Chapter 100
On the way back to the castle, Hermione learned that dinner would be served early to celebrate the successful completion of the first task, and that they could then retire to their common rooms for any private celebrations with their friends.
"I ask that you not open your eggs here, however," Professor Dumbledore said mysteriously.
Harry and Cedric didn't appear for dinner though, but Hermione wasn't worried. She figured that they were still being treated by Madam Pomfrey, and she wondered to the extent of Cedric's burn. Although Fleur and Viktor made an appearance at dinner, Hermione could tell that they looked exhausted.
Later that night, Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room with the rest of her house. She was just thinking about going up to her dorm and writing letters to Oliver and his parents when Harry entered and the celebrations began, cheering erupting around him.
Hermione could see that he was enjoying the final acceptance of his house after being rejected and tormented most of the year. She didn't blame him, but she also knew it likely would only last until they found some other reason to shun him. She hoped that he realised this and could cope with it when that time came. For now though, she didn't fault him for spinning around, holding the egg aloft for all to see as they cheered.
"Yes, Harry!" George shouted as he and Fred hoisted him on their shoulders and Harry tossed the egg down to the crowd so that he could hang onto them and keep his balance.
"Knew you wouldn't die," Fred said. "Lose a leg."
"Or an arm," George added.
"Pack it in all together," Fred asked.
"Never!" They cried out together.
The egg was passed around and handed to Seamus.
"Shush!" he shouted, and kissed it before passing it up to Harry. "Go on Harry, what's the clue?"
"Who wants me to open it?" Harry asked.
"Yes," the crowd of students shouted.
"Do you want me to open it?" Harry asked again.
"Yes!" everyone shouted.
Harry flipped the catch on the egg, and it opened with a loud screeching similar to that which had filled the hall when Ron ignored the howler, but not exactly the same. Due to the confines of the room it seemed louder than the howler had been even though the howler had echoed through the hall, bouncing off the stone walls, and Harry was dropped as everyone reached to cover their ears.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron asked, standing in the doorway to the stairs leading to the boys' dorm.
Silence followed for a few moments as he and Harry looked at each other awkwardly.
"All right, everyone!" Fred called out. "Go back to your knitting. This is going to be uncomfortable enough without all you nosy sods listening in."
Ron moved slowly into the room, approaching Harry like a wary, scolded dog as the rest of the Gryffindors went back to their party, but made sure to keep it down, so the boys could talk.
"I reckon you have to be barking mad to put your name in the Goblet of Fire," Ron said, trying to break the ice.
Harry nodded, his guard still up, expecting a fight.
"Caught on, have you?" he asked. "Took you long enough."
"I wasn't the only one who thought you'd done it," Ron protested, though he kept his voice low.
"Everyone was saying it behind your back."
Harry looked around the common room and saw many of the students avoid his gaze before he returned his attention to Ron.
"Brilliant," Harry said. "That makes me feel loads better."
"At least I warned you about the dragons," Ron said.
"Hagrid warned me about the dragons," Harry countered.
"No, no, no, I did," Ron argued. "No, don't you remember? I told Hermione to tell you that Seamus told me that Parvati told Dean that Hagrid was looking for you. Seamus never actually told me anything, so it was really me all along. I thought we'd be all right, you know, after you'd figured that out?" he finished looking at Harry with uncertainty but hope.
"Who?" Harry asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "Who could possibly figure that out? That's completely mental."
Ron laughed despite himself, still looking at Harry with uncertainty.
"Yeah," he admitted. "Isn't it? I suppose I was a bit distraught."
"Boys," Hermione whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. Ron really did seem like a girl sometimes. She was relieved that they weren't fighting any more and had essentially made up even though the word 'sorry' never crossed their lips.
As the party wound down and was coming to an end, Hermione excused herself and went to her dorm, where she pulled out parchment, quill and ink and began letters to Oliver and his parents to let them know about the first task.
24 November 1994
Dear Oliver,
Oh, I am so relieved! The first task is over. No one was hurt too badly, though I can't say the same for the dragons. Cedric was the first to face the dragon, and he did fine, though he got burned on his leg. He transfigured some boulders into a dog that barked to distract it, but he got burned when it noticed him take the egg.
Next was Fleur, she had a little trouble, but was able to put her dragon to sleep. Viktor was where the trouble started. He used the Conjunctivitis Curse on it, and it trampled some of its real eggs, and then started having a seizure.
