Chapter 44

The delegations from Beauxbatons Academy and Durmstrang Institute were coming and Atlas was buzzing with excitement. Her elation hadn’t gone unnoticed by the rest of her house and many had commented on the matter, to which she’d just spurt out a bunch of words and names no one knew or recognised. Katie had been one of the first to decipher what she had been talking about and had told everyone she had a secret love overseas as a result. Atlas had adamantly denied the claims whenever someone asked as Katie laughed in the background but it hadn’t really gotten anywhere.

“Don’t worry mate,” Ron said, patting her shoulder one study night.

“Yeah, we believe you,” Harry had smiled. 

But they were the only ones that did. Even Hermione had been asking a few questions about it, looking dubiously at her for a few seconds too long before shrugging it off and bringing it back up at later date. Perhaps she counted as half convinced. However, It seemed, no matter what she said, no one of the majority believed her fully and it was all Katie Bells fault. 

Atlas slumped over in her chair, groaning as Katie teased her. “Are you excited? Your secret love will be arriving tomorrow.”

“Katie, how many times? I don’t have a secret lover!” Atlas cried out for the nth time that very long, very insufferable and painful week. Katie was hung over the back of the chair Atlas had found herself in, Angelina and Alica opposite reading through a few wizarding magazines as they chuckled. 

“Oh come on! Every time you talk about them you get stars in your eyes! You’ve got to have a thing with one of them!”

“Leave her alone you three,” Ginny scolded, walking into the Common Rooms and lifting up Atlas’s legs to sit underneath them. “You know Atlas gets stars in her eyes whenever she’s talking about someone she cares for.”

So, apparently, Harry and Ron weren’t the only ones who believed in Atlas, Ginny did too and that gave her extra points on Atlas’s board. It was good to know someone else trusted her word, even if that person was one of the main teasers in her life. Honestly, Ginny could be brutal sometimes and if Atlas wasn’t scared for her own reputation, she’d be impressed with the dirt the youngest Weasley could dig up.

“But you know who she gets extra starry-eyed for?” Ginny grinned and Atlas sighed. There it was, if Ginny was sticking up for her in one thing she just had to bring up something else to even the score. Ginny motioned over her shoulder to where Hermione, Harry and Ron were studying.

“Harry?” Alicia asked. Atlas grimaced.

“Ron?” Angelina gasped.

“No!” Katie yelled as she laughed at Atlas’s expense, “She’s talking about Hermione.”

“I hate you,” Atlas grumbled and shook her head in exasperation standing up and going to walk over her trio as the four she’d left behind broke out into hysterics.

Only, the portrait opened and a silvery head of hair poked inside before fully stepping into Gryffindor’s Commons. Atlas was startled at the sight and stood up just that bit straighter, greeting Dumbledore as he looked around the room.  “Ah, there you are.”

“Professor Dumbledore?”

“It’s been decided you are to welcome our guests tomorrow beside me,” Dumbledore told and Atlas quirked a brow. 

“Forgive me, sir,” she said moving forward, “but isn’t that a job better suited for the head boy and girl?”

“Usually yes,” Dumbledore nodded simply. “But, you, Miss Black, have already made strong connections with students from these schools, I thought it best you were to represent us upon meeting so the Heads of the school are greeted by a familiar face. I hoped you would accept.”

“O-of course, headmaster.”

“Excellent, preparations must be made so I must ask you to visit Professor McGonagall instead of attending your potions class.”

“Yes, headmaster,” Atlas grinned and Dumbledore smiled, turning and going back toward the portrait, he cast the Common room as a whole a quick wave before leaving them in silence. It eventually spiralled into a murmur of gossip and Atlas let out a sigh, turning to her trio and actually making it over to them this time.

“You lucky git,” Ron said, poking at her side accusingly. Atlas grimaced slightly at the action but otherwise laughed. “You get to miss out on the whole of Potions!”

“I wonder how Dumbledore persuaded Snape to let him do that,” Harry mused. “I think, even Snape would put up a fight with Dumbledore if it meant having a shot at poisoning you, Atlas.”

“Oh, stop it you two. Professor Snape is many things but I highly doubt a murderer is one of them,” Hermione scolded and Atlas looked over at her with a slight, amused, smile.

“I don’t know, Mi. I wouldn’t put it past him,” She told and Hermione sent her a short glare, her head tilting to the side in annoyance. “Have I told you you look breathtaking today?” Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to her book, Ron and Harry laughing with each other, “What? No reaction this time?”

