Chapter 2: the plan…
After the feast, Justin, Alai and Viktor walked together to their common room.
"I don't know about you guys," Alai sighed as they walked down the dark halls, "but I'm not sure if I like having girls here."
Justin smirked, "I could live with them…"
"Yeah, well, we know you could," Alai laughed, "But still. We have never had girls here, and the worst part of it is that there are mud bloods among them. Since when did Durmstrang listen to the orders of the Ministry?"
"Since the Ministry began keeping a close watch on Karkaroff," Viktor said softly.
Justin and Alai were use to him not speaking for a day or two and then all of a sudden saying the most random things, so they just looked at him.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Alai asked.
"Karkaroff use to be a Death Eater," Viktor stated, "and now there are rumors that Voldemort is back, so the Ministry will be watching all the known Death Eaters like hawks."
"That makes sense I guess, but why girls?" Justin asked.
Viktor shrugged.
They approached the picture of what appeared to be an empty room. The room was pitch black except for a small window that let in the light of a blood red moon.
"Where's the Baron?" asked Justin.
Viktor nodded in the direction of the darkest part of the painting. As they all looked, two beady red eyes appeared from the darkness.
"Password?" an echoing voice hissed.
"Horntail," Alai sighed.
The eyes close again and the painting dissolved, revealing an archway. They group walked through and entered a huge room. Couches covered in animal furs circled a huge fire that was burning in a stone fireplace. Various paintings of hunters, wizards, and hideous creatures covered the walls and watched the group as they walked in. above them, a blackened steel chandelier shone a dull light on a staircase that led to rooms that held three boys each.
"Hey Krum! Get over here," a voice called from a table in the corner of the room.
Viktor walked over to see that the voice had belonged to Dimir, a boy with black hair that fell into his copper eyes. Most girls would find him handsome and mysterious, but those who knew him would know that he was cruel and manipulative.
Around him sat seven other boys, each looking either angry or excited.
"What do you want?" Viktor asked.
Dimir flicked his wand and a chair appeared behind Viktor and before he could react, the chair moved forward, forcing him to sit.
"Have a seat," Dimir smirked.
Viktor ignored him. Alai and Justin came and stood beside him.
"Now that everyone is here," Dimir said, "back to this business of the girls."
Viktor rolled his eyes and attempted to stand, but Dimir flicked his wand again and Viktor's chair was pushed tighter against the table.
"At least listen to what I have to say," Dimir hissed.
"I'm not interested in your plan to get girls to sleep with you," Viktor hissed back.
Dimir shook his head, "That's not why we are here. We are here to plan how to get rid of them."
Everyone around the table except for Viktor, Justin and Alai, cheered.
"For centuries this school has been girl free, and its going to stay that way," Dimir said, "now I know what you are all thinking, the Ministry ordered that we treat them as equals. Well, what the Ministry doesn't know won't hurt them. I'm not saying that we will harm them, that would bring too much attention to us. I suggest…simple things. A few hexes, among other things. Make them want to leave, that is our mission."
Everyone around the table echoed their agreement, and even Viktor nodded softly. He didn't want to hurt them, but he sure as hell didn't want them here in the first place…
After they had finished with their plan, which was to be put in place immediately, Viktor retired to his room.
Each room was furnished with three large cherry wood four-poster beds and matching bureaus. Furs carpeted the floors and the beds were covered in think brown and gold comforters. Gold curtains allowed privacy and in the corner of the room in front of a small stain glass window was Viktor's falcon, Eros. It cawed loudly as Viktor entered the room and he threw it a piece of meat he had saved it from dinner.
After he had taken off his shirt and pants, Viktor put of a pair of black shorts and climbed into bed with a piece of parchment and quill.
'Dearest Hermione,
How have you been doing? It will be almost a year since I came to Hogwarts to compete in the Triwizard Tournament, and I hope you are doing well.
I was excited to be going back to school, that is, until I arrived. So much has changed. the Ministry of Magic has ordered that Durmstrang except girls, and so you see my dilemma. I had hoped I could escape my summer life of screaming fans and bothersome girls, but I suppose it was not meant to be. Some of the boys are already planning how to get rid of them.
I miss Hogwarts I suppose. Mostly I miss you, I think of you every day.
I was disappointed when you rejected my invitation to come visit me during the summer, but some other time I suppose.
