The Man Who Came In From The Cold

JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers. Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE. If you are looking for strict Canon or even a slight deviation from Canon you won’t find it here.

Summary: The war has carried on well past Harry Potter’s 7th Year. Snape is on the run from Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic, both of whom will stop at nothing to silence him. He finds unexpected refuge in the most unlikely of places.

The Man Who Came In from the Cold


Chapter 011: Say What?

‘Wotcher, Princess… Nine inches and as thick as a Butterbeer bottle – you lucky moo!’

Hermione stepped back and took a long look at the woman who looked like a banker standing in front of her. The stranger was fashionably kitted out in a Saville Row suit, glasses and Jimmy Choos and was carrying a small briefcase.

‘I’m sorry I ever said a word; that will teach me not to drink Firewhiskey… And I see you are picking up Ginny’s bad habits with that language!’ Hermione laughed. ‘So what are you doing here?’

‘Just thought we could have a catch-up before you go… I ran into a certain someone last night you-know-where,’ Tonks said quietly, dropping her voice as she discreetly cast a spell that would make people think they were talking about gossip from Heat, a British Muggle celebrity magazine that Hermione devoured in secret. Well, as secret as it could be since Tonks, Ginny and Luna were well of much she really liked it, even though she publicly railed against it whenever she had lapses and was caught out. Tonks had picked up one from a newsstand on the way, knowing it would provide perfect cover.

Protecting her conversations was a matter of habit in public for the young Auror. Voldemort had spies everywhere in the wizarding world and Sirius thought it probably best to never drop one’s guard. Foolish mistakes were less likely to happen that way. He needn’t have reminded her of it before she left that morning; as an Auror she knew all too well how carelessness could be deadly.

‘Oh – right,’ Hermione sniffed. ‘So, what did he say then?’

‘I’m worried, Hermione. Sirius doesn’t think it’s anything but…’

Tonks relayed everything that Sirius had told her about his confrontation with Lupin.

‘Remus is obsessed with Snape, and Snape and you and not in a good way,’ she said emphatically. ‘He and Sirius really had it out last night.’

‘Oh for God’s sake! There is nothing going on between me and Snape! I have told him about a hundred times now! If I had a thing for Snape do you think I’d be going to Bulgaria to see Viktor? And he was fighting with his good old friend about it?’

‘Well the fact that you managed to get the time off has really pissed Remus off to no end and…’

‘Ah – I gather he didn’t mention that this time was actually already accounted for! It’s the break we didn’t have during the summer when he conveniently backed out! I lost all the money I put down on our holiday and I was lucky my boss let me claim back the days off since technically I should have taken them then. I didn’t jump through any more hoops for Viktor than I had for Remus! If anything it was Remus I was killing myself over when I got the time off in the first place!’

Tonks let out an exasperated sigh as they took seats in the far corner of a café near Hermione’s departure gate.

‘Looks like something else he’s conveniently kept to himself then!’

Hermione’s eyes welled up with tears and she fought to get herself together so that they could order their meals. Once their waitress was gone, Tonks leaned in over and patted Hermione’s hands.

‘Nobody thinks badly of you Hermione, really they don’t. If anything we’re all relieved that you’re finally getting it together. Ron’s not happy about Viktor – but then you know what he’s like… The one thing he should have done ages ago and still he won’t…’

‘I just don’t need this from Remus, Tonks. I really don’t… and there is no point to Ron telling me about the pash he’s had on me since school. I don’t like him like that and I don’t want someone that has problems with their feelings – there enough of that just with me!’

‘If it makes you feel any better, I’m not in Lupin’s good graces either. To be perfectly honest… I wouldn’t be surprised if he jacks it all in. He’s fallen out with me, you, Sirius… Even Molly had a go at him about how he treated me and lord knows she’s been at his throat over this obsession of his about you and Snape…’

‘I just want us to do the right thing! I know what things seem like right now…’

The waitress re-appeared with their sandwich and dessert orders and eyeballed Tonk’s Heat magazine beadily.

‘I’m quite done with it anyway,’ she said handing it over. Anything to get rid of the girl. ‘Merry Christmas!’

Another pointless anecdote about Brad Pitt and the finally girl left them alone.

‘I don’t like him, Hermione. You know I don’t. But I do agree with you and…’

Tonks let out a sigh.

‘You’ve found out something?’

‘Yes – something rather disturbing actually… My aunt Narcissa is not only cosying up to Mum; she’s also getting super tight with the Minister of Magic. I managed to find out that she’s paying him a little visit this afternoon.’

