Chapter 82

Friday, September 2nd 1994

#1

Dear Oliver,

You probably weren't expecting to hear from me so soon after arriving at school, but I have some big news. This year when we arrived we were joined by students from Beauxbattons Academy of Magic - the school I told you about the summer after my second year, the one in France, and students from Durmstrang, including, to Ron's amazement, Viktor Krum. He was going on and on about it last night on the way up to the tower, trying to find ways to get his autograph.

They are joining us this year for the TriWizard Tournament. Some great contest - I haven't had a chance to look it up yet. It involves three challenges that are supposed to be - as Professor Dumbledore put it last night -extremely dangerous. I'm glad I don't have to worry about Harry this year. Mr. Crouch was hear talking about it last night and no one under the age of seventeen will be allowed to enter. Honestly, I think its Fred and George I'll be worrying about. They were really upset about the age limit for the tournament.

Oh, I wanted to ask you... have you ever heard of the enchanted ceiling acting strangely?

Miss you already,

Hermione

Hermione folded the note, putting it in an envelope and wrote Oliver's name on it. Moving from her bed, she got dressed and fed Crookshanks before heading down to the common room. Harry and Ron weren't there yet, so she headed off without them, intending to stop by the owlery before heading to breakfast.

"Good morning," Professor Dumbledore greeted them when he saw the students from all three schools gathered for breakfast. "Thank you all for joining us this fine morning. I have an announcement that I didn't get to last night, that I would like to address now, if you don't mind. I cut much of the announcements short due to the excitement of announcing the tournament."

Hermione shifted in her seat looking at the head table and found Mad-Eye Moody seated there. Perhaps she had been correct in her assumption last night and he was their new professor.

"I wanted to let you know," Professor Dumbledore continued, "that since the first day of term fell on a Thursday, and to give you all time to adjust to a larger student population and our new guests time to get the learn their way around, classes won't be starting until Monday morning. Madame Maxime together with Professor Flitwitck will pass out the class schedules for Beauxbattons and Ravenclaw students, while Highmaster Igor Karkaroff and Professor Snape will pass out the class schedules for Durmstrang and Slytherin students. Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout will pass out the schedules for Gryffindor and Hufflepuff house. I ask you all to help our new friends feel welcome!"

Hermione sighed. She had been looking forward to classes starting today. Now what was she supposed to do? Shaking her head, she helped herself to breakfast and thanked Professor McGonagall when she received her schedule, looking it over as she ate. She smiled when she found that she had a lot of free time she could spend in the library. Maybe the delay in classes wouldn't be so bad after all. Finishing her breakfast, she headed over to where the twins were sitting with Lee.

"Good morning," she said as they made room for her.

"Morning Hermione," Lee said. "How was the rest of your summer? Is your foot doing any better?"

"Yes, thank you," Hermione answered.

"Your foot?" Fred asked.

"What happened to your foot?" George added.

"Oh, I fell," Hermione said sighing heavily, wishing Lee hadn't brought it up.

"What?" George asked.

"When?" Fred added.

"When Oliver and I went to Diagon Alley on Sunday," Hermione answered.

"We didn't need to go," Fred said.

"Yeah, mum went while we were at the World Cup," George said.

"I was wondering why I didn't see you there," Lee said.

"Hey, um," Hermione said nervously. "Can - can I asked you something?"

Lee and the twins looked at each other in concern and confusion for a moment before turing to her again.

"Sure," Lee said. "How can we help?"

"Well," Hermione said. "I know we have time before classes start, and so I was going to -"

"Go to the library," the three boys said in unison.

Hermione blinked, and then smiled, blushing. "Am I that predictable?" she asked.

"No, no," Lee said.

"Only," Fred added.

"All the time," George said with a grin.

"So what were you going to research this time?" Lee asked.

"House-elves," Hermione answered looking at them uncertainly.

"House-elves?" George asked.

Hermione nodded.

"Why would you want to look up house-elves?" Fred asked.

"Well," Hermione said and took a deep breath. "I've already read through the eight volume set,House-Elves and Self-Hatred, and didn't really find what I was looking for, so I was wondering if you knew if there were any other books I could look for on them."

"No," Lee said thoughtfully. "I haven't heard of any other books about them. Though I kind of expect that most wouldn't think too much of themtowrite many books about them."

"Yeah, why are you looking, anyway?" Fred asked.

"Are you planning on writing a report for Professor Binns in History of Magic for extra credit or something?" George asked.

Hermione frowned. "No," she replied testily. "I was looking for their origins, you know, where they came from. How andwhentheir servitude to wizards began, but I couldn't find anything."

"Well," Lee said. "Youaregoing to the library...Maybe Madam Pince could help you find something."

"Yeah," Hermione said though her voice was doubtful. "Maybe."

"What we don't understand," George said.

"Is why you want to research that," Fred added.

"I just don't like how they're treated," Hermione said. "I'm researching it so thathopefullyI can bring awareness to how they're treated and maybe bring some change."

"Not to put a damper on your enthusiasm, but..." Lee said and then trailed off helplessly.

"We don't think it will make much difference is all," George said.

