Chapter 4 – The Tribute Parade
Finally, Juniper takes me down to the president's mansion, which isn't far from the building I'm actually staying in, and once I'm there, I meet up with my team outside of the city circle. All the carriages are set up, except for Gryffindor. There's not too much around me right now aside from the starting point of the isle we'll be carried down, and big double doors that will probably open when we're ready. I can already hear the roar of the crowd and it's making my head hurt.
Goyle is looking at me with this look of confusion, like this is first time ever lying eyes one me, and to him, I must look like some sort of demon. I want to say something snarky to him, since his face looks pretty stupid right now, but Pansy stops me, "What happened to your face!?"
I look over her shoulder at Goyle. Something about him tells me that if I tell Pansy the truth, he might strangle me. The thought makes me instinctively rub my throat gently. So I lie: "Uhm, just make up. To make me look different…"
"There's also a snake around your shoulders, did you know?" Pansy says, noticing Sasha and backing away when she starts to move.
"She's just for show. Besides she won't bite."
"Oh, she won't?" Goyle says, pushing Pansy out of the way to look at me. "Tell that to my swollen ankle."
"…..I'd rather not…." I say with a crinkle of my nose and taking a step back. "Anyway…" I'm trying to ignore him the best I can, "Have we decided on seating arrangements for the carriage?"
"Draco, I love you and all, but you're not sitting with me if that snake is with you." Pansy says. Goyle smirks at this and slams his fat hand against my back, almost causing me to fall over.
Sasha hisses, "You can sit next to me." He says, slowly backing away when Sasha unsheathes her fangs angrily.
"I'd rather be on the Hufflepuff carriage, surrounded by badgers than sit with you." I say.
"He can sit with me." A voice says nearby. It's Blaise and he's just walking up to me from behind Goyle. I noticed him fixing some weapons on the carriage, but now he finally feels like joining the conversation. I can't help but slightly smile gratefully over at him.
"Everyone ready?" Juniper says, walking over to us with a crate in her arms. Pansy backs up when she hears the hissing coming from that box, "What's in there?"
"The Cobra for the parade." Juniper says, shifting the crate in her arms.
Suddenly I hear roaring, or growling – something big, like a lion. I turn around to see the Gryffindor carriage actually being pulled by two full grown lions. Their manes are so yellow and puffy they look like fire. I bite my lip nervously when I see Harry walking over to the carriage with Ron and Hermione next to him. He looks at me, but I just turn away, mainly because I don't want him to see my bruised eye. "So, uhmm..." I say awkwardly, trying not to meet Harry's eyes and nod my head to the carriage, "They got lions…"
"Yes, Draco. They had lions last year…" She giggles, "Someone sounds distracted."
"What? I'm not distracted."
"Okay, everyone we're going to be starting soon. Anyone need to get any last minute touchups done?" Juniper says before looking at me. "Let me just mess your bangs up just slightly." I stay perfectly still as she gently fixes my hair. I can see Harry looking over on the corner of my eye, but I pretend not to notice. "Does this hurt at all?" She asks me as she gently touches my sore eye.
"A bit. How does it look?"
"Not too bad, but it is a nice touch. Make those girls go crazy over you, Draco."
"Shouldn't be a problem." Pansy says.
I sigh. All this attention and I'm just going to die. What's the point of this? Honestly.
"Alright everyone! Onto the carriage!" Juniper says. I get in the back with Blaise and Marcus. Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle are in front of us. Outside, Juniper is fixing some weapons that are attacked around the carriage – one of them being a large axe that she gently tilts upward. Our carriage does look pretty awesome. It's black, and being pulled by two smoke black horses, wearing dark green rains. Plus the weapons on the carriage are a pretty cool touch – I like it, at least. "Doesn't that snake make you nervous?" Blaise asks, looking down at Sasha around my neck.
"Nah. She's pretty clam around me, as long as you don't threaten her."
Blaise smiles before gently touching my bangs as if he's afraid to push them out of place. "This is a new look for you." He says.
I smile uneasily, "Really?"
