Hello all! This story has never been about praise or # of reviews for me, but it honestly has made the world of difference when I've been struggling to piece together a tough chapter hearing from you all, whether that be in a few sentences or a favourite/follow. So, thank you!

For the new faces to The Internship, I have tried to keep a tight schedule of updating every few days. That's been harder of late, but I do usually manage to update within a week of my last post. I'm going to trial putting something on my FF profile that states the ETA of the next chapter so all have a rough idea of when to expect it.

Mature in that there's some very strong language. Valentin has a potty mouth!

Viktor's thoughts were consumed by caramel curls and flushed cheeks at breakfast that morning. His fork missed his mouth on more than one occasion, smearing scrambled eggs down his chin and sending Valentin into fits of snorts and laughter.

'Distracted today are we?' His best friend leered at him. 'Does this happen to have anything to do with, say, an English witch?'

Viktor told him where he could stick his assumptions. His mother would've been appalled by his foul language, but probably even more so by the inappropriate thoughts that had occupied his mind over the last few days. It certainly wasn't gentleman-like to think of Hermione's breasts at the dinner table, nor to fixate on the way she sucked on her bottom lip when she was studying.

'Viktor?' A grating voice he didn't recognise invaded his salacious daydream.

He glanced up from the cold food on his plate. One of the fourth-year Slytherin girls was waiting expectantly for him to acknowledge her. He had no idea when she'd seated herself next to him, but then again he'd also been unaware of how he'd made it to the Great Hall without tripping over his own two feet that morning. Viktor faintly recalled her introducing herself to him as Miss Parkinson the night of the welcoming feast. She'd invaded his personal space that evening as well.

'Da?' He said distractedly. 'Sorry, what?'

She wasn't perturbed by his rudeness in the slightest. Pansy fluttered her magically-curled eyelashes and produced a rolled up magazine from inside her robes with a dramatic flick of her wrist. She looked like the cat that had gotten the cream.

'Have you seen this? I think you might find it very eye-opening.'

Viktor looked from her face to the magazine and then back to her smug expression again. Something told him he wasn't about to find it eye-opening at all. He grunted a cursory thank you and seized it from her grip, shuddering when she grazed a thumb over his outstretched palm. Pansy Parkinson was the exact specimen his mother would've introduced to him at one of her charity events - a respectable Pureblood witch from a respectable family… with the personality of a flobberworm.

She was trying to give him a gossip magazine? Viktor wrinkled his nose. He had a rather notorious past with literature aimed at women, especially since he'd been bizarrely coined a teen heartthrob at age fourteen. He'd never lived that down with his friends. Ever since someone had blabbed to the press about his juvenile crush on Clara Ivanova he'd been rather contemptuous about reading anything that concerned him - it was, more often than not, erroneous drivel.

Viktor handed it dismissively to Valentin who proceeded to skim through the first pages with uninhibited attentiveness.

'Viktor. You must read this.'

His best friend's voice was urgent, and, what's more, he'd spoken in their mother-tongue. Valentin only did that here when he didn't want to be overheard or when he was so distracted that it was a natural fallback. Viktor's head snapped up and he skimmed the article the wizard was holding out between them. Pansy watched them in anticipation.

Hermione Granger, a plain but ambitious girl seems to have an appetite for famous wizards. She's sunk her claws into Bulgaria seeker and hero of the last world cup, Viktor Krum. Previously reported as dating Harry potter, it appears to this reporter that Miss Granger is a witch who is more than happy to toy with many boy's affections. It was revealed exclusively to us that Krum, the gifted son of Bulgarian mobster Illian Georgiev Krum, is openly smitten with the devious Miss Granger and has invited her to stay with his family at their estate in Bulgaria this summer.

"She's really ugly," says Pansy Parkinson. "but she's brainy enough to make a love potion, so I suppose that's how she's doing it."

By the time he had finished reading, and Valentin had translated some of the less familiar terms, Viktor was gripping the glossy paper so hard his knuckles had gone white. He'd had no choice but to deal with attacks of this nature from the moment he'd entered the spotlight, it was a byproduct of fame after all, however, Hermione had not signed up for having her integrity questioned for the world to see.

'You…' He said slowly. 'You gave this interview?'

Pansy nodded pompously. Opposite her Draco Malfoy was leering and making a show of rolling his eyes at the offending Witch Weekly. He was still trying to ingratiate himself with Viktor after his latest indiscretion.

