Part II

The Games

Chapter 10 – Dragon

I don't even know where my legs are taking me, but as long as I'm far away from everyone else I could care less.

Sasha tugs her coils around my neck to make me walk back to the stage and I gag slightly. "No, Sash. I need to calm down first."

Apparently I'm even further backstage, out of view from the others, because I can't see anyone when I look over my shoulder to see if I'm being followed. I walk forward, until I'm faced with a black curtain. Gently, I push it aside to see a storage room with various props scattered around. Sasha and I exchange looks and she shakes her head. Of course, I ignore her and walk inside, curious to look around.

This room is filled with junk. Not just any junk, some of this stuff is from Hogwarts. Most of it probably got dumped in the prop room after the war. Never know when it could be of some use, I guess.

In the corner are a bunch of picture frames turned face over. I go over to take a look and find out that the frames are empty. There's no doubt these are from Hogwarts though, because there's a large blank frame with Dumbledore's name printed on the bottom.

"Well, well, this brings back memories." I hear a familiar voice say. I gasp and jump, startled, almost knocking the picture frames over. Harry is standing in front of the curtain, smirking and laughing softly in amusement. I feel my face flush up and try to fix the frames I almost knocked down. "Harry. Hey!" I say awkwardly, "What are you doing here?"

Harry's smirk grows and he makes his way over to me. I swallow the lump in my throat, but I don't back up.

Suddenly, his face goes straight with seriousness, "Why's your face red?" He says with concern as he gently touches the side of my flaming red face.

"Uhm… well, I-" He rubs my face with this thumb, gently and I laugh softly. My God his hand is soft.

"It looks like my House colors – red and gold." Harry says as he moves his hand to caress my hair, "….Is that strawberries I smell?"

"Maybe… Why?"

"I like it. So, about your girlfriend-"

"She is not my girlfriend."

Harry looks taken aback, "Okay… about Pansy then. Did she really call me a whore?" A smirk forms on his face again.

I blink, "I'm sorry, Harry. Really, I didn't think she would-"

"Who ever said I was mad at you?" He says with a bit of a laugh.

I blink and stare at him, "Wait. You're not mad?"

"Not at you. As for your friend, I don't think I can say that I like her right now. Or that I ever did."

I look away from him with a sigh. "Yeah, can't say I do right now either."

He tilts my head up and I look at him the way anyone would look up at their crush. The lighting in here is dim, which only emphasizes the bright greenness of his eyes. I feel the urge to just take his glasses off so I can see his beautiful eyes better. "Draco… I care a lot about you, you know."

"I care about you too, Harry. But these Games-"

He looks like he's about to say something but suddenly we hear the crowd burst into screams again. "Gregory Goyle!" Lockheart says from the stage. My heart sinks.

"I'm up next…" I say, moving my hands onto his chest. "I'm scared, Harry…"

He looks at me with concern in his perfect green eyes and he hugs me close to him. We stay like this for a few seconds and these seconds are the best of my life. Finally, I hear him chuckle softly, "You know, the last time I followed you somewhere I almost killed you in a bathroom. Now we're hugging."

I smile in amusement and hug him tighter, never wanting to let him go, "I like it better this way."

We pull back to look at each other and Sasha hisses something at Harry. He smiles and rubs her head with his index finger as he speaks Parselmouth back to her, "She's adorable. You had her at the parade too, right?"

"You noticed. Unfortunately she's not mine." I smile softly and half-laugh, as Sasha nuzzles into Harry's hand, "I think she likes you."

"Not every day you meet a nice snake."

I laugh awkwardly when I think of Nagini, Voldemort's hideous, evil – terrible pet snake. "Yeah. Sasha doesn't compare to those others."

Sasha hisses something at Harry and he laughs. They need to stop doing this. I feel so out of the loop because how am I supposed to know what they're saying? It's not like I have a special power where I talk to animals.

"Okay, what'd she say now?"

"She uhh…" He turns red and brushes his bangs out of his eyes, making his lightning scar slightly visible. "She said we look cute together…" I meet his gaze and we suddenly stop. It literally feels like the whole world has stopped turning and I don't even realize we're leaning into each other. Suddenly I feel Sasha tug forward on my neck to bring Harry and I closer, and I stumble, landing into Harry's chest. Luckily he catches me. I laugh, embarrassed and pull back.

"I uh… I should go… My interview-"

"Right..." He says, "Good luck, Draco…"

I smile, "Thanks, Harry." First name basis? I like this.

