Chapter 7: Old Flame
Hermione watched as Teddy observed himself in the wall mirror positioned in her office, studying the new clothes she had just presented him with. She had finally finished sewing a first outfit that was magically charmed to remain on his body even after he changed into his werewolf form, and a second set of clothes was nearly ready. Watching her best friend's godson study his reflection, Hermione licked her lips as she conceded: the man knew how to fill out a suit.
Teddy turned back to her with a smile, his blue eyes sparkling, and Hermione felt her heart hammer away in her chest without meaning to. "This is really nice. Thanks, Hermione."
Hermione smiled gently at him. "You're welcome, Teddy."
"And this will fit to my frame after…..?" The light in his eyes dimmed in that moment, and Hermione's heart squirmed with pain.
"They should," she confirmed.
Teddy nodded grimly. Again, he smiled, though this time, the brightness of it didn't reach his irises. Still, his voice was sincere as he expressed, "I'm lucky to have you in my corner, Hermione."
Hermione's cheeks turned pink. Kingsley Shacklebolt sweeping into Hermione's office suddenly interrupted the moment.
"Mrs. Weasley, the new ambassador from Bulgaria has just arrived to assume his post. I believe you already know him."
Hermione frowned in bemusement. "Really? But who….?" Her voice trailed off, brown eyes widening in surprise and delight as the muscular gentleman stepped in behind Kingsley.
"Viktor!" She cried, rounding her desk to offer the former Quidditch champion a hug. "My goodness, this is…. When did you…. How are you?" She was babbling, rambling in a much more flustered state than she usually allowed from herself.
Viktor just gave her a winning smile, and Hermione couldn't help but notice how his eyes did a sweep of her body, appraising her up and down. "Hermione! Looking vunderful, as ever."
Hermione flushed crimson, all the more so once Viktor lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. Behind them, neither noticed how Teddy had seemed to grow stiff, barely concealing a glare sent in the new ambassador's direction.
Hermione smiled at her old friend, and one-time love interest. He had taken her to the Yule Ball when he was a Triwizard champion, and she was only 14. He had been her very first kiss. Though her husband had never confirmed it, Hermione had always suspected that he knew about her and Viktor's brief romantic tryst…. and that Ron clearly was not happy about it, never mind that it had been decades ago.
"You got in just now, I take it? You should stop by the Auror Offices; Harry would love to see you!"
"I vill be sure to do that; I always did enjoy Potter's company," Viktor purred smoothly. By now, his piercing eyes had finally registered that Teddy was there. "But who is this?"
"Oh, um…. Viktor, this is Harry's godson, actually, Teddy Lupin. Teddy, Viktor Krum, the new Ministry ambassador from Bulgaria."
"How do you do, sir?" Teddy shook Viktor's hand, though his body language was stiff.
"A pleasure, young man," Viktor dipped his head.
"Viktor will be announced as the ambassador at the charity function this evening," Kingsley explained.
Hermione blanched a little. "That's tonight? Bugger, I'd forgotten…."
"I am sure I vill be seeing you, yes?" Viktor beamed at Hermione.
Hermione once again turned rogue. "Of course. It is…. truly lovely to see you again, Viktor."
"You as well, Hermy-own," Viktor kissed her hand again and swept out of the office. As soon as he and Kingsley were gone, Teddy snorted.
"What a player. He didn't even get your name right."
"Oh, be nice!" Hermione admonished him as she prissily circled back around her desk. "And he did the first time." She sighed. "I really had forgotten about the charity function. Now I'll have to decide what to wear…. and how to avoid Ron…."
"So you'd go stag?" Teddy stared at her.
"Well, I'm not going with my husband whom I'm divorcing, if that's what you're asking," Hermione chuckled dryly.
"I could accompany you!" Teddy blurted out. When Hermione cocked an almost amused eyebrow at him, skeptical, the young man shrugged. "It's just that…. better to go with someone than all alone. At that rate, you might as well not go at all."
It was a weak excuse, and they both knew it, but Hermione found herself seriously considering it, sizing him up. It wasn't like it was a date, and besides, Teddy was conveniently already dressed for the part. "All right, Teddy. You can pick me up at my flat at 8:00."
Teddy blinked, shocked she would say Yes, even if this was absolutely platonic, and absolutely not a date. "Brilliant."
