Viktor slowly opened his eyes. At first he was a little taken back by a wild mess of curls spread over his face, and then he realized it was his Mina. He smiled as he pulled the curly hair away and looked down to see Hermione resting her head on his chest as she slept soundly. He let his mind drift back to the night before. He couldn't believe that she had thought he didn't find her attractive; he had made it up to her the best he could. Every second had been torture. All he wanted to do was burry himself into her and make love to her.

It's all he wanted to do now as she slept soundly in his arms. She curled into his body more making a small noise of content. He smiled as he smoothed out her wild hair. This was a favorite look of his when it came to Hermione. Her sleeping soundly a content smile on her face with a head full of crazy wild sultry curls. He smiled knowing full well she would wake up and immediately go to the mirror to fix it, still she never looked more perfect to him then she did in moments such as this one.

He didn't want to but he slowly he let his eyes glance to the clock beside her bed. He smiled seeing it was still early. He could go back to sleep if he wanted. Still he didn't want to. He instead wanted to look down at the woman lying in arms. The beautiful creature that snuggled against him completely content with his mere presence. He decided as she draped an arm over his body that he would use this quiet moment to memorize everything about her.

In case something happened to him that night during the final task he wanted this image to be the last thing to ever go through his mind. She took a small breath and let out a smaller sigh. He was afraid in that moment she would wake up and ruin his plans of admiring her. When she didn't open her eyes he let out a small sigh of relief.

Don't wake up just yet love… I still have to memorize those twenty two tiny perfect freckles on your nose… Oh wait twenty three…

"Mmm…" Hermione murmured as she turned into his body even more. He smiled taking her hand in one of his and looking it over.

For such a hard worker she has such delicate feminine hands. Soft like the finest silk, with long slender fingers. Left hand… Left ring finger… He frowned in realization. If I don't make it tonight I'll never be able to put a ring on this hand… his thumb moved over the bare ring finger. I should have proposed at the Yule ball. I knew then I wanted her to be my wife someday… I didn't have a ring but I still should have gotten down on one knee and asked her…

"Viktor…" Hermione whispered.

"Hmm?" he asked looking to her face to see her eyes were still closed.

"Don't leave okay? Not yet…"

"I'm not going anywhere…" he said softly as he kissed the top of her head. "Go back to sleep luff…"

"Mmm… You're comfy… For a Bulgarian…" he laughed softly making her smile. "Let's stay in bed as long as we can…"

"Sounds good luff… Sounds really good." he whispered seeing her slowly drift back to sleep. He let his eyes flutter close, her heart beat and deep breathing was just the lullaby he needed to rest once more. The next time he roused he glanced down to see Hermione looking at their hands interlocked as they rested over his heart. "Mmm… What time is it?"

"One…" she said with a small smile as she looked at his strong hands.

"I've slept a long time… When did you get up?"

"Two hours ago…" she said glancing up at him with big beautiful chestnut eyes. "When do you have to leave to prepare for the task?"

"I don't… Today was my day to relax…" he said with a smile. "I do have to leave to get ready at five…"

"We have time then." she said with a smile.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

"Very much so." She said making him laugh.

"Let's go back to my cabin. Jamous said food would be waiting there…"

"Okay… You go on ahead first, I think Karkaroff might be waiting for you there…"

"You're probably right." He said with a frown as he sat up and stretched causing the muscles across his back to flex. He got out of the bed and pulled his jeans on. Hermione smiled as she got up as well and threw him his shirt.

"I was sure you went to bed naked last night…" he said seeing she had pajama bottoms and a t shirt on.

"Had no choice you wore me out… Got up in the middle of the night though and put something on…" she said with a smile. "I'll see you at the cabin." She kissed him gently before heading to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Viktor smiled as he grabbed his broom and flew out the window. Hermione leaned against the door of her bathroom a small smile spreading across her face as her mind drifted to the night before.

She hadn't had sex. Instead she had one of the most amazing sexual experiences of her life. Viktor had felt terrible about shooting her down and making her feel bad, so he had spent the rest of the night making it up to her. Hermione turned on her shower taking off her clothes as she did. She stepped in and smiled as the hot water splashed against her skin while steam rose up around her slowly.

