New Traditions at Hogwarts

After the reception, Viktor and Hermione left Alexei with Minerva and Alastor, so they could have a few hours of privacy.

Viktor brought out the ring he had purchased the summer after the Triwizard Tournament. It was rose, yellow, and white gold twisted together to form the band, and then the colours separated to form petals of a rose which had a huge pink diamond at its centre.

He slipped the ring on Hermione's hand, and she gasped. The stone began to glow as Viktor smiled at her. "It knows you are the woman it was bought for. It will protect you, and remind you of me when we are apart."

"I love it, Vitya. You are so very good to me."

"We were meant to be together, love. I knew that from the first moment I saw you. You were so lovely, so intense; I knew I must wait for you."

"The waiting is over, Viktor. I sincerely hope the triad finds the same happiness we have."

"Come to bed, love. There are still three weeks before I come back to teach full time. I need your love to sustain me until then."

The afternoon of September 14th Hermione's Ancient Runes class discovered something touching about their teacher. A shadow had lingered outside the window of her classroom for a minute or two. She had looked up and blushed before dismissing the class and running down the stairs to the front doors.

Her pupils had followed, mystified. They had crowded around the doorway to see a tall man on a broom land, sweep Miss Granger and a first year boy into a bear hug. Then he had waved at them, telling Miss Granger her students were watching.

Just then, Headmistress McGonagall and the Defence teacher, Mr. Moody, had appeared in the hallway behind the students. Moody had laughed at the bewilderment of the students and explained, "That man is to be your new Quidditch coach and Flying Instructor, Viktor Krum. He and Miss Granger are to be married this Christmas. The little lad is Alexei Krum, Viktor's adopted son. Move along now, all of you. Give them a bit of privacy."

One young voice was heard to exclaim as the group moved off, "But Viktor Krum is way famous; why would he want to teach flying here?"

Moody laughed again and looked out at the couple walking in the grounds with the boy by their side. "Why, indeed, Miss Creevey? I think love may have had a lot to do with it. Don't you think so, Min?"

"I do, Alastor. And I think their wedding will just be the beginning of things. It was very good of you to let Alexei out of class early. Is he as advanced in Defence as he is in other subjects?"

Moody took Minerva's arm as they walked back down the hallway, saying, "Oh, he is that, my dear. The lad is at the top of his class in every subject. He helps the other students, Min. He is going to be Head Boy when the time comes."

"Alastor! Let the boy be. He'll be what he is. Did I tell you the Triad is expecting? They are going to name the boy Thuban."

"Draco must be over the moon, Min. And to name the child that, keeping up with the Black tradition. Isn't Thuban the other name for Alpha Draconis? Kind of arrogant, don't you think?"

"Harry picked the name, Alastor. To honour that Black tradition, the child will have a second name of Sirius. I hope we'll have another baby in the castle by next year. Hermione told me she is stopping her contraceptive potions. She and Viktor will make wonderful parents."

"They already do, my love. Alexei is living proof of that." Alastor kissed his wife and watched her blush.

When the first flying class met, Viktor was amused when the students all wanted to ask questions instead of learn to fly, except one student, Alexei.

Alexei demonstrated the basics for first time flyers. Then he showed off, at Viktor's command, what they were going to learn that year. An astonished Harry Potter was watching from the gateway. The first-year students were all crowding around Alexei, asking him every question they could think of about flying.

Viktor spotted Harry and walked over to him. "So, how goes married life, my friend?"

Laughing, Harry replied, "Fantastic. Gin is already breeding. We've picked the name Thuban for the child. I never, ever thought I would be this happy, Viktor."

"Just wait until you hold that child in your hands, Harry. A child born of the love you share with someone is the most powerful magic there is. Even if that child is not your own, it is still very powerful magic. I got to hold Alexei just minutes after he was born. Karoly wanted me to share in the magic that was his son, now my son. Congratulations."

"Just wanted to tell you to bring Herms to the Manor for her birthday this weekend. Draco and Gin want to make it a big celebration. The Weasleys, her parents, Neville and Hannah, your parents, everyone accepted the invitations. Molly is doing the cake, so be prepared for a really big to-do. The Moodys are coming as well. Do not tell her...it is supposed to be a surprise."

"I will tell her Ginny needs help with decorating the baby's room or some such nonsense. We will be there. Are the Weasleys bringing the children? Alexei would love to see his friends again."

"Yes, Teddy has been asking about his friend Alex. The kids will be there. See you this weekend, then."

The week sped by after an incident where two seventh-year girls tried to break into the Flying teacher's rooms. They were not to know that the Flying teacher and the Ancient Runes teacher shared quarters. The whole staff had a laugh about it. On Friday, the Ancient Runes class got another treat. Hermione called on a different student than Alexei, and he pouted.

"Mr. Krum, I know you know the answers to these questions. I want to see if any of your classmates know the answers."

Without thinking about what he was saying, Alexei answered, "Yes, Mama. I understand."

He realised what he had just said and turned scarlet with embarrassment. The class roared with laughter, and one boy leaned over and said, "I'm glad I don't have to have my mum as a teacher. Oh, yeah, both your parents are teachers here, aren't they? I wouldn't trade places with you for any amount of Galleons."

But after class, that same boy asked Alexei if he could help him with his Ancient Runes translations. It looked like Alexei was going to make friends despite having teachers as parents.

Viktor had a quiet dinner planned with Alexei and Hermione for Friday evening. Harry had given them permission to stay at Grimmauld Place for the night. Draco came by as they were heading to the fireplace in Minerva's office to say, "Herms, Ginny wants you to come by tomorrow. She needs your opinion on the baby's room. Please, we can all have a birthday lunch together."

"Oh, sure, Draco. We'll be there around ten. I can't wait to talk to Ginny about the baby."

Viktor had done the packing, without Hermione's knowledge, for their trip to London, so there were plenty of changes of clothes for all three of them. Once they had arrived at Grimmauld Place, Alexei ran off to talk to Cestita, who reported that Master Draco was a very good master now. She showed Alexei her new tea-towel uniform complete with embroidered apron.

"But that is not being all, Master Alexei: Master Draco, and Master Harry have asked me to come to Malfoy Manor and be nursemaid to coming baby. They are going to make me take two days off every week, to do things for me. That is being strange."

Hermione had heard the whole thing and giggled at Draco's transformation. She told Alexei to go get dressed for dinner, that they were going somewhere fancy. When she returned upstairs, she saw Viktor had packed more clothes than what she thought they would need.

"Is there something you aren't telling me, Vitya? You and Draco have set something up to get me to help Ginny, haven't you? And Harry was in on it, too. It is okay. I do want to make sure the Triad is happy. And helping to plan for a baby is always fun."

Viktor breathed a sigh of relief that she had not guessed the real reason for the trip to Malfoy Manor. "Yes, love, it was discussed. Sorry I did not tell you. I had to come up with more creative ways of avoiding the more zealous fangirls. Draco suggested I consult his godfather, now that the man is no longer teaching. Snape has not gotten any more likeable in the intervening years. He finally gave me an aversion potion aimed at females who were still students. It seems to be working."

"He should be nicer to you, at least. You're the one who realised he was still alive when we went to retrieve his body. The Durmstrang spells you used almost certainly saved his life. It's too bad if his voice never regained the timbre it had before. You were right before that he and Dumbledore yanked Harry around like a marionette. I just do not like the man, even if he was a hero. Zip me up, please. I can't reach the zipper in this dress."

"I'd rather be taking it off of you. But we are due at Mario's, aren't we? Is Alexei ready? He seems to be making friends already. Or is it just because he helps the students who are having trouble?"

"You'd be surprised. He already has friends. And a female following. The Creevey girl is a year older and seems to like him very much. What Alexei thinks about girls, I do not know."

"Enough, we are going to be late for dinner. We can question him over dessert."

They gathered up Alexei and Disapparated to the restaurant. Mario himself was waiting to seat them, wanting to question Viktor about Quidditch. Viktor answered his questions and ordered the wine. A waiter came to take their dinner order shortly thereafter.

Alexei was fidgeting and looking anxious. Viktor asked him to be patient.

"But, Papa, it is her birthday. Can't I please give her my gift?"

Viktor rolled his eyes, then grinned and handed Alexei a small package wrapped in gold paper with a red bow. "Yes, scamp, give her the present."

