The Durmstrang Institute's grounds covered nine islands near Norway's far Northern archipelago - Svalbard. These grounds were connected by a series of long and sturdy ice bridges, which could be magically built or thawed as needed for defensive purposes or whatever other needs the Institute had. One of these bridges was currently being crossed by the giant Abraxan horses that pulled the Beauxbatons carriage, filling the air with loud and crisp 'clip-clop' sounds. As the students filed out to stand in an ordered line behind their Headmistress in the Institute's welcoming courtyard, they shivered in the cold as they observed the dark castle that was to host them this year.
It was snowing, the enchanted fires had been lit in welcome, and the light from those fires reflected off the white snow acted to encase the dreary looking castle in an otherworldly glow. In the center of the castle, Feliciano could barely make out a dark outline of a giant turret, shaped like a tree with branches. It was built to a staggering height, disappearing into the even darker night sky. How odd, he could have sworn that the Durmstrang castle was only four stories tall.
Feliciano shivered not just with the cold, but with how frightening the castle seemed. But where was the Aurora? Shouldn't the lights cover the sky? It must be the castle blocking the view. 'Tonight,' he swore to himself. 'Tonight I have to sneak out to find a better place to see them, then I will paint. I won't get caught, and surely I can't get into too much trouble for painting can I?'
He would paint the most wondrous image of the aurora lights in the wizarding world. He knew it. Even if Ludwig had lost all memory of their time together as even younger children, surely this painting would reach out to him in some way.
Lovino suddenly took Feliciano's hand in his and started rubbing it brusquely, warming Feliciano a little. "D-D-Damned fools," Lovino stuttered under his breath, teeth chattering. "Y-Y-You'd th-think they'd know how to warm it or something, th-they were expecting guests. We're not all like those B-B-British bastards who have cloaks for winter uniforms."
Feliciano was suddenly reminded of how cold he was, and maybe it was a trick of the light, but it looked like Lovino's lips were turning blue. "V-Ve...F-Fr-Fratello, I g-guess they expected us to h-have cloaks by n-now?" The British students from Hogwarts were looking at the new arrivals with expressions of derision and disbelief. Some were outright giggling, obviously at the French school's impractical uniforms.
"That P-professor friend of y-yours. T-T-Told me they considered it. B-B-But c-couldn't d-design something that d-d-didn't look hideous."
Well Feliciano had to admit there was a point there. The other two school's uniforms could be described in many ways - professional for Hogwarts, imposing and practical for Durmstrang, but the Beauxbatons students by far were the most elegant.
Finally, Headmaster Germania welcomed them inside. As soon as they passed the thick wooden gates, all the students were delighted by the warmth and the sound of crackling fires. Once they gained their senses they were again, shocked out of them.
"But this is..." Feliciano whispered in awe.
Lovino finished for him, eyes wide. "Fucking amazing."
While the exterior of Durmstrang looked foreboding and threatening, the inside was a masterpiece of metalwork, paintings and stained glass. Iron, copper and chrome had been weaved around as vines, plants and trees into strong but still graceful gates and arches, protecting statues and altarpieces of famous heroes in the Institute's history. Paintings directly on the walls and ceilings observed the newcomers with stoic consideration, while also depicting the story of the Institute's founding. The stained glass windows iconized anthropomorphic beings - men and women dressed in viking or other warrior armor with animal heads - reindeer was the most common, followed by bears, the occasional lion and many horses. Also present were angelic looking beings, men and women with powerful wings and bird-like claws, and a familiar sight to both boys - nymphs who lived in the cold northern oceans. However, overlooking the main hall was a great bronze and iron working of a mighty celestial tree, whose branches and roots reached out and connected all the windows and deities together. Those beings in the windows - standing or fighting underneath storms of great lightning and dark clouds of thunder, or married to the seas, each shined their light and gazed towards the tree.
"I welcome you all to the Durmstrang Institute of Magic." Headmaster Germania Beilschmidt's voice boomed and echoed off the walls, capturing the attention of all those who had finished filing in, standing. Feliciano studied the Headmaster and his somewhat primal appearance - long, platinum blonde hair with a single thin braid fell to the waist. He was wrapped in a brown furred, long, thick and black cloak which looked like it was a hide of some kind. However, Feliciano was most struck the by Ludwig's resemblance to this man.
