Hermione stared as the door gave a sudden lurch. All the students jumped except for the trio who took a step forward.
"Troll it's a troll." Ron said. "That's good we've taken down a troll."
"Yeah a troll that was only three years old…" Hermione muttered.
"Let's hope it's not the same troll." Harry said.
"Oh of course it's going to be the same troll." Ron said as the doors suddenly burst open revealing that indeed he was right the troll they faced in their first year was standing before them. "Hope he doesn't hold a grudge…" Ron said as he gave an audible gulp. Two other emerged from behind the first looking just as mean and strong.
"Three of them…" Harry said.
"Bloody hell." Ron muttered.
"Want to each take one?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah alright." Harry said like she was offering to split a package of licorice wands. "Good luck to you both." They smiled at each other. Viktor watched as the other students behind the three backed up while Hermione and her friends gave a sudden battle cry and rushed at them.
"Yeah!" Fred and George yelled getting the other students cheering. Ron rushed at the troll trying to levitate its bat away. He dodged three hits before the bat swung connecting with him sending him fly back.
"Ron!" Hermione and Harry shouted.
"Hermione look out!" Harry bellowed. She dove to the ground just as her troll swung at her. Viktor went to move to her aid only to find the barrier stopped him. Hermione rolled out of the way before flipping onto her feet.
"Reducto!" Hermione's spell hit the bat causing it to explode. Splintered wood shot out into the air as she stepped forward. "Stupefy!" the troll flew back into the wall before falling still to the ground. She looked to her right to see Ron was still on his feet fighting off the youngest of the trolls easily. He had gotten the bat out of his hand he was now just trying to knock it out. She heard people yell look out and turned to see Harry having a bat swung at him. "Harry!" She tackled him to the ground out of the way and stood just in time for the troll to back hand her. Viktor watched in horror as Hermione slammed into the wall a good fifty feet up in the air before dropping to the slithering table before him motionless.
"Mina!" Viktor bellowed.
"Hermione!" Ginny shouted. "Hermione get up!" she screamed as she watched a troll rush at her. Hermione woke up just in time as it was swinging its bat. She rolled off the table onto her feet and stumbled back as she troll swung at her. She put her hands out yelling as she did. A swirl of power flew out of her hands stopping the bat as it went to hit her. The troll snarled at her as he swung again and again each time hitting the power barrier instead of her. Hermione was breaking down fast as she looked over her shoulder to see Harry and Ron we're still battling one off. She was on her own. A loud roar made her look up the troll pulled his club all the way back and swung at her. Everyone watched as fire swirled all around Hermione. The club swung right through it and when the fire died down Hermione was nowhere in sight.
"Where is she? Viktor said softly his eyes darting all around the hall. "Where is she?"
"I'm sure she's fine…" Jamous whispered.
"Look." Ginny said pointing. High above the back of the trolls head another swirl of fire formed. Hermione fell from the fire and dropped onto the trolls shoulders she pointed the wand into its neck and with a smile shouted a curse.
"Reducto!" the troll went limp and fell forward Hermione flipped backwards off its neck landing easily on her feet as the troll fell still to the ground. The room burst into cheers before she turned to assist her friends.
"Cover me!" Hermione shouted as she rushed forward and jumped grabbing onto the bat.
"Cover me!" Harry bellowed to Ron as he did the same thing grabbing onto the other arm.
"What cover you both?! Are you insane!?" Ron shouted as he started firing every spell in his arsenal.
"Get to the back of his head!" Hermione shouted to Harry who nodded. They both were running up the trolls massive arms. At the exact same time they jumped onto its shoulders making their way to its neck. They were about to fire a spell in unison when they felt something grab onto them. Ron stared in horror as the troll grabbed onto his friends and threw them over its head.
"Reducto!" Ron shouted in anger the spell hit the troll square in the head making it fall backward most likely dead. He turned to see Hermione and Harry lying still on the floor of the great hall.
"She's not moving Jamous." Viktor said. Everyone was holding their breaths. Hermione slowly picked up her head and crawled to Harrys side.
"Harry?" she asked pain evident in every part of her body.
"I'm fine are you fine?" he asked as he slowly looked to her.
"Never better…" She said with the same looked she had had their first year after the philosophers stone incident.
"Did you see if Cho was watching?" Hermione laughed while shaking her head. When the two slowly stood up the hall burst into applause. Harry looked to the prefects who had just watched while hiding behind the Hufflepuff table.
