Chapter Sixteen: You made a grade.
AN: the chapter wasn't checked for the grammar, sorry, but 'me need sleep'.. Tomorrow (Shit, always first try to write it with double m) I will correct the mistakes.
Albus Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk in his office, his mind working on every possible situation that could happen with Harry during the Tournament. He was very confident about his apprentice's skill, reflexes and wit, but Harry for him was like a son that he had never had, and he was very worried, like any normal parent would. Dragons weren't so legendary for nothing - lightning-fast speed, thick skin that absorbed all but the most powerful of spells, rendering them harmless, and their fire breath wasn't something you would ever want to experience on yourself at any time. Maybe he should have given Harry the..
Knock knock knock.
"Enter" Albus said.
An opened office door revealed his old friend and companion in arms, who had the most satisfied smirk ever to be planted on his face. The said smirk would make any first year soil his or her pants in an instance. A lightning-blue eye was madly turning in every possible direction - Alastor Moody was very satisfied, and soon Albus would find out why.
"Have a seat, Alastor." The old wizard conjured a simple wooden chair in front of his table - he had known this man for more than a few decades now, and his distaste for comfort was his most prominent feature, right after his constant paranoia.
Alastor flopped in a chair, turning his both eyes directly on Dumbledore.
"Well?" Albus said.
"WELL?" Alastor shouted "Merlin's stinking socks, I'm feeling as well as a dragon that fried up the whole city and kidnapped a hundred virgins! HAHAHA! Do you want a short long version or a full long version?"
"The second one, please"
"You remember the son of Crouch? The one everybody've been thinking was dead?"
Albus nodded
"Well.. HE IS NOT!"
Alastor really regretted he hadn't taken a magical photo with him - the sight of utterly surprised Dumbledore was the most hilarious thing he'd seen in the last fifteen years of his life for sure.
"This fellow found his lord and was told to capture me and to be my impersonator here. He actually 've been planning to lock me up in my own trunk. Can you imagine it? He wanted to stuff me INTO MY OWN TRUNK!"
"It seems he haven't been successful though." Albus said, a light smile appearing on his face.
"Of course he haven't! If this shit was impersonating me you would reveal him instantly!"
True.
"When did you capture him?"
"Right before the start of the school year - he actually tried to kidnap me from my own house! MY OWN HOUSE! BWAHAHAHA!"
"Why didn't you tell me about it then?"
"No no no - I know what you'd do: send him to a trial, of course making sure that it's fare, and throw him in Azkaban for the remainder of his life." Alastor said, finally becoming serious. "But I.." He pointed at himself "I wanted answers - I wanted answers fast."
Albus breathed tiredly.
"Did you torture him?"
"Of course I did! Now now don't you try to make me feel miserable by that disappointed-parent look of yours! He deserved every ounce of the pain he felt!"
It was pointless to argue with Alastor - Albus knew it better than anybody else in the Wizarding World. He must spend time on more important things.
He connected his fingertips bending his arms in the elbows and stared at his friend from behind his half-moon spectacles.
"What was his plan?"
"Can't you guess yourself, Albus? What can a death eater have for a plan? An order from his lord! And what can his lord want the most right now?"
"To recover his body and to avenge himself." Albus said, nodding.
"You mean to resurrect himself and to kill all of us and Potter."
"At least he must make up some different plan now..." Dumbledore said quietly. His eyes had began to fill with their usual twinkle. "Now, tea?"
There was another round of thunderous laugher from Alastor.
"Hahaha! No, give me a glass of Blishen's fifteen years! And fill up one for yourself too - we need to celebrate!"
Harry was brewing a brewing a simple pepperup potion on his Potions lesson when a sudden knock in the door broke a quiet stream of sound of boiling and cracking fire.
Snape's eyes darkened. Harry knew for sure that if the poor fellow who was interrupting his House Head's class didn't have a good reason, Severus would cut him on potion ingredients.
Or her.
Daphne, who was his potions partner, had strained instantly, her ice blue eyes piercing the redhead who stood at the doorway.
Ginny smiled to her coldly, turning her crimson eyes to the potions professor.
"Professor Snape, good day, I was asked by our headmaster to bring Harry to a classroom where the Wand Weighting ceremony will be held."
Snape nodded in acknowledging turning his head at Harry.
"Mr. Potter, have you finished?"
"No, there are still three more steps to follow, Professor." Harry said.
