Loki Laufeyson and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 20; an old relationship

    (Told from Hermione's point of view)

I wanted to make a point of speaking to Loki again. I was kind of avoiding him after the Yule ball. I had to keep reminding myself that him going with Draco wasn't exactly different than me going with Krum. Why didn't I go with Loki? Well, it was complicated. He kind of just let me in the hall with Krum. I wasn't quite sure where he went, and that set something off within me. If he couldn't even stay with me for a few seconds in a moment that was clearly important to me, then why would I go with him?

Yes, I enjoyed Krum's company, but it hurt to see him with Draco. I still liked him even when he was female, but it was just kind of strange for me to think that under all that femininity he was still... Loki.

It was a few weeks after the second task when Rita Skeeter came out with a new article which, unsurprisingly, targeted me. And of course, since I'm a female, me and my love life.

It went over me and Krum, and also said that I had a romantic relationship with Harry as well, which was absolute rubbish.

"She's losing her touch." I scoffed as I handed Harry the article in potions class. I took a quick glance over at Loki, who was leaning back in his chair, feet on the table. He was twirling his wand in his hand, looking placidly at the ceiling.

"But, you know..." I turned back to Harry and Ron. "How did Skeeter know that Krum asked me to visit him over the summer?" It was specifically said in the article, and it made me concerned that she was meddling more than she should be.

"What?" Ron asked. He looked concerned, and slightly angry. "What did you say?"

"He said he wasn't doing anything and he'd be happy to visit me..." I continue, ignoring Ron's comment. "And he did say he had never felt the same way about anyone else." That was another thing she mentioned in the article.

"What did you say?" He repeated.

"Well, I was a little busy trying to see if you and Harry were okay to—"

"As fascinating as your social life is, Miss Granger, I must ask you not to discuss it during class. Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape had wandered over to our table.

I purse my lips.

"And reading magazines under the table now, are we?" Snape snatches up the copy of Witch Weekly off of the table. "Another ten points from Gryffindor. But of course..." Snape's eyes fell on Rita Skeeter's article. "Potter must keep up with his press cuttings."

The Slytherins roared with laughter. My eyes instinctively darted to Loki, who, to my pleasure, wasn't even looking at what was going on. He now looked like he was tracing the cracks in the ceiling with his wand.

"Harry Potter's Secret Heartache..." Snape began. He read the entire thing slowly and painfully, pausing every few seconds to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh.

As he finished, I could feel my face burning. Snape looked at me and Harry with a look of utmost triumph. "Well, we better separate the three of you, so you can keep your minds on your potions rather than your tangled love lives. Weasley, stay here. Granger, over by Miss Parkinson. Mister Potter, that table near my desk. Move. Now."

Angrily, Harry scoops up his materials and moves over to his new table, as I move over to mine. As soon as I get there, Pansy Parkinson smirks at me triumphantly. I scowl back at her.

I went back to working with my ingredients. Once the whole class had settled back in, I heard a loud bang next to me that made me jump.

"Hello."