Snape Redux

Snape Redux

By April Grey

Chapter Eight – It’s Raining Wizards, Pt. II

It all belongs to Rowling, except for the parts you don’t recognize.


From Chapter 7:

“Hello, everyone,” called Remus. Hermione looked over McTavish’s shoulder and her eyes widened.

“Viktor!” she went running down the road where Viktor Krum was walking towards the house with Remus.

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Hermione took Viktor in a big hug and he lifted her up and twirled her around.

McTavish gave a shrill eek. “She’s friends with him?” He went quite pale.

Harry’s eyes met Ron’s. Ron gave the most imperceptible of nods.

“Oh, yeah. Been pen pals for the longest time,” Harry grinned.

“And Merlin only know how often she’s visited him in the summers. She’s very private about that.” Ron winked.

“But that’s—that’s Krum. He was seeker for Bulgaria against Ireland in the World Cup. Now, now he’s with— with the Falmouth Falcons. I’ve seen him play—just last week. He’s an animal.”

“Yep, I wouldn’t want to cross him. Nasty temper that one,” Harry frowned.

“Would snap a person in two just as look at him, I’d think,” Ron said direly.

Viktor gently kissed Hermione on the forehead.

McTavish went as white as a sheet. “Oh, well, I-I. D’you ken Mr. Weasley or Mr. Potter, since you have met the man before, d’you ken he might be willin’ to sign an autograph?” Suddenly, McTavish’s crisp British accent was lost in the quagmire of a thick Scottish burr.

Both young Wizards managed to keep straight faces.

“Sure, I’ll go ask,” said Harry, innocently.

“Would you like tickets as well?” said Ron with an amused glint in his eye.

“Auch aye, I surely would.” McTavish’ eyes went large, “If you’d do that, I’d be eternally grateful.”

“Just wait here,” said Ron.

“Oh, and take Miss Granger her Pensieve. We wouldn’t be wantin’ her losin’ any memories now, would we?” McTavish looked a bit green about the gills.

Harry, carrying the Pensieve, and Ron went over to Hermione and Viktor.

Trying to ignore that Viktor had Hermione’s hand in his, he said, “Look, it seems that McTavish is a big fan of yours, Viktor, and since he’s been kind enough to teach Hermione and us—“

Viktor gave a stern frown, which Hermione correctly interpreted as a grin, and pulled from an inner pocket of his robe a signed Wizard’s photograph and magical complementary tickets. “Anything for Hermione’s teacher,” he growled.

Hermione retrieved her memories from the stone bowl.

Remus grinned, “Arthur and I were having a conversation with Marcellus Bixby in the Leaky Cauldron and in walks Viktor. It seems he has rented rooms there until he’s found a permanent place.”

Viktor sighed, “Maybe you could help me with that, Hermione. We could find a nice cottage somewhere—“

“Viktor, my good man, I explained to you that it might be dangerous for Hermione to go anywhere right now. We have very special wards set up for her protection,” Remus looked alarmed.

“Is this true, Hermione? Why you not tell me these Death Eaters have threatened your life?”

“Because they haven’t, it’s just that they don’t care for Muggleborns very much and being a friend of Harry’s—“

“Don’t downplay it, Hermione.” Remus broke in, “Draco, I seem to remember, threatened you on numerous occasions.”

Viktor’s thick black brows came together menacingly. “This Draco! He is in biiiig trouble when I find him. Come Hermione, we must talk.”

“I really must insist that she not leave the grounds,” said Remus.

“Hermione will be safe with me. I would killll a hundred, two hundred Death Eaters for her. I am Bulgarian.” He dramatically slapped his fist against his chest, “I attended Durmstrang, THE best Wizards school in the Dark Arts anywhere. Voldemort is a little, how you say this, pissant? Pisser?”

“Piss-arse?” said Ron helpfully.

Remus gave him a look of reproach.

“Well, could you have her back here by dinnertime?” Remus went a bit pale, “We, we have a little meeting planned and need her in attendance.”

Hermione put her hands on her hips, “You don’t need to talk over me. I’m right here and I am an adult!”

Viktor said, “I will have her back” and taking Hermione around the waist Disapparated with her.


Hermione immediately recognized that she was in a room at the Leaky Cauldron.

“Err. Viktor? Is this quite proper?”

Viktor removed his hand from her waist. He leaned back against the wall of the small room, “Hermione, please listen to me before you say anything. I accepted this position with a British Quidditch team because for years--I have thought of no one but you.” He rubbed his hand over his chin, nervously. “I want us to be closer. I want you to think of me, not just as a brother or friend or confident. I willlll not rush you, but I wish you to think of me as a potential husband.”

