Viktor Krum: Bulgaria's Seeker and His Role in Harry Potter

He was the most famous person at Hogwarts that year, and all he wanted was a quiet corner of the library. Viktor Krum came with Durmstrang for the Triwizard Tournament and became one of the few characters in the series who never brags about anything.

Who he is

Krum is the Seeker for the Bulgarian national team and a student at Durmstrang Institute. Off the broom he looks awkward: slumped shoulders, a scowl, very little small talk. On the broom he is someone else. His wand is hornbeam with a dragon heartstring core, made by Gregorovitch (Goblet of Fire, ch. 18).

He speaks slowly, with a heavy accent, and keeps it short. That shyness is what makes readers like him. A star who could look down on everyone prefers to hide among the books.

Key moments

• Goblet of Fire, ch. 8: in the Quidditch World Cup final he pulls off the Wronski Feint and catches the Snitch, even though Ireland wins. Catching it while behind on points is a proud player's decision.
• Goblet of Fire, ch. 23: he takes Hermione to the Yule Ball. He mispronounces her name and she patiently corrects him.
• Goblet of Fire, ch. 26: in the second task he transfigures only his head into a shark's and pulls Hermione out of the lake.
• Goblet of Fire, ch. 31: in the maze, under the Imperius Curse, he attacks Cedric. Harry has to Stun him to stop it.
• Deathly Hallows, ch. 8: he turns up at Bill and Fleur's wedding and confronts Xenophilius Lovegood about a symbol around his neck.

Relationships

Hermione is the relationship everyone remembers. He looks for her in the library, where she studies, and that is why Krum spends so many hours there. Ron gets unbearably jealous, and that scene says more about Ron than about Krum.

With Karkaroff, his headmaster, the relationship is obedient and distant. With Harry there is no real rivalry. They respect each other, and Krum is one of the few champions who never tries to cut anyone down.

What almost nobody notices

At the wedding, Krum recognizes the symbol of the triangle, circle and line that Xenophilius wears. He knows it because it was carved into a wall at Durmstrang, and he says Grindelwald did it (Deathly Hallows, ch. 8). It is the first solid clue that the sign belongs to a real Dark wizard, not some odd cult. Harry, Ron and Hermione have no idea yet what they just heard.

Krum has only a few big scenes, but every time he shows up, the story moves forward.

Which house would you have chosen? Take the house quiz.