Harry and I had been practising the Summoning Charm since yesterday until he could get it. He was the last one to perform the first task, and he was facing the horntail! We were working on Summoning Charms because he told me Professor Moody told him to play to his strengths, and was asking what he was good at. So he summoned his broom. Then things got super crazy.
The dragon broke free from its chain and chased him back toward the castle. We don't really know what happened as we lost sight of them, but there was a loud roar around the aqueduct, and only Harry came back to the pitch. Don't get me wrong, I'm relieved that he did, but to not know what happened to the dragon and to have lost so many eggs, it's heartbreaking.
Ron and Harry made up afterward; Ron finally came to his senses and realised that Harry would have to have been mad to put his name in the Goblet of Fire, so they're talking again. He told Harry that he was a bit distraught, I swear he behaves more like a girl than Ginny or I do. I'll keep you updated on the other tasks. Hope you're doing well.
Hermione
Setting the letter aside until morning when she could get to the Owlery, she began her letter to Hick and Juni.
24 November 1994
Dear Hick and Juni,
I am writing to let you know that everything is okay. Harry passed his task. I know that you said that you would want to be here to support him, and I know that he'd appreciate it if you could; one, we still don't know if that's possible since even if Oliver isn't here any more, and two, it's probably a good thing you didn't.
I suppose I better tell you before you hear about it in the Prophet though. Harry's dragon escaped. It broke its chain and chased him when he was on his broomstick as he flew around the arena, and then back to the castle. No one really knows what happened, but only Harry came back in under fifteen minutes, the dragon didn't.
I hope it's okay, and maybe just knocked out or something, we lost too many of them during Viktor Krum's task. He used the Conjunctivitis curse to blind it, and it trampled its eggs, and had a seizure. I don't think that was his goal, though. I will let you know about the next tasks if you like. I already sent a letter to Oliver to let him know as well.
Hermione
Finishing both letters, she put them in her trunk after the ink dried, and got ready for bed. The emotions of the day leaving her drained, she drifted off into a dreamless, peaceful sleep.
The next morning on the way to the Great Hall breakfast, she sent the letters off with two school owls, instructing the one going to Oliver to wait for a reply, then picked up her subscription to the Daily Prophet and headed to breakfast.
"Look at this!" Hermione said, drawing Harry and Ron's attention. "I can't believe she's done it again!" When she received no response from them, she read aloud, "Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl seems to be developing a taste for famous wizards. Her latest prey, sources report, is none other than the Bulgarian bonbon, Viktor Krum. No word yet on how Harry Potter's taking this latest emotional blow."
She looked to Harry, sitting across from her, his arm in a sling who looked at her as he shrugged unconcernedly, she was surprised though when Ron made no comment on the article considering that it mentioned her and Viktor Krum.
A small boy from Gryffindor came up to the table with a large box too heavy for owl delivery.
"A parcel for you, Mr Weasley," he said smiling as he handed it to him.
"Thank you, Nigel," Ron said and opened it.
Hermione looked at Ron pointedly as Nigel stood there.
"Not now, Nigel," Ron whispered, nudging the boy. "Later."
Hermione looked at Ron for explanation when the boy ran off, looking somewhat disappointed after Harry was trying to ignore him.
"I told him I'd get him Harry's autograph," Ron explained with a sigh. "Oh look, Mum's sent me something," he continued excitedly to see the Burrow listed on the return address as he undid the wrapping. His smile faded as he pulled out a long, old, mouldering maroon brocade robe with a dingy collar with lace stitched along the lapel and continuing over the yoke at the shoulder laying over the top of the sleeve. The lace along the sleeve had a reddish tint, and you couldn't tell if it had been intentionally dyed red or if the maroon fabric had just bled into it during an attempt at cleaning. Ron stood and opened it to see it in all its horrid glory. "Mum sent me a dress," he said in confusion as he shook out the robes to full length.
"Well, it does match your eyes," Harry joked. "Is there a bonnet?" He reached into the box with his good arm and pulled out a white ruffled cravat with long string ties and a black bow tie. "Ah ha!" he said and held it up to Ron's chest.
"Nose down, Harry," Ron said, trying to get him to knock off his teasing. "Ginny," he said moving down the table, drawing his sister's attention. "These must be for you."
