A/N: Another one I wrote when I was fourteen, heavily edited to be much better today. I love Hermione so much. I love how she's a total geek, yet still completely cool. And I love how she's more interested in books than looks. A lot of my feelings about growing up as a geek girl went into this as I wrote it. I'd like the thank JKR for making such an inspirational heroine, cool but flawed, that I, even as a young girl, was able to look up to and relate to. Also, so much love for Ron and Hermione's torrid romance. :)

What about Hermione Granger?

Hermione Granger stormed up to her room, fuming. She slammed the door dramatically even though she knew Ron couldn't hear it from down in the common room. Stalking across the room, she snarled and spat. Ron. Assuming she was available, assuming nobody asked her, acting like he was doing her a favor, offering to take her as a last resort. He acted like nobody in their right mind would have asked her to the ball! Like, like she was some ugly hag that no one could possibly be attracted to! Well, she may not be as pretty as that stupid Fleur, or Parvati or Lavender, but…

She sighed and flopped on the bed, looking at the small mirror attached to the wall. Looking back at her was a girl with a plain face, mud brown eyes and masses of tangled bushy brown hair. She didn't have much of a figure. Ron was right. She was plainer than any Jane and it was a bit of a miracle Viktor had asked her out. Granted, he was no looker himself, but he had all those much prettier girls always vying for his attention. But then, they were dunderheads, and she supposed they annoyed Viktor. Unlike Ron, he clearly didn't just focus on whether a girl's nose was dead perfect, or if care whether she was an ethereal beauty like Fleur…she quite liked that about Viktor.

After all, it was true that unlike Lavender and Parvati, she didn't spend hours getting her hair and face just right or gossiping and giggling about boys and that sort of thing. No, she spent most of her time with her nose in a book, studying and hanging around her two best friends…who were boys. She never spent time on her appearance, preferring to read and do homework and solve mysteries with Harry and Ron.

That was all right, she supposed, but it made Ron think she was just one of the guys… She had no idea why this disturbed her so much, the fact Ron only thought of her as a mate, and was using her as a safety net.

She was just one of the gang, the terrible trio…He hadn't even noticed her teeth were smaller. Oh, and Harry hadn't either. She supposed it was nice that they didn't pay that much attention to her flaws, but still…

It was true that she had been surprised when Viktor Krum had asked her to the ball. Not because she barely knew him, but because she hadn't been expecting anyone to ask her to the ball, nor had she been planning to ask anyone. But, it had made her feel special….for once in her life. And Viktor seemed to really like her, so she'd said yes. He'd noticed she was a girl. She usually didn't mind that she just wasn't naturally very…well, people's idea of what "feminine" should be. Except at times like this, when things got all confused and she longed for something.

Sighing, she got out of bed, stretching slightly. After a few moments thought she dropped to her knees and pulled out her trunk. She opened it and started rooting around in it. After shifting a load of books and quills, she finally found her floaty blue dress robes and pulled them out. She hadn't looked at them since Mrs. Weasley had given them to her after buying them for her in Diagon Alley .

She held them against herself and looked critically in the mirror. Then, without further hesitation, she jerked them roughly over her head.

Flushed, she looked at her reflection. She couldn't help but give a tiny gasp. The fabric of the dress robes was floaty and glittery and seemed to…ripple. The robes fit naturally, hanging down and accentuating her (admittedly minimal) curves and floating cloudlike around her ankles.

"I look…pretty," she murmured. She ran her fingers through her hair, only to get them caught in a tangle. Scowling, she yanked them out again.

Of course, she still wasn't exactly a beauty queen with her tangled mass of brown hair, like a Yield sign on her head, her plain, scrubbed face and the trainers peaking out under the robes.

Maybe she would take care of her hair and…doll up a bit. Just for the Ball. She could show them all she was a girl. That she could be pretty if she felt like it, but she simply didn't see a reason to bother. Show them a different side of Hermione Granger.

