Hermione sat down next to Ginny at the breakfast table. She looked over at the slytherin table to once again find Viktor nowhere in sight. He hadn't been to breakfast since the day after their last date. She frowned as she forked a pile of eggs.
"Sad about…" Hermione glared at Ginny who smiled. "Sad about your new pet Romanoff?" Hermione smiled softly at Ginny's use of code.
"Uh yeah… haven't seen Romanoff in a long time…"
"How long?"
"Week… I think he ran away." She muttered. Ginny frowned as she looked at her worriedly.
"A week? Hmm… No way he'd run away from you." Hermione glanced at her friend and then back down at her eggs.
"Well Romanoff has a lot of other… Kitties running after him." Ginny shook her head.
"No way, Romanoff has good taste; he doesn't like those street kitties."
"Not even the blue street kitties?" Hermione asked watching a group of Veelas trot passed them grabbing the attention of all boys in the great hall.
"Those Blue kitties are all stuck up with nothing between their kitty ears. No he likes sensible smart kitties." Ginny said.
"What are you two on about?" Ron asked as he stared at the two girls.
"Oh Hermione got a new cat…" Ginny said quickly.
"I didn't know you got a new cat…"
"Found it..." Hermione said.
"Where?"
"In the uh…" Hermione looked to Ginny. "The library."
"There was a cat in the library?" Ron asked.
"It is a magical castle Ron of course there would be Cats." Ginny said.
"That makes no sense." Ron said.
"You don't make any sense." Ginny fired back.
"Oh shut up would you." He muttered.
"You shut it." Hermione sighed over the sounds of her two bickering sibling freinds before spotting Viktor walking past the opening of the great hall.
"I have to go." She stood quickly and grabbed her bag.
"Wait Hermione." she didn't stop at Ron's request but continued to go. "Wonder where she's off to in such a hurry…" he muttered as he watched her. "She's been running off like that a lot." Ginny caught the suspicious tone in his voice.
"No she hasn't." she said quickly. Ron looked to his sister with more suspicion.
"What's going on with Hermione?" he asked her.
"Why suddenly so interested in your bookwormish friend Ron?" Fred asked as he walked up and slung his arm around his shoulders.
"Leave him be Fred, besides I have a few girls I need you to take care of for me."
"A business offer?" George asked looking to his twin.
"Indeed."
"Well sit down there little sister and tell us what you need." Fred said.
"You know those fan girls that are always chasing Krum about?"
-o-
Hermione rushed down the stone floor of a corridor where Viktor was steadily walking. Her heart pounded in her chest as she rushed after him. She had been chasing him for the past five minutes. She had called out his name still he hadn't stopped. He rounded a corner and she sighed as she quickened her pace and did the same. She stopped dead in her tracks to come face to face with Viktor. She let out a soft laugh and covered her chest.
"I see you found I was running after you. I called your name but you didn't stop, probably thought I was a fan girl or something." she said letting out a puffed breath. "Remind me not to run after you, because you walk really fast. Any ways I'll be quick because I know you're really busy, I just got something for you… Thought you might enjoy it…" When nothing came from him she looked up into his eyes to find he was glaring at her heavily. "Viktor is everything okay?" she asked.
"I don't want to date you anymore her-my-knee." the words hit her like a smack in the face.
"What?" she asked her voice wavering.
"It's clear to me you've found someone else."
"What are you talking about?" she asked thoroughly confused.
"Harry… I saw you two last night in the library… I heard you I heard you say you luffed him." Viktor took a step back as Hermione's deep brown eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected the look to come from her.
"Are you kidding me?" she asked her voice rising slightly.
"Are you kidding me?" he fired back slightly afraid of the look in her eyes.
"You know what fine… If you're this impulsive I'm glad to be rid of you." She turned on her heel and began to storm off.
"Wait one minute." He pulled on her arm whipping her around to face him. "Rid of me, I am rid of you."
"Fine have it your way." she said. "I don't give a damn."
"Why are you mad at me? You haf no right to be so mad!" He shouted.
"No you have no right Viktor none at all! You know what if anyone should be angry here it's me. I haven't seen you in a week. You haven't even sent word to me is it so hard to drop an owl?"
"Its veen one week so you run into arms of other man? What happens when Quidditch season starts? I can't risk you sleeping with Malfoy every time I'm away at game." Her hand flew across his face quickly. He stumbled back by the sheer power of it. He slowly looked to Hermione whose eyes were burning.
