"...English (speech)..."
'...thoughts...'
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Know thy rival
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June 18th, 1993
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Andrei was getting more and more nervous by a second. All of his confidence went out of the window when he realized that he's been waiting for four hours straight and still there was no sign of either Bill or his Dad who went to pick him up. How he wished there was something to do in the Manor. He tried reading for a while but didn't get much further than the few lines when his thoughts wondered off. He decided to do something he never did instead. Focusing on something he knew little about was a good way to keep his mind off more pressing matters.
With that thought he found the broom cupboard and snatching his Dad's broom headed outside. He mounted the broom and kicked off carefully. This was Viktor's way of dealing with things but he was growing desperate when all other attempts to keep his mind blank failed.
After a couple of minutes he was drifting slowly some five to six feet of the ground (no reason to take it to the extreme heights after all) mindful of every move he made. It was not relaxing but that wasn't what he was going for anyway. He was stiff and concentrated hard on clinging onto broom but at least his mind did not wonder to Bill and Dad.
A few more minutes and he was so immersed in flying that he failed to notice an astonished expression his Dad was directing his way from the doorway, a tall redhead standing beside him. He didn't even notice when the said redhead went back into the Manor and came back carrying another broom. Severus tried to stop him but he apparently wouldn't listen.
Andrei was focusing on his grip and tried to direct the broom just a little bit higher, just so his feet wouldn't be touching high grass anymore. The broom did not agree with him, though. It never did. It gave a lurch forward and just as Andrei was about to steady it, his heart in his toes a hand came out of nowhere and stabilized it with a firm grip on the tip.
"Whoa, easy! No need to run from me so fast." Bill laughed good-naturedly.
Andrei's eyes were pinned on him now, forgetting all about his broom. The blush crept on his cheeks but disappeared just as quickly.
"Don't go beyond the wards, Bill." Severus bellowed from his seat on the bench.
Bill smiled at Andrei and stirred them both in a different direction.
"You might want to keep a better hold on that broom?"
Andrei didn't appear to understand him he just stared.
"…so I can let go of it?" Bill added amused.
"Oh! Sorry..."
Andrei shifted his hands and took control of the 'damned thing'. He composed himself quickly, or as quick as possible straightening on the broom. Tentatively he let go of the broom with one hand and extended it to the cheerful young man hovering beside him.
"Andrei Krum, it's a pleasure to meet you." he said regaining some of the confidence, but still slightly embarrassed.
Bill frowned a little at the name but accepted it, following the same formal introduction Andrei has started.
"William Weasley. Call me Bill." the last part indeed sounded like an honest plea so Andrei nodded chuckling and relaxed a bit.
"Perhaps we should go back to the house?" Andrei asked, still slightly uneasy around Bill.
"Not too good in the air, huh?" Bill winced sympathetically.
"Nope, just not good on the broom..."
Bill smiled as they landed next to Severus who already made a move to help Andrei. Not one of his best thought over actions. Andrei pierced him with the look that clearly said 'no more embarrassment, thank you!'
"So I'm guessing you're not a fan of quidditch either?"
Severus followed behind them when they entered the Manor, glad that Andrei was trying to make an effort.
"I sure can live without it." Andrei replied with an expression that reminded Bill of his lover when he relaxed enough to let him see beyond the mask.
"Well, that drastically reduces the number of quarrels in household." Bill said as he had a flashback of his brothers bickering from an early morning about their favorite teams.
"You wish! A day couldn't go by without Mum breaking up a fight between Vik and I." Andrei laughed.
Bill stopped in his tracks and didn't know what to make of this revelation. Severus guessed what he's been thinking.
"Andrei grew up with a very good friend of mine. He considers his wife a mother. Viktor is their son."
"Doesn't he know that?" Andrei asked, genuinely surprised.
"Your Dad has been tight lipped about you, Andrei. I didn't even know your name until I met you outside." clearly annoyed young man said.
"Wow... I thought he told you everything..."
" Nope, I just entered the circle of trust today it seems." Bill told Andrei, trying to tease Severus which Andrei picked up.
"Hmph... don't hold much hope, for what I've learned secrets stay secrets whether you're in or out of the circle." Andrei stated, trying to hide his smile. Bill was turning out better then he hoped.
"Oh, well... you can't expect miracles I suppose..."
Severus groaned in annoyance to their unified jesting.
"Now I know why I've kept you two apart." he said.
