A/N: We would like to thank those who have given a few minutes of time to read and review our story. :) To those who are wondering who the blonde female Tribute is, soon okay guys? Anyways, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter IV: Kidnapping? Really?
"Is it true that you volunteered for your little sister?" she asked.
"That's a sudden question. One I'm not sure if you are sleeping when the whole Midgard are showing the Reaping of each districts."
She pouted and crossed her arms. The female Sylph Tribute has a look of shock on her face when she asked about volunteering to take someone's place. It was possible but she heard that the blonde Tribute volunteered as soon as the name of the one whom their district escort announced.
"I was minding my own business that time. If you don't want to tell, then don't. I was just curious."
She was about to leave, angered at the blonde, when she was pulled back and engulfed into a warm hug.
"Apologies. I was caught off-guard."
The hug tightened and she felt the blonde hung her head over her shoulder. All she could do was to suppress the blush that's threatening to color her face.
"To answer your question, yes I did. I just can't imagine my little sister to be in this barbaric death sentence."
She nodded her head, understanding the blonde's reasoning. If she has a little sister or brother and unfortunately picked for the Hunger Games, she'll volunteer to take his or her place. It was a noble act. One that fits the blonde Tribute.
"My dear?"
It was an endearment she can't shake. The blonde never ceased to use any endearment terms to her. She let out an 'hmm' reply, snuggling close to the blonde's warm embrace.
"May I have a kiss?"
Three days. It has been three days since she met the blonde and so far she's used to her flirting ways. The request caught her by surprise but she did not push away from the blonde. She places her hands atop the pale hands of the blonde and gently squeezed them. She leaned her head back a bit, gaining visibility of the blonde's beautiful face, a side of it that is, and she deviously smiled.
"A kiss?"
The blonde nodded with a sweet smile.
"Ye-"
Before the blonde could finish her answer, she placed a quick kiss on her smooth cheek and slipped away from the startled Tribute and walked towards the exit of the garden with a skip in her step and giggling at her triumphant action. But before she was able to turn the doorknob of the door, she found herself being turned around and pushed to the door and a growl following suit. She was about to protest when her lips was silenced by a rough kiss from the Sylph Tribute. She struggled for a second before she felt the slowing pace of the kiss and melted into the arms of the Tribute.
It lasted just a minute before the blonde stopped for air; panting heavily with a lazy grin on her face.
"That… should be my good luck for tomorrow, my dear."
The blonde surprised her with the said kiss and she has to admit it was a mindblowing one. She breathed heavily, catching her breath that was taken by the blonde. The blonde then leaned towards her and gave her a quick peck on her lips.
"May the odds be ever in your favor… Hermione."
The blonde smiled hauntingly at her and the next thing she could see is the corner of those luscious lips showing a trail of blood. Her vision shifted to the whole body of the blonde, dressed in her Tribute outfit, with a hole in her stomach.
"Her…mio-"
"-ne! Hermione! HERMIONE WAKE UP!"
Startled, the sleeping brunette shot up from a fluffy bed and grabbed the nearest thing she could hold and hurled it towards the direction of the voice. She heard a loud 'clang' and then followed by a pained howl and a set of laughter.
"BLOODY FUCKING HELL! AM I BLEEDING!? TELL ME I'M NOT! DON'T YOU GRIN LIKE THAT KRUM! AND DON'T LAUGH!"
"Heh. Can't help it mate; that was one swift move."
"I knew 'Mione has a good throwing arm."
Hermione, not used to many people making noises in her room, growled and took the next thing she can hold and hurled it to the direction of the noises. There were laughing once again and a deep grunt. She recognized three out of the four noises came from her friends. Harry, Ron and Ginny.
Forcibly opening her eyes, she glared at her noisy friends and loudly growled at them. "If any of you twits find the time to consider that someone is trying to sleep, then please don't let me stop you." she yelled angrily.
