The next day...
Viktor watched Hermione as she looked outside her window. When he looked out to see what she was looking at, he spotted about ten owls or more flying about with scrolls attached to their legs. She had put a special secrecy and untraceable charm on her home so they couldn't find her place which was obviously why they were flying about confused. Viktor nor Hermione didn't need three guesses to figure out who all those owls were from.
He turned back to Hermione to find her holding a helpless expression with a tired look in her eyes. It looked as if she had slipped and fell into a deep chasm, with the only escape blocked by some boulder that couldn't be moved. He hoped that they found a solution to her problems soon... if she stayed stuck in the chasm for any longer... he feared for her.
Viktor knew that they had to do something quick, like leave Hastings or something. Firstly, the muggles were going to get suspicious with the owls flying about around her place with scrolls attached to their legs. That would result with huge problems with not only the muggles but the MOM too. Secondly, Ron was probably going to be in Hastings anytime soon looking for her. Hermione didn't have a fireplace at her place so they couldn't floo out. They couldn't Apparate out either because Rosey was too young to nor could they joint Apparate because of the damage it could cause to one so young. The last time somebody had Apparated with a young child, it had left the child... It was better not to talk about it.
"Do you think he'll find out where I live?" Hermione asked him with a small voice. "The papers mentioned I live in Hastings but... they just didn't mention where... Should we move somewhere else? I don't want anything to happen to Rosey. We as in Rosey and I... You don't need to help me. You've got Quidditch to play. I don't want to be a burden to you nor anything else... I'm sorry for putting such a depressing situation on you... I'm sorry."
"No need to be sorry, stop saying that. I just vant to do vhatever you vant. To make you happier." Viktor said, knowing that Hermione was feeling very, very lost. He wanted to help her, that was all he was thinking about now. "I'll ask for a leave from the team for a bit. Like a hiatus or something. But I don't really have a say in this right? After all... Rosey belongs to you and Ronald boy, not you and me..."
Her face fell at that for some reason when he had mentioned about Rosey belonging to whom but she understood his point. It had been her own words he had just said after all. "Viktor... I want to go to talk to Harry... I just... I want him to sort things out for me because he's got the power to shift things... He's the one who ended the war after all, the whole world is bound to listen to him. They'll understand and forget about all the stuff that Rita Skeeta wrote."
"If that is vhat you vant then okay. I vill just leave then." Viktor said, feeling slightly upset without knowing why.
"Mommy, are we leaving?" Rosey suddenly asked, walking into the living room. She looked sleepy as she had just woken up. She had somehow managed to get out of her bed.
"Yes, dear," she said, adding a sigh at the end. "Let Mommy pack our bags first before we go."
"Will Daddy come twoo?" Rosey asked, looking surprised. Her expression shifted to sadness all of a sudden as a memory... a thought came to her. "I don't want Daddy to weave us agwain. I want Daddy to bwe with us."
Rosey's words had affected Viktor greatly for some reason. His heart felt hurt and warm at the same time and he felt for her. He saw that her words had affected Hermione too as there was a hint of a tear in her eyes. The look on Hermione's face expressed that she thought that Rosey needed an apology, a deep and sincere apology from the loss of a father... the life she was living... everything.
"Please?" Rosey begged, suddenly crying.
She ran up to Viktor and hugged his leg, burying her face into his jeans. For one so young, she seemed to understand everything so clearly. She had most definitely inherited Hermione's brains. She looked up at him with pleading eyes, begging him to not leave.
"Dwon't go!" she pleaded.
Hermione began to cry. She cleaved her daughter from Viktor's leg and picked her up and held her in her arms. She kissed her. "Hush... Viktor isn't going to go anywhere," she said, crying as well. "I'm so sorry, Rosey, for everything. I'm so sorry... Please understand."
Viktor watched as Hermione reasoned with her daughter and could see that the situation was both hard for mother and daughter. It was a painful sight and Viktor felt that if he watched any longer, his heart was going to burst from sadness.
