Chapter 13 – Mudblood

I only doze off for a few minutes when I hear the anthem start to play. It's still dark, so there's no light to burn my eyes to keep them shut. I blink my gray eyes open tiredly, to look up at the hovercraft. I finally get to see who we lost, even though I pretty much know from what I saw at the blood bath. Still, I can't help the anxiety that's building up. I know I won't see Harry up there, but I can't contain my nerves – it's like I will see him even though I know he's still alive. Just the thought alone that he's in danger scares me. The others turn their heads to look, and laugh softly to each other at how week some of the Tributes are – the Hufflepuffs in particular. I hear Marcus mumble something to Blaise about the Ravenclaws being too smart for this. I blink in confusion. Does that even make sense? I just shake my head slightly and roll my eyes.

I just really hope I don't see Harry. He's alive, I know he is, otherwise; Goyle wouldn't want me to find him. Plus the last time I heard the cannon it was for Luna, not for Harry.

The first to be announced are the Hufflepuffs and we lost all of them. Okay so I can check them off my list. I knew they were gone anyway. Who's next? Most of the Ravenclaws. I was right, Cho is still alive, but Luna… her picture is the last to appear for the Ravenclaws and I notice Goyle nudge Blaise playfully and laugh. "That was your kill." He says, pointing up to her picture. Blaise looks mighty proud of what he did to that poor girl and I fight the urge to say something nasty. Instead I take part of my rage on the fire and poke the wood roughly with a stick since it looks like it's dying down.

Next are the Gryffindors. Seamus is first and Neville is last. The anthem fades out and the hovercraft goes black, making the arena go back to its eerie, lifeless atmosphere. I breathe out my held breath in slight relief. I wish there was some way I can warn Harry about what Goyle is making me do…

So, let's see, who's still alive. Me – shockingly, Goyle – unfortunately, Marcus, Crabbe, Blaise, Pansy, Lavender… Who else… Oh, Harry! Ron, Hermione… and Cho… I think that's it.

I should probably watch out for Ron. He didn't kill me before, but he might have just wanted to escape – not wanting to risk himself if we fought. I mean, he was a jerk to me back at training when I wanted to talk to Harry privately, so I would think he wouldn't hesitate on killing me if he caught me again.

Whatever, right now, Ron shouldn't be my worry. I need to figure out how I can detour these losers away from Harry. Why do they even think I know where he is? I have no idea. I saw him run into the woods back at the blood bath, but I didn't stay too long to find out where he was running to. I could just lead them anywhere and they would never know. Goyle would believe anything, seriously, if I told him Harry was hiding under a rock, he'd be stupid enough to go look there. It's Blaise I'm a bit worried about. He's not stupid and he might catch on, thinking I'm leading them into some sort of trap. Which is true… I could out run them easily, but Pansy… Goyle will use her as my weakness to keep me allied. I'm stuck here either way.

I hug my legs tighter to my chest as my anxiety hicks up, making me shiver. What do I do? There's nothing I can do without getting slaughtered. I can't let them find Harry. He has to win, and I'll do whatever I can to make sure he wins. I have to hold Goyle off, though. If I die, he'll still find Harry no matter what. I know what I need to do and I need to find Harry and warn him. Somehow, I need to get out of this allayment, but it won't be easy with Pansy here. I can't risk her getting hurt either, because I care about her too. Plus, Harry needs to know I love him. I whimper softly at the thought of him and press my forehead to my knees. Help… I'm so scared.

"Malfoy!" I hear Goyle say with bitterness and impatience in his tone. I pick my head up. He must have been calling me for a while, since everyone is looking at me suspiciously.

"What?" I say with a nasty tone.

"Do dragons have good hearing? 'Cause yours sucks."

I roll my eyes. "What do you want, Goyle?"

"You're being far too quiet. I don't trust you…"

"Oh, good, now we're even. Are you done, now? I think you've put me through enough tonight and I'm tired."

"You better watch it…" Blaise says.

I glare over at him, "Oh, it speaks!" I say with sarcasm and turn my head away, "Traitor." I mumble under my breath.

