Chapter Text
Sirius is fairly sure that the ceiling is spinning.
He hasn't slept in a long time; not after the events of the past two days. Every moment of his life has been spent thinking. Thinking about everything. But he can't afford to drift too much into his his own head. Draco and Harry need him to focus and get them through the rest of the games. Especially now. Now after...
Colin and Lola. Gone in the span of two days. The injustice of it all is insurmountable. Two children who had shown such kindness to everyone and stood by their allies right until the very end. Both of them had been incredible friends to Draco and Harry. The amount of love and hope and light they had shown them from the start is something that can never be repayed. Sirius himself had grown so fond of the pair of them. Yes, he had sympathised because of their age, but it was deeper than that. Colin and Lola had been special.
And because of this, Draco and Astoria had done something so incredibly heartfelt and so incredibly dangerous.
Sirius has spent the last few hours staring at his ceiling, caught in a trance made up of all the things that have ever stirred inside of him. The anger and the guilt, the frustration and the fear and the sadness. Every little bit of him is screaming. To do something, to change something, to save Draco and Harry and make sure no one he loves can ever be shown such horrors as the games again. To run away and forget this hollow city with its hollow people and their hollow traditions.
But he knows he can't. Sirius has always felt so incredibly small, and in times such as these that is only proven to him. His days of rebellion are over. The Hallow made sure of that. With their games, with the tricks played against him. How can he be of any real help to change the world when absolutely every single one of them is at complete mercy to Riddle and his government.
Just hours ago, Sirius had watched Colin die in Astoria's arms, holding tight to Draco's hand. He had heard the lullaby that lulled him to sleep; he had watched the two of them mourn him. Draco had stood up and walked away, gathered flowers, and come back with handfuls. He handed one handful to Astoria and then the cameras had cut to the Death Eaters down at the lake. Sirius had muted the TV, rage filling him at the sight of Cormac and Hailey. But alongside this rage was confusion. The gamemakers had cut away from Colin before they had collected his body.
They never did such a thing; cutting away from the point of action. If there was action somewhere else, yes, they might cut to the scene, but there wasn't anything going on elsewhere. So this was something strange. Unless, of course...there was something they didn't want the audience to see. And The Hallow, being ever generous with the scenes of gore weren't often quick to cut away from it. The only reason to do so would be...
The cameras had turned back to the sight of Colin covered in flowers. The hovercraft was just sending the claw down but in this moment the entire audience was seeing what surely The Hallow was wary to show. Draco and Astoria had done something that they couldn't condone. For it was a memorial, a beautiful gesture of love and friendship and care. To have tributes do such a thing for a fallen ally was something wasn't unheard of, but never to this degree.
To the innocent eyed Hallows, it would seem sweet. But to the people in power - to Riddle - this would be a clear message. That there was still feeling here, there was loyalty and love they felt for their ally. He wasn't just a stepping stone, they cared for him, they protected him, and they made sure he felt comforted at the end. This was a message that they would not lose their humanity. They would not play his games and forget that these people, these children killed, deserve to be remembered and honored. They would not surrender.
Sirius is aware Draco and Astoria weren't actively trying to create a problem. They were just trying to show the world how special and beautiful their friend's life was. They wanted to honor him in the only way possible. But gestures such as these start wars. They incite rebellions, draw people to arms, send people to the gallows.
What they've done, though full of heart, is dangerous beyond belief. Because there are riots starting in the districts, there are Hallows who are starting to talk about the gesture with the flowers; wonder about it. Reports are saying that there are whispers of uprisings in some of the districts, especially Districts 3, 4, 6, 7, and 12. If it weren't such a big deal, it might be a deeper source of amusement for him. But he knows how Riddle will react to such things, and he knows that the first people he will turn to blame are Draco and Astoria. Possibly even Harry by association. Because of his unwavering ability to try and save everyone. But most of all because of his comment the other day.
Why should they? He had asked. Why should they have only one victor?
Sirius has not stopped thinking of all of this since, and now he's been lying here trying to think up a way to distract from the trouble that's been caused. Because the only way to throw Riddle off the scent, to keep him from deciding that Draco and Astoria and Harry are too much trouble to let die off on their own, is to create a diversion. Something that will, in turn, draw the Hallows in and make them focus on something else.
The only thing that comes to mind is the thing that's been crafted from the start. Draco and Harry's relationship. Their fabricated love story that they've been sort of playing into - or, had been before all the chaos of the past few days.
