August 2, 1997 (Harry)
Harry landed flat on his face and tasted fresh earth, groaning from the unpleasant sensation of Apparition. It was bad enough doing it on his own, but being dragged along with another person in a desperate scramble for escape only amplified the negative effects. Harry also felt that they had traveled an abnormally-long distance; the air felt more humid and the weather much fairer than the wedding had been. Harry gingerly picked himself up off the ground and took in his surroundings.
He was standing on the front lawn of a lavish estate. A Victorian-style home sat atop a small hillside overlooking a few acres of land, complete with gardens, a swimming pool, and an ornate fountain. Squinting through the dim darkness, Harry even thought he could make out a miniature Quidditch pitch down the slope.
Harry heard a retching sound to his left. He turned to see Hermione on all fours, still recovering from the unpleasant Apparition. Harry leaned over to help her up, but Krum was there first, gently taking Hermione by the arm and helping her to her feet. "Are you okay, 'Ermione?" Krum asked gently.
"I will be in a moment," Hermione said shakily, taking deep breaths to center herself. "Alright, Harry?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," said Harry. "Where are we, Viktor?"
"Krum Estate," Krum grunted. "Just outside my hometown in Bulgaria. We should be safe here."
"Is it warded?" Hermione asked, suddenly looking around quite worried. "What if they try to follow us?"
"No one can Apparate in or out but me," Krum reassured her. "If anyone comes, we vould see them coming from beyond the boundary."
Harry glanced nervously down the path to the gate that marked the boundary of the property. The single dirt road that connected the estate to civilization looked empty for now, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed. Hermione seemed to be of the same mind.
"We should put up some additional enchantments, just in case," she muttered. "I can help—"
"Relax," Krum said. "You think a famous Quidditch player doesn't have sufficient security around his own home?"
"Right, of course," Hermione said quickly. "Sorry."
"No need to apologize," Krum said bitterly. "Those bastards attacked a wedding of all places. How dare they!"
"We ought to get inside," said Harry. "I'll feel a little better when we aren't out in the open."
"Of course," said Krum. And he led the way up the lawn towards the house, flicking his wand to turn on the lights around the property. Harry and Hermione marveled at the decorations on the grounds. Harry was particularly entranced by the large fountain outside the front doors; it took the form of a man flying upwards on a broomstick, with water jetting out from the tip of the broom handle.
"This is beautiful, Viktor," Hermione breathed. "Did you inherit it from your parents?"
Krum gave her an odd look. "I'm the top Seeker on the planet," he said simply. "The cost was nothing."
"Right, I forgot," Hermione laughed to herself, blushing red. "You have good taste."
"Most of it vas done by my fiancee," said Krum. "I never cared much for the way things looked."
"You're engaged?" Harry asked, surprised.
"I vas," Krum said darkly. "Left her last year."
"Oh," said Harry quietly. He suddenly felt bad that he hadn't kept in touch with Krum after the Triwizard Tournament, feeling as though he barely knew the man. The same went for Fleur; she invited him to her wedding for Merlin's sake, and yet he hadn't made any attempt to stay in contact. Right now he needed allies more than anything, and he'd relied far too heavily on Dumbledore for those in the past. Time to change that.
Krum led the way up the stone steps to the double front doors, which were painted red with a large V and K on either door. "Igor," Krum announced in what Harry assumed was a password. There was a heavy click from somewhere inside, and the doors swung open, granting them access. Harry and Hermione followed Krum over the landing into the atrium. It too was pristine, with tall marble columns framing a spiral staircase leading to the second floor. But Krum walked straight through the room, leading them down a side hall that led to the kitchen.
"Stara!" Krum bellowed. A moment later, there was a crack, and a small female house-elf appeared before them, head bowed low.
"Master Krum summoned Stara?" the elf said reverently.
"This is Harry and 'Ermione," said Krum, indicating the two newcomers beside him. "They are my guests. Treat them as you vould treat my family."
"Yes, sir," the elf said. "Does Master Harry or Hermione require food or drink?"
