New story! I'll be posting what I have of this story and then I'll be posting another one later today as well (this one is partly finished, I just need to write the other half, but it is planned). So, keep your eyes peeled for this!

It was six in the morning when the bells sounded. I dressed quickly, and fifteen minutes later was outside of my bedroom door, in the formal stance. My black pencil skirt, red sweater, and red high knee socks were on, as were my black high-heel boots. My hair was curled into a pony tail that rested over my shoulder. My black coat rested beside me, ready for our trip to the castle.

I saw Dimitry in the door beside me, Viktor on the other. Across from me was Perun.

Karkaroff strode down the hall, inspecting every one of us closely. Dimitry had a boot tied tighter than the other. I could tell from where I was.

"What is this!?" Karkaroff shouted at him in Russian. Dimitry didn't flinch.

"Sir?"

"Your shoes! Your shoes, you fool! One is laced differently from the other! One set goes over while the other goes under! Fix it!"

"Yes, Highmaster," Dimitry said, bowing slightly.

"Viktor and Perun will administer your punishment," Highmaster Karkaroff continued. "Katarina, come. We will wait for them at the castle."

"Yes, Highmaster," I said, curtsying, before grabbing my coat and following him. It was a hot and sunny day today. I wouldn't be needing my coat. I took out my veela haired wand and waved it around the coat, transfiguring it into a bag and did a small transportation charm to retrieve my forgotten books and they settled nicely inside.

"Highmaster, sir?" I asked.

"Yes," Karkaroff intoned.

I swallowed at the tone, "My lessons, sir. I'm a different year than the others."

"I'm quite aware of that fact, Your highness."

"What I'm trying to say, Highmaster, is that you cannot simply teach the boys and I at the same time."

"Your lessons, Katarina, will simply be a self-study. You will take Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, and Arithmacy with the Hogwarts students, but the rest of your time, I expect you to be studying your books and submitting to me a twelve inch essay on a certain topic from each chapters. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Highmaster. Thank you, that is very clear."

Karkaroff brushed his long brown-gray hair with his hand as he nodded in acknowledgment. To make me upset, he knew, would not be a good thing. With my father a Death Eater with him, we both knew what consequences would be at stake. My family could very well shut down the school. Not that I wanted that, of course.

When we took a small boat to the castle, it was considerably warmer. Students were heading into the Great Hall and I heard loud chatting.

It was five minutes later that Viktor, Dimitry, and Perun appeared and bowed to us.

"Breakfast," Karkaroff said impatiently.

I saw other boys from Durmstrang come as well and knew that the boat had been shut down for the next hour. Everyone except for the house-elves were demanded off. The cleaning period of the house-elves were deemed the most exclusive hour. No one was to interrupt them and their magic.

I searched the castle trying to find a familiar face. The Beauxbatons girls were strewn everywhere, talking to some women. One was sitting and talking to a red-headed woman by Harry Potter. I didn't recognize either of them.

I smiled as I found said familiar face and grabbed Viktor and Dimitry's arms. "This way."

Karkaroff grimaced, but otherwise headed up to the Head's table without a word. Perun followed us.

"Petrovich, it is so good to see you!" I exclaimed in English as I tapped that person on the shoulder.

The Gryffindor turned, eyes wide and stood abruptly, hugging me fiercely. "I've missed you, Kat! I couldn't tell if that was you last night or not!"

"Of course it was me," I teased. "Who else would it have been? Oh, right, how silly of me. Peter, this is my fiancee, Viktor. You've met. And you know my brother, Dimitry," I gestured to the tall dark brunette behind me. Then I nodded towards Perun, "This is Perun. He's Karkaroff's aide." Perun ran his hand through his black curly hair before nodding in Peter's direction.

"Take a seat," Peter gestured. I smiled at him and sat in the empty space around where he was. His friends were eying me.

"Care to introduce us, Peter?" a red headed boy asked. The boy next to him was identical. Twins.

