Rating:
PG-13
House:
Astronomy Tower
Characters:
Hermione Granger Viktor Krum
Genres:
General Romance
Era:
Multiple Eras
Stats:
Published: 06/09/2003
Updated: 11/20/2003
Words: 224,686
Chapters: 100
Hits: 71,003

Past Present

Miss Yetigoosecreature

Story Summary:
Hermione, Harry, and Ron visit Viktor Krum in Bulgaria and discover there's a lot more to Viktor's past than they could have imagined.

Chapter 66

Chapter Summary:
Another Christmas, another Weasley jumper. Also, what they leave out of Hogwarts: A History, Viktor checks in with Dumbledore, Mama's stew, hot coffee, a bit of teasing about huggy, kissy mothers, Percy is scandalized (when isn't he?) and Gred and Forge angle the Weasley's into an invitation from Viktor and take him up on a bet. .
Posted:
08/03/2003
Hits:
553
Author's Note:
I'm a huge Monty Python fan, so I had to have the password be "cockroach cluster". Also, I have no idea how people in Bulgaria tend to drink coffee, but seeing as most of Europe seems to like it high octane, so to speak, I figured "strong" was a pretty safe bet. And Viktor seemed like the type who is secure enough in his manhood to not be ashamed to kiss his Mama. And for some weird reason, I felt that Bill, Charlie and Viktor would all tend to get along and have plenty to talk about.

"Christmas, Harry, another year, another jumper. What color did Mum stick you with this year?" Ron asked, grinning.

"Brown. And Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia are up to their usual standards. They sent me a cheese grater," Harry laughed. Hermione had provided them both with talking homework planners.

"Maybe Viktor got off lucky, not getting anything from Hermione," Ron muttered. Just then, the portrait hole swung open and Hermione walked in.

"Oh, so I see you two can get up early for Christmas presents, but not to say goodbye to me, huh? Get into your clothes, Viktor and I are going to grab a change of clothes, then we go. Pancakes are supposed to be waiting for us. Portkeying," she called over her shoulder, walking up the stairs to the girls dorm.

"We missed you by ten minutes!" Ron yelled after her. "Ten measly minutes! And it was my idea to try to see you off in the first place! Doesn't that count for something?" He and Harry then walked up the stairs to their dorm and changed out of their pyjamas and dressing gowns.

"You didn't even tell us you were trying to get Umbridge off campus, either," Harry said accusingly when she came back downstairs to join them again after an extra few minutes to unpack and repack.

"Didn't really know myself until yesterday," Hermione said indignantly. "When Viktor pointed out the Ministry car outside the station. No way they could have seen us if we had called my parents and gotten into the car. We had to walk and darned near freeze to death to make sure we got them to my house. Didn't want Umbridge to go off saying she couldn't find us and calling out half the Ministry to my house to talk to my parents, only to find out they came and drove us from the station to the house. Or worse, Umbridge just making up the story that we hadn't gone to my parents. And she would have, too. Clever, really, killing two birds with one stone like that. Did you get to talk to Snuffles long?" Hermione added.

"Not long. That droopy second year that's staying came in too soon," Harry said bitterly.

"Well, at least it wasn't all for nothing," Hermione said gathering up her pack. "Led old Nosy on a merry chase, anyway." They all gathered their things and stepped through the portrait hole. Viktor was already standing in the hallway, with his equipment bag this time.

"So, we can portkey from Dumbledore's office, no need to go to Hogsmeade. Might not want to spread it around that you can portkey off the grounds from there," Viktor said quietly.

"But you can portkey off the grounds, anyway" Harry insisted. "I did it. Last year."

"Honestly Harry! The restriction was lifted for the tournament final. Normally, portkeys won't work at Hogwarts. Except in the headmaster's office?" she asked, puzzled, looking up at Viktor.

"They leave that bit out of the book. Cannot go putting everything in there. Some students actually read the thing. Portkeys are harder to trace than travel by Floo. Besides, I need to talk to him anyway, before I go," Viktor replied, shouldering his equipment bag.

Giving the password, "cockroach cluster", they headed up to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was seated at his desk, fingers tented, as though he were expecting them.

"I take it from what Tom said that Umbridge did not get too frustrated yesterday?" Viktor said with a soft smile as he slid into one of the chairs.

"Not too frustrated. Nicely done. Too bad that won't work a second time. I might like a vacation from her later. Are you still willing to do what you agreed to earlier? If necessary?" Dumbledore asked with raised brows, studying Viktor over his glasses.

