Did I Use Too Much Magic?

Chapter 21

Hermione's POV

There will be no Valentine's Day Ball this year. The teachers say it's because it's too close to the second task but we all know it's because of the drama of last year, with Draco smashing the Hall to pieces.

The second task will take place ten days after Valentine's Day (which is tomorrow). I do hope that Ron has worked out the clue, he says he has, but in situations like these I struggle to believe him.

Who knows, maybe he isn't as stupid as I make him out to be.

Ron's POV

It's Valentine's Day and I am no closer to finding out the meaning of that stupid Golden Egg. I've decided I'm going to be honest with Hermione, her brain functions better than mine and Harry's put together. But I think even Hermione will struggle to understand the wailing screams that pierce the air every time you open the egg.

Who was I kidding when I thought I could become Triwizard Champion? Willow isn't going to be proud, she'll laugh just like everyone else will when they see me.

Even though there's no ball they've still allowed us a trip in to Hogsmeade which is probably better in the long run. It's a good place to tell Hermione. We've agreed to invite Viktor Krum to come with us because he doesn't know where Hogsmeade is and he wants to explore the area, also he has become a very good friend of our's since the Yule Ball.

After breakfast me and Hermione collected Willow from the Hospital Wing and met Viktor in the Entrance Hall. He was wearing a brown fur hat and a long black robe that went down to his ankles, covering his black trousers and jumper.

Viktor reached out for Willow and Hermione passed her over and once Viktor had a safe one handed hold of her he pulled a fur hat out of his robe and pushed it gently on Willow's head, "So you don't get cold," and then he started tickling her chin.

We then walked in to Hogsmeade, Viktor cradling Willow all the way there. At some points he put Willow above his head and started running, pretending that Willow was flying which made us laugh. At the entrance to Hogsmeade Viktor stopped, stunned, for before him was a village, packed with Hogwarts students milling about the many shops. As we walked along the main road I pointed out some places to him, "There's Zonko's Joke Shop, absolutely hilarious, and Honeydukes Sweet Shop, delicious, and over that hill is the Shrieking Shack which is supposedly haunted, and The Three Broomsticks, amazing pub. So where do you want to go first?"

Viktor went round and round in circles dazed and laughing, "I want to go everyvhere!"

Me and Hermione made a snap decision to go and grab a drink first so we visited The Three Broomsticks.

"3 Butterbeers please," I requested from Madam Rosmerta and we sat and drank the butterbeer, letting the warmth spread through our bodies, bracing ourselves for going out again in to the chill air.

"You know, you Hogvarts people are very lucky, us at Durmstrang are not allowed this type of freedom," Viktor said, finishing his drink.

"What do you do on weekends then?" Hermione asked.

"Ah, study and duel... And study some more,"

"Mustn't be very fun at your place," I replied.

"It's not, this has been my favourite year at school, I wish I came here all the time. Everyone is so lovely as vell,"

"Not everyone," I muttered under my breath as I spied Draco Malfoy entering the pub, taking off his own hat. Hermione glared but then Viktor asked a question that I didn't really know how to answer: