Hermione didn't speak to Ron the following day but eventually found it more trouble than it was worth to avoid him. He consistently asked her who she was going to the ball with, but Hermione was taking great comfort in keeping him in the dark. In fact, the only people she did tell were Ginny and Sophie because she knew they could both keep a secret (and hoped one of them would offer to help her with her make-up and using the hair potion from Elena).
"I just can't believe it," Ginny said when she told her. "You're snogging an international celebrity whilst Ron just has a mini figure of him under his pillow. Bloody brilliant!"
"I can hardly believe it myself," Hermione agreed.
"What does he kiss like? Because it could probably go one of two ways: he is really messy and clumsy like a big oaf, or he's suave and smooth, like the wayhe flies."
Hermione thought on it a moment. "Can the answer be both?" she giggled.
"The answer can definitely be both," Ginny laughed. "I am so glad I will be there when Ron sees you with Viktor. It's going to be a life highlight."
"Are you excited to be going with Neville?" Hermione asked, not really wanting to think about how Ron would react.
"I am, actually," she replied. "I've always thought he was a sweet guy. I doubt we'll be snogging by the end of the night, but he actually grew a pair and asked me. Michael Corner, however, went the Harry and Ron route of things and was too scared to ask."
"Michael Corner? You like Michael Corner?"
Ginny shrugged. "He's pretty good-looking, and he's nice. And he has a nice butt. Not as nice as the Bulgarian Stallion, but good for Hogwarts' standards."
"The 'Bulgarian Stallion?' Is that what he is now?"
"Absolutely. Do you disagree?"
Hermione chuckled. "No, I guess I don't."
"That's more like it."
"Oh, I wanted to ask you," Ginny said. "Do you want to go with me to Hogsmeade today to get dress robes? My Mum didn't buy me any this summer since I'm only a third year, but now I need some."
"Yes!" Hermione said. "I was going to ask you the same; I like the dress robes your Mum got me, but now that I am going with the Bulgarian Stallion…" she let her voice trail off.
"You want to be lush."
"Yes, is that bad?"
"Absolutely not," Ginny said. "Frankly, I'm glad you are finally starting to realise how amazing you are."
"Thanks," Hermione said sincerely. "It's odd, but dating Viktor has made me feel better about myself."
"Well, yeah," Ginny said. "I'd feel pretty damn good about myself too if an international sensation dream boat like Viktor Krum picked me out of millions of other girls too."
"Fair point."
Hermione and Ginny spent an exhausting day in Hogsmeade battling the crowds of Hogwarts students rushing to get their own set of dress robes, but they each found the perfect dress robes. Hermione had never felt prettier than the moment she saw herself in the mirror at the shop . She spun around in front of Ginny, feeling more confident with her friend there to encourage her. The robes cost a bit more than she had intended to spend but, thankfully, some of the items she had planned on getting people for Christmas were on sale. Ginny's dress robes were also on sale, and she announced she just wasn't going to get any of her brothers any Christmas gifts.
"I'm going to have to ask Colin Creevey to take my picture to send to my mum and dad," Hermione said as the shopkeeper wrapped her and Ginny's robes. "They won't recognise me."
"You looked positively stunning," Ginny said. "Can I help you with your make-up tonight?"
"Yes!" Hermione answered. "And one of Viktor's friends, Elena, gave me some potion to try on my hair as well. I'll need your help with that."
"Sure, no problem!" Ginny said as they walked back to the Castle, their arms full of packages. "We should do a trial run tonight."
When they got back to the dormitories, they did just that. Hermione had no desire to deal with Parvati and Lavender in her own room, mainly because Parvati's sister, Padma, was going to the Ball with Ron. She didn't want to hear Parvati prattling on about her two best friends, especially since she was still upset with Ron. They were in Ginny's room, and Hermione sat with all the patience she could muster while her friend meticulously applied the potion to her hair.
"Bloody hell, it actually worked!" Ginny exclaimed after nearly two hours of working the potion into the roots and through to the ends.
"Really?" Hermione gasped, grabbing a hand mirror off of Ginny's bed. What she saw looking back from the mirror was mind-blowing. Her hair was perfectly straight! It looked silky and smooth and like everything she had ever hoped for her hair to be. Now there was nothing stopping her from being the Belle of the Yule Ball!
As Christmas grew near, the castle transformed into a winter wonderland. The snow falling thickly upon the grounds made it look like the tableau in a snow globe. The pale blue Beauxbatons carriage added to the aesthetic, as it resembled a large, chilly, frosted pumpkin next to the iced gingerbread house that was Hagrid's cabin. The Drumstrang ship's portholes were glazed with ice, the rigging white with frost.
Much to Hermione's chagrin, the House-Elves were hard at work and completely outdoing themselves with a series of rich, warming stews and savoury puddings. Only Fleur Delacour seemed to be able to find anything to complain about.
"It is too 'heavy, all zis 'Ogwarts food," they heard her saying grumpily as they left the Great Hall behind her one evening. "I will not fit into my dress robes!"
