My Happy Ending

Humour/Romance -PG - fairytale story - ship: Hermione/Krum
Canon based - the things we missed - short chapters

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters or plots - all property of the wonderful JK Rowling.

Chapter 5 - The Ball

Hermione Jane Granger had never been one to fret over hair, makeup or whether her dressrobes she bought over the summer still fitted her. Still, all these problems seemed to crop up alarmingly fast, suddenly whenever she looked in the mirror she was staring at this pale, ill looking girl (had the late nights reading had an effect?) with an untameable bush of hair. It wasn't helping in the slightest that her best friend Ron was incredibly keen on knowing who she was going to the ball with, as if it were his business. She knew he would laugh if she told him and thus decided not to, she didn't need to endure teasing whilst everything else seemed to be going wrong. Since Ron had told Parvati and Lavender that she wouldn't say who she was going to the Yule Ball with, the two of them had been trying to get her to tell them ever since. It was hard for Hermione to escape the dormitories in the morning now, the two of them seemed really interested in anything that had nothing to do with them. They'd offered a makeover, but Hermione wasn't that desperate.

She tried to focus her energies on any other kind of worrying, but she couldn't a way to do this, and as an outlet took to nagging Harry to sort out the golden egg he had received in the first task and to work out what it meant. Harry always insisted that he had nearly three months and that he was 'almost' figured it out, but Hermione did try to tell him it was looking closer to two months. Ron would just sit between them and ask her who she was going to the ball with between her every sentence.

Ginny was an extremely trustworthy friend, she hadn't told anyone. It was great to have her around in the common room whilst Harry and Ron were still in the hall eating (Harry suddenly seemed a lot happier after becoming best friends with Ron again, which Hermione was pleased with). Ginny had referred Sleekeazys Hair Potion when Hermione had marginally hinted that she was unhappy with her hair, Ginny had rolled her eyes and laughed.

Christmas morning arrived alarmingly fast, Hermione awoke to find a pile of presents by the foot of her bed and Lavender Brown chatting loudly to Parvati, whilst ripping wrapping paper as furiously as she possibly could. Hermione scowled and thought a bit about going back to sleep, but the prospect of new books covered in wrapping paper at the foot of her bed lured her to them.

"Good morning, Lavender, Parvati," said Hermione pleasantly, surprised by the happiness in her own voice.

"Morning, Hermione," replied Parvati, "are you going to tell us who it is, then?"

Hermione frowned, she hadn't expected to be dogged down by this question quite so early in the morning. Thinking about her next few words carefully, she picked up a present that turned out to be from Ron and unwrapped it slowly.

"Tell you what?" Hermione said, now opening a present from Harry.

"Who you're going to the ball with!" said Lavender impatiently, "and you should tell us, you know, we are your best girl friends."

Hermione could not recall a time when she had told Parvati or Lavender that they were best of friends. Unsure of how to answer this question, she dawdled on opening one of several presents from her parents. It turned out to be a small mirror that Hermione was quite sure was to look at the back of her teeth with, whilst she was looking it over, Parvati spoke again.

"Come, on," she urged.

But Hermione simply got changed and abandoned the dormitory with a silent "you'll see."

She met up with Harry and Ron in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione thanked them both profusely for their Christmas gifts and they all went for breakfast together before returning back to the common room afterwards and then back to the hall for Christmas lunch. Hermione could not help thinking worriedly about what was to happen later on in the night, she hadn't spoken to Viktor for a while...perhaps he wasn't too sure about her anymore? Perhaps she should have said hello at breakfast when the two had briefly given each other a smile. She estimated that she'd need at least three hours to get ready for the Yule Ball and decided not to get involved in a snowball fight between Harry and the Weasleys in case she forgot the time. She laughed nevertheless, it was great fun with them all and when she waved goodbye whilst Ron yelled after her she didn't even feel slightly annoyed at him owing to her excitement about the upcoming ball.

Hermione didn't stop walking briskly until she reached the common room, she was surprised to find that the room was deserted and hoped the other members of her dormitory would stay away for a while.

The hair potion was excellent, her hair fell tame and shiny around her shoulders before Hermione scooped it up to tie her hair up in a way she would have never believed possible with her hair before. She smiled awkwardly into the mirror, not entirely sure whether to put on her dressrobes next or try make up, which she was relatively inexperienced with and could prove a complete disaster.

So, she was delighted to find that she still had time to spare after an exhausting two and a half hours of getting ready and decided to go see Ginny in her dormitory before meeting Viktor at the Durmstrang ship. She could hear Harry and Ron talking somewhere nearby and supposed they had just got back to get ready for the Ball themselves. She paid a quick visit to Ginny, and tried to lift her spirits up. Worrying about her friend and inconveniently forgetting to where a cloak over her dressrobes (it was freezing outside) Hermione left Gryffindor tower and made her way downstairs and out into the evening. It was dark but she knew where she was going, it struck her that she wasn't sure what do when she reached the ship - knock? Thankfully, Viktor was waiting outside the ship, looking slightly dazed from the cold and talking to another Durmstrang boy evidently waiting for someone to come.

