Love you all, really I do :) Thank you for the lovely reviews, faves, and alerts (especially the reviews lol). Here's the next chapter. Read, review, and enjoy!
I do not own any of J.K. Rowling's work, solely the plot to this story.
A dim glow rose steadily up the narrow staircase, seemingly choked by the darkness brought upon with each descending step, like an all consuming shadow. The air was thick with evil things, ominous and dreadful. Even the mice didn't dare reside in such a place. Following this path, sat a laboratory, only this was no ordinary laboratory. Phials and beakers lined the counter space; however, instead of the general hues often seen in a regular Potions classroom, these shades were reminiscent of only one: midnight black.
And in the middle of the room, with his eyes closed in a hopeless sigh, was—
"Kielm!"
The elderly wizard quickly sat up, his glasses jumping off the bridge of his nose. He instinctively grabbed his wand, a series of flicks and twists that restarted what he had stopped in lieu of a short and much needed rest. Though it seemed he would never get that rest.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, sir?"
Lucius Malfoy strode forward with narrowed eyes. "What progress have you made?"
"Progress, sir?"
"Yes, you imbecile! Are you so old you're going deaf?"
Without looking at him, the old man answered in a low voice. "I'm almost there, Mr. Malfoy."
"Almost is not good enough."
"I'm doing my best, sir. Science and magic are not typically compatible."
"Well for your family's sake you need to make them compatible!"
At this Gerard Kielm looked up in alarm. "But you promised! You said—"
"That pesky little granddaughter of yours will be first if I don't see results within the week."
"But Mr. Malfoy—"
"A week, Kielm." With those last words, he briskly turned around and disappeared into the looming shadow, his steps as silent and deadly as the darkness that veiled the staircase towards the rest of the world.
Gerard Kielm took a deep breath. Lavender, please stay safe …
Ron's face was almost as bright as his hair. He shook his head. "No way. There's no way!"
Harry grimaced. "Look, I'm not saying you have to date her, Ron. But you do need to be on friendlier terms with her."
"Can you imagine what she'll do if I so much as look at her?"
Harry suppressed a grin. "Turn you into a frog if you're lucky?"
Ron glared. "That's not even funny, Harry."
Harry sighed and fell back into the sofa cushions. "I know, but I can't help it. I miss Ginny."
"It's only been five hours."
"I know, but she was still mad when she left."
Ron rolled his eyes and fell beside his friend. They stared up at the Common Room ceiling, the flames crackling nearby. After a minute or so, Ron sighed. "I guess I know the feeling. I miss Hermione too."
Harry turned a wry smile to the side. "You really like her, don't you?"
Ron faced Harry. "You know it, mate."
"Even though she kissed Malfoy?"
At this Ron's face became stony. He returned his glance towards the ceiling. "He kissed her. She didn't kiss him."
Harry didn't respond.
"I mean, she didn't at the dance either, right?"
"…"
"Harry?"
"Well … Ron, at the time she didn't know it was him."
Ron stayed silent for a few moments. He settled his gaze back onto Harry. "So … did it look like she liked it?"
Harry laughed, turning away once again. "How should I know? It was a kiss. Don't most people enjoy kissing?"
The chuckle did nothing for Ron's peace of mind. His brow crinkled and he made a face. "So then she did like it?"
"Probably, I don't know. Why don't you ask her when she gets back—ow!"
"That's for being a prat."
Harry rubbed his forehead, but he was still grinning. "Calm down, Ron. This is Malfoy we're talking about. Malfoy! And besides, you said so yourself, up in the tower he kissed her. Not vice versa."
"Well, yeah, that's true. But … I don't know, Harry. I mean, he is, you know, good-looking sort of."
His head jerked so quickly his glasses nearly fell off his head. Ron immediately regretted his words. Harry burst out laughing.
"Hey, come off it already! I was just saying—"
"You think Malfoy's cute!"
"I do not!"
"Maybe Hermione should be worried instead. Should I owl her and warn that you might be checking him out?"
"Harry, shut up! Now you're just being a git!"
