Chapter 41: Back to Sofia

The Christmas spirit wrapped itself all over the castle. Mistletoes, that I carefully dodged, are everywhere. With it came the news of Hermione Granger going with Cormac McLaggen to Slughorn's party. Pretty brilliant girl, really. Draco is still… indisposed. He probably couldn't think of another plan. What was surprising was the news that Harry Potter's date for the Christmas party is no other than Ravenclaw's resident eccentric Luna Lovegood. She's okay but most of the students think of her as really weird. I'm counting the days so that I could go back to Bulgaria for Christmas.

"So, you're going back to Romania?" Ianthé slung the bag on her shoulder as they walked out of the compartment. They arrived in King's Cross to spend the holidays with their families.

"Had every reason to… Dad's there, Mum's there…"

"…and of course, Charlie is there.."

Nikki nodded and smiled, "What about you?"

"Bulgaria, obviously..."

"Just visit me anytime, okay?"

Ianthé smiled and hugged her, "I'll send word if we decide to visit you. Be sure you stashed a couple bottles of butterbeer somewhere.."

Nikki hugged her back, "Looks like for the first time in your life, you're being picked up by your parents…. together…" She looked pointedly towards a side of the station as they got down.

Ianthé waved at her family, "Gotta go!"

"Bye!"

Ianthé ran to her father and hugged him tightly, "Papa! What a surprise!"

Her father patted her back, "We just want to see you before you go back to Bulgaria."

"You're going there immediately," her mother also hugged her tightly.

"Why? Couldn't I spend time with you even just for one more day?"

Ianthé's father smiled at her, "We're going with you."

"Really?"

Her mother nodded, "He's waiting for you back in the mansion…"

"I can't wait, Mum."

Ianthé Side-Along Apparated with her mother and father back to the Herze mansion. They were immediately received by Edmond and Viktor.

"Théa! How's everything?" Edmond asked.

Ianthé had no intention of answering his question as she immediately ran to Viktor and kissed him in the cheek. Viktor in turn hugged her tightly.

"Okay… Romantic moment…" Edmond chuckled.

Margeaux smiled wistfully at her daughter. Alexander, on the other hand, wondered why his little girl grew up so fast.

"Wait…" Ianthé broke off her hug from Viktor, "Eddie, what in Merlin's name are you doing here in London?"

"What?" Edmond looked at her puzzled.

"What are you doing here?" Ianthé put her hands on her hips.

"Visiting my favorite cousin... Why?"

"You dunderhead!" Ianthé slapped Edmond at the head (although she tried hard to reach his nape), "You mean you left Andy in France? She is pregnant with your child and you left her there?"

"Wait, cousin, I was only popping by."

"We can visit you there, you know!"

Viktor laughed quietly while shaking his head.

Edmond left the entrance hall muttering the words "Tough image… not a hen-pecked husband!"

"Shall we go?" Viktor offered his arm to Ianthé who took it.

She nodded and they Disapparated with a silent pop.

They arrived at Sofia, followed by Ianthé's parents.

"Shall we go in?" Viktor asked Ianthé's father.

Alexander Herze curtly nodded as they proceeded to follow Viktor inside the house.

"Masters, welcome!" a small house elf bowed deeply.

Ianthé gave the house elf her cloak, "Where are your parents?"

"They'll be arriving soon with my cousins. Our fathers called for a meeting."

Ianthé nodded at him as she saw her parents being led to their bedroom by the house elf.

"Come on. We'd better rest before they arrive…" Viktor held her hand and they climbed the marble staircase.

"So, still the usual room arrangement then?" Ianthé asked curiously.

"There won't be any other way…" Viktor smiled and kissed her as he opened the door to their bedroom.

Ianthé ran to the bed and, with her wand, changed her clothes.

Viktor did the same and they both lay down on the soft and comfortable bed. Soon, they dozed off because of the tiresome trip they made.

"Wake up, Ianthé," she felt Viktor whisper in her ear and gently shook her awake.

"Are they here?" Ianthé got up and quickly changed her clothes back again.

Viktor nodded, "Your father was the one who woke me up."

Ianthé stopped on her tracks, "You mean to say he found us?"

"Believe it or not, he smiled at you and kissed your forehead…"

"No way…."

"I have known your father for a long time and I think you changed him drastically," Viktor opened the door for Ianthé.

"You think?"

"Yes, he's proud of you, don't you know?"

Ianthé shrugged.

"I know at first, he thought he would prefer a son over you, but you proved yourself to him."

Ianthé smiled as she took hold of Viktor's arm.