AN: I've finished my GCSEs YAY! (Author does little dance round the room... until realising that she now has to get a summer job or parents will kill her)
PS: Thank you for your patience I love all readers- I am one.
Disclaimer: Day something-or-other in the Big Brother house and friends16uk still does not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 6- Something Missing
It was a week after Krum's proposal and the couple hadn't left each other's sight since. After Ron's harsh words Hermione had decided that maybe he was right- but only about some things of course- after all, she barley knew the Prince and she wasn't exactly behaving like herself. Nevertheless, the problem was easily rectified by them simply spending more time together. Krum had loved the idea.
It had been a fantastic week. After a comfortable meeting of the parents the couple had set out to do some sightseeing. So with Krum's butlers, servants and their servant's servants, Hermione and he went on a romantic tour of the country. In fine coaches they sipped rich wines, ate fabulous foods and all was well.
That was except for the constant barrage of people, the very conspicuous bodyguards and the indigestion. At first Hermione enjoyed getting out of ordinary, old townhouse and was loved the stunning architecture of the Royal buildings.
However, she soon realised how awkward she felt when people bowed to her constantly. The large hallways became oppressing until even Hogwarts, where she'd found the love of her life, seemed gaudy and garish. Hermione longed to cook her own food or choose her own clothes and sometimes Krum himself would make her feel uncomfortable when they went to kiss. She loved being with him but, oddly, every time they did something more than platonic she felt guilty. Nevertheless Hermione ignored the warning bells and attributed it simply to her mind adapting to a place where- for the first time in her life- she didn't have to lift a finger.
For Krum as well something wasn't quite right. Even though they talked for hours he still didn't feel like he knew the new girl in his life. They chatted about everything under the sun until she knew every one of his anecdotes and he all of her favourite stories. But still at the back of his mind, even though they made great friends, there was just... something missing.
One little mouse could see this all quite clearly. All he needed was a way to show the two contrived lovebirds who they should really be with, and everything would work out. Harry blamed himself for the mistake and even though Ginny had shared the guilt when filling out the incident forms he knew that it was his fault, and he was going to be the one to sort it out.
But how do you get two people to admit that they don't love each other when, to any outsider and themselves, its obvious that they should. For now the whole country had heard of the engagement and were waiting in keen anticipation for the happy event. It was time to bring out the big guns- symbolism, the key to any good fairytale.
The couple were sitting outside in a field full of lush, green grass enjoying a picnic by themselves (and forty other people). Harry dragged the bag up the side of the wicker, luncheon basket, thinking -and not for the first time- that it would be really great to be human again, and dropped it inside. Just in time as it turned out when a large hand descended into the woven hold.
"Hermione, my love, are you still hungry?" Krum asked.
She smiled at him warmly, "I suppose I could eat some dessert please."
"Colin," he called, "could you bring us some dessert."
A young lad eagerly jumped to the task, "Would his majesty prefer chocolate cake or flavoured sweets sir?"
Krum passed the question over to Hermione through a look and she answered, "Well, it's been ages since I had some sweets." It was before the ball, she thought to herself. For some reason thinking about Ron felt odd, she hadn't done it a lot recently and now felt guilty that she hadn't. Why when she was having such a great time with Krum would she have the sudden and desperate urge to see Ron? She wanted to tell him about how the rich lived and listen to the jokes she imagined he'd make about spending hundreds of pounds on one meal; and then he'd ask her why she wasn't doing anything about servant rights. The nagging voice was getting louder.
"Hermione love, would you like a blackberry?"
"Hmm," she mumbled coming out of her daze.
"The sweets. Would you like a blackberry flavoured one."
"Oh, sorry I was in my own world for a moment there. I'd rather have the green if you don't mind. I don't like the blue ones."
She expected him to put back the offending sweet and was surprised when he pushed her to have it any way. "Well I only like the apple and cherry, the blackberries make me ill," he pressed.
"I suppose I could eat some of the blue," she sighed not fully understanding why they couldn't just share the others.
Time dragged on and after a while she ended up leaving the horrid hardboileds and asking for the chocolate cake whilst Krum scoffed the lot. Sitting there watching him eat and gazing at the slowly disappearing candy Hermione's memory stirred to the last time she'd had the sweets and finally had an epiphany.