"Thanks for the help!" he shouted. Hermione shook her head at the head boy and girl who were hiding behind the headmasters chair.
"You two alright?" Ron asked as they walked up to him.
"Yeah nice job with that last spell." Hermione said clapping him on the back.
"Oh my goodness!" they all looked to see the teachers had come in. The hall was in ruins thanks to the rowdy trolls. McGonagall looked to the trio.
"Why is it whenever trolls get loose you three have to get involved?" they just smiled.
"You three to the hospital wing right away." Hermione and Harry limped while Ron helped them along.
-o-
Hermione smiled as she left the hospital wing. She had no broken bones which was surprising considering how much she had just been thrown about. The only thing she had was a cut on her hair line which was an easy fix. Harry on the other hand had a twisted ankle and a broken wrist. She had left him in the capable hands of Ron and pom pom. She on the other hand needed to go to the library to help out.
When she got there she spotted Viktor sitting at a table. When he caught her eye he gave her a serious look before standing and walking off. Hermione frowned as she followed him. He looked angry with her, but she didn't know what he could be upset about. She walked into one of the secret study rooms to find him waiting. She looked at him for a long moment before slowly closing the door and facing him.
"You I am very angry with!" he yelled in Bulgarian making her jump.
"Wait why are you angry I haven't done anything?" She asked. This wasn't how she saw their reunion going at all.
"You just got yourself very hurt when you didn't need to!" he said. "Those trolls could have killed you!"
"But they didn't I'm fine." She said with a smile. "All I had was a little scratch."
"Why didn't you let me help I could have helped! I could have protected you!"
"Because you would have gotten hurt and by the way I don't need to be protected…"
"The blood on your shirt says otherwise."
"I think I handled myself alright." She said crossing her arms over her chest.
"You got thrown around the room like a piece of paper!" she stared at him for a long moment her anger building as he did.
"I hate that you treat me like I'm some china doll!" she suddenly yelled and he jumped. "If you didn't know by now I have been doing dangerous things like this for years I never needed a man protecting me then and I don't need one doing it now!" he looked at her. "You need to get used to this to me being hurt because it comes with the package of being my boyfriend… There will probably be very few times you see me without any cuts bruises or blood on me some where that's just how it is."
"I don't like it." he said. "I don't like it at all."
"You may not like it but that's how it is… And if you don't like it now you're really not going to like it later because what Harry Ron and I do its going to get worse and worse… If you don't think you can handle it then you can't and we need to stop this now." His angry expression faded.
"I don't want to stop us... I like us." He said in English. There whole argument had been in Bulgarian.
"I like us too but you knew getting into this what Harry Ron and I were about…" She said walking over to him. He took her hands in his. "If its helps I really wasn't hurt no broken bones or anything this blood isn't even mine." he shook his head with a small fake smile it didn't help a bit.
"Why wouldn't you let me help you?" he asked quietly.
"Because… I didn't want you getting hurt."
"So it is really I who was treated like a china doll." Viktor said.
"A very manly china doll." He laughed lightly.
"Well as long as I am manly doll." He took her into his arms.
"You know that fight wasn't how I saw our reunion going…"
"How did you see it luff?" he asked pulling away.
"Mmm… Bit like this." She kissed him gently. Viktor pulled her closer to his body as his hand moved through her hair. A knock sounded on the door making them both break away quickly. The librarian peeked in.
"So this book should be exactly what you're looking for Mr. Krum." Hermione said handing him a book. He smiled at her.
"Thank you." He said.
"Oh Hermione I didn't tell you after winter break no one is allowed to check out a book for three days because of inventory."
"Oh right inventory." Hermione said. "Give that back." She took the book back making him laugh lightly.
"Which is why I came to find you no one is to be in the library we're looking over the restricted section."
"Oh alright I'm sorry I didn't know."
"It's alright it's a new rule." She said with a smile. "I hate to do it but I have to kick you two out." Hermione and Viktor walked past the librarian as she started to put books away.
"Meet me at our window." Viktor whispered into her ear as he placed a chaste kiss on her neck before running off. Hermione blushed deeply before she too ran off.