"Oh, there's a tragedy," said Hermione snappily as Fleur went out into the Entrance Hall. "She really thinks a lot of herself, that one, doesn't she?"
"Hermione, who are you going to the ball with?" said Ron.
For something like the fortieth time that day, Hermione said, "I'm not telling you. You'll just make fun of me."
"You're joking, Weasley?" said Malfoy from behind them. "You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?"
Hermione laughed to herself. When she walked in with Viktor, Draco's face was one of the ones she most wanted to see. She turned around and pretended to wave behind Malfoy's shoulder. "Hello, Professor Moody!"
Malfoy went pale and jumped backwards, looking wildly around for Moody, who was still up at the staff table, finishing his stew.
"Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?" said Hermione scathingly, feeling overly confident. She, Harry, and Ron went up the marble staircase laughing heartily.
"Hermione," said Ron, looking sideways at her and frowning. "Your teeth…"
"What about them?" she said, knowing where this was going.
"Well, they're different. I've just noticed."
"Of course they are - did you expect me to keep those fangs Malfoy gave me?"
"No, I mean, they're different to how they were before he put that hex on you. They're all straight and - and normal sized."
Hermione smiled very mischievously. "Well, when I went up to Madam Pomfrey to get them shrunk, she held up a mirror and told me to stop when they were back to how they normally were," she said. "And I just… let her carry on a bit. Mum and Dad won't be too pleased. I've been trying to persuade them to let me shrink them for ages, but they wanted me to carry on with my braces. You know, they're dentists. They just don't think teeth and magic should - Look! Pigwidgeon's back!"
Ron's tiny owl was twittering madly on the top of the icicle-laden bannisters, a scroll of parchment tied to his leg. People passing him were pointing and laughing, and a group of third-year girls paused and said, "Oh, look at the weeny owl! Isn't he cute?"
"Stupid little feathery git!" Ron hissed, hurrying up the stairs and snatching Pigwidgeon up. "You bring letters straight to the addressee! You don't hang around showing off!"
Pigwidgeon hooted happily, his head protruding over Ron's fist. The third-year girls all looked very shocked.
"Clear off!" Ron snapped at them, waving the fist holding Pigwidgeon, who hooted more happily than ever as he soared through the air. "Here – take it, Harry," Ron added in an undertone as the third-year girls scuttled away looking scandalised. He pulled Sirius' reply off Pigwidgeon's leg, Harry pocketed it, and they hurried back to Gryffindor Tower to read it.
Everyone in the Common Room was much too busy letting off more holiday steam to observe what anyone else was up to. Hermione, Ron, and Harry sat apart from everyone else by a dark window that was gradually filling up with snow, and Harry read out:
Dear Harry,
Congratulations on getting past the Horntail. Whoever put your name in that Goblet shouldn't be feeling too happy right now! I was going to suggest a Conjunctivitis curse, as a dragon's eyes are its weakest point –
"That's what Krum did!" Hermione whispered.
– but your way was better. I'm impressed.
Don't get complacent, though, Harry. You've only done one task; whoever put you in for the Tournament's got plenty more opportunity if they're trying to hurt you. Keep your eyes open – particularly when the person we discussed is around – and concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble.
Keep in touch. I still want to hear about anything unusual.
Sirius
"He sounds exactly like Moody," said Harry quietly, tucking the letter away again inside his robes, "'Constant vigilance!' You'd think I walk around with my eyes shut, banging off the walls."
"But he's right, Harry," said Hermione, stating the obvious, like she so often had to do with Harry and Ron. "You have still got two tasks to do. You really ought to have a look at that egg, you know, and start working out what it means."
"Hermione, he's got ages!" snapped Ron. "Want a game of chess, Harry?"
"Yeah, okay," said Harry. Then, he looked back to Hermione and said, "Come on, how'm I supposed to concentrate with all this noise going on? I won't even be able to hear the egg over this lot."
"Oh, I suppose not," she sighed and sat down to watch their game. There was no arguing with someone that stubborn.
Hermione awoke on Christmas morning with butterflies in her stomach. Tonight was the big night, and she was getting nervous already. She crawled out of bed and assessed the small pile of presents at the bottom of her bed. She gathered them up and headed down to Ginny's room, again doing her best to ignore Parvati and Lavender as they gushed about the ball.
Parvati had taken to talking about being Harry's date very loudly and pointedly whenever Hermione was in the room, boasting about being with a Champion. It took every fibre of Hermione's will not to tell Parvati that she wasn't special because she was going with a Champion too.
Once in Ginny's room, they started opening their presents. Ginny had gotten her a beautiful vintage compact that she could keep in her purse later that evening. Hermione had bought her the relatively expensive pair of shoes Ginny had been eying up when they went dress robe shopping at Hogsmeade. Ron had given her a new jar of ink, and Harry had gotten her a book about the history and hierarchy of the Ministry of Magic. Her parents had bought her a beautiful necklace and earring set that would go beautifully with her dress robes.
