A Fated Marriage

A/N: I know it takes me a while to update guys, but I’m glad so many of you stick with me. Makes writing much easier. I had a good holiday season, but I didn’t get what I wanted for Christmas: A beta. I’m still looking for one. Other than that I hope you enjoy this new chapter.

Worries

“Oh do stop pacing like that Viktor. Honestly this isn’t the hardest thing she’s ever done.” Dorian said rubbing his temple as he watched the younger man walk back and forth. Every single brother from both families was fidgeting in chairs and on the floor of the same hall as their parents watched on knowingly.

“You do not know vhat you are talking about. You have not seen her like I have. She only gets a few hours of sleep every day. The only time she goes outside anymore is to visit the team during practice and that is only three times a veek.” The pacing man said to his manager. “I can not even remember the last time she has eaten real meal. All she does is drink coffee and eat sandviches.” This caused the matriarchs of the families to gasp.

“Well you should get used to that mate, because that’s what happens when Hermione studies for a test.” Harry said with a small chuckle. Currently everybody was waiting for the witch in question to finish up with the last portion of her test. Viktor wanted nothing more than for his girl to come out of that room and take her home for some rest. He thought about those dark bags under her eyes and the exhausted tone to her voice. He wanted to tuck her into to bed and let her sleep for week. Then make sure she ate until the color came back to her cheeks.

Just as he was thinking about her the young witch stumbled out of the room. Viktor was the first to get to her. He looked down her with concern making her smile back at her reassuringly. “It was hard. We had to do a lot of on the spot healing. They just came up with injuries I had to fix. Thinking on my feet hasn’t always been my strongest suit.” Her modesty wasn’t quite convincing with a satisfied smile plastered on her face.

“So how do you think you did?” Bill asked as everybody was crowding her.

“I think I did rather well.”

“So that is your last test?” Dorian asked.

“Yes. I have to wait three months for the results.” She didn’t seem too happy about the wait. Still she knew that there would be plenty to do until then. Opening Week was less than two weeks away. And the wedding was coming up just as quickly. The past couple of weeks devoted to study seemed to annoy her mothers and Dorian. There was much to be done and hours had been wasted spending time in libraries instead of boutiques and bridal shops. There would be no avoiding more shopping excursions, dress fittings, wedding planning, and whatever else they had planned.

“Well now that all the work is done let’s take time to play.” Dorian smiled. “Both of you have photo shoot in an hour. Then an interview with the Daily Prophet. After that we need buy just a few more things for Opening Week and pick up your dress robes.”

“Vait. I have not had chance to spend time vith her all veek. She is going to be vith me today. Alone.” He talk his family and friends firmly. His mother, Molly, Dorian and Ginny all just stared at him blankly then turned back to Hermione.

“Hermione I know you already told me that you want me to be your maid of honor, but who’s going to be your Guardian for the Binding Ceremony?” Ginny asked her. All the men gave Viktor a knowing look when his demand was ignored. He sighed and looked over to Hermione who was trying to sound interested in what was being said to her, but failing miserably.

“Alright children let’s go.” Dorian said taking Hermione and Viktor by the arm, so he could lead them to the nearest Floo Gate.

“Fine. It seems ve have no choice. But all of this vill be done quickly. Hermione needs rest.” He said pointedly at his bride. In turn she gave him a grateful smile for his understanding.

“Right, right. It will be done faster than you can blink. Promise.” Dorian said innocently. Four and a half hours later that promise was proved false. Viktor was day dreaming. Yes, day dreaming was a good way to describe it. He and Hermione were on yet another shopping trip with Dorian. The two were currently inside a small shop specializing in hair potions leaving the young man sitting outside on a bench watching the people around him. It was not an unpleasant thing to do. After hours of practice every day off time was always welcomed. At home he was usually spending time talking to Hermione about everything and anything. It was not a bad thing by any means, but sometimes he just liked to be left with his thoughts. This was one of those times.

He had been watching a couple and their children across the street at a café. Three children were giggling madly at a story their father telling as their mother fed a baby sibling in her arms. It was strange to watch. Until now he knew all that was expected of him and his bride. Children were one of those expectations. However it never truly sank in that he was going to be a father until he watched the family. Would his children like the stories he had to tell? How many children would he end up having? Would he be a good father? Would he have a lot of sons? Would he have a daughter? What would they look like? Would they have his nose? (He hoped not) Would they love him? These questions and more hit him like a ton of bricks. Was he even ready for fatherhood?

Feeling suddenly anxious he stood to look in the window of the shop. Hermione was laughing at something Dorian was saying with flourishing hands. He had to smile to himself. She was at her most beautiful when she laughed or smiled out of pure untainted joy. After some of practices he would come home frustrated, tired, and impatient. Then she would just walk over to him and say “Welcome home” with that beautiful smile. With that simple greeting he could forget about the day and enjoy the rest of the evening. As he watched the young woman he would spend the rest of his life with he remembered all the little moments he had spent with her over that past couple of weeks.

