Hermione's brow furrowed as she sat in her study. She was working over a dead plant trying to bring it back to life. It was in her way working out her gift. Though she could heal herself it was very difficult for her to heal anyone else unless it was small things like bruises or scratches. Viktors hand wasn't something as simple as a bruise or a scratch. It had been mangled beyond repair, even by a skilled healer like Dag. She would never forget the way Viktor had looked when Dag had told him the bad news. She would also never forget the sound of his breaking voice as Viktor admitted he couldn't feel most of his fingers.

In many ways she felt guilty for his current state. After all he had been riding the Firebolt. A broom she had mended with her own two hands. And it was because that broom broke that his arm and hand had been shattered. It was in her eyes her fault. Her jaw clenched as she took a shaky breath trying to push the guilt away.

It doesn't matter… Because I'm going to fix it… I owe Viktor more than that… I will do this for him. Now concentrate Hermione…

She put her hand out and her eyes narrowed as she concentrated as hard as she could. The plant did nothing. Just sat there, like a literal potted plant. She put out both hands and concentrated her energy. She imagined her magic flowing from her hands into the pot, when nothing happened she sighed and sat back.

"Stupid plant…"

"Why is plant stupid Luff?" She smiled as she turned to see Viktor standing in the doorway a cup of coffee in his good hand.

"Because… It's… Illiterate…" He smiled knowing she was lying.

"Are you trying to use your mega witch gifts to bring the plant back to life?"

"Can't fool you…" She said turning to look at it. "I figure if I can heal this plant, I can heal your hand…" He smiled as he looked over the back of her head.

"Mina…" he said moving into the room and sitting down beside her at the desk. "Things like this." He said motioning to his hand in the sling. "They happen to quidditch players some time." She shifted in her chair as she looked him over.

"You sound like your giving up." Hermione said.

"I don't want to but I need to, and you do as well, come to terms that…" his jaw clenched. "This might be the end of my career."

"No." Hermione said shaking her head as she looked back to the plant and stretched her hand out.

"Mina…"

"No Viktor, I can do this…"

"Mina, magic can't fix everything-."

"Yes it can."

"You know that's not true Luff."

"It is in this case." She said her jaw clenching as her anger flew and her eyes narrowed on the plant.

Come back to life… Come back to life… Come back to life…

"This might haf been meant to happen Luff."

"No it wasn't…" she said taking a deep breath as her hand dropped and she turned to look at him. "Viktor, do you believe in me?"

"Of course I do." He said with a sincere expression and she smiled.

"Then believe I can fix your hand… I can do this… I promise." He cupped her cheek for a long moment. "I just, I need to focus, learn how to control these elevated powers of mine, and then I'll be able to… I'm just trying to do it on a very short time line before the drafts start…" He nodded as he watched her stretch her hand out. "Now move plant… I need this…" The plant moved and Viktor looked to it to see it was going from brown to a healthy green. "There it is… Please… Please come on-." It drooped back down to a dingy brown. Hermione sat back in her chair and glared. "Bloody hell…"

"You almost had it luff."

"I guess it's progress…"

"Well it's enough for today."

"No, I have to keep doing this, I'm on a deadline here."

"No we have to meet with the wedding planner." Viktor said taking her hand and leading her from the room.

"But… The plant-."

"Vill still be dead when we get back. Now come on we must get dressed."

"Okay I will just let me check the post." Hermione said and Viktor nodded as he headed up the stairs to their bedroom. Hermione went to sneak back into her office for one last try.

"Mina…" she froze at his warning tone.

"Coming…" she said quickly heading up the stairs passed Viktor who was pointing up it. "I'm going I'm going…" Viktor smiled as he followed her. Sometimes he forgot how young she truly was.

-o-

Hermione sighed as she looked over row upon row of china. They were choosing the plate ware which would be set upon the tables during the reception. Even though she knew her mind should be on the wedding. She couldn't help but keep stealing glances at Viktors arm in the sling.

