AN: Words in bold are spoken in Bulgarian.
Viktor Krum was facing a challenge. Worse, it was a challenge he hadn't expected. When his name had come out of the Goblet of Fire, Viktor had assessed his opponents and come to the conclusion that none were a match for him. He didn't doubt that they were competent in their own right but he couldn't see a way that they would be able to match up to him either; until the first task.
Last week he had been proven wrong in his initial assessment. Viktor still didn't think that Diggory or Delacour would pose a significant threat to his winning the Tournament, but he had dangerously underestimated Harry Potter. Not only did he defeat the most dangerous species of dragon present that day, he did it by flying! He used my specialty against me. Because he had assumed that a fourteen year-old couldn't possibly be a match for the rest of them, Viktor hadn't scouted his enemy's strengths and weaknesses. He had spent the past week trying as best he could to remedy that oversight.
Potter didn't seem to have a lot of close friends; he relied mostly on those two girls that were always with him. Of the two he seemed especially attached to the brunette. Viktor was fairly sure she was going to prove to be the chink in Potter's armour. If he could woo the brunette away from his competitor, Potter's confidence and support structure should take a massive hit. That in turn should allow Viktor to make up the lost ground in the next task.
With the Yule Ball coming up, Viktor knew he had the perfect opportunity to get the brunette on his side. She seemed fairly plain and hardly sought after and Viktor was sure that she would be overwhelmed by an international sports star asking her out on a date. No. Don't rely on your fame. She is close to Harry Potter, so fame is something she is used to. I have to find a way to make her believe that I am far superior to Potter; that I have more to offer her. Though since he hasn't asked her out yet, the fact alone that I am doing so should help. I need more information.
Easier said than done. If he started asking around word would reach Potter and he might realise what was happening and counter it. The goal wasn't the girl, after all and Potter could well find someone to replace her if he knew she was compromised. Surprise would be everything in this.
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Damn and blast that Potter! Viktor was gripping his knife so fiercely that he could feel the handle was close to drawing blood from his fist. Potter had just smacked down that little, blond annoyance that always sat as close as possible to Viktor himself at meals. That would have been fine as far as it went and under different circumstances Viktor would even have thanked and congratulated Potter for his performance. No, what really set the Bulgarian's blood to boiling was the fact that it had become blindingly obvious that Potter had asked the girl (and damn it, Viktor just couldn't remember that ridiculous name). This meant that he was going to have to pull out all the stops and overwhelm her to get her away from the little shit. Viktor's advantage of being the one to ask her before she had even realised that she was an option as a date was gone and shot to hell.
No matter. I am still a better option than he is. Women tend to want a man who's a little older. They believe that the men their age have not matured enough. I still have an advantage. If I use it properly she will still be mine; it will just hurt Potter all the more.
Viktor had been carefully listening to the rumours around the British school. At any given time at least half of them seemed to be about Harry Potter so sitting quietly near groups of people had turned out to be an excellent information gathering strategy. The girl, Her...Hem...the brunette, was his best friend and had been since Potter had rescued her from a troll in first year. Viktor assumed that this meant some other student who had been bullying her; what kind of school would not have safeguards against dangerous magical creatures entering and threatening its students? The girl spent most of her time in the library and was slavishly addicted to learning. She was also considered an academic genius. Viktor had been very interested to learn that she tutored younger students in Arithmancy every week in the library. That told him she would be in a specific location at a specific time. Most of the gossips agreed that they had thought that Potter and Gra...Gansher?...Potter and Gansher would end up a couple. Viktor planned to put an end to that conviction very soon.
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Viktor could feel energy thrumming through his body. He had been watching Gansher teach a group of brats Arithmancy for the past hour. He had to admit that she seemed to know what she was talking about. Now though he was starting to get impatient. Most of the brats had left already but one was insistently staying behind to squeak at his target. Viktor made his way over and watched the little girl go wide-eyed. He shot her a glare and the little mouse scurried away. The brunette looked a little worried. She can sense something of my intent? Clever girl. Still a little anxiety need not be a bad thing. Danger excites after all.
"You are Hermy-own Gansher, da?" he asked to get the ball rolling.
"My name is Hermione Granger. Was there something you needed?" So frigid, little girl; and do you really think that I care what your name is? Viktor could feel himself getting excited about the hunt. So few girls offered any resistance at all anymore and there was something to be said for the thrill of the chase.
"I use to see you much in Library, but no more. I miss dat." Viktor saw her eyes widen just a fraction. Yes, I have studied you, little girl. Did you think me some brute because I play Quidditch? Oh well, I'll take the extra advantage.