Alexei solemnly stood up next to Hermione's chair and kissed her cheek. "Here, Mama, I had Papa get these made for you. The diamonds were in Mayka's wedding earrings, but they were ugly. I wanted to have something completely new for you. I hope you like them."

Hermione was so surprised that she almost couldn't open the package. The earrings were round pink diamonds set into rose gold settings shaped like roses.

"Oh, Alexei, they're beautiful. Thank you so much." She hugged him and kissed his cheek as he grinned madly.

Viktor was smiling at the two of them as he handed Hermione another package wrapped in gold paper. "This is the one I had designed for you. Happy birthday, my love. I hope it suits you."

Once opened, the gift was revealed as a rose gold locket shaped like a closed book with a pink diamond heart pendant hanging from it. A rose gold chain suspended the locket just at Hermione's collarbone.

"Oh, Vitya, oh my, I love it. I love you both. This has been the most wonderful birthday."

"Love, open the locket. Inside it are all of the letters we wrote to each other those years we were apart. I used your miniaturising spell to put all of them in there."

"Oh, dear, even the one where I was grumbling about Umbridge? I'm surprised that one didn't self destruct, I was so furious at that woman." The thought made her laugh.

After dinner, Viktor took his family back to Grimmauld Place and put Alexei to bed.

"We have to be up and at Malfoy Manor by ten, young man. Your friends will all be there. Now go to sleep."

"Papa, is it going to be another party for her birthday? It just seems like something Uncle Harry and Uncle Draco would do."

"Shhhh, scamp. We don't want her to guess. Good night, son. I love you."

"Night, Papa. I love you, too. Tell Mama I love her. And that I want a little sister or brother soon, okay?"

Viktor rolled his eyes at his son, trying very hard not to laugh.

Once back in the bedroom, Viktor conveyed Alexei's love to Hermione with words and actions. She had told him earlier of her decision to quit taking the contraceptive potions.

As they lay talking, he voiced the thoughts that had been on his mind all day.

"I'm glad we waited, love. Now, Quidditch won't separate us several times a month. We can focus on family and teaching. There are friends around and no danger anymore. I agree it is time we enlarged our family. I just don't want Alexei to feel like he is pushed aside by our own children."

"That won't happen, Vitya. He is as much my son as he is yours. You should know that by now. He even forgets and calls me Mama in class. He'll always be our first."

"Next summer would be a perfect time to welcome a new little Krum, my love."

"I am hoping that will be the case, if you cooperate, of course."

"Shall I show you my cooperation again, love?" Viktor chuckled.

"Yes, please, and much more slowly this time." Hermione giggled as Viktor's hands roamed over her body.

In the morning, there was a knock on the bedroom door. Viktor pulled on his red silk pyjama bottoms and answered the door. Alexei stood there with the little house-elf, Cestita; they were both holding breakfast trays.

Viktor laughed and waved them into the room. "Mnogo blagodaria, Cestita, Alexei."

Hermione was still sleeping when Cestita set the elfin crystal vase of roses on the bedside table next to her. "Dobro utro, Mistress Hermione."

Alexei and Cestita scampered out of the room before Hermione was totally awake. Viktor was very glad his son had the little elf to aid and abet his good intentions. He bent to kiss Hermione who stirred, stretching and opening her eyes.

"Did someone bring tea? I smell tea and breakfast. Oh, Viktor, last night was heaven. Let me shower and we'll eat right here in the room."

He kissed her and let her run off to the shower. The trays were set on the small table in front of the fireplace when she emerged several minutes later. Her tea was fixed exactly the way she preferred it, and her toast had been spread with blackcurrant jam. Viktor was already dressed, having used the shower in Alexei's bathroom. He had laid out jeans and a shirt for Hermione to wear.

As soon as they finished breakfast, Cestita showed up and gathered up the trays and dishes. She moved the vase of roses to the table and, with a bit of elfin magic, made a circlet for Hermione's hair from the blooms.

"In honour of your birthday, Mistress. These are dragon roses and will not die. Have a wonderful day."

Hermione packed up their things after making sure Alexei had packed as well.

Cestita was waving to them as they all stepped into the fireplace in the library to Floo to Malfoy Manor.