Young love. Two tributes against all odds fighting for one another because they can't imagine losing the other. It's perfect. It will distract The Hallows and Riddle in all the right ways. The only trouble is figuring out a way to send a message to the two of them that that must be the priority from here on.
The talks the other day where Harry had admitted to having feelings for Draco had been grand. Clearly he was still locked into the strategy and story. Draco, on the other hand, was playing into his own role of avoidance and awkwardness was also doing well. But things were moving too slow, and time is running out, and if they want a chance anymore they need to start playing thing up.
So how to tell them this?
The clock on his bedside table reads 3:15. He has about 3 hours before he has to go down to the Game Center. In that time, he hopes - no needs - to have a plan. Something to rely on, a path to set foot on, a mission to embark on. It has to be good. Smart. Something the gamemakers will listen to and consider and be interested in going for.
Love. Young love. Even if there was a love story to root for, it could never survive the arena. That's the tragedy of it, and perhaps the biggest downfall. Eventually Draco and Harry will have to be torn apart by death. The rules won't allow for anything else.
Well...unless...the rules were changed...
Sirius shoots up, eyes wide. What if they changed the rules? What if instead of one victor, they presented the idea of two? What if Draco and Harry could both survive? What if the question Harry had asked was actually something to be used? What if their little starcrossed lovers bit could become one of hope?
Though, how they could enforce that in actuality is the big question. Riddle would never allow such a thing to occur. There is to be one victor and one victor only; this law has been the same since the birth of the hunger games. But maybe, just maybe, it would be possible to have a temporary rule change. Something to be revoked eventually...unless it became impossible to do so without upsetting the audience.
Sirius' mind is spinning. This might be it. This might be the best idea he's ever concoted in his entire life. If he can get the gamemakers to agree, if he can get Riddle to see the benefit in letting people believe that there is a love story that they can bet on and hope for and get excited about seeing extend past the days in the games...I mean, Riddle will have to see the pros in this. It will attract attention; those who grew bored and stopped watching will be back eager; anyone who cared about Draco and Harry before will be even more invested and though they have had sponsors, more will show with the idea of keeping a couple alive.
There's no way he's going to rest now. His mind hasn't stopped turning the past week and a half, but now it's speeding straight to action. Because this Sirius believes in. This makes sense and he doesn't see why it wouldn't make sense to the gamemakers too. To anyone, really. Anyone with any sense would be able to see that evoking this sort of hope in The Hallows and in Draco and Harry themselves will make for one hell of a show. And with the success of this, the gamemakers would be crazy to revoke the decision last minute. Though they aren't to be trusted for having much sanity in the first place...Sirius does believe at least this might garner some.
He slides out of bed and slips into the hallway, going to the kitchen. The servant there jumps to attention, but Sirius shakes his head and tells him he's fine making his own coffee. The man nods and returns to his place near the wall.
Once his coffee is made, he goes to the sitting room and sips at it, staring out at the glittering lights of the city. If all goes well, by the next evening, this city will be throwing parties for the idea he's had. Anyone rooting for Draco and Harry will take to the streets and show their support. The games will become something of hope for him for the first time. And maybe, just maybe, he will lay to the rest the dilemma that's been haunting him since their names were first called. He might be able to keep his promises to bring both of them home.
At dawn, Sirius dresses and makes a beeline for the Game Center. He doesn't bother hailing a cab, it's a short walk anyway, and hardly anyone except the mentors is awake at this time. As soon as he reaches the building, he takes the stairs two at a time, going straight to the gamemakers lobby.
An Auror is there guarding it. "Sir? Mr. Black, you aren't allowed in there - Mr. Black!"
Sirius simply ignores his protests and rushes inside. He searches the room for any sight of Snape. There's a handful of gamemakers tapping away at their screens, keeping an eye on the stats and the placements of the tributes in the arena. Sirius is really not supposed to be in here before, but he really doesn't care. He sweeps the room, still ignoring the Aurors that follow after him.
It's causing a bit of a scene at this point, but Sirius runs up the steps to the office - the last possible place he might find Snape if he's here. He throws open the door and goes inside.
Snape looks up slowly from the paper in hand and glares at him. The Aurors finally catch up and catch Sirius by the arms, dragging him back toward the door, apologizing to Snape.
"Wait, wait, I have a proposal!" Sirius says, shrugging the Aurors off him.
"Sir?" One directs at Snape, grabbing ahold of Sirius. Snape merely holds up his hand.
