"Let me just change my shoes…"
"Right Luff…" he said with a smile as he walked over to her owl which was sitting on a desk by an open letter. He absentmindedly picked it up to close it and put it away but stopped when his eyes caught a sentence.
"I will never speak to you again"… he went to read further but stopped when Hermione came back in. As she pulled on a pair of black velvet flats she eyed Viktors whose hand which was on the letter.
"Uhm I was going to put it away for you." He said.
"Oh thanks I shouldn't just leave letters out and about I know better than that." She put it away with a smile. "Guess I forgot." She looked him over not thinking he had read any of it.
"Who is it from?"
"Oh my dad wishing me a happy new years." She said with a smile as she took his hand. "Come on lets go explore starting with that fifth level you guys have that no one stays on." He decided he would ask her about the letter later. His English wasn't all that good when it came to reading so he figured he had just been mistaken but he would still inquire just not on this Christmas eve.
-o-
"So why doesn't anyone move up here?" Hermione asked as they walked through the dusty dark corridor of the fifth floor.
"Not sure." He said. "I thought I might but I'm waiting for Stony to get older so he can have the Third floor all to himself."
"Shouldn't Asen be up here?" she asked.
"He's afraid of heights."
"Him too? Huh… Maybe we have more in common than I thought." She said stopping and pointing her wand at a painting of an older man who looked a lot like Ivan. "Who's this?"
"My grandfather." Viktor said with a smile.
"He looks so much like your father."
"You think?" he tilted his head not seeing it. Hermione smiled how Viktor could not notice the ridiculous resemblance his father had to his grandfather was beyond her. She headed off the light from her wand flickering slightly. "Mmm… That's no good. Eradia!" she casted her wand out a bunch of flickering lights came out in a dull pink. "I should just give up on this spell every time its either multi colored or pink… Ridiculous."
"You'll get it eventually luff." He said with a smile.
"Maybe…" she said a little irritated with herself. He rubbed her shoulders making her smile. "Hey can I ask a question I've been wondering about one of the presents you got?"
"Yeah?" he asked walking next to her.
"It was a journal… Your father said it was a Quidditch related." She said. "He called it… What did he call it?"
"A rechshall note book." He said with a smile.
"Yes I've never heard of that."
"Well its not really known except by people directly related to international Quidditch. What you do is you put your memories of your games into the journal to re liff them…"
"Oh I see so you can see your mistakes."
"Exactly."
"Is that what those other journals in your room are?"
"Some yes." He said nodding. "Most are play books sent to me by coach who you vill meet tomorrow. He is tough man but a fair man as well."
"Are you excited for Quidditch to start?" she asked.
"A little but I am also tired… Not because I do not like Quidditch anymore but because this tournament ends right around the time Quidditch starts…"
"Giving you no time to rest. I'm sorry Viktor." She said.
"It is okay." He said with a smile. "I was wondering though… Maybe you would like to attend some of the games? You could take Ginny Harry and Ron along if you'd like…"
"Yes I think I would like that." She said with a smile.
"You will be like good luck charm." He kissed her cheek, making her laugh.
-o-
After they had explored a bit more Viktor had walked her back to her room to bid goodnight which had ended with a nice soft kiss. When Hermione closed the door she leaned against it smiling before her eyes landed on the desk and she couldn't help but frown. That night she went to bed but she didn't sleep much. The next morning she changed into casual clothes. Skinny jeans and a white sweater that fitted her like a dream. She walked to Viktors door and knocked.
"Hallo luff." He said in English as he peeked his head out at her. She smiled at him brightly as he walked out. "Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas." She said as he took her hand and they started to walk. He was bouncing slightly. He had been told something very exciting from his parents late last night. It was exciting but it also made him very nervous. They came down into the drawing room to see his parents with another woman. Hermione stopped her breath catching in her throat. The woman turned away from Sophia and Ivan with a smile.
"Hermione dear." She said.
"Mum?" She laughed when her mother put her arms out. The two rushed towards each other embracing like only a mother and daughter could. Jane held her daughter close to her trying not to shed the tears she was fighting against so desperately.
"What about me?" Hermione jumped turning seeing her father. She laughed as he pulled her into his arms. After a moment he pulled away and looked her over.
"Sir." She said with a soft smile. He placed a hand on her cheek, he was actually smiling at her.
"You've grown a lot." She smiled even more brightly. "Your canine needs a little work I see…" she laughed as he tilted her head back and looked over her teeth.
"Dad come on." She said pushing him playfully as he laughed.
"I'm kidding I'm kidding." He said. "Seriously though this summer we're getting that taken care of." She shook her head with a small smile.
"I'm being rude." Hermione suddenly said turning. "I expect you've already introduced yourselves to Mr. and Mrs. Krum?"
"That we have. Lovely people." Jane said.
"Alright then uhm I'd like you to meet my uhm… Well… My boyfriend." Hermione said taking Viktor's hand, this act not going unnoticed by her father who instantly glared into the boy. "Viktor this is my mother Jane." They were speaking in English now for the benefit of her parents.
