Lovers Of A Lifetime

A Strange Introduction

Hermione's P.O.V

Receiving my Hogwarts letter had been first time I felt truly accepted. My parents were hesitant at first, since the school was in Scotland, but a visit from Professor McGonagall had finally persuaded them that I needed to go there. The older woman had told my Mother and Father that although the school was indeed far away, it was the only place that could properly help me control my magic.

I lived in Panem, in what was once North America. Panem was divided into thirteen districts, but now, we only lived in twelve. My family and I live in District 12, in a small wooden house. The house had to accommodate myself, my parents, my older sister, Cassandra, and my older twin brothers, Marcus and Oliver.

I lived living with my family, but the happiness was always short lived. I was never home, apart from in the summer. But the summer was never a happy time. It was the time of the Reaping. The Reaping of the Hunger Games. I have been entering for three years, as I am now sixteen. My sister, who is three years younger than my brothers, finished entering two years ago, so I chose to put my name in for tesserae. Forty-three times this year.

I knew my chances for being reaped were high, but feeding my family was all I really cared about.

Other than my friends at Hogwarts, I didn't really have anyone else to hang around with. My only other friends were Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorne. We were almost as close I was to Harry and Ron, we would do anything for each other.

It wasn't a secret that Gale had a thing for me, but alot of boys seemed to aswell. I didn't see what they saw in me, I just saw a bushy-haired, buck-toothed, know-it-all.

I knew Gale and Katniss also entered extra for tesserae, as they also had to feed their families. I knew it would break our families apart if we were chosen, but they needed to eat and live, not starve.

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I was nervous now, wringing my hands, and folding the hem of my dress and then unfolding it again. Today was the day of the reaping, the day it would all change.

My mother kissed the top of my head, and my siblings wished me good luck before we separated, and I made my way towards the crowd of children.

A woman, caked in make-up, with a bright pink dress on, and vibrant bubblegum coloured hair stood at the front of the crowd, on the stage, facing us all with a fake smile playing on her lips.

She addressed us excitedly, after playing a video all about the wars and the fall of District 13, creating the Hunger Games.

"Now then children, it seems to be time to pick our tributes. May the odds be ever in your favour!"

She moved to one side of the stage, and put one perfectly manicured hand into a bowl with hundreds of pieces of paper inside. Pulling one piece out, she turned to us again, excitedly unfolding the paper.

"It appears the male tribute for District 12 is..."

The silence made me feel nauseous, as it felt like no one, not even myself, was breathing.

"...Gale Hawthorne!" She stated, clapping her hands together.

I was in shock.

Why Gale? Of all the other boys, why did it have to be Gale?

I turned to see him staring straight at me, and I realised we were both trying to hold back tears.

I nodded my head and smiled encouragingly, as I watched him walk slowly to the stage. Once there, Effie pulled him into a very awkward hug, and she moved over to the other bowl, on the other side of the stage.

"The female tribute for District 12 is..."

I felt sick, I felt like this wouldn't be good. Damn, I hated gut instincts!

"...Katniss Everdeen!" Effie exclaimed with yet another fake smile.

I saw Katniss turn to me, and I noticed she was crying. And so was I.

Both of my best friends were going into the Arena, and I would likely lose at least one of them. Or both of them.

I watched as Katniss started towards the stage, and I did the only thing I could think of doing. I ran as fast as I could until I reached Katniss at the bottom of the steps leading up to the stage. I stood there, panting as everyone stared at me. Peacekeepers moved in around me to take me back to my place in the crowd.

I shouted, at the top of my voice the only two words I could think of right then.

"I volunteer!"