Chapter Seven

'Could have gone worse,' reasoned Cedric, as the Hogwarts matron dabbed a thick paste onto the nasty burns that covered his face.

'Definitely,' agreed Viktor, who was not in need of any medical treatment, but who had gone to sit with Cedric anyway, rather than be mobbed by spectators.

The First Task had just finished and all four champions had emerged relatively unscathed, much to Karkaroff's disappointment. The Durmstrang headmaster had said a fleeting well done to Viktor before storming away from the enclosure, muttering about the Hungarian Horntail not having done its job properly.

Personally, Viktor was rather pleased with how the task had gone. He'd used a Conjunctivitis Curse on his dragon which had distracted it enough to allow him to slip past and retrieve the golden egg. The dragon had crushed some of the other eggs in the process, but Viktor wasn't letting that worry him.

To his immense surprise, Viktor hadn't taken one look at the baying crowd seated around the enclosure and lost his head. On the contrary, he'd somehow been able to block them out, although he realised that that may have had more to do with the need to avoid a fire-breathing dragon, rather than personal growth. Still, it was a start.

'Viktor!'

Hermione was running towards him, her face incredibly pale and covered in fingernail marks. Being on an adrenaline rush from battling a dragon, Viktor didn't stop to think about his actions. Instead he wrapped his arms around Hermione and kissed her passionately.

They broke apart after a few moments, both red faced and out of breath.

'You should fight a dragon more often,' she breathed.

Viktor chuckled and gently pressed his lips against hers once more.

'I have to go,' she muttered, looking very much as though she didn't want to leave, 'I need to go and see if Harry is alright.'

Viktor kissed her once more, and then watched her dash away.

If he was honest with himself, he was still jealous of her and Harry- they just spent so much time together. But Viktor had to believe Hermione when she said that they were just friends, otherwise he had absolutely no chance with her.

Grinning to himself about what had just happened, Viktor turned back around and looked at Cedric.

Cedric was smirking at him with arched eyebrows, 'What's going on there?'

Viktor shrugged, unsure how to answer that question, 'We're friends.'

Cedric snorted with derision, 'Viktor, you and I are friends. You and Hermione are a bit more than friends.'

Viktor paused for a moment, slightly thrown by Cedric calling them friends. It had been a long time since someone had referred to him as a friend, something which was rather sad when he thought about it.

'I suppose Hermione and I are more than friends,' admitted Viktor grudgingly.

Cedric grinned in a smug sort of way, 'I knew it.'

Viktor shook his head but couldn't help but smile all the same. He waved to Cedric and headed out of the medical bay, thinking that if he hung around for a bit he'd probably run into Hermione again.

He wandered back round to the champions tent, which was set back from the enclosure and therefore gave him some privacy from the spectators who were heading back up to the castle.

The judges and Fleur Delacour were gathered by the tent, all of them looking rather satisfied except for Mr Crouch who looked even more strained than he had done at the Wand Weighing. Karkaroff was nowhere to be seen; Viktor could only assume that his headmaster was so devastated that Potter hadn't been eaten or roasted alive, that he had barricaded himself in his cabin in temper.

'Viktor!' Ludo Bagman called Viktor over to the group, and since he was in a rather elated mood, Viktor complied and walked over towards them.

'Very well done,' exclaimed Bagman, wringing Viktor's hand enthusiastically and beaming, 'A Conjunctivitis Curse would have been my first choice as well.'

'Thank you,' said Viktor earnestly; there was something about the irrepressible Bagman- you couldn't help but warm to the man.

Bagman smiled again, and then turned to engage Dumbledore and Madame Maxime in conversation. Fleur was standing by her headmistress, looking rather relieved and a lot less haughty than usual.

'Well done,' Viktor said politely.

Fleur blinked in surprise that Viktor was initiating conversation, but recovered herself quickly.

'You too,' she smiled, flicking her silver hair over her shoulders, 'You did well. Only two more to go.'

'Yeah-'

Viktor broke off as he noticed who had just walked past.

'Excuse me,' he said to Fleur, before dashing off and probably leaving her in doubt that he was just as strange as she'd first thought.

