The Poisoned Apple

by SeveranSnape

An atrocious act by Draco Malfoy in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor forced Hermione Granger to leave behind everything she ever cared for. Six years later, Draco after losing all that he cared for, comes face to face with the consequences. The once innocent Apple now poisoned is his last resort. Will he leave behind old Draco and earn Hermione's trust for a new beginning? ABANDONED.

36. Chapter 36

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has been reading my story with patience.

Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and follows. They were most rewarding.

I am sorry it took me almost two weeks to update. I couldn't write a whole week before my exam and wrote this chapter after my exam.

Thanks to: nikki98, aryaaa, v-x-y-zz, Grovek26 , happyhoper, ramyfan for their kind reviews.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

I would like to bring into notice that though our little Adrian is very young to understand what true hate is, he is intelligent enough to understand that he is scared of his father. The man kidnapped him at the dead of night and brought him to an unfamiliar place which frightened him immensely. That is the reason he doesn't act normally around his father and calls him Monsieur, since he doesn't know him at all. Besides his belief that his father dislikes him for his blood status is still prevailing in his mind and though he has noticed his father's considerably softer behaviour, he can't get over his fears completely. That is the reason he doesn't feel overly curious to know the man who calls himself his father.

Acknowledgements:

The Knights of Walpurgis - In a previous interview Rowling said that she had intended to name the Death Eaters as 'Knights of Walpurgis' initially but then changed her mind. Walpurgis Night is the English translation of Walpurgisnacht, the German name for the night of 30 April, so called because it is the eve of the feast day of Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century abbess in Germany. In German folklore Walpurgisnacht is believed to be the night of a witches' meeting on the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains, a range of wooded hills in central Germany between the rivers Weser and Elbe. The first known written occurrence of the English translation 'Walpurgis Night' is from the 19th century. Local variants of Walpurgis Night are observed across Europe in the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Estonia. In the United States, 'Walpurgisnacht' is one of the major holidays celebrated within LaVeyan Satanism and is the anniversary of the founding of the Church of Satan. Source: Wikipedia

The song 'May it be by Enya' is 2001 soundtrack of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. Mornie utulie means Darkness has come and Mornie alantie means Darkness has fallen. I highly recommend that you please listen to the track while reading that segment for it conveys a very emotional message. I have added the link in my profile for your convenience.

Well I guess that's all and now please enjoy.

One of my readers aryaa asked me how my characters looked like and I created an album with the pictures of OC's of this story to satisfy her query. Those who are interested can check it out in my profile. Based on it I have created another poll and would like to see everyone vote.

Many thanks to aryaa who created a wondeful playlist in 8tracks for this story. The link is again in my profile. ;)

My fiction 'The Poisoned Apple' has been nominated for The Hogwarts award in the category Hermione Romance. It is posted on the site and I would like you to cast your vote on the site under 'vote' tab.

The website is hogwartsawards DOT weebly DOT com **replace DOT with a . The link can also be found in my profile.

Disclaimer: The copyright to Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling. Any other characters are purely work of fiction and any resemblance is co-incidental.

Chapter 36: Knights and Nights.

If looks could kill Alexis Delacour would be a thousand times dead already, this much Audré was sure of.

True that her eyes were mostly fixed on the young couple as they talked, laughed and played chess together with Adrian and Lillian, Audré couldn't deny that she had as well feasted upon her nephew's reactions to their completely decent conducts towards each other. Hermione seemed happy and comfortable to be in the presence of Alexis while he was most gentlemanly in his manners. The man knew how to carry out himself with dignity in the presence of ladies while at the same time he appeared remarkably frank and communicative. Alexis didn't keep his conversation limited to Hermione or Adrian only; he whipped up a delicious battle of talks with Julian about Quidditch and even dared to join in a conversation with Narcissa, who was very interested to know more about the man who was Hermione's confident.

Audré couldn't deny that sometimes she acted like the right hand of devil and took immense pleasure in adding a bit of fuel to an already roaring fire. Her nephew, who looked quite ill though he didn't admit it before any of them, was seated on a chair in one of the corner tables frequently taking water when she decided to strike hard on his resolution. She called Alexis and ushered him to join her on Draco's corner table.

As they settled down, Audré could sense that the level of coldness in Draco's stormy grey eyes could freeze the very air around them but she, being a charming picnic hostess decided to completely ignore it.

"Draco, I see that you haven't been very receptive to our guest." She said lightly, matching her nephew's cold gaze with equal warmth, "So, I have brought him here so that you two could exchange a formal and decent introduction with each other. Monsieur Alexis Delacour, though I am well aware of your feelings towards this man," she pointed at Draco with a tilt of her head, "I would like you two to forget any past resentment and take this picnic as an opportunity to start over a new leaf. You…" she turned her gaze to Draco this time, "…surely realize that you are not teenagers anymore and as grown up men, we ladies expect more from both of you." Audré arched an eyebrow in response to Draco's suspiciously narrowed eyes, "Draco, this is Jean's dear friend and Adrian's favourite uncle Alexis Delacour," she held out a hand at Alexis's direction, "and Monsieur Alexis Delacour, this is Jean's husband and Adrian's father Draco Malfoy." She indicated at her nephew as she bestowed them both an encouraging smile.

"Good afternoon, Monsieur Malfoy." Audré watched as Alexis greeted and extended his right hand at Draco's direction with civility. Her nephew's eyes traveled to Alexis's hand from his face and with an infuriating trademark Malfoy smirk he took it, "Good afternoon." He greeted back coldly.

"Might I ask you something Monsieur Delacour?" Audré enquired as the men let go of each other's hands, "I have heard that the Minister depends upon you heavily. Is that true?"

Alexis gave Audré a modest smile, "No, it certainly isn't true, Madame. I am just like any other Ministry worker." He said, "But I assume the Minister relies on me because I am young and have a very supportive family behind me. I work late most of the days and I have never been resented by my family for that. They know that I take my responsibilities very seriously and they help me carry it out properly." He replied modestly.

"Then I guess you wouldn't mind working a little extra for this old lady?" Audré asked lightly, "As you rightfully said, young and energetic men are our valuable assets." She added.

"I will be happy to oblige to anything you ask me for, Madame Chombrun Malfoy. "Alexis confirmed Audré's speculation.

"Thank you very much." Audré said as she felt Draco's curious eyes resting upon her, "Lillian! Lillian!" she called her daughter, who was playing Hide and Seek with Adrian while Hermione and Julian talked before a silent Narcissa, "Please bring Adrian with you too." she bid her.

Her daughter abandoned her game and brought Adrian to their table as Audré beckoned Hermione, Julian and Narcissa to join them.

"What is it, maman?" Lillian asked as they reached her, "Do you want the lunch to be served now?" she enquired.

"No, I want you to take Adrian to our vineyard." She instructed Lillian with a knowing look which her daughter recognized immediately, "Zilek has informed me this morning that the grapes are finally ripe and ready to be consumed." She informed her and crouched down before the little boy who was looking up at her - wide eyed and mouth slightly agape, "Adrian, would you like to eat some fresh grapes from our vineyard?" she offered him.

"Grapes?" Adrian's eyes lit up and asked back, "You mean big, red, juicy grapes?"

"Yes, big, red and juicy grapes." Audré assured the little boy, "My mother planted every kind of fruit trees imaginable here and thanks to her, we have a small vineyard at the back of the Château. Your aunt Lillian will take you there and you can eat as much grapes as you like." She said with a pleasant smile.

"Mama, can I go?" to her amazement Adrian asked his mother who has already occupied the chair that was furthest from Draco's, "You said not to pluck flowers and fruits without asking." He reminded his mother.

"Yes, Mama's love, you can go." Hermione granted with a smile and a kiss on her son's cheek, "Grandma Audré asked you to go, didn't she? But don't touch anything that you don't know and keep away from insects. Don't poke them out of curiosity." She instructed her son strictly.

"For Nostradamus's sake Jean, Adrian is going to our orchard, not to a battle field or something." Julian, who was sitting beside Hermione, rolled his eyes, "Off you trot my little brave man," he overrode Hermione's protests with a wave of his hand, "Your Mama worries too much." he commented to disapproved looking Hermione and patted Adrian's little shoulder gently.

Audré watched as her daughter took the happy little boy to their orchard before turning her gaze to the tableful of people, her expression somber.

"I know that this is a small family picnic and not a place to discuss such topics but since Monsieur Delacour is a very busy man and not always available, I am being compelled to discuss the matter before lunch." She said to her audiences and watched as their expression grew serious, "Monsieur Delacour," she addressed Alexis, "since you are both the Rochés' neighbour and Junior Undersecretary to the Minister, I can hope that you know about the Knights of Walpurgis."

"Knights of what?" Julian blurted out before Alexis could respond to Audré's question.

"Knights of Walpurgis." Alexis replied on Audré's stead, "Yes, Madame, I know about them." He nodded at Audré, "In fact, we are one the very selected few families who know about this secret organization."

"Pray elaborate." Audré bid her guest.

"The Knights of Walpurgis is basically an Order that works to re-establish a pureblood society under the leadership of Rochés family. They are behind many crimes against Muggles that couldn't not traced properly. I came to know about them recently after the Minister was attacked and some highly classified documents were sent to me because I am neighbour to Rochés as well as the Junior Undersecretary. I can understand why Julian doesn't know about them," he nodded at Julian's quizzical brow, "The Ministry, as a whole, is not willing to accept that Lord Voldemort's followers are active even after the war ended with his death six years ago. It will make the Knights look like a powerful organization and can gain them more followers, from among those who also share the same beliefs. So ministry is taking a 'keep silent and watch closely' guideline and employing secret spies to monitor their activities." he finished solemnly.

"Merci." Audré thanked Alexis, "Even I couldn't have put them into words like you did, Monsieur." She complimented, "Now all of you are aware that I am working on Ministry's behalf against Rochés and his faithful lawyer Olivier Metzner. It may sound very fascinating for those who don't know about the Knights. But unfortunately it is not. Can you tell me why, Jean?" she asked an intent looking Hermione.