"Yes, stand down." He says, boredly. "I shall like to hear what Black has to say. Leave us."
"Thank you." Sirius says, yanking his arm back from the Auror again. He shoots a look at him and huffs as they walk out of the room, shutting the door behind them. When he turns his attention back to Snape that same heavy scowl is found.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Sirius smirks, feeling his confidence return full force. Snape has never intimidated him, not even for the fact that he is so close with Riddle himself.
"I've heard there are riots happening in the districts. I know that you can handle a mob, you've done it before, sure, but there might be an easier way to go about it rather than just brute force." Sirius says, pacing back and forth in front of his desk. "Plus, I've heard rumors that viewing numbers are extremely low as of late."
Snape lifts a brow. "Yes. There are riots happening, but I assure you that there is nothing to worry about there. I don't know what your little plan might be regarding that, but we're already successfully detaining those who are causing trouble." Sirius seriously doubts this, just based on the way he says it, but he doesn't say anything. "As for viewing numbers, that is true as well. Unfortunately it seems that not even the great Harry Potter can hold attention for long. What a pity that is, after all the years of hearing his name shouted from every rooftops, hill and mountain."
Sirius smiles to himself. "Yes, well. It's a shame that being head gamemaker your efforts to entertain have not been effective."
Snape sneers at him. "Is there a point to this little speech?"
"Yes. In fact, an amazing one. I have an idea of how to regain interest in the games. Something that takes little to no effort at all, really, if you're smart enough to see the benefits it holds at first glance."
"Very well." Snape says, still incredibly bored. "Get on with it."
"Young love."
Snape stares at him, then snorts. "Young love?"
"Yes. Young love. My tributes have been infatuated with one another long before they entered the arena, but individually they've always been in denial that the other returns their feelings. They haven't ever been so close before to have a conversation at all, until now. The trouble is, there's no hope in trying to be together at this point with the games. Unless, of course, we give them a motive. Something to inspire hope."
Snape sighs. "And what might that be?"
"A rule change."
"A rule change." Snape states blankly.
"One that allows for two victors instead of one, if the victors both originate from the same district. Just think of it, Severus. The Hallows will eat this up. Draco and Harry will become something of possibility rather than tragedy. They will be a couple to root for, a couple to keep watching for and send gifts to, a couple to make your games mean something again. The viewing numbers will skyrocket! And the rioters in the districts, they'll have this is something to divert their attention from revolting."
Snape narrows his eyes at him. "My games have always meant something, Black, even without silly little love stories." He snarks. "You seem to forget that there is no possible way to enforce such a rule change forever. If we tried such a thing then it would have to be a ruse. The law has always stated that only one victor may be crowned, and there is no way around such a law."
"But what if there was?" Sirius asks, placing his hands on the desk and leaning forward. Snape leans back in his seat wearing a deeper frown than normal. "Imagine the sort of intrigue two victors would cause over just one?"
"Riddle would never allow such a thing, and neither shall I." Snape says.
"Then make it temporary." Sirius says. "If you can't change the rule forever, change it until the very last minute of the games. Make it a ruse like you said."
"If we give the audience hope and then promptly destroy it, they will be outraged."
"But it will be the exact touch of tragedy that everyone adores." Sirius says, hating the very words. But even he has to admit he's sounding convincing. "Starcrossed lovers of District 7. A touch of hope to their story before a tragic end. No one will be able to forget these games. They'll be talked of for years." Then Sirius has another thought. "There's also Cormac and Hailey to consider. They're the only other tributes from the same district. Two different groups to root for, place bets on. District 7 underdogs, or the Death Eaters? A final showdown."
Snape considers this and Sirius puts his hands behind his back, squeezing them together there. Praying, praying, praying that the vision he has can be seen. Despite his confidence, he's anxious and trying to keep from showing even an ounce of it. It is not within his nature, and Snape will pick up such cracks in his veneer and find humor in this rather than strength.
"Fine." Snape says at last. "It's an interesting proposal, and holds much merit of success in theory. You best hope it will deliver."
Relief and satisfaction floods Sirius. He keeps his composure and only offers a firm nod. "It will."
Severus nods. "Then I will announce it today and explain to Riddle. I'm sure he'll be pleased to know that Sirius Black is so involved in helping the games succeed." He gives a half-smile. "Or, at least so involved in your tributes success to consider staging such shady plans."
Sirius bows his head briefly. "Yes, well, I appreciate you meeting with me."
