Chapter 3: Enemy

Viktor didn't know how long they must have stood there, just glaring at each other. Time seemed to fade in and out where he could have sworn that there was no one else there but the two of them. Then her friend Kayla would beg Cassandra to drop her wand, and Viktor would be thrown back into reality.

Behind him, he could suddenly hear the frantic sound of footsteps.

"Krum!" Justin's voice called.

He tensed…perfect, this was the last thing he needed…

"Need help?" Alai appeared beside him and he gestured to Cassandra's wand.

"Stay out of it," he hissed.

Alai merely nodded and backed behind Viktor, and by the sudden worried look on Kayla's face, he figured that Justin and Alai had also pulled out their wands.

They stood there a few more minutes and Viktor's head spun with scenarios. He could hex her and get hexed himself…or drop his wand, which would probably be the best thing to do. But if he did…the guys would never let him live it down.

"So?" Cassandra asked after a while, "What are you going to do?"

Something sparked in her eyes then…something…playful? Almost as if she thought this was all just some game…

Viktor could play games too…

"So what happened?" he asked, "This morning you seemed so… cheery…and now you're a bitch on a rampage."

She frowned, "Put it this way. You and every other idiot guy in this school are playing with fire when you hurt any of my friends."

"Is that suppose to scare him?" Justin spat out from behind him.

Cassandra broke eye contact with Viktor as she glared at Justin.

"It should scare all of you, because I will hurt you if you hurt them," she hissed.

"You think you're some big hot shot or something?" Alai's voice went stone cold, "Do you even know who he is? He is Viktor Krum."

What she did next actually shocked Viktor. He expected her to get a scared look on her face and beg for forgiveness…

But she laughed.

It was a rich, nice laugh, one that left a pleasant ringing in his ears.

"What's so funny?" Viktor asked.

She looked back at him, smiling, "Of course I know who you are, I've always known! But why would I give a shit? Just because you can fly on a stick and catch a stupid rock doesn't mean you have any right to torture the girls into leaving."

Kayla gasped, along with Justin and Alai, but Viktor just stared at her.

She didn't care?

No one, had ever said that they didn't care that he was famous. It had never occurred to him that anyone could think differently…

"Hex her Viktor," Alai whispered.

Cassandra smiled sweetly at him, "Go ahead Krum, do it. Wouldn't want to disappoint your friends."

He gritted his teeth, just looking at her. Why did her eyes have to be like that? So…bright. So god damn challenging? Defying? It made him furious.

"Cassandra," Kayla placed a hand on her shoulder, "We're really late for class, can you just let it go for now?"

She looked disappointed, but after a few more seconds Cassandra lowered her wand slowly.

"You've heard my warning Krum," she hissed under her breath, "Hurt anyone else and I won't back down next time."

She turned to walk away and Viktor felt his blood boil in his veins, and it was almost painful. She was just walking away…she was walking away from him. No one walked away from him.

Without really thinking, Viktor raised his wand and thrust it at Cassandra's back. A deep purple light emitted from it and shot towards her. He held his breath as the air around him pulsed with his spell.

Then the light surrounded Cassandra…

And Viktor's world went black.

…………..LATER…………

Viktor opened his eyes…and was very confused.

He was staring up at Justin and Alai who both had worried looks on their faces.

"God, you're awake," Alai smiled, "We were wondering when you'd come to."

Suddenly everything came back to him…Cassandra…he had tried to hex her…but, what happened?

As Viktor tried to sit up in what he assumed was a bed, he found that he couldn't. his heart started to speed up as he frantically tried to move his limbs, but they were all not responding.

"What the hell happened?" he yelled, "Where am I?"

The two looked at each other before Justin looked back at Krum, "You're in the hospital wing bud."

The words hit him like a bludger to the head.

"H-hospital wing?" he mumbled, "What did she do to me?"

Alai tried to smile but it was forced, "Well, you sent that curse at her…and, well. At the last second she just turned around and sent it back at you. It was kind of cool actually-"

"Alai!" Justin punched him in the shoulder.

"What! It was! She was walking and all of as sudden it was like BAM! Back in your face!"

Viktor wished he could hurt him…

"Why the hell can't I move?" Viktor asked.

