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 9 - The Wait
Hermione woke up that morning feeling faintly excited, after all, later on in the day would be the third and final task of the TriWizard tournament - she couldn't see how anything could possibly go wrong now, whoever put Harry's name in the goblet would be kicking themselves. Their plan must have gone wrong, Harry wasn't supposed to have survived this far - and now he was in a winning position, what she nor Ron and Harry had even really considered Harry could possibly win. Hermione smiled to herself as she got out of bed and reached for a hairbrush, that would be some turn of events. Still, she thought, as she tied her hair back so it would not fly into her face outside, she wouldn't breathe easily until she knew this tournament was over.
And there was Viktor - Hermione looked forward to seeing him, they'd spoken frequently and as often as they could over the last couple of months, but Hermione's exams and her devotion to helping Harry learn as many potentially useful spells as they could find had cut this time. She knew that he was also hard at work learning and practising various shields and charms, for she had seen him many a time in the library, frowning as he concentrated. He was never, however, too busy to speak to her, though she tried to discourage him, knowing it was not going to be fair if he was constantly distracted.
The thought of Viktor lessened the apprehension she had felt about the upcoming task, and she had often wondered how different it would have been had Harry not been chosen as a champion. For a start, Harry, Ron and she would probably be enjoying the competition, rooting for a Hogwarts victory but also being entertained by the fine magic that was being produced by the champions. Viktor had been a delight to watch in the first task, even though the dragon he had defeated had destroyed half of her real eggs, deducting points from Viktor's final score. She wasn't sure how much of the champions they were going to be able to see in this final task, but Hermione did think it would have been nice to be watching the task, cheering Viktor on, rather than worrying frantically that someone was out to murder one of her best friends.
She yawned, it was earlier than she'd intended to get up, but she knew she couldn't return to sleep now. Instead, she got changed and picked up the book that had been lying beside her bed - she had been reading it the night before, and tried to escape reality in a fictional world.
Hermione was shaken back into reality when Lavender woke up half an hour later, shrieking that she'd woken up far too late and now she wouldn't have time to do her make up properly before breakfast. Hermione could hear Parvati beside her, comforting her friend. Hermione suppressed a giggle as she checked the time and realised she wouldn't be alone eating breakfast at this hour, and it was also now within the time range that Harry and Ron would get up.
She placed her book fondly on her pillow after making her bed (less work for the house elves) and left the dormitory whilst Lavender cried about having lost her favourite lipstick. Hermione had a nagging suspicion that Crookshanks had eaten the lipstick, so she made her way to the great hall rather sharpish.
The common room was partially full, mainly of people talking about the day's task with obvious excitement. She could see people on the far side of the common room making large banners supporting Harry - she was surprised and thoroughly concerned that nobody was studying for the day's exams, which Hermione thought should surely come before entertainment. She hadn't forgotten, herself, but she'd had some great practise with defence against the dark arts in learning all the spells for the third task. She liked to believe this new approach to her exams was better, for it was calmer and she felt she'd revised enough beforehand. Though this did not stop her silently going over the main events of the Goblin rebellion for her History of Magic exam as she made her way into the great hall.
Looking around before she sat down, Hermione could see that neither Ron nor Harry were at the Gryffindor table - she scanned the hall for any familiar faces, out of the corner of her eye she saw a figure get up at the Slytherin table. Knowing who it was, Hermione smiled and sat down, pulled out a book from her bag but did not open it.
"Hermy-Own-Ninny?" said Viktor's now familiar voice from behind her.
"Hi, Viktor," said Hermione pleasantly, "how are you? All prepared for the task?"
"I think so," said Viktor thoughtfully, "I vanted to vish you vell for your exams today."
Hermione turned around, surprised - she hadn't been aware of telling Viktor about her exams, and it seemed very nice of him to wish her luck when it was he who would be competing in a fierce competition.
"Oh, thanks," she replied, flushed, "Good luck to you with the task later."
"Thanks," he said, sounding rather merry.
Over Viktor's shoulder Hermione had a very clear view of Karkaroff gesturing for Viktor to get back and eat some breakfast, she notified him and she told him to take care.
