Written for Auden as part of the Advent-Calendar Event at Hogwarts. I hope you like it
Pairing: Ablus/Bella (Scorpius' Sister)
Hungergame!AU
We play a game that can only be won by death
"There was a sudden change of plans," the metallic voice of one of the Gamekeepers runs through the arena. "There can only be one victor of this year's Magic-Games."
Upon hearing the fateful words, Bella instantly froze. She felt Albus loosening his embrace around her and simultaneously they looked at the nearby tree, where they knew a small, almost undetectable camera would hang.
They lied, Bella thought outraged, we should have known that the rule about the possibility of two tributes of the same district winning was only a bloody ruse!
The young Malfoy then glanced over at Albus. They had come this far and now this?
Everyone thought that after the legendary defeat of Lord Voldemort, the world would be a better place. But Bella can only laugh about it.
Time after time, the whole wizarding world had been separated into twelve districts; lead by the elite wizards and witches who now resided in the newly built Capitol.
From what the girl had been told, the districts once attempted a revolution, but it was brutally ended by the Capitol. To ensure that the fellow wizards and witches would obeye, the had started the tradition of the Magic-Games.
The rules were simple. Every year one boy and one girl from each district are chosen to compete in the games. Well, to be more precise, they were forced to compete in a fight of life and death; and in the end, only one would get out alive.
Bella still remembers the day of the 'reaping' when she had willingly offered herself to be chosen as the next tribute for District 12. The lottery had chosen Albus Potter to be her male counterpart. A boy, who had once saved her from starving to death.
District 12 has always been the poorest and least popular of them all. But since they are also the ones most likely to start a new fight for freedom, a ban had been placed over the district to make sure only a limited amount of magic would work there.
The consequence was that more and more people had to work in the mines. Bella's father Draco had been one of them; and to this day, she is still not over his death; nor is her brother Scorpius.
Shaking her head, the girl turns her attention back to the present.
"They won't win this time, Al," she says and looks into his sad emerald eyes.
"Just do it, Bella," he says and hands the weapon over to her, "You have a family that loves you. They need a victor and I want you to be it. Everyone knew you had it in you to win the Games."
Bella doesn't take her eyes off him, but then a sudden thought hits her.
They need a winner! Or the audience will make the Gamewizard's lives a living hell!
Bella then shoves her hand into her pocket to retrieve the small amount of poisonous nightlock berries. She divides them in two equal amounts and gives one half to Albus.
For a moment Albus looks at her confused.
"Hold your hands up, so everyone will see them," Bella says and a wave of understanding flashes over her friend when she holds her hand up, right in front of the camera.
"Let's do it together then," Albus answers and kisses her one last time. "Let's count it down."
"One."
Let's hope I'm right…
"Two."
There's still a chance…
"Three."
Well, it was worth a try… Bella thinks and simultaneously they put the berries in their mouths.
She already feels them on her tounge, when once again the metallic voice is heard. "Witches and Wizards, may I present you the winners of the 74th Magic-Games: Bella Malfoy and Albus Potter."
Bella immediately spits the berries out; so does Albus.
Their glances once again connect and they both know that this is just the beginning. But for now, all she can think of is the relieve and love that is shining from Albus eyes and her heart skips a beat when he grabs her hand and softly squeezes it.
