Happy Saturday (& it is actually Saturday for once)! I hope you're having an amazing day and that you enjoy this chapter. This is the first one that actually taps into that M rating with its lemon-y twist like halfish way through. Thank y'all for being here, I appreciate you so much!

Love,

Adrien

Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling still owns the Potterverse, sadly, but the few original characters are all mine. :o)

Chapter Seven: Love is Love & Love Needs Support

"I would expect an owl from Dumbledouche soon," Harry tells Hermione, holding a copy of The Daily Prophet for her to see the headline: Britain's Brightest Witch Breaks Bulgarian Records.

"I'll let you know when I do, love, but I'm not worried. Tsveta has promised me protection and Viktor's house is unplotted." Hermione touches the mirror and smiles reassuringly at her best friend.

"Who's Tsveta, Mione?" Harry asks, an unconscious smile tugging at the corner of his lips though concern still contorts his face.

"She's the Minister of Magic here in Bulgaria. But that's not what you really want to talk about, is it love? Where's your head at, Harry?"

"Is there a way you could get your hands on some Veritaserum for me?" Harry asks, worrying his lip in between his teeth (a habit she realises he'd picked up from her over their friendship), and Hermione leans back on her bed with wide eyes.

"If I can't find you some, I can brew you some. It will just take me a month. Is that ok?" Hermione sighs, running her fingers through her hair.

"I'd prefer to have it sooner but I can wait a month... Why didn't you even ask what I need it for?" Harry lets out a shaky breath and runs his fingers through his own hair, making Hermione realize that she had picked up that habit from him.

"Because I trust you wouldn't misuse it and I know you'll tell me when you're ready," Hermione replies in all honesty.

"I think Ron might be on our side but... I also think that I might... like him... like the way you like Viktor... and I don't want that to influence that trust just in case he's really not on our side."

"Well, why don't you tell me why you think Ron is trustworthy and we can see if your feelings are getting in the way?"

Harry stares at her for a long moment. "You don't hate me?" His tone is colored in disbelief.

"Of course not! Why on earth would I hate you?!" She shouldn't be as shocked as she is after everything Marceau has told her but she still is. How Harry could ever think she would hate him, she didn't know? It's not like this is something he can control.

"Because these feelings aren't right. I should feel this way about you or Ginny or Cho not Ron!" Harry's voice cracks and he blinks hard in an attempt to stop the tears of frustration from leaking out of his eyes.

Hermione touched his face in the mirror, wishing now more than ever that she could pull her best friend into a hug. "You can't help who you love, Harry. I just want you to be happy. I couldn't care less who makes you happy as long as they treat you well."

Harry's hand reaches out, touching the mirror in the same place hers is as he finally lets his tears streak down his cheeks. "I miss you," he whispers.

"Same here," she replies, her own tears crawling down her face. "Now tell me why you think we can trust Ron." She roughly wipes the tears away and gives her best friend a cheery smile.

"Well it started when I heard Ron arguing with Mrs. Weasley about how he didn't understand why she was still encouraging and helping Ginny pursue me when I clearly wasn't interested. Especially considering, and I quote, 'his best mate has just abandoned him without so much as a note goodbye and he deserves a little bit of time to grieve '. Lupin came into the kitchen right after that so the conversation got cut off but I was curious so I didn't activate any of my usual silencing charms when we went to bed that night and I waited for him to start talking in his sleep like he always does. He kept murmuring things like 'Not him, not Harry.', 'No, Hermione! Be careful!', and 'I'm sorry, Mione. I didn't want to.'"

"I think you should just ask him before you do anything else, Harry. You can even call me on the mirror when you do and have me listen in if you want another set of ears. Because it sounds like there's a lot we don't know right now that only he can answer."

Hermione watches Harry worry his lip between his teeth for another minute before his jaw sets and his eyes harden. "Do you have time to listen right now?"

"Of course," is Hermione's immediate reply. "Is it ok if Viktor listens in as well?"

Harry nods and both teens rise from where they are seated. Hermione's screen goes dark as Harry places his mirror in his pocket.

