Chapter Text
The Great Hall is empty.
Above, the invisible ceiling shows a night sky scattered with stars and a sliver of moon. It’s enough to see by, just barely. The wooden house tables are edged in silver, but the rest of the room is thick with shadows.
Yuuri Katsuki stands in the doorway, clutching his wand and scrap of paper, and takes a deep breath.
The only other source of illumination in the room is along the far wall. It’s a cup, rough-hewn and worn, filled to the brim with blue flames.
Yuuri walks towards it, steps slow and faltering. His footsteps and the softly crackling flames are the only sounds in the hall.
He stands in front of the cup. Untold riches and eternal glory, the headmistress said, for whoever wins. Yuuri’s hands go tight around the scrap of paper with his name written on it.
He stretches out his arm and, even though his hands shake, he doesn’t doubt the decision to let the piece of paper fall into the flames. The cup flares even more brightly blue and Yuuri jumps back, almost tripping on the hem of his robes.
The cup crackles behind him, flames seeming somehow louder than they were before.
Yuuri doesn’t look back as he makes his way out of the Great Hall.
It’s stupid, he thinks to himself as he makes his way back to the dungeons.
It’s not like the cup would actually pick someone like him.
~~~~
“The Triwizard Tournament?” Mari practically gasps when she sees Yuuri’s school letter. “Seriously? This is so unfair!”
Mari and Yuuri were sitting together on the back porch, supposedly folding towels but actually just enjoying the late summer sunshine and some good gossip, when the family owl dropped out the sky. He was bearing a letter with Yuuri’s name that, after five years, is more or less familiar.
Or it was familiar until Mari snatched it away, opened it and started screeching.
“Hey, give that back!” Yuuri snatches his Hogwart’s letter back from his sister and scans it. Sure enough, the words Triwizard Tournament stand out boldly against the parchment.
“Of course it would be the year after I graduated.” Mari laments. “Ugh, Hogwarts is gonna be swarming with hot foreign wizards and I won’t even be there to appreciate it!”
Yuuri just hums a noise of assent, not really listening. He’s reading over the letter, which is longer this year than it usually is. It informs him that Hogwarts will be playing host to both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students this year while they have the Triwizard Tournament.
At fifteen, the letter helpfully informs, Yuuri is permitted to enter but not required.
“I thought they banned the tournament…” Yuuri says absently. He knows that they last one happened a long while ago, back before the last Dark Lord fell. He rubs his thumb on the parchment, scanning the notices that the quidditch season will be canceled (Leo and Phichit will both be crushed) and that the tournament doesn’t give them an excuse to slack on their studies. The rest of the letter is the standard fair; booklists and reminders not to use magic before coming back to school.
“You gonna enter, little bro?” Mari asks. He looks over at her. She’s watching him, head tilted to the side.
“You mean the tournament?”
"No, hippogriff racing." She says flatly. "Of course I mean the tournament!"
“Well,” Yuuri says, “Would you have?”
“Course.” She says easily. “But I’m a Gryffindor. I know your lot,” She reaches out to tap his nose, “Are less about doing dangerous stunts for no good reason.”
He scowls and shoves her hand away. “I don’t know if I’ll enter.” He says honestly, starting to fold up the letter. “Probably not.”
“Mmmm.” Mari squints at him. “Well, it’s your choice.” She stands up and stretches, probably getting ready to serve lunch, “But for the record, I think you’d be great.”
Yuuri doesn’t know how to answer her, so he just sits there wordlessly, still carefully folding the letter, as she goes back inside.
~~~~
For the rest of the summer, it seems like the Triwizard Tournament is the only thing on anyone’s mind.
Yuuko and Nishigori, the only other Hogwarts students who live in Hasetsu, show up to Yuuri’s house a few hours after the letters get delivered, buzzing with excitement. Together, the three of them walk down to the convenience store, attempting to stave off the sweat-sticky heat with water bottles and popsicles.
“We’re both entering, of course.” Nishigori tells him, gesturing towards Yuuko with a popsicle. They’re walking back home now and there are no muggles out so they can talk about the tournament without worry.
“It’ll be fun!” Yuuko agrees with a smile.
Yuuri could have guessed that. They’re both Gryffindors and this tournament seems like the most Gryffindor thing in the whole world. Not to mention, they’re both going into sixth year so they have a whole year more of magical experience than he does.
“How about you, Yuuri?” Yuuko asks, leaning in close enough that Yuuri can smell her fruity popsicle and can see the green flecks in her brown eyes, like leaves on the surface of a pond. He leans away, trying to stop the color rising in his cheeks.
“I don’t know.” He admits. “Pr-probably not.”
“Didn’t think so, buddy.” Nishigori claps him on the shoulder in a move that probably isn’t supposed to hurt, but does anyway. “You can sit in the stands and watch me win.”
“Uh, I think you mean watch me win!” Yuuko says.
“I think you’d be a great champion, Yuu-chan.” Yuuri says automatically. Yuuko taught him how to do wingardium leviosa back when he was still a first year and so she has earned his eternally loyalty.
“Ha! Yuuri’s cheering for me!”
“That’s just because he likes you!”
“He does not!”
“Does too!”
Yuuri tunes out their bickering like usually does and checks his phone.
All of Yuuri’s half-blood and muggleborn schoolmates seem to have sent him texts or snapchats about the tournament. He frowns. This probably is going to get worse before it gets better.
~~~~
By the time Yuuri is boarding the Hogwart’s Express, feeling weary and jetlagged after taking a portkey from Japan to get to the station, he is thoroughly sick of all talk about the Triwizard Tournament. Yuuko and Nishigori, who took the same portkey he did, are talking about it now as they clamber onto the train after Yuuri.
“I think that once I win I’ll use the prize money to start my own magical dance troupe, with magical swans and phoenixes.” Yuuko sighs dreamily. “It’ll be just perfect.”
“Well, I’m going to spend my winnings on my own private island,” Nishigoiri says, “and no one will be allowed there but Gryffindors. Er, no offense Yuuri.”
Yuuri waves a hand. It’s fine, he’s used to both house discrimination and the way Yuuko and Nishigori get so wrapped up in needling each other that they forget all about him.
“I’m going to go see if I can find Phichit.” He says, “I’ll see you both later?”
“Sure!” Yuuko reaches out to hug him. “If you ever get lonely down in your dormitory, you can come and stay with us, no problem.”
