2002-09-01 10:16:00,
To thine ownself be true..

<I>Written in Bulgarian:</i>

That is what a Muggle playright wrote once. But I have not been that as of late. Not for some time it seems.

I told Hermione in an owl that I had been ill, that I was sleeping off a virus I had caught. That was a lie. I was laying here quite well in body, but sick at heart.

Marta stayed with me for two of those days, using me for stud service, and fawning company before at last returning to her home. This will have accomplished several things.

I will be given a good report to my Benefactors that I am "behaving" and "doing my duty" and that will keep my income arriving here with regularity.

Marta will be sated for a time again, and in that being true, so will her husband, and all are happy again. Except for me of course, but who gives a Holy Damn about the Pawns?

But, then, this is why I am HERE, to learn, to get a job, and support myself. To return my destiny to MY hands.

I wonder if Hermione will agree to meet with me today? It would be nice, but I am not counting on it happening.

Faithfully, <b>Viktor</b></i>"

2002-09-01 14:09:00,"
Another flying lesson, another Victory for Bulgaria

It was a beautiful day at Hogwarts; the sun was shining down upon the grounds, there were getle breezes cooling the summer heat, and there had yet to be any major disasters. All in all, a good day. Hermione shut her journal and set it down on the stands next to her. She leaned back until her head was resting against the seat in front of her, and closed her eyes. A breeze ruffled her curls, and she felt herself drifting off.

Viktor looked up at the sky as he walked along the path from Hogsmeade toward Hogwarts. Once he was inside the grounds, he mounted his broom, and rose into the sky, sailing above the ground, and flying in the direction of the Quidditch Pitch. He did a few slow laps around the field, then spotted Hermione, and smiled. He turned to fly near to her, and called out, "Hallo there Herm own ninny..."

She snapped awake, startled. When she spotted Viktor's amused grin floating above the pitch, she smiled as well. "Hello there, Viktor!" she called, stretching. She tucked her journal back into her knapsack and grabbed Seamus's broom, which she had lain across one of the spectator's benches. The brunette quickly pulled her curls back away from her face with an elastic, and made her way down to the wet grass of the field.

Viktor landed his broom with the grace of a dancer, and trotted happily over to Hermione. His face wore a relieved, if happy grin as he walked up close to her and stopped. He shook his hair out of his eyes, and laughed softly, blushing a bit. "How are you today Herm own ninny? Ready to fly I see.."

She laughed, glancing down at her attire. Harry had let her borrow a pair of Quidditch trousers, a shimmer gold colour. She had grabbed a black shirt from her trunk this morning, and had a black cloak on over it. It was perfect for flying. "I'm fine," she replied, smiling at him. "You look well... I'm glad you're feeling better."

Viktor smiled shyly and stroked his hand up and down the handle of his broom nervously. "Jah... I am feeling better now." he said looking over at her. "I am still nervous about the Sorting tomorrow..." he droned. "I think that I vill be getting over the flu in time to get ill from nerves from just that..." he mused.

Ah, you'll be fine," Hermione assured him, straightening an errant twig in the broom she was holding. It was a Nimbus 2002, a later model than the Nimbus 2001, but not so advanced as the Firebolt model. This Hermione had learned at breakfast, listening to the boys chat animatedly about tryouts and broom models. "Which house do you think you'll be in?" she inquired.

Viktor couldn't stop that automatic sulky sigh of his as he rolled his eyes, and looked skyward, "I told you... they vill stick me in Slytherin because of me being from Durmstrang..." he groaned. "I just don't...." he stopped, and shook his head, then forced a smile for her. "But in any case.... I vill still be near to you..." he said with a lopsided grin and a bit of a blush across his ruddy complexion.

Hermione blushed as well, looking down at her broom to hide it, pretending she was examining the tail again. Once she felt the heat recede from her face she lifted her head and scanned the grounds. She noted a few figures sitting near the lake, and there was a group of people joking around near the castle. Other than that, the pair was alone outside the school. Hermione let go of the broom, which righted itself immediately and hovered next to her waist. "Shall we fly?"

Viktor seemed to notice the tenseness in the air, but when Hermione suggested flying, he nodded eagerly. "Jah!" he smiled and mounted his broom. "Let me see vhat you have learned since I last saw you fly..." he grinned, then kicked off, and rocketed nearly straight up into the clear blue sky overhead.

Hermione watched him go, then slipped a leg over Seamus's broom and kicked off from the ground. Immediately she felt exhilaratd, the wind whipping her cloak out behind her. She leaned forward while pulling back slightly on the broom, and it sped upwards. She looped around one of the goal posts, and slowed when she caught up to Viktor in the air.

Viktor pulled out his wand, then aimed it at a small ball he had pulled out of his pocket. "Engorgio!" he said to it, and the small ball became a full sized Quaffle. He put his wand away, then looked over at Hermione, "Ready to play catch?" he grinned, the gently breeze blowing back his hair.

"If you are," she replied, floating back a few feet until she was at a good distance. She tentatively let go of the broom handle, keeping one hand near it in case she needed to correct her flight at one point. She had done this with Harry, and done alright, but letting go of the broom made her nervous. She gave him a grin when she was ready, and he tossed the Quaffle to his right. She instinctively dove left, and caught it a few feet down. She tossed it back to Viktor.

Viktor caught the ball with gracefull ease, then laughing wickedly, rocketed forward on his broom, and then tossed the ball backwards over is head toward Hermione. "Catch it, then toss it back to me..." he called out to her as he sped around the pitch.

She had to dive again to catch it, but did it easily. She saw a blur out of the corner of her eye, and spun sideways. With a quick tug, she was directly to the side of Viktor, moving quickly towards the far end of the pitch. She tossed the ball back to him, and dove. A few feet above the ground, she reversed her direction.

Viktor did a 360 degree roll and caught the ball upside down, one-handed while handing from his broom, then righted himself and sped off again. He looped around the posts, then threw the ball back to Hermione again. "Try to score..." he yelled as he hung about in front of the goals.

She looked incredulously at the ball in her hands, and then at the goal, which the Bulgarian Seeker was weaving around. With a determined thought, she shot towards that end of the pitch, keeping her eyes on Viktor. He saw which direction she was aiming at and dipped low in front of her. She pulled up sharply, half expecting him to block her again, so she spun right when she pulled up, and dodged him. She narrowly missed hitting the goal herself, but tossed the Quaffle through as she brushed by. She stopped next to the goal to catch her breath.

Viktor made a desperate grab for the Quaffle, but Hermione successfully faked him out and scored. When he got overe the shock, and brief blush of embarrassement, he pulled his broom to a stop and applauded her. "You HAFF been practicing..." he chuckled. "That vas very very good"! he cheered.

She blushed as well. "Ron and Harry showed me a few tricks they had seen," she admitted modestly. "It's not a big deal. Plus, I can never do that again, since you'd be expecting it." She laughed as a stray hair fell out of the ponytail and into her face, causing her to cross her eyes for a moment. She pulled the ponytail down and let her hair swirl around her face.

Viktor grinned at her, and surprisingly, blew her a kiss, then said, "I like clever women..." the swooped suddenly down and recovered the ball, then back up to face her again. "OK, catch is over vith... Now we play Keep avay..." he grinned. "Try to take it from me, and don't play like a little girl..." he taunted, then rocketed off across the pitch, laughing the entire way.

Hermione watched him go for a moment, surprised. Then she laughed as well, and shot after him. He knew that his challenge would make her play harder, just like she knew that she would try her hardest to get the Quaffle now. No one could call her a little girl anymore, she wouldn't let them. So she sped towards Viktor at a frightening pace. He sensed her nearby and dove. She followed him down, but had to pull up before he did, his feet brushing the grass. She wasn't anywhere near that level of flying.

Viktor laughed aloud, playfully, but he wasn't going to just hand it off to her. He took off again, not going full speed, but instead darting about, weaving left to right, and up and down like a flying version of a Rollercoaster ride. "Catch me Herm own ninny..." he called out in a taunt. "Come catch me little girl...."

She lost her smile, and gained speed. She pulled up until she was directly above him, and waited, the pair moving down the pitch at a high speed, Viktor darting around. When he pulled to his left, she loosened her hold on the broom, leaning back, and it dropped. Viktor hadn't expected her to just drop that way, and so when she snatched the ball out of his hands, it came loose quickly. The broom kept falling, and Hermione felt her heart jump into her throat. Willing it down, she tucked the Quaffle under her arm and grabbed the broom with her other hand. It righted itself immediately, only five feet up from the ground. She laughed in relief, gliding the final feet, and hovering on the the broomstick a few feet above the ground.

Viktor whirled around, grabbing too late at the stolen Quaffle and for a moment was gobsmacked at her talent. Then he snarled, and launched himself at her. He let the intense expression on his face show her he was taking this to the next level, and coming up alongside of her, gave her the equivilant off a hard hip check, and tried to elbow the ball from her grasp.

Hermione dropped the ball, as was Viktor's intention, and he snatched it from the air below them. He sped off toward the other end of the feild, and Hermione shot after him. He flew down near the audience stands, close enough that she knew she would be incredibly nervous were she down there; he looked as comfortable as a duck in water. With a grin back at her, he made a midair turn and went towards her. Instinctively she lay flat on the broom, so that when he passed, he simply brushed her. She spun before he got to far away, and was flying at his side within seconds, streaking towards the other end of the field.

Viktor gave her another bump, this one harder, and wicked mischief showed in his dark eyes as he did so. He then ducked to the side, underneath her, and pinched one of her calves, hard, with his fingers as he whipped by, and zoomed off to the other end of the field, laughing like a madman.

Hermione yelped and rubbed her calf where he had piched. She had the feeling that that was going to leave a bruise. Though their game had turned rough, Hermione wasn't fazed. She had seen worse at Hogwarts games, and she still refused to give in. She flew after him, and kept her broom below him and to the left. When he tried to duck down and cut her off, she pulled right, and bumped his arm none-too-gently with her elbow. The Quaffle popped loose, and she grabbed it and shot off.

Viktor cursed, something profane in Bulgarian, and then turned sharply, so sharply in fact he almost stalled at that speed. He then leaned forward, urging the broom to top speed, and headed straight for her as she made for the goals. He gained a bit of altitude, and as he blew by her, above her, he reached down and gave her ponytail a sharp tug. He then dove straight down in front of her, heading for the ground, in effect, cutting her off.

Ronald Weasley mentally went over Quidditch strategies on his way down to the pitch. He carried one of his brothers' broomsticks slung over his shoulder, a promise from his parents that he would get one of his own should he make the House team. He really should have asked Harry to come along, he supposed. He wanted to try out for the Keeper position, since it was the one he did best, but he still felt he needed practise.

Hermione pulled right quickly, and cringed as she narrowly missed him. She still had the Quaffle, though, which was what she wanted. She looped almost completely over, and shot away from Viktor.

Viktor laughed. She was good, she was very good, so he tried again to steal the Quaffle from her. He raced along until he was right next to her again, then swoops swerved right into her with a full body block. As he did so, he reached for the Quaffle, stole it, then dove downward again.

Ron stopped at the edge of the pitch, eyes wide as he watched the spectacle taking place above him.

Hermione slipped then, her cloak catching on the tail of Viktor's broom. It pulled itself free, but left the Gryffindor completely off balance. Because both hands had been off the broom in an attempt to protect the ball, she wasn't holding on correctly, and she felt herself slipping. She cried out as she went over, hands grasping in the air. Luckily one grabbed the broomstick, and she was dangling almost forty feet off of the ground.

Viktor laughed at his latest manuever, then when he glanced back, she noticed Hermione was far too off balance. Her broom was wobbling dangerously, and then she fell off, but managed to grab with one hand and hang there screaming. Viktor's heart went into his throat, and tossing the Quaffle aside, he turned almost on a knut and speed back towards her. He was traveling low, only about 15 feet off of the ground so in case she fell, he would have time to try and catch her. "Herm own ninny!" he called out, his voice sounding harsh with the fright he was feeling as he raced toward her.

Ron felt his heart jump into his throat as well when he saw Hermione fall, and his wand was out of his pocket in a second. When the Bulgarian Seeker turned and streaked back in her direction, he aimed. "STUPEFY!" He yelled as the black blur shot by him, and he was rewarded with the sight of his rival falling the last ten or so feet, completely unconscious. He looked back to Hermione, and was relieved to see that her broom was slowly descending.

When her feet touched the ground, Hermione let go of the broom and ran towards Ron and Viktor. She gasped when she saw the unconscious body of one of her friends, and the worried face of another friend looking curiously at her. She looked around frantically for another person, anyone else who could have done it, but there was only Ron. She dropped to her knees next to Viktor, looking up at Ron with glassy eyes. "What did you do?"

Viktor only had one thought in his mind, to get to Hermione, and save her from falling, he was so focused on her that he didn't see the red-headed Weasley standing on the field watching him then taking aim with a wand, and uttering a spell. Suddenly, as he blurred along, he felt... so relaxed, then his eyes closed as he slumped forward on his broom, and dove into the turf of the field, tearing up a long plowed row as his broom hit, impaled itself, then threw Viktor fifty feet forward where he hit the ground like a rag doll and rolled for several rounds before landing on his back, out cold.

