886 words. Hmm…Thanks to my reviewers, here goes:
"Miss Narcissa Athena Black Malfoy, bringing forth divorce proceeding against her husband, Lucius Xavier Malfoy. I open the floor, Miss Granger."
"Thank you, Minister." Hermione muttered courteously, turning to face the snooty expression of the shrewd blonde before her.
One could tell Narcissa Malfoy had once been a very beautiful woman, weather age or disposition had sullied her features was uncertain, but she had the look of a woman disheartened, feeling much self-importance and little care for others.
"Mrs. Malfoy-"
"Miss Black, if you please." Narcissa cut in viciously.
"Ah, but Madam, you are legally Mrs. Narcissa Black Malfoy until the end of this proceeding, if you receive the outcome you desire, and you shall be referred to as such." Hermione answered politely, some sting to her tone, "Mrs. Malfoy, could you please tell us why you have chosen to terminate your connection with Mr. Malfoy after almost twenty-five years of marriage?"
"Which accusation would you like me to elaborate on, Miss Granger? I believe you have the request?"
"Mrs. Malfoy, please answer the questions directly." the Minister cut in, "Miss Granger, perhaps you could specify…?"
"Of course, Minister." Hermione smiled. "Mrs. Malfoy, could you please elaborate upon your accusations of neglect, abuse, and infidelity?"
"Absolutely. Lucius has kept many a mistress, mentally and physically abused both our son and myself, and we haven't had proper sex in damn near fifteen years. If that doesn't qualify as neglect I don't know what does." Narcissa bit out snobbishly.
"Mrs. Malfoy, are you aware that Mr. Malfoy's statement implies infidelity and neglect on your part as well?" Hermione inquired flatly.
"That is absurd!" Narcissa snapped.
"I see. I call Mr. Lucius Xavier Malfoy to the stand, Madam, you are excused." Hermione said firmly without looking up from her papers.
A few moments later, after Narcissa had passed her husband, glaring furiously, and he had taken the stand, he was swore in and Hermione resumed pacing. Her heels clacked a rhythm on the rough stone floor of the courtroom.
"Mr. Malfoy, could you please describe your accounts of your wife's infidelity and neglect?"
"Certainly, Miss Granger." Lucius answered pleasantly, earning a raised eyebrow from Hermione, as well as many members of the jury, "My wife has had several affairs, and when she is at home, a rare occasion, I assure you, she secludes herself in her room, coming out only at mealtimes, seeing only our son."
"Mr. Malfoy, do you have witnesses of said extra-marital affairs?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, yes. Severus can justify anything I say here."
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy, you are excused." Hermione dismissed him with a wave of her hand, he stepped down and sat behind her advisors on the defending side of the courtroom. "I call to the stand Professor Severus Alexander Snape."
Snape came down the long walk in the center of the courtroom and took his seat at the stand. He nodded politely at Hermione, who bit back a returning smile. Years of working together at Order headquarters and her Potions Apprenticeship had forced them into an odd sort of friendship.
"Professor Snape, have you bore witness to any affairs on Mrs. Malfoy's part?" Hermione began.
"Mrs. Malfoy has…companionship from several of my…colleagues."
"I see, Professor, without naming any of Mrs. Malfoy's 'companions', could you give us a number?" Hermione prodded.
"At least three, to my knowledge, Miss Granger." Snape answered smoothly.
"And has Mr. Malfoy ever abused his wife or son?" Hermione inquired.
"Not as far as I have seen."
"Thank you, Professor." Hermione allowed a small grin, to which Snape again nodded. "Minister, and ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the accounts of our witness has shown that not only has Mrs. Malfoy participated in extra-marital affairs, but she has shown neglect upon her family, as she has accused Mr. Malfoy of doing. I propose granting Mrs. Malfoy, hereafter known as Miss Narcissa Athena Black, her request of divorce from her current husband, Mr. Lucius Xavier Malfoy, and thirty percent of all income, as well as the Malfoy's summer home in France. I rest my case." Hermione seated herself next to Evan Carter.
"Thank you, Miss Granger, members of the jury?"
A short, round woman with flyaway black hair stood. "The jury grants Miss Narcissa Athena Black the deed to Chateau Malfoy, as well as thirty percent of her husbands fortune, as recommended by the attorney for the defense."
"Case dismissed." Minister Bones said smugly.
"Miss Granger, it appears I am indebted to you yet again." Lucius said smoothly as they stepped out of the Ministry phone booth once more.
"You are not indebted, Mr. Malfoy, you have paid me for my services, well above the requested salary." Hermione answered shortly.
"Of course. I trust you are well?"
Hermione stopped walking and turned to look at him curiously.
"The last time I saw you, you were in a state of distress, Miss Granger." Lucius supplied helpfully, "I believe you were crouching in an elevator?"
"I…erm…hadn't had my morning coffee." Hermione muttered, slightly embarrassed.
"I see." he smirked.
"Congratulations, Mr. Malfoy." Hermione offered her hand to him, and he took it, "You are a free man."
"Free, yes. But surely you can see my former wife and I haven't been 'together' for some time."
"I surmised as much, Mr. Malfoy, hence my focusing the jury's attention on her affairs and not yours."
"I noticed." he answered shortly, but Hermione had learned to hear the gratitude.
Or perhaps she had learned to look for it.