Chapter Six: Before The Yule Ball

First there was the quidditch world cup, and let me tell you, from someone who doesn't like quidditch, it was BREATHTAKING! No joke, seeing it was amazing, if you have never gone, you need to go, or at least see it somehow! After the game the actual players came up to the box where we were sitting, wow, that was amazing. But the funniest part of the whole trip, and creepiest, was when the seeker for Bulgaria, was shamelessly flirting with me, I'm not even kidding, I could tell there was at least one person glaring at him, no idea who it was though. It was funny, but I'd never meet him again, so it didn't really mean anything to me. He did seem impress that I wasn't throwing myself at his feet like most every other girl he'd met before hand, poor bloke.

That night we were having the time of our lives (the Weasley's, Harry, Astoria and I) joking around and celebrating, the Bulgarian seeker, I forget his name, caught the snitch, but Ireland won! Charlie and I snuck away partway through the party because it was getting to loud, I didn't even notice he did till I bumped into him outside, we were kind of bored and began to play Truth or Dare, but it was actually more like, Truth.

"What's your favorite color?" Charlie asked after I finally stopped laughing at his answer for my previous question, his worst fear about Hogwarts, apparently he thought he was going to be sorted into both Hufflepuff and Slytherin at the same time and they'd split him in two.

"Blue," I answered not even pausing to think about that answer. "Who was your first kiss?" Where did that question come from?

Charlie blushed a little bit and mumbled something under his breath, I raised my eyebrows not hearing him. "Never had one." He finally admitted, and I burst into laughter again, he joined, thankfully, at least I wasn't being completely rude.

"Sorry, that was a bit out of my place to ask." I said, sobering up finally.

"Nah, it's all right, it means I can ask you the same question." Charlie teased, and it was my turn to blush.

"Darren, but we were three, and I'm pretty sure it was only on the cheek." I quickly added the last part so Charlie didn't jump to any conclusions. "It was a horrible memory mind you, but both of parents thought it was cute, they had even snapped a photo of it, my mom had the framed and it was always in her locket..." I stopped and trailed off, why did I always do that when I accidentally brought up my parents? It was so irritating, especially because people thought I was like, a fragile person who would break at any moment. "Anyway, what's your favorite quidditch team?"

Thankfully Charlie didn't say anything about er, anything I said other then my question. "Puddlemere United actually, it's a pretty good team." Charlie seemed to be relieved to be off the whole subject from before. I smiled nodding in agreement with his answer for my most recent question, Puddlemere United was a rather darned good quidditch team.

"Good, you're not like Ron and obsessed with the Chuddley Cannons, silly kid." I began to laugh a little bit, remembering my few conversations with Ron, and somehow they always ended up being about the Cannons or food, or both at the same time.

"I believe it is my turn to ask you a question now?" Charlie queried and I nodded again. "What is karaoke?" I nearly burst into laughter, but Charlie sounded completely serious in his question. "Honestly, Fred and George keep talking about it and they won't tell me what it is."

"Basically, you would sing a popular song into a microphone, it's a lot of fun." I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing, because that would have been really rude.

"Oh, that's really all it is? They were making it sound like you had to juggle a troll that was playing quidditch!" Charlie groaned, and I bit my lip harder, the mental images that came with those words.

"There you two are!" Bill exclaimed, surprising Charlie and I, we both jumped and reached for our wands. "What are you two doing out here by yourselves?" Wow, somehow the eldest Weasley sibling made this situation sound a million times worse. "We were all wondering where you guys disappeared to, what have you been talking about?"

"In all honesty, we've been playing Truth or Dare, well really, Truth." I explained, if I hadn't taken out the dare it looked like Bill would have made this even worse then it already was.

"Ooh! Can we join?" Typical question from the twins, I shrugged, not sure what else to do. "Hey, Ron, Harry, Gin, we are playing Truth!"

"Well this will be fun, and Hermione, it's your turn to ask." Charlie chuckled to himself, I nodded.

