Chapter 36: Early Bulgarian Birthday Surprises

When I arrived in Bulgaria --- in the rose plantation --- I felt somebody hugged me tightly. It was Viktor. I looked into his eyes, they looked worried. He hugged me once again, this time it was longer.

"I'm afraid to lose you," Viktor whispered.

Ianthé felt heavy tears drop from her eyes, "No, you won't lose me."

Viktor had his arms around her waist, "Come on, let's go inside the house."

Ianthé smiled weakly at him as they headed towards the large house.

Viktor's parents were waiting for them inside. Viktor's mother rushed towards Ianthé and gave her a hug.

Ianthé smiled and looked at Viktor's father, "Papa Khan, we need to talk about something."

Viktor's father nodded. They immediately proceeded to the sitting room.

"What is this about, dear child? Speak."

"I know you happen to have some connections with the Russian Muggle government, Papa Khan."

"Indeed."

"We need all the Muggle weapons we could get."

Viktor looked at her, "What do we need the weapons for?"

"You-Know-Who has Fernir Greyback on his side."

Viktor's mother gasped and clasped Ianthé's hand.

Viktor's father looked as if he was thinking deeply, "Bad news…"

"How is the Muggle weapons connected to fighting the werewolves?" Viktor asked.

"We will use bullets made of pure silver."

Viktor's father smiled, "I presume it's your idea?"

Ianthé nodded.

"So what do we need?" Viktor Conjured a quill and a long parchment.

"We need high-powered guns. Many high-powered guns. Something that is fast and can maim them easily."

Viktor nodded while writing in the parchment.

"I delegated the task for bombs --- magical bombs, that is --- to a couple of my friends who are absolutely brilliant in making those kind of stuff… but we need some more… just in case."

Viktor stopped writing, "You're expecting a full-pledged war, don't you?"

Ianthé looked at him in the eye, "We need to be prepared… I'm not a morbid thinker for nothing. We just need to be prepared when the time comes.."

Viktor's mother clutched Ianthé's hand more tightly.

"That's not the worse news. Dementors are breeding," Ianthé said in an almost-whisper, as if she was afraid that dementors would suddenly materialize in front of them.

Viktor stopped writing and leaned on his chair, "How did that happen?"

"We still don't know…"

Viktor's father got up and Viktor handed him the parchment.

"I will contact your father as soon as possible," Viktor's father placed his hand on Ianthé's shoulder. Viktor's mother also got up and was comforted by her husband.

Viktor moved his chair closer to Ianthé's, "Even if we are now in grave times, we still need to celebrate your birthday."

Ianthé let go of the breath she didn't know she held and smiled. She leaned forward to kiss Viktor. Viktor responded by kissing her back deeply.

Summer in Bulgaria is doing wonders for me. Every morning, Viktor and I walked through endless rows of rose bushes, overseeing the harvest of rose petals. At night, we look at the countless stars in the sky. I didn't know what Viktor had in plan for my sixteenth birthday.

"Wake up, love," a masculine voice whispered in Ianthé's ear.

Ianthé smiled and stretched her limbs. She opened and rubbed her eyes, "What time is it?"

"Time for you to get out of bed and get dressed," Viktor slung Ianthé on his shoulders as if she was very light.

"Put me down!" Ianthé lightly punched Viktor's back, laughing.

Viktor followed Ianthé's request and put her down inside the bathroom. He turned his back on Ianthé, as she undressed herself and got in the shower.

Always the perfect gentleman….

"So where exactly are we going?" Ianthé yelled from the shower.

"It's a surprise. You'll find out later when you get out of there…"

After a while, the sound of jets of water stopped and Ianthé's hand appeared on the slightly open shower door.

Viktor handed her a towel.

"Thanks."

Ianthé got out of the shower wearing nothing but the white towel. She proceeded to the enormous walk-in closet / changing room to dress.

"What do I wear?" Ianthé asked herself.

Viktor walked inside without asking Ianthé and soon ended up seeing her in just her underwear.

Ianthé apparently hadn't noticed as her back was turned on Viktor. She still was looking for a dress inside one rack.

Viktor saw a white cotton dress in one rack and got it.

"Here," he handed Ianthé the dress.

Ianthé gasped as she heard and faced Viktor, "I didn't know you went inside!"

Viktor smiled at her.

Ianthé frowned, although jokingly, "Imagine that! I'm engaged to a pervert!"

Viktor laughed, "Since when did I become a pervert?"

"Since the first time you kissed me!"

