Caught Ablaze

Why did you come here?

She awoke surrounded by ashes, her clothes gone charred she guessed by the look of her the woods. Desperate to cover her nakedness her eyes searched for anything that might even help her in the least. Pushing herself off the ground she dusted herself off and picked up her wand from the floor. Trying to rid herself from the ashes seemed useless as she walked through the woods, on the plus side she was neither dehydrated or starved, her exhaustion was also long gone making the task of finding her way back lees foreboding. 

Walking through the death valley that used to be green lavish woods she searched any means of cover. Turning her gaze up at the sky her eyes widened in surprise, far over the edge of the trees she spotted the great stone castle she had come to know as Drumstrang. Casting her Patronus she sent it to the castle with a very important message, please bring a change of clothes.

Hiding behind the nearest shrubbery she waited for someone to arrive with a change of clothes. Minutes passed and she felt muscles tense up at the sound of twigs snapping, slightly peeking over the leaves Katerina spotted the silhouette of a man, it was not her friend Aleksander...it was someone else "Katerina?" the man called out her name, Vicktor? a twig cracked under her weight making Vicktors hand snap in her direction "Katerina?" he questioned, an amused look spread upon his face "can you hand me the clothes?" she snapped angrily, her violet eyes flashing scarlet red for a second "where were you? everyone has been looking for you and the final test is in a few minutes" 

"WHAT?!" Katerina jumped up in surprise causing Vicktor's face to turn a very birth shade of red "whats the matter with you? why is you face all-" realizing her state of undress she hid behind the shrubbery once more "JUST HAND ME THE CLOTHES!" Katerina's voice was shrill as she spoke. Looking away in shame he obediently handed her the change of clothes, snatching the garments from his grip she quickly threw them over herself before jumping out "why did you come- and are these your clothes?" the fit was large and loose against her small frame, and if she wasn't as  tall as she was it would have looked as if the clothes swallowed her "I came because you needed help and yes, those are mine" Vicktor still looked frazzled, that much she could tell, whatever happened to the cocky Vicktor Krum she knew?

Shaking those thoughts from her head she placed both hands before turning to face him, a stern look plastered on her face "you told me that the challenge was starting?" regaining his composure he nodded his head "yes, follow me please"

The last challenge was being held outside the castle, crowds of students stood in crowds whispering amongst themselves as they waited for the final trial to begin. Letting her eyes travel amongst the many students she spotted both of her friends standing on the sidelines, had they not passed the prior test? "Vicktor why aren't Anastasia and Aleksander with the rest of us?" following her gaze he shook his head "not many succeeded, it was the potion remember? we were still working together, at least in some way. While one-half of the group was assigned to make the other the other half was up to test it...some results were less than lucky" that was understandable, such potion was one not to be made by just anyone.

Following Vicktor to where the final fifty stood, she let her gaze travel across the remaining contenders, not many women were left and those who remained were twice her own size "you can do it" Vicktor whispered encouragingly when he saw her eyes assessing the rest of their small group of participants "I know I can, I'm not so sure about the rest" chuckling under his breath he nodded his head "yes, of course, you're right"