A Game of Hunger
Chapter 7 - The Victor of the 15th Annual Hunger Games
As Hermione snuck her way towards the thicket she had hidden in when she destroyed the supplies she was pleased when she came across no opposition. The sun was just beginning to rise when she got there, and deciding that running out blind was stupid she waited it out behind a tree for a few minutes.
Just as Hermione was contemplating making a move Ron rushed out, sprinting across the wide open area and grabbing a bag from the centre with a 'H' emblazoned on it. After that nobody came for a while so Hermione ran out and she got to the bag with the big 'G' on it, but then someone jumped out on her.
It was Daphne.
Hermione tried to run, but she couldn't. Daphne shot a spell at her.
'Protego,' she muttered, conjuring up a powerful shield charm and throwing a curse back at her, 'Deprimo!'
The blasting curse missed Daphne and instead created a crater in the ground. It disorientated the Slytherin so Hermione tried to run away again but before she could get anywhere she felt a spell strike her in the back.
'CRUCIO!'
Hermione fell to the ground writhing and screaming in agony as her body contorted in ways it shouldn't. Daphne laughed as she stood over her, 'does it hurt Mudblood?' she spat.
Hermione didn't give her the satisfaction of an answer and tried to contain her moans and screams of pain.
'Where's lover boy now?' Daphne spat, 'I don't see him coming to save you. I don't see anyone coming to save you!' she laughed nastily once more and increased the curse, making Hermione's pain even worse. She felt like her limbs were being ripped away from her body as she screamed.
'Defodio!'
Hermione frowned as the curse causing her so much pain came to an end. She watched, horrified as a huge whole gauged itself into Daphne's stomach, blood was spurting out everywhere and she was dead in seconds followed swiftly by the boom of the cannon.
As she pushed herself shakily to her feet she saw Ron, the redhead standing across from her. He had a working wand and Hermione was sure that he would kill her.
'Just this once, I'll let you go,' Ron said gruffly, 'I admire what you did for Luna.'
Hermione nodded as he ran back into the forest and she followed suit, running back in the direction of the river and Harry. As she ran her legs began to give out, her body couldn't take anymore. The after effects of the curse she had just been subjected to were kicking in and her entire body felt weak and heavy.
Somehow Hermione managed to pull herself into the cave and when she did she wasn't surprised to see that Harry was awake.
'I told you not to go!' He said angrily.
'Well I did,' Hermione said simply, breathing heavily as she opened the bag that had been labelled for her. Inside it was a vial of potion and some cream.
'Drink this,' Hermione ordered as she uncorked it, 'it will numb the pain.'
Harry gave in and drank the potion because his pain was horrendous, but he was still angry at Hermione for lying to him.
'I heard the cannon,' Harry said weakly as Hermione rubbed the cream onto the horrible gash on his leg, 'I thought it was you.'
'It wasn't,' Hermione reassured him, 'it was Daphne.'
'Draco's the only career left?' Harry asked, wincing in pain as Hermione finished putting the cream on his wound.
Hermione nodded, 'There are only four of us left.'
'Who's the other one?' Harry asked, feeling out of touch with things.
'Ron, the Hufflepuff,' Hermione said, wincing as she leant back against the wall.
'Are you okay?' Harry asked with a frown.
'Fine,' Hermione said through gritted teeth.
'Stop lying Hermione, what happened?' Harry asked anxiously.
'Before Ron killed her, Daphne, she used the cruciatus curse on me,' Hermione said simply.
Harry's brow knitted, 'Hermione-'
'I'll be fine,' Hermione assured him as she kissed him lightly on the cheek, 'I just need some water and sleep.'
Harry's frown stayed in place as he leant up and grabbed Hermione's face. Gently he kissed her lips and after a moment of being frozen with shock Hermione responded. The kiss was slow and gentle and it didn't last very long but it said all that it needed to.
'What was that for?' Hermione asked in a stunned whisper.
'I thought the time was right,' Harry said simply, actually smiling at her for the first time in a while.
'Well if we're both gonna die I suppose the time is right,' Hermione said with a sarcastic chuckle.