‘Ahh – hence the City of London look then…’

‘Emilina Vargas – she works for the information service; part of the Minister’s office… She’s – indisposed at the moment... But she’ll come to with a few carefully planted memories and that’s that. No harm done.’

‘Can you really do that?’

‘One of the perks of the job for we Metamorphmagi Aurors. Technically, I’m in the Outer Hebrides today looking for our friend from Hogwarts,’ Tonks replied with a grin.

‘I had no idea that you could be so…’

‘I did manage to pass all my exams and I’m certified...’

Tonks hesitated and poked at her toasted panini.

‘You’ve been really honest with me Hermione, and about things that really aren’t any of my business. It’s time I returned the favour. You will be the only person besides Dumbledore and McGonagall that knows this…and I don’t have to tell you that you can’t discuss this with anyone – not even Harry and Ron.’

Hermione nodded slowly.

The clumsiness, not always seeming like the sharpest pencil in the box – it’s an act. Carefully orchestrated and crafted by myself and Dumbledore. It was Dumbledore’s idea and at first I didn’t like it very much, but he’s proven to be quite right over the years.’

The look on Hermione’s face was priceless as she shook her head in disbelief.

‘There is no way I would ever pretend to be less than I am… I couldn’t bare it if people thought I was kind of thick and incapable!’ she began before stopping herself short. ‘Oh – I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…!’

‘No harm done – that’s why Dumbledore came to me and not you while you were still at school. You have a strong ego when it comes to your intelligence, Hermione, and he knew you’d never go for it any more than you’d ever become an Auror. I grew up wanting to do this; and knowing that what I am can be very useful. Like I said – I want happy when Dumbledore proposed it, but in my line of work being known for being very smart can be more trouble than it’s worth. I can do a lot simply because no one would ever suspect me even if they did get suspicious about something I’ve done for the Order. And I handled myself in the battle at the Ministry, remember?’

‘This is all so bloody…’

‘Insane? Not really – there’s a lot you just don’t know, tucked away in the Research Office with your books and the rest of those dangerous minds.’

‘Gee, thanks…’

‘You’re exactly where Dumbledore needs you to be. If it’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that the time will come when you realise why he’s needed you to do it his way…’

‘I know; believe me, I already know. That’s why I have to believe that there is more to this situation with Snape than seems obvious at the moment…’

‘I’ve been doing a lot of work recently – and all I can say for the moment is that I agree with you. Fortunately, we are going to get some extra help and about time too.’

‘Help? From who? Tonks we can’t take any risks with anyone who isn’t brought in by Dumbledore or McGonagall!’

‘Never fear, my dear. She’s a Hogwarts graduate and McGonagall thinks very highly of her – she’s the one whose bringing her in now. She’s well acquainted with the Order and in fact has been doing work for Dumbledore for years.’

‘She?’

‘Sasha Levesque. I’ve learned a lot from her myself.’

‘Sasha Levesque? She was Valedictorian when she passed out, wasn’t she?’

‘One the best and brightest that Hogwarts and the Ministry has ever had; although coming from Slytherin it did take a lot of people by surprise…’ Tonks replied with a hefty snort. ‘She’s been working in the Department of Mysteries – exactly where Dumbledore wanted her to be…’

‘God almighty…’

‘No offense, Hermione, but you don’t know half as much as you think you do – and you are safer that way. It’s what Dumbledore wanted.’

‘None taken,’ came the reply with a frown.

Secretly Hermione was smarting. Sasha Levesque had been a few years ahead of the trio at school and Gryffindor’s resident know-it-all had always been intimidated by her. Even when their paths crossed at the Ministry, Levesque regarded her no better than she would a common house fly. Hermione couldn’t impress or intimidate her with her intelligence – and it bothered her immensely for some unknown reason.

‘I don’t see why we need to bring anyone else on board… What can she possibly do that isn’t already being done?’

‘It’s about what she can do and is willing to do that’s important. If there was already someone who was capable then McGonagall would have spoken to them and not Sasha…’

‘McGonagall doesn’t know everything that any of us can do – unless she gives us the chance…’

Tonks sat back and looked at her friend guardedly.

“Dumbledore and McGonagall both knew what they were doing, Hermione. We all can’t be good at everything – and we just don’t have the time either. Anyway – It was McGonagall who suggested that I talk to you about all this. She thought it would help having someone nearer my own age who knew…and she wanted you to be prepared for Sasha.’

Tonks was turning out to be quite the dark horse indeed and for the first time in a long time, Hermione felt quite stupid.

