"The nerve of that hag!" said Lavender indignantly, yanking her robes out of her closet and slamming the door shut. "First she steals Viktor from you–"
"He wasn't stolen," Hermione corrected from her place on the vanity. "I asked her to ask him."
"And he said yes!" she threw her robes onto her bed and started undressing. "How dare he, that two-timing son of a–"
"What Lav is trying to say is," Parvati cut in, pulling her long elaborate braid out of the wrappings of her sari, "however innocent his intentions may be, hers are most definitely not. I mean why should she care about his favorite color or scent?"
Hermione struggled to hide her discomfort. She busied herself with her make-up as Ginny worked diligently on her hair. "What was I supposed to do? She asked nicely."
"Nicely!" Lavender repeated incredulously. "Oh, if I were you Hermione I'd just– I'd grab her hair and– you know, I'd– argh!" she clawed aggressively at nothing in particular. "Muss up that pretty little face of hers, I would!"
The corner of Hermione's lips quirked in appreciation. She had only seen this fierce, protective side of Lavender around Parvati. It warmed her heart knowing that another girl besides Ginny is looking out for her, however foreign and uncomfortable the notion can be at times. "Thank you, Lavender. But to be fair Viktor and I aren't dating so it's not up to me to decide when or if they should take their relationship to the next level."
Parvati snorted. "As if we'll let them get that far! What kind of friends would we be if we just stood there and watched that French poodle take what's rightfully yours?"
"The kind that would mind their own business and respect their friend's decision," Ginny retorted before Hermione could, putting too much emphasis on the word 'friend'. She was scowling into Hermione's hair when she spoke again in a voice too low for either Lavender or Parvati to hear: "would've loved to see that devotion the many times Pansy Parkinson and her cohorts had a go at you."
The reminder stung Hermione. She knew Ginny meant well, but she's been hurting since Viktor accepted Claudette's invitation and not even the prospect of going as Ron's date made her feel any better. Parvati and Lavender's determination to hate and cuss at Claudette whenever the opportunity presented itself helped a little, however misplaced and petty it seemed even to her. She's never had a group of girls watching her back. The numbers made her feel safe. She was lucky to have had Ginny all this time and she's always appreciated her friendship, but they were really only made aware of each other's existence through Hermione's friendship with Ron and sometimes she can't help bit wonder if they'd still be friends without Ron or Harry in the picture.
Parvati wasn't pleased with Ginny's tone. "We're only looking out for her, you know. We want what's best for her and everyone knows that Viktor Krum is the best there is, not Ron bloody Weasley." Ginny stiffened. Parvati smiled sweetly. "No offence."
Hermione stilled the fiery Weasley by placing a firm hand on top of hers. Ginny's patience has become as fragile and dangerous as that of a ticking bomb ever since she heard that Parvati scored a date with Harry Potter. Never mind that she and Lavender had also forced their way into Hermione's good graces, Parvati had just insulted family and Ginny would normally have none of it. However often she quarreled with her brothers such a crime was still punishable by a good Bat Bogey hex, but they were to meet their dates soon and the last thing Hermione wanted to deal with besides the ball itself was confused, frightened bats shooting out of Parvati's nostrils.
"Ginny's right," said Hermione, relieved to see Ginny relax a tad. "I appreciate the thought, but honestly I don't mind them dating. Like I said, I was the one that got them to go together." She took a deep breath. She released Ginny's hand when she felt it safe to do so and turned back towards the mirror. "And I think it'd be for the best if they do end up together by the end of this, for… for everyone."
Ginny caught her eyes in the mirror, having finally understood the plan. She looked as confident with its success as Hermione felt, which wasn't saying much as a huge part of her was still secretly praying for it to fail.
It's the only way, she reminded herself, putting down the unidentifiable make-up brush she's been toying with. If he starts fancying Claudette, he'll… he'll…
Tears stung her eyes before she could complete the thought. She quickly blinked them away whilst Ginny fussed over her hair and while Lavender and Parvati got ready in the back. Nothing to cry about, she thought stubbornly. It's silly! She has simply gotten used to his presence after her initial fear of his sudden and overwhelming infatuation subsided. Having a girlfriend would surely distract him enough from seeking her in the library, and even she will admit that he's good company when he's not desperately trying to woo her.
"Are you two finished?" asked Parvati, coming to stand next to Ginny. She looked beautiful in her bright pink sari and golden bracelets.
"Oh, yes, I suppose," said Hermione, moving to get up from the vanity.
