"Hermione…" Viktor asked as he moved forward. His eyes were resting on her shoulder blade, where a long jagged mark lay.

"What is it?" she asked smiling at the fact he had said her name right. She felt his hands skim over the bare skin of her shoulder that the draped back of her shirt exposed. Her eyes drifted closed for a moment.

"What is this scar from?" he could tell it was from a deep wound.

"Oh." She spun quickly not wanting him to see it. "It's uh nothing…" she walked over to her jacket and went to slip it on only have Viktor walk over and lightly push her arms down so she wouldn't be able to.

"I haf seen many scars, that is not nothing… What happened?" He asked looking her over.

"Well… Being Harry Potters friend has it consequences…. It's from a long time ago."

"No its not… I know scars. That is newly healed." She looked at him for a long moment.

"Its old-."

"Please do not lie to me Mina…" she sighed softly at his hurt expression.

"That night… At the world cup when I was helping you run into the forest, a curse hit me through the shoulder… It was nothing but it left a pretty bad scar when they healed the wound." He frowned as he took her in his arms.

"I never wanted any one to be hurt for me." He said. "Especially you for me."

"Trust me when I say that hit wasn't as bad as some I have taken… I barely felt it. Didn't even know I had been hurt until Mr. Weasley pointed out the blood a few hours later." She said as she pulled away and smiled at him.

"You live dangerous life Hermione."

"Not very dangerous..."

"You've been through how many wand battles?" He asked as she put on her cover up.

"Oh uhm… Not many." She said. "Not as many as I'd actually thought I would have been to be honest." She had a grateful smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tip toes to kiss each corner of his mouth. He smiled despite how he was feeling. "There we are…" she said touching his lips with one soft finger. "You were frowning… I don't' like it when you frown."

"I don't like it when you frown either." They smiled at each other before Hermione looked around.

"So what shall we do?"

"We could watch second movie? You said you haven't seen it and you know I haven't…"

"Hmm…" she said. "Sounds like a plan." She said. "But I'm a little hungry."

"Yes pop corn not as filling as I once thought." He said as she smiled.

"Well you know you're basically eating air so…" he laughed.

"We can go across street to the bar, get food to go?"

"Sounds like a good plan." She said with a smile as she threw her coat on and handed him his. He slipped it on and then opened the door for her bowing.

"My lady." He said.

"Thank you kind sir." She said curtseying before heading through the curtain that led to the stairs. When they got to the gate that led them down to their private facility it slid open with the use of a password and let them out. Viktor took her hand in his as they headed out of the facility and down an alley to the man road of Hogsmeade. The small town was starting to settle down for the night, but some shops were still open, the glow from the candles inside their windows giving the town a magical feel.

"Haf you been to this place before?" he asked as they headed across the street to a bar.

"Oh yeah Madame Rosmerta has some of the best butter beer, and food around." She said. Just when they got to the door they felt the earth shake beneath them causing both Viktor and Hermione to stop in their tracks.

"What was that?" Viktor asked.

"Felt like a tremor…" she said looking around. She had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Come on lets head inside…" Viktor could see the troubled look in her eyes.

"What is it Luff?" he asked as they walked inside.

"Nothing just don't like uh earthquakes."

"So you two felt that too?" Madame Rosmerta asked from the bar.

"Yeah, felt like a tremor." She said.

"Haven't had one of those in years…" she muttered. "So Hermione what are you doing out in the middle of the night?"

"Oh well uhm…I…You see the thing… I guess…"

"Don't worry I won't tell I was you're age once." she said with a knowing smile. "And you brought a boy with you?" Rosmerta looked at Viktor. "A famous boy."

"Madame ros-."

"Again I won't tell… You know when I was around your age I dated Marcus Taleth…" Viktors eyes grew big.

"The famous beater?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, I like em strong… You obviously like em fast Mione." She said eyeing Viktor with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Saucy Madame very saucy." Hermione said with a laugh.

"I can't seem to help it, any ways what can I get you two?"

"You're ham and swiss for me." Hermione said.

