Hey everyone! First of all, I just want to say thank you so much for all the love on both this story and the epilogue of For the Love of a Daughter. Y'all are absolutely amazing. Second, I'm super excited to get to our Viktor chapters so I'm posting early this week and I'll definitely be posting more than once. You'll get to at least see Hermione and Viktor's first day together this weekend. :o) I can't wait to hear what you think!
Love,
Adrien
Disclaimer: Sadly, the Potterverse still belongs to J. K. Rowling and I am still my broke self.
Chapter Two: A Potterhead Spin on The Notebook
"Are you sure we can trust him?" Harry asks late that night when Hermione is curled up on the bed in the room Professor Snape had provided her in Prince Manor, an unplotted property he had inherited after his mother's passing.
"My gut says yes but we should wait. Just until I'm out of the country and some place safe," Hermione whispers, not wanting Professor Snape to overhear her, just in case he couldn't be trusted.
Harry nods and opens his mouth to speak but a knock on her bedroom door cuts him off. Love you, he mouths. Always, she replies before shutting her mirror and placing it under her pillow before calling out, "It's open."
"I have to go but I'll be back as soon as I can," Professor Snape tells her, his left hand flexing in an attempt to shake the stinging from his Dark Mark.
"Stay safe," she tells him.
"Always," he replies, giving her a sad sort of half smile.
"And Professor?" she calls out to him as he turns to leave.
He turns back, an eyebrow raised in question.
"Thank you."
"Always," he replies again, once again giving her that sad smile.
When he leaves this time she doesn't stop him, she just slides underneath the covers and clutches her mirror to her chest as he shuts the door. Her last thought before she goes to sleep is of the two people who she hoped more than anything would be safe until she could figure out how exactly she was going to get her plan to work.
CRACK! Hermione's eyes snap open, one hand gripping her wand and the other gripping her mirror as she rolls out of bed and onto her feet at the unexpected noise.
"The Great Harry Potter sends Dobby with the rest of his Hermy's things," the wide-eyed elf squeaks, flinching away from the top of her wand in fright.
Hermione immediately places her wand behind her ear and kneels beside the terrified elf. "I'm so sorry, love, I didn't mean to scare you. I just wasn't expecting you is all," she attempts to soothe the elf, pulling him into her arms and hugging him softly.
"The Great Harry Potter said Miss Hermy should be treated nicely but he did not tell Dobby Miss Hermy was so kind," the small elf sobs into her chest, clutching her nightgown tightly in his small hands.
"I think you are the kind one here Dobby, thank you for helping us."
"Dobby would do anything for the Great House of Potter!" Dobby pulls away, grinning at the young witch.
"The Great House of Potter?" Hermione asks, raising her eyebrows in question.
"You and the Great Harry Potter, miss."
"But Harry and I aren't related."
"You is bonded, miss. Happened yesterday, Dobby saw it when the Great Harry Potter called for Dobby's help. Would Miss Hermy like the things she left behind now?"
That's something she would have to look into later, maybe ask Professor Snape if he could be trusted. "I would greatly appreciate it, Dobby."
"Dobby got everything could from the Grangy residence but not much was left to get." The small elf began pulling things from his many pockets, enlarging them and placing them on the floor in front of Hermione. Charred books, smokey smelling clothes, and other knick knacks from the place she had grown up were set on the ground around her, reminding her of a place she could never go back to. But it wasn't until the small elf pulled out a photo album she had never seen before and placed two familiar wedding bands on top of the album that the tears began streaking down her cheeks. "Dobby placed all the pictures and letters he could find into this book for Miss Hermy. If Miss Hermy does not like it, Dobby can do something else. Dobby just though Miss Hermy might like to have them all in one place like the Great Harry Potter."
Hermione pulls the small elf into another hug. "It's perfect. Thank you, Dobby."
"Anything for Miss Hermy." The elf grins at her and pulls away as she wipes her cheeks. "Would Miss Hermy like to see what else Dobby found?"
"You found more? But I thought you didn't find much at the Granger Residence. Did I forget something at Grimmauld Place?"
Dobby shakes his head and pulls a stack of unopened letters carelessly tied together with fraying twine and stacked on top of a small package from his pockets before handing them to Hermione. "No, Miss Hermy. Dobby found these at Hogywarts with Dumblydore."
Hermione glances down at the letters in her hands, her eyes widening as she recognizes the handwriting. Hers and... Viktor's. But why would Dumbledore take her letters? "Dobby... Do you know why Dumbledore had these?"
"Sorry, Miss Hermy. Dobby does not know but Dobby could find out if that pleases Miss Hermy."
