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That evening, Gryffindor house joined the rest of the school in the Great Hall for another special ceremony.
"The TriWizard tournament is a series of three challenges to test a wizard's skills. In the end, only one will become champion and receive lifelong glory." Harry and Ron were hanging on to each word coming out of Dumbledore's mouth, both fascinated by the idea of eternal fame. Just then, Dumbledore revealed a giant gilded goblet, its rim standing eye level with the ancient wizard. It glistened in the floating candlelight and sent murmurs of excitement among the students. "The Goblet of Fire. Over the next week, students seventeen years of age can submit their names on a bit of parchment into the basin of the goblet. This time next week, the goblet will choose a student from each wizarding school - Beauxbaton, Hogwarts, and Durmstrang - to compete against one another."
At the mention of the school, Hermione looked to the end of Hufflepuff table towards the Durmstrang students and Viktor Krum. He was smiling with his schoolmates, the tall lanky boy next to him slapping him gruffly on the back. Right before she made to look back at her Headmaster, she caught Viktor's eye. He was beaming, and from across the room he sent her a wink and subtle head bow. This, of course, sent Hermione's face flushing once again as she turned away from the boy.
Soon after, Dumbledore finished his speech and waved his wrinkled hand, food filling the four long tables. Hermione ate quietly, listening to the boys groan and complain about the age limit on the tournament.
"But Lupin has taught us all we need to know about defensive spells! And I'm sure we could keep up with charms! It's silly really, why can't we choose whether or not we want to compete?!"
"Honestly Ronald, do you think they wouldn't keep you from competing if it wasn't for a good reason? Dumbledore didn't decide on an age limit just to spite you personally, I'm sure." Ron glared at that, but Harry just sighed dramatically and went back to his potatoes.
"I wonder who will compete from Hogwarts?" Harry asked through a mouthful of food. Distracted by the question, the trio ranked the most talented 7th years in the school, coming up with a small group of possibilities. Overhearing their chat, Fred and George Weasley began taking bets on who the goblet would choose to compete. Hermione declined an entry, but Ron and Harry both put their choices in enthusiastically.
———
The next few days passed by quickly - term had started and Hermione was already engrossed in her classes, working on assignments and readings due weeks later. She found herself momentarily forgetting about Viktor Krum until, one afternoon, he appeared amongst the aisles of the library.
"Mind if I join you?" He asked deeply, his tenor sending shivers down her spine.
"Oh, Viktor! Hello! Yes, let me just move some things around…" Hermione shuffled her stacks of parchments and piled her books into one towering stack, cleaning space for the boy to sit at the small corner table with her.
"How have you been, Hermione? Are classes going well?" He smirked at her then, glancing down at the piles of school work, before catching her eye again. She knew Viktor was teasing her, but it didn't bother her in the slightest; she knew that even though he was poking fun, he would be genuinely interested to hear how her first few days of classes had gone.
"Professor Snape asked me yesterday if I was interested in working towards becoming a Potions Master. He's spent the last three years teasing and testing me, so I thought he was joking! I even laughed at him at first, totally caught off guard. He had asked me to stay behind after class and just came right up to my table and asked!"
"Well, what did you say?" Viktor asked eagerly.
"I said I would have to think about it. I didn't realize I could start working towards becoming a Master so soon, but Professor Snape said if he took me on as an apprentice, I could reach Master level in record time. I'm sure it was a bit of gloating on his part, but he seemed so confident that I could do it. I have until Monday to give him an answer either way…"
"And?" Viktor prodded, seeing the wheels in Hermione's head turning furiously.
"I think I might say yes! I've spent the whole day researching Master and Apprentice relationships and Potion Masters in history. To think I could be on that list one day, Hermione Granger - Potions Master? I can't turn it down!" She was grinning from ear to ear by the end of it, causing the boy to smile along with her. They had only known each other for a few days, but he was already overwhelmed by her positivity and goodness.
"I suppose congratulations are in order, then! Care to accompany me for a walk? I have a quick task to complete, but then I would love to take you out on the grounds. Alexander and I flew over the most outstanding pumpkin patch the other day." Hermione was already shoving her books back into her bag, eager to spend time with the boy. It was rare that anything could distract her from her studies, but Viktor was unlike anyone she had met. He seemed to understand her in a way that her other friends didn't.
After Hermione had filled her bag to the brim and sent her borrowed books back to their shelves, she flung her bag over her shoulder and made to walk with Viktor. "May I?" He asked, reaching towards the bag.
"Oh, Viktor, you don't have to do that! I'm so used to carrying this thing around…" But Viktor moved to slide it off of her shoulder before magically shrinking it and placing it into his pocket, much like he had done to their breakfast spread days before. "Oh!" She squeaked, genuinely surprised by his move, and Viktor just laughed and grabbed her hand, tucking it into the crook of his arm and walking towards the library entrance.
"Just a quick stop before we head out, my Hermione." Hermione looked up at him quickly at that, shocked by the possessive name. He just smiled at her and continued, guiding them through the halls. "I have to drop this," he flicked his fingers, causing a slip of parchment to appear in his hand, "off in the Great Hall."
"The Goblet of Fire! You're entering into the competition?"
