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You Again
Chapter Four
Sunday morning found Hermione at the Burrow for their weekly lunch. Though she and Ron had split, they still treated her as family. She was currently sitting at the table in the kitchen slicing up vegetables in preparation for lunch. The Weasley matriarch always coerced Hermione into helping, insisting to show her this spell and that. "Every good witch learns household spells. How will you ever get a husband, dear?"Molly Weasley's voiced tutted in her head. Hermione still preferred to do some things in the muggle fashion, like cooking.
"So," the elder witch began, turning from the stove to face Hermione. "How did the game go last night? Meet anyone special?" Hermione stopped cutting, nearly dropping her knife when she looked up and saw Molly wink at her.
Hermione furrowed her brow in confusion. "The game was fine, but what are you talking about, Mrs. Weasley?" She spoke with suspicion lacing her words.
Molly scoffed, "I am Molly or Mum, none of this Mrs. Weasley business." She wagged her finger and continued, "Someone told me that you left early and went to another tent."
Hermione blushed, confirming her words. "It was Viktor Krum. We were just catching up," she went back to dicing the vegetables, speaking as casually as she could. "Did you know that he has a two year old daughter? He raises her by himself."
Molly pulled her into a bone-crushing hug, a glint in her eye that showed the wheels turning full speed in her head. "Oh, dearie! I'm glad you got to catch up. Maybe you could help with his daughter? We all know you love kids."
"What?" Hermione practically shouted, looking around before lowering her voice. "What are you talking about? I probably won't see him again! Besides, I thought you wanted me and Ron together?" She nearly pouted.
Molly shook her head. "You misunderstood me. I'm sorry," she frowned. "I got over that awhile ago, but I suppose I never told you. You must understand, it was quite a shock when it ended because you two seemed so happy."
"Why now?" Hermione pondered, "I mean, thank you… It means a lot. But still, why now?"
Molly grabbed the Prophet and handed it to her. "I'm guessing that you haven't seen this?" Hermione reviled, taking the paper, "I stopped reading this joke of a paper after they did that piece on me and Harry."
The headline read:
"Will the Golden Girl land the Quidditch star?"
Under the headline was a large picture playing in loop, showing Hermione touching Viktor's cheek before embracing in a tight hug. "Will the brightest witch of her age, Hermione Granger, find love with Viktor Krum, an international quidditch star? Or will she break his heart like she did to Ronald Weasley? We know that she has a string of men waiting on her hand and foot. A source close to her says that she will be playing around with him until she gets bored and turns her sights to someone new.Here at the Daily Prophet we can only hope that Mr. Krum will be smart in his decision."
The article was signed with the flourished signature of none other than Rita bloody Skeeter.
Hermione picked her head up and scoffed, "What do they mean I'm going to string Viktor along? Who the hell have they been talking to?" She tossed the prophet back to Mrs. Weasley, too annoyed with the propaganda to even have it near her. "Why do you read this Molly? What made you say I was happy?"
Molly touched the picture of her and Viktor, a knowing smile gracing her features. "You look truly happy and carefree, more than I have seen you in a long time."
Molly sat down next to Hermione and grabbed her hands, "you deserve it, we will be here no matter what."
Just as Hermione was wiping tears from her eyes Harry walked in carrying James, "hello mum." Harry stared at Hermione with a small smile on his face "Ron is here, by himself."
Ron came in from outside and was walking backwards talking to George "I am serious about wanting to work in your shop."
Fred glanced at Molly then at Ron and replied, "sure, come by tomorrow, we will figure it out."
Molly ran over to them and pulled them into a tight hug, "now go get everyone rounded up to eat, and fix the table so it's longer. Hermione?" she added as she turned around "can you help with the plates and silverware?"
Ron spun around and stared at Hermione like he was seeing her for the first time. Hermione stood up grabbed the plates and silverware, shaking her head when Ron's eyes didn't leave her face.
