A/N: Well, I'm back… and midterms are beginning…

Anyways, thank you all again so much for the reviews! Please keep it up!

AND PLEASE, PLEASE READ TO THE END AND READ MY LAST AUTHOR'S NOTE!!! THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!!

Here we go!

Impossibly Insufferable

Chapter Ten

Week Two, Day Two

Harry woke to the irate hooting of an owl on the second morning of the second week of the bet. Moaning, he buried his nose in Ginny's hair and tried to ignore Rowan, but the bird was not taking "no" for an answer.

Finally, George bellowed, "POTTER! Get your bloody bird to shut up!" Harry swore under his breath but untangled himself from Ginny and stood.

Rowan hooted happily when she was that he was up, and offered him a letter that was clutched in one talon. He took it and fed the owl a treat before shooing the bird out of the tent. Then he opened the letter.

"George, Ginny, look at this!" Harry laughed, rereading the letter. Ginny groaned.

"Read it to me," she said, sinking down on the sofa until all Harry could see of her was the very top of her head. Her brother nodded from where he was reclining on Harry's bed.

"Fine then."

The letter read:

George,

I remember you and your sister- you are part of the large red-haired family, no? Hermione spoke very often about Ginny and Ronald (your brother), but I believe you bothered her very much.

Here George laughed. "Yes! My life is complete!" he crowed. Harry rolled his eyes.

I would like to help with your mischief. I will meet with you at eight at the place you mentioned.

Viktor Krum

Ginny glanced at the clocked and gave a squeak. "It's seven-forty-five! Shoot!" Instantly she was up and running around the tent, grabbing clothes and then locking herself in the bathroom. Harry rolled up the letter and then plugged in the camera.

Five minutes later, Ginny stepped out of the bathroom, looking neat and, in Harry's eyes, extremely pretty. As George stepped into the bathroom with clean clothes in his arms, Harry stepped forward and kissed Ginny's forehead. "You look nice," he said. "Trying to impress someone?"

Ginny grinned. "Yep, I'm planning on sweeping Vicky off his feet." Harry rolled his eyes and finished readying the camera. A moment later he took his turn in the bathroom.

As he emerged a minute later, there was a crack outside the tent, and then a distinct voice called, "George Veasley?"

George grinned. "In the tent, Krum!" he called. A moment later, Viktor Krum entered the tent.

He was just as imposing as he had been when Harry had last seen him at Bill's wedding. His broad shoulders were covered in robes, not regular Muggle clothing, and his dark hair and eyes made him look faintly sinister. He smiled and shook hands with George, who had stood to greet him.

"Thanks for coming," George said as he sat again.

"It is not a problem," Krum said, shaking hands with Harry. "Hello, Potter. It's been a long time."

"Yeah… Nice to see you," Harry answered. Ginny also shook hands.

Finally, all four were seated at the table, half an eye on the quiet Burrow on the camera screen as George filled Krum in on the bet and everything that had happened so far.

When he was finished, Krum sat back and stroked his chin ruminatively. "So, am I to assume you vould like me to make your brother, Ronald, jealous? Enough so to confess his feelings for Hermione?"

George nodded as Harry noted absently that Viktor could now say 'Hermione' correctly. "Or vice versa... Hermione seems closer to cracking," George said. "If you agree, I can give you a more complex plan…"

Krum thought for one more moment before smiling. "Very vell, I am in need of something fun to do. Tell me your idea, Veasley."

George grinned triumphantly before leaning forward conspiratorially. "Right, mate, here's what you've got to do…"

))((

Hermione

I woke up on the second morning of the second day sweating and shaking. Bad dreams had kept me tossing and turning that night and basically made deep sleep impossible.

Really, that boggart had startled me more than it had scared me. I hadn't seen a boggart since third year when it had turned into McGonagall failing me. So when the black cloud had appeared and begun to form, I had been a curious as to what it would turn into, even as I prepared to use the Riddikulus spell.

And then, the smoke had formed into Ron, lying with his hands by his sides, his face pale, each freckle showing up in high relief on his face. Instantly, I realized what this fear was.

Boggart-Ron looked exactly how he had looked after being poisoned in our sixth year, when I had been terrified that he was dead. Even as I screamed, I thought, frantically, This is my worst fear? Something happening to Ron?