Hermione and Ginny met up with Harry and Ron in the Common Room, and they went down to breakfast together. They spent most of the morning in Gryffindor Tower, where everyone enjoyed their presents, then returned to the Great Hall for a magnificent lunch, including at least a hundred turkeys and Christmas puddings, and enormous piles of Cribbages Wizarding Crackers.
They went out into the grounds in the afternoon; the snow was untouched except for the deep channels made by the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students on their way up to the castle. Hermione chose to watch Harry and the Weasleys' snowball fight rather than join in, and at five o'clock, she said she was going back upstairs to get ready for the ball.
"What, you need three hours?" said Ron, looking at her incredulously and paying for his lapse in concentration when a giant snowball, thrown by George, hit him hard on the side of the head. "Who're you going with?" he yelled after Hermione, but she just waved and disappeared up the stone steps into the castle.
When she crawled through the portrait hole, Colin Creevey, his brother, Dennis, and Jillian were in the Common was a lucky coincidence since she had planned on seeking Colin out to ask if he could snap a few pictures of her to send to her mum and dad.
"Happy Christmas!" Hermione greeted them.
"Happy Christmas!" they each said in return.
"Alright, yeah?" said Hermione.
"Yeah!" Jillian said. "Look at what my Mum and Dad sent me for Christmas!" Jillian held out a giant pack of stickers shaped like her cochlear implants. "They're 'skins' for my implants so I can accessorise. See? They got Gryffindor colours!"
"That's so cool!" Hermione said. "I had no idea they made things like that!"
"Me neither," smiled Jillian. "Too bad I'm not going to the Yule Ball, or else I could match my dress robes. You're going, though, right?"
"I am, and that's something I wanted to talk to Colin about, actually," Hermione said. "Would you mind taking some pictures of me and my date when we're ready to go to the Yule Ball so I can send them home to my parents?"
"Of course!" Colin said, grinning from ear to ear. "Who are you going with?"
"It's a surprise," Hermione smiled and winked. "And if you could maybe get a few pictures as we walk into the Great Hall of all of the people in there, that'd be brilliant too." Hopefully, Colin would capture a picture of Ron, Draco, or Parvati's faces as she walked in.
Hermione made her way up to her room and grabbed all of her things. She headed down the corridor to Ginny's room to get ready. They planned to start with her hair since it'd take two hours and then get ready after that. As Ginny applied the potion, Hermione started to get butterflies in her stomach and could feel a small bubble of anxiety growing in her chest. What if everyone laughed at her? Would she mind being the centre of attention? Would Viktor think she was beautiful? What would Ron do? What if she tripped when she and Viktor danced?
Hermione tried to calm her nerves by talking about anything but what she was worried about. She and Ginny discussed Quidditch, Transfiguration class, the idiocy of Divination, and what it was like growing up as a muggle and witch, respectively.
Even with their small talk, Hermione couldn't get rid of her nerves. No matter what they talked about, she couldn't shake the ball of anxiety growing in her chest. Hermione nearly jumped a metre in the air when a sudden knock on the door startled them. No one had asked Ginny's roommates to the Yule Ball and they had all returned home for the holiday, leading the two girls to believe they wouldn't be disturbed.
"Come in," Ginny said, frowning.. The door opened, and to their surprise, Jillian came sauntering in. She looked at their dress robes hung up on Ginny's four-poster bed.
"Those look gorgeous!" Jillian said.
"Thank you."
"You both are going to have such a great time. I'm so jealous that you guys get to go. It's going to be so much fun."
"Tell Hermione that," Ginny said. "She's working herself up so much I doubt she'll have the nerve to go when it's finally time."
"Why are you so nervous?" Jillian asked.
"I'm just not used to being the centre of attention, and I think I am going to be because of who I am going with."
"You're going with Viktor Krum, aren't you?" Jillian said with a smile.
"How did you know?!"
"I'm deaf, not blind," Jillian laughed. "I saw you two in the Library a few times."
"Oh," Hermione said, blushing deeply.
"Hey, if I can walk into Snape's Potions Class and tell him to stop mumbling like some depressed emo tosser so I can hear him, you can walk into that Great Hall looking like a stunner and feeling like a million pounds."
Leave it to Jillian to put things into perspective.
Finally, about half an hour after Jillian went to find Colin and Dennis again, the potion had finished working its magic. Ginny helped Hermione tie it into an elegant knot at the back of her head. It was something right out of a magazine. Hermione had to fight herself from putting her hand up to feel it every few minutes.
The pair helped each other with their make-up (Ginny mostly helped Hermione), and then they each got dressed.
"Ginny, you look stunning," Hermione said.
"Ditto," Ginny said with a grin. "My brother is going to feel a right bellend when he finally gets a good look at you."
