DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I do not gain any profit from this fan-fiction. It is strictly for my entertainment and anyone who enjoys reading it!
CLAIMER: I own my OMC Senya Rurikov.
WARNING: This is a Slash-Male/Male relationship fan-fiction. If you do not like same-sex relationships, then this story is not for you. Fast-paced.
BETA READER: None, so there will be some mistakes that I miss.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This takes place during Goblet of Fire. This will be a short fic. I will be writing through the entire Triwizard Tournament. I am unsure of how many chapters this will be, probably no more than five at the most.
P.S.: Bold is characters speaking Russian. Italics are for thoughts.
.:Chapter One:.
"Harry Potter."
Silence followed Headmaster Dumbledore's words, having read a fourth name that fluttered out of the Goblet of Fire. Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, too stunned to move. His heart raced inside his chest, threatening to burst out from the sudden anxiety rushing through his body as every pair of eyes in the Great Hall turned and locked on him.
"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore called out again, albeit in a slightly louder tone that caused the green-eyed raven to inwardly flinch.
It was then that the Great Hall erupted into a frenzy of outcries; shouts of cheating and fame-seeking amongst them. Harry met Hermione's equally wide-eyes, utterly frozen and unable to move. He caught Ron's surprised stare before the redhead's gaze shifted into a reflection of his inner jealousy.
"Harry, you need to go," Hermione whispered, urging him to get up and move by grabbing his arm and giving him a shake.
Swallowing the growing lump in his throat, Harry tried his best to ignore the hateful comments circling around him as he finally made his way to the side room housing the real Champions of the Triwizard Tournament. Time passed by him and Harry found himself unable to focus on what was going on and being said.
'Why me?' Harry thought to himself, his chest tightening with fright.
.:oOo:.
"Do you believe the boy when he claimed to have not put his name in the Goblet?"
Looking up from his Ancient Runes tome, Senya eyed his best friend curiously. Viktor tugged off his uniform cloak, hanging it on their shared hook behind the door to their temporary dorm. Senya scratched the side of his face, before running his fingers through slightly tousled dark blonde locks.
"His fear was too real. Viktor," Senya started, waiting for his friend to face him before speaking again. "His entire school has turned against him. Without assistance, he may very well die."
Viktor's frown mirrored Senya's. The two mulling over everything that had happened that night. Setting his tome to the side, Senya stood up and stretched. He had opted to retire to their dorm early, but now he felt a sense of restlessness.
"I'm going to get some fresh air. Cover for me?" Senya asked and Viktor nodded while gathering shower supplies.
Making his way off of Durmstrang's ship, Senya casually made him way along the lakeshore. The night sky was hidden by clouds, some so thick that the moon's light barely managed to shine through. What little light did, reflected off of the Black Lake only to be partially swallowed up by the darkness of the water's surface. Darkness did not bother Senya, he rather enjoyed it and the peace it tended to bring. He was halfway around the lake when a muffled sound reached his ears.
Senya paused in his next step, craning his head in the sound's direction in an effort to listen more closely. The muffled noise came again and Senya's brows furrowed at the realization that someone was crying. He glanced back at the castle, noting that he was a far distance away that absolutely no one would have stumbled upon the other in a sense of privacy…well almost no one. Deciding to at least make sure the other person was not injured; Senya followed the sound of muffled crying.
He spotted a figure curled up at the base of a tree just within the forest line, the cries growing more pronounced the closer he became. When he was only a few steps away, Senya knelt down so as not to be towering over the figure. He waited for them to notice him, but after a few moments and no sign of them looking up, Senya decided to make them aware.
"Vhat is vrong? Are you hurt?" Senya asked calmly, keeping his tone as gentle as possible as not to spook the other.
They ended up flinching anyway, having not expected anyone to find them. Senya leaned back as large green, so very green, eyes stared widely back at him. Thick, messy raven locks spilled over a flushed face and a pair of round glasses sat crooked on a slightly reddened nose.
Harry Potter sat before him looking as though he had been crying for hours. Thinking back to when supper was, he probably has been. Senya reached into the inside of his cloak, slowing his movements when green eyes lit with suspicion. He pulled out a clean handkerchief before holding it out for the Gryffindor to take.
