The Yule Ball
Hermione woke with the sunrise, quickly getting out of bed, she threw on her robes over her Pyjama and grabbed the letter she had written last night, reading it over one last time, making sure she had explained to her parents who Victor Krum was, how happy she was currently in Hogwarts, and in the end she had mentioned his invitation, that all of them could visit him and his family in Bulgaria over the summer.
Her heart fluttered as she sealed the letter, sneaking out of the room as quietly as she could, not wanting to wake everyone in the room up.
The morning air was cold when she ran up the stairs to the Owlery, and she tugged her cloak tighter around herself, her mind drifting to the one Viktor had wrapped around her, that had been so deliciously warm and cozy, and it had ever so slightly smelled of freshly mowed grass, new parchment and a minty toothpaste.
Most of the owls still looked very sleepy at her, so she simply picked the one that had perked up when she had entered, when she walked toward it, it was already extending a leg to her.
She carefully fastened the letter to the owls leg, and lovingly scratched its head while explaining to the owl where it would find her parents.
She had carried the owl over to a window and watched as it soared through the sky, toward the horizon. There was a rustling of feathers and fabric behind her, and Hermione tore her eyes off of the owl and turned around. Viktor was standing there, a small letter in his hand, his eyes fixed on her, a small smile growing on his face “good morning Hermione, you are up very early!” Hermione smiled at him “good morning Viktor, I wrote a letter to my parents, you are up very early as well!” Viktor held up the letter “I vrote to my parents as vell! It is nice to see you.”
Hermione watched as Viktor fastened his latter to another owl, explained where it needed to go, and gave it a little snack from his pocket when the owl shot him a grumpy look. “I know it is far, you don’t need to fly fast, it is not urgent” Hermione smiled while Viktor coaxed the Owl to the window. They both watched as it flew away after having eaten all the owl snacks he had brought along. It had been much bigger and its wings spanned much further than those of the owl Hermione had chosen. “For long distances it is better to pick big owls.” Viktor said with a smile to her. “Do you have your own owl in Bulgaria?” Viktor smiled at her “Ve have a family owl, it is big Eagle Owl! How do you contact friends vhen you are home?” Hermione blushed a bit when she explained to Viktor that Muggles used things like telephones to communicate, or could write emails, or messages on phones, but that her parents had agreed in their last letter to buy her a small owl for delivering letters and small packages to her friends when she wasn’t in Hogwarts.
They had started walking around the castle grounds again as it was too early to go to the great hall for breakfast. When Hermione started shivering in the cold morning air Viktor grabbed his cloak and draped it around her, asking how she’d like to spend the day with him. It was a Saturday so Hermione didn’t have any classes today, and she gladly accepted. Victor led her to the library, where they sat very close on a bench in a corner that was hidden from direkt view by a few bookshelves. Hermione had pointed out one of her favorite books to him, so they spent the next few hours reading together.
When it was time for breakfast Hermione excused herself to the Gryffindor rooms, she had noticed with a shock that she was still wearing her Pyjama, though it was well hidden underneath her Hogwarts robe and Viktors heavy Durmstrang coat she wanted to change into some proper clothes for the day.
When she met up with Viktor about half an hour later in front of the great hall, he was talking to Ginny, and just handed her something that looked like a card. Ginny smiled at him and waved at Hermione, grinning at her from ear to ear.
“Well then, it was nice meeting you Viktor” Ginny said as Hermione’s joined them “Thank you very much for your help!” He said while he offered his arm to Hermione.
She was a bit surprised when he led her away from the great hall, toward the entrance and then just down the path towards a large grassy patch.
“I vanted to eat vith you, a surprise for today.” He said sheepishly, conjuring a large blanket from the tip of his wand, some plates and silverware. “Your friend vas nice enough to tell me vhat you like for breakfast!” The plates and cups in front of them filled themselves as Victor conjured a few magical flames that he put into small bottles all around them for some extra warmth.
