Author's Note

As always, any comments are welcome, and I appreciate your support for any corrections...


The Date Part II – Viktor

Victor was sweating, not even on his first match as a Bulgarian National player did he sweat, but he was, firstly because he had completely forgotten the flowers, so the driver had to make a quick stop to find a flower shop, they were fortunate enough to find an open flower shop that was close to Hermione's home, a lady was behind the counter...

Good afternoon.

Hi young man, can I help you?

I need flowers for a girl. it's our first date and I vant to be proper, but I forgot flowers and I need flowers right? – he said a little too hastily.

Well, I manage a flower shop, so my job is to tell you, yes, but no, you do not necessarily need flowers, but it's polite to take some for the mother of the girl. – she said amused by Viktor nervousness.

Right, so vhat…vhat vould be proper – he said nervously looking around. – I never meet, Hermione's family, only her, I vant to be proper, so her father approves my dating her. – he was looking throughout the store, still standing on the door, a little baffled...

Well, first, relax, – she was having fun, she leaves the counter and goes to him, takes his arm and walk him through the store, – tell me about this girl...

She is very beautiful, but not common beauty, the first time I saw her, she vas in the great hall of the school, I vas in her school for a year as a part of an exchange program visiting for the year, as part of a contest designed for built better relationships between boarding schools, it took me three months to speak to her - he speaks slow and he is blushing at the end.

Why it takes you that long? – the woman was picking some flowers on the way and arranging a bouquet.

I...vas shy at school, and I play Q-Rugby, I'm a star in my country because they vant me for the vorld cup, the youngest ever, English girls know this and follow me everywhere, she prefers a quiet library, she loves books...hates giggling girls on the bookshelves, she always left vhen I enter, but the night I got to talk to her, it vas late, after dinner, she vas reading about the second phase of the contest, but before that there is a ball, for Christmas, I vant to take her but I hadn't been able to pluck up the courage and then I'm afraid someone else asks her, so I did...with the help of one of her teachers... – Viktor was red as a rose

Well, don't worry I'm not going to ask more about that, seem to be a little touchy for you.

I embarrass myself vhen I invite her and didn't know, but one of the teachers I feel comfortable vith vas vatching us… I...

It's ok. When was this? you look older for a boarding school...

Four years ago, at the beginning of the school year...

You wait four years to invite her on a date?

I'm Bulgarian. I invite her to visit me, but she vas 15, and her parents didn't take her, but ve keep in touch, through letters until last year, I vas invited to the wedding of another one of the contesters, my friend Fleur vas marring an English man, brother of a close friend of hers, so Fleur invites me, and I surprise her, ve talk and dance but then a lot of things happened and I vent back home almost immediately vhile she and her parents move away, I send her a letter a few months back, then the teacher I respect died and I vas on the will, so I come and invite her, I don't vant to lose more time...

So your friend wants you two together?

She knows I like her, ve are good friends and soon will be partners on business, I not going to play forever...

No, rugby you said...

Yes...

Well I don't watch many sports but I prefer football...

Me too, but my Bashta oh, father, vants me to play rugby at school...

Oh, well, parents, here there is. – before Viktor realizes they are back on the counter and she gives him a beautiful bouquet now, here are common sorrel, which means patience, the red and purple are tulips, red ones mean love, purple one's loyalty, wisteria, youth, and begonia shyness. Give this to her mother she will like it.

Really? – Viktor was doubtful

Oh yes, Jane is very kind on flowers...

You know Mrs. Granger?

Yeah, – she laughs a little – she and her husband moved around here like five years ago, after buying the practice of old Mr. Kent.

You know about the girl I speak of? – Viktor ask confused…

Well, the name Hermione's give you away, they are the only ones living around here who have a daughter with that name, and also the only ones with a daughter in a boarding school.

So you know her...

No, boy, I don't know the girl, as I said, they move here five years ago, and the girl was already in boarding school, I know Jane because she came in looking for seeds, for her garden, and her husband comes every now and then looking for flowers to give her. – Viktor looks very thoughtful – what flower do you think she is? if she were a flower, of course... – Viktor turns around and took a nice vibrant beautiful orange sunflower... – Incredible, you don't even pause, you just took that one...

It is vrong?

No, just...unusual, most men go for roses...

She is not a common girl; she is a sunflover...vhat does this one mean?

That vibrant orange usually is linked to strength and positivity.

Totally her...

Is that what she is to you?

She is my sun, yes.

Um, well, hurry up, is getting late...

Right, here, – Viktor gives her the card.

I'm charging only the bouquet; the sunflower is on the house...

Oh, please no...

And don't you worry. Jane and Hugh are not bigots, they will not care that you're foreign, they just care for your intentions with their daughter. And given what I just saw and hear, they will be pleased...

How you...

Your nervousness gives you away, relax boy, it will be fine. – she returns him the credit card.

My name is Viktor

I'm Ella. Come back any time.

Thank you. – Viktor leaves the store and hops in the car.

Ella walks out and a girl comes behind her...

Do you think I'll ever find something like that, mom?

Of course darling, just be patient and have your eyes open.


Viktor was in front of the house, the car park and he came out taking a deep breath, feeling the wand on his left inside pocket, so he walks to the door, and knock…

Hugh had open the door to a very nervous Victor, carrying a bouquet and for some reason, a solitary sunflower.

Hello. I'm Viktor Krum.

Hello Viktor Krum, I´m Hugh Granger, please come in. – Hugh took a step aside to let Viktor in.

Thank you, sir. – Viktor entered the threshold and find himself been guiding to a small room.

I hope you don't mind. I want to speak to you for a few minutes, my daughter is not yet ready – Hugh closes the door to a small studio. Viktor was visibly nervous.

Not at all sir, – Viktor looked around. – This is a beautiful room.

Thank you. You probably have a bigger library at home. – Viktor blushes profusely.

Not at all sir, my home has no library, – He blushes a little – I have a little study, with spell books but not much more. I'm ashamed to say that Professor Snape's inheritance is almost the same amount of books as I possess, my family home has a bigger library, but I wasn't interested in reading much until I meet your daughter, – He said that last bit looking at the ground – she seems so in peace, so intrigued, I admit that I'm inviter home to visit my family library, maybe impress her, even if I haven't even read a third of it – he laughs nervously.

Ja, ja, yeah, that impresser, all tough, she did come home the first year with a very tick book call "Hogwarts: A History" and she told us that you were reading that book at Hogwarts, so maybe you impress her already.

You think so? – He looks a little hopeful.

Maybe, and I'm not ashamed to say that as small as this library may seem, my wife and Hermione are the only ones to have read all the books. I'm not a reader, I prefer sports.

I'm a sportsman. I mean, I play sport.

Yeah, Quidditch. Right? – Viktor nodes – yeah, Hermione brought a book called "Quidditch Through the Ages", I didn't understand a thing of it, but Hermione said it was the sport of the wizarding world, I know she doesn't like sports very much, but maybe she read it for you, to understand a little more. – They hear a sound on the ceiling – seems like she is ready. – Viktor took a deep breath. – I don't know you much boy, but rest to say, if you hurt my daughter, wizard or not, famous or not, I will hurt you. I have a very sharp set of instruments and good aim. – Viktor nods. They leave the library in silence to go back to the living room, where Hugh invited him to sit on the couch with his back to the stairs.

Viktor was still processing what Mr. Granger had said when he heard the voice of Hermione calling him…

Viktor…