"Th-thank you," Harry murmured as he accepted the handkerchief, his voice hoarse from all of his crying.
Senya waited for Harry to finish drying his tear-stained cheeks and lashes, motioning for the raven to keep his handkerchief when Harry went to return it. When Harry stayed quiet, not wanting to explain the obvious reason why he was so far away from the castle at this time of night, Senya chose to move along.
"Come, Little Raven, I vill escort you back to ze castle," Senya told him, straightening his stance before reaching out a hand to help Harry up.
Flustered, Harry placed a trembling hand in Senya's larger one and fought back a gasp as he was lifted to his feet as though he weighted nothing. Senya smirked, unable to stop his lips from curving at Harry's stunned expression. Without another word, Senya led the raven back to the castle where they parted ways once at the large wooden doors.
"I…You—," Harry cut himself off, but Senya stopped to glance over his shoulder at the now unsure looking raven. "What's your name? I'm Harry."
"Senya," He answered, sending a parting wave to Harry from over his shoulder. "Senya Rurikov."
.:oOo:.
Harry sat at the end of the Gryffindor table during breakfast with only Hermione for company. Everyone else within the Lion's house opted to keep their distance, throwing the occasional glare or smart remark his way…though never loud enough for Hermione to hear. No, not since she hexed Ron with his sister's favored Bat-Boogey hex when he muttered something under his breath last night in the common room. She would not tell him what Ron had said, but Harry can only guess that it was nothing good.
The doors to the Great Hall opened and Harry glanced at the arrivals coming in as excited whispers broke out amongst the Hogwarts students. He watched as students from both Beauxbotons and Durmstrang began taking seats for breakfast. All of the Beauxbotons students sat with the Ravenclaws, while a vast majority of the Durmstrang students made themselves at home with the Slytherins. Harry took a sip of his pumpkin juice, hiding the sudden flush dusting his cheeks as a couple of familiar Durmstrang students took seats directly in front of him and Hermione.
"Good morning," Viktor greeted them with Senya repeating the greeting in English, the two showing no hesitation in fixing their plates.
Harry bit the inside of his cheek as he carefully set down his cup of juice.
"Good morning," Hermione returned their greeting, casting a sideways glance at Harry when he murmured morning just loud enough for the three of them to hear.
Senya took a bite of his breakfast just before catching the pair of green eyes openly watching him. He doubted very much that Harry even realized that he was staring, not that Senya was bothered by it. Harry's friend, the one with magic-filled brunette waves that had immediately gained Viktor's attention, nudged the raven.
"Harry," Hermione leaned over and whispered, hiding her own flush when she noticed the two older males in front of them steadily watching them. "You're staring."
Harry immediately looked down at his plate, busying himself by stabbing a piece of fruit with his fork and putting it in his mouth. He tried to focus on chewing, but ended up glancing up again and catching amused-filled hazel eyes. Harry felt a surge of warmth travel up his neck to the tips of his ears as Senya maintained eye contact while taking a swallow of hot tea. Harry gulped; his eyes suddenly locked on Senya's throat as he watched the blonde drink.
"He is cute, no?" Senya murmured to Viktor, his cup hiding the movement of his lips.
Viktor chuckled, the sound deep and a sound of agreement left the Seeker.
"So is she. Look how her magic makes her hair thick and wild," Viktor stated, not bothering to hide the grin aimed at Hermione.
She smiled back shyly, ducking her head to whisper something in Harry's ear that had the raven fumble with his fork lest he drop it.
'I think they like us.'
Hermione's words repeated in Harry's mind. Pushing back the butterflies he felt fluttering in his stomach at the thought, Harry did everything to keep himself from looking back up at those steady hazel orbs.
.:oOo:.
The Hogwarts library was huge, mirroring almost the size of Durmstrang's own library. Shelves of tomes towered over great heights, expanding upwards towards the tall ceiling and only the use of a spell could call the out-of-reach tomes. Senya eyed the tomes on the lowest shelves, comparing them to the ones on the shelves above them. They appeared to go up in level and skill; cautious of younger, more inexperienced students grabbing a tome dangerous to their cores. The only thing missing, going by the lack of curriculum, were tomes focused on the Dark Arts and Blood Magics.
