"Yes, now you need to come with me. We are going to the flower market to buy flowers for your hair. Mila will tell you all you need to know when we return."

We walked to the flower market hand in hand. Women were plaiting flowers into headdresses in some of the booths. Viktor and I looked at several booths before one old woman called to him.

"Knyaz Viktor." She beckoned him to come over and then began to speak to him in Bulgarian. She held out a headdress made of Anemones and White Heather with herbs and white carnations. I recognised Rosemary, Borage, Bay leaf and Feverfew as the herbs used. He smiled and paid her for it. Then he stopped to buy a bouquet of white roses to take to the house.

"What did she call you?"

"Knyaz, it means prince. The people here can trace my family name back to the Khan Krum who conquered Sofia in 809. She says I have helped so many people here that I am a prince." He seemed embarrassed.

"You are a Prince, Viktor. My very own Prince Charming, didn't you know that?" I was feeling very giddy. Teasing him was fun.

"I meant what I said, Hermione. The two betrothals make you safe. In effect, it means we are married, almost. I will wait to consummate the marriage until the war is over. There are more things that must be explained, but not yet. I worry what the third task will be? I worry who the traitor is and why we have not found him. I worry for Harry and you. I really have loved you from that first day. You were so cool, so lovely sitting there near the Goblet of Fire. I winked at you and you smiled that shy smile of yours and my heart was lost."

"I thought you were including me in some secret. I feel so different, so much older than Harry or Ron. It is almost as if I had aged years in the last few months"

"You were always older than those two, mentally. Harry is a good boy, but he IS a boy. He will grow up more the closer he gets to fighting the Dark Lord, but for now he is still only a fourteen year old boy. You have nothing to worry about, Hermione, Harry will win when he fights the Dark Lord. That much I know for certain."

"Your birthday is coming up in a few weeks, too, Viktor. What do you want for a present?"

"If I said I want to marry you this very minute, you would just tell me we need to wait. If I said I want to win the next Quidditch World Cup, you would probably hit me. So, I will just tell you that I want to take you to Greece this summer. My father's sister and her husband have a house in the Mani on the side of a mountain.

It is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I would like our second betrothal to take place there. There is a cave in the Taygetus Mountains, which has been used as a place of worship for many thousands of years.

It was originally a temple to the Earth Mother, at some point the worshippers of Artemis took it over. It has been through many incarnations, Hermione, both pagan and Christian. It is a small place but full of magic, for me, at least. My Aunt Cassandra is friendly with the local Orthodox priest. We can have the Greek version of the betrothal in the cave chapel."

"Let's wait and see what happens, Viktor. Things may change by then. If things get wonky, I may have to go to the Weasleys this summer. They are practically my second family. Ginny is my best friend and Ron is like a brother; a rather annoying and dim brother. But his parents have always treated me like one of their own."

"That is fine. We do not have to do the second betrothal then. It can be put off. The first one gives you the protection. The second is for the prophecy and the marriage is for us."

"I think we had best get back to Niko's house. If Mrs. Nevsky is going to explain things to me, I want to hear it as soon as possible. I adore you, Viktor. What girl in her right mind would turn down getting betrothed to the man of her dreams?"

He kissed me.

"One thing, though, doushenka, if you ever want out of the betrothal; we must meet back here and undo the ritual. You may change your mind about me at some point."

"Do you honestly think that would happen, Viktor?"

"I am hoping it would not, but it is more honourable to tell you of the option. We are back at the house. You go find Mila and ask her to tell you the whole prophecy. I will deal with Karkaroff and the others. Wait, here is Niko, he can take you to Mila."

I stood with the headdress in my hands as Niko opened a door to a sunlit room off the garden. Mila Nevsky was waiting for me with her Tarot cards ready. She took the headdress and commented on it.

"Anemones, White Heather, Rosemary, Borage, Bay Leaf, Feverfew, and White Carnations, he did well with this one. All are fitting for you, innocence, strength, courage, undying love, protection, remembrance, and wishes coming true. Let me read the cards to see if your reading matches his. Then I will tell you of the prophecy. Sit, child, I have brought tea for you."

She poured my tea and gave me milk and honey to put in it. Then she laid the cards out in a traditional pattern.

"Yes, this fits: trials, death of a classmate, separations, doubts, problems with a person in authority, a new friend, danger, a flight, a battle, injury, all fits into the reading I did for Viktor. Yet this is only the next year. I will need to do another reading; perhaps at Christmas. Have you any questions?"

