Magic and Soul Mates

After the scores had been announced, where Karkaroff cursed violently before being silenced by spell used by an unknown party, if one didn't look to closely at Professor Snape and his slight smirk, the champions and hostages were moved to a Med tent for in depth scans after Fleur and Choe were found with magical leaches. It was deemed that their perfumes had drawn them but all those who were in the lake got detained. The girls were checked out first then Harry and they were patched up fairly easily but Madam Pomfrey had to send for more supplies before checking the last Champion and his hostage. While the nurse talking to Professor Dumbledore outside the tent Viktor watched Hermione quietly. They were finally alone, everyone had been either cured or given a clean bill of health. Oddly Hermione kept getting more and more uncomfortable.

"Mia, are you ok?" Hermione glanced at him sheepishly, "It's silly." He sat closer to her and held her hand so that if anyone came in the tent all they would see was Viktor sitting next to his 'treasure' but his body was blocking most of her. "Please? Vant to help if I can." Hermione frowned. "Well first, I don't have my wand and it feels wrong. The last few years I'm never without it. I understand that they couldn't have us down there unconscious with wands, but still." Viktor squeezed her hand. "Dey have in safe place for you da? Vill return as soon as we leave." Hermione now blushed slightly, "Can I be terribly girly? This is the silly part." Viktor grinned slightly but his eyes were kind. "My hair really is terrible if it air dries. And after the lake, the new knots in it will make it worse than when I was a first year."

Viktor quickly swooped in and gave her a swift kiss. "Are always beautiful my Mia." He then pulled out his wand and offered it handle first to her. "If want can use my wand." Hermione looked at him hesitantly; it was fairly rare to simply offer someone your wand. "Are you sure?" Viktor bowed his head once. "Mama insist I know hem spells if need look nice after fights," his ears turned red a little, "and cousins prank with turning clothes pink every day for weeks one summer, so I learn how fix dat; but am not good vith hair spells, don't vant to damage beautiful hair." Hermione raised her eyebrows, deciding to pass on commenting on his cousins' pranks for now. "Fights? As in more than a wizards duel?"

He looked into her eyes, uncertain. "Vere students several years ago praising Grindelvald, thinking he right, that he to be admired; I did not stand for their stupidity. Me and others stopped dem. Mama upset that photographer got picture of torn robe and insist not shame family by giving gossipers and reporters much to talk and lie about." Hermione smiled in spite of herself. "She wasn't worried about you fighting?" Viktor didn't grin in reply; instead his mouth was in a grim line, his eyes were hard, but softened as he looked at her. "Grandfather vas killed by Grindelvald, when Mama was little girl. My family does not like dark genocide wizards."

Hermione sat quietly, her fingers brushing his. Madam Pomfrey entered the tent in a temper. "Mr. Krum, Miss Granger, I'm afraid the supplies I sent for have gotten waylaid. I apologize but you'll have to sit tight for a little while longer. I don't think you two caught anything but an ounce of prevention far outweighs a pound of cure." Hermione smiled kindly to the healer as she bent around Viktor. "I understand Madam Pomfrey; it didn't happen to be Slytherins who caused the delay was it?" The healers' lips shank even smaller. "I really can't say Miss Granger, but as you two are responsible I will be going to make sure there are no other mishaps."

Once she left Hermione reached out for Viktor's hand again. He was still silent and brooding. Softly smiling at him she spoke. "So you really don't mind loaning me your wand?" He offered it again and she held it carefully while gently running her fingers over it. "It's dragon heartstring right? And hornbeam?" She looked up to see him watching her intently. "It's a marvelous wand Viktor."

He quietly decided to ask something, wondering if the books were right, if they both would have the same wand core, since their magic was supposed to be similar. "Vhat kind is your wand?" Hermione grinned a little. "Vinewood and dragon heartstring; I loved it when I first got it, Mr. Ollivander put some lovely delicate carving on it, and it's a very efficient wand." Viktor eyed Hermione's hair that was indeed slowly drying and was already looking wilder than he yet to see. "Do want to use before nurse returns?" Hermione nodded and raised the wand.