'Hey, aren't you meant to be the optimist?' Harry asked with a raised eyebrow, 'you were right, we could both win. We're the only two left that are from the same house.'
Hermione nodded, 'Yeah, we are,' she said softly.
'So what's our plan of action?' Harry asked, pushing himself up a little.
'I need to have a nap,' Hermione said as she curled up next to him, 'I didn't get any sleep last night.'
'I'll keep watch,' Harry said, taking Hermione's wand, she nodded and gave him a muffled 'okay' as she drifted off into a painful, troubled sleep.
'Hermione, wake up,' Harry said quietly a few hours later.
'What's wrong?' Hermione asked, panicking immediately.
'Nothing, but we need food,' Harry said simply, 'we're completely out, and I thought it would be best to grab something before it got dark.'
Hermione nodded and pushed herself to her feet, 'yeah, that's a sensible idea. How long was I out?'
'A few hours,' Harry said with a smile as Hermione helped him to his feet, his leg looked and felt much better, 'by my reckoning it's just past noon.'
As they left their cave fortress they split up, Harry to find food and Hermione to hunt. They met up half an hour later outside the cave where they started a fire and cooked off the bird Hermione had caught. With their stomachs sufficiently full they put out the fire before it attracted any attention and sat in the mouth of the cave, waiting for the announcements to flash up in the sky.
As the mark materialized and the song played only one face appeared in the sky. It was Daphne's, backed by the Slytherin crest and the words 'District 1'.
'Well our fiercest competitor is out of the game,' Harry said with a yawn as they moved further into the tent, 'I guess that's good news.'
'I guess so,' Hermione admitted, thinking of the other two people they had to kill. Ron, who had spared her, and Draco, Harry's best friend.
'We'll start moving tomorrow,' Hermione said as she curled up against Harry, 'sleep off the effects of your potion, and give your leg a little more time to heal.'
Harry nodded at this, 'And then tomorrow the hunted become the hunters?'
'Yeah,' Hermione said softly, 'if we want to win we've got to kill people, right?'
'I guess so,' Harry said, echoing Hermione's earlier words.
The next morning they rose early and ate the remains of the food they had gathered. They both filled up their water bottles and then left their river solitude.
'Draco won't have strayed far from the centre,' Harry said quietly as they walked.
'I have no idea where Ron might be hiding out,' Hermione said with a frown as the sky began to darken.
'Why is it getting dark? It's early morning,' Harry said as he looked up.
'Something's going to happen,' Hermione realised as they cautiously walked on, 'something that only comes out at night.'
'Something like a werewolf,' Harry muttered, pointing to the full silver moon that had just materialized in the dark sky.
'There are only 4 of us,' Hermione said as they heard a howl somewhere behind them, 'they're trying to draw us into the centre so they can finish this off.'
'Run!' Harry yelled, spotting a large wolf-like creature bounding up behind them. They gripped hands tightly as they rushed through the undergrowth away from the creature. It was fast with long legs and it seemed to deflect all spells that Hermione sent back at it.
When it lunged she put up shield charms and for the most part they were okay, at worse they got its claws sometimes.
When they emerged in the centre of the arena however things went from bad to worse as the werewolves came out of all the different sections of the forest. Harry and Hermione backed into the centre, they were surrounded by 6 huge, howling lethal looking werewolves and somehow they had to figure out a spell that would kill them in the few seconds they had before the werewolves ripped them apart.
It was then that they realised they weren't alone, cowering a little to the left of them was Ron as the werewolves advanced on him, 3 of them.
'Any ideas?' Hermione asked Harry, panicking slightly.
'Yes!' Harry yelled, 'but don't freak out!'
'Why would I-' Hermione began to say but then she screeched as Harry transformed into a large stag right in front of her.
Harry, in his stag form charged at the werewolves, scaring some back into the forest and stabbing the others with his antlers, causing them to reel back into the forest or fall to the ground writhing in pain.
