His Greatest Challenge

Viktor wasn't sure when he had caught that cold, or how bad it was going to get, but he did know that the feeling was making him nothing but miserable. He gently moved the oar as his friend Vladimir sat on the bench next to him. "You should go to Karkaroff, you look terrible."

"No," Viktor said shortly and Vlad looked hurt. "Sorry," he grunted. "I just hate the way he treats me, makes me very uncomfortable." Vlad shrugged and mumbled something incoherent.

Viktor continued to argue with him for another half hour until his head felt as if it was going to split in two. Vlad shot him a look, telling him that he should go to Karkaroff and Viktor caved. He handed the paddle to Vlad and slouched back to Karkaroff's cabin.

He rapped his knuckles against the door and Karkaroff shouted from the other side of the wood, "Who is it?"

"Krum," Viktor grunted. He desperately wished to turn his heel and run from the door. Instead, he stood stock-still as he heard the latches turn and the door creak open.

"What is the matter?" Karkaroff questioned with something like concern filling his voice.

"I feel ill, my head feels as if it will explode," Viktor stated. "I just need a little medicine and then I will join the rest of the class."

"Nonsense," Karkaroff responded, leading Viktor into his chambers and gently pushing him onto the bed. "You can wait here until we get to Hogwarts, it should be quite warm there," Karkaroff instructed, handing Viktor a steaming goblet and an extra coat. Viktor nodded. He knew that if he had been any other student, Karkaroff would have sent him away without another word.

Viktor lay back on the bed and shut his eyes. Tiny flashes of purple and red passed through his vision. Suddenly a large golden light burst forth and he saw her again. The light filtered through her bushy brown hair and skin seemed to glow a warm brown. He reached out his hand and ran his fingers across her cheek; her skin was smooth and warm.

"Viktor!" Karkaroff shouted far from him. "Viktor!" Karkaroff was closer. "Viktor!" closer. "Viktor!" Karkaroff was almost on top of him.

No, Viktor thought, no, just let him go away, just let him go away.

"Viktor!" Karkaroff screamed into his head and his eyes snapped open. "Viktor, we've arrived," Karkaroff said lifting the extra coat from Viktor's body. Viktor stood up and followed Karkaroff out to the bulk of the ship. The rest of his class was standing waiting for Karkaroff's instructions. "Wait until I call you, and then you may enter the castle," he said to Viktor.

Viktor and the others went out the ship and stood in a small group at the end of the plank. Karkaroff glided away and greeted Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. Viktor looked in awe at the man with the long, white hair and beard. He had seen pictures of the wizard, but none of them seemed to do him justice. Suddenly Viktor wished he had gone to Hogwarts instead of Durmstang; Dumbledore was probably a better headmaster than Karkaroff.

"Viktor, come along into the warmth." Karkaroff's voice brought him back to reality and he hurried to the headmaster's side.

Karkaroff was still talking to Dumbledore and Viktor quickly scanned the faces of the Hogwarts' students. Viktor's jaw dropped when he saw the mass of bushy brown hair.

Viktor swayed on his feet and Karkaroff led him into the castle. Viktor wanted to tell him that he was perfectly capable on walking on his own and he would want to talk to the girl with the bushy brown hair. He wanted to do all this, he tried to do all this but all he could manage was a loud sneeze.