Thanks for reviews! This chapter was meant to be included in Chapter 5, but I found it too long so I hacked it off into a separate chapter.
Warning: HBP spoilers! That is if, you consider a few new phrases from there spoilers.
And answering more fanmail... -chuckles-
AussieWitch : Wotcher! Yes, the spell "Extiugfy" was made up by me. A poorly made-up one at that. But Incendio! was JKR's. There's a new spell that I made up in this chapter too; but it's a real word in Latin! I am pretty proud of it too.. Even tho it's not mine at all...
Mezzo Papaya : Thanks! I sort of enjoyed thinking up of ways to dispose of him too... He's not exactly my favourite character either. I didn't like how he kept getting his face practically sucked out by a certain Lavender Brown in HBP for like 1/3 of the book. Man-whore!
cherrisoda : Thank you for the compliments! I sort of wanted them to fall in love right there too, but I didn't think that it would so enjoyable to read, so I edited it. You WILL be seeing some action here though... :D
danii : Vague is good!
DISCLAIMER: JK's property. I will never touch.
…
"Ron, this is so romantic!" Hermione exclaimed, hugging her spouse's arm in glee. She gazed around her surroundings, awed. Glittering stars were scattered along the sky, Sparkling, shining, disappearing and reappearing as if playing a game of hide and seek.
Ron merely flashed her a roguish grin.
"Glad you like it babe." He replied, kissing her forehead.
No… Ron…
"Would you like to sit on the edge?"
"Oh," Hermione hesitated. "Don't you think it's a little… risky?"
"Aw C'mon, 'Mione. Can't be that dangerous! Stop being such a chicken!"
Ron… No… don't do it…
Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and they clambered onto the wall that separated them from the breath-taking scenery that surrounded them. Hermione stared, wide-eyed, at the bustling life of London. There were cars honking, people doing their last-minute bit of Christmas shopping and shop-vendors shouting, beckoning customers to try out their newest products. The recent sunset made the sight even more beautiful.
"Oh my god, Ron…"
"Blimey, it's gorgeous, I know." Ron cracked another grin.
As they were perched on the rooftop of the highest building around, their view of London was especially good. Hermione looked down anxiously.
"I'm a little afraid of heights, Ron."
"You've got me, 'Mione. I'm holding you as tight as I can. You're safe."
Please don't! Ron! No!
Hermione nodded, but she was still in high doubts. She rested her head on Ron's shoulder, enjoying each other's company.
"ARGHHHH!"
"Ron!"
Hermione lurched forward; someone had just pulled her down by her arm. She clutched the edge on which she was sitting on instinctively. And to her horror, she realized who the person was – Ron was dangling off the side of the building, grasping onto Hermione's arm.
NO! RON!
"Hermione! Help!"
Hermione was dangling off the edge of the rooftop dangerously herself. Her grip on the edge was slipping, and her leather gloves were not helping to support her at all. Ron's hand slipped down from her elbow to her hand.
"Hold on!"
"I'M HOLDING!"
Hermione struggled onto the edge, but she was not strong enough. And just as she felt her grip on the edge loosening…
"Hermio-ninny?"
Hermione raised her eyes. Viktor was standing there, on the rooftop, looking down at her. He looked surprised.
"Viktor! Help me up!"
Viktor did not stretch his hand out. Instead, he pulled out his wand from his robes, and pointed it at Ron.
"Viktor? What are you doing!" Hermione cried desperately.
"He is not worth it, Hermy-own…"
Wait… What is this?
"Viktor!" Hermione's eyes widened. "VIKTOR! NO!"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Hermione's body shot up, erect. As soon as her head rose, it came into contact with something else hard. A sharp pain seared through her forehead.
"Argh!" she heard someone groan beside her. Clenching her forehead, she looked around in the dark. She fumbled for her wand.
"Lumos!"
Hermione nearly screamed, overwhelmed. Sitting on the floor beside her, was none other than Viktor, rubbing his forehead and swearing in Bulgarian.
"Viktor! What are you – I thought I cast a spell on my door?"
