Finding their way back to love

by melissa122683

The war has ended but Hermione's pain may just be begining when someone she trusts takes away one of her last safe spaces. She runs to the only family she has left but is worried she may not be welcome but finds out that everything she believed was a lie. Viktor finds the thing he loves the most back in his life, but it may be too late.

20. Chapter 19- What Must Be Done

Chapter 19- What Must Be Done.

Hermione just looked at Viktor as everyone started asking questions around them, waiting to see what he would say. Alek was shaking his head no while pointing his hand at Harry… Viktor's team was looking between her, Viktor, and the people in the field, mummering between themselves.

But Hermione did not take her eyes off Viktor, she watched his face, waiting… waiting to see what he would say…waiting to see what he would do… what his reaction was going to be….. but he just looked at her through narrowed eyes…. She watched with a thoughtful anxious expression as Viktor's jaw clenched so tightly that it looked like he was going to crack his teeth.

Yet…. all he did was the same thing she was doing… searching her face…. looking for answers in her silence. They both looked to each other, seeing past the silence to the what was in their eyes.

Hermione bit her lip and twisted her hands in front of her and finally broke first when she saw the fear flash through his eyes, and his breath catch, "It will be fast…. really fast….. I will be back in just a little bit." She whispered trying to tell him she was going to be ok with her eyes.

Viktor shook his head, scowling deeply… he closed his eyes trying to hide the fear beginning to roll through his body, "Explain to me what is going on." He said softly to Hermione but paused to hold up his hand at Alek to make him stop talking when he went to start yelling again. "We need to listen." Viktor said simply making everyone around them turn silent, wanting to hear what Hermione was about to say. Viktor knew he had to listen... then he could react.

Hermione sighed deeply looking only up to Viktor, "I need you to lift the wards again, a few more wizards need to come if that is ok." She said softly. "We need to leave here all together."

Viktor's nostrils flared as his frustration began to take over at her half responses, "Ok." He said putting his wand up to the sky again muttering a few words. After a moment he looked down at her, "Done." He said sharply, frustration surfacing.

Hermione nodded at him, turing back to the field and Harry, "It is done." She whispered, pushing her voice across the field to Harry and Kingsley. Hermione turned back to Viktor, "I know you have questions, but we don't have a lot of time… I have to go but it will be fast… not long at all… maybe a half an hour…. an hour at the most." She said. "I can tell you everything when I get back."

Hermimone watched Viktor eyes narrow and knew that her answer would not be enough without any words passing between them. But it was Aleks snort that pulled her attention away from Viktor.

Hermione turned when Alek snapped, "No…. you can't do this… you are not strong enough yet…." He said, shaking his head. "Just yesterday… we talked about taking it slowly…. You told them yesterday that you needed time." He paused pointing out over Kingsley, "YESTERDAY." He shouted his frustration, his anger covering his fear. "And they are here already demanding your help… DO they not care about you at all?"

Hermione shrank smaller, hunching her shoulders down slightly and Viktor shook his head, his heart breaking at the way she was responding. She needed help and listening not attacking… and she was far more likely to listen to someone asking her questions and talking to her instead of demanding and yelling…. It was a lesson Viktor learned long ago… Alek however did not know this, Viktor took a breath and caught Hermione's eyes, "What are they asking you to do?" He asked, reaching out to hold her hand, "Tell us."

He knew that whatever they were asking her for, she need to do…... she had no choice in her mind, otherwise she would not be here talking to them, she would have just said no. He wanted to know what it was and how he could help her to accomplish whatever she needed to do.

Hermione looked up at him, and gave a small smile knowing what he was doing. She saw his fear under the scowl and clenched fist hanging at his side and she squeezed the hand in hers gently, "I am not doing any fighting… just helping get them to where they need to go." She whispered. "Taking down some wards that are in place." She watched Viktor's face as he gave her one small nod but they both turned to Alek when he started yelling.

Alek shook his head, "You are not strong enough….. let someone else do it." He snarled, his frustration coming out in anger. "We just talked about this Mione…. this morning you needed extra potions and rest just to sit out here with us today." Alek took a deep breath, "Please cectpa… sister… DO not do this." He begged softly.

"I know." Hermione whispered shaking her head softly, trying to reassure them, "But no one else can do what they are asking me to do." She looked down at her hands, "I have not told you guys everything…" She paused looking up at Viktor, worry in her eyes, "I mean… I have not lied to you guys." She rushed to say, "I just hadn't gotten around to telling you everything."

