Summary of chapter eleven: The students from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang have come to Hogwarts. Hermione got a bad feeling from Viktor Krum at dinner and eventually got Ron to walk with her back to the common room. However, Krum finds her alone when Ron is in the bathroom. He harassed her for a few minutes and then Ron came out and she hurried off with him.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books, and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Beta'd 7/11/21
Chapter Twelve
"Blimey, 'Mione. What's the rush? I coulda met Viktor Krum!" Hermione dragged Ron, practically in an all-out sprint, up to Gryffindor common room, and didn't bother answering until she was safely within its crimson walls. Panting, Hermione sat on the plush couch and grabbed a pillow, holding it close to her chest. "'Mione!"
"Can you just… drop it, Ronald? It was nothing." Hermione didn't know why her instinct was to forget that the situation with the Bulgarian even happened. She immediately set the pillow down and smoothed out any wrinkles on her clothes.
Ron looked more confused than ever, and ended up throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Alright, 'Mione. Whatever. I can't believe you did that to me." With that, Ron stomped up to the boys dormitory, slamming the door so hard she thought it would break.
Following her friend's lead, she went up to her room and shut the door, albeit softer than Ron. Laying down on her bed, she charmed the curtain shut as well as cast a silencing charm so her roommates wouldn't hear her when they got back.
Despite Hermione's earlier than usual exit at dinner, Draco had stayed until the end of the evening, enjoying himself with Theo and occasionally flirting with a Beauxbatons girl or two. Draco had taken notice of Durmstrang's star's exit; it seemed like he attempted to sneak out of the Great Hall.
Draco had looked to Theo and, after catching his attention, nodded towards the door, where Viktor had just exited. Theo didn't fully understand what Draco was trying to convey without words, but trusted his friend enough to know that it was important. Excusing himself from the Beauxbatons girl he'd been chatting up, Theo met Draco outside of the Great Hall.
Theo caught his friend just as he leaned against the wall. When he saw Theo, Draco pushed himself off the wall and nodded after Viktor, who appeared to be almost stalking up the stairs. Theo was confused as to why Viktor Krum was of any interest, but waited until he was sure Viktor was out of earshot to talk.
"What's with your sudden obsession with Krum?" Theo knew Draco wasn't the fanboy type, and he knew Draco met the seeker when he and his father had attended the Quidditch World Cup. Draco motioned for Theo to follow him as he snuck after the player.
"He was watching Granger really weirdly at dinner. Left right after her, too."
"Wait, are you into Granger or something?" At the question, Draco whirled around on his friend.
"Why would I be interested in some worthless mudblood? The Beauxbatons girl I talked to, Emily or Emma or something, said Viktor was known for being handsy. And not in the way witches like." Draco raised an eyebrow at Theo and, after a moment's hesitation, Theo nodded that they should follow the Durmstrang student.
Staying well enough behind Viktor so that he couldn't see them, the two Slytherins followed him through the castle. They noticed that he was hesitant to turn any corners, and stopped at one for a minute or two before continuing. The boys were unsure as to why he'd waited so long and hurried to the corner he'd stopped at, when they noticed him sauntering up to the Gryffindor in question. They watched the pair for a moment, until Hermione's loud yell echoed through the hallway.
"See, mate? Granger can take care of herself. C'mon, let's go." Draco nodded, agreeing that if anyone could take on a meathead jock like Krum, it was Granger.
Theo left first, heading back the way they came. Draco intended to follow him, but hesitated when he saw Krum's sleazy move of blocking Hermione in between his arms. Conflict swirled within him, as he contemplated telling off the Bulgarian seeker. However, it didn't seem like he needed to as the youngest Weasley boy exited the bathroom.
Satisfied that his help wasn't needed, Draco hurried off to where Theo was waiting at the end of the corridor. Theo cast him a confused look, but didn't question his friend's delay. A few moments passed before Theo began talking about the upcoming masquerade ball.
"Does Pansy know about the polyjuice potion?" Draco thought about his friend's question.
"I never told her. I just hope Crabbe and Goyle didn't let it slip, either." Draco stopped dead in his tracks. "What if they've told people? We'd get in so much trouble for using polyjuice potion."
Theo, who had continued on while Draco stopped, backtracked the few steps to his friend. "I doubt they have. Even they know that best case scenario, we get detention until the end of seventh year." He eyed his friend curiously. "Having second thoughts?"
"Merlin, no. I'd rather take a mudblood than spend the night with Filch." The pair shared a hearty laugh. However, while Theo thought of Draco, the most pureblood elitist he'd met, would go to the masquerade ball with a mudblood, Draco let his mind wander back to the first mudblood that came to mind.
Draco must have been lost in his thoughts, as what felt like seconds later, the pair were standing in front of the Slytherin common room entrance. Shaking his head, Draco pushed any thought associated with the Gryffindor girl.
The girl in question had stayed in the girl's dormitory all night, only falling into a fitful sleep before she awoke with the sun. She left the safety of her bed a few hours later to, once again, an empty dorm.
Hermione crept down the dormitory stairs to see if Ginny was in the common room. To her dismay, the youngest Weasley was absent from the common room, but she saw Harry instead. She contemplated going back upstairs to wait for Ginny, but she realized the thought of another moment alone would make her go crazy.
