The Meddling's of an Old Man- Part Three
…
Katniss tuned out when they started discussing her, it was weird, this situation- the rebellion was weird- they expected her to lead or something, but she didn't have a clue: what to do, what they expected her to do or be, she just hoped Peeta and the others were doing ok.
Suddenly an image appeared.
On the centre of the table, was an image of two women, one was a brown haired woman close to her fifties and the other was a black haired woman, somewhere in her thirties.
Everyone stopped to look at the image.
The brown haired woman was facing them, but the black haired woman had her back to them, the back haired woman had said something, something almost sounded like a plea, but the sound was too muffled for Katniss to make out what was actually said. The image itself was grainy.
Then suddenly, the image of the black haired woman became clearer "…already passed", she heard the brunette say before she pointed a stick or something at the black haired woman, sending the black haired woman towards them and then through the image- after which, the image itself disappeared.
Before, anyone could do or say anything, the woman was up, standing on the table, she also had a stick in her hand, all she had to do was wave the stick and everyone, bar Haymitch was bound.
Katniss looked to Haymitch, who seemed to be frozen in shock, unable to do, say, or think anything.
The woman pointed her stick a Haymitch "Who are you!"
The woman, very fiercely asked the question, toward Haymitch, but he looked to be in a state of shock, his eyes never leaving the woman "Am, am, I sober?"
The woman seemed to falter at this, she blinked at him, before getting angry, she pulled a knife from her hair, jumped from the table, swiftly grabbed Haymitch into a choke hold and put the knife to his throat "Does this feel like an hallucination to you?" the woman hissed.
"So, real then"
"You still haven't answered my question?"
"I've got one for you, who do you think I am?"
She released him and stood in-front of him, stick and knife still in hand "Haymitch Abernathy, an older version of the teenager I once knew"
And that's when it clicked in Katniss's mind, who the black haired woman was, Hazel James Potter, she felt her eyes widen in surprise as she watched the two stare each other down.
"Well, sorry to tell you sweetheart, but that teenager, is long gone"
Katniss glared at the man, what was he doing? "Oh, for the love of- he is Haymitch Abernathy!" she yelled out before Hazel could retort.
She then jerked her head in the direction of Hazel "And she's Hazel Potter!"
Hazel turned to face her and gave her a small smile "Thanks"
"HAZEL POTTER DIED!" Haymitch roared, shocking everyone in the room, Katniss had never seen the man so angry before, he then approached Hazel, took her knife and her stick and pointed both at her "So my question lady, is who-the-hell-are-you"
Hazel glared at Haymitch "I-am-alive!" she then pointed to the stick "be careful with waving that around, you could accidentally blow us up"
Haymitch snorted "Yeah yeah"
Hazel glared back at him "I'm being serious!"
Haymitch glared right back "And so- I- am -I, Hazel Potter-Is-Dead!"
He stepped forward so the stick and the knife, were both pressing into her chest "So, I'll ask again Sweetheart: who-are-you!"
Hazel set her jaw "Hazel James Potter! Since, it's the truth, my answer won't change"
Haymitch pressed a bit with the knife, the tip hitting Hazel's shirt, pricking it "try again" he snarled.
Hazel ran a hand through her messy locks, "Look, this is getting us no-where, I have an explanation as to what happened, not to mention, I honestly didn't come here on purpose"
"Sorry, I don't think anyone here wants to listen to any of your stories Princess"
"I do!" Katniss yelled out, she had been watching and felt that if Hazel wanted them dead, or harmed, she would've by now, nor would she have surrender her weapons so easily, and she guessed, the only reason she tied them all up, was for security reasons. She voiced all this to the room, but mainly Haymitch, who didn't seem to be listening to reason right now.
Hazel, smiled apologetically at the mention of tying them up "Sorry, I can undo that"
When Hazel, went to grab the stick, Haymitch stepped back and raised his arm away from her reach "Nah-ah lady, you tell me what to do"
"No can do, its, well the simplest explanation, its keyed to me"
Beetee whistled "Sweet, you have to fill me in on how it works"
Hazel nodded "It's part of my explanation, and its really not so impressive once you know"
Haymitch looked to the stick "Seriously? Fantastic." he then handed the stick back to Hazel.
