Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or Harry Potter, I am just a humble fan
Nick stood in the empty hallway, frustrated with himself. Why didn't I just run after him straight away?
He heard heavy footsteps approach and turned round to find Viktor behind him. At his friend's questioning look, Nick shook his head, indicating he hadn't found the boy.
Viktor nodded. "I am sorry. If I had not interrupted he may not have run." He continued. "Who is he?"
A faint spot of pink colour spiked high on Nick's cheeks as he gestured with his hands, palms up. "I don't know." A tiny smile hinted at the corner of his mouth as Viktor realised what was going on.
"Ohhh. You have a crush." He stated, matter-of-factly.
Nick snapped his gaze to Viktor's, trying to read his expression. No one at Durmstrang knew he was gay, for very good reasons. Nick eventually asked, "You are okay with this?"
Viktor shrugged. "You love who you love. It makes no matter to me." He slapped Nick hard on the shoulder. "I heard what you said to your cousin. I am sorry you have such a family. At least you have good friends, eh?" He puffed his chest out, clearly meaning himself, making Nick laugh.
"Thanks Viktor." He said gratefully. He was immeasurably relieved to find that he still had Krum's friendship to count on, now he knew he was gay.
"What did you speak of before he left?" Viktor asked, still confused as to why the boy had run.
Nick's mind flashed to the moment he had turned round, discovering the gorgeous blond boy sat right behind him, dressed in black and yellow robes. The yellow in his robes perfectly complemented his bright blond hair and the way he had looked up at Nick through his eyelashes had sent shivers down his spine. He could only stare at him in wonder as the boy stood and gazed back, seemingly in a similar state to Nick.
"Nothing! I was about to ask his name, when you asked if he was my cousin. Then he looked like he couldn't get away from me quick enough. Clearly he knows Draco and probably assumed I am the same." He winced at this thought. "This just confirms what I suspected of Draco, but it doesn't help me find that boy. I don't even know his name."
"Ah, so this is more serious than I thought." Viktor said playfully. At Nick's confused expression he elaborated. "Love at first sight is a very tricky business!" He laughed heartily.
Nick opened his mouth to protest, then shut it. Then opened it again. Then shut it. Finally he gave up trying to talk and took his hat off, absent-mindedly smoothing the stubble with his other hand.
"Well, it's a good thing that they are holding a welcome dinner for us later tonight in the Great Hall. He must get hungry sometime, so perhaps we will see him then, yes?" Viktor helpfully supplied, smiling.
"Yes, you're right!" Nick put his hat back on and started back towards the Great Hall with his friend, in order to join the rest of Durmstrang, before heading back to the ship where they would be rooming during their stay.
The ship had been enchanted to hold more rooms inside than it appeared it could from the outside, allowing classes to be held there for the Durmstrang Institute students.
Cedric had seen Jeff run from the hall, from where he was sat on the benches with their fellow Hufflepuff friends. He was one of the few people at Hogwarts who knew Jeff was gay and he had seen his blond friend standing with one of the Durmstrang boys immediately before he left. I hope he didn't say anything homophobic to him. If he did he'll have me to deal with as well.
I need to find Jeff and find out what's going on. He tried to think of where Jeff would go. I'll give him some time alone to cool off, but I'm pretty sure he'll head to quidditch practice early if he has some anger to burn off. There's still a few hours before dinner, I'll head to the quidditch pitch in an hour.
When Cedric reached the quidditch pitch for that afternoon's practice, he was glad to find his blond friend zooming around, practicing swoops and sharp turns. He was also practicing scoring goals, but without their keeper, Trent, there yet it wasn't much of a challenge.
Cedric mounted his Firebolt and kicked off, heading upwards to join Jeff who was viciously shooting at the goal hoops. "Hey, Jeff! You okay? What did those hoops do to you?" He tried to joke in order to get his troubled friend to talk.
Jeff acknowledged Cedric with a nod and shrugged. He zoomed off again, practicing some impressive rolls, before coming back to hover next to Cedric.
"Sorry. I'm not in the best mood right now." He said.
Cedric nodded. "Okay. Then what do you say to an hour of gruelling practice then?" He grinned. "The rest of the team have just got here and Ravenclaw have the field booked from 4.30."
Nick had returned to his quarters on the ship but he was feeling restless. There were no classes until the following week, so he decided to go for a walk in Hogwart's grounds before dinner. He was currently walking near what appeared to be a tall stadium, probably used for quidditch.
He turned his back on it to look up at the impressive castle. It's bigger than the Durmstrang Institute, he thought, but the grounds are smaller. While he was lost in thought, he became aware of shouting and other whooshing noises behind him and up high.
He decided to quietly investigate, slipping unnoticed into a seat on the lower spectator rows. He realised that a single team appeared to be practicing his favourite sport, quidditch.
He himself was keeper for the Institute's own team, so he immediately concentrated on the skills of this keeper. Due to the extra padding and helmets this position required, most keepers were built like he was, more heavy-set and muscular than the other players on the team. The boy guarding the hoops skillfully seemed to fit this stereotype.
