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CHAPTER TWELVE: Pursuit into Danger
Harry looked at Hermione. The two of them were alone, staring at each other across their bedroom. "What are you thinking?"
Hermione bit her lip nervously. "I think we're at a disadvantage. For the first two duels, we could look up Professor Dolohov and Viktor, find out anything we needed to about them. This time…this time we don't know what, or who, we're up against."
"I was afraid you were going to say something like that."
"So…I guess we just have to make sure you're up to scratch, whoever turns up?"
Harry nodded slowly but his mind was elsewhere. "Who is likely to turn up though? Have we really ruled out Viktor being involved in anything?"
"Well, I like to think so." Hermione thought for a moment. "I'm not sure Dora's convinced though."
"Oh? And what does our daughter think?"
"It's not so much what she thinks. It's how she's feeling. She's on edge, like the rest of us. I tried to calm her down but I'm just not sure if I succeeded."
Nymphadora waited until Bradley was asleep before slipping out of bed. Something was going on and no-one seemed to be doing anything about it, so it fell to her once again. She slipped out of the sleeping quarters, heading towards Viktor Krum's office. She wasn't sure what she was expecting to find, since the hour meant there was a good chance it would be empty. But instead she found Viktor just leaving. She pressed herself against the wall, hiding from him, wishing she had an invisibility cloak to hand. Somehow, however, Viktor didn't see her and moved off in the opposite direction. Nymphadora headed after him, acutely aware that he may simply be going to his sleeping quarters. But instead, he walked away from them and headed out of the castle.
Nymphadora continued to follow Viktor from as great a distance as she could manage without losing track of him. Eventually, she caught sight of what appeared to be his destination: A hut, out in the middle of the countryside, which reminded her of the gamekeeper's cottage at Hogwarts. She hung back, waiting until Viktor went inside, then dashed forward and listened at the door.
"What have you told the staff?"asked a voice. Not Viktor's but younger. Nymphadora had an uncomfortable feeling she knew who it was.
"That I am still looking at the applications from challengers,"came Viktor's reply. "I have told them I will announce Harry Potter's opponent on the day."
"They accept that?"
"Headmaster Vrancic trusts me."
"Good. And I think our eavesdropper is close enough now."
It took Nymphadora a second to realise the implication of the words and by then it was too late. "Incarcerous!"snapped a voice. She wasn't quite sure how, maybe there was some sort of spell hole in the door. But the spell travelled through it and imprisoned her in ropes. Moments later, the door was flung open and she was levitated inside before being dumped on the ground.
Philip Nave looked down at her. "Hello again, sis."
"What…what are you doing here?"Nymphadora asked. She looked over at Viktor pleadingly. "Professor…"
"Professor Krum is under my control,"Nave replied. "One of the advantages of being equal in power now to our father."
"The Imperious Curse?"Nymphadora asked. "But that's illegal!"
"Oh yes, so it is. Crucio!"
Nymphadora let out a scream and kept screaming, as her body felt like it was on fire. Then the curse was lifted.
"I don't know if you've noticed but it's a long time since I cared about what was legal."
"So what are you going to do?"Nymphadora demanded.
"Haven't you guessed? With the help of Professor Krum here and some other friends, I'm going to fight our father. And I'm going to win."
Bradley woke up and found he was alone. It was unusual, since he and Nymphadora normally got up together, but not necessarily a reason for panic. And yet he felt uneasy, as he remembered the state she'd been in the previous day. He got up and quickly dressed before heading through into the communal area. Gemini and Beverley were sat there talking. "Have you seen Dora this morning?"he asked.
Beverley shook her head. "We thought she was in with you."
"And how long have you been here?"
"About an hour,"Gemini replied. "No-one else has been out here in that time. Bradley, what..?"
Bradley swallowed hard. "I think she's gone missing."