Upstairs, Viktor was so excited that he nearly blurted out that he had bought the property. He was chivvying everyone to hurry. The six of them wound up having dinner in the small cafe where Viktor and Hermione had dined before.

"I ran into Draco and Ginny in the lobby. They had Thuban vith them. He is a very smart little boy. I think I vill take him for ride on broom after the game tomorrow."

"Good. Ginny is still my dearest friend. I am still getting used to her being married to Draco. He is much better than he was when we were in school."

Vassily asked, "Isn't he the Slytherin boy who was so condescending when we were at the Tournament?"

Hermione answered him directly, "Yes, he was the slimy Slytherin back then, but he has changed drastically in the years since the Tournament. Otherwise, Ginny would never have married him."

"He seems nice enough now, Vassily. I am going to be doing some business vith him, I think."

Anya asked about the game the next day, "What time do we need to be at the stadium, Viktor? I hope it is after the last seminar at the conference."

"It starts at 2 Pip Emma. You last seminar is over at 1," Hermione answered

"Yes, that is so. Hermione vill come vith me, Bashta, and Mayka. I vill leave instructions for Vassily at front desk. And for Potters, Veasleys, and Malfoys," Viktor said.

They finished the meal and started to walk back to the hotel when Viktor held Hermione back, saying, "Ve need to talk. Ve can catch up to the others aftervards."

"Okay, Viktor, what is it? You have been jumpy ever since before we came to dinner."

"I haff found a property to possibly giff to Anya as vedding present. I vant to take you on a picnic there the morning after the game. Vill you come vith me?"

"Of course I will, Viktor. You know I love picnics. We will see the others off back to Bulgaria and go then."

"Yes, exactly, and I vill show you the house and the whole property." His sigh of relief didn't quite fit with his words, but Hermione knew he had been under a lot of strain because of the exhibition games.

They continued to walk, hand in hand until they reached the hotel. He reminded Hermione they needed to go to the Potters' room in just a few minutes. She simply smiled at him and pressed the button to call the lift.

Outside the Potters' room Viktor said a silent prayer that nothing would be said about the property. They knocked on the door and Harry opened it immediately.

"Come in. Luna has dressed James in that dragon sleeper you bought for him, Viktor. He is almost asleep. Sit, sit, we ordered tea so we can have a nice long talk."

Luna appeared with a towel thrown over her shoulder. She was nursing James discreetly. Viktor turned beet red, but concentrated on fixing the tea the way Hermione liked it. He carefully set scones and biscuits on the plates before he would look up. By that time, Luna had finished feeding the baby and was rocking him.

Harry was almost laughing at Viktor's discomfort; but accepted a cup and plate from him without comment. Hermione was now holding the baby and cooing over him. Harry watched Viktor's eyes go unfocused and suddenly knew what his friend was seeing. Not James, but a future child, one of their own, almost certainly. Now he knew how Viktor had become the best Seeker in Quidditch history- he was a Seer. It was unusual for a man to be a Seer, but not unheard of.

Hermione handed James to Harry who promptly handed the baby to Viktor, just to see his reaction.

His left hand went under the baby's head to support it and his right cradled the child's body carefully. He smiled at the sleepy baby and began to talk very softly to the child. Harry couldn't hear exactly what Viktor was saying, but saw that his son loved it. The baby wiggled, yawned, and fell sound asleep in Viktor's large, capable hands. He handed the baby back to Harry with a smile.

Harry put James down in the middle of the large bed and came back to sit down. "Hermione, Viktor, we asked you here tonight because we want you both to be James' godparents. Luna suggested it today, and I think it is an excellent idea."

Luna commented absently, "You two helped him into this world, so you should both take an interest in his upbringing. I think you would make wonderful godparents."

Viktor answered immediately. "I vould be honoured to be his godfather"

Hermione was still trying to catch her breath. "Harry, Luna, I am overwhelmed. Yes, of course, I'll be his godmother."

"Someday, I vill take James up on my broom to teach him how to fly, if you approve," Viktor said to Luna.

"Not for a few years though," Hermione added, squeezing Viktor's hand.

"I know. Viktor will be very careful with James. He understands babies. I can tell," Luna answered.

Harry just gave his wife an affectionate look as Viktor and Hermione rose to leave.

"I vill leaf Floo directions to the stadium at front desk. Game starts at 2. Tell Veasley and Malfoy, please."

"Right. See you all tomorrow."

Hermione looked at Viktor and said, "Just exactly when did you buy a sleeper for James? Are you and Harry cooking up something?" The lift appeared and they stepped in.

"He vent vith me to some shops. I saw sleepers and a bear, so I bought. Vhy?"

"It just seemed like the two of you were getting up to something."

"He and I are friends. I vanted his opinion of some books I vas buying for another friend."

"Oh!" Realisation dawned and Hermione blushed, "Oops, I really walked into that, didn't I?"

"Yes, loff, I did not mean to snap at you," Viktor said with a sad look.

"Oh, Viktor, it isn't you. I keep thinking there is something hinky about most of my friends at this conference. They are all acting so strange. It is good to be with you. You never act weird. "

'If you only knew how weird I feel, you would not say that,' he thought.

"Forgive me, Viktor, I know you must be edgy about the game tomorrow. I want to transcribe my notes from today and you definitely need to get some sleep," Hermione told him.

They entered the suite where she kissed him lightly on the lips before going into her room.

Once again, he sat looking out of the windows at the brightly lit Parisian capitol. He fished the ring box out of his pocket and opened it to look at the ring he had bought on impulse some many years ago. His mother silently appeared at his elbow.

"Is that the ring you bought for her? Is perfect, she vill loff it, Vitya. Trust me."

"Hush, Mayka, I do not vant her to hear you. I bought the property I vent to look at today. Is an herb farm vith the possibility of running a potion ingredients business from it. There are barns, and out building and the house is vondeful. You are all going back to Bulgaria the morning after the game so I vill take her on picnic to the property and see vhat her reaction is. I vill probably ask her to marry me then. I hope."

Raisa kissed her son and replied, "She vill answer you the vay you vant, Vitya. I think she has alvays loffed you as vell, but did not recognise. Do not vorry. It vill be fine. Now, go to bed."