Follow me on tumblr under karategirl666
-o-
"Incendio!" Hermione shouted. She heard screams as a wall of fire burst forward and hit the first line of death eaters. Nick and Viktor rushed to her side as the fire died down revealing at least ten death eaters rolling on the ground trying to put themselves out as they screamed in pain. Viktor hardly had time to think as numerous spells flew at him all at once. He was glad for his extensive training in spell casting, and grateful to his relationship with Hermione. He had learned how to fight against death eaters thanks to his run-ins while courting her.
"Nick get down!" Hermione tackled Nick to the ground as a killing curse flew towards him. Hermione leapt up onto her feet and slashed her wand at the death eater who had sent it. He froze in place and Hermione stepped forward with a loud shout she sent a red beam flying towards him. It struck the death eaters in the chest and Viktor watched as he disappeared from sight. "Get up!" she grabbed onto the back of Nicks shirt and hulled him up into the air. "Stay sharp you got this!"
"I can't handle this!" he said as he deflected ten spells.
"You have this Nick you got this." She said deflecting another round of spells. "I need you to watch my back okay?"
"Right." He said with a nod.
"You're good?"
"I got this!" he rushed forward firing at least ten spells at once.
"There you go!" Hermione said as she punched a death eaters across the face before placing her wand against his chest causing him to fly back and slam through a window. Hermione went to look for Viktor but froze. She couldn't see him not through the growing number of death eaters that surrounded them. They had gotten separated and there was nothing she could do about it. "Viktor!?" she called. "Nick!" Viktor collided into some one and spun just as he was about to fire a curse he figured out it was his own brother. "Nick Viktor!"
"Hermione!" they both called as they dodged and fired and spells. "Hermione!"
"Stick together!" they heard her yell over the crowd. "I'll get to you!"
"No you won't." Hermione turned just in time to have someone slap her to the ground. She stared up into a familiar face.
"You…" she said. It was the same boy who had tried to kill and assault her in the library.
"Me." Crawl said before punching her across the face. She set her wand into his chest and sent a spell shooting through his body. To her surprise it didn't so much faze him. She pulled back her foot and kicked him across the face. She smiled as she saw five white clouds shoot into the room.
"Fall back!" someone yelled. "Fall back!"
"Retreat!" Hermione watched as tons of death eaters exploded into black smoke and shot through windows to escape. Before she could turn to see who had come to save them she was grabbed and pulled roughly back.
"We're not finished!" Crawl bellowed as he spun her around. Just as he was about to slap her across the face Hermione caught his arm and elbowed him in the face.
"Nearly!" she pointed her wand at him. "Confundus!" he pushed her arm causing the spell to miss as he punched her in the stomach. She cried out as she dropped to the ground and he slapped her across the face. Viktor moved forward as all the death eaters disappeared.
"Hermione!" he shouted as he watched her get slammed against a wall by a familiar brute.
"Stop everyone stop!" Crawl shouted looking to Viktor and a group of seven people. "Lower your wands!"
"Don't do it!" Hermione shouted only to have her body raised up into the air by her throat. Her wand dropped from her hand as she gripped onto Crawls wrists.
"Drop them!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked.
"Don't!" Hermione choked. "Curse him!"
"Curse me and I kill her!" Crawl said his wand pointed at her as he held her by the throat up against the wall with one hand.
"Put your wands down!" Mr. Weasley ordered and everyone did as he said.
"Viktor don't!" Hermione shouted halting his movements. "Curse him Viktor!"
"Don't you bloody think it!" Crawl bellowed. "I will kill her."
"He would have done it already curse him! He's already stopped choking me curse him!" His hand tightened around her throat and she winced. "Viktor…" she said her voice strained. "Curse him!"
"Let her go…" Viktor said. "Let her go and we let you go… No cursing needed."
"Curse him!" Hermione shouted.
"Shut up bitch!" Crawl bellowed. Hermione planted her feet against the wall and raised herself into the air. They watched as his grip loosened and Hermione slammed her fist across his face. Crawl cried out as Hermione dropped to the ground and he stumbled back. Viktor moved forward as Crawl pointed his wand at her. Hermione stared eyes wide as Crawl moved towards her his eyes dark. "Avada kedavera!" Hermione's eyes widened as the green light flooded her way.