She could still fell every spot his lips had touched her body. From her left shoulder blade, the middle of her back, her breasts, her side, and all the way to her inner thighs. She smiled letting her eyes drift closed as her hands moved over the spots. He made her feel truly beautiful; he had made her feel like she was the only woman earth. He had made her feel like she was the sexiest thing he had ever set eyes or hands on. She bit her bottom lip remembering the way her body had quivered after each orgasm. The way his mouth would always find hers at the exact moment she needed him to.

If the foreplay was like that… What will sex be like with him?

-o-

Viktor smiled as he touched down in front of the cabin. The whole time he had been flying he had been thinking about the night before. He had tried to only focus on her, make her feel how sexy he thought she was. To make her feel the love he so desperately felt for her. Even though most women would have gladly taken the time to allow their significant other to relish in their body, Hermione had given back equally. Before he could dive back into the memory of her light touches and gentle kisses the door swung open revealing a rage filled Karkaroff. Viktor strolled past him with a whistle and a smile.

"Where haf you been!?" he smiled even more.

"Good morning Headmaster." He said the door closing behind him. "Jamous."

"Hallo." His friend said with a smile.

"Is this breakfast?" he asked.

"All for you." Jamous answered. "Ah Bacon, luff this stuff. Can I?"

"Always old friend." Viktor said handing him a piece while Karkaroff looked on his rage beginning to build even more.

"Good night?" Jamous asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Where haf you been!?" Karkaroff bellowed.

"Please don't shout at me I have a very long day ahead of me as it is I don't need you adding to my stress." He said in Bulgarian.

"English."

"Sure." He headed into the bathroom grabbing clothes as he did.

"We are not done talking!" Karkaroff shouted.

"One second!" Jamous smiled at his friends sing song voice.

Did he and Hermione have sex last night? He usually isn't chipper… After a long while Karkaroff made a shout of anger.

"It's been five minutes I demand you come out!" Karkaroff bellowed as he slammed his fist against the door.

"You almost made it to six without excessive use of voice…" Viktor said coming out in a pair of jeans and white hooded long sleeved shirt. There was a knock and Viktor smiled instantly. "That vill be Hermione… Jamous vill you let her in for me?"

"Of course."

"No she vill not come in this place!" Karkaroff shouted. Jamous opened the door.

"Hello Jamous." Hermione said with a smile as she walked in.

"Hallo." He answered.

"Headmaster Karkaroff lovely to see you again."

"She cannot be here!" he shouted in Bulgarian making her jump slightly.

"What's he so touchy about?" Hermione whispered to Viktor making him smile. "Oh bacon can I?"

"Please do." He said handing her a plate.

"No this is for champion-" Karkaroff shouted.

"To share with any one he wishes…" Viktor said adding an ending to his sentence. "Jamous would you like a muffin."

"Yes I've been eyeing the blueberry for two hours now." Viktor smiled throwing his friend the pastry.

"She must leaf!" Karkaroff shouted. "We haf preparation to do!"

"I have prepared enough… Today I wish to relax…"

"Did you relax enough last night?" he asked. Viktor's eyes narrowed. "Relaxed with your British whore?" Viktor got up quickly but before he could rush at the ex death eater Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Viktor…"

"You vill not say such things about her again! Do you understand me?!" he yelled.

"If she has ruined our schools chances of winning cup you vill be sorry!" he shouted.

"If you say one thing against her again you vill be sorry!" he said. "Or haf you forgotten who pays most of your yearly budget!" Karkaroffs eyes narrowed before he threw his hands up in frustration and left. "Bastard…"

"Honey…" Hermione said rubbing his arm.

"Vell he is…" Jamous smiled at his two friends.

"Thanks for the Muffin I best be off see you before the task Viktor."

