So I had my 21st birthday on Tuesday and nearly took back every single order since the bartender jacked everything to the rim with rum. Going to try again at an Irish pub this weekend and hope to the lord almighty that I find something without so many shots...

Anyway! Thank you guys SO much for reviewing. I know most fan fic authors say this all the time, but it really does mean the world to me when I get feedback.

Here's a longer chapter for your patience!


Eyes... Too many eyes.

Students in the immediate area quickly noticed Harry's outburst and begun whispering back and fourth while finishing their meals. One pair, who was quite fond of Gabrielle since they chose to stay in the same spot even after seeing her darker veela attributes, were a little less discrete as they leaned over the table to watch with anticipation.

"Harry, stand up." I commanded after finishing one last bite of my meal.

"Stand up? Why should- hey!"

Before he could mutter another loud word, I grabbed him by his arm and pulled, getting him quickly out of his chair before crossing to his isle and escorting him out.

Once the doors shut behind the two of us, he gave me a glare many would know to be afraid of. I however, knew Harry and was not intimidated in the least.

"What are you thinking!" Harry exclaimed. "This is not a good idea, and neither is being around Sebastian Karkaroff... Stop pulling!"

I narrowed my eyes while letting go of his retreating arm. "I'm thinking you're over reacting! You were causing a scene for Godricks sake. I'm transferring to Durmstrang, not joining a team of death eaters... and you leave Sebastian alone, Harry James Potter. I don't want you causing any trouble with him."

He huffed at my usage of his full name. "Me? Cause him trouble? Are you kidding? If house points were a thing here, Elendor would be in the negative because of him!" His voice raised higher, echoing in the (hopefully) empty halls. "And this school is practically swimming in potential death eaters, so you're not far off! I've kept to myself here for a multitude of reasons and even tried to talk to Headmaster Karkaroff about leaving. If you haven't noticed, the castle might as well be a fortress for fights and supremecy. I'm surprised all of Slytherin chose Hogwarts over Durmstrang!"

"Mind your voice!" I reprimanded at a moderate level. "I wouldnt care if the castle was filled with Living Shrouds much less boys who cause typical brawls! I'm staying, and that's final. And mind you, if I stopped being friends with troublesome people, you and Ron would have been first on the list!"

Harry winced. "It's not just typical brawls... And Sebastian, he's... I just have a bad feeling about him. He's constantly sneaking out of the dorm at night and skipping main classes. I know it sounds silly, but he could be up to something."

I let out a stressful breath. "Well, until we even have a reason to suspect him of anything, I don't think it's necessary to put him on a hit list. Plus, I'm actually rather fond of his company, so get used to it."

His eyes were calculative for just a moment before they came to a realization, his lips parting in question.

Yet before he could ask, I quickly spoke first. "No, I don't fancy the boy." Rolling my eyes, I let out another breath. "He's..." Not Viktor... "Not my type." I said instead. Though Sebastian was generally handsome for being only 17, I wasn't exactly attracted to sarcastic, prideful, rule breakers. Though Ronald was oddly my shameful exception numerous times.

"Just checking." Harry shrugged. "So... If your not staying here for a chance with Sebastian, why are you staying?"

I inwardly grumbled at the thought of locating anywhere for a boy I just met. For being the one person who knew me best, Harry sure was thick sometimes. "Im not sure that's my place to say just yet. Has Headmaster Karkaroff mentioned anything about why you were admitted?"

He shook his head slowly. "No... Is there a reason?"

I bit my lip, wondering why he was left in the dark about the matter. "Yes. I think... You should talk to him soon." I replied, knowing Harry would feel better about the situation he was unknowingly brought into if it was explained by an authority figure and not his best friend. Though Karkaroff was no Dumbledore, Harry surely would like to know he had a new task appointed to him from the source. Thinking back on when I first woke up, he seemed... Troubled and bored. Perhaps this would put him back into the swing ofthings. A twisted normalcy.

Somehow my words got through and he nodded slowly, thankfully without question. "Just... Tell me your okay. With all of this."

I smiled. "I'm as okay as I'll ever be." I replied honestly.

