"I'm going to miss you, honey," her mother told her as they hugged. Her father had to pinch a tear away.

"It was a marvellous Christmas. Now don't cry dad, or you'll make me cry too," Hermione told her parents between hugs.

"I know, I'm just so proud of you. My little witch is almost a full grown woman now."

"Dad," she pushed back her tears and hugged him again.

Mr. Weasley was waiting in the living room, studying their T.V. like it was some rare creature.

"I promise I'll write, okay." Her parents nodded and held each other, already looking forward to the letters their daughter would send, detailing her many adventures.

"It was good to see you, Arthur. Do come over for tea, when you can," Mrs Granger invited Arthur. Who accepted her invitation, delighted. In the years that Hermione had attended school Mr. Weasley and her parents had become very good friends. He had helped them to understand the Wizarding World a bit better and they were always happy to answer his many questions about toasters and such.

"Goodbye Arthur," her father nodded and they exited the living room. Seeing their daughter disappear in to thin air made them both a little queasy.

Hermione took arm and together they apparated to Grimmauld place.

"'Mione!" Ron almost ran her over as he crushed her in a hug.

"Ron, it's nice to see you, too," she laughed.

"I've been going crazy here, everyone is running about and no one is telling us anything. I mean, even Fred and George aren't allowed in on the meetings. Of course they weren't about to get kept out so they devised a way to spy," Ron rambled on as Hermione tried to make her way through the small hallway., occasionally looking up to the covered painting. Luckily the witch was vast asleep, not noticing the 'bloodtraitors' entering her beloved home.

"Anyway, it's good seeing you," Ron concluded and Hermione nodded. "You too Ron. Where's Harry?"

"Dumbledore came to visit, took him with him, said they'd be back tomorrow." Hermione was a bit disappointed, she had been burning to ask Harry if he was okay; he hadn't answered her many letters.

"Here," she handed Ron a wrapped package, "a late Christmas gift."

"Magical," she heard Ron whisper once he figured out he didn't need an ink pot to write. Leaving Ron to his present Hermione went to greet the other people presently residing at Grimmauld place.

"I think my brother is totally into you," Ginny told Hermione with a smirk. The two girls had retreated in their joint bedroom.

"Which one," Hermione joked.

"Ron, of course! He couldn't wait for you to arrive, talked about you all week. I was this close to hexing his mouth shut." Ginny pinched her two fingers together to show how close.

"I hear you and Dean are doing well," Hermione quickly changed the topic. She had suspected Ron was feeling more than he supposed to, she'd just hoped that as long as she ignored it it would blow over.

"And how much older is he?"

"Two years, but he's so sweet," Ginny smiled, and passed Hermione a small flask. "Stole it from the twins, fire whiskey," she clarified. Hermione smelled the flask before taking a sip.

"That is strong," she coughed, giving the flask back to Ginny, who couldn't stop giggling. "It sure is." Both girls stayed quiet, enjoying the burning sensation of the whiskey burning in their throats.

"I saw you, at the Christmas party, with McLaggen," Ginny stated, "is that going somewhere?"

"Most definitely not! The guy is a disaster. So full of himself, but when it actually comes to it he doesn't deliver."

"So you two didn't … go at it, then?"

"No, god no. I mean, we snogged a little, but that's about it, why?" Ginny shook her head. "And what about you two," Hermione continued, wiggling her eyebrows, "did you two 'go at it' already?"

Ginny blushed and smiled. "He was so sweet, saying he wanted my first time to be special."

"And, how was it?" Once again Ginny was lost in smiles. Hermione knew that look, her friend had fallen head over heels for Dean.

She sighed and was reminded of her first time. It had been fourth year, the night of the Yule Ball. All night they'd danced, his hand on her back, her head against his chest.

"I still can't believe you took me, out of all those pretty girls," she whispered against his shoulder, the animal fur tickling her nose.

He had found her at the bottom of the stairs, crying. She had felt like that first year again, the insufferable-know-it-all. Alone in a world she did not understand. Even though it was so different now, she had Harry and Ron, her two best friends. But how could she feel valued if they couldn't help but take her for granted. Viktor made her feel special, not smart or brave, but beautiful and wanted. She'd been so hurt when Ron had offered to take her as a last resort, assuming she'd be available. Guess what Ron, she was taken, and by someone who actually liked her.

