Within hours of posting, crowned-queen-of-bitchland did some amazing cover fan art - it's the cover here :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or Harry Potter, I am just a humble fan
Warnin: Mild language
Jeff threw himself into quidditch in October, living, breathing, sleeping it. He was now one of the three Chasers on the Hufflepuff team, alongside his very good friend, Cedric who was Seeker.
Cedric wasn't stupid, he could tell something was up with his friend. However, instead of pushing him to talk, he simply helped Jeff with his new found passion to better himself at quidditch, training at all hours with him.
Cedric was full of praise for the newest Chaser to their team and the two became closer during this time, which only helped on the quidditch pitch by enhancing team communication.
Consequently, Hufflepuff's team improved greatly. This went largely unnoticed by other house teams, meaning that they were pretty confident in their chances against Ravenclaw on 31 October.
Cedric's 17th birthday was also a welcome distraction from Jeff's melancholy at the beginning of October, which they went for a trip to Hogsmeade for, since the Hufflepuff boys were both rather partial to a pint of Butterbeer.
By the end of October, Jeff had almost forgotten about Professor Trelawney's prediction. His close friendship with Cedric and improved skills on the quidditch pitch had done wonders for his state of mind, but he was still lonely underneath it all.
That's why on 30th October, the day before his big match with Ravenclaw, Jeff was alone on the very end of the bridge outside the castle, overlooking the lake. Other students and staff were gathered either in the middle of the bridge or on the main courtyard to receive the imminent guests, but Jeff wanted to be alone for a while.
A shape appeared in the sky, growing larger as it headed towards the castle. As it came closer it revealed itself to be a carriage drawn by seven graceful winged horses. Jeff marvelled at the sight as they flew past the bridge and then in to land.
I wonder if that is Durmstrang or Beauxbatons? Jeff thought, but his musings were interrupted when he noticed something emerge from the seemingly disturbed waters of the lake. He could only stare as first the crow's nest, then the mast, then the sails and body of a magnificent ship appeared from the watery depths.
A great white sail unfurled revealing a blood-red symbol that must be the shield of one of the competitor schools. Jeff could only watch transfixed as his mind replayed Professor Trelawney's voice.
"...as the tenth month dies you shall summon your heart's one true match. A ship will come from afar bringing the one who will love you unconditionally...he will fall for you on sight."
Jeff muttered to himself, wide eyed. "Oh. My. God. It's a ship. And it's the end of October." Well if this is going to be my chance at happiness, I'm not going to ignore it.
He rushed to the nearest bathroom to neaten his robes and fix his hair before running to join his fellow students sitting in lines along the long tables of the Great Hall.
He made it just in time for Dumbledore to just finish introducing the students from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Unfortunately though, there were no spaces with his Hufflepuff friends so he had to sit on the end near the front by the teachers.
All eyes turned to the doors as beautiful girls clad in sky blue silky figure-hugging dresses and jauntily perched hats bounced in, sighing dramatically and skipping all the way up to the front.
Jeff, along with the majority of the female population of Hogwarts rolled his eyes at their simpering, but couldn't deny how elegant they looked. The majority of the male population of Hogwarts, however, had their eyes glued to the girl's pert backsides bobbing around under their thin uniforms.
Once Dumbledore had greeted their giant-like Headmistress, Madame Maxime, he proceeded to announce the arrival of the Proud Sons of Durmstrang. The doors flew open once again and all gazes whipped to them as the rhythmic pounding of walking sticks hit the air. Jeff forgot all about his prejudice towards their probable mindsets, in favour of admiring the view. And what a view it was.
A line of boys entered, carrying sticks, pounding them in time with Jeff's heartbeat. Thump, thump-thump. The first two boys were dressed from head to toe in chocolate brown, thick uniforms which were quite plain but very masculine. Each wore thick, heavy-set leather boots and strong belts that indicated strong bodies beneath them. Jeff's gaze went behind them to the third boy and he froze, mouth agape.
This boy could hardly be described, but Jeff knew in that instant he would be in his dreams forever. He wore the same uniform as the first two, but he also wore a thick fur coat and fur trapper hat over the apparently regulation practically shaved head. He was broad shouldered, but slightly shorter than the first two. His eyes seemed dark from this distance, matching his uniform perfectly. Jeff desperately tried not to drool.
The line of boys with sticks started to spin them athletically, before running at full speed to the front, some tumbling and shooting fire, very close to the blond Hufflepuff.
Jeff couldn't tear his eyes from the third boy, and he was sure a whimper left his throat as the boy lined up at the front, extremely close to where he sat. Please don't look my way! Jeff thought. I'm not sure I could stop staring if I tried and he looks pretty dangerous, I really don't want to piss him off if he's homophobic.
Jeff didn't even notice the arrival of the famed quidditch player, Bulgarian Viktor Krum. He could only stare at the barely-there gap between the edge of the boy's fur coat and the end of his Hufflepuff robe.
