A Fated Marriage

A/N: Hello everyone. Let me start off by saying thank you to all the wonderful reviewers and convention well wishers. All the positive feed back warmed my heart. Next let me say I’m sorry for the major delay in updating. Alright on with the chapter!


Argument


“I wanted that book and you know it!”

“I have no idea vhat you mean. I had this book before you.”

“I need that book. It has something really important for my up coming test.”

“Vell I just had the urge to read a section of this book. And I got to it first so I get to use it first.”

“You saw that I was reaching for it and you took it first.” Hermione rubbed her temple while taking a deep breath. She had been arguing with Kamen for almost ten minutes over the book and it was getting her nowhere fast. Now more than ever she regretted coming over to Krum Manor. It had all started earlier that morning when she was struggling over a potion recipe she needed to have memorized for the test that was now only a few weeks away.

“This is impossible!” She yelled at the breakfast table. Since the test date was so close she had gotten in the habit of studying during meals. Viktor had looked up from his cup of coffee somewhat bewildered. It was rare for Hermione to show frustration in the academic field.

“Vhat is the matter?” He asked quietly.

“The problem is that I need to memorize this stupid potion for the test, but I can’t do that because this stupid book only gives a brief description of the potion itself and only lists key ingredients. It doesn’t say anything about how long to brew it or what kind of caldron is needed. There is mention of a silver spoon, but even than it doesn’t tell me what I need to do with that.” The poor witch buried her face in her hands. “I’m going to fail this test. I just know it.” Her body was trembling while fighting off tears.

This was one of those moments where Viktor truly acted like a loving boyfriend. He stood up and walked over to her. “Hermione it is impossible for you to fail, and you know that.” Pulling her up, with great care, he took her into his strong and comforting arms. “You are just overwhelmed right now. You have a lot on your plate right now. The test is coming up soon. That is followed by Opening Week. And than the vedding. Any other vitch vould have run away screaming by now.” Hermione looked up at him with a smile.

“I’m being silly aren’t I?” She asked.

“Yes, but you look cute doing it so it does not matter.” Hermione smiled giddily. Viktor was right. She was overwhelmed. All she needed to do was calm down and sort though things in her mind.

“Okay, do you know where I may get a copy of the recipe?” She asked slowly cuddling against him.

“Knum Manor. I bet you could find vhat you need in the library.”

“Would it be alright for me to just appear there unannounced and barrow a book?”

“Hermione.” Viktor chided. “You are going to be family in a short time. It is as much your privilege as it is mine.”

“Alright. I’ll go get the book before I go and meet up with Iris.”

“The vedding planner? Did you not just see her a few days ago?” Viktor asked sitting down with his betrothed still in his arms.

“Yes, but I have to see her again. She needs our answers.” Iris Lovingstone was a sweet bubbly dumpling of a witch with a no-nonsense attitude when it came to helping people plan their dream wedding. The first day she gave Hermione a list of things she and Viktor had choose and plan. That very night they chose what colors they wanted, what flowers would be used for decoration, how big the guess list was going to be. And most importantly of all when the wedding would take place. It took almost the entire night to decide those things alone.

“Oh right.” Viktor looked up at a clock on the wall. He had to be at practice soon. “I have to go soon. You may have become Coach’s favorite, but he still makes me do laps vhen I am late.”

“Then you better get going.” She told him sliding off his lap so that he may get up and get to work. He took the hint and left her with a good-bye kiss. Hermione lingered for a few moments, before Flooing over to Krum Manor. A house elf greeted her, but everybody else it seemed was either out of the house or too busy to talk to her. That was just fine with her because it meant that nobody would get in her way when she got her book. She could be in and our before she knew it. The house elf led her to the library, and explained how she could go about finding a book.

“It is really simple Miss. All Miss has to do is think about what it is Miss wants to find. Then a glowy light will take Miss to the best book for Miss.” The elf told her. When Hermione nodded her understanding the elf left her to look around at one of the most amazing libraries she ever had the chance to stand in. There were shelves in every available corner and wall. Some where even on the ceiling! Overstuffed chairs were shoved into any possible pocket of room. If she had the time she could easily just pick a book, sit herself down, and read to her heart’s content. However at the moment she was in a rush, and was here for a single purpose. She thought about the recipe she needed and in a moment there was a glowing silver line leading her to one of the shelves way at the back of the room.

“Please let this be the right book.” She muttered as she found her way to the shelf. Sure enough the book was glowing with the same silver light. The only problem was that it was just barely out of reach. She climbed on the shelf a little bit and almost reached the book when a hand came out of nowhere and took the book. When Hermione looked behind her she saw the person who held the lowest spot on her “People I Want to See Today List”. Kamen. Which finally brings us back to where this whole story began.

