Hermione ran her hands over the broom. Every time she felt a raised splinter she ran her sand stone over it to smooth it out. The broom would always shake in response to the sanding.
"I'm trying to be gentle but you keep moving about so." She said. "We're almost done."
"Hermione!" she jumped as did the broom. It nearly fell to the ground but she reached out and caught it just in time.
"Viktor?" she asked.
"Where are you!?"
"Uh one second!" she quickly levitated the broom up in the air before rushing past her clothes line that hid the secret room. "Uhm hi." She said coming out.
"What were you doing in there?" he asked his fire bolt leaning against the wall while he had another broom in hand.
"Uhm… Organizing… What's wrong you look distressed?" she asked.
"Mina they ruined Mina!" he held out the broom for her to see. "They cracked it!"
"What?!" Viktor jumped at her sudden yell. "You've got to be joking me!" she took the broom in her hands. "What the hell did they do to her?" she asked him.
"Normal test but she cracked."
"That's bloody impossible, someone cracked her I can tell!" she looked down at the broom that glowed in her hands and shook. "She's in so much pain…" she ran her hands over the wood. "It's alright I can fix you..." She said softly looking down at the broom.
"How can you fix her?" Hermione slowly looked up to Viktor.
"I… Can't…"
"What are you keeping from me luff?" She sighed heavily as she looked off. "Luff? Start talking."
"I told you how I learned how to widdle a broom in case Harry ever needed one."
"Yes but doubt you can make it fly."
"I made this one fly alright." She said snapping at his lack of confidence in her. He stared at the glowing broom in her glowing hands.
"You made this broom?" he asked in complete wonder.
"Yes…" she admitted softly. "I have to show you something and you have to not interrupt while I explain okay?" he nodded. "Follow me…" she walked into her closet and pushed aside all the clothes. He stared at another room that had been hidden from view. They walked in and he stopped seeing a few un finished brooms hanging on the wall and then one glowing as it hung in the air. She placed the Mina model broom on the work bench knowing it was too weak to fly on its own. She slowly turned to Viktor.
"Luff…"
"No interruptions remember?" he slowly nodded. "I don't know how to start… Okay… So I've been making brooms long before I met you… I want to make that clear." She started while He nodded. "At first I learned in case Harry needed me to know it but then… Then I kinda fell in love with it…" she ran her hands over the one levitating. "I've never felt so peaceful then when I'm crafting a broom so it turned into a hobby… The Mina the one I made for you was the first one I ever made for speed. And I cared for her so much that I didn't want to give her to just any one and when we got together I could see no other flier more worthy of her but you. You could handle the speeds she was capable of like no one else…" he nodded. "I never wanted you to use her for Quidditch I never wanted her to be put under the pressure of those tests… Please know I did not give you the broom as a way to make myself famous or my brooms famous I gave her to you because you were the only one who could link to her... You were the only one that could make her happy…" he could see distress building in her eyes. "Please don't think I used you because I never-."
"I know you weren't using me luff." He said understanding. "I can see you care for her deeply…" he walked over to the broom. "And I understand now why you wouldn't tell me you made it and instead told me the craftsman wanted to stay a secret… You were really scared I would think you were using me."
"Also scared you wouldn't believe I could make brooms not being able to fly them of course…"
"To be honest I had a feeling you made her… The way she flies her feel… She reminds me much of you…" he ran his hand over the cracked wood. "I'm so sorry they did this too her…" he said turning. "If I had known-."
"It's okay I think I can mend her… She won't fly the same though… You won't be able to use her in games and I hope you won't… I don't want her in combat… I just want her to fly." He could see her eyes how much she cared for the brooms she made.
"You really luff to make brooms…"
"I do…" she said with a small smile. "They kind of… Communicate to me…"
"Have you thought of doing it as a job?"
"Never… I make them because I enjoy it… if I made it a job I'm afraid I wouldn't love it as much…"
"Well you can make me all the brooms you like." he said kissing her cheek. She smiled at him.
"I should get to work on Mina…" a loud buzz sounded from the broom still levitating."I know you need work too." She said walking over to the broom hanging in the air. "But Mina needs it more… Besides we've done enough you don't want to go into shock." Viktor smiled. She really did communicate to the broom and they communicated back. He had heard of this gift and it was rare. He had been looking for a broom maker who had "the connection" but had been un successful. He smiled realizing that he had been dating one this whole time.
"Hermione… When you're done with Mina would you mind looking over fire bolt he has been wobbling."
"Bring him in now you'll have to fly with it until I fix mina." He nodded and walked out of the secret room grabbed his broom and brought it back. Hermione took it in her hands.
"Oooh he knows I'm not its maker…" she said feeling her hands burn. She hung it in the air. "Let's see what's going on with you…" she put her finger tips on the wood and moved slowly. "I feel no splintering…" she said her eyes closed. "Come on tell me what's wrong… You can trust me…" the broom gave a shake. "I see…" she looked to Viktor. "Did you recently crash?"
"On boat we were messing around a friend knocked me off broom it flew out of my grasp it seemed to land gently enough."
"Gently enough to snap some of the bristles in two." She said looking over the tail. One fell off into her hand she looked it over. "You're lucky I have this type in my stocks… I can have this fixed in a few hours… He won't let me work on him though unless you're nearby you'll have to stay here tonight. You won't be able to fly him until tomorrow morning."
