Hermione rounded the corner to put the last of her books back in it's place before Madam Pince shut the library for the night when she bumped into him, the boy from Durmstrang she'd gotten to know over the past few weeks while he studied at her table in the back corner of the library.
"Oh! Hello Viktor. That's a lovely rose, were you asking someone to the ball?" Hermione said, nodding at the red rose the boy held.
"Ah yes, err no, well yes, I vos waiting for her to turn up." The Bulgarian answered.
"Well maybe you'll find her tomorrow. There's only a few minutes until curfew now." Hermione said, setting her book on the shelf.
"I don't think I'll need to." Viktor replied. Hermione looked at him quizzically. Viktor took a deep breath before continuing.
"Her-my-knee, I know we have not known each other for long but you are the only girl who treats me as… me, rather than Viktor Krum the quidditch star. I am rambling now." Viktor sighed. "I'm not good with words so I'll just say it." Hermione felt her stomach doing cartwheels.
"I vould really like it if you vould go to ball with me." Viktor said, holding the rose forward.
"Yes!" Hermione answered, gingerly taking the rose from Viktor with one hand and replacing it with her other hand. "I would love to go with you Viktor."
Viktor looked at her with a nervous smile and let out a small laugh. Hermione's eyes flicked up and met his soft gaze.
"You've got a loose bit hair." Viktor's left hand came forward and tucked the strand behind her ear, but his hand lingered on the side of her neck. Hermione felt her heart flutter as the muscular boy leaned in closer, she unconsciously went up on her tiptoes. She felt his other hand detach from hers and meet her waist. Their lips touched for a second and Hermione felt a wave of tingling resonate through her body. Hermione opened her mouth to speak just as a bell rang at the front of the library and Madam Pince's voice called out.
"Curfew! Everyone back to your dormitories."
The hand at Hermione's waist slid round to the small of her back and Viktor whispered in her ear.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Hermione stole a second short kiss before replying.
"Goodnight Viktor."
"Goodnight Her-my-knee."
Viktor gave her a tight hug before leaving the library. Hermione stood for a second before racing back to Gryffindor tower, her heart still racing.
As soon as her dormmates saw the rose they set on Hermione.
"Did someone ask you to the ball?" Lavender squealed.
"Who was it?" Parvati asked.
Hermione grinned at her dormmates. "Yes, I've got a date." She replied to Lavender, "and you wouldn't believe me if I told you." She told Parvati. Hermione conjured a small vase and some water so she could put the rose on her bedside table. Smiling to herself while ignoring her roommates repeated questions about the identity of her date, Hermione grabbed her towel.
"I'm going for a shower before bed." She said, much to Parvati's protestations.
"But you've got to tell us." Parvati whined as Hermione closed the bathroom door behind her.
Hermione stood under the warm spray. She thought she was really going to enjoy the Yule Ball now. That was her last coherent thought for a while, as her hand slipped between her legs and she let out a soft moan.