Chapter 7

"Hermione, it's him!"

The girl in question lifted her eyes from a book and gave the boy a blank look.

"What?"

"Viktor Krum. There. With other Dumstrang students." Ron was whispering furiously and pointing in the direction of the owlery.

'Great. Just great. I spent all morning hanging around the castle looking for him to speak to alone and he has to show up now as I am with Ron and he is with his friends.' Hermione could hardly believe it. Whenever she wanted him to be somewhere else he was always right next to her and when she needed to talk to him he was naturally nowhere to be found. She was still angry at herself from the morning. As always doing the right thing felt like flu- lots of coughing into a wrist, reds cheeks as if from a fever and a headache that didn't let you think or talk coherently. Wasn't she lucky?

Hermione turned her attention to Ron feeling as irritation was rising within her even more. Did her friend have to stare at Krum as if his life depends on it? All that guy did was pay Quidditch! Quidditch! What was so great about that?

Sometimes she thought that having Krum around Ron was worse than Fleur. At least seeing Ron drool over female veela was much less disturbing than watch him drool over a broody bloke. Hermione's imagination did its job and in her head she had a picture of Ron with much longer hair, a skirt and Bulgarian scarf around his hips not forgetting a dreamy expression on his face. They would make a lovely couple.

Hermione's lip twitched as she looked at Krum. What the moody Bulgarian would say about this idea? What would Ron say if she would voice it out? They both would most likely kill her. On spot. Well, at least than she wouldn't have to go to the Ball. Her facial expression turned serious again. She had to talk to Krum. The question was how? He always seemed to be with other Dumstrang students and like on purpose Ron and Harry were tagging along with her everywhere. Even the library. Unbelievable, but true. Her eyes fixed on Krum again. It was not fair to him that she hasn't told him yet. He had the right to know and she was going to tell him as soon as the chance comes. Maybe tomorrow? If she was not mistaken he had Potions right after them and if she was lucky enough she was going to see him and could manage to ask him to meet her after classes.

'Maybe he will come to the library this evening?'

Hermione wanted to get over it as soon as possible.

'Hermione, Ron?'

The girl jumped slightly as the calm voice disturbed her thoughts.

"Harry, you should not sneak on people like this."

"Bloody hell mate; make some noise when you walk." Ron jumped a little also as his staring at Krum was interrupted by his best friend.

The dark haired wizard grinned at the two.

"I have been standing here for the last three minutes waiting till you guys notice me and..."

"He looked our way!" Ron just couldn't get his head out of the Quidditch heaven, which representative was making his way down from the owlery.

Hermione closed the book she was holding with a loud thud and sighted with irritation. Harry looked at her questioningly.

"There are only two people that can make Ron drool like that and Fleur is not around."

"I see. Krum?"

"I don't drool!" the red head finally snapped out of his daze as Harry elbowed him slightly in the ribs.

Hermione just rolled her eyes and put the book in her bag. Harry snickered a little looking at Ron.

"Oh, shat up you two. Let's go finally, I need to send that letter to mum before she will send me a Howler for not writing to her."

"That's because you write once a year, Ron. Twice if you count Christmas card as a letter." Harry couldn't help but point out the sore truth to his friend.

"I hate writing letters. What is wrong with that?"

Hermione didn't even bother to answer that and kept struggling with her bag that was full of books now and was very heavy. Harry just shrugged as long as Ron wrote frequently over the summer holidays to him (He had a nagging feeling that Hermione made sure of that somehow. Was sending Ron Howlers as a reminder maybe?) He wasn't concerned. He glanced at Hermione. 'Sweet Merlin. What she got there? Half of the library?'

"Hermione, give me that before you'll fell over." Harry not waiting for an answer took his friends book bag and hardly kept his balance.

"Thanks, Harry. I don't know what I put there that it is so heavy."

"Really?"

Getting a good grip on the bag Harry peaked inside. His guess about half of the Hogwarts library was close. Inside was Hermione's resent 'light' reading. She must have picked it up from Madam Pince on her way here. He considered levitating the bag, but decided against it. If the bag was to fall down and books get damaged it would mean a heart attack for Hermione, but before that she would hex him. Something he wasn't looking forward to.

"No offence, but your light reading is getting heavier every year. Ever considered putting it on a diet?" He slung the bag over his shoulder and got a playful smack on a shoulder from Hermione. She was smiling at the joke while Ron was doubling over from laughter. "Ok, you two lets go. The letters will not send themselves away."

"They should." Ron liked the idea of letters that would seal themselves and be gone soon after he has finished writing them. That would mean much less fuss. He looked at Hermione that was walking beside Harry in front of him.

"Before any of you asks No, I don't know if such charm exists. Honestly. None of you will die from going to the owlery every so often."

Ron snorted.

"We could be doing something useful right now."

Hermione bit her lip from saying something that she might regret later.