"Are you fearing, aunt Audré, that this Knights will attack you?" Hermione asked skeptically.

"Exactly!" Audré admitted gravely, "There are several reasons why no one, not a single defense lawyer, wanted to work against the Rochés on this case. Those, who think that they are scared to face Metzner, are simply fooling themselves. I admit that Metzner is a problem; but he is not invincible. Metzner can be defeated. But the real problem lies with Augustus Rochés and his followers, who will threat and even kill any lawyer who will work against their Head of the Order." She paused to let her audience understand the graveness of the situation.

"But Alexis just said that the Knights are a secret organization. Then how come this lawyers backed out?" Julian asked his mother.

"It is obvious cousin," Draco drawled and finally joined the conversation, "They have already been threatened by those Knights. It is the only possible explanation as to why they all backed out but never mentioned anything except for their fear to lose against Metzner." He said casually.

"Excellent, Draco!" Audré praised her nephew, "I must say, Sorbonne is going your brains some good." she commented, "Now as I was saying, besides the Knights, the animosity between the Chombrun Malfoys and the Rochés is no big secret. We may appear civil when we meet in public but internally we detest each other. So by agreeing to work in this case I have basically put my entire family's security in jeopardy. The Rochés will think that I am using this opportunity to take revenge on their family and as a result we will become their prime target. I am certain that they will go to any length to stop me from working on it." she paused for breath.

The tension that followed her small speech was almost palpable as everyone's attention was focused on her.

"As far as I know, the members of the Knights are very tight-lipped and the only person who can tell us about the Knights is someone who has been betrayed by them." Audré said matter-of-factly.

"Le Pasteur!" Hermione whispered softly.

Audré nodded to her proclamation, "Pasteur is the key to their secret organization and that's the reason why I said you a few days ago, Monsieur Delacour, that he will prove to be a very valuable piece in our case against Rochés. "I am almost certain that Rochés' Knights know that I have already contacted Pasteur. They are planning to get him out of their way and for that they can even resort to murder. In fact if my foresight is correct, they are already making plans to destroy the evidences that we need to gather against them. I suspect that these two…" she indicated Draco and Hermione, "…might be attacked when they will go in pursuit of those evidences and alibis."

"But, maman, why bring Cousin Draco and sister-in-law Jean into this? Isn't the matter already complicated enough?" Julian asked his mother seriously, "Why put their lives in jeopardy?"

Audré opened her mouth but Hermione stopped her, "Because brother-in-law Julian" she addressed him with the same formal words that he uses to address her, "I am not a delicate glass doll who will sit and watch while my family faces danger to bring justice. I have fought with my friends against this so called 'pureblood society' concept since I was eleven and will continue to fight for the rest of my life, no matter how serious the situation is." She said resolutely.

"Yes, Julian, our Jean is no ordinary woman." Audré said sweeping a proud glance over Hermione, "She is one of the Golden Trio who caused Lord Voldemort's downfall and I am very pleased to have someone like her on my side. She has fought valiantly in the past and even sacrificed her family for the sake of Greater Good. So, for me, no one deserves this chance more than she does. She is a Muggleborn witch too, which will make our position more advantageous when she and Draco go to meet those Muggleborn and half-blood families who have been tortured by the Rochés. She can persuade them to come forward and give testimony against the Rochés."

"But maman, if I am not mistaken they will be followed whenever they go to talk to those victimized families." Julian said looking concerned "There is also possibility that the Knights may try to kill those families so that they can't be used against Rochés in the court of law. They may even attack this couple" he indicated between Draco and Hermione, "for trying to persuade these families to give testimony against Rochés."

"Sounds like anything is possible for Rochés and the Knights, Julian." Hermione agreed gravely, "But that doesn't mean that I am backing out from this. I will fight back and no matter what happens, I will make sure that this barbaric family and their secret organization is brought to justice." She said determinedly.

"But this is madness, Audré." Narcissa, who was silently listening to their conversation until now, said suddenly, "You are putting my son and daughter-in-law's lives in the line of fire for a petty case against your enemy." She accused Audré sharply.

Her proclamation earned her a glare from Hermione, who looked extremely annoyed for being addressed as Narcissa Malfoy's daughter-in-law and a frown from Draco.

"Mother, I am no child and I am well aware of what dangers I will face when I go out there to do this." he drawled coolly, "But this is an opportunity for my family - Lucius Malfoy's family to prove that even they can contribute some good to the society. I assure you mother, I am more than ready for this." Draco said solemnly.

Audré watched as Hermione snorted at Draco's declaration and fixed her stare at her nails while Draco simply raised an eyebrow at her.

"Narcissa dear," Audré shifted her attention to her displeased sister-in-law now, "Draco and Jean are not the kind of people who will lie still when their family is in danger. I also understand that they have an innocent five year old child to look after too. I am not a selfish monster, Narcissa, I care for them; they are my family and any attack upon them is a direct blow up on me, Audré Chombrun Malfoy." She pointed at her chest with her thumb, "Please don't think that I am taking their protection lightly." She shook her head, "In fact it is my first priority that they remain unscratched." She said calmly to Narcissa before turning her gaze to Alexis, "As you see Monsieur Delacour, I am putting my whole family on the line for this case against Rochés. My nephew Draco, daughter-in-law Jean and son Julian are being directly exposed while my daughter Lillian, grandson Adrian and sister-in-law Narcissa can be indirectly attacked for being related to me." She said to him gravely.

"If I may Madame, I would like to accompany Jean and Monsieur Malfoy on their mission." Alexis finally voiced what Audré had wanted him to do, "I am a Ministry official and no one would dare to attack them in my presence. Besides they are British and I am French. In my presence they can gain trust and communicate with those French families more easily." He explained.

Audré smirked internally as Draco's noses flared and he closed his eyes in evident anger and irritation.

"Thank you Monsieur Delacour." he said after opening his eyes and fixing them icily on Alexis, "But I think I am man enough to protect my wife should anyone attacks us." He said proudly.

Sensing that Hermione was just about to draw out her wand and hex Draco into oblivion for calling her his wife so boldly in public and offering her protection while he himself had tortured her six years ago, Audré decided to intervene.

"Who said Jean needs your protection Draco?" she asked her nephew coolly over Hermione's tense posture, "She is no damsel in distress." She shook her head, "Besides there will be no personal relationship between you two except for work partners. Didn't she tell you that it will be a strictly professional relationship when she accepted my offer?" she frowned, "And might I remind you why she came to France with Adrian six years ago?" she warned him with a raised eyebrow and Draco paled realizing what she was implying, "Think as you like, dear nephew, but I fully agree with Monsieur Delacour. His presence will give you two more protection and I highly recommend that we vote on the matter to rule out any future dispute. Those who are in favour of Delacour accompanying Jean and Draco, please raise their hands." She offered the people around the table.

To her immense satisfaction everyone except Draco raised their hands.

"You don't have to do this Alexis." Jean said honestly to the man, who looked pleased to be accepted by Audré's family, "You will put mother, father and Gabrielle in danger if they see you with us." She said with concern.

"We are Delacours, Jean, meaning that we are from the French Royal Courts. My sister Fleur has fought alongside you against Lord Voldemort and though the rest of us couldn't join her, we are not cowards." Alexis said with uncharacteristic pride, "We care for you and Adrian, Jean, and I'll be doomed if I let you go unprotected to those places."

"Why can't Julian accompany us?" Draco asked his aunt sharply, while eyeing Alexis and Hermione from the corner of his eyes, "He is second-in-command in Department of Magical Law Enforcement." He added.

"Why? What is wrong with Monsieur Delacour, Draco?" Narcissa asked back irritably, "He is in a better post than Julian." She noted, "No offence, Julian," she added to her nephew's astonished look, "But I just don't understand why he is rejecting an offer without any valid explanations." She said vehemently, "This man here is one of the very few gentlemen I have ever seen as well as being Granger's friend too. Either you show me a very good reason to turn down his offer or keep your mouth completely shut." She said dismissively.

"But we owe him an explanation, Narcissa." Audré said lightly, "You see, Draco, I initially wanted Julian to accompany you two. But now that I come to think about Monsieur Delacour's offer, it sounds better. Why should my family take all the risks? This is Ministry vs. Rochés case, not Malfoy vs. Rochés case. Julian may be second-in-command in Magical Law Enforcement Department, but he is a Malfoy too." Her tone was serious now, "I know I am being completely selfish, but I won't let my family take all the endeavors while the Minister and the Ministry reaps all the fruits of their labour in the end. I am not saying that I will definitely win against Rochés. I can't influence the judgment." She shook her head, "But I can at least assure them that Audré Chombrun Malfoy will give her heart and soul in this case where others have backed out and for that the Ministry must provide me with their best men – with people like Alexis Delacour." She said sharply, "I am sorry if I am jeopardizing the Delacours too, Jean, but I am not as selfless as you are." she said noticing Hermione's astonished look at her vehement declaration, "I was brought up by the best men in their businesses: my father, who was the best lawyer of his time and my grandfather, who is still considered the best Minister of Magic by many of his successors; and together they taught me to be shamelessly and ruthlessly selfish when required." She confessed, "I guess that is one of the downsides of being brought up by men."

"I am sorry, aunt Audré, I didn't mean that when I looked at you." Hermione said softly to her, "It is good to be selfish sometimes. Otherwise the world forgets about one's contributions and takes everything for granted." She said solemnly.

Audré gave her a gentle smile, "It's alright dear, I guess we have had enough discussion on our next course of action. Julian…" she called her son, "you will make sure Lillian's office in Les Halles and Adrian's school gets every kind of protection that the Ministry can provide. As for Jean and Draco, they will have Alexis Delacour with them and I want no more protests on that matter." She said glancing at her furious nephew, "The case starts in two weeks. We need to meet Pasteur before that and wring out as much information from him. As for Draco, you will keep a low profile in Sorbonne since Metzner is your direct teacher now. And Narcissa dearest, if you wish to visit any place, please inform me beforehand so that I can arrange adequate precautions for your protection." She instructed her sister-in-law, "There is no knowing how the Knights of the Walpurgis will strike on us." She added gravely.

