Title: Not The Viktor
Ship: Harry/Hermione
Name/Pen Name: Ezgi/StarbuckJr
Word Count: 2999
Theme #/Theme: #7 / Make it Work
Challenge count: 2/7 finished

Content: PG
Spoilers: Books 1-6
Warnings: Includes Krum/Hermione, one sided apparently. Also the word that didn't pass the word filter is "sh!t".
Summary: Harry eavesdrops on Hermione and Krum.


The library at Grimmauld Place was quite extensive as long as private libraries went. What was more, the Black Family took it as a personal quest to collect anything and everything written about the Dark Arts. Priding with the possession of evil things seemed to fit people like the Blacks and Malfoys, Harry surmised. Even Hermione, who he knew had a soft spot for books, had the grace to look horrified upon seeing some of these. Some of them were very detailed on ways to torture people; the subjects not surprisingly either Muggles or Muggle-borns. Not that they were called “Muggle-born” in texts.

So started their search in the library. Since Krum’s arrival with information he brought from Durmstrang’s records, they finally had a path to follow in their frantic search. Harry, like Ron, had been quite doubtful of Krum’s intentions at first, though perhaps not for the same reasons. Ron didn’t look like he got over the jealousy Krum had caused in their fourth year. The more Ron asked Hermione about her relationship with Krum, the more reticent she became – which, was a good thing, since it meant one less thing for the two of them to fight about.

Harry raised his head from the book he was currently pursuing. The tiny script was giving him a headache. He had to admit that he didn’t find “Heart Shriveling Artifacts by Mart Drivelink” any entertaining at all, but if Hermione thought there was an object glamorous enough for Voldemort among them, then it was worth looking. Krum came with the “inside” information that a crystalline unicorn was rumoured to curse who touched it, making their fingers first mold together and then fall apart in moist, moldy chunks. News was, a few Death Eaters had been asking around for it before it suspiciously disappeared.

Ron had outrightly bellowed when he heard this, jumping from his seat. “No bloody way! If you think I’ll believe that nonsense...”

Hermione had tried to placate him, as she was doing ever since that day Ron almost died of poisoning. It wasn’t like Krum asked them to go deep into forests and dig for them, she had said. They could look through the records to find whether such a thing existed or not. Ron had stormed off upstairs upon that, leaving Harry behind slightly perplexed. He wasn’t expecting Ron to relinquish so easily. It seemed, in the last few months his mate had matured more than he realized.

Harry felt a little guilty about not being happier with this fact. With Ron’s temper cooled off, he and Hermione seemed to get along better than before. Harry was happy for them; it was just that he couldn’t help feeling a little left out now that they were getting closer. He might have never have seen them doing things together, no, but there was this feeling inside, telling him something changed them, something brought them closer. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know, but it would be nice if the two of them would come clean about it, whatever “it” was.

With a sigh emptying more than his lungs, Harry took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes until he saw stars. He really should stop being selfish about his friends. After all, they had given up so many things to follow him. The mere fact that he was keeping them away from their families was enough to put a sour look in his eyes; the danger ahead was more than he could handle right now. He would ponder when he was in his bed, waiting for sleep that would never come.

With a shorter second sigh, he marked his place in the book and gathered the notes he took. He briefly looked over them, searching for a clue of where Voldemort could’ve hid his soul. He stopped when he came across a line written in Runes. Thinking of asking Hermione about it, he put his glasses back on. With a look at the clock on the table and seeing it was almost midnight, he rose and went to the door, flicking the lights off with his wand. If he was lucky, Hermione would be still up. He wanted to show her the progress he had made, even if it was small.

Once in the hall, he saw that the fire in the living room was still up. Quickening his steps, he made his way there. He was about to call her name when he heard Krum’s distinctive low tones coming into the hall.

“Haff you told him?”

There was a pause in which Harry craned his neck into the doorway trying to see who Krum was talking to. Hermione was sitting on the chair closest to the fireplace, the light from the flames painting her face crimson, as well as everything else in the room. He realized he couldn’t tell if she was blushing, but there was a look of discomfort on her face. She suddenly lifted her head, causing Harry to quickly back himself into the wall, hiding in the shadow of the tall grandfather clock. From this angle, he could see the back of Krum’s head over the back of the couch and Hermione sitting in the chair facing sideways to the fireplace.

“Told him what?” Hermione asked facing Krum.

