21. Divorce [399]
It was with nervous elation that Draco signed the final paper – he felt jittery and sick in the way that came from eating too many Chocolate Frogs. In fact he could almost feel them hopping in his stomach as he closed the folder and passed it back across the table.
He oughtn't be happy, he reminded himself, schooling his features and linking his fingers together tightly. His wife (ex-wife, ex-wife! a jubilant voice in his head contributed) was right there, for Merlin's sake! He shouldn't be so overjoyed – at the very least must not show it.
But it was so bloody difficult when he knew she was right outside, after so many years – and he reeled his thoughts in with a jerk. He really should hate himself for this joy (but couldn't, just couldn't). His poor wife (ex-wife now!) really did love him; had married him knowing he didn't love her; was now being forced to give him up for the sake of a person who had failed to even consider him since an unfortunate mistake in school. There were the children to consider, as well – this was far from any sort of happy ending.
It was a beginning though, and one with Ginny after all this time – Draco had not so much endured the scandal of his affair as he had completely ignored it in favor of her, and now it was all over. Over, and she was waiting for him in the restaurant right across the street.
He pushed up from the table abruptly, and the previously composed Astoria flinched and let out a tiny noise, a sort of exhausted whimper. Draco didn't even notice, too eager to be gone, but he at least leaned over the table and gave her one last congenial hug (whispering a "thank you" she really didn't want into her ear) before striding quickly out the door.
Astoria fingered the papers for a moment before turning to the window and waiting. It took only seconds, and there he was – dodging trolleys in the street to whisk Ginny up in the air and kiss her with all the passion of teens. They looked truly in love, oblivious to everything around them, and she couldn't really hate them, quite, not Draco at least (she'd expected this, anyway).
She took a deep, shuddering breath, and smiled.
It took a few tries.