Lavender appeared by Ginny's other side in a flash. She placed one hand on Hermione's shoulder and forced her back on her seat. "Excuse me, little missy, but what part of 'we're not letting that French poodle get away with the Bulgarian bombshell' did you not understand?"
"…all of it?"
Parvati rolled her eyes. She picked the elaborate braid Ginny decorated with small white flowers between her thumb and forefinger and gave it a disapproving look. "Hermione, you're only going to the biggest Ball ever. I know you don't really like putting any effort into your looks but won't you at least try, if only for tonight?"
Ginny flushed. "Will you let her be, if only for tonight? Nobody asked or cared about your opinion on anything anyway–"
"Honestly, darling, you call this make-up?" Lavender cut in, gripping Hermione's chin and turning her head sideways to get a better look. "A blush and a clear lip balm don't count, not even for a casual outing with the girls. Have you ever actually worn anything resembling make-up?"
"Of course I– ouch!" Hermione slapped her hand away and rubbed the prickling spot Lavender's manicured nails pierced. She glared at the two girls' reflection. "Will you two stop it already and tell me what this is all about?"
Parvati pushed Ginny out of the way and started undoing Hermione's braid. "This is about us taking over. You clearly need help if you think you can outdo that hag with this rather pathetic attempt."
"I'm not trying to–!"
Ginny rounded on Parvati, looking absolutely furious and just barely holding her fists from colliding with the girl's face. "She doesn't want your help! She was doing just fine without you."
"Then she clearly doesn't know what she wants," said Lavender as she retrieved her own make-up bag and knelt before Hermione, making sure to pull her purple dress over her knees and off the floor. "But don't you worry, we'll take care of everything! We'll make sure he regrets this for the rest of the evening, or at least until he comes to his senses and dumps the poodle." Here she and Parvati exchanged devilish grins.
"Wait!" she blurted just as Ginny opened her mouth either to insult, challenge, or curse both girls. Hermione wouldn't put it past Ginny to cast her Bat Bogey hex nonverbally.
Ginny looked pleased, assuming that Hermione would once again take her side and politely decline Lavender and Parvati's assistance, but little did she know the witch in question was actually having second thoughts. Hermione's eyes had landed on her reflection in the mirror and something within her emerged, a strange desire she never knew she possessed. The Hermione staring back at her was the same plain bushy-haired bookworm she's always known. The soft periwinkle blue dress she wore was as beautiful as it was when she first saw it in Diagon Alley early in September. She hadn't known it's purpose at the time so she didn't bother trying it on, but now that she's wearing it she can finally see that many ways the simple material gave her the traditional feminine appeal she's always seen on covers of Muggle fashion magazines, except it was incomplete. The dress aside, she was still rule-abiding Hermione Jean Granger, the smartest witch of her age and the brains of the Golden Trio. For once she didn't want to be that Hermione. She wanted to turn heads for reasons other than her association with Harry.
She swallowed. "Ginny, I… I'd like to see what Lavender and Parvati have in mind. Please."
Ginny slumped, looking utterly betrayed. Hermione did her best to convey exactly how sorry she felt, but Ginny merely tossed the brush into the vanity and grabbed her clutch. "Fine then. I've got to go find Neville anyway."
Hermione flinched when Ginny slammed the door behind her. She was about to drop everything and run after her but then Lavender and Parvati started twittering around her and tugging at her hair and applying things Hermione couldn't quite name. Before she knew it she was being transformed into an entirely different being and for the first time in weeks she was starting to anticipate going to the ball.
Lavender and Parvati insisted that they go after the common room clears up, something about being 'fashionably late' that Hermione didn't really agree with. Parvati was especially excited about partnering with one of the champions, with none other than Harry Potter himself, and she'd be damned if she didn't make him wait for a grand entrance. Hermione was tempted to tell her that he only asked her because Cedric got to Cho before he could, but Parvati glowed so prettily that Hermione didn't have the heart to break it to her just yet. She hoped that Harry at least would have the decency to try to make her feel special tonight.
Hermione froze at the foot of the stairs as Lavender and Parvati went ahead of her in search of their dates. She caught a group of Durmstrang students in their traditional burgundy robes with the grey fur-lined cloaks and she couldn't help but stop and stare. It didn't take long for her eyes to find Viktor's. He was dressed in the exact same manner as his peers but he still stood out amongst them and it had nothing to do with him being a champion or a professional athlete. He was staring at her in a way that no one ever did before, in a way that she never dreamed any boy would. He was staring at her as if he's never seen anything more beautiful until this very moment.
He excused himself from his peers and approached her, not once taking his eyes off her. She smiled when he took her hand in his and bowed low to kiss her knuckles.
