The Night
Hermione and Aurora were completely ready for the NQL ball, Hermione had Ginny help her get ready. Aurora's natural curls set off her ensemble perfectly, Hermione almost squealed at the thought of the father-daughter dance. Viktor had promised Aurora he would dance with her at the ball for that song, and Hermione was overjoyed whenever the topic came up.
Ginny had styled Hermione's hair perfectly, long curls with a matching lace head band. Her make up was light, save for mascara and lip stick. Hermione had talked Ginny into making the over robe a see-through netting, it was unseasonably hot. The high leg-cut was lowered to the knee, thankfully. Hermione felt like Cinderella being fixed up by her fairy god mother, in the sense she had gone from mommy look to fabulous model in an hour. Aurora had watched the whole process, thinking it was the coolest thing she had ever seen.
"Mommy! I want some make up on too!" Aurora giggled when Ginny tickled Aurora's cheek with the biggest, softest brush she could find.
Ginny almost cried when she was finished, Hermione and Aurora looked as they were worth. Hermione was one of the best mothers Ginny knew, she wanted to be half as good of a mom as she had always seen Hermione. 'She deserves tonight, she really does.' Ginny left as soon as she wished them luck, they had to get going.
Hermione and Aurora went into the foyer, where Viktor was waiting. She felt with a pang that the Hercules-looking man looked just as good as she did, and hadn't spent more than 10 minutes on his appearance.
"Hermione, Aurora, you two look veautiful." Hermione blushed and accepted the flowers, where she put them in an antique vase.
They all left for the ball, Aurora aparating in Viktor's arms, and Hermione by herself.
The ball was held in the center of the Quiddich pitch in the U.S, the hosts of this years NQL ball. Hermione was surprised at how well decorated it was, the Americans had serious tastes when it came to decorating. When they got there, Aurora ran off to the kid's side and was playing games and dancing around with the rest of them. Hermione felt awkward with Viktor just then; she hadn't danced with any man since she was 17 at Harry's birthday party, when she danced with Ron. Viktor seemed to get the feeling, and led her to the snack table. They talked and laughed for a minute, then:
"Hermione, vould you like to dance?"
"Of course."
Surprisingly, Viktor led her out the arena, through a door he conjured, and into a beautiful magical garden. She was flabbergasted; it was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. Japanese trees were everywhere, flowers, and floating flames high above her head, large sitting stones, gold statues, and a small pathway leading around the place.
"Viktor…This is amazing. What…"
"Don't worry about it, luff."
A slightly faster part of the song filled the air, and off they were. Viktor may blunder around when he walked, but he knew how to dance. Hermione felt extremely nervous at first, she kept stepping on his toes. She had been a dreadful dancer before when she actually danced every once in awhile, and she was terribly out of practice. The 270 pound Hercules-man seemed to hardly noticed. She finally relaxed and had a good time; it was one of the best times of her life. As they danced, Viktor kept one hand around her waist and one hand in her's, but tried to maintain his distance. The last thing he wanted tonight was Hermione having a panic attack over something he did again.
At a dreadfully slow song, they took a break sitting on the golden fountain's edges. They made conversation about Aurora, who they could see through a window. She had been dancing with another boy her age, whom Viktor knew from the boy's mother. It was the cutest thing watching them mimic the adults on the other side of the arena.
Hermione couldn't help giggling at her daughter, despite her time alone with Viktor; it seemed that the tiny three-year-old was leading the poor boy.
As they sat and talked, a silver trey with two menus appeared floating in front of them. Very similarly to the Yule Ball so many years ago, they told the menus what they wanted and it appeared.
They ate and talked, in silence. They watched Aurora accidentally stomp on the boy's foot, and they both giggled when he stormed off. Aurora spent about 5 seconds pouting about her 'date' leaving her, before she interrupted another 'couple' and stealing the boy from the other little girl.
When they were finished eating, they danced one more song, closer this time. Viktor looked pretty nervous when Hermione put her arms around his neck;
"Its OK, as long as I'm dominating I think I will be fine." With that bold statement, Hermione kissed him full on the lips. They stopped dancing, and continued. It was a sweet kiss, one Hermione was controlling. Viktor felt like he was on Cloud 9, until two little faces appeared in the window and were laughing their heads off. Hermione sighed, and apologized.
Viktor did his booming laugh, and said, "I think the father-daughter dance is about to start, lets go inside Hermione." Hermione couldn't get over how well Viktor's pronunciation was getting of her name; however, she slightly enjoyed his verbal blundering of her name.
