Hermione set her books down on the library desk with a firm bang. She sighed and furrowed her brows at the scene she had just left in the hallway: Ron drooling over Fleur Delacour while Harry obliviously ranted to him about the best way to ask Cho Chang to the Yule Ball.
'Boys are useless,' Hermione thought as she smoothed the pages of the textbook she had opened. But soon she had her quill out to scratch hasty notes and forgot all about the irritation as she immersed herself in her studies.
Barely an hour had passed when Hermione's intense attention faltered at the sound of giggling. She looked around the sunny library and caught sight of a small group of Hufflepuff fifth years hiding terribly behind a bookshelf. She followed their furtive glances and saw a pale and serious looking boy approaching her desk.
"Hello… I'm Viktor Krum, do you want some company?' the boy asked, scratching the back of his neck nervously. He was tall, pale and athletic. He was also clearly uncomfortable, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he awaited a response. Hermione sighed heavily, but figured that the Hufflepuff girls had ruined her concentration already so she may as well take a break. 'How about a walk outside in the fresh air?' Hermione suggested, thinking more of the break from teen ball dramas than the fresh air.
Viktor and Hermione spent the rest of the day strolling around the sprawling Hogwarts grounds. Hermione found Viktor surprisingly easy to talk to, and even found herself recounting the horrific story of the Whomping Willow and the trip to the Shrieking Shack in her third year. The next minute they were almost crying with laughter recalling a showdown Peeves had with Filch earlier in the week. Almost as suddenly as the laughter had started, they found themselves earnestly discussing the status of house elves. As the afternoon drew closer to dinner time, Viktor took Hermione's arm and walked her back to the Fat Lady, where Hermione smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before disappearing into the Griffindor common room.
Harry and Ron were already lazing on a fat overstuffed couch chatting away. Hermione smiled and started to tell them about her surprise study break when Harry looked up and blurted, 'I think I should ask Cho tonight, I'm going to catch her before dinner—Ron is going to distract her friends so I can get a bloody minute alone to ask her.' Harry nervously grinned and before Hermione knew it, the boys had quickly dashed from the common room. Hermione rolled her eyes.
A little later, Hermione was halfway through her mashed potatoes in the Great Hall thinking about how interested Viktor had seemed in her. She was wondering when she would next see him when her thoughts were interrupted by a sulky thump as Ron and Harry abruptly sat next to her. 'How did it go?' Hermione asked, already suppressing an eye roll. 'Well I ran some great interference-' Ron started before Harry lamented 'she's only going with bloody Diggory!' and let his head drop face down on the table. It had been revealed that Cho and Cedric had been on a number of dates before Cedric had asked her to the ball. Hermione might have been sick of Ron and Harry acting like idiots over the past week, but she really did have to feel sorry for Harry as he sadly pushed his plate away.
The next two weeks went surprisingly fast. Hermione found herself seeing Viktor almost every day, although she was sure this was increased by the amount of time Harry and Ron were spending skulking the halls for Yule dates.
Viktor had a way of letting Hermione relax, and she really appreciated it. They would steal kisses behind Hagrid's shed, share butterbeers and long chats under secluded stairwells and pass notes in the library. Hermione insisted she wanted to keep it all very discreet, which Viktor seemed disappointed by, but he was content with all the same.
One night after dinner, Hermione was tailing Ron and Harry back to the dormitories as they bemoaned how unfair it was that Diggory had secured Cho as a date to the Yule Ball. She felt nearly invisible to them as they weighed up how Harry could win her over by impressing her with another date. As they turned a corner, Hermione felt a tug on her arm and was pulled backwards. She turned around and was met with a sly grin from Viktor. 'Hey! Someone will see us!' Hermione hissed. Viktor gave a knowing smile and ushered her further down the hallway. He placed an arm around her waist and pulled her to a stop in front of a closed door. 'You see, I discovered not all of the closets are in use at Hogwarts,' Viktor smiled, 'everyone seems to think this one is used to store excess potions ingredients but…' Viktor trailed off as he pushed the door open.
