Learning the Impossible

Not quite a week later Hermione met Viktor behind the green houses on Thursday night. Their notes had changed slightly, not getting sickly sweet or over long, but as if both were relaxed in their writing, not holding back 'I love you's or simply writing about seeing the other at odd times and smiling or laughing at whatever had been going on around them.

Malka was proudly strutting across both of their desks unless Crooks was up from a nap and decided to tackle the owl in fun. While studying in the library, across from each other, they didn't hold back looks or stares and once while researching a book, but not taking notes for once, Hermione reached across the table and intertwined her small fingers in Viktor's without a glance.

When the wind suddenly shifted Hermione gratefully clutched the cloak Viktor had given her closer. The wind was very sharp and by now Hermione had guessed some of the modifications of what had to be a specialty flying cloak. Finally she saw his hunched figure make its way over to her. Once he was close enough she emerged from the deep shadows just enough to go meet him and rose on her toes for a kiss. At first she didn't see what Viktor held behind him but once she pulled back she noticed the broom handle slightly showing from behind his shoulder.

"Um, Viktor, why do you have your broom? It's rather cold out you know; I would think even for you." The tall seeker grinned and quickly pecked her lips; he could tell she was trying not to get worried at the mere sight of the broom. "Mia, you know I luff you yes?" Hermione's stomach dropped. "Yes. Why?" "Vou know I want to protect you yes?" Hermione looked up at him worried, she was beginning to guess where this was going; others had tried and failed, apparently he would try too. "Of course." She began fiddling with the necklace.

Viktor reached out and stroked her jaw delicately. "I know you trust friends to help you when needed, but I remember you got separated from dem at World Cup, and I worry Mia. I want you be able to get out of danger if need to; want you to no be trapped if you make dangerous people mad in future."

Hermione looked up at him, her brown eyes wide and beseeching. She nibbled on her lip but Viktor's eyes stayed on hers till her head turned away, part fear and part shame. "Harry and Ron can take me Viktor, They wouldn't leave me, I know it." When he guided her chin back in place and looked into her eyes they were completely serious, but still compassionate. "What if others to take? What if children need to be taken, or if one of boys hurt, has to be carried? One person simply cannot take two others with dem, even I cannot."

He set the broom aside and wrapped her in a hug. "I want to know you can be safe if alone, or dat other people you care for not be hurt, and so you hurt, because dey won't leave you behind." Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, she could of ignored the other parts, she could always find a way to hid herself; but to leave someone helpless behind because there wasn't enough people who could fly, or to see the boys hurt because they wouldn't leave her behind, which she could easily see, that ended her arguments. Hermione knew Viktor loved her and was just trying to protect her.

She sighed into his chest, her shoulders moving in a shrug as she pulled back. "You can try Viktor, but it's been attempted before, and I can never get it." Viktor smiled with pride at her, for her braveness to try, and in slight male pride. "You have no had me to teach." He still saw her hesitancy. "Mia, I will be patient, will be slow, tonight we not even get on broom, alvight"

The girl looked up at him, her eyes rueful even as she gave a small smile. "Even I know that you do need to ride the broom to learn, not just read about them, trust me, I tried that first year."

Viktor picked up the broom and tucked her hand into his arm as he went in the forest a little, just until he got to a clearing he had found that students wouldn't wander into. Looking down he saw Hermione's eyes fearful now for a different reason. He kissed her check before sitting on the grass, his broom balanced in his knees. "Trust me Mia, vould not take anywhere not safe."

Hermione grinned a little, "Sorry, old habit what with school rules forbidding us from going into the forest and all." She then focused on the broom.

Viktor saw her go into study mode and chuckled. "First thing my luff, dis is not subject to memorize. Dis is, dis is in a way like magical creatures, can study some, but must know more dan books, must know in heart." He moved the broom from his knees to Hermione's lap and she tensed a bit. He gently got her hands and placed them on the object. One hand on the handle, one on the point where bristles connected to the handle. "Tonight vou will just hold and get comfortable with broom. I will talk history, what I have learned beyond books, as I am sure you read much about dem, and vou will open heart." Hermione nodded and began tracing her hand slowly across the bristles, careful not to bend any.

"First flight with broom was no like books say, was in eight-hundred-fifty AD in tiny village in what is now Germany." Viktor saw Hermione's eyes brighten at this bit of unknown knowledge. "Was a witch, not wizard who first flew. She was outside cleaning when she heard giggle from above her. She look, and see her child on roof. He had come though thatch and was walking, bouncing on roof and giggling."

Hermione's eyes widened and Viktor took a moment to explain something that she might not know. "In dat time some had wands but not all, wand makers rare, special. So most know how do magic without wand. She did no have wand, and not know anything to get her little one down. He then slip, begin to slide. But he grab wood at edge of roof and no fall, not yet, he cry in fear though. It vas no longer fun. In desperation vitch push her magic into broom and it raised her high enough to grab child. It lower dem to ground after dat."

Hermione stared at him in shock, how could something that detailed and historically important not be in books! Viktor noticed her hand absent mindedly tracing the name of his broom carved into the handle. "Broom not dangerous Mia, broom first fly to help witch save son. Vou must trust broom, and it will help you. Will help take to a place, will help save someone, will take into sky if want."