Hermione noticed Viktor just as he broke apart from Fleur, and headed over to him. Viktor noticed she had been walking with her tall, ginger friend and none other than Harry Potter himself. Both of them looked on with open mouths as Hermione skipped over to Viktor and hugged him.

'Are you doing anything today?' he asked her, feeling slightly self-conscious as her friends continued to stare unashamedly.

'Nope,' said Hermione. She turned back to the two boys, 'I'll see you later in the common room.'

They both stood there for a moment, before Potter nudged his red-haired companion and they began following the crowds that were streaming back to the castle.

Viktor couldn't help smirking at this; one-nil to Krum.

Viktor and Hermione walked slowly, distancing themselves from everyone else. Feeling brave, Viktor reached out and took her hand, and she entwined her fingers with his.

They wandered through the forest in comfortable silence and emerged by the lake. Viktor was just about to suggest they go and sit in the spot they'd discovered a few weeks ago, when the unmistakable figure of Karkaroff appeared beside the Durmstrang ship.

Viktor sighed melodramatically; the last thing he wanted now was sycophantic praise from his headmaster. But Karkaroff walked towards them, and as he came closer, Viktor noticed he was clutching a letter.

'Hello, Viktor,' beamed the headmaster, rocking backwards on the balls of his feet, 'Congratulations again.'

'Thank you, sir.'

Karkaroff's gaze fell on Hermione and his smile became slightly strained as he took in their clasped hands.

'I have this letter for you, Viktor,' continued Karkaroff, ignoring Hermione as if she wasn't there, 'It has just arrived.'

Viktor took the letter from Karkaroff, 'Thank you, headmaster.'

He squeezed Hermione's hand and led her away from the ship, not wanting to be around Karkaroff any longer than necessary. The headmaster shook his head and disappeared back onto the ship, muttering to himself.

'He's friendly,' observed Hermione, as they sat down at the same spot where they'd had their first 'date' a while ago.

'Isn't he?' smirked Viktor, staring at the Durmstrang ship for a moment and wondering if Karkaroff's depression about Potter not being killed had caused him to start on the liquor yet.

'Aren't you going to open that?'

Viktor flicked the letter over in his hand and felt his good mood vanish as soon as he saw the handwriting.

How the hell had his father gotten a letter over here so quickly? The task had finished less than an hour ago!

Marvelling at the lengths his father went to in order to intimidate and pressurise his son, Viktor tore open the envelope and read the enclosed letter with trepidation.

Dear Viktor,

Congratulations on your performance in the First Task. A contact of mine was in the audience and he immediately apparated home to tell me how you got on. I admit that the curse you used was a good idea, although I hear some of the other eggs were destroyed which cost you points.

We cannot afford another mistake like that in the next task, so I urge you to be even more prepared for the next one. I have been in touch with Karkaroff and he has promised to pass on any information he hears about the upcoming tasks.

I have also been informed by the Bulgarian Chronicle that they are doing a profile of you for next Sunday's edition. They will be conducting a postal interview with you for this purpose.

Your father,

Ivan Krum.

It wasn't as bad as previous letters, reasoned Viktor as he finished reading. His father had even complimented him, which had to be a first.

That said, his father was taken it upon himself to organise an interview with Bulgaria's largest newspaper without asking Viktor's permission. It made his blood boil, the fact that his father assumed he could make all the decisions.

'Bad news?' asked Hermione.

Viktor started, having temporarily forgotten that she was there.

'It's just from my father,' he muttered, 'He's always writing to me and warning me to do well in the tournament.'

'Warning you?' frowned Hermione, 'Shouldn't that be encouraging you?'

'Not where my father is concerned,' grimaced Viktor.

Hermione took a moment to respond. Instead she studied his face for a while, taking in his expression.

'Is your father part of the reason why you're so…' she waved her hand around as she searched for the appropriate word.

'Yes,' confirmed Viktor, understanding what she was getting at, 'He's pushed me into Quidditch ever since I was a child. Flying is my favourite thing to do, and I'm good at it, but I never wanted to play professionally.'

Hermione frowned again and stroked her thumb across Viktor's palm. It was incredibly soothing, and made Viktor completely forget about his father and all the other worries he carried around with him.

'What about your mother?' she asked quietly after a while.

Viktor took a deep breath and glanced up at the clear sky. He'd never explained it all to anyone before, yet now that he had the chance he felt something akin to relief.

