Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Hermione Granger and the Weasley Wedding ❯ Viktor Krum ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter 4: Viktor Krum
 
Harry and Ron had just caught up with Ginny and Hermione in the kitchen when a series of cracks revealed Mrs. Weasley, Charlie, Fleur, Ellie Delacour, and Viktor Krum. Fleur and Ellie immediately resumed a conversation in French that had been taking place before they Apparated. They were giggling amidst their conversation, and they left the kitchen together for the living area. Their giggles could still be faintly heard in the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley set about preparing something for lunch after hugging Harry and Ginny, and planting a kiss on her daughter's cheek.
Mrs. Weasley was bustling around the kitchen so that everyone was forced to vacate either to the living area or the garden. Everyone remaining chose the garden, because Fleur and Ellie were still going on in French in the living area. Hermione noticed right off that Krum looked as dark and brooding as usual. As conversation began to ensue among the four long-time friends, he excused himself and walked away. Hermione had to admit to herself that she was quite relieved that he didn't insist upon talking to her. She also thought herself very rude for not speaking to him, but it was awkward now that she felt all ties had to be severed with him. She had written to him after the tournament when he had gone back to Durmstrang, but the letters had become few and far between, and finally, they had quit writing at all. Krum was a man of few words anyway, and Hermione could never quite think up appropriate responses to his letters. She would prattle on about school generally, or give him news of Harry. She supposed he got tired of hearing all about these things that really had little to do with his personal life.
“Isn't that right, Hermione?” Ron was asking.
“What? Sorry,” she apologized, because she had not been listening at all.
“Ginny looks happier than usual, of course,” Harry filled in.
“Oh, yes, that is right, Ron.” Hermione nodded.
“All right there, Hermione?” asked Ginny.
“I'm all right. So where did you two go on your vacation?” Hermione asked, all eager to hear about it.
“We went to Venice,” Ginny gushed. “It was absolutely gorgeous. Harry took me on this wonderful little boat on the river and this charming Muggle played us a song on a peculiar little instrument. What did he call it, Harry?”
“I believe he said it was a gondolarry.”
“Oh, you mean it was a gondolier,” Hermione corrected.
“Yes, that's it!” Ginny exclaimed. “I knew you could tell us. Harry's lived with Muggles, but hasn't ever been one for names of things you don't see too often. I suppose he's really going to have to brush up on all the spells he hasn't ever used. After all, he wants to be a good D.A.D.A. teacher. I'm so excited about this year at school.”
“Harry, did you get McGonagall's notice about new positions?” Hermione asked just remembering that Harry had been traveling when it was sent and the owl could possibly have gotten lost.
“Oh yes, and congratulations on being awarded Head of Gryffindor and Arithmancy teacher. Ron, I can't believe you're going to be teaching Charms. That's going to be amazing. I suppose Hagrid will still be teaching Care of Magical Creatures.”
“What I can't believe,” Ron interjected, “is that Malfoy is going to be teaching Potions and be Head of Slytherin. It's like another Snape in the making.”
“We'll see how it all works out. I think Ginny and I are going up to Diagon Alley for a while. I need to pick up some supplies for my broom service kit, and the book we'll be using in my class so that I can be reviewing it. You two will want to do the same soon, as far as the book for your class goes. We'll see you later.” They went inside to tell Mrs. Weasley where they were off too, and Hermione heard a faint pop as they Disapparated.
“Well, Hermione, I'm going to go inside for a bit. I need to service my broom, myself. Do you want to come?”
“I think I'm going to stay out here for a bit. Come and tell me when you're all done, and we'll go for a walk.”
“All right,” Ron said, and dropped a kiss on her forehead before heading in the door. He turned and gave her a little wave, then shut the door. Hermione went and sat under the tree in the garden. She breathed in the fresh air of the outdoors and the various herbs that were growing in the Weasley's garden. She leaned back against the tree, thinking about how forgiving Ron had been the night before. She didn't know if she would have reacted that nicely if he had told her something like that about him and Lavender. Although, she had seen him and Lavender kissing, and it had made her so jealous that she had honestly just wanted to run up to them and yank them apart and kiss him herself. She was dozing lightly when she heard footsteps coming toward her. She thought it might be Ron, but if it was, he would wake her. Besides, her dream was so lovely. She was kissing Ron and then he was asking her to marry him. It seemed she had this dream more and more often these days. Could this be because it was what she truly wanted? She could look into Dumbledore's old Mirror of Erised to find out but that would have to wait until she was back at Hogwarts. Someone clearing their throat near her jerked her out of her pleasant reverie. She lazily opened her eyes to see not Ron, but Krum standing before her. She jumped to her feet and brushed the dirt off her behind.
