Author's Note: Thanks for the awesome reviews! I'm trying to show Hermione and Viktor's story, which is complicated by war and distance and youth. They were very much in love, and their story hopefully will showcase this. But, this will evolve into Hermione's new life in the post-war world.


The Long and Winding Road

by Clover Bay

Chapter 3 - The Past and the Present

Alex crawled into Hermione's lap after he finished his snack, rubbing his eyes tiredly. In a matter of minutes, he was asleep and being taken to one of the bedrooms upstairs. When she returned to the kitchen, Hermione busied herself at the sink before sitting next to Ron once again.

"You're welcome, by the way." Ron's smirk softened into a sad smile.

Hermione bumped her shoulder into his. "You were a great friend that year. Viktor always asked me to thank you, in every letter he sent that term." She sniffled, taking a moment to compose herself.

Viktor's missions for the Order became more dangerous the longer he searched for the monies behind the Death Eaters' activities. By the fall of her sixth year, he had identified the largest bankroll for Voldemort. Petrovich, the International Quidditch League's most prominent racing broom supplier, had been paying a generous tribute to further the agenda of the Death Eaters. As discretely as possible, Viktor had been steering the league away from their brand. It was no coincidence that Petrovich created two new, elite brooms in such a short period of time. The teams might have relied on the broom manufacturer, but the league valued Viktor's name and contributions much more. Numerous letters to Hermione conveyed that he couldn't get away from Bulgaria for the weekend because he needed extra practice to hone his skills on the lesser quality Legacy broom models. He couldn't risk the chance that anyone would find that his displeasure with Petrovich was anything other than quidditch related.

He'd also become concerned that their relationship might further endanger them, Hermione in particular. They constructed a plan for her peers, and the school-age Death Eaters' children, to believe that she was single rather than attached to Viktor. Ron happily obliged as the 'friend who might be something more', as he was portrayed to the rest of Hogwarts. This freed Hermione to write to Viktor and 'seek advice from Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall'; this ruse allowed her to meet with him on evenings in which the Order was scheduled to convene. Often, this would be the only times in which they would see one another.

But, they didn't live in constant fear, rather with a heightened sense of alertness. Viktor proved to be particularly romantic in September when he received permission to take Hermione into muggle London for dinner. Coming of age in the wizarding world held a special place each witch and wizard's life, and Viktor wanted her to have a wonderful seventeenth birthday. It was as they left the elegant Italian restaurant that Viktor finally worked up the courage so say those three words that they both felt, one of which she attached to the signature of his letters and he returned when addressing hers. She melted into him the first time he said 'I love you.' It was said with tenderness and conviction; he sounded more sure in his quiet enunciation of those words than she had ever heard him sound before. No doubt could ever be placed in her mind about the authenticity and genuine feelings for her.

Later, the Christmas holidays for Hermione coincided with the International Quidditch League's winter break. Having met Viktor the previous year, and knowing how much he meant to their only daughter, Hermione's parents invited him to spend a week as a guest in their home. Not wanting to disrespect her parents, Viktor exhibited an even greater amount of propriety while staying with them. That both frustrated and delighted Hermione. His old-world charm and gentlemanly upbringing shone through, impressing both of her parents. It wasn't until the last hours of the evening that they would find themselves alone in the living room, snuggled together and watching the lights twinkle on the Christmas tree. He held her close, but refrained from doing anything that would embarrass them if it had to be suddenly explained to her parents. Just holding her, though, gave them more physical contact than they had been allowed due to their distance apart. When he held her hand, or kissed her goodnight, his eyes would meet hers, silently showing her how happy he was.

