"...English..."
"...Bulgarian..."
'...thoughts...'
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School project
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January 26th, 1993
Andrei was sitting in one of the big chairs in the common room. He was trying to prepare for the next Wards lesson, it was the only class he had difficulties in. Maarika and Alvin were sitting on one end of the huge couch discussing something in low voices trying not to distract him. All their effort failed when the door flew open and dozens of exited voices flooded the common room.
"No way! You are not even eighteen yet!"
"Are the Bulgarians that desperate?"
"You'd be the youngest seeker in the League!"
"Did they see you play here?"
"When are you leaving?"
"Are you sure it's not some mistake, Krum?"
Andrei put down his leather notebook and saw a very proud and important face of Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian seeker, not his brother. Viktor was unbelievably smug about the whole thing and by now the entire school must have known about his future position on the National team. Younger students were constantly asking for autographs and asking annoying questions.
"Well, if it isn't the resident peacock..." Maarika commented so only her friends could hear.
"This is absurd. I shouldn't have told him about it at all..." Andrei threw the notebook on the table.
"He would have found out after Easter anyway." Alvin said.
"Yes, and we would only have to put up with it for two or so months, not five."
They all went to their previous activities since more and more people were piling into the common room, asking to congratulate the quidditch star. Viktor was enjoying all the attention and Andrei wondered if all of this was about fame or love for the sport itself. Perhaps both. Knowing Viktor, definitely both.
Half an hour later Andrei couldn't take it anymore. An older girl came and nearly pushed him out of the chair so she could sit closer to him and ask him some questions.
"What's it like to be Vik's brother?"
"Vik's? Do you even know him?" Andrei glowered, revolted by the girls behavior. Viktor would never allow some girl he barely knew to call him that.
"No, that's why I'm asking! Do you think he will like me?" she asked, putting on a cute, innocent face while still holding one eye on Viktor.
That did it for Andrei. He took his things and, ignoring the girl's protest, went back to dormitory. His friends followed him, both with goofy grins on their faces.
Finally Andrei could continue his research and Maarika and Alvin went back to their conversation. This time Andrei noticed he was the topic. He did not find that insolent girl amusing as they did, though, so he stayed out of it. The knock on the door interrupted them all and they raised their heads to see who would come in. Andrei half expected it to be some lost admirer of his brother, but he was glad to see it was only Valentin.
"Hey, guys!"
"Why the heck are you knocking?" Andrei asked irritated.
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Valentin tried to joke but there was only true confusion showing on his face.
"He's just pissed about our newest celebrity and his fans."
"Oh... never mind that, I've got to ask you something." Valentin waved his hand nonchalantly and threw himself on Andrei's bed.
"If it's something about Viktor go ask him yourself." Andrei ranted.
"If it was I would have. Will you chill already?"
Andrei sighed and made an apologizing gesture.
"Ok, so, I need some help on a small project."
"What project?" Andrei and Alvin perked up.
"It's just something Radanov suggested we do. I thought it would be cool to ask him to coordinate a charms project on blood related charms I planned on doing, but he said it may even go further then that if I could find a few more interested students. So, what I'm asking is if you would be interested in it."
"Sure." Andrei agreed right away.
"Why not?"
"What else would it be about?" Maarika asked.
"Well, Radanov said it can cover the Dark Arts and Potions material, as well as Magical Creatures. So it should be one student per subject. I'm taking charms of course."
"You just got yourself a potions guy." Andrei exclaimed enthusiastically.
"I'll take the creature part!" Alvin said from his seat beside Maarika, who remained quiet.
"Maarika? Interested in Dark arts?"
"No, not particularly... but I think it is also connected with Healing, so I can help there..."
"Healing of blood related curses is mostly through potions, so I got it covered." Andrei stated.
"Fine! Do the project all by yourself why don't you?" Maarika yelled.
"What? That's not what I meant..."
"Yeah, well I can't do anything else! I'm lousy at Potions and Dark Arts, you know that, Andrei!"
"Hey, you can assist all of us. We all have to cover the Healing part and you would get an active part in the project. I'll ask Radanov, if it's ok with you." Valentin tried to placate her.
Maarika nodded but there was still hurt in her eyes, which were directed towards confused Andrei.
"Well, I'm gonna talk to Rolf then, maybe he can take the Dark Arts part." Valentin said ignoring the other two.
"If not, ask Konstantinov. He would be more then trilled I'm sure." Alvin sneered.
"If that kid is in, then I'm out." Valentin said as he left, Alvin laughing his head off.
It was the only sound for the next few seconds.
"I'm sorry if I offended you..." Andrei tried to apologize to Maarika.
"Don't worry about it. Just don't do it again."
"I didn't think this project would mean that much to you."
"You all have some way to stand out. You are a brilliant student Andrei, Rolf has his charm, and Alvin is as rich as can be. And now Viktor is a star and you are in the spotlight again. I don't have any of it. This was my chance to be a part of something, Andi."
"Maarika, you are a part of something. We are all friends here. We share things, you know that. If you asked me not to do this thing at all so you could take credit I would gladly drop it. It doesn't mean that much to me, it's just a way to kill time doing something productive and interesting with my friends."
"Considering the fact that I would scorch the water itself if given a chance, I really don't think me doing potions part would help at all. I guess helping you guys would be the best option anyway." Maarika smiled genuinely.
"Yeah, well, if it means anything you can have my part of Viktor's spotlight."
"Thanks, Andi, that's very kind. But I wouldn't want to take that away from you. I know it means a lot."
