Maybe This Time (DARINA)

[Irina Rose Krum]

In the days after the announcement of the Triwizard Tournament and the start of classes, Irina had never felt so busy in her life. Not only was she set to take her NEWT examinations and the professors were piling the homework on high from the get go, but every spare minute of hers was spent either eating, sleeping or in the library pretending to get a head start on studying, but really reading all about the Triwizard Tournament. Today though the Alchemy professor had set a particularly long and difficult essay to be handed in the day after tomorrow, and Rina knew she had to take some time during her free period to at least get started on it. Settling in at her favorite table by the window, Rina pulled out her Alchemy book and turned to the page Professor Callahan had mentioned would help their essays.

Before long, Rina felt her mind wander, and she glanced out the window.  It was a beautiful September day, and other students with free periods had decided to spend it outside.  Sighing to herself, she looking longingly outside a moment longer, and tried to turn her attention back to her books.  Her focus, however, seemed to be determinedly not on Alchemy, and her mind drifted once more to the Triwizard Tournament.  She looked around and began to pull the history book towards her when a figure stopped in front of her table.  Rina looked up and felt her heart skip a beat when she saw Daniel.  "Dan!" she exclaimed, trying to hide her surprise.  She doubted it would work; he always seemed to weirdly know what she was feeling, which really didn't help matters.  "I'm sorry I haven't gotten to spend any time with you since you arrived; seventh year is already insane," she told him, motioning for him to sit with her.  "How are you finding Hogwarts?" she asked.

@daniel

[Deleted]

Dan had no idea Irina was in the library when he wandered in...

He really didn't.

What, you don't believe that?

Okay, okay.

He was looking for her and soon found her at a table by a window. He smiled, taking in a breath before crossing over to her and standing in front o her table. Before he could announce himself she was saying his name, going on about how she was sorry she hadn't gotten to spend any time with him and blah blah... He had lost track of her words because of the overwhelming feelings of surprise and nervousness that came from her. He felt his own heart pounding up to his throat, but was sure it was simply because of what se he was feeling...

Since that summer day in the tree it seemed he always got those feelings from her, mixed with some deeper things he was having trouble reading. He wanted to read them, he found, which was rare. Usually he wish his ability would leave him, give him some peace. He found himself wanting the opposite in this case.

He didn't even hear her question due to being lost in his thoughts. "Did you say something?" he said, sounding as apathetic as ever. He cleared his throat, moving to lift himself to sit up in the window sill next to her, "I mean, we're both busy," he added.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina raised a brow at Dan and gave him a look. "You can be an apathetic arse to anyone but me Daniel, I can see through that act," she said, sticking her tongue out at him. She tugged at his robe and looked pointedly at the seat. "You're here now anyway, so sit, you can help me concentrate on getting this damn Alchemy essay done," she told him.  Help her concentrate?  Rina had to suppress a sarcastic bark of laughter; Dan was probably the last person that would ever actually help her concentrate.  She didn't mind letting him believe it though.  "I'm not even sure anymore why I took the class, except the professors quite passionate about his work, so his lectures are fascinating...not to mention he's quite attractive," she said, letting a small smirk slip through.  She quickly studied Dan's face, curious to how he would react - the last time they'd been together he had seemed a bit odd when talking about a hypothetical ball.  Anyone else, Irina would have guessed he was jealous, but she knew better than to assume that with Dan; she didn't want to get her hopes up.

After a few minutes, Irina tossed her quill down and ran her hands through her hair, which was hanging loose down the back of her chair.  "I can't concentrate, I keep wanting to read more on the history of the Triwizard Tournament," she confessed, pulling the large forest green volume towards her at least.  "So..we might be competing against each other," she added conversationally.  She wasn't sure how she felt about that, but she did feel a strange determination to beat him.  At least, that was the emotion she was letting herself think about.

