Weeks after being released from the hospital, Hermione was slowly adjusting to her new home with Harry and Ginny. The first thing she had seen upon arriving at their home was Viktor waiting patiently for them on the front step. A warmth filled her heart upon finding him there waiting for her. He had visited her every evening while she was in the hospital, even after the days he spent at grueling practices, but she had not expected him to be waiting here when she arrived. Her heart fluttered in her chest as he rose and walked over to meet them, kissing her cheek lightly. As his eyes slid down to the small white blanket that Rose was bundled in, he held his arms out for her.

"May I?"

Hermione smiled and carefully let him take Rose from her arms. She marveled at how tiny she looked in his large frame.

"Hallo, little one."

She watched silently as Viktor ambled into the house ahead of them, Rose safely secured in his arms. Ginny placed an arm around Hermione's shoulder and began to lead her into the house.

"Come inside Hermione. I'll show you your room."

Hermione was speechless when Ginny showed her the room that had been set aside for her and she saw that of all her things were already there. She had not been looking forward to making the trip home to retrieve her belongings, and now she realized they had taken care of that unpleasant duty for her while she was still recovering. Even her beloved Crookshanks was curled up by the window.

"Ginny, thank you."

"You like it?"

"Of course I do."

"Good. Now let's take a look at Rose's room."

"Rose's room?"

"Yes, come on."

Hermione followed her into the next room where Viktor was placing a sleeping Rose into her crib. She looked around the room and saw all of Rose's things that Viktor had bought for her, plus several new items scattered about the room.

"Ginny you didn't have to do all this. Rose could have stayed in the same room with me. I didn't want you and Harry to be this put out."

"Hey, we just provided the room, Viktor did the rest. He was very insistent that everything be perfect."

Hermione looked over at Viktor from her place at the door and watched as he gently covered her sleeping Rose with a soft baby blanket and felt a strong surge of affection that surprised her. Ginny squeezed her shoulder slightly before leaving the room.

Viktor approached her quietly as though afraid his footsteps would wake Rose. His voice was just above a whisper.

"Room is good?"

"The room is beautiful. Thank you. I don't know how I'll ever even begin to repay you for all you've done for us."

"Is not necessary. Being repaid is not vhy I do this for you."

He reached out and gently brushed back a stubborn curl that had escaped from the loose knot she had tied them in. His eyes gazed down at her with unabashed affection. She was at a complete loss as to how to respond to such an unfamiliar emotion being directed at her. She understood the meaning behind his words, she knew what the look in his eyes was conveying, but she had no idea how to respond. She had no experience with dealing with such open displays of affection. The last time she had been treated this way was when she was a girl and this same man had shown a similar affection for her then as well She was as nervous and unsure now as she had been back then. She silently reprimanded herself for acting like such a childish schoolgirl and tried to think of something to say that wouldn't sound idiotic. Rose's crying saved her from herself as she evaded his attention on the pretext of checking on her.

Only a few short months later, without anyone even realizing it, Viktor had become an integral part of the new Potter/Granger household. He seemed to find a way to see Hermione and Rose every day, spending all his Quidditch-free hours with them. It had suddenly become commonplace to find him at the dinner table with the rest of the household each evening. Hermione often watched in awe during those hours, as he held Rose like she was a priceless jewel, speaking to her in soft Bulgarian. She often found herself wondering why Ron never felt the same way about his daughter as Viktor did. Perhaps he didn't want a wife, but how could he not care for his own child? She was pondering this fact as she watched Viktor trying to keep Rose occupied while the rest of them were clearing the table. Her thoughts abruptly evaporated as he addressed her and asked an unexpected question.

"Hermione. I haff game in Germany tomorrow."

She felt a sudden pang at realizing he would be gone for days this time. She hadn't realized how much she looked forward to his company until that moment.

"Oh. For the semifinals?"

"Yes. Vill haff to stay for three days for practice and game on Saturday. Vould you like to come vith me?"

The thought of being alone with Viktor for three days was both enticing and frightening and she struggled for an answer for his unexpected invitation.

"To Germany? I...I don't know."

