Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. I just happened to come up with the plot for this ship. All credit to J.K for her amazing universe that she allows us to play in.

Warning: Rated M. Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead. Basically what you would expect from a romance novel nowadays. However, the lemons will be in the middle to end of this story. You're warned.

Music is my muse:
Song for this chapter: Stop and Stare; OneRepublic
Lyrics: Can you see what I see?


Riddle This

Chapter 8
But The Truth Follows

"The time will present itself and you will take it," he said calmly before he dismissed her.

"Time indeed," she mumbled gloomily. "Cheers Harry, Dumbledore is trying to kill you and is a liar."

OooOooOO

She took a break from her research after that lovely chat with Professor Snape, he had to drop in on an Order meeting anyways and was going to be gone for a few days. She had laughed when he had told her that he had refused to tell them who the blond was and pointed out that he was, on vacation, and just left them to make assumptions that he had whisked some witch off. It was generally assumed that he was at the Dark Lord's bidding in the summer so he only dropped in on a few meetings over break and to her surprise had shrugged her off when she asked why he wasn't meeting with Lord Voldemort.

"We correspond daily," he had said dryly and she had shaken her head sure he had to be joking.

So, in the absence of her normal lessons with her snarky Professor, she decided to tackle a fear she had been struck with since childhood. Flying, on a broom.

Viktor had been deeply honored she would agree to let him help her overcome her fear and they spent every morning for a solid week out on his pitch with her sitting in front of him and his good arm wrapped around her waist anchoring her to him.

Around the third day, she decided she might try on her own and Viktor produced a beautiful broom that she was sure was top of the line with her initials carved into the handle. Slowly but surely she gained the confidence to go a little higher and a little faster.

She never exactly enjoyed the experience but she was proud of herself for conquering her fear. Viktor was delighted and as his arm was better she would sit in the grass and watch him go through his workouts in the morning, trying not to shudder at his aerial acrobatics on his own broom stick. But she clapped when he looked over at her with pride figuring she should reward his ego a bit. It was true she never really showed much interest in his career and knowing nothing about his sport meant she wasn't ever sure when she should applaud his flying.

He landed next to her laughing and took the book she was reading studying it. "You have no idea why you clap for me," he teased her knocking her shoulders.

Hermione flushed but shrugged taking back her book. "Not a clue, but you seemed proud so I applauded."

He snorted and then sighed standing up and hauling her up with him. "You are hard to impress, my Mila."

Hermione frowned at that and kept quiet. There was a line in the sand with the two of them but she could feel the tension sometimes from Viktor as if he wanted something more. Perhaps it was time to spend a little less time with him. She had studying to do anyways and he was heading into the city to meet with his coach and the team's trainer to talk about his injury.

When he came back he was focused and back on the pitch and she blew out a breath of relief.

"Run off your suitor?"

She spun around and glared at Professor Snape. "Of course not, don't be silly. He had a meeting with his coach and trainer and I am sure they just said he could practice more. Quidditch is very important to Viktor."

Professor Snape just raised his blasted eyebrow at her and nodded before walking away, she felt like a child but she couldn't help sticking her tongue out at the insolent man.

Suitor indeed!

OooOOooOOoo

A few days later she was playing wizard's chess with Viktor when his father walked in with a letter.

"Your Dumbledore is writing to me." He said in his slow accented English.

Viktor paused and looked up at his father who was looking at Hermione.

Hermione flushed but sighed. "I would assume he wants you to fight with him against Lord Voldemort."

Master Krum nodded slowly watching her carefully. "Why is there to be a fight?"

Hermione shook her head and then shrugged. "I really couldn't tell you why he wishes to fight. But that seems to be his goal."

Master Krum nodded his face severe. "Our parents fought against a dark wizard before. He was bad, did very bad things. What is this Lord doing that I should fight against him?"

Hermione thought about that for a moment and then said slowly. "We are told by Dumbledore that he wants to create a new wizarding world, where only purebloods matter," she said slowly and thoughtfully. "He certainly is willing to kill without hesitation and has dabbled in dark magic, but for the past two years since his return he has been rather quiet."

Master Krum nodded his face going thoughtful. "Many wizards get lost in the dark arts and must find their way out. But simply practicing this magic does not make you bad."

Hermione nodded. "No, I understand that. But he has killed people."

"Innocent people?"

Hermione considered this. "I suppose he would have considered them enemies as they were working against him and his followers. I don't know very much about the first wizarding war but he was greatly feared. He tried to kill Harry as a baby, a baby is innocent. And his followers did target Muggles, although no attacks have happened this year."

Master Krum frowned. "Dumbledore has secrets too."

Hermione looked up her face full of surprise that he would say such a thing. "Yes, he does," she said finally.

Master Krum nodded and then glared at his son. "We will remain out of this fight. There is no reason for us to be involved."

Viktor stood up angrily. "Father! He would kill Hermione, she is muggle born. I will not stand for it."

Master Krum raised an eyebrow at his son. "Is that your only reason to declare a side?"

Hermione looked between the two wearily as Viktor flushed angrily and then nodded. His father sighed and then nodded at Hermione. "She is not muggle born." He said in a firm tone before he left.

