Chapter 34: Court Dismissed, Bring in the Dancing Lobsters

They went to court for custody when Delaney was almost nine months pregnant.

"She's been our daughter four years, she doesn't want to be taken away from her family and friends," Neville stated to the judge.

"You can't change the fact that they're her biological grandparents,"The judge said referring to Janice and Henry.

"I know that, your honor but my parents and Delaney's father have been better grandparents to her."

"We have the right!" Henry exclaimed.

"You lost that right when my son and daughter in law adopted her four years ago!" Alice yelled at Henry.

"Mrs. Longbottom please sit down. He's right they do have the right. That was not signed away when she was adopted by your son and daughter-in-law."

Alice glared at the judge and sat down.

"How old were you when you adopted their granddaughter?" The judge asked Neville.

"My wife and I were both turning twenty-three the year we adopted Dahlia. She was my fiancée at the time though we had been engaged for about six months after dating almost a year."

"You like to rush things don't you?"

"When it feels right it's not rushing. My wife and I had been best friends since we were babies," Neville grinned.

The judge nodded and asked. "What do you two do as careers?"

"I am the Herbology Professor while my lovely wife is the co-matron at Hogwarts. Though she's been on maternity leave since February," Neville grinned at the mention of his wife and baby on the way.

"And other than Dahlia, you have an almost three-year-old daughter?" The judge asked.

"Yes, her name is Pomona Riya," Neville grinned again.

The judge nodded. The proceeding continued.

"I'll decide in a few hours and call back," The judge said.

Neville and his family walked out of the courtroom. He was pacing the floor.

"I'm sure they'll side with you, Neville. They had to notice all the passion in your eyes when you were talking about Dahlia and your family," Alice said.

"I know mum, but I can't change that they have the advantage being her biological grandparents. We should've done a blood adoption and we haven't have this problem," Neville groaned, frustrated leaning back against the wall.

"Everything will work out, son," Frank assured his son.

"I hope so."

They were called back in.

"I have decided to give custody to Henry and Janice Holbrook."

Was that the sound of glass shattering in the distance no it was the sound of Neville, Dahlia, Alice and Frank's hearts shattering into thousands of pieces each.

"No, I don't want to go," Dahlia sobbed in her father's arms.

"I know you don't but we'll fight this, Dia," Neville said, stroking his daughter's hair.

"Come on, Dahlia," Max said, wrenching her away form Neville.

"At least let her say goodbye to my wife Delaney and her boyfriend Nick."

Henry just shrugged and said. "Your wife should thought of that before she stayed home and she'll have to break up with her boyfriend because he's not good enough for her."

"Delaney had to stay home this would be too much stress for her and our baby," Neville said glaring at Henry and then continuing. "As for Nick not being good enough for her, you've never met the boy and he's perfectly good enough for her."

"Come on, Dahlia!"

Dahlia mouthed the words 'I love you.' to Alice, Frank and Neville as they dragged her away. Alice, Frank and Neville walked out of the courtroom numbly.

They apparated to Neville's shop so Neville could buy Delaney some flowers to soften the blow but Neville knew they probably wouldn't work.

"Oh, hi guys," Gale greeted happily.

The three Longbottoms just nodded numbly in greeting.

"You lost Dahlia, didn't you?" He asked knowingly.

Neville nodded and said. "Yes, we did. I can't believe that wouldn't even let her say goodbye to Delaney and Nick."

"That's harsh."

Neville just broke down in tears and said. "I'm just coming to get some flowers to give Delaney. Though I know they won't soften the blow of losing our eldest."

"And my little sister, not that matters right now." Gale said.

Neville nodded and got some Laney roses. The three Longbottoms apparated to Hogsmeade and walked to Hogwarts.

"You're back," Delaney called from the bed as she struggled to get up.

Neville sighed sadly he hated to break the news to his already emotional wife. He also noticed Nick was in his quarters he was playing with Mona. He walked over to the bed.

"Nev?" Delaney asked looking up into her husband's sad blue eyes.

"They won the case, they have custody now," Neville said his voice breaking.

Delaney fell apart in his arms. Even if she wasn't almost nine months pregnant she would still be very emotional.

"This isn't fair," Nick exclaimed tears running down his cheeks.

Alice leaned over and hugged her granddaughter's best friend and boyfriend. She'll be her granddaughter no matter what.

"I wish I could do something but I can't. I knew I was never good enough for her," Nick said.

Neville frowned even he believed that he wasn't good enough for their daughter. Though he was perfect for her.

"I can't believe they didn't even let her say goodbye to us," Delaney sobbed into her husband's chest as he stroked her hair and cried as well. Alice and Frank comforted Nick and each other.

It was now time for the farewell feast though Neville and Delaney were not enjoying it one bit. They had their minds on their lost daughter.

It was a few days later and Delaney was in labor.

"It hurts so much," Delaney cried holding Neville's hand.

"You can do it, love," Neville encouraged.

Suddenly a familiar head of dark brunette hair rushed in.

"Dia?" Neville asked.

Dia smiled and said. "It's me, dad."

Neville's heart swelled when she called him dad.

"How did you know I was in labor?" Delaney asked.

McGonagall showed up out of nowhere and said. "I owled her."

Neville smiled thankfully at the Headmistress. Labor went on.

"It's almost time to push, Mrs. Longbottom!"

Delaney pushed a few more times and they heard a soft cry.

"It's a girl!"

Delaney laid back in exhaustion and Neville kissed her sweaty forehead. He cut the cord.

"Who did you make godparents?"

Galen and his girlfriend Lisa walked in. Lisa had been in Neville and Delaney's year at Hogwarts but a Ravenclaw.

"Gale!" Dahlia yelled running to greet her elder brother.

"Dahlia, you're here. I didn't realize you would come."

She smiled and said. "I wouldn't miss the birth of my new sister."

"So, we have a goddaughter?"

Neville smiled, nodded and said "Yes, meet Beatrice Laurel Longbottom."

"My little bumblebee, may I hold her?" Galen asked tears in his eyes.

Delaney nodded and handed her newborn daughter to their friend.

"She's beautiful," Lisa commented looking at the baby.

"Thanks, we make beautiful babies," Neville smiled, kissing his wife on the cheek.

"I wanna see my sister," Mona said, excitedly.

Alice who was holding Mona brought her to see her sister.

"She pretty," Mona said.

Neville laughed and said. "I'm officially outnumbered."

"Deal with it, Nev," Delaney smirked at her husband.

"I don't mind," Neville smiled at his wife and two daughters

Delaney and Neville raised Mona and their little Beezus. Delaney was the one who decided to call her Beezus after a character in a muggle book and Neville agreed.