"Um, Bill, why do you always make situations to be worse then they are?" I asked him, really curious, plus it was the first thing that came to mind.

The game continued on for about half an hour and then Mr. Weasley made us go to bed, thank goodness, Ron had just asked me who my first crush was.

I had finally fallen asleep when I was awoken by screams and shouts, apparently some Death Eaters were having the time of their lives that night. We managed to get away, had a run in with Theodore Nott in the woods and then there was a huge morsmordre fiasco, involving Harry's missing wand, a house-elf and the dark mark. It was all very ugly and not pleasant.

Finally we made it back to Hogwarts and there was some big thing happening, I was so irritated with people not telling me what it was that I left the main group early to get on the train, I found a nearly empty compartment that someone I believed to be named Cho Chang was sitting in, literally two seconds after I sat down, Draco walked in. I was about to get up and hug him, but I remembered everything that had happened this Summer and restrained myself, instead I gave him a weak hello and smile that was equally as weak. He nodded, half returning my smile. For some reason he looked paler and more stressed out, and I felt wretched, not being able to sit next to him (he pointedly sat next to Cho) and comfort him, make him feel better.

The next person to enter was Harry, and he was making owl eyes at Cho, sitting on the other side of Draco, so I was all alone on my side until Ron showed up and sat next to me. Not the best company, but certainly better then some, not sure about none. Ginny appeared not much later and sat between Ron and I thankfully. So I was across from Cho by the window, Ginny was across from Draco, Harry and Ron were sitting closest to the door and already playing a game of wizarding chess. There was a silence, between us other four, that felt kind of awkward, and it remained like that until we arrived at Hogwarts and all went to our separate houses, Cho, Ginny and I to Ravenclaw, Draco and Harry to Slytherin and then finally Ron to the Gryffindor table.

And then it was announced, the tri-wizard tournament, everyone was talking about it, they were so excited and curious as to who would enter. And of course there was the meeting the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. I had to admit I was curious to meet them a heck of a lot. I was also in the library a lot, reading about the tri-wizard tournament, the more I read about it the happier I was that there was an age limit. Not even I could enter, turning fifteen not two weeks after school started, seventeen year old's on up. And finally the blessed day came, October 30th, the day before Halloween and the day that the foreign students got here. I noticed some girls like Lavender Brown, drastically dressed up. And as for me? I was wearing my school robes, looking like it was nothing other then a normal day at Hogwarts, we were all lined up outside waiting for the students to arrive, and somehow I ended up standing next to Draco.

"Hey Drake," I mumbled looking down at my feet, he looked mildly surprised, not noticing me at first.

"Hi Hermione," he replied, clearly not quite sure what to say.

"Want to play with the grass?" I suggested lamely, but then again, that was what I had been staring at for a little bit now.

"Yea," I was shocked that he agreed but didn't say anything, the two of us sat down on the ground and ignored the others around us, we were joking with each other and making grass chains and necklaces, it was hysterical, to think that a pureblooded, prejudiced, Slytherin, nearly ex-friend was doing this with me. We had been like this for who knows how long only to be interrupted by the last person in the world I expected to be interrupted by, okay fine, there were two people interrupting us.

"Hermy-own-nee!" Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Mental relapse, I jumped up and spun around, reaching for my wand but I relaxed.

"I, uh, Viktor?" Krum, the Bulgarian seeker that was flirting with me, here, what?

"HERMIONE DARLING!" Before I could comprehend Viktor being there, Darren had literally tackled me, and I fell back onto Draco who looked suspicious and confused. "Sorry Drake, but wow, wait, did you say, you know Viktor?"

"Um, kind of, hey Viktor." I held out my hand politely, still shocked, what was up with people shocking me today?

"Ve meet again Hermy-own-nee." Viktor Krum took my hand and kissed it, well, I did mean for him to shake it but whatever, I turned a vibrant red, oh brilliant.

"When did you guys meet?" Darren asked looking between us two, completely ignoring poor squashed Draco, well we did get off him.