Hermione was in awe, never before had anyone done something so sweet for her! She sat down on the blanket with Viktor and they happily shared their breakfast overviewing the grounds, the castle and the black lake where the giant octopus slowly moved its tentacles outside of the water like it was stretching.
After they had eaten it had only taken Viktor a few brief flicks of his wand to make the Picknick disappear.
They walked over to the Durmstrang ship, where Viktor showed her around, explained how they moved the ship and introduced her to a few of his friends. All of them seemed polite, though maybe a bit distant. After that they strolled around Hogwarts, Hermione showed him the entrance to the forbidden Forrest, Hagrids cottage, the greenhouses and even the astronomy tower.
Every now and then they walked past a few other students, but they never really noticed Hermione, always just ogling and staring at Viktor. He did seem rather uncomfortable in those situations Hermione thought, and was just glad that they didn’t run into any Slytherins. They’d undoubtedly would’ve made fun of her as they usually did, maybe they’d even try to curse her!
The evening came much to quickly for Hermione’s liking! She could’ve spend all of eternity with Viktor and it would still feel like it wasn’t enough.
As the sun set behind them Viktor looked deep into her eyes “I need to ask you something important” he said, and for some reason her heart fluttered “there vill be a Yule ball for Christmas, and I vould like to go together vith you there! Vould you do me the honor of being my date?”
Hermione blushed deeply “I would like nothing more than to attend the ball with you!” Hermione’s face had split into a giant grin, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek “thank you so much!” She said.
Viktor couldn’t fall asleep! After he’d gotten back to the ship he had talked to some other students there.
Some had asked him about Hermione, but most of them were talking about the Yule ball.
Viktor couldn’t believe his luck, he was so sure that Hermione would already have a date when he asked her, after all it had taken him a full week to pluck up the courage to ask her since Mr. Karkaroff had told them about the event.
Suddenly Viktor understood why all of them had to pack their schools formal dress robes. He slowly lifted his hand to his face, and placed it on his cheek where Hermione had kissed him. Viktor smiled.
Hermione’s heart was racing and fluttering like Crazy, she had pulled Ginny aside and told her in a hushed voice all about her day up to and including Viktors invitation to the ball. Ginny had almost shrieked in delight and Hermione had quickly hushed her, making her promise that she wouldn’t tell anyone.
Now she lay awake in her bed, she had pulled the curtains closed around herself, and was picturing herself at the ball with Viktor.
Since her list for the school year had included a formal gown, she had packed a beautiful periwinkle blue dress that made her feel absolutely gorgeous. It hugged her figure just right, and her mother had bought her matching shoes with small heels.
Her father had gifted her a nice jewelry set, small flower earrings and a matching necklace. She tried to picture it all together, and wondered how Viktor would react when he saw her. A smile spread on her lips.
“Hey Hermione, I got the stuff you asked for!” A girl from her dormitory yelled and waved at her, “thanks, can you put it on my bed?” Hermione waved back at her, a group of girls from her dormitory had just come back from hogsmead, she had wanted to go herself, but she had to much homework to finish before she could think about taking some extra trips. Hermione bend her head back over her book, just this one chapter, then she would be done and could go to check out everything that had been bought for her.
When Hermione got back to her dorm, there was a small satchel that still held a few coins on her bed, she had preferred to give the girl some coins, and in return there was a small parchment in the satchel, that noted the items and their prices, so she could make sure that everything was right. She had asked for several hair straightening spells, one that supposedly evened her complexion and removed her dark circles, and there was a little extra bottle she didn’t recognize “what’s this one?” She asked, when she couldn’t find anything else on her receipt. “Oh, when I bought those hair straightening spells and a few other things for myself, they gave it to me as a gift! It’s a perfume sample! I don’t have a need for it, but I thought maybe you’d like to have it!” Hermione thanked her, and put everything away for now.
~~~~~~~~
Viktor carefully slipped into the library, making sure to close the door as softly as he could.
