hair was white and pulled back into an extravagant bun on the back of her head. She wore a purple witches hat to match her purple and pink robes. Her face looked like a cake that a three year old decorated. Like she kept adding and adding more make-up the way a toddler might add too much candy to a cake. This was Lena Sky. They send her every year to Hogwarts to pick the 'lucky boys and girls!' to be in the hunger Games. Behind her set up was a television crew.

After a brief hello to the headmaster, she magnified her voice and spoke to all of us. "Hello boys and girls, I would like to welcome you to the twenty-seventh annual hunger games reaping!" She spoke as if she were talking to a little kid. She went on about what an honor it was to be here and how lucky we were to have such a great school with such a great headmaster.

"Now, let's pick the lucky boys and girls who will be participating in this lucky event. First, Slytherin!"

Every year she picked two girls and two boys from each house to send to the games. From there, we are pared up with the other person in our house and given a mentor to train and teach us both before going into the arena.

It was silent as she reached into the girl's bowl.

"Maggie Brown!"

A determined looking girl stood and made her way to the front. She was short, sturdily built, with her wavy brown hair a little past her shoulders. She almost looked glad she was picked.

"James Picket!"

Another Slytherin rose and joined Maggie at the front. He was big, and looked very scary. I wouldn't want to be thrown into an arena with him.

"Next, Gryfindor!"

I crossed my fingers as she reached into the bowl.

"Amanda Stevens!"

A tall girl walked up to the front. She had long hair that almost reached to her waist and looked incredibly frightened.

"Jake Woodcrest!"

Niall and I gasped simultaneously as Riley's little brother slowly stood from his seat. That was almost impossible! His name had only been in there one time. Only a couple of first years have ever been chosen. Usually it's the older kids.

I looked over at Riley. Her face was white in shock and horror as her brother made his way to the front. He looked scared, but determined.

Kendra Goody was the other name called. I kinda recognized her from seeing her in the halls, but I didn't really know her.

Now Lena was picking from Ravenclaw, my house. I drew in a collective breath as I tried to slow my heart beat down. I will not be picked. I will not be picked. I will not be picked.

"Alice Bell!"