"You keep stealing glances at my son, can't keep your eyes off him?" Sophia asked with a smile nudging her.

"Well… He is very handsome…" Hermione said softly and Sophia looked her over.

"Are you alright dear?" she asked and Hermione looked to her.

"Hmm?" she asked.

"Are you alright, you seem quite far away today."

"Oh… Yeah I was just thinking about some things."

"Like?" She asked.

"Just… School… And stuff." Sophia tilted her head, it was the first time the girl had ever lied to her.

"Hermione what is it?" She looked to her Bulgarian mother for a long moment before looking over at Viktor who was clear across the room with Ivan. She slowly turned making sure her back was completely to them.

"It's his arm…" Hermione said softly and Sophia smiled.

"Oh don't worry dear, Players get hurt all the time, it won't be his last injury…" Hermione slowly looked to her.

"Well… Yes it actually might be, that is if I can't fix it." She said looking back at a tea cup.

"You're meaning?" Hermione looked to her.

"Didn't Dag tell you?" Sophia instantly looked confused. "Oh my god he didn't…"

"What is it?" Sophia asked softly.

"I… I shouldn't say."

"You will tell me." Sophia said and it was the first time the woman had ordered her to do anything. "Tell me Hermione…"

"Viktor shattered his snitch hand, he can't feel most of the fingers." Sophia covered her heart as she took a deep breath. "Well… Actually I shattered his hand." Sophia looked to her as Hermione stared forward.

"What-."

"Find any good china?" Ivan asked rubbing his sons back as they walked to the girls.

"This one is nice." Hermione instantly said holding up a mint green glass.

"Mina, that's not the color we chose for the wedding…" Viktor said and she looked down at it.

"So it isn't… I must be going color blind…" She said with a smile as she set it back in its place.

"I like this one." The wedding planner Greenly said holding up a gold tea cup with white Leaves painted elegantly around it.

"Great that's good with me…" Hermione said walking off and Greenly tilted his head.

"That's not good…"

"What's not good?" Viktor asked him.

"The bride has lost interest in her wedding…" He turned to Viktor. "What have you done?"

"Nothing." He said.

"We need to get her attentions back, it's time to go dress shopping, she most likely won't find anything but it will get her back in the spirit of things."

"I'm not disinterested I really like that tea cup and was looking for the saucer to match." Hermione said turning to show him and Greenly smiled.

"Oh good."

"Now that I see the saucer I don't like it though…" She said putting it back and Ivan smiled as he walked over to his future daughter in law. Viktor went to follow but stopped to see his mother staring at his hand.

"Soo… She told you." Viktor said with a knowing smile.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because… You've been saying this was going to happen for years... I didn't want you to tell me I told you so…" He said his jaw clenching before he walked away. Sophia took a deep breath before following.

I deserved that… She thought.

"Viktor what about this one?" Hermione asked holding up a tea cup.

"I don't know…" he said shaking his head as he looked around. "I see nothing I like."

"I know what you mean… Nothing is appealing to me…"

"This has every china piece available on this side of the world…" Greenly said eyeing them.

"If we don't see something we don't like then we don't see it…" Viktor said. "Sorry."

"This tells me something big." Greenly said.

"What that we're not ready to get married?" Hermione asked.

"Maybe, or that we're not having the type of wedding you guys want…" Greenly said. "Give me a week to think up something new."

"Another week to set things back?" Sophia asked.

"We have less than a year to plan this Greenly." Ivan said.

"I know I know, but I want them to have the wedding they want…"

"Shouldn't you ask us what we want?" Viktor asked.

"No." Greenly said before apperating out of sight.

"Just… Awesome." Hermione said and Viktor smiled as he rubbed her back.

"Are we really not having the wedding you want?" Ivan asked.

"No it's going to be perfect." Hermione said with a smile before walking off.

"I do think she's lost interest in this wedding…" Ivan said. "What did you do?" He asked turning to his son.