Yuuri breathes in deep, enjoying the way her flowery perfume smells, before she lets him go. “Um, thanks, Yuu-chan.”
“See you, Yuuri.” Nishigori raises a stoic hand.
“Good luck with the tournament.” Yuuri says. He’s glad that Nishigori seems to over his old habit of calling Yuuri rude names. Maybe he’s growing up?
“Ha, like I need it.” He puffs out his chest. “You’ll be the one needing the luck, not me.”
Or maybe he’s not.
He waves to them one more time before heading down the train in hopes of finding Phichit. He turns at every flash of yellow, but none of the Hufflepuffs he sees are the one that he’s looking for.
He’s almost at the end of the train when he hears the sound of footsteps approaching fast. He turns around and...
“Yuuri!” All Yuuri sees is a flash of dark hair and a bright yellow tie before Phichit Chulanont tackles him in an enthusiastic hug. Yuuri barely manages to keep on his feet, but he finds himself smiling anyway.
“Hi, Phichit.” He says, squeezing Phichit once before letting go and taking a step back to look at him. He’s a bit taller than he was at the end of last term, enough that Yuuri has to look a little bit up to meet his eyes.
“Wait…” Yuuri frowns, “Are you taller than me now?”
Phichit puts a hand on top of his head and draws a line between himself and Yuuri. Sure enough, there’s a inch or so of empty space between his hand and the top of Yuuri’s head. “Ah!” He looks delighted. “I’m taller! I’m the tallest! Ha!”
“Phichit, it’s like an inch.”
“Shhhh, small best friend.” Phichit hushes him and pats his head, “I’ll protect you.”
Yuuri glowers at him and shoves the hand away. “An inch, Phichit.”
“Shhhhhh.”
Yuuri tries to keep frowning, but he can’t. He missed Phichit terribly over break. He shakes his head and grins. “I missed you.”
“Mmmhmm!” Phichit nods. “Me too! You need to come with me to Bangkok next summer...all of my sisters are dying to meet you!”
Yuuri has seen Phichit’s four muggle sisters over skype during the holidays before. Three are taller and older than him and one is younger and about the same height. They all have Phichit’s dark hair and wide smile.
“Um, maybe.”
Phichit just laughs, taking Yuuri by the hand and dragging him down the corridor. “I already have a compartment right here,” He gestures to a door a few feet away. “Leo and Guang Hong are already inside.”
Yuuri takes a deep breath. He usually gets along well with the rest of Phichit’s friends, but there’s the familiar stab of worry at the thought of seeing them. He’s been faintly anxious for the last week or so, though, so it doesn’t make things any worse.
Yuuri is used to this feeling by now. It happens every year, anxiety building and building like a fever beneath his skin. He’s never excited to come to Hogwarts. He loves it sure, but there are too many things he can’t plan for, too many people he doesn’t know well enough to be comfortable around. Hogwarts is interesting and exciting and unpredictable and sometimes Yuuri can’t handle all of that.
His mom practically had to drag him out of bed in the morning to get him to the portkey on time.
“Ready?” Phichit asks, one hand on the compartment door.
“I…” Yuuri swallows and then nods. “I’m ready.”
The door slides open and Yuuri sees that Guang Hong and Leo are already sitting inside. They’re side-by-side, sharing a box of Ice Mice and chatting about something, classes or quidditch maybe, but they stop and look up when Yuuri and Phichit step inside.
“Yuuri!” Leo waves. “Hey!”
“Yay Phichit found you!” Guang Hong says brightly.
“Hi Leo, hi Guang Hong.” Yuuri smiles a bit awkwardly and waves at both of them before dragging his trunk into the compartment after him. With some help from Phichit, he manages to get it all stowed away.
“So,” Leo asks once Yuuri’s finally sitting down, “How was your summer?”
“Um, good.” Yuuri says. “Quiet.”
“I’m jealous.” Guang Hong sighs. “My aunt and uncle came to stay with us and they brought all three of their noisy kids. I had to share my room.” He says, making it clear that this is a Great Injustice.
“I’ve always shared a room.” Leo says with a shrug. “It’s not so bad.”
“With your brother?” Phichit asks and Leo nods.
“I didn’t know you had a brother.” Yuuri says. “Is he at Hogwarts?”
“Nah,” Leo says, “He decided on Ivermorny. We got invited to both, after all.”
“Right.” Yuuri and his sister were invited to Mahoutokoro, the Japanese wizarding school, as well as Hogwarts. In the end, they both decided to attend their mother’s alma mater across the sea instead of staying in Japan.
“Too bad they’re not one of the schools in the tournament, eh?” Phichit says, accepting a handful of Ice Mice from Guang Hong.
“Yeah.” Leo says. “But I’m looking forward to meeting students from Durmstrang. Apparently, their transfiguration skills are top notch.”
Guang Hong offers Yuuri the box of Ice Mice. Yuuri waves it away.
“Well,” Guang Hong says, closing the box, “Everybody I know says that Durmstrang has a dark reputation. Like, with dark magic and curses and stuff.”
Phichit huffs. “They say the same thing about Slytherin and look at Yuuri.” He gestures to Yuuri, like that proves his point.
Yuuri’s willing to admit it kind of does.
Guang Hong doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t push it any further. “Whatever.” He says. “It’ll be exciting no matter what.”
“Sure, but I’m still bummed about Quidditch being cancelled.” Leo sighs. “Gryffindor was gonna win for sure this year.”
“Oh, really?” Phichit teases. “Do you really think you could beat Hufflepuff? I mean, Hufflepuff has me.”
Leo shoves him and Phichit shoves him back and, predictably, it escalates from there.
Guang Hong rolls his eyes at them and turns to Yuuri. “Let them get it out of their systems, right?”
Yuuri smiles awkwardly. “Uh, yeah.” He’s never spent time with Guang Hong or Leo without Phichit as a buffer. He always feels uncomfortable talking to them, worried about saying the wrong thing or looking weird. It’s not like they’re friends. They just put up with him because he’s Phichit’s friend and they like Phichit.
“You’re old enough to enter the tournament, right?” Guang Hong asks, still looking at Yuuri.
“Um, yes, but I don’t…” Yuuri swallows. “I mean, I’m not sure if I will yet.”
