A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Problems with Reporters

The end of the year was approaching quicker than any of the Hogwarts students could have imagined. Neville felt a strange pain when he thought of leaving Durmstrang, he was almost tempted to stay. But, he knew that his place was at Hogwarts, that he had to return. Ginny and Cormac were counting down the days and their faces became brighter as they approached the end of their stay. Seamus would be going home for the summer. He was excited to spend time with his family, but he knew he would miss his owls. Hermione was nervous about spending the summer with Viktor. She knew that he would be busy with training and she feared without knowing the language, that she would be rather alone.

Viktor had thrown himself into his training. He could not and would not embarrass himself when he began his training with Bulgaria. So, in between every lesson, he was flying, training, ensuring he was in the best physical form possible. He was surprised when a Bulgarian Journalist, Mia Vurgal asked Chigvintsev if she could come and interview Viktor about his preparation for his summer training. He had never really done any one on one interviews, but he had to admit that he was rather exciting.

Mia Vurgal was twenty one years old. She had begun writing for various newspapers after she finished school at eighteen. In three years, she managed to build a pretty solid reputation for herself. When the opportunity to interview the youngest star of the Bulgarian quidditch team came up, Vurgal could not turn it down. Krum was the rising star in quidditch and she was incredibly excited to meet him.

Viktor waited for her in a prepared room. On the table sat a decanter of pumpkin juice and a plate of sugar cookies. His palms were sweaty and he tapped his feet on the wooden floor. When she entered, Viktor felt his breath hitch. Vurgal was younger than he had expected, much younger. She had long blonde, pin straight hair and ice blue eyes. Her lips were thin and her skin was ivory pale. Her slim figure sauntered into the room and shook his hand, now he was nervous.

Hermione knew that Viktor had his interview, the whole school knew. So, around half an hour after the interview was supposed to start, she walked past the room, to see how he was doing. She expected the odd stutter or perhaps the scribble of a quill. But instead, she heard the melody of them laughing together. She was intrigued. She popped her head around the door, so slight that she ensured no one would see her. She gasped when she saw Vurgal's hand on Viktor's arm.
"Vell, you vill be throwing the girls off once you are in Sofia." She chuckled, Hermione could hear.
"No, I am sure there are others more vorthy." Viktor replied and Hermione frowned, disapproving of his self deprecation.
"The rising star of the national team, who could be more vorthy?" She chuckled and Hermione heard the grumble of Viktor's laugh.
"You are too kind, I shall have to ask you for tips for keeping your admirers avay." He flirted.
"I vould be more than happy to do so, Mr Krum." She replied. Hermione could take no more. She had listened to Viktor flirt and preen over the blonde reporter. She couldn't exactly blame him, Vurgal was stunning. She had interviewed Hermione once after the war and took her breath away. No matter how pretty Ms Vurgal was and no matter how glowing Viktor wished his account to be in the paper, there was no excuse for his actions. She sighed, she would not cry, there was no need. She knew, sooner or later, something like this would happen. So, she went to the one place where she could quiet her mind, the studio where she blew her glass.

Viktor left his interview feeling elated. Ms Vurgal had seemed to like him very much, even asking him out to drinks when he was in Sofia. Of course, he would take Hermione along, not that she could drink, but he wanted Mia to meet her. There had been no mention of Hermione in the interview and Vikor was glad. This article was not about his relationship, it was about his career and he was glad that for the time being, he could keep the two things separate.

He wanted to celebrate with Hermione, so he went to the dining hall to find her.
"She's blowing glass. She told me to tell you not to disturb her." Seamus told Viktor and before Viktor could retaliate, Seamus held up his hands.
"I'm only telling you what she told me." Viktor nodded, there was no need getting angry at the Irish boy. There was no real need to get angry with Hermione either. She needed time to work, he would give her that time.

