different | h. potter

11

"Cassia," Theodore called in a dazed voice, as the Hogwarts students filed back up the steps behind the party from Durmstrang, "pinch me."

"Why?" she chuckled.

"To make sure I'm not dreaming," he replied.

Theo was out of it, to say the least. His eyes were completely vacant and he must have tripped at least a dozen times throughout the short journey between the courtyard and the castle. And the reason behind his strange behaviour? A Krum-induced trance.

"Quick-" Blaise gripped Cassia's shoulders, spinning her towards him sharply, "how does my hair look?"

"How does mine look?" cried Draco, suddenly aware of the way his hair fell over his forehead.

"Relax, you all look very nice," Cassia tried to reassure them.

Blaise loudly groaned, and buried his face in his hands.

"Nice isn't good enough for Victor Krum!" Draco began tugging at the roots of his hair hopelessly.

Pansy sighed and lightly pushed past them, "You boys are absolutely ridiculous..."

While Pansy's statement was entirely true, compared to others, they were behaving rather normally; as they entered the Great Hall, Cassia saw several sixth-year girls battling over what appeared to be a single tube of lipstick.

They walked over to the Slytherin table and took their usual seats on the bench.

Every head, it seemed, was turned towards the doorway, where Krum and his fellow Durmstrang students were still gathered, looking unsure about where they should sit. Cassia was convinced that the entire Hogwarts student population was silently praying that they'd choose to sit at their house table.

The Beauxbaton students, however, had quickly chosen to sit at the Ravenclaw table. They already appeared to be unimpressed with the Great Hall - and Hogwarts in general. Cassia wondered what kind of luxuries their school could possibly possess to merit such snobby attitudes. Perhaps diamond encrusted cutlery? Or gold-infused napkins? Or maybe-

"Ow! Draco!" she cried, clutching her side, where she was struck.

"Shhhh, look!" Draco whispered, nodding discreetly towards his left. Looking towards the direction in which he indicated, Cassia could not believe her eyes.

The Durmstrang students had settled themselves at the Slytherin table, Victor Krum included.

Suddenly, Cassia wondered how her hair looked.

Draco's demeanor changed instantly; he's sat up as straight as possible and plastered a smug smiled on his face - most likely as an attempt to impress and befriend the Quidditch royalty that sat only a few feet away. While the others were far too occupied with their excitement to collect themselves, he beckoned for Crabbe and Goyle, who were seated to his left - Cassia being on his right - to follow his lead. They quickly wiped the smiles off their faces as he lent forward and past them.

"Draco Malfoy," he introduced himself loudly, interrupting Krum's conversation, simultaneously regaining his friends' attention, "you might recognize me from the Top Box at the Quidditch World Cup - excellent catch, might I add."

"Oh, Merlin," Cassia breathed out, watching the scene in terror.

"Thank you," Krum said slowly, still processing the strange interaction.

"I'm actually a seeker myself," Draco continued, ignoring Krum's obvious discomfort, "Yeah, I play for the Slytherin house Quidditch team."

"Good," Krum replied, sending him a small polite yet forced smile.