Hey everyone! Hope you have all been well here is the next chapter, hope you enjoy it!

I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter 12

Harry awoke early like usual but didn't get up to go flying. It was now getting to cold to be out flying early in the morning. The icy wind nipping into skin turning fingers numb and cheeks red. After getting sick he decided that it would be best to avoid flying in extreme temperatures again. It was actually the cold weather that made him reconsider his decision to try out for his house quidditch team. As much as he loved flying he just wasn't as invested in playing for his house team at Durmstrang as he had been at Hogwarts. Harry wondered if it was because he came in late and so didn't feel quite as enthusiastic or if it was more that he was enjoying everything else at Durmstrang so quidditch didn't seem quite so important. At Hogwarts quidditch had been a shining light amongst dangerous mysteries and Voldemort attacks. Now he felt safer, anonymous, and though he still loved quidditch it just didn't hold the same appeal. He knew Timor, Lukas and Roman would be disappointed he had decided not to try out, but really there was an abundance of great players at Durmstrang, the team would be amazing with or without him on it. So instead of getting up to go flying he snuggled down further into the warmth of his bed, Zima spread against his side purring gently. He could hear the other boys in the room starting to stir but chose to ignore them for the moment. That is until his bed hangings were pulled back, Harry rolled over blinking slowly, to find Roman looking down at him.

"Up you get sleeping beauty, don't want to be late for breakfast."

Harry groaned groggily and tried to burrow further into his blankets. Yelping as they were unceremoniously pulled from him, the cold air biting at any exposed skin it could reach. Green eyes narrowed in a glare at Roman but found Timur standing beside him holding the blankets with a grin. Before Harry can do any more than grumble Zima jumped from his place on the floor where he had landed when the blankets were tugged off and sank his claws into Timur's chest. Timur let out a howl in surprise swinging around trying to dislodge the angry animal but Zima wasn't letting go. Sinking his claws in even deeper. Lukas and Roman's laughter followed the other teen around the room, who was twisting and turning while trying to pull the angry kneazle off his chest.

"Harry help!" Timur cried, ignoring the way Harry's laughter had now joined with that of Lukas and Roman's.

With one last chortle Harry stood up. "Zima, that's enough now."

Zima turned and looked at Harry for a moment, claws dragging slightly down Timur's chest before dropping silently to the floor and strolling off. Harry was still laughing but he stood up to inspect Timur's chest, making sure that Zima hadn't actually done any damage.

"Maybe that will teach you not to disturb us when we're sleeping" Harry said with a smirk, satisfied that Timur wasn't badly injured.

Harry wandered off for a shower leaving Lukas and Roman teasing Timur.

Unfortunately, Harry's good mood didn't manage to last long.

They had potions first period. Harry had come to really enjoy potions now he was at Durmstrang, he felt like he finally understood what Snape had been spouting about in his first potions lesson. Potions could do amazing things. Harry paused for a moment to reflect on the fact that he actually agreed with Snape about something. Suppressing a shudder at the thought, he walked into potions and spotted Anders at their usual desk, a bright smile breaking out on his face as he spotted the other teen. Harry took his seat next to Anders and if it was closer than perhaps was usual neither of them said a thing. Anders just leaning over slightly so his arm was brushing against Harry's, Harry wasn't sure if Anders was even aware, he was doing it, but each movement sent little shivers running though Harry's body. Harry and Anders had grown closer since Harry's illness and the incident with Hermione's letter, Anders had really been there for him and it left Harry with a soft warm feeling in his chest. It also left him considering the rapidly approaching holiday season. Christmas was coming and Harry had decided that he wanted to get Anders a present, though he had no idea just what at the moment.

