A/N - glad people are enjoying the fic, this chapter is the first in a series of the final chapters, with the finale. This chap focuses more on Hermione than the Harry/Draco storyline. I also just realised the huge plot hole, like the fact that Viktor Krum is three years older than Harry's year, we'll just say with all the Quidditch he had to repeat. Hope you enjoy! please r&r.

CHAPTER SIX

Harry, Ron and Hermione walked into the packed great hall ready for breakfast. There were the usual array of toast, cereal, fruit salad and pancakes. And again, as usual Ron couldn't wait to dig in.

"So, how did you sleep last night?" asked Ron. Harry elbowed him in the rib.

"Owwwww, what was that for?" Harry glanced sideways at Ron, giving him a knowing look.

Hermione stayed contently indulged in the morning paper, and avoided eye contact whenever forced to speak.. Harry didn't engage in any conversation either. Ron seemed too caught up in how many serves he had had to notice. But someone else noticed. As always, he was watching. Fiddling with his stopwatch, Viktor Krum watched stealthily as Hermione slowly reached for her goblet and took a slow sip of pumpkin juice.

As the three friends hastily got out of their seats, eager to enjoy the two remaining days of freedom, Draco strutted past, engaging in the usual petty torment.

"Hello Potter, Weasley, Granger, enjoying the food? You obviously don't get any at home" He cackled in that evil way so many Slytherins adored and glanced at Harry.

"Tonight, we feast." He walked off followed closely by his goons.

"That was weird," Ron said, "even for his standards."

Harry nodded, "Yeah, that was weird, but I can't say it's the only thing"

"You got that right," Hermione said edging closer to Harry as they began their slow walk back to the common room.

"Yeah, real weird," Ron repeated in a trivial attempt at 'Sherlock Holmes', slowly stroking his chin.

"I'm going to go get some books out of the library, do you want to come?"

"Books? From the library? On a weekend? You must be kidding!" Ron almost yelled, even after the many weekends Hermione had spent in the library, he was still unable to understand her train of thoughts. Harry nodded sympathetically towards him.

"Suit yourself, see you" Hermione turned the corner as the two groups started walking their separate way when a voice behind her said, "You seemed very quiet at breakfast"

"Well, I don't feel too well this morning."

"Oh, what a pity, I had so much planned"

Hermione's pace sped-up, the sooner she was rid of him the better

"I know what you said, just in case you were wondering"

"What?" again quickening her footsteps.

"I know you told them, I said not to, I told you not to Hermione" Viktor stopped dead and let her walk away, scurry away, run away.

Harry and Ron went back to the common room to get their broomsticks. A little extra quiddich practice couldn't hurt. They took them out onto the pitch where students from many other teams were flying. They mounted their brooms and did a few laps around the field. Suddenly Ron yelled out

"What was it like!"

"Ha!"

"You know, last night!"

"Nothing happened, Ron! I told you the truth!"

"You can tell me Harry! I'm your best mate!"

"It wasn't anything! Seriously!" Ron landed disappointed.

"Really?"

"Yeah!"

"Good, because I couldn't imagine anything with Hermione. We're best friends!"

Maybe Ron is right

"Oh well, let's get to practice!" Harry replied, a feble attempt to steer conversation out of this delicate area.

"I know, we've got ages don't worry, Victoria called and cancelled our date. She keeps asking about Hermione, I think she's jealous" The two got back on their brooms and headed up at speeds you wouldn't believe.

Hermione sat in the corner of the library flipping through pages of books she has read more than once over.

"Hermione?" Hermione looked up to see Professor Flitwick carrying a notice.

"I found this notice on the staffroom table, it's for you"

"Oh, thank you" she scanned the piece of paper for a signature

"Who's it from?"

"I'm not sure but it must have been authorised"

"Okay" she read the notice

STUDY CLUB

THE VENUE OF TODAYS MEETING HAS BEEN CHANGED

PLEASE MEET AT THE QUIDDICH PITCH

TIMES HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED

"That's weird" Hermione mumbled to herself

"Why not meet at one of the classrooms?" Hermione shoved the scroll in her robes and got up to pass the message onto Harry and Ron.