"I'm not wearing that," Ginny said, looking the robe up and down. "It's ghastly." Hermione couldn't help the laugh that escaped her, and tried to hide it, covering her mouth, but caught Ron's attention.
"What are you on about?" Ron asked in confusion, looking lost.
"They're not for Ginny," Hermione said, as she realised what they were for, remembering Mrs Weasley's promise to send any missing school supplies for the year later on. "They're for you." Ron's actions in trying to pass the robes off to Ginny had garnered the attention of the Weasley and Patil twins along with that of the rest of the Gryffindor table as well as the Ravenclaw table near them, and they began to laugh.
"Dress robes," Hermione clarified.
"Dress robes?" Ron asked. "For what?"
Hermione didn't answer, just stood up and began packing up her stuff and heading off toward class with a shake of her head.
"Hermione!" Harry called running up to her, and she slowed and turned to him questioningly. "You going to the library today?" he asked, making sure to keep his voice low as he spoke to her.
"Don't I always?" Hermione returned.
"I need to tell you something," Harry murmured and looked over his shoulder to see Ron trailing behind them.
"What?" Hermione asked in a whisper, keeping her voice low as well.
"Krum," Harry said.
"What about him?" Hermione asked.
"He asked about the article yesterday before you came into the tent before the tournament," Harry said. "He asked what our relationship was."
"And?" Hermione asked.
"I told him we were friends," Harry replied. "Nothing more, why? I mean, what was I supposed to tell him? You were wondering if it was her article that was behind him not showing up at the library, right?"
Hermione nodded and bit her lip thoughtfully. "Sources report..." she murmured.
"What?" Harry asked, looking at her in confusion.
"The article I read today," Hermione said and looked at him. "It said 'Sources report'."
"Sources report what?" Harry asked, lost.
"Honestly," Hermione scolded. "Do you ever listen to me?" Whipping the paper out of her bag, she folded it to the article and pointed at it again. "Her latest prey, sources report, is none other than the Bulgarian bonbon, Viktor Krum."
"But he asked about you," Harry said, shaking his head.
"But look at this," Hermione pointed to the picture that was clearly Viktor inside the tent, but not at the angle that she remembered the camera man getting when he'd taken a last picture of the champions before leaving the tent. "Were they inside before I was there?" she asked.
"No," Harry replied, shaking his head. It was just us before you came in, and they followed.
"This just seems too weird," Hermione said and bit her lip thoughtfully. "Maybe they saw me and were waiting to ambush us like they did from the other side... Maybe they overheard you and Viktor talking."
"I don't know, Hermione," Harry replied. "I wouldn't worry about it. We know that they make up stuff."
"Yeah, I know," Hermione said. "It just seems... strange."
After Charms, Hermione headed to the library and was surprised as she was pouring over the books Huck and Juni had sent her when a shadow fell over her, and looked up to see Viktor standing there, and saw the uncertainty in his eyes as he looked at her.
"I like to apologise," Viktor murmured curtly.
Hermione held out her hand indicating the chair across from her, and he nodded stiffly as he sat down, though his eyes remained uncertain.
"What about?" Hermione asked, her mind going over the two possibilities.
"I - uh - no ... how you say... get paper?" he asked. "But heard peoples talking."
Hermione blinked.
"You don't get the Daily Prophet?" Hermione asked.
"No," Viktor replied. "But heard peoples talk about it."
"What about it?" Hermione asked.
"Um," Viktor said, struggling with the words. "Writing about you and Harry Potter," he said after a moment and nodded.
"Which one?" Hermione asked.
"Zere is more than one?" Viktor asked in confusion and Hermione nodded, reached in her bag and withdrew the folded newspaper, tossing it on the desk between them. "I have not read zis one," he said, skimming over the article. "Who is zis Zources? Tell me, I zet zem zdraight."
Hermione couldn't help it, her lips twitched.
"I don't know," she replied. "I was trying to figure that out earlier." She hesitated before she spoke again. "So it was the article..."
"Vot?" Viktor asked, looking up at her from the paper.
"Why you didn't come back," Hermione said.
"Oh," Viktor said and shook his head. "I - I zee I have more apologies..."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. "If it wasn't the article then..."
"Headmaster Karkarov," Viktor clarified. "He notice I spend much time here. Want me to vocus on task as date get closer."
"Oh," Hermione said, then looked at him in confusion. "But you said that you wanted to apologise and then mentioned the article."
"Yes," Viktor said. "I apologise for how woman treat you, how other peoples treat you. I got your letter and letter from Vood also talk about dis."
"Oliver wrote you?" Hermione asked, unable to contain her excited curiosity over what they talked about — if anything — apart from Quidditch.
Viktor nodded in confirmation. "He let me know you worry, say he vas busy vif training and not half time to write back. I busy also vif training for tournament, I apologise."
Hermione smiled.
"It's not your fault Viktor," she assured him. "I understand."
"You still work on zis?" Viktor asked, nodding toward her books.
"Yes," Hermione said. "Well, at least I'm trying."
"It is good," Viktor replied. "Err," he said after a moment, shifting uncomfortably in his chair as he watched Hermione, and she looked up at him curiously.
"Is something wrong?" Hermione asked, looking up at him curiously. Normally he didn't make a sound as she studied if they weren't talking.
"Your supply list for year," Viktor began.
"Yes, what about it?"
"It said dress robes, yes?" Viktor asked.
"Yes," Hermione replied and nodded.
Viktor looked at her in confusion.
"It did and did not?" Viktor asked, looking at her in confusion.
"Oh, it did," Hermione asked. "Why do you ask?"
"In Bulgaria, head move up and down mean no, and side to side mean yes," Viktor explained. "Is very confusing here."
"Really?" Hermione asked and smiled, glad he had shared something with her. "I didn't know that. I wondered about that, but didn't want to ask in case it offended you."
"Yes," Viktor replied, shaking his head again.
"So," Hermione said curiously. "Why were you asking about my supply list?"
"Mine contained dress robes also," Viktor told her. "They are generally for formal events, yes?"
"Yes," Hermione said and began to nod, then shook her head as she caught herself, not wanting to confuse him again. "Yes," she reaffirmed.
"No communique has yet been released," Viktor said. "Though vould you, uh, how you say...? Go vith me?"
Hermione blinked a moment, her quill hanging in the air, her hand halfway to the next point of the parchment she was working on, frozen. "Me?" she asked, surprised and wary at the same time.
"Yes," Viktor asked, shaking his head, and Hermione had to remind herself what he had just said about the differences in customs in communication between the United Kingdom and Bulgaria. She watched him for a moment and saw that there was no deceit in his eyes, just a quickly diminishing hope, and she smiled and shook her head.
"Of course," she answered. "I'd be delighted."
Viktor seemed to relax after that, and nodded in a slow, purposeful way, as though of a bow instead of the negative nod he spoke of, and Hermione smiled as she went back to her work, occasionally glancing up at him and smiling. Her smile widened, and she bit her lip turning back to her work, noting that he just sat there, not interrupting her or even pursuing conversation at all.
Later that day, as she was on her way to lunch in the Great Hall, Hermione was still smiling so widely that it drew Ginny's attention.
"Ginny!" Hermione protested as she almost fell when the girl slipped her arm through Hermione's, and the girl changed direction, causing Hermione to stagger to a stop before she righted herself as they changed direction again and headed over to the chamber off the hall where they had waited for the Sorting in their first year.
"Colloportus, Imperturbatus," Ginny said, pointing her wand at the door after she shut it behind them, and casting a locking charm and imperturbable charm on it.
Hermione arched an eyebrow at the casting of the second spell.
"Learnt it from Fred and George," Ginny replied, answering Hermione's unspoken question, coming over and leaning against the wall. "Now, spill it," she demanded.
"Spill what?" Hermione asked with a laugh.
"You're grinning from ear to ear," Ginny observed. "What's got you so happy?"
Hermione couldn't help it, she laughed and bit her lip, blushing and ducking her head.
"Well?" Ginny asked, crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently.
"Promise not to tell?" Hermione asked, peering up at her.
Ginny pointed to the door and crossed her arms again.
"Okay," Hermione replied, grinning so much her face hurt. "But you can't tell anyone, not even Ron."
"Yeah, okay," Ginny said.
"I - I think..." Hermione said, fighting her smile. "I think I just got asked out on a date."
"What?" Ginny asked in surprise. "You're kidding!"
Hermione nodded and then shook her head, grinning.
"Well, which is it?" Ginny asked impatiently.
"Sorry," Hermione said, flustered. "He's got me so confused."
"Who?" Ginny asked, her impatience getting the better of her.
