A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Stupid In Love

"Ron?"
"No."
"Harry?"
"Definitely not."
"Let me think." Seamus and Hermione were sat in her room the first saturday of December. The winter dance was fast approaching and she had to ask someone.
"Why don't you just come with me?" She asked and he shook his head.
"I am flattered, but you know that I can't. I am a Durmstrang student. It has to be either someone from Beauxbatons or Hogwarts, and unless you want to give everyone a right shock, I would go with a boy from Hogwarts." He told her and she huffed. She didn't want to go with anyone from Hogwarts, she wanted to go with Viktor, but there were two problems with that idea 1. He was no longer a student and 2. He was far too busy to see her at the moment, with the Vultures taking up most of his time.
"Well, what about Colin Creevy, he is a nice enough boy?" Hermione asked.
"Too young." Seamus shook his head.
"What about Draco?" He asked and Hermione sighed, shaking her head now.
"Too complicated." Seamus nodded and they moved on from the subject.

Later that day, Hermione and Seamus were joined for dinner by Neville.
"Why don't you ask Neville?" He asked and Hermione thought about it for a moment. He seemed like the perfect option, nothing complicated there.
"Neville, who are you going to the Yule Ball with?" She asked. Neville smiled widely and she took that as a bad sign.
"Lucille from Beauxbatons has asked me." He beamed as he turned around and waved at the beautiful blonde. Hermione sighed and then felt bad and congratulated him on his date.
"Yeah, she's a pretty one alright." Seamus winked at Neville and he felt his self esteem rise a few pegs higher.

Neville left shortly after. Hermione turned to Seamus.
"One of us should have stayed at Hogwarts, so that I could ask you." She sighed and Seamus laughed.
"I don't think this is quite that serious. Besides, if you were at Hogwarts, old pretty boy wouldn't be competing." Seamus nodded to Cormac, who was striding proudly towards her, with a sidekick in tow.
"Just watch me. She won't say yes though, and then that blonde is mine." He laughed at his friend, before turning to Hermione.
"I don't suppose you would like to go with me to the dance, would you, Granger? Try and find out what Krum sees in you?" He chuckled, looking back at his friend. If he was being honest with himself, he saw what Krum saw, but his mates had dared him, and his reputation was everything.

Hermione had two options at this point. She could make his day and say no, allowing him to trot along to the lovely little blonde he said he wanted, or she could ruin his day, potentially ruining the night for her, but she thought it might be worth it and before she could even think any more about it, she was opening her mouth.
"I would enjoy that, Cormac, thank you for asking me." She smiled sweetly up at him and heard Seamus burst into fits of giggles. The friend stared at Cormac as he stood with his mouth hanging agape.
"Unless there is a blonde that is pining for my place?" She asked, her eyes wide, knowing everyone was watching.
"No. Thank you for accepting my offer. I am sure we shall enjoy each other's company." He nodded, before walking off.

Cormac didn't know how to feel. He was furious that Granger had embarrassed him, but part of him was glad that she hadn't rejected him. Part of him thought that would be worse.
"Mate, what are you going to do?" Charlie asked and he turned to his friend.
"I am going to take Hermione Granger to the Ball." He answered matter-of-factly.
"But what about the blonde?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Why don't you ask her?" He asked in return and Charlie huffed.
"I don't get you. It's as if you're glad she said yes." He shook his head.
"Well, if she's good enough for Krum." He shrugged his shoulders and watched as Charlie chuckled at him.

Seamus was so proud of Hermione. She couldn't have played it better.
"Are you really going to go with him?" He asked and Hermione chuckled.
"Yes. I don't see why not." She smiled proudly.
"What do you think Viktor will think about all of this?" He asked and Hermione shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know. I would go and tell him, but he hasn't given me his new address. So I suppose I will wait for him to come to me." She acted as if it didn't hurt her, but
deep down, Hermione was hurt that he had gone so long without contacting her. She understood that he had started the season at Vratsa, but there are twenty four hours in a day, he could have spared part of one to come and see her, or even send his new address.