Chapter Twelve: Hope

"Hermione, don't!" Dr. Krum pleaded. She had shown up at his office in tears.

"Viktor, let me tell him!" Hermione snapped.

"That you are his wife?"

"Yes!" her bloodshot eyes were determined.

Dr. Krum's face softened, "You can risk it if you wish," he told her, "I hope you won't"

"What do I risk?" she paused, looking down on the floor, "Now"

"What do you want with him Mione?" he asked, "His name? His protection?"

" I want him as he was," she heaved a tired sigh, "I want his love."

"Hermione," he tried to reason, "eight months ago, you walked into his office. If the sight of you did nothing to restore his memory, what can words do?"

Hermione turned away as he continued, "When you came to me at Melbridge shortly after he disappeared, I told you I was sure he didn't desert you knowingly," he recalled, "I told you, 'a door in his mind had opened, but another had closed.' I warned you even that if, IF you found him, that chances were, he wouldn't recognize you."

"You gave me a hope!" Hermione interrupted.

"There's always a hope," said Krum, "But the evidence must come from within. It can't be forced on him from outside," he explained, "You can tell him the truth and claim your legal rights, but what is going to be his attitude when a strange woman appears and suddenly claims to be his wife?"

Hermione thought about the scenario aloud, "He'd resent me. He'd accept me. He'd pity me…and he'd resent me," she admitted.

"I can only offer you a frail hope," Krum added, "That miracles would happen, and he'll come back to you, not as Harry Potter, Industrial Prince, but as----what was it you use to call him?"

"Smithy," she sniffed.

"As Smithy," he repeated, "with all his emotions for you as warm and intact as it was on the day he left you."

Hermione started to tear up again, "Doesn't much help to me Viktor is it? I'm real! These tears are real!" she dabbed her face with her handkerchief, "and my jealousy is real. And my need of him-" she choked up, unable to continue.

"Mione," he touched her shoulder gently, "I wish I could help you."

Hermione placed her hand on his in appreciation. Silently she stood up and walked heading towards the door.

"What will you do?" Krum asked, worried.

"I don't know, I'll have to think it out," she answered, glancing at her watch, "You go to your dinner."

He cuts in front of her before she reached the door, "I'll call it off, if you'll dine with me."

"No, don't do that," Hermione smiled, gratefully grabbing his hand, "Dear Viktor, always firm, but kind. Thank you for the hope."

"It is rather nice of me," he shrugged, "Seeing that it robs me of mine."

She gave him a peck on the cheek. "Good night Viktor."

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A few days after her talk with Krum, Hermione finally made a firm decision.

"The law is quite clear on that point, Mrs. Smith," the barrister informed her, "If it is proved that for a period for not less than seven years, no news of a person has been received by those who would naturally hear of him if he were alive, then he may be legally presumed dead. You wish me to take the necessary steps?"

Hermione nodded, "Please."

"Now, to complete the particulars," he said as he filled out the form, "Did you procure a search?"

"Yes," she answered, "We've investigated accidents that had occurred on that day."

"Without result?" he asked.

"Yes. Then I became seriously ill," she explained, her hands anxiously squeezing her gloves, "I was ill for many months. The baby died. As soon as I could get about, I made some efforts to return to the stage, but without success. I worked as a waitress, a saleswoman, I studied stenography at night school, spent everything I could spare to find a trace of my husband. I thought he might have been taken to the hospital, perhaps even an asylum. But months past, and I found no trace of him."

"Are you employed at the present?" asked the barrister.

"Yes," Hermione told him, straightening up from her seat, "For the last eight months, I worked as private secretary."

"To whom?"

She replied, "To Mr. Harry Potter."

A few weeks later, Hermione appeared with her barrister again to meet with the Judge. As he spoke, she sat completely still with her face devoid of emotion.

"I've studied your petition, Mrs. Smith, and the affidavit's attached," the Judge read aloud, "In regards to the evidence presented, I have entered the decree to the effect that the man known as John Smith shall be presumed to be dead, and your marriage to him, consequentially dissolved."

Sorry, I know this chapter was pretty short, but quite important don't you think? Read and Review!