Harry Potter and the Battle Royale!
Disclaimer: Chapter 3 is here! One down and the competition has not even begun! Poor Colin :( Bwahaha! Rated M for Maturity :D
Chapter 3: And So It Begins...
Harry was trying his damned hardest to hold it together. Violently shaking in temper. He was thinking over and over of that damned collar exploding round the blonde boys neck, how his head was ripped from his body in a very bloody explosion, the way it loudly thumped the floor and bounced slightly, splattering blood around and the way his head rolled half a meter stopping at Cho's feet. Her eyes wide and then came her scream along with everyone else's like a chorus. A smell made Harry snap from his thoughts. How would one describe the smell, the smell of death? Harry had seen death, he had been there when Cedric was murdered but it was nothing compared to this. This was brutality at its worst. Cedric's death was merciful in comparison. At least with the killing curse, he would not have felt anything, at least he didn't think so, but it was instant death though. This was certainly not! Colin suffered in agony before the collar exploded. Umbridge practically tortured him whilst looking on. She looked angry at first, but it was not long before her face was lit up with wonder and amazement. From Harry's outburst to the death of Colin, only a minute passed, but to Harry, it felt far longer than that. Colin suffered for about ten or maybe fifteen seconds? That was ten or fifteen seconds of suffering he did not deserve! Harry couldn't find the courage to look Umbridge in the eye, but he knew she was looking at him, boring into his head, practically daring him to give her the excuse she needs to make him the next victim.
By now it had been about two minutes since Colin's collar was set off. It felt like a lifetime had passed. Most people were still crying and wailing, if it was mourning his death, feeling sorry for themselves or each other or just because they felt lost and felt like they no longer understood anything any more. It was quieter now. Umbridge had given the students time to process what they had just witnessed, she wished maximum impact. Her point was made. "Children, do understand that any outbursts from this point will not go unpunished!" Umbridge pressed dramatically, waving her wand around.
Something in Harry snapped like a twig. He didn't say anything, or do anything drastic, but it made him look her in the eye, a change he felt a moment ago. He was right, Umbridge was looked directly at him, wide eyes, as if she was egging him on to say something. Harry just looked back at her as if saying, 'You will get yours soon enough!' This line of thinking gave Harry great comfort and he clung on to it for dear life. It woke him up to a new purpose in life. He was going to kill Dolores Umbridge! If any killing was to happen in the next 3 days, Umbridge's life would be taken, by Harry's wand or by any other means possible. Followed by Fudge! He's as guilty as she is, he's helped make all of this possible!
Feeling his new sense of purpose, Harry felt more in control, more collected and focused. He wanted to start making plans, but he couldn't just yet. He wanted to group up with the people he trusted most, Hermionie, Ron and this brothers with Ginny, Cho...did he trust her anymore? Could he trust her, with their very lives? Harry then felt ashamed that he would think as such a thought, after all he saw Cho's face when Colin's head stopped at her feet and he heard her scream. She was as much a victim in this as everyone else in the room.
"Right then, listen carefully, this is important! Shortly, you will be called out one by one at two minute intervals. You will collect a supplies bag and then leave the Great Hall! You can all go wherever you wish on Hogwarts grounds but not beyond. Dementors will also be patrolling the grounds to ensure no escaping as well as charms and various protection spells. When you are out of the Great Hall, you cannot come back in. Any attempt to do so and you will be killed" she ended jubilantly, "Now I want you all to take your seats quickly!"
Everyone started to do so, but by no means quick, at least as quick as their bodies and minds would let them move. Once each student was seated, she continued, "Now then, by now you should have come to realise that there is no escaping this program. I can understand how difficult it must be for you all, but in life, there is suffering everyday. It is how we deal with this suffering that truly matters and to come out of the darkness and despair that life throws at us. To help you remember and understand this, we will be doing a short exercise before the program commences."
With that, Umbridge lifted her wand and a large piece or parchment each appeared in front of everybody with an unusual looking quill. Harry first noticed the quill and recognised it. He clenched his fist, revealing a white scar on his hand spelling 'I must not tell lies'.
Hermione and Ron clearly recognised it too. He thought everyone might have done thanks to last year. No-one was looking forward to it, but it was better than what was to follow after. Umbridge looked delighted and began again, "Now I want you all to write the following. 'Nobody is to be trusted.' Write this down twenty times!"
Everyone obeyed without protest. Very shortly, the sounds of discomfort could be heard. Umbridge closed her eyes, listening as if she longed to hear these sounds once more, the sound of students suffering! She had a shadowy smile across her face and began to pace up and down the room. Once the scratching of the quills were finished, "Now I want you to all write, 'If I do not kill, I will be killed' Write this twenty times!"
Again the scratching of the quills could be heard with even more discomfort and the rubbing of hands, clearly starting to cause a deep searing pain. Once complete, she started once more, "Let's see...now write, 'I will kill because I am a winner' Write this twenty times also!"
The sounds from various people were evident that this quill really hurt and brought the point home. Harry had remembered that the quill hurt, but perhaps he forgot just how much. It was starting to cause pain. He saw a tear fall down Hermione's cheek as she discreetly wiped it away. Harry wanted Umbridge dead! More than ever!
"Right, now you should all understand what must be done, is everybody unsure on this?" she piped up.
