Chapter Seven

Viktor Krum's proposal and a Weasley Kiss

A/N: Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews! I really appreciate your reviews! I like to dedicate this chapter for my latest friendly critics as of January 15... this is for hermione-r-weasley (I'm trying my best to be aware of my mistake and thanks for noticing it!), RedMary9790, ojosnegro (thanks for the e-mail!), ginny-wannabee and wannabe-hermione (I'm so touch when you wrote there your biggest fan... no, you're not, right? hahahaha)... Please more R&R!!! (Last two chapters to go!)

The crowd went quiet. Harry especially Ginny stared at Ron. Even Krum looked at him and Fleur.

Hermione couldn't explain how she felt. As if she's going to explode. She kept trying to hide and stop her tears to fall but a tear let out from her eyes to her cheeks. Luckily, she was able to wipe it before Ron or anyone could see it.

"I guess that's shocking news, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore and everyone got back to their senses.

As they went back to their table, Fleur happily hugged Ron. "Thanks, Ron!"

"That's fine."

But Ginny didn't know what to say. The table has a silent party as the ball ended.

"Better to be early tomorrow. See you guys, then. I'll go ahead," said Fleur and walked with the crowd.

"Excuse me but can I have a word with Mr. Krum?" asked Professor McGonagall. Krum followed her.

Hermione still couldn't believe on what they heard, on what she had just heard.

"I don't know what you're saying, Ron but I think I owe some explanation. Remember, I'm also a Weasley," said Ginny eagerly.

"You heard it, Ginny and don't worry, you'll find out more. I'll go ahead." Then Ron left.

"How could Fleur be a member of the family!" said Ginny madly and disbelievingly.

"Calm down, Ginny," said Hermione.

"Hermione's right," said Harry.

"Sis, do you think I could calm down? Harry?"

The two felt silent.

"I guess, Ginny, it's better to stop calling me sis. You should call Fleur that way and not me. I'll look for Viktor." Then Hermione disappeared.

"It's nice that you announced to the whole Hogwarts that you'll be visiting Vicky this summer, huh, Hermione?" said Ron coldly as he saw Hermione entered the Tower.

"Yeah, as if you didn't announce that Fleur will be a future member of your family," said Hermione heatedly.

"Well, that's the truth," said Ron calmly.

"Then that's also the truth! And what's your problem?" Hermione shouted.

"If you can't figure out what's my problem, then consider it as a problem, too!" yelled Ron.

When Harry and Ginny came into the Tower, they saw that everyone at the House was looking at the same direction, as if they were watching a play. Then they heard shouting. It was Ron and Hermione.

"Why can't you just leave Viktor?" shouted Hermione, whose look was terribly destroyed.

"Then you don't have the right to blame Fleur!" Ron shouted back.

They were both in scarlet as Ginny's gown.

"Because you don't understand what's going on!" Ron shouted again.

"What is it that I don't understand, Ron? It's so clear!" Hermione yelled at Ron.

Harry and Ginny decided to stop them.

"WILL THE PAIR OF YOU SHUT UP!" yelled Harry for him to talk over Ron and Hermione.

"CAN'T YOU SEE? EVERYBODY FROM GRYFFINDOR WAS LOOKING AT YOU!" shouted Ginny.

Ron and Hermione stopped yelling.

"I think we better call Professor McGonagall!" said a second year student whose voice is shaking.

"No one will call anyone!" Harry demanded.

"I don't care if everybody is watching!" Ron bellowed again.

"Either me! I want to show that… that…" Hermione pointed Ron.

"That what?"

Hermione didn't reply.

Ron looked at the crowd. They were really watching them.

"Kindly return to your rooms," said Ginny. Harry, Ron and Hermione gave her a grateful look. When no one was left except for them, Harry and Ginny asked them what happened.

"I'm sick and tired of Hermione's idea!" yelled Ron and he pulled something from his pocket. He also grabbed Hermione's hand. "There! That's my present for you this Christmas! And I think that would be the last!" Ron handed it to Hermione with full force and he walked.

Hermione also pulled something from her handbag and threw it to Ron that made him stop.

"That's also my last gift for you!" Hermione cried then she ran to the girl's dormitory, bumping Harry, Ginny and Ron.

The fight that happened at the Gryffindor Tower remained at their House. Harry and Ginny woke up early and seek for help to Luna, Neville, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown to announce to the Gryffindor students that nobody will tell anyone what happened last night. Surely, the Slytherins would be as glad as if they won the Inter- House Cup if they'll find it out.

The breakfast in the Gryffindor table was noticeably quiet. Hermione said she'll spend the whole day with Krum because he will be leaving tomorrow morning. Ron said he'll just eat later at lunch.

Fleur ate with Harry and Ginny but she noticed that Ginny wasn't talking to her.

"I know it's about what happened last night. You will understand it, Ginny, some other time."

Hermione and Viktor Krum just separated because Krum needed to pack his things and send an owl to his Headmaster at Durmstrang. She was just from the office of Professor Sinistra to ask about the results of her exams when Draco Malfoy blocked her way.

"Didn't have a great night, I guess, Mudblood." Malfoy laughed.

"It's none of your business, Malfoy," said Hermione angrily. She was still mad because of what happened to her and Ron.

"And I bet you had a crying night," said Malfoy in a more teasing way.

"Out of my way!" she said as she pulled her wand.

"You thought no one saw your tear when Weasley announced that that veela would be a part of his disgusting family?"

Hermione froze then she pointed her wand to Malfoy.

