Viktor awoke to an empty bed. He rolled over to find a note resting on the pillow beside him.
I had to get back to Hogwarts. Students cannot do sleepovers.
Thank you for the most wonderful evening.
Hermione.
He smiled and wondered how much trouble she got into for returning home so late. He turned over and grinned into the pillow. He could not believe that last night had been real, and some part of him was still tempted to pinch himself to check that he was not dreaming.
Hermione awoke to a knock at the door. Chigvintsev stood outside of her door, arms crossed over his chest.
"Should I even ask?" He sighed shaking his head. Hermione stood her ground. Yes, she had broken a rule, but she was seventeen and it was a weekend. She was back by Monday morning, what was the harm?
"I am sorry." She apologised, for good measure.
"Extra training, that is your punishment." He told her.
"So get ready." He told her, before walking off. Hermione sighed, it could have been a lot worse, but she still wished she could go back to bed and sleep until the sun rose.
Chigvintsev understood, even if Hermione thought he did not, he had been young once and his now-ex wife had made him feel a similar way, had made him break the rules. But she had ditched him when she was bored. He did not want that for Hermione. She was so special, in so many ways, that he could not see her hurt again.
Hermione huffed against the cold. After the bitter winter of Durmstrang, this was nothing. But still, she hated the chill. Training that morning was like any other morning, until-
"I vant you to run." He told her and she stood, staring at him.
"You're joking me, right?" She laughed, shaking her head.
"Does it look like I'm joking?" Chigvintsev's face was deadpan.
"No, I can't." Hermione told him. It was the first time that she had ever refused him and he was taken aback for a moment.
"Vhat if the next challenge needs you to travel. You do not fly, and you vill not run. How vill you do it?" Hermione wondered for a moment.
"I would apparate." She told him, her face smug.
"Not if you do not know vhere you are going, you would not." He responded and watched Hermione's face fall.
"You have two options: learn to fly, or start running." He turned and walked away from her. He had never been so hard on her before, but she needed a firm hand.
Hermione could not remember the last time that she had been spoken to in such a manner. She was taken aback, but she was more shocked at the realisation that she wanted to tantrum, like a child. She couldn't go to Seamus or Neville about this, she feared that they might laugh at her, although the chance was very slight. No, she needed someone who would openly listen and understand.
Hagrid was surprised to see Hermione so early in the day. His smile grew wide when he saw her and he put on a new pot of tea.
"Come on in and sit yourself down, there." He welcomed her and waited for her to speak.
Hermione knew that she had gone to the right place. Hagrid would listen to her openly and try as hard as he could to help her in her situation. So, she explained herself, over a cup of tea and Hagrid sat and listened to her.
"Now, I do think your professor has a point. Flying and running are important skills to have. But until you know what is in that egg, you need to keep your strengths where they are and focus on your magic." He told her. He didn't know what he would do if he couldn't fly, but learning now was not a necessity for Hermione.
Hermione smiled, knowing that Hagrid understood her struggle.
"So, do you mind me asking: what is going on with the Krum boy?" Hagrid asked, his cheeks flushing a deep pink. Hermione sipped her tea and wondered how to ask that question.
"Well, I am not entirely sure. It feels like we are back together and we all but said that, but things are so vague, I don't quite know what is going on." She sighed and Hagrid understood how she felt. He had been golfed in love before, but it never turned into anything. He wished that he had the courage to love again, but he was not sure he could.
"If he is worth your time, he will stick around." He told her and Hermione nodded, knowing that this was true.
Seamus sat with Hermione in her room that evening. It has been so long since they had spent some quality time together and it was a welcome surprise to be invited to spend some time together.
"I'm afraid." Hermione admitted, holding the golden egg in her lap.
"Good. You would be an idiot if you weren't." He smiled up at her and she nodded, knowing he was right. Seamus drew his wand.
"If there is anything in there that wants to hurt you, I will be here to help you." He encourage her.
Hermione sighed, she had to open it at some point, but she just wished that it didn't have to be now. Stalling was pointless. She had to be brave. She pressed the button and twisted the egg open.
Both Seamus and Hermione jumped back. Hermione was paralysed, her hands over her ears. Seamus lunged for the egg, snapping it shut, silencing the screeching.
They sat in silence for a moment after. Hermione was in shock. She was unsure what she expected, but that certainly wasn't it.
"Jesus, that sounded worse than my grandmother's singing." Seamus breathed, shocked about it all.
