-Rose-

I had been up for hours reading The Official Rules to the Hunger Games of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A long title to belong to a long book. I wonder if the author had been paid by the word.

When Luna, Laine, and I had walked in soon after the reaping, Madam Pince had given us a piteous glance and the encouraging words "You can try to find an exception, many have, but there is not one. The stories of those exceptions are based on desperate hopes."

" 'But all the stories are true.'" I quoted, again. Madam Pince didn't hear me; she had gone back to dusting the book selves.

"So, what exactly are we looking for?" asked Laine as we all walked towards the back of the library.

"The rule book." I said, whispering "We need to find out if there's an exception to the all-important rule."

It took hours, but Luna finally found an ancient, dusty volume, shoved between the wood of the back of the shelf and the rest of the books, in the last row, at the very back of the library. Half the pages were folded over; it looked like someone had attempted origami with the pages still in the book. And as it was almost time to leave, and only one person can easily read one book at a time, Laine and Luna went up to bed. I stayed and read every word in the book, or at least as many as I could, before Madam Pince kicked me out.

"Be sure to put that book back exactly where you found it." she warned me.

"All right." I muttered back without looking up.

"Now," she said as she turned back to dusting the shelves. How long does dusting take? Why was she doing it manually? We were at a school of magic, for god's sake. Taking advantage of her focus being on the books and not me, I slipped the book into my bag and left the library.

I had been reading The Official Rules since I had gotten back to the common room. I had no idea how many hours ago that was, but it was long enough for the room to be empty for five hours, so I figured it was about three in the morning. I would nod off occasionally, only to jerk awake and continue my search with renewed vigor. I had to find an exception, a way to get both Holly and I to walk out of the arena, not be carried out.

I had not heard a noise in the common room, other than the fire, for ages, which was why I started when someone whispered, from just behind me, "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

I was stood up and spun around "OH MY GOD!" I pushed my hair out of my eyes, to see Terry Boot standing there. "My god," I said, recovering "What are you doing? How long have you been standing there? And why are you asking about my sleeping habits?" I thought back to a book I had once read. I swear to god, if he's been watching me sleep, I will not be flattered in the least! I would consider following in steps of some of my friends and (at the very least) punch him in the face.

"To answer your questions, in order: asking you a question, not very long, and..." It was not lost on me that Terry hesitated on the topic of me sleeping. "Because we're both tributes from the same House? Companionship among comrades? And I'm not Cedric Diggory." he added.

"Oookaaay," I said "A, we are not 'comrades'; we are not on the same side of a war, and b, Diggory?"

"Yeah, well..." Terry trailed off. I wondered if I should tell Kendra about Diggory's alleged habits. I decided that I would wait until more evidence presented itself.

"So, out of concern for another comrade in arms," I said, sarcastically "What do you want?"

"I was wondering if you would want to be in an alliance?"

"With you?" I asked

"Of course."

"Do you mind me asking why?"

"We're both in Ravenclaw; so it's not like anyone else will want to be with us."

"Because all the Slytherins want to be affiliated with the smart people." I interrupted.

"What?" Terry asked, confused "Didn't you just hear what I said-"

"I was being sarcastic," I said, rolling my eyes.

"So, anyways, another reason-"

"No." God, I must have been really tired; I am not usually this blunt.

"Wh-what?" stammered Terry.

"I do not want to be in an alliance with you."

"Why?"

"Because," I began "I know for a fact that at least half of the tributes want to kill you, so, no offense, but you would only be a liability. And I am already in an alliance," at least, I hoped Holly and I were in an alliance; I would not want to be her enemy "And she will not be able to stand you for one minute."

"You already have an alliance?" asked Terry "With who?"

"Pansy Parkinson." I said, my voice layered with sarcasm.

"Really? A Slytherin? Are you sure that's wise?"

"Again, with the sarcasm."

"Oh, OK, sorry," he muttered. I felt bad; he had no more than three days left to live. He may not have been aware of that fact before, but, thanks to me, now he was.

"Look," I said "Sorry about being so harsh, but I am really tired, and, well, a little on edge right now."

"Aren't we all?" he said, with a small smile.

"Yeah, so...no hard feelings?"

"Sure." he turned to walk up to bed

"Hey, Terry?" he turned back. I hesitated, he seemed so naive about what was coming, didn't I owe it to him to at least give him a warning? "In there, no one is going to be placated with friendliness. In the arena, there is no such thing as camaraderie. It's a foreign concept, to everyone." I hope he caught the emphasis on 'everyone'.

"Sure, I understand." he said

"Good." I said as he walked up to his dormitory.

We both understood. If we met, I would not hesitate.

Nor would anyone else.