Draco 30 August 2017
I can't think straight. This morning my love so broken. I know she's prepared, she's done her research, she's formulated her arguments. Hell she is brighter than any of those dim bulbs on the Wizengamot put together.
Even so, her eyes looked resign to lose.
I tried my best to help her, to encourage her, to let her know this isn't the end.
I know, because I have contacted attorney and had divorce paperwork drawn up and post dated to July 31st - completely legally of course; and a set for today - if the idiots we'll be sitting in front of don't like the other set, in case we are not able to have the marriage legalized.
I am looking for loopholes; she is looking at the law.
Ladies and Gentlemen - the distinction between Slytherins and Gryffindors in a nutshell.
I knew work would blow. Well get bloody blown off.
Harry, 'Mione, and I had a few hours before the Wizengamot met, so it was suggested that we 'carry on with our day normally.'
Trini's idea of that was to have a glass of firewhiskey (I think she kept the bottle behind her desk so I wouldn't go in drunk), two muggle Advil, and a large cup of coffee all sitting on my desk upon my entry. Yeah, where to start on that.
Blaise had told Trini that he would manage the day, and to only disturb me if 1. Theo contacted or 2. It was time for me to go to the Ministry. Other than that, no one was allowed NEAR my office. Theo was in the Americas searching for Ronald with a number of his contacts. If Theo did contact that could be either he found the rat in his hole or he hadn't and his contacts were no help. And knowing Theo like I do, and the fact he's like a brother to me, he won't be back without the weasel tight in his grasp.
I am constantly worrying about how we are going to keep it out of the press. All the Prophet knows is there is a closed session of the Wizengamot later today regarding a special legal matter.
For that reason, Hermione is going in first because her job can justify her being there; then Harry, again for reasons of his job; and lastly me so if anything the press may think it is a contractual issue with Malfoy Industries. Harry and I argued over it a few times on why would the head auror need to be involved in a contractual dispute in the first place.
He really is the 'clueless one' at times. Even though I do try and give him the benefit of the doubt, it fails me.
Not one of us believed that the fourth person that was summoned to the Wizengamot today would show his face, Ronald. That was another reason that 'the pitbull' Theo (what is him and all the bloody dumb nicknames recently?) said that he would search personally for the weasel. The day that he fled again, he sat down with Molly and Arthur Weasley to see what information they derived, which wasn't much. So he asked if he could use legilimency on them to see what they could have passed over. And he did catch a break - he wasn't in the United States, but rather Canada somewhere. A metropolis with water. So that is where his search began. Again.
I chugged the coffee, took the Advil, and debated on the firewhiskey. That I'll save for later. After the hearing. After I know if the woman I call my wife is - according to the dim bulbs of the Wizengamot - actually my beautiful, brilliant, talented wife now or if I have to wait and have a do-over.
It might not be bad to have a do-over. Maybe have our friends there like they should have initially, have a relatively small ceremony by Malfoy standards (only a hundred or so instead of the close to 2500 people we had at my wedding to Astoria). Then Ginny won't hold it over my head anymore that she didn't get to be the matron of honor this time around. Seriously, she had the honor once already, does she need to repeat it? Yeah, I didn't think so either. We have the 'announcement party' invitations out and we can easily go from announcing our marriage to having one there. It would work. But would I not want to call my Hermione my wife until the 4th of November?
I'm still wondering if anyone is going to decline the invitation. All it says is:
Draco Malfoy, Chairman and CEO of Malfoy Industries, in conjunction with his friends and family wish to cordially invite you to an announcement party to take place on Saturday 4 November 2017 to be held at The Museum of London (guess who won THAT discussion?) Black Tie. There were very few - okay if you don't count the Weasley clan, and who really does - who know what the announcement was, and most of them are sworn to secrecy. And hell, I'm not going to invite the members of the Wizengamot, especially if they vote against us. Yeah, I still am holding their invitations hostage. My beautiful wife may call me petty and childish, but really why would I invite someone to something they are against? It is actually taking their beliefs in consideration.
As good as my wife is trying to sway people, I am nearly as good. So when the two of us go against each other, it usually is a draw.
In reality, between Hermione and I, the Wizengamot doesn't stand a chance.