Hermione knees gave out and she sat back on the bed, attempting to grasp the information. Between Occlumency classes with Snape and having a psychic pass made at her by McTavish, Hermione was starting to feel the strain.

She looked at Viktor and smiled blandly. His English lessons had really done wonders for his accent, she was thinking, when he leaned over her and brushed her lips with his.

Her mind came to a screeching halt and her body cut in—with a refresher course of her feelings for him: that first kiss from Viktor, afternoon picnics in the mountains, snogging sessions in the woods and dancing with him at the local community hall. She continued to meet his eyes.

She loved him. Had loved him for years, but had never thought of him as a life partner, after all this was Viktor Krum! In so many ways he was bigger than life, or bigger than Hermione’s life at least. He sat down next to her and took her hand.

“Hermione. Your eyes tell me that you have not forgotten a thing between us.”

“You didn’t say anything like this in your owls.”

“Such things need to be said in person,” He brought her wrist to his mouth and planted a kiss on the pulse point. A bolt of electricity went directly down from where his kiss pressed her skin to her inner core. For one of the few times in Hermione’s life, her mind completely turned off. And her body turned on.

Viktor’s next kiss was slowly placed on Hermione’s neck. She gave a little sob. And when he kissed her on the lips, she kissed him back. The smell of him and taste of him had not changed a bit from when she was fifteen years of age! But she was seventeen now and her body had matured and found it’s voice. And it was saying, yes, yes, yes!

“Viktor,” she said, trying to get her mind to re-boot.

“I love you, Hermione.” He was kissing the side of her mouth and then nuzzling her ear. “I love your mind--the way you think and care so much about things.”

“Ahhh,” she moaned. Her mind was gone but there was a minor flood occurring between her legs as she kissed his cheek, already stubbled with five o’clock shadow. Was she in love with him? What about Ron? Her body told her to shut her cake hole and enjoy. She trembled all over as one of Viktor’s hands caressed her breast.

“When I last saw you, you were merely a girl. You are a woman now.” He took her hand and placed it on something very hard protruding from between his legs. “I would not let a child know of this, but now you are ready. And this, it represents my feelings for you.”

Hermione knew exactly what it was. His erection! For her! Oh, Gods. She wanted to jump up and run. But she also wanted to explore. Her mind having abandoned her, she was left no choice. She took the path of least resistance as Viktor guided her hand up and down his clothed cock.

“Oh, Viktor.” He was hung like—well, obviously somewhere in his bloodlines some female had been scared or worse by a centaur. He took her hand off of him and she felt a little sad. But then his hand was back and her hand was placed on something that felt like a huge molten rod of steel, covered in soft velvet. Hermione had never felt anything like it, and in her very fertile imagination had never, ever come close to imagining that a man’s hardness could be so hot, so soft and so huge at the same time.

She stroked it, keeping her eyes closed. She felt like she was going to pass out from excitement. He kissed her, this time open mouthed and she continued to rub him, accepting the pace he had set for her. She felt a bit of moisture and opened one eye to peek down at him. He was magnificent. All puce and purple veined and the tip of him had a large pearly drop!

His tongue entered her mouth and her body convulsed in a frisson of pre-orgasmic splendor. She sobbed again, feeling wonderfully out of control as she worked her hand up and down his smooth hardness.

Viktor groaned and then gave a series of grunts as he thrust his tongue in and out of her mouth.

Hot, sticky, wetness covered her hand and his hand returned to stop hers from moving. Viktor ended the kiss just long enough to murmur a cleansing spell. Hermione’s hand was clean again. She was gasping for air and in extreme physical excitation.

Viktor rolled her onto her back and then his hand was over her still clothed mound. His thumb pressed down on just the right spot and Hermione’s body convulsed in climax. He continued to rub on the little special spot and a second and third climax rolled over her. Just when she was about to beg him to stop, he took her in his arms and just held her.

Hermione’s brain decided to return from whatever vacation spot it had headed off to.

First thought was: Oh, shite!

Second thought: Oh double shite!

And finally: could it ever be that good with Ron?

Her whole body was one large, quivering, boneless puddle of happiness.

“Viktor?”

“Next time,” he was still breathing hard, “I will lap the nectar from your petals until you scream my name.” His tongue emerged from his lips and flicked the tip of his nose.

Her body went into another orgasmic aftershock: Ron who?

“Viktor, I don’t think—“

He placed a finger on her lips, “Then don’t, my beautiful Hermione. I am courting you. You make me happy, and I want you. But I am nothing. I am not worthy of a great Witch like you. All I ask is to be allowed to try and win your heart.”

He knew she didn’t love him, but was willing to wait? To woo and win her? Hermione rested her head against his chest.

