Hey wonderful readers! What's up, y'all! Anyways, here is Chapter Four. I had a little trouble with this chapter, but, hey, it's here.
Rating: T, for language and because I'm paranoid.
Characters: Hermione G. and Draco M., sometimes mentioning/featuring Astoria Greengrass, Ginny W., Ron W., Harry P., and two (minor) OCs.
Summary: Five years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy gets the shock of his life when Astoria Greengrass ups and leaves him. He needs a good divorce lawyer. That was what he needed and what he expected. But what he didn't expect, however, was a certain bushy-haired brunette in lawyer's clothing, reeling from a break-up with the Weasel King himself. Ignores epilogue. Eventual Dramione.
Standard Disclaimer: ME NO HAY OWNA HARRY POTTER! I just butchered the Spanish Language! I DON'T OWN HARRY POTTERRR! :3
This story was corrected by several people along the way, you know who you are, and I give you a lot of thanks :)
"Dra-Malfoy, calm down." They were back in Hermione's office. Draco was mad again, this time because of claims that Astoria's lawyer had made.
"How should I?" He bristled. "This is preposterous!" He waved at the paper on Hermione's desk, stating the claims. "Abuse- what the hell? I never lifted a finger against her!"
"Well, you did-" Hermione tried to reason, but Draco interrupted her.
"Don't you think I know that, Granger?" He spat, but it was obvious he was hurt.
"Well, y-yes...but if you're going to go on a rant, at least make sure what you're claiming is true!" She snapped.
"Right." Draco paced around faster still. He hated it when Herm-Granger was right, and even though he hated to admit it, she usually was.
"Malfoy. Malfoy!" Hermione nearly shouted. "Sit. Down!"
Draco blushed at his fast temper and sat down heavily in his chair. "Sorry, Granger..."
"It's fine, Draco, it's fine. But that fact that you hit your wife in the face just made my case a damn lot harder."
"Sorry!" Draco winced, hoping she wouldn't hex him.
"Forget about it. It's my job." But Hermione was still disappointed. "Now, Astoria and her lawyer-"
"God, I hate that guy!" Draco said under his breath. Hermione was not amused.
"What was that?"
"Oh, nothing, just some...minor differences."
"I hope you realize that he doesn't like you either."
"I've talked to him once."
"He's a lawyer. He gets paid for opinions." Turning back to her work, Hermione continued. "Anyway, Astoria and her lawyer-" she cast a silencing look at Draco- "Have requested a meeting with us, tomorrow at lunch."
"As long as you don't skip out on me right before the meeting, that's fine with me." Draco responded, grimacing as he remembered his former lawyer's sloppiness.
"I promise I won't."
"Sure?"
"Yes, Malfoy, I am sure."
"Good."
"So, that's fine, then?"
Draco nodded absently. "Of course."
"Now, tell me about your first meeting with Mr. Mason and Ms. Greengrass."
Hermione and Draco met at the cafe the next day.
"Why, Granger, how pleasant it is to see you." Draco smirked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's not mutual, Malfoy, I can assure you that."
Draco ignored her words and held the door open for her. Murmuring a thanks, the two stepped into the cafe, and to their shock, saw that Astoria and Mr. Mason were already there.
"Good day." Draco greeted his soon to be ex-wife and his ferret- wait, he wasn't using that insult anymore, he reminded himself- of a lawyer.
"Sit down, Mr. Malfoy." Mr. Mason commanded, then turned and faced Hermione.
"Ah, Ms. Granger."
Hermione held her hand out to shake, but Mr. Mason ignored it. He cleared his throat.
"We have an important case here to discuss."
"I don't see what there is to discuss." Hermione said in an icy tone. "Mr. Malfoy owns most of the possesions, and made the money in their marriage."
"He was a lying, stinking, pig." Hermione whipped her head around to see Astoria, sitting there with a cruel, hard expression on her face.
"Astoria..." Draco's heart was breaking. What had happened to them, to their happiness?
Hermione's eyes were flitting between the two feuding ex-lovers. It was astonishing how different their eyes looked. Astoria's were cold, blank. Everything in her face said that she was happy this relationship was over, that she was rid of Draco.
