Disclaimer: You know already.

This story is dedicate to my Grandmother, who passed away on 22-1-2005

To flamers: I don't take kindly to flames so back off, if you know what's good for you.

Author's note: There's an official poem for this story, written by emsbiggestfan25! If you want to read it, go to my profile.

Thank you for your reviews!

PrincessLuckyCML: No, I can't bring them back to life, sorry! But you will see them again.

carsonheir, Mystical Angel5, babiijorx0, doRky-kiRby, J.E.A.R.K. Potter: (hands all of you a piece of tissue)

Bec: Good luck for your exams!

Chapter 30: 21st of November 2003

Dear Diary,

Yesterday was one of the saddest days of my life. Harry accompanied me for the day, but I knew that he was not feeling very happy either, I could see that. Let me tell you what had happened in one sentence:

Viktor refused to sign the divorce papers.

Yesterday morning, around 10am, the telephone situated near our sofa rang.

I was puzzled, we seldom gave out the muggle number to anybody and if Harry wanted to talk to me, he could wait until he got home.

So since I was sitting beside it, making Harry's Christmas gift (can't tell you what it is yet), I decided to pick it up.

"Hello?" I asked, pressing the cordless phone between my ear and my shoulder and keeping my hands busy.

"Um, hello? Um, is this thing working…" asked a familiar voice uncertainly.

"Neville?" I asked.

"Oh, hi, Hermione. I guess this thing works after all. I seldom use this phone, only Ginny uses it to communicate with her dad. I rather use the magical way but I'm not quite sure about your address." said Neville in relief.

"It's No. 1, Constellation Place, London." I said.

"Ok, I will note that down when I have a chance to…"

"So why do you call me for?" I asked, frowning at the mess that I made on Harry's gift.

"I'm calling to tell you that your divorce papers are ready." said Neville while I was trying to undo the mess I made.

"What a mess… w-what!" I stopped what I was doing and held the phone with my two hands. "What did you just say?"

"I said," said Neville patiently. "Your divorce papers are ready."

"They are?" I exclaimed breathlessly. Oh my god, I'm going to be divorced!

"Yeah. Are you happy about it?" asked Neville and I could tell that he was grinning over the phone.

"Of course." I said, smiling.

"Well, you and Harry can celebrate tonight, after you have signed the papers."

"Now?" I asked excitedly. "You mean I could sign it now?"

"Of course," said Neville, "that's one good thing about divorcing in wizarding world, once the papers are ready; you can sign them straight away."

"But the preparation is sure long." I said, grinning. "Does Harry know about it?"

"No."

"Don't tell him, all right? I want to tell him myself."

"I won't, so what time are you available? I have checked with your husband, he's available at 1pm."

"Viktor is available for something else beside Quidditch, now that's new… so you told Viktor that he is going to sign his divorce papers?"

"Not really, I just tell him that he is required to come down to my office for something important, regarding you. He did ask me about you, whether you are coming down as well. I said yes."

"Great, so it's 1pm, then?" I said, gathering my things that I needed for Harry's gift.

"Hm-mm."

"Ok, I'll be at your office at 1pm. So where exactly is it?"

"It's at the Ministry of Magic, on the second level, department of magical law enforcement…just step out of the lift and go to the fifth door of your right."

"All right, see you then… and Neville, thanks a lot."

"No problem, I'm your lawyer and friend after all."

I hang up the phone and jumped around in joy. Oh my god, I'm getting divorced! I was so happy back then, Diary.

I was probably the first witch who was glad to get a divorce.

At 12.30pm, I went to change my attire (I couldn't go to Neville's office in a T-shirt and jeans, could I?) into a proper navy blue ladies' suit. I didn't mean funny by wearing like that. I meant business.

Then I pinned up my hair and fastened it with a clip made of pearls.

I checked myself in the mirror. I looked like a stern muggle business woman. Good.

I Disapparated.

I appeared near the old telephone box in London, which was the visitors' entrance to the Ministry. I stepped into the box, got the receiver and dialled 62442.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business." said the woman from the phone.

"Hermione Granger." I said carefully. "I'm here to see Mr Neville Longbottom to sign my divorce papers."

