Chapter 4: Astoundingly Close Assessments

Hermione had been absolutely delighted to discover that the Durmstrang library was even bigger and more extensive then the library found at Hogwarts. It was filled with hundreds of thousands of books on any subject in any subcategory that a student could possibly want. Hermione was in her element. Where before she had been frustrated at the lack of material for cross referencing, at the Durmstrang facility she found there was enough material that she could cross reference as many ideas for as many times as she wished. To her thinking it was spectacular.

That's where Hermione was two weeks into the term, sitting in the library several stacks of books in front of her so high that she couldn't see over them even when standing. She was working on an Advanced Transfiguration essay, even though it wasn't due for another week, when the stack of books sitting in front of her suddenly moved and a smiling face appeared in the gap. Hermione looked up in surprise and couldn't help but smile back when the girl who was staring at her stuck out her hand forcefully waiting for her to take it.

When Hermione reached out and accepted her hand the girls face split into an even brighter smile. She shook Hermione's hand vigorously. "My name is Ester Mostich." She greeted warmly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Ester. My name is Hermione Granger."

"I know." The girl shrugged her shoulders as she sank into the seat across from her. "Everyone knows who you are."

Hermione's brow furrowed slightly. "Why is that?"

Ester rolled her soft hazel eyes, a slight smirk on her lips. "You're friends with Harry Potter, no?"

"Yes," Hermione's eyes narrowed further, "that's right."

The girl nodded. "Yes and Viktor talked about you all the time when he got back from the Tri-Wizard Tournament."

Hermione's eyes lit with delight. "You know Viktor?"

Ester rolled her eyes again but more exaggerated and playful this time. "Who doesn't know Viktor? School champion, star Quiditch player, handsome devil. Trust me I know him."

Hermione's smile lit up her face, allowing it to reach the outskirts of her eyes, something that hadn't happened in well over a month.

Ester crossed her hands on the table and stared at Hermione intently. Her eyes scrunched for a moment before her slightly glossed lips parted to ask. "Why have you been so unhappy?"

Hermione started with surprise. She had not been expecting someone she had only just met to be so upfront and blunt with her, prying in to her private life so freely.

"What makes you think I've been unhappy?" She asked wearily, shifting the papers in front of her to look busy and to hide her frayed nerves.

Ester tipped her head to the side to better look at her. "I've been watching you, Hermione. You don't smile very often and when you do it doesn't reach your eyes." She stated bluntly and resignedly. "You burry yourself in your books as if you can hide yourself behind them." She nodded to the large stack that she had moved aside as if to make a point. "You have the look about you of someone who is lost and alone and unsure of where to go next."

Hermione eased back slightly, a little unnerved at Ester's astoundingly close assessment. "Well I did just leave the only home I've ever known to come and study in a foreign country." She tried half heartedly.

Ester shook her head adamantly. "That's not it and you know. You have that look."

Leaning forward slightly with interest she asked, "What look?"

Ester frowned faintly. "The look of a person who just lost someone very important to them, possibly quiet suddenly."

Instantly an image of Ron's laughing face flashed before her eyes. Hermione's mouth gapped open as she stared at the girl in astonishment. "How did you know that?"

Ester shrugged a shoulder dismissively. "Call it a gift." She picked a book up off one of the many stacks and flipped the cover open, absently skimming over the title page. "So who was it?"

Hermione swallowed audibly. She didn't know why but she had the sudden urge to spill her soul to this girl that she had only met for the first time a few short minutes ago. While Hermione's mind was screaming for her to keep her mouth shut she instead followed her gut. By the look in Ester's soft hazel eyes Hermione had the feeling that they had the potential to become great friends.

Taking a deep breath she said. "His name is Ron. He's been one of my best friends for the past five years. But recently he has come to mean more to me then that."

"You loved him." Ester said bluntly snapping the book shut. "It's all right, Hermione." She assured seeing the look on the English girl's face. "You don't have to tell me anymore."

The two girls sat there a moment in silence. Hermione knew she should be affronted by Ester's bluntness but found instead that it was rather refreshing, and she couldn't help but feel that she already liked her. With a final smile Ester looked away and gave an appraising look to the stacks of books surrounding the bushy haired girl and chuckled softly as she set the book she had rifled through back in its place at the top of the stack. "Is studying all you ever do?"

"No." Hermione denied quickly her cheeks flushing in slight embarrassment. "Studying is not the only thing I do." She had to admit though, she had been studying more then normal. But really, without having any friends to talk to, or a dangerous mystery to figure out, or Prefect duties, she had so much more time on her hands that she didn't know what to do with herself. So she did the only think she knew, and that happened to be school work.

