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hp_rarefestTitle: The Heart of the Matter
Author/Artist:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kyriaofdelphi
Prompt: Prompt 141
Pairing(s): Viktor/Hermione
Word Count/Art Medium: 3354
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: B.A. is my wonderful Beta
Summary: Hermione travels to Europe to suss out her options now that the war is over.
The day Hermione arrived back at Hogwarts after retrieving her parents from Australia, Minerva McGonagall handed her a sealed parchment.
“I think it is from Ronald, child. He and Harry had a rather spectacular row while you were gone. I hope it isn’t too upsetting.”
In the privacy of the Gryffindor guest suite, she opened the parchment and read.
‘Mione,
I had a lot of time to think while you were gone. I listened to you talking to those folks from the Ministry about things I couldn’t understand. It finally hit me. There is no way we could make us work. You’re headed for great things and I’d only hold you back. I’m sorry, but I think it is better if we just go our separate ways now. I wish you all the luck in the world. You’ll always be my friend.
Ron
With a sigh, Hermione acknowledged the truth of what Ron had written. Putting the letter away, she went to find Harry.
“Hey, what did you and Ron argue about? He sent me a letter.”
“He asked me why you were meeting with the folks from the Ministry about the Healer programs and the Reparation programs for the Death Eaters. He thought you were bothering them about SPEW. When I told him they had come to you for your input about various programs, he was gobsmacked. He wasn’t very happy when I told him you had your heart set on going back for your seventh year and then on to an internship at St. Mungo’s. I think he was hoping you’d decide that having kids and keeping house was the thing you wanted to do.”
“Oh, Harry, I feel so bad. Ron is a sweet guy, but he isn’t for me. The two of you are both like brothers to me. I need to go suss out what I want to do with my life now that we don’t have a megalomaniac trying to kill us. I’m going to visit some places in Europe I’ve always wanted to see. Maybe I’ll figure things out while I’m gone.”
“Okay, just keep us apprised of where you’ll be. If anything happens, I’d like to know how to reach you in a hurry. Oh, and I’ll look in on your parents.” Harry grinned at her.
“You are the best almost-brother any girl ever had. Thanks. Tell Ron to write me, maybe we can salvage the friendship by writing.”
Harry sent an owl to the Burrow later, saying, “Ron, she bought it. She is going off to Europe doing touristy stuff. Do you want to write Vik or shall I?”
By return owl, Ron replied, “I had better do it. He is more likely to believe she is free if I tell him. I’m the idiot who lied to him at Bill’s wedding. I just hope they can rekindle what they had in fourth year. I really do want her to be happy.”
Instead of sending Pigwidgeon with his missive to Viktor, Ron used Hedwig. She was more dependable than the little owl. Harry had been leaving Hedwig at the Burrow for safety during the last part of the war.
Ron’s letter to Viktor was part apology and part request.
Dear Viktor,
I am writing to you to clear up something I told you last year at my brother’s wedding. Hermione and I are not an item. We are not engaged, not even dating at this point. I wanted to tell you in the off chance that you still care for her. With the war over, she is going to be visiting places in Europe where she has always wanted to go. Harry and I have asked her to keep us updated as to where she will be. If you want, I can forward the list of those places to you so you can see her and talk to her. Do me a favour, mate, if you truly love her; make her happy for both of us. Thanks.
Ron Weasley
The Burrow, England
Hedwig arrived at Viktor’s house just before he was to leave for the Quidditch League meeting about the possibility of reactivating the teams and the World Cup series. Now twenty-two, Viktor had become the spokesperson for the Bulgarian team. He read the letter, sat down, and pinched himself.
“Is real. I am not dreaming. Veasley boy has grown up, I see.” Hurriedly scribbling a note to Ron, Viktor sent Hedwig on her way again.
Hours later, Viktor’s teammates were trying to figure out why the young seeker had been in such a good mood during the seemingly endless meeting.
Coach Shevchenko voiced the general consensus of opinion. “Must be girl. He has not been this happy since he came back from Trvizard Tournament. Maybe same girl.”
They decided that whatever the reason, they were all for it. He always played a better game when he was happy.