Viktor gave her a small reassuring smile. "I know…...Tell us now." He whispered reaching up to trail his hand over her hair.

Hermione nodded biting her lip, looking back and forth between Alek and Viktor, "My last two years at the school… well year and a half before we left…I had already finished all my classes and Dumbledore knew what was coming…. What we were going to have to do." She looked down at her hands, "So he set me up with the teachers…. And I was taught spells… magic to help us survive. Professor Sprout taught me about growing things so when we had no food….so I could keep all of us fed." She said quietly making Viktor nod at her softly, "Professor Flitwick taught me nonverbal spells, wandless spells and how to amplify every spell that I do…. It is his teaching that I use in everything that I do now…. Every spell I cast I use what he taught me to make it more… greater… deeper….. stronger." She paused taking a deep breath, "Professor McGonagall taught me how to create things out of thin air….. transfigure things into all new objects."

Viktor smiled shaking his head in wonder, "You always had a way of being better then everyone else… but leave it to you spend your last year and a half in school learning spells that most of us will never even learn in our lifetime….. then modifying them to make them even better." He whispered, "If I had half your talent….." He muttered, rolling his eyes with a small grin, "You are a wonder."

Hermione paused looking down at her hands and shrugged, her cheeks pink in embarrassment, "It was not that big a deal… I just had some extra time to learn some stuff." She said softly.

Viktor snorted, "Yes almost two extra years because you finished school at 15/16 years old, while everyone else was still learning…. That means you were done the year after I left." He said with narrowed eyes.

Hermione smiled up at him, "I was doing my 6th year classes the year you were there…. I still had the time turner…. I used it for 3 years." She said with a shrug.

Viktor groaned, "So… you did not just skip ahead in classes, did you?" He asked with a grin, his team and Alek looking at her with narrowed eyes, "You took every single class…passed them and did double work for 2 years." He said eyes wide, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Hermione shook her head, "3 years actually… I took all of the electives on top of the required classes." She said thoughtfully, "So, 12-14 classes each year for year 3, 4 and 5… so I was done with all classes by the end of year 5 including all of the electives…." She paused with a scowl, "Except Divination… I hated that class and dropped it halfway through." She said pausing to frown. "Plus, I didn't tell you because it didn't seem like that big a deal… I had already started doing it before I met you."

Ludmil stepped forward, eyes wide, "So you took every…single … class your school offered and still finished 2 years early?" He asked.

Hermione shrugged, "Yes…. It is not that big of a deal… I like to learn." She said looking at Viktor, "It was fun." She defended herself with a small pout that made him grin.

Viktor snorted, "Only you would think that was fun Mila…." He said kissing her forehead with a chuckle.

Ludmil turned to Viktor, "She is too smart for you." He said with a grin.

Viktor looked over at Ludmil and rolled his eyes, "I do not disagree… but she is too smart for all of us…especially you." Viktor said before he paused and looked down at Hermione with a smile, "But she chose me, so I win." He said making his team laugh.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "You are Impossible…." She mumbled giving him a small smile before she heard the first pop of people aperating in. She looked back up at with a small frown and sighed softly "The spells they need me to do…. Only I can do them." She looked him in the eyes trying to get him to understand.

Viktor tilted her head back up to kiss her lips softly and pulled back to give her a small smile, then he held his hand out for her to slide into his, knowing she needed some support …knowing she needed him to listen to her.

Hermione smiled up at him, grateful for his listening and took a deep breath, "But it was Snape and Dumbledore that taught me the most….. spells that they created, spells only they know… knew." She whispered a tear tailing down her cheek at the thought of the two of them now gone, "They taught them to me with the blood oath that I never share them or teach them to anyone else…. ward removal spells, ward changing spells, detection spells, uncovering spells, Apparating spells…. So many that I can't even name them all…. They taught me in my 6th year… before Dumbledore left and Snape took over as the Death Eater in charge at Hogwarts."

Viktor gave her a soft nod, "Of course you know all of these advanced spells fro two of the most powerful wizards." He said shaking his head.

Alek looked over at her carefully, "Why did Snape teach you if he was a Death Eater?" He asked, "Maybe you should not use them if they are dark spells."

