Chapter 49: "Cozy" Encounters and THE Talk with Mum

We returned to the mansion, bearing news of what I relayed to Harry during the wedding.

"Dad, can I talk to you?"

Alexander looked at his daughter intently.

"I plan to still continue with my education if Hogwarts remain open."

Ianthé's father just nodded, "I suppose it's a good idea…"

"Daddy, is it true that what Nikki's father suggested really came from Viktor and Charlie Weasley?"

"Indeed. At first, I thought it was a ruse. Your Uncle Alfonse thought otherwise. I realized the advantage of having dragons on our side. They can repel spells and shoot fire so more damage to the enemy."

Ianthé nodded at yet another flawless plan of her family.

"Do you think Harry would…."

"Accept the truth from us especially if we are a bunch of purebloods?"

Ianthé nodded.

"He will be suspicious, I expect. However, you will be in the meeting and probably one of the people he could trust. I gather you know what to do?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"You better go upstairs as Viktor is waiting for you in your chamber…"

Ianthé blushed at this and ran upstairs quickly.

She entered the room, finding Viktor deeply immersed in a bunch of parchment on a mahogany table.

"What do you think you're doing?" she placed her hands on her hips.

"I'm just going over some work. I'll be finished soon," Viktor's eyes not leaving the parchment he was holding.

Ianthé sighed exasperatingly, "I'll just hit the showers for a while."

When she returned, Viktor was already putting the parchments on a neat file.

"I'm finished, and I probably should get a shower myself…"

He then proceeded to the bathroom.

Ianthé dressed in her nightgown and sat in front of the large vanity near the door to the bath. She could hear the jet of water and Viktor's faint humming of a Bulgarian folk song.

She was already combing her hair when the sound of water stopped. After a minute, Viktor walked out of the door, water dripping from his hair, with only a towel around his waist.

"I want to refresh your memory about you showing me how happy you were…"

Ianthé out down the brush she was holding. She looked at Viktor's chest and proceeded to his eyes. She then smiled seductively. She got up and tiptoed to be in level with Viktor's face.

"I'm this happy," she kissed Viktor with much flourish to reflect her happiness.

Ianthé woke up the next morning with a dull ache within her. Her night with Viktor had sealed the most important aspect of her life. She decided that he was the man who she wanted to have a family with, and Merlin knows that she will fight for this dream to come true. Viktor's arm was still draped over her like a very protective blanket. Ianthé can feel the warmth emanating from him.

"Wake up, love. I think it's time for breakfast," Ianthé planted a languid kiss on his cheek.

At the right moment, a house elf knocked on the door.

"I brought breakfast for the young master and young miss," the house elf squeaked as she gently placed the hovering tray on a conjured cart near Ianthé.

"Thank you, Rissie."

"Shall I prepare a hot bath for the tired miss?"

Ianthé nodded, "I do need a hot bath…"

The house elf proceeded to the bathroom. Soon, a rush of falling water was heard. When it finally stopped, the house elf went outside.

"Young Miss, the bath's waiting and I placed a charm so the water won't get cold."

Ianthé smiled, "Thank you for being such an angel, Rissie. That would be all."

The house elf bowed at disappeared with a silent pop.

A forceful hand prevented Ianthé from getting up.

"Viktor, breakfast is here, and so is our bath."

His eyes suddenly opened and he smiled.

"Race you!" Ianthé got up and winced as she ran towards the bathroom.

The hot water was just what she needed. That is what she thought as she dipped into the large tub that resembled as small swimming pool. She soon heard Viktor walk in and also took a dip.

"Did I tire you last night?"

Ianthé never thought she would blush that hard, "A bit, yeah…"

"Come here…"

Ianthé waded in the large tub and sat with her back on Viktor.

Viktor placed his hands on her shoulders and began to knead them.

Ianthé sighed incomprehensively as she was contented with what Viktor is doing to her.

Viktor picked up a sponge and began to squeeze more water onto her back.

"I could just stay here forever…" Ianthé said as she leaned her back on Viktor's chest. She could feel every breath from him on her ear.

"Me too…" he lay back on the rounded form of the wall of the bath.

"Ianthé dear, breakfast?" Margeaux Herze offered the bread basket to Ianthé.

Ianthé shook her head, "Rissie took up our breakfast. We just sat here to spend some good old quality time with the family."

Her mother nodded, "Rissie mentioned you were going to have a bath…"

"As a matter of fact, I did…" Ianthé sipped her milk tea carefully.

"For two and a half hours?" Margeaux suddenly blurted out.

"We kinda fell asleep after that…" Ianthé's cheeks had a pinkish tinge.

"We? After what?" her mother was puzzled.

"Mum!" Ianthé was now sporting a red face and ears.

"Dear, no need to embarrass our daughter and our future son-in-law…" Alexander Herze peered from the Muggle newspaper he was reading.

Ianthé's mother now fully comprehended. She mouthed a "Sorry!" to her daughter who refused to look at anyone else except at the intricate patterns of her teacup.

Viktor grabbed her hand from underneath the table and began to rub it as a sign of he is okay with the whole arrangement.

Ianthé looked up and smiled shyly at the man holding her hand.

"Daddy, is everything ready for tonight?"

Alexander Herze put down his newspaper, "Yes."

"Why are we going to hold it in another place?"

"For particular reasons. Our home will not be in any kind of danger. It would be suspicious if many wizards who are not part of the family suddenly congregated here. It would also lessen the risk of the Dark Lord finding out about us, especially you."

Ianthé nodded at the seriousness of her father's voice.

After breakfast, Ianthé visited her mother at the greenhouse.

"You seem really tired at breakfast," Margeux was pruning a potted plant.

Ianthé just nodded.

"Is there something you want to share with me?"

Ianthé shrugged, "I guess…"

"Well, let's hear it then."

"Mum, could I ask you something?"

Margeaux listened intently.

"Was raising a child like me hard?"

Ianthé's mother smiled, "Not really. You were and still are our only angel. Motherhood will come naturally. Why do you ask?"

"I was just curious… Mum, I can say I'm partly new at this whole intimate aspect of my relationship with Viktor…"

Margeaux nodded, urging her to continue.

"Why do I feel like even though I'm really tired and…." Ianthé halted because her face became steadily red.

Margeaux leaned forward as if signaling to Ianthé she could whisper what she wanted to say.

"… erm… sore… I feel like……. I dunno…. Blissful?" Ianthé played with another pruning scissor.

Margeaux realized the struggle her daughter had just to ask, "If I didn't know you, I would probably say 'Honey, it's just raging hormones!'… But, every time I see you and Viktor together…. I still can't believe my little angel has all grown up and is very much in love!"

Ianthé smiled at her mother.

"On a lighter note, just exactly how many times did you two do it last night that made you so tired?" Margeaux's eyes brimmed with laughter.

"Mum! Change the topic!"

Ianthé's mother laughed, "You lost count, didn't you?"

"Mum! Stop it!" Ianthé placed her arm around her mother's shoulder.