Hermione was frozen with shock as she stared at Harry in his animagus form, she hadn't even know he was one. Clearly he wasn't registered, but this made sense of one thing. He had wanted to keep it a secret from everyone, which was why he had trained alone.
'We should help him!' Hermione said, rushing over to Ron who was getting attacked viciously by the wolves, they were shredding his skin with their sharp claws and were about to gouge out his eyes when Hermione reached them. Harry charged at the wolves, spearing two and throwing them viciously from his antlers and sending the other squealing back into the forest.
Harry transformed back into his human form and Hermione said, 'You could have told me you were an animagus!'
'Sorry, it was a secret,' Harry said a little sheepishly.
'James would be so proud of him right now,' Sirius said with tears in his eyes as they watched this play out on their screens.
'James was a stag too, wasn't he?' Amelia asked, she was teary too.
Sirius nodded, 'and James saved someone's life just like that, from a werewolf,' he told his wife.
'I guess he's more like his Father than he knows,' Amelia said simply.
'Yeah, he is,' Sirius said, and his thoughts were with Remus who he hadn't seen for about 14 years now. Remus, his best friend, who he didn't even know anymore. He didn't know if he was safe, or even if he was alive. Nothing was heard of District 6, it was never talked about and never mentioned and that worried Sirius. He sighed as he looked back to the screen, watching the boy he considered as a son.
'He could win, he could come back,' Amelia said, her voice shaking.
'He might,' Sirius said, thinking about the girl in the arena with Harry. She was raising a stir, causing a rebellion amongst the Districts. People were concerned, 4 had already rebelled and had paid heavily for it. there were rumors that 5 was on its way to doing the same. Even here in 2 things were getting a little heated, the familiar pang at the fact Voldemort did this to Purebloods and not just Half-bloods and Muggle-borns was coming up in discussion more and more again.
The uprising Sirius had wondered about when this regime began all those years ago was becoming a reality and when it happened, Sirius was going to make sure that he would be a part of it.
Back in the arena a whimper made Harry and Hermione look towards Ron who was lying on the ground bleeding heavily from huge gashes to his arms, legs, chest and face.
'Harry,' Ron choked out, 'give me a little,' he coughed and blood spurted out of his mouth, 'dignity…please.'
Harry frowned and knelt down next to the Hufflepuff, 'You could heal, if you had medicine-'
'I don't get sponsors,' Ron said gruffly, 'I'm a Weasley, nobody has any faith in me.'
Harry felt his throat constrict at this, and Ron said, 'Look, I want to die with dignity, don't leave me here to slowly bleed to death.'
'Okay,' Harry said weakly, taking the wand he and Hermione were sharing and raising it.
'Tell Charlie for me,' Ron said, swallowing and coughing up some more blood, 'tell him that I'm proud of him, no matter what he thinks. When you win, tell him that. Okay?'
'I will, I promise,' Harry said a little tearfully.
'Make it quick and painless,' Ron said quietly.
Harry nodded and with one swift wand movement said, 'Avada Kedavra'. The green flash of light caused Harry to have another flashback or vision of a woman screaming as the green light consumed her. He frowned and pushed it to the back of his mind as he looked down at the dead Hufflepuff. The cannon sounded, making his death official.
The darkness vanished and the day became light again. Swallowing a lump in his throat Harry raised his wand for Ron and Hermione did the same. Both in a show of respect for the Hufflepuff boy. Little did they know it, but this was small show of respect was sparking something much bigger in District 5.
Arthur watched his son die at the pub he often drank at. When he died and the cannon sounded the barman raised his wand, and his son who was pulling pints followed suit. Then his daughter who was working in the backroom came through and did the same.
Arthur raised his own wand, swallowing his tears and pain. Within seconds everyone in the pub had raised their wands and then it began, a rebellion, just like in District 4. Of course there was no communication between the districts so people in 5 had no clue that 4 had rebelled.
They left the pub and they rioted in the streets, attacking and fighting with the guards, even killing them in extreme cases. It was worse than the rebellion in 4, more violent, fueled by much more hate. Life in 4 wasn't great, but life in 5 was truly a living hell.