"Just water, please," said Harry, and Hermione nodded in agreement. Harry walked over to the large dining table and sank into a chair, massaging his temple. Hermione took the seat beside him, similarly exhausted.
Krum waved his wand again towards the kitchen cabinets, and a heavy bottle of clear liquid flew from one of the shelves into his hand. "I require something stronger," he muttered, uncorking the bottle and taking a deep swig directly from it. "Vodka, anyone?"
"No thanks," Harry shook his head. Krum shrugged and took another deep swill, shaking his head aggressively. Stara emerged moments later, setting water glasses in front of Harry and Hermione, as well as a basket of warm bread. Harry hadn't asked for it, but he was secretly starving, and eagerly shoved a roll into his mouth.
Hermione took a shaky gulp of water, still looking on edge. "'The Ministry has fallen'," she said, repeating the Patronus' warning from the reception. "You don't think that means…?"
"Voldemort is moving out of the shadows," Harry muttered darkly. "It's just like we thought. With Dumbledore out of the picture, he probably sees no reason to be subtle any longer."
"But you don't think they'll try to harm any of our friends?" Hermione fretted, rocking slightly in her chair. "They'll know the Weasleys sheltered us all these years...they might torture them for information…"
"That's why I made our intentions clear from the start," Harry said firmly. "They don't know where we are or where we're going. Maybe they'll discover we're abroad, but that's it. And Voldemort won't want to spill pure blood if they can help it."
"He's right," Krum said. "My old Headmaster vas a Death Eater. He always said they vould only harm pure-bloods as a last resort. If they cooperate, they vill survive."
Harry took Hermione's hand gently to try and soothe her. She took a deep breath and gave him a grateful look. But just as it appeared that Hermione was calming down, Stara hustled back into view, looking frantic.
"Master, there are men attempting to breach the barriers!" she said, wringing her hands together.
Harry and Krum leapt to their feet at once, wands drawn. "How many?" Krum demanded.
"Three," said Stara. "They are at the front gate attempting to bypass the wards."
Harry and Krum exchanged a look. "Not a full attack squad," Harry said. "Might just be asking questions about the wedding."
"Right," said Krum. "I'll have to let them in. Refusing vould look too suspicious."
"You're letting them in?!" Hermione squeaked in terror. "W-we can't fight three Death Eaters!"
"We're not fighting anybody," Harry said firmly. "You and I will hide. Do you have my Invisibility Cloak?"
"Y-yes," said Hermione. She reached to her hip, where her enchanted bag sat concealing all of their possessions. She opened it and quickly rummaged through it until she found the Cloak, which she handed to Harry.
"Right; we'll hide back here," Harry told Krum. "If something goes wrong, we'll help you fend them off."
"Best hope it does not come to that," said Krum. Harry hastily threw the Invisibility Cloak over himself and Hermione, and they backed into the corner of the kitchen as Krum strode to the atrium. Every second of silence was excruciating; Harry could hear Hermione's shaky breathing, feel her frantic heartbeat pounding into his arm as she clutched onto him for dear life.
Soon after, they heard approaching voices from the grounds. They heard Krum open the front door and demand, "Vat is the meaning of this?!" And to Harry's horror, there was a small bang, and Krum grunted in discomfort.
"Where is he?!" an unknown voice demanded. Harry was about to launch himself out from under the Cloak to defend Krum, but a split second later there was an even louder bang, and the same voice howled in pain.
"You shall not harm Master Krum in his own home!" shrieked Stara. There were two more bangs, and two other unknown voices yelped in surprise.
"Ouch – geroff – call off your pet, Krum!"
"Stand down, Stara," Krum said sternly, and the bangs ceased, leaving the sound of three panting men to fill the silence. "Vat are you doing on my property?"
"Where is Potter?" one of the men demanded. "Did he come with you?"
"Why would he be here?" asked Krum. "Are you mad?"
"The name of the Dark Lord was invoked here twice," another voice said. "A Taboo has been placed upon the name. Only Potter and his band of fools dare speak it aloud."
