Too Familiar
Just before sunrise, Viktor and Hermione were woken by a persistent tapping. Hermione pushed back her hair and looked up. There was a large owl on the windowsill.
"What is it?" Viktor said as he rolled over.
"Owl." She got up and opened the window. The owl hopped in and she took the letter from his leg. It was written in Bulgarian, so she handed it to Viktor. "Wait here," she said to the owl, as she pulled on her dressing gown. "The treats are downstairs."
When she returned, Viktor was sitting up in bed scowling at the letter. "I have to go to the Ministry. I need a Portkey."
"Why? What's happened?" She gave the owl its treat.
He frowned. "There has been an incident at the bank in Sophia. I need to go and straighten it out. My father has made a fool of himself and my mother is very upset." He rolled out of bed.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said sympathetically. "Do you want me to go with you?"
"Absolutely not," Viktor said firmly. "You are still recovering."
"All right, but at least I can save you the trouble of going to the Ministry. I can make you a Portkey. It's safer that way. The Ministry registers all their Portkeys. I suspect that's how those Death Eaters knew we were in Sophia the last time. We don't want a repeat."
He raised his eyebrows at her. "You can do that?"
She cocked her head at him. "Didn't I just explain all this yesterday?"
"You said daily magic. Making a Portkey is not daily magic."
She sighed. "It's possible that I underplayed my position. There is very little in the way of any kind of magic that I can't do. Okay?"
He looked askance at her. "And you are allowed to make Portkeys?"
She smiled. "Yes. You'd be amazed what an Unspeakable is allowed to do. We're given a tremendous amount of leeway. Get dressed. I'll make the Portkey to take you from here to your parents' house. What time do you want to leave?"
"Give me twenty minutes. I want to take a shower."
"Okay, and I'll leave the return here open. We were supposed to go to that party in Edinburgh tonight. I'm guessing that's not happening now."
"You should go," Viktor said. "I will be there if I can."
"I don't know about going without you. What if I have an issue with the Tentaculus?"
"You haven't had an outbreak in a week. You are probably fine. Go. Have a good time."
"I'll think about it," she said, unconvinced.
xXx
That night Hermione decided Viktor was right. She should go to the party. Oliver was hosting it at his parents' estate in Edinburgh, and she would know a lot of people from the team. She hadn't been out to do anything but go to work or the market since she'd lost the baby. It was time. She couldn't decide what to wear and realized that Viktor had been choosing her outfits when they went out since they started dating. She settled on a short, patterned skirt with a long sleeved white T-shirt. She straightened her hair and put it up in a bun. She cast a quick glamour charm to give her face a little more life than it actually had, but didn't bother covering her scars since no one would see them. She checked her look one last time. She wasn't going to win any fashion awards, but she looked okay, so she took the Floo.
She stepped into an empty hall. A house elf told her the party was outside. She could hear the crowd before she could see it, she opened a door at the end of the hall and stepped out on to a terrace overlooking vast formal gardens. There was a large tent set up over a dance floor. The terrace led down to a fountain that was flowing with multicolored water. On either side of it were champagne fountains. People were everywhere. She helped herself to a glass of champagne and began walking around looking for someone she knew. A moment later, she ran into Oliver.
"Hermione!" he said, grinning and kissing her on the cheek. "Where's Viktor?"
"He had an issue he needed to resolve in Sophia. Hopefully, he'll be able to finish up quickly and make the party."
"I hope so," Oliver said. "I'm glad you decided to come anyway. There's plenty of food and dancing in the tent. Enjoy yourself. Save me a dance, okay?"
"You've got it," she said smiling.
He hurried away to greet more guests. A tray of hors d' oeuvres floated past and she took one. As she made her way to the terrace below and something more substantial to eat, she ran into Luna. "Hullo Luna. I haven't seen you in ages." The two hugged. "I didn't realize you knew Oliver."
"I don't really," Luna said. "I think all the Gryffindors that were in school when Oliver was got invited. I'm here with Neville."
"Great." Hermione said, looking around for him.
"He's gone to get drinks," Luna said.
"All the Gryffindors, huh? Hermione said, starting to feel anxious about running into Ron. If they were in the same building, she generally sensed he was there, but outside it was harder tell, and if he was around, she wanted to know.
Clearly, Luna knew what she was getting at. "Ginny said she and Harry were planning on being here. She didn't mention Ron. I think he probably won't come, given what happened last time."
Hermione grimaced. "I guess you were at that party."
"Yes," Luna said. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say hello, but I understand why you left so quickly. Ron seemed quite furious."
"I just didn't want a scene," Hermione said, uncomfortable talking about it.
"Hey, Hermione," Neville said as he walked up. He handed Luna a mug of beer and hugged Hermione.
"Hi Neville, how are you?"
"I'm good. I'm doing plant collection for the Apothecary in Hogsmeade. What are you up to?"
"Research and development at the Ministry. How about you Luna? What are you up to?"
"I'm working on the Quibbler with my father, but I've applied to study Magizoology. I should hear whether I've been accepted soon."
The three of them stood chatting for a little while until two of Viktor's teammates came by and grabbed Hermione. "Let's dance!"