As she began the simple spell the wand began to glow brilliant gold and then both Viktor and Hermione began to glow. Viktor's eyes widened, he had read about this, but the books said that it took years to happen. He then looked at Hermione, her eyes wide in fear, the wand still held in her fingers and her hair softly glowing slightly more as it was gently blown by an unseen wind only touching her hair. When the glow ended her hair was perfectly dry and without a single knot. It was also glossy and very healthy looking. Hermione stood in place, only her hand slightly moving as it shook, despite her trying not to let it.

Viktor walked over to her and took her hand in his. "Viktor?" Her eyes searched his. She had read up on wands and wand lore, but it was a limited subject that was carefully guarded. She never ever heard about something like that happening with a borrowed wand. Even a captured wand or a wand won in a fight never did anything besides how it performed for the user.

The tall young man tried to choose his words carefully, anima-sucium matches were very rare, and he didn't think she had come across it due to her disdain of romance books, but he didn't want his Hermione to be afraid. "I, I have read of such thing, is no bad, is very rare." Hermione calmed slightly, both with his calm, soothing voice, and his soothing hands cradling and caressing hers.

Madam Pomfrey took that moment to return, but with how they were standing she only saw her pupil in front of the Durmstrang student. Although they were standing oddly quite close, so the elder witch had them sit on their separate cots. She was satisfied to see no pink cheeks ears or necks and no swollen lips on either student so she didn't say anything. After diagnosing them Hermione was assured she was fine and Viktor got some slight scrapes healed in a matter of moments.

As they left the tent they found Harry was patently waiting and Ron busy telling a few star struck students about his time under that lake and things they could only imagine, including Ron, unbeknownst to the others listening. Hermione quickly took a moment to hug Viktor, as if in gratitude, and whispered to meet her in the room with his chair after dinner.

Harry quickly made sure she was ok and Ron grinned at her, obviously not noticing the hug, and the small group headed up to the castle as Viktor walked with his friends, who had also escorted him from dock to med tent to make sure the same, clumsy moment, from the first task did not happen again with their highly un-favored and again upset headmaster.

.o0o. 0.o.0 .o0o.

Hermione entered the altered teachers' office and quickly went over to the unoccupied chair and lit the fireplace while placing her bag down before sitting. It really was a comfortable chair. The books on the table had a few of Viktor's, showing he had come at least once while she had been busy the last week. Absent mindedly she placed one of the foreign books in her lap, her fingers tracing the spine and cover as she thought.

The magic had felt so warm, on her skin, in her very core, her own magic felt like it was rising and, and almost happy, if that could be said. Hermione was in fact blissfully happy, and had been for a while notwithstanding current dramas.

Viktor was the reason. Her workload was still large, her dark magic studies and healing slowly progressing due to the difficulty of the material and the reluctance of Professor Snape. Ron was being more and more of a prat, and Harry's latest stunt were all things that in the past would have badly affected her. And then Ginny, that incident had hurt, not helped by her near panic attack before Neville had helped and been freaked out himself by her hug. But Viktor, even the short moment's stolen away and short notes of scribbled affection, made her aware of life beyond her narrow world.

Listening to his friend's latest antics and his own learning always brightened her day, and those stolen moments of even tiny physical contact lessened her stress. What ever happened in the tent today had surprised him, but he wasn't scared and assured her it wasn't bad. He knew what happened but was afraid of frightening her.

Thinking this Hermione grinned, it took a lot to scare her, and she could practically guarantee that Viktor could never frighten her. Whatever her boyfriend knew, she wanted to know. It was time for a heart to heart talk and to put the cards on the metaphorical table.

As he had pressed against her back at the dock, in comfort, as she went to check on Harry, she was so overwhelmed with emotions that her eyes were not just wet with concern with Harry. In fact as she was halfway between the two she realized that she loved Viktor, she had for a while and couldn't pinpoint when it began.

Even thinking about it now she felt her cheeks darken as she nibbled her lip lightly. She loved him.

Then the object of her musing entered the room and went over to her, lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them before handing her a book. Hermione grinned and replaced the book she had been holding as she got up so Viktor could sit.

