Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Harry Potter, no matter how much I beg.

A/N: Advanced warning, there is FLUFF IN THIS CHAPTER!

The loud thunk of the glass on the table was the only sound that had been uttered in hours. It echoed strangely around the room, reminding them of the heavy air resting between them. Hermione's eyes refused to focus on the sentence she had been trying to read for the last hour. With a resigned sigh she shut the book a little more forcefully than intended and walked out of the library, towards her room. Just being in his presence unnerved her now. They hadn't spoken except the minimum polite conversation in almost a week. It was starting to take its toll on her.

Hermione made her way over to her bed and plopped down, closing her eyes to ease the strain out of them. After a few minutes she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Viktor walked towards Hermione's room, to let her know dinner was ready. He knocked lightly on the door, pushing it open in the process. His dark eyes scanned the room for her, and found her laying back on her bed, sleeping peacefully. A half smile curved his lips as walked over to wake her. He went to shake her awake, but was transfixed by the peaceful look on her face. She hadn't looked like that since before...before he had kissed her.

He sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair. He was going to have to do something to make it up to her, and he already had a feeling of how to start. Caressing her cheek lightly, he moved a stray curl out of her face.

"Hermione," he whispered. He shook her shoulder gently. "Hermione."

Hermione's eyes slowly opened, taking in the sight of Viktor above her. Wait a minute, above her? Hermione realized that she was still on her bed, and Viktor was leaning over her, so very close.

"Dinner's ready. Didn't vant you to sleep through it," he said, standing back up.

Hermione sat up and ran her fingers through her curls before she yawned and stood up. "Thank you, I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"It's ok. You looked tired, so I'm glad you got some rest."

Viktor pulled Hermione's chair out for her, like he always did before taking his own chair. When Hermione had first arrived, she was happy to see he had a normal 4 person table, and not a long table where they would be at opposite ends. Now she felt like she would rather have the latter.

They ate in silence, the only noise was their utensils clanging against their plates.

"Strawberries?" Viktor asked her, slightly scaring her.

"Sorry, what?"

"Strawberries. Do you vant any?"

"Oh, that would be nice, thank you."

Viktor stood and pulled out a basket of strawberries and carried it over to the table. He set it down in between them, watching as she grabbed one to eat. He watched her for a moment before bracing himself to speak.

"Hermione, I vanted to ask you something."

Hermione's eyebrow raised in response. "Yes?"

"Vell, you see. My parent's usually go to this International Relations Ball but they're on their third Honeymoon."

"Third?" Hermione said with a little laugh.

Viktor smiled. "Yeah, third. Anyway, I vas vondering if you vould vant to accompany me to the ball, since I agreed to go in their place..."

Hermione was slightly taken aback. He wanted her to go to a ball with him? Then a sinking feeling settled in the bottom of her stomach. He was trying to be nice to her. But she didn't see any reason why she couldn't enjoy herself.

"I would love to," she said with a small smile before grabbing another strawberry.

"Great," he said. "Now, unless you packed a ballgown in that small suitcase of yours, ve vill go shopping tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning?"

"Vell yes, the ball is tomorrow evening."

"Oh."

Hermione stood in the dressing room, looking in the mirror and feeling, for lack of a better word, stupid. This felt like the millionth dress she had tried on and the stack on the chair beside her was steadily getting bigger. She knew the sales lady was about to pull her hair out...or her Hermione's for that matter. The woman helped Hermione out of the dress she was currently in, the black and blues swirling around as she wriggled it down her hips.

She looked in the mirror, and tried to straighten her hair out. It was looking more and more like it did when she had first started Hogwarts after every dress she had to pull on over her head. She let out a sigh of frustration at a very stubborn tangle and leaned back against the wall. She heard Viktor's low voice speaking with the lady, but too low for her to make anything out.

After all was silent for a few moments, the clerk returned with a black bag. Her curiousity piqued, Hermione watched with intrest as it was unzipped and a gown was brought out.

"Oh my!" Hermione exclaimed. It was a beautiful dress made of lavendar and trimmed in small silver vines. She stood patiently as the woman undid every little clasp on the back and gathered the layers to pull over Hermione's head. She bent down and allowed the dress to be pulled down and the woman to begin working the clasps back together.

Hermione gazed at herself in the mirror. It was strapless and molded to her skin until just below her hips, where it flared out in multiple layers of lavendar and silver. After the woman was done, Hermione twirled, emitting a girlish giggle.

"I think we have finally found the one!" the woman exclaimed. Hermione just beamed at her.

Hermione hadn't wanted to take the dress off, but she did anyway, knowing she would get to spend the entire evening in it. And for once, she didn't look at the price tag. Although, some of that was due to the fact Viktor insisted on paying for this one.

She spun in front of the mirror again, the skirts whooshing around her legs. She clasped her hands together and looked at herself one last time before she slipped on the silver cloak that came with it. She slipped her shoes that matched onto her feet as she left her room, knowing Viktor was already waiting for her. As she walked into the living room, she saw him standing in front of the fireplace, his back to her.

He was speaking Bulgarian, very fast, and didn't sound very happy. Hermione was just about to say something when he turned around and saw her. He gave her a small smile before walking over.

"Are you ready to leave?"

"I think so."

Viktor laughed. "I hope so, ve are already a little late."

Hermione took his offered hand hesitantly.

"I von't bite, I just prefer apparating us both myself."