Neville and Luna followed and the next couple of hours were spent on the dance floor. Hermione let her worries go and let herself have fun. She was having a fantastic time until someone released pixies, who proceeded through the party scattering glowing pixie dust and Hermione sneezed. She could feel the tentacles burst through her side. She tried to stifle the cry and grabbed her side. Neville was nearby. She grabbed his arm. "Can you get me home?" she gasped.
Neville took one look at her and said, "Of course."
They hurried through the crowd. Luna had gone to the loo but she was coming back down the terrace as they were headed to the house.
"What's wrong?" she said.
Without stopping, Neville said, "I've got to get Hermione home. I'll be back."
Hermione could feel the tentacles growing under her hand so she pressed harder to try to keep them from getting bigger. Neville managed to get her into the fireplace. He threw the Floo powder, she said her address, and they were whisked away.
xXx
When they stepped out of the fireplace into Hermione's parlor, Neville helped her to the sofa. She leaned back and pulled up the bottom of her shirt.
"What do you need?" Neville said, his eyes growing large at the sight of the tentacles.
"There's a large purple bottle of potion in the powder room and a little bottle of Essense of Dittany. Can you get them please?"
Neville ran to the powder room and was back moments later with both bottles.
The tentacles were bigger now and still growing.
"Someone cursed you with Tentaculus?" Neville said, alarm clear in his voice.
"Yes, a while ago, get the Dittany ready." She pulled out her wand.
"What are you doing?"
"I have to sever them. Then I'm going to need you to put the Dittany on in case I pass out. Then I need a drink of the other potion."
"Pass out?" Neville looked alarmed.
"I need you to focus."
He nodded. "Right." He took the cork out of the bottle of Dittany and waited. "Ready."
"Okay," Hermione said. She raised her wand and cast Diffindo. The tentacles fell away as she cried out. Neville let two drops of Dittany fall on the open wound.
"Are you all right?" he asked. "You've gone pale."
She nodded and willed herself not to faint. She felt a wave of nausea and a headache coming on.
He corked the Dittany and opened the other bottle. "Are you ready for the potion?"
She took a deep breath. "Yes."
He held it to her mouth and she took a swallow grimacing afterward.
"I'll make you a cup of tea," Neville said.
Hermione nodded. "That would be lovely. Thank you." She leaned her head back and rested.
xXx
Neville put the potion bottles away and then went into the kitchen where he filled the kettle before holding his wand to it to make it boil. He was bringing a couple of cups of tea into the parlor when the back door opened.
"Hermione?" Viktor called.
"She's in here," Neville said, setting down the cups on the coffee table.
Viktor came into the room with his wand raised. "Who are you?"
Neville raised his hands palm out. "Neville. Neville Longbottom. A friend of Hermione's from school."
"It's okay, Viktor," Hermione said. "He helped me home from the party."
"Why? What happened?"
"Pixie dust," Hermione said.
"Oh no," Viktor said, stroking her face with the backs of his fingers. "You sneezed."
She nodded.
"I should go," Neville said.
Viktor looked at him. "Thank you for getting her home."
"No problem," Neville said. "Luna will be wondering what's happened." He stepped toward the fireplace.
"Thank you, Neville," Hermione said.
"Anytime." He smiled at her before being whisked back to the party.
xXx
Viktor picked up the limp tentacles from the floor. "Why did you let them get so big?"
Hermione sighed. "Well, I couldn't very well sever them at the party, now could I?"
There was a pop in the kitchen and Viktor drew his wand again.
"Oh, no," Hermione moaned. "That's Harry."
Viktor looked down at her. "How do you know?"
"That's what his Apparition sounds like."
Before Viktor could respond to that, Harry called, "Hermione?"
"In here, Harry," Hermione said.
"He can just pop directly into your house?" Viktor said scowling.
"Yes." She was so tired. "It's Harry," she said, as if that was an adequate explanation.
"What does that mean?"
"It means that in case of an emergency, I can get to her," Harry said, stepping in front of Viktor and kneeling in front of Hermione. "Luna said Neville took you home and that you were holding your side." His was pushing her shirt up to inspect the thick scar.
"What are you doing?" Viktor shouted, but Harry ignored him.
Hermione yanked her shirt back down. "It's not the scar," she said, lifting the other side of her shirt. "It's here."
Harry rested a hand on her thigh as he leaned in to look at the skin growing over the tentacle wound. "What happened?"
"Hey!" Viktor said, upset at the casual way Harry touched her.
Hermione held up a palm to him and gave him a pleading look. "It's okay." She pulled her shirt back down. "As you can see, I'm fine."
"Those don't look fine," Harry said, pointing to the tentacles still in Viktor's hand. "When were you cursed with Tentaculus?"
"A while ago," Hermione said dismissively. "I'm almost done with the treatment."
"A while ago when?" Harry insisted.
"You don't need to worry about that. I'm fine," Hermione repeated.
Harry ignored her and stood to face Viktor. "Who cursed her?"
Viktor looked at Hermione, who shook her head.
"Harry," she said, but he continued to ignore her and glare at Viktor.