"Victor! I've got it!" she exclaimed out of the blue causing the prince to jump backwards in surprise. He stared at her confused as she continued, "Haven't you thought that something wasn't quite right for a while now," he nodded in agreement and the mouse did a little jig behind the basket. "We aren't right for each other, we aren't in love!" she choked after saying the last thought out loud but then realised that it was the truth.
"We are not in love?" Krum questioned uncertainly then he smiled in acceptance. It was as if speaking the words out loud broke the spell. "We are not in love. Good friends yes and I think that you are a great person but..."
"It just isn't right," she finished. They looked into each other's eyes and burst out laughing. The startled looks from the servants around them brought Hermione back down to earth. She put her head in her hands and sighed, "Oh, this is going to take a lot of clearing up."
Krum's smile took her worries away, "Who cares? I am a prince. We will blame it on a royal whim, I am allowed several of those until I become king." The couple of friends laughed again and carried on talking all night. No sweet nothings this time, just to people talking about how they were going to get themselves out of a right mess.
Towards the end of their chat Krum asked a question that had been on his lips all night, "What made you realise that we weren't right for each other? I mean I knew it myself but I just could not find the words or really think clearly at all."
"I don't know. To be honest I was just thinking about R-"Hermione sat back in shock.
"What is it?" he questioned at her sudden break off.
"Nothing," she answered quickly.
"Hermione I know you well enough to know when you are lying," he persisted.
She looked at him, unsure of herself, "I knew that I wasn't in love with you when... when I... when I realised that I was in love with someone else."
"Who?" the prince asked, genuinely interested.
"Ron," she whispered still coming to terms with herself.
Krum hadn't heard her mention his name during their week together, "Who is he?"
"My best friend." She wasn't really talking to Krum but to herself, "Our mothers were best friends so we grew up together. He drives me up the wall deliberately and then he'll say something so sweet that I feel like... I'm on top of the world." As she'd talked a smile had crept onto her lips but her face suddenly frowned as she remembered how she'd acted since the ball. "I can't go back," she whispered.
"What?" Now Krum was very confused.
"Back to the town house, to Malfoy." All of a sudden she remembered Lavender. Remembered her hurt look at the ball and then again when she'd met the prince for the second time. Hermione wondered what would have happened at that ball had she not been there. How could she ever make this up to Lavender?
And then there was Ron. He'd been a friend looking out for her and she'd thrown it back in his face. What kind of person did that make her? She knew one thing for sure and that was that couldn't possibly see him again; the guilt was just too overwhelming. And the was no possible way that Ron could feel the same way about her as she felt towards him. No. It was better if she just left.
Hermione explained this all to the prince, seeing her so distressed and tears in her eyes he felt that he had no choice but to help, "Well, I have the power to get you somewhere else."
"Could you?"
"Only if your are absolutely sure though."
"I am."
Krum really wasn't sure about this. At the back of his memory a moment stirred from the ball involving a red head that was shooting daggers at him throughout night. Grudgingly he conceded, "When do you want to go?"
"As soon as possible." Yes, the sooner she left the sooner she could move on.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to your family?"
"What family? Lavender is the only person in that house to care and she probably hates me by now."
"Why?"
"She likes blue sweets." Krum just looked at her confused. "Don't worry, it doesn't matter now. But you do have a point. Could I have some parchment and a quill please?"
"Certainly. Collin," he called, "writing implements please."
The boy practically burst at being of use twice in one day and the items appeared promptly.
"I have one more favour to ask."
"Anything."
"Make sure that you give this letter to Lavender personally."
"Okay," if he was confused by the request he didn't show it, "But what about Ron?"
"Lavender will pass on the news." Krum looked at her accusingly. "Stop it," she defended herself, "the last time we spoke we argued. One of the worst we've ever had. He'll hate me now."
"I do not believe that for a moment."
"It doesn't matter anyway. Don't you understand? I don't think that I could be anywhere near him knowing that we could only ever be... friends. I'm sorry."
"It's not me that you should be apologising to." Hermione just gave him a death stare and a very depressed mouse was running out of ideas.
AN: If it isn't clear yet Harry's symbolism thing is the sweets. Not great I know but there you are. 2 chapters and an epilogue left keep reading plz.