'Like what? Moaning how you still don't have dates for the Ball?'' she fixed her eyes on the trio that was descending from the owlery. That reminded of the business at hand. She still needed to talk to Krum. If only Ron and Harry were not with her right now. She bit her lip. If she wanted to find another date she had to be free first. Not even thinking about it she hurried her step and was couple of meters ahead of the laughing boys when she heard a weak yelp and turned around. Ron was laying spread eagle on the ground. Harry could hardly restrain his laughter as he helped the red head to get up. Suddenly Hermione increased the pace up. That was her chance. She just needed a word with Krum. She could faintly hear Ron's cursing. Her face turned serious as she was barely few steps away from the three Dumstrang students.

Krum was walking in silence while his friends were talking about something in their language. The Seeker seemed sour and even a little angry. Hermione didn't let that bother her as she had only a minute before her friends' caught up. She pretended to look away at something towards the castle just as she passed the first two and her cheeks flamed up at the thought to what she was reduced to. She made a step right and if by accident bumped into Krum making him stop as his friends continued to walk away. Strong hands got a grip on Hermione arms to prevent her from falling backwards from the collision.

This was her chance. Hermione's head shot up to look at Krum's face. The Bulgarian looked a bit concerned.

"You ok?"

"Fine. Can you come to the library tonight? At eight? Please?" her voice was an urgent whisper and she begged the lord that he would agree before Ron and Harry showed up. Before answering Krum's jaw tightened as he looked at something behind Hermione and nodded without saying a word.

"Thank..."

"Hey Hermione, wait for us!" the voices were just steps behind her and Hermione's voice changed at once.

"I'm sorry I bumped into you... Mr Krum."

Mr Krum's eyes hardened as he looked at her but said nothing and started walking away to catch up with his friends. His back strait and eyes angry. Hermione could feel it without seeing his face. She nervously licked her lips. Was he angry at her? Maybe he suspected what about she was going to talk to him?

What have she gotten herself into?

The Study Hall as everyone were calling it was full of quaetly studying pupils under a watchful eye of Professor Snape.

Hermione was doing her best to concentrate on her notes.

'Why am I feeling guilty It is just a Ball! He will find another girl to go with in no time. They are throwing themselves at him all the time.' She scribed something into a note book and bit her lip. The fact was that she was feeling guilty no matter how many times she repeated to herself that it was the right thing to do. For some reason her mind kept coming back to that evening in the library where he have asked her to the Ball. The nice feeling of being special.

'I am not special to him! ' Hermione's quill almost went through the parchment as she caught herself at such thought. Her logic mind seemed to contradict her by pointing out a few simple facts.

Fact 1- there wasn't a girl that wouldn't go with him if he just asked. Well, save her that is.

Fact 2 - it was clear that he couldn't go to a Ball with two partners.

Fact 3- he did ask her.

Conclusion: she was the first and only girl he has asked. As he was clearly not a spineless coward like some. (Hermione looked at Ron and Harry sitting near her.) Meaning he asked a girl that he fancied and preferred to see as his Ball escort more than any other in this school.

And she was going to ditch him for some stupid ideas of rightfulness.

Hermione closed her book for a sec. 'If I will keep it up I am going to drive myself crazy till the evening. I need to thing about something else.' She glanced at her friends again.

"... maybe except Neville. But he can take himself."

She couldn't help, but take an offence on behalf of the boy in question.

"It might interest you that Neville already got someone." Not like the two of you.

"Oh, now I am really depressed."

'Like I care, Ronald.'Hermione tried to get back to her reading. From the corner of her eye she watched as Fred asked Angelina to the Ball. 'Few more years and maybe Ron will grow balls too.' She smiled to herself at the joke.

"Well, Hermione... you're a girl."

Hermione almost dropped her quill as she looked at Ron wide eyed. He didn't just say that.

"Oh, well spotted."

"Would you..."

He didn't manage to say anything else as he and Harry got with a book over their heads from Professor Snape. The next minute she wished that he would have hit them harder or at least left so that she could do it herself.

"For a boy to go alone is one thing, but for a girl ... it's just sad."

Hermione's jaw dropped.

'Sad... Sad? Sad?!'' she was stuck speechless. 'What is he thinking? That he is doing me a favour by asking me?! Than nobody else would ask me? That he is being generous by asking me? While making it look like a freaking CHARITY ON HIS PART?!!!'' only the questioning look Professor Snape gave her prevented Hermione from blowing her top right then and there.

Her voice was shaking as she finally spoke and brain seemed to be temporary out of service.

"Believe it or not... Somebody asked me." She stood up sharply and marched over to Professor Snape to hand over her book. She had to leave before she was going to harm that idiot. Hermione really shouldn't have said what she said next, but she couldn't stop herself, the outrage was too great. As she gathered her things and turned to leave she hissed at Ron.

"And I said yes."

Not caring if anyone heard Hermione slammed the door of her room with as much force as she could muster at that moment. Her heart was beating so hard that it threatened to jump out of her chest. Hermione looked around the room briefly considering breaking something, but refrained as she noticed Lavender's scared expression from across the bed.

The angry Gryffindor faked a surprised gasp.

