Viktor paced the floor of the champion's tent. He had been the first to arrive, and everything was a little too quiet for his liking. Still he was alone, and glad to be. Yet he was worried though he had expected a surprise visit from Hermione, but she had not come. She was always up early. He wondered if she might be upset with him. He thought about the night before and saw nothing wrong with it, it had ended with a kiss she had a smiled and then headed through the port hole to her common room.
"Vomen…" he muttered before smiling. "My Voman… My Mina…"
"Hey Viktor." He slowly turned to see Harry. "Didn't scare you did I?" Harry had expected him to jump but Viktor had just stood there. He was brave, he was glad Hermione wasn't going to date someone meek and afraid of his own shadow.
"Afraid not but was good try Comrade." Viktor said. "I am glad you know of Hermiownee and I." Harry smiled.
"Me too I was beginning to think she was mad at me." He said.
"This is not so, she is mad with rude red headed one."
"Ron you mean?"
"Yes this is his name." Harry smiled.
"So she's taken my side." He said Viktor instantly shook his head.
"She takes no sides." Viktor said while Harry frowned.
"Of course not." Harry muttered.
"Hermiownee cares deeply for you though." Viktor said. "Enough to make me jealous at one point."
"Jealous really? Of me?"
"I heard her say to you that she luffed you… Was afraid she was with you and not I."
"Oh no like I said Hermione is like a sister." Harry said. "I would never think of something between us happening."
"That is what she said, and I know now she is right…"
"I do care about her though." Harry said earning him a thoughtful look from the older wizard. "And… If anything were to happen to her, I would be very upset." Viktor nodded. "I mean anything, I swear if she comes running to me crying because of something you said nothing will be able to stop me from trying really hard to beat you up… and I warn you I'm pretty sure I could get in a few punches, and they might hurt too." Viktor laughed.
"I promise this vill never happen but if it does, I vill let you hit me for I deserve it…" Harry nodded.
"Good then we're at an understanding."
"Indeed comrade indeed." Harry smiled before looking to something laying on a bed with his name on it. "It is uniform we are to put it on, we should get changed before bell rings I hear students filling up the arena now." Harry could hear them too.
"Right. Well see you in a few." Harry headed into his changing room and began to put on the uniform, while Viktor did the same thing.
-o-
Hermione walked up the porch steps and faced a large gold studded wood door. She let her knuckles rap against three times before stepping back. The door opened but instead of seeing Viktor she saw Jamous.
"He is not here." He said with a soft smile.
"Why are you here?"
"He forgot his wand."
"What!?" Hermione yelled.
"I found it." He held it up for her to see.
"Are you serious!"
"No I am not." He shook his head. "This is mine." He said placing it back in its holder.
"Very funny Jamous very funny." She wasn't amused at all. "Is Viktor here then?"
"No that was not a joke, he is at champion's tent already, You missed him by twenty minutes."
"Will you take me there?"
"Of course." He smiled. "We are off." He closed the door quickly and leant his arm for her to take.
"Oh uh thanks." Hermione linked hers. She really wasn't at all used to the gentleman ways of Viktor and his friends.
"Hey Herminanni? There is girl I am wondering about… She is Indian… I think she is in your house…" Hermione looked to him.
"There are a pair of twins Paverti and Padma who are Indian…"
"She has a twin!?" he gushed. Hermione laughed.
-o-
"There it is…" Jamous said pointing to the tent before hearing his name. He turned to see his headmaster. "I must take my leave vill you be alright?"
"Yes thank you." Hermione said with a smile.
"Vill I see you in stands?"
"Of course." Hermione said nodding. He smiled before running off. Hermione slowly headed towards a large canvas tent. All around her people were hustling and bustling to get good seats for the task.
"Hey mione." Hermione jumped and spun to see Fred.
"Fred what are you doing here?"
"Gambling." He said motioning to a box hanging in front of him from his shoulders. He opened the box to reveal four names and little check marks by them. Harry had little, that was all Hermione noticed. "Want to place a bet?"
"I don't gamble thanks." She said eyeing him.
"I placed my money on Harry." She smiled.
"Makes me feel better about this somehow, see you in the stands." He nodded and watched Hermione walk away.
