As the Weird Sisters upbeat song drew to a close, I did one final twirl, loving the feeling of my dress swirling around my ankles, the appreciating eyes of Viktor Krum eyeing my body. I fell laughing against his muscular chest one of my arms was tucked behind his back, the other clasped in his rough warm hand. He led me over to the extravagant ice bar, which matched the rest of the layout of the Yule Ball. I felt myself being detached from my date as he ordered us drinks, and I fell upon the bar, joyously soaking up the lush coolness which seemed to radiate from it. We drank in a comfortable silence, him deflecting the attention of what could only be described as his adoring subjects, whilst I gulped back the Butterbeer as sophistically as I could; my body still begging for more.
It was only to be expected, a famous international Quidditch player like himself, compared to me, nerdy muggle-born Hermione Granger; known to most as the girl who merely lays in Harry Potters shadow; his brainy side-kick. I was very surprised he had asked me to the ball at all, in all honesty, considering the age gap and everything, but it added up; his reasoning as to why he spent so much time in the library, never touching a book, was apparently because of me. He had been so sweet that I simply couldn't, even if I had wanted to, turn him down.
It's not like I had many other admirers though, of course, there was the odd third year, who thought they may as well try their luck by asking any fourth year to the dance, so that they weren't left out of the festivities. There was also that Cormac McLaggen in the year above, and a Hufflepuff whose name and year I don't even know. Then there was that suggestion from Ron, but he barely counted because he had rudely asked me as a last resort, unlike Viktor. I've been getting mixed signals recently from Ron, sometimes he's the same old Ron, constantly bickering with me, yet loyal and funny, but then at other times, generally when we're alone, he's so sweet and lovely that it actually once crossed my mind that he likes me! I tried to ignore the flustered feeling in the pit of my stomach whilst I had thought this, but it hadn't worked. Either way, I am not the type of girl who would be anybodies second choice.
A low cough bought me out of my ponderings and back to the present. I looked to see Viktor's dark eyes staring intently at mine, with a slightly nervous look in them. I immediately mentally scolded myself for thinking about other boys whilst with him, and smiled warmly so as to make up for it.
'Herm-own-ninny? Do you vant to go somewhere cooler?' He asked with a hint of urgency laced within his strong accent, silently signalling that he wanted to get away from his prying admirers.
I nodded in response, letting him take my hand in his, and lead me out of the Great Hall into the December night. I would usually have been cold, and summoned a jacket, but adrenaline was pumping round me so fast that it was effectively keeping me warm. The goose pimples that shivered across my body certainly weren't to do with the climate, so I decide that they were the result of Viktor's surprisingly soft touch as he sat me down on a secluded bench overlooking the picturesque lake, which had small ripples bobbing along it, because of the floating ship which we good so in the distance.
We stayed like that for a few minutes, he looked to be just taking all of the beautiful unfamiliar Hogwarts grounds in, whilst I was mulling over the events of the evening, making sure that I wouldn't forget even one tiny detail. Yet this time it was I who broke the silence.
"I've had a really good time tonight, Viktor."
He turned in his place so that he was facing me, the fact that we were both sitting made us almost eye level, so it wasn't too uncomfortable for me to gaze back into his great shining orbs. I noticed that they didn't shine like this usually, when he was around his head teacher, Igor Karkaroff, which was most of the time.
"So have I." Viktor paused, seemingly assessing what my reaction would be. "Because of you, Herm-own-ninny.'
I looked down, suddenly very bashful, feeling the colour flow freely into my cheeks as I predicted, but he probably couldn't tell because it was nearing midnight and if it weren't for the distant lights of the Great Hall reflecting through the windows then it would be completely pitch black.
I felt his hand on my chin, asking me to look up, so I did so curiously. I was met by his looming head, inching forward questioningly. He was going to kiss me, and I knew it. He's seventeen. I'm fourteen. He's probably kissed loads of girls before, or at least has some experience. And if you don't count what I had read from those flimsy trivial romance novels, I had none, yet I wanted to learn. I leant forward slightly and slowly, in effect giving him my permission.
The next thing I knew was that his hand had made its way from my waste to the small of my back, the other under my leg, and he pulled me skilfully yet lightly so I was sitting on his lap, eye level with him. I unintentionally let out a gasp of surprise at the sudden proximity, which he smiled at, before claiming my lips with his own. It took a few seconds for me to respond, mostly because I was subjecting his chapped yet delicate lips to my memory. He made to pull away, presumably feeling rejected. Just as he parted, I decided to go with my instincts, not my brain for once, and sprang to life. I pushed closer to him, in a confident way that neither of us anticipated. We moulded together, moving our lips in a synchronised fashion, until I finally noted the uncomfortable throb in my neck, was due to that fact that we were so close, and regretfully pulled away, both of us gasping for breath in a similar way to my being out of breath only half an hour earlier.
I shifted myself so that I was once again sitting on the bench, but smiled at him, letting him know that it had been... erm, enjoyable? I guess it had been enjoyable, I hadn't felt those 'fireworks' that I've read about, but at least he wasn't sloppy like some of the boys I'd heard Lavender and Parvati complain about, instead it was more passionate. I felt like I understood my dorm mates more now, I knew why they always went on about kissing boys, although I certainly won't be joining in with any of that gossiping, I doubt I'll even tell Ron and Harry! It just seems too... private. But it certainly was nice to feel wanted in that lustful way, because like I was saying earlier, no boys seem to be able to look past the whole dork thing I've got going on for me, but to hell with it; I'm a teenager- of course I like it!
Why am I even thinking this through, shouldn't I just be happy and say something clever? But before I could think of something witty enough, he interrupted.
"That was certainly someving, Herm-own-ninny,"
"Yeah," I agreed pathetically. "It was."
"I vould love to stay here vith you, but I really must get back to the ship..."
"That's okay, I should probably go and meet Harry and Ron anyway-" I stopped when I noticed his face clouding over, settling into a frown, and realised what I had said wrong. "They're just my friends. Nothing more. We've been close for years, and it's all been thoroughly platonic, and they know it."
I thought of a certain Red-Head, and decided that I wasn't too sure of this myself, but he shrugged contentedly and nodded, as though he trusted me.
"Vat is okay. I knew I vould have some competition, vith somebody as gorgeous as you. Vill I see you soon?"
"I hope so," I replied, feeling lightheaded at the compliment.
"Good. Goodbye, Herm-own-ninny." He leant down, brushed his lips against mine once more, before he smiled sheepishly, and turned back towards the ship.
Hermione and Viktor aren't exactly my favourite couple, because, come on, nobodies as perfect as Ron and Hermione, but when I was reading some of them, they all made Viktor out to be some sort of paedophile and Hermione to be a weak little girl who was only with him because she could, and to get back at Ron, which I find completely absurd, Hermione stands for girl power, and is a strong individual- would she ever use somebody like that? So i decided to write my own.
If it weren't for my German fcse tomorrow, I'd be writing another Missing Moment right now- I've got back into them, but i can't because I need to revise but I'll probably pop another one or two up within the next few days.
A couple of people have said they want to see some Remus/Tonks, but I don't really have any ideas for them, so if anyone has any ideas, that'd be helpful
Oh, and last thing, I enjoyed writing the Fred and George one-shot, and want to do another with those two, so if anybody has an idea, please just PM me or write in a review, thanks!
Beth xxxx
(Thanks for everyone who's already reviewed! I've checked out some of your fanfics and most of them are awesome :D)
