A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Changing The Future

Hermione was anxious every time she saw a magazine or newspaper with Viktor on a broom on the front page. Ever since Dorfinde had told her about Viktor, she couldn't think about him playing. But, she couldn't tell anyone. She thought if she did, it might become a scandal.

But, it was becoming too much. Of course, she was happy that he would find his true purpose in coaching. But, now, every time he flew out onto the pitch, she felt awful.

This had to stop. She couldn't keep this secret anymore. So, she went to the one person she knew she could trust with this secret: Ada.

Ada was surprised to see Hermione during term time. When she saw her, she could tell she was not well.
"Vhat is wrong?" She asked and Hermione took a deep breath.
"Do not tell me you are going to break off the engagement vith my son." She insisted and Hermione shook her head.
"No, no. That's not why I'm here." She told her and Ada felt some pressure leave her chest.
"But it is about Viktor." She told her and Ada sat back and asked what the matter was.
"I have seen something, a vision that I can no longer keep to myself." She admitted.
"Vhat have you seen?" She asked. Hermione took a deep breath and told Ada everything. The fall, the end of Viktor's career, his love of coaching, everything.

Ada sat in silence for a moment. She feared for her son. She had always been a great believer in visions, but this one, she did not want to believe.
"You cannot tell him." She insisted and Hermione sighed.
"I know. But, I cannot watch him play now, out of fear that he might fall or injure himself beyond repair." She sighed, letting her head fall into her hands.
"But, he will not be paralysed, he will not be blind, how will this end his career?" She asked.
"I don't know, I only saw Viktor in a hospital room and Dorfinde said his career would be over by the time he was 23." Ada sighed.
"He is almost 21 now. He only has 2 years left. Is there any way that we can change this?" She asked.
"I do not know. I will try and find out." Hermione told Ada, before leaving.

Hermione sat with the crystal ball all night. She saw Viktor in the hospital bed and she looked around for anything that would suggest a year or a time or anything. Then, she spotted a calendar on the table, it was small, but if she concentrated, she could read it. It was November, the 25th, based on the red xs on the days. It fell on a saturday, game day. He would injure himself on a game day.

Hermione rushed to look at her calendar. If she could work out when the next time the 25th would be on a saturday, she could prevent Viktor's injury. He would coach, but later on in his life. She looked at the dates with confusion. The 25th was on a saturday this year. Which meant the next time would be in 7 years time. Viktor would be 27 by then. That only left one alternative.
"Oh good god."

Hermione stormed out of her room and headed to Dorfinde's office.
"Could he be injured this year? Before his 23rd year?" She asked. Dorfinde was shocked to see Hermione.
"Well, yes. I suppose so. It only said by he was 23, not that he had to be 22." She answered.
"Can I stop it? Can I stop him from being injured?" She asked, her breath quick.
"Yes, of course. No vision is set in stone. When do you think it will happen?"
"This saturday. I have to stop Viktor playing this saturday. But I can't tell him about the vision. What do I do?" She asked.
"Take the ball to the coach. Show him the vision. Tell him not to let Viktor play." Hermione nodded, thanking Dorfinde, leaving her office.

She hurried to find the crystal ball, placing it in her bag.
"I can stop Viktor from being injured. I have to go." She told Chigvintsev.
"But vhat about the coaching?"
"He will coach later in his life and he will love it. But because he chooses it, not because he is forced to do it." She told him and Chigvintsev smiled and gave permission before watching her apparate.

Of all the people that the Vultures' coach, Kurn expected to see that thursday morning, Hermione Granger was the last.
"I need to speak with you, coach Kurn." She told him and he invited her in. Hermione felt that everytime she saw the head coach of the Vultures, it was a different man. They must have so many coaches that she was sure she would never meet them all.
"We have never met. But I am Viktor Krum's fiancé and I must show you something." He nodded and allowed her to continue.

He watched as she pulled out a crystal ball.
"Do you see?" He nodded as he watched her conjure an image of Viktor in a hospital bed, crying his eyes out.
"That is this saturday if you allow Viktor to play. His career will be over." She told him.
"I see. You are an impressive vitch, Miss Granger." He complimented her.
"Please tell me you won't let him play." She begged him and he nodded.
"My Mother vas a vision reader, so I believe vhat I see in your ball. I vill put him on the bench." Hermione sighed, grateful that someone believed her.
"Thank you. Thank you so much." She bowed her head to him.
"You must love him." He told her and she nodded.
"Very much."

Viktor sighed when he was called into the office.
"I see you have picked up a cold, Viktor." Kurn stated and he nodded, coughing into his hand.
"You know you can't play like this." He told him and Viktor nodded.
"Don't worry. I am sure that you will be well for the next one." Kurn could tell that Viktor was annoyed. But, with the help of Hermione Granger, he had saved Krum's career.

Hermione received a letter from Kurn a day after she had visited him.
Dear Miss Granger,
Viktor appears to have come down with a cold, so cannot play this saturday.
I will forever be indebted to you. He is our star player.
Many thanks
Coach Kurn

Hermione smiled, knowing that Viktor was going to be okay. When she looked into the ball again, she couldn't see him in the hospital. But she did see him flying in his Bulgarian colours again, with the year of the next world cup, when Viktor would be 24. She called Dorfinde in and asked her how to place a vision into glass.

Ada was surprised when she received a package from Hermione. She opened it in haste and looked at the sphere of glass. Viktor was in his bulgarian kit and it was the next world cup, when he would almost be 25.

It seems we can change the future, if we want it enough.

The note read and Ada sat and watched as her tears fell onto the glass. Hermione had saved her son's career. She had no idea how she could repay her.

Hermione didn't watch the game on saturday, because she was still nervous. But, by the end of the weekend, her anxiety had died down.

On monday, she received a letter, along with a magazine, from Chigvintsev.

It is hard, being wrong. I am sorry.

The note read. Hermione flicked to the sports page and saw Viktor there, in the coach's uniform. The headline read Coach Krum? We don't think so! The article read the Viktor's kit had been ripped in training and he had had to put on a coach's kit to train. She saw there the vision she had seen, of him laughing with his teammates, in the coach's uniform. She laughed to herself, but decided that maybe she should put away the crystal ball for the time being.