Hermione blushed. Was it wrong that she hoped he would? That deep down, she wanted Ron to be jealous? She knew that wasn't fair to Viktor, who was a wonderfully caring and passionate man. However, Hermione knew nothing would come of the relationship other than some fun until the tournament ended, and Viktor returned to Bulgaria.
It was Ron who she really wanted.
Nonetheless, Viktor was the one taking her to the Yule Ball tonight, and Viktor was the one she was going to have a magical night with, Ron be damned.
Because Hermione was nervousabout having people see her and who she was going to the ball with, she and Viktor had arranged to meet in the Library and make their way from there. Ginny had agreed to scout out the Common Room to ensure no one was there before Hermione could sneak down to the Library. Colin, Jillian, and Dennis were to meet them in the Library for some pictures and then follow them as they made their way to the Great Hall (and to hopefully get a few pictures of people's reactions).
When the coast was clear, Hermione scurried down the steps, past Ginny, and through the portrait hole.
"Who are you?" asked the Fat Lady shrilly. "I don't remember admitting you to the Gryffindor Tower.
"It's me, Hermione Granger."
"Oh, my, don't you look beautiful! Bravo, my dear!"
"Thank you!"
"Enjoy the Yule Ball!" called the Fat Lady as Hermione scurried down the corridor.
Thankfully, everyone in the castle must have been still getting ready because Hermione made it to the Library without seeing another soul.
"Wow!" A bright flash blinded her as she stepped into the library. "You look great!"
"Thanks, Colin," Hermione said.
"Viktor's back there," Jillian said, nodding her head toward Hermione's alcove with a huge smile.
As soon as Hermione stepped in that direction, Colin stepped in front of her. "Hold on, let me get there first so I can take your reaction."
Hermione walked behind Colin, and wondered what he could have meant. She could see a dim, flickering light emanating from her alcove. As she turned the corner, she briefly saw a few candles and Viktor standing there with flowers before Colin's flash temporarily blinded her.
As her sight returned, Viktor stood before her in deep maroon dress robes with a leather belt, a matching fur-lined cape attached to a cross-body leather strap, and a black leather belt with the Durmstrang crest on the belt buckle. His pants were dark brown, and he had black leather boots. He looked positively dashing.
"My smartest girl," Viktor gasped. "You are more beautiful than ever."
"Thank you," Hermione said, a shy smile spreading on her face.
"Get together for a picture!" Colin shouted, more excited than even Hermione was.
Hermione stood at Viktor's side, her delicate floaty, periwinkle-blue dress complimenting perfectly with his red dress robes. Colin snapped what seemed like a million photos as Hermione's mouth twitched from smiling so broadly. Halfway through, Viktor turned and looked her in the eyes. "I very happy I had courage to talk to you. I vos nervous. Very much nervous. I come and come and come but too scared. Then I get courage, and now ve are together." Hermione's heart melted a tiny bit. The international Quidditch star had been nervous to talk to her? She let that sink in.
Eventually, Viktor pulled out a beautiful bronze pocket watch and checked the time. "Ve must go for Champion Entrance now," Viktor said and kissed Hermione's nose softly. "No one will care about Champions with Hogvarts smartest girl in room."
"Can you do me a favour?" Hermione asked softly so Colin and the others wouldn't hear her. "Can you call me by my real name tonight?" She had realised that if it seemed like Viktor didn't know her name, people might not believe they had an actual relationship and weren't just some random pairing at the last minute.
"Of course, Hermy-own. Vatever my smartest girl vants."
"Her-my-oh-nee," she corrected.
"Yes, sorry. We must go now."
Hermione slipped her arm in his, and the whole group of them walked out of the library and into the corridor. The hallways got increasingly crowded as they made their way to the rendezvous point for the Durmstrang students, though no one paid Hermione any notice. She couldn't tell if she was happy or disappointed about that.
Viktor veered off to the side and towards one of the side doors to the outside grounds. Hermione looked up at him with confusion.
"Ve must enter from outside with rest of Durmstrang," he explained as he wrapped his arms around her bare shoulders to keep her warm.
Hermine spotted a sea of red dress robes up ahead in a grotto full of fairy lights as the Durmstrang delegation came into view. Hermione waved to Petar and Elena. Petar (and the rest of the Durmstrang male students) was dressed exactly like Viktor. Elena (and the rest of the Durmstrang female students) had a more feminine maroon set of dress robes with fur trim and a cinched black leather belt.
Elena motioned to Hermione's hair with the universal sign for "looks great:" a thumbs up. Hermione mouthed, "Thank you!" and gave her a return thumbs up.
"Viktor! Ela tuk!" the Headmaster of Durmstrang shouted. "Ti si pŭrvi."
Viktor and Hermione moved towards the front of the line, just as the students from Beauxbatons walked towards the front steps from their chilled pumpkin of a carriage. Like the Durmstrang Students, all of the Beauxbaton students wore similar dress robes. They were all a shade of silver-grey satin but each student had an accent colour somewhere on their outfit. Fleur Delacour passed, nodding to her fellow Champion, Viktor. Hermione recognised her date as the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, Roger Davies.
