He flipped his notes closed and pulled out a leather-bound planner. "Name the day, Miss Granger."

~*~

On Wednesday, Hermione met Viktor Krum at a Muggle cafe in the outskirts of London where they wouldn't be recognized. His reply to her request had been curt, so relief washed over her when he swept her into a warm hug the moment she arrived.

The first half-hour was full of stilted pauses as they tried to make sense of the other's time during the war. Viktor revealed that he and Katya had been working with the True Order from the beginning, and had volunteered to infiltrate the Death Eaters alongside the Bulgarian Minister. The only piece of information that surprised her was that Minister Grubhov had been in on it. Katya had Obliviated him after Edinburgh was attacked, and Viktor had fled to France.

"I spoke vith Draco Malfoy's barrister," he said, after a time.

Hermione's eyes shot up to his. "I know."

Viktor sipped his tea, glancing out the window. "He told you vot I said?"

"No. But he did tell me you wouldn't formally agree to testify on Draco's behalf."

"Because I vant to hear it from you." He set his cup down and leveled his eyes on her. "You vant me to tell them he lowered his vand."

"I do," she said.

Viktor searched her face. "You are going through a lot of trouble for someone who has been missing for months. Are you sure he is even alive?"

She could hear her heartbeat echo inside the cavern in her chest. "He is."

"How can you be so su—"

"I can feel it."

Viktor stared at her, and her face grew hot as she thought of the other explanations she should have given about Gringotts, and Grimmauld Place.

Finally, Viktor nodded. And sipped his tea.

~*~

Draco's trial would begin on Monday 23 August. On Thursday, Shrapley had come to collect some of the items she stowed in her pouch. On Friday, she'd stared at her notes. And on Saturday, she sat with Narcissa at dinner, staring down at the table and pushing her potatoes around with her fork.

She'd struggled with her Occlumency the last few days. Rationally, she knew Draco was alive, but it hadn't stopped Viktor's words from echoing in her ears every night until she gave into a Dreamless Sleep potion.

"Narcissa," she said abruptly. "If Kreacher answers to the House of Black, would he come if you called him?"

Narcissa glanced up from her plate. Hermione's breath grew quicker as her mind raced.

"I know we've been careful, but it's been months. I really think it's safe to summon him. If we could communicate with him, he could tell us how Draco is—"

"I don't think so, Hermione," said Narcissa softly. She set down her fork.

Hermione blinked. "You think Kreacher wouldn't come?"

"No, I…" There was a pause as Narcissa searched for the words. "I don't think it's a good idea."

"Oh." She counted her heartbeats. "But don't you think Draco would want to know that we have his case handled? He must be in a safe location by now. Kreacher could easily fetch the papers for him, and I'm sure he's—"