Hermione, meanwhile, was making her list of places she wanted to go. Copenhagen was her first entry on the list. She then made notes on what she wanted to see in that location. The list continued with Florence and Venice, as did the notations. The final three entries on her list were Athens, St. Petersburg, and Paris.
After arranging places to stay, preferring bed and breakfasts, rather than large hotels, she sent a copy of the list off to Harry with dates of arrival and departure.
Over dinner, Hermione’s parents warned her to keep a low profile.
“No telling which of those followers of Lord Moldevert escaped. We just want you to be safe, honey,” her mum said.
“Isn’t there a boy on the Continent that you dated a couple years ago? Maybe you should see if he can go with you to some of those places,” her dad added.
“Mum, his name was Voldemort, but I like your version better. Dad, Viktor is one of the reasons I am going off to do this. I need to suss out my feelings for him, and what I want to do with my life now the war is over. I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Three days later, she boarded a plane for Copenhagen. An uneventful flight and taxi ride later, she arrived at the tiny B&B to find a surprise.
“Yes, Miss Granger. The roses and the box arrived by courier this morning. We put them in your room. Here is your key. Shall we see you for dinner tonight?”
“I’m not sure. I need to find out who sent the flowers. I’ll let you know in a bit.”
The roses were all pink, of a shade reminiscent of her Yule Ball dress. There was no card. The box held two things: a brochure for the Tivoli Gardens and a porcelain replica of the Little Mermaid.
She checked both for traces of magic before she touched either. When she picked up the brochure for the Gardens, a ticket fell out. There was a note as well.
In exquisite calligraphy it read:
Enjoy the Gardens at your leisure. This is a season pass. Arrangements have been made at the Gardens for your entertainment.
“I’ll bet this was Harry’s doing. He is such a sweetie.”
Picking up the phone in her room, she informed the reception desk that she would be there for dinner that night.
Dinner was a surprise. Her favourite foods were on the menu, and her guilty secret treat for dessert, Lemon Curd.
The next day she arrived at the Gardens to find herself being treated like a celebrity. She explored the Gardens, had lunch at a quaint café, and looked through the shops. The young woman assigned to escort her promptly paid for anything she looked at, much to Hermione’s astonishment.
In each of the next two cities, roses and tickets were waiting for her. Always with a special personal touch.
She sent a message off to Harry, thanking him profusely. When he responded that he had no idea what she was talking about, she thought he must be playing a joke on her.
In Athens things changed a bit, instead of roses, she found fresh herbs and wildflowers in her room. A tourist brochure about Delphi and a cryptic note waited for her.
Hermione’s journey began at Sparta. Her father married her to Neoptolemus, who did not deserve her. Her cousin, Orestes, killed Neoptolemus and married Hermione. Where does your journey begin or end? Perhaps you should ask the Delphic Oracle.
“I guess I should go to Delphi. It certainly is beautiful,” Hermione mused.
She immediately arranged to take the bus tour to Delphi the next day.
As she rode along watching the scenery, she considered her options.
If she went back to school to finish her last year, she would definitely be eligible for that Healer’s training. She would also be able to help with the rebuilding of Hogwarts.
If she didn’t go back, her options were more unfocused.
But there was an empty place in her heart. Ron had never quite fit into it. She wanted the kind of man who would let her be herself. A man who would treasure her for her knowledge and single-mindedness. A man who would treat her as a partner, not a substitute for his mother.
A man like Viktor.
He’s probably found someone else by now. I didn’t write to him at all after last summer. I wonder what he is doing.
At that moment, Viktor was standing in the grove of trees around the Kastalian Spring in the Delphi complex, waiting for Hermione to arrive. He was justifiably nervous, almost as nervous as he had been when he asked her to the Yule Ball.
This time he was going to ask her a much more important question.
The day was perfect, warm sunshine, cool breezes, not too many tourists. Viktor spotted her the minute she entered the complex.
He began to make his way to her side, carefully staying out of her line of sight. As he expected, she looked at the other temples before heading to the Oracle’s temple. She was perusing the guidebook entry as he slipped up behind her.
