Hi guys! Thanks for all the reviews, it really means a lot to me. I know that I'm starting to update later and later than I would like to but I'm trying really hard.
Pairing: Viktor Krum/Hermione Granger
Rating:MA
Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Flashes of black mixed in with hints of green, red, blue, and yellow danced around majestically in the air. The fifth year students flew gracefully on their brooms as the Professor coached them, all were hoping to have learned something significant from the Bulgarian. They had gotten much more than what they had hoped for.
"Groups five and six perform the Vronski Feint! Groups Eight and Nine try your hand at the 360 spins! No, Veasley don't angle the broom down like that!", but before the warning could be completed Viktor watched from his perch in the air as a red bolt hit the ground. His two group members only groaned in annoyance, for its wasn't the first time that Ronald had ignored a direction from Viktor and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
Said troublemaker groaned as he struggled to stand, above him his classmates were stiffling their laughter as Viktor touched down gently. "Veasley! That is the second time this veek you haff injured yourself! All due to not listening, I vill not escort you to G-zho Pomfrey this time. And you vill explain to her vhy you keep occupying her infirmary. If this keeps up then I vill haff to inform the Headmaster about this," he helped Ron up to his feet and gave him a pat on the head.
At first when Viktor accepted the job he thought it was going to be an easy ride, but he was sadly mistaken. And the worst part was that Hermione did chose to attend his classes and opted for double potions. He assumed it was because of her hate for brooms, that and she wanted to fly herself. Using her own wings, but they have not moved that much since her torture. They were mere decorations on her back at this point.
Viktor watched Ron stalk acorss the Quidditch fields to the Infirmary, he was the only student that Viktor had a problem with. The red-head saw fit to make Viktor's new career a living hell once every Monday, sometimes when he had a free day such as today's he let the fifth years come in for extra lessons. Now he was going to change it to the second years, for they did not cause needless trouble.
"Okay, there is only time for one more group rotation! After that you haff to pack up for lunch!", he informed the fifth years as they circled around in the air. Each were doing as they were instructed abd it caused Viktor to smile, even though they were on different levels they each held an air of determination to get it right. It was truly something that made him love teaching more than him hating it.
Something else that he absolutely despised in the castle was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, she had shown up the first day of school and critiqued his teaching skills to a fine point. Then she even went on about his personal affairs such as his relationship with Hermione, his inspiration to teach, and even question his brother's pureblood ideas. All the while she jotted down notes at everything, it was almost to the point were he nearly raged at her. The primal instinct to rip her to shreds clawed at his heart, the same instinct that hurt the DMLE and Madame Pomfrey when he saw Hermione that fateful night.
All that rage because she insisted that as a teacher he should not have red tattoos all over one side of his face and that he should rid himself of such an eye sore; it was his mark that Hermione had given him. And he had heard Hermione tell him many times that it looked sexy, but it wasn't like he would tell anytime soon.
It had been a while since he actually used his own wings, and Viktor could actually feel the want to stretch completely. A second was all it took for him to jump off his broom and sprout his wings, the glorious black feathers flew in the wind as he soared to the ground. Many females students gasped and stopped what they were doing just to get a look at the Bulgarian as he streaked through the air.
Harry and a couple others started to race him as he flew around them in circles, feeling free as the wind roared in his ears. For some reason it was different then riding a broom, it was the feeling of complete freedom that he will forever cherish. Some boys grimaced as Viktor flew by, they were in truth jealous that he could entrap the hearts of women everywhere.
All knew that Viktor only had eyes for one girl, but girls had eyes for him. Another downfall in being a teacher was the constant stares from the female population. It was one of the few things he hadn't calculated when he accepted, but it was worth it to be close to Hermione. "Come on comrade! I know you can fly faster than that!", Viktor yelled to Harry as they sped off to the Black Lake.
"Is that as fast as you can fly?", Harry asked him as the Firebolt bolted ahead of him. Letting out a laugh Viktor pushed himself harder and banked left the same time Harry did, now both were flying over the courtyard. Viktor's eyes grew wide as he saw the pink blur standing by the steps leading from the castle, her clipboard was with her as she watched them.