Hermione froze. In the middle of the closet was Cho Chang, robes pushed up, and pressing someone against the wall. Disappearing under those robes was the slender arm of a blonde, who was preoccupied kissing Cho's neck. Viktor spluttered and the blonde looked up. Hermione felt a sudden pang in her stomach as her eyes locked with Fleur Delacour. Cho leapt back from Fleur and hastily attempted to straighten her robes. Viktor gaped in disbelief and looked from Cho to Fleur as a dark blush began to rise in Cho's face. 'Erm, sorry to disturb you!' Hermione awkwardly said in a voice that seemed much higher than usual. She grabbed Viktor's hand and swivelled them around, marching them down the hallway and away.
Later that evening, Hermione slipped into bed, blushing as she remembered what her and Viktor had walked in on. She remembered Fleur's eyes locking with hers and felt the pang in her stomach again. She wouldn't tell Harry and Ron, she decided. She knew they could keep a secret, but she just could not imagine a way of telling them without feeling extremely uncomfortable. Plus, she would have to explain why she was snooping in abandoned closets after dinner, and she was definitely not ready to tell anyone about Viktor.
The next morning she headed down to breakfast early with Harry and Ron. They spent the morning discussing the TriWizard Tournament and what the next challenge could be. Hermione smiled. They hadn't hung out like this for a while since the tournament and the impending Yule Ball had descended on the school. But Harry and Ron had secured last minute dates last night, while Viktor and Hermione had been interrupting Cho and Fleur. With only two days to go, the boys had secured a Patel twin each to accompany them to the ball. Now their only concern was how uncomfortable they felt with their dress robes.
Hermione saw that Cho was noticeably absent from her usual group of Ravenclaws at their dining table. She supposed Cho wanted to avoid a run-in with her or Viktor, and Hermione really couldn't blame her for that.
Harry and Hermione were in full swing teasing Ron about his frilly dress robes as they walked out of the dining hall. 'Come on, they're not THAT bad, are they?' Ron asked helplessly. As Hermione opened her mouth to respond, she was interrupted by the sudden arrival of Fleur Delacour. 'Ah, 'ermione,' Fleur smiled. She kissed Hermione on both cheeks before whispering, 'I trust you can keep a secret of what you saw last night, non?' She pulled away and smiled at Hermione before re-joining her friends and gliding into the dining hall.
'Blimey, Hermione! I would've just about passed out if that were me!' Ron drooled, his frilly robes already forgotten. Harry laughed and gently shoved Ron, before all was forgotten and they were on their way out again.
Two days later the ball had finally arrived and Hermione was nervously tugging at her hair and adjusting her dress in front of a mirror. She muttered a spell under her breath, clutching her wand, and with a dull green flash, her hair suddenly smoothed out. Relieved, Hermione finally dashed out of the dormitories and met Viktor by the Fat Lady to walk to the Ball.
As they entered the Ball, Hermione could feel eyes on her. Finally, her and Viktor were public. Viktor proudly squeezed her hand and she managed a tight smile. Ron shot her a dirty look from a table across the room. She often forgot that Viktor was a Quidditch hero of Ron's... She figured that was probably why he looked irritated. Its funny, because now Viktor always seemed like regular old Viktor to Hermione.
As they entered the centre of the room with the other champions, Hermione caught Cho smiling and kissing Cedric. Cedric was looking presidential in some midnight blue dress robes. Cho was wearing a stunning silver dress that draped elegantly to the floor. Cho caught Hermione's eye and guiltily looked away. Not far away, a seemingly unbothered Fleur was serenely standing next to a smug McLaggen. Fleur looked radiant in a shimmering emerald green dress that clung to her athletic figure well. Harry was nervously standing nearby in his bottle green dress robes, glancing from Parvati to an oblivious Cho, before his eyes settled on Hermione and Viktor with a look of surprise.
If Hermione had wanted to explain, she didn't have a chance- The music started and the champions swung into action. Viktor smiled and pulled Hermione close. They quietly joked and discussed magical history as the dance played out, their eyes lighting up more with the conversation than the dance.
Soon the dance ended and they made their way to the drinks table, where Viktor poured them both a goblet of punch. 'Phew!' Viktor coughed after a first swig, 'whoever spiked the punch has done so generously!'
