Their week of training seemed to have come to an end before she could re-read her copy of "Hogwarts: A History". Each day consisted of a basic repeat of studying, sparring, hunting techniques and bickering back and forth. At times, Hermione was skeptical if she would be capable of not strangling Draco in his sleep before the first trial had even begun.

Even so, he was a fast learner. By the end of the seven days, he could tie a perfect sailor's knot, start his own fire, run through any of the courses, and shoot targets to a reasonable extent. Much like herself, he had found a passion in archery with bows and arrows, and while he hadn't admitted it once, her tips and tricks on how to send the arrow right through the target were highly appreciated. Hermione was proud of her teaching, and she found herself more than once putting on a smug smirk each time he had taken her advice and successfully hit the bullseye.

Each time Draco had scowled and rolled his eyes.

Day by day, she could see a small change in him, both in his physical form and in his attitude towards her. His demeanor was no longer always tense, but sometimes content or relaxed when working on his knots. His skin had returned to its average pale color, and the bags under his eyes seemed to decrease. As such, Draco didn't seem to shut her out or criticize her teachings as the week progressed. At one point, she actually thought he had smiled before it quickly disappeared. She didn't want to second guess herself or get her hopes up, but, with that faintest bit of hope she hung on to, she had a feeling that their treaty could soon turn to trust.

The night before they were to be taken to the arena, Hermione found herself in the same position she had been a week ago; lying on her back and staring at the ceiling. She was wide awake and couldn't seem to get the last goodbyes she had said to her friends out of her head.

Their looks of concern, pity and sorrow haunted her each time she closed her eyes. It didn't help that through the wall of her room she could hear one of the tributes from Sweden snoring to the extent she was sure all of Britain could hear him.

Sitting up in bed, Hermione turned on the lamp and picked up one of the books she had brought from the Leaky Cauldron. Flipping through the pages, she stopped on her chapter and began to read. No matter what kind of situation she was in, she knew she could always find solace through the lines of books. Curling deeper into her blanket, she read hours into the night, the words finally turning blurry as drowsiness took over her senses. Hermione, however, had no time to get a few minutes of rest before the alarms signaling the tribute's wake up call sounded all around her room, echoing in high pitched screeches.

Dragging herself to the door, she found a neatly pressed outfit waiting for her and a card with instructions on what time to report. She sighed and picked up the bundle of clothes. As she started to close her door, Hermione caught a glimpse of Draco picking up his own uniform outside his dorm. She caught his eye as he started to close his door and gave him a weak smile.

Leaving the hallway and making sure her door was locked, Hermione changed into her uniform, consisting of undergarments, simple tawny pants, a white blouse, a thin jacket, and soft leather boots. She swung her arms back and forth making sure she could move in the outfit and found it was rather comfortable, or more than what she had expected from the Ministry. Tying her hair back, Hermione put on the last of her things while making her way across the room.

Hermione rummaged through the back of her small closet and dug out the uniform she had worn the first day she had arrived. Searching through the pocket's she pulled out the light blue aster and held it between her fingers. She guessed Mrs. Weasley had enchanted it as it hadn't even begun to wilt and it's petals were still strong and healthy.

Gently placing it into her jacket pocket, she took a deep breath, grabbed the information card and made her way back to the hallway.

With her usual knack for getting to places early, Hermione was the only one in the training center when she arrived, minus the full time guards scattered around the gymnasium. Crossing her arms over her chest, she sat on the floor and waited for the others to show while reading her information card in the meantime.

It didn't take long as the tributes began filing in. Beforehand, Hermione hadn't been able to get the best look at her competition in the Games. Up close, she noticed almost every single one of the boys, Draco included, and at least half the girls were bigger than she was, most with fit and lean builds. She ignored her knotting stomach knowing she may have a disadvantage because of this.

Each of the tributes made their way to separate sections of the training center talking in hushed conversations and glancing around at the other groups. When Draco made his way over to Hermione, they didn't talk much, but instead sat in a comfortable silence. Hermione finally silenced the push-and-pull in her head and was about to make light talk when Atala walked into the room, ending any and all of the whispered conversations around them.

"You vill all be escorted to the arena in a short matter of minutes. 'Till then, ve shall discuss the reviewed concept of the Games. 'Course ve can't give anything away though. Vhere's the fun in that?" Atala laughed heartily, showing her large yellow teeth. "This year's Hunger Games vill consist of four trials, coming down to a final battle to the death if there are any remaining tributes. As a reminder, vands are prohibited, but any vandless or non-verbal magic is allowed at the grace of the Ministry. If two tributes from the same country are still standing, ve can proceed vith having two victors. This is to ensure that pure-blood lines vill coexist in our world, and dirty blood -" She stopped and made direct eye contact with Hermione. "- vill no longer be an issue to the bloodlines of the vizarding vorld. May the odds be ever in your favor."