Snape came to them bent over the cauldron.
"It's perfect, 15 points to Slytherin for being able to precisely follow the first fifteen steps. You may go now - I'm sure Ms. Greengrass is able to finish it on her own."
Harry quickly packaged all his alchemy tools and followed Ginny.
They started speaking while walking to the classroom on the fourth floor.
"How is life, Harry?" she asked him conversationally.
"Excellent, you?"
"Perfect now after you asked." She answered, her smile revealing her pearl-white ideally even teeth. "Are you prepared for the first task?"
"Well, kind of." He said, scratching his nape - he wasn't entirely sure how to properly answer her question.
"There is no 'kind of', Harry, only yes and no." She said seriously. Her face lit up. "Tell you what - let's meet on Wednesday, I'll show you a few helpful tricks. What do you say?"
"Err.. Ok."
They stopped in front of the door which led to the said classroom.
She suddenly grabbed him harshly and gave him a forceful kiss. He was completely disarmed by it. It had last for some minute or two - he wasn't sure. Though it did rocketed his mood up in the skies.
"Wednesday, 6 pm, by the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. And don't you dare to forget." She whispered to him, and left him there to smile stupidly.
Harry shook his head in disbelief - it was his karma, he thought, to attract crazy witches to himself. Well, at least they were all beautiful as much as crazy.
He slowly opened the door and entered the classroom. Ludo Bagman stood by him in a blink of the eye.
"Ah! Harry, my friend! Come in, come in! The ceremony is about to begin!" He said excitedly, shacking Harry's hand enthusiastically.
There were a few faces he didn't know. One particular made a hair on his head's backside stand up. Blonde, almost white, wavy hair, bright red lipstick, and dark green predatory eyes behind the curvy glasses. He should be more careful around her - she was certainly a reporter, and by her looks he could tell she was a very nosy one too.
The woman was currently interviewing Fleur, who was answering her questions indifferently, apparently bored by the whole procedure. Well he couldn't blame her.
Then the reporter woman had seen him, a smile, as predatory as her eyes were, appearing on her face. She quickly came up to him.
"Mr. Potter, I'm Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet, here to interview the champions." She got a parchment and a huge emerald quill from her bag. The quill floated over the parchment, obviously waiting for its mistress to begin the interviewing.
"Harry, our readers would really like to know how do you feel about being the youngest Hogwarts Champion." She began.
He smiled to her widely. Inside he felt disgusted, imitating Lockhart and all that.
"Well, I can't say I don't feel excited for sure. Also I'm honoured to have an opportunity to bring even more glory for our great institution, to open yet another page in Hogwarts' history." He said confidently. From a corner of his sight he could see his mentor nodding his head slightly in approval.
"You certainly are very confident boy, Harry." She said, pressing on the 'boy' part. "But what about how you got into the tournament in the first place? From what your fellow students told me, there was an age line which restricted everyone younger than seventeen to enter his or her name into the cup. And it was drawn by Albus Dumbledore not less!" The quill was working in overdrive. Harry was afraid that it was going to explode out of so much abuse.
"I don't want to sound arrogant, but don't forget that I'm Harry Potter, the boy who lived, and there are as much people who wish to harm me as there are those who glorify me. I don't tend to take any unnecessary risks and competing in this tournament is very dangerous."
Her face lit up - Harry knew that he made a mistake.
"So, are you saying that somebody entered your name into the cup to harm you? Don't you think, Harry, that for a person who could get around Dumbledore's age line it would be easier to just find you there and do whatever he or her wished to do with you?"
Alas, his mentor came to help him.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Ms. Skeeter, but Mr. Ollivander have come to inspect the wands - the ceremony must start now." The old wizard said with a kind smile, though Harry could see that his eyes were cold.
Rita looked like she swallowed a whole lemon, with peel, but nodded.
She nastily smiled to Harry.
"Thank you, Harry. I'm sure our readers will enjoy reading this interview."
"You are welcome, Rita" He said with a smile and walked towards the bench which was occupied by his fellow champions. There was a huge empty spot between Viktor and Fleur who looked at opposite directions - they obviously weren't fans of each other. Harry sat next to Fleur, nodding to Viktor who nodded back. French veela's face brightened when she saw him.
"Hi, Harry." She greeted him. "Excited?" She asked, cocking her head to the side and smiling.
