Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or Harry Potter, I am just a humble fan
Warning: Rated M
It was now the end of May.
Although the sun was out that day, it was quite cold.
Nick and Viktor were sat in the common room on board the Durmstrang ship. They were nursing their coffees, deep in thought.
A newspaper lay on the coffee table in front of them, where Viktor had tossed it in disgust.
It was opened to the page where Rita Skeeter's latest article was printed, the words mocking the Bulgarian as he broodily thought it over. The gossipy columnist had written in great length about "Harry Potter's secret heartache".
Her article named Hermione as the girl that Harry had set his heart on but that she was deviously toying with both his and Viktor's affection. Skeeter had written that Krum was openly smitten. Well I am, I suppose. He thought, grudgingly.
She also seemed to be quoting from a secret conversation he had had with Hermione, quoting him as saying that "He's never felt this way about any other girl." She even knew that he had invited her to visit him in Bulgaria over the summer.
This was all during a supposedly private conversation between him and his girlfriend as they sat huddled in blankets after the second task. No one else had been with them at the time.
Skeeter went on to rudely suggest that Hermione had used a love potion in order to gain both boy's affection.
He broke Nick from his own reverie to discuss what was on his mind. Nick nodded understandingly, before looking like he had an idea. "You've got that meeting tomorrow with the other Champions, right?" He asked.
Viktor nodded. "Yes. We have to meet with the judges at the quidditch pitch. It's probably something about the third challenge." He said. "Why do you ask?'
Nick explained. "Well, since you and Harry will be there together, why don't you take the chance to ask Harry what his feelings are for Hermione? Just so you know first hand, not from the words of a gossipy reporter's scoop."
Viktor smiled, nodding. "Yes, you're right. There's no sense in getting wound up about it. Hermione says nothing is going on and I believe her, but I would like to know if Harry has feelings for her, just in case it comes up in the future."
Nick nodded, silent again. Viktor finally realised that something was bothering Nick, too, now that he had a plan of action for his own problems. "Is something bothering you, Nick?"
Nick looked at his friend and sighed. "No. Not really... I mean, yes, but..." He sighed again and stopped. He ran his hands over his stubbly hair and rested them on the back of his neck, thinking.
Viktor frowned, confused. "Okay, I don't understand. Is it about you and Jeff?" He asked.
Nick nodded. "Yeah. Everything's great, really. I love him so much, and our relationship is... fantastic." Viktor laughed. "Okay, maybe I don't need those details."
Nick laughed, but then grew serious.
"That's just it! I think there is something bothering him, but every time I try to talk to him about it, he, uh,... distracts me." Viktor choked on his coffee at the look on Nick's face which clearly spelled out what kind of distraction he was talking about.
"Let me get this straight. You are worried because he can't keep his hands off of you? And you are complaining, why, exactly?" He laughed heartily now.
Nick rolled his eyes. "I know! I'm not complaining! But, I want to know what it is that is bothering him."
Viktor quietened, thinking about it. "Well, maybe you should take your own advice and just talk to him, find out first hand, rather than worrying about it."
Nick nodded reluctantly, but he knew what he had to do.
The boys flinched as Karkaroff suddenly started bellowing at a couple of fifth years. They exchanged worried glances between each other, staying quiet until their Headmaster had gone.
Viktor spoke first. "He is acting very strangely at the moment, don't you think, Nick? Even more bad tempered than usual and very jumpy."
Nick nodded. "Yes, and he keeps fiddling with his left arm, like it's bothering him. I wonder if he has hurt it? Whatever his problem is, I think I'll keep out of his way. At least I don't need to speak to him about my transfer until after we are back at Durmstrang."
The next day, the Champions were taken to the quidditch pitch in the grounds of Hogwart's Castle to see a maze growing in place of the usual flat pitch grass. The hedges were still low enough that they could climb over them.
This was apparently the location for the third task and it was explained to them that the object was to find the Triwizard Cup, which would be hidden in the middle of the maze. Spells and creatures provided by Hagrid would also be hidden in the maze for them to have to use their skills in order to get past.
On the way back out of the maze, Krum tapped Harry on the shoulder and asked if he would take a walk with him. Harry seemed pleased for this distraction which enabled him to get away from Ludo Bagman, so he agreed, following Viktor towards the forest.
Viktor chose the forest to talk because he didn't want to be overheard, something he was quite paranoid about now since Skeeter's nosy article.
Once they had reached a quiet place near the Beauxbaton's horses' paddock, just past Hagrid's cabin and the Beauxbaton's carriage, he stopped and turned to Harry and got straight to the point.
