A.N. I own nothing JKR just love her work and manipulate her awesomeness to my fantasy.

Defense against the Dark Arts Exs Style

The carriage ride to the castle was pleasant as usual only now Hermione was a bit uneasy due to the fact she was sitting so close to Blaise. They had to ride together to ensure everyone made it to their destination safe and promptly. As the got over the hill in front of the Hermione could see for the first time that year the castle in every window was some sort of candle representing safe shelter for its on coming occupants. The air in her lungs caught as she looked on at the beautiful place in front of her. She couldn't describe the emotions she felt in any other word than home.

Blaise exited the carriage as it was slowing to a stop reaching out his hand to help her descend. ' So polite' she thought.

"Blaise who do you think the new defense teacher is? Ginny was saying it is someone we all know. What do you think?"

"I don't know Hermione it could be anyone it isn't like the teacher hasn't been a surprise every year."

He was right she just had a weird feeling about this one. It was a similar feeling to the one she had when Umbridge became the newest defense target. 'I'm sure it is nothing they would never put someone in power like her ever again.' 'True but you usually have a very good gut intuition.'

Hermione and Blaise helped several first years with their trunks and pointed them in the direction of where they were to meet Mcgonagall, before entering the front doors themselves after every other classmate. They walked down the hall in silence closer then acquaintances but not glued to each other like they had anything between them, but someone Hermione felt a pull to be nearer to him. It was strange and before they stepped in front of the great halls doors their arms even brushed causing Blaise to apologize and Hermione to blush furiously.

She stopped short just before the entrance earning a confused look from Blaise but before she continued or even looked at him she took a deep breath and quickly entered the hall walking briskly in the opposite direction he did. He was a Slytherin after all and it wasn't like they would ever coexist together in the great hall where everything was so segregated.

They each took their respected seats as a loud hammering ran out creating still silence. Then Dumbledore stood to begin his annual speech.

"Welcome to all we have a wonderful year ahead of us and I would like to begin by introducing our newest professor of defense against the dark arts."

All the sudden a very very bad feeling flooded through Hermione that put her on the edge of her seat.

"He visited a few years ago and is a very talented and very young wizard himself who has been trained to specialize in Defense against the Dark arts from a very young age. So for this up coming year your newest teacher will be none other then Mr. Viktor Krum all the way from Bulgaria."with that a loud whooshing sound was heard as Hermione turned her head to see Viktor push open the double doors and walk strikingly down the middle of the room to the head of the hall and sit behind the long wooden table that seated the rest of the staff.

'oh you have got to be kidding me!' Hermione couldn't even look at him but felt like he was staring at her immediately. 'AWESOME the minute you get your boys straight you get an ex back in your life.' She could feel Harry staring at her from across the table and looked over to see Ronald almost crying with joy as his mouth hung agape. She couldn't even listen to the rest of Dumbledore's speech and only returned her attention when she heard her name.

"...And this years head boy and girl Hermione Granger and Blaise Zabini, please stand you two, will help you if you have any questions tonight or ever for that matter that don't need immediate teacher attention."

She stood and waved once looking probably like a total idiot but now she knew for sure Viktor noticed her. 'SHIT!' 'Hermione you are a lady shut your dirty mouth if you can't speak correctly.' ' I didn't speak shut up.'

"So with that I bid you all goodnight feast, talk, and when you are done you will find your belongings in your respected houses and please all sleep well."

Hermione couldn't eat that whole night she was way too anxious and she only felt a tad more relaxed when she just happened to accidently look in Blaise's direction to see him looking back at her, which made her smile of course.

Dinner ended and she felt the need to exit the hall as fast a she could so that is what she did. 'Slow down there are people that will be confused and need your help.' 'Uhhhhh' she turned around in the hall and stood looking for anyone in need of help but only found Blaise exit as quickly as she did almost looking for her as if she had run off. He saw her and looked almost relieved she was still there.

"Interesting turn of events..."

"That is the understatement of the year I believe Blaise."

"Maybe but you might not think so by the end of the year." He wanted to be the interesting turn of events in her life. 'Wow you are a sap Blaise.'

Students began exiting the hall and Hermione and Blaise both busied themselves with helping their classmates and when the halls began to empty they decided to go check out their new head quarters.

"I think it will be green."

"No definitely red."

"10 sickles."

"Deal."

They walked down the hall at an awkward proximity again not close but not separated until the reached the picture of the snake with the lions mane.

"Holiday tree." Hermione said which was the password for the clashing house colors apparently.

They both stepped into the common room and Hermione's heart fell. It was green and gold with very few red and silver accents as to not make it look like a permanent Christmas. Before Hermione could say anything though she felt Blaise's strong body behind hers which made her jump. He put a hand on her hip to still her and leaned down to whisper "I won" in her ear before completely releasing her as if nothing had happened and walked further into the room. She remained frozen surprise on her face a slow blush creeping into her cheeks. She had wanted him to touch her for so long and now that he did she felt like her hip was on fire to be touched again. 'Calm down it was just nothing just a friend thing. He won that is all'

Blaise noticed Hermione's state and pretended to ignore it even though he was cheering for himself in his head. 'She totally likes you dude. She totally does and she still hates Draco you are so in for life with this girl.' He needed to continue to talk to himself though because he felt a new pull from his hand like it needed to touch her again or he might catch fire. 'That is weird.' But he ignored it and smiled at her and walked into his room to unpack his things.

Hermione took a few moments before she felt she could move without stumbling.'That was hot and I am bothered. Time to go to my room and busy myself unpacking not thinking about Blaise and all his sexiness or Viktor and him being an idiot and thinking it was okay to come and be a teacher here while I still attended.' She walked into her room and began unpacking as well.

Finished unpacking they both changed respectably and climbed into bed. Tomorrow was sunday so they still had one day to adjust to their new surroundings before beginning classes and Hermione planned on going on a walk of the grounds to clear her head and sort through how she really felt about this whole Viktor thing but in the mean time sleep sounded blissful and before long she fell into a dreamless sleep. Across the hall however Blaise tossed and turned for the coming hours thinking about why on earth his hands and his heart told him to venture into the bedroom next to his and hold the one thing he had burned for in a long time until a fitful sleep took him over as well.

R&R please I want to know what you guys think about Viktor I am debating on how big a role he will play. SO let me know what you think.