"Do you see that glisten around the leaves?" Neville asked Hermione who was his lab partner in herbology.
"Yes I do…" she said looking closely.
"Know what that's called?"
"Well if it were blue it would be called Gason… But this is… Opaque almost… I've never seen anything like it nor have I read about it." she looked to Neville who was smiling. "Neville do you know something I don't know?"
"Finally this day has come where I know something you don't. This is so very exciting for me." He said with a deep breath as Hermione gave a small laugh. "Want to know?" Hermione laughed.
"You know I do."
"It's called opaison."
"Really and what causes the color?" she asked starting to write it down.
"The magical quality of course."
"Of course." They both laughed.
"Mr. Longbottom, Miss granger class has been long over." They looked at Madame Sprout.
"Sorry professor." They said in unison.
"Oh no we've kept Krum waiting." Neville said knowing he was escorting her from class to class.
"It is fine." They turned to see the man in question waiting in the corner with a smile. He walked to them before kissing Hermione on the cheek. "Luff…" he greeted. "I must ask Longbottom How do you know so much of plants to rival Hermione's knowledge of such subject?"
"Oh uhm… Its uhm its…".
"It's his subject of choice." Hermione said for her friend who seemed to shrink under the gaze of her Bulgarian boyfriend. "Neville is going to be a great Herboligist someday."
"Do you know of Thomas Hagen?" Viktor asked Neville.
"He's the leading expert in welsh water sprouts." Neville said with a bright look.
"If you like I could get you a meeting with him. He's a big fan of my team and a close friend of mine."
"Really?" he asked.
"Of course you tell me when and it will happen."
"Thank you Mr. Krum that would be awesome."
"Please call me Viktor any friend of Hermione is friend of mine."
"This is so cool." He whispered to Hermione who just smiled as she clapped him on the back. "See you tomorrow Neville."
"Yes." He said still beaming. Viktor took Hermione's bag for her and they left.
"Great hall for dinner?" she asked. "You could sit with me."
"No I can't… The visiting schools aren't allowed to sit at the other tables just the ones they were told to sit at…"
"Then we shall go down to the kitchens, I have a present for dobby I need to deliver anyways." She said with a smile.
"How do we get to the kitchens?"
"Follow me dear boyfriend." He smiled as she took his hand and led him down a stair case. As they walked he noticed that they were going deeper and deeper down into the Hogwarts castle until finally there were no windows.
"Where are the kitchens located luff?"
"In the basement."
"You mean the dungeons?"
"No the basement." She said with a smile. "The dungeons are located in dungeon hall…"
"Have you ever been there?"
"Once…" she said with a smile. "My first year… With fluffy remember?"
"Ah yes I do luff that story… Whatever happened to three headed pooch?"
"Oh Hagrid and Dumbledore released him into the forbidden forest you can hear them barking some times." They walked down a long hallway which at the end had a portrait of fruit.
"Okay tickle the pear." She said.
"Do what?" he asked.
"Tickle the pair."
"Luff I think studying has gone to head, are you well?" she laughed as she reached forward and tickled the pear which wiggeled before the portrait swung open revealing a busy kitchen full of busy house elves. Instantly all work stopped and the elves looked to the visitors.
"Hello Miss Granger!" they chimed.
"Hey guys!" she waved. "Don't stop on my account." She said making them all smile as they returned to work. Viktor smiled as he watched a group of ten elves rush up to Hermione.
"We heard about your attack misses." A young female elf said walking to her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine thanks to that amazing chocolate cake Mini, think there's any left?"
"Always for you misses."
"I was wondering something, is Dobby in?"
"He should in just a few minutes come on in you're always welcome here." An older elf said.
"Thank you Wallus." Hermione said. "You all know my boyfriend Viktor?" she asked.
"One of the triwizard champions sir it is an honor." They all bowed. He smiled at them as he followed Hermione to a small table. They sat down on the floor knowing they couldn't sit in the tiny elf chairs.
"Why do they not smile at you luff?" Viktor pointed to the other house elfs at the end of the kitchen who glared at them.
"They are loyal to the purebloods of Slytherin house, many of them our personal elves to the students… They are only here when their masters are." She explained as she waved and smiled at them only furthering their glares. "Oh I'll win them over eventually." She said reaching into her bag and pulling out a small gift box.
"Misses!" Dobby walked over and hugged her. "How are you feeling?"
"Very well, I brought you something." She said pushing the box at him.
"Miss Granger you spoil me so…" he said with a smile.
"Open it I want to see your face." He laughed as he shredded the wrapping paper and threw open the box.