Ron looked surprised, as if he had expected her to be pleased somehow. Hadn't he just saved her from Krum? "He was going to knock you off completely!" he protested, running a hand nervously through his hair. The look Hermione gave him made him take a step back.

"He was trying to help me!" she cried angrily. She looked down at Viktor, and ran her hands over his arms and legs, checking for bumps. "I don't think anything is broken..." she muttered to herself. She noted a cut on his forehead, which was spilling blood out onto the grass in what seemed like great quantities. She pulled out her wand and ran the tip along the wound. With an incantation she had looked up in case she ever needed to do this for Harry, the cut sealed itself. It looked as though he would be sore for a few days, to make an understatement.

She couldn't leave him here, and she didn't know how to get Madam Pomfrey as she didn't trust Ron alone with him, so she did what she could. "Ennervate," she whispered.

Viktor first let out a groan, then his eye fluttered and slowly opened. He looked like he was trying to get them to focus. "Va...Vhat happened?" he asked slowly, then as he recalled what he had been doing, he sat up straight, "HERMIONE!" he yelled, then let out a sharp cry of pain, clutched his lower back as he grimaced and fell back down onto the grass with a moan. "Mein Gott!" he yelled in Bulgarian (or in this case, Germain)

Hermione leaned over Viktor, and a tear slid down her cheek. She wiped it away angrily, and muttered a numbing spell on the Bulgarian. All the pain left his body immediately, promising to return later. She looked over her shoulder at Ron, his wand still out. "You could have killed him!" she snapped, feeling another tear slide out.

Viktor's body relaxed, he wasn't sure why, but suddenly he wasn't in so much pain. "Herm own ninny?" he asked softly. "Vhat happened to me? How did I crash?" he asked looking around, then he spotted Ron, with wand drawn, and his dark eyes clouded, eyelids narrowing to scowl at the perpetrator. "You!! You did this to me...." he growled, and tried to sit up again. He was to put it bluntly, pissed.

The redhead scowled. "You knocked her off her broom, and you would have bloody well done it again if I hadn't stopped it!" he accused the Bulgarian. Part of him was guilty for the boy having been so hurt, he hadn't really intended for him to fly so far... Most of him, however, was simply angry. "Get away from him, 'Mione," he said softly, the wand not wavering.

Hermione stayed kneeling in the grass next to Viktor, her eyes wide. "Ron, put your wand up now," she ordered, looking warily at him. She knew how bad the Weasley temper could be, and couple it with a hurt and very pissed of older boy, and you had bloodshed.

Viktor continued to glare at Ron, not backing down a bit, but he did not go for his wand. "I vas trying to save her you idiot!" he yelled. "But you attacked me like a coward und nearly killed me!" he yelled, still trying to get up, then a sudden dizzyness washed over him and he reached out to grip Hermione's shoulder for support. "Aggh...." he moaned, closing his eyes. "I think I haff a concuzzion..." he moaned, letting his head lean forward to rest on Hermione's arm.

Hermione started to cry in full now, and she reached her arm behind Viktor, cradling him against her in a sort of hug. She looked up at Ron, her face so furious, that he lowered his wand, though he refused to put it away. "You really think he would do that?" she asked softly, looking down at the grass.

Ron's anger didn't subside at all, but he lowered his wand. He didn't want to hurt Hermione, and she looked so hurt... why couldn't she see this person for what Ron knew he was? He scowled at the pair, and shook his head in response to her question. Hermione looked slightly better, but he couldn't leave it there. "I don't think he would just do that," he said scornfully. "I think he would do worse, Hermione."

Viktor could hear the jealousy in the other boy's voice, and while his head was tilted down, shielded from view by his longish hair, he grinned. Perfect. He WAS hurt, but this took a great deal of the sting out, and reasurred him that Hermione DID care for him. He decided to play this hand for all it was worth, and slowly draped his arms around Hermione's shoulders. "I don't feel vell.... I feel sick...." he moaned, which was true, but not as bad as he made it sound.

She shifted so that he was halfway in her lap, pressed completely against her, his head against her shoulder. She looked back at Ron, her tears being replaced by anger again. "Then you don't know him at all, Ron," she spat.

"Bloody hell, Hermione, are you blind?!? Krum's got 'bad news' written all over him! And you're just chummy chummy! Have you completely forgotten the tournement?" She flinched, and glared at him. He glared right back, and she saw his wand arm twitch a bit, like he really wanted to be hexing someone right now. Like he wanted that someone to be the person in her lap.

Viktor continued to smile, then forced away and let another groan slip past his lips, then said weakly, "I think I should go back to my room Herm own ninny..." he said "I need to lay down..." he said, then made motions to try and stand up again, a grimace of pain plastered across his face as he tossed his hair back from his face with a jerk of his head, and he regarded Ron with a neutral expression. Let him dig his own hole, he would play the victim as long as it suited him.

She gave him a sympathetic look, reaching an arm behind his back and trying to help him up. She lacked the strength, though, so she turned back to Ron. "Help us, will you? It's your fault," she growled.

He moved to argue, but stopped. He knew he was in deep with Hermione as it was, better not make it worse. But he had to make her see somehow that Krum could only hurt her. Any idiot could see that! Even though Harry didn't agree, and neither did any of the Gryffindor girls... Ron just knew that he was right. He switched hands with his wand, and tentatively ambled over to the pair. He leaned down and moved to grab one of Krum's arms.

Viktor let himself be helped up by the pair, then he looked to the side. "My broom! How iz my broom?" he asked in a worried tone as he leaned more heavily on Ron than Hermione.

Hermione grimaced when she saw the broomstick poking out of the ground at a haphazard angle. It didn't appear to be broken, but who knew what kind of damage was caused from the collision? She looked over at Ron, biting her lip. The redhead looked over his shoulder back at the broom, and his jaw dropped. "Doesn't look too good, I'm afraid," he practically crowed, highly amused.

Viktor gave a shudder, and let out a wounded, defeated sound. "They are going to kill me if anything has happened to that broom..." he said, "It belongs to the Bulgarian National team. Do you know how much it vill cost to replace it?" he wailed. He let out another sad sound, then turned to look at Ron directly, "But of course... you are responsible for it's damage Mr Weezlee, and will pay to have it replaced..." he said with a cold grin.

Ron blanched, and shut up immediately. He glared at the boy, and looked as if he wanted to just let Viktor trip and fall. The two exchanged darker and darker looks, their faces growing more menacing, until Hermione poked them both with her free hand and griped, "Enough! There are more important things to think about right now!"

They both looked at her in surprise, and she sighed. "Viktor, I don't think we can get you all the way back to Hogsmeade today," she said, looking over her shoulder in the direction of the castle thoughtfully.

Viktor stubbornly stopped walking, and looked over at Hermione with a look of utmost pain, "We can't LEAVE it out here!" he protested, "At least bring it in..." then he heard her say how they would not be able to get him back to Hogsmeade. This was no surprise, he knew that all along. "Then... then where shall I go?" he said in a soft, worried tone. He played the wounded victim, but not obviously so.

Hermione looked worried. "The infirmary's closed today... they have to redo the charms and restock the cabinets for the group tomorrow," she thought aloud, glancing back again. The broom was just sticking there, and she looked over at Ron. Icily she said, "Ron, get that out please. And be careful." He frowned, but turned and went back, making sure to let go of his side of Viktor quickly so that the boy stumbled into Hermione, almost knocking her over.

Viktor shot a glare at Ron, but did not let the satisfactory grin show when he was forced to lean on Hermione more. When Ron returned with the broom, he grabbed it from Ron's hands and quickly looked it over. "Oh mein Gott...." he swore looking over the glossy stick and checking the twigs in the tail. "I don't know... I just don't know..." he moaned sulkily, then held out his arm and let it hover next to him. It looked for all intents and purposes to be fine. He turned to Hermione. "I don't want to do to the castle yet. Not like this..." he said with a sad look in his eyes, "I vill got back to Hogsmeade. It vill make it that far and I can get cared for in the village." he said with a weak smile for Hermione's benefit.

She looked even more worried. "You're sure?" she asked, biting her lip. Ron made a choked noise and stomped past them, stopping on the edge of the pitch and looking back at them. Viktor nodded to Hermione, and she frowned. "I don't want you to go alone," she said, glancing over at Ron, who immediately shook his head.

Viktor didn't acknowledge Ron once he left them alone, and placing his hands on Hermione's shoulders, he gave her a weak smile. "I... vill... be... fine." he said slowly, for emphasis. "I vill go back to the village, and get looked at, I promise." he said taking one hand, and making an X over his heart. "Then I vill see you tomomorrow night for my sorting." he smiled. He then leaned forward, and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you for a vonderful day Herm own ninny..." he sighed. "I look forvard to seeing you tomorrow."

Ron turned a rather mottled shade of purple, and stomped off back towards the castle. Hermione watched him go, a look of confusion on her face. "What is his problem?" she asked herself aloud. She looked up at Viktor's amused expression, and smiled. "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, then. But be very careful!" She hugged him quickly, and stepped back.

Viktor smiled as he hugged Hermione back, then carefully, and a bit shakily, mounted his broom, and rose into the sky. "Good bye Herm own ninny... I shall see you tomorrow for the carriage ride into Hogvarts...." he called back to her as he rose, then flew low, over the trees and back to the village.

Hermione watched until he disappeared from sight, then shakily picked up her own broom as well as the one that Ron had dropped when he arrived. With a sigh and one last look in the direction of Hogsmeade, she walked back to the castle.

2002-09-01 21:44:00,
Recovery

<i>Written in Bulgarian:</i>

Well, it has proved to be an interesting day, to say the least. As I lie here on my bed listening to the warm summer night of the village below, I sip my Vodka, and reflect on the day.

It started well enough. I met with Hermione, and we engaged in a playful round of Quidditch, just for two. She is a natural at the game. She picks it up so easily. I hope she makes the House team. I wonder what will happen when I am sorted? What if I am put into Gryffindor? Will I try out against Harry for Seeker on the House team? Probably not.

I am still feeling a bit nauseous from the crash today. That little rat Weezlee. Not saying I don't blame him, much. He obviously likes Hermione, but hasn't had the fortitude to tell her. Well, it shall be his loss, again. Just like last year. I will not seek to steal another's love, but if he is not even <i>trying</i>...

Hermione likes me. I can tell, and I like her too. If anything happens with us, I am sure it will have to be the most chaste of relationships. And you know... I don't think I would mind that at all...

Well, I am off to bed now, important day tomorrow, and I am tired.

Faithfully, <B> Viktor</b>"

2002-09-02 13:46:00,
White takes Pawn.

<I>Written in Bulgarian:

</i>Well, the first round in this glorius phenomenon called <i>The Mating Game</i> is over. Ron lost, and thoroughly by his own doing. He continued to be the antagonist toward me, and I merely rebuffed him calmly with the most basic of psychology. I remained calm, collected, and once again, he came out looking the ass.

Hermione however was almost immediatly incensed by the confrontation and stormed off. This did make me angry, but I did not let it show. Calm and slow.

I know she likes me. I like her as well. Ron like her, but is too mule-headed to tell her, and that does nothing but benefit me, and my quest to win her heart.

Tonight is the sorting at the castle. I am so nervous, I have skipped dinner. I can't contemplate eating. I am filled with a sense of dread. I just know I shall be put into Slytherin. Fate is Fate.

Well, I shall close for now, and write more tonight once the Sorting is done.

Faithfully, <b>Viktor</b></i>"

2002-09-02 10:44:00,
Sorting Day...

An IC RP with Viktor, Hermione, NPC Ron, and Harry.

Hermione looked at the wizard behind the counter blankly. "He's not... here?" she asked, frowning. The wizard yawned and nodded, adding, "Yeah, 'e checked out 'round eight. Dunno where 'e went." She thanked him and went out into the morning air of Hogsmeade. It was a nice morning, cool and clear, and the streets of Hogsmeade were filled with summer session students. Hermione had left the castle right before ten, having waited for Ron to leave the common room since she didn't want to talk to him at all.

Viktor sat under a brilliant green umbrella at Honeyduke's, and was enjoying a light bit of ice cream and sugar wafers for breakfast. He had woken up with a sweet tooth, and diet be damned, he was going to have a sundae for breakfast. His school gear was all packed, shrunk and resting in the pockets of his robe, and he was thumbing through his new book of poetry as he ate leisurely.

Hermione scanned the storefronts, keeping an eye out for two people: Viktor and Ron. The first, she hoped to bump into. The second, she really wanted to avoid. She walked along a path in front of a number of cafes, hands in her pockets, glancing out at the crowds. She caught a glimpse of red hair and freckles, and turned the other direction, into Honeydukes' back patio. She knew it was completely childish to avoid Ron this way, but she knew that if she had to see him, she would get angry again and most likely yell a few things she would regret later.

Viktor finished his sundae and after scraping the glass to get every last bit of the hot fudge out, he pushed it aside and then sipped at his Fizzing Whizbee Soda, and glanced in the direction of the main part of the Store when someone came out onto the patio. He smiled, his heart doing a happy skip. It was Hermione. Viktor sat up straight, then thought better of it, and slouched back down, adopting a less than vivacious posture. "Hallo Herm own ninny...." he called out with a smile.