"I didn't do anything she's fine." Viktor said with a laugh as he walked off. They headed out of the china shop onto the busy Wizarding market place. "Want to go to the book store across the street?" Viktor asked his good arm wrapping around her waist.

"No that's alright…" Hermione said. Viktor looked her over to see she wasn't even looking at the store he was suggesting. His eyes followed hers to a broom supply shop.

"You want to go into the broom shop?" He asked and he felt her go rigid.

"No." Hermione said looking off before walking away she turned and looked to him. "You know, I'm kind of out of it I didn't sleep well last night, I think I'm going head back to our apartment." He walked to her.

"You feeling alright?" he asked.

"I have a bit of a headache…" Hermione said. "I think I just need to go lie down for a bit."

"Well I'm going to head back to the manor, break the news of my hand to the family…"

"Oh no I'll go with you."

"No… You go home and rest." He said kissing her forehead.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." He said. "Go on ahead." Hermione nodded with a smile before heading off. Viktor knew she didn't have a head ache. He knew exactly what she was going to do when she got back to the apartment. She was going to try and bring that potted plant to life. His jaw clenched as she looked over his hand. He wondered then if maybe he should hold off on telling the rest of his family. Maybe Hermione would find a way to fix his hand after all. He looked around and his eyes rested on a Daily Prophet laying in the street. He bent down and picked it up smiling at a photo of himself holding a snitch high up in the air.

I will do that again… I have too…

-o-

Hermione walked down the hallways of Hogwarts. She had a specific mission in her head. It wasn't the potted plant. No she was seeking advice. From the wisest woman she knew. She stopped in McGonagall's classroom. She slowly walked in and smiled seeing a cat walking out into the open.

"Professor." She greeted and she smiled as the cat formed into one of her most dear teachers.

"Miss Granger, how are you dear girl?" She asked.

"Good… I've come for advice." McGonagall stopped.

"Advice? You haven't come to me for advice since your first year…" She said with a smile before walking over to a desk and sitting down. Hermione followed suit and sat down with her.

"You have heard of the recent surge in my abilities?"

"Yes I have."

"Well I have questions about them."

"You should go to Headmaster Dumbledore-."

"But I've come to you Professor." Hermione said and she slowly nodded.

"What is your question?"

"I can heal myself but I can't heal others and I want to know how."

"It's practice dear, as most of magic is." She said with a smile as she got up. "You know that Miss Granger."

"Yes I do, but I don't have enough time for that. I need to heal someone now." McGonagall turned and looked to her. "Is there something that-."

"There's no short cuts in magic… I'm surprised hearing this from you."

"Someone got hurt… And it's my fault… I need to fix it." Hermione said and McGonagall looked her over.

"Is this about Krums Injury?"

"How do you know about- right… stupid question." She said realizing the Order knew everything about their members.

"So it is?"

"Yes."

"I don't see how that's your fault."

"It's a very long story…" Hermione said and McGonagall nodded as she walked back over to her.

"Magic takes time, and I should tell you, magic works best when drawn from somewhere other than anger, guilt, or any type of negative emotion… Until you find your way to help him, wrap his hand and arm in Gragen Leaves… It's been known to re instate damaged nerves." Hermione slowly nodded.

"Any idea where I can get my hands on it?"

"Only place I know… Forbidden forest. But you didn't hear it from me." Hermione nodded as she watched her walk off.

"Thank you professor."

"Of course any time."

-o-

Viktor smiled as he walked into his apartment. He didn't tell his family about his hand. Instead stayed around helped Stony with some school prep. He had also had dinner, he had brought some back for Hermione upon his mother insisting. He looked around instantly sensing the stillness in the apartment. Viktor tilted his head as he made his way to the study.

"Mina?" He stopped seeing the plant still dead and Hermione nowhere in sight. He walked over to her desk seeing a note.

Dear Viktor,

Went out with Ginny for some girl time, don't wait up.

Mina

"Well that's a blatant lie…" Viktor said looking off unsure what to do.