When Trini came in, her face long and looking scared, I knew what it meant. It was time. I look at the pictures on my desk - my son and one from Rose's birthday party of Hugo, Rose, and 'Mione. This is my family. I have been taught to defend my family at all costs. It is the one honest thing that my father taught me. And today I will. I'm ready. I am going to be there to support the woman I love and our family.
Trini gives me a hug as I leave my office, with my files in hand. It is both set of divorce papers and my supporting documents for the Wizengamot. "You'll be fine. You two, you're meant for each other. You love her and she loves you. That - in the end - is what matters."
"I know Trini. I just am ready to be 'normal' for the two of us and the kids. You know Scorp calls her 'mum'. It's the sweetest thing from that boy's mouth other than 'dad'." I reminisce. I need to think about these happy moments as I feel like I'm being led to the proverbial guillotine.
"You'll look back at this and realize how much stronger you both are because of it. And it will give us all a real reason to celebrate in just a few weeks."
Blaise walked up to us, "Pansy says just don't get her pregnant before the celebration. She says something about not being able to fit in the dress or something." Jerk. I know what he's trying to do, but this isn't the time to think about a baby in our possible future.
And yet I cannot contain a chuckle, "If things go well today, I can't guarantee it."
"If things go well today, mate," Blaise looks encouragingly at me, "I'm sending a case of champagne to your place, inviting the Potters and Shacklebolt, and we're all going to celebrate."
"Ahem, what am I? Chopped liver? Theo and I will just crash, ya know Draco."
"Thanks you two. I'd better go though. Merlin, help me," I pray.
I enter the atrium of the Ministry of Magic. I know where I'm going. It's a place that holds terrible memories for me to begin with and I dread going back in there. I notice that my mother is here, looking like she did over a decade and a half ago: regal, dignified, refined.
"Mother," I greet her with a hug, the most intimacy that any of my family ever shown, "what brings you here today?"
"Scorpius contacted me. He let me in on the hearing today. Draco, my sweet boy, I couldn't not be here for you. Scorpius said you were nervous this morning and he worried about you. So I'm here as familiar support. Since neither of us have much family left, other than each other." Her expression changed slightly, "I am put out that you didn't tell me yourself and earlier of this predicament. You know I support you and our little family completely."
"Mother, I didn't want to incur you with any undue stress." I see her eyes soften. The kind blue eyes that I grew up with. In those eyes was the only love I ever really knew. Until Scorpius, and more recently Hermione. The three of them have shown me love and support. And it is time I return the favor. "The session is in front of the whole Wizengamot, mother. I didn't think you wanted to return to the chambers that held such pain for you, with father."
"Draco, your father received a light sentence for the pain he caused. Think of what she would say if she had to deal with your father on - say - Christmas, your birthday, or your son's. That pain would be brought up to her regularly. For the sake of you and her, I am glad your father resides where he is now." She reaches out her hand, "Now come on son, you have a meeting to attend to."
"Yes mother. And thank you."
"You're my son. This is what a mother does. Even your son understands and supports his mum." She looked at me sideways and I knew that she knew Scorpius calls my wife 'mum'.
We reached the floor that held the chambers and saw a couple members of the press waiting for us. Pansy, surprisingly, was managing them.
"Drake," she walked up to me with the utmost confidence, "did you get the revised contracts that are under discussion today?" I nod knowing she's talking about the two sets of divorce papers in my hand. "Good." She concurs as she turns her attention to the press, "see it is just a little contractual issue that Draco is having, and his mother - knowing the family's history in this chamber - is here to support her son." She leans back to me, "get your arse inside, so I can get them cleared out."
"Yes Pans. Thanks."
"Don't thank me yet. Blaise just said you might need some reinforcements today. And I miss this. I am talking to people older than 10, which is nice."
My mother looked gently at her, "if you ever want to talk to someone older than 10, as you say, let me know. I'll watch the kids and you can have some adult time."
"Narcissa, you're a lifesaver! I might take you up on that. Thank you." She hugs my mother, as I slip into the chamber undetected by the press, who are looking at the scene before them.
No wonder Skeeter is the main writer for the Prophet. They can't see a real story in front of their faces.
