A Year Abroad (Hermione/Viktor)

The Stag Night

Hermione's life became a bit of a whirlwind the weeks leading up to her wedding. She was pulled here and there for makeup consultations, hair appointments, dress shopping. But, before she did any of this, she sat down with her mum.
"Can you believe I am getting married?" She asked and Jane admitted that she still couldn't quite believe it.
"You have grown so much since you left home. You are famous! You deserve a man who is going to love you eternally." She told her and Hermione placed her hand over Jane's.
"Mum, I want you to walk me down the aisle, I want you to give me away." She told her and Jane felt her heart stop. She thought that she would ask Chigvintsev, and she would have understood.
"Are you sure?" She asked and Hermione squeezed her mum's hand.
"You gave birth to me and nurtured me, you made me the woman I am today." She told Jane and Jane nodded, looking down, trying not to cry.
"Of course I will give you away." She told her and Hermione pulled her in for a long embrace.

Hermione rather enjoyed being the blushing bride. She was doted on, hand and foot. The only part she didn't like was the trying on of the dresses. She didn't like any of them. Jane had picked a few, Ada had picked a few, even Luna had picked a couple. But she didn't like any of them. So, Fleur decided to give it a shot. Hermione was not a princess, and she was not a mermaid, she needed something truly special. So, she found a high low dress that fell in waves. It was soft, it was simple, it was Hermione.

Hermione tried it on, and ran her hands over the woven bodice. She had worn a dress like this before, with Viktor and she thought it was only right that she wore something that made her think back to so many beautiful memories. She put on her shoes and stepped out, to show the ladies. Ada couldn't believe it, the french girl had picked the perfect dress. The hem being a little shorter in the front made Hermione look taller and the bodice made her waist look tiny. It was simple, and elegant. Jane had to hold back her tears.
"This is the one." Hermione nodded, turning around to the ladies.
"Well done, Fleur." She smiled and Fleur felt rather proud of herself.

Viktor did not have so much of an issue.
"A bulgarian man wears red to his wedding." Andon told him at his fitting. Viktor was splashing the cash for the best materials that money could buy. He wanted to look his best on the day. He also paid for his brother and Seamus' outfits, which were similar to his, but in black. He felt like he was back in Durmstrang, when he saw himself in the bright red cape. He smiled, looking at himself, and hoped that Hermione would see him as handsome, as he knew that she was going to look breathtaking.

Seamus found it rather liberating to wear a cape. He had never worn one before, but after this experience, he was sure that he would wear one again.

The day was drawing closer and closer, and Hermione was so nervous that she had to stop glassblowing for a little while. Luna would visit her everyday for lunch, and they would chat.
"Just think, soon you'll be Mrs Krum, and you will be training to be a mediwitch and your life will really begin. You can put all of the messiness behind you." She told her and Hermione sighed, the thought of being able to put the war behind her seemed to be a beautiful thing.

The day drew closer and closer and talks of stag and hen parties was on the lips of the friends around Viktor and Hermione. Viktor said that he would let his team take him out one week before the wedding, not wanting to be hung over on his wedding, and Hermione arranged to go out with her girlfriends for a lovely meal with prosecco on tap.

Viktor chugged beers and threw back shots while Hermione finished glass after glass of wine. It had been so long since either of them had been able to let loose in this way. Viktor's mates took him to a club in Sofia, where he danced with a beer in each hand and Hermione shimmied in a bar in London, with a cocktail poised between her fingers.

They both drank until they dropped. Both having such pressured lives that a chance to really let go was taken with both hands. Luna tucked Hermione in, after stripping her and putting her in her pyjamas. Whereas, Viktor's friends apparated with him, which was not the best idea, and left him on the sofa, fully dressed.

Hermione awoke the next morning with a pounding headache. But she knew that she still had to function, so she got up to make a cup of tea. She chuckled when she saw Viktor and wondered what he had been up to and shook her head. She made a cup of tea and a cup of coffee, for Viktor. She held it under his nose and chuckled as he awoke.
"Wakey wakey." She smiled as he took the mug of coffee.
"Good night?" She asked and he grunted, falling back onto the sofa. They both decided it would be a good day to take a sick day. So, Hermione changed Viktor into some sweats and they sat on the sofa and watched a movie, a muggle delight that Viktor had come to enjoy. They ordered food and relaxed all day. Viktor looked up at Hermione and wondered how he had gotten so lucky, and was glad to put his partying behind him.