They walked inside; Hermione was very grateful that Viktor had bought the side room for them; she would be so embarrassed dancing amongst all of the beautiful, rich, and famous.
Right on cue, the maestro came on and said that the dance was about to start. Viktor bowed and asked for Aurora's hand, where she giggled, and accepted. They walked to the dance floor, as soon as it dawned on everyone that Viktor was acting as Aurora's non-existent father, about 10,000 flashes went off. He barely seemed to notice, thankfully. Viktor picked up Aurora, and danced with one arm around the waist and one hand in her's. The flashes kept going off, but the two didn't seem to notice.
Hermione felt tears welling up in her eyes; it was one of the sweetest things she had ever seen. She hoped with all her might that one day they would truly dance as Father-Daughter, she couldn't think of a man she loved more and a man who would be a better father for Aurora.
When the song was over, Aurora kissed Viktor on the cheek, and he put her down. They all walked out into the little garden afterwards, wanting to get away from the camera crew, who were almost running in their direction.
As soon as they were inside, Viktor cursed the wide window away.
"Vell, munchkin, is Viktor a good dancer or no?" Aurora giggled and told him he was a good dancer.
With a Molly Weasley tone, she demanded, "I want another dance, Viktor." Hermione told her to ask more nicely, when she did.
They two danced together for several more songs, while Hermione watched and thought about the two. Before she knew it, Aurora would be asking Viktor to show her how to dance for her prom, and then her wedding. Or, she hoped, that Viktor would be the one. She didn't want to think of a world with only Aurora, and no Viktor.
When the loves of Hermione's life were sitting down for rest, she asked Aurora if she was getting hungry. As if the house elves had heard them speak of hunger, a silver platter appeared again. Aurora ordered Macaroni and Cheese and French fries, making Viktor laugh. While Aurora ate, Viktor and Hermione danced for a few more songs, on the other side of the little garden. Aurora still watched from the fountain's edges, but was used to the sight of her mother dancing at that point.
When Hermione and Viktor made it to the other side of the garden, they encountered a sleepy little girl who was finishing up her French fries with circles underneath her eyes. Hermione suggested leaving, but Aurora said,
"No way! We just got here! You and Viktor only got to dance for like ten songs!"
The three had actually been there for close to two hours, and it was almost 9:00. They had left Hermione's house at twilight, and even though the little flames made it seem earlier, it was getting too late for Aurora.
"One more song with Viktor, and we need to leave."
"Actually, Hermione, iff you like ve could leaf Aurora at Ginnys' home and go to my home. I asked her if it is alright already." Viktor was blushing, and so was Hermione.
"I would like that, very much." Hermione knew that Viktor's intentions of this weren't the usual, and she felt perfectly fine with it. She felt the familiar dread seeping into her chest, and forced herself to forget about it. Absolutely Nothing was going to ruin tonight for her.
"I get to sleep over with Harry? Awesome! Lets go!"
After about half of one song, Aurora was asleep on Viktor's chest. Hermione felt sad letting the garden go, but alas, the little munchkin was fast asleep.
They walked out into the Arena, where Viktor told his friends and teammates he was leaving, and apparated out to Harry's house from the lobby. Aurora woke as soon as they were finished apparating, and walked to the Master Bedroom with Hermione to change out of her clothes.
Harry was still up in the living room, with the last few minutes of The Goodnight Show on already.
He had to talk man-to-man with Viktor, whether he liked it or not. He muted the children's show, and Viktor seemed to feel the dread and awkwardness in the room.
"Look Viktor, I know that you have been living with Hermione and all, but whatever you have planned for her tonight..." Viktor interrupted.
"Harry, do not vorry. I do not plan on doing anything out of the normal vith Hermione. I am not like my vellow teammates. I vould never dream of pressuring her into something like…" Before he could finish, Hermione and Aurora were walking into the living room and he felt it would be unnecessary to finish his sentence.
Harry simply responded, "Thank you, Viktor."
"You are velcome."
The two shared a look; Harry liked the guy, but he needed to make sure that nothing was going to happen that shouldn't with someone in Hermione's delicate situation.
Hermione and Viktor quickly left, Aurora was leaning against Harry on the couch with her eyes drooping shut already.
Viktor held Hermione around the waist and Apparated the both of them to the doorstep of his grand estate.
Hermione's jaw dropped.
It was beautiful. The enormous mansion sat up on a hill back behind the gates, which Viktor led her through. She had completely forgotten about the time she had come here to spend a week with Viktor.
