Hermione sighed as she looked herself up and down in the spotted full-length mirror that stood against her wall, held steady by a well cast sticking charm. The soft light cast by her bedroom light sank into her hair, making it glow a deep gold, and her eyes shone brightly. She was clad in a simple pale periwinkle-blue dress made of a floaty material. It was set off by lapis teardrop earrings and a pair of heels.

She liked heels, even if he didn't, and as much as she liked him, she wasn't going to change just to please the boy. The boy. It was strange to be referring to him in her head this way already. It informed her of the end of the relationship when it had barely begun. But still, she wasn't going to change just for him.

Taking a deep breath she picked up her bag just as there came a knock on the door. Ginny put her head round it. He eyes widened at the sight of Hermione.

'Wow, you look amazing,' she breathed, her eyes taking in every bit of her best friend's attire. 'You're going to be the beauty of the night.' She herself was dressed in a low cut cream coloured frock and she had wound some gold ribbon in her hair.

Hermione smiled nervously as she fingered he smooth, straight hair which she had twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. 'Thanks Ginny.'

Ginny walked over and grabbed her friend's hand. 'Come on! Or we'll be late!'

'Ok, ok, I'm coming,' she laughed and followed Ginny from the room. She heart was pounding furiously. She was so nervous. What would people think when they saw the little bookworm all dressed up like this? Would they laugh and jeer at her sheer nerve? A million thought raced through her head as she descended the stairs, and suddenly all she felt like doing was turning around and fleeing back up to her room. But of course she couldn't. She had to be strong. She had to forget her inhibitions, if only for one night.

The time seemed to disappear far too fast from the point from when they left the room to when they arrived in the common room. By the time Hermione stepped into the cosy, bustling room she was seriously reconsidering going to the Yule Ball at all.

Several head turned in their direction as the two girls entered and Hermione blushed as someone wolf whistled loudly. Several girls whispered as she walked by and Hermione caught the words, 'Honestly' 'Hermione Granger?' and '... dressed like that'.

'Ignore them,' said Ginny, who was grinning widely and steering Hermione towards the portrait hole. 'They're just jealous.'

Hermione smoothed her dress down and stepped quickly through the portrait hole, tottering slightly in her heels –

And suddenly she was descending the marble staircase and there he was, smiling up at her, dressed in deep red robes. Viktor Krum.

She hadn't liked him at first. On the contrary she had disliked all the attention he gain from girls that interrupted she study time, when he spent time in the library. His surly demeanour was hardly very becoming either and it had taken her a while to warm up to him after he began talking to her when she was without Harry or Ron. Nevertheless, when he asked her to the ball she had been thrilled, and now the mere sight of him caused butterflies to erupt in her stomach; small ones – maybe more like moths – but fluttering nevertheless. And this was exactly the feeling that shot through her as Viktor took her hand and kissed it.

'Hi,' she said, smiling nervously.

'Good evening Her-mi-own.' His voice was deep and gentle. 'Shall we go?'

Her took her arm and propelled her towards the doors that opened into the great hall. Several heads turned as they passed and Viktor's fan club, Hermione noted with slight satisfaction, we're all looking furious. The pair joined the rest of the champions and their partners, standing to the left of the doors as the rest of the school filed into the hall.

Harry was standing beside Parvati, who was dressed in robes of shocking pink and looking very pretty indeed. His expression of shock at the sight of Hermione quickly changed to a grin and a nod of approval and Hermione found a smile creeping over her face. Cho and Cedric were standing near to doors, Cedric leaning against the wall, completely at ease. Fleur and Roger Davies stood a little apart from the other, talking softly.

Turning from the champions, Hermione surveyed the crowed streaming into the great hall. There were wild splashes of colour here and there. She saw Lavender Brown of the arm of Dean Thomas, dressed in a lacy black dress. A very pretty Hufflepuff with dark brown hair was looking stunning in a deep red dress and elegant heels. Hermione was just about to turn back to Viktor when he appeared, and her stomach – to everlasting surprise and horror – did a backwards somersault at the sight of him.

His sleek blond hair fell around his face, framing his pale, angular features. He was dressed in black robes with a high collar and a very frilly, very pink Pansy Parkinson was clutching his arm. Crabbe and Goyle both dressed in moss-green robes lumbered along behind, both date-less.

Hermione took an instinctive step back as Malfoy caught sight of her. His eyes widened and surprise flickered across them. Something else also crossed his pale face. Something remarkably like –

But before she had a change to figure it out, he had swept past her into the hall and Professor McGonagall was ushering the champions into a line. Her heart began to pound again and perhaps she was clutching Viktor's arm a little too tightly, because he turned to her with a smile and said, 'Are you alright? There's no need to be nervous you know.'