When Hermione got up into her room she went to her closet and quickly changed her blood covered shirt to a fresh white one. She looked herself over in the mirror it looked alright with the pleated grey uniform skirt she was wearing. She looked her makeup and hair over in the mirror fixing the imperfections as she did she heard a knock and turned to see Viktor waiting at the window. She smiled and walked over and opening it up he flew inside and set down placing the fire bolt in the corner of the room with a smile before turning to face her. Hermione and Viktor looked at each other for a long time there was something building between them. Both could feel it. Viktor suddenly crossed the space between them and pulled Hermione to his body as his mouth moved against hers.
Hermione rested her hands on his chest as she stood on her tip toes to better reach him. She couldn't help but smile against his mouth as he started to walk her backwards. She knew where they were going but she didn't mind. She pushed his red fur lined robes off his shoulders letting them fall to the ground at their feet. Hermione's knees buckled against the bed causing her to fall back. Viktor smiled at the small laugh she made as he pressed her down into the mattress.
They both kicked their shoes off as their kisses became more and more heated. Hermione grabbed onto his shoulder and flipped him onto his back as she climbed up straddling him. Viktor sat up and wrapped his arms around her tightly as he rang his tongue across her bottom lip. She smiled as she granted him access moaning against his mouth as his tongue slipped in. Everything was fine and swell until she felt his hands go to the hem of her shirt to pull it off. Without her permission her hands shot and grabbed onto his stopping him.
"I am sorry luff." He said. "To fast…"
"No… It's not that…" Hermione said quietly shaking her head. She knew why she had, had that panicked reaction and it wasn't because she thought they were moving too fast.
"Then what is it?"
"I uhm… My body…"
"You have perfect body…" he said smiling at her shyness.
"Not really…" she said quietly.
It's now or never you have to tell him…
"What is it luff?" He asked.
"Tonight you got to see how Harry Ron and I get roughed up… But that's not the worst I've been hurt… Some of the times I've been hurt so badly that… Well I've scarred… The one you saw on our second date it's not the only one I have…"
"I have scars too." He said.
"Yes but you're a boy…" she said with a soft smile. "They make you look more rugged handsome and manly… But mine they just make me look… Ugly…"
"You could never be ugly…" he said cupping her cheek.
"Viktor…" she looked away.
I hate feeling self conscious…
"Let me see you luff…" he whispered as he kissed her his hands sliding down to her shirt. She slowly nodded.
It's going to happen eventually Hermione… she thought as her eyes shut tightly. Viktor slowly lifted her shirt off her head to reveal a light pink laced bra. She had a glorious body the uniforms Hogwarts had her wear didn't do her justice. She was toned from years of fighting; her skin a porcelain white. His hands moved across her sides and he stopped as he felt something raise beneath his fingertips. He slowly looked down and tilted his head. She had a harsh scar right at her rib cage it was raised and jagged. Hermione suddenly crossed her arms over her body and got off of him.
"Luff." He said as he watched her walk away her arms couldn't shield her back and he stared at what looked like a three strike scar caused by an animal. It went from her right shoulder blade to her left hip. Before she could put her shirt back he walked to her and kissed her shoulders. He smiled against her warm skin. "These scars aren't ugly…" he said. "You should be proud of them… They show you are a survivor. They're battle scars…" his hands traced down the claw marks on her back. She slowly turned. "All I haf are Quidditch scars. Thess though they are scars of fighter. "
"I've seen you without your shirt on I didn't see any." She said with a soft expression. He slowly took off his shirt Hermione blushed deeply. She slowly glanced down her hands moving to his abbs where she could now see a long jagged scar.
"How did you get his one?" she asked.
"I'll tell you my stories if you tell me yours…" he said as he laid her back on the bed moving over her. "What's this one from?" he kissed the scar right on her rib cage he smiled as he felt her give a small shiver.
"That one is from devils snare… One of the thorns cut into me…" she said quietly. His body moved up hers to kiss a long scar that traced the line of her abbs. "Whomping willow.." He moved his mouth to her waist and kissed the area just above her skirt where a small circular scar was. "That's a burn from the world cup…" she said softly as she felt him slowly began to kiss up her body. She never thought she would feel so thankful about having so many scars for him to kiss. Little did she know Viktor was thankful for the same thing. When he reached her mouth they both turned so Hermione was sitting up on him once more. He sat up his arms moving up her back as he did.
"What about the ones on your back?" he asked quietly as he kissed her neck.
"Werewolf…" she said quietly. He slowly pulled away to see she was smiling softly.
"A were wolf did that to you?" she nodded.
"Then wouldn't that mean that-."
