Author's Note

Ta-da, rapid update!

I know this chapter is probably the shortest one so far, but that doesn't mean it lacks in information. Actually, I'd say this one gives plenty of information if you're willing to dissect it a little.

Reviews:

ElektraVamp05: I can't wait for the exciting things, either. It's very close, just a few more chapters. To answer your question, I am. I've dwelled on it for awhile, and found that each one would fit with the story. The first and second tournaments worked out well with how I want to plan out the story, and I couldn't really think of anything that could top the third, so I kept it.

geekyglamour413: I'm glad you loved that chapter. I had fun writing it. Then again, I like playing around with the different relationships found between characters. And, of course, DRAGONS! I love dragons.

CHAPTER SIX

Dagur the Deranged

Merida rubbed her face as she walked back to her dormitory. She was tired, still angry at her mum, and just wanted to sleep. All Hallows Eve was drawing to a close, the sun just a glimmer of light on the horizon out the windows and the halls illuminated by torches, candelabras, and chandeliers.

Her brain was numb from all the studying she had done with her friends. Luckily enough, Jack hadn't gotten detention that night for his banger display in Care of Magical Creatures, but his one week of detention with De Witte would begin tomorrow. Instead of going to dinner, Rapunzel had made a quick run to the kitchen for sandwiches, which they all discreetly ate in the library. They covered all topics, discussing appropriate answers for essays or worksheets. Some homework could only be done by one person since they only took that specific class. Like Hiccup with Ancient Runes, Merida with Muggle Studies, Jack with Divination, and Rapunzel with Arithmancy.

Merida wasn't one for studying. Not after her mum ruined it with her boring lectures at home. Her friends made it significantly better, but not enough for her to find enjoyment in it without them. Merida was about to turn a corner when she heard voices. Usually, her confrontational attitude would have her rounding the corner to interrupt what they were discussing, and she almost did, if she didn't overhear the hostile question.

"What do you want Dagur?" the voice snapped.

For a moment, Merida feared it was Hiccup. But no, his voice was nasally, not this bragging irritant. Merida rolled her eyes. Snotlout, then.

Her eyes widened when realization struck. What was going on? Why was he talking to Dagur? He better not be planning anything against Hiccup with that brute if he knew what was good for him.

"I heard some interesting stories of late," Dagur said conversationally, snapping Merida out of her thoughts.

"About what?" Snotlout asked. Merida was shocked there wasn't any bragging. "About my awesomeness? Or about it's only a matter of time before I become Chief of Berk?"

Spoke too soon.

Merida rolled her eyes. Snotlout could never change. He was a bragging little shite. She couldn't believe he and Hiccup were related.

"No, about the dragons," Dagur explained evenly.

Merida raised an eyebrow at that. Pulling her hair into as tight a ponytail as she could make it, Merida peered around the corner. Snotlout was closer to the wall, having the smart idea of being in the light of a torch. A foot in front of him was Dagur, lean frame and unruly, dark red hair. He was grinning widely, probably thinking he had Snotlout in a verbal trap. Not that it was hard to get him into one. Snotlout wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. But he also wasn't the dullest.

"What about them?" Snotlout asked, confused. "If you mean the raids, they've stopped for us, too. We don't know why."

"I believe you do," Dagur accused, his bushy eyebrows drawing together. "I know you do."

"Seriously, Dagur, I don't know how they stopped," Snotlout denied vehemently. Merida examined him, trying to find his trick. Snotlout was, interestingly enough, a very good liar. But there was on tell and Merida saw it. His left pointer finger curled in a little from where it was crossed over his chest, in plain view for Merida.

"I heard rumors Hiccup defeated a Red Death. By himself," Dagur accused.

"Hiccup? Princess Outpost? Yeah right," Snotlout laughed. His finger curled in just a twitch more. "He's a fishbone. Can't even lift an axe!"

"You do have a point," Dagur relented. "But I will still have to ask Hiccup. Maybe the Thorston Twins can give me some more answers."

"You leave Ruff and Tuff alone," Snotlout snapped viciously, arms uncrossing so his hands could curl into fists by his sides.

Merida wheeled back slightly in shock. Snotlout had never been vicious or defensive of anyone. She knew his best friends were the Thorston Twins, especially Tuffnut, but she'd never seen him react like that. Maybe it was because the Thorston Twins could defend themselves; maybe it was because they only feared one thing. Merida remembered that DADA class with the boggart, remembered when a boy who—Merida realized—looked like a younger version of Dagur without the face tattoos appeared. The one fear, and Snotlout was making sure they didn't face it in real life again. It was kind of touching and made Merida reevaluate Snotlout for a moment.

"Then tell me what I want to know," Dagur snarled.

Snotlout was silent, debating with himself. Merida could see the conflict covering his face. She watched as resolution and resentment settled on his face.

"No," Snotlout whispered.

"Then I get to have fun with them," Dagur laughed, grinning manically.

