44 Rising Tensions

Main Hall, Durmstrang, April 26 th

"So is it true?" Kira asked, immediately sitting down across from Viktor and Harry. "Were Dirk and Heinrich really wearing that in your Dark Arts class yesterday?"

Viktor looked up from his conversation with Harry and his face immediately darkened. "Yes," he said angrily. "I duel Dirk next lesson, and I'm going to make him wish he was never born."

Harry was very surprised at the sudden rage in his friend's voice. Since he had known Viktor, Harry found that very little truly upset his friend. While Harry knew that Viktor didn't appreciate how he was treated by many of his peers, he tended to use that as motivation to become better, not as a reason to hurt them. So why was Viktor so upset about what someone was wearing?

"What happened?" Harry asked.

Much to Harry's surprise, it was Kira who answered. "These two assholes came into class with Grindelwald's mark embroidered on their clothing," she spat. "The fact that their families were known supporters of his only makes it worse."

"I didn't know Grindelwald had a mark," Harry admitted. "Is it like the Dark Mark that You-Know-Who used?"

"You British and your stupid You-Know-Who nonsense," Kira said disapprovingly. "He was an incredibly powerful wizard, but he is dead. Can't you call him by his name? I don't want to sit at the table listening to you talk about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named all the time. Call him the Dark Lord if you are too terrified to actually speak his name."

"Fine," Harry snapped. "Was Grindelwald's mark like the Dark Lord's?"

"No, Grindelwald's mark is three shapes. A straight line within a circle, which is enclosed in a triangle," Viktor explained, still looking upset.

"I think I've seen that before," Harry said slowly, trying to remember where he had seen it. "Isn't that etched into the wall in a few places?"

Viktor's face hardened. "Yes. Grindelwald was a student here, and he carved the markings into the stone before he was expelled in his sixth year. He then managed to charm them so that they could never be removed."

"There is a rumor that the marks are actually cursed," Kira added. "Grindelwald conquered Durmstrang during his rise to power, and he easily could have worked a curse into the school's wards. Either way, only three professors have ever tried to remove the marks, and they all committed suicide not a week after they started working to remove them."

Both disgusted and slightly impressed at Grindelwald's impressive feat of magic, Harry asked, "So these two Germans in your Dark Arts class wore the mark yesterday?"

"Yes. My grandfather was the Minister of Defense in Bulgaria during Grindelwald's rise," Viktor explained. "When he refused to surrender to Grindelwald, even after my country had been defeated, Grindelwald tortured and killed him as punishment. Wearing the mark of that monster is an insult to everything my grandfather fought and died for. I will not let them get away with it."

Harry nodded in understanding. If people around Hogwarts suddenly decided to embroider the Dark Mark on their uniforms because they thought it was cool, most of the student body, himself included, would be screaming for their blood. Harry was about to suggest a particularly nasty hex that would cause someone to run around in circles until they passed out when Calypso sat down across from him.

"You're back!" Harry exclaimed.

With a slight smile on her face Calypso nodded. "I was released earlier today."

"Really? Why weren't you in Spell Creation?" Harry asked.

A strange expression flickered across Calypso's face, but before Harry could comment on it, she said, "My father had to talk to me about some things, and Lady Shluga had to explain the potions regimen I still need to take."

"Potter, why don't you and Rosier go somewhere else," Kira said bluntly. "Now that she's back gracing us with her presence, you don't have to follow Viktor around like a lonely kneazle."

"So what have I missed?" Calypso asked, completely ignoring Kira.

Somewhat surprised to see both Viktor and Kira glaring at Calypso, Harry said, "Well, after you were cursed, Karkaroff ordered that Burke be taken to the dungeons. He hasn't been seen since, although there have been some...rumors."

"Let me guess." Calypso rolled her eyes. "Everyone believes that my father has tortured the sod into madness, or that I wasn't even seriously hurt, and have spent the last few weeks practicing Dark Arts spells on poor innocent Burke under my father's tutelage."

"Um, yes. Among other things," Harry said uncomfortably.