"Hermy-Own!" Viktor said brightly as she approached him, Hermione could not help replying with a large toothy smile.

"Viktor!" she said, "it's great to talk to you again."

He held out his hand and she took it, still smiling.

"Hermy-Own, this is Kristof, a friend," said Viktor, gesturing towards the boy he had been talking to, Hermione nodded at him pleasantly.

"Good evening," she said.

Viktor looked at Hermione, concern suddenly blazing in his bright eyes.

"Are you cold, Hermy-Own? Ve should go inside."

Hermione nodded whilst Viktor said something in Bulgarian to his friend before the two of them headed inside the ship, Hermione still gripping tightly onto his hand.

It was warm inside the Durmstrang ship despite the door being open, Hermione looked around nervously around at the Durmstrang students, they were all a lot larger than she was. Some smiled at her and Viktor as he led to way to find somewhere to sit down, one boy sitting opposite her (it looked as though he hadn't found a date) was staring at her indecently which made Hermione feel very self conscious, and thankfully Viktor spoke to him in his native language and he went away.

Viktor delighted Hermione by asking her about her Christmas so far and Hermione asked the same question politely back, they were both laughing about Viktor's present from his mother when Karkaroff, the Durmstrang headmaster strolled in, looking jubilant.

"Ah, Viktor, are we all ready to go then? And who's this lovely lady here?" But Karkaroff was looking at Hermione with a frown upon his face.

"Hermione Granger, sir," said Hermione before Viktor could introduce her.

"Pleasure to meet you," said Karkaroff, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. Hermione shivered, remembering that this man was once, at least, a Death Eater, as Karkaroff rounded up the rest of the Durmstrang students and their partners.

"Hurry up, we haven't got all night," Karkaroff snapped at one of the boys, he was smaller than some of the others and scampered off towards the exit. "Now, Viktor, we want our champion at the front, don't we? Why don't you and Miss Granger lead the way?"

So Viktor and Hermione were ushered to the front of a short line of couples alongside Karkaroff, who looked less than pleased with Viktor's choice of date, Hermione noticed.

"I don't like him that much, either," Viktor murmured to Hermione, clearly realising she was staring at Karkaroff with what must have been an odd expression. She forced a smile, but could not resist curiosity.

"Why not?" she asked in quiet tones, but she needn't have bothered lowering her voice, because Karkaroff was whistling loudly as they made their way back up to the castle swiftly, nobody wanting to stay outside in the cold for too long.

Viktor shrugged in reply.

"Vell -" he was stopped as they passed through the front doors and were faced with a large chattering crowd of Hogwarts students, there was a large variety of different colours amongst the girls, Hermione noticed Harry (who looked rather uninterested, perhaps he hadn't seen her) and Parvati, wearing dressrobes in an almost scarily bright shade of pink.

Hermione looked around, she'd barely had time to admire the decorations before:

"Champions over here, please!"

Professor McGonagall was speaking over the crowd, Viktor and Hermione made their way through groups of giggling girls and uncomfortable boys before they lined up beside the other champions and partners. Fleur Delacour was with Roger Davies from Ravenclaw, whilst Hermione had known that Cedric Diggory would be with Cho Chang and of course Harry was with Parvati.

She hadn't quite expected everybody's reaction to seeing her standing there with Viktor Krum though, Parvati gazed over and her eyes widened, she blinked and kept stealing glances disbelievingly. Harry also looked quite surprised to see Hermione standing there, she greeted both of them in turn but didn't get replies. She walked with Viktor into the hall when they were told to, and was amused by the girls from the library all looking at her as if she was pure evil, though slightly hurt as she watched Ron quite blatantly blank her.

The hall took a few more moments to fill and then quieten down, and Hermione had to endure stares all round for a while longer. This time was eased by speaking to Viktor speaking to her fondly, telling her how wonderful the hall looked. Which, Hermione thought, was very nice of him.

Then Professor McGonagall called for the champions to begin the dancing and she and Viktor took to the dance floor, she could never have believed before this moment that she'd ever feel comfortable dancing with someone whilst near enough the whole school watched, but somehow she did. It was something about Viktor, he was warm and caring towards her, and for some reason she felt secure in his presence. They danced for what seemed like only a few seconds but in reality must have been longer, Viktor was surprisingly good at dancing, despite the obvious duck footedness in his usual walk. Hermione thoroughly enjoyed the dance and was a little sad it had to end, still, the two of them had a lot to talk about over dinner. She listened in as Viktor talked about Durmstrang rather merrily, she was extremely interested to hear in another Wizarding school and how magical education was taught in other countries.

"Well, here, we have five years of learning and then our big exams O.W.Ls, at the end of fifth year, that's next year for me. Then we go on to take our N.E.W.Ts in our final year at Hogwarts," Hermione told him enthusiastically.

"That system sounds very good," commented Viktor. Hermione looked up at him.

"What's it like where you're from, at Durmstrang?" she asked.

"Different. Ve have exams in the vinter, because ve are spending too much time out flying in the summer," he replied thoughtfully.

