Moyata sestra,

I am overcome with gratitude for our friendship. You have helped me to be stronger, not so sad and scared. Your help these past years has improved me, sestra.

In the past months since I have written you I have met most beautiful woman. Rosa, I believe, you would like and I wish for you two to meet in the future. Rosa laughs like what you call "wind chime."

She is most wonderful creature, Hermione. I am sorry I cannot tell you where I am now, my job requires most security and secrecy, but I can say Rosa is from local town where I am Stationed. I met her at market where I go to buy the treat Lokum, which you call the turk's delight.

For two months now, I see Rosa every day. I take her for dinner and she takes me dancing and laughs like you did at how miserable I am at the sport.

She is research professional at local magical ministry with her sestra. Her work, like ours, is secret. But moyata Rosa is very bright and reads very much.

I will tell you more at later time, moyata sestra.

Viktor

Dearest Viktor,

I am so glad to hear about your Rosa. She sounds magnificent, really. Please, always feel free to tell me even more about her. Your happiness brings me happiness.

As always, Lily has asked me to thank you for the flowers you sent her. Honestly, I'm happy to report she has found better use for your flowers than my mother ever did. At least Lily doesn't leave them to wilt in a vase; she has found a way to incorporate each different flower into a different charm for her garden. I think you'd really enjoy seeing it.

My news is not quite as good as yours, I am afraid. Ron and I broke up. I feel horrible about it, but only because I don't feel as horrible about it as I think I ought to. I mean, I think I knew we had a time limit when we first started dating.

At first it was all great, we had just graduated school, we finally admitted our feelings to each other. But we never had what Ginny and Harry have - complete adoration. Sure, he's handsome and makes me laugh, but I mostly always saw him as someone to have fun with, not necessarily someone I couldn't live without.

My parents, the Potters, and now Harry and Ginny; they really are each other's perfect complements. Ron and I are either too alike or too different and we frustrated each other to no end. He wants what his parents have. I mean a million kids. I don't. I don't know how many kids I want, but I definitely don't want the Weasley brood.

Anyway, I hope to hear from you again soon. Even if you can't tell me where you are.

Love, Hermione

Moyata sestra,

I would very much like to see Mrs. Potter's flower charms, they sound genius. Please tell her is customary to send flowers to witch's mother when one writes to her. Since the passing of Mrs. Granger, Mrs. Potter is now considered your mother. I don't make these rules.

I am sorry to hear about you and Ron. I hate to say it, but I believe I saw between the two of you exactly what you told me. You were not good together like that, but he is good friend, always. Do not feel horrible sestra- we are young and youth is time to find these answers to matters of the heart.

In the future, sestra, you will find man worthy of your love who will make you feel safe and adored. He will be your best friend and become the person you wish most to spend your time with. Do not worry of it now.

Rosa is doing well. She and her comrades have made exciting discovery that she will not tell me one word about, but it is okay. I love to see her face excited and to hear her happiness when we are together.

If it were not for her safety, I would ask her to move in with me. But for now, we must keep our love a secret to keep target off her back. Dark wizards are rising and, as an Auror, we must keep targets away from the ones we love. This is the life we have selected for ourselves, sestra. Are we idiots?

Viktor

Dearest Viktor,

I believe your custom about mothers has reduced poor Lily to tears. She hugged me for a whole hour after I told her what you said in your last letter. You'll be pleased to know that your latest chrysanthemums will be used in a charm to produce the largest watermelons this side of Godric's Hollow has ever seen.

I know you're right about Ron. In fact, you're so right about Ron that I no longer feel any type of way about our relationship, or the end of it. He is a very good friend and has proven to still be so. Ginny still isn't talking to him, though, which is silly.

Last month I decided to move out of the Potter's house. Of course James and Lily made a big deal about it, trying to get me to stay or get me to accept a monthly allowance to pay my rent. But I want to prove to myself that I can take care of myself and I don't think they understand that.

However, they have seemed to calm down and accept it, since about last week. I wonder, sometimes, why they've accepted it so suddenly. Even Harry has calmed. It's strange.

I'm sorry to hear your position has made it difficult to properly court your Rosa. It must be remarkably distressing to worry about your loved ones like this. I'm sorry to report that you are still eons ahead of me on that front, as I am yet to fully complete my training.

It's been two years and Sirius hasn't lightened up on me. Just the other day he sent me against the wall and then yelled at me for not blocking him. He had the audacity to look scared for me, but he was the one who sent the hex!

