September second. First day of school. I hope you had a good one (unless you've already started) I made sure I would get a chapter done for today. I hope you like it.

Caution: F-word used by Malfoy near the end


\Krum\

There was only five more days until the Yule Ball, and Krum had still not found the courage (or a way) to ask Hermione to go with him, nor was he any closer to finding a way to prepare for the second Task (He had broken his promise, not touching the golden egg since he had thrown it in his trunk). He was more concerned about the former; at this point it looked like he had a better chance of taking the dragon he had faced in the first task than even finding Hermione.

He was beginning to lose hope: she was always with that Potter and the lanky red-haired boy, and Krum was sure that one of them would have asked her by now. After all, who wouldn't say yes to be Harry Potter's date to the Yule Ball?

'Now or never.' Viktor thought to himself, and, with a feeling of dread slowly mounting, rose from his bed, yet again on a search for the brown-haired Gryffindor.

Yes, it was cheesy, yes, it was uncreative, but it was all Krum had up his fur cape sleeves. A note. The only thing Viktor knew about Hermione Granger was that she loved books. So why not try putting paper with paper? The only problem: how to write the note itself.

Dear Miss Granger

Dear Hermione

Hermione, would you go to the Yule Ball

It would make my day if you

It was a much harder task than Krum had ever anticipated. It was just a note, for goodness' sake! After many crossing outs, ink spills, and pieces of parchment, he had a brief letter that he believed would serve its purpose without creeping Hermione out too much:

I know we have barely spoken despite how long I have been here, but I would like to change that. Meet me where we first met. I have a question for you. V. Krum

Truthfully, Viktor still wasn't too sure how he felt about it, but it was better than anything else he had come up with. All he had to do now was find Hermione. Krum had written this note in the Great Hall and had not once noticed the group of girls sitting very near him, trying to laugh flirtatiously and get his attention. When he rose, so did they, but quickly skirted past him, batting their eyelashes as they passed. The last girl had the idea to "accidentally" trip and fall into the teenager's arms, but all Krum did was place her back on her feet and begin walking. This time he knew where he was going.

Having only been there once before, the library still amazed Krum. The books seemed to know exactly where to go once they were finished being used, floating gracefully around the library as they returned to their shelf of origin. Durmstrang did not have a library even half the size of this one. After turning a few corners, Hermione came into view, sitting at a desk that had easily at least thirty books balancing there. All Viktor could see of her was the top of her mane of hair. Zeroing in on a green book near the top of the stack (Hogwarts: A History), Krum decided that this was where he would slip the note. Fortunately for him, Hermione decided at this moment that the book in front of her would not suffice for the essay she was working on. She stood quickly and almost ran to some shelf that was out of Krum's line of vision.

As quickly as possible, Viktor tiptoed forwards, opened his chosen book, dropped the piece of parchment in, and, with a wild glance to both sides, leaped backwards to the safety of the shelf he had been hiding behind some seven seconds previously. And then the unthinkable happened.

While Krum had been peeking around waiting to see when Hermione came back, Draco Malfoy had been doing some snooping of his own. While everybody's backs were turned, he darted up to Hermione's table and scooped all of her books, including Hogwarts: A History, and deposited them into a giant black bag he carried with him. The sneaky Slytherin then muttered a few spells, causing the Gryffindor's foot-long essay to disappear and her ink bottle to explode. Quickly as he had come, he was gone. With the note.

*Draco Malfoy*

Draco Malfoy sat in the middle of the Slytherin common room with a smirk on his face. He congratulated himself again and again for managing to nab all of Granger's books without a single soul seeing him. Now, as he sat on his favourite green stool, he began to look carefully at each one, deciding which one he would destroy first.

Slytherin's colours were green and silver, so Malfoy was automatically drawn to the emerald cover of Hogwarts: A History. Sliding to the floor, he picked it up gingerly with hand, chuckling to himself the whole time. He, Draco, would tear each page out individually until there was only the binding and cover left, and return it to the Mudblood, signed like he was a celebrity. Malfoy couldn't wait to see the look on Granger's face.

'Why do they even out these in books?' Draco thought to himself as he ripped out the first, and completely blank, page of Hermione's book. The foreword was next. Then the introduction. He skipped to the back and tore out the author's information. The next was a surprise. The book fell open in Draco's palm, and opened to the page that contained the note from V. Krum. Snatching it up, the blonde teenager's eyes scanned the page, astounded by what he saw written there. This famous Quidditch player, who had sat with him the day he had arrived, wanted to meet the Mudblood? Not if he could help it.

\Krum\

Viktor was returning from the library, mentally beating himself up. He had never thought that Hermione would have an enemy at all, let alone one that would actually sabotage her in such a way. Just as he was about to exit the doors to the enormous castle, he felt a hand grasp his shoulder hard. It was Malfoy, with the piece of parchment addressed to Hermione in his hand. He did not look happy.

"What the hell is this?" Draco spoke very angrily. "Why the fuck are you sending notes to that Mudblood scum? Tell me you are not asking her to that ball!"

"Vot I do is none of your business." Krum replied coolly. He was angry, certainly, but he was experienced at hiding his emotions. Just because this blonde teenager was the first person he had met when he came here did not mean that Krum could be bossed around. He knew more people now. He didn't really need Malfoy.

"She's nothing but a stuck-up little know-it-all. You can do a million times better," Malfoy sneered, "Nothing but trouble. You'll regret it." He shoved the note into Krum's chest and stalked away, back to the dungeons.


Written July 10, August 31, September 1&2

Disclaimer – The Harry Potter series and all of its character belong to J.K Rowling.