Chapter 18 Never Vex a Yeti!

The day of the next challenge for the Triwizard Tournament had arrived. At the base of the Snowy Pirin Mountains, , amidst banners, streamers and cheering crowds, Draco, Harry and Gizelle anxiously awaited the next leg of the competition. While Gizelle gazed at Kamenitsa Peak, both Harry and Draco scanned the crowds, shivering in the frigid air despite their fur hats, goggles and coats.

"Draco, you haven't seen Ginny or Hermione this morning, have you?"

"I haven't seen either one." No wonder I didn't get a good luck snog from Hermione this morning. Draco looked at his treasure map that Hermione had helped him to research in the hot tub. I bet she's the treasure I need to find. Due to the possibility of hypothermia on her part, I need to move quickly. On the other hand, I need to follow the map and not go straight there, because Yeti are very territorial and will attack if I veer from the path. Because of the Yetis' white fur, the snow camouflages them entirely, enabling them to attack before I can cast. Since Hermione hates flying by broom, I'll use Tarooj. If I fly high, I might miss her, so I'll fly low enough that I can spot her and avoid traps they have set in the air.

In front of the champions, Karkaroff flicked his wand. Behind him, a myriad of sparkling, multi-colored streamers floated downwards. "Not all treasure is gold. To avoid endangering yourself and your treasure, tread carefully." When the streamers disappeared into the ground, Karkaroff yelled, "Begin!"

Tarooj, come to me immediately! Next to Draco, Harry accio'd his broom to appear while Gizelle apparated away. Within moments of his silent command, Tarooj swooped down, allowing Draco to hop on. Even though he flew, Draco commanded Tarooj to turn right and left, keeping to the path, to avoid angering the Yeti. Along the path below him, several innocuous white mounds erupted into twelve-foot tall, white fur covered angry Yeti, who bore their sharp teeth and unsheathed their claws to swipe upwards at him. Before Draco could command him, Tarooj climbed higher to avoid a confrontation with them. This shouldn't happen, I'm keeping to the path!

Swiftly, Harry zigzagged along the path provided by the map. Below him, he saw only powdery white snow. Once he reached his destination, he found Ginny sitting on a rock in her pajamas, shivering. Quickly, he hopped off his broom and wrapped his jacket around her. "I'm so glad to see you. I've got to get you somewhere warm. Can you hold on to me so we can fly back?" Ginny nodded and followed his instructions.

Because of a dream the night before and instincts they had about each other, Gizelle sensed Pierre's whereabouts roughly, and apparated towards the mountain's summit. Being half-vampire, apparition came easy to her and her brother, unlike most wizard magic. Using her inherent heightened sense of smell to find her brother's scent, mixed with his exclusive cologne, Gizelle apparated nearer to him. Where are you Pierre? A six foot long mound in the nearby snow clued Gizelle to Pierre's location. Beneath a snow encased makeshift blanket, Pierre slept soundly.

"Pierre, please wake up!" Gizelle shook him for several minutes but to no avail. Because of his stronger vampire inheritance, during the daylight, unless endangered, Pierre slept in a comatose state like their vampire father.

Hearing a ferocious growl behind her, Gizelle immediately turned to smoke, rendering her impervious to physical attacks. Undaunted, the charging Yeti leapt at Pierre. In the blink of an eye, blood sprayed all over the snow. Behind the Yeti in a half mist form but claws instead of hands, Pierre hovered, fangs bared. With the danger over, he took his normal form next to the dead Yeti with a slashed throat. Using a flick of her wand, they both were cleansed of the blood.

Pierre stood looking incensed. "Pourquoi ne puis-je obtenir un sommeil calme pendant la journée? Juste avant l'aube, je me les laisser kidnapper et apportez-moi ici." Why can't I ever get a peaceful sleep during the day? Just before dawn, I let them kidnap me and bring me here.

"Pierre, you're so cranky during the day. We have to go back for the tournament."

"Very well," Pierre replied. "I'll be sporting for an hour, then I'm going back to sleep. I guess I can add a Yeti to my list." Together, they apparated back to the cheering crowd.

In a shallow cave, amidst freezing temperatures and faint growls, which grew closer, Hermione sat shivering. So this is what treasure feels like. A couple of hours after sunrise, Draco swooped in on Tarooj and hugged her tightly.

Wrapping his favorite long black coat around her, he kissed her passionately. "Are you alright?"

Shivering and barely able to nod, Hermione snuggled against Draco enjoying his warm body while his arms tightly encircled her. The moment they exited the cave, Hermione caught a glimpse of white fur and claws, while a ferocious growl echoed above them. Instantly, Draco cocooned her while Tarooj flipped over so the Yeti fell past them. With a sudden jolt, Draco's arms constricted around her even tighter. Flying away from the cave towards Durmstrang, Draco continued to hold her, protecting her from the cold wind whipping around them.

"Draco?"

"Are you warm enough?"

"Yes," she muttered against his chest. "Are you?"

"I'm fine. By the way, you smell very enchanting."

