Hermione's POV

I looked at both boys, a million thoughts were whirring through my mind. On my left side was Viktor Krum and on my right side was Y/N. Behind me, Harry and Ron were there, looking shocked and exchanging glances between me, Y/N and Krum. Who was I going to pick? The obvious choice was Y/N, I had liked him since first year and now he was asking me to the Yule Ball. However, Krum was also not bad looking himself and he was a skilled Quidditch player (not that Y/N wasn't skilled) but there was something mysterious about Krum that made him seem oddly attractive.

I analysed both of them, Krum didn't seem to be intimidated in the slightest, he seem confident. Y/N, on the other hand, was wearing a look of uncertainty on his face.

"I-" was all I managed to say, no other words were able to come out my mouth.

Krum looked at me. "Is the choice not obvious?" he spoke very confidentially, like he knew I was going to choose him.

"Y-you can go with him if you want." Y/N said quietly, looking at the ground. I didn't dare try to make eye contact with him. I could hear the hurt and sadness in his voice.

"Then it's settle, she shall go vith me." Krum said, a smirk on his face.

Y/N nodded in defeat and placed the flowers next to me before walking away.

"Wait, Y/N." I called out, he turned back and looked at me.

"I want to go with you." I said. "I'm sorry Krum, I'm sure you can find someone else."

Y/N's eyes widened and he then flashed a very adorable smile. Krum looked very disappointed. He seemed to respect my decision though and he stalked off.

Y/N sat himself down besides me, a wide grin still on his face. "Thank you 'Mione."

I blushed. "You're welcome."

The obvious choice was Y/N, it always was. From the first time I saw him in Diagon Alley, to the times he stood up for me and to our little Hogsmeade dates, I knew he was the right choice. I had liked him since first year but I didn't act on it. Mainly because I was still young and I didn't know how relationships worked. I was older now, we both were, and I was positive that all our flirty conversations didn't mean anything, I was positive all the times he kissed me they were not fake, they were real. Everything was real. Y/N was the right choice, he always was and he always would be.

Y/N's POV

I was ecstatic when Hermione said she would go with me and not Krum. I was still buzzing about it when I was helping Harry and Ron find their dates. Unfortunately, it was almost too late and almost everyone was taken. However, Parvarti and Padma were still looking for dates and I suggested Harry and Ron. Needless to say, both parties were too desperate to decline.

The night of the ball, I was in the dormitory, getting ready. Ron was expressing his disgust for his dress robes and I didn't blame him. If I was him, I would die of embarrassment. Me and Harry were doing the final adjustments of our dress robes and both of us were trying to sort our hair out. In the end, the three of us were ready to leave and find our respective dates.

The entrance hall was packed with students, all milling around waiting for eight o'clock, when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those people who were meeting partners from different Houses were edging through the crowd trying to find one another. Parvati found her sister, Padma, and led her over to me, Harry and Ron. "Hi," said Padma.

She didn't look too enthusiastic about having Ron as a partner, though her dark eyes lingered on the frayed neck and sleeves of his dress robes as she looked him up and down. I couldn't help but chuckle slightly. I let both of them get to know their dates and I stood around, waiting for Hermione.

Suddenly, all heads turned when a girl started making her way down the steps and to where everyone was waiting. It was Hermione. But she didn't look like Hermione at all. She had done something with her hair, it was no longer bushy but sleek and shiny, and twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She was wearing robes made of a floaty, blue material, and she was holding herself differently, somehow, or maybe it was merely the absence of the twenty or so books she usually had slungover her back. She was also smiling, rather nervously, in other words, she looked stunning.

She made her way over to me and I had to snap out of my daze. I kissed her hand gently before looking at her. "Hermione, you look...stunning" I said, a smile on my face.

She blushed and smiled nervously. "Thank you, you look quite handsome yourself."

Just then, McGonagall's voice could be heard. "Champions over here please."

I held out an arm for Hermione and she took it. The two of us started walking towards McGonagall.

Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and to follow her. We did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as we entered and started walking up toward a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting.

The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people. I placed a hand on Hermione's waist and another on her shoulder. We moved together elegantly, I couldn't describe it but we just flowed together well. We moved together in sync and neither of us tripped over. By the end of the first dance, me and Hermione made our way to where Ron and Padma were.

"Any drinks?" I asked the others when all of us were present. Most of them nodded and me and Hermione set off to collect the drinks. "Thanks for letting me be your date." I smiled at her.

She smiled. "You're welcome, I'm really enjoying tonight so far."

"So am I." I smiled before looking up and stopping her by grabbing her hand gently. I pointed up. "Mistletoe."

The two of us then moved closer and before I knew it we were kissing, this kiss wasn't like the other times, there was more meaning behind this one. We were kissing until both of us needed oxygen and I opened my eyes to find a bright red, flustered Hermione.

I chuckled. "Let's just go get the drinks. The others might wonder where we've been."

All of us were having drinks and afterwards went up to dance a bit more. Krum suddenly came over and initiated a conversation with Hermione. Part of me was jealous but the other part remembered the kiss that happened earlier, surely that meant something.

I zoned out a bit but then I heard Ron speaking quite aggressively.

"He's from Durmstrang!" spat Ron. "He's competing against Y/N and Harry! Against Hogwarts! You...you're-" Ron was obviously casting around for words strong enough to describe Hermione's crime, "fraternising with the enemy, that's what you're doing!"

Hermione's mouth fell open. "Don't be so stupid!" she said after a moment. "The enemy! Honestly, who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who's got a model of him up in their dormitory?"

"I suppose you've helped him with the egg." Ron said bitterly.

"I'd never help him work out that egg!" said Hermione, looking outraged. "Never. How could you say something like that, I want Harry or Y/N to win the tournament, they know that, don't you?"

"You've got a funny way of showing it," sneered Ron.

It ended up with me trailing after Hermione who had stormed off. I didn't go without giving Ron and few words.

I found Hermione sitting by the stairs, I comforted her whilst hugging her. I looked at her, part of me so upset at seeing her like this. I continued to soothe her and before she knew it, she was resting peacefully on my shoulder. I picked her up bridal style and proceeded to carry her to the Common Room. I couldn't get up to her dorm so I took her to mine, placing her gently on the bed. Part of me wanted to stay but part of me thought it would be responsible to sleep somewhere else.

Eventually I drifted to sleep next to her, hugging her close to my chest.