(Sort of ) Home for the Holidays II

Disclaimer: The characters here and the world they inhabit are the creation and property of JK Rowling and her assigns.

A voice piped up from a room they passed. “It's Hermione!”

“Later, son,” said Severus as he guided his guests toward a door at the end of the hallway.

Before anyone had a chance to sit down, Viktor slammed the box on Severus's desk. “Is no vay to treat vitch.”

“No?”

“Is childish stunt, to mark her like animal.”

“You assume I meant for the ink to be used on Hermione, then?”

“Vhat else?”

“What if she used it on you?”

Hermione stood watching as these two wizards who were so important to her carried on their conversation. Suddenly, she realized that this package was a test. Why would Snape want to test them?

Viktor hadn't yet caught on, but his stance softened slighly. “Is no matter about me. I am student of Durmstrang and player of Qvidditch. I have many scars on body from injury.”

Had Viktor been regularly hurt at Durmstrang and while playing? Did any of his injuries still trouble him? Suddenly Hermione realized that she'd never bothered to find out. Perhaps she could do something for him.

“But you're determined that no one shall mark Hermione.”

“She is too precious to treat in this vay.”

Severus broke out into a wry smile. Then he raised his voice. “Andromeda, put the tea on! This one will do.”

Viktor turned at looked at Hermione in confusion. “Vhat happens?”

Still a little bewildered, she answered, “It was a test. He set a trap for us, and I guided you right into it.”

“You did just as you were supposed to do,” answered Severus. “You told him everything.”

“I didn't tell him that I have three little half siblings, or is it four now? It's been over a year since Beatrice was born, and I know you can't keep your hands off each other.”

Now Severus smiled warmly. “Points to Gryffindor. We have just discovered that Andromeda is pregnant again.”

Suddenly Hermione was lost in the awkwardness of the conversation, and she felt a bit sulky about it. “I don't understand why you feel the need to test anyone.”

“I do,” said Viktor, looking from Hermione to her father.

“I haven't been the most loving father, Hermione, but your happiness and wellbeing have always been very important to me. I'd heard that you'd been spending time with Krum, and I wondered what sort of wizard he was.”

Viktor nodded. “Yes, if I do not get upset, then I am either superstar bighead or I do not care about Hermyown. If I get upset because of use of ink on myself, then again I am superstar bighead. But these things do not worry me. I worry about insult to Hermyown.”

“You're a better man than I was.”

“Is horrible thing, to mark vitch in this vay.”

“I never should have invented it. It was a hollow victory at best.”

“You put on vitch's leg?”

“It was the best night of my life... before I became involved with my wife, of course. I wanted to somehow force it to be the best night of Lily's life, too.”

“Who is this Lily? Name sounds familiar.”

“The name, Viktor,” was the only thing Hermione could think to say.

“Lily Evans... Potter... was my greatest desire when I was young. She's Hermione's mother.”

Hermione watched Viktor absorb this He look.ed at her. “Then half-brother is Harry Potter?”

She could only nod. “Does that make a difference?”

“It explains much, but no difference in how I feel.”

Severus sat back in his chair. “We come to the important question. How do you feel about my daughter? What are your intentions?”

Hermione gasped “Severus!”

Viktor nodded. “No, is right as father to ask such questions. I tell Hermyown that I feel for her as for no other vitch.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means... when time is right, she is only wife for me.”

“Are you asking me to give her to you?”

“'Give'?” echoed Hermione quietly.

“Yu already giff her away when she is baby.”

“Her mother did that without asking me, but you are right. I was not a good father. Are you asking for my approval then?”

“Hermyown, if she comes to me, comes as free vitch in her own right. I do not vant her othervise.”

Snape smiled at the wizard. “I think we understand each other well. I am content, then, that should the two of you marry, she will have as fair an opportunity for happiness as I have found.”

A clink at the doorway announced Andromeda's arrival. Severus stood and took the tray from her. “You should have told me that it was ready, my love. I would have come for it.”

“It wasn't that heavy.”

“But in your condition...”

Severus laid the tray on the table and then settled his wife into an easy chair. “Severus! I'm just a few weeks along.”

He was caressing his wife's cheek and kissed her forehead. “Let me care for you.”

“How is it that yu treat yur vife so, but not Hermione's mother?”

Severus looked sadly at them. “I was a Death Eater in the making. At the time I thought power would win me the woman I wanted. I thought I could take what I want. She rejected all of that and rejected me. I have learned much since those days.”

Andromeda spoke up, “You two will stay to dinner, of course.”

Hermione was quick to say, “Oh, we hadn't considered...”

“Nonsense! This is where your family is.”

“I had hoped to be back in my house.”

“Oh, it will be months, at least,” said Severus as he helped himself to his tea. “There's Bundimun all over the outside of your back wall. It's all got to come out and be rebuilt.”

“You've been to my house?” Had Luna been giving tours and taking a fee?

Severus shrugged. “Luna wanted to get my opinion about how best to deal with it.”

“Will any of my house be left standing?”

“You've always hated that kitchen. Luna's architect will straighten it all out.”

“Ron and I were so happy there.”

“Ron loved the house, and it was the best you could get for the money. Practically everyone in Wizarding Britain knows how you hated parts of it.”

Viktor broke into a laugh. “Truth comes out.”

* * * * *

“I would never mark you as Troll.”

Viktor was in the back with Teddy Lupin and Hermione's little brothers. Andromeda and Beatrice were napping, leaving Hermione and Severus alone.

“How did you know I—”

“I'm a Legilimens, my dear. Never, ever, have I been disappointed in you.”

“You never liked Ron.”

“You had a good marriage with him. Trying to sort through your love of his job and your desire for children made things rough. You would have got through it. I just didn't think it was as brilliant as you might have done.”

“You like Viktor.”

“I'm still Slytherin enough to like his connections and the way Durmstrang taught him to carry himself. The question of interest is whether you like Krum.”

“I—” What did she feel? She couldn't stop smiling when she was with him, and they got on so well together. Those kisses, and the way he treated her made her feel— “I... maybe... I don't know if I can stand to be married again.”

“Hermione.”

Kindness didn't sit well on his face. It was a bit comical, actually. “I mean, it's just so disloyal to Ron.”

“You're not me.”

“Of course not.”

“You don't have to spend the next twenty years of your life mourning for the love you had and punishing yourself because he died.”

“I don't.”

“Then why is it a problem?”

“I was so angry, that last morning. He just wouldn't do the thing I asked. I kissed him goodbye, and I told him I loved him, but we were both still mad. His last memory of me was that fight.”

“No, it wasn't.”

“Yes, it was.”

“No, his last memory of you was that kiss. He knew that even though you had a serious disagreement, you loved each other.”

“But we were fighting!”

Severus chuckled. “Your perfect grade was ruined, you mean? Married couples argue.”

“Except you and Andromeda.”

He sighed. “Do you really think two Slytherins can live together without an occasional disagreement? You're not such a dunderhead.”

Thank you to Blue Artemis for all her help!