"Lovely to meet you Viktor." The woman came forward and embraced him. There was a warmth to her a kindness that reminded him much of Hermione. The woman pulled away beaming.
"This is my dad Jack." The man reached forward and took Viktors hand in a death grip.
"Hello." He said. Viktor smiled pleasantly a little worried her father was going to break his hand.
"Hallo." Viktor said. "Nice to meet you sir."
"My daughter has been telling me a lot about you." He said still shaking his hand. Jane and Hermione looked at Jacks hand which was gripping Viktors.
"I hope they are good things." Viktor said nervously.
"They are but I like to form my own opinions." He relinquished Viktors hand with a smile.
"Thanks for crushing his snitch hand dad." Hermione said looking over it.
"He's a strong Bulgarian he's fine I'm sure." Jack said with an innocent look while Ivan laughed.
"This is true." He said. "Shall we head into the dining room for some breakfast?" He inquired.
"Sounds lovely Ivan." Jack said.
"Are you alright dear?" Jane asked taking Viktors hand and looking it over.
"Yes I am fine thank you." He said with a smile.
"You have a strong one Hermione keep him around." Jane said with a smile. "So Sophia, tell me about your home its quite lovely is it old?"
"Very over 300 years." Hermione and Viktor smiled at each other.
"Sorry about dad I told you he was possessive." She whispered.
"This is alright." He said taking her hand. "Come."
Breakfast had gone over well. The others hadn't shown Ivan and Sophia had sent them off for the day. Which only made Hermione worry about Stony who had had two attempts by death eaters to take him, but Ivan had assured her that he was safe. The whole time through breakfast Hermione was pleased to see her father made no comments on how the food came to their plates with the use of magic or the sight of a house elf. She could tell though that her mother was keeping tabs on her father.
"Sophia do you think we should get going?" Jane asked checking her watch.
"It is about that time…" Sophia said.
"Time for what?" Hermione asked.
"To shop for your dress dear." Jane said. "You think I would miss out on my daughter buying her first gown for her first ball?"
"Do you have the uhm… the…" her father was searching for a word. "Hermione…"
"Galleons dad."
"Yes do you have the galleons for her dress Jane?"
"You guys don't have to buy me a dress." Hermione said with a smile. Viktor looked to her. "I can take care of it."
"We're buying you a dress." Her parents said at the same time.
"Honestly she's so independent for her age." Jack said to Ivan who smiled.
"What will you all be doing?" Jane asked them.
"Jack here is going to teach Viktor and I how to play football." Ivan said.
"It's like…" her father searched for a word. "Hermione…"
"Quidditch dad…" Hermione said with a smile.
"Quidditch but without brooms." He said.
"I think it's kind of different…" Hermione said with a smile.
"Well I'm sure Viktor can explain Quidditch to me then."
"Dah yes." Viktor said with an excited look.
"Alright just be careful." Jane and Hermione said at the exact moment with the exact same look.
That there is why I always wanted a daughter… Sophia thought sadly as her hand went to the locket around her neck that Hermione had given her.
"Hermione dear you need a jacket…" Jane said.
"I'll go fetch one." Sophia said as she snapped her fingers and it appeared in her hands. Hermione didn't miss the look that crossed her father's features neither did Viktor. He now saw what Hermione meant about her father's views on magic.
"Thank you…" Hermione said quietly taking the jacket.
"Oh Jack I have to apologize for using magic to get her coat for her." Sophia said with a smile she knew from Hermione how her parents felt. "But her clothes are on the third floor we're on the first it would have taken her so long…" her father smiled.
"Say no more sometimes magic is needed especially in such a large home." they all laughed including Hermione who eyed her father.
He's being really nice…
"Shall we go then?" Jane asked.
"Yes we shall." Sophia said.
-o-
Hermione tilted her head as she looked herself over in the dress her mother and Bulgarian surrogate mother had chosen out.
"Darling can we see?"
"Yes mum." She called. The curtain behind her opened up slowly and she heard gasps from behind her.
"Dah!" Sophia clapped her hands. "You look stunning!"
"You do look beautiful dear." Jane said. Hermione slowly turned and looked at them her hands running down the long white satin fabric of the a line gown.
"I don't know… Doesn't it look kind of like… A bridal gown?" Jane and Sophia took each other's hands.
"That's why we love it!" they said together.
"Very funny." Hermione said with a smile.
"We can have the color changed can't we?" Jane asked Sophia.
"Yes of course…"
"I don't know…" Hermione said. "This isn't what I imagined it's awfully stiff… I don't mean to be fussy."
"Be fussy." Jane said. "This is a gown that you're going to wear to a ball."
"You're mother is right dear." Sophia said. "Try on a hundred dresses whatever it takes to find the right one!"
"What color do you think you might want?" the witch who was helping them asked.
"Uhm…" Hermione thumbed the pendant Viktor had given her. "I don't know…"
"Let's try a pink." Jane said.
"Mum pink really?" Hermione asked with a smile trying not to show complete dread in her expression.
"Something with ruffles." Sophia added.
"Fantastic idea."
"Why thank you Jane."
