Written for THC, Round 1, Slytherin, Divination, Standard. Prompts: [Pairing] Harry Potter/Viktor Krum. [Action] Hiding.

Notes: Viktor speak (v instead of w in speech).

Word count: 2D, Copper'sMama.

Betas: 1088

Harry Potter watched with utter amazement as the two schools for the tri-wizard tournament walked—well, more like flew and strutted—in. The eloquence of Beauxbaton and the fierceness of Durmstrang filled every corner of Harry's view. Immediately, Harry felt drawn to Durmstrang. He wasn't sure if it was the uniform, how in sync they were, or if it was Viktor Krum himself, the Quidditch player.

Harry loved Quidditch; if he could live Quidditch, he would.

He didn't think much of those thoughts. He had never had the chance to choose what he wanted to do; his life was written for him. These thoughts weren't because he didn't like Hogwarts—he absolutely loved it here—but because he was just curious about the other Wizarding Schools, particularly Durmstrang.

Krum strutted at the front of his school, the girls all swooning to his every step. Harry could admit that the uniform looked good and that—

An elbow to his side pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Show-off," his best friend, Ron, muttered, pointing at Krum and the rest of Durmstrang.

Harry chuckled lightly with his friend. Harry knew that he definitely wouldn't have the same level of confidence as Krum.

Harry froze momentarily when he walked into the library and saw Hermione and Viktor Krum sitting at one of the tables to the edge, almost obscured by a stack of books. Were they hiding from everyone else? Perhaps they wanted to be alone. Or maybe no one else was in the library. Looking at them, he stepped in their direction. Something drew him to the table, like an invisible force luring him closer and closer to them.

"Afternoon," he said after realising he was standing at their table with both of them looking at him.

"Hi, Harry. Would you like to join us?" Hermione asked with a genuine smile.

He nodded and sat down, feeling an odd anxious quietude falling over him. "What are you two up to?"

"'Mione's doing homevork," Krum said, his voice lingering in the air. That didn't answer what Krum was doing; there was nothing in front of him on the table. And yet, Krum didn't continue.

"Homework?" Harry repeated dumbly.

"Yes, our Charms homework, which was handed out today. Don't tell me you've already forgotten."

Harry was pulled out of his daze and looked at her from across the table. "I didn't forget," he said defensively. He glanced at what she had already written—over a foot of parchment had been filled with neat writing—and his expression changed.

"You did forget," Viktor said.

"I have spare parchment and a quill if you want to do it now?"

Hermione was digging through her backpack, searching for the equipment already. Harry looked from Viktor to Hermione, a sudden feeling that he had disturbed the two of them pervading his senses. "I…"

Krum stood up suddenly. "I vill go practise Quidditch."

"I could do that," Harry jumped in, standing too.

Viktor looked confused momentarily and stared at Harry as if trying to piece something together. But then he smiled and softened. "That is fine with me. Goodbye, 'Mione."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I won't be helping you later, Harry."

Harry grinned at her innocently. "Who said I needed help?"

Viktor had already started walking off. "You coming, Potter?"

Harry jogged after him.

"Have you played Quidditch long?" Harry asked as he mounted his Firebolt 3000.

"Since before I could valk," Krum replied, already soaring into the air. Harry hadn't even seen him mount the broom. He watched in awe for a whole second before quickly flying up after him.

Before Harry had a chance to ask another question—and he had a few hidden inside—Krum stopped and stared at him, which made Harry halt, too.

"One-on-one," Krum said suddenly.

Immediately, Harry's eyes flitted around, but couldn't see anything.

"I had my headmaster hide it. It has a trigger."

"Trigger?" Harry inquired, still looking around.

"When you are close, it will move."

Harry looked up at the older Quidditch player and grinned. "No time to waste then."

Once again, Krum moved first. In the blink of an eye, he was on the other side of the pitch. Harry decided to zoom further down to the floor and look at the structure that held it all together. He remembered going through these in his second year when he and Malfoy were competing for the snitch.

Behind him, a glint of gold caught his eye. Harry skidded to a halt and turned as quickly as he could to see the Snitch fly straight up and past him - where had that been hiding?

Throwing himself forward on the broom, he accelerated after the Snitch. Focused only on that, he barely noticed the lack of Chasers, Beaters and Keepers. Nor the lack of an audience. It was only him and the Golden Snitch.

Up.

To the side.

Speeding across the pitch.

Changing direction.

Nearly there…

And…

"Got it!" Krum announced, his hand wrapped around the small winged ball.

Harry let out a chuckle. "Where did you come from?"

"Alvays be avare of your surroundings," he said simply.

He knew that. You had to be aware otherwise, Bludgers would break your arm - he didn't want to experience that again!

"You did good."

Harry smiled at the compliment. "Any advice?"

Krum looked at him, his expression turning serious. "Don't die."

Harry wasn't sure whether the Bulgarian meant on the Quidditch Pitch or in the Triwizard Tournament. But one thing he knew: the advice could be given to either or both of them.

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind," he said. "Do you want to go again?"

Krum shrugged as though it was beneath him, but Harry was sure he saw a smile. Krum released the Snitch. "Go."

Harry grinned as he moved at the same time as Krum to chase the Snitch. This time, he told himself, he would get it first. He didn't.

As they were playing, Harry thought about his first impression of the Bulgarian. Strong, skilled, and invincible. His opinion didn't change much. But one thing that he did know now was that it wasn't him wanting to join Durmstrang, but more, he wanted to be more like Krum.

Harry had already faced so much in his short life, and something told him that he had yet to face the worst of it. If he could remain as strong as Krum, build up his own skills, and not be afraid of what might happen, then he might just survive and get out of the other end unscathed.