Atala turned her back to the tributes and made her way over to a group of Death Eaters. The other tributes waited a moment before resuming their hushed conversations while giving wavering glances to the other groups.

"Scared, Granger?" Draco muttered beside her. She turned to see him studying the array of various tributes around the gymnasium.

"Not at all, Malfoy," Hermione retorted. "Besides I hardly think we have anything to worry about when it comes to the other tributes. I'm more concerned about the trials than anything."

"What do you mean?" he asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"Well, since they always want - you know - a "show", they won't just want an automatic blood bath like they had last year." Hermione shivered as she thought back to watching last year's Hunger Games. Everyone in the twelve countries was forced to watch, and last year was the most gruesome yet. Twenty-four tributes had gone in, and by the time the blood bath was over, only eleven remained.

Hermione shook her head to get the memories out of her mind and continued. "These trials are meant to test us to the worst and most painful extent possible, to the point they're almost cruel. Like I said, they want some sort of show, which is why we -".

She was cut off by someone grabbing her from behind. Whirling around, Hermione came face to face with a silvery-decorated Death Eaters mask. Before she could pull away, her captor grabbed her by the arm and whoever was behind the mask muttered a quick spell. A buzzing sensation fell over Hermione and she suddenly became dizzy. As the world began to spin and her head felt too heavy to hold, she thought she heard Draco yell something and felt a pair of strong arms try to steady her before everything went completely black.

...

Hermione's head was absolutely throbbing. She was sure her skull would burst at any moment if she moved too quickly or opened her eyes. As she lay on what felt like a cold, stone floor, she wasn't quite sure if she was still unconscious or not. She got her answer a moment later when a sudden gasp came from the other side of the room.

She wasn't alone.

Even though she thought her head would split, Hermione sat bolt upright and looked around, ready to attack. Watching the Games had taught her a lot, one being to always be ready and alert for whatever the trials will throw your way. But she sighed in relief as she caught sight of platinum blonde hair.

Draco was turned over on his back and clutching his temples with his finger tips. His lips were pressed into a thin white line and his hair was an absolute mess from what it had been earlier that morning. Or what she assumed was earlier that morning.

Willing herself to ignore the pain, Hermione slowly flipped over and got onto her hands and knees, being careful when she finally rose from the floor. Her feet were unsteady and she thought her legs would give out from underneath her at any given moment. Holding her hands out, she took a few steps just to be sure.

Hermione made her way over to her partner still sprawled out on the floor, his hands now covering his face. She walked over and bent down beside him, giving him a gentle shake. Draco pulled his hands away and let a small groan escape his lips. He squinted his eyes up at her and mumbled, "Granger?"

She nodded her head and gently eased him into a sitting position. "What happened?" he muttered looking around the room. Hermione followed his gaze and took in where exactly they were; the room was made of solid, concrete brick with a single door made of what looked like steel, no doubt reinforced with a repelling enchantment. Farthest away from them, two large glass pillars stood tall leading up and out of the ceiling to the entrance of the arena.

"Stunning spell," Hermione finally responded. "And apparently we were out long enough for them to move us to the arena. I'm not quite sure where we are, though."

As soon as the words left her lips, a thundering noise came from above. The two glass pillars began to descend lower to the floor until a single platform on each became visible. Through the opening hole, Hermione could hear the roars and cheers from the crowd above awaiting the arrival of the tributes.

The lock of the steel door was pulled back with a hard bang and two security guards barged into the room. Hermione hoisted Draco up even as he winced in pain. Putting on a brave face, she didn't fight back when they led her and Draco over to the two platforms.

Positioning them to stand facing each other, Hermione looked over and into his eyes. She saw fear and worry seep through the walls he had built up and Hermione truly was at a loss for words. Neither had time to say something to the other before the platforms began to rise from the floor.

Steadying herself, Hermione took a shaky breath as she tried to calm her nerves. When they approached the top of the long tube, Hermione was suddenly met with a blinding light as the crowd erupted around her in waves of cheers, applause, and disgrace towards her and Draco.

Turning her head, she saw the twenty-two other tributes looking around the wondrous spectacle of the huge arena. She tried to see the crowds of people in the stands but the sudden spotlight on her turned her face away from the crowd.

