The newspapers were, without fail, always boring. They seemed to recycle the same stories day in and day out until something new circulated into the feed and then that too was commented on until it became boring. Salazar knew that the only reason we still had newspapers being delivered to our home was for Terence who had begun spending an increasing number of nights in our home and read the paper without fail every morning. The fact that he spent so much time indulging in something so dull was perhaps his only fault. And yet, despite knowing just how repetitive it was, I still reached for the paper every day once Terence was done with it. I still settled down comfortably in the family room, crossed my legs underneath me as I flicked past all of the so-called top stories and reached the international sports section.

It didn't take much searching before I stumbled across what I was looking for. Sure enough, taking up a fair chunk of the page was a picture of Viktor as he flew a victorious lap around the quidditch stadium, celebrating yet another win. I doubted many other people found out what their betrothed was up to by reading the newspaper. But what other choice was there? We didn't write to each other and I certainly couldn't remember the last time we had spoken to each other. Salazar's soul we were nothing more than strangers who had been paired up for the sole reason that our fathers had once called each other friends.

I could only suppose that it was a small mercy that we had spoken once before, last year at the end of my fifth year. Although it was a memory I tried not to summon because it wasn't the best introduction I'd ever had. And now that it was a year on, I could admit to myself that I had been starstruck and completely blindsided by Viktor Krum to function in a way that would have endeared him to me. Maybe if I had acted differently, he would have written to me or would have wanted to at the very least strike up a tentative friendship. But I hadn't behaved differently and I couldn't change that. I could only live with the past and try not to let the bitter ache of inadequacy fill my lungs. It was too late. The memory sprung to the forefront of my mind, refusing to be pushed back.

The last days of every school year were always full of chatter, the corridors teeming with overexcited activity as the summer holidays loomed. With the lessons having drawn to a close, the final days were a nice reprieve from a year full of essays and exams and school house rivalries. And of course, this year it had all seemed to double in intensity with the school housing delegates from two other schools, it was more so. With more students in the school, it seemed nearly impossible to find a spare moment to breathe. Salazar's soul I couldn't wait to be home with my sisters and away from the hustle and bustle. Only Hogwarts could make a home full of 9 sisters who could squabble just as frequently as they chattered excitedly, seem tranquil.

Still, despite knowing how little I had left with my friends, I found myself seeking small moments of peace, trying to steal away some time for myself. It was an incredibly hard feat, one that was always accompanied by a stab of guilt for being selfish. But was it really selfish to want some solitude? If I didn't actively seek it out for myself, I wouldn't find it at the school, and certainly not at home either. And yet - how could it not be selfish to want to retire alone when I grew up with sisters who had only ever really had one another to rely on?

"Hullo?"

The tentative greeting drew me abruptly from my thoughts, making me turn my back to the lake I had been staring unseeingly into. The sight of the student standing a short distance from me was enough to halt the irritation I would have felt at being disturbed. How did you feel irritated when internationaly renowned quidditch star Viktor Krum stood looking at you?

"Hi?" I replied, knowing he could hear the question in my voice. Because really, why was Viktor bloody Krum here? The same Viktor Krum whose presence in the caste had been so baffling that I'd struggled to wrap my head around it for days, who my eyes would seek out without any conscious effort. Perhaps he was lost. There absolutely was no way that he intended to be here. With me.

"Euterpe Selman?" Krum called my name questionly, paying no heed to the way my eyebrows rose in surprise at the realisation that he knew my name. Not just the fact that I was one of the several Selman sisters in this castle, but he knew my name. When I didn't respond, he drew closer to me.

"I - um, I - Euta is fine," I managed at last, tucking my hands deep into my robe pockets to hide the way they curled into fists. The blood pounded in my ringing ears; of all the times to stumble over my words -

"I'm Viktor Krum," he introduced himself as if I didn't already know that, as if the entire school didn't already know that.

Except - he had introduced himself meaningfully, had emphasised his name with firmly locked eyes, that he didn't need to say much more. He must have known. Just as I had found out mere weeks ago, Krum must have found out that our fathers had decided to tie themselves together through their children. How long had he known? Had he known whilst chasing after Granger? Did it even matter? Long before I had found out, he was involved with Granger and I'd made sure to keep my distance from him. Perhaps his attachment to Granger had given me the justification for my avoidance. Not that I was justifying my behaviour to anyone.

"Krum," I acknowledged, cursing the awkwardness that settled between us. Of course, the first conversation I ever had with my betrothed would be awkward and stilted, a clear indication of how little chemistry we shared. This was a trainwreck, one I would describe to Era in excruciating detail as soon as I made it back to the common room.

"My father - he wrote to me about the … agreement," he started slowly. He made no attempt to hide the once-over he gave me. I wound my hands into tighter fists, fighting the urge to try and straighten out my appearance in any way. Krum waited for me to say something, but when it became evident that I had little to say, his eyebrows drew together in an endearing confusion. "Euter - Euta, how vould you like to do this? Ve should talk?"

"Oh - no," I cut in, gathering my bearings and trying not to beat a hasty retreat back to the castle. There wasn't really anything I wanted and I certainly didn't want him to think that I wanted anything from him or to - "That's okay, I should, um, I should head back to the - to the common room. There is - I've got a lot of packing left to do and, and I'm sure you must, I'm sure you've got people to catch up to. Thank you for finding me, Krum."

The older wizard watched me with obviously confused eyes, struggling to follow along with my rapid words - words spoken so quickly I was certain they had slurred together slightly - as I edged around him in my hurry to leave him behind. Viktor Krum - international quidditch player Viktor Krum - with eyes that I swore were the colour of my favourite chocolate and thick dark hair that I surprisingly wanted to card my fingers through - no doubt watched me as I ran away. He was dating Granger - or was not far off from it - and I had to come to terms with that. We were perhaps the most mismatched pairing Father had ever created -

"Why don't you write to him?" Polly's unexpected question drew me from my thoughts. The 12-year-old settled gracelessly next to me, leaning heavily against me. Her eyes flickered to the image of Viktor before I could close the paper. As if she thought I hadn't heard her, she pointed to the image and repeated herself, "Why don't you write to him?"

Shaking my head with a sigh, I didn't point out that she had already asked me this question multiple times, and I had given her the same answer each time. Instead, I closed the newspaper and folded it in half as I asked, "And what exactly would I say?"

"I don't know," she shrugged, "but how about just saying hello?"

"That sounds like a waste of ink and parchment to me, Polly." My youngest sister, ever expressive with her eyes, shot me a single look that had me fighting a smile. "You just wouldn't get it."

"I'm 12, not a baby."

"I know Polly," I assured her, smoothing some of the errant hairs from her face. "It's all just complicated."

"It's really not," Thalia cut in, walking into the room and throwing herself onto the sofa we were occupying. She was unconcerned that she jostled me as she got herself comfortable. "You're just making it more complicated than it needs to be."

"And that's your 13-year-old wisdom, is it?" I asked dryly.

Thalia, looking fresh-faced, following her most recent blood transfusion from Cali, gave me a knowing smile. "It is, indeed."

"I need to stop spending time with you lot, and with our older sisters instead," I grumbled.

Rania, a silent spectator to the conversation, gave an unconvinced snort. My three youngest sisters sat talking among themselves, expressing their varying degrees of displeasure with my statement, but it was true. With my three eldest sisters stealing the chance to go on dates with their respective partners, I was left as the next eldest to keep them all in check. And Salazar's soul it was a hefty responsibility. It had only been a few short hours and I wanted to run away; how did Cali deal with it? And when would she return so I could hand the reigns and responsibility back to her?


As the day continued, my sisters returned one by one to our family home. Mellie was the first to return, not long before dinner time with Cassius, still feeling wary about not wanting to get on the wrong side of any of his love's sisters. He'd eventually figure out that the only surefire way we would all turn our backs on him was if he hurt Mellie or well - if Cali decided that he had stepped out of line somehow. I was fairly certain that once Calliope decided someone wasn't good enough for our family, we would all shortly fall in line. Still, Cassius lingered for longer, joining us for dinner and appearing reluctant to leave Mellie's presence for too long. What was it like to love someone like that? To be so enamoured by someone that every glance they gave you felt like a blessing?

Eventually, when Clio returned home as the sun had set and parted from Marcus with a lingering kiss, Cassius took his leave also. With both Mellie and Clio back home, I relinquished the lead and let the pair of them share the responsibilities between themselves as I waited for Calliope who so rarely had the chance to spend an entire day with the man she loved who himself was incredibly busy with his healer training. I knew all of that and yet I still waited far too impatiently for her to come back. Only Cali could help me achieve my most sudden resolution.

I had to act the moment she returned before I chickened out. If I pondered on it any longer, my resolve would falter and I would back away. But what was the point of that? What did it matter how long I contemplated on the reality of a life living with a stranger who might never come for me? What then? Did I spend my life alone? Or did I start a relationship with someone else who I could never truly be with because I was bound to another? There was only one real option and only Calliope could help me.

Calliope and Terence returned late into the night, with Terence guiding Calliope into the living room with an arm around her waist. He drew her into his side with an easy smile, ducking his head to whisper something into her ear that had Cali swatting at his chest.

"Behave," she admonished, even as she laughed lightly; Salazar's soul, when was the last time I'd heard her laugh like that? Certainly not often, not since she'd taken up the mantle of the head of our household. It was almost enough to have me backing away. Almost.

The pair, spotting me sitting on the sofa, paused in their journey towards the stairs. Calliope halted first, and I could pinpoint the exact moment her eyebrows pulled together in concern that was near maternal. She drew away from Terence slightly, coming towards me.

"Euta?" she asked, glancing at the clock, and no doubt realising that I was usually in bed by now. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine," I said softly, casting a quick glance at Terence who read it in a heartbeat.

He crossed the space towards us, squeezing Calliope on the shoulders and dropping a kiss to the crown of her head as he murmured a, "Don't stay up too late."

"I won't." It sounded like an empty promise.

Straightening up with a soft sigh, Terence gave me a reassuring smile, reaching out to teasingly tug on my earlobe just as he'd done countless times over the years, "You too Euta. You know you love your sleep."