Her face burst into a smile when she spotted him, sitting at one of the tables. "Viktor!" she said in way of hello. She made her way over to his table and stood, as there were no other chairs around. "How are you feeling?" she asked, concerned. She couldn't see any bruises, and he didn't look like he was in a lot of pain, but she knew he was good at covering that up.

Viktor stood up, and leaned over to give Hermione a hug in a way of greeting. He then offered her his chair with a wave of his hand. "Please, haff a seat. I haff been sitting all morning here." he said quietly. "I haff been haffing ice cream for breakfast, " he said with a shy grin. "I plan to have roast beef for dinner. I am hungry for that..."

She laughed. "There should be plenty of it tonight. The welcoming feasts at Hogwarts are always amazing," she said. She looked at the offered chair and shook her head. "I sat up in my dormitory for a long time waiting for everyone else to leave," she explained, "I need to walk a bit." She looked at him curiously, noting that he hadn't told her how he felt. She remembered a bruise she had seen blossoming on his cheek the night before, and remembered the spell Jack Grim had done to remove her bruises. "Wish I had known how to heal that a few weeks ago," she thought, not realising she had spoken aloud.

Viktor was dropping coins on the table to cover his tab, and offered Hermione his arm. "I recall the feasts at Hogvarts very well. They are vonderful indeed. Vould you like to go walking around?" he asked, then smiled shyly, "Ve could go look at books again... or do vatever you vould like to do?" He said with a lift of a single eyebrow.

Later that day....

"He actually went down into the mud for it? Wow..." Hermione said, grinning from Viktor's recount of a rather messy Quidditch match. They had walked around most of Hogsmeade, stopping at a few places when they felt like it. They were in front of the Shrieking Shack now, and Hermione stopped walking to look up at the borded-up building. She thought about Remus Lupin, and of Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black, and wondered where both of them were at the moment.

Harry and Ron were also walking around, but not quite aimlessly. Harry was trying to keep Ron from seeing Krum. That was rather hard to do, he noted, as he and Hermione had just stopped in front of the shack. They were the only two people there.Harry smoothly steped in front of Ron, efectivly deturing him....he thought. "Ron, want to go the Three Broomsticks? I need to get something to drink."

Ron shook his head, "Can we go after? You're the one who wanted to see if the passage was still open." He stepped past Harry, and stopped. A look of revulsion crept over his face as he spotted Krum and Hermione. "What is he doing here? And with her!" he choked, his face heating up. He let out a few choice words that would have made his twin brothers applaud.

Viktor nodded to Hermione as he walked along the street discussing Quidditch. "Jah... I have seen quite some wild catches in the games I haff played. I heard that once Harry Potter caught the Snitch in his mouth." he paused and laughed heartily. "I vould have loved to haff seen dat one. I vill have to keep that in mind if I ever am playing with no hands." he said, then laughed again.

Hermione grinned. "That was something to see," she laughed, "He looked like he was going to be ill, and then, pop, he spits out the Snitch! Ron and I were laughing so hard after that..." she trailed off, looking down at her feet.

Harry ran after Ron as the other stormed up the hill. "Ron..Come back here! You're only going to make things worse for her!" Harry shouted, but Ron was having none of it. In Fact he sped up. Rolling his eyes, Harry continued to follow.

Ron stopped next to Hermione, and turned to glare at Krum. "I see you're feeling much better," he said, falsely polite. He stepped closer to Hermione, putting himself slightly between them.

Viktor nodded to Harry, then to Ron, and kept his face neutral. "Goot morning to both of you." he said politely. "Yes, I do seem to be feeling better this morning after my.... uh... accident." he said shooting a stern glance at Ron, then looked back at Harry. "Have you been helping Hermione practice flying Mr. Potter? I haff really noticed the increase in her skills." he smiled softly.

Hermione stepped away from Ron, giving him an icy look. "What are you doing here, anyways?" she asked him, but he ignored her, glaring at Viktor, his dislike all over his face. She rolled her eyes at his immaturity, and stuck her hands in her pockets. She felt to make sure her wand was there, in case this chat turned into a cursing fest. She knew that Viktor wouldn't start it, it would be Ron, but she knew that Viktor could probably defend himself a lot better than Ron could. She didn't want to see either of them hurt.

Harry smiled a bit. "I have a little, but 'Mione picks up very fast." he watched as Ron stared openly at Viktor. Why did he have to have such a short fuse? Harry would bet that if Ron would just tell Hermione how he felt, most of these things could have been avoided.

Ron clenched his jaw. "I'm not so sure she's ready for your style of Quidditch though," he snarked. He glanced at Hermione, who was back to pointedly ignoring him. She looked alright, he didn't see any bruises ro cuts. Then again those robes covered a lot of skin.

Viktor nodded to Harry, smiling, then looked over at Ron at his remark. "Hermione is qvuite up to playing PROFESSIONAL level Quidditch, but I am sure that the same could not be said for all here..." he said in a calm, but condescending tone of voice that he managed quite well. "Perhaps your fear of her failure is projected from yourself..." he said cooly, then looked over at Hermione. "Did you vant to do more shopping?"

She looked from the redhead, who was silently fuming, to the boy beside her, who was calm, and shook her head. "I think I'm done for the day," she said quietly, stepping back from both Ron and Viktor. She shook her head again, this time more in frustration. "Will you both just figure this out, and soon please? If Viktor is going to be at Hogwarts this year, I don't think I could handle you two fighting constantly." She sighed, and turned towards the main square. "I need to be alone for a few hours," she said, "I'll meet you by the carriages, Viktor." She walked off, head down.

Viktor started to say something, and took a step to follow Hermione, but experience taught him this would not be beneficial to him or his situation with her. He turned his glance back to Ron, and with a curt nod he said, "Haff a good afternoon Mr. Weezlee, Mr. Potter..." he said with a nod to Harry, then walked off down the street in the general direction Hermione had gone.

Harry watched as Hermione walked off, then as Viktor walked off. "Well Ron, what are you going to now?"

2002-09-02 18:00:00,
The Sorting Ceremony...

An IC RP with Krum, Hermione, Jack, and NPC Albus and Ron.

The doors to the Great Hall opened, and Prof McG led in the group of first years, as always, looking timid and afraid. The difference this year, was there was a much taller figure following behind them. Viktor Krum. He looked sullen as usual, and barely looked around the huge room until they stopped in front of the Teacher's Table, and Albus rose to make an announcement.

"Good evening everyone, and welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A pleasure to see all of you returning, and a delight to see so many new faces entering the fold!" The old wizard claped his hands, beaming broadly and looking to catch all the eyes of those first years assembled before him, before looking back at the rest of the room. "I would like to remind all students that the Forbidden Forest is still off limits, unless you enjoy watching your feet walk about without you whilst your head is up a tree." He continued smoothly, eyes laughing, "I regret to announce that our Defence Against The Dark Arts Teacher has not yet arrived, and so the lessons will be taken by available substitutes. Oh, and we welcome Jack Grim to the fifth year, in Slytherin House, and Viktor Krum, late of Durmstrang, will enter in the 7th year. Now, without further ado..." he waved to the old hat sitting on the chair.

Jack sat at the Slytherin table, his head resting lazily in his hands watching the goings on with mild interest. He was sitting next to Draco, but still not much had been said between the two of them. This bothered him a bit, but perhaps it was for the best. He sighed, and waited, castinga quick glance over at Draco.

Professor McG unrolled the scroll in her hands, and read the first name on the list: "Gretta Grimes..." And so it went until, only Viktor was left.

Just like when Harry was sorted, the entire hall went silent as his name was called, and he walked toward the stool. "Viktor Krum...." she called out, and Viktor sat down on the stool looking sulky as usual. The Sorting Hat moved around, obviously talking to Viktor, and Viktor seemed to be mentally replying. At last the Hat stood up straight, and announced at the top of it's voice, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Viktor smiled in a way that could only be described as smarmy, and slowly rose nobley from the stool and walked toward the Gryffindor table amongst nearly unamimous applause from there, and dejected sounds from Slytherin House...

Most of the table stood to welcome their newest member, only those with red hair were sitting, though many were clapping. Ron sat there sulkily, refusing to applaud, and his siblings sat only to be fair to him. Hermione smiled widely and cheered with the rest, as Viktor took his seat between her and Seamus at the table.

Viktor smiled at everyone at the table, including Ron, and shook hands, making nice with all then turned to Hermione, simply beaming, which on Viktor was odd, if not a bit unnerving to see. "I haff made it..." he smiled.

"You never belonged in Slytherin," she replied, beaming as well, "That isn't who you are." She gave him a hug then, completely overjoyed at his placement, and pulled back only when Ron started to cough loudly.

Viktor seemd to have gone deaf to anything Ron was doing or saying, for he didn't react or even look in his direction. He would let him play the part of the ass. He would be the calm quiet one. He knew well how to do that, and how far it could get you. "I am relieved. " he said to Hermione. "You were right all along..." he said draping an arm around her shoulder, then pulling her over to place a kiss on her hair, then removed his hand to grip his flatware, and begin eating the feast that had just appeared on the table.

After the feast, the new first-year Gryffindors were led ahead of the rest towards the Gryffindor common room. Viktor and Hermione walked at the back of the group in silence, ignoring the redhead who watched the pair like a hawk."

2002-09-02 22:47:00,
Night Chat

An IC RP with Viktor and Hermione.

Viktor turned the page on the book he had been reading most lately, "Sonnets for the Sorcerer." He was curled up in one of the larger overstuffed chairs in the Gryffindor common room. It was getting late, and most of the more avid admirers had finally let him be. He had showed infinite patience during the autograph requests, and now, at last he was relaxing and enjoying the peace and quiet. He was easily able to ignore the tittering thrid years watching him from across the room.

Hermione slammed the door to the fifth-year girls dormitory behind her in a huff, ignoring Lavender's calls. Lavender and Parvati had bothered her constantly about her friendship with Viktor, about her intentions and (to quote Parvati) how many "Snitches had been caught" between them. She calmed herself in the hallway, and walked down the long flight of stairs, a copy of 'Three's the Charm: Mystical Secrets' tucked under her arm. She had tried to read in the dorm, but the incessant chatter of the two girls had driven her almost insane.

Viktor looked from his book, to the small journal where he was keeping notes of phrases for later use in his project. He paused to bite into a red apple he had saved from supper, and looked over toward the staircase wearlily when he heard footsteps approaching. He was certain it would be another interruption, but to his pleasant surprise, it was Hermione. He didn't call out to her and instead just let a wide smile cross his face, and waited for her to notice him sitting there.

She already had the book open by the time she had reached the bottom stair. She turned a page as she walked, stepping carefully over a first-year's cat, and made her way to the circle of furniture by the now-empty fireplace. Without glancing up from her book, she settled onto a fluffy maroon couch, tucking her legs under her. There was a fresh wave of whispers from the third years when she sat, and she looked up, half expecting Parvati and Lavender to have snuck down and to be continuing their interrogation. The third years shut up as soon as she glared at them, a few looking at the air near her. She turned to look, and smiled.

"Hello," Viktor mouthed to her without saying a word, then closed his book and folded his hands on it, still giving her a soft smile. "Very interestink day it haff been, no?" he said with a slight cant of his head to the side, his eyes never leaving hers.

She closed her book as well, careful to lay it face-down so that the title was not visible to Viktor. "It has," she agreed. A giggle sounded from the entrance to the girls' staircase, and she groaned. "Parvati, go away," she called, and got a louder giggle as a reply. Hermione shook her head and pulled out her wand. "She'll hate me tomorrow," she said to Viktor, an amused glint in her eye. "But she's definately earned this. Spherus Boca." A moment later she heard Lavender laughing hysterically, and watched as a few bubbles drifted into the room.

Viktor knitted his eyebrows, and sat up straight to look over Hermione's chair for a better look. He saw the retreating girls and the trail of bubbles that were drifting along down the corridor behind them. Viktor started to laugh, then quickly brought his hand to his mouth to stiffle the mirth, then forced himself to go back to a werius face as he looked over at Hermione again. "It seems you haff your adoring public az vell..." he said with a wink at her.

She blushed, and wished she still had the book open to hide her face behind. "I have a figurine shaped like me as well," she deadpanned, then started laughing at the thought, and the memory of the tiny Krum figure that Ron had had last year. The third years got up from their corner and headed up their respective staircases, whispering again and looking back at the two people seated across from each other. Hermione watched them go, and smiled at the obvious relief on Viktor's face once they were gone. It must be a chore, dealing with that day in and day out, she thought.

Viktor watched them go with a flicker of his dark eyes, then looked back at Hermione. "I am so sorry about today..." he said in a low voice, leaning closer to her. "I did not mean to upset you when I vas.... Ven I was being rude to Ron in Hogsmeade." He said, lowering his eyes slightly. "I upset you, and it vas immature of me, the vay I acted."

She sighed apologetically. "You handled it fine," she said, "It's Ron who upsets me. He seems to think that I need to be protected from you, and that is positively ridiculous." She met his eyes and tilted her head, as if studying him. What was it that made Ron think he was a threat? What was she missing?