He quickly grabbed Harry and veered him to the direction of the Pitch and quickly followed, smiling only when he saw his beautiful mate standing in the middle of the grass. She was surrounded by the entire fifth year as they cheered on the two racers. Harry's touchdown was a bit sloppy but much better than his third year, when he didn't touchdown at all and face planted. Viktor's was amazing to watch; as his wings retreated back into his body feathers fell off him from odd places. They all swirled around him as the very tip of his wing receded back into his body.
"Okay class, time for lunch. You are dismissed!"
Viktor grinned as he walked towards Hermione, her hair had been put into a mesy bun and she even had a quill stuck in it. Her blue tattoos had smudges of green and a neon orange on them, no doubt from Potions. Though her clothes were dirty with burn stains she looked stunning to him.
"Hallo luff," he greeted cheerfully as he approached her, she only smiled in return but that gorgeous smile was gone in an instant. Viktor turned to see what had made her mood do a complete 180 and groaned. All the time Umbridge seemed to come across him either right after class or right before class. "Professor Krum! A moment of your time please?", her shrill voice called out to him as she crossed the Quidditch field.
"I'll see you later luff. I haff things I need to do before I can eat lunch."
"Want me to save you a seat Viktor?"
"Please."
She bounced off with the last of the students, and Viktor sighed in annoyance. Here she goes again, he really hated whenever she did these little 'inspections'. It made him mad to no end, but he sucked it up. He didn't want to lose his job, for this was much better than having to attend practice with a hardass, I mean strict coach breathing down your neck at all times. His teammates he could deal with, cause they liked him.
"Professor, don't you think it is a bad example for the students to be racing. With their teacher no less?"
Viktor grabbed a cloak off one of the benches on the sidelines of the pitch, his shook it out and put it on. "No, it vill only increase their confidence to do things. IF you vere to beat a former international Quidditch star in a race von't it boost your confidence?", he asked her. The hood of his cloak was thrown over his buzzed head quickly.
"Vell, I vould like to answer all your questions this time around, but it is getting chilly. Also lunch is being served, so haff a nice day Professor."
It gave him all the satisfaction in the world to turn away from her, to have the last laugh.
Though she had other plans to see who was having the last laugh.
~.~.~.
As always whenever she saw him she could feel her heart flutter, at one time she could even feel her wings flutter. He never failed to make her feel like she could walk on air, and he did it all with that special smile of his. Viktor could make her feel like a princess, and turn her darkest days into rays of sunshine. Though she had to admit she missed the simpler times that she used to have.
"Hey 'Mione I need your help," Harry said as he sat next to her, placing his bag on the ground in front of them. His sheepish grin had told Hermione all that she needed to know. Harry didn't study for his Potions quiz with Snape or finish his essay like she had told him. "Harry, I told you to do your essay last night. You know I won't help you" she told as she began to gather food onto three plates.
Hers, Harry's, and Viktor's.
"All I need is why Belladonna root is volatile if the wrong dose is put into a potion!", he said exasperated. She only smiled at her brother before explaining very slowly for him, sometimes she could only wonder how he was so... Harry. She had heard stories of their father and how smart he was even though he used that intelligence for pranks. Harry's mother had been the best she could be at the top of the class along with Remus while said werewolf had helped both Peter and Sirius scrape the bottom of the barrel.
"Now do you have it all down because I won't tell you again."
"Thanks Hermione! Now lets eat," he said, "I am famished!"
She shook her head at him but began to eat also, it was their usual silence. One where they only enjoyed being near each other, taking comfort in the casual silence. It was a nice time that could only be interrupted by the Quidditch Instructor rushing into the hall, his cloak flowed behind him as he stopped at the Gryffindor table. He was breathing hard when he stopped, his face red from the growing cold outside. "Is it still lunch time luff?", he wheezed as he sat next to her. Whereas she and Harry where nearly finished eating, his plate that she had set up was still filled.
"No, but nearly."
