The Prophecy

CHAPTER FIVE - Secret Hideout


"Where are we?"

Hermione looked around, struggling to focus her eyes in the dark space. Viktor's arms were still draped around her waist. They were standing so close together that she could hear his rapid heartbeat. Viktor reluctantly loosened his grip and gently set her trunk down.

"Lumos," he said loudly.

The glow revealed a small room packed wall to wall with books. There was a small table in the corner with a plate of fruit sitting atop it. Next to it was a stone fireplace and a comfortable-looking armchair. A bed laid out with sheets, a blanket, and two pillows completed the room perfectly. Hermione stared wide-eyed at all the books surrounding her, utterly transfixed.

Viktor smiled. He was pleased with his choice of room for her to stay in. She looked at him with bright eyes, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Viktor, where are we?" she asked again. Viktor loved the way she smiled. She was even more beautiful when she smiled, he thought to himself.

"Ve are in Sokrovishte. This is my great grandmother Ada's house."

Hermione's delighted expression faded quickly into shock.

"You mean the one..."

"Yes," Viktor answered shortly, knowing exactly what she was implying.

"Oh. When Dumbledore told me I was going to Bulgaria with you, I assumed that I would be staying at your house..." She sat down on the edge of the bed, still admiring all those books. Her curiosity momentarily made her forget the seriousness of her situation. She wondered if any of the texts were written in English, or if she was going to have to ask Viktor to translate them for her.

Viktor's tone changed dramatically. "That vill be the first place that they vill look if they discover that you are in Bulgaria."

Even as she shrank from the coldness of his voice, she was chagrined to find that she had so easily forgotten the purpose of her visit here. It made the tight knot in her stomach twist with guilt. Her eyes filled with tears again, and she stared resolutely at the floor to avoid meeting his gaze.

He watched the excitement drain from her face, replaced with an expression of pain and humiliation. Viktor silently cursed himself for his selfishness and insensitivity. She had just suffered through a traumatic event, and it would only become more painful from here on out. She did not need to suffer through his temper, as well. His face softened, and he kneeled in front of her, taking her hands in his own.

"I am sorry. This has been a long night for both of us, I think. You need to rest. I know that you are vorried, but you vill need your strength, and it is almost morning. If you vont, you can eat something first." He inclined his head toward the plate of fruit on the table. She shook her head, still refusing to meet his eyes.

"Hermione." She looked up at him finally, and he saw the unshed tears in her eyes. He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "You haff done nothing wrong; I am sorry to haff made you feel as if you had." She let out a shuddering breath. "Ve vill haff plenty of time to discuss things in the morning. I vill vake you if there is any news votsoever," he promised, accurately guessing her fear. She nodded gratefully.

Viktor stood, reluctantly releasing her hands. "I must sleep also," he said. "If you need me, I am in the room across the hallvay." He moved towards the door; he opened it and was just about to step into the hallway when he heard her soft voice.

"Viktor, can you..." she hesitated. She did not want to sound like a child afraid of sleeping without her light on; nor did she want to be too forward, or ask for too much. He had already done so much, just by bringing her here...

"Can you...stay with me for a while? Just until I fall asleep?" Viktor hesitated, his back still turned to her, holding the doorknob so tightly that his knuckles were white. He seemed to be fighting an internal battle. Finally, he came to a decision. He turned on his heals, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

"Your vish is my command, my lady. I am at your service." He clicked his heels together and bowed. Hermione wanted to laugh; normally she would have, but her exhaustion only permitted her a small smile.

Viktor crossed the room in three strides and sat down beside her on the bed. He pulled her into his arms and held her for a moment before leaning back so that she could rest against his chest. She could feel his heart beating, and his warmth was soothing to her in a way that she couldn't quite describe.

Soon he felt her soft, steady breath on his chest even out into the regular pattern of sleep. She looked so peaceful and calm that Viktor didn't dare move, afraid that he might wake her. His great grandmother wouldn't mind that he stayed here with her, he decided.

He was always the perfect gentleman, after all.

