DISCLAIMER: Everything that is familiar, definitely, not mine…and even some that are not… .; boy, do I own nothing…pity me…
WHOOPSIE, MY BAD: I'm currently blushing furiously over here…
wisteria4444, we do have the same Bible, and shame on me, because I am not hinting on something else. ;p Thanks for mentioning that and I would have it corrected right away…as I am really meaning for the "Seventh" one…hehehe, I guess it's because I based this from another fic and the author had it as the "Sixth" and I didn't even bother to check…poke poke poke…hope you all forgive me…thanks again!
And for everyone else out there, if you see something extremely weird on this fic, feel free to call my attention…heheh...here's your next chapter!
CHAPTER 6: The Man I Love
Some pray to marry the man they love,
My prayer will somewhat vary:
I humbly pray to Heaven above
That I love the man I marry.
Rose Pastor Stokes, My Prayer
"I'm sorry to break the news, but Mrs. Krum isn't pregnant as what you have suspected." The old Healer from the nearest wizarding clinic affirmed to the couple seated opposite her. She could feel either of the pair tense, the wife seemed to be relieved but trying to hide it whilst the husband looked completely disappointed.
"But, what could be the problem? We've been trying for a year already." Viktor asked as he squeezed Hermione's hand on his, not minding her lack of eagerness to discuss the topic. He glanced back to the expert expectantly. He has always told Hermione how he wanted to have children, and in spite of her never showing the slightest interest, Viktor was still confident he could have his desire as they were married.
The answer didn't come as quick. The Healer buried herself in deep contemplation before hesitantly suggesting, "Perhaps, we should do an exam if either of you has problems." She was moving uncomfortably on her seat, shifting her half-moon spectacles that were falling down her nose every two or three minutes. "I do not mean to offend any one of you, it's just that…"
"We understand." He cut in. "My wife would be willing to undergo whatever exam you should require, and we could straighten out this issue at once, aren't you, Honey?" again, pressing her little hand.
Her tired brown eyes stared blankly at his, but she managed to nod just so to avoid any further discussions, which she came to know by then that no matter how long, he would end up right anyway. Viktor always win their arguments, as Hermione never really had enough passion to bicker with him. "You'll undergo the examinations as well, wouldn't you?" she asked with full knowledge that this statement clearly implies the possibility that the problem, if there was such, was on Viktor, himself. Besides, this should be fairly interjected, as anyone could tell how he was ruling out himself from the likely hindrance to his own dream.
He smirked at her, "If that should be deemed necessary, although…"
"Then, shall we do it right this instant, Madam?" It's times like that when Viktor's smile sickens Hermione up to the spines of her back that she couldn't help being stern with him. Hermione puts up with her husband alright. She does it because she knows it's her duty. But when he was becoming calculatingly obtuse, planning of a happy family a year and one day after Ron's death—the exact day when the former Bulgarian Seeker came to The Burrow and selfishly demanded for his price—her life, how could anyone be thrilled?
"Of course, Dear." She stood up and motioned for the two, "Come, follow me."
The sun has just set, and Ron's supposed ashes had been laid to rest. It was on a cemetery near their village, so Hermione was told. No. She didn't go with the Weasleys and others to watch his remains be held down under the ground. What for? She had made up her mind to wait for him until she tires—and she knew quite well that wouldn't happen too soon, both his coming back and her tiring.
Hermione didn't join the small gathering for Ron as well. She stayed at the backyard watching the gnomes swarm over the pumpkins she had planted to make him his favorite pumpkin juice when he comes back. She wouldn't talk about his death nor would she hear about it. She was officially blind, deaf, and mute of his permanent disappearance. Hermione knew she would wound Harry with this decision, but he has to understand that she would let go, in time, but not that moment.
