Shipping Bingo: D3 - Everyone Knew
Trope Bingo: B1 - Retired BAMF
Spring Bingo: A3 - Umbrella
Chimera: Jerry (Love/Hate)
Scavenger Hunt: Sp Settings (Rainy)
Stacked With: FPC, BAON, ToS, Star, Fence, Shower T3, LiCK, Ship, Chim, SpB, TrB
Individual Challenges: Short Jog (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Artist MCx5; Bard MCx5; Neurodivergent (Y); Rian-Russo Inversion x3 (Yx1); Ethnic & Present x2 (Yx2); Disabled (Y); Ship Sails (Y); Setting Sail (Y); Old Flames; Zed Era (Y); Gryffindor MC; Hufflepuff MC; Durmstrang MC; Beauxbatons MC x2; Performance Art (Y); Old Shoes (Y); Representations: Dancer!AU; Cedric/Hermione/Viktor
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenge(s): Unwanted Advice; Spinning Plates; Tomorrow's Shade; Second Verse (Nontraditional; Found Family; Not a Lamp; Ladylike; Persistence Still; White Dress); Chorus (Machismo; Fizzy Lemonade; Pocky Pockets; Endless Wonder)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenge(s): T3 (Terrarium)
Warning(s): Injury, Innuendos
~o0o~
Hermione moved as fast as she could through the rainy streets. She held her rain coat over her face, the wind had blown her bubble umbrella away and she was running, too late to get it back. She loved that umbrella, but if she were a second late she would lose her spot as lead. Madame Maxime was not lenient and made it known that a dozen other dancers would be ready to take her place.
She skidded and landed on the steps, picking herself up and running inside. Calling ahead to clear a path, she booked it to the practice room and skidded to her spot on the floor.
"Am I late?" she asked Cedric, peeling her layers off while she stretched.
"Three minutes early," he said. "What kept you?"
"Rain held up the bus," she huffed. "Can't quit my job until that lead dancer paycheck hits my account."
"I understand that," he said and pulled his bag closer. "You know, you can work the bar with me—give me your leg."
"We share a studio, we share a bed, and we share one job, do we really need to share our second jobs?"
He placed a hand on his chest. "Ouch! I might start to think you don't love me."
She snorted and flicked his forehead. He chuckled and took out his wand to mend the hole in her hose. He was so good at that. Hermione smiled when he kissed the spot.
"Careful, or people might suspect we're dating."
"We already know," said Fleur. "You are terrible at hiding."
"Thank you, Fleur." said Cedric.
"I certainly hope all of you are halfway through stretches," said Madame Maxime, entering the practice studio.
The studio itself was massive to accommodate their giant instructor. The plus side was when she was choreographing, everyone could see her.
"Today, we have a guest to assist in choreography," she continued. "Monsieur Viktor Krumov Zdravkov."
Hermione and Cedric sat up with interest.
"I haven't seen him since dance school," said Hermione. "Nobody really knew this, but we were sweethearts."
"Everyone knew."
"Thank you, Fleur."
"He and I dated for a time," said Cedric. "In secret, of course, he was still under his parent's thumb."
"We all knew."
"Thank you, Fleur."
Fleur grinned at them and tossed her hair.
Viktor entered the room, his cane tapping against the ground. He had been the star. The lead everyone was begging to join their company for. And then a stage accident had left him in the hospital. Hermione and Cedric had reached out to ask if he was alright, but their letters had been returned, unopened, with a copied note stating a thank you for well-wishes and/or gifts. Guess it had been too long since they had seen each other. And it wasn't like Hermione stopped caring about him, they just… things changed when he became famous and she was still in the back line. Cedric said they called it off when they went to different companies. Viktor hadn't wanted to do the long-distance thing.
"I am thrilled to begin my career in choreography under Madam Maxime for this production of Cinderella," he said. "If all goes well, I will be allowed to direct and choreograph a one-act and I hope to select dancers from this production."
Several sat up with excitement at the prospect of another gig after this one.
"So then we'll be sure to be 'en pointe,'" said Cedric.
"You are a dancer, not a comedian," said Madame Maxime.
Viktor stared at Cedric. Or perhaps he was looking at Hermione. Either way, she felt butterflies in her stomach and from the way Cedric inhaled, he had them too.
"I hope you are stretched," Madame Maxime continued. "Let us begin with across the floors."
Hermione got up and bit back a wince as her knee gave out. She must've hit it harder on the stairs than she thought. Cedric and Fleur stood in front of her to give her a chance to work it out without Madame Maxime seeing. Though it hurt, she didn't allow herself to show it.
"Now, Monsieur Zdravkov," said Madame Maxime. "Where do you believe we should begin with the practice?"
Viktor cleared his throat and tugged on his sleeves. He always did that when he was nervous.
"I believe… we should start with biggest ensemble numbers," he said. "Then focus on the named leads. And then when we have those, we fill in the gaps."
"He can fill in my gaps," a girl whispered low enough that their instructor could not hear.
"Then that is what we will do," said Madame Maxime.
"Fill in her gaps?" Cedric whispered in Hermione's ear.
She bit back a snort and elbowed him.
"As we have two choreographers, Monsieur, I will allow you a chance to work with the named characters. You are welcome to use the adjacent studio."
"Thank you, Madame." Viktor turned and left the room.
"Oh, I think we're meant to follow," said Cedric.
Fleur linked up with them as she was playing the Fairy Godmother. The women playing the Stepmother and Sisters were in their own clique behind them.
"Don't choke, Granger," said Pansy.
"Save it for the stage," Fleur retorted. "Stepsister."
Hermione was expecting a lot of flack for being the first black lead the company ever had, but she worked hard for this and wasn't going to let it get her down. And she had Cedric and Fleur. Harry and Ron were the stage crew and they'd defend her from sabotage during dress rehearsals. Besides, she was more focused on what she'd say to Viktor.
"Hi" was a good place to start.
Viktor set up the record player and turned towards them.
"Let us begin," he said. "Name and role."
Was he pretending not to know her or Cedric? Had he forgotten? How could he forget a first kiss? Hermione looked at Cedric and he shrugged. They announced their names and tried to see a reaction, but he was as stoic as ever.
"Let us begin," he said.
By the end of rehearsal, Viktor had given them several dances to work on and requested they practice specific techniques during their hour and a half workout before rehearsal tomorrow. The girls had already started chatting up Viktor. No doubt in hopes for special consideration. But he had always been steadfast.
"I think I'm still in love with him," Hermione sighed as she swapped her slippers for sneakers.
"Me, too," Cedric agreed. "Clearly he doesn't remember us though, so we better forget it before it becomes the talk of the company."
"Too late," said Fleur. "They're already talking."
"Thank you, Fleur," Cedric and Hermione chorused.
Their friend smiled sympathetically. "Want to go out to eat?"
Hermione mimed breaking a stick and clicked her tongue. "Cassé."
"We've got food at home," said Cedric. "Besides, I want to make sure Hermione gets her knee iced before she ruins it."
"Hold on," she said. "I'm not going to spend this time letting him pretend he doesn't know us. He was always… shy."
"Not that shy," Cedric muttered.
"Quiet you." Hermione rose to her feet and turned around, bumping right into Viktor. "Oh! I mean. Ha! Just the man I wanted to see!"
He looked sheepish. "I apologize, Mimi. I wanted to be taken seriously and that meant not showing favoritism towards old friends."
Hermione almost melted at the use of her old nickname. She had him call her that when he couldn't pronounce her name.
"I think we were a little more than old friends," she said and sighed. "I've missed you. I tried keeping up contact but then… my letters started going to your fan mail, so I just stopped writing. I… I'm glad you're okay."
"This choreography thing is big," said Cedric.
"Ah… yes." He looked between Cedric and Hermione and hesitated.
"Do you want to have dinner with us?" asked Cedric. "We have freezer waffles, a lime from our lime tree, ramen."
"A feast fit for a king," said Hermione.
"I'd put out for a meatball," Cedric sighed.
"Well, I will buy you dinner," said Viktor. "No…" he waved his hands… "required."
Hermione grinned. "Alright, since you twisted our arms, we accept."
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, I think this might be yours."
He reached into his bag and brought out an umbrella decorated with cherry blossoms.
"That is my umbrella!" she said, taking it. "Oh, did it hit you when I lost track of it?"
"Is fine," he said. "I am glad I could return it." He took a deep breath. "Shall we?"
"We shall," said Cedric. "We don't live far, but apparition takes too much energy. You okay to walk?"
He nodded and the three of them headed out. It felt right. Being side-by-side-by-side like this. Hermione and Cedric sandwiched Viktor in the middle, minding his cane, but keeping in some semblance of contact.
"Are you two… together?" Viktor asked.
"Yes, going on a year now," said Cedric. "We're best friends."
"Though we wouldn't mind one more," said Hermione. "If the right person came along."
"Hm… imagine that," said Viktor.