Autor's Note
English is not my mother tongue, so I appreciate your support for any corrections.
I'm so sorry, thank god I had a lot of work these few days, but that means that I just had time to finish the edit of one chapter, hopefully, by tomorrow afternoon, after delivering the last order and before my family gets online for dinner and new year's, I'll finish the one of Viktor. In case not, raise your glass for a happy and better 2021, hopefully, we'll leave the sadness of 2020 behind, and we'll be able to hug the people we want to hug.
After the reading…
Hermione Granger
After Viktor agreed to the use of the town car, he ask her if he could take her home instead of apparate, or muggle transportation, she smiled and agreed, they spend the time holding hands and chatting like the time hadn't past and they still were on the wedding, they smile and laugh and blush, by the time they arrive to Hermione's home, Viktor got down with her and take her to the door, gentle as ever, she was a little apprehensive since her parents were already home but didn't denied the fact that she like every time Viktor showed his gentleman like manners, by the time they reach the door, he was still holding her hand, instead of release her, he ask her if they can had dinner the next day, blushing a little before agreed and even blush a little more when he asks to pick her up in her house, she agrees, even with the knowledge that her will be already home from work, so she just smile, he kiss her temple gently and steps back, she enters the threshold and after one last smile, she closed the door as he turns around and go to the car.
She is bombarded with questions as soon as she closes the door, her mother, who was looking through the window as soon as she had hear the car, had seen everything through the window and immediately went to her side to ask one question after another, specially who was that boy, his father on the other hand, never leave the spot by the window, he was watching the parting car with narrowed eyes, and thinking not very pleasant thoughts, she answer her mother as best as she could, they knew about that he was the Viktor, and they do remember he had invite her to Bulgari the summer of her fourth year, back when she had 15 and they hadn't allowed it, since they didn't were unable to escort her, after all she was just 15 and he was 18 it's was unlikely they let her go alone, but now she was a grow woman and he was older, so they were a little cautious with the subject of boys in her life, even when they knew she had travel with two boys for months and sleep in the same tent with them, regardless the fact that they see her as a sister or at least the Potter boy did and the Weasley boy was boring enough for their daughter to seriously consider him, but Viktor, he was different, they knew how their daughter face light up just by taking about him, but they have never meet him has a boy, now he was a grown man and without doubt he was trying to court their daughter.
The next morning Hermione wake up with a smile on her face, maybe, she and Viktor finally had an opportunity to be together, but they do need to talk, he still was an International Quidditch player and she is a student at least for another year so they definitely need to talk, hopefully, they'll have time, for the moment, she got ready for her meeting with Christopher, the storage company and the bank, she was hours away of financial security.
After breakfast, and before open the practice her father driver her to the building office and he was surprise when his daughter gives him the address and the name of the Law firm, since every person in England, or even in the UK or maybe even in the Commonwealth know about the law firm of Gardiner, Darcy, Brandon & Dashwood mostly believe they were something out of novels, but they did exist and he had witness some sessions and saw Margaret Dashwood destroying Louisa Hurst on court and then he hear that they had put all the associates of Hurts on jail since they were falsifying testimonies and other not so minor illegalities in order to win cases between the four of them buried all the rotten apples in Collins, Hurst & Willoughby, he had great respect for the firm, he was expecting his daughter to tell him that the lawyer of the death wizard was someone minor on the firm, some squib that was working on the muggle side of the world, but she show him the business card and he almost faint to learn that his daughter lawyer was THE Christopher Brandon, after he recover a little bit, he ask his daughter if she need anything, she reassure him that she will be ok on her own, so he kisses her forehead and drive back to his clinic as she entered the building.
Brandon was already on the building, she announces herself on the receptionist and waiting for him on the lobby and together they wait for the truck of the storage company, while checking the investments and the shares Snape had purchase and everything, she was impressed, the savviness of the account manager was extraordinary, she noted that Severus account was given to a junior employee given the amount of Severus had, but he had make a good profit for both of them and was a little eager to be introduce to her, since he had a few exiting new opportunities, Mr. Brandon told her about the fact that she need to consent any new business or any further investment, but other than that, she already have money for several lives as it is, she was trying to process that when the truck of the storage company arrived, she lifted the spell and once everything was loaded on the van, they drive to the facility, there she was very pleased to see, that the unit had his own access and that they have biometric keys as well as electronic ones, she was given an electronic card for the main gate, and the gate of the unit was either open by her thumb or an electronic password, once all the boxes were stashed on the unit, she was left alone for a couple of minutes while Christopher sort out the documents since she didn't have access to her money yet, so he pay for the first month while she decided what to do.
On the way to the bank, Christopher ask her if she cast a spell to provide additional security to the storage unit, she chuckles and admits that she had, since the books were too precious to be in danger, and she also confesses to him about the mess her brain was trying to wrap it around the idea of not having have to worry about money for a long time.
The proceedings in the bank were a little bit more complex since the portfolio was vast, she didn't take full control of it, given that she was going back to school, she makes all the proceedings going through Mr. Brandon for the time being, she will sign and approve but she couldn't be in the back every time it needed it, so she told the account manager that once a month she will have a meeting with Mr. Brandon to check the information, but day to day dealings, for now, will be handled by him, she briefly considers to give that power to her father, but she ponders that maybe she was kind of Snape like that, she trusts her father, but on money issues, it will be best for a father-daughter relationship not to be involved on business or money issues together, and since she will be on Hogwarts for the next year, she knew it was unnecessary to worry.