Ginny and Harry looked at each other meaningfully before Harry spoke.

"Go on Hermione. You've been in this house for months now. You need to get out for awhile. It sounds like fun."

"But, Rose."

"Harry and I can take care of Rose for a few days. Don't worry about that. Go!"

Hermione looked into Viktor's expectant eyes knowing what he was hoping for her to say and she gave in.

"All right. Why not."

Two days later Hermione was wandering happily through the museums in Germany. While Viktor was at pre-game practices she had spent much of her time exploring the city. She hadn't felt so free and happy in years and she was glad she had ignored her nerves and agreed to accompany him here. As the sun began to set, she slowly walked back to the hotel where Viktor had secured two suites. She hadn't realized they would be staying in such an extravagant hotel and she had been somewhat flustered by the luxurious accommodations. She was in her suite getting ready for his arrival, knowing he wanted to go out for dinner tonight. She was looking forward to the evening, but was still nervous about handling the emotions that being alone with him always seemed to elicit from her. Without Rose as a buffer, she felt herself being drawn closer to him than ever.

She was feeling more confident when she managed to get through another romantic dinner without making too much of a fool of herself. They headed back to the hotel early as it was the night before the semifinals and he needed to be at the stadium early in the morning. He walked her slowly to her room and as she opened the door, he took her hand and pulled her closer to him, gently kissing her lips. He pulled back and kissed her forehead tenderly.

" Leka nosht. Good night Hermione."

Hermione had trouble sleeping that night, replaying that kiss again and again.

'Had he expected more?'

She worried most of the night that he had expected her to sleep with him tonight, their last night together before returning home. She knew she wasn't ready for that, wasn't sure if she ever would be. But she also knew she would have to make that decision soon. Late into the night she managed to push the troubling thoughts from her mind long enough to fall asleep.

Early the next morning Viktor met her in the hallway and kissed her lips quickly before they headed out to the stadium. He led her to what was obviously the team box, reserved for family and friends, before he went off to join his team. As the game began, Hermione found herself enraptured by his swift and graceful motions as he surveyed the area for any flash of golden wings, while deftly avoiding both intentional and unintentional bludgers that threatened to knock him off his broom. She had no clue who was winning or what the other players were doing. Her eyes never left him even as he easily outmaneuvered the German seeker to claim his prize hours later. She watched as the Bulgarian team took several victory laps past the roaring crowds and began to think there was something to this game after all. Everyone else from her box had begun filing out to join the celebration below leaving Hermione alone, watching from above. So distracted by the colorful revelry taking place below her, she failed to notice the three figures who paused as they were passing her box, nor did she notice when they walked up behind her until a familiar sneering voice alerted her to their presence.

"It is you, isn't it Granger? We didn't think it was possible. Not in this box."

Hermione's smile quickly evaporated as she turned from the spectacle below to see a sneering face of a Slytherin she hadn't seen since the academy along with two other men she didn't recognize looking mockingly at her. She hadn't thought about the Slytherins in years, but now that he was standing in front of her with that same mocking gaze, she was forced to remember all the times he had joyfully tormented her back at the academy.

"What do you want?"

"From you? Not a thing. We are just trying to fathom exactly what you are you doing here, in a box reserved for...important people?"

She turned deliberately away from them to watch as the Bulgarian team flew past and headed for the pitch below. Viktor waved down at her as they passed, an unusual smile on his dark features.

"So it's true is it?"

She turned back to face the three intruders.

"Are you still here?"

"I seem to be immobilized by the sight of a pathetic mudblood like you still leading Viktor Krum around like a dog. What the hell is that man thinking? Hundreds of pureblood girls just waiting for the chance to shag him and he's still wasting his time with you. Maybe he's taken one to many bludgers to the head."

He looked her up and down disdainfully while his friends laughed at his lecherous insults.

