Chapter Ten: Shared Custody
~~~Pansy~~~
Pansy sat in the lobby to Draco's office, waiting patiently. The idiotic receptionist would not let her into his office without first checking if she really did have an appointment with him. Which, she did not. He had said she didn't need one and to just come by the next day, and so here she was. She was just about ready to slap the cherry lip gloss off of the insipid little bitch when Draco walked out into the lobby.
"Janine, why is Ms. Parker still sitting here? I was expecting her twenty minutes ago?" Draco asked, looking at the blonde secretary impatiently.
"Oh my goodness, I am so sorry Mr. Malfoy, I didn't know that she was a client," she said, looking at the Adonis-like man.
"Ms. Scarlett Parker is a priority client. Anytime she comes in, I don't care what I am doing, send her into my office," Draco said, looking from an amused Pansy to the frantic bimbo.
Realization dawned on the bimbo's face as she realized who Pansy was. Pansy smirked as her eyes caught the cover of Just One Night sprawled on the otherwise tidy desk. So, Janine was a fan. "I am so sorry Ms. Parker it'll never happen again and, may I say that I am a HUGE fan. I love all of your books. Your characters, Patricia and Henry are so amazing, so real," Janine said, looking at her with admiration.
If only you knew Janine. Pansy thought as she smiled and accepted the most gracious apology. Pansy frowned slightly as she wondered why Draco wanted her to meet him at his office in Muggle London. Draco's Muggle office was almost exactly like his one in his and Hermione's Law Wizard firm except, that the photos on his desk and walls did not move and there were no magical items around. He wore an expensive dark grey Armani suit and expensive black shoes.
"Why did you want me to meet you in this office Draco? You know that we are having the custody hearing in front of the Wizengamot," Pansy said, looking at a photo on the wall behind him. It was taken the day after Jackson was born. The other picture of the day he was born was at the other office, since it had been taken at St. Mungos.
"Well, Hermione's got Harry in the office down there and I had to get some files for my newest case done anyway," Draco said sitting down in his expensive leather armchair. Pansy sat in the chair across from his desk and crossed her legs tightly.
"I am so sorry that you have to go against Hermione in court," Pansy said, ignoring the fact that Draco had mentioned Potter by name.
"Don't worry about it Pansy. Hermione and I will both fight fairly. We have no problems going against each other in public," Draco said, playing with a loose thread on his sleeve.
"If you say so, I just want to keep custody of Emily. I don't want to share her with an arse who doesn't even know her," Pansy said, crossing her arms. Draco could see that she was completely tensed up. The woman looked like she hadn't relaxed since the whole Harry finding out fandango.
"Don't worry about a thing Pansy I'll make sure you get a fair chance. I won't however, play dirty. I don't do that anymore," Draco said, making Pansy frown slightly. She wanted him to be the ruthless Slytherin she knew him to be, however she respected him for deciding to play fair.
"Just please, win," Pansy said, in a low voice.
"It would be better if you would just settle with shared custody. Harry deserves to know her. And she deserves to know him," Draco said, making Pansy frown. She knew he was right, and that she was being very selfish, that she had always been selfish.
"Alright…just don't tell him that I've conceded. I want to see him squirm a bit," Pansy replied, making Draco smile. And so, they began preparations for what was sure to be a surprisingly easy day tomorrow.
-Harry-
Harry looked around at the walls in Hermione's office curiously. All of the photos of her and Ron were gone. The only ones that remained were of Harry, a few of the Weasleys not including Ron and Ginny and of their other Hogwarts friends. He thought it was strange, was she moving to a different office? "Ah Harry, you're right on time for once," Hermione said, walking in wearing an expensive set of black robes with silver stitching. Her usually bushy hair was styled into sleek loose curls draped around her pretty face.
"I'm not always late, nice hair," Harry said, standing up.
"Thanks, I thought it was time for a change," Hermione said, sitting down at her desk. It was also not sporting any pictures of Ron, only of her parents and Rose.
"Does your change not include Ron?" Harry asked, making her stiffen.
"Unfortunately yes, my change does not include Ron in this equation. Ronald has been nothing but completely unbearable these past months. I am so sick of his and Ginny's nonsense. So, Ron and I are going through a very private divorce. He keeps the flat, I keep Rose," Hermione said, referring to their almost two year old.
"Oh, I'm sorry that it couldn't work out," Harry said, sincerely.
"That doesn't matter now, what matters is that you get shared custody of little Emilia," Hermione said, scribbling down on her personalized parchment.
They worked till nearly midnight when Harry had to get home to get sleep. Lying in his bed, he found that sleep eluded him. The sweet little girl with tousled curls and bright green eyes ran through his mind. The way she'd said he was her Daddy, the way she cried and screamed at the prospect of being separated from him. He turned on his side and exhaled a sharp breath. Usually the Judge or in this case the Wizengamot favored the mother over the father, but perhaps he had a chance. Besides, it's not like he was seeking sole custody.