Guang Hong nods. “I would need time to think about it if I was old enough.” He says. He, like Phichit, is a Hufflepuff. Yuuri is sure that most of them will be a bit more careful about entering than the Gryffindors like Leo, Yuuko and Nishigori will be.
“Well, I’m entering!” Leo announces, finally finished with his impromptu shoving match.
“Typical.” Sighs Guang Hong.
“Me too!” Phichit says, nudging Yuuri and ignoring Guang Hong.
“I’m still thinking about it.” Yuuri says, hands going up to worry his tie.
“That figures.” Leo says with a smile. “You’re meant to be clever, aren’t you?”
Yuuri tugs the tie, silver and green for his house colors, once more and then lets it go. “I guess.” He’s not sure if Leo is making fun of him or not. Yuuri has never been great in any subject at Hogwarts except for charms and no one really cares about charms.
Leo is smiling though and he’s always been a nice person, so Yuuri smiles back and tries to make himself stop worrying. It doesn’t really work, but it never does so he’s not too disappointed.
The rest of the train ride passes quickly, all four of them talking about the tournament until the sky outside of the window is dark and shot through with sunset colors. When the train finally pulls into the station in Hogsmead, the sky above is dark and starry.
Once they’re off the train the rest of the evening, the invisible carriages, the terrible welcome song, the sorting hat and the tiny first years getting separated into houses, goes like it usually does. Yuuri smiles at the housemates who greet him and answers their questions about his summer. He’s not close with them like he is with Phichit, but after five years of living together they all at least acknowledge him.
Yuuri is helping himself to dinner and wondering idly when the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons will show up when one of his housemates throws an arm over his shoulder. Yuuri jumps in surprise and almost spills his pumpkin juice.
“C-Chris!” He sits straight-backed as Christophe Giacometti proceeds to drape himself over Yuuri’s shoulders like a large, needy cat.
“Yuuri.” Chris smiles at him, “I missed you over the summer, you know. You didn’t write me once! I was heartbroken.”
“You look fine to me.”
Chris shouts something dramatic in French and the rest of the table glances over, unimpressed but unsurprised. They are more than used to Chris’s dramatics by now. “You incurable minx, Yuuri Katsuki.” He sighs, a hand over his heart. “Someday I will have you.”
“Um.” Yuuri doesn’t really know how to respond so he takes a long sip of pumpkin juice. It would worry him more it Chris didn’t flirt with literally everyone literally all of the time. He decides to change the subject. “How was Switzerland, Chris?”
“Oh, lovely for the two weeks I spent there.” Chris says, helping himself to more roast chicken. “After that though my family had obligations all over. You’re from Japan, right?” Yuuri nods wordlessly. “We stopped in at the Yokai market in Tokyo for a bit. My parents had an investor to talk to or some such thing.” He waves a hand dismissively.
“R-right.” Yuuri says. He forgets sometimes that Chris’s family are some of the richest and influential purebloods in Europe. Most of his house is pureblooded anyway, but Chris is one of the ones who has family known throughout the wizarding world.
“And how was your summer, Yuuri?”
“Um, fine. Quiet.” Yuuri says and he’s going to say a bit more, but a loud voice from the head table cuts him off.
“If I could have your attention!” It’s Headmistress Minako, getting to her feet and casting a charm to amplify her voice. A hush falls over the students and they look towards the head table. There’s still a bit of chatter, but there’s never complete silence with a group of kids this big.
Chris lets Yuuri go to to look up at the head table, probably trying to justify his prefect status in front of the new first years. Yuuri is relieved. He likes Chris, really, but he’s just so...touchy. Like, all of the time.
“Welcome and welcome back to Hogwarts!” Headmistress Minako says. She’s dressed her in her usual dark robes, looking as ageless as ever. “I’m pleased to see each and every one of you.” There’s a faint smattering of applause before she continues. “Now, I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that the Triwizard Tournament will take place this year at Hogwarts.”
The faint chatter picks up, becoming clearly audible.
“Did she say…”
“Yes, didn’t you see the letter?”
“I wonder when the foreign students are getting here…”
“Durmstrang…”
“Beauxbatons…”
“Quiet down!” Headmistress Minako’s voice, still magically loud from what Yuuri is pretty sure is a sonorus, booms across the hall. The voices settle back down to an acceptable level. “Before we continue with our feast, I think we should welcome our guests for this year!” She gestures towards the back doors. “Please welcome the students from the Durmstrang Institute!”
The doors to the Great Hall slam open and a group of people march into the hall. The Durmstrang delegation is dressed in dark red uniforms with boxy, almost militaristic shoulders and long, sweeping cloaks. The group is made up of maybe two-dozen students, all taller and older-looking than Yuuri except for a skinny blond boy in the front who looks like he’s drowning in his uniform.
Yuuri looks at him curiously for a moment, noticing the way his lips are turned into a scowl and the way his eyes flash when looks around the hall. But then his attention is caught somewhere else and stays there. There is boy walking in the back, chattering with the Durmstrang headmaster, and he’s the most beautiful thing that Yuuri has ever seen. He’s tall with a fall of bright silver hair and eyes that make Yuuri think of the ocean in Hasetsu.
“Oh.” Yuuri breathes very, very quietly.
“Oh, it’s Viktor!” Chris says from beside Yuuri, eyes also falling on the boy.
“You know him?” Yuuri is distracted enough by the boy’s silver hair and his shoulders, gah, that he forgets to be nervous about talking to Chris.
“Mmhmm.” Chris hums. “Viktor Nikiforov, the darling of Russia. Our parents have had dealings before.” Yuuri takes that to mean that Viktor, like Chris, is from an old pureblood family. “Hold on.” He waves and shouts, “Viktor!” as the delegation passes.
Viktor glances over at his name, catches sight of Chris and he winks.
Yuuri’s face is so hot that he thinks he might actually pass out.
He doesn’t know what it is about this boy, about Viktor Nikiforov, that makes him incapable of looking away. But he can hardly make himself glance at the Beauxbaton students as they walk in, even when their arrival is heralded by an impressive explosion of magical fireworks.
“Yuuri.” Chris’s voice is soft and amused.
“Mmmm?” Yuuri is still watching as Viktor and his fellow Durmstrang students stand at the front of the hall and wait for the Beauxbaton students to join them. He’s the tallest one up there, even taller than his headmaster.
