A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Diving Under

The holidays had passed and Hermione had been training harder than she had ever done before. She had not been a confident swimmer. But, with Viktor's help and some gillyweed lessons from Neville, she was starting to get the hang of swimming for a long period of time.

The day came quicker than Hermione had expected. The winter chill in the air was starting to break, but the water was still going to be freezing.

Everyone was bundled up, watched the three strip off. Draco sighed as he watched Hermione remove her ring and give it to Viktor. Some part of him had thought he still had a chance, until the pictures had been published. Ron watched on, seething. How would Hermione be doing all of this before him? Getting engaged, being in love, competing in the triwizard tournament. He respected her, but he had never felt such envy in his life.

Hermione shook as she looked around for Seamus. She knew they had taken him, she couldn't explain how, but she knew, deep down, that he was in the water.
"They've taken Seamus." She told Viktor quickly, her cheeks flushed with worry.
"Then you must go in and save him." He told her and it seemed so simple that she almost believe it was so.

Gillyweed tasted awful to Hermione. She had heard that it tasted different to everyone, but for her, it tasted like rotten tomatoes. Dumbledore announced the challenge and she swallowed the plant and held her breath, like she had practiced. She tried not to panic as she dove into the water, drowning after a few moments. But there was always a twinge of anxiety when her breath was cut off. But alas, her gills grew and she could breath again. She watched as both Cormac and Fleur swam around with their bubbles over their noses. She could hear the mermaids before she saw them, singing beautifully.

Hermione saw Seamus before she saw the mermaids. He was just floating there, bloated and pale. He looked dead and Hermione felt all of the blood drain from her face. She paused for a moment, before she sprang into action. She felt the mermaids claw at her legs as she untied Seamus. But she kicked them off, one by one. Underwater was one place where her limp didn't affect her performance.

Seamus bobbed to the top and gasped for air before any of the other prisoners. Dumbledore felt himself grow pale.
"We seek the one you love more than all,

It seems your love for this one was too small." They chanted before one of them pulled Krum into the water. Everyone cried out and panic almost ensued, before the raising of Dumbledore's hand put a stop to it all.

Hermione screamed, this was not fair. She had done what they had asked, what more could they be asking for? She swam furiously until she reached Viktor. He was screaming in terror, his lungs filling up with water. He felt his vision become blurry. For a brief moment, he thought that was going to be it, that he was a gonner, but then he heard Hermione's muffled scream and the screech of the mermaids that followed. He didn't know what had happened, but suddenly, he was being hooked under Hermione's arm and was coughing up salt water onto the decking.

Hermione collapsed, despite being crowned victor. She needed to rest. She was terrified, she could have lost Viktor, if she had been a moment longer, a centimeter away, he could have been dead before she got to him. This was all so trivial, these games, but they were putting lives at risk and Hermione regretted, for the first time, ever entering herself in the first place.

Chigvintsev knew that Hermione had been affected. He watched as she limped away from the crowd and he let her go. Viktor didn't go after her, he sat with a towel around his shoulders. He was very rarely afraid, but he had never felt terror before like he had when drowning. There was a sweetness about it, that he was the person she loved the most. But in that moment, he just wished that they could be left in peace.

Hermione walked and walked and walked. She was drenched and she didn't know where to go. She ended up in the courtyard. She sat down on the bench, shivering. She wished that none of this had happened, that she had never entered the tournament, that she had never gone to the dance with Cormac, that she had never been involved in the bloody war. For the first time in her life, Hermione wondered if it would be better to be a muggle. She laughed at herself then, she knew it wasn't, but she couldn't help wondering what it would be like if she had never been through any of this. Would she be an ordinary seventeen years old? She didn't think so.

Harry had watched it all. He knew that Hermione was hurting and he thought it was time that he should reach out some kind of olive branch. This had been going on for too long and he was ready.

Hermione didn't notice Harry until he sat down beside her on the bench.
"Rough day?" He asked her and heard her laugh.
"You could say that." She was still wrapped in her towel, dripping wet.
"It is tough, the thought of losing someone we love." He stated and she nodded.
"So much has changed for you. Your life has turned upside down." He smiled over at her.
"I have never felt so afraid, the thought of losing Viktor. Well it was similar to what I felt that day, there." She pointed at the blackened spot in the stone. Harry sighed.
"You know - I have never said this to you. But I respect you more than anyone for what you did in the war. It was tough on me, but I think it was probably harder on you." He told her and she felt her lower lip begin to wobble.
"I forgive you. You did the right thing and I am still here." He placed a hand over Hermione's and she was crying now. He had said the three words that she had always needed to hear.

They sat for a little while in silence, while Hermione calmed herself.
"So, Viktor, eh? I must say that Ron was devastated when he found out." Harry told her and she looked up at him in shock.
"Ron? Why would Ron be devastated?" She asked and watched as Harry's eyes widened.
"You mean, you didn't know?" He asked her, in shock.
"Harry I don't know what you are talking about." Hermione shook her head.
"Hermione, Ron has been in love with you pretty much since the day he met you." Harry told her and everything stopped for a moment.
"I don't understand what you mean. How?" She asked and Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"I guess in the same way that Viktor does." He told her and Hermione shook her head.
"No, he couldn't love me in the way that Viktor does." She told him and Harry gave her that one.
"No, I don't think anyone could love you that much." Hermione smiled hearing him say so.

Viktor had gone to find Hermione. He couldn't imagine how hard this had been on her. He found her sat, laughing with Potter and stood back for a moment. He knew that she had been waiting for this moment, for him to forgive her, to go back to some kind of friendship. Viktor fel his chest swell as he saw them together. He was so happy for her.

Harry spotted Viktor and decided that was his sign to leave.
"I am so glad that we had this chat. And invite me to the wedding, yeah?" He made her promise, and she did so.

Viktor walked over then. He cocked his head to the side, looking down at her, wet and cold. He shook his head and scooped her up into his arms. That was when the tears really came. Hermione wept into his neck, her arms wrapped around him so tight. Everyone looked as he carried her past the crowd. The women swooned and the men seethed at his example. But Viktor didn't care about any of it. It was all about getting Hermione dry and warm.

He stood her in the warm shower, once they were in her cabin. He had stripped off too and he washed her body silently. He then dried her, he was amazed that she was allowing him to help her so much, but she was so tired and he was so glad that she was allowing him to help. He felt such pleasure as he slid her ring back onto her finger and enjoyed how she smiled up at him.

He dressed her in her warmest pyjamas and they laid together. She said nothing. There was so much on her mind, but she did not have the strength to voice her emotions. She knew that she would have to think about what Herry had told her about Ron. But, not tonight. She laid her head on his chest and, in the end, she said:
"Viktor, I love you. But you can't be at the final task." He nodded.
"I know." He whispered and then they slept, the deepest sleep that they had shared.