Harry looked at Hermione with raised eyebrows. He had been the one to say Voldemort's name aloud; had he inadvertently drawn the Death Eaters directly to them?
"I am the one who said it," said Krum. "My house-elf asked me vhy I was home early, and I vas explaining to her vat happened at the wedding."
"We'll see about that," the man said. "Homenum Revelio!"
"Oh no!" Hermione gasped in Harry's ear. A moment later, they felt a whoosing sensation ripple the fabric of the Invisibility Cloak. But it passed soon after, and they both held their breaths, waiting for the inevitable discovery.
"Hmph, no one here," the Death Eater grumbled. Hermione gave another low gasp, and Harry gently elbowed her to keep silent.
"As I told you," Krum growled. "Now, please leave."
"Not so fast," a Death Eater said. "You were seen in the presence of a known criminal not thirty minutes ago. We must search the house."
"How dare you—" Krum protested, but Harry and Hermione heard footsteps coming in their direction. A moment later, the three Death Eaters strode into the kitchen, taking in the space.
"This will only take a few minutes of your time, Krum," said one of the men, whom Harry recognized to be Yaxley. "You say you live here alone?"
"That's correct," said Krum.
"Then explain that," Yaxley demanded, pointing at the table. Harry's heart skipped a beat; his and Hermione's water glasses were still on the table, along with Krum's bottle of vodka and the half-eaten basket of bread.
"I allow my house-elves to join me at the table for meals," Krum said quickly. "Vat is it to you?"
"You have a second house-elf?" Yaxley said, raising an eyebrow. In the corner, Stara was glaring down the three intriduers viciously. "Summon the other to us."
"They are not show ponies," Krum said coldly. "I vill not."
Yaxley drew his wand and brandished it threateningly in Krum's face. "I would remind you that you are under suspicion of harboring a dangerous criminal," he growled. "You are in no position to bargain here. Summon your other house-elf, or we will do away with the niceties and get what we're looking for the hard way."
Harry gripped his wand tightly and prepared himself. This was it; he would have to fight his way out of this to stay alive. But to his astonishment, Krum kept his cool, not moving an inch to the wand on his own holster.
"Go ahead and jinx me," Krum said coolly. "The wards vill prevent you from leaving, and the Bulgarian Ministry vill be alerted to your presence. Then you can explain to them vhy three Britons vith criminal records are harassing a private citizen of a foreign country."
"You think we fear the law?" Yaxley chuckled. "Do you realize who you're dealing with?"
"I don't think your boss vould appreciate his minions causing an international crisis," Krum retorted. "Not vhen he is seeking allies abroad. I doubt our Minister of Magic vill take kindly to such tactics."
Yaxley and Krum stared each other down for what felt like an eternity. Then, finally, Yaxley grunted and lowered his wand.
"Search the upstairs," Yaxley ordered the other two Death Eaters. They nodded and exited the kitchen, while Yaxley strode over to the table and sat in Harry's old chair, grabbing a roll of bread for himself.
"You were seen attacking our people before you left," Yaxley growled at Krum. "Dolohov may be dead because of you. Why did you not leave immediately?"
"I vanted to return the favor for ruining my good time," Krum spat. "Tell Dolohov that Igor Karkaroff sends his regards."
"Karkaroff was a coward, and he got what he deserved," said Yaxley. "But he is beside the point. Do you think it wise to take sides in this war before it has begun?"
"I have no side," said Krum. "I vant no part in your British politics. But if you come to my home and threaten me, I vill defend myself."
"If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear," Yaxley grinned wickedly. "I would caution you to refrain from using the Dark Lord's name again, to avoid further suspicion."
"Voldemort," Krum spat, causing Yaxley to flinch. "Voldemort, Voldemort. I'll say vhatever I wish in my own home."
"It is unwise to be flippant of the most powerful wizard alive," Yaxley growled irritably. "That is an enemy you do not want to have."