He looks blank for a moment, but his expression soon turns to anger. I know he heard me.

"Let it go." Goyle says. Blaise looks at him in shock and so do I, both of us astonished to see that he just broke up a soon-to-be fight. "You can kill each other tomorrow. For now, get some sleep. Draco, you're look out."

I want to argue against this because I'm so tried right now. It might be better if I keep my big mouth shut for once. Sitting back against the tree I notice Blaise finally break eye contact with me. At least being look out means I can keep and watchful eye on Goyle.

"Will you be okay?" Pansy asks as she leans on the tree next to me.

I lie and just nod. "Just get some sleep." My voice is shallow. She looks at me with worry in her eyes for a moment until she gives up and wraps her arms around herself, shutting her eyes.

The fire is starting to die down and I'm beginning to feel my arms prickle with goosebumps as chills shoot up and down my spine. Suddenly a quick, cool breeze flashes by and the tiny flame goes out. I sigh and I swear I can see the mist of my own breath as I breathe. It's freezing now, so I pull my sleeves over my hands and wrap my arms around me, rubbing my shoulders to keep warm. I look around at the others sleeping in the dirt and press my back against the tree, hugging my legs to my chest for warmth.

Nothing interesting has happened for a long time. I guess it wouldn't hurt to shut my eyes for a few minutes. Goyle will never know. I mean, I am exhausted and if Goyle wants me to lead him to Harry, I need to be rested. I take a breath and lean the back of my head against the trunk, shutting my eyes. My eye lids are like ten pound weights making them unable to open once they're closed.

I can feel my head shifting sideways, about to drift off to sleep when I hear a stick crack in the bushes nearby. My eyes shoot open. I stagger to grab one of Pansy's knives and jump to my feet, considering I don't have a weapon of my own.

A small gasp emanates a few feet in front of me as my intruder makes their way into the clearing and notices me. It's hard to make out who this person is, but with help from the moonlight I can kind of make out a familiar face. I quickly lower the knife, "Granger?"

"Draco!" She whispers in fear. "Please, don't kill me, I-"

"Relax, I won't hurt you." I say, tossing the knife by Pansy's feet.

"You… You won't?" She looks around at the sleeping Slytherins. "But… you're with them…"

I sigh, "I don't want to be…" Behind me I hear Goyle moan in his sleep and shift his position. "Hermione, you need to get out of here. If Goyle wakes up, and sees you here-"

"And leave you?"

"Yes…. I can take care of myself, just go."

"But-" Her words are cut off by the cannon. We both gasp and I see her head shoot up to the hovercraft behind me. I spin around to see who we lost, my heart thumping in my chest. It's Lavender. My shoulders drop in slight relief, but when I hear Blaise moan at the sound of the cannon, I turn back to Hermione. I'm about to say something, but my eyes trail down to her hand. It's coated in purple goo, like – wait… are those berries in her hand? I bring my eyes back up to her face and she has a look of regret in her eyes. I'm guessing she poisoned Lavender with those berries. She grabs my arm and tries to tug me towards her after the berries are secured in her jacket pocket. "You're not one of them, Draco. Come with me, we can help each other."

I swallow hard and turn my head down to look at Pansy, shaking my head slightly. I can't leave. He'll kill her if I do.

"I can't…" I say hoarsely. Hermione looks down at her before letting me go hesitantly. "I see… but… Goyle. Draco, He'll kill you."

I nod. "I know…"

Goyle groans again. "Hermione, go, please. I can't let you die here. You don't know what they'll do to you – what they're capable of."

Her eyes start to look glassy in the pale light. "Draco, I won't leave you. I know you're better than this."

I open my mouth to speak when I hear movement behind me. I gasp and turn my head. Goyle's getting up. This is bad – very bad.

I shoot my head back to Hermione in terror. "Hermione, go!"

"Malfoy?" Goyle says from behind me with sleep in his tone. I don't turn back around, but I can see the look of horror on Hermione's face and she doesn't move.

"Granger!" I yell and push her away from me, hopping she'd run. She staggers a bit and I can hear Goyle's feet thumping the ground as he gets closer… closer… It feels like the whole arena is shaking. Or that could just be me.