"Maman, why not ask the Order of the Fleur d'Lis to help us?" Julian asked her grimly, "If they have those Knights, we have Order."

Audré rubbed her forehead and gave her son a weary smile, "It's better that we leave them out of this, Julian. Involving the Order in this will create a feud among the Wizarding families and Rochés will take advantage of the dispute to gain more power. No, Julian," She shook her head, "Chombrun Malfoys are not weak to seek help to fight a case against the Rochés. Not just for anything the Chombruns have survived from eleventh century and Malfoys have done the same from tenth. We will fight this till the end and we will do it with dignity." She fisted her right hand as her blue eyes blazed with fire.

Her feiry proclamation was followed by silence which broke when Adrian's delighted screams reached their table.

"Mama! Mama!" he was shouting at the top of his tender sweet voice as he ran towards them followed by a breathless looking Lillian holding a basketful of red grapes, "See, I have brought grapes for everyone." He pointed at the basket at Lillian's arms, "Am I not a good boy?" he asked enthusiastically to his mother.

Watching him running to them at that moment, Audré could swear that she would kill anyone who will opine otherwise and spoil Adrian's good mood. The boy has slowly become the apple of her eyes and she would happily sell her soul to the demons of the lower world in order to keep this little boy's childish innocence undisturbed.

"Mama' little rabbit is the best son in the world." Hermione admired her son's thoughtfulness at his young age, "I hope he didn't disturb you, Lillian." She enquired after her sister-in-law.

"Not at all." Lillian waved her hand at Hermione as she came to a halt behind Alexis, "Adrian is one fine gentleman in the making, Jean. He knows how to take care of ladies." She winked at Hermione and they broke into a laugh.

'Oh how these young ladies can make the world look so beautiful!' Audré thought as she watched Lillian and Hermione laugh over Adrian's gallant display of chivalry, 'Maman, I pray that they may always remain happy like this.' she blinked her eyes to beat her tears of joy.

Adrian meanwhile was distributing grapes to everyone in the table. His left arm being plastered for another two weeks, he could only grasp three or four grapes in his small right hand. But that didn't drive his good spirits away as he started with his distribution with Julian.

"Here, uncle Julian." He said and handed him some three or four grapes.

"Look Jean, didn't I tell that Adrian is a brave little man." Julian stroked Adrian's blonde curls fondly with his other hand, "I am seriously considering to talk to my boss about taking this man for the post Head Auror." He said before shoving grapes to his mouth.

"I don't want to become Auror. Gina's papa is Auror and she says he is very busy, like my Mama. I want to become a painter like Monsieur Monette. I will draw every day." Adrian countered as he handed Alexis his share of grapes and received a kiss from him.

"I see that the little man has already set his priorities." Julian commented looking highly amused, "I am impressed, Jean."

"Whose son do you think Adrian is?" a proud Hermione asked Julian, "Mine." She replied but her feminine voice was overshadowed by another drawl as Hermione and Draco responded in unison.

The table became silent all of a sudden. Audré's eyes moved between Hermione, who was furious and Draco, who was extremely smug while everyone waited apprehensively for another outburst.

But to her immense relief Hermione's grip on her wand, which she was about to pull, slackened when she noted her son's happy mood and she lifted her chin instead, "Adrian Thomas Granger is my son." she proclaimed in a challenging tone.

Thankfully Draco didn't argue this time and an oblivious Adrian, the issue of whose parentage has created the debate, approached his father in timid steps before holding out a fistful of grapes.

"Monsieur, your grapes." He offered to Draco cautiously, careful to keep enough distance between them.

Silently Draco held out his right hand and Audré watched as Adrian opened his small fist to let four red grapes fall on his father's larger palm.

"Thank you dear son." Draco gave his son his most beautiful smile, "Can father give you a kiss in return for your hard work?" he asked the little boy gently.

"No!" Adrian squealed as he took two steps backwards and shook his head fervently, "Mama said not to let strangers kiss me." He added.

The look that appeared in Draco's eyes was pure hell: they were so full of sadness, anguish and anger. Audré watched as Adrian next moved to Narcissa, who took the grapes he offered to her but didn't dare to ask to kiss the boy and next was her turn.

"Here, Grandma Audré." The little boy offered her grapes and she took them with a gentle smile, "Oh my sweet little grandson! Let me see what I can give him?" Audré said as she leaned forward, "A kiss from all the Grandmas." She kissed Adrian's slightly rosy right cheek before turning his face sideways, "And another two from Grandma's nephew." She kissed him twice on the left cheek.

The happy boy then moved to her mother and after a short chat over the taste of fresh grapes, Audré asked the lunch to be served on a larger table.

As always, the Château Elves had done an excellent job with the dishes selected from different cuisines: French style Tabbouleh; Piedmont Eggs with anchovies, tomatoes and garlic; citrusy Lobster and Grapefruit Salad; Green Bean Salad with Shallot and Toasted Almond and a high-sided rustic Cherry Tart.

The picnic ended with music and informal easy dances between Julian, Lillian and Adrian. Audré laughed and watched the trio as the fought over who was the best dancer.

So lost was she that Audré didn't realize when Draco occupied the seat beside her and took her hands into his feverish hands.

Noticing the raised temperature, Audré turned to his nephew, "Draco, are you alright?" she asked, feeling concerned.

Her nephew gave her a sad smile, "I am fine, aunt. I am going back to my room now. But before I go I just want to say two words."

Audré waited silently for her nephew to continue.

"Thank you." Draco whispered and kissed Audré's right hand before standing up and leaving abruptly.

As Audré watched his retreating form, her saddened heart realized why her nephew had thanked her: he had noticed her kiss Adrian on his behalf.

'Draco may be Lucius Malfoy's son, Audré, but he has a loving heart that his father never possessed.' She said to herself, 'And you are bound to rot in hell for playing with it so mercilessly.' She chastised herself.

'But Adrian's heart is more important and if it takes you to break Draco's heart to bring him to his senses, Audré, then you should better sell your tainted soul to devil and don't stop. You are already half dead without Morpheus; now let's complete this death forever.' Audré closed her eyes and leaned back on her chair.

'Inside my heart is breaking;

My make-up may be faking;

But my smile still stays on…

The lines reverberated across Audré's head and she opened her eyes.

'The game must go on…'

'Yes the game will go on.' She thought and conjured an indignant smirk before leaving her chair to join the dance.

•••••

Adrian's small hands reached for the cluster of grapes as he tried to pick the nearest bunch. From his place against the nearest tree trunk, Draco watched in amusement as his little boy jumped several times with outstretched hands to reach the red, juicy grapes that were too high for him to reach.

"Father, I can't reach them." The little boy pouted his rosy lips as he looked overhead and Draco simply shrugged.

"I am afraid, dear son, but father can't help." He said lightly, enjoying his son's innocent anger and helplessness.

"You are tall." His son pointed out, "You can pick me up in your arms and I can pick these grapes." He suggested.

"Well, what will I get in return?" the elder Slytherin enquired from his son.

"Grapes!" Adrian replied, looking surprised that his father didn't know the obvious answer.

"I am not interested in grapes. I can pick them anytime I like." Draco shrugged, "But if you have something more interesting than grapes, then only father can help." He added to his son's dismayed look.

The little boy had the audacity to actually put his hands over his hips as he faced his father fully this time, "What do you want in return, father?" he asked boldly.

Draco tapped on his right cheek twice with a knowing smile while the little boy huffed irritably, "Ok. I will give you two kisses." He agreed.

"It is a lot of work. I am not satisfied with just two kisses." Draco feigned a disinterested look, "I want to play with you too." he supplied.

"But you catch me every time we play Hide and Seek." His little boy stomped his feet in displeasure over his father's cunningness, "And you don't even cover your eyes properly." He added.

"Be as it may." Draco said airily, "It is either two kisses and playing Hide and Seek or no grapes for you." He said dismissively.

Adrian's grey eyes that he had inherited from his father narrowed for a fraction of second and knowing his stubborn son, Draco held his breath secretly.

"Ok, deal." His son declared at last and he let out a breath of relief before standing up and walking over to Adrian's small form. As he reached him, his tall form towered over Adrian's petit form and his bigger shadow covered Adrian's smaller one. With strong arms, Draco picked him up with absurd ease and watched in secret pleasure as the little boy squealed in delight and prompted him to carry him from one bunch to another.

"Take me to that one, father." Adrian appealed to Draco, who immediately complied, "It is big." He said delightedly as his small hands wrapped around the large cluster of grapes.

"You want me to conjure a basket?" Draco asked his son, only to make him talk more so that he could listen to his tender voice and Adrian nodded, too absorbed to pluck the grapes, "What will you do with all these grapes by the way? You can't eat them all." He noted.

"I'll give them to everyone." Was Adrian's obvious answer.

"To whom?" Draco enquired as he conjured a basket single-handedly and charmed it so that it followed them everywhere in midair, "Whom do you mean by everyone?" he specified his question.

"Everyone means everyone." Adrian's head turned and his grey eyes fixed on Draco's grey pair, "Mama, you, grandma, uncle Julian, aunt Lillian." He explained.

"Aha!" Draco nodded in amusement, "Now I am tired." He said suddenly and stopped so that Adrian couldn't reach another large bunch nearby, "I want my kisses." He said feigning disinterest.

"Father!" Adrian let out a defeated exclaim before placed a kiss on Draco's right cheek.

Draco didn't know if there was any other occasion where he had been this happy. His son had given him a kiss willingly and there was nothing in the world that could stop him from carrying Adrian from one bunch of grape to another and occasionally receive a kiss or two as a bribe.

Someone ran a hand over his head lightly and the scene in which Draco was taking his son across the endless vineyard with grapes hanging overhead, vanished.

Draco opened his eyes and immediately felt that his arms were empty - there was no Adrian in them.

"Draco?" his aunt's voice brought him back to the crude reality that he had been dreaming all these time, "Are you alright, dear?" she asked sounding concerned.

Draco's throat was too dry to make any recognizable sound. Still lying on his bed, he reached for the goblet of water on his nightstand and emptied it in one gulp.