Walking in the chamber, it is the same as I remembered it. It's been over 15 years since my trial, but many of the faces remain the same. Even Harry and Hermione are both here, as they were for me then. Kingsley is seating in the center of the Wizengamot chamber, his bright red velvet robes standing out from the rest of the members who wore either black or red, determined by their office. My wife, if she were not seated next to me, would be up there in her black robes, judging whosoever stands before them. Today she sits alongside me. My mother comes in, giving Hermione a quick hug and peck on the cheek, whispering something in her ear that makes her smile ever so gently, before taking a seat in the viewing area. Potter is pulled off to the side as a witness.
I feel the butterflies in my stomach on overdrive, as I take my wife's hand. She leans into me saying, "Don't be nervous."
"How did you"
"Your hands are sweaty. And I can feel your pulse."
"Just know, I have a plan B and C if things don't go well today."
"Well then I think I have a plan D." She hands me a file that looks eerily similar to one I have.
"That's plan C." I hand her the two files that I have.
"Is this legal, the postdated one?"
"Completely. At least according to my attorneys."
"Brilliant," she says under her breath, causing me to smirk a little.
Kingsley stands in front of the members of the Wizengamot and begins, "Members, we are called today to discuss the legality of the marriage between Draco Lucius Malfoy and Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley that took place 1 August 2017 in Rio de Janeiro Brazil."
He spends at least a quarter of the hour going over the prelude to the marriage, the whole Ronald fleeing his marriage aspect. Then for another half an hour there was a discussion on the mission in the first place: who were they following, what was the tip that began the mission, where did it go cold, why did the aurors in question feel the need to travel to a different jurisdiction without the prior approval of the Ministry and MACUSA.
At this point I was ready to fall asleep. Or have the firewhiskey that I left on my desk.
Then for over an hour there were questions as to the law about Ron's declaration of death. Now my bloody head is throbbing. The two Advils did nothing and I am dreaming of my firewhiskey and a couple of headache potions to relieve this pain. I look over at my wife and just smile. She's fully engaged, answering questions posed by the members, giving details, et cetera. She is in her zone and at one time I despised her for it; today I see it for the beauty that it is.
Harry on the other hand, looks like he's going to be ill. He was so involved in the America Incident and I know he still feels guilt for keeping the affair from 'Mione.
Another quarter of an hour pass and I feel like I am going to pass out from either boredom or this headache, when the door to the chamber flies open with a flair that I know all too well.
Theo comes in dragging a redheaded lump behind him. "My sincerest apologies esteemed members of the Wizengamot for the interruption, but I believe Ronald Bilius Weasley was summoned to attend this meeting also. I happened to stumble upon him under an assumed name of Reginald Brian Wulfric in the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada."
"HOW DARE YOU USE HIS NAME RONALD WEASLEY!" I hear my bride screech. Now that is not a term that I ever would say to her face, and I will deny it to my dying day, but HELL! Howler's aren't that bad. And it didn't help my headache one bit, but it did wake me up.
"Love, I don't know what you're saying. You might need to explain yourself to the members here. Or just me." I look over and quietly say to her. But then again, after her - um - screech anything is considered quiet. Like a sonic boom. Or a nuclear detonation. Or even her bloody air raid siren alarm clock (which she got rid of when she got her new phone, thank Merlin).
"Dumbledore. He was using two of Dumbledore's middle names. And Reginald? That is just a dreadful name to begin with. You still are hooked on it Ronald, when I told you we were not naming Hugo 'Reginald'," she calmly explained.
I look over at Theo, and mouth, "it's really him?"
All I get is a very slow slight nod.
Thank Merlin! If the Wizengamot does not see in our favor, I can have him sign divorce papers - for reason of abandonment - immediately and we will file them today.
And now he is going to face the Wizengamot for his abandonment of the brightest witch of the age, a member of the Golden Trio, the presumed next Minister of Magic, darling of the wizarding world, defeater of Voldemort (I know Harry gets all the kudos, but being there, she carried a lot of the work during the fight), and all around bad ass, beautiful, talented, caring, sexy witch - Hermione Granger.