Hermione sat at her usual table, engrossed in a book she was reading. Viktor went up to her and greeted her in a hushed voice, her face had broken into a smile the moment she had seen him, he sat down with her and watched her read for a while, he adored her! She was beautiful, and as he’d heard she was on of the smartest witches of her time. There was no doubt about it in his mind. “Have you told anyone that we’re going to the ball together?” Her soft question had almost startled him, he had been so focused on her face, and lost in his thought.
“No, vhy vould I?” Hermione looked up from her book, a weird expression crossed her face and she cooked her head to one side “let me explain,” he said “Durmstrang is strict school, and in cold climate, ve don’t talk much there! Usually nothing aside from school! Vhy?” Hermione exhaled and put her book down, her face scrunched up in annoyance and hurt “well, it’s just.. it’s really quite silly…” Viktor took her hand in his and smiled at her “I’m sure it’s not silly!” She looked into his face, a tinge of worry in his eyes “my friend Ron asked if I could go to the ball with him, he… struggles to find a date” Viktor felt his heart drop! He had been so focused on that boy Harry, that he’d entirely forgot about the second boy with the flaming red hair “well, he didn’t believe me that I already have a date! He kept pushing for me to tell him who I was going with! It made me really mad, and I didn’t want to tell him! Apparently he now thinks the idea that someone could’ve asked me to the ball is absolutely absurd and impossible!” Hermione looked really hurt now, her head hanging, her eyes focused on the pattern of the wooden table. Viktor reached across, and carefully tilted her head up. He was furious, the audacity of that boy! But his priority was the girl in front of him. Tears sparkled in the corners of her eyes. “I know that I’m not as pretty as some of the other girls here” Hermione’s said in a whisper “but hearing him talk like that about me.. it really hurt!”
Viktor felt the sudden urge to either find that Ron boy and punch him, or leap across the table and pull Hermione into a big hug! He couldn’t agree with her this time though, he loved everything about her, from her bushy wild hair to her smile, she was charming and kind, she worked so hard even for her friends, to him she was perfect. “He is a stupid boy!” Viktor remarked, a bit to loud apparently, as the librarian made a loud shushing sound in their direction. Viktor took a deep breath “I vas scared ven I asked that you already had a date you are smart, kind funny and to me, you are beautiful! Vhat more could I ask for?” He lifted Hermione’s hand up to his face and kissed it “Please don’t be sad if a stupid boy can’t see all of that!”
A small smile curled the corners of her mouth, and Viktor took her other hand and kissed it as well “do you vant to go to the lake and vatch the octopus? Ve can throw that boy Ron into the lake!” Hermione snorted out a laughter and Viktor joined her, much to the dismay of the librarian that kept making louder shushing noises at them.
~~~~
Everyone else had already left the dormitory, when Hermione still sat on her bed, applying the hair straightening spells, potions and creams into her hair, careful straightening her wild bushy curls.
She sectioned her hair off and carefully pinned the sections up, leaving just one strand to hang down, that she twisted into a small and perfect curl.
The dress fit perfectly and the shoes and jewelry really pulled it all together. Hermione made a mental note to thank her parents again. When she slowly made her way down to the empty Gryffindor common room.
The castle seemed entirely deserted while she made her way down to the entrance hall, from where she could hear lout chattering and faint music.
Viktor was nervously gazing around, most of the people around him had already paired up, and aside from the champions and their partners the other couples were freely walking into the great hall. He had waited at the entrance door, when he had seen Ron and Harry come down the stairs, he still felt a great deal of anger when he saw the red haired boy, but seeing what he wore, he had to hold back his laughter just like the students around him. His date a pretty looking girl from another class had looked rather unhappy as he had led her into the great hall. Something in the corner of his eyes moved and he looked back at the big staircase that led upstairs, and he could see Hermione’s face poking around the corner. She gave a shy smile to the few people that were still gathered in the hall, and completely emerged from behind the wall of the corridor, slowly walking down the stairs. Viktor had to remind himself to breath, walking up to the stairs. He reached the bottom of the stairs before Hermione had made it down entirely, he bend his head into a low bow before her „good evening Hermione“ he said and she smiled at him, as he offered his arm to her. Her small hand wrapped around it, he proudly walked to the other champions with her.
