The Green Games (Dramione)

Day 5

Early morning, Pansy sat up long before the sun rose, watching the sides of the clearing with careful, calculating eyes. Every so often, her gaze would flicker back to her sleeping- well, companions, for the best case scenario, but Pansy knew herself she thought little of any of them. She watched the way they slept; like how Daphne would roll every half-hour, or that Pike liked to mumble things in his sleep. Deep down inside, in a place she'd long ago shut away, a fire kindled and burned at these little moments.

Once, yeah, they'd been her friends.

As a child, someone like her and Daphne were best buddies. Flower crowns, giggling about boys, tea parties with all the pets and stuffed animals in the house, yes she'd done all that with her and Lavender Brown; before that girl showed and Gryffindor traits. But that was when they were children.

Hell, they weren't children anymore. And Pansy couldn't think of things like that if she wanted to win. So, instead, she summoned every moment she'd ever been upset with Daphne and let those thoughts sit and simmer deep within her mind. Slowly, she made herself hate the girl. It was the best way Pansy knew to be able to let her die.

Duke woke first, stretching languidly, and kicked Corner awake, who jumped up, knife-in-hand, like he was under attack and Pansy tried not to laugh at his stupidity. If they were under attack to the point someone was poking him, he wouldn't be alive much longer to retaliate.

Soon, everyone else was up, just as the sun was peeking over the horizon.

Pansy did plan on making good on her words today, that they would begin their first hunt for people. No one took food, no one did anything but congregate towards Pansy, even though by the time Blaise was awake, it was a good hour in between when Duke awoke. Yes, she had them tied to her good and well.

"We need to decide whose going in which direction." Pansy stated, "All four directions covered, and you won't return until you've killed someone, okay?" She said. There were enthusiastic nods and slightly less so, but no one said anything.

Well, there were four Slytherins and two Ravenclaws. Pansy was obviously going to trust one group of the other, so she let her housemates pick directions first.

Blaise picked to the south; Daphne to the east, Pike to the north, and that left Tracey to the west. Pansy was a bit unsure about sending Tracey off on her own, in all her years of a Slytherin she'd hardly seem a redeeming quality of the girl, but alas, best case scenario, she'd die quickly.

"With you two left, I suppose I'll let you chose which partner you'll go with." Pansy said, sighing, turning to the two boys left. Corner chose to go with Blaise, which Pansy had little opinion of. Corner had already proven himself with one kill, and Blaise had only gotten in the way of things, so perhaps Corner would teach Blaise a lesson or two out there. Duke decided to go with Daphne, and Pansy was pretty sure it was because he had a little more than just friendly admiration for the long-legged girl.

"So, are you heading with me or Tracey, then?" Pike asked, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.

"Me?" Pansy gave a small scoff, "I'm staying here, protecting the food and gathering Intel. I have to keep a constant place for us to meet back up, if any of you survive this." She said, and Pike nodded once in understanding. Everyone did, actually, except Duke, who gave an outraged sound from the back of his throat.

"Seriously? You get to sit here and get fat while the rest of us go out there to kill people? Last I heard, you didn't kill anyone either so-,"

Pansy hardly knew what she was doing, and Duke never saw it coming. She grabbed his neck hard, and with a force she didn't realize she was exerting shoved him hard until he was against a tree.

"What were you saying?" She snarled deep in his face, and tightened her grip on his neck. Although with her one small hand, she probably couldn't do much, she fueled every bit of dark magic she'd been practicing deep through her veins and to her bidding, pushing herself until she felt her magic lock onto his windpipes, and she squeezed.

Everyone in the clearing watched in horror as Duke's eyes bulged, and he began to frantically claw at her singular hand that kept him against the tree, as his face turned shades of blue. It was at the moment when Pansy felt him slipping, and Merlin she was tempted, but this isn't how she wanted it to be, not her first kill, and she stepped back, letting him fall to the ground.

Duke gasped, falling face-first onto the ground, looking up to her.

"Do you have anything else to say?" She asked with narrowed eyes. Duke shook his head, and Daphne darted forward to help him up. He rubbed his neck, although there would be no bruises externally as it was all done from the inside, looking warily at Pansy.

