"Hermione!" she turns at her name and looks back at the crowd of people filling the corridor, eventually Harry breaks free of the masses and falls in step beside her "Merpeople?" he whispers "in the black lake?"
"Selkies to be exact" she murmurs back
"What's the difference?" Harry asked befuddled
"There isn't one. Selkies are a sub-category of Merpeople, they're different to Merrow or Sirens"
"Hermione do tell me how I'm supposed to breath under water for an hour"
"There's simple things, like the bubble head charm or scuba spells but I'm looking for something that will give you an edge"
"Hermione it's tomorrow"
"After potions I'm going to the library and staying there until I have to. You and Ron should join me"
"Not seeing Viktor this afternoon then?" Hermione thinks she sees Harry smirk but he disguises it with a genuine smile
"No, I saw him this morning" she replies defiantly
"I don't suppose … you'd consider talking to Ron would you?" Hermione stops in her path and rounds on him feeling exhausted
"I appreciate how hard this is for you Harry but I need time. I'll be civil and polite. I'm not going to leave a room just because he's in there but I just can't forgive him yet. Especially since he's still behaving a total bloody arse" Harry nods as if that was exactly what he was expecting
"I just don't get it. I know he's jealous but it's not like- well- blimey Hermione I'm jealous of Cedric but I'm not ripping in to him every chance I get"
"That's because you're not petty Harry, you're mature in a way that Ron is not" before Harry can answer he's cut off by Snape calling for the class to enter.
She sat surrounded by walls of books, nothing unusual for her but Ron's whingeing and Harry's resignation were making that, which she normally found easy, difficult. She'd not found anything of use and she'd been at it nearly twelve hours, only breaking for food once.
It wasn't a disaster she supposed, she'd helped him master the bubble head charm but he was at a disadvantage. The others were older, she wanted to even the odds for him
"This is hopeless" Harry sighed, face planting a ginormous leather bound book "we're never going to find anything. We may as well just get some sleep"
"You go Harry, rest for tomorrow, I'm going to stay a little longer. If I find anything I'll tell you in the morning" she wondered when exactly she was going to have time to do that, between wishing Viktor luck and letting Harry get as much sleep as possible
"Hermione, this is ridiculous. I'll just take my chances with the bubble head charm" her answer was cut off by one Alastor Moody as he rounded a book stack and made her jump
"Hate to break up your little late night, study group but shouldn't you be in your dormitories already?"
"But Sir, the second task is only hours away and-"
"Miss Granger I just heard you telling Mr. Potter he needed sleep yourself"
"Yes but-"
"No but's. Weasley, Granger, you're expected in the headmasters office"
"What? Why?" Ron whined
"Go, now" Hermione, with a sympathetic smile towards Harry, turned and left. She hoped Ron would take the hint, hang back so they wouldn't have to walk in silence, or worse, argue. Of course, being Ron, he hadn't. Or more likely he had and was going to make this horrid anyway
"Would've thought you'd have been helping Vicky" he calls from a few paces behind her. She squeezes her eyes shut and releases a steady breath, ignoring him "I'm surprised to know you can actually be separated" she will not fall for this again "even more surprised he's letting you walk around on your own. He's like some creepy bodyguard"
"Ron" she rounds on him but keeps her tone even "stop talking, do everyone a favour and just stop talking. I'm not going to bite, no matter what you say so can we please just do this silently"
"I'd like to know why I'm being dragged to the headmaster's office with you first?" he snaps accusingly
"As if I have any idea" she wondered briefly if it was because of the broom incident, there was no real way their headmaster could know what had happened. Then again, she learnt very quickly not to underestimate Dumbledore
"What good is a know-it-all if they don't know anything?" he grumbled back
"How are you not getting this? Stop talking to me!" she yelled "I want nothing to do with you. Our friendship is dead to me and truth be told I'm not even sure I'm upset about it" she listed calmly
"You're such a bitch" she smiles at the fact he used a muggle swear word and turns her back on him
"That's what happens when you become an asshole" she chimes without facing him.