He lets me go ahead of him and I start walk back to the stage, with Harry behind me. Sasha makes somewhat of a laughing noise of hisses. I shrug my shoulders, "Nice, move, Sasha…" I say sarcastically. She licks my face, amused. "Yeah, yeah…"

I can't help but smile. I think meeting Harry back there kind of boosted up my confidence, but I'm still mad at Pansy and don't even look at her when I make it back stage.

"What about your solitude?" I hear Lockheart say. Goyle is still doing his interview.

"Well, I mean, I'll admit, that I didn't like it at first, Lockheart!" Goyle says, in his very rare friendly tone. I roll my eyes and cross my arms across my chest. "Oh please." I mumble.

"But it really gives you that drive to win even more!" Goyle continues.

I feel my blood go cold and my shoulders drop. Swallowing the rock in my throat, I look over at Harry, who gives me an encouraging smile. But as reassuring as he may seem, I can't help but notice the slight apprehension in his eyes. I smile back, a bit uptight, and turn my head back at Goyle on stage.

"Well, now, Goyle! It's been great!" Lockheart says, standing up. Goyle follows and they say their good-byes before he walks back stage. He's giving me his famous evil glare when suddenly I hear "Draco Malfoy!" I jump and begin to feel my legs shake.

The screaming of the crowd almost knocks me over. I've never in my life have heard anyone scream this loud.

I take a breath and a look down at Sasha, "Ready?" My voice is shaky, but I try to keep it as steady as possible.

She nods. "Okay." I breathe and force my trembling legs forward, hoping they down break from under me. Just the sight alone of this huge stage and the tremendous amount of people that are here is over whelming. I can hear a few people yelling "Dragon" as I walk out. I smile hesitantly, unable to hide my red face. As I slowly step forward, I look at the front row to see Juniper smiling at me with encouragement on her face. I grin back and feel myself relax. If I just focus on her I'll be okay.

"Well, Draco Malfoy." Lockheart stands up to shake my hand and I try to keep on my fake smile. "Everyone's been dying to see you, right folks!?" He addresses the audience and most jump from their seats screaming. My hearts thumping so fast, I can hardly breathe to keep up with it.

"Wow!" I say in shock, taking my gray eyes off of Juniper to scan the audience as Lockheart motions for me to sit down.

"Surprised?" He asks.

"Yeah!" I say with an embarrassed laugh, "I... Didn't think I would ever receive this much attention." The crowd laughs a bit and my face is only getting redder.

"Now, you're name Draco means dragon in Latin, am I correct? I'm guessing that's the theme here."

"Uhm…" I don't know what to really say and I don't want to brag. Snape told me to make people like me, right? I can't make them hate me especially since they love me, now. I guess I can try being mysterious. "I guess – yes." I look down embarrassed and half laugh. "I never really thought it was a big deal until – well – now."

"You're a lot different from the other Slytherins." Lockheart says.

I look up, "Different is a strong word."

Lockheart laughs and I throw my usual "bad boy" grin which gets some girls in the front row screaming. "What word would you use then, Dragon?"

I take a breath to think, twisting my snake ring around my finger with anxiety, "Offbeat?"

"What about unique? There are positive words for different, and while we're on this topic, is there anyone in your life that you find unique?"

I swallow the lump in throat and immediately think of Harry. The whole audience gets dead silent, sitting on the edges of their seats for what I'll say. I hesitate then nod, "Yes. Yes there is."

Lockheart suddenly looks deeply interested, "Would you care to tell us who?"

I smirk again and sit back, "Now, that would just ruin the fun." I hear the audience let loose their held breaths in disappointment. "But I will say this…" Everyone gets tense again, "Mortal enemies can fall in love." I can make out some faint gasps from a few people, who probably caught on to what I was implying.

Sasha turns her green head to Lockheart, and I know she doesn't like him, but trying to be friendly, she nudges his cheek with her green nose.

"Oh my! Is this the same snake you had at the parade?"

I smile and pull Sasha away, gently stroking the top of her head. She moves up to my messy hair as if it interests her. "Yeah." I say with a laugh, pulling Sasha's face out of my strawberry fragranced hair – that might be why it attracts her so much.

"She seems to really like you. Then again who doesn't? Is she yours?"

"No, unfortunately." I say, "We're just good friends." I look down at the snake, "Right?" She nudges my cheek and gently licks the edge of my eyebrow. I can make out a few "awes" coming from the crowd that make me go red in the face again.

"Now, Draco. About Goyle…"

Sasha pulls back, sensing how tense I get all of a sudden, coiling herself around me protectively.

"I come to understand there's some tension between you two. Would you care to elaborate?"