I watched as Terence left the room, no doubt making his way to Cali's room - a room that was rapidly becoming theirs - as he retired for the night. Briefly, I wondered whether he'd stay up waiting for Cali before I glanced back at my sister and found her watching me. Gone was the carefree girl in love, the head of the Selman house had taken her place as she regarded me with careful eyes.

"What's the matter, Euta? Did you need something?"

"What makes you think I need something?" I asked weakly, fidgeting with my hands and evading her eyes.

"Doesn't everyone?" she wondered so quietly that I knew I wasn't meant to hear it. Closing the space between us, Cali reached out and set a steadying hand on mine, "Never mind. Come on now, Euta, I can only help you if you tell me what's wrong."

Still, I said nothing and the silence lingered. My eyes lowered to our joined hands, watching the steady way Cali's thumb rubbed soothingly over the back of my hand. The nail was bitten to the quick, the skin around it looking slightly sore. Peeking up at Cali, I searched her face, wanting to take it all back. I hadn't said a word but I wanted to retract the silent burden of expectation I'd placed upon her.

As if she could read my thoughts - or maybe it was an ability gained after years of mothering your sisters so they never went without the protection of a maternal shadow - Calliope drew her hand back. She reached for a pillow and set it on her lap, shielding her hands from my gaze.

"You're starting to worry me," she admitted.

"No, don't worry, I just - well, I mean. Cali, do you think-"

"Slowly," she reminded me, taking me back to being that little girl who spent hours curled around her eldest sister, needing her to help me form my sentences. "There's no rush, slowly is fine."

Nodding, I let out a deep breath, trying to shrug off the emotions that warred inside me, that made it so hard to speak freely. The breath didn't work nearly as well as the reminder that this was Calliope. Calliope who seemed to have such a capacity for selfless love that it left me infinitely grateful. If it needed it, she would wait all night, and I didn't want that for her. She had no idea of the silent pact we had all made; we had watched Calliope wither away last year as she gave up her love for us, and we would not have her sacrifice much more. Not even a night of sleep that she'd admitted only came easily when she had Terence's arms around her, shielding her from everything.

"Can a betrothal be broken?" I asked, at last.

"A betrothal?" she repeated, clearly not expecting the question. "It can be, it's just a bit of a process."

"How do I do that?"

"You can petition for it," she said contemplatively. "But as you're not yet 18, I'd do it on your behalf. The Krum's wouldn't be able to forcefully hold you to it, I'd make sure of it. Is that something you'd want?"

"I've spent a lot of time thinking about it," I confessed defensively, not wanting her to think this was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I was certain that I was incapable of those sorts of decisions.

"Okay," she said around a sigh, "Leave it with me and I'll sort it out."

"Thank you."

Cali's voice sounded far away as she no doubt lost herself to thoughts of what she needed to do, "Nothing to thank me for."

It was. It was yet another thing added to the already long list of things I owed to her. My throat grew tight at the sheer force of gratitude, of the unpaid debt that I couldn't possibly repay, that the words would never come out. Instead, I reached for her, wrapping my arms around her and tucking myself under her chin. She gave a startled laugh, drawing me closer into her embrace and smoothing a hand over my back.

"You need to hurry to bed," she reminded me, even as her arms squeezed me closer for a moment.

Closing my eyes, I pressed my nose against her shoulder, drawing in a greedy lungful of her scent; Calliope was peace, she always had been. I continued the embrace for a little longer, making a mental note to hug her more often. Eventually, when I managed to draw away from Calliope, I headed up to bed. I paused briefly at the threshold, looking back at my sister only to find her anxiously biting at her thumbnail.


My work, as far as most of my sisters were concerned, couldn't be considered exciting. And to some degree, I agreed with them. There wasn't much that was exciting about being stuck in the back room of an alchemy shop transcribing the latest notes from a registered alchemist into more legible handwriting. But, it was exciting to be given even a slight insight into the mind of a witch as brilliant as Alchemist Merza's as she scribbled down the findings of her most recent research in amidst tending to her shop. The few days a week that I spent hunched over a notebook solidified my certainty that I had made the right decision by taking up Alchemy in my sixth year. Part of me was already saddened at the looming prospect of having to give up the job when the summer holiday ended and it was time to go back to school for my final year.

Dipping my quill into the ink well, I tapped it against the glass lining the side to remove any excess ink and penned the final sentence of the entry Merza had requested. Placing the final full stop, I set the quill down and massaged the joints on my dominant hand as I waited for the ink to dry. Collating the pieces of parchment together, I straightened out the stack and stuck them together with a murmured sticking charm.

Reaching for the lid of the inkwell, I cast a glance over my shoulder as a gentle knock sounded on the wooden door. Alchemist Merza stood in the doorway, resting her weight on her wooden cane briefly before she walked into the room. Her age-lined face, usually stoic, broke into a soft smile as she drew closer to me. The single expression brought a light to her face that was only reserved for those she deemed to trust; it had taken a while, but I had won her over eventually.

"Did you manage to finish the entry?" she asked, coming to a stop beside the desk.

"I did," I assured her, gesturing to the stack of parchment to emphasise my point.

"Perfect." Resting both hands on her cane, she nodded before adding, "You should head home now, your sister is loitering around, waiting for you."

"Already?" I asked, surprised. Glancing at the clock, I was surprised to find that sure enough, it was the end of my working day.

"I guess time flies when you're writing out boring entries."

"They're never boring," I said for probably the hundredth time as I gathered my belongings.

Shouldering my bag, I watched as Alchemist Merza looked over my work with a critical eye and waited for the nod of approval. Reaching the final page, she nodded to herself before looking at me again. Silently, she gestured for me to leave and I, already used to her abrupt nature, made my way out of the back room towards the shop front to see which of my sisters had been lumbered with the task of bringing me home from work. I really needed to re-take my apparition test.

Reaching the shop front, my eyes settled on Clio who was standing in front of a display shelf, looking over it with a confused frown. Of all my sisters, she was the one who steadfastly insisted that she didn't understand my interest in Alchemy.

"Clio," I called out as I approached her, piercing her earnest study of the items in front of her. "You drew the short straw then?"

She rolled her eyes and said dryly, "Clearly, now come on."

She held the door open for me and gestured for me to take the lead. Drifting past my sister, I shot her a teasing look, "You like to put out the image that you're so tough, but you're a softie at heart."

"For very few people," Clio acknowledged as we set about walking to the nearest apparition point.

As we walked, I listened to Clio as she rattled off an update about so-called notable events from the day, which by now I'd learnt meant retelling any squabbles that had gone on in the house, recounting any progress Cali had made in her search of a tutor for Polly and an overview of which 'partner' had decided to take up camp in our home today. It seemed Marcus had made himself at home, in all of his intimidating entirety. Who would've believed that Marcus Flint and his absolutely terrifying glare would settle almost seamlessly into our family dynamic? He was no Terence who at this point was part of the furniture, and certainly no Cassius who was effortlessly charming us all, but having Marcus as an unofficial guard dog, was an added perk. What would Viktor be like -

I dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. It didn't matter. Not one bit. Not when I'd spoken to Calliope and asked her to dissolve the betrothal. I didn't regret that - I didn't. It was the right thing to do.

Finally reaching the apparition point, I drew my arm eagerly through my sister's and looked up into her face. Clio rolled her eyes for me to see, even as she adjusted the arm of my cardigan that had slipped off from my shoulder. She quickly apparated us home.

Arriving at the apparition point outside of our family home, I detangled my arm from Clio's and made my way towards the front door. My older sister was quick to reach my side. Clio, rather than walking at my side, cut in front of me before I reached the front door and brought me to an abrupt halt. I raised a questioning eyebrow, watching as she glanced over her shoulder at our home before looking at me again.

"Clio?"

"Brace yourself," she warned, holding my eyes so seriously that I felt myself start to frown. If Clio was looking at me like that then - "Just don't make a scene."

"What do you mean 'don't make a scene'?" I demanded incredulously.

"Just don't," she warned again and before I could comment on how outrageous it was for Clio of all people to be telling me to behave, she opened the front door and beckoned me into our home.

Keeping my words to myself, I instead followed my sister and did my best to scope out just what she thought would set me off and trigger a reaction. So far, as I walked through the hall, nothing seemed a miss. It seemed like a usual evening, with the coats hanging off the rack and the sound of chattering voices filtering in from the front room. Clio gestured for me to follow her and I did without protest, following the sounds of the voices.

Reaching the threshold of the room, I made it partway through my greeting before my voice died. My remaining sisters were scattered around the room, but it wasn't them that had taken me aback and it wasn't the sight of Terence and Marcus seated on the sofa either. Rather, it was the man sitting between them, nodding along to something that Terence was saying, that brought me to a pause.

Viktor - why was Viktor here?

My eyes searched the room for Cali and I found her sitting amongst Thalia and Polly, but her attention was fixed on me. I read the silent message in her eyes and kept my demands to myself. Instead, I gathered my fidgeting hands behind my back and wondered just how rude it would be for me to ignore our guest and head upstairs.

Viktor stole the opportunity from me. The moment that my voice had fallen flat, his eyes had settled onto me and he was easing himself to his feet. My not-quite brothers-in-law followed his eyes and glanced between us appraisingly. Salazar's soul, I felt like I was perched precariously on a broom, my feet dangling uncertainty in the air when I wanted so desperately to have them planted firmly on the ground. I hated the feeling.

"Euta," Viktor greeted easily.

It was silly, downright ridiculous really, but my first thought to hearing his voice again was that my memory of him hadn't done it justice. Viktor's voice was deep, yes, but it was softer than I remembered, gentle in the way it felt like it soothed my frazzled nerves. And then there were those eyes - darker than I'd remembered as they settled so steadfastly on mine that in normal circumstances I would've looked away. These were far from normal circumstances.

"Ow!" I hissed, glaring at Clio who pinched my side to snap me out of my silence.

Satisfied with her work, she made her way towards Marcus and tucked herself against his side as he drew her against his sturdy frame. Becoming aware of the sheer number of eyes on me, I swore I could hear Psi's silent beration, I stopped my fidgeting.

"Krum," I greeted back after finding my voice. I pointed ignoring the way Rania winced at my response, but it was certainly better than my first instinct to demand what he was doing here.

