Chapter Text
Lee Jordan was very good at putting on a smile. It was something he’d been talented at from a young age, with his parents noting he was even a pleasant baby. No matter how little sleep, no matter how stressed, he was good at smiling through it all. It didn’t necessarily mean he felt any better emotionally, but at least he could keep it private.
During the war, this had proven an important skill. So many people needed smiles; Needed you to look confident and hopeful, even when you could keep your hands shaking, even when any sudden loud noise made you fear that this was the end.
It had been five years since the war. Lee was still great at putting on a smile. Potterwatch had rocketed his career as a radio jockey, getting to interview celebrities and Quidditch stars around the world. He had his show on the radio five days a week, and was set to do World Cup interviews over the next few months. It’d be an exhausting schedule, but he preferred that to having nothing to do.
England vs Bulgaria was this weekend, and most of the Weasleys (plus Potter and Granger) were attending since Ginny had made it onto the team. They were all chuffed as hell, and he felt much the same. He could have used his press pass to sit with the other press, but decided he’d much rather be with the Weasleys.
They all gave him warm greetings, and he was happy to be sitting between George and Harry, who were decked head to toe in red and white paraphernalia. Harry had his godson Teddy Lupin next to him, and the five year old had morphed his hair red and white- though it seemed to shudder and turn turquoise whenever he got excited.
“There’s our girl!” George whooped, as both teams flew onto the field. Ginny did a great dive past their box, giving Harry a wink and the rest of the family a wave. They all hollered and cheered, and Lee has to laugh at how Harry blushed bright red, still besotted with her like a teen.
Once the the game was in play, it was a sight to behold. Both teams were fearsome, and Ginny did an amazing job as chaser, scoring more goals than anyone on the field. Her great efforts came to naught when the snitch was spotted, and Victor Krum immediately made a spectacular neck-breaking dive for the Snitch. England’s Seeker, Gaffney, was on the other side of the field and had no chance of reaching it in time, though he gave a valiant effort. The Snitch had been caught, and the game ended.
While this meant a post-game drink for everyone else, it meant work for Lee. He had post-game interviews to do. Ginny was pissed as hell, but was a good interview. She was always funny, easy to talk to, and vivacious in a way only a Weasley could pull off. Gafney’s interview was a rough one, as the Seeker’s defeat rolled off his shoulders and he looked close to tears. The coaches were rather boring, but that was to be expected. Finally Lee had Viktor Krum to interview. He’d seen him around a lot over the years, but had never really talked with him.
As he went into Viktor’s briefing room, he saw the Quidditch star was not in his seat, but rather he was on the other side of the room looking out the window. His reflection in the window glared down at the field, and looked almost as miserable as England’s Seeker.
There were a few people grumbling in Bulgarian in the corner, and no one bothered to greet him. Great.
He put on his smile.
“Hi there, I’m Lee Jordan,” he said, giving the room a general wave. They gave him a glance but no greeting. Krum gave a grunt and stalked over, his duck footed walk much the same intimidating thing it had been when Krum had been a Champion in the Triwizard Tournament. Krum cut a much more intimidating figure now. For a Seeker he was a hulking creature. He had been tall and thin when they were young, but now he had bulked up and towered over Lee, who had never been particularly tall.
“Well, let’s get set up. I’m going to record the sound as well as quick-quill as we interview. That’s still ok?”
“Yes yes, whatever you need,” he grunted, taking his seat in the little folding chair that creaked under him. Lee noted Krum’s accent wasn’t quite as pronounced as it had been at Fleur’s wedding all those years ago. “Where is your crew?”
“Crew?” Lee said, his smile broadening. “No crew, just me.”
“So no photos, then.”
“No, no photos.” He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but it seemed that Krum’s stiff posture eased a bit at this news. Lee took a moment to set up his equipment then looked to Krum. “Ready to go?”
He got a stiff nod. With that the interview took place. He asked all the usual questions he would in a post-victory. Krum’s answers were stiff, short, and impossible to get him to elaborate on. Lee had the gift of the gab to make it still entertaining for listeners, but having the scrabble to get a good soundbite made the experience unpleasant.
“Well that does it for this report. Thanks, Viktor, and congratulations on a stunning victory.” Lee clicked off his recorder and gave a wide grin to Krum. “There, all done!”
“You look familiar,” Krum said unpleasantly, his heavy brows knit together.
“Yeah, we run in the same circles. I was at Hogwarts when you were a Champion, and am good friends with the Weasleys,” Lee replied, starting to pack up his case of sound equipment.
“Veasleys!” Krum let out, his scowl lessening. “Then you are friends with Harry, Herminny and Fleur, yes?”
“That’s right,” Lee said, a little annoyed that he hadn’t had this ice breaker before the interview.
“What did you say your name was again?” Krum asked, looking at Lee with an intensity and that gave him pause.
“Lee Jordan.”
“Oh!” Krum said with a snap of his fingers. His accent seemed to increase when he was excited. “You are the Pottervatch man!”
“Yeah, that was me.”