"The packs are laid out there, one for each. It doesn't have a lot, but you will not return for more or better food until you have a kill. And I will know if you didn't. I, in the meantime, will be here." Pansy said, stepping over Duke's still collapsed form, kicking his pack toward him hard. He grabbed it like a skittish mouse, and Pansy watched with satisfaction as everyone darted away, and she was assured no one was going to disobey or question her.

And once they were gone, Pansy let out in a huge breath, and he knees shook and she felt them buckle underneath her. Crawling feebly to the food area, her hands shaking so badly that she almost couldn't take off the cap to the water, but when she did, she drank it in one gulp.

That was the thing about power; it was all about perception. She made her companions see it exactly as she needed them to, and nothing more or less. Truthfully, had she been forced to go out or do anything else, or if Duke had rebelled against her in that one moment, Pansy knew without a doubt she could have- no would have- been killed. She was weak and powerless at this moment, as she let her hands find a energy bar, and when it landed with a dull thud in her stomach from how much that little show had sapped available power, it almost hurt.

It was a gamble, she thought as she pushed herself into a sleeping back to stop the shivering. Someone could have seen through it. Something could have gone wrong, but Pansy had also had faith it wouldn't. She knew that it was how she had to be seen, for Duke wasn't the only one who had begun to murmur within her group, or else everything would fall apart.

Yes, power was just a magical show of illusion, so it was a damn good thing Pansy was a witch.

THE GREEN GAMES

They had checked everywhere. Or so it felt, within their little area of square-footage that they had made a sort of home, but he wasn't there. Which meant he was out there someone, and that was a terrifying thought.

With a hard glance at Luna, Seamus saw her expression wave a bit as she reached once again the line of their territory. It was hard to see though, someone who had only known her very well would have been able to see it. It was the way she hid it, the way she carefully stooped down to pick up a rock, talking about how the moss on it wasn't actually moss, and the slight tremble of her fingers as she stuffed it within the bag that kept things of all sorts, like she always did at a marker.

"We'll find him Luna," Seamus said, and it startled her, "Ron'll be okay. His head's thick as a rock, init?" He teased lightly, and Luna just gave him one of her moony smiles.

"He's quite alright, Seamus. No need to reassure me." She said, with a small wave of her hand, as if it had no effect on her. But Merlin, that wasn't true. Since the spider invasion, and Ron had run off bloody screaming like a wee girl (as had everyone; he supposed) Luna had eaten less. Already her skin and appearance had seemed banshee like, but now, moreso than ever, the paleness caught the light of the sun.

Seamus suppressed a long groan. It would have been better, had there not been the cannon, but there had been. And neither of them could deny the fact that maybe it was Ron. He had gone off so quickly, so ill prepared, and Seamus heard rushing water someone east, a cliff of some sort. It could be Ron.

But they still continued to look, like they had all of yesterday, waiting for his red hair to pop up and for him to joke like he'd been playing a game all along. Back at camp, eating some something that Luna had been sent down (tasted average, looked bloody terrifying; she told him it did something for something, but Seamus could never keep her weird thoughts straight in his mind) Luna grew farther and farther away, as if she wasn't already.

"Luna." Seamus said, and she didn't respond, "Lovegood. Eh?" It wasn't until he went up and waved a hand in front of her face she snapped back, smiling at him.

"I'm sorry. I was just off to...Egypt, maybe? Oh, it was something," She smiled lightly. Astral projection; that's what she'd told him it was. She did it when she was doing nothing important, and she always had wonderful stories when she returned. Did Seamus believe it? Naw; he might be a wizard, but he was skeptical. But it did seem to help Luna, alleviate some stress from all this, but Seamus was worried she'd slip into this projection during a battle or something. She'd be left venerable.

And so far the general lack of Slytherins trying to kill him concerned Seamus. Surely they weren't treating this as a vacation, nor were they dead (one cannon; not six, sadly) and he hadn't heard a pep from them. Most action had been the spiders, not that Seamus was asking for something more. But, still, it was a worry.

