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Chapter 8

That was it. That was it!

Hermione nearly kicked open the library door. If she were any angrier there would have been fumes coming out of her ears. The door luckily didn't make much noise from the violent push that opened it. A small group of first year Ravenclaws jumped as Hermione stormed into the library. Usually people barely noticed when she came in as unlike some she did follow the rules and kept quiet.

'Mother was right. Filthy creeps all of them!' Till this very day Hermione never understood why her mother would express herself like this about the male population of this planet when angry. She wanted to howl. Well, now she did know. She couldn't believe that something like this could happen to her. Humiliation just got a new category and Hermione wasn't thrilled to tick a box next to it at her own expense. The whole absurd of the situation! It was like from one of those cheep paperback romances. Hermione shuddered. No one ever was going to find out about it. Ever.

Stopped dead in her tracks before heading deeper between the stacks. Malfoy. A sneer appeared on her still red face at the thought of the blond boy. Well, if the common sense will not stop him from wagging the tongue there was always Fluffy. She was sure Hagrit wouldn't mind if she were to volunteer to feed his pet one of these days.

Tossing a lock of hair over her shoulder Hermione finally got her temper under control. Next time she was just going to drag Harry along for the company... Or maybe not... It she didn't have the ... appointment she would have done so today. Besides He had to work on that Second Task clue anyway... She will just have to be careful till the Yule Ball. That thing had to get bored and quit eventually. Right? RIGHT!

A poor first year might have been scarred for life from the look that he saw on Hermione's face as she passed them.

She was angry. No. Angry wasn't the word that could describe her currant emotional state. It was too loose. Hermione stopped in front of one of the bookshelves absentmindedly grabbing a book. She felt like killing somebody.

'Why the hell it had to happen on my way here? Why it had to happen to me?! What wrong have I done?! Who needs them?! They are nothing but a waste of time and intelligence. Not that many of them have any to begin with.'

Hermione wanted nothing more than to put the book back, turn around, go back to the Gryffindor Tower, curl in her bed and finish reading that fascinating article about the medical uses of the devil snare's blossoms. It was interesting and had foot notes that explained things!

Boys should have those. Would be very very useful. There also should be notes how to get rid of them. That would be even better. She could definitely use something like that right away. Hermione bit her lip.

Flashback.........................................................................................................................

Hermione slipped out of the Tower with great cautiousness. The last thing she needed was for someone to ask for her help. There were couple of essays due the next week and some people were actually studying. Not many of course, but Hermione didn't have time nor mood to be someone's little helper. She had things to do.

'Me and my stupid mouth. Why do I always have to complicate things? Why couldn't I just keep it shut?' Hermione was whining inside her head, but somewhere deep her Gryffindor pride was kicking her for being a coward. 'I need to go. I am going to be late if I won't hurry up.'

Rather reluctantly Hermione made her way to the library. She was strangely glad that there weren't lots of people that could read her otherwise her nervous smile would have given her away.

"Running in the corridors, Ms Granger?"

Hermione's heart skipped a beat as she lost her footing and nearly tumbled forward. Her hand somehow came to rest on her chest on its own accord on an attempt to stop her heart from jumping out. There was no need to say that any kind of smile vanished from her face as she looked at the brightly grinning Slytherin.

"Flint!" to Hermione's annoyance it came out as a shocked stammer. Not very dignified.

"Oh, well, I am pleased. You still remember my name. How very nice of you."

Somehow Hermione swallowed the nervous giggle that rose up her throat. Flint looked pleased. 'Not good. Very not good.'

"I wasn't running."

"No, you were just walking really fast. Now, would you mind to have a word with me?" She did hate the way Flint could just get to the point when she really wished he didn't. Before she could comprehend he crossed the space between them and grabbed hold of her hand with his huge paw and started dragging her after him into a nearest quiet corner.

"Flint! Flint! Let go! I have no time for this!.." Hermione wanted to shout, but it came out in furious whisper, her insides clenched at the thought that somebody might see her holding hands (even unwillingly) with Marcus Flint. She did not want to explain that to anyone... didn't know how to explain that to herself yet.

"Flint, I couldn't find her in... oh." Hermione's heart officially stopped as an all too familiar blond appeared from the direction of the library and saw her beside Flint hand in hand. "Now that is a sight. Hello there, Granger." He took a long look at the two and sniggered under his breath.

Oh, how she wanted to scratch Malfoy's eyes out and then Flint's and then crawl into some dark little hole and die.

"Thanks, Draco. I found her." And to state the obvious he lifted her hand that he was still holding making Hermione jerk to his side.

"Let go of me you creep!" Her heart started pumping adrenalin through her body in a mad rush and Hermione came alive with renewed straight. She looked around praying not to see anyone else while her nails dug into Flint's wrist attempting to free her right hand. The corridors leading to the library usually were empty at this hour how on earth did she manage to run into him?!

"Ouch! Watch it, Granger!" Flint got a hold of her second hand and cleared daggers at her. But Hermione wasn't about to give up and the heel of her school shoe landed on his foot full force.

"Let go of me!" She wasn't going to give up.