Ester arched a sculpted eyebrow. "Really? Because that's all anyone's seen you do since you got here two weeks ago."

Hermione pinched her bottom lip between her teeth as she looked at the massive pile of books surrounding her. "Have I really been that bad?"

Ester laughed as she rose from the table extending her hand out to Hermione. "Come on. I'll introduce you to my friends."

Hermione slowly rose to her feet gathering her belongings and stuffing them into her school bag. "Really?"

Ester chuckled at her uncertainty. "Of course. Come on." As soon as Hermione finished packing away her work, Ester took her hand and began towing her out of the library looking back over her shoulder as she went. "None of us study in there any more." She explained. "The younger years start to get on your nerves after a while." Hermione hated to admit it but Ester was right. For a reason unknown to her, students didn't feel the same need to keep quiet in the library here like they did back at Hogwarts. So while Hermione was pleased and impressed at the book selection she couldn't help but wish that she was back in the silent nook deep inside the Hogwarts library that she had claimed for her own.

Ester pulled her down one of the long corridors leading away from the library, took a right at the end and went up a short flight of stairs to a wing that went off on its own. This corridor was lined with many doors some of which were open. As she was being tugged past Hermione glanced inside and saw that the rooms reminded her greatly of the Gryffindor common room. Each one had a fire place set into the far wall with arm chairs and sofa's set before it. There was also plenty of working space in each room. Tables with chairs gathered around them pushed up against the walls, and big areas of open space on the floor for doing large projects. The room's looked quiet comfortable in Hermione's opinion and she wished she would have discovered them sooner.

Ester looked back at Hermione and seeing the look on the bushy haired girls face she smiled. "This is where most of the older students go to work." She explained as she came to a stop outside a closed door at the end of the corridor. "This is the room my friends and I use." Turning away from Hermione she turned the handle on the door and pushed it open to reveal four other students scattered comfortably around the room.

Upon hearing the door open the occupants looked up from their work, curious expressions on their faces. Ester smiled and pulled Hermione into the room before closing the door. The two boys, who had been lounging in armchairs before the fire, stood immediately upon seeing Hermione. Ester giggled and whispered out of the corner of her mouth. "Those two." She rolled her eyes. "Always the gentlemen for a new pretty face." She turned back pinning a mock scowl on her face as she met the two teenage boys. "Why don't you ever do that for me?"

The boys glanced at each other, than at her and the one on the left who was taller, by at least a head than the one on the right shrugged dismissively and said, "Because we know you." As if it was the most obvious thing in the world. And with that the boy stepped forward, hand extended.

As he walked towards her, Hermione looked him over. He was very tall with trim muscles. On the top of his head was hair so black it looked like the purest ink. Hermione couldn't help but smile at the way his hair laid flat. Harry would be so envious. He had large friendly blue eyes that twinkled mischievously along with the lopsided grin that covered his face.

When he finally reached her she put her hand in his and was surprised when he lifted it to his lips and let them graze her knuckle briefly. "It is a pleasure, Miss Granger." He said lowering her hand and returning from his slight bow to his full height. "My name is Yorick Boril."

Hermione smiled up at the tall boy who stood at least a head and a half taller then her. She couldn't help but be affected by his warm smile and welcoming gaze. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Yorick. But please call me Hermione."

Yorick's smile grew ever brighter as he released her hand. "Welcome to Durmstrang, Hermione."

Ester who had been watching this with raised brow shook her head as she pushed Yorick gently to the side. "There's time enough for that later." She murmured in his ear, "Perhaps when your girlfriend isn't in the room." She suggested nodding her head behind her while giving him a final push before she slipped her arms through Hermione's pulling her farther into the room. "Let me introduce you to everyone else."

By this time the other three occupants had clustered in the open space in the middle of the room. Of the three only one did not smile welcomingly in return, but scowled threateningly. She must be Yorick's girlfriend, Hermione decided. Smiling warmly at the girl, Hermione gave her head a firm but subtle shake letting the other girl know that she had no designs on her boyfriend. Understanding Hermione's assurance and feeling instantly less threatened she smiled as well while Ester introduced her.

Her name was Maj Irnik. She had a stout but trim frame as well as enviously generous curves that were displayed to perfection in the uniform that Hermione realized she must have altered herself. Unlike the uniform that fit Hermione like a potato sack, Maj's was tailored to impeccably, displaying her attributes tastefully. Her dark brown tresses were gathered at the top of her head in a messy bun with wisps of hair that fell and framed her honey brown eyes. Her thin lips were turned up at the corner, and her oval shaped face was free of any blemishes.