"Good evening!" a voice boomed around the arena. The smattering applause quieted as all eyes turned up to Yaxley. He had his wand pointed to his throat to accentuate his voice so that all could hear. Hermione looked up to see him wearing the smuggest smirk she had ever seen as if he had just won the World Cup by finding a clever way to cheat.

Suddenly, a thought struck her.

Looking around the arena once more, Hermione gasped. It was the Quidditch World Cup arena. The stands, the lights, the field in front of her - it was suddenly all so familiar. Hermione had no time to think back to the happy memories she had shared here with the Weasley's and Harry as Yaxley continued with his introduction speech of the Hunger Games.

"As Minister for Magic, it gives me great pleasure to welcome each and every one of you witches and wizards here tonight, to the third annual Hunger Games!"

The crowd practically erupted into a sea of cheers and applause. "But before we begin our tournament...I find it we should introduce our tributes, and meet who our victors may certainly be. Beginning with our tributes from Albania: Enver Dervishi and Dafina Kurth!"

The audience cheered and praised the two tributes as they stepped off of their platforms, bowed their heads in acknowledgement of the people, then returned to their spots on their podiums. Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing as they actually looked to be enjoying themselves! She scowled and turned her attention back to Yaxley.

"To the tributes from Portugal: Eva Santos and Tiago Ferreira!" Another round of ear piercing cheers. Hermione gave a quick side glance to the tributes as Yaxley continued down his list:

"The twin tributes of Denmark, August and Askel Pedersen!"

"From the home of Paris, our two French tributes Gabrielle Delacour and Cato Hadley!"

"Our Swedish competitors, Astrid Nilsson and Hugo Johansson

"Their great home country presents the tributes of Bulgaria, Icarus Alferov and Minnie Kushev!"

Hermione couldn't bear to listen to the names of the tributes read off anymore. She was revolted and disgusted. The names were being read off as if they were being auctioned like meat, and the crowd applauded it with praise. She hadn't noticed her fingers curling in to make a tight fist until a sharp sting grabbed her attention. Following it down, she noticed a thin line of blood seeping through the marks her fingernails had indented into her palm. Quickly brushing it off on the side of her pant leg, Hermione brought her eyes back to the stands when Yaxley began the introduction of the final tributes.

"And lastly, to our commemoration and first ever Muggle-born and volunteered tributes, our two competitors of Britain: Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy!"

Looking directly forward and barely acknowledging the audience, Hermione stepped off her podium and into the soft grass beneath her boots. Beside her, Draco did the same and kept his eyes glued to something that wasn't there. She turned back and stepped onto the platform, a sudden chill running up her spine. All around them, cheers and hysterical laughter rang out through the stadium.

"Now the moment we've all been waiting for," Yaxley started, calming the crowd into quiet murmurs. "Let the third annual Hunger Games...BEGIN!"

With a flick of his wand, twelve beams of blue light shot from the tip of his wand between each duo of tributes. A silvery wall appeared between them leading up to a single closed corridor on the far side of the pitch, looking to be more of a dot from the distance between them. Hermione's brows furrowed but kept her face passable as she tried to stare down the long, dark hall.

Above her, Hermione glanced up to find a large projection of the tributes scattered among the arena, each live streamed from wherever they were. She ignored looking up again, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of seeing her nervous. Clenching her fists again and ignoring the small, newborn cut on her hand, Hermione crouched down, prepared to run.

The pounding of her heart was deafening. Her palms began to sweat. The crowd around them had fallen into absolute silence. No one made a sound as the clock began to tick down the seconds for when the bell would ring out signifying the official start of the Hunger Games, and behind that door awaited their first trial.

Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Goosebumps broke out onto her arm, and she was certain it wasn't from the cool breeze. Opening her eyes, she stared forward and waited.

One second…

Two seconds…

Three…

A gong rang out among the stadium, and everything around her suddenly turned to a blur.

Hey y'all!

Sorry about the short hiatus, but I'm back and at 'em and I present to you chapter five!

I don't really have much else to update you guys on, other than if you're waiting on the next chapter for Phoenix and Foes, I PROMISE I will get that out as soon as possible! With getting back from vacation and jumping back into classes, things have gotten a bit hectic with upcoming assignments and what not, but seeing as I already finished writing this story, updates will continue for H.P. and the Reaping every Monday and Wednesday!

As always, hope you guys have a magical morning, afternoon, evening, or night!

-Summerwinds