Feeling slightly brighter, Hermione turned back to her book and flicked through it, ignoring the food before her and reading as fast as she could. The days when they took exams were the only mornings when she could get away with studying at the breakfast table without being teased, due to the fact everyone was trying to get in a bit of late revision. She sipped a goblet of pumpkin juice in front of her.
She was so caught up reading through her book that she didn't notice Ron and Harry join her at the Gryffindor table.
"Morning to you, too, Hermione," said Ron's voice. Hermione looked up from her book and closed it.
"Ron! Harry! When did you get here?" she asked, surprised at their sudden appearances.
"About five minutes ago," replied Ron, he looked over at the cover of Hermione's book, "we don't have a transfiguration exam today, do we?"
She ignored him, and instead asked Harry how was, after he'd said he was feeling all right, she tried to force him to eat something for breakfast - saying that he'd feel better if he at something. Fortunately for Harry, the post owls arrived and diverted Hermione's attention and he was able to use his wand to vanish his food and stop her nagging.
Hermione received her regular copy of the Daily Prophet, she looked at the front page for a split second, spluttered and removed it from sight as quickly and subtly as she could.
Though apparently not as subtle as she had hoped.
Another article by Rita Skeeter was featured on the front page of The Daily Prophet, and he efforts to hide it were in vain, though Harry did not take it badly, instead he lightly dismissed it. After a long moan about Rita Skeeter, Hermione spent some time wondering how Rita was getting all the information that she did. She didn't understand. And then she realised. Saying a quick goodbye, Hermione dashed off to the library to make sure.
The tests that day went smoothly, Hermione thought she had answered all of the questions reasonably well and usually finished with time to spare to go back and check her answers. She was beginning to feel a hint of excitement about the upcoming task, she hoped to get to speak to Viktor before the task, but couldn't find him anywhere. Hermione assumed he was preparing for the task and instead went back to the library during her lunch break, confirming and reconfirming what she thought to be true. Everything was making sense, but she wouldn't tell Ron and Harry until after the task. The truth could distract Harry in the task.
Smiling to herself in a rather mad way, Hermione left the library. On her way out she passed three of the girls that had been part of Viktor's fan club (the group had disbanded to pursue other male sources of attraction). She then realised that she still had half of lunch until the afternoon's task, and made her way to the dining hall.
Hermione remembered upon arrival that Mrs Weasley and Bill were at Hogwarts to cheer on Harry during the task, she joined the large group of familiar redheads sitting on the Gryffindor table. She sat down next to Harry and mentally kicked herself, remembering that Mrs Weasley had believed what she read in Rita Skeeter's article. Luckily, Harry picked up on her expression and said hastily, " Mrs Weasley, you didn't believe that rubbish Rita Skeeter wrote in Witch Weekly, did you? Because Hermione's not my girlfriend."
"Oh!" said Mrs Weasley. "No - of course I didn't!"
Hermione shot Harry a fleeting look of thanks, and was considerably happier when Mrs Weasley became very friendly towards her again.
Hermione found that despite she was not partaking in the third task, she still felt very nervous and didn't eat. She pretended this was because she disapproved of the poor House Elves with all this extra work (the meal was larger than usual) and encouraged Harry to eat more.
He declined.
Hermione nagged him again.
He said he wasn't hungry. She opened her mouth to try a different course of words, but was cut off.
"Look, Hermione, if he doesn't want to eat, you can't force him," said Ron, playing the peacemaker, "but you probably should eat something, mate," he told Harry.
But Harry didn't have a chance, that moment the plates were wiped clean and Professor Dumbledore announced that the Third Task would be taking place in a few moments time. He was then escorted away alongside Fleur, Cedric and Viktor (whom turned around and gave Hermione a heartening smile).
Hermione felt a slight lift, but this was lost as she joined the Weasleys in walking down to the Quidditch pitch, which she knew had been converted into a maze for the champions.
"Harry's going to be okay, isn't he?" asked Ginny concernedly, looking up at her mother and brothers.
"Harry's going to be okay," said George reassuringly.
"I'd even put ten galleons on him winning it," said Fred from beside his twin. Mrs Weasley gave him a very strict look, "...but I'm not going to, nor was I planning anything."