After some time, when both girls had stopped crying, everything seemed tense. Hermione took her wand out and conjured a bag before muttering a spell to get all of her things into it. She turned to Viktor. "I guess you should come too... I've done something to Rosey that I can't undo and I feel like a horrible mean bitch. I took away from her what she most needed. Should I have got on with the marriage to Ron when I had the chance? Should I have told the security to get rid of Pansy? But then her son would have grown up without a father... And then I would have ruined another child's life instead."
Viktor sighed and raised his hand for a moment and caressed her cheeks, wiping a tear. He hoped his simple action could soothe her in a way, he hoped that she would somehow be happy by it. "Do not say that, Hermione," he said. "You ruined nobodies life. Nobody ruined anybody's life... It's just how life is. Life is horrible to us." He looked into her eyes. "Smile for me and be happier please? It will help make the situation better."
"You lost your accent," she suddenly said, smiling once again. It was a beautiful sight... It was as if an angel was looking at him with heaven shining down upon them brightening her face by the second.
"Like my new one better?" he asked, smiling back at her.
"I don't know, feels weird." she said, still smiling.
"Maybe let's go now?" he suddenly said, thinking. "I'll owl my coach and tell him about my short notice of hiatus."
He helped carry her bag as she held her daughter and the two took the back door exit of her house to get out. Taking the front would be a bloody obvious sight as to where she was for the owls. If they saw her, they would fly straight for her and then they'd be stuck with mail. He then took his minimised sports car out of his pocket, knowing that it would finally come in handy in Britain and used his wand to enlarge it.
Hermione gawked at it. "A lambourghini?" she gasped. "Won't that grab attention?"
Viktor eyed his precious little baby, getting an idea of what Hermione was going to do to it as she took her wand out. "No... No... No..." he said, with horrified eyes.
"Why do all guys prize their cars so much? And even you- A wizard?! Do you want to help us or not?" she asked, pointing her wand at it.
He gave in before she could say another word because he knew that she was going to win the argument in the end anyway and so he did the spell himself. He transformed it into a less eye catching car, taking the beauty of the car away. It looked like an ugly duckling. "Better?" he asked with a glum expression.
She nodded looking apologetic but she had had a point, it was his decision to help out. "We'll have to drive to the nearest wizard town or city," she said. "We'll use the floo system from there. We don't have any here."
"But the stadium is near here, maybe use the floo there?" Viktor suggested.
"That was a mobile one," she said with a sigh. "They brought it over there for the occasion. The stadium is also mobile too, you can minimise it."
"How far is the closest one?" Viktor asked.
"A couple of miles." she said, glumly.
"I drive? You drive?" he asked. He raised an eyebrow. "May I drive?"
She nodded with a chuckle. "It's your car after all."
________________
They had been driving for some time now and the only thing that Viktor could hear and was listening to were the voices of Hermione and Rosey as they spoke to each other. Hermione had been telling her something similar along the lines as to what was really going on. He knew that she wasn't going to tell Rosey the whole truth until she was older as the truth was too painful for a small heat to bare. Viktor didn't want to see little Rosey get hurt either so Viktor understood how Hermione was handling the situation.
He could see that the sun was at it's peak but the weather wasn't so hot as the clouds had covered the sun rays from sight. Only small streams of light managed to escape through the gaps of the holes in the sky. A few birds flew above them which reminded Viktor of his time flying on a broom.
A little ahead of him, he soon saw an old shack. He remembered that Hermione had told him that when they got to the old shack, he had to say a certain word to get into the wizardry town. As the car got there he tried to remember what the word was.
"Little thorn rose," Hermione breathed out when he didn't say anything.
Suddenly before them was a town which looked pretty much the same as any other wizardy towns in Britain. Viktor drove to it. It seemed kind of ironic that the password to get to see the village was 'little thorn rose'. It was kind of like how Rosey felt now... Like a thorn had pierced into her life... hurting her...