The girl to the right of her was introduced as Thora Rasate. Unlike Maj she had bright strawberry-blond hair that hung around her face in tame ringlets, the kind of which made Hermione jealous. Her amber eyes glowed with friendliness and warmth. She was slim and tall, perhaps even a bit taller than Yorick, but did not look gawky. Instead she looked like she moved with fluency and grace.

Lastly they came to the other boy. He had a mass of sandy blond hair that he let grow about his ears slightly shaggy. There was a smacking of light stubble on his chin and cheeks that while looking slightly unkempt, gave him a rather dashing, roguish look. His warm gray eyes stared down at her with open friendliness and admiration that caused a slight flush to mar Hermione's smooth, pale cheeks. He had a strong dominant nose, pale skin and lips that always seemed to have a smile on them. Like she had noticed, he was shorter then Yorick, but what he lacked in height he made up for with his breadth. Hermione was quiet certain that while he was not fat, he was so wide she couldn't fit her arms around his chest even if he sucked in.

He extend his hand and waited until Hermione placed her own in his. Very slowly he drew it up to his lips like Yorick had done and whispered. "Bjorn Ivailo."

"Hermione Granger." She whispered back when his lips grazed her knuckles, lingering there longer then necessary.

Ester stared at the two with narrowed eyes and slightly pursed lips until Bjorn straightened to his full height once more releasing Hermione's hand, letting it drop limply to her side.

As soon as the greetings were through Maj wrapped her arm through Hermione's, determined to set aside her initial misginvings, and pulled her towards one of the sofas placed near to the fire. "I'm so glad Ester convinced you to come out of the library." She sank into the soft cushions pulling Hermione down with her. "We've been trying to talk to you for over a week now but you're either busy paying attention in class," something Hermione could tell deeply annoyed her, "doing homework in the library or locked away in your room. So finally we decided we just had to go and pull you away."

Hermione gave the small group around her a very perplexed look. "B-but why?" She asked with evident confusion. No one, not even Ron and Harry, had gone out of their way to befriend her before. Well except perhaps for maybe Viktor Krum.

"Well." Thora sank down on the other side of Hermione. "My cousin speaks very highly of you." She shrugged a dainty shoulder. "After all these years of hearing Viktor talk about you I decided I had to meet you, and everyone else agreed."

Comprehension lit Hermione's eyes. She turned to Ester a single brow arched. "I think you knew him a little better then you let on."

Ester shrugged dismissively. "Oh well. That's not really important is it?"

Bjorn and Yorick sank into the two armchairs while Ester perched herself on the arm of Bjorn's seat, resting her arm along the back. Yorick leaned back in his chair in a relaxed, very masculine pose, crossing one ankle over the other knee.

"So Hermione, when did you learn to speak Bulgarian so well?"

Hermione settled into her own seat getting herself comfortable. "Viktor has taught me a few phrases over the years, but not enough to speak fluently. No, actually Headmaster Zograf gave me a potion that allows me to understand and speak fluently any language that I hear."

The group's eyes widened with intrigue.

"Really?" Bjorn cast a mischievous glance about the group. "I think that's a potion that we might have to try out."

"Bjorn." Maj seethed through her teeth casting a pointed look at Hermione. "Not here." She warned.

Hermione snorted, pressing a hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter. "You don't need to worry about me." She assured the now uncomfortable and slightly uneasy group. "My friends Ron, Harry and I brewed a Polyjuice Potion second year." The eyes watching her widened even further in admiration as mouths dropped open in shock.

"Second year?" Thora gasped. "I'm a sixth year and I can't even due that."

Hermione blushed prettily and Bjorn's eyes narrowed on her in speculation. "You brewed it yourself, didn't you?"

Her skin darkened even more until she was as bright as a fresh tomato. "Well honestly." She cried feeling uncomfortable with his open admiration. "I couldn't very well have Harry or Ron do it. They would have poisoned us."

The group of five stared at her a moment before bursting out into ruckus laughter. Maj slapped her affectingly on the back. "I think I'm going to like you Granger."

Harry did not like the change that had taken over his best friend. True he spoke more often then he did at the end of the holiday but still only when a question or comment was directed to him and an answer was expected. This annoyed Harry as well as Ron's sudden new dedication to homework. Harry had never seen him as devoted to his studies as he had been this term. He actually paid attention in class, taking extensive notes, asking questions and giving answers, much to Harry's consternation. Because with Ron so focused on the teachers and his lessons he was less focused on Harry. It almost felt like fourth year all over again. He spent a good portion of his time in the library and because of this finished most of his assignments on the day that they were assigned as opposed to the night before they were due, effectively leaving Harry alone to work on them until late the night before. His appetite had suffered greatly as well. Ron barley finished one helping of food each meal, which remained unnoticed by many. But sometimes he even went without his pudding, which was something every one noticed because the youngest Weasley son had a notorious sweet tooth.

