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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 6: The Malfoy Boys
Friday afternoon found Hermione Granger deep in the bowels of Gringotts, giving last minute touches to the Malfoy Vault. She had to curse-break at least five hundred and sixty different objects of immense value during the course of eight days that she spend here. Right now she was making a 'check out inventory' for the Malfoys, an official document which lists all the possessions of a vault once they were curse free and before they were handed over to their owner.
Hermione had been looking forward to finish her assignment in Malfoy vault since the day she started it. She could hardly concentrate on anything else except for that vault when she was at Gringotts and later on when she returned home, she dreaded having to go there again. She could have dropped it and asked Geccemp to assign someone else in her stead - she was sure Geccemp would have understood her situation. But after four years working experience with the Goblins she knew better to keep her personal and professional lives separate. Besides Geccemp was relying on her skills and even boasted about her to Gobtok. Backing away was not an option then – not only because she liked Geccemp but also because she was a Gryffindor and 'retreat' was a word not found in their dictionary.
Even in unused state, the Malfoy vault was one of the most heavily guarded vaults in Gringotts. The French authority employed not only Dragons but also Chimaeras for it's security. Hermione was escorted by two top quality professional Goblins to get past the creatures with Clankers before she entered the vault.
Hermione was never claustrophobic. It was one of the reasons behind her promotion as the Chief Curse Breaker. But every time she entered the Malfoy vault, she felt suffocated. It was like going back six years ago, when she broke into the Lestrange vault in Gringotts Britain with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Though large and spacious, the vault had a dark aura about it which made her feel vulnerable. Every single object that she curse broke brought a feeling of extreme repulsion instead of usual joy, when she was reminded that Draco Malfoy – the last person on earth to deserve her efforts - will be using them.
Thinking of Draco Malfoy brought out even darker memories in her mind - the pain, the humiliation and the hard choices that he left her to deal with, alone. Although the vault was reopening after almost eighty years and she was positive that Draco Malfoy had never been in there, she still could feel his ominous presence in the darkness and stale air of that vault. He seemed to reach out for her from unknown corners, trying to assault and scare her. It was with immense courage, will power and determination that Hermione carried out her work.
Hermione checked the inventory one last time and sweeped her eyes over the valuable contents of the vault. She sighed – finally her work was over and she could go back to home in peace with the relief of never having to return here again. She left the vault and signaled the Goblins to seal it, not giving it a single backward glance.
•••••
Draco Malfoy was lying on one of the stylish garden benches adorning the plush gardens of Château de la Grange-Bléneau and looking at the sky absentmindedly. It was Friday afternoon and his second day of visit at his Uncle Morpheus's family home. He was in no mood to make idle chit chat with his half French cousins and thus preferred to spend his time alone in the garden.
It was a beautiful garden, almost as beautiful as the ones they had in Malfoy Manor except for the white peacocks which were absent here. But the fountain here was twice the size of their one with a small island designed in the middle. Carefully planted exotic plants were bearing beautiful summer flowers with exquisite smell but Draco did not care. He looked at the Apparition Point on the further corner of the garden and wished he could apparate back to his home in Wiltshire.
Draco had never dreamt that his life could take such tumultuous turns within a span of just six years. He was a Malfoy and Malfoys always lived happily ever after. But when the war ended with the famous Harry Potter finally finishing off the Dark Lord, their family had to go through numerous probations imposed by Ministry to ensure that the remaining Death eaters did not re-group to finish Lord Voldemort's unfinished job. They lost considerable sum of their valuable gold to keep Lucius Malfoy out of Azkaban and instead he was placed under house arrest for the rest of his life. Narcissa on the other hand was adamant to finish Draco's education and as they did not have enough money to pursue his education in foreign school such as Beauxbaton, he was sent to Hogwarts again under the watchful eyes of Ministry. Narcissa had other plans for him too and soon he came to know that his mother was looking for a suitable bride for him – someone who was from a non Death Eater Pureblood family. It was then that Astoria Greengrass was introduced to him, a sixth year Ravenclaw, two years younger than he. Draco had no wish to get betrothed so early in his life but his parents insisted that the union would bring back some of their old influences back – Astoria's father, Ebenezer Greengrass being the new Head of the Magical Law Enforcement at the ministry and her mother being an old friend of Narcissa and believer of Pureblood supremacy. Draco had no choice but to give his outward consent and married Astoria against his wish on December 1998 - just a week after Astoria came of age.
