Hermione Granger was nervous. Actually, that was a bit of an understatement. A boy asking a girl on a date is nervous, a child on her first day of school is nervous, a teen bringing home bad marks was nervous.
Hermione, on the other hand, was falling apart with anxiety.
She looked too fat in her dress.
"Oh why didn't I do those extra sit ups?"
Her hair was falling from the elegant bun and loosing its sleek shiny constancy.
"Where is my sleekeazy hair potion?!"
Her make up was running.
"Stop walking so fast!"
Those gorgeous pumps that cost 100 were missing.
"Why didn't I keep them in the box?"
But on top all of that, she was happier than she'd ever been.
Viktor Krum was nervous. Nervous like a turkey on thanksgiving, nervous like a boy at an all girl's school, even like an open bar of chocolate at a dieters convention. Viktor didn't get like this. He didn't get nervous at his first quidditch game, or first autograph signing, but now he was afraid of a 14-year-old girl.
His room was completely spotless.
"There's nothing left to clean, but my heart won't stop beating."
The cold ship suddenly felt like a sauna.
"No girl should do this to me."
He thanked God he knew a cooling charm.
"There's no time for a cold shower now."
He was dressed, all ready to go, all he needed to do was wait for that big, stupid grin to leave his face.
Hermione took one last look in the mirror and took in a heavy breath.
Viktor straightened out his uniform, wishing his nausea would subside.
Out the door,
Down the hall,
Top of the stairs,
Waiting for my heart to stop pounding,
Wondering if everyone could hear my heartbeat,
Deep breath,
Heavy sigh.
And the ball hadn't even started.