After a second class with Viktor and his cronies you gave a quick goodbye and headed off to lunch as he headed off to Quidditch practice. While your stomach was rumbling and you desperately wanted something warm to eat, you had to know what was in the note Krum had passed you. You stopped on the staircase to open it knowing that if Hermione saw what you were reading she would lecture you again about Harry and his feelings.
Princess...
I’d like to see you tonight, without your friends or mine. If you can make it Ill be at the Quidditch field at 8 cleaning up. Dress warmly this time.
VK
Reading the note again to make verify what you had read the first time, your heart began to soar. Things seemed to be going alright for you. Placing the note into your pocket you felt the one from Harry. Blimey, you thought to yourself. How were you going to manage pulling off seeing Harry and Viktor? Now Draco just has to demand to see me and the day will be complete. You decided to worry about your boy issues til later after dinner and go to find everyone else.
"Looks good doesn’t it?" you ask Harry sarcastically alluding to the fact that Ron and Hermione were more intent on eating each other's faces rather than the steaming lunch before them.
"Thank Merlin you’re here," Harry said rolling his eyes and stabbing a piece of meatloaf. "They’ve been at it since lunch started, you’d think they hadn’t seen each other for months." Thinking enough was enough you flung a spoonful of peas at Ron’s head to break the suction of their lips.
"Anyways how were classes this morning?" The rest of lunch was filled with chatter about how classes were alot more difficult and fast paced and what everyone had after lunch. It looked like you would be spending the afternoon alone since everyone else had a full set of classes til dinner and you had free periods until Astronomy that night.
Twenty minutes before lunch was up Hermione dragged Ron by the hand up the stairs so they could find their next class together. You couldn’t help but smile and shake your head knowing you did not need more than 10 minutes to find any classroom at Durmstrang, it was definitely smaller than Hogwarts. Your smile faltered thinking about your old school.
"You alright?" Harry asked looking at you through his glasses.
"Perfect," you replied quickly smiling. "Ill see you for dinner yea?" you asked getting up from the bench.
"You bet. And Ill see you later tonight?" He asked hopefully waiting for an answer.
"Yes, 7 o’clock in the library, I got it." You got up and started walking with Harry towards the main hall. "But until then I know my bed is calling my name and I am more than happy to reply," you finished yawning.
"All right then, Ill see you tonight. Sweet dreams."
You made your way up the stairs towards the girl's dormitory without much excitement. You said hello to the Durmstrang students you passed and to the girls from Hogwarts that you knew. However when you passed Pansy and her group of girls you couldn’t help but ignore them and their laughter, nor could you ignore the fact that you heard 'Draco,' 'kiss,' and 'tonight' all in the same breath. Well that just proves that I can do whatever I want. If he doesn’t feel the need to stick to an agreement neither do I.
Opening the door and finding the room empty you gratefully sank onto your bed amidst the crumpled blankets and pillows.
"Ugh," you rolled over and nearly strangled yourself with your scarf A flick of your wand solved the problem as your uniform was transformed to lounge pants and a tank top. Satisfied you rolled over to your stomach and fell asleep immediately.
An hour into your nap you attempted to roll over and found another occupant in your bed.
"DRACO! What in the HELL do you think you’re doing in my bed?!" you scream at him and moving to the other side. "I’m sure Pansy is looking for you, go fill her bed."
"While that idea is very appealing Id much rather stay here," he answered reaching out his arm to pull you back to him.
"Stop," you say ignoring his hand. "How did you even get up here anyways? There should be spells to keep guys like you out."
Draco sighed at this and shook his head. "For being so smart I’m surprised you didn’t figure it out. I’m SURE you noticed that most of the students here are male? Now wouldn’t it make sense that most of the dormitories are male? Obviously they missed that little detail when they opened this part of the castle up to Hogwarts students. Which would explain why I had zero trouble coming in." You could do nothing but glare at Draco and wish a very long and painful death for him. He had interrupted your nap!
"Well what do you want? I highly doubt you came up here for nothing," you asked, still on your guard.
"Why do I always have to want something?" He asked acting shocked.
"Because you’re Draco Malfoy! If you don’t want something its because you’re already getting it. Cut the crap and tell me what you want so you can leave."
"I got a letter this morning from home. It seems they are very displeased to find that you have been disassociating yourself from me."
You were irate. "Have you been TATTLING on me?!" you screamed.
"No, I haven’t," he answered. "Why would I care what you do, right? You said so yourself, your business is yours and mine is mine til you’re 18. I just thought you should know that 'He' was not very pleased," Draco finished. "You better smarten up with whom you are seen with."
