10

Hermione cried out as Cedric's body hit a boulder and went limp. Ron put his arm around her in comfort.

"It's okay Mione, he'll be fine, Dumbledore will end it," he said.

Hermione buried her face in her hands and let her frizzy hair cover her eyes. Moments later Professor Dumbledore shouted into a megaphone what sounded like an end to the task, but his voice was overruled by the screaming and cheering as Cedric woke up and quickly tackled the egg, leaving the dragon in shock.

Hermione broke free of Ron's hug by standing up and throwing her hands in the air. She ran out of the stands and made her way towards the champions tent so she could congratulate and apologize to Cedric.

As Hermione made her way through the entrance of the tent, she was stopped by the intimidatingly bulky Viktor Krum.

"Hermininny, why are you here?"

"Oh, hi Viktor. I'm just here to see-"

"Hermininny?!"

Hermione sighed at the mispronunciation of her name. "Yes, Viktor?"

"Deed you watch the Queeditch World Cup?"

"Yes. But I really need to go see-"

"Did you know that I was there too?"

"Yes Viktor. I know you were there. I watched you play for Bulgaria."

Hermione watched from the corner of her eye as Cedric was carried into the tent by Madame Pomfrey and another black haired girl.

"Do you know what the poseetion I play is?" He was really starting to get on Hermione's nerves. Was he really quizzing her about himself? Did he really think she was that obsessed with him? Don't get her wrong, Hermione loved quizzes, just not about self absorbed, no good, little-

"Yes Viktor, you play seeker. Remember, you caught the golden snitch?"

"Ah yess, it was very fun, I love queeditch!"

Hermione watched Cedric talk to the girl as Madame Pomfrey applied a gel medicine on his burns and cuts. Cedric winced at the pain of the contact of her fingers but focused on his conversation with the girl. Madame Pomfrey left the two alone and Hermione made her way towards them, leaving Viktor alone to talk about his love for quidditch by himself. Hermione could here now Cedric and the girls conversation.

"How are you feeling?" The girl asked.

"Terrible, my whole body hurts, especially my head"

"Maybe this will help," the girl said as she leaned in. Cedric's whole face contorted into an expression of terror, confusion and uncomfortableness as the girl kissed him on the lips, and he looked like he was about to push the girl away but Hermione didn't notice as she charged at the girl to pushed her off of her boyfriend.

"Oh oh course! Cho Chang, you man eater! You need to leave my boyfriend alone, you evil little-" Hermione sat on top of Cho, holding her hand above her head in a fist.

"HERMIONE! Stop! What are you doing?!" Cedric shouted right before Hermione was about to punch Cho right in her perfectly peaked nose.

Cho took Hermione's hesitation to snap back at her. "What do you care? He's clearly not into you, he doesn't even want to take you to the ball! He already asked me!" She snarled.

"That's because I told him to you toad! I had a feeling you were lying when you said you didn't like him and now I know that I was right. Do you honestly think he likes you? He's my boyfriend, you git, do I really have to spell it out for you? We're to-geth-er! Gosh, you're so thick, I imagine how much your teachers must hate you when they mark your exams!"

"Hermione Granger! Get off that poor girl and let her go! Fifteen points from Gryffindor!" Shouted the voice of Professor McGonagall as she entered the tent in a hurry. Hermione pushed herself up and moved to the side, and Professor McGonagall help Cho stand up. Cho huffed and walked past Hermione, nudging her hard enough to knock her over and stormed out of the tent.

"Granger, I have never been more disappointed in you than right now," the Professor sighed.

There was a short silence as Professor McGonagall exited the tent to continue watching the tournament. Hermione sat on the floor, Cedric still in the bed. He coughed, then winced at the pain from coughing, then winced again at the pain caused from wincing. Hermione stood up and Cedric tried to talk but she held out a hand to silence him, which left him with a shocked and somewhat bewildered look on his face.

"No, you don't get to talk right now. I came in here to apologize and congratulate you on a job very well done, but instead I come in to see Cho Chang about to kiss you? Why? Why would you do this to me?" She Asked.