Hermione tried to ignore them, knowing from past experience they were just trying to get a rise out of her. His comments had hit hard though, mirroring her own long-held beliefs she was not good enough for Viktor. She struggled to keep her composure and tried to focus on the celebratory crowds swarming the field below. A group of screaming girls caught her eye and she found herself watching them closely. She was struck by how beautiful, confident and downright sexy they all were. She knew she didn't compare to any of them. Why would Viktor be spending so much time with her when he could have one of them? Hell, he could have all of them if he wanted.

"You know what I think it is guys? I think its just the simple fact that he never got the chance to shag little miss perfect back in school. She was too far above everyone else to put out in school like the other girls, so he still needs to cross her off his list of conquests. Why don't you do the man a favor Granger and give it up, so he can move on to 'purer' women."

His cronies were now openly leering at her. She was suddenly more frightened than annoyed, as she realized they might have more than taunting her on their minds.

"Get away from me."

They ignored her and instead began to fan out cutting her off from any escape route.

"I don't know fellas, she couldn't even keep Weasley satisfied so how good could she be anyway? The kind thing for her to do would be to give Krum a taste so he can see what he's definitely not missing."

Disturbed by their increasingly filthy comments, Hermione desperately wanted to flee, but they were quite effectively blocking the door. She stood stonily, determined not to let them see any emotion.

"I dunno, maybe she already has and there's something about her only Krum knows about. Maybe she has some sort of special 'talent'."

"You may have something there. Is that right Granger? Is there something special you do for Krum?"

Hermione backed away to the edge of the box nervously as he approached her, looking her up and down once again, only this time with lust instead of disdain in his eyes.

"What is it then? Come on tell us. Or maybe you'd like to show us instead."

Hermione managed to quickly evade him as he lunged for her, but he instantly grabbed her arm and pulled her back. He forced her head back with one hand gripping her hair and tried to force a kiss on her. The attack stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Hermione looked up fearfully to see him land solidly on the stone floor with Viktor standing over him, and a wave of relief washed over her. His two friends quickly ran off and left him to fend for himself.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No."

He roughly pulled him up off the floor by his hair and threw him against the stone wall. He put his hand around his throat, effectively constricting his airway.

"I remember you. You should haff taken the advice I offered you years ago. I told you then vhat vould happen if you did not leave her alone, didn't I?"

Unable to speak with the hand gripping his throat, he nodded frantically.

"Remember now, do you? If you ever touch her again, you ever come near her again, you vill not live long enough to regret it. Now, unless you vant to go over the railing and take the fast vay down, I suggest that you get the hell out of here!"

He threw him unceremoniously out the door and down several stone steps and watched him scamper away before turning his attention to Hermione. She looked pale and shaky and as he pulled her into his arms he could feel her body trembling.

"Come, I vill take you home."

Hermione allowed him to lead her from the stadium, still reeling from his unintended revelation that he had been the reason some of the Slytherins had let up on her during the year he was at the academy. She hadn't made that connection before. That year had been one of the easier times for her, but she had simply assumed at the time that her tormentors had been preoccupied with the tournament. He had never told her he was the cause of them keeping their distance. She hadn't realized that he had been protecting her from them that whole year.

Once home Viktor asked her for at least the tenth time if she was really OK.

"Yes, I'm fine, really."

"I am sorry. I should not haff let that happen to you."

"It's not your fault. I..I really did have a good time this week Viktor. Thank you for inviting me. It was good to get out for awhile."

"Good, then you come to finals vith me next veek, yes?"

She thought only for a second before letting her heart answer.

"Yes, if you like."

"I vould like that very much Hermione."

A few days later, Hermione was hurrying home from the publishers. After critically assessing her financial situation she realized she needed to start getting more articles reviewed if she was going to provide for Rose and not have to rely on Harry and Ginny's generosity forever. She had gone to drop off some completed articles and had expected to be home much sooner than she was. But traveling with an infant was a more time consuming ordeal than she had expected and everyone at the office had wanted to see Rose, causing minutes to turn into an hours. It was her turn to cook and now she was running terribly late. She began to search the cupboards knowing she would not have time to go to the market for anything. Before she had found anything she was distracted by Rose who just wouldn't seem to settle. She was trying to hold Rose and find something for dinner at the same time when a knock at the door interrupted her hurried search.