Viktor took a step back and looked into her eyes. "Believe it, it's true," he said with that thick accent of his while he wiped the remainder of her tears away. She smiled when she looked at his stern face, his beautiful brown eyes that showed all the emotion he needed to relay. Without pause she raised herself to her toes and softly kissed his lips. He kissed her back.

He had walked her to the Fat Lady's portrait and urged her to go inside. "Goodnight."

Hermione, however, wasn't letting go so easily. "But the night is young. I don't want to sleep," she whined, dancing around him and hanging her full weight on his shoulder. She might have drunk a little too much of that punch she had seen Lee Jordan and the twins hang around.

"It is one in the morning," he said matter-of-factly.

She wasn't taking no for an answer. "You have walked me back to my door, now I shall walk you back to your door, it's only fair." She took him by the arm, leading him down to the main hall.

"That does not make sense." His protest was weak and he knew it. He liked seeing her happy, jumping around and dancing to her own tunes. She was always so reserved, and who was he to take this moment away from her.

He buried her in his fur jacket when they made their way down to the Black Lake, holding her hand so she wouldn't slip. Quietly they sneaked on to the giant ship. Viktor stopped in front of his room.

"This is my door. Now ve valk back to yours," he tried to convince her, but Hermione, shaking her head, darted past him.

"I want to see your room," she said and opened the door. His room was big, befitting of a champion, and unlike hers he didn't have to share with anyone. Viktor closed the door behind them and watched Hermione as she made her way through his room picking up things and putting them down again.

For the first time in his life he didn't know what to do next. He had slept with many girls; one of the advantages of being a famous seeker. But those times it had been different, physical and physical only. He really liked Hermione and he had noticed the beauty she possessed. Only he liked her for more than that. He did not wish to hurt her.

Hermione kicked off her shoes, shook off the coat and walked towards Viktor. Kissing her again he realised he could not contain himself, and his worries disappeared like a heap of snow in front of a fire.

He lifted her and carried her to the big bed. In a twirling madness of fabric they finally got rid of their clothes. They kissed so frantically they almost forgot how to breath. He stopped to look at her, pink cheeks, head surrounded by a crown of chestnut curls, chest heaving up and down.

"Are you okay?" he asked once more.

Hermione nodded, not trusting her voice. She was scared, it was her first time but Viktor was gentle, taking care not to hurt her. And even though it did hurt, a little, it wasn't a bad pain, but rather quite enjoyable.

She lay next to him, his arms folded around her. She could feel the shallow rising of his chest against her back, knowing he was asleep. She enjoyed laying here with him, she wanted to study his face, but didn't dare move. Their legs were intertwined and as she took his hand, to intertwine their fingers as well, he stirred. "Goodmorning."

His raspy voice tickling her hair made her smile and she turned around. He kissed her brow, proceeded to look at her, lost in her eyes. "Ve should get up or ve'll miss breakfast," he told her, although he did not move himself.

"I could lay here all day," admitted Hermione and moved a little closer to his warm body, feeling the morning chill run over her skin. Viktor did not disagree.

It was well in the afternoon when Hermione finally got up and dressed.

"I'll meet you in the hall, for lunch."

"Do you vant me to valk you back to your door," he joked and pulled her in for another kiss.

With her slippers in her hand she made her way up to the castle. Frost bit into her feet, however the blares on both heels prevented her from wearing her slippers again. That'd teach her from choosing pretty over practical once more.

It was only when she entered the castle that she needed to watch out. At Hogwarts gossip spread faster than the black death. She walked with dignity, there would be no sneaking about. Luckily there weren't many people out in the hallways anyway. She must not be the only one sleeping in.

Hermione reached her room relatively unseen. She had gotten a few questioning stares but nothing to worry about. Parvati cocked up an eyebrow when she entered their bedroom, which she answered with a mysterious smile.

[Edit: I previously stated the Burrow burned down, that was a mistake so I changed it.]