Chapter 3 - A Dark Wizard at Dinner

The rest of the day was spent counting the dragons that flew past. Florian tried to teach Weasley the differences between them so they could easily notice who they had counted before. He explained the colours and the way the different ones flew. Weasley continued on with his so-called babbling this time about dragon breeds.

“There is something extra about the Welsh Green, its behaviour and how it has adapted to muggles is so fascinating.” Florian listened as they both sat outside on the cliff edge. He nodded in agreement, but after a while Weasley changed the subject.

“What about you? I mean I have told you my whole life story by this point, but except about the dragons you don’t say much.” Weasley had turned his head towards him.

Florian, who was still looking at one of the newer dragons circling above them, just shrugged. What was it to say? The dragons were what was interesting and Weasley was seeing them right now. He had never thought his life was very memorable. He didn’t feel like bragging about his grades or his family. That always gave him this heavy feeling in his stomach which he always related to that he had wasted his opportunities.

“What about Durmstrang? Is it true you are taught dark arts?” Weasley asked, seemingly trying to make Florian say something. Which Florian found easier as answering questions was a lot simpler than just telling out of nothing.

“Yes, sort of. We do not call it dark arts. It is just magic at a cost.” Florian looked away from the dragons only to see the grimace forming in Weasley’s face. This annoyed him. “It is not that bad. You just pay to make the magic more effective or powerful. I know you learn that it is dangerous, but so is all magic.”

“Okay, okay. Sorry. Don’t want the dark wizard to want to throw me off a cliff surrounded by dragons.” Weasley put both his hands in the air, but the same smile that seemed to always return broadened across his face. “Let’s ask about… Family? Any siblings?”

Florian was glad for the changes although there was not much to tell. “No, I am a single child. Pureblood family so I grew up in the magical world.” He shrugged before looking back up at the dragons. “And there you have the tenth.” He pointed at another one of the newer dragons that he did not recognize left the mountaintop. It circled two times before returning back.

After that they took the brooms back. Weasley had tried to make Florian race, but stopped when Florian almost crashed into the top of a tree trying to fly after. Gavras more or less just sent them along in the fire so they could get back for dinner. The report they could do later as long as they saw them all they had time to eat.

“I need to change. These uniforms look nice, but they are sure are form fitted,” Weasley pointed out as they walked through the entrance hall. Florian got his point, to protect the body some of the movement ability had been sacrificed. “See you at dinner?”

“Yes.” Florian answered before they both separated to go to their different dorms. When Florian entered his dorm he was sure this was the best day he had ever had. He had seen the dragons again, he had made a new friend and they had managed the tasks without any accompanying them. He went over to his bed to change as the door opened and Campbell came in.

“Oh shit. I thought you were still out.” He said as he went over to his own bed. Florian didn’t answer the statement. He had tried to figure out why Campbell, and the others, acted so coldly towards him. Maybe he could ask Weasley? That thought made him shake his head.

Florian finished dressing and walked out. He could hear Campbell snort as he closed the door. Florian stopped on the outside. He wanted to make it up to them. He did not like that something he had said had ruined everything. He went through the conversation in his head.

It had been on the first day when they had just chosen their bed. Roux was decorating around his bed while Campbell and Horvat was sitting on top of theirs already finished. Florian was packing out some of his books when he noted the unmoving pictures on the wall.

“Roux and Horvat? Are you mudbloods?” He had asked friendly enough. The mood in the room had changed and Florian had felt this chill down his spine. He had tried to question what he had said wrong, but they just stopped talking to him. Florian overheard later that they all had tried to change rooms, but they couldn’t do that yet. When he had heard that he left before he heard more.

Standing now outside the room he sighed before heading towards the dining hall.

Florian looked around the dining hall, people were already eating and talking. Out from one of the other doors he saw Weasley walked out. Florian quickly headed over towards him.

“Hello again Weasley.”

“No, stop that at once. I am not Weasley for any of my friends. My name is Charlie and you use that.” He pointed a finger straight at Florian, still with that smile. “Now, try again.”

Florian felt confused, but nodded slowly. “Hello again Charlie.”

“Good, now we can eat. I am starving.” Florian followed Charlie to an empty table. “My roomates were all sent to clean the Hungarian Horntails stables. They are not back yet, but eating with a dark wizard seems not to bad.”

“Please don’t call me that. That was not even my best subject in school. That was more runes and beasts.” Florian said looking around if anyone had heard Charlie’s nickname. “It was also you who asked if we were going to eat together.” He added quickly as the dinner appeared in front of them.

Todays dinner was a feta cheese and meat pie. It still smoked when the piece appeared in front of them. Both of them forgot how to talk as they ate. Florian noted his roomates entered with one of the counsellors. This was the same counsellor he had talked with after the first day. He had said that this should not happen again, and when Florian had tried to explain that he didn’t understand what he had even done he had been silenced. The counsellors looked around before coming over towards him and Charlie.

“Hela, there has been some changes in the dorm rooms. You will be moving after dinner to room 14. I believe this is the same room as Weasley here. Sorry for not bringing the information earlier” The counsellor said with a voice trying to sound more understanding than last time they spoke.

Florian felt his stomach drop, but looked up at Weasley who seemed to shine at these news. This Florian realised was because of the last sentence: Florian was moving into Charlie’s dorm. That explained why he had tasks with someone from a different dorm, but also the dread that was filling him disappeared.

Florian nodded slowly. “I understand. I will eat up first. Charlie can show me the room after.” It was the counselleors turn to nod before giving them both a good luck and good bye before leaving the dining hall.

Charlie looked between the counsellors back and Florian. “I can help you carry your stuff too. Why are you changing rooms?” He asked while eating the rest of his pie.

“I don’t really know. I can maybe explain it later.” Florian had at this point made up his mind that Charlie maybe could help him explain. Although Florian had known Charlie for less than a day the other man had a way of taking things with a smile.

“Did you do some dark magic? Transfigured some dragon bones into rats that now wander the halls?” Charlie leaned over the table. “Did you sneak some dragonlings underneath your bed?” Florian snorted.

“No, nothing like that. I just asked them something.”