Monday morning dawned damp and cold. Hermione was glad to sit during her free period with a cup of tea by the fire though instead of her studies she pulled out the list she made and read it over before adding things and crossing out a few others.
Theo – Slytherin (snake – maybe using me?), kind, down to earth, fun, intelligent… shy? – (according Draco can be very and was nervous)
Draco – Slytherin (snake – hiding something?), intelligent, surprisingly witty for a boy who used the same insults for six years, surprisingly learned humility, actually cared to listen to my opinions and debate things in a friendly way, is really trying to be a better man, ambitious, keeps me on my toes.
Erik – Likes to study and read, great conversationalist, kind, open, loves his brother, lives really far away, doesn't think I should have all the answers and likes that I ask questions even encourages me to ask and challenge myself more
Blaise – Slytherin (snake – insincere?) intelligent, charming, romantic, easy to be around and talk to, funny, philanthropist
Oliver – Brave, Quidditch… ?
Kiril - ?:)
Charlie – Weasley, funny, lives far away, compassionate about animals, never made fun of me about S.P.E.W, always talked to me like an adult ?
Viktor – First boy to make me feel pretty, likes that I'm smart, funny, down to earth, can laugh at himself, a good friend, honest, loyal, loves me, good kisser
She still wasn't sure what to write about Kiril so she left him with just the question mark and added a smiley face. Tonight was the Quidditch game with Oliver. It was colder and still damp so Hermione wore the special white cloak with gold trim that kept her so warm over skinny jeans and a red sweater. She was sure she was early but found the tall, attractive Scotsman already waiting for her.
"You look lovely Hermione."
"Thanks Oliver."
"You ready for the match?"
"Yes."
He looked at her hands, "No book?" Hermione laughed and shook her head, Harry, Ron and Ginny are playing.
"Right." He nodded. "Shall we head down and get some good seats then?"
Hermione nodded and when they bumped into Damyan with Luna, Hermione hugged him and introduced the two men before starting up the steps. "All settled in Hogsmeade Damyan?"
"Yeah, just vaiting for Viktor to arrive. Vas happy Loohna sent owl game is open to couples outside school."
Luna smiled back at him her radish earrings swinging. He and Oliver started talking Quidditch and they found seats together.
She really did have fun watching the game with Oliver and once in a while he'd lean over to explain an interesting play. Gryffindor won but only by fifty points when Harry caught the snitch, it had been hovering in front of Ginny and he swooped down to kiss her, while snatching it from the air. Every one cheered and hooted.
Luna went to see Damyan's heart birthmark, a statement that made Hermione blush and Oliver curious as they walked towards the school together.
"Apparently it's beside his…" Hermione trailed off and flicked her eyes to Oliver's crotch.
"Oh." He chuckled catching on quick. "Did you enjoy the game?"
"I did." Hermione smiled, "It's nice to watch Harry and Ron have fun again. It's been a hard adjustment both with the new law and since the war."
"How have you been lass?"
She and Oliver talked and she found he did actually have interests other than Quidditch a fact she pointed out to him and made him catch his heart in protest.
"Oi! You wound me!"
"Please Quidditch to you is books to me."
Oliver laughed, "That it is lass but books are no more your life than Quidditch is mine… even if it has become my profession."
They began talking about working and the future and it was very late when they said goodnight. Hermione went up to bed and crossed his name on the list. Oliver was wonderful but they agreed they didn't have any spark a fact which didn't detract at all from their plans to spend more time together. He even invited her to spend time in Edinburgh with him and promised to send her his older sisters notes on her animagus studies.
Wednesday Hermione spent the day actually focused on NEWT work, the only interruption to her concentration a high pitched squeel from the Slytherin table at supper. Hermione looked over to see Daphne hugging Theo and practically vibrating with joy. The rest of the SLytherins were whispering while their other friends just sat there grinning until Daphne finally released Theo, then they shook his hand or slapped his back. Curiousity got the better of Ginny who dragger Hermione and Harry over to the Slythering table.