Harry stopped but continued laughing, clutching his middle. He recoiled only slightly when Ron whacked him on the shoulder. "Alright, alright! Sorry, sorry! I just needed a laugh, that's all."
Grumbling, Ron turned away, his gaze landing on the fire in the hearth. Suddenly his eyes lit up. "Hey, I bet we can Floo—"
Harry shook his head. "Can't be done. Durmstrang is Unplottable. Meaning we can't even Floo there."
"Not even if we—"
"Nope. And even then, I doubt Malfoy would let Hermione Floo from their room without giving her a hard time about it."
"So then it's only one way—wait a minute. What do you mean, their room?"
Harry seemed to freeze. Crap, I shouldn't have said that … "Nothing, I meant their Commons."
"No. You said room. What is it, Harry?"
"Nothing."
"Harry."
"I told you it was nothing."
"You're lying."
"You're not going to like it, Ron."
"Harry, if you don't tell me, I swear I'll—"
"Hermione is sharing rooms with Malfoy."
Ron sat straight up and jerked forward. His eyes seemed to bulge significantly and he lunged for the front of Harry's robes, clutching them desperately, as if crazed. "What?"
"I told you it wasn't going to be pretty."
"But they're going to be sleeping together!"
"Don't be stupid. They probably each have their own beds."
Ron darted off the couch and made towards the portrait entrance. Harry immediately followed.
"Got to owl her. Got to warn her about his evil hormones—"
"Ron don't you think you're being a bit ridiculous—"
"Evil git. He won't be her first! Not if I can help it!"
They exited the Common Room and Ron began to speedwalk. Harry had to jog to catch up.
"Ron, slow down, you're going to run into someone!"
Ron didn't seem to hear him, though his strides did lengthen. It was all Harry could do to keep up. He groaned as they shoved aside some confused looking Second years.
Shouldn't have said anything … it's not like anything's going to happen between Hermione and Malfoy … I wonder how she's doing …
"Seventh years, this way please."
They walked down the length of mostly dark corridors, as well as down one winding and very narrow staircase. All the while Draco—who had been left to walk in the back—could hear Hermione giggling every so often at whatever Bulgarian nonsense the famous Quidditch star managed to mumble to her.
It was getting very annoying.
Once they reached level ground again, Draco shoved past her so that he was directly in between her and Krum. He could hear her huff indignantly behind him, which of course only made his smirk grow wider.
Viktor Krum glanced at him sideways. "You know," he said quietly, "where I come from, it is customary to let the woman walk first."
"Where you come from they also believe in centaur steroids."
The burlier teen frowned. "I do not understand what you—"
Draco turned away, shooting Hermione a knowing glance whilst he spoke. "Nevermind. Wouldn't want you to kill yourself over thinking."
Hermione glared at him. In two quick steps she was between the two. "Ignore him Viktor. He's just a prat."
Draco shrugged.
Krum nodded gruffly, motioning them forward still. "The castle is very old," he was saying, "and many things are much the same as they were in the beginning. It is very picky about such things, you see."
"You speak of it almost as if it were alive." Noted Hermione.
Krum turned to give her a wary smile. "But is it not the same as Hogwarts? Ghosts are only responsible for some things. Not all."
Hermione nodded in understanding, shuddering slightly as they walked deeper into the castle, her gaze following the black stone walls as they went.
Draco snorted. "Sounds like a load of Dark Magic, if you ask me."
Hermione threw him an exasperated look, but to her surprise Krum chuckled.
"Yes, actually. You must remember that Durmstrang was founded by those interested in the Dark Arts. We are not ashamed. We just try to work with what we can."
Draco rolled his eyes beside them, widening his stride to match their sudden quicker ones.
"Seventh years stay in this area. They are different than Hogwarts. Instead of Towers, our rooms form a block." He stopped, thinking. "Like the border of a Quidditch field, one next to the other. Seventh years," he continued, as they turned a final corner and stopped, "are in this block."
He motioned towards a blank wall. "You will be staying here."
For an interesting second Draco and Hermione glanced at each other. Draco turned back to Krum with the same agitated expression but Hermione interrupted before he could say a word.