Then, Ron had come, and gotten rid of the boggart. He had hugged me. And for some reason, his long, strong arms had seemed to make everything better.

Suddenly, my reverie was interrupted by an owl tapping on the window. Sighing, I rolled out of bed and pulled out the window, allowing Harry and Ginny's owl, Rowan, to soar into the room. The bird dropped a rolled piece of parchment on the bed, flying out of the room without pausing.

I watched it go, before picking up the letter. As I did, someone knocked on my door. No prizes for guessing who. "Come in!"

"Hi, Hermione," Ron said, stepping in the room with a smile. "What's that?"

"A letter from Harry, Ginny, and George… I don't what it says yet," I answered, unrolling it. Ron moved to stand behind me and read the letter over my shoulder as I did.

It read:

Ron and Hermione,

You'll be having a visitor at around noon. I think you'll be very happy when you see who it is.

Love,

George (Harry, and Ginny)

I lifted an eyebrow as I reread the letter before turning to look at Ron. "Who do we know who might be coming to visit us?" I asked. Ron shrugged.

"Dunno. Luna, maybe?" He sat down on my bed and yawned, stretching. I shook my head.

"Not Luna, she's on a big expedition with her dad right now in the Netherlands or something," I said. Ron nodded and I glanced at the clock. 9:30. "I'm going to go get something for breakfast, you?"

"I'll come," Ron said. He trailed after me down the stairs. In the kitchen, I made toast and Ron scrambled eggs. At ten, we sat down with mugs of tea and our breakfast. We sat in silence for a while until Ron pulled a folded piece of parchment out of his pocket, smoothed it out, and passed it to me.

I looked at it and smiled. It was the essay on the Diamond Surveillance that I had helped him with days ago, with a big O on the top. I glanced up at Ron to find him smiling bashfully. "I got it this morning… It's my first O on an Auror's assignment, I usually just get Es." He looked at his plate and muttered, "Thanks for your help."

"Oh, you're welcome, Ron. This is really great!" I pushed the parchment back across the table and he folded it up again, sending it up to his room. We sat in silence for a little longer until I finished my breakfast and put the plate in the sink.

Slowly, I started washing it, using my wand instead of the faucet to get it done faster. A moment later, Ron put his plate in the sink as well. I sighed and began to wash his, too.

Ron watched me for a moment, and then elbowed me gently out of the way. "I'll do it," he said, pulling his own wand from his pocket. I shook my head and pushed him away, stepping in front of the sink again.

"You made the eggs," I reminded him. "So I wash the dishes." Ron pushed my shoulder and, when I stumbled backward slightly, slipped in front of the sink.

"You made tea and toast," he countered. "So I wash."

I glared and pushed Ron out of the way again. "No, I wash." Ron sighed and I smirked, happy to have won, only to suddenly be blasted with water.

I shrieked and whirled around, my tee-shirt and pajama pants soaking wet, my hair dripping down my back, to face a smirking Ron. He stepped in front of the sink, and, in a tone that brooked no further argument, said, "I wash."

Well, that little action couldn't go unpunished, so, needless to say, Ron was soon soaking wet as well. He glared and pointed his wand at me.

Thus began a battle of epic proportions as the two of us raced around the kitchen, dodging behind the kitchen chairs, crawling under the table, and shooting jets of freezing water at each other. Ron's tee-shirt was soon clinging to his chest and his hair was a whole shade darker from wet. My own clothes were sopping and my hair hung in damp curls around my face.

Finally, I tried to scramble up on top of the counter for better leverage, only to have Ron grab me around the waist and pull me back, laughing, our damp clothes sticking together, Ron's big hands clutching at my waist while my hair flew in his face.

Suddenly, someone cleared their throat primly. Ron and I froze and slowly turned, Ron still easily supporting my weight, to see our guest.

Standing there, looking slightly amused, was Viktor Krum.

"Viktor!" I gasped, sliding down from Ron's arms. I quickly dried myself off with my wand before running up to hug him. Viktor hugged me back, laughing.

"It is good to see you, Hermione. But I feel I vas interrupting something." He released me, glancing over my shoulder at Ron, who was standing by the counter, awkward and still dripping wet. Viktor extended a hand, and Ron quickly dried himself off and shook it.