'Then you haff insulted me, my girlfriend and my family.' Viktor was incensed. Pansy's eyes widened as it dawned on her that Viktor wasn't grateful for her intrusion, nor the 'eye-opening revelation' that she'd erringly delivered in person.

'You are spreading lies,' Viktor felt Valentin's warning hand on his shoulder. 'You haff invaded my privacy and spied on me. '

'What? No!'

It was the only explanation. His private moments with Hermione were not for public knowledge. He owed her everything to afford her a relationship without intrusion and he had failed her before they'd even had a year together. Pansy Parkinson didn't know what she had unleashed; Viktor's fanbase was relentless, and the last time he'd appeared in Witch Weekly Ana had been forced to flee from her flat in Sofia to escape the owls trying to reach him through her.

'I did not!' Pansy bristled. 'No one really believed you were together, anyway!'

Viktor's head swivelled as he sought out Hermione. She wasn't at the breakfast table, and Ginny's easygoing manner suggested the news hadn't broken out within the Gryffindors yet. He rose to his full height. Valentin's chest was pressed against his back; he had his full support.

'Then you will make it known that Hermione Granger is dating Viktor Krum. She is under my family's protection. My father's protection. I will not haff you dragging her name through the mud. '

Every member of Slytherin house gaped at him. It was the boldest claim he could've ever made to a group of people to whom blood, family and honour held more power and import than anything. Viktor felt an intrusive pressure in his mind and he turned to glare at the source - the Potions Master was smiling coldly at him.

Razkaraĭ se! Get out!

The smile turned to a sneer but the occlumency shields that his father had taught him to construct stood firm.

…

'You invited her to visit you this summer?' Valentin asked as they walked back towards the ship. 'Are you sure that's a good idea?'

'Yes.' Viktor replied stubbornly.

'Look, Vik, you know that I'm the last person to judge your choices or read into the gossip. I just wanna know what's going on in your head.'

It was a bad choice of words. Viktor had overheard Professor Snape conversing with his Highmaster and now he was probing his mind over an altercation with one of his students. Adding that to Professor Karkaroff's tempestuous moods of late and his jitteriness around Viktor, something had to be going on. Someone, friend or foe, was spying on him, airing his most private secrets and attempting to denounce his girlfriend, thereby creating a rift between him and Hermione.

'I know what you think, Valentin. I know what everyone is thinking. I can't say for certain about her past with Harry, but I know that I love her, okay? She's going to have to meet my parents eventually. My father may be many things, but he will not question my heart. And, before you ask, they know about her blood. They also know that she is the most incredible witch we've ever met. You cannot question her magical ability - she puts even Ana to shame. I can't stand around and let jealousy or whatever this is ruin the only normality I've ever known. Please.'

'And, if you believe that shit about the love potion then…' He didn't know how to finish his sentence. If Valentin doubted his sense then he'd be lost beyond recognition.

Valentin stopped as Viktor finished his impassioned speech. Despite a lifetime of friendship Viktor rarely opened up to his best friend about matters of the heart. Viktor's outburst had taken them both by surprise.

'So…' Valentin said tentatively. 'You love her?'

Viktor nodded.

'Then that's good enough for me. If I have to hit Illian with an incarcerous to make him give her a chance then I'll do it.'

It was as if all his pent up rage, frustration and confusion vanished in an instant. Viktor roared and cuffed Valentin around the ear. He had Valentin's acceptance.

'I would like to see you try Valentin. I would like to see you try.'

…

It felt like Hermione's whole world had come crashing down. She'd laughed it off in Potions. It had been easy to pretend it was all a joke in poor taste when she could wave it off and act simply like the article was just the ramblings of another jealous fan. Then Professor Snape had read it aloud and solidified her humiliation. Hearing her supposed deception in his derisive tone had been too much to bear.

Harry had copped the worst of Professor Snape's ridicule and of their classmates taunting as per usual, but it was her that had been accused of using magical means to win Viktor's heart. As she fled the dungeons she tried to remind herself that it was only because he was famous, that witches she would never meet thought they had some obsessive, maniacal claim over him. It wasn't because she was ugly as Pansy had claimed or, worse, because they thought she'd not be able to charm him by any other means. He didn't think that. He couldn't think that.

Hermione headed for the one place she knew she could escape it all. Not the library - that haven wasn't even safe anymore. Plus, she couldn't risk bumping into Viktor when she hadn't yet worked out what to tell him. How could she defend herself? The lies about the love potion were laughable, but how had someone found out about their summer plans? It was the ultimate violation and Viktor cherished his privacy above all else; if he thought she'd blabbed, and blabbed to a gossip magazine no less, then he would never forgive her.