Hazel, then pointed the stick through the door, and with a few swishes of the stick, a shimmering barrier of sorts appeared in-front of it, she then pointed the stick at everyone and all their bonds released. Katniss felt lighter with the bonds gone. She rubbed her wrists, helping the blood flow come back into them.
"What was that- shimmering thing there?" Coin asked.
"More or less protection for myself, I didn't want you pressing your button" Hazel nodded her head toward Coin, whose hand was indeed hovering above a button underneath the table.
"Why"?"
"Because, it would make things more chaotic and complicated and probably disastrous, the 'thing' is a fog barrier, it stops people from entering and preventing anyone hearing or seeing what was going on, all would seem normal"
She then handed the stick back to Haymitch, who almost dropped it in shock.
"Please be careful it is quite precious to me"
"I bet" Beetee said, his eyes appraising it.
Katniss smiled, it was like him to take an interest in it, from what she had seen so far, it was very impressive and that was just from her very limited knowledge.
"Very well, "Coin said, gesturing to the table "Shall we sit? I believe we have a story to hear"
Hazel sat down, but Haymitch refused, he stood, leaning against the wall, facing Hazel.
Coin gestured to Hazel, "Right, let us hear it"
"well, to start, I guess I'll do my best to keep things short and simple, because otherwise, it could get really long and complicated, very, very quickly" Hazel cleared her throat "right, well, to start off with, is this scar" she lifted her fringe to reveal the lightning bolt scar on her forehead, one of her more memorable traits "and please" she gave a glare to Haymitch, who had opened his mouth to retort "let me finish, the relevance would be explained" she rubbed her hand over her scar "I received this scar, the night my parents died, well more specifically murdered, when it came to killing me however, he couldn't, it backfired, I survived when I shouldn't have, the only mark being the scar which made me quite famous in the community where I am from" she blinked and gave a small smile "perhaps things would be easier if I gave explanations first" she then went to her back pocket and pulled out a coin, a gold coin, one Katniss had never seen before, Hazel smiled "a bit different, I know" Hazel paused looking reflective "boy do I know, but please, when you pass it around look at the date" she then handed it to Haymitch, who looked it over snorted and threw it to her.
Katniss looked at it and was surprised at the date: 2013. She looked it over carefully, it seemed real, she bit it wondering if it were real gold, she had no clue, it couldn't possibly mean what she thought it meant, could it?
She passed it to Coin, who also studied it carefully.
"Are you really" Beetee spoke up, being the last to look at the coin, he then paused in what he was saying, feeling stupid for even thinking it "are you really," he tried again "from the-"
"Past" Hazel filled in the blank, she then nodded 'Yes, but there is more" Hazel pinched the bridge of her nose "And this isn't the complicated bit, I guess the best way to prove to you" Hazel mumbled to herself, as she stood up spread out her hands "It's a bit more erratic, wild than what I'm used to, but I'm assuming my kind has died out, well, I haven't met any anyway and or there are any there are few, it's there, you've probably felt it at times, but not realised" Hazel paused and gave them all a small smile "It is more intense for me than you, so I am just amplifying it, so you can feel as-well, so just a moment" Hazel shut her eyes and they all looked at her, wondering where she was going with this, when Katniss felt her eyes widen- what was that?
This tingling sensation tickled her entire body, there was something in the air, something, shimmering, but she couldn't see it, but it felt like it shimmered, she looked to the others, all, had varying degrees of shock on their faces.
"Magic, what you are feeling is magic, magic is everywhere, but there are or were I suppose, people like myself, who could enhance it and I'm what you call a witch and that stick" she pointed to said stick "is my wand, what we use to conduct the magic, so please be careful it is irreplaceable, especially considering when I am, but even from my time it would be difficult," she gave a wry grin in Beetee's direction "each wand is different all are unique, you'd never find two the same and when it comes to picking a wand, it's the wand that picks the witch or wizard, not the other way around, they become like a part of you, one of the worst punishments, is getting you're wand snapped, probably on par on getting a loyal pet killed or an arm chopped of, its an awful thing" she sighed "but, that isn't the point, the point is, I can do the things you saw, because I have the ability to wield magic"
"Magic?" Haymitch repeated.
