Special thanks too:
embirsiphonelilathia- its nice to have a reader who reviews so much it really keeps me writing. Being this is my first ever VK/HG story I'm glad people like it! so embirsiphonelilathia this chapter goes out to you! The reviewer of the day!
-o-
Hermione walked through the library during her free period. She had a lot of those now due to her time turning last year. She had gotten more classes done than usual causing her to have a lot of free time this term. It was supposed to give her more time to study but she found that after one "study" class she was done and knew what she needed to know. So here she was helping first years find any texts they needed for their classes. Now she was just walking around putting back books that they had forgotten to put away themselves.
"Honestly how difficult is it to put back a book…" she muttered. "All you have to do is reach and let it go the rest is taken care of…" she now understood why librarians were bitter people. It shocked her how little the students cared for the books. She felt a tug at the back of her sweater and turned expecting to see a small first year but instead found herself looking into the broad chest of Viktor Krum. She looked up with a pleasant look. "Back again?" she asked with a smile.
"I haf finished book." He said handing it to her.
"Ah quick read don't you think?"
"Yes, it was good." He said with a smile as he nodded at her.
"One of my favorites." She said walking away. Viktor followed her as she reached up and had the book levitate from her hand and fly back to its original place on the shelves. She started to walk away only to have him follow her once more. She slowly turned to face him. "Can I help you with something else?" she asked.
"You haf good taste in texts… Was wondering if you haf any other…" he searched for word.
"Suggestions?" she offered.
"Yes suggeshons." He said with a smile though he wanted to kick himself for purnouncing the English word wrong.
"Oh sure… Still want history or maybe you want fiction?" she asked.
"History is good takes longer to read."
"Not for you, in all honesty it took me two days to read that last book you read it in barely a night… Its impressive." His chest swelled slightly as he smiled and followed her to another book shelf. She had thought it impressive; he would have to pretend to read books fast more often. "Oh hey I haven't read this one." A red bound book flew down into her hands. "The History of Durmstrang… I think it's new…" she said looking to him.
"I know my history of school, if you don't you should read it, is interesting." He said.
"Maybe I will." She said tucking the book under her arm. It wasn't nearly as big as the Hogwarts a history volumes but it was still thick and would probably take her a few days to fully get through. Her other hand reached up into the air as a book fell down into it. "Here you go, I think you should read this." He looked it over.
"A history of Triwizard tournament." He read. "You think I will be champion?" he didn't like that she had assumed it.
"No…" she said making him smile for reasons she wasn't sure. "But I know you're going to enter its expected of you." He nodded in understanding. "I think you should know what you're getting yourself into before you do…" he noticed the worry in her eyes, it was the same worry that had been there when they had been in the forest and she had been addressing his wounds. "Just read it and then mull over the decision to enter… You might be surprised at the choice you make. You might surprise everyone." with that she walked off and left him alone looking down at the book. He looked around before heading to the back out of sight from many giggling fan girls.
He tucked himself away in a corner; the girls had taken to watching him while his back was turned as long as he faced them they would not venture close not unless they were very bold. He looked up to see them hiding behind a far off corner and then saw Hermione.
"Can I help you girls?" she asked. The girls sputtered as they looked from Hermione to Viktor who Hermione didn't even know was still in the library. "Look if you guys don't have any books in hand then I'm afraid you all have to leave." They glared at her. "You heard me shoo." She waved them off with a parchment in hand. They glared at her once more before walking off. "Honestly…" she muttered heading back into the stacks and out of his sight.
He frowned at her absence but then moved back into the chair flipping open the book to start reading. Viktor looked up from the book which he closed now half way read. He wondered how long he had been in the library and looked out the window in front of him to see it was night, the stars hanging high in the sky.
"You're still here." Hermione said peeking around a corner. "You haven't been here the whole time have you?" She inquired walking out into the open.
"I… think I must haf." He said standing. "It is interesting read." He said holding up the book
"That's not good you must have missed all your classes." She said walking over to him. "Why didn't you just check it out? That way you wouldn't have had to skip." He felt flustered in that moment she was obviously upset with his actions.
"I did not mean to skip it just happened." He said running his fingers through his short hair before looking to her. She didn't seem to be angry, now she seemed to be interested.
"So… Now that you kind of know what you're getting into… Will you still put your name into the goblet?" she asked.
"I think maybe I vill but first I vill think long and hard before I do that is for very sure." She frowned slightly.
"You're not just mouth feeding me are you?" He raised an eyebrow searching his mind for the term. After a moment he looked to her with a small sheepish smile.
"I am unsure of this term." He admitted a little embarrassed.
"You're not just saying that for my own good?" she asked.
"No no, people haf died this is no good." He said shaking a hand in front of himself to emphasize and she smiled.
"Good I'm glad that you are at least not running into this thing blindly. I think that this tournament…" Her voice trailed off and she laughed. "Never mind. I shouldn't speak out of turn."
"No please speak mind." He said quickly.
"I just think this tournament is a horrible idea. It's all very irresponsible especially since what has happened."