He gave me a sad smile, one that made me feel like suddenly he was my rock, unlike before when Ron and I were his. It was an oddly depressing feeling knowing I needed the support.

"Alright. Sorry, I'm just overwhelmed... Wanna head back in for some desert?" Harry suggested while offering his arm.

My spirit rose just a bit as I linked my arm in his, feeling slightly bulkier than normal with the thick jackets added on. "Ok, but no stealing mine this time."

Harry chuckled. "No promises."


Viktor sat at the headmasters table, his eyes focused on a stone wall for most of the hour, attempting not to look over at one particular table that sat the curly haired witch he couldn't keep his mind off of.

After all the time being away from her, receiving no more than one card once a year each Christmas, he was able to move on with his life as he had before he met her.

Yet as soon as he heard the raised, familiar tone from one of his students, his deceitful eyes glanced up to find Hermione, who was normally reserved, pulling Harry in a death grip as she marched them both out. Her long curls nearly sparking while doing so.

Now that she was back in his life, even just for a week, suddenly he couldn't believe he ever fell back into normalcy.

His dark eyes narrowed at the door, wishing he could see and hear through the walls from his current spot. He wanted to know what she thought of... What she spoke of to Harry.

Another part of him wanted to bust through that door and demand to know exactly how the two were still alive.

Yet it was the demanding part of him, one that nearly over powered the rest, that wanted to seek out every death eater and put an end to their remaining population for literally hunting down the pair.

He took a drink from his whiskey filled mug, lavishing the sting that burnt his throat as if it was reprimanding him for having such thoughts.

Viktor was always a pacifist until it came to the war. While he would of taken a stand on imprisoning instead of killing, right now he felt a strong desire to take a more... Lethal side.

After reading Hermiones entire journal, it took the largest effort he could muster to keep his hand from reaching for his black feathered quill and writing a list of names he knew he could take care of all too well.

After all, being a Krum had its perks.

When the doors reopened, a third of his students looked up from their meals to watch the pair draw back into their seats, arm in arm, as Harry first led Hermione into her seat near Sebastian, then took his own spot next to Gabrielle Delacour.

Viktor gazed at Hermione, watching as she took a slice of cobbler onto her plate, chatting openly with Gabrielle. His gaze nearly became transfixed as a rare grin tugged at her full lips, causing an old, familiar inner vibrance to shine through caramel brown eyes. He nearly missed the stinging hex that caught Harry across from her.

Suddenly on alert, he surveyed the area, trying to find any student who dared pull out their wand in the dining hall. Yet he only found Harry narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Hermione, cradling his hand that had shot out for her cobbler. Her warm grin turned malicious as she folded her own hands under her chin, practically daring him to try it again as they had a playful stare down.

Vitors lips curled at the sight. This Hermione was not his blushing, rule abiding girl he met years ago. This one packed some fire...

Suddenly the doors flew open, causing a gust of wind that licked the candles throughout the room before they closed with a bang. Two people stood before them.

The boys immediately recognized the new presence in the room, drawing their voices to a lower volume at once as Viktor reluctantly removed his lingering gaze from the four and watched his boss cross the room, his furs billowing in a theatric way.

While normally Igor Karkaroffs flare would be ignored, this time he had company.

Felix Jones.

Every eye followed as the short, Canadian red head approached the front of the room, his thick navy blue robes adding cushion to his thin body, and his triangular goatee adding more of a jut to his chin.

Stopping near the front of the dining hall, yet not daring to take Karkaroffs normal place, he addressed the room in a bit of a hurry. "Good evening to you all." His voice beamed as he stood as tall as he could in the room full of Slavic boys.

"For those who not yet know me, I am Minister Jones at the Bulgarian ministry of magic. I'm here at the request of Headmaster Karkaroff to oversee a new tradition at Durmstrang that I'm sure will be both exciting and educational for all of you." He said with a cheerful smile."As many of you know, Durmstrang has been serving proud, pure blood boys since founder Nerida Vulchanova first opened the school centuries ago in 1294. As of tonight, the pure blood rule shall be null and void, opening new opportunities for all magical students around the worl-"

"Vhat?!"