"Herm—nee?" A muffled voice called behind her, and she didn't need to turn to know who owned it. There was only one person who had been struggling to pronounce her name right, and that person was Viktor Krum. Of course, she wanted him to leave as she didn't want anyone's company nor sympathy, but most of all Ron has expressed his dislike over the guy. However, before she could ask the newcomer to leave, he had gotten to her spot, stood right before her, and had pulled her body up. "There is a lot on life vithout him." His hands pressed on both her arms.
"I really want to be alone, Viktor, please." She begged half-confused and half-uptight. It seemed like her mind wanted to tell her something about the boy in front of her. Why was he there? Why did it seem like she had been expecting him to come and say those words?
Viktor only tightened his grip on her, "You can't drive me away now. We had an agreement, remember?" his eyes were shining with triumph, and his lips itching to extend into a grin. She could feel it—he was teasing her. She felt his warm breath getting closer to her face as Viktor slowly leaned forward, obviously aiming for a kiss.
Hermione was quick enough to duck from it. She pushed his chest aggressively and quite hard enough that he was thrown backwards several steps away. "How dare you! Sick, disgusting, git!" The gnomes started and ran scared whilst she was breathing heavily from anger and relief that she was able to avoid his offensive act. She watched as he slowly took steps forward her again, finally realizing a pact she had made with him.
"On the first day after the second year and Veasley has not come back for you…" Viktor stopped right in front of her once more, "…you vould marry me." And tucked some lose strands of her bushy brown hair behind her ear. "Remember?"
"That's not fair." She slapped his hand away from her face, tears welling on her eyes.
"You should tell him that. I'm just here to claim my price. I own your life now, don't I?" His tone was kept even—annoyingly saccharine.
Viktor was not backing out, and before he could close the space between the two of them, Hermione decided to draw herself away, "I don't love you, and you know that."
He laughed, "It doesn't matter. It never would."
Hermione knew that instant there was no way escaping him. "It's different. Ron…something happened to him, and he didn't choose not to show up…"
"Herm—nee," interrupted him to protest, but she stopped him.
"Viktor," her voice was shaking, "I'll keep my word, but please," tears still flowing down her face, "Not now…not yet…" Hermione buried her face into her palms and sat herself on a large stone.
"I love you. You know that…" He dared marching towards her yet again, but stopped when she lifted her head up, brown eyes burning fiercely in anger.
"Then why are you doing this?" demanded her.
"Herm—nee," his long arms stretched to reach her cheek, "He's not coming back…I'll help you forget, move on…I'll take care of you…if you just let me."
Her heart was yelling at her to refuse his advances, but something in her head was asking her to give him a chance. For a moment she let him wipe her tears, as she tried to find comfort from his touch, from his words, "I don't need that." she finally said, standing up on her feet leaving him crouched before an empty stone.
"You know I won't stop. I'll just come back every day until I get my price." He followed her as she walked to the farther end of the yard, "I'll do anything for you, Herm—nee. See? I'm trying to perfect the pronunciation of your name. I've been trying to learn to speak English fluently…"
"I only placed my life on the bet, Viktor, not my heart. You'll never win my heart, and if we marry, it would just be unfair for you…I'll never stop loving…"
He placed a finger before her lips. "You can keep your heart. Your life's just enough. Just spend it with me…" slowly removed it and placed her a soft kiss. She didn't move and Viktor deepened the kiss. Unquestionably, he didn't care about her feelings. He continued to kiss her passionately even if she didn't return it…not even a little part of it. He kissed her hungrily even if hot liquid were running through his hands that were both cupped on her cheeks. How could she ever live a life with him?
"Ron…" the whole of her called.
"Hermione…" little did she know that the man he called for answered from afar—some few meters away, but good enough for him to witness the impassioned act. But as clueless as she of his presence was he of her absence in participating with this burning kiss.
He stood frozen…his world stopped turning, heart stopped beating, his chest stiffening, he couldn't breath…He needed to find air really quick. Where? He marched away, fast…even faster. He swallowed pushing the big lump that had grown on his throat, his tears started to fall…he knew he was still alive, but he was slowly suffocating. And he ran…as fast as a Firebolt. He's not stopping. No. He wouldn't want to. He was running, yet he had nowhere to go…Where?
