Secrets Withheld

Viktor Krum fidgeted in his lap. He was waiting with his parents for Hermione’s flight to arrive at the airport in Sofia, Bulgaria. He would have preferred visiting Hermione in her hometown, but his parents wanted to meet her so bad and they sent her the owl personally. It had shocked him because his parents rarely sent personal owls to anyone, even if they did have the time which they never did.

He might not have been so nervous if his family was at least average. Normal. Was that so much to ask? But, alas, it must have been because he got the high upper class family with more money than practically everybody else.

“Viktor, vhy are you fidgeting so? I vould think you vould be happy that your love is coming to visit you?” his mother, Annetta, asked him motherly.

“I am looking forward to her visit. But, that does not prevent me from being a tad nervous,” Viktor replied.

“You love her, don’t you?” his father, Alexander, asked bluntly. “I vould have though that you vould haff proposed to her already.”

“Father, people in London aren’t like us. They don’t get married when they’re 15. They’re not even close to engagement,” Viktor told his father yet again. This was getting a tad annoying, having to disappoint his parents by telling them that he was not going to propose at all. Well, at least not for a

few years. Viktor sighed. This was going to be a long summer.

*********

Fifty miles away, Hermione Granger was practically bouncing out of her seat with excitement. She couldn’t believe that her parents had allowed her to go to Bulgaria alone when they’d hardly let her leave their neighborhood alone.

She smiled when she remembered telling her parents about the invitation and Viktor...

“Mum! Dad! I gotta ask you guys something!” Hermione called, running down the stairs with the letter from Viktor and his parents in her hand.

“What is it, darling?” her mother, Veronica, asked.

“Well, Mum, Dad, I got a letter from Viktor Krum and his parents just now,” Hermione said and looked back and forth between her parents.

“So.....?” her father, Tom, asked, puzzled. Veronica was just as clueless.

“Well, Viktor Krum was my date for the Yule Ball. He’s also a Quidditch star,” Hermione replied. “When I went with the Weasley’s to the Quidditch World Cup, he was there. He was the seeker for Bulgaria.”

“What does he want?” Veronica asked, obviously excited.

“He wants me to visit him in Bulgaria. His parents do too,” Hermione replied. “It would be for most of the summer. Oh, Mum, Dad, he’s wonderful. Can I go?”

“Of course you can,” Her mother told her. Veronica was not the one to worry and Hermione always could talk about boys with her. Sometimes Hermione felt like she was talking with her best friend rather than her mother.

“Wait, let’s talk this over. Hermione, your hardly home all year and now when you’re finally home you try to escape.” Tom gave Hermione a look that made her feel guilty. He had the ability to make anyone fell guilty for no reason. It was awful. “How old is this guy?”

“Well, you see, he...he...well, he..” Hermione trailed off.

“How old?” her father asked, his gaze piercing.

“18,” Hermione whispered very softly.

“What?” her dad asked.

“18,” she replied.

“What?!?” Tom yelled.

“Is he cute?” Veronica asked excitedly.

“Very,” Hermione replied.

“Ooh! You better go pack!” her mother told her.

Hermione ran upstairs quickly before her father could say anything in protest. She did hear him say some things, but her mother quieted him down by shoving the Sunday comics into his face.

In the end, her father was quieted down when he heard that Viktor’s parents were paying for the flight and everything else.

A few minutes later, the plane arrived in the airport. Hermione grabbed her carry-on bag and proceeded to walk off the plane.

Inside the airport, she went through security and had her passport checked.

She pushed her way through the crowd and waited for the conveyer belt to bring her suitcases out.

As she waited, a man turned her around hugged her, then kissed her lightly on the lips. It was Viktor. Her Viktor.