The miners left the pits, nobody went back down. They refused to work, they let themselves get beaten. Arthur who was at the head of the march was grabbed and beaten to a bloody pulp by the guards until a group of men overpowered those guards and killed them.
The streets were running with blood, women and children hid in their houses. If Voldemort had been concerned with what had happened in District 4, then this was the start of a war in his mind.
In the arena Harry and Hermione were aware there was only one person left to kill, and that person just happened to be Harry's best friend.
'When the time comes, do you want me to do it?' Hermione asked as they slipped back into the forest to search for Draco.
'I don't know if I can,' Harry admitted quietly.
'Okay,' Hermione said softly, and they didn't talk for the next hour or so as they surveyed the perimeter around the centre. They found nothing and they grew hungry and had to take a break to hunt and eat.
'It will be over soon,' Harry said as he chewed the roast rabbit Hermione had prepared.
'Yeah, in a day, maybe two,' Hermione agreed.
'Do you really think we'll go home, together?' Harry asked, looking into Hermione's eyes.
'All I can do is hope,' she said honestly.
Night fell and the sky lit up with Voldemort's mark and the music. Ron's face appeared in the sky, backed with the Hufflepuff crest and the words 'District 5'. Harry and Hermione were both silent as they stared at the sky, for minutes after his face had vanished.
'We'll find him tomorrow,' Hermione said as the sky got pitch black. They put up some protective charms and took turns sleeping and keeping watch until day broke.
'How many people have you killed Hermione?' Harry asked as dawn broke on day 12.
Hermione frowned, 'Why?'
'I just want to know,' Harry said honestly.
'Directly, two,' Hermione said, 'and if you count the Doxy attack, three.'
'Who?' Harry asked.
'Susan and Justin,' Hermione said quietly.
'Is it hard? Killing someone who your friends with?' Harry asked curiously.
'It's very hard,' Hermione said in a choked voice, 'but Justin was dead anyway…he'd had the dementors kiss.'
'Oh,' Harry realised, 'so you were ending his suffering.'
Hermione nodded, her throat constricted with grief.
'I brutally killed that 15 year old Ravenclaw,' Harry said painfully, 'and then I killed Terry too…he was begging with me to spare him.'
'If you hadn't killed them someone else would have,' Hermione reasoned.
'Regardless of what happens Hermione, the games have changed me,' Harry said in a choked voice, 'they've turned me into a monster.'
'You're not a monster,' Hermione said softly as she hugged her friend, 'you did what you had to do to survive. And what you did for Ron was noble, you let him die with his dignity intact.'
Harry nodded and pushed himself to his feet, it was clear that he didn't believe anything Hermione was saying, 'come on,' he said gruffly, 'we've got to find Draco.'
'Okay,' Hermione said as she too got to her feet and followed Harry through the forest. They both had wands now, Harry had taken Ron's after he left, but they knew Draco would have a wand too so they made sure they were particularly careful.
After spending all morning walking around the forest Harry gave in, 'Come on,' he sighed, 'let's wait in the centre. He'll come in eventually, and if he doesn't they'll make sure something draws him in.'
Hermione yawned and nodded, following Harry back into the centre of the arena which was empty. They sat down back to back so they could watch the forest on both sides and they waited.
Noon came and went and the afternoon bore on with nothing of interest happening. It was going to get dark soon when he appeared, stumbling aimlessly out of the forest and walking directly towards Harry and Hermione.
'What the hell is he doing?' Hermione muttered as the Slytherin walked towards them.
'I don't know,' Harry said honestly. They both had their wands trained on the boy but he hadn't even raised his yet.
When he got within 6 feet of them Draco stopped and looked up, catching Harry's eye.
'So we're the last 3,' he said.
Harry nodded, 'Yeah.'
'And you can both win, because you're both from Gryffindor,' Draco said, his eyes boring into Harry's.
Harry nodded again and said, 'Yeah, we can.'
'You knew? Didn't you?' Draco asked quietly, he wasn't even acknowledging Hermione, 'about Daphne and I.'
'I knew you were together,' Harry said softly, 'I've known since 4th year Draco, we all have.'