“I’m used to your jokes by now,” Hermione said simply and Atlas made a face, looking at her in confusion. Had Hermione been taking her compliments as jokes this whole time? 

“I’m not–“

“Oh, Harry!” Ron nudged the boy and then turned to Atlas. “Atlas, Harry got a response at lunch while you were helping Ginny with her Charms work.”

“You did?” Atlas asked, looking to the boy. He sighed and nodded, pulling out a crumpled bit of paper from his pocket to hand over to her. She took it quickly and ironed out the creases with her hand, eyes scanning down the page silently as she then smiled and let out a breath of relief. Sirius was in the country already, safe and sound with not an inkling of suspicion in the area. “This is good.”

“Good?” Harry said, taking it back slowly. Atlas nodded.

“He can help with your scar.”

“But what if he gets caught?”

“He won’t, nobody except us and Dumbledore know he’s an Animagus,” Atlas assured. “And trust me when I say Animagus blend in, especially with the Forbidden Forest. Do you know how many non-native species we have in those woods? A stray dog isn’t going to raise any suspicions, I assure you.”

“Alright…” Harry smiled and Atlas ruffled his hair.

“I should go to bed, you coming, Mi?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ll be with you in a moment,” Hermione smiled and Atlas nodded, casting the three a quick wave as she turned a jogged up the stairs of the girls’ dormitory. Crookshanks jumped from Hermione’s lap and padded after her, his bushy tail swishing behind him briskly.

By the time Hermione had turned in, Atlas was already fast asleep, Crookshanks in her arms and purring. She’d slept restlessly throughout the rest of the night, however, waking up at random instances in a cold sweat before falling back to sleep in a heavy heap, each time Hermione would glance over at her from the book she had open for a bit of late-night reading. Eventually, after one too many jumpscares, Hermione migrated over to Atlas’s bed and sat beside her, knowing it would help Atlas sleep easier with the added warmth.

Then, when Atlas woke up in the morning, Hermione was still asleep beside her, cuddling with a Transfiguration book. It had startled her of course but she grinned anyway and replaced the tome with Crookshanks, quickly getting dressed and heading down to the Great Hall for breakfast. It had been decorated overnight, lavishly and Atlas would have stopped and admired it a moment more if she wasn’t half asleep and in need of a good breakfast.

And as the day progressed, Atlas getting more and more excited for the arrival of her old friends, the period for Potions had come and instead of attending the lesson, she broke off from the rest of her year and practically ran to Minerva’s office, skipping on her final stretch as she stopped and knocked on the door haphazardly. She pushed it open without waiting for a response and was met with the sight of Minerva and Poppy in the middle of a sweet embrace.

It admittedly startled her and Atlas let out a strained note at the back of her throat, slamming the door closed on herself and cupping her face in her hands out of embarrassment, her cheeks flushed and the blissful daze she’d been in that entire day thoroughly knocked from her system. A moment later, the door opened again and Poppy exited, adjusting her hair and sending Atlas a quick nod before hurrying down the hall.

Atlas cleared her throat and walked inside, head down as Minerva stared at her with a raised brow. “Do you not know the purpose of knocking? You wait for an answer.”

“Yep, yeah, I’ll…remember that,” Atlas nodded with a slight wheeze to her voice. 

“Now, we must quickly prepare, the schools will be arriving any moment,” Minerva said, bringing out a new uniform. “Change out of those, you have Bubotuber pus stains smeared all over your front.”

“Ah…” Atlas uttered and nodded, moving over to the corner of McGonagall’s office to change. “Do we know how many will be attending?”

“Only the 7th years who are of age,” Minerva told and Atlas frowned.

“Does that mean Zasha won’t be coming?”

“Oh she is, after all, she is a direct tie to this school through you, she is Durmstrang’s representative,” Minerva told and Atlas sighed out in relief, pulling on her new trousers and buttoning up her shirt. She walked out from behind her covering and Minerva tucked in her shirt for her as she grabbed her school jumper. Her tie was left undone at her neck. “You still do not know how to do a tie?”

“I wasn’t wearing one today anyway. Hermione didn’t wake up and I had Divination this morning.”

“You still have poor Miss Granger do your tie?”

