DISCLAIMER: Disclaimer on page one applies…

QUICK NOTE: I edited the first two chapters for characterization purposes. Please re-read if you haven't done so. The next chapter will be posted ASAP…thanks! And please, review.


CHAPTER 2: Your Little Words

Your little words are hard and cold,
You try to use them as a sling
As David did to slay the bold
Goliath—but they only sting!
May Brinkley, Pebbles


Hermione snapped her pocket book shut as she spotted a familiar face step inside the cafeteria. Though, the once thin, sallow-skinned boy now has a sturdy and healthier form, Viktor Krum's towering height, large curve nose, and thick black eyebrows remained just how when they last saw each other.

"Hi." She greeted with a smile, placed the book on the table and stood up to welcome her guest with an extended hand.

He took her hand somewhat awkwardly. "You don't haff to be so formal vith me, Herm-own-ninny." He said embarrassed, knowing he hasn't still perfected pronouncing her name, aside from the fact that he hadn't made the slightest improvement on his Bulgarian accent.

Hermione chuckled, "Oh," and muttered apologetically. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." She motioned for him to take the seat as she dropped herself back on her chair, resting her hands on top of her book. "I was worried you were mad at me or something, you know, after my last letter."

As if a Seeker who had just caught sight of the riotous snitch, Viktor briskly reached for Hermione's hand. "Mad at you?" he asked miserably, "That's not possible." It wasn't something Hermione had expected from a so-called friend, much more from someone she only knew from a one-time event at school, exchanged letter for some time, and hadn't been in-touch with for the past six months. Out of surprise, she abrasively pulled her hand away.

"I…erm…I thought so." She smiled nervously. "So, how are you coping up?" Hermione prompted for a conversation, rather thoughtlessly, before silence cuts in or Viktor thinks of another clever move. Of course, she was referring to Viktor's decision to quit playing Quidditch. The accident on the last game Viktor played for Bulgaria—when the Seeker dove for his famous wronsky feint, and a raging bludger had dragged him hitting hard on the ground, leaving him unconscious in the hospital for weeks—was all over the wizarding news. Hermione was also aware that it was not entirely Viktor Krum's choice to resign, but his Healers' advice; and the clever girl only realized how this question impacted her companion, who suddenly tensed. "I didn't mean to bring that up, Viktor…"

"Vould you like to take a walk, Herm-own-ninny?" He asked instead as if she hadn't said a word that concerned his controversies. Having received his companion's approval, Viktor lead the way out the cafeteria and this is only when Hermione noticed how the people inside the room stare at the retired Quidditch star.

She felt sorry, seeing how her friend had to slouch and bow his head so low to avoid attracting more attention. "Viktor," Hermione began once they were safe from the gossiping crowds. He stopped as if prompting her to continue, "You shouldn't let them get to you. If there's anything they don't understand, it's everything you're going through."

"Do you know vot they call me?" He stated vaguely watching the water run below them. Apparently, they have stopped on a bridge above the river. "Has-been." He finished half-heartedly.

Hermione watched him pick a pebble from the ground and toss it down the river. For once in her life being a self-proclaimed articulate witch, with Ron very much agreeing to this, Hermione Granger couldn't find the right words to use and comfort Viktor Krum.

"Nobody understands how I feel." With this statement, Hermione gasped, readying herself for a retort. Viktor, however, didn't give her the chance. "You are sorry for me just like everyone is." He turned to her accusingly, making her shoulders feel heavy. "I don't need people to pity me."

Hermione swallowed, taking longer in the process than normal gulping is done. She wanted to tell her friend that she wasn't sorry, but that would be a lie. And even if she didn't really feel that way, she would find it rather insensitive of her. Honestly, situations like these give her so much hard time. Why hasn't she ever learned to understand boys and their prides? This has happened before with Ron and his 'being poor' issues, with Harry and his Voldemort worries. "You are completely being stubborn." She opted for her usual approach. Sometimes they work—with Harry at least. And if she was a tad lucky Viktor is not half as much as Ron, she would suffer from less infighting which she could definitely handle.

"Nobody cares anymore because I'm not playing. They only like the Seeker." Viktor continued, but starting to sound haughty.

"That's not true!" Hermione retorted ridiculed. "You know I'm not into that sport."

"But you don't like me." He tossed another pebble to the water, this time more aggressively. He quickly turned to face her, "You only like your friends at Hogvarts."

"I like all my friends." Hermione stated simply, clutching the book on her hand more tightly.

"That explains vhy you stopped sending me letters?"

"I stopped?" she complained rather confused. "As far as I can remember, Viktor, I was the one who last owled."

"Yeah. To tell me that you don't like me…completely hurting my feelings." He sounded bitter.

"But…I told you we could still be friends."

"I don't vont to be friends, Herm-own-ninny. I love you." He took her hand once more and tried to held her gaze.

Hermione looked away, "You know I love someone else."

"Someone who chooses to leave than stay and be vith you?"

With this, she quickly returned to face him. His large nose almost touching her little one. Hermione couldn't figure out what Viktor was playing at. One moment, he sounded miserable, and the next critical. And how did he know about Ron leaving? "Ron is fulfilling a dream." She heard herself repeat this sickening statement once more, this time for Viktor, then pulling her hand away.

Viktor's head fell, his stare settling on Hermione's other hand—that one holding a book. "But you said before that long distance relationships vould never vork." There was a tone of accusation on his voice.

