Chapter 15 – Just Like a Fairy Tale

"Your Christmas gift, Hermy-own," Viktor replied. "This one." He grabbed her hand and pointed to the charm bracelet.

"Oh, that was you that sent that! I loved it. It's very lovely, but how did you know about S.P.E.W.?"

"You haff a badge vith it on it," Viktor reminded.

"Oh, the campaign badges that I made. Yes, I forgot about that," Hermione laughed. "Well, thank you all the same. I really don't know what to say."

"You don't haff to say anything. I vanted to giff you something," he said with his deeply accented voice. Hermione blushed and a silence set in that sent shivers up her spine, but then again, it could have been the cold.

"Well, shall we go, then? I think my toes are completely frozen," Hermione laughed as Viktor nodded and held out his arm. Hermione flushed a bit, she hoped he thought that it was because she was cold, but took his arm nonetheless.

They started up for the castle, Hermione feeling quite happy because Viktor kept telling her how nice she looked. They entered the entrance hall and Hermione saw Harry and Ron talking to Padma and Parvati.

"Um- Viktor... how about we go talk to your friends," Hermione suggested nervously as she steered Viktor toward the group of Durmstrang students.

"Are you from Hogwarts?"

"Yes, she is," Viktor answered one of his fellow students. "Vhy?"

"Karkaroff von't be happy, Viktor," the boy pointed out.

"He von't say anything to him, though," said another one of the Durmstrang boys.

"Champions over here, please!" Hermione turned and saw Professor McGonagall at the door of the Great Hall.

Viktor smiled at Hermione and led her over to where McGonagall was. Hermione felt her nerves twinging as she realized Harry was coming her way with Parvati. Hermione looked away and found that Cedric and Cho were stand near them as well. Hermione figured that she would rather talk to Harry and Parvati than Cho and Cedric.

"Hi, Harry! Hi, Parvati!" Hermione smiled at them nervously as Parvati gaped at her and Harry stood there wide-eyed. They said nothing to her as they doors of the Great Hall opened and Viktor's fan club came past Hermione, glaring all the while. Hermione wasn't enjoying this at all, everyone was gaping or glaring at her, but then again, the next person to walk past really brightened her night.

It was Malfoy and Pansy and Pansy was gaping while Malfoy stared in disbelief. Hermione even caught him throw Pansy a look and then look back to herself as though comparing the two.

Hermione smiled a little more confidently now, but the smile soon faded as Ron walked toward her and then right past her. 'Maybe he didn't notice me' Hermione thought sadly. 'Yes, that's it, he's not used to seeing me like this so he didn't notice.'

"Everyone get into a line, please, pair by pair," McGonagall ordered to the champions. Viktor tugged at Hermione's arm gently and Hermione got in line behind Roger Davies and Fleur. Behind Hermione was Cedric and Cho, behind them was Harry and Parvati. Hermione frowned as she looked back to Harry and caught Cedric looking at her in a saddened way as she looked back.

She forced a smile at him and he nodded as McGonagall began to lead them into the Great Hall. Hermione felt herself grow nervous as everyone clapped. She hoped that she didn't trip in her heels, she wasn't the best at walking in those things. Hermione was glad though as she stopped in front of a large table at the front of the Great Hall where the judges were seated.

Hermione looked around at everyone and her eyes landed on Ron who was glaring at her. She had expected him to be one of the ones gaping just like Harry and Parvati had done. What was wrong with him?

Hermione quickly looked away, she couldn't bare to have him glare at her like that. She looked instead to Viktor who smiled graciously and looked back to Karkaroff who was glaring at them as well. Viktor quit smiling and turned back to Hermione, remorse in his eyes.

Hermione noticed that everyone was starting to take a seat and, of course, Viktor took one next to Karkaroff. Hermione sat down on the other side of Viktor and waited to see where everyone else was going to sit.

Hermione watched Harry take a seat by Percy who was obviously there for Mr. Crouch and good thing too, she didn't want to see him tonight. Parvati sat on Harry's other side at the end of the table. Next to Percy was Roger Davies, then Fleur next to Madame Maxime. On Madame Maxime's other side was Dumbledore, and next to him was Karkaroff. After this was, of course Viktor and herself, and much to Hermione's horror, Cedric sat down next to her with Cho on his other side at the end of the table.

"You look radiant tonight," Cedric whispered to her.

"Thank you," Hermione said as she sat there with her head bowed. Krum had obviously heard this or noticed that Cedric was talking to her so he put his arm on the back of Hermione's chair and pulled her closer with a smile at Cedric who nodded and turned back to Cho.

"So, Hermy-own... vhat are you going to eat?"

"Um-," Hermione had never thought of this. What was she going to eat, and for that matter, where was the food? Hermione looked down the table to Dumbledore and watched as he looked down at menu. She picked up hers and pretended to look at it while she continued to watch Dumbledore.

"Pork chops!" Hermione watched the food appear on Dumbledore's plate and it looked good, so she figured she would have the same.

"Pork chops!"

"I am thinking I vill haff the same," Viktor said as he looked down at his plate. "Pork chops!"

"So, Viktor, how do you like it here at Hogwarts?"

"It's vonderful," Viktor exclaimed. "It's comfortable and nice."

"I bet you miss your own school, though, don't you?"

"Vell, ve haff a castle also, not as big as this, nor as comfortable, I am thinking. Ve haff just four floors, and the fires are lit only for magical purposes. But ve haff grounds larger even than these – though in vinter, ve haff very little daylight, so ve are not enjoying them. But in summer ve are flying every day, over the lakes and the mountains-"

Hermione was loving talking to Viktor, but Karkaroff seemed to not love it as he interrupted.

"Now, now, Viktor! Don't go giving away anything else, now, or your charming friend will know exactly where to find us!" Hermione wanted to say something like she wouldn't dream of coming anywhere near Karkaroff, but Dumbledore beat her to the punch.

"Igor, all this secrecy... one would almost think you didn't want visitors."

"Well, Dumbledore," Karkaroff beamed, his grotesque yellow teeth showing. "We are all protective of out private domains, are we not? Do we not jealously guard the halls of learning that have been entrusted to us? Are we not right to be proud that we alone know our school's secrets, and right to protect them?"

"Oh, I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor. Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turning on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamber pots."

Hermione giggled at this and tried not to snort to hardly and spit out her bite of pork chop. She straightened up and continued to listen as Dumbledore went on speaking.

"When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished. But I must keep an eye out for it. Possibly it is only accessible at five-thirty in the morning."

Again, Hermione began to giggle, this time, so hard that Cedric turned and looked at her. She blushed and smiled at him as she went back to listening to Dumbledore.

"Or it may only appear at the quarter moon – or when the seeker has an exceptionally full bladder."

Hermione couldn't stop herself now. She began giggling harder than ever, putting her napkin up to her face and trying hard not to choke. Again, Cedric turned and looked at her as she sat there laughing. He smiled and caught her eye as she yet again blushed. He continued smiling as he reluctantly turned back to a curiously gazing Cho.

Viktor must have noticed the interaction between Hermione and Cedric and decided to butt in.

"Hermy-own... you never told me if you liked my gift for you."

"Yes, Viktor, I love it," Hermione beamed as she twisted the bracelet upon her wrist. This too was saw by Cedric who smiled half-hearted and turned back to Cho again. "I'm only sorry I didn't get you anything," Hermione added.

"It's all right, Hermy-own, I am thinking that going to this ball vith you is a vonderful gift," Viktor said sweetly. Hermione blushed and bit into her bottom lip nervously as she decided a change of subject would be good as she noticed Harry watching.

"So, would you like to learn how to say my name... you keep calling me Hermy-own," Hermione giggled.

"Certainly," Viktor said with enthusiasm.

