Chapter 229
Ever since Hermione revealed her partner for the Yule Ball, her relationship with Ron had grown tense. After the initial shock, Ron began picking arguments for no clear reason—at least, from Hermione's perspective.
She couldn't understand why he was angry. Was she supposed to report to him who she chose?
Ron even went so far as to suspect Viktor Krum had ulterior motives.
"He's from Durmstrang!" Ron said harshly. "He's Harry's rival—Hogwarts' rival! You—you—" He struggled to find the right accusation. "You're befriending the enemy!"
"Don't project your own pettiness onto others!" Hermione snapped. "I'm going to the library—move!"
She shoved past him, then turned back at the door.
"And who was it that couldn't control himself when he saw him? Who wanted his autograph? Who kept his model in the dormitory?"
Then she left without looking back.
"See?" Ron said bitterly. "He invites her once and suddenly she treats a friend of four years like this. I bet she's going to find Krum now."
Ginny hesitated. "Ron…"
"Serves him right," Fred and George said in unison, shaking their heads.
"Honestly, you've got a lot to learn about girls," George added. "Arguing with them is hardly gentlemanly."
"Especially when you lose," Fred chimed in. "Come on—if you don't want that model, I'll take it. I quite admire him."
"You all think it's my fault?!" Ron shouted, his face flushing red. He stormed upstairs.
Moments later, a model flew down the stairs—its arm shattered on impact.
---
Meanwhile, Hermione walked alone through the corridors, replaying everything.
A few days earlier, Krum had asked her to be his partner. She had asked for time.
Today, she had planned to give him her answer.
They met in the Great Hall.
"You don't look well," Krum said, his accent thick.
"I'm fine."
He hesitated, then asked, "Have you decided? Will you accept?"
"I have a question first," Hermione said. "Why me?"
Krum blinked.
"There are so many girls who would gladly go with you," she continued. "Beautiful ones. I'm just… me. I study well, perhaps—but that's all. My hair's always a mess. Why would you invite someone like me?"
Her tone grew guarded.
"I don't care about that!" Krum said quickly. "I think you're very beautiful. Others just don't see it."
He spoke earnestly.
"The day you rushed into the library—I noticed you. You're different. Confident. Independent."
Hermione remembered that moment—the first time they had spoken properly.
"I've never seen a girl like you," Krum added.
Hermione faltered slightly at the blunt praise.
Her instincts told her he was sincere.
"You might regret it," she said. "People might laugh. They'll say you're blind."
Krum slammed his fist on the table.
"Let them try."
The table rattled. Nearby students fell silent.
Only then did Hermione truly see the strength behind his quiet demeanor.
She smiled faintly.
"Then I have no reason to refuse. I'd be happy to go with you."
She extended her hand.
"Of course!" Krum said, shaking it quickly, all tension gone.
---
But Hermione underestimated how fast rumors spread.
On her way back, she overheard whispers:
"She must have used a love potion."
"Why else would Krum pick her?"
"Someone should report her to Snape."
Each word stung.
Her confidence wavered.
By the time she reached Gryffindor Tower, the frustration had already begun to build—and Ron's accusations had ignited it completely.
---
Despite this, her friendship with Harry Potter remained unchanged.
She continued helping him prepare for the Second Task, trying to decipher the clue in the golden egg.
But nothing worked.
Days passed.
Christmas arrived.
"Harry, aren't you worried?" Hermione asked, staring at him.
"It's Christmas, Hermione," Harry replied lazily, lounging by the fire with a Quidditch book.
"What about your homework? The golden egg?"
"It's only the first day of the holidays. And the task isn't until February."
He seemed completely relaxed.
"Hermione, you're overthinking it."
She frowned.
"If you had any ambition, you'd take this seriously! Don't you want to win?"
Harry sighed.
"Fine."
He stood up reluctantly.
The golden egg lay untouched in a box beneath his bed. He hadn't opened it since the celebration—the sound alone was unbearable.
"Let's go somewhere else," Hermione said. "Maybe Sirius Black can help."
Harry agreed.
Ron wasn't in the common room.
That simplified things.
---
Outside, the grounds were bleak. Leaves covered the path, crunching beneath their feet.
Soon, they reached Hagrid's hut.
"Harry!" Sirius greeted him warmly, pulling him into a hug.
He looked far healthier now—dressed in a thick fur coat, energetic and alert.
"Come in."
Inside, the hut had changed—cleaner, more orderly, almost unrecognizable.
They explained everything.
"Interesting," Sirius murmured, thinking.
"Let's open it," Hermione suggested, producing earplugs.
They prepared carefully.
Harry opened the golden egg.
A terrible wail erupted—but muffled enough to endure.
Then—
Pain.
Sharp, searing pain shot through Harry's scar.
"Surrender… or die."
A voice echoed in his mind.
A vision formed.
A man lay on a black marble floor, writhing in agony.
From Harry's perspective… he was the one inflicting it.
"For me, death is terrible," the voice hissed. "But for you… there are worse things."
The pain intensified.
Blinding.
Overwhelming.
Harry collapsed.
Darkness swallowed him.
The last thing he vaguely registered was Hermione's scream, Sirius shouting—
—and the golden egg still screaming in the background.
Can someone close it…
Then everything went black.