Viktor frowned until he noticed he was doing so, then looked down at his book cover, and traced his fingertip over the elaborate lettering. "I mean you no harm Herm own ninny...." he said in a sullen, sulky tone. "But if you vant me to... distance myself from you und your friends... I shall..." he said without looking up. "I knew they would not accept me, not even if I was put into Gryffindor."

Hermione shook her head quickly, before she realised that he was looking down at his book and therefore did not see her. "I don't want you to distance yourself, Viktor," she said softly, all joy disappearing from her face. "Ron is just being incredibly stubborn, as he always is, and Harry doesn't want to make either of us angry by agreeing or disagreeing with him." She tucked a stray curl behind her ear.

Viktor looked up at her, and he sighed, "I am coming between you, and friends you haff had for many years. This cannot be good." he said in a sad voice. "I....." he paused, inwardly wrenching with his conscience, then before he knew it, he was speaking again, "Ron likes you Hermione." he said flatly. The taking another breath and looking away again, "He does not know how to express it perhaps, but even I can see it, if neither of you can..." he said solemnly, then inwardly swore at himself for being so stupid.

Hermione's jaw dropped, and she looked at Viktor curiously. "He... what?" she whispered, frowning. She looked down at the ground, and felt her head almost overflow with thoughts. He liked her. It explained so many things, the way he seemed to be more on edge around her lately, the way he looked at her oddly sometimes, as if he was wrestling with some deeper thoughts, and the way he was jealous of Viktor. Viktor... she looked up, but he wasn't meeting her eyes. "How do you- how do you know this?" she asked.

Viktor gave Hermione a weak smile, and knew he had lost even before the battle had begun. "I can tell." he said with a heavy sigh. "The vay he looks at you. The vay he cares about you, and seeks to protect you from everything, from me...." he said glancing around the empty room, completely uneasy now. "He is confused about how he feels about you, and thus he acts the vay he does. He is not aware of his feelings, or vat they mean..."

She closed her eyes and leaned back on the couch, thinking. This was an incredible revelation for her, she hadn't even considered the possibility. She and Ron had been friends for over four years, and she had never thought that either of them would want to take it to the next level. She certainly didn't, that much she knew. There had been a point last year, before the Yule Ball, when she would have, but this year... she wasn't so sure. She and Viktor were getting closer, and even she (oblivious though she may be to certain areas of relationships) could see the direction they were going, though she didn't want to admit it. She sat in silence, eyes closed, considering all of this.

Viktor saw Hermione close her eyes to process all of this, and moving silently, he picked up his book and notes, and moved to leave the room on silent, soft booted feet. She needed to sort this out for herself, and if he had any hope of still winning her, she would have to do it without his influence or petulant behavior.

A few minutes later, she spoke. "I don't-" she started, opening her eyes. But he was gone, and she was alone with her thoughts.

2002-09-02 23:05:00,
Fugue

<I>Written in Bulgarian:</i>

Well, that was brilliant. Incredible. Utterly stupid and self defeating. I, in a moment of mental fugue, told Hermione what she could not see or deduce on her own. That the simpleton Ron Weezlee adores her.

I told her all his boorish, protective and petulant bbehavior was not done out of immaturity, well, partial immaturity, but mainly out of his attraction to her. I have left myself wide open for defeat now. Left the King unprotected, and slain my Queen.

My Queen. Hermione would be my Queen, but now now I fear. I have given her to Ron on a silver platter, and now all she needs do is talk to him. Something neither has managed to do until the damned stupid Bulgarian came along.

I do not look forward to tomorrow like I once did. Well, it does no good to cry over spilled vodka. It only wets the face, and lets the mess go longer without being cleaned.

Dammit.

2002-09-03 19:21:00,
The first day...

<I>Written in Bulgarian:</i>

Well, it went about as I suspected it would. I was sought out for signatures from my admirers, glared at by their jealous beaus. Championed through the halls by the Gryffindors like a trophy, and hissed at by the jealous lot of Slytherin.

Harry Potter was friendly enough when we met in the Hallways and Great hall. Ron glared at me, not saying anything and Hermione....

She was illusive as a hare today. She moved from the House to classes with her head looking down, and her face behind books all day. This saddens me. I thought I was doing the right thing by telling her of Ron's feelings. Apparently not.

She was not at dinner, and since the crowd in the common room now is too much for me, I shall be ging to the library to study, and think. Maybe I shall see her there. Just like last year.

Faithfully. Viktor

2002-09-03 23:01:00,
Fireside Chat

An IC RP with Hermione and Viktor

Hermione watched absently as Dean and Seamus pushed a few animated figures on broomsticks around on a table in the Gryffindor Common room. The pair was trying to "prepare her" for tryouts on Saturday, by boring her to death with odd Quidditch strategies. "Look, the Keeper has to move, like this," here Dean prodded a figure in maroon, "If the opposing Chaser tries to come up like this," he poked a figurine dressed in green, which poked him back with a tiny wand and scowled as it moved forward. Hermione covered her yawn, but Seamus noticed and grinned. "Might as well give ya time to think about all this, Hermione," he laughed, and gathered the figures up. She thanked them, and they ran up to the boy's dorm to show Neville their ideas.

The Door to the Common Room from the outer hallways darkened for just a second, then the tall, brooding figure of Viktor Krum emerged. He was carrying books under one arm and a partially eaten apple in the other. As soon as he entered the Common room and was noticed, a group of fourth and fifth year girls swarmed around him, besieging him with tittering laughter and questions. "I haff to study now... Can ve chat later?" he said to them drolly, then walked over to sit down in a chair by the fire, and set his books down. He set about reading from them without looking around the room. No eye contact was the best way to avoid the fannish type. He sighed, and flipped through the pages until he found the chapter on the Potions ingredients needed for a Wolfsbane Potion and began to take notes. DADA was going to be an interesting class this year.

Hermione glanced up when she heard a wave of fresh chatter spread through the room, but could not see anything through the swarm of teenage girls. She sighed and pulled her bag next to her chair, reaching inside for her Potions text. She may do well in that class, but that didn't mean she didn't have to study a lot for it. Snape had a tendency to give her and the rest of the Gryffindors detention on the slightest provacation, and something so small as a ruined potion would bring his wrath down. She flipped to the section on Mobiliarbus Drought, which rendered the victim immobile, but conscious. She let the noise around her die out, and let herself slip into the reading. Gradually, the other people in the room left in groups or on their own, as the long hand made it's way across the clock. After an hour or so, the only people left in the room were Viktor, Hermione, and a few fourth year girls who were still giggling.

Viktor never looked up from his books, it was if he was the only one there and there was no need for talking. At once point, he paused, and leaned back in the chair to stretch out, and picked up his apple, crunching on it until it was nothing but a core. He set it on the table, and almost immediatly a whisper could be heard from the other side of the Common Room, "Accio Apple", The apple core twitched, and then zoomed across the room into the hands of one of the Fifth Years. Viktor glanced up from under his long fringe as the girls all dissolved into hysteria and rushed from the room. Viktor sighed aloud and after folding his arms on the book, rest his head down on it and muttered to himself in Bulgarian.

Hermione's head jerked up from her textbook, and her eyes widened. How had she not noticed everyone leaving, and only Viktor remaining? She looked down at her textbook, slightly bewildered. She had somehow read through two chapters, enough reading to last her the next two weeks. She sighed, and closed the book with a loud 'snap'. She had been pushing herself into her work all day, to avoid having to deal with what was really bothering her, and she was reaching the point of frustration. Might as well deal with it now, she thought, and let the emotions she had kept bottled all day rush over her. Confusion and frustration hit her in waves.

Viktor was still resting his head on his arms, then after a while, when it was silent again, she slowly lifted his head up and looked around the the room. It was empty. Terrific. Wait. As his eyes roamed over the room, he spotted Hermione. His sour expression did not improve. He gave her a courteous nod of his head in acknowledgement, then gathered up his books and notes, and rose from the table.

"Viktor..." she said softly, hoping that he would stay. She had been avoiding Ron all day, and hadn't realised that she had been avoiding Viktor as well. She stood and walked to the taller Gryffindor, who had stopped a few steps away from the couch. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, she sat on the couch he had just vacated, pulling her legs to her chest and resting her chin on her knees.

Viktor of course stoipped when she called his name, and he looked over at her. Expression was more blank now, if a bit sad. "Yes, Herm own ninny?" he asked, then watched her curl up onto the couch. "Ist dere somethink the matter?"

She laughed bitterly, and looked up at him. His calmness frightened her a bit. "I- I'm sorry," she said, and she saw him tense almost imperceptively, as if waiting for a blow. "I'm sorry I avoided you today," she continued, Ronald Weezlee yet?" he asked with a bit of tenseness, nervousness in his voice.

She kept looking at her knees. "No... I don't think I could take that right now," she said, and she met his eyes, frowning. "What would I say to him? 'Guess what Ron, you're a blind git who didn't see this last year'?" She looked like she was going to cry again.

Viktor looked just as uncomfortable as Hermione, if not more so. He wanted to pull her close, but knew this would be the WRONG place and time to do so. "I understand... Vell... I vill not interfere vith, vith vhatever you decide to do regarding.... this." he said softly. "I vish you vell Hermione." he added, and managed a weak smile in her direction.

"That's just it," she said, returning the small smile. "I've made up my mind. I just.... I just don't know what to do about it." Hermione untucked her legs and leaned back against the arm of the couch. A small thread poked out of the side, and she pulled at it absently, twirling it around her finger. Her mind whirled with a million different things, and try as she might she couldn't focus on one thought.

Viktor nodded, expecting the worst, and why shouldn't he? If she had chosen him, would she be acting like this? Of course not. He leaned forward, and gave her a soft hug, then stood up again, and turned to go up to the steps toward the Boys Dorms. "Don't stay up too late. Quidditch players need their rest..." he droned as he walked.

"Viktor, please..." she called to him. "You're the one being ridiculous now. Will you please just... just hear me out?" she asked, feeling the tears well up again.

Viktor blinked and stopped at the foot of the stairs. Slowly he turned around and looked over at her. "I am... being ridiculous?" he asked, pointing a finger at his chest, and then walking toward her. No humor was showing on his face as he spoke. He crossed the room and stood next to the couch, looking down at her.

She nodded slowly. "You keep walking away from this, just like Ron keeps pushing his way in," she said. She stopped him before he could reply. "Please.... just let me explain all of this. I need to say it, to someone, and I would most like to say it to you," she said quietly.

Viktor nodded, and then sighing, sat back down on the couch next to her. "All vight, I am listening to you." he said softly, and then set his books down and draped one arm on the back of the couch.

She took a deep breath and started. "At the start of our fourth year, I thought that Ron and I would be perfect. It made sense then, we had been friends for years, and we were closer than we had ever been." She paused as if trying to form the right words. "I don't think I realised what I felt then, about him. I... I didn't think he felt that way about me, at all. When you came here for the tournement, I saw that I didn't have to pretend around you, like I did around Ron. I always had to pretend that he was my friend, that there was nothing more that I wanted." She took a breath. "Then the Yule Ball came up, and I hoped that Ron would ask me, that he would notice, but he didn't. He saw me still as that friend, that little girl who was clever with books, and not good for anything more. And it hurt..." She felt a tear trickle down and wiped it away.

Viktor looked at her from behind his dark lashes. "And now, vhat does he feel about you?" he asked.

"He hasn't told me, and that's the problem," she replied, looking at her hands, which had been fiddling with the edge of her robes. She steadied them, and looked back at Viktor's face. "I gave up on Ron last year, and I'm not going to start it again," she said resolutely. "He can't just... just start feeling this way, and then think that I would just..." she trailed off.

Viktor was biting on his lip, listening to her speak, and feeling his heart sink lower and lower into his belly. "So, you haffent spoken to him yet..." he said with a slow blink of his dark eyes. "You haff to... " he paused, shaking his head, "You should.... give him a chance. Tell him vhat you know... and then let him say vhat he feels..."

She nodded. "And I will," she said, "When he realises it. I can't just confront him, that wouldn't go well at all," she added with a weak smile. It disappeared a moment later, and her face was positively sad, the corners of her lips curving into a frown. "What if he never realises it?" she asked, suddenly worried.

Viktor thought about that, but bit back the reply he wanted to make, about him being a clueless git who didn't deserve to have Hermione this upset over him. But, instead, he nodded and said "Then he never realizes it...." he said quietly, and then you haff waited for him."

"No. No waiting," she replied as quietly as he had spoken, her words carrying an undercurrent of determination. "If he ever does realise it, I'll deal with it then. But I'm not going to wait around for him again." She got even quieter at this point, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't." She felt slightly better for that thought, that she had somehow pulled herself away from the frustration she had felt the year before. She looked back at Viktor, who could make her want to laugh and cry at the same time.

Viktor simply stared back at her, he nodded, just listening to what she said, what she needed to say, more for her benefit than his. This was odd for him, being a confident for another. He wasn't used to sharing his emotions with anyone, much less sharing his own, which he truly had yet to do.

They sat in silence for a few more moments, each occupied with their own thoughts. Suddenly, Hermione leaned forward and hugged Viktor, pressing her face into his neck.

Viktor was shocked by Hermione's move to embrace him, and he froze, sitting stock still there for a moment before he wrapped his arms around her, and hugged her back, tightly. "It vill be..... OK... OK...." he purred into her ear as he hugged her and gently stroked her back with his hand. He closed his eyes, and allowed himself a smile.