"I understand…" she looked to him. "Should I leave?" she nodded.
"No I just need you to be very quiet." He nodded and sat down on a stool. She walked over to a large cabinet full of different magical items. She pulled out a wooden box which held bristles inside. Viktor watched her work carefully over his broom for three hours. She talked to the broom petted the broom and made sure it was comfortable. She had the smallest smile on her as she did all this. He could really see she found joy in this work and he wished that some day she would pursue it as a career. He had a feeling this was her true calling.
Funny how a mind like Hermione's with all it could do from being a mistress of magic to a dark wizard catcher and yet considering all this she finds her joy in broom work… funny how things work out. He couldn't help but see the sensual side of broom work. She would move her hands slowly across the wood her body bending over the broom to examine it more. He smiled seeing the shorts she was wearing ride up further on her thigh as she did so. He looked away. I shouldn't be looking at her butt when she is helping me out so… bad Viktor. He scolded himself. He wasn't the type of man to ogle and stare. But his Hermione did things to him. He couldn't help but appreciate her body and her beauty and as they got closer and closer and more intimate he was finding it harder to chase away his hormonal thoughts.
"Okay… He's all done…" she looked up. "You should get some sleep while I work over Mina."
"I would like to stay up if I can? To watch…"
"Mina doesn't want you too… She's angry." The broom on the table shook as if to agree. "She blames you for sending her to the men who cracked her.
"Can you tell mina-."
"You can tell her yourself she listens to you just as she listens to me." Viktor nodded. Hermione couldn't help be a little irritated she had worked days and nights for months on the broom only to have some brute men from the Quidditch league break her like she was some twig.
"I am sorry Mina…" he said to the broom. "I did not know they would do this too you I was just so eager to show you off… I got head of self… Can you forgive me?" he looked to Hermione. "Do you think she forgives me?" Hermione walked over and set her hand on the broom. "She's just sad…" She had a soft expression as she looked down at the broom. "She's afraid she won't be able to fly again… I promise you will Mina… I won't shelf you like the others you're not so far gone…" she picked the broom up and set it out in the air it levitated on its own. "You go on to bed Viktor I'll work over her and join you in a bit."
"Alright I'm sorry Hermione for what happened to Mina…" she only nodded as he kissed her cheek and headed into her bedroom. He took off his cloak and shirt and kicked off his shoes before sliding into the bed. He went to shut off the light but stopped as he spotted a book sitting on her bed side table. He picked it up in hands and flipped it open.
"Over coming your fear of flight…" he read. He looked up he could see Hermione working over mina in the once secret room.
She wants to learn to fly on her own… Maybe I should teach her to fly… But would she take instructions from me? I'm sure Harry has offered tons of times she must have declined him… would she decline me? He flipped off the light and laid back. He wouldn't be able to sleep not without her right by his side. So instead he waited, he waited hours until he heard the door of the closet close and Hermione sneak across the floor to the bed.
"Come luff…" he said pulling her close to his body.
"You're awake…"
"Now I will sleep…" she smiled as she rested her head on his chest.
"Good night Viktor…"
"Good night Hermione…"
-o-
The next morning when Hermione woke up it was to find a note beside her head on the empty pillow by hers. She picked it up and opened it. she smiled at the elegant hand writing of Viktor.
Dearest Hermione,
I had to leave early to get back to cabin and arrange a few things. Please meet me at pumpkin patch at 12 I have small request to make of you.
Love Viktor
Hermione looked to her watch to see it was eleven she had slept in quite a long time. She smiled as she got out of bed and quickly got ready. Before she left she checked on the broom Mina. She smiled her hands moving across a now sealed crack.
"Yes you will fly again… Maybe even faster… Now I'm going to go visit with the mean man that sent you to those brutes… Don't worry." She leaned to the broom. "I will scold him." the broom glowed almost in laughter at her words. "Rest Mina I will see you tonight…" with that she left making sure to lock her closet. When she got to the pumpkin patch she smiled seeing Viktor with a broom.
"Ready love?" he asked.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Secret place." He said with a smile.
"How's the firebolt flying?"
"Like dream thank you much for fixing him." Hermione smiled as she climbed onto the broom. "My broom is a boy right?" he whispered to her.
"Completely…"
"Good." He said with a smile. She got into her usual spot of sitting on his lap as he flew off into air. She thought they might be going to the cabin but the passed it so when he landed on one of secluded islands of the Hogwarts property she smiled. They were going somewhere new and she was excited to see what was in store. They landed and Viktor smiled as he got off then helping Hermione as well.
"So what are we doing?" she asked looking out at the empty clearing. She turned to see Viktor with another broom in hand. She stared at it. It was a standard practice broom made of cheap materials. "What's that for?"
"Hermione I wish to teach how to fly."
"No." she said instantly. He blinked.
"No?" he asked.
"No." she said her arms crossing over her chest.
"So yes?"
"So no!"
"But you want to learn I saw the book on your table." He said. "How to overcome your fear of flight." She scowled.
"You shouldn't look at my books Viktor." She said somewhat embarrassed.
"Hermione you should know how to fly brooms if you make brooms. Just makes sense."
"They don't listen to me when I try to fly… They listen to me when I'm fixing or making them."
"It's because you are scared when getting on broom you have to learn to trust them."
