A/N: Thanks everyone for follow, favourite and reviews.
Some people have asked me put Draco under Imperius Curse to make Hermione fall in love love with him in future. That's too simple and predictable. I will be extending the border of your imagination even more. Please allow me to do so.
As for myself I am a full time physician attending at least fifty to seventy patients on daily basis (I am a sonologist) and can't simply find enough time to research more to write the chapters more fully. That's why I require your help in the form of reviews. Lots and lots of them.
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 12: The Little Rabbit.
When buying anything for Adrian, Hermione always preferred Muggle stuffs over magical ones. She had several reasons behind it: one being that she did not want to influence Adrian's immature magical abilities by any external magical power and other being that he was too young to handle such stuffs. The only magical thing he possessed was his toy broom and he was allowed to use it only under supervision to ensure he never got hurt.
Hermione looked at the box of colouring pencils, which read 'Faber Castell Watercolor Pencils: Albrecht Dürer Studio Box of 36 – Finest Artist Quality' and smiled. This was what she had been looking for all afternoon for her son. She had been planning to give him a box of best quality colouring pencils ever since she decided he would be participating in the Drawing Competition. She picked up the box from the stand of the Muggle Supermall and proceeded towards the counter to pay for it with Muggle money.
Adrian was sitting on the window sill of one of the large windows in her Suite and examining a book when Hermione arrived there, hands full of packages after her shopping.
"Mama!" he exclaimed after noticing his mother, "What did you bring for me?" he asked her, enthusiastically.
"Come here, little rabbit and see for yourself." Hermione offered and Adrian almost jumped down from the window sill and ran to his mother.
"You will not jump like that ever again, Adrian." Hermione warned her son sternly.
"Why not?" Adrian asked, extending his small arms, trying and to reach the packets she was holding.
"Because you might get hurt." she answered as she placed the packets away from his reach - Adrian had an unfortunate habit of tearing open every packet he found regardless to whom it might belong.
"But I am a big boy now." he protested, "I am five years old." he said as if to remind her of the unnoticed fact.
Hermione could not help but laughed and picked up her son in her laps before kissing him twice in both cheeks. "You may be five hundred years old and you still will be my little rabbit." she told him. She reached for the gift she had bought and gave it to him.
"What's it?" he asked while tearing up the brown wrappings with his well practiced hands as Hermione carried him to the nearest divan, "It's colouring pencils!" he exclaimed gleefully noticing the box. "You bought new colouring pencils for me." he said as he hugged his mother tightly. "I love you so much, Mama." he declared happily and planted a big kiss on her cheek.
Hermione smiled and set her son on the divan as he examined the contents of the box with great interest. He took out a few pencils and drew a line or two on a paper. He then counted the pencils.
"Thirty six colours?" he said excitedly, "And there is a brush too?" he took the brush in his tiny fingers.
"Yes, a Brush and Thirty six colours." Hermione affirmed, "The shopkeeper told me that the colour will dissolve completely in paper if you brush it with water. That's why it's called watercolour. Besides the colours will never fade in sunlight." she informed him. "I want you to use it tomorrow for the Drawing Competition."
"It's the bestest of best of best of all the gifts you have ever given me." Adrian said and hugged his mother again. Hermione stroked his blonde curls in delight, "There are too many bests in that sentence, little rabbit." she pointed out, smiling. "Now tell me, what are you going to draw tomorrow? Have you decided it yet?" she asked him.
"I think I'll draw something from that Hogwart's picture book that you gave me." he answered. "How about the picture of the Great Hall?" he asked her.
Hermione's smile faded. True that she still loved her school and wanted her son to know all about it but Hogwarts was a closed chapter in her life. Every mention of that name brought out memories that were happy but painful enough to make her want to cry. She rubbed her head warily deciding what to tell him.
"I don't think that's a good idea." she told him, "I think you should draw something that cannot be found in books. Something from your imagination." she offered.
"What's imagination, Mama?" her son asked curiously.
"Well, imagination….um…imagination is…." Hermione struggled to answer, "Imagination is a power to see or feel things that are not there." she answered her frowning son, "Normally when you draw something, little rabbit, it's present there, in front of you. But if you draw it by remembering or thinking about it - it's called imagination." she explained.
Adrian seemed to consider his mother's answer. "Like that picture I drew about you, me and father? It was imagination, right?" he asked her, trying to deduce her meaning.
Hermione didn't know what to answer. Ever since her encounter with him in Gringotts, any mention of Malfoy, however indirect or innocent was enough to put off her mood for the rest of the day. She sighed and looked at her son who was looking expectedly at her.
"Yes. It was an imagination." she affirmed, 'and it will remain that way.' she told herself as got up from her seat to order their supper. She did not feel like going to the Dining Hall amidst the discussion of Ten Thousand galleons and who would win it.
"Adrian, what will you take for supper?" she asked her son who did not reply.
"Adrian?" she asked again and turned around to look at him only to find him deep in thoughts.
"What's it, little rabbit?" she asked, anxiously, thinking that she might have overreacted to his question.