Please write to me,
Yours truly,
Viktor'
Careful not to wrinkle the paper, Viktor rolled up the parchment and tied it with a black thread. He then walked over to Eros who bobbed his head when he saw the letter.
"Take this to Hermione Granger at Hogwarts," he said gently in the girls ear.
Eros nipped his earlobe gently before taking flight out the window that Viktor had just opened.
Climbing back into bed, Viktor took the candle from his bedside table and blew it out, plunging his room into darkness.
…………NEXT DAY………
Viktor woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and happier then he had been in a while.
Stretching, he crawled out of bed and put on his uniform. It was only then that he noticed that he was alone in the room.
"Damn," he muttered.
Grabbing his book bag and boots he hurried for the door. As he was about to open it, he noticed a note hanging on the wood. Pulling it off, he read it to himself.
"Good morning sleepyhead, here is your schedule, meet you in the great hall for breakfast. That is if you make-" he stopped, growling, "Alai you git!"
Just as Viktor was about to open the door, he smirked.
There was a faster way to get there. In his fifth year he had taken his apparation test and passed with flying colors.
Closing his eyes, he pictured the grand hall, and the familiar feeling of a tug at his bellybutton overwhelmed him. When the feeling subsided, he opened his eyes and found he was in the grand hall.
But it was empty.
Another note was in front of his usual chair.
"Too slow." it read.
Smirking, Viktor grabbed a pastry that appeared in front of him, and rushed off to his first class. He had potions in the west tower with professor Dante.
As he ran down the halls he noticed a figure walking ahead of him. The person heard his footsteps and turned, causing Viktor to stop dead in his tracks.
It was the girl from the grand hall. The one with those striking green eyes.
She looked at him with confusion as she glanced form him to her schedule.
Keeping his eyes in front of him, Viktor attempted to walk past her.
"Excuse me," her soft voice called to him.
He stopped, glancing over his shoulder at her.
She bit her lip, "Um, I was wondering. Can you tell me where to find professor Dante's class? I woke up late then when I asked a ghost for directions, he sent me going around in circles…"
She was in his potions class…he should just lead her to their class…but then again…
This could be the perfect chance to put Dimir's plan into action.
He turned toward the girl fully now, his face blank and stern.
"You're going the wrong way," he said simply, "there's a really handy shortcut down that hall. Just go until you can't see anymore, then go down some stairs and you'll get there."
He pointed down the opposite hallway, one that led to the dungeons. It was the worst place he could send a girl like her. Their Dark Arts teacher kept all his demonstration creatures down there, and she would have a tough time getting past them. Although…she looked to be about his age, so perhaps she could handle it.
The girl smiled at him, "Thank you."
She gave him a small wave and then took off in a jog down the corridor.
Smirking to himself, he continued to his potions class.
When he reached professor Dante's class, he quietly took his seat. The professor was a short man, with huge ripped glasses that were ten sizes too big as he kept on having to push them up his nose with his finger.
"Late on the first day Krum?" Dante frowned, "Do not let it happen again."
Viktor nodded.
"Please join us on page five hundred and four," Dante said as he turned back to his cauldron.
Krum glanced around the room quickly. Five separate tables circled Dante and there was five student per table. Walls that went a hundred feet up were covered from top to bottom with various jars that contained different roots, herbs, and body parts from various creatures.
Smoke began to fill the room as professor Dante dropped a live bat into his cauldron.
As Viktor looked around the room, something caught his eye. Looking through the smoke, he was shocked to see the girl sitting directly across from him. Her eyes burned with rage and amusement as she glared daggers at him.
He couldn't understand it, she couldn't have come in without walking past him…did she get there before he did?
She seemed to read the confusion on his face because she smirked and flicked her wand in his direction. A piece of parchment appeared in front of him, and he quickly hid it beneath his desk before anyone else noticed.
Looking into his lap, he unwrapped the message…
"Nice try, but I saw your schedule and knew you were being a bitch…better luck next time." he whispered to himself.
He frowned as an extreme dislike began to boil within him.
Looking back up at the girl, who was still smirking at him, he tapped the paper with his wand and the parchment disappeared with a small burst of fire. He held eye contact with the girl for a moment, hoping to send her the message that it was far from over. She seemed to get it as her smile faded and her eyes flared up again in challenge.
He had been caught in his own lie, and felt like a fool.
No one made him feel like a fool without paying for it.
