Chapter 2

HERMIONE'S POV

I know that he's famous and all, but this is getting a little ridiculous, Hermione thought in response to the giggling fan girls who sat three tables away from her. The library was her place to relax, be herself and to think. Thinking is downright impossible with the insane amount of stupidity clogging this room. She rolled her eyes for what had to be the millionth time, turning her attention to the cause of her troubles. Viktor Krum sat two tables in front of her with his eyes locked on his book, The Art of Healing. I haven't even noticed him turn a page since I've been here. Why is he interested in healing, anyway? He doesn't seem like a mediwizard to me..

"Is my mascara smudged or something? He hasn't looked over here once!"

"He is positively a dream." The swooning went on and on. She almost felt bad for the guy, especially when she noticed him look their way and roll his eyes just as she had done many times already. For some reason this didn't register to the girls as sign of his annoyance, they only squealed at the first movement he had made since their arrival. Something snapped inside of Hermione.

"I think he's got the point by now, he's handsome," she snapped, the girls heads turning to look at her with shocked faces. "But you are clearly irritating him and everyone else here who is trying to use the library for its intended purpose. So if you would be so kind as to shut it, it would be greatly appreciated." Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione could swear she saw a smile on the Bulgarian's face, but she continued glaring at the fan girls. One of them that Hermione recognized as a fifth year Ravenclaw laughed, a smug look on her face.

"The only reason you aren't trying to get his attention is because you know good and well that he would never go for an ugly nerd like you," she scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder and turning back to her friends so that Hermione didn't have a chance to respond. Hermione kept a brave face but the comment did hurt, and she let gaze fall down to her lap.

"That is enough!" They all jumped in surprise at the first words Viktor had spoke since he had been there. His scowl was just as it always was but there was anger in his eyes that were fixated on the table of fan girls. "I vould like to study in peace, and there is no need for hurtful vords." Hermione watched as all of their faces turned scarlet before they gathered their things and rushed from the library. She looked away hurriedly as he turned back to her. "That vasn't necessary."

"I know," she replied meekly, still not looking at him. "But it is rather hard to focus with constant giggling in the background." She was blushing furiously but looked up to him, surprised to see that his eyes had softened considerably.

"No. I mean't vasn't necessary of them to insult you. I think you are very pretty, and being smart is something to sti-str-" He broke his gaze as he struggled with this word.

"Strive?" She assisted, unable to stop herself from smiling. He nodded, but he was obviously embarassed.

"Yes. To strive for," the corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly to what Hermione assumed was a smile. "I am Viktor, vat is your name?"

"Hermione Granger," the level of her blush was downright ridiculous at this point. I look like one of those annoying girls.

"Her-Hermy-own-" it was his turn to blush.

"Her-my-oh-nee," she pronounced slowly, hoping that she didn't sound amused by his struggle, because she actually found his accent rather endearing.

"Hermioninny," he muttered, still blushing and avoiding her gaze.

"That's close enough," she said with a giggle. He still looked embarassed when he gazed back at her but he smiled when he saw that she smiled at him. After looking down at her watch Hermione gasped and jumped up, gathering her things. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to be late for class," she threw her bag over her shoulder and ran towards the door. "Nice to meet you!"

VIKTOR'S POV

At least I finally talked to her, even if I did look like an idiot.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO XOXOXOXO

HERMIONE'S POV

Hermione sat with her arms crossed over her chest and her foot tapping impatiently for what seemed like hours waiting for Harry to get back to the common room. She had left the ceremony that announced the Triwizard Champions almost an hour ago, and was waiting for some kind of explanation from Harry. Her stomach was in knots as she worried for her friend. There always has to be something that goes wrong, doesn't there? She thought bitterly about her friend. It seemed to her like he couldn't catch a break, and with that neither could she. There is barely a day that goes by that I don't have to be sick with worry if he's going to live until dinner! It had all been very exciting at first, to watch the champions be announced. She knew nothing about Fleur besides that she was gorgeous and had every male wrapped around her finger. Although she didn't know Cedric too well she knew that he was a good guy, and had been the student she was hoping would be the Hogwarts champion. As Viktor was announced as the Durmstrang champion her heart sped a little bit, and she was able to block out the squeals from his fans as he looked over to her with a warm smile. They held eachother's gaze for a moment before he followed Cedric and Fleur to Dumbledore's office, but her giddiness diminished when the headmaster called Harry's name.