Hermione smiled into the mirror. Yes. She would show him.

***

The night before the Yule Ball, Harry, Ron, Fred and George got into a snowball fight. She didn't join in, as she didn't want to make the work harder for when she got ready for the ball. Getting all flushed and sweaty and snow covered would only mean she'd have to spend even more time fixing herself up.

Harry and Ron were surprised when she left to get ready three hours early. She didn't answer Ron when he asked her for the thousandth time who she was going with and made her way up the stairs, down the hall, into the Common Room and up to her empty doors. She stood there for a few seconds, as if steeling herself. Then she got to work.

First she took a shower and then, wearing a dressing gown, took out the Sleekeazy's Hair Potion she had borrowed from Lavender. She read the directions, which said to comb and dry her hair before applying.

Grimacing, she dragged her hairbrush through her locks, wincing in pain occasionally. Then she dried her hair with a spell she had learned in first year that make steam come out of her wand. Finally she applied the hair potion.

Liberous amounts of it were required, and she had to rub and comb very hard in order to tame each wave, tangle and curl. It took ages. This would not be something she'd want to do every day, not when she could be reading or something else.

After she was finished she looked up to the mirror and once again, gasped. Her hair was straight! Not to mention sleek and shiny and flowing. For once it did what it was supposed to and stayed placidly in place! The color of her hair even looked prettier, she had always considered it to be dung colored, but now she realized it was a dark chestnut brown. She shook it, enjoying how it bounced and flowed. It fell a bit past her shoulders now, when it was bushy it usually barely brushed them.

She marveled at it for many minutes before remembering she had more to do. She reached in her trunk and produced a lipstick and mascara and other cosmetics (also borrowed from Parvati and Lavender) She applied the lipstick carefully to her mouth. It was thick and chalky and she felt extra conscious of her lips. It was the same with the other makeup. It took ages also, applying it, though she supposed if she'd practiced earlier on, she'd have been quicker.

She closed her eyes and whispered "Rectify", waving her wand across her face. It was a little spell she looked up. It would make her makeup look more natural and clear up any smudges and mistakes, if done right. When she opened her eyes, she gaped at the person she saw in the mirror. This person was pretty- beautiful even, with dark eyelashes and red lips and…and…

She shook herself out of her trance. She still had to get on her robes and shoes and put her hair up. The hair was easy enough, with magic.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" She whispered and a hair tie and pins levitated next to her head. She left them floating there.

"Unerum Fornaught!" she said firmly, waving her wand in a complicated motion. Her hair twisted into an elegant bun and the pins and tie dived in to hold it in place.

Quickly Hermione undid her dressing gown and pulled on her dress robes carefully, so not to mess up anything. Then she put on open toed clunky black sandals. Just as she stood up, she heard the sounds of students entering the Common Room. Ducking her head down and covering herself carefully with a black cloak she swept out of the girls dormitories and through the crowd and out the portrait hole. She didn't know why, but she didn't want anyone to see her just yet. Perhaps she wanted to surprise them? A bit silly…

She hurried to the Entrance Hall. No one was there yet. Checking her watch, she saw it was 45 minutes to the ball. Hermione sat down and took a book out from the voluminous pocket of the cloak she'd set on the floor and decided she'd read until people showed up.

Eventually, students washed into the room and Hermione put the book away and went outside, looking for Viktor. He came with the other Durmstrang students, wearing dark red dress robes. She waved at him and he made a beeline for her.

"You look very pretty," he told her solemnly. "Though I am thinking you alvays look pretty."

Hermione blushed and looked away. "Oh…well…thanks. You look quite nice yourself."

"Thank you, Hermy-own."

"Hermione," she corrected automatically. He took her arm (she flushed at this) and together, they entered the Entrance Hall.

She looked around and spotted Harry and Ron, Harry looking extremely nervous and out of place, wearing green dress robes and Ron looking disgruntled, wearing his maroon dress robes. It looked as if he had done a severing charm to get rid of the lace, though not a very good one, the edges of his robes were hopelessly frayed. She shook her head. She would have done it for him if he'd asked her!

