A/N: How long would it take before I brought in an OC? Ah, well.

November brings bitter winds, cold ideas, and a new student. It's an unusual case, but a sixth-year from Durmstrang has transferred to Hogwarts so that he can be—and I quote—"M'rn vulvad wit da varz."

I believe this is broken English for "More involved with the war." Of all the people who attend the school and can speak basic English, how did we end up with this man?

Daphne, however, is completely enraptured by him. "You've got some competition, Blaise. Alek makes me warm in all the right places."

I mentally roll my eyes, remaining impassive. "He can't understand a word you say, Daph. The other day, I called him a thick idiot to his face, and he just blinked and thanked me. Besides which, he really needs to pluck."

And yet it seems that Daphne isn't the only one undressing him with his eyes. The next time I see Pansy, she's practically drooling.

"I thought Draco was a real man, but God, I've changed my mind. If I can get Alek to look at me, I'm ditching the blonde. Bulgarian boys are hot."

"Pansy, you've been in love with Malfoy since third year." What is it about foreign men that makes women climb all over them? "This bloke shouldn't change anything."

"He does, though. Look, even that boy over there is fawning over him. Isn't that the most disgusting thing you've ever seen?"

I follow her gaze and see a blushing Eddie Carmichael refuse to make eye contact with the apparently attractive thick idiot. Something stirs within me, but I clamp it down.

Well, technically, that's what I should do. Instead, I stand up, stare Alek in the eye, and say in my iciest voice, "Get out of here."

If the fool doesn't understand the words, he understands the tone and scarpers.

"That bloke?" I hiss when I'm sure that no one's watching. "Come on, Carmichael, you can do better than that."

He flashes me a dazzling smile. "If you're not, he's the only other gay man at Hogwarts."

We haven't spoken since Halloween. There's a bruise on his cheek.

Three days later, the only other gay man at Hogwarts takes the express train back home. Apparently, he didn't have the guts to participate in da varz.

Or in a fight against me.