"Malfoy, what are you doing?!" Goyle growls from behind.

Hermione skids a bit in the dirt and takes off when Goyle gets closer.

"Find Harry! Tell him to hide!" I shout out after her. "Tell him he's-" My voice turns into a muffle when I feel Goyle's hand slap over my mouth from behind me. My heart lurches and I muffle loudly, practically screaming under his hand even though I know Hermione can't hear me anymore. He grabs the back of my head with his other hand and I have the sudden feeling he might break my neck, so I stop squirming. On the corner of my eye I see Pansy bolt to her feet.

"That was not smart, pretty boy." Goyle says in my ear. "What are we gonna do now?" He taunts, "That Mudblood will drive Potter away and we'll never get to kill him." He leans in closer to my ear and I whimper in pain as he yanks my head back, "Right in front of his cute little boy friend. Wouldn't you like to see that?"

I shut my eyes tight at the burning emotion behind them and yank my head away from him, only so he can pull it back. "Oh, what's this!?" He moves his hand off of the back of my head and whips off a small tear that escaped my eye. "You do love him!" I let out a soft whine into his hand, but it's hardly audible.

"Goyle, let him go!" Pansy yells.

"Or what? What will you do?" Pansy takes another step forward and Goyle moves his hand back to the back of my head. "Take one more step closer and I'll snap his neck." Pansy freezes.

"Good." Goyle says and finally lets me go. I dash away from him and Pansy pulls me close to her.

"What about Hermione?" Crabbe asks, getting up along with the others.

Goyle's giving me his evil stare and he suddenly smirks, "We find her in the morning. I got a little job for the famous, Dragon."

The next morning, I wake up with Goyle's ugly, cold eyes staring at me. Was he watching me the whole night? I blink a bit to get my eyes adjusted to the light and turn away from him. The anthem play again, which gets the other Slytherins to wake up.

Everyone starts to their feet, but I feel stiff. Sleeping on the hard ground, against a tree with a sore shoulder blade was probably not one of my greatest ideas.

"Need help?" Pansy says from above me. I look up at her and see her reach a hand out to me. A smile snakes onto my lips and I grab her hand. She carefully pulls me up and I grunt at the pain in my shoulder when my arms stretches.

"Draco?" She says with concern.

"I'm okay. Just slept crooked." I don't want to tell her about meeting Ron. Goyle might over hear; ask me where I met him and where he ran off to. Then he'd plan Ron's murder. I'm not watching anyone else die.

Pansy and I wait until everyone is finished packing their backpacks, but Goyle seems way too eager to kill and doesn't wait another second. He shoves me out of his way and takes lead of the team.

"Alright, that Mudblood went this way. When we get sight of her, Crabbe, Marcus, you two will grab her. Blaise and Pansy, make sure she doesn't try anything funny." He turns to me, and I jolt, "And you behave! Because if you try anything, Malfoy, I swear, I'll make you choke on your own blood."

I stay in the back of the group with Pansy to keep far away from Goyle, but he still turns his head every once in a while to make sure I'm still here. I feel like a prisoner in chains that just got captured. It's like they're leading me to be executed. I just hope Hermione made it far – far from us so Goyle could never find her. It's weird though… The only people I saw Goyle kill were those two Tributes at the blood bath. He had Blaise kill Luna, but why? Why couldn't he just kill her himself? Because he's a coward. He could have killed me – he had several moments in the past few hours where he could have killed me, but yet here I am – still breathing and still terrified of him. I'm not an idiot; I know he'll kill me eventually. In fact I think he's saving me for the finale. All I know is that my father must be embarrassed of me. His only son got picked for the Games and he's too weak and scared to kill or even win. It's not that I'm weak I just know it's wrong. I wonder what he thinks of me falling for Harry. This just occurs to me, and now that I think about it, I'd be dead anyway if I won. My father would never let me live for loving Harry.