"Where did you just so Seamus?" Luna asked him, and he realized his thoughts had left him zoning out for more than a reasonable moment. He gave a wry smile to her.

"Ireland." He said, deciding to humor her, as his reality had been much more bloody, "With my family. On vacation, when I was just a boy." He said, and as he spoke, it was almost as if the words took him there for real, and he felt the most painful tearing at his heart, "My mum saved up everything she had from her job before she had us and took us there." He said. Now he thought of his mother, and maybe a brother or two, watching him here, dying. He hoped his mum heard him say it; hard enough already to bear it.

"Sounds lovely, Seamus." Luna smiled at him, as if he was the one who was physiologically deteriorating at the moment, but perhaps it was best not to think such things, "I'd imagine it's a very nice place to go when we're in a nasty place like this."

"The best." Seamus agreed, watching her, nodding slowly. There were a couple moments of tense silence before Luna stood, going to her bag she'd fashioned from sap and leaves (that, surprisingly, held well) and gathered her things.

"Where are we going?" He asked, a strangled sound of surprise coming forth.

"I'm going one way, you'll probably go another." Luna said.

"What? No, Luna, I'm goin' where you go. I'm 'posed to protect ye." He said, "Ron-,"

"Isn't here right now, which is our problem." Luna said, "And I can't keep you. There are others in this forest you seek." She said, all too knowingly. Seamus swallowed hard.

"What if I chose to go the direction you go?" He challenged, feeling his throat run dry.

"But you won't." Luna said as if it was obvious, staring at him, and tucking a knife into her boot before offering the remaining one to him.

"I could." Seamus growled, feeling ultimately torn. Luna went over, saying nothing, but stamped out the fire and tied up the weird food, before putting it into her pocket. She took Seamus' hand, gently.

"Goodbye Seamus. I do very much hope we meet again. Don't follow me for feelings you must, I hold you to no promises." She said, "For I know it was not this you wanted much at all."

"Luna, you can't just go off into the forest alone." Seamus snapped, and although eh knew he should follow her, she laughed.

"The nargles are here to show me which way to go." She said, and when she stepped forward, Seamus did too. She turned slightly, a grin on her face, "Seamus; this isn't your path. Don't take it too." She said, almost pleading, "I will do what I must on mine, as you must do on yours."

"But how can you be so sure that I shouldn't go with you?" Seamus asked, looking into the forest, seeing nothing much of a path himself. Luna's eyes blinked at him, and she raised an eyebrow.

"Well, it's quite obvious, Seamus." Luna said, "You know it, and more, you feel it. If you follow that, you'll do well. Good luck, Seamus." Luna said, leaving him breathless in the woods. Hell, it was obvious. But he hadn't wanted to see it. But now, feeling oddly free from having to watch Luna (who, he had to remind himself, was more capable than she often seemed) he spun around in a circle, chuckling darkly to himself.

"Well, heart," He scoffed a bit, "Left or right?" He paused, rolling his eyes, "Yep, I thin' left too."

THE GREEN GAMES

There was a light tinkling of bells in the morning, which roused Hermione from her light slumber. Blinking almost tiredly, she yawned and let her eyes adjust to view a silver compartment tangled in the trees, the little parachute strings tangled impossibly in a low hanging set of branches.

Curious, Hermione stood, stretched, and padded over to the it, and after a moment of hesitation, took the it down, holding the bowl like structure in her hands. There was no name anywhere, but from the insertion of this from the previous games, Hermione was quite sure it was a package meant for someone here- someone from the outside had sent it. The game makers were utterly precise with sending these down; it would be awful if someone paid a whole lot of money and another contestant received it instead.

But, alas, there was no way to tell whom it was intended for. Hermione sat with it until everyone else woke up.

"Is anyone expecting anything?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, holding it slightly up.

"Not that I'm aware of." Hannah shook her head, "I mean, you would know, we'd all know." She pointed out.

"Maybe it's for all of us."

"What if it's not, though," Ernie pointed out, "And we open it and it's something embarrassing."

Hannah gave a low moan of annoyance, "What could possibly be in there that would qualify as embarrassing."