She had made it a habit of coming to his practices at least three times a week. Each visit brought a lunch for him and snacks for the team. They would talk, plan, tease, and even argue on occasion. The visits helped him learn more about her which he felt he desperately needed to learn. After all he was going to spend the rest of his life with her; it would be good idea to get off to a good start. Hermione was never one to openly talk about herself unless prompted to do so. He had to watch her closely sometimes to figure her out. When she hummed quietly while she was reading that meant she easily understood everything. When she fidgeting a lot it usually meant she was struggling. It was almost like she couldn’t sit still until she found an answer for her question.

That was an aspect of her personality that hadn’t changed since he first met her back in school. Her endless pursuit of knowledge was always fascinating to him. Viktor was no dummy. He enjoyed a good book as much as the next person, but he would have much rather have be riding broom or spending time with his friends and teammates. His girl needed to learn the way most people needed to breathe. He did his best stay interested when she spoke about the newest thing she had read about, but it was difficult when most of the time he had no clue what she was talking about.

Even if her love for learning hadn’t changed other things about her had. When he had met her for the first time he knew there was no way she would spend her time talking about his sport for very long. But now she was really putting forth an effort in bringing it up in regular conversation. He found it cute the way she would talk about a team only to find out she had gotten it mixed up with another. She would ask about different players only to find out the ones she was mentioning had either retired or died. When he lightly teased her about it she would get flustered and changed the subject. He was trying to get her on a broomstick of her own, but a fear of highs prevent that from happening. For now.

“Hey there handsome. Are you awake?” A familiar voice asked. At some point while he was going through his thoughts Viktor had closed his eyes. He opened them to look up at his beautiful girl. She was smiling down at him holding a vile that was filled with a pink potion. “Look what we found. It’s a rare potion that’s supposed to make your hair longer, shinier, and pink.”

“Pink?”

“Yes, it will turn your hair pink.” Hermione said with a giddy smile.

“Vhy do you need a potion that turns hair pink?”

“Oh the other day Fred put a chocolate spider in Ron’s sandwich. Ron got angry, no surprise there, and started ranting on and on about how much he hated spiders.” She sat next to him with a sigh. Viktor looked at her closely enough to notice the brief flash as pain on her face. “Of course, he has been acting angrier since Engagement Day.” That last part was quiet, so he knew not to comment on it. Though he to had noticed the youngest Weasley son’s behavior. The boy made it a point to be rude to the both of them. The only time he spoke to Hermione anymore was to yell or belittle her. It was seriously starting to piss him off. The only thing preventing him from beating the kid senseless was Hermione. She wanted to just leave it be saying it would better if Ron just vent. The red head would get over it eventually.

“So you getting back at Ron by turning his hair pink?” He asked with a glint of amusement in his eye.

“No. The potion is for Fred. After all it is his fault that Ron started his rant in the first place.” Hermione smile evilly at the vile in her hand. “It lasts for three weeks.”

“Remind me not to make you angry.” Dorian said from behind her.

“Dorian please tell me that I can take Hermione home now.” Viktor sighed as he stood up and stretched. “Ve have been out for far too long. I vant us to go home already.”

“Well let me think. We did the photo shoot, interview, shopped, ate, shopped, picked up dress robes, shopped a little more, snacked, and plotted a small revenge.” He smiled as he listed all the things they had done. “I think it is safe to say that you two are ready for Opening Week.” The couple let out a rather loud sigh of relief. “Yes, thanks to yours truly both of you will look brilliant.” He looked as proud as a peacock, however it was short lived and the older wizard’s expression hardened. “Three of the International Couples have gotten married already.”

It was true that events were moving quickly not only for Hermione and Viktor, but for the other couples as well. Edward and Yoko were married just a month after the Matches were announced. Hermione had seen the photos in the paper. Both looked at ease with each other. They were smiling and laughing. Yoko was in a white pink flowered kimono style dress robe that she designed herself. Edward stood clean cut in a black blue trimmed robe. The article detailed the wedding down to what key the band had the wedding march. Theirs was a warm and happy wizard wedding. Very different from the St. Paul and Verski wedding.

Apparently Irina had insisted on a full Muggle wedding. Ceremony and reception. They wore matching black tuxes. Michael looked sick while Irina looked disgusted. The details of their wedding were also reported. The words “cold” and “dull” were used frequently. In one of the photo you could see a dozen or so women crying. The caption below it said it was all the women who were in love Irina. Another photo showed a bunch of young men laughing. That caption explained it was all the men who wanted to laugh at France’s playboy wizard.

Jason Smith and Isabella Montoya made it easy and eloped. When Viktor read that Hermione could have sworn she heard “Lucky bastard” come out of his mouth. When she looked over at him he just gave her an innocent smile.

