Chapter 22- Memories Part One
Adeline sat on Viktor's shoulders babbling away as they walked up the stairs. Viktor had his left arm hooked on one of Adeline's feet and he had his right arm around Hermione's upper back so she could lean on him and their slow walk.
Viktor did not have a ton of experience with younger children, but the way Adeline spoke and acted it was more like having a mini version of Hermione and it made him smile as he listened to her talk above him. Viktor heard Hermione snicker at something Adeline said, and he leaned down and kissed Hermione's curls as she wrapped an arm around his waist.
"I love you." Hermione whispered up to him with a smile when she felt Adeline swinging her legs back and forth as they hung over Viktor's shoulders and almost kicked her in the face. Adeline leaned over the top of Viktor's head to look at his face, "So you play Quidditch… are you any good?" Adeline asked tapping his forhead.
Viktor chuckled, "I would like to think so… We are going to the European cup next weekend." He said with a grin.
Adeline shrugged, "Is that a big deal?" She asked looking over at Hermione not trusting Viktor's answer.
Hermione nodded up at Adeline, "It is a very big deal… Viktor and his team worked very hard to get there… they practice and practice for hours every single day… and they had to beat lots of other teams to get to the final." She said her hand around Viktor's waist giving it a squeeze.
Viktor grinned down at Hermione, before tilting his back into Adeline's stomach, "See if Mila think's we are good…then we must be good because she doesn't even like Quidditch." He said.
Adeline giggled at Hermione, "Even I like Quidditch Minnie Mouse…." She said reaching out to touch the top of Hermione's head, "How do you not like Quidditch?"
Hermione shook her head and pinched Viktor's side making him jump and grin at her, "I don't not like Quidditch…. I watch and listen to it when Viktor plays." She said, "I just did not always love it as much as all my friends….so they thought I did not like it."
Adeline nodded at her thoughtfully, "I like Quidditch cause my Daddy and Theo liked it… we would go to games together with Mommy… but the best part was going with Daddy…. not just watching the game." Adeline said, "I remember all the funny things that my Daddy and Theo would do when we went."
Hermione smiled up at her, "Exactly…... I like watching Quidditch because Viktor loves it and plays… and all of my friends too… I go for them." Hermione looked to Viktor, "It is kind of like Viktor taking me to museums because I love them… he doesn't hate them, but he mostly only goes for me."
Adeline nodded, "Kind of like when Daddy and Theo went with me to see Disney land?" She said, "They went but didn't love any of the Princess or the rides and said it was boring."
Hermione laughed, "Exactly." She said nodding, tugging on Adeline's foot by her face.
Adeline gave a thoughtful nod, "So when we go see Eric… Viktor won't come with because he will think it is boring…. Will it just be you, me and Bella?" She asked, her fingers buried in Viktor's hair as she held on as he bounced his shoulders making her giggle.
Before Hermione could reply Viktor snorted, "You will go nowhere near this Eric without me." He said with a growl, eyes narrowed as Hermione as she laughed at him. "I will take you to the Land place and meet him and once and for all I will show you that I am better…... Can he even play Quidditch." He asked walking them down the hall to their room.
Adeline shook her head laughing, "No silly… he doesn't even know what Quidditch is." She said.
Viktor pushed open the doble doors to his room at the end of the hall and pulled Adeline off his shoulders and flew her over to the bed, "See… how can he be better if he can't even play Quidditch?" He asked, dropping her in the middle of the bed so she bounced giggling, "Plus this Eric cannot be as strong or as rich as me." He said crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.
Hermione had paused in the door way and slowly leaned against the door jam and smiled softly as she watched Adeline get up and start to jump on the bed looking at Viktor, "Silly goose… of course he is rich… he is a prince." Her curls flying around her as she grinned.
Viktor snorted, "Well I made my own money…I am rich because I worked." He said, "And just so you know my great, great, great grandfather was a prince of Bulgaria."
Hermione's eyes brows raised not knowing that, but as she thought about their house and all the government activities they often attended, it made sense that his family was both extremely rich and well connected. Hermione shook her head, of course he never told her, she thought with a small smile.
Adeline however was not impressed, "Your great, great, GREAT grandfather was a prince… but not you." She said giggling while still bouncing in the middle of the bed.
Viktor rolled his eyes, "I am still better than this Eric." He said with a soft scowl.
Adeline grinned and shrugged, "Maybe… but I bet if Prince Eric came to marry Minnie Mouse… she would run away with him." She said bouncing back and forth.
Viktor spun to look at Hermione in the doorway eyes narrowed, "She would not." He said fiercely with a scowl.
Hermione covered her mouth with one hand as she smiled making Viktor's scowl deepen at her, "Mila?" He said making her burst into light peals of laughter.
Alek came up behind Hermione and looked to the murderous scowl on Viktor's face and Hermione laughing, "What is so funny?" He asked.
Adeline kept jumping her curls flying everywhere, "Minnie Mouse is gonna run away and Marry Prince Eric and Viktor is jealous." She said grinning.
Viktor looked at Adeline with narrowed eyes, "No…. she … is…. not." He said reaching out to grab Adeline. Adeline burst into peels of giggles as she ran to the other side of the bed and yelled, "YES SHE IS." Sticking her tongue out at him grinning. Viktor went around the bed and Adeline jumped off and ran to hide behind the chairs by the fireplace and Viktor ran after her.
