The Gambit
Hermione
I stared down at the row upon row of plants in front of me listing them off in my head as I categorized them on the sheet of paper the trainer handed me. I remembered them all from the books I grew up reading eager to absorb any ounce of knowledge that would aid my survival.
Edible- Dandelion root, wood sorrel, chickweed, stinging nettle
Poisonous- angel trumpet, periwinkle, foxglove
When I had them all sorted I handed the sheet back the kind faced trainer and watched her dark black eyes scan over the list. A small satisfied smile that I hadn’t seen on her face when she examined the tributes before me spread across her face.
“Perfect,” she said, causing everyone who had already had their papers graded to look at me in a appraising light.
Cho from eleven especially zeroed in on me with interest. Potenital ally I wondered to myself. The thudding of arrows in a target distract me from my thoughts drawing my eyes over to the more physical training areas of the training center. Harry in direct opposition to Moody’s orders to lay low and hide their skills. No need to draw the Careers’ attention.
Harry hit every bullseye dead on, with almost disdainful careless movements, as if this is too easy for him to bother with trying. It reminded me of the stubborn and uncooperative expression he used to wear in class when a teacher scolded him for coming in once again with messy air or a dirty ripped shirt. It used to drive me up the wall that he could act so arrogant and above everything in one moment yet so shy and trembling in the next. Though if I’m honest with myself his inconsistencies fascinated me.
Harry moved on quickly to the moving targets ‘killing’ two dummies in seconds, his silver arrows flying so fast that no warning would have given them time to move away. My interest isn’t the whole one Harry catches. Near the weight station I could see Draco’s eyes moving with magnetic force toward Harry, his predatory eyes analyzing his every movement with hunger.
He looked as if Harry is a fine feast for him to devour. With a slithering grace I watched him make his way over to Harry, putting a possessive hand on his shoulder and stilling his movements. Draco leaned uncomfortably close a strange intensity in his movements and whispers something in Harry’s ear. Harry raised an eyebrow but reluctantly puts the bow down and followed Draco to the weights section with the other Careers.
It made me uneasy to see him accepted into their ranks without so much as a fuss. Harry’s smiles coming easily as he said something to make everyone laugh and Draco’s hand somehow found its way to his waist. Though Pansy’ isn’t at good at acting. I noticed her scowl when no one else is looking, her beady eyes trained on Draco full of longing and jealousy.
I scoffed as I turn away, disgusted by the ridiculousness of it all. Here we were about to die in a few days and all the bitch can think about is losing her boyfriend’s attention. Despite her posh upbringing she’s no better than the silly squealing girls in District twelve.
The buzzer blared signaling that its time to leave and I follow the rest of the tributes out of the training center. Moody waited outside, his perpetual scowl on his face as his high tech eye scans every tribute that passes. I noticed with amusement that Draco gave him a wide berth as if he knew about the horde of ferrets that Moody killed his cousin Farris with during his games.
“Learn anything useful?” Moody growled as he moves with surprising speed despite his metal leg.
Moody had been interested in coaching them after the incident on the train. Knifes make convincing arguments it seemed.
I recalled the new knot that I learned how to make and mention that. Moody nodded in approval and then glanced at Harry in expectation. Harry rattled off some fact about an edible plant species that he no doubt already knew about with practically living in the forest the way he did.
I never once saw him near the plant station.
Jealousy surge through me, much more justified than Pansy’s. I would never catch up with him, no matter how hard I worked. I couldn’t beat natural talent with studying alone and I was running out of time. Moody chattered about his time during his games. I genuinely try to listen knowing any of his words could save me one day soon. Instead I found myself getting lost, my mind replaying the moment when Draco put his hand around Harry’s waist over and over again.
Before long Harry and are walking alone through the tribute dorms down the twelfth floor hallway.
“What did Draco says to you?” I find myself demanding, uncomfortable static moving up and down my arms.
Harry blushed and it made me want to seeth. Instead I fix him with a steely stare.
Harry shrugged his whole demeanor nonchalant.
“Nothing of much importance really,” Harry said, “He wanted me to train weights with them, said he needed a spotter,”
Hermione narrowed he eyes at him, “Couldn’t Pansy do it? She is dating him, isn’t she? Famous starcrossed lovers and all that muck,”
I remembered Moody showing us our competitions choosing day ceremonies to get a feel for them. Pansy had been chosen and no one had volunteered but when a wane faced brunette named Theo Nott had been chosen Draco volunteered immediately, despite being Pansy’s betrothed. A dark part of me thought Draco would be relieved when either he or something else kills her. Harry looked uncomfortable for a second but it disappeared so fast that I doubt myself.
“I didn’t think of that,” Harry said looking embarrassed, “I also didn’t get a chance to ask, maybe next time,”
He must be faking it, I thought in irritation. Trying to lull me into false complacity before he strikes. No one could be that naive and innocent.
“Your going to train with them again?” I asked in shock, reeling back.
Harry shrugged again, “They seemed nice,” Harry says with a hapless look on his face.
You can’t be serious? Does he think I’m stupid, I thought as I slammed my finger print onto the scanner on my door.
“This is a game to the death Harry, there’s no such thing as a nice person,” I hissed as the door popped open and I shoved it shut, not even catching the expression on his face.
*****
I stepped out of the Archive Center and shivered to myself not realizing how late it had gotten in the windowless building. I had kneedled Moody into requesting access for me to the Capitals Archives where they house all the past games and their history hoping it would give me an advantage in guessing what environment they would throw at us next. Though after hours of search I found no pattern or seeming overlap. Each environment seemed unique, some even alien as if they pulled inspiration from another planet.
I tried to stick to the lit areas but I noticed the closer that I got to the Tributes dorms the less lit seemed to light the way. As I was turning a corner I felt hands reach out and grab me. I tried to scream but a gag was quickly stuffed in my mouth soaked with a chemical taste and I felt the world go fuzzy around the edges. It's too dark to make out their faces and they stayed well out of my visions but it doesn't stop me from fighting back. I kicked and flailed against my attackers, slamming into hard muscle, but they refused to release me. I felt a knife press against my neck and I went still. The knife pressed harder and I heard a faint feminine giggle as hot blood dribbled down my neck.
“I think I see someone coming,” an unfamiliar voice said.
It’s not the one holding me because their flat chest doesn’t move except to breathe.
“But we haven’t killed her, yet,” the female voice whined, definitely Pansy.
The chest that I am pressed against tenses and the knife digs deeper into my skin causing me to flinch. I heard the faint approaching of footsteps.
“Oh, it’s just you, Harry, you scared me for a moment,” I heard a posh voice drawl before I slipped into darkness.