She was in floods of tears as she burst through the Gryffindor portrait hole. The entire house was at dinner, oblivious to her pain, no doubt whispering about how she'd wronged two of the wizarding world's most famous teenagers.

Hermione crawled into bed, closed the curtains of her four-poster and sobbed into her pillow. When her tears eventually eased she would write two letters: one to Mum and one to Ani. Until then she would let the injustice of it all wash over her.

…

The next morning Hermione took refuge underneath Harry's invisibility cloak for the last Hogsmeade visit of the year. She traipsed behind the boys the whole way there, hiding herself from their inquisitive looks and any other wizard or witch who might accidentally catch a glimpse of her puffy eyes and unkempt hair.

She'd spent the night top-and-tailing with Ginny behind the safety of her four-poster walls after the girl had appeared from dinner and held her while she cried. Ginny had sent her off with Harry and Ron to Hogsmeade, away from the prying eyes of Lavender and Parvati, to get out of her own headspace and away from the prison she'd erected for herself.

'We'll chat about Viktor later. When you're ready.' Ginny had said as she shooed her out of the common room.

Hermione didn't want to talk about Viktor. She didn't want think about Viktor. She didn't want to ruminate over what was going through his mind. She just wanted to hug him, kiss him and hear that he didn't believe she'd betrayed their secrets. However, she didn't have the courage to face him… not when there was even the tiniest possibility he would reject her or send her away.

Up ahead Harry and Ron were whispering about Sirius and what state he'd be in when they found him. They didn't have to wait long to find out, for a shaggy black dog intercepted them at the edge of the village.

'Hey, Sirius,' Harry said as his uncle galloped towards the trio.

Sirius trotted away from Hogsmeade and led them to the foot of a nearby mountain, his great head lolling to one side as an indication they should follow. Hermione had to shrug off the invisibility cloak when the going started to get tougher; it was unbearable under the glare of the spring sunshine. They climbed over boulders and rocks and followed Sirius straight into the mountain itself. At long last they crawled through a fissure in the rock and found themselves in a dimly lit cave. The reprieve from the sun was instantaneous and Hermione embraced the cool relief with a delirious sigh.

If Sirius was curious as to why Hermione, normally the chattiest of the three, had been shielded beneath Harry's cloak and hadn't said a word in over thirty minutes, then he didn't show it. Without mention of his forlorn friend Harry dove straight into describing the events of the World Cup, the fiasco with Winky the house-elf and the mystery of Barty Crouch and his absences from the Triwizard tasks. The conversation soon turned to a much darker topic and Harry shared with

Ron, Hermione and Sirius that he had overheard Professor Karkaroff anxiously confronting Professor Snape about something on his arm.

'Well, it's the first I've heard about Snape and Karkaroff being former acquaintances,' Sirius said thoughtfully. 'It's not much of a surprise though. Snape's always been fascinated by the Dark Arts, he was famous for it at school. He was part of a gang of Slytherins who nearly all turned out to be Death Eaters.'

Sirius held up his fingers and started to tick off names that Hermione had read about. The Sacred Twenty-Eight. Each and every one of them was of Pureblood descent and they had all championed Voldemort's cause.

'Well, we know Karkaroff was a death eater once.' Hermione spoke for the first time. Harry and Ron flinched as though they'd forgotten she was there.

Sirius nodded. 'Took a whole bunch of Death Eaters with him, I heard. Guess it makes sense then slimy ol' Snape would be chummy with him.'

Harry and Ron grinned at each other. Hermione cast her memory back to the night of the Yule Ball and the look of loathing Viktor had given his own Highmaster.

'I don't think V-Viktor likes him much.' Hermione stumbled over his name. 'Lately, at least, I've gotten the impression that there's animosity between them. When he first arrived at Hogwarts he seemed to tolerate him just about… but something's changed.'

Sirius was staring at her with growing interest.

'She's going out with him.' Ron said flatly.

'Was.' Hermione corrected and her voice broke. The three of them looked at her in alarm.

'Oh, don't look at me like that Ronald!' She snapped. 'You were never happy about us anyway.'

'Hermione-' Ron started. He had the decency to look ashamed.

'As for you, Harry Potter, I would've thought you'd have given him the benefit of the doubt, especially after he saved your life!'

Sirius' eyes had shot halfway up his hairline and he was watching them bicker with a startled expression.