"Well, the nurse couldn't tell what was wrong right away so she told us to watch you until you woke up, then she could give you something," Justin said.

"How long have I been out?" Viktor asked.

The two boys looked at each other again.

"Would you just tell me?"

Alai cleared his throat, "Five days."

His face paled…five days.

"She's dead…she's so dead when I get out of here!" Viktor mumbled.

"You should see her to, happy little bugger that one," Justin said.

Viktor groaned, and just then he could hear soft footsteps enter the room.

"Nurse is here," Alai said as he and Justin stepped back.

An elderly face of Mme Darroch appeared in front of Viktor. Her smoky blue eyes looked tired an worn out, and wrinkles surrounded her features.

"So boys?" she smiled, "Have we figured out what's ailing Mr. Krum?"

"It looks like a paralyzing charm," Alai said, "he can't move at all except for his face."

Mme nodded and went over to a large cabinet across the room. It was filled to the brim with various potions and herbs.

As she looked around, Justin and Alai came back to stand beside Viktor.

"Don't look so upset Viktor, its not all bad," Justin said, "Within five days we gotten three younger girls to leave, they transferred overseas where there's room, or are being home schooled. Just think, three down."

"Yeah, and seventeen to go," Viktor sighed, "And the ones that are left are older, which means that they could fight back."

Alai moved uncomfortably.

"What now?" Viktor was getting sick of all this bad news…

"Well, most of them are too scared to even leave their dorms…but…there are a few…"

"What do you mean by a few?"

Justin answered, "Its Cassandra. She and three other girls, Carmen, Kayla, and Carmen's little friend Amy. They're starting to step up."

"Dimir's having a grand old time though," Alai murmured, "he can barley go ten minutes without hexing someone. He's put his sights on Cassandra. He says he wants her gone by the end of the month."

Before Viktor could answer, a bottle was shoved between his lips. He grimaced when a thick, cold liquid slid down his throat. The effects were instant, his whole body began to tingle as the blood flowed back to his limbs.

"There you go dear," Mme patted his cheek, "You can go now."

Stretching, Viktor climbed out of the hospital bed. Alai and Justin followed him out the door as they headed toward the grand hall.

"What time is it?" Viktor asked.

"Nearly dinner time I expect," Alai said.

As the y reached the great hall, Viktor could hear the sound of laughter and talking.

He waved his wand, and the huge oak doors swung open, and the hall went quite.

His eyes scanned the room, and various boys waved or yelled out "Welcome back"…

…but it was the far side of the room that he was interested in.

He spotted her instantly. She was sitting with Carmen, Kayla, and Amy, talking as if the entire hall hadn't gone silent. Amy glanced in Viktor's direction, and when she spotted his glare she nudged Cassandra sharply in the ribs. Cassandra looked sharply at her friend, but then saw where she was looking and looked herself to see what the commotion was.

When their eyes connected, a fire irrupted in Viktor…and not a pleasant one either.

He immediately went for his wand, but was surprised when Justin grabbed his wrist.

"I wouldn't do that man," he whispered in his ear.

"And why not? It's not like Karkaroff is going to stop me," he hissed back.

"He might not, but she would," Justin looked at the teacher table.

Did he just say she?

His eyes left Cassandra and quickly scanned the teacher's table…

Never had Durmstrang had a girl teacher…except for Mme Darroch.

But sure enough, at the end of the table was a woman in her mid fifties. Her straight black hair was done up in a tight bun at the back of her head and she was draped with green robes. Her eyes looked strict, and protective.

"When did this happen?" Viktor asked, "Who is she?"

"Her name is professor Lukash, she's the new Dueling Master," Alai said, "The Ministry brought her in two days ago. She watches over those girls like a dragon over its egg man. We can still get away with stuff, but if you get caught, then its detention with her."

Viktor frowned…so they had a protector now…

When he glanced back at Cassandra, she was back talking with her friends, and had long forgotten about Viktor.

Grumbling, he sat down at his table next to Dimir.

"So I hear you got hexed by Cass," Dimir smirked.

Viktor ignored him.

"Don't be embarrassed, you're not the only one," Dimir continued, "Every attempt we've made these past few weeks, she's interfered and put someone in the hospital wing. She's a problem, and I need her gone."

