Arc 1

Chapter 3

Hot Water Duel

Katniss was trying her hardest to settle in to her new life at Tretton. In some ways it was easier then others. She didn't mind sharing a room with Annie Cresta, who along with Finnick, was a fifth year student. It was helpful to share a room with the older member of Dolphus house, Annie would help her with her homework whenever she got stuck. Finnick was nice enough, Katniss supposed, he was a bit disarming in his charm but overall he was a sensible young man. He would also offer his help when Katniss needed it.

Peeta was nice, shy and a little withdrawn, but nice. He was always very polite. Gale was also a nice guy to pal around with. All three of them shared many common interests since they were all from the same district. Currently they were all having lunch together, today the house-elves had prepared various hot and cold sandwiches with homemade soups and baked french fries and potato chips dusted with different flavored spices. The elves always made a huge variety of food as to please all the tastes of the students at the school.

"You have charms next right Katniss?" Gale asks as he takes a bite of his chicken sandwich, "With Professor Cinna?"

"That's right," Katniss smiled, "We're supposed to go over wands today."

"It's an interesting lecture." Gale stated as he thought back. He was a second year student so he still remembered a lot from his first year. "And Professor Cinna is a great professor to teach that kind of stuff. I miss his Charms class."

"You have Professor Seeder's Charms class now right?" Peeta asked, "I've seen her in the halls, she seems nice."

"She is," Gale agreed, "But she's older, the class is a little slower then Cinna's."

"Hey Katniss, Peeta, Gale" Finnick greeted as he walked over, Annie under his arm. "How was Potions?"

"Potions" Katniss sighed, "Professor Trinket's class is hard."

"I think it's easy" Peeta grinned, "It's like baking, just with different stuff."

Turned out Peeta worked for a bakery before he came here, it made him a pro at Potions, he could made whatever potion they had to in class. Katniss always tried to work with him in that class as to try to not hurt herself when she tried to mix things together. It was almost like chemistry class back in high school, only when things blow up you get different results depending on the potion.

"I think Professor Trinket's a little odd," Katniss admitted, "She cares a lot about manners and stuff."

"Wait until you have Professor Coin for Defense class." Katniss turned to see Johanna had joined them at some point, sitting next to her with a french fry between her fingers and it didn't take long for Katniss to know the other was picking from her plate. It was a weird habit that the older girl had, she tend to pick at Katniss's plate when they sat down at lunch together. She hadn't started doing it until after a week of class, Katniss supposed this was to see how much the older girl would trust her before deciding to take food from her plate. Johanna was a third year and took advanced classes in Defense Against The Dark Arts. The girl knew more about how to defend herself against monsters and curses more then any other person in their group of friends. "That's a tough class."

"Johanna only thinks so because Coin's given her detention plenty of times," Gale commented as he rolled his eyes.

"You've never had Professor Coin then," Annie stated from next to Johanna, her and Finnick had sat down. "Does it taste better coming from someone else's plate?"

"Yeah," Johanna smirks as Annie rolls her eyes with a smile on her face. Katniss shook her head, Johanna seemed to do it to everyone, or at least with people she seemed to trust enough like Annie and Finnick. Finnick actually admitted that he sometimes got food he knows Johanna likes in order to keep her away from his food.

"I don't think I've ever seen you with a plate in front of you," Annie laughed lightly, "Unless your sitting with your house. When you sit with us you always steal from our plates."

"Why dirty another?" Johanna asked innocently. They seemed to go over this every now and again. Annie acting like a mother when Johanna was misbehaving or doing something that a mother might not approve of.

"Professor Trinket would be disgusted with your manners."

"But the house elves enjoy the less work I make for them."

Katniss only rolled her eyes as the two bickered for a few more moments. Johanna had been hard to pin down since she got to Tretton. The girl was sarcastic and snarky but then she would hear Prim talking about the girl like she was a saint. Katniss didn't know how to feel about the black haired third-year student. She was a blunt snarker, short-tempered and sharp-tongued but then Prim would talk to them through the communication stone and the older girl would flash a rare soft smile or even blush when the younger Everdeen commented positively about her. Finnick could even get a smile or laugh from the usually snarky girl and Annie could succeed in making the girl appear more childish when Annie got into her "mother mode."