They all went into a dining room where Severus had already set the table. It was much too large for only three of them but he made sure they would be comfortable and still close to each other. After all the point of this evening was to bring the two most important people in his life closer together. Bill was lost in thought as they took their seats, Severus at the head with Andrei and Bill on each side. Bill studied Andrei's posture and every move he made. Other than his eyes and accent he was all Severus… and not as scrawny as he imagined Sev at that age. He wondered if he would make a connection if he met him not knowing Sev had a child. 'Despite the similarities, probably not' he thought.
As Severus was serving dinner he decided to find out more about the mystery boy in front of him..
"You don't live in England, right?"
Andrei looked at his Dad trying to non-verbally ask him how much he should reveal.
"I trust Bill enough to tell him the whole story, but the true extent of his knowledge is up to you."
Andrei seemed satisfied with that answer and tuned to Bill.
"I live in Bulgaria. Why did you ask?"
"Your accent is a bit off. You go to Durmstrang?"
"Yes. But it won't be as interesting this year since Vik won't be there." Andrei nearly whined, the only thing that stopped him was a nearly-stranger listening.
"Your brother?"
Andrei nodded and started piling food on his plate.
"Take it easy, Andrei, we won't take the food away." Severus warned.
"Oh, come on Sev. Let him eat in peace."
"If I let him eat in peace I won't eat at all. Trust me; I know what I'm talking about."
Andrei frowned but slowed down a little.
"So, Bill... you are a pureblood?" Andrei purred to his Dad's horror and Bill's surprise.
"Yes, I'm from a pureblood family, not that it should matter." Bill said making sure to let Andrei know he didn't like the insinuation.
"Do you follow the traditional ways?" Andrei said nibbling on his steak.
"Some, but I like to be open minded to the new ideas." replied Bill carefully.
"And what is your opinion on the husband's position in marriage?"
Severus finally saw where this was going and nearly sagged in relief. He feared Andrei was taunting Bill and trying to drive him away somehow. But his son's concern he could handle. Bill must have realized it too since he resumed his meal after a long pause this subject caused.
"My belief is that both sides should be equal, of course. Although I don't think my Mum would agree with that." he laughed "Dad might be the head of the family, but Merlin forbid he disobeys Mum's orders."
Andrei cocked his eyebrow. This turned out interesting. With Krums it was a frighteningly similar situation, not that Alex would ever admit that.
"Dad mentioned you have a big family."
"Huge! Five brothers and a sister, all younger..." he sighed dramatically while Andrei gaped in horror.
"And Viktor complains about having one! With five mini me-s he would lose his mind!"
Severus shivered at that. "I dread the thought."
"But don't you love me?" Andrei asked looking up with puppy dog eyes.
"The innocent look might have worked before you ogled the butcher with those eyes." Severus deadpanned.
"Wow, you started early, didn't you?" Bill added slightly surprised. By this point he had a feeling that not much could surprise him about Andrei.
"I resent that! I did not ogle that man; I simply appreciated his physical attributes."
"Of course, I am certain those people in the mile long line would have seen it that way."
"They have nothing to do with it." Andrei insisted.
"And yet they were forced to endure the horror of your unimpressive wooing."
"Like you would do it better. I bet Bill was the one to make the first move in your relationship."
"He was. It is not a bearer's place to impose himself on any man."
"So I'm supposed to wait for someone to take pity on me?" Andrei asked, abandoning his plate in trepidation.
Bill laughed softly. He wished he had a camera because Severus' indignant look was priceless. As Andrei said, he took pity on his lover and saved him further embarrassment.
"Not pity. I approached your father because I recognized a wonderful man somewhere beneath that cold exterior. It intrigued me and drew me closer to him. When he finally accepted my advances it was hard for me to believe my own luck."
"Yeah, you were lucky all right! It could go either way. What if he really was the slimy bat people thought him to be?"
Bill gaped. That was not what he meant to say at all. "I meant to say how lucky I was he accepted me."
"Forget it, Bill. He understood perfectly well what you meant." Severus said scowling at his son "And he would do well to listen for once."
"Well, I'm not going to just sit and wait, if I like someone I will find a way to be with that person."
"As long as you don't embarrass yourself that is fine with me." Severus gave up trying to convince him. Besides Andrei is still too young to worry about that, or at least he hoped so.
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They finished the rest of the dinner with a light chatter. Andrei had to admit he liked the redhead. He appreciated both Bill's and his Dad's efforts to let the conversation revolve around him. He truly enjoyed the evening.
