Chapter 8: The Halloween Ball

Hermione snapped her door closed, putting an end to the pestering sound of a beak taping determinedly at her window and joined her friends at the end of the corridor near the stirs. Ester, Maj and Thora were already waiting when Hermione arrived, her annoyance at the pestering bird evaporating at the sight of her friends in their dress finest.

Sensing her approaching, Ester turned to scold Hermione for being late but the words died in her mouth as she caught sight of her friend for the first time since leaving her room. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers at the dramatic change in her friend's appearance.

"You…you look…beautiful." She stammered, gapping at Hermione in disbelief. She ran an appraising eye over her friend, something close to jealousy flashing behind her eyes for the briefest of moments. "Even with that stuff all over your face." Her words almost biting despite the jovial tone she said them with.

"Thanks for you support, Ester." Hermione said uncertainly as she fell into step behind her friends who had already turned to make their way down the stairs in search of their dates.

Thora led the group dressed in form fitting robes of softest pink. Her strawberry-blond hair was piled at the top of her head in a cornet of intricate braids, sprigs of pink baby's-breath imbedded in her hair, enhancing the shinny locks.

Maj was dressed dramatically in robes of the deepest purple with silver trimming. She wore her hair long and straight, caught back in two berets. Simple silver hoops hung flatteringly from her ears and a single chain with a silver moon charm dangled from around her neck.

Ester was next. She wore robes of stunning emerald green that slithered around her body like shimmering silk. She wore her long black hair in a simple plait down her back. At her ears she wore tiny emerald stones and around her neck was suspended a slightly larger green stone that glowed gently in the candle light.

As she walked Hermione patted at the folds in her robes, brushed away imaginary dust, and ran her fingers through her hair making certain every strand was in place, thinking it would help calm her fraying nerves but to her horror found that her anxiety was rising. When she had seen the full effect of Maj and Thora's hard work she had thought she had looked surprisingly pretty, but now she feared that there might be some truth to Ester's statement. It wasn't normal for her to wear make-up or fuss with her hair. After seeing her reflection she had even considered making it a habit to try a little harder, but now... Ester didn't seem to like it, and she valued Ester's opinion almost as much as she did Harry, Ginny and Ron's, and they had always thought she looked fine. And Bjorn must have or he wouldn't have asked her to the ball. Hermione staggered as another horrifying thought came into her head. What if Bjorn didn't like it? What if he thought she looked ridicules?

Ester had been watching Hermione out of the corner of her eye for the past five minutes and had seen her thoughts fly across her face in a torrent of emotions, the last being fear and self-doubt. She instantly regretted the comment she had made about Hermione's make-up. Despite her outward display of indifference, Hermione was extremely self conscious about her appearance, though none but her close friends were aware of that. It amused Ester at times that the things that most found attractive about Hermione, she hated about herself. She was curvaceous and lithe, had bright, intelligent eyes, flawless white skin and a full bottom lip, no doubt a cause of her constant gnawing on it. But all Hermione saw was a short girl, who was to curvy in some places and not curvy enough in others. She hated that her eyes were what she called plain mud brown and found that her mouth had much to be desired. And her once bushy locks were a constant source of torment.

The moment that Hermione's bottom lip was captured between her teeth Ester knew she had let the girl wallow to long in doubt. Taking pity on her she reached a hand out and placed in cautiously on Hermione's arm.

"I'm sorry about what I said before." Hermione looked over at her with uncertain brown eyes. "You really do look very nice this evening."

Hermione smoothed the bust of her robe uncertainly. "Do you think… do you think Bjorn will like it?"

Ester's eyes fell closed causing a resurgence in Hermione's fears. But these two were soon elevated by Ester slipping an assuring arm through hers, hugging it tight. "I think he'll be quiet taken."

"Really?" Hermione's eyes gleamed with hope.

"Really." Ester tilted her head guiding Hermione's focus to the right, startling her for she only now realized they had reached the landing at the head of the staircase leading down into the main foyer. And at the bottom of the stairs beaming up at her with pride was Bjorn dressed in formal robes of black with periwinkle ribbing around the cuffs, hem and collar.