It wasn't easy to be glared at by the wizard who defeated Voldemort. Viktor shifted under Harry's gaze. "Look, we—"
"Viktor!" Hermione shouted struggling to her feet and getting between them. She turned on Harry. "This is none of your concern. I'm handling it."
"You are my concern," Harry said. "You know that."
"Oh really," Hermione said, her anger boiling over. "Then just where the hell have you been for the last six months?"
Harry had the decency to blush. "I'm sorry. I know I haven't—"
"You know what?" Hermione said. "Spare me. You came to check on me. I'm fine. Duty done. Go back to the party. I'm sure Ginny is ready to see you back there."
"Hermione, please. We should talk."
"Fine, but not tonight. I'm exhausted. I'll see you at the wedding in a few days."
"That's not—" Harry started to protest.
"You need to go," Viktor said, putting his arm around Hermione. "She should be in bed."
Harry glared at him but drew his wand and Disapparated.
Viktor scowled at Hermione. "Come on."
She was grateful for his arm around her. All the energy seemed to drain out of her. "I'm sorry."
"We will talk about it in the morning."
She was asleep almost from the moment her head hit the pillow, but Viktor was awake late into the night. Between the trouble with his parents, and then that business with Harry and Hermione, he didn't know what to think. He glanced over at her. She was sleeping peacefully beside him. He shook his head. She was a complicated witch. Her relationship with Harry was confusing. She never talked about her relationship with Ron and rarely mentioned her other friends. She almost never mentioned the war, and when she did, she always downplayed her role and what had happened to her, but he could see the scars. He'd read the accounts. He knew she'd played a pivotal role. He could look at her body and see the toll the war had taken, but he knew it was more than just a physical toll. It wasn't good that she kept it all inside. He knew that, but she seemed unwilling to listen to reason in that regard. She kept her secrets to herself and expected him to keep the ones he knew. It was hard to know what to make of her.
xXx
The next morning, Hermione came downstairs to find Viktor making breakfast. She poured herself a cup of coffee. "Can I help you with anything?" she asked.
"No. I am almost done. Have a seat," Viktor said.
She sat down at the table and a moment later he put a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her. He sat across from her. At the same time, they both said, "We need to talk about last night." They both smiled.
"You first," Viktor said.
Hermione blew out a slow breath. "I'm sorry I never mentioned that Harry had Apparition privileges into the house."
"Yes," Viktor said. "That was surprising. Not as surprising as you letting him lift your shirt, but still very surprising."
"I know that seemed…too familiar, but you have to understand, we lived in such close quarters for so long, we sometimes forget how things might look from the outside. I assure you, Harry has no designs on me nor I on him. He was just concerned."
"Yes, and while you will let him look at you and touch you, you will not tell him how you were cursed. I do not understand this."
Hermione let out a frustrated sigh. "I can't tell him we were attacked by Death Eaters in Bulgaria. He'd go off his nut and get the Ministry and the Aurors involved. He'd go over there. There's no need for that. The Bulgarian Aurors are handling it."
"You seriously think he would do that?" Viktor said, his skepticism obvious.
She nodded. "I don't think it. I know it. You don't know him like I do. And of course, the moment Harry Potter does anything the whole world knows it, which means the press would start investigating why you and I were in Bulgaria in the first place. They'd find a healer or an aide or someone who would talk to them and the next thing you know one of the worst things that's ever happened to me is national news. I don't want that. Do you want that?"
"Of course not," Viktor said.
"Then swear to it," Hermione said flatly.
"What?"
"Be my secret keeper."
He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "That is a bit extreme, is it not?"
"You almost told Harry last night. If I'd been unconscious when you got home, I think you would have. I can't have that, Viktor. I need to be sure you don't tell anyone."
He frowned at her. "What about healers? If something happens to you, I have to be able to talk to them."
She wrinkled her forehead as she considered the problem. "I can structure the bond to account for that."
He sighed. He was afraid she'd say something like that. "Fine." He rubbed his temples with his fingertips. "Do you have any headache potion. My head feels like it's about to split in two."
"Check the potions cabinet in my study," she said.
He got up to get it. A few moments later he came back with two vials of silver liquid in his hand.
"Did you find the potion?" she asked.
"Yes. I already took it. What are these?"
"They're memories. You know that."
"Yes, but why are they in the cabinet instead of in your head?"
She shrugged. "I just haven't gotten around to putting them back in yet."
"You shouldn't leave them out."
"I know. I'll put them back."
"When?" he insisted.
"When I get around to it. What do you care? They're not your memories," Hermione huffed.
He frowned at her. "I know these are painful events for you. I know the thought of remembering in detail upsets you, but it is not healthy to leave them out. The longer they stay out the worse it will be when you put them back in."
She rolled her eyes. "I'll get to it."
"Fine," he said and set them on the coffee table. She scooped them up and took them into the study and stuck them in the back of her potions cabinet. When she closed the cabinet door, Viktor was standing there. He frowned at her.
"Let it go," she said. "Come here." He sighed and came forward. She wrapped her arm around his and they clasped hands and she began the complicated spell that would bind him to secrecy about the events that took place in Bulgaria.