-o-

Hermione slowly crept down the hallways of Grimmauld from Ginny's room. She was on a mission, one she needed help with. She had thought of asking Harry and Ron her usual partners in Crime. But she couldn't put them in danger, not when she already knew the year coming would be filled with it. She took a deep breath her hand setting on a door knob. She slowly twisted it and opened it up seeing a bed with a red head laying in it. She closed the door quietly behind her before slowly making her way to the side of the bed. She knelt beside it and set her hand on a muscular arm.

"Fred…" She whispered nudging him. "Fred… Fred wake up…" His eyes slowly opened.

"Come to me again love?" he asked groggily.

"I'm sorry?" She asked and he sat up quickly.

"Bloody hell-." Her hand covered his hand before he could yell more.

"Shut up would you?" She asked with a distressed look.

"Uhm…." The light flicked on and she looked to George sitting up on the other bed in the room. "If you guys are going to shag I'd like to leave…"

"What? No." Hermione said.

"Oh you want me to stay?" George asked.

"What?"

"Got to say Hermione I'm surprised you're into threesomes."

"Mhm…" Fred said her hand still over his mouth.

"What? oh gross." She said backing up.

"You're not here for that?" Fred asked.

"Of course not! Bloody hell I was stupid to think I could come to you two for help." She said walking off. The door locked and she stared down at it before turning to see Fred his wand held out.

"What kind of help?" he asked.

"I need to go into the forbidden forest." Hermione said.

"Don't you usually take Harry and Ron for that?" Fred asked as he got out of bed. Hermione suddenly turned and George laughed.

"Fred wood." George said.

"Oh bloody hell." He said turning around. "Sorry love you got my engine revving with the threesome-."

"I don't want a threesome." She said with a glare as she turned to see him pulling a pair of jeans on. "Look will you help me or not?"

"Why do you need to go in the forest so bad?" Fred asked turning to face her.

"I need a special plant for Viktor."

"Why didn't Viktor go with you?" George asked.

"He's… Injured I can't guarantee he can take care of himself or have my back if needed…"

"In case you're attacked…" George said slowly nodding.

"What's in it for us?" Fred asked.

"I should have just gone alone…" She said and Fred tilted his head.

"Mione, you alright?" he asked and George looked to him. Hermione sighed heavily and George looked to her. The girl was in clear distress.

"Look Viktor is hurt and it's my fault I need this plant to start making things right…" She said her russet eyes wide her expression guilt ridden. "Please… I need help."

"Of course we'll help you." Fred said and George nodded.

"Give us ten minutes, we'll meet you at the edge of the forbidden forest by Haggrids hut." George said.

"Thank you so much." She said before turning and walking out. When she was gone George turned to see Fred was nearly almost ready to go.

"You seem excited."

"The wisest witch of her age just asked us for help, yeah I'm a bit excited." He said with a laugh and George tilted his head.

"Do you fancy her?" Fred turned and looked to him.

"What?" he asked.

"Mione, you fancy her?" Fred laughed.

"You're crazy George."

-o-

Viktor sighed as he walked through Grimmauld. The house was still, unsettling so. Usually it was filled to the brim with people. Seeing it so quieted down made his skin crawl slightly. He walked to Ginnys room and opened the door. Instead of seeing the red head like he expected he saw a note on the bed. He walked over to it and picked it up in hand.

Dear Viktor,

Yes, she's really with me.

Ginny

He looked up unsure of what to think now. He was positive Hermione wouldn't just run off and gallivant around with her redheaded friend. Not when she had been so driven to heal him. He walked out of the room and Ginny took a deep breath as she exited her closet. She jumped when Viktor walked back in. He stared at her with a point.

"I knew it." He said and Ginny put her hands up.

"Don't be angry."

"Where is Mina?" He asked.

"Please don't ask me that I'm not allowed to say."

"You will tell me." The stubbornness within her flamed.