Teddy was still blinking when Hermione opened the door to her flat after he knocked, wearing a lovely dress of periwinkle that clung to her womanly curves quite nicely. Her hair was sleek and shiny, curled in ringlets. "Wow….. you look great!"
"Oh, hush, you flatterer," Hermione patted him on the arm, even as she smirked, secretly pleased that he noticed. "Shall we?"
Teddy offered her his arm, and she graciously took it. Turning, the pair Disapparated to the Ministry charity function.
It was in full swing when they got there, the pair quickly running into Harry, Ginny and Ron.
"Ronald," Hermione nodded to her almost ex-husband cordially.
"You look beautiful, Hermione," Ron murmured.
"Thank you," she allowed, squirming with discomfort.
Harry, meanwhile, was glancing between his godson and his sister-in-law, frowning hard. "You came with Teddy on your arm?"
"He offered to escort me," Hermione explained, one eyebrow raised. "It was a godsend, actually; I'd almost completely forgotten this was tonight…"
"Hermione Weasley, forgot to read a memo?" Harry hooted, lightening up a little bit. "Never thought I'd see the day!"
Ron had his freckled nose stuck down in the small program for the evening. "When the bloody hell did the Minister get a new Bulgarian ambassador?" he groused.
"Now who's not reading their memos?" Ginny quipped dryly, prompting the group to chuckle.
A tall man in burgundy robes suddenly sidled up to the group, eyes only for Hermione. "You look resplendent, Hermyoninny."
Hermione turned, smiling brightly at the handsome ex-Quidditch star. "Evening, Viktor."
Next to them, Ron's face had gone ghastly white at the same time that his ears had turned as red as his hair from anger. "Oh no…. don't bloody tell me…" Next to him, Teddy felt about as jealous as Ron looked, though the former did a more admirable job of hiding it.
"There is some time before the Minister is to announce me," Viktor took Hermione's free hand. "Vould you care to dance?"
"No, she absolutely would not 'care to….'"
"Ronald!" Ginny hissed in embarrassment before Hermione could. Viktor did not seem to notice any of this, beyond that Teddy's arm was still looped through that of the beautiful witch.
"You do not mind that I cut in?"
"No, of course not," Teddy managed, though reluctantly.
"Um…. yes, all right," Hermione murmured, allowing Viktor to lead her onto the floor. Her breath catching as the handsome man took her in his arms, they began a slow waltz. Behind them, Hermione vaguely registered both Harry and Teddy having to drag Ron out of the reception hall, Ginny tittering after them.
"Your, ah…. husband did not seem happy to see me," Viktor opened the conversation.
"Ronald can be a jealous prat," Hermione mumbled bitterly, apologetic.
"It is understandable," Viktor twirled her. "I seem to recall he was not effusive at your wedding reception." When she and Ron had gotten married, Hermione had asked if she could invite Viktor to the wedding. To her surprise and pride, Ron had agreed…. Only to then throw a big stink about Viktor's presence once their happy day arrived. Perhaps he had thought his one-time rival would not even show up.
"It doesn't matter, anyway. We're getting divorced in a couple of weeks."
"I am sorry to hear it," Viktor expressed, though there was warmth in his eyes that told Hermione he was not sorry at all. It oddly made her heart race. "You 'ave two little vones together, yes?"
"Not so little anymore," Hermione shared. "Rosie is all done with Hogwarts and Hugo is in sixth year already."
"They must do you proud, I'm sure."
The dance ended briefly to allow Viktor to go up on the stage and receive his new commission from the Minister. Moments later, Hermione was back in his arms as they glided across the floor. She only hoped that members of the media weren't staring.
"Hot, isn't it?" she stepped away, needing to fan herself a little. "I could go for some drinks. Would you care to join me?"
"But of course." She and Viktor stepped away to the drinks cart. As they sipped on champagne, Hermione shivered as Viktor took her free hand.
"Hermy-own…."
"Y-yes?"
"May I speak vith you please…. alone?"
With the champagne already rushing to her head and making it buzz, Hermione was unable to call upon the practical side of herself to be wary. Instead, she nodded taking his hand in hers. Turning, she huddled into Viktor's side as they Disapparated away from the party.
Emerging in an alley just off some tiny flats, Hermione gasped in shock as Viktor pulled her close and kissed her soundly on the mouth. Giving in to the embrace for just a moment, the beautiful witch remembered herself just enough to pull away.