The girl was smart too, and that's what made Katniss worry. The girl knew how to say things to get under your skin or make you turn red or to get whatever reaction she wanted out of you. Cunning, it was beginning to get more easy to understand why the girl had been placed in Nevermore. She seemed to be a bit of everything with nothing to aid in pinning down the girl's true character.

A sharp slap to the back of her head caused Katniss to shoot a look to the older girl beside her.

"What the hell?" Katniss started as she rubbed her head, realizing the girl had social graces to match her temper.

"I asked you something." The girl began looking seemingly annoyed, "But you were on another planet so I brought you back to Earth for a bit."

"Hanna that was mean," Annie scold but her comment held no bite and Johanna shrugged it off.

"Are you coming to the Dueling Club meeting after classes today?"

"Why do you care?"

"You should come" Johanna smirked dangerously, "I can make you pay for making me write all those envelopes out. Stamps and all Everdeen."

"What's the Dueling Club anyway-Is that my sandwich?"

"On question at a time," Johanna's smirked as she took another bite of the said food she had snuck off the younger girl's plate, "If you weren't spacing out you would have seen me take it. I wasn't that discrete about it."

Katniss only shook her head and reached over the table to take another sandwich from the plate in the center of the table.

"It's kinda like a sparring club," Gale started shooting a glare at Johanna, "It's almost like a self-defense class. You learn how to duel in case you find yourself in a situation in which you have to fight your way out. A lot of the Defense Against the Dark Arts geeks join it."

"Wanna try that again?" Johanna growled, "I'd start attending if I were you, smart ass comments like that could put you in a dangerous 'situation'."

"Why do you want Katniss to join anyway?" Gale asked, "She'd be dueling for Dolphus house anyway."

"Like I said, a little payback," The black haired girl smirked before turning back to Katniss, "So you coming or not?"

Katniss mulled it over for a second. Self-defense seemed like something she would need, especially since people were still treating her differently as they learned of her Mockingjay scar.

"Sure, I mean I'm sure I'd love to knock you back a few feet after stealing my food."

"You're on Everdeen."

The chime of a bell warned students that the lunch hour was almost over and that their next class would begin soon.

"We better hurry," Peeta started, "Professor Cinna won't like us being late to his class again."

Katniss nodded as the two got up to leave. Their Charms class was rather hidden and they always seemed to walk past the door when they hurried there. Professor Cinna was one of the younger professors, He had dark colored skin and black hair. Overall he was a nice enough professor and one of Katniss's favorite teachers at Tretton.

"Nice to see you two are on time," Cinna commented as the two walked through the door as the bell chimed again. The group of other first years from different houses stopped their previous chatter when the bell rang to start class. "Today we are going to discuss one of the most powerful charms a wizard could own, their own wand. Please set your wands on the table."

"Take a look around, see all the different colors, shapes, and textures of the wands around you. Each wand is crafted differently and reacts differently to every user. Wands are made from a variety of woods from holly to cedar, ebony to ash. Each wood creates not only the look but the spring but the character of the wand and limits the kind of core that can be used. Cedar wood for example is very adaptable to the core while aspen wands can be picky about the core. You have a question Cato?"

"Yeah, are there wands that are more powerful then others?" The blonde asked, Katniss had seen him before, he was in a few of her classes. His green and silver uniform showed he was in Cardin house.

"A very good question. There are very few wands that can be considered weak. Since wands are adapt to the caster then it's the caster that determines if the wand is weak or strong. There is no material that is weaker, however there are wands that are more adapt for particular spells. Mahogany wands tend to be better adapt for defensive spells while willow wands tend to be more suited for charms."

"The Dark Prince says he has a wand adapt for curses," Cato stated, "Doesn't that make his more powerful? He's killed many already with the wand."

"His wand, like many others, does have it's weaknesses. Just because a wizard can perform a curse does not mean he should be praised for power." Cinna's facial expression hardened slightly, "Tell me, what is your wand made up of?"

"Rosewood," Cato started, "The core is crystalized Basilisk blood."