After a two hour session in the studio, Hermione apparated to see Hagrid. She needed his relaxing, warm company and, of course, he was happy to see her.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" He asked her as she sipped her tea.
"It's Viktor. I would talk to a girlfriend about this if I had one, but I don't." Hermione admitted. Hagrid smiled.
"Talk to me about it." He invited her. Hermione told him what happened.
"Now that's naughty of him, he shouldn't have done that." Hagrid sat back and pondered on the situation.
"I know he was excited and that he wanted to be portrayed well." Hermione looked down at her tea.
"Now, that's no excuse for flirting with another woman." He shook his head. Hermione did not deserve this.
"Do you have much glass on your hands?" He asked. Hermione nodded.
"A never ending waiting list." She chuckled, looking down at her hands.
"Take a few days, work on your own. He will know he has done something wrong." Hagrid suggested. Hermione smiled up at him.
"You always make me feel better." They embraced and then parted ways.

Dorfinde was glad to see that Hermione was taking her work more seriously. She was working in every available opportunity. She had worn her hands down, then healed them. She was making more money than any witch her age and she was building a name for herself.

Viktor hadn't seen Hermione in a few days and he wondered what had happened. He knew she was busy, he knew that she had a business to run. But he wanted to celebrate his article with her, he wanted her to share in his success. But she was always blowing glass and it took two days for Viktor to realise that she was avoiding him.

It was only when the article was published that Viktor understood the fatal error he had made. The piece sung his praises and showed that Mia had obviously taken a shining to him. However, it was the picture that did it, the image of them laughing together, her hand on his shoulder. Hermione knew, she knew that this had happened. How could he make amends? He did not know. So, he went to the one person who knew her the most at the school.
"I don't know what you want me to say, Krum. You screwed up, big time." Seamus said, looking down at the paper.
"I know." He sulked.
"Wait, let me think over here for a second." Seamus threw up a hand. Viktor waited as the boy sat in deep thought.
"Do you like this reporter, this Mia?" He asked and Viktor felt insulted by the question.
"No, of course not. Not in that vay." Viktor responded.
"Okay, good. I just had to check." Seamus stroked his non existence beard.
"You need to show Hermione that she is the only woman in the world that matters to you." He stated.
"How?" Viktor asked. Seamus shrugged his shoulders.
"The only woman who has ever loved me is my Ma, so I wouldn't know. Flowers, chocolates, an apology, maybe?" Viktor knew that these were very muggle things, but Hermione was muggle, by blood, so perhaps flowers and chocolates were the best way to go.

Hermione had been working all evening on a sculpture of a deer when she saw him. Viktor was stood outside with flowers and Hermione sighed, letting down the lock on the door. She watched him stride across the studio, then standing before her. She didn't say anything, she just began applying her ointment to her hands.

Viktor knew she was hurting, she almost ignored him as she applied her cream to her hands. She sat, so he knelt in front of her.
"Her-my-knee, I know vhat you saw and I know how you feel." He began.
"No you do not." She cut him off.
"Never have I flirted with some leggy blonde working for the press." She huffed and he allowed her this.
"I know." He sighed, knowing that this was true.
"I vas wrong, I know this. I am sorry." He placed the bluebells in her lap and watched as she sighed, a tear hitting her cheek.
"She is older than me, and prettier than me." Hermione had said this aloud before even thinking about it. Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment at what she had just admitted. Viktor shook his head.
"No one is more beautiful than you." He placed a kiss to her forehead.
"That isn't true." Hermione shook her head. Viktor placed both hands on either side of her face and looked into her eyes.
"To me it is." He smiled down at her. Her eyes were so beautiful, but he saw pain there, a pain that he wish he could take away.
"Thank you for the flowers." She let herself smile the faintest of grins. He replied with a gentle kiss to her lips.

Viktor did not sleep in her room that night. He allowed her space. He knew he could not bombard her. He had never had a girlfriend before, and what he had done had wounded her self confidence. He could not forgive himself for that, but he would work to build her up again, to let her know that she was the only witch that could have him.