"Certainly. I just do not think the first alternative is going to work. No offense meant. He can try it if he wants. If I remembered it, I suppose it would, but then there would be no reason to try it in the first place. I do not think it will work since I might as well not haff been there. We haff already established he cannot do it without me letting him even on things I definitely remember. Made him twice as fond of me as he already was, finding out I could block him," Viktor said in an offhand way.

"I can't imagine why you would say that," Dumbledore said with a suppressed laugh. "He admits you do a fantastic job covering for him."

"To you, maybe, but not in front of me. I think it has more to do with the company I kept. And keep. But we can worry about that later. Now," Viktor said. pulling a small tin cup out of his pocket, "I need to get to us all to Bulgaria, so with your permission?" Dumbledore nodded. "Portus" Viktor said, waving his wand over the cup, which glowed bluish for a moment, then returned to its usual tin color. "Wish Umbridge a Happy Christmas from the four of us," Viktor laughed.

"And a Happy Christmas from me to you four. And to Nikolas and Anya. And Molly and Arthur," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"Okay, come on," Viktor said, beckoning Ron, Harry, and Hermione over. Soon they had jerked to a stop on the rise overlooking Pavlova.

"What was all that about?" Harry asked, "back in Dumbledore's office?"

"Long story short, Snape wants full permission to go shuffling through my head to see if he can figure out who or what I heard in the maze. Snape tried it once before just to see if he could get in, and I kept him from doing it. Ever hear of Occlumency? It was a regular class at Durmstrang. Keeps people from shuffling through your head unless you want them to. Dumbledore is worried that it might be someone still at Hogwarts that was in on it. Only problem is, if it does not work..." Viktor trailed off.

"If it doesn't work, what?" Ron said.

"The alternative... is not... as easy. Get inside. Cold out here," Viktor said shortly, holding the front door of the inn. Harry noticed Hermione giving Viktor a very curious look, and Viktor's expression quickly changed into the inscrutable brick wall that Harry had not seen for some time, but neither one of them said anything. Anya and Nikolas were waiting in front of the fireplace for them, and indeed, there were pancakes waiting for them on the table. Anya embraced each one of them warmly in turn, and discreetly made over Hermione's ring.

Over breakfast and after, they all talked, a flurry of Russian, Bulgarian and English flying across the table in all directions. The mood was lighter and more raucous than any Harry remembered from the visit in the summer, but it was a pleasant racket and they all enjoyed it a great deal.

"Did the two of you open your presents this morning?" Hermione asked brightly during a lull in the conversation.

"Errr, yeah. Thanks Hermione," Ron said without too much enthusiasm.

"If you write your assignments in there, you're sure not to get behind," she added.

"Right. Well. Get anything exciting for Christmas, Viktor?" Harry asked, loudly, trying to change the subject.

"Oh, this is it, I am afraid. We are not terribly exciting at Christmas. Could not afford to be most years. It was either a trip or exchange presents, not both. Used to manage the trip to St. Petersburg most years, but not enough time this year. So all I asked for was pancakes and mutton stew, and that they go to St. Petersburg without me next week if I got them the tickets. I haff not had a real stew for ages," Viktor said with a short laugh.

"Why don't you ask the house elves in the kitchen? They take requests," Ron said.

"First of all, I am sure they haff better things to do than to make me happy, and second, I would probably end up with a kettle big enough to swim in, knowing them. A cup of tea or something like that is one thing, but stew is not exactly easy to make in small batches suitable for one or two. Besides, it is not quite the same thing as haffing your mother make it," Viktor said softly, swinging a long leg up and draping it haphazardly over the arm of the chair. "I can wait a few months for my mother's stew and a real Bulgarian winter, thanks," he added, slouching comfortably across the chair, nearly sideways.

Anya reached out from the neighboring chair and tapped his knee and spoke in rapid Bulgarian, pointing at Harry, Ron and Hermione, then turned and spoke to Nikolas "She wants to know if any of you want coffee. She forgot to offer it at breakfast. Would I be too far off if I figure the answer is no from you two? I will warn you. It is really strong," Viktor added, inclining his head toward Harry and Ron. When they murmured their refusals, he looked at Hermione. To Harry's surprise, she nodded her head. "With or without the cream?" he asked, slipping his leg off the arm of the chair and standing.

"With, thanks. I could have gotten it. You were already comfortable," Hermione replied.