Luckily, whatever Theo got him with to bring him here, has worn off. Either that of my wife's - you get the picture - woke him from his stupor.
"'Mione. Harry. Malfoy. What the bloody hell am I doing here? And where is here exactly?"
I give my bride a sympathetic look. He is a nimwit, borderline neanderthal - like Flint. No that is insulting to Flint. Flint has more sense than weasel. There's no way in hell that Flint would get a girl like 'Mione, but even he hasn't left his wife or knocked up some muggle slag.
"I am to assume," one of the lesser members began, "that this is Ronald Bilius Weasley. He who was called before this chamber to present himself and failed to do so on his own accord?"
My wife and her best guy friend both stood and nodded. "Minister and members, I believe in addition to Mr Nott, Harry Potter and I can vouch that this is indeed Ronald Bilius Weasley."
"Until Ginny sees him" Harry mumbles under his breath.
"Good, then we have some questions for you." The member looked sternly at the redhead, while my eyes just rolled in the back of my head. This is going to be long and bloody painful.
My wife reaches in her bag and hands me a small vial. "Drink this."
"Pepper-up potion?" I whisper to her.
"No, something stronger. And it will relieve the headache I know you have," she whispers back.
She knows me. I want to take this second and yell, "okay dim bulbs, this - right here - is what a marriage is. She knows I have a headache, I'm surprise everyone here doesn't have one already, and she was prepared. That is love. That is knowing each other. That is what a wife and husband do for each other." I wrote it down though. If I have the chance it will be included in any remarks - which I only have about 5 pages worth - that I am able to give.
The good news is, the redheaded weasel is sweating bullets. Harry slips me a note saying: America Incident. Now he's alive, what?
I write back: It's on him. He was the one who lead to the fuck up. He's going to need to go before MACUSA.
Handing it back, I see him glance at the note and mouth "shit".
We are at the interesting part for me, with weasel now, why did he leave 'Mione. I know this is a shitty subject for her so I take her hand and pull her chair closer to mine. A few of the members notice. I see a few smiles. Ron is blubbering an excuse, how he fell out of love and he was overworked and how he thought she didn't care for him, only her job, and he was lonely.
I'm ready to vomit.
That is not a reason to leave your wife and children. Especially without giving them a proper goodbye.
His excuses sound like bile coming out of his mouth. No more like diarrhea of the mouth. It's true shit.
I know a couple of the members before me have cheated on their wives, heck some have mistresses that are in apartments that they pay for. But none of them, that I know, have left their wives in such a despicable manner.
Now up for the subject is the baby: Heather Lavender Weasley.
Harry and I look at each other and I know what's going through his head, because it is also going through mine. "RUN WEASEL RUN! HERMIONE IS GOING TO EXPLODE!"
Well, Harry probably is thinking "run Ron run" but you get the idea.
He named his daughter after the girl who he was snogging at school when the world knew Hermione was in love with him the first time. My hand drops from hers as I wrap my arm around her. I can see the tears in her eyes as she tries to hold it together, back straight and her eyes forward not really focusing on any one thing. Tonight, no matter what, is not going to be a celebration. I am going to need to console my wife.
There is much discussion as to the abandonment issue, did he abandon his family giving them justification for the marriage. Did he usurp his authority as an auror to have his family receive death benefits unjustly. (Come to find out Hermione never took the money. It is sitting in an account at Gringotts untouched and unclaimed.) And more and more questions.
I give Kingsley a pleading look. Something along the lines, are we really on topic and can we get this debate moving in some direction.
It took another hour of misery for the three of us in the spotlight, and weasel, before there was an attempt to wind the matter up.
Harry was the first called to say any words. He spoke of what love is, what you do for someone you love. He spoke of my leading the way for the extraction of Hermione in Manila and the additional information that I was able to provide that allowed for the disbanding of their organization. He spoke of how she looks at me with a care and love and life that he never saw in her before. Her pain seems to leave her now that she's with me. The kindness that I showed her at every falter and how I was always the first to wipe away her tears and do anything to make her whole again. He explained how his wife, in their first years of marriage, went through something similar but from the war. He knows how hard it is to see the person you love break down and the helplessness that you feel when you can't immediately fix their pain. He explained the first text he received from me, when we were at Luna's, about why she would break down during the hemi-final talks.
