Chapter 11 – Setting the Dragon Loose

The sunlight beaming in from the window blinds my eyes, forcing me to bury my tired face into Pansy's shoulder with an aggravated moan. She wraps me into a tight hug and it's then that I notice her making soft sniffling sounds. I lock my arms around her back as I feel her gripping onto my shirt, clinging to me for dear life.

"This is it…" She says, choked up.

I fight back the emotion burning the back of my own eyes and nod. "Listen…" I say, trying not to make my voice break. I pull her back from me, so I can look into her water eyes, "Whatever happens, I just want you to know, that this doesn't change anything between us. We can't change. These Games have a way of consuming us. We can't let that happen."

She nods, her bottom lip quivering as she presses her forehead to my chest, "I'll always love you." She tightens her hold on my shirt, "Always."

Suddenly there's a knock on Pansy's door and we both jolt. "Today's the day." Umbridge says from outside, "Time to get up, Parkinson."

I feel Pansy trembling and she starts to breathe heavy, fighting with her tears. She won't let me go and her words become a painful whine, "I don't want to go! Draco-" I hug her closer. My heart has never felt this broken. "It's okay… we'll be okay…" Even though I know we won't be okay – we'll never be okay again. But it's the only thing I can think of. And right now, I can't hold back anymore, I'm about to lose it. I grip her around the waist more securely. No, I can't cry, I need to be strong for her – I'm all she's got right now.

I swallow down the lump in my throat and take a silent breath, pulling Pansy back, and whipping away her tears, "I promise, even if we don't win… We'll be okay."

Umbridge knocks on the door again.

I sigh, pressing my forehead to Pansy's as I brush her hair out of the way of her watery face, "It's time." I tell her. She whimpers, gripping my shirt even tighter, until her hands are trembling against me with completely terror taking over her.

We get ready in our arena clothes that were set aside for us, which meant me having to leave to go to my room. After I shower – since I won't be for a few days – I change into dark gray cargo pants, a dark gray shirt, and a black jacket with green and silver strips stretching down the sleeves and of course, the Slytherin shield on the back. Every House has a different shield on the backs of their jackets and different color strips on their sleeves, depending on which House they're in. It helps the audience know who their watching when the cameras are on us.

After I pull my boots on I add some finishing touches before cautiously fixing my right jacket sleeve while looking around my room as if I have a spy.

Pansy and I are the last to make it downstairs for breakfast and, honestly, my stomach can't even handle the sight of food right now. From the looks of it, Blaise, and even Snape aren't eating.

"You need to eat something." Snape says dully, I guess seeing the sickness on my face.

I shake my head, not even able to hide my emotionless expression. "It'll just come back up if I eat." Not to sound gross, but it will.

Snape gives me a hard stare, "Then good luck finding food in the arena."

"At least eat something…" Umbridge says. It may sound weird, but I can hear the concern in her voice. And I'm just noticing this now, but this whole time it seems like she's just been putting on an act like she's excited for this, when really; she's just as scared as we are. Maybe not literally, but I think she knows this whole thing is wrong. She's just doing her job… I can't help but feel slightly bad for her.

I swallow hard, sharing a look with Pansy before taking a plain bagel from the table. Pansy takes a muffin. But Blaise sits still.

"Not hungry either?" I ask him as I sit next to him.

I don't know why, but for some reason he's not making eye contact with me, and I'm trying to be as friendly as possible. I don't need to make anymore enemies here. "I already ate…" He says slowly.

"…Okay…" I take a bite of my bagel and right away it feels like I might vomit, so I place it down.

"In about few minutes time, I have to take you lot up to the hovercraft." Snape says dully, and I don't mean his usually dull tone. He sounds… broken… I guess these Games have that effect on everyone.

