A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

Isolation

Christmas came, but the Grangers didn't feel much like celebrating. Hermione kept to herself and blew glass for the majority of the day and Jane tied herself to Chigvintsev's side. He knew it wasn't the healthiest way to react, but he attempted to help her in anyway he could.

Hermione knew that she was ruining their christmas. But she couldn't help it. She couldn't smile and wave and be happy. She wasn't happy. She wanted to cry and wail and scream in frustration over those two years that she could have spent with her Father.

But it wasn't just that. All of this had brought back the harsh reality that Hermione hadn't been wanted. Her father had made the conscious decision to get rid of her, and she didn't know how to process that.

Viktor felt useless. He wanted to help, but he had no idea how. He would ask her if there was anything she needed, but she would respond that she was fine. He knew that she was not fine, but he knew he could do nothing about it.

Ada decided that the merriment of the Christmas party might cheer the Grangers. So she did not call it off. However, Hermione wanted none of the pomp and luxury that a Krum party had to offer. So, she rented a room on the south west coast of England and apparated there a few days before the revelry was to begin.

She had told everyone she knew not to come for her. She wanted to be alone. She felt like a failure when she was with Viktor, a failure when she was with her Mother, a failure when she was with anyone. So, she needed to be alone.

When she entered the cottage, she took off her engagement ring and placed it on the plate near the door. She could have no reminders of the outside world. She didn't want to think about magic. So, she curled up on the sofa and watched countless movies.

Viktor hated this. He wanted to go to her. But he had been informed by everyone involved not to.
"Hermione needs her space. She will come back in her own time." Her Mother told him and he nodded, sighing. He didn't want to stay for the parties, he didn't want to make polite excuses for Hermione's absence. He wanted to be with her, helping her. But it wasn't to be.

Hermione was so glad that Viktor hadn't come to her. She had asked him to stay away and he had. She thought that was a finer testament of love than if he had poofed in on Christmas day, holding flowers and chocolates. She needed to be alone, so she was left alone.

When she came back, she felt better, healed. She had screamed and wept and broken down. But then, she had picked herself back up. Life was not made for grieving. So, she had woken up and apparated back to Viktor's house.

Viktor was away training for the day. But Ada was there. She was shocked to see Hermione so soon after Christmas. But she was glad she did. She touched her arm and Hermione smiled, but said nothing, there was nothing that needed to be said.

Hermione got back to her glass blowing. But this time, it was not about distraction, it was about business and pleasure. She needed to complete her orders and she was behind by going to England. So, she sat at her table and blew glass, until Viktor came home.

Viktor was not expecting her, and didn't even know she was back until they were all summoned for dinner.
"I was blowing glass." She told him and he smiled up at her. They said nothing about her absence. Bringing light to it would have only brought embarrassment for Hermione.

Hermione retired early that night.
"She is tired. She is working so hard." Ada said to her son and he nodded, knowing that she was right, but still feeling the pain of her cold nature.

Viktor was glad when the weekend came. He loved his work, but a few days without flying were a joy, especially in the cold. He wanted to spend the time with Hermione, but he was nervous, more nervous than he had ever been with her before. So, he waited for her to be ready.

Hermione awoke that Saturday, the last Saturday of the year and sighed, feeling a little better than before. So, she sucked up her pain and her pride, put on a pretty white dress and padded on down to Viktor's door.

She felt the sweat trickle down the back of her neck as she waited for him to answer. It was as if they were beginning afresh. She gasped when he opened the door, not having properly looked at him in so long.
"Hello." She began.

Viktor thought he might cry tears of joy when he opened the door to Hermione.
"I thought we might go out today. I need to be around people." She told him and he took her hand.
"Come in, I vill get ready."

Hermione was so glad that Viktor had invited her in. She wanted to be around him now more than ever before. She wanted to drink every inch of him up. She watched, without shame, as he undressed and dressed in front of her.

Viktor knew exactly what he wanted to do with Hermione. The christmas lights were still on in Sofia and he hadn't had the chance to take her. He looked down at her, sat on his bed and placed a hand on her face.

Hermione felt the pain in her lungs as they apparate in the cold. She chuckled as she looked over at Viktor's rosy cheeks.
"Let's get food." He suggested and Hermione couldn't resist.

They sat with waffles and chocolate delights. Viktor told her all about training and how the men were in the finest form of their lives. Many stopped to ask for an autograph from Viktor and Hermione watched on as Viktor blushed and the children bounced with joy. It was as if it was the beginning again. She saw that man behind the star, the one who blushed and gave every child the attention they needed.

She found herself a little lost then. Everything that had happened, all that had occurred, it didn't seem to matter as much. She found herself smiling a little, giggling along with Viktor's jokes and although she did not really feel better, there was space for her to in the future, for the first time in a long time.

She asked Viktor to stay with her that night. She just needed him to hold her. She had missed that so much in her time away, being held, being cherished. She just wanted to feel his warmth behind her, supporting her, caring for her and Viktor was more than happy to oblige.

He wished that he could take away her pain, he wanted to make it disappear. But he knew he couldn't, and he was sure that she would not want him to. She had to feel this, had to go through this to get out the other side.
"Vill you come to the New Year's ball?" He asked her and she sighed.
"Maybe." And although it was not the answer that Viktor had wanted, it was the best he could ask for and "Maybe" would do well for now.