Harry Potter Hunger Games

Training

***

A lot of alliances were already blossoming in the training arena. Marietta Edgecomb watched in disgust as the gingers from 7 teamed up with the boy with glasses from 12. (Whether he had realised how huge of a disadvantage those glasses were, she didn't know). The girls from 11 and 8 were getting around to each station together, so Marietta assumed they were ally's, too. Two boys who's district's she hadn't divulged were also travelling together. Disgusting. How could they work with someone they realised they must slaughter eventually?

Marietta went around the training area, absorbing every skill she deemed useful. Sword fighting- useful. Tying ropes- useless. The edible berry station- useful. Camouflage- useless.

She also made sure to study her competition carefully, looking out for threats. The couple from 10 were both beefy and had we-can-snap-your-neck-with-our-pinkies energy, but there was clearly not much going on upstairs. Then there were the careers. Lethal, as always. But she felt the one really to watch out for was the boy from 1. He was too scrawny to rely on his strength, so he must have had some cunning to him to.

Marietta stomped over to the poison berry station, mulling over all the new information she'd acquired today. Her moves from here on out had to be calculated, meticulous.

She would never be a carefree girl again.

***

Seamus was grateful to have found an ally so early. And Dean seemed perfectly nice, too. He just hoped they could split off towards the end, without having to, well...

They hopped from station to station together, picking up lots of new skills. They also decided on a sensible strategy together. Seamus would swipe a pack from the Cornucopia, furtherest away from the conch horn of course. Dean's task was the same, but to get a weapon of some sort. They'd meet west of the Cornucopia, somewhere concealed but still not too far from the centre, in case they needed to double back for more supplies.

Seamus felt brighter about his future now with a plan, but the prospects of the games were still grim. He was worried for himself, for his life, for the still unrevealed surprise of the Hallow that would surely throw them a curve ball. But he was also anxious for his family. Seamus knew he had a family capable of feeding themselves, but his weekly game had made a difference. Maybe his mother would have to drop her nightshift at the volunteer centre and work overtime. Maybe his brothers would have to hunt on the double. He pushed it from his mind.

Even though the boys were originally just attempting to be allies, they found themselves quick friends. Seamus learnt that Dean lived with five sisters, all younger than him. Apparently being the only boy in the household was hard. Seamus wouldn't know, with his two older brothers.

Towards the end of the first day, they had made promises to support one another's family if one managed to be crowned victor. It was a bitter thought, but reassuring in its own way. Even if he didn't make it back, Dean might. His family wouldn't starve. He tucked the thought to the corner of his mind, letting it be the warmth that drove him through the rest of the week.

His family wouldn't starve.

They wouldn't starve.

They'd be safe.

***

Ginny found herself a pretty fast leaner in the training centre. Even though she'd never held one before in her life, she'd picked up the skill of throwing stars almost immediately. She spent almost two hours with the weapons, until eventually Ron and Harry convinced her to move on.

Harry was a boy Ron's age who the pair had decided to create an alliance with. He didn't look dangerous at the start, kinda small, no bulk, glasses which Ginny pointed out had made him look quite nerdy. But the pair quickly came to realise that he was a whizz with a sword. He explained it was because the sword was such a fast moving weapon, and he'd picked up being swift in all his time, and he whispered this part, stealing in his district.

Neither Ron nor Ginny cared that he was a pick pocket, especially not when he explained he was an orphan who lived in a community house and his only guidance was a stern old cat lady who practically raised him.

Ginny found it dull that Ron enjoyed the camouflage station so much, and kept pressing him to move on, and eventually he glared at her and did.

Soon the conversation evolved into the group talking about their 'character'. How they would present themselves to the Capitol in order to get sponsors. Ron explained that the lumber's mentor suggested he should play the 'loving big brother' card, and he decided that was a good idea. Ginny didn't think of it so much as an act- even though she wouldn't dare let him, she knew Ron would be more than willing to sacrifice himself for her.

Harry said he wanted to play off humble and heroic. That made sense, hero's in the arena get a lot of sponsors too. And a tragic hero Victor is eaten alive by the audience.

Ginny had decided she wanted to be painted as fierce and brave, which could just work with her fiery red hair and killer attitude.

***

Up on the 4th floor, prospects were bright for Penelope. She was getting a taste of the best life, the life she'd soon be swimming in when she won the games. Well, if she won the games. But she was sure she could do it. The career alliance would carry her most the way, in terms of food and shelter. Then, when the time came, she'd simply pour poison over the other career's food, and take out the other tributes one by one.

Looking out over her balcony, the lights of the Capitol were truly captivating. She crunched down hard on a wonderful chocolate cookie in her hands and breathed in the air of the city. In Panem, there wasn't a better place you could be.

Penelope's brown locks were in a comfortable bun perched royally on the top of her head. The robe she was wearing were made of the finest Capitol silk, and her prep team did a great job making her feel beautiful. She glanced down at her perfectly manicured nails and sighed dreamily. The interviews were in a few days, what would the Capitol think of her?