This is how it starts (vikmione)

[Deleted]

Hermione was headed to the Greenhouses. She was done with classes for the day, but she wanted to check on her project. Plus, ever since... well, since coming back to school, she found that walking to clear her head did her a lot of good. She needed the fresh air, no matter how cold it was going to get, she knew that she would still cherish these walks. She needed a break from the castle, the tower, the people...

Her mind shifted to Viktor. She had seen him sitting at the Head Table during the feast with the other professors. A part of her, the silly part, thought it was some kind of sign. That right when she needed a hero... look who happened to turn up. Hermione was capable of being her own hero, of course, but even heroes needed someone. Even she, the brightest witch of her age, did.

She was too busy thinking about Viktor to notice that he was outside as well, and her mind eyes were glazed over as she followed the robotic and familiar path to the Greenhouse five.

viktor anastasiy desislav krum

[viktor anastasiy desislav krum]

When Viktor had first been at Hogwarts, there had not been as much time as he had wished to explore. Karkaroff had always been breathing down his neck, making sure that his precious Champion wasn’t injured. As if a promenade on the Hogwarts grounds could injure him. Now, perhaps, since he had a bum leg, but that wouldn’t be injuring him so much as exacerbating a condition that already existed. Now that he had a chance to explore the castle – the whole castle, not just the parts that were pretty or good to show to guests – and the grounds, Viktor was taking every chance he got to look everywhere. He knew it probably would have been quicker, and by all accounts easier, to observe the grounds from his broom, and since he was a flying instructor he’d have a legitimate excuse for flying around without care, but Viktor was forcing himself to walk more. His cane still felt awkward in his hand, and he needed to get used to it eventually. This was just another exercise in adjusting. As he was walking along the path, though, Viktor recognized a familiar head of hair on the path ahead of him. “Hermione!” He called. He winced a little after the name was out of his mouth. Was he allowed to call students by their first names? There had to be an exception for students he had known before he was a teacher, Viktor thought.

@hermione

[Deleted]

Hermione froze in her tracks upon hearing her name. That voice seemed to strike a cord in her bones, sending a shiver through her entire body. It was Viktor. She hadn't mentally prepared for this! What was she supposed to say to him? 'Sorry I didn't write, I was too busy trying to save the world and almost dying several times? Sorry about your leg? Too bad?' She clenched her fists at her sides, "Get yourself together, Granger," she muttered before lifting her chin up, just a bit in the typical Hermione fashion, and turning around. "Viktor, hello," yes, that's it. Sound as calm and collected as possible. It's just a normal day. "I was hoping we could talk soon, seeing as you now work here and all. I hope that's going well for you," she had meant to walk toward him, but her feet were sort of stuck to the spot.

viktor anastasiy desislav krum

[viktor anastasiy desislav krum]

His call had been enough to stop Hermione, which Viktor hadn’t expected. It was helpful, though, seeing as he had no hope of catching up to her otherwise, with the bum leg and all. He limped the last few meters between them, stopping so there was still a comfortable distance between them. It was the distance that was appropriate between strangers, though, and was too distant for friends. “I –” He began, not entirely sure how that statement was supposed to end. “It is going vell, yes.” He corrected himself. “I vas surprised to see you here.” Vitkor said after a moment more of contemplation. He had thought that Hermione had graduated the year previous, and was only corrected in that notion when he expressed it to one of the other professors, who had told him that she had skipped the year previous, presumably to be with Harry Potter. It explained why she hadn’t written, at least.

@hermione

[Deleted]

He limped toward her, and she couldn't help but stare at his legs as he did so. She shook her head, forcing herself to stop staring at his limp. He was closer now, but not too close. He started to speak and she leaned forward a bit instinctively. Then, he restarted his statement and she stood straight again. "I'm glad," she said softly. "And I was surprised too..." Then, she let that Gryffindor lion take over for a moment and she stepped forward, closing the gap between them and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "It's good to see you, Viktor. It's been too long," she said. "I'm sorry I didn't write," then, she remembered they were outside and that he was a professor and she a student... so she pulled back again.

viktor anastasiy desislav krum

[viktor anastasiy desislav krum]

Hermione was looking at his legs. Of course. Everyone seemed to look at his legs anymore, as if they couldn’t quite imagine that Viktor Krum would ever have to limp, and they needed the visual evidence that it was the truth. Hermione was surprised to see him, too, and Viktor gave her a crooked smile at that. He had wanted to tell her before, but it there hadn’t been a way to do it, other than writing a letter. And writing a letter to announce something like that felt wrong. “It has been.” Viktor agreed when Hermione said it had been too long. He tensed a little when she wrapped her arms around him, but returned the hug. This wasn’t appropriate for a student-teacher relationship, but no one was there. It was fine. She apologized for not writing, and Viktor smiled. “You have had other things to do. Like save the vorld.” Harry Potter was competent, but nothing in comparison with Hermione. “Vhy did you come back?” He asked. She could have left school forever, and yet…she was here.

@hermione

[Deleted]

He agreed that it had been too long, and then went on to mention that she had been busy with other things, saving the world and all. This gave her the impression that maybe he wasn't too upset with her for neglecting their friendship. She nodded, her cheeks reddening a little at this mention of her 'heroics' or whatever it would be called. When he asked why she came back, she froze for a moment, unsure what he meant. At first she thought he meant stay with her parents, far away from all of this and just letting all this go. This was something she had considered. But no, he meant Hogwarts. Why did she come back to school.

"Oh. Well, you know me Viktor," she paused, "I couldn't live with myself if I didn't get all the education I possibly could. I didn't want to miss anything," she admitted honestly. She took a small step forward then, "and why did you... come here? To Hogwarts? Surely there were better things for you out there then being... here, I guess," her voice got softer as she spoke.

viktor anastasiy desislav krum