Our girls Ana and Hermione are in for some fun this chapter! Of course, I do not own Harry Potter, I'm just adding my spin to it. Please let me know how you are liking it, or what you don't like or would change, and even what you'd like to see in the future! I'd love to hear thoughts and opinions. Thank you to everyone who has commented, kudos'd, etc. It all means so much to me! I hope you enjoy!
The train ride to Hogwarts was pretty quiet so far. Ron and Harry played a bit of exploding snap, Hermione and I went back and forth reading different things, and some quiet conversation was had. At the moment, Hermione was reading the Daily Prophet, Ron was flipping through some magazine, Harry was looking out the window, and I was trying to read a book on advanced magic of the morally and legally grey, but I had it disguised as my Herbology text. The trolley attendant was coming down the hall, which caught the attention of the boys. Ron went first, and got Droobles, and I watched Harry look at the cart before getting distracted as Cho Chang came up to ask for Pumpkin Pasties. When he got back in the compartment empty handed, I raised my eyebrow at him, and his face started turning red. I hid my laughter behind my book, because Harry being awkward around girls was just too funny.
"This is unbelievable! I can't believe the Ministry has no idea who cast the dark mark. How can they have no idea? Wasn't there any security?" Hermione questioned.
"Loads actually, according to dad." Ron said with his mouth full. "That's why they are so worried. It happened right under their noses, and they've got no idea." Harry was rubbing his scar, and Hermione and I shared a worried glance. Harry had told us about a disturbing dream he had involving Voldemort and some man he didn't recognize. Pettigrew was there as well. Now if his scar was hurting, it couldn't be a coincidence.
"Is your scar hurting again Harry?" Mione asked.
"No, it's fine. I'm fine." He answered, clearly in denial.
"First your dream, and now your scar. That's not good Harry." Hermione was concerned.
"I think you should tell Sirius. He'd want to know." I chimed in. Even Ron nodded in agreement.
With a sigh, Harry agreed and started composing his letter to Sirius. When he was finished, he sent Hedwig on her way, and just in time as we were approaching the school. Walking in, we saw students rushing over to one side of the entrance way. A carriage being pulled by Abraxans was flying a bit too fast and out of control towards the school, causing Hagrid to have to jump out of the way, and the top of a ship emerged from the channel. This caused the rest of the students to rush into the great hall, and await the announcement of just what exactly is going on. Of course, the first years had to be sorted, and more announcements were made, until finally Dumbledore had mercy on us impatient students.
"Well now that we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be your home this year but home to some very special guests as well. You see, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event: The Triwizard Tournament. The Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school a single student is selected to compete. Now let me be clear. If chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say, these contests are not for the faint-hearted. But more of that later. Now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of Beauxbaton and their Headmistress Madam Maxine."
With a flourish, the doors to the great hall opened, and in came some of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen in my life. They were well tailored, and one could only describe them as feminine. In an almost sort of ballet way, they came prancing in, blowing air kisses to the tables. All of the boys from each house were enthralled and practically drooling, and most girls were giving envious looks. Harry and Ron were obsessed, and were staring at them all without even blinking, and looking over to the Slytherin table, while less pathetic, the boys were clearly affected as well. Theo was ogling, but much more discreet than the Gryffindor boys, and Blaise and Draco wore matching smirks and shared a suggestive look. Hermione looked at me and rolled her eyes, already over all the attention the Beauxbaton girls were receiving. Harry and Ron finally got over their speechlessness, and began whispering about the odds that Beaxbatons was home to Veelas.