The group retired to the living room. Andrei tried to find out more about Bill and his family while Bill was attempting to ask his own numerous questions about Andrei's life in Bulgaria. In the meantime Severus brought each of them a piece of cake which was soon left forgotten on the coffee table waiting for the two to take a break in their respective interrogations.
Andrei was explaining all about Durmstrang Institute and his friends there when Severus actually got interested and listened intently. After all, Andrei has never told him about his first year at Durmstrang, a fact that he regretted more than anything else this year.
"...And then there is Maarika. She is really pretty and smarter than most. Usually she hangs around Valentin but I think she has a crush on Vik."
"And do you have a crush on anyone?" Severus said, eagerly waiting for a response.
Instead of answering Andrei blushed bright red and finally noticing his cake ignored his father.
"Let me guess, there is someone but you don't have the guts to approach him. Am I right?" Severus smirked "Wasn't it you who said you will have anyone you want?" he pushed.
"I will! I just don't want this guy bad enough to risk my reputation, and that's all that matters. Right, Dad?" Andrei put on a cute fake smile.
The clock chimed nine at that moment. And for Bill it wasn't a moment too soon. He recognized a touchy subject when he saw one,
"Well, I should be going..."
"Mum gave you a curfew?" Andrei chuckled, dismissing the argument with his dad.
This time it was Bill who blushed. Severus on the other hand just smirked and stood up.
"Andrei, if you ever get to meet Molly you will understand the true meaning of the concept 'strict parent'."
Andrei gave him a 'like I don't know' look. Catching it with a corner of his eye, Bill abruptly burst into laughter and Severus just nodded to the shocked Andrei.
"She can't be worse then you... right?" he asked uncertainly, convinced they were exaggerating.
"If Sev was anywhere close to my Mum's protectiveness you wouldn't know how to light the fire beneath your cauldron 'till you're at least twenty, Andi." Bill said appealing to Andrei's love of potions.
He barely held back the eruption of laughter that threatened to escape him when Andrei visibly gulped.
Handing Bill his leather jacket, Severus approached him, touching his arm lightly. He seemed to be pondering how to get any closer with Andrei still in the room.
"Umm... If anyone needs me I'll be in my room. Bye, Bill, it was nice meeting you." Andrei said and made a hasty retreat.
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Andrei lay in his bed trying to fall asleep, but with the day he just spent it was impossible. In the dim light of his room he could just see the photograph on the nightstand. It was one of those rare pictures of him and his Dad. Most of the others were either with Vik in the picture too, or the whole family. But this one was made by Alex when Andrei was around six and gave his Dad a big, slobbery kiss on the cheek. It was Andrei's personal favorite.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
"I was hoping you were awake." his Dad said as he entered the room. He sat on the bed and Andrei took the opportunity to snuggle closer.
"May I ask for your unofficial opinion?" Severus whispered, trying not to disturb the tranquility of the moment.
"You really do love him, don't you?" Andrei asked in the same way.
"You know I do. I wouldn't be putting you through this if I didn't, Andrei."
"Who do you love most, though?" Andrei asked.
"Myself." Severus smirked.
"Sorry, forgot... After that?"
"You will always be on that prestigious second place. That is one promise I can't break. Times may come when I will strongly wish it, but I know you won't budge from that spot you have in my heart. " Severus smiled.
"And if Bill tries to take it away from me?"
"If that is ever to happen I know you will fight him off. You are like a feisty dragon when something is taken from you. Not to mention I will provide all the backup you need."
"You mean it?"
Severus kissed his head gently, reassuring him he was there to stay. Andrei raised his head, trying to convince himself of that.
"You have that look again." Andrei said, a wide smile adoring his face.
"And what look would that be, young man?"
Andrei reached past him for the photograph and showed it to him.
Severus remembered that moment well. How could he forget the absolute pride and adoration he felt for his little boy, or the gratitude for gesture so natural and sweet as laying a big slurpy kiss on his cheek. That was the moment when he felt the full joy of fatherhood, his heart swelling with all the love and protectiveness for the boy who thought the world of him only because he was there.
Andrei watched emotions play on his face. He wished to see that look ever since the picture was taken. It was the reason he always kept it at his bedside.
The only thing that made him sad was that it could have happened a year ago if only he was more open minded and less jealous and scared.
Severus tucked him in as his eyes closed and moved to leave the room. A sleepy voice made him pause as he closed the door.
"I missed you, Dad."
A single tear of joy, or maybe relief ran down his face. 'I missed you too, son.'