"They leave us cold and they don't give us seats either." Lovino complained in a whisper.
"As per tradition, we shall begin with the telling of the origins of our school. Professor Edelstein, if you please."
A prim and elegant looking man stood up, dressed in dark blue robes lined with white fur.
"Professor Edelstein? As in Roderich Edelstein? The most powerful magicamagus living today? I didn't know he taught here." Feliciano whispered to Lovino, but his brother stayed silent.
Professor Edelstein walked before a small student orchestra dressed in Durmstrang's blood red and black furred uniforms. They held mostly drums and percussion instruments, but a few here and there held lyres and other ancient looking string instruments. Feliciano noticed an especially ethereal looking short boy with pale blonde hair and almost purple looking eyes seated before an unfamiliar string instrument. That boy certainly was not entirely human.
They waited for two girls to stand slightly to the front. These students held nothing. Then Professor Edelstein raised his hands with his wand and the music started.
Heavy and powerful drum beats, combined with the plucking of minor notes from the strings filled the hall with what sounded like an old warrior's tune. Feliciano could imagine Vikings sitting in the hall, banging their cups on the table as they sang of blood, death and glory. Suddenly, the two girls started singing - one soprano and one alto in harmony with the haunting melody. Lovino gasped, having a better understanding of the vulgar Latin dialect they were singing in and looked up to the ceiling and its painted frescos. Feliciano followed suit and stared in awe.
The animal headed deities in the stained glass windows had moved, imposing, glaring down at the guests as if to order them to pay attention. Then the figures in the painting stood up and everyone in the hall watched as the ceiling frescos and their chrome companions showed them the tale of Durmstrang's founding.
From what they could see, Durmstrang had been founded by the powerful Nerida Vulchanova, a half water nymph witch of Bulgaria and the Black Sea who had been driven away from her home, only to find sanctuary in the isolation of the far North. Unlike Hogwarts, which was founded by two witches and wizards who started as friends and had become enemies, Dumstrang's eventual success lay with a group of strangers forced into alliance thanks to the widespread prosecution in each of their very diverse native lands.
Nerida, after traversing Europe and picking up magical refugees along the way, lead Durmstrang's founding with only her small community of exiled witches and wizards. They barely survived their first winter. Meanwhile, further south, the paintings showed them the journey of Masos of Chelmo, a half-blooded warrior Wizard whose father had been a Knight of the Teutonic Order, while his mother was a native of the land that would eventually be given over to those crusaders and Christianized.
While Nerida's community struggled to survive in the north, Masos' community were constantly fleeing. At first they fled West, (to escape the ongoing warring in the East near Jerusalem) there they met Therese of Austria. While her originally Celtic family had lived on that land before it was considered Bavarian, they had since been exiled, also constantly on the move and fighting for survival. Though initially there was conflict between the two groups over limited resources, they decided to combine forces and make their way to the far North, where rumors of a safe-haven and magical community had already spread. On the way, starving and near death, they came upon a band of Viking mages, driven away not because of their magic, but because they had lost a major battle in some muggle war of succession. These were led by Halla - a former shield-maiden, who initially greeted Masos and Therese with suspicion, but in the end, agreed to help them find the new community.
Halla knew the way to Svalbard, but the journey was not an easy one. The paintings showed treks across cold mountains, shabbily constructed boats on foggy seas, the loss of loved ones and near starvation in the stark landscape, until finally the nymphs of the Norwegian sea found them and guided them directly to Nerida's community. Now strengthened with more numbers, Nerida's dream of building a school was finally achieved. More than a school, Durmstrang served as a community and a safe-haven for their fellow witches and wizards across the continent. The Kingdom of Norway, despite being Christianized, still had some respect for the old ways, and turned a blind eye to Durmstrang until it was forgotten to their memory and hidden from the rest of the muggle community.
