Chapter 4:
"I can't believe he asked you that!" Blaise exclaimed, throwing the French fry he was holding back down onto his plate, where it jumped before landing on the shabby restaurant table. Hermione shrugged, as she took a sip of her drink. She simply loved Pepsi max.
"I can" Ginny quipped, sitting down next to Hermione in the booth. Hermione squirmed in her seat. Talking about her ex-husband with his sister was not one of her favourite hobbies. Although, she had to admit, it was doomed to happen at one point. She looked at Blaise, almost begging him to make her a way out of the conversation that was going to happen. He smiled at her, refusing her the privilege.
"But you won't take him back," Ginny said, looking over at her. Hermione nodded, while looking down at her plate. She had opted for pickles this time. Pregnancy was doing something awful with her taste buds, normally she wouldn`t get within ten feet of a pickle. She squirmed in her seat. Pulled at her sleeves. Anything to get out of this conversation just about now, she though. But nothing happened. And Hermione had to settle with the fact that she probably would have to tell some parts of the story.
"Never," Blaise watched the two of them, unsure how to act around the redheaded Weaslette. Hermione wondered if the bronze skinned Italian might have a crush on the ginger, but she figured he didn`t. After all, Ginny didn`t seem like his type. Perhaps it was just the fact that she was a Gryffindor, a soon to be Potter, and one of Hermione's.
"He cheated on you, didn`t he?" Ginny studied Hermione's face for any sort of reply. She starred out the window, refusing to let herself cry over the fact once again. It was the single hardest thing about her break-up with Ronald. The fact that all her friends, mostly, was his too. Harry, Ginny, Angelina… They were all mutual friends.
"With Lavender of all people," Blaise shot in. Hermione glared at him. Ginny sat across from them, her mouth hanging open. Hermione felt like she should say something, but she didn`t know what to say. Not telling anyone, in the beginning, had been easy. She didn`t want to speak about the betrayal she had suffered. What Ronald had made her deal with. She just had to get away from him. Thank god she was a lawyer.
"He slept with that bitch?" Blaise sent Ginny a look, and she quieted down. The other people in the restaurant watched them for a couple of seconds, but seeing that there was no more drama, they went back to their own lives. Hermione felt one hot tear on her cheek, and whipped it away straight away.
"Yes Ginny. And before you ask, yes, I am sure. I walked in on them," Than she turned away from her friends, choosing not to speak anymore. She didn`t have the energy. And she didn`t want to cry in public. Someone was sure to see if she did. She didn`t want her tearstriken face all over the prophet.
"George and Angie broke up" Ginny seemed to notice the shift in Hermione's mood, and decided to change the topic of the conversation. Hermione looked over at the young Weasley. Ginny seemed sad that her brother would have to find a new match for the law, but apart from that she did not seem to mind. Hermione knew why. The ginger had never liked Angelina Johnson. And Hermione had never understood why. Blaise watched the duo. Studied them. Something was up. He knew that much. The girls continued chatting as he watched them. Hermione was eating pickles. He though she didn`t like pickles. Something was definitely up.
"And Alicia left the country" Blaise's eyes turned to the Ginger. He knew Alicia. The news also shocked Hermione. She had thought about it herself, she had to admit, but she would never actually do it. Alicia would be banned from ever returning. The lawyer in her knew that. She would never be able to come back without spending a considerable amount of time in Azkaban. And then marrying and having children. No this was a choice for the rest of her life. She would never set foot on British soil again. And the ministry would surely restrict oversea travel if people were leaving. Meaning her friends wouldn't be able to come see Alicia either. She was truly a fugitive from the law. Hermione almost felt sorry for the woman. Then she remembered that she herself couldn`t flee.
It was the cowardly thing to do, really. But somehow Hermione didn`t blame the older woman either. She was asexual, Hermione knew that. Therefore, she also knew how hard this law must have been on her. Hermione looked down at her empty plate. Damn it, she was still hungry. And a bit warm. And a bit tired. She sighed. Then she had to remind herself that she wanted this baby. She had always wanted a baby. Even if the timing was a bit of. She sighed again. She looked out the window, at the people passing by. And she sighed again.
Damn it, Hermione thought. I wish I too could flee. Why do not we just all flee?
"They won`t force me to remarry, Draco. I`ve already signed the papers. So, have you." Astoria once again found herself in her now ex-husbands office. This time, however, they were both siting in the two armchairs that faced the fire. Astoria found herself wondering why they never did something like this when married. She looked over at him, knowing she was right indeed. He too, knew that she was right. He had even joined her on a healer appointment and the healer had agreed. The law stated that all members of the wizarding public between 17 and 35 that were of childbearing age would have to marry. But Astoria, due to her cancer treatments, could no longer have children. Malfoy would have thought it would have made his wife sad, but he had never seen her happier than upon receiving the news. He didn`t understand why.
"Who do you purpose I marry than? Daphne?" Astoria laughed that sweet laughter of hers. Malfoy wondered when it had stopped sounding endearing to him, and started being annoying. She shook her head, still laughing. Draco watched her, wandering what the future would look like now that she was moving out.
"Oh, never. I would never wish that for you Draco. Although our marriage was not one of love, I have grown to care for you these past years." Draco watched her. He cared for her too, he had to admit. But he was at a loss as to what he should do now. Never before had he had to figure out what to do with his life. Even after the war his path had been lain before him. Now he was on his own. And who in their right mind would marry an ex-death-eater with a two-year-old child? No one, he was sure.
"You should marry Granger." It seemed his ex-wife was crazy as well. Granger? His eyes almost popped out of his scull at her suggestion. She must be insane? Why would the golden princess Granger ever marry him, yet alone want to marry him?
"You sure that the cancers` not in your head?" Malfoy regretted it at once, as the words spilled from his lips, but Astoria didn`t seem annoyed or sad or even angry at his comment. In fact, she seemed to find the comment hilarious.
"I mean. Granger. Why Granger?" Astoria smiled kindly at him, once she was able to quit laughing. She stood up, and walked towards him, resting her hand on his arm. She knew this was hard for him. He was basically breaking every part of Malfoy tradition by divorcing her. Marrying Granger? It would be end of an era. But a good thing, Astoria smiled to herself. Indeed, it would be a good end of an era. A way for everyone to just move on. They needed that chance. Draco needed that chance. And if everything Ginny was saying was true, then Hermione needed it too.
"Cause Granger is perfect for you, silly. You need perfect," Astoria smiled at him, before turning around and leaving him alone in his office. Alone in his home. Alone in his life.
Ministry passes new law restricting oversea travel
An article by Reeta Skeeter
Since the announcement of the new marriage and procreation law the ministry has found itself in a bit of trouble as more and more wizards and witches choose to leave the country in order to be ineligible for the law. The wizards and witches often find themselves relocating to either France or America.
As a way to stop this, the ministry has found itself in need of a new law which was passed this Sunday in an extraordinary wizengamont session. Head of Marriage Law offices, Colette Flint had this to say about the new law:
"We have found it necessarily to pass this law to restrict oversea travel. Wizarding kind must realise that the marriage and procreation act is one of necessity, fleeing Britain will do nothing but harm every witch and wizard that find themselves having to stay here."
The number of wizards and witches that have left Britain is unknown, but it has been rumoured that it is over a hundred. With a magical population as small as our own this is catastrophe, claims the Minister in an interview with your dearest.
One of the suspected fleers is once Holy head harpies player Alicia Spinnet, Order of Merlin third class. Ms Spinnet is known for her involvement with Dumbledore's Army, and is a friend of Harry Potter himself. It is speculated that perhaps he also will leave the country, but he himself refuses to let himself be interviewed.