"I will haf same." Viktor said. Just as Madame Rosemerta was heading into the kitchen when a deafening bang sounded followed by a earth shattering quake. Hermione fell back into Viktor's arms who lifted her up and held her to his body.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Rosmerta asked as she slowly picked herself off the ground. "Ah look at that my crystal wine glasses ruined!" she said pointing to the ground where they lay shattered. "Reparo." She muttered pointing her wand it hoping to god they fitted back together properly. "Damn earthquake."

"It's not an earthquake." Hermione muttered and Viktor looked to her. "This is something different." Just as she said it they saw a bright green light shoot by the window. While a death eater rushed past it.

"You two kids better get out of here quickly. Through the back." she said pushing them off.

"Come on." Viktor grabbed Hermione's hand as he pulled out his wand, she already had hers at the ready.

"We have to go to the shrieking shack." She said.

"We'll fly." He said.

"We can't Viktor they could be up in the sky it's too dangerous." His mind flashed back to when he was flying them to the town and he had sworn he had seen a dark cloaked figure. He now realized that it hadn't been his imagination he had flown past a death eater.

"You're right can you get us to this shack?" he asked.

"Yes follow me, but you have to be quick." As they ran Hermione cursed herself for wearing heels. She was thankful for a moment for talking Ginny out of making her wear the six inch ones and settled for the three and half inch. Suddenly Hermione stopped and pulled Viktor behind a tree. She had seen something move quick through the forest that surrounded the shack. It was fast, and shaped like a rain cloud that left a trail of darkness in its wake.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Saw something…" she peeked out from behind the tree to see it was gone. She transfigured her heels into flats thankful she had bothered to learn the spell. "Alright… Move…" she sprinted off Viktor's hand held tightly in hers as he followed.

"This way I saw some one!" they heard some bellow.

"There it is we can make it!" she whispered as they broke through the thick forest to see the shrieking shack. A loud bang sounded but it wasn't from a curse but from thunder. It lit up the shack giving it a haunting look as rain began to fall at a rapid speed.

"Wait a minute I've heard of place it is not safe. Is haunted." Viktor said.

"It's is safe don't worry I've been in it its fine…" she said as she pulled him towards the trail that led to it.

"Watch out!" Viktor tackled Hermione to the ground just as green beam of light was headed towards her. "Come on!"

He pulled her to her feet and began to run as fast as he could firing curses over his shoulder as he did. Hermione waved her wand with a small smirk. The path behind them turned to ice causing the one death eater who was running after them to slip and fall.

"Childs play but it works." She muttered. "Indecarserus!" she bound the death eater just as they made it inside the shack. "Okay okay where did Harry and I come through…" her eyes looked around and then spotted a trap door by the stair well. "This way!" she rushed over to it and tried to pull only to find it wouldn't budge. "No no…" Viktor began to help her only to find even with his strength it wouldn't open. "They must have sealed it after Harry and I discovered the passage… Alright move aside…" he did as she said as she aimed her wand while turning her face away. A huge explosion sounded and smoke formed when it cleared they found the trap door still completely in tacked. "Damn it!" she shouted as she looked to see three death eaters rushing down the path way past their fallen friend. "I'm so sorry I didn't know." She said to him.

"You couldn't haf known luff. Come on." he took her hand and rushed up the stairs.

"Where are we going?"

"If there is a passage way then that means Hogwarts is not too far off we can make it." he said.

"We're going to attempt to fly?" she asked.

"I vill fly and if we are attacked you vill curse." He said.

"Alright." She nodded.

"I must warn you." He pulled out his shrunken racing broom to have it grow to its original size. "I will be going very fast. The storm will make ride rough." She looked out the window to see thunder lighting up the sky as rain flew down from storm clouds.

"I'll be fine." she said not even flinching. He didn't see any fear in her eyes just fire. He set it out and it balanced for them to get on. Viktor was first and then Hermione got onto his lap her arm aimed at the door to the room they were in. Two death eaters burst in just as Viktor was flying off.

"Reducto!" she shouted. It hit one square in the chest just as Viktor's Broom shot off at an alarming speed. The rain slammed into their skin and somewhat blinded their vision. Even so Hermione could see them, dark shadows flying by them firing curses and hexes. They were closing in on them, Hermione wasn't sure what to do, who to curse first. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Hermione you see them right?" he asked as he watched the death eaters approach. "Hermione…." he needed her to fire a curse he couldn't do it not when flying in this weather. "Hermione…" he said again. Viktor felt a huge wave of power suddenly fly through him he watched as ten shadows around them were sent flying back.