'Harry would've pulled off that Feint, wouldn't you Harry?' Ron said defiantly.

'Uh, I'm not so sure-'

'Anyway, I don't think Sirius is interested in my love life so just listen to me, will you? After the Yule Ball Viktor mentioned that he'd overheard Karkaroff talking to Snape about his Dad. He was really angry about it.'

'Is his Dad a Death Eater too?' Ron said a little too enthusiastically. Hermione shot him a withering look.

Sirius had lapsed into silence at Hermione's little secret. At the mention of Viktor's father he peered up at Ron and guffawed. 'Illian Krum is no Death Eater! If the Ministry ever suspected him of being one of Voldemort's followers it was hushed up well and good. He's been hunting dark wizards since before you three were born.'

'So why is everyone so interested in him then!?' Hermione barked. 'He was even mentioned in that stupid magazine article!'

Ron and Harry exchanged an uncomfortable glance at the mention of the "elephant in the room". Harry believed her wholeheartedly, but Ron was still hung up on her holidays plans.

'He's… a bit of a character,' Sirius said, sounding unconvinced. 'He's been very ruthless over his career. He was hell-bent on catching and killing anyone associated with Grindelwald in his early days, then some of his countrymen started going missing, wizards who'd been aligned to Voldemort, but they never proved it was him.'

If it were true, then it would go some way to explaining why Viktor was so guarded when it came to his father. It would also explain why Karkaroff wanted to stay on Illian's good side if he thought he might be the next one to go missing.

'But that doesn't answer why Snape would spare him a second thought. I can't see Dumbledore letting Snape teach at Hogwarts if he'd ever been a Death Eater and he's too far from Bulgaria to have caught Krum Senior's attention.' Sirius said earnestly.

'Right.' Harry and Ron said at the same time.

They slipped into silence and Harry handed over the food they'd gotten from the Hogwarts kitchens. Thoughts were racing through Hermione's mind, creating more questions than answers, and most of them concerning Viktor and his family.

'Say, Hermione. What was in that article you mentioned?' Sirius asked as he glanced at the bags under her eyes.

'Best not to ask.' Ron muttered.

Hermione scowled at him. It was the last thing she wanted to talk about, but she couldn't deny Sirius, not when he'd offered her information she'd long wanted to know. 'Someone was spying on Viktor and I after the second task. He asked me to come and stay with him in Bulgaria this summer,' Ron's face darkened. 'And they told Rita Skeeter about it. Now everybody knows… and Viktor probably thinks I told her.'

'They said she ensnared him with a love potion too.' Ron added, not looking at her.

Sirius smirked. 'Everyone in our world knows to take what Rita Skeeter writes with a pinch of salt, Hermione. I've seen what she's put in the Daily Prophet about my godson and we all know its hogwash. But if someone is prying into your business then you all need to be careful, Hogwarts isn't safe this year.'

They all promised him to stay alert. Ron did a decent impression of Professor Moody's 'constant vigilance!' spiel that lightened the mood considerably. After dishing out some supplies for Sirius, Harry, Ron and Hermione walked back down the mountainside with the great black dog at their side. As they made their way back through Hogsmeade and up to the castle Hermione replayed Sirius' words in her mind. There must have been an ounce of truth in what he'd said… Viktor had already been at the mercy of Rita Skeeter once before, so he would know her tendency to bend the truth to her will. If only she could look into his mind and know what he was thinking.

…

Hermione,

I am sending hugs from Bulgaria. I was very sorry to receive your last letter and hear that you have joined the list of Rita Skeeter's victims. She's evil incarnate I have decided. Viktor has not written to me in recent days, so I cannot tell you what is on his mind, but I know my little brother well enough to tell you this: he will believe you. If someone has made it their mission to ruin your relationship then you both must fight. Think to that day, did you see or notice something that was not normal?

I am looking forward to meeting you in summer.

Ani

Once she had finished reading it Hermione passed the letter to Ginny and waited impatiently for her reaction.

'Well?' She prompted.

Ginny glanced up from the blotted parchment and smoothed a hand over her face.

'So, let's set the scene,' Ginny said evenly. 'You were where when he asked you?'

'Our spot. Near the old boat house.'

'Right, so you're by the old boat house after the second task. What were you doing when he asked?'

Hermione's heart flopped melodramatically at the memory of being close to Viktor. 'We were cuddling.' She mumbled.