Viktor managed to convince Hermione's parents to let her spend Christmas evening with his family in Bulgaria. She wasn't sure what to expect from his pure-blooded parents, whom she was sure were steeped in traditions passed on for generations. However, she discovered that his mama and papa were as soft-spoken as him; they were warm and welcoming, each giving Hermione smothering hugs of greeting as she crossed the threshold of their home. The smells of spiced cider and ginger biscuits added to the comfortable, homey feeling of their farm house. Viktor teased them about moving into a newer, more modern home somewhere closer to the city, but they scoffed at his offer as flashy and a waste of his money when they had a perfectly nice home. And, Hermione couldn't agree more. Viktor's obvious wink in her direction let the room know that he was all too aware of the useless offer. In fact, he agreed that not every house could be made into a home; the memories that permeated the small rooms of his parents home were more valuable than the gold in his vaults.

Before they left, Viktor pulled Hermione away from his parents to give her a special Christmas gift. A white-gold bracelet with round, looping links was the most delicate piece of jewelry she'd ever seen. A pink, flower charm hung securely from one of the links, swinging gently.

"For my beautiful English Rose," Viktor whispered as he fastened it around her wrist. With a kiss to the top of the hand he still held, he continued, "You are the first woman I have loved; the first I've brought to meet my mama and papa. Hermione, I love you more than I can say in English."

She wanted to giggle at his reference to his evolving mastery of her language. The sentiment, though, silenced her. After another long look at his gift, she lifted her eyes to meet his. "And, I love you, Viktor. Whenever I look down, this beautiful bracelet will remind me of you, of us . . and our time together here."

OoOoOoO

"Knock, Knock." Charlie's voice preceded his appearance into the kitchen.

Several of his brothers rose and shook his hand, happy to see him again. It had been months since he had been around during a vacation period; usually he was claiming that work was just too busy for him to get away.

The normally boisterous Molly watched Charlie's eyes connect with Hermione's rather than run to greet him. They were having a silent conversation that went unnoticed by the others. It was interesting to see so much conveyed; it reminded her of Arthur and herself . . . . But she, too, welcomed him with a warm hug and the admonishment that it had been too long since his last visit.

Hermione met Charlie's eyes as he rounded the door frame and came inside. He had been waiting until late afternoon to come home. They had discussed her sharing the news of Alex, and she wanted time to catch his family up on the past few years before they continued any further.

It was evident from her shining, watery eyes that Hermione had been remembering, and probably talking about, the last few months of the war. Without saying a word, Charlie understood that she wasn't finished, that she needed more time to explain Viktor's death. He was about to ask about Alex when the room heard "mummy" called from upstairs.

Hermione excused herself, reappearing moments later with a wide-awake Alex. His hair was sticking up in the back where it had been mussed from sleep. He was chattering about his 'sleep room' with the dragon posters on the walls; it was the obvious choice of rooms because she knew he would be comfortable and at ease when he woke from his nap.

When Alex heard Charlie talking with Molly and the others, he craned his neck around looking for the familiar voice. "Chaw-ly!" He wiggled until Hermione let him down and he wove among the tall legs between him and Charlie until he was standing, tugging on Charlie's pant-legs.

"Hey there, little man. Looks like you've been flying today," Charlie said while smoothing his hand over Alex's crazy hair.

"Yeah! They," he pointed to the twins, "went with me." His bright smile made all of the adults in the room grin.

"Hmm, I bet you're tired of flying then," Charlie goaded the small boy, knowing Alex would ask to go flying again.

"No! I'm ready to go." He looked scandalized at the thought that anyone would want to miss out on flying. "Now?" he asked Charlie before searching for his mum.

"Anybody else want to go flying with us?" Charlie asked his brothers and dad.

None of the adults missed the diversion Charlie was creating. For whatever reason, he was trying to give Hermione and his mum time alone. Nodding their heads in agreement, the men left the kitchen.

On the way out the door, Fred could be heard saying, "Wonder why she didn't remind Charlie to use a sticking charm . . . ."

Sighing, Hermione returned to her seat at the well-worn wooden table. "Molly, there are so many things . . . and I know Charlie has just brought more . . . ."

"Take your time, dear." Molly gently pat Hermione's arm as it lay resting on the table.


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