Hermione exits her room and quickly makes her way towards Viktor's room. She raps three times on his and Viktor appears with a questioning look moments later. Hermione holds a finger to her lips for silence and motions to her mirror.

Viktor nods and holds the door open wide for Hermione to walk through.

Hermione enters his room and crawls onto his bed, patting the place next to her once she gets settled.

Viktor gives her a goofy smile before taking the spot beside her and wrapping his arm around her waist.

A knock and the creak of a door opening sounds from the mirror, capturing both teens' attention.

"Ron, can I talk to you?" Harry asks, worry dripping off his tone.

"Of course, mate. What's up?" Ron replies, his tone wary but his trust in his best friend palpable even without seeing his face. "What's with the silencing charm, Harry?" A little less trust now.

There's a beat of silence before Harry takes a deep breath and begins, "You've been having nightmares. I want to know what they're about, I heard you mumbling things like 'Not him, not Harry.', 'No, Hermione! Be careful!', and 'I'm sorry, Mione. I didn't want to.' What's going on, Ron?"

"They're just—" Ron begins but Harry cuts him off,

"And don't tell me they're just normal nightmares because I also heard you talking to your mum the other day about her helping Ginny pursue me so don't bloody lie to me. What the hell is going on, Ron?"

There's a long silence before another deep breath is taken, this time by Ron. "I honestly don't know everything but what I do know is that I don't like what I do know. Mum and the Order have been trying to get you together with Ginny because Dumbledore didn't think you had a strong enough connection to the light through me. They also wanted me to get together with Hermione so that she would be tied to the light and you would have another connection to the Order. I didn't want to. I don't feel that way about her. I can't feel that way about her. But I also couldn't tell the Order or Mum that I could never love Hermione that way because people like me aren't accepted in that society. Mum and Dad did everything except legally disown Charlie when they found out he was gay. I didn't want that to happen to me so I tried to woo Hermione. Only it didn't work out as planned because I took out my anger in the situation out on her. I was angry that they wanted me to get together with her and I was jealous that Ginny might get the chance to be with you but that I never would and I was just furious in general over the whole situation. But I didn't want to be Obliviated so I still tried and I failed terribly. She was my friend and she didn't deserve it but I was horrid to her and I can't change that now. I wish I could apologize but I can't because she's gone and I feel like it's my fa—" Ron is cut off once more by Hermione can only imagine what this time but the light smacking of lips and the rustle of fabric has her not wanting to imagine it. She could go her whole life without knowing exactly how active her brother's love life is especially considering the person he was currently making out with was another brother figure.

"Ginny never had a chance at being with me because I'm in love with you, Ron. I don't know when exactly it happened but I do know that I love you unconditionally and irrevocably. No one can ever change that."

"I love you, Harry. More than you'll ever know," Ron replies and then it's quiet again.

"Harry, can I talk to Ron before you start making out again?" Hermione speaks out and laughs when she hears Harry squeak in embarrassment and then curse under his breath as his fingers wrap around the mirror and he pulls it out of his pocket.

"Mione?" Ron sounds incredibly confused before his eyes lock on Hermione's through the mirror. "Mione! I'm so sorry! You're one of the best friends I have ever had and I never should have treated you the way I did no matter what was going on with me."

"I forgive you, Ron." Hermione smiles softly at the redhead, touching the mirror.

"Are you safe, Mione? Where are you? I've been so worried. Wait, maybe you shouldn't tell me. I don't want them to find out from me somehow and then something to happen to you because of it. Something isn't right with the Order, Mione, I don't trust them."

"Ron, Ron, slow down. The Order wouldn't be able to get to me if I tried. Viktor's house is unplotted. I am perfectly safe here. Much safer than the two of you in Britain," Hermione comforts her friend, feeling a warmth for him that she hadn't felt in quite a long time, as she moves her mirror so that both boys can see Viktor.

"What's the plan, Mione?" Ron asks, the same trust shining in his innocent blue eyes that he'd had since their first year. This was the boy she had known since her first year, this is the boy that she trusted, this is the boy who was one of her best friends.

