Shipping Bingo: A4 - Charity Event

Spring Bingo: B3 - Gather

Trope Bingo: C4 - Love Triangle
Scavenger Hunt: Sp WD (Mobility Impairment)

Chimera Creator: Love/Hate; Eating/Drinking

Team: Brilliant Snitch

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

Individual Challenges: Short Jog (Y), Gryffindor MC, Rian-Russo Inversion, Neurodivergent; Ethnic & Present, Disabled, Lovely Triangle, Setting Sail, Hold the Mayo; Zed Era; Old Shoes(Y); Bucket Listing (Y); The 3rd Rule;

Representations: Hermione is autistic; Poly Ship; Found Family; Bodyguard Hermione;

Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Middle Name; Tomorrow's Shade; Second Verse (Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Found Family; Nontraditional); Chorus (Odd Feathers; Wabi Sabi; Machismo)

Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: T3 (Thimble); LiCK (Poppy; Narcissus; Yarrow)

Warnings: Creepy old lady;

Word Count: 1436

~o0o~

"How many do we have left?" Viktor asked as Hermione brought him ginger ale in a champagne flute.

"Just Mr. Bogdhan, Head of the Department of Games, and Mrs. Selwyn."

"I hate Mrs. Selwyn, she keeps heavily implying that she would like to sleep with me," he muttered.

"Yeah, me too."

Viktor snorted and Hermione smiled at him. He loved her dearly.

"The quicker we're into it, the quicker we're out of it," she said.

That was her favorite phrase and Viktor lived by it. He offered his arm and she took it. Since her, he never needed to find another date.

"Remind me why I speak to them again?"

"Because flirting with Mrs. Selwyn alone gets a good 20% of funds for our housing project," said Hermione. "Just think of all those empty houses. Just sitting there, collecting dust and all those people living on the streets with governments who care more about putting bodies in prisons than they do caring about those that just had a bad few months."

"You're right," he sighed.

"Of course I am. Besides, the auction will start soon and you know she can't wait to find someone else pretty to spend money on."

As always, Hermione was right. Viktor only had to flirt a little for Mrs. Selwyn to promise her handsome donation towards their housing project. Viktor could pay for it all himself, but Hermione had told him that he could get other rich people to put their money towards good. So that's what he did and it gave him the opportunity to set aside an allowance for these sorts of events. Normally, he saved it for girls who looked to have been put up to it and were in danger of being taken out on a "date" by a real creep and then for the date he took them to a place they had always wanted to go. Amusement parks, a fancy restaurant. A lot of them were hard-working volunteers just wanting to make things better for someone else and he could respect that.

"Can I pick this time?" Hermione asked.

Viktor rested his cheek against her shoulder. "Of course, my swan."

He'd called her that when someone called her glorified arm-candy and she showed them exactly why she was a bodyguard. The endearment had stuck.

Most of the dates were men this time around.

"And now, standing in for Welfare Investment for Lycanthropy Treatment or WILT, is Cedric Diggory."

People were muttering about the charity of choice until the man himself stepped out.

"Oh, I want one," Hermione breathed.

Viktor should have gotten jealous, but he couldn't bring himself to. He wanted one, too. Cedric Diggory was probably the most beautiful person in the room with light brown skin and thick dark hair. He was the only man wearing a dress, but what a gown. Draped over him and sparkling like stars. He wore it easily and clearly knew how good he looked in it. His long hair was loose, but styled and looked to have glitter in it. At first, Viktor thought he was wearing a piece of jewelry on his hand, but when he did his turn for the audience it was clear he had a prosthetic arm. A quick turn of the skirt showed a prosthetic leg, too.

"Oh, please, Viktor," said Hermione. "WILT is one of my favorite charities. I volunteered for them throughout my school days."

"I remember you telling me that," he said. "If we do not win, I shall make an anonymous donation for you anyway."

"Start off the bid at five hundred," said the caller.

Viktor raised his hand.

"I have five hundred. Do I have five-fifty? Five-fifty."