Draco sighed heavily and said, 'Then maybe you will understand why I want you to kill me.'
'What?' Harry asked sharply.
'I don't want to win. Do you think I want to live in a world where I'm eternally alone? Daphne's dead Harry…we planned to get married after school and spend our lives together,' Draco shook his head as if to shake away the tortured memories, 'look at the state of your mentor, if you don't kill me that's how I'll end up.'
'Draco, I can't kill you,' Harry said in a strangled voice, 'you're my best friend.'
'Then help me,' Draco begged, 'put me out of my misery and let me die with dignity.'
'How are you going to die with dignity if I kill you?' Harry asked with a deep frown.
'I propose a duel,' Draco said, 'a duel to the death.'
'How do you know I'll win?' Harry asked carefully.
'I don't,' Draco said honestly, 'but I've seen you duel before and I think we both know you're far superior.'
'Draco Malfoy, admitting I'm better at something?' Harry said with a weak chuckle, 'wow you really must be desperate.'
Draco smiled faintly, 'So what do you say?' he asked as he held his hand out to Harry, 'one last stand?'
Feeling his heart sink Harry nodded weakly and took Draco's hand, 'If you're sure it's what you want,' he said.
'I'm sure,' Draco said as he and Harry shook hands.
Hermione had been silent throughout the exchange and even now she watched on in curious silence.
'Hermione, be duel master?' Harry asked his friend.
Hermione nodded, 'Of course,' she said as she pushed herself to her feet.
She raised her wand and marked out the dueling area, adding two 'X's.
'Harry, over there,' Hermione directed and Harry nodded, moving to the X. Draco had already moved to stand on the other X.
'Walk to each other,' Hermione directed, her heart pounding as the two boys walked towards each other and came to a stop.
'Bow,' Hermione said.
Harry and Draco bowed to each other and Draco murmured, 'Thank you, for doing this. When it comes time, make it quick.'
Harry nodded and then on Hermione's orders they turned and walk back to their 'X's. On her count the duel began and there wasn't a peaceful period before the lethal spells came out. From the get-go the spells were pretty brutal.
Hermione watched anxiously as Harry and Draco started throwing spells at each other. She watched as Harry conjured arrows and shot them towards Draco. The Slytherin was quick and conjured fire, burning them out of the air.
Draco then sent a blasting curse towards Harry's head which Harry ducked to avoid. The curse blasted past him, setting some trees alight. Hermione's heart was racing as she took a step back and watched the fast paced duel.
Harry froze the ground beneath Draco after that and sent a tripping jinx towards the boy, he nearly fell but caught himself and managed to put a shield charm up. Seconds after his near fall he sent a cutting curse through the air towards Harry in a flash of red. Hermione gasped as the spell caught Harry a little on his right arm.
He winced and shouted, 'Sectumsempra!'
Draco raised a shield charm, but the curse easily burned through it and he was thrown to the ground, cuts covering his body and blood slowly seeping out.
Harry made his way over to his friend and fell to his knees in his blood. He was alive, but he was fading away quickly.
'Well done,' Draco choked out with a weak smile, 'I knew you were going to win.'
Harry had tears in his eyes as he stared at his best friend as he lay dying on the cold ground.
'Harry,' Draco said softly, meeting his friends eyes, 'please. End this.'
Harry nodded, his throat constricting as he raised his wand and aimed it at Draco. He knew he would be ending Draco's suffering by killing him this way, but at the end of the day he was still killing his best friend.
'Please,' Draco all but begged.
Swallowing his pain Harry trained his wand at Draco's chest and uttered, 'Avada Kedavra!'
The flash of green light almost blinded Harry and he was forced to shut his eyes, as he did he heard it again, more clearly than ever before.
HARRY! Sirius, save Harry!
REMUS! GRAB HARRY!
Harry forced his eyes open, drowning out the screaming. He assumed he was remembering his parent's deaths, he had been in the house. He had heard them scream out and shout out to Harry's Godfather as they were murdered.