She took a deep breath and felt herself visibly relax. 'Of course.' She smiled up at him then stumbled forward as a lilting, gentle tune wafted from the doors and Fleur and Roger, who were positioned just in front of her, lead them into the hall.

Their entrance was met by enthusiastic applause from the school. Hermione felt a hundred eyes on her as she made her way to the far end of the hall where tables had been set out. She sat down next to Viktor and proceeded to have a very enjoyable dinner, throughout which she taught him how pronounce her name properly – they got as far as Herm-own-ninny before she decided that it was good enough. The meal ended and an excited hush filled the hall. As Hermione look around at the stage she caught sight of Malfoy, just a few tables away – watching her. The moment he saw her watching his head whipped back to Pansy and he swiftly wove her into conversation. Hermione had no time to dwell on the strange behaviour because Viktor was pulling her to her feet and motioning towards the deserted dance floor.

'Come,' he said, as Hermione looked at him, puzzled. 'We're supposed to dance.'

Hermione went pink. 'Oh yes, of course,' she muttered, standing and allowing him to navigate her to the dance floor.

The Weird Sisters trooped onto stage to wildly enthusiastic applause, equipped with violins, cellos, guitars, a levitating piano and a drum kit. After a pause, in which the champions quickly got into position, and Viktor took Hermione's waist, they struck up a slow waltz and suddenly all worries of spectators – who included one Draco Malfoy – were swept from her mind. All there was in this room was the music and Viktor's smiling face.

The song ended to a smattering of polite applause. To Hermione's amusement, Harry hurried quickly from the dance floor, followed by a distinctly disgruntled Parvati.

What seemed like the rest of the school marched onto the dance floor as the band struck up a new song, which was much more lively than the first and by the time it ended Hermione was breathless and laughing.

'Let us get a drink,' said Viktor, taking her hand and leading her away from the dancers. Hermione beamed at him.

As the crossed the hall, she spotted Harry and Ron sitting at a table. She excused herself from Viktor momentarily and went to join them.

'Hi,' said Harry as she swung herself into the empty chair beside him. Ron didn't say anything. His face was stony.

'It's hot, isn't it?' she said, fanning herself. 'Viktor's gone to get drinks.'

Ron looked at her sharply. 'Viktor?' he said. 'Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?'

Hermione jerked back. This was completely unlike Ron. But she was having far too great a time to let Ron spoil it for her, so she said in a falsely cheery voice, 'What's up with you?'

'If you don't know,' said Ron scathingly, 'I'm not going to tell you.'

Hermione stared at him, then at Harry, who shrugged. 'Ron, what –'

What followed left Hermione blinking back angry tears and sharp retorts as Ron went on about the – non-existent – enmity between Durmstrang and Hogwarts, how she, Hermione, was just a tool for Krum to get closer to Harry. After several minutes Hermione stood up and stormed away, her eyes burning with unshed tears. Rather than embarrass herself by bursting into tears in the middle of the packed and noisy hall, she fled into the entrance hall, gasping and willing herself to calm down. She felt tears threatening to spill over and smear away the makeup she had taken hours to perfect. Sniffing, she tilted her head back and stared at the dark ceiling. Wasn't that what people always said? Distract yourself, look up. That should stop the tears.

'Arrgghh!"

She jumped wildly as someone put their hand on her shoulder. She hadn't heard anyone approaching.

'Herm-own-ninny? Are you alright?'

Viktor, of course; how could she have forgotten about her date? Turning, she attempted a watery smile. He was holding two butterbeers. 'Viktor! Oh, I'm so sorry. I got a bit distracted and –'

'Don't vorry about it. Vould you like to go for a valk?' He gestured to the open oak front door which led out into a twinkling rose garden. She nodded and he handed her a butterbeer as they descended the steps. They wondered through the quaint pathways that wound through the rose bushes, chatting amiably about the food, the music, the roses.

Viktor suddenly stopped. They had reached a stone bench in a quiet little corner of the garden. The music from the great hall could barely be heard now. They were surrounded by the chirping of crickets and a cold breeze. Hermione sat down and surveyed the young man who had so gallantly asked her to the ball.

He was handsome. With his strong boned features and dark hair. She had been flattered when he had asked her to the dance. But was he really what she was looking for?

Looking for! Honestly, why was she thinking like this? There were far more important things in life than potential soul mates... at least in her life. She had her OWLs coming up the following year and –

But suddenly everything was wiped clean from her mind as Viktor leaned in and kissed her gently. And although her first kiss had her heart pounding in frenzy, although the young man whose lips were pressed to hers was one of the most famous – and handsome – Quidditch players in Europe, although they were surrounded by softly falling snow, rose bushes and glittering fairies, Hermione could not help but feel something was missing. Something, she knew, was not missing with a certain grey-eyed, blond-haired Slytherin.