With that, he opens the door and walks out. As he makes his way through the lobby he lets out a heavy breath, trying to shake his nerves. He had gotten a yes. He hoped he would, because it is a good plan. Quell the riots in the districts and give both the people there and in The Hallow something to root for. Riddle is a cruel and horrible man, but he isn't stupid. Surely he'll see the advantage of carrying this out.
Sirius enters the mentors room and finds Marlene at their usual spot at the bar. He slides onto the stool beside her. "Hey."
"Hey." She smiles. "Don't you look nervous."
"Nervous? Anxious, yes, but not nervous anxious, more - oh, thank you." Sirius says as the bartender hands him a drink; he already knows his order. "More excited anxious."
Marlene gives him an odd look. "Excited? What on Earth is there to be excited about?"
"I've just had a talk with Snape, and we've come to an agreement."
Marlene looks flabbergasted. "You and Severus, an agreement?!"
Sirius smirks. "Yes, well, when grand ideas are presented even snivelling sods like him have no choice but to agree."
"You have me on the edge of my seat. Just tell me."
"No can do, love. You'll see soon enough." He takes a sip from his glass and winks at her. "As soon as the sun rises in the arena."
~~~
Draco blinks up at the moon. It's a cloudless night tonight, the sky awash with the light of a billion stars. The air is cold, but not uncomfortably so. The forest is alive with the noise of owls and crickets. It's peaceful all around.
The recap plays and Penelope's picture appears in the sky. Draco's scowls at the sight of her. He doesn't understand how heartless one has to be to justify killing a young child.
Colin. His picture appears and Draco's heart breaks all over again. He's wearing that small little smile of his, his eyes bright, hair falling in his eyes. Astoria takes a shaky breath from beside him, taking his hand instinctively. Draco can't bear to look at her though, knowing full well that she'll be mirroring the look on his own face.
Draco tries hard to memorize this picture of him before it fades. Colin when he was happy, when he still had the chance to be naively excited before the whole world. Before he knew the sorts of things he would have to face in the arena. Before he knew the way he'd...
The sky goes dark and Colin disappears from the world forever. And Astoria drops his hand.
Colin died this morning. He thinks, and feels a stab of pain in his chest. Colin is dead. You couldn't save him. He's dead. He's dead, he's gone, gone forever. Colin is dead.
Draco squeezes his eyes shut. He can't stop thinking about it; Colin on the forest floor, squeezing his hand, bleeding out, blinking away tears as Astoria sang to him. He can't stop thinking about how absolutely helpless he was. He couldn't do anything but hold his hand - that's all he did, he should have done more, you should have done more! But what could he have done?
And then, once he was gone, the flowers. The only saving grace to give his mind at least something of ease. He had done something. It isn't enough, but it's something, and maybe someone somewhere, or maybe many people, will see how much Colin meant and understand why the loss of him should never be forgotten.
They had to have shown it. They had to have. That has to be enough for now. Anyone who was watching will know that he and Astoria stayed to honor Colin and that is something.
Colin is dead. He's dead, he's gone forever, he's dead!
"I can take first watch." Astoria says, voice small.
"No, you rest." Draco says. "You need it more than I do."
She sighs. "You've barely slept in days, Draco."
"I'm fine. Seriously."
Astoria opens her mouth like she's going to argue, but when Draco looks at her she seems to decide there's no use. "Fine. Just for a little bit, though. Wake me after an hour."
"Ok." Draco agrees, though he knows he's planning on letting her sleep the whole night. After all that she's been through, she deserves to rest. To slip away somewhere where she might be at peace from the sick reality they're in. Astoria settles down and slips into the sleeping bag. She closes her eyes and within minutes her exhaustion takes over.
Draco is again hit with the image of Colin falling out of the tree, laying on the ground, blood pooling from that gash in his stomach. The slinky. Tears slipping down his cheeks, squeezing Draco's hand, you have to win, no one ever thinks to look up, you have to win, what can you see up there, the entire world, work together you have to win no one ever looks up what do you see up there-
Draco grits his teeth and squeezes his eyes shut. He lets his head fall back against the trunk of the tree. His mind won't stop racing, won't stop spiraling about Colin, won't stop reminding him of everything. Maybe he should get some rest, maybe he'd be offered some relief from this, but he just can't. He just can't let himself no matter how exhausted he is. And he is.