Just as the students all began to simmer down, and the new students took their seats, the entrance doors flung open with a bang! In strolled the very intimidating boys of Durmstrang, led by Viktor Krum and a man who must have been their headmaster. Their canes were drumming on the floor, and some were doing fire tricks. This all led to a rather intense introduction of Durmstrang. I could see Hermione shooting quick glances at Krum, but trying not to look too interested. Most of the other girls, including those from Beauxbatons, were showing a newfound interest in what this tournament could bring. I couldn't help the little laugh I let out at just how ridiculous everyone was acting. It was as if no one had seen pretty people before! I thought my laugh went undetected and unheard from the banging of the canes, as no one at my table even looked my way, but I was obviously wrong when I caught the sharp look of one of the Durmstrang boys standing straight in front of me. Covering my shock at being detected, I met his eyes and raised an eyebrow in defiance, but I couldn't help but notice just how different this boy looked. Most of the guys from Durmstrang appeared to have dark hair, dark eyes, and darker skin. At least what you could tell with the hats they wore, but this boy didn't share any of their attributes. While he still wore the same robes and hats as all the other Durmstrang students, I could see a bit of blonde hair peeking out from underneath his hat, and holding his stare I saw an incredibly deep blue that was not common at all. He had a strong jawline, but his nose and mouth appeared much softer and not as harsh as the planes of his face. Overall, he was incredibly handsome. As Durmstrang finally moved to sit, he shot me a wink that unfortunately Ginny saw from down the table. Her eyes blown wide, she mouthed to me that we'd be talking later.
"Alright students! Let's all stand and welcome our guests the best way we know how!" with a groan, we all started to recite the stupid greeting song that just seemed embarrassing after the two introductions we just witnessed. My eyes scanned the unimpressed faces of our guests, until they were met with that deep blue again. I could see him trying to hide a smirk, so I rolled my eyes and smiled my way through the song until we were finished. Finally, by the grace of the gods, it was over and it was time to eat. As the food appeared at our table, Ginny elbowed her way over and shoved herself across the table from me, and next to Hermione.
"Okay! So, Mione, did you see what I just saw?"
"Oh. Uhm, no actually I didn't. What did I miss?"
Ginny swiveled to her. "What do you mean, no? It was so obvious!"
I answered for Hermione, to be helpful but to also hopefully turn the subject to her. "She was too busy pretending to not stare at Krum, while also completely checking him out."
Ginny gasped, "Oh you little sneak, Hermione Granger! And here you were trying to act like every other girl that is fawning over him is crazy."
"They are! They are obsessed with him because he is famous. I just happen to think he's cute." She shrugged.
I couldn't help the laugh that came out of my mouth. I need to practice controlling my emotions more. "Krum being described as cute? That has to be a first." At Hermione's affronted look, Ginny jumped in.
"Viktor Krum is very good looking, but cute is not what would normally be used to describe him. We aren't questioning your tastes, Hermione."
"Just your adjectives." I grinned.
Hermione huffed and rolled her eyes, but continued to talk, "Okay whatever. So I missed something that Ginny is excited about. What was it?"
"Oh I can't believe I got distracted! I'm watching you Nott." Ginny fake glared. "I see what you did. Anyhow, our resident snake in the lions was making eyes with a Durmstrang boy."
"What? Who?"
"Okay, for the record I wasn't making eyes at him. I was laughing under my breath at how everyone was enamored with the new students. It was like every single student was seeing an attractive person for the first time, and this guy, who I don't know who he is, caught me. For a moment I thought he was unamused at my laughing, so I gave him a look back. Honestly I didn't think he was fond of me at all." I laughed. "But then he winked at me and went to sit down. When we were singing that insane song, I was looking around at everyone again and happened to catch his eyes, and he was smirking. Really though, I think he was holding back laughter. And that's it!"
"What did he look like?" Hermione asked. I went back to where he was sitting, and couldn't find him. Looking around, I ended up seeing him standing next to and talking with Krum.
"He's the one chatting with Krum right now."
"Oh he's tall!" Hermione noted.
"And bloody fit." Ginny added.
"Oh please, you can't tell anything with those robes!"
"How about his face then, Ana? Since we know you looked at that." Ginny challenged.
I hesitated, and that was all it took for Ginny to make a scene. "Oh hell! Ana Nott finally finds someone she can't outright say she wasn't interested in! He must have been gorgeous for you to have nothing to say."
"Hold on! I can admit when people are good looking! I said Cedric was attractive, and Aiden Lynch!"
"One, you completely dismissed Cedric when he was talking to you. Definitely didn't flirt with him, and that's exactly what you did with Mr. Durmstrang over there. Two, Lynch was in his quidditch kit and playing one of the most intense games of his life, of course you admitted he was fit. You'd have to swing the other way to say anything different, so he doesn't count. So what did the mystery guy look like?"
"I'd like to know too actually." Hermione responded, a little guiltily.