The cannon sounded and Harry and Hermione stared at each other, waiting for the announcement that stated they had won, but it never came.
Umbridge's voice filled the arena, 'Attention tributes!' she trilled, 'there has been a change in the rules! The previous rule change allowing two victors from the same house has been retracted. Only won can win, may the odds be ever in your favour.'
Harry and Hermione stared at each other, horrified as they realised that one of them would have to kill the other.
'Kill me,' Harry said, dropping his wand, 'go on.'
'No,' Hermione whispered, 'no, I can't do it.'
'Why not?' Harry asked, 'you're the strong one, you've always been the strong one.'
'No I haven't,' Hermione said, her eyes filling up with tears, 'I won't kill you Harry, I…I love you,' she choked out.
Harry smiled weakly, 'and I love you too Hermione, but one of us should go home and it should be you.'
'I have nothing back home,' Hermione whispered, 'you have more to lose. You should go home, for your Godfather and your sister if not for anything else.'
'They'll survive,' Harry said simply.
'What if neither of us win?' Hermione asked carefully as she picked up Harry's wand and handed it to him. She muttered something under her breath and Harry frowned.
'What are you doing?' he asked.
'Give me your hand,' Hermione said and Harry did so, she pricked the skin on his thumb and then did the same to her own. She pressed their thumbs together and then told Harry to raise his wand.
'No!' Umbridge exclaimed as she realised what was happening, 'we have to stop this! They intend to both die, we have to have a victor!'
'What do you propose?' a gamemaker asked as the control room descended into chaos.
'I...I don't know,' Umbridge said, now in full on panic.
'I make a blood bond,' Hermione said after mumbling the incantation, 'that I Hermione Spencer, will not kill Harry James Potter. Should this bond be broken, I myself shall die.'
A red fog came out of both Harry and Hermione's wands and enveloped them. When it vanished the deal was sealed.
Harry swallowed and dropped his wand once more.
'Together?' he asked.
Hermione nodded, raising her wand and aiming it at Harry's chest, 'Avada Keda-'
'Ladies and gentlemen!' the unsettled, not so squeaky voice of Umbridge said over the system, 'may I present to you the winners of the 15th annual Hunger Games!'
Harry and Hermione stared at each other with disbelief. They couldn't believe their plan had actually worked as they launched themselves at each other and kissed like they never had before.
'You've pissed off a lot of people,' Charlie said the moment he saw Harry and Hermione for the first time. They had been taken out of the arena and separated immediately to get made over again so that they looked pretty. They were only now coming together again at the apartment for the first time in what felt like days.
'Why?' Hermione asked.
'You survived,' Charlie said as he drank from his hipflask, 'both of you.'
'And they didn't have their sole victor,' Hermione said rolling her eyes.
'This is serious!' Charlie snapped, 'what you two did in there has serious repercussions, not just for you, for all us!'
Hermione frowned, not understanding quite how bad the situation was. Charlie continued, 'you showed them up, you beat their game, and in the capitol that doesn't bode well.'
'What are you saying Charlie?' Harry asked tentatively.
'I'm saying from now on you two should watch your back,' Charlie warned, 'because they won't forget about you, nobody will forget about you. You got them, and you can mark my words right now Lord Voldemort will be in a room somewhere with his council trying to forget how to get you right back.'
Hermione swallowed, looking to Harry who was slightly pale.
'So what do we do?' Hermione asked anxiously.
'You have the interview tonight, the winners interview,' Charlie said, looking stressed and less drunk than usual, 'at that interview you are going to have to convince the entire world that what you did was because of love.'
'It was!' Harry exclaimed, 'it was because we didn't want to live without each other!'
'I know you believe that Harry,' Charlie said honestly, 'but I think we all know love wasn't the only reason you did it Spencer.'
Hermione frowned, Charlie was right, part of it had been because she didn't want to live without Harry, but the main reason she had wanted them both to die was to show Voldemort that he didn't own them, to show him that someone could beat his game.
'See those thoughts you're having,' Charlie whispered, 'they're dangerous, stop them.'