Hermione shook her head, "Professor Snape was not dark… he was the bravest of all of us… the strongest." She said as more tears streaked down her face, "He pretended to be Dark to get information… to protect all of us until the very end… he died helping Harry and I finish Voldemort off." She took a breath closing her eyes, "He gave his life to protect us…. he was the bravest man I have ever known."

Viktor nodded at her, "I remember him… he was potions teacher and took over as Headmaster in the end, letting Death Eaters in the school." He said, "I was worried for you the last year."

Hermione nodded, "He was the one that kept us safe…. Kept the Death Eaters in the school in line… they were going to be there no matter what when Voldemort took over…. It was only Snape that kept all of the children alive… kept Harry and I alive and hidden to learn from the teachers until we left Last March, right before we were supposed to graduate."

Viktor shook his head in confusion, "You left School in March… but you did not tell me when you visited in May?" He asked eyes narrowed.

Hermione nodded, "I didn't want to worry you… I just wanted to be with you while I could… but it was also why I fought so hard to make you keep my visits a secret…. We were already in hiding by the time I came to see you in May…. By august the Ministry had fallen and by Christmas the Order Headquarters was found and we had to go on the run." She said softly.

Viktor closed his eyes, scowling "I would have never let you go… you know that… if I had known in May…. I would have never let you go." He growled, his hands tightening on hers.

Hermione nodded up at him with a small smile, "Of course I knew that… why do you think I didn't tell you." She said with a small shrug, "I wanted to spend time with you…. love you… be with all of you because I knew the end was coming soon… by August." She shook her head, "It all went to hell."

Viktor closed his eyes and covered them with one of his hands, taking deep controlling breaths, after a moment he looked back at her. "We…. You and I … we are talking about this later… DA." He said looking at her with narrowed eyes waiting for her to nod at him. When she did he took another deep breath, "But for now….. what is it they want from you right now?" He said nodding at Kingsley and Harry.

Hermione took a deep breath, "What they are asking me to do right now… is to take them to a Manor that has been warded so they cannot find it… they know I will be able to use an aperating uncovering spell when everyone else failed. They are asking me to go with to the Manor so I can remove the wards that have been placed to keep them out…." Hermione shrugged, "Honestly, these spells are some of the easiest to do for me… it takes a lot of magic for the aperating itself, especially multiples but the spells themselves are not too bad." She said waving her hand making Viktor's team look at her in amazement. The magic she talked about was more then they could accomplish on their strongest day and she was talking like it was no big deal, like it was an everyday occurrence… and for her in the last year it probably was.

Alek shook his head, knowing there was more information that she had not said yet, "Why is it so important that they go here… and why now, why can you not wait." He asked, "That magic… the basic way that I use it would drain you right now… and I know you… you do not do things the way I do…. It will be bigger…stronger." He said his tone full of worry. "It will …. take a lot out of you."

Hermione took a breath, but it was Viktor that shook his head, "There is something else going on." He said looking at her face carefully, watching the emotions filter across it. "Tell me." He begged softly.

Hermione nodded, looking into his eyes, "There are two little girls being held there….. A few months ago, they were taken from their house with their mother." She paused as a tear slid down her cheek, "Their father, uncle….. and older brother were killed the day they were taken from their house." She closed her eyes tightly, her hands starting to shake in his.

Viktor nodded at her, reaching up to brush his fingers over her face, "Mila… tell us." He whispered encouraging her gently.

Hermione took a deep breath, "The Death Eaters that took them sent a message to the Ministry a few days ago, it said that if they did not release certain witches from Azkaban then they would kill the rest of the family one at a time." She whispered so low he could barely heard her, "The Ministry tried everything to find them…it was what they were asking me for help with this week but when they could not find them… the Death Eaters killed the mother and dropped her body in Diagon Ally yesterday." Her voice broke.

Viktor closed his eyes and pulled Hermione into his arms, his heart aching for her, "I know what you are thinking Mila….. it is not your fault." He whispered.

Hermione shook her head against his chest, "I could have gone…. I could have helped… then their mother might still be alive." She whispered, her arms wrapping around Viktor, her voice shattering into a soft sob as she clenched at him.