The ministers brows furrowed at the boy who spoke out, standing from his chair as everything became silent.

Viktor groaned deeply. Damn it Radcoff...

As if by a push of a button, one that happened to be called Adam Radcoff, the room exploded in verbal dispute.

"Tova e absurdno!"

"Mud bloods, here?!"

All at once boys were shouting at the announcement, rising from their seats and nearly getting into fights with other boys who were more open to a change and verbally declaring so.

Viktor rolled his eyes at the new ministers blunt choice of announcement as if he never thought to do research on Durmstrangs population.

Yet as he watched two boys draw their wands, stiffly pointing them at the minister, he felt slightly sorry for the unread man at the front of the room for having stepped into the castle so carelessly. Canada must be so different from here.

Yet before anyone could hex the minister or throw a punch, Karkaroff raised and lowered his staff three times, causing an alarming pounding noise of thick wood against polished stone.

The students quickly became obedient and lowered their voices into a murmur as they sat down slowly, a few letting go of their peers scrunched collars. All except one boy who remained standing, his eyes pointed not at Karkaroff or Jones, but rather in an area that Viktor was trying to avoid staring at earlier. Radcoff...

"You." He said, pointing straight out at Hermione and Gabrielle with narrowed, prejudiced eyes.

Suddenly all eyes followed suit, shifting and glaring at the two wide eyed girls.

Sebastian and Harry slowly drew their wands from their uniform coats. Sebastian moved it skillfully at his side for the ready, while Harry had it mistakingly pointed out, something no student would ever accept from one of their own.

A sixth year student behind Hermione narrowed his eyes...

"Enough!" A rough voice sounded.

Viktor stood from his chair in one swift motion, standing taller than the minister and seated student body.

Complete silence filled the room as their favorite professor who never spoke out aggressively, was glaring down at his students as if he were about to strike.

When the last standing boy failed to return to his seat, Viktor slammed an open palm against the table that quickly woke the boy up and nearly fell into the chair.

"Each and every one of you vill have your brooms suspended for a week." He said with a tone not to be reckoned with. "Show your Minister respect and keep your mouths shut until the announcement is to a close." He growled. "Is that clear?!"

No one muttered a word, yet most nodded their head while some were still staring at their professor in shock.

As the Minister cleared his throat uncomfortably, Viktor's eyes wondered back to the group to be sure all wands were put away, accidentally meeting Hermione's deep brown eyes that looked nearly stunned as the rest.

He couldn't help but feel ashamed that she saw a side of him he never liked to reveal since it too closely resembled his father, yet she didn't look the least bit intimidated as suddenly a rosy blush filled her paled cheeks before her eyes quickly glanced away.

As her attention bounced back to the minister, Viktor also tuned back into his speech, not picking up a word he just said previously.

"...9 pm in the court yard. All students and staff are to be present." The minister finished with a less than cheerful smile after seeing the Durmstrang boys in action for the first time as Minister.

Karkaroff then casually took the stand before dismissing their attention and reminding everyone class started in 10 minutes.

Viktor took one last drink from his mug before moving to leave his post to check on Hermione and Gabrielle... That is until the mention of the first implemented students names caught his ear, keeping him grounded to his seat and earning him another rather large, much needed swig of whiskey, ignoring the smirk his female colleague was giving him to his left.


After dinner came to a close, the sun set quickly and 8:30 rolled around, leaving the sky a breathtaking, glittering black that was partly covered in clouds. Looking around the large, circular opening of the schools courtyard, I wasn't able to see anything but large stone walls and a smaller circle of old pillars toward the center.

Gabri, who had linked her arm through mine, gazed up for a brief moment and sighed before returning her attention to Karkaroff and the Minister who were currently inaudibly arguing about the schools response to the news, several feet away. "Think we'll be in the same house?" She asked, clearly ignoring the small chance the minister would change his mind and ship the two of us to France.

I shrugged. "One in three chances we will. I'd recalculate our odds if we had a say in the matter, but it seems like we can't really convince our inanimate rings."

