When Worlds Collide

Late that summer, just before the school year started, Harry and Hermione took their trip to Durmstrang, looking forward to having some time away from the demands of their relationships. When they touched down from their Portkey, Viktor was there to welcome them with enthusiastic hugs.

Hermione hadn't seen him since the wedding two years before, and she was struck by how different he looked. She stared after him, rather dazed, as he grabbed their bags and took off for the school, leaving them to follow. Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and tugged him back, out of earshot.

"Bloody hell, Harry, you never told me he looked that good!"

Harry grinned cheekily and said, "I told you what he looked like. His hair is even longer now. What's the matter? Feeling a little star-struck?"

Hermione sucked in a deep breath and hissed, "I had no idea he would be this good looking now! Oh, this isn't fair. Not one bit."

Harry laughed and pulled her along. "Too bad for us, then, 'cause we're both taken. And he knows that, so we're safe. He doesn't help people cheat either."

Still looking a bit disconcerted, she said, "I'm glad one of us will have some self-control. I mean, honestly!"

Harry chuckled again. After a long pause, he leant close to her ear and said, his voice rippling with mischief, "You know what? Now that I see him again, he puts me in mind of Severus. Especially with that longer hair. Of course, Viktor smiles a lot more than Severus does, but they've got the same features. Does that help?"

Hermione pinned him with a reproachful glare that was mixed with no little heat and guilt. "No. It doesn't."

Stunned by her expression and retort, Harry released her and stood rooted to the spot as she kept moving. "Oh. I see. I mean... all right then."

Viktor turned to see them straggling behind and bellowed, "Come on! Ve have a velcoming reception for you. Ve don't vant to be late!"

Hermione flicked a glance back at Harry and he nodded, jogging to catch up and muttering, "Well, things just keep getting curiouser and curiouser."

*****

The school year had got off to a good start, and Harry and Hermione were enjoying themselves, no longer feeling like they had something to prove. It gave them plenty to think about and work on, which was just as well, since things were still rocky with Ron and Ginny. Hermione had stopped staying over at Ron's on the weekends, having taken on some more duties under McGonagall...well, at least, that was her excuse.

Still, they kept up their Sundays with Severus, which had eventually returned to their normal camaraderie as the awkwardness lessened.

It was during Christmas holiday that they made good on their promise to Snape to bring Viktor by if he came to visit. Viktor and Snape were in the sitting room talking about Durmstrang and the instructors that they both knew, and Harry and Hermione had retreated to the kitchen to refresh the tea tray.

Harry peeked out and watched the two men in conversation, looking at their similar profiles. They were completely engrossed, leaning toward each other and talking animatedly.

"Hermione, come here," Harry whispered. She joined him in the doorway. Neither man noticed. "Look at Severus. I've never seen him like this...well, okay, maybe in some of the conversations he's had with you...but look at them. They're really going at it. It's funny though, seeing them together like this...they really do look like they could be related."

Hermione gazed at them, lips pursed in thought. "Viktor is much swarthier, and Severus is much leaner, but they do have similar noses and hair. Hmm, it looks like they like each other well enough too."

Harry frowned. "Huh?"

Hermione pulled Harry further away from the doorway and whispered, "Look at Severus. How often does he smile like that? Or laugh? Look how his eyes light up. And Viktor is returning it just as much, if not more."

Harry stared, gut fluttering with a mix of envy and excitement. Mind teeming with images of what this could mean, Harry swallowed hard at the tingles that shot straight through him, ending in his cock. "Hermione, he knows Viktor is bi. And he is too."

"I know."

Harry tugged her fully into the kitchen. "You knew? How did you know?"

"Severus told me he eavesdropped on our conversation. Look, Harry, do you think we should...I dunno...give them some privacy?"

Envy spiked though Harry, unsure of which side it was for, but he said, "Severus did say he wasn't happy. Do you think this would make him happy?"

"I don't know, but I do know that I wouldn't want to get in the way of him actually doing something about being lonely. Come on, let's go home and leave them to it." She gestured for Harry to follow her out.

They entered the sitting room again and stood near the hearth. Snape and Viktor looked up at the same time. Brow furrowing in dismay, Snape said, "Are you all leaving?"

Viktor jerked upright, taken aback. "Do ve have to go now?"

Hermione lifted her hands in a gesture of appeasement and said, "No, you don't have to come with us, as long as Severus here is okay with that, but Harry and I just wanted to get home. We've got some last minute Christmas stuff to do."

Viktor turned to beam at Snape hopefully. "I vos enjoying our conversation. Should I go vith them now?"

Snape flicked a glance at everyone, then said, "No, feel free to stay. I'd love to hear your thoughts on...which one was it, Harry?...the Astronomy teacher there."

