It was frustrating, really… but in the end, it all worked out for the best. Hermione was going mad over a celebrity, and with Ron's jealousy, it was automatically assumed that, due to their past history, he was jealous of Viktor Krum. Who wouldn't be, really? Viktor Krum was a celebrity. His jaw was strong and his eyes were deep, he spoke rarely but when he did, everyone wanted to know what he had to say. His body was the impressive part, really. The body of an athlete, and of someone who had to keep in shape or take the risk of falling hundreds of feet from the air.

No, Ron couldn't really blame anyone for thinking that he was jealous of Viktor Krum, especially when he started to show interest in Hermione Granger. And that brought him back to the original problem, didn't it? Everyone thought that his issue with Hermione and Viktor was due to his want… his NEED for Hermione Granger. A want, and need that Ron, never, in his life, had agreed to. He did love Hermione. With all his heart, but, in the end, he loved her in the way that he loved Ginny. She was his sister, not his lover. But seeing her dancing like that… smiling and laughing, with Viktor Krum… it had broken his heart.

He had wanted Krum for years.

Since he first started to pay attention to the sport of Quidditch, really. Viktor Krum was always there; his face spread on posters, proud and refined, an intense stare magnifying those amazingly blue eyes… He had spent nights in his room just staring at those eyes from the back of a sports magazine, and thinking nothing of it when, really, how normal was that? That must have meant he was gay, really. But so what? People made such big deals over liking other men, or other women. As if it was some life-changing occurrence. Not for Ron… so he was physically attracted to a man. He had been physically attracted to females before, also, and he thought that this was no ones business other than his own. It was only a fantasy after all. Not even a fantasy… it was only a little dream that he had once in a while. Viktor Krum could have whomever he wanted; Ronald Weasley wasn't going to be a part of that.

But apparently Hermione Granger was…

These thoughts had been clouding Ron's head for days. Weeks, even, ever since this bloody tournament had started. But now, he was staring down at his plate, his thoughts slowly drifting further and further away into the fantasy… dream, which he was having.

"Ron."

Even if Viktor Krum was interested in men, look at the men that he could get. Ron wasn't even a blip on the attractive radar scale-

"RON."

Ronald jumped when his name was practically screamed into his ear and he looked around, seeing the face of Harry staring at him as if he had three heads. He frowned, annoyed to be pulled from his thoughts. "WHAT, Harry? Are you bleeding? Is something burning down?"

"Well thankfully I'm not because you would just have dazed off and ignored me anyway! Oh, by the way, hope it's not too much trouble, my leg is just MISSING." Harry had snapped back in a retort with just as much sarcasm, and Ron looked at him sheepishly before sighing.

"I'm sorry, mate, I just… I've been thinkin' a lot lately." The redhead explained a bit lamely, and he glanced down at his plate again before he began to eat whatever was left. He could feel Harry's confused eyes on him… perhaps telling his best friend that he was thinking was a bad idea. Thinking wasn't normally something that Ron bragged about. He quickly continued. "I just… you know. 'Bout 'Mione with… Krum and all that." It seemed like the right thing to say. Harry sighed and shook his head.

"I don't know why you keep beating yourself up over this Ron…" His friend answered, muttering softly, "she's happy, yeah, but hey, they're not even that serious yet, maybe she's just… you know… DATING… I heard that girls like to do that sometimes. Dunno why…" Harry lazily stabbed his plate with his fork. "Sounds like a bunch of wasted time if you ask me…"

There it was again. Even Harry had thought that Ron was interested in Hermione… but he didn't correct him. Denying it would just make it look ten times worse than what it already was… he nodded, knowing that Harry's thoughts were probably on Cho Chang now, the raven haired girl over at the Ravenclaw table. Ron was going to answer, but before he could, a small owl, one unfamiliar to Ron, flew in alone from the outside, and dropped a small note in Ron's already empty plate.

The boy looked up, as if to see its sender floating there in mid air from where the owl had entered, before he looked back down at the note and he studied the outside of it. There was no writing or signature, so he opened it, only to find four words, hastily scribbled on the, what felt like, expensive parchment.

'Meet me in library.'