"I have been choosing to study elsewhere with my friends, Mister Krum. Now, if you will excuse me." Her eyes darted to the side and Viktor could see her body shift as she prepared to walk away from their conversation. Oh no you don't. If you wished to leave you shouldn't have chosen to give your class in a closed off area with one exit and we are not done here. Viktor shifted his body into her path and stepped towards her. She backed away and he noticed that a slight panic seemed to be descending in her eyes. Not good. Anxiety I can use; fear will not let her hear my words. I have to make her feel more comfortable, or at least less jumpy.
"I am Viktor for you, da?" You see, little girl? We can pretend to be equals; and if you will not listen to eloquence, I will have to reel you in with a more straightforward approach. "I haff come to invite you to de Ball."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Krum. I already have a date for the Ball. I would appreciate it if you would let me go." So predictable: you do not wish to tarnish your reputation, so you resist me. How can I not accept such an invitation?
"Leaf him. Potter is a boy. Let a man take you and show you de pleasures of a night like dis." Something in the girl's expression turned mutinous.
"The hell I will! Harry is more of man than you could hope to be and certainly knows more about pleasing women." Now that was unexpected. Potter had already had her? That had most certainly not been a factor in his initial calculations. Or was she exaggerating some simple groping for the purpose of seeing how he would respond? When in doubt, go physical. Viktor turned slightly to the side so the girl would move between him and the shelves. The key would be making eye-contact. If he could keep their eyes locked he might be able to draw her into a kiss. Even if she kept refusing him, she would be unbalanced and that would affect Potter regardless. As Viktor felt the girl brush past him his hand shot out and grabbed her elbow as surely as he would a Snitch. He started leaning forward, looking for her eyes. He found them at the same time as he felt something digging into his throat. Her eyes managed to find his but they were blazing with determination.
"For the last time: leave. Me. Alone." Viktor felt the wand twisting into his neck. He dropped the girl's elbow, took a step back so he was leaning against the shelves and raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture. He watched the girl as she backed away keeping him covered until she turned around and fled from the library. Viktor slowly lowered his hands with a pensive expression on his face. That girl has some real fire in her. I can't remember any girl ever refusing me. A grin broke out on his face. Alright, little girl. The hunt is on. I don't think I've ever relished a challenge more. Viktor realised that he would be hard pressed to get her to listen to him after today, but damn it if that didn't make him want to try harder. First things first: a date for this Ball. Let's see if there are any suitable ladies walking around.
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Viktor was standing with his date on his arm in an out of the way little antechamber. The Yule Ball was about to start but he couldn't bring himself to really care; not even when his date dropped her seventeenth hint that he would be welcome in her bed tonight. Each had been less subtle than the last and Viktor was starting to wonder if she would be handing him her underwear before the night was out. Still, it had been effortless to get her to come along with him and he hadn't even put any effort into trying to get into her knickers, which made the offer seem almost boring. Viktor was waiting for the one couple that had yet to show up: Potter and his brunette. Ever since she had given him a knock-back, Viktor had discovered that he was eager to win her acceptance.
Viktor was just listening to Unsubtle Hint Number Eighteen when the door to the ante-chamber opened and that stern old woman walked in. Behind the teacher were Potter and her. Viktor let his eyes drink her in as she stood next to her date. Well, well, well, little girl, don't you just look all grown up. You would have looked better on my arm though. He saw the girl move so that Potter stood between them. Potter seemed to guess her reasons for doing so and more properly stepped between Viktor and his prey while shooting the Bulgarian a glare. Viktor had to resist the urge to snort. Does he really think that I will be frightened by a pubescent child? Out-flying a dragon isn't out-dueling a wizard, boy.
When they were informed of how they would enter the Hall, Viktor had to tamp down his irritation at the way the hosts were rubbing Potter's victory in the first task in his face. That irritation became much harder to control once he heard the introduction Potter was given. This was organised by him and his friends, no doubt. Have they no class?
During the dinner Viktor managed a balancing act he had perfected at formal functions the world over. He was barely paying attention to the girl next to him who was talking incessantly while making it look like nothing could interest him more than the vapid nonsense coming out of her mouth. At the same time he was paying minute attention to what his target was saying at the other side of the table was saying without even seeming to notice her existence. What he learnt made him want to smile. So she wants to save the elves? She certainly has a fixation on saviours doesn't she? She apparently became friends with Potter when he saved her and now she wants to save the oppressed of a world she is still unprepared to face. This makes what Headmaster Karkaroff told me far more interesting. I will have to tell him that I would miss that sweet little thing torturously if she were to be taken. Viktor knew that his Headmaster would not be fooled for an instant, but also that the man would wholeheartedly agree with Viktor's plan. From Karkaroff's ramblings after a few shots of vodka, Viktor was sure that his Headmaster would be able to manipulate the other judges into making sure that the little girl would be his hostage. That should at the very least confuse Potter when he finally gets down there. The longer he takes, the more ground I win. That the little girl will see me as a saviour will certainly help my future efforts.