Draco soon found out that he did not regret their marriage, for he had never come across any woman like Astoria in his life. She was reasonably pretty, introvert and preferred reading over nonsense girly gossips. She even knitted a Green muffler for him with her own hands – something even his mother never did for him - and gave it as her wedding present. She slowly became Draco's friend and partner in his post-war quiet life in Hogwarts and together they studied in the library, ate in Great Hall and spent their free time riding their broomsticks on the Quidditch pitch. Draco did not even realize when he had fallen deeply in love with his young but intelligent wife.
In the summer following Astoria's sixth year and Draco's graduation from Hogwarts they went to Italy for their honeymoon and their first child was conceived. Astoria was extremely shy about it, something that made Draco even happier when he heard the news. Lucius and Narcissa were beside themselves on the prospect of having a new heir to the family and advised Astoria to leave Hogwarts and remain at Manor during her pregnancy. But Draco who knew how much Astoria's education meant for her, protested and personally made sure she received home schooling for her upcoming N.E. W. T. s.
The day their son was born was the happiest day of Draco's life. He named him Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy. Astoria upon completing her N.E. W.T . s successfully gave her full attention to their small family. Life was as good as it could be for another year until fate chose to strike Draco again. Lucius died from Dragon Pox like his father did and Scorpius who was suffering from an inborn Pureblood blood disease followed him ten monthes later.
Life after Lucius and Scorpius's untimely demise was never the same for Draco and his remaining family. Astoria tried to conceive again but never reached her term as the baby died at the sixth month of pregnancy. Her last attempt claimed her own life leaving Draco a lone widower.
Draco never thought he could mourn over somebody's death so deeply until he was faced with it. Life without Astoria and Scorpius held no meaning for him and he soon started spending most of his day by their graves in their family graveyard. Narcissa observing her son's obsession for their graves and constantly deteriorating health, decided to take matters at her hands and contacted the long forgotten family of Morpheus Malfoy in France who happily complied. She arranged for their visit and sent a reluctant Draco to Gringotts to reopen the Malfoy vault in it's French branch. Thus within a week of his mother's decision to visit their relatives in France, Draco was lying on the Château's garden bench, looking at the sky absentmindedly instead of the graves while twisting his wedding band.
•••••
Hermione dusted her robes as she came out from her special Floo fireplace and cast a freshening charm before she made for the kitchens. Fridays were baking days at Delacour's and she loved to spend the time with Apolline and Gabrielle while helping them to bake cakes and cookies for the coming week. Besides Adrian was sure to be there – practicing his drawing skills on cookies.
Sure enough when she reached the kitchen at downstairs, she found the Delacour ladies making preparations to bake a large Pound cake and Adrian, his hands dirty with chocolate glaze - which he leaked more than he spread on top of cookies – sitting on the kitchen counter.
Hermione smiled at her chocolate clad son. He looked so adorable while he tried to eat and glaze the cookies simultaneously. His Grey eyes were eyes full of concentration as smeared his pale cheeks with chocolate, absentmindedly. She walked to her son and trickled him in the stomach, "Bonjour, mother Apolline. Bonjour Gabrielle." she addressed the two ladies.
"Mama!" Adrian squealed in irritation. "Que faites-vous?"(What are you doing?) He said.
"Adrian, remember what Mama told you about language when talking to Mama." Hermione said as grabbed a cookie from tray and bit it.
