Viktor found himself sitting at a table in the Hogwarts Library staring at Hermione who was poring over an old book. He made a quick overview of the library and found that his fan club had not yet arrived. He swallowed his nerves, stood up and walked toward her.
Hermione looked up as he walked close and watched as he walked past her and pulled a book from the shelves nearby. Viktor turned the book over in his hands as he tried to recover his nerve. He turned to talk to her and saw that she had gathered her books and was heading for the door.
Viktor knew it was either now or never and he walked up to her. He gently tapped her on the shoulder. She turned and looked at him and he was lost for words. She stared at him with her large brown eyes, "Yes."
"Er…I vas vondering," Viktor started, "If you do not haff a date to the Yule Ball if you vould like to go vith me?"
Hermione looked a bit startled, "Oh…er…well yes, I would like to go with you."
"Really?" Viktor was shocked, he truly was.
"Yes," Hermione repeated, "I really would like to go with you." They stood staring at each other for a moment that seemed to stretch for an eternity. "Oh, I have to go," she said looking down at her watch. "So…I'll…er…see you soon."
"Yes," Viktor said dreamily, "Er…how about tomorrow, after your class."
"Okay, we could just meet here," Hermione said, a smile running across her face. "See you tomorrow." She hurried out of the library and soon Viktor followed after her in an almost dreamlike state.
He walked down to the ship and felt as if he could tackle seven dragons in a row. "Oh Viktor," Ivana called abruptly pulling Viktor from his dreamlike state. "Viktor," she said striding up to him, "Karkaroff told me about the ball, and well, since you don't have a partner and it is in two weeks, that we should go together."
"I already have a date," he said and tried to get away from Ivana before she could say another word.
"It's not that dirty blooded Katerina, is it?" she questioned spitefully.
Viktor rounded on her and looked her deep in the eyes. He let out a sharp laugh, she could act so pathetic. "No I'm not taking Katerina," he said and walked off.
When he entered the room he found Vlad lying on his bed, making a book float in front of his face as he tried to read. Vlad turned as Viktor entered and the book fell to the floor, "Viktor where have you been?"
Viktor smiled, "I asked Hermy-own to the ball."
"Well, it's about time," Vlad replied picking his book up off the floor. "So I assume she said yes."
Viktor nodded, "Yeah and when I came back Ivana cornered me, she wanted me to take her to the ball."
"I'm glad you aren't going to take her. No offense Viktor but I never could stand her." Viktor laughed, grabbed his book and began to do his homework for the week.
He had gotten halfway through the required reading when someone knocked on their cabin door. Vlad got up and opened the door, outside stood one of the other students who had come with them to Hogwarts. "Er…Viktor, Karkaroff would like to see you," he stammered and walked away from the cabin.
Vlad gave Viktor a questioning look and Viktor just shrugged. He left the cabin and headed to where Karkaroff was waiting. "So Viktor," Karkaroff started turning around his chair, "I hear you have found a partner to the Yule Ball, is this true?"
"Yes, I did," Viktor answered wondering what Karkaroff was up to.
"Who is it, may I ask?" Karkaroff said with a sugar voice.
"Hermy-own, actually I can't pronounce it right but that's as close as I can get," Viktor stated matter-of-factly.
"That name does not sound familiar," Karkaroff said pulling out the log of passengers on the ship.
"She attends Hogwarts."
"Ah, I see," Karkaroff said setting his papers aside and clasping his hands together. "Viktor I would much prefer it if you went with someone from Durmstang."
"I've already asked her," Viktor stated hoping to put an end to the conversation at hand.
"What about your girlfriend, Ivana. Surely you should be attending it with her."
"We are no longer dating," Viktor wanted to scream at Karkaroff to leave him alone that it was his life.
"I see, well if your mind is made up. I assume I can trust your decision. You may leave," Karkaroff said waving his hand toward the door.
A/N: I was going to wait until halloween to put this chapter up, but I'm feeling in a generous mood so you got it early. I'm expecting lots of love for my birthday on Oct. 29th (this saturday). Okay, I don't know when I'll be able to update because I have two essays due in the next two weeks and a lot of reading to do (hey, that's what I get for taking two literature classes). I might find time before halloween to update, but the Yule ball is coming up so I don't want to cut it short. shrugs Oh did you like the pics I put up, I personally love them. T.T.F.N. Ta, ta for now.
