Hermione found that sleeping in a real bed, in a real house, was much preferable to sleeping in a cot in a tent. And she found that sleeping without the danger of being ambushed by anyone other than Weasleys comforting.
She didn't like the howlers that Percy kept receiving, but he had managed to soundproof his room decently enough that they didn't sound constantly.
Winky had settled into being the Weasley's house elf like a spark settled into a bonfire. She cleaned, she cooked, she woke Percy up with coffee after he had fallen asleep at his desk for the third night in a row. She was a life saver.
Hermione smiled over her mug at the sleepy faces around her. She liked the mornings, far more than she liked staying up at night. But she did also like getting enough sleep. So she had made a conscious effort to go to bed on time so that she wouldn't be exhausted.
"Morning," Ron grumbled as he stumbled into the kitchen. He was dressed in his pajamas, which were a few inches too small for him. He gratefully accepted a cup of breakfast tea from Winky and sat at the table.
"Good morning Ron," Hermione smiled. "Sleep well."
"No," Harry grumbled as he followed Ron in. "We're right above Percy, so we heard just about everything last night."
"Are you sure you heard everything?" Fred asked with a smile on his face.
"Just the howlers, Percy yelling back, some exploding, and some very serious scribbling," Ron retorted.
Mrs. Weasley heaped bacon onto plates and dished out eggs and toast. "Everyone had better eat up. We'll be going to Diagon Alley today to pick up school supplies. You are going to need your energy."
Hermione ate silently, next to a Ginny who was very clearly still in dreamland. She had stayed up much later than Hermione, and was paying for it.
A few hours later, they were in Diagon Alley, everyone wide awake and excited. Harry and Ron ran off to the quiditch shop first. Of course. Hermione rolled her eyes at the thought that they would do anything different.
She was anxious to get to the bookshop, but rationalized that if she got all of her other shopping done first, she would have more time to just browse. And that was what she really wanted to do.
She quickly finished her shopping for ingredients and equipment. She walked into Madame Milkin's for her school robes when the next item on her list caught her eye. Dress robes. Why would she need dress robes?
She picked out robes, which were tailored to fit her. And then there was the matter of dress robes. Hermione wasn't the biggest shopper, so she wasn't sure what to do about that little matter.
Madam Milkin herself was a great help. She had a thousand different ideas and Hermione had been able to come to some sort of agreement with her. They had settled on soft periwinkle robes in such a soft fabric that Hermione wasn't dreading wearing them. And the style wasn't bad either.
Confident that everything on her list had been acquired, other than the books, she headed into Flourish and Blots. She ran one hand along the spines of books absentmindedly as she walked. It was such a comfort to her to be surrounded by books.
She found the required books easily enough. The shop did make most of its money from Hogwarts students and so organized itself to be easy to navigate. She gathered those, and then spent an hour perusing the shelves for anything else she might like to read.
Three books on charms, two on transfiguration, and five novels later, she finally had made all her purchases. She was just about to leave the shop when Harry and Ron entered, obviously looking for her.
"There you are," Ron said.
"Well if you hadn't rushed off to look at broomsticks you would have found me a lot sooner," she muttered.
"Don't mind him Hermione," Harry said. He was forever getting between the two of them. They were both so strong willed that it was somewhat surprising they hadn't strangled each other yet. "He's just mad because I told him this was where you would be."
Hermione cracked a smile at that. Ron would be upset if someone managed to think of something practical before him. He didn't mind it when it came to homework, but that wasn't exactly the same thing.
"Come on," she said to the two of them. "It's almost time to meet everyone back at the Leaky Cauldron."
They headed back to the pub that they would floo back to the Burrow from. Mrs. Weasley was there with most everyone's things. Hermione had decided to take care of her own school supplies, but Harry had opted to leave that to the lady who most resembled a mother in his life.
"Alright," she said once she saw the three of them. "You're the last of us here. Fred and George have already flooed home with Ginny. Now Ron, it's your turn."
Ron took some floo powder and entered the fireplace. Once he had vanished in a blaze of green flames, Harry did the same.
Once it was just the two of them, Mrs. Weasley turned to Hermione. "I know you have something to ask dear. Don't worry. I won't bite."
"I know," Hermione started. "It's just hard to explain. I guess I was wondering what's going on this year. Dress robes have never been on our lists before. And they weren't ever on Fred and George's so don't tell me it was just because we weren't old enough."
Mrs. Weasley shook her head. "I'm afraid that I'm not at liberty to tell you. Don't worry, it should be grand fun. And there will be quite a few new people around for you to talk to. You might even make friends."
Hermione nodded. Mrs. Weasley had said more than enough. Now all Hermione had to do was to look up what had gone on in years before that might fit with what little clues she had.
Flooing back to the Burrow, she was excited. She had her things, and school was starting in just a few days. Not to mention that something special would be happening that year. She could feel it in her bones.
She carefully packed everything in her trunk before sitting on the floor. There was a game of exploding snap going on downstairs, so she was fairly confident that she wouldn't be disturbed until it was time for dinner.
She pulled out her pen and twirled it in her hand as she thought of what to say.
Are you there?
She could almost feel Viktor's eyes roll. Where else would I be? You're writing on my arm.
Actually I'm writing on my arm. It just shows up on yours.
For someone who writes Bulgarian so well, I am surprised that you didn't understand me when I spoke to you that night.
Hermione felt her cheeks flush bright red. She knew that it was going to come up sooner or later.
I learnt to write Bulgarian because it was what always showed up on my arms so unexpectedly. Everything else was in my own handwriting. I haven't exactly had any practice speaking the language. You might learn to read and write from books, but speaking is a whole other subject.
You make a good point. When I see you again, I will start teaching you how to speak Bulgarian. But I must ask, since I know English, why write to me in Bulgarian?
Hermione bit the end of her pen, considering her words. She had a hundred different answers depending on who asked.
I guess that it started with curiosity. I didn't know who you were, and if you even understood English. And now, it seems easier to talk to you this way. And, if any of my friends catch me, I can say that I'm practicing a new language.
True enough. I like reading what you have written in my native tongue. But, I think I'm looking forward to hearing it more.
Hermione blushed bright red and pulled her sleeve down so that she could think for a moment. Just after she had done that, the door burst open to reveal Ginny.
"Mione, it's dinner time. The boys sent me up to fetch you," she said. She paused, taking in the scene in front of her. "What's got you all flustered?"
"Viktor Krum," Hermione answered without thinking.
"He flusters everyone," Ginny said nonchalantly. "Especially Ron."
Hermione thought that Viktor had to fluster her more than Ron. Ron hadn't even spoken to the man. But none of the Weasleys knew that she had. And she wasn't about to reveal that little secret.
"Go on Ginny. I'll be down in a minute. I just want to check one last thing."
Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione's antics. But she headed down the stairs, leaving the door wide open.
I have to go. Dinner. Will talk to you soon.
She pulled the sleeve over her arm too soon to see the words he had written.
Don't be too long.
A/N: A reminder that the italics are supposed to be Bulgarian. But since I'm not fluent, and I'm not expecting anyone reading my story to be fluent, I'm using italics.
Also, you won't actually get to know what Hermione's dress looks like till we get to the Yule ball. That's still a ways away.