"Hello there," she greeted softly.
"You look wonderful," he said. His smile made her blush and fight down an embarrassing girly giggle from erupting from her chest. Had he always looked so handsome? She couldn't help but wonder why it took her this long to notice.
"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself. In fact–"
"There you are!"
Claudette's cheerful, bell-like voice was the needle that popped their magical little bubble. Hermione felt like she had just received a hard, painful shove. She quickly slipped her hand from Viktor's as Claudette emerged from the crowd in all her nymph-like glory. Her strawberry blonde hair was curled to perfection and her make-up as bright and bold as the rest of her. Hermione noticed that she wore stilettos but still managed to walk gracefully in them, and that she also had a rather impressive cleavage. Hermione's eyes dropped to her own small breasts for comparison only to be met with disappointment at the mounds that just barely saved her from being completely flat-chested.
That wasn't even the worst of it. There was the dress that was the exact same shade of periwinkle blue as Hermione's, except Claudette's was the figure-hugging type while Hermione's was more delicate and floaty. Hermione thought it looked better on Claudette, for she was older and taller and curvier while Hermione looked like a little girl stumbling in her mother's heels and drowning in her tent-like dress.
"Ooh, is this for me?" Claudette squealed delightfully. Hermione saw a small glass box in Viktor's free hand containing a rose. Claudette grabbed the box before Viktor could answer and opened the clasp at the front. "Oh my! It's so beautiful, Viktor. Thank you!" She stood on her toes to plant an obnoxiously loud kiss on his cheek.
Hermione's nails dug into her clutch. For a moment she contemplated throwing it at the French girl's pretty blooming face, but then she looked at Viktor and saw that he was avoiding looking at her altogether. He appeared embarrassed and uncomfortable and she couldn't decide if it was with her or with Claudette, but either way it was becoming too dangerous for her to linger so she turned away from the couple and walked straight into the sea of attendees in search of her friends and her date. She didn't want to see any more of them and she most certainly didn't want to hear whatever comments Claudette would make about her hair or dress or make-up.
She took a moment to calm herself when she was far enough. She wiped the few treacherous angry tears and then hastily checked the state of her make-up in the compact mirror Lavender shoved into her clutch. All was in perfect order, save for her flushed cheeks. A bit of powder might've helped, but she had stubbornly and foolishly tossed the one Lavender gave her onto her bed back in their shared dormitory.
She found Ginny, Neville, Ron, Harry, and Parvati huddled together near the entrance. Harry was the first to notice her. His eyes widened in shock when he finally recognised her and she smiled despite her soured mood.
"Hi Harry," she greeted, timidly standing next to a wide-eyed Ron.
"Mione, you look…" he shook his head, then grinned. "Wonderful. You look absolutely wonderful."
Somehow the compliment didn't make her feel as happy as when Viktor said it. She quickly shoved the thought aside.
"It was nothing," said Parvati nonchalantly, although she did look immensely proud of herself.
"Oh, come off it!" said Ginny, offering Parvati a forced yet approving smile. "You did great. She looks fantastic."
Hermione hesitated. "So you're not mad at me?"
Ginny's grin was reassuring enough. "What can I say? For once those two actually did something right. And really, you do look amazing. Doesn't she, Ron?"
It was only then Hermione remembered Ron standing next to her. It came as a slight shock to her not only because the mere thought of going on a date with him used to send her into a giggling, blushing frenzy, but also because he was really hard not to notice with the ridiculously elaborate patterns and frills on his old, traditional dress robes. He was flushed red and he looked absolutely flustered with himself. Hermione felt giddy at the thought of being responsible for sending him into that state, even though his response to Ginny's question was a stuttered comment about new dress robes.
The gates to the Great Hall were opened. The champions and their dates were lead towards the staff table to sit by the judges while the rest took their places on the tables below. Hermione was seated between Ron and Ginny and conversations were alive all around her but every now and then she'd find herself looking towards the judge's table. Neville caught her a few times and asked if she was worried about Harry. She couldn't tell if he was able to see right through her but she lied anyway and said that she was.
Viktor and Claudette appeared to be engaged in a pleasant conversation, so much so that they hardly touched their food. Claudette said or asked about something that made Viktor respond in a silly elaborate gesture that sent the French girl into a delicate yet uncontrollable giggling fit. At some point she felt confident enough to place a hand on his wrist. Viktor smiled at Claudette over the rim of his cup. Hermione had all but lost her appetite.
This is good. Let them fall for each other. This is what you want, isn't it?