"Why you little!" But neither was he. Suddenly Hermione found her hands free, but didn't have the time to take advantage of it as Flint ducked and the air was knocked out of her lungs as he lifted her and dropped over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Arg!" her vision blurred from the surprise, but almost immediately she resumed her struggle even if it got harder. By all means available she was going to get free. Hermione's feet were flying aimlessly as her elbows dug into her tormentors back making him swear and get a better grip on her tights as...

"Oh, fuck! Bitch!" her left foot connected with something solid. The howl made her smile.

"Serves you right, Ma..aaaaa!" there was sudden breeze of cool air as her school skirt was lifted and she received a painful slap on her butt. Instantly Hermione ceased her struggle and her eyes filled with tears. "You sick fuck let me go!" there was a second slap this time from Flint. "AAAAAAAAAA!!!" with the entire straight that she had in her hands she dug her nails into Flint's buttocks. He echoed her painful cry and went to his knees from the sudden attack letting her go in process.

Tumbling rather ungracefully to the ground from Flit's arms and landing on her already sore backside Hermione wasted no time and was on her feet and running. She sprinted past a shocked Malfoy, who was still clutching his nose, giving him punch on a shoulder.

........................................................................................

Hermione's lower cheeks were on fire. That was the only thing she could think of. Ok. That and what bastards those two were. Holding the book to her chest Hermione leaned on one of the large bookshelves. The edges of her vision were blurred from anger. She had a very sensitive backside. Whenever she was falling Hermione tried not to land on it. That was her little secret. Not a living soul knew that she have cast cushioning charms on her jeans since her second year whenever she was going out with Harry and Ron.

She sniffed resting her forehead against the cool wooden frame. It hurt! It was like somebody was stabbing it with lots of small needles. Those creeps were going to pay for it. Didn't they know it was disgraceful to hit a girl on her backside?

It probably was the first time that Hermione wished for the library to be more lively and noisy. It looked sinister when it was so empty... or maybe it was just her bad mood today. Hermione rubbed her eyes to focus. She was almost where she asked Krum to meet her and she was still a mess.

'Of all the days to run into trouble it had to be today...'

"Hermeewnee?" the voice came from so close that Hermione being lost in her own little world jumped aside like a scared cat nearly falling over as she collided with a table.

"Christ!" Her heart was stuck in her throat and she tried to swallow it back. "Can you stop sneaking on me like that? Make some noise when you move!"

Hermione was clutching the book before her like a shield as if Krum was going attack her any given moment.

Krum frowned at her as if something she said didn't make sense.

"I vas vaiting. Like you asked. You not see me?"

'I got stupid, and now I am blind as well. ' she lowered the book suddenly as Krum kept looked at her strangely.

"You vant to talk to me, Hermeeownee?"

"I do?" Krum looked at her like she just grown a second head. "Yes, I do! Silly me! That's why we both here today. Now... Errr..." She coughed into her fist. That sounded like something one of Malfoy's goons would say.

"You cold?" Krum cocked his head to a side as he studied her. Instantly forgetting the rather unfortunate start of their conversation.

Never in her entire life had Hermione felt so grateful for a change of topic.

"Yes! I mean no! Maybe a little... Is that real fur?" Hermione needed to focus her mind on something in order to start making sense again. Trying not to look at Krum's face Hermione studied the garment.

"It is real."

"It looks nice."

She could see as heavy thing moved as he shrugged. He probably didn't care how it looked. Why did she say it again?

"Is varm."

Practical. Of course. Krum did look that kind of person that would be practical in matters considering his clothing. And the fur was very soft to the touch. Silky. Hermione continued running her fingers thru it fully aware of the silence that hung between them. Her lips remained tightly pressed together. She did not know what to tell him. The moment she saw him the speech she was going to tell became so absurd and lame that she could not force herself to utter a single word of it.

Apart from feeling lame Hermione now felt guilty also as Krum released a heavy sight.

"Here." Hermione finally opened her mouth to say something as Krum removed the fur from his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Now she finally looked at his face. She was sure she was going to ask him something, but it suddenly did not seem so important anymore because Krum was smiling at her. She frowned completely forgetting the fur that was now wrapped around her shoulders.

"What?"

"Nov it look best."

Hermione's mouth formed a little 'o' as now Krum's fingers were running over her fur covered shoulder. Her cheeks seemed so hot that she was surprised how the blood vessels did not pop.

"Can ve talk nov?"

Suddenly Hermione wished he would stop smiling. it was distracting. She officially labelled herself a coward as her eyes drifted back to his chest.

"Hermiownee?" a part of her wished him to get fed up with her, get angry and leave her standing here like a complete idiot that she was. She did not answer.

Krum managed get her attention by taking her hands into his and lifting them to his chin this way making her look into his face again.

In an instant Hermione came back to her senses, thanks to a very strange sensation of tiny needles brushing over her knuckles. Her wide and surprised eyes shot up to look what she just touched.

"You shave?"

The shy smile dropped from his face as he looked at her.

"I haff not shaved today. I am sory. " he let go of one of her hands and ran a palm over his cheek feeling the prickly hair.