“You two are going to be the last to get married. The other couples are getting married during Opening Week.” Dorian told them.

“Dorian, why are you bringing this up?” Hermione asked knowing that something was going on that he was trying to tell them.

“You two are going to get more press than any of the other couples. During Opening Week you will be the center of attention. Crowds are going to gather around you like moths to a flame. That attention is going to carry over to your wedding. I heard that all of countries involved with the “Marriage Law” are sending at least two reporters to your wedding. Even countries outside of the Law are sending reporters.”

“I fail to see vhy that matters.” Viktor said mildly as he wrapped an arm around Hermione.

“Security is going to be tight, but I want warn you now. Some threats have been that seem primarily directed toward the two of you. Somebody or some bodies don’t want you get married. They say they will hurt the two of you if you go through with this.” Dorian admitted as he lead to couple to the café Viktor was observing a few minutes ago.

“Who’s making the threats?” Hermione asked calmly. This news was far from surprising to her. She knew that there were many out in the world who did not like the idea of Viktor marrying her and vise versa. Still a few names came to mind instantly, though she didn’t want to think ill of family.

“I’m having that looked into. I’m warning you now that you have to be extra careful in public. Those charms I gave you were made with the best protection spells I could get my hands on, but they are no substitute for the human touch.”

“Ve vill be care Dorian.” Viktor said in an even voice though both Hermione and Dorian noticed he sat closer to Hermione than he usually did.

“Good. Like I said I just wanted to warn you. Since I have we can move on to other subjects. Opening Week is just days away, so you won’t be seeing much of me until First Practice.” They paused to order some tea, but as soon as the waitress left to get their order Dorian started up again. “You both know where you have to be and what you need to be wearing for the Practice, so I see no real reason to review that. All that I ask is that you make sure you come together. All the other couples arrive separately. The women have to make sure they get their big entrances. If you arrive together than all the attention will be centered on you. They will ask questions about the season, your wedding, your feelings on the law, and your feeling about the other couples. They more the press talks to you the less they’ll talk to the other wives. That means there less of a chance for those ally cats to make any comments about Hermione.”

“What about the other players?” Hermione asked. Viktor laughed at the obvious concern on her face.

“I would not vorry about them if I vere you.” He told them still laughing.

“Why?” They asked in perfect unison.

“For the last couple of veeks Hermione has been bringing snacks for them during practice. They vill do nothing but sing her praises.”

“Oh, well than I guess that takes care of the last of my worries.” The agent looked down at his watch and jumped up with a start. “Is that the time? Oh no. Sorry kids I have to run. See you at Practice.” And with that he left.

“That…was sudden.”

“He probably remembered he had a date vith his partner tonight.” Viktor shrugged as their tea was set on the table.

“They should be getting their invitation today. Same with everybody else.” Hermione told him absently as she mixed some cream and a lot of sugar into her cup.

“Remind me again how many people ve ended up inviting?” Viktor did not like being the center of attention with large crowds. He knew it was unavoidable at his own wedding, but that didn’t mean he had to like.

“We sent 356 invitations for a total of 423 people.” Hermione sighed. That’s what you got when you invited both the Weasley and Krum clans. Plus there were all the friends, teammates, ministry officials, and press added in the mix.

“How much is this vedding costing me?” He asked without thinking. He never once brought up finances with Hermione. He had enough money to last six lifetimes. He always made it clear to Hermione that all she had to do was ask if she wanted something, though she rarely ever did. The witch was always careful about spending money. It was never his intention to make her worry about money, but it was clear by the look of shock and concern that it was what he had done.

“I know it’s a lot of people, but…” Hermione quickly tried to reassure him.

“I did not mean it vas a bad thing to have all these people.” He cut in quickly. She however continued.

“You really don’t have to worry about it…”

“I am not vorried.”

“Your parents are paying for all the dress robes and tuxes on your side of the family…”

“I know that. I did not mean I hated paying for all of this.”

“Harry is paying for my side of the family...”

“He is a good man, but he does not need to do that. I can afford it.”

“My parents are paying for the dress…”

“Please forget I say anything.”

“All of your sponsors are chipping in to pay for the reception…”

“I should not have said anything.”

“So there’s no need for you to worry about it...”

“HERMIONE!” Viktor nearly shouted placing his hands firmly on her shoulders.

“Yes?” Her voice was as quiet as his was loud.

“Forget I said anything about money.” He told her more gently.

“But…”

“Forget.” He told her. Hermione nodded with a small smile. “Good. Now let’s go.” He took her by the hand and headed home. From a shadow just a couple of feet a way someone was watching. The person stood there for a few moments after the couple left before taking leave their self.

A/N: Please continue to give advice. I’m all ears. ^^ Until next time everybody.