Viktor's arms wrapped around her tighter and he shook his head looking up at his team… at Alek… he saw their eyes starting to swim for Hermione and Viktor felt his own eyes starting to water, "No Mila… you could barely stand… barely move… even now going to help could mean you being taken or hurt." He said, "There is no guarantee you can help them now and if you tried to help their mother before it could have meant all of you being captured and injured." His hand rubbing between her shoulders.

Hermione shook her head harshly against him, "We don't know that….. I could have helped." She said her voice cracking.

Viktor closed his eyes against the looks his team was giving them… how could someone so small… bare so much on her young shoulders….. she took everything as her fault… as her responsibility….Viktor took a deep breath pushing down his own tears, "Mila… there is no guarantee you can go now and be ok… you are not at 100% and even two days ago you could barely stand." He pulled back and wiped one of the tears from her face, his hand cupping her cheek, "You might have been able to help… might… maybe…" He paused shaking his head, "But there was a greater chance you would have been hurt…. you could not even walk… you still cannot even sit on a chair right now." Viktor slid his hands to the back of her neck, "But now… you are stronger ... you are stronger and you have us…. and we will save those girls… all of us will help save them." He said looking over to his brother and team. He watched them all step forward nodding.

Hermione shook her head, "No…" She said frowning.

Viktor looked down catching her eyes with his, "NO, No's… you could not help before. I would not have let you even try… not when the risk was so great…." He shook his head the hands cupping her neck starting to tremble, "It was not and is not YOUR responsibility… but I know that you need to help and know you will try now… and WE can help also." He said.

Hermione shook her head, biting her lip knowing she was about to make them all upset. "No you don't understand Viktor… you cannot help." She whispered. "None of you can help."

Viktor narrowed his eyes, his anger coming back to the surface along with the fear, "You will not go alone." He said. "I am going with." Knowing that it would be bad enough to let her go with him… but without him… no, he could not deal with that. Alek and his team started to shake their heads at her in agreement with Viktor.

Hermione took a small step back looking around the group and held up her hands and before turning to Viktor, "You can't go…. none of you can." She said quietly. She turned to look at Alek who also narrowed his eyes and she quickly took a breath, and shook her hands, "It is not because I don't want you there or won't take you….. it is because I can literally only apparate those within the Order with these spells….. I have been trying to modify the spells, but I have not had a lot of time to practice since the battle." She shook her head, "I cannot even take other Aurora's from the Ministry if they have not been placed in the Order."

Viktor shook his head, "Fine you tell me where you are going, and I will follow." He said crossing his arms. "We will come with on our own."

Hermione gave him a small smile, "Ok…... we are going to an area in the highlands… in Scotland." She said.

Viktor tilted his head, "You cannot Apparate that far." His eyes narrowed, fear starting to fill his body.

Hermione gave a small shrug, "Actually on a good day, when I am at full strength I can apparate all the way to the United states if I wanted." She said. "With 20 side alongs." She shook her head, giving a small smile, "But the problem is I am not sure exactly where in Scotland yet, I have to do a spell before I start Aperating for hidden wards… it will guide me…. So, I would have to go all the way there and then all the way back here to tell you and then all the way back again."

Alek snorted, shaking his head in disbelief, rubbing his eyes, "Mione…. This is not a good ideal." He said, "Why can't your ministry just release the witches the Death Eaters want?" He paused looking at her, worry etched in his face, "Later we can all go after the Death Eaters… when you are stronger, and we can all go together."

Hermione shook her head, "NO…." She yelled, her eyes going wide and wild, "They can't." Her breath coming out in harsh gapes, making everyone look at her carefully.

Alek frowned, "It is just a few witches to save the girls." He said confused. "It is worth it to save their lives and all of yours." He said waving his hands around the field.

Hermione pulled away shaking her head, "NO… the Ministry cannot release them…. never." She took a deep breath, "The witches they are asking to be released are… they would go and find those girls and kill them just because they could… they will murder and torture people just because they can." She whispered her voice full of pain.

Alek shook his head, "You don't know that." He said softly trying to reassure her.

Hermione put a hand on her forhead, and shook her head at him, eyes wide, "Yes I do…" She said quietly, "I do."

Alek took a deep breath, trying again, "Mione… It will be worth letting one or two witches go to save the girls and keep you safe." He said pointing behind her to Ginny and Harry. "And everyone else going."

