A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Building Bridges

Hermione had seen Viktor at dinner. She had wondered whether to join him or not, but decided that the nature of their relationship meant that she should not.

Viktor watched as she sat with her English peers. He understood. He had ignored her when she needed companionship and it would take time for him to gain her forgiveness. When she had stopped the rain that day, something had clicked in his mind. He had been persuaded to do something he did not want to do. This was not the Viktor Krum he knew, and he was ashamed that he had gone against his own emotions to please the people around him. He vowed to himself, when he had stood outside the Head Master's office that day, that he would make the decisions that he wanted and befriend anyone he wanted, despite what anyone thought or said.

Hermione awoke early that sunday and dressed quickly, her stomach feeling empty. She was going to practice her training and write her diary today. She sighed seeing the rain, but was grateful for it, knowing that she could practice with the quidditch boys. She picked up her waterproof coat before leaving, wanting to be able to sit in the stands. She did not care if Viktor Krum asked her or not, she would go there by her own right.

Viktor saw her walk into the eating hall, wearing yellow rain boots and carrying a matching coat. He chuckled to himself for a moment, before standing, catching her attention. There were not many people in the hall so early, but those that were there grew quiet. Hermione did not see Seamus, nor Luna nor Neville, but Viktor Krum was signalling for her to sit with him and she could think of worse offers.

She sat opposite him and watched him place his translators in.
"Good morning." He greeted her, before tucking into his breakfast of porridge and eggs.
"Good morning." Hermione mirrored him, serving herself a bowl of porridge and picking a banana from the bowl.
"Are you heading out today?" He asked, looking down at the coat.
"It is raining." Was all she said and he almost immediately understood.
"Vill you come and vatch the quidditch?" He asked, wanting to be polite.
"I won't be watching as such, but I shall be there." She replied, sending him a small smile. He nodded, getting back to his breakfast.
"How was Serbia?" Hermione asked, finding it easier to speak with Viktor with each minute that passed by.
"Interesting. Dragons are strange creatures." He replied, feeling guilty for leaving her.
"I have never met a dragon, but I would so love to." Hermione mused, thinking of the illustrations she saw in books. Viktor stopped eating to admire her in thought.
"I think they vould like you. It takes a strong, caring person to tame the beast." Just as he had said it, he wished he could pull the comment back into his mouth. He was not dealing with one of his flirtatious fans, but a respectable witch. However, she blushed as other girls had, but there was something behind it, a shock that saddened him and he made a mental note to compliment her more often.

People watched as Hermione pulled on her yellow mac. If anyone had asked her, she would have insisted that her Mother had bought it with the matching boots for her and that it was beyond her choice to wear them. But, if she was being honest, she loved the combination, as it made her think of splashing about at Hogwarts in her first year.

Viktor walked beside her, with his broom in hand.
"I'll go alone from here. I don't want you to get wet." She stated, looking anywhere but his eyes. He was much taller than her and he seemed to tower over her as she did up the buttons on her coat and tucked her hair into the hood. He waited until she finally looked up at him and sighed inwardly when she smiled up at him.
"I'll be okay. You go." She reassured him, but still a part of him hated leaving her to go out into the rain. But, after a few seconds, he turned and left, hearing her rain boots squelch as she left.

Viktor had expected for the men to say something to him. Many of them had seen him at breakfast with her and although the harassment had died down, she was not a popular figure. However, nobody said anything to him. They treated it like any normal session and he wondered if perhaps the men were coming around to the idea of Hermione Granger, or perhaps they just enjoyed training in the dry.