Kissing Viktor
i.
Viktor is an older boy, a Quidditch star. And he still asked her, Hermione Granger, to the Yule Ball. While she is flattered, she is also intimidated. He knows about girls. He'll want to kiss her, possibly more.
Hermione has never kissed before. She doesn't know how, and the prospect frightens her. She doesn't want to fail at kissing, but she doesn't know how not to.
Maybe Harry or Ron would practice with her, she thinks. She knows it is an awful idea. They've never kissed either.
She'll have to learn kissing the same way she learns everything: from books.
ii.
"... Snow's just, it's so... ephemeral." Hermione's words aren't making sense anymore. Not that Viktor would know. He can't understand her anyway.
What he does understand, she knows, is that she wants him to move closer, so he does. Their lips meet, barely brushing.
This is her first kiss. She's glad its cold outside because she had an excuse to stand close to him, to Krum. She is kissing Viktor Krum, a Quidditch star, Ron's idol.
She wonders what Ron would think of her and Viktor, standing in the snow, clad only in their dress robes, their lips pressed together, albeit awkwardly.
iii.
Only in the middle of her third real kiss does Hermione begin to find herself recalling what she's learned about kissing from books.
The books said to part her lips, slightly, without opening her mouth too wide. Immediately, Viktor takes advantage of the space, his tongue delving deeply.
The books said to run her tongue along his, in constant motion, but not so much that the movements become annoying rather than arousing.
The books said to pay attention to the placement of her hands, on his back, in his hair.
The books said kissing would be pleasant. But it isn't.
iv.
Viktor pins Hermione to the cold, stone walls of the castle and smashes his lips against hers.
His kisses always catch Hermione by surprise, but this one is particularly breathtaking. Literally, breathtaking.
His hands cup either side of her neck, forcefully, strangling her. She knows this is not his intention. He's simply distracted, which is flattering, but also painful. And now his tongue is in her mouth thrusting deeper and deeper.
Hermione wishes she had read less about how to kiss and more about how to end kisses. Over and over she thinks, Please stop, Please stop, Please stop now.
v.
Viktor doesn't know what to say, but then, Hermione reasons, he never has. So instead he leans in very close, so close their noses touch, so close she can smell mint on his breath. He must've charmed it.
He opens his mouth and Hermione braces herself. But he doesn't kiss her.
"Herm-own-ninny, vill you visit me in summer?"
Hermione doesn't want to hurt Viktor's feelings, but she wants to spend her summer with Harry and Ron, not kissing. Well maybe kissing, but definitely not kissing Viktor.
His mouth moves towards hers for the inevitable good-bye kiss, but she pulls back.
A/N: I disclaim these characters and their world. Reviews would be appreciated and cherished.