Chapter One- Finding a safe space.

Ana was sitting in the middle of the first quidditch match after the war….. she still remembered sitting at her table on Wednesday night, staring at her husband as he read the paper. She remembered being so frustrated at him because she finally had all of her family at the table again and he instead on reading the paper.

"Mecho, that paper… please…" She said sitting down eyes narrowing at Vlad when he snickered into his cup. "All of our boys are finally home…. Even Viktor has finally graced our table." She said smiling over at Viktor who rolled his eyes.

"Mama…. I come home every week." Viktor said pulling his napkin to his lap, "Not my fault your other children pick different days then I am here to visit."

Ana rolled her eyes, "Yes, yes…. All of my boys are off doing their own things… much too busy for their mama." She said with a huff.

"Mama, you know that we still come… maybe once Quidditch season is over we will come on Sundays again…." Andrian said looking to Viktor who nodded.

"Yes, after this Saturday I have only one game left in season, then I can come on Sunday again until new season." Viktor said pulling his plate to him, "Papa, any good news?"

"Don't encourage him Viktor, we want him to put the paper down not read more." Ana said throwing a napkin at him.

Mecho rolled his eyes, "My love, I am reading the sports section on Viktor." He said with a grin over the paper at his youngest son.

Viktor grinned at his father, "Papa if you have questions just ask me." He yanked the paper out of his father's hands and passed it over to Andrian, "Besides do you want to make Mama mad…" He leaned closer to his father, "You know she is scary when she is mad."

As his father grinned and went to answer, Andrian shouted and stood making everyone look over to him, "It's over." He said holding the paper up, "It's over." He yelled.

Ana rolled her eyes, "What is over, love… our peaceful dinner?" She said with a grin to Mecho.

"NO." He looked around the table and showed the photo on the front of the paper, "The war…. He who cannot be named is dead…... killed at Hogwarts by Harry Potter." Andrian yelled.

Ana looked to Viktor who sat frozen before standing and snatching the paper to slowly sit back in his chair reading quickly. Scanning before his eyes slid closed, the paper clenched in his hands his breath coming out in harsh gasps and then it hit all of them in the room. Why he was scanning the paper, what he was looking for.

"Viktor…... is she?" Ana said softly scared to hear his answer. In the last 5 years she had become part of their life… first through Viktor and his year with her, then with her visit in the summer. What most in the family did not know is that she had continued to write Ana through the years. Sharing advice…... memories… funny stories… troubles and worries. They almost never spoke of Viktor unless it was for her to tell Ana of something he had said.

Ana looked to her like a daughter…. Like a piece of her family and when she had stopped receiving letters 6 months ago her heart broke and with each day that passed, she worried for her. Prayed for her. Now the war was over, and Ana had to know if she was ok.

Ana looked at Viktor who had not spoken her name in over a year and still wondered why, Ana had wanted to ask but felt like it was not her place to interfere… now Ana just wanted to know if she was alive. "Viktor?" She whispered her hand shaking as she pushed up from the table.

Viktor looked up at her and shook his head his eyes glassy before throwing the paper onto the table and leaving the room. Ana rushed around the table and grabbed the paper scanning until she saw her name. Saw that she was hurt but alive and Ana fell to into Viktor's chair before looking up at the rest of her family and gave a small smile, "She is alive…. She is hurt but alive." She whispered to them. "She is staying with family now... I am going to write to her."

They all turned when they heard a short low snap, "No… you will not." Viktor said from the doorway.

Ana shook her head at him but before she could say anything Viktor's voice was hard and unforgiving, "We will give…. Give her space and if she wants to contact us, she will…. I am going to practice now." He turned and paused at the door before walking over to his mother to kiss her cheek, "I will see you on Saturday for my game." He gave a small smile that did not reach his eyes, "Last one to win before we go to the European cup."

His family watched wondering what was going on with him, but they had did what he asked and no one had sent a letter to her... none of them had reached out.

