A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Moving In

The house was small but quaint. The door was lacquered a deep shade of green and the windows were framed in thick white wood. Hermione took a deep breath when she first saw the house. It was sweet enough. It was not minimalist and modern, it was small, with low ceilings and heavily patterned wallpaper.

Viktor breathed in the old, worn smell that the house always use to emit. It was comforting to him. It reminded him of his grandmother and the sweet treats she used to make him in the kitchen. She had moved to the country a few years ago and she had left the house to Viktor and his parents to use when they had business in the city. He looked over at Hermione as she walked around the living room, that flowed into the dining room. She ran her fingers over the wallpaper, where it curled off of the walls at the edges and she seemed very deep in thought. He decided it was best to leave her for the moment, while he took their bags up to their rooms.

Hermione was glad that they were not in the centre of Sofia. The house was detached from the four around it. They formed a small semicircle in the neighbourhood, each with its own small garden. She had imagined a row of attached terraced houses, three stories high with bay windows and large, spacious rooms. She was far more comfortable with this cottage-like setting. She felt she fit in well in this atmosphere, where the wallpaper curled and the floorboards creaked.

She had not noticed Viktor's absence until he returned and the bags were gone.
"Vould you like to see your room?" Hermione nodded, unsure if she was quite ready to speak. Viktor led her up the stairs and down a narrow hallway.
"Mind there." He pointed down, where it was obvious that one of the floorboards had given way, leaving a dip in the ground. She nodded and walked around it.

Hermione's room was filled with light. It was at the back of the house, looking out, towards the city. The walls were covered in floral wallpaper that had yellowed over the years and the floor was carpeted with a thick, plush mulberry shag. Absent mindedly, she kicked off her shoes and let her toes sink into the soft carpet and smiled.

In the centre of the room was a twin bed, made of oak, fitted with floral quilts, covered in roses. Beside the bed sat a table, adorned with a candle and a glass of water. Hermione wondered where the glass of water had come from.
"This used to be my Grandmother's room." Viktor looked down at the ground. Hermione ran her hand over the oak cupboards and smiled.
"It is beautiful." She whispered. Viktor understood that she was overwhelmed. But he had to show her one more room.

The conservatory was small, made of glass and fitted with a marble tiled floor. Hermione's feet were cold in this empty room. Apart from a few potted plants, the room was bare.
"This is your room. To do your glass blowing." Hermione looked back at him and took his hand. It was perfect. The light would flood in and allow her to work in the cool, with the french doors open.
"Thank you." She smiled at him and whispered.
"Go and rest." He squeezed her hand and watched as she went back to her bedroom.

Hermione crawled into the comfortable bed and rested her head on the pillow. Things were not so scary. She had her own room, which she feared she might not, and she had a space to blow her glass and Viktor was giving her time to adjust. She wished that she had a girlfriend to talk to about all of this, but the closest she had was Seamus. Luna had lost all contact and Ginny couldn't wait to get home, so much so that she had forgotten to say goodbye to Hermione, at least that's what Hermione hoped.

Viktor made himself a cup of tea and sat on the sofa. They had travelled and arrived in one piece. Hermione was living with him and couldn't help being taken aback ever so slightly. Only months ago, he was alone, dreading his time in the lonely, empty house and now he was relaxed, glad that he had company.

An unexpected visit came in the form of Hugo Slaven, Bulgaria's coach. Viktor had trained with him only a handful of times and he was very shocked when he opened the door to find the man stood, with a large candle in his hands.
"Viktor!" He exclaimed, a wide smile growing underneath his bushy moustache. Viktor bowed and invited the man in.
"I see you have moved in comfortably." Slaven commented, bowing his head, being a little too tall for the living room. Viktor offered him a seat.
"Yes, I am always very comfortable here." Viktor replied sitting opposite Slaven.
"My Wife bought you this candle. She hoped you would like it." Slaven announced openly. Viktor took the candle, that smelt of campfires and Viktor enjoyed it very much.

Hermione could hear voices downstairs, and she was sure Viktor was not talking to himself. So, she padded across the landing and looked over the banister, down to the living room and saw a massive man, with fire red hair and facial trimmings. He was conversing with Viktor and Viktor looked very engaged, showing that the man had obvious status and respect from Viktor.

She was just going to go back to her bedroom and ask about the man later, until his eye caught her's and she grew stiff. She watched as Viktor turned to look at her.
"Her-my-knee. Come down here?" He asked her and she nodded, attempting to descend the stairs with as much grace as she could possess.

Viktor was anxious for Slaven to meet Hermione. He was unsure how he would react to him living with a girl two years his junior. She was legal to be in such a situation in Bulgaria, but he was still unsure how society would view it.

Slaven looked at the young witch and felt an odd sense of recognition when he looked at her pretty, youthful face.
"Coach Slaven, this is Her-my-knee Granger." The large ginger man held out his hand. His grasp engulfed Hermione's and his shake was far firmer than her's. Slaven now knew where he knew the girl from. She was the one in the papers, the girl who had saved the world from evil. He looked at her now and she seemed rather harmless, with her ankles crossed and her hands laid on her lap, but he could sense a power in her, a power that put him a little on edge.

Hermione was nervous to be sat with the Coach of the Bulgarian team.
"So how did you meet?" He asked Hermione.
"I transferred to Durmstrang for the year and well, he was there." Her cheeks became rosy and the Coach smiled.
"I saw vhat you did vith the rain. I am very impressed. Ve might need your skills if the summer is not kind to us."
"I shall try my best." Hermione looked down at her hands and smiled. Viktor was elated that Slaven was so interested in Hermione and interested in using her in the team.

The large man soon had to leave. He shook Viktor's hand again and bowed to Hermione, his face crinkling ever so slightly with his coming age. Then, he left, making the room seem a little empty.

Hermione and Viktor sat for a moment, in the living room.
"Ve should eat." He stated, hearing her stomach grumble. The sun was setting, which meant that the hour was late, a little later than Hermione was used to eating.

Viktor insisted that he cook. Hermione had never had any flare when it came to the domestic arts. However, Viktor had learnt how to cook from his Mother. The fridge was fully stocked and Hermione sat and watched as Viktor cooked the meat and boiled the vegetables. He seemed such a natural in the kitchen that Hermione wondered why he put so much time into quidditch and wondered if in another life he could have been a great cook.

They ate in silence, sat opposite one another at the small dinner table. The meal was delicious and the orange juice brought Hermione back to life. She blushed and smiled up at Viktor every now and then and he treasured those smiles.

They sat together after dinner, both reading. But Viktor could not handle the stress he could feel emanating from Hermione. He took her book and placed it down. She looked up at him, questioningly.
"You are vorried." He stated and Hermione looked down at her hands.
"It's just, I've lived at the school for the longest time, even over the summer. So being in a home, alone with another is so alien to me." She admitted and Viktor took her hand.
"You are safe vith me." He placed a kiss to her palm. He pulled her onto his lap and Hermione thought she should tell him what was really going on.
"The last time I lived in a place like this was when I lived with my parents." She admitted and now Viktor understood.
"Ve shall make good memories, to block out the pain." He smiled down at her and she nodded, knowing that at some point, she would believe him. He pulled her close and in that moment. The penny dropped. She was living with Viktor Krum. She was dating one of the most famous seekers in the world. Many witches and wizards would give their left arm to be in this position. She looked up at him and sighed. She was not one for sloppy romance, but she knew if they were together that she would be safe and happy.