’Don’t be so fashed about being a shining star, Hermione. It really isn’t that important,’ Tonks said glancing at her watch. ‘Look – I have to get going and I think they just called your flight. Just try to relax and enjoy your holidays, eh?’

Tonks drank the last of her orange juice and then stood after putting money on the table for their bill.

‘All this crap with you-know-what would be the last thing on my mind if I had nine glorious inches throbbing for me…’

‘You think that’s something you should try a…’ Hermione said without thinking.

‘Hmmph – enjoy Bulgaria. Have a safe trip,’ Tonks sniffed before striding off.

‘Werewolf…’ Hermione mumbled under her breath. ‘Great Hermione, just great…’

She tried to hard to be just ‘one of the girls’ sometimes and inevitably put her foot in it. Tonks was the last person she wanted to have angry with her, but there was nothing she could do now. It would just have to wait until she got back.

Hermione gathered her things and made her way to the gate for her flight.

One on board she vowed to not think one iota about the Order or Snape or anything to do with what was happening back home while she was away. Tonks was right about one thing, the most important thing was to enjoy the man waiting for her at Bulgaria International Airport in Sofia.

xxxOOOxxx

Hermione couldn’t believe how much easier it was to get through immigration and customs in Bulgaria compared to the UK. Then again, the British Isles seemed to be overwhelmed by this war. The rumours on the Ministry grapevine had it that the Muggle government would have to get heavily involved because of so many deaths and catastrophes happening to their own that on the face of it made no sense. Even the security measures to get out of the country had given her a massive headache.

She made her way to the waiting area where she had agreed to meet Viktor, lost in thought. Damn Remus and his obsessions and insecurities. She wouldn’t wish that on anyone, not even Tonks – although she had felt insecure about the fact that Tonks had been madly in love with him. Tonks talked a good game about being over him, but there were times that Hermione wondered if she really had gotten over the strong feelings she had for the Order’s resident werewolf. Hermione tried not to think about Lupin, but if she was honest she had at least liked the sex with him. He certainly proved that some of the more salacious myths about werewolves were indeed fact. But sex was one thing – and love was another.

‘So much for having a good time and no thoughts about all that rubbish,’ she thought to herself.

There was no one that she could ever love the way she loved Viktor. And there could never be anyone who made her feel like Viktor did. Viktor had always said that it didn’t matter what other people thought of them as a couple; what mattered was what they felt for and about each other. In their relationship he was definitely the one with emotional intelligence in abundance.

‘God – how could I have been so bloody stupid,’ she sighed out loud.

‘I think God will forgive you for not being as perfect as you wish to be,’ came a deep, soothing voice in heavily accented English.

Hermione looked up to find Viktor smiling down at her.

‘So – what is this that you are feeling so insecure about, Princess?’

Hermione shrugged her shoulders and then shook her head.

‘Nothing; I’m just being an idiot…’

‘I agree – you have come all this way and it’s been at least five minutes and still not even a hug from you.’

‘Oh – Viktor; I’m sorry…’

Hermione started rattling off a mile-a-minute about how she didn’t want to be worry about anything and just wanted to relax and then this spiraled into apologies that didn’t stop until Viktor kissed her. He pulled her into his arms and explored her mouth hungrily as he held tightly to her. The fire that Hermione had been missing ignited itself between her legs – and in her soul. She wanted him to really understand how much she loved him and what he was for her.

They pulled away reluctantly and Viktor took the heaviest cases from her.

‘I promise to shut up now…’ she whispered, looking up at him with a longing that he was clearly relieved to see.

‘We have plenty of time to talk. But for now the only thing I wish is for us to go home…and make up for lost time; if that is alright with you, yes?’

Viktor always asked and never assumed anything with her. He never took her for granted the way Remus had. Hermione silently admonished herself to stop comparing him with the werewolf as she nodded her agreement and they walked to his utility vehicle.

xxxOOOxxx

In no time at all they had driven around the outskirts of Sofia and into the mountains towards Dospei. Viktor’s new house was in its own woodland situated near the banks of a lake outside of the village. Within a reasonable distance in any direction were popular ski resorts and several UNESCO World Heritage Landmarks.

As they emerged from a tunnel and made the turn-off towards Viktor’s house, Hermione let out a deep sigh and clasped her hands. She looked at the scenery which was stunning enough in the dead of winter – goodness knows what it was like in the other seasons.

‘Do you like it, Hermione?’

‘Yes,’ she answered breathlessly. ‘Viktor it’s beautiful!’

Viktor let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding and directed Hermione’s attention to the various sights along the way. There was plenty to see and do whether it was in the outdoors, the surrounding villages and resorts or in the capital.