"Hmmm... Zat's right, jou were sorted by a hat at Hogwarts. That thing was a little um..."

"Incredibly tattered and mouthy?" I suggested with a chuckle.

She nodded. "Awfully tattered. Never heard it talk, but I heard many stories. Back at Beauxbaton we didn't have houses so I'm excited to find out what group I belong to."

"Any preference?" I questioned.

A small smile played on her face as she thought silently. "If jou and Harry were in za same house at Hogwarts then it's likely jou'll be sorted with him. I'd like to be in Elendor. Zat way all three- no, four of us could be together even though I'll be in separate, 5th year classes. Though if Sebastian is anything like he appears to be, I might end up taking classes with him since I'm sure he flunked a year at the least by za way he skips class."

I grinned wider than I should have at the thought, feeling suddenly giddy. "That's right! He's a 6th year!"

She looked up at me incredulously, her blond bob falling away from her face. "Am I missing something?"

"I won't have him in my classes!" I replied, slightly relieved.

"I thought jou liked him?" She questioned with uncertainty.

My smile dropped a tad at how this might look to her. "I do! I'm still growing accustomed to his um... Charm. But he's quickly growing on me for some odd reason. I just don't want him in my classes to be honest. I'm afraid I'll end up in detention again with BOTH of them. It was bad enough when I'd have detentions with Harry. Add another to the lot, and I'll be suspended in a week."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Never took jou two for the troublesome type... How bad are we talking?" She smirked.

I let out a long sigh, thinking of all we've done over the years despite the rules and dangers. "You wouldn't believe me."

"Try-" she began, yet was cut off by a red faced Minister, his hair blending in with his complexion and his fists tight by his side.

"I don't know how the last minister handled your folly but I assure you I will not be threatened by a criminal who thinks they can bypass my decrees!" He billowed through clenched teeth.

While minister jones looked as if he were about to explode, headmaster Karkaroff looked like a sly, silver fox who just caught his prey. "Decrees that no longer apply to my school... But you are correct about one thing." His hands folded behind his back, he started circling the man in a slow, nerve wrecking pace, causing the minister to become both stiff and slightly shaken. "I vas admitted to Azkaban for a short time. My crimes vere pardoned of course, not just because I offered information, I assure you. There's a great deal to learn about your new dominion and to think you're above it all would be foolish." He looked at him levelly, coming to a hault. "I'm sure you've heard the name Dimetrius?"

Minister Jones scowled, a sign that he in fact knew the name. "What does Dimetrius Krum have to do with you?" He spat.

The headmaster stood tall, towering over the small man as he leaned ever so slightly down, flashing him a row of yellowing teeth. "Everything." He replied in a low, bone chilling tone.

The small Canadian man became blotchy as his face began to drain into white. "That-that's Impossible... He's dead..." His eyes widened fearfully.

Without denying or supporting the statement, Karkaroff turned on his heel. "You may stay until the ceremony is at an end for documentation. I vill be checking the file... Minister." He said confidently with an underlying threat.

As soon as cold, brown eyes redirected toward us, Gabri and I both began talking at once about the architecture in hope that neither men saw us gawking. Gabri looked slightly chilled as she tried her best to compose herself while pointing toward one of the large pillars, commenting on how ancient they appear to be.

"I apologize for the vait girls." The headmaster said with a cheerful grin that seemed plastered. "The gates vill be opening in just a few minutes if you vould stand there," he pointed, "in the middle of the courtyard."

"Yes sir."

Pulling Gabri along, we took our position, noting where the minister stood (toward the furthest wall in a hunched manner) holding a quill in a tight grip and an official pad of paper in the other. Another form that would further tie me to the school.

Pulling the glass box from my pocket, I nervously played with the clasp, tucking the name Dimetrius Krum into the back of my mind, as Karkaroff slowly made his way to the large, wooden doors-the only ones in the courtyard.

His wand came out of his pocket in a blur, pointing toward the handles as he spoke loudly, "vuvedete!"