Ron just wasn't himself anymore and everyone missed him. Harry most of all. Ron never joked around anymore and the only time they saw him smile was very briefly during Quiditch or after he had won a spectacular game of chess. And so Harry, Ginny and the other Gryffindors found themselves playing the game more often then they ever had in the past for the simple reward of seeing him smile.

Ron's new attitude left most of the school perplexed. How was it that someone who had been so relaxed and easy going in the past could change so much over just a few short months? No one was blind to the fact that Ron missed Hermione, but they were also well aware that there was something else the matter with him and no one but Harry and Ginny knew what it was. And much to everyone's exasperation and annoyance, they weren't talking.

The mystery around Ron's personality change was a common topic of conversation now. Everyone was curious as to what had happened to him. Even more perplexing was his strange aversion to the exchange student, Rane Voitekh, whom most of the school was lining up to be friends with. But Ron was different. He never talked to her. He avoided meeting her gaze at all costs and spent as little time in the same room as her as possible. Which was why, Harry knew, Ron had been spending so much time in the library. It was a place that Rane hardly ever frequented the Gryffindor common room being her study area of choice.

The two boys were walking down the darkened hallway one night on their way back from studying in said library, there way being lit by torches placed in scones periodically along the wall. As they walked Harry filled Ron in on his plans for the upcoming weeks Quidith practices. Harry knew Ron wasn't listening but merely grunting or agreeing with him occasionally so that he gave the appearance that he was. Harry found himself growing more and more annoyed with his best mate with each uncommitted grunt.

"Yeah so…" Harry glanced at Ron out of the corner of his eye. "Since you've been off in your own little world the past month and a half Ginny and I have been spending more and more time together," which was true "… and…" Harry's eyes gleamed maliciously. If anything could get his best mates attention it was the topic of his little sister's love life. "I thought you'd like to know that I've a…that I've shagged her."

"Hmmm." Ron nodded his head absently.

"Yes." Harry went on, exaggerating more when that hadn't gotten a rise out of his friend. "I just couldn't help myself. She's turned into a right pretty girl, all tall and leggy." Harry didn't know where this was coming from but thought it sounded quiet good. "I couldn't help myself, mate. So I've shagged her. I've shagged her long and hard. All over the castle in many an … interesting position."

"That's nice." Ron said absently.

"So I just thought I would let you know that I got her pregnant and we're getting married." He clapped Ron forcefully on the back, causing him to stumble a step.

"That's great… Wait." Ron reached out suddenly to grip Harry's shirt, bringing him to a sudden stop. Harry was pleased to see that Ron's hand was at least shaking. "Did you say you got someone pregnant?"

Harry rolled his dark green eyes. "That you pick up on? Good lord, Ron, did you not here anything else I just said?" Harry raised his brow in challenge.

"Of course I did." Ron turned away in annoyance.

Harry crossed his arms. "Really? What did I say?"

"That you got someone pregnant."

Harry couldn't help but laugh as he asked. "Did you by chance here who the lucky lady was?"

"No." Ron looked over at him. "You didn't really…did you?" there was evident anxiety in his voice as well as a touch of awe.

"No," Harry assured his friend, resting his hand comradely on his shoulder. "Who in the bloody hell would I have shagged?" The redhead shrugged. Harry sighed. "I was just trying to get a reaction out of you. You've been walking around like a corpse for the past month and half."

Ron shrugged his hand off and continued walking down the hall.

"Ron, you can't keep avoiding this." Harry called after the redheads retreating back.

"Bugger off, Harry. I don't want to talk about it."

His own anger rising, Harry strode quickly after his friend, took hold oh his arm and spun him around forcing Ron to look at him. "Listen mate, I understand. I really do. I know you miss her. I miss her too. And I know you feel wretched about what you called her. But at this moment there is nothing you can do about it. Hermione is gone," Harry shook him once when he tried to look away. "Hermione's gone, Ron," he released the taller boy's shoulders dejectedly, "and so are you."

"What are you talking about?" Ron's face was for once his familiar mask of confusion.

