Chapter 1: Meet the Ambassador

Hermione Weasley was engrossed in her work at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement - so much so, that she almost didn't notice the knock at the door.

"Hermione?"

She glanced up and smiled at her father-in-law. "What is it, Arthur?"

"I have a request from the Minister. He wants you to greet the Wizarding Ambassador from Bulgaria on his behalf. The gentleman will be here in an hour or so, and the Minister will still be tied up in a meeting."

"Tell Kingsley that will be fine, Arthur," Hermione nodded.

"Excellent," Arthur smiled. "How are the children?"

"Fine, just fine. Rose thinks she and her teammates have a shot at the playoffs for Gryffindor. Hugo….. he's making friends, seems happy."

"And you seem happier than I've ever seen you, my dear," Arthur observed.

Though sweet of him to say so, happy might not exactly be the right word to describe herself at the moment. Since her husband Ron's death many years ago - she had been pregnant with Hugo, Rose still small - Hermione had tried her best to live life as a single mom.

"I'm…. better," Hermione conceded. "I'm forging on."

Arthur nodded, that fatherly smile still on his face. "Remember: about an hour. Wait by the Floo lifts."

Hermione gave him a parting wink.

One hour later, Hermione was waiting by the Floo lifts. It was only mid-afternoon, that dreary No-Man's Land between lunch and quitting time, so she figured even a worker bee like herself deserved a brief break.

Just then, out of the lifts came a tall, handsome figure - and even though roughly three decades had passed, she recognized who it was. She approached, trying not to gawk in happy surprise.

"Viktor?"

He eyed her, and his face lit up. "Hermi-o-ninny!" Hermione laughed at the mispronunciation of her name - nostalgia by now - and permitted a friendly hug. "I did not know you vorked here!"

She nodded, smiling. "Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The Minister of Magic asked me to welcome you. He will be tardy in his meeting with you. He hopes you understand."

Viktor dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "I can vait. Vith you here, the time vill fly! Valk vith me?"

Hermione nodded and they proceeded down the main hall.

"Did you have a nice trip?"

"Long. Very long. I am in the mood for a…. how-do-you-say….. coffee? Is there any close by?"

"We have one downstairs. Come on, I'll show you!"

Moments later, Viktor and Hermione were seated in a small coffee shop just off the edge of the Ministry's thoroughfares.

"This is so nice! And to think you have it here in the Ministry!" Viktor marveled.

Hermione chuckled. "It's become popular in Muggle offices. Harry had it installed, and the rest of us have been addicted ever since."

Viktor eyed her, a twinkle in his eye. "Harry Potter, yes?"

Hermione shrugged. "My brother-in-law."

This got Viktor's attention even more. "Not husband? I vould have….."

Hermione burst out laughing. "We have only ever been friends - like quasi-siblings, really. Marrying into the same family only helped."

Viktor nodded, brow furrowed. "You married him, then? Weasley."

The humor from moments before had been sucked out like a balloon. Hermione nodded. "Yes. Yes, I married Ron. I….. was married…." She took in a long breath to maintain her composure. "Almost 9 years."

She did not need to clarify. Viktor read her easily. "I am so sorry for your loss. I admit, I did not know him as vell as Harry, but…. he vas a good man, it seemed to me. A loyal man - especially to you."

Hermione shook her head with a tender smile. "Oh, yes, and many other things as well."

"Did he give you children?"

"A boy and a girl. Rose is in her last year at Hogwarts; Hugo is 12, just started his second."

"They must do you proud, I'm sure."

Hermione could not keep the smile from her face; Viktor was so sweet. "They do. Now, what about you? Married? Kids?"

"My vife, Ashley, she pass away from cancer….. six years ago now? No children, unfortunately."

Hermione stared. She knew how it felt to lose a spouse, but to cancer? That was surely worse than the quick, unforgiving way she had lost Ron on one of his Auror missions with Harry. "I…."

Viktor nodded his head. "Thank you. I miss her still, but it has gotten easier."

"Hermione!" The call of her name made her jump about a foot in the air and she turned to see the Minister and his entourage heading towards them from across the indoor plaza. Kingsley shook Viktor's hand.

"Mr. Ambassador - it's good to see you."

"And you, Minister."

Kingsley gestured to Hermione with a teasing smile. "This lady been yakking your ear off?"

"Oh no! Hermy-own and I go back to school days."

"Uh-huh," Kingsley noted, picking up on the name bungling but choosing to ignore it. Hermione rose to leave; she needed to get back to work anyway. She gave Viktor a parting side-hug. "It was good to see you, Viktor."

"And you. Alvays."

Hermione stared after the handsome Bulgarian as he left with the Minister.