"Yeah, Pete, don't be rude," the other chimed.

"This is Fred and George," Peter said less than amused. "Friends of mine. Both are sixth years."

I nodded, "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, hottie."

Viktor cleared his throat and the boys immediately backed down.

"And this is Katie Bell, George's girlfriend."

"Pleasure," I nodded to her. She was watching Viktor with a hungry expression. I immediately didn't like her either.

I suddenly brightened and elbowed Viktor, "Look over there."

He followed my gaze to the Slytherin table and saw that Malfoy bloke glaring at us.

"I don't like him," Viktor stated.

"Me neither," I mentioned.

"Who?"

"Goes by Draco Malfoy," I said. "You know him?"

"Know him?" Peter laughed. "Not in hell. He's a jerk that believes in blood purity. No one except for Slytherin's and sluts like him."

I smirked, "Oh? And you're forgetting who you're talking to, Peter."

He smirked, "Right. Your parents are blood supremacists."

"So are yours, must you forget," I laughed. "As is Dima."

Peter looked towards my brother who was making easy conversation with the twins.

"I never knew that. I thought he was like you."

I swallowed hard, "I'm a supremacist, too, you know. We all know where my future is headed. Though what you're doing with blood-traitors, is beyond me." The smirk at the end, though, gave it all away.

I hoped he'd take the hint and drop the subject. His chocolate brown eyes shown understanding and he nodded.

"Of course. You must have found something in common with Malfoy, then," Peter laughed.

I shrugged, "Father is friends with his father."

"Oh?" one of the twins asked, drawing into Peter and I's conversation.

"Lucius Malfoy comes around the manor a few times," I said like it was nothing. It really wasn't. Lucius was nice company to talk to sometimes. Of course, he was always trying to get my younger sister, Viktoria, to marry Draco, or myself. Mother and father refuse, saying her husband has to be pureblood Russian.

"Grand Duchess Katarina Romanova?"

I immediately sat up straight and looked up. "Who's inquiring?"

It was Headmaster Dumbledore, standing right behind my brother. I swallowed, not really knowing what he'd wish to talk about. I had heard stories, both good and bad, about him.

"Your highness," he said kindly, "My name is Albus Dumbledore. I was wondering if you could come with me so we could speak in private."

"Of course, Headmaster," I nodded. I stood and followed him from the other side of the table to the doors of the Great Hall. Karkaroff was watching me closely, almost wondering what I was doing. I met his gaze before looking at the professor. "You wished to speak with me in private, sir?"

"Yes, yes," he nodded. "You see, Igor approached me earlier. I understand you are two years below your peers in classes."

"Yes, sir," I nodded. "I am a fifth year."

"I see, in that case, you are enrolled into classes for those you share in common with Hogwarts' studies. I strongly suggest seeking out Hermione Granger, Mr. Potter's friend. She is in the same Arithmacy class as you, and I am sure she'd be more than happy to show you around the castle and help you to your classes."

He presented me with a piece of parchment, which I took, "And this is?"

"Your schedule, my dear," he stated as I opened it and gave it a glance. "It will show you what classes you have at what times and days."

I nodded, guessing their scheduling was different than at Durmstrang. We only had two classes a day, both of which were from breakfast to lunch and lunch to dinner long. Only a fifteen minute break in between to share notes or use the restroom. I took that was not the case here.

"Thank you, sir."

He smiled, his eyes twinkling, "Of course, your highness."

"Please, no formalities, sir. I hate that as much as being called my mother's twin," I laughed easily.

He nodded, a soft smile on his lips, "Of course. Miss Romanova, if you'll follow me, I'll introduce you to Miss Granger."

I nodded and followed him, once again to Hermione Granger. She was a pretty girl, with curly honey-brown hair and brown eyes. She looked kind and saw us approaching. Elbowing the red-headed boy who was staring in the process. Okay, she was definitely someone to be friends with.

