Written for Live Journal community Romancing the Wizard's Challenge Seventeen: Messages From The Heart

Wizard/Witch Vicktor Krum/Hermione Granger (older)

Rating/Warnings G/PG Implied character death

Word count Exactly 750

Summary: Old flames never completely die out. The embers smolder quietly, waiting for love to breathe on them and give them new life.

Begin Anew

"Morning, Ms. Granger-Weasley." A secretary levitated a stack of mail onto the Head of Magical Law Enforcement's desk.

They sorted the mail, pausing at the sight of a vivid red envelope. To Hermione's relief it was not a Howler, just a red envelope. A Valentine's card? This was unexpected. The last card she had received was...

It can wait, she told herself, setting it aside. There's work to be done.

Later that afternoon, Hermione shoved back her gray hair, perched her reading glasses on her nose, and opened the envelope. Inside was a card that opened to present her with a delicate bouquet of pink tea roses and ferns. A note read:

Dear Hermione,

I will be in London next week. It would please me greatly to see you again. If you are able to join me, I would enjoy your company for dinner on the fourteenth.

Regards,

Viktor Krum

Viktor Krum! She had last spoken to him during the thirtieth anniversary celebration of You-Know-Who's defeat. Goodness! She hadn't seen him in more than twenty-five years. Hermione remembered reading that his wife had died a little over a year ago-- a few months after Ron's passing. Seeing Victor again would be a welcome change from her tedious routine. She sent him an owl, accepting his invitation.

The evening of the fourteenth arrived, and Hermione debated taking a sip of De-aging Draught. Who was she trying to fool? She was no longer a girl of fifteen; she was a widow of seventy-three. She would be herself.

Viktor was waiting for her at the establishment, looking very distinguished with his own gray hair. Strong hands covered hers as he pressed his lips to both of her cheeks. "It is vonderful to see you again, Her-mo-niny."

"Likewise, Viktor." Why did she suddenly feel every bit as giddy as she had at fifteen?

He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm as they were lead to their table. Once seated, they took turns chronicling the intervening decades, both of them faltering when they spoke of their spouses-- gone but not forgotten.

"I am truly sorry for your loss," Viktor said.

"And I for yours. It must have been very hard on you."

"I loved her greatly." He nodded. "Tonight I vish not to speak of loss, but of friendship and new beginnings. I haf thought of you often over the years. I haf missed you."

She hadn't realized it, but she had missed him too. Viktor had been the first person to recognize her as a woman; he had made her feel beautiful and feminine and had treated her respectfully. She had been too young to have been genuinely in love then, but she could still remember the tingle on her lips after he had kissed her at the end of the evening.

In the background a waltz was playing, similar to the one which had opened the Yule Ball so long ago. Viktor smiled and rose to his feet, extending a hand to her. "Shall ve dance?"

When was the last time she had danced? Her grandson's wedding? Hermione smiled. "Oh, yes!"

He took her hand and waist, and they moved to the music. Silently they glided across the floor, the years falling away with each step. She looked up expecting to see the grouchy-faced young Quidditch star, but all she saw were gentle eyes filled with love and longing. There was a promise in those eyes that the years to come need not be spent alone, immersed in her work. She had an opportunity to continue to live... to continue to love... to begin anew...

He whispered in her ear, "I haf alvays loved you, Her-mo-niny. Part of my heart has remained yours. Do you think you could find it in your heart to love me?"

"Ron..." she whispered, tears welling up, "your wife..."

"They vould haf wanted us to be happy."

In her heart she knew that to be true-- Ron would never have denied her happiness. Another chance to love and be loved was something she wanted to embrace. For the first time in ages, words failed her, and she merely nodded.

Vitor lifted her chin. His mouth was on hers, filling her with a feeling of joy and contentment that had been missing from her life for the last year. With that kiss, passion's spark returned a feeling of youthful excitement to those aged bodies, and for a moment, they felt deliciously young and vitally alive again.

Author's Notes: No, there aren't a bunch of spelling mistakes in there; I was just trying to duplicate Krum's Bulgarian accent. There is a bit of meaning behind the flowers, which can be found at the Pioneer Thinking website.