“You’re staring.” Chris murmurs.
Yuuri immediately blinks and looks down at his plate. “I...I…” He stammers, but he doesn’t have a good excused. Merlin, what was he doing? He can’t just go around staring at people! That’s weird! It’s so, so weird and he’s a freak and…
“You’re fine.” Chris says, still quiet and amused, and he pats Yuuri’s shoulder. “Viktor is impressive to look at, isn’t he?”
“I wasn’t…” Yuuri begins, but the Headmistress’s booming voice cuts him off before he can embarrass himself further.
“Once again, welcome to our guests! I would like to take this moment to thank Headmaster Yakov Feltsman and Headmistress Lilla Baranovska for accompanying their students all this way.” She stops and the hall applauds. The gruff-looking headmaster from Durmstrang raises his chin in acknowledgement and the graceful headmistress from Beaubaxton nods.
“I expect you all to be polite and courteous to our guests during their stay here!” The Headmistress continues. “If they have questions about anything, be sure to answer to the best of your ability. At Hogwarts, we pride ourselves on a diverse and welcoming student body from all over the world. Be sure to remember that!”
The Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students seem to murmur amongst themselves at that. Yuuri knows from History of Magic and from things that Mari and his mom have said that Hogwart’s policy of welcoming students from all around the world isn’t shared by most other magic schools. Even Hogwarts only accepted British students until thirty or so years ago.
“Now!” Minako’s voice cuts through the low murmurs. “We should get the other preparations for the tournament underway. If you would, Celestino?”
Professor Celestino, the head of Hufflepuff and the charms professor, is floating an ornate, jewel-encrusted casket and pedestal across the hall. The whole hall seems to turn and watch as he lowers first the pedestal and then the wooden box on top of it against the far side of the hall. The hall is entirely silent for once as Celestino casts some sort of wordless charm to make the casket shiver and then shrink back into nothing.
Underneath the jewels is a rough-hewn cup made of wood. It’s unadorned and would be completely unremarkable if it wasn’t filled to the brim with crackling blue flames. Celestino steps back and a wave of gasps and quiet exclamations goes through the hall as everyone gets their first look.
“This is the Goblet of Fire.” The Headmistress says. “And it will be what chooses our three champions. One from Durmstrang,” The red-robed students cheer, “One from Beauxbatons,” The blue students cheer as well, “And one from Hogwarts.” The sea of black-robed students shout their approval.
Minako waves a hand. “Settle down.” Once they’re quiet, she continues. “The procedure for entry is simple. Just write your name on a piece of paper or parchment and drop it into the goblet. We are, however, including an age restriction. Without exception, only students fifteen and above may enter.”
“What!” A voice screeches and Yuuri, along with most of the other students, turns to see the tiny blond boy from Durmstrang with his hands balled into fists, eyes alight with anger. There’s a wave of snickers, but the boy doesn’t look deterred. He continues to glare, obviously furious.
“Yes, well,” Minako continues on, apparently deciding to ignore the outburst, “An age line will be set up and…”
“Yakov, you said I could enter!” The boy shouts at his headmaster .
“Yuri, be quiet!” Yakov grumbles.
“Oh, Yuri’s in trouble~” Viktor Nikiforov sings, grinning at the smaller boy.
The boy, also named Yuri apparently, snaps, “Shut up, Viktor! You’re not going to be champion! I am!”
“Both of you!” Yakov’s face is worryingly red, almost the same color as his students’ uniforms. “Shut up!”
Yuri and Viktor both shut up.
The snickering in the hall is louder this time.
“Is that all?” Minako asks drily.
“Yes.” Yakov rumbles, giving his students a glare that makes it clear that it had better be all. Yuri scowls at him. Viktor salutes.
Yuuri bites back a laugh.
“Well,” Minako says, “Before we all finish our feast and head to bed, I would like to warn all of you that entering this tournament isn’t something to be done lightly. If you are chosen as the champion for your school, you will face dangerous, even deadly, challenges. But,” And she stops here to smile, “If you win, the rewards will be great. The winner of the Triwizard Tournament receives untold riches and eternal glory, as well as the respect of the entire wizarding world.”
Yuuri feels a shiver go down his spine. Under the table, his hands ball into fists.
“Well.” The headmistress smiles. “I think I’ve given you all enough to think about for one night. Enjoy the food!”
The rest of the feast passes in blur. Yuuri usually adores the food that the house elves make (second only to his mother’s cooking, of course), but he’s too distracted to even focus on that. He heads towards the dungeons early, claiming exhaustion from the long day. He is very careful not to even glance towards Viktor Nikiforov or towards the cup full of dancing blue flames.
That night, his dreams are of ice.
~~~~
Contrary to expectations, hosting the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang doesn’t actually change much about daily life at Hogwarts. Yuuri continues to go to his classes, doing well in charms like he usually does and doing terribly in transfiguration like he usually does. He hangs out with Phichit, does homework and the days pass.
Phichit, still mourning his lost quidditch season, tries club after club in an attempt to find something to fill his free hours. So far he’s been through magical photography (not as good as instagram, apparently), gobstones (boring), wizard’s chess (more boring) and homework club (predictably the most boring). Yuuri would be fine with Phichit’s rotating interests if he was doing it alone, but Phichit drags Yuuri along to each and every club he joins.
“Yuuri!”
Yuuri looks up from his breakfast to see Phichit hurrying towards him. He tries to hide behind a massive stack of waffles.
“Yuuri, I can see you!”
Darn.
“What is it Phichit?” He asks, helping himself to one of the waffles. Thanks to the diverse student body, the breakfast table is full of breakfast foods from around the world. He can spot a large bowl miso soup behind a carafe of coffee and some khao tom by his elbow. Sweet breakfast foods, though, have really grown on him.
Phichit plops down beside him, ignoring the looks that the other Slytherins give him, and helps himself to some of the khao tom. “We’ve got plans tonight.” He informs Yuuri.
Yuuri looks warily at Phichit. “Plans?”
“Plans!” Phichit agrees cheerfully. “Oh, that waffle looks good. Can I have a bite?” Yuuri shrugs and Phichit stabs his fork into a bit of Yuuri’s waffle. “Mmmm, so sweet! The Americans got this right. Remind me to tell Leo thanks later.”
“I don’t think Leo invented waffles, Phichit.” Yuuri says.
