Diana's prep team scared her more than the thought of dying in the games, more than the memory of her brother's death… well, maybe not that far. She clenched and unclenched her fists as they surveyed her body. They had peeled off every piece of hair on her body, even though she had shaved back at Ilvermorny. Somehow, they had found those tiny peach hairs on her chin and back and knuckles. "Should anyone be this bare?" she questioned as they put their tools back.

Syca, an older woman with neon yellow hair and almost crazed blue eyes, laughed—or cackled. "Darling, if you aren't that bare, you won't get any sponsors."

"I know appearance plays a big part, but do you think anyone would have noticed the hairs on my face?" She brushed her hands over her neck, flinching at how it felt like a small child's soft skin. Diana had been through too much, knew too much for her skin to feel this way.

"Please, Diana, I noticed," Zepto said, running his fingers through his thin, sea green hair.

Suddenly, she wanted to hide her body away. Those few words pushed doubt into her head. Diana never had a problem with self-image. She never thought she was beautiful or ugly. She was just Diana Potter. Black hair that snarled too quickly, green eyes, and a strong enough body to play Quidditch.

"Fava will be in soon," Syca said before she and Zepto left, the white door slamming in the quiet room.

Diana grabbed her robe and wrapped it around herself. "I hate this. I hate this." She eyed her locket that lay on the small table. They had forced her to take it off, and she barely had enough time to hide her wand in it. Maybe she could Apparate back to Ilvermorny. Diana shook her head, pacing back and forth on bare feet. She had only practiced it a few times, and her prep team had taken her clothes away.

The door opened and a woman with tall stilettoes and a wave of blonde-teal hair walked in. "My name is Fava. I'm your stylist. Are you ready, my dear?"

"They didn't," Haymitch groaned once he walked up to District 12's chariot. He looked between Diana and Seamus with anger burning in his eyes.

Diana couldn't blame him. It had taken all of her might not to scream at Fava when she told Diana her idea. Both she and Seamus were dressed in coal miner outfits. Seamus's, at least, was much more appropriate than Diana's. Hers barely covered her cleavage, and she kept trying to cover more, wondering how many tributes were looking at her. She had examined some of them. The tributes from 1 and 2 looked the most dangerous, but she wouldn't put it past the others to be just as frightening.

Haymitch rubbed his eyes, shaking his head. He took a deep breath, then looked back at Diana. "They could have at least made it… cover more."

Blush fumed over Diana's cheeks and she refused to meet his eyes. Her brain started whirling. There was simply only one way to avoid complete humiliation. Transfiguration. A simple swish of her wand could turn their boring costumes into something amazing. The one thing: what would it be?

Fava and Seamus's stylist ushered them into their chariot, not noticing Haymitch's pointed glare he sent them. A few fake words of comfort were said, and they were being pulled forward.

"I hate this," Seamus said once they were out of earshot.

Diana smiled at the echo of her own words.

Peacock coal. Professor Smith's voice echoed throughout her head as she pictured the multi-colored and shimmering coal he had spoken about. It was during one of his many lessons about District 12 and its resources. The color only lasted a short time before oxidizing from exposure to air. But she could use it to her advantage.

As their chariot left the bottom level of the Remake Center, she could hear whistles and screams of "District 12!" in her direction. Her wand weighed heavily in her pocket. She couldn't pull it out—there were too many people and cameras looking at her. Diana spotted her and Seamus on an enormous screen. She almost gagged at her appearance.

Without a second hesitation, she waved her hand. She watched the coal miner costumes fall away, replaced with black suits that shined metallic purples, blues, and oranges. Diana's hair, which had been pulled into a high ponytail, fell down her shoulders in thick waves. Seamus stared up at himself, his mouth opened in shock.

Diana nudged him. "Smile and wave," she whispered.

The boy's eyes steadied, and he grinned out at the Capitolites. Diana copied his movements, knowing very well what she had just done. Knowing that Fava had no idea what happened, but hoping that she would take the credit and not add any more suspicion on District 12's tributes.

The crowd had exploded, shocked by their change of costume. Diana soon lost herself in the attention, basking in the cheers.

Haymitch watched his tributes beside Lucy Gray, drumming his fingers against his arm. Diana soaked up the attention, her green eyes blazing with confidence and power. Compared to the boy by her side, he knew she'd make it farther than his other tributes. Maybe win.

"What do you think, Lucy?"

The woman hummed. Even though she was only in her early fifties, going through her own games and living in the poorest district had done its own damage. "They have a chance."

"How did their costumes change like that?" Haymitch turned to Fava and Cornell, raising an eyebrow. When Diana had come out looking like she had already won the games and was forced to sell her body, he'd wanted to strangle both stylists. But then it changed before his very eyes and they were shimmering and deadly.

Fava opened her mouth a few times before shrugging. Cornell didn't look like he had an explanation.

That suspicion that had been creeping into Haymitch since he made eye contact with Diana at the Reaping rose to the surface and he turned back to look at her.

Well, he thought, at least they won't have issues gaining sponsors.

A/N: If there are any misspells or odd sentence structure, it's because my beta reader (aka my sister) went on strike. I will be attempting to bribe her to help me... but she's stubborn. On a brighter note, I am officially done with this semester! I submitted my final paper (about word processors cause that's the kind of computer scientist/writer I am) today and so until January 9th, I am FREEEE! Don't forget to leave a review with your thoughts! I'd really appreciate it :-)