PS: Thank you for your patience I love all readers- I am one.
Disclaimer: Day something-or-other in the Big Brother house and friends16uk still does not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 6- Something Missing
It was a week after Krum's proposal and the couple hadn't left each other's sight since. After Ron's harsh words Hermione had decided that maybe he was right- but only about some things of course- after all, she barley knew the Prince and she wasn't exactly behaving like herself. Nevertheless, the problem was easily rectified by them simply spending more time together. Krum had loved the idea.
It had been a fantastic week. After a comfortable meeting of the parents the couple had set out to do some sightseeing. So with Krum's butlers, servants and their servant's servants, Hermione and he went on a romantic tour of the country. In fine coaches they sipped rich wines, ate fabulous foods and all was well.
That was except for the constant barrage of people, the very conspicuous bodyguards and the indigestion. At first Hermione enjoyed getting out of ordinary, old townhouse and was loved the stunning architecture of the Royal buildings.
However, she soon realised how awkward she felt when people bowed to her constantly. The large hallways became oppressing until even Hogwarts, where she'd found the love of her life, seemed gaudy and garish. Hermione longed to cook her own food or choose her own clothes and sometimes Krum himself would make her feel uncomfortable when they went to kiss. She loved being with him but, oddly, every time they did something more than platonic she felt guilty. Nevertheless Hermione ignored the warning bells and attributed it simply to her mind adapting to a place where- for the first time in her life- she didn't have to lift a finger.
For Krum as well something wasn't quite right. Even though they talked for hours he still didn't feel like he knew the new girl in his life. They chatted about everything under the sun until she knew every one of his anecdotes and he all of her favourite stories. But still at the back of his mind, even though they made great friends, there was just... something missing.
One little mouse could see this all quite clearly. All he needed was a way to show the two contrived lovebirds who they should really be with, and everything would work out. Harry blamed himself for the mistake and even though Ginny had shared the guilt when filling out the incident forms he knew that it was his fault, and he was going to be the one to sort it out.
But how do you get two people to admit that they don't love each other when, to any outsider and themselves, its obvious that they should. For now the whole country had heard of the engagement and were waiting in keen anticipation for the happy event. It was time to bring out the big guns- symbolism, the key to any good fairytale.
The couple were sitting outside in a field full of lush, green grass enjoying a picnic by themselves (and forty other people). Harry dragged the bag up the side of the wicker, luncheon basket, thinking -and not for the first time- that it would be really great to be human again, and dropped it inside. Just in time as it turned out when a large hand descended into the woven hold.
"Hermione, my love, are you still hungry?" Krum asked.
She smiled at him warmly, "I suppose I could eat some dessert please."
"Colin," he called, "could you bring us some dessert."
A young lad eagerly jumped to the task, "Would his majesty prefer chocolate cake or flavoured sweets sir?"
Krum passed the question over to Hermione through a look and she answered, "Well, it's been ages since I had some sweets." It was before the ball, she thought to herself. For some reason thinking about Ron felt odd, she hadn't done it a lot recently and now felt guilty that she hadn't. Why when she was having such a great time with Krum would she have the sudden and desperate urge to see Ron? She wanted to tell him about how the rich lived and listen to the jokes she imagined he'd make about spending hundreds of pounds on one meal; and then he'd ask her why she wasn't doing anything about servant rights. The nagging voice was getting louder.
"Hermione love, would you like a blackberry?"
"Hmm," she mumbled coming out of her daze.
"The sweets. Would you like a blackberry flavoured one."
"Oh, sorry I was in my own world for a moment there. I'd rather have the green if you don't mind. I don't like the blue ones."
She expected him to put back the offending sweet and was surprised when he pushed her to have it any way. "Well I only like the apple and cherry, the blackberries make me ill," he pressed.
"I suppose I could eat some of the blue," she sighed not fully understanding why they couldn't just share the others.
Time dragged on and after a while she ended up leaving the horrid hardboileds and asking for the chocolate cake whilst Krum scoffed the lot. Sitting there watching him eat and gazing at the slowly disappearing candy Hermione's memory stirred to the last time she'd had the sweets and finally had an epiphany.
