Chapter 28- Nightmares
Hermione rolled over and hit a soft little bundle that pushed back when she hit it. She slowly slid her eyes open to see Adeline sleeping on Viktor's pillow and smiled. She remembered that Adeline had a nightmare that morning around 3:30 and she had run into the room and pulled on the covers until Hermione and Viktor had woken up.
"I had a bad dream." Adeline whispered, her eyes full of tears, "You were running, and you were hurt like my mommy was." She said softly.
Hermione had felt her heart break at the sight of Adeline crying, "Oh little bug… come here." She had whispered sitting up and moving back against Viktor and letting Adeline climb up next to her.
Viktor had gotten up and walked into the bathroom to get a glass of water and Hermione wrapped her arms around Adeline, "It is ok now… your mommy is in heaven… she is not in any pain and she is looking down at you right now wishing she could give you a hug." She said softly, her hand brushing through Adeline's hair. "And I am right here… loving on you."
Hermione looked up at Viktor as he came back and sat on the bed, "Here bug take a drink." He said softly.
Adeline took a sip then looked up at Hermione, "I dreamed that you were trying to help us, and you got taken too… that you went to heaven with mommy." She whispered making Viktor frown.
"Minnie Mouse is not going anywhere." Viktor said softly brushing a curl back off Adeline's face.
Adeline shook her head, "But what if she does?" She asked her voice scared.
Viktor frowned, "Why do you think that she will?" He asked her carefully.
Adeline took a breath and wrapped her arms tightly around Hermione making her flinch when a spot on her back was hit. "Because she keeps fighting…. Minnie Mouse is going to fight someone with a dark hood over his face… he is going to hurt her." She said so softly Viktor barely heard her.
Hermione frowned, "Did you see this in your dream?" She asked looking up at Viktor who had paled at Adeline's words.
Adeline nodded, "In my dream you were running away from a man in a dark hood and he shot a spell at you… you fell down and no matter what we did…we could not get to you….and you did not get up." She said starting to cry.
Viktor felt his heart stop at Adeline's words as he saw the image in his own mind sharply. He looked up at Hermione who was looking at Adeline with a soft smile. "I did just fight a man in a dark robe and mask… you saw me… maybe you are remembering that in your dream." She said softly.
Adeline shook her head starting to cry harder, "No…. you are running away…... we are outside…. And there are a lot of bad men… a lot… so many and you capture a lot of them… but this man... he is the worst and he hurts you." Adeline shook her head and buried it in Hermione's chest, "We are locked away and we can't save you… he stabs you with a knife Minnie Mouse." She says in a sob. "And we can't help you."
Hermione wrapped her arms around Adeline tighter and looked up at Viktor who was shaking now, "Mila." He said his voice tight, "Her mother was a seer." He said in Bulgarian so he would not scare Adeline more.
Hermione smiled at Viktor, "That does not mean that she is." She said back softly, Hermione sighed pulling Adeline's head back to look her in the face, "Hey bug…. look at me." She said gently, "First…I don't plan on locking any of you up any time soon…. So, if I do get hurt, I will have lots of people to help me because I am not going anywhere without my friends and family." She said wiping away Adeline's tears, "Next I never ever, ever run from a fight… so he won't be able to hit me in the back with a spell, ok." She whispered watching as Adeline nodded at her.
Hermione gave her a gentle kiss, "But I do want you to know that no matter what happens…. You are safe with us here… ok."
Adeline nodded, "I don't want you to leave me either Minnie Mouse… I will be all alone again." She whispered her voice breaking.
Hermione shook her head, "You will never ever, ever be alone again Adeline… IF… and it is a HUGE if, something happens to me… you will have Viktor." She said looking up at Viktor whose eyes were now shadowed with his own fear, but he took a breath and nodded down at Adeline, "She is right Bug… you are part of our family now." He whispered cupping her cheek.
Hermione smiled at Adeline, "And you have Oppa and Baba and uncle Alek and Vlad and Andrian… and you have Harry and Luna and Neville and Ginny" Hermione said softly, "You and Bella will never ever be alone again… you will both always have us around to help you and take care of you." Hermione promised hugging Adeline tightly again until she slowly stopped crying and after a few minutes Hermione looked down to see her asleep in her arms.
