Beautiful Skies

Hermione couldn't quite focus on the conversation around her. She had been learning Bulgarian since she met Viktor, but she wasn't fluent enough to keep up when Viktor and his friends got going.

"He'll be here soon," Viktor told her. He still didn't know who Kato Peverell was or why Hermione knew him. She hadn't really written about him. Viktor was worrying that Hermione had come only to say that she didn't want to see him again. Though he doubted she would do that. "You care a lot about Kato?" he said.

Hermione nodded. "Kato is… well it is complicated, but we do need to talk about it," she said. "He is Harry's cousin or rather he is a distant cousin of Harry's. He has helped a lot of people that matter to Harry. He is healing Neville's parents and the Cure cured one of Harry's father's best friends. Since Kato showed up Harry has been happier. He is actually acting more like a proper teenager now."

"So you care about Kato because he is good for your friend?" Bisera said suspiciously.

"Well, Kato is my cousin too. Since Harry adopted me into his family last Christmas," Hermione said. She could see people relax around her. Had they thought she was together with Kato? "When I first met Kato he was an emotional wreck. His fiancé was sick. They knew she was going to die, but knowing that someone is about to leave you doesn't make the loss any easier. The last thing she did was complete the Cure. It is her legacy. That is why he cares so much about it," Hermione said.

"Explains why he got so angry," Alex said. "I wouldn't like it if someone messed with something like that either."

Hermione nodded. She managed to join the conversation after that. Kato would be fine, she knew that.

"He is taking a long time," Viktor said an hour later.

"The goblins might have needed him to stay," Hermione said.

"We should head out. Would you like to take a look around?" Viktor asked.

"I would love to," Hermione said.

The group left the little café where they had settled down to wait for Kato and started walking around. Viktor had to drag her away from a bookstore. He was smiling now. His friends had quickly warmed up to Hermione once they understood who Kato was. They spoke of many different things and had to accept that Viktor was most likely right. Hermione was very smart. What had seemed like ignorance was actually knowledge they simply didn't have.

They finally found Kato standing in the middle of a group of people. He was chatting away in French with one of them.

"Those are vampires," Alex said. "How can he be so relaxed?"

"Kato isn't really afraid of anything I think," Hermione said. She saw how one of the vampires grinned and moved up closer to Kato. What happened next went by so fast that the humans hadn't seen what happened. One second the vampire had been almost on top of Kato. The next they were lying on the ground halfway across the street.

Kato walked up to Hermione and Viktor. He said something offhand to the vampires and they left.

"How did it go with the goblins?" Hermione asked. "Is Clan Warhammer okay now that you killed their old Chieftain?" She did her best not to grin as the Vampires backed off. The prospect of fighting someone who could defeat a Goblin Chieftain as well as the angry dragon around Kato's neck didn't appeal to them. They disappeared into the shadows and didn't return.

"Thank you, Hermione," Kato said.

"How did you attract their attention anyway?" Alex asked.

Kato shrugged. "Things tend to happen to me," he said.

"Those were day-walkers. They are extremely dangerous to get on the wrong side of," Alex said.

"They still have to follow the law and attacking me in broad daylight is about as foolish as you can get," Kato said.

"So you trust that our Aurors will protect you?" Alex asked.

"I trust that I can defend myself if I need to," Kato said.

"I think it is about time we head home," Viktor said. "Before something else attacks us." He gave Kato a pointed look. "Mother and father hoped we would come for dinner this evening," he said.

"That sounds lovely," Hermione said.

"Well, I guess we'll see you some other day then," Bisera said.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Nayden said.

Everyone said their goodbyes and headed off.

Viktor looked at Kato. "Can you trail me?" he asked.

"That I can do," Kato said. He followed Viktor as he apparated home to his parents. The Krums lived in a beautiful house with a lovely mountain view. Kato looked forward to running through the nearby forest in the morning. Though, he wasn't sure they would be staying with Viktor's parents. He smiled as a bird flew by over their heads. Much like the Delacour home. This place felt serene just in a different way. He hoped that Ennerdale would one day have a similar feeling.

He followed behind Viktor and Hermione at a distance to give them at least a semblance of privacy. He had come along for Hermione's sake. He wanted her to get to do what she wanted on this trip.

Kato turned around as a man came walking over a hill in the distance. If he didn't remember incorrectly, it was Viktor's father. He looked back towards the house where Viktor and Hermione had just entered through the front door.

"Good day Mr Krum," Kato said as the man got close enough to hear him.