"A rare core indeed, although common core found in pure-blood wizard wands. If I had to guess, I would say you would find spells in the offensive category easy. Perhaps you should join in the Cardin Dueling Team and see what your wand can do? Which reminds me, Professor Haymitch is having a first-year meeting for all students interested in joining the Dueling Club this year. The Potions Club as well as Herbology Clubs are also meeting today. I advise all students to look around at the many clubs offered at the school to see what your wands are capable of." Cinna leaned back against his desk, "Perhaps I will make an assignment of it. Due next week I want a five page paper about what you have learned about your wands during recruit week."

Katniss almost immediately regretted going to the dueling meeting once she set foot inside the dueling area. There were many students of different years gathered around a long rectangular stage watching as two students fired various spells against each other. Some students who had not dueled yet were sitting front and center to watch the other students while those who had dueled were getting any wounds they obtained looked at by two students on the other side of the room. Katniss recognized Annie Cresta as one of the students tending to the other's wounds. Johanna must have just gotten done dueling with someone, as there was blood all over her uniform and running down her face as Annie tried to aid in stopping her nose from bleeding.

"Well, the bleeding finally stopped," Annie sighed as Katniss drew closer, "You should hit the showers though, you're covered in blood."

"What happened?" Katniss asked lightly as the two turned to see her. Johanna just stood and headed to the showers, a hand covering her injured nose.

"Some first year mispronounced a spell during a mock duel, broke Hanna's nose in the process. Let's just say between the spell that broke it and the spell that fixed it, there was more blood then we thought there would be." Annie flashed a smile, "She's a little upset she wont be dueling you today, but it gives you a chance to see what it's all about yeah?"

"Katniss, you just in time," Finnick greeted with his usual smiled, "Professor Haymitch was just about to go over the two basic dueling spells with the first years."

Professor Haymitch was the only professor that students referred to by first name. The older drunken teacher didn't seem to mind. He seemed to care very little about what happened around him. Although some students say he really does care. Katniss hadn't be around him long enough to make a prediction herself.

"Alright first years, no more broken bones, the two basic spells you will need to know for this club are Expelliarmus, pronounced ex-PELL-ee-ARE-muss. This is a disarming spell. You will need to know this spell to disarm your opponent. After you master that spell the next one you will learn is Stupefy, pronounced STOO-puh-fye. This spell will stagger your opponent, but if used incorrectly or too forcefully you will knock them out. You will also be responsible for the charm Protego, pro-TAY-goh. This will admit a shield that will block your opponent's spells."

"Come on Katniss, let's practice together," Finnick grinned, "I usually practice with Jo but that little mishap earlier kinda left me without a training partner."

"Did you ever notice how you always call Johanna 'Jo' and Annie always calls her 'Hanna' it's like the two of you make up her name." Katniss stated as Finnick started teaching her how to move her wand to preform the Expelliarmus spell.

"Me and Jo grew up together so I've always called her 'Jo'" Finnick started, "When I tried to introduce her to Annie at a Quidditch match, it was really loud and she only heard me say 'Hanna' instead of 'Johanna'. She missed me saying the first part of her name, it just kinda stuck from there. I see what you mean though. It's kinda funny actually."

"Johanna never corrected Annie?" Katniss raised an eyebrow at the older male.

"I think she wanted to." Finnick laughed, "But since Annie was my girlfriend I think she was trying to be nice. I eventually asked Annie why she called Jo that and she swore she thought her name was 'Hanna' she was even confused as to why I kept calling her 'Jo' but didn't want to ask. Annie was so embarrassed too. But after a while she and Jo got close and the nickname stayed."

"Hard to imagine Johanna trying to be nice." Katniss snorted.

"She can be if she wants to." Finnick assured the shorter girl, "She's nice to Prim isn't she?"

"Prim loves her" Katniss stated as she recalled her younger sister talking about the older girl, "She goes from snarky little brat to a nice mature human being in zero seconds flat."

"I don't think she means to do it." The blonde shrugged, "It's just how she is."

After a time practicing with Finnick, he managed to talk her into dueling this girl from Nevermore, a first year like her named Clove. She was ruthless during their duel and ended firing some spell at her that sent a tree branch from the side of the arena into her face, leaving her with plenty of leaves and twigs tangled in her brown hair as well as a few scratches and tree sap on her shirt and face. Haymitch stopped the match scolding Clove for using a spell they had yet to go over as well as dismissed Katniss to wash up and rest for the evening.

