After a while she made her way to the castle and was pleasantly surprised to run into Erik with Dane and Astoria.

"Hermione!" Astoria bounced over and hugged her making Hermione laugh and hug her back, she'd never seen the younger girl so relaxed and open.

"Story has agreed to accompany us to dinner, would you as well?" Dane bowed to her.

Hermione looked over to him and nodded even as Astoria was already tugging her towards the Great Hall.

"I took herbology, double potions and charms with Dane today, their potions master is so much better than Slug, Snape might have been scary but he was a brilliant teacher, I felt like this one might have been able keep up with his potions brain. I have to say I prefer Flitwick for Charms and Professor Sprout joined in the herbology class and I swear they spent more time discussing the plants between themselves than teaching but I learned so much and it was very fun to listen to, I swear they sounded a bit like Dane and I when we get wrapped up talking about different ones and Dane's taught me a lot of muggle uses for some plants."

Hermione let Astoria lead her to one of the tables and blushed as all the men seated rose and bowed. Erik pulled out a chair for her and the four of them sat together. Astoria talking in a manner Hermione normally associated with her older sister until Dane caught her attention.

"Did you have a good day Hermione?" Erik asked quietly.

"Yes, very, though I barely got any work done, I just couldn't concentrate and it's not like me at all."

"Come with me to the library after dinner? We can study together."

Hermione grinned at him, "I'd love to."

Erik nodded and they talked easily as they ate, excusing themselves from the others when they finished. He walked her out to get her things and then led her through the castle to the library and then to his favorite study nook.

They studied together for hours, talking time to discuss topics or review each others work. Hermione found it refreshing to work with a mind as focused as her own could be so she didn't have to nag him to stop mucking about or correct a thousand points practically doing half the work for him or letting him copy her answers. Instead they debated a few points rechecked various research and worked steadily until Hermione found herself once again well a head of her studies and had moved on to some reading about werewolves and various potions or spells that had been used over the years.

She jumped when a small bell rang.

"The library will close now." Erik told her smiling at her reaction, "It's almost curfew."

"Is it already?" Hermione gasped and glanced longingly at the book she'd been reading.

"You can take it out on my name and read it tonight." Erik offered picking up the book.

"Thank you!" Hermione hugged him making him laugh.

"I thought only I got excited about reading old tombs." He told her tucking it under his arm and guiding her through the room.

Hermione blushed and laughed, "No, I do as well. Harry and Ron are always teasing me about it." Hermione felt a sting of longing at thinking about them and Erik's arm moved around her shoulders in comfort.

"You miss them very much."

Hermione sighed and nodded, "I know its silly, its been only two days but we haven't been apart this long since… well since we destroyed the locket horcrux a year ago. I feel a little off balance without them." She admitted shyly.

"I'm sure they miss you just as well."

Hermione nodded and sighed again. He walked her out and handed her the book along with her satchel carrying her study things. Then he tilted her chin up so their eyes met. "I'm sorry to see you sad alskling."

Hermione gave him a small smile, "It really was wonderful to study with you Erik, quite a change from studying with my friends who don't much care to do it."

He nodded, "I find it very refreshing and rewarding to study with you as well. You have a beautiful mind." He told her leaning down to kiss her gently, like before it made her feel light headed and a little like floating as she turned and walked inside.

The noise in the room cleared her head and she found the others had all returned and were sitting in pajama's having 'class' with Lara and Pomona who encourage her to change and join.

After listening to a few others talk Hermione heard her own voice without her brains permission, "Why does it make my head go foggy and feel like I might float when Erik kisses me but when Kiril does I feel… fire and… grounded?"

"It's so romantic feeling." Susan sighed, "Erik must make you feel special."

"Kiril is definitely pure lust." Katrina seemed to agree.

"Do you feel need when Erik kisses you?" Lara asked instead of answering.

Hermione frowned in thought, "No, my mind just goes blank." She sighed, "Not that I can think about anything when I kiss Kiril except that I don't want him to stop kissing me."

"Don't you feel passion when you kiss Erik?" Padma asked, "I feel like floating after Lukas kissed me but while he was kissing me all I could think was… well I couldn't think I was warm putty in his hands and all feeling and need."

Hermione frowned, "No. I feel grounded just flushed and achy with want when Kiril stopped kissing me when Erik kisses me I feel foggy and then he stops and the fog doesn't I just kind of float like in a dream as though I can still feel him kiss me or hear him tell me my mind is beautiful." She sighed.

"Think some on it tonight and we'll talk again tomorrow." Lara smiled at her, "Out of curiosity how does it feel when Viktor kisses you?"

Hermione blushed, "Intense."

Lara nodded and turned to the other girls, "I think we'll end it here so we can all dream of kisses from our wizards. Goodnight girls."

"Goodnight." They all called tucking into covers and rolling over.