"I don't know a dildo or-,"

"Why in Merlin's name would someone send that down?" Hannah cried, "Just open it Hermione! Ernie's being stupid, and well, we're all friends here." She said. Hermione nodded at her words, and pressed the button on the side, and with a slight mechanical roar, the compartment on the top slid apart cleanly to reveal four neatly tucked packages, this one, with names on each. She handed them out, the little drawstring bags, and everyone looked on with confusion.

"Who would send something to each of us?" Elizabeth asked, weighing the package in her hand.

"Maybe it's the Malfoys and they're bombs." Ernie said, immediately dropping his and backing away. Hermione chuckled, looking in the bottom of the device.

"Good thought, but no, Ernie." She said, rolling her eyes, "Here's a note from the sender."

Everyone leaned in, and Hermione glanced it over once, and felt her throat clog with emotion. Even so, she forced a smile, and read.

"To the four kind souls who saved my daughter's body; I am forever grateful. It is because of you we get to mourn Susan properly, and I doubt many other contestants would be so kind. Please accept these gifts on behalf of our utmost gratitude. Sincerely, the Bones."

When she finished, there was a quiet and reflective silence. She was aware that Susan was a pureblood, but they weren't really wealthy like some others. They were modestly wealthy, as far as Hermione knew, so it made it that much more meaningful that they would spend money on someone other than their daughter to do this.

After the confirmation that someone wouldn't be killing them via this package, everyone tore in. Hermione's bag contained five things, and it was clear this was not a survival package, but an honest 'thank-you' sort of thing. First off, there was her favorite candy- Razzles- a token from her childhood. Since she had gone to Hogwarts, she hadn't had these since she was young. And seeing the package sitting in her palm, just it being there, invoked an onslaught of happy memories from her childhood. The second item was a little bar of soap. On one hand, it was utterly pointless, when someone was racing for his or her lives, but on the other hand, it was something so good to have and Hermione was almost giddy at the idea of washing herself properly in a stream that she couldn't help but let a laugh escape. The third item was a group of tea bags; also such a luxury, but something Hermione was glad to have. It was easy enough to use these; they already knew how to heat water.

The last two items were notes. The first note was from all the Weasleys, plus Neville, Dean and a couple others, with everyone voicing a sentiment of confidence or a happy message. It warmed Hermione's heart, because it was often easy to forget that all her friends were watching her at home. The last item, and the second note, was undoubtedly from her parents. She knew as she began to unroll the parchment, he moment her eyes laid view to the scrawled penmanship. She was just about to read when there was a strangled cry from Elizabeth.

Everyone looked over at her, to see her reading a similar message, her hand clasped over her mouth and her eyes filling with tears.

"I'm sorry, I just...my parents. Merlin, I didn't even know they had to watch this. I was hoping..."She sucked a shaky breath in.

"Because you're a muggle-born, right?" Hannah said, and Elizabeth gave a sharp nod.

"I mean, I knew my brother would watch, but I hoped he could keep them away. They were so happy when they found out we were magical, it's hard from them, I imagine to watch something like this awfulness." She whispered in a small voice.

"They took your magic well?" Ernie asked, and Hermione could tell it was purely conversationally. Elizabeth nodded.

"My dad, he's a huge geek. Lord of the Rings and all. He was so thrilled, it wasn't exactly Middle Earth, but it was pretty close. He's always been really involved with it and all. When Voldemort came forth, my mum wanted to pull us out to be muggles but my dad, he gave us the choice. Told us that it was our decision if we could live without it."

"Your parents seem like great people." Ernie said, a soft grin on his face.

"They're the best." Elizabeth agreed, "My dad wrote this note. He..." Elizabeth couldn't find the words to finish, but smiled through a couple tears, "Merlin..." She shook her head, "I'm sobbing like a baby."

"Its fine," Hannah moved over to comfort her, "My parents wrote me a note too. I'm terrified to read it, because I know I'll start crying too." She said, "I think you're very brave to want to read it in the first place." Hannah said with a smile.

"You think?"

