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 8 - The apology

The days were growing long again and steadily warmer, Hermione, however miffed she might have been when anybody talked about it, was still deeply touched that she was what Viktor would most miss. They hadn't found much time to speak since the task, unfortunately - instead smiling and waving when they did happen to pass in corridors and in the grounds. It was all right, thought Hermione - she couldn't have possibly realised before that she could feel so secure and comfortable in a relationship. She didn't feel worried in that aspect, which was a relief - because these days her life was centred upon schoolwork and helping Harry on whatever monstrous task they set him next. She did worry sick about Harry sometimes, almost in a maternal way - it felt good to have some part of her life that was stable.

Of course, that had been before the article in the paper by Rita Skeeter - stating that she was a celebrity loving girl who had been out with both Harry and Viktor. She had scoffed at the article, she didn't see why she should be embarrassed - anyone who knew them knew that she had never gone out with Harry, and to be honest the general idea was laughable - of course she loved him, but only as a friend. Still, Hermione did hope that Viktor hadn't read the article, it would save a lot of explaining.

Today, Hermione sat between Harry and Ron, reading a book merrily whilst Ron beat Harry at Wizard's chess. Harry had received notice that he was to learn of what the third task was later on, and the three of them were spending their time beforehand lazily. After all, soon they would all be up all night and day searching for whatever answer Harry needed. Hermione doubted that Harry would again pretend that he knew what he was doing when he didn't, not after the last task - but still she was unsure as to what he would do.

"Honestly, Harry, I don't know why you still bother," said Ron after he'd checkmated Harry for the fourth time.

"I'm getting better," Harry replied stubbornly, "and I beat you yesterday, that's why I still bother."

"Yesterday doesn't count, I could hardly keep my eyes open," grunted Ron, disheartened.

Hermione looked away from the very same herbology book that had held the answer to the second task that Neville had lent her, after she had expressed a keen interest.

"Why don't you two try something a bit more useful? That potions homework must be growing mould on it now you've left it for so long, I'd have thought you'd want to get everything out of the way before tonight, Harry - you don't know how hard the next task will be yet."

They ignored her.

"Fine," she retorted after the two began a fifth game, in which Harry took an early lead and proclaimed that he was the best. Hermione shook her head, but she was smiling. She sunk deeper into her chair and lost herself for a little while in her book, after all, there was no greater pleasure than reading in her mind. Next thing she knew was that she was wishing Harry good luck and he left promptly for his champions meeting about the third task, once Ron was alone Hermione managed to get him to do his homework, which he was none to jovial about. It was fun enough, she did enjoy correcting errors (something that had led her to think about a job in the schooling field, but since then no more had come from it).

Harry returned much later than expected, bursting through the portrait hole, out of breath...he managed to say the words 'Barty Crouch' before Hermione told him to wait until he was breathing normally and conversing wouldn't be as difficult.

"It was after we'd found out what the third task is," he began. Hermione stopped him.

"And what is the third task?" she interjected hastily.

"A maze, but then -"

"A maze, what kind of-?"

"Let him talk, Hermione!" said Ron, which kept Hermione quiet for the rest of the story.

"Just afterwards, I was talking to Krum," Harry glanced at Hermione whilst Ron let out an interestingly fake sort of cough, "I mean Viktor, anyway we met Mr Crouch - in the forbidden forest! Well, just coming out of it, he didn't seem quite sane though. Kept muttering to himself - he said everything was his fault - and he wanted to see Professor Dumbledore. It seemed really urgent so I told him the best thing would be to wait for me to hurry and get him while he waited with Krum, but when we got back someone had stunned Krum and Mr Crouch was nowhere to be found. Moody's onto it as we speak," Harry looked around expectantly, though Ron looked rather blank and Hermione extremely worried.

"Lather, rinse and repeat?" said Ron, looking confused, "I got something about Vicky," he said the word as if it was a disgusting phrase, "then Mr Crouch..."

"Viktor was stunned?" asked Hermione, biting her lip and ignoring Ron's scowl.

"Yeah, but he's all right, they revived him."

"Is he at the hospital wing, was he hurt?" Hermione could not stop herself asking these questions, and felt herself blush slightly.

"No, he was fine," said Harry, sounding irritated, "I expect he's had worse, Quidditch injuries and all..."

He then shook his head, it seemed like this was not the reaction he'd hoped for from his two best friends, Ron throwing the most disgusted looks and Hermione asking about how Viktor was. Half an hour later, once Harry had repeated his speech five times for Ron and assured Hermione that Viktor was perfectly well and was not suffering from any kind of concussion after his fall to the ground, they did begin to talk about the previous events. And Hermione tried to block Viktor from her head for the time being.

This was unsuccessful. The following morning, Hermione, after receiving very little sleep the night before, went straight to breakfast for a glass of water to ease her slight headache. She was delighted to see that Viktor was another one of the early risers, sitting at the Slytherin table and reading a paper, frowning slightly. Upon seeing Hermione he left his seat and came to join her on the Gryffindor table - this was a feat that no one in Hermione's memory had ever done, switching Slytherin table for Gryffindor. Hermione smiled pleasantly.