"Good day," Mr Krum said. "Who might you be? I don't think I have seen you before."

Kato introduced himself and told Mr Krum why he was there.

"Ah, the chaperone," Mr Krum said. "Do her parents think that is necessary? That my son would take advantage of their daughter?" He was smiling but there was a hint of steel in his eyes.

"No, they do not," Kato said. "I'm along more as a buffer against other people. Though her father might say differently." He smirked mischievously.

Mr Krum laughed. "I see. I see. I can't say I blame him. It isn't easy to send your only child off to another country without you," he said. He clasped Kato's shoulder and started guiding him inside. "You must meet my lovely wife, young man," he said. "My dearest Sara it would seem that Mr Granger felt the need to send protection with his most precious gift."

Sara Krum rolled her eyes at her husband's antics. "It is nice to meet you, dear," she said.

"Dinner is almost done," Mr Krum said. "Help me get the table ready son. You can make stary eyes at your girl later."

Hermione giggled and pushed Viktor towards his father. "Go on you better do what he says," she said.

Viktor gave his mother a pained look and she just chuckled. "You know he wants to show off dear," she said.

Dinner was a lively affair with questions and stories that may or may not have been slightly exaggerated. After dinner, they retired to the living room where a beautiful grand piano was the centrepiece.

"Will you play for us, darling?" Mr Krum asked his wife.

Sara sat down by the piano and started playing. She watched as Viktor and Hermione sat down together then her eyes turned to the young man who was accompanying Hermione. It was quite clear that he wished to give Hermione room with her boyfriend, but he wasn't quite sure what to do.

Kato felt eyes on him and looked over at Sara. She moved slightly by the piano and motioned for him to join her. He smiled. He held his hands out and a small case came flying from somewhere. It grew larger and he pulled out a guitar. Sara smiled brightly. She always enjoyed a fellow musician.

Sara stopped playing and Kato picked up a tune. She listened for a bit before she picked up on what he was playing. Then Kato started singing. She had never heard anything like it before. It was a sad song and her heart ached for him. She looked towards her husband who had turned around in his armchair to watch them.

Viktor looked up at his parents. He had been talking to Hermione and hadn't really paid any attention to what was going on. He had heard that music before though. Harry played like that. Was that a coincidence? Had he learnt from Kato? He met Kato's eyes and he felt how he was pulled into Kato's mind.

When Viktor returned to himself he looked from Kato to Hermione. "You know?" he asked and Hermione nodded.

"That explains so much," Viktor said. He could see the need for the lie though. At least for now. Harry had healed him. He acted more mature than his age and he had suddenly developed a charisma that he hadn't possessed previously. Viktor closed his eyes. Seeing Harry fly in over a battlefield on a dragon had been epic. He had watched movies in the muggle world with his friends and they fell short of the adventure that seemed to have been Harry's life.

"I asked him to tell you," Hermione said. "I wanted you to know the truth."

"I'm honoured that he would," Viktor said. He watched as his mother and father headed out of the room and Kato went with them. He assumed his mother would show Kato where he could stay for the night. He looked down at Hermione. He had missed her and it wasn't until he got to hold her again like this that he realised just how much. Now that he knew Kato was actually Harry it felt even less awkward to have him around. He was Hermione's brother after all.

3rd of August, 1996.

Kato was out early the next morning. He was running through the forest near the Krums' home. He found a path that led up the nearby mountain and started heading up. Qozul was flying above him. His invisibility charm kept anyone that didn't know about him from seeing him. It had rained at some point during the night and the green leaves cradled water droplets in their embrace. Kato reached above the trees and looked around. He closed his eyes and felt the wind tear at his clothes. This was freedom. He had missed mountains. Britain was just a bit flat, wasn't it? He was glad he had gone with Hermione. He smiled as he saw her down on the lawn with Viktor. It looked like they had a breakfast picnic with them. Kato looked around him and found a nice flat area where he could sit down for a bit. He watched Qozul fly around happily. The little dragon dived into the sea of green leaves. He came back up chewing on some critter or another.

Kato hummed softly and leaned back. It was good to just take it easy for a bit.

"Fly with Qozul, Monah," Qozul said as he landed next to Kato.

Kato chuckled. "Fine, I will fly with you," he said. He stood up and summoned his broom. His Firebolt stopped right in front of him and he mounted it. Flying with Qozul wasn't just simply flying though. Qozul needed to train for things to come. Assuming that they could find more of his kind somewhere. It was one of Kato's greatest fears that Qozul was the very last of his kind. He threw himself off the mountain and dived for the trees. Qozul flew as close to Kato as he could. Flying with monah made him happy. He didn't worry about finding others, at least not yet. Maybe someday he would worry about that, but he was sure monah could fix it.