Someone clearing their throat brought Harry back to the present and stopped his musings about Christmas gifts. Harry looked up to find their potions professor ready to begin. Their potions professor was a stern man though never unkind, with a commanding presence that made the whole class stop and listen whenever he spoke. Today they were brewing a blood replenishing potion, and those that were good enough would be used in the medical wing. Harry liked the idea that his potions would actually be used for something useful. Harry and Anders set to work on their potion, Anders slicing ingredients today and Harry adding and stirring when appropriate. It was the first time that he would be the one in charge of the potion and Harry was determined to do a good job. Determined to show Anders just how much he had improved and make the blonde proud of him. Anders stood beside him measuring out the ingredients they would need. Not even watching as Harry added them. Harry knew it was Anders way of showing that he trusted Harry and it made the Concinne student all warm thinking about it. He tried to ignore the twinge of guilt he felt when he realised that perhaps that trust was misguided, after all Harry was keeping quite a few secrets from Anders. He pushed those thoughts out of his mind as he picked up the salamander blood and poured it into their cauldron. He was just preparing to start stirring when something landed in their cauldron with a small plop. If Harry hadn't been staring straight at the potion, he would have missed it completely. As he continued to stare the potion began to bubble and hiss. Anders looked up from the flubberworm mucus he was measuring, blue eyes widening in surprise. The cauldron began to splutter more frantically and before Harry could even think what to do Anders was shoving him out of the way just as the cauldron exploded. Harry fell backwards, hitting the ground hard some potion hitting his hand causing it to blister painfully. Harry's eyes widened in horror as the potion exploded all over Anders, covering his face and burning away some of his robes. His skin started to blister as he dropped to his knees groaning in pain and Harry's heart wrenched painfully at the sound. He rushed to Anders side his hands fluttering uselessly over the burned skin just as Professor Maine dropped to Anders other side, wand raised and casting furiously, the burned skin already starting to lesson though still looking incredibly painful.

Harry took a deep breath as he realised that Anders was going to be OK and as the panic began to fade it was replaced by another emotion… anger, no not just anger – rage, at whoever had dared to do this to Anders. His hands curled into fists at his side, pain raced up his arm where his hand burned but he let the pain fuel him, fuel his rage. He stood looking calm, missing the potions professor sending his patronus to call the school nurse. Green eyes flashed, seeming to burn as Harry surveyed the class. Taking in the sight of the students all staring frozen in shock at the scene before them. Harry had been at Durmstrang several months and this was the first time he had ever seen or heard of an incident in potions, they were very strict on this sort of thing.

"Who did it?" he asked, voice icy, eyes travelling the room.

"WHO DID IT!?" Harry yelled this time, causing several students to jump in surprise. His magic responded to his raging emotions, lashing out and several vials lined along the walls exploded, sickly purple liquid running down the walls. "WHO THREW SOMETHING IN OUR CAULDRON!?"

Harry eyed the class steadily; Professor Maine stood next to him and gazed around the class as well. Harry glanced down at Anders to see him resting on the floor, the Professor must have given him something for the pain.

"Is this true? Did someone throw something into another students cauldron?"

The class stood stoically in the face of their potion master's anger, a few twitching nervously.

A voice sounded from the back of the room; it was an Atticus student that Harry didn't recognise.

"It was Annika" the voice spoke up sounding sure. "I saw her throw something in the cauldron when Anders back was turned.

Harry spun so quickly to look at Annika that he suffered a moment of dizziness before he refocused his rage on the girl in front of him. The girl who for some reason had decided she didn't like him from the moment he had arrived at Durmstrang but had now taken her dislike too far and now Anders was injured. Harry's magic lashed out pushing Annika across the room and pinning her to the wall. He started walking across the room toward her when he felt a firm hand grip his shoulder. Harry glanced back seeing Professor Maine standing beside him.

"Enough Harry, I know you are upset but go with Anders to the medical wing. I will deal with Miss Florence" he finished sternly.

Harry took a moment to rein in his anger, drawing in a few deep breaths as he felt himself regain his control. He nodded once before walking back over to Anders. The school nurse was beside the blonde, magicing the teen onto a stretcher and directing it toward the medical wing. Harry grabbed Anders large hand with his own and followed next to the stretcher, green eyes watching in concern as he traced small circles onto the others palm. Anders didn't stir as the nurse placed him onto a soft bed and pulled the blankets up and tucked them under Anders chin.