"Of course." Ernie agreed, and Hermione nodded for good measure. Elizabeth wiped her tears away on the back of her hand, and in that moment, she seemed as young as the world probably perceived her to be. Even last this long at this young, it was hard to recall she was only thirteen. Just recently a true teenager. Still small, and childlike.

"I think we should move camps." Ernie stated after a moment, "We can do better than this place." He motioned around them.

"I agree." Hermione said, as she began to roll and fold the sleeping bags, "I'll clean camp with Elizabeth, and you and Hannah go hunting for food, ya?" She asked, and there was a general consensus of agreement.

Hannah returned first; the camp already stowed away in Hermione's everlasting bag. She was carrying a bird basket. "I feel bad, eating these eggs." She pouted, "But I mean, they look like a banquet right now!" She said.

"I'm sure the mother-," Elizabeth began but Hannah gently pushed her shoulder.

"Don't say that, or I'll never want to eat these eggs!" She looked around the camp, "Ernie's not back?"

"Well, we know Ernie." Hermione rolled her eyes, "He wouldn't come back with just some eggs; no he'll want to bring home a whale." She teased, and Hannah chuckled. But he was gone an awfully long time. In fact, so long that they all became hungry and divided up his share of eggs.

"He can eat something else. Whatever he returns with." Hannah said, stabbing his portion of egg with a stick, and licking her fingers clean, "What is he doing, though? Seriously? Domesticating squirrels?" She teased.

"There he is!" Elizabeth said, pointing to the part of the circle behind them. He was walking awkwardly, as if there was something wrong with some leg. He was also noticeably empty handed; not even his weapons he'd left with. Hermione narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"Ernie?" She asked, "Are you okay?"

"Elizabeth! Ru-," He began to say, but before he could finish, the tip of a sword poked through his chest, and blood rose and bubbled over his lips, dribbling down as his eyes glazed over. It didn't even really connect in Hermione's mind until she heard the cannon.

And in such a short instant; Ernie was dead.

THE GREEN GAMES

Ernie took off in the direction he heard the most scurrying around, and was hopeful to bring back something about the size of a small dog- maybe some sort of porcupine. Could you eat a porcupine? Ah, well, he supposed he would find out.

Unfortunately, his efforts were overestimated, for he felt himself walking in the direction back to the camp with noting to show. Not even a damn mouse. But to say he wasn't at least a bit distracted would be a lie. He was very distracted, for a couple reasons, all of which hit him hard in the chest today with the arrival of that package.

It was because of this, that he initially didn't hear the crunching footsteps near the clearing, not until they were right above him. He spun around, his sword pressed outward, but found another sword at his neck, the same place his own was at his attackers.

The pair regarded each other for a moment, both experiencing the press of the cold metal against their necks.

"Blaise." Ernie grunted, nodding to the dark-skinned man. Neither lowered their weapon, but glared at each other.

"I see we're at a standoff." Blaise said, and pressed just a little more pressure to his throat, and Ernie returned the favor, but just a little more, to the point where he saw a tiny line of red appear on Blaise's neck.

"Not so. I yell, three others come out and we all kill you."

"You think I'm stupid enough to engage you alone? How can you be sure that there isn't Pansy's whole group hiding in the bushes?" HE questioned, and Ernie locked his jaw. He couldn't be sure; in fact, he was sure there was. He grunted.

"Okay, so why not just kill us all quickly, hmm?" He asked.

"Because there are more fun ways." Blaise said with a grin. Ernie let out a scoff.

"Bloody dramatics." He hissed under his breath, rolling his eyes, "And just what could be more fun than slaughtering us all right now?" He questioned.

"Watching you slaughter your friends, of course." Blaise said, "Before we kill you."

"Why in the world would I do that?" Ernie questioned, chuckling at his words.

"Because if you don't, we'll kill Elizabeth first. And she will suffer."

There was a small silence, before Ernie laughed, "I don't know why you think I'd care."

"Awe, Ernie, you lie almost good enough to be a Slytherin." Blaise said, and Ernie's eyes widened a bit, but he didn't say anything more, "You see, I might not be gifted in wandless magic. That's all fine, you know. But I do have other talents. Like...my money. Or my father's ability to dig up people's secrets. That one I think is much more worth my time. And oh, do I have secrets on you."