"Victor! I've got it!" she exclaimed out of the blue causing the prince to jump backwards in surprise. He stared at her confused as she continued, "Haven't you thought that something wasn't quite right for a while now," he nodded in agreement and the mouse did a little jig behind the basket. "We aren't right for each other, we aren't in love!" she choked after saying the last thought out loud but then realised that it was the truth.
"We are not in love?" Krum questioned uncertainly then he smiled in acceptance. It was as if speaking the words out loud broke the spell. "We are not in love. Good friends yes and I think that you are a great person but..."
"It just isn't right," she finished. They looked into each other's eyes and burst out laughing. The startled looks from the servants around them brought Hermione back down to earth. She put her head in her hands and sighed, "Oh, this is going to take a lot of clearing up."
Krum's smile took her worries away, "Who cares? I am a prince. We will blame it on a royal whim, I am allowed several of those until I become king." The couple of friends laughed again and carried on talking all night. No sweet nothings this time, just to people talking about how they were going to get themselves out of a right mess.
Towards the end of their chat Krum asked a question that had been on his lips all night, "What made you realise that we weren't right for each other? I mean I knew it myself but I just could not find the words or really think clearly at all."
"I don't know. To be honest I was just thinking about R-"Hermione sat back in shock.
"What is it?" he questioned at her sudden break off.
"Nothing," she answered quickly.
"Hermione I know you well enough to know when you are lying," he persisted.
She looked at him, unsure of herself, "I knew that I wasn't in love with you when... when I... when I realised that I was in love with someone else."
"Who?" the prince asked, genuinely interested.
"Ron," she whispered still coming to terms with herself.
Krum hadn't heard her mention his name during their week together, "Who is he?"
"My best friend." She wasn't really talking to Krum but to herself, "Our mothers were best friends so we grew up together. He drives me up the wall deliberately and then he'll say something so sweet that I feel like... I'm on top of the world." As she'd talked a smile had crept onto her lips but her face suddenly frowned as she remembered how she'd acted since the ball. "I can't go back," she whispered.
"What?" Now Krum was very confused.
"Back to the town house, to Malfoy." All of a sudden she remembered Lavender. Remembered her hurt look at the ball and then again when she'd met the prince for the second time. Hermione wondered what would have happened at that ball had she not been there. How could she ever make this up to Lavender?
And then there was Ron. He'd been a friend looking out for her and she'd thrown it back in his face. What kind of person did that make her? She knew one thing for sure and that was that couldn't possibly see him again; the guilt was just too overwhelming. And the was no possible way that Ron could feel the same way about her as she felt towards him. No. It was better if she just left.
Hermione explained this all to the prince, seeing her so distressed and tears in her eyes he felt that he had no choice but to help, "Well, I have the power to get you somewhere else."
"Could you?"
"Only if your are absolutely sure though."
"I am."
Krum really wasn't sure about this. At the back of his memory a moment stirred from the ball involving a red head that was shooting daggers at him throughout night. Grudgingly he conceded, "When do you want to go?"
"As soon as possible." Yes, the sooner she left the sooner she could move on.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to your family?"
"What family? Lavender is the only person in that house to care and she probably hates me by now."
"Why?"
"She likes blue sweets." Krum just looked at her confused. "Don't worry, it doesn't matter now. But you do have a point. Could I have some parchment and a quill please?"
"Certainly. Collin," he called, "writing implements please."
The boy practically burst at being of use twice in one day and the items appeared promptly.
"I have one more favour to ask."
"Anything."
"Make sure that you give this letter to Lavender personally."
"Okay," if he was confused by the request he didn't show it, "But what about Ron?"
"Lavender will pass on the news." Krum looked at her accusingly. "Stop it," she defended herself, "the last time we spoke we argued. One of the worst we've ever had. He'll hate me now."
"I do not believe that for a moment."
"It doesn't matter anyway. Don't you understand? I don't think that I could be anywhere near him knowing that we could only ever be... friends. I'm sorry."
"It's not me that you should be apologising to." Hermione just gave him a death stare and a very depressed mouse was running out of ideas.
AN: If it isn't clear yet Harry's symbolism thing is the sweets. Not great I know but there you are. 2 chapters and an epilogue left keep reading plz.