As soon as the front doors to the Entrance Hall opened, Hermione stood on her tiptoes to look inside. It was packed with students, all milling around, waiting for eight o'clock when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those people who were meeting partners from different houses were edging through the crowd, trying to find each other.
The Durmstrang students fell in line behind the Beauxbaton delegation, with Hermione and Viktor in the lead after Karkaroff. Hermione took a deep breath and peered once again into the Entrance Hall as they waited for their turn to enter.
She could see a group of Slytherins coming up the steps from their dungeon Common Room. Malfoy was in front; he was wearing dress robes of black velvet with a high collar, which made him look like a vicar in Hermione's opinion. Pansy Parkinson was clutching Malfoy's arm, in very frilly robes of pale pink. Crabbe and Goyle were both wearing green; they resembled moss-coloured boulders.
As they stepped into the Hall with more grandeur than Hermione had ever experienced in her life, she spotted some very familiar faces. Harry, Ron, Parvati, Padma, Ginny, Neville, and a few other Gryffindors were watching the parade of Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students come in. All her friends' eyes passed right over her (except for Ginny who gave her a huge wink) as she walked by as if they didn't recognise her.
Before Hermione could figure out how that made her feel, Professor McGonagall's voice called, "Champions over here, please!"
Harry, looking dapper in his plain yet elegant dress robes, followed Parvati as she pushed her way to Professor McGonagall. Hermione had to admit she looked beautiful as well. Her robes were a shocking pink, highlighting her long dark plait braided with gold. Her wrists were filled with glimmering gold bracelets and bangles.
Professor McGonagall, wearing dress robes of red tartan, and had arranged a wreath of thistles around the brim of her hat, told them to wait on one side of the doors while everyone else went inside. They were to enter the Great Hall in procession when the rest of the students had sat down. Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies stationed themselves nearest the doors; Davies looked so stunned by his good fortune in having Fleur for a partner that he could hardly take his eyes off her.
Next came Cedric Digory and his date, Cho Chang (the girl Harry fancied). Hermione watched Harry stare wistfully at the Ravenclaw Seeker, who didn't even look his way. Harry, dejected, started to let his eyes wander again.
Hermione held her breath as his eyes fell on Krum and then on her.
His eyes opened wide, and his jaw literally dropped. If it hadn't been attached, it would be on the entrance hall floor. A flash to Hermione's right signalled Colin had thankfully captured the moment. The thrill of the moment made Hermione momentarily giddy with glee.
"Hi, Harry!" she said. "Hi, Parvati!"
Parvati did a double take. She looked at Hermione in unflattering disbelief, much to Hermione's amusement. She wasn't the only one; when the doors to the Great Hall opened, Krum's fan club from the library stalked past, throwing Hermione looks of most profound loathing. Pansy Parkinson gaped at her as she walked by with Malfoy, and even he didn't seem to be able to find an insult to throw at her. Ron, however, walked right past Hermione without looking at her.
Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and follow her. They did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they entered and started walking up towards a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting.
The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The house tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people.
Hermione glided into the Great Hall with her head held high and her hand resting on Viktor's arm. Her eyes searched the crowds until they landed on Ron and Padma. Ginny was standing next to him and was fully watching his reaction instead of the parade of champions. Hermione saw Ron's eyes bulge, and a gasp escaped his mouth. His eyes then narrowed quickly, and he glared as she passed. Padma just looked sulky. Hermione could barely contain how amazing his jealousy made her feel.
Dumbledore smiled happily as the champions approached the top table, but Karkaroff wore an expression remarkably like Ron's as he watched Krum and Hermione draw nearer. Like most other people, he mustn't've noticed Hermione in the grotto or hallway. Ludo Bagman, tonight in robes of bright purple with prominent yellow stars, was clapping as enthusiastically as any of the students; and Madame Maxime, who had changed her usual uniform of black satin for a flowing gown of lavender silk, was applauding them politely. But Mr Crouch was not there. Percy Weasley occupied the fifth seat at the table.
Hermione could feel every single pair of eyes in the Great Hall on her as she took her seat next to Viktor. Her self-confidence was fading with every passing moment. She looked down at the table for help from Harry, but he was too busy talking to Percy. Parvati was equally as busy waving to people in the crowd.
"Vat is the matter, my smartest girl?" Viktor whispered to her.
"I just got really nervous," she admitted. "Sorry."
"No vorrying," he said sweetly. "Let us talk about nothing. No thinking, yes? Your castle is impressive. Vell, ve have a castle also, not as big as this, nor as comfortable, I am thinking. Ve have just four floors, and the fires are lit only for magical purposes. But ve have grounds larger even than these – though, in vinter, ve have very little daylight, so ve are not enjoying them. But in summer ve are flying every day, over the lakes and the mountains –"
"Now, now, Viktor!" said Karkaroff, with a laugh that didn't reach his cold eyes. "Don't go giving away anything else, now, or your charming friend will know exactly where to find us!"
Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Igor, all this secrecy; one would almost think you didn't want visitors."
"Well, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, "we are all protective of our private domains, are we not? Do we not jealously guard the halls of learning that have been entrusted to us? Are we not right to be proud that we alone know our school's secrets, and right to protect them?"
"Oh, I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor," said Dumbledore amicably. "Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turning on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamberpots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished. But I must keep an eye out for it. Possibly it is only accessible at five thirty in the morning. Or it may only appear at the quarter moon – or when the seeker has an exceptionally full bladder."
Meanwhile, Fleur Delacour was criticising the Hogwarts decorations to Roger Davies.
"Zis is nothing," she said dismissively, looking around at the sparkling walls of the Great Hall. "At ze Palace of Beauxbatons, we 'ave ice sculptures all around ze Dining Chamber at Chreestmas. Zey do not melt, of course ... zey are like 'uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. And ze food is seemply superb. And we 'ave choirs of wood-nymphs, 'oo serenade us as we eat. We 'ave none of zis ugly armour in ze 'alls, and eef a poltergeist ever entaired into Beauxbatons, 'e would be expelled like zat." She slapped her hand onto the table impatiently.
Roger Davies was watching her talk with a very dazed look on his face, and he kept missing his mouth with his fork. Hermione had the impression that Davies was too busy staring at Fleur to take in a word she was saying.
"Absolutely right," he said quickly, slapping his own hand down on the table in imitation of Fleur. "Like that. Yeah."
"Hermy-own?" Viktor said, snapping Hermione's attention back to him. She felt as though she couldn't focus on anything.
"Her – my – oh – nee," she said, slowly and clearly.
"Herm – own – ninny."
"Close enough," she said, catching Harry's eye and grinning.
"Good. Let us order, yes?"
On the glittering golden plates in front of them was a small menu. Hermione didn't want to think about the complications this would create for the poor House-Elves downstairs, and tried to push it from her mind. Hermione and Viktor took their cues from the others and spoke their meal choices into their dishes. Within moments, their selected foods appeared.
"Very impressive," Viktor said, getting ready to tuck in. "Not like smartest girl, Herm-own-ninny."
When all the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same. Then, at a wave of his wand, the tables zoomed back along the walls, leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right-hand wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello and some bagpipes were set upon it.
The Weird Sisters now trooped up onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause; they were all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn. Viktor looked at her with a face of pure joy.
"Ve dance!"
Viktor grabbed Hermione's hand and led her out to the middle of the dance floor. Hermione could feel her self-confidence wavering, but it stopped with a brief thought of Jillian's advice. She could do this.
As The Weird Sisters struck up a slow, mournful tune, Viktor softly took one of Hermione's hands in his and placed the other on her waist. She could feel the heat from his hand radiating through her body. They glided over the dance floor like they were born to dance together. With every beat of the song and every step in time, Hermione's confidence grew and grew. She imagined herself as her favourite Disney character, Belle, dancing with her handsome Beast across the dance floor.
It was a truly magical moment.
Soon the rest of the students and staff joined them on the dance floor so that the champions were no longer the centre of attention. Neville and Ginny were dancing nearby – she could see Ginny frequently wincing as Neville trod on her feet – and Dumbledore was waltzing with Madame Maxime. She so dwarfed him that the top of his pointed hat barely tickled her chin; however, she moved very gracefully for a woman so large. Mad-Eye Moody was doing an extremely ungainly two-step with Professor Sinistra, who was nervously avoiding his wooden leg.
The song ended to monstrous applause. Caught in the moment, Hermione leaned upwards and gave Viktor a sweet but quick kiss. Viktor responded with a silly grin that made him look years younger. "I could dance vith you all night," he said just as a faster song started.
"That's the plan!" she laughed as she started to dance again, leaving all her anxiety and fear behind. She danced like she was the most carefree Witch in the whole world, with the most carefree Wizard matching her move for more. Hermione had no idea if the way they were dancing to the song was the "right" way; she just let her body move in whatever way the music made her move. Viktor looked as though he was doing the same, and both of them were having the time of their lives.
A few songs later, Hermione nearly collapsed in Viktor's arms in a fit of giggles. "I think I need a break," she laughed. "I'm out of breath!"
"Me too," Viktor giggled. Hermione loved its sound- it was juvenile, quaint, and in no way matched the handsome man it came from. "I get us drink, yes?"
"Yes, please!" she said. "I'll meet you over there. I just want to say hi to my friends." Hermione pointed towards the table where Ron and Harry were sitting and sulking. She figured it was time to get it over with.
"I be back soon, Herm-own-ninny," Viktor said, kissing her hand as it slipped from his.
Hermione walked over and sat down in the empty chair next to her best friends.
"Hi," said Harry. Ron didn't say anything.
"It's hot, isn't it?" said Hermione, fanning herself with her hand. She was trying her best to be normal. "Viktor's just gone to get some drinks."
