Astoria was sitting at a table waiting for Viktor. She shifted nervously. It had been years since she had seen him. She hoped he did not find her too changed. She had changed, but Astoria did not feel it was in a bad way. Viktor was a connection to her past, and it would be good to see a bit of that again. Especially with Antonin so close. Viktor had never treated her like a dumb creature. Likely because she had kept all of Aleksey's secrets.

Viktor entered the Blue Owl and glanced around. He was expecting to find Astoria in a corner, sitting unobtrusively, watching the other diners. That was what she had always done when Aleksey was alive. He had not agreed with everything his old friend had believed in, everything he was involved in, but some friendships ran deeper than beliefs.

It was a surprise to find her in the middle of the restaurant, still people watching, yes, but not hidden away. She looked different. Happier.

"Ало, Звезда," he greeted her. "It has been long time. How are you?"

Astoria rose and came around the table. She clasped his upper arms and took a good look at him.

"изненада," she whispered, her Bulgarian rather rusty. "You quit? Sit down and tell me everything. It is so good to see you well."

"You haff heard as vell? I did not think you followed Quidditch. Vell, it could not remain covered for long, yes? Yes, I quit. I vas tired. Too much time devoted to flying, no time for other things. Now, now is time for other things. A vife, children. Someday. Now I relax. Smell raises. No, that is not correct, is it? Roses?"

"It's roses," Astoria replied.

He was waiting for her to sit again. Ever the gentleman. Astoria had not missed many things after leaving her husband's life behind, but some of Aleksey's friends she had missed. His real friends had always treated her with such respect.

"Have you any prospects for this wife and mother of your children? I'm afraid I couldn't help. Every woman I know who is available is terribly silly. Though you will be pleased to know I finally took some flying lessons, and even have my own broom. I'm terrible, but I can at least stay seated."

Viktor settled into the chair across from her and grinned. "You? On broom? It was a miracle, yes? Aleksey tried to get you up often enough, but you alvays refused. And, no, I do not have prospect for vife and children. Not yet. There is... I need time to change, to become used to different life. Now I feel like I should be on broom, looking for snitch. Vus all I knew for long time. Need to learn other things."

A waitress came over and set menus in front of them both, blinking large blue eyes at him in recognition. He smiled kindly at her and sent her off with a smile to get their drinks.

"And, this is alvays happening. Not sure I vant a vife who sees Viktor Krum, Quidditch Star and not Viktor, man. But, I haff time, yes? I am still in prime."

He grinned at her. "You vould think I have Quidditch star ego, vay I talk. How haff you been? Are you liking being back in Britain?"

"I am. I must have you over to the house sometime. I must also warn you in advance about Marcus. He's lovely, but terribly possessive. I think the only person worse than him is myself. Angie, of course, will be very lovely towards you. My sister's pregnant. She's happy about it. She just doesn't know it yet. Daphne is going to be dragon as a mother. She'll breathe fire at anyone who gets close to her child. You will never believe who I work with either, not that I really work all that hard. Listen to me, chattering on."

She slid a hand across the table to place on his.

"I'm just so... oh my goodness."

Astoria shook her head to clear it of a naked woman. A very fit naked woman.

"Vut is wrong, Звезда?" Her eyes had gotten very wide and she was blinking at him rapidly.

"I know I can trust you, Viktor. You won't look at me like I am a freak. You were brought up in the old ways, and though you do not project that as publicly as you could, you know what I am. I don't follow Quidditch, but I knew you had quit. Just like I know you met with an old friend and gave her some much needed... heat."

She hoped he took this as well as she wanted him to. Sometimes people raised as her husband and his friends were tended to be a bit leery of Seers. In fact, Aleksey's mother had been terrified of them.

Viktor sat back in his chair but did not withdraw his hand. Astoria was trusting him with a precious gift. Not every one would do such a thing. He felt honored.

"I am glad you decided to trust me, Звезда." A corner of his mouth quirked up in a teasing grin. "Do you See vife for me? Vuld make seek much shorter, yes?"

"Now that is something you must find for yourself, Viktor. Though if you had come to England months ago before I got a better handle on all of this, I might have blurted it out for you. I think you need your journey here."

Astoria grinned "You're terribly lucky I am quite taken. I might have to embarrass you with my new-found boldness otherwise. You'll find a lovely girl who won't drop things when she tried to look at you because you're THE Viktor Krum."

She was glad he had not moved his hand. It gave her strength. Maybe she was meant for here. Antonin would not win. She was playing a dangerous game with everything she was involved in, but in her mind, it was worth the playing.

