MORALITY ⟶ Angelina Johnson [1]

Chapter Fourteen

[Chapter Fourteen]

To rub salt into wounds, Saros found himself in the presence of several sixth-year girls, shoving and pushing their way in hopes of getting an autograph from Viktor. He had no interest in any of them, but it didn't mean he wasn't left annoyed by the sounds of their shrill giggles and the hunt for something to find something for Viktor to sign for them. He kept trying to convince himself that Angelina had only been making the same joke, however, it was hard to shake the feeling that he didn't compare to the likes of the famed Quidditch player. Over the years, time and time again, Saros told himself never to compare to the likes of others, especially due to his injury. That wasn't being very fair to him, but sometimes he really couldn't help himself.

He saw the way the other students around him viewed someone like Viktor, the boys appeared envious, they wanted to be him, and the girls were falling at his feet, they wanted to be with him. Saros didn't want to be Viktor, nor did he want multiple girls falling at his feet, but he wanted to walk with that same confidence that Viktor carried. Just those thoughts alone was pushing the idea of entering the Triwizard Tournament closer and closer to the front of Saros' mind. He was actually considering it, not just for the sake of his parents to stop worrying about him like he was an infant, but for the respect of his peers.

And also, proving it to himself that he could actually do things, that he wasn't as limited as everyone made him feel to be, that he made himself to be.

If he wasn't feeling like rubbish enough so suddenly that evening, the night wasn't even over as Hogwarts welcomed their guest to a fine feast in the Great Hall. The Beauxbaton students had taken to sitting at the Ravenclaw table, the lot of them shivering as if they had just come inside from a winter storm, while to Saros' luck, the Durmstrang students sat at the Slytherin table. Of course, while Saros was left extremely annoyed by the whole ordeal, he witnessed his little brother absolutely thrilled at Viktor sitting at their table.

Draco was practically laying on top of the giant wooden table, talking to Viktor about the Quidditch World Cup and how he thought it was brilliant that Viktor had ended the match on his own terms, stealing the snitch from the other Seeker. Viktor seemed to enjoy the praise, but as soon as he started speaking back, the thick Bulgarian accent made it difficult for the other students to understand anything that was coming out of his mouth.

Glancing around the Great Hall, Saros could see the envious looks on the faces of the students that belonged to Hufflepuff and Gryffindor as none of their guests had joined them at their table.

However, Saros didn't understand what was left to be so impressed, since the Beauxbaton students clearly lacked the intelligence to dress warmly and the Durmstrang students were lifting up the golden plates and goblets, examining them like they were newborn chimpanzees exploring their new environment.

Then again, the students weren't really doing too much, it was just the fact that Saros was in a bitter mood that every little thing someone did around him seemed a million times more irritating than it normally would. All he wanted to do was head back to the Slytherin Common Room, write his letter and then go to bed, but he had to suffer through the feast that hadn't even begun because apparently, Dumbledore still had things to address about the tournament.