Phichit helps himself to another bite of Yuuri’s waffle.
“Get your own!” Yuuri pulls his waffle protectively closer. Phichit is a menace.
“Oh, fine.” Phichit sighs. “So, what was I talking about?”
“Plans?” Yuuri supplies warily.
“Right! Plans!” Phichit grins. “They’re starting up dueling club again!”
Yuuri can see where this is going and he is not a fan. “No, Phichit.”
“I didn’t even ask you yet!”
“Still no.” Yuuri says decisively. “I don’t want to join dueling club.”
“Come on, Yuuri!” Phichit grabs his shoulder and shakes him a little. “It’ll be fun!”
“I don’t think that dueling is supposed to be fun, Phichit.” Yuuri sighs, but he considers it. Dueling is kind of interesting actually. He knows that there’s a lot of charmwork involved and Yuuri has always loved working with charms.
“Yuuri…”
“I don’t know…”
Phichit is good at figuring out when Yuuri is actually uncomfortable and when he’s being stubborn and right now it’s just stubbornness. “Just try it once?” He says. “And then I’ll stop asking, I promise.”
“I guess.” Yuuri finally caves.
“Hooray!” Phichit hugs him. “This is gonna be so much fun! I bet Guang Hong and Leo would want to join too. I’ll ask them later and…”
“Chulanont!” Celestino calls from the high table. “Are you changing houses?”
“No, Professor!” Phichit calls back. He flashes Yuuri a sheepish smile. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?”
“Okay.” Yuuri says. “Now go away! You’ll lose points!”
Phichit rolls his eyes, but heads back to his house table without stealing any more of Yuuri’s food. So...that’s good.
Yuuri finishes his breakfast in silence, finding a discarded Daily Prophet and scanning it absently as he eats. He heads off to his classes a bit later (double defense against the dark arts with the Gryffindors and then transfiguration with the Ravenclaws after lunch). It’s all of his worst subjects today, so he finds himself looking forward to dueling club just because it means that all of his classes will be over.
~~~~
Yuuri heads up from the dungeons alone that evening. He knows that a few of his housemates are attending dueling club too, but he doesn’t know any of them well enough to tag along with their groups as they make their way to the Great Hall. There’s a fairly large number. It’s probably going to be a big crowd.
He can understand why. People have been asking for the reinstatement of the dueling club for years now. It’s been banned since Yuuri’s third year after some Gryffindor managed to set the Great Hall on fire.
Yuuri doesn’t like house stereotypes much, but he will admit that the ones about Gryffindors setting stuff on fire are pretty accurate. Like, worryingly so.
He’s mentally reviewing his fireproofing charms when he hears someone shout “Yuuri!” He glances around to see Phichit standing near the entrance to the Great Hall along with Leo and Guang Hong.
“Hey!” Leo greets him.
“Oh, hi.” Yuuri says with a small smile. “Good to see you.”
“Yeah, it’s been what, five hours since defense let out?” He grins. “Today was so boring! I can’t wait until we’re done with all of this theory. I wanna try some spells.”
Yuuri just laughs and ducks his head. He likes theory better, honestly. There’s less chance for accidental injury that way.
They walk into the Great Hall along with the other students. The crowd is as big as Yuuri thought it would be. He keeps accidentally brushing people he doesn’t know. He bites out awkward apologies when they turn to look at him, keeps walking when they don’t.
Yuuri is surprised to see Beauxbatons blue and Durmstrang maroon mixed in with the sea of standard Hogwart’s black.
The transfiguration professor and head of Gryffindor house, Professor Arch, is supervising dueling club. She’s a tall woman with half her head shaved and so many ear piercings that her ears look more metal than flesh. Yuuri is both very impressed by and very scared of Professor Arch.
“Let’s get started!” She calls. “I’m seeing a lot of new faces here tonight, good! Plenty from my house,” He pauses so the Gryffindors in the room can shout their approval back at her. She grins. “And some from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, not bad, not bad.” She folds her arms. “Okay. We’ll learn more about the specifics of dueling in later meetings, but for now I want you all to get a feel for it. I’m going to have all of you try your hand at dueling tonight.”
“Is that really safe, Professor?” A Hufflepuff first year protests thinly.
Professor Arch laughs. “Don’t bust out any unforgivables or light anyone on fire and I’d say we’re all good.” She puts her hands on her hips. “Okay! Let’s get to it...split into pairs! If you can, stick with people in your year. I don’t wanna see any seventh years going at first years, got it?”
The crowd starts to shift around, people grabbing their friends and yearmates. The words ‘split into pairs’ are always a source of mild panic for Yuuri. In classes, he’s always the person who waits until the end when everyone else is already paired and then he has to work alone or with the Professor. He’s ready to slink back into the hallway before anyone notices, but Phichit catches him by the arm.
“Yuuri!” He says. “Where are you going? I need you to be my partner!”
“O-oh.” Yuuri feels himself blush. “Right. T-thanks, Phichit.”
“Come on!”
They take a few steps past Leo and Guang Hong, who are already testing each other with silly jinxes, and bow before taking the steps back to get a yard or two between them.
“Let’s go easy, okay?” Phichit says with a smile.
Yuuri twirls his wand and smirks. “If you want.”
“Oh, Yuuri’s full of himself today!” Leo calls from where he’s doing his best to dodge Guang Hong’s many jellylegs jinxes.
Yuuri doesn’t answer, but he doesn’t let himself be nervous either. He always feels more at home, more confident, more like himself, with his wand in hand.
“Ready?” He calls to Phichit.
“If you are!” Phichit grins, raising his wand.
They start off basic, disarming charms that are quickly blocked. Phichit shoots out a tickling jinx that Yuuri blocks with a shield charm. He flexes his fingers on his wand (10 inches, black walnut with a tengu feather core) and lets magic thrum through it and then back into his fingers.
Okay, okay, this is simple.
Just think about charms. Charms are easy. He can do charms.
“Spongify!” He shouts, pointing at the ground under Phichit’s feet.
“Protego!” Phichit tries to counter, but Yuuri’s spell is for the ground and Phichit’s shield only covers himself. The spell hits and Phichit wobbles and then falls as the flagstones beneath him turn to the consistency of jello.
“Incarerous!” Yuuri flicks his wand and a thick rope appears, restraining Phichit at the ankles and wrists.
