Chapter 4: Divorce
Prompt: Divorce
~X~
"The Wizengamot shall reconvene on the 11th of October to finalise proceedings." The deep voice emanated throughout the room. "All rise."
All those seated within the ministry chambers rose to their feet and then returned to their seats on cue. Once the judge had left, the rest of the courtroom followed suit.
A red-haired woman stormed out of the room whirling around in anger. "How dare you!" she seethed, jabbing her finger at the man who had emerged from the opposing end of the courtroom.
The blonde haired man turned, one his perfectly manicured eyebrows arched in derision. "What is it darling," he said scathingly. After flicking a brief glance at his watch, he looked at her, his grey eyes boring into her. "Make it quick. I do have a tight schedule."
She glared at him. "I am a good mother ... y-you made me out to be some sort of second-rate, negligent mother." She said, her voice starting to sound hysterical, attracting the interest of passers-by who were now watching the exchange with interest.
A small bespectacled man turned to the female Weasley. "Mrs Malfoy ..." he started.
"It's Ms. Weasley," she bit out.
The man shuffled uncomfortably before continuing. "Yes, of course. But I do not think it is wise to be communicating with the opposing party, ... at least until the divorce proceedings have been finalised."
Turning to her lawyer, Ginny sighed. "I appreciate your professional judgement, Edwin, but he's my husband." For now anyway, she mentally added. "And if I need to give him a goddamn piece of my mind, I will."
The man paused, considering her for a moment before he nodded, albeit reluctantly. "OK, my office is down the hall." He gestured to a dark wooden door a few metres away. "Talk there." He glanced around. "It is best to save these matters for private quarters."
Ginny gave him a half-hearted smile in thanks, before looking back to her soon-to-be-ex-husband. "Draco."
The man looked at his wife; his head cocked to the side, a slightly bored expression on his face. "Yes."
She huffed and walked off towards the room, the door creaking as she roughly pushed it open. She started pacing the room in agitation.
A few seconds later, Draco Malfoy sauntered in, leaning his body against the wall and crossing his arms in front of himself, an almost bored expression chiselled into his features. Seeing this seemed to incense Ginny's anger at him even more.
She considered him for a moment, their eyes meeting, neither of them saying a word. She broke the silence first. "How can you be so ... detached?"
Before he could respond, she stopped him. "No!" She shook her head, "Just don't."
Breathing in deeply she gently massaged her forehead with her hands, trying in vain to rub away her frustrations, before she continued.
"You didn't answer my question." His eyes snapped to hers at the sound of her voice. "Why did you and your lawyer say those things?"
He considered her before smirking cruelly. "Only stating the facts, Love." His smug expression remained on his face. "You know what they say, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen."
"You can't take Orion from me."
"Watch me," he replied coldly.
She lowered her eyes, tears forming beneath her lashes. Orion was her life: her star in this dark. He was all she had left.
"I'm his mother," she implored.
His answer was immediate. "And I, his father," he stated matter-of-factly.
She reached out her hand, softly placing it on her husband's forearm. "Don't do this, Draco ... you know I'm a good mother, I'll look after Orion. He is my world."
His features softened slightly. "I didn't do this, Gin; you did." With those heavy words he turned, leaving the room, not sparing her a second glance.
~X~
Words: 642