Scanning the aisles as he took his time walking throughout the library, Senya searched for the person circling of his thoughts as of late. It was not until he reached the far end of the library where candle light barely reached and shadows casts over the area, did he finally locate Harry hidden behind a stack of large tomes with one in his hands. A quick glance showed the tomes were for Defensive magic. He absently wondered where Harry's female friend was.
"Do you not have help vith research?" Senya asked and held back a frown when Harry jerked back in his seat, having caught the raven unawares yet again. "I can help you."
"No—I mean...why would you do that?" Harry stuttered as he looked up at Senya, his eyes filling with suspicion once more as they did three nights ago.
"You wish to win, no?" Senya questioned with a tilt of his head, casually taking a seat right beside the Gryffindor.
"No," Harry voiced in a tone that was quickly growing defensive, his fingers tightening along the edge of the tome he had been reading.
"Zen vhat do you vant, Little Raven?" Senya inquired firmly, yet not unkindly.
"To survive," Harry whispered, his bottom lip trembling as his fear and anxiety began to rear their ugly heads.
"I shall help you," Senya told him without pause and waved a hand over the tomes Harry had grabbed. "I can teach you enough to survive, something not in your tomes."
Harry inhaled deeply, turning in his chair to better face the blonde.
"Why?" Harry asked, his eyes locked on Senya's and his mouth set in a slight frown. "Why do you want to help me? You're a Durmstrang student and friends with its Champion."
Those green eyes grew wide as a warm hand caressed Harry's neck, undoubtably feeling his pulse racing. There was a playful tug on a strand of his hair, causing Harry's lips to unconsciously form a pout and had Senya smirking.
"Because, Little Raven, you interest me," Senya answered truthfully and watched in silent glee as Harry's cheeks flushed red.
Dropping his hand, Senya stood back up.
"Come, let us find place to practice spells."
Harry moved to follow him, but paused. Senya stopped walking and turned around, remaining quiet when a curious expression looked back at him.
"Those words you've called me them a few times," Harry stated and Senya nodded, understanding which words he was referring to. "What do they mean?"
Here, Senya smiled.
"Little Raven."
.:oOo:.
Inside an empty classroom located on the second floor, Harry furrowed his brows as he concentrated on maintaining an illusion spell Senya showed him while the blonde stood nearby watching. An exact replica of Harry stood directly across from him, the only thing wrong was that the image was hazy around the edges and completely transparent. Harry dropped the spell with a huff. He had been at this spell for a few days now, but no matter what he did, Harry could not get the image to solidify to the point of tricking others into believing the image was real.
"Your progress is exceptional," Senya told him as he stepped over to the raven, pleased at how quickly Harry was able to grasp spells when one took the time to show and explain in depth of what the spell should look like and is supposed to do. "You must practice until it becomes solid image."
Harry licked his dry lips, not missing the way Senya's eyes darted down to watch the motion. So far, Senya had shown Harry a scent blocking charm and refreshed his knowledge of the silencing charm. With the illusion spell, Harry wondered how the three charms were connected.
"Ruri—," Harry started only for Senya to cut him off.
"Senya," The blonde insisted, noticing the light dusting of rose that appeared on Harry's cheeks.
"Senya then," Harry complied, looking away for a moment to gather his nerves before returning his gaze to the taller male. "The spells you are showing me…how are they connected?"
Senya cocked his head to the side, eyeing Harry with a thoughtful expression. It was no secret that Headmistress Maxime and Headmaster Karkaroff let the secrets of the first challenge slip to their champions. It appears, going by Harry's clueless expression, that Hogwarts' Headmaster failed to do the same. Doing something that he should have done upon entering the unused classroom, Senya drew his wand and cast a silencing charm around the entire room.
"Zere is only two weeks left before ze first task," Senya said, watching Harry closely.
The raven seemed to curl in on himself, withdrawing as a dark cloud of fear filled once bright green eyes. Senya walked closer until he could feel the other's body heat, his close proximity pulling Harry out of his thoughts enough to peer up at Senya through thick lashes.
"Dragons are ze first task," Senya stated and quickly had to catch Harry when the younger male's legs tried to give out.
Harry clutched the front of Senya's robes, his eyes wide open and filled with fright while his body trembled from the pending dangers brought on by such vicious creatures. Senya tightened his arms around Harry's shoulders, giving him a moment to just…feel.
