Chapter 6

They had sat in the bookstore's plush chairs for over an hour, talking about anything and everything, until the owner had told them he really needed to close for the day. Viktor had suggested that they carry on the conversation at a nearby coffee shop, and Hermione had gladly agreed.

She had told him about Harry and Ginny's baby, and as she tucked Ana's picture back into her purse, Viktor asked, "Ginny…she is the little red-headed vitch, yes? Your sister-in-law, old friend from Hogvarts?"

Hermione smiled. "Yes, she was pretty much my only female friend while I was there. Maybe I was a tomboy."

He laughed, "No, you vere alvays lady. And your husband? How is he?"

She paused, wondering how much to tell him. She'd never kept secrets from Viktor…but she couldn't badmouth Ron to him, either; it wouldn't be right. However horrible he might be, he was still her husband. "Ron's ok. He's working for the Ministry, in international trade. How is your family? Are you married now?"

He looked at her, and she felt like he could read everything she didn't say in her eyes. He waved his hand at her with a smile, showing the absence of a ring. "No vife. Not even girlfriend. I took season off from Quidditch; the girls ignore me."

"Why did you take a season off? Is it getting boring?"

"No, I love it as much as ever. I haff been helping my mother. Ve lost my father last year."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I understand how hard it is; I lost both my parents in an automobile accident four years ago."

"Is very hard, isn't it? I feel for you, to lose both at vonce. My father had been sick for avhile; it is better for him now."

On impulse, she reached across the table for his hand, wrapped around his coffee mug, and squeezed it.

"Thank you," he whispered. "If you are interested, tomorrow I vill take you to bookshop you know nothing about."

She grinned, lightening the moment and making him laugh. "Of course you are interested. Vhy do I even ask?"

"Tell me about Izbor. Have you lived here long?"

"I grew up outside of the town. In Bulgarian, the vord 'izbor' means 'choice'…"

She listened as he kept talking, but she gazed at him, too. His face was much the same, but there were some lines that hadn't been there before. He was almost thirty now, still young, but not the boy of eighteen she remembered. Of course, she wasn't a girl anymore, either. His hair was longer than last time she'd seen him, thick and dark, and long enough for one to wrap her fingers through. His smile came more easily for others around them, the shopkeeper, the waitress. It had always come easily for her. He didn't look as grumpy, even when he wasn't smiling, as he had in school. He even carried himself taller, prouder, than she remembered. His eyes were older, but still dark as chocolate at midnight, and they still teased, laughed, and glowed with excitement. His gait was still duck-footed, and his nose was still hooked. She was glad some things stayed the same; she'd have missed the familiarity.

"You are not listening! You are just vatching me! Should not be looking at men, you naughty married voman!"

Hermione's jaw dropped at the scolding and she blushed. Viktor laughed gleefully. "I am teasing you. It has been very long time since ve see each other. Look all you vant. Married or not, ve can alvays be friends. Besides, I look too. I miss your hair. Is not everyvhere anymore."

She stroked the short crown of curls, wishing her face would cool. "Sorry, but it's loads easier to manage this way. Molly thought it looked nice."

"Molly…mother-in-law?"

"Yes. I spend a lot of my days off with her and Ginny. We're rather good friends."

Once again, she felt as though he were hearing things that went unspoken. Had he guessed at her marital problems? She hoped not. It was hard enough hiding that she was attracted to him without him knowing that she wasn't in love with her husband!

Later that night, he offered to walk her to the inn she was staying at. Conflicted feelings caused her to turn him down graciously. They made plans to meet back at the coffee shop in the morning to visit Viktor's secret bookshop, and Hermione left.

After she'd gone, Viktor remained in his seat, staring at the steam coming off of the coffee the waitress refilled. His thoughts were tumultuous. She was the last person he'd expected to run into today. He had been so shocked he couldn't even say her name, when he had practiced it until he could say it perfectly. She'd never known that, though; she'd ended their relationship too soon to know. She was still sweet, still beautiful, although the hair he'd adored was chopped off. Her eyes glowed with caramel fire when she talked about her job, or Potter's little girl. However, a shadow flickered through them when talk turned to her family life. He suspected something was wrong, but he wouldn't ask her. If she wanted him to know, she'd tell him. Besides, he was just an old friend now. It had been a very long time since he'd been her everything.

What she didn't know what that she was still his. He'd carried her last letter in his wallet for years, until the creases were rubbed thin and it was falling apart. It was tucked into his nightstand drawer now. He'd been sick for days after he got it. He understood her reasons, and he didn't blame her. He wasn't upset with her. He just missed her, even just the correspondence they'd shared. He missed knowing that her love was out there.

He'd never found anyone else, never looked. He'd taken a couple of fans back to his hotel room later on, when he heard she'd married Weasley, hoping to find something to fill the hole he carried around inside. Two times, two nameless, faceless girls, and he knew the hole wouldn't be filled by anyone else. He'd slowly accepted that he was going to be alone. He'd practiced harder, coached a kids' Quidditch team between seasons, spent time with his parents, and taken care of his father when he became sick. At night, he would dream of her, if he dreamed at all.

Viktor paid for their coffee and left the shop. Usually he Apparated to his cottage, but tonight he needed the walk in the cool night air to clear his head. He had never stopped loving Hermione, and now she was in Izbor. He couldn't let her know, especially if she was having marital problems. It would be so hard to hide his feelings, but he'd do it. He would be her friend, show her around Izbor, because he had to have her company now that he'd seen her again. He just wouldn't let himself hope for the impossible. He could be a friend, even if his heart felt hollow when he saw her walk out the door.