Chapter 10
Over the next couple of days, Hermione found herself very anxious to leave London. She needed to make another trip to France, anyway; she'd gotten a letter from the bookshop owner she'd met there suggesting some texts he thought she'd be interested in. She made quick, rather perfunctory visits to Harry's and Ginny's and to her in-laws' house.
As her departure date drew nearer, Hermione couldn't help thinking that it would be incredibly easy to Apparate to Bulgaria for a day before going to France. She planned to shrink her luggage and Apparate to France anyway; why not make a side trip?
She only wanted to check on Viktor, like a good friend would do, because he'd looked so sad when she left. That is the excuse she kept giving herself. If she admitted she wanted to see him because she cared too much, she wouldn't allow herself to go. She was married.
Not that her husband bothered remembering his promise. Even though, she was going to keep hers, she thought, setting her determination firmly in place. She would visit Viktor, a purely platonic visit, maybe have a friendly dinner, but nothing more. He couldn't be hers. Nevermore, quoth the raven, the dark shadow on her heart.
Hermione walked slowly down a Muggle street in Izbor, headed toward Mrs. Krum's bookstore. She had no idea how she planned to ask about Viktor's whereabouts; she didn't want to just ask, not after overhearing…over-reading their conversation about her. She reached the door and pulled it open, still with no idea in mind.
She was surprised to find Mrs. Krum standing just inside the door, purse in hand.
"Oh, I am sorry, but I am closing store now. Did not realize you vere still in town, Mrs. Granger."
"I'm not, exactly. I just came over for a day or so to…pick up some books I changed my mind about."
"I am sorry, but I haff appointment I haff to keep. Usually Viktor vatches store if I haff to go somevhere, but he is coaching his little Quidditch kids today."
"It's no problem, Mrs. Krum. I'm sure I'll be back another day; I can come by then. Thank you," Hermione replied, turning to leave. She had gotten the information she wanted, without a bit of work! Maybe this day would go in her favor.
She hurried back to the wizarding section of town and asked a passerby (with the help of her parchment) where the kids' Quidditch team practiced. She had little trouble finding the pitch and quietly crept into the stands to join a few parents sitting there. They were absorbed in watching their children and paid little attention to her. Hermione, however, had eyes for no one but Viktor.
She hadn't seen him on a broom since her fourth year at Hogwarts. She still had sweet memories of flying with him, cradled against his chest with the wind on their faces, flying high enough to not be recognized from the ground and stealing kisses. He was magnificent on the broom, fast, graceful, powerful, and oh-so-masculine. Watching him fly, thinking about how sexy he was in the air, caused a deep heat to spread through Hermione's body. Was it possible to have sex on a broom?
He'd been flying the first time she'd ever seen him, at the Quidditch World Cup when she was fourteen. She'd gone with Harry and the Weasleys. Even then, she'd thought of sex when she watched him fly, even though at the time she had no experience in the ways of men and love. Neither had Ginny, yet they'd lain awake that night talking about how hot watching Viktor Krum zip through the air had been. Ginny confessed that night that she'd had naughty thoughts watching Harry fly, too, even though she had tried to get over her crush on him. Hermione doubted she'd think of sex even if she saw Harry naked with a rose in his teeth.
But Viktor naked with a rose in his teeth…
Damn it, why was she thinking about this, losing herself in memories? She was at a Quidditch pitch, watching nine-year-olds on junior brooms toss around a Quaffle. She should not be aroused by any means. It had to be their coach's flying. Surely once he landed her body would cool down.
Half an hour later, when his feet hit the ground, she knew her reaction had little to do with Viktor's location. He walked with the kids up to the stands, talking with parents, speaking to kids, until they were gone. She was sitting alone, and his eyes met hers. A broad grin crossed his face and the sun rose in his eyes.
"Hermione! Vhat are you doing here? You haff not been gone long."
She answered him, suddenly uncertain, "I…I have to go to France tonight. I just thought I'd come over and see you for a bit. I mean, if you don't have plans tonight. I suppose I should have called first."
"If I had plans, I vould cancel them for you, svetlina. I am very happy you come to see me. But, if you are vanting to go somevhere, I am afraid I must haff a shower first. I am very hot and sveaty."
A sudden image from her fantasy from the other night popped into her head: Viktor, panting above her body, gazing down at her with those dark eyes, sweat dripping off his chest onto her face and body. Her hands sliding down the wet, slick skin of his back to grip his ass as he moved inside of her. The heat she'd been feeling from watching him fly engulfed her in a full-fledged burn.
"We can do anything you'd like; I just wanted to see you." She hoped he couldn't read her thoughts in her eyes tonight. "Actually, I'd like to talk some, if you don't mind."
"Do you vant to go to my house then? I vill clean up and fix something to eat, and ve can talk as long as you like, about anything you like. Or vould you being at my house bother your husband?"
"Vitya," she answered, not even noticing her use of the name, "at this moment I couldn't care less what would bother my husband."
His eyebrows rose at her cryptic remark, but he didn't comment on it. "I live nearby. Vould you like…" His voice faded away as he looked at the broom in his hand, but seemed to think better of it. "Vould you like to valk?"
She took his offered arm and asked about his team. The stroll to his cottage was filled with small talk, simple, innocent chitchat, but Hermione kept having to push hot, vivid images to the back of her mind.