"Honestly mum," said George, "as if we'd gamble."
Hermione then heard him mutter something to Fred that sounded like "not after the last time, anyway."
The seats were filling up fast in the stadium, but that was not what was concerning the Weasley children, each exchanged a look of shock over what used to be the Quidditch pitch and stopped moving.
"Don't be ridiculous, get moving," Mrs Weasley said shortly, "the pitch will be fine for the start of the next Quidditch season."
"We're blocking people standing here," Hermione contributed. She shook her head as she sat down, she couldn't really understand the big deal about Quidditch - she especially couldn't share a worry over the state of the pitch it was played in. For Merlin's sake, the game was played in the air anyway.
Hermione was quite low down in the stadium, they had been given some of the best seats as they were sitting in the seats reserved for Harry's family and friends. She had a clear view of all the champions being spoken to by various teachers though she couldn't see much of what was inside the maze, it seemed as though this task would be similar to the second in that aspect. Her part as a member of the audience was simply to wait for a champion to reach the cup.
"What do you think, Hermione," asked Ron from beside her, "looks easy enough...doesn't it?"
Hermione turned to face him. "I'm not sure," she said, turning back to face the maze again, "the concept seems simple enough, but we don't know what's in there. I just hope those useful spells I found will help Harry."
She waited for Ron to tell her that she was worrying too much, and to calm down, but it didn't come. She felt less reassured than ever when she looked over at Ron, his face giving the same expression that she was feeling.
The task began after a few words from the Headmaster, they watched Harry and Cedric, who were tied for first place, enter the maze first. Hermione and the Weasleys applauded as hard as they could.
Next to follow them into the maze was Viktor, she saw him scanning the crowds for her but he did not have time to find her, after a short high whistle he too entered into the maze. Hermione applauded happily, and was surprised that Ron too was also clapping with the same enthusiasm as she was. When she looked at him questionably he sunk lower into his seat and said, "...well, he's a good Quidditch player."
Hermione grinned, and started to tease her best friend when the whistle was blown once more and Fleur raced forward into the maze. Many boys wolf whistled as she went, her blonde hair swishing behind her, Hermione watched Ron clapping loudly and gave him a look.
"She is part veela, you know..." Ron said as the crowd grew silent again, a few minutes after Fleur joined in with the task.
"I know," replied Hermione, shortly.
"You said she wasn't before," he reminded her. Hermione looked away from him and onto the maze.
"I know I did. I wonder what's in there..?" she answered, swiftly changing the subject. Hermione was rarely was wrong, but had found from the few times she was ever wrong that it didn't feel very nice. So she avoided it.
"I dunno," replied Ron, not noticing Hermione's eagerness to avoid the last topic.
They looked on in silence for a moment, apparently unaware of the crowd around them, that had livened up a little in the champion's absence. Refreshments and snacks were being sold and a few students had gathered in a suspicious huddle, exchanging money and bets with each other. Hermione didn't feel hungry, and couldn't even find the effort to nag the students about gambling. Instead, she felt a little sick inside.
"Something is wrong," said Hermione quietly.
Ron caught her words, "why'd you say that?"
"I just know," she replied, and then questioned herself. She felt a sudden new wave of worry and fear, Hermione Granger relied on logic, not 'feelings.' She cursed herself in her head, but could not blank out the deep unease within her.
"Look, Harry and the rest of the champions are made of harder stuff than you seem to think, Hermione," Ron said, trying to console her, but failing, "they'll be all right and - what was that?"
Hermione had seem it too, red sparks flashing upwards from a point within the maze. Upon seeing them, a teacher rushed into the maze, apparently perfectly aware where to go.
"Emergency sparks," said Hermione simply, "someone's in trouble."
"Better hope it's not Harry," said Ron.
