Love Never Dies



Chapter 4-



Hermione found her seat in one of the top boxes. She sat next to Viktors 15 year old brother, Vance, who gave her a Bulgarian flag and said, "Here Hermioninny. You need this. It's for good luck, you know."

"Thanks Vance," Hermione said taking the flag from him. "We wouldn't want Bulgaria to lose because I didn't have a flag to wave now would we."

Vance flashed her a smile, "And besides, all of the Bulgarian fans would have thought you were ashamed of us if you didn't have one," Vance said.

"They would think I was ashamed of being a Bulgarian supporter just because I wasn't waving a Bulgarian flag?" Hermione said mockingly.

"Of course," Vance said. 'Ve vould haff thought that you were stuck up and that you didn't vant to have anything to do vith us."

"I guess I better get to waving then," Hermione said and then waved her flag enthusiastically. "There. Now no one can say that I'm stuck up."

"Ah, that's so much better," Vance said and then patted her on the shoulder. "But you know what you're missing?"

"What am I missing?" Hermione asked and rolled her eyes at him.

"Vell, I see you have a pin, but do you have any of these things?" Vance asked while pulling a bag out from underneath his chair.

"What is all this stuff?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, it's just a few souvenirs I picked up, Hermioninny," Vance said.

"A few?" Hermione said and shifted her gaze down to the bulging bag. "Did you leave anything for other people to buy?"

"Of course I left some," Vance said. "I just bought one of everything I saw."

"Even a flag from Ireland?" Hermione teased.

"Of course I didn't buy anything that was Irish. Who vould vant such ugly things anyway?" Vance said defensively.

Hermione shrugged her shoulders and laughed, "So what are you going to do with all of that stuff?"

"I'll probably put these things all over Viktor's room while he's asleep," Vance said with a mysterious grin on his face. "You know how much he likes all of these things that they sell."

"Oh, yes," Hermione said sarcastically, "He especially loves the posters. One of his favorite things about being a famous quidditch player is getting photographed."

They both laughed because they both knew that Viktor thought there was nothing worse than getting his picture taken. "So, how many posters did you get?" Hermione asked.

"I think that there are about fifteen," Vance replied.

"When are you going to put them up in his room?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know. Maybe a few days after we get home," Vance said.

"I wish I could see his reaction. He's going to be so mad at you," Hermione said.

"He'll get over it," Vance said. "He alvays does."

"Yes, he does," Hermione said. "I guess you're lucky that he has a soft spot for you. Although sometimes I wonder why he lets you get off so easily. You're always terrorizing him in some way or another."

"I only do it so he has a little bit of excitement in his life," Vance said. "He's alvays vay to serious."

"You make me glad that I'm an only child," Hermione said.

"Ah, you know you vish I vas you're little brother, Hermioninny," Vance said. "Think of all of the things you vould have missed out on if you didn't know me."

Hermione paused for a second, looking like she was deep in thought, and then said. "Hmmm, you mean like that time when you cursed my hair while I was sleeping so that it turned blue, or the time you hid all of my books in the shed in your backyard."

"Oh, and you can"t forget about the time when I gave you candy from your red haired friends' joke shop."

"Oh, you mean when I turned into a canary?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," Vance said. "If I vouldn't haff given you those sweets then you vould haff never found out how much better you look as a canary."

"Oh, that's clever, Vance," Hermione said sarcastically.

"I know," Vance said. "See, vouldn't you vant that sort of thing to happen to you every day?"

"No, I wouldn't," Hermione said. "I still am very glad that I don't have any brothers or sisters."

"That's just because you haven't gotten to know the real me," Vance said. "In the inside I'm really sveet and loveable."

"Oh, you mean under all of those layers of mischief?" Hermione asked.

"Exactly," Vance said. "I'm sure Viktor vould tell you how sveet and loveable I really am."

"No, he'd tell me that you are a pain in the arse and not worth giving the time of day to," Hermione said.

"You're just jealous because he likes me better than you,' Vance said putting his hands on his hips. Hermione looked at him sharply and then the both started laughing.

"Why do we always end up fighting like a couple of five year olds when we're together?" Hermione asked.

"Because it's such an enjoyable past time," Vance said. "And because we're good at arguing."

"Yes, that's true," Hermione said. "Nobody else will argue with me for that long. Most people end up getting really upset with me and walking off."

"They valk avay from you because they know that you ver right," Vance said. "Don't you hate being right all the time?"

"No, not really," Hermione replied.

"Yes, I guess you're right," Vance said. "I don't hate being right all of the time either."

Just then Mrs. Krum entered the box. Mrs. Krum asked, "Were you two having another one of your spats?"

"Yes, but it was just a small one," Hermione replied.

"I think you two fight al of the time because you're so much alike," Mrs. Krum said. "You're both extremely stubborn, and you're not afraid to say vhats on your mind."

"Yes, mother. We know," Vance said. "But that's probably the reason vhy ve're friends."

"Ah, that's right," Mrs. Krum said. Then the announcer began to introduce the players from Ireland. "Oh, the match is starting!"