"Does that mean I'm a good kisser?"

Ianthé laughed, "Of course!" She wore the white dress quickly, and twirled around, "Like it?"

Viktor smiled again, only to walk towards Ianthé and kiss her.

"I'll take that as a yes," Ianthé said breathlessly as they broke apart.

Viktor quickly grabbed her hand and walked quickly towards the door.

"Good morning, Mama," Viktor kissed his mother on the cheek.

"Good morning Viktor, Ianthé."

Ianthé smiled at the elegant lady who was still immersed in reading a newspaper. From Ianthé's view, the newspaper's pictures were not moving.

"Mama, are you reading a Muggle newspaper?"

Viktor's mother put down her newspaper, "Yes, Ianthé. I also have investments in the Muggle world, especially in Turkey."

"Oh…"

Viktor's mother got up from her seat and walked out the door. When she got back, she had a gold box tied with a silver ribbon.

"Happy early sixteenth birthday," she gave the box to Ianthé.

Ianthé got up and hugged Viktor's mother, "Thank you, Mama."

Viktor waved his wand and the box disappeared, "Open it later. I have a surprise for you after breakfast."

Ianthé's eyes sparkled.

After they finished breakfast, Viktor and Ianthé walked out of the house. Viktor grabbed her hand and Disapparated.

They Apparated in a meadow filled with wild flowers. There was a large mat and a picnic basket on their side.

"Come on," Viktor again grabbed Ianthé's hand.

Secluded in the bushes, there was a stream that leads into a deep natural pool. The water was so clear that Ianthé could see the different colored smooth pebbles that covered the bottom of the pool.

I have never seen something that beautiful in my whole life.

Ianthé removed her dress, wearing only a thin shift of chemise underneath and dived into the clear cool water.

Viktor laughed at her.

"What are you doing there? Now, get in here!" Ianthé splashed water at him.

Viktor removed his shirt and pants and quickly dived into the water.

They laid down on the picnic mat as Viktor put a Drying and Warming Charm on him and Ianthé.

"Viktor?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks. This is the perfect birthday present."

Viktor chuckled, "Do you really think this is the whole surprise?"

Ianthé raised her head, "You mean there's more?"

Viktor closed his eyes, "Later."

Ianthé got up and opened the picnic basket, "Oooh! Cheese banitsa!" She got a layered pastry (similar to a croissant) and offered it to Viktor, who seemed to have fallen asleep.

Ianthé shrugged and bit on the banitsa. She got the thermos out of the basket and got a cup. She poured the Turkish into the small cup.

After having a small snack, she lay down beside Viktor and promptly fell asleep.

After what seemed to a few seconds since she fell asleep, Ianthé felt Viktor waking her.

"It's getting dark. We better get to your next surprise."

Ianthé opened her eyes and saw the dusk-filled sky. She got up and followed Viktor, who made the picnic mat and basket disappear.

"Where are we going?"

Viktor smiled and took a large velvet ribbon out of his pockets.

"Do I have to?"

Viktor tied the black ribbon on her eyes. He led Ianthé towards a pebbled path.

After a while, Viktor removed the ribbon, "Open your eyes."

What Ianthé saw was a beautiful cottage in front of them.

"This is ours. I specifically made it for us."

Viktor held her hand and they walked towards the door.

"This is my birthday gift for you," he opened the door.

Ianthé gasped at what she saw. It was everything she often dreamt about as a little girl. It was cozy, unlike the Herze Mansion. For the first time in Ianthé's life, she could call something as beautiful as this as her home.

There were rose petals strewn everywhere.

They both went upstairs and Ianthé saw that several trunks were already there.

"From now on, we will be staying here. I sent for our things this morning."

Ianthé smiled at him and opened the door of the bedroom.

Inside was a four poster canopy bed in white linen.

Ianthé's eyes suddenly brimmed with tears as she hugged Viktor, "I could never thank you enough."

Viktor smiled, "Yes, you can."

Ianthé kissed him deeply for several moments.

She gazed deeply into his eyes, "I think I know how…"

They kissed again.

Outside, the round moon rose with its brilliant light.

Author's notes: I'm not typically the Rated: M writer so I just cut the "whole scene thingy"… Thanks to the reviewers. Cheese banitsa is a typical Bulgarian cheese filled pastry often eaten as a snack or for breakfast. Now where did I get Viktor's father's name? I got it by reading up on Bulgarian history. Khan Krum was one of the greatest leaders of ancient Bulgaria… so there!