I was almost afraid to ask if she saw who died.

"The death of a classmate, is it Harry?"

"No, child, young Harry faces many things but his death is not for long years."

"What about the prophecy, can you tell me all of it?"

"Before either you or Viktor were born, the Seers of Bulgaria had seen the rise of a madman. They saw his fall at the hands of a child. They also saw his resurrection years later.

That is what this prophecy speaks about. It was predicted the madman would rise stronger and more deadly than before. The child who had defeated him, once would grow up alone and friendless. He would know much sorrow before finding his way. He would meet two other children who would aid him.

The girl is you. The other boy is a mystery. The signs for him have changed. There are two possible boys who will become part of the Troika.

Now, new signs show a young man who, without becoming part of the troika, protects the three. That is Viktor. The Arithmantic calculations done by the Seers showed a problem. The young girl was different than the others. She was Muggleborn and in danger. The guardian, Viktor, must protect her so that she fights alongside the young hero.

The number three always came up in relation to you and Viktor. It figures into the influences on the struggle against the Dark Lord. There are three men who will guide you and Viktor. There is another man, who is a force for both evil and good. He has made many mistakes. He will make many more. His life will be forfeit.

Alliances will be formed and reformed. The Ministry for Magic in your country will fail. There will be dark times for your and young Potter. There is a period where Viktor will be your only link to help. Many surprises await you, both good and bad. Three years should bring an ending, Hermione. Have I frightened you?"

"No, Mrs. Nevsky, I needed to know. It is just that all this is so much to take in."

"You must call me Aunt Mila, child. Viktor and Niko have always been friends. I hope we will become friends, also."

"Thank you, Aunt Mila. I think I just need to think for a bit. I will be in the garden."

An hour or so later, I was curled up on a bench reading when Viktor came to find me. He brought with him a beautiful woman with very white hair.

"Hermione, this is my Grandmother, Selene Andreas.

"Yaya, this is Hermione, my affianced bride."

She was nearly as tall as he was with the same beautiful brown eyes and kind smile.

"You are as lovely as he said, Hermione. My daughters cannot be here now, so I came in their place to see my Viktor pledge himself to you. I will sit with you here in the garden until it is time to dress you for the betrothal, if that is acceptable."

Viktor wisely left the two of us together.

"Yes, please do join me. I am a bit overwhelmed by all this; the prophecy and the Tournament as well as everything that has happened in the last six months. I feel almost like I used to about flying, scared to look down, or rather ahead. I love Viktor and know he loves me. That alone gives me courage to do whatever I must."

"You are wise for someone so young. My daughters were also when they were your age. Persephone and Pasitheia are twins. They each married men of their own choosing. Pasitheia is Viktor's mother. She became a healer like me. Persephone is an artist, she designs clothing. You may have heard of her. She lives in St. Petersburg with her husband and daughter. I have another daughter and two sons. Viktor's father, Pavel had a home for me built on the coast. I want you and Viktor to come visit me in the next few days. We will walk the beaches of the Black Sea and become a family."

"Thank you. I would enjoy that. What time is this ceremony going to begin? I probably need to take a shower and wash my hair."

"Come with me, child. We will get you taken care of before the ritual. The outfit you will wear tonight is one that has been handed down in my family for generations. Viktor is the first of my grandchildren to become betrothed. His older cousins, Persephone's sons, were killed ten years ago by the followers of the Dark Lord. Viktor is now the oldest. He has always known what he wanted, Hermione. He will be a good man. He is kind and gentle. He helps the younger students with their classes and their flying. He takes care of his family, too. He is very proud of you."

"I know how good he is. He has been helping my friend, Harry, fly better. They are both champions in this stupid Triwizard Tournament. Harry is only fourteen, but someone put his name into the Goblet of Fire and things have gone downhill since then."

"The shower is through here, dear. I will help you with your hair when you get out. Then Mila and I will help you dress."

"Ma'am, do I call you what Viktor calls you? Or may I call you Grand-Mère?"

"Grand-Mere will do, child. Now, take your shower. I will see you when you finish."

In the bathroom I found a basket of soaps and shampoos with my name on the tag. The scent was heavenly. There was a note from Viktor telling me that he was looking forward to the betrothal ceremony.

