Realising that the spark between her and Viktor was indeed still very much there, she agreed. They continued their talk all the way up to the penthouse suite. There were four huge bedrooms, a sitting room, a study, and a kitchen. Raisa Krum had made coffee and tea by the time Viktor and Hermione arrived in the suite. Ilya Krum was watching his son and the girl. He knew the boy had been in love with her for years. What he didn't know, was what she felt for Viktor. He decided to wait and watch.
Viktor announced the problem about Hermione's room when they got to the suite, then he asked Anya if she would share her room with Hermione. Vassily solved to problem by volunteering to sleep in the study. "The sofa, I can Transfigure into a bed, so it is not a problem. You may haff my room, Miss Granger." He, too, had seen how eager Viktor was to have Hermione close by.
Raisa handed everyone either coffee or tea along with portokalia me mele which she had brought from Bulgaria. The orange pieces, drenched in honey and cinnamon, were heavenly.
"I do not vant to be bothered by reporters or fans. I vant to spend time alone with a special friend. If I bring Hermione to practice, coach vill keep reporters away."
"Go, I am taking Anya to shop. Bashta and Vassily will find a restaurant for us for dinner." Raisa laughed.
Hermione unpacked her suitcase in the bedroom and put on a pair of jeans and a vivid pink gauze shirt. She grabbed her hat as well.
Viktor had changed into jeans and t-shirt as well. They made their way to the lobby where they Flooed to the estate where the game was to be played. Viktor took his Quidditch gear bag to the tent set up for the team. Minutes later' he appeared in the familiar red uniform. He stopped to talk to a teammate before coming to get Hermione a good seat where she could watch the practice. One by one, Viktor's teammates all came to say hello to her. Over the years she had watched many practices and gotten to know the team quite well. They always teased her about the fact that Viktor only brought her to practice, never any other girl.
Natasha Ivanova looked searchingly at Hermione and asked, "Are you efer going to put him out of his misery? He dates no one, he sees no one except you. Are you truly unavare of his feelings?"
Hermione blinked at the rebuke. "Natasha, I didn't know. Is he really that solitary?" Suddenly, the press stories about Viktor appeared in her mind. Anya was the only female ever pictured with him. Was it that he was waiting on her? Or was he still so skittish about Quidditch groupies? It was almost the end of practice, when Viktor was sitting on his broom fifteen meters off the ground, Hermione waved at him and mouthed the words, "We need to talk," at him and blew a kiss. He was paying attention to her, not what he was doing, nearly running into another team member, when he pulled up short and fell off his broom. Without hesitation, Hermione sent a hovering charm to slow his fall. The team teased him about it, but he ignored them. Within minutes he was changed and ready to have dinner. They Flooed back to the hotel and found Harry frantic in the lobby.
"Herms! It's Luna, I think she is in labour. Fleur and Ginny are out. Can you do anything?" he was so upset that Viktor said they would come up to the room to evaluate the situation. Once in the room, it was apparent that Luna was indeed in labour. Hermione sent a look to Viktor to please get Harry out of the room.
"Vitya, in my room there is a mediwitch kit. I am going to need it, please," she said briskly.
Luna spoke, between contractions, "Harry, go with Viktor. Talk Quidditch, but go away, you are making me crazy."
Harry gulped and said to no one in particular, "I'll go see if I can find Fleur and Ginny."
Both men left the room and Hermione looked at Luna and laughed. "You were already in labour when you got here, weren't you? It is not going to take long. This baby wants to be born now. I hope Viktor gets here with the kit soon. Now push, Luna."
No sooner had she uttered those words than the door opened and Viktor brought her the kit. Hermione looked at his dear, calm face and said, "Find Harry. He should be here to welcome his child."
The response was a low chuckle. Viktor replied, "He's in the hallvay, shaking like a leaf. I vill bring him in and make sure he surfifes." A half hour later, Luna was still pushing, Harry was holding her hands, and Viktor was propping Luna up when she pushed.
A last hard push and the baby slid free of his mother. Fleur and Ginny burst through the door as Hermione was handing the baby to Harry. Harry handed the child to Luna, who looked at Hermione and Viktor before saying, "Thank you both. Could you wash him, Hermione? I want to do the naming with all of you here." Viktor stood in the doorway of the bath, watching Hermione wash the birth blood from the little boy. She turned slightly to smile at Viktor and his heart nearly stopped. He saw, not Harry and Luna's son, but a child of his and hers, a small sturdy boy with dark hair and eyes. Then the vision cleared, and Hermione was asking him for a towel to wrap the baby in.
"Viktor, the towel, please. Are you all right? Your eyes went unfocused for a minute there," she asked.
"Yes, loff. I vas just trying to take it all in. I haff helped at the birth of a child, Harry Potter's child. It vas a bit unnerfing. May I help you do anything?" he asked.
She promptly handed him the wrapped child and said, "Take him to his parents, Vitya. Then we will go find a restaurant."
Viktor took the now squalling child from her, adjusted his hold and carried the baby back to Luna. He ran a large hand over the baby's head and spoke to the child, "Hush, little one, your Mayka and Bashta are here. You are safe and loffed."
Luna smiled at him as the baby suddenly quieted. "You are going to make a wonderful father, Viktor," she murmured, looking at Hermione.
He grinned back as he handed the baby to Harry for the naming ceremony. Once the child had been named James Sirius Potter, Viktor and Hermione left to find a restaurant for dinner.