"Hey Fred what are you doing!" George called.
"Coming!" he shouted before taking another glance at Hermione. "Coming…" he said before running off after his twin. Hermione headed to the large canvas tent and awkwardly walked inside.
"Psst… Psst…" She could see a tall broad shouldered figure silhouetted on the fabric. When Viktor didn't turn she poked him, he spun and looked.
"Hermione?" she crunched her nose she had thought it was Viktor's silhouette.
"Harry?" she asked softly.
"Yeah." She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey… how-how are you feeling?" she was generally concerned about him.
"Alright I guess…" he muttered.
"Look… The key to getting through this is concentration… after that-."
"I have to defeat a dragon…" Hermione made a small noise before suddenly bursting through the fabric and flinging her arms around him. She just realized how much trouble he was in for. She saw a bright flash of light and broke away from Harry to see a camera man.
"Ah young love…" Rita Skeeter said with a smile. "The readers will love this." Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Now Hermione tell me how do you feel about your boyfriends blatant disregard for his own safety? A death wish maybe?"
"You haf no business here." Viktor said moving forward. "This tent is for champions… and friends." He said. Hermione and Harry gave him a grateful smile. Harry realized why she liked the Bulgarian in that moment.
"You jumped to her defense so quickly…" Rita said eyeing him.
"You haf no business here…" he repeated with a dark look. "Leaf."
"That's fine… I got all I wanted here…" she brushed the feather of her quick quill across his cheek. Viktor moved away from it as if he was burned. He glared at her heavily as she walked away. He smiled at Hermione who returned the expression.
"Okay champions gather round gather round!" Dumbledore said as he and Crouch walked into the tent. Hermione took Harry's hand as they moved aside. "Now you've waited you've wondered and now the first task is finally here- miss granger?" she cringed slightly. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh uhm… Nothing… I'll just… I'll just be going." She gave Harry a sympathetic look before backing up. She looked to Viktor. "Be safe." She mouthed. He gave her a weak smile as he watched her leave. He didn't know why but he had never been so nervous in his life. Hermione walked to the stands where she found Ron in a pretty good spot. The arena was large and full of a natural barren setting with large boulders and soot. Hermione looked at a bunch of golden eggs and smiled. "Knew it." she said.
"Knew what?" Ron asked.
"They're going to have the champions try and get past the dragons…" she looked around seeing Crouch and Dumbledore leave the champion's tent. "I can't watch this." Hermione said shaking her head.
"You know… I never apologized to him. He could die here." She looked to him.
"He'll be fine Ron." Hermione said. "It's Harry."
"Which means if he dies today there's no way we stand a chance against you know who."
"Oh great now I have that in my head…" she said her heart beginning to pound. "I wonder who's first…" a loud cannon fire sounded.
"DIGGORY DIGGORY DIGGORY!" people started chanting.
"Let's see what dragon he has…" Ron muttered. A short snout appeared in the middle of the field.
"Easy." Ron Fred and George muttered.
"I was so hoping he'd get the horntail." Hermione muttered. She had hated the way he and his friends had treated Harry over the past couple weeks. She looked back to the champion's tent while the duel began to start.
"I have to go." Hermione said to him. "I have to check on Harry."
"Yeah you go…" Ron said with a nod. "And uhm maybe tell him I'm sorry."
"You have to do that yourself." She said before heading off. Hermione walked down the stands and then to the champions tent. She walked in to find Gabriel sitting with her sister fleur, Jamous standing and talking to Viktor and Harry all alone. When he spotted her he stood.
"Knew you wouldn't leave me alone." He said. She smiled and walked over.
"Couldn't just sit back and watch… Was worried about you too much." She walked over and sat down next to him. They heard loud growls coming from outside. With each roar fleur made a small terrified noise. How she became the champion Hermione still wasn't sure. Suddenly Cedric came hoisted on a gurney pumpfrey by him. He had a large gold egg in hand. Harry stared at a large burn on the side of his body.
"Fluer… It's your turn." Gabriel said softly as her sister watched the young man get carried out. "I'll be watching from the stands." The two sisters hugged before Gabriel rushed from the room. Fluer took a steadying breath before exiting the tent.
