Forever, I Promise

Selection of the Champions

"What do you think of him?" Hermione asked flatly. No emotion. She was hiding something.

"Krum? As is Victor? Victor Krum?" I responded, leaning up against the library desk. She nodded, releasing her very large textbook into the air. I watched as it floated up into its assigned space on the shelf, the other tomes scooting over so they could all fit in place. "Um, I don't know. he's alright. I mean," I glanced around, looking for anyone listening, and dropped my voice to a murmur, "he's not bad."

"Yeah?" Her eyebrows raised, another book releasing into the air.

"Why do you ask?" I swiveled and followed her further down the aisle. It was almost time for the champion selection, and although I was dying to see who was going to be selected, I knew it wasn't going to be any of my friends or people I knew. They were all going to be older, and I would only recognize the champion from Hogwarts. But nonetheless, I was excited.

"No reason," she replied, releasing her final book and readjusting her bag over her shoulder.

"Mione," I grinned, grabbing her arm to catch up with her. "You fancy him?

"Oh, absolutely not!" Her cheeks flushed and she swatted my arm away, hiking her bag further up. "He just..." she trailed off, nodding her head side to side.

"He just what?"

"I always find him looking at me in the halls." She frowned now. "Whenever I look up, I see him watching me." She glanced over to see my smile and she chuckled. "Not in a creepy way, Rue, he's just observing."

"I think he might fancy you." We giggled and I shoved her lightly as we walked out of the library. "Mione's got an admirer."

"What's that?" Ron's voice echoed from the corridor behind us. Hermione whipped her head to look at me with pleading eyes and I nodded slightly. I wouldn't tell them about Krum. I knew she fancied Ron, although she'd never told me. He was all she ever really talked about, not to mention how they argued. She was mad for him. 

"An admirer?" Harry linked arms with me and I grinned. Ron's smile faltered slightly.

"Who does?"

"Mione-" Harry started, but I cut him off.

"I've got one," I smiled slyly and Harry pursed his lips. He glanced towards me and realization flooded his eyes. We'd talked about this on many occasions. he knew exactly what was going on, he just didn't know who fancied Hermione.

"And who would that happen to be?" Harry retorted, a smile growing on his lips. He would always protect Hermione.

"Victor Krum." Hermione's eyes widened and she shot me a glare. I was a Slytherin for a reason. Why not stir up a little mischief? After all, I couldn't completely lie to my friends.

"Bogus," Ron laughed. "You think Harry and I are thick enough to believe that?" He linked his arm with Harry's as we walked towards the Great Hall for the selections.

"Why not?" I grinned. "I'd say I'm fair game for Krum."

"Yeah, if you were four years older." He chortled as we rounded the corner. I rolled my eyes sarcastically, a smile almost splitting my face. But as I looked up, I quickly stopped and dropped my arms from between Hermione's and Harry's.

Draco stood in the hallway, leaning against the castle bricks. A smug look sat perched on his chiseled features but I saw something different hidden deep in his eyes. Pain.

"Ah, just who I've been looking for." He strutted up to us, stopping in front of me. "Thought you said you'd be in the library. Didn't know you'd be with-"