Hermione murmured slightly feeling the suns presence in the sky. She didn't know when she had fallen asleep or how quickly she had all she knew was that Viktor had given her the sleep draft and instantly things had gotten fuzzy. She turned to find herself un able to move. She slowly opened her eyes to find Viktor smiling at her softly.
"Good morning Luff…" she smiled lightly and let her eyes drift close once more. He was so warm and soft, completely inviting to her tired body. She snuggled closer to his bare chest a happy smile playing her lips. Suddenly her eyes flew open and she jumped out of the bed.
"Holy hell!" Viktor sat up with a small chuckle he had been expecting the outburst. "You in bed… With me."
"Nothing happened…" he said with a laugh.
"Oh uhm…" she straightened out her shirt. "Are you sure?" he slowly nodded.
"Very sure, I would not forget somefing like that."
"That's uhm… Good… So what was I doing in your bed because I remember lying down on the couch."
"I moved you back to bed. Didn't want you to strain neck…" he said as he got up. He was wearing draw string red sweat pants that hung low on his hips. She averted her eyes quickly a deep blush playing her cheeks. The lowness of his pants left little to the imagination. And it wasn't easy to keep her eyes from slipping down. Every muscle in his torso seemed to make her eyes travel to the lowest of regions as if it was anatomical arrow.
"And uhm… You being in the bed what was that about?" she asked.
"Vell you had wrapped your arms around my neck in process of carrying… You didn't seem to want to let go so I lay with you..." she blushed even deeper. "Is something wrong?" he asked with a smirk seeing her eyes still turned away the gorgeous deep blush still playing her cheeks.
"Oh no… No… Nothing… Nothing's wrong… No…" she said looking around for the regular clothes dobby was supposed to bring. "I should head to the castle though, you know breakfast Harry and Ron will want to fight over who gets to sit with me so… Clothes Clothes… Everyone needs clothes…"
"Mina luff." She didn't know when but he had crossed the space between them and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close to the bare chest she was trying not to stare at.
"Uhm yes… yes Viktor?" she asked looking to him a deeper blush set in her cheeks.
"Does my bare chest bother you?" she looked at him for a long moment.
"What… I… Are you… Psh…" she sputtered. "No." she finally said. "Waking up in bed with you though that is a little troublesome." She said scrambling out of his arms and rushed over to a pile of freshly pressed clothes in the corner of the room.
"Was it so bad seeing me in morning?" he asked. Hermione suddenly stopped he had the faintest hint of hurt in his expression. She slowly turned and looked to him "No… That was actually great… I was very happy to see you… But…" she tried to choose her words carefully. "It's just… It was… Unexpected?" he nodded slowly understanding.
"You did not expect that was bothersome, but I was not?"
"Why would you be bothersome?" she asked. "I mean you have an extremely nice…" she made a motion towards his body. "Smile." she said suddenly looking up. "Very nice smile." he smirked again.
"So do you." He said with a small chuckle.
"Yeah well dentists as parents… Uhm I'm going to throw these clothes on and go to the castle now… So… Yeah." she grabbed the bundle and headed to the bathroom.
"Jamous will luff this…" Viktor chuckled as he grabbed a shirt and threw it on. A few moments later Hermione returned. Her hair smooth and brushed, newly patted make up spread over her lightly. She was wearing a blue cardigan and low rider jeans with blue converse. She smiled when she saw him.
"You have a shirt." She said.
"You haf one too." He said.
"It's more of a sweater but…" he laughed.
"So luff let me get ready and then we vill be off."
"Off? Off where?" she asked.
"To Dumbledores, letter was left on desk here. Says we must be…" he picked up the parchment. "De…de… deb… Ahk I cannot read this word…" Hermione walked over and picked up the letter.
"Debriefed." She helped.
"Which means to see him yes?"
"Basically." She said with a smile. "I'll wait for you then." She kissed him on the cheek as he headed into the bathroom a bundle of clothes held in his arms. A few minutes later Viktor returned wearing a red long sleeved shirt and slacks. "Ready?"
"Of course, we are to take floo." He said motioning towards the Fire place.