"There's no way in hell I'm trusting that thing…" she said pointing at it.
"It's only other broom I could get hands on." She took out her wand.
"You really want to teach me?" she asked.
"Yes." He said with a smile.
"Fine… Accio Gwen." She put down her wand. "It won't take long for her to come." She was right three minutes later the broom came flying into view. It flew to Hermione and moved around her before lying down on the ground.
"Good she must know we are practicing… First off we call the broom to our hands like so." He laid his fire bolt down. "up." the broom zoomed to his hand.
"up." the broom wouldn't so much move for her. Viktor stared. He could tell this broom was of her creation and still it would not come to her when she called.
"You are scared even now." He said.
"Well I know what I'm going to have to do." She said.
"Maybe we should start with what caused your fear of heights and flying."
"Nothing I just like my feet on the ground is all…"
"What if Harry needs you to fly…" Viktor said. Hermione sighed and put her hand out.
"Up." the broom slowly raised up into her hand.
"If it helps we won't fly today… We're only going to build trust between broom and rider." She nodded. He was speaking in Bulgarian. She understood why it was most likely easier for him to explain flying in his own language. They worked for hours on calling the broom. Hermione was glad for Viktor he was patient with her and kind. Harry always tended to get frustrated and handed her off to Ron who just got frustrated faster.
"Up." the broom shot to her hand so fast Viktor had barely seen it.
"Yes! There you go!" he rushed forward and picked her up in his arms spinning her around. "You did it love! I'm so proud!" he kissed her on the cheek before setting it down. She smiled up at him. "Now we are done for day."
"But I want to keep going." She said.
"I know you do luff but baby steps… Yes?" she nodded. "Now let us celebrate with on ground Quidditch time to teach you game I so very much luff!" he clapped his hands and their brooms flew away to rest against a tree.
"On ground Quidditch?" she asked.
"Yes I did this when boy with my father. We use same things only without broom it is to learn game."
"I know how to play."
"But you haf never actually done it." he said dragging a large chest out from behind a tree. For the next hour Viktor went into a great detail about each piece of the Quidditch game and Hermione listened with wide open ears. Normally she didn't care to talk of the game but she couldn't help but be interested when Viktor started in on the history of Bludgers and how the quaffle got its shape. She of course had already known this but hearing her boyfriend teach was better than any book she had read on the subject.
"So are you ready to play?" he asked.
"Yes… But uhm it's only us what are we going to do?"
"We will play with just quaffle and snitch."
"But you'll catch the snitch right away."
"Dah this I know so to be fair I have to catch it six times while you only have to catch it once."
"Okay sounds fair." He smiled. As he released the snitch it began flying around the air. Viktor then tossed the Quaffle towards her she caught it easily.
"Ready?" she asked.
"When you are." She threw the Quaffle in the air Viktor jumped and caught it with a laugh when he landed he looked to see a snitch held between Hermione's two fingers.
"I win." She said. Viktor stared.
"You are more skilled then you let on luff." He said with a smile.
"Maybe." She said batting her eye lashes.
"Again?" he asked.
"Sure." She let the snitch go. Viktor jumped into the air and caught it.
"That's one." He said.
"Where's your side so I can score?" Hermione asked holding the Quaffle in hand.
"Right behind me luff."
"Oh good." She stepped back and hurled the quaffle it flew a good fifty feet hit a tree and fell to the ground right where it needed to be. "Was that Ten?" she asked. He stared at her.
"If you learn to fly you would make great chaser!" he said watching her run to grab the Quaffle again.
"Enough talk let's play!" he laughed as she threw the Quaffle in the air. He went to grab it while she ran to catch the snitch. The Quaffle zoomed right past her head and hit her goal area.
"That's ten!" he said.
"Oh it's on." She said her competitive streak coming out.
-o-
Three hours past Viktor had caught the snitch five times. One more time and he would win. Hermione was just another ten points away to winning by mere score alone. It was down to the wire and both felt the pressure. Viktor had to admit his girlfriend was giving him a run for his money. He couldn't wait till she could fly so he could see what she could really do with a Quidditch game. She had fast reflexes and was quick when it came to figuring out strategy she had only made the Quaffle into her goal once the rest of the time he had to rely on the snitch knowing she would just block his throw every time. They stood there the quaffle in between them the snitch flying right above it.
It was a standoff. He could see the wheels turning in her head. He wondered if she would go for the quaffle or for the snitch. He was a little worried. He very much wanted to win to show his Hermione what skill he had, but he also knew that the competitive streak in her would make her want the win equally so. He knew he couldn't give it to her, she would know right away, so in truth this was a real match.
"Ready when you are luff!" he called.
"Just waiting!" she called back.
"For what?" he asked scratching his eyebrow. She burst into a run so fast he didn't have time to register it. She was more than half way to the Quaffle when he began his run. Hermione watched the snitch fly towards Viktor. She smiled as she rushed right past the Quaffle jumped into Viktors arms reached up and grasped onto the snitch. She laughed as Viktor stumbled back looking up in disbelief. She held the snitch for him to see.
"I win." She said. He blinked staring at the snitch and then looking to her cheeky smile.
"You normally are not allowed to jump on other players luff." He said with a small laugh.
"But you are not a player you are my boyfriend there for I am allowed to jump on you." She said letting go of the snitch and wrapping her arms around his neck. She leant down and kissed him softly her legs moving around his torso. He smiled against her mouth as they fell backwards. Hermione laughed as they crashed into the ground. "Are you alright?" she asked.