"He will be OK" she said softly, "he just needs some rest. There is a cream that he will need to rub into his skin for the next week or so, but I will discuss that with him when he awakes."

Harry nodded in understanding, "thank you" he murmured as he sat on a chair content to just sit and watch. Gently smoothing the blankets over Anders even thought they were already neat.

He ignored the throbbing pain in his own hand, focused instead on Anders.

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Harry awoke to the feeling of a hand running through his hair, it was so comforting that he laid still letting himself enjoy the moment. He tilted his head a little leaning into the touch and heard a small chuckle from beside him. It took him a moment to come to himself, blinking slowly as he sat up.

Anders watched as bright green eyes blinked awake, Harry sat up look adorably confused and sleep mussed. Anders just wanted to pull the smaller teen into his side and hold him tight, he resisted the urge though only narrowly.

Harry looked around confused for a moment before realising where he was. The medical ward! Anders! Not realising what he was doing Harry moved to the edge of Anders bed, sitting beside him as he took Anders face in his hands.

"You're awake," Harry said relieved. "How are you feeling?" Harry asked turning Anders face from side to side and running his fingers through the soft blonde hair, as if to reassure himself that Anders was really OK.

"I'm OK." Anders replied, looking at Harry his heart beating loudly in his chest at Harry's close proximity. "Just a bit sore and tired. What happened?"

"What happened is, Annika threw something into our cauldron causing an explosion and you, idiot that you are, pushed me out of the way and got injured yourself!" Harry said anger taking over again now that he knew that Anders was OK.

Anders blinked in surprise at the onslaught from the slight teen in front of him.

"Well, I couldn't let you get injured" Anders said, his brow crinkling in confusion.

Harry looked at him in exasperation, "of course you could have! That would've been much better than you getting injured you idiot."

Anders lips quirked at the insult; Harry was the idiot if he thought that Anders would ever let anything happen to him.

"You will never do anything like that ever again" Harry commanded sternly, but Anders didn't reply just made a non-committal noise in the back of his throat before turning to look at the school nurse who had just walked over.

"Ah Mr Lind, it is good to see that you are awake and from the argument I just heard, doing much better."

Anders just nodded, smirking at the pout on Harry's face. Harry made to move off the side of the bed and back to the chair when a pair of sharp eyes swung to him, pinning him to the spot.

"Mr Krum, what is that on your hand?"

Harry looked down and gulped, having forgot about the burn to his hand in all the commotion. Now that he remembered it though the pain came back ten-fold and he groaned softly.

"I… ah, was burnt by the potion as well" Harry said sheepishly, ignoring Anders intense gaze.

"And you did not think to mention it to me earlier? You must be in a large amount of pain."

Harry just shrugged, "I actually forgot about it to be honest, I was so worried about Anders."

The nurse made a clucking sound before hurrying off to collect some potions, muttering the whole time about irresponsible students.

With nurse Baxter gone Harry had no choice but to turn and look at Anders, he could feel the intense blue eyes practically boring a hole in the side of his head. He turned to find Anders glaring at him, and Harry gulped slightly at the look.

"You will never let an injury go untreated" and it was Anders turn to look stern. "I don't care what is happening around you, I especially don't care what is happening to me, you will put your welfare first. Do you understand me?" It was said with such conviction, with such surety that Harry just nodded even if he knew it probably wouldn't hold true. He was so used to putting others welfare above his own that it almost seemed like a foreign concept to put himself first. Anders face darkened as he seemed to understand what Harry was thinking and his hands crept out to take Harry's injured one in his own. Rubbing around the sore skin gently.

Nurse Baxter returned shortly and took Harry's hand into her own, waving her wand to heal the broken skin before forcing a pain potion down his throat. Harry sighed as the tension left his body, he hadn't even realised just how tense he had been feeling until the pain potion took eased his discomfort.

