ATIMC - Chapter 10 - Secrets

(sorry I can’t get it out of centered text for some random reason)

(also sorry for the wait)

Harry’s mind was whirring was he trailed after the two head of houses. Life was like a dream, he could no longer tell dream from reality. The woman – her read hair trailing behind her – chatted softly with her companion as they walked.

As his emotions got the better of him, Harry could feel his newly awakened power swelling up within him. He could feel the breath leaving his lungs and see the darks spots dancing in front of his eyes. It was all simply too much.

Neither Professors noticed as the young man started to sway, or as his eyes started to glaze as they were both too involved in their hushed conversations. It was only as Harry’s body tumbled to the floor with an echoing thud that both man and woman turned to face the body sprawled out on the floor.

FLASHBACK

Steadfastly trying to ignore the stares directed his way as he stepped off of the train and onto the platform, Harry quickly jogged over to where Hermione and Ron were standing. Looking around for the familiar bulking figure of their favourite giant, the trio caught sight of a bright lantern floating in the distance.

“Hermy-own-ninny!” Ron’s eyes narrowed as the familiar voice called out to their female friend.

Hermione gasped as she realised just who was holding the lantern and waved as she called back “Viktor!” the smile in her voice was plain to see “Well, I suppose I should be calling you Professor now shouldn’t I?”

“What!” was Ron’s eloquent exclamation.

The Bulgarian man chuckled deeply “Zat vould probably be vise…Mizz Granger.” He smiled and took her hand as he pressed a gentle kiss to it “Though I vill admit eet is a pleasure to be in zee presence of such a fine lady vonce more.” As she blushed, Hermione desperately tried to ignore the soft blue eyes of her boyfriend burning holes into the back of her skull, not to mention the dozens of envious males and females watching on.

“As much as I vould love to stay with zee three of you, I have to accompany za little vones to zee boats.” With a dazzling smile to Hermione and a polite nod to Harry and Ron, the handsome new Professor turned around to direct the first years to their boats.

As soon as the Bulgarian Professor was out of hearing distance, Ron rounded on Hermione. “You knew he was going to be here!” His tone was more accusing than questioning and that was something that Hermione picked up on instantly.

“Yes Ronald,” she said with a sniff “I knew that Viktor was going to be teaching this year, as the new flying instructor might I add. He was a very wise choice for the position, he’ll be able to teach everyone a lot of things – you might even learn a thing or two from him.”

“Says the woman that thinks Quidditch is a stupid sport! And I don’t care if I might ‘learn a thing or two from him’; he’s a right pompous git! How did you even find out that he was going to be teaching?”

“Well ignoring that fact that I am Head Girl Ronald, which means I received an information pack from Headmistress McGonagall before the start of term informing me of all that I would need to know – I found out about Viktor coming here to teach because he told me.” She let out an exasperated sigh at the redhead’s vacant expression “He sent me a letter Ronald, he told me he was going to be teaching this year.”

“Why the bloody hell would he be sending you letters, shouldn’t he be talking to beautiful women and living the highlights of his Quidditch career?” Harry grimaced as he noticed the tell-tale twitch in Hermione’s eyes that she always got when irritated.

“Well excuse me Ronald Weasly if you don’t think this woman is beautiful enough for Viktor to talk to!” The bushy haired girl shrieked; it was at this exact moment that Harry pinpointed the expression on Ron’s face as he realised his blunder.

- Never imply that a woman is anything but beautiful – especially if that woman is your girlfriend.