Back and forth they went until Viktor finally caught Adeline and swept her up into his arms mock yelling, "Mila is mine forever… I will never let her go… and now you are mine forever." Tickling her as she screamed in laughter.
Hermione smiled at Alek, "That is probably the first time she has laughed like that in months." She whispered watching Adeline squirm in Viktor's arms, her giggles filling the room.
Alek nudged her softly until she looked at him, "We will make sure that she laughs like that often and forever…." He looked into Hermione's eyes, "You too…... and Ginny and Bella and everyone else that comes to us." He wrapped around her shoulders carefully, "We love you." He said simply.
Hermione smiled at him and laid her head on his shoulder, "I love you to Alek." She said softly, but turned when she heard Adeline yell, "Ohhhh look maybe Minnie Mouse will Marry Alek." She watched as Adeline was bent backwards over Viktor's arm, her head upside down looking at Hermione and Alek with a grin.
Viktor mock yelled again, "NEVER EVER… Minnie Mouse is MINE." As he began to tickle Adeline all over again. "I will destroy anyone who tries and take her from me."
Hermione gave them both a large grin, walking over to where Aldine's head was hanging over Viktor's arm, "Adeline sweetheart… stop making Viktor panic." She said tapping Adeline's forhead, "I will never ever leave Viktor… not for Alek… and not for Prince Eric." Hermione looked up to see Viktor smiling at her, "I simply love Viktor to much… my heart would not be able to be without him."
Viktor leaned down and kissed Hermione softly, with Adeline hanging between them and smiled against Hermione's lips when Adeline yelled, "Ewww… I can't breathe." Her little arms waving.
Viktor pulled back to look down at Adeline with a smirk, "See…. you little Bug… I told you Minnie Mouse was mine." He said throwing Adeline back over his shoulder and walked her over to Alek. "Please take this little troublemaker and show her, her room while Hermione showers. Then you can come back and look at her wounds." Viktor said throwing Adeline up into the air and catching her as she giggled. "Make sure to beat her." He said with a grin handing Adeline to Alek who threw her over his shoulders.
Adeline squealed, "No…no…... no…... please…. Save me Minnie Mouse." Adeline yelled holding her hands out, laughing.
Hermione shrugged with a smile, "Sorry Bug… you will have to get away on your own." She called out. "But I heard Alek loves to be complimented…. Tell him he is pretty." Hermione said with a laugh as Alek walked her down the hall tickling her and making her scream in laughter.
Hermione turned to Viktor and wrapped her arms around his waist, "Want to help me shower?" She whispered with a smile.
Viktor shook his head, his hands going to her hips, "You think that Alek is going to be ok with that… you were in trouble and on restriction before you went out and battled 3 more Death Eaters on your own." He said with a raised mocking eyebrow carefully wrapping his arms around her shoulders carefully.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Fine… Fine... it was worth a shot." She said with a grin, she sighed and leaned on him carefully. "I am hurting though… not too bad and not life threatening… just sore."
Viktor tightened his hands lightly and kissed the top of her head, "Come on…. a hot shower and some new clothes… some potions and food…. I will yell at you later after everyone leaves." He said making her chuckle against him.
Hermione nodded, "Maybe some Pepper Up for the afternoon…. I really want to have lunch." She said, "I want to ask your team all about your work." She said pulling away to walk to the bathroom.
Viktor followed her leaning on the door frame and watched her slowly try to pull her dress straps down before pausing with a hiss when she could not move her arms a certain way. Viktor frowned as he walked in and closed the bathroom door before walking over to carefully help her slide the straps down and he could see the pink newly closed wound on her shoulder and he closed his eyes, his thumb gently brushing back and forth over it.
Hermione looked over her shoulder at him and gave him a small smile, "I am ok…... it was a just a small spell I get hit with while opening the wards… Alek already closed it, I will just be sore for a day or two." She whispered.
Viktor looked up at her in the mirror in front of them and shook his head, his eyes wet as he looked at her. He looked down at the red mark Alek had already closed and gave it a gentle kiss, "One moment of pain is too much." He whispered to her. He looked down to the wound on her side that was covered in bandages right now and then looked back at her. She gave him a smile, "It was slicing spell… I was able to move so it glanced across my side instead of hitting me in the chest… it will take a day or two to feel but it will be ok too." She promised.
Viktor slowly leaned down and kissed the bandage gently. His fingers traced her back and the deep bruise that looked like a corner and Hermione closed her eyes at the feeling of his fingers on her bare back, "When I hit the wall there was a picture frame…. Honestly, my back hurts the most… it was already sore." She said softly. Viktor leaned down to place soft butterfly kisses along the new bruises making Hermione close her eyes and smile softly, she let the dress fall down to her waist and then slide to the floor and Viktor kept kissing past the new bruises to the old ones. Until he was kneeling on the floor at her back, and when he had covered her back with butterfly kisses he stopped and laid his head gently on her lower back, his hands on her hips. He felt his fear rolling through him like waves as he looked at all of her injuries and could barely breathe the thought of losing her forever swept through him.
"Mila… please…. Please." He begged her softly, making Hermione's eyes well with tears. She slowly turned until his head was resting on her stomach and his hands clenched at her hips. She carefully slid her fingers into his hair, gently messaging his scalp until he took a deep breath and looked up past her bare chest to her eyes, "Please…" He begged her, "I can't lose you."