"Ah, then I vill haff to vait and complete journey. And I vuld not mind nice girl who dropped things at first. As long as she saw me ven time vus right, yes?"

The waitress returned with their drinks and simpered at him as they gave her their lunch requests. He could feel the eyes of a few other patrons on him, but everyone was allowing him a moment to eat with his friend. It was not always like that. Too many times he could not eat for signing random bits of parchment.

"You mentioned names. Marcus and Angelina? Who are they, Звезда?"

Astoria made a mental note to take him to the Happy Hearth next time. At least no one there would bother him. If the waitress did not start waitressing a bit more, Astoria was going to have a word with her. Several, in fact, and a few of them probably not so nice.

"My heart and soul," she answered. "I suppose the technical term for them would be lovers? We're a funny little triangle. They're so different, and I am selfish. They balance me out. I live with the both of them. Angelina is my calm while Marcus is the storm, but I love them both. Very much."

Viktor blinked. Little Astoria, who had been more likely to hide in corners than anything else, was in a love triangle? It was hard to wrap his mind around.

"That is... Vell, it is not vut I vuld haff expected. But, if you are happy, then I am glad. Tell me about them?"

Viktor was funny. Astoria liked that she had shocked him. He hid it rather well, though.

"Well, Marcus is all wrong for me, but he's not like that. He has rough edges. To others he is... oh I've forgotten the word. главорез? Thug? That is not who he is. Others just do not bother to look. He is flawed, certainly, but Marcus is a good man."

She paused and smiled.

"As for Angelina? She is all grace. A dancer, a singer. She has the most beautiful voice, Viktor. All of her is soft. She's like stepping into hot bath water after a particularly trying day."

Viktor nodded. He could see Astoria with someone like this Angelina. Someone as soft as she. This Marcus, though... He had never imagined Astoria being interested in a "thug" any more than he had expected her too be in a love triangle. It was unexpected.

"They are good to you, yes? And good for you? Then, that is all an old friend can ask."

"Of course, you can ask, Viktor. They are very good to me. I am happy with them. Enough of me, though. I want to know what all you have been up to. Spare me the details, however, if it involves you without clothing. I'm greedy enough as it is."

He grinned, remembering some of the sexual Olympics he and Gwen had gotten up to. But Astoria had asked for none of that.

"I haff been trying to settle here in Britain. Which means lot of back and forth. My parents, they are not so happy vith move, but I need промеждутък. Space, yes? That is word?"

Once Astoria nodded, he continued. "My old club is not happy too. Lose best Seeker ever had, causes bad emotions. But, my replacement is good. Vell trained. I know, I trained her."

"I'm so glad you are here then. Yes, I would imagine they'd be quite upset at losing you."

Aleksey had often tried to explain Quidditch to her, but Astoria was not good at learning it. All she knew was that when on his broom, Viktor was a god.

"What will you do if you are not playing though? Besides scouting for a wife, of course."

The crashes of dishes drew Astoria's attention. Obviously the waitress had heard her say Viktor was looking for a wife. Astoria rolled her eyes.

"Next time I'll order take away, and you'll come to the house. Less of this."

Viktor waved his hand expansively. "I am used to this. Is part of being International Quidditch Star." He smiled at the waitress, who was making cow eyes at him.

"I do not know vut I vill do now. Not much jobs for vashed up fliers. Not sure that I vuld vant to teach. Or coach. Player does not alvays make good coach, yes? And, no clubs are in need of either. So, no, I do not know."

"Well, I certainly hope you have a library card or something. Otherwise, you'll be bored." Her eyes flickered to the people staring at him. Astoria could practically feel them wondering who she was. "I honestly don't see how you deal with that. Id' have hexed someone by now."

"Then I vuld be in papers. 'Quidditch Bully Hexes Little Old Lady. See page six.' No one vuld cheer at games. They vuld throw rotten fruit instead of underthings. No, better to be nice. To smile."

He gave her one of the smiles he had practiced years ago. One that did not look fake, even when he wanted to punch a wall.

"It vus difficult, in beginning. You get used to it, smile nicely and go about business. Or, concentrate on game, ignore fans. Or, you bathe in it, become nothing more than publicity figure. Last two options not good, not healthy. Players burn out quicker vith those."

Astoria shook her head. "I didn't need to know people throw underthings at you. Now I've that image in my head."

A sudden thought entered Astoria's mind

"There's someone you should meet. She'll have no idea who you are, and you probably have no idea who she is. My gods, I don't think either of you would suit for the other, but it would be interesting to see people's reactions to it."

He cocked a brow at her. "Did you not say that it had to be my journey? And now, you are arranging for me to meet voman?"

