A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Surprise Visit

Seamus and the boys from Durmstrang were determined to show Hermione a good time after the embarrassing display earlier that evening. So the crowd took to the Three Broomsticks. Hermione had not been there since before the war and it seemed so strange to be back, under such different circumstances.

Seamus stood with Hermione as they sipped their butterbeer.
"I'm really sorry, Hermione. For what happened back there." He nodded his head back to the castle. Hermione looked into the froth of her drink.
"I suppose I just didn't imagine the reaction to be so cold. Maybe doing this isn't the best idea." Hermione sighed, her grasp tight on the glass.
"Now hold on a minute there. The goblet of fire says that you should compete. Who are you to defy the goblet's wants?" He stood, chest puffed.
"You vill do vell, I know it." Serg murmured to Hermione, reluctant to congratulate her. It seemed everyone from Durmstrang was on Hermione's side.

One of the Hogwart's boys began playing the piano in the corner and the Durmstrang men sang along to their tune in their native language. Hermione was sure that the boy did not want the men singing, but then she was sure he was not brave enough to tell them to stop. After a few times through, Hermione had picked up the words and sang along here and there. There were smiles all around, and the butterbeer was flowing and the pub was filled with the sound of laughter and singing. That was all until the door of the pub opened, silencing the room.

Viktor had heard from Neville that the boys from Durmstrang were going to celebrate with Hermione at the Three Broomsticks and that it would be a good idea to drop by. Viktor was nervous. This was such short notice. He had just finished a match when he received Neville's letter. He only had time to go home, wash his face and brush his teeth, before heading out again.

He had never been to this pub before and Viktor was unsure how he would find it. But when he heard the Bulgarian singing, he followed it to the source. It had been a long while since he had heard the men of Durmstrang sing together. He looked in, from the darkness, into the little pub and saw Hermione smiling and singing along. She looked happy. Viktor's bravery left him for a moment and he turned to leave. But something stopped him. He needed to know, he needed to know if she missed him as he had missed her. So, with a deep breath, he opened the door to the Three Broomsticks.

He stood there, dressed in his Bulgarian uniform. Hermione could not believe it. She was frozen in her position, with her butterbeer in her hand. She could feel everyone's eyes on her and she couldn't imagine what could have compelled Viktor to come to the pub.

As he walked over to Hermione, everyone watched. A young Ravenclaw approached the man.
"Excuse me, could I have an-" But immediately, a hand was clamped over the boy's mouth.

When Viktor reached Hermione, she was at a loss as what to say.
"Hello." He looked down at her and she looked up at his deep eyes and felt herself melt.
"Hello." She replied. The lady who owned the pub signalled for the boy to begin playing again and slowly but surely, he chatter started up again.

Hermione was in complete shock. Viktor had stayed away for so long, she couldn't understand why he was here, or how he even knew she was in the pub.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, eyes wide, after a minute of silence.
"I came to see you. I need to talk vith you." Hermione couldn't say no to his pleading eyes. She set her drink down on the bar, gave Seamus a look to tell him she was alright and led Viktor out of the pub, and up to Hogwarts.

They walked in silence for a long time. Hermione didn't know what to say. She didn't know how Viktor felt and she thought if she opened her mouth she might cry.
"How did you know where I was?" She asked, finally.
"Neville told me." Viktor admitted and Hermione was unsure how to take this new information.
"So you had him spy on me?" She asked, annoyed that he couldn't just come and see her. Viktor panicked.
"No. I just needed to know how I could find you and vhen the right time vould be." Hermione laughed.
"You didn't exactly pick the best day. I've had enough happen today." She was defensive because she did not want to be rejected.

