And my Demons left Behind

Dark as Midnight

His croak a chilling call to Death, his coat as dark as Midnight

Hermione Jean Granger was not having a brilliant day today. With December just around the corner, the first of snowflakes showing their presence over the Highlands, she was getting a bit frustrated at the audacity of the whole lot.

Everyone, literally three-quarters of the Hogwarts population was interested in just a sodding Christmas dance till the middle of the night.

No, it wasn't like Cinderella, that was for sure. She didn't remember there being any snow on the outside, not any mention of boys being red as tomatoes 24/7 when she had read it countless times during her childhood.

Well, at the very least, she didn't have a single invitation from anyone — no awkward stammering nor a casual joking one.

And yes, maybe she was waiting for someone special.

But she DIDN'T mean a Bulgarian duck-footed superstar.

"Hermioninny", somebody stammered, and she turned around to be just a mere foot away from Viktor Krum. She yelped like a donkey and jumped a good three feet away.

"Sorry, I did not vant to startle yu", he said with a thick Bulgarian accent.

"No, it's ok. I wasn't paying attention, that's all", in contrast, her English stood out so much that she couldn't help but get lost in thought again.

"I was wondering, if you vill like to do me the honour accompany me to this Yule Ball", and she had a nervous system shutdown for a moment.

This international... Celebrity was interested in her?! A mere snobbish bookworm? It seemed like a big honour on one end and a fishy motive on the other.

"I am honoured... By your invitation", she managed. "May I think on this for some time and let you know?"

"No problem, my lady. I'll wait for your answer", and with a pleasant and genuine smile, he left.

She really felt a dizzying high in her self confidence, that she was asked by none other than the seeker finalist of the International Quidditch Cup.

But good things are rarely made to last.

"Like really?! Viktor Krum asked you!!", was the energetic response by Ron. She didn't know if he was angry or enthusiastic at this point, and was sure that his voice could be heard till Ireland.

"But wait a sec. You said you were going with Harry, right?", Ron asked. She never knew that after four years of being with her, he finally got more than teaspoon of sense within him.

Or not.

"I said I wanted to. There's a chasm of a difference there, idiot", she made a motion to swat him on the head, but he ducked away with practiced ease.

Really, the way he was looking at his book last Defence lesson, one would mistake it for being nonchalant. Hermione had, too. 

But when she was exiting the class, she realised the faraway look he carried as he sat on the window, as if all the happiness in the world sat on the horizon, taunting them to come but to never get to hold.

"Then why don't you go ask him out?", he dumbly retorted.

"Wow! What an epiphany! Lo and behold, the solution to my misery! Why hadn't I thought of this", she returned, sarcasm burning a hole in Ron's face.

"Come on! It's 1994 for goodness sake! We aren't living in the era of — I dunno, Ulick Gump?"

"It's Gamp! And you have ears during History as well, now? What an achievement", at which both of them chuckled.

A familiar mop of jet black hair passed through them, this time even without his glasses. Hermione's muscles contracted so tight against the flecks of emerald shining from his eyes that her legs turned to lead. Thank goodness she was sitting, or else word would have gone out that Hermione Granger could swoon.

Which she most certainly did NOT.

Ron nudged her shoulder in a silent invitation to go and get done with it, but her mind hesitated.

No, it was not stereotypes. It was more of the honest invitation that Viktor had given earlier. The poor fellow had thousands of girls ready to go out with him (and much more) at a second's glance, and he most probably wanted a quiet and enjoyable time away from the fanbase.

But didn't she herself deserve a happy time as well?

So, gathering up her Gryffindor courage, she stood up and went straight in a beeline for Harry James Potter.

"Hey Harry", she asked, with a happy smile on her face as always. She hated the fact that Harry smiled so little, and most of the time even those were just fake or carrying an edge. Like really, smiling a bit more wouldn't kill the world, Potter.

"Yeah", was the only reply. She also didn't like the fact that as soon as he gauged her proximity in his ten feet radius, he began searching for routes to get away from the situation.

But you won't get away so easily with Hermione's propo... Invite, Harry Potter.

"I was wondering, whether you'd like to go to the ball with me?", and a goal for Hermione Granger. Confidence and clarity, just like the book said.

Don't say it. Yeah, she did borrow a book on ball cultures, which Harry was interested in, might she add.

Oh. What if Harry had asked someone else? Shut it, Hermione!

"Uhh...", was the only coherent sound she could hear from Harry, and her confidence shattered into bits.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Alllllriiight.... It was a bit surreal. Weasley prompted Granger to ask him to the ball, while Viktor Krum had said when they'd met at the library that he was going to ask Granger right then.

But those weren't his worries, right? He had to reply instead to Granger right here, but then Viktor might feel hurt thinking Harry didn't tell him and stuff.

"Uhh...", was a low sound voicing his frustration.

Alright, yes or no. His finding a chance to woe anyone else seemed minimum, and Granger was the first choice anyways. Was he sure? Who knows, no one is. He needed a date anyways, and she might as well be some catch Sirius talked about.

"Sure", and he realised Granger had inflated her face in a kind of a red balloon. Glad she deflated, or else...

No one likes your dark humour, man.

"Sorry for asking... But, you do want to, right? Like you looked like you were trying to calculate whether or not to.. you know, like, go with me. So... Yeah"

"That's three likes in one sentence. Good to go for the record", Ronald provided, and Harry couldn't help but smile.

Your humour doesn't have to be as dry and dark as you are.

"I wouldn't have answered if I didn't want to", Harry shrugged and left.

Well, really, the maths and Sirius' biomechanics to down the drain. He got his date ask him out instead.

A/N: Those voices aren't mine. They're inside Harry's head. If you know about what it is, then you know. Or probably don't, as the story would progress quite well if my shameful writing can do miracles. Which it doesn't, apparently. My updates suck, I know, but that's life as a student, mate.