Many people in the crowd were pointing over at where the sparks had been and 'ooohing' loudly, which greatly annoyed Hermione. She turned around to see one of the Viktor Krum fan girls turned Cedric Diggory fan girls doing a prime example of this, although was distracted by the large banner the fan club were waving around with the Hufflepuff champion's face plastered on it, bearing the words, 'Fitty for The TriWizard Cup!' The noise levels rose dramatically, and Hermione saw that both Madame Maxime and Karkaroff were standing upright and as close to the maze as possible, eager for news on which champion had dropped out. Each worried for their own. Madame Maxime was standing on her tiptoes in vain, in an attempt to see over the maze's walls of bush, though tall, she was not quite that tall.
They waited in anticipation for the return of one of the champions, and wondered who it was. Hermione was not sure whether she wanted it to be Harry or not, for one thing - he'd be out of the competition, though for another he would definitely be safe.
Though it soon became clear that it was not Harry, a girl's shrieks were heard from the outer circle of the maze - Fleur.
"Blimey, she doesn't sound happy," commented Ron, as Fleur emerged from the maze. Tears and dirt were streaked down her face and she was screaming madly, Madame Maxime rushed over immediately, whilst Karkaroff breathed a very melodramatic sigh of relief.
Hermione tried to catch Fleur's words, but it was hard, due to the way for Beauxbatons students were all squabbling childishly over their champion's failure.
"Eet was zat boy, ze Quidditch player!" she yelled at Dumbledore, "I was attacked by zat louzy Krum!"
Dumbledore appeared beside Fleur and Madame Maxime and seemed to offer Fleur some sympathy, at the sound of his champion's name, Karkaroff marched over and demanded to know what was going on. Fleur, unable (or just too enraged) to find the words in English, reverted to French and spoke in very fast low tones to Madame Maxime. Hermione was as confused as Karkaroff was, from the expression on his face, what was Fleur saying about Viktor?
"Miss Delacour is accusing your student of cheating," said Dumbledore to Karkaroff sternly, "we will continue the competition, but Mr Krum will be questioned after the task is complete."
Karkaroff looked livid, "she has no right - no right at all...to accuse-"
"On the contrary, Igor, she has every right," replied Dumbledore, though not focused on the person with whom he was speaking.
Ron turned to face her, "Well, I thought Krum was mad and a bit dodgy - but I'd never have thought-"
"He didn't do it, he wouldn't have," cut in Hermione, "Fleur must have made a mistake."
"Hermione, she saw him do it, by the sounds of it."
Hermione bit her lip. "I know Viktor wouldn't have..."
Ron didn't reply.
The crowd screamed again, though neither Ron nor Hermione saw the red sparks flash above them.
"With any luck, that'll be him now," Ron said bitterly. Hermione ignored him. Karkaroff was on his feet again, exchanging fearsome words with Madame Maxime. Fleur had now left to speak to her parents, and looked rather fearsome herself. Her sister Gabriella looked terrified, at least.
Another teacher had gone into the maze to look for the fallen champion, Hermione wondered which of the two champions were still in the task, and by now - she would have thought - edging nearer and nearer to the cup itself."
"Two champions out already," commented Mrs Weasley, "I wonder what's in there?"
"The concept is easy," said Hermione, "but I would have thought... it must be harder than it seemed."
Ginny opened her mouth to say something about Harry, judging by the expression on her face, but she stopped and said, "hey - it's Viktor Krum!"
Hermione spun around and looked below, she could see a body being stretchered out of the maze, her heart sank. Viktor. He wasn't moving, what was wrong? Was he all right? Hermione thought the worst.
"It's all right," said Mad Eye Moody gruffly to Dumbledore, "stunned. Think it must have been one of the other champions, I wasn't sure whether to revive him until we got out of the maze again, if he attacked Miss Delacour he could be dangerous."
Hermione, however, missed these words of consolation and also Karkaroff's hysterical swearing and accusations that one of the Hogwarts Champions had attacked his champion, because she was too busy asking everyone if Viktor looked to them to be all right.
"You don't think he's that hurt, do you? He doesn't look good. Do you think I should go and see if he's OK - I can't see his parents anywhere..."
"No, dear," replied Mrs Weasley comfortingly, "he's just been stunned, and his parents are coming over now, look."
Hermione looked down to see a stocky Bulgarian man with a striking resemblance to Viktor making his way through the crowds and demanding in Bulgarian to know what had happened to his son, he was followed closely by a small woman who must have been Viktor's mother, looking frightened rather than angry.