"Theo's engaged!" Daphne announced before they'd gotten all the way around the Ravenclaw table to the group.
Congratulations were given and the group abandoned the rest of the meal to congregate together in an abandoned class and get all the details from Blaise and the beautiful sixth year Ravenclaw, Juliette. It was clear the girl adored Theo and all of them were happy for him as they listened to the week the new couple had spent getting to know each other. Juliette might have been a muggle born but her grandfather had been a Nazi so she knew a thing or two about how Theo felt about his fathers actions. The two seemed very compatible, not in love but like they could grow to love each other over the years and be very happy together.
The girls reluctantly parted from their male friends to have their second proper, 'class'. All the boys were curious about what the class was but no girl would mention anything about it. They had taken the confidentiality to its extreme and all any girl in the school would tell the boys was that it was 'just another marriage preparation' class."
When they arrived the room was already set up with pillows, junk food and butterbeer. The girls all took their seats and sipped their butterbeers until the professors all arrived and the room was warded, silenced and potions handed out. Each girl quickly downed both of hers. As frank and open as their conversations were already this one took the cake. All embarrassment was set aside as each girl learned more about each other, their professors and sex than they'd ever thought to.
Luna happily shared not only the details of Damyan's tattoo but went on to describe, in detail his shape and size. She was concerned they might have trouble getting pregnant. "He's very thick, much more than Neville but nearly so long. Do you suppose his seed might not find my eggs?"
Neville they had learned, had been Luna's first, Stewart Thomas in her own house her only other experience, "Stew wasn't so long as Neville but I think it was close and his didn't have skin at the top like Damyan's does. I think it hurt Stew's feelings when I told him he was so skinny there so I didn't want to ask Damyan about getting pregnant with his."
"What do you mean skin at the top?" Holly asked.
"Well his didn't have a turtle neck like Neville's did and Damyan's does. Damyan doesn't have so much hair there as Neville did which is very nice, I like being able to kiss his heart mark."
Minerva explained to them all about circumsicion and the girls were shocked to learn that some muggles cut the tips off boys penis's.
"Can he still get her pregnant though?" Astoria asked with a blush.
"Yes." Poppy smiled kindly at her, "They don't have to reach a specific spot inside you when the seed is released. It swims up to find the egg."
"What about if they're crooked?" Susan spoke up with a blush.
After a thorough talk about the size and shapes of various male organs, and the rare possibility a man had only one testicle (a strange occurance Hannah had found in a Durmstang boy) which led to the discussion of fellatio and other sexual acts which might occur between partners even during formal courting, unlike sex which was magically prohibited during the formal period before engagement.
This led to more discussion of courting and gossip about engagements as well as a long discussion about what was acceptable before marriage, before and during engagements and before official courtship. It was after curfew when they finally said goodnight.
Hermione dreamt about Kiril that night and woke up feeling warm, the same aching need in her belly as when he kissed her. It was predawn and the room was barely light with dawn but she couldn't go back to sleep. Instead she wrote to Kiril.
Kiril.