"We're here, we can get out now," Hermione said. She then pointed at something ahead of them and Viktor followed where her finger pointed at. "The floo system is there, we'll need to pay some galleons though."
"Why? Isn't the floo system free?" Viktor asked.
"Not here." she said with a sigh.
The three of them got out of the car and Viktor reversed the transformation spell to see his beautiful lambourghini again. The ugly duckling had transformed into a swan again. He then minimised it and put it back into his pocket.
They began to walk and Viktor was glad that there weren't a lot of people out walking on the road as his very presence would grab a lot of attention. Most of the town's people probably knew about Rosey now since the beetle voman wrote the article so they had to get out quick.
When they got to the floo system, they paid for the use of the system and walked over to the 'fireplace'. They were lucky that the person who asked for the money had been a little bit drunk, he might have recognised all three of them.
"Viktor." Hermione suddenly said. She stopped walking.
"Yes?" he said.
She blushed for a moment for unknown reasons. The colour was rose-like. "Thank you..." she said. "I just want to thank you for helping me emotionally... I couldn't have gotten through this without you." She then kissed his cheek as a thank you. It was a platonic one of course, but when she kept her lips there for a second longer, Viktor thought different for a moment. "Let's go now then?" she said, looking flustered. "Just say Potter mansion."
She then muttered the words and disappeared through the green flames and smoke that consumed her.
Viktor thought about the kiss on the cheek for a moment and smiled to himself. Maybe he still had a chance with her... Pushing the thought aside, he did the same and disappeared with a crack.
He was surprised to find himself bumping into Hermione's back. They were way to close for comfort.... in words of course, he didn't mind their closeness of bodies but something wasn't right as she was too stiff.
He looked at what was in front of her- who to be specific. He now knew why she had been so stiff and frozen. She was probably really scared, surprised, and worried too. Ron was standing before them with Harry, Luna, Pansy, and a toddler.
Viktor put a protective hand on Hermione's shoulder and whispered to her, "Hermione, relax and stay calm. Remember, I am here for you and will protect you and Rosey."
She nodded stiffly.
The pale face of Ronald Weasley's turned red as he looked at Hermione. Viktor could see the sudden violent change of expression from happy to pure anger. He was glaring now and he pointed at Rosey.
"Hermione?" Harry said, before any damage could be done. He looked nervously at Ron. "Long time no see! And Krum too!"
Harry's language use wasn't so good as it was obvious he didn't usually speak like that. Luna decided to step in.
"It's been a long time since we all got together. If only Ginny and Neville were here too." she said.
Viktor could feel the uncomfortableness of Hermione as Pansy glared at her with her husband. With Rosey in sight, Pansy probably felt threatened.
"Hermione, Viktor-" Luna said, looking at the toddler with flaming red hair and black highlights. "This is Rupert Alexander Weasley."
"Hello there," Hermione said, trying not to sound so nervous and stiff.
"Hi!" he said with a goofy grin.
Viktor stepped out of the floo and used his arm to help Hermione out too. He kept an eye on Ronald to make sure he didn't do anything that would hurt her or Rosey.
"Is this Rose?" Pansy asked, with a tense edge to her voice. Her eyes were scanning Rosey like muggle scanners, scrutinizing every detail about her.
"Yes, Rose Jane Granger." Hermione said.
"And who's the father?" Ron asked, speaking for the first time. He sounded malicious as he was speaking through his teeth. He looked at Pansy. "Get out, go to another room with Rupert."
"But-" Pansy protested.
"NOW!" Ron yelled.
Pansy did as she was told and carried her son out of the living room and towards another door. That left just Harry, Luna, Ronald, Hermione, Viktor and Rosey in the room.
"Who's the father?" Ron asked again, with a glare. "Vicky is it? Looks like him. Shagged him behind my back have you? Is she three? Counting up the month seems like it. Cheated behind my back? Why is Vicky here you little bitch."