"Nothing that would help you, I assure you." Ernie said, and Blaise hummed softly.

"I already said you were a good liar, you don't have to keep it up." He said, "I know about Elizabeth."

There were a few moments where Ernie merely raised his eyebrows, and said nothing, and Blaise gave a dramatic sigh, "Shall I spell it out for everyone? Ah, I'm sure everyone at home is dying to know anyway. Well, I did some interesting family tree research on you. You have a sister, older one. 13 years older, in fact. And while one could argue that the reason that she's basically unknown is the age difference, we all know- or I do now- it's because she was a squib. And well, as a pureblood, can't have that in your family. So she was sent to live in the muggle world. And you were just five when it happened, I'm shocked you even recall, but when she was eighteen, she was raped and impregnated...and was going to keep the kids- twins- until tragically, she didn't survive the birth. Some silly muggle complication that is so easily fixed here."

Ernie was still silent, but his lips had pulled into a frown, as Blaise continued, "And you didn't think you'd ever meet your niece or nephew, but alas, in your fifth year, Elizabeth and Andrew walked through those Hogwarts doors, and well, you knew right then and there who they were. I don't know if your mother does, but she does now. And you were probably going to choose to go in after Elizabeth, if you're name wasn't chosen. Pull a Hermione. But I guess you were lucky."

"Fine, you know." Ernie shrugged, "I don't' see why-,"

"Because I reckon you'd do anything for her. Kill for her. I mean, you were going to have to kill Granger eventually, as she was the other muggle-born in the running, right? Well, if you go out there, like nothing's wrong, and slit the throats of Hannah and Hermione, we'll let Elizabeth get a five-minute head start. Swear. You'll see her run before we kill you." Blaise said, "Deal?"

There was a tense couple of moments, but Ernie raised his head high, feeling a tear drop leak down his cheek, as he swallowed roughly, shaking his head.

"I love Elizabeth, but I hardly knew my sister and hell, I'm not that kind of despicable person." He said, shaking all over. With a flash, the sword was on the ground, and Ernie realized dumbly that Blaise could have done that at any time, he was just playing him. He felt Blaise grab his shoulders, crouching behind him, and the tip of his sword poking painfully into his back.

"Well, then, let's take a walk, McMillian." He said, and pressed the sword further, "C'mon, big guy, let's move."

THE GREEN GAMES

Elizabeth screamed.

It was a reasonable response, and Hermione was too stunned to shush her anymore...but clearly, their location had been found out, and they were compromised. Watching Ernie fall was like watching a move in slow motion. It was unfathomable. Ernie couldn't be dead. No, not just like that!

Hermione shook her head and came to her senses when she saw the person who took the sword from his back, stepping on his corpse to get the right angle to slide the knife cleanly out...Zabini. And her blood turned into fire.

Without even thinking Hermione threw her left hand out, and a ball of fire exploded from her fingers, aiming straight at his face. He ducked at the last moment, and stared at her incredulously.

"So Granger knows wandless." He said, and whistled, and Hermione looked meaningfully at Elizabeth.

"Run." She hissed.

"But-,"

"Goddamit, run, Elizabeth." Hermione growled deeper, knowing the young girl, although proven herself so far, was no match for the deranged group Pansy employed.

"Catch her!" Blaise shouted to someone in the trees as Elizabeth scrambled away, faster than Hermione had ever seen her run. Someone else went breaking through the undergrowth after her, and Hermione just prayed she'd be safe. She lunged for her bag, but Zabini acted quickly, kicking it away, landing a hard jab across Hermione's jaw with the but of his sword, causing her to spin onto the ground, and turned to see Hannah lunging at him. Two against one, they could manage that, right?

Through the dizzy pain of the blow, Hermione touched her cheek gingerly, and felt the blood welling through her fingers onto the ground. Shaking those thoughts away, she found herself almost nose to nose with Ernie's face, staring right through her. With the horror that rose up in her throat, Hermione shoved herself up and caught Blaise by his feet, plowing him down so he crashed down, and grabbed his sword.

