Viktor's eyes bulged in their sockets as he stared into familiar chocolate brown eyes. "L-Loff..." Viktor stuttered as shock filled him. He couldn't believe what he was seeing and really believed he was hallucinating.

Hermione offered a small smile and whispered quietly "Aren't you happy to see me?" Her voice was all Viktor needed to hear to unfreeze him from where he was standing. He took the two short steps in between them, closing in the space that was separating them, and pulled her into a huge hug. He buried his face into her neck breathing in her scent deeply as he tightened his grip on her as if he was scared she would disappear in a puff of smoke. Viktor's whole body tingled pleasantly as Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his warm and muscular chest.

Hermione could feel Viktor's body trembling underneath her fingers as he clutched onto her desperately. She ran her fingers through his soft hair and closed her eyes enjoying the feeling of finally being in his arms after so long. Viktor pulled away slightly only to place a fervent kiss on her lips. Hermione returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm. Both were startled and pulled back to reality as the cottage door opened as the light from within flooded out into the front lawn, illuminating the two of them.

"Herm-own-ninny?" Mrs. Krum said unable to disguise the shock in her voice. Viktor grinned unable to help himself as he took Hermione's small hand in his and squeezed it gently.

Hermione smiled at Mrs. Krum and made her way toward the cottage with Viktor and hugged her mother-in-law. "I'll explain everything" Hermione promised as she saw the confusion in the older woman's eyes.

"Mama neka da ya pusne vŭtre , predi da ya razpitva." Viktor reminded his mother amused. Mrs. Krum blushed slightly and stood aside to let Hermione into the cottage. She was a bit embarrassed that her son had to remind her of her manners. (Translation: Mom let her go inside before you interrogate her.)

Hermione looked around the cottage and couldn't help the happiness that flooded through her. She hated the lonely and dusty Grimmauld Place. Everything was dark and the only company she had besides Ron and Harry were the elf heads tacked up on the walls, not to mention Mrs. Black's constantly shrieking portrait. It was cold and dark at Grimmauld Place but the cottage was its polar opposite. The lights were on all throughout the cottage and the fireplace was crackling merrily in the sitting room. Hermione could smell something delicious cooking in the kitchen as the scent of some kind of stew wafted toward her.

Mr. Krum initially had the same reaction as his wife when he saw Hermione but told Hermione that they could talk about everything during dinner. He told her that for now she should spend her time with Viktor and then retreated to the kitchen to give them some privacy. Hermione went up to their bedroom and sat on the bed she shared with Viktor. It was comforting to be back home.

Viktor couldn't take his eyes off of Hermione. He felt as if he had been starved of her company. Hermione took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently and they stared at each other for a few minutes before she decided it was time to explain. "I couldn't stand being away from you for so long Viktor...I read through every article they wrote about you in the Daily Prophet. I thought about you every day and Harry saw it. It's the way I see him thinking about Ginny. Harry told me it would be ok for me to come. He knows the Fidelius Charm has been placed on the cottage. He said he would talk to Ron and make an excuse for one night-" Hermione hadn't even finished before she saw Viktor's face fall. One night he thought.

"Viktor..." Hermione began as she bit her lip suddenly feeling very responsible for the look on his face. Viktor saw how upset and conflicted she looked and shook his head.

"It is nothing loff..." Viktor said and at that moment Mrs. Krum called them down to dinner. "Come, I don't vant our dinner to get cold and I am betting that you haff not had warm, home-cooked meal since you left." Viktor stood abruptly and turned away from Hermione pulling her downstairs to avoid talking about her departure further. He also wanted to hide the look on his face that would give him away in seconds.

As Mrs. Krum ladled stew into bowls and passed them around Hermione explained that she would only be staying for one night and that it was important that nobody, not even McGonagall or Kingsley, knew about her visit. Hermione noticed Viktor flinch when she emphasized that she would not be staying for longer than a night. Viktor didn't speak again or even look up from his stew throughout dinner. If his parents noticed the tension they didn't let on they did. They instead caught Hermione up on what was going on at the Ministry, or rather what the Daily Prophet said was going on. They also told her about Gavril and Petar attacking them.