It seems it'll be a while yet before I can fully relate to your situation. But keep heart, dear friend. Soon, once your mission is complete, you and Rosa can start a sweet life together in Bulgaria and I can come be the weird aunt who dotes on your children.

Love, Hermione

Moyata sestra,

I wish to see these watermelons. Please, if charm succeeds, send me photograph. Nothing would make me happier.

I think living on your own may be good step for you. Maybe Potter's only wish to take care of you because they love you and want to keep you safe. Sestra, if you had not said you wished to do on your own, I also would have offered money to help support you, myself.

I believe it is good for you to have such strong training. In fact, I will personally thank Auror Black for his methods when I meet him in person some day. Anyone who works that hard to make sure moyata sestra is safe, is very good in my eyes. No more complaints, he is superb trainer. Sestra, I will not tell anyone of your whining, but makes you sound weak. And you are Hermione Granger; you are not weak. You are strong and you will take your training as challenge that will make you stronger.

This is hard and dangerous job. We both know this. You are not blind, sestra. Be strong and get stronger.

Rosa has been very upset last few months. She won't tell me why and she pretends not to be sad, but I see sadness in her eyes. I do not know how to help her. Maybe that photograph of Mrs. Potter's watermelons will bring her a smile.

-Viktor

My dearest Viktor,

I'm sorry it's been so long since my last letter. Harry and Ginny got engaged, we graduated the academy and things have been so hectic after I got my new flat last year.

You'll never believe how cheap the flat was, especially for its prime location in the muggle world. It was either a complete coincidence, or I have a fairy godmother. Anyway, Harry and Ginny have decided to have a long engagement since her brother Bill is getting married this year. She has still dragged me dress shopping with her every weekend since.

My parents' house is for sale. I guess the couple who bought it after they died felt it was too sad of an atmosphere. Interesting. I think I'd like to buy it back some day.

Have things with Rosa gotten any better? I know sometimes, when I get very sad about my parents, I will try to distract myself with research and other hobbies. I know Harry can tell, though, that I'm sad. I don't hide it well enough because he says I study more, get bossier and meaner. I don't mean to.

I think what I would really like when I get sad is for somebody who recognizes the signs to pull my book away and just hold me. Maybe let me cry a little. Maybe that's what Rosa needs, for someone to see her pain and just hold her.

I'm sorry I couldn't send a picture of the largest watermelons known to mankind, but I have included a photo of Lily holding the smallest watermelon berries ever created - they were perfectly ripe and sweet. Maybe this year the charm will work better.

Love, Hermione

Moyata sestra,

Your advice was very good. Rosa seems happier now but she still won't say what made her so sad. I will not push her. She will say when she is ready.

I must apologize also - it has been very long since I have written as well. I did not know Mrs. Potter was fairy?

My work grows frustrating while Rosa's makes her more happier. I am glad to see smile on her face now, but I wish I could also smile for her. My days are long and nights are short; some days I don't see Rosa at all. She sends me letters on those days- small notes which make me feel warm.

Sestra, it has been almost two years I have been with my Rosa. She is mele dragostea, she says in her language. I think it is beautiful way to call her my love.

I am glad to hear you have completed training. Did I not say Black was training you for success? I hear through Ministry you are only woman accepted into Department from Auror Academy in many years. Black trained a winner and I will thank him with many beers. I hope you do not get bored with paperwork - I hear Brits do paperwork for years before joining field missions. I promise, I do not laugh.

Your friend Ginny sent me 'informal' wedding invitation last week. Of course I will want to attend, Harry is a good friend, good brat for moyata sestra. In a way, all three of us semeistvo - family.

Viktor

Dear Viktor,

I believe, at last, you may have been right about my training. But you'll never hear me admit it ever again or to anyone else, so don't expect it. Of course you were right; you almost always are.

I'm actually having a lot of fun in the bullpen doing everyone's paperwork. I am the best paperwork they've ever had, I'm afraid. Men are hopeless at succinctly reporting their missions. I'm sure you're not laughing at me… but I'm determined I will have a actual mission soon. I can feel it.

I am sorry to hear of your frustration in the field. I know sometimes jobs can get boring or frustrating and our superiors tend to make decisions we don't actually agree with. And it makes it hard when we are so used to following our conscience and orders sometimes don't make sense. In the end, I'm sure everything will work out for the best.