With Andrei's grimace at the thought, both Maarika and Alvin burst into laughter again.
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February 6th, 1993
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"Andi, I need your help."
Even though Alvin lowered his voice it was still too loud for library. Andrei raised his head from the book and ignoring shushing noises around him motioned Alvin to take a seat.
"What is it?" he whispered.
"Will you cover the wolfsbane in your part?"
"I wasn't planning on it, why?"
"Well, I was thinking, since lycanthropy is considered hereditary disease, does it actually fit in our project?"
"Well, if it is hereditary, then I suppose it does, but it is just a superstition. A child of a werewolf doesn't need to be one himself."
"Well, I thought so too, but all the books say otherwise." Alvin pouted.
"You can ask the Magical Creatures professor, but don't expect me to write about wolfsbane."
"Well, who's gonna do it, then?"
"Look, wolfsbane is a very complicated potion. The man who made it doesn't exactly share his knowledge with just anyone, so even if I wanted to I could only say a few things about it."
Of course Andrei knew how to make wolfsbane. His dad prided himself with the fact that he was one of the very few people who could brew it. Naturally it was something he was bound to learn. And after he did every other potion seemed ridiculous.
"And what about vampirism? Is there any cure for that yet?"
"No, not really. There are ways to satisfy a bloodlust but not a cure per se."
"But you think there will be a chance for that yet?"
"Sure. I'm surprised noone figured it out yet, but that just means there's a lot more for potion masters to research."
"So, should I mention it in my work?"
"I guess you could, I won't meddle with those things, too much unknown there from my point of view..." he seemed to consider something and decided to take a shot at something that's been bothering him for a long time "Al, may I ask something?"
"Yeah, sure."
"What is it with you and magical creatures? I understand it can be a fascinating subject, and I have some interest in it myself, but with you it just seems a bit more then that." seeing Alvin's dejected look he hastily added "You don't need to answer that, it's ok... I'm sorry I mentioned it..."
"No, I want to. Andi, when I saw you reading that book before I was beyond just worried about it. To be honest I was terrified of what it would be like to spend eight years in a dormitory with an arrogant Death Eater wannabe and a werewolf hater. I was so relieved when you said you were not prejudiced against dark creatures." Alvin stopped for a moment." You see... the thing is that my Mum and her brother were attacked by rogue vampires just before I was born. Everyone thought I would be one too, but it somehow didn't happen. My Mum and Uncle weren't that lucky, though. Until now we kept it a secret within our family. Neither of them is danger to anyone else as long as they take that potion you mentioned."
To be honest, Andrei expected something like this. Nobody was so eager to defend Dark creatures if not somehow related to someone cursed. He shrugged his shoulders and gave Alvin a reassuring glance.
"Thanks for letting me know. Your secret is safe with me."
"I know it is. That's why I told you." he leaned over to see what Andrei was reading "And what are you doing?"
"Just trying to figure out how fluxweed would interfere with murtlap essence in Reperio cruor potion."
"Why would you be adding it at all? Doesn't that potion just show the bloodline?"
"No harm in covering all the basis, is there?"
"What is the use for fluxweed anyway? I've never heard of it."
Andrei was getting uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going. What he was trying here had everything to do with the greatest secret in his life. Hiding his paternity has become natural to him, but making a potion that would say Alexander Krum was his father was a challenge. Andrei reluctantly offered an answer, only because if he didn't Alvin would get curious and find the answer himself.
"It is generally used in transformation potions." he whispered.
"So you want to transform a bloodline?" Alvin asked not really getting the idea.
"I thought it wold be interesting to try and change something in that potion. Nobody managed to do it yet." Andrei hoped this would be enough for Alvin, he has already given away too much.
"Did it occur to you because of your Dad?" Alvin refused to look into Andrei's eyes as he asked the question. If he did Alvin would have seen pure panic in those blue orbs.
Andrei tried not to stutter.
"My dad? What does this have to do with him?"
Alvin finally met his glare. He was startled by the intensity of it.
"Andi, I'm sorry, but I accidentally read that letter you left in a book. I didn't want to, but it was there and..." he trailed off waiting for some response.
Andrei's mind was racing. He was going to have a full blown heart attack if he didn't calm himself. 'A letter? What letter? I didn't leave any letter lying around!' he was trying to connect the dots, there was no way Alvin knew about his Dad! 'The letter in some book... oh! That letter! Oh Merlin! He signed it! No! He didn't... he just said father, not Severus.', Andrei knew that letter by heart. And then it hit him. Alvin thought he got a letter from Alex. But why would he think that about the potion?
"Andi? You all right, buddy?"
"Um, yeah. Why would you think it's about my dad? I just wanted to do something noone has ever tried before."
"Well, I just thought with the way he talked to you... you know what? Never mind. It was just a misunderstanding..." Alvin trailed off pitifully.
"No, wait! Um... he is not like that... it's just that I did something he didn't really like, so..."
"So he called you names?"
"He was mad at me and that's all. It's all better now, no need to mention it anymore." Andrei said uncomfortably. He wasn't expecting that sort of reply either, but if he thought about it he wouldn't put it past his real Dad, it was just in his snarky nature.
Alvin wasn't convinced but let it go for now. It was a family matter after all.
"Don't worry I won't tell anyone, it's none of my business anyway. But if you need help with anything all you need to do is ask, Andi. I better be going to ask professor about werewolfs. See you later."
"Sure. See ya..."
With Alvin out of sight Andrei closed his eyes and willed his racing heart to slow down. 'That was way too close..'