Ron approached and scowled at Hermione, 'so when were you going to tell me about this?' he said curtly, gesturing wildly at Hermione and Viktor. His face was flushed and he was talking a little too loudly. Hermione guessed he had been having a large first round of punch while the champions were dancing. Harry approached and stood slightly behind Ron, interested in the answer but not wanting conflict. 'I just didn't know how to bring it up..' Hermione began, before Ron cut her off, 'Oh save it Hermione! Harry and I told you all about our problems with girls while you rolled your eyes and kept your love life to yourself!' Before Hermione could respond, Ron turned on his heel and marched off, sloshing his goblet as he went. Harry flashed an apologetic smile at Viktor and Hermione before quickly taking off to follow Ron.
Hermione was in a foul mood. Ronald had absolutely ruined the ball for her. She didn't much feel like dancing now so sat at a table with Viktor drinking punch and discussing how ridiculous Ron had been.
Harry returned and joined the table with a round of punch for himself, Viktor and Hermione. 'Look… Hermione… I mean I am surprised, and I wish you had felt comfortable telling us… but, I'm glad you're happy' Harry said, looking down at his goblet. 'Honestly Harry, it was never meant to be a big deal, I just didn't know how to tell you..' Hermione began, before Harry waved her off. 'Its no big deal, honestly Hermione, now its all out in the open we can move on.' Harry raised his goblet and clinked it against Viktor and Hermione's goblets. 'Now what do you say we turn this night around?' Harry grinned, as a hip hop artist took the stage and the proper party music started building up.
Eventually, enough punch had gone by, and the music had changed, that Hermione felt like kicking her shoes off and hitting the dance floor. She grabbed Viktor and Harry's hands and they joined the mob wildly dancing to a popular wizard band she could never remember the name of.
Hermione couldn't remember the last time she had this much fun, her hair dampened with sweat as she twisted and twirled and jumped. Viktor kept slapping Durmstrang boys on the back and letting out loud whoops as they danced with the crowd. Cedric came over and wrapped an arm around Viktor and one around Harry before slurring through a heartfelt conversation only half heard over the loud music. Fleur appeared on Viktor's other side and they all drunkenly congratulated each other on becoming champions.
Hermione laughed as they all jostled about to the music. She had never been this carefree before. She smiled at Viktor, she was sure it was his influence on her, ever since he had interrupted her obsessive study at the library. Fleur looped an arm around Hermione's waist and kissed her cheek, all awkwardness forgotten between them. McLaggen was wildly writhing in front of them, apparently in a weak attempt to impress Fleur. Hermione suppressed a laugh.
After a while, all the jostling was making Hermione a bit nauseous… Although she vaguely thought that perhaps it was the sickly mix of punch. Regardless, she gestured to the group that she would be back soon. McLaggen and Viktor were halfway through shouting along to the lyrics of their favourite song and nodded at her.
Hermione stumbled out of the building and past the plumes of smoke from students smoking near the entrance. She walked past Cedric who was busy making out with Cho on a bench near some bushes. Eventually she found an empty bench further away and sat down to breathe in the crisp night air. She thought about Viktor and how happy he had been to go public with her. Why wasn't she as enthusiastic? As she took a deep breath she felt someone sit next to her. It was Fleur, who was lighting a cigarette and looking out at the grounds. 'It is a bit of a big night, isn't it?' Fleur laughed. Hermione smiled and they sat on the bench together. 'So you and Viktor?' Fleur said. 'So you and Cho?' Hermione countered. Fleur drunkenly giggled, 'Oh that, that was nothing, its not like that… She is fond of Cedric, and I… well I needed a distraction from the stress of the tournament.' Hermione changed the subject. 'What do you do when someone seems more interested in you than you are in them?' she suddenly said. Fleur took another drag on her cigarette before finally answering, 'You can never know for sure how someone feels…' Fleur stubbed out her cigarette before tossing it carelessly away. She smoothly rested her hand on Hermione's knee. 'Although, I saw how you looked at me when you found us in the closet…' she drawled. Her hand moved slightly up Hermione's leg before she slid it away all together. Hermione blushed as Fleur stood up. Fleur took Hermione's hand and pulled her up, accidentally pulling slightly too hard. Hermione lurched forward, her face nearly touching Fleur's. Hermione was suddenly aware of how close their lips were and how blue Fleur's eyes were. 'Well, we had better get back to the others!' Fleur declared with another drunken giggle, turning around and beginning to march back towards the building entrance.