“How you feel about him.”
Hermione turned once again to the fire, her mouth a thin red line in the light.

“I take it you did not.”

A moment later Harry heard Krum chuckle; he never thought a person that grouchy could laugh at all. But his surprise at hearing Krum laugh paled compared to his curiousity over their conversation. He felt a wave of heat rising from his chest, licking his neck and ears. He thought he was going to faint; he gasped and realized that he was holding his breath all that time.

Hermione gave Krum an angry look mixed with desperation. “It is not funny, I don’t remember laughing at you when you asked me to the Yule Ball.”

That seemed to shut Krum up.

“Forgiff me, I didn’t mean it. It is hard to see you cowering over this. I vud haff thought you Gryffindors were brave.”

In the following seconds Harry tried to think of a way to get away unnoticed. He was starting to feel guilty about sneaking up on a private chat, of Hermione no less. But he also wanted to hear what she had to say about it, and who was the topic at hand. He had a feeling, though, that any moment Ron’s name would come from her lips, and he would know once and for all how far they were into each other. He was almost certain on Ron’s part. It was Hermione’s attitude that was giving nothing away. Granted, she was more touchy-feely with Ron than she was in previous years, but she was always touchy-feely with him too.

“He already has so many things looming over him. I don’t want to add to his burden in any way.”

Harry wondered if there was anything going on with Ron that he wasn’t aware of. The thought of them sharing something other than friendship made him queasy.

“Also there is the fact that he is not even slightly interested.” Her voice sounded dejected, a notch above whisper.

Harry couldn’t believe his ears; even as a guy he could see the signs of Ron’s obvious interest. How could Hermione not see them? He dreaded that a talk with Ron would be necessary.

“Vot makes you think that?!” he heard Krum’s astonished voice. “After all you vrote to me in your letters ... Vot happened?”

Harry saw Hermione taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. She licked her lower lip and bit into it, as she was wont to do when she was nervous. She kept on looking into the fire when she replied.

“He found happiness with other girls. I mean, I never saw him happier than when he was with his last girlfriend. You remember me telling about that, right? Anyway, I’m sure he has his reasons.”

“Hmm, vot ver your vords? Outgoing, funny and beautiful enough to make all heads turn her vay, everything I could never be,” Krum recited as if he knew them by heart. It was Hermione’s turn to look astonished.

“You memorized them?!” she asked her eyes big like saucers.

“Vell, it seems I did. Why are you so surprised? Herm-own-ninny, I vosn’t lying ven I said I never felt like this for anyvon else.”

This time, Harry could see Hermione blushing, furiously at that. She opened her mouth a few times to reply, but she couldn’t utter a word.

“Vot I don’t understand however, is why you keep doing this to yourself ven you are so sure he doesn’t feel the same. He is not vorth it all if he can’t see vot is right in front of him.”

It was then Harry realized he wasn’t standing anymore. Somewhere during that time he’d slid down the wall; he was crouching with light falling on his knees. His feet felt like crawling, but he didn’t move. He was rooted to the spot. The things he heard were reverberating in his head, silencing everything else. He was having a hard time to grasp it all that, yet he was getting angrier at Ron with each second. He suspected Ron’s fling with Lavender had disturbed Hermione, but he’d never thought she’d been hurt this much. And who would have thought she would feel intimidated by someone like Lavender? That girl was just a spark compared Hermione’s sun. He was so mad at Ron for making Hermione feel this way. He decided the talk he dreaded was indeed necessary; he hoped he managed to be polite when the time came. But his clenched teeth were telling another story.

Hermione, on the other hand, wasn’t silent at Krum’s words.

“When have you become this wise?” she said derisively.

“Ven haff you become this juvenile? You couldn’t even admit to yourself that you are completely smitten, completely in love with him. How do you plan telling him?!” Krum retorted back. This only got Hermione angrier.

“First of all, let me tell you Viktor, that compared to me, you know next to nothing about him! You have no right to have any say about what he deserves or not. It’s a pure miracle he is such a wonderful person despite all the things that happened to him. Actually, I’d love to see what kind of a person you would turn out to be if you had to go through all the hardships that he had. Second, he has never insulted or slighted me deliberately. Get that into that head of yours. I said he didn’t reciprocate, not that he laughed in my face.”

“But you deserf more than that, Herm-own-ninny,” Krum said slowly. He sounded like he accepted defeat.