"You handled yourself pretty well, Sweetheart, hope we'll see you next week," Haymitch offered a smile as Katniss walked off. Had she not practiced Protego with Finnick beforehand she may have not lasted as long as she did. The tree thing just surprised her, she knew she should have been faster is casting a counter spell. She would remember for next time. Now she had two people on her list of people to duel; Johanna and Clove, although she was sure at least Johanna would be more fair in their duel.

Katniss made her way to the showers in clean herself up before dinner. As she walked in she noticed steam coming from one of the showers. She ignored it figuring someone else from the dueling club had gotten there before her to shower. She only hoped it wasn't Clove although she was sure she would have heard or seen the other girl walk past her to the locker room.

Katniss sighed as she walked closer to the showers, stopping before the sink in order to see herself in the mirror above it. She struggled with getting the twigs out of her hair, they were tangled in the strands of her brown hair and were taking some effort in getting out. After a while she heard the shower turn off.

"Enjoy your first day training Brainless?" Katniss looked up into the mirror before her to see Johanna standing behind her wrapped in nothing but a white bath towel.

"I thought you left early."

"That was the plan, but I needed to wait for Blight to bring me some spare clothes. He took longer then I thought he would." Johanna snorted before looking up at Katniss with an amused smile, "You look like crap."

"Thanks, It's what your first years in Nevermore are capable of."

"Clove?" Johanna asked as Katniss nodded, "She's an odd one, she hangs out with some guys in Cardin. I'm not surprised, her boyfriend's the one who shot some spell at me I'm kinda glad he didn't pronounce it right, it would have been worse if he did."

Katniss was slightly worried, knowing there were some students capable of hurting someone beyond what a typical duel would allow. As she thought Johanna had come closer until she was directly behind Katniss.

"Want help?" Johanna offered gruffly as she placed her hands on either side of the sink in front of Katniss trapping her between the sink and Johanna. Katniss shifted uncomfortably as a satisfied smirk made it's way to the older girl's face.

"Whatever," Katniss answered before she felt Johanna reach up and untangle a twig almost effortlessly before placing it on the side of the sink. Katniss placed both her hands on the sides of the sink and leaned on the sink while the other girl helped her, she hoped this would prevent Johanna from trapping her again.

Katniss stole a glance back up at the mirror to see Johanna focusing on the task at hand, her hair still wet and clinging to her neck, forehead, and shoulders. Loose droplets of water made their way from her hair down her face and neck. The white towel was tucked tightly around her body. The girl was defiantly a good two inches taller then Katniss easily, the definition of her shoulders and arms gave away that the girl probably worked out regularly while maintaining a lean figure. Chocolate brown eye noticed the girl studying her from her reflection in the mirror.

"See something you like?" The taunt was matched with a smirk as Katniss only snorted. "Hold still."

"Ow,"

"Relax, it'll hurt more if you don't."

"Johanna please-"

"I know, I almost got it."

The two turned bluntly as they heard a cough followed by what they thought was a quick apology from a first year girl before she hurried out of the room. Katniss turned red as she realized their position, her own being with her leaning slightly forward against the sink and head tilted back slightly, Johanna's hands through her hair and naked body behind her didn't help as well as the double meaning of their previous conversation. Johanna had started laughing.

"It's not funny." Katniss turned to face the girl, "What if she tells someone?"

"I'll be in more trouble," Johanna shrugged, "You are only seventeen right?"

"That should make it more serious." Katniss started, "You could get into trouble."

"Relax," Johanna waved off as she placed the twig she had wrestled out of Katniss's hair off to the side, "All done, you should take a shower to get off any of the sap from the tree. Don't worry, I wont look."

"Johanna-"

"Maybe on your eighteenth birthday~"

"JOHANNA!"

"Relax" The older girl laughed, "I'm kidding, mostly."

Katniss just shot the other girl a disapproving look before sighing, Johanna moved toward the lockers to get dressed, "Blight packed me an extra shirt if you want it."

"Thanks," Katniss called back before stepping into the showers to undress and wash off the sticky sap from her hair. When she stepped out of the bathroom, Johanna had placed the T-shirt folded by the rest of Katniss's clothes outside the shower stall. When she dried and changed the older girl was waiting for her by the door with a duffle bag over her shoulder.

