WendyNat
Chapter 4
~~~~~~~
Hermione sat, dumbfounded. Why would he be asking her about Severus now? A few wild hypotheses darted through her mind – did he use an invisibility cloak to spy on her and Susan? Did he cast Legilimens on her in her sleep? Calm down, Hermione, she admonished herself, coming to her senses. Forcing her voice to sound relaxed but slightly inquisitive, she inquired, "What brought this up?"
Viktor visibly relaxed at her calm tone. "Vell…" and he proceeded to tell her of their visit to the Leaky Cauldron.
"Oh." Hermione wasn't meeting his eyes, seemingly absorbed in her breakfast. Did Severus leave like that because he saw Harry and Ron? Or because he saw Viktor? There was no way Severus could have missed their wedding announcement. The Daily Prophet had had a field day with what they described as the "Fairytale Romance" between the famous Quidditch Player and the best friend of Harry Potter.
"So? Tell me about him," Viktor urged.
Hermione scowled a bit, "Why? What do you want to know?"
Shrugging, Viktor answered, "Vell, anything. How about you start by telling me vy you let me think it vas Harry all this time." Hermione gave him a hard look.
"I never told you it was Harry. You assumed that, and I just didn't correct you. Look, Viktor – it was a long time ago. You already know the basics – I owled you about the whole situation back when it was happening. I don't see why it matters. Let it drop."
Viktor's face took on the surly appearance that she knew all too well. "Vell, perhaps I don't like other people knowing more about my vife than I do."
"And maybe I don't want to discuss it with you."
"Vy not?" Viktor's voice rose, "If it vas so long ago, if it really doesn't matter, than vy von't you talk to me about it?"
Hermione was becoming angry. Throwing down her napkin, she retorted, "Maybe because, like most people, I'm not interested in giving my husband a blow-by-blow description of my prior relationships!" Viktor only scowled in response. She looked up at the clock and let out an irritated breath. "I've got to get to the lab. I'll see you later." Muttering a quick cleaning spell for her hair and teeth, she stomped into the bedroom and picked out a fresh set of robes. With a final irritated breath, she apparated directly from their bedroom to the front doors of the Ministry.
* * * * * *
"A little early in the day for that, wouldn't you say?" Tom remarked lightly to the dark robed man seated on the stool before him. Severus Snape had appeared almost immediately after the barkeep had unwarded the doors and charmed the "Open" sign to glow, demanding a firewhiskey.
The man on the stool just grunted. Tom shook his head and poured the drink, remarking, "Well, out with it then, Severus. You've obviously got something on your mind. There's no one else here right now, so you've got my ear all to yourself."
Taking a sip of the potent drink, Severus grimaced a little. "I'll give you three guesses."
So that's how we're playing it today. Tom pretended to think. "Hmmm. Could it be Viktor Krum… Viktor Krum, or possibly… Viktor Krum?"
Severus let out a bark of appreciative laughter, raising his glass slightly to his old friend. "Right in one. Or three, I suppose."
Tom leaned on the bar, looking at Severus earnestly. "Listen, my boy, I'll not say this again. Your lady is married. Mrs. Krum. Don't forget that, hear? Stop beating yourself up over might-have-been's, and get back to living."
"Telling me to get 'back to living' implies that I was once 'living,' Tom. Clearly that is not the case." Severus stared at his glass for a moment, in thought. Tom waited patiently. "I've been successful in putting her out of my mind, for the most part. Recently, however, events appear to be conspiring against me."
Tom nodded in understanding. "Like that Krum boy showing last night." Severus muttered an affirmative, and Tom eyed him closely, debating his next words. "You may not want to hear this, but - he's a good man, Severus. Does well by her. Seem happy, they do."
Severus scowled. "Tell me again why I come here repeatedly with the mistaken assumption that speaking with you will make me feel better about the situation?"