"Why?" Hermione asked, her voice dangerously low, her eyes glittering with her simmering anger.

"Well," Fred said. "Because theylikeworking for wizard families."

"Yourfamily doesn't have any," Hermione said.

"Only because mum thinks we should learn to do things ourselves," George said.

"Not that we could afford one anyway," Fred finished, swallowing and lowering his eyes when Hermione glared at him.

"Well," she said sharply, standing to her feet, not bothering to keep her voice down as she reprimanded them. "Oliver and Mr. and Mrs. Wood think its a great idea. If you're not going to be helpful, the least you could do is besupportive!" With that, she turned swiftly and stormed out of the great hall.

Everyone in the hall had heard the final exchange and watched the angry girl head down the isle as fast as her legs could carry her at a clipped walk toward the doors of the hall so no one paid attention as Viktor calmly stood from the Slytherin table, and excused himself, heading leisurely down the isle. He made it to the door shortly before her, and passed through, pushing the door wide, his fingers grasping the edge briefly, allowing her time to follow before the door swung closed.

Hermione turned, ignoring the boy, heading toward the stairs.

"You're velcome," he said, his voice low, but certain that she'd heard when he saw her pull up short.

Hermione turned, still fuming from her conversation with Lee and the twins. "Thanks," she said curtly and wheeled around to continue on her way before she stopped, taking a deep breath and turned again. "I'm sorry," she said sincerely. "Thank you."

Viktor nodded to her and watched her turn once more heading toward the stairs, limping slightly as she went.

"You are injured," he called after her, causing her to stop once more.

Hermione sighed and lowered her head, her hand on the rail before she turned to him again. "Yes," she replied. "It happened Sunday."

"You should see heeler," Viktor told her. "Come, I take you." He took a step and then stopped and Hermione bit her lip fighting back a smile as she saw a blush creep up his neck. "I do not know where..."

"It's okay," Hermione said reassuringly. "I've already been. I saw her on Sunday. Itwasmuch worse than it is now."

"Vere are you going?" Viktor asked her.

"I was heading to the library," Hermione replied and then hesitated a moment, glancing to the doors they had just exited before looking back to him. "Would you like me to show you?"

Viktor's lips twitched into a slight smile and he nodded. He hesitated a moment as she she began climbing the stairs, then he reached out gently and took her hand, placing it on his arm to give her some added support, and she turned to him in surprise before smiling in thanks as they headed up the stairs in silence.

Reaching the library, Hermione smiled at Viktor and moved away, off to find Madam Pince while he explored the shelves.

"Can I help you?" Madam Pince asked when she noticed Hermione coming toward her.

"Good morning, Madam Pince," Hermione greeted offering her a smile. "I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of books on house elves."

"Well, there's an eight volume series in the Magical Creatures section," Madam Pince replied. "House-Elves & Self-Hatred."

"I know," Hermione sighed. "I've already read it. I was actually wondering if there was anythingelse."

"No," Madam Pince replied. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid not. Not many take an interest in them to write books about them."

Hermione sighed and nodded. "Okay, thank you," she said, her disappointment clear in her voice. Madam Pince nodded and watched as she headed back the way she'd come. Sighing, Hermione sat down at one of the tables in the corner. It wasn't long before Viktor returned the table from the stacks.

"May I sit?" he asked, when she looked up.

Hermione nodded dejectedly. "Sure," she said. "But you might not want to."

"Vhy?" Viktor asked in confusion, sitting down across from her. "Do you not like me?"

"It's nothing personal," Hermione said shaking her head. "It's just -" she trailed off not sure how to explain.

"Just vhat?" Viktor asked.

Hermione sighed. "I don't know what its like to study at Durmstrang," Hermione said. "But here at Hogwarts, there are rivalries among the houses. I'm in Gryffindor...and your Highmaster has you sitting with Slytherin."

"So?" Viktor asked.

Hermione smiled slightly. "It's just that Slytherin and Gryffindor are the biggest rivals at Hogwarts... they might shun you if they see you talking to me."

Viktor was quiet for a moment, and Hermione studied him, seeing that he wasn't brooding, but was thinking about what she had said. "May I join you here?" he asked, looking at her curiously.

Hermione smiled and nodded. "I usually find a place in the back, in one of the corners so I can have some peace," she replied, and Viktor nodded.

"I am Viktor Krum," Viktor said bowing his head slightly.

"I know," Hermione replied and then flushed. "I mean, I saw you play in the Quidditch World Cup. I - I'm sorry," she said blushing with embarrassment. "I mean, I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger."

Viktor smiled, taking her hand and placing a kiss at her knuckles, causing her to blush again. "It is nice to meet you, Hermy-own-ninny Grangur."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh aloud, causing Madam Pince to shush her, as she shook her head. "Her-my-oh-knee Gray-in-jur," she said slowly.

"Hermy-own-ninny Gray-in-gur," he repeated, causing her to laugh again. "I am sorry," he apologized. "My English is not good."

Hermione smiled at him reassuringly. "Its okay," she replied and sat back with a sigh. She had officially met Viktor Krum. She smiled, shaking her head slightly, wondering what Ron would think.