"I am a werewolf?" she asked with a smile. "No… There is always the chance when an injury like that is sustained… But I got lucky. I was under ministry watch for six months but I never turned." She said quietly. "I have to warn you though I do get a little crabby around full moons." He laughed.
"Look at how much I'm learning about you without your shirt on." Hermione playfully slapped him in the shoulder. "Wonder what else I could learn if I…"
"Don't even think it." she said stopping his hands from moving up her skirt as he laughed.
"Worth shot." Hermione smiled softly. She pushed him down her hands on his shoulders as she laid her head on his chest. Viktor engulfed her with his arms. "I do so very much love you…" he smiled.
"I love you too…" he ran his fingers up and down her back soothingly. She looked to him her chin resting on his chest. She thumbed a long jagged scar on his peck.
"What's this one?" she asked kissing it. Je smiled at the feeling of her lips against his skin.
"That is from a rouge bludger…" she moved down his body kissing a circular scar right on his rib cage.
"This one?" he shivered with a smile.
"I was thrown into the stands during a game… Cut myself on some splintered wood." Hermione searched his body.
"You said you had a lot of scars you only have two…"
"To bad for me." Hermione smiled as she kissed her way back up his chest and then to his mouth. Viktor smiled as his hand went through her hair the other one moving up her back slowly. She rolled off him to the side her arms encircling his trim waist
"If I may say luff… Pink is your color…" she blushed knowing he was talking about her bra.
"You should see the red one." He looked at her to see she had a wicked smile playing up her lips.
"Vixen…" he said quietly with his own smile. Hermione squealed as he pushed her down into the mattress his mouth crashing against hers.
-o-
Viktor slowly woke up his internal clock beeping in his head. He found he wasn't in his cabin but in Hermione's room. He smiled remembering last night's events. They had been intimate with each other for many hours kissing, touching, and laughing. He had never had so much fun while kissing a woman before. He had to control himself the whole time, he had wanted nothing more than to take off the rest of her clothing and make her his. He knew that would be too soon for her. He looked to Hermione to see she was curled into herself under the covers. She was wearing his shirt that he was sure of. Viktor pulled Hermione close to him she gave a small sigh as she snuggled close.
"Hermione luff…" he said into her ear.
"Five more minutes Viktor…" she whispered her arms moving around him.
"We haf to get up its seven twenty…" Hermione jumped to her feet.
"How late?! Viktor I have class in twenty minutes I can't get ready that fast!" he watched her take off his shirt and throw it at him he laughed as he caught it Hermione rushed to her closet where she closed the door to change. She knew Viktor didn't have classes until later then that but even still she wished he had so he would feel the panic she did. She came out of the closet slash changing area in her robes. Viktor was now fully dressed sitting on her bed crossed leg he found it all very funny. Not until he watched her grab the time turner from her vanity. Viktor rushed over with a horrified look. "What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm late like really late." She said.
"You don't need this just tell them you over slept."
"I had a test today Viktor! It's already been a half hour."
"They'll let you re take it."
"Trust me when I say Snape won't let me retake it." Viktor took the time turner and with a snap of his fingers it disappeared. He watched as she stared at him like he had just killed someone.
"Give it back." She said.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because it's… it's gone now luff."
"I can't believe you just did that to me!" with that she rushed off.
"Hermione it's not that big of deal!" he called as she slammed the door.
-o-
Hermione slowly came out of her potions class in a daze. She couldn't believe it had happened. She couldn't believe she had failed.
"Hermione it's not that big a deal…" Neville said his hand on her shoulder.
"He's going to kill me…" she muttered.
"Who?"
"My dad." She said quickly. "I can't believe that just happened."
"You would have past if he had just let you put in that last ingredient." Hermione felt ill.
"I have to go…" she said quietly as she walked past him.
"Hermione it's going to be fine!" he called. "You'll see!"
-o-
Viktor stood with the other students. They were in the middle of a magical creatures lessons. They were looking over a rare species of monster plants which is why sprout was teaching it instead of Haggrid. Even so he had a late paper he needed to hand into the half giant half human teacher. When the lesson ended he walked to the small hut that acted as the teacher's home. When he got near the door he heard crying inside. He slowly pushed it open to find Hermione in a large chair an even larger glass of tea in hand.
"It doesn't matter Hermione." Haggrid said.
"It does matter." She said wiping the tears away. "He wouldn't let me finish if I just finished I would have passed!"