By the time they leave the bank, she had in her bag a shine new checkbook and a card to access her money, it was almost tea time so Christopher invites her to share a light meal and she agrees both to thank him for the services he was providing and to chat a little bit since she was distracted and to be honest, she needs someone impartial to talk to about Viktor invitation, Christopher was delighted, they arrive at a little bistro and they take a small table in the corner…
– Mr. Brandon, I also need your advice on other matters…
– Yes Miss Granger, how can I help you?
– Viktor ask me out… – She was visibly embarrassed…
– You don't want to?
– I do, is just… – she let out an exasperated sigh
– Relax child, I'll help you, but I might need a little more information… – he was having a fun time at the expense of Mr. Granger since his children didn't tell him anything about their relationships, so he was very interested in it – your concerns are because he is a little older than you or is there any other reason?
– I don't…well I do know but you may think is stupid or…
– Miss Granger, I understand that you are a very accomplished young witch, a very impressive and decisive girl, I didn't know Severus Snape, I heard a little bit about him from the other heirs and a little bit from Robert since they were classmates – Hermione was surprised by this fact – but in any of those stories, he sound like someone easily impress, even in his memory he was a difficult man, but you impressed him enough and not only for your similarity to his love, but because of your brilliance and potential, but I do notice that you are a young person and you have been putting everything before yourself, I mean, you push your feelings down as soon as you understand that we were on the verge of the Second Wizarding War, you place a Memory Charm on your parents, you haven't had time to catch up with the fact that you are a young woman, that your life is no longer about surviving, you are allowed to live now, so yeah, if you think is stupid, is just because you haven't been allowed to be a girl, not because it's, so what's the matter with Mr. Krum?
– I'm... – she signs – Ok. He lives in another country, how does that work? and the language barrier is still a little pronounced and…
– Those are not the reasons why you're afraid isn't it?
– He is Viktor Krum! – there she had said it – he can have every woman on the planet, the witches fall into his lap practically daily, back in Hogwarts every witch in the castle younger or older than me though that I had enchanted him or give him a love potion, the majority of the Wizard world still believe it thanks to Rita Skeeter and the lies she published when he was on Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament, back then there were only the girls at Hogwarts, now he is more famous than before, he has his name carved in bold letters on history, I mean, he was going to be Viktor Krum the youngest player ever to be draft for the Bulgarian team in a world cup, then he became Durmstrang chosen champion for the Triwizard Tournament, and now he is the savior of Durmstrang, I mean, I'm just… – she let go a frustrated sigh – …me
– Miss Granger, – he took her hand trying to comfort her – Has I said before you're an accomplish young woman, an incredible person, you're not just you, – he let a frustrated sigh – I'm not good with words but I'll try, you're not a plain woman, Miss Granger, Hermione, you're an amazing talented, beautiful, girly, woman, now, from my understanding, when he meet you, you were none of this things, you were the classic bookworm and you weren't even perceive as a girl, you were a brilliant witch, but nothing interesting, – he caught a tear from her eye – I also understand that for him, you weren't a groupie, you didn't even show interest, and even consider him annoying, since you beloved library was infected by brainless fan-club girls – she smile a little remembering the shelfs full of giggling girls – so, he saw you when nobody else did, he knows the woman you're beneath that girly, confident and brave exterior you are now, he knows the real you, the one that find solace on books and that is kind and generous and not impressed by covers, he also has a cover, Viktor Krum, international Quidditch player that is not all he is, and you know it, for all intents and proposes he should be an arrogant, self-center star, but he is kind, smart, and humble, not many Bulgarians will have ask for help, let alone from and English person, he spend his summer buried in books trying to do his part in an war that, was far from his country, but inevitably will arrive, he sought that the followers of Voldemort never arrive, he even destroy the memory of the other dark wizard in history, and all that his nothing compared with the eyes he has for you, that boy is completely smitten with you, he wants a chance, and if is about what is to be next to him, Quidditch star, Triwizard champion, hero of Durmstrang, just remember who you are…
– And who I am exactly…
– You're Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of your generation, you survive Bellatrix Lestrange twice, you where face to face with Voldemort and probably without you, Harry Potter wouldn't have survived enough to face him, so don't sell yourself short, you're just as valuable and important has him, let the world talk, they aren't going to be miserable if you're, so, just allow yourself to be happy.
They finish their light meal with a smile and parted ways, she took the tube to go home and he hails a cab to go back to work since she had given him an excuse to be in the office regularly for at least a year.
She was thinking all the way home, she notices a few people watching her on the tube, but she let it pass, she was thinking about her date with the boy that had loved her before she even knows what love was, the boy that send her a letter every week since they parted ways, she knew she cares for him, but she was scared of the future, for the first time in her life she didn't have a plan, she was going back to school to finish it, but what was next? And how she will fit Viktor on it? He had his own life, will she be enough for him?
At arriving at home she finds herself with a predicament, and to her surprise is a very girly predicament, she is not sure what to wear, and Viktor will be there in a few hours, so she does something probably dangerous, more than facing Bellatrix or Voldemort…
She picks up the phone and dial, after two rings a familiar voice answers…
– Granger Dental Clinic, how can I help you?
– Mom, – she took a long breath – I need your help…