"Thank you. Visitor, please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes."

I took the badge from the metal chute and read my badge: "Hermione Granger, appointment with Neville Longbottom."

I pinned it to my suit as the voice said, "Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium."

After I had my wand checked, I took the lift and went to the second level. When I stepped out, I looked at my watch and found out that it was only 12.45pm. There was still time before I see Neville.

So I decided to give Harry a surprise visit, since the Auror Headquarters was not far away. I made my way to the headquarters and found the heavy oak doors opened. Aurors in uniforms were walking everywhere, talking busily and some were relaxing in their cubicles.

I barely took a few steps into the Headquarters when an Auror with neat blond hair noticed me and came over. "Can I help you, Madam?"

How did he know that I was not single? Must be my wedding ring…

"Yes, I'm looking for Mr Harry Potter." I said politely.

"Potter, eh?" The young man scratched his head. "Don't know whether he's around. Why don't you wait at his cubicle? I will bring you there and try to find him."

I nodded. "Thank you. Mr…"

"Kennedy, Madam." said the Auror and led me to Harry's cubicle.

"Just wait here, Madam, I'll try to get him."

"All right, but do hurry, I have an appointment at 1pm."

"Yes, Madam." Mr Kennedy looked at his watch and ran off.

I sat down at Harry's seat and studied his table. That was the first time I ever seen his work desk. His files were stacked neatly to a side of the table. Quills were placed in a neat blue container. Papers were spread all over the desk. Pictures were pinned on the wall. I looked at them carefully. One of them was the enlarged version of Harry, Ron and me during our graduation day. Another one was a picture of me along with the article entitled: "Being the woman behind Krum".

I smiled bitterly to myself. That article contained an interview I gave to the Daily Prophet after my first 6 months of marriage to Viktor. At that time, I was happy to be married, but now I'm not.

I continued to look at the rest of the pictures. There was a picture of the Weasleys, all waving at me happily, a picture of Ginny and Neville, with baby Lethe in Ginny's arms, a picture of me during my seventh year in Hogwarts…

"I'm sorry, Madam, but Mr Potter is not around at the moment." said Kennedy breathlessly as he ran back to me. "Would you like to leave a message for him?"

I stood up and shook my head. "It's ok. I need to go now."

"Well then, let me take you to the door…" started Kennedy and suddenly he noticed the article on the wall, then he looked at me. "Wait, you are Mrs Krum, aren't you?"

"Yes." I said.

"Why, Potter speaks highly of you, he says that Viktor Krum is lucky to have you as his wife. You are Potter's friend back in Hogwarts, right?"

I nodded and smiled. "Yes."

"I will certainly tell Potter that you have stopped by." said Kennedy and led me to the door. "He will be thrilled."

I smiled at him. "Thank you."

I walked to the fifth door from the lift and read the golden sign on the door, "Neville Longbottom. Lawyer of Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

I knocked the door.

"Come in." called the voice from inside.

I opened the door and saw Neville in grey robes sitting behind a huge brown desk. A big in-tray was near the edge of his desk, full of memos, parchments and papers. A picture of Neville, Ginny and Lethe was beside the tray.

"Hello, Hermione." said Neville, smiling and indicating the seat in front of his desk. "Sit down, Viktor will be here soon."

I smiled back and sat down.

I looked around the office. It was big and beautiful, with glass cupboards at the walls. Some of them contained the awards that Neville had received in his adult years. Some had some weird plants in them. One of the cupboards that caught my eye was the one nearest to Neville's desk. It had two shelves in it, on each shelf stood a sliver board, with neat, clean Drooble's Best Blowing Gum wrappers pasted on it.

I swallowed. Those wrappers must be from Neville's mother, who gave one to him every time he visited her and her husband in St Mungo's. I felt pity for Neville. Unlike Harry, his parents were still alive but they didn't recognize him.

Neville must had saw me looking at the boards, because he said, "I still visit them now and then. I'm planning to take Ginny and Lethe to them again when I have a day-off. The hospital allows us to take my parents out to the St Mungo's park for an hour, maybe we could spend our time there."

