"Four years" I flopped down on a chair in the library startling Victoire and Teddy.
"I hadve been putting up with the ego that is Vik Krum for four bloody years!" I clarified, causing the two to roll their eyes and go back to studying.
You might think that we would be on Quidditch together, because Viktor Krum JUNIOR and all, but bless the great mind that was Rowena Ravenclaw he did not like to play Quidditch.
"Oh no, not Quidditch where I could hope to "accidentally" knock him from his broom. Nope, he was with me in CHOIR! And I don't know if you all are aware of this but Choir is a distinctly no contact extracurricular activity." As in Professor Flitwick would murder me in my sleep if I damaged the vocal chords of one half of his prized duo.
Victoire looked up amused "Well yes, singing should definitely NOT be a "sport" you need protective gear for."
Not that this stopped me from hoping he would wander too close to the edge of the stage in front of me. He never did though. He knew for certain I would trip him.
He maybe, kind of, sort of knew this because I told him once or twice… a week… for four years… that I would trip him off that stage if he didn't keep a good distance from me.
And he maybe, kind of, sort of believed me because I might have maintained that teensy reputation for fighting.
I swear I never started fights! But no one talks bad about my family. No one! And if they keep it up and they get punched for it… now really, whose fault is that?
Uncle Neville is the herbology Professor and he keeps an annoyingly close eye on me for my parents. Not that the rest of the Professors wouldn't be happy to rat me out. Sometimes I wished I came from a less well known family.
"It would be one thing if Vik was a terrible singer and he was shoved to the back of the choir so that I didn't ever have to deal with him. But just my luck he actually sings tolerably well. Stupid git." Teddy and Victoire were largely ignoring me, they might have heard this rant once or twice.
A day.
For four years.
"Ugh and his fans are making me crazy!" Some of the idiot girls say he sings like an angel. Ugh. And not just girls our age or younger either. Oh no. I could take it if it were just first years drooling over him, but that was so not the case. Older students, even a couple of seventh years, were drooling over him.
"And of course he loves every minute of it." I glared at the table.
"Who did you catch him snogging this time?" Teddy didn't even look up from his book. Worse best friend ever.
"And worse of all? Not only has Professor Flitwick decided we are his star duo." I groused. We were constantly paired together for every sappy love duet the evil little maestro had his heart set on. "we are expected to do our part for the Yule Ball and sing some stupid love songs." Neither of us liked it but we were given two choices. Take it or leave it. And leave it meant being out of choir. Neither of us were backing down and giving the other the satisfaction.
Teddy and Victoire never understood my deep dislike for Viktor Krum. THEY both thought he was charming (Victoire's assment) and an overall good guy (from Teddy).
And what was worse, they both thought I was harboring this secret crush on Ego, the Great and Terrible.
As if.
"It doesn't matter to me one way or the other who he is snogging Theodore Lupin!" Teddy just shrugged "It matters that he was snogging anyone during a time we are supposed to be practicing. It is hard enough to pretend to gaze lovingly in to his eyes. I need all of the practice I can get!"
The doors to the library opened and in walked the Ego himself. After looking around he finally spotted me and made a beeline right for our table.
"Where the hell did you go Malfoy? We are supposed to be practicing our songs for the Ball!" See? Ego! How dare he berate me for now showing up when he was otherwise occupied?
"Oh, were we practicing singing today Krum? I thought we were practicing snogging and you already had a partner." I snapped at him.
He placed both hands on either side of me at the table "I had no idea you were interested in partnering with me for that particular practice session, Malfoy. If I had we could have worked something out."
Ughhh! "I am absolutely NOT interested in snogging you, Krum." The fluttering in my belly was anger or indigestion.
OK, if I were being completely objective, which I never am so don't get used to it, Krum was aesthetically attractive. Bit only on a purely physical level. When he opened his mouth he was just awful.
"Well then, as charming as your interest in my love life may be, it is really none of your business." Oh how I despise him!
"It is absolutely my business when it takes away from OUR time?" I informed him.
Which, of course he took completely out of context. "I did not realize you were so protective of our "special time" time, Malfoy. I will keep my other girls out of your line of sight from now on."
