'Could I have a vord?'

a/n: Thanks to Austenlover for beta reading this!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling - not me.

`Could I have a vord?'

I never thought I'd fall in love at the age of 14; love was just one of the few things I didn't understand. I probably wouldn't have even realized my more-than-friendly love for my best friend - who happens to be sitting right across from me on the Hogwarts Express - had I not been the recipient of a brutally honest talk just minutes ago. Apparently I'm not as clever as everyone thinks I am, because now that I look back on all that has happened, I can't fathom how I didn't figure it all out on my own. I actually needed Viktor Krum to tell me who I love.

*`Wonder how the Durmstrang students are getting back?' said Ron `D'you reckon they can steer that ship without Karkaroff?'

`Karkaroff did not steer,' I heard Viktor say. `He stayed in his cabin and let us do the vork.' He turned to me and asked, `Could I have a vord?'

`Oh…yes…all right,'* I replied, feeling myself blush as I did so. He led me away from the crowd of students and stopped when we were a good distance from the constant chatter.

`Don't vant to be overheard again,' he began. I immediately took notice of how uncomfortable he looked; he was shifting his weight constantly and wouldn't make eye contact.

`What's going on, Viktor?' I really didn't believe he was behaving so strangely just because we had to say goodbye; after all, we had promised to write and visit.

`There is something important I haff to tell you; something you might not vant to hear,” he muttered, still staring at the ground. There were so many possibilities as to what he needed to say swirling about in my mind, but what he said next only served to confuse me. `I am not the person you should visit.' He stuffed his hands into his pockets and finally met my eyes.

`Er - what?' I was completely nonplussed by his statement; who else was I supposed to visit?

`Hermy-own-ninny, you are blind to your feelings,' Viktor said, shrugging. I don't think I've ever been more confused than I was when he said that. What did my feelings have to do with this?

`I…okay?'

He sighed and looked toward the group of students as he said, `You obviously do not see vot I see; you do not hear vot you constantly say to me.” He paused and stared intently at me as he continued, `It is alvays about Potter vith you; I cannot compete.'

`Harry and I are friends, of course I'm going to talk about him. There's nothing to compete over, Viktor.'

`You do not talk about your other friend,' he countered while glowering. I couldn't deny that; I had never even mentioned Ron to Viktor - it was always about Harry.

`That's different,' I quickly replied. It was my turn to stare at the ground and cross my arms in defense.

`You are right about that; it is different. You do not love him.' My eyes snapped up immediately and my jaw dropped in surprise.

`Love? What? Viktor, I don't love Harry. Well, I love him as any best friend would, but I'm not in love with him!' This was making me irrationally uncomfortable; I'd never been forced to examine my relationship with Harry before this, and all of a sudden I'm accused of loving him!

`Vould you honestly be able to say that to him?' He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms to mimic my position. I felt a sudden urge to strangle him right then and there for how he was making me feel, but the more I thought about what he said, the more I felt that he had a point. Still, I wasn't ready to give in that easily

`Yes, I would. Besides, it's extremely unlikely that I'll ever have to say that to him.'

`Right, because you vill be saying you love him.' I let out a roar of frustration that startled both of us.

`Viktor - enough. I need to get back to Harry and Ron,' I said once I'd calmed down. Viktor nodded and took my hand one last time as he led me through the waiting students. I vaguely heard the three boys talking as I desperately willed my face to remain impassive, lest Harry or Ron notice there was something bothering me. I stole a glance at Harry and turned away, smiling as I realized that maybe Viktor had a decent point after all.

I can't bring myself to tell Harry just yet; I know very well how he feels about Cho. I need to do something though, so maybe - just maybe - he'll get the idea. I need to do something I've never done before.

*dialogue from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire UK Edition p628-629

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