Hermione looked down, remembering everyone she had seen hurt, including Viktor from brooms. "But Viktor, so often people are hurt because of them. How am I supposed to trust them when I see people get hurt so much?" Viktor knew he was getting to the root of the problem but held back a grin. Seriously he asked about what she had seen.

As she described everything, first year, Neville and the broken arm, Harry almost going into a wall the same hour, and all the other things; jinxed brooms, bludgers, dementors and a drop from hundreds of feet. Even the Weasley twins falling endless times as she watched over the summer, trying to do the same trick Viktor did once, he felt sympathy. She had only seen the bad and of course growing up muggle hadn't seen how much fun it could be, how it could be simply used and enjoyed for a trip to the beach or meadow, even simple racing without tricks. Inside he felt saddened. No wonder she disliked quidditch if she only saw danger in it.

Viktor lifted one of her hands and kissed it lightly. "Mia, am so sorry you have only see danger in broom and quidditch, but promise, will never ever ask vou play quidditch, vill never force you to fly." Hermione looked down at the broom that she now oddly felt comfortable with, this broom alone; Viktor trusted it, and when she had flown nothing bad happened. "But I need to know how, you're right, I can't stay afraid forever and think it won't have consequences." With a sigh she decided to keep on. "What else can you tell me that I can't read about."

So Viktor talked, he talked about things any reporter would have given their wand to write down, coming from the international star, but for him and his girlfriend it was just talking. His first broom, his first race and the face of mud when his older cousin accidentally caused a tailwind. He talked about flying in wind, flying in rain, flying in snow and skimming lakes and meadows. Viktor talked about his love of flying and the dangers he had found. A broom too old and battered, it's magic so depleted it could not fully recharge. A broom too new, its varnish still strong and slightly flaking because of poorly seasoned wood. Viktor slowly eased Hermione's fear of flight and brooms, arming her with understanding, years of wisdom, yet sharing the peace and reverence it can bring. When Viktor reached for her hand he felt his broom warm to the touch and smiled largely.

Hermione had been enveloped in his words and blinked, coming back to the present. "What?" Viktor pressed his hand over hers as it traced the handle. "Feel how warm is Mia? Broom is happy you care for it, that you gentle and take time with it. Broom trust you now." Hermione's eyes widened and her hand rose only to have the broom tremble and attempt to rise.

Viktor quickly made sure neither one was touching the broom and centered her hand over the handle. Still smiling at her, looking ecstatic in fact, he quietly asked her, his own hands at his side. "Say up, please?" Hermione looked at him, nibbling her lip but his joy was infectious. Looking at the broom, with a smile still on her face she said a clear, just like instructed first year, "Up." The broom shot into her hand, still warm.

Hermione grinned at Viktor, her smile much, much larger. The others had only gotten the broom to wobbly raise into her hand at the best of times and always after several attempts.

Viktor saw the amazement in her eyes, he couldn't help it, he smirked. "Believe now dat right teacher make all the difference?" Hermione laughed in delight. "Yes, yes I do you broom happy Seeker." Then biting her lip while smiling, looking rather coy truth be told, she asked, "I know you said we wouldn't fly tonight, and I don't want to try yet, but can you take us up? Just a little?" His stories had woken her hunger for new experiences, the same reason she loved to travel. She wanted to feel the wind and try trusting the broom under her as the night surrounded them.

Viktor then once again picked her up in joy and spun her around before soundly kissing her without letting it get heated. "Vould be a honor Mia, vould love to." The two exchanged looks half a dozen times as they rearranged the broom and their cloaks. Finally Viktor was happily seated with Hermione before him once again, the broom warm and the air crisp. Hermione squeezed the arm around her middle in silent ok before he took them up.

He did have to fly high at first, to get out of the clearing and fly over the trees so they could leave the forest, but again he quietly talked to her and moved fairly slowly. Once in the main castle grounds he flew about five feet off the ground, till Hermione told him she was ok with a little more height, and he rose to ten feet. He flew straight into the wind slowly, still talking from time to time, letting his voice sooth the girl in front of him. Finally it was time to go back and he asked if she was ok with slow turns. She stayed quiet for a moment but nodded and he gently rubbed his jaw into her hair for a moment, silently acknowledging her tiny but essential bravery and trust of him.

For the first few swerves, even though they were large and lazy Hermione tensed but in a moment of inspiration and with daring Viktor leaned a little and began a slow assault on her while flying. They were going to take some time to get back and he really couldn't resist. Hermione gasped when he lightly kissed her neck while changing direction. Then on the next slow curve he kissed her barely exposed shoulder. He wandered back to her neck before barely grazing her cold ear with his warm lips as they kept flying and turning.

Viktor continued like that, changing his gentle and fairly innocent assault, always kissing, or mock nibbling her in a different location. Is distraction worked wonderfully and a few times she even giggled though sometimes she gasped. Each glorious sound was memorized by Viktor, his face looking quite wicked by the time the landed and unable to hold back his smug, playful smirk when Hermione turned to him even though she mock slapped his chest while blushing furiously.

He tried to kiss her goodnight but Hermione dodged him in mock annoyance. Her face trying to appear mad but her eyes were just too amused to make it believable. "I suppose I will have to fly next time to avoid that again." she huffed. Viktor's unending smile was anything but apologetic even though he bowed over her hand to kiss it.