"Dah I'm good." He said he rolled so she was on the bottom and he was top. They heard a loud pop and looked up to see a photographer. "Hey!" Viktor barked jumping to his feet and running after him. Hermione sat up running as well.
I don't want his parents seeing a picture of us like that in the profit! I don't want any one seeing a picture like that of us! She thought her wand drawn.
"Stupefy!" the photographer stumbled forward his camera dropping to the ground and shattering.
"No!" he shouted seeing his motion negatives lying exposed to the light. "I could have retired with a picture like that!" he shouted getting to his feet and drawing his wand. Viktor flicked his causing the photographer to lose grip. His wand flew from his hand and landed on the ground. Viktor grabbed the man by the collar.
"You dare raise your vwand to her?" he asked slamming him against ground. "You dare invade our privacy!"
"I was just under orders of Rita Skeeter come on man I'm just trying to make a living!"
"Off my relationship!" he shouted.
"Viktor let him go…" Hermione said pulling him off him. "Sir I'm sorry I broke your camera I did not mean to… How much to replace it?" she asked while Viktor stared in disbelief.
"More then you can afford?" he said sitting up.
"Please just give me a number I'd like to reimburse …" Hermione did feel bad she knew the profit did not hand out cameras but they were owned by the photographers themselves. She had just ruined this man's livelihood.
"Do not offer this man payment Hermione!" Viktor said still angry about the photographer interrupting their time together.
"It's how he makes a living he can't help that." She said. "Sir how much?"
"200."
"Oh I have that on me." she reached into her bag. "Plus fifty for your film." She handed the small sack of galleons to him.
"Uhm… Thank you… But this means nothing now." He said.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Well if I don't bring back a picture of you and Viktor and I had tons… Good game between you two by the way… Any who if I don't bring any back then I get fired…" Hermione slowly stood as did the photographer. She took Viktors hand and led him away.
"Viktor I feel bad…" she said. "Maybe we could pose for some photos..."
"Are you insane?" He asked still angry about the intrusion by the photographer.
"Viktor everyone knows about us anyways… Besides what if he has a family…" Viktor looked to the sullen photographer before looking to Hermione. He could see the remorse in her eyes over the broken camera and ruined film. He sighed and looked to the photographer once more.
"You what is name?" Viktor asked.
"Me… Grezter sir Charles Gretzer."
"You may take photos of us…" Hermione smiled glad Viktor was going along with it.
"That's good and well but I don't have camera to do it with…"
"How many days do you have to turn in photos?" Hermione asked.
"Tomorrow morning." He said.
"How quick can you get camera?" Viktor asked.
"This afternoon."
"Hermione and I will be on date tonight… We'll be at the smaller lake on Hogwarts grounds tell us you're there and we will allow photos but ven we say it's time to leave its time to leave."
"Right… Very good thank you two so much!" he said waving and running off. Hermione smiled at Viktor.
"That was good of you…" she said.
"You too… I would be glad for us to pose for pictures I just wish they would ask."
"I know… I feel bad about the camera."
"You paid for new one… I should have offered then to make you take it out of pocket." He said.
"I'm the one who stunned him." she said.
"But I'm the reason he was here in first place."
"I was the one that gave him a reason to take photos though."
"but i-."
"Let's agree to blame each other."
"Dah this sounds good." He said with a smile.
"Well we've learned important lesson no extreme PDA even when we think we're alone outside."
"Very true…" he said.
-o-
That night they had spent by the lake skating a favorite date of Hermione's, and an enjoyable time for Viktor. He loved the way she was carefree on the ice and playful in her flirting with him. An hour into the photographer showed took some photos only two of them kissing and it was on the cheek, then he took his leave. The next morning she came down into the great hall to be immediately greeted by Viktor.
"You were right helping that photographer… Look." He handed her the prophet the front page was of her and Viktor smiling together as he kissed her cheek his arms completely engulfed around her.
LOVE AT HOGWARTS
After a foul spat with a photographer Hermione Granger and Bulgarian seeker Viktor Krum pose for pictures. The photographer tells his story.
"Well I was hiding in the tree line snapping photos when Krum spotted me. He became angry rightfully so, and got up to chase me. Miss Granger did the same. I'm not sure who but one of them stunned me and I fell on my camera. Miss Granger offered to pay for it and did, than upon hearing how this could affect my job she convinced Mr. Krum to let me take pictures of them. so that night I got a personal photography session with the couple.
They are two of the nicest people I have met especially Miss Granger. I can see what Krum found interesting in Miss Granger. She is intelligent highly Respectful and a joy to be around. As for the rumors that this relationship is fake or a publicity stunt I can say it most definitely is not I have never seen two people who care more for each other I hope to take pictures of them on their wedding day which I would venture to say might not be that far away. They already act as though they are married."
"Nice picture of us… I wish we could get actual prints."
"We haf them Charles sent all of them to me plus the un used negatives." He said with a smile.
"Nice man… Maybe someday if we are married we could use him." he smiled at her mentioning marriage. They had still yet to talk about their future but the fact she was considering it did make him feel better.
"Viktor." They turned to see Karkaroff. "We have preparations for next task."
"I haf to go luff." He kissed her on the cheek before heading out.
