The European Cup

The next morning, Hermione woke with a splitting headache and a crushing sense of shame for having gotten so drunk at the wedding that George had to bring her home and put her to bed. She made her way slowly into the bathroom and drank down some hangover potion. Feeling better, she took a shower and then went downstairs to the kitchen and had some toast and pumpkin juice. Thus fortified, she got dressed, packed for the next month, shrank her luggage, and then made the Portkey to take her to the hotel in Eus where the European Cup was being played. It was Viktor's birthday, so she didn't want to be late. He told her all he wanted for his birthday was to win the game. Apparently, his birthday almost always fell on a game day or right before a game day, so he wasn't accustomed to having a party (unless it was a victory party) or going anywhere special. She hoped they could at least have a nice dinner. She felt bad about missing the start of the cup but hoped to make it up to him over the next month.

Eus was a little town nestled in the Pyrenees. It was charming and like Godric's Hollow a split Muggle/Magical community. The Portkey took her to the rooftop of the hotel Maison Glycines. She made her way downstairs to the front desk and gave her name to the clerk and asked for the key to Viktor's room.

The clerk seemed pleased that Hermione spoke French, at least well enough to be understood, but at the mention of her name, his mouth dropped open. He held out the room key and said several things in an excited rapid-fire French dialect that she didn't quite catch. In the way of travelers all over the world who've lost the thread of conversation in a foreign language, she smiled awkwardly, took the key, and thanked him.

When she'd enlarged her luggage and had gotten settled in the room and freshened up a bit, she went back downstairs and asked the same clerk the way to the European Cup stadium. He pointed her in the right direction and told her it was about a five-minute walk, before giving her the pass that had been left for her. The walk through the charming village did much to lift her spirits. The stadium rose huge on a vast field outside of town. She knew it would be invisible to the Muggles who lived predominantly on the other side of the village, but it was a sight to behold. She showed her pass at the ticket booth and they directed her to the elevator that took her to the prime box where friends and family of the teams sat. She was greeted by several smiling faces as the men and women she'd gotten to know during the season made room for her to sit down.

The game had already started and Puddlemere United was down eighty to one hundred twenty. Viktor was flying high above the rest of the team keeping his eye out for the Snitch. Hermione could tell from the expression on his face that he was irritated with how the game was going. Suddenly, he went into a dive. She didn't see the Snitch, so she couldn't tell if he was performing the Wronski Feint, that he was so well known for, or if the Snitch was really at the bottom of the stadium. Clearly the opposing Seeker thought he was faking and stayed where he was, but one of the Beater's must have seen something flash, because she sent a Bludger spinning toward Viktor who didn't see it coming because he was so focused on the Snitch. The other seeker realized what was happening and dove for the Snitch too. About twenty feet from the ground, Viktor's fingers closed over it just as the Bludger came crashing into his shoulder and knocked him from his broom. Hermione gasped as did most of the stadium. The referee called the game for Puddlemere United and the stadium roared. Viktor lay on the ground and didn't get up. The team healers were running on to the pitch, but Hermione didn't feel like they were moving fast enough. She drew her wand and Disapparated to the ground next to Viktor who was just coming around as she appeared.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

He gave her a weak smile and held up the Snitch between his thumb and forefinger.

"Yes, you caught it," she said, smiling back at him. "Can you sit up?"

He went to do so but groaned in pain and stopped.

The healers came up, wands drawn. "Who are you?" one of them barked to Hermione.

"Hermione Granger," she said. "I'm with him."

"You're not supposed to—" one of the healers started to say as the other was inspecting Viktor's shoulder. "Oh," he said, suddenly registering the name. "Oh. Ms. Granger."

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked the healer who was looking at Viktor.

"Broken collar bone." He flicked his wand and Hermione heard the bone snap back into place and Viktor groaned again. "That'll take care of it, but he'll need to keep it immobilized for twenty-four hours. He's also got a concussion." He waved his wand over Viktor's head. "That should take care of that." He dug around in his bag and handed Hermione a small pink bottle. Two drops of that under the tongue every four hours until I come by and clear him. We don't mess around with the brain."

Hermione nodded. "Right."

"We should keep him here in the medical tent tonight."

"No," Viktor said. "She can look after me at the hotel."

The two healers looked at each other. The coach had come up and they stepped aside to confer with her. Finally, the coach came over to Hermione. "You're sure you'll see that he doesn't move that shoulder and takes his potion?"

The healers were helping Viktor to his feet and the crowd cheered.

"I think I can manage," Hermione said drolly. She'd put the pink drops under Ron's tongue for months. It was disconcerting to see the familiar bottle again.

