Chapter 4
As Hermione swung around to face the shrill scream that had pierced the night she saw two figures in the doorway. She breathed a sigh of relief as she realized that it was Krum's parents, the laughter that she had just heard had been uttered from Mr. Krum's mouth.
"Ahh, Viktor, Hermione, you have arrived, Good! Just in time for dinner eh?" said Mr. Krum his voice laced with a very heavy Bulgarian accent.
"Good Evening" said Hermione politely.
"Hermione, how nice to finally meet you! So, you are the girl that our Viktor hasn't stopped talking about since the end of the Triwizard Tournament. Delighted I'm sure" said Mrs. Krum gracefully offering her hand to Hermione.
"Thank you very much Mrs. Krum. You have a wonderful manor, much larger then any I've seen" said Hermione sheepishly taking her hand and shaking it.
"Please, let us dispense with such unnecessary formalities, you may call me Helga, and this is my husband Ivan whom you have already met" said Helga Krum graciously.
Hermione felt herself blush, had Viktor really been talking about her all summer? Hermione obviously lost in thought was brought back down to earth when Ivan Krum took her hand and kissed the top lightly before gesturing towards a door towards his left. Hermione obediently followed him with Krum and his mother following close behind. When she entered the dining room her breath was taken away, never before had she seen such splendour in her entire life. The floor, unlike the entrance hall was panelled with wood from wall to wall. The family crest was engraved into the centre of the floor but was partly obscured by the enormous dining table that seemed to occupy the entire room. At least thirty people could have easily been seated at the table, so grand was its size. It must have been carved out of an entire maple tree for such was its colour. There were the chairs too that were made of wood with a deep purple cushion placed neatly on each of their seats. She must have stopped in her tracks because a voice suddenly whispered in her ear.
"Vot is it? Is something wrong? Vhy haff you stopped?" whispered Krum so his parent's wouldn't hear him.
"Nothing's wrong, I have just never seen a room so big before, nor have I seen a table so grand!" was all Hermione could reply.
Krum smiled behind her in amusement. He was amazed that such an intelligent and caring girl could be impressed by such little things as dining tables and grand hallways. He gently nudged her forward with his shoulder and Hermione continued to walk towards the dinner table. Krum pulled out a chair for her that was next to his own, she sat down and he seated himself next to her. Dinner arrived underneath a fleet of bearers. As the dishes were placed one by one in front of the four diners the bearers drifted back into the shadows of the room where the light of the many candles did not reach. Hermione looked puzzled; she didn't recognise any of the dishes that had been placed on the table.
"Umm...Mr. Krum...I mean...Ivan?" said Hermione quietly.
"Yes Hermione dear? Is something the matter?" replied Ivan with a fruitful smile.
"Well, it's just that I don't recognise any of these dishes and I was wondering what they were."
"But of course, please forgive me."
Ivan Krum snapped his fingers and a bearer appeared at his side. He whispered something into his ear and he disappeared. Within two minutes he was back carrying a small book on a silver tray. He gave the book to Mr. Krum and then upon receiving a nod headed to where Hermione was sitting. She took the book and looked up with a confused expression on her face.
"It's a menu Hermione. That is what is served on the table tonight. If you read it, it will give you the names of all the dishes here in Bulgarian and a brief description of what it contains and how it's cooked" said Mr. Krum, a kind smile playing on his lips.
"Thanks" said Hermione meekly.
"Oh, and by the way, the menu will update itself for every meal so you can keep it until you leave" added Mr. Krum whilst serving himself something that resembled vomit.
Hermione sighed and opened the book. On the first page there was the date and the meal that was being served, she glanced over it and turned the page. There was a heading saying 'Starters' and then a long list of dishes. She counted the number of dishes on the page and then silently counted the number of dishes on the table. They added up, she smiled inwardly. The marvels of magic had not ceased to amaze her. She glanced over all the dishes yet none seemed to appeal to her. She settled on a safe seafood salad and began serving herself. No sooner had she finished, her plate was swept away and the fleet of bearers made another entrance, this time bearing the main course. Again she consulted the menu book and after what seemed like hours of mindless chatter between the three Krum's Hermione found herself drifting into thoughts of Harry and what he was doing as dessert arrived. She was yanked out of her thoughts by the sound of Viktor's voice.
"Vell, Herm-own-ninny? Vot do you think?"
"I'm sorry I seemed to have missed the question. Could you please repeat it?" asked Hermione feeling herself go red.
"Of course dear! I was simply asking if you think that this whole mess with that Potter boy and Diggory could have been averted if security at Hogwarts was tighter. I mean that whole incident with the Imperious Curse in the maze didn't make our son look too good in the scheme of things" said Helga pleasantly.