Rows of students lined the entranceway to the great hall when Viktor led her in. Hermione was glad she could hold onto his arm, it felt like thousand of eyes stared at her, and the lavish decorations that made the great hall look so beautiful felt to much for her. She wasn’t used to this, being in the spotlight, the Centre of attention at grandiose events. A part of her wanted to run away, back to the library, hide in her dorm or behind a big book, to the safety of her normal life. Then Victor had led her to the Centre of the dance floor that had been before them. He gave her a soft, charming smile and his hand felt warm around hers as he pulled her closer.
Soft music started wafting around them, flowing all throughout the hall.
Hermione felt like she was floating in Viktors arms as he led her in a slow dance around the floor, twirling her, lifting her, and keeping his eyes always on her face. She was glad for his strong arms, when he lifted her up, or pulled her closer to himself. With every twirl she could feel eyes on herself from her classmates, schoolmates even from her teachers. Some looked at her with confusion, and on some faces she could see recognition dawning. In those brief seconds she could see people whispering and pointing at her. For a moment they danced past a group of Slytherins, and she could clearly see them pointing at her, and laughing. She felt like her legs would give out but a second later Viktor had pulled her back in, close to himself.
“Don’t look at them, they’re jealous! It is obvious!” Ge gave her another of his bashful smiles “You look very beautiful tonight.” Her heart fluttered and Hermione blushed “thank you Viktor!”
After that others had joined the dance floor, and she hadn’t paid anymore attention to anyone else.
The song ended, and another slightly faster started, “vould you like to dance more?” Viktor asked, and Hermione nodded her head. She had never danced like that with anyone before in her entire life before, and for the first time ever she felt beautiful.
Viktor skillfully spun her around the dance floor, matching the pace of every song. Hermione was thoroughly impressed with how many dances he knew, and how well he could lead her even if she didn’t knew the steps.
They walked away from the dance floor, Viktor had offered to get them refreshments and Hermione noticed how parched she felt. She spotted Harry and Ron with their dates on a table a few meters away from where they were standing. She mentioned it to Viktor who offered to get their refreshments to give her some time to catch up with them. She thanked him. And he looked deep into her eyes while bowing down to kiss her hand. Hermione’s head spun from the dancing, and she felt like she was soaring when she went over to Harry and Ron.
She chatted with both for a short while, but neither seemed very happy, Ron was miserably fiddling with the hem of his fraying robes and Harry looked more exhausted than he had after fighting against the dragon.
Viktor had hurried to the table with the refreshments, meeting some of the other Durmstrang students along the way, and nodding and waving at some of the other students that looked at him. Without Hermione he always felt like he would be jumped by a group of fans that were just dying for his attention.
His eyes drifted back to where she was sitting and excitedly talking to her friends that both didn’t seem like they were listening much to her. He felt a bit embarrassed, he had tried to learn English throughout the years, but he knew he still had a strong accent, and most importantly, tonight he had wanted to tell Hermione how breathtakingly gorgeous she looked, but he lacked the right words and had to resign himself to the simple word “beautiful” it didn’t do her justice at all he thought.
Hermione laughed at something one of the boys had said, and a painful little jab of jealousy hit him. He wanted to run back as quickly as he could. He grabbed to glasses of alcohol free punch and declined when one of the other Durmstrang students offered to spike them for him with some liquid in a flask he carried around.
Viktor didn’t want any alcohol tonight. He knew the high percentage flask most Durmstrang students carried around with them. He’d been offered one of them by an upper class men when he had joined the school himself to warm up his bones. He had only tried it once! He knew it would make his movements sluggish, and he wanted to continue dancing with Hermione! It would make his tongue heavy and his speech slurred, and he wanted to keep talking to her, but worst of all, alcohol would affect his memory, and he wanted to remember tonight crystal clear for the rest of his life.