"I invite him to come tell me that himself," Krum smirked. "I hope to be there vhen you explain to him vhy he is being summoned to deal with a Bulgarian Quidditch star."
Yaxley sneered, but he did not respond to Krum's bluff. A moment later, the two other Death Eaters returned to the kitchen.
"Nobody here," one of them shrugged at Yaxley. "We should head back."
"Run along now, doggies," Krum snarled. "Master is calling you home."
Don't push it, Harry silently pleaded with Krum. But Yaxley did indeed look put out by the failed search, and he merely stood from the table to stare Krum down once again.
"Word of advice, Mr. Krum," Yaxley said. "Stay out of trouble. Give us no reason to come back, and we'll leave you be."
"I can only hope," Krum muttered, standing his ground. Yaxley turned abruptly on the spot, robes sweeping around him as he strode back towards the entrance. The two Death Eaters turned to follow, but one hesitated and spun around again to address Krum once more.
"Saw your match against Romania last week," the man said. "Great game, mate. Excellent catch."
"Thanks," Krum said dryly. Then the Death Eaters were gone; Krum followed them out to the atrium and shut the door behind them. He returned to the kitchen a moment later, staring out the window out onto the grounds for a few moments, before finally turning around. "They have Disapparated."
Harry removed the Cloak from over himself and Hermione and exhaled sharply. "Good work," he sighed. "Thanks for covering for us."
"Nothing good vould have come from your discovery," Krum said darkly. "I did not expect a Taboo on the Dark Lord's name. Ve should refrain from using it, just in case."
"Agreed," said Harry. "Sorry about that."
Hermione still looked perplexed by something. "Why didn't their Revealing Charm work?" she wondered aloud. "It can't be fooled by enchantments or wards; it should have alerted them that we were here."
"The Cloak must have blocked it somehow," Harry shrugged. "It's good like that."
"But that's impossible!" Hermione protested. "The spell is unblockable; there's no way that it could have—"
"Let's not look a gift hippogriff in the mouth, Hermione," Harry cut her off, not really interested in the specifics right now. "Listen, Krum, we shouldn't have come here. We'll lay low for a couple of hours and then be on our way before dawn."
"Absolutely not," said Krum. "They von't suspect you are here after that. You can stay as long as you need."
"I can't let you put yourself at risk like that," Harry said adamantly. "We appreciate your hospitality, but we really ought to—"
"Harry," said Hermione softly. "Maybe we should get some sleep and figure this out in the morning. They won't be coming back tonight at least."
Harry turned to look at Hermione. She looked frayed and exhausted; her tidy makeup from the wedding was messy and smeared, and her dress was rumpled and stained. She certainly was not in a state to leave right now, especially given that they had nowhere to go. He caved immediately at the sight of her.
"All right, we'll stay," he sighed. "Just for the night. Tomorrow we'll sort out a proper plan."
"Good," Krum nodded. "Now, I'm off to bed. Stara vill show you to the guest suites." And Krum grabbed the vodka bottle from the table and shuffled from the room to retire for the night.
"You all right, 'Mione?" Harry asked softly, giving Hermione another reassuring pat on the arm.
"Yeah; just exhausted," she muttered. "I could use some sleep."
Stara led the two of them upstairs and assigned them each a bedroom. It was one of the nicest rooms Harry had stayed in; even at Grimmauld Place the beds weren't this large, and he'd had to share with Ron most of the time at that. He forced himself to relax, reminding himself that the Death Eaters would not be returning at any second, and indulged in a long, hot shower.
We'll leave first thing in the morning, he told himself as he dressed for bed. I won't hear Krum's excuses. I should set an alarm for early so we can—
But he passed out the second his head hit the pillow.
Harry's dreams were chaotic and violent that night. He was running from Death Eaters, chasing him and Hermione down narrow corridors with no escape. He was hiding from Voldemort, who was sweeping every corner in pursuit of him. He was Voldemort, angrily moving heaven and earth attempting to track him down. He was unsure where the line between dreams and visions blurred, because when he awoke the next morning, his scar was prickling. Voldemort was definitely angry. And Harry was most definitely on the run.
