Chapter 546: Krum ill

"What's that?"

"It's a mast, it's a big ship!"

In front of everyone, slowly and magnificently, the great ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight.

It had a strangely skeletal appearance, as if it were a resurrected wreck, and the dim, hazy lights shining in its portholes looked like ghostly eyes.

Finally, with a great splashing noise, the ship emerged completely, bobbing in the turbulent waters, and began to glide toward the shore.

A few moments later, they heard the splash of an anchor being tossed ashore and the thud of a plank being lowered to shore.

People were disembarking; they could see their silhouettes as the boat's porthole lights passed.

It was startling. Ivan hadn't expected Durmstrang to have this kind of treasure.

He could feel the magical power of the ship and the whimsical manufacturing process.

The ship had been given powerful magic and could reach anywhere there was water.

Ivan also sensed many traces of dark magic, which really matched Durmstrang's style.

"Look at those people, they're so big!"

Hearing Dennis' sigh, Ivan's gaze shifted from the exaggerated image of the boat to the figures on the shore.

They were Durmstrang students, and appeared to have the same build as Crabbe and Goyle. But then, as they approached, walking across the lawn toward the light coming into the hall, everyone saw that their bulk was due to the fact that they were wearing layers of some kind of shaggy, matted fur.

However, the man leading them into the castle wore furs of a different kind: smooth and silver, like his hair.

"Dumbledore!" he called excitedly as he climbed the slope. "My dear fellow, how are you?"

"Very well, thank you, Professor Karkaroff." Dumbledore replied.

Karkaroff had a fruity, unctuous voice, and it seemed that the fellow was very astute.

When he stepped out into the light coming through the main doors of the castle, they saw that he was tall and thin like Dumbledore, but his white hair was short and his goatee, which ended in a small curl, did not quite hide his weak chin.

When he reached Dumbledore, he shook his hand with both of his own.

"Dear old man, dear Hogwarts!" she said, looking around the castle and smiling, "It's been many years since I've been back this way. How nice to be here, how nice!".

He flashed an exaggerated smile and everyone could see that his teeth were quite yellow.

Although his face was full of smiles, Karkaroff's eyes were not smiling, they were still cold and shrewd.

"Well, Viktor, come with me, into the heat.... you don't mind, Dumbledore? Since the sneak attack in Diagon Alley by the despicable villain, Viktor hasn't been in a good state lately and has been taking medication..."

Karkaroff motioned to one of his students. As the boy passed, Ivan caught a glimpse of a prominent curved nose and thick black eyebrows.

He didn't need to be reminded to recognize that profile, it was Krum!

He still looked as grim as before, somewhat sickly, and not at all well.

She ignored the commotion and shouts of the crowd and followed Karkaroff into the castle.

"God, it's Krum, I can't believe it!" said Ron in a stunned voice.

By then, five minutes after Durmstrang's arrival, Hogwarts students were following the Durmstrang delegation and dismissing climbing the stone stairs.

"It's Krum, Viktor Krum, he's come to Hogwarts!" Ron continued to sigh.

"For God's sake, Ron, he's just a Quidditch player," Hermione said in disgust.

"Just a Quidditch player?!" Ron said, looking at her as if he couldn't believe his ears. "Hermione...he's one of the best Seekers in the world, and he saved us last time in the World Cup."

"I know, and everyone is very grateful to him, but that's no reason for you to keep talking about him for five minutes."

After seeing Krum, there were only a handful of people who were quiet like Hermione.

As they walked back across the Entrance Hall with the rest of the Hogwarts students towards the Great Dining Hall, many people jostled each other vigorously and Lee Jordan hopped on the soles of his feet to get a better look at the back of Krum's head.

Several sixth year girls frantically searched their pockets as they walked.

"Oh, I can't believe it, I don't even have a feather on me!".

"Do you think I'd sign my hat with lipstick?"

"That's ridiculous!" said Hermione haughtily.

She frowned and walked past the girls, who were now fighting over lipstick.

"I'm going to get her autograph if I can," said Ron. "Which one of you has a pen?"

"No, they're upstairs in my bag," Harry said.

"I've got it right here!" Ivan reached for the paper and pen from the bag and handed it to Ron.

"Thanks, I'll be right back, wait for me!" said Ron excitedly.

As the girls did, he ran into the Durmstrang crowd.

"He's crazy, we saw the guy last time."

It was amazing that Ron's admiration for Krum had reached an unparalleled level.

Ivan, Harry, Hermione, Hermione, Colin and Ginny entered the Great Dining Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table.

There was still a mess at the door, because Krum and his Durmstrang classmates were still gathered there.

They seemed unsure where they should sit and how to treat the young wizards waiting in front of them for Krum's autograph.

The Beauxbatons students who had arrived earlier had already chosen seats at the Ravenclaw table. They were looking around the Great Dining Hall with a dejected expression on their faces. Three of them were still clutching scarves and shawls around their heads.

Among them was Fleur, who seemed to be particularly unhappy with the architectural style of Hogwarts.

Compared to the luxurious and exquisite buildings of Beauxbatons, Hogwarts was really too crude.

Fleur looked around, glanced at Ivan and turned her head haughtily.

But Gabrielle said a few words to her and hurried over, ignoring the surprised looks of the others around her.

"Hi, Ivan!" said Gabrielle with a smile, naturally sitting down in an empty seat next to Ivan.

"Hi, Gabrielle!" said Ivan, and introduced her to the others.