I smiled. "Ginny is lucky to have you as a husband."

"Well, once you sign the papers…"

Knock knock

"Come in!" said Neville.

Viktor came in with his Quidditch robes. Viktor had quitted the Bulgarian team months ago and joined the Wigtown Wanderers team in England. He frowned at the sight of me and I frowned back.

Viktor put his broom against the door.

"Sit down, Mr Krum." said Neville, and Viktor sat beside me.

"Vot do you mean by vearing like that?" asked Viktor, looking at me disapprovingly.

"I mean business." I said coldly.

"Business? Vhy you…" started Viktor.

"Um, if you don't mind, I'm going to tell you the reason why you are here." started Neville.

Viktor nodded while I didn't say anything.

"You two are here today because Mrs Krum, that's Hermione, have asked for a divorce with her husband, that is you, Mr Krum." said Neville importantly.

"Vot!" asked Viktor, jumping up from his seat immediately. "Divorce?"

"Um, yes." said Neville.

Viktor glared at me. "You ask for a divorce?"

I looked at him calmly. "Yes. Since there is no love in our marriage, I think we might as well get a divorce."

"So that you could be with Potter, isn't that right, bitch?" spat Viktor.

I gritted my teeth and stood up, facing my husband directly. I put my hands on my hips. "Yes. I want to be with Harry, legally and publicly, so that no one will say that the famous Harry Potter is having a love affair with someone else's wife!"

"Potter is the only one whom you cared about, isn't it?" asked Viktor angrily. "Vot about me? Vot vill the public say if they find out that my wife vants a divorce so that she could continue her affair with Harry Potter?"

"You could keep that part quiet, you know." I snapped. "Just say to the press that I'm getting a divorce because there's no love in our marriage anymore. Who ask you to drag Harry into it?"

"I will drag Potter into this!" roared Viktor. "He's the one who tears us apart!"

"Harry? Him?" I gave a short laugh. "Harry is the only reason I stay alive until now! If it wasn't for him, I would have suffered to death in this marriage long ago!"

"Tell me, Hermy-own-ninny," asked Viktor, folding his arms, "was there anything between you and Potter 9 years ago?"

I blinked. "What?"

"That Skeeter woman wrote about you and Potter in the Daily Prophet 9 years ago, remember? Stupid I vos to believe Potter when he said that you two were just friends." said Viktor loudly.

"I didn't have any feelings for him at that time!" I screamed. "I have fallen for you completely, since you were so sweet to me back then! But I really wish that I have the Time-Turner again, so I could go back in time and advise my younger self not to go for you, because you will become a bastard 9 years later!"

"Vot would you advise your younger self to do then?" asked Viktor.

"I would tell her to go for Harry, since he is the one who loves me!"

SLAP

"Mr Krum!" yelled Neville, standing up from his seat (I didn't realise he had sat down in the middle of the argument). "I certainly don't allow husbands to abuse their wives in my office!"

"Abuse?" asked Viktor as I rubbed my cheek in pain. "Mr Longbottom, I'm just punishing my wife for talking rubbish."

"I'm not talking rubbish!" I said in protest. "You don't love me anymore, and that's the fact. Harry and I love each other and that's another fact!"

Viktor looked as if he was going to slap me again. But then he took a deep breath and said, "So you and Potter love each other and you will not be free until we sign the papers, right?"

Bravely, I nodded.

Viktor stared at me for a while before he said slowly and darkly, "Well then, let me tell you this, I will not sign the divorce papers. Never. You and Potter will never be together legally. You are mine and I will keep you until my death!"

With a sneer, he turned, marched to the door and picked up his broom. Then he Disapparated.

Silence.

"Oh my." said Neville quietly.

I dropped down on the chair and buried my face in my hands. Viktor refused to sign the divorce papers. Suddenly I felt coldness surrounding my heart and I felt dizzy. I couldn't believe what Viktor had said, I'm going to be Mrs Krum until his death. Soon, I started weeping.

"Erm, Hermione?" asked Neville timidly.

I lifted my face up, my face wet with tears. "What?"

"Since Krum won't sign the papers, why don't you sign?"

