Viktor woke up early the next morning. He breathed in the crisp, morning air and sat up. He yawned and stretched his arms before glancing down at Hermione who was still sleeping. He smiled and shook her gently. "Loff I haff to go back down to the ship. Karkaroff vould haff already noticed that I vas not on ship."
Hermione nodded and gave Viktor a hug, sleepily, and as soon as he head hit the pillow again she was out like a light. Viktor quickly made his way out of the Astronomy Tower and downstairs. He didn't have to sneak past the Great Hall because it was only 5:30 and nobody else was awake yet. Viktor walked briskly to the ship and attempted to sneak on board. His heart stopped beating when he felt a hand grab his shoulder. He wheeled around wand in hand and saw Nikolai. He breathed out a sigh of relief. "Vhat are you doing!" whispered Viktor angrily.
Niko grinned and said "You haff been naughty boy Vika! Vhere vere you all night?"
"That is not any of your business" Viktor said as they both hurried to his cabin. Alek was still sleeping. Viktor shut his door and felt relaxed. Now Karkaroff couldn't prove he hadn't been on the boat, but just in case Viktor hastily changed into a pair of gray sweatpants and a white wife beater. He sat on his bed, as Niko sat at Viktor's desk. Niko was already in his pajamas so he didn't have anything to worry about. "Vhere vere you Niko?" Viktor asked him confused.
"I vas vith Bernadette" Niko said smirking. "Her sleeping quarters are a lot more private" Niko said as he winked at Viktor. Viktor shuddered and looked quite disgusted. Niko just laughed at Viktor's expression, and in turn woke up Alek. Alek sat up and viciously threw a book from his bedside table at Niko's face but Niko dodged it. The book just barely missed his face.
Alek then barked "Keep it down!" and pulled his covers up over his face and laid down. Viktor and Niko started laughing. It was hard to take Alek seriously when his hair was standing up all over, at odd angles. Niko then snuck across the hall to his own cabin and Viktor went back to sleep.
After breakfast, Viktor met with Karkaroff by the lake. There was approximately an hour and 30 minutes before the first task would begin. "I know vhat you vill haff to retrieve! Dumbledore has picked out students, friends if you must, for each Champion to rescue from the bottom of the lake!"Karkaroff did not know exactly who Viktor would be rescuing but he did tell Viktor that he thought it best for Viktor to transfigure himself into a shark. He then left Viktor alone, by the lake, and hurried off the the ship.
Viktor spent the next 45 minutes transfiguring himself into a shark and then back again. He did 3 test runs as a shark in the lake and then changed back into himself. Viktor strolled back toward the castle, with one wave of his wand he dried his clothes. Viktor met Hermione and Alek in the Entrance Hall. They walked onto the grounds together. Hermione was most comfortable with Alek out of all of Viktor's friends. Hermione began studying for an Arithmancy exam that she had after the second task, and Alek and Viktor began a game of Wizard's Chess.
10 minutes later Niko came to find Viktor and said that Dumbledore asked all of the Champions to gather at the east end of the lake, on the docks. Hermione gave Viktor a brief hug and blushed when he kissed her in front of Niko, she then hurried off toward the castle. Viktor then followed Niko to the docks and saw Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Madam Maxime, Fleur, and Cedric standing there. Viktor walked over, as Niko went to meet Vlad and Alek. Harry arrived 5 minutes later, Dumbledore had insisted on waiting for him before giving the Champions their instructions.
After Dumbledore finished giving them a pep talk they were given 20 minutes to go change their clothes, and get themselves ready. Viktor came back and saw that Cedric was the only one back. Cedric was wearing a white tank top and black swim shorts. Viktor was wearing red swim shorts with the Durmstrang crest on the left leg. His wand was strapped to his leg, as was Cedric's. Viktor took his place beside Cedric and stared down into the water. His scowl appeared on his face, he could hear his fan girls giggling on the raised balcony above the dock. A lot of students were arriving and climbing up to the balconies around them. Soon all of the Champions had arrived.
When Viktor heard Dumbledore's whistle he dived into the water, and his nerves felt like they were on fire. The water was freezing cold, but he didn't have time to think about that. He pulled out his wand and transfigured his head into a shark's head. Viktor was grateful that at Durmstrang you were forced to learn nonverbal spells. He then launched himself forward, swimming as fast as he could toward the sound of Merpeople singing, and about five minutes later found himself in an enclosure. He saw hundreds of Merpeople swimming around four figures that were bound by rope, unconscious.
