Chapter 1

Today, for the first time of his own free will, he began to look at the students that Hogwarts was hosting. It hadn't even occurred to him before. Both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students had their profesors who were responsible for their students. He, too, had too many responsibilities at the moment. He actively participated in the deliberations of the Wizengamot, is a member of the Board of Governors, os a Head of Slytherin House, and recently also a temporary professor of the History of Magic.

He only applied for the position because, after Professor Binns was accidentally exorcised by one of the first-year Hufflepuffs, they had trouble finding a suitable employee. He had no intention of letting Dumbledore hire one of his incompetent friends. He was glad that Lily Potter, even though he didn't particularly like her, would join them next year. She had to complete training to teach at school.

His eyes searched the crowd of students in search of a place where the students from the Bulgarian school would stand. Hermione Granger was supposedly easy to identify, as she was Karakov's only student who wore black robes. The same model of uniform as the rest of the students but in a different color. It was intriguing, and Lucius knew he wouldn't hesitate to ask about it.

He finally spotted her. She was sitting alone, leaning against a tree growing on the shore of the Black Lake. Lord Malfoy felt as if he had stepped back in time. Her dark, very dark hair framed her pale face. She was petite. And the Slytherin scarf, in shades that had been in use when he himself was still a student, stood out clearly against the background of her black cloak. He smiled. Perhaps they had finally found a connection with one of the most talented Slytherins in Hogwarts history.

When he heard Potter's revelations, he didn't want to believe him. He thought it was some twisted joke on his part. He'd known him for so many years that he wouldn't have been surprised if James Potter decided to rub salt into his still-bleeding wound. After all, even after Severus had disappeared, he still made fun of him. Even then, he didn't let go. He only calmed down when he realized that Severus Snape had disappeared not only from Hogwarts but also from the Ministry's radar. It was then that they first thought that the dark-haired wizard was dead. He was underage. The Aurors should have been able to find him with their juvenile magic tracking radar. It failed. However, if Hermione Granger was actually his daughter... That could only mean one thing. In his quest to create a new life for himself, he deceived everyone.

For fear of ridicule, he didn't want to consult Potter's revelations with anyone. But now he could see with his own eyes that there might be a grain of truth in what he was saying. The seed that gave him hope of regaining a friend for whom he hadn't been trustworthy enough to tell him what he was planning.

xxx

After finishing work, he went straight home. He was one of two professors who had their own families. That's why he wasn't obligated to live in Hogwarts. He loved that castle but he greatly appreciated the fact that he could come home after classes and rest.

As soon as he walked through the threshold in the house in Godric's Hollow, he shouted - "I'm back!"

Almost immediately, his wife emerged from the kitchen. Or maybe just a friend. Sometimes he wondered if they were together out of habit, or because it was easier that way, or just because of Harry. He didn't know which option would be worse. He hoped that someday they would be able to regain the feeling that once connected them.

"Good evening dear." - She came over to him with her hips swaying, he noticed it because she usually didn't do that, and she stood on her tiptoes and planted a brief kiss on his cheeck. - "How was it at work?"

He was about to answer her when she cut him off by holding up her hand. - "Why don't you tell us all? Why are you repeating yourself? Sirius and Remus had just arrived. We are sitting in the garden."

Great, that's what's left of my rest, he thought irritably. He loved his friends but once in a while he would like to spend some time with his wife. Alone.

After a moment, through the open door, he saw Remus leaning against a tree and running his fingers through the hair of Sirius, who was lying on his lap. - "From work already?" - Lupin asked as soon as he saw him.

"Yes. I'm not feeling well today, so I thought I'd do some of my work at home. I got injured during an exhibition duel."

"Injury?" - Lily looked shocked at this point, even though she hadn't noticed his split lip just moments ago. Unfortunately, Poppy wasn't able to fix it. Something from Miss Granger's spell had infected the wound.

"It's no big deal. My ego suffered more. I lost a duel to a less than fifteen-year-old student from Durmstrang."

It wasn't hard to see the surprise in Moony's eyes. - "Did you give up?"

"That's the problem, no." - James grabbed a beer from the table and sat down in an empty chair, after taking one sip, replied - "I suspect that even if I went all out and used all of my fieldwork training, I still wouldn't win. She defeated me as easily as if she dueled every day."

He saw the disbelief on the faces of his friends and wife. Before he suffered an injury that ended his career in the Auror Department, he was considered one of the department's best duelists.

"What did she do that made you so sure you could lose?" Sirius asked. James had the impression that he resented his loss more than he did.

"She is intelligent and powerful. She must have had an excellent teacher." - He wasn't sure how to tell them that this teacher could be Severus Snape. A wizard who was stronger than any of the Marauders in his fifth year. That's why they never attacked him alone. He preferred not to think about what level he might be now. - "And I think that our Harry has a cruch on her."

