A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Wipe

They stood together, in the bitter cold, the next morning. Despite wearing her warmest clothes, Hermione shivered against the frost. However, soon the water had been melted and she was turning to walk away.
"Vould you stay?" He asked. Nobody had ever watched him swim before and he was sure that she could give him constructive criticism that he was positive would aid his performance.
"I'm not sure. I am very cold." She shivered whilst she answered, her teeth chattering, making her speech slightly slurred. He silently passed her his coat, which he had laced with a heating charm, which she now placed on. It was far too big, but it was warm and soft and it smelt like him, which was a thought that Hermione wished that she could repress.

He was glad that she had stayed. He thought that she might not, and he would not blame her. He was unsure if she knew anything about swimming. But, it seemed she knew something about everything, so the chances of her being knowledgeable on the subject were rather high. Viktor laughed to himself inwardly when he saw her in his coat. It quite drowned her, but he was glad for this as he was sure that it was keeping her warm.

Hermione felt her eyes widen when Viktor began to undress. His slight clothing had already been too thin for this weather. She worried if he would become ill from coming out here near nude, to swim. However, he seemed in fine health and as he stripped off his clothes, to stand in his shorts and vest, Hermione wanted to avert her eyes, but found that she could not. He truly was in the peak of physical ability. His body was covered in hard muscle. However, he still managed to look soft and Hermione wondered how that could be. He must have noticed that she was looking, because he turned back to her to ask if she was okay. She blushed deeply, sat on the rock that resided near the river and nodded.

Viktor enjoyed the blush on her face, the way she averted her eyes. Girls had never been like that before. The sooner he got his clothes off the better. Despite what she had been through, in this way, she still remained innocent, still the fifteen year old girl in a strange place with a strange boy.

She placed a hand over her mouth as he dove into the river. It must have been so cold and it took every muscle in her body not to cast a heating charm on it. But he had been training like this every time he swam, so she was sure that he was used to the cold by now. He was well trained, his strokes cutting into the water, propelling him along. She noticed now how broad and muscular his shoulders were. He grunted as he swam down and back up the strip of the river that they were at. Hermione cocked her head to one side and watched him. He was really quite a sportsman. She had been impressed with his work on the Quidditch pitch, but swimming now, the power of his body was evident.

Viktor felt himself pushing harder with Hermione watching. He wanted to impress her, to show her what his body could do. He was unsure why he felt this way. He had never wanted to train in front of a girl before, it was often the girls which crept into training. But she was different, different to the others, who pined and gawked. She was too young, and he knew that. But, there was still a part of him that wished to hold her. This new wave of yearning made him feel both confused and uncomfortable. So, instead of thinking about it, he simply put his head down and continued to swim.

Hermione felt the rain before Viktor did. It was cold and piercing, even with his fur coat on, she felt herself shiver. She hopped up and ran over to the edge of the river, catching his attention.
"It is raining. We should go in." She called to him and he nodded as he pulled himself from the river. Hermione began to take off his coat, in order for him to have it back. But, he stopped her and insisted that she keep it.

They rushed inside and once they were under shelter. It was evident that Viktor was a little worse for wear.
"Are you feeling alright? You look rather pale." She asked him, looking very worried. Viktor admitted to himself that he did not feel well. But he could not admit that to Hermione, he could not seem weak, so he lied.
"I am fine. You must go and change." He insisted and although Hermione wanted to show him back to his room, he would not allow her to. So, she took his coat and retreated back to her room.

Viktor did not feel well at all and as he began to walk back to his room, he knew that he would not make it. So, he sat to regain his strength. However, the room began to spin and the walls were not where they ought to have been and Viktor felt the black slowly cloud his vision.

Hermione ate breakfast alone and began to feel worried for the absence of Viktor. He had not looked well and they had returned from the swimming. He looked pale and weak and she wished that he had let her help him. She knew that there was a chance that something was not wrong. But, instead of going to class, Hermione made her way to the infirmary, to check if he was there.

He knew that she would find him, eventually. But Viktor did not expect to see Hermione so soon. She entered, with a look of disappointment and anger on her face. She sat down beside him, staring at nothing. She was unsure what to say. He looked up at her and knew that he had done wrong.
"You lied to me." She stated, her voice wobbling. He did not say anything. He was ashamed that he had made her feel this way.
"You are not alright are you?" She asked, looking over at him.
"Tell me!" Her voice became more aggravated.
"I did not vant you to vorry." He explained and her face softened a little and he knew that he had said the right thing.
"I am worried. You do not look well at all." She sighed looking down at him and there was something in her eye that Viktor liked, but could not explain.
"Am I not handsome now?" He jested. Perhaps it was the fever, or perhaps he wished to lighten the mood, but it made her giggle which made him infinitely happy.
"Not quite so much, I am afraid." She jested back and he smiled, glad that she was not so worried now.

She sat with him all day, whilst the medi witches worked on him and several students came in, speaking to him and ignoring Hermione. That was until, Neville entered.
"Hermione, I need to speak to you." He whispered.
"What is it Neville?" She asked, once they were alone.
"They are going to wipe him." It was a term that they had learnt through the flu season at Hogwarts. Wiping was a form of treatment when the effects the last day has had on the body are erased, almost like a reboot. However, the memories went with the illness and people were left with a blind spot.
"I just wanted to let you know." He touched her arm and left. Wiping was only used in the worst kind of cases. When she returned, it was obvious that Viktor was incredibly unwell. His skin shone with a lacquer of sweat and he was both hot and cold to the touch. He would not remember anything from today. The devil in her mind told her that she should open up to him, tell him how she felt, kiss him even. But she could not. But, why not? If he would not remember, then who would it hurt?
"Her-my-knee?" Viktor croaked, bringing her back to earth.
"Yes, Viktor?" She asked, wondering if there was something he needed.
"Are you alright?" He asked and she felt a part of her yearning to tell him what was about to happen, but she could not.
"I must go." She got up to leave, however, Viktor caught her hand.
"No, please. Just a minute longer." And the look in his eye, the yearning in his voice, it made Hermione do what she did next. His cheek was burning hot against her cool palm and his eyes were wide, realising what she was about to do. She placed her lips against his, the devil on her shoulder dancing for joy. His lips were smooth and hard, pressing against hers. His hand held hers and she felt an intimacy that she had never felt before. She knew that she would have to pull away eventually, so she did so sooner rather than later. She pulled her lips away from his, her hand lingering on his face. Her fingertips stroked his cheek before she turned and walked away, without a word.

Viktor watched her walk, mouth agape, the soft, sweet clean taste of her on his mouth. He knew what treatment he was receiving and he knew that he would forget her mouth on his, the scent of her so close to him, and he could not let that happen. So, he stopped the mediwitch for a moment and pulled the memory from his mind, watching it, golden and bright. He placed it in a container on his bedside table and wrote himself a note.

Viktor,

This is your fondest memory. Go to the pensive and feel her again.

The nurse came over, the look on her face was severe and stern.

"Are you ready?" She asked, her voice suggesting that this was not a question.
"One moment." He stalled her, eliciting a grunt from the stern nurse. He then placed the note where he knew that he would find it and sighed, touching his lips one final time.
"Okay, I am ready."