I own nothing. And just to warn you, this chapter hasn't been beta read.
Chapter 30
My brother really is an idiot, Irina thought as Hermione dropped her head into her hands.
"Nene, you don't have to decide anything a while now. I know you still have feelings for my brother even though he's a massive git."
"I do," Hermione admitted, tears pooling in her eyes. "But there are three other guys that I've found myself falling for like I never thought I would. I feel like such a slut, going around kissing all of them."
"You kissed Viktor?" Aphrodite asked, a bubble of hope beginning to develop.
"No, I didn't kiss him, but I was thinking about considering his petition. And I'm sure that would have happened eventually."
"You said you were thinking about it. Does that mean you aren't thinking about it anymore?" Narcissa wondered.
Before Hermione could answer, there was a loud pop and before them appeared Harry, Professor McGonagall, and Mitzi.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, happy to see the man that was like her brother.
"Hermione are you okay?" he asked, taking the place next to her that Irina had just vacated.
"I'm fine. I just fainted and Viktor brought me here," she explained.
"Where is he? I would like to have a word with him," Harry replied, his hand twitching near the pocket he keep his wand.
"He went with that blond bloke to get more chairs from my parents house," Irina said.
"Oh, Harry this is Irina Krum. Irina, this is my oldest friend, Harry Potter," Hermione introduced the two happily, glad that they were finally able to meet.
"It's nice to meet you in person," the black haired witch said, shaking his hand briefly.
"I'm glad to finally put a face to all of the stories I've heard," he grinned.
"Merlin, Nene! What did you tell him?" Irina asked concerned.
"Everything," she replied, grinning evilly as the Floo activated.
"Malfoy? What are you doing here?" Harry wondered. He glanced across the room to see Narcissa Malfoy with a beautiful brown haired women and Professor McGonagall talking quietly.
"My mother dragged me here when some house elf was asked to come and get her," the blond boy answered as he put the chairs he had been carrying down. "I'm glad she brought me though," he added, walking over and kissing Hermione gently on her forehead.
"Would you stop doing that?" Viktor asked angrily.
Harry glared at the man. "What in Merlin's name gives you a right to ask that? And why didn't you just come and get me when she fainted? You must have known we would all jump to conclusions when we couldn't find her."
"Harry," Hermione started, grabbing for his arm, but was ignored as the savior of the magical world continued.
"Why, after breaking her heart all those years ago, did you think it was okay to ask her to marry you and on the very day that you see her for the first time since then? Hmm? Do you know? Or is your gigantic head stuck so far up your arse that you just assume she would be waiting by the window for your owl, just in case you ever decided that you wanted to grace her with your presence once more?"
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, watching as her friends face became as red as Ronald's did when he was angry.
"No, Hermione, I deserved that," Viktor said, sitting in one of the chairs that he had carried from his parents house. "I deserve so much more. I was a fool to break up with my princess all of those years ago. Things would have been just fine if I hadn't. We could have wrote back and forth often, seeing each other on holidays. But I was young and I didn't think that I could handle a relationship and Quidditch at the same time. I was okay for awhile, but every time I went home, her pictures were still there, her letters to Irina in the library. And then the war happened and afterwards I wanted to give her space to breath after everything you three went through." He turned to Hermione, his eyes on hers. "When I heard what happened with your parents, I wanted nothing more then to come, gather you up and never let you go. But Irina advised me that I no longer had the right and that you didn't need any added heartache. I was a few days away from coming to see you when I heard about the Marriage Law, and that seemed like the best way to get back with you. I am more sorry then I have ever been about anything, Hermione, for everything I've done. And I fully understand if you reject my petition." He walked over, gently took her hand and kissed it, before turning and walking back to the Floo, calling out his flat in London.
"He never did answer why he brought her here instead of calling for me," Harry grumbled.
"He was trying to get her to a safe place and my place was the first thing he thought about," Irina answered, grinning when she saw Hermione glaring daggers into her best friends back.
"What?" he asked.
"Does it matter? I'm fine, you found me. That's all that should matter," Hermione said.
"Thats true," he agreed, smiling. "So can you walk or are you completely useless now?"
She smiled and threw her legs over the side of the couch and stood up, her legs a little wobbly. Draco held onto one arm as Harry held onto the other. She moved slowly, taking tiny steps, until a wave of vertigo crashed down on her.
"She's too weak to move," Professor McGonagall said, walking quickly over to where her students where assembled.
"I'm fine, just a bit dizzy," she replied, her eyes still closed. "I want my bed."
