The Marriage Decree

Chapter 169: We just want to talk, Ronald

Outside Hermione's office, Pansy pauses, her knuckles hovering for a moment before she finally knocks on the hard, oak door. Hermione opens the door with a smile that annoys Pansy. It's warm and welcoming, but the pitiful undertone is clear. Her friend pulls her handbag onto her shoulder, throws her thick woollen coat over her arm, then turns to lock her office door.

"You ready?" Hermione asks.

It's a simple question. Yet, Pansy's feelings are anything but simple. She shouldn't even be considering sending her twins off into the Muggle world alone to be looked after by strangers who don't know her or her kids. However, right now, it feels like Pansy's only option. Their father has all but abandoned them, and she hates asking too much of Molly, not that the grandmother would ever complain, but she has five other grandchildren to occupy her time.

"I guess." Pansy shrugs, setting off for the dungeons.

Hermione links her free arm through Pansy's, pulling her close.

"You know," she begins. "Draco was apprehensive at first, but I told him that all our children will be attending Muggle school before Hogwarts. Attending nursery will help them to know how to socialise with Muggles. Now Scorpius has friends outside of the wizarding world and our family; Draco is all for it. We actually have a birthday party in the New Year for one of his little friends. I love that my children will get to experience the same childhood that I had."

Pansy nods, reflecting on her own children. A decade of living at home as an only child. Her only company was her mother and father, who didn't hide their disappointment in having a daughter. They'd struggled to have a child in the first decade of their marriage, eventually giving up hope. Then, in their late thirties, their wishes came true, until they gave birth to a daughter instead of a son. Still, they kept her at home, scared any illness would take their child away. As she got older, her parents permitted her to attend parties of close family friends, and she could go shopping with her mother in Diagon Alley. She had never quite known freedom until she began Hogwarts.

"I don't want Phoebe and Philip to have a childhood like mine," she softly admits.

Hermione squeezes her arm comfortingly. "They already don't, Pansy. You've already proved yourself to be better than your parents."

Pansy manages a tight-lipped smile at the compliment.

Together, they descend the staircase into the dungeon and follow the warmly lit sconces to the staff quarters. Pansy grabs her own handbag and coat from her room before joining Hermione in her and Draco's room, where they floo to The Leaky Cauldron and exit into Muggle London.

"It's not far from here," Hermione states as they set off.

Twenty minutes later, they approach the building through the car park. Pansy's eyes scan the facade, taking in the centuries-old architecture, once a brilliant white, now stained with decades of London grime. Still, landscaping around the front is immaculate. Through the garden fence, Pansy can see a group of toddlers giggling as they play together in the mud kitchen or on the bicycles.

"There's Scorpius," Hermione points out.

Pansy follows her finger to a toddler in a full jumpsuit splashing in a tub of water with jugs, bowls and wooden spoons.

"He looks like he's having fun."

"Scorpius loves it here," Hermione assures. "Come on!"

Hermione rings the doorbell beside the front door. A few seconds later, a woman in a green jumper and dungarees opens the door with a wide smile.

"Hi Caitlin," Hermione greets the woman as she lets them into a small foyer with a few chairs.

Caitlin smiles politely at Pansy before turning back to Hermione. "Is it just Scorpius today, or Vivian and Evelyn too?" She asks, pulling a clipboard off the wall to check the sign-in and sign-out sheet.