"Expelliarmus!" The yell came from behind Hermione, and before she could turn to deflect it, the sword flew from her fingers and stuck itself into the bark of a tree. Corner wrenched the object, grinning cruelly, holding two weapons in his hands as he advanced to Hermione. She ground her teeth in frustration; the spell hadn't been powerful at all, and if she'd just been paying attention, she mostly would have been able to withstand it.

Well, it was an even fight now, Hermione supposed. But their weapons were packed away, and she could see Hannah's mind slowly breaking down, even though she was doing a fine job of keeping herself alive still.

"Immobulus." Hermione cried back, but her spell was deflected off the Blaise's sword in Corner's hand, and she herself just missed it. While she was down, she heard him cast an Avada her way and leapt out of the way to see the green spell make a crater where she was. She swallowed hard. It was clear their intention was to kill. Hermione sure as hell wasn't going to merely keep using such 'nice' spells.

"Defodio!" Hermione cried, and although Corner saw it coming, and tried to deflect it, he miscalculated and a large part hit his leg. With a wail of pain, blood began to pour from a large part of his leg, which was now missing, and Hermione began to stand.

"You bitch." Corner hissed out, wheezing, as he sunk the sword into the ground, grabbing his wound with his hand, "I'm going to kill you." He hissed, and threw his sword in her direction, which she deflected with a simple shield charm, and it clattered at her feet. She picked it up, and felt the fingers of someone on her throat, pushing hard. Glancing over at Hannah, she saw her friend lying on the ground, although not dead- thankfully. If Blaise had abandoned her to save Corner, Hermione must have done something right. She saw Hannah's eyes meet hers and widen, and she tried to get up. Shaking her head as much as she could without being noticed, she motioned for Hannah to run. She was wounded and in no condition to take him on. Luckily, Hannah understood, although her eyes shone with pain and she began to roll out of the clearing.

"Where'd the other one go?" Corner cried, noticing Hannah's absence.

The lights behind Hermione's eyes began to fade, and she saw darkness washing over her vision. With a defiant jab backwards, she heard Blaise moan and crumple to the ground, holding his crotch and glaring hard. Hermione didn't take time to be the hero; she ran across clearing and scooped up her bag, passing Ernie as she bolted.

She was so focused on getting away she didn't even hear the spell thrown at her back. But heck, she felt it. She tripped and tumbled, sliding ungracefully into a bush, and lay halfway under the thorny twigs, staring outward and breathing heavily. It felt as a train had just run over her. Her fingers twitched and she realized in her tumble she hadn't lost her beaded bag, and she felt her head float with dizziness. Her fingers clumsily undid the tie, and she felt around, trying to find something that could save her. Her fingers brushed a lightweight fabric, and, confused, she pulled it out to see it shimmer.

Ah...she thought faintly, the invisibility cloak. Her fingers fell and she felt her vision going, as the cloak fell to the side. She realized that that spell had probably made her bleed somewhere, or some damage elsewhere, for she shouldn't be so fuzzy. Or, the hit that Blaise had originally given her had produced a concussion, and this was it finally catching up.

Put the cloak on, 'Mione! She heard the faintest voice far away, and groggily lifted her head.

"H...harry?" She whispered, "Harry are you there?" She asked, delirious.

Hermione, they're coming. Save yourself. Put the cloak on, and for god's sake, don't fall asleep. You might not wake back up. Do this for me, Hermione.

"Okay Harry," Hermione mumbled, or she thought she mumbled, but her words were horribly jumbled, but nevertheless, she managed to cover herself with the cloak and watched outside, trying desperately to stay awake.

There was rustling in the undergrowth, as Hermione's eyes grew weary. Hannah limped out into where Hermione was, and Hermione wanted to call to her, but the words caught in her throat and she only let out a tiny breath of air. Blaise and Corner leapt from the cover, and Hannah gave a feeble cry stumbling back, but was caught between the two of them.

