Two days later and Ron had still yet to ask her. At dinner that evening she'd heard him and Harry discussing all their options. They both agreed that they didn't want to end up stuck with one of the ugly girls in school. Ron was too stupid to realise that, by default, he was including her in that group. Hermione chose not to take offense. She knew that if she'd attempted to correct him that he'd say something like how he meant the girls at school and that comment would hurt even more. Hermione felt like suggesting that Harry and Ron should take their carefully gathered data and enter it into a tidy arithmancy equation. The variables could include cup size, nose length and intelligence. They'd really catch some gems that way!
The library was cold and Hermione pulled the sleeves of her black wool cardigan down further over her hands. She walked through the stack of books looking for a familiar title. Hogwarts, A History. Hermione always returned to Hogwarts, A History when she was feeling low. It reminded her of how lucky she was to be a witch. She shuddered to think what her life would have been like in a muggle comprehensive. She would be the awkward, plain, annoyingly intelligent girl who sat on her own everyday at lunch. Not that everything was amazing at Hogwarts. She'd had her ups and downs here over the years.
During first year she may have had no friends but at least she was in a magical school with moving staircases and magical portraits instead of some dull London comprehensive. Second year; there were no older kids lurking in corridors looking to trip you as you walked by but there was a basilisk. Third year, Hermione swallowed a lump in her throat when she thought of the long and lonely months she had spent on her own feverishly studying. Ron had hated her. Harry had hated her. All over a dead rat and a stupid broom! Hogwarts, A History had been there for her through it all. Always there waiting for her to pick it up and lovingly caress its worn spine.
Hermione scanned the shelf where Hogwarts, A History normally sat and started when she realized that it was missing from its spot. Fourth shelf, fifth in from the left. A thick film of dust had gathered on the wooden shelf where the book usually lay. It had been gone for awhile. Hermione walked over to the large oak desk where the librarian sat.
Madam Pince looked up from the trashy muggle romance novel she'd been reading when Hermione coughed politely.
"Yes dear?" she said setting the book temporarily aside and pushing her small gold framed glasses up her small button nose.
"Sorry to bother you but I was wondering could you tell me if someone has checked out Hogwarts, A History or if it has been misplaced." Madam Pince smiled at the girl. The two were on friendly terms. Madam Pince, like Hermione, loved the library more than any other place in the school.
"Of course dear." She tapped her wand twice on a sheet of paper beside her muttering a quick spell. Her glasses had slipped down her nose again and she pushed them back up. "Viktor Krum checked that book out a fortnight ago." Hermione chewed the inside of her lip, great. When someone had taken a book out for more than two weeks, it generally meant that they would keep it another two. It was an example of Murphy's Law at its finest. It was probably under Krum's bed on the ship gathering dust.
"Thank you." Hermione said and smiled before walking away. She'd just have to make do with another book. Making her way back to the stacks of books, Hermione spotted Viktor Krum. He was sitting at the small table in the corner of the reference section that Hermione like to think of as her table. She'd laid her bag there earlier and set her books out. No one but Harry or Ron ever sat with her while she studied and even their constant whispering and fidgeting proved to be a great distraction. She could just pick up her bag and move to another table. She didn't want to make him feel awkward. And she certainly didn't want to be mistaken for another one of his rabid fans. Really, what was so special about him? Of course, according to Harry and Ron he was the youngest and best seeker in... blah blah blah. When the boys started talking about quidditch Hermione began conjugating Latin verbs in her head.
But he has the book! Her subconscious, in the form of a petulant child, whispered to her. That was true. He had the book that she wanted. He'd had it for two weeks, more than enough to read it at least once. Straightening her back, Hermione walked briskly towards Krum. He looked up at her, his eyes widening slightly. She heard the soft plink of his quill as he dropped it. He looked away from her and quickly picked up the quill once more.
"Hello. My name is Hermione Granger." she said smiling cautiously. "Madam Pince said you have Hogwarts, A History." Krum's dark eyes watched her but he didn't answer. Hermione grew nervous. "Its just that, well, you've had it for two weeks now and I'd really like to read it." He continued to stare. "Read it again." She corrected herself. "Its one of my favourites." Krums eyes lit up.
