Title: The Amazing Bouncing Ferret
Author: Sare Liz
Continuity: Harry Potter Universe, Viktor/Hermione
Series: The Amazing Bouncing Ferret
Prompt: (01) Pureblood
Rating: K
Disclaimer: Prompt from Potterverse 100. Characters the property of JKR and associated persons and corporations.
Author's Notes: This scene occurs in the first weeks of December, during year four, just after the first trial in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Not continuous with Firebolt Ring, but could be continuous with Prompt 10, Quills.

--

Pureblood. It left the same taste in his mouth as Communism. How to explain it to her, though? And in English – he had no luxury of speaking Bulgarian or Russian or even German, but it had to be an explanation in the accursed English language?

Viktor looked at her standing in front of the towering bookcases with one hand on her hip as she waited for his response. It was unfortunate, really, that the other young man from Slytherin had to walk by and make his unhelpful comments just as Viktor had finally marshaled his courage to say hello to the lovely, and now rather irritated, young witch before him.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Viktor. Granger there is the finest example Hogwarts has to offer of its inclusive admissions policy. She's the farthest from Pureblood you can be. Best not to get to close. You might get all… muddy."

The annoying child fell far in Viktor's esteem, though as he spoke quickly and snidely it was hard to understand some of his words and the nuances of his phrases. Still, the feeling behind the so-called warning was quite clear.

Before he could properly align his thoughts and find something approximating the right words, she spoke. Her annoyance was also clear.

"Perhaps you wish to heed the words of ferret?"

Viktor's eyes darted around as he tried to figure out what on earth she was saying. "Vot is vord, ferret?" he finally settled on, looking at her tentatively.

"Oh," she said, warming slightly, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Him. Malfoy was transfigured into a ferret by Professor Moody the other day. A ferret, it's… a really small fuzzy animal, rather like a rat."

A grin broke out on Viktor's face as he laughed silently. A professor did that? He'd thought it was just a rumor. "So, outside look like inside, for Malfoy. For a little vhile."

Hermione smiled a bit at that. "Yes," she murmured, perhaps as a concession to their bibliophilic location. "He did get a chance to let his inner rodent out." She paused and gave him what certainly felt like a very assessing gaze. "You don't care much about the pureblood thing, do you?"

"No," he replied emphatically. "Is stupid. And, bad for introduction." He sighed and glared down at the book in his hands, just for a moment. "I vos going to introduce myself before interruption," Viktor said slowly and haltingly, but he thought, in a very grammatically correct manner.

"Oh," was her small, surprised reply.

Viktor looked up to see a much better look on her face than he could have wished for. Her eyes were wide and she looked tentatively… hopeful. At least, he thought that maybe she looked that way.

"My name is Viktor Krum," he said quietly. "And you are?"

"Hermione Granger," she said, and stuck out her hand. Viktor straightened up and shifted his book to his left hand. He took her offered one, but not to shake, of course. He bowed over it.

"Is very nice to meet you, Hermeon. Vhere are you from?"

Suddenly she looked everywhere but at him. "Oh, erm, my parents live just outside London." Her voice now was such a different thing then when she had been so angry. Gone was the harsh scathing tone, challenging him, daring him to say something to anger her further. Present was a quiet, breathy, and still wide-eyed version, that was now looking at him again. "And you – You're from Bulgaria, aren't you?"

"Yes. I live vith parents in a town called Vratsa."

"Called what?"

Viktor repeated the name of his town slowly and distinctly.

"Vratsa," Hermione said, almost to herself. "It's a lovely name. Where is it?"

"Em, Vratsa is in north and vest of country. Is nearby to mountains."

"Yes, London's pretty flat. No mountains."

There was not too much silence before she grabbed the book that had brought her to the remote shelf they were standing in front of and held it to her chest. "Well, it was nice to meet you. I'll see you later, I guess."

"I vould like that."

"Bye," she said shortly, just before she turned around. For all the world it looked like she was about to bolt – perhaps not strengthening Viktor's sense of self after the encounter – but she paused at the last possible moment. "Oh, and… Congratulations. On being selected to the tournament, I mean. And besting the dragon. I can't cheer for you, of course," she said, her eyes laughing, "but I hope you do well."

END.