None of us answer and I shift uncomfortably in my seat. I feel slightly awkward sitting next to Blaise. There's something about him that I don't quite trust and it's making me nervous – very nervous. Maybe he's just scared. But so am I, yet, I'm still trying to be "nice", which isn't normal for me. I just don't want another knife in my back. I've already lost Marcus, Crabbe, and especially Goyle to the Games – unlike them, though, I care about Blaise. What if he hurts me even though he said he wouldn't change? No, Blaise wouldn't do that to me… He's been loyal ever since we've become friends and has stuck by me since the Reaping.

I can't eat; all I can do is stare at the clock, remembering Goyle's voice in my ear, "Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock." I groan in pain at the memory. Just then I feel Pansy's hand grip onto mine from under the table. "You okay?" She asks. I just lie with a nod.

"We need to go." Snape says. "Dolores, take Parkinson and Zabini to Hovercraft. It should be on the roof by now. I want a word with Malfoy."

"But… Snape-" Pansy starts.

"Don't worry." I cut her off, giving her a worried smile, trying to be encouraging but I can't fake it right now. "I'll meet you on the Hovercraft."

She looks at Snape's serious face and nods to me. I feel blades pierce my heart when she lets my hand go to follow Umbridge and Blaise. I watch her leave. She won't take her eyes off of me until she turns the corner and we're blocked by the wall. I drop my smile and look at Snape, not saying a word.

"Remember what I told you, Draco. Ignore the weapons and other tributes. Find water – that's your only priority." He says.

I look down and nod, watching my hands shake.

"Malfoy, look at me."

I sigh with a quiver, trying not to cry and look up at him with tear-filled eyes. He leans over the table, slightly, and seriously, "You can do this."

I bit my lip and look back down, shaking my head. I don't want to speak – I might lose it, knowing I'm on the edge right now.

"Malfoy… I know you're afraid of Goyle." I cringe and whimper slightly at his name, shaking even more, trying not to think about he'll kill me.

"But you don't have to fight him… Run… You're a good runner – you're fast. Goyle isn't. You're smarter and stronger than he is, trick him."

I shake my head, "I can't kill…"

"You won't have to. Lure him into a trap… Draco… You have to be smart – plan out your tactics, even if you have to make them up on the spot. Think of all the harassment you did to Potter all your life. You thought most of that up without thinking about it."

"Yeah, but Harry wasn't trying to kill me…"

"You're good at making excuses last minute, Malfoy." Snape says, "Think ahead of Goyle. He isn't smart, you know that. If he fell for what you said back on the train, he can fall for anything."

I bite my lower lip again and rub my right arm, pulling down my sleeve more. I'll think of something… I will.

"Now, are you ready?" Snape asks.

I just nod and follow my mentor as he exits. I look over my shoulder as we leave, thinking this might be the last time I'll ever set on eyes on this room again.

Keeping my head down, Snape leads me into a different elevator then any of the other ones I've been in. I don't even pay attention as to where I'm going and just stare at the floor, trying to concentrate on walking, hoping I won't trip as my anxiety builds up with every step.

When the elevator starts to move, my heart only starts hammering in my chest even faster. I can feel the fear building up by the second. Ever second is a second closer to what I might face. I'm about to lose anyone I ever cared about. Everything we've all been through… what was it for? For this? Was it all just so we can feel more pain and fear? To suffer from Voldemort even more, despite the fact that he's dead? I'm so scared; I think I might go mad. "Malfoy." Snape says, breaking me from my thoughts.

I hold my right arm and look up at him. "There won't be an axe. So if you're getting any ideas, forget it."

"What… But… What will I even use?"

"I told you to just run. Everything will be in the mouth of the cornucopia. Ignore the weapons – all of them – and run for it. The first part of the Games is the blood bath – they're trying to lure you in. Do you understand, Draco? If you don't take this advice, you will die."

I nod shakily.

"Good."

The elevator door opens to the roof, and in front of me, I see the hovercraft waiting for me to get on, so it can take me to my torment.

"Draco…" Snape says, turning to me with a soft smile and placing his hand on my shoulder. "I know you can do this. You're smart, show them you're smart."

