PART TWO: Weasley is still a Fool

'Draco!'

Bloody hell, Hermione Granger thought as Viktor Krum announced the presence of one of his friends. She supposed it was to have been expected.

The Slytherins were the official welcoming party of the Durmstrang students, as they must have believed that they had the same theory in life:

Pureblood above all.

It had made Hermione grin with satisfaction when Viktor Krum, recent Quidditch Cup hero, representative in the Triwizard Tournament-- had gone against the grain and had befriended her-- a mere muggle.

She would have liked to see the look on Draco's face when she walked in with Viktor-- pity she'd been otherwise preoccupied by trying not to rip her gorgeous dress.

'Viktor,' the two guys shook hands.

'I am off to get a refreshment for Hermy--' they'd settled on a shorter nickname to make it easier for him, 'would you be so kind as to keep her company?'

Hermione was about to protest that she didn't need any company-- but was stopped by the cool hand on her bare forearm.

'No worries, Viktor.'

Viktor did his nod and walked away.

'Careful Malfoy,' Hermione whispered under her breath, 'if you keep holding on to me like that, people will begin to think that you're beginning to like me.'

But instead of pulling away like she'd fully expected him to, he tucked her arm under the crook of his.

'Let them think, mudblood. We both know where we stand.'

Only the fact that she didn't want to cause a scene was stopping her from pulling away from him and running away…

Oh and the fact that she wasn't going to be beaten by Draco Malfoy.

So they stood side by side, facing the crowd, quietly at first but then Draco spoke.

'I gave Potter's girlfriend back, did you see?' he questioned politely.

'I saw-- but you gave her to the wrong person,' Hermione replied through gritted teeth.

'It's not my fault she was intercepted along the way. Those Durmstrang men are such studs,' he added.

Hermione jerked back.

Did Draco Malfoy just… joke?

'I think that you should close your mouth, Granger-- very impolite. But with your upbringing I couldn't blame you. Viktor-- ah I'd like to stay and chat, but I've other pressing business to attend to.'

No matter how many slights Hermione could count in his last speech before walking away, nothing could wipe away the smile on her face.

Too bad her good mood wasn't about to last.

'Done fraternising with the enemy?'

Hermione froze on the second to the bottom step that led up the way to the Gryffindor tower.

She'd decided to call it a night with Viktor as he still had to do some preparations for the Second Task. Ron had been happy enough to accompany her-- where Harry was neither of them knew-- but now it seemed that Ron was also willing to pick a fight with her.

'What's this about Ronald?' she asked him calmly.

'You and Krum,' he practically spat the last word.

'Krum? You're jealous of him?' she raised an eyebrow.

'Jealous! Of a Durmstrang? No… filthy low-lives…'

'ENOUGH.'

For some reason, Ron actually stopped. But then Hermione realised that so did all the conversation around them.

Damn, she thought to herself.

'I will not have you defeating the purpose of this tournament!' she began in a low furious tone, 'this is supposed to be about International Co-operation. Making friends!'

Too bad that by the time she finished her rant, she was a few octaves higher than she'd begun.

'Well that's not the point is it?'

'Shut up. Just shut up! You ruin everything Ron!'

She would have hit him.

Had he not scampered up the stairs faster than he had.

She would have chased him.

--if she hadn't been aware that the dress wasn't exactly made for extraneous physical activities.

She would have cried.

--but she knew that she the carefully applied make-up that Lavender Brown had placed onto her face would be ruined.

And she would have broken down if not for the sardonic voice that interrupted the cascade of thoughts in her head.

'Breathe gently, Hermione.'

God, did it feel good to hear someone say her name right.

Not that she didn't fully appreciate Viktor. He was such a thoughtful guy. He'd been a great and attentive companion throughout this night.

But still…

'Malfoy?' she asked, it seemed impossible for him to be the one comforting her like this.

'Would you like me to beat him up for you?' she looked up to his eyes and saw the one thing that looked like it didn't belong there. Even she could see that he was having trouble with it.

Yet she couldn't quite put a name to it.

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Author's Note: I hope you liked this second chapter! One more to go. :D Kei