Snotlout glared before punching Dagur in the face. Merida put a hand over her mouth to keep a gasp or cheer in. She didn't know which one she had wanted to make. Her fellow Gryffindor stood there, anger resonating off his features as his fists were clenched by his side.

"I advise you leave us all alone, Dagur," Snotlout growled menacingly. "I don't care if you're the Cracker of Skulls or the Slayer of Beasts, if you mess with any of my fellow ri—tribesmen, I will fight you. Even if I know I'll lose, I still will."

Snotlout stomped off towards Gryffindor Tower.

Merida pulled herself back around the corner and stood up. She undid her ponytail, mind whirling on what everything had meant. Like Astrid had said, something big had happened on Berk. Merida just didn't know what and wouldn't know until Hiccup broke or his dad allowed him to. But whatever it was, it not only put Hiccup in danger, but his entire tribe. She leaned against the wall, running a hand through her tangle of curls. What could Hiccup have done? Sure, he got in trouble better than her brothers, but it was never on purpose like them. He was always trying to prove himself and help his tribe, and all his attempts had ended in failure if Merida remembered the stories correctly.

Worrying her lip, Merida assumed it was safe to round the corner. It really wasn't.

Dagur was still there, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully, a dark bruise already forming across it. Merida froze, realizing she was alone. In an empty corridor. Off the main way to Gryffindor Tower. With a deranged bully now looking at her with small green eyes, the left one with dark blue tattoos running over it. She never felt so afraid and nervous before. Merida was brave. Her da's brave lass and her mum's rebellious daughter. She feared nothing.

But she'd heard his threats and feared what he might do if he ever found out if she was Hiccup's friend. Or what he could do to Jack or Rapunzel. And there was no telling what he could do to Hiccup. Her Ravenclaw friend never even mentioned what Dagur had done to him. And for that, she was afraid of what he could have done to the Thorston Twins to keep them tightlipped and fearful of him.

"Where are you off to?" Dagur asked, grinning widely. Merida didn't like that.

"Back tae my common room," Merida answered snippily, moving to go around him.

Dagur grabbed her arm. Merida instantly went for her wand when she noticed a knife in Dagur's other hand. She froze watching it wearily. She'd seen how Vikings fought with weapons against magic. Hiccup had said they used a runic alphabet to make the weapons block spells and last longer. She could see symbols engraved in the knife's blade and was scared to know how many spells it could block from her wand.

"Why don't I walk you there?" Dagur suggested.

Merida lifted her chin. She was Merida Dunbroch, bravest fifth year of the Gryffindor House. A knife would not intimidate her. Yes, it would make her follow his orders, but only until she was able to disarm him.

"Fine," Merida sniffed. Dagur looped an arm around her waist and Merida cringed on the inside. She could feel the knife pressed against her side. If it wasn't for that glaikit weapon, Merida would have shaken him off and hexed him to the ninth ring of hell.

They walked in silence, Merida glaring resolutely ahead. She was lucky it was so dark out and most people were in their dorms. Not only that, but the route was a secluded, lesser known one. It was longer and required walking in areas most didn't like to. Merida had always liked it, until she was left alone with a guy who had a knife to her side.

"Whit dae ye want?" Merida finally asked as they rounded a corner.

"Can't I walk a pretty lady back to her common room?" Dagur asked innocently.

Merida glared at him.

"Nae when ye have a knife tae her side."

Dagur smirked.

"I like your spirit."

"And Ah would like ye dead."

"I can name plenty of people who'd think the same."

Merida was about to spit something back when she was interrupted.

"Dagur," a smooth voice said, walking over. Merida recognized the Durmstrang headmaster, Viggo Grimborn. His brown eyes examined the predicament, landing immediately on Dagur's knife pressed against Merida's side. "Unhand her and give me your knife, Dagur."

"You aren't the boss of me," Dagur snapped.

"I'm your headmaster, Dagur," Grimborn replied calmly. "Now, let her go, or I'll have to drag Headmaster Moon into helping me punish you for drawing a knife on a Hogwarts student."

Dagur grunted, removing his arm. Grimborn held out his hand, which Dagur reluctantly placed his knife in.

"Get to the Durmstrang dormitories, Dagur. We will discuss your punishment there," Grimborn snapped. With a heated glare, Dagur stormed off while Merida stood in shocked silence, trying to gather her wits. "Are you alright, my dear? He didn't draw blood, did he?"

"Naw, sir," Merida answered.

Grimborn laid a hand on her shoulder and lead Merida down the corridor. She couldn't describe the slimy feel that rolled in her stomach at the touch. He didn't seem like he had the best of intentions, but he had helped her out. Her instincts warred with each other as they entered a section of the main thoroughfare to Gryffindor Tower.

"I hope you will forgive Durmstrang Institute for Dagur's blunder," Grimborn apologized primly. "He's a hellion and will get his just punishment tonight. Do you have any requests that I could do on your behalf?"