"Oh, my," Hermione said suddenly. She had been looking around as she talked to Viktor and had noticed Kato flying.

"What is it?" Viktor asked.

"Kato is flying with Qozul," Hermione said. She pointed and Viktor looked in that direction. He had seen Harry fly before but never like this. It was almost as if there were two dragons in the air. Kato didn't look human as he weaved and dived. "I think I will be glad that he isn't planning on going professional," Viktor said. "If he had flown like that when we competed, he would have won for sure."

"I think he has learnt to fly like that flying with Qozul," Hermione said. "I think he mentioned it is training for a mating flight. Parents of crystalbacks would usually try to train them so Harry is doing what he can. The male has to follow the female and then they switch. That is why Qozul is flying so close to Kato and why Kato is doing those rather dangerous-looking moves." Hermione had never seen this before. Harry had told her he did it, but she had never watched him before. It was quite beautiful to see.

"I hope they can find a mate for Qozul," Viktor said.

"So do I," Hermione said.

"I hope Harry can find someone too," Viktor said. "He really loved her, Rhavaniel. I can see why he had issues moving on. She really was something special."

"He didn't show you any of his other escapades, did he?" Hermione asked.

Viktor looked down at her confused.

"Didn't think so," Hermione said. "Rhavaniel wasn't his one and only. Though I do not doubt that they would have spent the rest of his life together if he had stayed." She sighed. "Sometimes I think fate likes playing with him. That it likes to give him happiness just so that it can take it away."

"Don't say that," Viktor said. "I'm not ready to lose you and I think he would collapse if something was to happen to you."

"Not until he has done everything in his power to save me," Hermione said with a smile. "But I understand what you mean." She smirked as she looked at Viktor. "I'm surprised you haven't asked if you can go get your broom yet."

"My fingers might be twitching just a bit," Viktor said.

"Go ahead. As long as you promise me that we will not talk about Quidditch for the rest of today," Hermione said.

Viktor stood up. "You are the best and I promise," he said. He summoned his broom and headed up in the air to join Kato and Qozul.

Hermione gathered their breakfast together and headed back to the house. She took a deep breath and walked up to the porch nervously. "Good morning Mrs and Mr Krum," she said.

"Oh, dear it is Sara and Ilarion," Sara said. "No need for that stiff language. Did you have a nice breakfast?"

"Yes it was very nice Sara," Hermione said. Sara held her hands out and Hermione handed her the basket.

"Where has my son gone now then?" Sara asked.

"He went flying," Hermione said.

"When he has guests over?" Sara sighed and shook her head.

"Kato was already flying," Hermione said. She told the elder Krums about Qozul and what Kato was doing.

"Now that does sound interesting," Ilarion said. "Viktor has a cousin who works at the Romanian Dragon Preserve. He would be very interested in that."

"Kato already has an in with that reserve. Fleur Delacour is dating the brother of a guy who works there. They met last summer," Hermione said.

"Well, it wouldn't hurt for him to meet Deyan if we get the chance," Sara said.

"Of course not," Hermione said. She hadn't meant to seem insulting. She was feeling just a little uncomfortable. She kind of wished that Viktor and Kato would come back down so they could go off and do something. She liked Viktor's parents, but an awkward silence spread between them and she didn't quite know what to do. She wanted them to like her.

"Good morning, Sara. Good morning Ilarion," Kato said as he walked up the steps of the porch. "Viktor says we're heading out as soon as we've cleaned up," he told Hermione. He smiled at Viktor's parents. "It's been lovely to meet you, but alas we must continue upon our journey. Forever will I recall the warm welcome of your house." He groaned as Hermione elbowed him. Then he laughed and headed inside.

Sara chuckled. "He is a good boy," she said. "Keep each other out of trouble now," she told Hermione.

Hermione joined up with Kato and Viktor in the hallway. She took Viktor's hand.

"Alex is joining us," Viktor said.

"Sounds good," Kato said. They all knew why Alex was coming. Viktor wanted alone time with Hermione, but he wasn't about to abandon Kato in a country he didn't know.

They headed back to the magical district and met up with Alex before apparating to their destination. They split up and started walking around the beautiful ruins.

