Silent Year

Thank you very much for all the reviews I've been receiving! Hugs to all of you! All right, as I have gotten questions about Quiari, I shall try my best to answer those that will not spoil the story.

Question #1: "Who are these "others"?
The answer to this one will be coming later in the story. Please be content with the knowledge that all questions will be answered!

Question #2: How old is Quiari?
As it's not really specified in the Harry Potter Series how the Durmstrang school system works, I'm having to make a lot of things up off the top of my head. In my mind, Durmstrang is a year-long school. Which means, no summer vacation, no Christmas break or any other holidays. Year-round. So, as the students are at the school longer, they enter the school earlier (around age 13) and leave after five years. As such, third years are 16.

To answer the question directly. Quiari is 15.5 years of age, slightly younger than a third year.

Question #3: Is Quiari something different from witch since she can do wand less magic?
To be answered later in the story.

So, please know I will answer as many questions as I can without giving future events away, all right? As always, reviews are greatly appreciated, and, if at all possible, would reviewers leave a way I can contact them through e-mail or something? That way I can thank you wonderful reviewers without leaving a review of my own. ^_^, Thanks, and, as always, enjoy!


Chapter 3: Gym Class

Morning dawned fair and bright, with the new fallen snow covering the grounds with three feet of the white powder. There stood the Physical Education class, with the burly teacher standing in front. They were all dressed in long sleeved, form-fitting, clothes. And Quiari was no exception. She stood to the side, the clothes accentuating her slender, yet curvy, figure and her long legs. She wore tall boots that went up to her knees; they weren’t helping much in the snow. She stood quietly, the only one not shivering, as the snow fell gently around their heads. “Quiari, miss.” Said the instructor, and she stepped forward quietly, her right hand gripping her left arm. The instructor held out a mallet and a chisel and she took them almost daintily. “We need a crack in this ice you’re going to crack the lake.” Said the instructor, and Quiari nodded before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She started moving, slowly, as if in a trance. She held out the chisel and walked into the snow. She moved left, then right, then stopped and turned abruptly, walking slightly back the way she came. She stopped here and then her eyes flew open. She flung the chisel down into the snow, it making solid contact with the ice beneath, and then she raised the hammer above her head and disappeared beneath the snow before a loud clang sounded out.

The ground shook for a moment before she grabbed the chisel and dashed past the boys. The ice cracked, and they all fell into the lake, except for Quiari. She stood quietly on the shore. “Come on in, girl, the water’s fine!” called the instructor, and she sighed and put the hammer and chisels down before sighing and then looking to her left, where two figures appeared out of the snow. “Erique! Hazelton! You’re late!” shouted the instructor, and the two boys stopped at the edge of the lake, looking at the others in the water, who were moving around, trying to warm up. “That’s twenty laps! Quiari, miss.” Called the instructor, turning fierce eyes to face the young woman and she looked up from the sleet colored water. “We need a bigger lake.” He said, and she lifted both hands, cupping them in front of her mouth. She closed her eyes and the two boys slipped into the water. The pale haired boy and the black haired boy. The black haired boy’s eyes traced the young woman’s curves, but she didn’t seem to notice. She took the boots off quietly before taking a step forward onto the water. She didn’t fall through. She walked quietly along the water’s surface, stepping first with her toes and then cautiously putting her heel down with each step.

She let out a breath, standing in front of the ice sheet that still covered the lake, and she jumped, flipped over, and landed hard in the water. A jet of water, from where her leg had hit, rushed forward and cracked the other bits of ice, which sunk beneath the water. She surfaced and took in a deep breath, her legs kicking in the water to make sure she stayed afloat. The class just gaped at her, she didn’t look at them. She swam forward quietly in the water, her mouth hidden beneath the grey surface, and she swam over next to the instructor. He laughed, breaking the silence, and then he clapped her on the back. “Well done!” he exclaimed, and Quiari, looked up, smiling slightly. “All right, get swimming all of you!” shouted the instructor, and all the boys went into action. Quiari did too, and it seemed that it was no trouble for her to keep up with the boys. The class was almost over when the instructor called them to a halt. “All right, lads, who’s ready for some cocoa?” he called, and the boys gave off a cheer before swimming over to the shore and dragging themselves up onto the snow. Quiari just swam over to the shore and pulled herself out of the water, standing bare foot in the snow before wringing out her braid quietly. A bunch of water splashed out of her braid and back into the water. The instructor did the same, shaking like a dog. “Well, come on! Everyone out!” exclaimed the instructor, and the boys dragged themselves from the water, panting heavily. Their breaths came out in white puffs of steam. “Well, now that’s something you don’t see everyday! How’d you find the crack in the ice, lass?” asked the instructor, and Quiari looked to the ground as they headed inside.

The instructor’s classroom was warm, due to the roaring fire in the fire place, and the cocoa was waiting for them, steaming. “All right, Quiari, you first.” The instructor said, and her hands again lifted to her chin. She took a few steps forward to the table. “I doubt you ever had this in the forest, eh?” asked the instructor, and Quiari shook her head. “Well then, be careful, it’s hot.” He said, and she nodded and smiled slightly in thanks before she reached out to take one of the steaming mugs. Her fingertips brushed the glass and she drew them away instantly at the heat. She reached out again, sliding her hands along the smooth surface, when the salamander ran in, scaring half the boys to death. Quiari knelt down gently and scooped up the salamander, looking at the note on its back before untying the note and tucking the salamander into a pocket. She bowed to the instructor, bowed to the boys, and then dashed out of the room, flying down the hall and up to the library. She waved her hand and she was instantly changed back into her sweater vest and long skirt and heels, which clicked lightly on the stone floor as she scurried about. She got a couple books and headed down to the Transfiguration room. She clicked on the door, got the response to enter, and walked inside silently. She’d gotten slightly more comfortable in this class. The boys still watched her every move, but she’d learned to cope with these stares, learned to ignore them. “Welcome, Quiari. Please take a seat and we’ll see if I get anything wrong today.” Said the teacher, and the young woman gave a small smile before sitting down.