Hermione cupped his face, her finger brushing his beard, "I don't plan on going anywhere." She whispered, taking in his kneeling form. When he nodded at her and looked back to her stomach he shook his head silently again seeing the bruising red mark where the spell that hit her across the room made contact and he gently placed his lips on it. He let the rest there like if he waited long enough the bruise and mark would fade away. After a moment he looked up to her face and slowly stood up to look at her face closely. His fingers brushed along her cheek like the gentle breeze, looking at the light mark and small split at the corner of her mouth and he reached down to let his lips trace the mark across her cheek until it hit her lips, and he brushed back and forth, barely touching her.
Hermione closed her eyes and let her hands rest on his hips as he loved her… as he held her and felt her warmth… as he kissed every mark on her…... She knew he was doing this more for him than her…. Feeling her, loving her…reassuring himself she was alive and home… trying to kiss away her pain and wounds…... But that did not mean that she did not need every moment of it. Every kiss…. Every touch… every piece of love he was giving her… she soaked in it… basked in it and let it fill her up until her pain faded and all she could see and feel was his hands brushing her skin… his lips kissing away everything but him.
After Viktor finished kisseing the bruises on her neck he pulled back and she smiled up at him, "All better." She whispered pouring all her love out of her eyes to him, "But you can give me as many of those as you want."
Viktor shook his head, a tear sliding down his cheek, "I will do that every day all over your body… you don't have to get hurt for me to do it." He whispered to her, gently placing his hands on her cheeks, "Promise me." He said again, his voice catching as he laid his forhead on hers.
Hermione pulled back to look him in the eyes, "Viktor Darian Krum… I love you…... so much…. More than anything and anyone else in this world." She whispered laying her hands on his chest, "Your mom told me once that she named you Viktor because you were born early and yet you still conquered and survived... and she named you Darian because you were her gift sent from heaven…" Hermione paused to brush her thumbs over his cheeks, and gently across his lips, "but I think that you were my gift… I just had to wait for you." She whispered up to him.
Viktor laid his forhead on hers and took a moment to just breathe her in before pulling back, "You are my gift Mila… my greatest treasure… the meaning of my life….I love you… Обичам те." He said pulling her in for a deep kiss, his tongue begged for entrance as soon as his lips touched hers. She quickly opened up to him, letting him control her, letting him love her as her hands clenched at his shirt. When her arms wrapped around his waist and she stepped closer he groaned and carefully walked her back to gently lift her onto the counter, never breaking the kiss.
He quickly stepped between her open legs, pulling her hips to his as his kisses trialed down her chin to her neck and he bit softly by her ear making her moan deeply as she closed her eyes letting her head fall back. Hermione slid closer to the edge of the counter to push hard against him and listened to his groan as he pushed back and felt his hands tighten on her hips.
After a moment Viktor moved to brush his hands up and down over her sides, stroking so softly she could barely feel the movement. When his thumbs brushed the undersides of her breasts she groaned deeply in her throat and when his hands cupped them, his thumbs moving to her nipples she arched her back to push against his hands, ignoring the pain and she reached for the buttons on his shirt. Viktor gently grabbed her hands and held them on his chest as he pulled back from her, seeing the flinch she had tried to hide. Hermione watched as he gasped trying to control himself as he looked down at her wild curls, full puffy lips, and deep eyes. "No Mila… you are still hurt…" He laid his forhead on hers again, still holding onto her wrists gently.
After a moment he pulled back and gently lifted her right arm and kissed the bandage wrapped around it, "You are going to shower while I get you some new clothes… the potion, food, some fun with friends and then sleep later." He slowly leaned down and kissed her lips softly, "You will rest and heal… that is the most important."
Hermione groaned up at him, her face pulled in a deep unsatisfied frown and Viktor smirked down at her, "You want more then sleep and rest… stop getting hurt." He said simply leaning down one more time quickly to give her a quick hard kiss. He pulled back before she could get a hold of him and he carefully pulled her off the counter, "Now get in the shower, Mila." He said walking to the door and paused putting his hands on the frame and leaning over to try and control his raging body before he opened the door.
Hermione grinned at his back quietly walking over to brush her hands down his back, to gently squeeze his butt making him jump, "Fine… but at least I know I am not the only one suffering." She whispered as her hands slid around his waist and brushed down and felt the hardness pushing against his pants and smiled when his body jerked forward, "What I would do to you, if you let me." She whispered, her lips kissing his back.
Viktor's hands clenched desperately at the door frame and he let his head fall forward as Hermione slid her fingers over him, brushing over his abs up to his chest to scrape his nipples through his shirt, making him jerk again against her. She moved her body across his, sliding back and forth across his back. Viktor groaned at the heat pouring off of her and closed his eyes tightly letting his head hit the door in front of him. "Mila." He said in a soft begging voice.
Hermione smiled and gave him mercy, or so she thought it was mercy when she just laid against him and let her arms wrap tightly around him laying her face on his back for a moment. He went to move she shook her head and whispered, "Wait a minute?" She asked softly.
Viktor froze at her tone and took one of his hands to lay it over hers on his chest, letting her just hold him. After a moment she sighed and set her forhead on his back again after kissing his spine, "The other day when I first got here…." She paused with a small smile and could feel Viktor wanting to turn and hold onto her, but he waited for her get her thoughts out. "When Alek and Vlad and Andrian were all trying to make me feel better…. I saw you standing looking out the window when you were upset… I just wanted to walk up behind you and do this." She whispered, her hands brushing gently his chest. "I wanted to hold onto you like an anchor."