The coach quirked her lips, considering. "Alright, I'll let you take him back to the hotel. We're not playing again until Wednesday, so I'll come by tomorrow and check on him." She turned to Viktor. "No victory party for you tonight. I want you in bed."

Viktor nodded. The healer was putting his arm in an immobilizing sling. "Alright, how are we going to get him back to the hotel?" he asked the coach.

"I can Apparate with him," Hermione said.

Everyone looked at her.

"Seriously," Viktor said, she once took me side-along and didn't even spill my drink. "She can do double side-along as well. She did it with Harry Potter and their other friend all the time during the war."

Hermione blushed, but nodded. The younger of the two healers snorted, earning him a sharp look from his superior.

"Alright," the coach said, looking askance at Hermione.

Without waiting Hermione took Viktor's good arm and Disapparated. They reappeared in front of the hotel, she held the door open for him, and they walked to the elevators.

"For future reference," she said as they stepped on to an empty elevator. "Please don't ever say the sentence 'She did it with Harry Potter and their other friend all the time during the war' ever again, okay?"

He looked confused for a moment and then aghast. "I am sorry. I meant double side-along."

She sighed. "I know what you meant. Just please, never again."

He nodded. "I will not."

"Thank you. And by the way, happy birthday."

He smiled weakly. "Thank you. I have had better birthdays, but I've had worse, at least we won."

The elevator doors opened on to their floor and they went into their room. She cast a shielding charm over the sling he was wearing and then cast Deliquesco to leave him otherwise naked. She got him a pair of pajama bottoms and helped him into them, cupping him and giving him a light squeeze as she stood.

He kissed her softly on the lips. "Miss me?"

"You have no idea," she said groaning.

He stuck out his bottom lip in sympathy. "We still have to wait a couple of weeks."

"Don't remind me," she said, pulling back the sheets on the bed, and fluffing up the pillows for him.

"How was the wedding?" he asked as he got settled under the covers.

She sighed. "Exhausting."

"I am sorry I could not be there."

"That's okay. I understand. It wasn't bad, just weird. Ron showed up with this vapid Amazonian goddess who works at some Quidditch shop and she couldn't stop talking about you."

Viktor chuckled. "That must have been nice for you and Ron."

"Yes, it was great." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Anyway, it was nice to see everyone, especially Harry and Ginny. The ceremony was beautiful, but it was a long night. I drank too much wine. George had to bring me home by Floo, so I'm sure you can imagine how that went."

"George?"

"Ron's brother. One of the twins."

Viktor arched an eyebrow at her.

"It wasn't like that. I don't think I'm his type."

"So, did you vomit on him?" Viktor asked, unable to hide his amusement.

"No, but only because I immediately ran for the powder room."

"Ah," Viktor said.

"Anyway, he was very kind. I'm just embarrassed that he had to take care of me. I shouldn't have had so much to drink."

Viktor shrugged. "Understandable though, given the situation."

She sighed again pushed the hair off his forehead. "Have you had any lunch?"

"No," he said, understanding that the conversation was over.

After Hermione went out to get them both something to eat, they spent the rest of the day reading in bed. Hermione told the alarm clock to wake her every four hours so she could give Viktor the potion and they both went to sleep early.

When the alarm woke them, Hermione put two drops of the potion under Viktor's tongue and he drifted back to sleep. She took her wand and cigarettes and went out on to the balcony. The moon was full and lit up the village like something out of a fairytale. The mountain air was cool, so she cast a warming charm, lit a cigarette, and leaned against the balcony railing. As the warm smoke filled her lungs, she thought about the wedding. She'd gone there hoping to reestablish friendships, and while everyone was kind, and no one seemed to blame her for anything, she knew now she wasn't going to be able to spend time with Harry and Ginny as she'd hoped. There was simply no way to normalize her relationship with Ron. Throughout the evening, she'd caught him staring at her with an expression that looked a lot like hurt. What did he have to be hurt about? She didn't leave him bruised and feeling like a piece of meat on the kitchen table. She didn't tell him to go although she probably should have. She closed her eyes at the painful memory and took another long drag on her cigarette. At least he hadn't been drinking at the wedding. That was certainly a good sign and she hoped he stayed sober at least for that vapid beauty's sake. She finished her cigarette and went back to bed.

When the alarm went off again, Viktor was already awake. "What's wrong?" she asked as she put the drops of potion under his tongue.

"I am stiff and uncomfortable," he said. "It is hard to sleep in this thing." He tugged at the sling.

She stilled his hand. "Leave it alone. It has to stay immobilized for twenty-four hours."

He sighed. "I know." He growled in frustration. "It is making me crazy." He shook his head. "Sorry."

She smiled at him sympathetically. "Don't be sorry. Just don't mess with it. You need to relax."