"Oh my!" he pulled out a brown dragon skin coat. "Misses it is perfect"! He squeaked.
"Does it fit?" he threw it on.
"It does indeed!" he turned. "See if you would just rebel you could dress as snazzy!" he shook his fist at the other house elves. "And make a kindly keep!"
"Don't pressure them they'll come around eventually." Hermione said smiling at the other house elves who just shook their heads with smiles. They had slowly begun to understand the young witch who strangely wanted them all to be free when they just wanted to serve. At first they had thought she was mean in trying to get them to leave, but then they slowly understood that she cared deeply about them and thought they would be happiest away from servitude. Her thinking may have been a bit backwards in their minds but even so they could see she was a good person.
"I never asked but what made you feel so strongly about house elf rights?" Viktor asked, he saw her eyes take on a passionate glow.
"It's not just house elf rights it's every magical creature that isn't given the same chance as us wizards or witches. I'm talking about the Giants, the Centaurs, all sorts of magical creatures even unicorns."
"So what got you on your crusade?"
"To be honest I was only aware for years of the mis treatment of muggle borns I never really thought of the mis treatment of house elves until Harry told me about dobby and even then I truly didn't understand the cruelty… That was until the word cup. As me and the weasleys plus Harry were heading up to our seats we saw Mr. Crouch. His house elf Twinky was so scared of heights and yet he kept smacking her with his cane and yelling at her to move even though she was shaking… Then when the attack happened I saw her just standing there… He had put a charm on her so she couldn't run away so when the attack happened-."
"She was forced to stay."
"That's right." Hermione said. "I couldn't help her then I was too busy running from death eaters, but I made a promise as I ran that somehow I would find a way to make it up to her. I would free her and all the house elfs... Then I started thinking about all the other poor creatures who were mistreated… Have you talked to the centaurs here?" she asked.
"Have you?" he asked instantly worried.
"Of course." She said like it was an everyday thing.
"Mina they are dangerous." He whispered.
"Only if you don't respect them. They've been given the raw end of the deal for so many years they've understandably gotten a chip on their shoulder, if you respect that then they treat you quite well…"
"Why didn't I know you were talking to them before luff."
"Oh I don't know, they know all about you they've asked me to bring you to meet them before. I can if you like I usually see them late at night, they've been teaching me astronomy on top of it all…"
"Tonight's dinner is a goat cheese chicken with a buttered apseragus, and mash potatoes with dehydrated carrots for garnish." Dobby said setting the plates down. "And of course pumpkin juice."
"It looks so wonderful." Hermione said.
"Thank you very much." Viktor said.
"Always you two should come down here and eat more often I enjoy the company." He said sitting down with a plate as well. Only he sat in a chair. Hermione poured the elf some butter beer.
"Thank you misses." He said with a smile.
"Always." She said with a smile.
"Did you make this coat yourself?"
"Oh no I'm not skilled with dragon skin so I thought I'd just buy it… Is that okay?"
"Always!" he said with a smile. "You are a lucky man Mr. Krum, Misses here is kindest witch of her age."
"Kindest and Wisest." Viktor said with a proud smile.
"So Mr. Krum what's it like to fly a broom?" Viktor looked to Dobby to see his eyes were wide with intrigue. He slowly looked around to see the other house elves were now closely listening.
"You haf never ridden broom?" he asked.
"Well… No sir. I'm an elf." Hermione smiled softly.
"None of you haf?" he looked around to see that all the house elves were shaking their heads. "It is most glorious thing… There is nothing like it."
"Better then aperation?" a young female elf asked.
"Of course… To fly high up in the sky there is no way to describe it. I could teach you all if you like."
"Oh no no we could not ask." Many elves muttered turning away instantly.
"I would… Like to learn…" Dobby said. Viktor looked to him.
"Then I will teach you, I'm teaching Hermione now, you can learn with."
"Oh yes that would be nice!" Hermione said.
"I'm very excited!" Dobby piped. Hermione smiled at him and then looked to her boyfriend who started telling the elf all he knew about Quidditch.
How did I get so lucky? She asked herself.
-o-
"It's really nice of you to teach Dobby how to fly; I can't wait to make him a broom." She said with a smile.
"You'll have to I don't think they make brooms for elves."
"I'll have to make it so it matches his magic of course, it will be quite a fete." Viktor smiled as he held onto Hermione's hand. They were walking towards the cabin ready to settle for the night. He was glad to have her staying with him, nothing felt right when she wasn't around. "Do you want to study a bit before bed?" she asked.