Hermione looked up at Viktor, "I don't want to take her to her room incase she wakes up again with another nightmare." She said softly.
Viktor nodded setting the glass of water on the table then standing up to walk around the bed, "Lay her down next to you… she can sleep with us." He said softly climbing back in the bed on his side.
Hermione gently laid Adeline down on her pillow and pulled the blanket over her before turning to face Viktor who was gently pulling the blanket up and over her, "Mila." He whispered, his voice tight with his raging fear and anxiety.
Hermione shook her head, "I am fine Viktor." She said cupping his cheek.
Viktor shook his head, "But what if…" He paused not able to say it, "Hermione I can't lose you." He said closing his eyes tightly.
Hermione shuffled closer to him, so her body was tight against his, "You won't Viktor… I am here." She said placing her hand over his chest, "I will never leave you… not really." She said carefully kissing his lips softly.
Viktor shook his head wrapping an arm around her hips and pulling her impossibly closer against him, "No… Mila I need you in my arms… not just in my heart." He said placing his forhead on hers, "You have to promise me… swear to me…"
Hermione placed her fingers over his lips gently stopping his words, "I promise you that I will never run away from a fight and turn my back… I promise I will never lock you away from me… and I promise to fight with everything inside me." She said looking into his eyes that were now glassy with tears and fear.
Viktor took a deep breath, "I love you…... you are my heart Mila… if I lose you…. I have nothing.' He whispered brokenly.
Hermione shook her head, "That is not true Viktor… You have Adeline and Bella that will need you…. you have your mother and father… your brothers and your team… you have so much Viktor." She said cupping his cheek.
Viktor shook his head, "No Mila… It would hurt like hell to lose anyone of those people… it would almost break me to lose one of them… but if I lose you… I will not be broken… I will be destroyed." He said, his voice catching as his hand moved up to cup the back of her head, pulling her so her forhead was on his again, "When I lost you before… I lived…. Barely…. because I knew you were alive and fighting… but if you are taken from this world… I will not live through that." He said brokenly, "My heart will shatter without you."
Hermione closed her eyes pulling Viktor in for a deep kiss, after a moment she pulled back, "I do not plan on leaving you Viktor… and I will do everything I can to stay with you… but I need to know that you will be ok without me." She begged her own eyes filling with tears.
Viktor took a deep breath looked her in the eyes, "I can not promise you that." He said softly, his voice shaking, "I can promise you that I will live… that I will take care of Adeline and Bella." He said knowing what she wanted to hear, "But I will never be ok... I will never be truly happy…... because you are my happiness Mila and if you leave me you will take that with you." He said tenderly.
Hermione nodded in understanding, "You have to try for me." She said brokenly, brushing her fingers down his face and through his beard.
Viktor nodded, "I will…. if you also promise the same." Knowing she would be just as lost without him.
Hermione smiled at him, her eyes full of tears, "I promise too." She said kissing him gently, "But how about we both just work on staying here together for the next 100 years." She said tenderly.
Viktor gave her a soft smile, "I like that plan.' He said pulling her to lay over his chest, "I love you my Mila." He said, his hand brushing through her hair.
"I love you too Viktor…. Always and forever." She said her hand brushing circles on his stomach, "Now sleep Viktor... you have practice in like an hour." She whispered.
Viktor closed his eyes and let the feeling of her along his side thaw the fear of losing her away, "I am glad we have such a big bed," He said softly making her give a soft chuckle.
"It will no doubt come in handy when we have more babies one day." She said softly already mostly asleep missing the way he froze and grinned, "Yes… lots more babies." He whispered following her into sleep.
Hermione looked over at the clock and saw that it was already 9am which meant Viktor had been gone almost 4 hours at practice. She looked over at Adeline who was laying sideways over the bed and snoring slightly and grinned. She carefully moved over to her nightstand and realized Viktor must have moved Adeline to his side of the bed when he got up and left her potion for the day along with a note and some water.
