"It's true zen?" Krum replied with an astonished look burdened on his face. "I mean...you really are him...and she is you only you're her..." His thick, dark eyebrows furrowed as he leaned against the large brick wall. "I am terrible confused."
"Tell me about it..." Ron said with an exasperated voice. "But how did you know?"
"Vell...I've known Herm-oh-ninny for about 3 years...and all during those years I've never once heard her use the words "bloody"...heck, I've never once heard anyone try to use "bloody" repetitively even when it doesn't make sense," Krum said with a shrug.
Ron blushed.
"Besides...when zey first time I saw you, you called it a Quidditch "Pitch"...never have I heard Herm-oh-ninny say zat."
Ron chuckled as though he was reminiscing with an old friend. "Right...she always calls it a "field" like it's a muggle sport or something." Krum joined in with a slight chortle before Ron stopped abruptly, realizing that he was having a...well...civilized conversation with one of his worst enemies (and even under this type of circumstances). He coughed and shuffled his feet before looking up at him with curiosity. "Why exactly are you here anyway? I mean, I know you said that Dumbledore told you and whatnot...but why now?"
The humor was released out of Krum's dark, tanned face. "Dark times are coming, Ron..." His voice was shaken. "You and I both know zat...We all know vat is to come, but we do not know vat the outcome will be."
"You mean V...Vol..." He tried to say the name that was forbidden to mutter in the Weasley family for so many years. The name was like a curse that should not be spoken, for it only comes with dire consequences. That's what he believed until he had met Harry...Harry had said the name without a care in the world, not knowing the effect it had on others. But he had a reason, no? "Vold...Voldemort," Ron sputtered with a certain shakiness as though he believed that Voldemort himself would appear and smite him into the ground. But nothing happened...except for Viktor Krum's left eye giving a little twitch.
Krum nodded. "Dumbledore knew zat horrible things were about to come...zat is why he scheduled a Ball...so Hogwarts would be happy again...and possibly the last time for awhile. Zat is why I came...Herm-oh-ninny is in zey middle of it all. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is not only after Harry, but after anyone who stands in his way."
Ron hadn't thought about that...he had been so worried about changing back into his own body that he hadn't noticed how solemn it had truly been around Hogwarts. No one else knew about the Prophecy except for The Order and some of the D.A....but all of the students still knew who would be involved with the whole ordeal. The students seemed to be giving Harry even more worried looks than they had when the rumor had spread about Harry being the heir of Slytherin...except one thing was different. They weren't afraid for their own lives...but the life of Harry.
Krum continued. "Many people are going to die, Ron. The Order of the Phoenix is getting bigger every minute...with those who do not wish to die, but many of them will."
"Wait." Ron furrowed his eyebrows tightly. "How do you know about The Order?"
He smirked meekly. "Zhere are many locations of zey Order, Ron...England may have the headquarters, but other places have Order locations. Romania...thanks to your brother of course, France, Brazil, United States, Egypt, Ireland, and of course Bulgaria."
"You're a part of the Bulgarian Order then?" Ron asked, knowing that there was many things that the Order had not told him.
He nodded. "We all know zat many of us will die...but we'll die fighting. I need you to promise me something, Ron."
Ron froze with confusion. "What?"
"I need you to protect Herm-oh-ninny with your life. Zis is not your fight. Harry is zey only one that can defeat He-who-must-not-be-named. It is his destiny...you two must not get involved." Krum said sternly, not breaking his gaze off of Ron.
It was a way out, Ron knew that. He wasn't going to be expected to fight. This way was an assurance that he and Hermione would not die...Then why did it not feel right? "No..."
"No? Vat do you mean no?"
"I mean no..." Ron said quietly. "Harry is my best friend and he needs me...it may be his fight and his fight alone, but he still needs all the help he can get. Hermione can hide in the Headquarters...she'll be safe there. But I want to fight...I need to fight, regardless of the consequences."
Krum exhaled deeply before doing something that Ron would have never thought in a million years...He extended his hand. "You're a brave boy, Weasley...stupid...but brave."
Ron stared blankly at the hand that was suddenly directed towards him, as though pondering whether or not it was actually a trick. Besides Malfoy...Krum was his worst enemy. Whether or not Krum actually knew that was a mystery, but that still didn't change the awkward situation. He wondered if he could get away with running again...but then realized how ignorant and stupid he sounded with that thought in his head. So he slowly extended his own...or Hermione's slender hand and shook Krum's bulky and strong one.
"Well...now zat everything is settled, I do believe I owe Dumbledore a visit. I shall see you at the ball zen, Ron?" Krum said with a slight smile after releasing his grip on Ron's hand.
Ron gasped in shock, having the urge to kick himself in the head. "The ball! I completely forgot about the ball!" Without final words, Ron dashed off down the hallway towards the Great Hall.
"Where the bloody hell have you been!" Yelled a perturbed boy who was marching down the rows of tables as Ron entered the large, glistening room. It was Ernie Macmillan, the once tiny little blonde boy now grown to be a rather lofty seventeen year old with shaggy and sheeny golden hair. His Head Boy badge glistened brightly on his robes, an obvious giveaway that he had spent many moons polishing it incessantly to get the glossy tone.
"I'm so sorry, Ernie! I was...er...distracted by the..." /Think like Hermione...Think like Hermione!/ Ron kept telling himself. "The...er...shiny castle decor!" Ron held back a smack to his own forehead. /Shiny decor!! I said like Hermione, not Mrs. Norris!/
Ernie raised a sleek eyebrow in crazed speculation. "Shiny decor?" Ron nodded abruptly, his ears turning a slight shade of scarlet. you go a little faster next time! You're a hour late!"
Ron let out an exasperated breath. He had bought it! "Yeah yeah yeah." Ron snapped as Ernie stopped right infront of him. Ron ignored Ernie's approach and began to wander his eyes around the partially decorated Great Hall. It's already elegant adornment had been altered to fit the winter theme which made the large room even more resplendent than what could ever be thought possible.
The long house tables had been replaced with small circular ones with the most abnormal yet beautiful tablecloths covering them. From a distance it looked like snow had fallen perfectly onto each tabletop, leaving a thin sheet of sparkling white powder. But as Ron examined it closer he noticed that it was not snow, but infact just an ordinary table cloth that was bewitched to look as though the roof had opened up.
"Wicked, isn't it?" Ernie said with a sloppy grin, noticing Ron's gaze.
"Bloody brilliant!" Ron replied while he still intently examined the room. If Ron had infact been looking at Ernie instead of his surroundings, he probably would have seen the rather shocked look burdened on his face after hearing one of the most prim and proper girls ever known to Hogwarts history mutter a swear word that she had scolded so many times before.
The tinsel on the enormous trees seemed to have grown in quantity while the candles that magically balanced on each end of the pine glowed brighter than any previous year. Maybe it was just because it was from a different point of view this time...or maybe it was because it seemed to matter this Christmas...Possibly the last Christmas that he and many others would have.