Resurrection

Robert had estimated about when Marina might appear, no doubt dragging Viktor on a leash of some sort. He had not gone far from Eli's room. He fully expected Marina to disregard his requests and the fact that no visitors were permitted without his express permission and to try to bully her way into wherever she wanted. He walked down the hallway, in full command of the hospital and the ministry. He wanted her to see him in full power, and he was not going to be moved from it. If Rob had ever thought he was a prick before, he had truly no clue. This was about to be the most he hoped he ever had to show.

He walked up to the Krums just as he saw the Auror on the door to Eli's and Khaat's rooms snap to attention, drawing their wands, prepared to use them. The one on Eli's door had opened his mouth to forbid them and to tell them it was on Robert's orders. He waved his hand, and the door to Khaat's room snapped shut with a rather small bang.

"On your toes, Blaire," Robert said to the auror on Khaat's door. "The ladies need to remain inside, please. Both of them."

"You cannot pass," Robert said to the Krums. "On my orders. My letter was very clear. You were to contact me first. Did you miss that part, Mrs. Krum? You're welcome here, in England and in St. Mungos so long as you comply with the rules. I am Robert Lupin, I run the Ministry, and I run this hospital. We need to talk, and then perhaps you might see your son."

Chase was sitting, talking to Khaat, when suddenly there was a commotion outside. Chase looked confused for a long moment, before she stood up and put a finger to her lips. The door had closed with a snap, and she heard someone order for them to be kept in the room. It didn't sound like anyone she knew, so Chase, after a quick glance at Khaat, opened the door a crack to see what the problem was. The Minister, who must have spoken first, was standing there looking at a woman who was dressed in magnificent clothing, she had a slightly plastic look to her, and didn't seem to be very nice.

Chase's eyes were wide as she watched it all play out, when another man came up, Chase's draw dropped and she stood there, frozen as she stared at Viktor Krum... THE Viktor Krum.. as in the person who had met and competed against Harry Potter, in the tri-wizard tournament, where Cedric Diggory had died. It was THE Viktor Krum... Chase could feel her heart pattering, as she looked up into his rather handsome face, if only he didn't scowl so much. She could feel her hand go to her stomach, as she realized that THIS was her soon to be father-in-law. This was the grandfather of her child. Chase would have fainted had she not been so keen to hear what all was going on. Her view was rather narrow, and she had to shift in order to get a good look at the lady who had walked up first. So this was his wife? Chase couldn't remember her name right then, but she didn't look to nice.

And the Minister.. well, he looked pissed off, and didn't seem to be to happy with the lady. Chase spun around and looked at Khaat, mouthing the words "Elijah's family is here." Before turning around to look out the crack again, watching the commotion unfold.

So--it had happened, hadn't it? Her mind quickly added up what had happened. Her guess was that Eli had found out that he was bound by her family now in two ways. First, the Ministry had taken protective custody over him as a material witness in the Barker case, and by international wizarding law, that gave her father full rights tol hold him indefinitely and do with Eli as he pleased. Second, Eli's inability to make sound decisions yesterday had caused Robert to renew Khaat's legal guardianship of Eli despite Eli now being legal age.

From then on, she could guess the rest. Eli had rebelled. Probably had been an ass about it. Eli had immense potential to do that, probably from spending prolonged time around Rob and Jen after his crappy childhood. And as part of the rebellion, he had most likely chosen to draw on his parents' wealth and Bulgarian power in order to try to wiggle out of the Lupin grasp. Eli had miscalculated her father. He never played a trump card unless he was sure of it. And, as the Chief Warlock, Khaat was well versed on international wizarding law. Her father's case for rights to Eli were iron clad. The Bulgarian ministry itself now had their hands tied. They could whine, but nothing more. And whining never even made it to her father's ears. She knew from experience about that from her childhood. Her father just never even heard it, much less be moved by it.

She picked up her wand off the bedside table. This was about to get ugly, and at some point, if she needed to, regardless of what Eli had thought he had wanted, they would have to protect him from his family. At least from his mother.

"Chase," she whispered, "Stay out of it. No matter what you see or hear. Promise me! We'll handle it."

The Auror, from what Camille could see, had no intention of moving. Viktor’s back was straight, his jaw was set, reminiscent of how Elijah’s would when he was angry or frustrated. He was waiting for something. Clearly Mrs. Krum wasn’t taking her husband’s surge of decisiveness well. Camille admired it in him. She knew that there was a similarity between the Krum father and son. That was that they both bowed to Marina out of fear of her. Elijah had done the smart thing. He’d gotten out but Camille could not see Viktor staying with Marina much longer. He was going to get his son back. He had grandchildren that wanted to be in his life. Granted they weren’t biological but Camille was sure even he knew that. He didn’t care though.

“He has to let us through.” Marina said haughtily. Viktor sighed. “Are you not aware of whom he is?” she pointed to her husband. “Do you not know who I am?” She shrieked.