Colin is dead. He died, he's dead, he's gone forever, he's-
Harry. Draco forces his thoughts to turn to Harry. It's the only thing that can distract him right now, the idea of seeing him again, finding each other and working together like Colin wanted them all to, and defeating the Death Eaters. He has to find Harry.
Marcus appears, grinning down at him, spear pointed right at his throat. I promised Cormac if he let me have you I'd put on a good show, I'm really not one to disappoint. An ax in his back, coughing up blood, blood all over Harry, a wild look in his eyes, Marcus' chest concave, the splintering bones of his ribs, Harry breaking down crying, Draco holding onto him. We're okay. We're okay.
Think of good things, he reminds himself. Happy times over the bad.
The cave, everyone together. Colin and Lola. Tell her about flowers, Draco. Colin smiling. I love birds best. Harry's hand in his own hidden in the sleeping bag. Everyone laughing, Angelina, Katie, Astoria, Evelyn, Zacharias. The cornucopia. The supplies, the cannon fire, running all night, the river, Harry shaking his hair like a dog, water flying everyone. Harry laughing.
Harry laughing. Harry laughing. Harry's laughter.
Fire. Blazing heat, threatening to melt them. Running, fireballs, explosions, screaming, being separated. Astoria being burned. Darkness. Lola. Lola is dead. Lola is gone, she's dead, she's never coming back. Colin is dead, he's gone, he's never coming back, never coming back, never coming back-
Draco rubs a hand over his chest. His heart is pounding, his breath is short, he's panicking now, really panicking, and everything is hitting him at once. He can't stop any of it. He's helpless, useless, nothing. He's always been nothing.
Standing in the school hallway, weird looks, misplaced laughter, sitting in the back of the class, Harry laughing, Harry smiling, Harry's friends - everyone is Harry's friend, Harry Potter the saint, The Chosen One, perfect in every way. Harry smirking at him, Draco's heart lurching, stomach swirling, he shouldn't think anything of it, shouldn't let it get to him but -
Harry in the pool, swimming far ahead of everyone. He's always been fast, faster than any of the other boys. Swimming, running. He's good at everything, but especially swimming and running. The crowd is roaring, Draco's covering his ears, he doesn't even know why he's here, but everyone is, he has to be like everyone else, he needs to try, because that might make him fit in, he has to fit, blend in, not be noticed, it's easier that way, better that way, he doesn't even want to be noticed, he just wants to be safe, no eyes on him - all eyes on Harry, Harry's won.
He's won! The crowd is deafening, Draco is fairly sure his eardrums have burst, Harry climbing out of the pool, Harry smiling, Harry's smile, that cheeky smile, that devilishly beautiful grin, how can he smile like that, how can he thrive in this attention, why can't Draco's smile look like that?
Draco tries to force himself to take steady breaths, but it's too much. He can't think straight. He can't focus long enough to even begin to try to-
You must be better than this, Draco! A harsh smack, the back of his head aching. Eyes stinging. Shame. We raised you better than this! Draco's vision going blurry, tears welling in his eyes. He hates disappointing his parents, his father is glaring at him, eyes filled with such regret and anger and Draco wants to shrink into the ground and disappear forever. You are a disgrace to our name, you selfish, useless boy. You're nothing.
I'm nothing, I'm nothing, I've always been nothing, I can't be better than this, never was.
Draco, darling, you're alright. His mother's arms around him. I'm sorry, mum. Don't be. I'm proud of you no matter what. Draco had forgotten his lines in the school play, he shouldn't have ever been in it, but they made him. He failed. I messed everything up. No, you didn't, you were wonderful, sweetheart.
You're annoying, we don't want you to sit with us anymore. Sitting alone at recess, playing chess against himself, kids running by him. They're laughing. They must be laughing at him. No one play with Draco, he's so weird! Why don't you ever talk? He's so weird! Do you ever say anything? He's so weird! Oh my god, that's the first word I've ever heard you say - he's so weird - say something else, do you even talk? Do you even think at all? Who would want to be friends with you?
I'm so weird, why can't I just be like everyone else? Why can't they just leave me alone? Maybe if I'm like them, they'll leave me alone.
Darkness. Nightmares. His room is too dark, he can't sleep anymore. Mummy I'm scared, can I sleep in your room? Go to sleep Draco! Lucius, he's scared - Then let him get over it! He's never going to grow up if you keep coddling him. Draco, go to your room, I'll be right there.