Viktor swam toward the figures and as he got closer he saw Ron Weasley, Cho Chang, Fleur's sister Gabrielle, and Hermione! Viktor swam right toward Hermione and ripped the rope that bound her to shreds easily with his razor sharp teeth. He then grabbed Hermione's arm and swam to the surface with her. The charm wore off as soon as his head broke through the surface of the water. He heard Karkaroff and the rest of the Durmstrang boys roar with applause and cheers as they whooped with joy. Viktor clenched his jaw, Cedric Diggory had beat him to the surface.
Alek and Niko held out their arms to help Viktor up onto the dock but he shook his head. "H-H-Hermione first" he stammered as he shivered and lifted Hermione up as Niko and Alek lifted her up onto the dock. Viktor then pulled himself up and Vlad ran over with two blankets. Viktor wrapped one snugly around Hermione then pulled one around himself. "Y-You were b-b-brilliant V-Viktor!" Hermione stuttered as she pulled the blanket tightly around herself. Viktor smiled proudly, but just then Ron and Gabrielle emerged from the water. Fleur shrieked and ran to the edge of the dock where she pulled her sister out of the water. Harry emerged seconds later, and Hermione ran over to them anxiously.
Viktor couldn't hear Hermione but he could see her. He knew she was asking Harry and Ron if they were alright but he couldn't help but feel a small twinge of jealousy as she hugged them. He knew that Ron had feelings for Hermione, he wasn't quite sure if Harry felt the same way about Hermione though. He hoped not.
Alek brought Viktor more blankets and they all waited for the judges to announce the winner. Dumbledore finally walked to the center of the platform and placed his wand to his throat and called "Attention!" The spell magnified his voice to ten times his original voice. "The winner is Mr. Diggory for his extraordinary use of the Bubble-Head Charm!" The Hufflepuffs all roared with cheers as did the Ravenclaws. "However seeing as Mr. Potter would have finished first were it not for his determination to rescue not only Mr. Weasley but Ms. Delacour as well, we have agreed to award him second place for outstanding moral fiber!" The Gryffindors, and a handful of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws all began cheering as Colin Creevy began snapping photos of Harry who was still sopping wet. The Durmstrang boys all roared with rage and booed loudly. Karkaroff looked quite angry.
Viktor scowled heavily. He should have received the second place title, he had finished second NOT Harry. He didn't think Harry should be awarded for NOT following the rules! The rules were to rescue only your student and Viktor had followed those rules, Harry on the other hand had not so why was he being rewarded? Dumbledore's favorite Viktor though as he scowled heavily and stood and left the docks with his friends. Hermione was still watching Harry anxiously, Viktor didn't even think she had noticed that he left.
Viktor wouldn't speak to anyone. He was angry, he hated losing no matter what it was at. He deserved to win so why hadn't he? Viktor went straight to bed, he was too upset to do anything else.
The next morning, Viktor and Hermione met for breakfast before classes began. They sat underneath a willow tree by the lake eating toast out of a napkin. Hermione had snuck the toast out of the Great Hall. They were discussing what the third task could be when they saw Ron striding over to them. "Hermione. Professor McGonagall wants to see you" Ron said as he sneered down at Viktor. Viktor stood up so he was face to face with Ron. Ron was tall, but Viktor was taller. Ron was about 6'0 but Viktor was 6'2. Ron was lanky, but Viktor was muscular. Viktor wasn't bulky but his arms were like hard cables of muscle from years of playing Quidditch.
Hermione quickly stood sensing confrontation and hastily stepped in between them. "Thank you Ronald" she said not appreciating the glares he was sending Viktor's way. She just couldn't understand why he couldn't be civil! She had seen him snogging Lavender Brown the night before! "I will see you at dinner Viktor" she said as she hugged him. She loved the way Viktor smelled...he smelled like wood polish, lemon, grass, and there was a hint of something sweet there. It smelled like vanilla but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was exactly. Hermione then followed Ron into the castle.
Viktor felt very uneasy during the next couple of weeks because he noticed that Karkaroff was acting very strange. Karkaroff normally watched Viktor, but Viktor couldn't help but notice that Karkaroff was watching him a lot more closely than usual. Viktor was anxious and worried because he knew what Karkaroff was capable of doing. Karkaroff had given Viktor an early notice to meet him 30 minutes before the third task, which was in 2 days, three days ago. He told Viktor not to forget and had reminded him two more times just that day. Viktor didn't know how he felt about going to see Karkaroff, but he knew he had to...