"Mione… I can't do this." Harry said hearing a loud roar as he stood. "I can't do this…" he started pacing. Hermione walked to him and grabbed his hands halting his pace.
"Harry you've faced worse than a dragon." Hermione said cupping his face in her hands. "Harry look at me…" he did as she said. "You are a brilliant wizard full of power… Remember what we talked about…" he nodded. "And you know if you really need it… Produce a Patronis… It will throw the dragon off."
"Hermione… I have the horntail…" she looked at him for a long moment. "You know a Patronis won't throw off a horntail…"
"You can't out fly a horntail… Not with your broom." She had dread on her face. "Oh god…" she turned.
"Hermione you said-."
"I know what I said I was planning on you not getting the horntail I mean no one has worse luck then you I swear." Viktor smiled as he watched Hermione start to pace. "God is it hot in here?" she asked suddenly very nervous. "I can figure this out I can figure this out… You just… You just have to…"
"Have to what?!"
"Don't pressure me Harry Potter!" she said pointing at him.
"Okay look you can't be freaking out I need to be the one freaking out!" Harry said quickly walking to her.
"I have to freak out because you're not freaking out!" she said.
"I am now!"
"And they hold our future in their hands…" Jamous said in Bulgarian to Viktor with a smile. "Lovely."
"Right… Right… Sorry." Hermione took a breath smoothing out her clothes. "Okay… Okay you stick to the original game plan you just have to do it quicker… You can't take your time you hear me?" he nodded. "You have to be quick no dilly dallying. The second you give the horntail the upper hand he'll keep it and it will be very hard to return the favor to yourself… Also… The wings are the weakest part of this sort of dragon. The horntails wings are paper thin for gliding you take out one wing."
"I take out the dragon." Hermione nodded. Harry started pacing as Hermione stood in the corner her arms wrapped around herself. Viktor walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Deep breaths luff." He said.
"Your next aren't you?" she asked. "Which dragon?"
"Chinese fireball." She slowly nodded her face etched with worry.
"They can't turn their heads… Stay to its right or left… You should be fine." She said quietly as she looked to him. "It's claws though… They can shoot out of its feet when scared… So watch out for them… They're extremely poisonous…"
"I'll be careful."
"You better." She said before jumping at the sound of a cannon firing. "Already?" she asked softly.
"Fluer must haf been taken to the nurse… Which means I'm up." her stomach was in knots. Viktor smiled at her. "Be back in minutes." He said with a smile before he walked away. Hermione grabbed his hand wheeling him around when he did she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Be safe…" she said her hand going to the back of his head. Viktor smiled and closed his eyes. He kissed her before pulling away. She watched him with a worried look. He kissed his fingers before waving them at her as he backed out of the tent with a smile.
How is he so collected? Hermione asked herself in wonder.
"You want to go watch him?" Harry asked quietly.
"No… I don't think I can."
"You'll be watching me though right?" Harry asked.
"Yes if you do anything wrong I can shout pointers at you." She said making him laugh lightly. "So what's the plan?" she asked quizzing him.
"I move fast right out the gate. Firing my Accio charm right away and then getting to cover until my broom comes…" she nodded. Harry once more began to pace as he went over the plan in his head a hundred times. A few minutes later a soot covered Viktor stumbled in an egg held under his arms. Hermione smiled while Jamous laughed.
"Vell done!" Jamous said clapping his hand on his friends back.
"What's wrong?" she asked walking to him, she could see his expression was less than happy.
"I got knocked down to last placing..." He said.
"What why?" She asked.
"I ruined most of eggs…" he said wanting to kick himself.
"Hey… At least you got one right?" she asked. He slowly looked to her taking a deep breath as he did.
"I guess this is right, and I am unscathed." He said.
"See positives." She said with a smile. A loud cannon fired.
"Hermione…" Harry said walking to her. "I don't think I can do this…"
"Hey…" She set her hand on his cheek in a motherly way. "You defeated over 300 dementors last year... And you're afraid of a tiny dragon?" she asked making him laugh.
"Guess you're right."
"I'm always right." She said. "Remember wisest witch of her age here." He laughed again. Hermione hugged him tightly. "See you out there…" she said.
"What's a little horntail right?" She laughed before hugging him again. She kissed him on the forehead.
"Good luck."
"Thanks sis." He said before heading off. Hermione watched as filch climbed down the tower which held the cannon that had been firing. Hermione smiled to herself. Viktor watched as she jumped up onto the ladder and quickly climbed. He tilted his head and watched her before following. He moved up the ladder and peeked his head out by the cannon. She wasn't up there. He looked to his left and smiled as he watched her run across a cat walk to the stands. He smiled. She was truly intelligent, always thinking. He climbed back down and waited knowing she would be back. He walked over to the bed and sat down the egg in hand. He opened it up a loud screeching sound filling the air as it did.
"Holy hell!" he shouted in Bulgarian. He instantly closed it and threw the egg aside with wide eyes. It had to have been the worse noises he had ever had the displeasure of hearing.
-o-
Hermione stared wide eyed as Harry just stood there looking up at the large dragon as it continuingly swung its horned tail at him. She shook her head not believing it. They had just gone over the plan. Harry was struck by the tail and thrown a good twenty feet. He rolled down a boulder hill right in front of Ron and Hermione.
"Your wand Harry!" Hermione bellowed. He looked up at her. "Use your wand!" he nodded. He raised his wand and uttered the spell he couldn't even hear his own voice over the roar of the horntail.
"MOVE MATE!" Ron shouted. Harry dove behind a boulder as the horn tail sent a wall of fire at him.
"There's his broom his broom!" Hermione laughed seeing it. It dove down to Harry. Who instantly jumped on it and went flying towards the eggs. "Yes yes yes!" people cheered but then oohed when Harry missed the eggs his fingers not even grazing the eggs. Hermione Frowned her eyes wide as the dragon suddenly tore away from the chain which held it anchored. It roared and went after Harry who flew off over the area. Hermione pulled out her wand Ron as well. They were going to fire a curse but the horn tail moved to fast and soon they were out of sight.
"No…" Hermione whispered. His chances of surviving the challenge with the horntail chained down was less than 20 percent. Now with the horntail completely loose Hermione only saw a .2 percent chance of him living.
"I can't believe that just happened." Ron whispered.
"Ronald…" Hermione said.
"It's alright." He said moving an arm around her. "He's gunna be fine… He has to be…"
"Charlie said there was no way anyone could out run a horntail. He's done for…" Fred muttered. Hermione turned and hit him hard in the shoulder.
"That's my best friend you're talking about!" she yelled.
"Harry isn't just anyone…" Ron said. "If anyone could beat that dragon it will be him."
"Looks like Ronnikins is right." George said after a few minutes. Harry came flying in. Hermione could tell he was having trouble the back of his broom had smoke coming out of it and he was struggling to stay on. Everyone burst into cheers.
"Yes! Yes!" Hermione shouted before rushing from the stands back to the cat walk. Hermione rushed to the plat form where the cannon sat. "Yes!" Viktor looked up to see Hermione climbing quickly down the ladder jumping half way down as she did. She smiled brightly as Harry stumbled in his broom in hand. She rushed forward and hugged him.
"I got the egg!" he said hysterically. "I got the egg!" she pulled away. "I'm in a lot of pain but I still got it!" he held it up. Hermione smiled as Harry was whisked away from the tent by Madame pumfrey and Dumbledore. She then turned to Viktor with a bright smile.
"Okay we can rejoice now." She ran up to him and hugged him tightly. "You got the egg!" He laughed. "I'm very proud of you!" he smiled as she pulled away. "Come on get happy you just defeated a dragon!"
"I used confusing curse." He said. "But the dragon fell smashed all eggs. I lost many points."
"Your life is more important than points." She said with a small smile. "I'm very proud of you." He smiled at her words.
"Viktor!" she moved aside as an older woman rushed into the room. She had long curly brown hair that went all the way down to her waist. She hugged Viktor tightly. Hermione then registered an older man who looked very much like Viktor only with longer graying hair. She smiled, this was his family.
"Viktor!" the man moved forward and embraced his son. The older woman backed away and looked to Hermione with vibrant blue eyes. She smiled softly at Hermione as she tilted her head in interest.
"Now who could this be?" She asked.