“You are a very brave man,” Krum declared with much certainty, grabbing Lee’s hand and crushing it between his two giant mitts.
“Not really. I’m just a lad with a microphone,” Lee said. He’d had to give that answer to so many people over the years, it was easy to do it with an irreverent easy smile. Though he hadn’t had to hear about Potterwatch for almost a year. He had hoped he wouldn’t have to head about it any more. Every time someone mentioned it he couldn’t help but think of all the amazing friends he’d lost. And of course Fred.
“No, you really were very brave. You and all your friends.”
“Yeah, well… They were all amazing. Are amazing.” He felt his smile falter a bit.
“Yes, not all of them lived, I know. I am sorry for your loss.” Krum had a solemn look on his face, but his eyes shone with such intensity and sincerity Lee felt his smile fade completely. He’d heard a lot of people say ‘sorry about your friends’ and ‘sorry for your loss,’ but when Krum said it Lee felt vulnerable and seen. He was never seen . He was the guy with the mic. He was the charming man who could smile. He was everyone’s friend. Lots of people thought they knew him, but no one actually did. He had to get out of that room immediately.
“Thanks, Krum,” he said, voice tight. He ripped his hand back from Viktor, and knelt to the ground to gather his things. “I need to get out of here and get the tapes in. Have a deadline to meet.”
“Of course,” said Viktor, looking much less cross, but somehow more intimidating than before. He could take a glowering lethargic interviewee. He couldn’t take being seen. “It was nice to meet you, Lee Jordan.”
“Same, Krum.”
Lee all but fled from the room. Merlin, what a horrorfest! The one good thing was that he’d only have to see Krum a handful of times this year, and then have a good three years off from interviewing the intense Bulgarian.
He got in all his tapes to his editor, and made his way to the local pub the Weasleys had chosen for a post-game drink. When the Weasleys were together it was always a fun time. They all chorused his name ‘Leeeee!’ as they noticed him, bringing him into the fold.
“Hey Lee!” Despite her team’s loss, Ginny seemed in a merry mood. “All done with interviews?”
“Yes! Though none were as great as yours,” he said with a wide smile. “Not taking the loss too badly, then?”
“Naw, I did my part. Plus, it’s not quite as personal than when it’s the Harpies, for some reason. Gafney is taking it horribly, though. We’re taking turns watching out for him to make sure he’s not too miserable over the next week. I’m scheduled next Tuesday.”
Lee gave an understanding nod. “Yeah, your Seeker looked like he was about to take a short walk off a long precipice.”
“Poor sod,” she said, taking a long drink from her beer. “You know he’s single, if you feel like comforting him over his loss.”
“Yeah right! No, I only sleep with champions,” Lee said with a laugh, turning to get himself a pint but instead walking directly into the chest of a much taller man. He looked up to see Krum, his large brows knit together as they always were, and his posture round-shouldered.
“Oh, Krum!” Lee let out. “You didn’t say you’d be coming out with everyone.”
“I didn’t know. Harry and Ginny caught me after our interview.”
“Well, I gotta get a pint in me. Long day!” Lee said, not wanting to stay a moment longer with the sallow-faced Seeker. By the time he got his beer and had returned to the table all the chairs were taken except one at the end squeezed between Teddy Lupin and Viktor Krum. Great.
Teddy, he didn’t mind. Teddy was an adorably precocious child who followed Harry around like a lost duckling. Viktor Krum… well Lee could put up with the man for an evening. Smile on!
“Hey, Krum,” Lee said, taking his seat.
“You may call me Viktor,” he replied, before giving a snort. “Though you already did in the interview. Why is it you use the first names in the interview, but not now?”
Again he felt vulnerable and seen. He hated it.
“Well it makes the whole thing feel a lot more intimate if I use first names. The listeners feel like they’re part of that intimacy and get to know us all like we’re friends. If I stick to last names it makes it more formal and not as chill and fun for the audience.”
“So you are formal and un-fun now?”
“I guess so,” Lee answered, though he had to work to keep his tone light. He took a drink and hoped the man would stop talking to him. He looked around the table but everyone was ignoring him, including the five year old to his left.
“I am the opposite,” said Krum.
Lee looked back at him, confused. “What?”
“I am the opposite from you,” said Krum, eyes staring Lee down. “I am formal and un-fun to an audience.”
“Yeah, I noticed that in the interview,” Lee couldn’t help but bite out. “Makes my job really great, that. You being all unsociable and surly makes the day go better for everyone.”
Krum went back to scowling. “I don’t pretend for an audience. For people I don’t know.”
“Well maybe you should try, so you don’t come off like such an arsehole all the time.”
“Oi, Lee, not in front of Teddy!” Harry said, putting hands around the five year old’s ears.
“Sorry, Harry,” Lee said with a smile.
“See, that there,” said Krum, pointing to his face. “You pretend for an audience.”
“I’m not pretending,” Lee said, working his hardest to sound laid back, and not like he wanted to shove Krum away from him and give him a lecture on overly personal questions.
Krum gave a shrug, and was brought into a conversation with Hermione.
Lee spent the rest of the evening ignored, alone and annoyed.