Goodbyes
Sirius wandered through the local market, the air filled with the lively chatter of vendors and the enticing aroma of various goods. His eyes scanned the stalls, searching for a simple piece of string he needed for his bow. Amidst the hustle, a glint of gold caught his eye – a bird-shaped pin with intricate details. Curiosity piqued, he approached the kind old lady behind the display.
"What's this?" Sirius asked, holding up the mockingjay pin.
"That's a mockingjay. How much?" he inquired.
"You keep it, dear. It's yours," the kind seller replied with a warm smile.
Grateful for the unexpected gift, Sirius headed back home. Meanwhile, Regulus, dressed in his nicest outfit, sought his mother's approval. Walburga, ready to cuddle her son, found Sirius beating her to it.
"Aw, look at you. You look handsome!" Sirius praised his younger brother. Walburga, ever the meticulous mother, had prepared something for Sirius as well.
"I laid something out for you too," she told him.
Sirius, clad in a simple yet elegant ensemble of jeans and a black shirt, received his mother's approval. "Now you look handsome too," she complimented.
Regulus, in a moment of genuine admiration, expressed a wish to look like Sirius. However, Sirius, with brotherly affection, insisted he wished to look like Regulus, affectionately calling him "little duck."
Eager to share his market find, Sirius turned to Regulus. "Hey, you wanna see what I got you today?"
Presenting the mockingjay pin, he continued, "It's a mockingjay pin to protect you. As long as you have it, nothing bad should happen to you."
The sons and daughters of different families made their way to the reaping stadium showground, a mix of anticipation and anxiety filling the air. Sirius and Regulus walked hand in hand, their bond evident even in the midst of the crowd. However, as they neared the reaping area, Regulus started to hyperventilate, his eyes widening at the sight of the peacekeepers injecting the tributes of District 12.
"It's okay, Regulus, it's okay. It's time to sign now, okay?" Sirius reassured, squeezing his brother's hand gently.
"You didn't say... It doesn't hurt much. Just a little, okay? Go sit down with the other little kids. I'll find you after," Sirius explained, guiding Regulus to the designated area for the younger children.
As they parted ways, Sirius entered the crowd of teenagers, anxiously scanning for James, Peter, and Remus. Spotting Remus a couple of people further down, Sirius locked eyes with him. Remus mouthed, "It's okay."
Sybill Trelawney tapped on the microphone, announcing the commencement of the reaping ceremony. "Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be forever in your favour. Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous man and woman—or man and man, you never know—for the honour of representing District 12 in the 74th Annual Hunger Games."
The spotlight fell on Regulus, and Sybill called for him to come on stage. "Regulus Black, where are you, dear? Come on up."
Regulus hesitated, making his way slowly to the stage, unaware of Sirius following closely behind, desperately calling his brother's name. "Regulus! Regulus!"
Just as Sirius almost reached Regulus, a couple of peacekeepers intervened, trying to restrain him. Undeterred, Sirius managed to escape their grasp and boldly declared, "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"
"I believe we have a volunteer," Trelawney announced, turning to the mayor.
As Regulus struggled to leave Sirius's embrace, panic etched across his tear-streaked face, Sirius clung to him desperately. "Regulus, you need to get out of here. Go find Mom!" Sirius urged, his voice strained.
"No! No!" Regulus cried, resisting Sirius's attempts to push him away.
Remus, witnessing the emotional turmoil from a distance, rushed to the scene. Ignoring the chaos around him, Remus gently lifted Regulus into his arms, trying to comfort the distressed younger boy. Regulus's screams echoed in the air, a heart-wrenching sound that cut through the tension of the moment.
Meanwhile, peacekeepers guided Sirius towards the stage, his eyes never leaving his brother. Trelawney, observing the dramatic turn of events, spoke into the microphone. "A dramatic scene here in District 12. Well, the peacekeepers guide Sirius to the stage. District 12's very first volunteer!"
Trelawney motioned for Sirius to join her at the stage centre. "What's your name?" she asked.
"Sirius Black," he replied.
"Well, I bet my hat that was your younger brother, wasn't it?" Trelawney remarked knowingly.
"Yes," Sirius admitted into the microphone, his gaze still fixed on Regulus.
"Let's have a big hand for our very first volunteer, Sirius Black!" Trelawney announced, and instead of applause, the crowd made a symbol with their hands—lifting their arms up and holding their two fingers together.
"Now, for your second tribute, Gideon Prewett!" Trelawney called out. The boys turned their heads to look at Gideon, who had a shocked expression. Gideon made his way up to the stage, followed by peacekeepers.
"Here we are, your two tributes for the 74th Hunger Games," Trelawney declared. "And for the first time in a while, two boys—or should I say, two young men."
She urged them to shake hands. The ginger boy, Gideon, and Sirius locked eyes as they extended their hands to each other, following the ritual. Trelawney concluded, "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be forever in your favour."