Harry was standing with Parvati, who didn't look nervous in the least and was quite beautiful in pink robes with gold braided into her dark hair. Her twin, Padma, looked identical; except her robes were turquoise and she had longer hair. She was with Ron, looking very depressed that he was her partner. Hermione didn't see why, despite the frayed robes, he looked quite handsome.

Harry glanced at her, but didn't seem to recognize her; Ron was hiding behind him now. Hermione looked around. It was Fleur he was glancing at with pure terror. She was stalking haughtily along with Roger Davies drooling beside her. Hermione bit her lip to keep from giggling, though she licked her teeth afterwards, hoping she hadn't smeared her lipstick.

Suddenly, Professor McGonagall called, "Champions, over here, please!"

Hermione and Viktor headed toward Professor McGonagall, along with the other champions and their dates, including Harry and Parvati.

"You are to wait here while everyone else enters the Great Hall, then, enter in a procession after the rest of the students have seated themselves," McGonagall said sternly. They all formed a line on the wall, Hermione smiled nervously. Viktor put his hand in hers. She looked around and saw Harry staring wistfully at Cedric and Cho. Then he looked away and his eyes fell on her. He blinked, and suddenly seemed to recognize her. His jaw dropped.

"Hi Harry!" she said. "Hi Parvati," she said to Harry's date.

When Hermione said this, Harry quickly closed his mouth, waved a little awkwardly at her and said "Hi."

Parvati just stared at her as if she'd sprouted two heads. It wasn't very flattering, but Hermione didn't mind. The ridiculous girls who stalked Krum scowled at her as they passed and after them. Malfoy and that cow Pansy Parkinson (who was in ridiculously frilly pink robes_) followed. Pansy gaped at her; Hermione felt an insane urge to stick her tongue out but instead smiled sweetly at both her and Malfoy, giving them a sarcastic little wave. Malfoy was speechless, for once. Ron, however, didn't even look at her. Hermione supposed he hadn't recognized her yet, and felt oddly disappointed about this.

When all the students had dispersed, the champions and their dated lined up in pairs and entered the Hall to applause. In front of her, Harry concentrated on his feet. Hermione almost had another giggle fit, knowing he was trying not to trip. He looked almost as nervous now as he had before fighting the dragons.

Both Fleur and Parvati were in their element, beaming at everyone and dragging their dates forcefully around, Davies didn't seem to mind, but Harry looked quite bewildered. The boys stared at Fleur as she flipped her hair and Hermione snorted. She couldn't stand girls like Fleur, so preoccupied with shallow things and full of themselves.

Viktor stumbled beside her. As always, he seemed very awkward without a broomstick under him. So she led him along too, though she was nervous herself. Cedric looked slightly nervous, but mostly happy. Cho gazed at him, smiling, walking along easily. They seemed to really like each other. Hermione felt sorry for Harry, who she knew had a tremendous crush on Cho.

Ron was glaring at someone in her general direction; Hermione didn't know who it could be. He still wasn't giving any sign he recognized her. She drooped slightly at this. What was his problem? He was ignoring Padma, who looked miffed. Hermione felt a strange satisfaction at this.

Karkaroff, she noticed, was glaring as well, and it was definitely at her. He probably didn't think she was good enough for Krum.

Nobody does, Hermione thought forlornly.

Except Viktor himself, another voice in her head said stubbornly. This thought cheered her up.

They sat down at the top table, Hermione and Viktor a few places away from Harry and Parvati, who had been beckoned by Percy Weasley. Hermione had no idea why he was here, but listening slightly, heard he was in Mr. Crouch's place and very smug about it.

"These are vonderful decorations," Krum said after they had ordered their food.

"They are quite nice," Hermione said. "Do you have decorations at your castle during holidays too?"