"Are you alright, dear?" Audré repeated her previous question as she placed a hand over Draco's forehead to check the temperature, "You have fever." She noted in a troubled voice, "No, don't sit." She forbid Draco as he attempted to sit, "Let me take care of it." she said and conjured a large tub with water and some white washcloths, which she rinsed and wrung before placing it over Draco's flushed forehead.

Draco wrapped his sheets more securely around his body trying hard not to shiver as his aunt sponged his face and neck.

"I think you should take a bath in lukewarm water. I will draw your bath and arrange for some herbal tea." She said to her silent nephew.

"No, don't go aunt." Draco grabbed Audré's hand and stopped her from leaving his side, "I am alone. Stay with me." He prayed.

Audré gave him a gentle smile and nodded before clapping her hands twice, upon which a house-elf appeared and bowed low to the pair of them.

"Thank you, Anglee." Audré said to the small elf, who was instructed to appear in Draco's behest and do his biddings, "Please bring some Sage tea for Master Draco and draw him a bath." She briefed him.

"Aunt, I hope you didn't tell anything to mother." Draco probed his aunt about their mutual agreement to keep his voluntary participation in the Lycanthrope research as a secret.

Audré let out sigh and shook her head as she rinsed the washcloth again and wrung it, "I am always careful to keep my promises, dear nephew." She said evenly, "Now tell me why you haven't eaten your grapes?" she asked pointing at the red grapes that Draco had canned on a small crystal phial.

"Because they are not for eating, aunt." Draco replied simply, "Though very insignificant, these grapes are the first thing that my son gave me out of his own free will. He gave it to me, to his father, not to me as his Polyjuiced uncle Edmound or somebody like that." he explained, "What is the time? Is the picnic over?" he asked his aunt remembering the morning.

Audré nodded, "It is almost half past nine, dear nephew. I came here twice before to check if you were alright and saw that you were sleeping. So I didn't wake you up for dinner." She said as the House-elf assigned to Draco appeared. Draco watched as his aunt transfigured a chair to a small table and the elf laid the food-laden tray on it.

"Here, nephew," Audré handed Draco a steaming bowl of soup, "I told the elves to prepare Cream of Fresh Tomato soup especially for you. My mother used to make it for me whenever I was ill." She said with a light smile as Draco spooned some soup in his mouth.

"You miss your mother, don't you aunt?" he asked savouring the warm creamy taste, "She died nearly forty years ago and you still talk about her as if she is alive." He commented.

"One can't get over some losses in their lives, Draco." Audré remarked, "Like you would never get over Scorpius or Astoria, though you are not officially mourning anymore. I love my mother more than anything in this world and she is still alive inside my heart." She placed a hand over her left bosom.

"I never thought aunt, that I was capable of feeling such strong emotions such as love and affection as acutely as I feel now." Draco confessed truthfully, "I never felt anything except hate, jealousy, neglect and anger for others. It was perhaps in my sixth year when the Dark Lord asked me to murder Dumbledore and threatened to kill my mother should I fail, that I realized I loved my mother and needed to protect her. Before that, I had always taken her presence for granted. It is not that I didn't love her previously, I did." he said firmly, "But I just didn't feel it strongly enough before that incident. Even after my father, wife and children died the only thing that kept me from committing suicide was the thought that mother will be alone without me. I may not say it, aunt but I love my mother and I love my son, though both of them are resentful to me now."

"It is good that you can love, Draco, for it keeps you a human." His aunt commented and poured him a goblet of water, "The most unfortunate people to walk this planet are those who are incapable to love someone and in my opinion they are damaged beyond repair. Resentments don't live forever and I suggest that you keep trying to win their trusts back." She said with an encouraging smile.

As if a chain of reactions has been issued, Draco's thoughts jumped from his mother to Adrian to Hermione to Alexis.

"Where is Delacour? Is he still here?" he asked his aunt sharply.

Audré shook her head and noticing his nephew's partiality for his soup she poured him some more from the main bowl, "No, he left half an hour after you left." She informed Draco.

"I don't want him to be with us, aunt." Draco said firmly, "You know that."

"Elaborate 'us'." His aunt fixed her blue eyes on Draco, who straightened up and took the bowl she offered.

"By us I mean Granger and me." He replied indignantly, "And Alexis certainly doesn't have any rights to butt in between me and my wife." He declared.

His aunt simply raised an eyebrow at his objection, "Pray tell me Draco, what do you understand by the word 'wife'?" she asked him evenly.

"A wife is a person to whom I have been lawfully wedded by means of magical vows. She is mine to have, protect and conduct as I find it fit." Draco replied robustly.

"Really? Is that what you call a 'wife'?" Audré's lips curled into a reproachful smirk, "Sounds more like a House-elf to me. If that is how you are going to seek forgiveness Draco, from your 'wife'…, " she emphasized the word, "…then I am sorry to say but no matter how many snake bites you endure willingly, Draco, you will never get Jean's forgiveness, for you fail to comprehend the true nature of your crime."

"You are wrong, aunt, I know what I did and I admit that it was most wrong of me." Draco countered, feeling his temper rise at such insincere proclamation, "I am willing to go through anything to make her forgive me but I will not share her with the man who was her fiancé once."

"Jean is not a piece of meat to be shared between two dogs, Draco. So stop thinking it that way." His aunt chastised him, "That man, Alexis Delacour, might have been her fiancé once, but they are nothing more than family and friends now. I have seen them together, Draco, and there is nothing inappropriate in their conduct." She said fervently.

"I don't care if it was appropriate or inappropriate, aunt." Draco protested, determined not to leak that he had overheard Hermione sing a love song in remembrance of Alexis on her birthday, "I want Granger with me.." he demanded, "..alone." he added.

Audré tilted her head and gave him a piercing look, "Why do want her 'alone', Draco? Do you want to force yourself on her again?" she asked sharply.

Trembling with sudden bout of rage, Draco slammed the bowl of soup on his night stand and sat upright, "How could you say that, aunt?" he asked her furiously, "How could you? You think I can…will force myself on her?"

"Nothing is impossible for a man who violated his classmate at the tender age of eighteen." Audré said evenly.

"For Merlin's sake, aunt, I am not a…" Draco erupted like a volcano, fisting his hands at the jibe.

"You are a violator, Draco…" His aunt stopped him mid-sentence with a cool stare of her blue eyes, "…whether you like to admit it or not. In fact, you have been blaming Jean for her violation until yesterday." She pointed an accusing finger at him, "Do you have any idea what that girl went through after that, after you impregnated her? Any idea how she carried that child inside her when she herself was a mere child? How she survived in a foreign country with an unknown family, away from her family and friends? Do you have any idea at all? Do you know how it feels like to be beaten cruelly by a man with whom you have shared the same classroom? Can you feel the pain of that woman when she was tortured by you?" she asked him vehemently, "No, you don't. Had I, Audré Chombrun, been in Jean's place, Draco, I would have killed you to avenge myself and no force in this world could stop me from doing it. But that woman and her friends saved you from imminent death and you should kiss the ground she walks instead of suspecting that she is having illegal affairs with her ex-fiancé."

Draco was speechless as his aunt's harsh words hit him hard and closing his eyes he leaned against the headboard. He wanted to tell her that he knew how it felt to be tortured like that, that he was sorry but somehow his emotions seemed distant from him. For the first time since the evening he had overheard that horrifying conversation between Hermione and Audré, he realized he didn't know how Hermione must have felt.

"If you truly seek forgiveness, Draco, you must stop thinking foul things about the person from whom you seek it." he heard his aunt said, "Jean is a virtuous woman; no matter how hard you tried to rob her from her innocence, she still remains as pure as gold. Her body may have encountered her first and last intimacy in the form of that violent ra…" she paused and grimaced, "…and bore the fruit in her innocent womb, Draco, but I can guarantee you that I have never seen a more pure and virtuous woman than her. She may not be a pureblood like your mother or Astoria or me, but her heart is so pure that it saved Adrian from all the vileness of the Malfoy blood. That boy is still innocent because his mother raised him, not you, Draco Lucius Malfoy." She proclaimed firmly.

Draco had no words to reply to that honest proclamation for in his heart, he now knew that Hermione was purer that his whole bloodline ever could be.

"Your bath is drawn." Audré said and stood up, "Finish your supper and take a bath before going to sleep. I have told Anglee to keep an eye on you and should you feel ill, he will inform me immediately. Good night, nephew." She said and Draco felt his aunt's lips touch his forehead as she kissed him and left.

As Draco finished his soup and took a long bath in Sage infused lukewarm water afterwards, he discovered for the first time why he was drawn like a magnet to his son's innocence: it had nothing to do with him, Draco Malfoy or his flying or drawing skills or his looks that he had passed to his son. That innocence was attributed to Adrian's mother, who had protected the boy at the expense of her innocence.

A tear leaked down Draco's cheek as his head rested against the bathtub.

'What have you done, Draco, what have you done?' he sighed.

•••••

Hermione opened her old copy of Spellman's Syllabry and ran her fingers through the pages before propping it against a small stack of books that she needed to study for her research on Unbreakable Curses.

For every five years there was an International Conference of Gringotts curse breakers where Chief Curse Breakers from around the world would congregate and read out several papers about their theories to share it with their fellow workmates. It would be Hermione's first time in the conference and she was secretly hoping her paper on Unbreakable Curses would stir a few brains, including Günther Amadeus, who left on Friday with a small challenge that his Paper will be announced as the best at the end of three days long conference in Switzerland. Hermione couldn't deny that she liked the man for his interesting nature – Amadeus would stand by her, help her and yet challenge her to beat him.

She took her quill, dipped it into the ink and started writing her theories behind the continued failure to remove Unbreakable Curses and how to counter them while occasionally checking the books and ancient runes. The topic has fascinated her since the day she took her job as an Intern Curse Breaker and she had been keeping a journal on objects that she found where cursed with Unbreakable Curses. Just as it was before, she always lost track of time whenever she studied and when she finally looked up to stretch her aching limbs, it was almost one o' clock in the morning.