"How…how do you know this?" Harry whispered, not leaning back from where he had his face pressed against Senya shoulder blade.
"My friend, Viktor, told me after Headmaster Karkaroff informed him. Headmistress Maxime has told ze Beauxbatons champion as well," Senya answered almost as quietly, moving one hand up to bury his fingers in Harry's nest of raven locks.
Senya finally leaned back, caressing the back of Harry's head and gain his attention once more.
"Dragons track by sound, smell, and sight. You shall approach ze first task silently, scentless, and invisible," Senya told him and Harry let out a shuddering breath, his knuckles white from how tight his grip is on the front of Senya's robes.
Harry scanned Senya's face, taking in every detail as if searching for something. Whatever he was looking for, Harry must have found him as his trembling slowed to a stop and color was beginning to come back to his once pale face.
"Then I guess I should practice those spells some more," Harry finally spoke, clearing his throat when his words threatened to catch. "Since I don't plan of being eaten anytime soon."
Senya smirked at Harry, chuckling as the raven quickly let go and stepped a few paces away with a flush of pure embarrassment.
.:oOo:.
Harry stood just out of sight of others, waiting in one of Hogwarts outside alcoves. He had contemplated speaking with Cedric Diggory, Hogwarts' real champion, to inform the Hufflepuff about the first task. Ever since Harry was picked and accused of cheating, Cedric had steered clear of him. Harry would have thought, you know loyalty and all, the two could have prepared together, but that was obviously not the case.
Hermione seemed to be the only one doing everything in her abilities to help Harry…the only Hogwarts student and friend. His thoughts drifted to Senya and Durmstrang's champion Viktor Krum. Merlin, he still had a hard time wrapping his mind around the two guys, especially Senya wanting to help him. Harry's face grew warm and his heart fluttered just thinking about the blonde. He rubbed his chest, biting his bottom lip at the strange feeling.
"Potter."
At the call of his name, Harry jerked out of his thoughts and turned to face Cedric who appeared hesitant to even be anywhere near him. Cedric's unsure expression alone almost made Harry change his mind. Gritting his teeth, Harry barely cared for the surprised look crossing Cedric's face. Why was everyone so hostile towards him? What did he do to them? What did he ever do to Cedric?
"The first task is dragons," Harry uttered and stormed off, not waiting around for the Hufflepuff to say something that would just cause Harry to regret ever helping him.
Harry missed the startled look aimed his way, his entire focus being used to dodge loitering students and ignoring absolutely everything that breathed. He had a week left before the first task and there was no way he was going to waste any more time when he could be practicing his spells. So focused in his goal, Harry failed to see someone stepping out in front of him in time to avoid a collision.
"Oof!" Harry cried out in surprise as he and the other person fell down in a tangle of limbs. "So-sorry."
"Ow, Harry, where are you going so fast?" Hermione groaned, struggling to free her foot from underneath Harry's leg. "Anyways, I was looking for you."
Harry muttered another apology, quickly standing up and helping Hermione to her feet as well.
"I was going to practice for…you know," Harry told her solemnly with a shrug. "What did you need to speak with me about?"
Hermione smiled, looping her arm through his and tugging him inside the castle and up to the second floor. Harry had told her about the unused classroom he had been practicing in and guessed that that was where they were going in that moment. Once inside, she let him go and practically bounced where she stood.
"Those spells you told me about that you were practicing has given me an idea. You said that Rurikov has you practicing spells to erase a person's scent, silence their movement and create a perfect illusion clone of yourself," Hermione stated while moving her hands around and Harry nodded his head in agreement. "Did he mention any other spells he was going to show you?"
Harry shook his head no.
"He did say that I would be silent, scentless, and invisible for the first task," Harry admitted, recalling what Senya had told him only the day before. "But the illusion spell creates a double image of myself, not make me invisible."
At this, Hermione nodded.
"That's because it is to be used as a distraction," She stated with certainty, elaborating when Harry's face scrunched up with confusion. "You cast the scent masking and silencing charms over you. Then you distract the dragon by casting the illusion charm, but in order to get by the dragon, you would need to be—."
"Invisible," Harry breathed, his grin suddenly matching Hermione's. "My invisibility cloak."