The peacekeeper's stern expression softened momentarily as he informed Sirius about the limited time he had with his loved ones. Sirius took a deep breath and entered the room where Walburga, Regulus, Remus, James, and Peter awaited.
Walburga was the first to approach, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and concern. Sirius held back tears as he whispered, "Look after Regulus, Mom. He needs you."
Regulus followed, his eyes teary but determined. "You have to win, Sirius. You have to," he insisted, pressing the mockingjay pin into Sirius's hand. Sirius nodded, unable to speak, and hugged his younger brother tightly.
James and Peter entered together, their faces showing the struggle to remain composed. They hugged Sirius in turn, each exchanging unspoken sentiments of friendship and brotherhood. The room echoed with silent goodbyes.
Finally, Remus stepped forward, his steady gaze meeting Sirius's. They shared a wordless understanding. Remus enveloped Sirius in a tight hug, and Sirius whispered, "I'm fine, Remus."
"Listen, you're stronger than they are," Remus asserted, holding Sirius at arm's length."Go get a bow.” said Remus. They might not have one." Sirius said .
"They will if you show them how good you are," Remus continued, his voice unwavering. Sirius hesitated, and Remus added, "They just want a good show, that's all. If they don't have a bow, then make one, okay? You know how to hunt animals."
Sirius nodded, grateful for Remus's pragmatic advice. "There are 24 of us, Remus. Only one comes out," Sirius stated bluntly.
"Yeah, and it's going to be you," Remus asserted, his gaze unwavering. As the peacekeeper signalled Remus to leave, he gave Sirius one last hug, whispering, "Take care of them, Sirius. I'll see you soon, okay?"
The door closed behind Remus, leaving Sirius alone with the weight of the impending Hunger Games on his shoulders.
The opulent car, adorned with crystal chandeliers and platinum doorknobs, whisked through the air with an almost magical grace. Sirius found himself seated on the left side, Gideon on the right, both taking in the lavish surroundings. Trelawney, their guide, explained the luxury of their transportation as it soared towards the Capitol, promising to arrive in just two days.
Upon reaching the Capitol, they were led to an extravagant train with plush blue chairs and an abundance of delicacies laid out before them. The air inside was filled with an array of delectable scents, and the ambiance was heightened by chandeliers that adorned the ceiling. Trelawney, ever the eccentric guide, assured them that despite the train's unnatural speed, they wouldn't feel a thing.
"I'm going to find Alastor," she declared, leaving Gideon and Sirius in the midst of luxury. Gideon broke the silence, trying to engage Sirius in conversation. "Have you ever met him? Alastor, I mean."
Sirius, lost in his thoughts, hadn't answered immediately. "Alastor? Our mentor?" Gideon pressed, noticing Sirius's distraction. "You know, Sirius, he won this thing once," Gideon added, attempting to draw him out.
Looking at Gideon, Sirius had a sudden flashback to a simpler time. Gideon had tossed him a piece of bread from his bakery, a small act of kindness that had left a lasting impression. As they locked eyes, neither realising how much time had passed, Alastor entered the compartment with a drink in hand, breaking the silence.
"Alastor," Trelawney followed him in, her voice echoing with a mystical air.
Alastor strolled into the room, taking a leisurely sip of his drink as Gideon greeted him with enthusiasm. "Congratulations. So when do we start?" Gideon inquired eagerly, expecting guidance and plans.
Alastor, seemingly uninterested and nonchalant, responded, "Most of you aren't in such a hurry." Gideon, growing frustrated, insisted that Alastor was their mentor and should provide assistance and advice. Alastor, however, defied expectations with his bleak perspective.
"Embrace the probability of your imminent death and know in your heart that there's nothing I can do to save you," Alastor deadpanned, delivering a harsh reality to the eager tributes. Sirius, perplexed, questioned Alastor's purpose in their presence. "So why are you here then?" he asked.
With a casual demeanour, Alastor nonchalantly replied, "The refreshments," taking another sip of his drink. Gideon, attempting to lighten the mood, decided to playfully grab Alastor's drink, only to be pushed back into his seat by Alastor's leg.
"You made me spill my drink. These are new pants," Alastor complained. Gideon, undeterred, expressed his intention to finish the conversation in Alastor's room. Sirius tried to intervene, recognizing the futility, but Gideon was determined. "It's no use," Sirius remarked as Gideon left to talk to their enigmatic mentor.
In the quiet streets of District Twelve, James and Peter noticed the toll Sirius's disappearance was taking on Remus. Concern etched on their faces, they approached Remus, asking what was wrong.
Remus sighed, his gaze fixed on a distant point. "I didn't tell Sirius that I love him," he confessed, the words hanging heavily in the air. James and Peter exchanged glances, realising the weight of unspoken feelings lingering between Sirius and Remus.
"We should have told him," James murmured, a sense of regret in his voice.
"Yeah, we should have," Peter added, empathising with Remus's inner turmoil.