I can't tell him. I can't tell the world. Snape will have my head – no, worse – Goyle will. I feel Sasha shift closer for comfort and I fight the urge to make it look like I'm nervous. "Well…" I say, "We'll just have to elaborate more in the Games, now won't we?" I say deviously. I suddenly regret saying any of that. Goyle will take this literally and really elaborate. More so in sense where he'll make my death even more painful. I told you I can't think straight when I'm under pressure.

Finally Lockheart stands up, "Draco, it's really been a pleasure!"

I stand up to shake his hand, but to my surprise, he raises it up to the audience. The crowd jumps from their seats and scream so loud, I think my brain might pop in my skull. Juniper nods to me, a signal that I did a passing job, even though I think I did awful. I salute to the audience before waving and making my way back stage.

As soon as I'm concealed by the curtain, I drop my shoulders and let out a heavy sigh of relief, pressing my hand on the right side of chest as if I'm trying to calm my heart rate. I can even feel Sasha loosen up and we both look at each other with equal tranquility, "Great job, girl." She smiles and licks my jaw line.

"Draco, that was stunning!" Umbridge says as she delicately runs over to me, as if she's made of glass and will shatter if she's not being perfect.

She reaches out to give me a hug but Sasha hisses angrily and Umbridge pulls back at the sight of Sasha's fangs being unsheathed. "Oh, yes… Your reptile did well too." She says uncomfortably.

"She has a name…" I say irritated.

"Yes, well…" She looks at me, trying to find a good way to congratulate me, but Sasha keeps hissing. Instead, Umbridge just pats my head and turns to the other Slytherins. "Alright! You all did wonderful! Now you must get to your rooms, tomorrow is the day!" She giggles her usually mousy chuckle making me shiver. I start heading out to follow Umbridge, but Goyle and his gang cut me off. The three of them glare at me and Goyle smirks like the Devil. "Can't wait to elaborate, Malfoy." He leans near my ear, the side Sasha isn't on, "See you in the Games, pretty boy."

Sasha hisses and snaps her jaws at him, but Goyle pulls away quickly, trying to avoid another bite.

"Good girl." I say after Goyle walks by. I start to follow and get a view of Harry. He smiles at me and gives me a thumb up, since we're both too far away from each other to talk. I turn red and smile back. I hear Sasha make a kind of weird sound and I swear, she just purred. "Oh, shut up." I say to her with amusement as I follow the others.

It's already time for dinner by the time I returned Sasha to Juniper, get back to the Slytherins, shower to get all the red out of hair (which comes out very easily), change into something comfortable, and finally head downstairs.

I'm exhausted, but I have the strangest feeling I won't be able to sleep night, considering what tomorrow holds.

"There's the Dragon!" Blaise says once I sit down between him and Pansy. He pats my back, "You did great!"

"Thanks, Blaise." Pansy still isn't talking to me, and I'm not talking to her. Now I feel guilty for lashing out at her, and she won't even look at me. She's not even eating. She's just poking her stake with a fork. I try to ignore her and reach for my glass of water. I'm too shaken up for tomorrow to drink anything with flavor.

"So what did you and Potter do?" Blaise says.

I almost choke, "Do?" I cough.

"I saw him follow you… Well… You took a while to come back."

"Yes…" Snape says from across the table. "What the devil is going on between you and Potter, Draco?"

"Uh…" I don't want to say anything since Pansy it right next to me and I know how she feels about me at the moment. "Well…" My eyes dart to the food in the center of the table, "Oh, bread!" I grab a bread roll from a small back basket and bite a huge mouthful off so I would be unable to speak. Instead I just shrug.

"I think I'll be going to bed…" Pansy says flatly.

I swallow hard, even though I'm not done chewing. Pansy doesn't even wait for Snape or Umbridge to object and just goes straight upstairs, whipping her eyes on the way. Now, my appetite's gone. The last thing I would want to do right now is to make Pansy cry. I can't let this go… If we don't make up, one of us will die tomorrow, knowing we never fixed this gap between us.

"Hey… You okay?" Blaise asks.

"Huh?" I look up at him, "Yeah, I'm fine… Just tired." I turn to Snape. "I need my energy. I think I'll get to sleep too."

Snape nods, I guess seeing what's going between Pansy and me. Umbridge is about to object to this, but Snape shuts her up by elbowing her in her arm.

I remember Pansy's room being the second one down from mine. I take a deep breath, not knowing if she'll want to see me or not. I knock on her door before letting myself in after there's no reply.

