Viktor stood in his kitchen pushing scrambled eggs around in a pan with a spatula, humming quietly so as not to wake the sleeping beauty upstairs by singing loudly, as was his custom on happy mornings.

(Now, don't look so shocked, either. Real men cook the Muggle way too, damn it, and Viktor is secure enough in his masculinity to wear a pink apron while doing so!)

However, when he heard light footsteps pad around above him, he knew that it didn't much matter anyways, since she was already awake, so he began to belt out his favorite tune.

Hermione came running down the stairs immediately, hair mussed from sleep, her features groggy-looking, and wand at the ready.

Viktor stopped singing and looked over, confused.

It was her turn to look confused now. "We aren't under attack?" She murmured.

"No," Viktor murmured. "Vhyever vould you think that?"

She didn't answer his question, but asked another one in turn. "What in the name of Merlin was that Gods-awful noise?"

Viktor blushed and looked down at the plate in front of him, embarrassed and slightly wounded by her harsh words.

"I vas singing." He said quietly.

Her eyes bugged out a bit, and then she regained control over her expression. "Oh. Viktor, I'm-"

"It is…" He interrupted. "How you say? No big thing. I shall not sing if you do not vish."

"Viktor-"

"Breakvast is ready." He said quickly. Merlin, how he loved this girl, but he could not handle anymore of her hurtful words. She did not mean for her words to cause pain, he was sure, but that didn't change the fact that they did.

He snapped out of his reverie and smiled at her, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Eat, before gets cold."

She reluctantly took a seat without further argument and began to eat, surprised at how hungry she was. She felt like she was eating for two.

Viktor watched as she practically inhaled the entire thing. She ate just as much as he did, if not more.

He made a show of looking over at her stomach, which was, amazingly, still flat.

"Vhere does all go?" He exclaimed in wonder.

She laughed along with him and was thankful for the restoration of the lighthearted mood of the household.

She was also glad that Viktor seemed to realize she didn't want to talk about the reason for her unexpected visit. He could obviously sense that it was a deep-rooted pain that ailed her, and now that she was physically healed, she needed help to emotionally heal.

Hopefully, strength would come.

He pushed his chair back from the table and patted his stomach, sighing contentedly. Hermione giggled.

He grinned at her.

"Now," He murmured, still smiling. "Sightseeing, yes?"

…

"You're completely insane! You've bloody lost your bloody fucking mind!" screeched Severus at the old man who was sitting in the chair behind his desk with that infuriatingly calm expression on his wrinkled face.

"Severus," Albus said in a dangerously quiet tone. "Sit before I change my mind and decide to sedate you until we find Miss Granger, rather than keeping you posted."

"Keeping me posted? NO, DAMN IT, IT'S MY BLOODY FAULT SHE'S GONE AND I'M GOING TO BLOODY FIX THIS BLOODY MESS YOU OLD DOUCHER!"

"Severus Tobias Snape, sit down NOW or I shall hex you into the next century."

Severus let out a non-committal "hmph" at the usage of his full name, but plopped down into the chair and crossed his arms across his chest, looking like a sullen boy whilst doing so.

Dumbledore took a deep, calming breath, and then smiled at Severus.

"My dear boy," Albus began.

"It is obvious from your words that you believe you are at fault for the disappearance of Miss Granger. Indeed, you probably could've been a bit more delicate when handling the situation. I will not try to convince you otherwise, nor will I sugar-coat the situation.

"But, Severus," The Headmaster continued. "I am about to give you a direct order, and I fully expect it to be followed."

He waited for Snape to nod.

Once he did, Albus continued.

"You will listen to every word I have to tell you tonight, and then you will do exactly as I say. I expect you to make me a vow."

Severus' eyebrows shot up, but then he sighed and nodded.

Albus smirked, then rambled on in his schpeel.

"Swallow your pride for a moment, Severus. Vanquish the sense of nobility that demands you work in solitude toward a solution. Let us help you. Please. I know you feel terrible – you're a horrible Occlumens when you're upset – but honestly, Severus, we have wasted so much time already. I do not think that Hermione is in danger at all, personally, and agree with your suspicions that she went to Viktor to find solace.

"However, I do not think it right to go after her just yet."

Severus opened his mouth immediately to protest, and Dumbledore silenced him by raising his right hand.

"Hear me out.

"Hermione Granger no doubt ran from Hogwarts because she was in emotional turmoil, the most painful agony of the mind. She loved you, Severus, truly loved you. Loved you enough to trust you to take care of her heart.

"And what did you do? Why, you quashed her hopes and dreams and treaded all over everything she had ever believed in, which includes yourself.

"How do you think she will fare, Severus, if we come bursting into Viktor Krum's kitchen and drag her out by her toes? She'll go insane, if she isn't gone already. The mind can only endure so much, Severus. You are both an excellent Occlumens and a Legillimens – you have seen the inner workings of the mind. You know I speak truth.

"Leave her to heal, for now, Severus.

"If you truly love her like I know you do."

Severus Snape was silent.

Dumbledore then rather abruptly switched out of serious mode and went back into happy-bubbly-crazy-old-man normalcy.

"As for your other comment, I do believe you called me an 'old doucher'? While I admit to being old, I do not have a vagina and I am also very, very gay, so I cannot say I have ever used a douche. You must have been misinformed."