'Ok, good. Cuddling by the boat shed,' The corner of Ginny lips twitched. 'Describe it to me. Did you hear or see anything out of the ordinary?'

Hermione shook her head.

'If someone was disillusioned you might've still sensed they were there, if only subconsciously. Close your eyes and imagine you're there again.'

Hermione didn't want to imagine herself curled up against Viktor at that moment. It hurt to think she might never get that chance again. Nevertheless, she did, for his sake, for their sake. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and tried to recall the way it had felt to be pressed against his side, his hand caressing her cheeks lovingly. They'd been alone, she was sure of it.

It would make me very happy if you visited me in Bulgaria.

Hermione's head swivelled around within her memory and she searched for Rita hovering near them, hiding within the shadows of the trees or the tell-tale flicker of a disillusionment charm.

'It was just us,' She said sadly. 'There was no one there that I could see.'

'Maybe-'

'The only thing I can think of was that dumb water-beetle Viktor pulled from my hair. He dumped it in the water right after he asked me.'

Ginny scooted closer to her on the bed and nodded encouragingly for her to continue.

'Actually, while I think of it, nothing we said afterwards made it into the magazine.'

'Like what?' Ginny said earnestly.

'We chatted about the future… and Viktor told me that he wanted to fight to make us work when he left school.' Hermione revealed.

With a gasp Ginny clutched her wrist. 'That would've one-hundred percent been bigger news than asking you to Bulgaria. They would've known you were together!'

So, their culprit was either an insect… or Rita Skeeter owned an invisibility cloak and had left in a hurry after Viktor had made his request. At least she had a timescale to work to, and she knew exactly who would be able to tell her if Rita Skeeter had been skulking around with the aid of a magical device. She needed to speak to Professor Moody.

…

By breakfast next day, most of Hermione's sour mood had burnt out. Her face was still puffy from crying and her hair closer resembling a bird's nest than ringlets, however, she felt lighter than she had in days. She had a problem to solve.

Ginny brought her up peace offerings of marmite toast and a steaming mug of tea that she accepted gratefully. For the half an hour they would've usually spent in the Great Hall they talked over Hermione's plan to interrogate Professor Moody about any unwanted visitors on school grounds, Hermione finding her ability to laugh again when Ginny pretended to watch her through Moody's false eye.

'Ana replied fast,' Ginny commented when a brown owl tapped at one of the common room windows. She rose to her feet and unlatched it to allow the creature inside: it wasn't Celeste. The owl had had only enough time to right itself and stick out a leg before three more birds soared into Gryffindor tower.

To Hermione's bewilderment all of their deliveries were addressed to her and the birds seemed very disgruntled at having had to detour from the Great Hall.

'What on earth-' Hermione said, collecting up the letters and beginning to open them with her thumb nail. 'Oh!' She sputtered, flushing an angry shade of pink. 'You've got to be joking!'

Each of the letters was handwritten, but composed of extracts that had been cut out from The Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly. Ginny turned each one over carefully and peered at their contents. Her eyebrows shot up and she shook her head disbelievingly.

'They're off their rockers.'

Leave Viktor Krum Alone!

Sneaky MuGGLe.

Devious girl - leave our Viktor alone!

Hermione popped the wax seal on the last letter and immediately felt a burning sensation spread over her hands. A yellowish green sludge had spilled from within the envelope and was now blistering her skin as it went. Tears of pain sprung from her eyes and she flung the parchment into the fire, dousing her hands in water from a jug on the table. It did little to help: the damage was done. Her palms were now marred by painful sores and ghastly blisters that pulsated precariously.

'Uh oh, Hermione, that's undiluted bubotuber pus! We best get you straight to the hospital wing!' Ginny screamed and they took flight, the remaining letters forgotten on the floor.

…

With the debacle of Hermione's hate mail she didn't get the opportunity to speak to Professor Moody until after their DADA class the following day. She'd been fuming at missing almost an entire day of classes, but, worst of all, she'd missed her opportunity to see Viktor in their Ancient Runes lesson and apologise for ignoring his messages. She hadn't expected to kiss and make up right off the bat, but she could've at least begged him to hear her out.

Hermione's hands were still extremely sore so Professor Moody had given her a pass on his hex-deflection test (much to her disappointment) so she was the only one not nursing an injury of his doing. She waved Harry and Ron off, swallowing her laughter at seeing Ron's jelly legs and Harry's twitchy ears.

'Professor Moody, Sir?' She said cautiously and approached his desk.

'Yes, Miss Granger?' He said gruffly. 'What is it?'