“Again, it’s not for you to decide what I, or my friends, deserve. I am here because I want to be, because I choose to be!” Her voice had raised slightly. She took a deep breath and said calmly, “I appreciate your good intentions, though.”

Ron was in deep ######! Harry couldn’t believe his ears; Hermione was defending him even though he didn’t return her feelings? Not that he was ready to accept that he was agreeing with Krum here, but Ron had better done something great to be defended by her. Harry considered telling him that Krum never gave up on Hermione and was ready to step in at the smallest opportunity. He imagined the look on Ron’s face at knowing he was rivals with Krum and smirked with satisfaction.

“I kud go and haff a talk with him, to see vot he thinks of you.”

Now, Krum was in deep ######, he noted with another smirk. He waited for Hermione to tell him off with a huge amount of anticipation. She straightened on the chair, her eyes flying daggers at Krum. He saw her take a breath and her shoulders tensed into the most familiar pose.

“I haven’t forgiven you for the first time you took that liberty. At this moment I’m considering that I should never do so.” Her voice was ice cold. Even if Krum didn’t understand her the first time, he couldn’t possibly miss her meaning this time. Harry felt like clapping her performance, but restrained himself to a ######-eating grin.

Krum’s silence following the scolding gave Harry a moment to wonder when that first talk between Krum and Ron could have taken place. And why did Ron hide that particular fact from him? With his grin lost, Harry felt the queasy feeling return with a vengeance.

“I just don’t understand how you can be this selfless in all this,” he heard Krum say in a small voice. “How you can be friends still.”

“I don’t need to justify my relationships to you, or to anyone for that matter. He is my best friend.” Krum’s head bobbed at that, like he was about to object. Hermione continued without a pause. “Both of them are my best friends. This is no discussing matter. And that’s final.”

Harry watched Krum’s head fall with satisfaction. He should have known better than belittling her friends in front of Hermione, Harry thought. His heart filled with pride at having her as his friend.

With the clock announcing midnight, Harry gave a start. He saw Hermione stand from her chair.

“It’s getting late. You should go to sleep. I’m sure you are more tired than you admit,” said Hermione, gathering her books and other things from the small table. “Remus will be here tomorrow morning, hopefully he’ll have more to tell about that unicorn. I wonder if Harry found anything.”

This made Harry jump to his feet. Timing his steps with the clock’s bells, he quickly made his way back to the library. He had just closed the door behind him with the seventh bell ringing in the hall. He stood there in the dark of the library, listening to the remaining bells. Now that he was alone, he could allow himself to get worked up. Not that he was going to scold Ron in front of Krum, he would never do that to his mate. But putting some sense into him seemed in order. But first he wanted to learn what Krum told Ron during their talk. He could feel betrayal slowly but steadily crawling up on his skin. He was trying to find a way to stop this feeling. He then remembered something Hermione told moments ago.

His last girlfriend

Just when did Ron go out a girl before Lavender? Harry realized with a sense of doom, that Ron did not. Hermione’s words kept on assaulting him.

It’s a pure miracle he is such a wonderful person despite all the things that happened to him.

His knees were giving away. Blindly, he made his way to the desk he left minutes ago. Feeling up the back of the chair, he turned and sat.
Ron would have told him if Krum had a talk with him. Ron would have told him if he had another girlfriend. Just as he would have told him if there was a girl he fancied.

It was him Krum had a talk with. It was him who had more than one girlfriend. It was him they were talking about.

It was him Hermione was talking about.

Later, in the solitude of his bedroom, he would think of this moment as having an epiphany. But right now, he was so overwhelmed he could hardly breathe. Despite the sudden loss of his thinking faculties, he noticed that things started to make rapid sense. Every single thing he remembered achieving at Hogwarts was related to her. If it wasn’t her directly helping him out, it was worrying her heart out. And now, here they were, looking for a way to defeat Voldemort, with Hermione leaving behind a grand academic year at Hogwarts, something he knew was very important for her.

Obviously, not as much important as some things. As someone.

With all the previous anger directed Ron now firing back full force, he chided himself for making her feel this way. This defeated, this hopeless and this disappointed. He was on his way to another guilt-fest when he heard the door open. Hermione stood there with the faint light from the hall outlining her. He couldn’t make out her face; even her silhouette was more than he could handle right then.

“Harry?” she called out tentatively.

For a moment, he considered staying silent, but changed his mind immediately; this was Hermione. She wouldn’t leave without making sure he was all right.