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"What the fuck is going on here?!" Viktor was in an absolute rage when he emerged from the lake. He had worked tirelessly to master one of the most difficult feats of magic imaginable. It should have seen him down to the hostages well before the others and impressed the hell out of the little girl when he pulled her out of the water. As he stalked towards his Headmaster, who was looking particularly grim, he couldn't help but notice Potter and the girl sitting under a blanket together talking to the other two champions and their hostages. He had to look away or he was sure he would start cursing something.
"That little brat came up with the girl. I went to confront him and he told us that there was no way he could have known that she wasn't his hostage. It would seem that Dumbledore isn't as aware of the relationships between his students as he would have had us believe when he put that ginger down in the lake." Karkaroff aimed a glare at the redhead still splashing around in the lake. "You should have left him down there. Now that you've brought him up Bagman is already arguing that you accepted him as your hostage."
"Mamkamu! How did that little shit even beat me down there?" Viktor snarled out as his hands started curling into claws from his rage.
"Gillyweed." Karkaroff's disgust was clear to hear in his voice.
"Gillyweed?! He beat me with a goddamn plant?" Karkaroff's nod did nothing to cool Viktor's rage.
"All is not yet lost, Viktor. You had better perform to higher standard in the last task than you have so far if you want to have a chance at victory though." Viktor could only growl at his Headmaster's back as the man had already turned to head back to the other judges. When Bagman announced the score Viktor was sure that Karkaroff had at least done his best to keep the difference between himself and Potter as small as possible. He didn't think that Potter could get to the cup within nine minutes but he was through underestimating the boy. I had better study up on a few combat curses that I can reasonably claim to have hit him with by accident at this rate.
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Viktor woke up with a throbbing head in unfamiliar surroundings. He hadn't managed to get his bearings before an elderly woman appeared next to the bed he was laying in.
"You're awake. How are you feeling?" she asked. Viktor groaned and grabbed his head as his headache spiked. He felt a potion vial being placed at his lips. The chance for relief was so tempting that he simply swallowed the liquid without worrying too much about what it was exactly. Whatever it was definitely did the trick of curing his headache.
"Vhere am I?" he managed once he could think without feeling like someone took a mallet to his skull.
"The Hogwarts Hospital Wing." was the crisp answer. Before he could ask what had happened to land him in the hospital the woman was already answering his questions. "You've only been here for a few hours. You were held under the Imperius Curse and attacked your fellow contestants. No permanent harm seems to have befallen either you or them." From what Viktor knew of the curse it was unlikely that he would have held back in his attacks. He doubted Diggory or Delacour could match him in a fight.
"It vas Potter who stopped me, vasn't it?" The woman's face turned upset for the briefest of moments. "He von den?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter managed to stop you and yes, he managed to win the Tournament." There is more that is not being said here. The woman however seemed unwilling to discuss what those unsaid matters might be. "You will rest here for the time being. If your headache does not return, you may return to your schoolmates this evening." Once Viktor had nodded his understanding the woman bustled off towards a bed that was surrounded by a screen. Potter must be in that bed. He was probably gravely injured securing the victory for his school. Viktor laid back and tried to rest. The sooner he got out of here the sooner he could find out what was going on.
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As the ship sank beneath the waves, Victor watched Hogwarts Castle disappear from view. It has been an...interesting year. Viktor had not imagined that he would be beaten to the title and certainly not by a fourth-year. He had to admit that he had not imagined a fourth-year like Harry Potter either. The boy had bested him at every turn, even when Viktor had admitted that he was unlikely to win in a straight competition and determined to unsettle his opponent by chasing after the brunette with the difficult name. He beat me there too. He was stronger than I in every way. As Viktor turned back to the bow and started plotting their cause homeward he couldn't help but smirk as a thought crossed his mind. I hope Potter decides to play Quidditch professionally. That would be a challenge worth tackling.
AN: Welcome back. This is the first in a minimum of eight chapters. The next three will provide the much requested insight into what Albus Dumbledore was thinking. The four after that will give you some insight into what happened to some of your favourite characters after the end of the story. I will take any requests into consideration, though a fair warning: I will not be doing the Potter wedding (since I don't care about the legal finalization of what has already been established) and I don't have any inspiration for Hermione's response to Harry's explanation that he is a time traveler. Aside from that feel free to request anything.
These chapters will be a lot less consistent in length than the ones in Last Chance since they are mostly single scenes. I do aim for my usual consistency in publishing them.
UrsaMinor is busy with her graduation project so she doesn't have the time to beta this, but I felt like you had waited long enough for this.
As always thank you for reading.