That’s that, then.
“Wow, Yuuri.” Leo and Guang Hong have stopped their duel and are staring at him. A few of the other students around them have stopped too and are looking at Phichit lying on the ground in ropes and Yuuri standing there unscatched.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Yuuri stammers, realizing that he’s left Phichit on the ground tied at the wrists and ankles, and waves his wand with a hurried, “Diffindo!” The ropes snap and fall off instantly.
Phichit sits up on the still spongey ground and rubs his wrists. “I guess you win that one, huh?”
“That was pretty cool, Katsuki.” A fourth year ravenclaw that Yuuri doesn't know thumps him on the shoulder. “You’re a natural at this.”
“Yeah.” Leo agrees. “You’re good, Yuuri.”
“Ouch, my pride.” Phichit says, but he’s smiling. “You mind fixing the ground, Yuuri? I can’t remember the countercharm.”
“Right.” Yuuri jabs his wand and mutters the countercharm before walking over to help Phichit to his feet. “I really am sorry.” He says. “I didn’t mean to do all that, I guess I was just trying to do my best and I got carried away and…”
“Other people are trying their best too.” Phichit cuts him off, patting his shoulder. “You’re fine Yuuri, seriously.”
“Thanks.” Yuuri mumbles, glancing around the hall to look at the other dueling students. A girl a ways away from them moves and suddenly in a gap between students Yuuri can see Viktor Nikiforov.
He’s dueling with another of the Durmstrang contingent, a girl with a wicked grin and bright red hair who slashes her wand through the air like a sword. Viktor, though, counters it handily. From what Yuuri can tell from halfway across the room, his spellwork is both flashy and effective.
Yuuri watches in awe as VIktor casts a nonverbal shield charm and the girl’s latest attack bounces off in a shower of sparks.
“Yuuri!” Phicit’s voice makes him jump.
“Um!” Yuuri knows he’s blushing. “Sorry! I was just…”
Phichit grins. “The Durmstrang students are impressive, right?” He nudges Yuuri. “Think you could beat one of ‘em?”
“I…” Yuuri glances towards where he last saw Viktor and he almost jumps in shock when he sees that Viktor is looking back at him. He makes eye contact with Viktor for a moment that seems to stretch out long and then longer before…
“Yuuri!”
It breaks.
Yuuri blinks and looks back at Phichit. “What is it?” He feels like he just climbed out deep, cold water.
“Ready to try again?”
Yuuri shakes his head, trying to shake off the weight of Viktor’s gaze, and he levels his wand.
“Let’s go.”
~~~~
That night, Yuuri sneaks out of his dormitory after everyone else is asleep and makes his way to the great all to drop his name into the Goblet of Fire.
Once he gets back to his dorm and changes back into his pajamas, his heart is beating too hard for him to sleep. He stares at the canopy of his four-poster bed replaying what he just did over and over until dawn turns the black water outside of their windows into muggy grey.
“Oi, Katsuki.” One of his yearmates looks curiously at him. “You okay?”
Yuuri smiles wanly and makes a note to charm the circles out from under his eyes once he has a moment to himself. “I’m fine.”
~~~
Yuuri heads into charms about a week later to see a girl dressed in Beauxbatons blue standing in the front of the room, looking around curiously. He knows that the exchange students are attending classes with the seventh years, so he’s not sure what one of them is doing his his fifth-year charms class.
“We’re continuing practice on Freezing charms today!” Celestino says once the whole class has filed in and found seats. Yuuri knows he can’t be the only one looking curiously at the Beauxbatons girl. “Miss Crispino from Beauxbatons will be sitting in our next few charms lessons. Please answer any questions she might have.”
She smiles and waves at them. “Hello! I look forward to working with you all!”
“Go and pair up with Yuuri there.” Celestino waves towards him. “He’s one of my best charms students.”
“Wait…” In charms, Yuuri usually does the whole ‘there’s an odd number of students so I’ll work by myself’ thing since he doesn’t really know anyone in Ravenclaw, the house they share the class time with.
The rest of the class is shifting, getting into their own pairs, as the Beauxbatons girl heads over to Yuuri and takes the empty seat next to him.
“Hi! I’m Sara.” She says with a smile. “Sara Crispino.”
“Nice to meet you.” Yuuri says, shifting awkwardly in his seat. Sara Crispino is intimidatingly pretty, with her long dark hair and purple eyes. “I’m Yuuri Katsuki.”
“Nice to meet you, Yuuri.” She says. “I hope you don’t mind working with me. I’m good at almost everything else, but I’m terrible at charms...Celestino thought I could do with spending a couple of weeks in his lower level classes.”
“I’m sure you’re not that bad.” Yuuri says.
“Oh, you’ll see soon enough.” Sara says ominously. “Now, freezing charms, right?”
“Yeah.” Yuuri says. “Glacius. We’re supposed to freeze a bowl of water.” There’s a bowl, about ten inches deep, in front of each of them. “Um, do you want to go first?”
“Oh, no.” She shakes her head. “You go first. Professor Celestino said that I should watch you, if I wanted to improve.”
“O-okay.” Yuuri can feel himself blushing. “W-well, here I go then.” He tries to ignore her purple gaze and levels his wand at the bowl of water in front of him. “Glacius!” He keeps the spell simple, just freezing the top inch or so. A glacius tria would freeze the water all the way through, but that’s not necessary right now. He doesn’t want to seem like he’s showing off.
“Oh, impressive Yuuri!” She beams at him.
“It’s nothing special…” He mumbles, but he can feel himself blushing.
“Now I’m going to try.” She lifts her wand with a flourish and says, “Glacius!”
For a moment, the water does nothing. And then, it starts to boil.
“Um…” Yuuri just stares at it. He can feel the heat rising from it. “Maybe...try once more?”
“Okay.” Sara glowers at the bowl and takes a deep breath. “Glacius!”
This time, the still boiling water explodes out of the bowl and flies all over the classroom.
Yuuri is about to cast a protego, but Celestino, with the reflexes of someone who has been preventing charm accidents in his classes for a long time, gets there first. “Protego!” He shouts and a transparent shield goes over the class. The boiling water bounces off and lands harmlessly in the corners of the room.
“Careful, now.” Celestino chides.
Sara huffs. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong!” She drops her wand and drags her hands through her dark hair, visibly frustrated.