Professor McGonagall was stood in front of the gargoyle waiting, beside her Cho Chang and a flawless little girl who'd been stuck to Fleur's side since they arrived here. Her sister Hermione had concluded. In fact the two were so inseparable, Hermione wondered if Fleur would be worried, missing her young companion.
It was then that Hermione realised with startling clarity why they were here. They others all looked rather nervous but nowhere near as anxious as she was now. After all, even if they worked out their connection, it was highly unlikely that they knew the nature of the second task
'We've taken what you'll sorely miss' it made sense. She'd already established the Delacour sisters were basically one being. Cedric as far as she could tell was well and truly taken with Cho. Ron was Harry's best friend and that meant she was here for Viktor. It wasn't odd, pleasantly surprising actually, it filled her with a gooey warmth that made her roll her eyes at herself. He was probably the most prominent part of her life right now, yes that was scary and intense but less so knowing it was mutual
"Sherbet Lemon" Hermione come back to her senses as the gargoyle they stood before jumped to the side allowing them passage. Dumbledore was at his desk and looked up, giving a fond smile as they followed McGonagall in to his office
"Welcome, Miss Delacour, Chang, Granger, Mr Weasley" he nodded to each of them "you're probably wondering why you're here. And I am sincerely sorry for keeping you away from your beds at this late hour. Some of you may have already realised why you are here, for those that haven't … we simply require your help" Hermione fidgeted as she remembered the rest of the clue
'But past an hour — the prospect's black,
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back' Dumbledore wouldn't allow them to come to any real harm, she knew that. But still …
"As you know, the second task of the tournament is to be held tomorrow and requires each of our four champions to retrieve something, you. By no means do you have to agree but let me stress you'll be in no danger. Should your respective champions, that's Miss Delacour for you younger Miss Delacour" Dumbledore smiles "Mr Diggory for you Miss Chang, Mr Krum for you Miss Granger and Mr Potter for you Mr Weasley" Hermione doesn't even spare Ron a look as he glares at her but grinds her teeth together "should they not retrieve you within the time limit set you shall be returned the minute their time is over"
"Excuse me Professor" Cho murmurs quietly "returned from where?" Hermione knew the answer to that and it quite frankly filled her with dread. Dumbledore merely smiled reassuringly
"You'll be within the grounds, completely safe at all times Miss Chang" Hermione trusted Dumbledore but she wasn't entirely sure he could guarantee that. There was a giant squid in that lake for goodness sake, and that was just what they knew about
"Alright" Cho agrees quietly "what do I have to do?"
"Excellent Miss Chang. Before we get to that, who else?"
"Ai alright" Ron grumbles, she's surprised at how calm he is. He knows as well as she does what lies in store "I trust Harry" he bites, a glare directed at her
"Likewise I'm sure Viktor and all the other champions are more than capable" Hermione agrees, it's not exactly untrue but it was prompted out of spite for Ron's bitter words
"Can I zee sissy before we go?" little Gabrielle asks "she vurries about me"
"I'm afraid not young Miss Delacour, we have to set things in motion now" the girl frowns, decidedly unsure, tears beginning to glisten in her eyes and Hermione crouches before her
"It's alright, we'll all be there together and Fleur is very talented isn't she. I'm sure she'll find you quickly"
"That's right" Cho agrees crouching the other side "I'm sure we could find something to do to pass the time anyway" Hermione decides not to agree, she doesn't see them playing cards or chess at the bottom of the black lake and she'd rather not lie to a child but Cho doesn't know any different "Hermione and I will stay with you" again Hermione bites her lip uncomfortably but the girls tears have dried up now
"I will do it"
"Excellent, all each of you has to do is drink the contents of this little vile and when you wake up you'll be refreshed and happy from a deep dream".
One by one they do as Dumbledore says, as Hermione watches Cho then Gabrielle fall asleep she feels her eyelids drooping. The last thing she sees is Ron fall off his chair.