"No way no ruffles." Hermione said quickly. "I'm drawing a ruffle line that I really don't want to be crossed."
"Oh indulge your mother and Bulgarian mother." Jane said.
"Yes indulge us…"
By the end of the shopping trip Hermione had gotten exactly what she thought she wouldn't pick. Plus earrings a bracelet and of course shoes. Even though the items hadn't been what she imagined herself in, she didn't so much mind. She felt quite lovely in the dress that was picked for her and she had loved the earrings and shoes.
"You two go on ahead outside." Sophia said when they got back to the manner. "I just need to send a quick Owl."
"Here mum I'll show you the way outside." Hermione said with a smile as she and her mother linked arms. When they got out of ear shot from Sophia she looked to her mother.
"Why is dad being so nice?" Hermione asked.
"Oh Hermione…" Jane said with a soft expression as she patted her daughters arm.
"I'm serious last night he sends me this seething letter and today it's like it never happened."
"Your father had a bit to drink last night you know how he gets…" she said quietly as she looked around to make sure no one was listening in. "Normally he's quiet unless given the opportunity to be nasty. I would have stopped him but when your father picks up the whiskey I go to a movie."
"Good and I want you to keep doing that." Hermione said worriedly.
"Your father would never hurt me… You know that." She did know that but still her father's drinking did scare her at times. He wasn't the everyday alcoholic but the once every a few months alcoholic. Who would drink to only get drunk and to forget what ever haunted him. Which Hermione had a feeling was her being a witch, and a deep kept family secret.
"He's getting better. It used to be every month he'd go on a drinking binge now it's only every six months."
"That's progress…" Hermione said dryly not at all impressed.
"He's going to a group you know…" Jane said making Hermione look to her.
"A group?"
"To talk about it I think it's helping. Eventually he thinks he'll get off it completely…"
"What made him go to the drink this time?"
"Business dear… People just don't care for their teeth the way they should anymore."
"Is business really bad? If so… I could help?"
"Don't you think on it… We don't need your money dear," Jane said with a soft smile. "Now enough about your dad and I… What of this Viktor… I could tell from your letters you really like him but seeing you to together… You've fallen for him haven't you?" Jane watched a small smile pull at her daughters lips.
"Maybe…"
"I'm so happy for you dear…" Jane patted her daughter's hand. "He seems like a lovely young man."
"He's really good to me mum…" Hermione said.
"Good… That's really good…" she smiled brightly down at her daughter.
-o-
When they got outside it was to find Viktor Ivan and Jack running around kicking three soccer balls up and down a patch of grass that looked like it had been magically formed, Hermione wondered how that spell had gone over with her father.
"Come on Viktor you have to keep up." Jack said. Hermione smiled as she watched.
"Dad go easy on them!"
"On them no just Viktor I'm doing quite vwell!" Ivan called.
"Hermione come show them how it's done!" Jack said kicking the ball up into his hands.
"Yes show us how it's done!" Viktor said through rushed breaths. Football was a lot harder then riding on a broom.
"Yes I would like to see one on one match." Ivan said.
"A match?" Hermione asked walking over.
"What do you say little girl think you can beat me?" Jack asked throwing the ball towards her. Hermione jumped into the air and kicked the ball. Easily it zoomed past her dad into a make shift goal.
"I think I can manage." Hermione said as her father laughed.
"You are about to see something real fun." Jane said as Viktor and Ivan joined her at a table along with Sophia who had shown up with hot coco.
"Mum come throw the ball!" Hermione said.
"Coming!" Jane ran over completely spry for the 46 year old she was. "Okay I want a good clean game you two."
"Never!" Jack and Hermione yelled together before high fiving. Viktor smiled, it was good to see her having fun.
"Okay here we go!" Jane threw up the ball and then ran back to the table as jack pushed past her daughter knocking her to the ground as he kicked the ball down towards the goal.
"Hey dad no fair!" Hermione said rushing after him.
"Life isn't fair dear!" he called over his shoulder as she laughed and cut him off stealing the soccer ball back. "Hey!" he said.
"Life's not fair dad!" she said using his words against him. Hermione kicked the ball into the goal and turned. "Oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah yeah yeah!" she said while dancing.
"Nose down Hermione." Jane called with a laugh.
"I have to do my goal dance!" Hermione called as the others laughed. This was a side of Hermione none of them had seen except for Viktor who had caught tiny glimpses. Hermione picked up the ball while her father tried not to die from laughing. "Ready?" she asked. They played for half an hour her father only getting three goals while Hermione got ten. Viktor had to admit Hermione was quite the athlete and very fast. "Giving up already dad?" she asked as they walked back to the table.
"Why don't you and Viktor go a few rounds." He said.
"No way, afraid your daughter vill beat me." Viktor said making the others laugh. Hermione sat by him with a smile. "Here luff." He poured her a cup of hot coco.
"Thank you." She said taking off her gloves.
"Hermione who gave you that bracelet?" her father asked seeing the Bulgarian charms.
"Oh Mrs. Krum so when I leave to go back to Hogwarts I can take a bit of Bulgaria with me."