The silence that settled into the room was equal parts awkward and deafeningly overbearing. I was mere seconds away from darting away to the safety of my bedroom, but would that be the scene that Clio had warned me against? Still, I said nothing, searching the faces of my family members and silently hoping that one of them would come to my aid.

It was Marcus who eventually relented, steering Clio out of the room with a murmured, "Why don't we give them some space?"

Clio followed him unprotesting, leaving the room without so much as looking in my direction. I stopped myself from calling her a traitor. She alone didn't deserve that label. No, that label also fit Calliope and Terence who convinced Rania and Thalia to leave us alone. Where was Terence's refusal? Years back, when he'd first found out about the betrothals, he had insisted he wouldn't allow these 'degenerate' men to worm their way into the lives of his unofficial sisters, so why wasn't he doing anything?

"I want to stay," Era declared in a quiet whine, perching on the arm of the sofa and positioning her body so she could look between me and Viktor.

"Come on," Terence said, looking an arm around her shoulder and easily pulling her protesting body out of the room. He had the sheer nerve to shoot me a reassuring smile from over his shoulder.

Mellie, who was the last of my sisters to leave the room, pointedly ignored the pleading look I sent her. If my sisters thought that I would let this go without any form of retribution, they had another thing coming. The moment, they all -

"Maybe I should haff done this sooner," Viktor's voice broke my train of thought. Turning my attention back to him, I watched him steadily. When it became obvious that I had no intention to approach him, he closed the space between us with self-assured steps, "Maybe I should haff come to see you sooner."

I fought the urge to ask him why hadn't he visited me sooner. Or even to ask him if he had even wanted to see me. Instead, I asked, "Why are you here?"

"I got your sister's letter," he said simply.

"Cali's?"

Nodding solemnly, Viktor tipped his head towards me as he considered me carefully. "I vont to know. Vhy do you vont to break it?"

"Why do I want to break the betrothal?" I asked incredulously. The answer to that question was obvious; we were strangers. Strangers who had been bound to each other but knew nothing about each other, who were living very separate lives. The answer was obvious and yet Viktor looked down at me as if he had no idea. Considering him with furrowed eyebrows, I searched those dark beautiful - Salazar they were gentle - eyes as I asked, "Don't you want to break it?"


When I woke the next morning, I found myself staring up at the ceiling, trying to convince myself that the events of yesterday hadn't occurred. Viktor bloody Krum hadn't been in my home, waiting for me after work and he certainly hadn't been invited to spend the fortnight staying with us either. And I absolutely hadn't been corralled into my bedroom by my three elder sisters who insisted that I stay on my best behaviour, regardless of the fact that I was always on my best behaviour.

Groaning quietly, I rubbed my eyes and tried my best to push all thoughts of Viktor from my mind. What did it matter that he was here? I was still going to enjoy my summer holiday, irrespective of our houseguest and I would absolutely not think about the tentative connective we both had. It was almost over now anyway; I wanted to break this betrothal. It didn't matter that he was here.

Forcing myself out of bed, I set about getting ready for the day, trying to occupy my brain so it didn't stray to the sturdy Bulgarian who was somewhere in this house. It was a difficult feat. Dressing for the day, I tied my hair out of my face and made my way downstairs for breakfast. I knew that I would be the first one awake, that the rest of my sisters were sleeping in and I would be eating breakfast by myself, but I would appreciate the solitude; it gave me a chance to come up with a game plan. Because this entire situation would certainly take a game plan.

But, as I made my way into the dining room, my steps slowed at the sight of Mellie and Era sitting at the dining table; it was far too early for them to be awake. And yet, there they were, sitting with their breakfast in front of them as they both spoke with the man sitting between them. There went my plan for having some space.

"Good morning," I greeted quietly, stopping myself from turning back up the stairs and summoning breakfast in my bedroom. Perhaps I would have if I didn't think just the thought of crumbs in my bedroom would tip neat freak Rania over the edge.

My sisters greeted me with smiles, watching as Viktor stood from his seat at my approach. The pair of them shared a look that I didn't appreciate; I didn't need my sisters to be approving or moved by his manners.

"Good morning, Euta," Viktor greeted me, as I made my way towards the table.

Offering him a small smile, I tried to sit across from Mellie but found the chair stuck. A glance at my elder sister showed her wand pointed at the chair, keeping it glued to its position. Gritting my teeth, I settled for the chair across from Viktor, knowing better than to even attempt to sit across from Era. What was the point of having so many meddling sisters?

Before I could pull it out, an unfamiliar incantation had the chair out from under the table. This time it was Viktor's wand aimed at the chair, watching as I sat down. He was prompt to recite a spell that had the chair pushed closer to the table.

"Thank you," I said quietly, appraising the still-standing man.

"Any time," Viktor said with a lingering smile as he also took his seat. His eyes sought mine, looking like he wanted to say something.

I averted my eyes before they lingered on his for too long. The last thing I needed was to get wrapped up in his beautiful eyes. Reaching for the teapot, I admitted, "I didn't think that you'd be awake."

"I am used to waking early," Viktor said, pushing the bowl of sugar towards me before I could even reach for it.

Wordlessly, I accepted the bowl, studying him from under my lashes as I reached for a teaspoon. Was he always so considerate? If he was, then my heart was in imminent danger.

Stirring some sugar into my tea, I tried to pay no head to Mellie as she said, "Out of all of us, Euta is always the first one awake."

"You make a good match then," Era teased. I pretended not to notice it as I buttered a slice of toast.

Her remark lingered in the air for a moment before Viktor made a sound of acknowledgement of - agreement, even. I glanced at him sharply, but his attention wasn't on me. He was looking at my sisters, and Salazar, why was his jawline so sharp? Before Era could make another remark, like I knew she would, I shot a look at Mellie.

She took the silent prompting. Rising to her feet, Mellie made a point of lugging Era to her feet, "Come on, let's have a look at this dress that you want to be taken in. We can both work on convincing Psi to do it."

Era, protesting that she wanted to stay for longer to watch us - as if we were a blood spectacle - relented at the idea of having Mellie's support in convincing Psi and was led out of the room. Although, now that I was left alone with Viktor, I wished that Mellie had come up with another solution, one that didn't leave me alone with a handsome man whose eyes were once more locked onto me. Why couldn't she have just silenced Era?

I expected Viktor to speak first, to say something to pierce the stifling silence that settled between us. But he didn't. Instead, he continued to eat his breakfast without a word. However, he did shoot me a lingering amused glance as I regarded my now over-buttered toast.

Clearing my throat, I set the toast aside. "I've heard that you'll be spending two weeks at our house?"

"I did not plan to," he said slowly, leaning back in his chair as he watched me. "It vould inconvenience you. But your sister, Calliope, offered."

Of course, she did. Once Cali was awake, I'd get around to asking her just what she was thinking. But for now, I settled for watching the man sitting across from me. Viktor, unaffected by my scrutiny, held my gaze with a soft smile. Why wouldn't he be smiling? What did he have to be nervous about? Unlike me, the increased scrutiny wouldn't have him scrambling with nerves.

"Why are you even here?" I asked, staving off a wince. Did my question sound as brutal to his ears as it did to mine?

His response was a simple and blunt, "I'm here to win my wife."

"I- but that - how, " Struggling to gather my words, I closed my hands into tight fists. Slowly, Cali's voice echoed in my head. Forming the sentence in my head before I said it, I pointed out, "You don't even know me."

"I don't," he acknowledged. "But you don't know me either. We should spend some time vith each other."

He said that statement as if it was simple as if he even wanted to spend time with me. But Viktor said nothing else. Not even when I continued to watch him, trying and failing to get a read on the man. Before yesterday, he had kept his distance from me, and hadn't even written to me and now here he was, sitting at my dining table, sitting across from me and wanting to spend time with me. He'd claimed I was his wife - or rather I would be if this betrothal didn't break and yet -

It was stupid to even think about it because this betrothal would be broken. It was stupid and yet that didn't stop me from nodding my consent.


With another work day coming to an end, I set about clearing my work desk. Tightening the lid of the ink well, I set it aside and put the quill on top of it. Collating the papers together, I piled them in the corner and brushed my hands together. Rubbing my ink-stained fingertips together, I glanced at the clock with a frown. Usually, by now, Alchemist Merza would have made her way into the backroom to let me know that my sister was waiting for me but the older witch was nowhere to be seen.

Hopping off the stool, I crossed the room to the coat rack and reached for my jacket and shouldered my bag. Laying the jacket over my arm, I made my way out to the shop front, looking for Merza to let her know that I was heading out for the day. I found the usually prompt witch standing behind the counter, resting her wait on the surface, looking out into the shop.

"Alchemist Merza?" I called out questioningly, approaching her from behind and stopping myself from putting a hand on her arm.

Turning at the sound of my voice, she offered me a quizzical smile. "You're done for the day?" At my nod, she turned to face the front once more, peering off in the same direction she had been looking at before my disturbance. Only this time, she gestured for me to follow her eyes, "There's a wizard waiting for you."

"A wizard?" I repeated, turning my head in the direction she'd gestured. Recognising the wizard even from a distance, my eyebrows drew up sharply. Viktor? As if feeling the weight of my eyes on him, he turned to face me and locked his gaze with mine. He offered me a small wave that I returned hesitantly.

"It's not often you see a quidditch player in an Alchemist shop." Alchemist Merza said the words quidditch player in a tone that suggested she was talking about imaginary creatures. "But seeing as you know him - have a good evening."

Before I could say another word, the older witch was turning her back to me and heading into the backroom. No doubt she would be looking over my work for the day.

Rounding the counter, I approached Viktor with uncertain steps. Some part of me expected that as I drew closer to him, the surprise at seeing him would wear off, but it didn't. Viktor Krum of all people was standing in an Alchemist shop, having waited for me to finish work, paying absolutely no mind to how out of place he looked. And Salazar's soul he did look out of place. Viktor appeared content to watch as I closed the space between us, uncaring of the looks he received from the other patrons in the shop.

"Viktor," I greeted, taken so aback by his presence that I couldn't even bring myself to call him by his surname. "What are you doing here?"