Persimmon rose shampoo – pricey but worth it. Beneath them, the crowds cheered, but Tarooj flew past them towards Durmstrang. Now Hermione noticed Draco's breathing had become shallower. Since Tarooj flew inside Durmstrang towards the infirmary, Hermione knew something happened. "Draco," she whispered as she looked up to see his eyes fluttering and blood trickling from his mouth. "Stay with me! Why didn't you say something?" Using all her strength, she helped him to remain standing. Please, let him be alright!

In the infirmary, the nurse helped Draco off Tarooj into a bed, while a doctor ran in. "You need to leave now. We will take care of him."

"I'm not leaving him!" Once Hermione saw the deep gashes in Draco's back, she stepped back from the horrific sight while the doctor administered some potion. "Draco, I'm here with you. I promise I won't leave." A faint smile crossed his face.

At that moment, Karkaroff ducked in and noted his condition. In a flurry of activity, the doctor and nurse worked away, muttering words like, "Hypothermia, loss of blood, irrevocable organ damage and internal injuries."

Later Directrice Morel charged in carrying a beaker of purplish-red pasty goo. "This will cure his wounds and repair his organs." Refusing to move, the doctor and nurse sneered at the goop. "I come from a long line of healers. This is magic and potions known only my family."

Muttering some obscenities in French, Zoe tried to push the doctor and nurse aside but to no avail. After she sat the beaker down, she grabbed each one's wrist. Seconds later, the nurse and doctor dropped to their knees and cowered in fear. "Leave now." she ordered. At her behest, they did.

Afterwards, Snape and Karkaroff entered the infirmary and silently observed along with Hermione as

Zoe tended to Draco by deftly spackling the paste into his wounds. "This will cure all of his wounds but will not cure his blood loss. That will take a week."

"Thank you for doing this." Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. "Why doesn't your family share those potions?"

"Unfortunately, once the key ingredient is added, these potions do not have a shelf life, and only my family can create them."

Once she said that, Hermione figured that Zoe's unusual violet eyes must denote that pure-blood line. Right now, only conversation and Zoe's calming presence kept Hermione from hysterics. "How have you kept this knowledge safe?" In other words, how have you kept other wizards from hunting you and taking by force your blood, which I'm sure is the reason only your family can create those potions? Pure-blood, Half-blood, Mudblood and bloodlines: it's all about the blood.

"If we are forced to make these potions, even though all the ingredients and characteristics of the potions seem the same, they are quite lethal."

After Zoe finished dressing the wounds and subsequently washing her hands, she put one hand on Draco's chest and the other on his forehead and meditated a moment. "His organs are repaired but the gashes will heal completely in about eight hours. In about four hours, he will awaken, but in pain. He should drink as much fluid as he can." As she finished the last of her instructions, Zoe winked at Hermione, making her blush. "Over the next week, he needs bed rest, but no strenuous activity." Zoe cupped Hermione's chin and a feeling of complete beatitude engulfed Hermione. "Rest easy, he's going to make a complete recovery."

Leon, Bianca and Vico rushed in with Leon looking furious. "My son better be alright! How can such an atrocity happen here?"

As they all rushed to Draco's bedside, Zoe stood alongside them, briefly touching each one's hands. "Draco is out of danger and will be on his feet in a week." Within moments, they all relaxed; all their former anxieties abated.

Looking a little tired, Zoe sat down. Professor Snape, who sat in a corner unnoticed, rushed to her side and clasped her hands. "You need rest." Instead of his normal icy drawl, affectionate concern resonated in his voice.

When Zoe spoke to him, her voiced nearly purred. "I will take one of the cots at the end, so I can stay close. However, Hermione and his family will comfort him now." Despite her assurances that she was fine, Professor Snape carried her to the cot and stayed at her side.

Karkaroff stood at Draco's bedside a moment before he noticed the folded treasure map in Draco's things. As he unfolded the map, his eyes widened and he sharply inhaled. Covertly, he glanced at Snape and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes before he pocketed the map and left.

Over the next few hours, Hermione rested and waited, while Professor Snape stayed with Zoe. Like clockwork, Draco awoke four hours later to the expressed concern of his family. After he assured them he was fine, he had one request. "Hermione?"

Smiling at her, Bianca and Vico stepped aside. However, Leon looked down at her before reluctantly stepping aside. While she caressed Draco's cheek, Hermione touched her forehead to his. "Draco, thank you for saving me."

Draco struggled to keep his eyes open. "It's what a good boyfriend does."

"The best boyfriend," she corrected. After a light kiss, Hermione put a glass of water and straw to his lips. Draco swallowed a few gulps. "You need your rest. I'll take care of everything." Draco's eyes fluttered and he slept soundly.

Over the next couple of days, between covering for Draco with Snape, her own course load and Draco's abundant sleep schedule, Hermione didn't see as much of him as she wanted. However, when she visited and found him asleep, she would leave a little love note and a kiss on his sleeping lips. All along, she wondered if the events of the last challenge were deliberate, and if they were directed at Draco or at her. Once Draco fully recovered, she planned to confront him about it. Every time she thought about how close she came to losing him, she brushed away a tear.

A/N - Thanks to all you wonderful reviewers out there. How did you like the Yeti competition? Did anyone expect Pierre to be such a bad ass? How about Zoe Morel's unique abilities? Notice the difference between her touching the doctor and Hermione.