“She doesn’t mind it,” Atlas shrugged with a grin and Minerva tutted in disbelief, whisking her wand so the tie rode up to Atlas’s neck tightly. The girl took in a sharp intake of breath and coughed, loosening the tie quickly. “Warning next time!”

“Oh stop your fussing, we must go otherwise we’ll be late, we had an owl this morning telling us they’ll be arriving much earlier than anticipated,” Minerva hurried, nudging Atlas out of the door. Atlas stumbled slightly but straightened herself upright and brushed her front down, running a hand through her hair as she pulled it up into a half-tail. 

The pair speed-walked down the halls, Minerva’s signature green gown billowing behind her as Atlas took off her cloak and tucked it under her arm. Minerva would scold her once she realised what she had done but Atlas never wore her cloak anymore, not even in the winter when she’d instead wear her Quidditch jacket, so she wasn’t about to start now, even if she was meeting some important people. No one else wore theirs so it’d look normal anyway.

How wrong she had been. Atlas was the only one not wearing her cloak. Minerva turned to her for a second and then looked away, only to look back quickly as she noticed Atlas not wearing the entirety of her uniform. “Atlas!”

Atlas shrugged with a small smile, going to put it back on. Only, Minerva stopped her and pulled her forward instead, beside herself and Dumbledore as she took the cloak from her testily. At least it would make her stand out? 

A loud excited jitter came from the crowds of students surrounding them as a large house-like silhouette appeared over the trees, advancing on them quickly. It quickly became clear, by the light of the castle, that it was a horse-drawn carriage, soaring toward them, pulled by adult dire-wolf sized horses.

With a deafening crash, the hooves of the dozen Abraxan Winged Horses collided with the courtyard grounds, the carriage landing a second later and bouncing to a stop. Atlas grinned, Hagrid would love looking after the Abraxans, she could already tell they’d be quite the challenge and knew Hagrid would have a great deal of trouble looking after them. Maybe she should offer her assistance as Frog, that stupidly named alter-ego of hers.

The carriage door opened and Minerva straightened Atlas’s back, using her wand to raise her chin in a formal manner. Atlas huffed and side-eyed her godmother but remained in her grandiose standing, eyeing the clumsy-looking boy who unfolded a set of golden steps from the carriage and sprang back respectfully. A large high-heeled shoe stepped from the carriage and Atlas had to stop the grin that threatened to form on her face at the thought of Hagrid meeting the lady the foot had belonged to.

Olympe Maxime, Headmistress of the Beauxbaton Academy a woman of high class and standing. She fully stepped from the carriage and Dumbledore clapped, sending the rest of the crowd into equally as loud applause. Madame Maxime’s face relaxed into a light smile as she walked forward and extended her hand to Dumbledore, the man barely bending to kiss her knuckle.

“My dear Madame Maxime,” he said. “Welcome to Hogwarts.”

“Dumbly-dort,” Madame Maxime said in a deep voice. “I ‘ope I find you well?”

“In excellent form, I thank you.”

“And Atlas, how ‘ave you been?” Madame Maxime acknowledged, stretching her hand to Atlas as well. She took it formally and placed a kiss on her knuckle, bowing lightly with a charming smile.

“Wonderful, Madame. It’s a treat to see you again,” Atlas said and Madame Maxime placed a hand over her heart, looking to Dumbledore as she gasped lightly.

“Ah, such a gentlewoman, Dumbly-dort. You raised ‘er well Madame McGonagall,” Minerva smiled proudly at the remark and tipped her witches hat lightly. Madame Maxime turned to outstretch her hand to the carriages where a few girls and boys were waiting to get out on her order. “My pupils.”

They each exited the carriage one by one, shivering slightly at the Scottish weather. Atlas had to contain her smile when she noticed Fleur having a particularly difficult time with her shawl and silk robes. Each of the students were glancing up at Hogwarts apprehensively as they moved closer to their Headmistress.

“Fleur, come forward and say ‘ello,” Madame Maxime urged, waving her giant hand in a come hither motion. Fleur happily did so, almost skipping forward as she smiled and stopped in front of Atlas, hands clasped around her front. “I am sure you remember, Atlas?”

“Yes, Headmistress,” Fleur nodded gracefully, her platinum hair fluttering slightly in the wind.

“What do you say?”

“It is good to see you again, ma petite louve,” Fleur curtsied and Atlas grinned wolfishly.

“Still calling me little wolf after all these years? I’m taller than you cygne.”