"Quidditch world cup." Draco responded before I could, I almost forgot that he and his parents were sitting there in the top box as well.

"Yea, but what are you guys doing here?" I demanded not to nicely, I also noted that all the other students disappeared.

"Er, ve're Durmstrang students." Viktor answered that.

"It looks like it's going to rain, let's go eat!" Darren quickly suggested and the four of us made our way inside, and the two of them went to sit with Draco at the Slytherin table, somehow I got dragged along with them and sat there as well, feeling completely wretched for missing the foreign students arrive, but then again, I was finally having fun with Draco again, that was good.

"Attention students, I would like to welcome Madame Maxime and the students of Beauxbatons." Dumbledore paused and there was loud clapping that went around the hall. "And Professor Karkaroff and the students of Durmstrang." Another pause, and this time the applause was much louder, apparently it was a well known fact that Viktor Krum was here. "I hope you will treat them with the utmost respect and the guests of honor that they are." He went on to explain about the goblet of fire, which was brought out and he then explained more about how to enter, and that it was strictly forbidden to enter a younger students name, and other such rules, also that this was not to be taken lightly, if the goblet chose you, there was no backing out, and there had been times in the past where competitors and even spectators were killed, but there had been extra precautions taken this year. That really didn't help me feel any safer.

After dinner I gratefully went to my bed and fell fast asleep. When I awoke the next day whole school was buzzing like a swarm of bees about who entered and what not, I watched doubtfully as Fred and George sprouted white beards and unsuccessfully entered the tournament. It did give quite a few of us a laugh which lightened the strange glumness of the day considerably. I did know that Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff entered, a couple Slytherins did, and Angelina Johnson, a Gryffindor entered, I also heard her best friend Alicia entered as well, again a Gryffindor. I wasn't exactly sure which Ravenclaw's did, but I did hear something about Albert Dur entering, if he did, I really hoped that he wasn't the champion, I didn't like him.

"Hey Hermione," I was surprised to be greeted by Draco, he had nearly ignored me completely the first month, saying hi occasionally, basically treating me like he treated Pansy Parkinson, roughly and not really noticing me. "I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry for how I've been treating you, Harry talked to me about it and stuff, and so did Darren. I guess, I guess I can get over the fact that you're a muggleborn, besides, we are friends, and nothing should be able to interfere with that." My jaw nearly dropped, and next thing I knew I was hugging Draco so tightly I don't think he would have been able to breath, I heard someone shout 'about time' and lots of laughter from the other students, I glanced up and noticed that it was one of the twins who shouted, clearly they had their beards removed.

"You're right Draco, and I'm sorry for not telling you that I was one." I said after I finally let go of him, he grinned widely and shrugged, not really caring. "Come on, I'll sit with you at double-Transfiguration, let's go." And before I knew it we were running off to attend classes, not to mention the fact that we were both grinning like maniac idiots. Transfiguration was amazing, but near the end of class McGonagall asked to see me after class, I immediately consented, not wanting to get in trouble with a professor, especially this early in the year. "You guys continue on to dinner, I'll catch up with you in a bit." I told Harry and Draco who reluctantly left me there. "Yes, Professor McGonagall?" I asked her politely, hoping this would be quick, my stomach was wanting food really badly.

"I know that I am not your head of house, but I couldn't help but notice that today in my class you exceeded your abilities that I have ever seen before, it's almost as if something had been holding back on your magic and not letting you use it to it's full extent." Minerva McGonagall paused briefly. "I also noticed that you seemed to have reconciled with Mr. Malfoy, and that may have been it. But if you ever need someone to talk to and Filius is not available, do not hesitate to come to me for any advice, or just someone to talk to." I blinked in surprise, was it really that obvious that I was upset over the fact that Draco and I weren't talking? Well, I probably was, because we were like best friends after all.