"Vaiting for you," he said, hands drawn behind his back as he regarded me with amused eyes. He was looking at me like it should have been an obvious answer.

"But why are you waiting for me?" I asked, becoming aware of the lingering eyes on us. The wizard before me made no indication of being in a rush to leave, unfazed by the attention. Maybe that made sense, considering his profession. I, on the other hand, well I was close to wilting under the scrutiny.

"Your sisters tell me you need someone to apparate you home."

"That still doesn't explain why you're here."

I swore I saw Viktor fight an eye roll at my intentional obtusity. He didn't need to know that it was my current plan, the only plan I really had was to see this 'break up' all the way through.

Reaching around him, I grasped the door handle and forcefully pulled it open. I was quick to step out of the shop and into the open street. Viktor followed steadily behind me. I'd intended to escape the eyes in the shop but clearly, I hadn't given my plan enough thought, not when there were even more people on the street to watch us.

"Rania told me you vork here," Viktor commented as we walked slowly through the street, "and I offered."

"Thank you, but you really didn't need to. I'm sure you wanted to rest," I said quietly, having to take a step into his space to avoid a puddle. Before I could dart away from him at the first instance, Viktor's arm came around me, resting so softly against my hip that I almost didn't feel it. I told myself that he was keeping me from brushing against passersby.

"I vonted to see you." His straightforward statement had me faltering slightly in my step; was he always so abrupt? Viktor cast a concerned glance in my direction, looking unconvinced when I tried to offer him a reassuring smile. "I vos thinking, maybe ve should get some dinner?"

"I - dinner?" I repeated uncertainly. "Do you want to?"

"I vouldn't have asked otherwise."

Before I could respond - although I wasn't sure what I could say to that, or even if I would ever learn to not react to Viktor's communication style - the weight of his hand on my hip felt surer. Although, did I even need to learn to react to it, if I had no intention of lingering around him for longer? Oblivious to my thoughts, Viktor easily guided me through the crowd, using the hand on my body to guide me in front of him so he could steer me easily. There was absolutely no need for his hands to feel so sturdy on my shoulders or for it to make my nervesfeel so secure in a way they very rarely did.

Navigating me into a nearby restaurant, Viktor's hands dropped from my shoulders but he didn't keep them away from me for long. He grasped one of my hands in his so smoothly that I didn't have a chance to protest - or to even wonder if I wanted to protest - before he led me towards an empty table. Viktor's hand remained steady in mine, even when he pulled out my chair for me and only released it after he'd helped me sit down. Making his way around the table, Viktor settled easily across from me.

Propping my elbow on the table, I cupped my chin in my hands as I studied the man who watched me steadily. Viktor's eyes were far too knowing as he regarded me as if he knew the way his touch had calmed my anxious heart far better than anything ever had.

"Which of my sisters put you up to this? Who gave you the idea of taking me to dinner?"

A frown pulled at his mouth. "Vhy vould your sister haff to ask me to spend time vith you?"

"Why else would you want to?" The quiet question had his frown deepening.

Viktor straightened in his seat, outstretching a hand across the table and resting it so close to my elbow that he could have brushed it with his finger if he wanted to. "Because you're an attractive girl. And you're supposed to be mine, aren't you?"

Salazar's soul, I didn't think I would ever get used to his blunt honesty. Or the way it made a mess of my heart.


Terence's love of newspapers had to be curbed. There was no reason for today's paper to be sitting, ready at the dining table and waiting for its next reader after being discarded by Terence in his rush out of the house to start his early shift. And there was absolutely no reason for my face - ragged and unkempt after a day's worth of work - to be splashed on the front page.

But there I was, looking far worse for wear than I'd remembered being just yesterday, as I sat across from Viktor who looked decided kempt and handsome. It was from the restaurant yesterday, it had to be, and yet I had no idea when it had been taken. Wracking my bread and drumming my fingers against the tabletop, I couldn't remember seeing anyone taking a picture of me - of us. It was a violation, an intrusion on my life that I hadn't consented to. But there was little I could do about it now; my picture was on the front page of a newspaper and I couldn't do a thing about it. The newspapers, or whatever other intrusive entity, had decided they had the right to infringe on my privacy for the sole reason that I'd been sitting across from international seeker extraordinaire Viktor Krum.

Abandoning my now lukewarm tea, I pushed the mug aside and leaned back against my chair. Folding the corner of the newspaper, I tried to resist the urge to read the article that accompanied the unnecessarily large image. It would be fodder for gossip, something of little substance, and made to spark interest. It wouldn't matter whether that interest was positive or negative, as long as it attracted much-needed readers -

My eyes flickered downwards, falling onto the first word that started the article; my name.

Euterpe 'Euta' Selman, pictured above with a man that needs little introduction; international Quidditch superstar Viktor Krum, certainly requires an introduction. The student, rapidly approaching her 18th birthday, and by far the plainest of all the Selman sisters seems to have taken after her mother. The name Dorothea Morova is far too familiar in polite society, the social climbing woman who sunk her nails into a powerful wealthy wizard and refused to let go. Dorothea's third daughter, unfortunate enough to not have inherited any of her charm, certainly learnt a thing or two from her absent mother, seeking out her own powerful wizard -

Calloused and warm hands dwarfed mine easily as they grasped mine. Before I could protest, the newspaper was eased away from my hand with a grumbled sound of displeasure. Shifting in my chair, I glanced over my shoulder at Viktor who stood over me, looking over the newspaper with a frown that deepened under my scrutiny.

"The journalists here are liars," he declared with a scoff. Folding the newspaper in half, Viktor peered down at me. His dark eyebrows drew together. "You are not plain."

His words rang with such finality that there was no room for me to contest them, even if I wanted to, even if I wanted to point out to him that clearly the journalist didn't agree with him. But I didn't. Instead, I tried my hardest to wrangle together what little control I had over my blood as it thundered through my veins and settled for watching as he walked around the dining table towards the seats opposite me. On his way, Viktor tossed the newspaper straight into the fireplace. Naturally, it easily reached its goal.

"You aren't vorking today?" Viktor asked as he sat down.

Outstretching his legs under the table, Viktor rested his chin on his fingers. He must've known that his long legs had reached mine, the front of his socks touching my slipper-clad feet. Still, he didn't move. When I didn't respond straight away - still trying and failing to regain some composure over my disobedient nervous system - he arched an imperious eyebrow. The fleeting quirk at the corner of his mouth, so rapid that I almost missed it, made me think he knew all about the silent internal war that was being waged between my head and my heart. No, not my heart, just my nerves.

"No, I only work a few days a week," I said eventually, averting my eyes from him and trying to return my focus to the breakfast I'd long abandoned.

Viktor's foot nudged mine. I ruled it out as an accident. "If you have no plans today, vould you mind spending the day vith me?"

"I - why would - you want to spend the day with me?" I asked dubiously.

"Vould I have asked otherwise?" Viktor tilted his head, before pointing out, "You doubt me frequently. I am a man of my vord, Euta. So?"

"Okay then," I conceded quietly. But before he could say anything further, and desperately needing to gain some semblance of control in my interactions with him - which was likely an impossible feat - I said, "I'll show you my favourite part of my home."

Viktor, surprised by my words, and not expecting them, straightened in wonder. Still, he nodded. Before he could say another word, I returned my focus resolutely to my half-eaten breakfast and tried not to pay him any heed. The moment I looked up at Viktor, or acknowledged his presence, it would become obvious just how startled I was by my own offer because why in Merlin's name would I want to share my favourite place with him? It was a place that was solely mine in this house, one that my sisters were careful not to intrude upon and yet, I was willing to bring him there. What sense did that make? Especially when he was only a fleeting guest?

Once we were finished with breakfast, I agreed to meet Viktor by the back door after changing my clothes. It took far longer than I was comfortable admitting for me to find clothes that I wanted to wear. I certainly didn't want to admit why I was putting such effort into what I wore, especially since I wouldn't even be leaving the grounds of my home. But, in the privacy of my bedroom, I could acknowledge the cause for a fleeting moment; plain - I was the plainest of my sisters, I'd long acknowledged and accepted that, but to have the papers comment on it -

I forced the thought from my head before it could plunge me into a rapid downward spiral that only Calliope could pull the plug on. And yet - some hidden and trapped part of me couldn't help but wonder if Viktor would also have that capability. I smothered the thought as rapidly as it arose. Before my mind could conjure up even more unwanted thoughts, I hurried down the stairs to meet an already-waiting Viktor.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting for long," I said, coming to a stop beside him.

"I don't mind vaiting for you."

Pushing open the back door, I led the way. Glancing over my shoulder at Viktor, I saw him follow after me. "The newspapers make it seem like you have an impatient temper."

"I can do," he acknowledged with a shrug. "But I don't mind vaiting if it's for you."

He said things like that so easily, as if it was natural or even normal and each time he looked at me, waiting for me to say or do something in response. Viktor Krum was a man who liked to read even my wordless reactions, trying to piece me together in his head and that was dangerous. No one really knew me like that, I'd made sure of it. I'd made sure to keep every fractured and imperfect part of myself as hidden as possible and even when I failed to do so in front of my family, I kept whatever parts I could, hidden away. I wasn't sure how I felt about letting him in or rather, how I felt about the uneasiness that I didn't feel about it.

Stubbornly facing forward, I didn't respond to his statement. Instead, I continued to lead him through the large expansive grounds that made the ancestral Selman family home, towards the back of the garden where a large oak tree stood. Hanging off one of the branches was my safe haven. Without so much as a single glance back to make sure that Viktor was still following me, I approached the tree and jumped slightly to reach the large swing before sitting down with my back facing my family home. Kicking my legs in front of me, I drifted gently through the air.

"When I was young - really young - and before - before the," I cut myself off harshly, cursing my tongue for stumbling over the words. I wanted to share this and yet - my tongue failed me. It had done so well for so long and now, now with this statement that didn't mean anything and yet it was the beginning of everything it wouldn't

The swing pushed a little higher. I turned back in surprise, finding Viktor standing behind me, pushing the swing gently. His eyes, solemn and still gentle, searched my own before he said quietly, "Ve have time."

