I Loved Today, I Love You
Finally the couple emerged from the shrub, Hermione with a slightly pink face and swollen lips. Her sparkling eyes were hidden as she looked down on her once again open book as she gently held her rose once more. Viktor had put the cloak back on while he was sitting and hoped his embarrassing and no longer slight problem would go back to slight before disappearing completely as they walked.
Once they reached the lake Hermione led them over to the tree where the otters had made their den. The family raced out to dance around her feet but paused at the unusual smell and off beat vibrations like a second set of feet that they felt. Hermione made reassuring noises and warded this next stop before telling Viktor it was safe to take off the cloak.
The otters slowly sniffed closer and closer to this tall wizard but one of the little ones dashed out for an offered sardine. It settled at his feet as he crouched near the ground. Seeing him offer more fish to the little one Viktor suddenly found himself surrounded by the entire family as Hermione giggled off to the side.
After the otters had gotten used to Viktor and generally run all over him they went back to Hermione who had her own tin of sardines on hand. The giant squid had popped up a tentacle in greeting and Hermione grinned at Viktor's face.
Once the otters were swimming around the tentacle to retrieve the tossed fish Hermione vanished the empty tin and led Viktor over to a hollow in the tree roots that she could usually sit in with some space on the side, but not much. Viktor quickly figured out that they would be sitting together again, although a little differently than before.
"Mia, I may add cushioning charm please?" Hermione looked at him a little oddly. He never seemed like anything such as seating arrangements bothered him and it was an odd request. "The ground is actually quite comfortable Viktor, I know it's a bit hard from the cold but it has never really bothered me before." Mentally Viktor winced at how ridiculous he was going to sound but better to have this embarrassment than the other.
"Da, believe vou, but lake is large, many crvetures must live in. And must take care of vhat stays on broom during games." Hermione was even more puzzled but hearing his accent thicken in embarrassment she held in her smile and agreed. As she gathered her items from where they had been left Viktor quickly cast a cushioning charm on the ground and roots, and on himself since Hermione would be sitting fully in his lap with her back against his chest. He then sat and held his arms open for the brown haired witch.
Seeing his relaxed smile once more she dismissed the odd moment and sat with him again, but this time with her legs resting over his own long crossed legs. Hermione tried not to blush and to distract herself by beginning to tell him about the creatures in the lake. She felt one of his arms leave her waist and began playing with a few curls absent mindedly.
While Hermione was talking the young otter who had come up to Viktor before the others crawled up on the couple and settled itself were Viktor's arm rested across the young girls stomach. Hermione paused in amusement and the otter chattered at her drowsily, tired from the games it had played in the lake. Viktor chucked and Hermione loved the slight rumble of his chest at this.
She grinned before resuming her happily given and listened to lecture. The young otter slightly twisted happily at the girls voice and she began to pet it. By the time she ran out of creatures to talk about the otter had fallen asleep and Hermione was fully relaxed against Viktor.
As the two sat there enjoying the slight wind and quiet Hermione registered something. "Viktor, did you put a cushioning charm on yourself?" Viktor intentionally kept himself from stiffening and made his voice stay relaxed. "Da"
The witch grinned at the almost sleepy tone Viktor had. "Why?" The arm around her tightened slightly before relaxing again. "Vant you be comfortable. I am seeker, ve not large vith muscle or soft." Hermione let out a small snort at this. "Am boney, already almost too tall for seeker, no good weigh much." Was the excuse he gave, hoping his girlfriend would buy it.
Hermione placed her own arm over Viktor's. "I don't think your boney at all. You may be lean, but that's not the same thing." Obviously nothing seemed odd to her and the tall teen craned his neck around to make partial eye contact. He had a small relaxed smile. "Explain difference? Mother often says am soon going to be nuding but bone soon. Might be good to have difference." Hermione pulled his other arm around and pushed the sleeve up to his elbow, still in slight lecture mode.
"Skinny is when someone has very little to no muscle, they have no endurance; and can't pick girls up during and dance to twirl her in the air." She said with a grin. "Lean is thin but strong. Yes you're not large or muscled all over but I'm sure you've trained your muscles to stand long periods of use rather than short amounts of time with large use."
She lightly trailed her fingers over Viktor's forearms that indeed had muscle and practically no fat. Feeling himself stirring again at her soft caress Viktor moved his arm so he could grab her hand and bring it up to his mouth for a slight kiss, effectively ending her directed attention to his arm.
"Vou think I am strong?" now Hermione pulled her head back to look partially at her boyfriend with a 'duu' face. With one brow raised she simply stated "Obviously." His dark eyes sparkled with humor but he didn't answer.
When Hermione's stomach grumbled a few moments later he grinned as she blushed. "Vant lunch?" "I honestly completely forgot about it." Viktor eyed the cloak they still had and looked at the far side of the lake where he could see more students than earlier.
"Vould like to go to village today? Ve can go if you want." Hermione bit her lip, she did want to go, but it would be diffiult. "Even with the cloak it may be tricky Viktor." "Is dat a yes?" The girl shrugged slightly, there might be other chances later, perhaps.