"Miss Granger, may I introduce you to Miss Katerina Romanova? Miss Romanova, this is Miss Hermione Granger. She is in your arithmancy class and defense against the dark arts class, Miss Granger, and if you don't mind, needs a tour of the castle. I thought you fit for the job."

Hermione's eyes widened, "Sir, surely there's someone better-"

"You three do know the castle better than the founders themselves, Miss Granger. I think you're able."

I turned my eyes to Harry Potter, nodding to him. And then to the red-head, nodding as well. "Pleasure to meet you," I smiled, a slight accent to my voice, but not too strong to be detectable.

"Thank you, Professor. When should I escort her around?"

"After breakfast is fine. I will notify Severus you'll be arriving late to class today."

Hermione nodded to him, "Thank you, sir."

Dumbledore nodded and left. I stood there and smiled at them, "If you don't mind I sit? I'd like to get to know you before you show me around an unfamiliar castle."

"O-Of course," Hermione stuttered. She looked at the red-head, giving him a look. He moved slightly and I smiled at him fondly.

"Thank you. And I didn't catch either of your names?"

The two boys looked at me strangely, "Ron Weasley," the red-head said.

"Pleasure," I smiled, taking his hand and shaking it. I turned to Harry Potter. "And you?"

"Blimey, you don't know who he is?" Ron asked.

I cleared my throat, "I do. Although, it's against ..." I hesitated. "It's complicated. But I thought it rude to call him Mr. Potter without having any form of him introducing himself."

Harry flushed, "Harry Potter. You don't have to call me Mr. Potter. Harry's fine."

"You three can call me Katarina. Don't let the Highmaster fool you. Only he's not allowed to call me anything other than Your Highness after meeting," I shrugged and laughed.

"You're royalty?" Ron asked.

"Ron, that's rude," Hermione scolded.

"It's alright," I smiled. "I'm used to it. You're just lucky I'm in Drakonya Krov. The Vampire's would have eaten you three alive by now. But yes. Descent of the tsar's of Russia in the early nineteen hundreds."

"Wow," Harry murmured.

I smiled, "Tell me about it."

"You sat with Malfoy yesterday, didn't you?" Ron asked.

I smirked, and looked around closely. My brother was far enough away not to hear me, "Don't tell anyone I told you this," I started. "But I can't stand the man. His father's great, don't get me wrong, wonderful company, but he's too much like my mother for me to be around."

"You hang out with his father?" Harry whispered.

I shrugged, "Like I said, he's great company. My father and Lucius are always meeting each other, and they're great friends. I guess I've just sort of warmed up to him."

The rest of breakfast was around talk of what Durmstrang was like, how classes were, and where it was located. Of course the last one was a secret, as most students of Durmstrang didn't even know. But I did, and I wasn't saying. In return, they told me what Hogwarts was like. The Defense Against the Dark Arts curse - Professor Mad-Eye Moody would be gone by years end, according to Harry. Hermione looked over my schedule, as well.

"That's strange. They have you in the same Defense as Harry, Ron, and I."

"Durmstrang's Defense classes aren't really defense," I offered, smirking. "We don't go above year four, because after said year, we focus more on dark arts. But I demanded from the Highmaster to keep it. Meaning, I repeat fourth year Defense until I graduate."

"That has to be boring."

I shrugged, "Wouldn't know, actually. This is my first year of redoing it."

"Aren't your parents like Death Eater, pureblood supremacists, though?" Ron asked.

"Ron!" Hermione scolded once more.

"Are you kidding me?" I laughed. Softly, I said, smirking, "They're planning the Dark Lord's return right now. That's all they talk about when I'm at home. The eve of this, then it's the ides of this. They're lunatics, honest-"

A throat cleared and I went rigid. I quickly stood, realizing that students were starting to leave. Karkaroff stood there, straight and threatening. "I will be trusting after your first lesson you will be studying hard?"

