A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

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Hermione was unsure how to react when she saw Viktor for the first time. She had started sitting with Seamus in his absence and this was a habit that she did not wish to break. Seamus was quiet and did not begin conversations often, but he was familiar and his pensive nature calmed Hermione massively. They had very similar stories and she took peace in knowing that she did not suffer alone. She had still not received replies from neither Ron nor Harry and knowing that Seamus was there helped her.

Viktor returned to Durmstrang with the information he sought, but he was now unsure what he was going to do with it. She had kissed him, she had showed him that she cared, but what did this mean for them? For their friendship, for their relationship. He knew that things could not be the same now, and this frightened him.

He sat alone when he returned. He understood why she would not sit with him and he wished that he could explain himself. But, he decided that she could not know that he had gone to Dumbledore and she could not know that he remembered what had happened. It would make everything far more complicated, more so than it had to be.

She watched him, eating alone and wondered why he would not speak to her, what had she done that was so terrible? And then it hit her. What if he remembered what happened? What if she had ruined their friendship by taking that risk. She sighed and shook her head, wishing her life could, for once, be simple again.

He watched her leave, Viktor wanted to talk to her, but it seemed that when he thought about a conversation, the only thing that came to mind was the kiss. It seemed that everything else was irrelevant now. But, when he saw her, sat on the floor, studying before class, he knew that he had to do it first, to remove the tension.

Hermione was almost always early to class and in the time that she had to waste, she would either write her diary or study her spells that Chigvintsev had given her. However, this morning a seeker sized obstacle stood in her way.
"Hello." He greeted her and she looked up from her book, to see him towering over her.
"Hello." She returned and she was quite unsure how to take it from there, so she left it for him to continue.
"Are you vell?" He asked, feeling the sweat trickle down the back of his neck. She had never made him feel so nervous before, but now she had the power over him.
"I am thank you. How are you?" She asked, looking up at him. Her eyes seemed to look straight through him, however he knew he had to make an excuse for his time away.
"Yes, I am feeling vell. I vas ill for a vhile. But I am better now." Hermione smiled up at him.
"I am glad, the cold winds are coming and it is a terrible time to be ill." She stated and he found himself absentmindedly nodding. And by the time he had come back to reality, she had stood and was now walking around him.
"Please sit vith me, at dinner." He blurted out before he could think. Hermione smiled and look up at him from under her lashes.
"Okay. I'll see you then." She bid him farewell and before he could reply, she was gone.

Hermione placed her head in her hands. He knew. She was unsure how he knew, but it was obvious that he knew. She didn't know where to go from here. He didn't seem disgusted by her, in fact, quite the opposite. But, she couldn't entertain the idea that she might be a romantic interest for him, because she was just Hermione Granger and he was world class seeker Viktor Krum and things like that simply didn't happen.

They sat together at dinner and ate in silence. The school was buzzing with the anticipation of Christmas. They would all be heading home to be with family and friends.
"Are you excited about Christmas?" Hermione asked, wondering what plans Viktor had.
"Yes, very much." He replied. "My family come together for Christmas." Hermione felt his words as if they were a dagger through her heart. She had been offered to go back to Hogwarts for Christmas, but she knew it would simply make it harder to leave. So, she would stay at Durmstrang and continue with her routine as if nothing had happened. Chigvintsev had promised that there would be staff to cater for her and being in the castle without all of those ignorant boys was a rather tempting thought for her.
"I am staying." She admitted and he looked up at her in surprise.
"Vhat about family?" He asked and Hermione sighed. She knew that what she had done was right and that it had saved her parents pain. But, in doing so she had created a whole new pain. They did not understand why she did what she did and when she gave them back their memory, they did not want her in their lives. They thought she was selfish and cruel and a part of Hermione agreed with them.
"I don't have any, not really. But it is okay. I shall be here, in this wonderful place and I'm sure I can set up a Christmas tree and some lights and it shall feel just as comfortable as if I were to go home." Viktor listened to her, he was sure that she was trying to convince both herself and him and it pained him to think of her here all alone, at a time when you should be with family. But, it was obvious that she did not want to speak about it, so he did not press the issue any further.

Although he did not speak about it any further, the thought of Hermione being alone at Christmas lingered in Viktor's mind. It seemed impossible that she of all people could have no one to be with, not a single friend or family member. He thought about it for a long while, about what he could do. He wondered if he could speak with the ginger witch, who he knew was the sister of Hermione's friend. But, she had made it clear that Ronald Weasley was not being her friend as of late. He then wondered if he could contact one of the teachers at Hogwarts, to see if they could have her there. But, in the end, he knew what he had to do and although it terrified him, he knew it was for the best.

He apparated outside of his home and knocked at the door.
"Viktor! What a surprise!" His Mother called. They sat together in the living room and Ada knew that something was wrong with her son.
"Viktor, what is it? Talk to me." She placed her hand over his.
"Mama, you always told me to be kind to those I cared for, yes?"
"Of course, Viktor." She nudged him to continue.
"I have made a friend, she has come from Hogwarts and the men hate her. She has nowhere to go and she is spending Christmas at Durmstrang, alone. She has no friends, no family to turn to." He explained to his Mother. She sighed and squeezed his hand.
"You have always been the kindest of souls." The Bulgarian rolled off of her tongue. She smiled up at him.
"Bring your friend. Nobody should be alone at Christmas." She insisted and Viktor kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you, Mama." Now the difficult part came: asking Hermione.