I showered with the orange and honey scented soap. The shampoo had the same scent. After I had used a drying spell on my hair, I dressed in a robe and went back to my bedroom. Aunt Mila and Grand-Mere were waiting for me. They had a soft silk blouse for me to wear and a three tiered flounced shirt with many petticoats. The blouse was snowy white and went over my head. The skirt was fastened by a drawstring and then a fabric belt was placed over the waistband. They allowed me to keep my bracelet but gave me new earrings to wear. There were soft slippers to go on my feet. Grand-Mere used her wand to arrange my hair into a coronet of curls on top of my head. The headdress fit around these curls perfectly. There was one fat ringlet that hung down just in back of my left ear. They finally let me see in the mirror and I gasped. The young woman in the mirror was beautiful. They had done my makeup very subtly, giving me a hint of colour on my cheeks and eyes, but nothing too striking. My hair looked fantastic. The flowered headdress complimented the beautiful white silk blouse. The skirt was swirled bands of red and green and the fabric belt was green. The neckline of the blouse was just low enough for the tops of my breasts to show. Other than that I was fully covered. They both hugged me before taking me down the stairs to the garden. While we had been upstairs the garden had been transformed into a candlelit paradise. The apple tree was in full bloom and the air was redolent with the scent of apple blossoms and roses. A sound from behind us was Karkaroff shooing out the people who had been there earlier.

As I looked to the other doorway to my right I saw Viktor dressed in a poet's shirt and soft black trousers. He was looking directly at me.

He started forward as Aunt Mila and Grand-Mere drew me into the heart of the garden. They positioned me under the apple tree where Viktor joined me. A violin was playing softly as he took my hands in his. I saw Karkaroff come out into the garden, he came to stand before us under the apple tree.

Viktor said something to him in Bulgarian, and then Karkaroff asked me, in English, "You have come here tonight to promise yourselves to each other. Is this your wish also, Hermione Granger?"

"Yes, I am here to make promises of marriage to him."

He turned back to Viktor and asked the same question.

"Yes, I am here to make promises of marriage to her."

Karkaroff raised his wand and scribed a circle around the place where Viktor and I stood. The golden light of the spell spun around us growing in intensity until it resolved into two haloes of light over our heads. Violin music played softly in the background.

Karkaroff took the bottle of wine which was wrapped in a beautiful scarf and a necklace of gold coins from Grand-Mere. He removed the necklace and handed it to Viktor to fasten on my neck.

Viktor's voice rang out with emotion as he said, "This is the bride price. I give to you the promise of my wealth, my fidelity, my honour, my protection, and my love. By accepting this necklace, do you promise to accept me as husband?"

I was almost overcome with emotion but managed to say clearly, "Yes, in acceptance of this necklace, I promise to give you my fidelity, my counsel, my honour, my children, and my love."

Karkaroff handed the bottle of wine to Grand-Mere who opened it. The scarf, Karkaroff used to tie Viktor's left hand to my left hand. Then he took a golden goblet from Grand-Mere's hand.

"This cup of wine signifies the sharing of the betrothed couple. Their tied hands signify the bonds they will pledge to each other at their marriage."

Karkaroff handed the goblet to Viktor, who drank deeply. Viktor handed the goblet to me and I drank. It was a heady fruit wine, very strong.

Viktor leaned over and kissed me. The haloes of light began to swirl again until they grew into a single line of light that encircled our tied hands and moved up our left arms to our hearts, where it vanished.

Viktor untied the scarf and put it around my shoulders.

"You are now officially betrothed. The protection begins today." Karkaroff bent and placed a kiss on my forehead. His whispered, "Welcome, daughter" confused me.

Niko, Aunt Mila, and Grand-Mere were crowding around us. When Aunt Mile began to hug me she cried out.

"Look, Igor, Selene, the necklace has changed!"

Everyone came to touch the necklace. Viktor and Karkaroff were examining the coins. Niko ran into the house for a hand mirror, so I could see what had happened.

The gold disks which had been plain before were now actual coins. Each had the image of an owl on it. And they were heavy, much heavier than before.

Aunt Mila's voice was triumphant when she spoke. "Tetradrachmas, Igor, she is blessed by Athena herself. Now, she is protected by the old gods, also."

Viktor was looking at me strangely. A sound like pounding surf filled my head, and then the world went black.

I woke up in my bed, dressed in my pyjamas. Grand-Mere was sitting by the bed. She smiled at me before getting up to open the door and call for Viktor.