It took until the second week in December for Viktor to admit that Scottish winters could rival the ones he remembered back home. A fast wind was picking up speed around the field, sending familiar icy shudders down his back as he watched his players arrive one by one, each more bundled up than the last. He had to stop himself from sneering as he fathomed how British Quidditch players managed to even see let alone fly with all that clothing wrapped around them. He didn't dare say anything. Only in his first year of coaching, Viktor Krum teetered lightly between the roles of strict practice leader and fellow teammate as he struggled to manage his small team.

The Wigtown Wanderers were not as well know as Puddlemere United or The Chudley Cannons, but with Viktor at their lead and a promising new lineup of young talent, the Scottish team was starting to make headlines faster than any of their counterparts. However, if they couldn't even make it through a blizzard without everyone wearing at least seven layers he was going to have trouble.

Viktor quickly counted the people in front of him and when he was satisfied that most of his recruits had made it to practice, he nodded and signaled them to form up.

"Break into positions. Seekers, vith me." He shouted and frowned when he saw only two individuals approach him where there should have been three. He knew someone was missing but he wasn't expecting it to be his forward Seeker. "Ver's Malfoy?" He glowered at the other two.

"Don't know. Don't care." Weasley chided. Her face was barely visible between her monstrous scarf and hat but the bit of it he could see was red from the cold. The youngest of his players, Ginevra Weasley was also one of the most promising. She wasn't as talented as Draco Malfoy but when Potter had refused Viktor's proposal to join the team, Malfoy was an easy second choice while Weasley made his pick for third. The girl had never been happy with the decision and had argued that she made a far better Chaser but Viktor had been persistent. A skilled backup Seeker was worth dozens of good Chasers, even if she didn't get as much playtime being Malfoy's second.

But if the lip he got from Weasley was bad, the attitude from Chang was toxic. She knew that had Potter decided to take the position there would have been no spot left for a fourth Seeker. He understood both girls' frustrations that Potter was offered first position without even trying out. But instead of realizing that a player like Potter came only once a century, they had resorted to cheek and insults. Their resentment of Malfoy was justified, the boy was as nasty as a sick goat, but when they started calling Viktor a sexist bigot it was hard to keep his temper in check.

"Chang," He snapped at the dark haired girl, "You've seen Malfoy?"

She nearly growled at him. "No!"

"Ven did you last see him?"

"I don't know, maybe a month ago?" She raised an eyebrow to Weasley who nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, at the last practice before the vacation." Ginevra commented.

Viktor hoped his wrath could be smelled since neither girl seemed to notice how red his cheeks were getting nor did they sense the raise in his voice. He wanted to blame it on the thickening snowflakes but knew better. "You've been meeting every other day over vacation, yes? That vas the order!"

"You can't order us to do anything!" The redhead began. "We are perfectly free to…"

He cursed loudly and thankfully in Bulgarian but it was still loud enough for the Keepers behind them to overhear and stop their conversations. Viktor grumbled and snatched the broomsticks out of both girls' hands. He'd always been a quiet man but in the correct circumstances he could come off as ogreish.

"Tell me you saw Malfoy at least vonce over vacation. Did you try to owl him?" He said. When he didn't get a response he paused to take a long breath before continuing. "He could have been hurt!"

Chang rolled her eyes. "I highly doubt it. Malfoy's a prick. He probably just couldn't be bothered being seen with us blood traitors"

By far the Hogwarts students were his most difficult to manage team members. Their school rivalries followed them decades after graduation so Viktor wasn't surprised that a Slytherin teammate was having difficulties. Yet when Cho Chang brought up the blood status comment, Viktor almost tripped. He sadly wished he was back in Bulgaria where a person was a person. You didn't hate people because of their birth and you certainly didn't let something like a rude slur stop you from checking on a bloke to make sure he was alright. Even if Malfoy had said some hurtful things it didn't mean these girls needed to let him go missing for four fucking weeks!

"So, you never even thought to tell me that he vasn't showing up!? Even in veather like this? You all complain that the vinter has been bad and laugh at me ven I call you veak but as soon as Malfoy doesn't show up, you could care less!"

Hypocrites, the lot of them. It made him pine for Bulgaria for the third time that morning. Back home, going out in a storm with too much clothing on was laughable. But if a friend was expected somewhere during said storm you made sure that friend Flooed you as soon as they got there to make sure they were safe. You didn't let winter take advantage of you because if you did, she would suck you off your broom in spit you into the ocean like chewing tobacco in a Muggle's teeth.

"But, Malfoy went home for the vacation, didn't he?" Weasley muttered. Her tone finally beginning to soften.

"No." Viktor sadly responded. "Like the rest of you, he stayed in the village in order continue going to practice. That was the entire point of the vacation! Seekers to bond vith the Seekers, Keepers vith the Keepers and so on! You're supposed to be a team! And if anything were to happen you vere told to contact me!"

He had foolishly thought that the school rivalries were just that; rivalries. He thought a break would be good for them to work on their moves without him smothering every moment on the pitch. It had been a well needed pause for him to go home and catch up with his own family. But a team WAS family. And this team was beginning to feel less and less so.

He shoved the broomsticks back into the women's arms. For they were women now not school girls. "Go home!" He snapped.

"But…" Chang started. Weasley silenced her with a look that Viktor thought may have held a guilty sheen. Instead of continuing to scold them, he blew his whistle and waved his arms until the rest of the Wigtown Wanderers surrounded him.

"Practice is cancelled!" He snarled. "Everyvone return to the village and stay there until I say so."

Guessing from the silence that followed he supposed they all had been eavesdropping on the entire ordeal. No one even attempted to ask about the sudden cancellation and in three seconds, Viktor had Apparated into his Scottish cottage. He downed a double, no, triple shot of firewhiskey before inking a quill to send owl to the Ministry of Magic. Selfishly, as he poured himself another shot, he wondered how long they would allow him to be coach when they learned his starting Seeker had been missing for more than four weeks. He laughed then poured the painful liquor down his throat.