Draco's eyes told a different story. It told a story of a near-broken heart. A person who hadn't accepted the relationship was at an end, that someone who he had trusted, even loved, was gone. It showed that he, somewhere in his twisted heart, really did care. Hermione's heart swam with pity. Had this happened with her and Ron, from one day to the next, love-or seeming love- being replaced by bitter hatred, she would have never been able to accept it. Still, she was surprised at the next words that left her mouth.
"Astoria, your claims are ridiculous." Her tone was surprisingly harsh.
"You didn't live with him, Granger." Astoria's tone was dark.
"He told me enough, Astoria. Ms. Greengrass, whatever. I suggest you stop throwing mindless insults at my client, or I will be forced to press charges for emotional abuse."
Astoria's face went pale. So did Mr. Mason's. "Y-you cannot!" Mr. Mason stuttered, obviously surprised.
"Oh?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid I can, Mr. Mason. I have heard enough- your client here has thrown several demeaning insults at mine, and unless she can justify any of them, they could be filed as emotional and psychological abuse.
If Astoria's face was pale before, it was positively transparent now.
Draco could only watch in amusement as the Gryffindor that he had considered weak in his school days built up an impressive defense of him.
"And thus, Mr. Mason," Hermione smirked, "I can press charges both you and your client for emotional abuse.
"See, you lured an obviously depressed and unstable man to a restaurant, and insisted you meet with him, even though he did not have any representation to help himself. When there, you bombarded him with mindless insults."
Draco thoroughly enjoyed seeing the looks on their faces while Hermione smirked triumphantly, continuing her argument and rattling off laws.
She turned to Draco. "Now, if you'll excuse us-" she smiled, an extremely sarcastic smile- "My client and I will be off."
And without another word, Hermione strode out of the restaurant with her head held high. Draco rushed out after her.
"Granger, that was bloody brilliant!" Draco followed Hermione and sat down next to her on a park bench. "What was that?"
"I was doing my job, Malfoy," Hermione snickered slightly. "I get paid for it, remember? You pay me?"
"Of course I know that, Granger. But where did you come up with those arguments?"
"It's called school and learning, Malfoy. Why did you think I was always so good at Hogwarts?"
Draco painfully remembered constantly being overshadowed by the brunette in, well, all classes and unconsciously grimaced. "Of course I remember..."
"Well, then, Malfoy, that's how you learn to do your job right. Listening and studying. And communicating properly, perhaps."
"Uh huh. That's really the reason for success." Draco commented sarcastically.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what is it, then?"
"Why, ambition, of course." Draco smirked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Typical Slytherin."
"Hey, I have the seeds of greatness!" Draco defended himself.
"So did Voldemort." Even as she was saying it, Hermione realized she had crossed a line. All color went out of Draco's face.
"Oh, and because I'm a Slytherin, that automatically means I'm evil, right?" Draco tried to disguise the disgust in his voice. Hadn't he tried to do the right thing? Hadn't he been forced in the wrong direction by his father, his pride, his everything?
"Well...no..." Hermione said, trying to backtrack.
"Oh, come on, Granger, you don't believe that for one second, do you?" Draco's voice rose in volume and venom.
"I...I..." Hermione stammered.
Draco stood up, brushing his pants free of nonexistent dirt. "You know Granger, you talk about getting rid of the past. Forgiving prejudices. And you know what? I have. I haven't called you a...a..." he was unable to get the word out, but Hermione understood. "You know what I mean! I haven't called you...that...once, but then you go and practically tell me I'm still a Death Eater."
"Malfoy-" Hermione said desperately, but he cut her off.
"If I have to let go of the past ideas, you have too, too! Slytherin is not evil, Granger! Neither am I! I was just a boy! I was just a kid!" And with those words, he stormed off, leaving a stunned Hermione who had to try everything to stop a tear rolling down her cheek.
The usual song and dance. Wrote this on my phone, don't expect much on grammar and spelling. Please correct if you find anything, much appreciated :) I know this chapter is a bit short, but I'm tired. ;)
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Love, Panda
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