Chapter 9:

As Hermione was exiting the room, she took one last look over her shoulder. There was Draco, holding his head in his hands, shaking with sobs racking his lithe frame.

"… Draco?" Hermione felt a bit guilty now. "I didn't mean to be so hard on you… but you could really hurt someone or something when you are drunk…. Draco?" Hermione went and sat by him. "I guess I sort of took all my pent up anger out on you. I'm sorry. But your attitude towards me over the years doesn't help mu-"

"No. Hermione, your totally right –hick up- I am a total idiot for putting everyone here in danger. I wasn't thinking. I am sorry; I will do my best from now on." His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he fell over on the couch. Passed out drunk.

Hermione suppressed a laugh; only Draco Malfoy would spout something so meaningful, while normally a viscous snake, drunk as a house elf on butterbeer. She guessed she wouldn't tell Dumbledore on him, he was putting forth a tremendous amount of effort on his part.

When she finally made it into the common room, she noticed a Daily Prophet lying on a nearby table. When she looked at the headlines, her heart sunk.

Gustav Korgonmontaya and Istra Horffingale, graduates of Durmstrang two years ago, announced as the next generation's Earth and Water Elementals.

But, the bigger news is, the Fire and Air Elementals have not been found, which by document tradition, discover their powers much quicker after the last generation's demise than the Earth and Water Elementals. The entire magical community is all wondering the same thing around the globe: Who are the others?

Gustav Korgonmontaya is the son of Valentinova and Sergei Korgonmontaya (muggles), he graduated from Durmstrang two years ago, always an above average student for his class. He is twenty years old, and the receiver of the Water Elemental gifts. His best subject is schooling was Herbology, he says, though his Potions teacher claimed that he was one of the best she had ever seen. Gustav left a comment, translated into English, "I am very excited to receive such a rare, and amazing gift. I have already started training under my former professors. I hope to do good with my gift."

Istra Horffingale is the daughter of Georgi and Maria Ivanova. A private source told The Daily Prophet that though Istra Horffingale did not do well in schooling, her parents paid her way through Durmstrang. Istra is the 21 year old receiver of the Earth Elemental gifts. Horffingale's ancestors are deep rooted in Bulgarian Pureblood society, and dates back to the Ming Dynasty. One of her male ancestors was there trading wands for silks. Istra left a short comment, translated into English, "I think these powers are cool. I haven't started training yet." When asked when she would start training, she said, "I don't know. I am not in a hurry. I am going on a vacation for Christmas and when I get back, I guess I will start."

Hermione snickered, these two sounded much like herself and Draco, except Istra was more the spoiled, "Pureblood" whose parents paid her way through school, and Gustav was the muggle-born who did well in school, and was eager to learn his gifts.

This rose another alarm inside her fuzzy head: when no Fire or Air Elemental entered the spotlight, what was everyone going to think? Dumbledore would be back tonight… Oh was Draco going to get it when Dumbledore walked in on him.