"Fabulous idea…" Jane said looking over it. "You have fantastic taste Sophia."
"Thank you Jane."
"I hope you don't mind but we brought gifts for you all because we did bring gifts for our daughter." Jane said. "We didn't want to leave any one out."
"How very kind of you." Sophia said.
"This is good because Sophia and I got gifts for both of you." Ivan said.
"You didn't have to do that." Jack said with a pleasant smile.
-o-
After that they had all gone back to their rooms to get ready for that dinner. Hermione had been happy to find out her parents wouldn't be leaving until tomorrow afternoon. As Hermione got dressed she heard a knock.
"Honey it's your mother."
"Oh come in." Hermione said relaxing a bit she was only in a robe after all. Jane came in slowly and Hermione smiled at the floor length royal blue gown with capped embellished sleeves.
"I always loved that dress on you." Hermione said with a smile.
"Of course you did you bought it. I thought I'd come help you get ready for dinner?"
"Sounds great." Hermione said. "I'm having trouble deciding what to wear will you choose while I get my make up on?"
"Of course dear." Her mother started to flip through her daughters clothes. "Oh this would be lovely…" Hermione smiled as her mom took out a simple dress. "I need something more dressy I'm going to a Bulgarian Quidditch gathering with Viktor after words."
"Oh I see then this one…" Hermione looked at the dress.
"Perfect." She said.
"I love this color on you… I'm going to go see if your dad needs help with his tie."
"He always does." Hermione said with a smile as she watched her mother leave.
-o-
Hermione walked down into the drawing room Viktor by her side. He kept looking at her dress. It was crème colored with black piping it went to her mid thigh as she wore a tall black pump heel. It was fashionable less girly more daring something the wolf like wives and girlfriends of the Quidditch players would appreciate.
"Is this okay for the party tonight?" she asked. "My mom picked this out…"
"Your mother has good taste you'll blow the other girls away…" Hermione smiled as she thumbed the pendant he gave her. He had realized that whenever she did this she was either in deep thought or very nervous. When they got to the drawing room Hermione stopped. Her father had a brandy glass in hand she spotted her mother who looked quite nervous as she watched him carefully.
"Luff what's wrong?" Viktor asked squeezing her hand.
"Oh uhm, nothing." She said quickly with a smile. "Let's join them shall we?" she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear nervously.
"Hermione!" she jumped as Stony crashed into her his arms around her waist.
"Hey Stony didn't see you there." She laughed.
"Your mom got me this for Christmas!" he held up a soccer ball. "I think it's a quaffle!"
"Yes that's exactly what it is." She said with a smile as he ran away.
"Here you two go." Jane handed them each a present box.
"Thank you mum." Hermione said.
"Thank you Mrs. Granger." Viktor said.
"Please Viktor call me Jane or mum you can call me mum." Hermione and Viktor smiled at the woman's eagerness.
"Not until Hermione calls me mum!" Sophia called making Jane laugh. Hermione slowly opened her box and smiled as she pulled out a small gold ring. Hermione slowly looked to Jane who was smiling.
"This has been past down from Willows girls for generations. Mother to daughter that's how it goes… So you have to promise me that you will treasure this ring, because some day when you have your own little girl you need to be able to give it to her."
"I promise mum thank you." She said slipping it onto her right ring finger. They hugged tightly. Viktor smiled before Jane looked to him.
"Well go on dear open your present… something small but I saw these in a shop and I thought you should have them." he opened them and smiled at two cufflinks in the shape of snitches.
"Thank you they are perfect!" he said. "Perfect for team meetings and press conferences…"
"I thought so." Jane said as Viktor hugged her.
"I think I'll wear them tonight for the dinner." Viktor said with a smile.
"Here I'll help you." Hermione said as she set her present box down and un did the old tarnished cufflink before replacing them easily.
"How do they look?" he asked.
"Very fashion forward." Hermione said with a smile.
"Thank you Mrs…" at Jane's glare he smiled. "Thank you Jane mum Mrs. Granger." He used all of them making her laugh.
"I'm going to get a drink…" Hermione said quietly as she walked away from Viktor over to her dad who was laughing just a bit much.
"Dad… What number brandy is that?" she asked quietly. He stopped laughing and looked to her.
"Second…" he said stiffly.
"Dinner is ready!" everyone headed out except for Hermione and her father. Viktor walked to the dining room but turned when he realized Hermione wasn't at the table. He turned back into the drawing room to find Hermione glaring into her father who was re filling his glass.
"You should slow down." Hermione said.
"You should speed up." he took a large swig.
"Please don't do this…" she pleaded. "Not tonight dad I really care about these people."
"Yes… These people." He said. "I'm sure you wish you could just be with your… freak friends."
"You're drunk." Hermione went to walk away only to have your father grab her arm rather harshly. Viktor stepped forward.
"Is everything alright here?" Viktor asked his voice strong and sure. He didn't want to get physical with his girlfriend's father but he would if he had to.
"Yes." Hermione said with a bright smile. "We're fine… Aren't we dad?" She said as she took his brandy glass and set it aside.