@daniel

[Deleted]

Dans eyes widened slightly at Irinas words and that look that she gave him. He could sense the joking coming from her though, but he was glad that she stuck her tongue out to reassure him. He nodded as she someone commanded him to sit and moved off from the window sill, standing behind the seat across from her. At the last second, though, he quickly moved around the table and sat in the chair right next to her. "Relax," he started, but then she went on to make that comment about how her professor was 'quite attractive' and his hands slipped while reaching for the book. Instead of grabbing the book, his hand just slid forward causing his body to follow until his head smacked onto the table.

He sat up quickly, eyes wide before letting his hand come back to rub his forehead. "Uh..." he could feel his face flushing and glowered, what the heck just happened to him!?

He leaned toward her homework again, slowly this time but his eye was caught by her tossing her quill down after a moment and running her fingers through her hair. His own hand lifted slightly as if he was about to say something, but she spoke first. About the tournament. He nodded, turning his eyes back to the book on the table. "Looks like we might be," her determination was almost choking him and he forced himself to lean away a little. "You scared?" he teased, a playful smirk on his lips now.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina had wondered what Dan's reaction would be to her calling her professor attractive, but she certainly hadn't expected him to accidentally face plant on the table in front of them.  Her shoulders began to shake from suppressed laughter until it bubbled out from her lips.  She hadn't meant to laugh so loud, she didn't, but she couldn't help it.  Dan always tried to see suave and cool, the picture perfect brotherly figure and this was just...not.  "Sorry, I'm sorry," she gasped, still snorting with laughter.  She tried to somber up more when the librarian came over and shushed them, but a stray giggle would escape every few seconds.  Still, it was like his insults to her hypothetical date to the Yule Ball - uncharacteristically uncomfortable.  Was it jealousy?  Rina couldn't help but feel curious.

Rina normally would be tempted to throw back a sarcastic comment, but something stopped her.  She hadn't really been able to sort out her feelings on entering the tournament, just that it felt like it was her destiny to at least put her name in the goblet.  "Honestly?  A little," she admitted with a small shrug.  "Father told me all about his tournament and what happened; it'd be foolish to be his daughter and not feel scared.  But it just feels like it's something I've got to at least try for," she said, and chuckled.  "I'm sure that sounds silly.  I bet you're not afraid though," she said, looking up at him.

@daniel

[Deleted]

She was laughing at him. The pure amusement and joy that came from that sound and from her emotions reeling towards his caused him to smile, even though he tried desperately not to. She apologized, sort of, while trying to stop the noise when they were hushed. His large smile shrunk then at the librarians annoyance and he bit is lip to keep from laughing just as hard as Irina was. "Well, that was fun," he muttered softly.

Then, while talking of the tournament, he felt her mood shift to something a little more serious and honest. She admitted that she was a little scared, talking about how she had to at least try. How she would bet he wasn't afraid. "Oh no, I am," he said a little quickly He was afraid for her, not for himself. Not really. He knew people more talented than he that the cup would most likely pick. He cleared his throat. "I just don't want the people who were hurting you last year to do it again," by you he meant Hogwarts, but he didn't clarify.

There was that overwhelming feeling again, that one to tell her the truth about himself. He tried to push it away by turning away from her again, leaning back on the chair, and tossing his feet up onto the table, "eh, I bet I could take 'em though."

Irina Rose Krum
(he struggles)

[Irina Rose Krum]

Rina gave him a small smile; she figured she'd meant her and her sisters with his comment but it was nice to think for a moment he mainly meant her.  "From the attack on Platform 9 3/4, it sort of seems like they're moving out into the Wizarding World.  With all the extra security guards in place, I feel quite a lot safer this year," she told him, then frowned.  "Although, the bad guys always do seem to find away to infiltrate, so perhaps it's a bit foolish to feel safe," she added quietly.  She'd read all about the Second Wizarding War, with some inner details filled in by her father; she was glad in the end Harry Potter had prevailed, as she very much doubted they'd all be there if he hadn't.  She gave a wry chuckle when he joked he could take them.  "I'm sure you could take them. The trouble is, we don't even know who they are; if they're students, adults, a mix. It's all a mystery, even to the Headmaster.  I heard that when they went in to rescue everyone, there were only a few grunts stationed.  Whoever was responsible had left before anyone could identify them," she told him