Saturday the girls were all kept busy, they were given a tour of the grounds by the younger years and treated to a game of Quidditch, in the largest courtyard which they were informed was indeed positioned exactly in the center of the school, the rivalry between the teams fierce as any school house at Hogwarts but much friendler as well. After lunch Erik asked her to walk with him.

"You are distant today alskling." He murmured.

"I'm sorry." She blushed, "my mind just seems to be spinning."

Erik pulled her to a stop in a small alcove with a view of the cliffs, "We are much a like Hermione. Your mind is the most beautiful I have ever come across."

She blushed and he sighed, "I would be happy married to you, surrounding by our books."

Hermione smiled at him but his expression made her frown, "Why doesn't that seem to make you happy?"

"I fear it is you that would be unhappy alskling for as much as we are alike you have wings where I have roots."

"What do you mean?"

I wish to make my life at my home, with my brother and our wives, but while he will go off to study plants around the world I wish to spend mine in books and research. I wish to have and raise my family in the home I grew in and while I wish to make many discoveries that will benefit the wizarding world I have no desire to be surrounded by it or to explore it. You are full of life and adventure calls to you but more, life calls to you, your compassion for other beings, your passion to make a difference in their lives, to be part of those lives. You would eventually suffocate with me."

"Erik?"

"I could very easily love you Hermione and I would be very happy with you but could not, I think, make you as happy." Hermione felt her eyes burn with tears and he pulled her into his arms, "Tell me I am wrong alskling?" he whispered it as though it were almost a plea.

She shook her head in his chest, "I don't know" she finally whispered.

"I know." He rubbed her back. "I hope I always have your friendship and affection, I hope we may always find time to study together and share our thoughts but I think it is not fair to you, to those who could make you happier than I, for me to steal your attentions and affections."

Hermione lifted her head to look at him, "I do like you so much."

"I know and I like you the same, I maybe even love you and it is why I must do what my heart tells me is right for you." He leaned down and kissed her gently. "You are so beautiful and I am honored we are friends." He whispered before leaving her.

Hermione sat down with a sigh. She was a little sad but not heartbroken. Erik was right, he was wonderful, she got along so well with him and his kiss was so sweet, so romantic and she felt like she was dreaming with him but she didn't fill with fire and need with him and she wanted more in her life than one of quiet study and companionship.

With it all settling in her she stood, the charms on her wrist catching her eye. She smiled at them and felt her body flush as she thought of Kiril kissing her, of his eyes sparkling as she stated her opinions while talking with his sister about the werewolf project, the way he'd wink at her at just the right moment in a way that both flustered and encouraged her. He was very different from her, more learn hands on than books but somehow it seemed to enhance the way she thought as they had meaningful conversations but she liked how not everything was that way either, he was easy to be around and relaxed, he didn't feel the need to fill silence but could talk with her about nothing important and still pay attention like every word she said was important. Viktor always did that, listened to her, making her feel important and cherished.

Hermione sighed and smiled to herself as she wandered the castle. Edan and Caius found her lost in a corridor unsure if she should go up or down the stairwell she had met with.

"Hermione." Edan called with a smile.

"Hello." She smiled back at them.

"What are you doing?"

Hermione shrugged and laughed, "Getting lost. This place is beautiful but the stone walls are mostly bare so you can't even find a painting to ask or remember a suit of armor marks which direction to take."

Edan shook his head with a laugh, "I suppose it is very different for you. Where were you looking to go?"

"Nowhere." Hermione admitted, "I was just thinking and wandering and figured I'd find myself in the entrance hall eventually."

Caius laughed, "Or our dorm."

"Your dorm?" Hermione blushed.

"Down is Caius and I, up is Kiril and Lukas."

"You know Lukas?" Hermione asked surprised and thinking of Padma even as it registered to her that she was outside Kiril's bedroom.

"Of course." They both nodded, "We didn't know you did."

"I don't, I know his name." Hermione admitted with a blush, "He's been spending time with Padma since we arrived."

"Ah." Edan nodded, "We saw them together a little while ago."

"Right." Hermione blushed as her eyes went to the stairs as her mind shot to an image of Kiril and she turned back to them.

"I should be off then." She nodded, "That way I suppose, unless you think I'll run into trouble and turn into someone else's rooms?"

"Can't imagine anyone in this area would object." Caius grinned.

"This is the wing for eighth years." Edan nodded, "The young boys might have been embarrassed but I know I'd have been pleased."

Caius shoved him gently and nodded to the steps, "He's up there and would be very happy."

Hermione blushed and glanced up, "Oh, I…"

"You could come down with us instead, we were going to play a game of chess but would happily play something else with you."

Caius rolled his eyes at his friend, but nodded to her, "It would be our honor to entertain you but truly Kiril will be happy you've stumbled upon him."

Hermione blushed and nodded, "Maybe I'll just see if he'd like to play." She whispered.

Caius and Edan both nodded, a wide grin on both their faces. "We will see you later then." Edan winked at her.

Caius winked and nodded to the steps as they walked past going down.

Hermione took a breath and walked slowly up.