"Sorry I took so long Hermi-own-ninny. The Quidditch Pitch is too far avay from the castle," he explained before digging in. She had managed to fill his plate with his favorites that the house elves made for him: Bulgarian Kebab with rice and a nice side of stuffed peppers. Once a pair of Indian twins in the castle found that they could have their favorite foods made they ate it constantly.
When Viktor had first seen his favorite food on the second day of school he was practically oozing happiness. Everyone in the hall at the time could feel the joy radiating off of him at that point. Even if it was only a simple dish of telesko vareno that was all it took for the floodgates to be released. Little did he or anyone know that it was Hermione that had asked the house elves of that, she called on Dobby for a simple favor and he promised that Bulgarian food would be served. Later when she heard Parvati complain that she and her sister were unable to eat their homeland's food she did the same for them.
Since these different cuisines were available to them all the other students began to try some of the different dishes that pop up in the table everyday. No complaints were made about the food as many liked it. "Thank you luff, I haff been busy lately. Vith Quidditch tryouts coming up I haff not been able to sit down at lunch," he told her as she finished her plate and started to drink some pumpkin juice.
"So when are tryouts Viktor?", Harry asked as he filled up is plate with more food, opting to switch from savory to sweet. Harry had become obsessed with the Garash cake that the house elves made for Viktor. The chocolate cake was one that Dudley could kill for, it made his sweet tooth wish for more. Hermione who had been raised by dentists for most of her life only shook her head at Harry's antics, "Harry, its not good for your health or your teeth if you eat cake everyday."
"'Mione! Have you tried it? It tastes amazing!"
"Hermi-own-ninny is right comrade, the Garash cake may taste good but it vill round you out if you eat it all the time."
"I thought you were on my team! Besides I didn't spend all of my summer at Padfoot's, the Dursley's are hard asses when it came to feeding me. I need some meat on my bones," he replied before putting another piece of cake in his mouth. Hermione glared into the distance as Viktor's face darken in anger. "They did vhat to you?", he asked as he put down his fork and looked right at Harry. The entire hall seemed to stop and look at the three, no one seemed to move at all for they could feel the tension in the air.
"Its not that big of a deal Viktor, I'm used to it by now."
"That is not the point comrade! If they vere your family then they vould not do this to you!"
"Its not like I asked to be at that home! Dumbledore said that the blood wards around the house will keep me safe so I can endure another three years!"
Viktor stumbled slightly, his eyes wide open as he looked between Harry and the Headmaster. "Harry, there are no such things as blood vards," he said as the Headmaster stood from his place at the staff's table. "Professor Krum, I would hate to disappoint you but there is. And ti has kept Harry safe all these ye-", he was cutoff by Viktor standing abruptly, knocking his bench down easily as he stood his ground.
"There are not! It is required of all Durmstrang students to know how vell vards vork, as vell as all kinds of vards there are in the magical vorld! And not once haff I seen anything mentioning a blood vard as you claim to to know! If you haff text on these vards then I vill retract all my vords against them, but until you show me that vill not happen!"
"Viktor, are you saying that I've been lied to?"
He looked down at Harry and noticed the betrayal in his eyes, those expressive green eyes that seemed to capture everyone in their depths. "As far as I know, yes," he said as Dumbledore walked towards the two men. "They are real, they recharge to keep you and your family safe in the Summer."
"As you haff said Professor they recharge! Vhich means that they keep his family safe the rest of the year and not Harry."
"They merely recharge the energy in the Summer while Harry is there becuase he is the only source of magic in the area."
"That is vorse! You haff been stealing his magic to keep his muggle relatives safe! Vhile he is avay in Hogvarts his family is using the magic they so detest! And vhen he is there in the Summer they don't care for him like luffing relatives should!", he yelled before asking Harry to stand. "Viktor what are you doing?", Hermione asked as Harry stood up. He only smiled at her, a bittersweet one.
"Harry, you don't haff to do this if you don't vant to. But he needs to see how slim you are," Viktor said as he stood his ground in front of Dumbledore. The elder wizard's blue eyes had lost all their sparkle to them, and he knew at that moment he wasn't looking at the Headmaster but the wizard who took down Grindelwald.