“Yes well, I am still older,” Fleur argued and shivered again. Atlas huffed good-naturedly and turned to Minerva to grab her cloak, draping it around Fleur’s shoulders to protect her from the wind. The cloak was made from a special wizards cotton so it trapped the warmth more effectively than the silk Fleur was wearing. “Ah, zank you,” She smiled, leaning up to kiss each of Atlas’s cheeks.

“I wasn’t wearing it anyway,” Atlas smiled, tilting her head to the side playfully.

“‘As Karkaroff arrived yet?” Madama Maxime asked and the girls stood side by side, watching the conversation silently.

“He should be here any moment,” Dumbledore smiled airily. “Would you like to wait here and greet him or would you prefer to step inside and warm up a trifle?”

“Warm up, I zink,” Madame Maxime nodded. “But ze ‘orses –“

“There’s no need to worry there Madame, Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher will be delighted to take care of them,” Dumbledore said. “the moment he has returned from dealing with a slight situation that has arisen with some of his other – er – charges.”

Atlas withheld her wince, knowing it probably had something to do with the Screwts.

“My steeds require – er – forceful ‘andling,” Madame Maxime told, looking as though she doubted whether any Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts could be up to the job. Oh, how wrong she was, looking after the fantastic beasts would be like working with Fang to Hagrid. “Zey are very strong…”

“I assure you that Hagrid will be well up to the job,” Dumbledore smiled.

“Very well,” Madame Maxime acknowledged, bowing slightly. “Will you please inform zis ‘Agrid zat ze ‘orses drink only single-malt whiskey?”

“It will be attended to,” Dumbledore said, also bowing.

“Come then,” Madame Maxime imperiously to her students, and the Hogwarts crowd parted to allow her and her students to pass up the stone steps. Fleur turned to Atlas and gave her a quick hug, holding out her hand to which Atlas took and placed a chaste kiss across her knuckles.

“I will see you, Atlas.”

“Bye, Fleur,” Atlas nodded, watching her go a moment before turning back to look out for signs of the Durmstrang Institute. Minerva placed her hand on Atlas’s shoulder and squeezed it appraisingly, an excited smile threatening to bloom across her face. “What? Didn’t think I had it in me?”

“You’re an untamable spirit Atlas, of course, I was wary you’d act disrespectfully. However, it seems you and Miss Delacour still get along beautifully,” Minerva mused and Atlas shrugged, nodding to herself. “And Madame Maxime seems to find your presence enjoyable.”

“What can I say? Magical beings adore me, I’m like a magnet,” Atlas grinned slyly and Minerva wacked her upside the head scoldingly. Atlas grimaced and rubbed at the area with a slight pout. “You messed up my hair.”

Minerva ignored her and went back to standing prim and proper, leaving Atlas to sulk idly as she watched the lake, waiting for that ripple of disturbance that would signify the arrival of Durmstrang and subsequently, Zasha Volkova. It came soon after.

Slowly and ominously, the ship rose from the water, causing a whirlpool to appear around the conflict of the water. It was a beautiful sight to see, watching as it gleamed in the moonlight, dim but white-bright portholes lining its perimeter. It glided toward the bank, causing a large wave to crash upon the levee, soaking the docks the first-years would usually clamber onto at the beginning of September. An anchor was thrown and soon the students of Durmstrang were disembarking their ship, climbing up to meet them with great big matted furs hanging off of their shoulders, no doubt worn to combat the colder climate of the northernmost regions of Norway.

Atlas straightened subconsciously, making herself appear larger than she was, knowing and having learnt first hand that holding yourself confidently and solidly would earn respect amongst the students. It’s how she had met Zasha. A man of silver hair was at the head of them, wearing soft a sleek furs compared to his students matted and thick. He had a swagger in his step as he stepped up to Dumbledore, pulling him into an unnecessarily strong hug.

“Albus!” He called heartily, patting his back with a heavy hand. “How are you, my dear fellow, how are you?”

“Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff,” Dumbledore replied. Atlas glanced over at the man, finding that she was the slightest bit taller than him. She smiled internally at that and held out her hand when he reached her, the man regarded her a moment before taking it and shaking it just as strongly as he had hugged Dumbledore.

“Amaya’s daughter! Atlas was it? Good to see! Very good…” he acknowledged.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again sir, it’s been too long,” Atlas said evenly, with no smile on her face as she stared him down.