"Hey Mione." Ginny said walking to her. "Breakfast?"
"Sounds lovely."
"Nice picture of you in the prophet." She commented.
"Oh thanks." They sat down.
"Is it true you paid for his camera?" Ron asked.
"Yes I felt bad I was the one who stunned him so he fell on it and it broke all my fault I had to pay for it."
"So is it true are their wedding bells in your future?" Harry asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Please I'm still in school." She said. "But some day maybe." Ron blinked.
"You would consider marrying him?"
"Yeah…" she smiled. "I guess I would he's very kind to me after all."
"I bet your children would be amazing athletes." Ginny mused.
"Yeah with Hermione's brain and his Quidditch skill you could create a top athlete." Harry said.
"Krum already is a top athlete." Ron said picking at his eggs.
"Aren't you hungry Ron?" Hermione asked.
"No… Eggs are cold…" he muttered.
"Really mine are really hot." Ginny said.
"Owe!" Harry jumped. "Ron you kicked me."
"Missed me my dear brother." Ginny said in a sing song voice as she left the table.
"Hey guys I'll meet you at class alright I have to turn a book into the library…"
"Hermione you haven't touched your food." Harry said. "Take a muffin." He handed it to her.
"Thanks." She headed off taking a bite of the pumpkin spiced pastry. The day was long her classes more than tiring. They covered things she had been studying since her first year and did little to improve her mood. Even transfiguration was boring and it was her favorite class. Hermione walked into her room her shoulder pack slipping off and hitting the floor. She was exhausted but she still had the broom mina to work on.
Viktor flew to her window. He hadn't gotten a chance to meet up with her at the library so he had assumed she had gone to her room to work on the broom. He went to tap on the window but stopped seeing Hermione taking off her shirt. He turned and flew to the side of the window instantly. He didn't want her to think he was peeping in on her. After five minutes he glanced into the window to see she was fully dressed. He knocked on the window and she turned with a smile. She walked over and opened it.
"It's always open for you you just fly in okay?" she asked as she stepped aside so he could do just that.
"How is Mina the broom not you… Not that I don't care how you are." he said and she smiled.
"She's doing great… The crack is sealing just fine the way I see it in a week she'll be as right as rain she might even fly better than she did before."
"Good this is good." He said with a smile.
"So how did preparations for the task go?"
"It went fine we went over strategy… And practiced in a mini maze I navigated it quite well I think."
"That's good… Harry's been using the library to practice."
"It is somewhat like maze." He said. "I should haf thought of it."
"Harry is just inventive I think." She said. "So I haven't asked in a while how are your grades?" Viktor scratched the back of his head.
"They are good. Suffering bit I am now fifth in class Jamous is first."
"How is studying for your OWLS coming?"
"I am prepared with study guides." He said.
"When do you take them?"
"Soon…"
"Do you want me to help you study?" she asked.
"Not sure you can I wrote all my study guides in Bulgarian… But I could ask you questions that I do not understand we could get together tomorrow night in the library."
"Okay." She said with a smile. They heard a ringing. Hermione was up off the bed in a second. She ran into her work room just as a huge bang sounded. Hermione flew back hitting one of her walls.
"Mina!" Viktor rushed to her side.
"Owe…" she whispered her hand moving to the back of her head.
"What happened?" he asked.
"No no…" Hermione got to her feet.
"Slowly luff slowly." Despite his words she ran into the work room.
"No. No. No!" she yelled. Viktor came running in. she dropped to her knees picking up a broom broken in half. Mina still hung in the air perfectly fine.
"Can you fix it luff?" he asked sitting beside her.
"No… He's gone…" he could see the immense sadness on her face. She slowly stood and carried the broom over to one of many shelves hanging on the all. She rested it there. Viktor looked at the tons of what he had thought were un finished brooms now he saw some were twisted while others were broken in two.
"What happened?" he asked.
"The core was too strong for the wood… It burst from the inside… I should have known better then to put three cores in but I wanted it to go really fast and he's been fine for six months… So stupid of me…" she said sitting back against the wall under the shelves."
"Are you sure he's gone."
"Yes… Or he just hates me now and doesn't want to communicate." She ran her fingers through her hair. "I'm no good at this… Out of ten brooms one makes it… and it can't even hold up against the Quidditch trials…"
"Hermione I checked with them it turns out one of the witches flying it crashed, that's what cracked it…"
"So it wasn't my craftsmanship?"
"No." he said with a smile. "I do hope you won't give up… Your brooms are like nothing I haf ever flown."
"I won't I love it too much. I'm just sad over the broom is all."
"You took quite a hit to that wall are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine, taken worse." He nodded, indeed she had. He had yet to forget the troll incident their day back from winter break. He helped her onto her feet. They walked out of the closet and Hermione closed the door locking it. Viktor took off his cloak.
"May I stay here tonight?" he asked.
"Yes of course." She said. She watched him slowly un button his shirt a blush creeping into her cheeks. Before she would look away from his body now she quite enjoyed it. He was well built, the physique that ever athlete would want to achieve. Viktor smiled as he looked to her she instantly adverted her eyes. She liked to gaze at him just not when he was watching her do it. Viktor kicked off his shoes he was about to ask her to come to him when his eyes came to something on her bed side table. He picked up.
"Oh no no!" she rushed forward to grab it but Viktor held it over her head with Quidditch fast reflexes.