Other… grrrrrr! "I am NOT one of your "other girls, Krum. I simply take this event seriously."
"Wasn't she just complaining about it minutes ago?" Teddy asked Victoire.
"And the day before that and the day before that one too." Victoire giggled.
GIGGLED! At my distress! Worst best friends and cousins ever! "Shut it" I snapped." Gits just giggled again.
"Well, Malfoy? Are you coming or am I starting without you?" Vik stood away from the table.
"I am certain you are perfectly capable of starting without me Krum." But stood up anyway, determined to see Madame Pomfrey about this indigestion. It was probably nerves about the Ball. I am sure she has something for it.
He winked at me "I usually do start without you, Malfoy." His meaning was clear. I glared at him
"I work with children." I complained.
"Welll… we are in a school." Teddy reminded me.
"Oh shut it!" I stormed out, leaving Vik to trail behind me.
"I don't mind walking back her Malfoy, I enjoy the view." He said from somewhere behind me, I could hear the laughter in his voice.
I stopped dead cold "In front. NOW!" I pointed ahead of me.
"Of course, why should I be the only one enjoying this?" he walked ahead of me with a grin.
UGGGH! "I am NOT looking at… at… your hind quarters, Krum."
"Then you are missing a great view." He flexed.
"Well, you would be the expert on that, since you spend so much time with your head up your own arse." I glared at his back.
"Miss MALFOY! You will not raise your voice or use vulgar language in my library!" I could hear Madame Pince from behind me. I resisted the urge to make a rude gesture I knew where THAT particular hand sign got me.
But it truly wasn't far, Krum had raised his voice and used a swear! I only got in to trouble because I was a Malfoy. And sadly, unlike Daddy's prediction not because I am his daughter and the granddaughter of Lucius Malfoy. Nope the prejudice against me was uniquely my own. I hadn't punched anyone in months, but the stigma stays.
When we got to the choir room Professor Flitwick was already there.
"Malfoy, Krum. You are late." He said in his high pitched disapproving voice "Get started, you will find your sheet music on your stands." He sat down "Begin."
Professor Flitwick had this new found love for muggle music. He had us singing a song by the old muggle band called the "Loving Spoonful". It was a song called "Do you Believe in Magic."
Ridiculous, of course I believed in magic. But Professor Flitwick could not be swayed. That was the song we were practicing today.
We each took turns singing the verses. It was sort of a catchy song, I suppose. But it was not really about magic. Just some jerk guy trying to convince a girl the magic was in her soul.
My cousin Leo was playing guitar for us. He was only sort of part of the choir. He could be convinced to play guitar for us, but there was no way he was showing up for practice. But he was the best so Professor Flitwick ignored his insolence. Wish he would do that for me!
We had to hold hands and sing the interlude and outro together. While looking at each other lovingly.
Am pretty sure Professor Flitwick gets a cheap thrill making me uncomfortable. Maybe he secretly hates humans. Maybe. He might be human just really tiny. But with his ears he looked like an elf. Or a goblin.
No one I knew was brave enough, or rude enough to ask.
I like to believe I fall in to the second category. No matter what The Ego says, I am NOT rude!
We practiced for two hours before Flitwick called for an end to today's practice session.
"I will expect you both back here tomorrow. On time." He stressed.
I looked up to see a gaggle of girls practically drooling over Viktor. And glaring at me. I glared right back and a few of them backed up. In spite of what my father said, a reputation for violence did not hurt.
Was it my imagination or was Viktor flexing a little more than strictly necessary as he gathered his sheet music? Of course it wasn't my imagination. He so plays to his fans.
Leo smirked at me. Little snot should have been a Malfoy with that arrogant smirk. Well, I guess it was to be expected, Daddy sort of acted as the male influence in his life. Aunt Pansy and Aunt Daphne are awesome, but male they are not.
I snatched up my sheet music and stormed out much to Leo's amusement. He and Viktor were best friends, in spite of Leo being a year behind and he also believed I had a secret crush. UGGHHH! See what mean about friends and cousins being the worst?
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