Better This Way

Home For the Holidays

It was nearing the Christmas holidays, about a month after Viktor had taken Hermione to the quidditch match that changed the status of their relationship. Things were developing nicely between them, but Hermione could not help but distance her heart from him.


“Are your parents expecting you for the holiday?” Hermione asked him, as she packed her trunk.


No. I am afraid ve do not get along vell together. I do not usually go to see them unless it is necessary. I vas planning to just spend the holiday here,” Viktor answered.


“Nonsense! I’m not going to go enjoy my Christmas while you sit here alone! You’re coming with me to my parents’ house. Now go pack your trunk because we have to get to the train station soon,” Hermione said, continuing to pack.


“Alright, Hermione. I vould love to join you for the holiday,” Viktor said, struggling to contain his glee.


It was the first time that Hermione had suggested they do something together. He was usually the one who had to plan everything. She was so closed to him still, he found it very hard to read where he stood with her. It didn’t matter to him though. He did care deeply for her, and if it was down to having her this way or not having her at all, he would rather have her this way. He hoped her parents would like him.


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“I thought I might do some Christmas shopping tomorrow. Would you care to join me?” Rosmerta asked Severus.


“I’ve already done all of my shopping here in Hogsmeade,” Severus replied, stabbing the last bit of roast with his fork.


“I was thinking perhaps in Diagon Alley,” Rosmerta said, wiping her hands on her napkin.


“Well classes ended this morning, so I see no reason why I couldn’t join you,” Severus said.


“Let’s meet around ten then, shall we? At the Leaky Cauldron?”


“I will be there.” Severus said, and ate the last bite of his lunch.


It had been three months since their encounter at the pub, and while Severus enjoyed the company, he wasn’t sure he wanted Rosmerta to get too close. She seemed like she was ready to build a life with him, but he still couldn’t get Hermione out of his head.


He wondered how she was doing in Livonia. He wondered if she had moved on. She probably had, he thought. It had been nine months after all. He couldn’t believe that he would probably never see her again. Not being with her was one thing, but never seeing her again? He thought perhaps that was why it was so difficult.


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“Hermione, dear!” Jane Granger called out as her daughter made her way up the front walk, wheeling her trunk behind her.


“Hello Mum. This is Viktor. I thought he could spend the holiday with us,” Hermione said cheerfully.


“Of course, Dear. You know your friends are welcome here,” Jane said, moving to help Hermione with her trunk.


Once Hermione had shown Viktor the guest room and had gone up to her room to unpack her trunk, they met in the kitchen with her mother and father.


“So, Hermione, who is your friend?” Her father asked, waggling his eyebrows.


“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. Mother, Father, this is Viktor Krum,” Hermione said nervously.


“Viktor, these are my parents, Harold and Jane Granger,” she continued, gesturing toward her parents.


“I am happy to be here and meet you both. Thank you for velcoming me into your lovely home,” Viktor said, kissing Jane’s knuckles.


“Oh, what a charming young man,” Jane exclaimed. “It’s been a while since Hermione’s had friends around for holiday. Ever since Ron and Harry went to Auror School.”


“Well, I’ve just been rather busy is all,” Hermione said, reddening. “You know how it is, school, apprenticeship, there’s never time for it all.”


“Now, Jane, don’t pester the boy,” Harold chided.


“So, Viktor, how long have you and Hermione known each other?” Jane asked, brushing off Harold’s remark.


‘Ve met vhen I vent to Hogvarts for the Tri-Vizard tournament. I believe that Hermione vas in her fourth year of schooling there,” Viktor said politely.


“Are you the Bulgarian boyfriend she was writing to then?” Jane asked incredulously.


“Unless there vere more than one, I believe so,” Viktor replied with a smile.


“Well are you the boyfriend now?” Jane asked, eyebrows raising.


“Now, Mother,” Hermione interrupted. “Perhaps we should have some tea. I’d like to know what everyone has been up to while I have been gone.”


Everyone turned their attention to a faint scratching at the door.


“Oh, that’ll be Crookshanks. I’ll go let him in,” Harold said, grateful for an excuse to escape the tension of the room.


“Crooks!” Hermione exclaimed as the manky ginger cat bounded into the room.


“I swear that cat has nine hundred lives,” Jane commented. “He has lived longer than any cat I have ever seen.”


“Well, he’s part kneazle to start with,” Hermione said between furry kisses.


“Shall we go to for some supper, then?” Harold asked.


“That vould be good,” Viktor replied.


“Yes, I agree, I’m positively famished,” Hermione said, gently dropping her beloved familiar to the floor.


“Tomorrow, I thought we could do a bit of shopping in Diagon Alley,” Jane said. “We haven’t been in ages, since we can’t go without you. I have been dying to go to that bookstore again.”


“Yes, that sounds nice. I vould like to go to the quidditch shop,” Viktor said.


“I’ll be looking at something else while you are there,” Hermione said chuckling. “After being best friends with two boys for years, I’ve had all the quidditch supply shopping trips I could possibly need.”


Viktor frowned unnoticeably. Quidditch was still a large part of his life.