"Uh no I will not… In fact if you don't get out of my room I'm going to scream bloody murder and wake up the whole house." She smiled triumphantly. "Yeah try explaining that one, why you're in your fiancés best friends bedroom late at night…" He stared at her for a long moment.

"You. Are. Devious."

"Well I did grow up with Fred and George…"

"Just tell me, is she safe?" Viktor asked and Ginny's expression softened.

"It's Hermione… Is she ever safe?"

-o-

Hermione paced the area before the forbidden forest. She looked all around her wand held at the ready. She heard a noise and turned quickly to see Fred and George moving forward.

"Sorry took longer than expected, we had to sneak out of the house." George said.

"No problem."

"We also brought our kit there's a lot of things we could use as well in that forest." He said.

"Just as long as we're in and out quickly." She said and they nodded. "Wands at the ready boys." They nodded as they followed her in. Hermione pulled out a herbology book from her leather messenger bag as she walked.

"So what are we looking for tonight?" Fred asked keeping his eyes peeled for anything.

"Gragen Leaves."

"He's hurt that bad huh?" George asked and Hermione's jaw clenched.

"Yeah… He is."

"I don't see how it's your fault-."

"Less talking more looking for Gragen Leaf." Hermione said showing them the picture. They nodded as they kept their eyes peeled. "It says here they're far into the forest where the trees are the most rooted… They like roots…" She said.

"I don't know how you Ron and Harry have come in here alone so many times." George said looking around the foggy space.

"Aye, bloody creepy it is." Fred said.

"You get used to it after a while, after all you only have to worry about territorial centaurs, giant spiders, imps, spectors-."

"You're not making us feel better here Hermione." George said.

"Oh… Sorry." She said with a soft expression. "It really isn't all that bad."

"Sure it isn't…" Fred said. As they walked Fred and George would grab certain plants they needed for their potions. Hermione though was having no lucky finding her Gragen Leaves.

"This is taking too long, Viktor won't believe I'm really with Ginny if it gets too late…" She said aloud.

"Whoa wait Viktor doesn't know you're doing this?" Fred asked wide eyed.

"No of course not. It would devastate him if he knew I didn't think he could handle this… He's a very proud man."

"You know… Viktor mentioned you've been having problems." Fred said.

"What when?" Hermione asked looking to him.

"At his birthday party." George said his illuminated wand held it in front of him.

"You guys alright?" Fred asked.

"Were fine, we just have problems with communication sometimes is all…" She muttered.

"Well you guys do quite literally speak different languages." George said. "Though Viktors English has gotten better."

"It's not about the language gap…" Hermione said.

"Then what's it about?" Fred asked.

"What are we girlfriends?" Hermione snapped and the twins laughed.

"Maybe it's about her lying to him all the time." George sad.

"I don't lie!"

"You don't tell him things though." Fred said.

"For his own good."

"It's still concealing the truth." George said.

"Which is a lie."

"I don't need you two lecturing me on concealing the truth…" She muttered. "And again… It's for his safety."

"Maybe this time, but in my memory this is the first time Viktor has been injured for a prolonged time, so all those times before-." Fred stopped as Hermione went rigid. "Right sorry none of-."

"Shut up." Hermione said her jaw clenching as she stared at the Gargan Leaves before her at the base of a tree.

"What is it?" George asked.

"Oh you found your plant-."

"What part of shut up don't you get?" she asked softly. George tilted his head. "I need you both to be very quiet and very still, and whatever you do… Don't look up." As she slowly moved forward Fred and George couldn't help but let their eyes travel up. Both went rigid seeing thousands of slumbering giant spiders hanging above them.

"I shouldn't have looked up." George whispered quickly staring forward.

"Hermione… Let's go…" Fred said softly.

"In a second…" Hermione said clipping the hardy Leaves while storing them in her messenger bag.

"Hermione…"

"Just one second please." She said softly. "And you should really shut up you don't want to wake them up."

"Mione…"

"Guys I'm almost-."

"Hermione look forward." She looked up from the plant and froze seeing a giant spider right before her.

