Hunger Games: Fandom Style

Paths That Lead Home

11
The populace was quiet, but the reporter didn't like the speculative looks some of the field workers were giving his hovercraft. He did his best to ignore them.
The father of not one but two tributes obviously had to be interviewed. Unfortunately, as the maid put in, Uther wasn't well.
He looked up from the television with a terribly fragile look in his eyes. "Where is my son? Where is Arthur? The kingdom needs him."
The reporter gave a start. The maid was already at his side soothing him. "He's out hunting, my lord. You know how hard he works. He needed a break."
"Yes," he mumbled. "When will he be back?"
"Soon, my lord." She jerked her head at the reporter and followed him out the door. "I can answer any questions you have. I'm afraid my employer isn't well. He's having delusions."
"Quite. Do you know the tributes well?"
A faint smile flickered across her face. "Arthur's been courting me for a while now. Morgana is - was - a friend."
"Was?"
"She chose her path long ago. I want no part of it."
"But - "
"Arthur's going to win. I'm sure of it."
The reporter gave up. "Who else can I talk to?"
She shrugged. "He was closest to Merlin. But he's been gone for weeks now."
"Gone?"
"Missing. If you'll excuse me, the laundry's done . . . "

"Tell me about Harry."
"He's my best mate. Brilliant on a broomstick."
The reporter blinked. "Beg pardon?"
Hermione hastened to do damage control. "It's slang for this sport we all do. It's fun."
"Fun? Hermione, Quidditch isn't just fun. It's life itself."
"Harry is very brave and we're very proud of him," Hermione said firmly.
"Cheers," one of the Weasley twins said.
"And you are?"
"George."
"Are you sure? I thought I was George."
"Only on odd numbered days. Keep it straight, man, honestly."
Mrs. Weasley took the microphone quickly. "Harry's like a son to me. He's part of the family now."
"Or will be, once Ginny finishes with him," George - or possibly Fred - muttered.
"Ginny, what would you like to say about Harry?"
She looked calmly into the cameras. "He's mine."

"Sirius, you're thoughts on your godson's recent alliance with not one, but two, werewolves?"
"He's just like his father. And there's no higher compliment I can give. Speaking of werewolves, are you going to interview Remus?"
"Er, yes."
"Good. Tell him he's being an idiot, will you? He won't talk to me."
"Uh - "
"If you like, you can also tell him that I'd be happy to punch him if it'll make him feel any better. Tonks says she'd be happy to punch him whether it makes him feel better or not. She says she needs the therapy. Come to think of it, your nose looks a lot like his. Stay still while I go get her, all right?"
The reporter left quickly.
"Remus, how do you feel about Harry following in his father's footsteps?"
Truthfully, he felt like hexing somebody. The last thing Harry had needed was being forced into such a cutthroat world. Lupin didn't like to think what it would do to Sirius to lose him. He had long started thinking of Harry as something between a son and a brother.
Lupin didn't even begin to think of how he himself would feel. It hurt too much.
"I suppose you could say that depends on how completely he ends up following them." If he turns up dead ten years after winning his Games, for instance, I'm leading a one man charge on the Capital.
Be strong, Harry. Don't lose that spark inside you. Be brave. Don't let the horrors become you.
Don't be like me. Don't break.
"Um, I was supposed to give you a message."
"From the President?" he asked tensely.
"From Sirius. He says that you're . . . "
"It can't be worse than what I've been calling myself. Spit it out."
" . . . an idiot. He also says he's going to break down your door if you don't start letting him in. Tonks says she wasn't going to be that nice."
"Lovely."

"And you are?"
Her pack leader. Her Alpha. "Her ex-boyfriend."
The reporter sensed a good story. "Why ex?"
"I fell in love with her cousin," he said shortly.
"Emily?"
"Yes."
"Where'd she get all those scars?"
A steel bar crumpled in Sam's hand. The reporter moved on.
"So, Seth, what's your sister like?"
"Grumpy." He looked around guiltily. "Er, I mean great. Really great. Can you cut the first part from the video?"

The reporter should have known better than to try Halt. All he got were monosyllables and grunts. Pauline had treated him to two cups of tea, fresh baked cookies, exquisite courtesy, and absolutely no information.
"Gilan, what do you think of Will's chances?"
Gilan smiled. "One arena, one ranger. He'll be fine."
"Horace, what would you say to him if you could talk to him now?"
Horace looked up with hollow eyes. "Kill them. Kill them all."
"Ah. Er. Alyss?"
"Jenny's promised to make his favorite when he makes it back. There'll be three apple pies waiting for him from her, and a kiss from me."
"Anyone else I should talk to?"
"Tug," Alyss said instantly.
"Who?"
"His horse," Gilan said, as if that explained everything.

"What will you tell your granddaughter if she wins?"
"That I love her." She peered over her glasses. "And 'I told you so'."

He had to rack his brains for the last tribute's name. Somehow, it kept slipping his mind no matter how often he looked at it.
He didn't remember interviewing Mr. Gold. He just staggered out the door feeling lucky to have escaped with his life.

"Open up!"
The rap of the Peacekeepers on the door startled Artemis out of his plotting. He started to call for Butler before he remembered. He was on his own.
Well, not quite. Holly buzzed in on borrowed wings. "They've got the place surrounded. Want me to blast a path clear?" Her hand went to her Neutrino.
"No, Holly," he said, quickly flipping through the security footage. "There's too many."
"What's the plan, then? Secret passage? Hidden room?"
"Have you gotten that video on the air yet?"
"It'll play tomorrow night. Now's not really the time, though, Mud Boy."
He stood as calmly as he could. "It'll have to be good enough." He felt a little sick. For all his cleverness, he hadn't been clever enough. That was all right, though. He had a contingency plan. Several dozen of them, actually.
"We have an arrest warrant for Artemis Fowl Jr. Come out with your hands up!"
"Get me the Council, Holly. We'll need them." He walked towards the door.
"Artemis!"
"Don't interfere, Holly. It's all part of the plan." He smiled at her weakly.
"Artemis!"
He walked out, hands in the air.