"I would never. Ever. Betray you like that." Her voice shook as she stared into him tears evident in her eyes. Hermione turned and rushed away before any tears could fall in his presence. As she ran a small book fell from her bag and tumbled across the floor to his feet. He slowly picked it up to find it was a blue leather book with no title. He opened it up to find Hermione's hand writing on the inside cover.
My dearest Viktor,
This book has helped me in times of great pressure… I hope it will do the same for you…
Always,
Mina
Viktor looked to the title of the book on the page next to it and sighed heavily as his fingers roamed over the bold italic title.
A Separate Peace
By John Knowles
1st edition
1959
He looked up at the place Hermione had just been standing. He was confused, she had said when he first confronted her that she had something for him. The note inside was sincere and genuine. But if she loved Harry as much as she said she did to him the night before, then why hadn't she given Harry the book. Not just any book, a first edition of her favorite novel. He knew that she would normally have this for herself, but she had specifically gotten it for him.
He couldn't help but think about how hurt she had looked when he had suggested she would sleep with Malfoy. It had been harsh and he had regretted it the moment he said it. But he was so angry. He loved Hermione deeply only to find the night before that she loved another. His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach as he thought back to the night before. He had walked into the library just in time to hear her confession to Harry, and then left right after Harry had confessed his heart to her. Viktor tucked away the book in his jacket before walking down the hallway to confront the young champion.
-o-
"Not like Hermione to miss class." Harry said to Neville.
"Yeah and just my luck she skips her first class ever and its potions… She knows I need her help to keep Snape at bay…" he muttered. "Maybe she's sick."
"You think?" Harry asked.
"No way she'd miss a class unless she was."
"Good point… I'll check the hospital wing… Cover for me during brooms…" he said.
"Sure." Neville said as they parted ways. Harry walked around a corner and stopped just in time to see Viktor before he ran right into him.
"Oh sorry Viktor sorry." He said as he went to move around him. Instead of allowing him to pass Viktor stepped in his way. "Can I… help you?" he asked wearily.
"I vot to know vot you are to her-my-own-knee…" Viktor gritted his teeth. His English was worse than usual, but he couldn't help it he found himself extremely nervous.
"Nothing." He said and instantly Viktor looked grey. "We're just friends… She's not my girlfriend or anything, never has been." He continued watching Viktors color disappear. "It's just that skeeter woman making things up."
"She talks about you ovten." He suddenly said. Harry frowned wondering when Viktor could have ever talked to Hermione.
"Yeah well that's because we're friends… Best friends… She's like my sister really. Kinda disturbing to both of us that everyone thinks we're together…" he went to walk around Viktor once more only to have the Bulgarian move in front of him. "Viktor if you don't mind Hermione skipped class and the only way that would happen is if she was dead or grimly ill."
"So you are not with Her-my-own-knee…"
"No… Again she's like a sister."
"You do not Luff her?"
"Oh no I do." He said. "She's a great friend of mine you know… so I do, just not in the romantic way…More in the family way." He explained. "Now if you don't mind I have to go make sure she's okay…" Viktor stayed still as Harry moved around him.
"What haf I done?" he asked himself as he rushed off.
-o-
Hermione wiped her cheeks as she stared down at a book in one of the most hidden rooms of the whole library. She didn't know why her heart ached as much as it did. She was more angry then hurt, or at least that was what she was desperately trying to convince herself. She sighed heavily when more tears roamed down her cheeks to drop into the puddle the book below her had begun to collect.
"Great…" she sniffled as she pulled away from her book and dried it with a spell She had been crying on and off for the past four hours, lunch had come and gone, dinner was just starting. The library had closed a half hour before. She picked up her book and sighed. She knew she wasn't going to leave the library not until well after the moon had raised high in the night sky. Not until she was sure she wouldn't run into any one.
She of course had missed all her classes, but without any punishment. She had after all already taken and past all the classes she was taking that term. There was really no need for her to be there academically speaking. It was more for the benefit of Ron and Harry, and of course the occasional potions class with Neville.
Hermione stood and walked out of her secret space. She needed a new book; the depressing story line that was withering heights wasn't doing anything for the rain cloud hanging over her head. She walked through the many different rows of books. None being the genre she needed to combat her melancholy mood. A loud crash made Hermione stop in her tracks. She heard someone cuss and frowned. Someone was in the library after hours, she was the only one with a key to get in after closing… It would take a substantial amount of power and magical know how to break down the security spells that protected the many one of kind books that lined the shelves.
