AUTHORS NOTES: No real warning in this chapter but it doesn't mean it's not good. It's just one of those chapters that are the in between that needs to happen so you can get a certain bit of information so the story can make sense and go on. Well hope you all been enjoying so far. Happy reading!
Chapter#10
After the Yule Ball the three Krum's and one Potter were firmly ensconced in Viktor's room aboard the Durmstrang ship. Secrecy and privacy wards had been cast over every inch of the cabin. For Harry's sake, they conversed in English
"Harry, you might have guessed, but we did not come for a purely recreational reason" Branimir said. Branimir's English was much better than his son's. Although there still was a slight hint of the Bulgarian burr he had grown intimately fond of. Instead of remarking upon anything that banal, the boy simply nodded "we need to decide what's going to happen with Voldemort"
at once Harry paled, and then looked down at the hands he had gathered in his lap. It didn't go unnoticed by any of the Krums that they were violently trembling. Viktor knelt beside him, and steadied them with his own large ones. Harry took a deep breath and answered
"I guess it'd be too much to ask for him to forget about me once I leave" Harry said sighing
"You are talking about …past meetings between you?" Liliya asked carefully.
Harry merely stiffened, but he did nod. Branimir took a step closer. Harry looked up at him, but didn't appear alarmed
"Harry, I must ask this. When was the last time you came face-to-face with Voldemort?" Branimir asked. Harry shrugged
"Second-year? I saw him my first year here though. I didn't see him last year, although I had Dementors and a mass murderer on the grounds to make up for it" Harry said.
The three Bulgarian were stunned by how blasé the boy was being
"And how did these meetings end?" Branimir inquired
"He possessed my defence professor my first year" Harry said flatly
"I killed him, but the bit of Voldemort fled. In my second year, there was another bit of Voldemort stuck in his diary from when he was sixteen, like a memory. He controlled a basilisk and went around petrifying students, until a couple of friends led me to the chamber of secrets and we went down to kill the basilisk. He disappeared when I destroyed the book"
The two men looked aghast, but Liliya's hand flew to her mouth
"Oh, Merlin. A memory. Oh, Merlin" Liliya said.
Harry was immediately on his feet. Concern all over his face as he guided Liliya to the seat he had just vacated
"Are you alright? Do you need a glass of water of something?" Harry asked as he glanced about him for a tumbler and pitcher.
Viktor, after exchanging an inscrutable look with his father over Harry's head, conjured him a glass of water. Harry accepted it gratefully and waited patiently for Liliya's hands to stop shaking before passing the glass of water to her
"Horcruxes" Liliya rasped out after taking a gulp of water "he split his soul to make horcruxes"
Branimir didn't dwell upon the issue of 'horcrux' but rather their multiplicity
"Horcruxes? Meaning there are more than one?" Branimir asked, Liliya nodded
"I would expect multiple. That soul fragment you saw in your defense professor, Harry, was probably all that was left of the original Voldemort" Liliya explained to Harry "in your second year that was probably his first horcrux, a splinter of his soul. I'm amazed he made one at that age, but I would doubt his having the capability to make one any younger. Then again, to construct a horcrux at the age of sixteen is a feat…" she drifted off, gazing sightlessly beyond the three males before her
"Mother" Viktor gently called, putting a hand on her shoulder.
At once Liliya seemed to snap back to herself, and smiled faintly
"I apologize for that…lapse" Liliya murmured.
Branimir brushed his wife's cheek with gentle fingers, acknowledging her contribution
"That is grave information indeed, but I do not know how that will help us except to furth infuriate him. I do not doubt the information about the horcruxes was meant to be kept a secret" Branimir said. Harry took a deep breath
"What if we send him an owl?" Harry asked. The Krum's turned as one to stare at him. Harry resolutely wasn't meeting any of their eyes, simply staring out the murky pothole "he- Voldemort- he told me once, in the chamber of secrets, that we were very similar. At the time, I didn't want to think about just how similar" his hushed confession reached every niche in the room "he said he'd give me a chance then" a cough racked the cabin as he shifted uncomfortably. In an odd twist, Liliya ended up passing him her glass of water, and he smiled gratefully at her "if…. if we write him an owl, and te-tell him I'll leave and won't ever come back" Viktor immediately went to him
"Can you do dat, Harry? Ask yourself, for truth, can you honestly do dat?" Viktor asked, Harry swallowed harshly
"Luna and Cedric. I'm worried about them" Harry said quietly.
Branimir sighed, and Viktor threaded his hand through wild dark hair
"We have been waiting for you to say that" Branimir confessed quietly. He met shocked green eyes with calm dark ones "you had to realize for yourself, that leaving them didn't mean abandoning them, not in this case"
"Because they'd already abandoned me first" Harry whispered.
