The blue line drifted counterclockwise in a slow, methodic motion. It never moved an inch out of it's pathway, yet the changing shades of electric blue revealed its movement.
The boys always came in groups to cross it. One would slowly tip toe through the elevated barrier, drop their name in the Goblet, and pass once more through the line to be cheered on by their friends. Each time a paper was dropped delicately into the Goblet, it roared like a lion, seizing and burning the small piece of paper. Hermione was surprised that people had not entered their names more than once out of fear that the paper was destroyed. The Goblet, as is the Tournament, is a Venus fly trap of sorts. Still, calm, quiet. Until its prey falls for its tricks.
She sat and watched this process, fascinated by the magic behind it all. The line, the Goblet, the small slips of papers, the beards that had grown on the faces of those idiotic enough to cross the line at a younger age, and the Tournament itself.
Draco of course, was bored out of his silly little mind. "Granger, come on, we have to do something besides stare at the pretty blue line."
"It's more than a pretty blue line, Draco. It's powerful magic."
"Yes, it is wonderful, powerful magic." He emphasized sarcastically. "So is this." He pulled out his wand and flourished it dramatically as if directing an orchestra. Thin blue ribbons shot from the end, swirling in the air before they landed on the ground, and popping like a bubble.
She smiled and offered a small laugh to boost his ego. "That is far from powerful magic."
"Perspective, Granger."
"Rubbish, Malfoy."
The pair sat in quiet for several minutes, perhaps longer. Draco would twirl his wand idly through his fingers, the wood passing over and under every other finger, a habitual fidget of his. Hermione observed the seventh years that would pass through. Very few from Hogwarts, she noticed. Most, if not all of Beauxbatons. All from Durmstrang would enter their names. The boy, or man, she should say, that stood out most was Viktor Krum, of course.
He marched in with a determined face, and the room was silenced. Whispers ran through groups, but were immediately stifled by a glare here and there. He looked determined and able as he entered his name into the Goblet of Fire. Hermione would be lying if she said she had not taken note of the wink and smile he offered her before leaving.
Draco had noticed too.
"Hermione... Can I ask you a question?"
He only ever used her first name if he was serious, angry, confused, or nervous.
"Sure, go ahead. You know you can ask me anything."
"Have you ever kissed someone?"
"Oh." She felt her cheeks burn bright red as she began to stammer. "Actually...er...I erm...I h-...y-yeah. Once. Yeah."
"You have?"
She did not trust herself to speak, so she nodded.
"Well, who was it?" Draco's eyes subconsciously searched the room as if he were there.
"You uh, you don't know him. He's a erm...he's a..."She mumbled the last word so softly she would not have know it herself, had she not purposely mouthed the word.
"Yes?"
"He's...He's a...muggle. He's a muggle, okay?"
"He's a muggle? You kissed a muggle?" The disgust was evident in his voice.
"Yes. I kissed a muggle. And it was quite...lovely, to be honest. You don't have to be a wizard to be a good kisser you know?" She felt her blush deepen at her words. How she had actually managed to say them was lost on her.
"But...when did you kiss a muggle? Were you dating him? Did you...Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No! I don't have a boyfriend. It was one kiss, one time. I barely knew him."
"Did you even know his name?" He said with a hint of frustration.
"No, actually. I don't think I did."
"Jesus, Hermione! You didn't even know his name? Why would you kiss him?"
"I didn't! He kissed me...why does this bother you so much? He didn't kiss you."
"Well no, obviously not, but...I don't know."
"Why, have you ever kissed anybody?"
Draco's eyes softened and he glanced down at his feet. "Er, no. Not exactly."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"No. It means no, okay?" His cheeks burned as he ran his hands through his now messy hair. For the past three years, his hair had always been slicked back, but now he had changed. His hair was now a little messy, and Hermione would be a dirty liar if she didn't admit it was downright adorable. She found herself noticing him again. Noticing how he was taller, stronger, more handsome, than last year. It was surprising that he had never shared a kiss with a girl. Even Hermione wanted to kiss him.
Wait.
What?
She did not just think that. Nope. Didn't happen. He was her friend. Her friend. Not her boyfriend. And he would never be her boyfriend. Things were complicated enough without a romantic connection. He would just have to find a girlfriend in somebody else. The thought sent a pang of jealousy through her, aimed at a nonexistent girl.
Before he or she could speak again, the room was silenced by an angry Mad Eye Moody storming in.
"Now listen carefully, because this is important!" He yelled in his frustrated tone. "I will not, will NOT be turning anyone back to their original age or physical complexion anymore, so if you think it's worth it, be my guest and cross that bloody line there. Just be aware that you will look like an alligator that has been crumpled up and ironed out by HELEN KELLER WITH A ROCK AS HER IRON for several weeks, or however the bloody hell long it takes for my patience to return! And if you're wondering at the moment my patience is on vacation in BLOODY ANTARCTICA!" His spiel came out all in one breath.
Somewhere in the room, a first year yelled after Mad-Eye in a polite tone. "Have a good day, Mr. Moody!"
"Don't tell me what to do!" He yelled back.
Draco cackled like a hyena next to Hermione. He was covering his mouth to cover the sounds he was making. Even Hermione found herself laughing after a few moments.
"It really doesn't help that he looks that way, now does it?" She managed to get out between laughs.
[The Lake]
Her legs went numb about two miles into the run. This should have been concerning, but was more of a relief, considering the alternate. Her arms still chugged along in pain, pushing her forward. The rocks beneath her feet kicked up behind her with each effort to pick up her feet.
The sound of another set of feet greeted her from behind. She turned around, expecting Harry, who would join her every once in a while when she would decide to start running again.
"Viktor." This. This was her brilliant greeting. His name, of all things.
"Herm-own-ninny." He responded. "I did not know you ran?" He asked as a question.
"I, er, I don't usually. Just every once in a while." She found herself fixing her hair, which she was sure was atrocious at the moment. The sweat dripped down her neck in a hot line. Here, she stood before him, a disgusting mess of sweat and consistent, shallow breaths. And there in front of her, he stood looking quite handsome.
"May I run with you?" He asked.
"Sure."
After a few minutes of effortless running on his part, Viktor spoke in a voice so calm he could have spent the last half hour in a bathtub. "I don't know if I can keep vith you Herm-own- ninny."
She smiled and slowed to a walk. "I'm sorry, I don't run much."
"That is okay. You have a very... vhat is the vord? Pretty. You have a very pretty smile."
Hermione blushed and looked down at the rocks. "Oh. Thank you."
"You have a very pretty everything...Did, did I say that right?"
"Erm, yes. Yes, you did. I, I don't really know what to say to that..."
"Vell, generally one would respond vith another compliment, but since you do not know me well enough to offer one, you could tell me that I am very good at being Viktor Krum."
Hermione giggled. "Well then you are very good at being Viktor Krum."
"Thank you. And maybe, we could get to know each other a leetle better, so next time you can tell me I am very good at something else?"
"I think that would be nice."
"Good."
Itty bitty chapter :) I've been trying to study for finals, and Im juggling two fics here, so I'm sorry if it's not as long as we might want, but it's all I can do for now. Sorry!
Leave me a review and let me know if there's anything you want me to do with this story specifically, Kay? I got the idea for that scene with Malfoy from a fan, and I thought it was a really good idea. So maybe if I like your idea too then I could incorporate it into the story? :D
The rambling will now cease. Review please :)