Affection Power

Harry and Krum were not talkative people.

After saying what needed to be said, neither of them spoke for the next twenty minutes.

They merely listened intently for any sounds beyond snapping branches and rustling leaves.

As they ventured deeper, the trees grew denser, and the stars above disappeared from view.

Only a silver-white beam of light suddenly shooting out from the dead branches and fallen leaves guided their way.

There was nothing else for them to do.

The silence that matched the stillness around them was broken only when a flicker of firelight faintly shone through the trees ahead.

"Looks like we're almost there." Krum pointed his wand at his robes and cast another Mending Charm.

Over the past half hour or so, their clothes had frequently been snagged by low branches and thorny vines.

Harry nodded.

When they pushed aside the bushes, a mass of flames dancing within a great pit appeared before them.

It was Hephaestus.

Dumbledore, Hagrid, Ilvas, Madame Vokanova, Caster Pollacchi, and Fleur stood in a circle around it.

When Harry and Krum approached,

the eyes of six people and one flame all turned toward them.

"Professor, why did you call us here?" Harry asked Dumbledore after walking over to Hagrid's side.

"You ought to ask Madame Vokanova that question, though I know the answer as well." Dumbledore shrugged.

"It concerns a form of magic," Madame Vokanova cleared her throat. "This magic is a closely guarded secret of our school, but due to certain unspeakable factors, and because each of your schools has already paid a price for it—"

"Wait, did I hear that right? Each of our schools?" Krum looked incredulous.

Although the Durmstrang students were no longer excessively targeting him,

the headmaster's attitude toward him had not changed one bit!

"Ahem, Madame Vokanova