She's laying on the bed, facing a large window that overlooks the Capitol. I can hear muffled and distance cheering and music coming from outside. Every night before the Games the Capitol throws a huge party that the Tributes don't seem to be too fond of. It's kind of obvious why…

"Hey…" I say flatly.

"What do you want?" She says, without even turning to face me.

I shut the door behind me as I walk inside. "Just uhm… Came to see how you're doing."

I get no reply. This is awful. I don't want her to hate me and I don't want to hate her… Yes, I was mad about what she said, but I guess that was the nerves talking and I took it out on her. There's really no excuse for the way I acted. Sighing I sit on the edge of her bed, her back still facing me. "Look." I say slowly, trying to think of what to say. "I know you're mad at me. But I'm scared too..." I groan softly, not liking how these words are coming out. "Pansy…" I say. "I don't want to die knowing we're not friends anymore."

"….Friends?" She hisses, like the word is poison in her mouth, "That's all we'll ever be to you, isn't it?"

I jolt, a little taken aback, especially at her tone. I blink and take a deep, silent breath, "The point is I'm sorry. I'm sorry for yelling at you for what you said – even though you shouldn't have said it – but that's done and over with now." She doesn't answer. This isn't working. I bit my lip nervously and lie down next to her, wrapping my arm around her waist. To my surprise she doesn't struggle away from me. "Please. I'm sorry." I say, hugging her closer.

We stay like this for a while and she still doesn't budge or speak. I lost. Sighing softly, I let her go as I get up. "Bye, Pansy…" I say defeated, starting for the door.

"Draco, wait!"

I pull my hand away from the door knob and turn to face her blankly. She's sitting up, propped on her elbows now. "You could… stay…"

I smile softly and make my way back over. She pulls the blanket up and we both get under. "I'm sorry too." She says as she cuddles into my chest.

I hug her tightly like this might be our last night together, and kiss the top of her head. She smells sweet – like coconut.

"It's cozy lying next to you." She says, moving closer, "You're warm." She fiddles with my shirt and we both remain quiet for a while. I can't sleep, I'm unable to even shut my eyes, afraid of what I'll see if I do. I can feel my heart pick up speed as I think about tomorrow.

"I've been considering your running away option." Pansy says. "We could, you know. We can be together – grow old – have no worries." She half laughs, "Of course that's just in my fantasy."

I grin tiredly and stare out of the window. The sound of the music below gives me a shudder. "Pansy…" I say.

She keeps playing around with my shirt, "Mm-mmm?"

"Are you scared?" I ask, my voice coming out slightly raspy.

"Of course I'm scared, Draco. But I'm with you now, and I feel… safe."

I don't answer. My eyes are glued to the window, thoughts racing through my mind about tomorrow and what to expect for the next days to come – that is if I make it past tomorrow.

"Draco… I know that you'll never love me back." I blink. "But you'll always have my heart." Her voice is breaking and she wraps her arms around me into a tight embrace, "I love you, Draco. I really do."

I honestly have no idea what to say to her. Is she finally accepting that I love Harry? I don't know what to do. No… actually I do.

I pull away from her slightly and tilt her head up to face me. She looks up at me with tear streaked cheeks. Something about her face makes me feel empty. She looks broken and I can't stand to see her this way. Part of me does love her and it feels like that part is aching in pain, calling for her to stop crying and never leave me. But I know that will never happen. I really need to cherish this moment and be strong for her. I can't cry. I can't let her see I'm broken too. I smile with complete worry taking over my face and wipe those tears away, gently, "Don't cry." I say, pulling her in and pressing my lips to hers. She moves her hand to the side of my face and gently strokes my cheek bone with her thumb before she pulls away. I look at my hand and remember the silver, green eyed snake ring that I kept on my finger, and slide it off. She looks at me questionably as I slide it on her finger. "Don't ever take it off." I kiss the top of her head, "So I'll always be with you, even when we're not together."

Her eyes fill up with more tears and she places her ringed hand over my heart, "Dray-" We press our foreheads together, our lips just meters apart. I can feel her hot breath against me as she shuts her eyes, still crying. I'm trying so hard to hold back. I know my eyes must look glassy with tears.

I look at her with melancholy in my eyes, soon shutting them as well. Eventually, the noises outside become faint, and everything goes black.

AN: Well, here's 10 like I promised! Finally on part 2! I hope it's good. Fair warning the Games will be gory. I guess you could have guessed that, though - becasue Goyle is insane and sick minded. He was actually meant to act a bit more like Cato... but he turned out to be slightly more insane. Also, thanks for the reviews guys! It means a lot! :D