Please your matt… he thought reading the title. Am I reading that right… maybe my English is off… pleasing… your… matt… matt…
"Viktor give it back!"
Matt… matt… mate! Pleasing your mate! Viktor smiled very proud of himself for reading the English word then he stopped his arm dropping. Hermione grabbed the book and held it to her chest her cheeks beat red.
I could die… I'm so uncomfortable please tell me he couldn't read it… That blank expression says he does… What's he going to say?
"Is that for class luff?"
"No…"
Why did I say no! blimney Hermione you could have lied!
Viktor smiled at her red cheeks. She was really embarrassed why he wasn't sure.
"It's fine." He said.
"No its not!" she said turning instantly. "God this is just like me Hermione Granger turns to her books."
"Who else would you turn to?" she slowly turned to see Viktor sitting on her bed unbuckling his boots. "Your only girlfriend is younger then you there for you haf no one to talk to on this subject. I understand." He nodded at her with a smile.
"You don't think it's… Strange that I went to a book?"
"Why would I? I am happy you did. I am very glad you wish to… please me." he smiled again. He really was.
"You are…" he tilted his head at her blank expression.
"Of course I am…" he said with a small laugh. Hermione looked away. He had just laughed at her, what was she supposed to take from that? Viktor stood realizing his mistake. "I was not laughing at you luff." He said walking to her. She put the book down.
"This isn't easy for me."
"I know." He said tilting her chin up for her to look at him. "You don't haf to do anything you don't want to do… I told you I'd wait."
"For sex."
"For anything." He said urgently. "I luff you and will not push you to do anything you don't wish to do…"
"I want… To… Though" she closed her eyes highly embarrassed. There were things she could very easily explain to herself but sex was not one of them she hadn't done enough research. She looked to him. "I want to…" she said simply.
"That's fine." He said with a smile.
"I'm just nervous."
"That's understandable." She smiled.
"You are a very sweet man."
"You are a very sweet English flower."
One I hope to pluck… Viktor stopped. What kind of thought is that? I should not think of my Hermione is such way… That was vile… I would apologize to her if I had said it out loud. He shook his head.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing luff… Nothing I am just… Tired…" Hermione smiled.
"Then let me help you relax…" she said getting her nerve as she ran her hands down his muscular chest.
"I do like sound of this." He said with a chuckle as she laughed softly. He felt a blush creep into his cheeks. He felt nervous as she took his hand.
"Come with me…" she led him over to the bed. He took her in his arms instantly. He wanted to make sure she was relaxed before she did whatever she was going to do. He wanted her to feel at ease. He laid her down into the bed waving his wand as he did to dim the lights.
"Viktor I'm supposed to be helping you relax." She said.
"I want to make you comfortable first…" he said kissing her neck. She let her eyes flutter closed. She didn't mind it. She was very nervous and slowly his embrace was chasing it away. She could tell her first time pleasing a man would be on with intimacy instead of just fumbling.
I hope I don't fumble… Maybe I'm not… No I'm ready if he was ready I'm ready… Am I ready or do I just think I am… No I am… I-
"Luff…" he said pulling away. "Your mind is farther away than my homeland… You don't haf-."
"I want to… Now keep kissing me…" he smiled as his mouth moved over hers. The passion was building between them as the moon rose further in the sky. He was about to move his hands to the hem of her shirt when she took it off for him. Before he could do anything she moved her hands against his shoulder turning him onto his back.
No tip toeing girl… Time for courage… Just dive in… Just dive in you have no clue what you're doing other then what you've read in books… But it is time to learn. She slowly began kissing his jaw line and down his neck her hands rested firmly on his muscular chest which rippled under her touch. Viktor closed his eyes his head moving back. She had the lightest touch one that exhilarated and calmed him all at the same time. As her mouth moved lower and lower he felt himself grow more excited. His eyes snapped open when he felt her tongue moved between his skin and pant line.
"luff…" she moved back to him her mouth moving against his.
"I want to…" she whispered against his lips. He slowly nodded her words had excited him more than any kiss could. Hermione took a breath as she kissed her way down his abs. Her hands went to his belt buckle. She stared at it for a moment. She had faced many things in her life. From death eaters to were wolves and dementors alike, still this metal belt buckle made her hands shake more than any of those other obstacles had. Before she could continue Viktor sat up and grabbed her hands holding them with in his.
"No good." He said shaking his head.
"What?" she asked blinking.
Is he really stopping me? but… I'm trying so hard… I never thought I'd fail at this…
"You're too nervous."
"It's my first time doing anything like this…" she admitted quietly. "Of course I'm… Nervous…" she stopped looking to him. Viktor stared, something had just clicked in her mind he could see it in her eyes.
"What is it luff?"
"You've been intimate with another woman…" her voice was even and without fluctuation. He didn't know what to say or how to react. He couldn't tell what she was feeling as she stared at him without expression.
"I… I Have…" he admitted. Hermione stood her hands escaping his. She turned away. She felt hurt, and completely incompetent. He was experienced she was not. Any insecurities she had before about physical intimacy with Viktor had just been brought to a whole new level. She went to her closet.
"Luff?" he asked seeing her un lock it.
