[Special] A Prank That Backfired — Part 1
It had all begun a few hours earlier, during Viktor Krum's first Quidditch lesson.
Though calling it a lesson might have been a little generous.
Yes, there were students on the pitch.
Yes, some of them were holding broomsticks.
And yes, Viktor was standing in front of them, explaining how to keep their balance during a turn without losing speed.
The problem was that a considerable number of those present didn't seem to be there to learn anything at all.
"Keep your weight forward," Viktor instructed, holding his own broom as he watched the students from second year and above hovering a short distance over the grass, since the first-years would be having normal flying lessons with Madam Hooch. "If you lean too far back, you'll lose speed before completing the turn and could fall, so be careful."
One of the students tried to follow his instructions, though somewhat clumsily, and lost control, ending up hanging upside down from the broom.
"Um... assistant prof... sir. I need a little help," he said without letting go, looking like some sort of koala.
Viktor let out a sigh before getting off his broom and walking over to help him recover a more dignified position.
When he saw some of the students climbing too high, Viktor called out to them at once.
"Lower," he said patiently. "I understand that you're excited to test your skill, but even on professional teams, during the first days of training, they make you practise close to the ground. That keeps their players from getting injured before they even make their debut. And believe me, there have been many injuries, and many players who never even got the chance to take part in a match," he said in a serious tone.
The students listened to him, nodded attentively, and descended.
It seemed Viktor wasn't bad at being an instructor at all.
Besides, it allowed him to take a small break from his usual days: endless training and nothing else.
He hadn't retired from Quidditch.
In fact, the Vratsa Vultures had already contacted him to offer him a contract.
But working in something he was so passionate about only made him happier.
Except for a few annoying things that, no matter where he went, would never stop following him.
His gaze shifted towards the other students, the ones who didn't seem to be taking the lesson seriously at all.
Instead, the fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-year girls gathered around part of the pitch seemed to have forgotten that this was a Quidditch lesson and not an opportunity to stare at Viktor Krum.
Viktor let out a sigh, noticing that some had brought their broomsticks to pretend they wanted to participate, while others hadn't even bothered.
One seventh-year girl was even holding her broom upside down.
Daphne arrived at that exact moment and watched the scene from the stands while spinning a small vial between her fingers with an amused smile.
She had come with a very simple idea.
Or, at least, it had seemed simple when she'd first had it.
Daphne remembered when Fleur had ended up hugging practically everyone who crossed her path.
It had been funny seeing Harry frozen by her embrace, exposing his weakness.
Daphne wasn't planning on causing anything that extreme...
Probably.
And who better to test it on than her slave?
She still felt she wanted a little revenge for last time.
"Inviting me to dance... shameless slave," she muttered, with reasoning that was so...
Daphne.
Especially if she could get him to do something foolish in front of his own students.
However, upon arriving at the pitch, Daphne discovered how girls of every age seemed to be taking advantage of the lesson to get even the smallest exchange with Viktor.
Or at least the slightest bit of contact.
That made her give them a brief look.
Not that she cared, of course.
She had no reason to feel annoyed just because a sixth-year student moved too close to him while pretending to ask for help holding a broom properly.
Even though the girl had been playing Quidditch since second year.
Nor did Daphne have any reason to narrow her eyes when another one touched his arm while laughing at something that hadn't even been funny.
Or to think that the third girl was wearing far too much perfume, enough that it could be smelled all the way from the stands.
Daphne rested her cheek on one hand, watching the scene with an expression that looked less and less impressed by the second.
"Pathetic," she muttered.
At the same time, she seemed to feel something in her chest, making her lower her gaze in confusion and touch it.
"Mmm??..."
But she quickly shook her head, deciding she had simply imagined it.
Daphne focused on the pitch again and began making her way closer. If she had come to cause trouble, then she would do it quickly so she'd have enough time to escape.
And the timing seemed perfect, because Viktor had just finished the first part of his explanation.
But while Daphne approached, planning how she would give him the Draught of Peace, a seventh-year girl walked over while holding a bottle.
"Instructor Krum," she said with an overly sweet smile. "You must be tired. I brought you some pumpkin juice."
Viktor looked at the bottle for a second before raising his gaze towards the girl.
"Thank you, but I don't need it," he replied politely.
"It's no trouble," the girl insisted, holding it a little closer. "I thought you might be thirsty after flying," she said, insisting a little too much.
"I'm not flying. Perhaps another student would prefer it," Viktor said calmly.
The student's smile tightened slightly.
"Well, but you are teaching," she said, clearly not giving up that easily.
"Teaching doesn't make me thirsty," Viktor replied immediately without losing his calm or his manners.
Though some of the younger students had to hold back their laughter at how easily Viktor answered without falling for the older girl's "charms", who, for the record, was quite pretty.
Viktor seemed to realise he'd been a little too direct, especially now that he was an instructor at Hogwarts, so he softened his expression a little.
"I appreciate the thought. But I'm fine," he said, even giving her a faint smile before turning back towards the students to continue the lesson.
The girl, feeling embarrassed, walked away with burning cheeks, already looking like she could no longer bear to stay in the class.
Naturally, that didn't bother the others who were actually taking the lesson seriously.
But that had only been the beginning.
Another student took her place almost immediately.
This one was carrying a steaming cup.
Viktor corrected one student's posture before turning around again.
"I made tea," the girl announced as she approached Viktor. "I thought perhaps you'd prefer something warm."
That made Viktor look at the steam rising from the cup before staring at the girl in confusion.
"No, thank you," he replied in the same tone before turning back towards the students, who had already rested long enough.
"If you wish to participate, take a broom. If you don't wish to learn, I would appreciate it if you didn't interrupt those who do," Viktor said, sounding slightly fed up, though still trying to maintain his manners.
Even so, that didn't stop the girl from walking away with a humiliated expression, something Viktor made no attempt to prevent.
Several of the students waiting nearby with other drinks began reconsidering their decisions.
Some quietly withdrew, while others left the bottles on a bench and pretended they had never belonged to them.
Daphne, who had stopped halfway after seeing all of that, smiled in satisfaction.
Not because she was happy that Viktor had rejected them.
She simply found it amusing to watch the disaster.
Once again, she couldn't help making an expression of complete confusion and looking down at her chest.
"Why does it feel like I'm looking for excuses?" she muttered to herself with a frown.
So she raised one hand and flicked her hair aside, brushing away those foolish thoughts.
"Let's finish this quickly," she said, as though being there was causing emotional changes she didn't understand.
And well...
That was more than obvious.