Adrian huffed, "Fine!" he exclaimed, "What are you doing?" he asked in English, eyeing his mother eating his cookie.
"I am eating my son's cookies. Any problem?" Hermione demanded mockingly, "They aren't yours, they are my son Adrian's." she lifted her chin defiantly.
Both Apolline and Gabrielle burst into laughter. "You are very demanding, Jean." Apolline chided.
"I suppose I am." Hermione answered her and turned to Adrian, "and now I demand a chocolaty kiss from my little rabitty babitty boo or I'll eat rest of the cookies too." she said in a rhyme.
"Fine." Adrian huffed again and kissed her on her cheek, smearing some chocolate there. Hermione grabbed and smeared some more chocolate on his small pointed nose as Adrian squealed "Mama" again.
The ladies and the small 'gentleman' spent the rest of the evening baking cakes and cookies while laughing at each other's jokes. Gabrielle mocked some of her funny customers for them and by the time they were finally finished their baking, Hermione felt effects of the Malfoy vault wash away from her.
Hermione carried Adrian from kitchen in her arms for a bath – she loved drawing and bathing her son. She drew a hot bath for him and scented it with Lavender bubbles. She placed Adrian in the bathtub and started cleaning his small body.
"Mama!" he squealed as she trickled him once again in his stomach.
"What is it, little rabbit?" she asked knowing very well he meant to ask no question.
"Stop trickling me." he demanded.
"Okay." she said and trickled him again.
"Mama, please!" Adrian pleaded now grabbing her hands underwater, "Stop it. I need to ask you something." he said.
"Very well. Ask Mama." she said.
"Mama, what's a marriage…anniversary?" he stammered as he asked her with big Grey eyes.
Hermione stopped scrubbing her son. "Where did you hear it?" she asked instead, sharply.
"You know Pierre, Mama." he said his eyes still round, "He said it's his parents' marriage anniversary tomorrow. But I could not understand what it was so asked you." he smiled at his mother.
Hermione could not bring herself to snap at her innocent son, so she smiled warmly. "A marriage anniversary is a day that a couple celebrates their marriage." she tried to be simple as she explained him, "Like the day Grandpa Gustave and Grandma Apolline throws party every year celebrating their marriage." she said as she poured a tad of kid's shampoo on her son's silvery blonde hair and started to work a leather.
"Oh that!" Adrian nodded his head knowingly, "It's a happy day." he said cheerfully.
"Yes it's a happy day." Hermione felt relieved that the topic was safely avoided.
"When is your marriage anniversary, Mama?" Adrian asked suddenly and Hermione froze in the middle of pouring water on his head.
She bit her lip and shook her head in despair. No. She would not avoid or lie to her innocent son. He deserved to know the truth as much as possible.
" Mama does not have a marriage anniversary, Adrian." she answered him.
"Why not?" Adrian asked scowling his little face.
"Well because your father married someone else, remember? He does not like Muggleborns or half-bloods." she said and poured some water on his head.
Adrian shuddered and shook head to dry it while spraying Hermione with water. "Oh! I understand now." he said, "I think, Mama, we are happy without him. Imagine how it would feel like if he disliked us just because we are not Purebloods." he declared.
"Yes, I would be awful, little rabbit." she admitted, "Now get out of water and let me dry you." she said to him.
Rest of the evening after the conversation, passed without any further mention of the topic of Adrian's father and Hermione was grateful for it. They dined with the Delacours and afterwards she settled down with Adrian on their bed clutching a story book. He soon drifted to a peaceful sleep and Hermione kept watching his sleeping form contemplating for the first time in her life what his father might be doing now.
•••••
It was one o' clock in the morning and Draco Malfoy was sitting on a couch in his balcony. He was holding a green muffler in his pale elegant hands and feeling it in between his fingers.