It's good that Rosa seems happier now, and if I'm completely honest, I the curiosity over her research is killing me! I know she doesn't share that with you either, but it's got to be important and anything that is that tightly wrapped in security has to be groundbreaking - I'm excited for her and cannot wait to hear about it when it's cleared.

Also, you are so sweet. I'm so happy to hear you've found your love. It's heartening to see it and I'm immensely glad for you. I cannot wait to meet the woman who has you so tied up in knots. She's got to be something special - a woman to behold!

Love, Hermione

Moyata Sestra,

I won't share your secrets. Though you are stubborn girl Hermione. You are correct - sometime orders are "suck" as British say. I like word "rubbish" too.

I am planning trip to UK for Potter wedding next year. I will bring Rosa to meet moyata Sestra, she is very cheerful to hear this. Maybe by then you will both be free to chat about all wonderful things you do.

Hermione, I plan to ask for Rosa's hand. I know what I want, and I want to spend life with Rosa. Forever. I am happy with her and I feel she is happy with me too, Sestra. It is very important my ladies meet and know one another.

You will also find man , or woman, who make you feel same way dear Sestra. It will happen for you. Just like your first field job, I can feel in my bones (funny expression). Your love will surprise you and it will be the purest feeling you have ever felt. I want this for you. I am happy now, and I wish for you to be happy, too.

Viktor

Sestra,

Rosa is gone. I am overcome by sadness. I woke up this morning and Rosa was gone. Her wardrobe empty, shoes gone, cloak gone. Books gone. No trace of her left.

I don't know what to do.

Moyata sestra,

It has been a month and I have not found where my dragostea has gone. I initiate a search for missing people, but Rosa sister command me to stop. She says Rosa is not missing, just gone. She knows where Rosa is and she will not tell me.

She says Rosa is gone because she did not love me, but Hermione, I know she loves me. Captain tells me that is the way of women sometime - they wrap men in finger and then blow them away with wind.

I have to give up looking, sestra. It hurts my heart and I wish I could find her. I am broken man now.

Viktor

This is horrible. I am so sorry about Rosa and I am even more sorry for what her sister told you.

I have a hard time believing you meant nothing to Rosa. I know speculation isn't helpful, but maybe it would comfort you to believe she had a crisis of feelings. Maybe someday she'll come back to you, Viktor. Maybe someday she'll have an explanation that will take away all the pain and you two can be happy again.

I'm here if you need anything.

Love, Hermione

Hermione shot up in bed in a panic. She had been just on the verge of sleep after a night of tossing and turning, when a sickening realization hit her.

She scrambled out of her sheets and threw on a thick Hogwarts sweater and a pair of beat-up sneakers and rushed to her floo.

Throwing in a handful of floo powder, she called out Sirius's address and stepped through the flame, hoping beyond hope that she'd catch the wizard still awake.

When she stepped through the other side, she glanced at the opposite wall toward the clock that read two hours past midnight. The room was softly illuminated by the moonlight streaming in through his large living room window. But Sirius himself was nowhere in sight.

She slowly, quietly, made her way down the short hallway, peering into each room with the door ajar. At the end of the hallway, the last white painted door was firmly shut.

She stood there, silently debating what to do. Should she knock? Sirius hadn't expected anyone in his home, especially at this hour, so it was possible a knock could set him on alert. However, all of her sensibilities screamed that she couldn't just barge into his bedroom while he was sleeping.

This was urgent, though. Deciding she'd rather risk his ire than someone's life, she turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Sirius lay in his bed, curled up on his side with the sheets tangled around his feet. He wore nothing but cotton sweatpants, a fact Hermione ignored with much difficulty, as she crossed the room to his bed and bent over the sleeping man.

"Sirius," she hissed, hand hovering over his arm as she contemplated shaking him. Somehow, she couldn't bring herself to touch him. "Sirius," she repeated.

The moment his eyes shot open, he was alert. He quickly sat up, pulling Hermione down to the bed next to him.

"What is it, what's wrong," he asked briskly, his eyes darting across her entire body as though trying to assess her for any damage. Satisfied thar she was physically fine, he grabbed both her arms and peered straight onto her eyes. "Hermione, what's happened?"

Swallowing, she replied, "We have to get to Hogsmeade. Now."