"Alohomora…" Viktor explained, getting up. He cast Hermione an apologetic look.
"I am sorry for barging in, it vos just that I heard you screaming from my room – I thought you vere attacked. Then I realized that you vere only dreaming…"
"Oh."
"What time is it?"
"Juzt after dawn. And may I ask vot vere you dreaming about that made you shriek like that?"
"It was nothing." She said hastily, grabbing the glass of water that stood on the night table beside her. Viktor raised an eyebrow.
"I don't shriek like a banshee for fun, laughter, peace or joy either." He remarked. Hermione gawked at him, dumbfounded.
"If you're haffing a bad dream, you can tell me, Hermio-knee." Viktor sighed. "Did you not say that I vos your brother?"
Hermione choked on her drink, sputtering. Did he honestly believe that? Hermione only said that as a last resort to stop him from… from… Was he really that gullible?
"I hope I don't haff to use Legilimency on you, Her-mee-on." Viktor added, eyeing her suspiciously. Hermione gaped at him.
"I learnt that in Durmstrang." Viktor said.
"Oh. Right."
Hermione nearly forgot. Viktor had studied the Dark Arts all his life in Durmstrang; it was not surprising that he would learn how to read people's minds.
"I am judging from recent events that it iz about… Ronald Veasley?"
Hermione winced when she heard the name.
"And I am correct." Viktor sighed, muttering something Bulgarian under his breath. He sat on the bed beside her legs, and his eyes bore into Hermione's.
"You haff to learn to accept vot fate haz brought you, Her-mee-on." Viktor said, his voice soft and soothing. Hermione was nearly on the verge of crying her eyes out again. She suddenly found her glass of water very fascinating.
Viktor stared fixedly at Hermione. Her haphazard hair was shrouding her face, so he was unable to see her expression. After a few minutes of watching her, he saw something fall into her glass. A ripple formed and then dispersed. Viktor was speechless. Hermione was crying again.
Soon more droplets of tears fell onto the blanket that was wrapped around Hermione.
Snivels and sobs could be heard.
Hermione felt so much torment and lament ripping through her. She felt so bad, breaking down in front of Viktor. She didn't know what to say, but couldn't exactly be bothered either.
"I'm so sorry… I've been so stupid…"
She lifted her head to look at Viktor, but she was only met with something that startled her almost as badly as the bad news she had heard about Ron.
Viktor had closed in on her, and trapped her lips in his. He kissed her gently, with such tenderness. Hermione found her breath trapped in her throat. She did not move. Viktor laid another kiss on her trembling lips. Hermione closed her eyes, melting in his touch.
Viktor traced his fingers along her smooth cheek and she shuddered under his slender fingers.
Hermione's heart was palpitating. The kiss was so simple, and yet Hermione found them so desirable. She had kissed Ron countless of times, but… they never held such emotion… They were never as…
Ron.
Hermione turned her head away, much to Viktor's astonishment.
"I can't." She said apologetically. Viktor nodded slowly, looking at her. There was a bit of hurt in his eyes, but his face showed understanding. Hermione smiled meekly.
"Thank you."
She got up slowly, tugging the blankets off her legs and very slowly and erectly, she walked towards the toilet and the door clicked behind her.
"Този е разхлопан! (This is absolutely crazy!)" He groaned, slapping his hand to his forehead.
"Vot cood have driven me to do such a thing! She probably thinks I am some sex maniac now!" He muttered to the empty room. "Idiot!"
He jumped up, opened the door and stalked out of the room, berating himself.
...
Once Hermione entered the toilet, she cast an Imperturbable Charm on the door, with succinct precision this time. Then she slammed the toilet cover down, and plopped on top of it. A few strands of frizzy hair fell onto her face, which she swiped away irritably.
What mess had she gotten herself in? She had just been kissed by a man that wasn't Ronald Weasley.
It finally came, Hermione thought. She had been predicting that something like this would have happened and it really did, and she actually enjoyed it. Hermione subconsciously trailed her index finger along her lips, as if to feel at least a last bit of Viktor's kiss.
