All in the Name of Cedric ** (DANIEL)

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@daniel
<3

Nikolai did not want to deal with people today. They all needed to just go, and to get away from him. Every face he glanced at had a smile, more or less so. Niko didn't want to see smiles. He just wanted to be on his own. Today was a bad day. Some times he had good days, and others... Not so good days.

His horrors filled his dreams last night. Death eaters, dungeons, cold, being blinded, being touched...Nik got no sleep. He looked rough; jeans and a wrinkled maroon T-shirt with his boots on. Even his hair was all over the place. And if you knew Nikolai Krum, you knew his hair was always perfect. Which also helps his reasoning to stay away from human life. He had gone to Hogsmeade for coffee. Just coffee. Nothing else.

Niko's eyes were kept lowered as he ordered, making sure no one spotted him. He was a famous Krum Quidditch Player after all, he didn't want anyone to see him this way. As soon as Nik was handed his coffee his feet brought him to a secluded spot in the middle of a bunch of trees. He glanced around, seeing no one and enjoying the silence. He immediately sat, his back to a tree, and took the chance of shutting his eyes for just a moment.

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Daniel was happy for a Hogsmede day. He needed a break from Hogwarts and the Durmstrang boat. He was just happy for some fresh hair. He didn't wait for any friends, Irina included, before going to the village. His first stop was for coffee and, as God would have it, he just happened to see a certain best friend his sitting there, trying to be inconspocuous. He grinned, slowly crossing over to the table trying not to give Ced away.

He reached him and calmly day across from him. "Lovely day, isn't it?" he kept his German accent heavy, not attempting to blend into the Brits around them. This would help him stand out more, not that Ced hadn't figured out who he was already.

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@daniel
<3

Of all people to show up, his best friend Dan had arrived. Niko actually hadn't thought he would see him, but, when his voice was heard, his eyes had still been closed. Nikolai jumped, his heart beating a mile a minute. The blood rushed to his head and he felt dizzy. Opening his eyes to see Daniel, then shutting them again, Niko held his chest. "Jesus, Dan. Warn me next time, would ya?"

Dan didn't know about Niko's past. He knew very little, and that was hopefully going to stay that way, just as everyone else. "Yes, wonderful day. What are you doing in Hogsmeade? Shouldn't you be studying?" Nikolai had received a few owls from his sister's saying Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were at Hogwarts this year, but none of them had said why.

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Dan simply smirked at Ceds words of wishing a warning would come first. Dan's smile disappeared when his buddies emotions started becoming clearer. He was not having a good day. Dan leaned forward, "hey, are you okay?" he knew wasn't, but he figured it was polite to ask. Nik knew of his ability, so there would be no point in lying. Plus, the guy wasn't trying to hide his mood anyway. Dan shook his head, "it's a visit day for the school. The girls are around here somewhere," he swallowed hard when he realized that meant Irina, which reminded him of what he hasn't told Nik yet...

He cleared his throat, straightening up again, "you don't look so good, Ced," he added softly

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@daniel
<3

Niko rose an eyebrow at his best friend. He knew he wasn't okay, Dan could feel it. So Niko didn't respond, he just shook his head with a chuckle and gulped back some more coffee. It wasn't every day that he let his emotions out with Dan, he usually tried to hide them. Nik didn't like talking about himself, or about his anger. "Just having some bad dreams lately, is all." And suddenly, the images ran back through his brain. Nikolai felt his chest closing in on him, he felt the fear of hands touching him...He shut his eyes, trying to breathe steadily.

He forced a smile. His sister's were his lifeline, the most important thing to him. "Well, I hope I see them. I haven't spoken with them in awhile. Should probably send them owls more often..." Nikolai was their only brother. And being the oldest, he did try his hardest to make sure the girls knew he was there for them. But lately, his nightmares were terrorizing his life and he seemed to be going off the rails.

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Dan wasn't surprised at Ced's eyebrow raise nor the shaking of his head. Dan frowned, "well, let me know if I can help at all. I mean-" he felt Ced's newfound panic start to set in and leaned back slightly. Not because he was scared, because he sensed that Ced might need that. Then Ced closed his eyes and Dan waited patiently, not wanting to interrupt.