"You too comrade." When they left Hermione looked to Viktor. "I am sorry for what he said about you…"

"You shouldn't be sorry; it wasn't you who said it." She said with a smile. "He's just upset that you hood winked him last night." He slowly nodded before walking away and heading to his bed where an outfit was laid out. He sighed tilting his head as Hermione walked over and stood next to him. "Is this what you've chosen to wear?" she said seeing the leather pants and matching vest that had buckles across it. "Its uhm… Nice…" Viktor eyed her for a moment before laughing.

"You're sweet… No I didn't choose this… It is what Karkaroff chose… I do not want to wear this…" he said flipping up one of the ornate buckles.

"Then don't." she said like it was the simplest thing on earth.

"Luff Is what is expected of me…"

"Do you always do what is expected of you Viktor?" He slowly looked to her with a smile. She had asked him that same question after he had entered the competition.

"I do what makes most people happy…" he said mimicking their conversation from before. Hermione caught on with a smile.

"But does it make you happy?" she inquired.

"No… I can honestly say leather and buckles does not make me happy in least…"

"Then let's find something else for you to wear…" she threw the vest away and picked up the leather pants. "Maybe we could keep these… You know, for another time…" she said making him laugh.

"Luff honestly."

"What? I think your butt would look fantastic in these…" she said holding them up with a playful smile.

"Since when do you think about my butt?"

"What you can think about my butt but I can't think of yours?"

"Good point." He said as he watched Hermione throw the pants into the trash bin.

"Now to find you something else to wear…" they walked to his closet. "You'll need something comfortable to move in…" he took out a pair of jeans.

"These are my favorite, and easy to run in if need be."

"Okay so we have pants…" she put them on the bed. "Now for a shirt." he pulled out a red short sleeved cotton shirt. "I don't want to force you into anything, but the maze will be cold like it was the night we were in it…"

"Then long sleeved..." He said putting the shirt back. Hermione reached forward and took out a tan shirt that had a red tribal bird screen-printed on the front. "This is a Durmstrang shirt right?"

"Yes."

"Do you like it?"

"One of favorites."

"Maybe this one then… It shows your school pride."

"Good choice." He put it on the bed. "Now shoes?"

"Yes something durable and comfortable…" she said as he walked back over.

"Lucky shoes…" he said with a smile bending down and picking up an old pair of leather laced up high tops. "I swear I run faster in these."

"Your outfit is chosen then." She said closing his closet door. She turned around and saw Viktor running his fingers along the shirt a haunted expression gracing his dark features. "Viktor?"

"I might die in this outfit…" he said quietly.

"Hey…" Hermione said her voice shaking slightly making him look to her. "Don't say that…" she said softly. "I don't need to hear that…" he slowly nodded as he looked back to the clothes. Hermione let her arms wrap around herself.

She looked to the ground as she felt fear sink into her. She wanted to be brave. Brave so Viktor wouldn't know how scared she was. But every time bravery began to build fear beat it right back down. Viktor slowly looked to see Hermione was staring at the ground her jaw clenching. He slowly walked over and wrapped his arms around her. She let her eyes drift close as she breathed in his calming scent.

"I've faced some dark evil things in my life… But I have never been as afraid as I am right now…" she admitted softly. "I'm trying to be so brave for you, but I just can't… And I'm so sorry for that Viktor…" she said her arms wrapping around his neck. He cradled the back of her head as his eyes drifted closed.

"Don't be brave for me luff… It's comforting to know you worry… When I'm in the maze if things get dangerous I'll remember you're waiting for me, scared that I won't come out, and it vill make me work hard to come out alive and vell so you vill no longer be scared for me…" He picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed where they slowly laid down. Hermione instantly curled into his body her arms wrapping around him as his did the same to her.

"I want to make today happy for you…" she said softly.

"You being here in my arms makes me very happy Luff…" he admitted.

"Good…" she said softly. "That's good…" she slowly looked up to him her chin resting firmly on his chest. "Do you want to hear a funny story?"

"Very much so, what is tale?" he asked with a smile.

"It's about me giving my pet goldfishes a bath." He burst out into laughter as Hermione smiled.

"That's not funny that's sick!" he said.

"Hey I was three and I thought they needed one okay? The water was filthy in their tank!" She said making him laugh even more.