On the inside of Hermione, the part that was still functioning, it was screaming. Screaming and kicking at Hermione's other part, the outside part that was slowly slipping away. Telling her to help her friend, but Hermione sat motionless. Hermione watched with inward horror as her vision blurred in front of her, like it wasn't actually happening, or Hermione was watching through water or something that made everything smudgy, as Corner brought a rock down hard over Hannah's head.

The sound of the cannon coincided with Hannah hitting the ground, perfectly timed.

"Hannah..." Hermione's whisper was hardly anything at all, before her vision blurred out and she felt the darkness take her too.

THE GREEN GAMES

Hannah rolled away from the clearing, and although she felt like a tooth or two might have been knocked free, and there would be a bruise the size of England on her head if she survived this, she knew that Hermione would be okay, and that she needed to get out of here.

The reeling shock that Ernie was gone replayed over and over and over in her mind. It wasn't real, this just honestly couldn't be happening. Ernie was one of her best friends since she was a child, and he was so funny, and how could someone like that just die? In one moment, just be gone? And now, as she forced herself up, limping, she recalled the look of absolute terror on his face moments before he died. How did not even Hermione se that the moment he walked into the clearing. How were they all so unprepared that they were ambushed? There were three, Hannah thought, one that was probably still chasing Elizabeth. But there had been no cannon, so therefore, she was safe.

Hannah kept limping until a thought hit her; Ernie was dead. Elizabeth was running and Hermione...Hermione protected her. She couldn't leave her friend there. What was she, a woman or a mouse? Turning back with renewed energy, Hannah limped faster back toward the clearing, but when she approached, she found it empty, but saw the direction Hermione had likely gone in, and the beaded bag was missing too. Moving frantically, she broke through the trees, and saw Hermione fall and tumble. She hobbled after her, but once she reached where Hermione would have stopped, didn't see her.

"There you are." Hannah whipped around to see Corner and Blaise. What if she was hallucinating? What if this was some grand trick by the pair, and they'd just lead Hannah to her death.

She felt a whimper rise up, like hot gas, escape with a squeak. Blaise picked up a rock, and Hannah closed her eyes.

THE GREEN GAMES

Hermione's eyes shot open. It was dark out, and she was sore all over. Why was she laying just under the ground? Why wasn't she on a blanket?

She sat up, but her head collided with the rest of the bush, and angrily, she rolled out from under it, feeling sore all over.

Her fingers brushed a rock, that even in the dim light, had some weird liquid dried on it...it looked like...blood-

It rushed back to her. Hermione frantically checked herself, but amazingly, it seemed as though nothing was broken or bleeding too badly or cut open. In, fact, it was miraculous, and her head felt so much clearer now, it was almost like magic.

"Hannah?" Hermione shot up, stumbling back, but didn't see her friend's body anywhere in the clearing. She did see a dried pool of blood, and Hermione's insides just tore up. She stuffed the cloak back into the bag and went back to the clearing, but Ernie's' body was gone too. There was no sign that Elizabeth had returned, and it was such a difference in the color of the sky since she'd fallen under that her cannon could have sounded too and Hermione would have never known it.

It was too much. Blindly, she ran. Hermione ran until she found a crooked tree root hollowed out, perfect for one person to fit under. Her whole body was shivering and shaking so bad that it took the most effort she'd had to produce in a long time to get first a protective barrier up, and then a silencer barrier. Keeping her wits, she crawled out, threw a rock hard at the tree, but heard no noise from inside, and crawled back in, content with her work.

And that was the point Hermione lost all her sanity. Her screams were ugly, they were mournful, and they were anguished. She screamed, clawing at her hair, feeling thick rivets of tears wet the ground underneath her. She pounded at the tree, kicked the ground, and grabbed her hair. Ernie was dead. Hannah was dead. Elizabeth was likely dead. It was a goddam miracle that Hermione wasn't dead, and that was the most unfair part about it all. It hadn't even been just a murder; it had been a slaughter today. And they'd merely been sitting ducks in a barrel, waiting for someone to attack them. They became cocky, the lost their sense of waiting for danger. They slipped up.

The price for their mistakes was heavy. And Hermione was left to deal with the grief alone.