"Think Haymitch, why wouldn't I use it in the games?" Hazel sighed looking at him.
"The Capitol" was Haymitch's quick answer. It made sense to Katniss, why let them know you had this ability, especially if you were a stranger to this land or time.
Hazel then sat back down and Katniss felt the loss of the magic around her. She shivered, she suddenly felt like she was missing something.
"So, I'm a witch from the past, back to my explanation, Voldermort is the name of the wizard who killed my parents- actually I should backtrack a bit, there was a prophecy, that pretty much comes down to the fact, that I could potentially be the one to end his life well could be in the way of him achieving true immortality, because he wanted to erase all possible threats, I may have been a baby, but he didn't want to take any risks of me growing up. The Avada Kedavra, is what we know to be the killing curse, no-one in wizarding history, is known to survive- well accept for me, I survived and he was reduced to almost nothing, almost everything fell apart for him on that night since then, he spent the next fourteen years trying to kill me and re-gain his strength. When I was fifteen, I did some really, really stupid things that endangered my friends and got my Godfather killed" here Hazel once again paused, her face told Katniss that she was clearly caught in memory "sorry" Hazel cleared her throat and continued "when I was fourteen he came back into power and would spend the next year re-gaining all of his followers and setting plans into motion, when I did that dangerous stunt I learnt of the prophecy that I was the one to kill him…here, you see even though I was integral to preventing four of his attempts in returning and that it was known about the prophecy and its contents, I really wasn't really told much, but because of that stunt and because of Voldermort's return to power, it was decided I would be told more, now according to the woman you saw me talking to, they was also talk of me being trained in physical combat, magical defence I wasn't the best, but I was pretty good for my age, but for my protection and to increase my chances of survival they thought I should have training- they had avoided it, because they felt they could keep me away from everything, but at that point they realised they couldn't, however it appeared it was too late, now this was where the Hunger Games comes in, the woman is really a seer, a woman with the ability to see into the future, some are good, some are frauds, some create prophecies, there are all varying degrees, how she explained it to me, was that we all have thousands of possible paths and futures with all different variables, there are very few things that are concrete, however this seer could see people' s paths, their many future's, and several realities, this seer pulled me aside, because she saw I only had one reality, one path, I path for some unknown reason that was altered and sent me to District One and had me live with the Opal family for a year, before I entered the games, I do not know who or why someone would change things around, I have a few hunches, but why I am here now, is because the Seer, thought it would be best for the universe I didn't continue on the path I was currently on and go back to the one I belonged on, I think she seemed to think it would blow-up, I don't know I never really studied the magic's"
There was silence when Hazel finished speaking, everyone taking time to digest what they had been told. Katniss's head was spinning, it was too wild to be false, and yet it couldn't all be true, and yet it had to be.
"Well, that is quite the tale" Heavensbee said.
"That's exactly what it is, a story" Haymitch spoke up.
"Oh, I quite like it" Effie spoke up "this magic thing, could you create a frock for me?"
Hazel smiled at her "Yes""
Effie gave a half laugh, half sigh of relief "Fantastic!"
"Enough" Coin glared at Haymitch, "Enough, we will deliberate on what to do with you, for now you cans stay in a bunker and your wand cans stay with me"
"If it must stay with someone, I'd prefer Haymitch, he's the only person I know" Hazel countered.
Coin nodded "Very well, anything else"
"Er, where am I, and what exactly is going on?"
Katniss laughed.