"Idiots," Calypso scowled. "My father told me that Burke was suspended, and his family has decided to remove him from Durmstrang. So, unfortunately, I won't be able to curse him anytime soon. Anything else interesting happen?"

Harry shrugged. "Two people showed up in Viktor's Dark Arts class wearing Grindelwald's mark."

"And I thought Burke was the stupidest person at this school," Calypso muttered. "I do hope someone cursed them for it."

"Dirk and Heinrich's families supported Grindelwald. Just like yours did, Rosier," Viktor growled out.

Suddenly Harry understood just why Viktor did not like the idea of him hanging out with Calypso. It would seem that Voldemort wasn't the only Dark Lord the Rosier family had supported in the past century.

"My grandfather supported Grindelwald, Krum, and he was killed over fifty years ago. My father was fifteen when Grindelwald was stopped, and I couldn't care less about the "Greater Good." If you have a problem with me, let's hear it," Calypso said, challenging.

Viktor looked surprised. "You do not support Grindelwald's beliefs?"

"I do to a degree," Calypso admitted. "I think Muggles are all useless, but I don't think that all Muggles should be killed on sight. That said, Muggle-borns don't possess nearly as many talents as purebloods and half bloods."

"Excuse me? You're joking, right?" Harry said angrily. His mother was Muggle born, and she was one of the most talented people he knew!

Calypso was momentarily surprised by Harry's outburst before a smile crossed her face. "Relax, Harry, I don't mean they are any less magical. Just that Muggle-borns don't develop rare talents like becoming Animagi or Metamorphmagi. Those abilities tend to only appear in purebloods and half-bloods. You should know that, Harry. The Potters are well known for being Animagi."

Harry's anger quickly turned to confusion. Was that true? He hadn't thought about why his mother wasn't an Animagus like his dad or Uncle Sirius. He just assumed she never bothered to learn it because she seemed to enjoy Potions and Charms more than Transfiguration. Was it because she couldn't become an Animagus? "So you're saying that Muggle-borns don't have innate special magical talents?"

"There are always a few exceptions," Calypso conceded, "but for the most part, yes. Muggle-borns tend not to have any special talents beyond the basic ability to perform magic. Of course, while it doesn't happen often, there are some pureblood families that never developed a single rare ability either." Calypso looked over at Kira and smirked at the older girl. "You'd know a lot about that, wouldn't you, Megara?"

Surprised, Harry turned to look at Kira, who was practically fuming in rage. "Shut it, bitch. Hades, you'd think nearly being killed would humble you."

"Still bitter about being the laughingstock of pureblood society, I see," Calypso taunted before turning her attention away from Kira. "Did that answer your question, Krum?"

Viktor didn't look exactly pleased, but Harry could tell he wasn't as angry at Calypso as before. "So you still think you are better than Muggle-borns, but you do not dislike them or advocate their deaths?" he clarified.

"I don't know if I dislike Muggle-borns or not. I've never met one," Calypso commented casually, "but yes, I know I am better than them. I'm committed to being a powerful witch, and my family line has produced Seers, Metamorphmagi, Ani–"

"Why don't you just mate with a troll, Rosier," Kira spat. "That way you can get some of their magically resistant skin mixed into your oh-so-wonderful bloodline."

"The Rosier family has developed enough talents on our own without needing to lower ourselves to breeding with magical creatures." A dark smirk appeared on Calypso's face. "But for someone whose bloodline is as pathetic as yours, Megara, maybe that would be an option to consider. Maybe then your family won't be continually rejected at the Athens Academy of Magic."

As Kira looked ready to draw her wand, Harry whispered to Viktor, "Do you want to get out of here?"

With a look at the two bickering witches, who now seemed oblivious to their presence at the table, Viktor nodded. "Yes. Do you want to go fly?"

After a moment, Harry agreed. While he had very little interest in flying, that certainly didn't mean he didn't know how, and Calypso would not be happy when she realized he had decided to leave while she was arguing with Kira. The last place she would ever think to look for him would be on the Quidditch pitch.