The unfamiliar, throaty spell opened the large wooden doors slowly, the sound of the brass decorative knockers pounding against them as the doors swung to a stop, revealing an orderly student body.

First years, all the way up to seventh years entered in rows, filling up the space around the center pillars where we stood, looking defeated and angry as they all took their places. Professor Burke stood out among the crowd in a navy blue suit that looked distinctively French as he approached the two of us, scanning the crowds before taking his place by the first pillar.

A second professor, with messy salt and pepper hair, took his place as well at the second, grinning at the two of us with a nod before reaching into his pocket for a cigar.

One by one, each professor took a stance by a pillar, leaving Professor Valentinov to take the seventh pillar and finally Viktor at the eighth.

Gabri squeezed my hand with her small fingers, shaking slightly beside me yet coolly playing it off in front of the hundreds of eyes focused on us, each with distinct looks of curiosity, boredom, and displeasure.

As much as it should've made me nervous as well, I was too concerned with one set of eyes over all.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Viktor's eyes glanced up from the ground, meeting mine with a mixture of emotion pooled into the depths that looked even darker under the night sky.

The sight nearly drew me in, yet thankfully I had Gabri as my anchor until this night was over.

If I hadn't of had her here, I might not of had the power to release my eyes from his exquisite features being both pronounced and hidden by the starlight.

Yet as soon as I begun taking advantage of that support, he looked off toward the sky, removing one hand from his pocket and into his dark hair, once again revealing two small piercings before letting strands fall back into place with a long breath. His beige coat jacket opened with the movement of his arm, revealing his toned physic under a deep green shirt.

As a crease formed between his brows, my curiosity was suddenly unhinged and dire. My magic found itself weaving past boundaries and gently peeking into his mind.

Yet just as quickly as I uncovered one layer, a wall immediately pushed me out, harder than I've ever felt.

His eyes quickly traveled back toward mine in apology, but I couldn't help but feel suspicious of his abrasive reflex... Or the magnitude of his training. Why was he such a skilled occlumens?

"Professor Burke." Karkaroff suddenly called out, interrupting my thoughts. "Please begin."

Nodding, William Burke folded his arms casually as he faced a section of students with a authoritative stance. The students nearest to him looked upon him as one would a leader, silently waiting for him to speak.

"As the head of the determined house, Zmey." He began, running his eyes over their faces. "I ask our Dragons to raise their staffs." Many in his section let out a single roar, throwing their staffs high in the air with respect, while another part hesitantly moved to hoist theirs up, as if they weren't in agreement with the ceremony. When the full amount of Zmey staffs raised straight into the air, a sizzle began erupting and all at once, a green fire lit the tops, illuminating the court yard.

Next, the second professor with the salt and pepper hair turned toward his section, blowing out a puff of smoke after relieving his mouth from the cigar. "House of Elendor!" He cheered, laughing deeply as his section, including a supportive Harry and Sebastian, let out a longer and friendlier sounding cheer. "The Loyal Stags. Please raise your staffs." He put his cigar back into his mouth as more staffs sparked before becoming a vibrant red that contrasted the green. Gabri seemed enthused as well, smiling as Harry gave her a thumbs up while Sebastian yelled something inaudible that Harry laughed at.

Finally, Professor Valentinov elegantly turned toward her section, folding her hands in front of her waist along with a short man with a large nose and thinning hair.

"The wise house of Bukhail. The golden owl! Please raise your staffs." She called out in a sing song voice as staffs quickly burned a shining gold.

My curiosity would have sparked seeing two heads of the same house, but I was too preoccupied by an approaching elf that looked nearly as old as the school itself. My eyes widened as he hobbled over, supported by a tree branch cane that was still sporting a dead leaf at the end. His ears were larger than any elves I've seen, and were drooping near his shoulders. Yet despite his age, his smile was vibrant as he let the cane fall to the ground in order to grasp the two of our hands gingerly.

"Dobre doshli." He said in a hoarse voice. "Velcome, young girls." Patting our hands, he let go and his cane instantly returned to him. "My mistress vould have been proud of this day. Proud of you both for choosing her school."

"You... You're mistress?" Gabri asked.