"Viktor Krum," Hermione murmured quietly.
Ginny blinked, looking at Hermione as if she hadn't heard her properly.
"Viktor Krum," she asked, her brow wrinkling. "You got asked out by Viktor Krum?"
"Yes," Hermione said meekly.
Hermione winced as a shrill squeal split the air and looked up to see Ginny bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.
"Oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh!" Ginny exclaimed, clapping her hands as she bounced. "Oh, Hermione, I'm so happy for you!"
Hermione blinked as the girl stopped bouncing and enveloped her in a hug, and it was a moment before she hugged her back.
"Thanks?" Hermione said with uncertainty, patting her arm.
"Okay, we have to do your hair and make up and what are you going to wear?" Ginny fired off questions in rapid succession. "Wait, well, when?"
"I don't know," Hermione said and shrugged her shoulders.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Ginny asked, taking a step back.
Hermione sighed, relenting to the fact that she was going to have to tell Ginny everything.
"Viktor's been meeting with me in the library practically since they arrived on nearly every break," she said.
"Nearly every break?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, after the article came out about Harry, he stopped coming," Hermione answered. "But he said that it wasn't because of the article, it was because of training for the task, which is understandable considering that's why they're here."
"Okay," Ginny said and trailed off.
"He asked me today to accompany him to whatever event our dress robes are for," Hermione said and shrugged again. "It hasn't been announced yet, so I don't know."
"Well, okay, that makes sense, I guess," Ginny said. "That just means there's plenty of time to plan." She paused and wrinkled her brow.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"It's just that," Ginny hesitated as she chewed her lip in thought. "You said he confused you. How did he do that?"
"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed and then laughed. "He told me that in Bulgaria a nod means no and a shake of the head means yes."
"Weird," Ginny said. "So they're backwards."
"Yeah," Hermione said. "But that's what the tournament's about isn't it? Learning about different cultures? So I won't hold it against him."
"True," Ginny said, reaching up and playing with Hermione's hair with a thoughtful look.
"Can we go eat now?" Hermione asked, batting her hand away and stamping her foot. "I'm hungry!"
"Oh, all right, fine!" Ginny said with a pout and then grinned. "Come on!"
Ginny cancelled the charms and wrenched the door open, dragging Hermione to the Great Hall with a grin on her face, and Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
"What's into you?" Ron asked when they showed up at the table, where Ron and Harry were sitting with Lee and the twins.
"Nothing," they said, nearly in unison before they laughed and sat down with secretive looks.
"Girls," Ron muttered and rolled his eyes.
Later that evening, Hermione was still walking on air, and it bewildered Harry and Ron, who were with her most of the day that even Malfoy's snide comments didn't upset her. In fact, it was like she didn't even hear them. They noticed that this bewildered Malfoy as well when he got no reaction from her. It was nearly dinner time when she excused herself from their company and headed up to her dorm after the last class before dinner.
"Come on, Hermione!" Ron called up the stairs. "Let's go! What's taking you so long?"
"Coming!" Hermione called and ran down the steps, a roll of parchment clutched in her hand.
"What's that?" Ron asked, noticing the parchment.
"It's a letter if you must know," Hermione said. "I need to stop at the Owlery and send it."
"To who?" Ron asked.
"None of your business," Hermione replied, getting testy for the first time all day. "Are we going or not?"
"Fine," Ron said, and they left the common room and headed downstairs.
Hermione departed when they reached the Entrance Hall and headed to the Owlery, sending her letter off, smiling as she watched the owl disappear before she headed back to dinner.
"Oi! Wood!" a man shouted, and he looked up to see Zachariah Greene, a wiry man with short blond hair and blue eyes sticking his head into the locker room. "Benjy's invitin' everyone' out to the Thimble. Says it's his birthday or somethin', you coming?"
Oliver shrugged, grunted and turned back to his letter, the owl nearby resting from the long, arduous journey of over 919 kilometres or 570 miles. According to the date on the letter, it had taken the owl two days to arrive this time, and Oliver wondered why Hermione had chosen one of the smaller owls.
"Whatcha got there?" Greene asked, sauntering over. "A letter from your girl?"
"Hermione's hardly my girl," Oliver replied, going back to the letter.
"Uh huh," Greene said, watching him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Oliver asked, looking up at him again.
"Hermione's written to you more than once, hasn't she?" Greene asked.
