You Don't Know What It's Worth.
Chapter 2: Always Academics

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! They're food to fuel my writing! The more I get the better I write. This chapter is considerably longer than the first and a bit of fluff at the end, nothing major. Of course a Viktor Hermione moment though!

The day was young when Hermione rolled out of bed, and collected her things to go bathe. She ran a hand through her bushy mane and sighed. At this rate she'd never get it to at least ever look presentable. Lavender and Pavarti were still sound asleep in their beds so she slipped quietly down the stairs and into the common room, which was scattered with Durmstrang students. She smiled at the memory of meeting Viktor last night and moved out of the common room.

One Quidditch seeker awoke in just enough time to see a know it all Gryffindor slip out the door, with a slight up curl of his lips he went back to sleep.

Viktor was awaken by Neville on accident when he dropped his books, Viktor shot up. Neville froze, "Uh, I'm uh,sorry Mr. K-Krum." He stuttered out and picked up his books. All of a sudden about twelve owls flew into the Common Room and dive-bombed their sleeping owners. Viktor scowled at his annoying twittering owl and ripped open his letter.

Viktor Krum-

Since the Tri-Wizard Tournament was postponed as of yesterday the three headmasters have concluded that all schools will resume normal classes with Drumstrang and Beauxbatons participating. Enclosed is a list with your class schedule no need to worry about the books you will be provided with them later. Good luck!

-Professor Dumbledore.

Viktor sneered, that's just what he needed academics at this time. Then a thought arose, maybe he would learn something that would help him out in the tournament. Gathering up some spare parchment and a quill he trudged down to his first class.

- -

Hermione sipped her pumpkin juice quietly a book open on the table in front of her. She ignored the munching sounds of Ron and Harry eating their breakfast and was dissolved in a poem by a famous witch poet.

"You don't know what it's worth"

Silently watches.
A quick breath
A motion
So
So
moving
You can't believe
You can't see
It's all real
The value
slips
down
Yet you undergo
A circumstance
to reveal
What it's worth.

"Whatcha reading there 'Mione?" Asked Ginny as she tore the book from her graps. "Oh, poems! How cute! I didn't know you like poetry Hermione!"

Hermione smiled softly, "I like it when I read it once and have to figure it out, not the oh woe is me he doesn't love type of poetry." Ginny nodded and gave back her book not wanting a full out lecture on the basis of poetry or whatnot. Her attention was turned to Harry and Ron when she heard the words , "So which student bunked with you?" Harry complained that one of the Drumstrang students had long toenails and Ron laughed when telling him the prat Seamus had to bunk with keep producing rancid body odor through out the night. Hermione smiled softly happy that the only smells produced in her room was that of a soft perfumed flowers.

Students started to get up and go to class so Hermione picked up her messenger bag and shoved her books in ready to leave. "Hermione look!" Harry was starring at the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher mad Eye Moody, who was gulping down alcohol. Ron snickered, "Yeah I bet his class is going to be fun. What do we have first?" Everyone looked at their schedule's and groaned , "Double Potions." They all admitted in unison. "What a way to start the day."

- - -
In Potions Class
- - -

"Sit down and be quiet." The students of Gryffindor and Slytherin took their normal seats separated and by their best mates. The new students stood along the walls with stoney expressions. Professor Snape starred the class down and made a 'get up' motion with his plam. "I am arranging seating." He said simply, despite the confused looks of his students.

"Potter. Brown."

"Malfoy. Weasley."

"Finnagin. Blasie."

"Flint. Parkinson."

"Pratterson. Goyle."

Snape went on naming seats until Viktor and Hermione were the only ones left standing. Snape's dark eyes landed on them. "Granger. Krum. Here." He pointed to the last desk in the back, "Can you handle sitting next to a celebrity Granger? Although, you have sat next to Potter all these years." A sly smirk spread across all the Slytherin's faces including Snape. Viktor glanced sharply at Snape and then plumped down in his seat awaiting for the know it all Gryffindor to sit next to him. Not wanting to be the aim of any more jokes Hermione just sat down quickly and got out her textbook.

