2nd Chapter! Whoot!
I tried to make this chapter a little longer, seeing how the last one was so unsatisfyingly short. Happy reading!
DISCLAIMER:
This is all JK Rowling's property. I only own the story.
This IS a Viktor+Hermione fic, in case you thought that you stumbled into the wrong story. It just starts off with a little Ron+Hermione fluff.
...
Hermione was going about her business as usual at St. Mungo's, receiving and discharging patients with bizarre conditions.
Life as a trainee Healer was busy as usual, and the fact that Christmas was nearing seemed to cause even more people to end up injured or cursed.
"So… Mr. Henski, the reason you are here is because…?" Hermione asked politely, sizing up the man who stood before her. He looked haggard, eyes puffy and there were swollen bumps on his skin.
Hermione observed that the index finger on his left hand was throbbing, blood oozing out and there were blotches of purple around four puncture marks on the tip. Hermione recognized this wound immediately. Her gaze lifted from the ghastly-looking wound to look at Mr. Henski.
"It's 'em! Those nasty little buggers! Took a good bite outta me! I was only trying ta catch some fairies to light up my house, ya know- Ruddy Cornish Pixies…"
"A dragon baby, Mr. Henski?" Hermione questioned, an eyebrow raised. She only knew too well. After all, she was good friends with none other than Hagrid. Mr. Henski's irritable expression faltered and a look of pure horror replaced it.
"Nah-Nah! Cornish Pixies, Miss! Nothin' more than that, 'onest!" he begged. Hermione sighed. "First floor, take a right, Gryfis Grendel will be with you shortly.
"Next!"
The next patient was a teenage boy with tentacles protruding from his scalp.
"Fourth floor."
And the next was an elderly lady with forks for fingers.
"Fourth floor, follow the boy with tentacles."
And that was how her day went. Patient after patient arrived, each with injuries being odder than the last - Hermione sighed, slumped into the chair behind her and massaged her temples. The last patient, a young girl who was regurgitating some odd blue goo continuously into a wooden bucket had just left. Hermione stared after her, smiling a little as she remembered something that happened only so long ago.
It was many years back, when she, Harry and Ron were still in their second year at Hogwarts. After Malfoy, their nemesis, had called Hermione something very offensive, Ron had tried to send a curse at him with his Spellotape-bound wand, and of course, it backfired. The result? It was not unlike the girl whom Hermione was looking at now, the only exception being that it was slugs coming out of his mouth instead.
Oh Ron, Hermione sighed. He was always ending up in one accident or another, caused either by his temperament or his klutziness. But it was also because of this that Hermione loved so much about him. Hermione closed her eyes to recall the little adventures that the three of them experienced in their younger days.
And there was last night. It was unforgettable. Hermione smiled. Ron could be so sweet at times.
And speaking of Ron, the latter had promised to meet her after her shift had ended. That was barely an hour away…
"Hermy-own-ninny?"
Hermione's eyes flew open.
"You look diffverent. I barely noticed you. If it vasn't for your name tag, I vouldn't have been able to recognize you." The only too-familiar voice added excitedly.
"Viktor?" Hermione asked, shocked. How long had it been? Months? Years? She eyed the well-toned muscular man who stood hovering over her. Hermione could not suppress her grin.
"It haz been ages! Hermyone!" Viktor gushed. Hermione stood up, raced from behind the counter and grinned at Viktor, who grinned back.
"Oh my god! I thought you were back in Bulgaria!" Hermione studied her stunningly handsome friend, still grinning. Viktor had changed, too. His hair was still the same, but he had shot up in height, and his tan was now a tone a little lighter than honey. He also had a more muscular build. But that lopsided grin, those bushy mousse-colored eyebrows and the thick accent was unmistakable.
"I came back. My friend vonted to meet Scrimgeour and I knew you ver still here, so I came to visit too. Ve haff Quidditch trainings here anyvay. I didn't know you verked here. You never replied to my letters." Viktor said, still smiling.
"Oh," Hermione said, heart sinking to the pits of her stomach like a stone. It was true – Ever since Viktor had returned to Bulgaria after the Triwizard Tournament, he had been drowning her in owls, carrying either bulky packages of gifts, sweets and letters. Most of the time she just gave the treats to an over-elated Crookshanks or, she threw them away, but from time to time, she would write a short note to thank him.