"I don't want to draw my father tomorrow." he replied in a small voice and Hermione's heart filled with guilt. She almost dived at him and held him tightly in her arms.
"You don't have to, my love. Not tomorrow. Not ever." she told him, her voice shaking with emotion.
"Besides, I don't know how he looks like." he confessed looking miserable.
Hermione hugged her son even tighter, "He looks like a human, little rabbit." she answered him, 'but he is not one.' she told herself.
Adrian snuggled against his mother and Hermione held him protectively. "Do I look like him, Mama? Everyone asks me." he said quietly.
"No." Hermione answered fervently, "You don't look like him. You look like my little rabbit. You look like my dear Adrian." she said firmly. She stroked his small head until she felt he moved and looked up at her.
"I am hungry." he declared suddenly and Hermione felt relived.
"I am going to Floo the Room Service and ask them to send up our dinner here." she said smiling gently at him. "Okay?" she asked.
"Okay." he affirmed and went back to examine his gift as Hermione stood up again to reach their fireplace.
•••••
Draco Malfoy had never waited for anybody or anything in his entire life. He was the only child of his parents and they had brought him anything he ever wanted without having to repeat his demand twice. Besides he never considered anybody important enough to sit and wait for them. He was a Malfoy and the Malfoys never waited – they made people wait for them.
Yet four hours had passed away uneventfully since he first took his seat just across the Dining Hall door as Draco waited patiently and kept observing the door for any sign of Adrian.
He sighed and looked at his watch. It was ten thirty now. The boy must have decided to take his dinner elsewhere, he thought. He was going to wait for another half an hour and see if Adrian, almost impossibly, turns up.
Ever since he had missed him narrowly that afternoon, Draco had not been able to concentrate on anything at all. He had spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the vast hotel and it's grounds hoping he might be able to meet Adrian there. But luck had not favoured him and he finished his inspection with a heavy heart and decided to wait for him to appear during dinner in the Dining Hall.
The clock chimed eleven times at last and Draco stood up from his seat. Adrian was not coming here tonight; he thought and left the place looking extremely disappointed.
•••••
Breakfasts at Saturday mornings, whether at Delacours or somewhere else, were bound to have some small fights between Hermione and her son over his reluctance to drink milk. Keeping that in mind, Hermione had already informed the room service to flavour his son's milk with something other than – chocolate, strawberry, banana, peach and a list of ten different items. It was a special day for Adrian and she did not want to spoil it by rebuking him.
She laid down the clothes he would be wearing in the competition and looked at her son who was scanning the pages of a book full of animal photos. It was a gift from Edmound, who worked as a Magical Animal Explorer for the French ministry. She had already given Adrian his bath as he discussed with her about his indecision about what he might draw in the competition.
"Put that book down Adrian and eat your breakfast." she told him, "It's almost eight o' clock and the competition starts at nine." she said as she settled down next to him for their breakfast.
Adrian did not argue with his mother and complied. Apparently he was too busy to look for a suitable subject for his drawing and ate his jam toast, egg and milk without any protests.
"The milk tastes different." he commented at last noticing the change in taste. "What is it?"
"Almonds." Hermione answered, "I read somewhere that Almond milks are good for your brain and you'll need your potentials today, little rabbit." she informed him.
Adrian looked up from his book abruptly, "Rabbit?" he repeated after Hermione, looking suddenly happy.
Hermione exchanged surprised looks with Gabrielle and Eva, who both mirrored her reaction.
"What is it, Adrian?" Gabrielle asked him.
"It's a secret." Adrian answered grinning. "Mama, looks like you were right about the Almond." he said to a dumbfounded Hermione.
•••••
Draco Malfoy - clean shaved, hair neatly brushed and impeccably dressed in his black robes was waiting expectantly for his guests to arrive in his Suite. He had taken the liberty of inviting the judges of the Drawing Competition – Sir Anton von Dyrk, Pieter Bruegel and Jacob Jordeans – for a breakfast with him in his Suite.
Draco was not a person to invite people without some hidden purpose. This invitation was not an exception either. He had plans to execute.
His guests arrived precisely at eight o' clock and after exchanging pleasantries, Draco lead them to their carefully laid breakfast table.
"Please help yourselves." he offered them generously keeping an eye on Jacob Jordeans.
Unlike the other two judges, Jacob was younger and quieter. He was famous for making Group Portraits and leading a quiet life even at the peak of his fame. Just the kind Draco was looking for.
The breakfast ended successfully and Draco prepared himself to execute his plan. As the judges thanked him for his invitation and stood up to leave he suddenly feigned remembering something.
"Ah! Monsieur Jordeans!" Draco exclaimed, "I just remembered that I wanted to ask you something." he said looking thrilled.
Jacob looked expectedly at him and Draco smiled, "Can I talk to you for a minute?" He asked him.
"Sure." Jacob replied and Draco turned to the other judges. "Please excuse us." He requested them, "He will join you in a minute." He informed them. The other judges bowed their heads and left his suite.
Draco escorted Jacob to seats around the fireplace and gestured him to sit.
"Monsieur, I have heard highly of your abilities to draw Group Portarits." he said.