I keep my head down the whole walk, watching sticks crack from under my boots. I smirk to myself. Dragon, yeah right, how can I live up to that title? Everyone thinks I'll do something great just because I have a "special" name. It's not special to me. I'm just another Tribute that will lose and soon be forgotten. Just like everyone else I'll just be part of another pile of bodies.

Suddenly my stomach starts to growl again and I remember how thirsty and hungry I am. I swallow and lick my dry lips with a groan. I've never been this thirsty before.

"Draco." Pansy says.

I turn to her, "Yeah?" I rasp. My throat is sore and sounds like sandpaper.

"Here, chew on these." She reaches in a side pocket of her back pack and pulls out a few small leaves. "They're just mint leaves. They're good. Try one." She holds them out to me in the palm of her hand, and I notice the snake ring I gave her is still coiled on her finger. I smile, feeling my cheeks flush up. I take a small leave, not sure if it's edible. Pansy laughs softly – I guess she can tell I'm uneasy.

"Don't worry they don't hurt you. I've been chewing on these for a while. I even found some roots."

I shrug and pop one in my mouth. The flavor actually makes me forget that I'm so hungry. Obviously this little leaf doesn't fill me up, but it's better than nothing, and it's not killing me.

"I have a whole bunch. You wanna take some?"

"Sure." I say.

She smiles in amusement and piles half of her leaves into a side pocket on my backpack.

"You wouldn't happen to have water, would you?" I ask.

She shakes her head sadly. "Sorry, Draco. I'm thirsty too. Maybe we'll find something soon."

I take another leaf out of my backpack and pop it in my mouth, "Maybe." I say.

"I also never properly thanked you for saving me. You know, when we found you…" She looks up at me gratefully, "So thank you, Dray."

"There's no way I would have let him kill you. Not now, not ever." I say softly, so Goyle won't hear. Then I notice the ring again. "You're actually wearing it." I say, taking Pansy's hand to examine it.

"Of course! My stylist had a little talk to Mad Eye and he said I can keep it on as long as it's not magical. Besides, you gave it to me. It means a lot…"

I smile weakly and let her hand go to hold my right arm, "Right… no magic…"

"Anyway, thank you, Draco." She twirls the ring on her finger with slight anxiety. "It makes me think everything will be okay." I smile sadly and look at her as if this will be the last time I'll ever be this close to her again. I take her hand, lacing my fingers around hers, and move closer, so that our arms are touching. "That's because it will be."

She smiles sadly and tries to hide her face. I notice a tear stain her cheek. "Draco… You're perfect." Her head leans on my shoulder and I can't help but smile. My hand tightens around hers, never wanting to let go.

Finally, Goyle stops short. I try to strain my head past Crabbe's broad shoulders to see what's going on. Blaise and Marcus smirk at each other and Goyle walks forward.

"Where you going, Mudblood?" Now I can see her. Hermione is standing just a few feet in front of us, backing up, away from Goyle as he inches closer.

"Grab her." Goyle says. Right away Crabbe and Marcus race after her. Hermione tries to run, but they already got her arms pined behind her back. It's just like what they did to Luna. Now her death is repeating in my head. I blink, trying to forget it.

Pansy and I pull apart and I can see Blaise playing around with his knife between his fingers, as if he's ready to toss it at someone's head like a dart to a bulls-eye.

"Goyle, stop!" I say running in between him and Granger. Stupid, I know, but I can't watch her die, not after she tried to save me. "Don't do this, just let her go."

"Oh, no, Malfoy. I'm not going to kill her." I blink and share a confused look with Pansy. I get sight of Blaise and he's smirking evilly. I look away, slightly hurt. I still can't believe he's doing this – I don't want to believe he betrayed me, but he did… he really did…

Finally, I look back at Goyle with bitterness and hated in my eyes. He holds his sword out to me. "You are."

I hear Pansy squeak in shock and slap her hands over her mouth. I jolt back, away from Goyle's blade. He can't really expect me to kill her, he knows I can't. "You're a coward, Goyle! You think you're so tough and smart, kill her yourself!" I say.

"Since when do you care about a Mudblood, Draco?" Blaise says. "You're the one that's always tried to put her in her place, now's your chance!"