The day had been long and though she had enjoyed every minute of it, except for a moments of anger when Draco Malfoy had declared Adrian as his son or when Narcissa Malfoy had called her daughter-in-law; Hermione was contended on the way it ended. The best moments had been the ones she spent in Alexis's presence, watching him as he talked with unreserved friendliness. She couldn't deny that she still loved the man as much as her bruised heart would permit but there was no denying that they needed to start a new; for Hermione was not the kind of woman who would resent their past relationship over their future friendship. Being friends with Harry Potter for seven long years and fighting ill death for him had taught her one lesson in life, that the power of friendship was even stronger than family and romantic relations at times. She and Harry had a unspoken bond that made them share each other's problems with absurd ease, which unfortunately she couldn't do with her love interest Ron. The commitment they had shared when they were friends were deeper than any other relationship they ever shared and if loosing Alexis as a loving husband meant to gain him again as a friend like Harry had been, Hermione would accept it gladly.

Yesterday had been the day when Alexis finally stopped avoiding her and come forward to claim her friendship. Even for a woman violated at the age of eighteen Hermione had remarkable faith on this man; she knew he would never approach her in any inappropriate way.

She looked over her shoulder to her son Adrian, who had taken bed earlier that night due to k fatigue from the day's picnic and smiled contentedly when she noticed the small boy was deep in his slumber.

Speaking of friendship always brought forth the memories of her life before Adrian was born. Though her son was everything she had, Hermione sometimes wondered how her friends would react should they find out she shares a child with none other than Draco Malfoy. Not that they would blame her or Adrian for it, but it would certainly produce some nose-wrinkling and pity from some of them. She was certain Harry and Ron would simply try to kill Draco for violating her and Ron may even ask her hand in marriage again but that was a life she had chosen to leave behind willfully and now there was no turning back; for she wouldn't take anyone's pity towards her or her child and neither would she let anyone label Adrian as 'Malfoy bastard'.

Sighing audibly Hermione closed her books, rolled her parchment and made a neat stack before leaving her chair. As she walked past her son's sleeping form to reach the closet, where she kept her Hogwarts school trunk, she cast a Silencing Charm over the boy to prevent him from waking up.

Hermione opened the closet and with a wave of her wand levitated the large trunk that was placed on highest shelf of the closet, away from Adrian's prying eyes. As she neatly balanced it on the floor she remembered the day she became friends with Harry and Ron thirteen years ago.

That particular memory still made her smile; it was during the Hallowe'en feast in their first year that a troll had broken into the school and attacked her in the toilet where she had been crying whole evening. The boys who had caused her to cry her eyes out had come to her rescue and it was at that moment that Ron Weasley had used the Levitating Spell correctly to knock off the troll with it's own club.

'Do something?' Harry Potter's eleven year old voice echoed on Hermione's head; he had been hanging upside down as the troll caught him by an ankle and tried to hit him with his club.

'What?' an incredulous Ron had looked around for any means to save his friend from the wrath of the Troll.

'Anything!' Harry had appealed, as he swung like a rugged doll.

Ron had mustered all his courage and whipped his wand while she, Hermione had gestured him to use the 'Swish and Flick' correctly from under the wash basin she was hiding.

As if she was back in that toilet again, Hermione could see how Ron pronounced 'Wingardium Laviosa' confidently and the club that the troll had been holding, slipped from his hands, rose in the air and landed pitifully on it's owner's head.

Lost in her memories, Hermione didn't even realize when she started laughing.

'Boys!' she muttered shaking her head as she checked her son again before she proceeded to open the lid of her old school trunk. It opened noiselessly and revealed the contents.

There… there lay her school uniforms!

Her shirts, skirts, neck ties, school robes and even shoes – neatly arranged and covering the deeper contents of her trunk.

Hermione sat beside the trunk on the floor and reached for her Hogwarts robes. They were still the same: the smooth black fabric with the Gryffindor emblem sewn over the left side of the chest. She ran her finger over it.

"Hogwarts." she whispered, "Gryffindor."

Hermione didn't even know when her visions blurred as hot rivulets of tears started to fall uncontrollably and she bet forward to rest her head over the edge of the trunk.

She cried for her parents…for her friends…her teachers…her school…her country - for everything that she has left behind, everything that she missed badly.

It was when someone took her head in soft hands and pressed it gently over her bosom that Hermione realized she was not alone.

"What's it dear girl?" Audré's quiet voice asked her.

Startled, Hermione tried hard to control her sobs and looked up at her aunt Audré's face in semi darkness. "You are spying on me." She said for the want of some distraction.

"Yes, I was." To her surprise Audré didn't swallow the bait and admitted her accusations calmly, "For I am always spying on my family." she said, "especially on those who have a habit of crying at night." she added.

Caught off guard and feeling slightly ashamed, Hermione wanted to argue that she had every right to cry whenever she felt like but when Audré's hands wiped her tears gently and pressed her head firmly on her bosom she decided against it. The woman wasn't here to make her feel embarrassed as if she was little girl who needed her mother; she was there to alleviate her pain.

"That's a nice tie." Hermione heard Audré comment as she took her neck tie from the open trunk, "Gryffindor scarlet." She chuckled.

"You know a lot about my school." Hermione remarked, sniffing audibly, "I guess it is because Morpheus Malfoy was there." She assessed.

"You can call him 'uncle' if you feel like, dearest, though I will not force you." Audré replied, "I know it is hard to call someone from the Malfoys as 'uncle' but I assure you he was not a typical Malfoy and for that he paid the price heavily." She sighed.

"I am sorry." Hermione said earnestly, feeling uneasy "I didn't mean to hurt you, it is just that.." she tried to explain.

"No need to be ashamed, my dear, I understand your point of view completely." Audré stopped her mid sentence, "But that's not why I am here." She said as Hermione positioned her head more comfortably over Audré's chest, "I know you miss your family and friends. You don't need to say that to me, I can hear that in your heart beats." She said softly.

Interestingly Hermione could hear Audré's heart clearly beat in steady rhythm of Lub-dub. "You know what my heart says when it beats." she said, "I don't know what yours say when it beats." She confessed.

Audré sighed, "Mine…mine just beats to keep me alive. My real heart died years ago." her voice was sad, "But dearest, you are sidetracking our conversation." She said lightly, "Tell me more about you. I hardly know you."

Hermione could feel Audré's hand running through her hair as she gently massaged her scalp.

"My parents Thomas and Adeline Granger are dentists by profession. I was their only child." She started.

"Why use 'was'?" Audré corrected Hermione, "You are still their daughter, a daughter they should be proud of."

"Maybe they will, aunt, if I go to them and tell my story." Hermione said, "But they will be terribly sad too, when they will come to know what I had to endure; especially my mother, she is a strong woman but even she won't be able to take it that her only daughter was…" she stopped as Audré pressed a finger over her lips.

"Don't talk about that." she said gently to her, "I also have a daughter…no in fact I have two daughters and I know what you mean."

"Two?" Hermione asked surprised, "I didn't know you have another daughter? Where is she? Does is live abroad?"

"No, she lives near her mothers." Audré replied and kissed over Hermione's head, "She is here. With me." She said gently.

Hermione was rendered speechless as Audré's meaning hit home.

"I…me…" she stammered but couldn't find appropriate words to express herself.

"Shh." Audré's warm hands silenced her with a gentle stroke on her head, "You are other daughter that I should have had, Jean." she said thoughtfully, "Now why don't you show me what you are hiding inside this trunk." She offered and released Hermione's head.

Feeling overwhelmed, Hermione straightened and reached for the other contents of her trunk.

"This was my first letter from Hogwarts." she retrieved a Muggle diary crammed with numerous pieces of parchments and took out her letter to show it to Audré, "Professor McGonagall came to deliver it to my home and explained it to my parents that I was a witch. You should have seen their faces, aunt." she smiled remembering the day in July back in 1991, "My parents are highly logical people, you know, since they are dentists and wouldn't buy such explanations as their only daughter was a witch. It was not until Professor McGonagall asked my mother about any unusual activity that happened whenever I was emotionally labile that my mum realized she was telling us the truth. Mum said that I once summoned my favourite doll from a distance of five feet when my cousin Betty snatched it from me. She said that I was four years old at that time." she took out a piece of ticket, "And here is my first ticket to Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 and three-quarters from King's Cross station on September the first." She handed the ticket to Audré, "It is accessible through a brick wall between platform nine and ten, aunt and I couldn't have reached there hadn't a boy named Neville Longbottom and his grandmother helped me and my parents to get there. She explained to us how we have to push our trolley right through the brick wall to reach the platform." She reminisced, "Neville had a toad named Trevor which he kept loosing it throughout the journey to Hogwarts and we went from compartment to compartment to find it. That is when I first met Harry, I mean Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Ron was trying to turn his pet rat yellow and you should have heard what he said:

'Sunshine daisy butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow'." She quoted the exact words that were spoken thirteen years ago and both of them broke into a laugh.

"He sounds like a funny guy." Audré remarked, "So did the rat turn yellow?" she asked curiously.

Hermione shook her head, "No, aunt, it simply kept snoozing on Ron's lap." She said still laughing on the memory.

As the night progressed Hermione took her old school items one by one and showed them to Audré while describing the memories with stark clarity. Most of the memories brought smile on their lips and Hermione was feeling happy to talk about them for the first time since she left Britain until she reached something that wiped the smile out of her face.

She fumbled inside the trunk, took out the beaded bag and looked at it.

She had purchased the small, purple beaded bag in the summer of 1997 and put an Undetectable Extension Charm on to carry the possessions she and her friends might need during their hunt for Voldemort's Horcruxes.

Though she didn't notice it, Audré had noted her grave silence and when Hermione finally tore her eyes from the bag, she gave her a gentle smile.

"I guess the memories of this bag aren't that pleasant." She remarked.