Ron gave her a withering look. "Viktor?!" he said. "Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?"
Hermione looked back at him in mock surprise. Here it came.
"What's up with you?" she asked, goading him.
"If you don't know, I'm not going to tell you."
Hermione stared at him, then at Harry, who shrugged. "Ron, what-?"
"He's from Durmstrang!" spat Ron. "He's competing against Harry! Against Hogwarts! You - You're -" Ron searched for words, "fraternising with the enemy, that's what you're doing!"
Hermione gasped. She had anticipated Ron would be jealous, but not this. "Don't be so stupid! The enemy?! Honestly! Who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who's got a model of him up in their dormitory?!"
"I s'pose he asked you to come with him while you were both in the library?"
"Yes, he did," said Hermione. She could feel her face flush with anger. "So what?"
"What happened - trying to get him to join spew, were you?"
"No, I wasn't! If you really want to know, he - he said he'd been coming up to the library every day to try and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up the courage!"
"Yeah, well - that's his story," said Ron nastily.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Obvious, isn't it? He's Karkaroff's student, isn't he? He knows who you hang around with. He's just trying to get closer to Harry – get inside information on him – or get near enough to jinx him –"
Hermione felt as though Ron had slapped her. When she spoke, her voice quivered. "For your information, he hasn't asked me one single thing about Harry, not one –"
Ron changed tack at the speed of light. "Then he's hoping you'll help him find out what his egg means! I suppose you've been putting your heads together during those cosy little library sessions –"
"I'd never help him work out that egg,"' said Hermione, positively outraged. "Never. How could you say something like that – I want Harry to win the Tournament. Harry knows that, don't you, Harry?"
"You've got a funny way of showing it," sneered Ron.
"This whole Tournament's supposed to be about getting to know foreign wizards and making friends with them!" said Hermione shrilly.
"No, it isn't!" shouted Ron. "It's about winning!"
People were starting to stare at them.
"Ron," said Harry quietly, "I haven't got a problem with Hermione coming with Krum."
But Ron ignored Harry too.
"Why don't you go and find Vicky? He'll be wondering where you are," said Ron.
"Don't call him Vicky!" Hermione jumped to her feet and stormed across the dance floor, disappearing into the crowd.
Hot tears stung her eyes as she blindly hurried through the dancing Witches and Wizards. She had no idea where she was going except that it was away from Ron. How could he think that about her? How could he believe she would put anyone or anything above Harry's safety?
"Hey! Stop! Are you ok?" A hand grabbed Hermione's arm. It was Sophie.
"No," Hermione said, trying to keep herself from completely losing it.
"What happened?"
"Ron," was all she could choke out.
"Come with me," Sophie said, leading Hermione out of the Great Hall and into the outside rose garden. While much less crowded than the Great Hall, the rose garden was full of snogging couples on odd benches. Sophie took Hermione round the corner and off to the side. There was a couple making out on a bench right where they were headed.
"Oy!" Sophie yelled. "Get outta here!"
The couple broke apart, and to Hermione's surprise, it was Ginny and Michael Corner. "Hermione!" Ginny said, surprised. "What are you doing out here? What's wrong?"
"Where's Neville?" Hermione snarled, ready to completely write off the whole Weasley family for being ignorant gits.
"He's dancing with Loony Lovegood," Ginny said, furrowing her brows. "What's wrong?"
"Your brother," Sophie answered simply.
"Michael, will you please excuse us?" Ginny said, and Michael walked back towards the Great Hall without a word. As soon as he was out of earshot, Ginny turned back to Hermione. "Now tell me what happened, and also, why is she here?" She pointed at Sophie.
"Sophie is my friend," Hermione said simply.
"Ok," Ginny said, confused yet accepting without question. "And what happened? What did Ron do?"
Hermione briefly told Sophie and Ginny about the exchange she had with Ron.
"He's a bloody arse," Ginny said.
"You said it," Sophie agreed.
"I knew he would be jealous but not malicious," Ginny continued. "That's low, even for him."
"What did Viktor do?" Sophie asked.
"Yeah, wait," Ginny said. "My brother is still alive, though, right? Viktor didn't kill him with his bare hands, did he?"
"No, no. Viktor was off getting us something to drink," Hermione said. "Oh no! He's probably looking everywhere for me! I've just ruined every-"
"Stop," Sophie said. "Breathe. Viktor is a big boy. He can be by himself for a few minutes until you calm down."
Hermione did as she was told, and after a few deep breaths standing between her friends, she was able to calm down.
"Right," Sophie said. "Now you know what you've got to do now that you're a bit more level-headed, right?"
"No, what?"
"Make him as upset as you were," Sophie said with a grin. "I want you to march right in there, grab Viktor, and snog until you can't snog anymore."
"We'll see," Hermione said. Somehow, the idea of kissing Viktor to make Ron jealous wasn't as appealing as Sophie seemed to think it was. Nonetheless, now that she had calmed down, Hermione was hell-bent on having a good time for the rest of the ball. "Shall we all go back in?"