"Yeah," Oliver confirmed, not wanting to let it slip that he was friends with Viktor Krum, too and had also received a few letters. "And?"
"And you've only heard from her and your mum, right?" Greene asked.
"Yeah," Oliver said, still not following him. "So?"
"And she doesn't share your last name, does she?" Greene asked with a knowing look.
"No," Oliver confirmed again. "She doesn't."
"Uh huh," Greene said and patted him on the shoulder before he headed to the door. "Well, I'll let you get back to it then," he said as he slowly walked away. "It just seems kinda funny is all..."
"What does?" Oliver asked turning to see that he was walking with exaggerated steps toward the door, like he was lingering for a reason.
"Only that you'd rather be here writing your letter to Hermione instead of going out to get some girls and drinks with Benjy and the team, yet you say she's not your girl," Greene replied airily.
Oliver blinked a moment and then looked back at the letter in his hand and then turned to Greene again.
"I don't drink," he replied.
"I see," Greene replied and headed out the door, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his trousers.
"I'll let you get back to your girl," he called, raising one hand in a wave as he walked away.
"She's a fourth year!" Oliver shouted after him.
Greene popped his head back in, his hand grasping the wall as he peered back into the locker room.
"For now," he said and grinned before disappearing.
Oliver sighed and looked at the owl that had delivered the letter where it sat on the bench resting after a meal and some water. He looked at the letter again with uncertainty. "Do you think she's my girl?"
The owl blinked, opening its eyes to look at him and hooted.
"Yeah, I didn't think so," Oliver murmured and turned back to the letter reading it over again.
25 November 1994
Dear Oliver,
I know I just wrote to you, but I had to write again and tell you what happened today! I saw Viktor again! He came to the library when I was there getting information on house elves to put in the pamphlets that Fred and George are going to include in their mail order business. He said that he had not seen the article in the Daily Prophet, but had heard people talking about it, and he was sorry I was treated so badly. So the article wasn't why he stopped going to the library. He explained that with the approaching task, his headmaster wanted him to focus on training, which I completely understand.
While we were talking though, he asked about our school supply list and about the dress robes on it. He asked me to join him at the event whenever it's announced. Is this a date? I don't know if it's actually considered a date or not, but I'm excited about it. I've never been to a formal event before, I mean, my mom and dad did take me to the opera before, but I don't think it will be anything like that.
Ginny is the only one who knows, and I think she's even more excited than I am. She's already planning to help me do my hair and makeup, and we don't even know when it will be yet! She was rather disappointed when I told her I didn't know when — she called it a date — was going to be, but she assured me that gives her — erm, us as she put it — more time to plan. I just hope that she doesn't go overboard... who am I kidding? This is Ginny I'm talking about. She threatened Ron when he was being a prat and trying to come between our friendship if I hung out around Harry that she'd cast so many curses on him that Madam Pomfrey wouldn't know where to start! I just hope that I still feel like myself whenever she's done doing what she's going to do.
I hope you're doing well. I look forward to hearing from you.
Hermione
Oliver sighed and put the letter down, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the ones from Viktor Krum he'd received the day before, and a chuckle escaped him despite himself as he looked over them, and shook his head thinking that the boy often wrote the way he spoke.
Hello Oliveor Vood,
It is Viktor Krum. I am writeing to tell you that I do not like dis plan of yours. I do not mind keeping eye on Hermy-own-ninny as you say, but I do not like deceiving her. As you say, I ask her to attend formal evening vith me, but I find that I vant to ask her on my own more zan for your plan. I hope zat zis is okay.
Viktor
Oliver scowled and crunched the letter in his fist before he realised what he had done. Blinking, he straightened the letter then folded it and stuck it back in his pocket.
"Think you can deliver two when you're ready to go?" Oliver asked the owl. The bird ruffled its feathers and cracked an eye open at being disturbed again and hooted. "They're both going to Hogwarts," he assured the bird.
There was another hoot and the bird closed its eyes again and nestled into its own feathers.
"All right then, two it is," Oliver said and pulled out a quill and bottle of ink from his locker space along with two sheets of parchment and started to write.
Two days later, the owl approached Hogwarts tiredly, winging its way over the Black Lake to where the Durmstrang ship lay anchored. It hooted loudly as it came to rest on the rail and held out its foot when it saw the recipient of the letter approach. It hooted and lifted off at once, heading toward the Great Hall not waiting or returning when the boy called after it, his eyes wide with alarm.