Viktor ran up to Ron and punched his face. He punched his face again and his nose started to bleed. "Watch your language you stupid boy!" he said. "There is a child in here!"
Rosey began to cry at the sudden loud noises and violence. Hermione tried to calm her down.
"Viktor! Don't fight! Just stand next to me." Hermione pleaded. "Do this for Rosey... Please."
He did as he was told to but glared at Ron. He didn't like how he was treating her.
"You her little puppy?" Ronald asked with a smirk.
"Ron, don't be a jerk," Harry said. "Take this situation a bit more adult like?" he asked.
Ron turned to look at him. "Harry, I'm sorry but do you mind going to the same room as Pansy with Luna? I want to settle this with Hermione and... Vicky."
Harry looked unsure but Luna grabbed his hand and whispered something into his ears. He soon acquiesced and left the room with his wife. Ron turned back to face Hermione, Rosey and Viktor.
Hermione suddenly put Rosey into Viktor's arms and she ran up Ron, smacking his chest with her fist. "You stupid, stupid, idiot!" she said. "How dare you do this to me?"
His angered look left him and was replaced with confusion. He didn't seem to like the fact that he didn't know what was going on. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"
"Can't you see yourself in Rosey?" She yelled. "How could you cheat on me all those years ago with Pansy? I know you can't undo things but why? We could have been happy together you know... With Rosey. But no, we couldn't live that life because you couldn't keep your dick in your pants. Pansy was like your what? Seventh girl?! I know you've been having tons of shagging behind my back! Was I not enough for you?!"
Suddenly, Ron looked like he was a fifteen year old boy again who was apoplectic at something. It didn't seem like he was taking this situation with an adult like approach. "That's none of your business! So what?!" he said. He glared at Viktor for a moment then turned back to her. "I know how we can solve this problem. You can come and live with Pansy and me. Be my mistress or whatever. It's not like this hasn't been done in the past."
Hermione slapped his face with disgust.
He laughed after her hand went back down to her side. Viktor couldn't believe him. He couldn't understand why he was laughing at such a situation and couldn't believe his answers to her questions. He wanted to ram the boy against a wall but knew that Hermione wouldn't be pleased if he did so, so he stayed put.
"What was that for?" Ronald asked.
"Be your mistress?!" she asked as if it was the most ludicrous thing she had ever heard. "I can't believe you."
"Got any better ideas then?" he asked.
Rosey squirmed in Viktor's arms and she was crying softly to herself. She didn't know what was going on and was clutching onto his hair. "I'm scwared," she told Viktor. "Daddy I'm swared."
"Shhhh, Daddy's here, daddy's here," he said as softly as possible. He had meant it literally but he knew that she thought that he had meant Viktor himself when he had said 'Daddy'.
"Yes I do!" Hermione said. "I don't want to see your face ever again. Did you know I was going to come to Harry to ask him to help me and get us to be friends again? You could have been part of Rosey's life! But you just ruined it for yourself now."
"What are you going to do then? I heard you work as a waitress." he said. "That won't pay for anything." He laughed out loud without any humour. "Have you been paying Viktor with sex and everything to get him to do whatever you like? Like back in fourth year? I know you've been screwing him in his deck cabin."
Hermione slapped his face again. "That's a lie! You know you were my first!"
Viktor really wanted to kill the red haired man now. He couldn't believe that he would make such a bad situation worse. He was old enough to be 'grown up' now. He should take things in a much more grown up manner. He only seemed to be making things worse. Viktor really wanted to help out but he knew that this was between Hermione and Ron.
"You can't live in Hastings now, where you going to live then?" he asked.
Hermione glared at him without saying anything. Viktor could tell that she had no answer for that.
"No place to live?" Ronald asked.
"She vill live vith me," Viktor said. "Away from you. You should be there for her and Rosey but you aren't and I am."
Ronald Weasley looked at him. "You?" he said as if it were the most ludicrous thing he had ever heard.
