04 | TENEVAYA VORONA
For years, Durmstrang institute was the home of many remarkable witches and wizards. Durmstrang produced great wixens, but not all those great ones were considered good.
The castle was unplottable, covered by mountains, and surrounded by lakes. It was cold. It was always cold for the students and staff alike. However, what could they expect from an institute that mainly housed those from northern and Eastern Europe?
Durmstrang was a school that prided itself on blood purity. Not a single muggle-born had stepped foot in the school, regardless of whether or not, half of the students didn't agree with the school's belief in mudbloods. But the school had taught the dark arts. Students were taught the values of tradition, history, and culture, and thus that includes the dark arts of their world.
Unlike Hogwarts, the school which has practically banned the practice of dark magic, Durmstrang encouraged the students for it. Magic was Magic, and the world has shunned the school for balancing magic itself amongst students. While light magic was welcomed, dark magic was encouraged to rekindle the dying flame of it's magic.
A wixen child does not choose what kind of core they are born with. Dark, light, grey. Students of those specific cores are given certain classes that the others cannot, however, if a student wishes to participate they may do so as they please. Such as the dark arts, most students with dark or grey cores participate in the class.
Unlike Hogwarts, the school was not devides into four houses. However, in some cases; such as quidditch, the school has created four teams to play against eachother. Durmstrang didn't have houses, but they devided students into faculties based on their interests. Each faculty provided unique or special education that gives them a steady base for the careers once they graduate.
The five faculties being; martial faculty, memory faculty, nature faculty, linguistics faculty, ans the exploration faculty.
Students often opted to choose just one, but there were certain exceptions when the career you are interested in involved multiple of the faculties. This was rare, but it happened every so often in generations.
But as Slytherin's reputation fell for housing Lord Voldemort, Durmstrang's reputation turned dark upon the former dark lord, Gellert Grindelwald.
"Students of the year before, I welcome you back!" Igor Karkaroff, the current headmaster and former death eater grinned at the massive hall filled with students. He trailed his gaze from the right to the left, giving them a satisfied look.
"To our new first years, to our new students―I welcome you to Durmstrang institute! Our grand and honorable school of witches and wizards, destined to be great. Our school, welcomes you all, and hope that you come to call it home." He outstretched his arms in a form of welcome, but there was a certain boy who couldn't help but roll his eyes at the theatrics. Karkaroff was not a proper headmaster, and he was placed in such a situation to trap him.
Every single student could understand Karkaroff, courtesy of the enchantments all around the school. Language spells, enchantments, charms, and ruins engraved upon the walls so students may communicate with ease.
This was the difference between Beauxbatons and Hogwarts to Durmstrang. Rather than limited to their own country, witches and wizards of magical families from all over northern Europe came to Durmstrang to learn.
The Durmstrang uniform were mainly colored their signature blood red and deep black. Boys wore white dress shirts with dark red ties, and some wore black waistcoats with gold buttons with the Durmstrang crest. Black trousers to pair, and Durmstrang's signature blood red robes, the alternative was often a cloak or cape of course. On the other hand, girls wore a white blouse, a red tie and some wore waistcoats with golden buttons with the Durmstrang crest. A flared black skirt and black tights or socks, with the usual blood red robes, cloak, or cape with black lining.
Of course the cloaks and robes has the expensive greyish fur.
In the hall of students, many could say that their attention were caught by a group of three. Nothing of the ordinary, but they all couldn't help the pull they felt.
Three students, in their last year, sat by the center of the hall. As newcomer's gulped from the mess of nerves they had, they couldn't help but constantly glance at the trio who oozed power. It was the allure of authority and power the three released, along with one person attending to certain first years. The prefect seemed to fit with the trio, though he was not sitting with them.
A girl with dark brown hair smiled at the first years, making many of them blush. Her curious hazel eyes scanned through the crowd, and many were already wavering, especially those who knew her.
To the left of the group was Valentina Ivanovna Zolotova. Heiress to a prominent, Noble and Ancient house of Zolotov, of Russia. A pureblood family known for it's prowess upon the arts, healing and political power among the Russian Ministry of Magic.
Then there was a boy with wavy dark hair, not even paying attention to the first years. He was playing with a black cube, which some half-bloods compared to a muggle rubik's cube, before it glowed white. Then the next thing you know, it blew up. Karkaroff spared the boy a small glare, before rolling his eyes at the cheeky grin he got in return.
To the right of the trio was Rigel Rabastan Lestrange. The son of notorious death eaters, Bellatrix and Rodulphus Lestrange. Heir and soon-to-be lord of his house once he graduate from Durmstrang, as well as an insane genius with an incentive mind. No one was able to forget his multiple explosions.