She feels chilly, goose bumps are raised on her arms and she wishes for a jacket to put over her pale blue sundress. She hugs herself, trying to create some semblance of warmth to no avail. Then she hears her name, soft, melodious and rich with his accent. She wonders how such a deep, rugged voice can sound so song like, so welcoming as she turns. What she sees is only more welcoming. He stands in a field of wild flowers and vivid green grass while she stands barefoot on gravel. His jeans fit him perfectly, showing thick thighs and slim waist, she can only imagine how they look from behind. His shirt may actually fit even better, a plain white t-shirt exposes just a hint of his chest and his plaid shirt is taught over his arms and shoulders. He's enticing, so relaxed, made for muggle clothes not heavy robes that hide all that beauty. He wears a lazy smile, just a suggestion on his plump lips and holds out his hand. She'd have taken it even if a cold breeze hadn't caused a shiver down her spine and the second their skin touches she's flooded with hear. Crossing in to the sunny field with him and being engulfed by the scent of wild flowers, fresh cut grass, clean air, peppermint, parchment and Viktor. His own personal scent, everyone has one but Viktor's she could pick out. She could probably distinguish Harry's, her mothers, fathers, maybe even Ron's but none of them had the lure Viktor's did. It seemed to call to her, when he lifted her into his arms and she hugged him around his neck she could smell that delicious scent in his hair and she felt like she'd come home
"I have missed you Моят скъпоценни красота"
"It's only been hours" she laughs
"Too long" he counters "come, I have picnic".
They eat fresh fruit, cheeses, bread and chocolate and wash it down with fine wine
"Very European" she muses, stretching out on the thick check blanket. She watches his gaze dart down to the skin of her thighs, exposed by the lifting of her dress "can I help you Mr Krum?" she smirks
"I vas thinking I vould help you out actually" he matches her smirk and rolls onto his side, facing her. He trails his fingertips from her knee to the hem of her dress then back. She flushes under his appreciative gaze and has to look away. The way he watches her skin tinge pink from the sun and his ministrations is intense, he's enraptured by her and she can feel it in his gaze. She stares up at the clouds as his hands glide over her skin, pushing the skirt up further each time. When the skirt is creased at her waist he leans forward and kisses the spot below her belly button "Hermione look at me" his words travel to her very core and she swears she falls in love with him after that single sentence, something about the way he sounded so vulnerable, so open, so desperate – for her. She locks eyes with him and her chest tightens, is this what it was to be in love? It was painful, he was right there yet she missed him.
Their kiss was precious, just damp lips, no urgency but so much feeling. It shook something deep within Hermione, violently. Something she wasn't quite ready for and it spilled from its place, spreading to every fibre of her being. She wasn't sure she had been ready for the physical steps they had taken but Viktor's understanding had made her certain. This was something else entirely, this was a need that couldn't be fulfilled, a fire that wouldn't burn out, a desire for him. She would never get enough. She thought about losing him and choked on a sob. Yes, love was very painful indeed
"How did you do this to me, and so quickly?" she murmured and rolled over to straddle his hips "what magic is this?" his hands roamed her body while she rocked and ground down against him "Viktor!"
She sucks in a breath as she breaks the surface and chokes on foul tasting lake water which muffles her scream just in time for the shark to become Viktor
"Are you alvight?" he cups her cheeks, barely touching her and fixes his gaze on her. A million thoughts race through her mind and it takes longer than it should for her to catch up. She was dreaming, this was the second task and they were in the black lake. She throws her arms around him and lets go quickly when they begin to sink "Hermione are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. What about you? Are you okay?" she asks worriedly, her mind still reeling from the vivid dream
"Lets get out of the water".
Her robes dragged as they made their way to the stands where people were waiting and cheering. Viktor kept his hand on her stomach the entire time, holding her up and keeping her close. He lifted her out of the water too, pushing her on to the decking before climbing out himself and then wrapping her in towels and blankets until she was a pile of laundry. Only then did he accept a towel himself and only because she was starting to get angry at him for declining them.
He didn't say a word, when she told him she was going to check on Harry he looked as if he was in physical pain but let her go. She checked on Gabrielle as well, the little girl was fine, she hadn't known Fleur wasn't able to reach her after all and come around to her sister helping her out of the water.
She returned to the spot where Viktor had been, his fellow Durmstrang were still gathered there celebrating, even if he'd been bumped a place but Viktor was nowhere to be seen.