"I am sorry. That was not what I had in mind. I mean of course you shave you're a guy!" never in her life had Hermione touched a guy's facial hair apart from her father's. It was coarse and prickly and felt strange against her skin. It was fascinating and in some odd way. She liked it. She gave a laugh startling the Seeker. He rubbed his chin returning the smile.

"I do dat evry day. Haff to or beard grovs."

"No need for that just yet. You are way too young to have one."

Hermione felt like she was kicked back to life by the pure sensation of feeling something new. Krum might not be perfect. But he was nice and he made her smile. And asked her to the Ball first.

"I want to go to the Yule Ball with you." Her determination came back.

Viktor blinked. Didn't they already agree on that? He frowned. What did he miss? Hermione was looking at him with a wide smile on her face like he did something really important.

"I am very sorry that I made you worry. I had some ... stupid ideas that are not important now."

Viktor nodded slowly not taking his eyes of her. Hermione forced her smile not to falter. It was a struggle having in mind that for the first time in her life she played dump. She desperately wanted him to say something and not to start smiling, because that smile did strange things to her.

He was just looking at her. Saying nothing for a couple of minutes. Hermione didn't like the silence. It made her feel uneasy. It made her feel her like she was not in control. Which she was the case every time she was with him and that was somehow exiting. Hermione wasn't sure if she liked it or him for the matter. But there was one thing that Hermione knew for certain. She wanted to find out. And she also knew that she was going to enjoy it.

"Hermiownee... You vas gonna refuse me? For the Ball?"

"Eh?" it sounded like a mouse's squeak to Hermione's own ears. Whatever happy thoughts she had on her mind went somewhere as soon as Viktor spoke. She craved new experiences, but this was not what she had in mind...

"It was not that... I mean... yes, but not like this, and not anymore and besides... "

"Vhy?"

She managed to forget that he was a one word man. Hermione felt her lips dry.

"You think it's easy?" when in doubt... attack! Not very smart, but a very Gryffindor thing to do. Viktor was taken aback a little. "Those girls chasing after you and this whole FOUR-wizard tournament and you here with me instead with one of those... plastic things and Harry who is so worried about everything and Ron who is being an arse to us and so what if suddenly I felt like going with you is very selfish thing to do, but I still want it...!" Hermione blurred it out without really thinking. The words just poured out in one incoherent sentence that she herself could not understand. She clasped a hand over her mouth to stop the words from making more damage than good. He said a single word and she sprouted a shower of complete gibberish. Wasn't she supposed to be good with words?!

Viktor stood before her with a calm expression on his face. He wasn't smiling nor was he frowning. Just looking at her with those eyes...

"Well! Say something!" Hermione's heart was going a mile a minute. She did not care if he might have not understood what was she blabbering as long as she heard someone else's voice beside her own she knew would be able to calm.

"You ar prity ven you vory."

"I am? My face is so red it nearly hurts and I don't make sense! What is pretty about me?!"

Viktor took a step fort and gently grasped the fur that was nearly falling of Hermione's shoulders and pulled her towards him until they stood so close they were touching. He bowed his head so his forehead touched hers. Hermione reluctantly lifted her head to look at him. He had a soft look on his face.

"Prity."

"Am not."

"Prity."

"Viktor... why did you ask me to the Ball?"

"Because, hermiownee..." he winced as he mauled her name again, but she did not seem to mind so he continued. "I tink you ar prity."

"You have a heavy accent when you worry, you know."

"Yes, vory prity girl not go to Ball vit me."

Hermione let out a small laugh. He wrapped his hands around her shoulders and she pressed her forehead into his shoulder.

"You should not worry about that, Viktor."

"You shud not be guilty for going. Is not vrong."

"I know. I am sorry for making you worry like this."

"I not mind. Got to see you."

He was holding her very carefully as if being afraid to hurt her.

Hermione was rather comfortable. She did not particularly care that they had to look odd together. Viktor made her feel nice. She was looking forward to whatever was going happen next.

"Mr Krum you might not know, but library is not the place for romantic adventures. And would you please step away from my student."

Hermione wanted to pretend she was someone else very badly this instance. From the way Viktor's hands stiffened around her Hermione guesses that he wanted the same thing.

"Are you two going to stand there like this all night. Mr Krum? Ms..."

Hermione very slowly stepped back from Viktor and turned to face the raging Head of Gryffindor.

"Good evening, Professor." Hermione tried not to sound too panicky. It was not like they were doing anything wrong no matter how it might have looked from the side. Viktor was standing with his head held high with all of his being showing that he did not consider himself in the wrong. His facial expression was as polite as possible as he bowed.

"Professor."

"Ms.. Ms Granger?.." the woman was gawking at her like she was seeing Hermione for the first time in her life. Minerva McGonagall was looking from one to another with a clear disbelieve written all over her usually strict face.

Hermione tried to swallow the lump that was stuck in her throat. The important thing was not to panic and babble things that she... correction they would get in trouble for. The tensed silence stretched. Hermione noted that the silence was much better when there were only two of them.

"Ms Granger!" the Professor got over it finally. "What are you doing here with Mr Krum?" Hermione winced at the sharp tone.

"I haff ask Ms Granger the honor of her compony to Yule Ball, Professor. "