Dragon's Core

Chapter Four- Birds of Prey

Chapter Four
Birds of Prey

                “You’ll be good, understand?”

Corin groaned openly as her father progressed with the yearly counsel he gave her at the beginning of every school year.
“I’ll be fine, Papa,” she dismissed him. “This may as well be my last year.”
“You don’t plan to attend your eighth year?” Stefan expressed with some surprise. Corin shrugged carelessly –she required only seven years, what good would an eighth be?
“You’re not there, so I imagine I’d be far too lonely.” Corin confessed. In truth, she had very few people she could call friends. Although she was friendly with nearly everyone, there were only a handful of people she was genuinely close to. Corin could say with sureness that Stefan was her best friend –even if Corin couldn’t help but cringe at the corniness.
Stefan pigheadedly turned his unshaven chin away, seemingly too embarrassed to retort scathingly.
“Speaking of which,” Roman scowled at Stefan openly, “Corin, you shouldn’t let boys affect your education.”
“I wouldn’t be able to keep up with my studies if it weren’t for him,” she defended, crossing her arms stubbornly. The pair had grown up together, as Stefan was the only person close to her age in the nearest Wizarding village located at the base of the mountain. Just as the Mountain People and the Dragon Trainers despised each other –the people of the mountains and those in the small villages below shared a certain disgruntlement for each other. As a child, Corin was often dismissed as a nuisance while attempting to befriend the other children –only Stefan had begrudgingly accepted her. Corin suspected this was because Stefan was the black sheep of his family – with several older brothers, all who had grown up by the time Stefan was born, and two younger sisters –whom were too young to connect with at the time. On top of Stefan’s wild appearance –never once allowing his mother to give him a formidable haircut –Stefan refused all his parents’ attempts and pleas to take on a respectable livelihood. He was further alienated when he befriended a “Dweller Girl,” as his parents named her, and became the only Nikolov child to be accepted into Durmstrang.
Because of his estrangement, it was no surprise that his parents were absent in seeing the two students off.

                It appeared that Roman had also noticed this –as he was seen muttering to himself. Corin could catch brief phrases like, “I can’t believe they didn’t show;” “It’s his last year!” and to Corin’s mother, “Should we go fetch them?” To which her mother impatiently replied, “Quiet, dear. You know they do this every year…”
Drawing Stefan aside, and tossing a cautious look to her father, Corin quizzed him in whispers, “Do your parents know about the tournament?”
Stefan shrugged carelessly, his brows knitted as he struggled with a clasp on his uniformed boots. “I placed the letter on my bed before I left.”
“Will they find it there?” Corin pressed, peering up at him worriedly. Stefan brushed back his hair in agitation, and tied back the strands of hair that were falling in his face, leaving the bottom half down.
“Probably,” Stefan grunted, finally working the leather through the clasp. “I imagine mother will send me a howler for not bothering to tell her directly. So expect that in a few weeks.”
Corin muttered a curse; Stefan stood, entirely decked out in his school uniform. The uniform consisted of fitted black trousers, a grey tunic, and heavy leather boots. Over top of it all, blood red robes and when outdoors they adorned heavy furs to fight the chill of the North. –Corin’s outfit was the female version of what he wore, entirely similar in every aspect.

                “Are you two ready to pop off, then?” Roman eyed the pair. Stefan and Corin shared a nod, both collecting their trunks. Corin had set aside a leather satchel to store books she had thought would be useful during the tournament; she slung the satchel over her shoulder, and drew out her wand.
“Now, I imagine it’ll be harder to stomach than most trips,” her father warned them, “considering you’re Disapparating to the other side of the continent.”
“Remember, you’re heading to the village first –then the school.” Corin’s mother added.
Corin waved off their concerns, “We know –it’ll be fine, we’ve done this before haven’t we?”
“Last time you passed out,” Stefan muttered beneath is breath. Corin scowled at him, “Whose side are you on? –Ah whatever, let’s go.”