Tom guffawed. "There's the Severus I know!" He leaned on the bar again. "Those two being happy should make you feel better. You still love her – no, don't deny it, I've been a barkeep long enough to know the signs… anyway - you love her, so you should be happy that she's happy. I know it sounds crazy, but think about it."
Severus didn't answer, just stared thoughtfully at his glass.
* * * * * *
Hermione stomped up the steps of the Ministry Research Center, still annoyed with Viktor. At least she had her work to get her mind off of things. Although, the way the morning was going she wouldn't be surprised if the cauldron had exploded overnight.
She ran into Susan unexpectedly in the lobby. Susan look at her with a warm smile, and said, "Oh, hi! Long time, no see! I wanted to pick up some notes to take home, I guess you're checking on your experiment?" The welcoming smile slid off of Susan's face when she caught the other woman's expression. "Uh-oh. Come on," she said, pulling Hermione by the arm into the nearby women's restroom. Once the door safely closed behind them, she turned to face Hermione. "Out with it."
"I HATE gossips. Especially stupid MALE gossips!" Hermione fumed.
Susan smirked. "Are there any other kind?" Catching Hermione's eye, she could see the tension leaving her friend. Soon, Hermione chuckled, her foul mood dissipating.
"Well, now that you mention it, stupid gossips do always seem to be male. Female gossips tend to the more malicious type."
"Okay – so what stupid gossip put you into that mood?" Susan was curious. She had left Hermione's house just hours ago and couldn't fathom what had happened between then and now to get her friend's temper so ruffled. When Hermione explained, she couldn't help another small smirk from forming. "Ah… so The-Boy-Who-Blabbed strikes again. Well, looks like you have the chance to put my advice to the test, hmmm? Why don't you tell Viktor about it?" She looked at Hermione speculatively. "Are you SURE you don't have the knack for Divination? This is just too much of a coincidence."
"Trelawney said I lacked the inner eye, or correct vibes, or something."
"Forget that old bat. What does she know?" Susan asked, grinning. "Well, anyway, you ought to talk to Viktor when you get done here, apologize. He does have a point. You know you wouldn't like it if say – Lavender, for example - knew something about Viktor's past that he refused to tell you."
"Whose side are you on, anyway?" Hermione let out a huff of air when Susan just stared at her, smiling slightly. "Okay, okay. I know you're right."
"Now, that's what I like to hear!" Susan said in a singsong voice, leading the way through the door back into the lobby. "I'll see you tomorrow. Lunch?" Hermione agreed, and Susan turned to leave with a final comment, "And just in case I forget to tell you later – 'I told you so'."
Hermione just shook her head, grinning, and proceeded to her laboratory.
~~~~~~
An hour later, Hermione finished her calculations and gave a satisfied smile. A success! Definitely a front table. She made her way from the lab to her office next door, mentally organizing her notes along the way. Now, I need to call Viktor.
Settling herself behind her desk, she pulled her wedding ring from the pocket of her robes and put it on. Some of the substances used in potion making were extremely damaging to jewelry, especially jewelry like this. Viktor, who was quite talented at Charms, had infused both of their wedding rings with a series of communication spells and locator charms. No matter how far apart they were, by holding the ring and saying the other's name they could communicate for a short time. It was quite handy for occasions such as this. Taking a deep breath, she touched the ring lightly and spoke his name. The ring grew warm on her finger, a signal that the connection had been made. Viktor – I'm sorry. I will tell you whatever you want to know when I get home.
An answering thought came, I'm sorry, too, Hermione. A short pause. But I still vant to know.
She chuckled a little and sent back, I never doubted that for a second. But no gory details, okay?
I'll see you ven you get home, luff, he returned, and the link was broken.