"They're waking up…" Fred said in a sign song voice. "What the bloody hell do we do?" Hermione slowly stood as she spider before her extended its fangs.

"Run." Hermione said turning quickly and sprinting. The twins instantly following her.

"Shouldn't we fire spells or something!?" George yelled.

"Not if we don't have to, they're nearing extinction!"

"Did you see how many of them there are!? I don't think they're near extinction any more Hermione!" Fred yelled.

"I always thought going on adventures with you Harry and Ron would be fun but it's just fucking terrifying!" George yelled in distress and Hermione couldn't' help but laugh. He sounded just like Ron, breaking voice and everything. Her laugh was cut off as she felt something wrap around her ankle. She screamed as she was suddenly pulled back. She made a pained noise as her chin slammed into the ground blood bursting into her mouth as she was dragged past a stunned Fred and George.

"Hermione!" they yelled. Hermione as she was dragged turned onto her back and stared at a web which was wrapped around her ankle.

"Reducto!" She shouted and the web released from her. She rolled up onto her feet and started to run the giant spiders closer than ever. "Go go I'm fine!" She shouted to the wide eyed Fred and George who instantly nodded and began to run. Hermione stared wide eyed as she looked at the waves of spiders around them closing in.

"They're going to cut us off!" Fred yelled.

"Just a bit further and they'll back off!" Hermione yelled. She screamed as a large spider dropped down right before them. She pushed Fred out of the way as it took one its giant legs and slammed it towards him. Hermione cringed as the powerful leg smashed into her body instead and sent her flying into a large oak. She gasped for air as the wind was knocked out of her and she rolled across the ground her cheek smacking against the cold earth. George ran to her side and helped her onto her feet as Fred cursed the spider away.

"Let's go let's go!" Fred yelled and they started to run. George tripped and fell to the ground but Hermione instantly grabbed him by the back of his jacket and hoisted him onto his feet. As they ran through a shallow stream Hermione looked over her shoulder to see the spiders lined up at their territory line.

"They're not coming after us!" Fred said in victory. Hermione gasped as an Arrow flew right before her face to slam into a tree nearby. "Does it ever fucking end?" Fred asked. They all froze looking all around unsure of where it came from.

"Centaurs…" George said softly looking all around. Hermione stared wide eyed as more arrows flew through the air. One slammed right past her side into the ground and she hissed in pain as her hand flew to the area around her ribs. Fred and George went to deflect the arrows but Hermione put her hand out freezing them in the air.

"It's me, Hermione!" She yelled as more arrows flew towards them only to freeze at her barrier. "It's Hermione Harry Potters friend!" A stillness followed and Hermione looked all around. "They won't come out to greet us… But I do think they'll let us pass, let's remove ourselves from their territory before they change their minds." She gave a respectful bow before rushing off her hand clamped to her side. As they neared the outskirts of the forbidden forest Hermione looked to Fred and George to see they were smiling. "Over the fear?" She asked.

"That was wicked." George said and Fred laughed.

"Next time you Harry and Ron get into some shenanigans you need to bring us along."

"Yeah maybe I'll talk to them about it." she said with a smile. When they got out of the forbidden forest they came to a stop and checked over their bags to make sure nothing was ruined.

"All good?" Fred asked George.

"All good, Mione you?"

"All good." She said with a smile. "Thank you boys so much, I owe you."

"Be careful we'll cash that in." George said.

"I hate to run, but I do need to tend to Viktor."

"Of course, we need to head back home… Thanks for asking us to tag along." Fred said.

"Thank you for coming." She said with a smile before running back towards the castle.

The run back to the apartment was a long one. But thanks to years of running from some sort of Evil at the side of Harry and Ron, Hermione had stamina. When she got to the library she slowed her pace thoroughly pleased with herself. She would go upstairs, sneak into one of the downstairs bathrooms. Get a shower, go to bed, and in the morning tell Viktor she had picked the Leaves up at a specialty shop while he was with his family.

