Chapter Text
“Chin up.” Nymphadora tells Draco as she straightens up his tie. Draco could have done it himself, but his hands were shaking too much. And today is an important day. Draco lifts his chin up, and Dora gets to work. “Done.” She says. At the same time, their grandmother walks in. She smiles at Draco. “You look wonderful. Just like your father.” Even though Druella Rosier wasn’t the mother of Draco’s father, she was very fond of him. She even mourned for him when he died. Ever since the war, Draco has lived with his grandmother and cousin, Nymphadora. Both of their parents had died. And as such, they lived with their grandmother. Dora looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. “Dray, you better get going before you're late.” She was right, and today was not a day to be late. He kissed his grandmother on the cheek, hugged Dora, and walked out the door. This was it. The day the Nott prize would be announced. Draco was almost certain that he would win. He had perfect grades, and all his teachers loved him. Except one, but he doubted it would matter. Today was also the reaping day for the 10th annual Hunger Games. Draco didn’t know why the award was going to be given on the same day as the reaping. But who was Draco to judge? “Ready?” A voice asked from beside him. Pansy Parkinson, a girl whom he shared all of his classes with, grabbed his arm and kept walking. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” He replied. Pansy was short and had her black hair in a ponytail. Her green dress and eye shadow made her brown eyes pop. Draco looked way less nice than she did. With his fathers’ old shirt that Dora had to bleach and his way too small shoes. At least he looked acceptable. She smiled at him. “You know, there are some rumors that you and Theo are friends, is that true?” Their school, Hogwarts Academy, was in sight. “I tolerate him. He thinks we're friends.” Pansy made an “ah” sound. They walked up the stairs together in silence. They entered the school and made their way to the Great Hall.
Draco tried to ignore the mountains of food outside the Great Hall. He didn’t have the chance to eat this morning due to the empty refrigerator in his house. He couldn’t show that his family didn’t have enough money to buy food. But Pansy directed them towards the table and, Draco couldn’t stop himself from taking a muffin. Pansy grabbed a colorful drink and dragged Draco inside the Great Hall. Students and teachers alike filled the hall. 24 chairs were placed facing the right side of the golden podium. “Draco! Pansy!” Draco turned and saw Blaise Zabini, Millicent Bulstrode and Gregory Goyle making their way towards him and Pansy. “Exited?” Millicent asked him. Millicent was very tall. Even taller with heels. She had blonde hair that looked way too blond. It was obviously dyed. Not sure how to respond, Draco nodded. Yes, Draco was excited but also nervous. If he didn’t win this prize, 100 000 gallions, he would probably lose his house. The rent was due, and neither he nor Dora had the means to pay. His grandmother was getting very old, and it was just mean if Draco forced her to find money. “Did you hear,” Tracey Davis, who decided to join them, said. “That Mr. Theodore Nott caused a ruckus this morning in front of his house?” “Oh! What happened?” Pansy asked excitedly. “Apparently, he was mad at his father for changing the rules of the Nott prize.” “What?” Draco asked. “Yep, he screamed at his father and-” She stopped talking, seeing Theo walking towards them. “Speak of the devil.” Blaise murmure. “Good morning.” Theo said. “Good morning.” Draco says back. Theo opened his mouth to say something, but he was cut off by Dr. Sybil Trelawney. “May everyone take their seats.” Draco walked in front and sat in one of the 24 chairs in the front row. As everyone settled down, Theo, who sat next to him, leaned toward him. “I’m sorry Draco, but there won’t be an announcement on who won the Nott prize today.” No, no, no, no, no, no, no ,no. This couldn’t be happening to Draco. After all of his hard work! And this is how we got repaid! He worked so hard to get where he was! Pretend over and over to look like he was in high power and wasn’t actually going to lose his house! Like he wasn’t starving himself so that his cousin and grandmother could eat.