"Hermione you're the wisest witch of your age everyone knows that." He said.
"Snape doesn't think so he said if I was so wise I should have been on time."
"Why didn't you use your time turner?" Hermione just cried harder.
"Viktor took it." Viktor had never seen Hermione so distraught.
"Viktor, Viktor Krum?" Haggrid asked before seeing the boy in question.
"My father is going to kill me he'll take me out of Hogwarts for this… I know he will he's just waiting for a bloody excuse. He already said he would." she wiped more tears away while Haggrids dog came and sat on her feet licking her shoe affectionately.
"You her time turner lets have it!" Haggrid boomed walking over to Viktor. Hermione slowly looked up wiping the last of her tears away. Viktor snapped his fingers the device coming back into sight. Haggrid took it and rushed back to Hermione.
"Here mione now you can fix it…" he said.
"No no I can't." she said shaking her head. "I can't because what's done is done I was in the classroom if I walked in again while my other self…" she stopped. "I'm so stupid I can't even explain the situation!"
"You're not stupid." Haggrid said taking her hand. "There's no spell out there you can't do…And you would have finished that potion on time if Snape hadn't taken your last ingredient." Hermione slowly looked to him with tear filled eyes. The look reminded him much of the first time she had ever been called a mudblood and Ron had cursed himself on accident. He pattered her hand. "No more crying.. Ay?" he asked. She slowly nodded a smile slipping over her features. "I'll talk to snape I'll get you a retest…" Haggrid stood. "As for you young man… You should be ashamed picking on Hermione like that… Now Hermione I hate to leave but I do have a class."
"I understand." Hermione said. "I'll finish my tea and be off." Haggrid gave her small smile before leaving. Viktor slowly looked to Hermione.
"I didn't know you'd be so upset about being late…" Viktor said quietly walking over to her only to have the hound at her feet growl and snap at him.
"It's alright…" Hermione said petting him before looking to Viktor. "I wasn't upset about being late... Snape failed me. I had three minutes to finish my potion when he took my last ingredient and started lecturing me during that time about being late… So I never got to put it in and the potion turned to swill. If I had had my time turner I wouldn't have been late and he would have never done that…"
"I just don't like the thought of you time traveling…"
"Viktor I have to know…" She said looking to him. "Why do you hate it so much? If I knew maybe I'd stop…" he looked to her for a long moment before sitting down next to her in the huge chair. He took her hands in his the time turner still held within her grasp.
"Asen isn't my eldest brother…" she looked to him. "My eldest brothers name was Ivan named after my father. He was a time traveler like you… Not because of classes but because it was his job at the ministry… While traveling through time we're not sure what happened but he got lost…" Hermione's eyes grew wide. "He was missing for six months before his body was found on the stair case of my family's home. He had aged 200 years he was old shriveled and dead… My brother… The strongest man I knew rendered dead because of a time turner." She looked down at the time tuner in her grasp. "You say you know the dangers of time traveling but I haf to wonder if you really do…" She looked to him. "He did nothing wrong his time turner it must have just broken… Maybe one too many spins… I don't know… We'll never know…" He closed her hands over the device. "This is why I don't want you to use it. Losing my brother was hard to take… Losing you would be unbearable…" Hermione looked down at the time turner.
"I won't use it any more…" she said quietly. "I'll give it back to Dumbledore tomorrow." He smiled as she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him.
"I'm so sorry Viktor if I had known…"
"I should haf told you before then we wouldn't have gotten into all this trouble." He kissed her hairline as she pulled away.
"I'm sorry about your brother." She said quietly setting her hand on his cheek.
"Me too Luff… Me too…" he closed his eyes as he took her other hand and kissed the back. He looked to her to see her eyes had welled up again.
"I know what it's like to lose a sibling… We're never quite whole afterwards are we?" she asked quietly.
"You said you were an only child…" Hermione reached into her robes and grabbed a woman's bill fold. She opened it and pulled something out.
"I am… Well now I am…" she said softly as she held what looked like to be a picture to her chest. "I had a little brother…" she handed him the photo. He looked down at a young boy with bright brown eyes and curly blonde hair. He was sitting in a younger Hermione's lap. "He died when I was 12 and he was just 2…" she said quietly.
"How'd he die?" he asked quietly.