Viktor slowly stood up straight and let both of his hands lay over hers on his chest, he let his head fall back. "Mila." He whispered his heart breaking at her tone and the way she held onto him.
Hermione shook her head, her arms tightening, "Its ok… I am here now… holding on to you…. And I am never letting you go." She whispered her arms tightening even more around him.
Viktor nodded his hands tightening on hers, "Never letting you go." He murmured to her.
Hermione nodded again taking a deep breath, "Ok…. Time to shower and then go eat." She said kissing the center of his back again before pulling away. "Want to pick out a dress for me…... you have two options." She said with a grin, turing and walking to get in the shower. Viktor turned to lean on door jam and groaned as he watched her slip off her kickers and step into the shower, "She is going to be the death of me." He whispered turning back to the door and lay his head on it for a moment while he tried to calm his tight body.
After a moment he stepped out of the bathroom pulling the door closed and walked over to the closet pulling out the blue dress he knew was her favorite of the three, it was actually one that she had left here the last time she had visited. He sighed, he loved this dress on her, it was feminine and light, high lighting all her curves. Yet he knew that when she wore it, people looked because she was stunning in it. He grabbed one of his white lighter button up sweaters he would layer with in the summer and grinned at the thought of her wearing it over the dress. It was worth a try he thought shaking his head.
He walked out of the closet to see Adeline running back in the room, "Viktor…. Viktor… my room is purple, and it has a huge bed and it has a balcony like in Rapunzel and I can see the lake from it!" She yelled climbing back up onto his bed and jumping again. "I waved to Bella and Ana outside."
Viktor smiled at her as Adeline jumped in circles, "Who is Rapunzel?" He asked leaning on one of the bed posts.
Adeline snorted as she grabbed a pillow and threw it at Viktor, "She is a princess… She has hair longer then forever and she wears purple and pink…. Kind of like my new room." She said as she ran in small circles on the bed, bouncing with each step.
Viktor grabbed the pillow from the air with his seeker reflexes shook his head, "What is longer then forever?" He asked confused.
Hermione snorted behind him, "Everyone knows longer then forever is as long as Rapunzel's hair… and her Prince Charming uses it to climb up and rescue her." She said tying the sash on her robe as she walked over to Viktor and took the pillow out of his hand.
Viktor shook his head, "I don't understand anything you two say…. It is like you are speaking a different language." He said with a frown.
Hermione threw the pillow at Adeline who fell back onto the on the bed giggling, "I think we will have to teach Viktor about all of these amazing things because he is so clueless." Hermione said with a smile.
Adeline sat up nodding, "Yes… can we read the books to him and watch the movies." She asked excitedly.
"Movies…. Like the moving pictures?" Alek asked coming in.
Adeline nodded, "Yes…. Minnie Mouse says Viktor is clueless…. We need to teach him." She said.
Viktor rolled his eyes, "You two are going to be impossible." He said shaking his head handing Hermione her dress and his sweater.
Hermione looked at the sweater and laughed, "Will you tell Alek about my injuries." She asked walking back to the bathroom, "I would love some pain potion and Pepper up for now… but other than that I should be good."
Alek looked at Viktor who nodded, "She is over all ok…. She is just sore and bruised, I looked and the only open wounds she had are the ones you already saw." Viktor said quietly to Alek, "But later when she goes to bed, she will need the potion that puts her to sleep and heal her... her back has more bruises and she has one on her stomach."
Alek nodded handing Viktor two vials from his bag, "Here is a pain and a pepper up… it should give her about 3-4 hours before she starts to fade… as long as she doesn't do any magic." He said. Alek turned to Adeline, "Come on Bug." He said holding out his hands to Adeline, "Lets let Hermione get dressed… I heard you like to fish."
Adeline jumped up eyes wide, "Yes… my daddy used to take me fishing." She said running across the bed and jumping into Aleks arms. "Are there fish in your lake."
"Yep." Alek said throwing Adeline over his shoulders as he walked out the door, "Our Papa… Mecho, he loves to fish…. I am sure he will take you… I hate fishing…. and so, do most of my brothers."
Adeline snorted hanging upside down, "How do you not like to fish?" She asked, her hair swaying back and forth as he walked them down the hall.
Viktor shook his head as he watched them walk away. He turned and sat on the bed watching Hermione walk out of the bathroom. He shook his head at the way the blue dress hugged every curve.
Hermione walked over and laid her hands-on Viktor's shoulders, "Ready to go downstairs and have lunch?" She asked.
Viktor shook his head, his face level with her beautiful chest that was on display, a mark from Hogwarts showing on her shoulder. "No." He said reaching a finger out to trace the V on her dress. "You need a jumper."
Hermione burst out laughing, "Viktor, it is like 32 degrees out." She said, "I will boil in a jumper."
Viktor sighed fingering the thin straps on her dress, "Fine…." His hand tailed down her waist to follow along the hem at her thighs, "But I don't like it." He mumbled.
Hermione laughed gently reaching out to cup his cheeks, "It is just a dress Viktor." She said.
Viktor shook his head, "It is not just a dress on you Mila… on you it is a sin." He groaned his hands coming to lay on the outside of her thighs, "On you it looks like perfection." He said looking up to Hermione's face and smiled at her clean dewy skin, freckles skimming across her cheeks. "But you could wear a potato sack and you would still be breath taking." He said looking at her the way her now clean hair hung down her back, still slightly damp as it curled in the heat.
