Disclaimer: I own nothing of the world of Harry Potter. Those rights belong to J K Rowling and Warner Bros.

Chapter 2

Sitting together and studying in relative silence became something of a habit for Hermione and Krum in the following days. The fan girls left him in peace when she was around and he seemed to want to take full advantage of that fact. Hermione didn't mind, she was glad to have found someone that seemed to enjoy the library as much as she and who could appreciate the value of a comfortable silence.

Occasionally, they would take a break from studying to converse on a particularly interesting bit of transfiguration or an interesting combination of potion ingredients one of them had found. Although his English left some to be desired, Krum managed to get his points across and Hermione found him to be rather intelligent. To his credit, he never once brought up the subject of the Tournament and the impending first task nor, to her immense relief, quidditch.

The two spent many a tranquil hour in the library together and before very long, Hermione found herself marking pages of books to discuss with him during their next library session. As the weeks went by, Hermione found herself more concerned for Victor and his plans for the first task. When Harry told her that Karkaroff had found out about the dragons also she felt a deep sense of relief.

Eventually the day before the task came about and Hermione found him at their usual table in the library, looking rather tense. Although they seemed to have an unspoken agreement not to speak of the tournament, Hermione believed that an exception could be made, given the expression on his face.

"How are you feeling?"

Her question did not need clarifying, it was obvious what she was referring to. Victors shoulders seemed to relax a little and he gave her a small but grateful smile.

"I am nervos but am not unvamiliar vith these sorts ov things."

It was true, when Hermione thought about it, international quidditch wasn't really so different. Certainly more people where present at any quidditch game he played than would be there watching the task and one couldn't deny that a well aimed bludger from a world class beater could do as much damaged as anything else. He was a seeker after all, hopefully those well honed quick reactions would keep him out of too much trouble.

Hermione placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. After everything she had gone through with Harry, she knew that sometimes such a small gesture of comfort and support could be worth more than a thousand pretty words. Victor moved his hand to cover her own and brought it to his lips, placing a light kiss on her knuckles. Hermione fought the urge to swoon like one of his insipid fan girls and felt her cheeks flare up at both Victors actions and the thought of behaving like one of the annoying twits.

Victor allowed her hand to slip from his grasp and made no comment on her obvious reaction to his kiss, but the smug look in his eyes was there for anyone to see. Anyone accept Hermione that is, who was busy trying to avoid his gaze by hiding behind her latest book.

Nothing more was spoken between the two as they sat there that evening, both absorbed in there own thoughts about each others actions and reactions. Without either realising it, curfew came and the library began to close. Both cleared their things up and walked to the door in unison.

Upon reaching the door, they stopped and stood about awkwardly, neither quite knowing what to say to the other. Both unsure as to whether the change in their comfortable relationship their earlier actions had brought about should be acknowledged.

With a look of determination on his face, Victor picked up her free hand and brought it to his lips once again. This time with a deliberate slowness, giving her plenty of chance to pull away. He held it millimetres away from his lips, his breath ghosting across the back of her hand, waiting for her to meet his gaze.

Taking a rather shaky breath, Hermione met his somewhat intense gaze with one of her own. Victor closed the distance between her knuckles and his lips for the second time that day. However, unlike his previous gesture, this time his lips lingered. Neither looked away from the other, their gazes remaining locked together.

Eventually Victor removed his lips from her skin, but continued to hold her hand just below his mouth. His next words were a whisper, adding to the intense atmosphere around them.

"Goodnight, Hermoninny. Sveet dreams."

Placing her hand gently back down by her side. He turned on his heel, walking away. Hermione stood rooted to the spot. She had always prided herself on her ability to understand most everything, yet with all her considerable brain power, she found herself helpless to understand her own feelings in that moment. Although she was completely alone now in the dark corridor, a whisper of her own still escaped.

"Goodnight."

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