"Viktor, isn't there a password or something to get thru—"
"Oh yes, of course!" Krum suddenly looked apprehensive. "Yes. Unfortunately I am not a Seventh year so I cannot give you passage. Mr. Malfoy, if you would step forward please."
Draco took a hesitant step towards the blank stone wall in front of them. He reached up to touch it when Krum immediately stopped him.
"Wait. You need to take her with you."
At this both Seventh years' frown deepened. Krum continued on hurriedly, suddenly avoiding Hermione's questioning gaze. "The residencies here respond to two things: proper year and the right kind of blood."
Hermione's eyes were narrowing. Draco's eyebrow was rising.
"Since the end of the war, things have changed a little. We have several half-bloods and muggleborns now. However, the castle has not accepted these new changes …"
"Meaning I'm not allowed safe passage." Hermione finished.
"Correct." Krum chanced a glance in her direction, and his shoulders sagged in relief when he saw the tiny smile on her face.
"It's alright, Viktor." She said. "Old magic is sometimes very difficult to undo. I understand and don't blame you in the least."
A brilliant smile erupted onto the Bulgarian's face. Draco, who had been unceremoniously quiet throughout the explanation, suddenly turned a scowl in his face.
"Would you stop with the eye-goggling already? Really, it's embarrassing! Tell me what to do with her so I can get it over with and into the room already."
Krum looked at Draco with the same gleam, his eyes never leaving Hermione's. "Her-my-ninny, if you like, I can ask you to share residencies with my year. Mr. Malfoy does not show much respect and—"
Both spoke at the same time.
Hermione flushed crimson with the mere thought. "Oh no, Viktor, I'll be fine, trust me—"
Draco's eyes widened in anger. "I can manage a mudblood, you hormonal brute. Granger, come here."
And in the same moment, Hermione was yanked off her feet as Draco grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her alongside himself. She was so caught off guard she stumbled forward, unable to control the impending fall.
"Her-my-ninny!"
But peculiarly, even the wizarding world's famous Seeker wasn't fast enough. With lightning speed, Draco reached out and encircled her waist from behind, pulling her upwards at the same time. His other arm captured her elbow once more so that he held her in more than one place for extra support.
For a notorious second no one spoke.
Then, with slightly flustered cheeks of his own, Draco—still holding onto Hermione—raised his chin defiantly and looked Krum straight in the eye. "Alright, now what?"
Krum gave Hermione a once over. Her eyes were wide with surprise, and her cheeks a rosy shade of pink. Her hair was a bit out of place, and her body angled somewhat oddly with Draco's hasty rescue, but otherwise she seemed fine. When brown eyes met his Krum realized he was staring with his mouth open. His glance darted away and he cleared his throat. "Yes, yes. Mr. Malfoy, if you would just place your hand on the second block to your right, near the top."
Draco took a step forward to reach said stone boulder. His hand stretched across the smooth surface from corner to corner … and the wall disappeared, another narrow staircase leading down to a small chamber of sorts.
"I will come for you later in the evening—"
"See you then," Draco interrupted, striding forward and down the stairs. The wall closed up immediately behind them, leaving a confused looking Viktor Krum alone.
Hermione had no choice but to walk alongside him awkwardly. It wasn't until they finally reached the bottom, and after Draco looked around the small room that Hermione cleared her throat.
"Um, Malfoy, you can let go of me now."
Draco blinked at her. Then he smirked, releasing her roughly. He turned his back on her as he walked to the left side of the room. And then, in a not-so-haughty voice: "Don't make me have to catch you again, Granger."
Hermione made her way to the other side of the room. "I wouldn't dream of it," she replied. But unlike the previous time, she was smiling.
Really quick, I know Viktor Krum has an accent. However, because I am unsure of how his accent would be written, I decided to just write it normally, otherwise I might just butcher it lol. I though about making it sound somewhat French, but then that would be more Fleur-ish, so meh. Also, since we don't know too much about Durmstrang, and I need Krum, I'm going to assume that Durmstrang has two additional Years. So after Seventh year, they would also have an optional Eighth and Ninth year for students wanting to study/train an additional amount of time. Strictly Durmstang of course.
Anyway, review please :)