"I….it was with me the day…." Hermione stopped and ran her fingers over the beaded bag, "I still don't know how they missed it since I was carrying a very important artifact inside it: the sword of Gryffindor." She frowned before throwing it abruptly inside her trunk, "I just can't forget it, aunt." she said grimly, "No matter how hard I try I can't forget that incident it somehow finds a way to come back to me. Though I carry the scars on my body and raise a child that looks like the man who did that to me, I have never felt uncomfortable with them. Adrian is my life and I never considered him as a Malfoy. The scars on my body remind me of my struggles and give me courage and strength to move ahead. But these little things…this bag or the books that I read during or after that incident take me back to that time and I sometimes try to imagine what I could have done to avoid that fate."

She sat motionless beside the trunk lost in her thoughts.

'Maybe I should have put on the Invisibility Cloak when I returned to campsite. That way Greyback couldn't have captured me.'

'Maybe I should have let Bellatrix torture me; that would have been better than being violated by Draco Malfoy.'

"Come to me, dear." She heard Audré's voice as the elderly woman came closer and held out her arms and without a single word of protest Hermione crawled into them.

She felt Audré's warm body pressing against her gently as she wrapped her arms around her body.

"I don't why I suddenly felt like checking my old things again, aunt." Hermione whispered, her earlier sadness seeping back and incapacitating her nerves, "I don't know why? They make me remember everything that I try hard to forget and I know I should never open this trunk again, but somehow I couldn't control myself tonight."

"It's alright, my dear. It's absolutely fine." Audré said gently embracing her, "It is good to walk down the memory lane sometimes, Jean, for it reminds us what we really are rather what we strive to be."

"I miss them, aunt. I miss them all." Hermione said openly this time, not hiding her feelings anymore, "I love them and I miss them. Still. After six years. I miss my parents, my friends, my teachers, my school…I miss everyone…everything!"

The silence that followed her true confession was poignant and when Audré finally whispered Hermione couldn't recall ever being addressed in this tone.

"Close your eyes, dearest." Her voice was filled with a strange emotion Hermione couldn't identify, "Close your eyes and listen to me when I sing." She pledged.

With a deep exhale Hermione did as she was told and rested her head against Audré's chest while listening to her regular heartbeat.

Then the words of Audré's song filled the air around them:

May it be an evening star,
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls,
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road,
Oh! How far you are from home

Hermione didn't know if she has ever heard a song like this. The words spoke just what she felt inside and as she listened to it mesmerized, she felt her grief seeping away from her.

Mornie utulie
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantie
A promise lives within you now

As Audré sang, even with closed eyes Hermione envisioned all her earlier memories like a rapidly rolling reel of Muggle movies.

'Her mother laughing at her when she wore her Hogwarts uniform and pointed witch hat after she purchased them from Diagon Alley…'

'She was walking beside her father, who pushed her trolley through the barrier…'

'She was looking at the scarlet steam engine of Hogwarts Express for the first time…'

'She was being sorted and the Sorting Hat shouted 'Gryffindor'…'

'She levitated the feather in their first ever Charms class…'

'She became friends with Harry and Ron…'

'She was stuck in Devil's Snare with them…'

'They were playing chess and Ron sacrificed himself to save them..'.

May it be the shadow's call
Will fly away
May it be your journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun

'She was wiping her parent's memories…'

'They apparated from Bill and Fleur's wedding to Charing Cross Street when the ministry fell…'

'She fell asleep holding Ron's hand in Grimmauld's Place…'

'She was Mafalda Hopkirk and sitting beside Dolores Umbridge as she interrogated Mary Catermole…'

'Harry came as Runcon and attacked Umbridge and Yaxley while she snatched the Horcrux locket…'

'She ran behind Ron as he walked away from them and accused her of having an affair with Harry…'

'She and Harry were attacked in Bathilda Bagshot's home in Godrick's Hollow…'

'She was yelling at Ron when he returned after monthes…'

'She was at Malfoy Manor and Draco Malfoy was dragging her by her hair to the dungeons…'

'His form towered over her as he kicked her on stomach and then started to tear off her clothes…'

As if Audré too felt what Hermione was thinking she felt her aunt's arms tightened around her and breathless, she waited for the next memory when Draco's naked form breathed over her naked form.

But it never came.

What came instead were Audré's song and a sudden surge of pleasant emotion.

Mornie utulie
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantie
A promise lives within you now
A promise lives within you now

'She was holding Adrian just after he was born…'

'She became a mother…'

Hermione remained in Audré's arms long after her song ended, relishing the memories of her motherhood. Then she realized that she hadn't encountered the usual panic she felt whenever she remembered her violation.

Astonished, Hermione straightened herself, looked up and found a pale looking Audré who was tight lipped as if fighting an unpleasant memory.

"Aunt!" she exclaimed softly, "What happened? Are you alright?"

In response Audré simply opened her eyes and Hermione almost screamed noting the dead look in them.

"Why are your eyes like that aunt? What have you done to me?" she asked, bewildered.

The elderly woman blinked twice and gave her a gentle smile, "I did nothing, my dear." She shook her head, "But you did something." She said pleasantly, "You became a mother." She replied to Hermione's quizzical look.

Searching the meaning of her ambiguous reply Hermione could ask her one question, "What are you, aunt?"

"Me?" Audré asked back, "I am Audré Chombrun Malfoy." She replied.

"No," Hermione shook her head, "I didn't mean that. You did something to me. I….I don't feel the pain and panic anymore…" she stammered and rubbed over her chest, "I don't feel it anymore…"

"Beware of Audré Chombrun Malfoy, dear, she is like a Black Hole." Was the only reply she received before the enigmatic woman stood up and with a wave of her wand packed her trunk before placing it inside Hermione's closet again, "I think you should sleep, my dear, it's two thirty in the morning and tomorrow is Monday." She said evenly.

As Audré bade her good night and left Hermione, who climbed to her bed beside her sleeping son, she contemplated over the words Audré had spoken to her.

'Beware of Audré Chombrun Malfoy, dear, she is like a Black Hole.'

'Black Hole? Why should she be like a Black Hole?' she asked herself.

'Black Holes suck away destroyed and worn out planets and stars.'

'What does aunt Audré suck away then?'

And the answer came to her immediately.

Audré was the reason she hadn't felt the pain and horror of her past life when she remembered them tonight.

'I am insomniac.' Audré's voice spoke inside her head as Hermione remembered their last conversation, 'I can't sleep unless I take strong sedative.'

Now she understood why Audré couldn't sleep at night.

With her role as a Black Hole, the woman was even more damaged than she was and ever could be.

Hermione couldn't sleep for a long time after that. It was when the first rays of sun crept up the eastern horizon that she finally fell into a restless slumber.

•••••

Draco threw the roll of parchment in his bag and closed the clasps.

Beside him Dominique unrolled his one and gave a satisfied smile, "I got an 'O'." he said, "What did you get?" he asked a sour looking Draco.

Draco shrugged, "Who cares?" he asked back carelessly.

Monday morning started with him waking up and finding his body aching from head to foot though the fever was gone. Not wanting to complain or remain grounded in his room, Draco had chosen to attend his lecture class in Sorbonne at ten o' clock and when it ended with their professor handing back their previous essay on 'Importance of family law in Wizarding society', he neither had the mood nor the stamina to check what grade he had received.

"Don't pretend to be so carefully careless, Draco." Dominique smirked, "And for your kind information, your grades will be counted before they give you your monthly stipend." He added.

Draco hoisted his bag on his right shoulder, "As if I care for that bloody stipend." He said bitterly as they left the amphitheatre, where their classes were held usually, "I can donate more money to Sorbonne than they can ever give me as some stupid stipend." He said indignantly.

Dominique snorted, "Yeah, right, with your family vault full of gold and your delicate veins full of pure blood, what else the Malfoys can think?" he mocked.

Draco frowned, "What is that supposed to mean?" he asked his peer sharply, his anger suddenly boiling over the surface.

"Well everyone knows that Malfoys take pride on their filthy gold." Dominique replied unabashed, "Their gold is like Doxy eggs; it replicates by itself without them ever working to earn it."

"Malfoys are not common mules, Dominique." Draco stated proudly as they walked through the long corridor to reach the staircase, "We never work like ordinary wizards do. We don't even know how much gold we have in our vaults. Mostly the Goblins use it to give loans to the needy folks and we just receive the interest in return." He informed an impassive Dominique.

"Yeah, right. Malfoys are what we call 'profit bandits." he nodded and curled his lips as they took the steps together.

"Profit bandits?" Draco repeated incredulously reaching the first landing, his temper finally reaching the sky as Dominique's sharp jibes hit home.

"Yes, profit bandits." Dominique replied more firmly, now taking the second flight of stairs, "People who live on other people's money. Do you know that for every thousand galleon that Gringotts lends they collect an interest of two hundred and fifty galleons? Wizards and witches have to pay extra galleons to meet the goblin's practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest. While your family rest at home and brag about their gold and spaciousness of their Gringotts vaults, the debtors work from dawn to dusk to pay back the money they took from your vaults. While you spend money in luxury items, expensive brooms, clothing and jewelry, Draco, these debtors work hard to provide the profit money to you. If not bandits then what else do you think you can be?" he asked heatedly.

Draco's frowns deepened as this new piece of information hit him hard. He remembered his father telling him when he was young that pureblood families don't need to work since they have people out there to work and earn for them. Like everything else he was taught he hadn't objected to the idea; in fact it had given him a sense of supremacy thinking that his family controlled the Wizarding economy.

"So what am I supposed to do if the goblins charge unusually high rates of interest?" he asked Dominique irritably, "I didn't tell them to do it. It is not a crime to have money." He shrugged.

"Yes, it is not a crime to have money." Dominique repeated after him as they reached the courtyard and advanced to the willow tree where they unusually sat, "But it is a crime to gloat about it, Draco Malfoy." He emphasized his name as they reached the tree and threw their bags roughly on ground.

Draco loosened his tie and settled beside Dominique, deep in thoughts.

All his life, Draco had known that money was power and he couldn't deny it was one of the reasons why he had strutted Hogwarts with pride. He had looked down upon anyone who wasn't as solvent as he was and even his sidekick-cum-bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle were not qualified enough to be his friends since their fathers weren't as rich as his was. The only Slytherin whom he deemed fit to befriend was Blaise Zabini for his mother had inherited enormous gold from her seven marriages and Pansy Parkinson, whose father was almost as influential as Lucius Malfoy was.