"Hermione, I'm so, so sorry. After our argument in the library I accidentally, may have taken your advice too literally and asked Cho to the ball. I know, I'm such an idiot. But you stormed out and then Krum made me even more angry and I just couldn't handle it and I wanted to act out and that was the only way I knew how. I'm so sorry, I know I shouldn't have done it and I'll cancel on Cho right now if it makes you happy."

"No, no. You can't cancel on her now. There's only two weeks until the ball. I bet she's already bought a dress. But I hope you know that I'm going to keep a close eye on the two of you. And, maybe I'll find a date of my own." Hermione winked at Cedric and turned to leave and Cedric called out, "make sure you leave the last dance for me." Hermione smiled sweetly at him and held open the entrance for a severely injured Fleur Delacour who was being carried in before she walked back to the stands, leaving Cedric more bewildered than before.

After Harry had defeated the final dragon, Hermione went back to the champions' tent to congratulate Harry, but she was yet again stopped by Viktor Krum, who didn't look as badly injured as Cedric or Fleur.

"Hermy! Come!" He shouted when she entered the tent. Hermione followed him to the back of the tent, where there was a desk and a glass of water. "Hermy, would you come to thee ball weeth me?" He asked.

Hermione was taken aback by the question. She had wondered why famous quidditch champion Viktor Krum spent so much time in the library of all other, more 'exciting' places. "Oh, sure, Viktor! I would really like that, thank you!"

The burly Bulgarian smiled sheepishly at her and ran away to his medical centre. Hermione went to Harry's room and told him what had happened.

"So he just asked you out of nowhere? Any idea why? I mean I've got nothing against him, but I didn't think he was into way younger girls."

"It's only a few years Harry, and besides, I bet it doesn't matter in Bulgaria. I mean even my parents are three years apart in age."

Harry's face made an extremely shocked expression. "You're not going to marry him, are you?"

"No, of course not, Harry! But would you please not tell Ron? He's been really moody lately and I don't want him mad at me, especially since he already thinks I'm 'fraternizing with the enemy' by dating Cedric.

"Well I won't be telling Ron anyways. He won't talk to me. And you and Cedric are official? Does he know about Viktor? Why aren't you going with him?"

"Yes, but he's going with someone else anyways."

"Who? Anyone I know?"

"Cedric doesn't want anyone else to know," she lied (it was for Harry's sake! She knew he fancied Cho). "But just know that I can't stand her. She really is quite annoying and rude. Alright, I should go, but congratulations Harry. I'll see you in the common room later, I hope."

Hermione walked into the common room after a long study session to find a party for Harry. There was a lot of noise and Hermione walked towards Ginny and pulled her into the fourth year girls bedroom, after making sure Parvati, Lavender, Fay and Natalie weren't there.

"Hermione! I was having fun, why did you make me leave the party?" Ginny whined.

"Ginny, I am about to tell you something very important and you cannot tell anyone, especially Ron or the girls!" Hermione warned.

"What?"

"I got asked to the Yule ball by Viktor Krum!"

"Oh my- Hermione! That is so exciting, I can't believe a world famous quidditch star asked you to go to the ball!"

"Me neither! But you can't tell anyone. I'm nervous, I really like Cedric and he doesn't know yet. Plus he's already going with that awful Cho Chang. I really don't understand how Harry fancies her."

Ginny's face dropped at the mention of Harry. "Harry fancies her?"

"Oh Gin, I'm sorry, I forgot you fancy him."

"No, it's fine. She's older and prettier than me. But it doesn't matter! I'm going to the Yule Ball as well."

"Really? Which lucky boy asked you?"

"Neville Longbottom. He asked to go as friends, he said I'm the only girl he isn't nervous around besides you, and he figured you were going with Cedric."

"Well, that's not happening anymore, but I'm so glad you're coming! It's going to be the best Christmas Eve ever! Alright Gin, I'm going to bed, I'll see you at-" Hermione stopped talking at a screeching sound coming from the common room.

"What the bloody hell was that?!" She heard Ron shout. It was followed by several other angry voices and someone stomping up the stairs and slamming a door shut.

"I'd better go. Sounds like Ron's made another mess I've got to clean up. Goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight Gin."