The couple went home quietly, both not in the best of moods. Whilst his pride completely insulted by being subject to a fertility test, her memory was refreshed on the day he had pushed himself into her life. And the musing over didn't rather stop on there. She had to remember the day when he decided on his own when they were engaged, and finally be married.
She realized she is not happy…never was, and never will. She wanted to escape so bad…
Hermione was still doing the same routine as when she was waiting for Ron's return, but slowly, she was finding herself able to think of him and miss him as a free spirit incapable of coming back as a flesh. She would speak to him whenever she was alone and would cry when she does this. Even so, she was beginning to accept the fact. She would busy herself with loads of work, like how she used to do at school whenever she finds herself struggling with her growing feelings for him; or when she was upset due to their celebrated squabbling. This time, however, she was through with writing and publishing books. With Ron constantly popping up her head, it was rather hard to concentrate on a task as such. She easily had herself hired as the head librarian for the London National Library for Witches and Wizards where she had many a thing to do.
It was Ron's 40th day of death, and as part of elder witches and wizards' tradition, a remembrance ceremony was held at The Burrow. As expected, Hermione had secluded herself from the crowd to avoid anymore Ron conversations. The gathering was almost over when her Mum went to her and called her to join the group in the house, and she found it weird since her Mum kept her arms around Hermione's shoulder as if she would faint anytime.
As soon as she entered, she was welcomed by big and warm hugs by almost everyone in the family. There stood, on one corner of the living room was her tall, lanky, thick black-eye-browed Bulgarian acquaintance who had apparently announced to everyone they were engaged and set to marry by the end of the month.
End of the month! That was exactly twenty days from then!
She was mad a Viktor Krum. She was furious especially when Mrs. Weasley and Ginny walked to their rooms dejectedly and Mr. Weasley silently watched them without a single word. She had asked Viktor to leave, even accompanied him by the portkey to make sure he was really going. When he came back, Mrs. Weasley welcomed her at the door with a tight hug and incessant tears.
"Oh, Dear. I didn't mean to…I guess I was jealous that you have moved on that easily and…I want you to be happy…" her high-pitched voice was toned into a sad murmur against her ears that Hermione couldn't help her own tears fall.
"I haven't…I haven't moved on, but I'll try." She assisted the older woman on the couch to sit, "I haven't forgotten and I never will, Mrs. Weasley…and perhaps, trying to move on is the farthest I could go." Hermione knelt in front of her, not really knowing how to assure her that her son isn't easily forgotten without giving her stupid, real reasons. "I know I will never be able to, but Ron would still want me to try…I know he does."
"With Viktor Krum?" Ginny's voice called from the staircase, her eyes were shining with unshed tears but intensified with accusation.
Hermione turned to her, "I was thinking, he'd say, it doesn't matter."
"But why so soon?" The youngest Weasley demanded.
"I honestly don't know, Gin." Replied the bushy head girl who only broke down even harder, half regretting the day when she took Viktor's hand for a shake, and half wanting to feel betrayed by the faith she strongly believed in. "Maybe, because if I stay pretending even for a little longer, I'd go mad…or die…"
Mrs. Weasley wrapped her in a comforting embrace once more, while her own mother watched the scene against her father's chest, completely understanding all sides of anguish expressed, knowing that everything would end alright.
The end of the month came and a simple wedding was held that everyone talked about. But aside from her parents, husband, in-laws, Harry and the Weasleys were there behind her to stand up for her.
They all told her things will be fine, that they were happy…what they didn't, or anyone else for that matter, knew was Hermione wasn't the slightest happy, but she prays, someday, in the fullness of time she will learn to love the man she married.
AUTHOR's NOTE: Thank you very very much to all those who reviewed for the previous chapters…especially those who had been reviewing since the start, I'll mention names later, all right: )You are my inspiration, really. This would probably reach up to 20 chappies, but definitely not more.