The evening closed in on Durmstrang. The castle’s lights glowed dimly from the gothic windows. The hall just inside the thick double doors was lined with armor and weapons. There were torches against the walls, burning brightly and letting off the thick odor of oil. The students were sitting on the hard benches in the Dining Hall, eating green glop. The blonde and black haired boy were sitting quietly at their table, drinking the mead that was in the wooden goblets on the table. “Well, shall we go and say hello to our librarian?” asked the blonde, and the raven haired boy nodded. They stood up and left the Dining Hall quietly, nobody stopping them, and the two boys headed for the library tower. The young woman’s heels were clicking busily behind the large wooden doors. The blonde boy lifted his hand and knocked on the doors, the heels stopped clicking suddenly. “It’s Quiari, isn’t it?” called the blonde congenially, and the clicking of heels came closer before the wooden doors opened a crack. Quiari peered out into the hallway, and opened the door a little further at the blonde boy’s friendly smile. She nodded. “May we come in?” asked the blonde boy, and Quiari stepped aside instantly and let them enter the library. “Wow, this place is different from when I was in here.” The black haired boy said, looking around the pristine and organized library. Quiari blushed slightly and closed the library doors behind her. The blonde haired boy sniffed in disgust and then turned around, extending his hand. Quiari put her hand delicately into his. “My name is Erique, pleased to make your acquaintance, fair Quiari.” He said, and he kissed her fingers. Quiari blushed and drew her hand away quickly, holding it to her chest and rubbing the fingers with her other hand. “Hazelton, where are your manners?” Erique turned to face the black haired boy, who blushed and looked away. “Hi.” He said, and Quiari bowed to him.

“So, where are you from?” asked Erique, as the three sat at a table in the library, and Quiari looked to the ground. “Ah, don’t like to talk about it, eh?” asked Erique, gauging the look on her face. It was too calm, too carefully planned to be a face of pure indifference. “Come on, it can’t be that bad.” He pressed; a teapot whistled from somewhere in the distance and Quiari instantly stood to get it. She disappeared into the bookshelves and Erique sighed. “Quieter than I expected, we’ve been here, what…an hour?” he asked, and Hazelton sighed. “What were you expecting, pray tell?” he asked, and Erique sighed. “A little more…chat, I suppose. It’s strange trying to lead a conversation that no one responds to. Mind, you’re not great company yourself.” Said Erique congenially, and Hazelton just yawned widely. “Well, why don’t you go and get yourself a girl who talks, then?” he asked, and Erique smirked. “Hazy, Hazy, Hazy; someone of your sociability would never understand the complexities of a fine woman such as Quiari.” Said Erique and Hazelton rolled his eyes and then stood up before bowing. “Oh, great one! I’m not worthy to be in your esteemed presence! Won’t you please share some of your extraordinary knowledge of women with me?” Hazelton snorted after this and plopped back down into his chair. Erique chuckled. “I might,” he sighed, “If only you weren’t such an ass.” Hazelton looked as though he were about to make a smart remark back, as his eyes became alight with anger and his mouth opened, but the soft click of Quiari’s heels stopped him. Erique turned a satisfied smile to Quiari as she stepped around the bookshelves, a teapot and three tea cups on a tray. She set the tray down quietly and then sat down herself. She poured a cup for both of them and then for herself, adding a few sugar cubes to her own. She didn’t relax in the chair; she didn’t even seem to breathe.

The rest of the evening passed in silence and failed conversation. Soon it was time for the two boys to leave the library and get back to their tower. Erique took Quiari’s hand in his own and kissed the fingers again. “Alas, fair Quiari, we must part.” He said dramatically, and Hazelton snorted in laughter and rolled his eyes. Erique shot him a glare. “Unfortunately, we had to share our brief meeting with the likes of this dog. Forgive me?” asked Erique, and Quiari gave a small smile. “I’ll take that as a yes, thank you my fair lady!” Erique said; he still hadn’t let go of her hand. A bell rang in the library and Quiari removed her hand gently from Erique’s before turning to answer whatever the bell had heralded. The two boys left. “Ah, couldn’t you feel the amour?” asked Erique, and Hazelton sniffed. “I was feeling something, and it didn’t feel like amour.” The two walked past several dark classrooms. “And what did you feel, pray tell?” asked Erique, and Hazelton smirked. “Indigestion.” He said, and Erique sighed and waved his hand in a dismissing manner. “You could never understand the intricacies of romance.” Erique said, and Hazelton’s eyes went wide and he nearly flung himself at Erique’s feet. “Enlighten me, oh great one! Enlighten me!” he said, making bowing motions, and Erique looked away. “Stop that, you’re embarrassing yourself.” He said and Hazelton did stop, but the smirk stayed on his lips. They came to a tower and climbed the steps, Erique going up and Hazelton going down the stairs. “Good night, my romantically challenged friend!”

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And there you have it, chapter three! Thanks again to all who review and chapter four will be up soon!
~Nezumi-kun~