Nodding and unable to hold his gaze, I faced forward once more. Grasping the rope of the swing, I peeled my attention away from my stubborn tongue, from my brain that was screaming out against sharing something that had proven, just moments ago, my inferiority. Instead, I listened to the rustle of the wind through the leaves, and if I strained to hear it, I could catalogue the even cadence of Viktor's breaths. Falling into the same rhythm, I matched our breaths and felt the anxiety peel away. What was the worst that could happen? He was only here for a few more days, and if he found me inadequate then I would bear it for a few more days before parting from him. Indefinitely.

"When I was younger - a lot younger - and before Cali's mother started to get ill, I would always hide under this tree when the house became too loud." I started again, this time speaking slowly, not rushing to get the words out. "Cali's mother found me here so often that she had this swing put up. She made sure it was large enough that a group of us could sit on here if we wanted to."

"Go on." Viktor made a prompting sound when I fell silent. Fleetingly, so quick that I could disregard it if I chose to, his hands rested on top of mine as he continued to push me.

"In a house full of 9 sisters, it can get really loud, and now that there's tagalongs involved - tagalongs that I like, don't get me wrong - but it gets even louder." I hesitated for a moment before forcing myself to continue, "And my brain is a very loud one already, it becomes nervous and anxious and mean really quickly and it makes me stumble when I say things and - and it - but I - and - I mean - fucking ridiculous"

"Euterpe." His tone was firmer now, his hands over mine resolute as they settled atop of mine, bringing the swing to a halt. I tilted my neck back to look at Viktor who peered down at me. One of his hands released mine, taking my chin between two fingers instead and encouraging me to hold his gaze. "I von't haff you being so hard on yourself. Okay?"

At my soft, "Okay," he released me.

"Good." Viktor didn't start pushing the swing again. Instead, he settled beside me but facing the opposite direction. His body faced my home, even as his head was turned towards mine, meeting my waiting eyes. "Thank you for sharing. Maybe tomorrow I can show you my favourite?"

My consenting nod was response enough. His eyes continued to hold mine, becoming almost too much in their appraisal of my face. Averting my eyes, I turned my face forward once more but he prevented it all too easily. Grasping my chin once more, Viktor's touch stopped my movement.

"Do you understand - I need you to understand that you are not plain, or - or any of the mean things your brain tells you," he spoke haltingly. "Do you understand, slanchitse?"

I searched his eyes. "What does that mean?"

There was that little flicker at the corner of his mouth again before he persisted, "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Viktor.

"Good."

He gave an experimental tug on my chin then, pulling me off balance slightly as I fell towards him. A steadying arm curved around my waist, drawing me into his orbit as his eyes dropped to my lips. Viktor made no attempt to hide it. Not even when he lowered his head slightly, a silent question. Drawing in a long breath, I turned my face and face forward once more. Viktor's thumb rubbed softly on the curve of my hip once, then twice, before he stood and resumed his position behind me. He continued to push me in silence.


The next day, when I woke up, my first thought was Viktor. In the sanctuary of my bedroom, I could admit to myself that my first coherent thought was of Viktor, of what he had planned for our day, of what he wanted to show me. But, I would only let myself admit it as I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling before I started my day. The moment I raised myself from the mattress, the thought would be pushed to the back of my mind, as if Viktor still remained that stranger to me, the one who I only saw through the lens of a journalist's camera. Even if he had stopped being that person the moment I'd seen him sitting between my not-quite brothers.

Finally getting ready for the day, after allowing myself to lounge in the bed for longer - which was absolutely not my way of breaching my boundary so I could daydream about Viktor's eyes or the heavy furrow that appeared between his eyebrows, the damned furrow that I had the most ludicrous urge to kiss away - I made my way downstairs. My lack of urgency meant that most of my sisters were awake when I joined them for breakfast, listening in on the chatter that happened around me.

Era, infuriatingly knowing when it came to the romantic dealings of her sisters - even if my relationship with Viktor was decidedly not romantic - leaned in to inform me that Viktor had been whisked away by all three of the Selman adjacent men first thing in the morning. Terence, Marcus and Cassius had escorted him out of our home to in Era's words 'bring him into the fold'. I forced myself not to acknowledge the sting of disappointment I felt at not seeing Viktor first thing in the morning. His presence bookmarking the start of my day was a new occurrence but it was something I had rapidly - far too rapidly - gotten acclimatised to. Still, rather than acknowledging Era's probing and knowing eyes, I just reminded her that our not-quite brothers had no reason to be getting to know Viktor when this betrothal was going to be shattered eventually.

As the day continued and there was still no sign of Viktor, I grew more despondent and determinedly forced away the uncomfortable feeling. The longer I refused to acknowledge it, the fainter it would become and I wouldn't have to accept the feeling. It would pass quickly and I would get on with my life. There was no reason to be watching the clock, or glancing at the fireplace, expecting to see him tumbling out. So what if he couldn't make our tentative plan? It wasn't the end of the world and I had no reason to be such a drama queen about it. People were suffering far worse fates than being stood up for a date -

No. It wasn't a date. There was no romantic attachment between us so how could it be a date?

Rania, settling herself next to me, darted a foot out to kick my thigh. When I turned to face her, she asked, "Where's your head at? You keep staring off into space?"

"I'm just wondering how I got stuck babysitting again," I teased; I hadn't been doing as good of a job as I'd originally thought if Rania had noticed.

"Hey!" Psi, looked up briefly from her needlework to shoot me her signature dissatisfied stare. "I don't know who you're babysitting, but it's not me."

"You're the only reason I'm calling it babysitting." Psi's frowned so harshly at my words that I tried to smother my laughter. I failed miserably, so miserably that I hid my smile behind my hands; Psi gave up and rolled her eyes as she turned away. "Come on, Psi-"

My attempts at placating my sister were cut short by the sound of the floo activating. The sound, one I had been listening out for all day, had my head snapping towards the fireplace so sharply that I knew my sisters would tease me for it the moment we were alone again. For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to care. Not when I was waiting to see who would step out into our living room.

It was Terence who stepped into the room, greeting us all with a smile. When his eyes settled onto me, likely noting the way I failed to stop my shoulders from slumping, he reassured me easily, "Well, I promise not to take offence with that Euta. Where's the love of my life?"

"Stuck in her office," Thalia piped up, not bothering to look up from her seat where she was busy trying to make sense of the instructions from her healer. Later, when she was done being stubborn, she'd seek out Terence and have him translate the medical jargon into layman's terms. But for now, she insisted that she was old enough to not need help.

"I guess that's my queue to go save her then." Terence declared on his way out of the room. He paused briefly, his eyes far too knowing when they met mine, as he announced, "The rest will be along shortly."

True to his word, the fireplace activated mere moments later and out tumbled Cassius and Viktor in short succession. I made such a concentrated effort to keep my eyes resolutely on Mellie's man that Psi made an amused sound that I pointedly ignored. Cassius, younger than Viktor but standing taller than him, searched the room.

Before he could even ask, Rania declared, "Mellie being a maniac and decided that she needed to sort through her clothes."

"My angel? A maniac? Never." Cassius ignored the snort that sounded at him declaring Mellie an angel as he darted around Viktor who stood in his way and headed off to find his so-called angel. On his way passed him, Cassius acknowledged Viktor with a wave.

Left alone with Viktor, a man who hadn't been initiated into our family the way the others had, my sisters slowly abandoned their activities. Instead, their attention settled onto the wizard with searching scrutiny, not that Viktor appeared to be phased by it. He remained standing tall, eyes settled securely onto me even as I evaded his gaze.

"Euta," I could hear the frown in his voice and yet I still didn't look at him. "I'm sorry, you were sleeping and I didn't vant to disturb you and-"

The floo activated once more and this time Marcus stepped out into our living room, dusting the soot off his broad shoulders. Wordlessly, he greeted each of us with a nod before gesturing to the stairs.

"Clio's not happy," I warned, at last lifting my eyes to look at Marcus. Still, very briefly, my eyes met Viktor's waiting gaze before shifting to the man who stood a short distance from him. "And you know her temper."

"I've got her," Marcus said so steadily that I let the reassurance sweep through me because it was - always reassuring, that was - to know that even one of my most prickly sisters had such a steadfast man beside her to brave her storms.

Without any further preamble, Marcus headed off to seek out Clio and Viktor remained. I watched as he drew his arms behind his back, considering me with a tilted head.

"I'm sorry," he started again.

"I don't know what you're apologising for," I cut in. "It's not like you stood me up for a date, Viktor."

"No?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. It felt like a dare, like a challenge.

Next to me, Rania shifted in her seat, her eyes flickering between me and Viktor. Salazar knew what her too-bright brain was piecing together. Lifting my chin slightly, I insisted, "No."

"Fine." Viktor approached me then, grasping my hand before I could even think to stop him. My eyes flickered to his in surprise. "Are you ready then?"

"Ready?"

"To go flying," he said simply. When I continued to stare up at him uncomprehending, refusing to understand what he was saying, he reminded me, "The thing I like best?"

"And that's flying?" I asked incredulously. It made sense, of course, it made sense, and yet I hadn't thought about it. In all the moments I'd spent contemplating what Viktor would like the most, it hadn't crossed my mind that it would be flying which was so fucking stupid.

Psi burst out laughing, smothering the sound behind her palm. When Viktor cast a surprised but questioning glance her way, she elaborated, "Euta hates flying."

Viktor looked back at me as if I'd struck him but Merlin, I felt like I'd been struck with the reminder of his love of flying. "Really? You don't like to fly? Ve don't haff to-"

"No," I cut in, taking both him and myself by surprise. I hadn't thought my answer through, clearly, because if I had thought it through, I certainly wouldn't be shaking my head as I said, "No, let's go. It's your favourite thing, so we should go flying."

His hand tightened around mine, squeezing it reassuringly. Viktor's voice was lowered, for my ears only, as he asked, "Are you sure?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to say it aloud. Instead, when Psi snickered again, I shot her a look, "Aren't you supposed to be fixing Era's dress? Why are you listening to my business?"