Sirius chuckled before asking - "Is this girl at least pretty?"

"Very pretty. She looks fragile, too fragile for her age. However, she has such an aura around her that Harry isn't the only one affected by it."

"Who dared to stand in the way of our puppy's happiness?"

"Draco Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy's son also pays a lot of attention to her. I think he'll have a better chance than our boy."

At this point, Lily squeaked so much that for a moment she reminded him of Peter when someone stepped on him in his animagus form. - "You don't believe in our son? You didn't have a chance with me at first either, but your stubbornness finally made me pay attention to you."

"It's just that you dear Lily..." - he growled - "...you weren't the daughter of Severus Snape whom I tormented for five fucking years and whom I brought to the point where he would rather give up his studies at Hogwarts than be further humiliated!"

He knew he shouldn't shout like that, but he felt frustrated. All he wanted in life was to build his own happiness. He didn't think his past would come back and remind him like this. All he hoped for was that Hermione Granger would give Harry a chance at friendship. A chance he hadn't given, and wasn't even going to give, to Severus Snape.

However, after what she had presented today and how contemptuously she pronounced his name, he felt that Harry had no chance even for friendship. And unfortunately, all because he once wanted to have fun at someone else's life.

xxx

Draco Malfoy couldn't take his eyes off her. He watched her smile again and again. A smile that only directed at one person. Fucking Viktor Krum. Until recently, he was glad that he would have the opportunity to meet him in person. When his father told him that Krum would be in the group of Durmstrang representatives, he thought it was good news. And now? He didn't know what to think about it himself.

"You look at her again." - Theodore Nott hissed, trying to snap him out of his thoughts.

"Don't worry Theo. Hermione pays no attention to either the Slytherin Prince or the Gryffindor Prince. She doesn't notice that someone is staring at her because she is too busy with the Broom King."

The blond turned his head sharply towards Vincent. "Potter is looking at her too? And since when are you with her by name?"

"Yes, he look at her. And not only him." - Pansy sighed at the situation, she didn't want Draco for herself, she wanted her friend back, the Malfoy heir was acting like a zombie right now - "And the number of her admirers has only increased since her duel with Professor Potter today."

"A duel?" - The Slytherin was a bit confused.

"You didn't see that... I forgot you were in the infirmary. We had integration classes. Granger volunteered to duel with the profesor. I thought we'd laugh a little, Potter would win, and that would be it. Granger defeated him without a wand and without words. She managed to retrieve her wand and at the end of the fight stuck it down his throat as he lay at her feet."

"She's strong. Too bad she didn't come to Hogwarts. Her father is from England." -. Crabble was moved by this fact.

"You talked to her! That's why you're with her by name" - Draco stated with clear reproaches in his voice.

"She's not as scary as it seems. If you approach her in such a way that she can see that you are approaching her, she will be positive towards you. I'm not surprised at all. Few people like to be surprised."

Draco Malfoy was frustrated. He had never paid attention to girls his age before. He's used to the fact that most of those who try to talk to him don't care what he is, but how much he has. It was different now. For some inexplicable reason, he felt drawn to her. He hoped his father wouldn't mind him wanting to be friends with her.

But how to approach her so that she doesn't realize what her closeness to Viktor Krum causes in him?

xxx

Wiktor-fucking-Krum.

After the World Cup where Lord Riddle announced his candidacy for the position of Minister of Magic, unlike his disgruntled parents, he had only one thing in mind. About how he would like to represent England in the World Cup one day like his idol.

Now he wanted to strangle the boy he had once admired so much.

He will never forget the moment he saw her for the first time. As she walked among the Durmstrang students, she looked like the Angel of Death with a vivid hatred written on her face. It was so easy to imagine her black robes adorned with a red-gold Gryffindor tie.

No one touched her as she walked. For the first few days, he saw that there was always a bubble of free space around her. However, he noted that this wasn't due to the prejudices they increasingly had a problem with at Hogwarts. It was a sign of respect.

It wasn't until the later appearance of Viktor Krum that her behavior changed. The Quidditch player was the only person around whom she looked relaxed. The only person she smiled at. And the only person who dared touch her.

That's when he discovered what jealousy is. He thought then that what he initially thought was respect was not respect for her but for her relationship with Viktor Krum.

But after what he saw today, he knew it wasn't respect. It was fear. And only Krum wasn't afraid of her. Hermione Granger was terrifying during the fight and he liked it.

Harry Potter looked once again at the girl of his dreams. He began to wonder how he could snatch her away from the boy he had decided to place as his enemy.

xxx

How did you like it? It's up to you whether there will be a next chapter. Regards, Katie Krum