Dumbledore cleared the tables and chairs to make room for a proper, more spacious dance floor. The champions and their dates were ushered to participate in the opening dance. Harry looked like he was leading but it was obvious that Parvati was doing most of the work. Cedric and Cho were stuck in their own bubble. Fleur's date could've been a horribly animated mannequin as far as anyone could tell. Viktor and Claudette were stealing the show. They looked like the dancing pair from a vintage music box, mesmerising and perfectly in sync with each other. Viktor effortlessly twirled her and lifted her off her feet in tune with the music and she threw her head back and laughed in that sweet, careless way that turned heads all around them. It was so contagious that even Viktor couldn't seem to stop himself from grinning.
The rose he had given her earlier was fastened around her wrist. Hermione noticed that the colour matched his school robes. None of the other champions presented their dates with such tokens, not even Cedric Diggory for all his doting. She then started wondering what it'd be like if she had been the one dancing with Viktor. She pictured herself being held and twirled and lifted by those strong, able arms. He had tried hugging her many times in the past but she was always so quick to shove him away, never once allowing herself to properly feel his arms enclosing her to his chest.
She distinctly heard Ron scolding Collin Creevey for nearly blinding him with his camera's flash, to which the boy responded by saying that he's only doing it for the school as the photographer assigned for the task had mysteriously disappeared hours before the ceremony and they couldn't possibly find a replacement on such short notice, and on Christmas day no less. Hermione was certain that Collin was enjoying the task nonetheless, as he seemed to be taking pictures of random things rather than the champions themselves or even the staff and judges.
She grabbed Ron's hand and dragged him into the dance floor the minute she noticed other students filing in with their dates. She didn't want to think about Viktor or Claudette or how upsetting the sight of the two of them dancing happily together made her feel. She wanted to dance with Ron and forget all about Veela curses. She wanted to do exactly what she came here to do, and that is to let herself go for once and to truly have fun with the boy she likes.
It worked for quite some time. Ron was a surpassingly decent dancer. Her teasing him about it drew a grin on his face and lifted the awkward, tense air around them. He joked about the state of his shabby robes compared to hers and she giggled in response. By the time she felt brave enough to cast a glance around herself the dance floor had gotten so crowded that Viktor and Claudette were lost in a sea of dancers.
That or they snuck out for some privacy in the bushes.
The song changed and couples switched partners. Hermione was relieved to find herself dancing with Harry, even though he looked absolutely winded and very much ready to retire for the night.
"Thank Merlin it's you," he said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Hermione grinned. "Having fun?"
"I will when this ball ends."
She smacked his arm. "Be nice. Parvati was looking forward to tonight. She spent all day getting ready. She also helped me with my hair."
"Since when were you two friends?"
Hermione shrugged. "Just be nice. Please, Harry?" she gave him the best puppy-eye look she could muster, courtesy of Viktor's many attempts. "I know you'd rather dance with Cho instead, but I owe Parvati and I really want her to have a good time tonight."
Harry didn't look happy with the idea of entertaining Parvati for the whole evening as she parades him around the ballroom like some show dog, but he promised Hermione he'd try anyway. It wasn't much but it's the best she'd get.
Her heightened spirits were plummeted once again when she found herself facing Claudette as her new dancing partner. The French girl laughed and grabbed Hermione's hand and twirled her into the sea of dancers before she could so much as utter a protest.
"It is about time I say!" she declared gaily as Hermione stumbled in her efforts to match the taller girl's pace. "After all, we are matching tonight!" She then looked at Hermione and with a dismissive shrug she added: "our colours, at least."
Hermione scowled. She tried getting out of the dance but Claudette was surprisingly strong and she was moving too fast. She didn't even seem to notice Hermione's discomfort.
And she wasn't content with staying quiet until the next switch, much to Hermione's chagrin. "But you do look nice. You really should spend more time on your looks, Hermy-own!"
"It's Hermione!"
She responded by laughing again. "Well I guess it's not worth the effort when your own date doesn't try, no?"
Hermione couldn't help the biting remark. "Trouble in paradise?"
"Me? Oh non, Viktor has been a perfect gentleman! I was talking about your date."
Hermione grit her teeth, her patience and will to humour Claudette waning by the second. "Not all of us can afford nice things."
"Of course. At least he knows his place, which is good."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, that is a scary face!" she said in mock horror, giggling. Hermione purposely stepped on her foot. She didn't even bother hiding her smirk when Claudette grimaced in pain. "You are misunderstanding me. I'm just saying I'm glad he didn't wait for Fleur's answer. She's nicer than me, but he would still be embarrassed. Well, more embarrassed than he already was!"