"Yes…" he said with his own pleasant smile. "Come sweet heart let's not keep the others waiting." He let go of her and headed out of the room. Hermione watched him with a fake smile as Viktor walked over to her.
"Are you alright?"
"Of course." She said. "Why wouldn't I be?" he looked at her for a long moment. He couldn't stand to see the fake smile on her face.
"Luff… He… Grabbed your arm. Quite harshly…"
"Oh must have looked worse than it was, we were just talking about having another soccer game." Hermione said with a smile. "Come let's not keep everyone waiting."
"Mina…" Viktor said a little worried that she had just lied directly to his face. "You know you can talk to me…Yes?" her façade slipped.
"I'm fine Viktor… Please not tonight…" he slowly nodded his thumb brushing over her cheek. "It's Christmas…"
"Alright luff." He kissed her forehead. "Let's go have dinner…" she smiled at him softly as they both headed into the dining room.
"There they are!" Ivan said. Hermione smiled as she sat down next to her mother who was sitting next to Sophia.
"Oh where's Asen?" Hermione asked looking around.
"Oh he wasn't invited no room." Sophia said with a smile.
"Thank you." Hermione mouthed, Sophia nodded at her.
"So tell us what Hermione was like as a child..." Ivan said.
"Oh no." Hermione said.
"Hermione was very precocious." Jane said.
"Still is." Jack said raising a glass to her. Hermione could tell by the look in her father's eyes that he was truly sorry about what had happened in the drawing room. She smiled at him to let him know it was alright. It wasn't but she would let him go on thinking it was.
"When did you know that she was a witch?" Sophia asked.
"Oh that one is easy isn't it dear?" Jane asked taking her daughters hand. Hermione rested hers over her mother's lovingly. Viktor could tell Hermione was very close to Jane which explained why she was close to his own mother.
"Do you want to tell the story?" Hermione asked with a laugh.
"Yes well no I tell it so bad you tell it." Jane said.
"Oh no you're much better at it." Hermione and Jane laughed at the same time the sounds harmonizing with each other perfectly as they both made the identical movement of throwing their head back.
"Okay so…" Hermione and Jane looked to each other giggling as they somehow communicated something without talking. "Mini don't make me laugh." Jane said. "Alright so when Hermione was little I started trying to grow things… Flowers mostly. But there was one flower I just couldn't seem to get down and that was the sunflower…" Sophia nodded. "For years I struggled with them so this one summer when Hermione was about four I had had enough I had reached my limit and I swore that that was the last time I was going to try. So me and little Hermione spent our afternoons in the garden trying to get these flowers to grow and they just wouldn't. The last day of summer I stood up and threw in the towel…" she looked to Hermione.
"Mom was really upset… I actually remember this. She was crying and everything and I just remember I really wanted her to smile… So I stuck my hands down into the soil and I just started to wish…" Hermione said.
"So I'm there cursing my head off." Jane said making the others laugh. "When I hear this noise. I turn and there's my daughter her hands in the dirt where at least three dozen sunflowers were sprouting into the air right in front of me. And they weren't growing slow they were growing fast… Needless to say I fainted." They all laughed. "When I came to Dumbledore Hermione's now head master and the minister of Muggle relations was there explaining to me that my little Hermione was a witch."
"You did wandless magic at four years old?" Ivan asked Hermione.
"Guess so." Hermione said with a smile.
"So when did you tell Jack that Hermione was a witch?" Sophia inquired.
"Dumbledore thought it best for him to find out on his own so he wouldn't put me away for being crazy…" Jane said.
"I didn't find out until years later." He said smiling at his daughter.
"How did you find out?" Stony asked.
"Well when Hermione was around your age I was walking by her room and I heard her laughing hysterically. I opened the door she had been making all her toys in her room dance and sing for her…"
"I was a fan of the classics. My teddy bear was quite talented when it came to opera." Hermione said making them all laugh.
"Did you faint too?" Sophia asked.
"I am proud to say I did… Right down the stairs." They all laughed.
"Sorry dad." Hermione said.
"When I came too in the hospital Dumbledore my wife and Hermione were there… I think I took the news well."
"Yeah as well as you could have." Hermione said.
"By well he means he asked the nurse if she had any alcohol for him to drink." Sophia said while everyone laughed. Viktor didn't miss the expression that crossed Hermione's features as she faked a laugh.
Been drinking ever since… she thought quietly.
"So tell me because I'm not really sure… How did you and Viktor meet you never said." Jane asked Hermione.
"Hermione saved Viktors life." Ivan said.
"Really when?" Jack asked. Hermione froze, her parents didn't know about that summer only that she had gone to a sporting a even with the Wesley's. Everything else had been kept hush hush.
"At the world cup!" Stony said.
"She never saved me remember they do not know of the problems in our world because of the ministry." Viktor said quietly in Bulgarian.
"What was that?" Jack asked. Viktor looked around.
"Did I just slip into native tongue?" he asked making the others laugh. "Agh I am so embarrassed." Hermione smiled softly.