"They're saying it must have been one of the other champions who stunned him," piped up Ginny, who'd been keeping an ear out for news. "Dumbledore's revived him now, anyway."
Hermione felt a wave of warmth spread over her as she realised that Viktor was sitting up, rubbing his forehead and looking genuinely confused. A crowd of teachers rushed to him, but Dumbledore sent all of them except Karkaroff away, Hermione suspected he intended to find out if he had attacked Fleur and who, in return, had attacked him. Viktor's parents stood beside him, his mother with a hand on his shoulder in a very motherly gesture.
Viktor looked rather expressionless, Hermione could hear him flatly denying again and again that he had attacked Fleur, and that he wasn't sure who had got him.
"I think I should go and see him," Hermione said, though speaking more to herself than anybody else, "check if he's okay, stunning can be a nasty business..."
Ron looked at her incredulously, "no, it's not."
She blushed, then looked back at Viktor. Fleur had marched over when it looked like Viktor was finished with his version of events and had demanded to know what he had said, Viktor looked very confused.
"All these things are happening, I really do hope it's just the task setting them back, and nothing's wrong," said Hermione, she had a gut feeling that her hope was in vain.
"I can't imagine neither Harry nor Diggory stunning Krum to win the tournament," said Ron worriedly, his blue eyes wide, "though I wish I could have..." he added.
"Oh, shut up, Ron," said Hermione, pushing the jive away. She noticed Viktor walking in her direction, his eyes focused on her, "Viktor!"
"Task good, Hermy-Own-Ninny?" he asked, walking towards her. She looked over his shoulder, Fleur looked not at all satisfied by whatever conclusion they had come to, and was sulkily speaking to Madame Maxime.
"We haven't been able to see much of it, to be honest," said Hermione.
"Though the last few minutes have been good," interjected Ron.
"Haff you noticed anything...odd?" asked Viktor quietly, so that only Ron and Hermione could hear. They were both confused.
"No, not at all," replied Hermione, anxiously she looked at the maze and thought of Harry, "why?"
Viktor's eyes jolted between the maze and Karkaroff, then Dumbledore, then they finally rested on Hermione. His deep brown eyes held a fear that Hermione had never seen within them, and this unsettled her.
"Someone's meddling vith the task. Fleur is thinking so too, but blames me," his voice faltered for a moment, "it felt like...someone vas controlling my mind...I don't know the English of it...forgiff me."
Hermione gasped loudly whilst Ron looked dumbstruck.
"The Imperius Curse?" she whispered, as though speaking it quietly might make it less likely to be the truth.
Viktor's eyes widened, then he nodded.
"Did you tell them?" asked Ron, gesturing down at the teachers, Madame Maxime very downcast - Hermione looked around but Karkaroff was nowhere in sight anymore, "You're saying Harry's in there with a raving lunatic?"
"I think something's happened," said Hermione, before Viktor could answer. She could see below the teachers conversing in low voices. Two went into the maze worriedly. Ginny turned around to join in the conversation with them.
"I think they were being tracked by Dumbledore magically, ensure they didn't get to any harm," said Ginny informatively, "but from what I've heard, Harry and Cedric have just completely vanished from the maze."
"They're not the only ones, " added Ron, "Karkaroff's gone too - hey, you don't think -"
"Karkaroff is too cowardly to go against Dumbledore," said Viktor.
And so they sat and waited, themselves, along with the crowd growing more and more frustrated with sitting back and doing nothing whilst Harry and Cedric were clearly in trouble (Hogwarts' worst kept secret). Exchanging comforting words that no one really believed and the day seemed to have turned cold, Hermione had never felt more scared for what had happened to Harry.
Viktor, realising how she felt, embraced her, and gave her the most comfort he possibly could.
Oh my gosh. I'm dreadfully sorry for the long wait since the last chapter, it's been nearly three months. I've been really busy, and ill. Consider this a very late Valentines present. I've already written part of the last chapter, so I hope to have that up by the time Goblet of Fire comes out of DVD, which I think is fitting. P. Please Review.