"Hi. Yes, though not because of ceremony for sure." He answered.
"Then, what happened that makes you so excited?"
"Just you being there, Fleur." He looked deep into her eyes.
She laughed quietly, covering her mouth with her elegant hand.
Their little conversation was interrupted by Mr. Bagman who asked for everyone's attention.
"My dear friends, Mr Ollivander is ready to begin the inspection of champions' wands. Now, ladies first." He said.
Fleur stood up and came up to the old man with silvery grey eyes.
"May I see your wand, mademoiselle?" Ollivander asked her respectfully.
She gave it to him.
He expertly rotated it between his fingers, and gently waved it. A small fountain of red sparkled from its tip.
"Hmm.. A nice work.. Rosewood, nine and half inches.. and its core is... oh.." he stopped speaking in the middle.
"My grandmother's hair." Fleur said proudly.
"Interesting.." He twirled it in his hand. "I myself never use a veela hair as a wand core - it gives too much temperament to the wand." He conjured a bucket of white roses and gave it and the wand to the quarter veela. "But whatever suits you, my lady."
Fleur smiled at the old man brilliantly, inhaling the aroma.
"Thank you."
Krum was the next one to follow.
Ollivander furrowed his eyebrows.
"... Hornbeam, ten and one quarter inches, a dragon heartstring. Very nice wand for offensive magic."
"Troo" Krum confirmed.
Ollivander made his usual machinations with Krum's wand, conjured a wooden goblet, filled it with water and sipped a bit. He slowly examined the taste.
"Everything seems to be fine. Here you go." He returned the wand to its owner.
At long last Harry stood up and walked up to the wand crafter.
"Hello, Mr Ollivander." He greeted the man with a slight smile.
"Hello, Mr Potter, a lot of water passed since we met.. Let me see your wand please.."
Harry gave his wand to him.
Ollivander obviously liked to see his own handiwork much more than somebody else's.
"Holly, eleven inches, with a phoenix feather core.. Great wand for some special magic." the old man said with a smile.
He swished the wand.
'Revelarete'
A large fiery bird materialized, squeezing from the wand's tip out into the world. It started singing a beautiful song, inspiring everyone in the room, lifting their mood up.
'Finite'
He handed the wand back to Harry.
"I must say that you keep it in an excellent state, Mr Potter." Ollivander said with a smile.
"Thank you."
"Let's take a group photo, champions! Then one by one!" Rita said.
Harry slowly exhaled - it was going to be a long day..
'Opprimo Conica!' Harry shouted, sharply pointing his wand at the earth under him.
A giant shockwave of pure magical energy rocketed forward, sweeping everything in its reach away, crushing all the obstacles.
He heard a lone clapping behind his back. Turning around, he saw the person he'd been waiting for. Ginny Weasley smiled to him in approval.
"Not so bad, Harry." She complimented him "But what do you say about this?" She asked, stepping in front of him, her back facing him. She raised her wand with both her hands above head.
'Ferro Ungula' she whispered.
A dark violet light began radiating brightly from her wand's tip. She brought it down violently as her wand was a club and the air in the front was somebody's head.
A deafening swish crushed on Harry's poor eardrums and a huge ghostly claw with five razor sharp digits rushed forward for at least a hundred feet, obliterating everything in its way.
Well, let's just say that Harry had lost his jaw somewhere on the soil and couldn't find it for a few minutes for sure. He hadn't noticed that Ginny was facing him until she placed her right hand on his chest, close to his heart.
"So, Harry, how was it?" she asked him, already knowing his answer.
He had been silent for a few seconds, his mind searching for the right words.
"That was.. intense.."
She laughed lightly, throwing her head back.
"I can teach you.. for a price.." She told him, stroking his hair.
"What price?"
"One kiss for one spell, love."
He smiled brightly and his face started closing to hers..
Only one night was left before the first task. Harry was accompanied by his two best friends in the Room of Requirement. The three were lounging lazily on comfortable sofas and chatting between themselves. A nice fireplace was swiftly wished into existence by Draco, and a little table in the middle with a jug of ice cold cranberry juice and a plate of sandwiches on it by Ron.
"Harry, I know about half of the school asked you that question, but I would be a bad friend not to ask it myself. Have you prepared for the first task?" Draco asked.
Potter raised his hands to heaven, or more precisely - to the high ceiling that imitated cloudless bright blue skies.
"Why? Why everyone asks me this stupid question?" He cried out. "Of course I haven't - I want my skinny ass to be fried by a lizard that suffered from overgrowth and fiery heartburn."
"See, that's why I didn't want to ask you this question.." Draco said. "What about this g.."
"Blondie, find yourself a girlfriend. You'll never again ask anyone stupid questions. The best remedy and not painful at all." Ron interrupted the blond.
"You know, Ron, it's actually so strange that such a sweet guy doesn't have a girlfriend!" Harry batted his eyelashes, smiling brilliantly.
The two burst in laugher, while Draco frowned, a bit hurt by the truth.
"Go to hell, morons." he said quietly. Ron wiped a tear from his eye corner.
"Wow, are you going to cry, Drakie-boy?" The redhead teased. He and Harry started laughing again.
"Idiots.." Draco said smiling - he just couldn't be really angry with his friends.
Harry woke up early the next day. It was around six am and obviously there wasn't anyone outside the school at such an ungodly hour. He began flexing, warming up his body, starting from his neck all the way down to his feet - it was no good for him to be burnt to death because he got a crick some time during his performance. Once he'd finished he began clearing his mind from all unnecessary rubbish.
'Tempus'
It was quarter to nine already. Still there was no need for haste. He quickly cast a sequence of five different cleaning charms and began lightly jogging towards the quidditch stadium where the first task would be held.
He entered the champions' tent just in time - Ludo Bagman was beginning to explain the rules of the task.
"Harry, you've arrived just in time! Perfect! Have a seat, have a seat, please!" He cleared his throat and began explaining. "Each of you is going to face a dragon today." Krum hadn't even lift his eyebrow, Fleur was decent enough to imitate being surprised, though poorly, and Harry just cocked his head slightly to the right.
"You need to take a sham golden egg from the animal's nest. The only rule applied to this task is that you can't use anything but your magic." the three nodded their heads in understanding. Ludo grabbed a small brown cloth pouch from a small table that stood by him, untied its top and offered it to Fleur.
"As always, ladies first." He said, smiling. Fleur calmly rummaged through its content and snatched a miniature animated figure of a dragon with a small number '1' on its back. This particular dragon was much faster than its other brethren and very intelligent. All in all, he felt a bit worried about the blonde girl he recently began liking. Krum was next - he got himself a Common Welsh Green with number two on its back- pff.. lucky Bulgarian bastard. Viktor knew he was lucky too - a self-confident smirk appeared on his face.
It was Harry's turn. He put his hand into the bag.
"Ouch, why you little.." it had bitten him!
He snatched out a miniature black dragon which certainly had the most fiery temper. It had number three on its back. Well, Harry was the most 'Lucky' as always - he'd got himself the most dangerous dragon, a Hungarian Horntail. Sometimes he wondered what the heck was wrong with him..
"We will begin in five minutes step outside, to the crowd when you'll hear your name." Ludo instructed them and left the tent.
Harry heard him warming up the crowd as he did during the Quidditch World Cup.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, our dear guests, let us welcome the first competitor - the beautiful Champion of Beauxbaton - Fleur Delacour!" There was a thunderous cheer from the crowd. Mostly men, probably.
Fleur gave Harry a smile and left the tent to face her dragon.
The young quarter veela was feeling terribly nervous, though she did a decent job to hide it deep in herself. She had practised the calming chant her grandmother taught her some time ago since the day Madame Maxime told her what she was going to face on the first task. Yet, her hand did give away her now, shaking slightly.
The crowd welcomed her. It was divided by two halves - men and women. First were clapping and shouting with almost foolish enthusiasm, second were clapping just out of being polite and female solidarity.
The dragon wasn't very big, well, for a dragon - just about 20 feet long, 7 feet high. Still, it was a freaking dragon!
It watched her calmly, its intelligent eyes were measuring a potential threat.
She made a few steps forward and the dragon roared in warning - one more step and she was going to be a well-made piece of meat.
She locked her eyes on its golden ones, and began chanting. The dragon tried to shrug it off but even its powerful mind couldn't resist it for a long time - it slowly lay on the earth its eyes closing, breath evening. Along with half of the watchers that chose to have closer seats.
Without forgetting to chant she approached the nest were a pile of red eggs were lying with one fake golden one between them. She carefully took and started backing towards the exit. She was passing by the dragon when it snored a fire out of its nose. Her short robes were set on fire and she almost lost control while she was extinguishing it with an 'Aquamenti'.
When Fleur finally stepped through the exit she felt as if the weight of the whole sky was lifted from her shoulders. She slowly proceeded to the tribune for the school staff and champions and took a seat.
"Well, that was quite an original way to complete the task, wasn't it, my friends? I ask my fellow judges to follow my lead and give their scores!" Ludo's voice, empowered by the Sonorus charm, thundered. He held up a tablet with number 10 written on it.
Dumbledore gave her 8
Maxime gave 10
Crouch gave her 7, being a stern guy and all.
Karkaroff gave her 4 plus a smug smirk- now that was absolutely preposterous! The student body, well the part of it that wasn't asleep, booed in disapproval.
Krum's performance? Fleur thought it was too banal, being honest with herself, though most of the student body had found it spectacular - broom riding, a nicely placed conjunctivitis curse right into the welsh dragon's eyes, the giant lizard trashing on the ground in panic (and accidentally crushing half of its own nest) and a golden egg held high towards the sky.
Bah. So predictable.
Ludo gave 10 - he just was too big-hearted to give anything less.
Dumbledore gave 8
Maxime gave 6 - no wonder why
Crouch again gave 7
Karkaroff? What do you thinkhe could give his favourite?
"... the champion of Hogwarts - Harry Potter!"
Harry confidently entered the improvised arena and searched with his eyes for his mentor. Ah, here he was, sitting at the judges' table. He gave him a slight nod which was returned, and looked in front of him. There it was - a huge black dragon with violent yellow eyes that were glowing like the fire that was trapped within its body.
Harry started walking to the giant lizard his emerald green eyes staring unblinkingly at the beast's own.
It was obviously infuriated by the tiny man who dared to provoke it. It stood up on its hind legs, spreading its wide wing span out in warning.
He hadn't stopped.
The Horntail released a full-mouthed roar that made the very earth tremble. Harry stopped this time, not because of being intimidated, but to execute his plan.
The enraged dragon released a stream of fiery hot fire on Harry.
He started counting.
One.
'Opprimo Conica!' a powerful shockwave blew the fire off of its way and collided with the beast's head with a blunt crashing sound in the next moment. The crowd raved in pure, practically palpable, excitement. The dragon's head was shot back - it was taken by surprise. It was barely able to balance on its legs to not sprawl on the ground like a bag of potatoes.
Two.
'Malleo Pugni' Harry swing his wand in a wide arc as he would swing a hammer. An invisible force hit the dragon in the legs, knocking it down.
Three.
'Ferro Ungula' he slashed his wand top-down. The spell Ginny shown him ripped through the dragon scale like hot knife through butter, leaving five long deep gashes on its left side. The beast roared in agonizing pain.
A dead silence fell onto the crowd.
Four.
'Virtus Cassamus' a grey beam collided with the hungarian horntail. For the next dozen minutes, it wouldn't be able to use any of its magic.
Perfection.
'Conterns Potentia' Harry made a sharp, stab-like move in the direction of the horntail. The beast sprawled on the ground in an instance as if something incredibly heavy fell on its back. It tried to stand, but to no avail.
Harry placed his wand back in its holster without any worries and walked up to the nest. There it was - he gently took the golden egg in his both hands, finally turning to the crowd.
Harry looked in their faces: some were afraid of him, even terrified, some, mostly his fellow slytherins, were awed by his show of power and prowess, some, that hadn't cared about him, showed their respect to him, and the one of whose opinion he cared had a genuine look of being proud of his apprentice, having a small smile, hidden behind his long silvery beard.
Ludo Bagman's ability to speak was finally returned to him. He cleared his throat.
"Well.." he breathed out deeply "I must say it was the most spectacular show of magic I've seen for the last fifteen years! If I could, I would give Twenty! Ten!"
Albus smiled to Harry, picking up the tablet with 10 on it.
Maxime gave 8
Crouch had a smile on his face - he actually could smile! - a Nine! He had suddenly looked like he rejuvenated by five years.
Still, some people never change - Karkaroff gave him 4.
"Well, ain't this a surprise? We have an interesting situation now! The first place is divided between Potter and Krum, each having forty one points. Ms Delacour occupies the last place with 39 points score. That's all for today, my friends, have a good day. Dear Champions, please proceed to the tent you've been instructed in."
The three champions were standing in the middle of the tent, being given an instructions for the next task by two absolutely opposite men - Mr. Crouch, who was his usual strict himself, though he had a look of being proud about something. His perfectly ironed suit cost more than an average year salary of an average ministry worker. And cheery Ludo Bagman with a wide smile stuck to his face.
"Excellent! Magnificent! You really made a grade, all you three! I really hope that you won't slow down and continue on reaching your potential! But not today, please! Today you need to celebrate - have fun, relax, enjoy your life!" Ludo exclaimed - the man looked like he was going to explode out of all the excitement that accumulated inside of him. "Now, my lady," he turned his head to Fleur "gentlemen," to Krum and Potter "Mr Crouch here has something to say about your next task - I ask you to carefully listen to him." he pointed his hand at the before mentioned man.
Mr Crouch readjusted his tie and cleared his throat. His cold grey eyes scanned the champions as he started to speak.
"I want to congratulate you on your successful completion of the first task. The goblet of fire chose you - it alone made your stars shine brighter than of your peers. But today you've really proved your worth. Still, there are two more trials which await you. I want to tell you about the one closer. It will take place on twenty fourth February - ninety one days to prepare..."
"Bartemius, it's 92 days.." Ludo corrected.
"minus the 24th December, Ludo, remember?" Barty gave him a look that was saying 'You are testing my patience'.
"Oh. yes, of course." Bagman smiled sheepishly.
"As I've been saying - you have 91 days to prepare. It's plenty of time though you do need to manage it cleverly. You will find a clue on what awaits you on the second task in the golden eggs you have got today." he said "I wish you luck. You may go now." and dismissed them.
Harry was going to pass through the exit when Mr Crouch called him.
"Mr Potter, do you have a minute to spare?"
Harry turned to the man, smiling politely.
"Of course, Mr Crouch, and much more than just a minute."
The older man laughed light-heartedly.
"I just wanted to give you my congratulations separately." He stretched out his right hand for a handshake.
Harry shook the offered hand firmly.
"Thank you, Mr Crouch."
"You are truly the finest example for the youth of Magical Britain, Harry." He seamlessly switched on first names. "You are on the right path, young man, I hope you will bring even more glory to our great country."
"I will, Mr Crouch." Harry said with a nod.
"I know." The man said with a slight smile. "Have a good evening."
"Have a good evening to you too, Mr Crouch." Harry bid him a farewell and left the tent to see Viktor standing there by the exit. The youngest quidditch star player's face lit up.
"Ah! Garry, I olredy started sinking zat Crouch did sumesing to you." He said, shaking Harry's hand - ouch it hurt! "Congrats!"
"Thank you."
"Me and my frends are going to have a party on our ship - you and your frends are invited!" Krum said.
"At what time?"
"Came at ten pm - I vill be waiting for you at ze pier."
"I will, Viktor, see you there then." Harry said and started to walk in the direction of Hogwarts.
"See you!" Krum shouted.
"Guys, Viktor invited us to the party on the Durmstrang ship. Do you want to go there with me?" Harry asked his two friends. All three were sitting on sofas in front of the fire, having a privacy ward around them so for everybody they were having some small talk.
"Really?" Ron exclaimed, incredulous, almost jumping on his feet. "Why do you tell it us only now?" He looked at Harry who nodded at Draco slightly and understood - if Harry told them earlier their blond friend would find some way to sneak away from his friends to not go.
"I'm not going" Draco said simply, not even sparing a single look at them. He switched a page in his potions book. "I still have to find out five more ways of using aconite root for the essay Snape gave us."
"Arghh.. Draco, don't be such a pansy!" Ron said switching his place to seat by Malfoy. He put his long hand on the smaller guy's shoulders. "We still have two days before the Potions - TWO DAYS! Let's go! Maybe you will finally find some girl who would be as much beautiful as the place she is from is cold.. Eh? Eh?" Harry burst into laugh.. He really wished he had more time to spend with his friends and not learning something, but he knew that it would be totally irresponsible from his side.
Draco smiled. He suddenly hit Ron in the solar plexus. The hit wasn't too hard yet it made Ron loose all air from his lungs. The fact he was trying to laugh didn't help him to breathe at all.
"Thats for pansy, Ronniekins." Draco stood up and started walking to the set of stairs which led to their dorms. He looked back. "Well. Are you going or not? We have just one hour to prepare - you, Harry, still need to take a shower: you stink like the troll Granger had burnt, and you, Ron, need to change your clothes: you have a pumpkin juice spot on your robes right on the chest, for Merlin's sake!"
The two had jumped on their feet at once.
"Now, that's what I'm talking about!" Ron said, having a huge smile plastered on his face.
"Yes, sir!" Harry saluted and the trio began their preparations in good mood.
The ship was closing to them as they were walking up to it.
"You know, their ship looks actually much better in night with lights on its side and all." Draco observed.
The Bulgarian was already there waiting for them once he recognized them and called them out, waving.
"EEEI! Vot took you so long?" Viktor shouted. "Faster, ze guys are vaiting!"
He shook everyone's hands. "Viktor" "Viktor"
"Ron"
"Draco"
"Nice to meet you. Now come!"
They stepped onto the ship and Viktor led them through a door closest to the little wooden bridge that was connecting the ship with the pier.
Harry was pretty sure that the inside of the ship was enlarged significantly by magic - they entered into a large hallway with ten feet high ceiling with the whole package - black marble on the floor, a long red carpet with gold trimming from the start to the end, some fancy pictures (but thank Merlin, not animated) of great wizards and witches of the Eastern Europe.
They had passed by a few doors and entered in one that was on the right. As soon as the door opened, loud sound of foreign music and conversations started pounding into their ears. The room was quite big - about 36 on 30 feet. The tables were forming a rectangle, with people sitting at. There were mountains of various food that made the tables tremble. And alcohol. A lot of alcohol - champagne, Martini, vodka. Whatever you soul wished more.
"Эй все! ([Ei vse] - hey all!). Я буду говорить по-английски чтобы не обидеть наших иностранных друзей, и прошу вас следовать моему примеру. ([Ya boodoo govorit' po-angliyskee shtobi ne obidet' nashih inostrannih drusey, ee proshoo vas sledovat' moemoo primeroo] - I will speak English to not upset our foreign friends, and I ask you to follow my example.)" Krum said to his fellows, then he continued in English "Zis is Garry Potter, Ron Veeslee and Draco Malfoy - I invited zem to our evening to selebrate togezer." There was a wave of greetings in some broken English from the Durmstrang students.
"Look, blondie, some girl shows interest in you." Ron whispered into Draco's ear.
There, in the far right corner of the 'square', sat a pretty girl with long brown hair and green eyes who winked playfully at Draco. The blond gave her a small smile. She returned it tenfold.
Krum led them to the farthest side were four place were vacant, creating an improvised head of the evening table - obviously for them four. Harry and Viktor took the places in the middle, Ron by Bulgarian and Draco between Harry and pretty brown haired girl.
"Hi there. handsome." She greeted with just a slight accent, she extended her right hand to him. "Miroslava, but, please just call me Mira"
Instead of shaking, Draco gently kissed it, looking directly in her eyes.
"Whatever my lady wishes.." he said, smiling.
She giggled - such a strange guy.
"Draco Malfoy, completely in your disposition."
Viktor stood up with a shot of vodka in his hand. He cleared his throat.
"My frends" He looked at everyone "I vont to make a toast - Garry, Ron and Draco are great guys: I knov it for sure so let us all stand up and drink for ze international frendship!" Everybody cheered and drank.
The Hogwarts trio didn't want to be rude so they drank vodka too. Ron seemed to have fun, Harry too whilst Draco was coughing crazily- poor guy. Mira laughed at his reaction.
Viktor slapped his back friendly.
"Good, good! Ze second one vill be much better, I promise." He started filling up their shots. "As we like to say - between first and second you drink five more!"
Fill.
Drink.
Fill.
Drink.
Eat.
Fill.
Drink.
Eat.
Then everything became a blurry mess for Harry and his friends.
Though he did remember they removed tables and chairs, and started dancing.
Ron started crying, saying that he needed to immediately go and see his 'chamomile' (Harry thought the redhead meant Luna).
Draco lost all his 'gentelmenishness' and had first a dance with the aforementioned Russian girl then a drunk snogging session right on the floor.
Harry had been drinking with Krum for the whole night until he fell asleep on the table - it was as if somebody turned the light off in his head.
The next morning.. eww.. Harry didn't want to speak about it. Ever.
AN: have a nice weekend. =) And don't ever mix martini and vodka)