WARNING: NO SMUT WHATSOEVER! ;) in fact the rating should be PG, due to the language-and even that's mild too…hope you won't be `that' disappointed! hehehe
Chapter 3
After a friendly pick up game of quidditch between Puddlemere United and the visiting National Bulgarian Team, two seekers lay in separate cots at the medic tent of a quidditch pitch somewhere in England due to a Wronski Defensive Feint gone terribly wrong…
"Gods! They're married!" Cho exclaimed as she raised the Daily Prophet with her good hand, her broken arm stuck to her chest by a charm.
"Who?" asked the male in the cot beside her with a thick Bulgarian accent.
"Harry and Hermione!" Cho replied, looking over at Viktor Krum, who had a cracked skull and broken nose.
"`arry Potter and Herm-own-ninny?"
"Yes, Harry Potter and Herm-own-nin…I mean Hermione! How many Harry and Hermiones do you know, Viktor?" Cho snapped as Oliver Wood and Katie Bell, Puddlemere's keeper and chaser, entered the tent.
"What about Harry and Hermione?" Oliver asked.
"They're married!"
Oliver stared at Cho for a full minute before speaking, "As in husband and wife? As in till death do us part?"
"What other marriage is there?" Cho retorted.
"When?" Viktor asked quietly, mumbling something under his breath in Bulgarian.
"When what?"
"When was the wedding?" Katie asked.
"According to this article," Cho scanned the piece, "around six months ago."
"And no one knew?" Oliver exclaimed in bewilderment.
"Seems like no one in school, nor in the wizarding world did-or this would have been old news by now!" Cho replied
"Where?" Katie asked.
"Where what?"
"Cho!" Katie cried out trying to make a grab for the paper. But Cho, even with a broken arm, had quick reflexes was able to evade it easily.
"Oh right, at the Ministry of Magic," she said while scanning the article again and flipping the page, "in London!"
"In LONDON?!?" Viktor and Oliver roared.
Katie sat closer to Cho and read the article over her shoulder, "Well, it states here that Minister Bones officiated the ceremony and was under the Fidelius charm till Harry saw that it was safe to tell the public…"
"Why?" Oliver inquired.
"Well, I guess the Minister owed Harry one, considering he did save her life a couple of times. Plus it wouldn't be safe for the two if He who-must-not-be-named or his minions found out about the marriage." Katie deduced.
"No," Oliver shook his head as he cleared up his inquiry, "Why did they get married?"
"What in Merlin's mind would make you assume I possess an idea why those two got married?!" Cho screeched, fuming she continued "I knew there was something going on between them during their fifth year, I knew that Hermione had her clutches on Harry!"
"Ne, Cho, it was during the Triwizard's tournament that `arry had started to fall for Herm-own-ninny" Viktor said, finally seeing the reason why Hermione hadn't been answering any of his letters.
"By the by, since there were four champions then shouldn't it have been a `Quartet' Wizards tournament?" Oliver wondered aloud.
"How about the `Quad' Wizards tournament!" Katie added halfheartedly with a giggle.
"Oh shut it the lot of you!" Cho reprimanded as she continued to read the rest of the article.
"Well," Oliver asked, "did it say why the two got married? I mean, was Hermione pregnant?" to which Viktor choked on his own breath.
"Obviously she wasn't, or else she'd be showing by now. There isn't any mention that she was on the family way." Cho replied.
"How could they have kept this a secret?"
"They are the Head Students at Hogwarts, and they do have their own private quarters. Merlin knows what went on behind closed doors!" Katie answered. "With a good colloportus and an even stronger silencio they could have done anything there!"
"`arry Potter is a lucky man…" Viktor mumbled.
"Are you joking? It's Hermione who got the best part of the deal!" Cho snapped.
"Well, whoever got the best part of the deal had better get ready with answers, because I'm sure there will be hell to pay for keeping something this important a secret…"
Suddenly an owl swooped into the medic tent and landed on Oliver's shoulder. Sticking it's leg out, Oliver took the parchment that was attached to it. Reading over the letter a smile could be seen growing on the keeper's face.