Hermione gapped after him in shock and then turned to Viktor. "What in Merlin is he talking about? Was something lost in translation?"

Viktor was looking at her his eyes narrowed. "You have done the test, Hermioneee?"

She frowned. "What test?"

Viktor gestured at her in frustration. "The test, do they not teach it?"

Hermione shrugged. "I have no idea what you are going on about, Viktor."

Mumbling to himself in Bulgarian he stood up angrily and got a piece of parchment slamming it down on the desk and then took her finger and produced a small knife.

Before she could object he had pricked her finger and smeared it on the parchment. Hermione gasped at him as he apologized and healed her finger before he waved his wand at the parchment chanting something in Bulgarian.

She watched as her blood moved across the page in circular pattern faster and faster before it settled into ruins.

She leaned over them curiously and then stepped back. "What? Viktor what is this?"

He was looking at the parchment frowning his face thunderous.

Hermione was still staring at the page as she read the runes. "Karkaroff, isn't that your headmaster? Why is his name in ruins in my blood?" She was starting to feel dizzy.

Viktor was cursing but looked up as she blacked out and caught her before she hit the ground, bellowing for Professor Snape.

OooOOooOOo

When Hermione came to she was in her bed with Victoria Krum sitting at her bedside looking pale and Viktor pacing at the foot of her bed. Professor Snape was leaning over her his face in its blank mask but his eyes bright.

"What did that mean?" Hermione asked looking frantically between everyone in the room. "What was that spell?"

"It breaks down your mother's magical lineage," Professor Snape said softly. "You almost always inherit the bulk of your magic from your mother's line."

Hermione's eyes went wide. "That is why no one marries female muggle borns?"

Snape grimaced but nodded. "Yes," he said simply. "You will find there is less of a stigma for marrying a muggle-born wizard then a female one. You will also find that female muggle born witches are incredibly rare, almost always they end up having a magical relative somewhere in their lineage."

"But, that ruin said I had a female magical line. My mother?"

Severus Snape glared at Viktor and then nodded tensely. "Your mother was a very powerful witch. Russian and Bulgarian, her name was Diana Karkaroff."

Hermione went still. "A death eater?" She gasped her hands going to her throat.

Victoria Krum sat up angrily and yelled in Bulgarian and then finally French. "No, she was never a death eater!"

Hermione looked at the woman in shock. "You knew her?"

Victoria nodded her eyes tearing up. "She was killed, we do not know why."

Hermione looked to Professor Snape who was staring at her his eyes hollow. "You knew her too?"

He nodded. "I also know how and why she was killed."

Victoria sat up her face blotchy with anger. "And who? Who killed her?"

Severus Snape hesitated before he said. "I shall have to show you, do you have access to a pensive?"

Victoria snapped her fingers for a house elf and spoke to it quickly while Hermione looked at Viktor who was still pacing.

"Are you angry?" She asked finally of Viktor.

He stopped pacing and grimaced running his hand through his hair. "I am," he said simply. "Someone has lied to you, I wish to know who and why."

Hermione nodded not disagreeing with him. "Do I look like her? My mother?" She asked no one in particular.

Victoria sighed and then nodded. "Now that I know what to look for, yes. You have her hair color and her eyes. Your nose is very similar to hers and she was also petite. My husband has suspected such since you arrived but Severus assured him it was not true," she finished this glaring at the man who just shrugged as if saying, 'I hadn't planned to tell you.'

Hermione blinked as tears leaked out of her eyes. "Do you know who my father might be?"

Victoria shook her head her eyes sad. "I do not child. Diana was very private and never told me who she fancied. She died rather young I am afraid, and I only saw you as a babe. She was in hiding with you."

"From whom?"

Victoria shrugged again her face full of anger and angst. "She would never say. She returned from England and secluded herself. Her brother followed the Dark Lord and was very selfish, not to be trusted. I always thought he had something to do with her death. It happened after he was arrested, I think he betrayed her whereabouts to someone."

"So Lord Voldemort had her killed?" Hermione said in a small shocked voice.

Professor Snape sat up. "No, he did not. He had Lucius looking for her. He would have offered her protection."

Hermione looked at Professor Snape going pale. "Lucius Malfoy? Lucius Malfoy would have protected my mother?"

Professor Snape nodded and ran a finger through his long greasy hair. "She was well respected, Hermione, and considered herself neutral." He frowned. "Until she was given no choice but to take a side."

"And what side did she take?" Hermione whispered.

Professor Snape shrugged shaking his head wearily but his eyes shone with pride. "She chose you, Hermione."


Author Notes:

I am having problems with my breathing due to the blood clot in my lungs and that is why you are getting updates so regularly. But, as soon as I can get out of bed again I will be back to entertaining my poor kiddos who have been stuck inside playing board games and watching PBS Kids.
Strawberry and Lilred are looking forward to Mummy feeling better. I will, however, endeavor to keep updates coming.
As always you can snoop my Instagram to see what we are all up to and get updates and art on my stories. CrystalJeanRed
Please let me know what you thought of this chapter? I updated quickly as it's a rather short one. I will hopefully have the next one out soon.

Cheers,
Cjean