'I don't see my mother,' he sighed, continuing to look upwards rather than at Hermione.

Hermione leaned towards him, forcing him to look at her. When he did he saw that her brown eyes were staring at him intently, as if willing him to continue.

'My mother was my father's second wife,' he began, taking a deep breath, 'he was married before and had two sons. Both of them were a disappointment to him.'

Hermione frowned, 'What was wrong with them?'

'Nothing,' smiled Viktor, 'Alek and Boris are great. Anyway, my father and their mother divorced for a number of reasons. Then he met my mother, Petra, when they were both working in Berlin. They got married and had me.'

He broke off, wondering if he was boring Hermione with his family history, but she didn't seem fed up. In fact, she appeared to be waiting for him to continue.

'I was always a natural at flying,' Viktor continued, 'I played on the Durmstrang team and spent all of the summer holidays soaring round the grounds of my father's house. Under pressure from him, I joined the Vultures' reserve team, although they always played me whenever I wasn't at school, and then the Bulgarian national team.'

'And you didn't want to?' It wasn't really a question so much as a statement; Hermione seemed to understand him like no one ever had.

'No,' confirmed Viktor, 'I love flying but I don't like the stress and the pressure that comes with professional Quidditch. Anyway, my mother didn't want me to start playing so young, and she and my father had some arguments about it. But then she got ill.'

He paused to take another breath, and as he did so he felt Hermione's hand tighten around his own.

'She'd suffered depression for years, but it suddenly got worse, no doubt because of my father. She went downhill quickly and they ended up divorcing. She lives in the mountains in Germany. I don't see her.'

He finished his story and glanced down at his hands, one of which was entwined with Hermione's.

'Viktor.'

Fingers found his chin and pushed his face upwards so that he was mere inches away from her.

Viktor stared into her eyes, marvelling at how much he had just revealed. He didn't think that he'd ever said so much to one person, let alone about something as personal as his family. There was just something about Hermione that encouraged him to talk, as though he realised she would listen to him no matter what.

'Thank you for telling me,' she whispered, her face so close that Viktor could feel her breath on his cheek.

He was silent for a moment. There were so many things that he wanted to do and say.

'I'm sorry we haven't spoken for a few weeks,' he said eventually looking into her eyes so that she would know he was serious, 'I'm sorry about what I said when that article came out.'

'It's fine,' she insisted, 'I shouldn't have reacted how I did.'

Viktor smiled and pressed his lips against hers.


The next couple of weeks were perhaps the happiest of Viktor's life. The worry of the first task was long gone, and now he had until February to prepare for the next one. To make matters even better, he hadn't received any more letters from his father, and the novelty of having Viktor Krum around was beginning to wear off which meant the Hogwarts students increasingly left him in peace.

However, these were merely happy extras; the main reason why Viktor was so happy for once was because of Hermione. They were gradually spending more and more time together, during which they were getting to know one another very well. They spent endless hours sitting by the lake or in the library, with Hermione explaining to Viktor all about her parents and her life before she realised she was a witch. In return, Viktor found himself able to tell her everything, all about his nerves and his Quidditch career, without worrying that she would simply laugh in his face.

The icing on the cake was that Viktor was now certain that there was nothing going on between Hermione and Harry Potter. Indeed, Viktor now felt some sympathy towards Potter, who remained the source of gossip and whispers.

Just as Viktor was beginning to think that this blissful existence would never end, however, he was brought back to earth with an unpleasant thump during the second week of December.

It was a Tuesday evening and he was climbing back on board the Durmstrang ship, having just spent a couple of hours with Hermione, when Karkaroff appeared out of nowhere.

'Evening, sir,' said Viktor, wondering why the headmaster was blocking the entrance to Viktor's cabin.

'Good evening, Viktor,' said Karkaroff briskly, looking slightly less composed than usual, 'I have to inform you about the Yule Ball, which will take place on Christmas night.'

Viktor's heart began beating erratically. He wasn't entirely sure what a Yule Ball was, but he had a horrible suspicion that dancing would be involved; his movements on the ground definitely weren't as graceful as when he was in the air.

'The Yule Ball is a dance, and it will be opened by the tournament champions and their partners.'