Hermione nodded and after that Charlie left. Harry frowned as he looked to Hermione, 'you don't love me?'
'Of course I love you Harry,' Hermione said honestly and she truly meant it, 'but Charlie's right, that wasn't the only reason I did what I did.'
'You wanted to show them,' Harry said with a nod, 'I know, I did too,' he said in an undertone.
'We did,' Hermione said quietly.
'And look at the trouble we've caused,' Harry said with a sigh, 'our families…your sister, my Godfather and his wife, Scarlett…everyone is in danger because of us.'
'I'm sorry,' Hermione whispered.
'I'm sorry too,' Harry said.
'They'll ask why you did it,' Charlie said quietly to Hermione as Harry was getting his last touches done to his suit for the interview.
'And what do you want me to say?' Hermione whispered.
'Tell them that you were so in love with him that you couldn't help it. That you'd rather die than win and live without him,' Charlie urged her, 'and try and mean it.'
'It's the truth,' Hermione said.
'The partial truth,' Charlie revised, 'and as long as they don't see that, it will be fine. Okay?'
'Okay,' Hermione said, her heart beating faster than ever.
Despite the fact she had survived the hunger games she was still nervous about going on stage and getting interviewed in front of a big audience.
'You ready?' Harry asked as he appeared by her side, slipping his hand into hers.
'No,' Hermione said honestly as she took a shaky breath.
'It will be fine,' Harry assured her and before she had any more time to freak out Rita Skeeter said from the stage.
'Ladies and gentlemen, give me a big hand for our winners! Harry Potter and Hermione Spencer!'
The crowd went wild as Harry and Hermione walked onto the stage, waving and smiling to the people in the audience as they took their seat across from Rita on a small sofa that had them sitting incredibly close together.
It took a moment or two for the crowd to quiet down but when they did Rita asked the first question, 'How did you feel, Hermione,' she began with a big grin, 'when you found Harry dying by the river?'
'I was relieved at first,' Hermione said with a soft smile, 'but then I was so afraid that he was going to die from his injury. I thought after finding him that I was going to lose him.'
'And how did you feel Harry,' Rita said chirpily, 'when Hermione found you?'
'I was sure I was going to die,' Harry said honestly, 'and I was just so relieved when I knew I would see Hermione one last time and get the chance to tell her how I felt.'
'But of course you didn't die, because Hermione risked her life to get a cure for your leg,' Rita said eagerly.
Harry nodded and said, 'When I woke up and she was gone I knew exactly what she was doing, and when I heard that cannon go off…I don't think I've ever been so afraid in my life.'
'What did it feel like when you were both announced as winners?' Rita asked, still beaming.
Hermione smiled at Harry, 'I've never been happier in my life,' she said honestly, 'I went from thinking I'd never see the person I loved again to being able to envision the rest of my life with him.'
Harry returned her smile and slipped his hand into hers, and the crowd aww-ed at this, even Rita looked close to tears.
'So will we be hearing wedding bells in the future?' Rita asked hopefully.
Hermione chuckled and said, 'Maybe not the near future, we are still in school after all.'
Harry grinned and said, 'Oh, it may be nearer in the future than she thinks Rita.'
The crowd of course ate this up and went wild, Hermione blushed a little as Harry grinned broadly at her. The interview was wrapped up after this and Harry and Hermione were taken to the stage in front of Buckingham palace to be presented with crowns and officially pronounced the victors. They didn't talk much, both of them nervous about the ceremony and how close they would be to Lord Voldemort who had of course killed Harry's parents.
As they stood on the stage, the crowd roared and cheered. Lord Voldemort dressed head to toe in black robes lifted a crown in his gloved hands and walked towards Hermione.
'Congratulations,' he said smoothly.
'Thank you,' Hermione said stiffly as the overpowering smell of decay reached her nostrils.
'Do you know, my dear,' Voldemort said silkily, 'that you are the first Mudblood to win my games?'
'No,' Hermione said, 'I didn't.'
'I would not let it occupy your pretty little head,' Voldemort said, 'after all, it will not happen again.'