Harry groggily got out of bed and threw back the curtains to let light stream into his bedroom. The sun was rising over Krum Estate, casting warm rays over the dew-stained grounds. If the situation wasn't so dire, Harry would be far more taken with the beauty of the place. In another life perhaps he too would have been a famous Seeker who could afford such amenities. Instead he was destined to a life of desperate survival, death lurking around every corner, preventing him from getting too comfortable in one place.
Movement caught his eye below, and Harry saw Krum and Hermione walking through the garden, deep in conversation. Harry had to remind himself that the two of them had been briefly involved, just two years prior, though it felt like a lifetime ago by now. Were there still lingering feelings between them? Hermione was not the same bookish teen she was then; she was a fully-grown woman now, and surely Krum had noticed. Harry pushed such thoughts out of mind as he headed downstairs in search of breakfast; it was none of his business anyway.
The smell of bacon and eggs met Harry as he walked into the kitchen. Stara was preparing a full breakfast at the stovetop. "Hungry, Master Harry?" the elf asked him.
"Just 'Harry' is fine," Harry muttered as he slumped into a chair at the table. "And yes, I'm starving."
Stara brought him a plate of food and a mug of coffee, both of which he eagerly consumed. He hadn't had a proper meal since before the wedding. Soon after, Hermione and Krum entered the room, freezing at the sight of him as though they'd been caught red-handed.
"Morning, Harry!" Hermione said, more brightly than seemed natural. "Erm...Krum was just showing me the ward structures of the grounds. We're very safe here."
"Yes, we are," Krum grunted in affirmation, but he avoided Harry's eye as he too took a seat at the table and dug into a plate of food provided by Stara. Hermione sat in between them, picking delicately at her own plate.
"So," said Harry, clearing his throat awkwardly. "We should talk about what happens next—"
But as he said this, there was a great clatter of wings overhead, and two barn owls flew through an open window and swooped low towards them. Both landed on the table in front of Krum, dropping two separate newspapers between them.
Hermione reached for one of the papers as Krum rummaged through his pocket for change to pay the owls. "You subscribe to the Daily Prophet?" she asked, unfolding it before her.
"Yes, ever since Dumbledore's death," Krum confirmed. He picked up the other paper, which was in a language Harry couldn't understand – surely a local Bulgarian publication.
"Is your government supportive of Vol- of You-Know Who?" Harry asked cautiously. "Would they cooperate with the British Ministry if they tried to come after me?"
"Certainly not," said Krum. "Bulgaria was ravaged by Grindelwald many years ago; we are not eager to get involved in another war."
Krum and Hermione scanned the headlines of the respective papers in silence for several long moments. "Well?" Harry demanded impatiently. "Any news?"
"Says here that Pious Thicknesse was named Minister in an emergency vote," Hermione muttered. "Nothing about Scrimgeour's death; it just says he is 'taking a leave of absence'."
"Nothing in our paper, either," said Krum. "They must not realize vat has happened yet."
"The Prophet doesn't make a big deal out of it, either," Hermione frowned. "They must be keeping things quiet for now to not cause a panic. I guess that's a good sign, right?"
"Makes it harder to know what's really going on back home," Harry sighed. "I hope everyone made it out alright last night."
"Nobody will be able to reach us here," Hermione fretted. "What if they're trying to contact us? Maybe we can find a way to reach out, let them know we're alright—"
"No," Harry said firmly. "Being concealed is what's keeping us alive. They know that. As long as we don't wind up in the news, they'll know we haven't been caught yet."
"Harry is right," Krum grunted. "You mustn't return to Britain or attempt contact. If the Dark Lord has truly seized power, you must stay far away."
"I've been thinking it over, 'Mione," said Harry. "We should head to the United States. He won't expect us to leave the continent so soon, and we can lay low among the Muggles and figure out where MACUSA stands. Then we can start preparing."
"Preparing?" asked Krum, raising an eyebrow. "For vhat?"
