Chapter seventeen- Hermione

Hermione's PoV

*What* are they laughing at *now*? I turned and looked at Viktor, who was walking along next to me, and the entire Boltaveria team, who were walking along next to him, all seven of them laughing loudly together.

It was Saturday afternoon, and we were on our way down to lunch. Personally, I thought that Viktor and his team would have already eaten and be down at the Quidditch pitch. But then, I supposed, the match wasn't for another hour, and they had plenty of time. They didn't even seem nervous at all.

I hadn't spoken to either Ron or Harry since Tuesday afternoon, when I snapped at Harry in Transfiguration. And I had never been so *bored* in my entire life. In the past, when I haven't been speaking to one or both of them, I've always had something to keep me occupied. At the beginning, I was getting used to being a Witch and having a new school, so that was OK. When we fell out in the Third Year I was so busy with lessons, time- travelling and Buckbeak's case that I didn't have any time at all to be bored. And last year, when Harry and Ron weren't talking, I still had both of them to talk to, so it was *too* bad.

This was just awful.

You might ask why I'm complaining, seeing as I had my boyfriend to keep me company. And believe me, I did. Viktor barely left my side- he walked me to lessons, picked me up at the end of them, insisted we ate together at every meal, studied with me in the library, and met me every morning and left me every night on the marble stairs, leading up to Gryffindor tower.

Lavender and Parvati were openly jealous that I had such an attentive boyfriend, and were obviously baffled by the fact that I didn't seem to find it 'sooooooooo sweet' as they did.

The real fact of the matter was that, even though I did think it was nice of Viktor to pay that much attention to me, especially with my friends abandoning me and all, it was not only Viktor who came to keep me company. It was the whole the Boltaveria team. Ivan, Yuri, Iorek, Nick, Seb and Vladimir.

And none of them, including Viktor, stopped laughing all the time we were together.

The worst part was that I had absolutely no idea whatsoever what they were laughing at. Every single word was spoken in Bulgarian- of which I know nothing, seeing as my parents didn't actually let me go in the summer- and they never thought to translate for me.

So for the past three days my time was spent walking around with seven Quidditch players who all had some private joke between them that they were not going to let me in on, and who didn't speak to me at all.

Oh the joy.

I was constantly getting the feeling that walking around with me was an excuse for something else, because why else would they do it, if they were just going to ignore me? Exercise? I don't think so.

I also got the feeling that Viktor didn't *really* care that my two best friends in the World had just up and left me. Ok, I had a bit of a hand in it, but what was I supposed to do? Just accept Ron's lies like that and carry on like nothing was wrong? I don't do things like that.

Still though.

I looked sideways at Viktor as we entered the Great Hall. Maybe if I had just let Ron be, no matter what he had said, I'd be walking along with them now, *participating* in their conversation.

Ron and Harry were about ten paces in front of us- we had caught up with them in the entrance hall- and they were talking quietly together. I recognised the looks on their faces- they were talking about Quidditch.

Anything was more interesting than nothing at all.

Viktor said something to his friends in Bulgarian, pretty loudly, and put his arm around me. I looked up at him as he and his friends burst out laughing again. Then I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and saw Harry had pulled out his wand. Ron, moving quicker than I'd ever seen him move, pulled Harry's wand out of his hand and placed a hand on his back, pushing him towards the Gryffindor table. Harry gave him a furious look and said something that I couldn't hear, to which Ron shook his head and continued on to the table. Harry sighed and followed him, where Ron gave him back his wand.

"Herm-own-ninny?"

I looked round and saw that Viktor and the rest of the team were already sitting at the Durmstrang table, and Viktor was patting the seat next to him. I sat down, feeling as uncomfortable as I always did when I sat there, knowing that I would spend the entire meal being ignored.

I could still see Harry and Ron from where I was sitting- they had both helped themselves to chicken casserole but weren't eating- they were talking to Fred and George Weasley, wearing their Quidditch faces. Typical- they always forget to eat before a match- maybe I should say something.

Remembering all of a sudden that I wasn't talking to either of them and that I didn't *care* if they ate or not, I turned back to Viktor and co just in time for another Bulgarian remark and bout of laughter.

That was *it*.

"What's so funny?" I asked Viktor, trying not to seem too defensive. He looked at me in surprise- I've never asked before after all, and shrugged carelessly. "Nothing, Hermione." He said, turning back to listen to Yuri say something.

My insides froze, and the ham sandwich I had just eaten threatened to come back up as my stomach leapt. *Hermione*. He just said my name! Viktor could pronounce my name! Just like Ron had said.

I stared at my plate, feeling slightly dizzy and very sick. Why did he do it? Why? Why would he mispronounce my name like that? What was the point? Ron said it was because I. oh God. If, if Ron right about my name, then maybe he was right about.

My head snapped up to look at Viktor as he and the rest of the team stood up to leave. There was just under forty minutes 'til the match. He smiled down at me. "You haff finished?" He asked, before picking up his kit bag.

I just looked at him, questions running all through my mind. I had to talk to him. I *had* to. Right now.

"I have to talk to you." I said, standing up abruptly. Viktor looked at me for a couple of seconds before looking pointedly at his watch. "I haff a Quidditch match-"

"Well, then we can talk on our way down to the pitch." I said, starting to walk.

"Herm-own-ninny-" He whined. The sound of that stupid name made my blood boil. I had *never* been so angry in my entire life.

"NOW." I said loudly and clearly, causing half the Slytherin table to look round at me. I didn't care though- all I could think was that Viktor was a liar. A cheat. A complete scumbag. I seized his elbow and dragged him out of the Great Hall without saying another word.

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Dear Diary, Whoa, calm down Hermione. Geez! Her and Viktor just stormed past me on my way to lunch. Don't know where they're going. Oh, hang on- Sorry, just had to say good luck to my brothers and Harry. The match starts in thiry five minutes. I'd better eat something quick before I miss the good seats. Love Ginny xxx

The deep, dark, sometimes-sarcastic thoughts of Harry Potter-

If that idiot says ONE MORE WORD I swear I will kill him. Well, maybe not *kill*, but hex to within an inch of his life at least. Who does he think he is? Exploding robes? Geez, those two are mad. Hang on- what's up with Hermione?

Harry's train of thought here may be quite confusing- the first part refers to Viktor, (the scumbag!), the second to conversation with Fred and George mentioned in the next chapter, and the third to Hermione storming out. There- not too hard, eh?