"Yes," Viktor said. "Vith me."
The red haired man turned to face Hermione. "You're joking. You're going to live with this loser for life?"
Hermione nodded to the pleasure of Viktor. "Yes I am. This is for Rosey's sake too. Viktor will be a better father for her than you will ever be."
"How would you know that?" Ronald asked suddenly sounding all too sweet. "You never gave me a chance."
Viktor saw that Hermione looked weak all of a sudden and knew that if Ron continued to act all sweet, she was going to fall for it. "Hermione, let's go now, talk it over."
"Please Hermione, at least give me a chance." Ronald begged.
"I...." she began quietly.
"Yeah?" Ronald asked.
Viktor wondered what she was going to say. Was she going to give the stupid idiot the chance after all he had done? He wondered if everything that had happened between the two of them during the past weeks had been anything but special to her.
"I'm going to go home with Viktor now," she said, to his relief. "Until you grow up, goodbye."
"So you're going?" Ronald asked softly.
"Vhat she said, ve are," Viktor said, putting his spare arm protectively around her waist.
He allowed her one more look at Ronald before leading her to the fire place. He whispered the address into her ears and put Rosey in her arms to allow her to floo away first. He couldn't risk Apparating first. Once she left, he turned to face Ron.
"You are a stupid boy," he said.
"And you would say this because?" he asked with a bored expression.
"You let something so special slip from your fingers," he said. "I let her go once and will not do so again. I won't let you take her from me."
"I won't be able to now even if I wanted to," Ron said. "I can see it in her eyes, she belongs with you, she needs you more than she needs me."
Viktor looked at him strangely, there was a sudden change of expression in his eyes.
"The reason why I was so mean to her as soon as I saw her was because I knew I couldn't have her again after that bloody mistake I made with Pansy. It's too late to go back now, plus, I love my son, Alex."
"That's good," Viktor said, surprised by Ron's sudden mature behaviour. He smiled. "Ron, I promise to look after your daughter like my own."
"Thanks," he said. "I hope that she grows up not thinking negatively about me, I never meant for any of this to happen."
"I'll make sure she thinks positively of you," Viktor said. He then flooed away.
_____________
He could hear the sounds of the small waves crashing gently onto the pebble beach. The waves were not very strong as they weren't at sea. Rosey was at the Krum castle just behind Viktor and was asleep on her bed.
Ahead of him, he could see the silhouette of a woman's body. The curves of every part of her body fascinated him and the way she moved just caught his breath every time. He smiled as she turned around and waved to him, beckoning him over.
The sky was of a beautiful colour, it was red and violet, the colour if had been when he had met Hermione. The red and violet sky shined down on them and made the woman ahead of him looked more beautiful than ever.
"Viktor!" she said, running up to her from the lake's waters.
She hugged him tightly and he hugged her back. The lake's waters were dripping from her dress and onto his pants but he didn't care. Having her in her arms was all he needed. She looked up into his eyes and smiled as he looked into hers. "Viktor." she repeated but softly.
"Yes?" he said.
"I just wanted to say thank you for everything," she said. "Honestly. What had happened a couple of months ago... If I hadn't met you back at the beach at Hastings, I would have been dead by now and Merlin knows what would have happened to Rosey?! Thanks for saving me from my stupidity."
She was still in his arms as she had said this. "I thank you for being in my life, you do not need to thank me for anything, it should be I who should be thanking you" he said. "Hermione... You mean everything to me."
"Do you think we could start all over again?" Hermione asked him with a blush. "After all, living alone with you in that huge castle of yours with that huge king size bed would be such a waste... We should put it to use."
"What are you asking me for here?" he asked her with a huge grin on his face. "To go out with you or sex?"
She laughed. "The former. I don't mind the latter though."
"I would love to," he said, kissing her.
A/N This is the last chapter. Thanks for reading this everyone. Flames and reviews both accepted.