Reporters and Reading
The next article Rita Skeeter wrote came out on Monday and Viktor had to clench his jaw several times as he heard the taunts being thrown at Hermione. The Slytherins especially delighted in boasting that the only boyfriend Granger could get was a fictional one from a magazine article. He was glad she kept her head high but wished he could shut the idiots up by kissing her senseless, or having her kiss him senseless, in front of all of them.
Grudgingly he remembered the danger both of them would be in with such a stupid move. Without his knowing, a pair of obsidian eyes watched him carefully. Gradually over the next few days they watched him with possible approval; if it had been anyone besides Severus Snape that is.
The couple had another flying date the following night and to Hermione's great amusement Viktor had begun by giving her a basket with eggs and instructing her to throw them. Once Hermione understood it was for her; so that she could learn how to fly confidently, between her new view of brooms not being the enemy and fully knowing how good Viktor's reflexes and wand work was she blushed sheepishly but tossed dozens of eggs to humor Viktor. In a slightly clumsy moment after he had pocked his wand Hermione had dropped one egg and found that they weren't hard boiled as she had thought but raw. Her pride in her boyfriend's skills shot up a few notches at just not his precision, but his careful control to not harm the very breakable eggs.
That night she got up to five feet, doing the same movements Viktor had last week. She of course couldn't sharply turn or dive, she was dreading learning that, but she was able to fly. The seekers pride had made her forget it was silly to just be learning something most wizarding children half her age could do effortlessly. Later he went over how to clean and maintain a broom; although for the most part she had that down, the books were very efficient and adequate for that.
Later in the week Viktor noticed her coming from the kitchens one afternoon fairly sad and when she explained about Winkey, how she had hit the butterbeer bottom about the news article of her old master, and explained the situation of her release, he didn't have any solutions for her. "House elf is very well know for loyalty Mia, dey love family, have pride in family, am sad she is no doing well." He bushed a curl back before returning his arm around her small waist. "Your headmaster do good thing, trying to give her work again, give purpose and be part of something with long pride. But she is sad, cannot take that away from her, no matter how wrong her old master was." That was an evening where they simply sat at the lake shore quietly.
Then came a moment the tested Viktor almost to his limit.
At first he had been slightly amused to see Hermione get so many owls at breakfast, then he noticed her frowning face which soon become more upset. He began to worry as owls kept arriving. He knew that that many owls meant crazy fans, and he was guessing they weren't happy fans. Apparently it took the readers of England's gossip column, written by the annoying blond witch, time to make their feeling known.
When he watched her begin to cry as her hands swelled it was all he could do to remain seated. Luckily Nat had been sitting by him that day and put a hand on his arm before she rose and walked out of the hall to check on the girl. How she would he had no idea because she seemed to have a severe mental block on learning English, but he knew just her being there might help. Viktor also noticed the red headed girl follow her out, cautiously but obviously concerned.
.o0o. 0.o.0 .o0o.
Hermione had dropped her book bag by accident in the entrance hall, not quite at the stairs. Her hands had hurt so badly she hadn't paid attention to the strap sliding down her shoulder till it suddenly dropped, brushing her painfully swollen hand. Hermione liked to think she had a fairly good pain tolerance, but even though she had bit back a sharp cry, she had crashed to her knees from the pain. Once her vision cleared of equally bright and black spots she looked up to see Nat and Ginny at her sides, carefully holding her elbows.
She had tried to not let the boys see how bad it hurt, but now it was too painful to try and brave it out. With her eyes leaking tears Hermione grimaced a half smile at both girls before struggling to her feet with their help. Ginny paused and grabbed Hermione's bag, trying not to stagger under the weight, before returning to her side.
Silently the girls made their way to the hospital wing, Hermione too busy blocking out the pain to communicate while Nat stared at the younger girl, first with chilly reservation then with gradual acceptance. When they entered the wing Madam Pomfrey was horrified to see what happened to the girl she took so much quiet pride in.
As Ginny explained about the letters and bubotuber puss Nat looked at Hermione, deliberately looking at Ginny before meeting Hermione's eyes again. She quietly nodded and Hermione returned the gesture. As Madam Pomfrey tisked and hurried over to the cabinets for supplies Hermione looked at Ginny with grateful eyes.
Before the nurse returned Hermione had just enough time to ask Ginny of she wanted to study later in the week. The two girls could see Ginny's emotions at this simple request but she simply gave a half smile and breathy 'ya' before she and Nat were banished from the wing.
Standing side by side Ginny began to sift uneasily under the tall girls stare; it seemed more honed than her mothers. In strongly accented English the girl simply uttered three words, but they were enough. "No mean? Trust?" Ginny nodded solemnly. "Their business is their business; I won't butt in again." Ginny wasn't sure if the girl understood all of it, but her stern face cracked and she gave a relaxed half grin. Her deep blue eyes still held some reservation, but she knew youth was full off errors. With a simple waive of her fingers she then turned and strode off, presumably to inform Viktor of what happened.
.o0o. 0.o.0 .o0o.
Before dinner Viktor had an unexpected visitor. He had seen how bandaged Hermione's hands were at lunch so when Malka flew up and presented her message he was slightly confused. The odd writing that was defiantly not his Mia's did nothing for his confusion until he began to read the message.