"Astoria! Scorpius!" he sighed sadly and looked up at the night sky. 'They are there somewhere' he thought, 'among the stars, watching me.'
Someone knocked on his door and Draco looked at it sharply, irritated. 'Can't mother just leave me alone?' he thought as he stood up to open the door. 'I am going to slam the door on her face if she tells me go to bed.' he thought ruefully as he approached the door and opened it , fully expecting to see Narcissa, only to find his aunt Audré standing there.
"Good morning, can I help with something?" he asked distractedly.
Audré gave him a gentle smile and a piercing look. "Sorry to disturb you, son, but do you have a Headache Potion or something?" she rubbed her head, "I am having a terrible headache and just noticed that my potion is finished. I can't go to sleep and my children don't use it so I thought I would ask you to see if you have any." she explained.
Draco did have a Headache Potion – he carried his own potion kit wherever he went – and was not in a mood of sharing it. But Audré was his host and it was rude to say no to her especially when she was treating them so nicely.
"Yeah, Sure. Please come in." he said motioning her to come inside.
"I hope I did not disturb your sleep." she said as she entered his suite.
"Not at all." he said as he went to fetch his Potions Kit. Meanwhile Audré settled herself on an armchair by the fireplace, clutching her head.
Draco opened his Potions Kit and took the vial of Headache Potion. He poured an ample amount on a goblet and brought it to Audré.
"Here." he handed it to his aunt who downed it in one go and placed the empty goblet on the table.
Not knowing what else to do, Draco took the other seat across his aunt and fixed his eyes on the floor.
They remained silent for some time. Then Audré suddenly spoke. "Why are you fully dressed, Draco? Did not you go to bed?" she asked.
Draco looked up at his aunt. She was looking expectedly at him.
"I can't sleep alone." he answered fidgeting with the handle of his armchair.
" Oh!" was her curt response, "By the way, this Headache Potion is quite good. I am feeling better now." she said, "Did you buy it or brew it yourself?" she asked.
"I don't use store bought Potions." Draco replied, "They have less shelf life. I prefer to brew mine myself." he said looking at his aunt.
"Really? It's so nice.. Can you do me a favour and brew up a batch for me?" Audré requested.
"Ah, yes, why not?" Draco replied, "It's nothing very hard, really and… ah… it will be a privilege." he added.
"Thank you" Audré said, smiling as she stood up, "well now that I am feeling good, I guess I should go to bed." She supplied.
Draco stood up too. "Well, if you are sure." he said.
Audré gave him a curious look and nodded, "Well, there is another thing I would like to ask too, if you don't mind, dear?" she said carefully.
Draco tried to look polite, "Of course, Aunt Audré." he offered.
"Can I touch you?" she asked, "I hope my British nephew will not mind if his French aunt touches him." she enquired.
Draco considered the request and found no way to reject it. "Not at all." he said and extended his right hand to her.
Audré smiled widely and moved towards him, "No dear, not there." she said and Draco was transfixed. She moved behind him, placed her hands on her shoulders and gestured him to sit on the armchair he had been occupying. Draco complied not knowing what was happening and suddenly found her hands in his hair.
"Here." she said quietly and started rubbing his scalp gently. Draco felt numb and relax. She massaged his head soothingly in silence and without realizing Draco slumped back in the chair and leaned on to her touch.
"Your hair reminds me of Morpheus's one. They were straight and fine, just like yours." He heard her saying, "Do you know your uncle went to see you when you were born? It's a tradition among Malfoys to gift their firstborn rare objects. He took Essence of Pearlflower for you; drinking it with mother's milk makes the baby strong as it grows up." She said gently.
"I did not know that. Father never mentioned it." he managed to respond. He was feeling drowsy now.
Audré must have felt that too because she spoke no more.
The last thing Draco remembered hearing before he finally fell asleep, was his aunt's voice saying gently:
"Sleep, Precious baby, sweetly sleep. I'll rock you. I'll rock you. I'll rock you."