"I met Viktor at the world cup in passing." Hermione said quietly. The whole family had caught on. They forgot how mum was the word when it came to extreme situation in the magical world. Viktor had told his parents in a letter how her mother and father threatened to take her out of the magical world.
"Then we were vully introduced at school." Viktor said continuing the story.
"But how did you save him?" Jack asked a little suspicious.
"Fan girls." Viktor and Hermione said at the same time.
"I saved him from fan girls." Hermione said, It was half the truth.
"The girls go crazy for you then?" Jack asked not sure he liked the sound of it.
"Hermione is only voman I go crazy for." Jack leaned back satisfied with the answer.
"So what are your plans with my daughter?" Hermione blushed.
"Really dad we're going on that line of questioning?" Hermione asked making most laugh.
"No it is alright he is concerned father." Viktor said with a smile.
"So?" Jack asked.
"Well right now I am dating her."
"But what of the future?" Jane asked a little curious herself.
"I plan to maybe… One day… Marry her." Sophia beamed as did Jane while Hermione just stared. They had never spoken about marriage. What would it be like to be married to Viktor? Her father's eyes narrowed.
"How would you take care of her?"
"Dad he doesn't have to take care of me." She said clearly stating her independence. "You know that..."
"If you guys have children he will." Dad said.
"Children?" Hermione asked slightly getting dazed. "Children?" She laughed. "Children really dad?" Ivan smiled he had never seen the young witch flustered before, it was actually quite comical.
"I plan on playing Quidditch which does give me a nice sum of money that I could easily take care of Hermione and any children we hafe. She wouldn't even haf to work." Viktor said.
"I would work." She said quickly looking to him.
"And I would support you in that decision completely." He said with a smile. "Hermione wishes to go into politics something I would back her on fully… Maybe someday I could be Mr. Mistress of magic." Hermione smiled softly. "That is what they would call me right?" he asked.
"I guess." She said with a small laugh.
"So Hermione you would like to have children?" Sophia asked. She looked to her Bulgarian mother. Viktor smiled looking at his pocket watch.
"Vwell Hermione and I we should be going. I haff a whole team of Bulgarian Quidditch players to introduce her too." Hermione smiled at him gratefully.
"Good night dear and have a wonderful time." Jane said kissing her daughters cheek.
"Have her back before seven." Jack said.
"Dad its seven now." She said.
"Guess she can't go." He said making the others laugh. "Fine by eight thirty."
"Dad come on."
"Oh alright before midnight at least."
"Will do." Viktor said with a chuckle.
-o-
Hermione and Viktor headed out of a chimney they had used the floo network to floo to a local wizard bar. They walked through the crowd easily. When they got to the street Hermione looked to Viktor.
"Thanks for the save back there."
"I could tell you were getting oferwhelmed." He said with a smile.
"I just don't like being pushed to explain my whole future."
"Me either luff." He took her hand and Hermione looked to him.
"Sooner or later though we should probably talk about it."
"I agree." He said with a smile.
"So where is this party being held?" she asked not really wanting to talk about it just at that second. He smiled.
"Down at the end of the street that manor there." She looked and nodded at the old fashioned Victorian building.
"Lovely…" she said thumbing the pendant.
"Hermione are you alright?" he asked now speaking in Bulgarian.
"Yes yes I'm fine…" she said with a smile which looked nothing but genuine, but Viktor couldn't help but question if it was. "We'll talk about it later right now I want to focus on you… are you excited to see your Quidditch family?" he smiled.
"Very much so… They will love you I can tell… But I must warn you the other vomen can be quite… judgmental."
"I expected that." Hermione said. "Hence why I straightened my hair." When they walked into the house it was to find themselves alone in a foray Viktor shrugged off his coat and hung it up on a coat hanger.
"Ready?" he asked.
"I don't think no quite covers it." She said as he took her coat for her and hung it up.
"You'll do great." He took her hand. They walked towards two double French doors as they neared they could hear music, laughter, and conversation. The doors automatically opened in front of them revealing a room full of at least 30 people. Hermione noted that it looked like there were more females then males.
"There he is our fearless leader!" someone shouted and the room broke out into applause. Viktor just bowed while Hermione smiled at his side a little unsure of what she should do. She couldn't help but notice the up and down looks she was being given by the other women in the room.
"Come I will introduce you." He whispered into her hair. The men and woman had somewhat separated. The men were by the bar the women by a group of couches. Viktor led her over to the men who were all smiling at her.
"Viktor who is the lovely flower you have brought our way?" a tall broad shouldered man asked. by his look Hermione could tell he was a beater.
"This would be my Hermione…"
"Wait Hermione." someone said pointing at her. "The Hermione Granger?" the man moved forward he was about as tall as Viktor but wore glasses and had blonde hair.
"I don't know if it's good you recognize me." Hermione said making all the men laugh.
"You are the boy who lived Harry Potters friend the one who helps him on all his adventures."
"Oh yes that's uhm… Me… I guess.." Hermione said.
"So good to meet you Hermione… The name is Jenson." He shook her hand hurriedly.
"Nice to meet you Jenson."