"Do you have one?" She asked quietly as soon as Snape proceeded to the front of the classroom. Viktor was startled by her question and have a confused look.

"Vhat?" He asked and turned his head to look at Hermione. She laid a finger on her textbook.

"A textbook. Do you have one?"

"Ms. Granger! Ten points from Gryffindor for speaking out of turn!" Hermione huffed and slouched down in her chair, Viktor grabbed some of his parchment and scribbled down

'No worries. He's just a big bat anyways.' Hermione's eyes winded as she yelled, 'Exactly!' and pointed at the note.

"Fifteen points Ms Granger! Be quiet!" Hermione clenched her teeth and rolled her eyes for being so stupid.

"Stupid prat." She mumbled as Malfoy looked back at her just to snicker, earning him an elbow in the side from Ron. He shot a glare at the less fortunate red head and starred straight to Snape.

"Today," Snape began, "We are making a bonding potion. It's affects will bond the two people who drink it after 24 hours of completion, we are not going to test this potion for obvious reasons." He looked at Ron who was searching the room for a lust puppet to work it on. "The person you are tabled with right now is to be your partner for the rest of the year. Now, turn to page 72 and start." Hermione smiled softly at Viktor and put the book inbetween them.

"It says here ve vill haff to add cavorts plant as the vater starts." Viktor set the cauldron up perfectly and Hermione was amazed at how smart he was. She wasn't used to having a partner who she didn't have to take baby steps through the assignment with. She glanced over to Ron who was having a hard time trying not to shove Malfoy's face into the pot of boiling water. Harry on the other hand was trying to pry his arm free of Lavender so he could work.
"Oh here, this is next." She scooped the diced root up in her palms and piece by piece put it in the concoction. "You are very smart Herm-own-ninny." He tried her name again, and failed. Hermione laughed.

"Her-my-own-nee."

"Hermy-own." closer. He cursed himself and brought the ingredients back to mind. "Sorry." he mumbled again and gave a tiny curl of his lips. Hermione just nodded at the apology. Grabbing the stir stick she began swift clockwise motions in stirring her potion.

"Shall I add the cavort's root now?" Asked Viktor watching the potion swirl to a light purple color. Hermione nodded while she stirred a determined look on her face, that Viktor couldn't help noticing. He dropped each little deiced piece in and watched it changed from a lilac color to a deep azure blue. "I think ve're done." He said placing the back of his hand to test the cauldron's hotness and smiled when it turned cold. Hermione raised her hand and Professor Snape wallowed his way over to their table a strict stare at the both of them. He studied the potion for awhile then looked at Hermione then Viktor. "Bottle it up in vials and put it in my cabinet." They both nodded as Hermione went to retrieve the empty bottles. Snape went around checking other people's potion sneering more as he passed each one.

"For Merlin's sake! If a bloody know-it-all Gryffindor and a dunderhead of a star Quidditch player can get together a potion! I think the rest of you can too! Class is dismissed!" Hermione grabbed her books quickly wanting to hide the fussy attitude she was having, Viktor watched her leave Harry and Ron at her heels. As the classroom was drained of students and unsuspecting teachers, Malfoy grabbed a vial of perfected bonding potion, shoved it carefully in his bag, and headed nonchalantly out the door.

- - -
In the Corridors
- - -

"Herm-"Before Viktor could finish her name Hermione turned around.

"Yes Viktor?" She asked her gaze meeting his startled stare. "I vas vondering if you haff to go- I mean, vould you join me in the library, yes?." Hermione stood in question for a moment.

"Oh um.." She started checking her schedule, her hour was free before lunch then Herbology. "Sure! What are you working on?" Viktor just gave a tight smile before continuing to walk without answering, to the library. Viktor, even if he was duck footed, walked exceptionally fast, as Hermione turned the corner into the library she bummed into the tall Bulgarian's chest. "Come Herm-my-o-ninny." He grabbed her hand and she flushed, her small bony hand seemed to be lost in his thick calloused one. He led her to the back of the library and her mind started to scatter the deeper they went into the dusty shelves. "I think you vill like this." He pulled out a large leather bound book with cracks and dust. Upon opening it Hermione found it was cut hallow and inside was a sparkling figurine of a crystal unicorn. It dances by it's self fluttering it's wings about the cage of the book. Hermione gasped

"Viktor! Where- When.. How did you find this?" She asked in awe of the site. Hermione heard a rustling behind the bookcases and saw Viktor's fan club when the two noticed the club had arrived, the mass of giggly girls charged Viktor and Hermione knocking the book out of Viktor's hand sending the crystal figure sailing through the air, and being fondled by the many girl hands before it went smashing to the ground.