"I could use help with the troll wars."
"Everyone could, horrible subject it is." She said. "But luckily I forced myself to learn it my second year." He smiled.
"I am lucky to haf smart girlfriend."
"Don't you forget it."
"Oh wait." He stopped seeing Jamous standing in front of the cabin. "I forgot."
"Forgot?" she asked.
"I have boys night with Jamous I'll cancel you shouldn't be alone."
"She won't!" Jamous said stepping aside to reveal Ginny.
"You should go, don't worry about me I'll be fine." Hermione said smiling at him
"Will you be safe?"
"Of course remember your cabin has all those charms…" Hermione said. She was a little un easy about not being near him. But she wasn't going to cling. She wasn't the type of girl. She needed to learn to feel strong and safe on her own again and now was just the time.
"Are… are you sure?" Viktor asked. "No… No I cannot leaf."
"You either go by choice or I'm going to place the impirius curse on you." He smiled.
"Alright dah I vill go but vill not be late I promise." He said kissing the top of her head.
"You have fun."
"Dah I vill." He kissed her again before Jamous grabbed him by the collar and dragged him off.
"Come lover boy." Hermione smiled as he waved the two off.
"Take care of him!" she called.
"No promise!" Jamous called back with a laugh. Hermione turned to Ginny who was smiling.
"I hear he has a huge bath tub." She pulled out a swim suit.
"Oh Ginny." She said with a shake of the head.
"Is she still looking?" Viktor asked Jamous who glanced over his own shoulder.
"She's heading inside with Ginny…"
"Are boys there yet?"
"Five in the bushes, our best duelist just in case." He stated.
"Hermione really doesn't know what you're doing?"
"No she would try to stop me." he said. "I will tell her after wards."
"Right… Well snake boy is waiting."
"Where is he?"
"Forbidden forest… Our boys lured him out their then ditched him…"
"Perfect, we have eyes on him?"
"Of course." Jamous said with a smile as they walked to the front line of the forest.
"Odd time to be taking a stroll." They turned to see Haggrid sitting on a pumpkin a pipe in hand.
"Us Bulgarians love strolls in clean British air." Jamous said.
"Is this about what happened to Hermione?" the half giant asked puffing out a cloud of smoke.
"It is." Jamous looked to Viktor with wide eyes. "Are you going to stop us?" Viktor asked.
"No… I heard he did quite a number on her." Haggrid stood and stretched.
"He did."
"Then you do it ten times worse…" Haggrid said before heading in side. "Enjoy your stroll." Jamous looked on in disbelief.
"Come on." Viktor clapped his friend on the back with a smile before heading in.
"Did a Hogwarts teacher just permit us to beat the hell out of a student?" jamous asked.
"He is dear friend of Hermione."
"Hermione is dear friends with many people."
"That she is…" he said whispering. "Which way?"
"This way comrade."
-o-
"You're looking good considering you had the hell beat out of you." Ginny said eating a cupcake that had been dropped off by Dobby who sat right next to Hermione on a large pink pillow.
"Gee thanks." Hermione said with a laugh. "Dobby did you make these cupcakes?"
"No it was Bessie… she's great baker." He said munching on one.
"Dobby that's a snazzy coat." Ginny said.
"Oh why thank you." He said with a smile. "Hermione got it for me."
"She has good taste."
"She does indeed."
"So Dobby any idea what my boyfriend is up too?" Hermione asked.
"I thought it was poker." Dobby said. It was hard to lie to Hermione, especially after all she had done for him. But he wasn't about to tell her the Bulgarians plans to beat up a Slytherin student. He knew Hermione had enough compassion to ignore the fact he had tried to have her defiled and maybe even killed to go and save him.
"I didn't know Bulgarians played poker." Ginny said.
"I think most people do." Hermione said.
"I brought some licorice wands!" Dobby piped holding them up. Knowing about the plan tonight he would make sure to entertain the teenage witches the best way he knew how, slumber party style.
"Oh my favorite." Ginny said.
"Pumpkin slice?" he asked Hermione.
"Don't mind if I do Dobby dear." He smiled up at her. Hermione looked him over thumbing her pendant. "I'm going to get that bath ready for a swimming thing…" she stood up and headed in as she did she discreetly Grabbed her maroon sweater.
-o-
Viktor and six of his Bulgarian shipmates stood in the tree line watching the Slytherin boy turning in circles looking all around.
"Bloody Bulgarians!" he bellowed. "Bunch of Bitches!"
"Oh he's gunna pay for that one." Jamous muttered in his native tongue.