Durmstrang, a community forged through decades of hardship, felt it was essential to leave the story for all to see, so that later generations would remember why such a place was built in such an isolated part of the Earth, and the necessity that drove those founders there. With Nerida's suspicious passing, and the other leaders now dead, leadership of the school and community fell to Harfang Munter, whose paranoia drove him to forbid the admission of Muggle-borns and teach his students the martial arts of magic. While others considered this to be a change towards the darker path of magic, Munter considered these as necessities towards survival.
Staring at the paintings of those ancient people, starving and freezing in the Nordic wilderness, Feliciano swallowed hard and fought tears - both for those suffering in the frescos above him, and the feeling of helplessness he felt at not being able to help them. He also found that perhaps Harfang Munter was simply another victim of the harshness of the time, rather than the implied victim the history books depicted him as.
"Oh Fratello...those poor people." He breathed as the music and signing softened into silence.
Lovino frowned, lost in thought as the hall reigned in silence, absorbing all they had just seen. Germania started clapping, which broke everyone out of their stupor, and all in the hall applauded Professor Edelstein and his students.
"And now you have seen the origins of this Institute." Headmaster Germania's voice once again boomed through the hall. "I know that all of us come from such similar histories. Histories forged through persecution and hardship to keep ourselves alive. Out of respect for this history, and in the name of magical unity, we gather together again to compete with each other in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. I want to make this very clear - even though we are competing against each other, we are, and should be, as brothers and sisters. Frankly speaking, this tournament's history with regards to the safety of its participants, has been absolutely dismal. After the resignation of my predecessor, I had originally intended to see this particular tradition ended."
There was no noise or reaction. Most the students were surprised that the tournament had even continued.
"The tournament was born during more dangerous times. Before it was a competition, it served as a training ground for young witches and wizards who were certainly facing the reality of a much more difficult life outside the protective walls of their respective schools. In such times, danger was expected, even mandatory in the , times have changed. Perhaps they are no less dangerous, but they are different. We decided that the tournament should remain to bind us together, and to be a means of educating you - the next generation of witches and wizards - towards what you will face in your world. A lot of work has been dedicated in the past two years to preparing this tournament, and we should applaud the collaborative efforts of the British, Nordic, French and Spanish Ministries for what we will face and witness this year."
With that, Germania brusquely nodded to some dark robed men standing to the far right. Feliciano recognized Arthur Kirkland, now older and dressed in the black robes of the British Ministry - so he survived! Near them was another familiar face - Antonio. What a pleasant surprise! Francis had not mentioned that Antonio would be here as well. Then Feliciano noted Antonio's uniform - the deep burgundy jacket complete with the almost medieval looking metal shoulder guards that marked the Spanish Aurors. Why had Antonio become an Auror? His genius had always been in Herbology.
Standing next to Antonio was Gilbert Beilschmidt, wearing the leather clothes associated with dragon handlers and riders. Feliciano supposed that these were the main minds behind the new tournament, including Jeanne who must have still been busy with an investigation of some kind which kept her away.
"Bring the casket." Germania ordered.
The ancient jeweled casket that stored the Goblet of Fire was brought forth. Younger students from all schools craned their necks to see the legendary artifact. Finally, Germania magically unlocked the casket, and the heavy wooden goblet and its bright blue flame was revealed.
"The Goblet is enchanted to reject all entrants under the age of seventeen." Germania announced, doing away with age line requirements since the mistake that had happened in the past with Harry Potter.
"Those of you of age, and who wish to compete, may write your names on a piece of parchment and enter it into the Goblet. Tomorrow morning, we will gather again to announce the champions. Until then, you are welcome. Please join our feast."
After that, he stepped away to confer with Headmistresses McGonagall and Maxime.
"Well," Lovino grumbled. "I have to go put my name in there. May as well get it over with." Reluctantly, Lovino head off to the Goblet, standing in line with the other Beauxbatons students. It was considered mandatory for all attending final year students to submit their names.
"Who do you think will be our champion this year Fratello?"
