Chapter 2:

Russian ~ because I do not speak the language and do not trust Google Translate

October 21st

The next morning, Draco and Alexei walked down the stairs to the main entry. They had just reached the doors to the Mess Hall when they heard someone call their names. They turned as saw Karkaroff approaching them. The pair bowed slightly, respectfully greeting the man.

Karkaroff smiled at them. "Just the men I was looking for," he said, "I want to discuss the tournament." He motioned away from the door. With regretful glances at the Mess Hall, Draco and Alexei followed the older man.

The group stopped at the far side of the entry. "Malfoy, Nikitin," Karkaroff said, "You two are the top of your year. That means, one of your names will be coming out of the Goblet. So I want you to-"

"Igor! There you are my old friend," a gravelly voice interrupted. Karkaroff grit his teeth and looked skyward before facing the voice.

"Albus," Karkaroff said, walking over to the ancient wizard. Draco and Alexei followed silently. They studied the group in front of them. There was the Hogwarts' headmaster, wearing some obnoxiously vibrant robe. Slightly behind him, in an identical position as Draco and Alexei were three girls. Two were the hooded figures from the previous night's feast, and the other looked vaguely familiar to Draco. However, his gaze gravitated to the black haired girl, just like the previous evening. She tucked a lock of her shoulder length hair behind her ear, exposing a long, flawless neck. Draco mentally shook himself as the headmasters started to talk.

"Igor, I have a small favor to ask of you," the old man started.

Karkaroff looked suspicious. "And what is that?"

"These lovely ladies would like to sit in on classes to experience the different educational environment," the other headmaster stated.

"Absolutely not," Karkaroff answered, "The classes are not in English and I will not-"

"I beg your pardon, Headmaster Karkaroff," a soft, lyrical voice said, "but that would not be a problem." Everyone's attention moved to the black haired girl, who moved to stand at the headmasters' shoulders. A faint blush colored her cheeks.

Karkaroff studied the girl. Draco was mildly impressed. Not many students from Hogwarts were bilingual. "What is your name, child?" his headmaster asked.

The girl smiled softly. "Harriet Black, sir," she said, curtsying slightly. Draco was even more impressed at her knowledge of the customs of Durmstrang. Now, Draco had a name to call her in his mind: Harriet. Harriet Black.

Karkaroff's eyes got a slight glint in them as he smiled at the girl. "Miss Black, it would be a pleasure to have you and your peers experience my school," he said.

Harriet grinned brightly, curtsying again. "Thank you, sir," she said.

A clearing of the throat brought the attention back to the old headmaster's annoyed face. Draco smirked. Apparently, the wizard did not like to be shown up, which Harriet just did with her language skills.

"Alright, Albus," Karkaroff said, "They can attend classes if they wish."

The old man smiled. "Then I shall leave them in your capable hands," he said before he turned away, disappearing into the Mess Hall.

Karkaroff looked at the girls. "Well, it seems you three have been left," he said with a chuckle, "I will have to find you a guide so you do not get lost."

Draco looked at Alexei, who was looking back at him. Draco raised an eyebrow in a silent question, and Alexei nodded in answer. "Headmaster," he said, "We would like to volunteer to be guides for Ms. Black and her friends."

Karkaroff nodded. "Perfect," he said, looking at the students, "Then I shall take my leave." He gave a meaningful look to Draco and Alexei. "I would like to meet with you two after dinner to finish our discussion." The boys nodded, understanding. Karkaroff then swept up the stairs.

Draco turned back to the women and gave them his most charming smile. He bowed, taking Harriet's hand. He pressed a kiss to the back of it and looked at her through his eyelashes. "Draco Malfoy," he said, "At your disposal."

Harriet giggled, glancing at her friends. The chocolate haired girl rolled her eyes.

"Still with the dramatics, Drakie?" she said.

Draco frowned. "Do I know you?" he asked suspiciously.

The girl sighed. "Have seven years really addled your brain?" she countered, "We were children together."

Draco tilted his head to the side, thinking. Then, it dawned on him. "Pansy?" he asked.