Hermione frowned, her curiosity momentarily clouding her anger. "Why was Ron embarrassed?"
Claudette raised a brow, her smile faltering. "You don't know?"
Something told her that she wouldn't want to, but she pressed on anyway. "I don't think I do."
"Oh," she breathed, averting her eyes and taking her lower lip between her teeth. "I was not supposed to say anything."
"Well now you absolutely must tell me!" Hermione insisted as they slowed to a stop near the edge of the dance floor. She gripped Claudette's elbows to prevent her from escaping. "What did Ron do?"
"Oh… Alright. I will tell you but you must promise me you will not say anything to Fleur."
"Of course, I promise! Now tell me what happened."
"He asked Fleur to be his date to the ball but then he got embarrassed and ran away before she could answer him. It was funny but nothing to worry about!"
Hermione's grip loosened. "And…would you happen to remember when that happened?"
She shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe a few days before you asked me to ask Viktor?"
"I…I see."
Claudette frowned. She grabbed Hermione's wrist to still her and placed her free hand on her forehead. The smell of Viktor's rose alerted her to the fact that Claudette was talking again. "Are you sick, Hermy-own? You don't look so good."
"F-fine! I'm fine!" she said, quickly detaching herself and looking away from the French girl's concerned face. "I'm just… tired. Need a break. Too much dancing. Excuse me."
She found the emptiest, farthest table and leaned towards it with her palms pressed flat against the surface. She closed her eyes and took long, deep breaths to calm herself but her eyes burned still behind her lids and the lump in her throat only seemed to grow. She tried not to think about the new information Claudette provided, but all at once her mind was screaming at her to cry and to march right back over there and shout all kinds of obscenities at Ron, her supposed friend and date.
He did say you were only going as friends, the weakened logical part of her urged. And she agreed with it, except she was still deeply hurt and she wanted him to know that she knows so that he'd feel just as embarrassed and stupid as she felt. She knows that she doesn't have what it takes to be anyone's first choice, but to think that for one tiny moment that she had been Ron's when he really only approached her because the Veela of his dreams didn't want anything to do with him.
And he had the nerve to make me feel bad about liking Viktor!
Her eyes shot open. Both hands flew to her mouth, as if to prevent the thought from escaping and making its way to every single pair of ears in the room. She felt her cheeks burning, either from that very random thought or from the idea of anyone catching wind of it.
"Hermione?"
Apparently she could summon him by thought without meaning to. Wonderful.
She took a moment to compose herself and to discreetly check for any stray tears. When she felt confident she turned to Viktor and found that he was standing closer than she had anticipated. She would've been flustered with the proximity combined with her previous thoughts and with his searching, concerned eyes, but then she saw the large bowl of Butterbeer cream cradled in his hands and she couldn't help but smile.
"Your metabolism must be incredible," she said.
He grinned. She felt that he didn't really understand what she meant and was merely happy that she put him and 'incredible' in one sentence. "That is correct. I am incredible everything."
"You're supposed to have that with Butterbeer," she said, picking up a glass behind her and a small spoon. She scooped a generous amount from his bowl and plopped it on top of the drink before offering it to him. "Like that."
Viktor eyed the drink, then took the spoon from her hand and proceeded to scoop the cream from the bowl and straight into his mouth. "This is better. See?" at that he scooped some more into the spoon and then proceeded to prod the edge against her lips.
She was about to comply but then she remembered that it had been in his mouth first. She gently pushed his hand back. "I'm alright, thank you."
He shrugged then continued shoveling more cream into his mouth, but he didn't get to enjoy his desert for long. Madam Pince had found him and she was quick to snatch the bowl from his hands.
"I told you to return that an hour ago!" she scolded, holding the bowl behind her back and out of his reach when he tried to grab it again. "For the last time, Mr. Krum, I will ask you to behave yourself or else you know what!" whatever she had threatened him with earlier had worked as he immediately stopped trying. Madam Pince then turned to Hermione with a friendly smile. "You're looking absolutely stunning tonight, Miss Granger."
Hermione beamed at her. "Thank you, Madam Pince."
Viktor scowled at her retreating back. "I hate that woman."
"What did she threaten you with?"
"She is saying she will not allow me to come in the library again."
"Do you really like it that much?"
"We have good library on ship. I only go here because you go."
"R-right, well, that's–that's–" she cleared her throat then shoved the Butterbeer cup at his now empty hands. "H-here, something to curb your sweet tooth."
"Is not sweet tooth, Hermione," he said with a sigh. "I am hungry."