Lovino shrugged. "If I had to bet money, I'd say Lars." Indicating one of his few male friends. Lars was a Dutchman who looked frightening at first, and could be considered offensive due to his sarcastic blunt humor and obsession with saving money. However, he had been one of the few to accept Lovino when he joined. Tall and intimidating, Lars excelled in Quidditch, transfiguration and duelling. Despite this, his hobby was actually growing tulips in the greenhouse. Feliciano had to agree - Lars was a fair bet and a true representative of Beauxbatons quirky but strong culture.
"After we're done with this, you're coming with me to pay our respects to the local Haliae. Who knows what trouble they can cause for us if they're offended." Lovino ordered.
Oh yes. Feliciano had forgotten about such courtesies. They had to pay their respects as visitors from another sea. Full humans or land dwellers could be excused for not knowing the protocol, but not them. Since Feliciano had been living in the mountains, he had not needed to remember the rules like Lovino had.
As he became bored waiting for Lovino, Feliciano let his gaze wander about the room, looking for Ludwig, hoping the boy had been cured and was still in school. Surely all students would be present for this welcoming ceremony?
Unfortunately, there were too many blonde and blue eyed boys in Durmstrang's uniforms. With a disappointed sigh, Feliciano had to admit that a lot could change in four years' time. It was possible that he simply could not recognize Ludwig anymore, as impossible as that thought seemed before.
"Hello Feli!" Feliciano turned to see a familiar green-eyed and cheerful face, topped with messy brown curls.
"Antonio!" Feliciano greeted the tall Spaniard with a hug, hurting him self a bit on the shoulder guards. "You must have helped plan the tournament!"
"Shhhh." Antonio winked, putting a finger to his lips. "It's a little obvious I suppose, but Jeanne, Francis and Gilbert asked me to help and I couldn't say no. I can't speak about the tournament though, for obvious reasons. How come you're here?"
"Oh, my older brother finally managed to transfer over for his final year. He's putting his name in the goblet now." Cheerfully, Feliciano added. "He won't get picked, I mean he's barely a Beauxbatons student as is, so we'll get to spend a lot of time together and see the Aurora!"
Antonio turned around to see where Feliciano was looking and spotted Lovino. His face suddenly took on a look of slack-jawed amazement, quickly followed by a familiar look of concentration, as if Antonio were trying to figure out some mystery.
There was silence for a few moments before Feliciano realized that Antonio was not going to turn back and say anything. Realizing with some astonishment what must have just happened, he felt simultaneously charmed for his brother, and very sorry for Antonio. His older brother was in no state to believe in romance for quite some time yet, if ever. Besides, Antonio's reputation at Beauxbatons was almost as bad as Francis' albeit for different reasons. Francis simply fell in love and lost interest immediately. Antonio was simply distracted by too many passions to the point of being painfully oblivious to his partner's feelings. It never stopped either boy from being popular though.
"Eh...Antonio?" Feliciano called, getting no response. "Antonio!"
The Spanish wizard turned around quickly, shocked out of his stupor. "Huh? Oh sorry Feli. It's just...that's your brother?!"
"The scowling one. Yes."
Francis appeared and gave Antonio a hard clap on the shoulder, causing the metal guard to ring. "Don't bother my friend. That one will string you up, flay you, and drain you dry with his words alone. No telling what would happen if he actually got his hands on you. Though maybe you could save yourself with an offering of tomatoes."
"He likes tomatoes?" Antonio smiled. Feliciano had to smile as well. Of course that would be what Antonio heard.
Francis raised his eyes heavenward. "Come now Antonio, you are needed up there with the planning committee. Please excuse us Feli."
Feliciano smiled and waved as they moved away.
"Well that's done." Lovino grumbled as he returned. "Come on."
Feliciano followed his brother, taking one last look around the room. There was no sign of Ludwig, but he was going to be at Durmstrang for the whole academic year.
After introducing themselves to Headmaster Germania and their circumstances, a seventh year Durmstrang student named Matthias was asked to lead Lovino and Feliciano to the ocean nymphs. Feliciano almost asked the headmaster then and there about his grandson, but decided that this was not the correct moment. Instead, he followed Matthias and Lovino out the hall to a side passage.