After giving an explanation about district 13, the seventy-fifth games, and their rebellion, Hazel, removed the barrier, returned her wand to Haymitch and went to exit, before she exited she paused, she turned to face the room "I know, you don't trust me, but I can help, be a fighter if you need me, even with Katniss" she looked to her "I've been there, I was the 'Chosen One' I was expected to kill Voldermort and lead everyone from the darkness into the light, I know what it's like to have people, have complete faith in you, when you don't even know what you're doing yourself" she looked to the room at large specifically Coin "I'm just saying, I've been there" and with that, she left and followed one of Coin's assistant's.
….
The next morning, Coin had made an announcement at breakfast that the stranger, who was followed by two guards, was a figure who had escaped from the Capitol, but she was under guard as there were some details they had to work out, so please do not approach her. If that wasn't enough, some people had seen Hazel's distinctive lightning bolt scar and had managed to connect current Hazel to the Hazel from the fiftieth Hunger Games, bringing the old images up, it was blatantly obvious at-least appearance wise, the two were one and the same.
So, by afternoon, it was common knowledge that Hazel Potter, was not only alive, but she was here in District Thirteen. The theories on how she survived became wilder and wilder and why she was here, varied from escaping from being a prisoner of the Capitol all these years, to being a Capitol spy. Some theories were logical and some were just weird and plain stupid, according to Haymitch, like the one where 'Hazel Potter' look was a returning retro fashion and so it was someone who just looked like her.
Even Effie rolled her eyes at that one, though for completely different reason to Haymitch.
Whilst Katniss was off filming her publicity propaganda, Haymitch made his way to her, Hazel's room, he corrected himself. After she had left, there had been a massive discussion or argument, as they discussed whether or not to trust her, whether her story was true, and whether or not she was actually Hazel. Katniss and Effy were all for trusting and believing her, they others were cautious and seemed ready to trust her, but all in all it took them almost four hours to come to the conclusion that she seems reliable, Hazel or not, but she needed further assessing. So, the conclusion was, whilst they assessed her and her story, there was two guards to be stationed on her at all times and would stand outside of her bunker every second she was in it.
Haymitch scoffed, he said that five minutes into the discussion, but somehow Coin ad managed to over complicate it and felt the need to heavily discuss all scenario's, so they ended up talking for almost four hours discussing something that had endless amount of possibilities and questions with no answers, it was pointless really.
Haymitch didn't really know what to think; when he first saw the image he had recognised her, even with her back to them, he kept picturing her falling, becoming a tiny spec and then nothing- that he knew was real, so when the figure became a real apparition, his mind blanked and all he could think was that she died.
He sometimes had nightmares of that night, even after twenty-five years, he could picture it. The fact that she was here now, it was just impossible. He had spent the morning doing his own tests, his own observations, and he had come to his own conclusions.
He walked past the guard in-front of her door and entered the bunker with-out knocking. She was on the floor and it looked like she had been meditating, but she opened her eyes, when he entered and he paused, the door clicking swiftly behind him.
She got up quickly "Hi"
He just nodded back, now suddenly unsure, he never told anyone, but he had spent about a year after the games hoping she'd somehow comeback, but now that it actually happened, he didn't know what he felt or what to do really.
He looked into those big green eyes that seemed to see right through them, just as he had been able to do in the past. Part of the reason, he had come to the conclusion he had.
"Here" he said throwing her the 'wand' as she had called it, she stepped forward and caught it with ease and slipped up her sleeve, where he could see a holster of sorts, it was done swiftly, an action he supposed she had done several times.
She smiled at him "Thanks, I didn't think I'd be getting it back so soon" she gestured to her door, where the guard was probably still standing.
"I gave it to you on my own accord, I never asked Coin"
"Why?"
"You're you, Hazel, I'm not too sure about much else, but I do know, I don't know how, but you're Hazel.." when he observed that morning, her height, a few memorable scars- like the ones on her fingers from the Javerling's and one lesser known by her ear when pushed a branch out of her way and it wacked her back, he had seen the way she walked, the way her ears twitched when she heard something interesting, how she listened to find her own way, her distinctive accent, everything added up to the one logical conclusion, she was Hazel. He didn't know allot of things, like how she got here or if her story added up, but what he did know was that she was the genuine article.
"Thanks, I really appreciate that" Haymitch could see that, she had always been easy to read.