"Did I get them all?" Hermione asked.

"Then some!" he shouted. "Look there I see castle!" she looked and smiled, Hogwarts had never looked so good before.

"We're going to make it!" just as the words left her mouth a bright red light hit Hermione knocking her off the broom.

"Hermione!" Viktor bellowed as he watched her body start to tumble through the dark storm clouds at a rapid speed. "No no!" he went into a dive not carrying if there was a death eater right on his tail. He couldn't see her anywhere. "Hermione!" a flash of light followed by a loud boom of thunder lit up the sky. He could see her not to far off from where he was. "Hermione hold on!" she was nearing the ground fast. As he neared her he could see her eyes closed as her body fell limply. He flew past her knowing he would have to catch her and with expert precision he swung underneath her body catching her easily as he sped off.

He spotted his cabin and flew down into the forest that surrounded it for cover. He couldn't risk flying her all the way to Hogwarts not with death eaters around. He threw his broom aside as he ran up to the cabin the unconscious Hermione held in his arms. He rushed inside and laid her down on the bed gently before rushing back up to raise the protective charms he had set around it. Originally it was meant for pesky fan girls but now it would do just fine against any death eaters. When they were up he ran back inside and closed the door. He flipped off the lights to make sure no one would think anyone was around.

"Mmm…"

"Hermione…" her rushed over to the bed and took her hand in his.

"Viktor…" she muttered as her head moving back and forth. "What happened?"

"You were knocked off the broom." He said.

"Where are we?" she asked as her eyes slowly beginning to open.

"My cabin…"

"No… We have to get to the castle..."

"I couldn't risk flying you there and haf you be knocked off again." Viktor said. "We must stay put."

"We have to worn everyone…" she said coughing slightly. "Have to warn them…" she trembled as the cold from her wet clothes began to settle in her bones. Viktor quickly stood and walked over to his dresser as he did he caught a look outside to see a bunch of white lighted clouds zooming out from Hogwarts.

"They vill be fine, Aurors have shown."

"Are… Are you sure?" Hermione tried to sit up only have pain spread through her arm. "Ah…" she hissed in pain.

"What is it?" he asked rushing forward a towel in hand.

"My arm…" she said sitting back against his head board.

"Here Luff…" he handed her a towel as he lit a candle by his bed. He could see blood trickling down her hand to form a puddle on the ground below. He slowly pushed the jacket off her shoulder to reveal a large burn on her tricep. Blood was flowing down her arm and soaking through her white lace shirt. "Must have been from curse… I can heal… you vill be fine." he said gently as he took the arm. He stretched out her arm only to have her cry out. "Sorry sorry…"

"Its broken…" she said through clenched teeth, the pain was steadily beginning to build. He looked down to see the arm had an odd curve in it.

"I can fix that too…" he said as he pulled out his wand.

"Looks like years of Quidditch injuries are coming in hand." she chuckled trying to conceal the pain she was in. Viktor could still hear the tremble in her voice.

"This may hurt…" he said.

"I know… It's happened before." she said.

"Alright… Episky." With a loud snap her bone healed while pain radiated through Hermione's body. He had seen men on his team cry in pain when ever bones were set but Hermione's head just threw back her mouth shut tightly as she with held a scream of pain in. "Does it feel okay?" he asked quickly. "Does it feel right?"

"Yeah yeah…" she said breathing hard. "Hurts but the bone is set right." She said.

"Alright... Onto the burn this should hurt less." He didn't even have to mutter a spell he just waved his wand over the wound a few times. Each time his wand past over the burn it faded until a new patch of skin was set in its place.

"Thank you…" she said softly as she looked over her arm. She then looked to him and frowned. "You're all wet."

"So are you." He said.

"Not to mention freezing." She pointed her wand at herself and dried her clothes before turning the wand on Viktor and doing the same.

"Thank you." He said.

"Yeah…" She picked up her jacket. "This is beyond repair I don't care what spell I use it won't work with a hole this big… Too bad, it was one of my favorites." He watched as the thumbed the fabric slowly. "Won't ever be right again…" she muttered with a distant gaze.