Hermione stood frozen under Bjorn's appreciative stare as Thora and Maj made their way towards their dates. Thora blushed prettily at Peter Slovensky offered her a bouquet of pink roses that surprised her robes impeccably. Maj reached the landing and strode briskly towards her boyfriend, slipping her arm through Yorick's when she reached his side. Together they turned to watch the remaining girls make their way down the steps.

Ester left Hermione standing at the top of the stairs, descending with her head held high, a smile planted firmly on her lips. Despite having been asked by many of the Durmstrang boys to accompany them to the ball, Ester had declined deciding instead to go alone. When Hermione had asked why she explained that it didn't feel right going to the ball with a boy she didn't like. It was a date after all, and you should at least be attracted to him in order to say yes. Now, however, she felt slightly awkward at the proposition of spending the entire evening alone with a group of couples.

Ester crossed in front of Bjorn trying to make her way to the side and inadvertently broke Hermione's concentration making her realize that she had been staring at her date for several minutes now. Heat rising on her skin, she took the first step down the flight of stairs and found that her anxiety was melting away under his warm smile.

Bjorn for his part couldn't take his eyes off the beautiful girl who was gliding down the staircase towards him, a smile on her lips that he knew was meant just for him. She wore a charming robe of periwinkle blue that swirled around her body in delicate folds. She wore her mahogany hair half up leaving the now lighter ringlets to fall gracefully down her back and frame her face in soft tendrils. Her chocolate brown eyes were lined faintly in pencil with a shimmering of gold across her lids, enhancing their exotic color. The gloss on her lips, while having no added hue, caught the light of the candles floating in mid air, drawing Bjorn's focus to her luscious bottom lip.

Snapping to attention, Bjorn extended his hand which Hermione delightedly took, her heart catching as he brought her knuckles to his lips similarly to the way he had done when they first met. "You look stunning tonight, Hermione." His lips lingered on her soft skin and it wasn't until he released her hand that she realized she had been holding her breath.

She caught her bottom lip between her teeth as Bjorn tucked her hand in the crook of his arm nodding his head towards the doors the led to the dinning hall.

The group set off together, the couples falling into place beside each other, Ester taking a spot alone at the back of the group. While they walked her hazel eyes remained pinned on broad shoulders draped in elegant robes. She tilted her chin up forcing away the ache in the pit of her stomach.

It wasn't until they were all seated around one of the large, circle dinning tables that Ester finally looked away from the form she had been following and forced a pleasant smile on her lips. She looked around the table, taking note of where everyone was sitting. Directly to her right was Hermione and Bjorn, beside them was Yorick and Maj. Then Thora beside her date Peter. It was with a heavy heart that her eyes landed on the seat directly next to her. That was to be the seat of her date, if she had accepted one. Finding the chair to be offending in the extreme, she extracted her wand from her pocket and banished to the other side of the room, where it landed neatly in place beside a younger student whom she didn't recognize but who she realized was in search of a chair. He smiled his gratitude at her before moving the chair into place and sitting down.

Hermione looked about the room with interest as the group was getting settled. The hall wasn't arranged any different then it normally was. The large room was filled with the circle tables that seated up to twelve comfortably. Unlike normal, however, the tables were all draped with black, while the settings, goblets, utensils and linens were all a shimmering silver. Large jack-o-lanterns hovered in the mid air just above their heads, high enough where they wouldn't block anyone's view of their friends, but low enough to see by the light emanating from their toothy grins. Live bats fluttered about the room, swooping in dramatic arcs above their heads while the school ghosts popped out of random places in hopes of surprising the students into screaming. Hermione couldn't help but chuckle when a group of first years shrieked when the head of a female ghost appeared in the center of their table.

Hermione turned back to her own group when she felt a hand graze against hers. She smiled warmly when she saw the sheepish grin on Bjorn's face as he wrapped his massive paw around her slim fingers.

. "So, Hermione," Bjorn said shyly, his eyes darting madly about, falling anywhere but on her expectant face, "is there something different about your hair?"

"Yes." She beamed, thoroughly pleased that he had noticed. "Maj cut it." She patted the gentle curls primly. "Do you like it?"

Bjorn scrunched his eyes as he studied her hair more intently. "I love it." He said slapping the table as if giving it his stamp of approval.

Hermione couldn't help but giggle as she wound a strand of her newly cut hair around her index finger. "I rather like it myself."

