Chapter 3: A Night in the Dark
"I could get used to something like this," said Fred.
Ron, Hermione, Fred and George had just walked off the ship after sailing for a couple of hours underwater. They did have a chance to dine on a small snack with the students who manned the ship, however being the only three people in the room not fluent in Slavic. They nervously nodded at students who gave them hearty pats on the back, and encouraging looks when something amusing was said. Hermione tried her best to translate, but often was interrupted by a student asking another question. Eventually Ron and the Twins headed out claiming to search for the washrooms. Fred and George found the ship to be amazing and spent most of the time looking out of the portholes. The oldest looking student who seems to be the captain of the ship, gave them an impromptu tour of the bridge in broken English and Slavic. Fred and George were actually having a bit of fun trying to translate and reminded the captain of certain English nautical terms that he wasn't fluent with. Ron followed, but his mind was elsewhere as the rumble of the water around the ship drowned out every other noise.
The sun was still shining a bloody red, but now less so. The landscape was darker now looking like purple slate. George swore he saw something move on the ice, but the others ignored him. As their luggage was being taken care of, Hermione properly thanked the crew as they headed back into the ship.
"Herm-ione!" shouted a voice.
They turned around and there was a burly looking man with short hair, red blood fur robes with white trim and a well kept goatee.
"Viktor!" said Hermione dropping her luggage as she went over to hug him as she started speaking in Slavic again.
A student promptly picked up her luggage before Ron got a chance. He glared at the hugging, chatting couple and walked over and stood there expecting something. Viktor pulled back and looked at Ron with eager eyes. With two strides he walked over and hugged him two, giving two pecks on each cheek.
"Ron-ald," he said, "It is so good to see you as well!"
Ron was taken aback as Viktor rubbed his shoulders and ended with a reaffirming pat. He headed over to Fred and George who put up their hands expecting to be bear hugged then kissed, but he just shook their hands greatly.
"Nice to meet you too Viktor," they said together.
"Viktor," said Hermione, "your English is so much better now!"
"Thank you Herm-ione," he said, as he took her arm in his, "I've been practicing so when we meet again, we have a proper discussion."
Hermione just smiled. Ron fumed as Fred and George mimedViktor and Hermione snoggingin front of him.
"And I must say," said Viktor, "your Slavic so good. You must meet students…I speak highly of you."
A shadow blocked out the sun before Ron and the Twins realized it. They looked up ahead and saw Durmstrang. It looked more like a fortress than a castle, very square and only 4 small ramparts on each corner of the school. Torches outside lit its exterior showing it was made of black stone looking smooth as ice. Fred and George smiled wickedly thinking how quickly they could possibly make a Marauders Map for this simple looking castle.
Viktor welcomed them as they entered the main gates. They gasped in amazement when theysaw the inside was actually larger than it appeared from the outside. Although four levels comprised the school, stairs twisted and maze looking passages stretched out in front of them. Torches were everywhere, illuminating the passages as if it were daylight. They began to notice that the castle itself wasn't even cold. It was warm like a spring day.
Students lined up to take the coats of guests and Viktor as he guided Hermione through some more doors. He offeredhe will giveasmall personal tour tour of the castle. Ron requested that he should come along since he was interested as well. Viktor laughed as the Twins sniggered behind Ron's back.
"To tell truth, it is getting late. Perhaps we should have some supper before discuss more matters tomorrow," suggested Viktor.
They were shown to their rooms. A half hour later they were congregated in Durmstrang's Great Hall for supper. Some of the teachers, who looked pale from lack of sun, had joined them for dinner. Students served the table and brought course after course for the feast.
"I guess I know where she learned her Slavic," said Ron suspiciously to Fred and George.
But the Twins ignored him as they looked around at the structures. Despite being illuminated by a great fireplace nearby, it was still dark as the stone seemingly absorbed the light. They saw a few students sitting at round tables with singular fires. The gaunt looking faces glowed orange by the light.
"So Viktor, how did your English get so good?" asked Ron, half seriously, half suspiciously.
"I glad you asked Ron-ald," said Viktor, "I have been talking with your Minister of Magic very much. After You-Know-Who fell, communications between our lands greatly opened. Much progress have been made."