"What is it Ollie?"
"It seems I have been invited to a bachelor party-to be held tonight at the Room Of Requirement at Hogwarts…"
"Who's bachelor party?"
"Harry Potter's of course!"
"What? How could you have been invited and we haven't?" Katie huffed.
"Oh yeah right-maybe because your girls and it's a bachelor party, the only girls there should be the strippers…so unless you're willing to shed you're clothes I would not hold my breath!" Oliver retorted.
"I'd easily shed my clothes for Harry…" Cho whined as Katie gave her a look.
"I thought that `arry and Herm-own-ninny were married, da? Why is there this party?" Viktor asked.
"I hav'nt the faintest…" Oliver stated shaking his head, "I bet the Weasleys planned this, I'll try to floo Fred and George to find out."
Another owl flew in and a piece of parchment landed in the lap of Katie. As she opened it and scanned the contents quickly she turned to Oliver and excitedly said, "Looks like you have company going to Hogwarts tonight-I've been invited to Hermione's bridal shower!"
"Great!" Oliver looked at his watch and stood up, "We've got to get ready. Blimey, I've got
to buy Harry a gift!"
"So do I, a gift for Hermione that is!" Katie too stood up, "Meet you in Diagon Alley in a few, just got to freshen up."
"Wait! You were invited and I wasn't?!" Cho's eyes flashed with anger and jealousy.
Oliver and Katie exchanged glances, "Yeah, uh…right. Maybe your invite is on its way?" Oliver reasoned.
"Bollocks! If it did not arrive with Katie's then it isn't coming!" Cho retorted and gave a childish pout.
"Sure Cho, their friends would just love to invite the couples' exes!" Katie shrieked, rolling her eyes at the seeker throwing a tantrum, "Cho get over yourself! Potter's world does not revolve around you! The man is married, deal with it!"
Cho stared at Katie opening her mouth a couple of times but finding neither the voice nor the words for a better retort.
Oliver shifted uncomfortably, looking at the two women. Trying to resolve the sudden tension in the room he went back to the previous thread of conversation, "Um, better yet, Katie I'll met you at the entrance of the pitch-I have no idea what to get Harry, but I bet the gifts should make Hermione…um happy?!" Oliver said with a smile, "You can help me with that."
"Sure, as long as you help me too, we've got a deal! Maybe the Weasley twins have great ideas in that department." Katie said, obviously forgetting her earlier outburst. She continued, "Ta ta you two…and don't do anything I wouldn't!" as she and Oliver left the tent.
Cho simmered as she looked over at the article again, "You know something about this?"
"Me? Ne. I knew that Herm-own-ninny had someone in her life, she had not been replying to my letters for a year now, and I know it wasn't because of the war. As to `arry Potter being that someone, I did not know." Viktor ended with a sigh, "I think they are happy with each other now."
"Oh please!" Cho rolled her eyes, "Harry can not be happy with her! She's so plain, and…argh! How can he be satisfied with a bookworm?!"
Viktor looked over to the side where Cho was lying, the skele-gro bottle on her bedside table matching his. "Herm-own-ninny was never plain, nor was she only a bookworm. I bet `arry Potter would not be alive today without her," Viktor defended, "I have no doubt in my mind that `arry Potter would be very satisfied, maybe even too contented!" Then with a chuckle he continued, "Herm-own-ninny is more of a physical being, you know…"
Cho gasped and looked over at Krum "Physical being?" she squeaked.
Viktor nodded, and then regretted the action as his vision doubled, "Do not get me wrong though, we never went all the way. She was always holding back and I knew that her heart was elsewhere instead of with me…"
"Well, Harry's one kiss with me wasn't all too spectacular-it was kind of-wet. I mean, sure I was crying, but that was because of Cedric and not the kiss…" giggling Cho continued, "Okay, may be it was a bit because of the kiss…no chemistry such a let down and believe me I've had better!"