"I uhm I just remembered I have to do something." She said turning to him with a smile as she closed the door. She threw on some jeans and a maroon hooded sweater and came back out throwing her hair into a pony tail. "I completely forgot I was to meet Harry in the library for maze preparations …" She kissed him on the cheek. "Feel free to stay here."
"Luff wait are you-." He stopped when Hermione walked out the door. He stared at it not sure what had just happened. "This is no good… This I think is bad…"
-o-
Hermione walked through the hallways her arms wrapped around herself from the cold. She needed a jacket but there was no way she was going back to her dorm before morning. She was so embarrassed, not about Viktor stopping her. He was just being his usual sweet self in worrying about her more than his own pleasure. She was embarrassed about how she had just run out over him being with another woman. She wasn't mad; he was an international Quidditch star of course he had been with another woman. But the knowledge raised questions. Had he had sex with this woman? Or had it all just been foreplay.
The realization that he had been with someone else before came with her knowledge that her first attempt at extreme foreplay with him had made her so nervous her hands had shook. She then thought of the time he had been intimate with her, his hands had not been shaking he had been as cool as a cucumber. He had been confident. She stopped.
How many women has he been with to make him that confidant?
She kept walking not really sure she wanted to know. She rubbed her arms the cold beginning to sink into her bones. She was going to the library. She had felt bad over lying to Viktor. Harry was not after all waiting for her. But she had been so unsure of herself in that moment and so un confidant she had felt the need to escape his gaze. She got to the door and stopped it was closed. She reached for the key and stopped again. She hadn't been able to grab it on her way out. She shook her head. There were other places she could pass her time. She went to turn away.
"Miss Granger?" she turned seeing McGonagall.
"Oh professor."
"My goodness girl what are you doing out at this hour?"
"Studying I'm afraid but the library is closed."
"Where is your key?" she asked walking to her.
"I left it in my room in a safe place… I'll go back for it and return…"
"No need no need I'll let you in. the doors lock on their own now on the way out anyways…" she un did the lock.
"Thank you very much…"
"Of course anything for a young scholar such as yourself… You know you remind me much of myself when I was your age." Hermione smiled.
"That is quite a compliment coming from you thank you professor."
"Yes well I hope to see you bright and early with another one of your great papers tomorrow." Hermione nodded with a smile as she watched her favorite teacher walk away. Hermione pushed open the doors and headed into the library. She needed to take her mind off of what happened so she could later process it properly. This was the only way she knew how to clear her head. Before she went to find a good read she stopped by the return bin to see the librarian had yet return some texts to their rightful place. She grabbed the books and began to walk around and do the job having nothing better to do.
The library was dark, in a way it increased the cold of the castle. Shivers constantly ran up her arms as she navigated the different aisles. When the last one was put away she smiled already feeling better. She went to turn only to be surprised by a great amount of force on the back of her head that sent her sprawling forward into a book case.
"Hello Granger…" she slowly looked up from the ground to see a large Slytherin boy with an equally large book in hand.
"Who the hell are you?" she asked her hand going to the back of her throbbing head.
"Don't remember me… I'm Crawl Malfoys friend… Beater on the Slytherin team we've been here before…" she looked at him as she slowly backed away still on the ground. He had been there the night she and Viktor were jumped. She slowly stood. "We meet again." he slammed the book across her face; Hermione fell back against the ground head aching vision blurred. She went for her wand and stopped, like her key she had forgotten her most valued and important possession. "Missing something?" Crawl asked as he hit her across the face again Hermione swung out her leg tripping him. She scrambled to her feet to run away. "Not so fast!" he jumped forward and grabbed onto her ankle pulling her back harshly. She lost her footing her chin slamming into the red oak floor. Blood filled her mouth as the older boy twirled her onto her back.
"Get off!" she shouted.
"You have a debt to settle with Malfoy and I'm gunna take it mud blood." He licked her cheek for spite and she in turn split blood on his face before kneeing him in the crouch. He yelled out as he rolled off her. She got to her feet again and ran into one of the aisles. She couldn't see the exit but she knew how to get there. As she rounded a corner she ran straight into the chest of Crawl he grabbed her harshly by the shoulders. "Where you going?" he asked before slapping her across the face. Hermione fell to the ground. She was defenseless. She knew this. She only knew a small amount of fighting skill which were fair at best. Without her wand she wasn't going to win. The realization made fear grip her heart. Crawl grasped onto her arm and yanked her to her feet before slapping her again and again.
I'm not taking this! She thought her eyes narrowing. She punched him across the face but it only sent pain throbbing through her hand. The beater was huge. Just as big as Viktor and she would guess stronger.
"Get your damn hands off me!" she shouted punching him again and again. He only laughed before he grabbed a bunch of her hair and slammed her head into a table. She cried out as he flipped her on her back and pinned her arms down against the cold wood.
"Time to pay that debt love…"
"Get off me." he looked up in thought.
"Let me think on that… No." he said before laughing sickly and grabbing onto both of her hands with one of his. He used the other to touch her face. "You are attractive… For a mudblood… This might not be so bad."
"What are you going to do to me?" she asked.
"I told you…" he said his hands moving from her cheek to her neck to her cleavage. "I'm taking back a debt." He took a hold of the fabric of her shirt and ripped it.
"Get off!" she screamed kicking him. He laughed as he brought her off the table and slammed her onto the ground, her head snapping against the floor.