Harried, she rushed to the door only to find Viktor smiling down at her.

"Viktor? I thought you were in France tonight?"

"PR event vas canceled, thankfully. May I come in?"

"Oh, yes of course. I'm sorry."

Hermione tried to surreptitiously brush her unkempt curls back after he passed her, knowing she looked dreadful at the moment. She couldn't do much more about it as Rose was still fretting in her arms. Viktor seemed to take no notice of her worn attire or her unkempt hair.

"Vhat are you two up to?"

"Oh, I'm supposed to be getting dinner. Harry and Ginny will be home soon and I was late getting back and Rose doesn't seem inclined to be put down after all the attention today, so I.."

He watched her with an amused expression as she rambled.

"Vell, there is only one solution for this then, you take care of little one and I vill cook dinner.

"You don't have to do that."

"You no think I can cook? I am very good cook. You vill see?"

He walked into the kitchen oblivious to her skeptical expression. He turned back to her and beckoned her away. She smiled and shook her head in surrender and took Rose to her room, gently rocking her until she finally settled and drifted off to sleep. When she ventured back into the kitchen, she found Viktor was cooking pasta he had scrounged from the mostly empty cabinets and was finishing up preparations. She watched him unnoticed for a few minutes, marveling at how at home he looked before making her presence known.

"She's finally asleep."

"See, crisis is averted once again by Bulgarian ingenuity."

She walked over to the counter where he had stacked four plates for the table.

"Thank you Viktor. You really didn't have to do this you know."

He turned to face her and shifted closer. The heat from his body, which was now mere centimeters from hers, felt incredibly soothing and inviting. In an attempt to distract herself from the closeness of his body, she averted her gaze and looked up into his eyes, only to find that his eyes were even more disconcerting than his proximity. As he looked down at her with eyes clearly darkened with desire, a steady heat coursed throughout her body and she suddenly found her breathing becoming labored.

She thought briefly about moving away, but was frozen by the intensity of the want in his eyes and the thought vanished completely when he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. His kiss was light at first, but quickly became more passionate and intense. She trembled as she felt his tongue graze her lips and she found herself willingly parting her lips slightly, granting him permission to deepen the kiss. As his tongue met hers, his hands slid slowly around her waist. With one strong hand on the small of her back he pulled her closer while the other moved up and laced itself gently in her curls. The sensation of his mouth exploring hers and his body pressed firmly against her was overwhelming. She could feel his muscular chest against her breasts, his hips against hers and the firmness betraying his arousal against her pelvis. She had never felt such need, such pure wanting before and she was slightly unnerved by it. She whimpered softly against his mouth as the competing sensations overwhelmed her senses. He had broken contact with her lips and had begun to kiss his way down her neck, when they both heard the door open and managed to pull apart just before Harry and Ginny walked into the kitchen. Harry took no notice of their odd breathlessness or Hermione's flushed cheeks.

"Wow, that smells really good. Hey Viktor. I heard the autograph session was canceled. Good to see you."

Harry prattled on as Viktor and Hermione stood as far apart as they could get from one another trying to compose themselves.

"Yes. Canceled. Thought I vould stop by. Is OK?"

"Of course, anytime. Especially if you're going to cook dinner."

Ginny was watching the interaction closely as she looked back and forth between him and Hermione. She had never seen Viktor so flustered or Hermione so nervous and quickly noticed how careful they were not to look at each other. She smiled knowingly as she suddenly realized that her and Harry had interrupted something more than cooking.

Later that night Hermione sat by Rose's crib thinking about what had happened between the two of them earlier. She knew he cared for her, that he wanted her, but the thought of becoming involved with another man, especially Viktor, was daunting. She cared for him, she always had, and there was no denying she desired him physically, but her past experience with Ron was making her leery of developing a more intimate relationship with him. She watched Rose sleep while she thought about how she was going to handle the situation. She had been biding her time knowing full well she had a difficult decision to make and putting it off would not make it any easier on either of them. The incident in the kitchen tonight had made her realize she couldn't put it off any longer. Her choices were clear, let her fear of intimacy drive him away, or admit her feelings for him and risk ruining their friendship if this relationship went the way her last one had. Neither choice seemed likely to end well. Ginny's voice interrupted her silent debate.