He had had someone landscape the 'house' since she had last come, which added to the beauty of the place. He though back to the day that he bought the house, the same day that Hermione replied by owl that she would be coming in two weeks. He had bought himself the house to impress Hermione. They had had the mansion to themselves the entire time, and the frequent kisses that went on inside returned to him in a blast of memories as they were walking up the pathway.
They went inside, and Hermione remembered that she had only the ball gown on her and nothing else to change into.
"Um Viktor…I don't have any clothes…"
"Ginny gave me a suitcase of clothes vor you to vear, is in your old room. Please don't change yet, I vould like to show you something."
He silently walked her, holding her hand, to the back of the mansion, trying to have her attention away from the fabulous décor inside the mansion. One of his girlfriends had insisted that she decorate the house for him, and she did so, very expensively. Gold accents and lots of extremely antique furniture adorned the bottom floor, which Hermione adored. She had only dreamed of decorating her own house with this scheme.
When they reached the back part of the mansion Viktor put a white warmed coat on her, and a matching hat and said, "Close your eyes, Hermione. Zis is a surprise vor you." She closed her eyes on command, and heard the large oak doors open in front of her. Viktor led Hermione about 20 steps in the grass, and instructed her to open her eyes.
Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing. It made the little garden at the ball look like a junk yard. It was one of the most amazing thing s she had ever seen…Her first thought was 'Aurora will absolutely love this.'
Twisting, red flowered trees formed a wide circle in the left part of the property. There was a silver entrance way into the little meadow, which had unthorned roses growing inside it. Inside, every inch of the ground was covered in the biggest flowers she had seen in her life. Tiny, old-fashioned lanterns hung from the trees, giving off a warm gold glow. Small eucalyptus bushes made a ring just inside the trees, one of her all-time favorites. In the very center, there was a little pond with lily pads and frogs lounging on them, dragonflies, and pink butterflies. Sparingly around the meadow was Hermione's favorite magical flower, the Starflower. It was a flower that only bloomed in the coldest parts of the world; it was like a tiny version of the sun, with the same small glow around it. It was very warm inside the man-made meadow, and she took off the beautiful coat that Viktor had made her wear.
While she was marveling at the place, Viktor had pulled out his wand and cut one of the starflowers for her. With a quick charm, it was going to last for forever. He handed the awestruck Hermione the little flower, and kissed her on the forehead.
"Happy Late Birthday, Hermione. I couldn't find just the right gift vor your party a view veeks ago so I…"
"Viktor…This is so beautiful. How did you…" Her voice cracked at the realization of his statement. This meadow was hers. Even in the frigidly cold Bulgarian weather, she couldn't help her face grow hot.
"Hermione please don't cry, I don't vant you to cry."
They strolled around the little meadow for a bit talking, mostly about Viktor having not spent 'that much.' He decided that now was the perfect time to do it. The bulge in his pocket that had been making him so nervous all day finally came out.
He sat her down on the little bench in the edge of the meadow and began.
"Hermione, I luff you so much. I vant to be vith you vorever..." Hermione seemed to know where this was going, and tears started to spill again. He got down on his knee before her and carried on,
"Vill you be my wife?" He placed the little box inside Hermione's hands to open herself.
For a long moment, Viktor felt his heart ice over. Hermione just stared down at the box and wept. She couldn't believe this was happening to her, to Aurora also. Aurora was going to have the best step-father a little girl could ask for… She snapped out of this when Viktor looked up solomly at her and said:
"Hermione, I am sorry…"
"Yes." He didn't know if he had heard right or not, so he asked again.
"Vill you…"
Hermione left the ring box unopened on the bench and threw herself at him, full forced. She kissed him like she had never kissed him before. It was all it took for even Viktor to have tears in his eyes. He held her in his arms for the longest time, where she half wept while she babbled about how she was so glad he finally asked her.
After awhile of this, he reached around Hermione and opened the little box for her. It was the prettiest diamond ring she had ever seen in her life. The enormous teardrop diamond and the little ones around it sparkled in the glow of the lanterns.
"Oh Viktor…" This unleashed a new wave of tears, and Viktor felt guilty for causing his 'luff' to cry as she did.
He put the ring on her shaky hand, marveling at his wife.
"Hermione, I luff so much you. Vlease don't cry.."
"I'm crying because I am happy." She kissed him again, and stood up, her wrinkled dress beyond repair.
For the second time that night, Viktor asked her to dance. He conjured music into the little meadow, she felt like Cinderella again. The danced around the little meadow again, as fiancés this time. It was the best moment of Hermione's life, no doubt.