"Good morning," she said. He repeated the greeting and sat down opposite her, a first year boy that had been sitting in the seat next to the one Viktor now sat in had fled, intimidated by such a well known face.

"How are you, Hermy-Own-Ninny?" he asked, leaning forward.

"Headache," said Hermione, picking up her cold goblet and rubbing it against her forehead.

"That's a shame - but I find a valk in grounds outside makes me feel better after I receive a bludger to the head," said Viktor, taking Hermione's hand and squeezing it - making Hermione's insides suddenly warm and bubbly like a heated butterbeer. "After treatment, of course," he added as an afterthought.

"Of course," replied Hermione, already feeling slightly better. Or perhaps this was just the warmth she now felt inside of her.

She left the rest of her drink (it had been too cold, anyway) and they walked together through the entrance hall and out into a beautiful May morning. They spoke of how lovely the weather was for a few moments and Hermione humoured him as he spoke passionately about Quidditch. He soon noticed her disinterest and stopped, smiling down at her.

"It's all right, you can continue," Hermione said quickly.

"I vas finished," said Viktor, although Hermione had a nagging suspicion that he hadn't been.

"Viktor," Hermione said suddenly, remembering something Harry had said the night before, "you spoke to Harry last night, didn't you?"

He looked rather apologetic.

"I vould haff asked you about it, but ve hadn't got to speak for so long."

Hermione nodded, "I understand."

"It's just that I haff been hearing from some people that you haff something with Harry Potter. And if that is true then -"

"No, no, no," cut in Hermione. Viktor looked pleased to see that she was grinning stupidly, "that's all Rita Skeeter! As if Harry and I could be more than friends! I like him and all, but not like that."

She laughed pleasantly, enjoying the cool breeze around her as they walked side by side. Krum, however, still looked serious.

"I thought not," he said after a moments pause, "but -"

Hermione stopped him, "anything by Rita Skeeter is only fit to be thrown straight into the bin."

He chuckled and Hermione enjoyed the moment, finally glad to have made it quite clear that there had been nothing in Rita Skeeter's article. She felt relieved, although had not realised previously that she had been so unsure as to if Viktor had read the article or what he thought of it, and what to say about it. She made a mental note in the future to mention things like this as soon as they arrived, rather than waiting to see if he'd heard. She didn't want a misunderstanding about very little.

She was reminded of something she'd thought long and hard about.

"Viktor," she said, drawing breath, "after the second task, when you asked me to come and stay with you in Bulgaria over the Summer. Were you being serious?"

She looked up at him, there was no hesitance in his voice as he replied with a resolute 'yes'. Hermione hadn't been sure of if he had really meant it at the time, although she knew Viktor to be sincere - she did feel as though this would be a rather large step for them. Well, she could not deny that she had her doubts - although the idea of staying in a foreign country with her very nice boyfriend and his family was a warm idea to think about. Though she did think maybe it would be a step too far - she could not pretend the idea didn't appeal.

"I'm...touched, Viktor - really, I am," Hermione blurted out, "but I honestly don't know if it would be such a great idea, I mean, I'd like to...I'm sorry." She could not remember a time that had come before when she had been this stuck for words - describing her thoughts exactly had become something she was very accustomed to doing in the past, now there was something stopping her. And she couldn't figure out what that something was, either, which was rather annoying.

Viktor looked disappointed, although did not seem as though her reply had surprised him in any way. He had expected this, though his reaction was still hard for Hermione to watch. Thankfully, he didn't let Hermione continue speaking and embarrass herself the way she was sure she would have done otherwise.

"It's all right," he said gruffly, "I did not expect..." He faltered and Hermione was about to open her mouth to suggest something when he stole the words right out of her mouth. "But vould you like to write, be-"

"Pen pals?" Hermione asked enthusiastically, finishing his sentence.

"Yes," replied Viktor, looking surprised at her eagerness for the idea.

Hermione beamed. "I'd really, really like that. It would be fun to have someone to write to."

They continued to talk until Hermione was certain that she should be getting back to breakfast, having momentarily moved the whole Mr Crouch fiasco from her mind - it had now resettled rather painfully and she knew she should return. Kissing Viktor goodbye on the cheek and saying that she would meet him again the following day at the same time, Hermione sped back off to the great hall. Rediscovering her headache again on the way there, she looked forward to seeing Viktor again the next day.

Today, she had given up the opportunity to spend time with him in the holidays, why? She wasn't so sure. She'd never got this far into a romance novel for something like this to happen, though common sense told her it was normal - and that romance novels often weren't.

Merry belated Christmas. (I hope you all had a great one - because I didn't, the car broke down on the way home...:'(...) And also, I'm sorry for not writing sooner. I find it very hard to force myself to write at the current, and I've altered my story plan slightly. Never fear, I still have every intention to finish MHE. Thanks for all your wonderful reviews of the last chapter, and they would be nice to have again. xD.