On the walk home, they were quiet. Hermione looked at the ground, the events at the lake racing though her mind. The taste of his lips wouldn’t escape her mouth. When he had pulled back from her, his shocked eyes hastened to meet hers. Hermione didn’t know what to say, and either did Viktor.

They found themselves scrambling out of the lake. Hermione had rushed for her towel, quickly drying herself off and slipping back on the oversized tee shirt. Viktor just watched her and grabbed his shirt as she raced out of the gate.

Finally, he spoke up. “You’re mad vith me.”

“I'm not mad,” Hermione sighed. “Just … surprised, I guess. I came here knowing that something … something would happen. I just don’t know if I'm ready for it yet, Viktor. Our breakup wasn’t pretty – it was through a letter, for Heaven’s sake. And after everything that happened to me last year, with Draco and Ron … I just don’t know if I can trust boys again.”

“Listen to me,” he said, stepping in front of her and placing his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t know vot all they put you through, but I can promise you this. I will never, ever hurt you like they did, and ve vill not have a repeat of vot it vas like vhen ve first dated. You’re special to me, Herm-own-ninny, and I don’t vant to loose you over this.”

Hermione sat down in the middle of the dirt road, resting her chin on her hands. Viktor kneeled next to her. “I vill give you time – as much as you need.”

She smiled weakly, and slipped her hand into his. “Promise?”

“Promise,” he grinned back, leaning over and kissing her on the forehead.

“It’s weird, you know?” she asked.

“Vot?”

“How we ended up back together, and how quickly it happened. I never really got over you.”

“It is sort ov like fate, I am guessing,” Viktor said, helping her back up.

Hermione hugged him. “Yeah, fate,” she nodded. “It is a lot like fate.”

THE END.