"Alright you first." She said. He nodded and took the powder before throwing it down at his feet.
"Dumbledore's office!" Hermione turned away as flames safely consumed Viktor. When they cleared she stepped in herself.
"Dumbledore's Office!" she felt the fire surround her followed by a sudden rush of air.
"Ah miss Granger." She stepped out of the fire place and smiled at Dumbledore.
"Headmaster." She said stepping out of the fireplace with Viktors helping hand. She spotted Viktors head master in the corner. "Karkaroff." She said with a tone of dismissal to her voice.
"I deserve more respect." He said looking to her.
"Do you now?" Hermione asked. Dumbledore couldn't help but smirk at his favorite pupils wit while Viktor cringed waiting for his headmaster to go off.
"Dumvledore get muggle born pupil in check." Karkaroff said.
"Professor Dumbledore keep death eater headmaster in check." She fired back.
"Easy now…" he said with a twinkle in eye. "If I may ask Hermione I have never seen you so fired up…"
"You forgot to scold her on calling me death eater."
"He doesn't scold what's true." Hermione said.
"Miss granger." This time Dumbledore had an edge to his tone. Her jaw clenched as she stared at Karkaroff.
"We need to talk fings ofer with you." Karkaroff said as he walked to Dumbledore's side. It nearly made Hermione sick to see him stand next to her headmaster.
"First off what were you doing in hogsmeade?" Dumbledore asked.
"Viktor said he got permission to take me out on a date." Hermione said. "Didn't you approve?"
"I did." Karkaroff said.
"You didn't ask Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione asked turning to Viktor who only smiled innocently. The looked she sent him instantly told him she wasn't amused.
"luff I am sor-."
"Sir I apologize…" Hermione said turning back to Dumbledore. "Under the order of the rules set down by the four fathers and mothers of Hogwarts the proper points to take is Seventy five… and the punishment expulsion. And Viktor would be thrown out of the Triwizard tournament."
"I vill not haf this!" Karkaroff shouted. Dumbledore just smiled as he looked to Hermione.
"I'm not going to throw Viktor out… and I certainly won't expel you Hermione."
"You won't?" she asked.
"Hermione, how many times have you snuck out of the castle?"
"At least twenty times… But those were for good fighting evil reasons."
"Romance is a good reason as well." Dumbledore said as he headed to his desk. Viktor looked to Hermione who was watching her head master closely a small smile playing her lips.
"So if we're not here for some kind of punishment why are we here?" Hermione asked as she followed her head master to his inner office. She stopped when she saw the minister of magic.
"So this is the great Hermione Granger." Fudge said as he put his arms out to embrace her. They hugged for a second Hermione more stiff then usual something Viktor couldn't ignore. Hermione was a very warm person but she seemed almost cold around the minister of magic.
"Very good to meet you sir." She said putting on a pleasant smile. Hermione didn't know why but she felt something odd from the Minister. It was almost toxic, something she couldn't get past. She looked to Dumbledore who was watching her closely.
"Viktor dear boy always good to see you. How is your Ivan?"
"Father is very vell thank you." Viktor said giving a bow of his head.
"Good Good. The reason we have called you here-.'
"Is because the ministry wants to keep what happened in Hogsmeade a secret yes?" Hermione asked.
"You weren't kidding Dumbledore, she's highly perceptive." Fudge said looking to her. "I wouldn't be surprised if you were a minister of magic yourself."
"Mistress." She corrected. "But I'm afraid politics are not for me."
"Odd seeing as you have been involved with them one way or another since a young age."
"You're meaning?" Hermione asked.
"Well being the best friend of Harry Potter, keeps you under the watchful eye of the ministry, especially after all your…" he looked for a word. "Contributions to the safety of students here at Hogwarts." he said. "It's truly remarkable."
"Remarkable sir?"
"Well despite your disadvantage its remarkable that you have been able to assist Mr. Potter as much as you have." Hermione smiled softly.
"Disadvantage…" she said while nodding her head and slightly biting her cheek. "The fact I'm muggle born." Viktor didn't know how she kept a brave face after knowing how much she hated people questioning her just because of her blood status. He glared into the minister his anger slowly building. If she wasn't going to stand up for herself, he was going to do it for her.