"Well it's not as fancy or silky as you guys are used to wearing I'm sure, but it'll keep you warm. Here." Mattias threw the brothers a pair of heavy black fur lined coats. "I can't help you guys in the water though, but..." he shrugged. "How is it like down in those warmer waters? And you guys are related on both sides of the family? Wow! You must be pretty strong with elemental magic. Oh man, warn me before you guys start singing alright, I already got myself a lady and I don't want to get in trouble, hahaha! Are the wizards down there on friendly terms with non-humans? It took me forever to get the ladies here to welcome me!"
"You would have been better received I'm sure if you knew how to shut up occasionally." Lovino grumbled dryly while Feliciano giggled.
"Our relatives are very talkative." Feliciano answered. "They like meeting new people, and friendly humans of course. In fact, the wizarding community in Venice has had a long-standing alliance with the Nereids of the Adriatic. That's where the muggle story of Venice being married to Neptune comes from."
That seemed to surprise Matthias. "Hm, friendlier than here then. Come on." They reached a room with small parked sleds.
"What's this?" Lovino demanded in confusion.
"Oh, we have to fly there of course! This castle is located on the northernmost island on the school's grounds. The Haliae of the Norwegian Sea live at the southernmost island."
Feliciano felt like crying - flying in this weather? He would freeze! Cloak or not.
"What?!" Lovino yelled, obviously feeling the same way. "No way! By Neptune, we're water nymphs! You can't tell me there's no pool or inlet or hot spring that we can't use to make the journey up there. Water is connected! It's not like land where there are mountains in the way or anything!"
Matthias surprisingly, took no offense at Lovino's yelling. "Oh yeah! Now that you mention it, hahahaha! Of course there is! I just didn't think of it because it's not like I can use it. I wouldn't survive the journey, and I really want to pay my Lady Luka a visit. Ah well, you're guests, so you get first choice. Come with me this way."
Lovino threw his hands up in frustration while Feliciano eagerly followed the tall boy away from the sled room. "Ve Matthias, who is Lady Luka?"
Matthias smiled, all warmth and adoration. "She's the representative from the nymphs, sent to communicate with us humans when there's a reason to. I think she's as old as Norway itself. She's the loveliest creature to walk or swim on this earth. I swear, one of these days I'll prove myself worthy and I'll marry her. Then I'll be able to have grandchildren like you guys! I mean it's obviously possible right? Nereids occasionally do accept human consorts!"
Before Lovino had a chance to explode, Matthias pushed open another set of doors, leading them to an outside courtyard. The winter chill immediately silenced both brothers despite their new cloaks.
"We have to cross the garden to get to the springs. Not too much longer now. You guys are also going to be the first to see our tree! Founder Halla planted it as the foundation of our school!" He explained with pride.
Feliciano looked upon the massive ash tree with awe. It was easily six times wider than he was and stretched up so high he could not see where it ended. "It's amazing Matthias! It must take giants to tend to it."
"She tends to herself." Matthias shrugged. "And she's taller than any giant."
"Wait," Lovino suddenly interjected. "You said that this tree is the foundation of your school. So all the stone..."
"Oh did I? Ah nuts, that's a secret. Ah well, you two can keep a secret right? The castle and the stones are built around our tree. You'll notice some odd curves here and there, that's to allow room for the roots. But basically, this tree links not only the castle, but enables travel to all the grounds and islands. Many of these entrances are sealed off for safety purposes though, students have died trying to use it when they don't listen. The tree was planted in a time of a more ancient kind of magic if you know what I mean, and you don't tell plants that the rules have changed, no siree. Only the strongest witches and wizards can use all the passages. Otherwise we stick to the easiest ones, and use conventional travel across the island."
Feliciano wanted to place a hand on the tree trunk, but suddenly stopped himself, looking at Matthias quizzically.
"Yeah, you can touch her." Matthias answered Feliciano's unspoken question. "She doensn't mind."
So Feliciano did and was happily surprised with the warmth that the tree seemed infused with. Lovino soon followed suit.
"Why do you call her 'she'?" Lovino asked, his face softer and more relaxed now.
Matthias shrugged. "It's a tradition I guess, we all do, always have from what I know. I suppose because she's kind of like the mother to all of us here."
