A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Christmas With The Krums

Ada loved visitors, and having Viktor's old school master was an extra privilege. She had hired a team to come in and clean the house, making sure that it was perfect. Andon was excited to see Hermione again, she was such a breath of fresh air. He knew that she and Viktor had their issues. But she was the best of the bunch that Viktor had dated and he hoped that she would stick around.

Chigvintsev had been relieved when Hermione had asked him to join her at the Krum's for Christmas. Last year was the first year he had spent Christmas alone and it was not a tradition he wished to continue with. He had watched as Hermione's mind became less focused in training, and he wondered what was going on.

Hermione wanted to talk to Chigvintsev about her Mother. It would be her birthday in a week, her second birthday since everything had happened. Last year, it had seemed so impossible to contact her and when her Father's birthday rolled around, she didn't bat an eyelash, knowing that he would never forgive her for what had happened. But her Mother was different. There was a glimmer of hope in Hermione, that one day she might come around.

They sat together, one dinner time and Hermione told Chigvintsev what she was feeling.
"She didn't dismiss me straight away. She wanted to ask me about the war and check that I was alright. But, my Father said no and he has the rule in my old house. I wish that I could see her one more time, but I don't want to risk my Father knowing that she is getting contact from me. It is all very difficult." She shook her head, unable to untangle the problem in her mind.

Chigvintsev thought about it for a while.
"You say you have made her something?" He asked and she nodded.
"Yes, a bowl, to keep by the door and put your keys in." This was a very muggle object. But he smiled and nodded anyway.
"Leave it vith me, with the address and I vill sort it out, okay?" He asked her and she furrowed her brows, curious. But then nodded.
"Okay."

Viktor wondered what he could get Hermione for Christmas. It was also a kind of anniversary for them, so he had to work extra hard to make sure he would get something that she would like. He wondered if he should buy her a dress, but that didn't seem very Hermione. Then he remembered a service that his Mother had told him about.
"They can take a memory and place it in a pendent. Either in a ring or on a necklace." Viktor knew what he wanted to do, but he was nervous. They were still so young and they had been through some hard times, but he knew that she was the witch for him, and he wanted to show her that.

Hermione was struggling as well. She had made Viktor's Mother a coat rail, a surprisingly tough shape to master, and had made his Father an ash tray. But she could not give Viktor her glass, he had no need for it. She had given him photographs for his birthday. But she had no idea this time, what he wanted.

Chigvintsev had told Hermione of a quidditch antique dealer, that she could go to to get something for Viktor. She wondered if that would be the kind of thing he would be into, but she supposed if he loved the sport as much as he did, he would like anything to do with it. She wandered around the shop for a while, looking at the antique uniforms and Hogwarts bludgers. Then she came across the selection of snitches. She read the names and paused when it came to one.
"First snitch caught by Sergei Chigvintsev, 1974." The plaque said and Hermione stared at it for a minute. She never knew that Chigvintsev had played. But based on the snitch being in the shop, he must have been rather good. Hermione chuckled and picked it up, deciding to return it to its owner at Christmas.

Hermione found a Bulgaria uniform from a century ago and decided that Viktor would like it. She asked the man to frame it, so he might hang it on his wall. It was expensive, but she did not mind spending on the people she loved.

Chigvintsev had kept cuttings of every article about Hermione in the last year, in a book. He placed it on his desk and looked through it. Pictures of her arriving at Durmstrang, stopping the rain at Hogwarts, kissing Viktor Krum. The countless articles about her glass blowing, and the documentation of every ball and party she had gone to. It was almost full. The media did love Hermione. He loved the book, but he knew that Hermione's Mother had to see it. He wrapped it, along with the bowl, in brown paper and set out to the address that Hermione had given him.