"Yeah! I mean I know Potter likes it. He hasn't taken his eyes off of you ever since he got here."
"Really? I haven't noticed." I lie, turning away from Blaise so he doesn't see my red face.
"But what about you and Pansy?" He's whispering now, leaning close to me so Pansy won't hear from the front. I shrug, "I don't know…." I say. How am I supposed to answer that? Pansy and I did have a thing our fourth year but that was a long time ago, and whether or not she still likes me is her business. As for me I still have feelings for her, in a way. I mean, I like her, but I don't love her… at least I don't think I do… but then there's Harry. But that's just wishful thinking. Harry wouldn't like me back – he hates me – I hate him! Well, I did. We can't be together. If I ever did slip out and say I liked him… I really don't know what would happen between us. But I shouldn't even worry about it, right? I mean, these feelings will probably fade out eventually. Can you imagine what my father would think of that?! Oh God, I'd be dead! But yet, I can't stop thinking about him and – okay; now I'm confused, I'll just stop talking about this! I don't like Potter, and Potter doesn't like me. The end.
Blaise looks like he wants to say more, but is cut off by loud hissing. The cobra has just been let out of the crate and since I'm sitting on the end of the carriage, I shift more towards Blaise, since this snake is really close to me right now. Pansy is freaking out. I lean over and place my hand on her shoulder. "Draco!"
"I'm right here. It won't hurt you, I promise."
Some more snakes are let out, but Pansy is more concerned about the Cobra. I am too, to be honest.
While we're still getting ready, I take a look around. Ravenclaw have actual ravens pulling their carriage – a lot of them by the looks of it, and Hufflepuff have horses but badgers roaming around them, like we have snakes around us. I already explained Gryffindor, but I still think Slytherin looks like the best. I mean seriously, we have a king cobra, a carriage made of weapons, a snake around my neck – what could go wrong? We're only surrounded by sharp objects and snakes…
"Alright, Draco." Juniper says, when she's finally done setting up. "Big smile, try to look mysterious – girls like that, and most important, look determined, and make your dad proud. Got it?"
"I think so."
"Good boy! I'll see you all later! Have fun."
Make my dad proud she says. HA!
The anthem starts playing and the carriages start to move. I'm sitting so stiffly, trying not to look at the cobra that's slithering alongside of the carriage. Sasha is hissing at it and I gently shrug my shoulders to make her stop. The last thing we need is that cobra going crazy.
"You alright?" Blaise asks, just before the carriage is out in the open and the huge crowd starts going nuts. The screaming and cheering makes my ears pop.
I look around nervously and get a bit shaken up. "Mhmmm." I say, too nervous to speak.
The long isle way is lined up with torches that light up as the carriages go by. This is so overwhelming; the audience is surrounding the entire circle and that's a lot of people. I hear my name being thrown around as soon as the audience sees the Slytherin carriage. I do what I was told to do and look "mysterious". I give a slight ominous smile and a wave to one side of the audience. Sasha's going mad; I think she's afraid of the cobra. "Sasha, stop." I say through gritted teeth, trying hard not to look nervous. This is not good, and the cobra was a bad idea.
Looking down, all the way at the end of the circle and I see my father high up on a pedestal, looking over at us – me. He's only looking at me and he has this arrogant scowl on his face that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My smile fades and I feel my heart sink when I meet his eyes.
Suddenly the carriage stops, and the horses start backing up on their hind legs, bellowing in fear, like something startled or attacked them. I nearly fall out of my seat as the carriage tilts a bit. I can hear the crowd breaking into gasps and screams, but I try not to pay attention to them because something else catches my eye that almost makes my heart stop beating – the Cobra is nearly on the carriage and snapping its jaws at Pansy. She's screaming and backing up near Goyle but the cobra keeps inching towards her, slowly snaking its thick coils on the carriage to get to her.
"Draco!" She screams.
The carriage keeps rocking and I lose my balance. Sitting on the end of this thing was not a good idea. I hit the ground and Sasha slithers off my shoulders out of panic. I pick my head up to see even Pansy is on the ground but trying to back away from the cobra as it keeps snapping its unsheathed teeth as her, a bit of yellow venom hanging off of its fangs.