He appeared to be having a hard practice, though, as the Chasers were relentless in their scoring attempts, meaning he was barely able to think, merely react for saves.
After yet another particularly hard hit to the body, Nick heard the keeper yell at one of the Chasers. "Jeez, Jeff? What stung you up the backside? Lay off or I won't be fit to play in the morning!"
As the Chaser replied, Nick's attention went to him and he gulped. Oh. So there you are. Jeff.
"Sorry, Trent. I guess I got a bit carried away."
The Seeker chimed in. "We should hit the showers any way, Ravenclaw will be here in twenty minutes and we don't want them watching our practice."
Nick hadn't thought Jeff could look better than he had in those black and yellow robes earlier. He was wrong. Sat confidently astride his broom in quidditch colours and panting with exertion, hair mussed from the sport, Jeff was a magnificent sight. Nick was drooling.
The others nodded in agreement with Cedric and he called all the practicing main team members and subs together for a final pep talk, as Nick slipped quietly out of the stadium, hurrying up to the main castle.
I know what it's like practicing for an important match, I wouldn't want to be interrupted like this. They must be one of the teams for tomorrow morning's match, it's not fair of me to upset him any more before it. As much as Nick's brain knew this was the sensible and honourable thing to do, his heart wasn't convinced and was trying to make him turn and go back to talk to Jeff.
While Jeff was listening to Cedric, he couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. He quickly darted his eyes around the spectating areas but couldn't see anyone. He shrugged and turned his focus back to the huddle.
Just inside the main entrance to the castle, Nick bumped into Krum. "Nick! I was looking for you. Have you seen that boy yet?"
Nick knew that the quidditch team would not be far behind him, so he quickly whispered to Viktor before the boys reached them.
"Yes, I saw a team practicing quidditch and he was a Chaser. I think his name is Jeff, but he didn't know I was watching so don't say anything. Here they come!"
Suddenly the hall was filled with the sound of marching boots on stone as a line of canary-yellow and black clad boys trooped in, each clutching various makes and models of brooms.
Cedric was at the front and as team leader he stopped politely when he recognised Krum. The line of boys stopped behind him and Nick locked eyes with Jeff at the end. He was disappointed when Jeff's eyes widened in shock before he immediately looked down at the floor, keeping his gaze anywhere but on Nick. He looked extremely uncomfortable.
"Hello, I am Cedric Diggory, Seeker for the Hufflepuff house team. May I say just how much I admire your quidditch skills? And also, on behalf of all of my team, we welcome you to Hogwarts. I do hope we can persuade you to take part in a friendly quidditch match while you are here? Presumably Durmstrang has it's own team?"
Cedric noticed Nick's presence and he smiled at him too, but it was a little strained because the Hufflepuff Seeker still wasn't sure what had happened between him and Jeff.
Viktor smiled broadly and replied. "Thank you, Cedric. We do indeed have a team, I am, of course, Seeker and my very good friend Nick Duval here," he gripped Nick's shoulder tightly and Jeff's head shot up in confusion at the surname, "is Keeper."
Jeff couldn't help the words tumbling out of his mouth, finally addressing the Durmstrang boy that just would not leave his thoughts. "Duval? B-but, I thought you were a Malfoy?" He asked, eyes widening comically when he realised he'd spoken. He bit his lip to silence himself, already too late.
Nick smiled softly at Jeff, hope trickling into his chest like a little warm stream. "You are right, I am, but I'm nothing like any of the rest of my family, so I prefer to distance myself from them. For this reason I drop my surname in favour of my middle name."
Jeff simply stuttered "O-okay." Because really, what else could he say? Great? Hallelujah? Kiss me? I don't even know if he's gay! Jeff mentally berated himself.
The audience of sweaty quidditch boys were growing restless so Cedric excused themselves to the showers before dinner. Not that Nick really needed that mental image of Jeff showering right now while he was struggling with the intensity of emotions he was feeling for this complete stranger.
As the line of boys filed past the guests, Nick caught Jeff's arm gently with his hand to quickly speak to him. Jeff's breath hitched as he turned to Nick. "Yes?"
"Perhaps I will see you at dinner, but if not good luck for tomorrow. I would like to come and watch you if it is okay with you?" Nick asked, his eyes searching the blond's.
Jeff smiled widely in return, making Nick's stomach flutter. "I'd like that."
"What is your name?" Nick asked quickly before the blond boy had to go. "Jeff. Jeff Sterling. It's nice to meet you, Nick Duval." He smiled cheekily. Oh my god, why am I flirting? Just because he's not like the other Malfoy's doesn't mean he's gay! Time to go! He bit the inside of his cheek to snap himself out of this trance.
Nick reluctantly released his arm and the blond boy hurried off to join his team mates, no longer feeling scared of the Durmstrang boy.
Viktor smirked. "I think he likes you." He nudged Nick hard in the ribs.
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