"Yes it is very impressive indeed. Other muggle borns must really look up to you…"
"Right well…" Hermione looked up at him. "I have to actually go assist Harry now, he needs my help in the preparations of the first task whatever they may be… I will not speak of what happened last night." Before Fudge could say anything she looked to him. "Good day sir." With that she headed to the door.
"Being a muggle born is not disadvantage!" Hermione stopped hearing Viktors outburst. "She is brilliant witch! She helps Harry in ways you vill not ever know." She turned and watched Viktor walk straight up to the minister. "I demand you apologize to her this minute!"
"I meant nothing by it."
"You Disgrace her!" he shouted.
"I meant nothing I swear it." Fudge said looking over the shoulder of the very intimidating Bulgarian to stare at Hermione wide eyes.
"It's alright." Was all Hermione said as she looked to Viktor with slightly wide eyes.
"You will make this right." Viktor said to him. "Do you wish to file grievance against the ministry?" Viktor asked her his eyes still piercing into those of Fudge. Hermione looked to the frightened little man in front of him. She slowly walked up while Fudge took a step back.
"Yes do you wish to file grievance?" he asked.
"No, no that's quite alright… In fact this little experience has made me re think my thoughts on not getting involved in politics."
"Is that so?" Fudge asked while Dumbledore smiled his eyes sparkling.
"Yes…" Hermione looked at him. "You know I really hope you stay minister for a long time sir." He smiled.
"Really? Why is that?"
"Well it's the post I want…" he thought it over for a moment as she and Viktor went to leave the office.
"But then you would have taken the title from me…" Hermione smiled as she stopped and looked over her shoulder at Fudge.
"Would I now?" Viktor smirked slightly before taking Hermione's hand in his.
"Come luff…" he said with a chuckle to the tone of his voice. When they left the room Hermione turned to him.
"I meant it." he smiled.
"I know you did luff."
"I'm not kidding I want to take that position from him."
"I am vully aware." he said with another chuckle.
"Then why are you laughing?" he stopped and smiled at her.
"I do not mean this laugh to upset; I just think it was very funny when Fudge realized what post you wanted. He looked like scared goldfish in bowl with child knocking on glass." He laughed loudly. "It was amusing… Greatly amusing." She laughed herself and thought back on the look he had given her. She then smiled up at Viktor.
"It was really great in there. What you did for me." She said.
"I couldn't believe when you just walked away… If you would not say something then I would." He said. "Why did you not say something luff?"
"Because I choose my battles and my enemy's… The minister is not someone you want to get on the bad side of especially when the times have begun to change." She said with a somewhat troubled look.
"Times of change?" he asked. "I do not understand."
"Viktor I can assure you that by next year the ministry is going to be in a state of sheer panic… see they'll no longer be able to keep a wrap on these death eater attacks." She suddenly had a haunted look.
"What is it luff?" he asked.
"Well I was just thinking the worst…"
"What do you mean?"
"Well… With all these death eaters beginning to rise again and attack… I can't help but think that Voldemort is back." Viktor's head shot around as he looked to see if anyone had heard her speak his name.
"Mina…" he said using his term of endearment for her. "Why do you speak his name so loosely?"
"Because fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself… and I'm not one for fear Viktor." Viktor smiled before capturing her lips with his.
"What was that for?" she asked softly when he pulled away.
"Sorry you just… looked very commanding at that moment I had to kiss you." She smiled softly.
"Alright Romeo lets go." She said taking his hand.
"I am not Romeo… I am Viktor…" he said with a confused look that made Hermione laugh softly.
"You're so funny."
"I am?" he asked blinking while Hermione laughed lightly once more. He couldn't help but smile as he let her lead him down the hallway. Her laugh was brilliant like the sound of an inviting bell. She looked over her shoulder at him with a dazzling smile that made him take a breath.
"Come on Viktor hurry you're dragging your feet!" he laughed as he began to run alongside her.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"Library of course, we have to beat your fan girls and get a private room so you won't be bothered."
He smiled. "Alright luff." He said with a small chuckle.