What do I do!? Wait – the carriage! I turn around to it and spot the axe Juniper was fixing earlier. Quickly, I get to my feet and yank the axe off. Pansy is still screaming, the horses are still scared, and the crowd won't shut up. Just before the cobra can even attempt to bit her, I pull it back by its tail, causing it to quickly spin around towards me. But it doesn't even have to time to make eye contact since I cut its head straight off with the axe as it makes a loud hiss of agony. The rest of its body twitches uncontrollably before it goes completely limp and dropping to the floor. Panting, I drop the axe when I feel Pansy dash into my arms. She's crying and I hug her tight, "Are you okay? Did it bite you" I say frantically.
"N-No, I don't think so! Oh, God, that was so scary!" She buries her face into my shoulder and sobs.
Suddenly the whole crowd gets silent, but I still won't let her go. "Draco. Thank you." She muffles into my shoulder.
My hearts pounding. Did all this just happen? Did I really just kill that snake with one swing? I never knew I could even hold a Muggle weapon like that property. I look up at my father. I have never seen him so shocked. I smirk up at him before pulling Pansy back. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes. Yes, I'll be okay."
I smile at her before grabbing her hand and raising it up for the audience. The crowd bursts into applause, louder than I've ever heard before. I just did something heroic and I don't think the Capitol will ever forget this. Pansy turns to me again and hugs me tightly. "Draco, why did you do that? One of us will have to die anyway -"
"I don't care. You're okay now, that's all that matters."
"Thank you." She breathes.
Pansy and I get back onto the carriage when the horses start to calm down. We're only a few yards away from the circle when it starts to move again. This time, only the smaller snakes, plus Sasha, are following and I don't think they're going to be a problem if not. I can feel the make up on my bad eyes running since I'm sweating right now, plus I'm still out of breath. "That was amazing." Blaise says. I smile up at him before I notice the Gryffindor carriage behind us. I catch Harry's eye but he's looking at me with concern.
I blink in confusion and then realize the sudden pain on my face where I was punched. My makeup ran completely and my black eye is more visible now than before. Quickly, I turn away from Harry and look down, "Draco?" Blaise asks me. I clamp my hand over my eye. "I'm fine." I say. "No you're not…"
I shake my head. "I'm not. When is this parade over? I feel like I'm about to pass out."
"Did you hit your head when you feel out of the carriage?"
"I don't know, probably…"
"Hang in there, it's almost over." Everything is getting fuzzy and all I can feel is Blaise's hand on my back, even the roar of the crowd is becoming a faint echo in my ears. I must have hit my head when I fell. Suddenly I feel the carriage stop. We must have arrived at the circle – finally.
"Well, this is an exciting day!" Okay, I know that voice is familiar. I look up to the high podium in the circle to see Gildroy Lockheart, the tribute interviewer, and my father standing at the microphone by his side. "Everyone, give it up for our second annual Games tributes!"
The crowd goes crazy and I'm starting to get a bit of my hearing and vision back.
"Down the line we have," Gildroy began, "Ravenclaw! Hufflepuff! Gryffindor! And Slytherin!" It may just be me but the audience only gets louder when Gildroy says "Slytherin".
"Now, take a look for a moment at the Slytherin carriage." Gildroy says. "Snakes everywhere! Now, I don't know about you, folks, but I've never seen a Slytherin tribute chop off the head of a king cobra! Lucius, you have quite a son!" This crowd is only getting louder especially since they started chanting my name.
My father doesn't answer though, and I don't take my eyes off of him. "People seem to like Mister Harry Potter as well from Gryffindor!" Now they switch to Harry's name. I turn my head to look at him and he seems a bit shy, but still manages to wave and smile. A small smile even breaks my lips apart as I watch him. Pansy must have notice because when I turn back she's looking at me but with a look of – I don't know what to call it, but she looks hurt, as if she can tell I have feelings for a Gryffindor. Not just any Gryffindor, but Harry Potter. I don't say anything to her and she looks away. The weird thing is Goyle hasn't given me any nasty looks or threats since we got on the carriage. He's probably trying to play innocent. Well, tomorrow is training, we'll see how he is around me then.