“Kamen I can understand that you want to bully me. After all I am the Mudblood who is marrying your brother, but that book is very crucial to my test. Can you please find another way to make my life harder and just hand over the bloody book?” She bit out.
Kamen crossed his arms over his chest with the book in a right grip, “I still have no idea vhat you are talking about.” He told her calmly giving a smirk.

“You said so yourself that you only want to read it. You don’t actually need it. Can’t you please just let me copy something out of it and then read it?” She asked anxiously. She needed to get that recipe quick because she had a meeting with Iris in just fifteen minutes. Thankfully Molly and Mari were meeting her there, so they could buy her some time.

“No. I need this book more than you. Get a copy somevhere else.” He told her opening the book and taunting her by flipping though some of the pages. Hermione gave another sigh.

“Fine you pompous, pig headed, prick of a pureblood have it your way. Take the book. Torture me. We both know you’re not going to read it. I need to go to a wedding planning meeting. I am going to come back. And when I come back you had be ready to hand that book over or I will hex you from here to Avalon.” With that she turned on her heel and left. The wonderful thing about magical libraries was that you could not remove the book without the intention of reading it. Since she knew that Kamen was just using the book to bully her she knew the book would remain in the library. She also knew that Kamen would be too stubborn to let it go, so without a doubt she would be seeing him again that day.

Mari and Molly were already waiting for her when she arrived. “Oh, this is so exciting. I can’t believe they finally started to make plans.” Molly said as the three walked up to Iris’s office.

“This takes me back.” The Bulgarian woman gave a dreamy sigh. There was no way Hermione could understand the women’s excitement and eagerness over the wedding. In all honesty the whole blasted thing was just another thing on her to do list.

“How nice of you two. Helping Hermione with the wedding I mean. I know at the moment she has her plate full with a million other things. You are so lucky to have these women by your side.” Iris noted after all introductions were through.

“Oh yes, very lucky.” Was the reply followed by a tight smile. ‘I mean if you ignore the face that all they talk about is grandchildren and keep adding to the guest list than they are the prefect helpers.’ She thought silently.

“Alright, now to business. Have you and Viktor decided a date?” Iris asked with quill and parchment in hand.

“Yes, we chose August 30th.” Hermione said looking at her own roll of parchment.

“Hermione! That’s the day before Harry, Ron, and Ginny start back at Hogwarts.” Molly said quietly.

“I know.” There were very logical reasons for choosing that date. First of all Viktor didn’t have any games planned for that week. And second was because they thought the wedding and honeymoon would serve as a nice distracter for Hermione. She knew in her heart that the first weeks without Hogwarts and her friends would be the hardest, so if she was occupied with other things she wouldn’t miss them as much.

“Very good.” The planner said with a jotting down a note. “Now what will the wedding colors be?”

A small chuckle escaped Hermione’s lips as she remembered the conversation had led to their decision. It involved a lot of tickling, some light teasing, a pair of scissors, a huge pillow fight, and two fish. She giggled again, “We chose maroon, plum, and cream.”
Iris smiled as she added that to the list. “Now I know this is the hard part, but do you have and estimation about the guest list?”

“Yes we do. We think we’re going to need at least two hundred invitations. And if every R.S. then we should have well over three hundred people.” All chances of a small wedding were out the window. All the Weasley family, Krum family, Order members, friends from both schools, Viktor’s team, and many others were being invited. Actually it seemed like ever person they ever said hello to in their lifetime was getting an invitation. Both of them had wanted to keep it small, but their parents and Dorian had all insisted that this needed to be a big deal. The Ministry was watching they’re every move making sure that the law was being fulfilled. The couple even went so far as to make sure a few of the officials were on the invite list.

“Well that is an impressive number although the Malfoy wedding twenty years ago could rival that I suspect.” Iris smiled and handed her a piece of parchment. “This is the next list you have to go over. And I did have a very important question to ask of you two. Will the wedding be magical or Muggle?” Hermione had an answer for the question, but for whatever reason it hurt. She always thought that her mother would be the one helping her plan the wedding. There would be a long flowing gown, tuxes, and a limo. Just the thought of that made her heart squeeze tightly.

“We thought that the ceremony could be magical. With dress robes, Bonding Ceremony, and all that stuff. The reception will be Muggle based. After all, this marriage is supposed to be centered on the idea that Purebloods and Muggleborns need give each other a chance.” Her little speech was quiet as if she was speaking more to herself than anyone else.

“You know that is going to be expensive to have both.”

