Some Time Together

Disclaimer: I've swiped a few characters that belong to J.K.R. I promise to send them home soon.

I'd like to thank CocoaChristy for giving this a read through.

"Hello," Hermione said to the tall, dark-haired woman and the hook-nosed man that greatly resembled Viktor.

"Hello, Miss Granger," they both said through thick accents, smiling politely.

Hermione had met them briefly when they'd gone to Hogwarts to watch Viktor in the third task of the Triwizard Tournament, but she was still nervous, as this would be the first time they would talk at length and meet her parents, Muggles.

"These are my parents, John and Jane Granger." She motioned between them. "Mum, Dad, these are the Krums. I'm sorry, but I don't... I don't know how to pronounce your names correctly." Her cheeks tinged pink, but Viktor's mother smiled kindly, taking Hermione's mother's hand and leading her to their table.

"Herm-own-ninny and I vill valk and giff you time to learn each other," Viktor said.

For a moment, Hermione thought that her father would object, but he nodded his consent and shook Mr. Krum's hand. Smiling, Hermione quickly followed Viktor out of the café.

"I hope they get on well," she said, squeezing his hand. "I've missed you, you know. It's quite boring, reading alone."

"You haff been missed," he said, pulling her hand up to place a small kiss on it. "Vill you allow me to take you somevhere special?" he asked hopefully. "It vill not take long."

She nodded. "We've come on holiday here before a couple of years ago, so I'm pretty familiar with the sights, but I won't object to wherever you want to take me." She felt a bit nervous as his eyes glinted mischievously for a moment.

They crossed the stone street and entered a small alleyway between two old buildings. About midway, Viktor turned left down another alleyway, leading her to what looked like a courtyard with plants, a fountain with scented water flowing in the center, and a few wrought-iron tables with candles hovering above them.

"It's beautiful. Where is this?" she asked.

"A place that I do not belieff you haff been before," he said, pulling out a chair. "My parents showed me this place and said somevon special should be brought here."

Honored and flattered, Hermione sat down and allowed his help with her chair, heart beating wildly. "Thank you."

"It is not a problem," he said, taking a seat right next to her. He took her hand in both of his and held it, bringing it up to his cheek to nuzzle against it. "I haff thought of you every night since I haff left you."

"I... I have, too," she admitted, wishing that things could be different, wishing that Viktor would live closer, and wishing that she wouldn't be so confused.

"I vish that you vould not haff to leaff so soon." He kissed her palm and released her hand. "Can you not stay the two veeks that ve planned?"

"Oh, Viktor, I wish that I could, too, but I cannot. Professor Dumbledore wants me to go and stay with the Weasleys until Harry can join us." She frowned as she saw Viktor try to mask his disappointment. "It's not my choice. He just thinks that I'll be safer with them in a protected home."

Viktor nodded. "I vant you to be safe; if that is vhat it takes, then it vill be done."

"Let's just enjoy these few nights while we can?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes, of course," he replied. "You vould like Bulgaria."

"Well, maybe I'll see it another time," she offered.

He nodded and snapped his fingers. A light meal appeared before them. "My parents, they vill keep company vith yours."

Throughout dinner, they talked and caught up on everything that had happened since they'd last parted. She told him how the headmaster thought it best for her to stay under his protection and to help Harry through the confusion and grief he was likely feeling in the wake of Cedric's death. When he picked up her hand again and cradled his face against it, she sighed sadly.

"Viktor, I am confused about my feelings. I care about you deeply, but I think it's wrong of me to lead you on this way." She frowned and pulled her hand from his grasp. "I don't want you to keep... keep loving me when I can't do the same."

He looked away from her and remained silent. His expression was filled with disappointment, but he smiled eventually.

"I think that I can decide vhen to giff up on you, Herm-own-ninny. Do not think that I vill be led around by somevon if I do not vish to be." He took a sip from his glass. "Ve vill enjoy this time ve haff together, and then life vill move on."