"The magical people that used to live here once had magic very different from ours," Alex said softly as they walked along a winding road. "Some say they lived in harmony with those that had no magic, but no proof has been found to support this claim. The city has been rebuilt several times and few things remain from its birth."

Kato nodded slowly. He placed a hand against the rough stone walls surrounding the town. "Places like these always feel different," he said. "There is something that just…" He fell silent. He felt at home somehow, but he couldn't say that.

They walked into a beautiful church that had clearly been restored not that long ago. Kato stopped in the middle of the aisle and looked up. At first, all he saw was a strange painting filled with people. Then the picture changed. He tapped beyond the glamour and saw battles fought with magic. Magic that wouldn't have looked out of place on Nirn.

"It is strangely beautiful isn't it?" Alex said.

Kato reached out and placed his hand on Alex's shoulder and tapped them beyond the illusion. He could hear them gasp.

"How?" Alex said.

"It was right there," Kato said. "I just had to look beyond the illusion."

"That is the original painting," Alex said. "But I thought it had been destroyed."

"Maybe someone wanted people to think that's what happened," Kato said. He let go of Alex and the painting returned to what it had been.

Alex gave Kato a strange look. Could it be that this man could use the magic of old? They had been told stories ever since they were a child of the raw powerful magic that needed no wand. Alex had seen Kato fight the goblin Chieftain. He had wielded magic that Alex had never seen before then. Could Kato be a breath from the past?

Kato walked out of the church with Alex behind him. He followed a path that no one else could see. Roads gave way to lush forests. He weaved between the trees following his senses. He placed his hand against wards so old they seemed to be fraying. He could break them down, but that would leave the place exposed. "You wouldn't happen to know someone who would be interested in old magical ruins?" he asked Alex.

"My mom is an archaeologist," Alex said. "She works at the Chimera Museum, Republic Museum of Bulgaria. Are you saying there is something else here?"

Kato nodded. "I can feel wards here. They are breaking. They won't stand for much longer," he said.

"I… I'll go ahead and contact her then," Alex said. "Will you stay here or go back to the church? She will want to see the mural too."

"I'll head back to the church," Kato said. "Meet me there."

Alex nodded. If Kato had found something from the old ones, then their mother would love to see it. They apparated to the museum and headed to the back rooms. "Mom, mom you need to come with me."

"Alex dear, what are you doing here?"

"A friend of Viktor's found something in old Tsarvets that you need to see," Alex said.

"Alright dear, but I have a lot to do."

"Please trust me, mom," Alex said.

She smiled at her child. "Sure dear," she said. She grabbed her gear and they headed back to the ruins. They found Kato by the church and walked her inside. He pointed up and she looked. Her eyes widened as the old paintings became visible to her. How had they hidden them? Her team had been here before. They hadn't found this.

Kato waved her along. She didn't speak English, and he didn't speak Bulgarian. He led her to the clearing where he had stopped earlier and this time he took down the wards. She gasped and walked in slowly.

Kato pointed to a shrine. "That is a shrine to Akatosh," he said. "Dragon-God of Time."

Alex translated for his mother.

"How do you know that," Alex asked.

"The goblins have old records and so do I," Kato said. He led the way into the temple building. He would point at things and speak of what he knew. Alex translated and his mother wrote everything down. She would have to find some way to verify these findings at some point, but for now, she would write down what he said. If he was right she didn't want to miss it.

"Here lays Olga Klick, hero of the three peaks and wielder of the heavenly flame," Kato read from a plaque.

"You can read that?" Alex asked.

"So can many goblins," Kato said. "It is a language long forgotten by many, but there are those who still speak it." He didn't touch anything. This place reminded him that one day Katla would be laid to rest in a similar manner and he didn't like the thought. These people had been Nords. Or at least some of them had.

…

It was late in the evening when Kato joined up with Hermione and Viktor. He had done his best to tell Alex as much about the temple they had found as he could. Hopefully, they would be able to prove most of the things he had said someday. It wasn't really his problem though.

"Had a fun time?" he asked Hermione.

"The history Kato," Hermione said. "There is so much history in this place and a lot of it isn't available to non-magical people.

Kato nodded slowly. "I know what you mean," he said.

"What happened to Alex?" Viktor asked.

"They went home with their mom," Kato said. "That is all I can say. She asked me to take a vow of silence."

Viktor's eyes widened. "She is an Archaeologist," he told Hermione.

"Oh," Hermione said. So Kato had found something that no one else had found. That was amazing.

15th of August, 1996.

