A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Soft Souls

Hermione was groggy at breakfast, due to her early awakening.
"I see you didn't get stuck in the river." She noted as Viktor sat opposite her.
"No, I had a good swim. Thank you for vhat you did." He smiled at her again and she felt her break hitch slightly. His face seemed far less harsh and angular when he smiled. However, Viktor's smiles could not lift Hermione's spirits today. She was having a terrible day, the weight of her isolation becoming very real to her. When she returned to England, would Harry and Ron pretend to be her friend again? She knew that she would not be able to play along with the charade. She felt as if she had no place to go. The students of Hogwarts silently feared her, she only had one native friend at Durmstrang and as for her Muggle home, there was no place for her there now. She was left in disbelief. She had never been popular before the war, but things had never been like this. She sighed, picking up her things and commuting to class.

Chigvintsev had said that she was intelligent enough to thrive and perhaps she was. But, Hermione found that even her academic life could not invigorate her like it used to. She wondered what it was all for. She had already used her magic for the most important thing she was sure would happen in her life and that earned her nothing but contempt. She was left feeling deflated and unenthused.

Viktor wished he could help her. But he knew the Durmstrang men and he knew that once they gained a dislike for someone, that was not easily changed. Seamus approached them and Hermione smiled a forced grin.
"Seamus, sit with us, please." Hermione asked, not wanting him to be alone. He joined them willingly, eating quickly, before returning to his owls. Hermione was glad that Seamus had reached out, he had been so hurt during the war that she was glad that he was seeking friendships again.

Chigvintsev had been watching Hermione and this latest slump worried him greatly. He knew that she had not received replies from her friends, and that the general concensus on her character at Durmstrang had not changed. He did not blame her for the way she was feeling, but he knew he had to do something to help.

Hermione stayed behind in her potions class, finishing a concoction that she had been perfecting for a while. As she stared into black ooze, she sighed and placed her wand to one side. She placed her head into her hands, scraping the hair away from her face. She thought she might fall asleep where she to stay in this position long enough. And just as she felt her eyelids flutter, she heard her.
"Hermione?" Professor Mcgonagall called to her softly. Hermione jerked her head and clasped a hand over her mouth.
"What are you doing here, all by yourself?" She asked, and as if she had flipped a switch, Hermione let the tears she had been holding in for so long fall.
"The men here hate me and they took away my guide, and Harry and Ron hate me and I don't know what to do." Mcgonagall hadn't realised how bad things had gotten. She pulled Hermione into her arms and allowed her to weep.
"Why do the boys dislike you?" She asked, wondering what Hermione could have done to make the entire school dislike her.
"It was a silly business with a boggart." Hermione muttered, feeling protected and comforted for the first time in a while.
"They fear me for what I did." She whispered and Mcgonagall pulled her to arms length.
"That can not be true. They do not know." She looked into Hermione's eyes.
"They know I did something. Something awful." She placed her hands over her eyes and shook her head.
"But Hermione, you didn't do something awful. You did something necessary. You saved us all." She pulled Hermione back into an embrace.
"Poor child, you are being blamed for an act that they can't possibly understand. And you are not alone, you know that." Minerva spotted Krum, whom she recognised from many a quidditch game, stood at the door.
"But, Harry and Ron-"
"They are being boys. Harry went through something terrible and it is natural that he might feel a little resentment. But, do not let his issues affect you. You are good Hermione, what you did was for the greater good." She smoothed her hair and held her close. She had never seen the young girl look so broken. She wondered if offering for her to come back to Hogwarts would help, but Dumbledore had been adamant that that was not to happen.
"I am here for you, Dumbledore and Hagrid are here for you, all of the teachers at Hogwarts care about you and we are so fiercely proud of you. I need you to know that." Minerva said, lookng into Hermione's eyes. She nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"And remember, child, that sometimes the hardest people can have the softest souls." She stroked Hermione's face with the backs of her fingertips, before wishing her farewell.
"Write to me if you need advice." She called as she apparated back to Hogwarts.

Hermione was left in shock, unsure what had just occurred. She then saw Viktor and snapped back into reality. She gathered her things, and joined him out in the hall, hoping that her cheeks were not too red and that there were no tears left in her eyes.

Viktor had seen it all and he was unsure how to respond. Hermione looked so calm as she was held, as if all of the tension and the stress had left her body. He could tell that the woman, who he was sure he had met before, knew everything about the situation with Hermione. He wondered if he could help in the same way as she had.

After dinner, they walked together, Hermione wanting to go to bed early that night.
"If you wake me, I will thaw out the river again." She offered, wondering if he would like to swim tomorrow.
"Thank you." He agreed. Viktor then swallowed his fear.
"I saw you, vith the lady." He informed Hermione and he saw her cheeks bush a deep, embarrassed hue.
"You looked very calm vith her." He continued, understanding her embarrassed silence.
"I think, maybe physical contact helps you." He looked down at his feet. Hermione was unsure how to respond, she had been caught completely off guard.
"I vould like to help." He stated as they arrived at her room. Hermione was shocked when Viktor extended his arms, in order to embrace her. However, his arms were strong and she could feel the heat radiating from his body. She stepped forward, placed her hands on his chest and allowed him to hold her. He was so warm and hard, like a stone left in the sun. She laid her cheek against his chest and thought she might fall asleep against him. Viktor did not want the moment to end. He felt such a joy at being able to help Hermione without her having to ask. She felt so slight in his grasp, as if he might snap her were he to squeeze her. He wished that they could have stayed like this forever, but he knew that she would become uncomfortable with a friend holding her in this way for so long. So, he gently released her, unwillingly so and wished her a goodnight. As he walked away, Hermione watched and wondered if Mcgonagall was right, if the hardest people did have the softest souls?