The Friendship That Grew

“Bloody hell, Hermione, you have a lot of post this morning!” Ron gawped.

Hermione giggled. She had a total of three letters and a copy of the Daily Prophet.

“Who're they from?” he continued.

Hermione opened the first letter. Her face clouded. It was from Viktor.

Ron frowned and looked over at her. So did Harry.

“It's from Viktor, isn't it?” said Harry malevolently.

Hermione nodded. Harry's face clouded. Hermione, spotting this, felt a small feeling of pleasure that Harry was angry, maybe he was even jealous.

Think that's going a bit far, Hermy. And why do you care anyway?

She rose and left them.

Harry glowered after her. He didn't know exactly why, but Hermione and Krum still keeping in contact made him feel like searching out for Krum and throttling him.

“Grind him I will,” he accidentally said a loud. And then he too left the table.

Ron and Luna stared after him in amazement. The same mischievous smile that commandeered Ron's face last night when talking to Hermione appeared once more. He knew at once that Harry and Hermione were jealous of each other. Hermione didn't want Harry socialising with Cho and Harry didn't want Hermione writing to Krum.

He whispered this to Luna who smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

“Shall we help them along a bit?” she asked, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

“No. It'll be more fun to watch if they get confused. BUT, we can turn them on a bit,” winked Ron.

“How?”

“Easy. YOU coax Hermione to the changing rooms when Harry's changing and showering after quidditch practice - he always goes by tehe window. Make her see him in a different light. It'll get her really excited and confused. And Harry…whoa…I'll give him the password to the prefects bathroom when Hermione's in there and ha ha ha!” Ron murmured.

Luna shook her head.

“For once, I disagree with you. Harry and Hermione's love seems deeper than that. It's not just smutty - I - wanna - see - you - naked - love - it's soulmate love and it's really rare and beautiful. Don't ruin it by getting them all confused,” she wailed.

“But…” Ron protested.

“No buts. Except mine of course!” grinned Luna.

Ron tried to laugh but inwardly he was yearning to help his two best friends. But Luna was right, they WERE soulmates and they had to work out their love on their own.

Hermione sighed deeply and stared around at the countryside around her. She did love her secret place, and she did not regret sharing it with Harry. She had something with him that she didn't have with Ron, it was a special friendship. They were willing to sacrifice anything for each other. That was amazing.

She opened Viktor's letter and began to read it:

Dear Hermowninny,

I have some fantastic news for you! As you Defence Against Dark Arts teacher has not been appointed yet, your headmaster has chosen me to take the job. We can finally get serious! I am really in love with you and I hope you return my feelings. I shall arrive the evening that you receive this letter. I cannot wait to see you. While I am unpacking, stop by my office.

With love,

Viktor

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Oh Lordy, thought Hermione. This isn't good. She used to have a real school-girly crush on Viktor. She had really liked him. But now she was over him, as she was almost over Ron. She had been mad about Ron ever since she had first met him - but it hadn't been true love. There was certainly huge chemistry between them - and their relatsionship would have been full of fiery passion and, well, sex. Of course they were key things for a relationship, but she needed something more as well. Something that she hadn't found in a person yet. Maybe one day she would find it. She did hope so.

The school day flew by and suddenly, to Hermione's great shock, it was dinner. She had had a great Potions session with Harry and was feeling rather giddy. She saw Viktor, sitting at the staff table. His presence had aroused much whispering and excitement around the Great Hall. She herself felt a little queasy. She really did not know whether she wanted Viktor to be here or not.

Harry and Ron were both shooting Viktor dark looks. She watched them with a smug smile on her face. It wasn't Ron she was interested in though - it was Harry. For an unexplained reason, Hermione adored it whenever Harry got annoyed that she was with another boy.

She noticed Viktor surveying her. He smiled at her and flipped his hair back in a sexy way. It did not impress her though. Instead, it made her tut inwardly.

After dinner, as he asked her, she headed towards the Defence Against the Dark Arts office. He was in there and he rushed to her and kissed her as she arrived.

“Hermowninny! It is very good to see you!” he beamed, lacing her fingers through his.

She smiled and turned away shyly.

“I hope you are in good health! I have been looking forward to seeing you very much!” he went on.

Hermione, try as she might, could not bring herself to look at him. She felt such disloyalty at being with him in his office. Disloyalty to her family, disloyalty to her school, disloyalty to herself and disloyalty to Harry.

Harry? What the hell???

She shook herself slightly.

“Are you OK?” asked Viktor anxiously.

“Fine,” she said a little too quickly.

He reached towards her. From the way he was standing and the way he was looking at her, Hermione knew what he wanted. She knew and she felt disgusted.

“I have to go,” she added and walked out of his office. He called after and she broke into a run.

“I am not,” she said a loud, “going to lose my flower to a stupid little conceited Bulgarian!”

She sat down in the common room, hurriedly joined by Harry.

“Where were you?”

“Um…out.”

“In the special place?”

“No.”

“Where?”

“Is it any of your business?”

“No, sorry, I was just concerned.

“Well, don't be! I've already got enough men fussing around me, I don't need you too!”

“Sorry.”

“No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm just stressed. I went to see Viktor and he wants me to…to go the whole way, I think. And I don't want to. I don't want that kind of relationship with anyone but my true love. Who I haven't found yet.”

“Bummer.”

“I know. Oh Harry, will I ever find my true love?”

“Of course you will! Maybe it's even someone from here…”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

“Your true love can be under your nose for years before you realise it's them.”

“I never thought of it like that but I guess you're right.”

“Maybe I've inspired you to do great things!”

“Ha! Harry, I just want to say…”

“Yep? All ears.”

“I…I…I l - like your advice.”

What was she going to say? Harry asked himself. He sensed that Hermione had wanted to say something else but couldn't. But he was too tired to ponder on it. He and Hermione said goodnight and left each other.