"Well, I don't know really, I mean Crouch was posing as one of our teachers and if you can't trust them then who can you trust?" said Hermione seriously.
"Hear, hear! I totally agree with Hermione, I mean honestly Helga, look what happened to Karkaroff. We all thought that he was a wonderful man and he upped and left in the middle of the tournament. Not that the boys couldn't manage to get home by themselves, not with Viktor in command eh son!?" said Ivan after drinking deeply from his goblet and nudging Viktor's elbow.
"Yes father" said Viktor rolling his eyes. "Now, if you vill excuse me I vill take Herm-own-ninny to her room. She looks very tired to me, no?"
"Actually, I am a bit tired. Thank you Viktor" said Hermione picking up the menu book and rising from her chair along with Krum.
Good Night Ivan, Helga, it was a pleasure to meet you. Sleep well, see you tomorrow" said Hermione inclining her head.
"Good Night dear, may you find peaceful rest under our glorious roof!" said Helga gesticulating extravagantly.
Krum offered her his arm and led her towards the staircase. They walked up the stairs to the first floor. Krum led her to a corridor of doors to the right of the stairway and showed her to the room at the end of the hallway. When he opened the room Hermione was astounded. This manor seemed to be entirely made up of beautiful rooms! Her bedroom was decorated in white, light pink and a gentle green. She had no time to swoon as her instincts led her to the wardrobe where someone had unpacked and placed all of her clothes neatly. She reached for her pyjamas and ventured towards the bathroom to change. Krum was still standing in the doorway waiting for her to say goodnight. She quickly changed, brushed her teeth and went back into the bedroom. Krum was still there, a smirk that looked all too similar to the one Malfoy wore plastered across his face.
"What's so funny?"
"It is nothing, I am going to bed now but if you need me in the night for any reason, my room is two doors down on your left" said Victor with a mischievous grin.
"Thanks Viktor, I'll remember that for future reference. Good Night!"
"Good Night Herm-own-ninny! Sveet Dreams!" said Krum closing the door behind him.
Hermione crawled into bed absolutely exhausted. As soon as her head touched the pillow she was in a deep sleep dreaming of a certain boy with green eyes and untidy hair...
As Hermione swung around to face the shrill scream that had pierced the night she saw two figures in the doorway. She breathed a sigh of relief as she realized that it was Krum's parents, the laughter that she had just heard had been uttered from Mr. Krum's mouth.
"Ahh, Viktor, Hermione, you have arrived, Good! Just in time for dinner eh?" said Mr. Krum his voice laced with a very heavy Bulgarian accent.
"Good Evening" said Hermione politely.
"Hermione, how nice to finally meet you! So, you are the girl that our Viktor hasn't stopped talking about since the end of the Triwizard Tournament. Delighted I'm sure" said Mrs. Krum gracefully offering her hand to Hermione.
"Thank you very much Mrs. Krum. You have a wonderful manor, much larger then any I've seen" said Hermione sheepishly taking her hand and shaking it.
"Please, let us dispense with such unnecessary formalities, you may call me Helga, and this is my husband Ivan whom you have already met" said Helga Krum graciously.
Hermione felt herself blush, had Viktor really been talking about her all summer? Hermione obviously lost in thought was brought back down to earth when Ivan Krum took her hand and kissed the top lightly before gesturing towards a door towards his left. Hermione obediently followed him with Krum and his mother following close behind. When she entered the dining room her breath was taken away, never before had she seen such splendour in her entire life. The floor, unlike the entrance hall was panelled with wood from wall to wall. The family crest was engraved into the centre of the floor but was partly obscured by the enormous dining table that seemed to occupy the entire room. At least thirty people could have easily been seated at the table, so grand was its size. It must have been carved out of an entire maple tree for such was its colour. There were the chairs too that were made of wood with a deep purple cushion placed neatly on each of their seats. She must have stopped in her tracks because a voice suddenly whispered in her ear.
"Vot is it? Is something wrong? Vhy haff you stopped?" whispered Krum so his parent's wouldn't hear him.
"Nothing's wrong, I have just never seen a room so big before, nor have I seen a table so grand!" was all Hermione could reply.
Krum smiled behind her in amusement. He was amazed that such an intelligent and caring girl could be impressed by such little things as dining tables and grand hallways. He gently nudged her forward with his shoulder and Hermione continued to walk towards the dinner table. Krum pulled out a chair for her that was next to his own, she sat down and he seated himself next to her. Dinner arrived underneath a fleet of bearers. As the dishes were placed one by one in front of the four diners the bearers drifted back into the shadows of the room where the light of the many candles did not reach. Hermione looked puzzled; she didn't recognise any of the dishes that had been placed on the table.