She calmed herself as best she could, but didn't pull away. It was... comfortable there, his hand moving slowly over her back, his soothing words in her ear. Impulse, really, had caused her to hug him, more than anything else. She felt warm, and felt the weight lift from her shoulders, the worries about Ron float away for just a moment.

This was nice, really nice, Viktor thought to himself, and he continued to hold Hermione and pet her back for as long as she would allow it. He went quiet for a while, lost in his own thoughts. He was still not sure what had happened. What was happening, but he knew one thing. He was here holding Hermione, and Ron was not.

After what felt like an incredibly short time, Hermione reluctantly pulled away. She wiped her face and glanced at Viktor, giving him a small smile. "Thankyou," she said. "For listening to me, and for being so calm about this... I can't seem to look at it calmly," she added somberly. She felt a thousand times better, having been able to voice her feelings to someone who she knew would not condemn her for them. Harry, much as she loved him, would resent her for putting him between them. And she wasn't as close with anyone else outside.

Viktor smiled at her, nodding. "I am glad I could be of help to you Hermione. I am.... I am glad that you..." he paused, then his smiled widened. "I am glad that you chose me, as a friend to be the von to listen to you." he said, then placed his hand over his heart, and bowed to her slightly. "I am very honored...." he said grinning, and looking up at her from under his long bangs, and grinned.

She smiled then, a genuine smile which lifted her spirits immensely, and caused her face to light up. She looked around the common room as if realising that they weren't in an entirely different place, and her eyes alighted on the clock. "Oh, wow," she breathed, surprised. "I didn't realize it was this late." She met Viktor's eyes again and grinned, as staying up this late was an odd occurrence for her, even during the last few weeks of each semester, when she would always study extra-hard for their exams.

Viktor nodded, and stood up from the couch, and offered her his hand, grabbing his books with the other. "Now... ve must go to bed...." he smiled, and shook his hair out of his eyes while smiling softly at her. "Any time you vant to talk. I vill listen to everything you haff to say Herm own ninny...." he said quietly, then leaned forward, and placed a kiss on her cheek.

She blushed, and stammered another "thank you", tucking her book under her arm. "Goodnight, Viktor," she said, stopping at the foot of the stairs.

Viktor waved "Goodnight" to her, then smiling, he blew her a kiss before turning and going down the hallway to the boys dorm. Viktor smiled wide as he walked. Things were going well, very well indeed.<

2002-09-04 00:29:00,
Check mate?

<I>Written in Bulgarian:</i>

Have I won? I truly cannot say. I feel as if I have, but I fear that Ronald Weezlee still looms like a spectre over my shoulder.

I shall continue as before, calm, quiet, and listening. So simple is that. She just wanted someone to talk to, someone that would listen to what she had to say, and how she felt.

It seems that as good and close as she is with her peers, they do not truly see her for the wise, clever and intellegent young woman she is. I suppose that is why she is fond of me and confides in me.

I see her for what she is to the world, and not just to me, or what she may be able to do for me.

Faithfully."

2002-09-04 17:04:00,
HOUSE ELF NOTE TO HERMIONE

<i>Hello Hermione,

I hope yoru day went well. Mine was quite busy indeed. Will you be at dinner tonight? I am hoping you are.

Take care, and be well to yourself.

Faithfully, <b>Viktor</b></i>"

2002-09-06 16:24:00,
Talking by the lake

(An IC RP with Hermione and Viktor)

Viktor looked around, sighing in a happy way as he finished his last class of the afternoon, and decided to go for a walk on the grounds. The warm sun was something that was quite rare in his homeland, even in the summer, so he took every chance he could get to be in it. He wasn't the only one on the grounds that Friday afternoon, and he waved and smiled at those that did the same to him as he headed down for the shores of the lake. As he drew nearer, he spotted a familiar face sitting under one of the Non-attacking Willow Trees. Hermione.

She had her cloak spread out under her like a blanket on the ground, and she had her face buried in a book. It was a rather pleasant day, not too warm as to be unbearable, so she had decided to do her studying outside. Harry and Ron were on the pitch again, but she had declined to go with them. Tryouts for the teams were tomorrow, but Hermione didn't feel like flying. The week had been rather hectic, and all she wanted at that moment was to relax and enjoy the peaceful breeze and the sunny day.

Viktor could see she was engrossed in her work, and not wanting to startle her, he cleared his throat when he had closed the distance between them, and now stood under the shade of the large tree. When she looked up, he smiled at her. "Good afternoon Herm own ninny..." he said with a smile.

She smiled as well, and shut her book. "Good afternoon, Viktor," she said. She scooted back a bit on the cloak so that there was room, and motioned to it. "Would you like to sit?"

Viktor smiled wider as he nodded, and sat down near her on the cloak, but not TOO close as to crowd her space, or appear he was looking for something else. "It is a nice day outside today..." he said looking around at the trees, and lake. "I love being able to be outside in such nice weather."

"It's wonderful," Hermione agreed, slipping the book back into her bag. It wasn't too odd for her to be carrying around a copy of "Moste Potente Potions", but it was somewhat peculiar. She had looked almost everywhere else for an answer to her sequence quandery, but had come up blank. When she had tried the silver book, no one had been there. With the first stage to be started on Sunday... she chose not to think about it for the moment. She could just focus on Viktor and relax. She leaned back on her palms. "How was your day?" she adked cordially.

Viktor looked back over at, distracted from looking at the local fauna. "It vas quite busy." he said. "But I like that. Keeps me from thinking too much..." he said with a soft smile. "How have you been doing? How are you and your friends getting along?" he asked with a lift of a dark eyebrow.

Hermione glanced at her bag, and her notes, which were still spread out on her side of the cloak. "We're alright, I suppose," she answered, sitting up straight to gather them. "Harry wanted me to go flying with him and Ron, which is Harry's way of trying to get us to make up," she added with a small smile.

Viktor nodded, understanding. "Are you still going to try out for the House team?" he asked with a widening grin. "I am...."

Hermione nodded, raising her eyebrows. "Really? For what?" she inquired.

Viktor smirked. "Vhat ever position they have open..." he replied with a twinkle in his dark eyes. "I don't vant to challenge Harry Potter of course. I vould be happy as a Chaser..." he said, "I still get to chase a ball like a hound."

She grinned, and leaned back again on the cloak, resting her head on her arms and looking up at the sky. A few clouds drifted about, and she amused herself by mentally characterising them into animal groups. She laughed at the sight of one of them, which greatly resembled a cow, or (if she let her imagination take over completely) Madam Pomfrey bending over. The latter caused her chuckling. She glanced over at Viktor, who was looking at her bemusedly, and pointed. "What do you think that cloud looks like?"

Viktor turned his head slightly to the side, then decided he would need the same vantage point as Hermione, so he laid down on his back as well, the top of his head near hers, and he squinted up at the clouds drifting by. "Hm.... not verry good at this game..." he grumbled, then watched the cloud as it drifted by.

"The one on the far left looks a bit like a Snitch, with those parts sticking out, don't you think?" she pointed to the cloud in question, a fluffy one that looked as though it was made of cotton. She glanced over at the lake as she heard a few distant splashes, and was amused to see a few first years skipping stones. Hagrid was shuffling towards them to alert them to the fact that the giant squid did not appreciate stones being tossed in on his head. The first years scattered, laughing.

Viktor nodded, "Jah... I zuppose.... They are all reminding me ov food... I must be hungry again..." he laughed. "They look like powder bisquits, and dumplings, and that one... there!" he pointed. "Looks like a full side of beef roast...."

Hermione laughed, leaning her head sideways to look at him. "I used to love to do this," she said, remembering being sprawled out on the concrete when she was younger. She thought of her friend Margaret, and felt the instant pang that usually accompanied the memory. It reminded her of why she tried to avoid prejudice. She crossed her feet at the ankles and relaxed into the soft fabric.

Viktor laid there for some time, than yawning, he sat back up. "Oh... I could drop right to sleep here..." he smiled, looking around again. He glanced around at her and then at her bookbag. "Vhat vere you working on?" he asked with a lift of his chin in that direction.

"Potions," she said honestly, though she hadn't meant the class. Parts of her wanted to just tell him everything that had been going on, from Jack and Draco's threats to Voldemort, and then to the potion. The rest of her, though, wanted to keep him seperate from the stress and the worry of that. She knew that he would probably be angry, were he to realise that she was keeping such important things from him. But she just couldn't drag him into it.

"Ugh...." Viktor sighed. "He is qvite a piece ov vork..." he said shaking his head. "But then you have been here four years already. I am not telling you anythink new...." he sighed. "He glares at me, but so far, he haz not punished me or done things vith points. He seems to hate Gryffindor House..."

She snorted. "He seems to hate every House, even members of his own," Hermione told him. "He just hates Gryffindor the most, though why I have no idea. He's always picked on Harry, and he never gives any of us points for our extra work." She sighed as well.

"Unfair. Plays favorites. Just like Karkaroff...." he sneered. "They could be bruzzers..." he said, then reached into his bookbag and pulled out two red apples, he shined them on his robe, then offered one to Hermione. "Here, a snack," he smiled shyly.

She took it with a smile. "Thanks, Viktor," she said. She took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "Is Karkaroff really that bad?" she asked, once she had swallowed. Her parents had taught her nothing if not good manners, though she tended to waive the 'no books at the table' rule.

Viktor nodded, "Jah... like Snape, but vorse. He uses the cane on disobedient students too." he turned and looked directly at her as he took a bite of his apple with a 'crunch', then swallowed it. "Do they use the cane here?" he asked.

She blinked, surprised. "No, not at all!" she exclaimed, frowning. "We get detention, and usually just have to do some inane task, but I don't think they've ever actually hurt us," she said. She nibbled on the edge of her apple, a little less hungry than she had been before.

Viktor nodded, "That is refreshing..." he said sounding releived. "I only got it .... maybe three times..." he said narrowing his eyes as he thought. "Vhen I vas in my first years.... before I vas a star you know..." he said dryly. "Never again after those first few times..." he said casually, then glanced back over t Hermione.

She was still frowning a bit. She'd heard that some of the other wizarding school had different... methods for dealing with students, but she'd never thought that caning would be one of them. Hermione took a large bite of apple so that she wouldn't say how horrible she thought that was, and the pair lay in silence for a few moments, eating. Hermione set her core down once she was finished, and just stared up at the sky.

Viktor finished his apple in several large bites, and then got to his feet, and with a might toss, threw the core into the lake with a soft "splash". He laughed as the giant squid gripped it with a tenticle, and pulled it underneath the water. "No fan souvenir that von!" he chuckled, then turned to look down at Hermione, offering her a hand up. "Shall ve go inside and get ready for supper?" he asked with a winning smile.

"We shall," Hermione joked, taking his hand and letting him help her up. He helped her shake a few stray peices of grass out of her cloak, and she shrunk it with a spell and put it in her knapsack. Then, with matching grins, the pair started for the castle."

2002-09-07 09:13:00,
High Hopes

<i>Written in Bulgarian</I>

Yes, things ae definitly looking upward for me, and Hermione, on a friendly level of course. We talked after classes on Friday, and again sat together for supper, and chatted about various things. Quidditch, assignments, Arithmancy, Potions. Not once did we discussRon. Well, he was sitting nearby, keeping a Hawk;s Watch over me and Hermione, but did not speak to me at all.

Today are the Quidditch House Team Tryouts, and am I concerned? Of course not. This is school level Quidditch, and with the exception of Harry Potter and myself, this is far from the World Cup.

I am quite sure I could take the position of Seeker from him, but I see no reason to do so. He is quite skilled, nearly professional level I would dare say, and this would only feed my overgrown ego, and cause friction between myself and Hermione and her friends.

A Chaser I can be. I am of moderate size for a Professional chaser, but here I am larger than all but a few students. Those twin Golems in Slytherin come to mind but they are far from standard Quidditch Material.

They would be easy targets on brooms at 50 feet in the air. As the Americans are wont to say, "Bring it on."

Well, it is almost time for the tryouts. I shall collect my Firebolt and excort Hermione to the Pitch. More later.

Faithfully, Viktor

2002-09-07 22:38:00,
The Results are in...

Written in Bulgarian:</i>

Am I surprised? Of course not. Am I pleased? Partially. Hermione and I are Chasers together... along with Ronald Weasley. (It seems I have been misspelling his name all along) Does this make things more difficult for me? Not that I can see.

Faithfully, Viktor

2002-09-08 13:05:00,
A Kiss by any other name...

An IC RP with Hermione and Viktor

Viktor held the front door of the Castle open for Hermione as she stepped outside into the bright late morning sun. It was a fantastic day, and they had decided to go for a walk around the grounds. Viktor was still getting used to the warmer climate, and was wearing the lightest of a shirt, no robes, and some black dungarees and his dragon hide boots. His hair, getting longer was hanging a bit down over his eyes, and the back was nearly long enough for a short ponytail. "Looks like a vonderful afternoon." he mused as he followed her outside.