Viktor wished her brother was here, or his brother. Both of them would have been lovely. They would have told her to shut her trap by now. Stefan would have gotten a slap for it but he was still a child in his mind. He would have gotten a kick out of it. He loved to mock Marina. Adric was a little more restrained but he was still as bad. He was just more tactical than Stefan who told people in shopping centres that his sister-in-law was a foul trout-like woman. Viktor couldn’t help but smirk at her persistence. It was her spunk that had made him fall in love with her; the fire in her. Now it was more of a hindrance. It was fun when they were teenagers but he’d grown up. She hadn’t. She was still a spoiled brat. Still, without said spoiled brat he wouldn’t have had his children. Even if he didn’t dote on them as he should have done.

“Viktor!” she exclaimed, “Do something! Now!”

He’d have to placate her with something. It seemed though, that he didn’t have to. Robert Lupin, the recently instated Minister of Magic, would give her what for. Viktor found that it was so much easier just to let her get on with whatever she was doing. He let her have her little affairs, the money for whatever she wanted. He kept to himself. He would read, write and compose when he was off of the pitch. He’d occasionally enjoy some female company but that was only so he could converse with someone who wouldn’t scream like a banshee. He had a few female friends but he didn’t want to chance an affair. Marina would be quicker to condemn him than he would her.

“Marina we are guests here,” Viktor said, a patronising tone lacing his words. “It is best not to rock the boat, my dear.”

Viktor held his hand out to Robert and hoped against hope the English weren’t nearly as rude as some of them were at the Tri-Wizard Tournament and at the Weasley wedding. The Weasleys still weren’t particularly fond of him but he did talk to Hermione on occasion. Sometimes they’d have coffee together if they were in the same country by chance. Robert didn’t look like a man that wasn’t going to stand on ceremony just because the banshee of Eastern Europe was in the room. Viktor knew he would have bypassed any introductions if he was in Robert’s shoes. He would have wanted to be out of his present company as quickly as possible.

“I trust you have looked after my son to the best of your ability.” Viktor said with a slight smile. “I will apologize in advance for any disruptions we may make or are in the process of making. Sometimes situations prevent rational train of thought. I see that a lot.” It was a subtle dig at Marina, one Viktor was sure he would regret later. Still, it was worth it, in his mind anyway. “Is your daughter well? I was aware of her kidnap prior to this event. I would hate for Bulgaria to lose such a powerful ally in her. Assuming our countries are still firm friends that is; unless something has changed. I hope it is not on our account.”

"Hello, Mr. Krum," Robert shook hands with him. "I'm glad you could come. Thank you for your kind words about my daughter. All is well. And I am doing my best to take care of your son. My experience with Eli is that he can, at times be a stubborn and impatient lad. To his credit, it probably kept him alive. Sometimes he can use it to his detriment. Might we first have a word, please? Your son has inadvertently become involved in a highly dangerous situation. Eli means a great deal to our family, and I am trying to curb his temper just a bit in order that perhaps a rash choice does not end up being fatal for him.

"The bottom line here is that Eli, despte how intelligent he may be, is in over his head, and not at all by his choice. I know that. My interest is in protecting your son both from harm and from inadvertently costing perhaps a lot of other people their lives as well. But for details, this will take just a bit of explanation, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, as most criminal cases go, this situation is immensely complicated and unpleasant.

"Might we go upstairs to my office first? Some of the details are not appropriate for public information, as you can well understand. I'll tell you as much as I can."

Chase looked at Khaat as she told her to stay out of it, but still... She kept her eye to the door, watching as Krum spoke. These were her parents in a way... her child's grandparents... and yet... she had never met them before. Chase couldn't keep her eyes off of Viktor Krum, staring at him in awe. When Robert said something about Eli being in over his head, she slipped a bit, and the door opened up wider, and she had to scramble to fling herself backwards, hoping she hadn't been seen. Krum didn't know who she was.. he didn't know that his biological child was inside her, he knew nothing of her existence.. and yet here she was, sitting, listening as they spoke.

The Minister was going to take them up to his office, and Chase felt her face go red.Would she see them again? Would she get to meet them? She wasn't sure if she wanted to meet the mom, but... Krum... Chase was flushing red as she put her eye to the crack in the door again, watching and waiting, hoping she hadn't been seen, but somewhere in the pit of her stomach she hoped she HAD been seen, just so that she could get an excuse to talk to them for a bit, even if she acted like just another fan, who was in the hospital because she was pregnant. Krum didn't have to know that Elijah was the father of the baby in her stomach... not yet... not with HER around. Chase glanced back at Khaat, wondering if she should go back to her or not, her mind spinning as she stared at the other empty bed in the room, it was an empty bed, but Chase could easily use it to her advantage and say that this was merely her room while she was getting tested, because she was pregnant.

Robert had not missed Chase's misstep and had clearly seen her trying to call attention to herself. This was not the time for family introductions, for mischief, or for shifting attention from the very delicate matter in front of him. He hoped she would get his point and he would not have to seal the door shut. He made a very tiny flick of his finger, an almost unnoticeable movement, and he shut the door again on her. If she tried to assert herself again, he would seal the door and keep her inside until he let her loose. There was plenty of opportunity for her to be sufficiently debased by Marina's lack of appreciation for yet another out-of-wedlock grandchild in a few moments. And Marina was just the soul of propriety enough to eat young innocents like Chase for breakfast. Chase was out of her league here, and Robert now needed to protect her too, from her own ignorance and innocence.