There was a tingling sensation over bite mark on the left side of his neck and suddenly a jet of questions hit Draco's over clogged thoughts.

"What have I done to deserve this life aunt?

What is my fault?

That I am a filthy little Mudblood?

That my father is not a rich pureblood?

That I don't have Gringotts vaults full of gold and galleons?

That I defied Voldemort and his followers and fought for the truth?

That I didn't kneel down before Malfoy and purebloods like him? That I dreamt for a better world?

Or that I kept an innocent child alive inside me instead of killing him because his father violated me?

What is my fault, aunt, what is my fault?"

A sensation close to déjà-vu gripped Draco's senses as the questions Hermione Granger had asked his aunt Audré just a week ago reverberated across his mind.

What is my fault?

That I am a filthy little Mudblood?

That my father is not a rich pureblood?

That I don't have Gringotts vaults full of gold and galleons?

Unbeknownst to himself Draco closed his eyes and leaned against the tree trunk, letting his thoughts flow with Hermione's questions.

What is my fault?

That my father is not a rich pureblood?

That I don't have Gringotts vaults full of gold and galleons?

Draco took a deep breath to ease his stream of thoughts and pinpoint it to the real issue.

That my father is not a rich pureblood?

That I don't have Gringotts vaults full of gold and galleons?

He opened his eyes and found Dominique engrossed in a book titled 'Greatest Wizarding Trials of Century'.

"When will they give me my stipend?" he asked his peer, who looked up with a frown.

"Pardon?" Dominique asked.

"Stop mocking me Dominique, you heard me right the first time." Draco charged him, "Tell me now. When will they give me my stipend?" he demanded.

"Well, it depends. Usually they give it when the student in question asks for it meaning that he or she needs the money then." Dominique replied returning to his book again, "They will give it to you if you go and ask. Simple."

Making up his mind finally, Draco leapt to his feet.

"Where?" Draco heard Dominique asked him, his stare still fixed on his book, "Don't tell me you are going to collect your stipend, Draco, for I won't belief it. I guess you are going to donate some thousand galleons to Sorbonne Welfare Fund. Right?"

"Think as you like, you filthy French bull dog," Draco replied as he fixed his neck tie and smoothed his white shirt, "I am going to arrange something for my wife and son." he said indignantly before leaving the sanctuary of the willow tree.

"Good luck, filthy English snake." Dominique called from behind and Draco couldn't help but snort.

With confident and long strides he started making his way to the 'Office for the Wizarding Students Affairs' adamant to collect his stipend this afternoon.

The only thought that amused him on his way to the office was his father Lucius Malfoy must be turning on his graves watching his son Draco Malfoy going to collect his stipend as if it was something precious.

'It is precious, father.' Draco thought in his head, 'For it is not a bandit's profit. But I guess you will never understand it.'

As the door of the office came into his view, Draco gave his signature Malfoy smirk.

'Soon, very soon Granger, you will change your mind about your husband's money.' He thought contentedly.

•••••

Julian had been hoping to spend the night reading the latest autobiography of the famous Italian Quidditch player Octavos Octane when he opened the door of his suite and found it already occupied.

His cousin Draco was sitting on one of the wooden sofas around the glass covered table, holding the Dresden green broom he had used previously to fly with Adrian as he lightly ran his fingers over the handle.

The scene struck Julian so hard in his chest that he was distracted momentarily, his previous thoughts regarding the book he had been planning to read completely gone.

"I am sorry for breaking and entering into your suite, cousin." His cousin Draco said softly, not leaving his eyes from the broom.

Julian waved his hand and walked over to join his cousin before taking the sofa just next to him, "You want to fly with him, don't you?" he asked Draco, perceiving the silent plea in his gesture.

Draco's lips curled into a small smile, "It's one of those dreams that I keep me alive, cousin." He lightly replied, "But I know it's not possible." He said sadly.

Julian shook his head in protest, "I don't think so, cousin." He said gently, "I know there are disagreements between you and sister-in-law but I don't think she would deny you a request to fly with your son. She is a kind woman. Why don't you go and ask her?" he offered hopefully.

"No, cousin," Draco countered, running his fingers over the shiny sleek handle where Adrian had sat with Julian, "I don't think that is bound to happen any sooner now. Even if I force her to give me my son, which I certainly won't, Adrian wouldn't enjoy it. He will be tense and there is no point in making him uneasy with my presence. But even though I cannot fly with him, Julian, I can watch him when he flies with you. Take him for another ride whenever you are free and just inform me beforehand. I'll be there though Adrian will never know of it." he said.

Julian could see his cousin in new light now. He had previously known him as a bigot man who was suffering from the early demise of his wife and sons; afterwards he had seen him as a man looking for his lost son so desperately that he could arrange a drawing competition in a foreign country to lure him out; then he had seen him to go to any lengths to acquire that boy, no matter what the consequences be and now that same man was abstaining himself from his most precious prize: his son, Adrian in the fear that his little boy will be hurt and scared.

How a small boy could change the course of life of one lonely man?

It was not that Julian wasn't interested to know what had happened between Draco and his newly married wife six years ago that could have culminated them dislike each other so passionately. But his conscience and upbringing had always prevented him from enquiring more about both of them; for it was most ungentlemanly to ask a woman what is wrong between her and her son's father and most insensitive ask the same to a man who was keeping his mouth closed over the matter most severely. Draco, Julian knew, wasn't a trusting man and any further probing into his private matters would simply push him away - something that Julian wasn't very willing to encounter. His cousin may be cold and indifferent but he was clever and a good company for Julian and he wanted to keep it that way.

"He will be fine Seeker one day." Julian commented, determined to take the course of their discussion to something cheerful, "It is in his blood." He said proudly.

However the effect of his compliment was lost because Draco looked even more sober at the mention of his son's blood, "I guess it is, Julian." He said morosely, "Flying is in his blood – his blood that he inherited from me. But that blood has also conveyed some unwanted qualities to him and I am grateful that they have been counteracted by his mother's blood. I am proud that he isn't entirely like me." He said with a lost look.

Julian put a comforting hand over Draco's left shoulder, "Why do you say that cousin?" he asked him gently.

"Do you remember what he told us over the dinner yesterday?" Draco was talking more to himself than to his cousin, "He said he has forgiven the boy who had taunted and bullied him. He was sad for the boy who had hurt him so deeply that in his anguish it brought out his magic. Can you imagine how much hurt he must have been at that moment? That his immature magic was roused and surfaced so hard that it knocked him out before he was even prepared for it? I remember the day my magic first showed itself, Julian and it was certainly not as painful as my son's was. But after suffering so much in the hands of that boy, Julian, he had forgiven him, something that I am sure would never have done. I would have sought revenge." He said vehemently, "I would have asked my father to punish that boy and his family for trying to bully a Malfoy. But Adrian didn't anything like that, he never even complained." He said in disbelief and admiration, "Though a Muggleborn, his mother's blood is way better in that aspect than mine can ever be. So I am grateful that my poisons were neutralized by her nectars." He said calmly.

As silence stretched between them as Julian took in his cousin's words.

"Why do you call Jean 'her' or 'Adrian's mother', cousin?" Julian asked after sometime, genuinely curious to hear what the answer might be.

"I guess it's because we were always at last name basis at school." His cousin replied with a light shrug of his left shoulder and a small wince, "What difference does it make on what I call her, Julian? Either way she is Adrian's mother." He said firmly.

Julian shook his head, "No, cousin, you are wrong." He protested, "It makes a lot of difference on how you address her. You are not at school anymore and she is your wife now. And a husband never calls his wife as 'she' or 'her' or 'Adrian's mother' or 'Granger'. He calls her by her given name." he said trying to make Draco understand his point.

"She calls me Malfoy, Julian." Draco said coolly to his cousin, "And she also wanted to remove my 'forked Slytherin tongue'," he quoted Hermione's last threat at the dinner table.

"So what? She was angry on you." Julian supplied, "Besides, if she is calling you Malfoy doesn't mean you too have to call her Granger too. For Nostradamus's sake, Draco, this is not some contest or game. This is life and you need to get a grip on it right now." he chided his cousin, "You are a man and men always take the first initiative for their families. I am quite sure that if you start to call her by her name she will notice the change and soon she will follow it too." he said sensibly.

Draco snorted loudly, "Of course if she doesn't remove my 'forked Slytherin' tongue first." He commented darkly, "Okay fine, I see your point, Julian. I will call her by her name when I feel like it." he said in a dismissive tone, "But that is not why I came here. I came here to ask you to do me a favour." He said seriously.

Julian nodded, "I am all ears." He said.

Draco took out a pouch from his slack's pocket and handed it to Julian, "Here, I have here five hundred galleons from my stipend." He informed him as Julian weighed the heavy pouch, "I want you to take them – Adrian and his mother, both for a dinner in the finest Parisian restaurant. Also I want you to but 'her' a new dress – the best material my gold can buy. It should be with high collar, modestly cut and preferably blue." He instructed, "Remember, if you fall short of money, don't take it from my Gringotts vault. Give it from your money and I'll consider it as a loan to pay you back later."

Julian shrugged and threw the pouch of gold on the table before them.

"What? You are not going to do this?" Draco asked his voice sounded both angry and incredulous.

"Sorry cousin, but I don't know who are you talking about." Julian said carelessly, "There are many 'her' s in this Château – my maman, my sister Lillian, my aunt Narcissa and my sister-in-law Jean. I couldn't understand whom you were referring to." He said indignantly.

He watched as his cousin closed his grey eyes and opened them, "Why must you be so difficult Julian? You know very well who I am talking about." He said furiously, "I am talking about Granger." He clarified.

"Sorry cousin but I don't recognize anyone by the name of Granger." Julian said stubbornly.

"Aaahh!" Draco slammed on the table between them, "Julian, now you are being difficult on purpose. I meant…." He broke off suddenly.

"You meant?" Julian arched a challenging eyebrow.

"OK!" Draco exclaimed and stood up, "I mean Hermione Jean Granger, my wife and my son's mother!" He bellowed, "Fine? Now take the gold and do as I say." He commanded.