Wanting to change the subject, Rina cleared her throat.  "So, you were reaching for my Alchemy book before - do you take it at Durmstrang?" she asked.  She didn't mind talking to Dan about serious subjects, but too much would put anyone in a depression; Rina did not want Dan to feel depressed around her.  "On second thought, my essay can wait," she said, pushing the parchment back.  She plucked the elastic band off around her wrist and tied her hair into a ponytail.  "Let's speculate about the tasks the champions - whomever the may be - will face," she suggested, eagerly flicking open the book in front of her.  Her dad had faced dragons in the First Task; perhaps there'd be something like that waiting for whoever was chosen.

@daniel



LOOK VICTOIRES SINGING THE SONG FOR FEELS

[Deleted]

As Irina went forward to explain all that she knew about the situation with the attackers, Daniels own feelings only got worse. By the time she had wrapped that up, his stomach was in knots and his brow was furrowed in intense worry. He cleared his throat when she finished, shaking his hand straightening up a little. "Either way, nothings going to happen to you," he said, as if this was a fact, something unchangeable, something set in stone. To him, it was.

She asked about his alchemy experience and he shook his head, "I took it last year but I'm not taking it this year," he explained. The students would be schooled by their headmaster in the boat and would occasionally be joining Hogwarts classes if needed, but for the most part they would be doing their own learning apart from the Hogwarts students. "I just thought I'd see where you're at," he added. Then she was pushing the essay aside and putting her hair up, her curiosity and excitement rushing out of her like electricity. He chuckled, sitting up straighter yet again and leaning one elbow onto the table, resting his chin in his hand there, and turning toward her. "Well, someone's a bit elated about this," he joked.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina felt touched at Dan's promise to keep her safe; even if he really meant her and her sisters. Before she really knew what she was doing, she reached over and squeezed his arm lightly.  "I know you're only saying that because Aleks probably asked you to keep an eye on us, but thank you all the same," she said, smiling.  After a moment, she pulled her hand back away, and tucked a stray piece of dark hair behind her ear.  "I will come to you then if I have any questions, hope you don't mind," she said in a teasing voice, trying to lighten the mood a little; it had become a bit too serious for her liking.

As she flicked the pages of the history book, Dan mentioned how she had seemed elated about the tournament.  As she studied the page, the words didn't really make sense to her as she wondered how he knew how she felt.  Were her emotions that evident on her face?  She hadn't thought so; she had been trying to contain her excitement until they knew for sure who would be the Hogwarts champion.  "I wouldn't say elated, but excited sure," she said, hesitating for a moment.  "Where'd you get elated from, anyway?" she asked curiously.

@daniel


ooc: I'll start the lake thread and you finish up here ^_^

[Deleted]

Aleks did in fact mention keeping an eye on the girls, but he had already decided he would be doing that before he even told Aleks he was coming. He nodded at her next comment, "you know you can come to me with anything," he said. Yes, yes, he was sometimes nice but that wasn't that crazy. He had always treated the Krums like family and vice versa.

Then she called him out on calling her out on her hidden emotions. His eyes widened and he suddenly stood, looking out the window. "Wow that lake sure looks nice, doesn't it? I think I'll go swimming while I'm here. Wanna come? Tomorrow? Four o' clock? Awesome," he said all of this incredibly fast before picking up his bag and turning back to her, "sorry I interrupted your studying," he said. He slowly lifted his hand and then patted her gently once on the top of the head before ducking out of there.

That was too close.

Irina Rose Krum
(so I guess we're done here? XD)

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina looked surprised as Dan abruptly stood up and invited her to go swimming the next day, completely ignoring her question.  "Oh, okay, sure," she agreed, a puzzled look still spread across her face.  Was it something she said?  She wasn't sure, but he was certainly quick to get out of there.  Trying not to feel too hurt, she sighed and pulled her Alchemy book towards her, hell bent on getting that done before tomorrow afternoon

LE END


ooc: Irina be like hehe.  TO THE LAKE