"I would really appreciate that, Dobby. Thank you."
"Anything for Miss Hermy and the Great House of Potter." The house elf grins before popping out of the room.
Hermione turns her attention to the oldest letter, one with her name and the Weasley's address in Viktor's handwriting, and sets the package to the side because it appears to be the newest thing in the pile.
Dear Hermione,
I hope this reaches you well and that Ronald Weasley isn't giving you too hard of a time. Thank you for sending the Weasley's address with your last letter so our letters didn't have to stop until your return to Hogwarts. I've enjoyed being able to write with you this summer and only wish you had been able to visit. Maybe next year, though? My Mama and Papa are really looking forward to meeting you.
I read the book you suggested in your last letter, The Great Gatsby, and you were right. It is amazing and it definitely makes me want to read more American literature. I really shouldn't be surprised by that though, I should be used to you always being right by this point. Have you had a chance to read the book I recommended yet?
I miss you and look forward to hearing from you soon.
With Love,
Viktor
Dear Hermione,
Did my last letter make it to you alright? I fear I may have written the address wrong so I'm sending this one to Hogwarts, I know you're back in school by now.
I hope you're doing well and that I hear from you soon.
I miss you.
With Love,
Viktor
Dear Hermione,
I know it hasn't been a week since my last letter and that I shouldn't be pressing you for a response but it's your birthday and I wanted to send you a gift even if you no longer wish to correspond.
You mentioned once how much you would love to have a locket and I hope, if nothing else, this locket reminds you of a wonderful year and an old friend.
Happy birthday, Hermione. I hope you have a good day.
I miss you.
With Love,
Viktor
Hermione looks at the delicate golden locket that had fallen into her lap when she opened the letter. It was a simple circle with an intricate rose design etched into its surface at first gaze but when she opens it, a miniature version of her and Viktor at the Yule Ball dance around the flat surface as the last song they'd danced together tinkles in her ears. Hermione watches them for a moment, tears gathering in her eyes, before closing the locket and placing it safely around her neck.
Each letter after that became progressively shorter though one continued to come every week until they stop a week before Christmas and all that is left is the package which Hermione opens with slow, reluctant fingers.
Happy Christmas, Hermione. I hope this finds you well and that your New Year is everything you wish it to be. I also wanted to let you know that this is the last time you will hear from me, I know when I am not wanted and I will no longer continue pressing myself on you, but if you ever wish to reach me, just write in this book and your letter will reach me wherever I am in the world. If you don't wish to write me, however, you can just use this book as a sort of journal.
Someone with a mind as beautiful as yours deserves someplace where they can express that beauty freely. I won't be able to read what you write unless you start it with "Dear Viktor" and end them with "With Love, Hermione". This book will never run out of space for you to write. I charmed it myself so if you have any issues, you can blame one too many bludgers to the head.
I miss you.
With Love,
Viktor
Hermione strokes the cover of the journal Viktor had taken such care to create for her, tears silently streaking down her face over the time they had lost because they didn't fit into some crackpot fool's plot. Anger bubbles in her chest and Hermione roughly brushes her tears from her cheeks before she grabs the unopened letters she had written and marches over to her still packed trunk in order to retrieve parchment, ink, and her favorite quill.
Dear Viktor,
I wouldn't blame you if you took one look at this letter and decided to set it aflame. Honestly, you've probably long forgotten about me. Why bother remembering someone who doesn't write after all?
You should know, though, that I never meant to stop writing to you. In fact, I only just got all of your letters as well as the birthday gift and Christmas present you gave me. (Both of which are absolutely gorgeous and ingenious by the way and far more than I deserve. Especially considering the fact that you thought I was ignoring you.) A lot of things have come out lately, including the theft of our letters, and it's too much to write in a letter otherwise I would tell you in a heartbeat. I just thought you deserved to know that I hadn't abandoned you and that you deserved to be able to read the letters I wrote to you the same way I read all the letters you wrote me.
I can't give you an address to reach me at because I don't know where I'll be come tomorrow let alone in the next few months. All I know is that I won't be at Hogwarts or in Britain in general, it's not safe for me any longer. However, I will be carrying the journal you made for me and I would love it if you would start writing to me again. I promise to respond this time.
I miss you.
With Love,
Hermione
Hermione gently blows on the ink until it dries before placing it in an envelope and writing "Read me first, please." above her seal on the back of the letter then his name on the front.
"Dobby?" Hermione calls into the open air.
CRACK! "What can Dobby do for the lovely Miss Hermy?" Dobby answers almost immediately.