Ron nodded but he looked a bit deflated as if it did not meet his expectations. Hermione gave him a careful glare which Ron ignored.
"Why'd you quit the national quidditch team?" said George looking very disappointed, "You were bloody brilliant."
Viktor smiled and seemed to have blushed a bit, "Herm-ione changed me much. Had it not for her letters, I would not consider other alternative to my life. Quidditch was good, but some reason I felt the quiet fame of teaching was more better for my heart."
Hermione blushed a bit. Ron rolled his eyes as the Twins looked deflated.
"Being headmaster, I have great time" said Viktor, "I find students to be fulfilling like I have purpose now. That everything I do is changing something. Just like Harry Potter and you Herm-ione."
Viktor raised his goblet and toasted, "To the great fall!"
Everyone at the table repeated the toast and drank deeply from their cups. When Viktor sat down, he looked at Hermione again who had a solemn face. He switched glances over to Ron.
"Herm-ione," said Viktor, placing down his goblet purposefully, "As much I like to believe you came up here to visit me…I sense you have a different purpose."
Ron looked a bit confused, but Hermione looked as if she was caught in a lie. Fred and George knew that look all to well.
She placed her hand on Viktor's and said, "Yes…I'm sorry Viktor but we didn't come up here just to see you or to just visit Durmstrang."
Viktor looked a tad disappointed, but still he smiled warmly.
"We came up here…because…of Harry."
A hush fell over the table. A student dropped a book he was working on, and quickly picked it up trying to actas if nothing happened. Ron, Fred and George looked down the table as the teachers were gripped with a sudden bout of fear.
"I see," mused Viktor.
He clapped his hands and the teachers got up from their chairs and exited out of the door in the side. Some of the students cleared away the remaining food as other servers went out to the round student tables requesting them to leave and promptly putting out the small flames. The room seemed much darker as only the fireplace and a few torches lit the now empty Great Hall.
"I knew something was wrong," started Viktor as he slowly rised up from his chair, "When one day I was outside on balcony and heard nothing."
"What's so weird about that?" asked George.
"It is never quiet in North," lectured Viktor, "The crunch of snow, the movement of animals and mostly the wind. But...this silence...it was like world stood still for one day."
The crackling fire danced making Viktor's shadow flicker on the stone floor. He stood still like a statue as if contemplating some age old question.
"But, there was one thing. One thing in the air that moved heading south," he said.
"Hedwig," whispered Hermione.
"Yes…it was Potter's owl. The next day I get owl saying Hermione is coming up to the area."
Ron tried to remember when Hermione gotten a chance to do such a thing. Fred and George just looked amazed at the story.
"I knew it was not coincidence this happened. Up here, the winds bring news…feelings of the world. But it was clear that something happened from Potter's direction."
He looked inquisitively at the table. Fred and George looked at each other, Ron averted Viktor's gaze but Hermione looked quite sad. It was like she was ashamed for lying to Viktor.
"We are looking for Harry…to retrieve Ron's sister Ginny. She passed away and Harry sent us a notice."
"Gin-ny?" said Viktor as if he was trying out a new English word.
"Harry's wife. That was the letter telling us she passed away that Hedwig was carrying," said Hermione, "Hedwig was barely alive when she arrived at our place."
Viktor paced over and put his hand on Hermione shoulder while using his other to hold her hand, "I am sorry for your loss." He looked around at the table, "all of your losses. I remember wedding. It was very grand. Ginny was one of the few that welcomed me like you did Hermione."
Ron glared at him, but Viktor didn't pay attention just still looking at Hermione with sad eyes. He then bowed his head walked back to the fireplace again, taking that contemplating stance again.
"Harry came through Durmstrang long ago," he said as if trying toremember a lostmemory. The table's interested piqued again.
"He did not look well. I offered my castle to be his home but he declined. Gin-ny at the time also did not look well. At first I thought it was the cold but I know now it was something more."
"What was it?" asked Ron, forgetting Viktor's apparent advances on his wife.
"What you know of Harry Potter after he came up here?" asked Viktor as if not hearing the question.
"Well that's what we are trying to figure out!" said Ron, his patience wearing thing.