"Of course, Highmaster," I said monotone and curtsying slightly. "Anything less than an O is unacceptable. Surely you know that?"

"I'll be checking on you before lunchtime. I suspect you'll be outside?"

"It's hardly raining, sir, so of course I will be," I nodded.

He nodded, and swooped away. But his spot was replaced by Viktor. I heard Ron gasp, "No way!" he whispered.

I smirked and walked up to him, "Be careful in class. Remember," I murmured to him, fixing a loose button. "No slouching."

"Yes, of course," he chuckled in Bulgarian.

I leaned up on my tippy-toes and placed a small kiss to his lips. I pulled away a second later after a few people gasped. I wickedly grinned. "Oh, and Viktor?" I called as he started to walk away.

He turned and raised an eyebrow.

"Make sure Dimitry doesn't do anything stupid, da?" I laughed.

He nodded, "No promises."

I saw Dimitry by the doors, his bruised cheek standing out.

I turned to Hermione, "Quickly. I haven't much time till Karkaroff starts lessons."

"We have fifteen minutes till classes-"

"I have to do something first," I insisted. "I'll meet you at the front doors in five."

"Alright?" she said, confused.

I took off after Viktor, not running, of course. But walking at a fast pace. I grabbed Dimitry's arm and held my wand to his face. He flinched slightly, but I shook my head and murmured a spell. The bruise slowly faded into a yellowish-purple. I smiled, "Better?"

"See you at lunch."

"Sit by me?" I suggested.

"Of course, sister," he chuckled. He kissed the top of my head, then my knuckles before leaving, following Viktor and Perun, who had already taken off.

I didn't see Peter, nor those twins, so I assumed they were gone as well.

"You're dating Viktor Krum?" I heard a voice inquire.

I turned to see Ron.

"Dating?" I snorted. "No, we're engaged to marry."

"What?" Harry asked. "He's getting hitched?"

I furrowed my brow at the term, "Hitched?"

"Muggle term for married," Harry said. "I can't believe it."

I smirked, "Neither can I."

"Why don't you have a ring?" Hermione asked suddenly.

I looked at her and shrugged, "I glamour it so girls don't get jealous."

"How could you hide a diamond as big as what you got?" Ron asked rather rudely.

I bit my lip and shrugged, "Can we look around the castle? I'd love to see as much as we can before classes start. I'd hate for you to be late."

"Um, sure," Hermione nodded. "I'll see you in Potions, guys."

Ron sighed, "Now why does she get to have all the fun being around Viktor's fiancee? She doesn't even like Quidditch."

I smirked to myself before following Hermione out the doors and up the stairs.

"There are no classes on the main floor, except for Herbology, but I'll show you that later. In the dungeons there's Potions class, but I'll show you that in a moment."

Hogwarts was huge. Bigger than I thought. I really need to get a map of the place.

"This is Arithmancy class," she instructed, pointing to a portrait with runes all over it, along with numbers. "And this is Defense Against the Dark Arts. It's going to be the class after lunch, so I'll find you at lunch and we can leave together."

I nodded, "Alright, thank you."

"It's nothing," she smiled as the bells rang. I assumed that was for class. "Now, I have about fifteen minutes left. So I will show you to Potions, then I'll take you to where you need to go for your first class."

"I'm studying in the courtyard in front of the dining hall," I told her.

"Perfect. I'll show you there and then meet you after lunch."

I smiled, "Wonderful."

She showed me down to the dark dreary halls nodding to a large door with black steel on it for effect. "That's potions. Now, I'll show you to the Courtyard."

I nodded and she led me back up the stairs before I stopped her, "I think I know where to go from here," I said as we reached the staircases. "Just through there," I gestured towards the arch that was where I waited last night to enter the Great Hall, "Then out those doors," I nodded to the doors that I came through this morning.

"Yes. Alright. I'll see you later, then."

I smiled, "See you, Hermione."

She nodded and walked back the way we came, while I exited the castle.