The bid grew higher and higher and more people dropped off. Cedric was pretty but not many wanted that much money to go towards werewolves. Soon it was between Viktor and Mrs. Selwyn. She already won a couple, but seemed to want Cedric even more.

"I've got the bid at eight thousand, eight thousand back to you sir."

"Ten thousand!" Hermione yelled.

"Ten thousand. Ten thousand going once, twice, sold!"

"Yes!" Hermione clapped her hands. "You know, we should really look into working with WILT. A lot of werewolves end up homeless due to being unable to keep a job."

"We shall reach out to them on Monday, my swan. You seem to know this organization better than I, so I will let you head it and I will learn."

Once the auction had ended, the volunteers lined up to meet the donors. Viktor walked just behind Hermione so she could clear a path and they approached Cedric.

"Cedric Diggory, my name is Hermione Granger, and this is my employer, Viktor Krumov Zdravkov."

"A pleasure to meet you," he said, his voice was soft and kind. "WILT appreciates your generous donation."

"Of course," said Hermione. "I used to volunteer for them so I know how hard it is to get people to even care, much less donate. Actually, we were hoping that Monday we could discuss collaborating with our housing project?"

Cedric lit up. "That would be wonderful. We're barely able to distribute Wolfsbane Potions as is, but if we can get them a home through a program where they can get the help they need without having to be 'out'. I can only imagine."

"And about our date," said Viktor. "Is there anywhere you have always wanted to go?"

"Hm?"

"Mr. Zdravkov always gives his dates an experience they might not have the time or means to do for themselves," Hermione explained. "Our most recent date got a day all to herself at an exclusive spa."

"Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a date auction?" Cedric asked.

"The donation is the goal," said Hermione. "Giving a volunteer a dream day is just something extra we try to do."

"I see. I thought perhaps dates have changed since I last went on one," he said. "It's been some time."

"I have a hard time believing that," said Hermione, bringing out her card. "You can reach me here if you need some time to think about it or, if you're there, you can tell us on Monday when we meet with WILT."

Cedric tucked the business card into a compartment in his prosthetic arm and brushed a stray lock of gorgeous hair out of his face.

"Really, though, I can't thank you enough for your donation," he said. "Everyone will be so thrilled."

"You snatched a good one, Viktor," Mrs. Selwyn slurred, dragging her three dates along.

Hermione stepped between them, which Viktor was relieved about. Once Hermione established a boundary, nobody dared to cross it.

"I'm quite jealous," Mrs. Selwyn continued. "Though, I suppose these handsome young men will have to do."

The handsome young men in question looked like they'd rather be anywhere but there.

"I'm sure your assistant will have a lovely time out," she said. "If you feel lonely, you know where to find me."

She winked and Viktor tried not to shudder. Instead, he bowed.

"Thank you for your offer, Mrs. Selwyn."

"Darling," said Mr. Selwyn. "It's time to be heading out now."

Viktor turned back to Cedric. "We must be going now, but I look forward to seeing you again."

"Er, yeah," he said. "I'll let you know where our date will be on Monday."

Hermione looped her arm with Viktor's and they left the hotel ballroom. They apparated back to his home. It was a far cry from the mansion he once lived in, but it was truly home. It was perfect for him and Hermione. It was big enough they could have their own rooms, plus house guests when necessary, but wasn't a museum. It had a beautiful garden that Viktor tended to himself.

Neither said much as they got out of their formal wear and into their pyjamas. Viktor was done first and made them a simple dish, which they ate in comfortable silence. Hermione had piled her locs on top of her head, her demeanor much more relaxed now that she was off-duty. After their late meal, they went up to bed.

Viktor cuddled up to her, his cheek resting against her chest while he traced the tattoo that wrapped around her arm. He always felt safe with her.

"Viktor. I think I could fall in love with Cedric."

"I think I could, too," he agreed. "The press would have a field day."

"Probably."

"I don't care."

"Me neither."

Viktor sat up and looked into her eyes.

"I love you more than I could say."

Hermione smiled and kissed his forehead.

"I love you, too."