I stood outside the Great Hall entrance where I asked her to meet me. She wasn't late, I was just being impatient. The last time I remember waiting for her anxiously was when we would see each other in the library... That seemed like a terribly long time ago.

I began pacing the floors. That was so me though. Being somewhere early and getting nervous. I ran into a second year Ravenclaw because of this. He just gave me an annoyed look and walked away. I shrugged it off. It was just a second year anyway.

"Waiting for someone, Vincent?" I heard a familiar voice behind me.

I turned around and smirked. It was one of my best friends, Justin. "Yeah, I am."

Justin smirked back. He knew what was going on. He nodded and went through the entrance to the Great Hall, "Well, have fun!" he called back.

I looked inside the Great Hall and waved bye to Justin. I turned back around. She still hadn't come. "You still have ten minutes, Vince... You haven't done anything wrong... You're just early..."(ooc: forgot to say, words in italics are thoughts.)

I crossed my arms and leaned against the nearest wall. I waited a few more minutes before I began running my hands through my hair. Not over and over, but it was just a sign of my stupid nervousness.

Hannah approached me a minute later and smiled, "You going to breakfast, Vince?" she asked.

I looked back at Hannah. She was all smiles but I could tell from her eyes that the exams and worrying over a dance date had exhausted her. I returned the smile and shook my head, "Nah, I have a few errands to run. But I'll be back for supper tonight."

Hannah nodded and waved goodbye. I was a little shocked since Hannah hadn't spoken much to me since I had moved into Hogwarts.

I watched Hannah enter the Hufflepuff table. Once she was seated I turned back around.

There she was...

She was atleast 10 feet away, talking to a few Slytherins. I knew all of them, of course, most of them despised me. Millicent turned to look at me and smiled. Not really a friendly smile, just one of those clever smirks all Slytherin's have. I smiled a little back but returned my eye to Samantha. She backed a little away from her group and I could tell Flint was getting aggrivated.

I sighed and looked away from the Slytherin group. Justin had approached me again and gave me an assuring look, "Don't worry, mate." he said. That was all he said before walking past the group. He was obviously looking for Loretta, but she wasn't with them.

"Guys I have to go!"

My glance returned to the group when I heard Samantha say this. Her friends gave her a sighful goodbye but finally let her go. Samantha turned to me and we kind of just looked at each other for a moment.

It was an awkward feeling, this moment. I guess things would be a little weird after what I had done. I was so grateful she was giving me another chance.

Samantha approached me and gave me a quick hug. I hugged her back, the whole time I could feel the eyes of her friends watching me. The price I had to pay for being a Hufflepuff I guess.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

Samantha nodded, "Yeah."

I nodded back and led her away from the Great Hall. We walked out of the school and past Hagrid's hut.

"Umm... I don't mean to be rude, Vincent, but how will we get to Durmstrang?"

I blushed and continued walking, "Well, train of course."

"The Hogwart's Express can take us to Durmstrang?" she looked a little surprised.

I sighed, "No, I don't believe it can't. My uncle has a private train... We're going on that.. If it doesn't bother you any."

Samantha laughed and shook her head, "No, it doesn't bother me at all."

So we walked to the train station outside of Hogwarts. It wasn't the train station where you would get off the Hogwart's Express. Dumbledore had another one closer to school, for important visitors such as the Ministry. There was a lilac colored train waiting for us. I didn't hate the color, but a lilac train looked just a little ridiculous. But Samantha didn't seem to mind. She hopped onto the train and I got in after her.

The interior was too much, of course. This did belong to my uncle after all. Samantha sat down in a cushioned chair and I sat across from her. She looked into my eyes and smiled, "Don't worry, Vincent, I love it." she said.

I sighed in relief. I loved it how sometimes she could read my mind.

It only took thirty minutes for the train to reach some shore where a ship was waiting. How could I have forgotten? Everywhere Durmstrang went, it was by ship. So, we then boarded the ship that took us to Durmstrang, which only took about forty-five minutes.

I helped Samantha off the ship then turned to look at the school before us. I turned back to Samantha, she was starring at the school with a peculiar look on her face.

I didn't want to laugh. Durmstrang wasn't the happiest looking school. It was a castle, just like Hogwarts. It was a little bigger and much darker. The school kind of reminded me of Dracula's castle in a way. I cleared my throat which shook Samantha out of her trance.

"Well, this is my old school," I said, not sure how to explain it to her.

She nodded and looked back at me, "It's okay"

I smiled and shook my head, "Come on, let me show you around." I took Samantha by the hand and led her to the front gates. There was a man waiting at the gates dressed in a suit familiar to a British guard. Unlike Hogwart's gatekeeper, this man was shorter and a bit built.

The man smiled and nodded to me, "Velcome back, Vincent. Ve've been expecting you."

I nodded back to the man and he turned to open the gates. I looked to Samantha, she was back to starring at the school. I just smiled and led her through the entrance.