Harry gasped, and Viktor glanced between Harry and Snape, pausing to lock eyes with Snape before his grin turned into more of a smirk and he said, "Of course. I vill stay for a little vile longer. You are free to kick me out anytime."

Snape smiled. "Noted." He flashed a dismissive smile at Harry and Hermione and said, "Good night."

Hermione said, "Good night, Severus. We'll see you in the morning, Viktor."

Harry said, "Good night," and Hermione tugged him into the green flames to Floo home.

Once they were gone, Viktor turned a mischievous smile on Snape and said in a low voice, "Vot vould you like to know about Nikola?"

Snape leant toward Viktor again and murmured, "Whatever you'd like to tell me. Feel free to include any... interesting details."

Viktor laughed and stood, offering his hand to Snape. "Come. I vould rather show you what I learned about him. Perhaps ve can do a comparison study, yes?"

Snape clasped Viktor's hand and rose, standing close to him. It had been so long since he had successfully flirted with anyone, especially to have it amount to anything. Heart beating wildly, he squeezed Viktor's hand and said simply, "Yes."

*****

Harry had a hard time sleeping that night, wondering what would happen with Snape and Viktor. He was awake again early, and finally gave it up as a bad job, trudging downstairs to get some breakfast. Thus it was that he was in the kitchen eating porridge at nearly 6 a.m. when Viktor spun out of the Floo, shoes in hand.

They stared at each other for a long moment, frozen, then Viktor murmured, "Good morning. I'm glad it von't be possible for me to vake you. I hope I don't vake Hermione either. Enjoy your breakfast."

He nodded and strode past Harry, who was staring at Viktor's rumpled clothes and tangled hair. Unable to stop himself, he blurted, "Did you shag him?"

Viktor whirled and glared at Harry so hard that Harry winced and muttered, "Sorry."

"Not that it is any of your business, no. Ve had an enjoyable time."

"Good." Viktor's brows shot up and Harry hastily amended, "I mean, good that you had a good time, not good that you didn't shag him. Not that it's any of my business, of course. But I do care if he's happy, and I'm glad he enjoyed himself...and that you did too...oh, bloody hell, I mean, I'm glad you both enjoyed yourselves. It's about time he had a good time. He deserves it."

Viktor's censorious expression relaxed, and he said, "Yes, he does. But he also deserves some privacy."

Harry grimaced and said, "Sorry. I was just surprised and spoke without thinking."

Viktor growled, "I noticed." Harry gave him a sheepish look. "Harry, please do not make things awkward with Severus. Ve had pleasure, like you and I did, but it is nothing more than that. Ve are free to have a bit of fun. So ve did. Do not make a big deal out of it."

Harry nodded. "I won't. I promise." Viktor inclined his head in acceptance. Harry flashed a lopsided grin and said in an exaggerated joking tone, "Damn, and I was hoping you'd be able to tell me if he was any good in bed, but since you didn't shag..."

Viktor's eyes narrowed, and he said in a low voice, "Oh, ve may not have shagged, but he vos very good in bed. Make no mistake."

Harry choked and Viktor's grin was wolfish. "I am going to take a nap. I need to catch up on my rest...I am quite vorn out. Good morning."

With that parting shot, Viktor left Harry alone in the kitchen with a raging erection.

*****

It took several weeks for Harry to be able to look at Snape without blushing and feeling a tingle in his groin. Once the holiday was over, Viktor was gone, and they were back into the routine of teaching, things were much better on that score.

Unfortunately, as the term wore on, Harry's relationship with Ginny and Hermione's relationship with Ron declined even more. It seemed sometimes like they were fighting or sulking more than they weren't, and by the time the end of the school year loomed, Snape called them on it.

"Term is over at the end of the month, which makes almost two whole years that you've been with Ginny and it's done nothing but get worse. And you've been with Ron for longer than that, unless you don't count all the various times you two 'took a break' from each other until he came begging you to take him back. How much longer are you going to suffer through this? It's taking a toll on you more than you realize!"

Snape was glaring at them across the kitchen table after they had finished their Sunday lunch. Harry and Hermione exchanged miserable looks.

"You're not happy, and the way they treat you is not love. It hurts to watch you destroyed little by little. I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be brave...so fucking tell them to shape up or ship out!"

Hermione's lips trembled and tears spilled onto her cheeks. Snape reared back, aghast. Harry shot him a poisonous glare and moved to hug Hermione.

"Hermione, I-I'm so sorry. I never meant to make you cry. Let me make it up to you..."

Harry cut him off, growling, "You've done enough." He guided Hermione to her feet and around the table. "Come on, let's go home. The last thing you need is someone else who claims to love you yelling at you."

Snape gaped in horror at their retreating forms. He wanted to rush to Hermione and hold her and apologize until she stopped crying, but he knew that would make things worse. Harry was right. It was not his place to give ultimatums...or he was no better than Ron.