Hermione went to nod, but winced and shook her head no.
"I was thinking more along the lines of the disillusionment charm. That way if the dragon discovers you, your cloak isn't at risk of being scorched," She explained before drawing her wand. "Now, the disillusionment charm will feel weird…like a cracked egg running down your head. Like so."
Harry instinctively closed his eyes with a shudder as the slimy feeling of something running down his body. He shook the feeling off and Hermione made a curious sound.
"I can still see you when you move," Hermione murmured, tilting her head to the side with a sigh of concentration.
"Zat is because ze disillusionment charm acts as chameleon, not fully making ze user invisible."
At the new voice, Harry and Hermione both twisted around to see Senya shutting the classroom door behind him.
"Senya," Harry greeted, holding back a twitch at how happy his voice sounded at the sight of the blonde while also ignoring Hermione's knowing look when she greeted the other by his surname.
Senya returned their greetings, before speaking.
"You have invisibility cloak, Little Raven?" Senya asked, having overheard the two speaking from out in the hall.
Senya cast a silencing spell around the room to prevent anyone else from overhearing. Harry nodded, trying to fight the warmth in his cheeks as he remembered the meaning behind those words Senya tended to call him.
"It could work," Senya stated with furrow brows.
Harry stared at Senya's expression, finding the furrowing brows while thinking hard about something endearing. Hermione nudge him in the side and Harry realized that he had been staring with a dopey expression of his own. Glancing down at his feet, he frowned at his disheveled appearance. With Hermione's excitement, he forgot to brush himself off from when they fell.
"I got it," Senya voiced and proceeded to aim his wand at Harry.
Giving his wand a couple of loops and then a swish, Senya called out a spell and Harry found himself being coated by a soft pink light. Hermione gasped; her eyes wide as she witnessed the spell's effect.
"What? What is it?" Harry asked her, his eyes flickering back and forth from Hermione's surprised expression and Senya's smug one.
"You're floating," Hermione stated, pointing down at his feet.
Harry looked down and gapped, seeing his feet a couple of inches off of the ground.
"Now you can float under your invisibility cloak, not disturbing the ground and keeping ze dragon unawares," Senya said proudly, crossing his arms in accomplishment.
"Um…how do I move?" Harry asked and as soon as he voiced his question, he jerked forward with a startled yelp.
Senya caught Harry with a laugh, the sound pleased and not at all mocking. Harry's fingers tightened on Senya's shoulders, having grabbed onto the blonde in order to steady himself.
"Nevermind," Harry breathed, his eyes locked on Senya's.
A forced cough coming from behind him had Harry glance over in Hermione's direction while Senya only had to look over the raven's shoulder.
"While you practice, I'm going to the library for more research. See you two at lunch," Hermione hurriedly explained before rushing out of the room, but not before sending Harry a hidden wink.
The hands tightening slightly on his waist pulled Harry's attention back and his lips parted slightly as Senya continued to hold him, by now the spell having dissipated and his feet back on solid ground. Harry swallowed trying to alleviate his suddenly dry throat. Unsure of what to do…of what he wanted Senya to do, Harry slowly relaxed his grip on Senya's shoulders and carefully stepped away. Senya bit back a frown, covering it with a grin.
"Once you get ze hang of ze hovering charm, you vill need to cast all four spells on yourself," Senya told him and Harry finally drew his wand.
Watching Senya do the hovering charm once more, Harry gave his own attempt. The result had an astonished laugh erupt from Senya as the blonde lifted off of his feet and into the air. The only difference from Senya's earlier spell and Harry's was the blonde being halfway to the ceiling. Harry felt himself sweat-drop.
"Now you try vith less power," Senya called down to him and Harry covered his flushed face with both hands, wincing when the action pressed his glasses into the bridge of his nose.
.:oOo:.
Harry stared wide-eyed at the miniature dragon attempting a rampage on the palm of his hand, the spiney creature blowing streams of smoke at the stunned raven.
"Aah, the Hungarian Horntail," Bartemius Crouch Sr announced, Harry barely hearing the man over the sound of his racing heartbeat roaring in his ears.
'I have to get around this?!' Harry thought, inwardly freaking out and trying to control his outward reaction, trying to remain calm.