He stared at it, awkwardly, and for a moment thought that it was possibly meant for Harry. Harry WAS the popular one these days… But owls rarely, if ever, made mistakes like that. And with Ron's hair so shockingly contrasting to Harry's, it was more likely that the note was meant for him.

"What is it?" Harry had looked over Ron's shoulder, staring at the letter in interest, before he frowned a bit. "…Looks a little tricky, you gunna go?"

Ron nodded, before even considering the consequences. "Yeah. I mean, it would be important, right?" Besides, Ron wasn't Harry. He didn't have to worry for his life on a regular basis… sometimes, for Ron, a trip to the library was just that, a trip to the library. Not a trip to the library with some surprise attack and epic battle along the way. But Harry seemed to understand that… his friend nodded, and muttered an understandable 'be careful' before their conversation had moved elsewhere.

No matter what they spoke of, from the recent Quidditch match against Hufflepuff to the god awful cologne that Snape was wearing last potions class, Ron's mind had wandered back to that letter. He seemed to be in no rush… he was going to finish his lunch, of course, before he went, but his curiosity was still at its peak. Finally, when they had finished, Ron moved to his feet and he began to travel through the Great Hall, up the stairs and to the library.

It was all quiet when he entered, as usual, and it wasn't until he was IN there that he realized… where in the library was he supposed to be? He frowned, and he looked around but he saw no familiar faces, and no one seemed to show any interest in the fact that Ronald Weasley had arrived at the library without being paid to do so. He walked in and started to browse the sections, walking up and down bookshelves and trying to find someone who could possibly have wanted to talk to him.

It wasn't until he was in the Necromancy section did he feel a soft tap on his shoulder, and when Ron turned around his jaw had dropped and his knees went weak.

There he stood. Viktor Krum, in all his rugged, handsome glory, those intense eyes that Ron had stared at so often finally staring directly back at him… they were alone in the aisle, and Ron couldn't help but look around, seeing if anyone was close. No matter how attractive Viktor was, he was still intimidating…

"You… are Ron Veasley." The deep, gruff voice was quiet, but it still seemed to echo through Ron's head like a thousand drums beating against his brain… he breathed heavily, blushing hotly before he nodded, unable to say anything just yet. Viktor was eyeing him… and he wasn't trying to hide it. He seemed to be sizing Ron up for some reason, before he continued.

"You are vriend ov… 'Eermeone…" He seemed to struggle past Hermione's name, and, despite the intensity of Viktor's voice, Ron couldn't help but smile a little… it was endearing, really. But he nodded, and the realization had dawned on him after he did… this was about Hermione. Well, of course it was, what would he have expected it to be about? Viktor was obviously the one who called him here… he didn't seem like the kind of man to go up to you on a whim.

"Eez okay ef you vriend of 'Eermeone. …But you only stay vriend. No more. Yes?" The athlete stared Ron down, waiting for him to say that he understood before Ron finally nodded, his throat dry and head spinning. That's what this was… it was Viktor telling him to stay away from Hermione romantically. So he was interested in her…Ron wasn't really surprised. It was to be expected… They had spent a lot of time together lately after all and-

"I 'ave to go practeece vor games. … I vant see you 'ere tomorrow, at seven, yes?"

That was weird. Why would Viktor want to see Ron at seven here tomorrow if he had already agreed to stay away from Hermione romantically? He was thinking about this for too long, apparently, because Viktor's look grew impatient and Ron nodded quickly to show that he was attentive.

"I… Yes! Yes, tomorrow at… at seven…"

This wasn't real. Viktor Krum wanted to see him tomorrow? But why…? Why did he want to see him TODAY? Questions didn't really seem to matter to Viktor… he was smiling, seemingly pleased with being agreed with, and his large hand patted Ron on the shoulder. He hated himself for how hotly he had blushed at such a simple touch, and such a soft smile…. But he nodded when Viktor did, and he watched the man turn to hurry off, getting ready for his practice. "T…Tomorrow at seven…!" Ron called after him weakly, and he felt his heartbeat race a bit… he didn't know what this was about. Possibly to finish his threat about Hermione… but Ron didn't care. Tomorrow at seven, he was going to be alone with Viktor Krum in the aisle… and that was good enough for him.