A/N: Hello everyone! Welcome back to another fic :) To be honest, this one fought me. I swear I had four or five different ideas that I tried writing, and it just wouldn't go anywhere, until I refreshed myself after reading An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton series. So, this fic is dedicated to Lady Whistledown and her Society Papers (aka gossip column). To be honest, that was the only way I was able to convincingly incorporate one of my prompts without going full Pride & Prejudice remake on this with Mr. Darcy and the Bingleys. "Did you see her hem? Nearly 3 inches covered in mud. Positively medieval…"

I've been meaning to write another Vikmione, that follows slightly closer to canon. No particular bashing in this one. Everyone's stayed friends despite relationship fallouts :)

This one is for Round 2 of The Houses Competition, where I'm in Slytherin House and writing for Transfiguration. This competition, we have to write a drabble (500-1000 words) as well as a standard (1000-3000 words). This fic is the Standard of the two. I've chosen the prompts [Event] A formal breakfast and [Object] Newspaper)

This was also written for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments) Assignment #6 (Foreign Exchange: Foreign Exchange Students-Task #2: Viktor Krum). I write for Ravenclaw house, and tbh, have been falling behind on my assignments, despite me being a part-time student. Work has just been kicking my butt lately, so I'm glad I'm able to multi-task and write more about one of my favorite pairings :)

Thank you kindly to Ash, Dhrish, Aya, and Hope for betaing this.

Word Count: 1570

Disclaimers/Warnings:

Summary: Newly engaged couple Hermione Granger and Viktor Krum face their toughest battle yet: the official first meeting of the groom's parents.

Rita Skeeter's Society Papers

Brightest Witch of her Age engaged to Buff Bulgarian Beau!

By Rita Skeeter

Welcome back, dear readers, to another column that covers the lives of artists, athletes, heroes, and everyone in between! This honored author has some exciting intel to share! Our dear Miss Hermione Granger, best friend to the Man Who Conquered, Brightest Witch of her Age, and staunch supporter for equality, has gotten engaged! My dear readers, do you know who had finally caught the eye, and the hand, of our hard-working heroine?

It is none other than Viktor Krum, star Seeker for the Bulgarian National Team! It seems the two reconnected at the wedding of the Man Who Conquered and his blushing bride, Ginny Weasley. Stay tuned, dear readers, as this author uncovers the whirlwind romance of two reconnecting lovers.

Last weekend, the witch and wizard in question were spotted walking, shoulder to shoulder, through the streets of Hogsmeade to visit everyone's favorite Scottish pub, the Three Broomsticks. While the bewitching Miss Granger laughed at something charming Mr. Krum had said, those around them couldn't help but stare at the interaction between the power couple before them. Some say that this trip had been planned to be the moment where Mr. Krum proposed, but some unforeseen circumstances had waylaid his carefully laid plans...

Hermione scoffed as she read the latest Rita Skeeter article in the Daily Prophet. After nearly a decade of minding her quill, it seemed as though Rita finally returned to her roots, and resumed writing about anyone noteworthy, including herself and her friends, who had previously been off limits. They were moving on with their lives, after all. Nearly everyone in their social circle were settling down and starting families. After her hit book, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, Rita dove back into journalism with a gusto. However, it seemed that while her tastes stayed with the sensational, her methods, rightfully so, migrated towards a weekly gossip column. The new style looked good on her, however, and Hermione had to admit, Rita had gotten better at reporting the truth, instead of fabricating it.

Hermione refused to admit, however, that in recent years she even enjoyed reading the column every once in a while. With how busy everyone's lives had gotten, it really was the only way she had been able to keep up with the goings on in her friends' and classmates' lives.

"Skeeter at it again?" Viktor asked, glancing at the newspaper, as he kissed her cheek in greeting before taking his seat at the breakfast table. She hummed in acknowledgement before turning the page to see if there was anything else noteworthy in the Prophet. There was a small note on the fifth page about her achieving her Mastery in Transfiguration, and she scowled at the realisation that her love life was of more interest to the British Wizarding Community than her achievements.

Viktor reached to grab a piece of toast for himself, but Hermione lightly slapped his hands away.

"Your parents will be here any moment!" she scolded, and he merely grinned in response.

"My love, I doubt that my parents would care if I ate a single piece of toast before they got here," he shot back before leaning in to kiss her. Hermione couldn't help but grin into the kiss.

"From what you've told me about your mother, she would mind very much," Hermione pointed out. Viktor managed to stuff a piece of toast in his mouth, chew and swallow, before a voice from the doorway caught their attention.

