Hermione dropped the stack of books she was holding and felt her knees go weak. Viktor Krum in London?! Viktor Krum who was supposed to be in Bulgaria playing Quidditch was in her shop of all places?!

"Ow..."Viktor muttered standing, then crouching to pick up her books. She took a step back and looked at him bent low and pausing before standing back up to rub his toe through his shoe.

"He's different..." she thought. "Thats why I must have not recognized him at first...his hair is longer...he's dressed well." she glanced down at her own pale blue shirt dress she was wearing and tried to smooth out some of the wrinkles as Viktor stood again.

He stared at her and she smiled nervously, "Viktor...what-" she began.

"Why haven't you written me?" he inquired looking at her fiercely. "I have written to you Hermione... I tried to keep in contact with you. I-" but he broke off, perhaps thinking he had said too much. He shook his head and pressed the books into her arms, "I must go." he said.

"Viktor wait!" she pleaded as he reached the door to the book shop.

"I have, Hermione. It seems to get me nowhere." he replied not looking at her but at the floor; and with that he walked out into the city again leaving Hermione shaking with the shock of seeing him again and the shock of being in such close proximity to him again.

Viktor stared unblinkingly into the bright sky. He had found a small park crowded with trees and people walking dogs or having lunch together, and was now sitting on one of it's hard benches replaying against his own will what had happened in the shop. He had given up on the search of his hotel for the moment. He didn't want one frustration piled on top of another. What Gods had he angered in his past life to have this fate pressed upon him? How could he have so stupidly just walked into her shop? "You couldn't have known." he kept telling himself. Yes it certainly was a cruel joke fate was playing on him. Seeing her had brought out too many emotions that he normally kept in check, seeing her brought out that angry feeling of desire, of wanting something not caring if you can have it or not. He shook his head as though he could shake the feelings off as well. He stood, needing to get to his hotel, it was nearing five o' clock and practice started at five-thirty. He pushed open a small gate that led out of the park and walked onto the side walk looking ahead but looking at nothing.

"We'll always be this way won't we Viktor?" she said.

He looked down at her lying on his chest, they were sitting together under a big oak tree looking out at a lake while the sun set.

"Do you think I would have it any other way?" he replied smiling.

"You know, it's not proper to answer a question with a question Mr. Krum." she answered looking at him with one eye the other squinting against the sun.

"Oh is that so?" He scooted out from under her so she fell flat on the grass on her elbows and laughed at the expression on her face as she got on her knees, "Hey!" she shouted at him as he got up and ran behind the tree opposite theirs. He stood behind it repressing his laughter as she muttered incoherently, "...not funny..." and began to come after him. She walked towards the tree he was hiding behind and was snatched from view of any passersby.

"Oh Viktor..." she muttered, annoyed as he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to him. He laughed openly and she smiled as he lowered his head to kiss her.