"Sorry, we did saw you. And quick enough to wipe it before anyone could notice." Then Malfoy left Hermione with satisfaction on his face while she was left staring at nowhere.

January came quietly as Harry tried to make Ron and Hermione talked but they're just nodding at Harry's ideas. Ron didn't like to come with him when he was with Hermione and Hermione, too, if Ron was with Harry.

"It's better if they'll just argue rather than this," said Harry impatiently to Ginny one breakfast. Ron and Hermione weren't in the Great Hall, even Fleur.

"You know, I miss their arguments," said Ginny as she helped herself in her pudding.

They were still eating when Ron and Fleur arrived.

"Hello," greeted Fleur.

"Morning," said Ron sleepily.

"Morning," said Harry and Ginny as the two sat down then Hermione came up too.

"Good morning," said Hermione. Everybody greeted her except from Ron. He didn't even look at her.

While they were eating, hundreds of owls arrived, carrying mails. Harry, Ginny and Fleur didn't receive any letter but Ron and Hermione did.

"Hermione, I think that's from Viktor Krum," said Harry as he saw the logo of Durmstrang.

Ron was about to look who was the sender of his letter but stopped when he heard Krum's name.

Hermione opened the letter and read then her face's expression changed from smiling to surprise and she turned scarlet. The others were observing her including Ron.

"What did Viktor said?" asked Ginny but Hermione just stared at her letter.

"Let me see it." Then Harry snatched the letter from her.

"No!" But it was too late and then to their surprise, Harry was also stunned.

"Ow, let me read it!" said Ginny then she grabbed it from Harry.

"Well, let's see. How are you? Hope your fine… What's surprising here?" Then she continued reading the letter loudly then stopped.

"Now what? What did Viktor said?" said Fleur curiously. Ron wanted to grab the letter but he stopped himself.

"He's… he's asking Hermione to marry him after she attends school," said Ginny, still staring at the letter.

Ron almost dropped the letter he had in his hands.

"Ron, you also got an owl," said Harry, trying to bring back their senses.

"Yeah," said Ron absently. Ron looked who was the sender is then he smiled.

"It's from Bill," said Ron happily, forgetting what just happened. Hermione looked at him as he and Fleur shared the letter to read. Informing the whole Weasley family about them. Hermione thought bitterly.

"Oh, Ron! Bill's coming here! He'll be here tomorrow!" said Fleur excitedly.

"We should reply to his owl. We'll go ahead," said Ron and they went out.

"So, Hermione, how will you… err… handle this?" asked Harry as Ron and Fleur disappeared from the door of the Great Hall.

"I don't know." She was still staring at the door.

Hermione was on her way to the Gryffindor Tower when some Slytherin group, leaded by Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. She continued to walk but Pansy stopped her.

"Torn between two lovers, Granger?" teased Pansy.

"And speaking of her lover, here comes one." All of them turned, even Hermione. Ron was arriving. The other girls who's with them, giggled, including Pansy.

"Hey, Weasley!" yelled Malfoy.

Ron saw Malfoy with his gang. He was about to path the other direction when he saw Hermione. He drew closer to them.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" said Ron trying to avoid Hermione's eyes.

"Can I ask you the same question? What do you want, Weasel King, a mudblood or a veela? It's better for Granger to hear it." Malfoy said delightedly.

Hermione looked at Ron. Honestly, she was waiting for his answer. Ron looked at Hermione, too and moved closer to her. The whole Slytherin were grinning.

"What's your answer, Weasley? I bet you like that veela than that mudblood. Nice choice."

Ron cleared his throat. He looked nervous but determined.

"Want my answer, Malfoy?" Ron grinned nervously. Malfoy gave him an evil grin.

It all happened so fast. Hermione just felt that Ron grabbed her and felt Ron's lips onto hers.

The smile from the Slytherins faded then Ron's and Hermione's lips parted. Ron grasped Hermione's hand and walked away as fast as they could.

Ron and Hermione walked fast when Hermione got back into her nerves from the kiss that Ron just did to her a while ago. She halted and pulled her hands. Ron also stopped.

For a moment, they stared at each other then tears started to fall from Hermione's eyes to her cheeks.

"Hermione, I- I…" said Ron tensely.

"How could you do this?" said Hermione, sobbing.

"I-I… I'm…" said Ron worriedly.

"You- you didn't heard… you didn't heard Ginny a while ago, did you? Viktor-"

"Yeah, I heard it," said Ron impatiently when he heard Krum's name. "Vicky's proposal, if that's what you mean. Don't you worry, what happened a while ago wouldn't reach Vicky's knowledge, Mrs. Hermione Krum." Then he gave her an I-don't-care-if-you-marry-him look.

"Don't call him Vicky!" yelled Hermione.

"Oh, I'm sorry to rude your future husband's name," said Ron sarcastically. Ron was about to walk when he turned back to Hermione.

"Well, I'll just give him a little info about you. His future wife's lips tastes great and I wouldn't mind if I'll give her another kiss. Would it be fine? That would be my wedding gift for—"

Hermione raised her right hand and slapped Ron's cheek.

"I hate you, Ronald Weasley! I hate you!" Then she ran while wiping her tears that continuously falling.

Ron felt his cheek and watched Hermione as she ran away.

Hermione didn't show up for lunch or dinner and obviously avoiding Ron and the whole Slytherin. Ron did show up at the Great Hall but like Hermione, he was avoiding Hermione and the Slytherins.

Surprisingly, Slytherins wasn't starting to tease them. They all kept quiet but looking at Ron and Hermione maliciously.