"Glad to know you don't like my couch," Irina teased.
"I didn't mean," Hermione stared, panicking that she may have offend her. No matter what she decided about Viktor, she still wanted Irina to be a part of her life.
"Nene, calm down before you make yourself more dizzy. I was joking," Irina assured her.
"Oh."
"Professor, could a house elf take her straight to her room, that way she wouldn't have to see anyone else until shes ready?" Draco asked.
"I'm sure that could be arranged," the professor replied. Before she could call for one of her house elves, Mitzi popped back into the room.
"Mitzi would be happy to take Ms. Hermione to her room," she offered, looking at her mistress.
Aphrodite smiled widely, happy that Mitzi knew her so well. She had been about to call Mitzi and ask her to accompany Hermione to her room, but her brilliant elf had beat her to it.
"Of course! In fact, I'll have Mitzi pop in everyone once in a while to check up on you for the next few days, just to make sure you are doing well."
"Oh, there's no need to do that. I'm sure I'll be fine after a night of sleep in my bed. I wouldn't want to make Mitzi busier," Hermione replied.
"Mitzi would come and check on you on her own time, even if Mrs. Aphrodite didn't ask me to. I have missed the kind Ms. Hermione."
"Then that's settled," Draco said, placing his arms around Hermione, helping her stand. "She needs to get to bed."
"I'll go back and let everyone know that she's fine and will be back in her room," Harry said, walking towards the fireplace. Before he grabbed a handful of Floo powder, he turned and smiled at the Krum women. "Thank you for taking care of her."
"It was no trouble at all," Aphrodite replied, smiling kindly as the raven haired boy nodded and flooed away.
"Mitzi should take Ms. Hermione back to her room," the young house elf stated, looking at the young witch and at the blonde wizard that was attached to her. "Does Mitzi have to take the young Malfoy boy who was rude to Ms. Hermione for so long with her?"
"Mitzi," Aphrodite warned, trying her hardest not to grin.
"I just thought it would be good to have someone who could hold onto her so that she wouldn't fall," Draco replied, smiling at the elf. "And I've apologized to Hermione, and shes forgiven me. But, would YOU consider forgiving me for all the rude and unthinkable things I did to her for so long? I was a really big idiot."
"Yes, the young Malfoy was an idiot, just like Master Viktor can be," Mitzi said, analyzing the man that still held onto her Ms. Hermione. "But, Master Viktor is a good boy, truly. Maybe you is, too." With that she nodded and held onto Hermione's hand and popped out if the room.
"I apologize for Mitzi bluntness," Aphrodite said to Narcissa and Professor McGonagall. "But she was around my daughter for the majority of her childhood and picked it up."
"It doesn't bother me in the least," the professor replied, smiling at the young Irina, who was cleaning up the couch area. "If you would like to visit Hermione, all you need to do is send me a Floo message and I'll allow you through."
"Thank you, Professor," the black haired witch replied, smiling.
"I must get back to Hogwarts and make sure everyone is going back to where they belong," McGonagall said.
"Thank you for coming," Aphrodite replied, shaking the professors hand.
"If it involves that young witch, I will always be available."
"And thank you for coming and being my support," the Greek women said to her friend, as the Professor flooed back to Hogwarts.
"It was no trouble at all. I was happy to come, especially when I had an idea as to what it was about," Narcissa replied.
Aphrodite nodded, knowing that Draco was obviously in love with Hermione, as was her own son. "She is one of the most precious young ladies I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I was devastated when Viktor told me he broke off their relationship."
"I have to be honest an say I haven't really gotten to know her, but Draco has had a crush on her for years. He was beside himself with excitement when the marriage law was passed, thinking that was the only way that she would ever think about speaking with him. His father brained washed him from birth with the bloody purebloods are better then muggleborn rubbish. He wrote home to me his first year, telling me about a cute, bushy hair girl who was brilliant in all classes. His father demanded to know who she was, so he could get a marriage contract started. But when Draco didn't respond back immediately, he contacted Severus to find out more about her. When he found out that Hermione was a muggleborn, he went insane. He told Draco that she was nothing, that he could not talk with her, befriend her or anything. He promised that if Draco so much as let her borrow a quill, he would make her pay," Narcissa had tears flowing down her face by the time her tale was told.
"That's why Draco was so dreadful to her," Aphrodite said, her eyes dawning with understanding.
"He knew what his father was capable of and did not want her harmed in anyway. He thought that if he distanced himself from her by being a total arse to her, that would help keep her safe. He hated it more then anything he had to do."