"You only had one kiss-a single kiss with `arry Potter and you act like he took your virtue away?!" Viktor exclaimed with astonishment, "You English women are funny…Pretty but funny!"
"I hardly think Hermione could be categorized as pretty!"
Viktor shifted, he then tossed a magazine toward Cho who caught it, "Page five, an exclusive interview with pictures. The father of their friend owns the magazine, da?" Viktor continued as he watched Cho's reaction, "Now tell me-Herm-own-ninny is pretty, da? May be it's because of the love that is why she is glowing?"
Cho fingered immediately to page five of The Quibbler, she gazed in astonishment at the two figures giving each other a kiss and continued to watch as Harry placed his arm around Hermione's shoulders as she rested her head on his shoulder. In another picture was a close up of the couple gazing into each other's eyes before looking up at the reader and smiling, she had to admit to herself Hermione Potter definitely was dazzling! But the picture that had Cho's mouth watering was the five carat diamond engagement ring in a tiffany setting! That picture had the left hands of the couple intertwined showing off their wedding band which were simple platinum bands with infinity grooves as a design.
Sighing, Cho admitted, "Okay fine, they're a good looking couple!"
"See, they fit da?"
"Whatever…" Cho sighed tossing the magazine to the side and falling back to her pillows, "I didn't think, no I didn't want to think that Harry really had feelings for her back then. But when I saw them together, especially in the DA meetings, they just…fit." Shaking her head, "I felt really miffed when he couldn't denying his friendship for her…"
"Miffed? What is that?"
"Long to explain," Cho sighed, "at least Hermione was friendly enough with you."
Viktor let out a chuckle, "Not friendly enough though, da?"
"We're totally mental…" Cho sighed.
Viktor took a long hard look at her, "What you say we be mental together?"
Cho sat up laughing as she turned to the Bulgarian seeker who was regarding her with serious eyes, she covered her mouth with her hand "Oh I'm sorry-you were serious." she watched him give her a curt nod, "What you and me-?"
"Da! Why let only `arry Potter and Herm-own-ninny get all the fun? Let's get to know each other better and wallow in our agony of the past together!" Viktor said with a chuckle.
Cho looked at Viktor with amazement, "That is just plain pathetic!" but then she gave it much more thought and a small smile started to play on Cho's lips, "But you know what? You're abso-bloody-lutely right! Once we're on the mend and right, let's go out!" starting to feel better as she thought about it.
Viktor let out a deep breath, "Da! You are not only a good seeker but a very pretty girl."
"So that's all you find interesting in me eh? My quidditch skills and my face?" Cho retorted.
"Ne-there's another aspect of you I really like…" Viktor huskily admitted.
"Really now? Tell me…" Cho whispered as she leaned over to his cot.
Viktor leaned in and their faces were mere inches apart, "You have easier name to say…"
Cho's eyes widened as she stared at him flabbergasted, then the two seekers burst out laughing as the healers came in to give them their hourly dose of skele-gro.
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A/N
Sorry for the delay, better late than never…
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE REVIEWS!
I must thank my beta again for her expertise here-Twitch E. Ferret...without her, I would be getting flames!
I know-this chapter's so short! But when I began this story I knew that the title would really be a play of words between Cho and Viktor…it was part of the rules that they're reactions were to be counted, I just added a twist to it.
I know all of you were expecting the parties in this chapter-but I did warn some of the reviewers that I was in a rut on how to write it and that I had this chapter done which was actually suppose to be chapter 4 instead of 3…
But do not fret-I have already submitted to my very diligent beta reader chapter4 (which has parties, flashbacks and movie quotes)-and it's 23 pages long-so far…and as I have told her, so will I reveal to you-this story shall end in chapter 5.
By the way-`ne' is Bulgarian for `no'-my reference?
http://www1.cs.columbia.edu/~radev/dictionary/get.cgi?search=no&.submit=Submit+Query (it's number 2322)
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