Chapter 10
The next morning was crisp, with the early autumn sun casting soft golden light across the Hogwarts grounds. Harry had woken up feeling strangely... excited. Despite the growing tension with Ron and Hermione and the complications with the Weasleys, he found himself eagerly anticipating his day with Viktor. They had exchanged a few more letters over the summer, and their connection had only deepened since Durmstrang had arrived. Today, they had promised to spend time together, something Harry had been looking forward to, even though he still wasn’t entirely sure what to make of Viktor’s more flirtatious side.
After breakfast, Viktor was already waiting for him in the Gryffindor common room. The Durmstrang champion looked entirely out of place among the red and gold tapestries, but he seemed comfortable enough, leaning against the wall near the fireplace. Harry smiled, feeling his heart lift as Viktor waved him over.
"Harry," Viktor greeted, his deep voice filled with warmth. “You sleep vell?”
Harry nodded, returning the smile. “Yeah, I did. You?”
"Vell enough," Viktor shrugged, his accent making Harry smile inwardly.
They sat down near one of the large windows that overlooked the lake. The atmosphere was relaxed, the early morning stillness making it feel like they had all the time in the world. Viktor leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes studying Harry in a way that made him both self-conscious and oddly comforted.
"I like your castle," Viktor said suddenly, breaking the silence. "It is... different from Durmstrang."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"
"More... inviting," Viktor explained with a slight smile. "Durmstrang is all stone and shadows. Not so much color."
"Sounds gloomy," Harry mused, glancing around the warm, well-lit common room.
"It is. But you get used to it." Viktor's smile softened. "I think you vould like it there, though."
Harry chuckled. "Doubt it. I like having windows I can actually see out of, not just tiny slits in the walls."
Viktor’s laugh was soft but genuine. “Perhaps. But I think you are stronger than you think, Harry.”
Before Harry could respond, the portrait hole swung open, and Ron stomped in, his face flushed red. Hermione was right behind him, looking equally frustrated. The air in the room seemed to thicken as the two made a beeline for Harry and Viktor.
"Harry!" Ron shouted, causing several Gryffindors nearby to turn and stare. "Why didn’t you tell us you were writing to Viktor Krum?"
Harry sighed, already dreading this confrontation. "I didn’t think it was your business, Ron."
"Not my business?!" Ron’s face was growing redder by the second. “You’ve been sneaking around, writing to Krum, and you didn’t even tell your best mates?”
Viktor's expression darkened, his gaze shifting from Harry to Ron. "Is this a problem for you, Veasley?"
Hermione, who had been silent so far, stepped forward. Her tone was sharp, though Harry noticed the underlying guilt in her eyes. “Harry, we just... we’re concerned. You’ve been so distant lately, and we just want to make sure your okay”
Harry clenched his jaw, the audacity! The past few weeks had only made him more aware of the things changing between them. The secrets, the distance, it wasn't just him pulling away, he couldn't trust them anymore and he can feel it and notice it with every interaction.
"I'm fine" Harry said stiffly "it's not your business who I write to."
Ron, meanwhile, had only gotten more irate. "Yeah! We’re your friends! We have a right to know what’s going on with you!"
Viktor who had been silent up to this point,stood up, his presence looming over the conversation. His voice was calm but cold as he directed his gaze at Ron. "Harry does not owe you an explanation"
Before Harry could respond, Viktor stood up, towering over Ron, his expression dark and dangerous. “You should vatch how you speak to Harry.”
Rons face flushed even redder,taking a step closer to Viktor, looking as if he was about to start a fight, "Stay out of this Krum this is between me and Harry"
Ron, still glaring, looked like he was about to say something, but Viktor was quicker. With a flick of his wand, Ron was suddenly silenced, his mouth moving but no sound coming out. Hermione gasped, stepping back in shock as Viktor stared Ron down.
“Enough of this,” Viktor growled. “Harry does not need to explain himself to you.”
Harry’s stomach fluttered with a strange mix of nerves and gratitude. Viktor’s protectiveness was intense, but there was something about it that made Harry feel... safe. He glanced at Ron, who was now flailing his arms in frustration, trying to speak but unable to. It was almost comical, really, but Harry’s amusement quickly faded as Hermione shot him a pleading look.