Aphrodite sighed, shaking her head. "That really is too much for a young man to have to worry about. You are very lucky that he came out of it all a wonderful young man."
"I am. Do you think that Hermione will give Viktor another chance?" Narcissa wondered.
"I have no idea," Aphrodite sighed.
Irina quietly walked out of the room, leaving the two friends to chat. She knew that they had forgotten she was in the room. There was no way Mrs. Malfoy would have shared that story with her friend if she had remembered that Irina was also in the room. She sighed and went to her closet to retrieve a favorite bag of hers. It had been a gift from Hermione, who had said she had a duplicate. She began putting several outfits and anything she could think of that she might need. Then she quickly placed stronger wards around her house before returning to the living room where her mother and Narcissa still sat chatting.
"Mum, please feel free to stay as long as you like. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone, but you know how to find me if I'm needed," Irina said as she made her way to the Floo.
Aphrodite rose from the seat she had been lounging on, alarmed that her daughter was leaving at such a late hour. "Where are you going?"
"To London and then to Scotland."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Draco, really, I'm fine," Hermione said for the tenth time in so many minutes. She smiled at the blond, knowing that he was concerned for her, but all she really wanted to do was sleep.
"Are you sure there's nothing else I can get for you before I go?" he asked once again, just to make sure.
"Mitzi hadn't the knowledge that Mr. Draco was a house elf," the little elf said from where she was folding Hermione's clothes and placing them in the hamper to be washed.
Draco glared for a second at the elf, then remembered that it was not the elves fault that he was in such a foul mood. "I just want to make sure there is nothing that Hermione needs before I retire for the evening." He turned to the beautiful witch and smirked, and raised an eyebrow. "Unless you would like me to stay with you tonight."
A loud, squeak like sound came out of Mitzi, the tips if her ears turning red.
"Mitzi, calm down. He was joking," Hermione assured her, glancing at Draco.
Not really, he thought, but nodded.
"I will be fine, Draco. Thank you for all that you've done. I'm sure that Mitzi will take good care of me if I were to need anything," Hermione told the blonde haired man.
"Plus, she has to deal with me too," a voice said from the doorway. Ginny grinned as she walked further into the room.
"Well, I guess I should be heading out," Draco sighed and leaned down and kissed Hermione gently on the lips. "Sweet dreams."
Hermione smiled as she watched the handsome man leave.
"How are you feeling?" Ginny wondered, sitting next to Hermione on her bed.
"I feel fine. Just a little weak and tired," she replied.
"I bet. It's been a long day for you."
Hermione nodded and stretched. "Harry told you why Viktor took me to Irina's?"
"He told us that you had fainted and that Krum was concerned for you and took you somewhere safe," Ginny confirmed. "I know that there is something else, but he wouldn't tell me, because Fred and George were already going bonkers wanting to get to you."
Hermione sat up quickly, concerned about her twins, but immediately regretted it, feeling extremely dizzy.
"Ms. Redhead lady is going to leave if she makes Ms. Hermione upset again," Mitzi warned, helping Hermione lie back down.
"Mitzi, I'm fine," Hermione assured the house elf, turning back to Ginny. "Are they still here?"
"Professor McGonagall is letting them and mum stay here in one of the empty couple areas. They refused to leave and mum really wants to see you with her own eyes to make sure you are okay. Harry refused to let them see you tonight. The only reason I was aloud, was because it's my room too," the red head said. She turned to Mitzi and smiled. "My name is Ginny and I will try not to make her upset anymore."
Mitzi looked the young witch up and down, deciding if she could trust her. "You brothers are the look alike brothers."
"Yes."
"You other brother is Ms. Luna's love?" she wondered.
"Yes and Luna is one of my best friends," Ginny replied.
"If Ms. Luna is your friend, then you are a wonderful witch. You are okay to stay," Mitzi decided.
"Thank you," she grinned as she turned to search for her night clothes.
"How long are they staying?" Hermione asked.
"Until they can see you," Ginny replied.
Hermione smiled and snuggled into her bed and fell asleep quickly, dreaming of red heads, blondes and a knight who carried her away.
Howdy! Sorry this took so long to get up. I sent it to my beta a week ago, but haven't heard back from her. Remember though, her laptop had gone down and I know she was suppose to go on vacation. Anywho, if you are reading this, Justbeingsirius, I haven't replaced you or anything. :) Just in a hurry to get this up. :) What do you think? PLEASE review so I know what you think. I didn't get a lot of reviews last chapter. Happy Reading.