Sirius moved quickly to pull on his Auror robes and glanced at Hermione who still stood near his bed. With a quick flick of his wand, her sweater and silk shorts were transfigured into standard Auror robes as well. Nodding, they left his apartment and apparated to the village.

"What are we looking for," Sirius asked quietly as soon as they landed in the village center.

"Do you know where the boy lives?"

"What boy?"

Hermione looked at him with large, terrified eyes and answered, "the boy with the pigs." As quietly as Hermione had snuck into his room, realization dawned on Sirius's face. His features smoothed out as he was slowly filled with sympathetic despair.

Of course. Pigs had been running amok in the down for months. The same four pigs. And the boy had kept two of them. And they wouldn't eat regular swine slop - the female had a penchant for tea and roast chicken.

His heart broke, and looking at Hermione he could see his own feelings reflected back. Hermione, however, also radiated pure, unadulterated, fear.

"Earlier, Bagely told the other man to find and return them to her. Sirius, what if we're too late?"

He shook his head, determinedly. "We won't be too late," he said, convincingly. His mind drifted to the innocent boy.

Kill the boy if you have to.

He gulped and set off toward the stone house he had seen the boy leave just the other day. He lifted his hand to land heavy knocks on the wooden door. Inside, someone had turned on an overhead light.

"What's that, mi amore," a feminine voice asked. After some shuffling he heard a light gasp as the same woman exclaimed, "there are aurors at the door!"

The door swung open, casting a dim glow over Sirius and Hermione, who both stood stoically as the woman finished tying her dressing gown around her waist.

"How can we help you, sir," she said kindly, looking behind her at the small boy standing by the table. The boy saw Sirius and smiled.

"Mama," he said, "this is Auror Black! The man I told you about."

Looking between the Aurors and her son, the woman stepped aside and invited them into her home.

"We need to take your pigs," Sirius stated, very matter of fact, looking directly at the boy. Just as the boy was about to protest, Hermione took the mother by the arm and led her across the room to speak quietly.

On her return, the mother's face stricken, she commanded her son to take Sirius up to the room with the pigs and hand them over. Her tone brooked no argument, and the child dejectedly led the Auror up into the store room, where both pigs slept under heavy blankets.

Sirius conjured a carrier and, kneeling, carefully placed each pig into it.

"Have you seen the other two pigs," he gently asked the boy, who stood at his side sniffling. The boy's cheeks were ruddy with silent tears as his dear pets had been scooped into the older wizard's arms. He shook his head in response.

Back in the main room, Hermione sat with the boy's mother at the large wooden table. The woman looked sick, as tears welled in her eyes.

"I didn't know, ma'am, I swear I had no idea," she cried.

Hermione soothed her as best she could. "We know that. Your son did a good thing in choosing to look after him. He's made it possible foe us to come find them and try to make this whole thing right."

The woman blew her nose in an old handkerchief and sobbed loudly.

"In my own house," she wailed. "How awful! And she's pregnant?"

Hermione nodded.

When Sirius returned, he gently placed the carrier in Hermione's waiting arms.

"We're going to need the two of you to come with us," Sirius told the woman, who began sobbing again in fear. "You're not in trouble, Madam, but we have reason to believe you're potential targets for the people responsible. They're also looking for these two."

When the woman nodded, Sirius took both mother and son in his arms and apparated into the DMLE, Hermione and pigs followed closely behind.

The night shift Aurors were able to set the mother and boy, the Rizzo family, up in the Ministry's temporary witness dorms with promise of compensation and board until the Death Eaters involved were captured.

The pigs had been set up in a special room added to Sirius's office, warded heavily against anyone trying to access them. A memo was sent to Belby's lab ordering him to expedite an antidote to the transfiguration potion.

That all happened relatively quickly. The lengthy part of the early morning hours was waiting for Robards, who they had called in.

Hermione and Sirius sat in the Head Aurors office, carefully explaining their discovery.

"So we aren't even certain these pigs are our folks," Robards asked roughly.

"As soon as we can give them an antidote we'll know for sure, sir," Hermione said confidently. "For now, we have nearly irrefutable evidence." Robards considered the small rookie auror before he responded.

"Well done, then. I'll prepare a small incognito team to scour the village and the upper Hogwarts Valley for the remaining two pigs." He stood and moved to hold the door open for them. "In the meantime, get some rest; you both look like shit. I don't expect to see you back until noon."

