A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, guys. They mean a lot. Every time I get them, I write a bit more. I just finished chapter three, and I wanted to scream at the end of it. I loved how that turned out.

Enjoy, kids!

Disclaimer: JKR owns the characters. Hell, she can own me if she wants.

Chapter 2:

It was as simple as that. Asking him had been, at least. The moving process was quite easy also as he had only brought a few choice belongings, she mused. However, what had not been simple, was living with a man. She had always seen the condition of Harry's and Ron's room at the Burrow as well as the poor, unkempt condition of the boys' dormitories at Hogwarts. She figured, however, that Viktor would not be the generic male roommate who left discarded clothes everywhere and remnants of meals long past.

Hermione figured he was more like Draco Malfoy. Living with Malfoy's snide remarks (which eventually ceased at the end of their seventh year) was almost worth it for the way she would come home after a long day, dreading the cleaning that had to be done, only to find the common room spotless. However, she was not quite as lucky with Viktor.

It seemed, to her slight annoyance, that he had a habit of typical male behavior… not that she was being sexist or anything. Within the first two days, she had come home to find her usually impeccable flat in near tornado condition. She fixed that with a few cleaning charms she had learned recently and not said anything. He was her guest, after all. But, she reminded herself, he was also a friend. If it was Ron in his place, she would have pummeled him into the ground by now.

So… maybe… just maybe… she was exaggerating a bit. It wasn't that bad living with him, albeit his slightly sloppy behavior. It was actually nice having someone live with her. She could come home after a long day of frustrating coworkers and foreign wizards destroying the English language and unwind, chatting with Viktor about spells and potions and charms as well as the past, the present, and the future.

She loved the way he could sense when she was particularly frustrated and would make her tea, always mispronouncing the sort he was using (even if he had improved on his English a lot since her fourth year). She knew he had had a grueling practice every day with his Quidditch team, but yet, he managed to find time to worry more about her day than sharing about his own. This would cause many arguments between them, each having such an unselfish nature.

Sitting in Ron's flat, she waited until he came back with tea.

"How's living with Krum? He bring random girls to shag in every night yet?" Ron seemed displeased with the whole situation. She always knew that his feelings toward the other wizard were not pleasant ones.

"Ronald! Of course not." Hermione pursed her lips at him.

"Yeah, he's probably not one hundred percent on how to get there yet. Soon.. You just wait, Hermione." She snorted. She doubted Viktor would be bringing floozies to her flat any time soon.She may have been wrong about his living habits, but she knew her friend was not like that.

"Or I could smack you about the head right now." She threatened him. His demeanor didn't change as he issued a snort, "I don't see why you don't like him."

"What sort of a bloke would want to live with a witch who was just his 'friend'? One who wants to SHAG her. His intentions are bad, Hermione! Why don't you listen to me for once?"

"Because every time I do, you're wrong!" Hermione playfully swatted him, not taking his comments to heart. She could see the spark of jealousy still in his eyes, the same one he had in her fourth year. She couldn't penalize him for that, not after everything they'd been through. Her demeanor turned serious again, "Besides, I'm the one who asked him to stay here. Tell me you wouldn't do the same to a friend in need."

"It's not the same!"

"Oh?"

"He's proven that he wants to be more than just a friend, and you let him under your roof, where you sleep at night?" Ron looked absolutely livid now. His temper had significantly gotten under control, but he could still be a jerk.

"Don't be impossible, Ron. Now, let's talk about what you really wanted me over here for."

"How do you know I need something?"

"I never mentioned anything about you needing something, but now I am. What do you need?" She smiled at her friend as he blushed and looked sheepishly toward the ground.

He mumbled something before his face turned bright red. Hermione raised her eyebrows and chuckled at his demeanor. His face soon matched his hair.

"I didn't catch that." She had a snicker on her tongue, but she kept it in, beckoning him to tell her.