Harry sighed heavily. "I miss my best mate." He said evenly. "I miss the bloke who without trying to, could made me laugh. The bloke who could smile at a girl, any girl it didn't matter who, and make her go weak in the knees without even knowing that he was doing it. I miss the bloke who got angry when others insulted him and his friends and who stood up for what he thought was right. "

"Harry…"

"I don't know what to tell you, Ron. I can't fix what's wrong between you and Hermione but I really would like to have my best mate back."

Harry left Ron standing alone in the hall staring almost blindly out the nearby window. After several minutes he made his way towards the common room giving the Fat Lady the password and stepping inside. Even at this late hour there was a large group of students gathered around the hearth and much to Ron's annoyance he saw that in the center of the group, like a queen holding court, was Rane Voitekh. His eyes narrowed further when he saw that Harry and Ginny were a part of her party. Feeling almost betrayed he walked silently towards the boy's dormitory stairs, hoping to remain unseen. It wasn't fair. It was as if Rane was trying to take Hermione's place and Harry and Ginny were letting her. But Ron was having none of it. No one could ever take Hermione's place.

He was halfway to the stairwell when a soft voice with a heavy accent called out to him. "Ronald." He cringed at the sound of her voice as the rest of the room grew quiet to listen. "Why don't you come and join us?"

Knowing it would be rude to ignore her and continue on his way and that his mother would have kittens if she found out, and he knew she would since Ginny was present, and the fact that almost every eye in the room was watching him for his reaction, he decided his best course was to make his excuse and get the hell out of there as quickly as possible.

Turning slowly, the blank look he usually wore in place on his face, he met Rane's amber colored eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm really knackered. I think I'll just head on up and go to sleep."

Rane nodded her understanding and Ron disappeared as quickly as he could up the stairs without being rude.

When he was out of sight Rane turned and looked questioningly at Harry and Ginny. "Why does he avoid me? What have I done?"

Sighing loudly Ginny sat forward and looked Rane directly in the eye. "It's nothing you did." She assured the girl.

"Then why?" She persisted.

Ginny cringed as she felt the group around her lean in closer, their interest perked as well. She knew that they were waiting for her to reveal at last why the sudden change in Ron. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that." The group slumped back in their chairs disappointed, several of them glowering at her as if she had snatched back a wanted birthday gift. "All I can truthfully say is that it was nothing you did it's just something Ron is having trouble dealing with. He'll get over it eventually."

The Bulgarian sighed dramatically. "It's too bad really."

Ginny's right brow arched with curiosity. "What is?"

Rane blushed slightly as a faintly dazed look disappeared from her face. "Oh." She giggled. "Well your brother is handsome. I have always liked red hair on men. But unfortunately your brother seems to be thoroughly pinning away after someone." She raised a knowing brow. "Someone who it seems rejected his affection. I think that until he is done nursing his broken heart no one will have a chance with him."

Ginny and Harry turned to each other in horror, both wishing that they had lunged across the circle and quieted her before she had made her far too observant insights known.

Comprehension seemed to dawn on the faces of the large group as all the pieces fell into place. The two could literally see the wheels turning in the other student's minds as they fit the pieces together, their minds all drawing to the same conclusion. Harry was sure that by morning it was going to be spread through out the entire school that Ron had finally gotten up the nerve to confess his true feelings to Hermione and she had apparently, to everyone's surprise since they had all assumed she had fancied Ron as well, rejected him then proceeded to run away to Bulgaria leaving Ron alone to mend his broken heart.

All eyes turned to the staircase that Ron had disappeared on. Harry could practically read their minds as they sat there silently. The boys all pitied Ron and thought it would have been better if he hadn't risked putting his heart on the line like that while the girls were staring at the staircase with mixed emotions on their faces. Half of them being angry at Hermione for hurting him like that, the other half thrilled that he was apparently finally available.

It wasn't unknown to Harry that most of the girls in the school had started to notice Ron last year, after all he was a tall, good looking guy with a passionate nature. And after he had started playing Quiditch and his lanky frame had started to fill in with muscle tone, their admiration had only grown.

But they had all laid off because, after all, it was quiet clear that Ron only had eyes for Hermione and they had all thought she had felt the same for him. So in their minds it was only a matter of time until the two got together. But now, Harry realized, Hermione was out of the picture and Ron was now considered firmly on the market and, as Rane so eloquently put it, he was nursing a broken heart. It was the perfect opportunity for all those girls to move in and try to nab him before they lost their chance.

Harry almost felt like he should give the bloke a warning so that he wasn't bombarded and overwhelmed in the morning by the sudden attention of the female population, but he knew it would be a waste of time because Ron wouldn't believe him. His best mate could be so thick at times. He was completely oblivious to the looks that the girls cast his way. Well, Harry almost snorted, he was going to find out real quick in the morning.