Somehow they ended up at the courtyard. Hermione still hated being there, but she thought it was appropriate to show Viktor this, to show him what she was capable of.
"This was where it happened." She pointed down at the charred ground. Viktor tried not react in anyway. But it made him pity Hermione, for what she had been through.
"You got picked." He replied, ignoring her comment.
"Yes, it seems the goblet didn't see my limp as an issue." She mocked him. He took his beating, impressed by her witt.
"You vill vin." He told her. She laughed once again.
"I am glad that you are so sure. You never seemed to be." Viktor took his beating, once again.
"I vas wrong." He admitted, it was hard to say, but it needed to be said.
"Why have you come here, Viktor?" She asked, sighing and letting her eyes fall shut. Viktor sat on a nearby bench and looked up at her.
"Vhat I did vas wrong and I have suffered. Vithout you I have been miserable. Staying vith Bulgaria vas a good decision. But hurting you vas the vorst in my life. I just need to know if you hate me. If I have any chance at all. I vant to support you, I vant to be there vhen you need me." He finished and Hermione was shocked.

Silence fell over the courtyard for a moment, while Hermione thought. Viktor had come back to see if he had a chance to regain his relationship with Hermione. She had to look away from him. Because she knew if she looked at him that she would take him back in a heartbeat.
"You hurt me. I never thought that you would have such little faith in me. I believed that you could conquer the world and you didn't even think I could win a championship. I still feel for you. I still wonder where you are in the world and if you are alright. I feel such pain when I see you in the papers smiling. I wanted you to hurt as badly as I did, miss me as much as I missed you. But it didn't seem that that was the case." She paused, turning towards him.
"I don't know why you would want me back." She sighed.
"There are far superior women, who can give you all that you need." She looked down at her feet. Viktor felt ashamed, that he had made her feel so small. He stood up and approached her.
"No, never. Vhat I need is you, supporting me, as you alvays have. I feel lost vithout you around, vithout you cheering my corner." He felt a tear fall onto his cheek and this set Hermione off weeping.
"I never stopped supporting you! I always remained on your side. It was you who strayed!" She shouted at him.
"I know, and I was wrong. You are just so young and beautiful that I mistake that for being fragile. I cannot imagine the power you have and vhen I try to, it scares me." He looked down at the charred floor.
"I didn't vant you to compete because I didn't vant you to get hurt. I think sometimes I forget you vere in the var, that - as you put it - you could hex me into the ground." Hermione let out a laugh through her tears.
"I underestimate you and that is my largest crime. I vant to protect you from being hurt so much that I hurt you myself."

Hermione listened to him. She understood what he had said, it all made sense.
"It can not go back to the way it was. Not right away." She told him and watched as a smile grew on his face.
"So I am not out of your favour completely?" He asked, excitedly. Hermione wiped away her tears and shook her head.
"I don't think you could ever be." She chuckled and it was music to Viktor's ears. He knew it would not be easy to win back her trust and he knew he should not move too fast. So he took her hand and gently placed a kiss to the back of it and watched her blush.
"Come on, the others will be wondering where we are." Hermione stated.

They walked back to the Three Broomsticks in silence. The pub once again fell into silence once they returned, but for a much shorter period of time. Neville and Viktor exchanged a look that suggested that things were going to be okay. Viktor bought Hermione a drink and then got to autographing the array of materials that were thrust at him.

Seamus resumed his position beside Hermione.
"How are you?" He asked and Hermione was unsure how to respond.
"I'm not sure. I think things are better, but only time can tell, really." Seamus nodded. He watched the way that Viktor watched Hermione, even as he was signing autographs. The boy loved her, no doubt about it. But Hermione was a hard door to open once she had been closed. Seamus did not envy the man.

When it came to the end of the evening, Viktor walked Hermione back to the ship.
"Vhen can I see you again?" He asked.
"I will come to you. I don't know when I will be free, with all the training and everything, so I think's it's best if I come." She responded and Viktor hated giving over his power, but he relinquished it freely to her. He knew, whether soon or later, she would visit. He did not try to kiss her, he did not try to embrace her. He bowed and apparated back to his home.

Hermione felt a strange kind of giddy. So much had happened in one day. She had been picked for the championship, Viktor had come back, it was too much to process. She was sure at some point that she would have to deal with today. But that would have to happen at another time. She laid her head against the pillow and despite the rocking of the boat, she fell straight into slumber.