"Okay, I'll only say this because this is the most boy talk Hermione has actively participated in. Durmstrang was pretty handsome. He has these really deep blue eyes that are incredibly pretty, and I couldn't tell much because of the damned hats, but it looked like he was blonde." Stopping Ginny before she could say anything, I continued, "Yes, yes, I know that doesn't help my case about blondes being my type. Anyhow, he was objectively attractive. And gods you should see his jawline."
Ginny and Hermione kept asking questions, but thankfully it wasn't just about Durmstrang, as Ginny so aptly named him. Talking about the tournament, the boys finally joined in, and we talked all the way back to the common room. It was hard to believe that classes started first thing, and it was definitely going to be different with the additional students.
The next morning, I was surprised to find most people up earlier than usual. While I was always up rather early, it was unusual for most of the student body, which meant trying to get ready wasn't nearly as fast as it normally was. Thankfully, I didn't take much to get ready. I never wore much makeup, just mostly mascara, and I just had to straighten my hair, which was much more manageable. Hermione and I walked down to breakfast together, both eagerly talking about our time tables. We ended up taking the same exact classes. Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy, and Herbology with our two electives being Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. My day had started great, and was continuing that way until DADA. There was something off about Professor Moody, and it wasn't even his magical eye. He just set me on edge. My feeling was proven correct when the first thing he wanted to teach was the Unforgivables.
"Now Dumbledore doesn't want me to go about teaching ya these things. Says they are forbidden, but let me tell ya out there in tha real world ya won't be hidden from 'em for long. There are three curses considered tha worst of the worst. They are named tha Unforgivables, given how using them is deemed unforgivable. Using one would land ya a one way ticket to Azkaban, it would! Who can name any? Weasley! How about you?"
"Uhm, my father did tell me about one." Ron said, and with Moody's nod to continue he stuttered out, "The Imperius."
"Aye, your father would know all about that. Tha Ministry had a real nasty problem a few years back." Moody cast Imperio on one of the spiders sitting in a glass jar on his desk. He made him go around the class, messing with people, getting in their hair and faces, and then he took a grave turn. He forced the spider to try and drown itself, and then go too near a flame. He finally let up and returned the spider to his desk to rest.
'Aye, another one now. Longbottom! What about you?" Moody asked, and my stomach dropped. Not many people knew about Neville's parents, and what had happened to them. However, Moody being who he was, I knew he was aware, and asking Neville was just plain cruel.
"Th- the Cruciatus." Neville muttered weakly.
"Aye! The torture curse. Rightly named it is." With what I could have swore was a glint in his eye, Moody moved the spider to sit right in front of Neville, and performed the cruciatus curse. I watched Neville flinch when it was first cast, but then he stared, I swear unblinkingly. Moody wasn't letting up, and Neville was getting paler. I heard Hermione try and get Moody's attention, but it didn't work; he kept going. Even the Slytherins at this point looked uncomfortable. Not being able to sit and watch Neville suffer any longer, and not caring about the repercussions, I whipped my wand out and cast, "Expelliarmus!" Moody's eye had twisted to face me the moment I pulled out my wand, but his reaction time was slower than I expected for a fully trained Auror. It was only a split second before my spell was to land that he deflected it. The class was silent.
"That was enough." Was all I said. Moody faced me, and I could see him assessing.
"Miss Nott, correct?" At my nod, he continued, "Well, I'll leave it to you to tell the class the last of the three Unforgivable curses. A curse that no one has survived, except one, and he is sitting in this very room."
I glared, knowing exactly why he asked me to list the killing curse. The rumor had gone around that my father Avada'd my mother, and that was how he got rid of her. Obviously, no one ever confirmed how she died, so no one knew the truth. "The Killing Curse, which the incantation for is Avada Kedavra." Moody gave a cruel smile, levitated the spider onto my desk, and cast the killing curse in front of me. As the spider twitched and went still, gasps could be heard from the class. I didn't bother acknowledging them, as I stared straight into Moody's eyes. He was assessing me again, but I wasn't going to show any emotion. I heard a chair move abruptly, and the door slam open and then shut.
"Five points from Slytherin for Mr. Nott's departure. You won't be able to run away from your problems in the real world."
