The time has Krum. (Hermione)

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Viktor has spend the passed few days after the dragon attack wondering just what the hell was possibly going on. Not only was there an attack from the dragons on Hogsmeade. It would seem from the news that Azkaban, the prison for dangerous magical criminals, had been completely destroyed at roughly the same time. Anyone who thought these two incidents were a coincidence would be a fool in Viktor’s eyes. Viktor has stayed away from these issues the best he could. Sticking mostly to just worrying about the safety of his family and those close to him. Yet how long could he really just ignore how these events kept happening and getting bigger. Yet he didn’t know where to start as he hadn’t done much till this point. Viktor always imagined his life of retirement would be a relaxing one but with nothing to preoccupy his time he just stressed more about these issues.

Of all the friends he knew there was one who worked directly at the top of the ministry. At the very least Hermione might be able to provide him with some idea of what he could do to help. He wasn’t helpless but if anything rusty as he hadn’t done much in his retirement. Still he knew he was always an accomplished duelist and knew more than some about the dark arts. Drumstrang dealt with and possibly enjoyed being one of the few schools to go into detail about the subject. Viktor decided to give it a few more days before attempting to meet with Hermione, she was sure to be busy with all that had just happened. Finally a week after the events of both the dragon attack and Azkaban. Viktor wrote Hermione as he did off an on just to stay in contact with a friend. Asking if she could meet him at sometime, possibly for lunch. It would be easier to talk in person than over a letter, especially with the matter at hand.

Hermione agreed telling him when would be good and asking where they should go. Viktor drew a blank on any good restaurants, sure he ate out at times but he enjoyed meals at home more. All he could really think of was the restaurant Irina took him too, nano or something like that. The food was good though so it would do. Remembering the name, he wrote Hermione back. As the day arrived he left the house to meet Hermione outside of Nando’s. He didn’t bother telling his wife as she would just tease him. She never seemed to be jealous from what Viktor could tell. Yet she did like to bring up that Viktor had, had a crush on Hermione when he was champion during the Tri-wizard tournament. He had even offer for her to come back to his home during the summer. She got a kick out of that and he regretted his parents telling her that story from his teen years.

Retracing his steps from Diagon Alley Viktor arrived at Nando’s early and proceeded to wait at one of the benches in front of the restaurant. Knowing Hermione she would be right on time.

@hermionejean

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Hermione had been rather pleasantly surprised that Viktor had invited her out to lunch. She had been so busy with everything going on with the Ministry, Harry coming back from his secret mission, the dragon rampage, and the breakout at Azkaban that she rarely spent a moment away from her desk, choosing instead to eat pitifully made sandwiches in her office. Most nights she didn’t even get home until ten or eleven o’clock at night, collapsing immediately into bed only to do it all over again at six in the morning the next day. Being Minister was her dream, but dreams were draining she was quickly learning. Still, it would be nice to get out and stretch her legs for more than thirty seconds, and get some winter sunshine on her face.

She left the Ministry a little before noon, wrapping her long woolen peacoat around her as she shot through the fireplace in her office to the streets above. Dusting herself off, she walked to Nando’s, still surprised that Viktor knew what the restaurant even was, and saw her old flame sitting outside on a bench waiting for her. She smiled, and walked towards him quickly. “Viktor!” she greeted, giving him a hug as she reached him. “I have to say, I didn’t think you knew what Nando’s was,” she quipped, smiling as she opened the door to let them inside.

@viktor

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Viktor sat at the bench waiting, looking up to almost every passerby, none of which were Hermione but he still had to look to make sure. He wasn’t as nervous as he was as a teen when he first met her and was trying to get her attention. Viktor could remember that time well and always laughed at how awkward he was. He was a student and a professional Quidditch player back then. Many people assumed he was some life of the party and an outgoing person. He was much the opposite, as much as had loved the Quidditch spot light growing up he didn’t like the crowds and constant attention outside of the game. It got better as he got older but it was clear as day how it affected him while still a student.

Now lost in thought while he waited Viktor heard someone call his name, of course Hermione would show when he wasn’t looking. Getting up he found Hermione getting closer, hugging him as she arrived which he returned. “Herm-own-ninny, you’re looking as lovely as alvays.” Viktor replied getting her name wrong on purpose, unlike all the times he used to when he was young. His accent was more in control and for a long time he could say her name without looking like a fool. She commented that she wasn’t aware Viktor even knew what Nando’s was. Till his daughter, Irina, brought him here for the first time she would have been right. “Oh yeah, I come here all the time. They have very good chicken.” He wasn’t quite sure why he was lying about something so silly but it just came out too quickly to stop. They found a booth and sat down as they waiting for a waiter to take there order. “So, how have you been? Busy I’m sure, sadly.”

@hermionejean

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Hermione smiled at his compliment. “Thank you Viktor, you are looking well,” she said amicably. It was nice to see him; he had always been so easy to talk to. She followed him inside and sat down at the booth. “I’ve been to a Nando’s before with my parents but that was quite a few years ago now. It looks like they have added some things to the menu,” she noticed, seeing a few unfamiliar choices in front of her. She decided on the chicken burger and peri-salted chips with a water; that had been good in the past and she wanted their lunch to be more focused on conversation rather than the food.

“Oh yes, busy is an understatement,” Hermione told him with a wry chuckle. A ministers’ work was never truly over; she found herself bringing paperwork home with her, even if she stayed until after the sun had set. “Between what happened after the Triwizard Tournament, the Ilvermorny explosion and relocation, plus still trying to hunt down Elaine, it feels like I never have time for anything anymore,” she admitted. It was in part the reason why Ron and she were on a trial separation; he told her she worked too much, and valued her job over him. He just couldn’t get past the fact that she had so much on her plate, and had to put the lives of the wizarding community first. It was her duty to them, she had told him to his dismay. He had packed his things and left the following week. “How about you? How is life as a retired Quidditch superstar treating you?” she asked, not wanting to dwell on her mess of a personal life too much.

@viktor

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“You think?” Viktor replied with a laugh. “Personally I think the retired life is making me soft.” He added with another laugh as he felt it was partially true, going from Quidditch to nothing was really getting to the ex-Quidditch Star. As they reached their table Hermione talked about how she had come to Nando’s in the past with her parents. “How are they by the vay? Proud their daughter is running the ministry?” He asked curious as he never really met her parents but Hermione had talked about them before. Once at the table Viktor ordered what he had last time, it was good from what he remembered and was willing to have it again rather than pick something else and chance it not being as good. He could try something new another time.

Viktor joined in Hermione’s weak laugh at the comment of her being busy. She explained a number of things she had to deal with as Viktor just listened on not wanting to interrupt her. He knew all of these things would be on her mind, he didn’t do much besides read the news nowadays anyway. “Yes but you have an important job, it comes with a lot of responsibility too. Still you should find some time to relax when you can so you don’t get burnt out if that’s even possible for you.” Viktor explained how he felt even though he knew her time was very limited with all this mess going on. “Be it just sometime to yourself or lunch with a friend.” He added with a slight laugh. Hermione soon asked how he had been since he had retired. “Much the opposite to yours really. Too much time on my hands doing nothing. I’ve always been running around or flying around. Now I’m just boring.” Viktor explained as he really felt out of place with nothing going on in his life.

@hermionejean

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Hermione’s expression softened when he mentioned her parents. “Well, my dad passed a few years ago unfortunately. He had a heart attack,” she told him, trying to smile. “It was hard, but I’ve still got Mum and I got her nicely set up with a villa in Southern France where we vacationed...oh Merlin, probably about twenty years ago? They’d always talked about retiring there, but when my dad went so suddenly I just thought it was right to keep her pursuing her dreams.” To her knowledge, her mother was very happy living in the temperate climate of Southern France, though she did enjoy when Hermione, Ron and the children came to visit. She supposed it would just be her and the kids from now on, if they could even get away from their busy schedules once Hugo graduated next spring.

“Well, the offer stands; if you ever want to join the Ministry even on a part time basis, I’d be happy to get you a position,” she told him confidently. She could use someone with Viktor’s influence to continue the investigation into the whereabouts of Elaine, especially after the rumors of people spotting her abroad had popped up. Hermione didn’t speak a word of German, though her French was passable, and she needed someone she could trust, and she trusted Viktor.

@viktor