“Has the Oracle answered where your journey ends yet?” he murmured at her side.
She whirled to stare up at him, smiling. “Viktor, it was you sending those tickets and the flowers, wasn’t it? I’m so glad to see you.”
He grinned back at her as he captured her hand in his.
“Yes, Harry and Veasley told me vhere you vould be staying, and vhen. I vanted you to see the things ve had talked about in the library three years ago. Are you upset vith me?”
“Not at all. I should have known it was you. You’re the only one who ever paid attention to things I said.”
“I alvays vill, loff. I am hoping the oracle tells you that your journey ends in my arms. I vant to marry you. Haff vanted that for three years. Vill you consider that?”
“Why don’t we go somewhere and talk about it? I may just let you convince me.”
His eyes barely reacted to her teasing quip, but he led her to the car park.
He helped her into the tiny sports car he had parked there.
“I didn’t know you could drive a Muggle car, Viktor?”
“Many things you do not know. Such as my mother’s parents haff home close to the place you are staying. Mayka is Greek. I grew up in both vorlds. Is vhy I understood you so vell,” he said.
“I thought Durmstrang only took pureblood wizards.”
“Usually they did, but since Mayka is half-blood and Bashta is pure-blood, they made exception.”
“How exactly did Harry and Ron inveigle you into playing along with their little scheme?”
“Veasley sent me letter. I had to pinch myself to make sure I vas not dreaming. Letter is in jacket pocket. Read for yourself.”
She fished out the crumpled parchment, and read Ron’s heartfelt words to Viktor. “Oh, my, no wonder you had to pinch yourself. I can’t believe he actually wrote that.”
“It vas surprise to me as vell. I told him I still loff you and vould take his vord that he vished me luck.”
“Are you taking me back to my B&B?”
“No, ve are going to grandparents’ home virst. Most of vamily is there for reunion. Then ve are going to haff dinner at romantic spot.”
“You are crazy, Viktor. You waltz back into my life, ask me to marry you, take me to your family reunion, and then we’re going to dinner!”
“Yes, I am crazy. Haff been crazy since ve met. Cannot liff vithout you any more. Quidditch teams starting up again in a few months. Vill be fery busy then. Vant to spend as much time as possible vith you before then.”
“Viktor, I’m going back to Hogwarts for my seventh year. I want to help with the rebuilding. After that I want to become a Healer.”
“That is vonderful. Now I know you vill get along vith my grandmother. She vas healer for sefenty years. She has asked to meet you. So I bring you to meet whole family.”
“You aren’t mad that I am going back to school? I thought you might be.”
“No, loff. If that is vhat you vant, then is vine vith me. You deserf time to follow your own dreams. I vould not stand in vay of that.”
He means it. Dear sweet Merlin and Nimue! He is serious.
“Ve are here. Come.” He parked and came around to open her door.
“Viktor, I am a mess. They will be appalled that I am in jeans and a t-shirt. I should go back to the B&B.”
“You look beautiful. They vill not care. My sestras dress the same. Come.” He held out a hand to her, when he smiled that smile she could not say no.
Near the front door, he used his wand to remove the tangles from her hair, and then he kissed her until her cheeks were rosy.
They were both laughing when they entered the house. Hermione had met Viktor’s parents before the third task of the Triwizard Tournament, but was completely unprepared for the gathering of people in the house.
Irina and Vasily Krum welcomed her warmly.
“Miss Granger, it is so nice to see you again. Come meet my parents, Stephanos and Helen Dimitrios. I’ll let Viktor introduce you to his sisters,” Irina Krum murmured.
The older couple exchanged looks before the woman spoke. “So, this is the girl that captured Vitya’s heart three years ago. Sit down next to me, child. I understand you were part of the group that defeated the monster, Voldemort.”
“Yes, ma’am. Oh, Merlin! You are that Helen Dimitrios. I borrowed a Healer’s manual that you wrote from our Healer at Hogwarts.. I just told Viktor that I am going to go back for my seventh year and then enter a Healer training program. It is an honour to meet you.”
