A/N: Well, I hope you reviewers like this. I'm not too happy with this chapter, but ah well, take what you get right? ;-) lol!
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling's the best! And of course, this is all hers.
~***~
Still trying to catch a last few moments of sleep, Hermione turned in her bed hoping to find a better position. Unfortunately, she just ended up turning on her side where her face was now in position to greet the morning sun. Even though her eyes were still closed, Hermione groaned and waved her hand blindly to block the sunlight streaming through the window.
No such luck.
"mmmm, this is not my day" she grumbled before placing her pillow strategically in front of her face. She squirmed around and sighed with contentment thinking sleep was awaiting her once again.
BEEP…BEEP…BEEP….BEEP…BEEP…
"Arrgh!" Again her hand swatted alongside the bed blindly, but since she hadn't fully woken up, she somewhat forgot the fact that the alarm clock was placed in a different location since she was still in Bulgaria.
BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…
Disgruntled and knowing she was finally beaten by the morning, she swung her feet out of her bed, sat up, and looked disinterestedly at the carpet.
BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…
"Alright, alright. I'm up! She walked to where the clock was, tapped it on its metal casing, looked it directly in its face and said, "Please stop Lydia. I'm up. Honest"
The clock's face narrowed her eyes as if trying to determine whether her charge would go back to sleep if she stopped making her wake-up call. Evidently satisfied, Lydia closed her mouth and eyes.
Hermione remembered how startled she was the first morning she woke up to Lydia (the clock's name) and tried to find the sleep button frantically. Mrs. Krum had to come in and teach Hermione how to work a wizard's alarm clock. Lydia reminded Hermione of Cogsworth, the clock from the Disney movie "Beauty and the Beast". Except Lydia was female of course.
Hermione opened her mouth to yawn once more, but quickly shut it. If Lydia saw or heard her yawn or showed any signs of still being tired she would start "beeping" again.
She shuffled herself to the adjoining washroom and freshened herself up. She splashed some water on her face to help her wake up and then got ready to dress. Nothing fancy today, just jeans and a t-shirt. She was going to be spending most of the day on a plane after all.
She put her hand on the doorknob and paused. She hadn't really thought of what she was going to say to Viktor yet. What if he told her parents that she rejected him and now they hate her?
There was nothing she could do. She had to face them all eventually, especially as they were taking her to the airport! Squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath, she headed down the stairs to the kitchen.
Voices from that area told her that all three Krums were awake. She stood in the doorway until Mrs. Krum saw her.
"Good morning Herm-own-ninny!" None of the Krums could say her name properly – Hermione began to wonder if she would start introducing herself as Herm-own-ninny since that's all she heard this week!
"Good morning everyone." Well, she said that mostly to Mr. and Mrs. Krum as Viktor refused to look her in the eye.
Sitting herself down at the table and helping herself to some toast and marmalade, she thanked Mr. and Mrs. Krum for taking her to the airport. Smiling and telling her not to worry about it, they left to make some last minute details before loading up her luggage.
This meant she was alone with Viktor in the kitchen.
Well, maybe not for long.
Viktor pushed his chair abruptly from the table and started to stand up to leave.
She looked up at him. "Viktor, please, stay," she pleaded with him.
"I haff many things to do" he replied brusquely.
"Viktor…"
He didn't move.
"Well, at least either sit down or stand up. You're crouched all over your chair and that's not very good for your back," she snapped.
His eyes widened as he realised this was true. He sat down and started to smile to himself, until he realised what he was doing, and once again made his face expressionless. There was silence for a few minutes while she berated herself for snapping at him.
He finally moved his head, looked her in the eye, sighed, and said, "I care for your Hermy-own-ninny"
She groaned inwardly. Not that she wasn't flattered, but she didn't return his feelings.