Hermione nodded in agreement, eyes misting slightly. He was such a good man, and she did care for him, but it wasn't as deeply as he felt for her...or at least she was uncertain. It might be that way one day if their situations changed, but the distance between them was just a bit much for anything more, especially with everything going on in their world at the moment. She needed to concentrate on school and on Harry and helping him.

As a group, they left Dijon and traveled by Portkey to Paris where they did some touristy treks about the city. Each passing hour that she spent in Viktor's company had her wishing that he would be returning to Hogwarts with her the next term. He had graduated from Durmstrang, though, and he would be playing Quidditch again professionally, not having to worry about any other career for the time being. After their talk during their first dinner, they'd reverted back to the way they were before, an unspoken agreement between them to let them at least have Paris if nothing else ever again.

"We've only got a few hours left before my family has to Portkey back to London," Hermione said regretfully, squeezing the fingers of the hand that were laced with hers. "So, I have until midnight." She grinned. "Dumbledore's idea. What shall we do next?"

"I haff something that I vould like to do," he said, flashing a sideways grin at her. "Vould you trust me?" he asked slyly.

"Yes, of course I would," she replied honestly.

He patted his pocket and said, "Ve vill go to see the Eiffel Tower."

"Oh, all right," she said, slightly disappointed. They'd gone earlier with their parents and had to wait in line for a long time. By the time they'd been to the top, they were feeling a bit too irritable to be appreciative of the dazzling view.

"This vill be different," he said confidently. A moment later, he Apparated them to a safe spot nearby. She smiled at the tall erection, lights shining proudly, illuminating the sky. The line wasn't as bad as it had been previously, and they were able to move up to the second floor and onto the lift within ten minutes. Once they were at the top, she gazed out at the city through different eyes. Everything was dark and sparkled with lights.

Viktor moved behind her and put his arms around her and whispered, "I do luff you."

She simply nodded and had to bite her lip not to say it to him as well. To do so would be to change everything. Instead, she turned her head a little and captured his lips with hers in a small kiss. She was uncertain if it was the cool breeze whipping around them or just the magical feeling of the city, but that moment was one of the happiest of her life. Everything felt so perfect. The Dark Lord and Wizarding wars faded from her mind. There was only life, love, and freedom.

After he ended their kiss, he led her away from the others in their group, and he discreetly pulled his wand and used it to Disillusion both of them. Then, he pulled something out of his pocket, Disillusioned it, and restored it to its normal size...his broomstick. He got on and pulled her behind him.

"Hold onto me," he said.

"All right," she said, voice trembling with unease.

"Trust in me, Herm-own-ninny."

Those words calmed her. "Always."

With her hands fastened about his body tightly and her thighs clenching the stick, she held her breath as he kicked off the ground, hovered for a moment, and then moved away from the tower slowly.

"Keep your eyes open," he directed.

She didn't have time to reply as he took off in a long dive down towards the ground. The height of the tower slowly diminished, and the much wider base rapidly came into view. With a small shrill scream, her stomach flipped upside down and shot tingles through her body just as Viktor directed the broom to lift and bring them racing parallel with the ground. It was a rush bigger than anything she'd felt before, and she loved it. She showered his back with kisses, mostly grateful kisses, as he'd not splattered them on the ground or crashed them into anything.

Laughing loudly, he directed the broom to pass through the water sprays of a nearby set of fountains, wetting their hair and clothes. "I hope you haff luffed it," he called over his shoulder.

"I do love it," she said aloud, holding him tightly. And you, she thought to herself. I really do, but I just can't tell you. And she wouldn't. He didn't deserve to have to wait for her when he could find someone nearer to his age or his home. Someone who could devote herself to him fully as he deserved.

Southern's Notes: I've never been to Paris or Dijon. I just looked up some things online. If something seems off, apologies. I hope you've enjoyed the chapter regardless.

The next chapter will be mostly letter exchanges. Hope that's all right.

Christy's Notes: I feel for the both of them! Love that can't be...not yet anyway!