She carefully sat up; her body still sore but slowly getting better. She quickly swallowed the potion and taking a drink of water before walking to the bathroom to get ready for the day. She walked out a few minutes later to see Adeline sitting up on the bed rubbing her eyes, "Hey bug… how did you sleep?" She asked walking over to the closet.
Adeline smiled over at her, "Better…. I had a dream I was a princess in a tower." She said climbing up to jump on the bed.
Hermione grinned pulling out a dress and tugging it on, "Maybe like Rapunzel?" She said slipping on a pair of sandals and laughing when Adeline nodded and began jumping on the bed again, "Well come on Rapunzel… lets go get you dressed to play outside." Hermione said holding her hand out.
Adeline jumped off the bed and ran past her to her room making Hermione laugh as she followed, "I have to talk to my friends for a bit… do you want to get Bella and play outside for a while after we eat some breakfast?" She asked.
Adeline ran into her closet and pulled out a pair of shorts and tank top, pulling them on quickly before grabbing one of her princesses dress up dress and pulling it on over top, "Yep…. All ready… see I am fast." She called running past Hermione down the hall.
Hermione shook her head following and called out, "Carful on the stairs young lady." She laughed.
Hermione followed her into the dining room a few minutes later shaking her head when she saw Adeline already sitting at the table shoveling food into her mouth. "Slow down." She said taking a seat next to her with a soft smile, "We will go outside after you eat slowly." She said with a grin.
Adeline sighed and took a slower bite making Hermione shake her head with a small smile and pull out a cup of tea. She looked up when Ginny trailed in, "Morning." She said sitting back.
Ginny flopped down in a chair, "I have been up for over an hour." She said rolling her eyes, "Luna and Harry came barging in demanding we talk." She growled pulling over a basket of biscuits and grabbing one to munch on.
Hermione gave a soft chuckle, "Sorry." She said with grin.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "You don't sound sorry." She mumbled scowling at Harry who walked in to sit down. "Bloody morning person."
Harry grinned, "I left you alone until 8…. I was up at 6." He said sitting down and grabbing a cup of tea
Ginny choked on a bite of her biscuit, "Why in bloody hell would you get up at 6 if you did not have to?" She said in astonishment, "I thought you were like that when we were on the run because you had no choice… all this time it was a choice?" She asked.
Hermione laughed, "Both Harry and Luna are early birds." She said, "You and I…... we are not morning people." She said pointing back and forth making Harry laugh at them.
Ginny laughed, "What about Neville?" She asked looking up when Neville walked in.
"What about me?" Neville asked sitting down at the table.
Hermione sipped her tea handing Adeline another biscuit, "Are you a morning person like Harry or NOT a morning person like me and Ginny?" She asked.
Neville shook his head, "Not a morning person... I want to sleep in." He aid sitting back in his chair.
Ginny pointed at Neville, "See that is the correct answer." She said with a grin making Harry chuckle.
Adeline hopped off the chair, "Ok done.… can I go play now Minnie Mouse."
Hermione sighed, "Can you hold on a second while I eat something?" She said with a soft smile.
Adeline bit her lip bouncing back and forth looking out the window then back at Hermione.
Hermione laughed, "Ok how about we set up a table outside you guys… we can watch the girls play while we talk and eat." She said standing up watching Adeline grin and run out the door. "Where is Bella?" Hermione asked.
Ginny grabbed the biscuits off the table, "Ana took her to play by the lake this morning while you were still getting beauty sleep." She said rolling her eyes.
Harry shook his head chuckling, "You ae such a whine baby today." He said grabbing the tea off the table looking over at Neville grabbed cups.
Hermione picked up her tea walking out the door everyone following her to the back garden where the new play set was set up, "It looks so good." She grinned over at the boys watching Adeline climb up the ladder in her dress and run across a bridge to a slide. Hermione waved her hand so the table and chairs across the lawn flew closer to the play set but still far enough away they could talk, and the girls would not hear them.
Hermione sighed as she sat down her back better but still sore, "Did Ginny and Luna talk to you guys about the protection bubble?" She asked looking at Harry and Neville.
Harry snickered, "Protection bubble… love the name." He said laughing.
Hermione threw a muffin at him, "Yes I know… but it doesn't exactly have a name since I just made it up." She said grinning.
