Disclaimer: In Chapter One

My dear Hermione,

            I want the photograph for a rather rude reason. I want to see whether you have changed. I wouldn't want to be the boyfriend of an ugly girl. I want to make sure you haven't any… blemishes or anything. Do accept my most sincere apologies, but you can hardly blame me. I do have my image to watch after. You understand.

                        Much Love,

                                    Viktor

            Hermione throws the parchment scroll down, angry tears burning her eyes. She doesn't know what to do. She closes her eyes and breathes deeply.

            "Hermione? Is this a bad time?" Her eyes snap open when Ron speaks to her.

            "No… no, sit down." She says, making an effort to look calm and collected.

            "I wanted to ask if you would tell me why you were crying."

            "Why is it any business of yours?" she snaps. She touches her lips with her fingers when she realizes what she has said. "I'm sorry Ron, but you wouldn't understand. No one does. I'm absolutely fine. I'm fine…" she trails off and sighs. She trudges up to her dormitory and realizes what she has to do.

Viktor Krum-

            You won't have a chance to break up with me. I'm breaking up with you. At least, I would if there was any relationship in the first place. Viktor Krum, you want to break up with me for my looks? Well, I'm going to "break up" with you for your disposition. I'm enclosing the photograph, but you'd better return it. Good day to you.

-Hermione Granger

P.S. You may want to practice your Quidditch a bit, Harry's surpassing you.

            She smiles grimly at the chilly words she's written. She wishes she could write much nastier letters. Regardless, she ties a ratty brown ribbon around the scroll and slips the picture Fred has taken of her into the center. She ties the scroll onto Hedwig's leg and sends the owl on her way, hoping that Harry won't need her for anything for a few days.

My darling Hermione,

            Surely you do not mean a word of that letter. I know you did not, you are merely a female. I forgive you, however. I know that it is sometimes hard to communicate with the less capable female brain. I have your lovely picture on the desk next to me. I will stay with you, which I know you will be happy to hear. Much love,

                                    Viktor

Viktor-

            Less capable female brain? You have a less capable brain than any female could ever have. I told you that I was going to break up the relationship we never had. I was a fool not to see it before. Return my picture, it's my favorite and it belongs with someone who cares about me and who I care for. You are a selfish, conceited person. Send the picture back. I mean it.

            -Hermione Granger

The next day, she receives the picture back with an angry letter back. She tosses the letter into the blaze, and then removes it, extinguishing the fire.

            "The poor flames don't deserve something that vile in them." She mutters, reducing the scroll to smithereens with a simple spell. "Glad that business is over."

***

"Hermione, I really want to know why you were crying." Ron says seriously.

"I wasn't cry- Oh, all right." She sighs, curling up tightly in her chair. Ron is sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of her. "I- I'm not pretty."

Ron softens. "Hermione, that's so stupid! You're the most beautiful person in Hogwarts."

"Parvati and Lavender are so much prettier, they've got everything, blue eyes, silky brown hair, long nails…" Hermione says.

"But they aren't Hermione. They aren't natural. It's you that makes you so beautiful. You're yourself, you're… I can't believe you were crying about such a silly thing!" He struggles to express himself.

"Really?" She asks in a small voice.

"Really." She smiles. Her arms are wrapped around her legs, and when she shifts she loses her balance. She falls into Ron's lap. The lanky boy looks surprised. They both begin to giggle.

"See you later, Ron."

Please, PLease, PLEase, PLEAse, PLEASe, PLEASE Review! Click the little gray box and tell me what you think. Also, I'm open to suggestions for the story (this does NOT necessarily mean that I will take your suggestion). Feel free to leave questions too, I return answers to questions in emails.\

meowcat