A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Celebrations

Ada was impressed with Dumbledore's hosting skills. Hogwarts was decorated beautifully, with candles and flowers that gave the place the most wonderful smell. Viktor had been swept off by a huddle of Hogwarts students, wanting autographs and Ada was proud of her Son, for leaving Hermione for a minute.

Jane had never been so involved in this part of Hermione's life. Her daughter was so much stronger than she could have ever imagined. She embraced Hermione, tighter than she had before.
"I was so afraid." She admitted.
"I was always going to be alright, Mum." Hermione chuckled into her ear and Jane loved the sound of her laughter.
"The practice is going well. Seems that magic cannot cure plaque." She told Hermione.
"That is wonderful! So this means you're going to be staying?" Hermione asked and Jane nodded.
"Yes, I think so." She beamed as she told her daughter. Hermione saw him then, Chigvintsev padding from one foot to the other. Jane understood and moved aside to talk with Andon.

Hermione cried out when Chigvintsev squeezed her.
"I cannot tell you how proud of you I am." He whispered to her and she smiled.
"I could not have done any of it without you." She told him and watched him blush.
"And you know, it's alright, if you and Mum, you know?" She was the one blushing.
"She is a magnificent voman." He told her and thanked her for her blessing.

Viktor turned, with his quill in his hand, ready to give another autograph, when he saw Hermione stood behind him.
"Well, I will take an autograph, if you're willing to give one. I've heard they're worth a lot these days." She told him and he smiled, producing a picture of himself, scribbling on it for her.
"One of a kind. It is vorth more." He winked as she read it.

To my beloved.

I love you,

Viktor Krum.

She smiled.
"I think I might just keep this one." She told him and he shrugged his shoulders jokingly.
"We have to go and eat soon. Sit with me?" She asked him and he kissed her hand, before they were both pulled apart by avid fans.

Harry had congratulated Hermione, which she was very grateful for.
"He won't come over. I've told him he needs to get over this, but he won't." Harry nodded over to Ron. Hermione sighed.
"Do you really think he meant those things?" She asked and watched as Harry softly smiled.
"No, I don't. He is just a really really jealous person and seeing you with all this wealth and love and success in your life is very hard for him." Hermione felt bad for Ron. She wished that she could be the one to make the first move. But it had to be him, she knew that.
"Well, thank you once again Harry. And tell Ron it's not all bad. We all get jealous sometimes." She smiled at him and he chuckled as he walked away.

Everyone sat then. Hermione and Viktor were up front with Dumbledore and everyone looked upon them with wonder. She had removed her armour, now wearing a Durmstrang jumper with the pin that Ada had gifted her. Viktor took her hand under the table and she looked up at him and blushed when he placed a kiss to her cheek. You could feel the envy of the women in the room and Hermione laughed it off, enjoying the attention from Viktor.

Dumbledore couldn't have thought of a better way for this year to end, or for the tournament to go. He stood at his podium and gained the attention of everyone in the room.
"I have had the great pleasure in knowing Miss Hermione Granger. As you all know, she studied here for a while, and in the war effort, no one worked as tirelessly as her. It seems, that she never fails to surprise us. She has proven, as the new TriWizard Champion that you do not have to be the most athletic of witches to win. You must use your brains, talents and witt to overcome the challenges. I congratulate our own Cormac McLaggen and Beauxbaton's Fleur Delacour for your achievements in this tournament. But, Miss Granger, this is for you." He motioned to the TriWizard Cup and Hermione smiled. She stood and made her way over, standing in front of Dumbledore.
"I give you, the new TriWizard Champion: Hermione Granger!" Dumbledore announced and the room exploded in applause. Ada and Jane both needed a tissue and Viktor himself felt a little tearful in the moment. Hermione basked in it. She had gone through so much. But now, it all seemed worth it.

After the feast, everyone changed and met for a ball. Hermione wore a knee length, golden dress, with matching hair clips. Viktor wore a golden pin on his red uniform to match her and everyone was waiting for the day that they were to be wed.
"Why doesn't she just drop out now and marry him tomorrow?" One of the girls whispered.
"Because Hermione dropping out of school is as likely as Finch marrying Fleur Delacour." Her friend told her.
"I would have left school long ago, if I was dating Viktor Krum." She replied, her friend rolled her eyes.
"And that is why you are not dating Viktor Krum." She told her and her friend moped, knowing she was probably right.

Chigvintsev asked Jane to dance and she accepted, her cheeks blushing a dark hue.
"It was you who did all of this." She told him as he whisked her around the floor.
"No, I just pushed her, she already had all of the talent." He told Jane and she nodded.
"I never knew that she was so good." She sighed, wishing that she had been more involved in this part of her life.
"She is one of the best." Chigvintsev told her and she smiled.
"She looks at you as a Father." Jane told him and Chigvintsev felt his breath hitch.
"She is like a daughter to me." He replied and Jane placed her head against his chest.
"Thank you for looking after her when I couldn't." She told him and he held her a little tighter.

Ada was speaking to Viktor whilst Hermione was off, accepting congratulations and answering questions about her business.
"Yes, I shall start taking orders again soon." They heard her tell people.
"You should get married this summer, Viktor. Before she goes back to Durmstrang for her final year." She told him, but he shook his head in disagreement.
"I will not spend my first year of marriage away from my wife. I am going to wait until she is ready." Ada sighed, but she understood her son's point of view.

Hermione was tired after all of the conversation and dancing.
"Viktor, I want to go home." She told him and he smiled as he watched her eyes flutter with tiredness.
"You vant to go back to the boat?" He asked. She shook her head.
"I want to go home. Your home. Unless you don't want me." She chuckled sleepily. Viktor had hoped that they could talk about where they would be staying over summer and it seemed that Hermione had, in one sentence.

They made their rounds and said goodbye. Then apparated back to Vratsa. Hermione had never been there before, but the area that Viktor lived in was small and quaint and nothing like Hermione had imagined. His house was a two story, attached building. It looked old, just how Hermione liked houses.
"It is wonderful." She smiled. Viktor was relieved that she liked it.

She did not have time to look around when they got in, because Viktor scooped her up and carried her up the stairs. She cried out, but then kicked off her heels and cuddled into him. The bed was warm and the sheets were soft. Viktor pulled her dress over her head and replaced it with a vulture's shirt. It swamped her and he rather liked how it looked on her.

He stood and watched as she began to drift off. He was in awe of her. He thought back to when he first saw her, and when he found her in the library, asleep, when she would wear her little yellow mac and boots. He couldn't have imagined then that she was going to be his wife. He had messed up, but she had stuck with him. He didn't know that he could love someone so much.

His thoughts were then interrupted when Hermione took his hand.
"Viktor, let's get married next summer, once I have finished school." She suggested and he felt a tear fall onto his cheek. He brushed his fingers over her skin.
"Yes, I think that is a very good idea." He smiled and watched then, as she fell into deep slumber. She had completed her challenges, all that was left now was school. Then, she and Viktor could build their lives together and Viktor could not contain his love and excitement at the idea.