Revelations

Viktor turned to Hermione with a question in his eyes.

"Yes, she is the Sept that the Prophet reported; the first one in almost four hundred years. The Weasleys were alternately thrilled and mortified. Molly must be over the moon if Gin is going to wed Malfoy and Harry. She detests Michael Corner."

"I heard a rumour about Weasley's firing from the Cannons, love. I know he applied for the job at Hogwarts as well. What happened? I thought he would have landed the job simply because he was an alumnus."

"Minerva asked me about his firing and I didn't answer her, except with a look. The rumours don't even do justice to what really happened. And he refused to sign the contract with the clause that he wouldn't try to bed any of the students at school. You had no such problems."

"They are junior fan girls, most of them nearly young enough to be my daughter. No, thank you. I prefer a more sophisticated, older witch, one that I can finally marry. And I am not just saying that because of Alexei."

"We need to talk about that, Viktor. After Karoly and Elisaveta died, you devoted yourself to taking care of Alexei. Your mother helped, but you took the brunt of it. He was three years old. You left him with your parents when you came to fight in the final battle. I was so amazed to see you there, but you saved my life more than once that night. We never quite got around to talking about Alexei and our feelings until I took the job as head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."

"It was my fault, love. I had concentrated so hard on providing a family for Alexei that I forgot that I needed you to complete that family. When I realised you were not going to marry Weasley, I rejoiced. But I wanted there to be no hint of impropriety about your job or our relationship. Taking our vacations in the Muggle world with Alexei was the best suggestion you ever made. He adores you, almost as much as I do."

"But is he ready for another family upheaval? You said his nightmares came back when he got his school letter. I think you should bring him here while you go on this Quidditch Ambassador trip for the Bulgarian Ministry. Maybe I can suss all this out. You know, Harry may have some insight on Alexei. They both lost their parents at an early age."

"I think Alexei would enjoy meeting the Hero of Hogwarts, but not the way he was when we walked in," Viktor said, rolling his eyes.

"I'll arrange a private tour of Hogwarts with Harry as guide for Alexei. Oh, by the way, Minerva is so delighted you took the job, she is almost incoherent."

"I think that is enough talk about Harry, Minerva, and Hogwarts. We have more important things to discuss."

Much later as they lay in bed, Viktor asked quietly, "Would a December wedding suit you, love? That makes it ten years since the Yule Ball. It would be nice to have two reasons to celebrate that date."

"Have the wedding at Hogwarts in the Great Hall? Yes, Viktor, that would be perfect. Shall we tell Alexei when you bring him back next weekend?"

"That suits me perfectly. I'll warn my parents. I'm quite sure they will want to make a fuss. Just, please, don't take Alexei to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. I don't want him exposed to Ron. The twins are reasonable since they both have married, but the fact that Ron is working there makes me uneasy."

"I'll see if George doesn't have an urgent package to go to Charlie in Romania. That would remove Ron and your objections, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, you could invite the twins to the wedding if you want. As long as Ron is banned from Hogwarts, I am happy. I want you to get Alexei's robes made and his supplies bought. He is going to need his own owl, too. You need to order a dress, as well. I will pay for everything. Do you think Harry would serve as Best Man? You will want Ginevra as your attendant, right?"

"Why don't we talk about this later, Viktor? I have other things on my mind..."

"No, love, we need to get some sleep. I promise I will wake you early. But I need my rest now; after all, I am retired."

That comment started a pillow fight that ended with Viktor's wrists tied to the bedposts and Hermione having her way with him.

They laughed and loved most of the night, only falling asleep as dawn broke on the horizon.

Viktor was up first, going to the kitchen and making breakfast for his lady. He sent a Patronus message to Harry, asking him to come over after lunch.

When he woke Hermione, he asked her the question that was foremost in his mind.

"Love, we need to talk about children. We'll have Alexei, but maybe a couple of our own, as well. It would make my parents very happy."