At the ends of their beds, Harry and Ron were putting their broomsticks away when suddenly a disturbing thought returned to Harry's mind.

"Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"Did Hermione say anything to you?"

"About what?"

"About Victoria?"

"Nah, what did she say to you?"

"Oh, she was trying to tell me something, then Snape interrupted us"

"What? That the deal behind the statue, with you and Hermione?"

"When?"

"Yesterday"

"Who told you that?"

"A little birdie"

"No, there was no deal behind the statue, has the whole bloody world gone mad?"

"No, just you"

"So, she didn't say anything?"

"Nah"

"Okay then, I'll ask her next time I see her" the dormitory door flew open and in ran Hermione, followed by her usual bush of hair.

"Guys, are you coming to the study club?"

"Coming to the study club? Does my life depend on it?"

"Ron" Harry elbowed him in the rib

"It might be. You were lucky to manage what you did in your O.W.L.S, you want to pass your exams don't you? If nhot you wont have a job and will end up on the street, panhandling"

"That's an exaggeration"

"Maybe, but it couldn't hurt to get some extra study practise in, come on"

"I don't know Hermione, we have heaps to do"

"Okay, but you don't know what you are missing out on. If you change your mind you can still come along. The venue's been changed to the quiddich pitch, I've got to go, see you soon!" Hermione grabbed her books and some blank scrolls and ran out through the portal hole.

"I can't believe she is trying to get us to do school work on weekends"

"Neither can I, even I'm not that dedicated to Hogwarts, and I've saved it eight times"

"Haha, you got that right"

"Oh bloody hell"

"What?"

"I was supposed to ask her about the V thing"

"V thing?"

"Yeah, you know"

"I reckon she's just jealous and wants to ruin all my fun, it sure looks like it"

"No, she seemed worried"

"She was probably putting it on"

"Maybe I can catch her"

"Good luck, I'm eating my Bertie Bott's All Flavoured Beans now, your fault if only the terrible ones are left"

"I'm sure whatever it was could wait. Are you opening those or not?"

"Calm down mate"

Hermione didn't realize how much time had gotten away from her. She ran down the main corridor and opened the big wooden doors leading to the Grounds. Being a fairly bright day, many students had eluded to the grounds to sit around the nearby trees and Practise what Hermione hoped to be harmless charms. Hermione finally reached the stands and put her things down in the Gryffindor seating area. The stadium looked not nearly as spectacular without the flying banners and cheering students. She was surprised to see no one else was there. The pitch was out-of-bounds to students not practising. All the onlookers and dedicated players had subsided and gone in for lunch.

"Hello?" Hermione yelled into the change rooms. After a search of each stadium booth, this seemed though unpleasant but possible place for the meeting.

"Is anybody here? The meeting is started five minutes ago, Where is everyone?" Hermione headed outside to pick up her things, frustrated at every-one else's tardiness. One last look in the high stands couldn't hurt.

"Hello? Anybody? It's Hermione"

"I know" an idea flushed in and out of Hermiones head as she quickly turned around to see Viktor Krum standing at the door to the box.

"What are you doing here?"

"For a top student you are not very smart, but I'll forgive you"

"You set me up? let me through" Hermione groaned to herself, her stupidity had appalled herself and now she had to find some way to get out of this unwanted situation.

"Why? When you can have twice as much fun here with me"

"Let me through" Hermione repeated trying in vain to push Viktor out of the way

"I thought maybe we could have a little party, just you and me"

"After dinner, everyone is going to be back, practising" Hermione struggled against Viktor's muscular body.

"Oh yes, that's right. I think I'll take you some place more appropriate, where we can have a little more privacy"

"You can't do this" Hermione replied warily, backing away from Viktor closely approaching body.

"Watch me" Victor lent forward and grabbed Hermione arm so tightly she couldn't feel her fingers. Although she struggled, she could not escape as Viktor dragged her with both arms, out of the box, down the stairs and away, where nobody would find her.