His eyes not leaving Branimir's. The man carefully nodded, and Harry's lids slipped shut. He hunkered down against Viktor's side, soaking up all and any comfort the older boy could give. Once Harry managed to pull himself together, the four of them sat down and began to draft the letter. It began, detailing recent events that outlining their proposition
Voldermort,
The moment the triwizard tournament is over is the last moment I will ever stand on British soil. I will swear an unbreakable vow to never again return to England, or involve myself in their politics in any way, shape or form. Dumbledore remains your only enemy in this, and the international community will lean greatly in your favour. I sincerely hope this is a suitable solution to both parties. And please, please don't kill the owl
Harry James Potter
"He's going to know that the only line I wrote is the last one" Harry whispered faintly.
Feeling too dazed to really comprehend how his life was spinning out of control. Branimir chuckled deeply
"Harry, if he is as good a politician as he seems to be, he won't care who wrote the document. As long as the signature at the end is the correct one. That's the binding contract. You will have to hold true to your statements now if he chooses to accept this" Branimir said. He quickly made several duplicates, and then folded the missive into neat thirds and sealed it with the Bulgarian crest "now, how to get it to wherever he is?"
"Use Hedwig" Harry said firmly "she can reach anyone through anything"
The snowy owl swept into the room on command and seated herself in Harry's lap. He scratched her in all her favorite spots, fed her an owl treat, and then finally attached the letter to her leg. She soared into the air with a low hoot. For a moment all four of them stood there, transfixed by the magnitude of their recent actions
"Now, Harry, we must speak of your accommodations when you reach Bulgaria!" Liliya exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. Her smile was a little strained, given the circumstance, but her sentiments were genuine "I understand you must want your own place to live, but until you find one, I insist you take up one of the guest rooms – or any room – in our home!"
"Mother!" Viktor hissed.
A faint pink intruding on his cheeks. He did not appreciate the insinuation his mother was laving on the poor boy. For Merlin's sake, he was only fourteen and already had too much heaped onto him! He didn't need to question his own sexuality on top of it! Harry huffed a laugh alongside Branimir at the annoyed expression on Viktor's face, but it was cut off by a sleepy yawn
"I'm sorry" Harry immediately apologized. Branimir waved it off
"Do not be. It is we who are at fault for keeping you up so late so needlessly" Branimir said
"It's hardly needless" Harry replied evenly "it should be me thanking you for going through all the trouble for me. Once again, if there's anything I could ever do for you, anything at all, you mustn't hesitate to let me know"
His green eyes, although slightly veiled by sleepy tears, were round with his sincerity. Liliya drew Harry into a warm embrace
"I only hope to be seeing you again soon, Harry" Liliya said.
Then both her and Branimir took their leave, glancing significantly at their boy to tell them they still wished to talk. Viktor knew they would wait for him in the conference room. Turning his attention back to Harry, Viktor procured his sleeping clothes where they lay draped over an armchair. He handed them to Harry
"Here" Viktor said "you should change and go to bed first"
"Your father is very nice" Harry said sleepily "not at all like Fudge" Viktor had to quell a snort at the ridiculousness of that comparison. Harry rather un-self-consciously shed his robes till he was only in his boxers, making sure to hang them in the cupboard before he pulled on his sleep clothes. Viktor carefully stared at the floor planks, and only the planks "he looks different from the time at the quidditch world cup"
Talk about understatement of the century. Anyone who knew Branimir would never mistake him for Obalonsk
"There was a decoy" Viktor said.
The boy mused over that quietly, and then crawled into bed
"And your mother" Harry continued, but paused. He sighed, a strange look passing over his face "my mother's name was Lily, too. I really think she would have liked your mum"
Viktor walked over to the younger teen, and gently stroked his face. He leaned over and kissed the scarred brow through its untamable black bangs
"Go to sleep, Harry" Viktor murmured in his rough voice.
He was unprepared for the near violence of the boy's embrace. His face was buried into his midriff, thin arms wrapped about a slim, quidditch toned waist
"Goodnight, Viktor" Harry whispered nearly inaudibly "and thank you all, again"
He pulled shyly back, and then slipped under the covers, falling asleep almost immediately. Viktor watched the steady rise-fall of his chest for several long moments before he remembered himself. Quickly, he cast a proximity offensive-defensive ward on the bed, and then another over the door of the chamber itself before leaving to meet with his parents. Liliya was sitting with her legs artfully crossed
"He is rather young at the moment" Liliya was remarking to Branimir in their mother tongue
"Looking at them as they are, however, I do not doubt this affection will carry through the years" Branimir easily replied.