“Harry, please,” she said softly. “Can’t we just... talk about this?”
Harry’s expression hardened. “There’s nothing to talk about, Hermione. You made your choices. I’ve made mine.”
With that, he turned back to Viktor, who gave him a reassuring nod. Together, they left the common room, leaving a stunned Hermione and a silenced Ron behind them.
The rest of the day passed in a much calmer atmosphere. Harry and Viktor spent the hours talking about nothing and everything. They wandered the grounds, occasionally stopping to sit by the lake, watching as the giant squid lazily floated by.
Viktor shared stories about Durmstrang, the harsh winters, the rigorous training. He told Harry about his early years, growing up in Bulgaria, his family’s pride when he was accepted into Durmstrang, and how he had risen to fame as a Seeker.
Harry listened intently, finding Viktor’s life fascinating, so different from his own. Viktor, in turn, asked about Harry’s life, though Harry was hesitant at first. He shared bits and pieces—stories about Hogwarts, his time with the Dursleys, though he left out the worst parts. Viktor seemed to sense this and didn’t push, though his eyes were filled with understanding.
At one point, Viktor looked thoughtful, his brow furrowed slightly. “Harry... I found something of yours.”
Harry looked at him, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Viktor reached into his coat and pulled out a familiar, worn sketchbook. Harry’s breath caught in his throat as he recognized it immediately.
“My sketchbook... Where did you—”
“It fell out of your jacket during the attack at the World Cup,” Viktor explained, handing it to him. “I meant to return it earlier, but... vell, things have been busy.”
Harry took the sketchbook, his fingers brushing over the cover. He hadn’t realized it had been missing, and now that it was back in his hands, a wave of memories came rushing back. Memories of drawing late into the night, of capturing the world around him in charcoal and ink.
“I... I didn’t think anyone had noticed,” Harry said quietly, flipping through the pages.
“I noticed,” Viktor said softly. “Your drawings are... beautiful.”
Harry’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. “Thanks.”
Viktor’s gaze lingered on him, a mixture of admiration and something deeper in his eyes. “You have a gift, Harry. You see the world differently.”
Harry shrugged, feeling awkward under Viktor’s intense gaze. “It’s just a hobby.”
“No,” Viktor corrected, his voice firm. “It is more than that. It is how you express yourself. How you escape.”
Harry was silent for a moment, his fingers tracing the edge of one of the sketches. He hadn’t expected Viktor to understand, but he did. Maybe better than anyone else.
By the time dinner rolled around, Harry felt more at ease with Viktor than he ever had with anyone before. They sat together at the Gryffindor table, away from Ron and Hermione, talking quietly as they ate. The twins, Fred and George, shot them amused looks from across the table, clearly enjoying the sight of Viktor Krum sitting among the Gryffindors.
As they ate, Ginny Weasley suddenly appeared beside Harry, her eyes gleaming as she slid into the seat next to him.
“Harry,” she said sweetly, batting her eyelashes in a way that made Harry instantly uncomfortable. “I’ve been meaning to catch up with you.”
Before Harry could respond, Ginny reached out and latched onto his arm, leaning in closer than necessary. “I was hoping we could spend some time together. You know, catch up on old times.”
Viktor’s eyes narrowed, his gaze darkening as he watched Ginny cling to Harry. His jaw tightened, and Harry could feel the tension radiating off him.
“Ginny,” Harry said, trying to gently pull his arm away, “now’s not really a good time.”
But Ginny wasn’t deterred. She leaned in even closer, her voice dropping to a flirtatious whisper. “Come on, Harry. Don’t be shy. We’ve got all night.”
Before Harry could react, Viktor stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. His eyes blazed with anger as he glared at Ginny.
“Leave. Now.”
Ginny looked startled, but she quickly recovered, giving Viktor a disdainful look. “Excuse me, but this is between Harry and me. You can’t just—”
Viktor didn’t give her a chance to finish. With a sharp flick of his wand, Ginny was thrown back slightly, her grip on Harry’s arm broken as shes tumbled. The entire hall fell silent, eyes wide as they watched the scene unfold.
“Viktor!” Harry gasped, but Viktor was not listening, he grasped Harry's hand and left the hall, Fred and George glaring daggers at Ginny as they followed duo along with Neville, and Luna.