I hear Hermione squirm in the leaves behind me, a soft noise of fear escapes her, almost like a whimper. I back up into her, like I'm protecting her, staring a Goyle's cold and evil gaze. "You can't make me-"

"I can make you do whatever I want, Malfoy." Goyle says, pointing his blade at my chest. "I know you're afraid of me…" No, I refuse to kill her. Maybe I don't particularly like Granger, but I would never take her life. Ever. I can't kill anybody, I'm not like that. And Goyle can't make me do this… I'm stronger than him, I can't give in… I can't.

I back up again, so I can practically feel Hermione breathing heavily on my neck. I can hear a slight quiver in her breathing. I know she's scared – probably more than ever. It feels strange protecting her from Goyle, but I know it's the right thing to do. Looking up at this monster, I shake my head. "No…"

He smirks. "You're such a disappointment to your father, Malfoy. I hope he's watching this right now! He can finally see what a prat his son really is."

"Draco," Hermione says from behind me complete fear in her voice. I turn to her and Marcus and Crabbe hold her back as she squirms in their grasp, "just do it. It's bound to happen anyway."

I shake my head, looking at her horror-stricken face. I've never seen Hermione this horrified, but there's still that same Gryffindor boldness in her eyes like there's always been – since the day she got sorted. No, I can't do this, my whole body is trembling and I can't hold back my emotion anymore. I don't care if I cry, I'm not letting another person control me and push me into taking a life. I know what that feels like, and I can't take it anymore. "Hermione…" I say, my voice breaking.

"It's okay, Draco." She smiles at me weakly, tears running down her face. "You need to find Harry. I understand. He…. He wants to see you too."

I swallow hard and look at her with tears burning my eyes. "What…?" I rasp.

"Goyle, don't make him do this!" Pansy screams, making me snap my head back at Goyle. She dashes over to him and tries to wrestle the blade out of his hand. Goyle, being way bigger than she is, shoves her back so Pansy hits the ground. I feel like running over to her, but my legs don't move. I'm afraid if I do, he'll think I'm trying to escape or kill him. With that thought alone in his mind he'll kill Pansy.

He smirks at me and turns his sword down so that the hilt is facing me. "It's either you kill the Mudblood, or I kill your bitch."

I completely freeze, staring at the weapon in his hand. It's like every sound around me drowns out and all I can hear is my heart beating.

"I'm waiting, Death Eater." His voice is a deep taunting tone, which brings me back to reality; my watery eyes automatically shoot up at him as every sound around me snaps back into my ears. "Yeah, you heard me. You, monster." My heart lurches at the darkness and snarl in his tone. I could do it – I could take the hilt of that sword and push it into his chest, killing him right now. But I think he's keeping his guard up, just in case I feel like it. And even if I do, Marcus, Crabbe, and even Blaise won't let me go alive. I'll be dead either way – Pansy too.

"Draco." Hermione squeaks from behind me. The tone in her voice sounds like she's begging for death. It hurts to hear her sound so scared – in so much pain. I have to do this. If I don't end this myself, otherwise; they'll do a whole lot worse to her.

Hesitantly, my hand reaches for the hilt of Goyle's sword until my long, shaky fingers wrap around it. Do it! You have the weapon now, kill him! I can't – I can't take the chance. I have to stay alive for Harry. When I find him, Goyle can do whatever he wants to me. As long as Harry stays alive and wins… I can care less what happens to me.

I turn my head to Hermione and watch as Marcus and Crabbe toss her to the ground like a criminal. She backs up into a tree, panicking as she stares up at me like… like I really am a monster.

"Draco," She says before shutting her eyes, "do it…"

"Yeah, do it, Malfoy." Goyle taunts from behind me. "You can finally see how filthy her blood actually is."

I can feel the sword shaking in my hand, and I clutch it tighter in my grasp to make it stop. Ever since I became a Death – one of them, I've always tried to avoid this road – killing. Now Goyle finally gets to show the world what my part in this role really is. A Pure Blood killing a Mudblood. This is what I'm meant to do. And if I don't I'm considered weak. Goyle is just trying to show me up – like he hasn't broken me already…

I freeze again and I hear Goyle sigh. "Give me that." I hear him growl impatiently. Turning my head over my shoulder, I see him snatch Blaise's knife. He grabs Pansy and holds the blade up to her throat. "You got 5 seconds or I kill her."