"Ve Matthias...what do you mean by entrances and passages? Do we erm...walk inside the roots that connect to the other islands or something?"
But Matthias only grinned. "She's a magic tree in old Viking-land my dear man nymph of the South. I'll give you a hint...your brother had the right idea earlier."
They quickly followed the smiling boy to another ornate wood door, which he unlocked with a quick spell from his wand. Instead of opening on hinges, the door appeared to separate in the middle of its own will. Inside the brothers found themselves...outside. Or at least it looked like there was only half a wall, made of solid ash wood and slightly curved. Feliciano realized that they had just entered into a root of the tree, and inside was a large pool of water. Steam rose due to the combination of warmer water against the freezing air, and on the far side of the 'room', there was a hole in the root, allowing a view of the sea beyond the edge of the island, as well as the cloudy skies.
"Ta-daa! Your hot spring! This one will take you to the meeting place."
Feliciano was too used to amazing surprises now. He wondered how it was possible that the Durmstrang students seemed impressed by Beauxbatons when they visited. Was Hogwarts Castle also filled with so many wonders? Maybe he had simply gotten too used to the magic of his familiar Palace.
"Hey blonde bastard." Lovino called out, sounding worried. "Earlier you said that you wouldn't survive using this pool. Why is that?"
Matthias made an exasperated sound. "Well duh! I'm one hundred percent human! It's too cold. Anyway, I'll let Luka know that you're coming."
Feliciano suddenly felt scared. Yes, their heritage gave them protection from the cold, superior speed and maneuverability in water, but he never had to use it like this before. Recently he had only swam in mountain lakes.
Lovino seemed to notice and placed a comforting hand on top of his head. "Relax Feli. It's instinct. You never forget it. Even if anything happens, I got you."
It was perhaps the sweetest thing Lovino had said to him since they were reunited. Feeling slightly more confident, Feliciano nodded and removed his clothes. Lovino did the same. Nymphs preferred nudity amongst their own kind, and only clothed themselves out of politeness on land.
"Fratello...I haven't learned the bubblehead charm yet."
Lovino nodded and cast the charm on Feliciano, before doing the same to himself and they dived into the pool.
Feliciano felt the magic activate as soon as he stepped in. His body adjusted to the aquatic setting, and he could feel his skin secreting more oil to warm him and allow more mobility in the water. Once adjusted, he reached out for Lovino, who took his hand and they twisted and rapidly swam their way through the root to their destination. Feliciano felt a forgotten state of bliss and freedom, twisting through the water, slightly fighting what would be stronger currents for a full human, but an effortless swim for a water nymph. He could tell that Lovino felt it as well - his brother was grinning in the water. It was a sight that was never seen on land.
Suddenly however, no amount of adaptation could shield them from the cold. They were getting close but clearly not there yet. The cold made them more sluggish, and Feliciano found he clung to Lovino's hand more as he fought the current, terror slowly rising inside. There was a limit to their oxygen supply, they couldn't stay stuck in the root of the tree forever!
Finally, Lovino gave a strong kick and they broke through the current to what looked like the open sea. It took a moment to get their bearings, but thankfully their heritage gave them an instinct for it underwater. They twisted, turned and dived down, knowing that despite what it felt like, down for them was actually where the surface was.
Feliciano broke the water first, having been pushed up by Lovino, and he took in a deep breath. Lovino surfaced soon after and did the same. Quickly, the swam to the closest rocky shore, but considering how cold their heads felt, they decided to stay in the water. It was empty all around.
"Ve...fratello...did we miss a turn somewhere?"
Lovino frowned. "I damn well hope not. That idiot didn't exactly give us proper directions. I don't want to have to dive down there again and again to try to find the way back."
Well that was not reassuring at all.
A silent ripple of water alerted them to another presence in the water. Feliciano turned around to see cold light blue eyes directly in front of him. He yelped and splash backwards.
"Oh I'm sorry!" He cried. "I didn't mean to splash you!"