Harry shook his head but smiled, "Yes… I think that the four of us can set it up… in fact I was talking to Ginny and Luna and even if there are only two or three of us, we can do it… it would just hold less people." He said.
Hermione nodded, "If I helped it would ger stronger." She said sipping her tea looking over at Adeline running around the bridge yelling for her prince charming, "I can add the refection spell after."
Neville shook his head, "I think if the rest of us can make it safely without you it would be better for you to use your magic for the reflection spell…. All of it uses so much magic and I am assuming if we ever use this it is because something is going on…. We need to not drain ourselves." He said.
Hermione sighed nodding, "I have a few ideas I want to show you guys." She said looking up at Luna as she walked over and sat down at the table so the 5 of them were now together again. "But I wants to talk to you about something that happened last night with Adeline." She said softly.
Ginny frowned sitting forward, "What?" She asked softly.
Hermione rubbed her head and then chuckled, "Your bad habit is rubbing off on me Harry." She said moving her hand away from her head, "Adeline came into our room after waking up from a nightmare."
Hermione looked up to see the four of them staring at her carefully, "Adeline said that in her dream… I was running from a man in a black robe with a cover on his face… he hit me with a spell, I fell to the ground and then he stabbed me and killed me." She said quietly.
Harry sat back his face blank, "You know what Kingsley said…. What her mother was." He said softly.
Hermione nodded, "I know… Viktor said the same thing when he heard." She sighed shifting around in her chair, "That does not mean that Adeline is a seer… she could have just been having a bad dream." She said eyes looking at Harry carefully, "Plus you know I don't really believe in in all that stuff."
Luna frowned and spoke up softly, "I know that you don't believe Minnie… but that does not mean that there is not some truth in her dream may come to pass." She said quietly.
Hermione frowned, "You think I should …. I don't know… believe that I am going to die now... after the war has ended and we won that a Death Eater is going to murder me?" She asked softy.
Luna shook her head, "I think we need to at least listen to her and pay attention so if anything does happen, we are ready." She murmured, "Maybe it is a warning…... one to help you live."
Harry took a deep breath, "I think Luna is right…. It doesn't hurt to pay attention and take it as a warning… and if it never happens... great." He said.
Hermione exhaled, "I know… that is why I told you… it really scared Viktor last night when Adeline was telling us." She said softly, "If telling you can stop SOMETHING from happening… that is better then ignoring it and anything happening."
They all looked up to see Rose, Alek, and Ana walking towards them with Bella, "Lets keep this to ourselves for now." Hermione said softly, "I don't want to stress them out more and I have no intentions of leaving the house except with all of you anytime soon." Hermione whispered.
Ginny raised an eyebrow, "Swear it?" She asked crossing her arms over her chest.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I swear it." She said.
Ginny sighed, "Fine but we are talking about this more later.' She said pointing over at Hermione.
Hermione looked over at Neville, "You ok?" She asked softly.
Neville nodded, "Processing and thinking." He said with a small smile.
Hermione nodded at him, knowing he was one of the smartest in the group… but he liked to think and plan things out, "Let me know when you want to talk." Hermione said with a soft smile. Neville nodded over at her before turing to watch Alek conjure a seat next to Ginny…. Rose and Ana conjuring seats by Harry.
"How was the lake?" Hermione said reaching out to take Bella who was laughing and immediately tried to grab one of Hermione's curls.
Ana smiled, "It was good… she loves the water and has no fear of it… much to my dread." She said laughing.
Hermione smiled down at Bella who cupped her cheeks and blew raspberries making the table laugh.
"So, what are your plans for the day?" Ana asked getting a cup of tea.
Hermione smiled over at Rose, "Well first I am going to look at a contract for Andrian before he goes completely crazy." She said with a laugh, "Then I am going to fix some spells we have been working on and then I think bedtime early today." She said tickling Bella, "Since we have family practice tomorrow at 8am… I know we will have to be up early to get ready."
Ana smiled over at her, "I think this year I will stay home…. I can keep Bella if you want." She said, "The day is a long one and I have already gone the last 6 years… you can be my excuse to stay home and pack for the weekend."