Hermione leaned down and gave him a soft kiss, "You are not so bad either." She said her fingers brushing through his beard for a moment before sliding a finger down his nose to trace his lips. "In fact, you are pretty stunning." She said making him grin.
Viktor shook his head, "You will not distract me witch." He said reaching over to grab the potion's Alek gave him, "Take these and then I will feed you." He said watching her quickly swallow down the vials before reaching over to set them on her nights stand.
Hermione frowned, "Viktor what are we going to do with the girls?" She asked with a soft frown, her hands resting on his shoulders.
Viktor gave her a smile, "We are going to take care of them… you and me… Mama and Papa… Alek… Vlad… Adrian." He said with a shrug.
Hermione frowned, "But… just springing this on all of you… I know that Kingsley is asking me… not all of you." She said.
Viktor frowned, "There is no you or me… just us Mila… and those girls need US." He said holding her hips.
Hermione bit her lip looking at him, worry still in her eyes, "But you just asked me to Marry you…. We are just starting our life… and two little girls are a huge commitment…. A lifetime commitment." She whispered knowing she would not be able to leave the girls yet knowing what she was asking of Viktor.
Viktor shook his head at her, "Mila…... you silly witch… as soon as I saw them sitting in your lap… as soon as they looked up at me with their big eyes… they became ours… we will protect them… I protect all of you." He said
Hermione smiled at him, her eyes watering, "Are you sure?"
Viktor smiled up ath her, his hands going up to cup his cheeks, "Mila…. We are together and we will take care of them… you and me…" He reached up and kissed her lightly, "IS that what you want?"
Hermione nodded, "I need to take care of them." She said, "I feel it in my heart…. they need me."
Viktor shook his head, "No… they need us." He said making her smile at him. He set his hands on her hips and gave her a gentle push back, so she took a step back. "Come on love…. Let's go" He said sliding his hand into hers, leading her to the door. He stopped in the hall when she pulled her hand from his and walked back to grab his sweater off the bed and came back out to him.
"Mila… It is to hot for that." He said shaking his head with a raised eyebrow, sliding his hand back into hers and pulled her down that hall, "I will just rip the eyes out of anyone who stares to long." He said grinning with a shrug.
Hermione burst out laughing, before she leaned on his shoulder as they walked down the stairs, "I am sorry." She said softly.
Viktor wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "Why are you sorry?" He asked kissing her curls.
Hermione sighed, "For making you worry." She said wrapping her arm around his waist as they walked out the doors to the garden.
Viktor paused looking down at her, "Silly Witch… I always worry about you… even when you are standing right here next to me, I worry…" He whispered kissing her nose, "I will spend the rest of my life worrying about you… about the girls sitting over there." He said looking over the table before looking back down at her, "….one day our children… it is my right as your husband." He said.
Hermione smiled up at him, "You are not my husband yet." She said laughing.
Viktor raised an eyebrow, "I have been your husband in my heart since the day agreed to visit my home… and you have been my wife in my heart since you walked into my house all those summers ago." Viktor pulled her hand up to kiss the ring on her finger, "This is just for the world to see that you are mine... and the ceremony is for them to see what is already in my heart." He whispered.
Hermione smiled up at him softly, "You always say just the right things." She said, "You say the things in my heart." She pulled her hand from his to cup his cheek, "You have been in my heart since the first time I kissed you…" Viktor smiled down at her, "In the library…after all of those weeks we spent together." She closed her eyes remembering, "You had waited for weeks and weeks… I had seen that you had been wanting to kiss me, but you were so patient… you always let me lead in everything…. always put me first… my thoughts, my wants, my needs… you even made me kiss you, so you knew it was 100% fine with me." Hermione brushed her fingers through his beard gently, "I knew the moment your lips touched mine that you were supposed to be mine… well I hoped anyway."
Viktor smirked down at her, "I know that I came off all confident and strong…. But I felt the same way…. I knew in my heart we were supposed to be together…... but I always worried you would find someone better then me." He whispered, shaking her head. "My greatest fear has been losing you since the moment I met you."
Hermione shook her head softly, "Silly Viktor… you will never lose me… I am here." She said putting her hand on his chest over his heart.
Viktor put his hand over hers, "I love Mila…. Always." Letting his forhead rest on hers, his lips pressing hers tenderly.
Hermione smiled against his lips, "I love you too…" She looked over at the table by the lake and saw all their family and Viktor's team laughing and joking around, "Come on Viktor… lets go eat." She said with a grin.
Viktor kissed her temple looking down at her, "Ok… your stomach is overruling my undying declarations of love." He said smirking.
Hermione laughed up at him, "All I had was a muffin when we woke up... I wanted to save room for all of the food they were bringing." She said with a grin.
Viktor grinned down at her, "Fine just make sure you lie to Ivan…. His wife probably made the Kebapche and it will be horrible but none of us have the heart to tell him." He said wrapping an arm around her shoulders and walking her out to the table.
"MIONE." Was yelled as they walked up to the table, "You are ok?"
Hermione laughed as she walked up, "I am fine…. Just hungry." She called out.