'I wanted to ask you about Rita Skeeter-'

Moody dropped the blackboard eraser he was clutching. It clattered against the stone floor with a mushroom cloud of chalk dust.

'Er, sorry sir,' She said hurriedly. 'It's just she's been publishing some private things about me… things I haven't told anyone. I wanted to know if you'd seen her around… maybe under an invisibility cloak?'

Professor Moody's magical eye whizzed around in its socket and she had the distinct feeling it was zeroing in on her rigid profile. So, he wasn't a fan of Rita Skeeter either. There was no surprise there.

'You're a sharp girl, Granger,' He said. His magical eye roved back to the open classroom door. 'It's very possible. Rita Skeeter has been helping along some funny rumours of late. I've not seen her, but I do reckon' she's finding a way to nose about and ruin lives as is her past time.' He muttered more to himself than Hermione and hobbled around her stationary form towards the door. 'Is this to do with Krum?'

Hermione jerked her head and a grim smile twisted one corner of his lopsided mouth.

'Interesting situation you find yourself in, Granger. An unlikely pairing.'

Hermione felt defensive all of a sudden. Who was he to decide who was boyfriend material?

'Er, right, thank you Sir.' Hermione made to leave but sensed Moody's intense stare drilling into the back of her head. She turned to bravely meet his good eye.

'He ever talk about his father, Granger?'

Hermione tensed, her fingers closing around the door frame.

'No sir, never.'

…

By Wednesday Viktor was beside him with worry. He'd not seen Hermione for almost a week. She'd not turned up for any of their study sessions, she'd been absent from all meals, and, worst of all, she'd even skipped their Ancient Runes class together. Viktor found himself drawn to their hiding spot in the hopes that she might try and find him there to talk, but she never came. Roderick returned every night to the ship with his notes undelivered, the bird looking as pitiful as Viktor felt.

'Imogen says there's a rumour going around that Hermione's been in the hospital wing.' Valentin reported after Viktor rushed into the Great Hall to find the Gryffindor table bereft of Hermione's shy smiles and enchanting peals of laughter for yet another dinner.

'Why?' He demanded.

So Valentin had been using his female Ravenclaw friend to dig for information. Viktor supposed he should be thankful.

'I can only deduce that Harry Potter's fans are worse than yours. Never thought it possible, but witches be crazy,' Valentin shook his head in mocking disbelief. 'They've been sending her hate mail stuffed with noxious stuff.'

Viktor needed to see her. He had to talk to her. At first he'd believed it was insecurity that was keeping her away, but now he knew she was avoiding him and he simply didn't understand. They'd faced challenges even in the early days of their relationship and Viktor being Hermione's first boyfriend had caused some of her emotions and insecurities to manifest in ways he wasn't experienced with.

After ten minutes of aggressively stabbing his knife into an unsuspecting steak Valentin eased it out of his grip.

'Come on, Vik. Food is for eating, remember? Not pulverising.'

'Not hungry.' Viktor grunted and shoved his plate away petulantly.

He caught Pansy Parkinson scrutinising him from further down the table and glowered at her. If she'd not been the spy, then what had been her ultimate goal? To make him cast Hermione aside and replace her at his side? He'd rather lay with a mountain troll than spend a moment alone with the likes of her.

'Okay, that's it,' Valentin switched to their regional dialect, excluding even their Durmstrang fellows. 'Look at me.'

Viktor met his gaze grudgingly. 'What, Valentin?'

'You need to kick this shit mood, Krum. You're my best friend and so I'm gonna call you out right now. You say you love her, right?'

'Yes.' Viktor said at once.

'Then go and fucking find her and tell her that. I know, and you know, that your witchis as pure as it gets. You know she's not fucking with you!' Valentin hissed under his breath.

'She's avoiding me.'

'That's moot now, Vik. She's probably terrified you believe she's shared your secrets with the press or that she's been playing Potter like a piano behind your back. We all know how you get your balls all knotted about that stuff. She's still young, this is new to her and what are you doing? Moping about and leaving her to stew over her worries.'

Viktor was up and out of his seat in seconds. Giving Valentin a quick, awkward hug he set off for the one place he hadn't looked for Hermione. Her dormitory. He spotted two first-year Gryffindor girls leaving the Great Hall arm-in-arm and chased them down, ordering them to lead him to their house's tower. Viktor felt a small flicker of guilt at scaring them half to death, but he would've done whatever it took to get to her.