“Oh—er—sorry, I was sleeping,” Hermione nervously apologized. What are you doing, you nitwit? Don't apologize to him! She thought to herself. “Is there something you wanted?” She asked as politely as she could muster.
“Yes, I was wondering if I could talk to you while you are alone, away from that Ronald.” He spoke of Ron with disgust, it seemed to Hermione. She could always turn him down and tell him she didn't want to speak to him alone without “that Ronald.” That would be rude, she told herself.
“Yes, of course.”
“Can we go behind that garden shed?” he asked, taking her elbow, much too forcefully in her opinion, and steering her in that direction.
“I suppose so,” she retorted, yanking her arm out of his grasp.
“Hermioninny,” he began once they had gotten round the back of the garden shed, “don't do it.”
“Don't do what?” Hermione asked, still put out with having to go behind the shed, and a little more put out that after all this time, he still could not say her name correctly.
“Don't marry that Ronald Weasley.” He sounded fervent, yet tormented at the same time.
“Marry Ron? How on earth did you know that's what I was dreaming about?” she inquired disbelievingly.
“Dreaming? I am talking about in real life. You cannot marry him.”
“Well, I don't know, I just might, but he hasn't even asked me. Why are you telling me not to? Viktor Krum, you are a strange man.”
“I am telling you that you must not because I still love you. Oh, Hermioninny, you must marry me!”
“Er, I don't think so, Viktor. You see, I love Ron. If I were to marry anyone, it would definitely have to be Ron. And I'm sorry to say that I would not marry you.” She cast down her eyes after this statement. She didn't want him to see the gleam of amusement in them, and she was afraid of the anger in his.
“You would not marry me?” he roared.
“No, I'm afraid not. Now, I really need to go find Ron—”
“We will see how you feel after another one of Viktor Krum's famous kisses!” he cried, grabbing Hermione hard against him and pressing his lips just as hard to hers. Just at that moment, Ron rounded the corner of the garden shed. Hermione heard his gasp before she saw his retreating back as she finally managed to free herself from the repulsiveness that was Viktor Krum. She glared into Viktor's eyes, and saw triumph glimmering. He thought that he had won her back. Well, he was dead wrong. She pulled her arm back as far as it would go and landed a hard punch on his right eye. He stumbled backward, yelping in pain. She then stepped up and slapped him as hard as she could across the face.
“Don't you ever touch me again, Viktor Krum,” she spat at him. Crookshanks was peering around the corner to see what was going on. This was the first Hermione had seen of him since she arrived. She scooped him up and ran toward The Burrow, calling Ron's name. “Ron! Ron! RONALD WEASLEY!” She dropped Crookshanks just inside the door, and concentrated really hard. She then managed to Apparate to Ron's room, where she saw him lying on the bed, facing away from her. “You had better go ahead and talk to me now. It's just going to make you feel worse, lying there on the bed keeping it all in.”
“Go away,” came his sullen reply.
“All right, then I'll see you at dinner, as we've missed lunch. And don't even begin to think that it's over between us, because it's not.” And with that, she Apparated right back down into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was standing there surveying her cooking. “Oh, Mrs. Weasley, I believe your son is angry with me.”
“Oh, don't worry, dear,” Mrs. Weasley said absently. “He'll come round. He has strong feelings for you that won't keep him away long. Ring the dinner bell, will you? It's ready.” Hermione glumly walked to the dinner bell, and rang it with no enthusiasm. As Harry and Ginny weren't back from Diagon Alley yet, there were fewer people than had been usual for the last few days. When everyone took their seats, Ron left definitive space between his and Hermione's chairs. He kept glowering at her, making her uncomfortable. As everyone else communicated around them, Ron and Hermione remained stonily silent. No one was brave enough to ask Viktor Krum how on earth he obtained a black eye or a bright red handprint across his face. Ron didn't even seem to notice either of these things. He wouldn't even glance at Krum. Ron picked around at his food, but didn't eat anything.
“All right there, Ron?” Arthur asked when he Apparated a few minutes after everyone sat down to eat.