"Contego Scutum!" Viktor yelled. The air around Hermione rippled and she watched as a green light shot straight into Crawls chest and sent him flying back. She stared as he slammed into the ground dead and cold his eyes staring at her without seeing. Her chest heaved and her hands shook as she slowly sat up straight.
"Luff…" Viktor rushed to her side.
"Is she alright?!" Mrs. Weasley called.
"Fine…" Hermione said as Viktor helped her onto her feet. She cleared her throat, the area aching from the vice like grip Crawl had, had her in. "What now?" she asked her hand going over her neck.
"You three fall back." Lupin said. "We'll stand guard in case they come back." '
"Doubtful." Fred and George Weasley said in unison.
"Come Luff." Viktor said his arm moving around her.
"I will stay behind to help." Nick said and they nodded at him.
"So will I." Hermione said.
"Luff…" Viktor stated looking to her.
"Hermione you should go back." Mr. Weasley said.
"I'm still good to fight." She said.
"I know that we all do…" He said. "But you are too precious to put on the front lines…"
"It's true." Lupin said.
"Are you sure you'll all be alright?" She asked.
"We can handle it from here." The twins said with a reassuring nod.
"Luff come on…" Viktor said and she nodded at them as they started to walk away. "Are you alright?" Viktor asked as they walked away. She slowly nodded her mind far away.
It almost hit me… How did it not hit me? It was like the spell bounced off her and hit Crawl. But she didn't understand how. There was no magic in the world that could halt a killing curse. At least, she didn't think so. In all honesty in that moment she wasn't sure if she was alive or dead. Viktor felt Hermione shake under his touch. He looked to her to see she was pale her eyes sunken in slightly.
"Dear god are you two alright?" Ivan asked seeing his son with a bruised cheek and gash across it. Hermione on the other hand had a deep bruise around her neck and was deathly pale.
"We're fine." Hermione said. "Nick stayed with the others, stick to your post until we're sure it's over."
"Of course." Ivan said with a nod. Hermione ad Viktor strolled into the room instantly Viktor was taken in his mother's arms.
"Oh my boy I was so… Where's Nick?"
"Is he alright?" Dag asked.
"He is fine he stayed with the others." Viktor said.
"Hermione who were those people who came here?" Sophia asked as she hugged her.
"Friends of mine." She said. "I have to go check on Asen make sure there's been no action his way. Viktor get your eye looked over, it's pretty blood shot."
"Dah." He said with a nod as Dag walked to him.
"You blew some blood vessels." Hermione heard him say as she walked out of the door Asen instantly turned wand raised.
"Just me." She said her hands up as the door closed behind her. She was steadily starting to feel better, focusing on the task at hand helping her to cope with her latest near death experience.
"What has happened is everyone okay?" he asked his wand lowering.
"Yes back up showed and the death eaters all fell back. I think they're gone…"
"I haven't felt the effects of Dementors the past few minutes." Asen commented.
"Good then they most likely have left." Hermione looked to him. "Asen you look a little pale are you okay? Did you run into some Dementors?"
"Yes but I handled them alright." He looked over his shoulder at the closed door before looking to her.
"Good work. I'm sorry I left you alone but I figured you could handle yourself." She said/
"You were right." Hermione slowly moved into dining room. Asen slowly turned and moved his hand over the lock and handle.
"Did the Dementors attack you in here?" she asked.
"Dah." He said raising his wand and waving it over the door putting up a silencing Charm.
"What was the Entry point?" Hermione inquired as she thumbed her wand.
Something doesn't feel right…
"Window…" Asen turned and froze seeing Hermione was facing him with a raised eyebrow.
"There's no broken glass." He looked around the room and then back to her. "and none of them are open."
"I uhm…" he looked away from her. "I closed the window that was open."
"Can you please step away from the door." He slowly did as she said. Hermione kept Asen in her sights as she reached for the door handle and twisted to find it was locked.
"I put a locking charm on." Hermione looked to him to see he was shifting uncomfortably on his feet. "In case I failed to protect my line then they would have a harder time getting in." Hermione waved her hand over the door handle and he heard a click.
"Not that hard to break a locking charm Asen…"
"Did what I could."