"One thing that your ministry excels at is...covering up truth," said Viktor matter of factly.
"Hey now!" said Ron, instinctively defending his workplace, "I don't want to hear any badmouthing about my…"
"Ron-ald," said Viktor in a commanding voice. Fred and George pulled Ron down onto his seat. Viktor approached the table looking menacing.
"I mean no insult to your person," said Viktor, "But I speak of truth. I have expressed my concerns about Potter many times to your Minister of Magic. But he has ignored them. Yet I believe he has sent officials to monitor Potter's movements."
"About what?" said Fred, still keeping a firm hand on Ron's arm.
Viktor sat down sighing as if it pained him to talk, "I wish I was not person to tell this. But when I asked Harry what he was doing, he said 'He will protect the world.' He left heading further north with Ginny."
"Protect the world from what?" said Ron as he wretched his arm from Fred's tightening grip.
"I do not know," said Viktor, "but I heard rumours. Terrible rumours about Potter. How he followed You-Know-Who's travels when he was young. How hetracked downDark Wizards of oldand gathered information. There was something hungry in his eyes, like he was on quest. Some of your Ministry's Aurors came one week after Potter left Durmstrang questioning me. They somehow suspect that he be next Dark Lord, retracing You-Know-Who's old ways."
Fred gave a bit of a snort of laughter, but he was the only one at the table to have done so. Hermione looked wide eyed and frightened. Ron was slowly growing redder.
"You listen here" Ron started, "Harry would never do that. He'd never ever be like Voldemort. He hates the Dark Arts. Especially after what it did to his parents. He would never...never..."
Ron trailed off into silence. The table shuddered at the mention of Voldemort's name. Even Ron felt a chill up his spine after his blood cooled.
Viktor took a drink from his goblet and placed it on the table. He looked at it, as if focusing his thoughts on it.
"I will be clear," Viktor said, no one knew what to expect next, "Durmstrang has long history of teaching Dark Arts. Even when I was student I learned of them. We no longer teach it but by my tradition I have given sanctuary to Dark Arts practioners."
"You what?" said Ron furiously.
Viktor slammed the table with his hand, "Ron-ald. I am not proud of our heritage, but as Headmaster I am bound by tradition to shelter Dark Wizards. I have changed rules enough that they cannot stay if they are pursued or if they endanger students. But in the past years Dark Wizards have come through Durmstrang. To Durmstrang as a stop before they head further north."
"Wha…what?" said Ron, the colour drained out of his face. Hermione looked near tears.
"They are not gathering forces," said Viktor seeing their faces, "most were quiet. Many ungrateful. But one spoke to me…she said that Potter had sent an open challenge to all Dark Wizards to search for him for a battle."
"So what?" started George, "You're saying that Harry's sending invitations to Dark Wizards to go head to head with him?"
"I do not know," said Viktor, he looked a tad paler, "But I have seen dozens of Wizards and Witches come to Durmstrang and leave for north where last Potter went. And none of them returned alive."
A silence of fear blanketed the hall. The darkness seemed a bit colder, as if fighting for dominance over the table. Viktor's face looked very grim, his body looked tired.
"What do you mean…none returned alive?" asked George, "Like they went missing or…"
"Survival is vital up here," started Viktor as if he was talking about an age old tradition, "you can feel the air and know where life moves and death occurs. At nights students, teachers…even I…hear something…like life fading from the world. No one had returned alive…I'm sorry, there was one who came back but he was not complete."
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione.
"His body untouched, but his mind was broken. He did not respond to anything. He died days later when we cannot feed him proper."
A chill flowed through the hall making the flames dance. Viktor clapped his hands and students came in clearing the table.
"I am sorry, but it is time for us to retire for the night. We will discuss more in the morning. My students will show you to your rooms. Please excuse me," said Viktor. He held Hermione's hand and bowed and then bowed to the rest of the Weasleys before disappearing out a side door. They sat there as students stood there waiting for them to leave. When one cleared their throat for attention, they knew it was futile to continue thinking about what they learned. They went to their rooms tired from the traveling but slept uneasy within the black stonedwalls of Durmstrang.