It didn't take an idiot to figure out what they were talking about. Viktor flushed a dull red and strode into the room if only to keep them from discussing this further. His mother smiled at him
"Viktor" Liliya exclaimed "I'm surprised to see you here so soon. I thought you would stay by Harry's side a while longer"
"Mother" Viktor said blushing. Liliya pouted but stayed quit "I will ask you to refrain from any cavalier references to Harry. He has been flung off his life. I will not have that happen to him again, especially not from the first people to extend this helping hand"
"I did not mean it that way. He is so frightened of everything…but I think he could do with your being around him. Not that you will deny him that pleasure, no?" Liliya said as she winked at him, then regained her solemn expression "I will tease you no longer. I do not think he has ever had a constant, positive presence in his life. Your proximity to him now will give you the opportunity to be that for him"
Viktor shook his head as he sat down on the other couch opposite of his parents
"I want him to be able to have a choice. I don't want him to stay with me just because he is looking for familiarity" Victor said, he swallowed nervously and continued "but once we are settled back home, I'd like to ask his godfather's promotion to properly court Harry" he said as he nervously biting on his lip.
Branimir smiled at his son fondly, and his mother placed a hand to her mouth and had tears of joy in her eyes
"Oh Victor, oh that's wonderful! You two are so perfect for one and other. Oh, Victor I'm so happy for you!" Liliya said and she got up to hug her son he just chuckled hugging her back
"Mother, calm down, don't start plaining the wedding yet. I till have to ask Sirius and then ask Harry formally" Victor said as his mother sat back down beside her husband
"Victor my son I think you worry to much I see the way he looks at you, he likes you just as much as you like him. So please do not worry and just go for it" Branimir said smiling Victor blushed but nodded
(With Harry)
Harry's eyes were open in the darkness of Viktor's room. It had been easier to trick the older boy into thinking he was asleep; he had pretended to be so many things over so many years. After all, that feigning sleep had come almost thoughtlessly. Things were moving much faster than he'd thought they would. From the beginning he'd thought this was a long shot, but now that things actually looked like they were beginning to fall into place. He was more terrified than ever about Voldemort's response. He didn't even know if Voldemort had a body to respond with. He wasn't a hero. He'd never, even in his wildest dreams, ever wanted to be one. After second-year…he shuddered. So many things had happened down in that chamber, and none of them bode well for Voldemort's reception of his letter. And of course, he feared for his dearest Hedwig's safe return. Resolutely, he turned his mind to lighter things. He smiled faintly at his memories of the yule ball. He'd danced with Sirius, Remus and even the Bulgarian Crown Prince Ivan Dimitrovla had taken his turn. Hagrid had swung him around, and then Madame Maxime had her opportunity to manhandle him about the dance floor. The sight of her headmistress dancing with the pint-sized boy had reduced Fleur to helpless giggles. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to dance with Luna, but the petite blonde's mere presence had been enough to brighten his day. Still, Harry had most enjoyed his time with Viktor. They had danced the last dance together, and the older boy's dark eyes on him made all thoughts of the impending tournament vanish from his mind. There were times Viktor looked at him and seemed to see more than what there actually was, which scared him, to a certain extent, but also warmed his heart like none other had. He didn't know what it meant, but he trusted Viktor, trusted him in anything, with everything. There was a sound at the door, and he froze, transfixed with fear. Then he heard a familiar voice murmur a spell to undo the wards and charms, and he relaxed. Viktor slipped into the room, taking care not to make a sound. The older boy settled into bed beside him, and Harry turned into his embrace at once, knowing he'd never find a safer place other than Viktor's arms
(With Viktor)
The clock aboard the ship chimed just once when Viktor finally crept into his room. His parents liked to talk politics, and took great care at including his opinions. Usually Viktor enjoyed their discussions, but this time the stress of dealing with the entire tournament, as well as the appeal of what awaited his return, had lured him back to bed early. The door didn't creak as it swung open. The only sound reverberating in the stillness of the four walls was Harry's breathing. In the dark, Viktor stripped out of his clothes and draped them over a chair, taking care not to knock into anything that might wake the boy up. He slipped under the covers alongside him wearing only a thin undershirt and a pair of boxers. Immediately he was assaulted by a slim warm body, plaint with sleep and deep dreams, that latched onto the additional heat source. Viktor discovered that Harry liked blanket upon blankets upon warming charms upon blankets. He absolutely adored to be cocooned in any manner or form. The sudden attack made Viktor close his eyes and pray for patience for nearly half-a-minute, before he was finally able to relax enough and bask in the boy's unconscious embrace. A small nose nudged his sharp jaw as Harry cuddled closer, making him smile
"Good night love" Viktor murmured in his native tongue.
The boy mumbled something back to that effect, more than half-asleep. The best thing about Harry's unconscious clinging was waking up in the morning and watching him stir into full consciousness, never once relinquishing his grip