"That piece is mine!"

"I want the wing!"

"He touched this piece!"

Hermione grabbed her wand, it was meant for her! It was her beautiful crystal sculpture these tart girls had broken. No one had ever shown or given something to her more beautiful and then they had to go fix it. Hermione couldn't help herself.

"If," She started with a sneer "you do not want to be hexed into next year I suggest you put the pieces back on the ground and leave." The girls turned to Hermione a blank look on her face. They rolled their eyes at her and Viktor noticed.

"This figure vas meant for Her-my-o-ninny. Not you." The girls jumped away at Viktor's command and blushed profoundly and ran off leaving the crystal in pieces. Hermione let out a tiny whimper. "It vas my fault, I should haff known they vould follov." Viktor said and flicked his wand over the figurine and muttered 'Reparo!' He gathered the newly repaired unicorn in his hands and made Hermione make her palms into a cup before he gently placed it in her hands. "I thought you vould like it. I found it vhen I vas trying to get some peace and quiet."

Suddenly the librarian appeared in view. "I heard some noise is everything alright back here Ms. Granger?" Hermione nodded meekly,

"I tried to get a book by climbing and I almost fell landing on top of some girls, luckily Mr. Krum here caught me, but the girls were still offended." The librarian smiled,

"It's always academics with you Ms. Granger. Next time be more careful." With that said she returned to her round desk in the front. Hermione let out a deep sigh and shook her head. Viktor took note of her actions and raised an eyebrow.

"Vhat's vrong?" He asked tilting her chin up with his rough finger. Hermione bit back tears in her strong cinnamon eyes.

"That's all I am to everybody." She started, "A bookworm know it all, that's all I'm good for. Nobody really knows who I am. It's always about school work, or about getting an essay in intime and I'm tired of it."

Viktor's dark eyes softened as he clicked his tongue and looked at the little Gryffindor's pout.

"This may be a bit out of line, Ms. Her-my-ohh-knnee." He tried hard to pronounce her name right. "But I don't think that's all you are. I see deeper than that." With that said he picked up her hand and brushed his lips across her soft skin. "Till next time Ms. Granger." He turned around, big and brawny, his dark crimsons Durmstrang robes blowing behind him like a cloud. Hermione gulped and took a minute to run over what just happened. She rubbed her hand where only moments ago his lips where and she felt another blush arise. Quickly but not so anxiously she grabbed her book and walked to a table in the front still cherishing the dancing unicorn that rested in her cupped palm.

On her way out she could fell the glares of Viktor's fan club bare into her back, she ignore the stabbing looks and walked to Herbology.

- - -
With Viktor
- - -

"I can't believe how tiny she looked, her hand reminded me of child's vho needed the utmost protecting!" He rolled his eyes at the thought and continued the one sided conversation. "Of course! It's because she's only a child of fourteen! Vhat are you now Viktor seventeen? Eighteen? Vho counts anymore." He looked at his hands thinking how her little ones had been in their before. "I need to go flying."

Viktor grabbed his broom and looked around, they were instructed to stay in the school, but with his wand firmly attached to his body he felt he could manage. When he got to the pitch he noticed people were already preoccupying it. He noticed they were no other than Harry Potter and Ron Wealsey. Ron was hitting buldgers at Harry as he doged them. Viktor smiled at himself, Harry was indeed a good flyer. He walked out on the pitch.

"Potter." He started. "Vant some pointers?" He asked his expression stale and unemotional as a Quidditch player's should be. Harry and Ron gawked at Viktor then slowly nodded.
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Well, What do you think? It's 2,485 words! Much longer than my last chapter! Now review with ideas, comments, flames. Tell me your favorite part!
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