I can't wait to find out whether or not this is a good idea. I had the idea while watching the trailer for The Hunger Games.

Yes, Harry and Ron are permanently dead. They may appear as ghosts, but that is not yet determined.

Original characters will be found in a number of places – one of them is a tribute for Hufflepuff.

Disclaimer: None of the characters within this story belong to me. 99% of them are J.K. Rowling's. Some will belong to other authors, but their identities will be revealed next chapter! You'll just have to wait. Teehee.

The Hogwarts Express now had a somber sort of feel to it. No Harry, no Ron, nothing to do but read the textbooks for the coming year. Even Ginny had resorted to this, finding that better than dwelling on the lives lost in the past three years.

Hermione had taken a young pureblood, Monica Silvestre, under her wing since the first year of The Blood Clash. She was now in her third year and learning swiftly about the way things had been and should still be, not to mention that the girl had learned to use a Patronus Charm. Hermione and Ginny had learned the spell in honor of Harry's memory.

"Hermione," Monica said, tucking a strawberry-blonde curl behind her right ear, "what if my name is pulled this year?"

"It won't be, Monica," Hermione said, pulling the girl into a tight hug. "You only have three slips. I have four hundred and fifty slips. Ginny has one hundred and fifty. We'll be pulled before you are."

Monica nodded and snuggled against her mentor and friend.

Rita Skeeter stood at the faculty table as the eight globes were wheeled out around her.

"Isn't this exciting?" she said, clicking her fingernails together. "Before we begin the selection from the globes, please welcome the Dark Lord himself." Rita took ten steps to one side of the table, crossing her arms as she waited for him to say his piece.

"Students of Hogwarts," the Dark Lord began. "Welcome back." He motioned to one of the teachers, who wheeled away the darker-tinted Slytherin globe. "This year, unlike the previous two, I will choose both male tributes from Slytherin House. And they are," he paused, "Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini."

Hermione watched the two get up, shake hands with Voldemort, and walk into a room off the main hall, while the Dark Lord just walked away and Rita approached the red-tinted globes.

"Thank you very much, my Lord. And now, for the Gryffindor tribute selection. Boys first, shall we?" She reached a clawed hand into the darker-tinted globe, swirled it around a couple of times, and extracted a slip of paper, which she unfolded slowly.

"Seamus Finnegan!"

Hermione gasped. She was not the only one who did. She reached a hand toward the Irish boy from her year, who had shared a dormitory with Harry and Ron, with whom she felt a kind of camaraderie.

"For Ron and Harry," he whispered before he left, following the two Slytherin boys into the side chamber.

"Nigel Wolpert!"

There was absolute silence from the Gryffindor table as Nigel, a sweet fourteen-year-old who was just beginning his fourth year, stood up. He was not awkward or shy, as he had been in his first year. He walked strong, with his head high. Monica tensed. They had been dating for nearly a year, and everyone knew it. Rita had made sure it was publicly known to the entire Wizarding world.

Rita moved to the lighter globe and extracted the first slip for the girls.

"Ginevra Weasley!"

Dear God, no, Hermione thought, pulling the redhead tight against her for a hug. When she straightened, she was crying. Hermione wiped them away. "You'll make it, Gin. I know it."

Ginny nodded. "I will live for Harry. I will win for Harry."

The redhead stood and followed Nigel.

Rita's clawed hand swirled around in the Gryffindor ladies' globe once more. The next slip was caught between her nails. She unfolded it. Hermione closed her eyes, expecting to hear her own name.

"Monica Silvestre!"

Hermione screamed mentally. She watched Monica stand up, take five steps, and jumped up. "I volunteer in Monica's stead!" she shouted. The entire room stared at her.

Rita was astounded. "A first. Monica, sweetheart, sit back down. You are no longer the second female Gryffindor tribute. That is now Hermione Granger's place."

Hermione hugged Monica close for a moment and whispered, "Goodbye, Monica." She was sure she'd never escape the arena when facing both friends and foes from previous years. She'd die quickly.

Rita had already moved to the Hufflepuff boys' globe and extracted the first slip before Hermione reached the door. "Justin Finch-Fletchley!"

At least I'll die surrounded by friends, she thought, opening the door and walking to the last red seat.

"Granger," Malfoy said in acknowledgement, which startled her for a moment. Then she looked into Ginny's eyes.

"I volunteered. Monica was pulled."

Ginny gasped. "No."

Nigel seemed to awaken from a trance. "Monica's name was pulled?"

"You will not be faced with destroying her, Nigel. She now will fear for your life and not her own," Hermione said. "She adores you. If you die, she will mourn, but she knows the risk is great."

"Thank you for saving her."

Slowly, the other tributes filed into the room. Justin Finch-Fletchley, Damien Maxwell, Hannah Abbott, Poppy Caxton, Terry Boot, Danny Kershaw, Luna Lovegood, Mandy Brocklehurst, Flora Carrow, and Astoria Greengrass. The door was left open behind Astoria, and Professor Flitwick motioned for them to file out, in nearly-reverse order, with the Slytherin boys following directly behind Flora.

"There you have it – the sixteen tributes for the Third Annual Blood Clash. Over the next month, their exploits in training will be religiously documented by – who else? – yours truly." The reporter laughed. "I'm sure you all remember last year, when pretty Padma Patil killed Pansy Parkinson during a wizard's duel to the death on the last day. It could me that close again this year."

There you have it – the sixteen tributes for the Third Annual Blood Clash.

Gryffindor
Seamus Finnegan
Nigel Wolpert
Hermione Granger
Ginny Weasley

Hufflepuff
Justin Finch-Fletchley
Damien Maxwell (an OC)
Hannah Abbot
Poppy Caxton

Ravenclaw
Terry Boot
Danny Kershaw
Luna Lovegood
Mandy Brocklehurst

Slytherin
Draco Malfoy
Blaise Zabini
Flora Carrow
Astoria Greengrass

Please, read and review. "Mature" situations will vary – anything from horrific gore to…well, something else. Story will contain shades of Dramione.

Much love,

xHx