I looked at him. "You mean, I could sign first?"

Neville nodded. "Maybe Viktor will change his mind or something."

I sniffled. At least I could still sign them… "All right."

Neville opened his drawer and took out a piece of parchment. Then he handed it to me. I looked at the terms and conditions that applied to me after my divorce carefully before I signed my name on one of the blanks below.

Then a drop of tear landed right on the parchment, smearing one of the words. "Ops, sorry…" I muttered.

"It's okay, I will fix it later." said Neville quietly. Then he reached over to the tissue box on his desk, took out one or two pieces of tissues and handed it to me.

"Thank you." I mumbled and took them.

I wiped my tears away from my face. "Neville, what will you do if Ginny falls in love with someone else and wants a divorce?"

Neville seemed rather startled at my question.

"Of course, I really hope that it won't happen, I just want to know how you will react." I said quickly.

Neville thought for a while and managed to answer, "If that's the case, I will just let her go. It's no use to keep her if her heart is not with me anymore."

I sniffled again. "How I wish Viktor thinks that way too."

Knock Knock

"Come in." said Neville.

The door swung open and Harry entered in his Auror uniform. "Hi, Neville. I heard that Hermione is here and Ginny told me that the divorce papers are ready… so how is it going?"

I turned around and Harry looked shock at my tear-stained face. "Oh no, Hermione, what happened?"

I got up slowly and walked a few steps towards him before I ran into his arms. Harry put his arms around me as I buried my face in his chest. "Darling, what happened?" he whispered as he patted my head in comfort.

I refused to answer.

"Neville…" asked Harry.

"Viktor Krum refuses to sign the divorce papers." said Neville.

"What?" exclaimed Harry.

"He also says that Hermione is his and he will keep her until his death."

"Harry," I whispered sadly, looking at my boyfriend, "we can't get married like this."

Harry just kissed me on the forehead and didn't say anything.

"Harry, maybe you should take Hermione home." suggested Neville.

Harry nodded. "I have already taken the rest of the day off. And I thought that we could celebrate…"

Harry didn't continue. Then he just released me and said, "Let's go home."

I nodded.

Once we got home, it started raining. After we changed our clothes, I said, "Harry, would you mind watching the rain with me?"

Harry just nodded. We sat on the TV console and leaned against the full-length glass windows. Harry had his arms wrapped around me as we watched silently as the rain fall and the droplets spat against the glass.

The whole day just passed by. I was in a trance state, thinking about what would happen if I marry Harry instead of Viktor and didn't notice that time have flown past us.

"How about something for dinner, Hermione?" asked Harry, snapping me out of my trance.

I shook my head slowly and tiredly. "I don't feel like eating."

"Have some chocolates, at least."

Not wanting Harry to worry about me, I nodded unwillingly and Harry went into the kitchen to get a box of chocolates. Then he came back, sat beside me and handed me the box of chocolates. I took one, put the whole thing in my mouth, picked another one and offered it to Harry. Harry shook his head.

"Go on, Harry, there's more." I said.

Harry took the one from my hand and ate it slowly. We shared the whole box of chocolates and when we were done, I felt slightly better.

Then we went to watch TV. Nightfall came but we didn't feel like switching the light on, so the only light source in the front room yesterday night was the TV.

Harry sat on the sofa while I sat beside him, my head against his shoulder. The TV was showing a comedy but either we were laughing weakly or we didn't laugh at all at the funny parts of the movie. We didn't speak at all throughout the whole thing.

When the movie was over, Harry switched off the TV and seeing that I was not moving, he carried me up in his arms. I let him. He carried me all the way up to our bedroom and put me down on the bed. Harry covered me with the blanket and he got onto the bed as well, without changing his clothes.

Silence.

"Hermione?"

"Hm?"

"Even if you can't get a divorce, I will still love you." said Harry quietly.

I turned over and looked at him. Harry just stared at me. I smiled slightly, moved myself forward and hugged him. Harry hugged me back. I released him and soon I fell asleep in his embrace.

I felt so much better already.