The entire group jumped when Hermione shouted at Alek, "NO….. you don't get it…" She clenched her jaw, eyes wild, her breath gasping now in terror "The witches they are asking to be released are not…" She paused her voice catching on a deep echoing sob. "You don't know them Alek…. They did not follow Voldemort because they cared about being pure blood… they only live off the pain of others…. They…." She covered her mouth with her hand, jerking back when Viktor reached for her, not being able to be touched right now. Viktor watched with worried eyes as Hermione began to tremble, her face going pale, "They live to cause pain… they revel in it….. it is the only thing that beings them pleasure… and if they are released, they will do more than murder one family…." She covered her face with her hands for a moment before looking up with panic in her eyes, her voice almost hysterical "They will murder family after family… child after child… just because they can… just because they feel like it." She whispered, her voice breaking.

Alek shook his head harder, frustrated fear coming back out, "You do not know that." He said but stopped when Hermione held her hand up and shouted, "STOP…. I KNOW…" She paused, jerking back another step when Viktor reached for her again, concern in his eyes.

But she shook her head and took another step back and another before looking over at Alek "… I know because one of them did this." She said ferociously, holding up her arm, tears streaming down her face now, "I know because I watched her murder person after person while I was laying on the floor broken and bleeding…." She said her voice starting to lose its anger and passion to a dull aching tone, "I know because I watched her laugh while she did it…. The same way she laughed while she carved my arm up…. While she cursed me over and over again…..." Her voice caught in a heartbreaking sob, as she covered her face for a moment with her hands, her shoulders shaking. When she finally looked back up at them, Viktor saw the agony rolling out of her eyes and his heart shattered for her.

Hermione shook her head looking at Viktor, "I know… I know because she is the one that went and…..." She paused as the tears streamed down her face and she broke her voice horse, "She went and found my parents… and killed them just…... because…. She… could… just because she wanted to hurt me more." Hermione mouthed as she stumbled back a few steps away from the group's horror filled faces turing to face Harry and Ginny across the field.

After a few moments Hermione took a deep breath and wiped her face with shaking hands. She turned back to them but looked no higher than their chests, refusing to see the pity or worry in their eyes, "I have to go and try and save these little girls…" She whispered fiercely again, her fight coming back, "but even if it cost those girls lives or my life… it is worth it to keep Bellatrix in Azkaban…. Because she will kill 20 times the 3 of us… torture and hurt 100 times the 3 of us." She sighed at them her eyes closed. "Just because she can… because she gets pleasure in it."

Viktor took a breath, and let his shaking hand rub down his face before looking at Alek who had covered his mouth tear's slipping down his face. Viktor took another deep unsteady breath and slowly walked up to Hermione and set his hands on her shoulders lightly. He waited for her to breath… for her heart to settle, just being there and letting her warmth seep into him…his warmth to soak into her…. he tried to let his heart settle….. knowing she had to do this, and he could not go with. He looked past her head to see people begin to Apparate into the field, some he recognized like George, others he did not.

He began to pray… to anything and everything that she could go, do this safely….. and come home to him…. Because he knew she had to do this… to live with herself… she had to do this…. He closed his eyes, setting his chin on the top of her head and tried to pour his strength and love into her

After a moment Hermione pulled back to look up at Viktor with tears streaming down her face, "I didn't help those people… when I was in the manor… I just laid there watching them crying… screaming and eventually dying…" She whispered softly, eyes closed seeing the faces in her mind, "I didn't help my parents… and I didn't help these kids' mother…" She murmmuered opening her eyes and pausing to catch his, her hands going up to cup his face gently. "But I can try and help these kids… I will help these kids."

Viktor closed his eyes taking a breath "I know… I know, My Mila…" Viktor leaned his head down and rested his forhead on hers and took another deep breath, "I will agree if you promise me three things." He begged her softly, his thumbs brushing her cheeks.

Hermione nodded up at him, "Ok." She murmured, her love pouring out of her eyes at him.

Viktor took a breath, "First you start to say that you COULD not help… not that you DID NOT help…. You can't save everyone Mila… it is not possible…" He said kissing her forhead before pulling back to look her in the eyes. When she went to shake her head no, he shook his back, "Noooo…because if we could save everyone just because we care or love them…... I would have saved you from the pain that you were in this year." He whispered cupping her cheeks making her eyes widen in surprise. "I know you Mila and I know only SOME of what happened to you in that Manor and it was not that you did not help those people… it was that you were physically unable to even help yourself… to stand… you had to be dragged out of there… you could not have helped them even if you wanted." He said fiercely the hands cupping her cheeks pulsing with his words, "So you will say that you could not help them… that you cannot help everyone."

