Viktor woke the next morning to purring and Crookshanks kneading his paws on his chest. He yawned and looked to his bedmate. She was sound asleep on her stomach, one arm hugging a pillow, a leg hitched up. He put the cat down beside her, summoned his boxers, and a dressing robe he kept there. If they didn't have anywhere to go, he knew that he really would spend the whole day in bed with her. They reached a new level of intimacy last night, in which he was thrilled at her capacity for pleasure and her eagerness to bestow it upon him. A shudder ran down his spine at the memories of the night. He gazed at her one last time and and pulled the duvet over her nude body. He went to the kitchen to start coffee and feed Crookshanks. When he heard knocking at the front door, he answered it to find Harry and Ginny standing there.
"I wanted see her before she left, if that's alright," Ginny requested.
"Certainly, but it will be on your head when you wake her," he teased and welcomed them inside.
"She still asleep?" Ginny asked warily.
"Wait a few minutes for the coffee to finish, go in there with a cup," Victor suggested.
Harry looked around the living room and noted a pleasant mix of her things and Viktor's, along with something new: quidditch memorabilia.
"I never thought I would see that kind of stuff here," Harry said and felt Crookshanks winding around his legs.
"Hey Crooks," he said and picked him up. Ron may not have liked the kneazle, but he did. At one time, no one wanted him, much like the Crooks- so they had Hermione in common. She took them both into her heart.
Ginny went to the bedroom with a steaming cup of coffee and left the two men to chat. She slowly opened the door and saw Hermione sprawled out, sleeping soundly. Gingerly, careful to avoid making a sudden noise, she stopped bedside and softly nudged her shoulder.
"Hermione?" she quietly questioned.
The sleeping lump shifted, sighed, and quieted.
"Hermione."
"g-g-huh…" Hermione mumbled, pushed the hair from her face and peered up at the cause of her sleep intrusion.
Ginny offered the cup of coffee and placed it on the bedside table.
"I wanted to see you before you left, and as my very best female friend, I have something to tell you," Ginny said, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Hermione gathered the bedcovers around herself and sat up.
"Now, what is this something that caused you to disturb my peaceful slumber?"
She reached for the coffee and patted the space next to her.
Ginny sat down and took a deep breath. "Last night, we finally did it."
"Did what? You and… oh," Hermione replied and chuckled.
She closed the bedroom door with a wave of her hand.
"I'm a little sore this morning, but it was fantastic!"
"Be sure and let him know that," Hermione advised.
"I'm sure he knows," Ginny said with a blush, "which is another reason I came by this morning. Do you have something for… discomfort? I really can't go to mum and ask for one. She'll want to know why and she can tell if I'm lying. She loves Harry, but if she ever finds out we-"
"Calm down, don't let that ruin what you shared with him," Hermione said and summoned her dressing robe from the hangar, put it on and went to the bathroom. She rummaged in the cupboard and emerged with two bottles.
"This one is for mild pain, and this one is a contraceptive. Did you use one last night?"
"Yes, and Harry cast a contraceptive charm on himself."
"Good, now drink up, that one lasts for a month, but always have back up. Nothing is one hundred percent except abstinence."
"Umm… can I ask you something else?"
December 22 Krum Manor, Bulgaria
A sharp crack of apparition announced Viktor and Hermione's arrival in a large, snow-covered garden.
"Welcome to Krum Estate," he said.
She set her suitcase and valise down and looked around the property. The manor was considerably larger than that of her parents. Frozen fountains, statues, and meticulously groomed hedges adorned the garden.
"How charming!" Hermione exclaimed.
In the manor's sitting room, Marko and Anna Krum heard the sharp crack of apparition. They went to the window and pulled aside the drapes. They saw their son point to something in the distance and pull her closer to him. In all his years at school, then during the course of his career, he rarely wrote home or talked about women, and he had never brought one home to meet them. She must be a special witch to have captured his heart so they were eager to meet her. Years ago, he had written home about a young witch from Hogwarts he had asked to a Yule Ball, and that witch was now nineteen and stood in their garden
Viktor took her things and led her to the front door. Inside, they removed their cloaks and he hung them on a rack by the door.
"Mama! Papa!" he said when they appeared in the foyer.
"Welcome home, my darling boy, we missed you!" Anna greeted him and fiercely hugged him, followed by his father. "It's good to see you, son. Now, who is this young woman?"
"Mama, Papa, I am pleased to introduce Miss Hermione Granger, of London."
Hermione shook hands with both, noting how Viktor took mostly after his father, but had his mother's eyes.
"Radvam se da se zapoznaem, vosela koleda," Hermione said and glanced at Viktor with was that okay? She had been brushing up on some basic Bulgarian so as not to seem like a total cretin to them.
"Pretty one, no one will ever mistake you for a cretin," Viktor had said.
"Mnogo blagodaria, dobre dosha," Anna replied.
"Korabãt mi na v'zdyšna vãzglavnica e pãlen sãs zmiorki," Hermione said and looked at Viktor again. His eyes sparkled with amusement. Oh no, what did I say?