Viktor was talking to his grandfather, who overheard the exchange with Hermione. Viktor just grinned, but his grandfather laughed. “See, Helen, the girl is exactly what you wanted for the boy.”
Everyone laughed. Viktor took the opportunity to extricate Hermione from his family just as the sun was sinking.
They walked the mile or so to the restaurant where he was greeted as a valued customer. They were shown to a table on the terrace with a magnificent view of the Acropolis. He ordered their dinner in flawless Greek. She was delighted to find his choices were delicious.
They talked far into the night with Viktor walking her back to the B&B after midnight.
His kiss thrilled her heart, as she had known it would.
“Vill see you in morning. Ve vill plan vhat you vant to see in St. Petersburg. Leka nosht, doushenka.”
“Leka nosht to you as well, Viktor.”
The next day they walked to the Acropolis and explored. Viktor insisted on buying her anything she looked at. They had dinner with his family that evening.
Helen Dimitrios took Hermione aside and informed her that a new teaching hospital was being built in Greece. “Do you want me to recommend you for a place when it opens next year? I am to be one of the directors. We are going to need bright, dedicated young Healers. The classes are all going to be hands-on type.”
“Oh, yes. That would be superb. Thank you.” Hermione impulsively threw her arms around Helen and hugged her.
Viktor was beaming at both women.
Helen laughed. “You and my grandson are very happy together. I am hoping for much more of this happiness for both of you. You have the makings of a truly great Healer, my dear.”
Viktor whispered surprising words into his mother’s ear as they watched. “I am going to ask her to marry me vhen ve get to St. Petersburg. It is time and beyond I did so.”
“I think she will not refuse you, Vitya. You give her the freedom to be who she is, that is what she needs. I knew three years ago that this young girl had won your heart.”
“From the day I saw her at Hogvarts, Mama, I vas lost in her eyes.”
“Her eyes follow you with such a look of wonder, my son. It warms my heart to see you so loved.”
“I know, Mama. She is so strong and so beautiful that I am amazed she loffs me. I am going to suggest ve vait until she finishes Healer training before ve marry. I think that vill giff her room to stretch herself.”
“Vitya, if she goes at her training as she seems to go at everything else; she will be done with it in less than the three years usually required.”
“I know, Mama. She already has a potion proficiency higher than most second year Healer students do. I must get her back to her bed and breakfast so ve can leaf for St. Petersburg tomorrow morning. I vill be back shortly.”
Hermione took her leave of Viktor’s family with a promise to return after her NEWTs.
Seated next to each other on the plane, Viktor and Hermione mapped out where they would go first. This time, Viktor had taken a suite at a posh hotel for the two of them.
“The Hermitage first, please, Viktor. I have wanted to see it for a very long time.”
“That vas my plan, loff. Then ve go to Peterhof. Gardens there are too beautiful for vords.”
“I thought it was some distance outside the city.”
“Ve take boat. Best vay to see gardens is from lower terraces. Ve valk up to upper terraces to see palace. Is romantic.”
“You are an incurable romantic, aren’t you, Viktor?”
“Vhere you are concerned, yes, loff, I am.”
“You are so good for my self esteem, Vitya. I always know where I stand with you. I don’t have to play mind games or stroke your ego. We have a wonderful rapport.”
“It vas alvays there, loff, efen vhen you vere younger. You vere the prize I haff been trying to vin for three years.”
“I think all your competition has fallen away, Viktor.”
“Ve vill speak more of this as ve valk in the gardens of Peterhof, loff.”
The art and antiquities collections at The Hermitage held Hermione’s interest for several hours, after which Viktor suggested they have lunch at the hotel before taking the boat trip to Peterhof.
When they arrived at the lower terraces at Peterhof, Hermione gasped at the Grand Cascade.
The fountains and gardens were magnificient. As they stood overlooking the Grand Cascade Viktor reached into his jacket and pulled out a small jeweller’s box.
“Vill you marry me, Hermione? Vhen you haff completed your schooling and Healer’s training? I haff been in loff vith you since ve met. Please say yes, doushenka.”
“You know what my answer is, Viktor. I came to Europe to find my future and you are it. Yes, I will marry you.”