"First and foremost, we need to figure out how to get Harry here legally and without interference from anyone in Britain realizing before it is too late." Because Harry is the one who needs to move forward is the understanding passes silently in between them like it had on every one of their adventures. "Then we will figure out who we can trust and how we can save our home from themselves."

"You'll need people on both sides for that," Ron states blandly. "They expect me to join The Order when I turn seventeen even if Mum pretends to be against it. I can spy for you."

"We can't ask that of you, Ron," Hermione states softly though the resolve in his eyes says he has already made up his mind and if there was one thing he and Hermione had in common over all else, it was their stubbornness once they had made up their mind.

"You didn't," Ron replies with a half-smile on his lips.

The next few hours pass in a blur of familiarity that Hermione had missed in the past two years until Hermione final shuts her mirror, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

"Thank you for listening, I didn't know exactly how that would go and I wanted an unbiased person listening in just in case. I'm sorry we kept you up to late when you have to be up early," Hermione murmurs as she places her mirror on Viktor's nightstand, keeping her legs tossed over Viktor's lap like they had been for quite some time, before wrapping her arms loosely around his neck.

Viktor smiles softly and slowly kisses her forehead. "I'm glad to do it, whatever it is you need, Mila. Besides, it's not that late and you have to be up at the same time as me tomorrow."

Hermione smiles back at Viktor and softly brushes her lips against his.

Viktor returns her kiss, deepening it as her hands wander his bare chest, her nails gently scratching the lines of his abs. Viktor groans and Hermione turns in his lap, straddling his hips, as Viktor fingers press into her thighs.

"We…should…stop," Viktor gasps for breath, breaking their kiss, as his member begins to harden under Hermione. "I don't want to take advantage of you."

"You're not, I want this," Hermione whispers, pressing a kiss to the corner of his lips. "Do you?"

Viktor's right hand trails up her side to thread through her hair, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. "More than anything," he whispers before kissing her again.

This kiss is different from any they had shared before. This time, neither holds back and neither doubts the other. His fingers grip her thighs pulling her closer, closer, closer. Her hips rotate again his once, twice, three times searching for more, more, more. And they keep kissing and kissing and kissing.

Devouring each other as one, two, three pieces of clothing fall to the floor.

"Are you sure?" He asks her in English as he hovers above her, his kind dark eyes searching hers, because he has to be certain.

"Positive," she replies in Bulgarian, crossing her ankles behind his back and pulling him closer as she presses her lips to his.

He brushes his swollen member against her entrance once, twice, three times before she whimpers softly in need and he slowly, carefully, gently pushes forward.

Her soft intake of breath makes him freeze half way in, an apology at the tip of his tongue.

"It's ok," she whispers, stroking his cheek with the back of her hand as she cuts him off. "Just kiss me."

So he does again, and again, and again. Until she shifts underneath him, her hips pushing into his.

Viktor pulls out and pushes back in, stretching her in ways she never knew possible. His throbbing member goes deeper inside her the first time she meets him in the and their moans vibrate through their bodies simultaneously. The next time they meet is anything but slow.

His cock rams into her pussy. Her legs tighten around his waist, forcing him as deeply into her body as she can get him.

"Bloody hell," she gasps when he hits a spot inside of her that has her seeing stars. "Right there, Viktor. Right there."

Viktor responds by thrusting back into her again, hitting that spot inside of her again and again and again until the coil inside her stomach is so tight that it almost hurts.

"VIKTOR!" she screams, her walls clamping down around his throbbing member and milking him for everything he's worth.

"HERMIONE!" He follows her lead, coming deep inside of Hermione before pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "I love you," he murmurs in English.

"I love you," she whispers in Bulgarian.

A grin spreads across Viktor's face and a tear streaks down his cheek as he presses a hard kiss to her lips, rolling them over so that she is on top of him but he is still inside her.

Hermione's own grin stretches across her face, her own tear slipping down her cheek and blending with his, as she returns his kiss before pulling away just far enough to place a kiss first over their mingled tears on his cheek and then over his heart where she rests her head.

Viktor's hand making soft circles on her back paired with his even breathing and steady heartbeat quickly lull Hermione to dreams of a future they will share together where they don't have to worry about some madman coming after them.

