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CHAPTER FIVE: Exploration

The staff had been shown to a suite of rooms and told to wait until morning. There were three bedrooms off from it. Harry watched as James and Emily went off to one, only tensing slightly as Martin and Lily headed off to another. Then he turned to Hermione. "Are you okay with that?"she asked.

"I'm trying to be,"Harry answered, before raising the question he had meant to ask. "Was everything okay with Viktor?"

Hermione was surprised by the question. "I think so. Why?"

"I don't know. He just seemed a bit…cold. Towards me especially."

Hermione gave a slight smile. "You don't think he's still holding a torch for me after all these years, do you?"

Harry put his hands around her waist and lightly kissed her. "I'm sure anyone who's ever had feelings for you would find them difficult to get rid of." His demeanour became more serious. "But no, I don't think it's that."

"What then?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'm just used to seeing plots everywhere."

Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment. "I suppose it was a bit odd that we suddenly got invited here and they insisted that we come…" She stopped and laughed. "All right, you've got me doing it now."

"I guess we just need to keep alert while trying not to see things that aren't there."

"Sounds like a plan." Hermione put her arm round Harry's shoulder as they headed towards the remaining room. "All right then. Bed. We're at the age where we need our sleep."

A seventh year Durmstrung student was showing Nymphadora and a group of other students into a similar suite. "You've been assigned this one,"she told them. "How you separate the rooms up is up to you."

"Thank you, Iwona,"Nymphadora called as the girl left.

Beverley looked around. "Not enough rooms for one each. Looks like we'll be doubling up."

Bradley looked nervously at Nymphadora. "Do you want to share? I mean if you're not comfortable…"

"That's fine,"Nymphadora assured him, giving him a quick kiss. "We were looking for a way to spend more time together."

Maxwell turned to Beverley. "What about you?"

Beverley looked as though she'd been put on the spot. "Well…"

Flavia Lupin took her arm. "I think we should share."

Beverley relaxed a bit. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea."

Maxwell watched the pair go off and saw Gemini and Amanda disappeared into another room. He looked at the only other person remaining, Aadi Salis of Ravenclaw, and sighed. "I hope you don't snore."

Morning had broken and had somehow led to the Hogwarts staff and chaperones ending up in a large hall with a few of the Durmstrung staff. Several students from both schools were also present. The school's headmaster, Professor Vrancic, was introducing them. "And so we extend a welcome to our visitors from Hogwarts, Many of you got to know them last year and we felt it was desirable to continue that relationship. Professor Krum?"

Viktor stepped out and looked at the Hogwarts staff. "Professor Potter? Ah, Senior, I believe you say?"

Harry detached himself from the group and joined Viktor out front. "Well, you didn't call me that when we first met."

"Ah, yes." Viktor turned back to the students. "Professor Potter and I were competitors in the Triwizard Tournament together."

"Back when you were a star quidditch player,"Harry added.

"And you were once a senior auror,"Viktor noted. A knowing expression crossed his face. "Which gives us an opportunity!"

"To do what?"Harry asked cautiously.

"Duels. You would not deny both our schools the chance to see a trained duellist at work? Would you perhaps be willing to accept challenges from those here?"

Harry felt cornered but gave the only answer he could. "Yeah, sure."

"Excellent! I will arrange a schedule."

Harry looked over at Hermione. He could tell that she, like him, had a sinking feeling about this.