The next minutes passed in a blur, blending together as I lost myself in my ruminations, wondering just how I'd ended up in this situation. How in the name of Merlin's saggy bollocks had I ended up standing over a broom in the garden of my home, with a ruddy quidditch player behind me. There wasn't much I could be 100% sure of, not when it came to my fickle emotions, but one of the few things I'd known with such certainty was that I did not like flying. I preferred my feet to be planted very firmly on the ground and yet - yet here I was.

Breathing out a shaking breath, I adjusted my grasp on the broom, easing my grip when my knuckles began to hurt. Behind me, Viktor gave a quiet call of my name that I struggled to hear over the ringing in my ears. His hands grasped the curve of my waist, squeezing it gently when I didn't respond to him.

"Slanchitse," he said quietly, propping his chin on my shoulder. There was that unfamiliar word again. I turned my head slightly towards him, showing I was listening, but absolutely refusing to look at him lest he see the absolute terror in my eyes. "Ve don't haff to do this."

"No, no." Shaking my head firmly, I rested my back against his chest for the shortest of moments, before I straightened my back. "I'm ready now, let's do this."

"Promise me," he started, reaching around me to grasp the broom, "if it becomes too much, promise that you vill tell me."

"I promise," I said faintly, even though I couldn't be sure that I meant it. My stubbornness would likely keep me silent.

Screwing my eyes shut, I braced myself for the sharp drop of my stomach falling as Viktor kicked off from the ground. Even though I'd been prepared for it, it still had me letting out a small sound of displeasure, my body curving backwards towards Viktor in search of some security, any security really. My back met the solid strength of his chest and this time, I let myself rest against him fully, using him unabashedly to keep me upright and not plummeting off of the broom.

Viktor gave another call of my name, this one quiet and by my ear, but I took the silent prompting. Opening my eyes slowly, I peeked at the space around us and let out a shaking breath. It wasn't so bad - scary, yes, but not as downright terrifying as it had been at school. Still, the feeling of my feet dangling in the air as I perched on a broom that I had no control over - although Viktor had such steady control over it that I didn't worry about it pitching me off - was nervewracking.

But, as I remained pressed against Viktor, I allowed myself to admit that it wasn't too scary when I had Viktor's arms around me, keeping me safe. If his arms remained around me, I was certain that I could try this again. Except, I wouldn't find myself in this position again, I was sure of it. Once Viktor returned to the reality of his life, I'd have no need to clamber onto a broom again.


Our home, as busy as it was during the daytime, took on a very different vibe at night when everyone had retired to the sanctuary of their bedrooms to settle down for the night. No chatter or laughter was echoing through the corridors. On a usual night, the quiet was very much appreciated after a busy day and I could easily fall asleep. But tonight was no usual night. There hadn't been many usual nights since Viktor had become a guest in our home. How was I to sleep soundly knowing that just a few doors down Viktor was likely settling in for the night also?

Yet, tonight was tonight. Tonight I'd allowed his mere presence to overrule the fear I felt for flying, I'd let myself be corralled into the safety of his embrace and my traitorous mind had whispered thoughts it shouldn't have. Even now, as I stared up at the ceiling, I contemplated what a life with Viktor would look like … and why it was something that was only becoming more and more appealing even though I'd wanted to end our connection not so long ago.

Sighing forcefully, I sat up in the bed and pushed the duvet aside. There was nothing for it; tonight sleep wouldn't find me. Pushing my feet into my waiting slippers, I summoned my dressing gown and slipped my arms into the sleeves. Tying the band around my waist, I pocketed my wand and exited my bedroom.

Making my way down the hallway, I kept a careful ear out for the sound of movement, not wanting to wake anyone up or for one of the tagalongs who had decided to spend the night - and tonight Marcus had joined Terence in his extended occupancy - to appoint himself as honorary man of the house to investigate what the sound of the movement was. Each of my steps was measured and careful as I came to a stop outside of the guest room. Confronted with the strangest urge to knock on the door, to see if Viktor was awake, I fought it with every part of my being and continued on my way until I reached my original destination.

Knocking softly on Mellie's door, I waited for a response. Not that I was kept standing in the corridor for long. My sister, wearing her own dressing gown on top of her pyjamas and with a face mask on her face, opened the door without the slightest hint of wariness. Her eyes settled briefly on me before she stepped aside and ushered me in.

Gesturing to her vanity table which was littered with various face masks, she asked, "Do you want one, Euta?"

"No," I said quietly, second-guessing my decision to seek advice. It wasn't too late to keep it all to myself; I hadn't said a word and I could just turn back.

Mellie, who settled back at her vanity, removed the sheet mask from her face and regarded me with careful eyes, "What's going on? Did you need help with something?"

Briefly shuffling on my feet, I sighed and sank onto Mellie's bed. Kicking off my slippers, I drew my legs under myself and evaded her waiting eyes. Although Mellie wasn't wasn't as nosey as either of our two eldest sisters, could certainly have her moments. But I'd come to her for a reason.

"Mellie, I-" When the words refused to leave my throat, my eyes flickered up towards her, hoping she didn't become annoyed at my silence. She wasn't. Mellie's eyes met mine patiently and she nodded, reassuringly just once. "I don't know what to do about Viktor."

"Euta, I love you, I absolutely adore you," Mellie said with a sigh as she stood and walked to join me on the bed. Sitting next to me, my sister reached out and held my fiddling hand between both of hers. "But it's almost 1 in the morning and I need a little bit more context than that."

Except, at the best of times, it wasn't easy to put my thoughts into words and when it concerned something that felt so life-altering, that melded my emotions into the most complicated tangled mess - then it became so much harder. But I forced myself to do it anyway, to try to make coherent sentences out of the rambling thoughts in my mind.

"Listen, Mellie, I'm - I'm about to bear my heart to you, so - so don't tell anyone." I searched her waiting eyes. Mellie rolled her eyes for me to see, but I continued regardless, "I'm serious, don't tell anyone, not even Cali or Clio."

Mellie's perfect eyebrows - they were always perfect - drew together in a concerned pucker. If I was asking her to keep something from Calliope then it had to be serious. "Okay, I promise."

Satisfied, I drew my lower lip into my mouth and worried it between my teeth until it began to smart. Only then, did I speak. "What would he want with me anyway? I'm not - good at quidditch and I hate flying. I stumble - over my words all the fucking time-"

"Euterpe-"

Shaking my head, I spoke over her, "And I'm not, I'm not pretty the way you all are - and it's - everyone knows - I'm the plain one and I'm-"

"Get a grip," Mellie said firmly, taking her hand from mine and grasping me by the shoulders. She tugged me forward slightly, meeting my wide eyes, "Do you really think you not liking flying will be such a big deal? And point me towards a single person who has never - not once - stumbled over their words. And regarding how you look - in case Viktor hasn't told you already, let me tell you that you're not plain, nothing about you is plain."

"Mellie-"

"No, let me know which bastard made you feel this way about yourself and I'll set Cassius on them." The image of Cassius, always smiling and cheeky, being set upon anyway, triggered an unstoppable smile. From the way Mellie's eyes softened, I was certain that had been her plan. When she spoke next, her voice was gentle, "Now, why don't you tell me the truth? What's really bothering you?"

"What happens if we do give things a go?" I asked. It was highly unlikely that Mellie would have the answers to my questions, but I needed my sister to help me make sense of everything. "He lives in Bulgaria and my home is here. What happens then? Do I - am I going to have to make do with having bits and pieces of him? How is that any better than Father and Dorothea?"

With a disbelieving sigh, Mellie said firmly, "You know that's not the same thing. You're still holding out on me Euta."

"Merlin's balls," I swore, rubbing my hands over my face. "I'm selfish and I feel like if things continue with Viktor, I'll want all of him, even if he doesn't want all of me."

"Well, have you asked him? If he'd be able to give you all of him?" My silence was all the answer she needed, "There's no point in you working yourself up when you don't even know what he's going to say. You need to talk to him about this, okay? Promise me?"

Still, I kept my silence, averting my eyes from Mellie. It was easy for her to say that, to insist that I march right up to Viktor and get the answers from him. After all, it had been easy for her to do that with Cassius. But I wasn't Mellie, and it would be anything but easy.

"I swear to Salazar himself, if you don't talk to him I'll get Era involved to slap some sense into you," Mellie warned.

"Alright, fine, fine."

"Good." Pushing my hair out of my face, Mellie grasped my chin and lifted it. She turned my head from one side to the other. "Now, let me put a face mask on you."


There was never a guarantee on which of my sisters - or occasionally which tagalong - would be waiting for me to finish working for the day so they could take me home. More often than not, it was Mellie who was waiting for me, sometimes dragging an all too willing Cassius to accompany her - of course, Cassius was ready to go wherever she led him. As I finished up for the day, I made my way out onto the shop floor, searching the ground for my sister - or a sister-adjacent man - and frowned at the sight of the two girls waiting for me.

Psi and Rania, looking out of place in the Alchemist's shop, were far too young to be apparating us home. Suppressing a sigh, I crossed the distance between us and stopped myself from asking where our of-age sisters were. Instead, I gestured for them to follow after me as we started on our long journey back home. The pair filled me in on what I'd missed in my short working shift; Polly had apparently convinced Viktor to take her out on his broom. Our youngest sister, who'd always wanted desperately to fly, was forcefully bound by gravity and her lack of magic. But she trusted Viktor - and it was so hard for her to trust men after spending so much of her childhood trapped with father without any of us to run interference - and the glowing character recommendation did nothing for my already tempted heart. Viktor was far too easily paving out his place in our family.

It took some time, but we eventually reached home and my poor feet were protesting at the brutality they'd been put through. As our home came into view, my younger sisters sped up, practically racing each other in their haste to get to the front door, leaving me to trail behind them. Shutting the front door behind me, I walked towards the front room, my steps slowing at the number of people sitting there. Of course, wasn't strange to see a group of people sitting in the same room, especially in a house that was home to so many people. But it was strange to see them waiting with their eyes trained on the door as if waiting for me to walk in.

Hesitantly removing my bag from my shoulder, I set it on the arm of the sofa, my eyes darting instantly to our pseudo matriarch and patriarch. Terence and Calliope met my eyes in turn, offering me warm smiles. Still, I narrowed my eyes at them.