Tiptoeing down the hallway. Narcissa, you dote on him! He's just a boy, Lucius! He's 8 years old. He's scared, he's having nightmares so bad he's nearly in tears, Lucius. If you give in to this behavior, he will never grow up! Let him cry himself to sleep, see that there is nothing to be afraid of, then maybe he'll see that tears do one no good. If you condone this, if you let him come running every little time he's afraid, he'll never be a man.
Draco buried under the covers. They're still yelling. A door slamming, footsteps in the hall, his bedroom door creaking open. Draco? Draco, my love, I'm here. Don't worry, it's alright, I'm here. His mother's arms around him. He feels safe, he feels safe, he's safe now.
Draco feels like he's choking. Just breathe, just breathe. It's so dark. He can't feel his hands. His heart is beating too fast. You have to pull it together, you can't do this here, no don't let this be happening now, not right now, just wait for Harry, wait for Harry and you won't feel so alone, just-
First day of school. Kindergarten. Harry Potter, Draco wants to be his friend, he needs to know him. I think we should be friends. Oh, and I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. Holding out his hand. I don't know. Go on, Harry. Your family isn't nice.
You're nothing. You've always been nothing. You can't do anything right. No one wants to be friends with you. Who would want to be friends with you? You wouldn't even want yourself as a friend.
Colin on the ground, squeezing his hand. Draco? You have to win. No one ever thinks to look up. Thank you for being my friend - you should have thanked him. Colin was my friend, he was the best friend - he's dead. Colin is dead. You were supposed to protect him. You failed. He's never coming back.
Tears flood down Draco's face. Panic floods him again with this thought. He can't look weak. Not here, not now, he needs to be brave. He needs to be strong. But he, he can't, he can't breathe, he's - he pulls his knees to his chest and hides his face. Don't let them see you, don't let them see, you can't do this here, you can't, you can't be weak. You can't be weak.
You're so weak.
He's so weird.
Who would want to be friends with you?
You're a disgrace to your name.
You never learn, you're nothing, I'm nothing, I'll always be nothing, nothing, nothing, you couldn't save Colin, you need to save Harry, you're useless, Colin is dying, do something! You were supposed to protect him! You failed. You never do enough, you're never enough, just do something, say something, be something!
"Draco?" Astoria's hand on his shoulder. "Draco, I'm here. I'm here."
Oh god, now he's woken up Astoria. He was supposed to let her rest. But he's glad she's here, he's so glad she's here, he's not alone, he's not on his own, it's so dark here.
"I'm here." She whispers. "I'm right here."
Draco focuses on her words, the sound of her voice. His mind is screaming, his heart is thundering, but she's here. He's not alone. Not yet.
You're nothing. You're useless, you let Colin die, you couldn't save him, you were supposed to protect him, you failed, you always fail, who would want to be your friend - Stop!
He forces himself to breathe in slow and deep, despite the frantic protests from his mind and his heart. Don't be afraid to panic, that's what makes them stay. It's okay to panic. It's okay to be afraid. Let yourself be afraid.
He holds his breath and then lets it out slowly.
You're not alone. You're not alone. Let yourself be afraid.
"I'm here." Astoria says again, quietly.
Draco breathes in, he breathes out. In and out. Let yourself be afraid. It's okay to be afraid. It's okay to be sad. Let yourself be.
Slowly, but surely, Draco's heart slows and breath comes easy and his mind goes quiet. He's exhausted them, and now he's exhausted, and as much as he can't sleep, won't sleep, he wants to sleep and forget for just a moment. Even if he feels guilty for it, and isn't sure why, but knows he should be.
"You need to sleep, Draco." Astoria says gently. "Please, I'll keep watch."
"Okay." Draco says quietly.
"Here." She moves the sleeping bag over toward him and he pulls it over himself. "Rest now. I'll be here the whole time. You're okay."
Draco glances over at her. "Thank you, Astoria."
"Of course." She smiles gently. "Now close your eyes."
He does. Finally, at last, he lets himself rest.
~~~
Harry wakes to darkness. He and Cedric are still in the dark forest with no luck and heavy spirits. To make matters even worse, just the night before Cedric had climbed a tree and caught the recap for both of them. When he returned to the ground he told Harry that Penelope and Colin were dead.
Colin Creevey. He can't even imagine how it could be that he's dead. He had been with Draco and Astoria, they had been with him when he died, they must have been. Harry can't allow himself to think otherwise; can't let himself think of Colin dying without someone there to comfort him.