***

Through the small window, soft rays of sunlight were now peaking in. Hermione stirred and Viktor opened his eyes. He couldn't believe that they had stayed in the same position the entire time. He didn't know how long they had slept, but decided from the feeble light that it couldn't have been more than few hours. She shifted in his embrace; he looked down and smiled at her warmly.

Hermione was resting her chin on his chest and looking sleepily into his face. Viktor gazed deeply into her eyes, a smile quirking the corners of his mouth. What she wouldn't give to save this moment forever. A small, grateful smile appeared on Hermione's face. She was so thankful for this moment, and still surprised at how he stepped up to help her in her time of need.

The memory of the previous night's events stood out in sharp relief in her mind, but it was softened by Viktor's presence. Back at Hogwarts, during the year that they had gotten to know each other, she had learned many things about his personality and character. It was this, though, that would become the true test of their relationship.

"Good morning, Hermione. Did you sleep vell?" She muttered a soft "Good morning" in response before nuzzling closer to him. He smiled. "Good. I vill give you tour after breakfast, and of course you vill haff to meet the lady of the house. She is surely pacing in the kitchen, impatiently avaiting us." He reluctantly released her from his embrace and stood up, gently stretching the kinks out of his body.

Hermione lazily stretched, then got up and opened up her trunk. She pulled out a pair of jeans and a sweater that Mrs. Weasley has given her the previous Christmas. She smiled as she thought of the whole Weasley family, and how wonderful they had been to her. She resolved to write them a letter whenever she next got the chance.

She started unbuttoning her nightshirt before she realized that he was still standing there, staring at her. She eyes widened in embarrassment. "I'm sorry! I guess I can change in the bathroom...if you'll show me where it is."

Viktor's cheeks were flushed, and he kept his eyes averted as walked towards the door.

"This vay."

The door next to hers was the bathroom. It consisted of a very simple vanity with an enormous mirror hanging over it, a claw-footed tub, and a shelf stacked high with towels. Everything was very tastefully decorated. Hermione was delighted at how simple and elegant this house seemed so far.

"I vill be downstairs in the kitchen. It is to the right of the hallvay. I vill be making you breakfast; come down when you are ready."

"That sounds wonderful," she answered. Hermione disappeared into the bathroom.

Viktor walked into the kitchen and saw a familiar rounded figure starring at him with a sulky expression on her face.

"Oi, please don't give me that look," Viktor pleaded. He walked up to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She smiled.

"That is better," he laughed. "How are you babushka? I have missed you!" She hugged him.

"I missed you as well, Viktor. It is good to see you again," his great grandmother said with a smile. The expression faltered a bit as she regarded him with frank appraisal. "And how is your friend?"

"She's as well as can be expected, and I will everything I can to improve that. Thank you again for letting us stay here..."

"Oh, none of that nonsense! I wouldn't have had it any other way. Now I'll have the chance to finally meet her. I have been up since dawn waiting in the kitchen for you two to arrive, and you were in the house all along! Shame on you, Viktor!" she grunted.

Viktor couldn't help but smile at her. She was quite feisty for her age; no one would believe that she was eighty-five years old. She didn't look day older than fifty, most would say. Viktor wondered what potions his babushka brewed to make herself appear so lovely.

Hermione quietly walked down the stairs and stood at the doorway of the big kitchen. She didn't want to interrupt their reunion, but Viktor's great grandmother seemed to realize that she was there the instant that she arrived. She quickly walked up to Hermione gave her a hug, then kissed each cheek in turn.

"Viktor, you lied to me! She is more beautiful than you said."

Hermione quietly thanked her, even as she felt her face turn bright red. She didn't know what else to say. This was the woman who had foretold that she and Viktor would fall in love. She was surprised to find that there was nothing the least bit mystical about her, nothing at all that she had come to expect from those who claimed to foresee the future (she thought scathingly of Professor Trelawney). Ada was startlingly attractive for a woman who had to be at least seventy, and her manner was as simple and straightforward as her abode. It was also obvious that she spoke English quite well, much to Hermione's surprise.

"Oh babushka, please don't embarrass me so much in front of our guest," Viktor said, sitting at the big wooden table and gesturing for Hermione to do the same.