Guilt crept into my consciousness. I forgot Theo was in the class too, and he would also know exactly why Moody asked me. Theo was never able to handle the loss of mother well, and I suppose I never really talked to him about it. The longer I sat in class, the more uncomfortable I got. Feelings of anger towards Moody, and on behalf of Neville, and guilt because of Theo left me itching to leave. So when class finally ended, I jumped up and ran outside as fast as I could. I had a free period next, and planned on sitting in the great hall with Hermione. Everyone had made a point to sit around the cup, watching in amazement as people put their name in the Goblet of Fire. I beat her there, because she was talking to Neville, and took a moment to look around. A flash of blonde caught my eye, and like a punch to the stomach, I saw Draco across the hall flirting with a girl from Beauxbatons. I wasn't sure why it bothered me so much, but I couldn't help but think it was about the kiss, and his warning me at the World Cup. I clearly didn't mean anything to him. My internal musing was interrupted as Hermione sat down.
"How's Neville?" I asked.
"Not good. Moody asked to talk to him after class, but Neville said no. I walked with him, but we separated when he said he wanted to just go back to the common room. I can't believe that happened, Ana. I didn't think Moody was going to stop."
"I don't think he was Hermione. We need to tell Professor McGonagall about Neville, so she can keep an eye on him." She nodded in agreement, and we decided to finish that conversation later, at a more appropriate time. She and I started going over homework, when the twins burst through the doors. They were celebrating a quick aging potion they made, allowing them to walk across the age line.
Hermione made a point to tell them, "It isn't going to work." The twins popped over each of our shoulders.
"Oh yeah, and why's that Granger."
"Dumbledore himself set up the age line, and he isn't going to be fooled by something as simple and pathetically dim-witted as a de-aging potion."
"Aye, but that's why it's brilliant Granger."
"'Cause it's so pathetically dim-witted!"
"Bottoms up!" They said in unison as they guzzled down the potion, giving it a second, before jumping through the age line. They were celebrating when the line pulsed, and they were thrown backwards and landed on the ground, hard. Sitting up, their hair had turned white, and beards had grown long, reminiscent of Dumbledore. Clearly a side effect of trying, and failing, to put their names in the goblet.
The twins were fighting on the ground, and the rest of the room was encouraging them. Hermione and I sat on the benches and watched. She was annoyed, but smug, and I was amused. They'd never learn. I saw them enter before anyone, so I nudged Hermione to look. Krum, Karkaroff, and Karkaroff's assistant entered the room, and Krum was making his way to enter his name. I watched as he flicked his paper, successfully putting his name into the Goblet of Fire, and he looked directly at Hermione with a smile. I heard her intake a breath and she smiled back at him. As he walked away, I gave Hermione a look and she blushed, but then it was her turn to nudge me.
"Ana, is that Durmstrang?" She whispered. I looked to where she was gesturing, and sure enough, Krum had made his way to the doors where he met a familiar tall, blonde man. They gave each other a one armed back slap for a greeting, and started talking.
"Oh my gods. Yeah, it is! He and Krum are apparently friends. This is the first time I'm seeing him without the hat and thick robes, so it took me a moment."
"Well, Ginny was right. You do have a thing for tall, fit, blonde men." Hermione laughed. I went to reply when suddenly Krum nodded to us, and he and Durmstrang looked our way. Hermione and I, albeit not very smooth, looked away from them and tried to act like we weren't watching. She stuck her nose in her book, and I turned to watch the still fighting twins.
"Oh no." I heard Hermione mumble. I glanced at her and her entire face was red.
"Hermione, are you okay?"
Before she could answer me, another voice joined in. "You're Hermione, eh? So then what's your name princess?" Standing before us was Durmstrang himself. His voice was deep, but not too deep, and it held a hint of an accent, but for the most part he sounded like he was from England.
"Well, it's rather rude to come up asking our names without divulging your own. And don't call me princess."
"My apologies." He winked at me. "My name is Erik. Erik Petkova. Now may I ask your name?"
"My name is Ana Nott, and this is Hermione Granger."
"It is a pleasure to meet you ladies." He took our hands and kissed our knuckles. This was a very pureblood thing to do, but I wasn't sure if traditions were different in Bulgaria. "Hermione, my good friend Viktor has taken an interest in you. I figured I would come over and introduce myself, and see if you would be interested in getting to know him?"