"Ok, here goes... just try to say Hermione."

"Her-my-own," Viktor pronounce.

"No, no. Her-my-oh-nee," she said slowly and carefully. She noticed that Harry was still watching and she was beginning to get a bit flustered and embarrassed.

"Herm-own-ninny," Viktor tried again.

"Close enough," Hermione grinned as she nodded to Harry. Once dinner was finished, Dumbledore stood, the students and staff of both Hogwarts and the other schools, following suit as he made the tables leave the floor and the Weird Sisters band walked out onto a raised platform.

Hermione watched the lights dim and Viktor grabbed her hand gently and led her out onto the dance floor. She became a bit nervous, she had never danced with anyone before in her life, and his duck footed awkwardness probably wouldn't make this any easier either. Hermione swallowed back her nerves and put one hand in Viktor's waiting one and the other on his shoulder as he put his other hand around her waist.

"Are you comfortable, Herm-own-ninny?" Hermione smiled and tried not to laugh at the way he said her name as she nodded her head and let him lead. Hermione was hoping that no one would notice her, but she was soon a bit caught up in dancing with Viktor.

She placed her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She wasn't sure how long she had been like this, but she suddenly felt eyes upon her. She opened her own and looked around. She soon spotted who was looking at her. It was Cedric. He was peering at Hermione over Cho's head which was resting upon his shoulder.

He smiled and nodded and Hermione returned the smile as she turned quickly to look around the dance floor. Harry seemed to be doing well as he talked to Moody who was dancing a bit awkwardly with Professor Sinistra. A little ways off from them was Dumbledore and Madame Maxime, the pair looked quite silly, but danced quite gracefully. Hermione looked for Ron and spotted red hair, but it was only Ginny who was dancing with Neville.

Hermione suddenly became glad that she didn't go with him because she saw how he trod on Ginny's feet, though Ginny was humble about it. Hermione soon gave up looking for Ron when she saw Harry walking over to him, he was still glaring at her just as he had been earlier. She wasn't going to let it both her though as she continued to enjoy herself while dancing with Viktor.

After a few more songs, Hermione found sweat beginning to bead upon her forehead and she decided that a break wouldn't hurt.

"Viktor, would you like to take a break and get something to drink?"

"Certainly, Herm-own-ninny," Viktor beamed as they left the dance floor.

"I'll be over here with Ron and Harry," Hermione said as she pointed to the table where the two boys were sitting. She walked over and sat down and began to fan herself with her hand while smiling at them. "It's hot, isn't it? Viktor's just gone to get some drinks."

"Viktor? Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?"

"What's up with you?" Ron was being a total jerk and Hermione had no idea why.

"If you don't know," Ron hissed, "I'm not going to tell you.

"Ron, what-"

"He's from Durmstrang! He's competing against Harry! Against Hogwarts! You- you're-," Hermione was waiting for the anger to come of its mount to fly toward her as Ron seemed to be searching for a good enough word. "Fraternizing with the enemy, that's what you're doing!" Hermione was in shock, but she soon recovered and there was a bitterness to her voice as she spoke.

"Don't be so stupid! The enemy! Honestly – who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who's got a model of him up in their dormitory?" Ron didn't answer this as he went on in a scathing manner.

"I s'pose he asked you to some with him while you were both in the library?"

"Yes, he did. So what?"

"What happened – trying to get him to join spew, were you?"

"No, I wasn't! If you really want to know, he- he said he's been coming up to the library every day to try and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up the courage!" Hermione felt herself growing extremely hot now and she knew it was because she was embarrassed, but why should she be? It was no crime for Viktor to like her.

"Yeah, well – that's his story," Ron said, showing pure ignorance.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Obvious, isn't it? He's Karkaroff's student, isn't he? He knows who you hang around with... He's just trying to get closer to Harry – get inside information on him – or get near enough to jinx him-"

She could hardly believe he was saying this. Why wasn't she pretty enough to be able to have a guy like her for her? Why did they always have to have some kind of evil motive?