He said, "Draco said something the other day, and it hit me. He said, 'this is what a husband does.' For him there was no question. He was there with her every step, every trip and fall and every time there was a chance she would be in danger. Theo Nott, the man who brought Ron in today, he's one of Draco's employees and not only did he go to the other end of the Earth to get Ron, but he also was there in Manila to help with that situation. Why because it is what a husband and a family does. Draco also said, more than once, along the lines of 'she's a Malfoy and my responsibility.' I remember my vows to my wife when she - her safety, well being, her everything - became my responsibility. He understands the weight of the vows he took to Hermione. Ronald has forgotten the meaning when he began his affair. If there was a loyal husband to my best friend, it would be Draco Malfoy. No doubt. It would be unfair of this committee to vote otherwise."
Hermione spoke next on the law, the basis for the law, how Ron used the law to his benefit to make it easy. "Many years ago, there was a boy. He was considered a coward by members of both sides of the war - he wasn't a real Death Eater because he couldn't fulfill his mission to kill Professor Dumbledore, and he wasn't on the side of the Order or those who fought alongside us because he feared the retaliation on him and his family. But see that to me isn't really cowardice. That is standing up and being there for those you love. He couldn't kill which saved his soul, but he couldn't run away because that would be the equivalent of killing - but killing those who were his world. He has grown up a great deal since then. He is smart. He is wise. He is cunning. He is a respected member of our community and is known throughout the Muggle community also. He has done a lot of good that you don't see, because he feels he is making up for his past inadequacies and not standing up when he should have. I trust this man next to me with the one thing that is most fragile - my heart. To say it is a heart of glass is an oversimplification of it. My heart is paper thin glass now, after the pain and loss that I faced when Ron Weasley abandoned me and my children. I can't even have myself call them our children anymore, they are mine. They have been mine since the day he first bedded his mistress." She took a breath, I could see her lips count to 10. "The pain, it was worse than any crucio curse. It ate me from the inside. It was only magnified when he returned and tried to claim me as his wife again - like a possession that he had just put on a shelf for something shinier. My husband, the man seated next to me, stood up for me and for the mother of Ronald's new daughter. He asked the question if Ronald was going to abandon them too to take me back, was I supposed to raise this new child, or was," I see her chuckle slightly, "if there was going to be a polygamist type arraignment. Just for the record, that last one is never ever ever going to happen. I may have become a widow or whatever you want to call it when the America Incident happened, I didn't have a say. I wasn't able to file for a divorce, though if this body feels that I am still married to Ronald Weasley," she took my file, the one post dated, "here are divorce papers drawn up and just needing signatures. But I wasn't given that option. The search for Ronald said he couldn't be found. I never would have thought that he would have the balls to use Dumbledore's names as an alias. So I moved on. I buried him and that part of my life. I mourned. Then I married a man that doesn't see me as a possession, but rather something fragile that needs to be handled with care. Though we've had our discussions on that topic also. It's nice to be cared for, to be loved, like Draco loves me. It is something that never I could have imagined, there's a beauty in it that even my friends see. Please, I know Draco won't beg, but I will. Let us remain married. Let us move on with our life together. Thank you."
At this point I'm embarrassed. I almost don't know what to say. So I ask to speak after Ron, so that at least we can have some sort of rebuttal to his claims.
Ron looked at the members, obviously intimidated after getting reamed by them on the incident, the abandonment, and now his best friend and his wife standing up for me. But he spoke of mistakes and granting second chances. How he realized how wrong he was once his daughter was born and he looked into her eyes and saw an emptiness because it wasn't the eyes of his children.
Really? This is your kid too, I wanted to scream. Are you that thick?
He continued blubbering about how he and Hermione were destined, they fell in love in the lowest of points and there they found each other. He missed the warmth she gave his heart. He talked of the Deluminator (whatever the hell that is) that was willed to him and that when he had left the trio when they were hunting horcruxes (wait this guy seems to have a pattern of jumping ship when things get rocky) and how it showed him where his heart really was. And it was with her.