"Mine too, Viktor. I have been offered another job. One that is much less stressful. I got the Department of Magical Games and Sports sussed out to where the next head can find things, and there are safeguards in place so no employee can make money betting on the teams. I nominated Percy for the job. He is taking over the first of the year. Minerva wants me to come back as Deputy Headmistress. I'll be Head of House for Gryffindor and teaching Ancient Runes. Minerva does not care if one of her teachers is pregnant. So we can start on the family right away."

"You know how much I love you, don't you? Today I want to take you to buy your wedding dress. If we go to Muggle stores, we can avoid anyone finding out too soon."

"I'll owl Gin to come over this morning."

"Harry is coming at lunch to discuss some things. Perhaps you and Ginevra could start both looking at wedding dresses?"

After a quick, but filling breakfast, Hermione and Viktor shared a not so quick, yet fulfilling shower, then got ready for company.

Harry, Draco, and Ginny arrived shortly afterwards.

"Gin, you look great! I love that sundress on you!"

"Thanks. Are those dragons embroidered on your jeans?"

"Oh, yes. Viktor's aunt did them for me. Most people just think they are a delightful flight of fancy, so I can wear them anywhere."

Harry and Viktor smiled bemusedly at their women. "Draco, would you be staying with us, or do you wish to go shopping with the girls?"

"I win!"

"Excuse me?"

"Harry had said that you just wanted to speak to him, and that I had to go shopping with the girls. I said that your letter said nothing of the sort, and I would be welcome."

Viktor looked at Hermione, who nodded. "Actually, Draco, if you do not mind, I would prefer that you stay. Come to think of it, why don't all of you stay, and then we will go to dinner at Mario's. If we call the shop you were thinking of looking at, Hermione, I am certain they will hold the place open for you."

The friends all looked at each other, then sat down, Hermione snuggled up next to Viktor on the two-seater sofa, and Ginny between Harry and Draco on the sofa. They all looked expectantly at Viktor.

"Harry, did Hermione ask you about the private tour for Alexei?"

"Yes. We will do it Tuesday, if that is all right?"

"Perfect. The reason I wanted to speak to you all is why I do not want Alexei near Ron. I do not believe that your brother would harm a child, especially a boy, but his appearance and attitude is very much like that of Sergei Bodayov."

"The Russian Keeper that had a mysterious illness that ended his career?"

Hermione snorted.

"I take it there wasn't a mysterious illness?"

"No. He was a predator, a paedophile, and he didn't care if the children he touched were boys or girls. He had set his eye on Alexei, and my brother took exception, as any good father would. So, one day, when he tried to touch Alexei, wards went off, and my brother and sister-in-law hexed him into oblivion. He no longer has his male parts, the pleasure sensors in his brain are fried, and he barely remembers his name. But what happened next, well, the Bodayovs control most of the Portkeys in Russia. I do not believe that my brother and his wife died in an accident, and Alexei has had nightmares about travel ever since. However, back to your brother, Ginny, his attitude, that the girls are there for the taking, that he deserves them, that is very much like Bodayov. I truly do not want him near my son."

"Don't you worry, Viktor. If it is okay with you, I would like to tell a bit of that to my Mum and Dad. Mum is already bothered by Ron's behaviour, and if Hermione's eyes roll anymore, they are going to fall out of her head. But they will make certain he is not around, if Alexei is."

Hermione sighed, knowing she had to tell them the complete story. "None of you know what happened with the Cannons. Not all of it, certainly. It seems I'm going to have to tell you now. It is the reason the Board wants him banned from the wards because of the severity of what happened." Hermione took a deep breath. "The miscarriage that Louisa had scarred her so badly that she will never have children. It was apparently the third miscarriage she had. He started having an affair with her when she was eleven. For all his talk of waiting for the girls to be 'of age', he doesn't wait. After he said he certainly couldn't marry a girl who couldn't bear him children, even though it was his fault that she couldn't, the Cannons decided they weren't going to cover for him anymore, star Keeper, war-hero, whatever. They have kept this quiet for Louisa's sake."