"Do not jump in… This is my quarrel…" Viktor said.
"Are you going to kill him?" his friend Nicholas asked.
"He deserves it." his other friend Check added. The others nodded.
"I'm going to make him beg for death…" Viktor said before standing up straight and walking out into the open dark clearing of the forest which Malfoy stood.
"Gotta get out of here!" he bellowed. Viktor pulled out his wand.
"Eradia." Red lights burst out of his wand and hung high in the sky. Malfoy jumped looking at them. "You see those?" He spun looking to Viktor.
"You…"
"Do you see the lights?" Viktor asked.
"Of course I see the bloody lights…" The red was casting an evil glow on the older stronger Bulgarian.
"They are caused by a very clever spell…" Viktor took a step forward his eyes narrowing. "A lot of people don't know this spell because it's new… Just created…"
"Really?" Malfoy asked un sure of what the Bulgarian was talking about.
"It was actually created by a Hogwarts student… A bright witch… Wise witch… Wisest witch of her age… This spell was invented by my Mina…"
"Mina?"
"Hermione…" Malfoys eyes grew wide. "Last night someone took my Hermione and beat her with a beaters bat…" he put his hand out and from the bushes one was thrown to him. He easily caught it. "He hit her over and over again until she was curled up into a ball… This person did this under some ones orders."
"Krum-."
"Your orders." Viktor said cutting him off.
"You can't know that."
"I can because she told me…"
"The bitch is lying."
"Bitch…" Viktor flicked his wand. A red light shot out striking Malfoy in the chest sending him flying back into a tree. "I do not like this word especially when said about my luff." He walked over to Malfoy who was rolling onto his back and leaned in towards him. "It upsets me you see." Viktor pulled back his foot and kicked him hard in the side. Malfoy screamed in pain as he curled into a ball.
"Stop!" he shouted.
"Stop…" Viktor looked up his anger building. "Stop that is what my Mina screamed." He hit him in the back with the bat. "That man you ordered did not stop!" he hit him over and over again before yelling out in frustration and throwing the bat aside knowing if he kept it in hand he would use it to kill the young man. He took a few steps back as Malfoy slowly pulled himself to his feet with the help of a boulder. "How did you get the man to do it? Did he want to willingly hurt my Mina?"
"No…" he spit blood. "I threatened his family… But once I explained to Crawl all the things Granger has done he was more the willing."
"What has my Mina done?"
"Oh let's see." He looked up in thought. "How about… Humiliating me!" he suddenly bellowed. Viktor stared at the deranged boy who stood up straight his eyes wild, blood leaking from his mouth. "Over and over again she humiliates me! In front of everyone! I told you I'd teach that bitch a lesson!" Viktor went to fire a spell but Malfoy countered it. Viktor had to commend the boy he was quicker then he thought.
"What haf I said about calling my Mina such awful things?"
"I don't much remember you hit me with that bat pretty hard… You should back down now… Or I shall tell my father of what you did…"
"And I shall tell your father of plans to rape Hermione..."
"I would never defile my body by entering her dirty one… The fact you can is ridiculous… Blood traitor. Back down now or your family will suffer."
"Your English father has no control over Bulgarian government or its families standings…
"I'll have you deported." Viktor couldn't help but laugh.
"You are…" he looked up in thought. "How you say… Reaching… Now…" Viktor smiled in a malevolent way. "You are a coward, and a disgrace to mankind… To attack a girl the way you did-."
"She deserved what she got!" he shouted. "To surpass me in grades who did the little cunt think she was!? I am second in school always to her-."
"So she deserved to be beaten!?" Viktor slammed a spell into him. Malfoy shouted as he flew back and slammed into a tree. "She deserved to nearly be raped!" he hit him again and again his anger building once more. He had no use for words any more. What had been done to Hermione was beyond anything he could say. And he knew that he could never convey his anger through sentences alone. He could only make the slytherin feel his rage. A laugh made Viktor stop Malfoy was rolling onto his back smiling.
"Tell me… Did he mess up her face?" Malfoy asked still laughing. "I told crawl to cut it up… Did he scoop those eyes out of her skull like I wanted?" Viktors eyes narrowed as Malfoy got onto his knees and looked up at him with a bloody smile. "Did she scream? I wanted her to scream… Did she beg… I bet the bitch begged." Viktor rushed forward grabbed the boy by the collar and slammed his fist across his face.
"You son of a bitch!" Viktor yelled in Bulgarian. "You don't deserve to fucking live!"
