AU; Harry Potter characters competing in The Hunger Games
Hermione walked into the deadly silent Great Hall, frustrated with herself. She was never late. And now every eye was trained on her. But instead of the satisfied smirks the Hogwarts students wore when Gryffindor’s princess was caught doing anything wrong, the eyes were filled with pity. What was happening?
“Miss Granger, perfect timing,” a voice drawled. Dolores Umbridge’s awful pink face was grinning at her, a slip of paper crumpled in her pudgy hand. Behind Hogwarts current makeshift headmaster, Hermione saw the familiar faces of Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna. Standing a bit apart from them stood that prat Draco and his partner in crime Pansy. Actually, there were several other students from all the other houses up there as well. They looked absolutely petrified.
“As a punishment for the constant disrespect I have been receiving from all of the students, we will be having a competition. It has been approved by the Minister of Magic, with some…erm…convincing on my part.”
Hermione took a deep breath to brace herself for one of Umbridge’s horrifically creative ideas. But nothing could have prepared her for what came next as Umbridge continued speaking.
“I have chosen 6 students from each house, randomly of course, to make this a game of 24 contestants. Those standing with me were chosen, and you had the luck to be chosen as well, Miss Granger,” Umbridge smirked, waving the paper victoriously in her hand. “We have spent a week building an arena for you to compete in. You will hand in your wands immediately after this and you’ll be placed in combat. You will fight till the death until one of you is standing. You may not use magic, and there may only be one victor.”
Hermione heard her own audible gasp of shock and she locked eyes with her best friends. This couldn’t be happening. Where was Dumbledore?
“I’m sure you have a wealth of knowledge of muggle weapons, considering your heritage, Miss Granger. The games will begin tomorrow at 8 a.m. You will spend the night with your fellow contestants in a locked chamber guarded by dementors.”
Hermione watched as the smallest tear escaped from Harry’s eye. She now noticed the brass handcuffs on Ron’s hands, cutting red lines into his skin where he had struggled. Neville’s eyes were closed as if he was convincing himself he was dreaming. Luna had never looked paler. Ginny seemed to be shaking all over. Pansy was whispering to herself what seemed to be last words of encouragement.
It was Draco Malfoy that really startled her though. His eyes were trained on her, and they had been the whole time. The rest of the room was looking at the floor or Umbridge. But Draco’s eyes never left Hermione, and for once she didn’t feel the sting of prejudice or insult beneath his stare. And as Umbridge rose to give her final remarks, Draco’s lips moved. No one else in the room noticed, but Hermione did. He mouthed words that would echo in her head for the rest of the night. “I have a plan to keep us all alive,” she read his silent lips. “Trust me, Granger.” It was so quick she was unsure it even happened. But before she could process it, she was grabbed by one of Umbridge’s minions and dragged towards the front of the Great Hall with the others.
“May the odds be ever in your favor,” Umbridge cooed.