Ron, cradling the right side of his temple, frowned at the brunette. "Now you decided wake up? You threw an alarm clock at me and only a pillow to Viktor?"
The irritated woman growled menacingly and threw the white fleece blanket away from her body and stepped down from the king size bed. Her bare feet touched the velvet cashmere with intricate design, giving her a cool and comfortable feeling unlike her flat in the Victors' Village. Her chocolate brown eyes groggily looked around and found something amiss.
Her room at the Victors' Village was not cream color with golden designs.
There were no expensive looking furniture, hi-tech electronics, and beautiful rare paintings in her house.
And her room definitely does not smell like blueberries and waterfalls.
Her eyes snapped wide open, grogginess washed away, and looked at her friends and the extra person in horror. Her friends who are part of the Order of the Phoenix.
Then she remember her last memory being kidnapped and connected it with the several persuasion of her friends to join the Order.
"You…" Hermione's voice was deadly and her eyes narrowed at his two best male friends.
Harry and Ron both backed up while Ginny stayed rooted on her spot. Between Harry and Hermione, two Tributes of the Hunger Games, Hermione's anger is not to be taken lightly. And oh how angered she looked at the two boys.
"Now-" Ginny was about to stand in-between Hermione and the two Gryffindor-born boys when she was pulled aside by the burly man dressed in a blood-red uniform just in the nick of time. Hermione lunged herself forward, spearing her two friends down to the carpeted floor, knocking the air out of their lungs.
"How could you two do this to me!?" Hermione said in anger, ruffling the collars of her shocked male friends. "Tell me who ordered to kidnap me!?" she demanded, roughly tugging her friends' collars.
It was Ron who first recovered from the sudden attack and tried to pry Hermione's hand from his collared shirt. The brunette's grip on his shirt was tight and almost choking him. "'Mione! We-don't-know!" he said in-between wheezes.
"Yeah mate!" Harry piped in, trying to pry Hermione's grip away from his shirt like Ron. A victor he may be but he lack skill in escaping under such circumstances. "We swear we have nothing to do with it! We just got word that you're here!"
The brunette released her two friends and stood up. She still can tell if her boys are lying and right now, despite their annoying attempts of making her join the Order, they are telling the truth. She needed to escape. It was the only thing in her mind right now. Hermione looked around and then noticed her slim chance of escape after examining the whole luxurious area. Not because of the room, no it was pretty easy to escape such room; the reason for her assessment is the red suited male among her friends which she recognizes.
Viktor Krum.
The burly man with a somber look has an intimidating aura around him.
Being in the Games taught Hermione a few things about sizing up the competition and Hermione can immediately tell that Viktor is a threat. That Viktor Krm is THE threat among the occupants of the room. How his well physique can instantly outrank her in terms of strength and speed; his stoic look making it hard to read his next move; and his overall presence giving a deathly feel to it.
Why wouldn't it be if the man Hermione is sizing up is another winner of the Hunger Games. The 71st Hunger Games winner.
"I need to leave." Hermione demanded, testing out if she could escape without force.
Viktor crossed his arms and shook his head. He stood in the way towards the door and looked at Hermione with a steely gaze.
"C'mon 'Mione. Being here isn't that bad. You get to have these scrumptious food and everyone treats each other as family. Plus we get to train and be ready to rebel to that disgusting Ministry." Ginny stated, making a facial expression that can be deciphered as loathing when she spoke of the Ministry.
The Weasley family aren't a fan of the Ministry despite Percy, one of Ginny and Ron's older brothers, and Arthur, their dad, works for them. Ron explained that it was a way to spy on them. Those who are not working for the Ministry, works in the mines while Molly, the matriarch of the family, and Ginny help around the Gryffindor district. How they knew about the rebel group, joined even, they never told Hermione.
Hermione shook her head. "This is… This is preposterous! Kidnapping me and imprisoning me?" she faces the older Tribute. "Who orchestrated this? And where the bloody hell am I!?"