She sheilded her eyes from the sun and nodded her agreement. "We still have to stop by the pitch and get our Quidditch robes today," she reminded him, scanning the grounds for other people. A few groups of students were gathered at various points in the grass, having picnics, chatting, or (in the case of a group of Ravenclaws) studying together. It was shortly after lunch, where Viktor and Hermione had set next to each other and talked, and Ron had sat across from them, talking to Harry but keeping one eye on them.

Viktor nodded and looked over at Hermione as he reached down and caught her hand in his. He gave it a squeeze as he smiled at her, then walked across the grass. "Shall ve go there first, or later?" he asked as he strode along,glancing from side to side, but not taking much notice of the people around, but more the scenery.

"Might as well go now, get it over with," she decided, steering them in the direction of the Quidditch pitch. They chatted as they walked, and were into a rather interesting conversation concerning the differences in Algebraic Charms and Geometric summonings from their Advanced Arithmancy course when they reached the changing rooms. Madam Hooch was standing outside them, boxes spread on the ground around her, and an exasperated look on her face. Millicent Bulstrode was scowling, a set of green and silver robes in her arms; Crabbe and Goyle were standing around

stupidly. Crabbe was examining a kneepad when they approached. Millicent looked up when Madam Hooch smiled in their direction, and the Slytherin sneered. "Well, well, look who's here. The Star and the Mud-" she cut off when Madam Hooch shot her a look.

Viktor followed Hermione to the Quidditch Shed, and frowned as he heard voices there. He sighed, he hated crowds. No matter how small. When he entered with her, he gave a smile and nod to Madame Hooch, then as Millicent was halted in mid insult, he shot her a dangerous glare, then repeated the same look to Crabbe and Goyle, shutting them silent before they dare to open their stupid mouths. Viktor then sighed, and in the simplest of Bulgarian, said out out of the corner of his mouth to Hermione, "Well, we are seeing history being made. Pigs are flying."

Hermione laughed, and covered her mouth to stop it. Goyle blinked owlishly at them, as if trying to discern whether or not that was a foreign language he had heard, and Millicent just raised an eyebrow. Madam Hooch turned and knelt by a few scarlet colored boxes, digging through them. Hermione was rather proud that she had understood Viktor, she had been studying a bit over the last three weeks, and he had been helping her. The Slytherins somehow knew that they had been insulted, though, because once Madam hooch's back was turned, Millicent made a rude gesture to Hermione.

Viktor saw this and with a soft mutter, uttered a curse that required no wand play, and almost instantly the effects could be seen, or rather heard. *Phooot!* came the foul sound from Millicent's backside, and soon another followed. Viktor looked shocked and disgusted by this, putting a hand over his face, and remained solemn as a Vicar as Millicent went red, and farted again. Louder.

Madam Hooch glanced up from the box and raised an eyebrow at Millicent. "Miss Bulstrode, do you need to see Madam Pomfrey?" she asked. Millicent went an even deeper shade of red, and stormed off in the direction of the castle. Crabbe and Goyle shot Hermione and Viktor one last glare, the latter mouthing "Mudblood", and then they followed. Hermione stopped laughing at Goyle's comment, and frowned. Madam Hooch stood up then, two sets of robes in her hands. She handed Hermione the smaller set, and motioned to the girls' changing rooms. "You'll need to try these on," she said.

Viktor continued to watch the Slytherin's slide away as he waved his hand before his nose, looking disgusted. "Vat horrible manners they haff.." he sneered, then glanced back to Madame Hooch as she handed him robes to try on. He was directed to the Boys Changing room, and after smiling at Madame Hooch in a winning way, went to go change.

Five minutes later, Hermione emerged from the girls' side and stopped in front of Madam Hooch. The uniforms were not very elaborate, but they looked quite nice. Scarlet pants came to mid calf, and were covered by black shin-protectors that attached to black shoes A gold stripe ran down the side of the pants, which matched the black top. A golden lion shimmered on the shirt, and a cape the colour of blood hung down the back. Hermione held the pair of black arm-protectors in her hand rather than attempt to lace them on herself. Madam Hooch started to say something, when Viktor emerged from the oppostie side.

Perfect. Albus had seen fit to send Snape on some 'errand', (only he hadn't called it that, obviously, and he hadn't so much asked or demanded or anything) and Snape had to go outside. He couldn't really have refused, but he made his displeasure evident before storming off out of the Office and out into the castle's grounds.

Viktor emerged from the Boys Locker Room, and was wearing the same garb as Hermione, but had managed to lace up his arm guards himself. Whether he did it manually, or with a spell, was yet to be known. He smiled as he looked over a

at Hermione in hers, "You look nice..." he said quietly as he leaned against the wall in his usual slouch and waited.

She smiled. "You as well," she replied. The looked at each other for a long moment, until Madam Hooch cleared her throat. Hermione looked to her, slightly embarassed, but the silver-haired woman just smiled. "You both look fine," she said curtly, making a note on a scroll. "Now change back into your regular robes and give those to me. I'll have them sent up to your dormitories."

Viktor nodded, slouching as he returned to the locker room, "Jah.... jah..." he mumbled. Bored? you bet. He changed quickly and was waiting outside the shed for Hermione in the shade of a nearby tree. He was gazing up into it,lost in thought it seemed.

She came up behind him, making sure to crunch a few fallen leaves so as not to startle him. "Where to now?" she asked quietly.

Viktor turned and looked down at Hermione and smiled, "I vas just thinking about you...." he said with a wink, then extended his hand to her. "I do that a lot...." he said, then looked away, perhaps to hide a blush as he started to walk along the tree line on the edge of the Pitch.

She smiled at him as they walked, hand in hand. "I think about you a lot, as well," she admitted. "Mostly in History of Magic," she grinned, and noted that a small smile appeared on his face. She glanced over her shoulder as most of the Hufflepuff team arrived, in an uncharacteristically somber mood. She supposed that the memory of Cedric Diggory would ruin any joy they had towards Quidditch.

Viktor looked over at her, confusion causing him to frown slightly, slightly more than normal anyway, "In History of Magic?" he asked. "But vhy in there?" he asked.

"Most of the students sleep in there," she said, laughing a bit. "I just let my mind wander to wherever it wants to go, and you're where it usually ends up." She blushed again, looking down at the ground. They passed the goals at the end of the pitch, and were near a stretch of grounds that was dappled with trees and bushes. It was, oddly enough, empty today. There were usually a few students in the area, playing games and such.

Snape passed through the doors, and out into the sun, scowling at the world in general, and the students unlucky enough to be nearby. He pulled his cloak up over his chest with one hand, covering it, as though he didn't want the world to see him. His other hand hung by his side, fingers curled over the cuff of his sleeve.

Viktor turned and looked down at Hermione, his face relaxed and an amused smile on his lips. "Your mind vanders to thoughts of me?" he repeated, then smiled wider. "I am glad to hear that." he said reaching over to take both of her hands in his as he stood there facing her in the shade of the trees. "I think of you too Herm own ninny... Qvite a lot actually..." he said softly as he leaned down, and touched his forehead to hers.

She blushed, and a small smile appeared on her lips. Her eyes met his, and she felt a flutter in her chest. The sounds outside of her drained away, until there was nothing but their gentle breathing.

Viktor smiled a bit wider, and closed his eyes, just enjoying the quiet, the solitude, and the time alone with Hermione. It was at these times he felt, almost normal. "I think of different things... things I vould like to say, things I vould like to do..." he said voice trailing off as he canted his head to the side, and softly touched his lips to Hermione's.

Immediately Hermione felt another jolt in her chest. She leaned forward a bit, molding her lips against his gently. Her mind raced but she quieted it, focusing on the sensation of Viktor's lips on her own.

Snape rounded a corner, still fuming, and with the detention count up to a record high so far this term. Amazing what a bit of sun did, really. If he could have banned it, he would have. His eyes lit on two of his favourite students, Gryffindors, and stopped dead, glaring thoroughly, and barked out; "If you enjoy canoodling so much, perhaps you should see Professor Sprout. I hear there are some rustis acerbis in need of care and attention."

Viktor blinked, and pulled back from his kissing Hermione, and turned his head over to glare at the invading party. "Vhat did you say...." he said in a low tone, then added for decorum, "Professor." as he eyed the man carefully,wondering why he was out here, and not hanging upside down in a dungeon somewhere.

"I'm sorry, would you prefer I told you in Bulgarian, or is it just your hearing that's the problem, Mr Krum? And don't pretend your English is poor-- well, more so than the average student." His hands moved to rest on his hips, and he looked disinterested, and more than a little disgusted.

Hermione felt another rush of embarrassment as she looked from Viktor to her Potions professor. She noted that she and Viktor were still standing rather close to each other, so she took a small step back, notletting go of his hand. Immediately she wanted to take another step towards him, to be closer again.

Viktor narrowed his glare at Snape, and took a long breath in before speaking. "I have no trouble understanding proper English Sir," he said as he stood his ground, "However, Anytime you would like to attempt to impress me with your skills in Bulgarian, I would relish the opportunity to discuss whatever topic you should like in my native tongue." he said in Bulgarian at the end, and awaited Snape's reply.

Snape narrowed his eyes, having known a few Bulgarians from Durmstrang in his time, and picking up a little as a result. He wasn't fluent, to be sure, and only picked up a little, but wasn't about to show the extent of his knowledge, or lack thereof, right now. "I suggest you both report to her afterwards. She will be more than happy to see you." He turned, and spat out over his shoulder, in heavily accented Bulgarian, "Later."

Once he was out of sight, Hermione muttered a string of curse words in French that would have made Ron gasp. She let go of Viktor's hand and leaned against a nearby tree, looking up into the leaves.

Viktor watched Snape depart, and swore a blue streak himself in Bulgarian, then turned his attention back to Hermione. "I am... very sorry.. I should not haff done... that..." he said softly, looking down at the grass as he kickedat the turf with the toe of his boot.

"No!" she answered quickly, blushing for the umpteenth time that day. "That was... nice..." she trailed off, looking down at the grass and silently cursing Professor Snape.

Viktor looked up at her from under his fringe, and looked quite sad. "I do not... like that man. Not at all..." he said in a low tone. Then slowly, he smiled back at her. "I liked.... kissing you..." he said shyly. "It vas the nicest I haff ever had."

"It was the only I have ever had," she admitted, still looking at the grass. She thought about how amusing it was that her first kiss had been interrupted by a teacher, but she didn't really feel like laughing at that point.

Viktor moved a hand to alongside Hermione's face, an slowly tipped it up to look him in the eye again. He ran his tongue across his lips, then leaned forward, closing the gap between them, "Then let me give you another..." he whispered, and again pressed his lips to hers while he held her face in his hands.

She closed her eyes, sighing against his lips. Almost of their own choice, her hands slipped around his waist. Hermione felt that her heart might burst from her chest at that point, and she willed it to be quiet as she relaxed into the kiss.

Viktor felt her arms wrap aaround him, and he took a step closer toward her, until there was no space between them. His hands held her face gently as his lips covered hers, and sucked softly. He traced the tip of his tongue across

her lips ever so gently, then slowly, pulled back and looked down at her, his eyes half closed. "That is the kiss I vanted to give to you, the night of the Yule Ball...." he smiled.

Hermione opened her eyes slowly, and she felt rather dazed. Her mind took an extra second to process his words, and she paused. The Yule Ball, almost nine months before, seemed a very long time for someone to have to wait to kiss somebody. She met his eyes, her own a slightly clouded, and all she could manage was, "Wow." She thought back to the Yule Ball, and her brow furrowed. The Yule Ball made her think of Ron, and he was the last person she wanted in her mind at that moment.

Viktor smiled at her, and taking her hand tightly in his, started walking again, "Now.... vere did the old bat say we had to go?" he laughed. "I haff half a mind to not do anything he said. Ve vere not out of bounds..." he sulked

Hermione knew they were, and was secretly happy that they hadn't been given detentions for it. "We may as well," she said, heading in the direction of the greenhouses, "Or else we may end up with something worse to do."

Viktor frowned, "I Von't!" he said, stopping in mid step. "I am not some child he can command at his vill!" he said pointing to himself with his free hand. "Ve haff done nothing wrong Herm own ninny... Nothing." he said with a stubborn tone to his voice.

"I don't like it anymore than you do," she said, resigned. "But I know him better than you do, and I know how bad he can get. I don't want to make him angry," she sighed.

Viktor stood there for a long moment. Defiant. He looked down at her a for a long time, he seemed to be considering a great deal in his own mind. At last he spoke to her. "I vill follow your wishes on this Hermione." he said in a controlled tone of voice. "I still say he has no right...."

She nodded, glancing at the row of glass contraptions they were approacing. Professor Sprout was chatting animatedly with Neville Longbottom, who waved as they approached. Hermione smiled and waved in return. The Herbology professor raised an eyebrow at them and looked pointedly at their hands. They reluctantly let go, ignoring Neville's titter of amusement. The boy muttered a goodbye and bounded off towards the castle with a grin. Sprout looked at them with a slight frown to Hermione. "Ms. Granger and Mr. Krum," she said, a disappointed lilt to Hermione's name. "Professor Snape has informed me of your transgression, and I have decided a proper punishment. The two of you will be pruning the Vilocio Vine in Greenhouse four, and I expect you will be done by dinnertime." Hermione winced at this, but nodded.

