Katniss finds President Snow waiting in her home before the Victory Tour and immediately understands that his visit means danger. Snow insists they speak honestly, makes it clear that he can kill Katniss and her family, and says her defiant use of the poisonous berries in the arena created a political crisis. He reveals that Head Gamemaker Seneca Crane was executed and explains that many people in the districts did not believe Katniss's act was motivated by love for Peeta; instead, they saw it as open defiance that could inspire rebellion.

Snow tells Katniss that unrest is spreading and warns that revolution could follow if she does not help stop it. He presents himself as protecting Panem from collapse, but Katniss recognizes that his real concern is preserving Capitol control. When Katniss asks why Snow does not simply kill her, Snow explains that her death would only make her more powerful as a symbol. He says the only workable solution is for Katniss to strengthen the story that she acted only because she was desperately in love with Peeta.

As they drink tea served by Katniss's mother, Snow probes Katniss's true feelings. He points out that he knows she is not as devoted to Peeta as she pretends and then threatens Gale directly, showing that he knows Gale is not really her cousin and that Katniss spends Sundays with him in the woods. This forces Katniss to realize how closely the Capitol may be watching her and how badly she has underestimated the danger facing Gale, Peeta, and both their families.

Katniss then remembers the first time she met Gale alone after returning from the Games. After the district celebrations and constant press attention finally faded, Katniss secretly went into the woods with food and waited at their old meeting place, afraid Gale might hate her or be lost to her. When Gale arrived, they spent the day hunting and talking almost normally, which briefly made Katniss believe their old friendship could survive unchanged.

At the end of that day, however, Gale suddenly kissed Katniss and admitted he had needed to do it at least once. Katniss was stunned and unable to sort out her feelings, and afterward both of them pretended the kiss had never happened. Even so, Katniss understood that Gale had changed their relationship permanently, and now, under Snow's questioning, she sees that this private moment has become a political threat.

Terrified for Gale, Katniss begs Snow not to hurt him and promises that on the Victory Tour she will make her love for Peeta look even more convincing. Snow says that will not be enough unless she can persuade him as well, because the tour is her only chance to calm the districts. As he leaves, Snow delivers one final warning by whispering that he knows about Gale's kiss, proving that Katniss has no safe private life left.