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Emeraudedeux

You Again

Chapter Three

Hermione, Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Katherine were in high spirits after the Bulgarians won 220-100.

They had followed the crowd into a pub called Angler's Rest where most of the quidditch players normally gathered after a game. The five of them looked around the pub until they saw Levski; he was standing on top of a table shouting, "Over here!" and gesturing wildly at the group.

Ginny and Hermione laughed as they walked over to the team, weeding their way through the crowd of fans while Ron, Harry and Katherine went to get them drinks.

When they reached the area, they noticed it was half booth and half table, and there were four chairs with an empty space next to Viktor. He stood up to let Hermione squeeze between him and Levski. She sank down next to him with a small smile on her face just as the trio brought back three shots and two glasses of wine.

"Congratulations on the win!" Harry exclaimed as he threw back a shot of firewhisky. The team whooped, and along with Ron, threw back their own shots.

"Ugh… gross!" Ron shouted, "I got the wrong shot. It tasted like bloody cinnamon!" Hermione giggled, rolling her eyes at his dramatics. "That was mine. It's cinnamon flavored whiskey, and it's delicious." She grabbed the shot that was meant to be Ron's before he could down it too and drank it in one quick gulp.

"I vill get you another," Viktor offered, skimming his hand over her shoulders as he stood. Ron eyed the interaction with a cold glare. Hermione blushed, thanking Viktor quietly for his generosity when she knew the pub was more than happy to cater to the team's needs.

"Yuck," Ginny exclaimed, breaking the moment. "I would rather stick with my Nettle wine." The group laughed, calling the barmaid for another round of shots for the rest of them before setting down to talk about the game.

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Viktor looked at the clock on the wall and began to fidget. "What's wrong?" Hermione whispered, turning her head to look at him.

"I have to get to my tent. Vould love you to come so ve talk." Viktor replied, downing one last shot. Hermione turned her body fully towards him. "Why do you have to leave so early? It hasn't even been two hours," she frowned.

Viktor stood, holding out his hand to the witch. "Come, I show you." Hermione took his hand gingerly, allowing him to help her to her feet. He smiled at Ginny and held back a sneer at the look of disgust on Ron's face. Hermione offered to her friends, "I'm going to talk with Viktor."

Ginny smiled at the pair, waving them off. "We will see you later. Nice to see you again, Viktor!"

Viktor nodded at Ginny and took Hermione's hand to lead her out of the crowded bar. As Hermione was trailing behind him, she couldn't help but wonder what was so important that he needed to leave early instead of reveling in his win.

Viktor stopped in front of a tent, turning slowly to face her. Hermione met his eyes and noticed that his looked distraught. She touched his cheek with her hand, "Viktor, what's wrong? You can tell me."

He kissed her hand, growing more confident with her affection. He took a deep breath and replied, "I haff a little girl. She is two."

Hermione's mouth formed a soft, "oh!", and she soon enveloped him in a warm hug. "I had no idea. So… I'll get to meet her?"

Viktor hugged her back tightly and spoke into her hair, "I haff to relieve my mama. I said I von't be late but I still vant to talk." Hermione took a tiny step back, just enough to look up at his face but not enough to drop out of his warm arms. "Well… lead the way," she laughed.

They'd barely stepped into the tent when a chocolate haired bundle of joy launched herself at his body. Viktor automatically bent to scoop her into his arms, and she screamed in excited chatter, "papa!", along with other words that Hermione couldn't quite catch because she spoke so quickly.

Viktor gently hushed the child and turned around to face Hermione. "Teodora and mama, this is Herm-own-ninny. She is old friend."

"Be nice," he added to Teodora when she glanced wearily at Hermione.

Hermione smiled at the little girl who looked exactly like a female version of her father. "Hello Teodora, you can call me.." She was cut off by Teodora squealing "Minny!" and jumping out of her father's arms to latch onto Hermione.

Hermione cuddled the small girl while Viktor and his mother stared at them in disbelief. She realized how quiet the room suddenly was and looked over the child's head at the other adults.

"What?" she asked nervously, putting the child down carefully. The girl clung to her legs desperately, grinning widely at Hermione with a look of awe.

"She doesn't like other women," Viktor spoke quietly with a soft smile on his face. "Dora, time for bed." He spoke louder as he walked towards his daughter, but Teodora did not want to let go of Hermione. She screamed, "NO!" and began to cry.

Viktor stopped dead in his tracks while Hermione smiled at him sheepishly, "It's really fine. I can hold her." Hermione scooped the child up and started to walk around the tent, rubbing her back soothingly and speaking so quiet that only Teodora could hear her.

Viktor stared after them, lost in the sight until his mother cleared her throat. He whipped around to face her, reddening slightly at getting caught.

"I like her. She is nice to Dora," she spoke with a kind smile. "Dora must like her too. Come, give me a kiss, then I go." His mother leaned forward pecking him on his cheek and left to go back to her house.

oOoOoOo

Meanwhile, Hermione felt that Teodora had gone slack, a sure tell that the child had nodded off. She scanned the room quickly, finding a child sized bed and laying the girl in it, covering up her tiny body with a well-loved blanket.

After tucking Teodora in, she re-entered the main compartment of the tent and saw that Viktor was sitting on the couch; he had tea and a tiny spread on the coffee table in front of him.

She walked over to the sofa and plopped down next to him. She smiled shyly as Viktor turned towards her, grasping her knee gently. "Thank you for that. I haff no idea vat came over her. Vat vere you saying to her?"

Hermione's smile widened as she began to assemble her tea. She answered, "It's no problem. I do the same thing for Harry and Ginny's child, James, when I'm around them," she paused, blushing.

