An Ominous Goodbye

Durmstrang, May 30 th

With his trunk packed, his room returned to its normal size, and wearing his best pair of robes, Harry reflected on his first term at Durmstrang as he walked towards the main staircase. While there had certainly been some low points, Harry couldn't help but think they were worth it. For the first time ever, he had friends besides his brother. Viktor and Calypso were very different people, but Harry couldn't imagine this term without them. Harry briefly wondered if this was what Nathan felt like at Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione.

Harry noticed Calypso waiting by the staircase, and he couldn't help but smile at his friend.

"All packed?" she asked.

"Yes," Harry said, motioning to his trunk that was levitated behind him, "I can't believe the year is over."

"It is a little strange knowing that we won't be seeing each other until August," Calypso admitted, and Harry thought he heard a little bit of disappointment in her voice.

"True, but could you imagine me trying to explain having you over during the summer? Or trying to tell my parents that going to your house would be safe?" Harry asked.

Calypso laughed bitterly. "No. While it would be funny, I doubt your parents would appreciate the fact that you're friends with a dark and evil member of the Rosier family. They might force you to go back to Hogwarts."

Seeing that Calypso was actually upset by the situation, Harry couldn't help but reassure his friend. "Don't worry, I'll write often. I want to know everything you're going to be learning over the summer. I almost beat you in our last duel, and I can't have you getting too far ahead of me now."

"You? Almost beat me? Dream on, Potter. I was just going easy on you," Calypso replied haughtily.

"Then you had better be ready for next year," Harry said seriously. "I'm not just going to sit around and twiddle my thumbs over the summer."

"But what about the restriction of underage sorcery, Harry?" Calypso asked mockingly. "You can't practice spells over the summer, you're underage. You could get expelled."

"Git," Harry muttered, playfully shoving Calypso. After the Highmaster had warned all the students to not practice magic over the summer, Harry had commented that he didn't know what he was going to do for three months if he couldn't use magic. Calypso had promptly laughed at him and explained just how countries tracked underage magic. She had then mercilessly teased him for not knowing something that everyone else at Durmstrang already knew. Apparently, the Highmaster had to inform students of the restriction because it was an ICW decree that all schools do so, but Karkaroff didn't honestly expect anyone to abide by it.

"Well, I guess this is it," Harry said as he crossed the threshold of the Durmstrang wards.

"I guess so, have a good summer," Calypso said.

"You too. See you in August," Harry said before grabbing his trunk and activating his Portkey. A moment later he was gone.

Removing his invisibility cloak, Romulus Rosier appeared behind his daughter. "A very interesting young man. You're sure about him?"

Turning towards her father, Calypso shrugged. "No, not yet. He was only here for one term, and there is a lot I don't know about him. He did let some things slip about himself that I doubt even he realizes yet, but there is a lot about the Potter family that I don't know."

"Well it sounds like you have a summer project," Romulus said seriously. "It might be difficult finding out information on the Potters. Dumbledore protects them very closely."

"It will take some time," Calypso agreed.

"His scores are certainly impressive, and Rosemburg and Kosarev won't shut up about his potential," Romulus said more to himself than Calypso. "I think next year I shall pass judgment on him. Until then, you may continue your friendship with the boy."

"Father?" Calypso asked with wide eyes.

Romulus laughed at the fearful expression on his daughter's face. "Don't worry. I won't harm him, but I think it's about time I took a more vested interest in your education, Calypso. Igor has been complaining about Grausam's poor behavior of late."

"You... are going to teach?" Calypso asked, completely shocked.

"I certainly think I'm qualified, and Igor will not deny me the position if I ask for it. It will give me an opportunity to see exactly what the Potter boy is capable of."

Calypso nodded her head, knowing that the decision had already been made.

Next year was going to be very interesting.