Viktor pulled his wand and took the chair at head of the table and transfigured it into a bench, "I see that I am nothing now that Mila is here." He said quickly conjuring some pillows with a smirk. Hermione laughed at the table as Viktor helped her around the bench to sit down. Viktor settled down next to her, his arm across the back of the bench and let his legs stretch out as he looked out around the table. He was surrounded by every single person that he loved and cherished. His mother with Bella sitting in her lap, his father who was walking from the lake with Adeline, his brothers laughing with his team and his coach and now Hermione sitting next to him.
Hermione turned as Adeline ran up and squeezed in next to her on the bench, "Minnie Mouse guess what…. Guess what." She said pushing Hermione closer to Viktor as she sat on the end of the bench.
Hermione leaned against Viktor carefully, "What Little Bug?" She asked with small smile.
Adeline began to swing her legs back and forth as she looked over at Hermione, "Baba Mecho said there were a million fish in the lake, and we can go fishing tomorrow." She said looking at the plate that Hermione pulled in front of her.
"A million… that is a lot." Hermione said with a grin, filling up Adeline's plate with a small amount of food from each dish. Hermione looked over at Mecho grinning before looking at Adeline, "Well I guess you should catch some then." She said with a grin.
Adeline bounced on the bench making Hermione burst out laughing, "I KNOW." Adeline said all excited, "We are gonna catch dinner Baba Mecho said and I am going to be his favorite because I am the only one who is excited to fish with him… and I told him that I even like to put on the worm myself he said that I was the bravest."
Viktor tapped Adeline's head over Hermione's shoulder making Adeline grin over Hermione's lap at him, "Can I fish with you?" He asked.
Adeline nodded reaching out to take a bite of food off her plate, "Fine, but you can't slow us down… me and Baba Mecho are going to be up early and finishing all day." She said a with a mouth full of food.
Ludmil snorted into his cup, "Yes…. Viktor you can't slow them down." He said taking a bit of his lunch.
Viktor shook his head, "Well I have to go to work in the morning, but I will join you in the afternoon." He said.
Adeline tilted her head as she looked at him, "What do you do at work… don't you just play?" She asked climbing up on the bench to sit on her feet, taking another bite of food.
Viktor shook his head, "We run drills, work out our bodies because it takes a lot of work to be that active that long and then we do a lot of flying." He said pulling a plate over to him, starting to fill it with the different dishes his team had brought.
Adeline grinned at him, "I LOVE to fly…. Mommy used to take me sometimes… but she was not very good." She said with a shrug, "Will you take me flying?" She asked him, her mouth open as she chewed.
"Close your mouth." Viktor said giving Adeline a smile said pulling one of her curls, "And yes… I love to fly…. You and me little bug will fly as much as you want." He said, the hand on the back of the bench going over to cup Hermione's neck.
Adeline looked to Hermione, "Minnie Mouse, do you fly with Viktor too?" She asked taking a drink.
Viktor snorted and pulled one of Hermione curls this time, "Mila doesn't fly." He said with a grin.
"Yes, she does…." Harrys voice called out to the table making them all turn to look at him, "Just not on brooms…. Only dragons." He said with a grin.
Hermione jumped up and ran around the table, "How is Percy?" She asked softly, giving Harry a quick hug.
Harry pulled back and smiled at her, "He is ok…. Just needs some time to recover… George, Ginny and Bill are with him and Fred, Molly and Author were on the way when I left." He said.
Hermione bit her lip, "Does Ron know?' She asked softly.
Harry shook his head, "From what I heard… they don't know where Ron is… he has been gone since last Saturday… Molly and Author have been looking for him." He whispered, "They think he ran away because he was ashamed…. They did not want to tell you and make you worry… Ginny didn't know either." He said his, his head cupping her neck.
Hermione sighed rubbing her forhead, "Ok… is everyone ok from our little trip?" She asked with a small smile.
Harry snorted, "Yes the field trip was lovely." He said before his eyes narrowed at her face, his finger coming up to tip her chin to the side, "Although I don't remember that mark on you." He said looking at her mouth, his eyes narrowed on her neck, "Or that one?" He growled out.
Hermione shrugged and grinned, "You left me alone…. I am not responsible for what happens when you do that." She said.
Harry rolled his eyes, "We can't leave you alone for 5 minutes." He muttered then looked her in the eyes, "But you are ok?"
Hermione gave him grin, "Fine… no lasting damage." She said with a shrug.
Harry threw an arm over her shoulders, "Kingsley wanted to come and talk to you…. And Neville and Luna wanted to know if they could come see you too." He said walking them over to the table.
Hermione looked to Viktor who looked at his family and team, who all nodded welcoming more of Hermione friends to get to know her.
Mecho took out his wand and aimed at the sky muttering new wards.
Harry pulled Hermione's wand from his pocket and threw a Patronus his stag coming out and sent the message to Kingsley then tried to hand Hermione her wand, "Oh here you want this back?" He said with a grin.
Hermione shook her head and waved her hand, "Just keep it for now… who knows when you will need it." She said sitting down next to Viktor again.
Harry walked over to take an empty seat by Georgi and stuck her wand in his pocket and Viktor narrowed his eyes, "Mila…. Is that your wand?" He asked tightly, eyes narrowed at her.
Hermione nodded down at her plate, filling it up with different foods, "What…. Oh yea…. Harry's wand was broken a few months ago… so now he uses mine." She said not looking up while poking at the Kebapche on her plate, it looked like a worm… a sick worm.
