Viktor Krum

The end of the Hogwarts term had always been hard. But even the past three years could not have prepared Hermione Granger for the end of this, her fourth year. Hogwarts had hosted two other wizarding schools, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, in the famed Triwizard Tournament that year. It was made especially extraordinary because her best friend, Harry Potter, had been made an unprecedented fourth champion, and that the event had ended in tragedy with the death of the other Hogwarts champion, Cedric Diggory, and the supposed return of Lord Voldemort.

Now, as Hermione wandered about the front courtyard outside of the castle, looking for Harry and her other best friend (that's all he was…wasn't he?), Ron Weasley, she could see that the normally wide space was cramped with students in school robes. The Beauxbatons carriage would be departing soon, as would the Durmstrang ship, and students were using the precious limited time left to say goodbye to new friends made over this past year.

Hermione finally spotted her buddies standing cramped near the doors that led to the grounds beyond the courtyard. Their entire luggage stood around them in heaps. Hermione quickly joined them and set down her one giant suitcase and other smaller carry-on bag down beside the mound of their belongings.

Rather than shy away from the horror of the last few weeks, the Golden Trio instead focused on it while conversing with each other. Harry, Ron and Hermione had gained a reputation of being mystery-crackers and heroes at the school, so the magnetic pull of natural inquisitiveness was even greater than the long summer vacation that was mere hours away. Soon, however, lighter comments were made.

"Wonder how the Durmstrangs are going to get home?" Ron wondered. "Reckon they can steer the ship without Karkaroff?"

"Karkaroff did not steer," came a voice from behind them. "He stayed in his cabin and let us do the vork." The trio jumped and turned. Hermione's heart also skipped a beat. There was Triwizard champion and famous Bulgarian Quidditch player Viktor Krum. He had also been Hermione's date to the Yule Ball (much to Ron's consternation). Clearly, he had come to say goodbye to her – something Hermione had, up until this moment, not thought to do.

"Could I have a vord?" Viktor asked her.

"Oh…err…yes, alright," Hermione replied, sounding slightly flustered. She could almost feel the heat coming to her cheeks. Viktor turned and moved away into the crowd. Hermione had no choice but to follow, only half-listening to Ron's warning that the horseless carriages would be here soon to take them to Hogwarts Station. She called over her shoulder to ask the boys to carry her luggage. Harry immediately dove for the carpetbag, so that Ron, to Hermione's amusement, could only lift her giant suitcase over his shoulder with a grunt and stagger after the Boy Who Lived.

Hermione followed Victor out of the courtyard and back into an empty corridor. He took her hand.

"Hermione," he began, struggling as he always had with the pronunciation of her name. "I vant to stay in touch vith you. You could vrite to me." He handed her a slip of paper with his address on it. Hermione nodded and smiled.

"Thank you, Victor. That sounds fine."

"Also," Victor added, and here, he seemed to flush. "I vas vondering…vould you like to visit me in Bulgaria. I have…never felt like this about anyone else before."

Hermione nodded slowly. She would actually really like to visit him in Bulgaria.

"All Bulgarian students, all aboard the ship!" a voice boomed out. Victor turned back to Hermione; he now looked slightly panicked.

"Sbogom, moya lyubov," he said. Then, he unexpectedly seized Hermione around her waist, pulled her close and kissed her right on the lips. Hermione's eyes bulged as their lips touched. She had her hands pressed against Victor's muscular chest. She had no idea what to do. True, she had snogged Cedric in the Prefect's bathroom, but that was different. Then, her wide-open eyes darted over to the left. Some girls, obviously fans of Victor's, were watching them. Their looks ranged from shock to envy to teary. Hermione realized this was an opportunity to show some that she was not the bookworm that everyone thought she was; that she had, in fact, changed this year.

"Mmmm…." she moaned, and leaned against Victor, snogging him right back. Exhilarated, Victor lifted her clean off the ground. Hermione cautiously wrapped her legs around his waist, and her arms snaked around his neck. She had had very limited experience with snogging up until now, but that did not mean she was not willing to try and explore.

Victor staggered forward until Hermione had been slammed up against the wall. They were kissing heatedly now. Hermione shifted her hands and cupped his face, her lips digging deeper against his. She closed her eyes. Snogging in general, not to mention snogging with a famous international Quidditch player, was the most wonderful feeling in the world. Yet, even as she kissed Victor, Hermione could not help but have one thought fly through her otherwise numb brain: I'm betraying Ron; I don't want to hurt Ron…

Victor and Hermione broke the kiss at last. Hermione was breathing heavily. Victor set her down, gave her a peck on the cheek. He repeated the words he had said before he had grabbed Hermione and snogged her senseless. Then, he ran for the ship. Hermione watched him go, fingers against her cheek and lips, hardly daring to believe what had just happened.