Kato had spent the past week and some trying to be as little in the way as possible. He wanted Hermione to have a good time with her boyfriend. He did not need to be a part of that.

Today was different though. Viktor had been asked to show up for practice. His team had received a new member and they wanted Viktor to meet him. Hermione didn't mind. She brought a book along and sat down in the stands. Knowing Kato he would be up in the air with Viktor as soon as they could. She watched him as he tailed Viktor. It had to be strange for him to be around all of these people that he didn't understand.

Kato leaned back against his broom and watched the team interact. They didn't have the same warmth as his team, but these were professional players. Viktor had a month off because he needed it. After that, it was probably back to training every day.

Kato smirked. He didn't mind wiping the floor with an elite player.

The Captain looked at Kato suspiciously. He asked Viktor about the stranger. He needed to know who Viktor was dragging into practice. His girlfriend in the stands he couldn't do much about. He allowed partners of the other players to watch so he couldn't say no to her. The guy, however, he didn't trust at all.

"He doesn't understand what you say you know," Viktor said.

"Yeah, that could be fun," one of the beaters said.

"I wouldn't insult him. He reads body language and tone well enough," Viktor said. "And don't fight him. We need you on the team." He waved Kato over. "I want to fly against you. How about you take to the air," he said in English.

Kato nodded and headed up.

"You'll want to watch this guy fly and know that he is training school-aged players," Viktor said. "He is training future competition."

The Captain's eyes narrowed. "And you have invited him here?" he said.

"He isn't interested in the championship," Viktor said. "He trains students. I'm just saying that the people he trains might be really good players one day. We might want to keep an eye on that." He got up on his broom and he faced Kato in the air. "Go all out. Don't hold back on me, Peverell," he said.

Kato chuckled. He grabbed his broom properly and watched as the practice snitch was released. They waited a minute and then they were off. Kato moved around the pitch. He saw Viktor dive and figured he might as well humour him. He fell into the dive and followed Viktor down. He knew this was just a feint. Viktor pulled back and Kato continued, but unlike the Irish seeker during the World Cup, he pulled the breaks on the broom, swung his legs over to one side and stomped off against the ground before taking off into the air again. He took a sharp turn and zoomed past Viktor. It was his turn.

Kato led Viktor on a merry chase between the other players and the goalposts. He finally saw the snitch and took off after it. He stood up on his broom, and Viktor muttered. He had seen Harry perform this move a few times and it was insane and very stupid, but it certainly worked. Kato ran forward and threw himself after the snitch. He didn't catch his own broom, instead, he fell past it and grabbed onto Viktor's broom as he caught up with him.

"You are insane," Viktor said.

"Certainly," Kato said. "But that is okay because Sheo is an okay dude so I'll be fine."

Viktor rolled his eyes. He looked over at Hermione who didn't actually look all that pleased with Kato's antics. "Someone is angry with you," he said.

"Good, you can calm her down later. I'm just going to make myself scarce," Kato said as he climbed back on his own broom. "Do you want to try the method that I use with Tanya the next star of Gryffindor?"

"Sure why not," Viktor said. "If it keeps you from pissing Hermione off more I'm all for it."

"I'll have both feet on the ground so it should be fine," Kato said. He tilted his broom down and headed for the ground. He summoned a ball of light and sent it up in the air. "Catch the ball Viktor," he said.

Viktor took off after the ball and he was led on a harsh chase.

"That could be good tool," the Captain said as he walked up next to Kato.

"I'm working on a product that can do the same thing. It will take a little while to get ready, but I'll get there."

"When you are done. Send us one," the Captain said.

"Will do," Kato said. It would seem that he might have customers before Angelina and Alica had even opened their shop. The girls had come to him as the party was trailing off and asked him to help them found a quidditch supply shop. He knew that it would grow beyond that because Fred and George had prototypes for protective clothes that would be better off in their shop as well. Now they just needed a name, a shop and products and they could get started. He already had a list of things he wanted to help them provide.

Viktor caught the ball finally and came back down. "That was intense," he said. "I wouldn't mind doing that again."

"I can lead you around for hours," Kato said. "It isn't very hard." He conjured another ball of light and sent it off then he smirked at Viktor. "Go ahead. Catch it," he said.

Viktor glared at Kato as he mounted his broom again and kicked off.

Hermione sighed and started reading her book again. At least Viktor wasn't trying any insane stunts while he flew and Kato was firmly on the ground so she could breathe again. This was turning out to be a really good summer. She smirked and looked up at Viktor. It was a really good summer.