To the you of 1994

Dictionaries and Golden Cats

Viktor

September 3rd 1994

The water stirred, creating ripples that expanded across the lake. The sleek outline of a ship emerged, its bow breaking through the surface, water cascading off its sides like a sparkling waterfall.

A giant squid reached the lake's surface, tentacles probing the ship. One snaked around the main mast but recoiled upon contact, causing sparks to fly around the ship, fizzling before reaching the ground.

The sky turned a fiery orange as the Hogwarts castle stood silhouetted against the approaching sunset.

The Durmstrang Institute's students formed five lines of ten on the dock, their headmaster at the forefront, his staff on his right hand.

They had expected a welcoming committee, yet the only student Viktor noticed was a short girl with uncontrollable curls shifting on her feet.

A delicate tickle crawled all over his skin at her presence.

"What is this?" Karkaroff asked in Russian, eyeing the girl. "Is she our welcoming representative?" His face scrunched with disgust. "They sent a woman to greet us," he sneered.

Karkaroff struck his staff against the wooden floors with a resounding thud and the gangplank lowered. He barked. "Krum, Svoboda, Dimitrov." The three young men closed their stance. They followed behind their headmaster and the group swiftly disembarked the ship.

Viktor stood behind Karkaroff, unable to see much except the girl's hair poking out from Karkaroff's silhouette.

"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she said in English. She stretched her hand for a couple of seconds before tucking her hand away.

Viktor waited for her to courtesy or offer the back of her hand to the headmaster in greeting, but she didn't.

The Headmaster let out a derisive snort. "Vank you," he answered with a sardonic tone. "Vhere is Headmaster Dumbledore?"

"He is waiting in The Great Hall." She answered, her words strained.

"Vot is your name, girl?" Karkaroff's obvious distaste made the witch with the wild hair shuffle in place

"Hermione Granger, sir," she retorted courteously but failed to mask the venom behind the last word.

As the Headmaster moved, Viktor got a better view. She had wild brown hair, escaping her attempts at a braid, and fiery brown eyes that drew him in. Though shorter than Karkaroff, she dared to meet his gaze head-on.

Then, that phantom itch sensation hit him hard. He steadied his breath, calming his racing heart. He clenched and unclenched his hands.

"I haven't heard of any Grain-en-gers," Karkaroff said, scrutinizing her. "Vot does your father do?"

"My parents are dentists, sir."

How curious. The Pureblood witches he knew would usually adopt a gentler tone and demeanor when talking to a wizard, especially one like Karkaroff. This British witch, however, stood her ground.

"Dentists?" The headmaster spat the word out, disdain evident.

She stood tall. "Yes, muggle teeth doctors."

Karkaroff's lip curled, his nostrils flaring slightly, as he glanced away, unable to conceal the distaste across his face. "Hov interesting," Karkaroff spat the words out. "Do let Dumbledore knov, I vill be vere soon."