Chapter 12: two messages

Harry was back to near full health by the time he returned to school, though he was under strict orders to take it easy, including no quidditch practice. Harry was reminded one downside to his Uncles being at school, there was a constant pair of eyes for their dads. Really their Uncles over looked it, unless they were to have gotten into real trouble, which they hadn't, but quidditch was another matter. Harry didn't fight it, it was only two weeks, and since he was only a reserve on the team, it did not affect them. Besides he was still a bit sore, he would never admit that though, and he was not anxious to mount a broom.

Both he and Draco were in high spirits when they returned to school, happy for their new little brother, who was already proving to be a true little Malfoy. Where both Johnny and Lyra had sweet temperaments, Adrian already had the Malfoy stubbornness, but Lucius tended to think he got it from Sirius.

Ron was snarling mad by the time they saw him on Monday. "You should have burned up in that hut. You are such a whiny little cry baby."

Harry smirked at him. "I heard you have become quite the stone mason. Too bad it is done; you'll have to spend weekends cleaning toilets."

Lucius may have been laid up with having a baby, but the man could run things from a coma, especially when his son was involved. He made certain Ron had detentions both mornings, every weekend until the end of the year. Ron had complained home, and his response was a second howler, the first coming the day after the incident. He had of course thought he was safe with Albus, but Molly got no less then three letters, informing her of what her son had done.

Ron's hands felt like they were a hundred years old, and he could barely move, working from sun up to sun down, all break. He could not believe what he had been put through, and this spoiled little rat was to blame for it all.

Ron tried to snatch the letter Harry had in his hands. "What is this? A letter from one of your little hero worshippers?"

Harry smirked at him.. "Just because your own mother won't even write to you except for howlers, doesn't mean we are all misfits."

Burning red in the face, Ron began to sputter, and say he got a lot of mail from people. It was of course a lie, one always knew when his parents sent something, and there was no missing the grand entrances that the family bird made. Harry knew they didn't have much money, Percy had an owl because he was prefect, but he sometimes wondered how much of their mail went missing. He got along with the twins, but he never quite understood why the family had so many, when they had little money.

Ron managed to get his hands on the letter. "Krum? As in Viktor Krum, the new quidditch star in Bulgaria? No way."

Harry smirked as he took the letter back."No as in the newest care taker for the school."

Though Viktor was only fifteen, and a fourth year in school, his name was already known. In Bulgaria you could turn professional, well play for the national team, when you were sixteen years old. Viktor was not on the team yet, he would not be sixteen till next spring, but he had been asked to practice with the team that summer. To be scouted so young was almost unheard of, very few even made the team as a reserve, before eighteen. He had been in a quidditch magazine that had done an interview, and even the Prophet had reported he would spend the summer before returning for fifth year, in training camp.

Ron looked back and forth between them for the letter was addressed to Draco. "How the hell do you know him? This has to be some kind of hoax."

Draco took his letter back."Our families have known each other for years. In fact, Viktor helped teach me to fly."

With that Harry and Draco walked off, and left Ron spitting in angry jealousy, not able to believe this. He could not understand how they always had to have the best, now they had one of the hottest new names in quidditch for a friend, well Draco did. The papers were saying Viktor would be starting seeker next summer, and that he would likely be one of the topped ranked seekers in the world. He was sure to be scouted for league teams all over the world, when he finished school.

Fred and George caught up. Fred smiled. "Is it true, you know the Krum guy? Or were you just making a fool of our brother?'

Draco laughed. "Your brother does a good enough job of that on his own. But yeah I know him, he is coming to visit at the end of summer."

The Krums had always been with them for their holidays over the years, and this year would be a change, they were coming here. The Krums wanted to see the new addition to the Malfoy clan, and Viktor would need some relaxing time, after he finished training all summer. Harry and Draco were excited, not because he was a celebrity, though they thought it was cool what he was doing. He was a friend to them both, and they hoped he would have some new moves to show them as well.

George groaned."Merlin, and Harry's your seeker next year. We may have to kidnap him, it's too dangerous for him to meet Krum."

The quidditch cup was won in the end of May by Slytherin, who was undefeated for the year, and everyone started studying for finals. Harry and his friends were looking forward to the summer, especially he and Draco, but Harry was one of the few not freaking over exams. Harry was already top of the class, his only real competition other then his brother, was from Hermione, but it came natural to him. He was studying hard though, he wanted to keep the top spot.

He was a bit worried, his brother was to have met him in the library to study, Saturday. Even though the season was over, the team was still having their practices, finding it was a good way to burn off some steam and nerves, for exams. Harry had come in from the pitch, but could not find any sign of Draco.

He spotted Blaise coming in as he was about to go look for his brother. "Have you seen Draco at all?"

Blaise was surprised. "He left the hall from lunch, way before me. He knew he would be early, but he was done."

Knowing there was a chance his brother had just gone off to the bathroom, he told Blaise to tell his brother to wait, if he came back. He knew he could be jumping at shadows, and he seriously hoped that he was, but he just had this bad feeling, his brother was in some kind of trouble.

He ran into the twins along the way and explained what was happening."I don't suppose either of you have actually seen him?"

George shook his head. "He could not have gone too far, probably los track of time giving our brother a swirly. But come on, we will help you find him"

Feeling even more silly, now he dragged the two of them in on this, he knew he was being an idiot. His brother would laugh when he found out Harry had people hunting for him, and remind Harry he had never been good at hide and seek as a child. The twins assured him they didn't mind, it was an adventure, and any excuse to spend some time away from studying, was good by them. As they searched, Harry wondered if this was some kind of odd game.

Ron appeared and smirked. "I was told to tell you, if you want your brother back, you better go to the Forbidden corridor."

Fred stopped Harry. "You know my prat of a brother is only trying to get you into trouble."

Ron did not respond verbally, he simply threw some proof at them, and stalked off down the hall. He didn't know what was going on, or care, he had been told by a professor to do something, and he did it. He had no idea what the man wanted with the two snakes, but he was welcome to them.

Harry looked down at the wand in his hands. "This is Draco's. We have to go find out what is going on, now."