Then there was an even more passive looking boy, yet he had the most intense presence. Amber eyes, and with some light, it looked like gold, stared boredly at the headmaster who continued to speak. With dark and messy hair adorning his head, he felt approachable, if not for his aura alone.
In the center was Lucian Altair Potter, or to some of the students, Lucian Altairovich Voronin. The name Potter was already famous for the boy who lived in Britain, but the Voronin name was what caught their eyes. A noble and most ancient house of Russia, as wealthiest business tycoons of their country. Heir to Voronin, and Lord of Potter.
The famed trio of Durmstrang.
Well...trio to newcomers. It was a quartet to those who have been their longer. Such an infamous group.
"The little firsties are quite anxious." Valentina commented, turning away from the trembling first years who were gathered together. She could remember their own first year, which none of them were in such a state.
"Valya, don't tease them too much. The Mutt is still making sure the other pups are comfortable." Lucian hummed, leaning back on his chair as he lazily stared at the headmaster. He glanced towards a tall young man with ash-brown hair, speaking to a group of first years along with two other prefects from fifth and sixth year.
"We were much more calm, huh?" She smiled, nostalgic of the time that passed.
"Yeah, and now we're in seventh year! Is this how Elias felt?" Rigel mentioned the seventh year students that had practically taken the three(four) in, smiling in fondly as he was now busy with the Bulgarian ministry.
"It seems so. Have either of you chose which mastery you'll be taking?" She asked, "I've taken into consideration on Healing and Potions."
Rigel proudly announced, "Alchemy, Runes, Arithmancy, and potions!" Although his main goal was to be an alchemist, Rigel had given himself choices on his career path based in the four subjects he was best at.
Valentina gaped at him, "Four? Papa and Mama are already proud I am pursuing two, but four?!"
"Well you want to become a healer, since you have no interest in becoming a politician for your family, but us still capable of becoming. Honestly now, you'd be better than little Alexei and Sergei."
Alexei and Sergei Zolotov, Valentina's younger twin brothers who were currently in their OWL year.
"I have no interest in participating in politics. Mama may have been one hell of a politician, but Sergei is the one who takes after her. Alexei will be the one managing our families business, and I will be the one to lead. Our parents find it to be a miracle that they had three children who are fine with dividing the work." She rolled her eyes, before continuing.
"Klaus is part of the martial faculty with Sergei and Luka, so I guess he's going for auror then. You're in the exploration faculty with Mabel." Rigel hummed, "Your father's fine with your choice, right?"
"Papa is fine with me being a healer, considering Uncle Fedor gets far to many injuries in his career as a dragon tamer." Valentina huffed, crossing her arms as she leaned back on her chair.
"Right~ Fedor Zolotov could have been a Gryffindor for his recklessness. What about you Luka? What masteries will you be pursuing?" The two instantly stared at the young man between them who's eyes were lazily trained on ceiling.
"I know that Klaus will be pursuing a mastery for defense against the dark arts and transfigurations for his goal as an auror. Val wants to be a healer, I might become an Alchemist but you have a few other options, don't you?" Rigel asked, tilting his head curiously before glancing at the same brown-haired boy who was now comforting a crying first year.
Lucian hummed in acknowledgment, tilting his head as some of his heart covered part of his glasses. "I'm unsure, but my choices have narrowed down to; Dark arts, DADA, potions, Alchemy, and spellcraft."
"So 2 subjects on martial, 2 in nature, and 1 in linguistics."
Lucian took a moment to think, tilting his head in a bit of confusion. He stared at the two as if they were fools.
"But, I already took some of my masters examination last year remember? Professor Shneider recommended me for my ancient ruins mastery and I took the exams around may. Then there was my transfiguration mastery that I took an exam for in June." He sighed, "I told you this remember? At the end of the year."
Rigel let out a groan. Once again did Lucian show how much of a genius he was, even though the boy constantly denied it. No one even knew what career he would take.
"Professor Bellaire gave you a recommendation?! It's been years since she last recommended someone for mastery!" Valentina whispered loudly, looking faint as she stared at Lucian as if he had done some kind of miracle.
Sophia Bellaire, the transfiguration professor of Durmstrang was a strict and stern woman. Students tended to dislike the woman for her icy exterior, and not many were recommended by the famed transfiguration mistress. She was ruthless when it came to criticism, and although it may seem rude and cruel, the woman's honest judgement usually helped her students improved. She had always been picky when it came to recommending students for a mastery in her subject.
"Yes, and the last person she recommended was a student she taught twenty or so years ago. They're a transfigurations mistress at the moment." Lucian kindly stated, gaining their attention as they leaned closer. However they were wary of the smug smirk he wore, leaning back on his seat as he glanced between them.