"No, Hermione. Just, no." Ginny looked both devastated and disgusted.

"I'm sorry, Gin, it's true."

"He never said anything to Mum. He told her, which she didn't believe, that Louisa slipped a potion in his drink and got into bed with him because he would never touch a witch that young."

"He was supposed to tell her. It was part of his severance terms."

"I'm going to take care of that now." Ginny stormed off.

"So, what happens to Ron when Mrs. Weasley contacts the owner of the Cannons with her apologies?"

"Ron ends up in Azkaban for violating his severance terms. They were very specific."

"How long?"

"Louisa was a seventh-generation witch. Not the seventh child, seventh female in seven generations that Ginny is, which is why she is a Sept, but any witch born with significant sevens in her birth Arithmancy is always considered a possibility. He ruined that. The penalty is ten years in Azkaban, and if it turns out Louisa is a Sept, then life."

Harry looked stunned. He had never thought his oldest friend was capable of such perfidy. The Ron he had known in school had apparently changed beyond all measure. He excused himself, threw powder into the Floo and cried, "Grimmauld Place."

Draco had seen how affected Harry was, and how irate Ginny had become. It would be up to him to help them both deal with the truth about Ron. He glanced at Viktor and saw the older wizard silently appraising him.

"There is a chemist in Bulgaria, Draco. He can give you the recipe for a potion that will suppress Harry's potency until Ginevra conceives your heir. Here is his direction. Your godfather can make it up for you. You are going to have to be patient with both of your lovers. They have suffered a severe shock. Ginevra should recover first; she has anger to keep her on a more even keel. Harry will be slower to accept this new revelation. His disappointment will cloud his outlook on things for a while. Given time, he will rebound. Hermione and I have decided to marry at Christmas. We would like you three to be part of the ceremony."

"Yes, Draco, Viktor is right. Harry has always had a blind spot about Ron. He will have trouble accepting all this, but he will. We want him to perform the binding ceremony and you and Gin to be our attendants. Alexei is also going to need Harry's help dealing with being bereft of his birth parents. You could help Harry with that, by introducing the boy to your cousin Teddy. I know you take an active interest in Teddy's life."

Draco took the chemist's direction, shook Viktor's hand, kissed Hermione on the cheek, and Flooed off to the Burrow to retrieve Ginny.

Viktor turned to Hermione, asking, "What happened between you and Weasley, love? You do not have to tell me if you don't want."

"It was before I took the job at the Ministry, Viktor, about six years ago. You were all wrapped up in caring for Alexei, and I was lonely. I started seeing Ron occasionally, but it was never serious. One night we came back from a dinner at the Burrow and Ron attacked me. He wouldn't take no for an answer. I Disapparated out of the flat to Minerva's house in Hogsmeade. Moody and Minerva came back with me to the flat. Ron had pretty much destroyed it in his rage that I got away. Moody had the Ministry put a notation in his file that he had a fixation about forcing witches. I never was alone with him again. Molly didn't question it. I think she knew that something wasn't right with him anymore. It's funny, though. Ron always wanted to be a better Quidditch player than you, and the fact that I preferred you to him may have unhinged him a bit."

"Wasn't that the year that his old girlfriend was found floating in the lake outside Hogwarts with her throat cut?"

"Yes, that was three weeks later. You think he had something to do with that, don't you? It certainly fits. Poor Lavender, she really cared about him. Oh, Viktor, now I really am scared. What if he decides to do something even more horrific?"

"He will have to go through me to get to you or Alexei. I don't think he wants to have to face me. Durmstrang taught me everything about the Dark Arts and how to counteract them. I haven't forgotten a thing. Karkaroff warned me that Ron would eventually want you. I knew you had too much sense to take him seriously, though."