"And haff my mother skin me alive in front of all of you for daring to let a guest go get their own coffee? I think not!" Viktor said with mock seriousness, following Anya off into the kitchen.

"Since when do you drink coffee?" Ron asked Hermione, his mouth hanging open.

"Since I tried it a few months ago. Viktor drinks it every once in a while. It is really, really strong, though, the way they drink it here," she replied. "Keep you awake for a week if you drink it too close to bedtime."

"Watch it, it is hot," Viktor said, handing Hermione one of the mugs in his hands after returning from the kitchen. A little unnecessary, Harry thought, since big billows of steam were rolling out of it. Anya followed with her own mug and one for Nikolas. A few more hours of conversation in front of the fireplace, then lunch, with the promised stew filled up the rest of the visit to Pavlova.

"I hate this. It feels like we're just eating and running," Hermione said anxiously as they stood near the door, waiting to leave.

"We are, Hermione," Ron replied.

"Ron, honestly! I like visiting Nikolas and Anya. Funny, I understood about ten words they used all day, and yet I enjoy talking to them more than I do a lot of people. Still, it'll be nice to go to the Burrow," Hermione mused.

"Could be the translator," Ron muttered under his breath while Harry stifled a laugh.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Waiting on the translator," Ron said innocently, pointing across the room where Viktor was bidding his parents goodbye. "You like visiting the Burrow too, though, right?"

"Of course I do. I wish we could have gotten more time both places," Hermione said indignantly, crossing her arms. Viktor and Anya exchanged a final kiss on the cheek and the group trooped outside.

"Not sure I'd let Mum kiss me goodbye in front of everyone," Ron said. "Or kiss her goodbye. I mean, you have to have some pride."

"Az ne sym kato vas," Viktor said.

"Huh?" Ron replied.

"I'm not like you," Viktor said, laughing. "I hate to tell you, but your mother does whatever she wants, even if you outweigh her several stone and stand more than a foot taller and think you are your own person. And you let her, if you know what is good for you. Mama might look like a sweet little thing, but she can boss Papa around, and he does not take to bossing. Besides, since when is your Mama liking you well enough to kiss you goodbye something to be ashamed of?"

"Mrs. Weasley isn't much of a kisser. More of a vicious hugger," Harry said, snickering.

"Oh yes, squeezes ickle Ronniekins to pieces before he gets on the train," Hermione interjected, laughing as well.

"Oh, a patented Elena Keznova python death squeeze, I see," Viktor added.

"Oh shut up," Ron muttered, turning bright red.

"Come on, man, have some pride when your mother hugs you in public!" Viktor said loudly, while Hermione and Harry fell about laughing. They finally regained control of themselves long enough to gather around the portkey and head for the Burrow.

"The Burrow ought to be bursting at the seams," Hermione said as they approached the back door, and sure enough, the racket of several Weasleys could be heard in the kitchen. Crowded around the kitchen table were Mr. Weasley, Ginny, Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, and Percy, and Mrs. Weasley immediately pounced on Ron and hugged him so vigorously that his hair was standing on end when she released him.

"Ron! And Happy Christmas Harry! And Hermione!" Mrs. Weasley squealed as she hugged each one of them around the neck in turn. Harry readjusted his glasses, which Mrs. Weasley had knocked askew. "Thank you for seeing them home, come on in dear, get warmed up," she told Viktor, clapping a hand on his arm and steering him further in. Hermione laughed to herself when she thought, I bet the only reason she didn't hug Viktor is because she would need a stepstool to manage it.

Harry could hardly keep a straight face when Viktor leaned over and murmured, "Check your pride at the door, man," between he and Ron and Ron flushed even redder than he had been when Mrs. Weasley squeezed him.

Percy had been working when Viktor had last been to the house, and he made such a fawning nuisance of himself upon being introduced that Harry was embarrassed for him. "Of course, you'll remember me from last year, the work I did with the Triwizard Tournament," Percy finished up pompously.

"Of course," Viktor replied, bemused expression on his face.

"Never mind Percy the Ponce, the really important question is how easy is it for you to get tickets?" Fred piped up.

"Fred! What an incredibly disgraceful thing to ask a guest! And..." Percy began, but Viktor interrupted.

"No, actually, he has a point. See, I haff this big box for tomorrow that I will not haff half full if I do not recruit a few more people. Say, maybe eight or so more than I am currently taking. Potenko will probably be there, he was still coming last I heard, but Elena and Alexei might not make it, and it is just an exhibition match but still, it is a World Cup rematch so tickets are kind of hard to come by," Viktor said, soft smile creeping across his face.