"It's perfect." She said to herself as she headed up the stairs into her private study. She said her passwords past the all portraits and smiled as she headed into the apartment. Instantly her expression fell seeing a livid looking Viktor staring at her. "Bloody hell…"

"You…" he pointed his jaw clenching. "You…" his expression softened. "Your hurt." He said seeing her bloody palms, side, and blood trickling down her bruised chin. Hermione looked at a mirror hanging on the wall and laughed.

"It's worse than it looks." She said waving it off as she looked to him.

"How did this happen?" He asked and she laughed once more.

"Oh you know when Ginny and I paint the town red we literally do it… with our blood… That's… That's just the Gryffindor way." She said with a smile trying to lie quickly.

"So you're lying to me again?" He asked and her jaw clenched.

"Viktor…"

"Where the hell haf you been Mina?"

"Out… I had some things to do…" She said with a shrug.

"What things?"

"Things, okay?" she asked closing the door.

"No, not okay."

"Look you don't need to know where I'm going all the time." She said looking to him.

"I do when it results in you being bloody, dirty, and bruised." He said. "Mina you look like you went ten rounds with you know who."

"Hardly." She scoffed. "I've had worse."

"I don't care if you haf had worse I don't like you being even a bit injured!" He yelled. "Where did you go?" He asked.

"I went out with-."

"If you say Ginny I'm walking out that door right now." Viktor said his jaw clenching as he looked off. Hermione stared at him for a long moment.

"I don't take well to threats Viktor." His eyes locked onto hers.

"I don't take well to lies Hermione." He said his jaw clenching and she looked off as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"I went to the forbidden forest." His eyes went wide.

"Why?" he asked. "Why would you do that?"

"It doesn't matter." She said walking past him.

"Mina we're not done." He grabbed her arm and she hissed in pain as she quickly pulled it back.

"Mind it Viktor, it's broken…" She said quickly and his eyes widened.

"Bloody bruised and broken and you say it doesn't matter!" He yelled and she looked to him. "It does matter why you went to that dark and dangerous place. It matters to me especially because you had come back to me hurt! Why did you go there?" He asked with a distressed look. "I need to know why you went there."

"Why?"

"Because I need to know why the love of my life would nearly get herself killed that's why!" Her jaw clenched as she looked off.

"There… There are going to be times when I have to do things or go places and I can't tell you why or where…" She said softly. "You knew that going into a relationship with me Viktor…" She looked to him.

"Now is not one of those times." He said with a stern expression. "Now why did you go there?" She sighed heavily.

"I needed Gragen Leaves."

"Gragen Leaves?" he asked. "What the hell are those?"

"They're Leaves that restore damaged nerves and cells…" He took a deep breath as he looked her over. "I needed them to jump start your healing while I learn how to control my magic so I can heal your hand… You wanted to know why I risked my life going into that forest, I did it for you Viktor…"

"Why did you lie?"

"Because of your next question…" he stared at her and she closed her eyes as she shook her head. "Please don't ask it Viktor…"

"Why did you not take me with you?" he inquired.

"Viktor…" She said looking off.

"No more lies Hermione…" She took a deep breath.

"I can't say-."

"You will say."

"Viktor please-."

"Don't lie to me anymore!"

"Because I can't trust that you can protect yourself right now let alone have my back in the heat of battle if I need you to!" She snapped before looking off as she took a deep shaking breath. "You… You damaged not only your snitch catching hand but your wand wielding one as well…" Her jaw clenched as she watched Viktor's expression flash with pain. "I'm sorry…" She said softly. Silence settled over them and Hermione slowly reached into her messenger bag and pulled out the grouping of Gragen Leaves. "Wrap as many as you need around that hand, keep it on until you can't feel your hand tingling then you wrap it again with another leaf, when we're out I'll make another run." She said setting them down on the coffee table before walking off.

-o-

AN: So… Trouble in paradise, trust me I wasn't expecting this either when I started writing, but then I couldn't help myself. :)