"My mom told me he had a small heart…" she said quietly. "That's why he was sick all the time… On winter break when I was in my first year I came home for the holidays and he was bed ridden… On Christmas morning he slipped into a comma and he died…" he looked to her to see she had a pained expression. "I was with him… Its why my parents and I never spend Christmas at our house…"
"What was his name?" she smiled softly as she took the photo.
"Jack after my dad… I called him..." she laughed with a watery smile. "I called him jackalope because he was always running around… He'd laugh so loud at that…"
"Why did your parents act like it was only ever you?"
"We don't talk about him… It's just too painful… Whenever I mention him my dad flies off the handle… He blames me you see."
"He blames you?"
"Because he thinks there was a spell that could have saved him… And there was one that could but I was too young… I tried and tried to cast the spell and it just wouldn't happen… and he died." Viktor suddenly understood Hermione constant need for knowledge. Why she was so intent on protecting everyone around her. Because in her eyes she had failed in doing so with her brother.
"It wasn't your responsibility to save him." Viktor said taking her hand.
"I know that now…" she said quietly before looking to him with a soft expression. "Thank you for telling me about Ivan…" she said.
"Thank you for telling me about Jack…" he took her hand. "Come on luff lets go back to my cabin we'll have dinner together." she nodded as she took back Jacks picture.
"Sounds good…" she put the time turner securely around her neck and they headed off. "Do you think Snape we'll let me re test?"
"I'm sure of it." he said with a smile.
-o-
When they got to the cabin they found food already set up. Hermione took off her robes and folded them neatly on his couch. Viktor smiled as he watched this she was always meticulous with her clothing.
"I'm going to take off my shoes feel free to do the same." Viktor said as he kicked them off. Hermione got out of her flats and pushed them under the couch away from sight. She then turned with a smile as she loosened her tie slightly and pushed up her sleeves. She walked over to the table and sat down across from Viktor who was already filling a plate for her. He watched as her attention was suddenly pulled away from him. He turned to see she was looking at the golden egg on the bed.
"Can…" she stopped and looked to him. "May I see it? Harry hasn't let me near his and since you already figured it out…"
"Sure go ahead luff…"
"I really want to open it." she said picking up.
"I really don't want you too." He said with a laugh.
"What if I can figure it out?" Hermione asked.
"There's no way you can figure it out." Hermione arched an eyebrow as she walked to him the egg held in her hand.
"I bet you…" she looked up in thought. "Five galleons I can figure it out."
"You know I'm rich right?"
"Fine five hundred."
"You know you're not rich right?" She laughed.
"If you say so... Fine twenty galleons."
"Alright you're on." He said standing. Hermione un did the egg and jumped as it started screeching. Viktor covered his ears while Hermione stared at the screeching egg. "How are you standing that!?" he yelled over the unholy noise. Hermione didn't answer but set the screaming egg on the desk and pulled out her wand. "Silencing won't work!" water shot out of her wand and created an orb around the egg instantly it went silent. Hermione smiled and turned to Viktor who was staring.
"It's the speech of the mer people…" Hermione said and Viktor stared at the water covered egg which was now silent.
"How did you know that?" He asked blinking.
"Because Mer people can't sing or talk above the ground when they try they screech. They can hum though a lot of people don't know that." She walked towards the swirling orb of water around the egg with a smile. She could faintly hear whatever they were saying.
"So are they singing or talking?" she asked.
"Singing… The next task clues were in rhyme." He said. "I can't believe you figured it out…"
"How did you?" Hermione asked.
"I dropped it over board on accident had to jump in to get it that's when I heard the song." He said.
"Harry hasn't had an accident like that… I'm worried he hasn't really figured it out. If he had he would be asking for my help…"
"The task is two weeks away…" he said. "And it's a hard one… He won't be able to figure out how to do what he needs to do in that time."
"Lucky I have been preparing for a task in the black lake. I can teach him a spell to help him breathe under water…"
"He'll have to do the spell himself though."
"The spells I know he won't be able to do not in this amount of time." She said. "Why didn't he just show me his egg I would have been able to help him figure this out weeks ago."
"Maybe he didn't want your help."
"Why wouldn't He I've been helping him for years." She said as he reached into the water and closed the egg before pointing her wand and sucking the water back into it. Viktor handed her a towel to dry her hands.
"Maybe because he is tired of help." Hermione looked to him and laughed lightly.
"Not possible… We're best friends." She said as she walked to his bathroom and folded the towel over the rack before coming back out and sitting at the table.