She then handed both teens a jar filled with a light-yellow cream; you will need to rub this onto any affected area for the next one to two weeks. I will see you back here in a fortnight for a check up to see how you are healing." Both teens nodded in understanding.

"Well off with you then," she snapped. "I want you both to take it easy the rest of the day though."

Harry and Anders both jumped to their feet and left the medical wing. They walked in silence until they reached the turn off for the Atticus common room.

Harry was reluctant to leave Ander's side, but refrained from saying as much, just standing awkwardly as he looked at the slightly taller teen.

"I'll see you later Harry," Anders said softly before turning and walking away. Harry stared for a moment before realising what he was doing and hurried off.

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Anders walked into his common room slowly, feeling better but still sore, his skin feeling like it was stretched to tightly over his bones. Every head in the common room snapped around when he walked in and he was soon inundated with people. It was nearly dinner time, so the common room was unusually full.

"Anders! Are you OK?" Anastacia asked, the first one to reach him.

"I'm OK" Anders said simply as Anastacia's brow furrowed in concern. "Honestly I'm OK, Nurse Baxter fixed me up like new." He didn't elaborate about the pain he was still in, that was private and not something to be discussed with the whole house.

Most of the students began to wander back to what they were doing, reassured that Anders was OK. While the large blonde made his way over to a group of armchairs and sat with his friends.

"Are you really OK?" Axel asked as they sat on the brown leather together.

"I am" Anders nodded. "What happened though? I don't remember much."

Anastacia leaned in, launching into an explanation. "Well it turns out that Annika threw something in yours and Harry's cauldron."

Anders nodded, Harry had told him this, but it was still a surprise. Attacks like this were rare at Durmstrang. Occasionally fights would break out in the halls, but classrooms were strictly off limits, with serious consequences to anyone who broke the rules.

"Harry said as much" Anders said gruffly. "I don't understand why she would so something like that though."

"Apparently her and Harry don't get along, we think her goal was to injure Harry, maybe scare him away" Baker explained. Anders hands clenched in anger at the idea of anyone hurting Harry.

"You should have seen your little Concinne student when you got injured though" Axel continued with a smirk.

Anders looked up, momentarily distracted from his anger at the teasing words.

"He was so angry; I've never seen anything like it. Half the class was close to wetting themselves in fear; me included!" Axel said with a chuckle.

"His magic was so strong, it engulphed the whole classroom. When he found out Annika had thrown something into your cauldron, I was honestly worried the classroom might crumble down around us or something." Carly said.

Anders looked back at his friends in surprise, Harry had been that upset that he had been injured.

"All I can say is he must really care about you."

Anders blushed lightly at the words and Anastacia and Axel started to cackle in glee.

"It looks like the feeling might be mutual" Anastacia laughed as she elbowed Anders.

Anders just rolled his eyes with a huff, not bothering to answer. Though the idea that Harry cared so much about him cause a small smile to grace his lips.

"What happened to Annika?"

"She was sent to the Headmaster. I head her parents were called in as well. A Concinne student told me that she has been barred from quidditch for the whole year and she has to serve detention for the next two months."

"Good" Anders said seriously, "though it will be much worse for her then that if she tries to harm Harry again."

His friends just nodded before turning the conversation to other matters.

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Meanwhile, Harry decided to head straight to the hall for dinner. It was nearly dinner time and he knew his friends would be along shortly. He sat at his table as the hall filled around him, ignoring the looks some of the other students were sending his way. He saw Anders walk in with Axel and Harry's eyes ran over the other, making sure that he was feeling OK. Their eyes met and Anders sent him a small smile before sitting with his friends. Blake and Martin entered not long after and rushed over to Harry.

"We heard what happened in potions today Harry, are you OK?" Martin asked.

"Oh, yes I'm fine. It was Anders who was injured."

"I still can't believe Annika would do something like that" Blake said in disbelief as he sat down. "The whole house is furious with her."