Before I could say a word, Cali rose to her feet. She reached for a coat that I hadn't noticed was draped over her knees as she asked, "Did you have a good day at work?"

"It was busy," I said slowly, watching as Terence helped her into it. Once he was satisfied, he dropped a kiss on the crown of her head and gestured to my sisters. I watched as they busied themselves with their coats. "Cali-"

"Cassius and Marcus picked Mellie and Clio up," Calliope said before I could formulate my sentence.

Breaking our eye contact, Cali turned to Polly and made a point of bringing her hair out from under the collar of her jacket. Watching her movements through narrowed eyes, I didn't point out that she was evading my eyes. She had never been good at being sneaky; something was going on that she refused to tell me.

Terence, ever the hero, stepped in whilst Calliope floundered and spoke easily, his tone just as warm as always as if he too wasn't in on the secret. "So Cali and I thought we'd take the rest of your sisters out for the evening, it's been a while since I played the older brother and had you lot make a dent in my Gringott's vault. And since you've been working, you'll like having the quiet house to relax in."

And before I could protest - and Merlin, I wanted to protest at being left alone, at finding myself without even a single sister to keep me company, which was so rare - the group were hurrying out of the house. I followed them with my eyes, trying and failing to string together the words to make up a coherent sentence. Biting harshly on my bottom lip, I let out a frustrated breath; they had good intentions, they wanted me to rest and to recover, they hadn't intended to make me feel so left out. I was certain that wasn't the case, not when Calliope spent so much time overthinking and yet -

"Slanchitse," the voice that sounded from behind me was such a surprise that I startled physically. Turning abruptly towards the door, I hastily lowered my raised wand at the sight of Viktor who stood at the threshold, wearing an apron of all things.

It was all the clarity I needed. They hadn't intended to make me feel left out, but there had never been any intention of my joining them. Not when this - whatever this was - was on the agenda.

"Viktor," I greeted him, trying and failing not to become enamoured at the strange sight of seeing him wearing my apron. "Sorry, I didn't realise you were here."

"It's your home, there's nothing to apologise for," he assured me with a faint amused smile curled around his mouth. He made a motion, beckoning with two fingers for me to follow after him, as he turned to leave. Sheer stubbornness would have made me plant my feet firmly on the ground and refuse to budge from my spot if he hadn't started to speak. It was only my desire for an explanation that had me following after him. Only that. "You'll haff to forgive your sisters. I was the one that asked them to give us space."

"Space?" I repeated, sounding foolish for being so inarticulate, but I was struggling to come to terms with the situation in front of me. Viktor, a man who to my horror I was beginning to think of as being partly mine, was standing in my kitchen, wearing my cooking apron, as he rifled through the cupboards.

He glanced at me from over his shoulder, and whatever expression was on my face, it had him turning his body towards mine, crossing his arms over his chest and resting on the counter behind him. There was that same fond smile on his face again. The same one that spelt trouble for my immature heart.

"I - I don't know what's going on," I confessed quietly, letting the words settle in the space between us.

"Thalia tells me that you like to cook," Viktor said conversationally, pushing away from the counter and approaching me with slow steps. The fixed weight of his eyes on mine made me want to retreat, feeling very much like that snitch he spent so much time chasing, but I pushed away the urge. This was my home, and I wouldn't be made to run away like a prepubescent teen fleeing from her crush. Stopping a short distance from me, Viktor looked down at me and continued, "She said that out of your sisters, you are the best cook."

"It's not a tough competition," I admitted softly, searching his eyes.

"Still," he insisted. Viktor reached out then, his hands hesitating for a moment before they settled on the curve of my waist. His eyes, flued to mine the entire time, contained a silent question that I didn't quite have it in me to answer.

Effortlessly Viktor lifted me off the ground, throwing me so off balance that I had to loop my arms around his shoulder to cling to his solid frame. Protests that didn't make much sense, that didn't form full sentences, flowed out of my mouth but he didn't pay them much heed as he carried me across the room and set me on the countertop. When he was certain that I was securely settled, Viktor released my waist but remained nearby, held captive by my arms which had absolutely no desire to leave him. He didn't appear to be protesting either. He searched my features, looking like he was going to say something. Was I the only one who felt like they couldn't breathe properly, lest the sound of it break the silence?

I hurried to retract my hands, gathering them in my lap and averting my eyes from his. I could hear Mellie's voice in my head, prompting me to "ask him, damn it!" and yet, I couldn't. "Sorry."

"Don't apologise," he said with an easy shrug, stepping away from me and returning to the cupboards. I watched him silently as he approached the stove to stir a pot, considering him as I fidgeted with my fingers. "I vonted to share something I grew up eating and I wanted to share some of my home with you. So that maybe, one day, if you vould like to, you could come to see me. In my home."

Viktor had spoken the words into the pot, not looking at me and even now he didn't look at me. He kept his focus on whatever he was stirring, completely missing the surprise on my face. In a roundabout way, he'd admitted that he wanted me to visit him in his home and I'd learned not to ask him if he'd meant what he said. When I said nothing and his words remained unaddressed in the space between us, Viktor glanced at me with a gentle smile.

"I - I think I should, actually, I." Letting out a sharp breath, I forced myself to speak slowly as I said, "I'm, I should go and get changed."

Frowning, but saying nothing more, Viktor reached out to help me off the counter. Once my feet were firmly on the ground, he removed his hands from my body and turned back to the stove.

My eyes lingered on the now tense line of his shoulders. It seemed important that I assured him, "I'll be back soon."

Despite wanting to rush out of the room, to flee to the safety of my bedroom, I forced myself to walk at a rational pace. The last thing I wanted was to make it seem like I was fleeing from Viktor's presence. He had been vulnerable, had offered me something hesitantly and my non-answer had been hurtful enough. Even hurting Viktor that much felt like I'd committed some grave sin. Salazar's soul, I would never want to hurt him.

I waited until I was out of the kitchen, out of earshot, and then I was rushing upstairs and into my bedroom. Shutting the door, I rested my back against the door and let out a long steadying breath. Merlin's beard, tonight was not a good night to be left to my own awkward devices to navigate this situation. It would have been better to have one of my sisters, any of them here, even 12-year-old Polly, to talk me through what felt like a verging heart attack. It could only be a heart attack; whatever other reason was there for my heart to be thundering so harshly in my chest.

I needed to navigate this with some sort of tact, without seeming like I was floundering and I needed to do it quickly. It had already been too long since I'd left Viktor alone and I was too aware of the thin boundary that was approaching me; if I continued to wait here too long, I ran the risk of Viktor thinking I was hiding from him. Decisively, even if my brain was still protesting and screeching, I changed into my comfortable clothes and summoned my slippers.

Taking a glance at my reflection, I tied my hair out of my face and took in a fortifying breath. It took more effort to walk towards Viktor than it did to run away from him and yet, once I reached the kitchen and I saw him still in front of the stove, the tangled mess of thoughts in my brain melted away. All that remained was the image of him. He had no way of knowing - and I had certainly never told him - but cooking was one of my ways of conveying my love for someone. It was why I cooked so often for my sisters. My words, often faltering and refusing to cooperate, weren't as reliable as making food for the people I cared for. And yet, here Viktor stood in the kitchen, cooking for me, wanting to share something with me.

Hiding my hands in the worn sleeves of my jumper, I watched Viktor with eyes that I knew were soft, soft only in the way they had ever been for him. Forcefully injecting levity into my words, I asked, "Do you cook for all the women you're trying to woo?"

Viktor, startled at the sound of my voice, turned to face me. His eyes glanced over me, lingering briefly on my hidden hands before he met my gaze with a soft smile. Could he see the nerves I was trying so desperately to hide? And if that was the case, how had he become so good at reading me in such a short time?

Shaking his head, Viktor admitted softly, "You are the first woman I haff cooked for."

The tone of voice, one I hadn't heard him use before, hesitant as if worried about scaring me away, made me want to go to him, to tuck myself under his chin with my arms around him. But I didn't. Instead, I wondered if Viktor would bring up his desire for me to visit him in Bulgaria. Would he want me to bring it up again?

"Should I worry about my health then?"

"Not at all." Switching the stove off, Viktor made a vague gesture towards the door. "Go and sit at the table, I'll bring it through."

"Are you sure? I can help and-"

"Go." He sounded amused as he pointed insistently once more at the door.

I was reluctant to leave Viktor, and so I didn't. Instead, I watched as Viktor spooned out two portions of food. He was quiet as he worked, putting in the effort of wiping the sides of the plate clean. With a murmured spell, Viktor levitated the plates behind him and, upon finding me standing in the doorway, he raised an eyebrow.

"I wanted to wait with you," I explained, even as my cheeks burned at the admission.

"Slanchitse." There it was again, that word, coated in blatant affection as he walked towards me.

With an encouraging hand on the small of my back, Viktor led me through my home towards the dining table which, to my surprise, had already been set for two people. I glanced at Viktor, grateful for the effort and wanting to thank him, but he made a point of not looking at me as he put the two plates down side by side. I was close enough to see the red rimming his ears.

Pushing a chair out from under the table, Viktor waited for me to take a seat before he pushed it closer to the table. Turning my body towards him, I watched as Viktor took the seat next to me. It seemed silly, completely silly, but the only other time I'd sat this close to Viktor was on the swing, where we almost -

The memory came to my mind unprompted and I reached for my glass of water and took a sip for the sole reason that it meant I could avert my eyes. "Thank you, Viktor, for doing all of this."

"I vonted to share it vith you," he said with a shrug as if to minimise the effort he had put into making our diner.

Resting his elbow on the table, Viktor propped his head on a closed fist as he watched me. I searched his eyes uncomprehending for a moment, holding his gaze and well, I was content to just look at him. Viktor's features softened into a gentle smile as he glanced pointedly at my plate. Right.

Although, before I reached for my cutlery -

Shifting my body to face Viktor again, I used the mental image of Mellie cheering me on/threatening me with bodily harm, to keep my eyes on him. His eyebrows drew together and that furrow was back - the one I wanted desperately to kiss - appeared again as he considered me carefully.

"About what you said earlier," I started haltingly, only to fall silent again.