Anna's lips twitched and she laid her hand on her husband's arm.
"Indeed," Marko said and chuckled.
"Darling, why don't you show Miss Granger to her room? I'll have refreshments prepared in the sitting room," Anna said.
When the couple took their leave, Anna declared, "Marko, I like her already."
#
In her room, Viktor doubled over with laughter. When he caught his breath, he drew her close and kissed the top of her head. "Pretty one, that was priceless."
"I was sure I said thank you for inviting me, and your home is lovely."
"Well, your greetings were correct, but I'm sure father wonders why your hovercraft is full of eels," he said and burst out in laughter again.
She was mortified. "They must think I'm insane!" she protested. "Who has hovercrafts full of eels?"
"I'll leave you for a few minutes to fresh up," he said and left the room, chuckling.
Marko and Anna watched the hand-holding, chatting couple enter the parlor. Hermione was as attractive as Viktor described in his letters. It was obvious both were smitten and had a familiarity that lovers possessed. He led her to chair and made sure she and his mother were seated before the men took their seats.
"We have a varied selection of refreshments," she said. "Would you prefer coffee or tea?"
"Coffee, thank you," Hermione said. Anna served the four and they settled with their cups to talk.
"Well, Miss Granger from London, Viktor tells us that your parents are employed as dentists," Marko said.
"Yes sir, they recently reopened a clinic," Hermione said. "Please let me tell you that your home is lovely, thank you for having me."
"So no hovercraft or eels?" Anna asked.
"No Madame, I must have sounded ridiculous."
"Nonsense, we appreciate the effort and it was amusing," Marko said. "This home is much too quiet, we welcome the laughter."
"I doubt Viktor would bring home someone ridiculous," Anna assured her.
"We have learned of you and your friend's exploits last year, you are to be commended," Marko said.
"Um… thank you," Hermione said quietly.
"Hermynee is a reluctant heroine," Viktor said and squeezed her hand.
"Viktor also tells us that you returned to finish your schooling," Anna said.
"I wasn't sure about that at first. Harry and Ron didn't return to school and are doing just fine, but I decided that it was best for my future."
"What are your aspirations?" Anna asked.
"Education or research."
"Again, Hermynee is being humble. Tell them, pretty one," Viktor encouraged.
"After the holidays, I'm to meet with a representative from The Mage Guild," she said.
"Impressive, quite an accomplishment," Anna said.
"Congratulations indeed," Marko said.
Viktor couldn't have been more pleased. They liked Hermione.
"Would you care to see the estate library?" Anna asked.
"That's like asking water if it's wet," Viktor stated.
"Come, let's leave the men to talk," Anna said and led Hermione from the parlor and along a corridor, where they were met by six Himalayan cats.
"How precious!" Hermione said and crouched down as the cats approached. The cats, knowing a cat lover when they saw one, all gathered to get a pet or scratch from the friendly stranger.
I really like this young lady! Anna thought.
"Do you like dogs?" Anna asked.
"Oh yes, I like most animals. Viktor wanted to get me a dog after I was attacked a few months ago."
"Yes, he told us of that. We have German shepherds running around the estate," Anna said. "Marko even has an albino ferret."
At the ferret comment, Hermione couldn't stop giggling. "My dear, if it amuses you so much, I must know."
Hermione composed herself and told the story of when Draco Malfoy was turned into a white ferret.
"The infamy of the Malfoys is known throughout Europe," Anna said and they arrived at a set of large, oaken, double doors.
"The manor's library," Anna said and opened the doors. They walked in to a floor-to-ceiling rotunda of books. Hermione gazed in amazement at thousands of books.
"What subject do you enjoy most?" Anna asked.
"It's a toss-up between Charms and history," Hermione replied.
"Charming is to your right," Anna said and led Hermione to the shelves to her right and she scanned the titles. Hermione brought her hand to her mouth at one title.
"McKiernan's Theories of Eighteenth Century Charms? There's only five originals left in existence," she said. Many of the books were in Bulgarian, but that could be easily solved with translation charms.
"Would you care for a tour of the rest of the manor?" Anna asked. She took McKiernan's book from the shelf and handed it to her.
"Certainly," Hermione said.
#
In the sitting room, Marko gave his son a glass of brandy. "You are to be congratulated, she is a fine young witch."
"Oh how precious!" they heard from the corridor.
"The cats," both men chorused.
"Do you plan to take her for a wife?" Marko asked.
"I do, papa. Do I have your blessing?"
"How can I disagree with your choice? You have never brought a witch home, and your mother seems taken with her," Marko said. "I will retrieve my mother's rings for you."
"I need to attain her parent's approval when we return," Viktor said.
"And do they approve of you?"
"I am certain they do and they are a successful, respected family."
"Then we must meet soon. You are certain of your feelings for her?"
"Absolutely."
"Then I am happy for you and I'm sure your mother will be ecstatic. Let's charge our glasses to our women, those beautiful, mysterious creatures who bring much joy to our lives."
#