There was a train. And..I had to board it. My cheeks were wet with tears and the little of them that fell into my mouth were salty. I couldn’t take it. I didn’t want to go back to the games.

I sat in an empty compartment and set my stuff down on a rack above my head. All except my bow and quiver. I allowed them to sit next to me. And I kept my pocket knife in my pocket. Just in case.

The thing about this place though was families were saying goodbye and smiling. That never happened before the Hunger Games. And people were getting more than three minutes to say goodbye. It was a weird thing. Nobody was crying and everyone was running to meet up with friends that they knew. This never happened in District 10 or the Hunger Games. Why was it happening here?

“MUM! James is being rude!” A boy with brown hair yelled.

“JAMES SIRIUS POTTER!” I heard a ginger woman yell.

I raised an eyebrow. That Hagrid guy had mentioned a kid named James Sirius Potter. Was he really a trouble maker? Why did he have to help me out?

“Potter’s son is already getting in trouble, sounds like he’s just like his father. Wonder if he’s going to find someone to fight with?” I hear kids saying as they pass my compartment.

I pick up my bow and put the quiver on my back. I take out an arrow and load my bow.

“You aren’t talking about the Capitol, are you? And what district are you?” I say, crisply, my bow pointing at a bleach blonde boy.

He laughs. “What’s with the bow? And what’s the ‘Capitol’ and ‘District?’. If you mean house, I’m definitely going to be Slytherin, just like my father and mother.” He says.

I lower my bow. “What the heck is a Slytherin?” I ask.

“Ah, another muggle-born.” He says. “I’m Scorpious Malfoy, you’d know of my family if you weren’t a muggle-born.”

“Annalise Miracle. Survivor of the Hunger Games at age 13.” I reply. “Don’t expect me to be your ally.”

“I didn’t bet on it.” Scorpious said with a smirk before walking off.

I went to walk back into my compartment when someone ran into me.

“What the heck!” I yell as I stand up. I went to walk into my compartment again when they spoke.

“I’m sorry,” a female voice said, “You must be that new student everyone is talking about? Or at least the Weasleys, my family, and the Potters are.”

I freeze. “Yeah..I’m Annalise. Annalise Miracle.” I say.

“I’m Victoire. Victoire Weasley. Pleasure to meet you. Uhm, I’m thinking James is supposed to be helping you, but he probably won’t, so I could hang with you until he does? James is a bit of a...prankster.” Victoire explains.

I nod. “Okay…” I say reluctantly as I head back into my compartment. I set my bow down on the seat next to me and finally looked at her.

She’s absolutely beautiful. Her platinum blonde hair goes down her back and her eyes shimmer in the light. Her skin is perfectly clear and her lips are curved in a perfect smile. I know she probably has a boyfriend with those looks. She looks like she’s around sixteen-seventeen also.

We sit there talking and laughing when a boy with teal hair walks in. He looks like he lives in the Capitol with that hair.

“Vic, what are you doing? I was waiting for you forever.” The boy says.

“I was hanging out with Annalise since James couldn’t bother to do his job.” Victoire says.

“I’ll tell Harry..” The boy says.

“Don’t. I already have a list. Don’t bother him right now, Teddy. I think he’s talking to Albus right now, anyway.” Victoire says.

I shift uncomfortably and stare out the window. Teddy must notice.

“I’ll go find James. She doesn’t need a girl four years older than her to hang out with.” Teddy says.

“I was in the Hunger Games and I had a friend who was three years older than me, I think I’m fine.” I mutter.

Teddy asks about what the Hunger Games are and I go into a long explanation. Victoire is hugging me because I guess somewhere in the middle of it I start crying. Who wouldn’t? They’re my friends that I lost. Most of them. Some were enemies, some weren’t.

“That’s just crazy and ville.” Victoire said with a sigh.

“That’s how I lived. You weren’t the one in them, you don’t understand it as much as I did.” I say and shrug.
Just then a boy with messy hair and a smirk walks in.

“They could’ve told me I had to be buddies with Victoire! I would’ve gladly declined!” The boy yelled, I’m guessing jokingly.

“Shut up James or I’ll tell Uncle Harry! I have a full list, the top of it being you were the one who broke half the plates in the kitchen at my house and not Louis!” Victoire retorts.

“Besides, you aren’t buddies with her. You’re buddies with her, Annalise.” Teddy says, gesturing to me.

I glare daggers at the boy, James I’m guessing, and his smirk quickly disappears.

“I-I think she could figure out the place by herself...she has a bow..” James stutters.

“The bow can’t show me around, idiot. I already don’t like you so you better turn your quick rejection around.” I say. “I spend my life raising livestock and going to the reaping and killing my peers and friends. I’m not afraid to kill you also.”

James takes a step back.

“I will tell Uncle Harry.” Victoire threatens.

“Fine, fine. I better get paid.” James says.

“You will. I won’t kill you.” I say with an eye roll as I look out the window.

James groans and sits down across from me just as Victoire and Teddy leave. I can already tell this is something I don’t want. I’d rather be stuck with someone from District One and that says something.