-o-

Hermione smiled as she sat next to Viktor on his bed their backs facing the wall. They were laughing as their thumbs battled it out for domination.

"Ahk no you are cheating!" he said.

"How am I cheating?" she asked with a laugh as she pinned his thumb.

"Because your thumb is quicker than mine!"

"That's not cheating that's skill." She said before laughing. "I win!" she jumped off the bed. "I win. I win. I win I win I win." He laughed at the victory dance she always did whenever she won anything. "You lost I won that's how it goes I won." He laughed even more covering his face before letting his hands drop as he continued to watch Hermione dance around.

"Good sportsmanship Hermione." He said shaking his head still smiling.

"I'll stop dancing when you stop smiling." She said pointing at him. "I won I won I won I won I won." She chanted.

"That's it!" he jumped off the bed and rushed at her making her squeal.

"No!" she ran away from him around the cabin only to have him instantly catch up. He picked her up in his arms as she squealed even more before throwing her on the bed and tickling her. "No no stop ah! Viktor!" she laughed. "Stop no!"

"Say I am a winner!"

"You are a loser!" she shouted.

"Give in!"

"Never!" she said making him laugh as he stopped tickling her. "Wait you gave in…" she said pointing at him. "Which means… I won I won I won I won I won." He moved forward and kissed her, instantly silencing the singing she was slipping into again. Hermione smiled against his mouth as her arms moved around his neck. When he pulled away he pushed a strand of hair away from her eyes.

"You are so very lovely to me…" she watched him fully pull away before laying down next to her on the bed their legs both dangling off the side. "You haf made time until this final task very happy for me… I did not think time would be filled with much laughter when I first came here."

"It's my job as you're girlfriend to ease tension with jokes and laughter."

"You are good voman Mina."

"I know, you're pretty lucky huh?" he laughed again as she smiled.

"Yeah I really am." A knock made them both look up. Their eyes drifted to the clock.

"Why have they already shown?" Hermione asked softly. "It isn't time yet…" Viktor walked over to the door while Hermione got off the bed. He opened the door to see Dumbledore Fudge and Karkaroff.

"It's time…" Karkaroff stated rather sternly.

"I still haf good hour." Viktor stated Hermione walking to his side. He instantly took her hand, he didn't want to leave. Not yet.

"Yes but you must wait out that hour at the stadium set up in front of the maze. We have prepared rooms… Miss Granger can go with you to help you prepare of course." Dumbledore said with a kind expression.

"Come now." Karkaroff stated.

"He doesn't have to come with us…" Dumbledore said. "Viktor why don't you get your things together and I'm sure Miss granger can get you to the stadium well before it's time to enter the maze…"

"I can." She said with a nod.

"Good off we go to get Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter." Fudge said before the three of them walked off. Viktor closed the door and slowly turned with a crest fallen look.

"Viktor…"

"Wanted to wait here…" he muttered before walking over to his clothes and throwing them into a leather messenger bag.

"I know you did…" she said.

"Wish they would haf told me before." He stated.

"I know…" she took his hand and Viktor looked to her.

"I'm glad they did not make us separate…"

"Me too..." they walked out the door together Viktor turning to lock the cabin. Hermione smiled softly as she stared out at the large crowd of Durmstrang students that had gathered. "Viktor…" she pulled on his hand.

"Yes luff?" he turned and stopped seeing all his school mates waiting for him. He smiled seeing their painted faces, flags, and banners. Jamous walked forward from the huge crowd to stand at his friends side. "What is this?" Viktor asked softly.

"They came out for you. To support you."

"Good comrades I haf…" Viktor said before he and Hermione walked through the small crowd of boys all who said words of encouragement to Viktor. When they made it through she could hear them following close behind. It seemed his comrades would be waiting the remainder of the time like Viktor at the stadium. Viktor kissed the back of Hermione's hand as they walked. She smiled at him softly as she moved a little closer to him.

"I am glad you are with me…" he said kissing her hand once more.

"Always and forever…" he smiled softly as he moved forward and kissed the top of her head.