"Tsk..tsk..tsk..manners cousin, manners." Julian said reproachfully and shook his head in disapproval, "I am not your house-elf, Draco." He said coolly, "In case you have forgotten, might I remind you that I am your older brother?" he asked with contempt, "And that I will not be talked upon like this?" he added "If you keep that temper of yours perched on that delicate nose of yours like that, dear cousin, no matter what you do, how much gold you spend and for how you long, you will never get to hold your son and 'his mother', as you so rightfully address her." He said firmly, "Behave first and then I'll think if I can give you this favour or not." He said dismissively.

It was not that Julian harboured any prejudices against his cousin Draco; the reality was quite opposite for he liked his Slytherin cousin for his wit and intelligence. But the man had a family to look after now and with his temperamental nature he was simply going to push his son and wife away should he not check it first. Then there was the issue of him being spoilt shamelessly by his parents and Julian was determined to make his cousin change his old ways and accept that every relationship had their boundaries which shouldn't be crossed.

"Fine," he heard as Draco declared, "I am sorry, brother." He said in a forced calm voice, "Now please tell me what can do to make you do this favour upon my poor soul?" he asked patiently.

"It's not for me, brother, that I am asking you to call your wife by her name." Julian noted, "It high time that you forget the past between you two and move forward for the sake of the son you share."

"I guess you will also advice my wife to do the same for me." His cousin commented, "Very well Julian, give my son and my wife Her…Jean," he corrected and emphasized on the French name, "this gift on my behalf. I guess I don't need to warn you that my involvement shouldn't be mentioned." He added.

Julian nodded and took the heavy satchel from the table where he had thrown it previously, "By the way cousin, where is the listening device that I gave you?" he asked with a smirk.

His cousin was about to leave when he stopped on his track and turned his face sideways, "It is in its rightful place, cousin." He replied and left without another word.

As Julian threw the galleon filled satchel in the air and caught it several times before shoving it to his pocket.

'I know where that rightful place is cousin.' He thought and snorted, 'It is in Jean's quarter.'

There was no doubt in his mind now, that his Slytherin cousin was more cunning than he ever gave himself credit for.

Otherwise how could he have figured out a way to smuggle a listening device inside a Fideliused quarter?

•••••

A motionless Draco was of opinion that if this was what women went through during childbirth, men should be banned from impregnating them.

Laying on his bed in St. Lupus's facility for Lycanthropes, his grey eyes fixed blankly at the white ceiling overhead while five different wands of five different Healers cast several Healing spells over his battered and bruised body, he decided he would never have any children again.

Last night, the long anticipated Tuesday night, had been the longest and most painful of his miserable existence on earth. If Draco had thought earlier that he had been through a lot of pain since the death of his wife and three sons, after last night he was compelled to reconsider the whole idea once again.

Twelve hours thirty minutes and twenty-eight seconds exactly since he had entered the secret and heavily guarded facility for the werewolves, Draco had been near to death more than a dozen times. But to his dismay he had survived each time only to be subjected to a fresh bout of pain that no human language could ever describe.

When he arrived there last night, Draco was sporting high fever and unparallel pain all over his body. Thankfully the researchers, who had prepared everything beforehand, already arranged for several notable Healers from the 'St. Louis's Hospital for Magical Maladies' and he was immediately taken to his glass-bound chamber and laid down on his bed.

Though the chamber he occupied as a volunteer was windowless, Draco could feel it in his very bones that the moon was at its zenith last night. The werewolf venom coursing through his veins intensified with each passing moment and like a man in Full Body Bind Curse, he lay paralyzed on his bed.

Though he had no orientation of time since last night, Draco could vaguely remembered that the first attack had hit him at around eight o' clock; for it was then that his vocal cords paralyzed abruptly. Unable to make a single sound or utter a single cry of pain he had fisted his hands tightly as his back muscles contracted violently and caused his body to arch like a slender bow. He collapsed minutes later and arched up again, the cycle repeating itself as the werewolf venom fought with his body cells. The pain was such excruciating in nature that Draco prayed for death silently, for his speech was taken from him, but as Hermione had prayed earlier even the death had refused to take him.

As the hours passed by and the clock struck midnight he felt the worst assault hit him. As if his body was tore in two halves, Draco was unable to feel his right and left sides at the same time. His breath freezed on its way to his lung when his laryngeal muscles contracted as his body cells fought valiantly to prevent him turning into a werewolf and a nearly suffocated Draco fell from his bed.

When he became conscious, Draco noticed that the researchers had placed him on his bed once again. His vision blur now, he could only identify their outlines and heard vaguely when Chief Researcher Henri Descartes shouted instructions after instructions to feed him potions through Naso-Gastric tube, take his blood for analysis and what not. The next hours passed in similar manner as exhaustion and despair hit him like the blows from Thor's hammer and making him a paralyzed piece of meat unable to make a single cry of pain or protest.

It was not until the first rays of sunlight, entering through the windows that the researchers had installed magically, fell over his numb body that his agony ended finally. Still unable to move a single muscle, a semi-conscious Draco lay sprawled on his bed while the Healers took charge and nursed his body back to health.

When he had passed into a deep slumber, Draco didn't know.

A soft hand ran over his forehead and groaning deeply, Draco finally opened his eyes only to find the last woman he expected to be there with him: Eva Bellamy.

He blinked several times, unsure if he was hallucinating.

However, with each blink the outline of Hermione's friend became clearer.

Draco simply stared at the women, his grey pair fixed on Eva's blue pair and he tried to deduce the reason behind her presence in this high-security facility.

Only one logical possible answer came to his mind: Apolline must have sent her to see if he was still alive.

His thoughts regarding Apolline were punctured when Eva finally spoke: "What are you doing here, Malfoy?" she asked him.

'She doesn't know why I am here; I don't know why she is here. What the hell is going on?' he asked himself.

"You are the last person I expected to have as our volunteer." The woman said looking deeply disturbed.

'So do I.' Draco thought in his head as he opened his mouth to speak.

But to his horror no sound came out and Draco opened and closed his mouth several times silently when he received an answer from Eva.

"Sorry Malfoy but you can't talk for next six hours." She said frowning, "We have given you a Muscle Relaxing Potion to relax all the muscles of your body since it went through violent contraction for last twelve hours and your laryngeal muscles are too relaxed to produce any sound." She explained, "You need to rest now." she added.

His voice gone for another six hours, Draco could only oblige as the woman lifted his head and fed him Dreamless Sleep.

He knew nothing of what happened next.

At two o' clock in the afternoon, Draco finally woke up and instinctively cleared his throat.

A gurgling and rasping sound reached his ears.

"Bellamy." He whispered the first name that came in his mind and looked around the chamber.

All around him, curtains were drawn and at his foot end of his bed, on a chair sat the woman researcher who had measured his blood pressure on his first day in this facility.

Draco tried to sit up and noticing him stir feebly, the woman gave him a stern look, "Don't move, Monsieur." She said, "Wait till I call the Healers and Monsieur Descartes."

Feeling considerably better and even more curious, Draco didn't protest. His thoughts were only fixed on two issues: the memories of Hermione's pregnancy and Eva Bellamy.

Surely enough when the Healers came and checked him for any internal injury, Draco waited till he could ask Descartes about the woman who had called him 'our volunteer'.

"You are absolutely fine now, Monsieur Malfoy." The Healer by the name of Richelieu pronounced as he and his team gave Draco a thorough check-up, "I must say I never expected you to recover so early. It seems that your immune system is very strong." He said sounding impressed.

"I agree with you, Richelieu." Descartes commented as he patted Draco's shoulder lightly, "Even my team is astonished as to how this man survived his first full moon night. Though chances of his death were nearly zero, it was possible that he may lose his sanity from that excruciating pain he went through for the other two known pains of comparable intensity are Labour pain and Cruciatus Curse. I have seen many cases of Post-partum psychosis where women became mentally ill following painful childbirth; and it's not a secret that Cruciatus victims also lost their minds from pain. So I thank you, Monsieur, for your determination." he turned his gaze to Draco, "I have hardly seen a braver man than you." He said sounding honest.

'Brave my foot.' Draco thought to himself irritably, 'I didn't volunteer to do this for some blasted anti-venom for werewolves; those halflings can die and I can't care less. I did this because it was the only way to pay for those memories.'

"There was a woman here." He said, his throat dry and voice rasping as the Healers left them, "Eva Bellamy. Where is she? Why was she here?" he finally asked the question that was nagging in his mind.

"You know Mademoiselle Bellamy?" Descartes asked back, mildly surprised, "She is Assistant Head of the Potions department. She and her team will be using your blood to make the anti-lupus serum. But Monsieur, I forbid you to tell her family about this. Every researcher who works here is under strict Ministry guideline and no one knows about their true identity apart from us – not even their families. Both the facility and it's inhabitants are under Fidelius protection."

'So Dominique doesn't know that his girl friend is an Unspeakable.' Draco deduced, 'Besides he is moron enough not to ask her about anything.' He curled his lips in disgust, 'Now that woman will be feasting on my pains and using my blood to make her cursed serum.' He thought irritably.

"When can I leave?" he asked Descartes as a sudden sense of elation engulfed him, "I have some very important works to attend to." He recalled his real motive of obtaining memories from Apolline Delacour.

"You can leave any time you like but I highly recommend that you stay for another hour." Descartes replied.

"What for?" Draco asked as he left his bed and reached for his shirt that the Healers had taken off while checking him, "Another thing," he noted ignoring Descartes's protests "When will be the next testing?" he asked.

"We will let you know as soon as your blood reports come out." Descartes replied before he left Draco to dress in private, "You are slowly becoming our hope to recovery from this curse." He remarked.

Draco snorted as he eyed the Head Researcher's retreating form and moved behind the screen to don his shirt.

The thought of the look on Apolline Delacour's face when she will see him safe and sound amused him greatly and Draco slid into his shoes. With a quick wave of his wand, he cast a Freshening Charm and left his chamber without a backward glance.

At last he was going to see the memories of Hermione Granger's third month of pregnancy in France.