This was important, and I didn't want to stumble or say something wrong this time. Thinking over my words with intense scrutiny, I made Viktor wait for far too long. Not that he complained. Rather, he continued to watch me, having straightened up completely. His hand continued to rest on the table, outstretched out towards me, his index finger brushing softly back and forth against the skin of my arm as if to soothe me.

"About what you said earlier," I started again, only to cut myself off harshly. Salazar's fucking soul, I'd spent too long thinking this over and yet -

"It flustered you," Viktor said eventually. When I nodded wordlessly, he asked, "Is that why you ran back there?"

"It's not just that."

Viktor's index finger stopped its gentle motions as his entire palm, warm and soothing, took its place. He grasped my upper arm, rubbing softly up and down as he continued to watch me. Why was he so able to calm me and set me aflutter at the same time? "What else is there then?"

"You'll also be returning to Bulgaria soon. You're only here for a few days."

"I am?" He sounded like he didn't get it, he didn't understand what the unsaid part of my words meant. Still, he continued, "I vill be going home, but I vould like to stay in contact vith you. If that is something you vould also like?"

"Is that something you would like?"

"I haff told you before, I mean vot I say. But I vont to know your mind, Euta." He removed his hand from my arm, bringing it back to his lap. Ducking his head to meet my lowered eyes, Viktor insisted quietly, "So tell me vot you think."

"I'm selfish-"

"You are not."

"I am," I insisted, with a shake of my head. "I'm selfish and I know I wouldn't be satisfied if I couldn't have all of someone. And if I had to spend so much time away from you - I don't think I could do it. But, I also don't think - how could I also sign up for that if you don't - if I - what if I want you more than you want me? How could you even want me a little bit?"

"Slanchitse." This time he said it around a sigh.

Leaning forward, Viktor pressed his forehead briefly against mine, taking me by surprise. Startled by the lack of space between us, I tried to draw back, feeling my face heat up, but Viktor's hand found its way to the back of my head, cupping it gently in a silent request. Swallowing nervously and fighting against my instinct to flee, I instead closed my eyes to evade the probing dark eyes that looked like they were trying to read my mind. My blood roared in my ears and -

"Slanchitse," this time it was a soft murmur, "do you want to know what that means?"

Nodding hesitantly, I opened my eyes and met his waiting gaze. His eyes, his expression, everything about him was so so soft. Lifting his forehead from mine, Viktor drew back a short distance and searched my features. Grasping at my sleeves, I stopped my hands from reaching for him to bring him back to me.

"It means little sun," he elaborated. "A little sun who effortlessly brightens my day even when she's trying to hide how much she likes me, who has me trapped in her orbit."

Mouth parting in surprise, scrambling for something to say, to address the declaration he'd just made, all I could manage was "Little?"

"You are little," he said with a smile. "Little enough to be tucked under my chin."

"Hush," I chided.

"It's up to you slanchitse, if you want to give it a go. Everything is up to you." His smile wavered for a moment before he continued, "I vould respect your answer."

I wanted to give this a go, to try and become something with the man sitting next to me, who had with very little effort on his part, marked a place for himself in my heart and refused to budge. And yet, there was the lingering worries that would not be quieted, of the distance, of the difference in our lifestyles and the consequences I could face after being associated with Viktor. Here, in the sanctuary of my home, there were no cameras, no spectators, no one passing judgement on me and -

And yet, it didn't matter as much as he did. When I compared it to how earnestly I wanted to love him, and I was certain I would very shortly love him, it didn't matter.

"I would - like to give it a go, that is."

"Good." Grasping my hands in both of his, Viktor held them steady, his thumbs rubbing back and forth over my knuckles. "And our father's promise? Vot about that?"

"I don't want to keep you bound," I said hesitantly.

"I am man enough to make my own decisions," Viktor declared. And well, I couldn't protest to that.

Gently, giving me enough time to draw away from him, Viktor used his hands to pull mine towards him. Accepting the silent prompting, I shuffled towards the edge of my chair, sitting so close to him that my knees were touching his. He released my hands then, one of his hands coming up to rest at the back of my neck, and the other grasping the back of my chair. Drawing even closer still, Viktor lowered his head towards mine. Closing my eyes in anticipation, I tried not to overthink, to wonder if he would be able to tell that this was my first kiss and -

Viktor closed the space between us, smiling against my lips as he kissed me. It was gentle, soft and seconds long before he drew back. Cheeks aflame and my hands shaking slightly, I opened my eyes and found him watching me with a teasing smile.

"Vos that okay?" I nodded once, not trusting my voice. "Good."

He kissed me again, this time he drew me closer to him. My hands grasped his shirt, keeping him close to me as he kissed me again and again.

Viktor fucking Krum.


My relationship with Viktor had changed, although I still wasn't sure what to refer to him as. Technically, he was my fiance, we were betrothed to be married, although some small part of me still doubted that Viktor would ever tolerate my presence long enough to marry me. I had been attracted to Viktor, had been attracted to Viktor, for a while now, but we had only properly been together for such a short time that the label of fiance felt too heavy. Maybe boyfriend was a better fit? But we hadn't agreed to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Only - given the real nature of our relationship, did we have to have that conversation and agreement? It was all such a confusing mess that I'd need my older sisters, who had all gone through this phase, to help me navigate it.

But, irrespective of the label of our relationship, or the title we gave each other, our relationship had changed. There was much less hesitancy and less running away on my part, and Viktor, to my immense surprise had decided to extend his stay. He had insisted that he wanted to spend whatever time he could with me, before my return for my seventh year.

However, Terence upon noting the change in our relationship, had prompted corralled together his partners in suffering (Marcus and Cassius) to insist that it was inappropriate for Viktor to remain under our roof. Naturally, he hadn't listened to Calliope's insistence that it wasn't our roof, and the trio had shifted Viktor and his belongings into Cassius's home. Not that it did much. In the remaining days of my summer holiday, Viktor arrived at our home at the crack of dawn, meeting me at the dining table for breakfast and eventually leaving at bedtime at which point Terence escorted him, rather pointedly, to the fireplace.

And now, as I stood at the platform, prolonging my departure, I knew with startling clarity that I would miss Viktor. I would miss his gentle eyes, soothing energy and the feeling of his arms around me. We hadn't said goodbye yet, but the knowledge of our separation, and the anticipation of the loneliness that would follow had all of my focus solely on the man beside me. It didn't matter that almost every student who walked passed us was looking at him and that we were attracting so much attention. That alone highlighted how much Viktor meant to me; that the attention meant nothing when compared to missing a single moment in his company.

Viktor, standing tall and silent, at my side held one of my hands securely in both of his as he fidgeted with my fingers. He met my waiting eyes before offering me a small, if not rueful smile, before glancing at my sisters. Terence and Calliope, who had taken it upon themselves to carry out the back-to-school trip, were looking over Era, Psi, Rania and Thalia with careful eyes, checking that they hadn't forgotten anything. Thalia and Era shared a long-suffering look over Terence's shoulder. Perhaps they wished that they were with Polly who was being accompanied to a writing workshop with Clio and Mellie. After finally being assured that no one had forgotten anything, and stifling her burgeoning sense of sadness, Calliope hugged each of us in turn.

When it was my turn, Viktor released my hand so I could hold my eldest sister close to me. Burrowed my head into the crook of her neck, I took in a long breath to cement her scent into my brain. Calliope walked a careful path between mother and sister and regardless of that all, she was peace. If I could, I would bottle her scent and take it with me to school to fight off any nerves.

Releasing me from her embrace, Calliope held my face in her hands and smiled reassuringly, "It's your last year at school, enjoy it."

"I'll try," I said with a shrug that had her rolling her eyes. "I'll miss you, Cali."

"I'll miss you too." She hugged me abruptly again, this time speaking by my ear, "Don't worry about keeping the rest in line. Just enjoy being young, and leave the responsibility to me."

Calliope didn't give me the opportunity to disagree, to reassure her that I could give her a bit of a break before she drew away. Her spot was quickly replaced by Terence who embraced me softly, like he thought I would break. Ending the hug, Terence and Calliope corralled my sisters onto the train, after shooting me a pointed look and then glancing at Viktor.

Finally left alone with my - well, I still wasn't sure on what I would call him - with my Viktor, I turned to face him. He grasped both of my hands before I could start fiddling and tugged softly. In a short time, I'd learnt what it meant and stepped closer to him.

Dropping his chin, Viktor pressed a lingering kiss to my waiting forehead. Closing my eyes, I savoured the contact and committed every aspect of this moment to my memory; the feeling of his lips against my skin, of his hands in mine, the smell of his cologne, and the way he made everything feel okay. He was the second person to have ever made me feel that way.

Reluctantly Viktor withdrew with a sigh. Opening my eyes, I tilted my head up to meet his gaze. There was that furrow again -

Rising to my toes, I stretched my hand up to rub away the furrow until his eyebrows drew apart and he didn't look so severe. Satisfied that his features had softened, I lowered my heel back to the floor again and smiled up at him.

"I vill write to you," he said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His hand drew down the curve of my cheek to hold it. Softly, his thumb rubbed back and forth. "Vill you write back?"

"Of course, I will," I said rolling my eyes.

"Good." He gave me a lingering smile. "Vill you let me know vhen you can go to the village?"

"Hogsmeade?" I asked, confused. When he nodded expectantly, I considered him carefully. "Yes, I can let you know. But why?"

"Because I vont to visit you at the first opportunity," Viktor spoke as if the answer was obvious. "I haff grown used to seeing you every day and it will be hard not to see you, slanchitse."

"And that won't be too much trouble? Having to arrange for a portkey and getting it approved?"

"Not if it's for you."

Shifting once more onto my toes, I leaned up expectantly. Viktor, knowing my aversion to PDA, he closed the remaining space between us to press his forehead against mine. When the warning whistle rang, I let out a reluctant sigh and stepped away from Viktor. Not that he let me go.

Holding steadily onto my hand, Viktor led me through the crowd, ignoring the way people moved out of the way for him, or the way they were looking at him. We reached the train at record time. Helping me onto the train, Viktor linked our fingers together. Standing lingeringly in the doorway, I was hesitant to let go.

Offering me a sad smile, Viktor lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed it once. "I vill vait for your letter."

It sounded like a promise.