"It shouldn’t matter who I see," you fumed. "Its not like I’m dating anyone or sleeping around." You finished getting off your bed and held the curtain to the side. "Ill thank you to find your own way out." As soon as Draco had swaggered out the door you got back under the covers to resume your nap. How dare he. You grabbed the pillow Draco was propped up on and threw it across the room, in the process you caught a whiff of vanilla and alarms went off in your head. He wouldn’t have...
Sleeping through dinner, you scrambled to get dressed and to find your schoolbooks. You had 10 minutes to meet Harry in the library and you wanted to make sure you didn’t run into Hermione or anyone else that would want to join you.
Checking yourself over in the mirror you adjusted your red headband that matched your turtleneck sweater and pulled a pair of boots on over your jeans. You grabbed your ski jacket and made your way to the library.
The heat from the fireplaces in the library hit you even before you walked in. You spotted Harry immediately in the far corner struggling with some bit of homework or another.
"Hey!" you said plopping down in the armchair across from Harry. "What are you working on?" you didn’t bother waiting for an answer but instead grabbed the piece of parchment to see for yourself.
"Potions. Its awful," he said dropping his head on the table. "Could you?" You were already ahead of him checking over his answers and fixing the occasional screw up. You handed his homework back over and sat back in your chair. You followed Harry's lead and pulled out your homework assignment from Ancient Runes and began making chitchat.
"Are you taking Dark Arts?" you asked looking up from your essay.
"Don’t you mean Defense Against the Dark Arts?" he asked giving you a funny look.
"Nooo...its just...Dark Arts. We learned about them and how we could use them to our advantage basically. Instead of how to ward off attacks we learned how to attack," you explained setting your quill down. "It was...interesting to say the least." No matter how close of friends you were, you were not going to let Harry, or Hermione, or Ron, or anyone else know what your future had in store for you. "Anything else you need me to check?" you asked
"I’m good for now, thanks," he said tucking the rest of his work away in his bag. "And thanks for coming, I didn’t think you would."
"Come on, why wouldn’t I?" you asked leaning forward so no eavesdroppers could hear. "You have to know by now that Id do anything you asked me to," you finished.
"I know." Harry grabbed your hand from across the table and looked down at it. "I just wanted to let you know that even though we had our problems in the past and all that I respect you and you’re one of my very best friends. I know that things weren’t great, but it’s not like either of us died," he faltered.
"What are you trying to say?" you asked looking up at his green eyes. There were some days that you regretted not working harder with him but knew it was in everyone’s best interest that you had split up.
"I-I still love you."
"Hey guys! Mind if we join?" You and Harry looked up to see Ron and Hermione standing in front of you totally oblivious they had just ruined the moment. Harry quickly dropped your hand and motioned for the two to sit down.
"Can you believe all this work?" Hermione asked emptying her bag on the table. "I have an essay due tomorrow for every class!" Ron merely looked as if someone had killed his dog.
"I miss Hogwarts," he said not even bothering to begin his work. You had to agree that the workload was alot more strenuous.
"I guess I better get ready for my Astronomy class then," you said getting up and making your apologies. "Ill see you later on tonight." Whew, I have NEVER been so glad to see those two that just saved me alot of grief. You knew that while Ron and Hermione had saved you from responding to Harry's declaration of love for the time being, you might not be so lucky next time. You zipped your jacket up as far as it would go and walked out the front door into the freezing cold to meet Viktor.
The snow was falling lightly as you made your way to the Quidditch field. Practice was still going strong when you sat down near other students who had braved the cold to come out and watch or to shout tips or insults to the players. You hated flying. It probably didn’t help that you hadn’t been on a broom since you were 10. Draco had purposely ran smack into you and you had fallen 20 feet out of the air. Viktor must have spotted you because minutes later a whistle was blown and he called an end to practice. He stayed on his broom but flew down so that he was eye level with you.
"How was the rest of your day?" he asked conjuring up a cape for himself.
"Great! I ended up taking a nap and totally missing dinner," you said shoving your hands deeper into your pockets. "How bout you?"
Viktor ignored your question and asked one of his own. "Well since you missed dinner would you like to get something with me?" he asked. "We can head into town and eat at this cafe I know. Its not far I promise," he added holding out his hand.
"How are we getting there?" you asked knowing exactly what he would say.
"A broom is the fastest way," he answered smiling. "Come on the food is worth it."