Merida pursed her lips, thinking back to Snotlout's vicious attack and Dagur's knife against her side.

"Ah will forgive Durmstrang Institute. It was wan delegate of many," Merida answered in her best diplomatic voice. Her mum's teachings were good for something, apparently. "Ah will ask that Dagur's punishment is tae be bound tae interact with only those from Durmstrang for a month or twa. Ye can add tae it of whit ye see fit."

"A reasonable punishment," Grimborn nodded with a slimy smile. "I hope you rest well, my dear."

"Thank ye, sir," Merida said with a stiff nod before rushing away.

What was that? There was no way Grimborn should be roaming those halls. They were closed classrooms, deserted hallways, and barely lit corridors. She knew why Dagur was down there and she was there to avoid people. But why was the headmaster of Durmstrang down there?

It seemed too coincidental. But then how could anyone plan for that? Who would know she'd be taking that route tonight? Or that she'd run across Snotlout and Dagur arguing? Or that Grimborn would interfere like he did?

Yes, it was all coincidental, and nothing was negating that it was anything but that. Merida puffed out her cheeks and let it all out in a stream of air. No, none of it was plausible, and it was driving her mad. Gnawing on her lip, Merida approached the Gryffindor portrait and said the password.

She entered the warm atmosphere. The fire crackled and students sat in the old chairs worn from years of others sitting on them. She barley took it all in. Not the laughing or chatting of her fellow housemates or Kida and Pocahontas trying to get her attention. She went straight for the stairs to the girl's dormitory and walked to the fifth year one. She entered to see it empty.

Sighing in relief, Merida collapsed onto her bed, face buried in her pillow. What the ever living fack had happened? Merida leaned up onto her elbows, running her fingers through her curls. None of it made sense, yet her instincts were screaming neither could be trusted. Grimborn helped her once, but that didn't mean anything. People had done so, before, expecting payment from her or her parents for their "charitable" act. It wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last.

But she had the feeling Grimborn hadn't expected her. He'd expected Dagur, but not her. Merida grunted, faceplanting into her pillow again. She wasn't meant to figure people out past their masks. That was Rapunzel. She wasn't meant to figure out people's motives and use it against them. That was Jack. She wasn't meant to figure out people's plans and counter them. That was Hiccup.

Merida was meant to fight and threaten. She was the first defense. People assumed she was the major threat when it laid within them all. You attack one, you faced the wrath of the other three.

Rolling onto her back, Merida stared up at the canopy of her bed. She thought back to the exchange between Snotlout and Dagur. Snotlout had lied. He knew why dragons weren't raiding anymore. And that was strange. Hiccup hadn't mentioned it had stopped. Thinking of it, Hiccup hadn't mentioned his tribe's Dragon Training class. He'd wanted to join vehemently, even if he knew his dad would say no. That was odd. Hiccup, in general, was being very odd this year.

Merida pushed herself up and changed into her pajamas. Once that was complete, she quickly relieved herself in the bathroom before flopping onto her back on her bed again. She went back to her thoughts before.

And Dagur seemed to know some outlandish tale—according to both Snotlout and Dagur—about Hiccup defeating a ... what was it called? A Red Death? It was probably a dragon. The same one Hiccup probably lost his leg to if Merida had to take a guess. So, why didn't Hiccup mention the breed of dragon? He would have, before ...

Before whatever had happened had to be hushed up by his dad. Merida pursed her lips in aggravation.

She was sucked from her thoughts by Pocahontas, Kida, and Ariel entering the dorm. Merida looked at her roommates, all of whom were staring at her anxiously.

"Whit?" Merida snapped, sitting up on her bed.

"I don't know, maybe how you stormed past us, not acknowledging our attempts to get your attention?" Pocahontas answered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"Ah am tired," Merida responded snippily. "Speaking of, good night!"

Merida dug out her wand from her satchel and waved it. Her curtains closed with a rustle of fabric, blocking out the light of the dorm room. Merida sighed but didn't lay down. Instead, she looked at her satchel. She still had to finish her Herbology notebook.

Digging through her satchel, Merida felt something different in it. Pulling it out, Merida stared at the black diary with little gold gilts on the corners and down the spine. Merida didn't own anything like it. Opening the book, she found a name written on the little ownership area.

K. Pitchiner

Merida hadn't heard of anyone with the last name Pitchiner within Hogwarts. Maybe it was one of the Durmstrang or Beauxbaton delegates' diary. Merida shrugged and shoved it back into her bag. She'll find them tomorrow to return it. She pulled out her Herbology essay and began her last touches on her essay. It was more bluffing than anything else. Rapunzel wasn't around to explain the importance of Devil Snare or how dangerous it could be.

Shutting her book with a flourish and rolling up her scroll, Merida put it all away before curling up on her bed. She closed her eyes and fell into a fitful sleep.

She was unaware of what was to come.