A blush formed on Hermione's cheeks. She was thankful he didn't seem to notice as she felt the tug behind her belly button.

They appeared in front of a beautiful building with columns seeming to hold the entire structure up. Magic was the only thing keeping it from caving in Hermione noticed as they walked through the door.

Viktor walked into the well lit building, guiding his...escort with him. He sighed to himself. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to bring her here. The thought of her wearing anything like she had been when they were at the Yule Ball made him feel like taking her as his own and never letting go. It was worse still since he hadn't even seen the dress Hermione was wearing.

They walked down the carpet, the beautiful fish woven in swimming under their feet. As they neared the double doors at the end, Viktor felt Hermione's arm tighten on his.

"Don't vorry," he comforted. "I'll stay by you." He looked down long enough to give her a reassuring smile before he handed the doorman their tickets and then swung the doors open for them to enter.

Viktor squinted his eyes as they walked into the ballroom, the lighting just a tad too bright to see at first. He turned and handed his cloak to the man beside and waited for Hermione to place her hand back on his arm. As she did, he placed his other hand over hers, squeezing it gently as he felt her tremble just a little. Little did he know she wsa trembling because of him, not because of the crowd.

And a crowd it was. Wizards and Witches from every country were there. You could hear snippets of conversations in at least a dozen different languages. For once, Hermione thought she was in way over her head. And it wasn't any better when she noticed several people blatantly staring at her. She looked away from them, hoping they would stop as a slight blush crossed her cheeks. She allowed Viktor to guide her through the crowd, trying to avoid anymore stares, but it was no use. By the time they were approaching, whom Hermione recognized as the ex-Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, it felt like almost all the people around them were looking at her. She took comfort in the fact they were probably staring at Viktor and she was just in the way.

Viktor felt Hermione slowly get closer and closer to him as they walked. He was thrilled at her closeness, but worried at why she was dong it. Then he looked away from the group of people he was headed to and saw she was being, well, gawked at. Viktor's eyebrows raised at a few of the young men and they quickly looked away.

That's when Viktor turned to say something to Hermione, but he felt his mouth suddenly go dry. In his eyes, she was the most beautiful creature he had ever set eyes on. He scanned his eyes over her curls that were pulled back from her face and hanging down her back, down over her face that was turning pink from embarrassment, down over the curves the dress clung to, and back up again.

Hermione's breath hitched when Viktor leaned down towards her. She was afraid he was going to kiss her in the middle of all these people. But then again, she wouldn't mind that much. Instead he went past her face and his lips barely brushed her ear.

"Dance vith me."

It wasn't a question but Hermione answered anyway. "Yes," she whispered, his face still very near hers. She felt the sudden lack of body heat when he pulled away, and caught herself as she almost leaned back into him to get it back again. She once again let him guide her through the crowd and onto the much less populated dance floor.

Viktor placed his hand firmly on her hip, keeping her other hand in his. He smiled slightly as he realized that at this moment, she was all his. He stepped into her, his body pressing lightly against hers. He looked down at her hoping to catch her eye, but found her staring at his chest instead.

Hermione's heart sped up as she felt Viktor moving against her. It was all she could do to not trip and fall as he started leading her around the dance floor. She stared at his chest and tried to block him out, and concentrate on keeping her feet moving. For once in her life, she was thankful for her mother's 'Family Togetherness' whims. It was one such whim that had the three of them taking ballroom dancing lessons when she was 13. At the time she had complained, but at the moment she was thanking her mother's random ideas.

"I'm sorry," she suddenly heard Viktor say. She was taken aback and looked straight up into is eyes, transfixed.

"For what?" she asked.

Viktor let out a sigh, not sure exactly what he should apologize for, but knowing he owed her one. "For anything I did to upset you."

"Apology accepted," she said after a moment, a small smile gracing her lips.

"Vould you tell me what I just apologized for?" Viktor held his breath, nervous about what her answer was going to be. He stared into her eyes, his feet starting to slow. She looked down at her feet before looking up at him again.

"For stopping."

All the air flew out of Viktor's lungs. His feet stopped in their tracks, oblivious to the people casting them annoyed looks as they stood in the middle of the dance floor. Hermione's cheeks were now bright red, but she didn't stop looking up at him.

She couldn't believe she just said that. Her mind was screaming no, but when she opened her mouth the words came out anyway. Now all she had to do was wait for an answer. And all he was doing was standing there, looking unsure of what to do. Hermione started getting worried, wishing he would say or do something.

Just as Hermione was about to walk away she felt the hand he had on her hip wrap the rest of the way around her waist and pull her body flat against his. Her heart began beating faster, her breathing becoming shallow. That's when she saw his face slowly getting closer to hers. She closed her eyes and met his lips with hers. She moved her arms around his neck, standing on her toes to press into his lips more. A small chill went down her spine as she felt his free hand reach around and hold the back of her neck.

Viktor supressed a gasp of surprise when she was the one that ran her tongue along his lip. He gladly stepped up to the challenge. He clung to her like a lifeline. He felt so cold without her near him, so alone without her presence.

It felt like time stood still to the couple on the dance floor. They weren't in a ball room, they weren't surrounded by people. It was just the two of them, forever trapped in the bonds of an embrace that would last eternity.

"At least someone gets what these International Relations balls are about."

OMG THAT WAS SOOO FLUFFY! Now the question is...should I skip the rest of the evening? Or continue?