Dan smiled softly back at Ced's forced one, glad to distract him a bit. "They're okay. They love you no matter what," sappiness wasn't Dan's strong suit, so he wrinkled his nose at the comment and then chuckled. "I'll keep my eye on them, eh?"

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@daniel
<3

Dan began to speak and then he stopped once Niko shut his eyes. He was thankful for that, but then again, sometimes just Dan's voice made Niko calm down. As soon as he opened his eyes he chuckled at his friend. "Well, I don't think this is something you can really help with..." Sure he could try. But Nikolai knew nothing would fix what happened to him. He became very somber.

"Hell you better keep an eye on them!" Niko laughed. He knew Dan was seen as another brother to his sister's. And having him at Hogwarts this year was something he'd always be thankful for. "I'll be checking in here and there. Especially with Irina entering the tournament and all." Niko knew Ree didn't want him butting in on her life, but he'd do it anyways. That's what older brother's are for!

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Dan frowned and nodded, "well, if there is something I can do please tell me," his voice was low and careful, focused and calm. He didn't show heightened emotions usually, but especially not when his friend needed him.

Dan cracked a smile when Niko laughed, telling him he better keep an eye on the girls. "Yeah," he said at the mention of the tournament, "if she is champion I'll probably die from the worry," he chuckled, shrugging, "but she'll do great. It would be good to have you around, of course."

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@daniel
<3

Dan was being very calm, as well as straightforward with Niko. He looked up at Daniel and nodded his head. Nikolai wasn't sure if he should tell Dan. He hasn't told a single soul about what happened to him. And even if he did tell him, Nik knew there wouldn't be anything Dan could do. And, well...Dan might have a heart attack from the emotions Nik would throw off. He chuckled quietly. "If I told you, you wouldn't be able to handle it, Dan."

"You think you'll die from worry? I'm so far away, I'd be the one to die." Niko grinned. He of course had already contemplated coming closer to Hogwarts for the year if Irina was chosen. But he wasn't sure if she would be; he could imagine a lot of seventh years had already put their name in for Hogwarts. Not that he doubted her, he just knew it would be a slim chance. "I'd like to be closer, Dan, I would. But it's not like I could stay at the school...I highly doubt that would be allowed."

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If I told you, you wouldn't be able to handle it, Dan." Dan didn't like the sound of that... but he understood where it was coming from. Niko knew what Dan would go through if the emotions were too much for him but... "I could try," he said softly, he hated the idea of not being able to help out his best friend. In fact, he'd do anything to change that.

Dan shook his head and softly chuckled at Niko's own stance on worrying about Irina. At his mention of being closer Dan contemplated, "yah, I don't think they'd let you stay there but during tasks Hogsmede always let's family stay the night, of course... maybe we should just worry about that when the time comes?" he suggested, "I mean if it comes."

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@daniel
<3

When Dan said he could try, Nikolai's eyes glanced up at his best friend. This was...this was going to be so hard to explain. His heart began beating faster, the nerves coming up. Nik's breathing was rushed, and he swallowed. He lifted his hand up and rubbed his eyes, trying to figure out how to start. This was a secret. It was something no one knew. Niko looked down at his feet. "It's...it's something that happened when I was six..."

"Yeah, sure. I'll wait to see if she's chosen or not, probably a better idea than getting all nervous now, yeah?" Niko knew that even if Irina was chosen, Dan would be close. He'd be able to help her out when he couldn't. And although it gave him a small pang of jealousy, which he was sure Dan had felt, he knew Dan cared for her like he did. Speaking of Irina...she was across the way. Confusion and excitement settled, and Niko nodded. "Hey, there's Ree. With...ah, James Potter it looks like. She told me the other day that they dated a few times."

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At that glance, Dan felt a wave of emotions come from his best friend. So much that he had to catch his breath. He waited patiently for the words to come out, the beginnings of Niks explanation... Dan was relieved when Nik rubbed his eyes before speaking, it gave him enough time to try and slow his heart rate. Nik looked down and spoke, and Dan had to lean forward to hear. "Okay," Dan said softly, accepting the beginning of the story and encouraging Nik to go on.