“In the old country, we would be considered engaged,” his chest rumbled under her head. “But this is Britain and I can adapt. Still, I ask you for a favor.”

Hermione sat up, “Yes, Viktor?” Her voice was shaky yet dreamy.

“Your knickers to carry by my heart when I play Quidditch.”

“Yes, well, I could send you a clean pair,” Hermione said knowing that hers were drenched.

“No, the ones you have on.”

Hermione reached under her robes and removed her pair of soaking wet, gleaming with vaginal fluids, knickers.

Viktor took them and with a look of ecstasy brought them to his face. He rubbed his large, hooked nose in them, “You smell so good.” And then to Hermione’s shock he licked them, right where they were completely soaked!

“I knew you would taste sweet, my flower. Oh, my Hermione.” He put the knickers into the inner pocket of his robe. “Before every game I will hold these and think of you. Every Snitch I catch will be in your honor.”

Hermione sighed. “Oh, Viktor.” Part of her brain was telling her that she was acting like a love struck idiot. Her body stridently told her to shut her gob!

“We have a war on. I don’t know.”

Viktor went to his dresser and came back with a small, but highly decorated like an East European Egg, black wooden box. He opened the box and muttered an enchantment over it. Removing a ring, he said, “Hermione, this is be-spelled to let me know when you are in danger and to bring me to your side. Will you wear it for me?”

“Oh Viktor. I—I.” The ring was carved black onyx with small symbols in gold carved around it. “I don’t know if—“

“For my sake, so that I will not fear for you.” He kissed her gently. “I want you to be my wife one day. And when you agree to that, you shall have a much more beautiful ring. This one is merely practical.”

Hermione slipped on the ring. Tears came to her eyes. “Thank you, Viktor.”

“Now, I promised your Mr. Lupin to have you back to the Burrow. And I have an evening game to get ready for.”


Viktor left her on the front steps of the Burrow with a quick kiss on the cheek.

Ron came out of the house. Hermione quickly put her hand in her pocket and managed to remove the ring.

“Hermione, I have a bone to pick with you.”

“Right,” she blushed, “where should we go to talk?”

“How about my room?”

Hermione nodded. She felt giddy like she was walking on air. Yes, they needed to talk. She really hoped to sort all this out. But would Ron be jealous about Viktor?

She headed up the stairs behind him. When they got to his room he closed the door. They sat on the bed together. Hermione had sat there next to Ron many times before, but suddenly, nothing felt right.

“Hermione, I think we need to clear the air,” Ron began.

Good idea Ron. I’ll confess, that I’ve been having some feelings for you. That’s what she wanted to say, would have said, if she hadn’t burst into tears at that moment.

“Hermoine? Oh, no. What did he do to you? I’ll kill him!” Ron gingerly put one hand on her shoulder and patted her back.

She looked up at him, opened her mouth, and started sobbing again.

“Umm. Did he hurt you, Hermione?”

She shook her head “no”. Ron accio’ed some handkerchiefs, hoping that they weren’t the trick ones his brothers had been handing out.

“Here, Hermione blow your nose. You want that I get Ginny or Mum?”

She looked at him and wailed. And put her head against his shoulder, “I’ll be fine, in a, in a, moment, Ron.”

“All right, you take your time. Ginny gets like this once a month or so, and so did Lavender. I wasn’t expecting it of you.”

“Well, I’m a woman, too.” Her voice went uncomfortably up on the last word.

“Well, sure you are. You got a right. It’s okay. I’ve been, well we’ve all been a bit confused about your behavior as of late. I guess you’re in love with Viktor. Right? That’s what it’s all about.”

“No.”

“NO?”

“I’m not IN love with Viktor. I LOVE Viktor. There’s a difference,” she squeaked.

Ron stroked her hair, which was flying everywhere including up his nose. “Sure, like you love Harry and me.”

“NO!” She sat up and blew her nose, “Well, sort of. I love Harry, but I’ve got feelings for you, Ron.”

A big grin spread out over Ron’s face. “You do. I knew it. About me, right? I’m not being conceited by saying that?”

“No. You are right. I couldn’t say anything before because of Lavender but now.”

“Now that she and I have broken up.” He looked very happy for about two seconds and then his face fell. “Hermione, you shouldn’t lead a bloke on like this.”

“Oh, you mean Viktor? We are just friends, I mean well, well, there is a misunderstanding but I’m going to clear it up first thing.”

“Misunderstanding? I’ll say. So he didn’t come from Bulgarian just to be with you or something?”

“Yes. But he never gave me a hint of what he was planning. That he wanted to marry me.”