“Um…” Yuuri doesn’t want to criticize her, but he can tell pretty easily what she’s stuck on. Or, at least, he thinks he knows what she’s stuck on. It’s usually the same thing with people who are gifted in transfiguration. They try to apply that mindset to everything. Leo had the same problem in their third year.
“What is it, Yuuri?” Sara turns to him. “What am I doing wrong?”
“You’re trying to change what the water is.” He says with a shrug. “Like, you’re trying to transfigure it. When you do charms, you’re not changing it you’re adding properties. Like, with glacius you're adding cold to the target until it’s frozen. You’re not changing it into ice.”
“Huh.” Sara blinks. “That’s...I hadn’t thought of it that way.” She glances over at Yuuri. “Wow, I guess they weren’t kidding when they said Slytherins were cunning! You’re really good. I feel totally embarrassed now.”
“No, no, no!” He waves his hands. “No, I’m only good with charms. I’m completely terrible at transfiguration.”
“Oh,” She smiles. “Well that makes me feel a little better, then.”
Yuuri smiles and pushes the bowl towards her. “Want to try again?”
She picks her wand back up. “Of course!”
By the end of the lesson, Sara is managing to get most of the surface of the bowl of water frozen and, at her insistence, Yuuri shows her glacius tria and freezes the whole bowl solid.
“Yuuri!” She claps her hands. “That was magnífico!”
He blushes, but smiles. He likes Sara Crispino. She’s nice without being overbearing and is clearly a hard worker when it comes to magic. They walk out of class together once Celestino dismisses them and she tells him, “If you ever need help in transfiguration, come and find me! I would love to repay you for helping me.”
“Oh, thanks.” Yuuri is caught off guard by her offer, but it makes him smile. “Yeah...maybe I’ll take you up on that.”
“Do!” She says. “I’ll be here all year and I doubt I’ll be picked as champion, so I’ll have the free time and…”
“Sara!” A loud voice makes Yuuri jump and Sarra turn around, her smile slipping into a frown.
There’s a boy standing there, a bit taller than Yuuri and probably a bit older, who has a frown on his face and purple eyes like Sara’s. “Oh, hi Mickey.” Sara says, the laughter gone from her voice. She sounds tired.
“Where have you been?” He demands. “I couldn’t find you anywhere and now I catch you with some Hogwarts boy…”
“This is Yuuri, Mickey.” Sara says. “He was helping me with charms. Yuuri, this is my brother Mickey.”
“Nice to…” Yuuri begins, but Mickey cuts him off.
“Your charms are perfect, Sara.” He says sharply. “And even if you do need help, you should have asked your brother, not some strange boy!”
“He’s not strange, he’s nice and I…” Sara begins, but Mickey cuts her off too.
“We can talk about later.” The boy glowers at Yuuri and strides off, clearly expecting Sara to follow. “We’re going!”
“Sorry, Yuuri.” Sara sighs. “I’ll see you around?”
“Sure.” Yuuri says and he smiles at her before she turns and follows her brother down the corridor.
~~~~
Halloween seems to sneak up on Yuuri. It seems like one day it’s the beginning of September and the next it’s the end of October. He mentions it to Phichit, trying to keep his mind off of the feast and announcement of the champions that will happen later. He knows the goblet won’t pick him, he knows but...
“It’s always like that, though.” Phichit says absently. “The first couple months are gone like that.” He snaps his fingers.
Yuuri hums in agreement, pulling his coat tighter. There’s a chill in the air.
Yuuri, Phichit and Guang Hong are sitting out by the lake, bundled up in coats and warming charms, enjoying the sight of leaves that have turned bright and fiery. Across the lake, the Forbidden Forest is a riot of color interspersed with the dark green of pine trees. Other students dot the rocky lakeshore, some with blankets and others with thermoses of coffee or tea.
“Did you end up putting your name in the goblet, Yuuri?” Guang Hong asks curiously.
“Um…” Yuuri looks down at his hands. He’s wearing green mittens that his mother sent him for his birthday last year. They match his scarf almost perfectly.
“You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want.” Phichit assures, thumping him on the arm.
“Oh, yeah, of course!” Guang Hong says.
“No, it’s fine.” Yuuri looks up. “I did, actually.”
“Ha, I knew you would!” Phichit beams at him. “If you get picked, I wanna lead your cheering section.”
That makes Yuuri laugh. “I think it’s more likely that you’ll get picked, Phichit.”
He shrugs. “Well you can lead my cheering section then.”
“I didn’t even get a chance to enter.” Guang Hong complains. “There’s no way I’ll have a cheering section.”
“Go out for quidditch next year.” Yuuri suggests. “You’ll get cheered for then.”
“I’m rubbish at flying.” He sighs. “Like, phenomenally bad.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Guang Hong!” A voice from behind them says.
They turn around to see Leo climbing over the rocks, a thermos and some mugs in hand.
“Leo!” Guang Hong beams. “I thought you had to study!”
“It’s a holiday, so I figured a break was in order.” Leo says with a smile. “If you mention studying again I won’t share my nice, warm coffee with you.”
“You Americans and your coffee.” Guang Hong chides, but he takes the mug that Leo offers him with a smile and a blush.
“Oh, please give me some too!” Phichit says, eyes fixed on the thermos.
“I think Yuuri deserves it more.” Leo says, handing Yuuri the next mug.
“Oh, thanks.” Yuuri blinks in surprise as he accepts the mug from Leo. That was nice of him.
“Please, Leo. I am a tropical boy from a tropical climate.” Phichit says pitifully. “I wasn’t made for nasty weather. At least not nasty weather without hot drinks.”
“I’m gonna call you tropical boy forever now, that cool?” Leo says, pouring another mugful.
“Gimme coffee and you can call me whatever you want.” Phichit makes grabby hands and Leo hands the mug over, rolling his eyes.
“You’re so sad.” Leo says, pouring the last mug for himself and settling down besides Guang Hong.
“I don’t care, I got hot drinks out of it.”
Leo laughs. “So tell me, why were you guys talking about flying? You thinking of trying out Guang Hong, Yuuri?”
“I told you I was terrible.” Guang Hong says sheepishly.
“Uh, no.” Yuuri says. He’s always been of the opinion that there are more than enough ways that disaster could befall him with his feet planted firmly on the ground. No need to tempt fate by adding a fun new aerial ways to die.
