A/N: Hi!

I'm sorry...I didn't update as soon as I'd hoped I could...but I'm here now, right? :D

And thank you, you all are so sweet with your reviews and I'm actually really surprised that you guys weren't really mad at me. I feel loved :)

Anyway, enjoy this chap, guys! I hope you like it!

Hermione POV

I was so startled, I almost fell over.

"V-Viktor!" I stammered. It'd been three years since I had seen him, and he looked almost the same.

If there was anything different about him, it'd be that he looked a bit more muscular, a little more mature, and he'd grown a mustache.

"How are you?" he smiled, taking my right hand. He kissed it lightly, held onto it for a while, and reluctantly let go.

I heard Draco let out a low growl, showing his clear disapproval. He had a sort of loathing look on his face as he scowled at Krum.

"I-I'm doing well. What are you doing here? I thought you'd graduated?" I asked, confused.

"I did, but I decided that I vould most enjoy going back to Durmstrang. I am a sort ove professor." he explained.

"That's good." I smiled.

His glance shifted over to the scowling Draco. "Who is that boy?" he asked, pointing. Draco stood up immediately.

"I'm Draco Malfoy," announced Draco, arrogantly, "Hermione's boyfriend."

Viktor's eyebrows furrowed, and he looked confused.

"Boyfriend?" he repeated. Draco nodded his head slightly, while I awkwardly shifted my position.

"That is funny...I vos not aware ve had broken up." spoke Krum, with a glance towards me.

Well, this was awkward.

"Did...you not get my owl?" I asked, glancing at Draco's look of loathing towards Viktor.

"I must not have." said Viktor.

"I...sent it about two years ago..." I told him, awkwardly. "It..I...long-distance relationships are something I don't exactly like." I said, glancing away.

"I see." nodded Viktor.

"So, I'm sorry." I apologized.

"You are vary kind, Her-my-oh-nee. But I do not plan on giving you up so easily." he said.

I froze. "Uh...excuse me?" I asked.

"I don't mind fighting for your heart." smiled Viktor. I could sense that Draco wanted to rip his head off.

"Um..." This was really awkward. First Ronald, then McLaggen, and now Viktor?

"I don't think so." snapped Draco.

Viktor ignored him. "Do you have a date for the Ball?" asked Viktor, looking at me.

"Yes, she does!" growled Draco. People were starting to gather around us. I wanted to sink into the floor and hide.

"And that vould be?" asked Krum.

"Me, of course!" snapped Draco.

"So you have gotten the tickets?" asked Krum.

Draco stopped. "Tickets?"

Viktor smirked. "I suppose not."

"What tickets?" asked another voice. Ron.

"I didn't hear about tickets." said another. Cormac.

"They announced it during the feast. You must have missed it." said Viktor.

All four boys glared at one another. I could see them all reaching for their wands.

"I'm going to be taking her to the ball." said Draco, in a deadly voice.

"Don't be too sure." retored Cormac.

"Stupefy!" called Ron.

"How dare you?" roared Viktor. "Expelliarmus!"

"Piss off!" growled Draco, casting a spell from his wand. Within a few more seconds, all of the boys were in a full on duel. A large crowd had gathered to watch. I sighed, stepped out of the crowd, and took a seat at the Gryffindor table, and began on my essay.

"Shut it, you creeper! She doesn't want some old guy macking on her!"

"3 years is not much!"

"Piss off, you gingered weasel!"

"You aren't better, you albino ferret!"

"Shut up, pretty boy goldilocks!"

"Who the hell is goldilocks?"

"Some muggle character, but that's not the point!"

I sighed. These boys were absolute idiots.

"What is going on in here?" called a stern voice. Headmistress McGonagall almost stomped down to where the four boys were attacking each other. They stopped immediately, once her scowling face came in view.

"Headmistress!" exclaimed Ron, growing redder and redder. McLaggen and Draco quickly and immaturely hid their wands behind their back. Viktor looked ashamed.

"I apologize, Headmistress." said Viktor, bowing slightly. "We vere immature."