I nodded and then returned to the great hall, excited for the announcement of the contestants after dinner, but I was also excited for the feast. Sitting down at the Slytherin table (I know, bad me), I noticed that I was getting several glares from people and skeptical looks from several of those in my house. "Hey Draco, Harry, Darren and Viktor." Why was it that I had to know the two most famous people in, a thousand mile radios of Hogwarts? That may have contributed to the glares I was getting from nearly every female student in Hogwarts. The boys greeted me, but couldn't say anymore, because Dumbledore made a small speech and then everyone began to eat, I saw that most of the students were eating at top speed hoping that the contestants would be chosen sooner, but I noticed that Dumbledore was eating at his normal pace and we obviously had to wait until he was finished.

Finally after everyone was finished eating, the contestants were being drawn, from Beauxbatons there was a pretty girl sitting at the Ravenclaw table named Fleur Delacour picked, for Durmstrang Viktor was chosen, no surprises there. And then for Hogwarts, Cedric Diggory was chosen, I think I clapped the loudest out of my group, Harry and Draco groaned, and Darren just raised his eyebrows skeptically at Cedric. I could barely hear myself think over the sound of the Hufflepuff's cheering, it was, insane. And then the fire lit again, the Great Hall silenced immediately. Dumbledore stared at the parchment in his hand for a good minute before speaking again.

"Harry Potter."

"WHAT!" That was the loud yell throughout the whole room, I stared at Harry in shock, he was the one who yelled the loudest. "I didn't enter." He mumbled looking at Draco, Darren and I with pleading eyes. I nodded, completely believing him, Draco looked to shocked to say anything, and Darren followed what I did, probably not sure what to say. "Why, why is it always me?" Harry mumbled, standing up, realizing that was what he was supposed to do, it looked like he could feel the glares of all the Huflepuffs boring into his skull as he followed the footsteps of the other three contestants. Dumbledore's expression was a mixture of confusion and displeasure, not exactly who he was displeased with, but it didn't really look like it was Harry, he didn't have a reason to anyway.

As soon as Harry disappeared from view muttering all around the hall started. "He didn't enter himself, you know that right Draco?" That came out more forcefully then I thought it would, but Draco couldn't possibly believe that Harry did that. Draco finally nodded, looking as if he was unable to speak for the time being. "I just want to know who entered him, and why!" I nearly screamed. Why was it that every year someone was out to get Harry? Why was it that he had the worst luck of anyone that I ever met? That poor, poor kid. Finally McGonagall instructed us all to return to our common rooms. And I had to say goodbye to Draco and Darren, by the looks of it Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students had to stay in the Great Hall. But Darren tried to follow me anyway, that was until McGonagall told him to seat back down and stop following me.

I couldn't sleep at all, worrying about Harry so much, I had to know what was going on with him. So I finally decided that I was going to find the Slytherin rooms and ask Harry what he knew about this. I hadn't thought this plan completely through, don't ask me how I was going to find the room, much less even get in to the dormitories. Grabbing a fluffy blue bed-robe, I quickly slipped it over my shoulders, tied the sash and then nearly bolted down the stairs and out of the common room, and then I headed towards the dungeons, there was one way which happened to go by the potions room. I just hoped that Snape hadn't decided to stay up late, grading papers.

When I was tip toeing down the hall way I turned a sharp corner and bumped straight into someone. "Eeek!" I whispered sounding high pitched, before someone quickly muffled me. Which made me freak out even more, finally the person removed their hand when I bit it. "Who are you, why attacking me?" Um, yea, there goes the one of the dumbest questions to ever leave my mouth. There was a little snicker that sounded familiar, and then the person quietly cleared their throat, clearly trying not to laugh at me. That was a bit touching, at least they had some manners, maybe?

"Hermione, calm down!" Fred, or George, I have no idea, said, and I sighed. Of all the people to run into, it was another Weasley, why did I run into Weasley's? "What are you doing up, actually I probably don't want to know."