"Don't worry, you're not interrupting anything," Ron said, surprising me with his politeness. "It's nice to see you, Krum."

"The same, Veasley," Krum responded, smiling at him. "It has been a long time."

"It has!" I exclaimed. "Let me dry the kitchen off and we can talk." Quickly, I began drying the kitchen with my wand, motioning to Ron to help me. He looked irritated, but pulled out his wand as well and began drying off the table and chairs and straightening them out.

Soon, the three of us sat down together. "Are you the visitor that George said was coming?" asked Ron. "If so, you're a little early."

Viktor grinned. "Yes, I am, and I know I am a little early, but I could not vait to see Hermione again. And you, of course," he hastened to add, but I could tell Ron was not fooled. I smiled sympathetically at him, only to have my attention claimed by Viktor again. "Vhat are you two doing here together? Veasley and his sister and Potter didn't explain why the two of you were here…" He trailed off and looked at me expectantly. I sighed.

"Well… You know how Ron and I were going out after the war?" I asked. Viktor nodded. "Right. So, we broke up, and we've been, uh…" I looked at Ron for help.

Ron sighed. "We started biting each others' head off, so I made a bet with Harry and Ginny that we couldn't stay in the same house together without one of us walking out, or getting back together."

Viktor nodded in understanding. "I see now. And you are vinning, correct?"

I nodded. "Yeah, so far. But that's enough about us, what have you been up to?"

Viktor smiled. "My Quiddtich career is going quite vell. I have been very busy in Bulgaria." He glanced over at me. "But England still holds much appeal for me."

I blushed. I simply couldn't help it. After all, Viktor was very good-looking, in a dark sort of way. He smirked when I did so, and turned to Ron, who looked slightly worried. "And you, Veasley? Vhat have you been doing?"

Ron seemed to visibly shake himself and he gave a small smile. "I've been training to be an Auror for the past couple of years. My training's almost done." He shrugged. "That's mostly it- it takes up a lot of my time, training does."

"I vould imagine," said Viktor, before turning to me again. "And you, Hermione? Are you also an Auror?"

I shook my head. "No, I opted to go into Magical Law and that sort of thing- I'm also almost done with my training to be a Ministry employee."

Viktor nodded. "I alvays knew you vould do big things, Hermione," he smiled. I blushed again, feeling incredibly awkward. Ron snorted softly from his place across from me and then stood abruptly.

"I'll be upstairs, if you need me," he announced, quickly moving towards the stairs. My eyes widened and I smiled at Viktor.

"If you'll just excuse me…" I jumped up and raced up the stairs, catching Ron at the landing of his room. "Ron!"

"What?" he asked irritably. "Go talk to Vicky some more. I'm getting out of your way so you two can have some private time."

I winced. "Listen, Ron," I began. "First, you're being awfully rude by just marching out. I thought you two might have even have been getting along!"

"I can only get along with him for so long," Ron muttered. Louder, he said, "So, that's first. Next?"

I sighed. "I don't want to be alone with him. I mean, clearly he wants something from me that's… not what I want."

Ron looked at me searchingly, and I met his gaze, blushing lightly again, remembering kissing Viktor that one time and all the times he had mentioned the two of us maybe going out. I also remembered that, from his letter, it had seemed he had gotten over his previous infatuation.

Finally, Ron sighed and his shoulders sagged. "Fine," he said. "I'll come down with you, but only for a little while. I still have to do my Auror's assignment."

I smiled and gave him a quick hug before grabbing his hand and pulling him down the stairs. "Sorry, Viktor," I apologized when the two of us were seated at the table again. Viktor smiled.

"It is no problem." There was an awkward silence, before Ron spoke.

"Hey, since Krum's here, which is breaking the rules of this bet anyways, let's go outside and play some Quidditch."

Viktor nodded. "Absolutely. Hermione, are you going to fly or referee?"

I rolled my eyes. "Referee, obviously," I answered. "I'll go draw up the hoops- you two decide on rules and on the number of points you're playing to, okay?"

Ron and Viktor nodded and I went outside, drawing three glowing circles in the air. A moment later, a relieved-looking Ron and a slightly smiling Viktor came out of the house. I pointed the broom shed out to Viktor before running over to Ron and whispering, "Did he try to get in a fight with you? Why do you look like that?"