She tried to replay the scene. The softness of his lips, the over raging emotion as he pressed his lips against hers. It just felt so good…
And so sinful.
She dropped her hands onto her lap and instantly felt her eyes water.
"You mustn't cry, Hermione Granger!" she chided. But despite herself, tears poured down anyway.
Oh, how emotionally unstable she was. Hermione sniveled. She missed Ron. So badly. Then she remembered Viktor's kiss. So it was true. Viktor still had feelings for her after all those years. Those wasted years. Why didn't he bother to look for someone else? Did he really have faith in Hermione?
'Just accept him, 'Mione! Ron's dead anyway!' a voice in Hermione's head taunted.
A second voice argued:
'Don't! What about Ron! You're not going to dispose of what the both of you shared like rubbish, are you! You ingrate!"
Hermione cried out in frustration and pulled off her clothes, jumping into the shower. It was going to be freezing, but Hermione didn't care.
Let it freeze her to death then! She thought angrily, as she turned it on full power. The death-cold water hit her full on.
"AH SHI-!" Hermione shrieked. "TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF!"
...
Hermione lumbered down the stairs, as grumpy as ever. Her hair was a little drier and frizzier than usual, since she had just magically blown it dry. She had grabbed the most boring-looking set of clothes that morning – a long sleeved dress that reached her shins and a faded magenta cloak.
"Good morning." A voice said. Hermione jumped, and in her shock, slipped a few steps down to the foot of the stairs. She gave a wail of frustration and flailed her arms like a temperamental toddler.
Viktor rushed to her aide.
"I am so sorry! I did not know I vood give you a shock! I – "
"Never mind!" Hermione snapped, helping her self up. She trudged to the kitchen and to the espresso machine. Viktor followed her.
"I am very sorry for vot I did just now." Viktor apologized, trying to manage a simpering smile. He stared at Hermione, who was banging around, making as much noise as she could. When she opened the cupboard, she swung it open with such force; when she reached for her mug, she swiped at it; when she closed the cupboard door, she slammed it with a loud bang; and when she put her mug down, she banged it onto the counter and it broke. She gasped as a shard of porcelain was pierced into the web of her fingers.
"URGHH!" Hermione growled through gritted teeth. Viktor was at a loss of words.
"I can fix that for you."
"NEVER MIND! REPARO!" Hermione barked, her teeth clenched so tightly that the words came out a little muffled. The piece of porcelain that was embedded in her skin joined the rest of the pieces. Hermione yelped in pain as it was yanked out by an unseen force.
"I'll help you." Viktor said, and he tapped Hermione's hand and muttered: "Vigoratus!" the wound closed and the pain was gone. Hermione looked at Viktor, who smiled back at her.
"Thanks."
"Take it az a sinzere apology for my rash actions earlier."
"It's… alright really. I don't mind."
Viktor raised his eyebrows in surprise, but at least he was glad that she had simmered down.
"You do not mind me…?"
"I mean that it's over. No use crying over spilt milk. We're friends."
"Right. I vos vondering… since you are not really in the mood to make coffee –" he glanced at the mug "Vood you like to join me for a bit of breakfast?"
"Ah sure! Anything, really…"
"Excellent." Viktor said, smiling, and grabbed her arm. Before she could breathe a word, he had Apparated them to a different place.
Hermione was not used to Apparating with another person. She had felt the body-crushing sensation countless times and was long used to it. But she was not used to being squashed onto another person.
"Here ve are. A good friend of mine recommended it to me."
"Oh." Hermione said, shaking her head, trying to relief herself of the unexpected move. She brushed the hair away from her face and looked up.
She found herself staring at the rickety sign of"Ulysses & Dilley's".
"Do you like it?" Viktor asked, grinning at her.
Her mouth fell open. She did not know whether she wanted to cry or to smile.
Yay cliff-hanger cliff-hanger.
I'm actually thinking of writing a Lily James/James Potter flick. And another version of Krum/Granger. What do you think? Opinions are more than welcome!
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