"I just know anything would work with Ron." She replied simply.

"Vhy do you love such man, Herm-own-ninny?"

"What do you mean? Ron is…" she protested, ready for her best friend turned boyfriend's defense, but Viktor cut her off.

"I vouldn't leave the girl I love even for my biggest dream." Viktor pointed, even waiving his hand for emphasis. Hermione's face twitched. "I don't mean to hurt you Herm-own-ninny. But even Harry didn't choose to leave."

A sarcastic smile played across Hermione's lips, as if taunting the man who was questioning Ron's devotion for her. "He's coming back, you know." She replied snootily, forgetting her doubts on how Viktor gets such information.

"Is he?" he challenged back.

"Yes. He promised so himself." Hermione snapped impatiently.

Viktor scoffed, "And you take his vords for it?"

"Of course I do." The girl tried to keep an even face although inside she wanted to cry and slap Viktor right then and there. How dare he? And that feeling of wanting to hit him only grew stronger when his laugh became louder and started to sound evil. Hermione stared at him disgustedly. How much he had changed since she last saw him at the Yule Ball of their fourth year. She knew somehow he would be indifferent with her what with the last letter she sent dumping him over Ron. Deciding she had had enough, Hermione started to march away.

"Herm-own-ninny." Viktor called behind her.

Hermione continued with her stride but his suddenly pleading tone made her stop. She turned around and faced him. "What exactly was so funny that you almost died laughing?" she demanded, some strands of her bushy hair were falling over her face.

"I vas laughing at myself." he began, and Hermione need not ask for him to continue, "I came here thinking that now Veasley is gone, I might haff a chance vith you…I vas also laughing at Veasley." With this, Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, looking more concerned on the next statement. "The many times I haff heard Draco calling him stupid, I never realized how much he really vas until I learned that he left you." Hermione looked like she wanted to be flattered and insulted at the same time. But Viktor wasn't done yet, "And I vas also laughing at you." He teased, "How much you believe him…but you shouldn't."

"Why?" Hermione barked at the edge of her temper. "Why not!"

"Because ve never know vot vould happen. An auror faces…" He didn't get the chance to finish as Hermione shouted.

"That's enough! Ron is coming back after two years, get that! There's nothing, nothing that could ever happen to stop him from coming back." She was officially angry now. Insults she could take, but assuming that something might happen…How dare he?

"Nothing?" he asked still with a taunting tone. "You are reading that book. You should know exactly vot things might happen even on the first veek of training."

Hermione flipped her book face-front, reading the title as if for the first time. 'A Guide to being an Auror: Things to Consider Before Accepting the Job.' She felt her heart being stabbed as she finally took full grasp of all the things she had read so far. "Still," she began, voice shaking, "he promised." Her lips twitched to one side, stressing her stubbornness regarding the matter.

"You really haff so much faith in him, do you?" Viktor asked unbelievably, even shaking his head.

"In fact, I do." Returning to her stronger personality, Hermione answered straightforwardly.

"Vot if I insist Veasley couldn't keep his vord?" He challenged.

Hermione instinctively answered just to give Viktor the satisfaction, "Then you're wrong."

"Vot if appear to be right? After two years, he doesn't come back?"

She raised her nose up in the air, narrowing her look on him "Viktor, I could bet my life on Ron's word."

The boy smiled mischievously, "I vould love your life Herm-own-ninny. Lord knows how much I vont you spend it vith me."

"Fortunately for me, and not very much for you, I will be spending it with Ronald Weasley, right after he returns." She mocked a sympathetic tone.

"Two years, you said." Still his roguish smile playing across his face.

"Two years." She echoed. "Could be less, but definitely not more."

Viktor slowly walked towards her, "On the first day after the second year and Veasley has not come back for you…" his face was growing stern, "you vould marry me." He extended a hand to her, nodding for her to take, "Make a deal or accept the fact that I just had you doubt on your boyfriend's vow."

It took a while before his proposal finally registered on Hermione's head. Was he really expecting Ron not to return? What's too much was he actually thought marriage would happen between them! Honestly! And Hermione always though Viktor Krum was the picture of a true gentleman. He was a jerk just like any other. Pathetic jerk! "Just so you know, Viktor, you're not doing yourself a favor." The next thing she knew, she and Viktor were shaking hands to close the pact. It was the most stupid settlement she had ever made in her entire life. But knowing Ron would certainly keep his words, there was nothing to worry about.


"Ron, you promised." Hermione whispered weakly as she stared at her ring finger that was sporting a diamond-stoned band her husband had slid some nine months ago.

She felt an arm slithered around her waist, and all of a sudden, she was being swung meticulously left to right by a tall and lanky form. For a second the touch almost felt like the same. But then again, it was different just how the other would sneak up behind her and twirl her playfully. This was only confirmed when the man breathed words on the nape of her neck, "Where have you been, Honey? I've been looking for you?"

Hermione snapped out of her reverie, courteously released herself from his touch, "Please, not here. Not now. Ginny said we're about to start." She said sweetly, and she walked away finding her other friends without even looking back at him.


AUTHOR's NOTE:

Thanks for reviewing! I hope I'm still drawing your interests with this fic…The events would be a lot clearer on the next chapters…as I said before, there would be several flashbacks on first chapters, so please bear with them if you're not enjoying too much…please, tell me what you guys think! Is the story getting better or worse? Hehehe…