"Luff… Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah uhm…" she looked like she was about to say something but she shook her head. "Yeah…" he reached out and placed a hand on her cheek.

"Luff." she looked at him slowly her eyes burning like they had before. Only this time it wasn't with defiance or with bravery it was the same look she had given him in the cave during the world cup. Before he could say anything a loud pop sounded and before them stood Jamous.

"Thank god!" he shouted in Bulgarian. "Oh man…" he saw the state they were in. "What happened?" his eyes went to the pool of blood on the ground and stain in Hermione's shirt.

"We were caught in the cross fire." Viktor replied in English. "Hermione was injured."

"Are you alright?" Jamous asked walking over.

"I'm fine, thanks to Viktor." She said.

"Both head masters are looking for you two. They want to know your safe."

"Just tell them we are… We're going to stay here until it is safe." Viktor said.

"I'm not sure they vill like idea of Hermione staying."

"Trust me when I say Dumbledore will understand." She said. Jamous only nodded.

"If you are sure?"

"I am." Viktor said.

"Alright." With a loud pop Jamous was gone. Viktor looked at the spot he had been standing for a long moment before turning to look at Hermione who was folding her jacket and swinging her legs over the bed to get up.

"You should rest." He said.

"Don't think I can." She said. Viktor slowly sat down on the bed next to her.

"Are you okay?" They asked at the same time before smiling to themselves. They were silent for seemingly an hour until Viktor looked over at Hermione who had one of the most troubled expressions he had ever seen.

"Are you okay though?" he asked. She only nodded. "Luff…" he moved in front of her and kneeled to cup her hands in his. "Please… Do not hold back on me…"

"I'm okay really it's just…" she looked to him. "I'm troubled…"

"What is it that troubles you?" he asked.

"When I fell…" she said looking to him. "I thought I was going to die…" he nodded. "My life it flashed before my eyes." she waved her hand in front of her face to emphasize. "But it wasn't my life I saw."

"What is it you mean?" he asked.

"It wasn't mine… I didn't see my parents didn't see my childhood… I just saw Harry and Ron… I've just realized that my whole life has been spent on them… Which I don't mind." She said looking to him. "I love Harry and Ron… I would do anything for them… I consider Harry to be my brother… But… I'm not sure… It was just uhm kind of an eye opener, and I'm not even sure what my eyes have been opened to…" she looked to him. "That made no sense did it?" he smiled.

"It made perfect sense to me." He said. "I once fell from my broom during game and all I saw was my couch yelling at me to be best." He said. "Because this was whole life."

"Did you feel regret?"

"A little until I realized I was alive." She smiled. "Did you feel regret?"

"Just a smidgen… But then I realized I was alive." He smiled.

"It is odd thing close death experiences." He said, suddenly he looked down at the hands he held tightly. "I am sorry…" Hermione looked to him.

"What why?"

"I let you fall."

"I let me fall." she said "I wasn't holding onto anything it was my own fault."

"Not your fault." He said. "Besides you weren't holding onto anything because you were knocked out from curse."

"I was knocked out before curse…" she said. "That last spell kind of drained me."

"I felt the power." He said looking to her. "You have much inside you…"

"Yeah I've never done that before… I mean I've frozen things in place but this time…It was different."

"Why did you not just hit them with spell?" he asked.

"Too many couldn't take the time to hit them one by one. If I did I risked you being hit." He laughed to himself. "What?" she asked with a soft smile.

"Our roles are very how you say… Reversed? I am supposed to take care of you protect you but you always end up doing this."

"Hey you caught me when I fell." She said.

"Still you risked life once more to make sure I was safe."

"So? Sometimes a little risk is okay." She said.

"I wish you would let me risk for you."

"Alright." She said with a small smile. "How is this? I promise to try and let you… Take… Care… Of me." Viktor couldn't help but smile at her lack of enthusiasm in her words.

"You are very independent." He said kissing her hands.

"Does it bother you?"

"No it is… uhm…" he looked up in thought. "Turn on?" she smiled with a blush.

"That's good…"

"You blush!" he pointed to her cheek. "I haf never seen this!" Hermione laughed lightly at how excited he looked. He smiled, it was nice to hear her laugh, any troubling expression she had had was gone as she smiled brightly at him. A loud pop sounded making both jump before a small laugh came from Hermione.