"I'm sure…" she said softly. They locked eyes for a long time. Hermione slowly turned the handle and gasped as Asen grabbed her and slammed her up against the wall beside it. The door opened beside them and Asen jumped back from Hermione as Viktor walked in.
"Everything okay?" Viktor asked. His eyes went to his brother who was averting his eyes to the ground his wand held at his side. Then his eyes roamed to Hermione who was staring at his brother with an expression he had never seen. "Hermione are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Asen looked to her quickly. "I was listening intently to Asen. He was attacked by some Dementors… He's lucky to have survived. They snuck up on him." Viktor looked at her for a long moment.
She just lied to me… Why would she do that? Especially over Asen? He looked to his brother.
"Are you alright?" Viktor asked.
"Dah nothing I could not handle…"
"Alright… Hermione the others are here they want to speak to you."
"Great…" Hermione looked to Asen. "So glad you made it out okay."
"You too."
Now I know something has happened… Viktor thought as Hermione walked back into the drawing room. He looked to his brother who gave a nod at him.
"You alright?" Asen asked.
"Dah…"
"Good… I would have hated if something had happened to you."
"You too.." Viktor clapped his brother on the shoulder before pointing.
"I'm still angry with you for comments against Hermione."
"That's because you are good man." Viktor nodded and headed into the drawing room while Asen stuffed his hands deep into his pockets.
Soon I will get that dirtied rat out of my brothers bed… If it's the last thing I do that Granger girl with Disappear.
"Hermione my dear girl…" Viktor smiled as he watched Hermione get pulled into a red headed woman's arms. "Are you alright?" she asked pulling away.
"I'm fine… Merlin I'm glad Dobby got to you guys in time we really needed the back up."
"You looked like you were handling yourself just fine." Hermione turned and smiled.
"I didn't get a hug back in the foryay I expect one now young lady." He said as he put out his arms and she smiled as she hugged him tightly. Ivan and Sophia looked to each other. They knew the girl was close to Ronald Weasley but they had no idea she was so close to his parents. "Are introductions in order?" Hermione asked.
"No we've all introduced ourselves." Ivan said with a smile.
"What we haven't found out is how you got so many people together to help us out tonight in such a small time." Ivan said walking up to Hermione.
"She has connections." Lupin said. "Hermione I need to speak to you…"
"Of course." She smiled at Viktor and his family before walking out into the hallway Fred and George closing the door behind them and standing before it.
"Why am I getting the feeling that Hermione is way more important than we first thought?" Dag asked in Bulgarian making all the Englishman and the one Englishwoman look at he and his family closely.
"Because it's clear she is." Ivan said.
"Why do they seem so suspicious of us?" Nick inquired.
"Because they care for Hermione." Sophia said making her sons and husband look to her. "And she's in our home they want to make sure we are all good people…" Ivan nodded.
"Makes a lot of sense."
"Should I speak in Bulgarian too?" Stony asked easing the tension that had slowly been building with in the room.
"Hey kid wanna see a trick?" Fred asked.
"Yeah!" Stony said with a laugh rushing over to the older boy.
-o-
"Are you sure you can trust him Hermione?" Lupin asked. "I mean really trust him? Dumbledore told me what happened in the maze."
"That wasn't his fault." She said her eyes darkening. "He was under the influence of a very powerful spell."
"Alright, alright I didn't mean to upset you." Lupin said and she slowly nodded. "But you're sure you can trust him."
"You don't ever question my judgment about anything but you question me about him? Why is that?"
"Love clouds the mind Hermione, even the best of minds."
"Not mine." She said her voice low and serious. "I'm telling him."
"Hermione…"
"I won't keep this from him Professor I can't…"
"Hermione he isn't the love of your life-."
"Yes he is." She said cutting him off. "He very much is… I can trust Viktor with my life I think I can trust him with telling him what's going on."
"You bring up a good point."
"I usually always do now I have a favor to ask you."
"Anything."
"Look into Asen…"
"Viktor's brother? The extremist?" he asked his voice lowering, Hermione nodded. "Yeah, yeah I'll look into it."
"Thanks." She opened the door and smiled as Stony leapt up into the air laughing as a wand Fred was holding exploded into fireworks.
"Wicked!" Stony said clapping. "How is it you did that?"
"Magic." Fred and George said winking identically.