"It's hard to do that when I can't get comfortable."

She kissed his chest and slid her hand into his pajama bottoms. "If only there was something I could do to help you."

"Ooh," he said hopefully. "That seems to be helping."

"Good," she said, sliding down the bed. "Besides, it's your birthday." She winked at him before pulling the blankets over her head.

"You are the best," he moaned as her mouth closed over him.

xXx

A knock on the door woke them later that morning. Hermione pushed her hair back and reached for her dressing gown. "I'll get it," she told Viktor who was stirring beside her. She looked through the little peephole in the door to see Viktor's coach and one of the team healers standing in the hall.

"Oh, bloody hell," she muttered. The coach had said she'd come by to check on Viktor, but Hermione hadn't imagined it would be this early. "The coach and one of the healers are here," she told Viktor. "Just a minute," she shouted at the door.

She hurried over to help him back into his pajama bottoms, cast a quick spell on her hair to tame it a bit, and cast another to have it braid itself as she walked to the door. She opened it and smiled. "Good morning."

The coach and the healer both returned her greeting.

"Viktor's still in bed as per instructions," she said. As they walked over to see him, she grabbed some clothes and went into the lavatory to change. When she stepped back into the room, the healer was finishing his exam.

"It looks good," the healer said. "Leave the sling on until two o'clock though."

"Do I have to stay in bed until then?" Viktor asked. "I would like to get out and walk around."

"You don't have to stay in bed, but I'd rather you didn't leave the room until the sling comes off. I don't want someone jostling you or anything happening that might damage it until it's completely healed."

Viktor sighed.

"Will he be able to play tomorrow?" the coach asked.

"I don't see a problem with that. The concussion seems to be cleared up and his shoulder should be as good as new this afternoon," the healer said.

"Perfect," Hermione said, she ruffled Viktor's hair. "A day in reading will be nice, and then we can go out for dinner tonight."

"That sounds good," the coach said. "Just take it easy and don't be out too late. We want you well rested for the match against the Karasjok Kites.

"Not to worry," Viktor said. "I will be ready."

xXx

Viktor was ready and in fine form as Puddlemere United beat the Karasjok Kites two-hundred and thirty to one hundred ninety. The victory party was outstanding and Viktor and Hermione danced late into the night. They spent the rest of the competition trying to avoid the press as they settled into a routine of team dinners and victory parties on days the team played as they advanced through the cup. On off days, Viktor and Hermione spent their time hiking the area around Eus, sharing meals with Oliver and various other teammates, and lounging around in their hotel room reading. Sex was still off the table for Hermione, but she didn't mind keeping Viktor happy in that regard. He offered to reciprocate without penetration, but she declined. She wasn't ready and he respected that, but it worried him. He had to focus on Quidditch though, but when the cup was over, he would check in with her more diligently. He knew losing the baby had been a terrible blow for her. His own feelings about it were mixed.

While he'd been completely willing to raise the child with her, he couldn't help feeling a sense of relief when he didn't have to. Then when they'd returned home to England and he'd gone back to his flat for the first time, there had been an envelope waiting for him, postmarked the same day they'd been attacked. It was from Todor and contained the photograph of Hermione, pregnant and wearing his shirt. When she'd glanced up at him from the photo with that shy smile, he'd felt a lump form in his throat. It had surprised him to feel the loss as well as the relief. He'd taken the photograph into his study and tucked it into the back of an old book of fairytales that he'd had since childhood. He'd have to decide what to do with it later.

As he stood on the balcony of their hotel room in Eus he pushed all the thoughts about Hermione to the back of his mind. He needed to be completely focused for tonight's game which would decide who went home with the European Cup and he was determined that it would be Puddlemere United. They were playing the Vrasta Vultures in the final match and Viktor wanted to make sure those bastards regretted letting him go.

In the end, Puddlemere United took the European cup from the Vrasta Vultures two hundred and fifty to one hundred. The stadium exploded as Viktor's fingers closed around the Snitch. Confetti came streaming down in a torrential downpour of paper. Fireworks went off high over the stadium and exploded into the Union Jack on one side and the blue and gold badge of Puddlemere United on the other. The box Hermione was in began to empty as friends and family began Apparating to the ground to join the team. Hermione joined them. When Viktor saw her appear he ran over to her, picked her up, and swung her around. She wrapped her legs around him and kissed him with both hands on his face. "You did it!" she shouted. He grinned and spun around with her again.