"Hmmmm….. What…. what are you doing?"
"You are still so beautiful, Hermione," Viktor's voice was filled with lustful fire, his dark eyes dancing as they roved over her body. "I vould very much like to kiss you again." He brought her face near and Hermione twisted away just enough, though it was weak.
"Viktor…. Please…." she whimpered. "I'm married."
"Not for much longer, or so I hear. You said so yourself."
"I…. I did," Hermione admitted breathlessly, letting out an involuntary sigh as Viktor's lips began to pepper her face with kisses. His mouth dipped into the soft curve of her neck, and she moaned, looping her arms about his neck. In perfect harmony, she felt his thick, burly arms steal about her waist. "This is wrong…."
"If it is vrong, then vhy are you still here?" Viktor hissed against her skin.
"I…. I…. I don't know." This time, when Viktor kissed her lips again, Hermione allowed it, not fighting it as she melted into his embrace. She shivered when she felt his meaty and calloused palms wander lower, feeling up the curve of her arse through her dress. When he groped her lower still, his fingers scooping under the supple flesh of her thigh, Hermione was astonished at herself when, upon Viktor hoisting her leg up to his waist, she instinctively looped it around his knee, causing the folds of her gown to ride up high and bunch around her hips.
"Oh, sod it," she growled against his mouth, diving in and prying his lips open with her own so she could suck his tongue in past her inviting mouth now petaling open into full bloom along his slanting one. "Mmmmm….. Hmmmm….."
Hermione felt her feet leave the ground as Viktor lifted her up the wall of the alley, and she folded her legs languorously about his middle. Shocking even herself, Hermione let both of her hands grip Viktor's powerful glutes, her nails digging into the skin as she furiously rocked her hips against his pelvis, gaining delicious friction. Viktor rumbled in delight, and the two were soon ravishing each other and tearing at each other's clothes. Hermione's fingers trembled as she frantically worked to undo the belt buckle of Viktor's trousers, throwing them down to his ankles. Feeling his free and erect member brush up against she damp folds of her cervix, Hermione seized his cock in her fists and lined up their entrances, thanking Merlin she had decided to not wear any knickers tonight.
When she felt Viktor plunge inside of her, sheathing himself down to the hilt, Hermione cried out happily, feeling a groan pass from Viktor's lips to hers. She hadn't had sex since that ill-advised night with Scorpius several weeks back, and found that the intimacy was just what she needed.
Both Viktor and Hermione's breathing became heavy and labored as they rocked against one another, thrusting out their hips, learning together. Hermione felt the bricks bite into her back as Viktor's frantic slams into her core slid her up and down the wall. Kissing Viktor deeply, Hermione let her lips scamper down his neck and his clavicle, kissing along the planes of his chest as Viktor shagged her.
"Fuck me, Viktor…. Please….."
"Hermione…. You are so beautiful…."
"Huhhhh….. Uhhhh….. Errrm… Ugghhhh….. Mmmm….. Hmmmm…. Viktor, love, I'm close. Merlin, please don't stop…."
The couple began to jerk against each other faster and faster, Viktor's thrusts growing weak. Hermione threw her head back with a cry.
"I'm…. cumm-ing…. I'm gonna bloody cum….. Oh, Merlin's pants!" With a final scream, a writhing Hermione was brought to completion. Another weak slam, two, and then Viktor was spasming, sagging against Hermione as he spilled his seed deep inside her.
Setting her down like a gentleman, Hermione and Viktor lazily kissed again, Hermione's lashes fluttering shut as she moaned. "Mmmmm…."
When they broke apart at last, Viktor's breath tickled her ear, as she rasped, "My flat is around the corner. Vould you care to….?"
Hermione cut him off with a deep kiss. "I would care to. Very much," she whispered into his mouth, allowing him to take her by the hand and lead her up to his apartment, where he threw her down on the bed and made love to her all night.
After a long night of fucking, Hermione awoke the next day in Viktor's bed and his arms feeling sated…. But also sad. Dressing quietly, she wrote a quick note on a piece of parchment and left it on the bedside table. Giving Viktor one last, long, lingering look, she bent over him and ghosted her lips across his softly in one final kiss goodbye.
"Thank you," she whispered, before stealing out of the apartment.