"Fred, no wait, George, no, I don't care at this moment, I need your help." Did I just honestly ask for help from a Weasley twin? The world must be ending, or something equally as drastic. Raising their eyebrows, the red head remained silent, waiting for me to continue. "I don't know how, nor do I want to know how you know. But, where is the Slytherin house room? And I know you know." Next thing I knew they were grinning evilly. "Oh just shut up, or else I'll tell McGonagall what you were doing with Angelina Johnson when you two were skipping out on Transfiguration." The chance of this being the right twin was, fifty-fifty actually. Oh this is just pathetic.

"Bloody, Hermione, never thought you'd be the one for black mail, the Slytherin house room is actually just down this corridor and on the left, then take the second right, down fifty yards and you're there. The password is 'Parseltongue' and you didn't hear this from George." Winking, George stuck his hands in his pockets and continued down the hallway, whistling softly. Not even bothering to think, I followed his directions completely and arrived at a bare stretch of wall, muttering the password, I saw the wall peel back and their was a staircase dimly light by glowing green lights, rather eerie and creepy in my opinion.

As I reached the center of the common room, I noticed that someone was entering the room, from a different door. I couldn't move, I was stuck like a deer in the headlights. Finally the person appeared and I recognized it as Blaise Zabini, I'd never met him, but I had heard he was a pretty okay chap, other then the fact that he was incredibly biased, it's a shame. "Greengrass?" He questioned in shock, mouth hanging open and staring at me from head to toe. "What in the blazes are you doing here, this is, Slytherin, but you're here?" Blaise was completely confused and lost, just like me.

"Uh, hi," I finally managed to mumble, still feeling shocked. "Is uh, Harry or Draco up?" I had to ask, that's why I was here anyway, Blaise can freak out at a later time, well maybe not, seeing as he was staring at me as if I was an alien. "Er, Blaise, hullo?"

"What's going on down- Hermione!" Ah, finally someone I knew, Harry was staring at me with wide green eyes, his hand halfway through his hair and in his pj's. "What, how did you get in here?" He paused for a little bit, thinking about what he said before continuing. "Let me rephrase that, how did you find here?"

"I, I just wanted to make sure you were alright and all, after someone entering you in the contest and making sure that you'd get in." I quickly shot out, and Harry looked immensely relieved, probably to hear that someone believed him. As everyone should, Harry didn't go around purposefully looking for trouble, I knew that if he could, he would be a normal person, like Ron, Neville, Ernie or even Cedric, but not Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived, defeater of who-know-who.

"Thanks Hermione, and I'm not even going to ask how you got here, I probably don't want to know." Harry chuckled and hugged me, I noticed Blaise sneak away into the shadows, obviously feeling slightly awkward. "Now you should go back to your dormitories, again thanks." He kissed the top of my head and a wave of relief washed through me. "See you in the morning at breakfast." I nodded and stumbled off towards my common room.

So much happened so quickly, the first task came and went, and it was dragons. Of all bloody things out there, they had to choose dragons. Not even being able to stomach thinking about breakfast I skipped it completely and I headed towards where the dragons were being kept, just to see them. When I was half way there someone stopped me. "Hey, you can't head - Hermione!" I was surprised to hear Charlie, I grinned at the familiar voice and hugged him tightly. "It's good to see you, how have things been going on with you recently?" He asked, and we talked for quite a while, it was really neat. But then I had to get to the stands and watch the contestants.

The first three went by in a blur and then Harry came out, I sincerely hoped he remembered what he was supposed to be doing, the accio charm, oh dear I hoped it worked! Thankfully it did and he successfully achieved the golden egg from where the dragon was guarding it. Immediately after he finished I charged off towards the tent where they were being taken care of, I noticed that I wasn't the only one there, Ginny was. She was fretting over Harry almost as much as Madame Pompfrey was, it was hysterical, but I was still suspicious as to why she was here. As I waited for them to finish talking I sat down in between Cedric and Viktor, unintentionally, I wasn't paying attention.

