Durmstrang's Sister

first day back

Katya was as pleased as ever to finally be back on the boat that took all the Durmstrang students to the castle for she knew that the moment they sat in one of the many closed off rooms under the boats deck, Viktor's glum mood from loosing the World Cup would start to fade away. Even though that night Viktor had done his job and caught the snitch it didn't matter since they finished ten points behind.

"Is it better to loose by 10 points or over two hundred?" Viktor kept saying every time it crossed his thoughts. Katya felt bad, but she couldn't help but laugh at him with his freshly broken nose as he pouted around the last few days before coming back.

As Katya sat on the cushioned bench she couldn't help but wish her dad was there to see her off. After the game had ended and the Krum family apperated back to their home the dark mark had been conjured around the camp grounds that the people who were making a weekend of the Cup stayed. Since then her dad had been away with the Bulgarian Minister trying to help out Fudge as much as they possibly could, which meant he had to spend a lot of time away from home.

Aside from that, Katya was counting down the minutes left till she got to change into her school uniform, which was much warmer than the poncho she thought would be a good idea for the boat ride there. Thankfully the girls at Durmstrang's uniforms didnt differ from the boys to greatly. While the boys wore thick, fleece lined pants, black boots, wool sweaters and thick, brown jackets that had fur on the collars, The girls would wear thick leather pants, black turtlenecks, and a thick leather waist belt as well as a dark red cape that was lined to the collar with thick rabbit fur and tall leather boots that hugged tightly to their mid thigh. Katya sat curled up to Vûlk trying to warm her hands under his thick, dark hair when her and her best friend from school, Ivet, decided enough was enough and kicked the boys out so they could close the curtain to change.

"So much better." Katya said fluffing the fur collar to shape to her face better and then continued with sliding her leather gloves on.

After changing there wasn't much time left before the feeling of the ship, which had been underwater for the past few hours, started to rise letting all the students know that we would be arriving shortly. A group of first years had already started to form lines outside their doors causeing Viktor to laugh, he loved intimidating the first years.

And intimedate them he did. Though it always ended up making Katya feel bad, she linked her arm through Viktors so her hand was resting on his bicep and off they walked, following two of Viktor's friends that walked quickly, stomping their walking sticks with two of his friends walking behind them. Katya smiled to some of the first years as she walked swiftly along with Viktor up the stairs and out of the boat, Vûlk trotting beside her.

The school was just as they had remembered. The white castle sat proudly on top of a hill, surrounded by trees. Though not the biggest castle in the wizard world it was more than enough for the Durmstrang students as every room was charmed to be a lot bigger then perceived. Classes were held mainly on the first two floors and then the levels and levels of dungeon that twisted and turned through out the land under the castle, while the second two floors held dormitories. There are three houses at Durmstrang those being; Sturm, Drang and Turbulenzen. Viktor and Katya were both in Sturm, which forever produced the greatest wizards to walk out of Durmstrang. Though it wasn't the largest house in the school, it still was rewarded the largest housing area, on the top floor of the castle.

Walking straight past the great hall where the welcoming feast was held, Viktor and Katya went straight to the Headmasters office where Igor Karkaroff sat, mainly so they could make a grand entrance with their friends to impress and intimidate the first years even further. Karkaroff welcomed them all, shaking each of the boys hand and pulling Katya into a hug before sitting on the top of the desk.

"So, there is something I need to talk to you all about. Viktor, I sent you a letter and I'm assuming you told Katya, but they are bringing back the Triwizard Tournament this year. We will be headed to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry in October for the rest of the school year, where hopefully we will come back champions.

"This year we will be taking 9 boys and one girl. Katya, I expect you would agree to coming? Perfect. Now, your job won't be to enter, but to help. You are the most clever student that has ever walked these halls and with you by our champions side there is no way we should loose. " Katya smiled a toothy grin as her brother took her hand and gave it a squeeze waiting for Karkaroff to finish.

"Alright, lets go eat."

Katya waved her hand so the doors of the great hall opened slowly and soon the group made their way into the hall, Katya entering first followed by Viktor who the students all stood for as he and his friends walked in closely followed by Karkaroff. The group, being all in the same house, sat at their usual spot at the house table, where Ivet was already seated waiting with Vûlk.

Katya sat there, petting Vûlk's head as Igor gave the news about the tournament, and then began reading off the names of the students who would be attending.

"You all will be receiving lists of what it is you are required to bring with us. Also, those going will be exempt from their classes here to train. Now, Katya you are more than welcome to attend but it is no longer required for this year. However, you will be required to attend the classes of my choosing once we get to Hogwarts." He explained watching Katya as she nodded to show him she understood.

As the feast came to an end and Vûlk finished the plate of raw deer the house elves had supplied him, Karkaroff wished everyone luck with their studies this year and with that everyone stood to file out into the hall way that would take them to their dormitory. Ivet couldn't believe Katya was going to be leaving for the entire school year to basically be the backbone of the Durmstrang champion. As much as Katya liked Ivet she really did wish she didn't talk as much as she did because it did get very tiring very fast.

The two sat in their common room with their backs against the unlit fireplace  on one of the many bear rugs that scattered the room. Katya was always worried they one day bring in the fur or head of a wolf causing Vûlk to grow offended, and he really wasn't an animal you wanted to piss off. But thankfully they veered from wolves and mainly stuck to Wisent, wild deer, massive moose, boars, huge bears, Muflon and even large brilliantly red Pheasants.

As comfortable as the common room was, Katya spent a lot of time in the schools underground library using her time to study up on Hogwarts, the Triwizard Tournament, and anything else she felt would be useful during their time away. She would only ever take a break for when Viktor convinced her to go outside and fly around with her team and throw quaffles back and fourth through out the many towards of the school.

On the last night they were home Katya went to bed early, crawling under her animal fur blanket, Vûlk laying next to her, to try to get as much sleep as possible so she could wake up early the next day and head straight to the library so she could decide which books she would pull to take with her to Hogwarts.