"I'll arrange for you to meet this woman because it will amuse you, and friends do that - they introduce people to one another. I didn't say you had to marry her. In fact, don't even think that. She's far too free a spirit to be married, but she does have a lovely singing voice."

Viktor considered this for a moment, any answer he might have given interrupted by the waitress returning with their food. She slipped a piece of paper under his, and he pulled it out to read her name and her floo address. He put it in his pocket, mostly so that she would not be offended or embarrassed by him tossing it away.

"I vuld like to make new friend. I alvays like people who do not," he waved his hand to indicate the waitress that was once again disappearing into the back of the cafe, knowing that Astoria would understand what he meant without him saying the words. She would have understood even if she did not See.

"Ven vuld you like to arrange meeting? My schedule is disturbingly free."

"Really all you have to do is head to Three Broomsticks on the weekends and ask for Holly."

Though Astoria was no longer jealous of Hera, this rather effectively put the musician in someone else's path. If she were busy, Hera wouldn't be looking at Angie. Not that she did. But Hera wanted to.

"Are you going to floo that waitress?"

"No," he replied. "But, it vuld be mean to throw it in garbage in front of her face, yes? I vill 'lose' it later."

Astoria shook her head. Viktor was such a good person, considerate. It was very difficult for people to remain so when in the spotlight like he was.

"Vill I haff chance to meet this Marcus and Angelina?" he asked, bringing the conversation away from his love life. "I am sure that your sister has given them shovel speech, or her version of it. So I promise not to be redundant."

Astoria laughed. "Of course you'll meet them, and see Daphne again as well, and anyone else you'd like to meet up with. I know people who know people. Some of them you'll find changed."

"Change is inevitable," he said with a sigh. "I am sure that few are as they vere ven I vus here last. I haff heard rumors that Draco Malfoy has opened school for Muggleborns. That is proof of change if anything is. He vus not supporter of Muggleborns ven I knew him. Hopefully others haff changed in same vay. For better."

Astoria smiled. "I know Draco. He is quite different. He went through things that altered him. For the better in my mind. He did help open a school with someone I believe you know as a silent partner. Hermione Granger?"

"Hermy-own-ninny? Vorking vith Malfoy?" This was even more shocking than Astoria being in a relationship with two people. Hermione had ranted about Malfoy often enough, both in person and in her letters. It would only be more unbelievable if she was the one dating him. Wait...

"I haff also heard that Malfoy is dating someone shocking. It is not Hermy-own-ninny, is it?"

Astoria started laughing. "Heavens no, he's living with Ginny Weasley."

She could see that was equally incomprehensible to Viktor though.

"That is not pairing I expect her brothers approve of. Also not one I vuld haff expected." The girl had almost smacked him the one time he had approached her, back during Fleur's wedding. And her cousin, Barney, he thought his name was, had been oddly protective of her, and not in a cousinly way. He had thought that maybe the Weasleys had went the way of some Old World families who ensured their pure blood by marrying within their own family. A disturbing trend that was luckily not wide-spread.

"From what I understand, because of his changed behavior, they are a bit more tolerant. I also suspect that Ginny would harm anyone who challenged her one her choice. Daphne is with one of those brothers, you know. Charlie. The one with the dragons. He's been terribly good for her."

Viktor could believe it about Ginny harming people who came between her and Malfoy. She had been fierce, even as a young adult.

"I remember Charlie. Ve talked of Quidditch at Fleur's vedding. I am glad that he makes your sister happy."

"Happy? He makes her normal. I don't know if you recall how Daphne was, but her becoming a mother has softened her a bit. Charlie gives her unconditional love. Very important, that."

"Daphne, a mother," he mused. He was sure she would make a good mother, once she got used to it. She would be like a bear, protecting her cub with roars and swipes of claws.

"Many changes in last few years," he murmured. "Sometime I think change not so good. But, I vuld rot on my broom if change did not happen, yes?"

He shook off the doldrums and forced a smile at Astoria, letting her see that it was forced. He only allowed close friends to see that much.

"And, vut of you? Vill you be feeling motherhood soon?"

"Not soon," Astoria replied, reaching across to take his hand again.

Viktor was uncertain. Astoria needed him to know that he could depend upon her for help. Whether it be as simple as company or something a bit more complicated.

"I highly doubt you'd have rotted on your broom, Viktor. This will be a good thing, these changes you are making. You'll see, and I don't want you forcing smiles for me. You and I don't have to pretend anymore. We can at least be who we really are."

His smile turned genuine. "Good to know, Звезда. That is good to know."


{SUMMARY} Viktor and Astoria have lunch and catch up.