"You didn't get to eat?"
"No," he grumbled. "Claudette talks too much. She is asking too many questions, not giving me time to eat."
"I'm sorry." Except she wasn't sorry about that at all, but of everything else that happened since she accepted Ron's invitation. "Really, Viktor. I am so, so sorry."
He caught the change in her tone and for a moment she was worried that he knew about Ron, but when he spoke again he sounded more apprehensive than angry. "Hermione, are you having fun tonight?"
She smiled, warmed by his question. "Yes, I'm having fun. What about you?"
"Good." He didn't look like he believed her but he smiled anyway. "I am happy if you are happy."
"You have got to stop saying that! I'd really like you to be honest with me."
"I am honest," he said proudly. "I never lie to my mate!"
"Fine then. Try the Butterbeer and give me your honest opinion," she said, then quickly added: "and I'll know if you lie!"
He smirked rather haughtily at the challenge. He took a swig of his Butterbeer, then paused a moment to really savor the taste. It took all of Hermione's best effort to not laugh at his cream mustache.
"Is ok, but cream alone is better," he finally decided.
"That's because it's all on you," she said, giggling. "Here, let me help you."
She grabbed a napkin from the table and dipped it in water. She then stood on her toes before him and placed her free hand on his shoulder for support. She was dabbing at the cream when she heard the music of the orchestra behind her getting replaced with something louder and more mainstream. Her thumb accidentally brushed over his lips while she was distracted trying to make out the lyrics blaring behind her and the softness stunned her. She had never given much thought to his lips, mostly because she absolutely refused to, but the few times she slipped she had always imagined them to be dry or chapped.
She tentatively glanced at him. He definitely felt her touching his lips. Might as well, since he already knows, she thought, then shook her head. She doesn't like how soft his lips felt! She was just… double-checking. She's Hermione, double and sometimes triple-checking things comes naturally to her, so she steeled herself and tucked the napkin further into her palm to fully brush her thumb over his lower lip.
"Soft," she said before she could stop herself. The corners of his mouth quirked upwards at the accidental confession.
"Get away from her!"
She scrambled away from Viktor in alarm. Ron was between them in a flash. He was pointing his wand at Viktor's chest, looking absolutely livid while Viktor regarded him with slight bewilderment. Hermione rushed to Ron's side and latched herself onto his arm and tugged hard.
"Ron, what are you doing?!" she shrilled. "Nothing happened! We just–"
"He's doing it again!" he said loudly over her voice. "He's doing that... that Veela thing! He's doing it again and this time I'm not going to stand by and watch!"
She saw Harry, Ginny, and Neville coming towards them and she felt a little relieved, but then panicked again at the sight of the crowd gathering around them.
"Stop it!" she hissed to Ron, her nails digging into his wand arm. "You're making a scene. Viktor didn't do anything! We've already been through this, he's not–"
"That's what he wants you to believe! Don't you see, Hermione? He's got you completely under his spell! You can't even tell when you're thinking straight and when you're not. This isn't normal." His blue eyes shifted towards Viktor, narrowed and accusatory. "He is not normal."
Viktor scoffed. "Little boy is talking when confused, sound stupid."
Ron jabbed his wand at Viktor's throat, to which the champion merely smirked as his peers shoved their way through the crowd to point their wands at Ron, but it still didn't do much to dissuade him. If anything, Ron didn't seem to notice them at all. His eyes were fixed on Viktor, his grip on his wand tightening.
There's that Gryffindor streak…
Hermione squeezed her way between them and placed both hands on Ron's chest and pushed as hard as she can, sending the redhead a few paces back.
"H-hey! What are you doing?"
"Enough, Ron!" she shrieked, shoving him again. "You lying, inconsiderate–"
"Lying?!" he repeated, horrified. "Merlin, it's worse than I thought! Hermione, you've got to get away from him. It's the only way you'll listen."
"I don't want to listen to anything you have to say!"
His fingers wrapped around her wrist, his grip tight and unyielding. "We're getting out of here. This is for your own good."
Her eyes widened. She had never seen him behave this way before, no matter how angry or protective or terrified he had gotten in the past. Her first instinct was to claw at the iron hand tugging her away. "What–? No! Ron– ow! You're hurting me!"
Glass shattered behind her. Ron looked over her head and the sight drained the blood from his face. He immediately released her hand and stumbled backwards and onto the ground, his eyes wide ad his mouth hanging open in fear. He pointed a shaking finger behind her. Hermione followed and saw Viktor standing with the hand that was previously holding the Butterbeer cup fisted around shards of glass. The drink pooled on the ground below that hand, and every few seconds or so drops of his blood would add red to the light brown puddle, but it was nothing compared to the look of utter hatred plastered on his face and focused solely on Ron.