Author/Artist:
kyriaofdelphiPrompt: Prompt 141
Pairing(s): Viktor/Hermione
Word Count/Art Medium: 3354
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: B.A. is my wonderful Beta
Summary: Hermione travels to Europe to suss out her options now that the war is over.
The day Hermione arrived back at Hogwarts after retrieving her parents from Australia, Minerva McGonagall handed her a sealed parchment.
“I think it is from Ronald, child. He and Harry had a rather spectacular row while you were gone. I hope it isn’t too upsetting.”
In the privacy of the Gryffindor guest suite, she opened the parchment and read.
‘Mione,
I had a lot of time to think while you were gone. I listened to you talking to those folks from the Ministry about things I couldn’t understand. It finally hit me. There is no way we could make us work. You’re headed for great things and I’d only hold you back. I’m sorry, but I think it is better if we just go our separate ways now. I wish you all the luck in the world. You’ll always be my friend.
Ron
With a sigh, Hermione acknowledged the truth of what Ron had written. Putting the letter away, she went to find Harry.
“Hey, what did you and Ron argue about? He sent me a letter.”
“He asked me why you were meeting with the folks from the Ministry about the Healer programs and the Reparation programs for the Death Eaters. He thought you were bothering them about SPEW. When I told him they had come to you for your input about various programs, he was gobsmacked. He wasn’t very happy when I told him you had your heart set on going back for your seventh year and then on to an internship at St. Mungo’s. I think he was hoping you’d decide that having kids and keeping house was the thing you wanted to do.”
“Oh, Harry, I feel so bad. Ron is a sweet guy, but he isn’t for me. The two of you are both like brothers to me. I need to go suss out what I want to do with my life now that we don’t have a megalomaniac trying to kill us. I’m going to visit some places in Europe I’ve always wanted to see. Maybe I’ll figure things out while I’m gone.”
“Okay, just keep us apprised of where you’ll be. If anything happens, I’d like to know how to reach you in a hurry. Oh, and I’ll look in on your parents.” Harry grinned at her.
“You are the best almost-brother any girl ever had. Thanks. Tell Ron to write me, maybe we can salvage the friendship by writing.”
Harry sent an owl to the Burrow later, saying, “Ron, she bought it. She is going off to Europe doing touristy stuff. Do you want to write Vik or shall I?”
By return owl, Ron replied, “I had better do it. He is more likely to believe she is free if I tell him. I’m the idiot who lied to him at Bill’s wedding. I just hope they can rekindle what they had in fourth year. I really do want her to be happy.”
Instead of sending Pigwidgeon with his missive to Viktor, Ron used Hedwig. She was more dependable than the little owl. Harry had been leaving Hedwig at the Burrow for safety during the last part of the war.
Ron’s letter to Viktor was part apology and part request.
Dear Viktor,
I am writing to you to clear up something I told you last year at my brother’s wedding. Hermione and I are not an item. We are not engaged, not even dating at this point. I wanted to tell you in the off chance that you still care for her. With the war over, she is going to be visiting places in Europe where she has always wanted to go. Harry and I have asked her to keep us updated as to where she will be. If you want, I can forward the list of those places to you so you can see her and talk to her. Do me a favour, mate, if you truly love her; make her happy for both of us. Thanks.
Ron Weasley
The Burrow, England
Hedwig arrived at Viktor’s house just before he was to leave for the Quidditch League meeting about the possibility of reactivating the teams and the World Cup series. Now twenty-two, Viktor had become the spokesperson for the Bulgarian team. He read the letter, sat down, and pinched himself.
“Is real. I am not dreaming. Veasley boy has grown up, I see.” Hurriedly scribbling a note to Ron, Viktor sent Hedwig on her way again.
Hours later, Viktor’s teammates were trying to figure out why the young seeker had been in such a good mood during the seemingly endless meeting.
Coach Shevchenko voiced the general consensus of opinion. “Must be girl. He has not been this happy since he came back from Trvizard Tournament. Maybe same girl.”
They decided that whatever the reason, they were all for it. He always played a better game when he was happy.