Straightening her shoulders, Hermione approached Harry, who was sitting in the same plush chair as usual, this time looking at the Marauder's Map. Sitting on the couch opposite Harry's chair, Hermione greeted her friend.
"Looking for anyone in particular, Harry?" Hermione's question seemed to catch Harry by surprise.
"Yeah, 'Mione…" Harry hesitated before he continued, "I'm looking for Ron." Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, not understanding why he'd be looking for his other best friend.
"Why?" A look of shame crossed his face and he put the map down to look at her.
"He said he was going flying to practice for our first match, but he's been with Viktor Krum for over half an hour now…" Hermione bristled at the Bulgarian's name but focused on Harry.
"Maybe Viktor joined him for flying?" Hermione didn't know what else to think.
"They're on the bridge we used to go to…" Harry's voice trailed off as he looked up at her, and Hermione remembered when the trio would go to the bridge near Dumbledore's and have deep talks that led to them being best friends, "They met in the courtyard and Ron took him there." Harry hastily threw the map on the floor. "It doesn't matter."
"Harry, he probably met Viktor in the courtyard and thought he'd like the view from the bridge." Harry looked hopeful at her statement. Hermione smiled in return.
"You're right, 'Mione." Harry banished the map to his room and turned to her. "What's up?"
Hermione considered telling Harry about her encounter with Viktor but thought better of it, realizing how fragile things seemed to be between him and Ron. "Just wanted to find you guys to work out the details for tonight." At the thought of the potential rule-breaking the night entailed, Hermione began wringing her hands. Harry noticed his friend's anxiety.
"The twins have some polyjuice potion that's been ready for a few days. Ginny 'talked some sense' into them, so to speak, and George is going to pretend to be you for tonight." Hermione nodded and thought for a moment longer.
"How's he going to last the whole night? Dumbledore extended curfew till midnight tonight, so that means detention is extended, as well." Harry smiled at her, clearly proud of himself for already thinking of that question.
"He's got enough to last until midnight exactly." One of Hermione's eyebrows raised, impressed that her friends had such a handle on it that they never bothered her. She wasn't incredibly surprised though, as Fred and George were smarter than they let on.
"Any idea where Ginny is?" Harry shook his head at Hermione's question. She shrugged, figuring she was probably with some of the other girls prepping for the masquerade ball. "So, do you have a date for tonight?" Hermione wiggled her eyebrows at Harry, already figuring who he'd asked if he had asked anyone.
"No…" Harry trailed off as he scratched the back of his neck. Hermione smiled knowingly.
"Harry James Potter! You're totally going with Ginny aren't you?" Hermione almost squealed like a girl, ecstatic at two of her best friends going to the masquerade ball together.
Harry, however, broke into a bright blush that Hermione guessed spread from his head to his toes. Once again, he scratched the back of his neck and seemed to desperately search for another topic to turn to. He seemed to find his answer, as seconds later he spoke.
"How's it going on the Charms essay?" After his question there was a small pause as he thought about why he just asked Hermione Granger, of all people. "Forget I asked that."
"So, are you excited?" Hermione's question caused a resurgence of the blush that had been fading. She smiled knowingly at her friend.
"Alright, 'Mione! I am…" Harry's voice trailed off as he looked in any direction but Hermione's.
Before Hermione could push him any further, the portrait hole opened and Fred and George loped in laughing. Upon seeing the two younger Gryffindors, the twins headed in their direction and sat on the carpet between them.
"Brilliant day…" George trailed off, looking between them with a smile.
"Eh, guys?" Fred kicked out his legs and crossed them at the ankles, smiling like his brother.
"You two seem oddly chipper today. Pranking first years, were we?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at the twins, suspicion dripping from her voice.
"Us?" George looked at Fred, who turned to face George. The pair shook their heads.
"Never." George stated as they smiled at Hermione, who raised her eyebrows at them again.
Hermione was going to question them further, but it seemed like their private time had been cut short. Girls began trickling through the portrait hole, their excited chatter drowning out any hopes of conversation. The bushy haired girl spotted Lavender among the throng of girls and called out to her.
While the rest of the girls ascended the stairs to the girls dormitory, Lavender went over to Hermione. Picking up the gold, velvet pillow that sat next to her, Lavender plopped down in its place.
"I've been looking for you everywhere, 'Mione! I need to start getting ready for the masquerade ball and since you aren't going, do you want to help me?" Hermione was going to refuse and go find Ginny, but Lavender's excitement was infectious.
"Sure, Lav, why not?" Not wanting to give away that one of the twins was attending detention in Hermione's place, she simply smiled at the boys and followed Lavender up to the dormitory.
For the next two hours, Hermione's lack of makeup knowledge was her downfall; she was little help to Lavender for anything other than compliments. When it seemed like Lavender was about to strangle Hermione over her makeup ignorance, she shooed Hermione away to finish up the rest of her makeup in peace.
Now free of her feeble attempt at helping with makeup, Hermione set her mind on finding Ginny, who had yet to appear. By this point Ron had returned to the common room and was chatting away with Harry.
Stepping up behind the couch, Hermione interrupted their conversation. "Have either of you seen Ginny?" The pair shook their heads, and Hermione felt a growing sense of unease as she looked hopelessly out the window.