"Vhat is it,Viktor?" Karkaroff asked in concern, seeing his champion in distress and trying to calm him as the boy attempted to leave the ship before they were ready to depart for the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Please, Headmaster," Viktor said, as he struggled against the man's hold. "I must go!"
"And ve vill," Karkaroff said soothingly. "Soon. Now, tell me," he said once the boy calmed down. "Vhat is wrong?" he asked, his r rolling pointedly off his tongue with the last word so that it sounded correct.
Hermione was walking down the last of the steps of the Grand Staircase and leaned back in surprise as an exhausted owl nearly collided with her face. Reaching up to shield herself, she was able to gently catch it out of the air before it struck her.
"Oh, you poor thing," Hermione said looking at the owl as it breathed heavily, its eyes looking at her as it held out its foot, and she realised it was the same owl she had sent to Oliver.
"What's this?" Ron asked coming up behind her to see what had happened and noticing the owl. "Looks like Errol," he remarked, seeing the owl's condition.
"I think it's just tired," Hermione replied as shifted it in her arms and took the scroll of parchment it bore as it hooted at her gratefully. "Go on ahead," she told Ron and Harry as they peered over her shoulder at the owl. "I'm going to take it to the Owlery. I'll catch up with you."
"Yeah, sure," Ron said. "Whatever... Come on, Harry."
"Okay," Harry said and looked at Hermione in concern.
"It's fine, Harry," Hermione replied, shifting the owl again and tucking the parchment in her pocket.
Harry nodded and headed off with Ron while Hermione turned, and headed for the Owlery. Hermione carried the owl gently to the Owlery, smiling down at it as it hooted and snuggled against her warmth. Once inside, she shifted it to perch on the stone feeder and gave it some food and water, and watched it for a moment as it ate hungrily.
"Now," she murmured, sitting down on the step after a moment. "Let's see what you brought me." Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the scroll of parchment and unrolled it, skimming the letter then looking at it in horror before anger filled her and hot tears began rolling down her cheeks.
Hermione wiped angrily at her face after a moment and read over the letter once more. Viktor,
I'm calling it off. You're right, it wasn't right of me to even suggest it. I've written to her and told her everything. What you do is up to you. I'm not there, I really don't care what you decide to do.
Oliver
Hurt and anger bubbled up in Hermione's heart once more, and she hiccuped over a sob as she angrily swept her scalding tears away and marched back to the castle.
"There she is," Fred called as he saw Hermione enter the hall and he and George waved before he reached out and lowered George's hand. "Something's wrong," he muttered to George when he saw Hermione's face and that she headed not for the Gryffindor table, but over to the Slytherin table. Lee, Fred, George, Harry, Ron and Ginny watched as Hermione marched over to the Slytherin table, wondering what was going on, but couldn't hear from where they sat. Hermione marched over to the Slytherin table, catching sight of Viktor sitting beside Malfoy. The analytical part of her mind noticed that Viktor shifted, looking uneasy, and he swallowed as he noticed her angry approach, as though he knew what was coming, but it was so minute that others around him wouldn't have noticed unless they had spent as much time with him as she had, but at this point, she didn't care.
"I believe this is yours," she said dangerously as she slammed the letter down on the table, not moving her hand as he reached for it.
"What do you want, mudblood?" Malfoy asked angrily, glaring at Hermione from Viktor's other side.
"Stuff it, ferret face!" Hermione snapped, glaring at him in return. "Unless you want me to knock your teeth in and give you a concussion!"
Malfoy blinked in surprise after not getting a rise out of her the past few days.
"I believe you have something that belongs to me," she said, turning her heated gaze upon Viktor.
Without a word, Viktor reached into his coat and held out the scroll the owl had delivered to him earlier that morning. Hermione ripped it from his hand and marched off, leaving the Great Hall behind.
"I'll be right back," Ginny said, getting up from the table. "I'm going to check on her."
"Yeah," Fred and George said, keeping their voices low. "Thanks, sis."
Ginny trotted out of the Great Hall, trying to catch up with Hermione, hearing a loud bang as she reached the doors, and looked around the empty entrance hall, and spotting a crack of light coming from the chamber that they had spoken in a couple of days prior, she crept closer and heard a stifled sob.