Before Hermione could object, he began to lead her in the waltz. She took a moment to look over his shoulder, trying desperately to catch Pansy or Theo’s eyes but she couldn’t find them. Nor could she find Draco.

Her heart sunk – had he seen the way Krum was too close to her and misunderstood? Had he not noticed that she had released the charm on her bracelet? It had been as much a reassurance for Draco as it had been a way to get Krum to back off (albeit, a poor one).

They spun in a circle, Hermione turning to her new dance partner – as was customary in this dance – with relief to have a moment away from Krum and his eyebrows. She gasped slightly when Draco stood in front of her, hand raised to start the formation.

“Thank Godric ,” she whispered, trying her best to school her features.

Smoothly Draco took her into his arms, maintaining the proper distance for the dance though Hermione wanted nothing more than to press herself against him.

“I’m going to kill him,” Draco muttered in a low tone. “If he pants in your face one more time, I’m going to absolutely annihilate him.”

She couldn’t even find it in her to be scandalized by his words, instead she nodded darkly.

As he spun her away from him, her bracelet glittered in the lights surrounding them, and his grey eyes grew hot as he pulled her back to him.

“You released the charm on it,” he said breathlessly.

She bit her lower lip. “I did.”

The music was beginning to change and she knew she only had moments left with Draco before she had to return to Krum.

“I’m yours, Draco,” she said in a rush, her words barely catching over the strings.

Stepping back, he gave her the customary bow that signaled the end of this section of the dance, and felt his lips graze her palm. She could just feel the whisper of I’m yours against her skin before Krum grabbed her other hand and spun her into his arms.

“I’m sorry, Herminny,” Krum said gravely. “I did not know he would be your partner.”

Hermione started for a moment, before realizing that yes, of course she should be shaken up after having danced with Draco Malfoy. She did her best at a grimace – which wasn’t too hard considering how close Krum was holding her now – and gave a little shrug.

“I’m used to him by now,” she said weakly.

“Do not worry, I will not let you out of my sight for the rest of the ball,” Krum said gallantly.

Hermione just barely stifled a groan.

During the next dance, she finally caught sight of Pansy in the crowd who gave her only the barest of nods before turning to Theo while Krum spun her towards the opposite end of the dance floor. With each dance that passed his hands grew bolder and bolder, until Hermione had bit the inside of her cheek so hard she could taste blood at holding back a scream.

Krum hadn’t noticed her bracelet, hadn’t noticed the stiff way she held herself, hadn’t noticed her grimace each time he leant his face close. He seemed completely oblivious to her discomfort – or perhaps he just didn’t care.

Only moments after she’d made eye contact with Pansy, however, she saw a mop of curly brown hair sidling through the edges of the crowd. Theo timed it perfectly, right as Krum had stepped back to spin Hermione, Theo ran into him spilling punch over the front of his dress robes.

“Oh my sincerest apologies!” Theo said, quickly conjuring a handkerchief from a pocket to wipe the front of Krum’s robes. “I didn’t see you there!”

Theo appeared to blink for a few moments as if shocked before adding: “Salazar, you’re Viktor Krum! International quidditch sensation!”

Hermione sighed with relief, starting to step around Krum when she felt herself pulled violently to his side with an oof . Theo’s face darkened slightly as Krum waved off his apologies good naturedly.

“Here, let’s get out of the way and I’ll cast a cleaning charm on you. Mum always said it’s handy to know a few spells for moments like this,” Theo prattled, all but grabbing Krum’s arm and pulling him and Hermione from the dance floor.

It was true, Narcissa had taught them all basic robe cleaning charms this past summer.

At least Theo hadn’t left yet, but Hermione’s stomach turned over as Krum’s hand slid lower down her waist to her hip as Theo guided them to a secluded corner of the hall behind a stone pillar. That was, until she saw Draco’s shock of white blonde hair and Blaise’s dark green robes (even in this moment of stress, Hermione had to admit Blaise’s robes perfectly matched Daphne’s gown).

“Ah, Krum,” Draco said in a voice that dripped with menace.

Blaise ominously popped his knuckles.

“Malfoy, Zabini,” Krum said courteously with a nod, holding Hermione tighter to his side as if afraid they may try to steal her from him.

Well he’s not wrong , Hermione thought.

“Get a little messy there?” Draco drawled, eyes judgmentally settling over the stains on Viktor’s dress robes.

“Well, your friend and I had a bit of a… run in,” Krum said, still seeming oblivious to the tension that permeated the space.

“Hmmm…” Draco tutted. “I suppose that’s what happens when you touch things that don’t belong to you.” He stepped closer to Krum and Hermione was pleased to see Malfoy was a few inches taller. “Sometimes things get a little messy .”

Krum’s thick eyebrows drew together in confusion.

“I don’t understand, Malfoy. Touch things…”

“That don’t belong to you,” Draco finished for him, his eyes dipping to the bracelet sparkling on Hermione’s wrist.

Krum’s dull eyes moved from Draco, to Hermione, and back again.

“That is impossible, you must be mistaken,” Krum said quickly. “She is mudblood.”

Hermione had to admit she was a bit surprised that Krum pointed out her blood status, especially considering she was his date. But she assumed that her proximity to Harry had much more to do with his interest than anything else, as well as her looks if his grubby hands were any indication.

Behind him, Blaise let out a low whistle while Theo chuckled menacingly. In Krum’s confusion, Hermione took the opportunity to extricate herself from his embrace. The moment she did, Theo took her by the arm and positioned her slightly behind him.

“Oh mate,” Blaise said with a laugh. “You just seriously fucked up.”

Draco didn’t laugh, didn’t sneer or threaten. Instead, he took one long look at Krum before rearing back and punching him straight in the nose. Krum fell back, but Draco didn’t give him time to recover before he was on him, hitting him again and again until his knuckles were bloody and bruised.

Once Blaise and Theo realized Draco wasn’t letting up, they sprang trying to pull him off the Bulgarian. But it was obvious Draco was seeing red, throwing them off easily before getting another shot in Krum’s stomach.

Finally, Hermione stepped forward and in a far calmer voice than what she felt said firmly:

“Draco, love, that’s enough.”

Only then did Draco relax, letting Krum’s body slump to the ground while Krum let out an inarticulate groan. Draco shook out his bloodied hand before turning to Hermione.

“If you aren’t outside of the great hall in two minutes, I’m coming back in to get you and I don’t give a damn who sees,” Draco said in a tone so low it made something inside her grow hot. Then he turned to Blaise and Theo. “Get him patched up and remind him what will happen if he speaks a word about this to anyone.”

Theo and Blaise only nodded before Draco swept from behind the pillar and was immediately swallowed by the crowd.