"Oh." I heard Hermione squeak out, before she cleared her throat and started to reply. I was distracted, however, when I saw Draco looking our way, looking incredibly pissed off. So pissed off, he was actually ignoring the pretty blonde girl he was flirting with previously. I didn't have a chance to dwell on him, because my name being said distracted me.
"I'm sorry, I missed what you were saying. What about me?"
"I asked Hermione, here, if she'd be interested in getting to know Viktor better by allowing him to take her on a date. She specified she didn't want it to be a date, just an outing. One that she wouldn't agree to unless you were to come with." Erik explained. I turned to look at Hermione.
"You want me to be a third wheel?" I asked, and she looked impressed at my muggle phrase.
"Of course not, Princess. I'd be going as well." He drawled. "Strictly to be Viktor's wingman of course." I felt warm, and I was really hoping my cheeks weren't turning red.
"Well, as Viktor's wingman, you should want to make sure they aren't disturbed by his flock of crazed fans."
He fake gasped, "Princess, are you trying to get me all alone?" Hermione giggled, and I just shook my head.
"Really, Erik? Viktor is an extremely famous quidditch player, even if Hermione doesn't care nor know much about the game, other people do. How do you suppose they get to know each other when they are too busy being bombarded with fans?" I leveled him with a stare. He actually got serious a moment, and seemed to be genuinely considering what I said.
"That actually is a good point. Seeing as how I don't know much about the castle, you'll have to help me figure out a new plan. How about after dinner tonight, meet in the library?" He asked me.
"Wait, what? I never said I'd help you!"
"Well we both want our friends to have a good time, because we're such good friends, so naturally we'll work together for their benefit. I'll see you tonight, Princess." He left with a wink, and I turned to face Hermione.
"What in the bloody hell just happened?"
She giggled, actually giggled. "I'm going on a non-date with Viktor Krum! And you met your mystery man." She gasped. "Ana! We have to go find Ginny and fill her in!"
With that, Hermione drug me on a search for Ginny. We found her, but had to continue on with the rest of our day, so we promised to fill her in at supper that night, and fill her in we did. After Hermione explained the whole situation, Ginny whirled around to face me.
"So you're going to meet him tonight? Alone? In the library?" She asked eagerly.
I sighed, "Apparently."
"How are you not excited? He's bloody gorgeous, and was obviously flirting with you. He's clearly using the Hermione and Krum situation as an excuse to get to know you. Plus, you and him are technically going on a non-date too!"
"Technically, we're supervising our friends to ensure their success and happiness on their non-date."
"That's rubbish and you know it! Just admit it. You want to get to know him just as bad as he wants to get to know you too."
"I'll admit to nothing." I said in my best snooty pureblood voice. "Except that he is pretty and nice to look at." I said with a grin. Ginny and Hermione started to laugh, but then stopped and looked up at something behind me. Turning around, I saw Erik standing there with his arms crossed, and a little grin on his face.
"Evening ladies. Princess, are you ready to start planning?"
"I thought we were meeting in the library?"
"That was the plan, but then I got done eating, and saw you were too, so figured why not leave and start now." He shrugged and then offered me his hand to help me out of my seat. "Shall we?"
Not really seeing any other option, I took his hand and told the girls I would talk to them later. I noticed Harry's confused expression, and saw Lavender and Parvati share shocked looks and start whispering. As we walked out of the great hall, with a book in my hand which was closest to him, and him having his arms crossed, I didn't see anything wrong with the picture. Glancing at the Slytherin table, I saw Theo first. He looked flabbergasted, like he couldn't believe his sister was walking with a boy. I watched as he turned to Draco, probably asking who I was with, and noticed Draco had gone ramrod straight, and kept his eyes solely on me. I ripped my eyes away from him, not wanting to see any more because it didn't matter what he thought. There was nothing between Draco and I, and there never would be. The sooner I accepted that, the better.
"You okay, Princess?" Erik whispered as we walked.
"Yes. I'm fine." I replied a bit too stiff. I sighed and continued explaining, "Really, I am fine. I just noticed some people that I would really rather not."
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked. I wasn't sure if I wanted to tell him anything, but I also didn't know if he would even understand. So instead of answering his question, I asked one of my own.
