The Great Hall of Hogwarts shimmered beneath thousands of floating candles. The enchanted ceiling reflected a cold autumn sky, while rows of students buzzed with excitement. Tonight was no ordinary feast. The champions and delegations from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute had arrived for the Triwizard Tournament.

You sat among the Hogwarts students, trying to ignore the endless chatter around you.

The heavy doors of the Great Hall opened.

A hush fell over the room.

The Durmstrang students marched inside, their crimson robes sweeping across the stone floor. At their head walked Viktor Krum, already famous throughout the wizarding world. Even before entering school, most students knew his name from Quidditch posters, newspapers, and conversations that bordered on worship.

Whispers erupted instantly.

"That's Krum."

"The Viktor Krum."

"I can't believe he's here."

Krum appeared completely uninterested in the attention. His expression remained serious as his dark eyes swept across the hall. He followed his headmaster toward the staff table, seemingly detached from the excitement surrounding him.

Then his gaze paused.

On you.

For a brief moment, the noise of the hall seemed to disappear.

It wasn't the dramatic, love-at-first-sight sort of stare that novels described. It was something quieter. Curiosity.

His eyes lingered just a second longer than they should have.

You noticed immediately.

And somehow, so did he.

The famous Seeker looked away first.

A strange reaction crossed his face—almost as if he'd been caught doing something he hadn't intended.

He continued walking.

Yet moments later, after taking his seat among the Durmstrang delegation, his attention drifted back across the hall.

To you.

You frowned slightly, wondering if you had something on your face.

When your eyes met again, he didn't look away immediately this time.

A corner of his mouth twitched upward.

Not quite a smile.

But close.

The reaction surprised you enough that you glanced down at your goblet.

Across the hall, one of the Durmstrang students leaned toward Krum and said something that made several of them laugh.

Krum didn't join in.

Instead, he was still watching the Hogwarts table.

Still watching you.

And for the first time since arriving, the world-famous Quidditch star seemed far more interested in one particular student than in the tournament everyone had gathered to celebrate.

The welcoming feast continued around you, unaware that something had quietly begun beneath the glow of enchanted candles and an autumn sky. A story neither of you could yet name.