~~~~~~
Later that evening, Viktor and Hermione had a long discussion. She filled in the gaps in the story that he did not know, explaining Severus' work as a spy and the danger he had been in every day. How Severus had been terrified of what would happen to her should Voldemort discover their relationship. How she had been terrified of what would happen to him should his fellow Death Eaters discover his relationship with Harry Potter's "filthy mudblood" friend. And, finally, how they had had to abruptly cut off all contact after reports from various sources stated that Voldemort was turning his calculating eye towards his Death Eaters' personal relationships. Fearing the influence that a romantic partner could have, Voldemort had planned to force the Dark Mark on any woman (or man) involved with one of his Death Eaters, to guarantee loyalty and unity in the ranks. Even with Severus' superior Occlumency skills, it would have been too much of a risk to continue with their relationship. She could admit that now, although she had fought against it at the time.
"So, after all of that, you haff never spoken to him again?" Hermione shook her head, and Viktor continued, "It must haff been difficult for him."
Hermione shrugged. "He seemed to get over it quickly enough. Harry said he found someone else not too long after," she said in an even tone, careful not to betray how wounded she still felt at the thought of it. I hadn't even been gone for a month. She was just glad Harry had waited to tell her about it until after she was seeing Viktor. She had been much too fragile immediately after their separation to handle that kind of knowledge.
"It must haff been difficult for you, too." At her nod, he said softly, "I think I know vy you did not vant to speak of it. But I vanted to know. I'm glad you told me." She nodded again, and he pulled her into an embrace.
"I luff you, Hermione."
She wanted to reply in kind but, for some reason, she couldn't speak the words.
~~~~~~
The next few weeks passed in a blur for Hermione and the other researchers that worked for the Ministry's Potions Department. As she had anticipated, her latest trial was met with a great deal of excitement around the office.
"I knew you'd do it, Herm!" Justin Finch-Fletchley announced excitedly as he burst into the meeting room. It was a couple of days before the Conference, and the Potions group was finishing the preparations. Justin had been on leave for a few weeks while vacationing with his family in the States. "Now, you have to tell me how you came up with the idea. Seamus didn't know the details. To tell the truth, I don't think he understands what the big deal is," Justin continued, shaking his head.
Hermione answered, "Seamus was never much of a Potions fan, I think we all can agree. It's not something that anyone outside of the Potions world will put much stock in."
"Maybe so, but those of us in the Potions world can't wait to use it," Hestia Jones stated, smiling at Hermione. "I know I have far too many valuable potions that go to waste because they have no shelf-life. And since stasis charms interfere with the magical bindings, there isn't – wasn't," she corrected herself, "anything to do for it."
Hermione smiled back at the woman. She could still remember the shock she felt her first day at the Ministry when she recognized Hestia. She still felt a bit foolish about it – of course she had known that Order of the Phoenix members weren't all Aurors or Professors, but it had been the first time she had really considered the other Order members' 'alternate lives'.
"Well, you do realize that the Manere potion has to be adjusted depending on the potion you need preserved… I'm still working out the details on that. Some of them require simple adjustments to the Manere potion, but others… I'm not sure how long it will take."
Hestia nodded, "I understand. I'll give you a list after the Conference hoopla is over with the most urgent potions – most of the ones I use have an adequate shelf-life, so I won't worry you with those right away."
Hermione agreed, "That sounds good. Now, about that table setup…" And with that, the group went back to their planning.
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Author's Notes:
Thanks to everyone for the reviews! Some individual responses:
Katie & Deb– The Potions Conference is next chapter. I was going to put it in this chapter, but I felt like we needed to spend some time with Viktor and Hermione. But, I promise – cross my heart – it'll be the main focus of the next chapter (or two)!
Corazon – I'm glad you enjoyed the argument! It was fun to write. My husband says my biggest talent is writing argument sections. Hmmm… LOL!
ShagstheDustMop – (I LOVE your penname, by the way!) I'm having a hard time with Viktor… I already feel bad for him. Poor guy. I'm afraid there will be more torture on the way for him sniff.
Chapter 5 is already in the works; I'm anticipating it being up within a day or so. Keep the reviews coming!