I nod, "Thanks…"

He pulls back towards the elevator. But something about the way he's pulling away from me looks as if he wants to prevent me from leaving, like he wants to reach out and just pull me out of this mess. "Good luck…" The doors shut him out of my sight and I turn to the hovercraft, taking a deep breath and forcing my legs to walk forward.

There are no windows in here – none. The Game Keepers don't want us taking a sneak peek of the arena before we land. I wonder what it'll even be. Not that it matters – I'm not much for outdoors. But if it's a dessert I'll kill myself for everyone. Yeah, I know I said the Capitol will kill tributes anyway if we try to kill ourselves, but if I'm already dead they can't kill me twice. What could they do to me that they haven't already?

In a way I guess it's okay there are no windows in here. I don't like heights. Plus it doesn't build up as much anxiety since we can't tell where we're going – although it keeps us all guessing.

Pansy and Blaise are already inside, but the only empty seat is next to Goyle. He can't hurt me yet, and there are guards in here, so if he tries anything he'll be killed. But, of course, I still feel awkward sitting next to him.

As I strap myself in, I notice a guard walking around, sticking some sort of thick needle in the other Tribute's arms. I lean over in my seat to get a better look at what this device is for. Whatever that thing is it looks painful, like a really big, long, thick needle that's shaped like a gun. It looks painful.

I notice the guard grab onto Hermione's arm and when the needle pierces her skin, she lets out a painful, but quiet squeak.

The guard makes her way over to me and I slide my right arm back. "Arm." She says strictly, holding her hand out.

I cautiously give her my left arm, but she roughly grabs my wrist. "What is this?" I say as I notice her inch this thing to my skin. She rolls up my sleeve and pauses at my dark mark. Hesitantly, she finally stabs me in a blank spot. I grunt in pain as that spot on my arm glows blue under my pale skin, "Tracker." The guard says.

I pull my sleeve down and watch as she stabs the tracker in Harry's arm. He grits his teeth and winces in pain.

Goyle nudges me, and I jump slightly, "Nervous, pretty boy?"

I don't answer him and just look down, gripping my seatbelt.

The hovercraft will be landing soon – very close to the arena. We still don't see it yet, since we're escorted underground to meet with our stylists – they're the last friendly faces we see before we die.

A few Hufflepuffs on here are crying, but I still hold my head down. I can hear Goyle making jokes about them to Crabbe, who's sitting next to him.

I roll my eyes, "Oh, please…" I mutter.

"What'd you say?" Goyle snaps to me.

"I didn't say anything…" I say.

"I heard you say something."

"….Just knock it off Goyle…" I say.

"Ohh!" Marcus says from next to Crabbe. "Look who's trying to be tough now! You better run little bunny."

Oh, I'll run, but they won't catch me.

We finally land and some guards carry us off in different directions. The guard I'm with drags me into an underground tunnel that eventually opens up into a white hallway. I don't know where I'm going, but looking around I see a lot of different rooms. He throws into one of them, roughly and slams the door on his way out.

The room I'm in is white – completely white, with just a plain table near the wall. And in the center is Juniper with Sasha around her shoulders. I start to breathe heavy, trying to hold back my emotion and run into her arms.

She embraces me protectively. I bury my face into her shoulder. "Oh, Draco…" She says. It's so quiet in here, that even when she speaks softly to me her voice bounces off of the walls.

She pulls back from me and I start to shake – so bad I think I might pass out. I turn my head slightly to look at Sasha, and even she's wearing an expression of sympathy. She reaches her head over to my horror stricken face; shutting her eyes as she presses her nose to my cheek. I swallow hard, trying to hold back tears. I know there are cameras in here, and tears are a sign of weakness. I won't get sponsors that way.

I look up at Juniper and open my mouth to say something.