He nodded with subtle effort, appearing more like a turtle with the way he moved his head. "Vulchanova. I was her youngest elf at the time." He stammered with a cheerful smile. "Now. Vere are those pesky rings I created?" He asked, opening a hand.

Gabri placed hers into his palm, looking as if she wanted to conjure a chair for him.

I, on the other hand, was still clasping onto mine in shock, realizing he was well over 800 years old. I've always heard of the rare, elder elves yet never met one in person. While house elves today could live past a wizard, none but the elders could live to be well... 800 for example. I looked into it for years but could never find the reasons why. Most wizards over time never cared to write about their house elves. Never found them to be anything but slaves to own and later toss away.

Coming back to reality, I watched as Gabri kneeled down, letting the small elf slip the metal band around her index finger. "You're part veela." He stated, looking into her face with searching eyes. "You have... Extraordinary compassion. Hm... I hope this token places you vell." He nodded thoughtfully before letting her stand to her full height.

"And you my dear." He said, holding out a hand.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, nearly forgetting to give him the box. Kneeling myself, he took the band out of the box and twirled it around in his hand, a chuckle rising from him. "What an intelligent witch you are." He then looked up, meeting my eyes with his grey baseballs while scratching his soft chin. "Muggle born." He whispered. "How the ring vill react, I can not tell with you... But I'm excited to see." Without another word, he slipped the ring onto my index finger as he did with Gabri.

Standing back up, Gabri and I exchanged a silent, confused glance as suddenly the elder elf snapped his fingers.

All at once, the metal around the bands changed. Twisting and turning, an intricate pattern formed into the metal as it became thinner, more delicate.

Gabri's finished first, taking on fine leaves and curls as lovely as a vine, shimmering in silver and delicate on her finger.

Mine, however, branched out wider as strands of metal thinned into waves that entwined around each other in gaps, thinning out and elongating as it met in the back. It looked both powerful and beautiful on my hand as it became a striking gold.

The elf before us looked pleased at the designs. "Fascinating." He spoke. "Never seen my rings do anything quite like it..." The grey of his eyes grew wide. "Now! I ask that the two of you to stand in the direct center of the court. The rest is up to the winds..." He said cryptically before hobbling over to a pillar near professor Burke.

Finding the direct center of the courtyard, Gabri and I stood silently as the colors of the houses crackled in a symphony. It seemed that the stars and the staffs were our only source of light until suddenly a breeze filled the area, causing the flames to dance slightly, before a full moon appeared above us, the cloud once covering it, drifting away.

The same light as earlier today illuminated inside the stone atop the ring, more brightly this time as it begun deciding my proper placement.

Just as before, Gabri's changed quickly, suddenly transforming completely away from the clear, plain stone.

A smile lit her face as Karkaroff proudly declared her house.

"Elendor!"

I let out a relieved breath as Harry and Sebastian cheered for their newest member. Other boys in the section joined in, and she excitedly squeezed my hand before joining her house proudly.

Smiling at the three of them together, I anticipated my own placement, hoping to join their house as well. Just as Gabrielle said, Harry and I were both Gryffindors after all. It would be surely inevitable that-

What...?

The clear stone on Gabri's had immediately become red, a transition similar to a mood ring changing against the warmth of the skin...

This one, however, began in the center, flowing outward in streams like poison through water.

Only it wasn't green, red, or gold.

It was black.

"No..." Karkaroff whispered, nearly inaudible in the cold wind as he stared down at the onyx stone, possessing the index finger on my right hand.

A muffled cry of pain rang out amongst the crowds.

Three boys within a burning red glow dropped their staffs, a chorus of wood against stone, as they reached out to catch Sebastian Karkaroff's fall.

"Miss Granger..." A voice had called softly. Professor Burke held out a hand, beckoning me away from the center of the courtyard. His eyes moved like an aurors would, constantly shifting about the area. Except he wasn't looking at the crowds, but rather at the thin air above us.

"Try and slip that off if you will." He murmured, focusing on those around us as if he were ensuring we wouldn't be approached.