"Because students haf died?" he asked.
"Not only that but because of latest attacks in the magical world. If I were a group of extremist death eaters I would want to attack something very…" she stopped. "Never mind."
"No I wish to hear your thoughts."
"It doesn't matter I've already forgotten what I was going to say." She said. "Would you like to check that out and take it with you? Dinner will be getting ready very soon."
Why did she stop speaking? I liked hearing what she had to say…
"Oh yes this vould be good." She smiled as she took the book and headed off. "Are you here often?" he asked watching her navigate the maze of bookshelves easily.
"More than I'm in my own dorm." She said as they got to the front desk where she opened the checkout book.
"Are you co book keeper?" He inquired.
"Me?" she asked.
"Dah." He said with a nod. She looked up in thought.
"I guess I am now…" she said thinking back to when she was given the key to the library.
"So you like books?"
"Very much so." She said as she watched him put his name down, it never ceased to amaze her how neat his hand writing was. "Well, have a good night." She went to walk away.
"Are you not coming down to hall?" he asked stopping her.
"Oh no I will I just have to close all the window shutters." She said before continuing to walk.
"I vill help." He said fallowing her.
"Oh no you don't have to." She said quickly wondering why he was so helpful.
"I do not mind is least I can do for finding me such good book."
"You really don't have to I can-."
"I'd like to…" He said and she slowly nodded.
"Oh uhm… Alright…" she said as she walked over to one of the inside shutters and unlatched it from the wall and started to close them up. She could do it magically but she had promised her mother that she would at least try not to do everything the magical way. It wasn't because she didn't like what her daughter was it was just she didn't want her daughter losing her ideals of hard work, and neither did Hermione. Viktor was in front of her the whole time taking care of the sills easily while Hermione had to pry the rusty bolts from the wall to get them closed. When she was almost done one of the cables snapped. With fast and deadly precision it whipped across her hand. She gasped pulling her injured hand away from the offending cable.
"Are you alright?" he asked walking over to her quickly. She cradled the hand to her chest as she looked it over, blood was cascading down her crème colored skin to then drip to the ground.
"No I got cut…" she said hissing in pain.
"Let me see." His hand removed the one that cradled the injured one. She hissed slightly when his fingers moved and grazed the slit skin. "This is deep cut." He said looking it over as he took out his wand.
"What are you doing?" she asked her eyes slightly wide.
"I can help you." He said mimicking what she had said to him. She slowly nodded trusting him as he had with her. He flicked the wand and instantly a searing pain came as it started to heal. When it was done she still had a small scratch across her skin. "Magic can't heal everything, though it should." He said pulling a maroon bandana from his pocket and tying it over her hand concealing the cut. She looked down at it and then up to him with an unreadable expression. "Is good?" he asked.
"Oh uhm yes very… Thank you." She said pulling her petite hand away from his large ones. "Looks like we are even." She said.
"Not close I healed cut you saved life. There is much to repay, and little time to do it in." he said with a smile. "Dinner? Now we go yes?" he asked.
"Oh uhm Sure…" she said as they walked out of the library. She started to pull at the doors only to have Viktor step forward and do it for her, easily moving the heavy doors closed. "Thank you." She said as she walked up and locked them.
"You haf key?" he asked eyeing it. "But you are student."
"Yes but I spend a lot of my free time here so I sometimes watch over the library for the librarian who has been gone a lot… I think she may be dating someone." She said with a soft smile happy that the older woman had finally found someone.
"And you?" she looked up at him as they walked.
"I what?" she asked.
"Do you haf someone?"
"Oh erm…" She cleared her throat. "No." she said looking ahead feeling a blush creep into her cheeks. It was a somewhat personal question.
"No one?"
"No, just me myself and the wonderful books I own. Oh and my cat." She frowned knowing how depressing that must have sounded. But when she looked to him he was smiling like a fool. "What about you?"
"I had girl… But she is gone, left for beater on rival team."
"Oh I'm sorry to hear about that." She said feeling bad for the young man.
"I am not." He said surprising her. "She was not good voman… Batted her eye lashes and gave many compliments but never thought for self." She raised an eyebrow. "How you say… Blonde." She laughed lightly covering her mouth to conceal the giggle. He smiled down at her, the laugh had been so light and carefree ringing like a beautiful bell.
"Sorry I shouldn't laugh." She said.
"Oh no I haf many times." He said making her giggle once more as he let a small laugh of his own escape him. The low sound had surprised her; it was a nice laugh and even nicer smile that played upon his lips. She looked away from the kind look to gaze down at her hand which his bandana covered.
"Give it back!" Hermione looked up to see a first year girl jumping at a book that Crabbe held high above her head while Goyle snickered.
"If you want it you should jump higher mud blood." Goyle said. The girl froze and backed away not believing what she had heard the older boy call her.
"What did you just call me?" she asked with a shaky voice.
"Mud blood." They said.
"You shouldn't even be here you know." Crabbe said.
"You're not worth the space." Malfoy said making his presence known.