Ron just shook his head and blushed slightly, before looking up and catching the broom Viktor tossed at him. "Right, let's go."

The two kicked off and soared away to their respective sides. I stood between them and tossed up a Quaffle.

They played for two hours, zipping back and forth, maneuvering in ways that terrified and impressed me and trying to score with intensity that I had never seen Ron play with before. Finally, I Transfigured a bobby pin that was in my hair into a whistle and blew it. "Ron wins! 100 to 98!"

Ron laughed and punched the air before shaking hands with a slightly disgruntled looking Viktor. I smiled. It had been fun to watch Ron score goal after goal on Viktor. Each goal had been worth two points, so Ron had scored fifty goals on Viktor.

Ron and Viktor landed and walked towards me, leaving their brooms leaning on the house as they followed me into the Burrow. Both were sweaty, and Ron said, "I'm going to take a shower… you can take one if you'd like when I'm done, Krum."

Viktor smiled gratefully. "That vould be nice. Thank you, Veasley." Ron nodded and went upstairs. I sighed and sat down across from Viktor, wondering what, exactly, I would say to him.

I didn't have to worry for the moment- Viktor wasn't even looking at me. He pulled off the gloves he had been wearing while playing for better grip on the ball and, after examining them for holes or rips, tucked them into his pocket.

Now, having seen Ron, Fred, George, Harry, Ginny… well, almost all of my friends perform this action at one time or another, it was not something that should have surprised me. Nor should it have caused me to shriek, lunge across the table, and grab Viktor's hand.

"Oh my gosh, Viktor!"

There, shining inconspicuously on his left ring finger, was a gold band. Viktor swore softly. I glared at him and he sighed.

"Listen, Hermione, and do not interrupt me until I have finished." I bit my lip and waited. "You see, I am married, a year married, in fact, to a very nice Bulgarian girl- she vas a reporter who met me after a match."

I couldn't keep quite a moment longer. "But you were flirting with me! I know you were!" I said indignantly. "I'm not crazy, Viktor!"

Viktor sighed again. "Hermione, I know you are a smart vitch. Who sent me here today?" he asked.

I blinked. "Oh. George."

Viktor nodded. "Right."

"Oh no," I whispered, putting my head in my hands. "I'm so stupid."

Viktor moved so he was sitting next to me, and patted my back. "It is all right," he murmured. "You are not to be blamed for your mistake. I think Veasley may also have been taken in- he seems quite afraid that I am looking to vin your affections again."

I suddenly gasped, my head shooting up. "No! Ron must think I like you now! I- oh crap."

Viktor was smirking at me. I groaned and banged my head against the table. "I just played right into your hands, didn't I?" I whispered.

"A bit, yes," Viktor said. "But vhy have you not said anything to Veasley about your feelings?"

I glanced up at Viktor. "For a bunch of reasons!" I said indignantly. "Not least of which is the fact that I don't like Ronald!"

Viktor rolled his eyes. "Hermione, you are lying to yourself. You do not tell him because you do not vish to be hurt."

I slumped. "Maybe."

"You do not tell him because you do not believe he can forgive you for vhatever caused you to break up in the first place."

"Maybe."

"You do not think that you are vorthy of him."

"All right, I get it!" I snapped, glaring with irritation at the smirk on Viktor's face. He laughed and hugged me, and after a moment's hesitation, I hugged him back.

When he released me, he was smiling. "I vill leave now- I do not think Veasley vill be able to tolerate my presence much longer." I laughed and he stood, marching out the door and Disapperating as soon as it was closed.

A moment later, Ron came downstairs, his hair wet and his shirt clinging slightly to his damp chest. He raised an eyebrow when he noticed Viktor wasn't around. "Where'd Krum go?" he asked. I motioned to the door.

"He left. He had to go talk to his wife about something," I lied. Ron nodded.

"Right, Mia, or something with an "M" was her name, yeah?" Ron asked, sinking onto a chair. I blinked at him.

"You knew?" I squeaked unintentionally. I paused, took a deep breath, and repeated in a much more normal tone, "You knew?"

"Yep, Krum told me when we were deciding the terms of our game," Ron explained, combing his bangs with his fingers. I flushed and inwardly swore at Viktor Krum. Stupid Bulgarian making me confess my feelings when I didn't have to.