‘And over there,’ he said pointing. ‘Is the house…’

Hermione’s eyes followed his large hand with its thick, long fingers and she let out a gasp.

‘She is beautiful, no?’

‘Yes – yes she is; and perfectly situated. I would be hard pressed to find anything like it myself back home…’

They did not speak again until Viktor pulled into the garage of the house. The house proved to be as spacious as it had looked nestled in the valley of hills from the mountains above. Hermione was given the grand tour and they took a walk partway around the frozen lake before coming back to the house.

It was the house of Hermione’s dreams.

‘The first time I saw her I thought of you,’ Viktor said quietly as they enjoyed a bottle of wine in front of the fire in the large living space. ‘Mother came to look at it with me and even she said that she thought you could be happy here…’

‘You’re really serious about all this, aren’t you?’

‘I have never not been serious with you. I want you to like it here. I want to make you happy, Hermione.’

Viktor turned to look at her in the firelight having drawn the curtains.

‘I have prayed to God every night since you left me. And I ask him – What have I done that is so bad? What is it that in me that is so wrong? If she is meant to be mine then please bring her back to me. I will wait as long as it takes. And if she comes back please let her be happy so that she will not leave me again.’

Viktor looked away from her, and Hermione could tell he wanted to cry, but his fierce Bulgarian pride would not allow such a thing.

‘I was always happy here,’ she said tearfully as she put her arms around him and leaned against his back. ‘I was just… I was just so insecure because I don’t understand what you see in me… I’ve seen the girls who throw themselves at you and I know it doesn’t make sense to anyone that you turn them down for me…’

Viktor turned to her, the anger and hurt blazing in his dark eyes. ‘The people that know me; the people who really care about me – they don’t care about things like this. My parents want me to be happy. They love you, Hermione, and my brothers and sisters like you enough. The people who are my friends – if they cannot accept you and be happy for me because I am happy, then these people are not true friends and I am better off without them!’

‘I know…’

‘You say that but you don’t believe it. Not in here (he tapped gently over her heart) or here (where wizards believed the soul was). You say the words but you do not accept them inside. Even when I could have taken advantage of being apart from you there has never been anyone else. I don’t understand what you feel about yourself or why it is like this, but to me you are beautiful. You are still as beautiful as when we first met and what I feel is even better.’

‘But you fans… they say… they say the most awful, hateful things about me!’

Hermione burst into tears and Viktor pulled her into his arms.

‘They are jealous, Hermione. And not one of them really knows me and they don’t care to. For them I am a means to an end; I am how you say – a lifestyle. It would suit them to be seen with me but it would not be for love. Since we met, all I have ever wanted was to love you and take care of your properly,’ he whispered. ‘Please give me a chance to do that…’

His lips sought hers and Hermione moaned as his hands went beneath her sweater and across her back. Viktor kissed his way down her neck as he unbuttoned her sweater and then the shirt she had on beneath it. Hermione leaned back after he unhooked her bra and his mouth seized on a nipple. She couldn’t take it anymore; she reached down and undid her skirt and his pants as he undid his shirt and took it off along with the pullover he had over it. In less than a few minutes she was stretched flat out on the carpet with him pounding hard deep inside, each begging the other not to stop as she met every thrust and pulled him in deeper.

Hermione clung to him through her climax and then his own. A few rogue tears streamed down her cheeks as she thought of how much pain she had caused them both – all because of her fears and insecurities – and because of Remus Lupin.

Viktor picked her up in arms and carried her to their bedroom as she cried. He had laid the truth flat out and neither of them had crumpled because of it. She’d never been this honest about herself with him. Though she felt incredibly exposed, both knew it was the right thing to have done. Viktor had always loved her – and his affection was not something she could lose easily, even if she felt she deserved to.

They made love again only this time it was slow and tender. It was like rediscovering each other all over again. Every now and again Viktor would look down at Hermione enjoying him only to find her looking up at him doing the same in kind. They smiled and there would be that soft laughter that only lovers could have. He stoked her hair and then kissed her again as he reached his climax deep inside her. Hermione cried out as she felt the warm, wet explosion that sent wave after wave of pleasure through her body. He made her feel so good and so safe… and she had almost thrown it all away…

They lay in each other’s arms and talked a bit until Hermione fell asleep. Viktor looked down at her and couldn’t remember a time when she looked so peaceful. He felt guilty knowing that he had brought her all this way and it wasn’t just for the sake of a simple holiday and working through their problems.

He did have some things he needed to talk to her about; it was just finding the right moment that was going to be the problem.