As the rest of his friends entered Harry tuned out the conversation, thinking about Annika. He had no idea what he had possibly done to make her so mad at him, but he decided it was time to find out. He had not been sorted into Gryffindor at Hogwarts for nothing.

"Do any of you know where Annika is serving her detention tonight?" Harry interrupted.

Timur looked thoughtful for a moment. "I believe tonight she is in the kitchens washing all the dinner dishes by hand," grimacing as though it was the worst possible punishment there was.

"You aren't going to do anything stupid are you Harry?" Blake asked in concern.

Harry didn't answer, continuing to eat his dinner and ignoring the look his friends shared. Something stupid, was quite relative after all.

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Harry lingered over dinner, waving goodbye to his friends as they left casting him suspicious looks. He ate slowly until nearly everyone else had left the hall, he then got up and wandered off towards the kitchen. The kitchens weren't hidden here like they were at Hogwarts, every student knew where they were and were welcome to get food any time, they were hungry, though Harry had never been. He entered the kitchen and looked around. He saw house elves everywhere and what looked like a large buffet to the right of the door, piled with all different types of food. A house elf hurried over to him.

"Is young master still hungry?" it asked in the usual squeaky voice, dragging Harry toward the buffet.

"No, no, I'm actually looking for a student serving detention here" Harry explained. Looking around the room for Annika.

The house elf nodded solemnly. "Naughty Miss is over there" the small elf said pointing across the kitchen to a massive sink piled high with dirty dishes.

Harry freed his hand from the elfs grasp and made his way over, clearing his throat when he was standing behind Annika. Who startled at the noise, spinning around to see who was behind her and spilling soapy dish water all down the front of her.

"What are you doing here?" Annika snarled at Harry; eyes narrowed.

Harry just sighed, determined to keep a hold of his temper. "Quite frankly, I want to know what the hell your problem is?" Harry bit out.

"What?" she asked, momentarily confused.

"You heard me; I want to know what on earth your problem with me is? I hardly know you, have barely spoken to you and yet you seem to hate me. I want to know why."

The other Concinne student seemed to puff up more at Harry's words. "That's none of your bloody business" she hissed weaving a finger in Harry's face.

"I believe it became my business when you started trying to hurt me and actually hurt my friends because of your dislike for me."

At his words Annika seemed to deflate slightly. "I didn't mean for Anders to get hurt; I didn't realise that the reaction would be so bad. I thought it would just ruin your potion."

Harry frowned at her words, "and that makes what you did ok? Look I don't want conflict, I have had enough of that to last me a lifetime. What. Is. Your. Problem. With. Me?"

Annika looked as if she was debating with herself for a moment before finally answering, "I don't trust you."

"So, your answer to mistrusting me isn't to get to know me but to instead bully me? That makes perfect sense" Harry said with a roll of his eyes.

"It's not just that" Annika snapped. "You come in and with no effort make friends with all of my friends, everyone loves you. You swan around happy and smiling at everyone and having study dates with Anders, even the Atticus students like you, it's all so infuriating!"

Harry looked at her in shock for a few moments, it sounded as though Annika was jealous of him.

"Well people might like you a bit more if you weren't quite so horrible all the time" Harry said delicately. Annika just snorted at him.

"Its not that I want everyone to like me, it's just I don't understand how they can all trust you so readily. We don't even know anything about you."

Harry nodded in understanding; it was true after all.

"I get that you don't trust me, I'm not asking you to trust me. But can we at least try to tone down the open hostility? I promise that I am not here to hurt anyone." Harry said solemnly.

Annika eyed him carefully for a few moments, reading the sincerity that shone from Harry.

"Fine" she said with a sigh. "But I swear if you hurt any of my friend's I will make you regret it."

Harry swallowed heavily at her words, not doubting her for a moment. "Same goes for you" he replied. Annika nodded in understanding and Harry was happy to note that she looked remorseful.

He turned and left the kitchen feeling much happier.