Now it was Saturday, and this was the game that his team need to qualify but Ana could not watch… could not concentrate on the match, instead thinking of the girl she so desperately wanted to see. She looked over at her boys and realized how lucky they had been, all of them physically untouched by the war. Her family was whole and yet it felt like a piece was missing. She waved as Viktor passed by pouring all her love and excitement into her expression, even as her heart was breaking.

It was two hours into the game when the silver mist of a Patronus Otter came floating through the family box straight to Ana. It whispered to her the voice soft and nervous, "I need your help… please… I know that it is a lot to ask but I need help... I am at Plovdiv Roman theater… I do not know where else to go…. Please." The last word a soft sob.

Anan looked over to Mecho who nodded at her, "Go." He whispered. "You have not broken any promises…. He said when she contacted us…. Go to her…. I will tell him you went home…. so, go home when you are done so I am not a liar." He saw the fear in her eyes and gave her a soft kiss, "I know …. go to her… take care of her for all of us."

Ana nodded quickly standing and walking out the door before apparating to the Roma theater and rushing through the doors to find her. Ana scanned the steps, checking to find her. Her eyes desperate in her search until she saw the thick brown curls falling down the small back of the tiny girl. Ana ran down the stairs until she reached the hunched over small woman he saw as a daughter.

"Mione." Ana whispered as she slowly sat down next to her, "My Mione." She said slowly wrapping her arms around Hermione's shaking body. Ana began to whisper softly in Bulgarian, her hand slowly moving up and down her back in slow circles.

It took a while before Hermione looked up at Ana, "I am so sorry I came." She whispered, "I know that I should not have come here." She took a deep breath and looked over the steps, "But I didn't… I don't have anyone else that I trust…. I …am all alone." She said her eyes filling with tears again.

Anan shook her head, "Of course you should call to me and of course you have someone… you have me… always." Ana cupped her cheek to see the fading bruises from what she assumed was the battle, but what concerned her was the new bruises and cuts on her cheek. "My Mione…. I will always be here for you."

Hermione shook her head, "Even after everything that has happened." She asked softly. "Viktor is ok with me being in your life?"

Ana shook her head and pulled Hermione into her arms, "No matter what has happened between you and Viktor…. I will always see you as my daughter…. As my family…." She slowly cupped her cheek and kissed her forhead, "You are two separate people Hermione and my love for you does not depend on Viktor."

Hermione's eyes filled with tears that spilled down her cheeks again, "But he made himself clear and I don't want to put you in the middle." She took a shuddering sniff, "I should not have come here… I don't know what I was thinking." She stood up and went to walk away but Ana caught her wrist to stop her. However, she let it go like it was hot coals when Hermione cried out in pain.

Ana looked over at Hermione who slid her hands behind her back, "Mione…... let me see your arms." Ana said softly, her fears confirmed when Hermione shook her head, "Please trust me." Ana said holding out her hands. Hermione turned away to look back over the steps again. Ana took another approach, "Mione…. Where have you been the last 3 days since the war ended?"

Hermione shook her head, "Somewhere I can't go back to right now…... I have family there but if they find out what happened they will have more pain and I will be the cause of it…. So, I had to leave… but I have nowhere else to go." She said softly.

Ana knew she could not push Hermione now, so she took a different approach, "Well that is just not true…" She stood up and walked over to Hermione and pulled her into her arms, "You are coming home with me." She kissed her curls, "You always have a place to go…... a place in my home."

Hermione shook her head, but Ana cut her off, "You knew in your heart you had a place to go…. that is why you came here." She turned Hermione to face her, "We can talk as much or as little as you want…. I just want to feed you and give you a safe place to sleep…. will you let me do that?"

Hermione bit her lip, closing her eyes to think and Ana grasped at something anything to get Hermione to come home with her, "I promise I won't tell Viktor unless you want me to… he is busy at a game now and if he wins then he will be busy another 2 weeks for finals…..it will just be you me and Mecho at the house."

Hermione turned to look at her, her eyes still spilling tears, "Are you sure?" She whispered.