"For you information," Hermione snapped as she felt her throat growing tight, "he hasn't asked me one single thing about Harry, not one-"

"Then he's hoping you'll help him find out what his egg means! I suppose you've been putting your heads together during those cozy little library sessions-"

"I'd never help him work out that egg! Never. How could you say something like that - I want Harry to win the tournament, Harry knows that, don't you, Harry?" Harry didn't have a chance to answer though as Ron spoke up in a nasty way.

"You've got a funny way of showing it."

"This whole tournament's supposed to be about getting to know foreign wizards and making friends with them!"

"No it isn't! It's about winning!"

"Ron," Harry cut in, "I haven't got a problem with Hermione coming with Krum-"

"Why don't you go and find Vicky, he'll be wondering where you are," Ron snapped, ignoring Harry and the fact that people were starting to stare at them.

"Don't call him Vicky!" Hermione had heard enough, she wasn't about to take anymore of this as she jumped up and stormed off across the dance floor and out of the Great Hall. She continued out of the entrance hall and out into the garden that had been put in front of the castle. She dropped sulkily down onto a bench and crossed her arms around her chest and crossed her legs, jiggling her foot impatiently.

"Is it all right if I sit here?" Hermione was so angered, that she didn't even realize who was speaking to her until they sat down next to her.

"Cedric!"

"Hermione," he laughed. "What's the matter?"

"Ron... he's being a... a great bit... git," Hermione huffed. "I can't stand talking to him anymore."

"I see."

"So, why are you outside?"

"Cho is in there with her friends and she was kind of ignoring me so I slipped out for some fresh air," Cedric sighed as he looked up at the stars.

"I see," she giggled.

"Where's Viktor?"

"He's inside... probably lost in the sea of fans he has," Hermione muttered as she stared at her feet. "They waltzed right next to us the whole time... I was beginning to think I would have to get in a boat from all the drool around us." Cedric laughed along with her and she sighed heavily as she watched the fairies fluttering about.

Cedric suddenly coughed and Hermione looked over at him to see him looking upward. There above them was three little fairies holding mistletoe. Hermione giggled and didn't have time to move as Cedric leaned over and kissed her cheek. She pressed her lips together and blushed as he smiled at her.

"Would you like to go inside?"

"As long as I don't have to see Ron and I should be getting back to Viktor anyways," Hermione sighed as she took Cedric's hand and stood up. He led her inside and just as they entered, a fast beat song ended and a slow one started.

"How about a dance before we go back to our dates?"

"Um- well..."

"I'm a little sick of dancing with only Cho and I'm sure Viktor wouldn't mind," Cedric coaxed. Hermione knew that he would, but nonetheless, she did want to dance with Cedric.

"Okay," Hermione agreed as she put one hand on his shoulder and another in his hand. She shivered when he put his hand on her lower back and began to guide her across the floor gracefully. Hermione looked up at him, losing herself in his deep ocean blue eyes which sparkled happily.

Sound suddenly drowned away and she felt that this would go on forever, or so she hoped. Everyone around them disappeared and there was only him and her, dancing perfectly in each other's arms on a golden dance floor with mistletoe above them.

"Herm-own-ninny," Hermione heard. She looked to Cedric, but it wasn't him saying this. She shook her head and next to them she saw Viktor. Sound came flooding back and Hermione realized that the song was ending.

"Hi, Viktor," Hermione sighed as she and Cedric parted and Viktor took her hand.

"Vood you like to go dance some more, Herm-own-ninny?" Hermione looked to Cedric who smiled and sighed.

"I should be getting back to Cho," he said before disappearing into the sea of people around them.

"Very well, let's dance," Hermione answered as she let Viktor take her to the middle of the dance floor so they could dance, but all the while in the back of her mind, she was thinking of just how much she loved dancing with Cedric. It was just like a fairy tale, perfect in every way.