'Y-y-y-ou can't come in, Mr Krum!' One of the girls stuttered when they finally reached the portrait he recognised from the night of the Yule Ball. How times had been different then.

'Yeah, only Gryffindors allowed!' The other girl stammered. 'We're sorry!'

Then he would have to wait here until Hermione finally appeared. She would have to at some point. She couldn't avoid her lessons forever - it was against everything she believed in. Viktor folded his arms, leant against the stonework beside the portrait and prepared himself for a very long wait.

Half an hour later two perfect candidates to help his cause rounded the corner. Hermione's best friends were so deep in hushed conversation that they almost walked straight past him. Viktor stepped out into the candle-light, blocking them from the portrait.

'You two.' He said flatly.

'You!' Ron cried. 'What the bloody hell are you doing here?'

'I haff come to find Hermione. She is hiding from me.'

'Yeah, well, mate… she's upset alright.' Ron said lamely.

'Did you believe anything in that article, Viktor?' Harry asked.

'Of course not!'

'Should've told her that sooner mate.' Ron said under his breath.

'And how could I do that? I haff already told you that she has been avoiding me.'

'Er, wait here,' Harry tugged on Ron's robes and skulked past Viktor towards the portrait. 'I'll tell her you want to see her. Then she can decide if she wants to talk to you… I guess.'

And with a muffled whisper they disappeared through the door.

…

'Um, Hermione?' Ginny poked her head cautiously around the door. 'I know you said you wanted to be left alone, but Ron's screaming bloody murder downstairs. Something about Viktor waiting for your outside.'

Hermione flinched and stared at her friendly in a daze. Viktor was outside? The voice in her mind chastised her openly. Of course he is. It's Wednesday and you've still not plucked up the courage to talk to him. She couldn't play the inexperience card again, she was being unfair and she knew it. She dragged herself out of bed and down the staircase to the common room, Ginny in hot pursuit. As she came into view both Harry Ron jumped guiltily. They'd been arguing over, and it was evident that Harry had finally decided Viktor was worth defending.

'You don't have to see him, Hermione!' Ron said stubbornly. 'Not if you don't want to.'

Things had gone too far, Hermione realised. She'd let everything get blown out of proportion. She owed Viktor an explanation - he wasn't the bad guy here and her pigheadedness had worsened Ron's opinion of him.

'He's my boyfriend, Ron. I do want to see him.'

She gave them both a grateful hug and ducked through the portrait hole. Ginny followed her dutifully, keeping a little way behind her.

Viktor was pacing a few metres away from the Fat Lady, his hair wild from having combed his hands through it nervously. He looked so vulnerable and Hermione felt a pang of guilt at being the cause of his anxiety.

'Viktor,' She said softly. She approached in hesitantly, unsure whether he would welcome her proximity.

'Hermione.'

It was hard to gauge anything from his body language. He simply stared at her as though he couldn't believe she was really there. After a tense moment he spoke.

'I haff really missed you,' He whispered and stepped towards her.

'Me too.'

'Hey, you two? It's probably best you find a free classroom or something or you're about to have a really big audience.' Ginny said urgently.

Viktor acted as though on autopilot. He laced his fingers through Hermione's with a probing look and set off down the corridor. He came across the empty Arithmancy study room without her aid.

'Wait here, please?' Hermione pleaded. Ginny nodded and ushered her through the door before she could chicken out.

Viktor was waiting for her, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his trousers. His face was like an open book now; his inner turmoil was dancing across his sombre features for all to see. All at once she knew she would do anything for him to believe her.

'I didn't tell her anything. I'll swear it on anything you want! I never spoke to Rita Skeeter!'

'I know.' Viktor replied with a pained look.

'You do?'

Viktor shuffled towards her then, closing the distance between them. His arms hung awkwardly at his side, but twitched as though he was considering reaching out to her.

'Has always been to clear to me that you are not like the other witches. I am trusting you with my deepest secrets. My heart and body too.'

Hermione blushed in spite of herself. Ginny had made a good point ; if Hermione was going to spill any of Viktor's secrets, it would surely be something that only his lover would know and not something as innocent as their summer plans.

Viktor was not put off. 'You haff bewitched me, but not with these potions. Is no potion in our world that makes me feel this way,' He was within touching distance now and Hermione wanted to cross the final line. 'This has been worst week of my life,' He continued. 'I was not knowing what you were thinking and if you were okay. I was going crazy.'