The burly man in red grunted. "Commander. Vhere? Classified." It was all he said, steely gaze not flinching when Hermione glared at him.
Hermione let out a 'hmp' and crossed her arms. Her stubbornness that is a known trait of hers who live in Gryffindor district. Then add up of showing her courage, a Gryffindor trait, even before a veteran Tribute that is feared by many. Why wouldn't the residents of Gryffindor, both men and women alike, be brave if the said district is a district of mining? Anyone would be brave after going inside the dark and endless caves to get whatever minerals they could harvest and sell it or trade it for money or other necessities. "Then let me meet this commander of yours. I'm not siding with you or the Ministry and I'm telling it to your Commander's face myself!"
But Viktor shook his head. "Commander avay." His gaze slowly looked bored. "Tvo days." He said. His thick accent slipping in when he spoke with anything with the letter 'w' in it.
The accent reminded Hermione of something – someone – and it immediately made her heart palpitate. She knows the feeling. Her heart racing and pounding like crazy; her breathing hastens as if she is in dire need of air. She staggers backward, tripping at the edge of the bed, making her fall back on it.
"You must be from Beaubaxton."
"'Ow did you come to 'zat conclusion?"
"Your accent. Only Beaubaxton region uses that old French language."
"A'! Oui. You are perceptive ma cherie."
"No, it's just the first time we met, you're blabbering in French and you're singing in French too."
"'Zen do you like eet? My accent and français?"
She just looked at the blonde Sylph resident with a quirked brow and then picked up her bow and arrows, heading deeper in the forest.
"Maybe…"
Her memories scrambled. Changing the scenery from the forest to the gates before the Tributes' parade. There she saw the Sylph Tribute, dressed in a silvery blue silk body-fitted long-sleeved dress with a small cloak that went down to the mid-riff area, black stockings, silvery blue pointed heeled shoes and matching it off with a short pointy hat that's tilted to the right. Her hair now short and messy, and looked pissed at the other Tribute beside her. She remembers how the blonde yelled angrily, stomping her expensive looking heels on the floor and grabbing hold of the male Tribute's collar.
"Touch me once again and I'll make sure your fingers accidentally cut off during training!"
"But-"
"But nothing! You and I are Tributes and even if we belong to the same district, you are still an enemy in my eyes!"
She remembers how the blonde spoke in perfect English. Not a speck of French accent in her words at all. Then she remembered that before they separated, three years ago, the blonde promised that she'll learn proper English.
"Ow? I spoke in français? Then I'm glad that I got rid of that accent, right?"
The blonde winked at her. She blushed but felt that she didn't like the blonde's new attitude. How cocky she is and the lack of accent she came to miss. She brushed it off as changes during the times they were separated. Instead of answering, she was pulled back by Cormac, telling her that their mentor need them.
Hermione shook her head violently. The memories flooded her mind like a flashflood and it took all her will power not to scream out loud like she usually does/ The images of the blonde, filling her mind; smiles, pouts, cocky grins, sleeping, calmness, singing to the birds and the bloodied lips. It bombarded her consciousness like a flash flood and she had to grit her teeth in order to hold back her anguished cries.
"Hermione!"
She was not sure who called her name before everything went dark. Opening her eyes, she noticed how the lights of the room are now switched on. She checked the glass door that leads to the balcony and noted that it was already night time. She slowly sat up and winced when she felt a surge of pain on her head. Letting out a soft pained moan, she massaged her throbbing head to ease the pain away. She was having a migraine.
"Medicine?"
A gruff voice interrupted Hermione's head massage and she looked up to see Viktor looking at her from by the door and arms crossed atop his chest. She nodded silently and the Durmstrang Tribute winner who lifted his hand, wrist bent a little and whispered to it. A few minutes later, she heard a knock on the door and Viktor stood from where he sat and pulled the chair away from the door to give space in opening it.