"To fight," Harry said simply. "You-Know-Who will be waiting for me in Britain, and I want to be ready when I face him again."
"You cannot be serious," said Krum. "You intend to fight the Dark Lord? He is the most dangerous wizard alive."
"Which is why I have to get stronger," Harry said simply. "I'm destined to fight him, Krum. One of us will have to kill the other in the end."
Krum considered this for a moment. Then, he threw back his head in laughter. "Dumbledore told you this?" he asked. "Yet he chose to train you with only Light magic? I 'ave perhaps overestimated the old man."
"He was against Dark magic," Harry retorted. "He said it was dangerous, that it could drive wizards mad—"
"Of course it's dangerous; that's the point," Krum snapped. "You risk your sanity in exchange for immense power. But if it is your life or your sanity, the decision is easy, no?"
Harry could not dispute the logic. Yet something about studying Dark magic still terrified him; it stood against everything he believed. But then again, how much of what he believed was due to Dumbledore's influence?
"Well, it doesn't matter anyway," Harry sighed. "I don't know anyone who can teach me Dark magic. I reckon anyone who knows enough about it would be a Voldemort sympathizer."
Krum gave Harry an odd look. Then he set his newspaper on the table and stood up. "Come with me," he said, striding from the room. Confused, Harry and Hermione exchanged a look before getting up to follow him.
Krum led the way across the atrium to a new room across the hall. It resembled a small office space, with a small collection of books lining the shelves around an ornate, unused desk.
"You have a nice collection, Viktor," said Hermione, admiring the modest library.
"This room is just for show," Krum muttered. He drew his wand and tapped it on one of the shelves. "Alohamora." The shelf swung forward, revealing a hidden doorway into a secret room. Krum led the way in, and Harry gaped at the size of the new enclosure. It was full to the brim with bookshelves; thousands of heavy tomes lined the walls. It reminded Harry of the Restricted Section in the Hogwarts library – many of the books looked menacing, like they might scream at you or snap at your fingers if you don't handle them properly.
"Wow," Hermione breathed. "Where did you get all of these?"
"Most belonged to Karkaroff," Krum explained. "He died vith no legal heirs, so the Ministry seized his collection. I managed to bribe an official vith box seat tickets to let me take most of them home for myself."
Harry eyed the shelves with some trepidation. Karkaroff had been a Death Eater, after all, and he was sure he would find some unpleasant things within these texts. Hermione also looked wary, but Harry could see the wonder in her eyes at the sight of so many books she'd never read, the vast sum of knowledge that they represented in her mind's eye.
"What's in them?" Harry asked.
"Haven't sorted through all of them yet," Krum shrugged. "But most of them are banned. That is vhy they are hidden back here."
"I've heard of some of these!" Hermione gasped, tracing her finger down the spines of several books. "I looked for hours in the Restricted Section for these, but Madam Pince said that Dumbledore removed them all decades ago."
"I recommend starting 'ere," said Krum, indicating a shelf close to the door. "Karkaroff assigned me these to prepare for the Triwizard Tournament. He 'elped me with many of the practicals as well...not that they did me any good." Harry noted the bitterness in his tone at this memory.
"I had help from a Death Eater of my own," Harry laughed hollowly, remembering the fake Moody rigging the tournament in his favor. "It wasn't a fair competition at all."
"It never is," Krum shrugged. "That is vhy you must prepare for any outcome as best you can."
Harry scanned the row of books Krum had directed him towards. It was Dark magic alright, but none of the titles suggested anything too untoward. "Right, good," said Harry. "Is it alright if we borrow some of these, Viktor? Hermione can put them in her bag, and we'll be off—"
"What?" Hermione said, suddenly alarmed. "You don't really intend to leave now, do you?"
"We can't stay in one place for long, Hermione," said Harry sternly. "We're on the run, remember? We can't get too comfortable—"
Hermione began to retort, but Krum beat her to it. "You are half a continent away from Britain," he told Harry. "And the estate is well-protected. Bulgaria will not cooperate with the Dark Lord, even if they suspect you are 'here."