"So… you and Viktor both seem very happy today. Anything you want to share with the group?" Alek questions, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, as she does his daily follow-up appointment this time by herself. Marceau left her to her own devices for the most part. He introduced new theory every week, made sure she ate proper meals, and frequently dropped in for visits but he allowed her to do most of the practical work on her own after making sure she could do it on her own once, he trusted her judgement and knew she would come get him if a problem was out of her current abilities.

Hermione's cheeks flare but she keeps a neutral expression. "I don't see how that's any of your business, Alek."

"I thought after all this time and you saving my life, we were better friends than that, Mia," Alek cries overdramatically, throwing his body back onto the small cot in the office she shared with Marceau.

Hermione laughs, rolling her eyes and making another note on her clipboard. "We are friends, Alek. But we're the kind of friends who have lunch together and who work together and who are going out dancing this weekend with the rest of our friend group. I'm just not going to share mine and Viktor's private life with you."

"So you guys actually have a private life now!" Alek exclaims and grins widely.

Hermione shoots him a scathing look that loses its intensity due to the smile tugging at her lips and the amusement dancing in her eyes.

"I would share my private life with you, Mia!" Alek fakes hurt.

"Well, I'll share mine with you when you get one, love," Hermione responds without missing a beat, laughter twinkling in her eyes.

"She has you there, young one," Marceau's laughter echoes through the room as he walks through the office door. "I think you should head back to practice before your ego takes any more hits, that is if Miss Granger is ready to give you the all clear."

Both men turn to Hermione with questioning gazes.

"You're good to go, Alek," Hermione states, giving him a soft smile.

"Thanks, Mia." Alek grins, slides off the cot, and drops a kiss to Hermione's cheek. "You're eating lunch with the whole team today, right? Not just sneaking away for more alone time with Viktor."

"Of course I am, we can't let Winky's picnic go to waste. I think she's planning on making it a weekly—" Hermione's response is cut off by a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Marceau calls, the confusion Hermione is feeling reflected on his face.

The door opens and a little blur of black curls darts into the room, jumping into Alek's surprised but ready arms. "PAPA!"

Nayden and a blonde girl much younger than Hermione follow the child into the room.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bachvarov, but I need you to come home immediately. There's been an emergency in my family and I won't be able to take care of Vyara for the foreseeable future. I'm sorry to just drop her off but I have to go and I… I just…" The girl breaks down into sobs and Alek's eyes seek out Hermione's, his eyes flickering from his daughter to Hermione with a question clear on his face.

Hermione holds her arms out to Alek in response. "Hi, my name's Mia. I'm a friend of your papa's, would you like to come with me while your papa talks to the rest of the grownups?"

The small girl nods and goes willingly into Hermione's arms. "My name is Vyara!" the young girl exclaims, the gap in her teeth reminding Hermione so much of her father that she couldn't help but grin back as she softly closes the office door behind her while Alek comforts the young blonde girl.

"It's nice to meet you, Vyara," Hermione replies, slowly walking toward the field.

"Why do you talk funny?" Vyara asks, her curls falling to the side as she stares at Hermione with eyes identical to her father's.

"Because I'm from a country far, far away from here called Great Britain."

"Why did you come here?"

"Because I fell in love with a man who lives here in Bulgaria a long time ago and when I needed a place to go because my home was unsafe, I knew I would be safe with him here. He is my home now."

"Why was your home not safe no more?"

"Because two very bad men are trying to control my home country and I didn't want to fight for either of them but one wanted me to fight for their side."

"Why didn't you just tell him no? Papa says that no means no and we should always respect someone's boundaries."

"I did tell him no but he wants to hurt me because I said no."

"Then you should kick their butts!"

Hermione laughs, hugging the girl in her arms softly. "Can I tell you a secret?" she asks, lowering her voice to a whisper.

"Yeah!" The little girl exclaims, her curls flying wildly around her face as she nods her head.

"My brother, my best friend, my former professor, the man I came here to be with, and I have a plan to kick both the bad men's butts!"