"I like you too Viktor, but only as a friend. I'm sorry. You're a great guy, but right now I can't get into a relationship with you. Please understand that. Maybe some day, but I can't commit to anything at this moment"
Viktor looked down at his hands, "I know. I knew it last night, but, well, I'm sorry I was mad at you this morning"
She smiled a little. "Apology accepted. Friends?"
He nodded once and smiled back, "Friends. Now let's get you to the airport"
~***~
Hermione leaned back on her seat and glanced out the window. They were getting ready to land the plane in London.
She thought back to the goodbyes in the airport. Everything went smoothly. She had given hugs to the entire family and Viktor and her promised that they would keep in touch. She thought he might write her tonight, because he looked like he was up to something mischievous, but she didn't have time to figure it out as she had to board the plane.
The plane landed with a soft bump, and Hermione reached up to grab her carry-on bag and got ready to leave.
~***~
"Hermione!"
"Mum…Dad!" She ran to her parents and clung to them both. It was so good to be finally home.
~***~
They reached their house when Athena flew on her shoulder to welcome her home. Crookshanks had stalked off as soon as they opened his cage on the driveway. He definitely did not appreciate being locked up during the flight.
Her mother glanced at Athena and frowned a little. "That reminds me dear, Harry and Ron has sent you numerous letters. I guess they didn't know where you were in Bulgaria, so they kept sending them here"
"Thanks mum! I'll read them right now" and with that, she ran up to her room and saw 7 letters. One from Harry, six from Ron.
She opened Harry's letter first.
Hermione,
Thanks so much for the gifts! They're perfect. I especially like the statue because it reminds me so much of my father as Prongs.
You will have to tell me how you liked Bulgaria. Did Viktor teach you how to do the Wronski Feint? I still haven't mastered that move.
I will tell Ron, but I don't know how he will take it. You'll have to buy me a butterbeer or something during our first Hogsmeade weekend to even things out!
I'm going to Ron's home tomorrow. The Dursleys aren't happy, but they're still too sacred of Snuffles to lock me up. Come to the Burrow when you arrive home (Mrs. Weasley said it's okay). We can all buy our books at Diagon Alley together then.
Harry.
She smiled, until she realised she had to read Ron's letters. She took the first one and slowly opened it up.
Hermione,
Why would you go to Vicky's place? I thought you weren't going to see him! And how come you had Harry tell me? Why didn't you tell me?
Ron
Well, that wasn't too bad. She opened the one that was he wrote the next day from the dates he wrote.
When are you coming home? Owl me the moment you come home! You should have given us your address. What if he hands you over to You-Know-Who??? No one would be able to save you!
Ron
She sighed put that down and found the rest of his letters similar to the first two. The last one, which Pig must have sent over this morning, consisted of:
YOU'RE NOT HOME YET??? WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?!
R.W.
She lowered her hands and sat at the edge of her bed still holding the letter, if you could really call nine words a letter. Maybe she should re-think the idea about spending two weeks in the Burrow with Ron.
~***~
~***~
A/N: Just some replies to your awesome reviewers:
E.M.C: I'm surprised not many other fanfic writers haven't looked at the Krum factor too actually! Oh well…more for me ;-)
Rally-as-Twiddle's: I hope Chapter 5 answered your question!! And I hope this was soon enough for you too. (side note: my reviewers are demanding…you should buy me a butterbeer if you want the next chapter soon, although, I'll settle for lots and lots of reviews! lol!)
Moon: I'm definitely not making it easy for poor Hermione. I think things will get worse for her soon though!
Christly: I was wondering if I should go more specific on her kiss too ;-) However, I figured it was her first kiss, and it was an innocent one. Besides, this is Hermione! Could you really imagine her going all out on her first kiss? Unless it was to spite Ron of course *hint, hint*
MusicalRose: Of course you got a mention! Now you get another one!! I hope you like the next chapter. It should come out in 1-2 days? Hope so!
HermioneM: Well you got a taste of Ron in this chapter, but the next chapter will have lots and lots and lots of Ron! ;-)
Now please review! I write and upload faster if you review!!! ;-)