“No,” Ron answered emphatically, indicating that his father should not pursue that particular course of conversation.
“C'mon, Ron, you can tell your old Dad what bug's biting in your drawers.” Ron looked up from the table at his dad, his face flushed scarlet. Fred, George, Harry, and Ginny appeared in the kitchen just then with a loud pop.
“Hullo, Mum, thought we'd drop in for dinner, we did,” Fred said.
“We've got to go back to the shop tonight, though, I'm afraid,” George continued. Mrs. Weasley nodded. She helped make room for everyone.
“Percy won't be home in time to eat, dear.” Arthur told Molly.
“Oh, we were supposed to tell you that Bill won't be home until late either. Someone tried to break into one of the vaults—“ Fred began.
“— at Gringotts and was unsuccessful. Bill caught him, but he'd already been caught in that vault for three weeks. He was nearly starved to death,” George finished.
“Say, Krum, how did you get a black eye and a handprint on your face?” Harry asked when they had all finished giving the news of where everyone else was. Krum looked darkly back at Harry, but said nothing. It seemed that this just did it for Ron. He just couldn't take anymore. He stood up and began to shout.
“Hermione and Krum were kissing behind the garden shed!” His face was flushed so scarlet, it was nearly purple, making Harry recall Uncle Vernon turning a color close to that shade once or twice. “I saw them! She betrayed me!” He then turned on Hermione and started shouting at her. “How could you? After I told you I loved you, you went behind my back to your former lover boy from the Triwizard Tournament! Why don't you tell them what you did with him? I thought that because you told me your confession, I could trust you. But the moment I leave you alone, you're out behind our garden shed kissing…kissing…HIM!!” He pointed his finger at Krum. The room was silent and everyone could feel the tension. Ron was actually crying now, but he was still shouting. “I was getting ready to give you my future, Hermione! And now you have to go and show me instead of tell me that you'd rather have Viktor Krum. Well, Krum, congratulations, you can have her! I hope you're very happy together! You can both get out of my house!”
Hermione was now also crying, and had been since he told her to tell them what she had done with Viktor during the tournament. “But Ron, I don't love him,” she shouted back at him, standing up to take charge. She realized that she could not let Ron slip away from her so easily after she had worked so hard to get him in the first place. “Are you so eager to lose our love that you would just hand me over? Oh, no, Ron, you have to fight for what you want, don't you? Why do you think I decked Krum in the eye and slapped him? Do you think he did that to himself? What man would do that?”
“Stop asking me these questions!” Ron shouted.
“Why? Is it because you know I'm right or are you just being stubborn?”
“It's neither!” he shouted. It seemed everyone in the room was holding their breath, and they were on the brink of the end of Ron and Hermione's relationship. “It's because I love you, dammit all, Hermione Granger! I love you, and I want to have a future with you!”
Through her tears, Hermione smiled. She sniffed a little, and in a barely audible voice, she said, “Oh, Ron, I love you more than you could ever know.” Right there, in front of his parents and all, Ron pulled Hermione into his arms and kissed her. Afterwards, he embraced her hard, and whispered in her ear.
“Hermione, I haven't ever felt that strongly about anything. I couldn't bear to see you with him. It was worse than seeing you with McLaggen or anyone else.” She pulled back to look at him.
“Why didn't you just stick around a moment longer? I punched him but good, and then slapped him for you since you weren't there to do it yourself. Honestly, I know you wanted to.”
“Yeah, you're right, I did.” He grinned.
Suddenly, Molly cleared her throat. “Er, can we get on with dinner now, please? I think we've had enough entertainment for one night.”
“Certainly, Mrs. Weasley,” Hermione replied. They all resumed dinner, and conversation about work ensued. But before dinner was over, Ron's hand was gripping Hermione's tightly under the table. He walked her up the stairs to Ginny's room. He stopped outside the door to kiss her goodnight. Both their faces were still tear-streaked from dinner, but neither cared.
“You know, I think we should always talk our problems out from now on,” Ron said.
“Indeed, I don't think shouting matches will always be welcome at your family table during dinner. After a while, I think they would get tired of it. After all, we can't go on shouting at each other whenever we're mad. We have to talk about our feelings. But I have to admit, it all ended well.”
“For now anyway,” Ron replied grinning. He kissed her one last time, and went to bed.