Anan's heart broke when this strong girl who a fought a war, fought for the world and now felt like she had no place to go and no one to rely on… she saw fear in Hermione's eyes, and it shattered her. So, she did the only thing she could, pulling Hermione into her arms and begged, "Please Mione…. I need to know that you are safe and being cared for…. That you are being loved."

Hermione broke down, her sobs pulled deep from her chest as she grasped at Ana and Ana pulled her closer, her hands running back and forth over the top of her back as she whispered to her again… "Shhh my love…. It will be ok… I am here and I will not leave you." She whispered to her, "Let me take you home."

After a few moments Ana felt Hermione nod against her and Ana felt her first wave of relief, "Hold on to me tight…. We are going home." Ana whispered as they apparated into the Manor living room. When they landed Ana cupped Hermione's cheeks, "We are going to get your washed up…... fed and then off to bed for rest." She said before turing and calling out, "Emma."

Hermione looked over at the little house elf in a purple dress and gave a small wobbly smile, "You are free." She said softly.

Emma gave a small curtsy, "Yes Master Viktor came home and told us we should all be free… not all of us agreed but he said it would make him happy plus we get to stay forever unless we want…. I said yes cause he gave me a pretty dress and I always did like the Mistress dresses." Emma said proudly curtsying. "How can I help you my lady?"

Hermione gave a nod before kneeling down to Emma, "My name is Hermione, you can call me that or Mione if you want."

Emma gave a bright smile, "Yes, Lady Mione." She turned to Ana, "How can I help you this afternoon."

Ana looked over at Hermione quickly before looking back over at Emma, "Can we prepare the purple room for Lady Mione and draw her a bath… also can we get a try of food sent to her room… preferably something light but filling. Soup and bread, maybe some tea and fresh water?"

Emma gave a quick nod, "Yes Mistress, of course... anything else." She asked.

Ana gave a quick nod, "Yes my medical kit please, can you also bring that to the purple room?"

Emma nodded before popping off, Ana turned to Hermione, "Come love… let us get you settled." She said wrapping her arm around her waist carefully leading her to the stairs, "We should have time before Mecho gets home. I will tell him only that you are here and sleeping… we were both so worried about you the last few months." She said helping the tired girl up the stairs. Ana could see the exhaustion taking over with each step. "Mecho has missed your letters as much as I have, I would always read him the jokes you would write."

Hermione gave a small giggle as they walked down the hall to the east wing to the purple room, "I knew you told him the jokes… that's why I always made them things he would like." She whispered as they followed the hall. "I am sorry I stopped writing you." She whispered.

Ana shook her head, "Its ok love… I know that you were busy." She said opening the door to the purple room.

Hermione paused and pulled her hand into hers, "NO… I stopped because it was not safe anymore. I sent you a letter and saw the owl get taken in the air…... I managed to get it back before they realized it was from me or to you but after that I was too scared to send you anything. I wanted to tell you why, but I was not willing to risk it." She took a breath, "I was going to write to you this week but…...but I was not sure if you would want to hear from me." She finished with a whisper.

Ana gave her a huge smile, "You silly, silly girl…. Of course, I want your letters…... always, no matter what and I understand and thank you for keeping me and my family safe." She brushed her fingers down Hermione's face, "but next time…... Next time you will send letter letting us know that you are safe and let us deal with anyone who would try to harm us."

Hermione gave her a real grin, the first Ana had seen in years, "I promise during the next war I will write to you anyway." She said with a giggle.

Anan rolled her eyes, "Stubborn girl…... you will write to me every week until I tell you to stop… promise?" She said tapping her forhead with a finger.

Hermione nodded and closed her eyes, "You don't know how much it means to hear you say that." She said softly, "For a moment I thought I was all alone…. And I thought I had lost you too."

Ana shook her head nad pulled her in for a hug, "Never my love. Never." She kissed her forhead, "Now I am going to get you a bath, food and take care of your injuries so you can get some sleep…" She paused and cupped Hermione's cheeks, "You will tell what happened…" She paused when Hermione went to shake her head, "But I will let me tell you when you are ready…ok?"