"Not that it matters to me in the slightest, what is your blood status?" I could see the surprise on his face.
"Well, that wasn't what I expected." He huffed out a laugh. "But to answer your question, I am a Pureblood. My father is Bulgarian, and my mother is English. She's related to the Montague family. However, we aren't prejudiced against half-bloods, muggleborns, and the like. The Nott's are pureblooded." He stated, not asked.
I nodded. "Yes. We are. Notoriously prejudiced, as well. I think I'm one of the first to break that tradition."
"Is that why you're upset right now?"
I sighed. "In part. My mother died when I was young, so it has just been my father and Theo around. My father is as prejudiced as they come, which causes issues between him and I. Theo isn't prejudiced, I don't think, but he also isn't open about the fact. Theo and I aren't close at all anymore, and I had a childhood best friend who I no longer really talk to, as he is also prejudiced. It was them I noticed. It's just bizarre the situation we're in." I shrugged, not really knowing how else to explain.
"You had a thing for your best friend, didn't you?" He surprised me by asking. I couldn't help but take a moment to look at him. Erik was looking ahead, but I could see his eyes shift to mine before looking away again. He didn't seem nosy, or pressing, just genuinely interested.
"It's complicated." I laughed. "Yes and no. For the most part, it's no. We've never been together like that, and I really didn't see him any other way than as a best friend, and then ex best friend. But we've always been protective of each other, and that really hasn't gone away. Then he kissed me last year. It was in the middle of an argument, so it wasn't exactly some romantic gesture or proclamation. We haven't really talked about it since, and anyhow it isn't like there could ever be something like that between us. His father is just like mine, and he doesn't go against his father's wishes. I'm officially a blood traitor, and proud of it."
Erik took a moment before answering. "I can definitely see how you still care about him, and I'm sure he cares about you as well. I don't know either of you well, but having an issue as big as blood prejudice isn't exactly easy to move forward from, so I don't think you are wrong. As it stands, you probably can't have any kind of relationship. I am sorry to hear that though. It's never easy to lose someone you love."
"Trust me, I already knew. That's why it's so awkward and the whole situation feels so bizarre. I don't want to date him, but sometimes I can't help but feel, well I don't really know what to call it, but I feel something. Knowing our friendship has ended is one thing, but I think accepting it is another, and I'm in the in between."
"Did your friendship with Hermione change that? She's a muggleborn, isn't she?"
"She is, and I suppose it did a little. Draco threw a fit when I was sorted into Gryffindor, so that was before I really even knew Hermione, but my friendship with her solidified the distance. He doesn't like her, and he's nasty towards her and even my other friends, and that's something I'm not okay with."
"Wait a minute. Draco? As in Draco Malfoy? That's who we're talking about?" Erik asked incredulously. I nodded. "Holy shit, Ana. The Malfoy's are up to no good. What you said about his father makes a lot more sense. I live in Bulgaria most of the time, but that doesn't mean I don't keep in touch with what is going on in England. Please be careful with them." Erik actually stopped me outside of the library and turned to face me, looking earnest.
"They aren't a family to fuck with. You don't have anyone to protect you, Ana. You are on your own. All of your friends are young, and I'm not saying you don't take care of each other, but a group of kids won't be a match for the Malfoy's if they want something done. Like I already said, I don't know you, yet, but I'd like to get to know you. I can already tell you are a good person, and I don't want you to get hurt. So if I can do anything to look out for you, I will." By the end of his speech, his hands came to rest on my shoulders, and he gave a small squeeze before letting me go.
"Well, now that I sufficiently freaked you out, should we go plan Vik a successful non-date?" He asked. I was a bit speechless from what he had said, so I nodded my head and followed his lead. I felt touched by what he said, and the fact that he already was looking out for me, when no one else really was meant a lot.
"You didn't freak me out." I said quietly as we sat down at a secluded table in the back. "That was sweet, so thank you. For the record, I'd like to get to know you too."
We shared a smile, and began to plan the best damn plan there ever was for a first non-date. For the first time in a while, I was excited for what the school year could bring.
I'm picturing Steven Chevrin as Erik. I'd love to know what you think about him. ;)
I posted this early, because I won't be able to on Monday. Next update should be the 5th! Until next time!