His mouth seemed to still be full of diarrhea as he 'explained', "See, Hermione is just hurting right now. It is my fault and I know it. I take responsibility for it. And I came back to make it right. Right by her and our children. I realize how much I've missed already with them: birthdays, Christmas, holidays, them just growing up. I don't want to miss anymore. And I can't sit on the sidelines when someone - a former death eater - raises my children in my place. No I don't trust Malfoy. I never will. Neither should you all. He should be in Azkaban along with the rest of them. Please, negate their marriage. If not for me, for my children, so they can be raised in a loving home."
It came to me. I am glad I chose to go last.
"Weasley here," I cringed slightly speaking his last name, because Merlin knows that weasel fits him, "speaks of second chances; but only those second chances that help him and his cause. This membership gave me a second chance and I have used it to further the Wizarding world, protect muggle-borns that are persecuted, and even the environment. I have used my second chance for good, because I know how few of them you get in life.
"I also received a very lucky second chance when I found Hermione again. After many years, after so many changes for both of us, we found each other when needed most. It wasn't planned. Heck both our plans have changed drastically since then. I fear what my family name will do to hurt her. I never saw myself as a stepfather to two amazing children, and I am. I have a stepdaughter, which terrifies me. I worry about boys like me. I worry about - Merlin knows! I feel that I was thrown into the deep end of the pool with that. But I had a second chance at having a big family like I always wanted. And I love these children, like I love my own.
"I don't know how to explain the absolute high I have being part of our family. We're blending, sometimes the colors come out beautiful, sometime we get something that is reminiscent of what is flushed down the drain, but all those colors now in the world around me. I see the sunny yellows in the flecks in my wife's eyes when she's happy. I see the sunsetting fiery reds in Rose's hair. The pale pink in Hugo's cheeks when you tease him about his room's 'aura'. These colors I never saw before. So much of my life before them was black, white and shades of grey. Now I have love that has opened my eyes.
"While you were in discussions earlier, my wife did something that probably many of you didn't notice. I wouldn't have noticed if I was in your place. She handed me a small vial. She knew ahead of time that I would probably need something to get through this meeting today. She knew that I would see the strain and pain in her and that I would need to be here for her. We both can't break down together, one of us needs to remain strong. Today was my day and I knew it going in, as did she. She thought ahead - like she always does, she's still one step ahead of me," I smile at her and I see her tears start to disseminate. "She came prepared. And thankfully she did because you may have seen the hurt that she's just endured.
"I vowed not to hurt her. I vowed to protect her. I vowed to love her in the good times and the bad. I will take those vows every day for the rest of my life, because they will not change. I love this witch next to me. I will be beside her every step of our life together. And every step for the rest of our lives.
"She is right, we both came prepared with backup plans. We don't want to use them. We are putting our faith in you today. Please do not prove us wrong. Hermione held so much hope through the war. Hope that people will do what is right. She showed the same hope in you to me today. Don't prove the brightest witch of our age wrong. It's not pretty when she's told she's wrong." I decided to leave it on a light note, hoping that the Wizengamot would realize that this isn't all doom and gloom. It's beauty, it's laughter, it's a resurgence of light in the darkness. This is love.
Kingsley called for a vote. "All those in agreement that the marriage of Draco Lucius Malfoy to Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley held on 1 August 2017 is legal and binding." I close my eyes again, not able to see the results. I feel my wife squeeze my hand. I open them up to see her smile.
"All those not in agreement that the marriage of Draco Lucius Malfoy to Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley held on 1 August 2017 is legal and binding." I look at her. I still can't look at them. All that I see is her. All that I ever want to see is her.
In the background, I see Harry, Theo and my mother all with bright smiles on their faces.
"With the vote counted, I declare the marriage of Draco Lucius Malfoy and Hermione Jean Granger to be legal and binding under the laws of the International Wizarding Coalition."
All I can do is lean over and say "I love you Hermione Jean Malfoy. I loved you yesterday. I love you today. And I will love you more tomorrow and forever," before kissing my wife with an intensity of the built up fear from this whole day.
When we finally break our kiss, she looks at me with her eyes sparkling golden brown, "Malfoy, let's go home."
"Anything you say Mrs. Malfoy."