Hermione jumped up from her seat when she saw him and ran a few steps up to him.
“Are you alright?” He asked noticing that her smile had left her face, his eyes darted back to the boys still sitting at their table, neither of them looked at the other, nor the girls they had been dancing with.
“Yeah, I think they’re just a bit… grumpy” she said, pointing at a high table further away from her friends “that table is still empty!”
Viktor smiled at her and they walked over, it didn’t take much for him to distract her and soon she was laughing again, making jokes, talking and listening to Viktor.
They stayed for a while at that table just enjoying each others company.
When the dance floor started to empty again, Viktor gave their empty glasses a tap with his wand, and they floated high above the crowd back to a table for empty glasses.
He bowed and reached out his hand for her “vould you like to dance again?” Hermione giggled and slipped her hand into his.
They twirled along the steadily emptying dance floor as the music grew slower, softer, and candles started floating around them to illuminate the room.
“I think I need some fresh air” Hermione said clinging onto Viktors arm, she didn’t knew how late it already was, and she didn’t wanted to know.
Most of the other students and teachers had already left, Hermione glanced around the room, she still saw Hagrid dancing with Madam Maxime, Neville and Ginny sitting in a corner, and Professor Mcgonagall and Dumbledore sitting at their table, both smiled at her, and Dumbledore winked as Hermione left the great hall holding on to Viktors arm.
They walked a few steps outside, the air was crisp and cold, snow lay all around them. Viktor took the cape of of his Formal Clothes and wrapped it around Hermione’s shoulders. He slowly placed his arm around her shoulders and she snuggled a bit closer.
They walked around a while like that, talking and laughing, still basking in the glow of the evening.
Hermione’s head fell against Viktors shoulder and he looked over at her. She had asked about his family after they had sat down on a snowy bench, and he had looked up at the moon and told her about them. Her eyes were closed and her breath came steady. Viktor smiled to himself, he took out his wand and blew against the tip. It turned the color of molten glass, and a small stream of fire whirled around them. He flicked the wand and the fire slowly circled them a few times before it extinguished, leaving the air around them warmer.
He carefully pulled his cape tighter around her and made sure that it covered her when he picked her up. He walked slowly back toward the castle trying not to jostle her awake. When he went toward the front entrance he saw the witch he had learned was named “Professor Mcgonagall” she held the door open for him smiling softly “I can take her from here if you are tired Mr. Krum.” She said it in a friendly way, her voice a soft whisper but Viktor didn’t want to have to let her go now! “Thank you Professor, I’d like to bring her to the common room.” She gave him a happy smile “certainly” she said, leading the way.
She stayed at the entrance to the corridor, while Viktor walked up to the portrait of the fat lady, still carrying the sleeping Hermione.
When he reached the portrait he softly called her name. Hermione opened her eyes sleepily. “Viktor?” She asked, confused. She looked around a moment then a soft “oh” escaped her lips. He chuckled as he carefully lowered her down and helped her stand. “I’m sorry Viktor I didn’t mean to-“ he cut her off by placing a finger over her trembling lips “It’s okay! I enjoy tonight very much! Thank you Hermione!” He said, reaching for her hand. He bowed down again, kissing her hand. „Good night Hermione!“ he said. She smiled at him, a bit sad now „good night Viktor!“ he turned to leave, and was halfway through the corridor when he heard his name „Viktor!“ Hermione came running to him, clutching his cape „you forgot this!“ he smiled at her and placed his hands over hers „keep it for tonight, then I can see you again tomorrow“ he kissed her forehead softly, winked and left the corridor.
Hermione blushed bright red.
Professor Mcgonagall came up to her, smiling gently, „Well Miss Granger, I think you should go to bed now“ she said, placing an arm around her and walking her back to the portrait and into the empty common room.
Hermione felt like she was floating, her hands still tightly clutching the cape. It smelled like freshly mown grass, new parchment and a bit like a minty toothpaste.. it was a scent that she simply knew in her head as the one she identified Viktor with.