Re: Mandy and Open
Viktor stood not far from Mandy, his eyes resting on the marble slate before moving about the crowd again to look for a girl with wild curly hair. Viktor knew that Hermione would not be here but he felt it best to be thorough. He let himself note those he recognized; there were a few Slytherin students here whom he had met those years before, and he decided he would speak with them, to find out more about what they might know. He cursed himself inwardly, for dawdling in approaching Dumbledore; he had planned to offer free Quidditch coaching to the teams that wanted it as a way to stay in touch with the game. He had not taken the initiative and now the chance had passed him by.
Viktor was still in state of shock about how things had played out at his place of work, causing Dumbledore's demise. He had been out on a call, gone from the Ministry, to check on a series of Floo outlets that seemed to malfunctioning by not taking people anywhere. It had been tedious work to repair, and when Viktor had returned to the Ministry, the place had been in a typed of hushed pandemonium. His first thoughts had been to quit; enough was enough after all, and seeing how much nepotism and Death Eater favoritism was taking place, Viktor thought he was daft to stick about. The Death Eaters seemed to be spreading like a bad foot rot. But then he'd heard whispers from some co-workers of the Boy Who lived, and that lad's mates being the root of all evil; Viktor's heart had grown hard with defensive feelings of protection for Hermione, Harry and the Weasley boy. There was no way Hermione was a criminal, let alone Potter or Weasley.
Viktor stood up a bit straighter as he thought upon it; it was why he was still here. He wanted to help them, specifically Hermione and he wasn't the type to turn tail and run in the face of any adversity. He was here, at the funeral, to pay his respects and try to find someone who might know about the Order. He wanted to help, and they seemed like the only lot that was organizing to fight.
He watched the people move forward to speak, and as the crowd seemed to be heading back towards the castle, Viktor followed and wondered if there would be a small reception of sorts. He walked about a pretty girl, and thought she had glanced at him.
"He was a very good man. It is wrong that he was taken in such a manner," Viktor commented, his low baritone voice quiet and solemn.