She smiled with a nod. "In the flesh."

Alexei bowed just as Draco did. "I am Alexei Nikitin," he said.

The third held out her hand to him as if to shake. "Hermione Granger," she said, "Pleasure to meet you."

Alexei smirked, taking her hand. He kissed the back of it which caused her to blush a brilliant shade of red. "The pleasure is all mine," he said.

Harriet huffed slightly. "Enough with the sentimentality," she said, "I'm hungry." She turned and headed toward the Mess Hall.

Draco smiled, following. 'A no-nonsense attitude,' he thought to himself, 'I like that.'

"Wait," Hermione said, making the group stop, "Our cloaks. We cannot very well eat with them on." The other girls nodded as they reached for the clasps. The cloaks were then shrunk and stashed in each girl's bag.

Draco had to concentrate on not drooling. None of the girls were wearing their school robes under their cloaks. However, it was Harriet that commanded his attention. She was absolutely stunning. Her black sweater was skin tight and barely reached the waistband of her gray jeans. Never had muggle attire turned Draco on this much in his life. The jeans were skin tight as well, seeming to be painted on. She had then tucked into a pair of wedged ankle boots. The boots were leather and the same shade of purple as her belt and eye make-up. Those accents, in the otherwise monotone outfit, made her green eyes pop.

A hand appeared in front of Draco's face, snapping his out of his thoughts and back to the present. He lifted his silver eyes to Harriet's green and saw amusement reflected in their depths. She quirked a thin eyebrow at him.

"What's wrong?" she asked with a smirk, "Aren't you hungry?" Everyone else was already to the door of the Mess Hall. Only Draco and Harriet remained in the entry. She placed her hands on her hips, waiting from Draco's response.

He mentally shook himself and smiled at the raven haired girl. "Of course," he said, walking over to her. He offered her his arm, and she slipped hers around it. As they walked into the Mess Hall, Draco knew one thing. He would have trouble focusing during class that day. His side warmed as she leaned against him. 'Yep,' he thought, 'Not focusing in class. Not at all.'

.-

Two hours later, their party walked out of Theory class. Harriet and Pansy were talking animatedly while Hermione looked a little green. Now that he thought about it, the bushy haired girl had been quiet and withdrawn throughout the class. Harriet and Pansy, on the other hand, were enthralled and even took notes.

Currently Harriet was walking very close to Draco, their arms brushing on occasion. Pansy was in a similar position next to Alexei. Hermione walked between the two girls. Draco looked to Alexei with a smirked. The blood haired man smirked back. It seemed like both of them were making friends with the foreign students.

'Friends,' Draco thought as Harriet's fingers brushed against his again, 'I want to be more than friends.'

Draco had just decided to take her hand when Hermione grabbed a shoulder of each girl. "Come to the bathroom with me," she said, dragging Pansy and Harriet with her.

Draco quirked an eyebrow at them as they left. Harriet threw him an apologetic look as she was pulled into a girls' lavatory.

Alexei chuckled. "It seems like all women as the same," he said, "No matter where they are from, women go to the bathroom together." Draco chuckled.

"Ten galleons says Hermione will not be coming to another class?" he proposed, still chuckled.

Alexei shook his head, laughing. "No, my friend. I will not take that bet," he said, "Did you see her face? I think she was a moment away from throwing up."

Draco nodded. "She does not have the composition to handle the courses here," he said, "Harriet and Pansy did, though. They seem eager to learn."

Speak of the devils. Harriet and Pansy exited the lavatory. They walked over to the men. Harriet went to Draco's side as Pansy went to Alexei's.

"Hermione is feeling unwell," Harriet said, "She will head back to our carriage when she feels able." She slipped her arm around Draco's. "She wished us to go on without her." Harriet smiled coyly at him. "Will you escort me, I mean us, to the next class?"

Draco smiled, nodding. He led her off down the hall, Alexei and Pansy next to them. Draco looked over the girls' heads at Alexei. He smirked, mouthing "I called it". Alexei nodded and continued off to their next class.