"Dobby!"

"Miss Granger!" Viktor watched with interest as Hermione got down on her knees and hugged an oddly dressed house elf that had six hats stacked on his head.

"I haven't seen you in so long!" she said.

"It has been while."

"You're here at Hogwarts?" she asked.

"Yes miss, Dumbledore has given me job and he pays me as well."

"That's so great dobby. How's the fight to free the other house elves?"

"Well your hats have helped a little but when they figured out you were trying to liberate them they did not take them but as you see I quite enjoy them." He bowed and emphasized as the hats fell. He snapped his fingers and had them go back to his head magically.

"Well at least some one is enjoying them." She said as she stood she then turned and smiled at the dumbfounded looking Bulgarian. "Viktor this is my dear friend dobby."

"Uh it is… Nice to meet you." He said bowing.

"You to sir." Dobby bowed the hats falling once more. Hermione knelt and picked them up this time.

"You know you don't have to wear them all at once… Though the look does very much suit you." She said.

"Make me another vest and I will be much more stylish." Hermione laughed.

"I'll start working on it right away blue or red?"

"I have blue one red would be very nice miss."

He is asking things of her? This… This isn't usual…

"Alright I'll try and have it done by Saturday… So what brings you to Viktors cabin?"

"I was sent by Dumbledore he wants me to bring food when I heard you were here I thought I would come get specific thing you would like." He said looking at her. Viktor watched as the house elf walked forward and took Hermione's hand. "You are okay right miss? We have heard of death eater attack you were in cross fire?"

"Oh I'm fine thanks to Viktor."

"Then I am grateful to you sir." Dobby said as he hopped over to the tall Bulgarian. "Thank you for keeping miss safe."

"It was… Pleasure." Viktor found this whole situation odd. Hermione had called the house elf friend. The House elf had taken her hand in an almost endearing way. He then requested Hermione to make a vest for him. He had never heard of a house elf ever requesting anything.

"I shall bring big meal what are you in mood for?" Dobby asked turning to Hermione.

"You know what I like." She said with a soft smile. "But don't stress yourself out… In fact you could just bring us something left over."

"No no no this will not due I will have fresh food sent right away." before Hermione could protest the house elf disappeared. She turned slowly and smiled at Viktor who had the oddest look.

"What?" she asked.

"You are friends with house elf?" she looked at him for a long moment. "How do you know him?"

"Uh its kinda a long story… I know him through Harry."

"Not so long."

"Well I shortened it… Do you not approve of house elfs coexisting with wizards?"

"No its just I haf never met anyone who has befriended small house elf."

"It's hard not to…" she said. "They have it really rough…" he raised an eyebrow.

"I think house elfs like work they do…"

"Of course because they've never known any other life." She said looking to him. "Poor dobby was abused and nearly killed by his masters the malfoys."

"He was employed to them?" he asked moving forward. "Poor little guy. We haf house elves though but we do not treat them in such way."

"No?"

"No… Mother has house just for them to live in and sleep in. And when clothes get to big or to small we get new ones."

"Wouldn't that free them?"

"Yes but they stay still." He said with a smile, it made her laugh.

"Do you pay them?" she asked.

"They vill not take money at least not yet… Mother would like them to though."

"Looks like your mother and I have a lot in common." He smiled.

"You really do, I think you two would make good friends. You two should meet."

"Meet?" she asked.

"Yes, she vill be here with father for first task if it is alright with you I would very much like them to meet you." She saw the uncertainty in her eyes. "What is it Luff?"

"Well… How do they feel about me… Being a… Well a muggle born?"

"They do not care." He said with a big smile.

"Have you told them… About me?"

"Not… Not yet…" he said. "Does this bother you?"

"No." she said. "I haven't told my parents about you either… I didn't know how to explain what we are."

"What we are?" he asked. "I do not understand."

"Well… What are we? Are we friends, are we in a relationship…"

"You are my…" he searched for word. "Lady…" he walked towards her. "Haf I not made this clear?"

"No… I think you have I, just wasn't sure." She said.

"If you only thought then you didn't know which means things were not clear." He took her hands in his. "For this I am sorry…" he pushed a strand of hair from her eyes.

"Don't be sorry."