"Oh, that must be interesting, it could be better, I guess, you don't get all overheated in your exams that way. Is the school good?"

"Not as good as here," replied Viktor, sounding more sure about it than anything else he said all night, "I think I prefer it here."

"How come?" asked Hermione, she hoped he would not be annoyed with her from asking so many questions, but she had a limited amount of knowledge on other schools because books did not have information on them, owing to the way that Wizarding schools generally kept their information private.

"Vell, ve have a castle also, not as big as this, nor as comfortable, I am thinking," he kept talking enthusiastically whilst Hermione listened intently to every word, then Karkaroff stopped him from speaking further about Durmstrang so the two ate their food silently for a moment or two before Viktor gave Hermione a look that clearly said, "I'll tell you later."

"Hermy-Own?" asked Viktor suddenly, looking up from his plate.

"It's Hermione," Hermione said, "Her-my-oh-nee."

"Herm-Own-Ninny."

Hermione grinned at this version of her own name.

"Close enough."

It was soon after that the food was cleaned off their plates and Viktor took Hermione's hand again and they walked from where they were sitting back for another dance. Hermione was quite looking forward to it, the band playing started a slow tune that sounded quite perfect for slow dancing to, and soon enough it wasn't just the champions and their partners dancing but other couples as well. Hermione barely noticed time fly past her, a faster song came on next, and it was great fun to dance to. Viktor offered to get them drinks afterwards and a breathless Hermione told him that she'd be with her friends, indicating Harry, Ron and Padma (Parvati was nowhere to be seen). Viktor nodded and Hermione went to greet Harry and Ron. They didn't seem to be having as great a night as she was.

"Hi," Harry said as she approached them.

"It's hot, isn't it?" she said, attempting to fan herself. She told them where Viktor had gone and was quite taken aback when Ron began to get mad for no apparent reason. This ultimately ended in Hermione walking away from them, feeling mad and hoping to find Viktor with the drinks. She didn't, instead she found him after he'd already met up with Harry and Ron asking where she was, she apologised for not being where she'd said she'd be and after quickly downing a drink each they returned to the dancing. It was very soothing after her fight with Ron, and Hermione felt much more settled once more.

They danced until they were both tired, and the ball seemed to be drawing towards an end, which was a dreadful shame. Harry and Ron had both been ditched by their partners and had since disappeared somewhere, but Hermione was too cross to really care. She tried to be pleasant to Viktor, though, and hoped she wasn't coming across mad and distracted.

"Do you want to go outside? If I stay another moment in here I think I may just spontaneously self combust due to the heat," suggested Hermione brightly after the two had just got another couple of drinks.

Thankfully, people were leaving them alone a lot more now, the fan girls seemed to be trying to enjoy their time at the ball (in vain) but staying away anyway. They weren't attracting quite so much attention everywhere they went, though, which was an improvement.

Viktor nodded, though Hermione wasn't entirely sure he had understood the term 'spontaneously combust'.

"Oh, wow, fairy lights - I didn't notice before," she wasn't sure why she said it, but it seemed like a perfect romantic setting. Apparently other people thought so too, because there were extremely odd noises coming from behind one of the rose bushes to Hermione's left. Feeling embarrassed, they both walked as far in the opposite direction as they could, before bursting into laughter about it.

When the laughter ended they both realised they were very much alone, and silence rang through the air. Hermione wasn't entirely sure what was to happen now, but it was that time when you knew something was going to happen, she tilted her head upwards, meeting her date straight in the eye. He held her gaze for a long while, and then- a flash of light.

They both turned to see what it was. The special moment was over, and Hermione could see none other than a violent looking Professor Snape destroying rose bushes apparently looking for students.

"The music has stopped," said Viktor in a quiet, almost sad, voice. Hermione nodded.

"Yes - let's go back in. I expect the Ball's over," she replied, they planned an escape back into the castle that didn't involve bumping into Snape, who had just taken fifty points away from some Ravenclaw couple doing something quite inappropriate.

Hermione could not help feeling disappointed as the two of them went back into the Great Hall, filled with loads of people all wearing different expressions. Some, genuinely tired, others relieved by having an excuse to get away from their partners, others were sincerely sad for the ball to have ended and many saying non-speaking goodbyes. Hermione looked around for anybody she might know but couldn't spot anyone.

"Thank you for the great time," said Hermione earnestly.

"It vas great spending time vith you," Viktor replied, "I vill see you...sometime."

A feeling of elation burst inside Hermione.

"OK, you'll probably find me in the library."

"In the library," he repeated. "Vell, goodbye."

"See you soon."

Hermione watched him walk away for a moment before turning towards the direction of Gryffindor tower herself, lost in thought, she wandered along the corridors before entering the common room only to find an argument waiting to spoil her perfect evening.

Sorry guys for the wait, this chapter is about three times longer than the other chapters though, so I hope you enjoyed. I've been performing in theatre, which has been great fun, and I'm auditioning for Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter movies, which is kind of cool. Anyway, please review:P