"Mother father…" Viktor walked to Hermione's side and took her hand. "This is my Hermyknee. Hermyknee Granger."
"My Hermione?" his mother asked before smiling brightly. "Oh! My sons special someone!" the woman rushed forward and embraced the girl quickly. Hermione smiled, she took this as a sign his mother liked her. "My name is Sophia…" she said pulling away and setting a hand on her chest.
"It's wonderful to meet you." Hermione said.
"Wait Hermione…" she looked up in thought before looking to her husband. "Ivan this is the Hermione Granger… The girl who saved his life the night of the world cup." Hermione smiled she spoke perfect English with a Bulgarian accent on the side. It told her that she practiced English often. "You saved my son." She said looking back to her.
"Oh I don't know about saved he was doing fine on his own I just helped." She said.
"Modest and beautiful." Ivan said moving forward with a smile. "My son has chosen vell." Hermione smiled as the man hugged her. In that moment she realized Viktor's family was the hugging type. "It is wondervull to meet you."
"And you." She said shaking his hand.
"A good grip as well." He said with a bright smile. "I like you very much. Good choice for our Viktor."
"Well thank you." She said with a smile.
"Miss Granger?" they turned to see Dumbledore. "I do hate to interrupt but Harry Potter is asking for you."
"Yes right away." she said. "I'm sorry to have to leave but my friend is one of the champions I'm afraid he was slightly injured in the competition."
"Go ahead." Ivan said with a smile.
"Yes please do." Sophia said.
"Thank you so sorry again." she said with a smile. "You were great today." She said to Viktor before she turned and took her leave. Viktor smiled a small blushed creeping into his cheeks.
"Awe!" Sophia said pinching her son's cheek while Ivan laughed.
"Momma!" He whined.
Hermione walked into the tent to find Harry and Ron laughing wildly. She stared a little surprised. She had planned their reconciliation to take a lot longer than just right after the first task. She put her arms over her chest.
"Hey Mione look we're the trio again!" Harry said. She could tell he was on pain potion. Ron laughed as he poked Harry's arm which was bandage. "Owe! Ron stop!" they laughed again.
"So just like that." She snapped her fingers. "You're friends."
"Yep." They said.
"Boys…" she muttered walking out of the tent only to run straight into some ones chest.
"Oh I'm so sorry!" she said before looking up and smiling.
"Hallo." Viktor said. "I came to ask if you'd like to come to ship tonight wif me we are hafing big celebration."
"Sounds lovely…"
"You should know the attire is to be…" he searched for word. "Uhm… Vell… Girls wear dresses."
"Cocktail?"
"Yes." He said. "Yes this is what you are to wear. Me I haf to wear stuffy suit."
"I'm sure you'll look very debonair." She said with a smile. "I'll come by your cabin around six and we'll walk together okay?"
"Sounds very good." He said with a nod.
"Alright then… Well I'm going to go find a dress to wear and I'll see you then." She said. "Have fun being kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. She laughed as he was tackled to the ground by six Durmstrang boys including Jamous.
"Bye luff!" he waved as he was carried off.
"Have a good time!" she waved back still laughing.
-o-
Hermione sighed as she sat down on the bed. So far all she had picked out was her shoes. A tall pair of black suede closed toed heels. She looked to the clock and sighed. Only two hours to go. She heard a knock and looked to the door.
"Come in!" she called.
"Hey." Ginny walked in. "Guess what?"
"Mmm what?" she asked.
"I have been invited to the Durmstrang ship tonight by a nice Bulgarian by the name of Micah..." Hermione smiled.
"Vixen."
"I know." She said with a smile. "But I don't have a dress to wear."
"Apparently neither do I." Hermione said.
"Sure you do I mean look at this one." Ginny walked over and picked up a cocktail length emerald green satin dress which had gold flecks through it.
"Makes me look dead… You can wear that one if you want."
"First let's find you a dress." Ginny walked over to her closet and began flipping through them. "Oh Mione what about this one?" she asked zipping open a velvet dress bag. Hermione walked over and stopped.
"I forgot I owned that." She said with a smile.
"How could you it's gorgeous? So can I wear the green one?"
"You can keep it to if you like… Here these gold flats will match."
"Thanks Mione!" she said with a bright smile before heading off.