A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Breaking The News

Hermione's palms were drenched with sweat when she awoke the morning of her appointment with Dumbledore. She had had nightmares all night of Dumbledore's face cracking and him crying as he bent over his knees. But, as she prepared for the day, she gave herself a reality check.
"Why would Dumbledore cry over you, Hermione?" She asked herself aloud as she looked in the mirror.
"Remember who you are." She whispered and turned to leave for the day.

Viktor knew she was nervous, he knew Dumbledore was one of the most important people in her life and telling him that she was leaving was going to be difficult. He took her hand and noticed that she was sweating.
"Listen, you vill be fine. He cares about you. He vants vhat is best for you." He smiled up at her, that genuine smile that only came out every so often. He saw Hermione's face soften as he held her hand. He wished he could go with her, but this was something she had to do alone.

Hermione apparated to Hogwarts. It seemed too large now, its grandeur gaudy. Dumbledore was waiting for her. She looked nervous. Dumbledore smiled and welcomed her.
"Let us take a walk, Hermione." He ushered her into the castle.

Hermione walked in silence with Dumbledore through the halls. Class was about to be dismissed and a moment later, the corridors were filled with students of all ages, weaving around Hermione and Dumbledore.
"Hermione, these people are here because of you." He whispered down to her. Hermione felt herself blush.
"This building is still here, we still educate here, because of you." He looked into her eyes. Hermione knew where they were going and she desperately did not want to, but she knew at some point she would have to.

The courtyard was the only part of Hogwarts that had been left untouched after the war. Hermione had never been back. She would take longer routes to her classes, she would leave Harry and Ron when they would go there, she couldn't be there. But now, she stood with Dumbledore, looking out onto the courtyard. Hogwarts now seemed silent, lessons had begun again and the students were in class.

The courtyard seemed almost untouched, a crack here, a scuff there. However, the one lasting impression on the place was the black spot in the centre of the stone. That was where it had happened, that was where she had killed him. Harry was the last horcrux and his destruction left that scar upon the ground. Hermione stared at it, eyes wide. That mark was a physical representation of the worst thing she had ever done. She felt her eyes well with tears, and Dumbledore saw.
"Let's go and sit." He led her over to one of the benches. Hermione sat with her hands in her lap and looked down at her fingers, trying her hardest not to cry.

Dumbledore looked at her, she was terrified. There was still an element left of the scared girl he had seen in the courtyard those months ago.
"Hermione, why did you come to me today?" Dumbledore asked and Hermione looked up at him, attempting to gain some composure, doing so in vain.
"I have made a decision." Her voice wobbled. Dumbledore became worried in this moment. He couldn't think of a decision that would cause her this much distress. He left her for a moment, to expand.
"I am going to stay at Durmstrang." She stated. Dumbledore felt the air leave his chest. He had never expected this. He was now the one looking down at his hands. He didn't know what to say.
"I suppose I was a little too accurate when I said you would enjoy your time at Durmstrang." He smiled up at her, trying to hold in the tears he felt coming.

Hermione watched as Dumbledore's bottom lip begin to quiver. It was her now who was crying.
"I am sorry." She wept, hunching her back. Dumbledore felt pained, seeing her in such distress.
"No, don't be speaking like that now." He wiped a tear away from her face.
"You saved us all. You deserve to be happy. Does being at Durmstrang make you happy?" He asked, attempting to control his emotions.
"Yes, enormously so." Hermione nodded and Dumbledore saw nothing but the truth.
"Then, this is what you must do." He answered her definitively.
"I will still come back to visit." She promised.
"I will hold you to that." He smiled down at her.