Hermione, meanwhile, was making her list of places she wanted to go. Copenhagen was her first entry on the list. She then made notes on what she wanted to see in that location. The list continued with Florence and Venice, as did the notations. The final three entries on her list were Athens, St. Petersburg, and Paris.
After arranging places to stay, preferring bed and breakfasts, rather than large hotels, she sent a copy of the list off to Harry with dates of arrival and departure.
Over dinner, Hermione’s parents warned her to keep a low profile.
“No telling which of those followers of Lord Moldevert escaped. We just want you to be safe, honey,” her mum said.
“Isn’t there a boy on the Continent that you dated a couple years ago? Maybe you should see if he can go with you to some of those places,” her dad added.
“Mum, his name was Voldemort, but I like your version better. Dad, Viktor is one of the reasons I am going off to do this. I need to suss out my feelings for him, and what I want to do with my life now the war is over. I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Three days later, she boarded a plane for Copenhagen. An uneventful flight and taxi ride later, she arrived at the tiny B&B to find a surprise.
“Yes, Miss Granger. The roses and the box arrived by courier this morning. We put them in your room. Here is your key. Shall we see you for dinner tonight?”
“I’m not sure. I need to find out who sent the flowers. I’ll let you know in a bit.”
The roses were all pink, of a shade reminiscent of her Yule Ball dress. There was no card. The box held two things: a brochure for the Tivoli Gardens and a porcelain replica of the Little Mermaid.
She checked both for traces of magic before she touched either. When she picked up the brochure for the Gardens, a ticket fell out. There was a note as well.
In exquisite calligraphy it read:
Enjoy the Gardens at your leisure. This is a season pass. Arrangements have been made at the Gardens for your entertainment.
“I’ll bet this was Harry’s doing. He is such a sweetie.”
Picking up the phone in her room, she informed the reception desk that she would be there for dinner that night.
Dinner was a surprise. Her favourite foods were on the menu, and her guilty secret treat for dessert, Lemon Curd.
The next day she arrived at the Gardens to find herself being treated like a celebrity. She explored the Gardens, had lunch at a quaint café, and looked through the shops. The young woman assigned to escort her promptly paid for anything she looked at, much to Hermione’s astonishment.
In each of the next two cities, roses and tickets were waiting for her. Always with a special personal touch.
She sent a message off to Harry, thanking him profusely. When he responded that he had no idea what she was talking about, she thought he must be playing a joke on her.
In Athens things changed a bit, instead of roses, she found fresh herbs and wildflowers in her room. A tourist brochure about Delphi and a cryptic note waited for her.
Hermione’s journey began at Sparta. Her father married her to Neoptolemus, who did not deserve her. Her cousin, Orestes, killed Neoptolemus and married Hermione. Where does your journey begin or end? Perhaps you should ask the Delphic Oracle.
“I guess I should go to Delphi. It certainly is beautiful,” Hermione mused.
She immediately arranged to take the bus tour to Delphi the next day.
As she rode along watching the scenery, she considered her options.
If she went back to school to finish her last year, she would definitely be eligible for that Healer’s training. She would also be able to help with the rebuilding of Hogwarts.
If she didn’t go back, her options were more unfocused.
But there was an empty place in her heart. Ron had never quite fit into it. She wanted the kind of man who would let her be herself. A man who would treasure her for her knowledge and single-mindedness. A man who would treat her as a partner, not a substitute for his mother.
A man like Viktor.
He’s probably found someone else by now. I didn’t write to him at all after last summer. I wonder what he is doing.
At that moment, Viktor was standing in the grove of trees around the Kastalian Spring in the Delphi complex, waiting for Hermione to arrive. He was justifiably nervous, almost as nervous as he had been when he asked her to the Yule Ball.
This time he was going to ask her a much more important question.
The day was perfect, warm sunshine, cool breezes, not too many tourists. Viktor spotted her the minute she entered the complex.
He began to make his way to her side, carefully staying out of her line of sight. As he expected, she looked at the other temples before heading to the Oracle’s temple. She was perusing the guidebook entry as he slipped up behind her.
“Has the Oracle answered where your journey ends yet?” he murmured at her side.
