Upstairs, Draco had corralled Ginny when she arrived back in the room.
"He wants it, Gin. He wants to marry her so badly you can see it. He fell in love with the property. He's been in love with her all this time. Why can't she see it, I wonder?"
"Because he is so quiet and so private, Draco. She has relied on his strength for years, his uncomplicated escort for the same amount of time, but I think she is beginning to realise exactly what he means in her life. She is finally at a place where the something missing in her life is a man. And the only man who fits is Viktor. She'll get it figured out before this conference is over. What do you want to do about selling him the property? If we just gave it to them as a wedding present, Viktor might get his feelings hurt. Can we charge him something less than the going rate? I wish I knew him better. Maybe we should ask Harry and Bill for their opinions."
"Brilliant, Gin. I'll go ask Bill and Harry to come here to discuss it. Then we can go get Thuban."
"I'll get Thuban while you talk to them. We need to get this settled tonight. Give me a kiss and I'll be off."
Draco escorted his wife downstairs to the Floo, then went in search of Harry and Bill. He found Harry in Bill and Fleur's room discussing children and the Hermione/Viktor romance.
Harry was saying, "This time I think he'll actually propose. He sees she is more receptive, her binning Ron gave him a big boost in confidence. He wants her very, very badly. Moreover, he has waited, patiently, until every rival has fallen by the wayside. If I'd had to wait for Luna for this long, I'd have gone mental. Hi, Draco, we were just discussing the odds that Viktor will finally join the ranks of us poor married blokes."
"That was what I came to discuss as well, Harry. Gin and I have decided that we want him to have the property, but we don't think he'd take it as a wedding gift. I need to see if you two have any ideas on how we can sell it to him for a greatly reduced price."
Bill piped up with a suggestion, "Tell him that it is the perfect place for them to live, not as far away as Bulgaria, yet far enough from London that she won't have folks dropping in on them at inconvenient times. Fleur and I should have moved somewhere other than Shell Cottage when we married. There were always folks dropping in to stay and hide out." That was said, teasingly, with a nod at Harry, since the people who dropped in to hide out and stay for weeks had been the Golden Trio.
Harry winced, grinned, and acknowledged Bill's words with a nod.
"Vik is really reasonable, Draco. He doesn't take offense easily. Just meet him in the bar tonight or tomorrow and talk to him. Tell him you know he wouldn't take it as a wedding gift, but you want them to have it and see what he is willing to offer. He is not hurting for galleons, you know. He annually gives over a hundred thousand galleons to the charities for the orphans of the war. I know because I am on the board for most of those charities. I have seen him donate time and money to causes he thinks are worthy."
Bill added a comment of his own, "Get Ginny to come with you when you talk to him. And take Thuban. Viktor loves kids. His is going to make a terrific father. You'll see when he starts talking to your son. Is that what you needed? Good. Oh, yeah, remember that Bulgarians nod their heads for no and shake their heads for yes. Viktor sometimes gets tongue-tied and forgets that not everyone knows that."
Draco got up from the chair and said, "You two have helped immensely. I think Ginny will be delighted to be in on that conversation. Thanks. See you both in the morning."
Once back in their room, Draco formulated a plan. A quick look at Ginny's planner told him she did not have anything planned for the morning. He would ask Viktor to meet with them in the restaurant at breakfast to discuss the property.
He was going down to meet Ginny and Thuban, when who should get into the lift, but Viktor.
Draco thought it was a perfect time to bring the subject up.
"Viktor, Ginevra is due back from picking up our son, Thuban. Why don't we go in the bar and talk about the property?"
"If it does not take too long. I am taking my family out to dinner and we have to be back at Harry's room at nine for some reason."
"That is no problem. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes. Come on, we'll see if they are here."
"Draco, I think that is your vife at the registration desk vith small boy."
"Yes, Viktor, that is them. Go on into the bar. We'll be along in a second."
Viktor entered the bar, sat at a table in the back corner, and ordered a drink. "Wodka vith a lime. My friends vill be here shortly. Bill their drinks to me."
He sat twirling the glass in his hands until Draco, Ginny, and Thuban joined him.
Ginny surreptitiously murmured the privacy spells, so they would not be overheard; even by the waiter bringing drinks.
She noted Viktor's nervousness and attributed it correctly to Hermione and the property.
She sat down with Thuban on her lap. Viktor smiled at the boy and held out his hand.
"Hello, Thuban. My name is Viktor Krum. I am, I hope, a friend of your parents."
The child was enchanted with Viktor's accent. "Hello, Mister Krum. I don't mean to be rude, but you sound different."
"Hah! You are a smart boy. I am from Bulgaria. Is vhy I speak differently." Viktor grinned at Thuban.
"Are you the Viktor Krum who plays Quidditch?" the child asked.
"Yes, I am, Thuban. I am playing an exhibition game tomorrow. I think your parents have tickets. Would you like to take a ride on my broom with me after the game?"
"Ooooh, yes, sir, please. Thank you. Oh, maybe you should ask my parents."
Ginny almost laughed aloud. "Viktor, it is perfectly fine with us. You'll thrill him no end. Now, I think we need to talk about the property."
Viktor got a very strange look on his face, part resignation, and part despair. Ginny immediately looked to Draco for help.
"Viktor, what we want to tell you is that we wanted to give the property to you and Hermione as a wedding present, but thought you might not accept it. So we are here to listen to what you want to offer for it."
The joy in Viktor's face was so apparent that even Thuban grinned at him.
"I haff researched vhat similar properties haff sold for. Would half a million Galleons be acceptable?"
Ginny and Draco looked at each other and Ginny replied, "Too much, Viktor. Two hundred thousand Galleons. This is my best friend's happiness we are talking about. She may not realise it, but you have been the ideal she has held every other man up against. You'll win her."
"Are you sure? I haff vaited so long. The property is exactly what she has always said she vanted. I saw it and my hopes rose skyvard."
"Done deal, Viktor. Now go off and have dinner with your family. Including the soon-to-be newest member." Draco laughed as Viktor finished his drink and blushed.
Thuban asked the question that the grownups conversation had sparked, "Who were you talking about, Mum?"
"Thuban. Viktor is going to marry your Aunt Hermy."