"Vell, ve have a castle also, not as big as this, nor as comfortable, I am thinking. Ve have just four floors and the fires are lit only for magical purposes. But ve have grounds even larger than these, though in the vinter ve haff very little daylight, so ve are not enjoying them. But in the summer, ve are flying almost every day, over the lakes and mountains-"

"Now, now, Viktor!" Karkaroff laughed coldly, intruding on their conversation. "Don't go giving away anything else, now, or your charming friend will know exactly where to find us!"

As he engaged in a discussion with Dumbledore about secrecy, Hermione glared at the man. How rude he was. She still hadn't forgotten Sirius's warning about him!

"I am thinking you are smart enough to guess where we are located," Viktor said in a low voice.

Hermione blushed, "Well, I read all about Durmstrang in-" she caught Karkaroff listening and gulped, "a-a book, but I-I don't know where it is…."

She smiled still more nervously.

"Do you have any friends in Durmstrang?"

"Vell, not very many. They are nice to me, but I believe they may just do thees because I am being on the Quidditch team, if you know vat I mean. I see you a lot with Potter and the red headed boy, Hermy-own. They are your friends?"

"Yes," Hermione said, nodding. "They're my best friends. The red haired boy is Ron Weasley."

"How long haff you been friends?"

"Since first year, when they rescued me from a troll," Hermione explained.

"They rescued you from a troll, Hermy own?"

"Hermione," Hermione said.

"Herm-ee-own-ee?"

"Hermione," she corrected him, fighting the urge to laugh.

"Hermy-own?"

"Her-my-own-nee," she said, slowly and clearly.

"Herm-own-ninny."

"Close enough," she said cheerfully. She caught Harry's eye and grinned.

Soon they finished their food and Dumbledore asked them to stand up. With a flick of his wand, the tables they had been eating at zoomed against the wall and a raised platform appeared complete with instruments. The Weird Sisters entered. Hermione knew they were very popular. She had read about them and seen their picture in A History of Music in the Wizarding World, but was still amused at how much they looked like a Muggle rock band. She stood up slowly and Viktor took her arm.

Beside her, Harry tripped over his own robes while Parvati scowled and Roger Davies stared dreamily at Fleur. The song was a slow one and Hermione nervously put her hand on Krum's shoulder. But as they danced, Hermione found it was easy to move slowly along with Viktor and just listen to the music. She liked dancing…and the Weird Sisters were a good band, really….soon other people joined the champions on the dance floor.

Hermione allowed her eyes to stray over the dance floor. Parvati was steering Harry around, he looked almost comically uncomfortable. Fred and Angelina were dancing very enthusiastically, poor Ginny was getting her feet stamped on by Neville…. Soon the song struck an end and almost everyone applauded, including Hermione. They struck up a much faster song and Hermione pulled away from Viktor and began to dance more freely. It was quite fun, she experienced a rush of energy as she danced. In fact, she danced three more songs before Viktor suggested getting drinks. She did feel quite thirsty.

"I'll be by Harry and Ron over there," Hermione said, pointing to her two friends at the table. "You can meet them…well, you've sort of already met Harry, but not Ron…"

Viktor nodded and disappeared in into the crowd. Hermione went to join her two friends. Parvati was no longer with Harry. Hermione could see she was at the other end of the Hall, dancing with a boy from Beauxbatons. She'd probably gotten fed up with Harry staring wistfully at Cedric and Cho. Padma was by Ron, looking very annoyed.

Hermione sat in an empty chair beside Harry who greeted her. Ron did not.

"It's hot, isn't it?" she was felling rather flushed. "Viktor's just gone to get drinks."

"Viktor?" Ron said, glaring at her. "Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?"

Hermione looked at him, startled by his tone of voice. "What's up with you?"

"If you don't know," Ron said snottily, "I'm not going to tell you."

Hermione stared at him, and then Harry, who shrugged his shoulders, still staring at Cedric and Cho.

"Ron, what-?"