"You know we could chuck you out that window there and no one would care." Crabbe said taking a step towards her.
"That's enough!" Hermione said furious. The power from Hermione's voice took Viktor aback as he watched her storm up to the boys. She tore the book from the boys hand and used it to push him away before handing it to the young Gryffindor. "Go ahead to the great hall Jessie." Hermione said turning to the girl.
"Thank you." The girl said sniffling as she rushed off. Hermione watched her make it a safe distance before turning and glaring at the boys. She went to walk away herself only to have Crabbe grab onto her arm and whip her around to face him.
"Lovely to see you Granger, you know that little stunt you pulled last night got me in a lot of trouble." Malfoy said.
"What stunt?" Hermione asked trying to pry her arm from Crabbe's vice like grip.
"Getting me in trouble mud blood." Malfoy spat.
"Un hand her." Viktor said with an overwhelming presence as he glared down at the younger boys.
"Sure…" Crabbe let go of Hermione.
"Thank you but I can take care of myself." Hermione said to Viktor as she turned and looked to the boys. "If I ever hear you call another girl or boy in this school a mud blood I swear to the gods-."
"Swear to the gods what mud blood, you can't touch us." Malfoy said with a sick smile as his hand traced down her cheek. "But then again we can touch you." He backed her up into the wall before Viktor could step in Hermione swatted Malfoy's caress away while the back of her hand flew across his cheek. He backed away momentarily stunned while Hermione glared into him.
"Seems like you have already forgotten about last year… Try not to forget again who you're dealing with." With that she walked away.
"Stupid bitch." Malfoy muttered holding onto his red cheek. "I'll get her back." Viktor waited until Hermione was far out of hearing distance before grabbing Malfoy by the collar and slamming him into wall.
"If you ever call her that name again, I shall…" he looked up in thought. "How you say tear you new one yes?" though his broken English wasn't convincing the power he had slammed Malfoy into the wall with and the intensity that burned in his eyes was enough to make the slytherin want to pee right in his pants. "Understand?"
"Y-yes." Malfoys voice went up an octave.
"And don't you ever think about touching her again." He said slamming him against the stone once more before letting him drop to the ground. He straightened out his uniform before heading off towards the great hall. When he rounded a corner he saw Hermione kneeling in front of a young girl who had her arms wrapped around her neck as she cried.
"He said I was worthless…"
"You're not worthless." Hermione said pulling away.
"Why did they have to call me that? Just because my parents are muggles doesn't mean I'm less… right? Or do them being pure blood make them better… stronger… more important?"
"Just because their blood is old doesn't make them any more important than we are… If you think about it I think it makes us more powerful." Hermione said with a kind smile.
"You… You do?" the girl asked hiccupping.
"Of course I mean think about it… Their magic is old way old… While ours is brand new… Plus it hasn't been diluted by years of incest." The young girl laughed.
"So you think we're more powerful?"
"Definitely." Hermione said. "Now if those boys give you any more trouble you come to me."
"And me." They both looked up to see Viktor who kneeled in front of the girl while Hermione stood. "A young princess such as you should not be crying." The young girl blushed as she wiped the tears away. "Those boys vill not say such things again."
"O-okay." She said hiccupping slightly.
"Now Jessie why don't you head inside for dinner, I hear we're having cake tonight it should be just what you need." Hermione said.
"Thanks again Hermione." she hugged her around the waist before smiling at Viktor and rushing off.
"You have a way with girls don't you?" Hermione asked crossing her arms over her chest.
"Most." He said shrugging.
"Come to scold me for hitting Malfoy?"
"What?" he turned to look at her. "Not at all. It was very…" he searched for the word. "Firey?" he asked. "Even more impressive."
"Sitting next to the Slytherins I would think that-."
"I care not for their closed minds." Viktor said. "I hope you don't think me… Biggot?"
"Not at all." Hermione said her arms dropping to her sides as she felt a little more relaxed. "You wouldn't have tried to help if you were."
"The only reason I sit with snakes, is because my headmaster is one."
"He was a slytherin?" she asked.
"No… But he acts like snake." She smiled softly, she was glad he was aware that his headmaster wasn't the best of men. At first she had just thought the head master was just creepy but then she had sworn that at breakfast she had seen a dark mark on his arm. "Do you hate purebloods?" the question made her look up.
"What?" she asked.
"The way you spoke about purebloods, and the way you looked at snake boy… Makes me think you may hate them…"
"No not at all two of my best friends are pure bloods." She said smiling at him. "Ginny and Ron Weasley."
"I haf heard of these Weasleys, very big pure blood family."
"Very kind pureblood family." She said.
"You haf not met many good purebloods?"
"Not many, though I wish I had."
"Well you haf me now." he bowed and kissed her hand that was covered by his bandana. "Haf nice night… Miss Granger." He then walked off kicking himself for not being able to say her name.
"Hermione it's… Hermione." she said watching him walk away. He turned and smiled at her before heading over to the slytherin table. She smiled down at the cloth wrapped securely around her hand before heading into the great hall to join her friends.