A Parting of Ways

Potter Residence, (Jan. 11 th )...

Surveying his room, Harry was pretty sure that he hadn't forgotten anything. He was departing for Durmstrang soon, and he definitely didn't want to leave anything at home by mistake. His trunk was packed to its magically-expanded brim. While Durmstrang required casual day robes like Hogwarts, they had to be specially-cut red robes with the Durmstrang crest magically embroidered on them. Durmstrang also required that he buy several heavy Russian-made ushankas and tsitika coats. The heavy coats were lined with special built-in heating charms, and Harry couldn't imagine a situation where he would ever want to wear such a coat. He had practically started sweating after trying on the thing at Madam Malkin's. Durmstrang couldn't possibly be that cold.

Harry had taken his tests at the Ministry of Magic, and was quite proud to say he had surprised the examiner with his skill. He was actually ahead in third year Charms and Transfiguration theory, but he was slightly behind in the practical aspects. Because of that, he had been granted tentative acceptance into third year classes in Transfiguration and Charms. If it appeared that he couldn't keep up with the practical work, the instructor had the option to send him down to the second year class after a month. Harry also managed to enter second year classes in Potions, History of Magic, and Herbology. His final two courses would be first year Dark Arts and Spell Crafting.

It had initially surprised him that Astronomy was not a core subject at Durmstrang, but Spell Crafting was a class that seemed very interesting. He had only glanced through his book, but the amount of effort it took to create your own spell was astonishing. When Harry had mentioned this to his mother, she had recommended he write to Professor Snape as he had created several spells while at Hogwarts.

If Harry was honest with himself, he admitted that he could have tested better than he did on his Dark Arts exam. He certainly felt that he could have tested into his second year for that class, but with his father standing in the room watching him perform the spells for the Durmstrang representative, Harry was hesitant to show just how much Quirrell had told him about the Dark Arts. While he didn't know a whole lot, it was still more than any Hogwarts first year should have known. Plus, it would be a hard claim to sell that he learned some basic Dark Arts at Hogwarts. It's not like he was allowed into the Restricted Section to look at those books.

Confident that he had everything packed, Harry casually levitated his trunk behind him and walked out of his room and downstairs. He immediately saw Nathan sitting at the kitchen table and looking unhappy.

Harry hadn't seen much of his brother of late, and that wasn't Nathan's fault. He had been very busy not only preparing to take his tests at the Ministry of Magic, but also trying to learn as much German as he could before he went to Durmstrang. Professor Dumbledore had visited for at least an hour every day since Harry had sent out his acceptance letter, and he had personally been helping Harry learn how to read, write, and speak in German.

The charm that helped someone learn a language worked by momentarily enhancing the part of the brain that dealt with understanding languages. During the period that the charm was active, the person it was cast on should be completely immersed in the language he was trying to study with no outside interruptions. Fortunately for Harry, Professor Dumbledore was fluent in German, along with several dozen other languages, and had taken the time out of his busy schedule to help him get a grasp on the language.

Dumbledore had said that some people take to the language charm better than others. A few rare people like the Head of the Department of Magical Cooperation, Barty Crouch, only need the charm on them for an hour or two before they could begin speaking fluently. Unfortunately, it seemed like Harry was on the other side of the spectrum as he had the charm placed on him for well over ten hours, and he still only had a rudimentary grasp of German. Harry didn't even want to think about what he would have done if it wasn't for Professor Dumbledore. Going to a new school in a foreign country was scary enough, but not even having the slightest grasp of the language would have been downright terrifying.

"All packed?" Lily asked.

"Yes," Harry said as he levitated his trunk to the ground and took a seat at the table.

James smiled sadly at his son. It bothered him that one of his sons wouldn't be graduating from Hogwarts. "How long until your Portkey activates?"

"The letter that came with the Portkey said it will activate at ten this morning, so another twenty minutes or so," Harry said after doing a quick tempus spell to check the time. "They said that someone will be waiting for me when I arrive, but I have no idea where I am going."