"Maybe he wants to prove he can do things on his own." He smiled at the way she looked up in thought while nibbling her bottom lip.
"Nope I don't think that's it." he laughed. She was going to refuse to believe in the fact that it may be possible Harry was becoming independent. He handed her a plate of food. "Thank you." She said.
"I was meaning to ask did you ever find a dress for the Yule ball?" she smiled.
"I did. It's funny both our moms pitched in and picked out the perfect one. Something I would have never picked for myself in a million years…"
"What color is it?"
"I was told by both my mum and my Bulgarian mother that I could not tell you anything about it…" he smiled at her words glad Hermione was thinking of his mom as her own. "Have you picked out your dress robes?"
"All Durmstrang boys will be wearing the same thing as custom with the school."
"Are they nice? The uniforms?"
"I think so." He said.
"So is Jamous going to hurry up and ask Padma to the ball?"
"He is still studying that list you sent him." Hermione laughed as she ate her portion of meat and potatoes. "That's really good." He said with a smile. "I wish the house elves at my school made food this good."
"Speaking of house elves guess what." She said.
"What?" he asked.
"Well the day I realized I wanted to be minister of magic you remember that?"
"I do yes." He said with a smile remembering the way she had struck fear into the heart of the minister.
"Well I sent in an application for a summer internship at the ministry. I was 1 out of 500 applicants guess who got the job."
"You did?"
"No but I got runner up!" he laughed. "Percy Weasley my friend's brother he got the job… Probably because he didn't threaten the minister with taking his job but isn't it exciting that I even just got runner up. They said that if Percy can't handle his duties I can step in and help for a lesser pay of course… Not that I care about the money." He smiled at how eager she was at even just being considered.
-o-
After dinner Viktor had some home work to do so Hermione curled on his bed one of his Quidditch books in her lap. He smiled at the way she was studying it closely. After an hour of staring at one of the creatures in his magical creatures work book he sighed heavily.
"I cannot figure this out!" he said in frustration. "I give up…" Hermione walked over and leaned over his shoulder.
"What are you trying to figure out?"
"If this is an animagus or an actual werewolf…"
"It's an anamagus…" she said looking at the many different pictures of the human trying to pass as a magical creature.
"How do you know that?" he asked.
"Because werewolves don't always crawl like this one is doing… They often stand on their hind legs… And they howl before attacking anything… Here in this moving picture he just goes straight at the deer without even howling to mark his attack…"
"I've been looking at this problem for an hour you figured it in less than a minute."
"Hey if it was any other creature I wouldn't know… Remember I was actually attacked by a werewolf."
"True." He said. "Well I'm all done." He said closing the book. "What do you want to do?"
"I'm actually a bit tired I think I'll head back to my room. Will you give me a ride?"
"Sure luff." He said as he grabbed his firebolt and headed outside the cabin with her. He got on and then Hermione climbed into his lap. He smiled as she shot off into the air Hermione giving a carefree laugh as he did.
-o-
The next three days Viktor didn't get to see much of Hermione except in passing through the halls. She was always right near Harry talking in hushed whispers as Ron followed. She would send him a smile which told him everything was alright. Finally it was two days before the ball and he really needed to see Hermione. He searched the library for the third time that day. It was getting late if he didn't find her here he would fly to her window, but he had done that the night before and found her nowhere in sight. He had waited for two hours and still she had not come back.
He spotted Hermione walking up some stairs to the study rooms and smiled as he began to follow her. She walked to the last room and shut the door. Hermione sat down at the table tons of books spread out in front of her. She heard the door open and sighed.
"The room is taken." She said.
"I can see that luff…" she jumped slightly before smiling brightly at him.
"Hey you…" she seemed very excited to see him as she stood walked over to him and kissed him quickly. "I'm glad you came and found me I was going to stop by your cabin tonight after I was done studying…"
"Really?" he asked with a smile as he sat down with her at the table. "That's funny because I really need to talk to you…"
"Really alright…" She closed her books giving him her full attention. "What's going on?"
"May I speak in Bulgarian?"
"Of course you never have to ask." She said in Bulgarian with a smile.
"Alright… Well in two days is the Yule ball." She nodded. "And everyone will know about us… I'm not sure you understand what that entails…"
"I do I've thought a lot about it, and I've read the articles about your past girlfriends who were attacked by fangirls… I've already started getting bad letters from girls all around the world." He looked to her.