"I need a book? You can't just tell me?" Viktor stayed standing awkwardly, he almost wanted to leave the room and talk to her after she read it; but at the same time he missed her so much, and almost needed to watch her face as she read, see when it all fell into place so he would know her honest reaction. His eyes spoke of uncertainty even as the tall young man quietly rumbled out his reply.

"I, I don't feel like know all right words, know how to say right. Vou, you can read and den ask?" Hermione was puzzled by Viktor's shyness, he probably did know what to say, but obviously felt more comfortable with a book informing her of what happened today with his wand.

She nodded but when he didn't begin to sit down she became slightly impatient. "Viktor, I know you know what happened, and that you probably know more, and I will I read the book you want me to; but I want to sit with you, I've missed you." Viktor gave a small smile at hearing her direct and slightly bossy tone. "Now please sit down so we can discuss this, once I've read, alright?"

Viktor quickly swooped in and kissed her forehead with affection and held up one finger, asking for a moment. Hermione sighed and crossed her arms but her eyes were slightly amused. With that bare amount of acceptance Viktor pulled out a cloth wrapped item. Knowing him Hermione guess it might be food to snack on, and allowed a small grin when she saw she was right.

"Not enough dinner?" She asked still grinning. Viktor was still uncertain about what would happen after, so he had lost some confidence with his sassy witch. "I can have little if want, but is for you, for when did no eat last week." He then turned and sat down, busying himself with the blanket before looking up at Hermione.

She still had her arms crossed but her face was fully amused. "Viktor, I don't know what this is about," and hefted the small book a little, "but I really don't think it will end our relationship. You said it wasn't bad, and I trust you."

With that she sat down as they had last time, her legs draped over his before resting them over the arm of the chair and opened the book. She began reading then oddly held out her hand while still reading. After a moment she looked at her boyfriend, his face confused.

"I wouldn't mind some of the food you brought; it's one of my favorites as I'm sure you planned." Viktor belatedly realized that he had better access to the small table and the snack and promptly dropped an apologetic kiss in her palm before placing one tidbit within.

Hermione read the book rapidly, determinedly keeping her face neutral. A few times she looked up at Viktor, or into the fire, but her eyes were guarded and he had no idea what she thought as she read. The book began by explaining that some people were actually perfect for each other, not just imagined, or until a fight, but similar enough, and different enough, to comfort and challenge, to balance and support almost effortlessly.

The author then began talking about very rare cases where these same people at times had magic similar enough that not only were they able to blend their lives together into a perfect union; but so was their magic, in fact similar wand cores had been found in all but one case of the anomaly known as anima-sucium. It also went on to mention couples documented throughout history who had been anima-sucium matches.

The author finally mentioned that not all matches in fact stayed together. It wasn't something that was required or cursed or anything that took away free will. In fact Merlin and the witch now merely known as the Lady of the Lake was the most famous couple who had rejected the match; or more of Merlin denying his match. They had found each other but Merlin was already accomplished and was just beginning to be renowned worldwide. He would not accept love in place of more knowledge, esteem, and power. In her sadness the rejected witch secluded herself in the Lake, hardly ever appearing again.

Hermione then went back to some sections and reread, both to refresh and fully understand what had happened, and to let her eyes stop watering over sympathy for the witch and the painful thought of not just having to be without Viktor, but the thought that he could chose to reject her, because this, whatever they might have, was not in fact set in stone.

Finally she closed the book and carefully put in on the table. She decided to get to the central concern first. "So we are, or could be, a couple that goes beyond cliché 'soul mates'? How did you know?" Viktor had thought about this a thousand times, but still did not have a good idea what to say. "Vas, vas Seen." Hermione raised a brow and tried not to look sarcastic. "I know you not like professor teach class here, who say she sees future, but dis was woman very intelligent, very reserved who not boast Sight, just quietly told of Match."

Hermione quietly nodded. "And what made you think I was your Match Viktor? That out of thousands of girls, I would somehow be, be perfect for you?" This last part she blushed at; she was not a romantic and even though they were dating, she needed more than a book and glowing wands to let herself believe in it all.