"Hermione! You're a girl? You know I am one of your best friends for four years now and you didn't tell? How could I have known? It's not like you dress like a girl, look like a girl, live in a girls dormitory. Now that I have noticed why don't you come with me to the Ball, but don't think that I ask you because I want to go with you, no nono! I am doing you a BIG favour, because when a girl shows up at the Ball alone IT IS JUST SAD!" the last word Hermione shouted out with all the might of her lungs. "Well, Don't die from shock, Ronald, but I am not going alone!"

Somewhere along Hermione's furious rant Lavender slid down from the bed she was sitting on and now was a peering from a corner if it in case her roommate will start tossing things around in her rage. Not that she ever did. That was Parvati's habit, but at the state that the girl was in Lavender didn't want to take a risk, but with every passing minute she was less scared and more curious especially with the last sentence that made ears eyes perk up.

"Whom are you going with? Anyone from Gryffindor? Or Ravenclaw?"

"I am not telling. I want Ron to choke on his tongue when I will show up at the Ball."

"A Slytherin? You are not going with him are you? "

Hermione tossed her things on the bed.

"Don't be ridiculous, Lavender. I am not ruining the Ball for myself just to teach Ron a lesson. I just... I still can't believe he said that."

"Said what?"

"Not much. Just that ... Hermione, you're a girl. Well, that had to be shock for him. Oh, and as a really valid reason for me to go with him he pointed out... for a girl to show up alone is just sad... "

Lavender's jaw dropped. She personally was still dateless.

"He did not!"

"Oh, he did."

"I... I... I... SAD? How dares he?!?"

"Yes, just what I was thinking."

"You hexed him, right? Please tell you hexed him."

"I wish, but Snape was looking right at us along with half of the people there." Hermione grimaced recalling the conversation. It was humiliating to say the least.

Lavender looked like she was about to faint. Such things as public image she took close to heart.

"He said that... in Study Hall?"

"What do you think?" Hermione pressed her lips together so hard it hurt.

"I think I will help you to hide his body. I'm afraid I will not be much help with the rest; the sight of blood makes me faint... Oh, I know! Flint! If you will do it before the Ball, he might do it for you, than you turn him in and you don't have to worry about him any longer and go to the Ball with who ever have asked you!"

Hermione just stared at her.

"You sure you were sorted into the right house, Lavender?"

"Oh, please. Like you were not thinking about the same thing."

"Not really." Lavender snorted. "Well, it was close." Hermione's roommate raised her brows and gave a challenging look. "Ok, the same minus guest appearance of Flint."

"What are you going to do?"

"Try not to harm him."

"Pity."

"Don't tempt me, Lavender."

Lavender giggled suddenly.

"How thick a guy has to be not to notice that his friend is a girl? I mean he doesn't have to date you to be aware if this fact. A skirt, a name and pair of something round on your chest should be a good clue. "

"Think again. I have never been more insulted in my whole like, Malfoy's comments included. He is a pig but even he knows that I am a girl."

"Have some chocolate, Hermione. Relax. It could have been worse."

"Like how? He could call me Hermes and asked if I have found a girl to go to the Ball with already?"

"You could have been dateless."

Now that was something she hasn't thought about.

No Krum. Hell, no Flint. Hermione's knees grew weak.

"I would have died."

"Exactly. You should thank the guy that has asked you on time."

Hermione's mouth went dry. Krum. She will have the perfect opportunity to thank him. This evening at eight in the library. She couldn't tell him no now. If Ron would ever find out that she made that scene not having a date he would have a field day at her expense. That was just great. After all the time she spend thinking how to break the news to him this just had to happen. She blinked. Wait a sec. What was going to tell him? She did make it sound as if it was a matter a life or death. Fantastic. Her life was fairy tale. The further it went the scarier it got.

"So if you are not practising your hexes on Ron what plans do you have for this evening?"

"Have an appointment... in the library."

"You should get a break once in a while. Is that the Hafflepuf that McGonagall asked you to tutor? What's her name?"

"It was called off. The Girl didn't show up even once for the last month to study with me. I saw her fallowing Diggory around like a lost puppy, though."

"Good to know that somebody will do worse than me this year in Transfiguration."

Hermione started changing as Lavender sulked how hard the subject was.

"Did you finish your essay, Lavender? We have to give it in next week." Hermione did her best in helping her roommate with Transfiguration, but she wasn't going to do her homework for her.

"Done."

Hermione looked from her trunk at Lavender.

"Really?"

"Yes, I know. Surprise. I did couple of days ago after you explained the chapter to me. Was much easier when your hints were still fresh in my mind."

"Excellent."

"So what will you be doing there?"

"Err...I was going to look into the material on ... International Magical Cooperation... that we have, but I needed some help, so... It's a very confusing topic. I wanted to have a better insight on it..." It was almost true. Almost.

"You work too much." Lavender didn't even pretend to be interested in the topic. She gave it up in the middle of their second year. She preferred to be honest with Hermione when it came to that. Studying wasn't something Lavender Brown enjoyed.

"Yeah. But I can't get out of this one."

"Or you don't want to?"

How was it? Review? Please?