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The Durmstrang boat was very strange, and a lot larger on the inside than I had previously imagined. There seemed to be four or five floors, each with long corridors leading to large open lounge rooms. The décor was all dark, mainly red and black. Viktor led me towards the very back of the ship where his room must have been. I was surprised at the size of the room, it was larger than the entire girl's dorm and five of us had to live there! Viktor shut the door behind us, quickly making his way over to the window, rummaging around on the desk. His bed took up quite a bit of the room. It was huge, I'd probably have to take a run and jump up to it just to be able to climb on.

"Very nice room you have here." I commented, scanning the place.

"It is for the champion, othervise I vould just have a room like everyone else." He shrugged. "You can sit if you like." Viktor indicated to the bed. I laughed and he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Do you have steps?" I asked in jest, and he shook his head. "I'll just stand." Rather than allow me too, he indicated for me to go over. I walked over hesitantly, I didn't want to make a tit out of myself in front of him.

"Vould you like a boost or am I okay to pick you up?" Viktor asked once I had reached the side of the bed.

"Honestly, I'm alright. I'm good to stan-" I started but before I could finish Viktor had picked me up with ease and placed me on the bed where I quickly got myself into a sitting position, my feet dangling over the side. As he walked back towards the desk, my heart was in my throat, I tried desperately to regain composure. I wasn't sure if it was the picking me up, throwing me on the bed or the toplessness that had done it, but my mind was going into overdrive. Once Viktor had found whatever it was he was looking for, he made his way back over to me, hopping on the bed next to me with ease. In his hand was a pile of photos from the night before, and I started to feel nervous all over again. He handed me the pictures, letting me flick through them.

"I thought you might like to pick out vhich ones to send to our parents?" I was touched at the gesture and the nervousness flooded away as I looked through the pictures of us having a great time. Once I reached the end, I had firmly made up my mind.

"Thank you for letting me choose, but you could send any of them and I would be happy." I smiled, passing the pile back to Viktor. "If you don't mind, I'll take this one for my mum." I showed him the image that I had selected, a calmer one of him and me standing side by side, smiles adorning our faces. I think my mother would appreciate this a lot more. "And I'll keep this one for myself." I could feel myself blushing. His face burst into a smile. His hand reached out to stroke my cheek, if he was trying to stop me from blushing it was having the opposite effect.

"I am very glad that you said yes to attending the ball vith me." Viktor muttered as he discarded the pictures behind him, his lips quickly seeking out mine. My hands found their way to the back of his neck and his hair, supporting myself so that I wouldn't fall backwards onto the bed. Thankfully Viktor seemed to be pulling me more towards him rather than towards the bed, so I let my hands relax a little and they found themselves pressed against his chest. I traced circles on his chest as his hands found their way to the small of my back. My hands moved carefully from Viktor's chest around to his back, taking in every inch of skin in their wake. His shoulder blades rippled underneath my grasp as his right hand found its way to my hair, taking out my French braid so that he could run his hand through it while his other stayed firmly on the base of my back. The air seemed hot and thick when we finally came up for breath. Viktor's hands stayed firmly where they were as he pulled my head into his chest. I closed my eyes as I rested there, listening to his heart thumping noisily against his chest, quite like my own. His thumb smoothed down my hair before tracing over my cheekbones.

"I hate to put a dampener on this, but I should probably go and send this photo to my mother and see if she's got back to me from this morning about New Year. Do you still want to come? You don't have too, if you don't want too." I started to stumble on top of my words.

"My answer remains unchanged. I vant to come, if you vill have me." Viktor smiled as he moved himself off the bed and offered me a hand down. "Let me see you out." I made sure to grab my photographs before I left the room as Viktor finally pulled on a t-shirt. He turned to face me when we had reached the exit, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Vill I see you at dinner?"

"Of course you will, thanks again for the pictures." I smiled, pushing myself onto my tiptoes so that I could kiss his lips gently before running off to the commonroom. I avoided all contact on my way back and I was very thankful that I hadn't ran into Cedric. Ever since the ball, and even for a short while before that, he had been creeping me out. Maybe a couple of days at my mother's would do me the world of good. I quickly took myself up to the dorms and was glad to see her reply waiting for me on my bed. I hastily ripped the letter open, taking it all in.

Dearest Hermione,

Do you even need to ask that question?! Of course you may bring Viktor here for the New Year. He is more than welcome. Although I do appreciate you asking for my permission, I have to be blunt – where are my photos and my details? Hope to hear from you soon.

Mother.

I rummaged through my bag looking for a quill before setting myself away penning a reply.

Mum,

Thank you! As you can probably tell by my writing the Ball went really well and now I find myself writing this letter, I'm having difficulty putting how much I enjoyed myself into words. I've attached the picture that you've been asking for and I will have to discuss the details with you in person – maybe I'll be a bit more coherent then!

Thank you again!

Hermione.

I took great care to put the photograph into the envelope alongside the letter, handing them both to the owl, watching them on their way.

I had a feeling this was going to be one of the best New Year's I'd ever had.