No-one said a word. Frightened or they didn't want to write any more with that damned quill! Umbridge seemed happy and then dreamily gave a big sigh. "Now that is all over with, we can begin the program! We were going to have this program take place on an island, but with Dumbledore's successful arrest and no headmaster to replace him, we were able to send all the students to their homes, informing their parents the school is closed for a week whilst a new headmaster or headmistress is put into place after our 'investigation'! So you see children, no-one will know what is really going on! We have sent letters by owl to your parents informing them you are all being questioned by the ministry as their guest and under their protection, that it's just a formality concerning Professor Dumbledore. Since his arrest, we decided to hold the program here at Hogwarts! What could be more historic than the first Ministry program to take place here?" she finished.
So that's how all this was set up, but why? Harry pondered this, but he couldn't think straight right now. Who could?
"Now I am going to call you all out one by one and you will leave at two minute intervals!" she chirped as she picked a piece of parchment up, the same one she used to kill Colin it seems, "First out, Hannah Abbott! Take a supply bag and go! My advice would be to run girl!" she giggled.
Hannah looked like all the life out of her was long gone, tears were streaming down her face and her hand was red from writing with the quill. She picked up a bag and one of the guards marched then shoved her out of the hall! 'Bastards!' Harry thought. No understanding or sympathy, just 'get out and die!'
Two minutes passed surprisingly quick when the next person was called out. It was Seamus. Sheet white and shaking with fear, he stood up and walked over to the entrance and picked up a bag and he turned to face everyone. His eyes were slightly red, probably from crying, his face tightened then turned and ran out of the door at full speed.
Two more minutes passing seemed to take a little longer after seeing Seamus's face. Harry couldn't help but wonder how he would look on his way out, if he would be tempted to say something before leaving. He wondered.
"Hermione Granger!" she called.
Hermione tensed up, clearly not expecting to be called out this early. She stood up shaking and gave Harry a look, then looked at Ron, a look of deep sorrow. Her face screwed up and she turned away. Hiding her tears. She picked her bag up and ran out. Harry wondered if she would wait for them or if she'd take off. He hoped she would stay and wait, but wasn't that dangerous? There were only 2 others out at this point, but they could always come back to pick people off one by one including Hermione. "Vincent Crabbe!"
That got Harry's attention...he looked over and saw Crabbe standing in a very masculine manner with Malfoy and Goyle patting him on the back for support. Harry didn't expect to see them here! He was a little suprised he didn't notice them sooner, but with all that was going on, it wasn't too suprising. Could he still feel surprised after everything?
Several students passed by, tears flowing, macho chests out. "Victor Krum!"
WHAT? He wasn't even a student at Hogwarts! Harry and Ron exchanged looks in suprise as the remaining others did with each other. Victor got up and just strode to the other side of the room, picked his gear up and went without a fuss. Umbridge thought she'd let them know, "We have some transfer students here too! Victor and Fleur! You may recognise them from the Tri-wizard tournament that took place a few years ago. They are older, they know more magic so do beware of them!" she smiled gleefully.
Harry noticed Fleur in a secluded corner sobbing silently. His heart went out to her, but there was nothing he could do here right now. Fleur was the next to be called out anyway, so that ended that. Eventually, Ron was called out, followed by Luna, then Neville, then Cho, until there was only three students remaining in the Great Hall. Harry had a suspicion he was last. Next to be called was a boy! It was between him and...
"Draco Malfoy!"
'I'm last' he figured. Draco put a hard face on and stormed out the door once he grabbed his pack. The only two that were left in the room now was Ginny and Harry. Ginny's eyes were red where she had been rubbing and she was looking at Harry like in a trance. Harry wanted to comfort her, but he didn't dare say anything. He knew that Ginny had a soft spot for him and since staring at him seemed to keep her calm, he let her do so. "Ginny Weasley!"
She gasped and stood up, continually looking at Harry. She looked like she wanted to say something, but tears were welling up in her eyes. She walked down the Hall, grabbed her pack and walked out. Harry felt a pang in his heart. He wanted to follow her out and be with her now. But he couldn't...he had to wait. Then he heard a scream that sounded just like Ginny's! Oh god, what happened? Was it her? Was it someone else? What...happened? There was no other screams that followed! Harry's mind raced and prayed that it was not Ginny. He wanted to find her straight away! He needed to wait for a about a minute now, but that could mean all the difference...
"And last but not least. Harry Potter!" she smiled.
He wanted to say something to her! He picked his pack up and turned and walked up to Umbridge. This provoked the other guards to raise their wands, but Umbridge signalled that it was ok. She knew Harry couldn't do anything here. Harry was stood there, shaking in anger. He had never been so close to her. He snapped at her, "You're a right foul...bitch, you know that?"
She merely smiled and said, "Goodbye Mr Potter!" and she pointed her wand at Harry and blasted him backwards out of the doorway and he landed on something uncomfortable. He noticed the Great Hall doors close after him and he heard it locking itself. Harry quickly got up and he felt his back was a little wet. He thought it must be sweat with all the tension. He turned round to notice there on the floor was a student dripping in blood! Her eyes were glazed, her mouth slightly ajar with tinged blue lips and her face a little wet, perhaps from when she was crying. Her neck was sliced open and blood covered her neck and all over her blouse and necklace.
Harry panicked! "Oh god, Luna? LUNA! NO!"
40 students remaining.
And so concludes Chapter 3!