'I felt that way too…' She was overwhelmed with guilt. 'I'm so sorry Viktor. I wanted to have proof before I faced you! I have some theories, but I wanted to prove that I'd never betray your trust!' A bubble of emotion was blocking her throat. It was painful to swallow. 'And whenever I conceived you might believe her lies about me and Harry… I thought you must hate me.'

'Hate you?' Viktor looked alarmed. 'Oh, my queen of flowers.'

His arms crushed around her without warning and his lips brushed soothingly against her forehead. He held her tightly, squeezing her so hard it was difficult to breath. It was like being enclosed in his arms for the first time again; her heart beat frantically and she didn't know what to do or how to react.

'Obicham te. I love you, Hermione Granger. Is not possible for me to hate you. Obicham te. Obicham te*.'

The emotion was staggering. Relief. Shock. Affection. But above all else, love. How could she have ever doubted this wizard? He'd never doubted her for a second and all she'd done was put him through the wringer. She was speechless. She'd only ever told her parents how much she cared for them, but it felt more natural than anything to tell Viktor the same in that moment.

'I love you too, Viktor.'

'Say it again, please.' He said hoarsely. Was he… crying?

'I love you Viktor Krum,' She kissed him back now, tasting salty tears on his upper lip. She punctuated each word with a single kiss. 'I. Love. You.'

…

The next morning Hermione made her way to the Great Hall with Ginny, her head held high. It was as though all the pain and anxiety of the previous week was a distant memory; none of the stares or whispers bothered her anymore. She'd made Viktor a promise not to let her thoughts fester and never again keep her worries to herself.

She'd just piled her plate high with sausages and beans when a familiar presence settled himself at her free side, their thighs touching. Ginny nudged her and cleared her throat, silently telling her that everyone was watching.

'Good morning,' Viktor said, his voice thick from sleep.

Valentin heaved himself into the seat opposite and started shovelling bacon into his mouth, one eye perpetually closing as though getting a few last winks of sleep. It was alien to interact with them this early in the morning; she'd only ever seen Viktor lethargic and with mussed hair at one point in their relationship and she'd been too concerned by his being injured back then. It appeared neither wizards were morning people.

'Hi.' Hermione replied. She pecked him quickly on the cheek.

'Making the move permanently?' Ginny asked and, out of habit, elbowed the jug of pumpkin juice down the table to the new additions. Viktor smiled lazily and poured himself a mug of green tea instead, bringing it to his nose, inhaling the steam and sighing contentedly.

'Why do you drink that?' Hermione asked curiously.

'Is good for keeping my brain agile,' Viktor's eyelids fluttered closed. 'Haff been drinking it every morning and evening since I start playing Quidditch.'

Hermione noticed that students around them were listening in on Viktor's revelation. She stifled her giggle with the sleeve of her robes and dug into her own breakfast, her appetite quite renewed. If Fred and George had been eavesdropping she would've put galleons on the whole Gryffindor squad drinking green tea before the week was out.

Breakfast was much more of an enjoyable affair with Viktor and Valentin joining the fray. It was strangely domestic to snuggle up against Viktor as they chatted about the upcoming day and witness Ginny and Valentin's endless squabbling. Harry and Ron were astonished to see the new honorary Gryffindors when they arrived and eyed Viktor with poorly-concealed intrigue whenever they thought he wasn't looking. To Hermione's intense relief, Harry made a concerted effort to include Viktor in the heated debate he was having with Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville over the best Zonko's product, even though it became quickly apparent that Viktor had no clue what they were talking about.

However, before long the conversation turned to Quidditch as it inevitably always did. It was like the uncoiling of a spring - once Harry had casually asked Viktor what team he supported all hell broke loose, and soon questions were being fired at him from every direction. It continued to amaze Hermione to no end that Viktor dealt with these interrogations with such good grace, offering answers that he'd likely given a million times and even finding a polite word to say about the Chudley Cannons when Ron eventually piped up to ask if Viktor was on a first name basis with his favourite team.

'Here we go,' Hermione turned to take refuge in Ginny, but her friend was too busy hanging on Viktor's every word.

Valentin knocked her foot with his underneath the table to grab her attention.

'Welcome, Hermione Granger, to my life.'

—

A/N: I know this chapter was super angsty at times, but I hope it lived up to expectations in the end! I didn't want their declarations to be soppy, but it felt like the right time to include the big three words.

Keep an eye out on my profile for an ETA for C21, but it's birthday week in my household so I might take some time off!

(Obicham te = I love you in Bulgarian.)