"If you two are quiet done?" Ester huffed in exaggerated annoyance. "I'd like to eat my dinner, not loose it."

Hermione glanced over at Ester to see that while she and Bjorn had been…talking, food had appeared before them, all of them traditional Bulgarian dishes that Hermione had come to enjoy since she began attending Durmstrang. There was shopska salad consisting of tomato, cucumber, onion and peppers; shkembe chorba, a tripe soup; kebapche, minced meat rolls; banista, backed pumpkin pastry filled with cheese and meat and lastly for dessert crème caramel made from fresh milk, eggs and caramelized sugar.

Bjorn, Peter and Yorick dove at the food like hungry wolves, filling their plates until the food was spilling over the edge. Hermione's mouth fell open with surprise and disgust. She had grown use to the male half of the species' deplorable eating habits; she had been friends with Ron and Harry the last five years after all, and they weren't any better, but she assumed that Bjorn and the rest would be able to behave with at least slight decorum at a formal dinner.

Deciding that it was best just to ignore them and eat her own meal, Hermione reached forward for the shopska only to have Bjorn snatch it away and begin filling her plate for her. After scooping three large spoonfuls onto her platter he stopped and looked at her. "Is that enough?"

Hermione looked down at the huge mound of salad and tried to push away her annoyance. He was just trying to be polite after all, but really. She could fill her own plate. And did he really think that she could eat that much? Well, it looked like most of her meal would consist of shopska and little else. She forced a smile onto her face. "That's lovely, thank you."

Ester caught her eyes from across the table and she almost laughed at the knowing smirk she saw on her friend's insightful face. She rolled her eyes as she picked up her fork and slowly began to work away at the large pile of vegetables in front of her.

After an hour of friendly conversation between the seven friends, they had finally eaten their fill. Heaving a great sigh of satisfaction, Bjorn pushed his plate aside before stretching his arms high above his head. Forgetting her annoyance from earlier, Hermione watched, lips twitching, as his arm lowered and came to a rest along the back of her chair. She tried to keep the blush from staining her cheeks but she felt the heat rise along her skin just the same.

Hermione straightened in her chair when she saw Headmaster Zograf rise to his feet at the head table which, similar to Hogwarts, ran the length of the far wall. The students fell silent as he looked out over them, a warm smile lighting his eyes.

"How was your meal? I hope you found it satisfactory." A large number of the students, Bjorn included, called out in the affirmative. "Wonderful, wonderful." Zograf quieted them easily. "Seeing as we've satisfied your hunger for food lets now try to satisfy your hunger for entertainment." He clapped his hands and several tables in the center of the room disappeared leaving students looking quite startled and the rest laughing at the shocked expressions on their faces. With another clap the jack-o-lanterns hovering in the air moved to the side and music began to play in the hall as if blared through Muggle speakers.

As soon as the music started playing Thora and Peter stood up and moved towards the dance floor, joining several couples that were already there moving to the fast paced music. Maj and Yorick soon joined them.

Hermione settled back in her seat, looking at Bjorn out of the corner of her eye. She watched him shift awkwardly as he seemingly tried to decide something. Taking pity on him Hermione turned to ask him if he would like to dance.

His lips spread into a toothy grin that reminded Hermione distinctly of the jack-o-lanterns dangling above their heads. Bjorn bound to his feet hastily, knocking his chair over behind him with a loud crash. Hermione's left hand flew to her lips, stifling the laughter that was threatening to break loose. Bjorn's eyes snapped to her when he heard the faintest sound of a snicker escape through her fingers.

"Find that funny, do you?"

Hermione nodded, hand still covering her mouth, eyes twinkling with mirth.

Bjorn shrugged, "Then I suppose I'll have to give you something else to laugh about as well."

He reached out and snatched up her hand, pulling her roughly to her feet, towing her behind him as he wove his way through the remaining tables towards the dance floor. He dropped her hand when they reached the center of the group and instantly started moving his body to the music.

Within seconds Hermione's sides hurt from trying to restrain her laughter. Bjorn's arms and legs flailed about him in huge arches and curt jabs as he jumped from one spot to another his tongue peaking out of the corner of his mouth in what Hermione knew by now was a sure sign of his concentration. Tears of mirth leaked from her eyes as she nearly exploded with laughter.