The tall teen grinned and began to slowly wake the napping otter. It chattered a little upset but soon enough wandered back to the din. Hermione stood and began to say it was alright before Viktor interrupted while kissing her hand again. "If you want to ve shall go. Have potion from Pietro to change look. Is same you told make second year, taste very bad."
When Hermione expressed her surprise at it being ready Viktor told her how upset the others had been that she had been attacked. The three had all chipped in and ordered the rarer supplies to make the potion even if it had been intended to be used later.
At Hermione's confused look Viktor reminded her of Valentine's day coming up and she tried to hold in a laugh by biting her lip but failed. He looked at her, his head pulled slightly to the side. "You no like dat day?" The girl grinned before shrugging. "It's ok but I don't like how people think that they have to be nice on that day because a bunch of stores say so just so they can have really good business."
Viktor quietly thought this over as he put the cloak back on and Hermione removed the protective spells so no one could see them. They went by the dock so Viktor could retrieve the polyjuice potion and Hermione just kept walking at a very slow speed as she read her book. When she felt a tap on her shoulder she began walking normally again and soon they were in Hogsmeade standing in the shadow in between some older buildings.
When Viktor removed the cloak he was different; his eyes were almost the same, and so was his jaw, but he was shorter and more heavily muscled. His hair actually was black instead if dark brown and very short. And the nose was so unlike the unique one Hermione was used to seeing. The new teen's mouth pulled to the side just like Viktor though and the right voice rumbled out of his chest. "Is cousin Sasha, he is Nat's tvin but no so smart, study bores him. Vants to be skilled cook one day."
Hermione gave a small smile but her eyes were happy. "This will be a little odd." The boys' eyes were a little worried. "Don't have to do if un, un-comphort." Hermione shook her head a few seconds before her stomach gurgled again. With a laugh she pulled him out of the shadows and the two made their way to The Three Broomsticks where they got a table in the back and ate while talking more about familys.
When finished eating they wandered around the village, Viktor had been here but still didn't know all the differences so Hermione happily explained. She listed why one should never go to Madam Puddifoot's, why the Hogs Head was a dodgy place; she let him know about the quiddich store, which he already knew about, and easily gave in to visiting it. Viktor didn't spend long like the boys, he simply picked up a section of magazines but passed on the broom polish he would have needed if Hermione had not gotten him a large specialized tin for Christmas.
Hermione began to worry about the potion wearing off but Viktor assured her he had enough for three hours so they went next to Honeydukes where they both teased each other with things they knew the other wouldn't like and got surprisingly in depth about chocolate. Hermione loved any kind but preferred either a rich milk chocolate or dark chocolate with fruit and Viktor preferred dark chocolate with certain liquors inside.
He ended up laughing at how Hermione tried to hide her shock and assured her that although it was normal in both Bulgaria and Russia for anyone over sixteen to be able to handle their liquor he never took advantage of it. He did let her know what different flavors they had though and what fiery drinks to avoid because they had too much bite.
They both stocked up on a few treats, Hermione going some chocolate, then her sugar quills, before getting some of Ginny's favorite treats. "She won't get these till much much later though, I'm still upset at her." She informed a smiling Viktor and didn't realize he was admiring her large heart. Viktor got himself some chocolate as well before deciding to try Pepper Imps and Glacial Snow Flakes.
After that of course the last and most obvious stop was the book shop. They both looked though several sections side by side and ended up getting two books each even though Hermione set aside three at the last moment, stating she had promised her parents she would try to cut back how many books she was bringing home each year. Of course Viktor subtly pushed a note to the shop keeper asking him to keep those books aside till he could have a friend come buy them.
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When they had made their way back to the castle grounds, wanting to walk rather than ride in the last remaining carriages Viktor put on the cloak again. To anyone watching the lone witch walk up the road it looked like she had just spent the day browsing without even getting herself anything. This if course was because Viktor insisted on carrying her bags. Midway back to the castle the latest portion of potion stopped working and Viktor gently pulled Hermione behind a tree so he could kiss her again. It had been agreed on without a word spoken that Hermione would not kiss someone who was not Viktor regardless of the circumstances.
They got back to the castle and headed up to the library for the last thirty minutes before dinner. When Hermione pulled out the chair beside Viktor he simply pushed it back in halfway and held is arm open with a wistful face. Hermione blushed slightly as she smiled and shook her head as she moved a few steps closer and settled on his lap. As her cheek rested against his chest and he played with her chestnut colored curls she smiled.
"I wish this day didn't have to end. It's been wonderful." Viktor stopped playing with her curls for a moment to hug her gently. "Even vith da ferret?" Hermione cave a small chuckle. "Yes, even with him, I loved today."
The tall teen rested his chin lightly on the soft head of hair below him. "Da, obicham te." Part of Hermione's head said she should know that but she couldn't recall the phrase from the book her mother sent. "What does that mean?" Viktor closed his eyes and gave a small smile; he would change one word so she didn't get scared. "Yes, I loved it too."