Over the years the letters never stopped coming in, but Hermione was growing increasingly busy and often put her own priorities above Viktor's. Soon enough, she had completely forgotten about her Bulgarian friend and got on with life.
"I'm sorry- I was just busy…" Hermione started. Viktor looked a little hurt, taking Hermione's reason as a polite excuse to ask him to leave.
"It's okay. I von't bother you then."
"No no I don't mean that. It's just that since I started working here as a trainee Healer, things have just gone hazardous. I'm really, really sorry." Hermione said, a note of exasperation in her voice to emphasize the last sentence. Viktor nodded understandingly.
"But you are verking now, don't vish to get you into trouble…"
"Oh it's alright; I'm ending my shift soon. We can just sit at the visitor's tearoom and have a drink." She motioned to the stairs, and Viktor hesitated.
"No, really, not vorth the risk of losing your job because of me."
"Let's go."
Hermione determinedly grabbed Viktor around the arm and led him along the crowd, winding past patients with green warts and victims of gruesome jinxes.
"So, what brought you here?" Hermione shouted over the hustle and bustle of St. Mungo's.
"Friend. He got hit by two Bludgers on either side of his head during training. His skull haz cracked."
"Ouch." Hermione shuddered as she imagined the sickening crunch as it happened.
"Vell… It's not that bad really…" Viktor muttered as they started ascending the stairs to the fifth floor. "Anyvay… I vos thinking…"
"Yes?"
"If you're don't like it, it's okay…"
"What is it?" They passed the first floor.
"I vos thinking if you vood like to…"
"… I would like too…?"
"Vell you've been very buzy lately, so it's alright…"
"What's your point?" They passed the second floor. Someone screamed in agony.
"It haz been a long time since the last time ve met."
"Yes it has."
There was a slight pause as Viktor struggled with his words and they passed the third floor.
"Vot I am trying to say is…"
Another screech echoed through the stairway.
"Vood you like to have dinner with me some time? To catch up vith old times. I missed you."
"Oh." Hermione heart leapt. "You mean… a date?"
They passed the fourth floor, but they were moving a little slower.
"Yes. But of course, if you are not free, I will understand perfectly."
"No of course I'm free, it's just that…"
"Yes?"
They stopped at the landing of the fifth floor. Hermione turned to look at Viktor and he in turn, gazed at her hopefully.
"Viktor, I'm seeing someone-"
"'Mione!"
Hermione spun around and saw Ron waving his arms enthusiastically at Hermione. She smiled feebly in reply, and then looked uneasily at Viktor.
Viktor's expression did not change, except that it was a little more stiffened.
"Um…" Hermione tried to explain. Ron jogged over.
"Hello, love." Ron greeted, smiling affectionately at Hermione. He slipped his arm around Hermione's waist and kissed her hair. Then he glanced at Viktor, as if noticing him for the first time.
"Oh hi," Ron studied the silent Bulgarian. "Krum? It's been long." He stuck his hand out.
Viktor did not reply, nor did he shake Ron's hand. He only managed a forced smile and turned to Hermione before opening his mouth. His voice was calm, but his accent was unusually thick.
"Oh. I see vhy you're buzy now. I'll see you next time."
And turning his back to Ron and Hermione, he tucked his hands in his pockets and rode down the spiral staircase leading to the ground floor. Hermione had never felt nastier.
Ron frowned.
"Weird fella. Anyway 'Mione, ready to go?" he grinned.
"Yeah," Hermione said half-heartedly, still looking after Viktor's back. "Let's go."
Ron grinned and kissed Hermione tenderly. Hermione returned his kiss, and the both of them set off, hand in hand. But Hermione was unable to shake off the feeling that she had just upset Viktor.
Why was his reaction so peculiar when he saw Ron? Did he… Did he still have feelings for Hermione? Hermione shook her head, as if trying to shake off the thought as well. It was impossible. It was too many years from the last time they met, when Hermione was still in Hogwarts. When she was just 14. That was six years ago. Could someone's feelings stay intact for that long? But who would be upset just because they saw their friend's with another guy?
Hermione pushed the nagging thought to the back of her head, determined to enjoy the rest of her day with Ron.
And there we go :)
Our second chapter.
Reviews are welcomed with open arms! If you see anything you don't like, feel free to mention it and I'll try to do something about it.
Till then, toodles!