"Here let me introduce everyone…" Viktor started naming the whole team when Hermione felt something behind her and turned to see a tall older man with a square jaw blue eyes and graying blonde hair. "This is coach Krekoff."
"Nice to meet you young lady." He took her hand bowed and kissed the back. Hermione smiled he wasn't Bulgarian he was Russian. "You can call me Rech."
"It's so good to meet you Rech." Hermione said in Russian surprising everyone. "Viktor has told me nothing but good things." Rech laughed loudly.
"You have a smart one Viktor!" he said.
"Which is more then we can say about these other girls." An older woman with cute mousey grey hair and bright blue eyes said as she walked over. Hermione looked at her for a long moment feeling her breath hitch in her throat. "She may not be smart at all look at the way she is staring at me." the older woman drawled. She was so sick of these flighty birds the players would bring into her household.
"You're Lady Rose Clementine…" Hermione said quietly her eyes slightly wide. Rose looked to her for a moment a small smile playing her lips, this girl wasn't a flighty bird at all.
"You know me?" she asked.
"I do not know you Lady Rose, but I do know of you." Rose smiled broader this girl was quick. "You're one of the finest magical minds this side of the world has ever seen." Viktor stared he had never seen Hermione star struck, and what did she mean about the coaches wife being the finest mind his side of the world had seen. She was just the captains wife, the shrill of Bulgaria as many called her. "You're essay on Magical transfiguration and the use it has in Defense was truly in inspirational to me."
"What's your name girlie?" Rose asked her eyes dancing.
"Hermione Granger, and it is such a pleasure to meet you." They shook hands.
"Hermione Granger." Rose repeated with a laugh. "You're not a flighty bird at all… I may be the wisest mind on this side of the world… But they say you are the wisest witch of your age…"
"What does the media really know?" Hermione asked making Rose laugh. The men stared not once had any girl a player brought into Roses home ever made her laugh, At least never in a good way.
"They think they know a lot don't they?" she looked Hermione over once more. "Come dear you and I have much to talk about…" the girls linked arms and headed away.
"How is it your girlfriend walks in and charms the robes off Rose in less than two minutes but when my wife comes here every week helping her out she still fails to do so." One of Viktors teammates mused out loud.
"Maybe because Viktors girlfriend doesn't sell secrets of the teams to the prophet." Rech said.
"She did it again?" the player gaped.
"Didn't know she did it before but now I do." Rech said. "Your wife is no longer permitted on the pitch."
"Damn it." he muttered.
"Your girl may have made friends with the impossible Rose, but she has made enemies out of all the other women…" Jenson said to his friend. Viktor looked to see the women glaring holes into Hermione.
"She'll be able to survive with just my Rosey…" Rech said. "The wives girlfriends and lovers know my wife is law Hermione being with her puts her in a state of power… I'm happy with this." Rech said clapping Viktor on the back. "With a mind like hers do you think she plays Quidditch?"
"I'm going to teach her." Viktor said.
"Good when she gets good bring her to me… I think she'd be a great chaser." Viktor laughed as he walked away.
"We don't plan on retiring anytime soon!" The chasers called.
"The start putting quaffles through the hoops." Rech muttered.
-o-
Hermione sat by Rose in the corner of the room. All night they had been intently talking with each other deep in discussion about the trivial ways of prophets, and the often scolded way of scholars. Hermione would have never thought in a hundred years that she would be sitting across from one of the greatest minds magic had ever seen. The great and talented Rose Clementine, or now known as Rose Krekolff.
"So you took your husband's name… Why?" Hermione asked.
"I know seems strange of me to do… but I found myself tired of fighting him with it so after 16 years of marriage I gave in. it was his gift for a birthday… Just so I wouldn't have to sleep with him." Hermione laughed along with Rose. "The other girls they don't approve of my humor… But I can also see they don't approve of you." Hermione looked at the women who were glaring at her.
"I don't really care much what they think…" Hermione said. "I don't care much what anyone thinks."
"That's not true you care about what young Viktor thinks." Rose said with a knowing smile.
"That's true…" Hermione admitted.
"Women like us no matter how intelligent we are a man can still make us act foolish."
"Wise words." Hermione said.
"Well wise woman." They laughed again.
"I have never seen that old bat laugh so much." Jared a beater on the team said to Viktor.
"I think they're plotting something." Jenson said nervously.
"They must be stopped." Jared added.
"Oh no look." Cameron another player said seeing a group of three girls walk over to Hermione and Rose.
"Why hello there." One of them said to Hermione. "My name is Alice." Rose rolled her eyes.
"Nice to meet you Alice I'm Hermione." she stood and shook her hand. Rose smiled at Hermione mainly because she felt sorry for her. She really didn't know the verbal smack down that was about to happen to her thanks to this Alice.
"So good of you to finally tell us your name." Another woman said, she had blonde hair all the way down to her knees and steel blue eyes. She reminded her much a female Draco Malfoy.
"So sorry. I am a huge fan of Rose's theory of magical theorem." Hermione said while Rose smiled.