Dearest Viktor
I apologize that I cannot write this myself but with Ginny acting as my secretary I am still able to write in a fashion. I know you must be upset but I'm glad Nat was able to come see me even if you couldn't. I am feeling better now, the swelling will be gone in a few days' time and I'll be completely back to normal. I would like to see you if possible though even with the bandages drafts and wind still cause some discomfort. Would you be able to meet me at your chair for a bit this evening? I understand though if Karkaroff is getting clingy again and is hard to ditch.
Thinking of you, as always my love, Hermione.
PS, forgive the ink blots, Ginny had a mini seizure before writing that last bit for me.
.o0o. 0.o.0 .o0o.
Hermione walked swiftly but quietly to the half-forgotten door. She hadn't silenced her shoes simply because holding her wand or a quill was still too painful. As she rounded the corner Viktor suddenly appeared from behind a suit of armor, his face serious and searching hers for any discomfort. She knew the best way to get rid of that would be to try and joke with him; so she stood with arms out to her side slightly with a smile. "Tada, still here, just slightly mummified."
His face relaxed a litter and he smiled. "Prefer not bandaged, but am glad to see you my Mia." At this Hermione slightly blushed, when he called her that it almost always made her blush a little. The dark haired teen allowed his smile to pull at one side of his mouth before he got the door for her.
When Hermione took in the room, or more specifically the table beside their chair she burst out laughing, placing one arm around her middle though careful with the placement of her hand. The table had a large steaming mug that sported a straw, a small platter filled with her favorite bite size snacks, and an odd black box that seemed to be giving off a low growl.
Finally catching her breath Hermione looked up to her sweet boyfriend who was looking slightly happy at her amusement and embarrassed at the reason. Choking back a chuckle Hermione but her lip as she forced her voice to become normal and even before she spoke. "This is wonderful Viktor but I really did eat at dinner." With shifting eyes and red ears Viktor didn't reply.
She walked up to him and rested her arm on his shoulder before going on her toes to kiss his check. "Thank you my love." Finally he found his voice and his low tones rumbled out. "Vanted to go to you in hall dis morning, vanted to see in hospital wing, send flowers." Hermione removed her arm from his shoulder and quietly looked at him.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't of laughed Viktor. This is very sweet, I'm not used to people being like this," and she waived her hand at the table, "especially after I'm better. It just caught me off guard." Viktor swiftly pecked her lips before rising again. "You are not better yet, are still hurt." Hermione gave a small grin. "I'm out of the hospital wing, that's almost the same thing." His eyes silently informed her that he didn't agree.
Softly looking into his eyes she took a mental breath for courage. "Does that mean that when you get hurt in a quidditch game and someone's patched you up I can still worry because you're not fully healed?" At this Viktor's eyes sharpened on her, the dark brown eyes looking fiery and so very very hopeful. He only said one word but it set Hermione on fire even while making her grin like mad. "Yes."
Hermione broke eye contact first and walked over to the table, the box growling a little louder. "What is this?" Viktor went over and sat in the chair before holding his arm out in open invitation. Hermione happily snuggled into him, her hands carefully tucked into her chest before resting on her lap. Seeing her still curious eyes Viktor explained. "It is box for mail, if quiet letter is not dangerous, of mean it grumbles, danger is growls, and if it ever shouts 'No'… ward letter and take to professor, is deadly." Hermione looked at it wide eyes. "Viktor." He passed his hand over her curls. "Is mine, for fan mail, vou need more now though." Hermione simply muttered 'I just planned on burning the lot of them' which earned her a delicious chuckle from Viktor's chest.
Viktor looked at her carefully after a moment. Her body was fully relaxed into him; curled against his chest and arm, and she had a smile on her lips but her eyes will still pained and tired. "Please Mia, be honest, are vou ok?" she gave a half sigh. "I can take it, I'm just tired is all." She could see Viktor begin to say she could go then so she quickly kept talking. "But I want to be here, not in bed where I can't get comfortable, I want to be with you."
Viktor tightened the arm around her for a moment. "What would you want to do?" Hermione blushed a little and looked down. Viktor touched her face but instead of raising her chin simply traced her cheek. Finally she muttered out her reply. "Could you read to me?" Viktor looked at her puzzled as she peered up at him though her lashes. After a moment he spoke shyly. "I no think can read and speak English well enough Mia, I, I don't dink vou enjoy." Hermione nibbled her lip for a moment before looking into Viktor's eyes serious and bold despite her slightly pink face.
"I don't mind if you read one of your own books Viktor, in its own language. I just, I want to hear you voice." Viktor's eyes softened as Hermione buried her head in his chest at this last part. Viktor did pull her chin up at this and kissed her softly before reaching for a book on Russian magical folk lore. He made sure she didn't want anything to drink and grabbed some snacks he noticed her gaze linger on despite trying not to let him see.
As he open his book and began reading aloud he felt her eyes on him. Glancing at her he momentarily stuttered mid-sentence before regaining his place. Her look had been so intense he couldn't think of the words to describe it. his ears went red again as he read and she openly studied him at first. After a few pages she stopped watching him and merely rested against him with her eyes closed and a small smile on her soft lips.
After a few chapters Viktor glanced at her again to find her lightly dozing, for real this time, her face relaxed and her cheeks rosy with warmth. Setting the book aside he slightly lowered the rooms temperature, making sure to cause no wind, before setting an alarm on his wand for an hour before wrapping his other arm around his beloved and resting his head on hers. Something like this, a moment like this could be so rare for them; his seeker instinct told him to grasp this tiny but shining treasure and hold it tight.