Entering the room is a beautiful woman, not taller than Hermione, carrying a tray that smelled of chicken soup. The woman has short raven hair that's styled in a wild pixie-like manner, greyish eyes, and wearing a silver-black maid outfit. She smiled at Hermione and placed the tray on top of the bedside table and gestured for her to eat.
Hermione looked at the bowl of chicken noodles, the noodle and smell of chicken made her conclude it is chicken noodles, and then to the girl in a maid outfit. The girl did not speak and merely pointed at the food beside her.
"Food. For medicine." Viktor answered in behalf of the woman; his back facing Hermione and the maid.
Hermione turned her attention to Viktor watch him open a white box with a red cross at the middle of it and took a small object from it. He then picked up a glass of water beside the box and approached her, face as stoic as ever.
"Eat. Then drink." He told Hermione, placing a pinkish pill and the glass of water by the tray. He noticed that the brunette looked at the pills skeptically and he cleared his throat. "Medicine. For headache." He grunted and then pointed at the food. "Medicine too strong. Need food."
Hermione agreed. She thanked the maid, smiling at her, and took the tray and placed it on the bed. She wouldn't deny the offered medicine since she feels like her head's being jackhammered. While eating, she saw how Viktor and the maid interacted by the door. Viktor did not speak and just made hand gestures while the maid nodded and smiled at him before leaving. This left her baffled to why Viktor was making hand gestures and the maid somehow understood it.
That is until she noticed how his hand gestures formed symbols and the maid making her own in response to it.
Hermione realized that the maid is an Avox.
An Avox, as she recalled during her stay in Slytherin, are those who rebelled against the capital. They are punished by the I.S, cutting their tongues, and used as domestic servants in the capital.
To see one outside of Slytherin is a rare sight.
Hermione continued to eat until she emptied the bowl. After finishing her meal, she took the medicine offered to her and popped it in her mouth, washing it down with the water that she drank hungrily. Food and water. She never knew how famished and thirsty she was until her tongue touched the broth of the noodle and the water from the glass.
She stayed silent, leaning on the bed's backboard and looking at nowhere in particular. Her headache slightly fading, the effect of the medicine, and she finally had a grasp of the situation. Only this time, more calmly. Her chocolate brown eyes traced from the balcony glass doors to the man sitting by the door of the room, Viktor Krum.
"Krum…"
Viktor's head snaps up and steely eyes gazed at Hermione. "Viktor." He corrected, tone as gruff as ever.
Hermione nodded, appreciating the first name basis the older Tribute offered to her. "Viktor… About this commander of yours-" She took a deep breath. "When can I meet this commander?"
Viktor shook his head. "Tvo days. Three if busy."
"Can you tell me about your commander?"
But the burly man shook his head, silently saying no to Hermione.
Again with the mystery.
The commander of the Order still remains unknown to her. Giving up in knowing who the said leader of the rebels is, she looked around and found another question to ask Viktor. "Where am I?"
"Safe place."
"Specifically?"
"A room."
"Specific place of the room?" Hermione's brow now arched up at the elusive answers of Viktor.
"Not Gryffindor."
"Where in Midgard?"
"Not Slytherin."
Again with the evasive answers. It went on and on, until the sun rose up. She learned a few things from the quiet man despite the few words he gives. She learned that Viktor left his district, Brynhildr, after a commotion in Slytherin and joined the rebels. She learned that he is her assigned bodyguard and tasked to keep her inside the room until the commander arrives. And lastly, she learned that Viktor can smile after she told him about her fascination with cats. The burly man has a weakness in cats like her.
After their lengthy conversation, Viktor stood up from his seat when the device in his wrist beeped. He bowed at Hermione and left her alone in the room. Alone, Hermione tried her luck and went to the balcony door. She took a deep breath and grasped the door handle that felt cold in her palm due to the air-conditioning of the room, and pulled it down. She expected a clicking sound, indicating it is locked, but she instead heard one click and the door loosen in its hinges.