Pansy yelps in pain and grabs his arm to pull the knife away from her neck.

"1…" Goyle says with a rumble to his tone, yanking Pansy back harder and smirking evilly, "I'm not kidding, Malfoy….2…"

"Draco!" Pansy whimpers through tears, like she's calling me for help.

"3…"

I turn back to her Hermione, heart pounding, body shaking…

"4…"

I don't know what makes me move, but suddenly I thrust the sword forward into her stomach. The second the blade pierces her, Hermione tries to scream, but it's replaced by gasping and gagging sounds. Blood spews from her mouth like red confetti, causing some streaks to stain the sides of her mouth. I feel every breath drop out of me. It's like I can't stand, breathe or even move. I let the sword go, panting out of fear, and look down at her open, eyes – her tears replaced by blood. She still has that same look of help on her cold, pale face.

The cannon shoots off, announcing her death, and I just lose it. My eyes widen in horror as I stare at her bloody body and my legs can't even support me anymore. They shake in panic below me and lose their strength to hold me up, making my trembling body drop to my knees. Gripping the grass beneath my hands hard, my fingers dig into the Earth below. I don't even care about the bits of dirt that's probably getting wedged in my nails. I can't even blink. I'm just staring at the blood soaked ground as it stretches near my hands consuming the green grass in scarlet – almost like a fire. My breath is coming out in spurts. I feel like I'm suffocating.

I hear Goyle laughing behind me and I'm guessing he let Pansy go because on the corner of my eye I see him pull his sword out of Hermione's stomach. The tear of flesh makes my stomach turn. "Good job, Draco. I'm sure if Voldemort were here he'd be impressed with you after you failed him once before."

I pant and my heart picks up more speed. I'm angry, but overall I feel petrified. Jumping to my feet, my hand snatches onto Goyle's still blood soaked sword, gripping it tight, not caring if the blade is cutting the palm of my hand. I aim the tip to my chest, still holding onto the sword as if I can take it upon myself to steal my own life. All it takes is to just push the blade into me – right into my heart where it belongs. "Goyle, just kill me!" I'm practically screaming now. "Please, just kill me, right now, I can't take this anymore!" I beg him. I never wanted Goyle to see this side of me – the broken boy who just wants his old life back. But the life is gone. I'll never be that kid again. I'm better off dead anyway. There's no way I can make it through the rest of these Games. Not like this.

I can feel my hand gripping the blade tighter and the blood oozing through my fingers as it cuts my dirt and blood stained skin. I'm holding it so tight that the blade is shaking violently like a leave in a hurricane. Goyle looks at me in shock. "Please. Just kill me…" I plead in broken voice, looking at him desperately, tears running down my face.

Over his shoulder I can see Pansy crying with her hands over her mouth, like she wants to scream for me, but is muted by her own fear.

Finally Goyle grins and slices the blade away from me with my hand still gripped firmly around it, only cutting my skin more, mixing my blood with Hermione's. "Not yet, pretty boy. This is just getting interesting."

AN: Oh, God, Hermione I'm so sorry for this! I hope you guys don't hate me! The title kind of gives it away but, still - don't hate me. This is the Hunger Games so people are going to die... I love Hermione, though, I really do. Also don't take this as Draco/Hermione. It's not. Draco just doesn't want anyone to die, even though they have to. I must say though, this chapter was hard to write. Not hard in general, but hard because of the fact I had to kill Hermione off. Anyways, this chapter took me awhile to write, so I hope it's good! Those of you who are slightly confused about the berries, Hermione did kill Lavender. Knowing Hermione she probably studied about what's safe to eat and what's not before the Games, so she probably knew what berries were poisonous. So she tricked her into eating the berries. I think I described it pretty clearly, but just if you're confused, that's what happened. I got the weekend free for the most part so keep an eye out for chapters. ;D Hope you enjoy!