"I wanna hear you beg mudblood…" he said with a smile as he continued to rip the fabric and spread apart her legs with one of his knees. Hermione didn't know what possessed her to do it but she reached down and gripped onto his crouch with one hand. His head threw back in a silent scream.
"Why don't you beg?" she asked as she gave a harsh twist. He screamed out Hermione punched him across the face knocking him off her. She jumped to her feet and began kicking him over and over again until she made sure he stayed down. "Well this was fun, we'll have to do it again some time." She said wiping blood from her mouth as she ran for the door again. She felt a great impact slam into her back. She fell to the ground gasping. She turned onto her back to see Crawl standing over her a beaters bat in hand. She rolled onto her stomach and got to a table pulling herself to her feet.
"You thought that was funny huh grabbing onto me like that? Giving my jollies a twist?" She laughed blood shooting from her mouth before she wiped it away.
"Not until you said it like that." She said coughing.
"I was just going to have some fun with you but now, now I'm going to have fun with you and then I'm going to kill you." Hermione looked him straight in the eye her jaw set in a firm line.
"You should hurry up and do it then… The more you talk the better and stronger I feel…" he swung the bat at her she jumped out of the way. She had never fought with her fists but she was going to try. She wasn't going to give up not without a fight. He swung the bat again this time Hermione grabbed onto it. She kicked him as hard as she could over and over again until he let go and stumbled back. Hermione took a hold of the bat.
"Think you can hit me hard enough to make me back down mudblood?"
"I'm giving you one chance to leave… Just one and then I bash your brain in…" he looked at her for a long moment. She had a dangerous look in her eyes one that made him want to back down.
If you don't do this I'll make sure they don't accept your sister remember who my father is crawl… he closed his eyes shaking away the memory of Dracos threats. He looked to the muggle born his reserve set in again.
"Do not do this…." She said. "You don't have to."
"You have no idea what I have to do…" she raised an eyebrow before he suddenly advanced on her. She took a step back and swung the bat missing him completely. He wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her high up into the air. She yelled out as her back slammed into the book case. She held onto the bat not wanting to relinquish it. She grasped onto it with both hands. He sputtered as she pushed the bat up, violently knocking him under the chin. Blood poured from his mouth as he let her go. Hermione dropped to the ground.
"You made me bite my tongue you bitch!"
"I told you to just walk away." she hit him in the stomach with the bat. "But no you couldn't leave me the hell alone!" she hit him again causing him to drop to his knees as he cried out. "Come on show me what it means to be a big bad pureblood!" she swung the bat across his face knocking him back. "Come on!" she shouted. She went to swing again but this time Crawl caught it in his massive hands. He took a hold and slammed the butt of the bat across her face knocking her to the ground. He raised the bat over his head and brought it down. Hermione curled up in a ball and screamed as it connected with her hip. Hermione tried to get to her feet but found herself hardly able to move.
"Stay down!" he shouted hitting her. "Stay the fuck down!" he hit her once more. Hermione's back arched as pain filled her side. Crawl threw the bat aside and grabbed her by her ripped shirt. He hoisted her up into the air and slammed her back down on the ground as he climbed on top of her. Hermione began to register what was happening as he hoisted her arms violently above her head. He held them pinned with one hand as his other trailed down her face to her neck and then to her cleavage that lay half exposed. With one movement he had ripped open her shirt completely.
"Get off! Get the hell off me! Let me go!" she had never screamed so loud in her life. But she didn't know what else to do as she struggled against him. Nothing she did was getting her anywhere. Any strength she had was quickly fading with her panic. But she couldn't calm down. His hands went to her belt buckle. "No! No stop it! Stop!" he smacked her across the face sick of her screaming.
"Shut it and enjoy I'm not going to hurt you… Too much."
"Stop!" Hermione closed her eyes letting the tears of terror fall. The weight of the slytherin was crushing and she felt like she couldn't breathe. Everything was happening so fast. She had never been in a more chaotic situation.
"Beg mudblood…" before she could scream for help the weight on her body was lifted and she heard Crawl cry out. She slowly opened her eyes to see Viktor slamming the boy onto the ground and continuing to punch him over and over again. Hermione slowly moved away from the scene. Her body only permitting her to back up against a book shelf. She held her shirt together with one hand as she watched the sight of Viktor and Crawl, not really being able to register what was happening. Her head ached, she placed her hand at the back of her neck and pulled back to see her fingers stained with blood.
Viktor could only see red. He had flown out of Hermione's window and down to the outer grounds to come inside. As he neared the library he had heard screaming the sound of which had twisted his insides. He knew they were from Hermione and they were the most heart wrenching blood curdling sounds he had ever heard. He had rushed in and raced towards the sound. What he had found crippled him with rage. Some man was holding down Hermione ripping off her clothes as she screamed and struggled underneath him.
"You son of a bitch!" he shouted in Bulgarian as he continued to pummel the slytherins face.
Hermione slowly laid down on her side her knees pulling to her chest from the pain. Her eyes closed more tears slipping down her cheeks and pooling on the cold ground. Her heart raced, her chest heaved, even though she knew physically the attack was over mentally it was all still going on. As her attacker began to scream she began to register what was going on around her.
"Viktor stop…" she whispered. "Viktor you're killing him. Stop… Viktor stop. Viktor stop please!" Hermione closed her eyes and covered her ears longer able to stand the sound of Viktors fists slamming into crawls bloody face.