Finally noticing that Hermione was still standing where he had left her and that she hadn't moved yet, Bjorn looked at her quizzically to find that she was literally shaking from the effort to withhold her laugher. He grinned mischievously at her as he continued to flail about spectacularly. "What?" He finally asked when she continued to stare at him.

"You look ridiculous."

His brow arched playfully. "You think?"

Hermione nodded emphatically.

"Well, that might be." His grin widened. "But I'm having a fun time doing it." This time when he looked at her it was with challenge, daring her to join him in his fun and make a fool out of herself. Never one to back down from a challenge Hermione jumped onto one foot and flailed her arms about in her best imitation of Bjorn's bizarre antics and to her surprise found that it was indeed quiet fun. She found herself laughing hysterically as the song came to an end. She collapsed against Bjorn who beamed down at her with pride.

"I told you it was fun."

Hermione smiled back up at him. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

Their eyes met and locked and Hermione felt an intense pull in the pit of her stomach. She watched as his head began to lower and his eyes drifted closed. Hermione felt a fluttering in her stomach and wasn't entirely sure if it was excitement or apprehension. But before she could decide she heard a familiar voice call her name from behind.

She whipped around, consequently breaking free of Bjorn's arms, to be greeted with the sight of a man with a bulky frame walking towards her on and bowed legs.

Recognizing him instantly she broke into a run and flung her arms around his neck. "Viktor." His arms instantly wrapped around her, pulling her in close contact to his body.

Upon releasing her Victor Krum's face split into a broad smile. "How have you been Hermy?" He brushed a stray curl behind her ear. "I hope my country men have been treating you well."

"Oh everyone's been wonderful." She beamed up at him. "But how have you been? I haven't received an owl from you in weeks."

Victor's skin turned a harsh color of red. "I am sorry about that Hermione." He dug his toe awkwardly into the ground, appearing not at all like an international Quiditch star, but more like a self conscious teenager. "When you wrote me saying that you were coming to Bulgaria I knew I had to see you again. Two years is far too long." He took her hands in his large calloused ones. "So I sent a letter to Headmaster Zograf asking for permission to chaperone tonight. What is the use of being famous after all, if I can't pull any strings?" He stared at her with anxious eyes. "I hope that is alright?"

"Of course it's alright." She assured him. "I would have been very sad if I had left Bulgaria without seeing you."

Victor flashed her his most charming smile which sadly enough greatly resembled a sneer. "Then I am glad that I could accommodate."

The upbeat music changed into a softer tune and Viktor instantly reached a hand out to her. "Would you like to dance?"

Hermione hesitated a moment, casting her eyes to Bjorn who was waiting patiently a few steps away, but in that moment of hesitation Viktor took her hand and pulled her into the circle of his arms, sweeping her dramatically into step.

"Viktor, you do realize that I am here with a date."

The older Bulgarian looked over her shoulder to where Bjorn was sinking dejectedly into his seat at the table with Ester. "With Bjorn?" he asked, surprise evident on his face.

"Yes, with Bjorn."

Victor stared at the other man with narrowed, thoughtful eyes before chuckling at what he saw.

"What's so funny?"

He shook his head dramatically. "He is not the one for you."

Hermione stiffened instantly. "Why do you say that?"

"Because he is to much like your red haired friend Ron."

"What?" she came to a sudden stop in her surprise. "Bjorn is nothing like Ron." Her voice pitched higher in anger.

Viktor cast a skeptical eye between her and Bjorn then back to her. "No?" he pulled her back into the dance before he continued. "I suppose they are hidden by their differences." Victor watched the younger man appraisingly. "Bjorn is by far the better looking of the two."

Hermione bristled slightly, her annoyance rising unaware by her. "Why would you say that?"

Viktor took a moment to gather his thoughts. "Well for one, Ron is far too tall and gangly. Bjorn is shorter but he is better built."

"I'll have you know Ron's filled out quiet a bit since he started playing Quiditch and..."

"He's very pale." Viktor continued as if Hermione hadn't spoken. "And he has that horrible red hair."

"I happen to adore red hair." She said defiantly, turning her nose up.

The Bulgarian rolled his eyes with exasperation. "Why are you defending him? For several months now when you have been writing me you have said your friendship is over. That you don't know how you could forgive him."