"…must collect the golden egg," Crouch Sr finished as Harry tuned back in, his startled gaze shooting up and catching Viktor's determined orbs.
Viktor rose a single brow, but remained silent as Headmaster Dumbledore spoke a few last-minute words before leaving. The sound of a bell went off and Cedric left the tent first. Harry could hear the crowd cheering at whatever Cedric was doing to complete his task. Knowing that he was the last one to go, Harry attempted to distract himself. Taking a seat at the far end of the tent, he focused on his breathing and silently going over the plan Hermione and Senya helped him develop.
Harry vaguely heard the bell go off again and the sound of Fleur leaving the tent for her chance at the first task. Heavy footsteps came closer to him and Harry looked up to see that Viktor was now standing in front of him with a blank expression. The brunette's arms were crossed over his chest and the corners of his lips steadily curved downwards into a frown. Harry fought not the squirm as he began to feel uncomfortable under Viktor's unwavering gaze.
"Senya is good man. I von't see him get hurt," Viktor stated firmly, his tone not hiding his unspoken threat.
Harry narrowed his eyes, standing up to at least be somewhat close enough to look eye to eye. He was still a few inches shorter, but did not back down.
"What are you talking about? I'm not going to hurt him. I'm not going to hurt anyone," Harry argued, feelings of confusion and anger swirling inside him.
He thought Viktor was okay with Senya hanging around Harry, since both he and Senya ate breakfast with him and Hermione every day. Was he mistaken?
"Your plans, vhat are zey?" Viktor demanded, practically looking down his nose at Harry.
"Plans? I don't…what plans?" Harry huffed, his confusion showing.
Viktor relaxed his stance with a heavy sigh.
"You like Senya, yes?" Viktor asked, exasperated now and dropping his aggressive interrogation one would give to the person of their brother's affection.
Harry's mouth opened and closed a couple of times as heat covered his entire face.
"Vell?" Viktor asked impatiently.
"I…I do, but—."
The bell sounded loudly, causing Harry to flinch and Viktor clasped a steady hand on the raven's shoulder.
"Senya adores you as well," Viktor told him, not that Harry understood Russian.
As Viktor made his way out of the tent, Harry promised himself to ask Hermione to help him find a translation spell. Before too long, it was Harry's turn to leave the tent. Harry had cast the scent masking and silencing charm on himself as soon as he cleared the tent flaps. As soon as he came into view of the ground, Harry paused to look around the makeshift arena.
Highwalls surrounded him at all sides, curving to form a perfect circle that was filled with large stones and boulders. Harry heard a rumbling growl and felt the ground beneath his feet tremble. He turned his head in the direction of the growl and paled. Differing from its miniature version Harry had pulled out of the bag earlier that morning, the Hungarian Horntail looming before him was massive and extremely angry.
As soon as the starting bell went off, Harry tugged his invisibility cloak free from the inside of his tournament robes and disappeared from sight. He did his best to ignore the crowd and their distracting words, using the seconds he had to cast the illusion spell that took him up until yesterday to complete enough to satisfy himself and Senya.
'You only need moment,' Harry repeated Senya's confident words, words spoken to him in a whisper just outside the Gryffindor entrance, the blonde having walked Harry there late last night for the first time since they began training.
Biting his bottom lip, Harry focused on pushing the illusion of himself further away from him in an effort to coax the dragon away from the shiny golden egg atop a somewhat flat boulder. The dragon roared, spreading its wings and flexing its sharp spiney horns. A bead of sweat dripping down the side of Harry's face, pushing his concentration in maintaining the illusion and casting the hovering charm on himself. The dragon took a couple of thundering steps in the direction of Harry's illusion before blowing a stream of super-heated flames at it.
Harry flew across the arena, absently noting the screams of fright and shouts of surprise escaping the crowd as the flames consumed his illusion. The dragon settled back on its hindlegs, eyeing the spot Harry's illusion had been just as Harry's fingers touched the cool golden casing of the egg. Harry's heart slammed against his chest as the dragon's head jerked around at the sound of the egg shifting and Harry's focus left him.
"Potter has the golden egg! This ends the first task!" Ludo Bagman, alongside Crouch Sr, shouted just as Harry stumbled upon the ground and out from beneath the safety of his invisibility cloak.