"Mr. Krum, perhaps you would like to head down to the Durmstrang rooms." said McGonagall, clearly dismissing him. He glanced at me once more, and walked away.

McGonagall then turned to the other three boys. "Do I need to ask what you were fighting about?" asked McGonagall, raising an eyebrow.

I looked away, and tried to make myself blend in with the crowd.

"Um...no?" said Ron, looking awkward.

She looked at the boys suspiciously. "Well then, I won't bother. Detention, all of you. You can help Professor Slughorn sort ingredients tonight. The potions classroom. Tonight, from 7-9. And I'll be taking 5 points from Slytherin and 10 points from Gryffindor as well." she said, strictly.

"Alright." grumbled Ron. Cormac scowled and Draco groaned.

She walked away as quickly as she came, and Cormac, Ron and Draco all glared at each other again.

"She's mine." hissed Draco, and with that, he ran over to me, took a seat next to me, and glared at the two Gryffindors as they walked away.

"You are all immensely immature." I told him.

"You are MINE. They're trying to steal you." growled Draco.

I slammed my book closed and looked at him. "Do you take me to be a piece of property?"

"Of course not. You're independent, strong, kind, and smart." he replied, smiling cutely.

I just stared at him, and sighed. "I have got to get used to your mood swings."

It was a little past nine, when the door slammed open. A scowling Draco with red hair that was all over the place stormed in.

"Why hello! A relative of the Weasleys, I assume?" I teased.

"Not funny, Hermione." he growled, heading straight for the bathroom.

I followed him. "What happened?" I asked, crossing my arms as I leaned against the door frame.

"That damned McLaggen kid got the powered Olaton skin everywhere, and everyone's hair changed color. I'm stuck looking like this scum." he scowled, turning on the faucet in the sink, and throwing his hair into the water.

I sighed, and walked over to the shower, where I got his shampoo. "Here, you little princess."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." he called. I chuckled.

"But you ARE going to be my date, right?" he asked, "For tomorrow?"

"I don't go back on my work. I said I would, and I will." I told him. He didn't respond, but I could guess he was smiling.

Finally, he flicked his head back up, spraying tiny droplets of water everywhere, including me.

"Hey!" I exclaimed. He shook his head back and forth, causing a bigger mess. Finally, he grabbed a towel, and began rubbing his hair.

"You're like a dog, but you're also a princess. How is that supposed to work?" I frowned.

"Again, I'm pretending you didn't just say something to me. I smiled.

In the night, I was vulnerable. Ever since the war, I had gotten a fair enough of nightmares. Apparently, I was just too stressed and nervous, but I couldn't help myself.

This was one of those times.

I dreamt about a man. Tall, bald, noseless, with a ghastly face. Voldemort. He raised his wand, and from it shot green lights. People went flying, all dead.

Harry. Ginny. The Weasleys. My mum. My dad.

Then, McGonagall was there, holding a letter of expulsion. "You aren't a witch!" she yelled.

Then, there was Draco.

He stood there, choking. He was clearly weak, but there wasn't a scratch on him.

He was struggling to breathe, and his face was paler than usual.

"It's been a month! Your time is up, Draco!" cackled a voice. It made my feel cold.

He looked at me. "Her...Mione...this is all your fault..." he gasped. And with one last breath, he fell over, blood flowing from his mouth.

"NOOOOO!" I shouted. And my eyes snapped open.

I was sweating. My covers had been kicked onto the floor. I was breathing heavily.

Then, there was a figure. Tall, with a ghastly face, standing by my bed.

"AHHHH!" I screamed. And then, the figure threw a pillow at me.

"What the hell, Hermione? Are you trying to get us in trouble? Quit yelling! It's 3 in the morning!" hissed a familiar voice. Draco. His eyes looked worried.

I sighed. "Sorry. Nightmare."

"Wanna talk about it?" he asked, taking a seat on my bed, and pulling the covers off of the floor.

"I...just...it's nothing. I just...have these dreams. Security issues, I suppose." I told him, wiping some sweat from my forehead.

"Like what happened?" he asked, softly.

"Everyone was dying. And the McGonagall expelled me. And then you...died, and you told me it was my fault, since I didn't accept the mate thing." I told him.