The emphasis Karkaroff placed on this last word left Viktor in no doubt as to what the headmaster really wanted to discuss.

'Viktor,' smiled the headmaster in what he probably assumed to be a fatherly way, 'I must impress upon you the importance of choosing a suitable partner. All attention will be on you.'

Viktor shuddered slightly at the thought, but pushed this aside, 'I already know who I'll be taking.'

Karkaroff pressed his lips together for a moment and then began talking in a careful voice, as though trying to be diplomatic, 'Viktor, I think it would be more prudent for you to take someone else. I realise that you enjoy spending time with-'

'Headmaster,' interrupted Viktor in what he hoped was a firm voice, 'I will be taking Hermione to the Yule Ball.'

Karkaroff surveyed Viktor for a moment, and there was a coldness in his eyes that he'd rarely used on his favourite student before. Then he turned on his heel and flounced off down the corridor without another word.

Feeling rather pleased with himself, Viktor pushed open the door to his cabin and headed inside. It was only when he climbed into bed ten minutes or so later, that a thought stuck him.

He still had to ask Hermione to the Yule Ball.


The following morning, Viktor was walking up to the castle for breakfast when he had the prickling sensation on the back of his neck that told him he was being watched. He spun round and pulled out his wand, only to find himself face to face with a two Hogwarts girls.

'Can I help you?' he demanded, wondering if they'd been purposely trying to give him a heart attack.

Instead of answering him, however, they burst into giggles and sprinted up to the castle.

He'd thought the female population of Hogwarts had gotten used to his presence over the past couple of months; evidently he'd been mistaken.

When Viktor reached the entrance hall, he noticed that girls seemed to be congregating in groups there as well, all of them looking rather giggly.

Wondering what on earth was going on, Viktor made to go into breakfast when Cedric appeared from nowhere and grabbed his arm.

'Don't go in there,' Cedric warned.

'Why not?' demanded Viktor.

'I've only just gotten out alive,' muttered Cedric, giving mutinous glances at the groups of girls, all of whom seemed to be watching Cedric and Viktor.

Then realisation hit Viktor; news of the Yule Ball had obviously spread around the school like wild fire.

'Let's go to Potions early,' he suggested to Cedric, who looked relived and followed Viktor down the stairs into the dungeons.

'It's like having a couple of hundred stalkers,' muttered Cedric, once they'd reached the relative safety of the cool dungeons, 'Have you asked anyone yet?'

Viktor shook his head.

'You'd better hurry up,' warned Cedric, 'The quicker you make it known that you've got a date, the sooner you'll be left alone.'

Viktor thought Cedric probably had a point there, but he was still ridiculously nervous about asking Hermione to be his date.

'Also, I bet someone else will ask Hermione if you don't. Maybe that Weasley guy she's friends with.'

'You're probably right,' conceded Viktor; Cedric was one of the few people who seemed to know about him and Hermione. Somehow they had managed to be fairly discreet over the past couple of weeks, mainly because neither of them wanted the whole school to be gossiping about them.

'I know I am,' confirmed Cedric.


At break time that day, Viktor sought out Hermione. Predictably, he found her in the library, pouring over a large book on house elves. She was continuing her campaign for better wages, despite having only got a handful of students to sign up to her group.

He walked over to her table and leant over her, 'Hello.'

She jumped slightly and then scowled when she saw who it was, 'Don't do that!'

'Sorry,' he grinned, taking a seat next to her, 'I wanted to ask you something.'

'What?' she asked impatiently.

Viktor opened his mouth but found he was suddenly incapable of speech. For God's sake he had spent so much time with this girl recently. He'd kissed her, held her hand, told her all about his life, yet he couldn't ask her to a dance!

The bell suddenly rang and Hermione jumped to her feet, 'Sorry, I have to go to Transfiguration.'

She was walking out of the door when Cedric's words came back to Viktor.

Suddenly he was also on his feet.

'Hermione Granger, will you go to the Yule Ball with me?'


I hope this chapter was okay :) I've re-read the last one and realised it's not great at all, so I apologise for that one!

The next chapter will be about the Yule Ball, and they'll be a bit of drama with Karkaroff and Ron. Oh and obviously Viktor's father is going to have something to say about him taking Hermione as his date.

Thanks for reading, and please please please review!