"No I should, you should have known how I felt… What I wanted. The fact I did not make this clear and left you in a state of questioning is bad… I vill make feelings clear now… You are most brilliant witch I haf ever met, not to mention the must stunning. I wish for you to be my Lady… To be my one and only Lady. To be my Mina… What do you say?"

"Of course I say yes." She said with a small laugh. He kissed the back of her hand just as food landed in the middle of the cabin.

"Candle lit dinner?" he asked.

"Don't mind if I do." She said.

-o-

The dinner was light and full of nice banter. Any fear they had felt form the attack was gone and replaced with happiness. Both were glad to be each other's presence, one more than the other could ever know. When it was done Viktor caught Hermione give a small yawn.

"Time to retire?" he asked.

"I think so… Do you think it's safe to go back to the castle."

"I thought you might stay here tonight." She looked to him. "I don't mean that we would…" his fingers circled in a suggestive manner that made her laugh.

"I know." She said making him smile. "I just don't think it would be a good idea if I stayed here tonight…"

"Oh…" he looked down at his feet.

"No not because I don't want to it's just uhm I think you'll be needing your rest and to be honest I don't think I can sleep even though I'm tired… I'm still a bit jittery…"

"I vill stay up with you." He said.

"No no its okay." She said. "You need to rest you have a long day tomorrow."

"I do?" he asked.

"Mhm…" she said as she walked over to him. "The fan girls will be swarming around you more than ever."

"Why is this?"

"Well it's the start of the weekend… They will be hungrier than ever for your attention."

"When can we come out to world about us?" he asked.

"Mmm… I don't really know." She said. "After our parents meet each one of us… I don't want my mother and father to hear I'm in relationship from the daily prophet… and I certainly don't want that to happen if they haven't met you yet." He nodded.

"This is good plan." He said.

"Well I had a really nice night… Despite the almost being killed part." She said walking over to him. She slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him one of the most gentle kisses he had ever experienced.

"You don't haf to leave." he whispered against her lips.

"I know… but I should… You need your rest." Viktor leaned his forehead against hers and took a deep breath.

"I vill not be able to rest not if you are not in my sight… I need to know you are safe… I vill be gentleman I promise." He said. Hermione looked to him for a long moment.

"Dobby?" he frowned knowing she had chosen to leave.

"Yes miss?" the elf asked popping into sight. Hermione turned.

"Could you maybe send a change of clothes here?" Viktor smiled.

"Yes miss." He bowed and popped out of sight catching one of his many hats in the process.

"I will stay but only if you sleep." She said.

"And what of you? Won't you try to rest?"

"Maybe…" she said. "We'll see."

-o-

Hermione walked out of the bathroom wearing a pair of old flannel pajama bottoms and a plain white t shirt. She handed dobby her old clothes and with a bow he popped out of sight. Viktor was wearing red sweat pants with a grey T shirt as he sat on the couch reading up on a Quidditch play book. Hermione smiled as she walked over to him. He looked up slowly and immediately stood. Though she had looked stunning before, as she was standing before him she had never seemed so perfect. Her long wavy hair was pulled up into a loose pony tail. She wore no makeup and yet she was stunning as her chocolate eyes stared at him. Though she was radiant to him he couldn't help but notice what the lack of makeup revealed.

He walked forward and placed a hand on her cheek. His thumb stroked the skin lightly. It was smooth and without any fault but he could see the soft circles beneath her eyes and the worry that had been slowly beginning to show from years of fighting alongside Harry.

"What is it?" she asked softly.

"You look very tried luff." He said. "When was last time you slept?"

"Oh let's see… I guess it was the night of our first date…" she said like it was no big deal. Without warning Viktor swept Hermione off her feet and began to carry her to bed.

"This vill not do." He said. "You must sleep and rest…"

"Then carry me to the couch. I'm not taking your bed."

"Is much more comfortavle then stuffy couch."

"Exactly why I should use it and you use the bed." he laughed.

"I said I would be gentleman this entails you sleeping on bed and me on couch." He said.

"Viktor I'm really okay."

"You can either try to rest by self, or I can knock you out with sleep draft your choice." She scowled up at him. "I mean only best intentions luff."

"I'll need the sleep draft." She said with a stubborn look.