The Durmstrang boy's hand, hanging strongly by his side, was within easy reach and Jeff had to pinch his hand to stay it from grabbing his. What the hell is wrong with me? I can't just grab a stranger's hand! Jeff was desperately trying to control his emotions, but he wasn't completely sure he wanted to.
He didn't know how much time passed with the boy stood in front of him like that, but he was suddenly aware of the boy turning to leave. Except he didn't. His boots stopped in front of where Jeff was sitting.
Jeff dared to bring his gaze up to that strong, beautiful face and gulped. His eyes met piercing, almost black ones staring straight back at him in wonderment. His gaze flickered down to the boy's surprisingly soft-looking lips, noticing the boy licking them and parting them slightly as he exhaled.
Jeff's body seemed to move on it's own accord and he slowly stood, coming face to face with the Durmstrang boy, close enough to be able to touch him easily. They just stood, silently, staring at each other, hearts pounding.
The unnamed boy started to open his mouth to speak, when his attention was broken by Viktor Krum, on his left. "Nick? Is this your cousin, Malfoy? I know you said he was blond, but I thought he was younger."
The boy, Nick apparently, looked puzzled at Viktor before shaking his head quickly and returning his gaze back to Jeff. However, Jeff had heard that comment.
Cousin? He thought. Suddenly he remembered Draco's earlier boasting and a feeling of dread washed over him so quickly he thought he may vomit. His blood ran cold as he scolded himself mentally. He involuntarily started to back up, shaking his head with wide eyes, his legs hitting the bench when he could go no further.
Oh no. No, no, NO! I'm such a gullible idiot, all because of that stupid prediction I mistook hatred and disgust for love at first sight. Before the boy could speak, Jeff did all that he felt he could in that moment.
He ran.
Down the corridor between the tables in the Great Hall, out through the doors and straight to the barrels at the entrance to Hufflepuff. He quickly tapped out the rhythm of "Helga Hufflepuff" on the barrel two from the bottom in the middle of the second row, before retreating to his dorm room to fling himself on his bed in embarrassment and shame.
He allowed himself some time there before he determinedly got back up, put the emotional mask back on, and headed for quidditch training. I've worked too hard for this, I'm not going to disappoint myself, Cedric or the rest of the team over my stupidity.
Back in the Great Hall, Krum turned in surprise to his friend, just in time to witness a rare flash of emotion cross his eyes, like hidden pain. "Nick? What was that?"
"That, Viktor, is why I never use my last name. I only go by my middle name, Duval, my mothers maiden name. The name Malfoy has, shall we say, unpleasant connotations that precede it." Nick spat through clenched teeth, fists clenched, hurt to be yet again tarred with the same brush.
No matter how many times it had happened, it still stung like the first time. Especially coming from such a beautiful, mesmerising boy as that. "I do not wish to be known as one of them. Please excuse me."
Nick turned to the doors, wanting to run after the boy who had just fled to explain, but he was cornered by an unmistakeable young boy with a mop of bright blond hair. This boy looked just like a young Uncle Lucius. He let out a frustrated sigh because he couldn't follow the boy who had captured his attention immediately.
He didn't get a word in edgeways for a full five minutes as Draco puffed out his chest and loudly greeted him like the long-lost relative that he actually was, but in ways very distasteful to Nick in their boastfulness. When Draco finally paused for breath, Nick spoke.
"Draco I presume?" He looked the boy up and down with barely concealed dislike. "Let me make myself very clear. If you think I am anything like your Uncle Nicholas or your Father Lucius you are sorely mistaken."
Draco spluttered. "But, Father and Uncle Nicholas are so similar! Uncle sent you to Durmstrang for the same reasons that Father wanted me to go! They don't like Hogwart's policy of admitting filthy mud-blood muggle-borns and teach proper magic!" He continued in disbelief.
"There's no need to give me a family history lesson Draco. I've long since realised I come from a long line of bigoted, racist, homophobic, sexist - you name it - assholes who will never change. In a family such as ours one has two choices - kiss ass and become a chip off the old block..." he stared pointedly at Draco, "...or what I chose, to just keep my mouth shut and my integrity intact while living as far as humanly possible away from them.
Don't tell me we're the same because we're not. Stop trying to be friends with me because we're not. I have no problem with counting muggle-born witches or wizards among my friends - pure blood, half blood, squib even - I don't care. It's the person that counts, not who happened to give birth to them. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
Draco looked like he was going to explode in anger and humiliation. Nick didn't give him a chance to respond before he strode away from his young cousin.
The Durmstrang boy finally managed to leave the hall, breaking into a run. After searching the myriad of corridors leading away from the hall, he realised it was futile. Okay. I'll let you go today. But tomorrow is a new day and I will find you to explain if it's the last thing I do.
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