"We could show you a few tricks though sometimes you know to give Karkaroff a little trouble when you go off to school." Fred said.
"Awesome!" Stony cheered.
"Don't corrupt my favorite only little surrogate brother." Hermione said to the twins as she patted the little boy on the head.
"Say no more miss perfect prefect." They said in unison.
"We should be getting back to the uhm… House." Mr. Weasley said. "We left Ginny and Ron alone together which means a fight has bound to ensue by now." He walked over and hugged Hermione. "I'm very proud you called for help I know that's hard for you."
"Like you said if it's there you mine as well use it." Hermione said and he smiled.
"That's right." He moved aside and Mrs. Weasley moved forward taking her in her arms.
"So glad you are okay…" Hermione smiled softly as the woman hugged her tightly before pulling away. "You be safe and write to me every day alright? Promise."
"I promise Mrs. Weasley."
"Good." She smiled as she patted her face. Fred and George walked up to Hermione and she glared. The two instantly turned away hands rising in defense as they laughed.
"We should have known better not to try and go in for a hug." George said.
"Mhm." Fred said with a nod as he headed off with his parents.
"Hermione I'll look into what you wanted, watch your back till then." Lupin said.
"One more thing… Check in on Harry I can't get the kid to write back to me." Hermione said.
"We've got tabs on him he's safe." Kinsgley said.
"Good." Hermione said. "Thank you guys for coming on such short notice."
"No problem that's why we're here." Lupin said before he and Kingsley bid goodbye to the Krum family.
"Thanks again for coming to our aid comrades." Ivan said as he waved.
"And a big thanks to you." Hermione said with a smile as she hugged Dobby. Asen shook his head at the scene as he turned away.
"Whenever you call miss I shall answer." The elf said with a deep bow.
"Thank you Dobby…" she said.
"So this is Dobby…" Sophia said moving forward. "The brave little Elf Hermione always speaks of."
"Am I?" he asked Hermione who laughed.
"Of course crazy." She said straightening the cap up on his head.
"Tell me Dobby do you think you'd talk to my elves about freedom and taking pay?"
"I'd love too." Hermione watched as Asen walked out of the room.
"Heading to bed." He muttered. Hermione reached for her necklace before frowning.
"Oh no…" she muttered.
"What is it?" Viktor asked.
"My necklace came off in the fight the one you gave me." She said with a distressed look. Dobby popped out of sight and then popped back in sight.
"Here you go." He asked handing it back to her.
"What would I do without you old friend?" Hermione asked.
"Have to find things yourself." She laughed and he smiled.
"Dobby stay a few days with us…" Ivan said. "I insist."
"Oh I couldn't."
"Yes you could and I shan't take no for an answer."
"If you insist." Dobby said taking his cap off.
"I do." He said.
"Come on Dobby I'll show you to a room!" Stony took his hand and they ran off together.
"Asen is going to flip if he sees that." Dag said.
"Dobby can take care of himself and Stony for that matter, he's sure taken care of Harry Ron and I over the years." She smiled softly. "Thanks for inviting him to stay he's kind of like family to me, I've been missing him."
"I could tell." Ivan said with a kind expression. "Now it's really very late I think we should all head to bed yes?"
"Yes…" Hermione said with a smile as she put her necklace on.
"Night all." Dag said heading off.
"Night guys." Nick said fallowing. When they were gone Hermione turned and looked to Ivan and Sophia. For a moment it looked like she was going to say something important but then she just waved.
"Night guys." she said with a smile.
"Good night Hermione." Sophia said hugging her tightly.
"Sleep well." Ivan said hugging her as well.
"Night." Viktor bid before he headed out of the room Hermione by his side.
"Mina it looked as though you wanted to say somfing before." He said. "To my parents…"
"It can wait." She said with a smile. They walked to his bedroom Viktor opened the door for her. She walked in and waited as he fallowed.
"Hey Viktor?" she asked.
"Yes luff?" he inquired as he turned on the lights.
"I was wondering something."
"What is it?"
"Uhm…" he tilted his head as he looked at her. She seemed unsure of herself as she sat down on his bed. "I was wondering maybe if you could teach me dueling…"
"What?" he asked taken a back.
"You're school worked a lot on dueling while Hogwarts never did. I've kind been left to my own devices to learn that sort of thing, and learning on my own is fine I fare okay-."