It sounded so stupid.

He smirked. "What a load of bullshit. Hermione, if you rejected me, and I died, I would never blame you. It's a huge thing to accept. I wouldn't blame you." he smiled. "Maybe it's because I'm your mate, but I would want you to be happy."

"Maybe?" I asked.

"Either that, or I've fallen in love with you." he said, softly.

And then he snorted. "Just kidding. It's because you're my mate."

I scowled at him. Then sighed. "Ok. You should get to sleep."

"That's alright. I'll sit with you until you fall asleep. Just in case." he smiled.

"That's creepy." I told him, lying down.

"That's what a good boyfriend does."

"Don't you dare do anything to me while I'm sleeping."

"You sick minded person."

"I mean it! Don't even touch me."

"I won't."

"Promise?"

"Can I hold your hand?"

"...Fine."

"Sleep well, Hermione."

"You're being stupid."

"Wow. Thanks."

"Night, Draco."

The next morning, I woke up, feeling better. More refreshed. And more light hearted towards Draco. He was pretty sweet, to be honest.

"Good morning." he said, as soon as I stepped out of my bedroom. He held up two tickets.

"Now, those bastards can't take you." he smiled.

I ignored him. "Let's get to class, Draco."

"Whatever you say, my dear."

"Hermione!" called a voice. Cormac was jogging up to us. Draco immediately developed a facial expression that looked slightly like he was trying to make his head explode with his mind.

"Cormac." I said calmly, trying to walk past him.

"I was wondering," he asked, pulling out two tickets. "If you'd like to go to the ball tonight with me."

"Why you-!" exclaimed Draco. He was interrupted by another voice.

"Hermione!"

I rolled my eyes. "Piss off, Ronald."

"No, please, I was a complete idiot! Please forgive me?" he asked.

"Not even in your wildest dreams." I growled.

"Come on, 'Mione! I even got tickets!" he pleaded, pulling tickets from his pockets.

"Not you too!" yelled Draco.

"Her-my-oh-nee." said a soft voice.

I sighed. "Viktor."

"Let me guess," hissed Draco. "You came to ask Hermione to the ball and you brought tickets."

He looked confused. "Vhy, yes. Vos it that obvious?"

"THAT IS IT!" hollered Draco, pulling his wand from his robes. "I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU BASTARDS!"

The other three drew their wands as well, and my reaction was quickest.

"Expelliarmus!" I yelled, and caught their wands. Except for Ron's. I let his hit the ground. Just in case, though, I lightly stepped on it, keeping it in place.

"I don't need a wand to make damage!" said Draco, through gritting his teeth. Without any warning, he threw a flying kick right into Ron's mouth.

"Ah!" he yelled, covering his mouth. Blood was seeping through his fingers.

"And you, you bastard!" yelled Draco, punching Cormac in the gut. Cormac fell to his knees, clothing his stomach.

"And you, you Bulgarian Bon-Bon!" he snarled. Viktor looked ready to fight back.

"Oh no you don't!" yelled Ron, punching Draco in the face.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" I shouted, and all four boys stopped.

"Honestly, you guys have no whatsoever idea how to deal with women. You may want to go with me, but has any of you even thought about who I want to go with?"

"Er...who do you want to go with?" asked Ron, trying to stop the blood flow in his lip.

"I plan on attending the ball with Draco tonight because he asked me first and I said yes." I said, sharply. "Besides, he's my BOYFRIEND."

Draco quietly walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, looking smug.

"Oh." said Viktor, finally giving up. Cormac and Ron glared at Draco.

"Have fun with finding a date, Gryffinwhores." smirked Draco, and he pulled me away from them.

"You look much too happy, Draco." I noted.

"Only because the prettiest, sweetest, and smartest girl in the world just picked me over those other three." he smiled, cheekily.

"Flattery gets you nowhere." I told him.

"You just wait." he chuckled.

A/N: Did you like it? Yes? No?

I hope you did...and I suppose that ball is coming up soon :)

I'll update soon! Gimme like, a week! :D

Lots of luv,

REVIEW!

Cherri