“Here.” He searched for some words to fill the silence. “I looked for that thing in that book.” Way to sound like an idiot, he thought. He feigned a yawn. “I’m falling asleep on the books though. We’ll continue in the morning.” He rose quickly when he saw her approaching. “I guess I better go to bed. Goodnight,” he spurted out. He hurried past her, lest he had to endure the affectionate look which he was sure was on her face. His guilt was churning his insides. He was sure his unexpected haste was surprising her. He just wanted to have a moment to deliberate all the revelations he just had and be able to face her with all his marbles intact.

He saw the piece of paper with his notes was still in his hand when he closed the door to his room. He had bunched it up. Carefully unfolding the paper, he straightened it neatly on the bed-side table. Taking off his glasses and placing them on the notes, he changed for bed. When he got out of the small bathroom, he felt he was as ready as he could be to tackle everything he learned tonight.

Thus began his musings.

I couldn't find where else to say this. I want to thank booberry for beta-ing.

S.

Wow I loved this! It's absolutely brilliant. Is there any possibility that you'll post a sequel to it somewhere?

I was thinking about it, but now DH is so close... I don't know how i'll be feeling once i finish it. But i won't be getting the book on 21st, i guess in two weeks or more. I want to do a sequel, but don't know where to post. Maybe if i can turn it into another ficlet challenge theme... But by that time the challenge will be over. Honestly, i don't know.

I'm glad you liked it.

S.

I, too, would love a sequel!!!

Your ficlet flows really well, and it really captures the essence of the characters. I can definitely see (and hope for) something like this happening in DH.

I hope you'll write more fics in the future, because I absolutely love your writing style!

I'm definitely floored! Thank you. I don't think i said this, but this one is my first fic ever. Never before have i tried writing anything.

Actually, it was the talk between some Herons that Krum was coming back in DH and that was surely going to result in R/Hr via jealousy, that made me think about this. You know, how they see Krum as an official confirmation of their ship and all... It pissed me off; it wasn't Ron Krum went to talk to in GoF. You'd think they would remember this fact! Hence, this fic.

I, too, hope for something similar to this happening in DH. I tried to keep it as canon as possible; how Harry is clueless to a fault, how he thinks of Hermione inadvertently in almost every situation.

Thank you so much for the compliments and encouraging. I think i'll try a sequel. Might need to sign up at Fanfiction section.

S.

Awesome! It was very well written, and the Krum/Hermione talk was nice. Very canon. You won't have any problem becoming an author fic side. Well done. I knew you could do it!


P.S. Write a sequel. I'm dying over here! That was a terrible place to leave it!

That's sweet torture for you. Thank you for encouraging, honestly i never thought people would like it this much. I really appreciate your review. You made my day.

S.

This was really a beautiful little ficlet. Well written and nicely structured. I must agree though, a sequel would be great.

These compliments are more than i could ever hoped for. Thank you. A sequel is currently brewing in my head. I'm trying to stay as canon as possible.

S.

Really good, and it was about time Harry guessed it was him they were talking about! lol. I'd like to read about him confronting her the next day though.

Thank you

The sequel won't be on time for this challenge, not that i'm aiming for it anyway. By the time i finish it, i'll sign up at the fanfiction senction and post it there.

Confronting Hermione ... What do you think that'll turn out to be? I'm getting ideas.

S.

I think it would be kind of heated at the beginning...like them venting their frustration at each other...and then it should end with a sweet kiss, maybe one of them shutting the other up in that way...lol

But that's cliche, isn't it? Me and my beta are currently discussing it. As i said, i try to stay as canon as possible, opposed to going along the well-trodden path of fanfics. Hope people won't find that disappointing in the end.

S.

Well, after what he heard Harry will have to be frustrated at himself for not noticing the signs she was interested, and thus making her suffer. So he will probably vent his frustration on her when they will address the matter. She, of course, is frustrated because he doesn't make a move, so when he will vent his frustration at her she will explode too. Seems logical. Clichè, maybe, but it is plausible considering what's happened till now.

This was beautiful! It flows so perfectly, and the 'epiphany' was wonderfully done. The dialogue was amazing.

Wasn't it you who said you didn't want to enter this challenge? Thank God you did! Five stars, definitely, and write me a sequel, please?

Coming from you, compliments mean so much more. I'm glad you liked it. I've started the sequel, don't know when i'll be finished though with DH coming. Don't want to put it off long, that's for sure if i can help it.

S.