"Durmstrang's location has been a secret since the school was built, Harry," Lily commented. "I'm not surprised they won't tell you where it is until you are there."

"It has to be somewhere in Germany," Harry said certainly.

"That's what everyone seems to think," James agreed. "Albus knows, but he refuses to say. Something about an oath he took as a member of the ICW. With the sheer amount of heavy cloaks you had to buy, I think it's somewhere in Northern Russia."

"Maybe it's in Siberia," Nathan said, smiling slightly. "You'll wish you were at Hogwarts if you're stuck way up north freezing your butt off."

"Language," Lily chided. "I doubt Durmstrang is in Siberia, Harry. From my experience, purebloods seem to be rather…pampered."

"Hey," James protested indignantly.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Please, like you weren't spoiled rotten as a child."

"Just because my parents showed me a lot of affection…"

"James, had you and Sirius pooled your monthly allowances, you could have bought all the chocolate at Honeydukes. Anyway, Harry, the point is, I doubt Durmstrang, which is far more popular for purebloods, is going to be anywhere truly unbearable like Siberia."

"I hope you're right," Harry mumbled.

"And if you're stuck in Siberia, you can always transfer back to Hogwarts," Nathan added.

That was the second time his brother had hinted that he should go back to Hogwarts in less than two minutes. If Nathan was trying to be subtle, he was not doing a very good job. "I'm not going back, Nathan."

"But, but you might," Nathan said hesitantly. "You never thought you'd leave Hogwarts, so you don't know that you won't hate Durmstrang."

"I suppose you're right, but I doubt it," Harry said, trying to nicely convey the message to his brother that short of having an Unforgivable shot at him, he wasn't going to be leaving Durmstrang. He'd seen what Hogwarts could offer him, and even if he was friendless at Durmstrang, at least he'd be able to study any magic he wanted there.

"Well, I still think you should think about it," said Nathan. "Maybe you could ask Dumbled–"

"Nathan, enough, your brother is not going to be going back to Hogwarts," James said. "Please try to accept that."

Nathan looked ready to argue, but Harry quickly cut off whatever his brother was planning on saying. "Nathan, I don't want to fight, but I'm not going back to Hogwarts."

"This is stupid, you shouldn't leave," Nathan said with tears forming in his eyes.

Lily sighed. Sirius and Remus had told her that they had used an eavesdropping charm and that Nathan was taking Harry leaving very badly. "Nathan, this is your brother's decision, and your father and I support him."

"But, please Dad, I know you don't want Harry to go to Durmstrang."

"No, Nathan. I don't like that your brother is going to Durmstrang," James said honestly, "but the decision has been made."

"Harry, just stay, please?" Nathan begged. "I'm sure Professor Dumbledore would let you back into Hogwarts."

"Nathan," Lily said sternly, "please don't make this any harder for your brother."

There was a soft chiming sound, and Harry took out the Portkey that Durmstrang had provided him. "Five minutes," he said softly.

Lily pulled her older son into a tight hug. "Harry, please be safe, and write to your father and me often. We want to know that you're alright."

"I promise."

"Seriously, Harry, write often. I know what you said about your professors taking those oaths, but there are ways around everything," James said as he too hugged his son.

"I promise, Dad."

As the chiming sound got louder and Harry noticed his Portkey starting to glow, he turned to face his brother. "I guess I'll see you over the summer." Seeing the dejected look on Nathan's face, Harry quickly added, "but that's not so long from now. I even get out of school before you, so I'll be there on the platform when you get back from Hogwarts."

"Yeah, I suppose so," Nathan said, turning away so that his brother wouldn't notice a few stray tears.

As the letter started to flash red, indicating that the Portkey would activate in ten seconds, Harry smiled at his family. "I love you, I promise to write and tell you everything about Durmstrang."

"Harry, I'm sorry," Nathan blurted out.

Confused, Harry turned to face his brother. "Sorry about what?" he asked as the Portkey activated, taking him to Durmstrang.

"For everything," Nathan said softly to the now empty spot in the kitchen where his brother was standing not a second before.