Hermione took a deep breath and then nodded, "Good." Said Ana, "Now into the bath you go." She said leading her across the room into the bathroom where Emma was pouring in lavender oil. "Emma will help you." Ana said firmly, "I know you are not ready for me to see everything, but you are exhausted and in pain. I will not let you in here alone."

Ana could see Hermione's exhaustion when she just gave a small nod in acceptance. "I will ready some medicine…... Can you tell me what is wrong?" Ana asked softly.

Hermione sat slowly on the toilet, "Honestly… I am not fully sure… probably mostly bruises…... my arm hurts pretty bad, so maybe a fracture… my head was hit pretty hard so maybe a concussion." She whispered.

Ana took a breath to push down the anger, "How did you get to Bulgaria?" she asked quietly, kneeling down to help Hermione take off her shoes.

Hermione looked at Ana before hugging herself tightly, "After…... after it happened… I ran. I flooed out of the Burrow to the ministry… then to the leaky caldron…. But when I got there, I realized that I didn't have any money to stay…. So, I sat in the bar trying to figure out what to do…. I realized I had no money and nowhere to go. So, I sat there until they closed." She whispered watching Ana pull off her socks.

Anan looked up at her, "Do you mean last night?" She asked carefully and at Hermione's nod she closed her eyes, "So you have been all alone since yesterday morning?"

Hermione nodded closing her eyes, "When the Leaky caldron closed I had nowhere to go and I just thought of you…. Of Vlad and I started to apparate a small distance each time…. Across to France then Germany then to Poland then…ummm Hungry I think…. Then Romania and finally here to Bulgaria." She took a deep breath, "I figured if you did not want to see I could ask Vlad for a place to stay… unless he is mad at me too." She said softly.

Ana rolled her eyes, "I knew you wrote to him, but he always said no." She said standing up to help Hermione stand.

Hermione gave a muted grin, "He was always asking me questions on his work… I would tell him where to find the answers." She said trying to stand on her own.

Ana snickered, "No wonder he would not tell me… he would never admit to not knowing Ministry Business…. And he would never admit to getting answers from you at work."

Hermione nodded as she leaned on the counter, "Often I would not actually know the answers, but I would tell him what books to look into." She whispered eyes closed.

Ana took a breath as she looked at her little lady, "Come now… Emma will help you bath while I get your room ready." She gave Hermione a soft kiss and walked out the door to sit the bed. Her hands trembled as she realized that Hermione was not here because she was hurt from war… she had not run from the pain of war but instead from the pain of being hurt by someone she trusted and in the process lost a safe place in her mind. She was scared and alone enough to apparate across multiple countries alone for a maybe place to stay in her mind.

Ana also knew there was something going on between Hermione and Viktor and they were both in pain because of it. She rubbed her eyes and sent her Patronus to Macho, "We are home." She whispered to it before watching it slid out the window. She took a breath before standing a pulling the sheet down on the bed and setting the tray Emma had brought in onto the nightstand. She pulled out everything she would need to help Hermione and was finishing when the door slid open.

Hermione was leaning on the door in a white sleeveless night gown, Ana rushed over and helped her walk over to the bed, "Come love… I am going to heal you while you eat. Then you are going to rest in this warm bed." She said carefully.

Hermione just nodded, no longer able to talk which scared Ana as she helped her slowly sit on the bed. Ana carefully pulled up Hermione's arms and her vision was blurred in anger as tears threatened to fall. Handprints marked her arms from wrist to shoulder, her right arm particularly bruised. "Love… I am going to see if this is the fractured." Ana whispered as she waved her wand over the bruises and gave a soft curse when she found that it was fractured in two places. "I am going to try and mend it enough to wrap it." Ana whispered softly performing a soft spell. Ana looked up further to her biceps finding more handprints but no more fractures. She put on a lotion to help with the pain and bruising before having Hermione slowly stand, "I am going to look at your back… is that ok?" Ana asked. When Hermione gave a shaky nod Ana slowly undid the buttons on her back and nearly gasped out loud and the deep purple and blue lines across her back, "Mione what happened?" She asked softly checking for any breaks.