"He's from Durmstrang!" Ron spat. "He's competing against Harry! Against Hogwarts! You're-you're fraternizing with the enemy, that's what you're doing!"

Hermione stared at Ron in shock. What was he playing at? He loved Krum! Why was he saying such…idiotic things?! She had to wait a moment before she was able to form words. Harry was watching in mild surprise now.

"Don't be so stupid! The enemy!" She felt anger flow through her at the injustice and hypocrisy at what Ron was saying.

"Honestly, who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who's got a model of them up in their dormitory?"

Apparently, these words rung too true for Ron to think of a response. "I s'pose he asked you to come when you were both in the library?"

"Yes, he did," Hermione said angrily. "So what?"

"What happened-trying to get him to join spew, were you?"

She bit back a desire to correct him about the name and focused on the matter at hand.

"No, I wasn't! If you really want to know-" She'd show him! "He-he said he'd been coming up to the library every day to try and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up the courage!" She blushed deeply as she said this, for it was very personal information.

"Yeah, well, that's his story," Ron said venomously.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Obvious, isn't it? He's Karkaroff's student, isn't he? He knows who you hang around with…He's trying to get closer to Harry- get inside information on him-or get near enough to jinx him-"

Hermione felt her whole body go stiff and cold. Even after all her hard work, Ron still didn't think she was pretty enough for someone to like her! Couldn't anyone accept someone might like her for who she was? Why did everyone think she wasn't good enough?

She felt her voice tremble as she said "For your information, he hasn't asked me one single thing about Harry, not one-"

"Then he's hoping you'll help him find out what his egg means! I suppose you've been putting your heads together during those cozy little library sessions-"

"I'd never help him work out that egg!" Hermione said, hurt deeply by the implication. She'd just met Viktor and Harry had been her friend for years! " Never. How could you say something like that-I want Harry to win the tournament, Harry knows that, don't you, Harry?"

Harry opened his mouth slightly, but Ron interrupted.

"You've got a funny way of showing it."

This was so ridiculous!

"This whole tournaments about getting to know foreign wizards and making friends with them!"

"No it isn't!" Ron declared. "It's about winning!"

"Ron," Harry intervened finally, "I haven't got a problem with Hermione coming with Krum-"

Ron, of course, ignored him.

"Why don't you go and find Vicky, he'll be wondering where you are!"

Hermione snapped.

"Don't call him Vicky!" She shouted, bounding up from her seat. She whirled around, her leg banging painfully into her chair and stalked away, her blood boiling.

That idiot! She was feeling pretty and sophisticated for once in her life! She'd been having a good time and he had to go and ruin her night! She found a table and sat down at it huffily. A few minutes later Viktor came over, carrying drinks.

"Vy vere'nt you sitting vith your friends, Herm-own-ninny?" He asked.

"Oh, Ron's in a 'mood'," Hermione grumbled. She scrutinized Viktor carefully. Perhaps, she thought, feeling sick at the thought of it, there was some truth in what Ron said? Maybe he really was using her to get to Harry. Hadn't she thought it a miracle, that he asked her out? But…he hadn't asked her anything about Harry…or the egg.

"Oh. I see," Viktor said darkly.

"What, was he rude to you?" Hermione asked

'A leetle. I am thinking he is jealous." Viktor shrugged.

"Ron? Jealous?" Why in the world would Ron be jealous? Unless…..no.

"I'm sorry he was rude to you, Viktor. He's not usually like that," she said consolingly. "He's actually a huge fan of yours. He was gaga over you at the World Cup, and when you came to this school."

Viktor shrugged again. "Eeet is fine."

He sat down and handed a butterbeer to Hermione.

"Look, Viktor," she said suddenly. "I have to know. Why did you ask me out? All those other girls- prettier girls- would have given anything to go out with you. But you chose me."

She waited with baited breath, while he stared at her, his dark eyes somber.