I sat down as well. "So what do we do now? It's," I glanced at the clock, "one-thirty. We still have a while to do something."

Ron frowned and thought. "Hm…" Suddenly, his stomach growled. I laughed.

"Let's make something to eat," I suggested. Ron nodded and got up, moving to the cabinet where Mrs. Weasley kept her cookbooks.

"Muggle way or Wizarding way?" he asked, pulling out a thick book and thumbing through it.

"Muggle," I said. Ron nodded and set the cookbook on a stand to keep it open to the right page. It was open to a page entitled, 'Ronnie's Chocolate Cake'. I glanced at Ron, lifting an eyebrow. Ron blushed.

"It's my recipe… I made it up a year or so ago and Mum put it in the Weasley family cookbook." I peeked around the book to see the cover, where it was embossed faintly with gold lettering spelling out 'The Weasley Cookbook'. I smiled.

"Well, let's test it out, shall we?" I said, and Ron smiled back, grabbing the things we would need.

An hour and a half later, Ron and I sat, each of us contently licking a frosting spoon as gazed at our (slightly lopsided) chocolate-chocolate-frosted cake. I glanced at him, watching him lick at his spoon. He had a little chocolate at the corner of his mouth, and suddenly, I was seized by the absurd desire to lick the little smudge away.

Ron, feeling my gaze, glanced up at me and froze, meeting my eyes as I slowly pulled my spoon from my mouth. He bit his lip and took a deep breath. My eyes widened, as both of us leaned inpreceptibly forward…

And then, as one, Ron and I realized what we were doing and leapt apart as if we had been physically tugged apart. I instantly jumped up and grabbed a knife and some plates, and cut us each a piece of cake. Ron took his piece and instantly shoved a bite in his mouth.

"Mmm… itf ghood," he said, his mouth full. I rolled my eyes and gently tapped Ron across the knuckles with my spoon before I took a bite myself.

"Don't talk with your mouth full- oh… it is good," I said. "I never pegged you for a cook, Ron."

Ron grinned. "Well, you've learned something new." He took another bite and sighed in contentment.

I took another bite as well. "This is really, really good," I reiterated. Ron raised an eyebrow.

"Your surprise is almost insulting." I laughed and we finished our cake in silence.

Finally, I grabbed my plate and put it in the sink. "I'm going to go upstairs and read, probably go to sleep or something," I told Ron. He nodded.

"Sure, I still have to do my assignment. I'll see you tomorrow," he answered, smiling.

I went upstairs and read for a while, before falling asleep.

))((

Viktor had Disapparated to the tent after talking to Hermione, where he sat and watched the rest of the action. When Hermione had gone to her room and the action had effectively stopped, George, Ginny, and Harry began to dance around the tent. "Krum!" shouted George. "You basically got her to confess! That's more than anyone has been able to do!"

Viktor laughed, standing from where he had sat at the kitchen table. "I must return to my grandparents' house. Thank you for the mischief."

George, Harry and Ginny all stood and shook hands with him. "Thank you," George said. "You were a huge help."

Viktor smiled, stepped out of the tent, and Disapparated. When he had gone, the remaining three looked at each other. Then, all of them burst out laughing.

"We've almost won!" shrieked Ginny. "We've almost won! What's it going to take?"

George shrugged. "I don't know… I'm going to sleep, but I'll think on it." He lay down on Harry's bed and was soon snoring softly.

Ginny and Harry glanced at each other and then walked to the sofa, where they quickly began making up for lost time when George had been around.

They fell asleep in each others' arms.

A/N:

All right, I know it's a little early for this… we're only on Week Two Day Two, but at minimum, I only have six chapter left planned in my head.

So here's my idea.

I have an idea for a sequel, possibly called "Possibly Sufferable". It'll be the same format, but this time, it's a bet between Ron and Ginny, and it'll only be a week, taking place about two year after the events of this story. But, if no one wants a sequel, I'm not going to do it.

Here's where you come in.

The poll feature doesn't seem to working for me (or maybe it is and I just can't tell). Anyways, REVIEW or PM me with your vote!!! PLEASE! It's so important that you do!

Then, if you have any more ideas or title ideas, or anything else, PM me or leave it in a review!

Also, sorry for any mistakes.

))Riiko Shea((