Chapter 142: Planning Part 1
Hogwarts, Drumstang's Ship, November 20th
Harry held Calypso as the two of them sat on the edge of the Durmstrang ship, overlooking the Hogwarts lake. The November weather had brought a slight frost to Scotland, but, compared to the icy winters at Durmstrang, it was still quite pleasant. A small fire hovered high above the lake in front of them as the ship rocked back and forth.
"This is nice," Calypso admitted. "We should come out here more often at night."
Harry laughed. "Viktor was the one who actually told me to take you up here. I think he did something similar with Kira."
"Never would have pegged Viktor as the romantic type," Calypso admitted.
"Viktor's a pretty complex guy." Harry grinned. "He'll probably end up mastering Aqua Eructo before both of us."
Calypso chuckled. "I doubt it. While I admit there's more to Krum than I thought, you'll be the first to figure that spell out. No doubt about that."
"What's this?" Harry asked. "Calypso Rosier admitting defeat already?"
Leaning back into her boyfriend, Calypso seemed to shrug in an unconcerned manner. "Oh, I'll do my best to get it before you, Harry, don't ever doubt that. But, let's be honest, unless you get cocky or don't practice, I'm not going to catch you. Not in advanced Charms. Have you heard back from Professor Kosarev?"
"Yes, the letter arrived just earlier today. He said whatever I decide, warding or Aqua Eructo, they're likely both Master deserving projects."
"I'm going to get Aqua Eructo by the end of the year," Calypso said, seriously. "I might not be able to control it yet, but I'll get there."
"I believe you."
"Good." Calypso grinned, turning to place a kiss on his cheek. "So you'll do warding for your final project then."
"Oh?" Harry asked. "Deciding for me?"
"No, just trying to help you. It would be pretty embarrassing if the winner of the fifth year Charms award had the same final project as the winner of the sixth year award."
Harry laughed. "Yeah, that would be a little strange."
Twisting around, Calypso gave her boyfriend a bright smile before pressing her lips against his. Deepening the kiss, Calypso felt Harry's tongue against her own.
"Ah hem."
The two teens immediately broke apart, instinctively drawing their wands and pointing them at their interloper. Seeing a slightly frazzled looking Highmaster and a smirking Viktor Krum, they quickly lowered their wands.
"Sorry, sir. We didn't think anyone else was still awake," Harry said sheepishly.
The Highmaster seemed to appraise Harry and Calypso for a long time before turning to Viktor. "I trust you will be ready, Mr. Krum?"
For the first time, Harry realized just how pale Viktor appeared. "Yes, Highmaster. I will be ready."
"Good. Then I'll leave you to the rest of your evening. Mr. Potter, Ms. Rosier," Karkaroff said before walking to his room.
"What was that about?" Calypso asked, watching the Highmaster leave very carefully.
"Harry," Viktor said, "I need your help. I know what the first task is."
Harry's eyes widened, and he turned to his friend in shock. "Really? What is it?"
Viktor's demeanor seemed to harden. "Dragons."
At first, Harry thought Viktor was kidding, but the deadly serious expression his friend had told him otherwise. Leaping to his feet, Harry said, "Merciful Merlin. I have to tell Nathan."
Before he could go anyway, Viktor had reached out and grabbed his arm. "I need your help with this Harry. The only thing I could think of when I saw the things was to shoot it in the eye!"
For the first time, Harry realized just how difficult helping Viktor and his brother could be. "Viktor," he said, hesitatingly, "I know you'll be able to figure something out. Nathan, Nathan won't. A dragon will kill him."
"Harry," Calypso said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's almost midnight. Your brother is probably asleep in Gryffindor tower. Work with Viktor tonight, and tomorrow, when he's awake, we can go warn your brother. Besides, working with Viktor might give us some ideas on how to help your brother."
Seeing the fear in his oldest friend's eyes and begrudgingly admitting that Calypso had a point, Harry said, "Okay, okay you're right. Viktor, let's get to work. First thing we should do is enchant your robes with flame-freezing charms."
"They don't fully protect against dragon fire," Viktor pointed out immediately.
"Doesn't matter. Some protection is better than none at all. I'll layer a few enchantments on your robes and gloves."
"So what do you think?" Calypso asked as the group descended into the depths of the ship.
Not trusting his voice, Harry simply waved Calypso off, his mind already trying to work out how to get his best friend and brother to beat a dragon. So distracted, Harry barely noticed Viktor knocking on Kira's door. It was not until Harry saw Kira – her hair mussed and dressed in a light blue evening robe – that he snapped back into the here and now.
Feeling a sharp jab in his side, Harry turned to see his girlfriend all but glaring at him. Swallowing slightly, Harry had to use Occlumency to keep the image of Kira out of his head. Hoping to distract his girlfriend slightly, Harry said, "So Viktor has to fight a dragon. Ideas?"
Calypso stared at him for a long moment, as if to say 'I know what you're doing, and I'm going to allow it for now.' Following Viktor into his room, Calypso said, "Dragons are weak around the eyes. Your first instinct to just attack it, might not have been a bad one, Viktor."
"Well, I suppose that's a little reassuring," Viktor muttered. "Karkaroff said they brought in nesting mothers, and that I have to retrieve something they're guarding."
"Good," Kira said suddenly. "If they're guarding something, that means they'll need to be restrained somehow. We might be able to use that. Distract it maybe."
"I don't know," Harry muttered. "How would you go about distracting a creature that typically takes a dozen wizards to take down?"
"Killing curse," Calypso replied immediately.
"Obviously," Harry said, sending a reproachful look at his girlfriend. "Viktor isn't going to be using that spell."
"Agreed," Viktor said. "While I could probably cast it with practice, I don't want to imagine what will be said in the papers if I go that route."
"Conjunctivitis curse," Kira suggested. "Blind the thing."
"Why not just use a blindness curse?" Calypso countered.
"Because a dragon has heightened senses, Rosier." Kira snapped. "If we completely blind the thing, it'll just try to smell Viktor or just start torching the entire area. A Conjunctivitis curse will cause it to panic. With any luck, it'll try to figure out the problem with its eyes and not utilize its other senses."
"So you want to send the dragon into a panicking rage?" Harry agreed incredulously. "Viktor, how far along have you gotten on those illusions I told you about?"
"I managed a full projection a few days ago." Viktor grabbed a piece of parchment and began scribbling ideas onto it. "Good idea, Harry."
"The dragon will probably be able to tell that an illusion isn't real," Kira pointed out. "It has an incredible sense of smell."
Calypso looked thoughtful. "Maybe hit it with a confundus curse as well. Make it believe the illusion is the real Viktor."
"I think," Harry interjected, "I know how Viktor can get past the dragon. Viktor, let's go outside, I have an idea, but I need you to learn a stronger illusion."
"Are you stupid, Potter?" Kira snapped. "I just told you a dragon could tell that an illusion is fake!"
Doing his best to keep his temper in check, Harry turned to Kira and spoke very slowly. "No, you said that a dragon would rely on its other senses when faced with an illusion. Come on Viktor, the sooner I show you this, the sooner I can help out my brother."
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