Chapter 5- Planning

Hermione

The next two days passed with private training. I had no idea what the others did, hence the term 'private' training. But I had help from Chaff with my knife throwing and shooting. I was thankful that I've had skill with camping and Muggle weapons, even though other tributes have too. It gave me a hope that I would have a better chance of survival.

"You did good today Hermione." Chaff clapped me on the back as we walked to the elevator, me being the last tribute of the day. "Remember, tomorrow the last interviews and then the arena awaits."

I nodded in understanding. "Chaff…" I said hesitantly. "What was it like in the arena?"

He looked sympathetically at me before answering. "Terrifying." And he stepped out of the elevator onto his floor.

After breakfast the next day we went to the stadium that was just as jam-packed as before with capitol citizens. "C'mon, we're running a bit late so we have to start right away today." A man walked up to us, ushering us all to sit in the usual seats.

Caesar walked onto the stage and took his seat. He warmed the audience up by telling a few jokes and then they showed a quick recap of the last interviews. I couldn't help but notice that they lingered on my little love call to Ron, showing my teardrop before the screen went black.

"Intense, wasn't it?" Caesar asked the audience.

The whooped and hollered in agreement before Caesar called up the first tribute just as before. This time I didn't listen much, what would I say when I got up there this time? I felt so depressed and grim inside, but I had to keep up this act of being a bubbly, happy, UN-depressed girl.

I was lost in my thoughts when the bell dinged and my name was called. Seamus had to nudge my arm for me to realize that it was my turn. I looked up from my lap at the screen to see the camera trained directly on me, my face a mixture of shock and confusion. "It's your turn!" Seamus hissed.

Slowly I rose from my seat and took the steps up to the stage. "You okay Hermione?" Caesar asked.

I nodded and smiled. "Sorry, I'm just lost in thought."

"Well anyways…" He said trying to help me along. "Are you nervous about going in the arena tomorrow?"

"A little." I laughed. "But I really suppose that whatever happens it's for the best."

"You're very brave." He noted. "I'd be scared out of my wits!" He made an over exaggerated shiver, causing the audience to chuckle.

DING.

"Sorry, time's up my dear." He smiled as I walked off the stage and the show ended.

Later we returned to where we were staying and people in our alliance decided to meet up in my room to talk strategy.

"So let's make a plan." Seamus announced when we were all sitting on the floor of my room.

"When the bell sounds, why don't we all just try and grab a backpack and whatever weapons we find are useful to anyone in our group and regroup?" Claire suggested.

"But we don't know what the arena looks like! How are we going to know where to group?" Kim asked.

We thought about this before I voiced my opinion. "Claire seems like the strategist right now, lets just try and get back to her." We all nodded in agreement.

Claire looked a little nervous at being elected the strategist for now, but went along with it anyways. "Guys?" Kim asked hesitantly. "I-I hate to admit it but… I'm scared. I'm not going to make it through this."

"Kim, you don't know that." Seamus told her as we all gave her sympathetic glances. "Besides, we're all scared." He added.

She looked unconvinced so I decided to join in. "Did you watch the Hunger Games when you were eleven? In your first year?" I asked. After a thought she nodded slowly. "A twelve year old won that year. TWELVE. You're thirteen, and anyone can win." I told her.

Claire's face brightened. "You remember how timid she seemed? Well she still made it through, even though she had just one ally."

Kim remained silent after this, lost in thought. "Ummm… how's your school?" Kim asked us. "What houses are you in?"

"Well Hermione and I are in Gryffindor, and you're in Ravenclaw right Kim?" Seamus said.

She nodded, still refusing to speak again. "Justin is in Ravenclaw too and Ernie is in Hufflepuff." I added. "So do you guys have houses?" I asked her.

"No." She answered, smiling slightly. "We have years though. One through seven just like you. I'm in my sixth." Huh, I thought she was in her fifth. Her structure was just so petite, but I should have gotten the clue from how mature she acts.

"We should go to bed." Kim finally spoke. "We'll need our sleep for tomorrow." We looked at the clock and saw it read only 7:37 but agreed for her sake. She wanted to be alone, it wasn't hard to tell.

Once my friends had disappeared from my room I decided Kim was right, even if it was just an excuse. I got ready for bed and drifted off to sleep.

Ron

"Tomorrow's the arena." I grumbled as we sat around the fireplace.

I felt someone touch my shoulder and looked over to see my sister. "Ron, she's a strong girl, she'll be okay."

"Did you not see those Durmstrang tributes? They're going to wipe most of the others out in the bloodbath." I growled at all my friends. They kept trying to convince me she'd be all right, and it's not that I didn't have faith in her but the odds just weren't in her favor.

"There's not just her." Dean said angrily. "There's Seamus too. And the little Ravenclaw Kim. Hermione is my friend too… but she's not the only one stuck in that arena." I was instantly washed in a wave of guilt, as was everyone else. We had been thinking of only Hermione when Seamus was another of our close friends that was about to be thrown in that arena.

"I'm sorry mate." I looked up and stopped pitying myself. "You're right, Hermione isn't the only friend in danger."

He just gave us all a stiff nod with his jaw clenched and sat back. Tomorrow was it, tomorrow it begins.

Author's Note- There you go. Sorry, this chapter seems just a little 'eh' to me but hopefully you can still enjoy it! Thanks to my reviewers and remember… next chapter, it begins.