A/N: Shit, I just saw a mishap in my timeline. For anyone else who has noticed... just make believe that Luna has graduated, for my sanity and yours. Ginny, however, still in school. Okie? Thankies. When I finish, I'll rewrite it and do somethin else, but I need it this way for now. I hope you like this chapter.
If you do, please please please review. I update as soon as I'm finished with that chapter ahead (just finished chapter four), and it makes me feel inadequate when I don't get many reviews. I mean, I'm trying so hard with this story so please... give me some feedback. Plus, you guys like the frequent updates and long chapters, right?
Chapter 3:
That had left her speechless, she remembered. She couldn't say anything else about the matter since his tone had such an air of finality. She hadn't expected him to say that at all let alone so seriously and so sweetly. It made her want to snog him senseless, but she refrained from it. After all, she was Hermione Granger. Hermione Granger didn't do such juvenile, spontaneous yet oddly satisfying things.
He was sweet, though. She couldn't deny that. In her fourth year, his seventh, he could have any girl he wanted. In fact, he had to put no effort into it since everyone was throwing themselves at him because he was a tri wizard champion and because he was the best seeker in the world. He still had all of that on his resume. However, he had decided to come to the library every single day just so he could talk to her. HER- a girl who was not interested in any guys (although she did fancy Ron a bit by then), who was the most bookwormish girl, a plain Jane, a prude, stubborn, proud girl almost always surrounded by the-boy-who-lived and a temperamental Weasley or two.
She couldn't even fathom why he would put so much effort into her, but he did. He was sweet. He slipped her sweet notes and longing glances then until he finally had the courage to ask her if he could talk to her alone, and then she completely denied him because she didn't believe his efforts were sincere. Still, he didn't quit until he got what he wanted.
She admired that about him. He always had that exact same quality that made people hate her at first. He was annoyingly persistent and intelligent to boot. He was 'the whole package' as girls would say. He was even athletic.
She betted that most girls wouldn't realize even half of what made him so amazing. He had more to him than just the Quidditch title and Valedictorian of Durmstrang. He had a lot more. That's why she was his friend. She was able to realize his full ability and appreciate him and talk to him about things besides the generics he was used to hearing.
Her cheeks heated up and turned red as she realized she'd been thinking about him for a good part of an hour now while she still had yet to reply to Ginny's letter. What snapped her out of her thoughts was that the barnyard owl from Hogwarts still fluttered around her office, hooting in vain attempt to get attention.
Hermione scribbled a quick reply, telling her friend that she would visit her at Hogwarts soon. She missed her female friend greatly, knowing that it would be only a few short weeks before she would graduate. She even thought about inviting Ginny to become her roommate. That would help both of them.
When Viktor moved back to Bulgaria (she was bitter at that thought), she would feel lonely again. She did have her friends- her housemates, Ron, the rest of the Weasleys, but she didn't see any of those people every day. All she could do was get stuck seeing Malfoy at work every day. Having someone living with her, a friend, would make her a feel a lot better.
It was more for Ginny though. She still wasn't over what happened to Harry. It was visible in her eyes. How could she be though? She couldn't.
"How about helping me out, Granger?" She looked up to see Malfoy on the other side of her desk, a stack of paperwork already complete, his quill tapping the side of his desk impatiently with a glare.
She looked down at her own pile, guiltily. "Sorry, Malfoy." She muttered.
She would have been pained to say that just a few years ago, but things had changed. He hadn't changed that much. He was never evil to begin with- just a selfish, conceited, proud bastard.
She looked down at her paperwork again before she drifted off in thought again, this time about Malfoy and his changes.
When she got home, she found Viktor awaiting her with tea. She smiled at him and thanked him, sitting down on the couch opposite of him. They sat there in a few moments of silence while she threw her robe over the sofa. She took a deep breath and yawned. She was tired this evening, having worked until midnight while Malfoy took off at eight. Served her right for drifting off, though.
"How was your day?" She asked him, not wanting to talk about her dull day when he probably had another Quidditch story to tell. She hated the basic tactics and was bored with the game, but he did have some funny affairs with his teammates.
