Hermione was extremely apprehensive. Harry had mastered the Summoning Charm, just, and was hoping to Summon his Firebolt from down in the grounds without any hitches. The Hungarian Horntail, Hermione could see, was the most dangerous by far, bronze-coloured spikes on her tail that swished around as she observed her prey with her evil yellow eyes, which happened to be – Harry. And soon Harry was swerving above the Horntail (he'd actually managed to Summon his Firebolt), using diversionary tactics that Hermione hazily recognised from blurry recollections of violent Quidditch matches, and knew that Harry had relaxed; he was seeing it as another Quidditch match, just one-on-one instead, and it was just as bloody as one as well; the Horntail's tail grazed Harry's shoulder; she gasped, and then it was over. He had done it, in the quickest time, and with the fewest injuries. And Ron had reunited with Harry rather icily but then Harry had forgiven Ron and Harry received forty marks out of fifty (Karkaroff was as evil as ever with a four), tying in first with Krum, and Rita Skeeter was savagely told to go away by Harry, and nearly everything was back to normal.

And she was back to the library again, making more badges for her beloved society, S. P. E. W. Hermione was extremely proud of them, despite the fact that not many people had bought one. During a highly eventful Care of Magical Creatures lesson, when Hagrid had tried to see if Skrewts hibernated (they did not), Rita Skeeter appeared halfway through, although she wasn't allowed in the grounds, and arranged an appointment with Hagrid about his Blast-Ended Skrewts. Luckily, his appointment hadn't created a highly insulting article; no article was released, due to Hagrid's positive answers to whether or not Harry was a troublemaker (he was not.) And, Hermione had managed to enter the kitchens, where Harry was very enthusiastically greeted by Dobby, looking far happier, and Winky, who was as drunk as a house elf could be.

The door swung open, and Hermione, by now, had no doubt who it would be.

"Malfoy?" She called, before the person had even come in to view.

The person rounded the corner; it was Viktor Krum. Hermione blushed, and even Krum seemed embarrassed.

"I have seen you here often," Krum said, slightly thickly in his deep Bulgarian accent. "You read... many things."

"That's right," Hermione nodded encouragingly. "You do too."

Krum looked gratified. "I know many girls are hopeful, they pester me so... I've been coming here every day. Just trying to pluck up the courage to speak to you." He looked up. Hermione was shocked. He was seventeen, attempting to summon the bravery to talk to a fifteen year-old? "I just thought, if you would like to go to the dance with me?"

"Yes, of course," she replied without thinking. She had considered Harry and Ron, it was true, but they hadn't yet got over the factor that she was indeed a girl and that they could go as friends. Krum was asking her?! "Thank you."

Now Krum looked bewildered. "What is it you are thanking me for?" He questioned.

"For asking me. I thought no-one would."

"Be honoured, then. I did not want to ask anybody else."

By the time Malfoy did actually come to the library, Krum had gone and Hermione was sitting in the same position, head in her hands. She hadn't quite got over the shock.

"Granger?"

"I have just been asked to go to the ball by Viktor Krum," she said extremely quietly.

"What?" Malfoy was so shocked he forgot to add the 'Mudblood' on the end. "Krum? The Bulgarian Seeker?"

"The very same," Hermione replied. "Have you got a partner? Pansy?"

Malfoy grimaced. "I detest Pansy, but yes, she has asked me, and because the not so peaceful Millicent Bulstrode was there at the time, I had to say yes," he said sounding disgruntled. "According to Daphne Greengrass, Pansy has been 'harbouring rather strong feelings' for me 'for eternity'," he added disgusted.

"I hadn't even thought about the ball," Hermione admitted. "I was trying to do some extra revision, involve more people in S. P. E. W..." she trailed off looking quite accusingly at Malfoy, who had the grace to look abashed. "I was expecting Ron or Harry to ask me. But they still haven't got past the fact that I am actually a girl. They began talking about the dance while I was right there, and neither of them thought about me." She sounded despairing.

For a moment, Malfoy felt quite sorry for Hermione. It was true that the only way people thought of her was as an 'insufferable know-it-all' of no gender, just Hermione, as usual. But then the pity vanished. She was a Mudblood.

"What about Potty and Weasel? Who do they want to go with, Mudblood?" Malfoy asked.

"Harry's likes Cho, and Ron, though he hasn't admitted it yet, has a secret crush on Fleur. Don't tell him I said that," she added hastily. "They'll laugh at me when they find out I'm with Krum. Or shout. Ron, he gets so distraught over simple things. He's going to hate me. So will half the female population for going with Krum. Why couldn't I find someone I liked who willingly asked me, and we could go as friends? Why don't I have that luck?" Hermione beseeched the table. The overwhelming sense of pity returned to Draco.

"Chang's going with Diggory, and Delacour, the part-Veela, has Davies, the Ravenclaw captain," he informed her.

Hermione looked downcast. "Well, I'm sure they'll find people to go with, anyway," she sighed wearily.

"Potter, as Triwizard champion, might," Draco said doubtfully. "As for Weaslebee, he's got no hope."

Hermione's grudging smile returned. "Maybe," was all she said. "True though. Anyway, I'd better be heading off. Homework's more than I can handle at the moment."

"Would've thought for you, Granger, it'd be a waltz in the park."

Hermione didn't appreciate the pun.