The nymph with the icy blue eyes regarded them cooly, head cocked at a slight angle, considering. Feliciano observed that she was beautiful, in the way that nymphs tended to be. Long blonde hair trailed behind her, clipped at her left side with a barette in the shape of a cross. He blinked in surprise at that, it was an interesting choice of adornment for a natural creature of the sea. Her silence was a little unnerving though. If this were the Mediterranean, they would have been surrounded by now by many curious nymphs, eager to ask questions about the landed world.
"You are the guests of the school?" She finally asked in a monotone voice.
"Y-Yes." Feliciano nodded. He wondered how Matthias could communicate with who he assumed was the Lady Luka from such a distance. That was rather curious.
"I am Lovino Vargas," Lovino started with a voice quivering from the cold. "And this is my younger brother Feliciano Vargas, kin to the Nerites clans of the warmer seas. We are also guests of the Durmstrang Institute for the year, and wished to present ourselves to you. We will follow your laws during our stay, and we apologize now in advance for any offense we may unwittingly cause."
"H-Hello." Feliciano smiled.
As if reminded that they were uncomfortable, Luka sang a short tune which immediately seemed to warm the water around them.
"Ah..." Feliciano sighed in pleasure. "Thank you so much for that Lady Luka!"
His thanks was met with a roll of eyes, but otherwise no change in expression. "Just Luka. Don't let that idiot boy influence you."
Feliciano blinked in surprise. He turned to Lovino, expecting to see his brother smile at the insult, but he just looked pensive and waiting.
"You are polite, and we welcome you both to our waters as guests for the stipulated time," Luka finally confirmed. "We have been made aware that this is a year of contest for those of you on land. Should you require aid, you may request for it in any body of water surrounding the islands. All falls under our domain. We simply restrict the humans to this place so they do not think that we exist at their convenience."
Finally, Lovino smiled. "That is wise."
Luka shrugged, offering a small smile of her own. "Indeed. The hospitality of your clan towards humans is something that those of us here find difficult to understand, but since you do not question our ways, we will leave you to yours."
"You have our thanks." Lovino responded. At times like this, Feliciano wondered what happened to his surly brother. He was so courteous, happier and lighter out in the water. Or perhaps it was simply that all nymphs were female. Lovino was always kinder to women than to men.
"If you don't mind my asking Miss Luka." Feliciano started.
"Just...Luka, Feliciano."
"Okay, Luka...I'm just curious...did you ever meet Nerida Vulchanova?"
"Yes." Luka answered simply, unfazed by the question.
Feliciano swallowed and continued. "I just...well...she was a nymph of the Black Sea, and that means she was a cousin to us as well...and she swam all that way, through our home, through so many seas, passing so many of her sisters and guiding magical refugees until she finally found safety all the way up here. I can hardly imagine what that must have been like. What kind of woman was she beyond the story?"
Luka raised her head to the sky, as if remembering and considering how to answer Feliciano's question. Finally, she looked straight back at him and answered in a very controlled voice. "She was a sad woman."
Moments passed and the only sound was that of the currents and the waves hitting the shore behind them, when Feliciano realized that perhaps he should ask another question. He never liked silences though, preferring to hear talk and laughter, so he tried again, deciding to resolve a centuries old mystery. "Is it true that Headmaster Harfang Munter killed her?"
"Feliciano!" Lovino exclaimed in horror.
"Sorry! I just..."
"I just told you." Luka interrupted calmly in her usual monotone. "She was a sad woman."
Silence reigned again, as the two boys absorbed the full meaning of Luka's answer. Feeling immensely sorrowful, Feliciano now felt that perhaps asking about their distant kinswoman from the Black Sea had been a terrible ideal. "I'm very sorry to ask you such uncomfortable questions."
She shrugged. "It is natural for you to be curious about the past. Besides, we do expect our Mediterranean kin to be...uncomfortable with quiet."
Feliciano nodded. "May I ask you another question? I promise it's not about Nerida."
"FE-LI!" Lovino scolded.
"No, it is fine." Luka waved her hand dismissively. "It is my job to communicate with those who walk with the humans. So ask away, young Feliciano."
