When I was thirteen I met Viktor Krum, he had just won Bulgaria the Quidditch World Cup and I was ecstatic for my favourite player. The game had ended splendidly, Viktor pulling some never before seen trick that landed him the snitch, right out of Egyptian, muggle born, Seeker Rawya Zaghloul's reach. I'd been in awe of him, probably the only man besides my father that I looked up to.
We were in a VIP box, as always and had special clearance to meet the players. It was an early birthday gift from my parents.
"Krum" my father had clicked his fingers, summoning the seeker as he did everyone "this is my son, it's his birthday in two weeks. He'd like to meet you" I'd been dazzled as the huge man squatted a bit to speak to me eye to eye
"Vell happy birthday" he'd smiled genuinely "how old vill you be?"
"Fourteen" I'd grinned, my voice wavering as he shook my hand
"Tell me, did you enjoy the game?" my father moved away, seeing as was occupied well enough that he could go and talk business or politics or whatever boring thing it was he talked about
"Oh yeah! It was awesome! It was really great how you snatched the snitch right out from under the mudblood seeker" his smile dropped instantly and I stepped back scared by the look in his eye
"Vhat's your name boy?" his tone was gentle but he was still wearing that look
"Mitchell"
"Come here Mitchell, come stand here and look down there. Do you see that girl? Over by the door" I'd stood closer to him and followed in the direction he pointed and there stood a very beautiful woman, laughing and talking with a group. Being almost fourteen I was learning to appreciate girls and boobs. I appreciated this particular girl a lot
"She's hot" I blurted earning a chuckle
"Yes, she is. She's my girlfriend, I'm going to ask her to marry me tonight"
"Oh" I blushed, mortified
"What if I told you, she's the one who come up with that last manoeuvre I pulled, the vun that vun me the snitch?"
"No way!"
"And what if I told you she could perform magic that some aurors can't"
"That's pretty cool" I nodded, staring back at the woman with bit of a crush
"And what if I told you" he whispered "that she helped take down Voldemort?"
"Really?" I gasped, impressed and just a bit smitten
"Pretty spectacular vight?"
"Yeah! Who is she?"
"That's Hermione Granger" I'd balked, recognising the name and realising she wasn't just any old girl. She was the most accomplished witch her age "she's muggleborn, her parents are muggles, she went to a muggle school vhen she vas young. Vould you say she was any less a vitch than you or I is a vizard?" I shook my head "Vould you call her mudvlood?"
"No Sir, never"
"You see, muggleborn's are no different from us. Vhy should ve treat them any different? Vhy should ve call them such awful things?"
"I won't say it ever again Sir I swear"
"Good lad, here".
I'm not ashamed to admit I'd squealed when he presented me with the snitch he'd caught. He'd smiled, wishing me happy birthday and shaking my hand once more before meandering through the crowd to Hermione.
I have my own children now, Hermione Krum is their Headmistress at Hogwarts. It's been over thirty years since I met Viktor Krum, I still have the snitch and I've kept my word.