Chapter 19

Hermione was seated at her usual table in the library after dinner, trying to focus on studying, but struggling to get her mind off of both Ginny and Juliette and what had happened earlier that day. Krum quietly walked up and stood behind the seat across from her.

"Good evening, Herm-own-ninny. It is okay if I sit vith you again?" Krum asked.

"Yes Viktor, of course."

About fifteen minutes went by as they worked in silence, Hermione studying and Krum reading a book about dragons. The odd girl or two walked by, eyeing Krum, but neither Krum nor Hermione paid them any attention. Then, Ginny appeared.

"Um, hi," she said reluctantly. Both Hermione and Krum looked up. It seemed as if Ginny was trying desperately to control her excitement, and Hermione gave her a small, thankful smile to show that she appreciated Ginny's efforts to not lose her cool in front of Krum.

"Viktor, this is my friend Ginny. She studies with me twice a week. Ginny, this is Viktor," Hermione introduced the two. Krum stood up to shake Ginny's hand.

"It is a pleasure to be meeting you, Ginny." He sat back down and returned to his reading.

Ginny nodded at Krum, then sat down next to Hermione.

"So," she started quietly to Hermione, "How was the rest of your day?"

"How was the rest of my day? Ginny, what were you thinking?" Hermione snapped.

"Wha- What do you mean? What are you referring to?"

"I'm talking about asking Juliette Marat to train with you!" Hermione hissed.

Ginny stared at her in shock, "Why are you so upset?"

"Ginny she cannot be trusted! She is condescending and rude and – "

"I know she is. I know, but something has to change. I can't stand the anxiety I have wondering when I'll run into her. At least this way I'll know when I'll see her, and maybe I can shut her up with my flying abilities. I have to do something to get her to stop calling me "Little Ginny", I can't stand it!" Ginny's face was turning red with anger. Hermione paused for a moment, before responding.

"Ginny, I don't know if this is the right way to go about this. You really want to be in the air with her? Flying? If she's as good as she says she is – "

"Juliette Marat is a very good Quidditch player…" Krum muttered softly. "She is arrogant… But she is good at vot she does, there is no denying how vell she can fly…"

The two girls stared at Krum in shock.

"You know her?" Hermione asked, surprised.

"I do not know her vell, but yes, I know her and her sister Josephine. They are some of the best female Quidditch players in Europe right now. Her sister vos trying to seduce me at the Quidditch World Cup, but I vos not having time for it." Krum frowned at the memory. The girls were still staring, shocked at how much Krum had said.

"Viktor, I asked her to come train with me and some of the other Hogwarts Quidditch players. Do you think that's a bad idea?" Ginny asked genuinely.

Krum frowned again, thinking, "I am thinking that if you are vonting to improve, she is someone who anyone, even myself, can learn from… Even vith her being so young…" He paused, then continued, "I am not thinking that it vill be enjoyable…" Ginny frowned and considered what Krum had said while Hermione shot her a look that said "I told you so".

"It doesn't have to be enjoyable. I want to get better. I also think that I can impress her, and – "

"Ginny, I know that you're a great flyer, but she is just… I just don't know if she is the right person to help you and build your confidence up… Even if you did impress her, I don't think she'd let you have any satisfaction from it, and I'm worried that – "

"Stop worrying so much, you're not my mum!" Ginny glared at Hermione, frustrated that she wouldn't let this go. "I can take care of myself! You don't have to worry about me and treat me like I'm some child making a silly little mistake! If it's a bad decision, I'll know, and I won't train with her again. It's not that big of a deal, can we just drop it?"

"Fine!" Hermione glared back, just as frustrated with Ginny. She didn't know why she was having such a hard time letting this go, but she did know that she felt extremely uneasy at the thought of Ginny and Juliette being together. She just didn't trust Juliette. What if she told Ginny about their kiss in the corridor the night the champions were picked? What if she told Ginny that Hermione had been harboring feelings for her for months now? Hermione paled at the thought. Ginny had her brow furrowed angrily and was aggressively writing down notes. Krum had returned to reading his book.

"Ginny…" Hermione said softly. Ginny looked up, her expression not softening at all. "Ginny, I'm sorry. You're right. I don't know why I got so involved. You are more than capable of making your own decisions and knowing what's best for you. I'm sorry…" Ginny stared at her, then allowed her face to relax.

"I'm sorry too. I don't know why I got so worked up. She just… She bugs me. I need to do something to change it."