Students and teachers gasped in horror as Harry took off his cloak, then vest, and finally his shirt. Hermione cried out as she saw how thin Harry was, his ribs where showing and his hips bones poked out of his skin. Though some people liked to be thin this was barbaric.
"H-Harry! I-Is this what they did to you all these years!", Hermione cried out as she flung herself at Harry. He held in his skinny arms as she cried. Students to had tears running down their cheeks, even the Slytherins were horrified at this. All these years they had no clue Potter was mistreated, and they had only added onto that pain.
"This is not how his relatives should haff treated him, and the blood vards you talked about don't exsist!", oh how Viktor would have loved to keeping raving and yelling at him. The presence of Professor Umbridge stopped him from doing just that.
The figure behind her only solidified that.
"Albus! We need to talk."
~.~.~.
Harry sat in the hallway leading to the Headmaster's office in quiet peace. Neither spoke, but Harry held his now sleeping sister in his arms as he listened to the four people arguing in the office. All were arguing about him, not even two weeks into school and he was already causing trouble.
It wasn't like he wanted to, but here he was.
Viktor was determined to get Harry into a better home, one that could treat him right. Why was he wasting so much time on him when he could be teaching the first years how to fly? He felt horrible that he made Hermione cry herself to sleep because of him, but it gave him the chance to touch her wings.
He relished in the soft feathers that adorned her back, they were soft to the touch and it felt great under his bony fingers.
When was it that his health began to deteriorate? How long had he spent belittling himself? How long did he have to make others worry about him?
The Minister had gotten involved in his little condition, as did Umbridge, Dumbledore, and Viktor. He was sure that at least two of them were actually concerned about his wellbeing. Not to mention all the stress he put on Hermione, he would have to apologize later.
He was so tired, he felt all the sleepless night come back on him. But how could he sleep? All these nightmares were starting to get to him, each one had held a future to gruesome to see.
The door to the Headmaster's office opened and Viktor stepped out, he looked to Harry and motioned for him to come in. "What about Hermione?", he asked as he stood careful not to wake her. "I vill take care of her in a bit but for now leave her there," he replied.
Harry nodded and gently set her down on the floor and cast a quiet warming charm. He didn't want her to get a cold because of him. After he made sure that she was settled he walked into the office and noticed all the grim looks he was getting.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Fudge jumped out of him chair and quickly said, "Not at all, not at all. Sit down my boy." Gesturing for Harry to sit he stood and began to pace. "So how long has this been going on?", he asked as the rest listened carefully. They all were curious about his childhood and from what they had gathered Dumbledore had not checked up on the boy at all in his adolescence.
"For as long as I can remember sir."
"And why did you not tell anyone? We could have helped you."
"I don't know."
"Did anyone check on you? How many meals did you eat a day?"
One by one he answered all of the Minister's questions without fail, but not once did he meet his eyes. Viktor spoke up from the wall where he was leaning on, "We haff to get him a better family."
"But he is safe with his relatives!"
"He will die because of them if we don't do something!"
"Maybe G-zho Longbottom vould take care off him? She is vatching over Hermi-own-ninny until she is of age, as well as her grandson. Vhy not let Harry stay vith her?"
"I would have suggested the Weasley's but Harry is not okay with a certain Gryffindor."
Professor Umbridge stood up angrily, "I don't see why we are wasting our time with a mere troublemaker!" Fudge glared at her before advancing onto her, "Have you a child? I would have thought better of you Dolores! He is in need off our help!"
"That's enough!", Harry yelled over the screams and argues of the four adults. They all looked to him in confusion, but before they could say anything he cut them off.
"My mother was a muggleborn, so maybe she was religious? Do I not have a godmother or godfather?", he asked, already knowing the answer. "My boy... Sirius Black is a murderer. And I ca-"
"Was he tried?"
That one question had set off a cataclyst in the office, and one day that little question could see a man held by circumstances set free from his cage.
I know I said by the fourth I would update, but I decided to go to a neighboring Anime Convention in the south called HAMACON. And it was awesome! Leave a review, cuz it means a lot to writers.
Ragehappy Mavin Fan