That was how they both found themselves sitting once again in Sirius's living room, sunrise peeking through the curtains and casting a faint golden glow across the sofa Hermione was strewn across.

Sirius sat opposite her holding a glass of ice cold water, staring at nothing on the wall across the room. They were both eerily quiet.

"You should get home and get some rest," Sirius finally said. Hermione met his eyes and shook her head.

"I'm too wired. Too… its…" she bit her lip and looked away. Muggleborn wizards had been transfigured into pigs. While she had no idea what the Death Eaters' ultimate purpose had been, the symbolism wasn't lost on her. In fact, the entire ordeal made her ill.

She was caught between wanting to cry for her fellow muggleborn wizards and witch, wanting to sleep the cruel reality away, and determination to locate the other two, catch Bagely and her cronies and send them to Azkaban. They were cruel, evil people and she wanted to see them behind bars.

Sirius must have seen the rage in her countenance or the despair in her face, because he joined her on the sofa and pulled her into his arms. At his touch, her tears broke through the dam and she found herself clutching his robes in both hands as she sobbed into his chest.

"It's okay love, I know," he murmured, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "I know."

"It's disgusting," she hiccupped through the tears. "How could they –? I would rather die than that."

Sirius pushed her back gently, holding her by the waist and tilting her head up to look at him. "Hey," he said sternly. "No you wouldn't. We found two of them, and they're out looking for the other two as we speak. Finding them saved their lives and we will change them back. They'll be fine. They're safe."

He pulled her back to him and dropped a kiss her temple, letting her ride out the pain. As he held her. He continued to soothe her with his soft touches and his words. After a small while, she stilled.

Sniffling, she sat up. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have, – I signed up for this. I can't let it affect me like this. Please, Sirius, I promise I'm not this weak," she pled.

Sirius laughed, then, his shock so strong he couldn't process a more appropriate way to react. The chuckles ceased, however, the second he saw her scowl up at him. So he leaned forward and met her forehead with his, grinning.

"This isn't a weakness. This is your first nasty field experience and your reaction is perfectly normal." She blinked, trying hard to focus on his words instead of his proximity. The scent of warm leather and tobacco was invading her senses, and she shuddered as a breath of his smell escaped her lungs. She hoped he hadn't noticed.

"In fact," he continued, carefully brushing her hair behind her ear, "I'd be surprised if Robards didn't send us both for a couple mind healing sessions when this is all over."

She nodded against his forehead and took in another calming breath, filling herself once again with his calming scent.

"You're okay," he reassured her again. "It's okay, love."

Hermione pulled her head back from his after she felt she'd gotten a hold of herself, and opened her eyes. Sirius was looking at her pensively; his mouth was twisted in thought, his eyes roaming over her face. She was drawn to his own face, especially the barely visible crows' feet bunched into the outer corners of his worried eyes. The sight of them made her smile.

"Are you okay," he asked quietly, reaching forward again to lightly tug on one of her curls.

"Yeah, I'm okay," she nodded.

"Okay. Good. You sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Okay."

"Are you good," she asked him, eyes still locked on his. The crow's feet crinkled by a smidgen as he smiled.

"I'm alright, Kitten."

"Good."

"Are you going to go home to rest, now?"

"I don't want to be alone."

Sirius nodded solemnly as he stood and held a hand out for her.

"Then stay," he said, pulling her up to her feet. He twined his fingers with hers as he led them down the hallway to his bedroom. Hermione chewed on her bottom lip when they reached the bed.

Sirius waved his wand and the previously unkempt bed was perfectly made. He summoned two woolen throw blankets and tossed one over to the nervous witch. He smirked as he sank down on one side and Hermione just stood there staring at the empty space between them.

"C'mon kitten," he teased. "Don't leave a man waiting. I won't bite. Unless you like that."

Hermione snapped right out of her momentary bashfulness and scowled at him and laid across the empty side of the bed.

"Is everything a bad sex joke to you, Sirius, I mean honestly!"

Sirius gasped in faux shock. "Hermione Granger, honestly! Do you really think I'd dream of disrespecting you thus, after finally getting you in my bed?"

Her cheeks were aflame, and she couldn't help but groan in exasperation.

"Yes. Yes I do believe you would do exactly that," she spat with humor.

Instead of responding verbally, Sirius reached over and hooked her around the waist, pulling until her back was snugly molded to his chest.

"Go to sleep, Kitten." It didn't take long before bo