“Welcome!” Dr. Trelawney's mystical voice brought him back from his thoughts. She was standing behind the podium. “Today, we celebrate the top 24 students of this year. Who worked hard and got the highest grades! Now, I bet you’re all expecting the winner of the Nott prize. This year, there will be one more obstacle before getting the prize. Let me introduce you to Mr. Severus Snape who will be explaining said obstacle.” Mr. Snape was a very slim man. His shoulder-length black hair always looks greasy. And his small black eyes always followed Draco wherever he went. As he walked to the podium, Mr. Snape pulled out a small vial and chugged it. “Congratulations to the top students. As you may know, today is the reaping of the 10th annual Hunger Games. Dr. Trelawney came up with the brilliant idea to make the Games more interesting to the public. The 24 of you,” Mr. Snape pointed at us. “will be undertaking the role of mentor for the tributes of this year's Hunger Games. Your job is to turn these tributes into spectacles, not survivors. The winner of the Nott prize will be chosen based on your ability to make your tribute shine. The mentor might also have a higher chance of winning if their tribute wins the Hunger Games. After the mayor of the district announces the tributes, I will name the student and which tribute they will be mentoring.” Draco was a bit shocked, to say the least. Of course, he would have to mentor someone. But he could do this. As long as he got someone from District 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, he could win.
“Ah, here we start.” Mr. Snape looked up. Right behind the podium was a screen. It currently shows District 1. “The male and female tributes for District 1 are Colin Creevey and Katie Bell.” said the mayor of District 1. “Alecto Carrow for the female tribute and Amycus Carrow for the male tribute.” There was some loud cheering and clapping. The screen showed a blonde woman and a boy around the age of 13 crying. She was hugging the boy, Colin, as he cried. It’s ok. There’s still four more Districts. Draco told himself. The screen now showed District 2. “The male and female tributes for District 2 are Cedric Digory and Lavender Brown.” Theo gasped beside me. “Gregory Goyle for the female tribute and Theodore Nott for the male tribute.” Theo murmured a soft “No” beside Draco. And as much as Draco didn’t like Theo, he felt bad for the boy. District 2 was where Theo originated from. His father bought his way into the capitol. Cedric was probably a friend of Theo. The screen showed a tall boy with blond hair and a girl with brown skin and beautiful box braids. She held her head high and took the boy's hand. The boy looked more angry. Please give me District 3. Draco pleaded with himself. The screen changed yet again. “The male and female tributes for district 3 are Padma Patil and Lee Jordan.” “Astoria Greengrass for the female tribute and Blaise Zabini for the male tribute.” A woman started cheering loudly. Draco assumed it was Blaise’s mother. Who married 7 times. And all of her husbands mysteriously died. Blaise was the only child she ever had. It’s fine. Districts 4 and 5 are still good. The screen now showed district 4. “The male and female tributes for District 4 are Cho Chang and Seamus Finnigan.” On screen, a piercing scream echoes. A woman tries to run toward the male tribute. “NOT MY BABY, PLEASE!” She screams. Two Peacekeepers stop her and pull her back. The woman tries to fight back, but the Peacekeepers hold tightly. The boy is crying and apologizing. The tributes walked up to the stage. The girl is holding the boy’s hand as they walk up. “Pansy Parkinson for the female tribute and Vincent Crabe for the male tribute.” Pansy squeals beside Draco. God damn it! The screen cuts to District 5. “The male and female tributes for District 5 are Henry Chase and Hannah Abbott.” Please, please, please, please. “Tracey Davis for the female tribute and Millicent Bulstrode for the male tribute.”
If Draco is being honest with himself, he has the most urgent urge to crawl in a hole and cry. He has no chance to win the Nott prize now. Of course, he’s being given one of the poorer Districts. How could he ever show the beauty of anyone who lives in a District lower than 5? The screen changes to District 6, and Draco can already see a difference in money. District 6 just looks poor. “The male and female tributes for District 6 are Vernon Dursley and Penelope Clearwater.” The female tribute almost collapsed when walking up to the stage. But the male tribute holds her up. “Mundungus Fletcher for the female tribute and Marvolo Gaunt for the male tribute.” “Fuck.” Draco heard behind him. He assumes its Mundungus. The screen now shows District 7. “The male and female tributes for District 7 are Gilderoy Lockheart and Angelina Johnson.” The female tribute is sobbing hysterically as she walks. The male tribute is holding her up, but it looks like he’s having a hard time. Draco is really starting to panic. He’s never going to win. He’s doomed. He let down the only family member he had left. He thinks Mr. Snape probably had something to do with this. Draco really believed that the professeur hatred for him wasn’t going to ruin his chances of winning. At this point, all that Draco can do is hope he doesn’t get a tribute from District 12. “Victor Krum for the female tribute and Ernie Macmillan for the male tribute.”