"Aunt Hermione!" she heard her name being called as soon as she stepped outside, she looked around and saw Fred II, Teddy, Victorie, and Dominique standing by the table looking antsy. No sooner had she put the plates on the table when all 4 of the kids rammed into her knocking, her down.
"Oi, you crazy kids, get off Hermione." George shouted once he noticed the dog pile, he pulled the kids off and told them to go bother someone else. After Hermione promised to read the kids a story before she left, they went to play leaving Hermione and George alone, he pulled her into a hug
"Why haven't you been here?" He whispered into her ear.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders and said back "I got tired of the looks from his girls...I wanted to hex them." she and George started to laugh.
Hermione had finally flooed home after reading 3 books and promises to be back early next Sunday to read more books. After she put the leftover food in her fridge that Molly insisted she take, as she looked 'too skinny,' she glanced at the clock, it read 7:00 pm. Hermione reasoned that she could take a long relaxing bath, then read a few chapters before she went to bed. She knew that she had to talk to Viktor about what was in the newspaper, she just didn't know how to go about it. She did not know if he wanted a relationship but she wanted him to know up front that nothing was going on. As Hermione was running her bath she heard a voice, she turned off the water and followed the sound of her name being called.
"Viktor?" she gasped once she saw his head in the fire.
"Herm-own-ninny. I sorry for bothering you but Teodora crying about moon and says minny. I haff no idea vat moon mean, do you?"
Hermione nodded her head with a small smile on her face, "yes, do you remember the story Goodnight Moon that I told you about?" she waited until he nodded before continuing walking over to her bookcases, selecting the book "I'm sure that is what she means, if you move I can come over and tell it to her." Viktor had just stared at her through the fire, shook his head and quickly stepped back allowing her through.
Brushing soot off herself, she looked around at his house, from the look of the living room, she could tell that it was a fairly large house. She could see multiple toys and baby clothes thrown about. She turned to Viktor with a smile on her face when she noticed he was holding his daughter.
"Hello Teodora!" she exclaimed walking over to the pair of them.
"Minny! Tell moon story?" Teodora said in an excited voice, Hermione smiled and took her from her father.
"Yes we can read the book, but then it's bed time."
Viktor took them to her room and walked away leaving the door open halfway, he sat down on the floor outside the room listening to Hermione read the story that his daughter wanted. He heard her get off the bed and walk around the room.
"Oh Teodora how about this one called Sleeping Beauty? It is my favorite." The little girl didn't reply back but Viktor could imagine that she had nodded her head.
When she started reading the second book, she had changed her voice to sound different for each character. He could not believe how mesmerized he was by the sound of her voice, it only made him feel better that he wanted to start a relationship with her, or at least try one because having a child involved was different.
Hermione was about half way through the book when she looked down at Teodora. Who was snuggled against her side, and realized that she was fast asleep, giving her a quick peck in the forehead she slowly moved her body out of her grip, put the book back and walked out of the room. She walked downstairs into the kitchen, Viktor had started making tea. He smiled as she walked in and quickly went to her to give her a hug.
Hermione giggled and said "thanks but what was that for?"
Viktor loosed his hold on her but didn't let go as he replied "for reading to Dora, she loved it."
Hermione just smiled at him and said "It was my pleasure, she is such a snuggle bug, I will have to find you your own copy of Goodnight Moon so you can read it to her."
Viktor leaned forward and was about to kiss her when he heard the floo being activated, a voice that was slightly slurred rang out
"Viktor? Are you here?"
Viktor let go of Hermione as he swore in his head "in kitchen"
He waited until he saw his teammate and friend Alexi Levski leaning on the doorway, he looked like he could not stand on his own. "She left me," Levski sobbed, unaware or not caring that Viktor had a guest.
Viktor turned to Hermione with a small smile on his face "I sorry but I haff to help him."
"It's okay Viktor, I understand, you take care of your friend." With a deep breath she leaned over and gave him a kiss on his cheek, "good bye Viktor until next time."