"Who?" The two asked in unison, gulping as Lucian gave them a smirk.
"Katerina Rodionevna Voronina."
Rigel bemoaned. Of course it was his godmother and the mother of the jack of all trades in front of him.
"Oh, come on!"
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Lucian smiled darkly as he took a sip of the whiskey offered to him. He was amused by the man fidgeting in front of him, tilting his head to the side as he watched the man filled with anxiety.
Karkaroff felt cold sweat trickling down his forehead as he was pinned under the icy gaze of his student. He took in a sharp inhale, frozen as the memory of an eleven year old Lucian, seemingly innocent, tore down the walls that hid secrets and put him under his control.
He was headmaster of Durmstrang... But it was a curse and prison. He was a death eater, not from Britain, but from Bulgaria. The British wizengamot had pardoned him in exchange for information, and that itself showed how corrupt and foolish the British Ministry of magic was. However the ministries of Bulgaria and Russia had come to the bewildering decision to place Karkaroff as a headmaster.
The man has thought it as salvation.
Until he realized that his control was nonexistent. As a headmaster, he was forced to follow the instructions of the school board, he was merely a puppet on display. He had no power, he was a poster boy. Igor Karkaroff was an example of a disgrace to Durmstrang, and his cruel punishment was to be scrutinized and ridiculed by dozens, if not hundreds of pure looks families.
They couldn't send him to Azkaban for it was in British territory, thus Durmstrang was his prison. A place where he would sign his own death the moment he layed a hand on a student. Karkaroff was a man trapped in a place where he has thought he had power, and in reality... He has nothing.
The worst part of his punishment was when Lucian Potter of all people entered his prison with Rigel Lestrange.
"So... You must be glad that I won't be here next year." Lucian chuckled, tilting the glass from side to side as he stared at the liquor with more interest than his stuttering headmaster.
"Of...Of course not! Lord Potter, it has been an honor to have you as my student." Karkaroff stuttered, internally cursing himself for it. Lucian had always carried a unique yet morbid presence... it was hauntingly familiar.
Lucian smiled, amused as Karkaroff tried to get in his good graces. His origin as a Potter was not the only thing that caused a rather nervous reaction to Karkaroff.
"Matushka wishes for me to remind you... That you only have two years left to fulfill your debts."
Karkaroff had a debt with Voronin, and Katerina Voronina was not merciful for the fools that chose to be indebted to her family. The man shuddered as he could vaguely remember the dark witch.
Katerina had been three years younger than him when they studied in Durmstrang, and he could never forget her reputation in the school. The tenevaya vorona―the shadow crow.
Katerina was ruthless and like a crow, she was an omen herself. The sight of the crow showed that someone was close to death, an angry Katerina was an omen―no, a promise for danger, revenge, and her wrath.
She worked in the shadows, and everyone who had wronged her, even teachers, were not spared.
Lucian knew this, smirking in satisfaction. "Don't forget how much you owe her. From what I remember, you asked Grandfather Rodion for... 200,000 galleons?"
Karkaroff hesitantly nodded. He wanted to curse his younger self for running to the Voronin family for money. Especially on the fact that he had used some of the money to fund death eater activity later on, to which Rodion and Katerina were rather furious.
He was quite thankful that Rodion Voronin had retired two years ago. But it was a double edged sword for him, Katerina Voronina, now Katerina Potter was the head of the family.
Her husband, Altair Potter was constantly threatened by death eaters years ago, and knowing her, she was going to ruin him. Now the crow's son was as cruel and Vengeful as her. But what was worse― Lucian had Black blood running through his veins.
And perhaps, dare he say, Lucian was worse than his mother. Those very same eyes had glared at him a few years ago, and now the same yet different pair of eyes were staring at him with cruel amusement. Karkaroff knew what he truly was to his school, but his situation had become worse upon the existence of Lucian Potter-Voronin in Durmstrang.
He could not escape his fate when one of Russia's predvestnik smerti. The most dangerous family of said country.
Lucian took another sip of his whiskey, giving the man a cold smile. His eyes flashed darkly and Karkaroff shivered as cold magic swarmed the entire room. It suffocated him, and he heard his breath hitch.
He didn't dare to look up, sticking his eyes to his lap. He knew those amber eyes were taking joy at the wreck he was at the moment and Lucian spoke...
"At the moment, I am not speaking as your student.. Karkaroff. I am speaking to you as Lord Potter and the heir to Voronin. Admittedly, I'm not the one who should be dealing with thes kind of things. Unfortunately, that person is still occupied, but I'm sure he'd be delighted to meet you."
His voice was filled with amusement and cruelty. Cold and dangerous, Karkaroff was shocked at the flash of a memory in his mind.
"Pay your debts, or you won't be spared by my family's wrath."