He nodded as NIk suggested it'd be better to worry later rather than now about Irina. He was still worried, but that was for other reasons as well as this tournament. Dan slowly raised an eyebrow, "you're not worried about meee?" he pouted, but it only lasted a second before he chuckled. He was confused at the hint of jealousy he felt coming from Nik, but didn't ask about it. Suddenly an onslaught of excitement burst into Dan and his hand flew to his forehead, "people need to calm do-" then he realized where it was coming from. Irina. He heard Nik point her out after he'd already figured it out, and his eyes flickered to her. At the mention of James and her dating Dan bristled, turning back to Nik, "awe. Ex-boyfriends. Guess they're still friends, of course," he tried to sound casual and smiled awkwardly.

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@daniel
<3

When Dan gently said okay, Nikolai knew he was going to have to keep close watch of his best friend. This story that he was about to tell, had a wave of emotions that were about to unfold, and he didn't want Dan to get sick. Niko took a deep breath, still staring at his feet. "I - I was kidnapped, by some Death Eaters...only my parents know...the girl's don't." That was the easy part to get out. Niko's throat felt like it was closing as he continued to talk, and his hand pointed to the scar on his cheek, "This, is from one of the Death Eaters. She did it with a knife." Niko immediately remembered the pain in his cheek, the feeling of being held down, a small, six year old boy. His eyes went up from his feet to straight ahead of him, knowing Dan was looking right at him. "And, why I don't like being touched? Well..." His breathing quickened, and tears welled up in his eyes. Niko was having so many different emotions...pain, sadness, regret, anger. "I was...molested wherever I was taken...blind folded, in a dark room...I-" He swallowed hard, tears falling. Nikolai tried to control his breathing, and his eyes looked right at Dan, not sure if he should continue.

"Of course I'm worried about you Danny boy!" Niko let out a small chuckle himself. Dan was a goof. As they both watched Irina and James, Niko gave a small nod along with a shrug. "I suppose so. They seem friendly. She told me about him in our owl, they seem pretty close." Nikolai himself was good friends with James, they were the same year and house, so it wasn't any doubt that they'd get along.

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Dan could feel the emotions quiet for a moment, and he guessed this was the calm before the storm. Dan took in a breath to prepare himself. He wished Ced would stop staring at his feet, but he was also really glad he did because the next part was like drowning. He didn't notice when his hands started clutching together or when his knuckles started turning white. At one point Nik looked up at him, but it didn't last. He didn't notice when he closed his eyes. He bit down on his lip, hard, as the pain, sadness, regret, anger, fear and so many other things came bursting toward him. His hands started to shake and for a moment he forget they were even in a public area, that Irina was so nearby, that it wasn't normal to cry out in pain out where people could hear.

He didn't realize the sound had come from him, at first, but when he did he opened his eyes and looked straight into Ced's. His best friend was crying, and with good reason. Dan took in a deep breath, eyes still on Nik as he let it out. "I'm-" he winced, "I'm glad you told me, Ced. I'm always here for you. Even if I'm inept," he tried for a humorous smile, but it didn't come out very well. He took in another deep breath, let it out, and then spoke again, "anything else?" he could do this for his best friend. He could listen.

At the 'Danny boy' comment, Dan narrowed his eyes in a faux glare. With the shrug and the comment about James and Irina being pretty close, Dan just nodded, slouching in his chair a bit and not turning back to assess the duo again. "Lovely," he said, as if they were talking of the weather.

(haha the two moods of the convos are so opposite, also i forgot they were outside hahahah)
Irina Rose Krum - since dan made a sound she may have heard haha

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@daniel
<3

Dan's abrupt yell of pain caused Nikolai to jump slightly, his eyes widening at his best friend. Uh oh. Niko knew that his emotions were going to overload Dan, but he didn't expect him to yell out loud. His cheeks blushed pink for his friend, embarrassed that this had happened in public.

Niko gave him a look like, 'really? you want me to continue?' and shook his head. "Dan...I'm sorry. I-I knew it wasn't going to be good I just..." He looked around and then leaned closer, whispering, "I didn't expect you to yell. I figured you'd just pass out or something." Nikolai gave him a goofy, sad grin. He lifted his hand up and wiped away the tears that fallen from his eyes. "I don't want to hurt you anymore, Dan...really. It's just been bothering me. I've been having nightmares..." Niko looked down at his fingers and back up to Dan's eyes.

A laugh escaped his lips at Dan's reaction. "Hey now, I'm her actual brother. I'm the one that is supposed to be upset about her dating." He was, to a point. But he also wanted Irina to be happy.