More Than A Student-Teacher Relationship
I brushed my hair thoroughly and showered quickly. I dressed and made sure every last detail was good about me without making me look like I was trying too hard. It felt like all the girls were watching my every move as I brushed my hair and checked myself over. I was the first girl to leave the dormitory, but once I left I heard whispers of things that sounded like, "This is unlike Hermione, she must really like this guy" and "Whoa, I've never seen her make sure she looked so good on a normal day". I rolled my eyes at these comments and walked down the steps.
"Hermione! Good morning!" said Harry loudly as usual. As soon as I stepped off the bottom step, he threw his arms around my neck and leaned into my ear, whispering, "Ron is madder at you than I've ever seen him. I apologize in advance for taking his side." He walked off, leaving me stunned, trying to process the words in my mind. "Well, at least he apologized in advance…" I muttered to myself.
I stepped out of the portrait and walked quickly to the Great Hall. Today after double Potions we had Defense Against The Dark Arts, followed by Transfiguration and Arithmancy. In the Great Hall, I saw Dumbledore and all the teachers except Viktor. I sighed and looked down at my food. Ron was sitting about five seats away, glaring at me from the corners of his eyes as he slowly ate some toast.
I don't know why I felt guilt then. Just seeing him glowering at me like that made me feel horrible. It was obvious I was hurting him, but it would help a whole lot more if he would accept that unless he makes a move I am going out with other guys. I ate my last bite of scrambled eggs and left the table quickly. The sooner I got down to Potions the sooner it would be over, and the sooner I at least got to see Viktor. Maybe I could talk to him privately and get to know him a little better. People can change over just a few years, although he seems just like he was when he was here at Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament.
I walked down the log corridors that were full of students moving from class to class. Boys and girls held hands and kissed when they were positive no one was looking. Friends laughed at jokes and helped with books. But when I walked by, they all stopped what they were doing and began to whisper suspiciously. Some girls even glared at me… I think for taking Viktor away from them before they had a chance with him.
I descended the stairs leading to the dungeons. I opened the door slowly to see that few people were there—just Malfoy and his followers. I sat as far away from them as I could while still being in the front of the room. I wanted to hear what Snape was saying, even if I disliked him… I needed his lectures and instructions to be able to pass the class, after all.
Within the next five minutes, everyone else entered in. Ron and Harry closed the door behind them and sat down just in time for the class to start. Of course, though they were on time, Snape managed to count them as tardy. "You two will not enter my class late again. Ten points from Gryffindor each," he said without much emotion (as he had been doing this for years now).
Neville had sat beside me, knowing I would help him with his potion and be pretty nice to him. "Today we will be doing a Revitalizing Potion. It will help gain energy after falling asleep or being stunned. As we have already learned it, I'll just go through the steps quickly…" began Snape. During the next five minutes he explained how to make the potion, but I didn't pay much attention to that. After all, we had already learned it, and I did remember how to make it.
Neville and I ended up with the best potion (obviously) but Draco got the highest marks. I think Snape fancies Malfoy… or maybe it is just because they are related (they are because all the pureblood families are related, no matter how distantly).
I walked briskly down to Defense Against The Dark Arts class. "Seeing Viktor will make the rude comments, whispers, and glares better," I whispered constantly to myself as I walked down the halls and up the stairs. I think this only brought more looks though, since it appeared I was talking to myself.
I finally ended up at Defense Against Dark Arts, which was on about the opposite end of Hogwarts as Potions. I walked in with a small smile, to see the class was full of girls even though it was ten minutes before the class would start. In fact, I couldn't get a seat up front since it was full already with Viktor's fan club.
Viktor saw me come in and smiled brightly. All the girls that had been staring at him with huge eyes were now glaring at me menacingly. I rolled my eyes at them and took a seat in the middle of the… middle. Viktor cleared his throat to get the girls to stop glaring at me, and announced in his best professional voice, "Ms. Granger, I vould like to speak to you after class." "Of course Vik—Professor Krum," I said politely, almost forgetting to call him by his last name. Again, I got more glares from the girls (and one boy besides Ron which was creepy) and a few sniggers from the boys. "Now, I think ve should go into our lesson," he said and turned around. "Turn to page ten in your books."
-Ron's POV-
"Harry, there's something about him I just don't like," I said to Harry, not paying much attention to Krum. "Ron, are you sure that it isn't just… jealously?" he asked cautiously. "Jealous? Of what!" I asked him confused. "I think it would be obvious by now…" he muttered. "What's obvious?" I asked. "How do you feel about Hermione? Or what do you think of her?" he asked me. I shook my head and tried to get a clear picture of what I thought about her.
"She's… kind, smart… gracious, wonderful, amazing really…" I said, listing a few that were on the top of my head. "Go on," he urged me. "She's my… best friend, Harry. And I don't trust Krum with her. I don't want her hurt," I said, trying to end the conversation. "That isn't the signal I'm getting here…" Harry said with a laugh. "What does that mean?" he asked.
"I don't think it's right for me to tell you about your feelings, but from your description earlier, I think there might be more than a 'just friends' feeling. You know, she's going to hate you forever for not supporting her completely…" he said. "There is no way I could like Hermione!" I said loudly, just loud enough for the people in front of us to eye my suspiciously.
"Ron, like Hermione said the year before last… She's a girl. And yes, she's our friend, too! But maybe she deserves to be treated more like a girl and less like our friend sometimes… especially when it comes to you," said Harry. "Like you and Luna?" I asked menacingly, trying to get him off the subject of Hermione and me. "That's nothing like this," he hissed… but shut up.
I sighed and attempted to get into what Krum was saying. I think it was about vampires or something like that. But all I could really do was look at Hermione stare at Krum with huge (imaginary, of course) hearts in her eyes. She's just dazzled by his outward appearance… Or am I possibly wrong? Either way, I should patch things up with her… For some reason, I can't stay away from her for much longer without going nuts.
Back to Hermione's POVClass finished after a discussion about vampires. He told us to write a two-foot paper on vampires and how to be protected from them. I thought it was completely fair, but everyone grumbled about the assignment. Which was typical as everyone else couldn't really concentrate on work or school.
I stood outside the door, waiting for Viktor to come out. I attempted to hide behind the door when Ron and Harry exited, but Ron caught my arm and said, "Hold on, 'Mione." I knew he was going to apologize. He only calls me 'Mione when he isn't mad at me. "Yes, Ron?" I asked in a bittersweet tone that showed I was still mad but I would eventually forgive him.
"I'm… sorry for going overboard about Krum," he stated simply. Harry casually nudged him, and Ron uttered an "Ouch" before continuing. "You deserve to be happy… and if Krum makes you happy, you deserve him," he muttered. "Thanks Ron," I said with a large (yet completely fake smile, knowing Harry put him up to it) smile. "Um, I'm still waiting for Viktor… I'll see you guys at lunch," I said, trying to get rid of them. They nodded and said goodbye, while I leaned against the wall.
Viktor came out as soon as Harry and Ron were out of view, and looked around. The halls were quiet and no classes started until lunch was over. "Herm-Own-Ninny. I'm glad you waited though I vas a little… late." "It's okay, we have about half an hour before classes start," I said. "Yes, though I vish lunch was longer…" he muttered.
"Herm-Own-Ninny, I've gone crazy vithout you," he said looking directly into my eyes. "So have I," I said looking back at him. He leaned forward and kissed me softly on the lips, apparently hoping I would kiss back. I leaned into it and deepened the kiss. I heard footsteps, but didn't really care since they didn't bother Viktor and me…