"Thirty seconds." I gasp softly and turn my head to the intercom on the wall, above the door I came through. I start shaking more. I have thirty more seconds with Juniper until I have to go into the arena…

I turn back to her, frantically and she grabs my right arm, pinching the object that's hidden under my sleeve. My heart lurches. "I won't tell anybody." She whispers.

I look at her gratefully as she moves her hand to my shoulder, "Thank you." I rasp. We hug again, until I hear: "Twenty seconds." I take a breath and we pull back. It's then, that I notice the clear glass tube in the corner of this room. When I set foot in that, the pedestal beneath my feet will rise upward, bringing me, and all of the other tributes to the center of the arena. We can't just run off yet though – there's a countdown, and if we set foot off of our pedestal early – before time is called, the mines underneath us will blow up. We have one minute before the blood bath starts, otherwise.

I swallow and slowly walk over to the tube. "Ten seconds."

I feel cold – more like freezing. I've never been this horrified in my life.

Slowly, I walk into this glass case and as soon as I do, the clear door slides shut behind me, blocking out any outside sound. I gasp and look at Juniper, panting in fear. She looks scared for me and so does Sasha. We look at each other for a few seconds more until I feel the pedestal jerk from under me. I jolt as the thing starts to rise up to the arena.

No… I don't want to go up there. I know I'll die – I know I won't make it past the cornucopia…

I ball my fists up at my sides, shaking and finally, I'm brought up, outside, standing in a half circle with the other tributes. The light almost burns my eyes as I look around at the arena. It's set in the woods… Good, no dessert.

I try to calm myself down… I only have one minute to plan out my tactics. Okay, look around you – who's next to you?

I turn my head. Hermione on my left – a Hufflepuff on my right. Good, no Goyle.

"60… 59… 58…" The countdown is starting… The voice is automated but… It sounds a lot like my father…

"56… 55… 54…"

Okay, okay, calm down… How far is the cornucopia?

45 to 50 yards. Weapons and backpacks are scattered around in various parts in the mouth of the cornucopia. I can't worry about any of that stuff. The center of the arena is just a huge empty, grassy circle, very open – I can't stay here too long when I get off the pedestal.

Look! Where's Goyle?

On the very far end of the circle. He's far away from me, but he's glaring at me with a smirk. The weapons will keep him distracted! Ignore him and run!

Backpacks! Snape said not to worry about weapons, but said nothing about a backpack. The supplies are a lot closer than the weapons. If I can just –

"45… 44… 43…"

A backpack, I'll take a backpack. It's risky, but I'll need the supplies more than a weapon.

"38… 37… 36…"

The woods! How far away is the forest?" Farther away from the cornucopia, so maybe a 100 yards. I'm fast, I can make it if I concentrate.

What about Harry? I look around the half circle of Tributes until I finally see him wedged on my far left between two Ravenclaws. He looks ready, determined, but also scared – we all do, but there's something slightly different… His glasses. He's not wearing glasses. I tilt my head. Can he see okay? Maybe they forced the poor boy into wearing contacts. I'm not use to seeing him without glasses and he looks –

"29… 28… 27…"

Concentrate! Look around, what are you missing? Water! Any sources of water… I turn my head over my shoulder, nothing in the woods about 100 yards behind me, and I can't see too far from where I am anyway.

"22… 21… 20…"

Water will have to wait until I get into the forest – if I make it that far.

Marcus and Crabbe! Where are they? Marcus isn't too far from my right, and Crabbe is two Ravenclaws away from him. They're also glaring at me with the same motivation of death as Goyle.

"15… 14… 13…."

I don't have much time left. Where can you run?

Straight. I'll run straight, pick up that black back pack that's sitting 30 yards in front of me, not look back, and bolt to the forest, keep running – I can't stop until I'm certain I'm not being followed.

"10… 9… 8…"

Get ready. Concentrate. Pay no attention to anyone else. Deep breath…

"5…4…."

Marcus' voice is ringing in my ears, "You better run little bunny."

"3… 2… 1."

AN: And here. We. Go!