Past Present

"Not much, is there?" Hermione said dejectedly, looking at the small pile of books that Viktor set on the table.

"Enough to get started on in one evening. Maybe a handful more, if these do not help. Those are just the ones she thought most likely to help," Viktor replied, "Pardon the complaint, but the Hogwarts library is woefully undersupplied in the Dark Arts-related book area. Considering it was right in the middle of the biggest wizarding war in at least the last four centuries, you would think that would not be so. There's not even much on history. Sort of the 'see no evil' approach, I guess. Heaven forbid the students ever find out there is such a thing as the not-so-nice wizards."

"Maybe Umbridge isn't the only ostrich with her head in the sand," Hermione agreed, "Which ones do you want?"

"Give me anything," Viktor shrugged, drawing a volume from the middle of the pile, then flipping it around to read the spine, "Old Witch Tales: Practical Uses of Fantastic Beasts and Myths About Magical Creatures. Hmph. Two books in one, then."

"Defeats of the Dark: Detailing the Downfall of Dark Wizards. Well, this one could come in handy. Maybe someday there'll be a new volume and Harry will be in it," Hermione mused, picking her own book off the top of the pile. When she flipped it over, her fingers came away caked in gray, fuzzy bits of dust.

"I doubt Grindelwald is even in that volume, judging from the dust on it. I bet that book was out of date five hundred years before Grindelwald was born, in fact," Viktor groused.

"Even old books have their uses," Hermione protested.

"Like swatting flies?" he asked, not looking up. Hermione laughed softly and cracked the cover of her own book. They read in silence for an hour, the only noise the occasional scratch of their quills on parchment when taking notes and the soft swish of the doors when students entered or left. They were both so engrossed that neither one even bothered to glare at the three girls who passed by whispering and giggling behind their hands.

"Hmmm," Hermione said out loud. Viktor looked at her and raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Oh, sorry. This is interesting. 'Alliances have almost always been necessary in the defeat of dark wizards. Whether these be alliances of convenience, political, cultural, or even between different species, there are few dark wizards who have been defeated without at least some rudimentary opposition group. Rare is the single light wizard who can single handedly defeat a wizard who has turned to the dark arts. Power alone is not sufficient, as a dark wizard will almost certainly fight without scruples, and decent wizards will only do battle within their principles. Some sort of support system is necessary. In the defeat of Breunhoffen in 236, the most unlikely alliance of a group of German centaurs and local wizards combined to take on the dark wizard, in an effort to counteract his encroachment on the Black Forest region.' And it goes on, blah, blah, blah, so on and so on. I think the whole chapter is history. Reminds me of your 'don't fight fair' comment. And who knew centaurs ever cooperated with wizards? You finding anything?"

"Plenty about salamanders, but nothing at all on hawks, stags, or otters. Or Patronuses, either. I think we might haff to go at it from the Patronus angle first. So, so far, what we haff is 'get help from wherever you can get it, if possible' and 'if you get a dark wizard down, kick him in the -'" but Viktor stopped abruptly when a high pitched whistle sounded outside the library window. A bright red flash and boom soon followed.

"What on earth?" Hermione said at last, as they both walked to the window, looking out.

"Fireworks! Now who does this make you think of?" Viktor said with a little smirk.

"A certain duo who go by the aliases Gred and Forge, you think? Possibly a new product in the Weasley Wizard Wheezies line?" Hermione said lightly as a bright blue pinwheel screamed by the window.

"Oh, almost certainly. Giving the new Headmistress guff," Viktor chuckled low.

"They're going to get into real trouble one of these days," Hermione said, crossing her arms, watching Umbridge run across the front lawn, Filch right behind, vainly trying to get rid of the fireworks. Especially the one which paused occasionally to scribble out a rude word in yellow sparks.

"I will not say a word if you do not," he said softly.

"Oh, my lips are sealed." Even an hour later, there were still random whirrs, zings and booms outside. "Ooh! Here's a ..." Hermione began, but trailed off when she lowered her book and looked across the table. Viktor's head was on his folded arms, dark hair falling over his forehead, and he was plainly asleep. "Never mind," she whispered, "I'll just write this bit about Khan Krum and Gryndel down, then, and tell you later."