Hermione turned her head away from his penetrating eyes. He was right of course. Why was she defending Ron? Perhaps it was because of up until about two months ago Ron had always defended her. The pair danced in silence a minute more before Viktor spoke once again.

"Do you want to know the real difference between Ron and Bjorn though?"

"No I…"

"Bjorn is of higher class. He comes from old money, he's been well educated all his life, and he's been taught how to treat a lady prauper."

Hermione pulled to a violent stop. Eyes blazing with furry she wrenched herself out of Viktor's hands. "How dare you?" her voice was chocked with rage.

"What?" his face was a mask of utter confusion.

"Just because Ronald and I are having problems does not give you the right to insult him and his family."

"I never…"

"The Weasleys might not have a lot of money," she jabbed him angrily in the chest, "but you would be hard pressed to find anyone on this planet as fine as them. They've taken Harry and me in without batting an eye despite the financial burden. You don't think he's good enough for me? I don't think you have that right. If anything I am not good enough for him. He is one of the most loyal, and courageous people I have ever met and…"

"He called you a Mudblood."

Hermione froze with her mouth open, halting in the middle of her passionate speech. Slowly she closed her mouth. "Yes he did." She finally admitted, shrugging her shoulders meekly, her skin a blaring shade of red. "I guess I am still in the habit of defending him. But that does not give you," she jabbed him painfully with her finger, "the right to insult his family. Ron and I may have had a falling out but I still consider the rest of the Weasleys as my second family. Don't insult them in front of me. No," she made a slashing movement with her hand, "don't insult them at all."

And with that she turned and stomped away ignoring Viktor's calls behind her. She strode purposefully towards the door, weaving her way through the tables with her head down as she muttered to herself about insufferable prats until she ran full into a large bodied mass.

"Excuse me!" She snapped before looking up to be confronted by Bjorn's grey eyes.

"Hermione?"

Her face softened instantly at his look of concern. "I'm sorry Bjorn. I…"

"What did he say to you?" he cut her off, staring ferociously over her shoulder at Krum who was weaving his way determinedly towards her. "If he did anything…"

Bjorn pushed at his sleeve, his hand fisted in a tight knot as he made to step around Hermione.

"Bjorn, no." she pushed against his chest with all her might, forcing him to stop and look down at her. "Could you please just take me for a walk?"

"A walk?" he asked with disbelief.

"Yes a walk." She tugged on his arm, dragging him towards the door. "I need to clear my head and I suspect the fresh air will be invigorating."

"Well all right." He complied, his head still turned to glare at Viktor as they made their way towards the door, feeling dislike grow for the man he had once considered a friend.

As soon as the pair slipped through the door leading outside, Bjorn wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist, protecting her from the chill that was already begging to creep in around them. Sighing contentedly Hermione leaned into his warmth and let it wash over her.

"Hermione?" He asked tentatively after they had completed one complete lap around the school. "Can I ask you what he said?"

She let out an annoyed breath, pushing the hair the wind had tore loose out of her eyes. "Nothing really. I just… Sometimes it amazes me how shallow and arrogant people can be."

Not knowing how to respond Bjorn let them slip into silence once more. When they completed another circuit of the building Bjorn ventured to speak again. "I'm sorry he ruined the evening for you."

Hermione glanced up at him, a sheepish smile playing on her lips. "I wouldn't say he ruined it." She blushed prettily under his gaze. "This has been rather nice hasn't it?"

As Hermione watched, Bjorn's eyes grew darker. He licked his lips drawing her attention to them. They parted slightly and began to descend towards her mouth. Her eyes grew wider and her heart beat faster as his mouth drew nearer. He was going to kiss her, any second now. Her heart raced frantically, but from excitement or apprehension she wasn't sure.

At the last moment she turned her head away and Bjorn's lips connected with her neck right below her ear. He let his lips linger there a moment before he pulled away.

"Hermione?"

"I'm sorry Bjorn." She looked up at him with tear filled eyes. "I'm just not… at this moment…I really like you, Bjorn," She finally managed. "I'm just not ready for that."

He smiled at her with reassurance, his hand coming up to cup her face tenderly. "That's all right, Hermione. I'm in no hurry."

Hermione smiled her gratitude and let Bjorn slip her arm through his.

"Are you ready to go back in?" He asked.

Hermione nodded once and let him lead her back into the party inside.