"I understand…"

"Ginny, how are you at disguising your thoughts ven you are flying?" Krum muttered, again softly and slowly.

"What? Um… I guess I'm pretty good, why?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Juliette and her arrogance… She is always vonting to underestimate her opponents…" Krum paused, and the girls exchanged confused looks before looking back at him. "Make sure that she is underestimating you more than vot she should be… And surprise her… Her arrogance is her veakness."

Ginny nodded and smiled, "Thank you, Viktor."

"You are velcome, Ginny." He gave a very mild smile to the girls before returning to his reading. Both Ginny and Hermione began quietly studying, and they continued that way until Madam Pince came to usher them out of the library.

"It vos nice to be meeting you, Ginny. Herm-own-ninny, thank you for letting me read at your table. Goodnight." He nodded at each girl before turning and slowly walking away, headed towards the lake. Hermione and Ginny began walking towards Gryffindor Tower.

"So, I thought you said he just quietly sat and read?" Ginny asked.

"Honestly Ginny, that is the most he has spoken all week. What did you think of him?"

"I thought he had great insight. Fascinating that he knows Juliette and her sister. Makes sense though, seeing as they're all Quidditch superstars…"

"Juliette is not a Quidditch superstar, Ginny."

"She will be though. And I know how you feel about it, but I do want to get better, and after what Viktor said, it sounds like Juliette could help me. I understand the risks that are associated with it, but I grew up with six older brothers, my skin is plenty thick," Ginny said reassuringly to Hermione.

"I just don't want you to get hurt…" Hermione mumbled, looking down at the ground.

"I won't." Hermione looked up at Ginny as they walked, taking in the seriousness of Ginny's expression. "I have to change something here Hermione. I can't keep walking around the school scared to turn a corner. I need to get her right in front of me, I need to face my fear. Can you support that?"

Hermione stared at her reluctantly, then answered, "Yes Ginny, I will support that. Just… Don't let her get to you."

"I won't Hermione, I promise," Ginny gave Hermione a small soft smile. "And don't worry, I won't make you pinky promise this time. I know I got a little too close to you earlier during the first one."

Hermione looked into Ginny's eyes just in time to see that mischievous glint that she'd seen the first night of the term.

"I – No, Ginny, don't be silly, I – "

"I'm only joking Hermione, come on," Ginny said as she motioned for Hermione to enter the portrait hole before her. As they entered, they saw Demelza and Ron, heavily entrenched in a game of Wizard's Chess. Hermione saw this as her opportunity to escape.

"Well, I'm sure that'll keep you busy," she motioned to the two glued to the chess board. "I'm going to call it a night. Goodnight, Ginny".

"Sure thing. Goodnight, Hermione."

Hermione climbed the spiral staircase towards the girls' dormitories, walked down the hall and entered her room. Thankfully, her dormmates were already asleep. She changed out of her uniform and into joggers and a t shirt and climbed into bed, irritating Crookshanks in the process, who shot her a very displeased look.

"Oh, you're fine Crookshanks. Come here."

Crookshanks crept up to lay on Hermione's chest and allowed her to pet him for a bit before he returned to his spot at the foot of Hermione's four-poster bed. Hermione closed the curtains around her bed, then began to let her thoughts consume her.

What is going on? I see Ginny in the corridor practically snogging Demelza… Which was more painful than I thought it would be, but they have every right to do whatever they want wherever they want … But then Ginny makes me do a pinky promise, which of course would have to happen in front of Juliette… Juliette… Who…

Hermione blushed furiously as she touched both her pinky and then the cheek that Juliette had kissed.

Far too much kissing today… Anyway, what am I going to do about Ginny and Juliette training together? Just let it happen? Well, of course I'll be there to watch and make sure nothing happens… It better just be a straight-forward training session… But of course, with Juliette there it obviously won't be… And that glint in Ginny's eyes… It was the same one from when she complimented me punching Malfoy in the face… What is that? It can't be… Flirting… Can it..? She's crazy about Demelza, they were snogging in the corridor!

Hermione furrowed her brow and closed her eyes tight in frustration and confusion.

Just… Just go to bed. This is too much. Go to bed, and hide away at Scrivenshaft's or Tomes and Scrolls tomorrow… Just, give yourself a break and make sure to steer clear of Ginny and Juliette tomorrow.

Hermione relaxed her face, and tried her best to fall asleep. Her racing mind made it difficult, but eventually she drifted off to sleep.