"Just don't turn me into a Javerling or something" he replied trying to joke, feeling uncomfortable at the emotions that seemed to bubble up with-in him, by just being here.
"Oh I wouldn't" she quickly assured "it's far too disorientating, and if I make a mistake you could end up perpetually covered in feathers, with a beak, or blue or something"
"Oh, wouldn't want that" he answered, not really sure what to say to that.
They then stood there about half-a-meter apart, staring at one another both waiting for the other to speak. Haymitch, stared at her, unsure of what to do or say, emotions and thoughts swirled with-in him, it was getting far too complicated, far too fast, this he didn't know.
"Well, that's what I came to do, and I've done that- so I'm just going to leave" and with-out waiting for a response, he left. This was just simply too much for him to handle.
He kept walking, not really taking in what he saw, until he found himself in-front of Effie's bunker. He blinked at the door, what was he doing here? Since, he didn't want to be alone with his thoughts- well especially since he had no booze to help and she was better than no-one, he knocked.
"Come-in" she spoke in her usual airiness.
"Haymitch what a surprise!" she cried as he entered.
He noted the jumpsuits she had been provided with, were strewn on her desk and a pair of scissors in her hands.
"Effie" he greeted back.
"Do you think, you're girl could do something with this?"
"She's not my girl, as for your clothes dunno don't care"
"Of-course she's you're girl, you've lost her and now she came back to you, I'm surprised you're here actually and not with her"
"Not that simple Effie"
"Isn't it, what more is there?"
He stared at Effie, everything was so black and white simple with her, he wondered why this had been a good idea in the first place.
"You know what; I'm just going to go, ask Hazel yourself about your clothes"
"Bye darling and off-course I'll ask her myself, you'll never get the instructions right"
As Effie remained in her blissful state of ignorance that was Effie, Haymitch exited to join Coin, Heavensbee, and Beetee, they still had things to plan and go over. He thought about Effie's words. It couldn't be as simple as that- could it?
….
Katniss, felt nervous and excited as she watched the footage. It was weird watching herself and that it was her, they expected the Districts to follow and rally together, because of her. But she was excited the energy surrounding her was fantastic, that they were doing something, anything that was the important thing.
A part of her worried, that it wasn't enough, what if nothing happened? However, the other's looked so sure of themselves and what they'd done.
She looked around the room, she noticed Effie was wearing an outfit very Effieish, pinks and blues, not bright colours but dulled stone like- or whatever, Prim probably know the best way to describe it that never really was her thing. Effie had obviously managed to talk to Hazel then.
Thinking of Hazel, she eyed Haymitch, he had a smile on his face, but his eyes were distant, they weren't focusing on the footage. She excused herself from Beetee and sat by him.
"Hey"
He nodded back.
"Nicely done Katniss, this would work"
"Thanks" her eyes travelled to the screen again, before she glanced at him. She bit her lip wandering what to say. She wanted to say something, but she wasn't very good at this sort of thing, but she felt no-one else was really going to talk to him about it.
"Did you visit her?" she started, wanting to get to the point, she never saw the point in 'small-talk' it just waisted unnecessary time. Skating around the issue never helps, just makes people uncomfortable and she knew Haymitch wasn't one for it either.
"Yes"
"How did it go" she pressed, one syllable word was not a sufficient answer.
"None of your business" he once again rebuffed her, keeping as he always did to himself. She knew Haymitch for a year and knew probably about the same amount about him as when they first met. But, this was something she wasn't going to let go.
"Oh really?"
"Yes"
"Who else, are you going to talk to?"
"I'll be fine Katniss"
"You shouldn't go through this yourself, it can't be easy"
"I'll be fine"
"If you need to talk, I'll be here"
Katness nodded and changed direction of topic. She understood that right now he wasn't going to talk about this.
They then discussed the rebellion, Peeta and how he'd be coping, the games, district twelve. Katniss couldn't even comprehend what Haymitch must be going through; she couldn't imagine Peeta dying and then re-appearing twenty-five years later. The thought of Peeta dying made her feel sick, she had to remind herself that she had seen him on the screen earlier, he was alive.