I'm glad that Harry still loves me, even though I can't get a divorce. Ok, if I can't be his wife in this life, maybe I can be his wife in the next.

Hermione

"That bastard, he won't sign the divorce papers!" said Oliver when Ron finished.

"And Viktor still doesn't want to let Hermione go after her death." said Neville, with a slight note of anger in his voice. "He didn't come to me to sign the papers after she died."

"Why can't he just let Hermione live the last few months of her life in happiness?" asked Ginny, shaking her head sadly.

"How many entries are there left, Ron?" asked Fred.

Ron flipped to the last few pages and counted the entries. "Two." he said quietly. "Shall I continue?"

Everyone was silent. The diary was getting close to the last entry and they didn't really want to read what's the last day of Hermione's life was about. But then again…

"Do you think Harry and Hermione live happily all the way to the end?" asked Angelina.

"Maybe." said Ron and slowly flipped to the next page. "Only this diary could tell us now."

"Then I think we should read them, maybe Hermione has some unfulfilled wishes that we could help her with." said Alicia.

"We better stop now. It's already 7pm." said George.

The group nodded in agreement and got up. Ron put the diary on the table neatly and followed the group out of the door.

"Goodbye, Ron," said Ginny before they went separate ways, "and take care of Mum, tell her that she must get better, she can't be like that forever…"

Fred and Angelina got home later than usual and after they had seen the babysitter off, Jemima rushed to Fred and asked, "Daddy, is Harry back yet?"

"No." said Fred immediately.

Jemima looked disappointed. "You said that he would not be back soon but I could not wait. When exactly will he be back?"

"Er…" started Fred. Then he realized that he couldn't lie to his daughter any longer. He could lie for a while but he couldn't keep the truth from his daughter forever. Jemima was already 6. To Fred, she was old enough to know the truth. Suddenly, he felt bad lying to her in the first place. Sure, he had done a lot of mischief back in Hogwarts, but lying to the people he loved simply wasn't one of the things that he always did…

"Daddy? When will Harry be back?" asked Jemima.

Fred took a deep breath and kneeled down until his eyes levelled with his daughter's. "Jemima… H-Harry will not be coming back."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Jemima…"

"Fred, no!" cried Angelina.

"Angelina, I must tell her!" said Fred seriously.

"Daddy, what happened to Harry?" asked Jemima.

"Jemima," started Fred and paused for a while. "Harry is dead."

Jemima blinked. "What?"

"Harry is dead. He, he has gone somewhere that none of us could bring him back. Do you understand?"

Jemima shook her head weakly and said, "But you said before that he had just gone somewhere and wouldn't be coming back for a long time, Daddy."

"I'm sorry, Jemima. Look, why don't I bring you down to the joke shop tomorrow…"

"I don't want to go to the joke shop, I want Harry!" cried Jemima, nearly to tears. "Please tell me that Harry is coming back, Daddy."

"I can't."

"Mummy…"

"Harry is dead, Jemima. You have to get used to that. He can't buy toys for you or play with you anymore…" said Angelina sadly.

"You two are lying, I hate the both of you!" yelled Jemima and she ran upstairs to her bedroom and slammed the door shut.

"Mum?" asked Ron timidly through the dark bedroom of his parents at the Burrow. Mrs Weasley had been lying on her bed for days, too depressed to do anything.

Silence.

"Mum," said Ron and he walked across the room to his mother, "it's me, Ron."

"Go away, Ron, please…" said Mrs Weasley weakly under the sheets.

Ron sighed. "I know you are hurt, Mum. But you have to face it one day. Harry and Hermione are dead."

"No…" said Mrs Weasley, covering her face with the blanket.

"I have to say it, Mum. You care about Harry and Hermione a lot but you can't mourn about their deaths forever. I mean, sure, you will be upset about it but life has to go on, Mum. I myself have grieved after their deaths too. Mum, if Harry and Hermione could see you from wherever they are now, they will be depressed. I'm sure that they don't want you to be in this state. None of your children, including me, want to see you like this too."

Mrs Weasley was silent.

"Think about it, Mum. I say again, life has to go on." said Ron and he gently patted his mother's shoulder before he left the bedroom.