With a bit of hesitation Hermione sat opposite him at the table, smiling at the almost petulant look on his face. His great-grandmother's teasing had left him with two bright spots of color on his cheeks.

"Her-my-oh-nee, is it?" She sounded out each syllable carefully. "I don't want to pronounce your name wrong. Viktor would never forgive me." Viktor shot Hermione an amused look. He was obviously remembering the weeks of painstaking practice that it had taken to learn to say her name correctly. She smiled.

"Yes," Hermione answered shyly.

"You may call me Ada or babushka, whichever you prefer. Please feel at home here in Sokrovishte; if there is anything that I can do to make your stay more comfortable, just ask. Now eat, before the waffles get cold." She scowled as if the thought of cold waffles was truly offensive to consider. Hermione now realized where Viktor might have gotten that look. They ate in silence. Hermione felt a bit better after eating, but soon the hard knot of worry in her stomach returned, and she couldn't take another bite. She was aching for some news, anything.

She set down her fork and looked across the table at Viktor, who was concentrating very hard on his third helping of waffles. "Viktor, can you tell me what your instructions from Professor Dumbledore were?" Instantly the tension in the room intensified. Ada stood up and began preparing a kettle of water very noisily, obviously trying to fill the silence. Viktor shoved another bite of food in his mouth, still not meeting her gaze. "Are you staying here with me or...?" She stopped, not knowing how to ask. She wanted him here with her, but he was also her only link with the world she had left behind.

Viktor was determinably ignoring her attempts to make him look at her. She felt the knot in her stomach tighten further. What was he hiding from her? Did he already have some news? She felt her annoyance rise.

"Viktor, you promised me that we would discuss this. I know that you don't want me to worry, and I appreciate your concern, but I need to know. These are my parents!" Her voice raised in agitation.

She looked at Ada, who was brewing some tea for all of them. She felt a sudden stab of embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Ada. I don't mean to be rude, I'm just..."

Her control was beginning to erode. She put her face in her hands, not wanting to meet either of their eyes. She knew that Ada must be regretting allowing her to stay here. A cup of the tea appeared on the table and Ada sat heavily beside her. She put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently.

"Hermione, I do understand what you are going through. Lord Voldemort and his followers have affected all of us, unfortunately." She stood and murmured some words in Bulgarian that caused Viktor's eyes to widen in fright. Hermione assumed that it wasn't a good thing when she said mildly, "Have some tea. It will make you feel better, I promise."

She looked pleadingly at Viktor; he stood and took Ada's vacated seat.

"Hermione, I do not yet know enough to share with you. I am expecting an owl from Dumbledore any time, and you vill know everything as soon as I do. I promise not to keep you in the dark."

He placed his hand on Hermione's and stroked it gently. Ada watched the two of them together, and felt a warm feeling come over her. She couldn't help but marvel at what a connection she felt between them. She had hoped and dreamed for this day to come for many, many years. From the moment when her great grandson came to her for advice about his life choices, and she had read his hand.

She tended not to do fortune telling on any of her family members, but Viktor had insisted, and the outcome has been astonishing. It was definitely not what he had expected it to be, she knew. He had thought that she would tell him to pursue his Quidditch carrier, and maybe work at the Bulgarian Ministry during the off-season. He expected some kind of prediction about his romantic life, but didn't want to ask about that in front of his entire family. The outcome of that prophecy was now right in front of her eyes. Oh, how she hoped that this was true. She didn't know if either of them was strong enough to handle the responsibility that had been unwillingly placed on their shoulders.

She looked at Hermione critically, trying to get a sense of her character using her inner sight. She was young, obviously, but age was never a barrier when it came to love or strength. She was intelligent, quick-witted, mature, and so full of goodness that it stole Ada's breath away. Hermione was as unlike a stereotypical teenager as one could ever find. Ada knew that already, just by looking at her. There was no doubt in her mind that this was the girl that the prophecy had foretold.

Viktor, unaware of the revelation taking place a few feet from him, was doing his best to comfort Hermione. Ada knew that her great grandson had a heart of gold, just like his father and grandfather before him.

The Krum charm resonated through the centuries.

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