"Could you take these to Viktor Krum for me, please? You're the only one I can trust to get them to him safely, Dobby." Hermione holds the stack out with shaky hands as she stares pleadingly at the small elf.
"Dobby will make sure Hermy's Krum gets her letters and no one else." The small elf takes the letters and pops away before Hermione can thank him.
Hermione takes a few deep breathes before rising and walking where she grabs a fresh set of clothes before padding to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
A nice soak in the tub normally relax Hermione and even though she knows all the water in the world couldn't ease her mind today, Hermione still attempts to scrub away her pain. It doesn't work of course and the only thing she succeeds in doing is making her skin raw.
Her right hand is on the door handle, her mirror in her left, her journal tucked under her arm, and her wand behind her ear when Dobby pops back into the room.
"Dobby had given Miss Hermy's Krum the letters. Sorry it took Dobby so long, miss." The small elf is wringing his ear in his hands like he's afraid she'll start yelling at him for taking so long.
"Thank you for getting them to him so quickly, Dobby." Hermione squats down beside him and kisses the top of his head. "You'll never know how much I appreciate it."
A bright blush flares through Dobby's cheeks and ears before he asks, "Is there anything else Dobby can do for Miss Hermy?"
"Not right now, Dobby. Thank you though. I'll let you know next time I need your help." She hugs the small elf once more before pulling away and standing up.
"Any time, Ms. Hermy." Dobby grins at her before disappearing with a CRACK!
Hermione takes a deep breath, slips her mirror into her pocket, brushes her fingers against the wand tucked behind her ear, and hugs her journal to her chest to double check that she has everything important before opening the door and exiting her room.
She's at the bottom of the stairs when she hears Professor Snape's muffled voice coming from behind the door to his personal study.
"Bloody hell," he hisses, his voice strained.
Hermione's hand is knocking on the door before she can completely comprehend what she is doing, "Are you alright, professor?"
A thud, another muffled curse, and a bit of shuffling later, the study door finally opens. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Miss Granger," Professor states, leaning heavily against the door.
Hermione's eyes rack over her the disheveled appearance of her usually put together potion's professor and the sloppily done bandage on his left hand. "Clearly," she drawls in a tone so similar to his that you would think they were related if you didn't know better as she pushes past him into the study, quickly striding toward the desk where a cauldron is heating up and ingredients are spread out. Setting down her journal, she pulls her wand from behind her ear and turns back to her Potion's Professor. "Sit," she commands, flicking her wand toward the nearest chair.
The fact that he actually follows her command (though he does so while muttering about "do-gooder Gryffindors" and "bloody know-it-alls") and slowly shuffles into the chair that is now facing her shows how much pain he is in.
"Your hand." She holds out her own hand and he shakily raises his bandaged hand so that he can place it in hers. His hand continues to shake as she unwinds his terrible wrap job to reveal a deep but precise cut, the kind of precise cut a Potion's Master makes when trying to cut ingredients with shaking hands. "You should have asked for my help instead of trying to brew yourself," Hermione states as she waves her wand above his hand in a movement she had memorized by her second year (One of the side effects of being best friends with Harry Potter.) and the skin begins to stitch itself together.
"I've been taking care of myself my entire life, Miss Granger," Professor Snape drawls, flexing his hand once she releases it.
"But you don't have to," Hermione tells him honestly.
"You won't be here forever, Miss Granger."
"But I can be here when you need me," she states, her determined gaze holding his for a few moments before she turns and makes her way around the desk to the ingredients.
Professor Snape doesn't reply. Instead, he watches her as she rolls up her sleeves and begins following the instructions for brewing the potion to relieve the after effects of the Crutiatus Curse.
She had just filled a goblet with potion when she got the nagging feeling that her journal needed to be checked. "I'll take my leave now. You should get some rest, we have much to discuss once you are healed." Hermione gives her professor a soft smile then grabs her journal from the desk and strides toward the door.
"Thank you, Miss Granger," Professor Snape's soft voice stops her as she is opening the door.
She turns her head and gives the man another smile. "Any time, Professor."
She turns back around, quickly exits the room, and makes her way up the stairs at a steady pace. Precariously throwing up wards as she closes the door, she opens her journal and begins reading.
Dear Hermione,
I could never forget you, Hermione, you are as unforgettable as they come. And like I told you in my last letter, I will always answer you no matter how long it has been since I last heard from you.
It sounds as though we have much to catch up on and that you are no longer safe in your home country. Please come stay with me in Bulgaria. I can keep you safe. Please, Mila.
I miss you.
With Love,
Viktor