Viktor was scowling, and did not offer a verbal answer. He nodded in acknowledgement to Professor Sprout, and then followed Hermione into the mentioned greenhouse. "Things like this never happened at Durmstrang..." he muttered.

Hermione decided not to mention the caning he had told her about, and instead turned to look at the vine they were to prune. It was a rather large one, a single vine with multiple flowering offshoots. The flowers were not normal flowers, however, they had a tendency to snap at their tenders, and they contained a poison which could kill small animals. She bit her lip and looked around, her eyes settling on a table nearby, where two sets of dragonhide gloves lay, along with two sets of pruning shears. This was sixth year work, but Hermione had already heard a bit about this particular plant in her readings.

Viktor was still silently brooding, and went over to pick up the gloves and shears. "I shall do it... I don't vant you to get bit..." he said in a soft tone, softer than his current mood detailed. Without a look up at her, he set about his work of trimming the plants.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, and pulled on the second pair of gloves. She grabbed the other pair of shears and knelt down in the dirt next to him, a small smile on her face. "I'll be fine," she assured him, and set to work on a lower section of vine.

Viktor nodded, still not saying anything. As the afternoon wore on, he kept to himself, acting much like he had last year. Withdrawn, sulky, sullen. He at last finished the rest of the pruning, and with only one slight nip from a plant. He had beheaded the blossom that had bit him, and after that point, they stopped trying to attack. When he was at last done, he took off the gloves and dropped them on the bench next to the shears. "There. Done..." he growled.

Hermione wiped the small bit of sweat from her brow, as it was getting rather warm in the greenhouse, and snipped a small shoot. "Me, too," she said, pulling her gloves off and tossing them next to his. She was smiling at him when the greenhouse door banged open and Professor Sprout came in. "All done, I see," she chirped, once again satisfied with the students. "Off to the castle with you, then. It's nearly dinnertime, and I daresay you would want to wash up beforehand." She shooed them out of the greenhouse, and off to the castle.

2002-09-08 21:12:00,
Paradise but briefly

<I>Written in Bulgarian:</i>

Was it a good day today? I would say so. The weather here was spectacular, Hermione and I went for a walk, collected our Quidditch Robes for the House Team, and then... shared a kiss under the shade of a tree.

It was quiet, soft, and romantically perfect until Snape interrupted us. The man is an abomination. No wonder he was friends with Karkaroff. The way he reacted, you would think that I had been ravishing Hermione and the rest of the Gryffindor girls instead of a simple kiss being given.

It's not hard to imagine that he is bitter over such things because surely NOTHING alive would want to kiss, or be kissed by him.

In any case. It was quite nice, and once he was gone, having dispensed Detention in the green houses for us. I kissed Hermione again.

I shall sleep well tonight, dreaming of that.

Faithfully, Viktor

2002-09-12 10:36:00,
Break

<i>Written in Bulgarian:</i>

Just a quick note between classes, which have been going well. Some of the teachers in fact have been calling upon me to help with the lessons. I am not teaching them to be sure, but helping with assignments, demonstrations and the like.

I am pleased with this show of acceptance and confidence in me. I am still a celebrity to many here, but just as many are seeming to accept me for just a person, and I am enjoying this.

Snape is the singular exception. He is however, known to be foul to everyone. Some just more than others.

Hermione and I have chatted a few times since "The Kiss". She seems to be more at ease around me. We walk to and from classes when we can. We do not hold hands, that would only make the rumors and attention grow. Neither of us want that going on.

Quidditch practice is quite fun. The Weasley Twins, Fred and George seem QUITE intent on roughing me up as much as possible in my Training as a Chaser. I wonder if this is because they are on Ron's side for his ownerhip of Hermione's affections?

This could be the case, but then again, it could just be normal hazing of the new guy. That would be fine with me, and sort of endearing. Well, time for classes again, then lunch with Hermione and the House.

Faithfully, Viktor

2002-09-12 21:55:00,
Practicing Quidditch and much more...

An IC RP with Viktor and Hermione.

Viktor landed on the ground, the practice was finally over and smiling grimly, he rubbed at the sore spots on his arms from where the Weasley's had collided with him repeatedly. He set his broom down, and reached for a goblet of iced water and drank it down in large gulps.

Hermione stayed hovering on her broom next to the floating tray on which the ice water was. She sipped water, her stomach hurting a bit from where a Bludger had smashed into her earlier, and managed a small smile to the rest of the team. Seamus was grinning, having hardly been roughed up, and Ron was nursing a blossoming bruise on his arm.

Viktor finished off two glasses of the iced water before he took a breather, and wiped himself down with a towel. The warm weather was taking a toll on him, and he sat down on a bench with a loud sigh, and leaned forward after draping an ice water soaked towel over his head.

The twins left with Seamus, the three animatedly chatting about a move they wanted to use. Harry mentioned he had homework to do, and looked to Ron expectantly. The redhead shot one last glare in Viktor's direction, and reluctantly left with Harry. Hermione tentatively dismounted the broom, wincing at the sudden strain it put on her stomach muscles, and sat on the bench next to Viktor, a goblet of ice water in her hand.

Viktor sat there for several moments, then when it was all quiet around him, he sat up, and pulled the towel off of his head and mussed his hair up quite a bit in the process. He blinked in the bright sun, then looked around and spotted Hermione sitting next to him. He smiled, and fingered comed his hair back into place. "Haff they all gone?" he asked.

She nodded, and swallowed another sip of ice water. "Do you think the twins even bruise?" she asked jokingly, swirling the water around in the glass. "They don't seem to mind being hit so often." She smiled, and leaned back until her head was resting against the seats behind her.

Viktor laughed softly, then got up from the bench, and after standing up, bent over at the waist, and touched his nose to his knees, and gripped his calves with his hands, stretching out his legs and back. He groaned softly as he held the position for a 10 count, then stood up, and gripped his hips with his hands and twisted around, cracking his back. "Ah.... that is much better..." he sighed.

Hermione just sipped her water and watched, slightly amused. She decided not to attempt any stretching at this point, as her stomach would most likely mutiny against her. Instead she pulled the broom the school had loaned her (a Cleansweep Eight) until she got her own onto her lap, examining the tail twigs absently. The sun was just dipping behind the stands, and the shadows spread slowly across the grass.

Viktor shook out his arms, letting them hang limply at his sides, then collected his broom and towel, and looked down at Hermione. "Ready to go back? Ve have time for a shower before dinner I think." he said in a voice that showed obvious fatigue.

She smiled up at him from her seat. "I'm not really hungry," she said, setting the goblet down on the bench to her left. "I think I'll just sit out here for a bit."

Viktor gave Hermione an odd look. He sighed and sat back down on the bench beside her. He wanted nothing more than a hot shower, and some food and some wine, but she... wanted to sit. So he sat.

She looked at him curiously in return. Sometimes she felt he didn't think she could be anywhere alone, and this was one of those times. She shrugged it off, though, because she knew that that was just how he was. She moved her goblet back onto the floating tray, which began to float back towards the castle the second the glass touched it. "You don't have to stay with me, you know," she said to Viktor, giving him a half-smile.

Viktor slowly looked over at her, sulky and tired looking. "I am not guarding you Herm own ninny..." he droned. "I am here because I vant to be with you..." he said, then brushed his damp hair back into place again.

She refrained from raising an eyebrow at his droll tone, and simply sat back up again. She yelped as her stomach rebelled, and tendrils of pain shot up her sides.

Viktor flinched when she yelped, then turned to look out over the field. "Cramps.... from sitting and drinking cold vater... You need to stretch out..." he said softly, then looked back over at her. "The longer you vait, the vorse it vill get..." he droned.

Hermione stood, a bit shakily. She stretched her arms up above her head, and turned slighty sideways, biting her lip at the pain. Sure enough, though, it faded, and she was left with a dull throb. She found she could reach her toes quite easily, a result of her parents insisting she try basic dance in grade school. The brunette straightened and sighed. "That's a little better," she acknowledged, sitting down on the grass. Her robes were already rather dirty, from landing on the grass (softly though) twice in practise, as well as the dusty bludgers hitting her, so she didn't care if they got any worse.

Viktor stood up, and smiling and crooked his finger at her. "Stand up..." he said to her. Once she had,

he went and moved to stand behind Hermione and rested his hands on her hips gently. "Let me spot you..." he whispered near her ear as he briefly rested his chin on her shoulder, and tightened his grip on

her hips as he guided her to bend to the sides four times each, then he leaned forward, bending her over at the waist, his body tightly spooned up behind her as he shadowed her movements. "How is dat?" he asked in her ear again as his body snugged up closed behind hers.

She felt her stomach relax, and opened her mouth to voice an approval. She closed it again when she felt a pressure at her back. Immediately her face coloured, and she froze. He didn't seem to notice her sudden discomfort. She slowly straightened again, and he pulled back with her. Unconsciously almost, she took a step away from him.

Viktor let his hands fall from her hips, then repeated the set of stretches again himself. He looked over at her, and raised an eyebrow. "Vy are you stopping? You should do at least three sets if you don't vant to cramp up the first time you sit down again." he said, and kept repeating the exercises. "You haff to do it until you feel varm and loose." he said with a completely straight face.

Hermione's face turned an interesting shade of scarlet, and she remained with her back to him, not sure she wanted him to see her embarrassment. She knew well enough what she

prefectgranger: had felt, of course her parents had had a rather uncomfortable chat (or four) with her about it. She just had never known what it felt like itself. And the fact that her lower stomach appeared to be tingling was somewhat disconcerting. "I, uh, I... I think I'll be okay," she stammered unconvincingly.

Viktor made what sounded like a snorting sound and continued to finish his routine, and then picked up his broom again. "I vill see you at Dinner, yes?" he asked as he turned to walk back toward the castle. "Don't stay out here too long, the chill air will make you cramp up again..." he said in a soft tone.

Hermione nodded, only realising that he couldn't see her nod a second later. "I won't," she assured him, grabbing her broom and nervously fiddling with the twigs. He nodded, and strode off

towards the castle. She waited a few minutes and then followed, still slightly perplexed.

******

Hermione muttered the latest password ("Rufusia") to the Fat Lady and stepped carefully through the opened portrait-hole. The common room was moderately full, a change from the usual packed, and the almost complete emptyness of the library she had just vacated. She scanned the room, and almost dropped her books when she saw the circle of couches near the fire.

Viktor was sprawled, there was no other word for it, on one of the couches near the fire. The black silk button up shirt he was waering was NOT buttoned, exposing a chisled and tanned chest and belly, and the black jeans he wore were almost a second skin they were so tight. He was leaning on one elbow, a large book lay open before him on the couch. His longish hair was spilled over his shoulders and partially over his eyes, he seemed oblivious of anyone else in the room as he read.

Hermione snapped to her senses when she heard giggling from her right. She looked over her shoulder, and rolled her eyes. An assortment of girls from each year (and was that Parvati was gathered in one of the corners, whispering and practically drooling over Viktor. Two of them were whispering fiercely and tugging on a camera. When Hermione had entered the room, eleven pairs of jealous eyes had swiveled toward her, and now they were giggling again. She rolled her eyes again, and frowned. A group of third year boys was gathered in the path to the girl's stairs, and the only way up there would be to walk directly past Viktor.

Viktor reached out to a side table without looking up from his book and took a long drink of the pumpkin juice, then replaced the goblet down and turned a page. He did a quick flicker of his eyes upward, and saw Hermione walking towards him, "Hallo Hermione," he said with a dangerous smile. How are you feeling now?" he asked softly, then turned another page in the book before him.

Hermione felt her cheeks colour slightly, and she stopped walking, shifting her books to her other arm. "I'm a little sore," she admitted, and her stomach agreed, "But I'm okay. And you?" she asked congenially. "How are you feeling?"

Viktor gave her a grin, and the effects of it could be heard across the room in multiples sighs, and giggles. "Never better..." he smiled pleasantly. "Did you do more exercises after your bath?" he asked.

"A few," she said with a small smile. "I might have spent forever in the bath, though. Have you seen the prefect's bathroom?" she asked, remembering the gorgeous, grand tub with it's multiple faucets. True to Ron's prediction, she had been announced a prefect a few days before.

Hermione's eyes widened at a sudden thought that entered her head, and she felt her face would heat up again. Luckily (well, depending on one's perspective), a crash from the far corner of the room caused her to turn quickly to look. Ten girls were glaring at the eleventh, who was sheepishly looking down at a broken camera. The film spilled out on the ground like shiny blood, and a fresh wave of whispers broke out. Hermione raised an eyebrow at one of them, who was so immature as to stick her tongue out at her. She then realised that she was still standing, and, feeling rather awkward, sat on the floor with her back against the front of Viktor's couch. "No pictures for them tonight," she noted with a small smile, aware that she was rather close to Viktor where she was sitting.

Viktor hovered his face near the side of her face, and inhaled deeply. Deep enough for her to hear, then he let out a sigh, "You smell so very nice...." he said, then leaned back and resumed reading.

Hermione felt a small smile creep over her face, and she felt her stomach do flips, a contrast to the soreness of that afternoon. She contented herself with looking around the room at the people gathered. Many of them were leaving to go to bed, and Hermione glanced at the clock. It was already going on ten-thirty, to her surprise. The girl in the corner who had broken the camera was being berated by an older girl, and the rest were looking from Hermione to Viktor warily. She glared at them, and a few of them slinked off to bed.