Green eyes so large one could view his soul; Harry froze on his back with the golden egg clutched tightly against his chest. He was unable to look at anything other than the dragon standing over him, rearing its head back to unleash another torrent of flames. Harry turned to his side, curling up just as the flames were unleashed. Instead of burning him as he expected, the deadly flames collided with a shield spell just as another spell encased Harry's prone form and pulled him out of the way of danger.
"Well done, Harry."
Harry blinked up at the person holding him, noting the familiar red hair and light dusting of freckles.
"Charlie!" Harry exclaimed, more than a little thankful to the Weasley as other dragon handlers moved in to restrain the furious dragon.
.:oOo:.
"That dragon was monstrous! What were those fools thinking, using aggressive mothering dragons for the task! You could have been killed! You almost were!" Senya shouted as he paced back and forth in the unused classroom he and Harry temporarily claimed as theirs.
Harry watched Senya pace around, unable to understand a single word the blonde was shouting but feeling a sense of warmth filling his chest at the obvious anger and concern. He felt his lips curving upwards in a smile without any effort, unwilling to stop the suddenly bout of happiness and affection he was feeling. Senya stopped his pacing, running a hand through tousled locks and turned to Harry.
"What are you smiling at, Little Raven?" Senya asked, still frowning but the anger quickly leaving him to be replaced by curiosity.
Harry bit the inside of his cheek, feeling his smile growing at finally understanding some of the words Senya had spoken.
"You ranted in Russian," Harry pointed out, catching Senya's hazel eyes filling with mirth. "I only understood little raven, because you always call me that and told me what it means."
Senya exhaled heavily and the rest of his anger left him completely. He stepped over to where Harry sat at one of the aged desks and knelt down in front of him.
"You could have been killed, almost vere and all I could do vas vatch," Senya told him quietly, reaching out with one hand and taking hold of one of Harry's. "Ze first task vas dragons…no one said anything about mothering dragons."
Harry felt his fingers lacing with Senya's and he looked down at their intertwined grip. Senya's other hand rose up and caressed the side of Harry's face, his thumb brushing just beneath the raven's bottom lip. Harry's eyes shot back up to Senya's, watching as the blonde slowly leaned forward while gently using the hand on Harry's face to nudge downward.
"May I kiss you," Senya asked in barely a whisper, as if speaking any louder would risk breaking the moment they were sharing.
Harry found himself unable to speak, only nodding his head with unspoken permission. Senya closed the distance between them. Warmth pressed against his lips and Harry gasped at the unfamiliar feeling of having another's lips touch his. His eyes widened at the strange feeling as something wet dipped past his parted lips. Senya tilted his head, burying his fingers deep in Harry's thick locks and he deepened their kiss.
Harry's eyes fluttered shut, his fingers clutching Senya's robe-clad shoulders as he experienced an all-consuming kiss for the first time. It felt as though he were being devoured; tasted and explored. A noise sounded, one that would have brought a brighter flush to Harry's cheeks if he realized that noise had come from him. He pushed himself closer to Senya, practically falling out of his chair and onto the blonde's lap.
Senya's hand released Harry's, only to wrap around his waist and hold him firmly against him where they were chest to chest. Feeling Harry's tongue tentatively brush against his caused a groan to leave Senya, the sound muffled against their mouths. He responded in kind, softly coaxing Harry's tongue with his own. When breathing became an issue, Harry pulled back with a gasp.
Harry's green eyes were hazy and his chest moved quickly with each panting breath. Senya dipped his head and closed his mouth over Harry's pulse point with gentle sucking motions and nips of his teeth, causing the raven to cry out in surprise and his fingers to tighten in Senya's hair. When they had become buried in the blonde's locks, Harry was unable to recall. All he could do was focus on the growing pool of warmth filling his stomach and the pleasant tinges flowing throughout his entire body.
"Se-Senya," Harry panted, his tangled fingers keeping Senya's head at the curve of his throat.
He did not want Senya to stop whatever it is he was doing; the feelings Senya was causing Harry to experience quit literally taking his breath away in a way Harry had never felt before. Senya pulled away and a sound similar to a whine escaped Harry, only for Senya to slant his mouth back over Harry's in just as much of a devouring kiss as their first.