"Stop! Stop!" Malfoy screamed as blood spurted across Viktors coat.
"She screamed that and he didn't stop! I will not stop!"
-o-
Hermione paced the cabin. Dobby had long escorted Ginny home and now waited in the corner one of his many hats in hand.
"Where is he Dobby?" Hermione asked. "Where is he really?"
"I cannot say misses."
"He went after Malfoy didn't he?" the elf stayed silent giving her, her answer. "Go to him… Tell him I want him here now…" her voice was firm, a tone she had never taken with him before. She looked to him. "Please Dobby." She sad more softly. He gave a small smile and nodded before popping out of sight.
-o-
"HELP ME!" Malfoy screamed covered in his own blood. "SOMEBODY!"
"No one will help you!" he shouted in English.
"I've had enough!"
"You have not had enough!"
"I CAN'T TAKE IT!" He bellowed as Viktor kicked him in the stomach for the sixth time. "Stop please!" Viktor noted the tear tracks on the younger boys face. He wanted to feel mercy built he couldn't. Every time he went to stop he remembered the way Hermione looked curled up into a ball on the ground her shirt ripped to shreds her belt buckle un done. He stopped kicking seeing Malfoys eyes drifting closed.
"No you don't…" Viktor grabbed him by his robe and pulled him up onto his feet. He grabbed a vial from his coat un did the cork and ran it under his nose.
"Oh no…" Malfoys eyes shot open. "Please no…"
"You stay awake… You feel everything… Just like she felt everything…" he slammed his fist against malfoys face knocking him to the ground as he began to kick and stomp him again.
"Stop!" He did and malfoy looked up at Viktor with blood shot black swelled eyes.
"Beg…" Viktor said.
"W-what?" he asked shaking.
"Beg!" he stomped on him.
"Please!" He piped. "Please let me live!"
"You deserve this!" he stomped on him.
"I deserve it! Please!" he screamed tears rolling down his face. "Please!"
"Hermione… Wants you back home sirs…" Dobby whispered moving forward. Viktor looked to him. "It's late…"
"Fine… He's had enough for tonight…"
"For tonight?" Malfoy whispered.
"For tonight… I will come back for you again…" Viktor muttered turning. He wouldn't or maybe he would he hadn't really decided. Either way Malfoy would live in fear for maybe the rest of his life.
"Should I heal him?" Jamous asked.
"Only if near death…" Viktor said quietly before walking off.
"Sir your coat is stained with blood…" Dobby said as they headed through the forest.
"I wear it proudly."
"Miss Hermione may not see it like that…"
-o-
Hermione paced, her anger building. He had promised her he would tell her when he went for his revenge. But he hadn't. He had broken a promise and also lied right to her face. He had done both on purpose. She heard a pop outside the door and turned now fuming with anger. The door slowly opened and Viktor walked in.
"I know you are angry…" he instantly said.
"Damn right I am." She said. "How could you?"
"How could I?" he asked. "I defended your honor."
"You lied to my face… and you broke a promise… You said you would tell me when-."
"You would haf stopped me."
"Yes I would have!"
"So see I could not tell you!"
"You don't get it do you?" she asked. "I would have stopped you because it's my job to take my revenge…" he could see she was in distress. "I have to defend my own honor Viktor! I wanted to fight him I wanted to beat the hell out of him I bloody well earned it! How am I going to get my strength back or my pride!?" she stopped. "You just…" she looked away. "You don't get it." she went to the bathroom and shut the door so hard the pictures on the wall shook. The door opened again to show Hermione with a coat in hand.
"Where are you going?"
"Back to the castle." She said walking past him and out the door.
"Luff it is not safe!" he ran after her and grabbed her hand.
"I'll be fine I'm perfectly capable of handling myself!" she ripped her arm from his grasp.
"No last time you stormed out you got very hurt! Please stay luff." He pulled her back.
"Stop moving me about like a rag doll Viktor! I'm not made of lace you don't have to worry about me!"
"Yes I do! You cannot take care of self!" Viktor stopped, instantly realizing his mistake. "Luff I did not mean-."
"Yes you did."
"My English it is not-."
"Yes it is... Leave me alone Viktor… Just leave me alone…"
"Misses the head master says you can go back to your room." Dobby said walking up. he had seen the whole fight go down and couldn't believe his ears or eyes.
"Can… Can you take me dobby?" she asked turning away from Viktor.
"Don't leaf…" Viktor said quietly.
"Dobby…" the elf took her hand and apperated out of sight. Viktor stared at the place she had just been standing.
"What just happened?" he asked himself.