They would have to come up with agreeable terms in which they could share the child. He thought about the look in Pansy's eyes when he'd snapped at her and once again, he felt guilty. Not because he wanted to but, because he felt that he'd overreacted. He didn't like to see Pansy looking so hurt and so cold. For a moment she had looked as cold and spiteful as she had before the War was over.
He didn't want Pansy to be like she was back then, he couldn't allow it. But, he was not willing to give up his rightful spot in Emilia's life just for Pansy to shack up with that berk Edgar Crane. He would get part custody and he would watch her grow up, having already missed so much in the dark haired angel's life. He should have known that some of the events in Just One Night were based on reality. It was so easy to see, and he thought himself an idiot for not realizing this sooner.
Turning over on his back, he stared up at the ceiling for five more minutes before closing his eyes and trying to sleep. Tomorrow would surely be a long and exhausting day.
-The Custody Hearing-
Getting up that morning was Hell. Harry hadn't gotten nearly enough sleep as he'd hoped. Sitting up her rubbed his sleep filled eyes and yawned rather loudly. After performing the necessary waking up regiments, Harry stood in front of his fire and flooed directly into his own office at the Ministry. To his surprise Ron was sitting in a chair in front of his desk. "Ron, what are you doing here?" Harry asked, in surprise. Ron looked slightly disheveled and the bright red stubble on his chin suggested he'd skipped a few days of shaving.
"Came to support my best friend. Bloody wrong for that slag to keep a kid away from you," Ron said, making Harry a bit irritated.
"Ron, Pansy is not a slag, she was just confused. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to meet with Hermione in one of the trial rooms to consult before the hearing starts," Harry said, in irritation. Who was he to call Pansy a slag, she was far from it. She was beautiful, and funny, and sensitive…Shaking his head, he stormed out of his office and down the corridor.
"Harry there you are, the hearing is about to begin, let's go," Hermione said, taking his arm and leading him down the other corridor. Harry had been down this corridor many times, for trials. He'd remembered his very first time walking this corridor. Now he had to keep steady, he was fighting for his baby. Perhaps she would be here today? Harry wanted at least one more glimpse of his beautiful little girl.
As soon as they entered the room, Harry was surprised. There were only a few members of the Wizengamot present. Draco and Pansy were already at their tables and Emilia was sitting in between Pansy's best friend Daphne Zabini and Astoria. Emilia smiled as soon as her bright green eyes found Harry. She waved a tiny hand and then looked back over at Pansy. Pansy glanced at Harry for a second before turning her jade eyes to their daughter. "Mr. Potter, am I to understand that you are seeking shared custody of a Miss Emilia Parkinson?" asked the head of the parenting and family courts. She was a fairly hardened woman with a stone-like face and long brown hair tied up into a neat bun.
"Yes, I am," Harry said, in a serious tone. Hermione touched his arm as he sat back down.
"Ms. Parkinson, are you willing to share custody with Mr. Potter?" she asked, looking sternly at Pansy.
"Yes I am willing to share custody of my daughter. But, only if Mr. Potter agrees to the terms Mr. Malfoy and I have set," Pansy said, not once looking at Harry. Her sudden concession shocked him. He had been prepared for a vicious and lengthy trial. It seemed that Slytherin's Princess had actually matured.
"Alright then, let's hear the terms," said another hardnosed Wizard from the left of her.
Draco stood up and cleared his throat. "Ms. Parkinson is willing to share custody on the conditions that Mr. Potter not bring any woman around that is not already in the child's life when the child is in his custody, unless it becomes serious. Also, that the days of his having her are Monday to Thursday morning. From Thursday at four to Sunday Ms. Parkinson will have the child," Draco said, in an all business tone.
"Ms. Granger, does Mr. Potter agree to these terms?" She asked, looking down at them. Harry whispered in Hermione's ear and then they both nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Potter does agree to these terms," Hermione said. The Witch slammed the gavel down and looked at the four of them and then at Emilia.
"Well then it is settled. Shared custody of Emilia Parkinson is now granted to Mr. Potter, this trial is dismissed," she said, and everyone started to leave the room.
"Thank you for everything Hermione," Harry said, as Draco caught his eye and smiled.
"Well, it was virtually painless. Congratulations, you're a father," Hermione said, hugging Harry before catching up with Draco.
Harry was sure he stood alone in the trial room when a tiny hand grabbed his. "Hi Daddy," Emily said, smiling brightly.
"What's going on?" he asked, looking at the tiny angel.
"It's Monday, I go home with you, Mummy went home," she said, in a beautiful little voice.
"Oh, um alright then, let's go home," Harry said, worried. He had no idea how to handle a child. He'd never even been alone with his Godson, Teddy. He was happy that he could spend time with Emily, now all he had to do was get some vacation time and child proof his flat. This was going to be a long three and a half days.
A/N: Sorry about the wait. Also about the crappy trial. I'm not much for legal thingies like that. Hopefully the next chapter will be better.