Shipping Bingo: A5 - Bodyguard Crush

Spring Bingo: E2 - Bare

Trope Bingo: A1 - After-Action Healing
Scavenger Hunt: Sp Settings - Outside
Chimera Creator: Love/Hate; Eating/Drinking

Team: Brilliant Snitch

Stacked With: FPC; ToS; BAON; SN; Fence; Star; Shower; T3; Ship War; Sp/Tr Bingo; Hunt; Chim

Individual Challenges: Short Jog (Y), Zed Era, Gryffindor MC, Ethnic & Present, Old Shoes (Y), Bucket Listing; Hold the Mayo; Neurodivergent

Representations: Hermione is autistic; Hermione is Viktor's bodyguard; Viktor's backstory; BC Use

Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Mother Hen; Spinning Plates; Tomorrow's Shade; Second Verse (Not a Lamp; Ladylike; White Dress; Found Family; Nontraditional; Sneeze Weasel); Chorus (Odd Feathers; Pear-Shaped; Wabi Sabi; Fizzy Lemonade; Machismo; Peddling Pots)

Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: T3 (Tether); SN (Rail; Negate)

Warnings: Alcoholism; Vomiting

Word Count: 1502

~o0o~

All his life, Viktor Krumov Zdravkov had been on display. His parents were incredibly wealthy turning old sums of money into greater sums than anyone could feasibly imagine. This meant maintaining an image and that included grooming their son into the perfect one. His formative years were spent in ballet to keep him lean and graceful. Strict diets, private tutors, every second of every day was planned. He was allowed some freedoms when he had become the youngest professional Quidditch player at the tender age of fourteen. It wasn't much.

His only solace, the only thing he could do that allowed him escape, was drinking. Nobody expected him to speak, who cared if he was too inebriated to do so?

This occasion, his wine was being closely monitored by Klements the butler.

"Viktor."

"Yes, Mother?"

"Your father and I have received some… worrying letters."

"Have you been reading my fan mail again?" he asked.

"Viktor, some of these claims are serious. You're a capable wizard, but some… behavior of yours is rather concerning."

Oh, now they were concerned for his well being? Well, they certainly didn't care before. Or maybe now he was just old enough that the scandal would be on him.

"We have taken the liberty of hiring a bodyguard for you," said Father. "Klements, send her in."

"Yes, sir."

"A woman?" said Viktor, furrowing his brow.

"She has quite an impressive resume," said Mother. "But yes, we did look for a woman so she could be on your arm at functions and keep a close eye on you."

"Miss Hermione Granger," said Klements.

Hermione entered the dining room and the wine Viktor was sipping spilled back into his goblet. She had warm brown skin, her locked hair was twisted back showing off a strong jaw, and she had sharp eyes that seemed to be scrutinizing everything at once.

"Good evening, Mr. Zdravkov, Mrs. Zdravkova," she said.

"Miss Granger," said Father. "Will you please tell us your qualifications once more?"

"Yes, sir. I have a third degree black belt in Taekwondo with training in the bo staff, a black belt in Krav Maga, and I trained in Maori defensive magic from childhood. I graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with excellent marks and I speak six languages."

"You had no friends I see," said Viktor. Damn his mouth.

"Viktor!" Mother hissed. "Don't be rude!"

"It's alright, Mrs. Zdravkova," said Hermione. "I'll allow him this one."

"You are too kind," said Father. "Viktor, please greet Miss Granger properly."

Viktor rose to his feet and approached his new bodyguard. Years of ballet and little sleep had left him smaller than most men. Hermione was much taller and sturdy. He stood straight and bowed, kissing her calloused knuckles. A tingle ran up his arm as he touched her hand. A sensation he ignored quite completely.

"Welcome, Miss Granger," he said. "Thank you for agreeing to be my bodyguard."

Her eyes were such a pretty shade of brown. Like cognac in sunlight.

"Of course," she said. "If my duties are not needed tonight, then I shall use this time to unpack."

"Klements will show you to your quarters," said Mother.

Viktor returned to his seat and looked down at his food while Hermione left.