"Umm...Mr. Krum...I mean...Ivan?" said Hermione quietly.
"Yes Hermione dear? Is something the matter?" replied Ivan with a fruitful smile.
"Well, it's just that I don't recognise any of these dishes and I was wondering what they were."
"But of course, please forgive me."
Ivan Krum snapped his fingers and a bearer appeared at his side. He whispered something into his ear and he disappeared. Within two minutes he was back carrying a small book on a silver tray. He gave the book to Mr. Krum and then upon receiving a nod headed to where Hermione was sitting. She took the book and looked up with a confused expression on her face.
"It's a menu Hermione. That is what is served on the table tonight. If you read it, it will give you the names of all the dishes here in Bulgarian and a brief description of what it contains and how it's cooked" said Mr. Krum, a kind smile playing on his lips.
"Thanks" said Hermione meekly.
"Oh, and by the way, the menu will update itself for every meal so you can keep it until you leave" added Mr. Krum whilst serving himself something that resembled vomit.
Hermione sighed and opened the book. On the first page there was the date and the meal that was being served, she glanced over it and turned the page. There was a heading saying 'Starters' and then a long list of dishes. She counted the number of dishes on the page and then silently counted the number of dishes on the table. They added up, she smiled inwardly. The marvels of magic had not ceased to amaze her. She glanced over all the dishes yet none seemed to appeal to her. She settled on a safe seafood salad and began serving herself. No sooner had she finished, her plate was swept away and the fleet of bearers made another entrance, this time bearing the main course. Again she consulted the menu book and after what seemed like hours of mindless chatter between the three Krum's Hermione found herself drifting into thoughts of Harry and what he was doing as dessert arrived. She was yanked out of her thoughts by the sound of Viktor's voice.
"Vell, Herm-own-ninny? Vot do you think?"
"I'm sorry I seemed to have missed the question. Could you please repeat it?" asked Hermione feeling herself go red.
"Of course dear! I was simply asking if you think that this whole mess with that Potter boy and Diggory could have been averted if security at Hogwarts was tighter. I mean that whole incident with the Imperious Curse in the maze didn't make our son look too good in the scheme of things" said Helga pleasantly.
"Well, I don't know really, I mean Crouch was posing as one of our teachers and if you can't trust them then who can you trust?" said Hermione seriously.
"Hear, hear! I totally agree with Hermione, I mean honestly Helga, look what happened to Karkaroff. We all thought that he was a wonderful man and he upped and left in the middle of the tournament. Not that the boys couldn't manage to get home by themselves, not with Viktor in command eh son!?" said Ivan after drinking deeply from his goblet and nudging Viktor's elbow.
"Yes father" said Viktor rolling his eyes. "Now, if you vill excuse me I vill take Herm-own-ninny to her room. She looks very tired to me, no?"
"Actually, I am a bit tired. Thank you Viktor" said Hermione picking up the menu book and rising from her chair along with Krum.
Good Night Ivan, Helga, it was a pleasure to meet you. Sleep well, see you tomorrow" said Hermione inclining her head.
"Good Night dear, may you find peaceful rest under our glorious roof!" said Helga gesticulating extravagantly.
Krum offered her his arm and led her towards the staircase. They walked up the stairs to the first floor. Krum led her to a corridor of doors to the right of the stairway and showed her to the room at the end of the hallway. When he opened the room Hermione was astounded. This manor seemed to be entirely made up of beautiful rooms! Her bedroom was decorated in white, light pink and a gentle green. She had no time to swoon as her instincts led her to the wardrobe where someone had unpacked and placed all of her clothes neatly. She reached for her pyjamas and ventured towards the bathroom to change. Krum was still standing in the doorway waiting for her to say goodnight. She quickly changed, brushed her teeth and went back into the bedroom. Krum was still there, a smirk that looked all too similar to the one Malfoy wore plastered across his face.
"What's so funny?"
"It is nothing, I am going to bed now but if you need me in the night for any reason, my room is two doors down on your left" said Victor with a mischievous grin.
"Thanks Viktor, I'll remember that for future reference. Good Night!"
"Good Night Herm-own-ninny! Sveet Dreams!" said Krum closing the door behind him.
Hermione crawled into bed absolutely exhausted. As soon as her head touched the pillow she was in a deep sleep dreaming of a certain boy with green eyes and untidy hair...