Viktor raised his hand and gently stoked her check. "Oder books say one sometimes knows when see, and feels, books talk about feeling connection, easier, about dem balancing each other even before magic or even first kiss." Hermione colored darker, but was unable to draw her eyes from his captivating, ever speaking wonderful dark brown eyes.

"Vou do dat Mia, when just friends, vou help end anger faster, bring peace, bring laughter. I saw first at World Cup when vou, you could not see me, but felt tug den, was scared and paying attention to much more important things, like not dying, but felt and realized a little den." His hand moved from her face to get lost in her still glossy curls. "Was so happy to see here first night at school here even if I could not talk to you, hoped you could be girl, but needed to get to know you first."

He chucked for a moment before going on. "Needed to be able speak English and find out who da kind, brave, curly haired witch was. Witch who walked back and forth between fighting friends before leaving and calling dem emotional constu, compacted idiots." Hermione's eyes widened at that. "You heard that?" "Da, vas on path but you were so mad and beautiful you not see me. Was very funny when looked up words."

Hermione was more comfortable with the idea, somewhere deep inside she loved it, but was still not convinced that they were this rare, wonderful thing. She could tell with Viktor's thickening accent he was nervous, as if his eyes didn't, but she needed to know; for once she was hesitant to trust a book. "What else, after that, what else made you think I was her?"

Viktor tilted her chin up; it had dropped along with her voice toward the end of her question. He wanted to simply kiss her, let her feel it, but knew she needed words. "Everything." Her eyes searched his, reminding him of her many insecurities when they first met and began dating.

"Everything, your heart, so big and wonderful, makes me wish to both be surrounded by you, you affection; and also protect you and gentle heart. Your wonderful mind, understand mine, in fact more clever dan mine, understand struggle and still kind, still help those understand less, you are so smart my Mia, don't understand how others cannot see." Hermione looked down for a moment but Viktor quickly kissed her lips with a smile on his own.

"You are so loyal, I see so little of dat in world, you are so stubborn in loyalty, I find, find sexy?" Here he paused, they never talked like this, but she gave a short burst of laughter. "Also vou are beautiful, even when not aware, still you are so beautiful." His eyes turned serious.

"Vas awful today, to see dey take vou, to see floating, as if - as if not living." He simply couldn't say the word dead in relation to her; it hurt enough to simply think it. "To see beauty held still, so wrong, no response to anything, and so cold, I cannot bare to think of it."

Hermione's hand cupped the back of his head softly, her fingers moving though his hair for a few moments, letting him savor the feeling before she leaned in and kissed him gently, then grew bolder and kissed him fiercely; somehow knowing he needed this proof that she was here with him, very much alive. After several minutes they parted, his head leaning down further so their foreheads rested together even as they slowly regained their breath with eyes still closed. Hermione opened her eyes first and looked closely at the ridiculously thick and somewhat long eyelashes that rested on his cheeks.

"I'm here though, I'm safe, you found me, in the lake, and twice before that." He opened his eyes and said in clear English the words he had been holding inside for so long. "I love you." Hermione's eyes widened before softening. "How long? Since you like to keep things to yourself." She ended this with a small smile. Viktor smiled back and raised his head a little, still looking in wonder at his witch.

"After Yule Ball, when you told why care for me, knew I love you den." Hermione blushed slightly and nibbled her lip for a moment before Viktor gave a small groan and bent down for another heated kiss, or two, or an uncounted amount. With very swollen lips Hermione pulled back and lightly panted, trying to make oxygen return to her brain. "I realized today, when you pressed against my back as I went to Harry that I have been in love with you Viktor, but to be honest I have no idea when it began, I just knew that I do, I do love you."

The dark haired seeker gave a smile that blew all his past smiles to insignificant, it was a smile that made Hermione catch her breath once more, not used to this level of happiness. He swooped in, almost kissed her, but at the last moment Hermione found herself in a huge, tight hug with her lips parted, still expecting his lips instead of shoulder. Viktor's hand wound through her hair, even his hand silently communicating how happy he was, as Viktor softly almost chanted, "Mia, my wonderful, beloved Mia."