Hermione sighed, all but sleeping on her feet, "My back hit the counter and wall and floor." She whispered making Ana's hands shake in her fury. "I am ok though… promise."

Ana took several deep breaths as she slowly covered the bruises in more lotion. When she could speak again, she whispered, "Nothing broken, just very bruised… they will hurt for at least a few days if not a full week… the lotion will help." She buttoned the dress back up and looked to Hermione's hair, "I am going to look at the back of your head now." She growled when she pushed up her hair and saw the large lump with a deep cut at the base of her skull. She waved her wand to see that Hermione did have a pretty bad concussion, another wave of her wrist had Hermione feeling less pain. Ana helped Hermione slowly turn and climb into bed, before looking to see the bruising on her knees, then onto her marks on her face and fingerprints on her neck. Ana's hands trembled as she patched up the girl she thought of as a daughter. When she was finished, she pulled the covers over Hermione and handed her a small vile, "It will help with the pain…. It is not that strong I am afraid because of your head injury I don't want to give you too much." Ana said watching Hermione slowly drink it. "Now to get some food in your belly." Ana whispered picking up the bowl soup, "I don't need you to eat a lot… but enough to make it so the potion doesn't make you sick… ok." Ana said softly.

Hermione gave her a small nod, eyes drifting open and closed slowly. Ana slowly fed Hermione bites of soup debating on her next set of questions… she knew she shouldn't do it but she had to know had to help if she could, "Mione…" Ana said carefully, "Why don't you want Viktor to know you are here?"

Hermione opened her eyes and gave a small shake of her head, "Because." She murmured, her hands wrapping around herself again, "He doesn't want me here." She whispered barely loud enough for Anan to hear. Her sadness coming out in waves again.

Ana narrowed her eyes at Hermione. "What do you mean. He doesn't want you here?" Ana asked watching Hermione lay her head back on the pillows, her eyes closed, "He sent me a letter…. Well he had his manager send me a letter…. That he never wanted to see another letter from me…. That I was stalking him with my letters and that I need to stop." Hermione whispered, her voice catching in another soft sob.

Ana set own the mostly empty bowl of soup and looked out the window trying to piece together what was being said, "When did you get this letter Hermione?" Ana asked softly, pulling the covers up over her chest and tucking her in.

Hermione sighed as she slid further down into the bed, "A year ago…. He said that he realized I would never be good enough… that he could never love a mudblood like me." She sighed out softly as sleep overtook her.

Ana's hands trembled as she realized Both Hermione and Viktor had been lied to, because there is no way her son would ever say that…... Weeks before Viktor stopped talking about Hermione, She as all he could talk about…. In fact, one of the last conversations Viktor had with his mother was about asking for his grandmother's ring… he was going to ask Hermione to be his wife on her 19th Birthday…. Then he just stopped talking about Hermione… if someone brought her up, he would become silent or even walk out of the room… the last year Viktor had been a shell of himself.

Ana brushed back Hermione's hair, looking to the bruises littering her cheek and felt her rage surface again. She quietly called out to Emma who popped into the room, "Watch over Lady Mione and if she wakes come and get me right away." Ana said picking up the food tray.

Emma nodded climbing up onto the end of the bed, "Someone hurts her." Emma said her voice sad, "I saw the marks."

Ana nodded, "Yes… but she is with us now and I will destroy anyone who tries to hurt her again." Ana said fiercely.

Emma nodded, "I won't let anyone in here besides you Mistress."

Ana smiled at Emma, "I think it is ok if anyone from our family wants to see her… they will protect her like we do…. And I will ward the house so no one else can come in." Ana said, "But if anyone else does make it…" She tailed off.

Emma stood up, "I will let no harm come to Lady Mione… she is Master Viktor's lady…"

Ana gave Emma a smile and nod as she walked to the door, she looked back at the brown curls covering the pillow and gave one soft smile. Ana may not like why Hermione came to home, but her daughter was home….. finally, and the thought spread happiness through her as she pulled the door closed.