Hermione frowned slightly as he made his way back to the table and picked up the other crown, walking over to Harry with it.
'Congratulations Mr. Potter,' Voldemort said smoothly as he placed the crown on his head.
'Thank you,' Harry said with a polite nod.
'I believe you are aware that I was involved in the unfortunate demise of your parents,' Voldemort said in a tone of voice that was so quiet it was almost a whisper.
Harry only nodded once more.
'Ah, good,' Voldemort said, 'I think I ought to let you know that they were meddlesome too, and that did not get them very far now, did it?'
Harry pursed his lips, refusing to answer the question.
'You may have escaped me that night Potter,' Voldemort hissed, 'but I assure you that it will not happen again.'
Harry swallowed hard as Voldemort stepped back and turned to the crowd, officially pronouncing Harry and Hermione as the winners of the 15th annual hunger games. They went wild and then everything happened so fast.
They were transported by Charlie towards the train station where they boarded the same train they had arrived on. In a flurry of waving from the window they were finally leaving the capitol.
'You're not going home yet,' Charlie said gruffly as he sank down into a seat.
'What?' Hermione asked with a frown, 'what do you mean?'
'I mean we've got the victory tour now,' Charlie said as if this were obvious, 'we take you to every district and then you can go home.'
'And by home do you mean Hogwarts?' Harry asked with a sigh.
'Yes, I do,' Charlie said simply, 'Hogwarts is the last stop, after District 5.'
'What do you mean by we?' Hermione asked in confusion.
'Evelyn and Phillip are here too,' Charlie said offhandedly, 'you've got a different outfit for every District, you're going to need your stylists.'
'How long is this going to take?' Hermione asked impatiently. The last little while had gone so slowly, she couldn't quite believe that it was only the 20th of September, her birthday had passed and she hadn't even realised it until now, she was 17 years old.
'A week, maybe longer,' Charlie said, drinking from his hipflask, 'when it's over you go back to Hogwarts and get on with your lives, separately or otherwise.'
Hermione nodded, frowning as she sat down heavily in a chair, 'I just want it to be over Charlie,' she said, feeling defeated.
Charlie actually gave her a genuine smile, 'Don't we all darlin'?'
'Enter!'
Dolores Umbridge took a shaky breath as she walked into the office of Lord Voldemort. She curtseyed when she saw him and said, 'You asked me here my Lord?'
'You were foolish,' Voldemort hissed, 'for allowing the situation to get so out of hand.'
'I apologise my Lord, there was nothing I could do-' Umbridge said pitifully.
'Did you not make an oath Dolores, when I hired you, that you would do all in your power to prevent an uprising such as this one?' Voldemort asked, narrowing his blood red eyes at her.
'I…yes my Lord, I did,' Umbridge said.
'And you have not lived up to that oath,' Voldemort said angrily.
'I…I am sorry my lord,' Umbridge began.
'Sorry is not an excuse Dolores,' Voldemort said smoothly, 'now, as punishment for allowing yourself to be fooled by a 17 year old girl and a 16 your old boy, I command you to attempt to kill me.'
'But m…my lord. If I try and kill you I shall die,' Umbridge said with wide eyes. Every employee under Lord Voldemort had to make an unbreakable vow that they would never try to kill him. If Umbridge cast the killing curse anywhere near Voldemort she would die herself.
'That is the plan Dolores,' Voldemort said with a smirk, 'after all. That is how those two teenagers would have outsmarted us.'
Umbridge floundered for a moment then nodded, raising her wand and casting the curse. Voldemort of course stepped out of the way, but the damage was done for Umbridge who screamed in agony and fell to the floor in a crumpled heap.
TBC :)
A/N: I'm sort of leaving out the second book of HG is this crossover. There will be the victory tour but there won't be a second games because obviously it's the 15th year so the one after isn't going to be significant. I have no idea how long this story will be, as long as it takes to write out the whole plot I guess. I'm focusing more on the rebellion than the tour, but it will be covered in a chapter or two then after that we get into full on war mode. Boo ya.
Hope you're enjoying the story so far, and thanks for reading!
Holly