"Thinking about Peeta?"
Katniss turned to face Haymitch, slightly startled by his interruption.
She nodded "Yes"
"He'll be fine; as long as he keeps doing what the Capitol wants him to do"
Katniss gave a wry smile "Now, why are you allowed to discuss my relationship problems?"
"Because, I'm a mature adult, who has experienced many things in this world and learnt a fair few lessons during my 'oh so fine life', not to mention I did start your relationship thank-you very much" Haymitch said quickly, sounding very much like himself.
Katniss laughed.
For now, she'd leave it. Even though she wasn't the greatest of sharers, emotions and personal problems were hard for her to talk about. But, in times like these, it was when the relationships you had with other people that mattered the most and Katniss would make sure he and Hazel sorted them-selves out.
….
Hazel woke up, seeing the grey ceiling she had to remind herself that she was no longer home, in her time, and as far as she knew she was the only magical being around. That was a depressing thought, the dragons she'd spent fifteen years conserving and taken of were all gone, all the creature's, all witches and wizards, no Teddy, Andromeda, Ron, Hermione, any Weasleys, it made her feel very lonely, it reminded her of her cupboard years.
She huffed having these thoughts wouldn't do her any good. Not having a window to know whether it was night or morning, Hazel looked to the clock: five-thirty am. Not bad she thought.
Being Hazel Potter, she had a bad habit of getting into odd and extremely unusual situations and unfortunately it didn't end after her Hogwarts/ Voldermort days. After the year, that was meant to be her final year at Hogwarts, she had moved into Grimmauld Place, to make living there allot easier, she had continued with the cleaning Molly Weasley had started in her fifth year, unfortunately she with the help of one of the Black's artefacts, she had managed to create a vortex, almost sucking herself, Ron, Hermione, and the house through it.
About five months into her dragon training she had been introduced to a group of Peruvian Vipertooth's, venomous dragons, whom she learnt spoke snake language, parsletongue. She was talking to the group not noticing the two other handlers getting really nervous behind her, she saw at the corner out of her eye that they were getting ready to raise her wands, she turned to stop them, when at the same time they said the spell and she ended up getting hit by the dragon tranquilizer- because it was for dragons, she ended up in a coma for almost a month.
So, she was used to the unknown and the unexpected, she had earned the nickname 'trouble' for a matter how bad, weird, unique, or impossible a situation seemed she always came through it, she'd find a way. But, she was used to having Ron and Hermione there, to be able to talk to them and be able to work through it with them.
This time she didn't have them and that's what made this situation harder.
She had thought about this situation allot over the twenty years, if she reached him, what would she be coming back to? Would there even be a possible relationship? Would she end up alone, or would it actually work out? Would Haymitch be married? Seventeen and just finished the games, would he be young and she thirty-six? Would he be an old man on his death-bed? Would he be a Capitol convert?
She never expected, a recovering alcoholic in the middle of a rebellion, but she'll deal, she'll find a way, or become a depressed alcoholic herself.
Why wasn't anything straight forward or easy for her?
She got up and went to breakfast, she'd find a way to get through this, move forward, help with the rebellion, she had to find a life, as far as she knew, she was stuck here, and then work out what Haymitch was to her, what their relationship was to be.
She sat at a table and thought things through 'concentrate what's in-front of you Potter'.
"Are you really Hazel Potter?" Hazel looked up at the voice. It was a young man, tall, well built, with tanned skin, bronze hair and sea-green eyes. She recognised him: Finnick Odair, one of the tributes from the recent games along with Katniss and Beetee. Katniss had mentioned him her first night here. She suspected thanks to Haymitch's help, she was able to snoop and see and hear things she Coin wouldn't allow her to see, so she could find a way to help. Recently she had been in talks with Beetee and they've been working on seeing if her magic could be mixed with the weaponry. She couldn't make potions as they didn't have the equipment or ingredients, but she had a limited knowledge of ruins that they were working with.