Hermione closed her eyes for a moment letting his words soak in. After a moment she looked back up and gave him a soft watery smile, "I will try." She promised.

Viktor nodded, placing his lips on her forhead, closing his eyes tightly, "You must promise me that you will remember that this world holds no meaning to me without you standing next to me…" His voice caught and the people surrounding them closed their eyes as Viktor's words broke their hearts, "So you will do everything you can to come back to me." He begged her gently, his heart in his throat. He could not believe he was even remotely thinking of letting her go to danger again… his entire body tense with the want….. the need to take her away and lock her in safety.

Hermione pulled back and smiled up at him, letting him see her heart in her eyes, "I was going to do that anyway…. I never want you to be hurting." She whispered, her hands going to rest on his chest, "What is the last thing?" She asked.

Viktor smiled softly, almost brokenly, "Promise you will be back in an hour so we can eat…. I am hungry but I have to wait for you." He said his eyes pouring all his love, his fear into her… he needed her to know that he supported her but that he was worried.

Hermione laughed gently just like he wanted, "I will try." She said reaching up to kiss him softly, "And I know…" She answered the questions in his eyes, before closing her eyes letting her forhead lay on his lips, "I am going to be ok." She said strongly.

Viktor pulled her head back, leaning down to kiss her lips gently, "That is all that I ask." He took a breath, "Can you tell me what you are planning on doing." Needing to know she had a plan.

Hermione gave him a soft nod, "All I am doing is taking us there and opening the wards… then I am going to get the children and come back here and wait for everyone else to finish the fighting… I am supposed to leave as soon as I get the girls." She said giving them all a small smile. "The Auror's that can go, and Order Members will be taking care of any Death Eaters and fighting." She looked directly at Viktor for a moment then over to Alek and gave a small smile. "I know that you are both worried but even Kingsley and Harry want me protected right now…. It was against their wishes I was even asked…... but even they realize that I was needed…. But I am not allowed to engage or fight with anyone they said… absolutely NO fighting for me."

Viktor nodded at her, "Ok…. Harry is going and will protect you." He said taking a breath trying to calm the terror running through his veins.

"We are all going." She said looking to Alek, her eyes soft and watched as Alek realize what she was saying, "Ginny was in agreement with Harry and Kingsley and said she would go with me to get the girls and bring them come back home… back here with us…. She will be our protection detail she said." Hermione whispered with a small smile. "Only Harry will be fighting…. No matter how much we both tell him no." She said rolling her eyes at Alek's frown, "They are planning on protecting us like two damsels in distress."

Alek rubbed his eyes, "So now both of you will be going…" He looked up at Hermione and smiled humorlessly, "You really know how to terrify a wizard…. You know that right." He said shaking his head.

Hermione shook her head back, and gave a soft shrug, "We are going to be ok… we do not plan on getting in the fight." She paused and reached out to hold his hand, "and if we do have to fight Alek… we are good at it…. We have not survived this long because we are weak." She said with a smile shaking her head when he went to speak, "Even weak I am stronger than you." Making Viktor and Alek chuckle at her. "I promise we are going to be ok." She whispered, "I promise she will be ok."

Alek took a deep breath, "You promised Mione… so I will kick your fucking ass if you break it… do you got that." He said his voice horse.

Hermione smiled over at him, "I know…." She reached over to kiss his cheek, "And you know I don't break my promises unless I have no other choice…. And I have a lot of people going to help me keep my promises." She said giving him a big smile.

Hermione turned to Viktor and gave small frown when she saw the fear rolling out of his eyes, the way his hands shook at her hip… yet the brave small smile he was giving her, trying to reassure her. She looked up and laid a hand on over his heart, "I WILL be back for lunch." She said her voice strong for him.

Viktor nodded at her leaning down to gently kiss her, "OK…I will hold you to that." He said. He looked up when they heard Harry call out to her. "Mila…." He said closing his eyes resting his forhead on hers, "I…." His voice caught in his terror.

Hermione shook her head reaching up to cup his face, reaching up on her tip toes to kiss his lips softly, "I know…. I will be back to eat lunch soon…. wait for me." She promised.

