Atonement

This year was actually not as bad as my previous three, or so it seemed. I had finally achieved a level of anonymity that had the other students ignoring me unless I was foolish enough to bring myself to their attention. I was growing used to the Time-Turner and to my rigorous schedule. I no longer read ahead when I was supposed to be asleep; I went to bed at regular hours (or as regular as I could manage with homework from a dozen classes piling up). The established routine was easy to slip into.

Almost before I knew it, Halloween was upon me. With it came the delegations from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute. I found Durmstrang's name particularly interesting - having taken German in Muggle school and continuing my studies at the library at Hogwarts, I was able to translate the name into a German phrase meaning 'storm and stress'.

At the feast that night, Dumbledore announced the rules for the tournament. When he explained the Age Line, a trickle of relief found its way down my spine against my will. I didn't want to feel relieved that my betrayer would be safe.

Once he had explained all the rules, Dumbledore dismissed us. He told us to sleep soundly, especially as classes would continue tomorrow and the drawing would be held.

"'Ello," a heavily accented voice said in my ear. Spinning around, trying to keep my heart from bursting out of my chest, I saw one of the boys from Durmstrang.

"Hi," I said, trying to get my breathing back to normal.

"Sorry if I startled you." He seemed to be weighing each word before he spoke, as if making sure his words wouldn't come out in his native tongue.

"It''s fine," I said absently. "I'm Hermione Granger. What's your name?"

"You are not knowing?" His eyes were surprised and pleased.

"Why would I?"

He smiled. "I am glad you do not. It is hard, having everyvun think they know you. I am Viktor Krum." Her extended his hand, and I shook it.

"That sounds familiar," I mused.

He muttered something very quietly in Rumanian, and I smiled, pleased at his compliment. Pulling out words in a language I had never spoken, only read, and that years ago, I said, "Thank you . . . for . . . the complement."

He looked at me, startled. "You speak it?"

"A little. Not much," I said, after trying to translate and reverting back to English. "I never tried to speak it before, I just read it when I was trying to learn it while I was in the library."

"That vos very good. Just vun thing-you used complement instead of compliment."

"Oh," I said.

"Viktor!" a man said just as I was about to continue. "Viktor, come. Ve should go back to the boat." In Rumanian, he continued, "Your lady friend should stop trying to get into your pants and go back to her own rooms."

"I have no intention of sleeping with him," I said coldly.

His face was priceless. "What-but-you-"

"Yes, I speak the Romance languages," I said tartly. "Not well, but well enough to understand you."

"Is there a problem here?" a new voice said smoothly. Turning around, I saw Snape. I guessed he had heard the barely-controlled fury in my voice and come over.

"Not a thing, Professor," I lied easily. "He was merely registering his opinion of my motives and my language skills."

"I see," he said, still looking faintly suspicious. "Be that as it may, I need to talk to you."

I nodded. "Bye, Viktor," I said, purposefully ignoring the other man.

"Ciao," he replied. I ducked my head to hide a smile and followed Snape out of the Great Hall.

"What were you thinking?" he asked under his breath. "Never get into a fight with Igor Karkaroff!"

"Was that who he was?" I asked dispassionately.

"Yes," he murmured. "He used to be a Death Eater, Hermione. You need to be careful."

"All right," I said. "So what did you want to talk to me about?"

"They created a new potion," he replied.

Hearing this, excitement coursed through my veins, perking me up. "Really? How does it work?"

He replied, "The asphodel leeches the moisture out, shrinking the tumor. A synthetic chemical lubricates the edges of the tumor, enabling it to reach a place where it can be taken out without risking brain damage." We made a right turn. "It's shown promise in lab testing, but you have understand-it's still experimental. We don't know the side effects. It's really risky."

"I want to try it anyway," I said.

"I thought you might," he said with a sigh. "We'll talk to Poppy tomorrow, then, after the feast. See what she thinks." We reached the painting that concealed my room. Good night, Hermione."

"Good night, Professor."

That night, I couldn't help but be excited. A chance to live? How could I not jump at the offer?

***

The next day, I went to my classes like I normally did, but my mind just wasn't on the material. I accidentally set Seamus Finnegan's robes on fire in Charms, and I changed poor Neville into a pig during Transfiguration. I managed to stir clockwise instead of counter-clockwise during Potions, turning what was supposed to be a Cheering Drought into a useless mess.I didn't hear a word of Trelawney's lecture, and rounded out my fiasco of a day by tripping down the Grand Staircase and getting my head stuck in a trick stair. Neville was the only one who took pity on me and helped me out.

"Thanks," I said. "And sorry again for Transfiguration."

"No problem," he said, brushing off both my thanks and my apology. We proceeded to the Great Hall in companionable silence, surprising me. I hadn't thought I could walk next to somebody without them trying to hex me. Being able to was a nice change.

Once the feast was over, Dumbledore stood to announce the Triwizard Champions.

"From Durmstrang-Viktor Krum!" People started cheering loudly, and I clapped politely. "From Beauxbatons, Fleur Delacour!" Polite cheering sounded around the Hall; a few of Delacour's compatriots were crying. "From Hogwarts-Cedric Diggory!" The table next to ours burst into so much applause I thought my ears would fall off.

"Thank yoUpu! Now, by supporting your champion, you will contributing toward a very real-" He stopped suddenly, and it was easy to see why: another paper was coming out of the Goblet of Fire.

"Harry Potter."