For the next hour, the three said very little. Their only words were "Oh, come on Viktor!", or "What? That was a foul!" Vance spoke more than his mother and Hermione did because he knew much more about the sport than they did. He knew all of the players and often yelled at them when they did something wrong and cheered loudly when a goal was scored. Viktor didn't do a lot that first hour because the snitch hadn't yet made an appearance. He did use the Wronsky Feint a few time, but Ireland's new seeker wasn't quite as gulliable as Aidan Lunch had been. They didn't really talk to each other because they were very into the game. They didn't notice anything that was going on around them. They would not have even noticed Viktors father, except when he entered the box he said, "Sorry I'm late. I was takling to a reporter for the Daily Prophet. He wants to do an interview with Viktor after the match is over."

Vance tore his eyes away from the match and said, "You didn't tell the reporter that Viktor vould talk to him did you?"

"Yes, of course I told him that Viktor vould do the interview," Mr. Krum said. "It vould be very good publicity for him. And he needs the exposure."

"Needs the exposure? Sure father. Like Viktor doesn't already have enough fans." Vance said.

"I don't vant to here a lecture from you." Mr. Krum said maliciously.

Vance didn't listen to his threat and asked, "Vhy vould you tell him that Viktor vould do the interview anyway, father? You know he hates being interviewed. And besides Hemrione is here. He vould not vant to talk to a reporter while she is here. He'll vant to spend as much time as he can vith Hermione."

Mr. Krum sent Hermione a look of disapproval and said sternly, "He vill give this interview." Then he started speaking to his son in Bulgarian. They spoke in their native language for a couple of minutes, but then Mrs. Krum said something in Bulgarian, and they stopped talking, but they still gave each other lethal looks.

The four sat in silence for the rest of the match. It seemed that the argument that Mr. Krum had instigated had ruined everyone's mood. I n fact even when Viktor caught the snitch forty-five minutes later sealing Bulgaria's victor, none of them seemed to cheer as loudly as they shoul have.

They left their box after the match was over and Bulgaria had accepted the cup and hurried down to the field so taht they would be able to talk to Viktor after his team finished their victory lap. They had to fight their way downstairs because everyone was trying to leave the stadium at the same time. By the time they got to the field, Viktor was already their talking to one of the other players, a beater named Ivan.

Mr. Krum was the first to speak to Viktor and he said, "You played a good game son. Now, it is time for you to talk vith some of the reporters. There is a nice young vomen from the Daily Prophet that I vant you to talk to. She just started vriting for the Prophet this year, and she just graduated from Durmstrung last year. You might know her. Her name is katarina Vlotski."

"Sorry father, I don't believe I've ever met her," Viktor said mildly.

"So are you ready to talk vith her?" His father asked. "I'll go get her right away."

"I'm sorry father, but I don't vant to speak vith any reporters right now," Viktor said.

"Vell, vhy not, Viktor?" Mr. Krum who was obviously very offended asked. "You haff your career to think about you know. Quidditch is the most important thing in your life!"

"I'm sorry father, but quidditch is not the most important thing in my life. It never has been. There are many thing that are much more important," Viktor said while looking at Hermione.

Hermione wanted to prevent an argument so she said, "You really had an excellent match, Victor. I'm very proud of you."

"Ah, thanks Hermioninny," Viktor said and gave her a hug. "I'm glad you vere here to vatch me. I feel like I play better vhen I know that you are vatching me. I vish that you could come to more of my matches."

"So do I Viktor, but next year after graduation, I'll try to go to a lot more of your quidditch matches. I love watching you play."

"And you can sit vith us every Game," Vance said. "You'll give me some one to talk to, that way I von't get board when Bulgaria plays bad teams."

"Oh, you mean it would give you someone to bother all the time," Hermione teased.

"That too," Vance replied.

"Vhat did I tell you Vance," Viktor said. "You can never think a team is horrible because if you do, they'll surprise you and take a victory from you."

"I know, I know," Vance said. "You don't have to lecture me."

"Sorry Vance," Viktor said. "I don't mean to preach I just..."

"You know Viktor," Mr Krum interupted. "Now vould be the perfect time to talk to that reporter I told you about. She's right over there"

"I told you I'm not going to talk to any reporters right now, and vhen I do talk to a reporter I vill pick who I talk to. I hate talking to reporters who just vant to write a story that sells, not one that is the actual truth," Viktor said. "Every time I have ever talked to a reporter that you pick out, they end up writing a bunch of lies about me."

"Fine, Viktor. I vill never try to help you again. You don't appreciate anything I haff ever done for you." Mr. Krum said and then walked away.

"Viktor sighed softly and his mother said. "Dopn't vorry Viktor. He just vants vhat is best for you."

"Yes, I guess so," Viktor said and looked in the direction his father had just gone in.

"Ah, Viktor. Don't vorry. You should be celebrating. Vhy don't you take Hermioninny somvhere. You haff more catching up to do." Vance said.

"But vhat are you and Mother giong to do?" Viktor asked.

"Ve'll be celebrating of course. The party has already begun back at the camp," Mrs. Krum said. "You two go on and haff fun catching up."

"Vell okay then," Viktor said. "Come on Hermioninny. "I know just vhat ve should do."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"You'll see," Viktor said. "I'll valk you back to your tent. How long will it take you to get ready?"

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked.

"Novhere fancy. Just vear regular clothes," Viktor said.

"Okay. Can you give me an hour, please?" Hermione asked.

"Of course," Viktor said.

When they arrived at Hermione's tent Viktor said, "I'll come by in an hour then."

"Okay, Viktor. I'll be ready." was Hermione's reply.