Divorce
- the legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body.
"Does this dress make my arms look fat?" Ginny frowned at her reflection in the mirror, turning one way and another to observe the lacy ivory cocktail number she'd thought was a good choice two weeks ago.
Hermione, sitting behind Ginny on her bed, looked up from her book reproachfully. "Nobody cares how your arms look when you're getting sworn in as CEO, Ginny."
"Au contraire," Fleur responded as she swept into the room, holding a tray complete with a full tea set, and looking so effortlessly elegant in her maternity nightgown that Ginny wanted to throw a pillow at her. "Everyone will be watching. A woman with power is a woman who inspires hatred, even of the pettiest kind."
"Well, nobody should care," Hermione muttered angrily before blinking up at Ginny, who had moved onto cupping her own breasts in order to check exactly how bouncy they looked. "Uh, Gin, are you sure you're worried about the trustees' opinion there?"
"Oh, would you look at the time?" Ginny beamed at her sisters-in-law before ruffling Hermione's hair and air-kissing Fleur. "Thank you both for coming over to help calm my nerves. I'm sad I'm missing you at the actual gala-"
"I hate everybody there." Hermione shrugged.
"I'd get bored." Fleur sipped her tea.
"Right," Ginny continued, walking to the front door, as if she hadn't heard their non-excuses multiple times already. "Regardless, thank you so much for being here for me and I love you both and will see you soon!"
She Apparated as soon as she closed the door behind her and found herself a moment later at the entrance of the hall that they'd rented for the public occassion, located in the heart of Wizarding London.
"Bougie bitch. Way to avoid the common folk out there." Pansy Parkinson, decked out in a black pantsuit and slightly ostentatious bulky silver jewelry, walked up to Ginny and took her arm, leading her into the hall.
Ginny winced as they walked under chandeliers and the glamor and glitz of the crowd in front of her blinded her eyes for a moment. "Avoid using the term 'common folk' until we're at least out of the press's hearing range, would you, Pans?"
"Anything you say, boss," Pansy winked as she let go of Ginny's arm to grab two champagne flutes from a waiter passing by, handing one to her redheaded companion, who breathed "Thank fucking Merlin" before downing hers.
Pansy raised a well-manicured eyebrow before speaking in a low voice. "Calm and relaxed before your big moment. Love it. Listen, Gin, don't let him this for you."
"I'm not- don't give me that look, I promise I'm not," Ginny insisted as her nervous hands smoothed her dress down. "I just needed some liquid courage."
Pansy quirked her lips but, after examining Ginny's set jaw, nodded shortly and turned to face the man making a toast on the stage in front.
Togubnus Borgin, as slimy as ever with a slight sheen already coating his large forehead, probably from the alcohol, if the ruddy color of his ears was anything to go by, clinked his glass and cleared his throat.
"Thank you, thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, my greatest gratitude to you all for coming. Some of you, like me, have been invested in this organization's success from the very beginning and, like me, you probably had your doubts about the viability of rehabilitating and assimilating parts of society that were affected by the War on both sides, especially in that tumultuous time after the Battle of Hogwarts. However, for better or worse, we have now had two years of continued progress and just expanded into France. I can certainly attest to all the trials and tribulations myself. After the unfortunate passing of Theodore Nott, Sr. earlier this year, we're ushering in a new era of leadership. I could not be more honored to pass on the distinguished mantle to two people who have been here and built this organization from the ground up through many, many ups and downs!"
A couple of scattered laughs echoed throughout the room, but the tension was thick, and Ginny could feel it weighing down on her bare shoulders as people whispered behind their hands and looked at her not just with envy or pride but gossip and questions in their eyes.
"To our new chief executive officers, Mr. and Mrs., er, Ms. Malfoy!"
The applause was hesitant, a little shocked at Borgin's misstep, but quickly became thunderous once Pansy glared around a bit and clapped her hands heavily. Ginny smiled broadly as she made her way up to the stage, nodding and shaking hands here and there.
"Theo, dear, do perk up a bit. This isn't a funeral!"
"Astoria, look at you! You're even more stunning than your sister! Oh simmer down, Daph."
"Zabini, don't you dare ogle me like that when the cameras flash."
"Aw, Dennis, hon, thank you so much!"
"Love your enthusiasm, Ernie, but maybe don't crush my hand."
It seemed like a wonderfully long line of folks she could charm until she was suddenly up the stairs and on the stage, feeling awkward all of a sudden, not sure if her posture was okay, where to put her hands. He was there already, of course, looking as at ease as ever.
If there was anything that pissed Ginny off about Draco Malfoy, it was the bored expression always fixed upon his face, as if he had better places to be, better people to see. Sure, he was competent and brilliant and all that rot, but would it kill him to display an ounce of friendliness?
It was his refusal to even look at her as she stood within feet of him that made her ears burn and her turn to Borgin but speak to the crowd. "Thank you so much for the introduction, Togubnus, but, for future reference, it's Ms. Weasley. I didn't even change my name when Draco and I were married, for fear I too might have to dye my hair platinum blond or walk around with an I-might-murder-everybody-and-their-families vibe. Oh, shit, too soon?" She smiled mischievously and winked.
Her joke had the intended effect; the crowd of well-dressed witches and wizards roared with laughter at her notoriously provocative humor and her ex-husband's steel glare now burned a hole into her bare back.
Ginny sighed internally even as she grinned. It was going to be a long night.