I got a letter from your sister yesterday. I'm so happy everything is working out better for her and Keoran with his people. I know you were both worried though you tried to hide it. How are your studies coming? I haven't been able to concentrate at all for becoming an animagus, I'll be trying to meditate and a thought will just float into my head like Fleur or watching the fireworks our last night together. It's distracting. Last night I dreamed of being back in the hallway with you. Have you met with your Beauxbaton girl? I keep thinking about Fleur. Do you know her? She's married to Bill Weasley, she was here for the Triwizard tournament and she's so beautiful. I want to hex her. It isn't right I know, she's not even the girl you're with but it's her I picture in my head with you. I suppose its jealousy at the thought of her sitting there in your work space discussing your theories or sitting with you on your bed playing cards or worse… Sorry about the ink blotch. I broke my quill. It was a good raven one too. I'll have to go into town and get a new one, I also need a bookmark and I want to see the Fair going up in Hogsmeade. What are you doing this week… with school I mean. I've bene staying very busy. Or have tried to. Besides classes I had a date with Oliver Wood, he's a boy that graduated from here a few years ago that Ginny set me up with. We got along better than I would have expected and are going to be good friends I think. He's even convinced me I might enjoy flying more if I learned all the magic behind it and then I'd feel more comfortable with the broom. He's sending me several books on brooms, how they are made the runes and their magical cores. Did you know brooms had magical cores? Of course I'm sure you did but I'd no idea. It's good to have found another friend. Which reminds me my friend Theo got engaged. Her name is Juliette and I like her very much, she and Ginny are friends though I'd never really met her before. Iliyra said you were going to meet her friend this weekend. I hope it goes well. Well no, that's a lie, I really don't. Is that horrible of me to say? I think it's horrible of me. I almost wish Iliyra hadn't even told me but then guessing would be worse. Maybe I'll try to focus on her project. I'd like to speak with Professor Lupin about it, Remus is a very good friend, the werewolf I told you about. His wife died in the war and his little son Teddy is at the school with him. Maybe I could babysit for him to repay Remus for her help. Do you know they are making him remarry! His wife hasn't been gone a year! This stupid law. I've read in the paper here they are talking about extending the deadline, there's been a lot of fuss about how fast it is and how disrupting because of school and it being so soon and people's memories so fresh. It would be nice to have until the summer. Everything is booking up and people are aparantly having a lot of trouble planning weddings, so many aren't even engaged yet even and already everything is over booked. It's a huge boost in the economy though and I suppose that's very good for all of us. I can hear the other girls waking up and this is already a long and rambling letter when all I really meant to say was I miss you. Please write to me soon. I look forward to seeing you next week. You are still coming aren't you?
Hermione sighed and sealed the letter sending it on its way. Something she dearly regretted as soon as she sat down for breakfast, the letter had made her sound so needy and clingy and horribly jealous. It didn't matter that she was the latter, she didn't really want Kiril to know that. It was to late now of course. Hermione sighed again and picked at her eggs before following Ginny to class. Today's topic was babies and how to care for them, different muggle and wizarding perspectives on child rearing and communication and support when dealing with parenting issues or opposing believes between couples. Hermione's classes dragged until lunch where a letter and small package arrived for her.
Mya.
It was so good to see you at Durmstang. Moments I will treasure as you know how deeply I care for you. It seems that our stars are meant to cross and not align though and I hope always we will be friends. I hope you are not angry with me and I hope this is the first you are hearing of this, I wish I could explain in person but I did not want to risk waiting to see you and word arriving from another source.
I married yesterday.
She is not you Mya and while I have great affection for her I hope you believe nothing I ever said to you or affection we shared was false. I loved you. You were the first witch I felt such an emotion for and always you will hold special place in my heart.
Alyssa is pregnant though the baby is not mine I feel as her friend I must be there for her. She has no one else. Her fiancé has abandoned her. The muggle did not love her as she thought and when he learned she had to marry for law he blame her for becoming pregnant to trap him. Lyssa would never do such thing. She feels very afraid and alone. Her mother is half Veela, my mother's best friend, and her father was a muggle. Because the law did not restrict me from wedding her I did, without question. My only hesitation was the chance I have missed with you.
Kiril, my Durmstang brother and I have talked much about you, his love for you is greater than mine and over week I considered backing away to make things easier for him, this made it easier for me to do right thing.
Please Hermione, forgive me.
I love you and you will always be a very special friend to me. I hope I can remain as such to you.
Viktor Krum
Hermione read the letter three times immediately pulling out parchment to reply.
