The Hogwarts Games (First Draft)

Chapter 18 - Let the Games begin!

Chapter 18 - Let The Games Begin!

My crimson quilts blanketed my small, pyjama-clad frame as I looked to the ceiling of my four-poster bed. Compared to the rest of the students, my clothes from home were tattered, ripped and stained. And these were a few of my best clothes. My curtains draped beside me, blocking any sort of view of my roommates. Annalisa and Bree have been warmer and more welcoming towards me since Antarsía had begun. They sent all kinds of compliments and luck wishes for tomorrow. Well, later. The clock struck one and I was still tossing and turning in my bed. I swept my quilt off me and sat by the moonlit window. On cue, Nyx flew in as if she could sense my unease. My stomach lurched with nervousness as I stroked Nyx's glossy, jet-black feathers. I sighed. What was the use of freaking out over something I spent all of my life watching? Getting to my feet, I picked up as much coins as I knew Nyx could carry and put them in an envelope. I had no need for such luxury. I picked up a piece of spare parchment and began to write.  

"Mother, 

Logan healed Nyx so it's okay for her to fly.  

You don't have to worry about me fighting in the Hogwarts Games. It's not a fight to the death so whether I win or lose, I'll come home. My friends will take good care of me in the arena and so will my mentor. I trust them and so should you. I'll be alright."  

It was all false hope. Will I truly be alright? When I come out alive, will I remember flashes of my time and have them drive me insane? Isn't there a chance of the Games crippling me for life? I sighed and continued writing.  

"Here's some wizard money. The currency doesn't matter but I want you two melt these coins, turn them into bars, and gain as much money as you can from these. Turns out Dad was pretty well off in his time. I'll send more when I can but make sure you spend that sensibly. Give a share of that to Katniss's, Gale's and Peeta's family as well.  

Don't worry about me. I know what I'm doing.  

Love always,  

Missy"

I gave the envelope to Nyx, who punctured a hole at the top of the envelope to hook her beak through. I wrapped the bottom of the envelope with a bit of Spellotape I found lying around to make sure the envelope doesn't rip from the metal. I sent Nyx away, not knowing when I'll be able to see her again. With a heavy sigh, I crawled back into my bed and finally cleared my mind. Darkness blanketed me and I fell into a dreamless sleep.

The sun hadn't even properly risen when I had. I looked out of my window and saw the glowing sun. Only half of it peered over the horizon where the cold, salty sea met the grey skies. That burning ball of light seemed like the only joyful looking thing I could see when I looked out. My thoughts turned to my emotions. Like the scene outside, my head and mood was grey and bleak. I just needed to find the sun that'd help keep me positive. I was about to pick up my uniform when an elf popped in front of me with a bundle of clothes in its arms. It was an old, wrinkly thing with ugly blotches of violet and blue on it's arms. It's eyes we're sullen and kept looking at the floor. It wore what looked like an old, ripped pillowcase stained with dirt.  

"Hello." I said with as much cheerfulness as I could muster. The elf ignored me and sat the clothes on my bed and popped out.  

"Huh." I whispered. Poor thing. I guess Snow was responsible for that poor creature's misfortune as well. My eyes turned to the clothes. It was merely a cotton shirt and some trousers with a plastic lining over them. They were both black with the House Crest. I retreated to the bathroom and freshened up. Once drying my hair that fell in damp, messy waves to my waist, I pulled on the clothes laid out for me. The shirt's sleeves reached down just past my elbows and the House crest rested on my right sleeve. I arched my head to look at it. The pale-green snake held it's head high proudly against the red background. On my other sleeve was another shield-shaped crest. It was red and had a silver 'F' on it. Boomslang Female. The trousers had a crest on either leg. I clipped the necklace around me and the silver crescent moon pendant stood out against the dark fabric. I pulled my hair into a high ponytail and reached for my shoulder bag. The iPad was no longer there, as it should be. I had stopped watching the Hunger Games. I was about to dive into my own arena of horrors and I was going to face it my own way. I gave the iPad to Logan a while back who still kept himself updated with the events. My eyes then grew wide with shock. My daggers! They were gone. I checked my boots. They weren't strapped to them. I pulled the boots on quickly. The ones I wore were my hunting boots, not the fancy-shmancy ones I bought at Madam Malkin's. A big part of any form of Games was the hunt. The hunt for your enemies or for the things that keep you alive. I was going into the arena as the hunter girl I was born to be. But without my daggers I didn't know how I was going to pull that off. Sighing, I tossed the bag under my bed and began to walk. As I left, I passed my reflection in the mirror. I gazed at the stone-cold eyes that we're identical to mine. The girl in the mirror was so similar to me yet so different. She was healthier because of the constant exercise and better diet. She was stronger, mentally and physically. Her stormy grey eyes were lined at the bottom with small bags from late nights and worrisome problems. And her hair was a golden glossy curtain that hung from the ponytail instead of the dirt-embedded, tangled waves it used to be. I was no longer an invisible Panem girl. I was a nobody until I began defying the biggest somebody in all of Panem. With that happy thought, I trudged to the Great Hall.