She whirled to stare up at him, smiling. “Viktor, it was you sending those tickets and the flowers, wasn’t it? I’m so glad to see you.”
He grinned back at her as he captured her hand in his.
“Yes, Harry and Veasley told me vhere you vould be staying, and vhen. I vanted you to see the things ve had talked about in the library three years ago. Are you upset vith me?”
“Not at all. I should have known it was you. You’re the only one who ever paid attention to things I said.”
“I alvays vill, loff. I am hoping the oracle tells you that your journey ends in my arms. I vant to marry you. Haff vanted that for three years. Vill you consider that?”
“Why don’t we go somewhere and talk about it? I may just let you convince me.”
His eyes barely reacted to her teasing quip, but he led her to the car park.
He helped her into the tiny sports car he had parked there.
“I didn’t know you could drive a Muggle car, Viktor?”
“Many things you do not know. Such as my mother’s parents haff home close to the place you are staying. Mayka is Greek. I grew up in both vorlds. Is vhy I understood you so vell,” he said.
“I thought Durmstrang only took pureblood wizards.”
“Usually they did, but since Mayka is half-blood and Bashta is pure-blood, they made exception.”
“How exactly did Harry and Ron inveigle you into playing along with their little scheme?”
“Veasley sent me letter. I had to pinch myself to make sure I vas not dreaming. Letter is in jacket pocket. Read for yourself.”
She fished out the crumpled parchment, and read Ron’s heartfelt words to Viktor. “Oh, my, no wonder you had to pinch yourself. I can’t believe he actually wrote that.”
“It vas surprise to me as vell. I told him I still loff you and vould take his vord that he vished me luck.”
“Are you taking me back to my B&B?”
“No, ve are going to grandparents’ home virst. Most of vamily is there for reunion. Then ve are going to haff dinner at romantic spot.”
“You are crazy, Viktor. You waltz back into my life, ask me to marry you, take me to your family reunion, and then we’re going to dinner!”
“Yes, I am crazy. Haff been crazy since ve met. Cannot liff vithout you any more. Quidditch teams starting up again in a few months. Vill be fery busy then. Vant to spend as much time as possible vith you before then.”
“Viktor, I’m going back to Hogwarts for my seventh year. I want to help with the rebuilding. After that I want to become a Healer.”
“That is vonderful. Now I know you vill get along vith my grandmother. She vas healer for sefenty years. She has asked to meet you. So I bring you to meet whole family.”
“You aren’t mad that I am going back to school? I thought you might be.”
“No, loff. If that is vhat you vant, then is vine vith me. You deserf time to follow your own dreams. I vould not stand in vay of that.”
He means it. Dear sweet Merlin and Nimue! He is serious.
“Ve are here. Come.” He parked and came around to open her door.
“Viktor, I am a mess. They will be appalled that I am in jeans and a t-shirt. I should go back to the B&B.”
“You look beautiful. They vill not care. My sestras dress the same. Come.” He held out a hand to her, when he smiled that smile she could not say no.
Near the front door, he used his wand to remove the tangles from her hair, and then he kissed her until her cheeks were rosy.
They were both laughing when they entered the house. Hermione had met Viktor’s parents before the third task of the Triwizard Tournament, but was completely unprepared for the gathering of people in the house.
Irina and Vasily Krum welcomed her warmly.
“Miss Granger, it is so nice to see you again. Come meet my parents, Stephanos and Helen Dimitrios. I’ll let Viktor introduce you to his sisters,” Irina Krum murmured.
The older couple exchanged looks before the woman spoke. “So, this is the girl that captured Vitya’s heart three years ago. Sit down next to me, child. I understand you were part of the group that defeated the monster, Voldemort.”
“Yes, ma’am. Oh, Merlin! You are that Helen Dimitrios. I borrowed a Healer’s manual that you wrote from our Healer at Hogwarts.. I just told Viktor that I am going to go back for my seventh year and then enter a Healer training program. It is an honour to meet you.”
Viktor was talking to his grandfather, who overheard the exchange with Hermione. Viktor just grinned, but his grandfather laughed. “See, Helen, the girl is exactly what you wanted for the boy.”