"Hopefully the Goblet will choose me, yes. It is why I traveled here to Hogwarts, for a chance to compete for the TriWizard Cup. I thought you might like to accompany me to place my name in." Hermione nodded, excitement bubbling up. She was, of course, curious how the magical artefact even worked - how did it determine which student was from which school? And did it have a particular charm on it to keep younger students from entering in their names? She had looked for information about it in her small bit of free time, but couldn't find anything of real interest.
It didn't take long for them to make it down to the Great Hall where Viktor released Hermione's arm and opened the large oak doors for her. As it was an off time, the room was mostly empty aside from a few groups of students studying at the tables. However, standing at the front of the room, rested the Goblet of Fire. Its flames flicked blue and green, the magic allowing it to never go out. Viktor started walking towards it, his boots clicking lightly on the stone floor. Hermione followed behind him, stopping a safe distance away as he approached the goblet. He turned to her, smiled, and then tipped his slip of parchment into the fire. It engulfed it quickly, sending out purple sparks and sputters before dying down to its resting state.
"Well," he said as he walked back towards her, "I suppose we have to wait until tomorrow to see who the goblet will choose."
"What happens if you aren't chosen?" Hermione asked quietly.
"I will be upset, of course, but I will cheer on any brother of Durmstrang that is chosen to compete. We have all been training hard for the chance to be a TriWizard champion, and we are all more than deserving of the title." He took her hand softly, rubbing his thumb over her soft knuckles, before leading them back out of the Great Hall and into the cool afternoon air.
It was a beautiful day out, the sun shining and birds singing loudly around them, but all Hermione could focus on was the weight of her hand in Viktor's. She had never held a boy's hand before, other than her fathers, and now she was walking hand in hand with Viktor Krum. What was happening to her!
In an attempt to distract herself, Hermione asked Viktor a question she had been thinking about since they were last together. "The other day, you called one of the other boys from Durmstrang, Alexander, your brother. And then today, you called them the brothers of Durmstrang. You can't be all brothers, can you?"
Viktor chuckled, "No, we are not brothers in the typical sense. But time spent together has made us as close as brothers. Durmstrang is not quite like other magical schools - we start much earlier than Hogwarts does and our school is much smaller. So, my brothers and I have spent many years together. We have learned magic together, of course, but we have also learned each other's strengths and weaknesses. We trust each other with our lives. With our loved ones." He snuck a quick glance at Hermione at that to gauge her reaction, but the witch was looking ahead, a quizitive look on her face. "Alexander is my closest brother. He was sitting next to me the other night - tall, skinny, and mischievous. He keeps me on my toes but also keeps me from taking life too seriously. Next is Petra, the mother goose. He takes care of us relentlessly - it annoyed us all at first, but now we have nothing but gratitude for his constant care. And finally there is Dimitri, who is quiet and the smartest of us all. I'm sure he is being privately tutored by all of the professors at Durmstrang just to keep him from becoming too bored." Hermione looked up at that, causing Viktor to laugh brightly. "Yes, witch, I am sure he could teach you a thing or two," he said, smiling. "In fact, you can meet them if you would like? They would love to meet the girl I have been talking incessantly about…"
Hermione blushed a bright shade of crimson at that, shocked by such an open show of interest. Does he really think I'm worth telling his brothers about? As if he could read her mind, Viktor said "Yes, Hermione, I think you are worth talking about. You are the brightest witch of your age, are you not? Quite remarkable, if you ask me." He raised his free hand then, brushing an errant curl out of her face and back behind her ear. Hermione shivered, and Viktor stopped, looking right at her.
"Hermione, I know we haven't known each other for long, but I want you to know I am interested in you. Interested in getting to know you, in spending time with you. I wish to become close to you, if you'll allow it. If you feel the same…"
"Viktor, I don't think I've ever met anyone who makes me feel as comfortable and confident as you do. Which sounds so crazy, I barely even know you!"
"We will take things slow, Hermione. As slow as you'd like. You say the words, Hermione, and I'll be gone. But I hope that you'll allow me to call you My Hermione for a long, long time." At that, he rose their connected hands to his lips, brushing his closed lips across her fingers. She shivered, gulped, and nodded wordlessly to the boy, absolutely mesmerized by him.
Finally they parted, although their hands stayed intertwined, and Viktor led them across the grounds down towards Hagrid's pumpkin patch. They found a bench a ways off and sat down closely, Viktors arm wrapping around Hermione's shoulders. "So, the Goblet is choosing its Champions tomorrow evening. My brothers and I are celebrating whomever is chosen, a little get together in our dormitory." The Durmstrang students were staying on a magical ship floating just off of the Boat House. She had only caught a glimpse of it and was, of course, curious. "I was wondering if you would care to join me? Meet my brothers, my friends, and celebrate the Durmstrang champion?"
The thought of being alone with Viktor and his friends made Hermione's stomach twist with nervousness, but she could see how eager Viktor was to introduce her. "Of course I'll join you, Viktor. I wouldn't miss it for the world." That sent Viktor grinning again, and he pulled her into his side, squeezing her shoulder gently.
"Sit with me at dinner, too? I'd like you there with me if my name gets pulled from the Goblet." Hermione nodded and gently rested her head on his shoulder - it was something she had read about in the romance novels she read as a girl, something the main characters always did with men they were comfortable with. It was a bit of an impulse decision, but the connection made her body relax in a totally new way. She sighed and looked out over the pumpkin patch, watching the crows hop from gourd to gourd.