“Yes, too long. Too long indeed…you have grown to look exactly like your mother. Yes, I met Amaya quite a few times,” Karkaroff grinned, his yellow teeth illuminated by the castle lights. A spike of confidence struck Atlas and she grinned back.

“From the confines of bars I suspect?” She muttered, just for him to hear and the rest to ponder on. Karkaroff seemed momentarily taken aback before he burst out into laughter, patting Dumbledore’s shoulder heartily.

“She has guts!” He boomed.

“Yes, I have heard as much from many teachers here at Hogwarts,” Dumbledore nodded as Karkaroff nodded with a smile, he seemed to swallow through his teeth as he turned and gestured a form forward, covered in so many furs they looked quite like a bear.

“Zasha! Come forth, your old comrade is here!” He beckoned and the girl walked forward, quickly climbing the stairs and taking off the hide resting on her shoulders as she did. Then, she was revealed, in all her smiling glory. Atlas grinned and opened her arms, accepting Zasha’s energetic embrace as the girl shook her from side to side. She was still shorter than Atlas but still taller than most girls their age.

“World Holder!” She beamed and then pulled away, glancing to Karkaroff as she cleared her throat into her fist and bowed respectfully. “I mean…uh, it’s a pleasure to see you again, Atlas.”

Atlas chuckled and nodded, “It’s a pleasure to see you too, Zasha. How have you been?”

“I’ve been amazing! Oh, it’s good to see you! You’re so much taller now!” Zasha spit-fired, circling her as she examined her changes. Atlas let it happen with a small smile, knowing Zasha liked to do so to get a better understanding of a person physique, she’d never found out why but then again, she’d never had the chance to ask. “Oh! Oh! Have you got a wife yet?”

“Zasha, I’m 15,” Atlas sighed, cocking her head to the side.

“I meant partner, stupid language barrier,” Zasha huffed.

“It’s fine Zash, and no, I’m still single,” Atlas smiled and put her hands on Zasha shoulders, stopping the girl’s eager examination.

“Really? That’s strange.”

“Tell me about it,” Atlas smirked and Zasha laughed, hugging her again before moving to stand by her side, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet to get rid of the excess energy and adrenaline of seeing one of her favourite people.

“Wonderful how friendships remain between our schools, Dumbledore,” Karkaroff voiced, motioning to the two. “Dear old Hogwarts,” he then said, looking up at the castle and smiling, though his smile did not extend to his eyes, which remained cold and shrewd. “How good it is to be here, how good…Ah! Viktor, come along, into the warmth…you don’t mind, Dumbledore? Viktor has a slight head cold…”

Atlas quirked a brow in surprise and Zasha nudged her with a grin as Karkaroff beckoned another student forward. Atlas had seen him before, watched him as he soared through the sky on the back of Firebolt. One of the worlds greatest Seekers and the youngest to boot. Viktor Krum. The boy moved forward and stopped beside his headmaster, turning to Dumbledore and Minerva first as the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress respectfully and then to Atlas and Zasha. He held out his hand and Atlas took it, shaking it firmly with a nod.

“It is an honour to meet Amaya Magianima’s daughter.”

“It is an honour to meet one of the worlds greatest Seekers. I witnessed you at the World Cup, extraordinary flying out there, the broom was like an extension of yourself,” Atlas smiled and Viktor managed one of his own.

“Do you fly?”

“I play Chaser, my brother, Harry Potter is our Seeker.”

“Potter?” Viktor startled and Atlas nodded, turning to the crowd and singling out the boy-who-lived with a mischievous smile. She pointed over at him and both Zasha and Viktor turned to look, seeing a bright red Ron, a slightly annoyed-looking Hermione and a wide-eyed Harry Potter. 

“Is he the one with the glasses, World Holder?”

“That’s the one,” Atlas smirked.

“He does not look like much,” Viktor remarked and Atlas laughed lightly.

“He’s nimble on a broom,” She defended, crossing her arms. “Bloody good at spotting the Snitch, too.”

“Who’s the girl behind him?” Zasha asked.

“Hermione? Bushy hair?” Atlas questioned and Zasha shook her head but Viktor seemed to keep his gaze upon her.

“No, the red one.”

“Ginny?” Atlas grinned and Zasha nodded, muttering the name under her breath a few times.

“That’s her name? Ginny. Yes, she has cool hair. I like her.”

Atlas couldn’t hold back her laugh.