Viktor's hands shook as he cupped her head and kissed her deeply, his tongue tasting hers….. his lips memorizing hers… pouring all of his love and worry into her….. after a moment he pulled back to look her in the eyes, "I love you…. And we will wait for you to eat." He whispered brokenly.

Hermione gave him a smile pulling back, "I love you too… I will hurry." She said turning to walk back across the field, her white dress flickering in the wind. Her curls dancing around her head in a soft halo and Viktor felt his hands clench at his sides, shaking uncontrollably.

He understood Alek's fear and anger, agreed with it even, but he also knew Hermione needed his support…. because she was going to go anyway….. that she needed to go, like she needed to breath.

She needed his support not his anger or fear, but now that she was walking away to leave….. his body began to tremble in fear…. His heart was racing as he watched her do the thing he swore he would never do again… walk away to go back to into a place where she could be taken from him again… to let her go without him.

Viktor, Alek and his team watched as the group of men that had come asking for help from Hermione stood in a circle, with her in the center. They watched as Hermione held out her hands holding onto Kingsley's and Ginny's and the other members of the group carefully reaching out to hold onto Hermione's arms.

8 people altogether holding onto Hermione tightly, they watched as Hermione closed her eyes, her lips moving quietly, and the magic began to seep out of her, the mist circling the group holding onto her.

Viktor fought with everything inside his body not to move… not to run over to her and grab her and hold onto her…. Viktor was losing the battle and took a step forward when Hermione looked up at him and smiled her lips moving, He could her words carry over the wind to him, "…. I love you." They whispered so the group heard them like a gentle caress.

Viktor gave her a soft nod and mouthed the words back…. "I love you." His eyes begging her to come back to him… telling her how much he loved her.

Hermione closed her eyes again and Viktor, Alek and the team watched as the men surrounding Hermione began to be sucked into the center that Hermione was creating, and, in a flash, they all disappeared.

Ludmil looked to Viktor and frowned seeing the fast approaching break down and shook his head. He was going to distract his friend if it killed him, he took a step forward, "Did she just apparate with 8 side alongs…. To Scotland?" He asked rubbing his chin.

Viktor nodded his heart racing, "Da." He whispered, closing his eyes tightly as the fear exploded over ever surface of his body now that he could not see her anymore. His breath started to come out in gasps, his hands shaking as they covered his face. His heart felt like it was going to explode.

Ludmil tilted his head, looking over at Viktor, "This is her weak?" He asked in a thoughtful tone, the rest of the group seeing what Ludmil was doing, gave him small smiles.

Alek nodded, "Da….." He muttered closing his eyes tightly.

Ludmil snorted, "Well she is something…... are you sure I have no chance with her?" He asked Viktor with a small sarcastic smile.

Viktor felt his fear pause for a moment as irritation and jealousy came rushing to the surface and he turned to look at Ludmil with a deep scowl, "I….. will…. Kill….. you…. Murder you…. even before the game…." He said so mater of factly that his coach snorted.

Ludmil grinned, "Fine… fine." He said holding up his hands, "But if her weak is that powerful…. Can you handle her at full strength." He asked rubbing his chin.

Viktor went to take a move towards Ludmil, and Georgi stepped in between them shaking his head. "You two are impossible." He said shaking his head but smiling knowing what Ludmil was doing.

Viktor took a breath looking at Ludmil and realized he had pulled him back from the fear, even if only for a moment and smiled rolling his eyes, "Thank you." He whispered shaking his head taking a deep breath.

Turning back to the empty field Viktor closed his eyes again, "I should have went with….. I should have found a way to go with." He said putting a hand on his forhead.

Alek shook his head, reaching out to lay a hand on his shoulder, "It would not have worked…. You know she would have taken us with if she could…." He said softly. "She would have done what she could have to take us."

Viktor looked over at Alek, "I know." He whispered. "That does not make this time any easier."

Alek nodded, "No it doesn't." He said taking a deep breath, "I am going to go and make some potions and get some things we might need ready." He said turing to run into the house.

Viktor nodded watching him go, "I am going to get the table ready." He said softly, desperately holding onto her promise that she was coming back for lunch. His hands shook as he walked past his team to begin to set the table she just created. His team came over to help him, silently watching his movements and the way he carefully conjured the table settings and the chairs around the table. After it was ready, he slowly sat down, as if he was a broken and hurting100-year-old man… with nothing left inside of him. He set his elbow on the arm of his chair, his face in his hand, and his other hand rubbing the table she just made, as if he could feel her through the magic. His team slowly took seats around the table waiting for him to speak first.