But that means that Draco and Astoria are alone now and definitely heartbroken. God, Astoria must be absolutely gutted. Colin was practically her little brother. And Draco, well Colin was his friend, he was so kind to him and Draco was so fond of him. The three of them had become so close. Harry had never seen Draco open up to anyone like he did to them, like he did with Colin.
Harry has to get to him. He has to pull his shit together and just focus. Yes, they're lost. Yes, they're having no luck finding their way out of this forest, though he isn't sure how that can be when they've been walking for hours for two days. There must be something going on. Something is turning them around, or they're losing their heads, or they just aren't choosing the right direction. But whatever it is, they need to fix it quick and figure this out because Draco needs him and he has to get back to him now.
The meadow. Like he decided the other day, the meadow is their best bet. They just need to figure out which way that is. They haven't even found the cave yet, which is so confusing because Harry is positive they should have reached it by now. This forest is obviously much larger than they think. And however they had managed it, Lola and he had gone to the furthest corner of it trying to escape the fire.
Damn the gamemakers. They had purposely created that fire and split them and now Lola is dead and Colin is dead and Ernie is dead and Cedric, Harry, Draco and Astoria are reeling. They need to find each other.
God, with how much he's thought that the past two days, he wishes it would just happen.
When Cedric wakes, Harry makes him pack up immediately and they decide on a new direction. Hopefully this will grant them better results. The sun starts to rise and the forest fills with a gray mist. Harry and Cedric trample over knotted tree branches. They don't speak, they're both too in their head about their various troubles, and to be honest Harry doesn't feel like talking anyway. He knows that letting his mind wander with the silence isn't doing him any favors in terms of emotion, but it's nice to let himself deal with it instead of bottling things up.
They walk for an hour and find nothing.
"I don't understand." Harry groans. "We must have been heading the right direction one of these times. How the hell have we not found anything telling yet?"
Cedric sighs and leans against a tree. "I don't know. Maybe the gamemakers are turning us around."
"At this point, they must be. I mean, there's no way that we've been walking this much and not discovered anything." Harry passes a hand over his face. "And it doesn't help that all these fucking trees look exactly the same and every ten steps is an identical grove. It's as if we've been walking in place the whole time."
"Maybe we have." Cedric says tiredly. "I mean, who's to say that they gamemakers haven't just been shifting the ground beneath our feet."
"I can't do this anymore." Harry says. "We're wasting time. I need to find Draco soon. I mean...I'm worried about him. He was good friends with Colin. And Astoria, well, she's definitely not doing okay right now. I hate the idea of them out there alone now, so upset." His mind turns to the Dementors from days before. What if they...no, he can't even let himself think that right now. "I just wish there was some clue as to where we needed to go. All traces of the forest fire have vanished and with the attack the other day we're all turned around and I'm so sick of these fucking trees, we have to get out here!" Harry kicks sharply at the tree beside him.
"Well, we've tried left, we've tried right. There's only one more direction that we haven't tried for long."
"Yes, what was ahead." Harry mutters, closing his eyes. "Which would now be to our left."
"We might as well just try it. We have nothing else to do."
"Yeah." Harry nods. "Alright then. Let's go."
They trudge on and on, more time passing and yet feeling like they're stuck in a timeloop. Absolutely everything about the forest looks the same no matter how far you travel.
Until - "Wait a minute." Harry says, heart spiking with the first hope in days. "Look, it's a hill."
Indeed, about a hundred feet away the ground is starting to rise up. Harry glances at Cedric, and then, in a fit of excitement, starts to run. He flits past the trees and makes it to the edge of the hill, then sprints up it. Cedric is following close behind, but he can't match Harry's speed. His days in track paid off.
He reaches the top of the hill and continues running the next half a mile until, there! He can hear it. The sound of rushing water. The river, he's found it! They've found the river. And if they've found the river, they've found Draco.
Harry dashes into the water and lets out a whoop. He hardly has the mind to care that it's foolish, he's just relieved. Cedric crouches down and scoops up a handful of water, splashing his face with it. He lets out a heavy sigh.
There's no meadow across from them, there's only green woods, but Harry doesn't even care. They need only follow the river and somewhere along the way they'll find his friends. They decide that right is the right direction to take, and start walking that way. They walk through the water for a little bit, enjoying the way it rushing around their legs and cools them off. But eventually it becomes too difficult to keep their footing and they aren't moving very fast, so they cross to the side of the green forest and walk along the bank there.