"Just what I needed…" she muttered.
Many break-ins had happened over the years that Hogwarts had been open. Mostly the target had been the restricted section. Hogwarts had some of the most infamous one of a kind copies of numerous dark arts texts. She slowly put down the book she carried and took out her wand. She made her way slowly down the many aisles until halting when she heard footsteps approaching. She slowly peeked around a corner to see a tall figure in a dark cloak. His hands were steady at his sides, Hermione smiled. She raised her wand as she silently snuck up behind the figure. She placed the tip of her wand into his back.
"Now what ever could a dark cloaked man want in a school library I wonder?" she asked. He went to turn around. "You make one move and I will blow a hole the size of a quaffle through your back…"
"Her-my-knee." She froze at the accent. "It's me."
"Suddenly I feel an even greater urge to blow that hole into your back…" Viktor gulped as he slowly turned Hermione's wand still raised. "Get out." With that she turned and walked away quickly.
"Hermione please." He went after her. He turned into the aisle she had gone in only to find her nowhere in sight. "Hermione?" he heard something drop to the ground farther up in another aisle. "Hermione!" he called as he rushed after the noise that could only be caused by her. He ran around a corner only to have Hermione run straight into his chest. They both fell to the ground.
"Hermione I'm so sorry."
"Shh…" she covered his mouth with wide eyes. He had seen the look before, he had seen it the night they had first met when the death eaters had attacked the world cup. She slowly took her hand away from his mouth.
"Vot is it?"
"Before when you first came in… Did you knock something over?" she whispered.
"I had just walked in ven you pointed wand at me." He said in a hushed tone.
"Viktor… There's someone in here with us…" he looked around immediately.
"Come on…" he pulled her to her feet. "I'm going to get you out of here…" she looked up into his eyes to see them darting around while his arms went around her protectively. They moved into one of the more hidden aisles and slowly began to make their way towards the exit. Both Hermione and Viktor's eyes were glued to the space they had just backed away from.
"Are we close?" Hermione whispered as she turned her head to look. "No!" Hermione covered her mouth. Viktor turned just in time to catch a harsh punch with his face. He dropped to the ground pain beginning to spread through his cheek. He looked up to see Goyle standing over him, his equally large friend by his side. Crabbe bent over and lifted Viktor to his feet.
"Well Well Krum and Granger… I am surprised… Oh wait I'm not." Malfoy said as he moved out of the shadows. Viktor looked to see Hermione nowhere in sight he gave a small sigh of relief. "Where's the mud blood?" he asked his two lackeys.
"She was right here…" Crabbe said looking around.
"Well muggleborns their cowards and there for fast runners…" the others laughed. Two other boys were standing behind Malfoy both were tall thin and built like beaters. Each held a bat in hand.
"Should we go find her?" they asked.
"You don't go near her!" Viktor slammed his head back hitting Crabbe in the face before kicking Goyle in the stomach.
"Indicarsurus." Viktor dropped to the ground ropes binding him tightly, almost painfully. They all heard a small gasp and stopped.
"Looks like your filthy mudblood girlfriend is still in here." Malfoy whispered.
"Should we go after her now?" Crabbe asked wiping blood from his face.
"No… She'll come to us." Malfoy said with a sick smile as she looked down at Viktor.
"How?" Goyle asked.
"Oh… like this." Malfoy pulled back his foot and kicked Viktor into the stomach. He couldn't help but let a small sound of pain escape him as he rolled across the floor into a bookcase. "Come out soon Granger or we're going to kick your boyfriend to death!" Goyle shouted as he and Crabbe continued to kick and stomp at Viktor.
"Don't Hermione!" Viktor shouted. "Get out!" he shouted. "Get out now!"
"Get him to his feet!" Malfoy ordered as he grabbed a beaters bat from the two other boys. Crabbe and Goyle did as he said. "Hope you're watching mud blood!" he swung the bat across Viktor's face the force nearly knocking not only himself but Crabbe and Goyle to the ground. "I'm gunna kill him if you don't come out!" He hit him across the face once more.
"Stop!" Hermione shouted as she slid out from behind a pillar her wand raised. "Stop it now!" Viktor shook his head with a sorrowful look. "Get away from him or so help me god I will kill you." She said slowly moving forward.
"Is that so?" Malfoy asked with a smile. She felt someone tackle her to the ground. Her wand flew out of her hands from the unexpected impact.
"Hermione!" Viktor shouted as he watched her tumble to the ground.