"What should we do with her! We should squash her into a million pieces! We should rip her to pieces, very slowly or we could burn her! She deserves whatever she gets!" Jasmine said as she stared at the beetle disgustedly.

"Vhat good vould that do?" Viktor asked. He was well aware of the way Jasmine behaved when she got angry, he had been on the receiving end of her fury one too many times.

"What good would it do! She wouldn't be able to write lies anymore! She is a horrible human being" Jasmine said as she drew her wand and twirled it around in her fingers.

"No, it is not our place to kill her but ve can do something to teach her a lesson" Viktor said.

"Uh...Viktor? If she is an Animagus, can't she phase back into her human self and break this jar? She vould get away!" Vlad said.

"No I haff enchanted the jar, that vas vone of the first things I did" said Viktor.

"Well, what are you planning on doing to her if you don't want to kill, or injure her? I mean really Viktor when did you become such a saint!" Jasmine said.

"Since he met Hermione Granger" said Vlad a wide smirk on his lips.

"Quiet. Ve vill see if she is a registered Animagus. Simple, and if she isn't then ve vill threaten to report her to the Ministry of Magic if she continues to write false reports" Viktor said.

Jasmine's jaw dropped. Ok this Viktor is not as fun as the bad-ass Viktor from Bulgaria! "Ok that is probably the worst plan I have ever heard Viktor! She won't learn her lesson that way" Jasmine said.

"Maybe, maybe not but ve aren't going to kill her. I vill keep her in my cabin on the ship, and vill investigate further" he said.

Vlad said coyly "Maybe you can haff Hermione help you" and Jasmine flinched but Viktor didn't notice.

"I vill ask her, but I vanted this to be a surprise for her so keep your mouth shut Vlad" Viktor said as he shrunk the jar and slid it back into his pocket. "I vill see you up at the castle Vlad, and Jasmine I vill see you at my Mother's forced Christmas party!"

Viktor walked out of the pub as Jasmine stared after him. "Hurts doesn't it? To know that he luffs somevone other than you" Vlad said. "I guess you von't be the only girl in his life anymore" Vlad said as he grabbed his jacket and followed Viktor out.

Jasmine looked furious and she gave Vlad the finger as he walked out. It's not like we ever had a romantic relationship! I don't care that he is seeing this Hermione chick, as long as he's happy. Jasmine then left The Three Broomsticks herself.

Viktor walked into his cabin and saw his mother's barn owl perched on his desk. Viktor carefully placed the jar into his desk drawer and locked it. He took the letter from the owl's beak, and fed it some oats. He filled his own hawk's water bowl and set it in front of the owl before walking to his bed and sitting down. He unfurled the piece of parchment and immediately recognized his mother's neat, slanted cursive.

Viktor,

Your Father will be gone this Christmas with your Uncle Ivan. The Minister of Magic has invited them to stay at his winter cabin in Bristol. It will just be your aunts, grandparents, and our usual guests this year. I want you to bring Hermione with you so that we can properly meet. Our guests won't tell your Father, or your Uncle, and neither will the gathered family. Please ask Hermione if she can come. If she says that she can, write me back as quickly as possible. Take care of yourself, and I will see you on Christmas Eve young man. I love you, and I miss you dearly.

-Mama

Viktor smiled. He had his own castle, but it wasn't the place to host a Christmas party. Between school, and Quidditch he was barely ever there. He stayed at his Mother's house, but he would have to go back and clean up in case Hermione wanted to see it. He would most definitely need back up because he was horrible with household spells, and his mother would be busy cleaning up her own house.

Viktor asked Hermione at dinner, but she said that she would have to ask her parents because they had never been apart for Christmas. "I hope you can come, it vould make my Christmas" Viktor said looking into her eyes, his deep brown eyes burning with love.

"I really will try my best to come Viktor, but it is up to my parents!" she said as she wrapped her arm around his muscular one, and lay her head against his shoulder, comforted by his presence. "Do you live with your parents Viktor?" she asked as she looked up at him briefly.

"No I haff my own castle a couple of hours avay from their manor, I live in Pernik but my parent live in Sofia" he replied.

"It must be great to live on your own, I would think the freedom is liberating. I would love to experience that but I do love my Mum and Dad and couldn't bear to be away from them just yet. I miss them so much when I come to Hogwarts, but Harry and Ron help fill in that gap, as best as they can" she said as she smiled.

Maybe soon I vill be the vone to help you fill in that gap, I vill be the vone to make you happy, not Potter and Veasley. "Vell, I do visit my Mama and Papa very often too. I miss my Mama too" Viktor said as he blushed slightly. Vhy did you just say that Vika? You just admitted you are a Mama's boy!

Hermione smiled at him "I think it's nice that you miss your Mum, and that you don't take her for granted like many children do, until it's too late!"

When Dumbledore dismissed them all, Viktor kissed Hermione softly goodbye. He hugged her, enveloping her in his warm embrace. She hugged him back breathing in his scent, before catching up with Ginny and going up to the common room with her.

Viktor walked into his cabin. Alek was stretched out on his bed, and Niko across Vlad's bed as Vlad asked them if any of the teacher's had asked about himself, or Viktor. Viktor tossed his coat on his trunk and sat down at his desk. "They asked about Viktor, but not you" Alek said.

"Of course they vould ask about the great Viktor Krum, nobody gives a damn about Vladislav though" he said as he rolled his eyes.

"Jealousy doesn't look pretty on you Vlad" said Niko smirking.

"Shut up" said Vlad as he glared at Niko.

"I need your help vith something!" said Viktor as he looked at them all.

"Of course ve vill help you vith vhatever you need Viktor, what is it?" asked Alek curiously.

"You know Krum Castle?" asked Viktor and immediately the boys shivered.

"That place gives me the creeps Vika!" said Vlad as he rubbed his arms, goosebumps had erupted all over them.

"I know, I know! I am gone so much that I can't take care of it as much as I should! But I vanted to haff Hermione stay at the castle vith me, you vill all be there as vell for Christmas, but I don't vant it to scare her! I need to clean it up" Viktor said.

"So you need us to help you clean it up, because you are the vorst at household spells, and your Mama is busy?" said Niko smirking.

Viktor scowled at him but nodded "Yes that is along the lines of vhat I vas thinking" he said.

"I'm in, I don't vant to go back to my parents house for Christmas" said Alek.

"Me too, I haff nothing better to do" said Vlad.

"Vill Jasmine be there?" said Niko grinning devilishly. "I luff making her angry, she turns red and looks like she vill explode!" he said.

"I haff not asked her yet, but I'm sure she vill come if I ask her too!" said Viktor.

"Vell if she comes, consider me in!" said Niko as he rubbed his hands together looking smug.

"Vone of these days she vill jinx you into oblivion!" said Alek as he shook his head disapprovingly.

Niko just shrugged as Viktor smiled relieved. He would need a couple of days, hopefully no more than a week if they worked hard enough, to turn most of the castle around. He sent a letter to Jasmine asking her if she would come, and wasn't disappointed. She said she would be there whenever he wanted.

Viktor received his second piece of good news when he got an owl from Hermione saying that she could come, but she wanted to know if it was ok that her parents accompanied her. Viktor sent her back an owl saying of course it was ok, the more the merrier.

Damn I really need to clean the castle! Now her parents vill be coming and I need to make a good impression! Viktor looked worried, and was so deep in thought about all that he would have to accomplish that he fell asleep around 3 o' clock in the morning.