"It's Hermione Greengrass, right, the wicked smart Ravenclaw?" Cedric turned to face me and I nearly jumped. "I've heard about you from Cho." Oh, Chang, the girl in the year ahead of me that I think Harry thought was cute, she's the Ravenclaw seeker, anyway, random brain fact overload. I accepted Cedric's hand and I shook it. "Oh yea, I'm Cedric, Cedric Diggroy, sorry about that." I blinked, wow, he didn't immediately assume that everyone knew who he was, that was, interesting.

"Yea, that's me, Hermione, but I'm not sure about the smart part." I mumbled, blushing a bit. I continued to talk with Cedric, and Viktor, they were both quite amusing and then I remembered why I was there. And that was when I noticed Harry watching me, half smirking, my gosh, he spent to much time with Draco, way to much time. "Oh, heey, Harry, let's go get food. Nice chatting with you two." I waved to Viktor and Cedric, even though I was most likely going to see the former at dinner, he had taken to sitting with the Slytherin's, where I happened to sit a lot, not intentionally of course.

Dinner came and went fast, and then the next morning started, and when I entered the great hall I felt dozens of glares. Oh great, what did I do now? Not wanting to cause too much of a scene, I decided to sit at the Ravenclaw table with Astoria, Ginny and their new friend Luna. "Okay, what is up, why is everyone acting like, I, brought you-know-who back or something?" I finally demanded of them when I noticed Cho glaring daggers at me. There was a bit of stuttering and mumbling and finally someone handed me the Daily Prophet.

On the front of it was a big picture of, me? What? And below it read "Hermione Greengrass, The Rich Boy Magnet" I gagged on my pumpkin juice here, and looked around. But Ginny told me to continue reading. It had something about me dating Harry, Draco, Viktor and what the heck, Cedric? Not at the same time thankfully. Finally when I finished reading, I saw who it was written by, non other then Rita Skeeter, the trash talker of everyone except the people she likes, and that's pretty much no one, other then the ministry.

"So basically, she thinks I was dating Draco, cause he's from two of the riches families ever, and then I dated Harry for his fortune and fame after I fell through with Draco, and then I got bored with Harry and wanted someone better, Viktor. And then because I was talking with Cedric in the tent while I waited for a certain red head to finish talking with Harry," I paused and Ginny turned a vibrant red. "I apparently hooked up with him too. Well, clearly I must have a lot of time on my hand to snag all of these boys, help Harry with the tournament, do school, homework, take notes for the dunce Draco and even do some of his homework."

"I'll be back." Standing up angrily, I marched over to the Slytherin table, Ginny trailing behind me. "Darren, why are you looking at me like that, you don't honestly believe the prophet do you?" I asked shrilly, glaring at him, gulping he shook his head and turned to put ketchup on his rashers. "Hi Drake, Harry, Viktor." I half smiled at all of them. "Don't worry, people will stop whispering and pointing eventually." I said mock soothingly to Draco, who had looked incredibly worried ever since he saw me enter the Great Hall.

"No, we weren't worrying about us, we were worrying about you." Harry and Draco said in unison, and then by the looks of it, mentally high fived, not wanting to be totally rude. I sighed and rolled my eyes. "We are dead serious Hermione, you better watch all of your mail from now on, and if anything happens to you in or out of mail, I will personally request that Filius go through all of your mail to make sure nothing else happens to you." Harry said firmly, and my look of amusement disappeared. "Trust me, I've talked to Viktor and Draco about this, you really should."

I nodded and ever since that day, I'd been getting ton of hate mail, I was nearly hexed once somehow and Harry kept his word and talked with Filius about it. But things eventually calmed down by the time that the Yule Ball was announced. I was super excited for it. By the time dinner passed I knew at least a few people had dates. But I doubted the people I knew did. Right as I was in the middle of dessert a blushing, ecstatic Ginny showed up. Her 'you'll never believe what just happened' was that Harry asked her to go to the Yule Ball with him, but apparently he said they were going as just friends, ha, yea right. Now I was just stuck waiting for someone to ask me, I doubt anyone would, that would be bad.