Physically he looked like the Viktor Krum that's been trailing after her all this time, but at the same he didn't. Suddenly he became a stranger; a very dangerous, very intimidating stranger you most definitely wouldn't want to cross. Hermione felt the sudden strong urge to protect Ron, but from what exactly she wasn't sure because what she saw contradicted everything she's ever known about Viktor.
"Boy." Viktor's bloodied fist shook. Even his voice was different. It sent a chill down Hermione's spine. "I will end you."
Hermione gasped. Ron whimpered. The whispers around them rose to a thrilled tempo. Hermione distinctly heard the twins cussing and shoving somewhere in the back.
"Ron! Hermione!"
Harry finally managed to force his way in. He instinctively put himself in front of his friends while Ginny knelt on the floor besides her brother. The students from Durmstrang, still holding their wands aloft but without really pointing them at anyone, immediately tensed at Harry's arrival. Hermione felt Lavender and Parvati's arms around her.
"Shh it's alright, we're here now," said Parvati soothingly next to her, using the hem of her shawl to wipe Hermione's tears. She didn't even realise that she's been crying all this time.
Viktor didn't seem to notice anyone around him besides Ron, and Ron himself was unable to tear his eyes from Viktor. He was visibly trembling even as Ginny attempted to haul him back on his feet. He suddenly pushed her hand away and pointed at Viktor once more.
"Tell me you're seeing this, Ginny," he said, his voice pleading and just as terrified as his face. "His face, th-th-the teeth, h-horns! It's right there!"
Hermione looked at Viktor. She saw nothing unnatural besides the expression on his face.
"Ron, get up," Ginny urged, this time successfully pulling him to his feet.
"It's there! T-tell me you see him, Gin!"
"There's nothing there, Ron."
It came from Harry. He stood protectively still in front of them, but his posture had slackened. The Durmstrang students around Viktor slowly lowered their wands.
"What is the meaning of this? Make way for the Headmaster!"
McGonagall. Karkaroff was screaming in Bulgarian at the top of his lungs. Those from Durmstrang immediately stepped aside, forcefully paving the way for their headmaster as well as McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Maxime. The sight of the powerful, skilled wizards made Hermione crumble with relief. She fell in Lavender's embrace and cried into her shoulder, staining the girl's silky purple dress with tears and make-up as she finally felt the weight of the entire night on her back.
Her cries also seemed to have brought Viktor back from whatever Hellish dimension he just travelled to. He blinked, breaking his trance on Ron to look at Hermione. His tender black eyes, the ones she's always known, were suddenly anxious.
Karkaroff was at his side in a flash. "What happened? Were you attacked, Viktor?!"
Viktor looked at his fist. He slowly unfurled his fingers, allowing the shards of glass he held to fall and scatter on the ground. The fierce, sharp lines on his face creased, changing his entire demeanor in the blink of an eye. He looked like he had just woken up from a horrible nightmare only to find himself in a place even worse. He looked like he didn't recognise his own hand, or better yet, why he did whatever it is he just did.
"An attack on my champion, Albus!" Karkaroff bellowed, whirling around to glower at Dumbledore.
Hermione gasped when she saw Dumbledore staring directly at her.
"Are you alright, Miss Granger?" he asked, gentle as always. She nodded, not trusting her own voice. He turned to Ron. "Mr. Weasley?" Ron merely shook his head, still staring at Viktor as if he was expecting him to attack.
"He assaulted my champion!" Karkaroff said, now glaring down at Ron. "This is an outrage! I demand to have this boy punished this instance."
"I suppose I should be happy father didn't send me Durmstrang after all," drawled Malfoy.
"This is what you get when let respectable wizards breed with beasts," spat Pansy Parkinson. "You get an infestation of filthy halflings!"
"We don't use such foul language especially towards our guests, Miss Parkinson," said McGonagall, her voice betraying her ire.
Karkaroff method was more direct and crass. "Why you insolent little–"
Snape didn't let him finish. He sliced his way through the crowd with ease, shocking all save for Dumbledore with the reminder of his presence. "I assure you, Igor, that I require no assistance disciplining my own house."
"You, Severus, I most certainly trust," huffed Karkaroff, sparing Pansy one more menacing glare before turning back to Viktor. "Now let me see that."