Viktor was eager to hear more about his son. The eagerness saddened him though. He was supposed to know his son but he didn’t. Clearly the boy was proud, prideful and stubborn as Lupin had mentioned. He’d inherited Marina’s temper it seemed. He’d grown up. He’d become everything he was supposed to be. The boy Viktor remembered didn’t even come up to his waist in height. He’d been this tiny little nothing that spent his time in trees with that odd snake that used to follow him everywhere. He’d been terrified of Durmstrang. Marina had said that the boys there would knock some sense into Elijah. If they did anything it didn’t work in their favour. Clearly when Elijah had run away he’d grown up. His time in Paris had probably aged him well enough. Good meals there no doubt helped.

“I actually have something else to do.” Marina broke her husband’s train of thought. Something caught Viktor’s attention out of the corner of his eye and he saw movement behind a door that had been closed prior. He looked at the door in question but Marina’s voice continued to blare. “An appointment with my stylists. I would like to see Elijah now. Anything have to say, Minister, can be relayed back to me by my husband later. Some of us have lives.”

Viktor shook his head and glanced over at the door. He saw an eye behind the crack in the door and smirked. He looked back at Robert and decided he wasn’t going to rat out the peeping tom. The man had probably noticed anyway. “Marina if you insist on being impatient then go ahead to your ‘appointment’. I will stay here.”

“No.” Marina undermined the imaginary authority Viktor believed he had. “I want to see him now. Minister...you can brief Viktor by all means but I want to inform Elijah that he has to remain composed and consider his conduct while here. Reporters will probably be snooping around soon. I want to ensure he does nothing potentially damaging to our family. His safety will be compromised by me if he does not do what is requested of him.”

“Marina!” Viktor hissed, his eyes narrowing at his wife.

“Later, Viktor. If it wasn’t for me, our name would be in the gutter. Mudblood’s and Blood-traitors -- tut-tut, sweetheart. We wouldn’t want Elijah to make the same mistakes would we, darling?” Marina purred. Viktor paled. He brought his hand up and pinched the bridge of his nose. Their name was diving head-first into the gutter. He could feel it. If she would stop her blasphemy long enough to understand their position at present then she’d understand. But she believed she was entitled and able to do whatever she wanted.

“Just go to your goddamn appointment will you?” Viktor snapped. “You’re an embarrassment.”

Marina moved close to Viktor and reached up to wind her hand around his neck, digging her sharp nails into his skin. He winced a little and scowled at her, clenching his jaw. She turned her gaze on Robert and Viktor sighed, moving his neck slightly to relieve the pressure she was putting on his neck. “Hush sweetheart, you don’t mean that. Minister I would like to see my son now, regardless of the grave situation he’s supposedly in. He will not be leaving the country. We are not based in Bulgaria at present. It would be impractical for him to leave your custody and be released into ours. We simply haven’t the time for him.

I could make time, Viktor thought angrily.

Chase was watching, when suddenly she saw Krum's eyes dart towards her. She looked him square in the eye for a second, before the door suddenly snapped shut on her. Chase stumbled back and bit her lower lip. That lady was a pain... she just didn't listen to anyone at all! Chase grumbled and walked back over to Khaat and sighed. "His mom is being... well I guess his mom... she's not a very nice lady.." She said with a grumble. "But I think Krum saw me... at least, he looked at me, and then the door shut on my face.. I think that was the Minister though.." She said biting her lip and sitting down in the chair next to Khaat's bed.

"Elijah made them both sound like horrible people.. but the only horrible one I see out there is his mother... Krum doesn't seem to bad.. a bit... professional I think, but not to bad.." She said shaking her head. She looked at Khaat for a moment and then stood up, going to the window, looking out, she realized that it was snowing again. "Hey Khaat... when the snow melts...what does it become?" She asked softly, staring out at the snow laden street, with cold muggles rushing past, never looking up at the store front, that housed a Hospital. Sometimes their eyes would glance over at the shop, and someone would say something sadly, but then they would just keep going, as though thinking it was just another store that had gone out of business. Chase's mind was stuck on Krum and his wife though, realizing that Elijah had made them sound a lot worse then they might actually be. Well.. his mother was worse then Chase had thought, but his dad... Chase sighed and leaned her elbows on the windowsill, wanting to go listen again, but knowing the Minister wouldn't want her to.

"No," Robert said quietly but simply. "I do have the ability to keep you from going anywhere in this building I do not wish you to go. It is a security feature you understand. I believe I stated we needed to talk first. You may of course elect to go to your stylist. And then, when you return, you can see me and we will discuss your visiting your son. Are we clear, Mrs. Krum?" He flicked his wand at Eli's door, causing it to shut and seal with St. Mungos security enchantments.

He had set his limits. Now, he thought, let the real battle begin.