After about another hour of this, they began to head inside.
Sitting on the couch, they just talked about the wedding and sorts. No one would believe that Hermione and Viktor spent the night alone, in his mansion on the night he proposed to her, and only kissed two or three times, so she wasn't going to tell anyone.
Hermione went upstairs after awhile of talking, while Viktor was making hot cocoa and ice cream. She soon discovered that Ginny had only packed lingerie. Where and when Ginny had bought these, she didn't want to know. She looked at the tags, and scoffed. 'French, of course.' She and Ginny had been talking recently, and Hermione had hinted that she was getting over her past and was getting ready to move on with Viktor, but she hadn't meant drastic measures like this. She found a light crème satin nightgown that would go to her knees; it was the most modest of them all. A completely lace bodice was the worst part, and she wore Viktor's fluffy white robe over it, untied. With her hair and make up done, and the enormous ring, she looked like a brunette Paris. She internally laughed, never thinking she would see herself looking like this in a man's house, alone.
Viktor's jaw almost dropped when he watched Hermione walk down the staircase. He liked the look, but it wasn't what he was used to…However, she did definitely look good.
She seemed to noticed his stare, and blushed. He internally cursed himself, knowing how awkward she felt when he did that.
They drank their hot coffee, laughing and talking. The bar stools were enormous, enough room for the two to sit together, Hermione in his lap. When they got to the more serious discussion of when they were supposed to announce the engagement and send invitations, Viktor got suddenly somber.
"Hermione, I vould not effer suggest inviting my parent's families. I think it vould be best if only my team and parents came that I know, and no one else."
Hermione was confused, and asked as Viktor expected, "Why?"
"Some of my family is very strange, and they vill not be very happy when the hear that we are getting married." He paused for a moment, and when Hermione prompted he continued, "Voth sides of my family are pure blood crazies…" Her face fell, "But I don't care one bit, and neither do my parents. They were luffed each other, not for who the other's parents are." He felt bad seeing her all of a sudden get so depressed. "Hermione, you know that I luff you." She giggled, her back to him. He kissed her neck to back up his statement, and she giggled again.
"Can I ask you something?" Hermione said, with genuine curiosity.
"Of course."
"When did you buy this ring? Truthfully." His face went scarlet; he wanted to avoid this subject. No doubt during the many of Hermione's and his coach's discussions this came up.
"Not too long ago…" He smiled at her, and said, "Venn you vere in your fifth year. You came that summer, and I vas going to propose…" Hermione was surprised, the coach had hinted awhile ago, but not almost a decade. "I had completely vorgotten that English girls wait till they are older when the marry. I vas going to propose that summer when you came and visited, but I decided not to vhen you told me about English marriages," He ended on a sad note.
"I would have said yes," She said with all the honesty in the world. It melted his heart but she said, "However, my parents would never have allowed it. They are… were firm believers in waiting until after school is over."
Viktor's mind reeled, he could have prevented the Dramilious mess. As though Hermione had read his mind, "Viktor, I know that face. Ron used to make the same one. You couldn't have done anything about it, love." He bear hugged his fiancé, needing the comfort more for himself than for her sake.
They sat together that way and talked for the longest time, and at midnight Hermione finally declared that she was too tired to keep staying awake.
Viktor carried her honeymoon style to her bedroom, allowed her to take off her make up and use the rest room, and tucked her in as he did Aurora. He asked, jokingly, "Vould you like Viktor to tell story?"
"Yes," Hermione said, tucked into his arms.
"Vell…" He laughed, thinking up something good, "Once upon a time, zere vas a lovely young witch who had a daughter. She and the little girl's father had long since left them, and she vas getting lonely when her old prince came along and svept her off her feet in a little book store, wearing muggle pajamas." Hermione giggled, and allowed him to continue, "He luffed the witch, vith all his heart. He and the witch and the little girl began seeing each other every day, and he grew to luff them more and more." Hermione's drooping eyes welled up with tears at this, but allowed him to continue, "And one night, at the prince's grand ball, he proposed to the vitch. It vas the best night of the prince's life. He plans to grow old vith the witch, and haff many more children, and he vants to be a vunderful father to the daughter the witch already has. The prince vas…" Hermione was already asleep in his arms by this point, tears of happiness were underneath her eyes.
With a sweet little kiss on her forehead, he said, "Toke Nosht, my beautiful fiancé."
He walked into his own room, across the hall, in a dreamlike state. It had to have been the best night of his life.