"The new Chaser we got was trying to impress the females in the stands. He tried to make some ridiculous pass which ended up going nowhere except back in his own face. He fell off his broom. One of the witches had to magic him so he didn't die. He then still managed to hit on her."
Hermione snorted while Viktor looked thoroughly amused. "Men."
"We're not all like that… though I will admit it doesn't look good." He smiled at her and wink, causing her to laugh. "How was your day?"
"I drifted off on Malfoy, and he was… well… Malfoy about it." She shrugged, putting her feet up on the coffee table she had bought a few days back at a furniture store.
"Yes, I remember him. He seemed interested in me when I came to Hogwarts."
They talked for a while more before Hermione yawned, looking at the clock. She realized that it was almost 4AM. She gasped and looked at Viktor.
"Oh dear, don't you have practice tomorrow morning?" She felt very guilty right about now. After everything he had done for her, she managed to be selfish and keep his company while he should be sleeping right now.
"We have tomorrow off because the day after is the match. He wants us to be well rested." She sighed a breath of relief. She didn't need to feel guilt, after all.
"Thank goodness. I didn't want you to be tired and get hit by that one ball." She said, not knowing which one she was talking about. She thought there were balls specifically used to try and knock players off their brooms. Weren't there? What dumb purpose this game was.
"The bludger, and thanks for your concern." He smiled at her. "I got you something for letting me stay here. Let me just go get it."
He was off before she knew it, and she smiled despite herself. He really was a sweet fellow. He was always there for her when she needed him. She wrote to him, asking advice about Ron when she was still at Hogwarts. He was the first person she wrote to after the final battle. He was a good friend, and she was glad for him.
He came back with a small box. He sat down next to her, closely. She was aware of the side of his legs brushing against hers. He looked so amazing with his shorts showing his powerful legs, his short sleeved t-shirt loosely hanging around his frame, yet close enough to tease her about what was under, his hair tousled and hiding his eyes.
She lowered her head, not wanting to look at him, blushing as the impure thoughts crossed her mind. She shouldn't be having these type of thoughts. This was Viktor. This was her friend. 'But so was Ron, but that didn't stop you from loving him.' another part of her mind argued. She shook herself out of it mentally. She shouldn't be having these thoughts. No, no, no. This wouldn't do at all, and besides, she didn't love Viktor so everything was different.
"Thank you for everything." He said, handing her the box, his eyes boring into hers even while she unwrapped it.
She found a velvet box beneath the paper, and she opened it to find a locket. She ran her fingers over the gold before opening it up. She opened it to see a picture of her, Harry, and Ron back in their 7th year. She smiled deeply, tearing up when she saw Harry, in the picture, running his hands through his hair.
She turned around, her back facing him while he clasped it around her neck. When she turned back around, she noticed him smiling deeply, a look of pure affection in his eyes. Hermione smiled, biting her bottom lip as she took him in a deep hug, feeling his quickened heartbeat, or was that her own? She broke apart from him.
"I don't know how to thank you, Viktor. You really didn't need to." She blushed, looking away.
She could feel his eyes still boring into hers. She didn't know what to do. She was uncomfortable with the feelings that coursed through her own veins at the moment. She wanted to get up and flee, but she couldn't find strength to. She just kept looking down before a shock of electricity caught her off guard.
His right hand was stroking her cheek for a second before going under her chin. He lifted her chin up, and she was forced to look at him, blushing deeply. Hermione got lost in his eyes for a second before he leant into her.
Her insides wanted to explode, wanting to kiss him, but she couldn't move. She waited for it to come as she knew he was getting closer. She wanted to feel his lips on hers. Just then, he withdrew.
She looked up, snapping out of it. She sighed, and he smiled at her before saying, "Your eyes say it all." With that, he let his hand run over her cheek before getting up and walking into his room.
A/N: Can I hear everyone in the peanut gallery say AWWWWWWWWW. Next chapter involves no mushy stuff... just a massive plot point, okie? Umm...
I see all of you people who have added me on author alert for this story but haven't reviewed. REVIEW! Thankies!
Off to pick up my friend. I'm driving. :)