Chapter 35: Dahlia's Drama
Beezus was almost four months old when school started again.
"Are you ready for your first day of school?" Delaney asked Neville.
"Just about love."
"I'm going to miss you, daddy," Mona said.
Neville smiled at his eldest biological daughter. He still considered Dia his daughter despite her living with her biological grandparents.
"You don't want to be late, Professor."
Neville kissed his wife's cheek, his daughter's forehead and left. He ambled down to the greenhouses.
"Morning Professor," Nick greeted, cheerily.
"Hello Nick."
"How was your summer with the new baby and all?" He asked.
Delaney kept in touch with Mrs. Bennett so that's how he knew about the baby.
Neville grinned at the mention of his four month old daughter and said, "Her name is Beatrice or Beezus. She's doing well."
Nick nodded, then turned serious and said. "I haven't seen Dia a lot of the summer but when I did see her she wasn't herself. She was really withdrawn and shy."
"She was?"
Nick nodded as the rest of the class filed in. Neville noticed Dia was missing and shared a quick glance with Nick. Dia would never miss Herbology especially because she would get to see Nick.
It was now lunch time Delaney had decided to have lunch in the Great Hall while usually she would have the house elves bring her some food from the kitchens but it's nice to eat with people other than her daughters.
"Hey love," Neville said greeting her with kiss on the cheek and sitting down next to her.
"Hey Nev," she smiled at him.
"The house elves taking care of Mona and Beezus?"
Delaney nodded and said. "Yes, Dobby and Winky are both really good with them."
Dobby and Winky were two house elves. Dobby used to work for the Malfoy's until Harry freed him in their second year and Winky had worked for the Crouch family.
"Is everything going well with classes so far?" Delaney asked her husband.
Neville nodded and said. "Yeah, but Dia missed her first Herbology lesson."
"She did?" Delaney asked surprised. She knew Dia would never miss Herbology because she would get to see Nick.
"Yes and before class Nick told me he didn't see her a lot during the summer but when they did see each other she wasn't herself," Neville said.
Delaney frowned.
"I have a feeling she's seeing Nick in secret since they think he's not good enough for her," Neville sighed.
"Yeah me too and I doubt they knew she came to see Beezus' birth," Delaney said.
Neville nodded and said. "I can't believe this."
"Me too, Nev," Delaney said, putting her hand over her husband's.
The couple began to eat. After lunch Neville walked his wife back to their quarters his arm around her waist firmly.
"I guess I'll see you tonight," Neville said.
"Okay, Nev."
Neville gave his wife a brief but sweet kiss and left. Delaney walked into their quarters.
"Mummy!" Mona yelled walking towards Delaney.
"Hi sweetie," Delaney smiled, picking up her eldest biological daughter.
Mona snuggled into her mum. Neville returned after dinner. He sat down next to Delaney on the bed.
"Hey Nev," Delaney smiled, snuggling up to her husband automatically.
Neville smiled at his wife and kissed her temple.
"How did the rest of your classes go?"
Neville told his wife about his classes just as he finished Beezus cried. He got up and took care of their four-month-old daughter.
Beezus looks like she inherited both of her grandfathers' black hair and Delaney's hazel eyes. Pomona had inherited Delaney's golden brown hair and Neville's blue eyes. Deep down he still wanted a son but he was quite happy with his little Mona and little Trixie. He finished taking care of his younger daughter and laid back down next to his wife. Neville watched for Dahlia.
It was a few weeks later Hermione rushed into the hospital wing now that Delaney was back at work.
"What's up, Mione?" Delaney asked, turning to her friend.
"I have a few things to tell you but you may want to sit down."
Delaney nodded and sat down.
"First, Dahlia will turn seventeen in a few months and another thing is that Janice and Henry are abusive just like their son and daughter-in-law were."
"That doesn't surprise me but how did you find out her birthday?" Delaney asked confused.
"I just did a lot of research."
"What kind of abuse did they do?" Delaney asked angrily.
"The whole lot."
Delaney's hands tightened on the glass she had been holding and it broke but she didn't even realize she had blood coming out of her hand at first. She put a bandage on it.
"That's why she's been acting this way, ditching class mainly Herbology and barely talking," Delaney started to sob.
"They're being put in Azkaban for life and she'll move back in with you," Hermione said
Before Delaney could respond Neville walked in the hospital wing and kissed Delaney's cheek.
"Hey love."
"Hey Nev."
Neville noticed Hermione and greeted her. He noticed tears on Delaney's cheeks and the bandage on her hand.
"Tell him what you found out, Hermione," Delaney said, noticing Neville looking at her worriedly.
"Found out about who?"
Hermione replied. "Dahlia will turn seventeen in a few months and she's moving back in with you since Janice and Henry are just abusive as their son and daughter-in-law."
"Those bastards!" Neville exclaimed, clenching his fists.
Delaney nodded in agreement and said. "That's why she's been so withdrawn and shy."
"They're going to be thrown into Azkaban for life."
"Especially if we have something to say about it!" Neville and Delaney exclaimed.
Hermione nodded.
A few days later Nick and Dia walked in the hospital wing.
"So, I'm moving back with you and dad," Dahlia said, softly.
"Yes, you are."
Dia smiled softly.
"What else do you have to tell her, Dia?" Nick said, softly.
Dahlia sighed and undid all the charms on her body. She had multiple scars, bruises, bumps around her body. Delaney gasped. Her daughter had been sexually abused and assaulted by her grandfather. Delaney would recognize a pregnant belly from a mile away since she's been pregnant twice.
"I'm so sorry," Dia sobbed.
"It's not your fault, sweetie."
"I don't want to have this baby it's a memory of that horrible night," She said her hand on the slight curve of her belly.
"There's adoption, sweetie."
"I know that, mum."
Delaney's heart swelled when she called her mum again.
After the interaction with her daughter and her best friend and boyfriend she stormed out to the greenhouses.
"Neville!" Delaney called.
"Hey love," Neville greeted, smiling at his wife though his happiness faded when he saw how angry his wife was.
He doesn't think he's done anything to make her this upset in a while.
"Dia and Nick came into the hospital wing today."
Neville's ears perked up when she mentioned their daughter.
"She's pregnant."
Neville blinked in surprise he didn't think Nick and her were that serious yet.
"It's not Nick's baby."
"Who's baby is it then?" Neville asked confused.
"She was sexually assaulted by her grandfather," Delaney said.
Neville clenched his fist and exclaimed. "I could just kill that bastard!"
"I'm sure he'll die a slow painful death in Azkaban."
Neville nodded and asked. "I hope so. How far along is our daughter?"
"Almost three months."
Neville nodded still very angry.
"Now we know why she's been avoiding Herbology," Delaney said.
Neville nodded again.