"And if he skips the middle-man and comes straight here?" Harry demanded. "No wards can keep out You-Know-Who indefinitely."
"Then you can flee," Krum shrugged. "I 'ave emergency Portkeys you may borrow. This is a safe place for you both."
Harry was torn. He felt as though he were intruding, that he was endangering Krum by being here at all. He also couldn't understand why the man was being so inviting, extending such a helping hand when he had nothing to gain and everything to lose.
"Why are you helping us, Viktor?" Harry asked bluntly. "Why risk your own safety for us?"
Harry did not miss the fleeting glance that Krum gave to Hermione before he answered. "Bulgaria owes Albus Dumbledore a great debt," he said. "Grindelwald killed many of my relatives and those of my friends. Consider this a repayment for his legacy. If you intend to confront the Dark Lord, I vill assist in any way that I can."
Harry looked to Hermione. She looked frightened; clearly the prospect of going on the run again worried her immensely. She obviously felt secure here, in a proper home filled with books and more luxuries than they could ever afford. He remembered seeing her and Krum walking through the garden and wondered if perhaps Krum had other reasons for wanting them to stay. But Harry couldn't begrudge her the chance to have a base of operations, at least for a little while.
"Alright, we'll stay," said Harry. "But the second we sense danger or suspicion from your government, we will go at once."
"Very well," Krum bowed. Hermione exhaled sharply, clearly relieved.
Harry spent most of that day learning the property inside and out in case of emergency. Krum showed him a handful of secret exits and hiding places, and also gave him a tour of the wards surrounding the property. They had been erected by separate teams of Ministry officials and goblins, ensuring that no one group could unravel them all at once in a short period of time. That gave Harry a great amount of comfort; if the Bulgarian Ministry did indeed turn on them, even they wouldn't be able to breach the grounds without raising any alarms.
Krum also gave him a tour of the miniature Quidditch pitch, which was nearly the size of Hogwarts' field. "I sometimes invite my teammates to practice here during the offseason," he explained. "I vill not do so this year for obvious reasons. They vill understand, given the state of things. But perhaps you and I can do some flying later."
Harry liked that idea very much. He'd assumed his flying days were over after leaving Hogwarts, so the prospect of taking to the air again was an exhilarating one. He'd spotted several pristine Firebolts sitting idle in the broom shed, making him think longingly of his own broom, sitting forgotten in the Hogwarts sheds. Hopefully Ginny or Ron would be able to make use of it next school year, assuming they made it there safely.
When they returned to the house for dinner, Hermione had already selected a number of books from the vast hidden library. "I think you should start with these," she said, stacking them in front of Harry's plate as he ate. "They seem relatively tame, and similar enough to what you've already studied that you should be able to grasp it quickly."
"I can help with that," said Krum. "The library can be converted into a dueling arena. I vill teach you everything Karkaroff taught me."
"Thank you," said Harry. He remembered the fierce display of power Krum had displayed at the wedding, the awe he had felt watching the man dole out devastating attacks like they were nothing. He was glad now that he and Krum had never truly had to go face-to-face in the Triwizard Tournament, because in a fair fight, Krum would have demolished him.
Harry flipped through one of the books Hermione had assigned to him before bed, not really taking in the words. His mind was too preoccupied with everything else that was happening. He was in a foreign land, with the most powerful wizard alive hunting him, with only two genuine allies to his name. He did his best not to dwell on what was ahead, and resolved to focus on the here and now to make the most of his time here.
Harry did not fall asleep easily that evening. He tossed and turned in his too-soft bed, distracted by the too-perfect silence. He was suspicious of feeling comfortable, unable to let himself relax completely. He felt like to do so was dulling his edges, weakening his instincts. Part of him wanted to forego the bed and sleep on the rug in the corner, which was already softer than the cot he'd inhabited for ten years in the cupboard under the stairs on Privet Drive. Hardship would make him stronger, not complacency.