"Everyone, it's been quite the night!" Now my father is taking over the microphone, "Our tributes do look great tonight, and that show put on by my son was interesting, was it not?" The crowd starts screaming again, "I know, I know, very heroic. It's been a great night, but our tributes need to rest up for tomorrow they have training! Enjoy the Games!" And he leaves the microphone and now our carriages are taking us back stage.
Even on the way back I have to put on a show, but as soon as our carriage stops and is out of view from the audience, I loosen up with a heavy sigh of relief, "I thought that would never end!" I say, hopping off of the carriage.
"Yeah, bet you liked that, huh?" Goyle says, pushing Pansy out of way so he can get off of the carriage.
"What are you going on about, Goyle?" Blaise says in my place.
Goyle ignores him and goes straight to me, "Killing that snake! Don't make me laugh, that was all staged!"
My shoulders drop in shock, "You're telling me I did all that for show!? Everything!? That snake nearly killed her, if you think for a second I would let that happen-"
"You should have!" He cuts me off, "You're weak, Draco! You should have made Pansy die! None of us would have saved her, but noooo it HAD to be you, you little git!"
"None of you idiots would have done it because you're all cowards! At least I had the guts to pull that axe off the carriage and cut its damn head off! You're the one who's weak, Goyle not me! So go and shove it up your big fat ass for all I care!" He reaches out to grab me but I push him back, "Don't you dare touch me again, Goyle or I swear I'll give this Capitol a real mess to clean up!"
He looks stunned, "You don't know who you're dealing with, pretty boy." He says, and I'm still yelling that my voice is starting to crack.
"Oh, I don't!? No, no, no, Goyle. I don't think you know who you're dealing with! Why did you get this way, what did I do to make you turn!?"
He just stands and looks at me. I never yell this much and I'm breathing heavy because of it. I know I'm fed up with his crap but I think, on top of it all, I'm just afraid of him and I desperately want him to spare my life. Even Umbridge, Snape, and Juniper are staring at our fight in awe.
"Listen you-"
"No you listen! If you wanted to kill me you would have done it by now!" Now my voice is really breaking. I'm about to cry, I know it. "Maybe I am too weak to kill, but I'm not too weak to know right from wrong!"
He laughs, "You sound like a Gryffindor!" Speaking of Gryffindors they're all staring at us. I try to ignore the shock on Harry's face.
"Yeah? Well, maybe you can learn something from them. You know, maybe I will end up killing someone unwillingly in these Games… but if I die, at least I'll go down knowing one thing." I inch closer to him and he doesn't move, "That I didn't kill for glory." I feel my eyes watering up and I can't let him see me break down, so I turn my back on him and leave.
I'm quiet the whole way back and soon as I get to my room I slam my door, and lock it shut so no one can come in here. I sit on my bed and burry my still sore face in my hands. I've really had enough of this. When I get to the arena I don't know what I'll do, I really don't. Run is all I can think of but how long can I run for? The Games will eventually come down to two tributes and only one makes it out alive. What if it comes down to just me and Goyle? I bit my lip at the thought before lying down on my bed, facing the wall and hugging my pillow to try and calm my nerves. I'm not going to cry. I won't!
I rub my left arm and remember what's there. I sigh, and slowly roll up my sleeve and see that hideous dark mark Voldemort gave me. Now I feel the tears again. I never asked for this – he chose me, and so did these Games. Looking at this mark only makes me realize something: what if I really am a killer? Even though I never actually took a life this is the mark of a murderer, and that's not who I am. I don't want to kill and I don't want to die, and I especially don't want my former best friend to finish me off. What's happened to Goyle? I miss him – I miss everything. I just want my life back… I've wanted it back ever since sixth year…
I sigh weakly and just let the tears fall. I can't hold it in anymore and finally sleep takes me over.