"You fare better then okay luff."
"I know but I'm not as good as you and I want to be… So… Would you teach me? I mean you're going to be teaching me to fly anyways why not add a little dueling to the mix…"
"You would really like for me to teach you how to duel?"
"You sound surprised…" Hermione said.
"I am. You realize how we met was you defending me from death eaters…"
"Yes but in that time you have defended me from death eaters better than I ever have…" she said standing. "So what do you say Viktor take me under your wing a bit?"
"Of course." He said with a smile. "I'd be happy too." She smiled as she hugged him tightly.
"Thanks..." he smiled as he pulled away his hand setting on her cheek. "Are you alright luff?"
"Me?" she asked.
"Yeah I mean tonight you were almost hit with the killing curse."
"Not the first time." She said heading off. "Are those fresh clothes I left two nights ago still in here?" She asked heading to his closet in his bathroom.
"Dah." He leaned against his desk by the bathroom door. "You sure you're fine?" he inquired as he heard her slip out of her clothes.
"Of course."
"It must haf been hard for you to face Crawl again."
"Not really." Hermione said as she walked out in a pair of lavender cotton shorts and a white cotton tee shirt.
"But last time you two met in combat he nearly-."
"I remember." she said as she got the bed ready.
"You didn't seem scared."
"I wasn't…" she said looking at him.
"But you were the last time you two-."
"Viktor I knew you were there right by my side tonight, so I wasn't scared when I faced off against him. Though I will admit that when I saw that green beam of absolute death heading towards me I got a little worried…"
"You said you didn't mind that…"
"No I said…" Viktor crossed his arms over his chest as he raised an eyebrow. "I didn't exactly say that…" she said her eyes dropping to the ground. "I said-."
"Luff..." she looked up to see he had a kind expression as he walked to her. "You are a strong independent brave woman… Other than my complete love and passion for you it's the only other thing I'm completely sure of… So you don't need to act so tough with me... You can tell me how your feeling, if you're hurting, if you're scared, if your-."
"None of those things sound very tough or brave… Then again…" she walked to the bed and sat down. "My mother always said that one of the bravest things you can do is wear your heart on your sleeve…" she looked to him. "I'm sorry Viktor… I'm not trying to hide my feelings from you it's just those feelings are kind of being put on the back burner right now."
"Back burner?" he asked. "I don't understand term…"
"Oh uhm, it's a muggle term, what I mean is that there's so much going on right now that I need to tell that my feelings are kind of being pushed way way aside." He nodded and walked over to her.
"I understand." He said sitting down. "So… Tell me what's going on so we can get to important things such as how you are doing."
"Trust me how I'm doing is not remotely as important as what's going on." She looked to him as she took his hand in hers and rested it in her lap.
"What is happening luff?"
"What I'm going to say to you is not at all going to be in order because I'm not yet sure where the pieces of the puzzle go…"
"This is alright… You talk and I will listen intently and piece things together as you go."
"Okay well the people who came tonight."
"Dah…"
"I along with them are members of an elite secret society, called the order of the phoenix. It was originally formed by Dumbledore during the first war it was disbanded short after the Disappearance of you know who."
"I thought Harry killed him when he was a baby…"
"Not really. The magic you did tonight, with Crawl. The one that stopped the killing curse from hitting me. It's a type of old magic right?"
"Dah."
"Well the night Voldemort descended upon Godrics hallow from what we know he killed James Potter nearly right away. Then he went upstairs where Lily potter was protecting Harry. She threw herself in front of Harry catching the killing curse meant for him. So when Voldemort turned his wand on Harry it-."
"Back fired. Because of old magic…" Viktor ran his hand through his hair. "All this time everyone thought it was Harry who defeated Voldemort but really it was his mother."
"Exactly…" Hermione said.
"So Voldemort was killed that night…" He looked to her.
"Well a part of him was… Viktor, do you know what a Horcrux is?" he looked at her for a long moment.
"Don't tell me he did that…"
"Yes… Yes he did… Seven times." Viktor looked down at his hands. It was in that moment that he realized just how in danger Hermione was, and he didn't like it. He didn't like it one bit. "There's more…" he looked to her his eyes growing more wide as she began to lay everything on the table.