The screen changes to District 8 and Draco is hoping his tribute is from District 8. He doesn’t want anyone lower! He wants to prove to himself and everyone that he can do this! “The male and female tributes for District 8 are Dean Thomas and Delphi Riddle.” As the male tribute walks forward, a small child grabs his hand. “Dean, why are you leaving me?” The male tribute starts crying. He hugs the child. Draco can see his lips moving, saying “I’m sorry”. A Peacekeeper approaches and grabs the child. The child is crying and screaming. Begging for Dean to come back. “Julie Arisole for the female tribute and Aurora Sinistra for the male tribute.” Draco lost all hope there. Not like there was any left. The screen changes and District 9 is showing. “The male and female tributes for District 9 are Oliver Wood and Dolores Umbridge.” Draco was going to feel bad for whoever got the female district. She wore a dress of the brightest pink Draco had ever seen. The male tribute just looked dirty. Maybe this Oliver Wood could be Draco’s tribute. He wouldn't mind. He looked strong. “Septima Vector for the female tribute and Myrtle Warren for the male tribute.” Moaning Myrtle got the male tribute instead of him? This thing, Draco though, is rigged. Moaning Myrtle was useless. The only reason she ever made it this far is because her father pays the school greatly. Draco is on his last nerve. If this is rigged, then he is most likely going to get someone from District 12. The screen changes and Draco sees District 10. It looks horrid. Barely any of the people there look clean. “The male and female tributes for District 10 are Zacharias Smith and Emmeline Vance.” Everyone on screen turns toward the tributes. The woman holds her head high and walks forward. On her way, she grabs the boy by the arm and wanks him forward. “Wilkie Twycross for the female tribute and Stan Shunpike for the male tribute.” Draco hangs his head. All that he can hope for is that his tribute will be strong.
“The male and female tributes for District 11 are Walden Macnair and Alicia Spinnet.” Draco looks up at the screen. The male tribute looks like he hasn’t taken a bath in years, which could be true. The female tribute looks a bit more clean, but not by much. “Romilda Vane for the female tribute and Silvanus Kettleburn for the male tribute.” Draco knew it! It was rigged. Mr. Snape didn’t like him, and that meant he would get someone from District 12. Draco didn’t know what he did to Mr. Snape to make him hate Draco. The screen changed for one final time, showing District 12. “The male and female tribute for District 12 are Harry Potter and Marietta Edgecombe.” The female tribute walked to the stage fairly quickly. The male tribute was slower. “I’m sorry, Harry! I didn’t know that would happen!” A boy screamed at the tributes left. The male tribute turned and just smiled. As he walked, he stopped behind a woman and dropped something in her dress. She started screaming uncontrollably and dropped to the floor. “SOMEONE GET IT OUT! PLEASE!” Peacekeepers arrived next to her. A small snake slithered out from the bottom of her dress. As the tribute walked up to the stage, the mayor came up to him and slapped him. He fell to the floor “Susan Bones for the female tribute and Draco Malfoy for the male tribute.” Ah, the boy, Harry, was his tribute. Harry stood up from where he was hit. He looked at Draco. He was probably looking at someone in his district, but Draco believed that Harry was looking at him. He had beautiful green eyes and round glasses. His dark hair was disheveled. Kind of like a bird nest. He wore blue pants and a pink shirt. Draco admired how he stood out from everyone else. A small voice started singing. “Can't take my past. Can't take my history.” Another voice sang. “You could take my pa. But his name's a mystery.” Harry walked to the microphone and started singing.
Nothing you can take from me was ever worth keeping.
Nothing you can take, was ever worth keeping.
“Singing, is he insane?” Murmured Pansy from behind him.
Can't take my charm
Can't take my humor
You can't take my wealth
Cause it's just a rumor
Nothing you can take
Was ever worth keeping'
You can't take my sass
You can't take my talking'
You can kiss my ass!
Harry screamed that last line. Draco stood up and just looked at Harry until the screen went black. Small gasps erupted around the room. Oh, I can work with this. Draco told himself.
✧ ᩿✧
Harry knew he was going to get picked. It was his fault for dating Peter. Who then cheated on him with Nina, the mayor's daughter. But, of course, Nina thought that Peter was cheating on her with Harry. Which landed Harry in the Hunger Games. What a great morning. Will Harry fight? Most likely. Does he want to? Absolutely not. Not even 2 minutes after he left and he already misses his friends. Harry wants to see them again, but the chance that he does is low. He wants to sing with them again. But again, the chance that he does is low. Harry is hoping for a miracle.