There was a small knock at the door, and light crept into the room from the landing as it slid open. "Harry?" whispered Hermione. "Are you awake?"
"Yeah," he said, sitting up in bed and reaching for his glasses. "Everything alright?"
Hermione entered the room timidly. "Is it...is it alright if I sleep in here?" she asked. "I don't like being alone in these big rooms."
"Oh...yeah, of course," Harry said, pulling back the covers. "You take the bed; I can get comfortable on the floor."
"Don't be silly; these beds could hold four people," Hermione chuckled. And before he could protest, Hermione walked to the other side of the bed and slipped under the covers. Harry settled himself back into his pillow.
"Feeling a bit better?" asked Harry.
"Right now, or in general?"
"Both, I guess."
"Yes, I suppose so," Hermione sighed. "Thank you for agreeing to stay. I feel much safer here than on the run."
"Of course," Harry nodded. "It's the smart move."
There was a long silence. Hermione was an arm's length away from him, but Harry remained rooted in place. He didn't want to weird her out by pulling her close, not when he had no idea what was running through her head. Did she just want someone in the room with her to keep watch, or was she more frightened than she let on?
"I spoke with Krum in the garden this morning," Hermione said out of the blue. "He asked me where he and I stood, after everything that happened at Hogwarts between us."
"Oh?" Harry asked, trying to sound casual, like he wasn't dying to know the answer himself.
"I told him that I didn't see him in that way," Hermione sighed. "He was the first person to really see me, you know. As someone worth knowing more than as a friend. And of course he was a big famous athlete, and I was just a silly schoolgirl...anyway, it wasn't until today that I really realized I never felt that way back towards him. I was just grateful to be wanted by somebody."
"Plenty of people started seeing you that way," Harry offered. "The guys in my dorm all commented on how attractive you've become recently. Ron was rather smitten himself."
Hermione stiffened at the mention of Ron's name. Harry immediately regretted bringing it up. It was a reminder of the situation they were in, the innocence they'd lost over the span of just twenty-four hours. There would be no more silly crushes and classmate gossip for them. Only war and hardship lay ahead.
"Krum asked me if you and I were together," Hermione continued after a bit. "I told him that we were just friends. That we'd agreed to look after each other during the war."
"Oh," said Harry. "Did...did he believe that?"
"I dunno," said Hermione. "He's a difficult bloke to read. But he did tell me why he called things off with his ex-fiancee. She apparently bought into all the rubbish about you making up You-Know-Who's return for attention. He defended you and broke up with her."
"Wow," said Harry, suddenly feeling a great surge of admiration and respect for Krum. They had been enemies in the Triwizard Cup, and Harry had always seen him as a rival. But to know that Krum had supported him all these years, and was now offering him help at great risk to himself, made him forget all the petty jealousy he had previously harbored against the man. Beneath the surly, intimidating exterior, Viktor Krum was a good man.
He ruminated on what Hermione had said, about the two of them being friends. Of course that was true and always would be, but their relationship felt more complicated than that. He had once thought of Hermione as a sister, but his affection for her felt stronger than that, his desire to protect her superseding even his own safety. He had always assumed Hermione would fall for somebody more like Krum, who could get her out of her own head and enjoy the simple joys of life. Harry was too cursed, his life too much of a burden for anyone else to bear with him. Yet she had always been by his side, helping him to shoulder it anyway.
Harry heard a rustling of sheets, and Hermione shifted a little bit closer towards him. He could feel her body heat radiating under the covers, just inches away from him now. He decided not to overthink it. He instinctively wrapped an arm around her torso, and she snuggled tightly into him, their breathing falling into sync with one another.
"We'll get through this, Hermione," he whispered into her ear. "I promise."
And they both fell into a deep, restful sleep.
A/N: Thanks for reading! How are we feeling about the frequency of flashbacks so far? Too frequent, or not often enough? Let me know in the comments if you want to visit these flashback storylines more often or stick to the present-day timeline most of the way. I can make both happen; just say the word!