Viktor quickly pulled his hand away from Karkaroff and closer to his chest. His face was moulded to its usual dour mask, but Hermione didn't fail to notice his hunched back or guarded eyes. It brewed fresh tears in her eyes. "I will go."
"There's no need for that, Mr. Krum," said Dumbledore kindly. "I'm sure this is all just a simple misunderstanding."
Viktor shook his head, refusing to look at the headmaster's face. He was like a wounded animal, ready to strike but more inclined to flee. "I will go."
Somehow Dumbledore seemed to understand. "Very well. You are excused, Viktor."
He didn't need to force his way through the crowd. They parted for him as quickly as if he were carrying a deadly disease, even though he looked nothing like the strong, proud, formidable rival that first placed his name in the Goblet of Fire nor the mysterious, dangerous creature Ron provoked. He looked more like a broken, scared little boy running from an angry mob. Hermione couldn't understand why in that instance she was hurting more for him than she was for herself. Then she remembered the first time she was called a Mudblood.
A/N: decided to leave this note for the end because the chapter is long enough on its own.
First thing's first: I am so, so sorry for the delay in updates. I promised I'd have this chapter up sooner, but then I hit a really bad block and I just couldn't bring myself to write anything for this or for my other multi-chaptered piece so I decided to play around with other pairs/story ideas to get a break from Viktor/Hermione. Only one got posted. Like I said, it was a really bad block! But I'm finally back so all is well :D for now...
Second: I feel like I should take the time to explain some of the reactions of the characters that lead to the situation escalating towards the end because I don't think I can properly implement it into the story without ruining the mood (I'm going for something that's mostly light and fun- and yea, I know that I kind of already ruined it in this chapter but this will only happen once every 5-10 chapters, I promise!) If you don't care, or if you're not too bothered, you may skip the rest of this!
- Ron: might as well get this off my chest while I'm here. The truth is, I don't hate Ron. He's actually one of my favourite characters. I don't hate Ron/Hermione either, I just don't think the two of them are compatible as a couple. To keep this short: if they were my friends I'd advise them against dating each other. That being said, I didn't like Ron's character very much during GOF and HBP but I could also understand that Rowling was only trying to portray him as a typical teenage boy coming out of that "girls have cooties!" phase in a very ungraceful, very Muggle way that he also eventually grows out of during the events of DH. I could write an entire essay about that but I understand that you all have lives, so onto more pressing issues!
His reaction to seeing Viktor and Hermione together is really just my interpretation of how fourth year Ron Weasley would react, not grown-up post-DH Ron. In canon he got insanely jealous of Viktor, whom he previously idolised, without really understanding why (or maybe he kind of knew but was in denial) it's basically like watching your most favourite celebrity taking an interest in someone you really like- keep in mind that you'd be a teenager here and... well, a lot of teenagers don't make sound decisions at the best of times. Anyway, in this AU his paranoia would be intensified because of Viktor's mostly unknown Veela characteristics and also because here he's more bold and open about courting Hermione, so it would trigger Ron to react in slightly more extreme ways than normal.
- Harry: I understand that Harry especially might come off as OOC here, as he is known to have been extremely protective of his friends in canon, but this is from Hermione's point of view and too many things were happening at once for her to linger on Harry for too long. Point is: no, he wasn't being dismissive towards Ron when he tried pointing out the "changes" happening on Viktor's face. Harry was most definitely on guard, but he wasn't expecting an attack because a) Dumbledore was there and b) he doesn't believe that Viktor is dangerous at all. Maybe clingy and annoying at times, but mostly harmless. Harry can also recognise when Ron is overreacting or blowing things out of proportion. That and he's already got enough on his plate as it is, so he's not going to worry about it as long as Viktor doesn't actually hurt his friends or align himself with Death Eaters. That being said, he's troubled by Viktor's unexpected mini display of aggression.
- Hermione: she's just very confused right now. She's not even sure if her own feelings regarding anything to do with Viktor are genuine. Now add school into the mix as well as Harry competing in a life-threatening tournament designed for older students and Ron behaving the way he is right now. It's too much for a 14/15 year old to handle all at once, no matter how smart and mature she may be. Academically Hermione is most definitely beyond her years, but emotionally? Romantically? She's a child. Or at least at this point in her life she is.
This is an alternative universe, a 'what-if', so really it's all up for interpretation! And of course you're all allowed to agree or disagree! This is just one person's interpretation of a character's behaviour/reaction in a certain environment/situation.
Also Snape took a break from his carriage-checking and teen-pregnancy-preventing job because no one, no one, gets to say one word against his house while he's still alive. He's a mother hen like that but he'd never admit it.