"You like it?" She nodded emphatically.
"Of course! Didn't you?" He too nodded enthusiastically.
"It was very interesting. Your school has a very rich history." His serious face relaxed into a nice smile. Hermione felt her cheeks start to glow pink as if he had just complimented her and she beamed at him.
"Thank you. It really is amazing." Silence washed over them for a moment before Krum gestured to the seat where Hermione's bag lay.
"My name is Viktor Krum." Hermione resisted the urge to say that she already knew who he was. "I hope that you do not mind my being here." His English, though fluent, was heavily accented.
"Not at all." Hermione said sitting down. She took her arithmancy homework from her bag and spread her sheets out before her. Aware of Viktor's gaze on her she tried to concentrate on the figures before her.
"arithmancy. That is my favourite subject." Surprised, Hermione looked up at him.
"Really? Not many people like it. The classes here are quite small." Viktor moved his head up and down.
"Not everyone can understand it." He smiled and Hermione smiled back. She felt like she'd done an awful lot of smiling since she'd met Krum.
Hermione heard the nervous twitter of pre teen laughter to her left and turned just in time to see two second year Ravenclaw's duck back behind a shelf of books. She turned to Viktor bemused. He flushed crimson.
"These girls here. They are very strange." Hermione held back a giggle. Who would've guessed that the Bulgarian teams world famous seeker would be embarrassed about the attention that he received from girls. Ron, she thought a little scathingly, would love the attention.
"They are." she agreed. They studied in silence. Every so often a page flicked and the nibs of quills scratched across the rough surface of their respective parchment. Hermione finished her arithmancy and moved on to translating a chapter of her ancient runes textbook. It felt just like sitting with Harry or Ron. The familiarity and ease was startling. But unlike when she studied with Harry and Ron, Viktor respected her silence and just worked alongside her, seemingly happy in her silent companionship.
Sometime later she closed her books and began to pack away. Viktor looked up.
"Hermy-own-ninny, you are done working?" Hermy-own-ninny? He stood up too and began to gather his books and assorted rolls of parchment.
"Its Hermione" she said stressing the last few syllables.
"Yes. Hermy-own-ninny." She decided not to correct him again. Hermione was a hard name to pronounce. She herself couldn't say it until she was three, simply referring to herself as 'baby' much to her parents amusement.
"Yes, I'm tired."
"I will walk you back?" It was phrased as a question. Hermione's heart sped up, its rhythm beating like that of a bass guitar. She nodded. As she went to pull her bag onto her shoulder Viktor reached for it. Confused momentarily she let him. He slung her laden bag over his broad shoulder as if it weighed little more than a feather. Outside the library, and free to talk, Viktor became much more open. Volunteering information on his school and family. When they reached the bottom of the stairs that led to the Gryffindor dormitory they paused to continue talking. McGonagall, who was walking by, sent Hermione a stern look that said that she should already be in bed.
"Goodnight." she said turning to walk up the stairs. Viktor caught her arm lightly, stopping her. She turned.
"I almost forgot. The book is out on the boat. I will bring it with me tomorrow. Would you meet me then?" Hermione held back a smile and nodded. She had enjoyed their evening together. Viktor was interesting.
"Okay." Viktor handed her back her bag, which she had forgotten that he had even had, and walked away. Hermione stood still for a moment before letting a large grin spread across her face. Viktor Krum! He was so unlike what she had imagined. Who would've know that the surly, serious, seeker would be so nice. Viktor was smart like her. He may have been an international quidditch player but he hadn't spoken about quidditch once! Unlike Ron who could hardly get through a conversation without some stupid reference to the Chudley Canons. Viktor was so different to anyone else she had ever met. He, unlike the other boys her age, was not afraid to show his intelligence. Not that Viktor was her age, she reminded himself. He was a seventh year. That would make him at least seventeen. She stifled a giggle. What would Ginny say when she told her that not only was she meeting an older man tomorrow night, but that the older man was Viktor Krum! More importantly, what would Ron say?
Thanks very much to everyone who reviewed last time! XD Jen