Obliging, I pulled on the ring... Yet found it to be stuck in place as if something were holding it there.

He sighed as I struggled. "Of all times for this to happen."

"Why is-"

Suddenly a movement behind me caused an unexpected jolt from within, causing my question to dwindle. "Will, she can't be here for this." The deep voice had said. My breath stopped as Viktor stood mere inches from my back.

The dark arts professor shook his head. "She's as much apart of this school now as we are... There are no limits to her ties now."

"That's not what I meant..." He murmured in a rough tone.

Burke followed his gaze to the scene and huffed. "...Keep her inside the castle. There's no telling what could happen if you took her out of the-"

"No!" I objected, using all my strength to forfeit my rare proximity to Viktor. My mind cleared as I avoided his tempting reach. I wasn't about to be apparated anywhere... At least not now. "What's happening to him?"

Suddenly the elder elf stepped in between Burke and Krum, shoving their legs to squeeze through and grab their attention. "This is absurd!" He exclaimed, sounding more like a goblin than an elf. "She should not have that dastardly ring, I personally foretold Sebastian Karkaroff baring it for the next century! Now... Now this! Hah! Harfang must be rolling in his grave."

"Would someone please tell me what the bloody hell is on my finger?!" I tried once more, my cheeks growing warm with annoyance.

The elf glared up at me. "No need to raise your tone young lady. I've lived many lifetimes and I'm just as befuddled as you. Now give me your hand." Yanking me down before I could physically hold out my arm, he meddled with the ring, attempting to twist and pull at it with no avail. "Hah! The school is down right stubborn with you. Durmstrang found a new favorite vithin the same century." He then raised his head to the high walls surrounding us and laughed. "Didn't think you'd have one quite like this, did you old girl? Hah!"

"What are you getting at?" I demanded, pulling away my hand from the mad looking thing.

"You own the school, child! How did you think headmasters were chosen long ago, hmm? Popular vote? I'm sure your old coot of a headmaster let you believe that didn't he? Blasted Albus practically destroyed nearly every sacred ritual all the vay to his grave."

My mind simply shut out that whole sentence at how insane it sounded yet my stomach went wild with the possibility that it were true. "You are completely bonkers! Igor Karkaroff is the headmaster! I... I do not own a bloody school!"

Burke sighed, cutting off the elfs chance to argue. "Ever notice the absence of signatures at the bottom of your enrollment form? Seen young mr. Karkaroff out of class roaming the halls like he could walk it backwards?" He asked calmly.

I furrowed my brow, recalling that both were indeed legitimate. Yet I had assumed Igor Karkaoff would have signed it after the approval of the ministry... And surely Sebastian just knew the place well, being the headmasters overlooked nephew...

Swallowing, I looked behind me, confused about just one more thing...

"If... If that's true, what's happening to Sebastian?"

As I turned my head back, one pair of eyes met mine, the lovely brown looking clouded and broken. "There's a myth about the ritual. It's called Preminavane... There can only be one bearer."

The elder elf nodded in agreement, finally at a calm, yet saddened level. "It's very uncommon though. I've seen this happen only twice... Once vith my mistress when Harfang Munter cursed the rings to kill its previous successor... Vhich was how she died despite rumors. Another was around 300 years ago but I was actually able to foresee it..."

He was going to die...

A ringing sounded in my ear as my stomach felt ill. I turned my heel, wanting to be by my friends side. I needed to help him-

Viktor's warm, calloused hand caught mine. "He's going to survive..."

"How do you know?" I asked rather sharply, wishing it hadn't come out quite as harsh when he looked slightly taken aback.

"Hermione..." He hesitated, looking unsure of himself.

Burke, on the other hand, was quite confident and reserved as he lowered his voice so only us few could hear. "He's already dead."


Black... Onyx... Same thing?

I had a lot of fun writing this chapter but I'm dying to get to the classes. I had no idea I would be 9 chapters in just to sort these girls. Yeesh!

Thank you all for reading! Let me know your thoughts! Tell me if this is too slow or if im being paranoid... Maybe more Hermione/Viktor action?

Till next time!(: