Disclaimer: don't own.
Hermione lazily doodled on a piece of parchment. She blocked out Professor Mikhail's voice when he was telling them about the unforgivables and constant vigilance. Where had Moody or Crouch junior learned about that? She vaguely wondered, if either of them had ever done the MDA.
She sleepily looked around the classroom and noticed that all students – with the exception of Ginny – were busily taking notes and following the professor's speech with rapt attention. Sighing inwardly, Hermione took out her quill and wrote down the most important keywords she knew by heart anyway.
THTHTH
"Not gonna tell you again." Draco growled, glaring at Harry from across the Slytherin table. "Please help me. Draco. This time, he wants to test me." Harry pleaded, eyeing his former enemy who was picking on his breakfast egg.
Draco crossed his arms. "You can handle that by yourself. I need those two spells in case he asks me as well."
"He is not going to ask you to perform any spells. That will be my duty tomorrow."
"Probably. But in case he asks me as well – I need to be prepared." Draco said.
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Should I teach him the unforgivables then?"
"I think so. He will learn them anyway."
THTHTH
Dinnertime. Finally, after an exhausting day. Hermione and Ginny brushed off their robes in a swift movement. "I didn't know that you could cast Imperio, Hermione." Ginny said appraisingly. "Well, it does have its perks, being Harrys best friend AND part of the DA." Hermione laughed. "Yes, well, that could be." Ginny grinned as well.
"So what is for dinner tonight?" I'm starving." Ginny exclaimed. Hermione laughed. "You cannot deny that you are related to Ron."
"No, I can't. By the way, I'm wondering how he is doing." Ginny exclaimed thoughtfully.
"Same with me. Would be interesting to know." Hermione nodded. "Do you think that we are in the future as well? Coexisting?" Ginny asked.
"Good question. But I think not. We will just reappear again." Hermione said and Ginny nodded.
"Hey there, pretty ladies." and what was unmistakable Anton's voice made Ginny's eardrums throb. Ginny rolled her eyes and didn't even look at the boy, but Hermione turned around smiling. "Hey Anton. Nice to see you." Ginny rolled her eyes and continued walking – fortunately Anton didn't see her disgusted face.
"How was your first day at Durmstrang?" Anton was using the same stiff polite voice that Tom (had) always used in front of teachers or important people.
"Nice. Though I'm exhausted now." Hermione admitted, letting a small smile grace her lips.
"Yes, I can imagine. Mikhail is tough, but you will learn a lot. Trust me." Anton grinned. They had arrived in the dining hall and the three made their way to their usual table. Vladimir was already there, greeting Ginny and Hermione with a huge smile.
"Hey there, ladies. Eveything alright? Long time, no see." Vladimir grinned at ginny sheepishly. "Yeah, really long, Vlad." Ginny smirked and sat down next to him.
"Hurry up!" Anton growled at the other students who were slowly walking inside and chatting lazily. "I'm starving." he sat down next to Hermione and groaned. Hermione laughed. "Yeah, me too. I can't wait."
"I hope, our table is again one of the first to eat." Vladimir jumped into their conversation. "You can revive me personally, if we're not." Anton smirked and Vladimir choked. "No, thanks, but I'll pass."
"Hem hem." the headmaster started his speech and Hermione drifted off thinking about her first whole day in Durmstrang. Well, she had to admit, it was exciting and interesting to say the least. Who would have known that travelling through time also meant travelling to another wizarding school?
Her thoughts were interrupted when her whole table stood up to rush to the buffet. Only Anton had remained seated, waiting for her.
"Thank you, Anton." Hermione sighed and got up, Anton following her lead. "You know, I'm surprised that Katya isn't twice as big as she is now, the way she is always the first at the buffet."
Hermione scowled, watching Ginny being the first at the buffet, her plate laden with spaghetti. She sighed. "Katya has her brother's appetite, I presume. It's in the family."
Anton let out a low laugh. "Obviously. Besides, Natalija, remember what I promised yesterday?" Of course, Hermione didn't forget. However, she was a bit disappointed that HE hadn't forgotten either. Flying lesson. Stupid stupid stupid.
Her scowl became even more pronounced when they reached the buffet. Hermione took a plate and looked Anton full in the face: "Yeah, I remember. Though, I would prefer not to go outside."
"Why not? The weather is okay and you have got a great flying teacher." Anton grinned.
"I'm not sure. I've already told you, I'm not too fond of flying. I'm afraid of heights." Hermione admitted, ladling some brownish stew onto her plate. "Very well very well. Another reason to take you flying." Anton smiled.
Hermione tried hard to stay calm. "YES. Very well." she sat down between Ivan and Masha and gave in. It wouldn't hurt to learn proper flying – she had to admit. But still, she was scared. And unprepared. Flying wasn't something you could just learn from a book.
Hermione looked unhappily at the handsome young man. "Very well Anton!"
"Great. I know you will like it." Anton beamed.
"Excuse me." A stiff voice said from behind Hermione what was unmistakably a voice of a boy in their MDA-class. She turned around and saw – Antonin Dolohov – of all people.
"Antonin." Anton nodded and Vladimir smiled. Dolhov's face remained gaunt: "I heard, you were going to fly outside. Can Vitalij and I come as well?"
"I was going to take Natalija flying. She is a beginner. But you can come as well…"
"When are you going?"
"Right after dinner – if that is okay for you, Natalija." Anton grinned.
"Very well. Vitalij and I will join you at eight."
Hermione smiled an uneasy smile in Dolhov's direction. "Okay then, Antonin. See you later."
After dinner, Ginny walked away with Mascha and Hermione dragged herself to the broom cupboard with Anton rambling on excitedly. He showed her the Durmstrang brooms and Hermione had to admit that they were in far better shape than the brooms at Hogwarts.
Anton handed her a supposedly beginner's broom and he himself summoned his own broom.
"Ready?"
"Uhm…. no!" Hermione admitted shakingly.
"Okay then. Climb onto my broom, we will fly together for a few minutes."
Hermione nodded and climbed behind Anton onto his broom. "Now hold on, Natalija."
Anton took off and Hermione let out a scream. "Whoa. Hold on to me."
Hermione put her arms around his middle and felt a bit safer. She had to admit that actually Anton was a safe flyer. He flew slower than Harry but with more self-control and assurance. It didn't take long for Hermione to feel completely safe. She even let out a light laugh.
"You like it? See, I told you." Anton said smugly and landed gracefully. "But now it's time to try out your broom… oh look who's here!"
Hermione whipped her head around and saw Vitalij and Antonin approaching in beautiful, sporty robes.
"Good evening." Antonin Dolohov said in his deep voice. "Good evening." Hermione replied timidly.
"My name is Vitalij." the boy who was there with Dolohov stuck out his hand and Hermione shook it. "Nice to meet you, I'm Natalija…"
"… who cannot fly." Anton grinned beside her. "I am teaching her how to fly. She has now been flying with me on the same broom and wants to try out her broom alone this time."
"'WANTS to' is a bit too strong expression, Anton." Hermione smirked and the three boys laughed at that.
"Come on, we are good teachers." Dolohov said and jumped as elegantly onto his broom as Anton had already shown Hermione before.
Sighing whole-heartedly, Hermione took her broom and positioned herself.
"Ready?"
"Yeah." it sounded like a question.
Three brooms soared up into the air and Hermione tentatively pushed a foot from the ground. It worked. She was slowly, though very slowly flying upwards towards the three boys. "Very well." Vitalij praised her. "Though it is much more fun if you go faster."
"Is it?" Hermione thought differently. But just to show them that she COULD do it – and actually was a Gryffindor at heart, she put on more speed. The wind whipped through her hair, the slight breeze made Hermione shiver a bit and she suddenly felt wonderful.
Smiling in earnest, she went even faster and higher.
"Look, I told you, you can do it." Anton said proudly. "Are you having fun, Natalija?"
"Loads! I didn't know that flying was that good!"
"Why don't we play a quidditch game? You are a fast learner, Natalija and are good enough to play in a friendly game. What do you say? Two on two?" Vitalij suggested.
Hermione agreed – more or less enthusiastically and Anton and Antonin were all for it. They pulled out their wands to decide who was going to play with who and to Hermione's dismay, hers and Antonin Dolohov's wands conntected.
"Okay, so it's Natalija and Dolohov against me and Vitalij." Anton announced.
Hermione smiled an uneasy smile at the boy who smiled back encouragingly at her. So different to the man who hurt her in the ministry. But then again, Tom was different as well. Tom. She hadn't thought about him the whole day – now his image came back as clearly as before. Truly, she missed him a lot – Hermione didn't want to admit it to herself as she was busy passing the quaffle towards Antonin. But she couldn't deny it.
She missed Harry and Draco and of course Ron as well, but it was a different feeling with Tom. Antonin scored a goal – they were now leading 80 to 50 and Hermione cheered. However, deep down, she was confused. What was Tom thinking about her? Did he even miss her?
THTHTH
"Quite impressive, Poliakoff, I have to admit." Tom and his followers were in the shadows in the forest, each of them – with the exception of Tom – sporting scars, cuts and bruises or hobbling on one foot.
Harry had taught them Sectumsempra, Imperio and Crucio. This was the end of his knowledge concerning Dark spells. He dearly hoped that Hermione and Ginny would show up soon to teach them some new spells.
He vaguely wondered, if Tom wanted to schedule the next meeting for tomorrow in order to learn some new dark spells, but to his utter surprise, Tom didn't say anything of these sorts.
"I say, we have enough for today. We will meet up next week. I will inform a servant to inform you through your coins. Good day."
Harry and Draco looked at each other, a ghost of a smirk forming on each of their face. "Got lucky, I suppose?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Or even worse, he is missing our hero." Draco shrugged.
"No, I don't think so. I'm just glad that he didn't schedule the meeting for this week. I hope, Hermione and Ginny can teach us new spells when they are back." Harry said and Draco nodded fervently.
"Do you think they are safe? Or having fun?" Draco's face was pale and sad.
"No. I don't think, they are having exactly fun, but they are safe. Don't worry." Harry tried to soothe Draco and himself by saying that.
Draco nodded half-heartedly. "Hey, want to stay a little while outside with me? I don't want to go inside yet."
"You know, it's past curfew?"
"Yes, I do. Come on, no one will catch us."
Meanwhile, Tom was sitting in his Head boy dorm, thinking. Just thinking. Mainly about Hermione, partly about his death eaters and especially about that new addition who looked remarkably like Abraxas Malfoy. There was something odd and he couldn't solve it for some reason. But everytime he got near a possible explanation, Tom's mind drifted towards the new girl. He couldn't get it out of his mind, as hard as he tried.
Why he didn't schedule another meeting for this week was a mystery to him – probably to his death eaters as well. Oh well, he desperately needed fresh air. Tom sighed and put on his scarf. A late night-time stroll would probably do him good and clear his mind.
THTHTH
Hermione and Antonin high-fived. "I never thought we would win." Hermione grinned. "Neither did I." Antonin Dolohov admitted. "It was fun though." Hermione and Dolohov flew to the ground satisfied. They had won their two-against-two, something Hermione swore she would tell her grandchildren. It was getting late and Hermione didn't like darkness too much.
It all happened very suddenly.
Someone screamed, Hermione looked around for the source of the scream and accidentally turned her broom straight downwards. Without further ado, the broom plummeted downwards and Hermione was paralysed with fear, forgetting how to brake in the fast fall.
Instead, she screamed her head off. She knew, this was the last thing before she died.
Seconds later, centimetres from the ground, a strong arm caught her and steadied her back on her broom, pulling it into a break. Hermione looked into the pale, yet handsome face of Antonin Dolohov. "You gave me quite a heart attack." he smirked.
"Thank you for saving me." Hermione squeaked. She was shaking from head to two but she couldn't believe it. Had the future twisted, mean face of Antonin Dolhov just saved her?
THTHTH
Tom was walking in the grounds, enjoying the darkness and the silent grounds. Most students were in their common rooms or already sleeping. Tom preffered the night to the day. It was much more pleasant outside.
A door squeaked and Tom jerked his head towards the source. Dumbledore was wearing his travelling cloak and dark boots.
"Oh. Good evening Tom." Dumbledore said politely. "Good evening, Professor Dumbledore." Tom said innocently, stiffly, pleasantly. His usual voice when talking to a teacher. He was surprised to see Dumbledore outside at this late hour.
"I trust, I find you well? It's very late, Tom. You should go back to your dormitory."
"I've just finished patrolling, I will be up there in a minute. Please tell me, professor, are you leaving?"
"I am going on a business trip. For a few days only. Of course, I will come back for next week's lessons, so don't worry, Tom." Dumbledore smiled and both of them instantly knew that it was rather a figure of speech, as Tom wasn't worrying about Dumbledore a bit.
"That's good to hear, professor."
Dumbledore bade Tom good night and made his way towards the gates.
Tom shook his head. What was that about? Why was he leaving in the middle of the night?
Harry and Draco were watching the incident behind a rose bush. Harry was unpleasantly reminded of the time when he and Ron had been hiding in the same bush, watching Roger and Fleur kissing and listening in on Hagrid's and Madame Maxim's conversation.
Harry straightened his tie and looked over at Draco. "What is Dumbledore doing?"
"I have no idea."
Harry shook his head, but then a sudden image came into his mind. "Grindelwald! He is going to duel Grindelwald!"
Grindelwald. Of course. Draco rubbed his head. "Are you sure that this is the time?"
"It's a bit later than intended, but it is because we are here. I hope, Dumbledore can succeed a second time."
"Potter." Draco rolled his eyes. "Grindelwald's and Dumbledore's fight is not going to change just because we are HERE."
"You're probably right. I hope so, at least." Harry smiled slightly.
"Let's go inside. I don't want to run into Tom."
THTHTH
Hermione and Ginny were sitting together at a table in front of the class. Hermione was listening attentively, copying down notes. She was completely and utterly surprised that love potions and love spells were considered dark magic.
"You cannot force a person to love you. This is dark magic, if you do. However, if you make yourself more likeable by using a weak potion or spell, then it is legitimate."
"I didn't know." Hermione muttered to Ginny.
"Yeah, I'm pretty surprised myself. I didn't know, Fred and George were selling dark artefacts." Ginny shrugged. "I might have to tell them in the future not to produce love potions. Besides, I don't want Ron to get poisoned again from stupid Romilda Vane."
"Agghh, Ginny, it wasn't her fault!"
"It was. She lead to Harry bringing him to Slughorn and thus getting poisioned."
Hermione shrugged her off.
"Oh by the way." Ginny grinned and her eyes started sparkling. Not a good sign. "How was your flying night yesterday with Anton?"
Hermione winced. "He taught me flying and we played quidditch two-against-two with Antonin Dolohov and Vitalij."
"No, you are kidding? YOU played quidditch?"
"Yep. And we even won." Hermione announced proudly.
"Weird! And nothing happened?"
"Well…" Hermione's face flushed scarlet.
"Awww, come on, tell me." Ginny urged.
"Well, after the game, Antonin and I were flying down, talking and then I heard someone scream. I looked for the person but then my broom got caught and I plummeted downwards real fast."
Ginny's face was a look of horror. "And how did you get out of that situation?"
"Well… Antonin Dolohov rescued me!" Hermione admitted shyly.
"Dolohov? The ass who hexed you at the ministry?" Ginny didn't know, if she should laugh or cry. "Why HE of all people?" she grumbled.
"I think it was a very nice move of him. I thank him greatly." Hermione told her honestly.
Ginny said nothing. She sat down deep in thought, eyes glazed over.
Hermione hmpppffed and listened to Mikhail explaining them about protective spells. She was again surprised to hear that those spells could be dangerous as well, if used to often and too strong as they can produce such a strong shield that nothing can ever go through again, not even positive spells.
Hermione remembered to tell Harry that bit, when Ginny suddenly poked her quite painfully.
"What?" Hermione snarled quietly, rubbing her left thigh.
"It's Dolohov. He's watching you."