"You have?"
"Yeah one even said die mudblood die." She said.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it didn't bother me I expected this to happen…" she took his hands. "I knew what I might be getting into when I first said yes to our first date. I weighed the pros and cons and all I found was a lot of pros and one little con…" he smiled. "Don't worry about me… I'm ready to face the world about us… But are you?"
"I am." He said with a smile as he kissed the back of her hands. "I just worry for your safety…"
"Well don't worry if I can take down a few trolls I can take down a few fan girls if need be."
"Good." He said with a smile as they kissed. "So what are you studying?" He asked returning to English.
"Everything I can about the black lake… When Harry asks for my help I can give him-."
"He hasn't asked for your help yet?"
"Uhm… No…"
"What makes you think he will ask?"
"Because he always asks…"
"Hermione the task is just half a week away…"
"I know I know…" she said. "Look in three days if he doesn't ask I'll ask him if I can help he'll take it I'm sure."
"Luff he may not-."
"He wants my help I'm sure of it!" she slightly snapped. "He can't do this alone… He must know that…" He could tell she was freaking out.
"He can though luff." He said taking her hand. "I know you're worried about him he's like your brother but he's growing up and he needs to do things on his own… He'll come to you for help but most likely not until the day before the trials when he's really deeply in need of help."
"But that not enough time he'll get hurt in the task if he waits that long… Harry he's not a fair swimmer…"
"Don't panic luff…" he said. "Things will work out."
"I just wish I knew what the egg said…"
"I could-."
"No… Harry… He needs to figure this out on his own… Like you said. He wouldn't want me running to him to tell him what your egg said." he nodded with a smile. She was coming to terms with the fact that Harry was becoming his own person. "Should I keep studying the lake then?" she asked looking to the books.
"Is there anything you don't know about the lake?"
"I don't know how many species of kelp there is…" she spotted a book and glanced. "Now I do…" she sighed.
"Luff what is wrong?"
"I feel so useless."
"You are not useless to me… I haf questions about the lake." He smiled at the way her eyes brightened.
"Really?" she asked sitting up.
"Yes."
"Here…" she handed him a note pad and quill. "Ask me anything."
"Alright… Is the lake fresh water or salt water?" he asked writing down the question.
"Salt." She said with a smile.
"Are their sharks?"
"No." she said with a smile.
"What are the most dangerous things in the lake?"
-o-
Hermione smiled after two hours. Viktor sat back in his chair flipping through all the information Hermione had given him without so much as going to the books that were out in front of her.
"Hermione?" he asked.
"Yes?" she was beaming.
"How do you keep this all straight in head of yours?"
"No idea." She said standing and looking at her watch. "Will I see you before the ball?" he stood as well.
"I don't know luff…" he said.
"Oh…" She said with a smile. "Then should we just meet at the great hall before we're to walk in?"
"Sounds good."
"Okay… well I have to close up the library."
"I will help." She smiled.
"Much obliged."
-o-
That night when Hermione got to her bedroom she found three letters waiting for her. One from Sophia in Bulgaria, another from Stony and one from her dad. She opened the two from Bulgaria first.
Dear Hermione,
How is your first week back? I hope it's well. Stony misses you dearly so you may be receiving a letter from him as well. How is my Viktor doing? How are you parents doing, I've been writing to your mother you know. Ivan to your father, he's so interested in that Muggle game… you know where you kick the quaffle? What's it called dear? Anyways I just wanted to check in.
From your mother in Bulgaria,
Sophia
Hermione smiled as she opened up the second one.
Dear Hermione,
I did a lot of things today, polished the brooms in the broom room. Practiced spells with the dummy wand you gave me, oh and the remember orb helped me remember to put my Quidditch pads on before I went up in the air. Anyways missing you here in Bulgaria when will you be coming back soon? I still want to hear the werewolf story.
Sincerely
Stony
Hermione quickly wrote her replies back before looking to her note from her father. She slowly opened it and looked down.
Hermione,
How are you doing love? How's Viktor? I've been writing to his father you know? We've been speaking a lot about Football. Hermione can you please tell me what a quaffle is? That's what Ivan keeps calling the foot ball. Anyways hope everything's well
Love,
Dear old dad.
Hermione smiled she was sure it was going to be another bad letter instead it had been very nice. She quickly wrote a lengthy reply back and set her letters aside to mail.