"Luna wanted to… er… know… if she could borrow some muggle… tampons because she… err… heard that they worked better than wizarding ones…" His ears were positively glowing now. That was the biggest sign that he was as uncomfortable as he could be. That was the only reason she held her laughter in her throat, coughing loudly to disguise the chuckle that she couldn't help but release.

She looked at Ron sympathetically and patted him on the back, "I'm sorry. I'm fresh out."

He mumbled something about having to 'bloody' go ask around other muggleborn or half-blood witches. Hermione finished her tea before standing up and heading toward the fireplace. She exchanged goodbyes with Ron before throwing floo powder into the fireplace.

She was greeted with the sight of an empty apartment. This surprised her a bit. Usually, Viktor had been home by then. She looked at the grandfather clock that Mrs. Weasley had given her as a graduation gift. A hand had been added when Viktor moved in automatically. She scanned it.

She frowned when she came to his name. It said he was at some pub. She had never seen him as the type to go to a pub. He was probably trying to drown away practice with drinking unless… was he on a date? Her brows furrowed. He hadn't told her anything. Why wouldn't he tell her that? She was, after all, living with him and was his friend.

Shaking it off, Hermione sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace, pulling a book into her hand from the table. He was a grown man. He didn't have to tell her if he wanted to go out with some Quidditch groupie. She read the page and flipped it a little harshly before looking at the clock again.

HMPH. Well, he best not bring her here. This was her place. He was the guest and would respect her wishes! He had best know better than to bring a girl into HER flat for a quick shag. She muttered under her breath. Dumb seekers.

Her thoughts kept wondering, and quickly, she heard a telltale pop of apparition. She heard his voice. She turned around to see him alone. She uttered a sigh of relief. Well, at least he had the common sense to leave her there. Or did he just shag her on a pool table! Oh! Ron must've been right. How could she be so wrong?

"My coach forced us to go out after practice. He said we'd been all work and no play lately." All of her thoughts were pushed out of her head, and she berated herself mentally for jumping to such unlikely conclusions. She truly was too close to Ron. She had even gotten to thinking unreasonably as he had.

"Ah." Was all she could get herself to answer as she picked up the book off the ground. It had been long forgotten in her pointless rage.

"I got out of there as quickly as I could. Drunken men and slutty women are not my forte." He frowned.

he looked up at him and noted that he looked positively scary when he frowned like that. 'This must've been how he looks to others who think he's frightening.', She thought to herself. She remembered overhearing others talking during the Quidditch World Cup and in her fourth year about how he just looked too mean to approach. She, on the other hand, had never seen it like that before. Then again, she rarely saw him without a smile regarding her. The only interesting feature she noticed was the slight wobble he had when walking. Yes, he was definitely better in the air than on the ground.

"Well, I'm sure girls throwing themselves at you, willing to do anything couldn't have been that bad." Hermione mused, looking up to see his frown widen as he sighed.

"I look for substance, Hermione. These girls have nothing because they need not have it. Everything they've gotten in life is based on their appearance. I need someone I can talk to, someone to fall in love with because of their mind." He put his robe over a chair, whipping his wand out to make tea.

He sat on the couch across from her, handing her a cup which she took. Hermione looked into his eyes to see he had been honest with what he said. She smiled at him, noting that her smile made his frown disappear almost instantly. She felt herself blush as she thought about his words.

"Well, that would explain how I got close to you." Hermione said, laughter in her voice as she teased herself. She was, after all, not the most attractive witch in her opinion.

"If I had not known you were smart, I would not have approached you." His words went deeply, and she felt herself blushing at the meaning, "You are beautiful, Hermione Granger, inside and out."

A/N: I think that ending is sweet, but next chapter's ending is even sweeter. I wanted to squirm. Every ending gets better. I liked this chapter. It amused me. I've taken to writing longer chapters... so reviews help me write them.

Anyone got guy advice for a guy you literally only see every two days and barely talk to, but you've been into since summer? I'd love to hear it! Damn him and his sexy french horn player-ness. Heh.