The three girls walked back towards the Great Hall, passing couples left and right.
"So, you and Michael?" Hermione asked Ginny.
"Just friends," Ginny shrugged.
"Didn't look like that," Hermione laughed.
"With benefits?" Ginny grinned. "Just wanted to have a little fun. Besides, Neville has it bad for Luna, so I wanted to let him have some time with her."
"How kind of you," Hermione chuckled.
"It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it," Ginny grinned.
"Weasley, Granger, this is where I leave you," Sophie said as they neared the door. "Gotta find my place back amongst the snakes."
"Thank you," Hermione said.
"Any time, Granger."
Sophie walked inside as Hermione and Ginny stayed behind for a few moments to keep up appearances.
"So, since when are you friends with a Slytherin?" Ginny asked as soon as she could without being overheard.
"She's in my Arithmancy class," Hermione explained. "We started studying together last year and became friends, but we've decided to keep it under wraps for the most part."
"Is she as nice as she is hot?" Ginny asked with an impish grin.
"Yeah, definitely not your standard Slytherin," Hermione said, smiling at her friend. "Probably should have been in Ravenclaw, if you ask me, but I think she comes from a long line of Slytherins."
After a few moments, they went inside, passing Hagrid and Madame Maxime as they walked towards the rose garden. Hermione waved at Hagrid as they passed, who winked at her in reply.
Ginny gave Hermione's hand a squeeze and pointed towards Viktor, who was standing at the edge of the dance floor holding two Butterbeers and looking lost. Ginny went off in the other direction to find Michael, and Hermione crossed to Viktor.
"Dere you are," Viktor said with a big smile. "I lost you."
"Sorry, I needed some air," she said, taking one of the Butterbeers from him. Viktor looked at her with confusion. She realised he didn't understand the idiom. "I needed to go outside to cool off," she explained.
"Ah, yes. Dancing is vork out," he said, slipping his arm around her. "But fun, yes?"
"Oh yes," Hermione said with a smile. "Very fun."
"Good," Viktor said, giving her a soft kiss. "Ve dance more after break." She allowed herself to melt into his arm and watch the rest of the students dance while she sipped her Butterbeer contentedly. Both she and Viktor laughed as Bem, a fellow Gryffindor from her Divination class last year, did the worm across the dance floor. He was always hamming it up.
Hermione drained the last of her Butterbeer and looked at Viktor. "Ready?"
"Ready," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her back onto the dance floor.
The Weird Sisters' next set was the best of the night! It was a perfect mixture of fast and slow songs that allowed everyone to stay out on the dance floor the whole time. During each of the slower songs, Hermione would just concentrate on Viktor's hand on her waist. During one of the last slow songs, she rested her head on his chest, allowing herself to get lost in the moment. Aside from her initial worrying, and the incident with Ron, the Yule Ball had been wonderful, and this was a stunning end to the night.
When the Weird Sisters finished playing at midnight, everyone gave them a last, loud round of applause and started to wend their way into the Entrance Hall. However, Viktor didn't let Hermione go, and the couple stayed on the dance floor, swaying together until most of the crowd dissipated.
"Thank you, smartest girl, for perfect night," Viktor said.
"No, thank you," Hermione said. "It was lovely."
"May I valk you out?" Viktor asked.
"Of course."
"And I see you at Library tomorrow?"
"Of course."
"Good," Viktor smiled and took her arm as they walked into the entrance hall. Hermione saw Ron and Harry from the corner of her eye but focused instead on saying goodbye to Viktor. They made plans to meet the following day and gave each other a soft kiss before parting ways. Viktor headed for the door, and Hermione made her way up the giant marble stairs. She looked directly at Ron as she passed and gave him what she hoped was the coldest look he had ever experienced.
She continued up the stairs, down the corridors, and down the other staircase to the Gryffindor Common Room. Hermione didn't dare look behind her to see if Ron and Harry were following her. All she wanted now was to get out of her dress and go to bed. She climbed through the portrait hole (made more difficult by her flowing dress robes) and headed towards the Girl's Dormitory steps.
"Oy, 'Mione," Ron called across the room.
Hermione stopped on the spot, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath before turning around. She crossed her arms defensively in front of her chest. "What, Ronald?"
Ron was standing about ten feet from her, rigid in anger. "I'm not done talking about Viktor's intentions with you."
"Thankfully, Viktor's intentions with me are none of your business."
"They are most definitely my business," Ron shouted. "It's my best friend's life at stake here."
"Harry is my friend too!" Hermione yelled back.
"Then bloody act like it and stop fraternising with the enemy! The nerve of you! Going to the Yule Ball with Vicky Bloody Krum!"
"Well, if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't you?" screamed Hermione. She was done with holding back.
"Oh yeah?" Ron yelled back. "What's that?"
"Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!"
Hermione turned on her heel and stormed up the girls' staircase to cry alone in her bed.