After class Viktor was the first out the door, eager to find Justin and Alai. He found them standing under a huge stone gargoyle that would let out a hiss every now and then. Standing with them was two other boys, Dean and Dragos. Dean had fire red hair and fair skin while Dragos had dark brown hair that fell in his dangerous eyes.
Viktor joined them.
"Hey Viktor," Dragos smirked, "So I heard about the plan Dimir brewed up last night."
Viktor nodded, "You in?"
He laughed, "Of course I'm in. I 'accidentally' hexed this little redhead mud blood this morning on the way to class. She's in the hospital wing right now, trying to get those nasty boils off her ass."
The boys laughed and Viktor smirked.
As they continued to talk, a group of girls walked by. Viktor recognized the blonde girl from the feast, and she was with the same short brown haired girl. As they walked by they blushed when they saw Viktor and began to whisper.
"That's him" he heard the blonde say.
"Looks like you have yourself a fan club Viktor," Alai smiled.
Viktor gritted his teeth…not here…not at his sanctuary. The girls HAD to go.
Pulling out his wand he gave it a casual flick and the blonde haired girls skirt suddenly flew up, flashing her red underwear. Everyone around burst out laughing as the girl furiously tried to get her skirt down, but each time she tried to pull it down, it would only go up higher.
Tears sprung to the girl's eyes as her friends frantically tried to cover her from further embarrassment.
"Just stay calm Carmen!" the brown haired girl yelled.
This only drove Carmen into further hysterics.
Justin and the others clapped Viktor on the back, still in laughing fits. After a few more minutes of torture, Viktor became bored. With another flick of his wand, Carmen's skirt went back to normal and she took off running down the hall, her face in her hands as she cried. Her friends glared at Viktor as they turned to follow their friend.
"That was bloody amazing mate!" Dean yelled in excitement.
They parted a while later to go to their next classes. Dean and Viktor both and Dark Arts together with professor Hunseth so they went together.
The classroom was darker then usual when they entered. Taking their usual seats at the back of the class, Viktor watched as students began to file in. the classroom itself was only lit by ten or twenty candles and behind the teachers desk was various cages of hissing and growling animals.
Professor Hunseth, an extremely tall man with short graying hair and a stern face stood in front of the class, glaring at anyone who dared to look at him.
"Find a chair, sit down, and shut up," he spat out as he pulled out his wand.
Dean nudged Viktor in the ribs and pointed to the door. Viktor turned to see Carmen's brown haired friend enter the class, looking terrified.
"She and that Carmen girl are the only girls in this class, so she's on her own today," Dean whispered in his ear.
Viktor nodded.
"Should we do anything?" Dean looked at Viktor hopefully.
Viktor cringed…he knew what was happening. Dean had already pinned him as the general of this whole operation. Viktor didn't want to be responsible for his conscience as well as his own…
"Umm," Viktor said, "Why don't we just leave her for now, the longer she waits for something to happen, the more paranoid she'll get. That will make it all the better later."
Dean smiled, "Good thinking."
The rest of class went by fast, and Viktor said goodbye, wanting to get to his third period class fast before anyone else wanted advice on how and when to torture girls.
On the way to his third period class, he spotted the one person he was so hoping he would…….
The girl from earlier.
Her note was still fresh in his mind and as he approached her turned back he became more and more furious.
She was laughing with the curly haired girl, as if the world was all rainbows and butterflies…
"Cassandra," the curly hair girl whispered to the girl.
Cassandra looked over her shoulder at Krum, and her smile faded. She turned around to face Viktor.
"Stay back Kayla," she mumbled to her curly haired friend.
The girl didn't hesitate to take a few steps back until she was safely a few steps away.
"So, I heard what you did to Carmen," Cassandra hissed, "She's a good friend of mine, I should hex you into the next century for that…"
Viktor smirked wickedly as he let his wand slip into his hand. He had hid it in the sleeve of his shirt, and now he longed to use it on this bitch…
Her eyes flared up even more when she saw him smirk, "You think this is funny? To make an innocent girl cry for your ignorance and craving for attention? I bet you thought you were such a tough guy too, showing off in front of your friends. Although I thought it was a cowardly thing to do…hex a girl from behind."
That was it…how dare she talk trash about his honor?
Without hesitating, he pulled his wand in sight and pointed it in her face.
Viktor was surprised when she didn't even blink…
He was even more surprised when he felt Cassandra's own wand pointed at his heart.
"Go ahead," she whispered, "I dare you to even try it."