Viktor cringed when he Dimir said 'I' need her gone…Dimir was taking this a little too seriously…

"You care to help me?" Dimir asked as he took a bite of steak.

Viktor thought about it…he sure as hell didn't like the idea of helping Dimir…but…Cassandra. Something about her just made him loose control in the worst way…he wanted her gone too.

"How?"

Dimir smirked, "I thought you might be interested. I've been…watching, her these past few days. You know, looking for weaknesses…and I found only one."

"And what's that?" asked Viktor bitterly as he drank some water.

"Her friends," Dimir stated, "I know for a fact that she hates it here. The only reason she stays is because she wants to protect her stupid friends. So, if we get rid of them, then we get rid of her."

Viktor shook his head, "It won't work."

Dimir frowned, "And why the bloody hell not?"

Viktor set down his cup and looked at Dimir, "How do you know that if you get rid of her friends, she won't just come back for revenge. That's what happened when I hexed Carmen. I guarantee that she will fight back even more."

Dimir nodded, "I thought of that. But remember, girls are fragile when it comes to their emotions…if Cass were to experience extreme despair or loss, then she may not have the strength to fight."

Viktor considered this…it could work…or it could drive her into a blind rage.

No, something told him that she wasn't like that…

"Yeah, that might work," Viktor agreed, "But what are you planning to do? Kill her friends?"

He was kidding of course, Dimir wouldn't….

But then Viktor caught something in his eyes…a kind of animal like shine.

He would do it…he would kill to get his way…

"Of course I wouldn't," Dimir said…but his eyes told a different story.

The grand hall started to clear as people started off to their dorm rooms, and soon only a few people were left.

When Viktor got up to leave, Dimir caught his robe, pulling him back down into his chair roughly.

"So?" Dimir asked, "You in?"

Viktor shook his head, "No."

Dimir's face darkened, "Why not?"

As he glared at Viktor, his grip became tighter on his robes, and Viktor hit his hands away.

"Goodnight Dimir," he said.

And then he got up, and walked away.

When he got back to his room, he found Eros tapping furiously at the window. Viktor quickly opened it and took the roll of parchment from the falcon.

His smiled as he opened the letter…

"Viktor,

I'm glad you made it to Durmstrang safely. I found it fascinating when you told me how the ship gets to the school. Truly a genius idea.

Things are…different here. With Voldemort being back and everything, it's a little tense. Well, maybe tense is an understatement…

Otherwise, not much is new…

Sorry it was so short…

Hermione"

He frowned…it was much shorter then her usual pages of letters…

"She must have been busy," he mumbled.

Just then he heard a small crash from downstairs.

Taking out his wand, Viktor went to investigate..

The common room was pitch black…someone had put out the fire. A chill crept along Viktor's spine when he felt something brush past him.

"Lumos," he whispered.

A small light emitted from the tip of his wand and he winced as his eyes adjusted to the light.

The common room was empty…

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye he caught a flash of movement. Viktor turned his light quickly and caught the figure of a person in the light.

"God dammit Krum! Turn out that damn light!"

Viktor walked forward, "Justin?"

"No shit."

He lowered his light, but let it continue to burn, "What are you doing out here Justin?"

"Didn't Dimir ask you?" Justin looked confused.

"About Cassandra? Yeah, he did," Viktor said.

Justin nodded, "Yeah, well he sent a letter to her friend, Kayla, pretending to be Cassandra. It said for her to meet Cassandra in the grand hall after everyone went to bed. Dimir has some master plan to get rid of Cass."

Viktor almost dropped his wand…he was doing it so soon?

"I was on my way down to the grand hall to watch the show, you want to tag along?" Justin asked.

Viktor was out the door before Justin even finished the sentence.

What was the hell was Dimir thinking?

An unpleasant feeling that something horrible was about to happen settle in the pit of Viktor's stomach, willing his to run down the dark halls. Shadows of ghost whizzed past him as he ran, and he could hear Justin's frantic footsteps trying to catch up.

When he finally reached the grand hall, he froze.

Dimir was standing in the center of the grand hall, a small group of boys surrounding him.

And in the middle of the circle, was Kayla, tears falling down her cheeks as she held her wand out in front of her defensively.

Dimir raised his wand….