"Viktor, your father and I are being more than generous by not expecting you to take over the company," said Mother. "You'll never want for the rest of your life. The least you can do is keep the family image strong. It doesn't matter who is in charge, if no one trusts your image, they will not trust the company."

"Yes, Mother."

~o0o~

For six months Hermione had been his bodyguard. He didn't think much of her at first, believing that the only reason he was even left alone now was that they assumed on sight she was his girlfriend. A girlfriend in a suit and sunglasses.

After a game, which had gotten the Sofia Lions into the finals, Viktor was being hounded by fans for autographs.

"Please, one at a time," said Hermione with a commanding presence. "Let children come forward first for autographs and pictures."

"VIKTOR!"

A girl barreled towards him no doubt in hopes that her unconsented kiss would make him declare his undying love for her. Before he even had a chance to brace himself, Hermione stepped in the way, rolled the girl over her shoulders and onto the ground in one swift move.

"Wow…" Viktor breathed.

Hermione hauled the girl to her feet and pushed her back into the crowd.

"One more chance to behave yourselves or we'll only allow the children through," she said.

The crowd settled as much as they could and formed a sort of line, children were being pushed forward by eager parents. Viktor signed autographs and posed for pictures for a good few hours until the team was pulled away to attend the afterparty.

He remembered none of it. He just realized he was leaning over the toilet in his hotel room.

"I haven't seen that much puke since my friend Ron hit himself with a slug jinx," said Hermione disapprovingly.

Viktor flushed it and slumped against the bathtub, hoping the porcelain would cool his skin.

"You make it very hard to like you," he muttered. "And yet for some reason I do anyway."

Hermione continued glaring at him disapprovingly.

"Fine. Just know I won't pay you extra to lecture me. Go ahead, tell me how I'm a burden on the family name. The first Zdravkov who can't be trusted with the family business, because all I'm good for is standing there and looking nice. A doll people want to buy."

"I don't feel sorry for you," she said. "I feel bad for you. I get it, you have a lot of pressure on you. No room to be yourself, just a clay man meant to shape yourself into the form everyone else wants, but you have so much power and money and you waste it! No, you don't even waste it. Fancy things are taxable goods, taxes that go right back into the economy, you just sit on it and let other people pay for you!"

Hermione sat down on the edge of the tub and crossed her arms.

"I wanted to change the world so much," she said. "And yet here I am babysitting an overgrown child who has no idea what he's got."

"And what do I have?"

"The ability to make change happen," she said. "You want to rebel? Do it by helping people! I don't mean publicity trips to countries that were made awful thanks to colonization. But… I've seen the legers. Hell, I've seen what you have just sitting in your vault! You could make the lives better for so many people and you just… don't!"

"If I detest you so then why are you here?"

"This isn't about me," she said. "But if it bothers you… I came here to make a fresh start. You're not the only one who's been used, Viktor." She clicked her tongue and stood up. "Never mind. I only speak my mind now because you won't remember in the morning. Can you manage a few minutes by yourself while I get you some ginger ale and crackers?"

"Yes."

Like she always did after he drunk himself stupid, Hermione took care of him and once she was sure he wouldn't pass out in a pool of his own vomit, she laid down in the bed opposite his and went right to sleep. Viktor didn't fall asleep like he normally did. Instead, he sat up and thought about how she stripped his entire existence bare. When you got to it, he really had done nothing. It wasn't long until dawn and the alarm clock went off.

Viktor smacked it off and groaned, rubbing his temples.

"I put two ibuprofen on your nightstand," said Hermione sleepily. "Drink all the water with it."

"Thank you." Viktor dry swallowed the pills before draining half the water. "Hermione."

"Hm?"

"About what you said…"

"Oh, God, you remember. I'm so fired, aren't I?"

"No, no. I think… I think you're right."

Hermione sat up and looked at him in wonder. "You do?"

"Yes. You're right. I can do a lot of good with that money, but I don't know where to begin. I need help. Will you help me?"

Hermione looked bewildered, but nodded. "I think I've got a few ideas. How do you feel about solving homelessness in your hometown?"

"I think that is an excellent start."

She smiled genuinely for the first time since he'd known her and his heart felt light.