"Why do you wear a cross in your hair?" He was simply curious that was all. If nymphs chose to decorate themselves, they usually used material from their natural environment. Besides, her cross barette was clearly human-made - carved from wood and painted in a pale blue-gray color similar to her eyes.
Luka looked taken aback, and for a split second, the slightest bit embarrassed. She adjusted herself so quickly though that Feliciano was not sure if he had actually seen it.
"Feli! For Neptune's sake! Apologize! Don't be rude!"
But Luka put her hand up again. "No offense was given, your brother is a curious one. As I said, that is expected." Looking at Feli, she answered. "I wear this to communicate with the school. A school which I am sure, you must now return to. You did indeed miss a turn on your way here. I will show you the proper way back."
Without another word, she dived, expecting the brothers to follow.
Lovino sighed in frustration. "Damn it Feli, not everyone is nosy like our grandmas. And not everyone enjoys hearing noise all the time! Now come on, let's go back before that idiot back at the school does something stupid like report us missing, and we all get in trouble for it."
Lovino recast the charms and they dived, where they found Luka waiting for them, and followed.
The Vargas brothers returned to their rooms in the Beauxbatons Carriage warmer than when they left it, well fed, mostly satisfied with the day and tired. At least Lovino was, as far as Feliciano could tell.
"Ve Fratello, isn't it odd that people always say that Durmstrang is so secretive but we've already seen so much today!"
Surprisingly, there was no answer.
"Fratello?"
But Lovino was frowning incredulously down at a small scroll, and blushing brightly. Well, that was intriguing! And odd. But as Feliciano tried to come closer, Lovino dropped the scroll and whipped out his wand.
"Incendio!"
"Wha...? Fratello what was that?"
"Nothing! Go to sleep Feli!"
Lovino quickly strode out of the room to the shared student bathrooms, but Feliciano peered at the ashes, hoping to see some clue as to what would make his brother act so strangely. There was nothing left. Giving up, he took out his sketchpad and settled at the desk. He wanted to capture Halla's tree. A few rough lines gave him the outline he wanted, but he also added a small fur cloaked figure standing at the bottom beside the tree, gazing up lost and almost forlornly. In his mind, he knew this child was blonde, with the most beautiful blue eyes...
"Who's that?"
Feliciano shot up from his seat, dropping his pencil, only to stare at the expected sight of his brother, fresh from the showers. "Fratello! I didn't hear you come in!"
Lovino shrugged. "I figured you'd wanna draw the tree. It was quite the sight. That's not Matthias though."
"No but...I was trying to imagine what it must be like for those first years here to see the tree for the first time and feel so small next to it." It was not entirely a lie, only he had been thinking of one particular child when he drew him. "Ve Fratello, you still look...oily."
His brother shrugged again, raising an eyebrow. "It really has been a while for you. It takes a while after a swim for the body to stop producing it. It'll be fine come morning. Actually it'll be better for us and our skin, it's so damn dry up here. Anyway, go get clean, it's been a fucking exhausting day so I'm gonna sleep."
"Goodnight fratello!" Feliciano waved with a smile. He sketched for a while until he could hear Lovino's telltale soft snores. Then he grabbed his sketchpad, pulled on an extra cloak and prepared to sneak back out to the chamber that housed the hot spring pool. He had noted a picturesque windowlike opening in the root, allowing a view of the open sky and sea below it. It was so dark out now, he would be sure to see the aurora, and it would make for a fantastic painting.
Taking one last careful look at Lovino's sleeping form, Feliciano covered his pillows with his blanket, and headed out.
Notes:
1. My inspiration for Durmstrang's interior is the very impressive St. Wolfgang's Parish Church in the village of Sankt Wolfgang im Salzkammergut - a lovely spa village, which is also one of the locations in Austria which was used to film the sound of music. If any of you ever have the opportunity, please make your way to this lovely place nestled by the Austrian alps. The Church is famous in folklore as one which St. Wolfgang tricked the Devil into building. The interior is filled with beautiful metalwork and paintings depicting Saints and other important scenes from the Bible. Pictures however, cannot do this church justice.
2. The great ash tree of Durmstrang is of course inspired by Norse Mythology's Yggdrasil - the world tree.