"Tell Finn I'm going to be late to dinner," Johanna stated, "I wanna try to get the blood out of my uniform."

"Sure," Katniss smiled lightly as the two went their separate ways. Katniss ran her hands over the material of the oversized T-shirt Johanna lent her. It was soft and smelled like the forest. Katniss made her way toward the great hall for dinner greeted by Peeta and Gale just outside the dinning hall.

"Hey Katniss, how was the Dueling Club?" Peeta asked with a smile as they walked into the room.

"Rocky," Katniss laughed, "Some of the other first years have more bite then I thought."

"A little crazy huh?" Gale laughed, "Their first time running free with a wand, I should have warned you."

Johanna sighed as she tossed her uniform in the washing machine, hoping the blood would come out and that she hadn't waited too long to get the clothes in the machine as to ensure they didn't stain. Especially the cardigan, she only had two and she hoped that didn't stain.

"Miss Mason," A chilling voice called as Johanna turned, not expecting someone else to be in the laundry room at this time. Most of the students and faculty would be eating dinner at this time. "May I have a word?"

"What do I owe the pleasure, Professor Coin?" Johanna asked with faux innocence.

"I had a student report something very serious to me Miss Mason." Coin started, "I'm afraid I have to warrant you a detention. Effective right now, please follow me."

"For what?"

"You'll find out," Coin stated as Johanna cursed under her breath as she followed Coin down the halls towards one of the detention rooms. "You know what I take very seriously Miss Mason?"

"Everything."

"The safety and well being of the students, especially the first years. To avoid hazing and harassment I enforce the laws and rules of this school." Coin gestured for Johanna to take a seat before placing a piece of paper before her and fishing out a black quill from the cabinet. "Do you know what this is?"

"A blood quill, a torture device used by those who have no power unless forced,"

"I would watch your tongue Miss Mason," Johanna could laugh at the way Coin kept referring to her as 'Miss Mason' as if she was a fine lady yet the one addressing her was holding a weapon that would cause her great pain at the same time trying to address her as an upperclass citizen. "One hundred times, write out your crime."

Johanna stared at the quill unamused, "You have to tell me what I did first."

"You, Miss Mason, committed adultery. Corrupting a first year, I will not stand for that kind of sexual harassment. I want you to write the word 'adultery' one hundred times. One overtop the other."

"I didn't do anything." Johanna growled.

"I have an eye witness place you in the showers with another student."

"Locker rooms are public, all the girls share that locker room."

"The witness said she saw you and another girl, a first year, committing an inexcusable act. I don't have to remind you that sexual relations are not allowed on school grounds to begin with let alone with students that have not come of age yet."

"They're mistaken" Johanna leaned back, "I didn't do anything."

"So you walk up to everyone naked?"

"I had a towel, I got out of the shower."

"And the first year?"

"She was clothed, It was after a dueling match, she had sticks and crap in her hair I was only helping her."

"Miss Mason, does that story sound legitimate to you?" Coin asked as she walked around the desk, "Keep in mind we are also talking about the Mockingjay, there are many people who are relying on her. Her legend is very well known."

"She survived an attack from Snow, that's not knew."

"Perhaps you did it out of jealousy." Coin started, "You survived quite the massacre, didn't you Miss Mason? Surly you would want the chance to kill the Dark Prince, now this new light of hope appears. Only she one-upped you. She survived the Killing Curse, the only person who has in fact. Does that make you angry? Everyone seems to have forgotten about the Mason Massacre, about the people you cared about who died. Now it's all about her family, her losses, her power."

"You don't even know what she wants, you haven't even told her why everyone treats her different."

"Now, I would get to writing If I were you." Coin ignored Johanna's last statement, "Because I assure you if I bring this up on the Ministry of Magic you will be expelled. The choice is yours. Make a wise one, after all it's what your house is known for."

Johanna didn't have to think long as she picked up the quill and began to write, the first time she wrote the word it felt like the back of her hand was on fire. A burning knife carving into her hand. The wounds bleed freely as the quill wrote in dark red.

"I knew you would be reasonable, a trait I actually appreciate from the Mason's."

Johanna ignored the jab at her family long enough to continue writing, her blood staining the paper as the back of her other hand burned and was cut. The word continuously carved into it until the word was an unreadable gash.