Chapter 4- It's a Shame

Hermione

Yesterday I was able to say my last goodbyes to Ron. I loved him, I really did, and it just broke my heart knowing that I won't be able to see him again because I'll most likely die in the arena.

I just lay on my bed this morning, staring up at the bland white ceiling while listening to the chatter of people in the hallway. "Hermione! Chaff says you need to get up now for training!" Seamus's voice was muffled by the door he was banging on.

I just ignored him, but once his banging really got to me, I growled in frustration and stomped over to the door. When I swung it open, I had done it so hard it scraped on the wall. "Gee, I'm just telling you." Seamus smirked slightly. "You might wanna fix your hair." He told me before walking off.

Looking in the mirror I saw how messed up and frizzy it really was. "Shut up Seamus!" I stuck my head out the door and shouted at his retreating back. I saw his shoulders shake with laughter before the elevator doors closed behind him.

Turning back to the mirror I sighed and combed out my hair before putting on the usual black training uniform. When I got down to the main floor Chaff appeared out of nowhere and shoved an apple in my hand and pointing at the door to the training room. "You're late." Were his only words.

I sighed and tossed the apple up in the air once before catching it and taking a bite. I walked over to the knife's area and ran my finger along a few of the blades before picking one up. With a toss of the arm and a flick of the wrist I sent the blade flying into the wood with a dull thud. "Good aim." A voice sounded from behind me. I whipped around to see Chico standing behind me.

"Oh hey." I said, picking up another knife and hefting it in my hand while I took another bite of the apple.

A few seconds later the second knife hit the wood about a centimeter below the first. "Very good." Chico praised me. "Just try not flicking your wrist so hard. Like this." He picked up a knife with lightning speed and it had hit dead center in the wood, less than a centimeter from mine, but just perfect. I couldn't help but narrow my eyes at him, why was he being so friendly? What did he want?

"So what did you really come here for?" I asked, picking up another knife but taking care to try Chico's advice. The knife hit exactly next to the one Chico threw.

He smiled and nodded in approval before answering. "Nothing, I just thought I'd give you a pointer."

"No one does that in the arena. This is a battle for our lives, you don't help people that you may have to kill without wanting something." I glared daggers at him.

"This isn't the arena." Was his reply before he just walked off to the ax station.

"This isn't the arena my ass." I muttered, walking over to the bow and arrow section. I picked up a bow and strung the arrow, raising it to my line of sight. Pulling it back as far as I could, I took aim and released the string and the arrow flew straight into where the straw dummy's ribs would be.

Practice continued for another couple hours or so before lunch arrived. Kim, Seamus, Claire, and I gathered at our table and talked about the day's training. "Hey, Chico came over to me and helped me. I didn't think he would do it without asking for something in return… but I just don't know. I told him that no one does that in the arena and he just said this isn't the arena, and walked away." I told them.

"I don't know either, just keep an eye out for him, you never know who you should really trust." Claire said, looking sideways at the Durmstrang table.

After lunch we got back to training, taking advantage of noticing each other's strengths and weaknesses, it was our last chance to. Today was the last day of group training, tomorrow and the next day was private training, the next day the final interviews, and lastly… the dreaded arena.

After dinner that night Claire came up to me. "Come up to the top with me?" She offered.

I nodded and we took the elevator up to the roof. Claire went over to the ledge and looked down before swinging he leg over the edge and sitting there. She motioned for me to come and join her but I was hesitant. "Don't worry, there's a force field to prevent jumping, if you try then you just bounce right back up." She said sadly.

"You tried?" I asked in shock, joining her on the wall.

She shook her head sadly. "No, you know Michelle? The tall blond?"

"Yes." I nodded, remembering her alliance with Natalie and Emily.

"I came up here with her on the second night and she tried to jump off. Neither of us knew about it, I tried to save her… But I guess I didn't need to." She finished.

We sat in silence, thinking about how the capitol is so cruel as to force someone into the arena, even if they'd rather accept a quick and clean death. "Hermione?" She asked in her light French accent. "Do you miss your friends and family? And your boyfriend… Ronald?"

I nodded. "Terribly. Just thinking that I may never see them again is… awful." I felt the tears threatening to spill from my eyes.

"I'm sorry Hermione." She touched my on my shoulder, trying to comfort me. "I shouldn't have asked."

"No, no, it's okay." I waved her apology away. "What about your family and friends? Any special guy?" I sniffled.

She smiled that sad smile and shook her head. "No parents, I live with my aunt. My friends I do miss, but I don't think I really have any true friends. No one I can really trust. No guy either."

"I'm sorry."

She waved my apology as quickly as I did hers and spoke again. "You are a very lucky girl Hermione. You have great family, friends, and boyfriend. No one will really miss me if I die, but you? You have a life to really go back to, one that you deserve to continue."

"Claire." I took her hands in my own. "People will miss you I'm sure. Your aunt and the rest of your family, your friends even if you don't believe them to be true, and there's probably even a guy that had his eye out for you. He's just not ready to announce it. You have a wonderful life to go back to as well as me."

I saw her eyes begin to glisten with tears and she sheepishly wiped them away before hugging me. "I know we both can't make it out alive… but I already think you're a true friend."

We sat there for a little while more before deciding to go to bed. "Thanks again." She told me hugging me one last time before I stepped out of the elevator onto my floor.

"You too." I told her. Then I turned and went to my room, shutting the door and changing into my pajamas.

She really was a friend… it's a real shame most of us in this bloody game can't make it out alive.

Author's Note- There you go! Hope you enjoy!

I'm going to give a big thanks to obsessivegirl73, Arcticmist, and bluemickey22 for reviewing!

Glad you're enjoying!