Hermione frowned, "Bella will miss it." She said bouncing Bella up and down in her arms.
Ana smiled, "Bella will be bored… trust me… I am bored half the time… it is the team flying and practicing while we watch and talk for a while…. Then there is a meet and greet and lunch. Bella will be done and ready for sleep within an hour." Ana grinned over at Adeline, "Plus then you can focus on Adeline and all her excitement."
Hermione gave a soft smile over to Ana, "Well if you are sure and Viktor is ok with that… I am ok with it." She paused and bounced Bella on her legs again, "You can wear your new dress on Saturday at the cup." She said grinning when Bella giggled and mumbled at her while tapping her cheeks again. "MIN, MIN." Bella yelled.
Ana smiled reaching out for Bella who had turned and was squirming to get down, "That is your new name by the way… we were trying to teach her Mione... and she says Min, Min.' She said "Come on little lady… do you want to play with your sister…. Oppa Ana will take you." She said scoping Bella up and walking her over to the playset swing.
Alek grinned after his mother, "You know you made Mama's year…. You have officially provided her with grandchildren now and all of us brothers are at the bottom of the favorite list." He said laughing.
Hermione laughed reaching for her tea again, "Yes well…. I do what I can." She said grinning into her cup making Alek throw a biscuit at her, "I have to go back to work next week after we get back from the cup." He said, "I want to look at your arm this afternoon."
Hermione nodded, "I am not doing much today…. Just the contract and reworking some spells, let me know when you want to do it." She said looking up when Viktor came walking out of the house in his uniform. "Hey what are you doing home?" She asked with a smile.
Viktor gave her a quick smile walking over and leaning down to pull her in for a quick deep kiss, "I need a favor." He said with a frown when he pulled away.
Hermione shook her head, "Sure, what do you need?" She asked setting her tea down.
Viktor sighed squatting down next to her chair, "Coach wants me to stay at practice all day… he wants to practice those new drills you and I went over for the cup." He muttered.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, "OK…..." She said confused, "What do you need from me?"
Viktor frowned, "I know I am supposed to come home at lunch." He said quietly.
Hermione laughed leaning over to kiss his nose, "Viktor…... you are supposed to practice all day… you were only getting off to take care of me…. I am fine now." She said reaching over and cupping his cheek, her thumb brushing his face, "I am going over the contract with Rose in a bit... then Alek wants to look at my arm and then I am going over spells with Harry and Ginny…... I will be busy until dinner."
Viktor sighed, "Are you sure?" He asked eyes uncertain and suddenly Hermione realized what was going on. She turned to cup both of his cheeks this time and pulled him in for a soft kiss, "I am not leaving the house Viktor… and IF… IF I change my mind because something come up I will get you first." She promised, "I will be fine." She said the last part so low only he heard her.
Viktor sighed, "You promise you are staying home?" He asked softly, his hand on her knee squeezing tightly.
Hermione leaned over and kissed his nose, "I am going to relax all day so tomorrow I can go to your team practice… but I would love if you were home for dinner… then an early bedtime."
She said with a wicked grin making Viktor smile back at her, his eyes losing the fear in them and they started to dance with mischief.
Viktor gave her a sly smirk, "Early bedtime…Humm…." He whispered leaning over to pull her for a deep kiss but Hemione laughed against him when she saw Alek roll his eyes at them.
Hermione pulled back, "Go back to practice." She said pushing against him, so he chuckled.
"Fine… I will be home for dinner… and promise you will tell me if you have to go anywhere BEFORE you leave." He said standing up.
Hermine nodded, "I am not going anywhere but if I do, I will get you first… now go." She said pushing his stomach.
Viktor looked torn again though and he leaned down to give her another kiss before he pulled back, "I love you Mila." He said quickly. "Dinner then EARLY BED." He said with a grin when she pushed him towards the door.
"I love you too… now go." She said watching him jog back to the house to use the floo. She turned back to the table, "What?" She said blushing picking up her tea.
Ginny and Rose grinned at her, "EARLY BED?" They mocked her back.
Hermione smirked into her teacup, her cheeks pink, "Shut up." She said making the entire table laugh.