Viktor continued to read, and sip from his wine until the clock on the fireplace mantle chimed eleven, he looked up then and closed his book, then looked down at Hermione, still sitting near him. "I am going to go to bed now..."

She murmured something, and sighed. Hermione had fallen asleep that way, a combination of the warm room and the stillness as it emptied. her chest rose and fell in a rythym, and her breathing was steady.

Viktor smiled, and looking around the room, he saw that they were at last alone. He carefully got up from the couch, tucked the book under his arm, and then crouched down in front of Hermione. Leaning forward, he softly kissed her on the lips. He covered hers with his, and made a soft sucking motion.

Hermione came to slowly, coming from a most wonderful dream. In it, Viktor was kissing her, and it was all wamth. It took a moment for her mind to register that she wasn't dreaming at all, and her eyes fluttered open and met Viktor's. She gasped and pulled back, unable to keep from smiling.

Viktor grinned at her, then rose to his feet, turned and walked up the stairs to the Boys Dorms. "I von't insult you by asking if you vant an escort," he called back in a playful tone as he ascended the stairs.

"Viktor, wait," Hermione called, climbing to her feet carefully. He halted on the fifth step, and turned back to her. With a small smile she crossed to him, ascending the steps until she was level with him, albeit a little shorter than he was. She tentatively closed the distance between them, lifting her head slightly and pressing her lips to his.

Viktor blinked in surprise, but that element of surprise only lasted a moment. He draped his arms around her shoulders, and pulled her tightly against him. His lips sucked at hers, then his tongue pressed forward, stroking along her lips, tasting them. His tongue tasted of mulled wine.

Hermione slipped her arms around his waist instictively, marveing in the moment. She parted her lips a bit, allowing for his tongue to enter, and sighed.

Viktor made a low purring sound in his throat, and pressed his tongue into Hermione's mouth, and devoured the taste of her. He held her tightly to him, one hand on her back stroking softly, the other slid downward, and rested just above the swell of her backside. He pressed her tighter to him, groin to groin, and continued to kiss her.

Hermione pulled back a few moments later, breathing heavily, as she had not quite mastered how to breathe while being kissed, and her head was starting to feel rather dizzy. She didn't pull away from Viktor, though, the pair remained flush against each other. Her eyes were slightly dazed, and she looked surprised, as if she hadn't really expected to initiate the kiss any more than Viktor had.

Viktor reached a hand up to brush her hair back from her face, and he smiled at her, then leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight Hermione," he whispered, then after giving her another hug, he took a step back, then turned to go up the stairs.

Hermione's hand ran across her lips, and she could still faintly taste the wine. She leaned against the wall of the staircase, gathering her thoughts; then, with a small smile, she went the opposite direction, and to bed.</lj-cut>"

2002-09-12 23:34:00,Kissing an Angel,"<i>Written in Bulgarian:</i>

And so... again we kissed, and it was a wonderful thing. She is losing her fear of me I think. I hope.

Ahh... the feel of her in my arms, her scent in my nose, and her lips on mine. It was bliss. I am still feeling the tingle in my body from her touch. I must keep in mind however, who she is. How young she is.

Patience. Patience.

2002-09-15 21:35:00,
Visiting a friend...

An IC RP with Viktor and Hermione

The hospital wing was quiet in the afternoon, as the Gryffindor Quidditch practise had been cancelled, and there were no team members needing bruises healed. No other accidents had caused anyone to have to visit Madam Pomfrey's domain; a small potions spill in the morning had been quickly fixed by the professor, and oddly enough no one had been injured that day. There was only one occupant of the room, an unconscious brunette in the bed farthest from the door. She looked as if she were sleeping, Madam Pomfrey had healed the surface injuries, and only a smudge of blood on her cheek (which had refused to come off with anything short of a spell), revealed that she had been attacked.

Viktor had arrived at the Hospital Wing as soon as he had been given the news by a reluctant Harry. It had taken him some time to convince Mdm Pomfrey to allow him to sit by her bed. But he had been kindly persuasive, and now, for the third hour, he sat by her bed, looking down at her and holding her hand in his. His outward demeanor was calm, but in wardly, he was beyond enraged. Harry had only given him the minor details, and would not tell him WHO was responsible for her being in this state, only that a Spell had gone wrong.

Madam Pomfrey gave the boy a sympathetic look as she passed, asking him to lock the door behind him when he left. She stopped in the doorway and glanced back at him, sighing, then she left for her own chambers, and a few hours sleep before the rush of students in the morning. In the silence that followed, nothing could be heard save their quiet breathing, until.... there was a small gasp, a short intake of breath out of rythym, and the sleeping girl stirred slightly.

Viktor had been staring off into the distance, at the far wall of the Hospital Wing and the people moving about in the portraits, then, Hermione stirred. He quickly looked toward her, and clutched her hand tighter. "Are you avake? Hermione?" he asked softly as he rose stiffly to his feet, then leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

Hermione's eyelids fluttered, and she squeezed the hand holding hers. Another deep breath, and her eyes opened, brown orbs not focusing at first. She looked around wildly for a moment, as if she was still being attacked. When her eyes finally focused on the face leaning over her, she managed a weak smile. "Viktor," she whispered, "Where.... where am I?"

Viktor leaned down and nuzzled his face alongside of hers, squeezing her hand again. "You are in the Hospital Ving..." he said softly near her ear. "You vere hurt ven a spell vent wrong.... Harry Potter told me..." he said, then kissed her cheek. "How do you feel?"

Hermione tried to sit up, letting out a cry of pain. She could feel where a rib had been broken and mended, it was still sore. In fact, all of her was sore. "Terrible, but I'm still alive, so it can't be that bad," she replied, forcing another small smile for his benefit. She was struggling in her mind, to get details... everything was so blurry to her. She remembered Harry and Cho leaving, and then Draco was there... but all she could remember was pain, and then waking up here... When she realised that she couldn't remember a thing from it, a look of intense alarm crossed her face.

Viktor winced himself when she moved, and he placed a hand on her shoulder, "Don't try to move." he said, then watched her expression, "Vhat. Vhat is wrong? Do you remember who did this to you?" he asked with a creasing of his brow and a scowl on his face.

She met his eyes, completely bewildered and frightened at the same time. "I don't... I don't remember anything," she said softly, "I remember... Cho and Harry left, and then Draco was there... I suppose he left as well, but I don't...." she trailed off, and her eyes filled with tears. She looked down at the blanket, not wanting Viktor to see her cry again.

Viktor narrowed his dark eyes, and hissed, "Draco....." He squeezed her hand again, and stood there seething with rage. "If he hurt you.... I shall make him know the meaning of pain." he growled, "I know vays of hurting him he could not possibly imagine, and I DON'T need to use the Unforgiveable...."

"No!" she cried, meeting his eyes quickly, not caring if he saw the unshed tears at that point. "We were helping him... Why would he do that? Some one must have come after.... " she closed her eyes, her mind going over every detail of her memory, but still nothing came, except that flash of remembered pain, a wand running across her cheek... she brought her hand up to her face, but she couldn't feel anything. Of course there would be no wound left after Madam Pomfrey. She just wanted proof that the one thing she could remember had happened.

Viktor continued to look smoulderingly angry. He watchd Hermione, and tried to rein in his anger, for now. "Vhat vere you all trying to do, vehn this happened?" he asked evenly, taking care to control his tone of voice.

Hermione glanced at his face, then looked away. Admittedly, she hadn't really lied to him, but she had kept this from him. "We were trying to cast a sort of protection Charm on Draco," she explained quietly, knowing that she had to be completely honest, it was only fair to Viktor then. "His father... his father is with Voldemort, and he wants Draco to be as well." She fiddled with the edge of the blanket nervously.

Viktor looked away, staring at some point on the other side of the room. "That is vell known, even vhere I live on the other side of the vorld..." he said softly. "Draco is the most promising young vone for the next generation of Death Eaters." he said as casually as if they were discussing the weather. "Karkaroff told me that. Since he had no sons...." he paused, shrugged, then continued. "He had hopes of me following in his previous path I think." he said, then went silent for a moment. "But, I vill never go that vay. Ever."

Hermione was surprised, and it showed. There was a moment of silence between them, each of them thinking and avoiding looking at the other. Hermione spoke up first. "Draco... he confuses me, and scares me sometimes," she admitted, debating whether to tell him about the squirrel incident or not. She knew Viktor wasn't thrilled (an understatement) that she had kept all of that from him, she might as well go the extra step. "I don't think... I don't think he did this..." she said carefully, "But he... he threatened me once."

Viktor flickered his gaze to her, still looking stern, then looked away again. "I see." was all he said, in a measured tone. He was quiet for a long time, then let out a long sigh. "I vant to protect you, and defend you Hermione, but you get angry when I try to do... the honorable thing." he said, explaining himself. "I vould like you to tell me vhat you vant me to do... in this case." he said, then looked over at her again with a stoney expression.

Hermione sighed, closing her eyes again to form the words she most wanted to say in her mind. "I don't like feeling helpless," she said, vaguely feeling another jolt of pain from her chest, "And things like this... they don't really help me feel any better. I don't want to feel protected, though I suppose I need it," she admitted. She opened her eyes and met his, no smile on her face this time. "I suppose if I were to let anyone protect me, it would be you," she thought aloud. "Just do what you feel you need to do."

If that made Vikor happy, or feel better, he didn't outwardly show it. He simply nodded. "I vill not guard you if you do not vant me to shelter you Hermione." he said softly, stroking the back of the hand he held with his thumb. "I vill only do vhat I am asked to do." he said, then looked at her again, "You are a very capable vitch Hermione, but you are no match for one like Draco, or his family, or anyone that is not afraid to use curses, even the Unforgiveable ones to achieve their goals. You need to arm yourself differently..." he said, voice trailing off.

Hermione gave his hand a small squeeze, a way to say 'thankyou' without speaking. She was already thinking of the night before, again. "Who could have done this?" she voiced, going over the (very short) list of people who would want her hurt, or worse.

Viktor looked her directly in the eyes again, "If you say that Draco was the last one you recall seeing before awaking, it vould be my guess, it vas him..." he said quietly. "There are vays of having you recall what you have forgotten, or been MADE forget..." he said somberly.

Hermione frowned, looking up at Viktor from the bed. As much as she didn't want to think it was possible for Draco to have done it... "It's possible it was him," she admitted, thinking of the anger she had seen in the Slytherin's eyes the night he had threatened her. "I can't remember any of it, it's as if someone just erased it completely, and... and it scares me." she almost whispered the last part. "I've heard that there are ways to remember, but I'm not sure what they are."

"Memory Charm." he said softly. "They can be broken by a powerful enough wizard. Or torture." he said softly, then looked over at her. "If Draco put a Memory Charm on you. I am sure I could break it." he said, then added, "Without torture." he sighed, "He is not nearly as powerful in the Dark Magic as he would like to think, and I am far more advanced than I let on...." he said in a very soft voice.

"Not tonight," she said, trying to sit up and again wincing. She sighed and settled back against the pillows once again. "I don't think I could deal with the memory tonight." Hermione went over his words again. "And we don't know for sure that it's Draco," she added, not wanting Viktor to do anything rash to him, especially if he was innocent of this in the first place. There was another moment of slence, and Hermione looked around the room for the first time. A stack of get-well cards was on the small table beside the bed, as well as some candy and a box of sweets with a note written in George Weasley's untidy scrawl. Hermione resolved not to touch those. She could see Harry's handwriting on a blue card attached to a large bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and Dumbledore had left a pouch of what looked like lemon drops for her.

Viktor saw her looking at the presents, and nodded in the direction of a vase of flowers nearby on the nightstand next to her bed. "I brought you flowers... I figured since you girls alvays vorry about your figures.... You vouldn't vant candy...." he said in a complete deadpan, then slowly grinned at her.

Hermione grinned as well, as she had never worried about her figure, and really didn't need to. She glanced to the other side, and was relieved to see a glass of water on the other nightstand. With her free hand she brought it to her lips, and drank until her throat felt less sore. She set the glass down and looked back at the gifts. "Has anyone else gotten in to see me?" she asked Viktor.

Viktor shook his head slowly. "No. I vas the only one she vould let in. Madame Pomfrey." he said looking at the flowers he had brought. "I should go, and let Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley know that you are avake. I promised them I vould let them know when you voke up." he said, then was caught off guard by a yawn. He covered his mouth with his hand, and looked over at Hermione. "Are you hungry at all? Do you vant anything?"

Hermione shook her head and smiled. "I think I have enough candy to last me until next month," she joked, when really she didn't think she could eat anything without being ill, she hurt too much. She yawned then, a small sigh coming from her, and she blinked sleepily up at him. "I think Madam Pomfrey put something in the water," she said, glancing at it. Another yawn came, and she smiled. "Thankyou, Viktor," she said.

Viktor nodded, then leaned over and kissed her lips softly. "You should rest. I vill go for now, and tell the others you are awake. I vill return in the morning, after breakfast." he promised her, then stood there looking deeply into her eyes. "I vill do vhat ever you ask of me, and that which you cannot..."

Hermione smiled, and squeezed his hand one more time b