After a moment Viktor looked out over the lake propping his chin in his hand, his other hand still rubbing the table, "She just got back…. And now she is gone again." He whispered so softly they almost did not hear it.

His coach reached out and laid a hand over his, "She is coming back." He said.

Viktor nodded, "I know… but what if….." He paused taking a breath, "I JUST got her back." He shouted, slamming his hand on the table making his team jump, their worry overwhelming them, "I can't…" He closed his eyes, covering his face again, "I can't." He whispered brokenly.

Ivan looked over at him, "Viktor… she is strong, and she is not fighting…. Just grabbing the kids." He said trying to reassure him.

Viktor nodded, "I want to lock her up…. Tie her to my side forever….. but if I did that, she would hate me…." He paused and laughed humorlessly, softly shaking his head in a mocking twist, "And ironically…. she would not be the person that I love so much." He looked back out over the lake, his jaw clenched as the fear rolled through him making his heart stutter and ache like a physical wound, "So I have to let her go and do these things … and die inside while I wait for her." He whispered his voice catching at the end.

He turned seeing his mother and father run out of the house with Vlad and Andrian behind them. Ana paused looking over the table and gazebo, "Where did this come from." She asked looking at it carefully in astonishment.

Viktor smiled gently, looking around at it, "Mila made it for you…. Before she left." He said softly.

Ana smiled at it, before turning to wave at the team giving them a soft smile. She looked back to Viktor, "Hermione went to help Harry….. Didn't she?" She asked softly.

Viktor nodded closing his eyes, "They went to gather some children that had been taken… to save them from being hurt." He whispered, not able to say the words murdered or killed.

Anan slowly sat down into a chair, "They?" She asked.

Viktor nodded at her, "Ginny went also." He said making his mother sit back and cover her mouth with her hand. Ana closed her eyes letting the fear run through her, Mecho put his hands on her shoulders, "It is gonna be ok." He promised. His voice starting strong but breaking at the end.

Ana nodded reaching out to hold Viktor's hand, seeing the fear dancing in his eyes, "It will be ok." She whispered, "She will be back soon." Making Viktor nod, his eyes not leaving the lake.

Vlad and Andrian sat down at the table looking over to Viktor, "She is going to be ok." They said softly, trying to reassure both Viktor and themselves.

Viktor took breath, "Da….." He said closing his eyes, "She will be ok." He whispered tapping his knuckles on the table. "She will be ok." He murmured trying to make himself believe it, when his heart was racing in fear.

Ludmil looked over at Viktor and decided to do what he did best, distract people, "Will Minnie be coming to our games from now on." He said leaning forward to Viktor, waiting for Viktor's blank eyes to focus on him, "I will show her the most important player in the game is the keeper." He said sitting back to lean on the chair and grinned.

Viktor narrowed his eyes and scowled, before realizing what Ludmil was doing yet again…. he shook his head and snorted, "Yes Mila is coming to the games from now on… but she doesn't really like quidditch very much…." He said making his team grin that he once again fell in love with a witch who did not even care that much about quidditch and their smiles turned to laughter when Viktor said with a soft grin, "She only watches for one sexy seeker."

Ludmil shrugged, "That is because she had not seen me play yet." He said grinning, "I think I will try for her heart." He said wiggling his eyebrows.

Viktor rolled his eyes but continued to smile, "Why are you one of my best friends… I try to figure this out every time you open your mouth." He said rubbing his hand down his face.

Ludmil smirked, "Because I am funny and good distraction… Plus I am the best member of the team." He said with a shrug making the table laugh loudly.

Ivan leaned over, "We all know that I am the best and Viktor is close second… Ludmil… you are at the bottom." He said with again, "At this point we keep you on because it would be cruel to cut you."

Viktor smiled softly shaking his head and listened with one ear as the table slowly began to talk amongst themselves, trying to distract each other while they waited. He looked back out to the lake and began to count the minuets Hermione was gone, like a countdown… because she had one hour before he would fly to Scotland on his broom and search every square inch of it for her…. And then tie her to him so tightly, she could never leave again, he thought with a grim frustration.