Everything still looked the same to me. As you enter the front door, there is a big entrance hall with shelves of banners and tropheys our school has won. Between each shelf was an image of one of the past headmasters and headmistresses. I led Samantha to the end of the hall and starred at the last portrait.

"I guess the rumors are true..." I muttered.

"What rumors?" she asked.

"Every picture in Durmstrang moves except this one. Our last headmaster, Karkaroff, who fled last year... I don't know who the new headmaster is now."

"Oh..." Samantha whispered as she looked up at the still portrait.

I smirked and turned to go down another hall when a certain shelf caught my eye. It always did, I don't know how I could forget how this one shelf took me by surprise. I led Samantha over to it and pointed to a plaque with the following inscription:

Samantha looked confused, "Vince, why did you take me to this plaque? It's sad. How could you have known this person anyway? Were you even alive?"

I turned to Samantha, not knowing if it was time to explain or not. I decided to fulfill her with some of the details, "Tina Rubel died when I was a month old. She was a pretty strong girl, because she had a child when she was 15 and still played Quidditch. No matter through all the teasing and threatening notes, she still attended school while she was pregnant. After having her child, she went back to Quidditch and was killed in her first game back."

Samantha smirked and looked back at the plaque, "Just go out and say it, Vince. This lady was your mother."

I smiled and turned away from the plaque, "Yeah, she was. Thats why my uncle was always disgusted by my parents, since they had me at such a young age. Ah well, we better pick up those items and get back to Hogwarts."

Samantha kept her smirk as she started walking with me. "Vincent, I had no idea your parents had a bad side. I wonder if you inheritted that."

I turned completely red at this remark. Samantha laughed and waited for my response. "I don't think it's the right time to talk about that now." I answered shortly.

Samantha was about to respond when I took her hand and led her around a few more halls. I ran into a few old friends, a few giggling fan girls, and some old teachers. I really didn't want Samantha to meet Professor Vettria, my old DADA teacher. But sadly, we ran into her in the hall. Professor Vettria was a lot like Snape, tall, pale, very strict and silent.

"What are you doing back here?!" Vettria scowled.

"I'm picking up some stuff I left here." I answered.

Vettria seemed to ignore me as she turned her bony face to Samantha. "And who are you?" she asked, sounding a little bit nicer.

"Samantha Detton." Samantha answered, not a drop of fear was in her voice.

"Oh really now?" the professor mocked. She glared at me then finally walked away. I sighed in relief and gave Samantha an apologetic look.

I showed Samantha a few more things such as the dueling room, the Quidditch common room, the Durmstrang Great Hall, and the souvenir shop. Yes, Durmstrang has a souvenir shop, they are very proud of their school... mainly because of Viktor Krum.

Finally, we made it to Terry's dorm. The door was wide-open so I just stepped in. Terry was sitting at his desk, reading a spell book. I cleared my throat and he quickly looked up. He smiled and immeaditly stood up.

I tried to smile back but, my friend just looked so different. His skin had become so pale and his long black hair was straight and thin, it used to be wavy and thick.

"Vincent, it's so great to see you again." he greeted.

I nodded, "Likewise. Terry, I would like you to meet my date to the dance, Samantha Detton." I released Samantha's hand and moved out of the way so she could get a better view of Terry.

Terry, always the ladies man, approached Samantha and shook her hand then kissed the top of it. "Welcome to Durmstrang, Mme Detton."

Samantha grinned, "Thank you."

I rolled my eyes, "Terry, you're Australian, not French remember?"

"I know I know. Speaking of French, did you know Angel is getting transferred to Beauxbatons?" Terry asked with a smirk.

"What?!" I exclaimed, "Why? She's been in Durmstrang for six years!"

"She got caught smoking of course. I knew someone would catch her one day. Besides, that is the French magic school, she will fit in nicely there."

I nodded, "Yeah she would I guess. Anyways, sorry to cut things short Terry. But I have to head back to Hogwarts soon, the dance and all."

Terry returned the nod and walked over to his closet, "Yes, I understand." He dug through his closet for a second then turned back to me. He smiled to Samantha then handed me a white box. He went back to his closet and pulled out a gold robe with a bit of scarlett lining.

"Are those for the dance?" Samantha asked.

"Sure is." I answered, admiring the robes, "I saw it in a shop a few weeks ago and asked Terry to hold it for me. The price was ridiculous, but I barely had enough."

"Just like your uncle, wearing gold robes." Terry teased.

I gave Terry an irked look. He just laughed. We said our goodbyes then me and Samantha left the school. We boarded back on the ship which took us back to the train. Me and Samantha talked a bit on the train about the dance and stuff. When we got back to Hogwarts, I walked her as far as I was allowed to by the Slytherin tower.

I hugged Samantha and she thanked me for the tour of Durmstrang. I watched her leave then went back to my own common room where I hung up the robe and hid the white box.