"You've heard correctly, Miss Granger. I do care greatly that my only son would choose to sit and eat instead of greeting his poor mother." Hermione looked up to find an elegantly dressed woman standing in the doorway, and a man who looked like an older version of Viktor standing behind her. Looking at how they were dressed, Hermione took a moment to look down at her modest blouse and skirt. She instantly felt underdressed. Viktor rose from next to her to greet his mother properly.

"Mother! Father! How was your trip?" Viktor asked, hugging and kissing his mother and shaking his father's hand before leading them into the dining room. Hermione stood to greet Sofia and Alexandre Krum, it was only respectful afterall, doxies fluttering in her stomach in nervousness. This was the first official time she was meeting his parents, and she hoped very dearly that they would approve of her, and dare she dreamed, perhaps even like her.

The dining room of the house they had bought earlier that year was a point of pride for Hermione. In her quest for equal rights for all, she knew she would have to entertain in order to change political minds. It was how the Muggle world worked, and, logically, she knew the microcosm of British Wizarding World politics would follow the same trend. A rich mahogany table took up the center of the room with a glittering chandelier overhead. On one wall sat a china cabinet that held a collection of family heirloom dishes that Hermione's grandmother had gotten from her grandmother. It was one of the few things she had taken from her parents' house before she modified their memories for their safety before her seventh year. It was these dishes that they would eat off now. Viktor had insisted after she had stressed the importance of this meal.

She wanted, no, needed his parents to like her. With her parents lost to her forever, and the Weasleys busy with their own growing families, Hermione yearned for parental figures in her life again. She hoped that Viktor's parents would be willing to fill that gap.

As they all took their seats, Hermione swept the paper off the table and set it under her chair. His parents didn't need to see the swill written about them, especially before properly meeting her. Hermione wanted their first impression off her to come from this breakfast, not from a gossip columnist.

"It really is good to see you again, Viktor. Have you been well?" his mother asked, tucking her linen napkin into her lap. She then looked expectantly at Hermione, and the brunette swallowed thickly, knowing it was time. Hermione tapped the table twice, their agreed upon signal to the House-Elves that had come with the house. She had argued constantly with the House-Elves, who only wished to serve, until they came to an agreement. She had been uncomfortable with owning House-Elves, and it was almost the deciding factor in passing on this house, but Viktor had pointed something out. What better way to learn about the House-Elves and champion their cause than to have an endless source of first-hand information on them?

They had agreed upon a wage, time off, and their House-Elves had the option to tell them 'no.' While the Head House-Elf had looked scandalized at her suggestions, Hermione was steadfast in that stipulation. So far, there had only been one instance where the House-Elves had to use 'no' on one of her commands. It had been her asking them to sit with them for a meal. Viktor supported the House-Elves, including their agency when it came to disagreeing with a request, and Hermione was supremely proud of them after the fact. She had helped create that safe space.

Baby steps.

But with those two taps, the simple tea and toast that was on the table to tide them over until everyone had arrived faded away and was suddenly replaced with a breakfast fare that could rival the feasts from Hogwarts. It was probably the most formal breakfast Hermione had taken part in. Everything from a traditional English Breakfast to a mini omelette station filled the table, everything decorated and arranged in order to impress. Hermione scanned the table and noted that nothing had been missed. She whispered a 'thank you' to her House-Elves, whom she knew were listening, and she noticed a mimosa in a champagne glass appeared at her place setting in gratitude. A flush filled her cheeks, and it only darkened as she noticed Sofia watching her with a small smile.

"I see your elves adore you," she commented as she reached for the omelette platter, pulling a spinach-and-mushroom omelette onto her plate, already ignoring her husband as he loaded his plate with meat.

"And I adore them just as equally," Hermione replied. Viktor's hand slid into her own, and she used her other hand to take a sip of her drink.

"It's important that the lady of the manor have the affection and loyalty of her elves. If not, her job becomes that much harder," Sofia replied. Hermione couldn't help but blush further at Sofia's knowing look.

"So, Miss Granger," Alexander stated as he looked across the table at her. Hermione gulped as she realized they would get to the interrogation part of the morning sooner than she anticipated. "Tell us about yourself."

As they waved his parents goodbye at the Floo, Hermione couldn't help but sag against her fiance in relief, having survived the forever-dreaded first meeting with the parents. With Viktor's arm around her waist, and his parent's approval of her and their relationship, Hermione knew that anything she tackled in the future would succeed. After all, with the support system she now had, she could take on the world.

But first, their wedding. She could already see the Prophet headlines.