Hi All! It's Breakdown 29. I took a year's hiatus from this story because, well, I forgot about it. Stumbling upon it the other day, I noticed how excited many of you were for this story SO it's back with a new chapter. Thanks to all for the reviews! Enjoy!

####

Katniss began to stir from her stupefied state.

"Good. She's waking up." Hermione said matter-of-factly. "We told you she'd revive." Hermione offered her hand to Katniss.

"Touch me and I'll put an arrow through you," Katniss spat. Finnick and Peeta helped her to her feet while Johanna glared at the newcomers from a distance, one hand on her weapon.

"Hermione, they're Muggles," Harry whispered, "If Dumbledore finds out..."

"More like if the Ministry finds out," Hermione replied quickly and quietly.

"We should go," Ginny said to all.

"NO!" Beetee exclaimed. "Sit down, please." He stepped in front of Katniss and motioned the strangers toward a log set outside their makeshift tent. "We need you to stay. You obviously have fantastic powers that we could utilize."

"Thank you, sir, but Ginny's right. We need to go." Harry said as he made a move back toward the way they had come.

"Please." This time it was Katniss who spoke. "If Beetee thinks you're the key to getting us out alive, I will agree."

Harry, Hermione, and Ginny looked at each other.

"We'll have to use a memory charm, Hermione, before we can leave anyway," Harry said.

Hermione sighed. "You're right, Harry. Perhaps we can help them before I do that." Then turning to Beetee she said, "we'll be glad to take you up on your offer, thank you." She stepped over the log and sat down in the middle. Harry took up her left, Ginny, her right. "But, I'm afraid we mustn't stay long. Hagrid will worry."

Katniss, Finnick, and Peeta sat on the opposing log. The silver bow and a quiver of arrows were not far from Katniss' hand. Johanna, still silent, stayed in her position just outside the group.

"This Hagrid you speak of, is he a gamemaker?" Beetee asked as he took up his own seat in the sand.

"You mean gamekeeper? Yes. He's been with Hogwarts for many years, now," Hermione replied.

"Hogwarts. Is that a place in the Capital?" asked Beetee.

"It's not in the capital. It's in the countryside near Hogsmeade," Harry said.

This time it was Peeta who spoke up. "What district is it in?"

"District?" Ginny asked confused. She looked at Hermione for an answer. Hermione shook her head, confused. "I'm not sure what you mean by 'district.'"

"We just want to know where you live," Finnick said.

"Hogwarts is our home for most of the year. It's, uh, hard to explain where it's at. Muggles like you can't see it," replied Harry.

"And we're all in Gryffindor's house," Ginny added.

Johanna, who'd been listening intently the entire time, jumped up quickly, brandishing her weapon. She pointed it toward Ginny first, then Hermione and Harry. "So many names! So many places we've never heard of. Can't you all see? They're part of the game. Kill them before they kill us!"

She lunged at the three, but just as suddenly as she had moved, she had fallen back on the ground.

"What is this sorcery?" she exclaimed as she felt her bloodied nose.

Hermione waved her wand and the force field fell away. She turned to Harry and Ginny in turn and nodded. Silently they all raised their wands and pointed them at a different person. All the others sat staring at the sticks.

"On three," Harry said. "One. Two. Thr..."

Katniss' speed was astounding. She loosed an arrow at Ginny's head in a split second. But Ginny was just as fast. It disintegrated with a flick of her wrist.

"Stop! Stop!" Beetee exclaimed. "Can't you all see?" he asked, "they can't be part of the games. They behold some sort of...magic. It's a technology that the gamemakers don't have. These children cannot be from the games. And they're our way out."

Suddenly the ground shook. All on the beach gasped as a tidal wave came rushing at them from across the lake.

"Run!" Finnick yelled.

"This way!" Harry exclaimed as he headed back the way the three had entered.

Johanna made a mad dash for the woods directly behind their camp and disappeared from sight.

All the rest began to run after Harry. The sand made it hard to gain any traction and the wave was coming upon them fast.

"Use your magic!" Peeta yelled breathlessly.

"I don't know what to do!" Hermione screamed back.

"We're almost there!" came Harry's voice. He flew into the woods first followed by Hermione, Ginny, Peeta, Katniss, and finally Finnick.

The wave crashed on the beach kicking sand and surf so high in the air it momentarily blocked out the late afternoon sun. They watched as Beetee was swept under.

"There's no helping him. Let's go!" Katniss said turning back toward Harry. "Show us the way out of here and fast!"

The six took off running deeper into the dark, forbidding woods.