It was because of this, she was able to recognise him through a photo she had seen ad through conversations with Beetee and Katniss, she knew his partner Annie was held captive by the Capitol.
She grinned at him, gesturing for him to sit down, noticing the knotted rope in his hands "There working on it"
He blinked at her confused, the smile from his face now gone "On what?"
"Getting the hostages out, something to do with network frequencies or something" she replied quickly, knowing toying with him would only anger him.
"You're not joking are you" he said, looking ready to pummel her at any hint of this being some sort of cheap trick, his eyes burning into hers, searching for the truth.
Hazel nodded "I think you may see Annie again"
"How do you know about this? How certain are you"
"Either they forget, or not really sure how well my hearing is or my sight is, especially in the dark, but I hear and see things I know I shouldn't, as for it working it is not really based on knowledge of the logistics, but more of a gut feeling "she gave him a small smile "I really do think you'll be seeing your Annie again"
He let out a breath, seemingly deflating into the seat he was sitting in, allowing it to support his weight fully, his hands taking a death grip on the ropes in it "I hope you are right"
He then sat up and grinned "So your senses is that true?, I watched allot of past games in preparation for my own and I remember, your senses were fantastic, it wasn't all extremely good sponsor help or something?"
Hazel smiled and talked knowing a distraction would help "Yes, since I was I teenager they kept on improving a phenomenon even amongst my peers"
Well, that was part of it. Truth was, when they were fifteen- with the help of Sirius, she, Ron, and Hermione became animagi. Her form was a magical black cat that could change size, Hermione a lioness, and Ron a Great Dane. The result being that a few animal traits transferred to her human self, like heightened senses, which only improved the more time, she spent time in her cat form. However, since Finnick didn't know about her past and magic, she felt it best to omit the truth.
"Must come in real handy huh" Finnick said grinning, his eyes twinkling.
Hazel smirked "Yeah, the things you hear…." She trailed of suggestively allowing Finnick's imagination to grow.
Finnick matched her smirk "Oh, do tell"
And so the two talked for a brief moment daring to forget the situation they were in.
….
Hazel mainly spent her time at District Thirteen, listening to meetings she shouldn't, helping Beetee with weapon creation, talking to Effie, Finnick, and when she was free Katniss, sparing with whoever she could practice with (though it often was Finnick), practicing her magic, and avoiding the one person, probably the last person she should avoid.
She really didn't know what to say or do, when it came to Haymitch. Which, frustrated her, because once upon a time they worked so well together. It was easy.
And now, it wasn't.
Things were different, they were different. Not to mention the rebellion, so she kept putting it off. There were a lot more important things to do.
So she worked on her magic, which was frustrating, because in this time, in Panem at-least. She didn't know about the rest of the world, or what was beyond Panem if anything, but the magic here hasn't been wielded in a long time. So, it was allot more wild than what she was used to, harder to control, and easier to over -power a simple spell. So, it will time for her to adjust and if she wanted to be useful she has to find a way to make it work. Hazel had asked Coin for an empty space and used it to practice.
She spent most of her free time there; all she was concentrating on was her magic nothing else.
Today, Effie and Finnick had joined her. She eventually had told Finnick about her magic, since he was becoming a regular companion of hers as they were both misplaced outsiders. Effie was sitting on a red fluffy chair that hazel had conjured up, Hazel had wanted to get rid of it and try again, since she hadn't intended to make the chair so fluffy, but Effie had waved her off saying that it was 'Fabulous and like floating on a cloud'. So the chair was as it was and Effie sat on it happily observing making her own comments every once in a while.
Finnick on the other hand, was 'sparing' with her. Finnick was dodging her spells, whilst she practiced her shield spells against his weapons.
"You're doing better" Finnick commented after she had successfully blocked a few quick succession knife throws from him.
Effie laughed "yes, nothing got blown up"
Hazel grimaced remembering a few of her earlier sessions "Yes there is that"
"Stronger too" Finnick added "I'm sure the last knife bounced off it"
Hazel nodded "Axes now?"
Finnick grinned "Why not" he then walked over to the pile of Axes by his side.