"Attention, tributes, attention!" A voice booms through the air. "There has been a slight rule change this morning. The regulations requiring a single victor have now been suspended. From now on, two victors may be crowned if both tributes originate from the same district. This will be the only announcement."
Harry's stomach swirls. Draco. Draco and him could both go home. They could both go home!
Without a second thought, he breaks out into a run again.
~~~
Draco wakes to a voice booming through the arena. Astoria sits straight up, eyes wide, and he blinks, confused. All he catches is, "Two victors may be crowned if both tributes originate from the same district. This will be the only announcement."
He sits up too. "Did I hear that right?"
"Two victors." Astoria says. "They changed the rule, but...how could that be? Why would they only change it now when there's only two district partners..." She pauses and looks at him. "You and Harry."
Draco's heart flutters. He and Harry could both go home. They could! But that would mean...well, it would mean that everyone else was now a threat to them. Even Astoria.
Oh, what a cruel trick. The gamemakers surely made this true to try and make him turn on her. Or to make her turn on him. They must have seen what they did for Colin yesterday and been so infuriated that they decided to change the rules just to punish them. And what a clever way to do so, because of course that's been Draco's decided goal. To get Harry home. And now he could go with him, as long as he was willing to kill everyone else to do so.
Astoria and him stare at one another, and he can tell that she's putting this together too. And that frightens him because, for a moment, he lets himself imagine that even with all the time they've spent together, even with all the ways they've become friends, she might turn on him for this. To save herself. That's what everyone is here for after all. He wouldn't even blame her for deciding such a thing.
But, instead, she shakes her head. She looks disappointed. "How dare they."
Draco swallows thickly. "They want to break us up."
"Yeah. Yeah, well, good luck." Astoria says bitterly, looking to the sky. "We're allies. Nothing, not even a rule change, changes that. Right?"
Relief flows through him. "Right."
"We're still going to find the Death Eaters and kill them. For Colin. For Lola, and everyone we've lost along the way. That's what matters. They're just trying to distract us."
"Yeah." Draco says. He feels the same frustration that she's wearing hit him too. "Colin wanted us to find Harry and work together. They don't the idea of that."
As stupid as it might be, it feels good to talk about the gamemakers this way. To show them that nothing changes. To show anyone who might have thought this little trick would change anything that they were wrong. And Draco is so glad that Astoria feels the same way. He feels guilty for even letting himself think for a second she would actually turn against him.
"Fuck them." Astoria says.
Draco feels a rush of fear and excitement at that. Because yeah, the gamemakers could absolutely destroy the two of them for that, but he's so fed up with playing against their rules and tiptoeing around. Their friends are dead and he's angry and he doesn't fucking care anymore.
"Fuck them." Draco says.
She grins at him. Then, to their right, something approaching. Draco and Astoria instantly grab their weapons. Their new tree is closer to the river so they can see the water and the treeline up against it. They're still hidden, but not by much.
Either way, they aren't scared anymore.
Astoria instantly notches an arrow and Draco twirls a knife in hand, and they jump down from the tree, ready to fight whoever they have to and win.
Two people appear and rush towards the oaks. Draco is poised to throw and Astoria is ready to let the arrow fly, and Draco feels his heart spike at the realization.
"Harry." He breathes, heart swooping. "Harry!"
Astoria gasps and lowers her bow as Draco goes shooting past her, straight towards Harry. He throws his arms around him and Harry instantly holds him as he buries his face in his shoulder. He's crying and he doesn't know why he's crying and he can't stop crying. All he knows is that he's so relieved and happy. Harry is here. He's found him. They've found each other. Thank god. He's needed him. God, how he's needed him these past few days. He didn't even realize just how much.
"Hi." Harry mumbles, laughing slightly.
That laugh. Harry's laugh, Harry's laughter. Draco has never been so happy to hear a sound in his life.
"Hi." Draco says, voice muffled. He doesn't even have the thought to be embarrassed by his actions, by this gesture. All he knows is that Harry's arms feel so right around him, and he feels safe again, and he doesn't want to ever lose him. He can't lose him.
"We're okay." Harry says quietly.
For now, it's true. Despite everything, they're okay. Well, as okay as they can be. But the fact that they're together again, that's enough.
That's more than enough.
"We're okay." He says back, and when he pulls back just for a moment to look at him, he finds tears shining in Harry's eyes too. And it's so confusing, and yet makes all the sense in the world somehow. Draco holds onto him and Harry holds onto Draco and it's enough.
It's enough.