The Apartment

I own nothing Harry Potter or related

The hearing came quicker then it seemed possible and in the Ministries infinite wisdom, they decided to hold not only Harry’s, but Draco’s at almost the exact same time. The times were only twenty minutes apart with Draco’s first, then Harrys.

She knew the drill as she had just gone through it herself but she hated the idea of being there. The main official that granted divorces would ask a million questions, ask if either party objected and so forth. Twenty minutes was the standard but she had a feeling deep in her gut that neither hearing would end peacefully.

Draco had already arrived and was waiting patiently for everything to get under way. It made Hermione think of a muggle court where a party was on each side of the room, pleading their case.

IT was also already waiting with a look of sheer hatred on her face. Losing the title of Malfoy would hurt her financially as the Malfoy name was the only thing currently keeping her family afloat. Hermione noticed the sour looking woman/thing and wanted to laugh as she noticed people shuddering when they looked at her. Imperio or not, she would have rather been Avada’d and she made a mental note to tell Draco to scrub very well with bleach… or acid.

“Have you seen Ginny yet?” Harry asked from his seat next to Hermione.

“Not yet, but I can guarantee we will.” She replied with a sigh. The gut feeling was getting worse and worse as the minutes droned on.

“It’ll be fine, I don’t think it will be too bad.”

Hermione could only smile but she knew better. She knew Ginny would make her look bad, one way or another.

The hearings were public friendly and anyone who wanted to be there could. That upset Hermione more then anything considering both Harry and Draco were well known and most likely would draw a load of undesirables who were just looking for the next headline in the Prophet.

As the last remaining people came in and found empty seats, the official also came in and took his place in the front. The official fiddled around on his podium for a moment before clearing his throat and starting to proceedings.

“Good afternoon” he said gruffly without even looking up.

“I see we are here to dissolve the marriage between Draco Malfoy and Bru… Brun…, I’m sorry ma’am, I can not pronounce your name.”

The official looked up toward where he knew the woman to be sitting and jumped back slightly at the sight of her. Was it even a woman?

“Just get on with it.” It hissed.

The man cleared his throat, knowing damn good and well he would grant Draco the divorce no matter the circumstances. He figured the woman would do well in Azkaban, keeping the inmates in line that the dementors couldn’t handle.

“Very well. Mr. Malfoy, I will start with you if that is alright.”

Draco nodded his consent and waited quietly without even looking at IT.

“Mr. Malfoy, Please tell me why you are initiating the end of this… marriage.”

Draco cleared his throat and stood up.

“Sir, The marriage was nothing more then a matter of a business deal. I have no feelings for my wife and to be honest, I can’t stand the thought of being in the same room with her.”

The official nodded, thanking Merlin and the Gods above that this wasn’t a relationship of love… how could someone that looked like Draco even… The thought in itself made him shudder.

The questioning went on for the next 10 minutes, Draco answering everything with brutal honesty. He didn’t care to protect it’s feelings and he could tell the man in front understood completely.

“I believe that concludes my questions for you Mr. Malfoy. You may sit back down.”

Draco thanked the man and sat back down.

“Alright, Mrs. Malfoy, I must ask if you are in agreement to this divorce?”

“No, I am not.” IT stated proudly at it stood from its seat.

“Enlighten me.” The official asked.

“It is a simple matter really. You see, my Draco loves me despite what he has said here and I believe Hermione Granger has cast the Imperio on him so he will leave me for her.”

What the hell? Hermione thought to herself.

“That is outrageous.” A voice boomed from the back of the room.

All heads turned to see Lucius Malfoy standing in annoyance with a raised eyebrow.

“It is not.” It yelled back, “As a matter of fact, my Draco is currently living with the ugly bitch.”

“DO NOT USE THAT LANGUAGE IN HERE!” The official yelled. He wanted to point out who was really the ugly one but bit his tongue.

All eyes went from Lucius to Hermione who turned scarlet with embarrasment.

“Is that true, Mr. Malfoy? Are you currently living with Ms, Granger?”

Draco sighed, “Yes, Sir.”

The official wanted to pat Draco on the back but he was expected to act professional in all circumstances.

Lucius Malfoy went oddly silent. He had a look of pure anger on his face as he watched the remained of the proceedings. No one really noticed the looks he was giving to Hermione but she did.

