Bonding
Hermione followed Viktor's lead through the Great Hall and out into the grotto. Thousands of fairy lights dangled effortlessly from the nearby bushes, leaving the grotto in a dull glow. Hermione leaned closer and gasped as she saw a small fairy sitting inside the glass. The fairy waved at Hermione, and she let out a little laugh of happiness at the action. Viktor chuckled too, close to Hermione's head. His hand was still wrapped securely around Hermione's, and she wished he wouldn't let go.
"Shall ve valk?" Viktor asked, guiding Hermione along the path. Hermione nodded and watched Viktor's face as he looked ahead. She really couldn't fathom why he liked her. Viktor caught her staring and grinned at Hermione. She immediately looked away and cleared her throat awkwardly, her face heating up.
Hermione saw the instantly recognisable bulk of Hagrid and Madame Maxine a little way ahead, so she pulled Viktor in the other direction, shaking her head and gesturing to them. Viktor didn't argue. They carried on walking, simply holding hands and enjoying the night.
Hermione cocked her head as she heard giggles. She looked around but couldn't see anyone. In her peripheral vision, she saw a bush shake and heard more giggling. Viktor and Hermione looked at each other. Viktor raised an eyebrow.
"Shall we move on?" Hermione asked, trying to hide a smirk.
Viktor nodded. "I think that vould be best," he agreed.
They sped up a little bit to avoid seeing what the couple in the bush were up to. Hermione suddenly yanked Viktor into a crouch in front of one of the fairy decorated bushes. She complimented herself internally on her quick reflexes as Professor Snape's heavy step was heard on the other side of the bush.
There was a sharp crack, and Roger Davies and Fleur Delacour were expelled from the bush nearby. From her crouched position, Hermione could see the top of Snape's greasy head and she knew that if they didn't move he'd spot them too.
Hermione turned to Viktor, startled a bit at how close he was to her and then put a finger to her lips. Viktor nodded and they shuffled along the floor as quietly as they could. It was a long crawl before they were out of sight from the scathing professor, but Hermione enjoyed every moment of it.
Finally they straightened themselves and Hermione happily noted Viktor still had her hand. They burst into synchronised laughter. Hermione quickly controlled her laughter and then she and Viktor shared a grin.
"We should hurry up before he comes back," Hermione suggested and they jogged until they reached the greenhouses. Hermione smiled again at Viktor.
"Now, Hermy-own, vill you tell me vhat is wrong?" Viktor asked, looking intently at Hermione. Hermione sighed slightly. She wasn't very happy with Ron, but he was still her friend and she didn't want to make him out to be a bad person.
"Ron… was just being… ignorant and … a bit offensive. He doesn't like that I'm at the ball with you," Hermione replied, uncertain of how her words would be taken. She watched Viktor's expression darken.
"I thought he vas your friend?" Viktor asked, sounding both confused and irritated.
"He is my friend, but sometimes he can be a bit… insensitive and idiotic," Hermione replied but berated herself for defending Ron in front of Viktor, her date.
Viktor frowned. "If he is like that, vhy are you his friend?" he inquired.
"I just am. He's not always like that. Most of the time he's lovely," Hermione replied. Lovely? Ron was hardly ever used in the same sentence as lovely.
Viktor's frown deepened. Hermione surprised herself by reaching up and smoothing out his frown, Viktor looked surprised too. Hermione immediately dropped her hand, cursing her forwardness.
"You shouldn't frown, you'll get wrinkles," Hermione said, turning away from Viktor in order to hide her embarrassment and cringe at her pathetic response.
Viktor chuckled and Hermione felt her stomach twist in response. She wondered if he was laughing at her.
Viktor linked their hands again, and Hermione's heart swelled. They start walking again. Once they reached the lake Viktor dropped her hand and sat on a rock not appearing happy. Hermione started wringing her hands. Have I done something wrong?
In order to stop herself from staring Viktor out and worrying herself more, Hermione picked up a rock and tried to skim it like she remembered doing as a child. She wasn't much better now and could barely make two skips; most of the rocks just plopped straight down into the inky depths.
Hermione finally managed to fluke a triple skip when a second rock rocketed past hers and skipped five times. Hermione turned to Viktor who looked slightly smug.
"Show off," Hermione said, putting her nose in the air in mock-snobbery.
Viktor grinned at her. "You're doing it wrong. You are throwing vith your shoulder. The power should be in your wrist," Viktor told Hermione.
Hermione picked up another rock and tried again, but she just ended up using her shoulder. She sighed, ready to give up.