There is nothing to forgive. You are a wonderful man Viktor. I've always known it and what you have done only confirms it more. I do hope you will be very happy with Alyssa and that you will come to love each other in time. That horrible boy! She must have been heartbroken and felt terribly frightened and alone. I can only imagine how grateful she is to have a friend like you. I know I am. I hope to meet her soon and if there is anything I can do please let me know.
Your forever friend,
Hermione.
She was late for class as she sent the owl off but didn't mind. The rest of the day went much quicker than the morning and soon she found herself sat in the library, again staring at her list and making changes.
Theo – Slytherin (snake – maybe using me?), kind, down to earth, fun, intelligent… shy? – (according Draco can be very and was nervous)
Draco – Slytherin (snake – hiding something?), intelligent, surprisingly witty for a boy who used the same insults for six years, surprisingly learned humility, actually cared to listen to my opinions and debate things in a friendly way, is really trying to be a better man, ambitious, keeps me on my toes.
Erik – Likes to study and read, great conversationalist, kind, open, loves his brother, lives really far away, doesn't think I should have all the answers and likes that I ask questions even encourages me to ask and challenge myself more
Blaise – Slytherin (snake – insincere?) intelligent, charming, romantic, easy to be around and talk to, funny, philanthropist
Oliver – Brave, Quidditch… ?
Kiril - ?:)
Charlie – Weasley, funny, lives far away, compassionate about animals, never made fun of me about S.P.E.W, always talked to me like an adult ?
Viktor – First boy to make me feel pretty, likes that I'm smart, funny, down to earth, can laugh at himself, a good friend, honest, loyal, loves me, good kisser
There were three names left on her list. Charlie was back in Romania, working with a very sick dragon. Hermione knew she cared a great deal for the dragon tamer and Ginny was convinced they would make a very happy couple but after staring at the list for a long time she crossed his name off the list as well.
Stuffing the list in her pocket she walked back up to her common room and got ready for the Masquerade feast.
She used the same gold lace demi mask from Durmstang and found the great hall set up like a casino with tables of food and drinks, trays of each also floating around. She joined her friends and found most people had worn full masks, except for the established couples who wore demi masks and a few of the boys who also made no effort to hide their identities.
Ron quickly paired off with Susan and was playing one of the games with her while Ginny taught Harry and Hermione Wizarding poker. Blaise joined them and partnered Hermione. She found herself by his side for the rest of the night. He filled her with the same contentment, happiness and warmth he had on their first date. Yes, she definitely felt a spark with Blaise. It wasn't the same as she felt with Kiril but equally as stong. A fact she was blatantly made aware of when he kissed her. It was just a quick kiss. They'd won the a bet and he'd spun her around and place a chaste kiss on her lips but she'd blushed and felt heat rush from her heat through to her toes. Later as he walked with Draco towards their common room she stopped him.
"Blaise wait!"
"Mione?" He smiled at her as she hurried over to him and Draco.
She reach up on her toes her hand going around his neck and her eyes never leaving his deep blue ones as she pressed her lips to his. She hadn't imagined it. Heat had immediately raced through her on the contact and her eyes closed as he pulled her into him after a moment to deepen the kiss, her toes curled at the electric rush that zipped through her when his tongue slid into her mouth.
"Goodnight Blaise." She whispered before running off, blushing a deeper shade of red than she could ever have imagined.
Blaise stood staring after her until Draco grabbed him and pulled him to start walking again.
"She's not trying to make another bloke jealous either." Draco laughed at his quietly shocked friend.
Blaise wasn't sure what to say, he just raised his hand to his lips and went straight to his dorm.
"What's with him?" Pansy dropped into a chair.
"Hermione kissed him." Draco laughed.
"She did?" Theo asked waving his wand to pour Draco a glass of the firewhisky the rest of them were enjoying.
Draco couldn't help but smirk as he told them about her stopping Blaise in the hall and the heat that had poured from the couple, practically singing his robes with the fire they had between them.