"Katniss is doing well" Hazel said as she tried and failed to block an Axe from Finnick.
"Oh doesn't she look simply amazing!" Effie said.
"Is it true, " Finnick added as he threw another Axe "what I heard about District Seven?"
Hazel grinned successfully blocking the Axe, unfortunately her shield broke after she blocked the axe "Yeah, I heard that too"
Effie clapped her hands together "Isn't this exciting"
Hazel chuckled "It is something alight"
Though, Hazel did wonder if this was enough, if Katnis could cope, if any of them could. She thought back to her friends, they turned out ok after the war. Oh, they all had their problems and different coping mechanisms required, an entire country had to re-build, but it did and they got on. Hopefully, here would be the same.
"Too easy Mr Odair, you're losing your touch" she cried after a few minuet's when she had successfully blocked a few axes in a row.
Finnick gave a cocky grin "Wait till I get hold of a trident, then you'll see"
Hazel smirked back "District Six?"
"Oh he is" Effie said "a good one too"
Hazel glanced between Effie and Finnick and their matching grins "Get a Trident and we'll find out"
Finnick gave another cocky grin and exited to do just that, as he exited he paused in the doorway "He likes you, you know"
Effie smiled at her as Finnick left "Mr Odair is right, but as he is such a shy little thing, someone has to start the talking and dear, it has to be you"
Hazel huffed "What does my private life got to do with you?"
Effie laughed "When it is so Juicy, everything, my dear, absolutely everything"
…
The districts rebelling, was a good sign. But, the better sign that they were actually doing something right was when they got the warning from Peeta. However, that left Hazel stuck in a bunker with nothing else to distract her, which meant that it probably was the best time for her and Haymitch to have the conversation that they'd both been avoiding. Taking a deep breath and a smack on the bum from a smirking Finnick, she approached Haymitch.
"Hi"
"Hello"
There, now what? It seems however, he had done some thinking of his own and he went straight to the point.
"What do you want from this, from me?"
"You" She answered honestly. That's what it came down to. She didn't know if she wanted marriage, kids or anything else, that they'd figure out later- if there was a later. But here now, being near him, being able to talk to him, seeing him happy, just being comfortable around him would be great.
Seeing him about to speak, she put up a hand to stop him "I need to get this out first".
She paused and chose her words carefully "Before the seer found me, I had thought about getting back to you constantly, whether I'd go through with it, I never came out with a definite answer, mainly because I couldn't get a definite answer about you, I had- have a family of sorts I never got married, but I have a son and his grandmother- its complicated, good friends, I don't mean to put pressure on you-"
Haymitch snorted, interrupting her "Bit late for that"
She glared at him and continued to speak, but then he started again- "sorry sweetheart, but my turn to say my piece- " he faced her properly "do I believe you to be you, yes I established that earlier, do I believe your entire crazy story with seers and stuff…I-I…I'm starting to, do I trust you to help with the rebellion- yes, I think you should be let in talks, especially if you're background is true, do I feel the same towards you, I dunno, but, I'm leaning towards yes"
"Yes?"
"Yes"
"Are you trying to mimic a Jabberling?"
Hazel gave a light chuckle "Yeah, yeah monkey feet"
"So, what do we do?" she turned the conversation back to the topic on hand, before it strayed to far.
"Focus on the rebellion?"
She nodded, that was probably the best for the two of them.
"And if we succeed?"
"I know as much as you sweetheart"
"And don't worry, I'll give Coin my good word, not having you on board is a loss to us, especially with your magic thing, you've been getting better control I've noticed"
Hazel could feel her cheeks and neck heating up on the thought of him keeping tabs on her"You can read me too well"
"You've always been easy to read"
Hazel shut her eyes, this all felt so normal, simple as it should be, "Thank-you"
She opened her eyes and gave him a small smile "So, just a rebellion first?"
Haymitch chuckled "Just a tiny rebellion first"
Hazel, laughed felling lighter than she had felt in days, she could do this, this could work. She just had to survive a rebellion first.
…
End.
Hope you all enjoyed!