Viktor was named MVP for both the game and the European Cup as a whole. Hermione stood proudly next to him as the coach accepted the large silver cup on behalf of her team. The cheers from the stadium were deafening. The after party wasn't much quieter. Viktor was picked up and carried on the shoulders of his teammates several times. The hotel staff had to keep casting muffling spells on the ballroom to try and contain the noise, but after a while most of the people staying in the hotel gave up and just joined the party. It was so late it was early when Hermione and Viktor, exhausted and more than a little drunk, finally made it back to their room.

Viktor was giggling because Hermione couldn't get the key in the lock, which made her giggle, and then she really couldn't get the door open. Finally, she pulled out her wand instead and opened the door with it, which made Viktor laugh even harder.

"You can't use a key," he said, "but you can remember an unlocking spell."

"Yes," Hermione laughed and opened the door and they stumbled in. She flicked her wand at the door to lock it again and stumbled to the lavatory as Viktor fell face first on to the bed. When she came back into the room, she had two little bottles of hangover potion with her. She set them on the nightstand and pulled off Viktor's shoes before getting undressed and climbing into bed. He was already softly snoring.

Hermione was awake earlier than she wanted to be the next morning. She drank the potion on the nightstand and instantly felt better. She decided to take a bath and brushed her teeth while she filled the tub. She added bubble bath and sighed in relief as she sank down into the hot water. A few minutes later, Viktor came into the bathroom.

"Thank you for setting out the hangover potion," he said. He pointed to the toilet. "Do you mind?"

"No," she said, closing her eyes and resting her head on the edge of the tub.

He relieved himself, washed his hands, and then brushed his teeth. "That bath looks good. May I join you?"

She opened one eye. "Sure." She moved forward to make room and he got in behind her. He slipped his hands around her waist and leaned down to kiss her, but he waited for her to deepen it. She opened her mouth to him, turning in his arms and coming up on her knees to kiss him more fully without having to crane her neck. He slipped his hands up to cup her breasts and they kissed and gently explored each other with their hands until the water started to cool, Viktor whispered, "Come back to bed."

Hermione nodded. The six-week moratorium on sex was over. Viktor stood and helped her out of the tub. He handed her a towel and they dried themselves. He took her hand again and led her into the bedroom. She followed him feeling strangely passive. He got into bed and held his hand out and she got in next to him. He took his time, gently kissing his way down her body. She didn't participate much. She just lay back and tried to stay focused on her body and not let her mind wander to unpleasant thoughts. When he finally settled between her thighs, he took his time there as well, but without his usual teasing. He made her come, kissed her hip and slid back up the bed. He pushed a curl off her forehead as she caught her breath.

"Is it okay to be inside of you?"

She gave him a slight smile and nodded.

He smiled back at her and rolled on top of her, careful to brace himself on his elbows so as not to rest too much of his weight on her. She spread her legs and let him settle into place. He wandlessly said, "Conceptus Prohibere."

Hermione closed her eyes as he slipped inside her, letting out a soft moan as he did so. "You feel so good," he whispered. A tear slipped from the corner of her eye and she could feel it fall against her ear.

Viktor bent to kiss her and realized she was crying. He stilled inside her. "Am I hurting you?"

She shook her head.

"But you are crying." He moved as if to get up, but she wrapped her legs around him to keep him in place.

"Don't."

"I cannot do this if I am hurting you," he said.

"You're not. It's just the spell reminded me. I'm fine. Please don't stop."

"I am sorry. I had to cast it. The healer said—"

"I know," she said, reaching up to take his face in her hands. "I know. Please, let's just get through this first time. Okay?"

"Hermione," he said.

She clenched herself around him and thrust up against him. "Please."

He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers and began to move slowly.

She gave him a minute and then began to match his rhythm, hurrying him along. She didn't want to drag this out. She just needed this time to be over. The next time would be better. It wasn't that it hurt, at least not her body, but it was emotionally painful and she wanted to move past it. He seemed to understand what she needed. He wasn't rough, but he sped up and a few minutes later rolled off of her.

He lay next to her breathing hard and staring at the ceiling. "I am sorry."

"Don't be," she said, as she wiped her face and snuggled next to him. He put his arm around her and pulled her closer.

He shook his head. "That was…that…that was…"

"Awful," she finished for him.

"Yes. I am sorry," he said again, sounding guilty.

"It's not your fault."

"I feel like I pushed you."

"You didn't. I'm fine. I wanted that. I just got a little overwhelmed there for a bit. Next time will be better."

He gave her a half smile. "You still want there to be a next time after that?"

"Yes." She stretched and kissed him. "Thank you."

"For bad sex?" he said, arching an eyebrow at her.

She chuckled. "It wasn't that bad. Believe me, I've had worse. We just had to get through this time."

He sighed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sometimes, you are a little too strong for your own good, you know that?"

She smiled and kissed his chest before snuggling back against him.

Viktor sighed again and closed his eyes.