"I want to know what there is between you and Hermione." He looked squarely at Harry.
Harry answered simply, putting Viktor's mind at rest instantly. "Nothing. We're just friends. She's not my girlfriend and she never has been. It's just that Skeeter woman making things up."
The boys continued talking until they came across what seemed to be a homeless, exhausted, muttering man who appeared to be talking to the trees, demanding to see Dumbledore.
Viktor turned to Harry and asked in disbelief, "Wasn't he a judge?" He stared at Mr Crouch.
Harry nodded. The boys decided that Viktor would wait with Mr Crouch while Harry went for help from Dumbledore.
A few moments later and Viktor was vaguely aware of a flash of light coming at him from behind. He remembered flying up into the air and landing awkwardly on the forest floor, everything going black.
The next thing Viktor knew, he was feeling dazed and in pain, looking up into Dumbledore's face. The Headmaster of Hogwart's explained that he had been stunned and Mr Crouch was missing. Viktor presumed that the crazy old man had attacked him and run off.
At Dumbledore's command, Hagrid summoned an extremely bad-tempered Karkaroff to join them and after arguing at length with Dumbledore about plots to attack the Durmstrang Champion, Viktor was finally taken back to the ship to rest by his Headmaster.
He was keen to speak to Nick about Hermione and see whether he had had a chance to talk to Jeff yet.
Meanwhile, Jeff and Nick were in the Room of Requirement. Nick was working on his arm strokes for front crawl and Jeff called him to the side, pleased with his progress.
"Okay! Great! That's much better. Remember, head under for the count of 1,2,3 then breathe on 4."
Nick nodded, smiling as he panted with the effort of swimming. He pulled himself out onto the side and sat back down, dipping his feet in the water. He gestured for Jeff to sit next to him. "Jeff? Can we talk?"
The blond's eyes widened in slight panic before he bit his lip and got out too, joining Nick on the side. He didn't look at Nick, so the Durmstrang boy continued.
He closed his hand around Jeff's as he started to talk. "Jeff? Is something bothering you? You know you can talk to me, right?"
Jeff's gaze snapped to his. He nodded, but still looked hesitant.
Nick prompted him. "I'd like to think we are close enough that you can tell me anything?"
Jeff dropped his gaze, sighing. "That's just it. We are so close. It scares me sometimes.
I feel like you're my other half that I never knew was missing. It's just that the third task is coming up and after that, that's exactly what you will be..."
"Be what?" Nick asked, frowning.
"Missing." Jeff whispered.
A single tear escaped from the corner of Jeff's eye and tracked down his cheek. Nick lifted the hand that wasn't holding Jeff's to wipe it away with the pad of his thumb.
"Oh, babe. Is that what's bothering you? Being apart over the summer?" He asked, concerned.
Jeff nodded. He mumbled something that Nick couldn't hear. "What was that?" He asked softly, putting his finger under Jeff's chin to gently turn his head to face him.
"I said I'm afraid you'll forget me. And then all I'll have is the memories."
Nick let go of Jeff's hand to cup the sad blond's face. He leant forward to kiss him softly and tenderly before pulling back, licking the salty tears off of his lips before he spoke.
"Jeff. I'll never forget you. I'll be counting the days until I come back, believe me!"
Jeff nodded, but didn't seem to be believing it yet.
Nick continued. "After the third task, I need to go back to Durmstrang to sort out the transfer formally, but after that I'll be coming back to England for the summer.
I don't want to be stuck with my family so I've organised an internship over the summer at a financial company in London, and I'll be renting a place there while I do that. I was hoping you would come to visit." He wiggled his eyebrows, trying to make Jeff laugh.
Jeff rolled his eyes through the tears and couldn't help the huge smile that took over his face as he hiccuped loudly. Nick flung his arms around Jeff and held his boyfriend tight.
"How could you think I would forget you? You're my everything. I love you so much and I can't wait until next year when we'll be at the same school.
Don't expect me to let you score easily at quidditch though, boyfriend perks only go so far." He said mock-seriously, earning another giggle from Jeff.
"I'm sorry. I should have listened to Cedric, he told me to just tell you I was worried about you leaving." Jeff admitted sheepishly.
Nick smiled softly. "Yeah, I think I'd have to agree with Cedric on that one."
Jeff smiled. "It's just that I feel like I've given you my everything and after the third task I'm worried you'll just disappear."
Nick's eyes darkened as he shifted closer to Jeff. "Well, there's one way I can think of that might help..."
Jeff gulped at the look in Nick's face, before daring to ask. "What's that?"
"I give you my... everything."
Jeff's eyes blackened and he sucked in a breath.
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