"Rose? You call Mrs. Krekolff Rose?" Alice asked.
"That's something you don't do." Another quipped.
"It is something she does." Rose said. "Hermione here is a dear friend of mine she could call me trollip if she wanted." Hermione smiled, the woman was really very funny.
"Oh I see." Another girl looked Hermione up and down. "My name is Christy."
"It's so good to meet you again sorry for my manners." Hermione said.
"That dress is so lovely is it designer?" Alice asked.
"Actually it is…" the girls looked to each other they hadn't expected her to say yes.
"Those shoes are a little raggedy though dear."
"I prefer the term well loved." Hermione said making Rose laugh.
"I'm going to grab a glass of champagne join me when you're done with these harpies." Rose said to Hermione as she walked away. Hermione turned to conceal her smile. She was suddenly very aware when she noticed the other girls walking to her.
"They're like vultures." Viktor said a little afraid for his Hermione.
"Poor Hermione." Jenson said.
"So how do you all know the boys are you wives or girlfriends?" She asked trying to be polite despite the looks she was getting.
"Mixture of both." They said. Hermione looked to a group of girls still sitting on the couch.
"What about them?"
"Whores." Someone said.
"That's a bit rude." Hermione said as she backed up not liking how close the big group was getting to her.
"Maybe you think so because you yourself are a hired girl…" Alice said looking her up and down.
"With that comment I'll be taking my leave." Hermione turned her backs on them.
"She didn't just do that…" Cameron said.
"Its suicide." Viktor added before smiling. "She's so brave." He gushed.
"I take the walking away as a yes!" Alice called. Hermione slowly turned. "You're a whore right? Some one young Viktor just called to come spend time with."
"I'm not a hired woman…" Hermione said before looking her up and down. "But with that rag you call a dress I think you might be." Hermione turned away with a smile while many of the men and woman in the room snickered. Viktor just stared he had never seen Hermione cut some one down so fast before. Not unless it was Draco Malfoy of course. He smiled a little proud of his girlfriend.
"Nice one." Rose said to Hermione as she handed her a glass. They high fived like school girls.
"Thank you Rosey." Hermione said.
"How much longer are you with us here in Bulgaria?"
"Not long I'm afraid." Hermione said.
"May I write to you dear?"
"I would like that very much." They clinked their glasses together.
-o-
The rest of the night was spent with Viktor talking back and forth with Rose and her husband. When the end of the night came Hermione was a little thankful. The glaring from the other girls had become a little bit more then she could take. She hadn't wanted to insult that one girl Alice but she couldn't help it they brought out the worse in her. Rose had begun to call them the "click clackers."
"When a real lady walks her heals shouldn't click or clack… Not unless in the bedroom with her husband…" Hermione smiled at the older woman's comment and laughed to herself.
"What is funny?" Viktor asked as they walked down one of the many hallways in Krum manor.
"Oh just remembering something Rose said…" she said playing with her pendant.
"I'm glad you got along with her." Viktor said as they stopped in front of her door.
"This was a good night I think."
"Indeed it was." He said his hand going to her cheek as his thumb brushed against it lightly. "Well… Good night Hermione…" he kissed her gently.
"Night Viktor…" the two stared at each other for a long moment they really felt like they needed to say something but neither knew what. "Night…" with a blush she headed back into her room. Viktor stared at the door with a small smile.
You were supposed to tell her you loved her… he scolded smacking himself in the forehead.
-o-
Hermione smiled at her mother before giving her a tight hug. Her mom and dad we're leaving to go back to England. Her father had asked her if she wanted to join them but she had said no. she had made a promise to Stony to stick around the last few days even a whole two days after Viktor had to go back to school.
"I love you honey please write to me when you get to the Weasleys at the train station…" Jane said softly.
"I promise mum…" Hermione said quietly as she pulled away. Jane touched her Daughters now tamed wavy hair. She then set a hand on her cheek. "You look so much older then you are…" Hermione smiled softly. She had never informed her parents of the time turner or it aging her. "In a good way… My lovely daughter."
"She gets the looks from your side dear." Jack said moving forward and hugging her. "I'm sorry for before." He whispered.
"It's no trouble…" Hermione said as he pulled away.
"You be good."
"Yes sir." Hermione said as she watched him walk to Viktor.
"Take care of my daughter for me would you Viktor?"
"I promise." He said shaking his hand firmly. Hermione smiled when she found her dad wasn't trying to crush her boyfriend's hand like before.
"Let's get going dear we have dinner with the Stanley's at ten." Hermione frowned as she watched her dad get into the chimney. "Bye you all… Hermione Jane Grangers house!" he threw down the floo powder. Jane hugged her daughter once more before walking into the chimney and blowing her a kiss.
"Bye love." She said. Hermione smiled softly as she waved. "Hermione Jane Grangers house!" with a burst of green flames she was gone. Hermione stared at the chimney for a moment before smiling softly and turning.
"I'm sad to see them go." Sophia said her husband by her. "Such lovely people." Hermione slowly headed out of the room. Viktor hadn't noticed she was gone until Sophia looked around. "Where is Mina?"