Viktor closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Mila… did Harry have your wand while you were dealing with the three Death Eaters today?" He asked, his tone frigid.
Hermione finally looked up at Viktor in confusion, "Of course… I gave it to him to use." She said not understanding why he was upset. "He always takes it before we have to do something… or he holds it to make wards… actually he almost always has it lately." She said with a shrug.
Viktor looked at her with narrowed eyes, "So you gave him your main defense of making magic and then went into battle?" He asked his tone hard, a scowl on his face.
Hermione was confused her eyes wide as she looked at Harry who gave her a grin, "Um, yes…. He needed it and I was not planning on fighting anyone… but even if I was, he would still get my wand…. He doesn't do wandless magic as well as I do." She said matter fact-ly.
Viktor began to mumble under his breath, eyes closed, head shaking as Harry flicked his wrist at Hermione making her jump when his wandless tap hit her shoulder. "I can do wandless magic." He mouthed across the table at her with a grin.
Hermione's eyes narrowed and she shook her head, "Not as good as me." She mouthed back, pointing a finger at him, and sending a shock that hit him hard enough that his chair pushed back an inch as he rubbed his chest with narrowed eyes. The table watched as Harry gave an evil grin and shook his head as he flipped his finger back at her and Hermione held her hand up flicking the spell away so it hit Ludmil in the face making him shout out in pain when it hit his nose making his eyes water.
Hermione's eyes got big and she whispered sorry to Ludmil before biting her lip. Viktor opened his eyes to look over at Ludmil who was holding his nose, the rest of the table covering grins and laughter with their hands and then at Harry and Hermione who were sitting with innocent looks on their faces and he sighed.
Viktor looked Hermione in the eyes and shook his head, "You are KILLING me… you know this right… KILLING me..." He muttered with a scowl.
Hermione snorted leaning over to kiss his cheek, "NO what is gonna kill you is this Kebapche." She whispered into his ear making his eyes widen as he burst out laughing. Hermione looked over at Ludmil and mouthed, "Sorry." again and smiled when Ludmil shook his head but grinned at her.
"So, you don't fly on brooms, but you fly on dragons?" Georgi said sitting back in his chair to look at Hermione.
Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed, "It was one time…. One time that was it… and it was not like we had a choice." She said pointing at Harry who was filling up his plate with food.
Harry shook his head, "Oh… we had a choice, if you remember Ginny and I both agreed to take the stairs…... you said no." He said the no in along drawn out voice and grin, "You said… Let's take the dragon."
Hermione shook her head, eyes narrowed, "That is a gross misrepresentation." She said sitting back against Viktor's chest holding up her hands and began to count off, "First it was by far the fastest way to get out, second we could not just leave him down there, and third it was probably the safest way out…. probably." She said with a grin.
Harry shrugged, "I don't disagree…. Ginny will disagree adamantly… but we did get to ride the dragon… which you know I will always take a flying way out of anything." He said with a shrug taking a bite of some kind of pasta, "This is delicious." He said.
Nik grinned over at him, "Thank you… I made it." He said proudly before turning to Hermione, "So, you rode a dragon out of where?" He asked.
Hermione shook her head, "NO where important." She said waving her hand.
Harry snorted again, "Out of the caverns from the Bank after we stole a cup out of a vault." He said still eating, not looking up at he surprised looks he was getting.
Hermione took a roll and threw it at Harry's head making him look up at her with a grin.
"Actually, it was Hermione's ideal…." He said sitting back wiggling his eyes brows at her making her narrow her eyes at him, "She said…. Let's break into the Bank…..steal the cup with some Polyjuice Potion….and the wand I stole and" He paused taking a sip of his water, "And when we got stuck surrounded by Goblins and Death Eaters 300 hundred feet underground… she said let's ride the dragon out of here." He said with a shrug.
Hermione rubbed her forhead and then gave a bright smile at the group looking at her in shook and humor, "It was not quite like that." She snarled looking over at Harry, "Besides, you didn't have a better ideal." She muttered.
Harry shrugged, "Your ideal was the best ideal…... and you did have the chucks of hair you had ripped out of her head on your way out for the Polyjuice Potion…" He said sitting forward to take another bit of food before looking up at her with a grimace, "But I am not going to lie, it was creepy seeing you look like her." He said shuttering, "Please don't ever do that again."
Hermione rolled her eyes but grinned, "Not high on my list, I promise." She said taking another bite of food.
Adeline pulled on Hermione's dress, "How big was the dragon?" She asked all excited.
Hermione shrugged, "Not that big." She said looking over at Harry who shook his head and mouthed, "liar" to her.
She used her finger to send another shock at Harry making him snort when it hit his forhead.
Hermione sighed, "Ok it was kind of big…. Ummm like the size of a small house." Harry raised an eyebrow at her and she threw up her hands, "OK… it was like the size of a big house." She muttered.
Viktor was tapping his lip as he looked at her, then he looked at Harry who gave him a grin, "It was about the twice the size of your Fireball, Viktor." Harry said with a smirk.
Viktor shook his head with a raised eyebrow, "Mila… I think we have a lot to talk about." He whispered.
Nik shook his head, "No… I think she should tell the stories now…. So, we all can hear." He said with a grin, the rest of the table agreeing and laughing.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Harry who grinned at her, but looked down when Adeline pulled on her dress again, "Was riding a dragon like riding a broom?" She asked eyes wide.