It was open.
Smiling, she opened the glass doors and savored the fresh air that passed her. She rushed towards the edge of the balcony, ignoring the spacious area and the furniture's around it, and headed at the end of the balcony where the marbled railings barred her walkway, and looked around her surroundings.
The whole place was covered in greenery. Tall thick trees, bushes, some flowers among them, and a wide lawn filled with decorations and even a hedge maze.
Hermione tilted her head examining the whole area. She can escape; she was sure of after a surveying the whole perimeter. She can jump by the ledges sticking out of the walls and jump down, it was a mere few feet drop and no bones would break if she were to slip and fall, and then run to the woods. Slowly, she lifted her right leg up the railing and carefully holstered herself up until she remember what Harry told her.
"I bet the commander will stand toe-to-toe with you in battle of wits."
The mere recollection about how Harry praised their commander's intellect was enough for Hermione to stop her plans. Someone who will and possibly best her intellect.
"A challenge…" She whispered to no one, smile forming on her lips. A smile she rarely show.
She made up her mind. She'll wait for the commander and see if the said leader of the rebellion can convince her in joining their group or just a game of wits. "I accept your challenge."
Hermione went back to her room. The moment she stepped foot inside the room, she jumped back in surprise when she saw Viktor with Ginny and the Avox girl. The Avox maid is carrying a tray of a steamy meal and a pitcher of water, cold due to the water droplets forming and falling at the side of the pitcher; Viktor still silent but now frowning; and Ginny grinning like she won something.
"Pay up Viktor, Amelia. Told you she won't escape." Ginny said, holding out her palm to Viktor and the Avox. Hermione then learned that the name of the Avox is Amelia.
Hermione realized what Ginny was saying and put her arms in akimbo with a raised brow as she glared at Ginny. "Really? Gambling? What did you gamble about this time Ginerva?" Ginny, or Ginerva Weasley, visibly shivered at how reprimanding her voice is. She always caught the twins, Fred and George, and Ginny up to something tricky.
Recovering from her sudden shiver, Ginny smirked and winked at Hermione. "We put up bets if you'll make a run for it or not when Viktor here left you. I voted you won't while Viktor and Amelia here voted you will."
Hermione sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Seriously Ginny. Gambling will be one of the reason that will get you in trouble one day." She said tiredly. After hearing a chuckle from the red-haired girl, she remembered something that she should've asked earlier. "Ginny! How's your back!?" she asked frantically. She rushed to her friend and quickly turned her around and then yanked Ginny's collar backwards to get a glimpse of her back. She let out a breath of relief when she saw that there are no wounds on her back and merely pinkish marks that replaced the gashes. It was in a healing process, but slower than the one on her cheek.
Ginny pulled herself away from Hermione and cheeked on the brunette's bruised cheek. "I'm fine 'Mione! You should check more on your cheek than my back! That's one nasty bruise!"
The Avox, Amelia, left her position and placed the tray of food on a table by the balcony. Viktor following her action and called for Hermione to tell her about the food Amelia brought.
"Hermy-own…"
Amelia shook her head while Ginny snorted and laughed loudly upon hearing what Viktor just called Hermione.
Hermione stopped what she was doing and turned to Viktor who has a baffled look on his face. Leave it to someone outside the Hogwarts region to have a different way of saying her name.
"Her-my-oh-nee." Hermione corrected, slowly and hoped that the Durmstrang raised man would get it.
"Herm-own-ninny?"
Ginny snorted.
The brunette rolled her eyes. "Close enough. Anyway, yes?"
Viktor nodded and pointed at the balcony's direction. "Breakfast." He led Hermione and Ginny to the balcony. Amelia did not bother to follow them and excused herself to leave the room.
Hermione looked at what was laid out on the marble table. Food. "Wow… Rations." She said, voice seeping of sarcasm as she examines each dishes on the table. Well-done steak, mash potatoes, and a stew she recognize as a delicacy of a certain region.