"Hermione, Harry and I are going to the lake for a bit. Would you and Rose like to come along?"

"Thanks Ginny, but I told Viktor I'd be here today. I think he's planning on stopping by for a bit. He wants to see Rose."

Ginny grinned knowingly at her.

"Uh-huh."

"What's that supposed to mean Ginny Potter?"

"Oh nothing, I just don't think its only Rose he wants to see. Maybe we could take Rose with us today, so you two can be...alone for a bit."

"Ginny, you're being ridiculous."

"Am I? It's obvious how he feels about you. It's not like he's been hiding it from anyone. The only thing I'm not sure of is how you feel about him. So, fess up."

How did she feel? She'd been trying to avoid that admission for months.

"I think...I think I..love him Ginny."

"Then what's so wrong about being alone with him?"

"I'm just not sure if I'm ready for that, but you're right... I think I'm going to have to deal with that soon."

"Deal with that? Merlin Hermione, you don't have to sleep with him if you don't want to. You act like it would be some kind of unpleasant chore."

She looked at Ginny hesitantly.

"Isn't it?" She laughed, only half joking.

Ginny looked at her momentarily stunned into silence.

"Hermione! Sex shouldn't be like that, you should be enjoying it, looking forward to it, not dreading it."

Hermione blushed slightly as she forced the question she had been wanting to ask Ginny for some time from her lips.

"Do you? You know, enjoy sex, Ginny?"

Ginny simply stared at her, suddenly realizing she was serious.

"OK we obviously need to talk here. Just how bad was it with my git brother?"

"It wasn't bad exactly, just..."

"Just what?"

"Embarrassing, painful sometimes."

The shock on Ginny's face made her wish she had kept her questions to herself after all.

"Oh Hermione. My brother really is an arse!"

"I don't think Ron was the problem Ginny. I mean, that girl at the memorial seemed to like it well enough, she came back several times."

The bitterness in her voice surprised her almost as much as Ginny.

"What girl? Did he screw around on you? That son of a bitch! OK, look you need to understand something right now. If you're avoiding a relationship with Viktor because of this whole sex thing, you're making a serious mistake. Viktor loves you, it'll be different with him, I promise you."

"Ron said he loved me too."

Ginny brushed a loose tendril out of her friend's troubled face.

"And I think he did in a way. But he wasn't ready to be a husband...or a lover apparently."

"Ginny..."

"You've just got to be honest Hermione. If things get serious and you start to feel afraid, tell him. Viktor wouldn't want you to pretend with him. That may have been enough for my git brother, but it won't be enough for Viktor."

Hermione knew Ginny was right, Viktor would be mortified to find out she had allowed him to take her to his bed even though she dreaded it. She also knew that he would never sleep with her unless she wanted it as much as he did. Viktor could always read her emotions so easily. She would never be able to pretend with him. He would know she was afraid in an instant. That was new, Ron had never seemed to care that she didn't share his desire, as long as she came to his bed when he wanted sex, that was enough. It was this more than anything physical that scared her. Viktor could read her emotions so easily, she wouldn't be able to hide anything from him, she never could. She had been able to shield herself with Ron, but with Viktor there was no defensive wall between them, she would be sharing so much more than just her body.

"Thanks Ginny."

"Hermione, you've never...you know...felt pleasure with a man have you?"

Hermione looked down at the floor. "No... and I'm not sure I ever will."

"Hermione, once you're with a man that truly loves you, a man you trust, you'll be able to let go. It's probably the single most wonderful physical experience ever, to let a man bring you to that place. I want you to know what that kind of pleasure is like Hermione. I think Viktor can make that happen for you if you let him. Do you trust him?"

"Yes, I always have."

"Enough to let go with him?"

"I..I think so."

"There's only one way to find out, Hermione. But you don't need to rush it. It will happen on its own."

"Ginny?"

"Yeah."

"Take Rose with you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah...yeah I'm sure."