"Sold! We can go, can't we Dad?" George pleaded.

"Well..." Mr Weasley began.

"Oh come on! Ron already gets to go!" Fred added.

"I suppose we could go and root for Bulgaria, it would only be right..." Mr. Weasley said carefully, though Harry could see he was just as eager to go as the twins were.

"Root for whomever you want. Wear green, for all I care, just do not let Volkov and Vulchanov catch you in it near the equipment racks," Viktor said with a smile, and the twins laughed.

"How gauche... Fred, George, don't get any ideas that you're going to go wearing shamrocks head to toe after accepting an invitation from..." Percy began in a self-righteous tone, but again, Viktor interrupted.

"Root however you like, I am still going to run Aidan Lynch headfirst into something. Did not stop me the first time. And I warn you, the rest of the team is much improved. I did not see Ireland in the finals this summer," Viktor said lightly.

"Bet you can't get Lynch to fall for it again," Fred said eagerly.

"Fred Weasley! Don't you dare gamble for money in front of me!" Mrs. Weasley warned.

"If I cannot, tickets to the match of your choice, even if I haff to go stand in line and buy them myself. Whoever you want to see. If Lynch hits anything other than his broom or the snitch during the match because I feint you two owe me a favor. And I promise it will be reasonable. I will run it by you first, and you can refuse if you like. Nothing embarrassing or horrible. I think I might like haffing you in my debt, though," Viktor reasoned.

George nodded, rubbing his chin. "Sounds fair enough. Even if we lose though..."

"I'll still see what I can do for tickets. Just warn me ahead of time, what match you want to go to. Enough other players owe me ticket favors I can probably get you in anywhere, anytime. Assuming your parents approve," Viktor replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Much as I would like to keep all of you close, could you all please go out into the living room so I'll have room to finish Christmas dinner? And no more wagers," Mrs. Weasley pleaded, shooing them off. They all resettled there, on the furniture and on the floor, seemingly taking up all the available space. Viktor, Charlie and Bill seemed to have taken a great liking to one another and talked in a huddle of chairs in the corner, and Hermione went off with Ginny to her room. Harry remembered that Charlie was once quite the Quidditch player at Hogwarts, so it was little wonder that soon enough the conversation in the corner turned to the sport.

By nightfall, Harry was stuffed, he felt as though he had eaten more good food than he could possibly hold, and Mrs. Weasley would not accept no for an answer when she asked Charlie, Bill and Viktor to stay overnight. Viktor opted for the cot in the room with Bill and Charlie in their old room, rather than the guest bed in Percy's new private room and office, and Harry could hardly blame him.

"Didn't want to put him out when he might want to work, oh, that was a classic," Charlie laughed as he tugged the blankets down on his bed. "You are a terrible liar."

"Unoriginal, but what else could I say? I admit it was Ron's idea," Viktor said with a smile.

"Could have volunteered for the couch, but that would have looked even more suspicious," Bill interjected. "Perce can be a bit much sometimes. I think even Mum knows that," Bill said, waving a hand dismissively.

"Are you sure you don't want a blanket. Loads in that cupboard over there," Charlie said, pointing.

"No thank you," Viktor replied.

"Blimey, you are part polar bear, then. We thought Ron was exaggerating," Bill said.

"Used to cold worse than this, Britain is practically tropical by comparison," Viktor said, shrugging, settling into the cot.

"Still, mate, just shorts?" Bill exclaimed, giving an exaggerated shiver.

Soon after drifting off to sleep, he began to dream. Vague images of robed figures, wearing masks, a figure standing in the midst of them. "Excellent, soon, we will have plenty of company," came the high, cold voice from the center. "Thank you for the report, Bellatrix," it added. Then he woke to the splitting pain in his forehead. It felt as though an axe were buried in it, hot and searing, blinding for a moment, then it faded so promptly, he convinced himself he had imagined it, dreamed it as well. Viktor rubbed a hand tentatively over his forehead in the dark, no noise in the room but what seemed to be Bill's even breathing and Charlie's soft snoring. Next door, Harry and Ron were both doing the same, their backs to one another as they lay in bed, each not wanting to wake the other for a silly nightmare. In Ginny's room, Hermione let out her breath and lay back down, putting her hand to her forehead once more before rolling over and trying to get back to sleep.