“Marry you? It’s worse than I thought.” He scowled, “You know, my mum talks to your mum almost everyday since you left home. And it’s pretty clear that we are not understanding one another.”

“How do you mean, Ron?” Hermione was getting a sinking feeling.

“There’s this little Muggle practice. Tell me about it: is it just your parents that want you to go to college or is this something you’ve really been wanting?”

“Well, I applied to a few Universities—“

“I’ll say. France, Canada, the States, Japan! And what’s a bloke supposed to do while you go traipsing off for a couple of years?”

Hermione sniffed, “I haven’t had time to think about it.”

“Well, maybe you should make the time. Blimme, you used to be smarter than this. What happened?”

Hermione didn’t feel like making any sharp retorts. “Well, it’s all been going so fast. I wasn’t expecting to see Viktor today. And it’s been less than a week since we left Hogwarts. Ron, what do you want from me?”

“To act your age. That would be a good start. I learned about this in Muggle Studies. For Wizards and Witches you graduate Hogwarts and get on with your life. For Muggles it’s different. It sounds to me like you plan on going the Muggle route here.”

Hermione was starting to calm down. “Yes, I want to go out, learn things, see a bit of the world and then settle down and ‘get on with my life’.”

“Well, that’s good. I wish you every happiness.” Ron stood up, “I’m glad we cleared the air, now.” He kissed her on the cheek.

Hermione had an inkling that things had gone very, very wrong.

“Ron?”

“You see, Hermione. Viktor, he’s all patient like. And he might be willing to wait. I’m not.”

There was the sound of a door banging downstairs and footsteps on the stairs, “Hey, Ron, you up there?”

“Right here, Mate,” called Ron.

Harry and Ginny walked in. They were both smiling and red cheeked.

“We raced all the way back and I beat Harry,” announced Ginny.

“Only because I gave you a lead and then tripped on a gnome hole.”

“Oh, right,” Ginny rolled her eyes.

“So, ready for the big announcement and meeting tonight?” Harry’s eyes sparkled.

“We already know what it is,” Ginny laughed.

“So spill the Bertie Botts,” said Ron.

Hermione felt like she’d just walked into a bad dream. Her life was coming down around her ears and nobody was noticing it.

“They set a wedding date,” said Ginny. “And tonight we get together and figure out who’s doing what.”

“When is it?” Hermione found her voice.

“Midsummer’s Day. It’s brilliant,” said Harry. “You see, Tonks and Fleur were getting tired of Mrs. Weasley trying to make everything so fancy so they picked a day—“

“That’s less than a week away.” Hermione’s sense of this entire happening being a dream became stronger. Midsummer’s Day. So soon?

“So they are going to announce it tonight, set all the plans with all of us helping to write out the invites and ordering supplies and cooking food.”

“Mum’s already said they can have it outdoors here at The Burrow. We’ll need tents, of course.”

“Oh, this is going to be great,” Ginny hugged Hermione. “You’re going to stay here, of course. All of us are going to be really busy getting this to happen. Why there’s the wedding dresses and of course, we have to have robes to match.”

The room was spinning around Hermione. “I have to leave.” It was all too much, happening too fast.

“Hermione?” said Ron and Harry at the same time.

“Not feeling well. I need to go lie down.” Hermione ran out of the room and Apparated to Grimmauld Place.

When she arrived in the entranceway, she heard someone call her name.

“Hermione? Shouldn’t you be at The Burrow?”

“You!” She strode towards Remus in full temper, “You are the one who ruined my life!” He poked him in the chest with her wand.

“Hermione? Something go wrong?” Remus ignored the wand but was filled with concern.

“Why did you bring him there? Who told you? And why do you keep sticking your nose into my affairs?”

“Well--well, Tonks found the billet-doux and told me that’s where you’ve been heading off to.”

“And you believed her? Without asking me? Damn you and damn Tonks and damn this whole world.”

“So you aren’t involved with Viktor.”

“Oh Bloody Hell. It’s none of your business. We are platonic friends. Platonic? But you wouldn’t understand that now would you? With everyone all lovely-dovey and getting married in the middle of a war and I love Ron and now I’m engaged to someone else. AND IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT!”

She turned on her heel, and there was the noise of Mrs. Black having been woken up under her heavy-duty muffling spell.

Remus watched as the very unhappy witch stormed up the stairs and slammed her door. Tonks came in from the basement. “Remus, I thought I heard some yelling?”

“Oh, you did.” He kissed her gently on the cheek. “Yes. You did.” He continued to stare up the stairs, deep in thought. “Are we planning to have children, love?”

A/N: Many thanks to my reviewers, firewall, TheAngelOfSilence, sullicn, Vampire_Exotica, LittleBird, mysticsong, slytherinheiress