She really wanted to leave now. Word was out that she was living with Draco and she knew it would only get worse during Harry’s hearing. She was also slightly upset about being called an ugly bitch… she wasn’t that bad… was she?

“Mr. Malfoy, after listening to both sides, I can clearly see that there is no chance in reconciliation and I hear by grant your request.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Draco replied with a grin. He was thrilled to be divorced from IT, but he didn’t fancy facing his father on the whole Hermione thing.


There was a short intermission while the official went through Harry and Ginny’s file. Draco disappeared with Lucius and Harry left for his spot that Draco had vacated only moments earlier.

Hermione decided to step outside to take a breather. She really didn’t want to be there when Ginny spoke, not after IT had already made her out to be a home wrecker.

As she made her way through the doors, she couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife and the less time she spent in there, the better.

She walked to a small fountain and sat down, hoping for a few minutes of peace before the next war began. It was sure to be worse then Draco’s.

“Still going after the Pure bloods I see.” Lucius’s voice rang out making Hermione internally groan.

“It’s not like that, Mr. Malfoy. We are only roommates.”

Lucius pursed his lips together and walked closer to her in his menacing way.

“I find that hard to believe, Ms. Granger. You see, I see a recently divorced woman who is obviously on the rebound.” He then chuckled that chuckle that she hated so much, “I’m not overly concerned about it though because I can assure you that Draco will be on the hunt for a Pureblood before too long… a pretty one at that and not a plain looking… Muggle born like yourself.”

That was hard for him to say especially when he was so accustom to saying Mudblood.

“What Draco does in the future is none of my concern.” She replied. She thought she had come here to support her roommates, she didn’t remember signing up for ‘pick on your favorite Mudblood day’

“See to it that it stays that way.” Lucius said with a sneer, “I wouldn’t want you to get your hopes up on becoming the next Mrs. Malfoy when you are no where near acceptable enough… in breeding or in looks.” He finished with a smirk and walked away without another word.

She tried to ignore him too. First the ugliest woman/thing she had ever laid eyes on called her an ugly bitch and now Lucius Malfoy was calling her ugly with poor breeding… did she kick someone’s puppy or something? She let out a sigh and made her way back into the building, she was sure Harry’s hearing was about to start.

When she finally made it back to the room, she quickly determined that the hearing had already started. She stood by the door, listening to Ginny in full rant and the official tried to get her to calm down. Go in or stay out? Was the question of the moment. It already sounded like Ginny was giving everyone an earful and she wasn’t sure going in would prove helpful to Harry in the least.

She waited another minute before sucking in a deep breath and going in. She had promised Harry she would be there and she was not about to break it.

“HER!” Ginny yelled, “That is the reason for this so called divorce.”

All eyes once again followed Ginnys finger and landed straight on her. If she could find a rock, she would have gladly climbed under it and stayed there.

“Does it make you feel good?” Ginny asked as her voice rose sharply, “Does it make you feel good that you are breaking up a marriage?”

“Ginny, I’m not.” She finally said, hoping to get everyone’s attention away from her.

“Don’t give me that.” Ginny hissed, “What is it? Ron dumps you because he’s not attracted to you so you move on to the other best friend? Or does it stroke your ego knowing that Harry is choosing you over me?”

“Gin—“

“Don’t talk to me.” Ginny yelled, ignoring the yells from Harry and the official. “You have cause enough damage to me. My husband gave up a chance to have a family with me because he felt bad for you. Poor, poor, bossy, unattractive Hermione.”

Hermione could feel the tears well up in her eyes. A person could only handle so much when it came to being insulted and she had been the days chosen target. She tried to will them away, but her eyes were stinging and she could feel the floodgates opening.

The world seemed to go silent around her as she watched the youngest Weasley yell at her. She no longer heard her but she could tell by the way Ginny’s face was red in anger and the spittle that occasionally fell from her mouth that Ginny was not relenting in her attack in the slightest.

In slow motion, she looked around the room to see people still looking at her, Harry still yelling at Ginny and the official looking like he wished he had picked a different job. The stares were getting to her and she couldn’t handle it any longer, the anger in the room was giving her a blinding headache and with out a thought, she apparated away from the room, hoping she landed in one piece.