“It was less about flying and more about cheering sections, to be honest.” Phichit says. “They’re preparing for when I become the Hogwarts Champion tonight!”
“Uh, I think you mean when I become the champion.” Leo says.
“My money’s on Yuuri.” Guang Hong says teasingly.
Leo raises an eyebrow. “You entered, then?”
Yuuri just nods and sips his drink so he has something to occupy himself with.
“Well, good luck to all three of us, then.” Leo says. “No hard feelings when I’m picked, though. Okay?”
Yuuri laughs, Guang Hong rolls his eyes and Phichit shoves him.
They linger together on the shore, looking for the giant squid and chatting absently about the tournament and classes, until the sun sinks and casts the lake into shades of gold. The rest of the students on the grounds start to get up and head inside. Yuuri, Phichit, Leo and Guang Hong follow.
It’s almost time for the feast, and the announcement of the triwizard champions, to begin.
They separate at the entrance to the Great Hall, all going to their own tables. The hall is already crowded, loud with excited voices. Yuuri goes and sits in his usual seat near the end of the Slytherin table, clenching and unclenching his hands and trying hard not to think.
“Happy Halloween, Yuuri!” Chris says, handing Yuuri a tray of sweets.
“You too, Chris.” Yuuri accepts the tray and grabs a handful before passing it on. “You entered the tournament, right?”
“A chance at eternal glory and fame?” Chris says and winks. “You know me so well, Yuuri my darling. Of course I entered.”
Yuuri smiles and shakes his head, helping himself to a cauldron cake. It’s Halloween, after all. If he can’t binge on sweets now, then what’s even the point? And besides, this will give him something to do besides quietly panicking.
The feast goes quicker than these feasts usually do, everyone’s eyes drawn to the crackling goblet. Yuuri eats mostly sweets and ends up feeling worryingly jittery. He’s as preoccupied by the goblet as everyone else. His name is in there, his name…
The hush falls over the students when two professors finally stand and, together, levitate the goblet and its pedestal to stand in the center of the hall, right in front of the head table.
“Well!” Headmistress Minako claps her hands. “I don’t think that this is the time for long speeches. I’m sure all of you remember the rules.” There’s a loud rumble of assent from the students. Minako cracks a smile. “As I suspected. Now, when your name is called, please come and stand at the front. Are you all prepared?”
A cheer rises from the hall, students and professors alike. Yuuri balls his hands into fists and tries not think about how fast his heart is beating, how rapid his breathing is. It’s fine, it’s fine. The goblet won’t pick him, there’s no way.
Minako stands and rounds the table, all eyes following her. She stops in front of the cup and takes out her wand. She taps the cup once and the brilliant blue flames suddenly flare bright scarlet. A single scrap of parchment flies out in a spew of sparks and Minako reaches out to catch it.
“First, the champion from Durmstrang.” She says, unfolding the parchment. “Viktor Nikiforov!”
The students from Durmstrang shout their approval. Yuuri looks over at them, watching as they all mob Viktor, patting his back and ruffling his hair. Viktor is grinning, his blue eyes flashing with triumph.
“Ah, good for him.” Chris says with a smile and Yuuri remembers that they know each other.
“Think he’ll win?” Yuuri asks, watching as Viktor gets up and heads towards the front. His school, aside from small, blond Yuri, is still cheering.
“Viktor is a talented wizard.” Says Chris thoughtfully. “He’ll give the other champions a hard time, no matter who they are.”
“Mmmm.” Yuuri keeps watching as Viktor shakes hands with his headmaster and then Minako. He’s still grinning, clearly thrilled.
Yuuri wonders if he’s scared or not. People do die in this tournament, after all.
“Congratulations, Mister Nikiforov.” Minako says. Viktor winks at her and there’s a smattering of laughter around the hall. His headmaster hits him upside the head and he pouts. Yuuri hides a smile behind a hand and Chris snickers.
“Now, for the Beauxbatons champion…” Headmistress Minako’s gaze fixes back on the goblet as the flames inside once again flare red. A piece of paper flies out and Minako grabs it before it can fall to the ground. She clears her throat and reads, “Sara Crispino!”
Yuuri claps just as loudly as the Beauxbatons students do. Sara will be a great champion, even if Yuuri’s a bit disappointed she probably won’t have time to teach him transfiguration. But there’s a commotion at the table when Sara tries to stand.
A boy has her arm in his hand and he won’t let her go. Yuuri recognizes Michele, her brother. He’s red faced and holding her tight. The rest of their delegation is leaning away, clearly unsure of what to do.
“No, she cannot be the champion!” He’s shouting, loud enough that the whole hall can hear. “I should do it for here, I should be able to protect…”
“Let me go, Mickey!” Sara snaps. “I’m the champion. Me!”
“No, Sara, I won’t let you!”
She wrenches her arm out of his grasp. “It’s not up to you.” She flounces away from him, up towards the front. A red-headed girl from the Durmstrang group lets out a loud cheer and, the awkward silence broken, the rest of the hall follows suit with clapping and cheers of their own. Yuuri shouts her name, blushing when Chris raises an eyebrow at him.
“You know her?” Chris asks.
“She sat in on my charms lesson the other day.” He says. “She’s nice.”
“Hmmm.” Chris squints at her as she shakes hands with her headmistress and then Minako. “We’ll see what she’s made of soon enough.” He looks back at Yuuri and grins. “Time for them to announce my name now.”
Oh, right. The Hogwarts champion is next.
Yuuri feels like time is moving weirdly, like things are too fast and too slow at the same time. The goblet won’t choose him, it won’t. But, strangely enough, something about that thought isn’t comforting. He looks down at the polished wooden surface of the table. He thinks of his sister telling him he’d be great, thinks of dueling Phichit and winning, thinks of Sara Crispino calling him magnífico, thinks of catching Viktor Nikiforov’s icy blue eyes from across a crowded hall.
He looks up from the table just in time to see the flames go scarlet and spit a last piece of paper out before winking out and dying. Without them, the Goblet of Fire is just an ordinary wooden cup.
Headmistress Minako catches the piece of paper. Yuuri can’t breathe.
“The Hogwarts champion!” She call, her voice ringing out through the hall, “Is Yuuri Katsuki!”
Yuuri feels, slowly but surely, as the whole hall turns to stare at him.
“Oh.”