His Greatest Challenge

The girl from Beauxbatons was dumbfounded and protested that it all must be a joke. To her complete terror it wasn't. Soon all the officials had entered the room and accusations went flying. Viktor felt quite sorry for Harry. While the others argued Viktor stole quick glances at Harry, who looked as if he would retch at any moment.

Yet despite his pity for the young man, his competitive side was bursting forward, tearing at his flesh. Part of Viktor knew it would be hard to beat the famous Harry Potter, yet the challenge suddenly sounded oh-so-tempting.

This is just what I need to take my mind away from the Cup, he thought with some relief. Yet as he remembered the Cup, he also remembered Hermione. Quickly, the sinking feeling in his stomach returned. How am I going to talk to her now that her friend is my competition, it is like fraternizing with the enemy.

Karkaroff's shrill voice pierced Viktor's skull. "...I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!"

No! Viktor's mind screamed, but before he could argue with Karkaroff a husky voice interrupted.

"You can't leave your champion now." The man with the magic eye had entered the room. "He's got to compete." Viktor wanted to agree, yet the man's presence had made him highly uncomfortable.

Karkaroff had told Viktor that the man's name was Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody. He had also told him that Moody was known to be overly paranoid and that he had it in for Karkaroff.

Moody was now making quite a scene by accusing someone of trying to use the tournament as a way to kill Harry. Viktor thought that this was a ridiculous notion; the only person who would attempt to kill Harry would be Voldemort and he was in no position to attack Harry here at Hogwarts. No, clearly someone had put Harry's name in as a joke.

Karkaroff bustled Viktor out of the room. "I can't believe this," Karkaroff hissed. "Wait here," he instructed Viktor and left him in the hall. The minute Karkaroff disappeared, Viktor left the castle and ran back to the ship.

When he entered he was met with a thunderous applause. He walked quickly over to Vlad who was sitting in a large chair talking to a girl with sapphire black hair. "Hello, Katerina," Viktor greeted the girl.

"Oh, Viktor, congratulations." She slipped her hand into his and shook it heartily. "I knew it would be you, we all knew it would be you. I'm just glad that we get to cheer you on."

Viktor's cheeks turned crimson and Katerina whispered something to Vlad. Vlad rose from his chair and led Viktor into their cabin. "So, what happened?" the door had barely snapped shut when the words came running from Vlad's mouth.

"What do you mean?" Viktor stated lounging back on his bed feeling completely content.

"When Harry followed you guys into that room. Karkaroff looked torn between nausea and white-hot anger," Vlad said with wide-eyed interest. "I swear when he stood up he looked as if he was going to tackle Dumbledore and beat him until he was nothing but a blob of flesh and blood."

Viktor laughed - it was an interesting image, "Yeah, he was angry enough to spit fire when I saw him." Viktor quickly recapped for Vlad what had transpired in the tiny room where the champions had been housed.

"Well, do you agree with Moody?" Vlad said when Viktor finished his tale. "Do you think someone's out to get Potter?"

"Of course someone's out there to get Potter, I just don't think that they'd use the tournament to do it," Viktor stated. "I mean, everyone is involved, from the Minister of Magic to Dumbledore. And you remember that Dumbledore was the only one who You-Know-Who ever feared, so why should his followers be any different?"

Vlad left Viktor, who lay back on his bed. No, no one is trying to kill Harry, it's all some stupid joke, Viktor thought, trying unsuccessfully to convince himself.