In My Dreams [Draco Malfoy]

chapter six: the champions

INDIGO

"What on Earth is Viktor Krum doing here?" asked Su Li. "I can't imagine him not playing Quidditch during the school year!"

"Well, we won't be having Quidditch this year," Stephen pointed out.

"Yeah, but he's not just your average high school jock, now, is he?" said Su Li. "He's, basically, the Wizarding World's equivalent to an Olympic athlete."

"True," said Stephen.

A few seconds of silence passed, all of us deep in thought. We, along with the dozen or so Durmstrang students and the rest of the Hogwarts students, were now filing into the Great Hall. The Beauxbatons students had seen the blue and bronze runner and seated themselves at the Ravenclaw table. We nodded cordially to them, then sat down and switched to Gaelic.

"Perhaps," Aria began, "he has a seasonal contract."

"Seasonal?" Su Li questioned.

"Yeah," said Aria. "Some kind of agreement that lays out when he plays games. He'll probably continue his usual practice and exercise routines but he won't be playing anything while away."

"Even so," Su Li began, "do you think his violent methods will stay in Quidditch?"

"I doubt it," I said. "Didn't you guys hear who their Headmaster is?"

"Yeah," Stephen nodded, "that Karkaroff guy. Why?"

"He's a former Death Eater," I said.

Stephen gasped. "What?!" he exclaimed in English.

I nodded. "Yeah," I continued in Gaelic, careful not to say my next sentence in a way the Beauxbatons students could understand. "He was exonerated and released after he told the Ministry the names of some other Death Eaters. And I don't think it's a coincidence that he just-so-happened to become Headmaster of a school known for teaching the Dark Arts."

"I swear to Merlin, Indie," Stephen began, gawking. "How you do always know this kind of stuff?"

"Mum told me after the World Cup."

"After Krum's Wronski Feint?" asked Su Li.

I nodded. "Yes." I turned to Stephen. "And you meant 'how do you,' not 'how you do.'"

Stephen huffily wrote down his mistake in correct Gaelic.

"How do these things always happen here?" Aria groaned. "We'll have to keep an eye on him."

"Yes, we will," I agreed. "If Krum becomes the Durmstrang champion, we don't want Karkaroff tampering with or influencing the competition."

"Karkaroff is still the Headmaster of a prestigious wizarding school," said Su Li. "Do you really think he would risk the school's reputation just to see Krum win?"

"I really don't think Durmstrang's reputation is a concern of his," I said.

Su Li frowned. "What do you mean?"

I shrugged. "The documents regarding his case are open to the public. It wouldn't be hard to find them. So, not only can we assume that people know he's a felon, but they also praise him on his school's education for the Dark Arts, something You-Know-Who is also known for."

"That's a good point," said Aria. "Durmstrang tends to cater to a very particular crowd. If Karkaroff's record and their involvement with the Dark Arts mattered, he wouldn't have nearly as many students as he does. After all, what's a little foul play, in comparison to what he's already done?"