Hermione stares at the egg. She shook her head, placing it under the bed where she had kept it. She knew that this was a mistake, all of it. She shouldn't have put her blasted name in the goblet of fire. She couldn't even handle the clue, how was she going to handle the task? She had gotten lucky with the first trial. She was unsure if she would get so lucky second time.
Seamus could see how much the egg had effected her.
"Don't worry, we'll figure it out. We still have loads of time." He smiled down at her encouragingly and she nodded, although he was not so convinced.
Seamus left soon after and Hermione was left on her own. She tried to push the screeching from her mind, but it remained present in the back of her conscious. She attempted to move onto something more pleasant. Viktor's birthday was coming up in a week's time and she had to think of something to get him. He was going to be 20, that was a big milestone. She had received an invite from Viktor's mother to a party being held at Krum house and with this brought a whole host of anxieties.
After last time, Luna was not so shocked when Hermione approached her.
"Hi, how are you?" She asked, glad to see Hermione. She explained her situation and Luna sat and thought for a moment.
"You need a dress, and some shoes." She said, nodding along with her train of thought.
"But what do I gift a man who has the money to buy anything?" She asked and Luna thought for a moment. There were plenty of things that she thought she might give as a gift, such as snargles wings and butterfly dust. But she understood that not everyone would appreciate such gifts. So she thought for another moment.
Hermione was confused when Luna brought little Colin Creavy to her a few moments later.
"Hello, Miss Granger." He greeted her, a wide smile plastered across his face, his camera around his neck.
"You have something to tell Miss Granger, don't you, Colin?" Luna looked down at the young boy and watched his race turn pink.
"Well, go on." She placed a hand on his back.
"W-whilst you and Mr Krum were at Hogwarts last. I took some photographs." His bottom lip quivered, obviously terrified.
"I'm sorry, Miss Granger. I never meant to offend you." His voice rose in pitch and his shoulders shook with fear.
Hermione understood now why Luna had brought Colin along.
"Could I have a look at your shots, Colin?" Hermione asked, wondering if she could maybe gift one of the images to Viktor for his birthday.
"Yes, of course, Miss Granger. I would need a day to develop them." And then the little blonde boy ran off, as quick as he could.
Hermione wondered why she and Luna had never been closer before. It seemed that she had such wonderful ideas and such a kind temperament, that it was very hard not to like her.
The next day, Hermione and Luna went to look at Colin Creavy's photographs. Hermione was excited and Luna was excited that her friend was excited. Colin has been working throughout the night to develop the images and he was glad that Hermione had come when she had and not a minute before.
Hermione entered the darkly lit room and was amazed by the young boy's work. Colin had hung up the images of Krum and Granger so that Hermione might look at them. There were five in total. One was in the library and Viktor's back was to the camera and you could see Hermione's arm snake around his neck. She smiled looking at the image. The second was of Viktor's and Hermione walking together, through the castle talking and smiling at one another. The third was before the quidditch match, when he kissed her in front of everyone. Hermione blushed seeing this one. The penultimate photograph was the moment that the rain fell and Viktor sat on his broom, looking down at Hermione as the crowds looked on and the final image was from the night that Hermione and Viktor were in the Three Broomsticks. He brushed her hair away from her face and smiled at her in a way that she saw far too rarely.
Hermione stood beside Luna, all watery eyes and wobbling lips. She placed a hand over her mouth.
"Oh, they are wonderful." She laughed, shaking her head. Luna took her hand, sensing that she needed extra support. Colin stood with his head held high.
"Well thank you." He smiled, feeling proud of himself.
"How much for them?" She asked, turning to him.
"No, I want you to have them." He shook his head denying payment.
"No, I must give you something." Hermione insisted.
"Well, my Mother is dying for one of your vases, and her birthday is coming up." He smiled bashfully.
"Consider it done." She nodded.
"They are not quite done, they will need some more time." Hermione nodded.
"Let me know when they are done." Colin couldn't wait to gift his mum one of Hermione Granger's vases.
Hermione felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She had found a gift for Viktor. Of course, she still had the flying and the egg to deal with. But Viktor's gist was sorted and she allowed that to be enough.
Author's Note: Hi everyone, I hope you are well. This chapter was written and uploaded on my mobile so the grammar and spelling, as well as the layout might be a little off. Please let me know if you see any mistakes.
Many thanks,
Paige x