"Ven I came into the school, I saw you were disdainful of those vanting autographs for me. It is very rarely I meet someone who I am sure vill not just like me because I am famous. Thees is ven I first thought you might be one of those rare people. And ven I heard you in the library talking to Potter-

Hermione's heart sank. Oh no, Ron was right. It WAS all about Harry!

"- telling him you did not care about my Wronski Feint, I knew I vas right." Viktor finished. Hermione flushed in relief.

"Not only that, I saw you helping people in the library often- Potter, that red headed boy, and that boy with the toad…many people came to you for help with their vork. And you vere alvays very kind to them, helping them, and it vas clear you vere intelligent and…how do you say? Filled with passion. I am very…admiring of this. You are kind, you do not see my fame, and you are very clever. I have never seen anyone so…different. It is a nice change."

Hermione felt her face go, if possible, even redder at this.

"Also, I think you are very good looking. Your eyes are nice color and your hair is very interesting, how curly it is. Though it is nice right now, too," he said diplomatically.

"Oh, stop…" Hermione muttered. She'd never been complimented like this before. "I…I think you're very nice…and intelligent as well," she offered, feeling she should return his compliments. He grinned.

They chatted until their butterbeer was finished and then got up to dance again. The rest of the night passed in a whirl. She had fun dancing, but not nearly as much fun as before. Her fight with Ron had ruined her good mood, despite Viktor's comforting words.

At midnight the Weird Sisters finished playing and everyone applauded. Hermione made her way into the entrance hall with Viktor.

The hall was very crowded. Hermione saw a lot of dates kissing each other goodbye. This made her very nervous. She didn't want to kiss Viktor in front of all these people…especially Ron, who she saw standing sulkily by Harry out of the corner of her eye.

"Well, it's been a fun night," Hermione said awkwardly. "I had a good time."

Viktor clasped Hermione's hands. "I enjoyed being vith you very much, Herm-own-ninny."

"Thank you," she said, smiling. "I enjoyed being with you also. So, I'll see you around?"

Viktor looked her in the eyes. Hermione felt very nervous now. Finally he let go of her hand and nodded stoically.

"Yes, Herm-own ninny. I vill…see you around."

Hermione smiled at him once more and walked off. She passed Ron and Harry, glaring coldly at Ron. She trudged up the staircase and had just given the Fat Lady the password when Ron caught up with her. He gave a scathing look and dashed by her to clamber inside the common room. She followed, and grabbed his arm before he could go up to his dormitory, eager to read him the riot act. He spun around to face her.

"I can not believe how you acted!" Hermione burst out angrily. "You were rude to me, you were rude to Viktor…"

"Oh, did I hurt darling Vicky's feelings?" Ron sneered.

"Shut up!" Hermione snapped.

"I didn't do anything wrong!" Ron shouted back at her. "You, going out with that- letting him lead you on just because he tells you what you want to hear! Betraying Harry and me! Dating whoever'll take you!"

The accusation was so ridiculous that Hermione had to take a deep breath before replying. "That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard! It's obvious that's not what's going on!"

"No, what's obvious is that you're falling for Krum's bull!"

"Well, if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't you?" Hermione screamed as Harry entered the common room.

"Oh yeah?" Ron yelled. "What?"

"Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does and not as a last resort!"

Hermione turned and stormed up the girls staircase, fuming. How stupid could Ron get? Couldn't he see what his own feelings were? Or was she totally off the mark? Was she just being hopeful?

Hermione slammed the door of the girl's dormitory behind her and looked in the mirror. Her face was flushed, eyes snapping and her hair was becoming undone. Furiously she pulled the bun out. The girl in the mirror wasn't her. She wiped off the makeup and pulled on a nightgown. It had been fun to shock everyone and it was fun to dress up for special occasions, but this wasn't the way she looked, it wasn't the way she was. It wasn't Hermione Granger at all. She flopped into bed and looked in the mirror one last time, her sleek hair falling in a cloud around her shoulders.

Tomorrow it would be bushy again. And you know what? She was just fine with that.