Viktor picked up a perfectly flat rock and came up behind Hermione. He placed the stone in her hand and covered her hand with his.
He bent her wrist for her a few times. "Like this," he told her and used her arm to make the rock skip. Hermione watched the rock skip, twice, three times, four, the five times before sinking into the water. She grinned up at Viktor.
"Thanks."
"You're velcome," Viktor replied, smiling back down at her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and Hermione relaxed, smiling to herself. A breeze cut through the evening and Hermione shivered, rubbing her bare arms.
"Are you cold? Shall ve go back inside?" Viktor asked, concerned.
Hermione shook her head. She wasn't ready to stop this special moment.
Viktor put his fur cloak on Hermione's shoulders. It dwarfed her, but it was very warm and smelled nice – it smelled like Viktor.
Viktor sighed and Hermione looked at him questioningly. He gave her an awkward smile. "It is sad that your friends do not like me," Viktor told Hermione.
Hermione put her hands up as if to stop his train of thought. "That's not true. Harry thinks you're an amazing Quidditch player. And Ron practically idolized you until tonight!" Hermione replied.
Viktor raised an eyebrow at the last comment disbelievingly. "Honestly, he was going to offer you his bed to sleep on if you stayed in the Gryffindor dormitory!" Hermione added.
Viktor laughed at that and Hermione laughed along with him. Ron could be rather funny if you were laughing at him.
"Ron's just being moody because he got rejected by Fleur," Hermione added, laughing again at the red-head's idiocy. Viktor laughed even harder at the piece of gossip.
Viktor suddenly turned serious. He put his hands on Hermione's shoulders. "Hermy-own, I know you are a clever witch so I hope you do not think I am the kind of person who would use you for your knowledge," Viktor said, looking straight into Hermione's eyes.
Hermione shook her head. "I don't think that," she replied.
Viktor smiled and hugged her. Hermione's heart rate went through the roof, but she hugged him back. Hermione would have been happy to stay in his embrace forever, but she shivered and Viktor broke off the hug.
"I think ve should go inside now. I don't vant you to get unvell," Viktor said, escorting Hermione back into the Great Hall.
"So, tell me about your family, Hermy-own," Viktor said as they were walking back into the warmth.
"Well, I'm an only child and my parents are dentists," Hermione started, she was embarrassed by how boring she was. "I'm sorry, I don't want to bore you, Viktor."
Viktor shook his head. "I doubt you could bore me, but I am interested," he replied.
Hermione gave him a small smile, "Well, do you know what a dentist is?" she asked. Viktor shook his head.
"They look after muggles' teeth. They check that they're healthy and fix them if they're wonky," Hermione briefly explained. Viktor nodded.
"That is an interesting job," he said. Hermione just laughed at him.
"What about you? Tell me about your family," Hermione added, looking at Viktor expectantly.
"I haff an older brother and sister and my mother is a housevife while my father vorks for the Bulgarian ministry," Viktor replied. He grinned at Hermione. "Not nearly as interesting as a dentist," he teased.
Hermione grinned at him and then handed back his cloak. The clock struck midnight and Hermione was left with a feeling that like Cinderella, her perfect night was over, and tomorrow she would be back to being Hermione Granger, renowned bookworm and know-it-all.
"Ah, Viktor. The party is over, you should come back to the ship and rest," Professor Karkaroff's voice broke the spell.
"Yes Headmaster," Viktor said. He then turned to Hermione, clicked his heels and kissed her hand.
He smiled up at her, and Hermione smiled back at him. "Sveet dreams," Viktor whispered to Hermione before assembling with the rest of the Durmstrang students.
Hermione was certain her face was beetroot red as she went to the Gryffindor common room in a daze. She entered the portrait hole and was immediately confronted by an irate Ron.
"Have a good time with Vicky then?" He sneered, "I hope you realise what a traitor you're being! You shouldn't have gone with him! He's from Durmstrang!"
Her happiness evaporated immediately and was replaced with anger.
"Well, you know what you have to do, don't you? Ask me before someone else does and not as a last resort!" Hermione shouted before storming off.
Hermione changed out of her dress, threw it on her chair and sobbed into her pillow.
A/N: Yes it is a filler, but I tried to make it a little cute. I probably failed. Anywho~ A gazillion thanks to my amazing betas -:SimplyParanoia:- and -:Wandofhawthorn:-
Remember, updates are every OTHER Saturday.
Also, please bare in mind, I'm returning to school (as a Year 12! Yikes!) on September 5th and my work load will be heavily increased, so until I get used to it, I can't guarantee many updates. :(
-Saeko