“Yes, I understand. And you understand that I’m going to marry the World’s greatest Seeker?” And that was the end of that topic. The rest of the meeting was basically about small details that could be sorted out later. She left the meeting in a tizzy. She was given a new list of things that she and Viktor needed to go over before the next meeting. Plus she was also given a stack of Muggle and Magical bridal magazines to look over and get ideas from. “When will I have time to do any of this?” She muttered before Flooing back to Krum Manor. Just as she predicted Kamen was sitting in one of the chairs holding onto the book.

“Vhat are you doing back? Vhy can you not just go to bookstore and get your own copy?” He asked crossly.

“Because I’m like you: stubborn.” Hermione pulled out her wand. “I highly suggest you give me that book or I’ll take it by force.”

“I vould like to see you try.” His wand was in his free hand. He opened his mouth to say something, but in an instant he was in the ground in a partial body bind. He looked up to see his future sister in law with a smirk on her face and the book in her hands.

“I fought Death Eaters. You are nothing compared to them. You never stop to talk to your opponent. You simply aim and shoot your spells. ” She said sitting down in a chair. Out of her purse she pulled a quill and some parchment. It was quiet for a while. Hermione was engrossed in copying the potion and Kamen was trying to mend his wounded pride.

“Vhy did you not put me in a full bind?” He asked as he struggled to sit up. It looked like a worm struggling to come up for air.

“No reason. Just didn’t feel like wasting a full hex on you.” She answered not looking up from her work.

“I am not vorth the effort?” He asked indignity.

“Not really. You’re just another bully. I’ve had to deal with your kind the entire time I’ve lived in the Wizarding world.” She sighed. “You just another ignorant prick. All bark, but no bite.”

“I have plenty of bite.”

“No you don’t. You would have used it the moment you saw me in the library. Instead you simply took the book I needed. I know some people who would have taken the opportunity to kill me.” For the first time they looked each other in the eyes.

“I vould not kill you.”

“I know. What I don’t know is why you seem to dislike me.”

“That is a polite way of saying it.”

“You don’t hate me, and we both know it. For whatever reason I irritate you, but you don’t hate me.” Kamen gave her an odd look. “What?”

“What made you change? Last time I made you cry.” He asked thoughtfully.

“Last time I was emotionally unstable. I was going through a lot of hard times, and your words weren’t making things easier. Normally I’m much stronger than that.” Her voice was even almost cold. Her gaze was steady and cool. She had definitely changed from the girl he had seen at dinner. “So are you going to tell me?”

“Tell you vhat?”

“Why I irritate you.”

Kamen sighed as he finally managed to sit up. “It is not you I guess. Its more of the attention you bring Viktor.” He muttered.

“Huh?”

“I am a middle brother. I get no attention.” He started out. Hermione suddenly got the sinking feeling that she knew where this conversation was going. “I was finally getting some attention from my parents. Phoenix University. Then the stupid a law comes up and suddenly and it is all about Viktor again.” Kamen raised the pitch of his voice. “Viktor is going to get married. Viktor is going to give me a daughter. Poor Viktor is being married to pretty girl.” He mimicked his mother.

“You think I’m pretty.”

“No! That is vhat my mother thinks.” Hermione smiled, but let him continue. “Is it so bad of me to vant some attention? Viktor already is a famous, rich, and now he gets to marry a beautiful vitch.” There was a silence. Awkward on Kamen’s part and annoyed on Hermione’s.

“So they reason you treated me like trash was because you were jealous of Viktor?” She asked trying to keep her temper under control. Kamen looked away saying nothing. “I’m sorry, but you need a better reason than that.”

“Vhat?”

“You sound like one of my adopted brothers, Ron.” She undid the body bind and shook her head. “What is it with you two and wanting attention? You seemed to think you’re the only ones who have ever lived in another’s shadow.” At the moment she wanted nothing more than choke the man in front of her. She knew it would help the irritation she was feeling at the moment. “I am the best friend of Harry Potter. I’ve been living in a shadow ever since I entered this world. Do I complain? No, because I know eventually I will create my own legacy that will be completely my own.” She closed the book and stood as proud as any queen or goddess. “If I wasted my time feeling sorry for myself or making others miserable then I would have no time to better myself.” She tossed the book at Kamen before walking out the door.

The young man sat still as she left. He felt disgusted with himself. She had not only pointed out his faults, but she proved herself the above his petty tricks. Hermione was the better person, and now he was forced to admit that. Slowly he stood with book in hand. For the first time since he entered the room he read the title “Charms and Potions for Healing the Heart”. He took a deep breath in while running a hand though his hair. “Smart vitch.” He muttered as he placed the book back on the shelf. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad having her in the family after all.

A/N: Okay guys tell me what you think. What do you think of Kamen? Is there anything you want to see happen in future chapters? Can you count all the times I used the word “book” in this chapter? That’s it for now. See ya next time.