"Eat." Viktor ushered, pushing an empty plate to Hermione.
Hermione rounded the table where Ginny was already seated and filling her own plate with everything, aside from the stew. The redhead munch on anything her spoon, fork and even her hands laid upon in gusto. Though the redhead did not touched the stew. Viktor did not sit and merely stood before the glass door, arms across his chest and eyes directed at her.
"You should eat 'Mione! These are superb!" Ginny gestured for Hermione to sit beside her. She then turned to the pot of stew and crinkled her nose. "Why does Amelia keep on serving that stuff? Whatever that stuff is.
Hermione, now seated at the adjacent seat of Ginny and grinned when the redhead finally noticed the stew. "It's bouillabaisse."
"Gesundheit."
Hermione rolled her eyes at Ginny's remark. "No you dolt. It's the dish which is a specialty of a certain district. Naming…" Her eyes now trailed to Viktor who waited patiently for what she is about to say. "Sylph. We are in Sylph, correct?" She said with a calm smile and taking a sip of the hot coffee that came along with the dishes.
Ginny choked on the mashed potato she just swallowed and hysterically grabbed the nearest water, which is the pitcher of water, and drank its contents to wash down the clog in her throat. Viktor's brows reached his hairline as he too was surprised at how Hermione guessed where she is by observing the dishes served to her.
"Damn 'Mione! Couldn't you at least delay your analysis of your kidnapping? Takes the fun of the whole kidnapping scheme. " Ginny said after wiping her water off her chin using her sleeves.
"Then that answers my question. Really Ginny, it's common kidnapping knowledge to don't put things that would imply where you have taken your hostage out in the open." Hermione stated in a bored manner. Since she was already a prisoner in Sylph, wherever in Sylph that is, she might as well enjoy what's in front of her and wait for the said commander. As she cuts the steak, her eyes trailed to the man guarding the door and wondered; why someone from Durmstrang, a region that mainly supports the Ministry, joined the rebels. She watched her intently, curiosity filling up her mind.
"You shouldn't fall for Viktor." Ginny whispered, making Hermione's concentration break and turn to look at her. She was playing with the remaining bone from the steak by swiping it left to right and right to left.
Hermione could not believe what her friend just told her. Sure Viktor's good looking, for a guy that is, but she just can't find herself falling for him. Or anyone at all. She glared at Ginny who just shrugged.
"Am just telling you one of the most common things here." Ginny placed her utensils down. "Viktor's aloof and usually rejects all love proposals. Rumors here and there sprouted like mushrooms about it. So to avoid future heartbreak-" Ginny stopped what she was supposed to say after realizing what she was talking about.
But it was too late.
The table suddenly shook violently and the utensils clattered on the floor loudly. Then a loud screech of metal chair legs on the marble that left scratch marks on the marbled floor. Viktor's grunt could be heard but the next thing the two rebels realized is that both of their sleeves have been nailed to the nearest block of marble by forks. They did not see the swift movement of Hermione, impaling their sleeves on the blocks of marble, and walking past them as if they were not present. The door slammed shut, shaking the frame, and locked the two outside.
"Vat happen?" Viktor asked in disbelief.
Ginny, knowing why Hermione acted as such, frowned and pulled her sleeves off the forks, ripping them in the process. "I said something I shouldn't have said."
Viktor tilted his head, hands now free from the dangerous pointy table utensil. "Herm-own-ninny… mad?"
Ginny merely nodded her head. It was a taboo topic within their friendship. The topic that broke Hermione's own world.
Back inside, the brunette buried herself under the thick covers and pillows, holding back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.
She will not cry.
Not anymore.
That's what she decided a month after the Games.
But no matter how much she willed it; wished for it. Her heart caved in and her tears fell with the thought of a blonde with sky-blue eyes dying before her.
"I love you Hermione."
