Love at First Sight (Harry Potter)

The Goblet of Fire

|ALEXANDRIA WEASLEY'S P.O.V|

"I don't believe it!" said Ron, his voice drowning in shock. His eyes were wide, his jaw slack, as us Hogwarts students filed back up the steps behind the party from Durmstrang. He stared straight ahead, but it was unseeing. "Krum! Viktor Krum!"

"For heaven's sake, Ron, he's only a Quidditch player," said Hermione irritably, clearly becoming impatient with his state of awe.

"Only a Quidditch player?" Ron repeated, now looking at her as though he could not believe his ears. "Hermione — he's one of the best Seekers in the world! I had no idea he was still at school!"

"Suppose you don't know your lover as well as you think you do," I said with a small, quiet tut.

We recrossed the entrance hall, following amidst the crowd, heading for the Great Hall. Ahead, Lee Jordan was jumping up and down on the soles of his shoes in hopes of getting a better look at the back of Krum's head. Several sixth-year girls were frantically searching their pockets to the left of us as we walked —

"Oh I don't believe it, I haven't got a single quill on me —"

"D'you think he'd sign my hat in lipstick?"

"Really," scoffed Hermione loftily in distaste as we passed the girls, who had slowed to a halt and were squabbling over the lipstick. Students pushed past their group roughly.

"I'm getting his autograph if I can," said Ron, looking away from the girls. "You haven't got a quill, have you, Harry?"

"Nope, they're upstairs in my bag," said Harry, his brow raised to his hairline in amusement.

"I might have one," I said to Ron. He turned to me, very hopefully, his head nodding quickly. I glanced down and started to reach for the pocket of my cloak. Suddenly, I stopped and gave a single suck on my teeth. "Oh wait, why would I possibly have a quill when I have no other school equipment on me?"

We entered the Great Hall, finally managing to separate from the centre of the crowd as everyone made for their House tables. The four of us walked over to the Gryffindor table, Ron now grumbling.

"I won't be able to sleep tonight without his autograph. I won't, I swear."

"Well, I'll recall that fondly before I'm asleep in my bed the next hour from now."

Ron had taken care to sit on the side facing the doorway, seeing as Krum and his fellow Durmstrang students were still gathered around it, apparently unsure about where to sit. The students from Beauxbatons had already chosen seats at the Ravenclaw table. They were looking around the Great Hall with glum expressions on their faces, seemingly unimpressed. Three of them were still clutching scarves and shawls around their heads.

"It's not that cold," said Hermione defensively, once she had noticed them. "Why didn't they bring cloaks?"

"Over here! Come and sit over here!" Ron hissed at Krum, as though he would be heard. His eyes were set on the Seeker like a hunter whom had spotted its prey. "Over here! Hermione, budge up, make a space —"

"What?"

"Too late," said Ron bitterly, sinking down on the bench.

Viktor Krum led his fellow Durmstrang students down the aisle between the Hufflepuff and Slytherin tables. They settled themselves at the latter, to the great approval of Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle — all of whom now looked to be quite smug. As Ron watched, glowering, Malfoy leant forward to speak to Krum.

"Yeah, that's right, smarm up to him, Malfoy," said Ron scathingly, his teeth gritted. "I bet Krum can see right through him, though . . . bet he gets people fawning over him all the time. . . . Where d'you reckon they're going to sleep? We could offer him a space in our dormitory, Harry . . . I wouldn't mind giving him my bed, I could kip on a camp bed."