Chapter 3: Saying Goodbye

As soon as the doors closed behind them, Peacekeepers arrived to escort them to their respective lounges where they would have an hour to say goodbye to their loved ones before being carted off to the Capitol. As she was dragged away, Lavender's tears started falling faster and more freely, making her seem to Harry like a blubbering mess.

"Right this way, Mr. Potter," district 7's Head Peacekeeper, Dawlish said to Harry as he gestured down the hallway. Harry straightened up and followed Dawlish to the room in question, entering and taking a seat on the edge of a lush armchair. Dawlish pulled the doors closed behind him as he took his post standing guard on the other side.

It was only a matter of minutes before the doors burst open again and Ron and Hermione came into the room.

"Oh, Harry I'm so sorry!" Hermione exclaimed, trapping Harry in a big hug.

"What for?" Harry asked, putting on his brave face. "You didn't do anything."

"It's just so unfair," Hermione said angrily, pulling away, her eyes filled with tears.

"The existence of the Games is unfair," Harry said. "It's just bad luck that I got chosen this year."

"It's not bad luck," Ron said. Up till then he'd been hanging back, but now he stepped forward next to Hermione. "If your aunt and uncle weren't so cruel, you never would have gotten picked."

"Well we can't change anything now," Harry pointed out, having accepted his fate. "At least they're rid of me."

"Don't talk like that," Hermione reprimanded him. "You can still make it out of this alive."

"Are you joking?" Harry cried. It would almost be funny if it wasn't so horrible. "I couldn't protect myself against Neville with an axe, and he's more likely to hit himself in the foot than to hit me. I'm going to be up against trained killers, people who've been practicing for this all their lives."

"Just don't give up yet," Hermione begged him. "Try to come back."

"Of course, Hermione," Harry promised. Apparently, this merited another hug, because Harry suddenly found himself being smothered again.

"Take care of yourself, mate," Ron said when Hermione had finally let go.

Harry nodded. "Take care of them," he said, gesturing to Hermione with his head. It went without saying, but the request went for Ginny too. Harry knew once he'd died, she would lose it, and she would need Ron to help her move on with her life.

The doors opened and Dawlish poked his head in. "Time's up," he said.

Hermione gave Harry one last hug. "You can do this, Harry," she said. Harry smiled sadly as Ron placed his arm around her shoulders and lead her out of the room. The doors closed behind them and Harry was left alone again.

It wasn't even a full minute until the doors banged open again, and suddenly Harry was pinned to his chair, a mess of red hair sobbing uncontrollably on top of him.

"I c-c-can't b-believe this is h-h-happening," Ginny wept. Feeling completely useless, Harry began to calmly stroke her hair.

"Don't worry, I can win this," he said, even though he knew he didn't stand a chance. He hated seeing Ginny so miserable and couldn't help giving her hope.

"You really think so?" Ginny asked, looking up at him with shining eyes.

"Sure," Harry replied. "Hermione thinks so too," he added for good measure.

"You promise you'll try your best?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I'll do everything I can to come home." As he said it, Harry knew that it was true. Even though the odds were against him, even though he had no skills, nothing at all that would be helpful in the arena, he knew that he would still do whatever it took to win.

Ginny wiped away her tears and looked Harry straight in the eyes. Her face was set, determined. "I love you, Harry," she said. Though they'd been dating for two years and the word had been tossed around casually in the past, never had it been said with so much conviction, so much dedication, so much certainty.

"I love you too," Harry replied. He leaned forward and kissed Ginny, pouring everything he had into it. He needed this kiss to say everything he couldn't say out loud and he also needed it to say goodbye, in case this really was goodbye.

All too soon, the doors opened again and Ginny was forcibly dragged away from Harry by the Peacekeepers.

"NOOO!" she screamed, her arms reaching out for Harry. Harry took a step forward, but his path was blocked by Dawlish, pushing him back into the lounge.

"I love you, Ginny!" Harry cried out, hoping she could still hear him from wherever she was. The doors shut and Harry let a single tear fall before wiping it away and letting his mask fall back into place.

It was a few minutes before the doors opened again and this time, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley entered.

"Oh Harry, this is just awful!" Mrs. Weasley wailed, wrapping Harry in yet another hug.

"We just wanted to say goodbye," Mr. Weasley said. "You've been a great friend to Ron, a great boyfriend to Ginny and – " his voice caught in his throat, " – and you've been like a son to Molly and me," he finished.

Harry's throat swelled with emotion. "And you two have been like parents to me," he said. "You're the family I never had with my aunt and uncle."

"We love you, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said. "We're so glad to have had you in our lives."

"We hope to see you again," Mr. Weasley said. "But in case we don't… just know you'll be remembered."

"Thanks," Harry nodded. Mrs. Weasley patted Harry on the shoulder once more before following her husband back out of the lounge.

Harry wandered over to the window. He'd seen everyone he was going to see, he figured. His aunt and uncle wouldn't come to see him off, that was for sure, and his cousin was probably already moving his things into Harry's room.

He heard the door creak open and Harry turned around, expecting it to be Dawlish telling him it was time to board the train. Instead, he found himself facing Luna Lovegood, a friend of Ginny's who he didn't really know that well.

"Uh… hi," Harry said, not really sure why she'd come to see him.

"I brought you something," Luna said holding her hand out. Curious, Harry stepped forward to see what she was holding out more clearly. It was a necklace – a plain string with a small charm dangling off it. It looked homemade – instead of a clasp, the string was tied into a double knot at the back. The charm was of a small bird, possibly a hummingbird, though Harry couldn't be sure.

"It's a blibbering humdinger," Luna explained, interpreting Harry's puzzled expression correctly. "They bring good luck."

Harry was pretty sure there was no such thing as a blibbering humdinger, but he was in no mood to argue the point. "It's very pretty," he said, unsure what else he was supposed to say.

"Would you wear it?" Luna asked. "In the Games, I mean."

"Oh," Harry said in surprise. He'd forgotten that he was allowed to bring a personal item into the arena with him. Since he didn't have anything in mind though, he figured there would be no harm in accepting the gift. "Sure," he said.

"Thanks," Luna said happily, dropping the necklace over Harry's head. "My dad and I really appreciate it. We're trying to promote our new line of jewelry and the Hunger Games are the perfect place to show them off."

"No problem," Harry said in befuddlement. Here is was, basically on death row, and she was thinking about selling her jewelry? Well, Ginny had always said that she was an odd person.

After thanking him again, Luna left, and this time when the doors opened again it really was Dawlish, come to escort him out. Harry was led to a truck just outside the Justice Building and he climbed in, joining Lavender and Gilderoy, who were both already inside. Lavender seemed to have composed herself over the course of the hour. Though her eyes were still red, her face was dry of tears and her expression was set.

The truck began to drive and Harry looked out the window, mentally saying goodbye to all the people he hadn't had a chance to say goodbye to. There was Neville, standing over by the street corner, waving a sad goodbye as the truck passed him. There were Dean and Seamus, sitting on Seamus' front porch as they watched the tributes drive by. There was George at the gate past which only the tributes could travel, the grin that Harry had thought was plastered permanently on his face gone.

The truck came to a stop and a faceless Peacekeeper opened the door for them. Harry got out first, followed by Lavender with Gilderoy taking the rear. They walked in a line from the truck to the stairs of the train. Just before climbing aboard, Harry turned around to take one last look at district 7. Unfortunately, the Peacekeepers didn't have time for his hesitation as he suddenly felt himself being shoved up the stairs and onto the train. Lavender followed close behind him and as soon as Gilderoy had passed through the door, it shut and the train lurched forward.

"Let's get you all settled then, shall we?" Gilderoy suggested with a smile. He took the lead and led them through the train's corridor to a beautiful compartment near the end. When he stepped through the door, Harry was floored. The room was beautifully decorated, colors popping everywhere, a stark contrast from the bleak walls in district 7. There was a huge table in the center of the room laden with every food imaginable and even some foods that were unimaginable. Hanging from the ceiling were three large crystal chandeliers and all around the room sat the softest looking armchairs Harry had ever seen.

"Make yourselves at home," Gilderoy said, gesturing widely with his hand. "I'm just going to go and see where your mentors have gotten themselves to."

He turned and went back out the door they'd all arrived through, leaving Harry and Lavender alone. Not feeling very hungry, Harry took a seat in one of the armchairs. He'd been right in his assumption – they were the softest chairs he'd ever sat in.

Lavender dawdled a bit by the door, staring around the room. After a moment though, she seemed to make up her mind about something because she plopped herself down next to Harry, crossing her arms in front of her defiantly.

"Hi," Harry said to break the silence. "I'm Harry." He held out his hand awkwardly. "It's nice to meet you."

Lavender stared at Harry's hand until he felt so uncomfortable he retracted it. "Look you don't have to be nice to me," she said once Harry's hand was back in his chair. "It's not like we can both make it out of this."

"That doesn't mean we have to be enemies," Harry said. "I just thought it wouldn't hurt to go into this with a friend and who better than someone from home?"

Lavender considered Harry for a moment. "You know if it comes down to it, I'd kill you in a second if it meant my survival?"

"I understand," Harry replied. It seemed he'd underestimated her. Before today, he'd always seen her as a self-involved girly-girl. When he'd seen her crying, he'd thought her weak, an easy target for a Career. Now he didn't know what to make of her. "So you can understand then that the same goes for me?"

"I can respect that," Lavender replied. They nodded at each other and both resumed their original positions as they waited for their mentors to arrive.