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The world would surely be a beautiful place if people talked less, thinks Viktor as Professor Igor Karkaroff continues to fuss over him on their way to the Hogwarts Castle. He listens respectfully, although his mind isn't in the conversation. His eyes drift around the Hogwarts grounds, where people are scattered around randomly, some studying, some spending their idle times with friends.
In many ways, he thinks, Hogwarts is a better place than Durmstrang. If given the choice, he would happily switch places with someone in this school, although he knows he is most likely biased against his own school due to his reputation. Being a world class Quidditch player, Igor Karkaroff provides him with showers of affection and attention, the former of which is most likely a show put up to gain his trust. It would be, however, a lie to say that Viktor doesn't enjoy the attention he gets. He does, but he would much rather prefer it coming from girls than from his Headmaster.
The girls at Durmstrang are used to his presence, meaning they do not bat an eye when he walks by them. This is one of the reasons Viktor is rather enjoying his stay at Hogwarts – the attention he gets from the girls. But he knows the attention is short lived and temporary, just like the supposed love his Headmaster shows him. But at least it's better than the resent and envy he gets from his classmates for the unending favouritism he gets from Igor.
"You are not getting enough food," says Igor as they take their usual spots at the Slytherin house table. "I should have brought food from home, this rubbish Dumbledore is feeding you is surely going to make you weak. You need energy and stamina to survive the tasks, who knows –"
"I'm fine, Professor," Viktor cuts him off, careful to not show any irritation in his voice. "The food is delicious. I like it."
"Taste is not important. You need nutrients …"
As usual, Igor pays no mind to what he says and drones on in his monotonous voice, several times mentioning how the Hogwarts food is going to be the death of his beloved champion. Viktor notices how he selectively chooses foods from the table, completely avoiding the native ones. With a sigh, he tunes out his Headmaster and dives into his food.
✓
Viktor has discovered the large and spacious library on his tour around the castle. And that is where he now sits with a book open in front of him. It is an old and tattered Charms book, and he lazily skims over the pages, internally laughing at the thought of how the Hogwarts students might react if they happened to see the books at the Durmstrang library. He doesn't doubt that many would piss their pants should they see the sheer Dark magic described in the books.
Surreptitiously, he looks over at one table on the other side of the library. It has four chairs around it, only one of which is occupied. The girl who sits there has her nose buried in her book, with her dense bushy hair caging her face. She doesn't seem to notice much of her surroundings.