Everyone laughed. Viktor took the opportunity to extricate Hermione from his family just as the sun was sinking.
They walked the mile or so to the restaurant where he was greeted as a valued customer. They were shown to a table on the terrace with a magnificent view of the Acropolis. He ordered their dinner in flawless Greek. She was delighted to find his choices were delicious.
They talked far into the night with Viktor walking her back to the B&B after midnight.
His kiss thrilled her heart, as she had known it would.
“Vill see you in morning. Ve vill plan vhat you vant to see in St. Petersburg. Leka nosht, doushenka.”
“Leka nosht to you as well, Viktor.”
The next day they walked to the Acropolis and explored. Viktor insisted on buying her anything she looked at. They had dinner with his family that evening.
Helen Dimitrios took Hermione aside and informed her that a new teaching hospital was being built in Greece. “Do you want me to recommend you for a place when it opens next year? I am to be one of the directors. We are going to need bright, dedicated young Healers. The classes are all going to be hands-on type.”
“Oh, yes. That would be superb. Thank you.” Hermione impulsively threw her arms around Helen and hugged her.
Viktor was beaming at both women.
Helen laughed. “You and my grandson are very happy together. I am hoping for much more of this happiness for both of you. You have the makings of a truly great Healer, my dear.”
Viktor whispered surprising words into his mother’s ear as they watched. “I am going to ask her to marry me vhen ve get to St. Petersburg. It is time and beyond I did so.”
“I think she will not refuse you, Vitya. You give her the freedom to be who she is, that is what she needs. I knew three years ago that this young girl had won your heart.”
“From the day I saw her at Hogvarts, Mama, I vas lost in her eyes.”
“Her eyes follow you with such a look of wonder, my son. It warms my heart to see you so loved.”
“I know, Mama. She is so strong and so beautiful that I am amazed she loffs me. I am going to suggest ve vait until she finishes Healer training before ve marry. I think that vill giff her room to stretch herself.”
“Vitya, if she goes at her training as she seems to go at everything else; she will be done with it in less than the three years usually required.”
“I know, Mama. She already has a potion proficiency higher than most second year Healer students do. I must get her back to her bed and breakfast so ve can leaf for St. Petersburg tomorrow morning. I vill be back shortly.”
Hermione took her leave of Viktor’s family with a promise to return after her NEWTs.
Seated next to each other on the plane, Viktor and Hermione mapped out where they would go first. This time, Viktor had taken a suite at a posh hotel for the two of them.
“The Hermitage first, please, Viktor. I have wanted to see it for a very long time.”
“That vas my plan, loff. Then ve go to Peterhof. Gardens there are too beautiful for vords.”
“I thought it was some distance outside the city.”
“Ve take boat. Best vay to see gardens is from lower terraces. Ve valk up to upper terraces to see palace. Is romantic.”
“You are an incurable romantic, aren’t you, Viktor?”
“Vhere you are concerned, yes, loff, I am.”
“You are so good for my self esteem, Vitya. I always know where I stand with you. I don’t have to play mind games or stroke your ego. We have a wonderful rapport.”
“It vas alvays there, loff, efen vhen you vere younger. You vere the prize I haff been trying to vin for three years.”
“I think all your competition has fallen away, Viktor.”
“Ve vill speak more of this as ve valk in the gardens of Peterhof, loff.”
The art and antiquities collections at The Hermitage held Hermione’s interest for several hours, after which Viktor suggested they have lunch at the hotel before taking the boat trip to Peterhof.
When they arrived at the lower terraces at Peterhof, Hermione gasped at the Grand Cascade.
The fountains and gardens were magnificient. As they stood overlooking the Grand Cascade Viktor reached into his jacket and pulled out a small jeweller’s box.
“Vill you marry me, Hermione? Vhen you haff completed your schooling and Healer’s training? I haff been in loff vith you since ve met. Please say yes, doushenka.”
“You know what my answer is, Viktor. I came to Europe to find my future and you are it. Yes, I will marry you.”
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Date: 2012-06-18 01:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-19 05:08 am (UTC)