As Mrs. Krum brought out dessert Hermione's patience was wearing thin. Viktor wouldn't look at her at all and it was making her angry. She had come all the way back to London to see him and to spend time with him but he was being stubborn over something that couldn't be helped. Hermione thought he was acting rather like a child and hoped he would come to his senses by the time they finished dessert.

Viktor noticed the fiery look in Hermione's eyes that instantly alerted him to the fact that she was angry but instead of sobering up Viktor it angered him further. She was being selfish and wasn't even attempting to see things through Viktor's eyes. She wasn't being understanding of why he was upset that she wasn't staying. For once she was being completely illogical. He hadn't the slightest clue why she was angry when he was the one with the right to be angry. He clenched his fork tightly in his hands and his knuckles turned white as he stabbed at his chocolate cake.

After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Krum went up to bed to give them time to talk things out. Viktor folded his arms across his chest as he glared at the fireplace. Hermione snapped "You hate Ron for acting like a prat but you're acting exactly like him right now!"

Viktor wheeled around and yelled "I am acting like him? You are smart Hermione so don't act like fool! You should know vhy I am upset!" His eyes darkened furiously.

Hermione yelled back angrily "Of course I know why you're upset but that doesn't mean you should act like a child! You should just be happy with the time we have together now instead of sulking around! I came here to be with you Viktor!" She yelled practically on the verge of tears. She didn't know why he was acting like this.

"You vant me to be happy vith vone night vhen I know you vill be gone before sun is up?" Viktor said sarcastically trying to control his trembling voice.

"YES!" Hermione yelled. "It's all we have why can't you be happy with that?" She said advancing on him.

"VHY?" Viktor yelled. "Because I vould rather you hadn't come if you vere just going to tease me vith your presence! You are just going to go off and disappear again!" He snapped his anger taking over.

Hermione looked like she'd been kicked in the gut with his declaration and this time the tears did fill her eyes. "Fine." She said as the tears poured down her face and she walked out the door. Viktor heard a small sob escape her lips as she walked through the garden.

His expression softened and he felt horrible for making her cry. He hated himself for what he had said to her in his moment of anger and immediately regretted it. "Hermione vait!" He called out as he ran out the door. He cursed himself a thousand times over as he searched through the yard for her. His heart sunk deep into the pit of his stomach when he realized that she was gone. She had already Disapparated.

Viktor felt a lump rise in his own throat as he punched a nearby tree and felt tears stinging his eyes. He couldn't believe how he had ruined what was supposed to be a special night. He sunk to his knees and buried his face in his now bloody hands. He berated himself angrily. He had been the one that had been selfish not her. He knew that she would never abandon Harry and Ron when they needed her because that was just the kind of friend she was. She had come to see him because she loved him and missed him. He had been horrible to her just because he didn't want her to go, so instead he practically sent her away. He couldn't be happy with what he was given and that's why the short time they had together was ruined.

Hermione Disapparated right onto the step of Grimmauld Place with tears streaking her face. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle her sobs as she entered the house. She heard footsteps and prayed that it wasn't Ron that was coming her way. It wasn't Ron but Harry. Harry looked surprised to see her back earlier than she was due and very worried at the state she was in.

"Mione?" He asked worriedly as he made his way over to her. She blinked furiously as her tears blurred her vision. Harry wasn't good with crying girls and Hermione knew it therefore it made what he did next quite unexpected. He put his arm around her shoulder tentatively and pulled her in for a hug. Hermione cried into Harry's sweater as he awkwardly stroked her hair. "Mione what happened?" he asked anxiously.

Over the course of the next few minutes it became clear to Harry that Hermione wasn't quite ready to tell him what had happened. He began to carefully lead her up to the drawing room where Ron's loud snores filled the room. Harry helped her down onto the sofa she had previously occupied and covered her with a blanket. His emerald green eyes were filled with worry as he wondered what could have possibly happened between her and Viktor to make her so hysterical. He sat down on his bed of pillows next to her and held her hand until she cried herself to sleep. Ron began to turn in his sleep and Harry quickly pulled his hand away. The last thing he needed was for Ron to think that he too had feelings for Hermione. Relief filled Harry when Ron began to snore again and he laid back down on his makeshift bed. He was still very worried about Hermione but fell asleep a few minutes later nonetheless.