Hermione shrugged looking down at Adeline, "I wouldn't know, I have never really ridden a broom." She said truthfully. "I have only been on a broom once."
The entire table stopped eating and talking to look at her with wide eyes, unable to imagine not flying when that is all they did for hours every single day "Wait… so you have never flown… like really flown?" Kiril asked eyes wide.
Hermione shrugged, her cheeks turning pink, "Umm no…not really… I am good, though... I have plenty of other things to do." She mumbled making Viktor smile over at her.
Ivan pointed at her, "How do you know you are good without flying if you have never really tried it?" He asked in confusion.
Hermione shrugged, "Umm well…. I just don't see the point on falling to my death from up in the air on a small piece of wood." She mumbled, her blush darkening.
Ivan turned to Viktor who was smirking as his hand brushed Hermione back, "You let her not fly…. You don't make her go with you?" He asked eyes wide.
Viktor snorted, "I don't tell Hermione anything that she can or cannot do." He said brushing his thumb over her shoulder until she relaxed against him again, "I learnt in the first week of knowing her that she has her own mind and will listen to the things you tell her and make her own decisions… and while I have asked her to fly with me… I will never try to make her." He looked down at her and grinned, "Although now that I know that she rides dragons I might ask her a bit more."
Hermione snorted, "While the thought of riding another dragon holds slightly less fear for me then a broom because it is at least a huge animal I can hold onto and it has a mind and not inanimate…... It was still terrifying… so no thank you to ALL flying… I will stay on the ground and watch you all try to kill yourselves on the toothpick of wood." She said primly making the group laugh.
"So Hermione, you don't like to fly, but you ride dragons… you finished all of your schooling 2 years early, while doing extra classes, you can do wandless wordless magic well enough that you gave your wand away...… what else should we know about you?" Georgi asked her.
Hermione shrugged and smiled, "I am just a normal witch." She said taking a bite of food, "Honestly sometimes I wonder why someone like Viktor loves me."
Georgi looked at her closely, "What do you mean someone like Viktor…. You mean because he is famous?" He asked sitting back in his chair wanting to hear her answer.
Hermione looked up in surprise and knew there was an undertone to his question, she knew he was asking more than he was asking out loud with words. Hermione sat her fork down, carefully, "Well yes, that was part of it when we first met…. I remember sitting in the library wondering why Viktor sat with me." She smiled over at Viktor who just smiled back at her, letting her answer. "He was this young handsome Quidditch player and even if I didn't really know OF him or watch him…... I would have been stupid not to know who he was with EVERYONE talking about it in the school." She said with a shrug. She bit her lip, "And if he was some stupid, jerky Quidditch player it would have been easier to walk away… to not wonder why he was with me….but then I got to know him and realized he is so smart… like bloody brilliant in all subjects…well except History of magic… he always hated that one." She said softly with a chuckle.
Viktor shook his head and mumbled, "I hated that course." Making his parents laugh and Hermione shake her head, "I told you if you just applied yourself to the class the same way that you worked at transfiguration you would have gotten higher marks." Hermione said back softy making his coach grin at them.
Hermione turned back to Georgi, "Viktor was always kind, even with his scowl… he scowled at everyone so they would leave him alone, but if you had the courage to come up and asked him something… he always answered and if you were lucky, he even gave you a smile." She murmured tilting her head, "He was always a gentleman, letting me decide everything about everything… never pushed me if I didn't want to be pushed…. But more than that he learned who I was and began to know when to leave me be and when to push me when I was just being stubborn… he took the time to get to know me… not who everyone thought I was, he would see and hear what they would say about me… but he took the time to find out who I really… really was… better than any other friend I had ever had." She said softly looking over at Harry who gave her a smile back, knowing he had taken advantage of their friendship for a long time.
Hermione grinned, "Viktor is stubborn… like really stubborn… the most stubborn person I have ever met." She said looking over at Viktor who was rolling his eyes, "But goodness…. is he sweet and giving and caring… he will give you the shirt off his back if you need it…. Will do and give anything for his friends and family to make them happy." She smiled shaking her head, "He works hard at everything he does…. Everything…. quidditch, family, school, me…. " She took a moment to look over at Viktor, "He is always pausing to think… and I know that some people think that he is slow or not very smart when he does this but really he is just carful with his thoughts and words." She shrugged, "He is the first person I go to for advice, for love, for a push when I need it, he is the person that has the purest heart that I have ever met."
Hermione looked over at Georgi and shrugged, "So to answer your question, yes I sometimes wonder why Viktor is with me because he is famous…. But mostly because he is who he is…. inside and out… famous is just part of that because he works so hard… and it's the stuff under that I look at…that I love." She said picking her fork back up, "How can someone that wonderful want to be with a crazy, stubborn, always in trouble witch?" She asked with a grin pausing to look at Viktor who was just starting at her softly, "Plus he is really handsome…. So that doesn't hurt." She said with a grin, making Viktor smirk and shake his head, leaning forward to kiss her gently.
Hermione looked over to see Ana wiping a tear away and her brothers grinning at them, but it was his team that was looking at them shaking their heads and grinning at her that made her smile back with a small shrug.
Georgi picked up his fork and took a bite, nodding at Hermione, "Well that was a good answer." He said, "So now you will tell us more stories of how you met and got together…. we have 5 years to catch up on." He said with a grin making Hermione laugh. "What is this story about a basilisk."