"Relax, Granger," she felt a plop on the couch next to her as she recognized George's voice. "You should be happy! You're going to be the best friend of someone holding eternal glory. If he lives."

"GEORGE!" She elbowed him in the side as Fred sat on her other side.

"Harry will be fine, 'Mione," the other twin assured her before he smirked. "We've gotta put money on this though. Harry will make us rich!" As she was about to scold him Ron practically stomped through the common room door. He was muttering under his breath.

"Stupid-fowl-git. Can't go five minutes without the spotlight."

"I heard that, Ronald!" Hermione called. "You know he didn't do it!"

"Jealous, brother?" At this point she wasn't sure which twin that was so she simply elbowed them both in the ribs. "OUCH!"

"I didn't put my name in that cup!" Harry growled, knocking Ron's shoulder purposely as he strode in behind him. "But I'm stuck doing it."

"Whatever, piss off," Ron mumbled, going up to the boy's dormitory.

"You two," Hermione lightly pushed both twin's shoulder's. "Leave. You," she pointed to Harry. "Sit." Harry looked sort of frightened but went to sit where Fred had been.

"Ohhh, you're in trouble!"

"Good luck mate!"

Hermione waited for them to make it up to the dormitory before she began. Harry beath her to it.

"Oh come on Hermione! You know I didn't do it! Why would I-" he was cut off as she threw her arms around his neck.

"Of course I believe you, Harry! I'm just worried! Dumbledore said that people have died in this tournament, and I'm already always worried about you!" Tears were threatening to spill from her eyes, but she fought them back, breathing heavily into his shoulder. She heard him sigh before his arms wrapped around her in a comforting embrace.

"I know, 'Mione. I'm sorry. I promise, I'm not going anywhere,"his voice was in a whisper so only she could hear, even though they were the only ones left sitting in front of the fire. They sat like this for a while as she got a hold of herself, eventually releasing her grip but leaving her head on his shoulder. Harry let one arm drop to rest on the arm chair but kept one wrapped around her. "You don't want to let Fred see us," he said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. She raised her head to give him a wondering look. "He has the biggest crush on you!"

"No he does not, he's probably just-just.." She couldn't find an explanation, though. It did seem as if he had a crush.

"In looooove with you?" Harry teased, wiggling his eyebrows as he held out the "o" in "love." She swatted his arm.

"Whatever! And besides, I hug you all the time but you know you're just like my brother," he nodded to this. Although Hermione saw both Harry and Ron as her best friends, she found herself going to Harry more often for comfort than Ron. The two of them were only children, so they liked to think of eachother in a more sibling-like way. It wasn't uncommon for Harry to refer to her as his "baby sister," which irritated her because they were the same age. His argument was that she was smaller, so she was the baby. That was when she would roll her eyes. "I'm sort of interested in someone else, anyway." She immediatley felt herself blush as she thought of Viktor.

"Who?" Harry tried to sound calm but this was not a common thing to hear from her. It was actually something he never heard from her.

"Don't worry about it, there's no way he would ever be interested," her voice lowered and she looked away. "He would probably go for someone like Fleur." As she finished she felt his hand on her cheek, and he turned her face to look at him.

"You know you're beautiful," he murmured. "And any guy would be lucky to have you." He tugged her a little closer and kissed her forehead. "Just remember, if there is an ass that needs kicking, I'm your guy."

Lemme know what you think! I feel like I'm having trouble writing out how Viktor would talk. When I watched the movie the actor really didn't have trouble saying anything besides Hermione's name, and the only thing I could tell was that his w's became v's.