Muggle Marriage Law 51599

Cap

Hermione quickly exited the elevator and rushed down the hallway towards Family Services. She turned the corner and fell flat to the floor. She was a little dazed at first. Then quickly pulled the lapels of her jacket closer together as she remembered she had nothing on underneath. She looked up to a familiar face.

The young man helped his old Gryffindor classmate up. “Hermione, are you okay?” Dean asked.

“I’m fine, Dean,” she said, a little wobbly.

“Draco said you’d be back signing papers,” Dean said smiling at her.

“Yeah,” she said a little breathless. “Actually, I was heading back to Family Services to finish the paperwork. It was nice seeing you again, Dean.”

“Yeah, sure,” Dean said almost to himself as he watched the young muggle born quickly walk towards the end of the hall to the small office she had exited over an hour ago.

Hermione entered the small office and bypassed the witch at the receptionist desk. She opened the door to Mr. Norris’s office. She saw the short bespectacled man looking over the Daily Prophet.

“Mr. Norris,” the young brunette witch said softly. “Let’s get those papers signed.”

“Sure, Hermione,” Mr. Norris said as he stood up. He held up the divorce papers. “Where’s Draco?”

“I think it’s best if I just sign it without him, Mr. Norris,” she said, choking back a sob.

“Hermione,” the older man shook his head. “Wizarding Laws state . . .”

“Look Mr. Norris, I wouldn’t want to be the one to explain to Mr. Malfoy why his son’s wedding was delayed,” she looked into his eyes, almost pleadingly.

Mr. Norris nodded. She picked up a quill and took in a breath. Mr. Norris placed the divorce papers in front of her. She looked at the papers. She read the signature blocks. She ran a finger over his name as a tear dropped onto the paper. Her maiden name jumped off the parchment, Hermione Granger. After signing the marriage certificate, it wasn’t as if she had ever signed again with Malfoy as her last name.

Her signature usually flowed very nicely. But, this time it was hard to steady her left hand as she looked at the gold piece of muggle jewelry while she signed. She took a deep breath as she handed over the signed documents to the older wizard.

He looked down at the parchment and then back up to the young witch. He nodded at the woman with the tear-streaked face. “Well, Ms. Granger,” the head of Family Services began softly, “We’ll close the loop as soon as Mr. Malfoy signs. Are you going to wait for him?”

“Okay,” he continued as he saw her shake her head. “We’ll owl you an original copy of the signed divorce decree.”

“Thanks, Mr. Norris,” she said offering her hand to be shaken. The older wizard shook her hand. She nodded at him as she was about to take her leave.

“Hermione,” Mr. Norris said, stopping her. “A lot of the marriages under the Muggle Marriage Laws didn’t work out. Since its repeal, a little over half of them divorced. Before that, a number of the marriages didn’t end so well.

“But there are some marriages that have worked, flourished even. They are the most magical unions. I am sorry it did not work out between you and Draco,” the old wizard looked at her.

“Me, too, Sir. But, Draco and I were never meant to be. At least now, he’s found his true match,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek. She breathed in. “It was really nice seeing you, Sir. Thanks for the favor.”

She quickly exited the small office and headed for the exit of the Ministry building. For a June day, it was slightly nippy. The cumulus clouds formed over the buildings. She gathered the lapels of her jacket close as she shivered. She passed Saint Mungo’s, the Wizarding equivalent of a muggle hospital. She saw the posters out front detailing the annual benefit dinner that Narcissa Malfoy headed at Malfoy Manor. Hermione couldn’t stop the tears from starting again.

She broke into a run toward the small bar that served as a travel point between muggle and Wizarding worlds. She ran quickly through the bar as all the witches and wizards saw the blaze of her trail as she exited into the muggle world.

She bent over at the waist trying to catch her breath. Muggle passersby noticed the young lady. She quickly got her bearings. She pulled her jacket on tighter again as she felt the first drops of rain on her face, camouflaging her tears. She rushed towards the direction of the muggle cemetery, her sanctuary.

* * *

“Dean,” Draco said bumping into his coworker as he exited the elevator.

“That’s the second Malfoy today,” Dean smiled, “You and Hermione have got to learn to take it easy.”

“Where is she?” Draco asked.

“She was heading to Family Services,” Dean said following Draco down the hallway that led to that office. “I thought you signed the papers already.”

“No,” Draco said quickening his step.

Dean stopped in his tracks wondering to himself why the paperwork wasn’t done yet. He reminded his best friend, “Hey, Draco, we’ve got a meeting in five minutes up in my office.”

“I’ll be there, Dean,” the blonde haired wizard said as he opened the door to the tiny office. “I just got to take care of one thing.”

Dean decided to wait for Draco right outside. He was actually more curious about how this divorce thing was going to play out with the young estranged couple. Draco never admitted to him, but he could see it in his eyes that there was something still there between him and Hermione.

Draco quickly bypassed the reception area, missing the witch rolling her eyes at him, as he was the second one to do so within the last ten minutes. He opened the door to Mr. Norris’s office. He looked quickly around hoping to find Hermione there. All he saw was a smiling bespectacled older wizard. Draco sighed.

“Ah, Mr. Malfoy,” Mr. Norris said as he placed documents on the counter. He readied a quill and inkwell for the young wizard.

“Shall we put the finishing touches on the divorce decree? Ms. Granger,” he continued not seeing Draco cringe, “has already signed them. And here is the marriage license, you can sign that before your fiancée. That way, I can send it to Ms. Profesi to get the ball rolling in time for Saturday’s wedding.”

Draco looked down at Hermione’s shaky signature. He saw the wet spots, as he knew a couple of tear drops fell. He took in a deep breath.

“I’m not signing this,” the young wizard said, slightly crinkling the decree.

“Whoa,” Mr. Norris said gripping Draco’s wrists forcing him to let up on the parchment. He knew the document couldn’t be damaged before the final signatures were in play otherwise the divorce could not be considered official.

“I was not in the room when my wife signed it. Mr. Norris, you know the Wizarding Bylaws,” Draco said desperately trying to cling on to something. “Hermione and I are still married as far as I am concerned.”

“Young Master Malfoy,” the older wizard said wiping his brow. “Your wife, hmmph, I mean your ex-wife did us all a favor and signed the documents. Your father wants this whole thing expedited. Please sign.”

Draco looked down at the decree again. He clenched his teeth. “This decree is null and void,” he tore the parchment into pieces. Mr. Norris’s eyes almost shot out of his head. “I was not in the room when she signed. Until we’re both in the same room together, Hermione and I are still married.”

The younger wizard took in a breath as he left the bespectacled wizard still wiping his brow as new sweat flowed, worried about what sort of progress report he would be giving the young man’s father. Draco exited Family Services and was about to exit the Ministry Building from the exit near Mr. Norris’s office as he tried to think of where Hermione would be at that moment. Dean was still outside leaning on the wall.

“Hey,” Dean grabbed a hold of Draco’s wrist surprising him. “We’ve got a meeting to go to.”

“But,” Draco knew it was useless to resist. He looked at the back door one last time. He turned the other way leading Dean to the lift that would take them up to Dean’s office.

They entered the lift. Draco turned to his best man, “I’m not marrying Celeste.”

Dean’s eyes were just like Mr. Norris’s as the bell dinged signaling their arrival to the 51st floor. Dean had to shake himself out of it as the doors almost closed upon him. He had to hurry to get to Draco. This was definitely going to be an interesting weekend.

* * *

Hermione fell to her knees as she reached her parents’ graves. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. She lay on her side and pulled her knees into her chest as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She laid crying for a long while as the rain, increasing in strength, pelted down on her.