"I was quoting the muggle story 'Goodnight Moon' from memory. It was my favorite book that my parents read to me when I was younger. I read it to James all the time."

As she sat back and turned to Viktor, she noted the look of awe on his face, causing her blush to deepen. He quickly shook himself out of his stupor and spoke, "If you don't mind me asking, vhat happened vith Veasley? Last I remember, you vere at Fleur and Bill's vedding together."

Hermione took a deep breath, sipping her tea and steeling her nerves before answering, "We broke up a little over three years ago. We were happy in the beginning and just skirted over our problems," she spoke into her cup, not quite able to meet his eyes. "We dealt with our losses from the war in different ways. After the first year, we fought all the time. I didn't want to end things just because we never sat down and talked."

She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to calm herself down, "After two years, he started to go to different bars each night. So many girls were throwing themselves at him. The war hero," she spat. "I was so worried that he was cheating on me. He told me that he wasn't, but he blamed the fact that he was going out all night because of me," her words were bitter.

"He said that it was my fault because I worked so much." She finished the last sentence with her face in her arms, muffling the words. She hadn't even realized she'd begun to cry.

She felt him reach for her, uncurling her arms from around herself and wrapping them around his neck. While seeking comfort in the embrace, she breathed in his musky scent - grass, leather, and a hint of vanilla, but she couldn't tell if that was her perfume or him.

After a few minutes, she reluctantly pulled herself out of his warm embrace, though she wanted nothing more than to curl up next to him. She wiped her eyes and apologetically said, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to unload this on you."

Viktor shook his head, "You don't need to be strong all the time. It's okay to need someone. Ve vill talk about him later." He spoke gently, easing them into a safer zone. "Now, tell me about your vork."

Hermione smiled. "I work just under Remus Lupin in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. I'm basically being groomed to take his place once he retires," she offered. "I'm very passionate and good at what I do, so naturally I am the best for the job after Remus," she sighed, shaking her head.

"I don't have much free time, although I do like it that way. I've always been one to keep busy," She smiled, gesturing towards him with a wave of her hand. "Enough about me. Let's talk about you, Viktor. We've much to catch up on, clearly." They both chuckled.

Viktor grinned back, his eyes warm. "Your job sounds exciting. I play quidditch and spend time vith Teodora," he shrugged.

"Why isn't she with her mother? If you don't mind me asking, of course..." Hermione enquired.

Viktor's eyes dropped to the ground, sadness written across his features. "She died just after Dora vas born. She had, how you say it… brain bleed," he shuddered. "Gone vhen Dora vas only one hour old."

Now it was Hermione's turn to offer some comfort, but she wasn't quite sure what to do. She settled for a simple gesture and grabbed his hands softly, holding them in her lap. "Oh, Viktor. I am so very sorry." She couldn't help but tear up again. She knew what it was like to lose loved ones.

They sat side by side, holding hands for nearly ten minutes while Viktor composed himself. Hermione broke the silence with a soft voice.

"I'm sorry that she was ripped from your and Teodora's life so soon," she spoke gently, relieved as Viktor's breathing slowed to a normal pace.

"You still love her…" It was soft, a statement rather than a question.

"I did. But it held no candle to you," his response was strong and clear as he looked at her face, gauging her reaction. She continued to stare at her feet, not meeting his eyes as a deep blush crept up her neck at his declaration.

He reached over to her and gently used his hands to push her chin up, forcing their eyes to meet. "I vas more upset about Dora no have mama," his words full of emotion. "I vas only starting to love her. You? You are hard to get over." Hermione's heart raced at lightning speed as her mind fought to process the words.

Viktor leaned forward and spoke in a barely audible whisper, "May… I.. kiss you?"

Her breath hitched, the last thread of composure flying out the tent door. "Yes," she spoke in a breathy whisper.

Just as their lips almost touched, shouting pulled them from their embrace.

"Hermione!" she heard her name screamed outside the tent. She popped open one eye and growled, frustrated with the interruption. Her name was called out again, and she looked at Viktor apologetically before walking out of the tent with her mouth set in a tiny snarl.

She saw Harry cupping his hands around his mouth shouting her name, "Hermione!" She walked up behind and and hissed "Harry, what do you want?"

Harry gulped, watching her wearily. "We're uh… going home early," he motioned at Ginny who was standing slightly behind him. "Ron and Katherine took over the tent." He grimaced at her dark expression.

Hermione blanched, "I did not need to know that, but thank you for finding me. I'll just see you later, then." She turned on her heel and slipped back into Viktor's tent.

The air inside had obviously changed, and that perfect moment between the two of them had clearly passed. Trying to hide her upset, she smiled softly. "Sorry about that. Harry wanted to tell me that they were leaving," she said awkwardly.

Viktor returned her smile with one of his own and grabbed her hand, "I haff to go to sleep. Then ve must go home to my country, but…" He trailed off, "Can ve see you again?"

Hermione shook her head, whispering a small "yes" and could barely restrain herself when he leaned over and lightly pressed his lips to her hand. She groaned quietly, wanting nothing more than to leap into his arms and kiss him silly. She was surprised by her train of thought; she hadn't wanted something like that since before her and Ron's breakup. She flushed, biting her lip as he tucked a strand of her behind her ear.

She slipped over to the sofa, reaching into her clutch for a spare piece of parchment to pen down her address. "This is where I live. You're welcome to floo me anytime. I do hope to see you and Teodora again." She gave him one last look before waving goodbye and stepping out of the tent.

She headed for the designated apparition grounds, Viktor's scent still clouding her mind. She grinned widely, chuckling to herself at the night's turn of events. Spinning on the spot, she was sucked into darkness, apparating herself home.

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