"Merci." Jacob said smiling.
"I was about to ask you if you could draw me a family portrait." Draco offered the artist. "I can draw quite well myself but not as good as you." he confessed modestly.
"You do?" Jacob asked interested.
"Yes, I do." Draco replied and offered Jacob a cup of coffee. "Some more coffee?" he said making sure Jacob could smell it. "Let me discuss while you finish this cup." he said pleasantly.
Jacob seemed to sense the attractive smell of the coffee and immediately complied. He took the cup from his hand took a deep sip.
Two minutes later, Draco was standing in front of his mirror looking at the reflection of Jacob Jordeans in his neat black robes. He smirked and pulled out a deeply sleeping Jacob's robes from him before donning them himself.
"Simple yet very effective." he commented to Jacob's sleeping form and levitated him to take his to his bedroom where he placed his body on a couch.
"Sweet dreams." Draco winked to his doppelganger and left his Suite on pursuit of his aunt Audré.
Audré was already waiting for him in the lobby leading to the Grand Ball Room. He approached and greeted her in English.
"Monsieur Malfoy is sleeping." he winked at her who shook her head in disbelief.
"A true Malfoy indeed." she commented smirking, "Let's go to the competition, Monsieur Jordeans." she offered.
"After you, Madame." Draco courtesied.
They entered the Grand Ball Room where the Competition would start in just fifteen minutes. With elegant design composed of rich woods, stunning chandeliers and vast floor-to-ceiling windows the room was already full of kids of different ages. Draco looked around for any sign of silvery-blonde curls and found none.
"He isn't here." he whispered to his aunt.
"Don't worry Draco. He'll come." she assured him, "Why don't you go and tell the other judges that Mr. Malfoy will not be attending the competition due to some unavoidable circumstances." she reminded him.
Draco nodded and strode towards the direction of two judges who were talking to some patrons.
He informed them of 'his' inability to attend the competition due to some unavoidable circumstances that showed up at last moment and conveyed them 'his' apology.
He was about to take his seat in the judge panel when he saw him. His heart skipped a beat.
Adrian entered the Grand Ball Room carrying a small black bag in his small right hand. Draco just couldn't stop looking at the handsome child.
He looked extremely adorable and innocent in his white shirt, black trouser and robes and a small red tie. Draco felt like running to him and taking him in his arms.
Adrian looked around the Grand Ball Room in awe, unaware that a man in the judge panel was closely inspecting his every move. He then moved across the room to find a quiet place and upon finding settled down on the heavy carpeted floor with two other kids.
Draco kept his eyes glued to Adrian all the time. He hardly noticed what the other judges said. He was so lost in his observation that he did not even realize that one of the patrons had stood up to make announcement.
"Good morning, dear children," the patron Henri Matisse addressed, "and welcome everyone!" he said dramatically, "As you all know, we are here today to support a noble cause: to raise funds for Belgian Wizarding Orphanage. I believe that all of you are familiar with the rules but I am stating them once again nonetheless. You must have noticed that we have placed an Age Line around the entry door for children so that no child older than ten can gain illegal entry. The competition will start just at nine o'clock and finish at two o' clock in the afternoon. You can draw anything you like but you can't use magical colouring materials, which I believe you already know and have prepared yourselves accordingly." He declared and repeated his announcement in French and Dutch.
"He looks more adorable than in your memory, Jacob." Draco heard his aunt speak in his ears. He looked at her and noticed that she was sitting next to him.
"He looks like an angel." Draco whispered back. He went back to his favourite occupation: watching Adrian.
The Grand Clock struck nine times and a piece of drawing sheet appeared in front of each participant. Draco observed as Adrian reached for the paper placed in front of him and after taking it, smiled as if it was a funny idea. His little grey eyes shone in excitement as he attached it on the cardborad frame he was carrying and leaned forward his pencil in his hand, ready to strike.
Draco got up from his seat and started walking around the room, feigning that he was examining the children's works. He passed rows and rows of children, sometimes standing to observe some work that he feigned was interesting. His real target was Adrian who was seated on the east side of the Grand Ball Room, lost in his work.
Draco observed how concentrated his eyes were, how focused his gaze looked and how fluidly his small hand moved across the drawing sheet. He walked faster now, eager to see him from close.
'The boy is a wonder'- he thought as he finally stood behind him, unable to believe his eyes. He was so small compared to him yet behaved so mature. No fidgeting, no squinting at other's works, no unnecessary chatting – he worked as if he was an accomplished artist. Draco's hands ached to touch him – his silvery blonde curls, his small head, his soft skin, his small but elegant hands.
He bent down and sat beside him as if trying to examine his work. He deliberately placed his face behind his head and inhaled deeply.
Adrian smelled of peach and honeysuckle, Draco noticed, savoring in his smell. He wished he could trap it forever in his head to relish it afterwards. He opened his eyes and found Adrian looking at him curiously.
Their eyes met – as the sharp larger pairs bore into the innocent smaller ones. His eyes were exactly the same as Draco remembered them to be – Grey with a tinge of blue in them - as innocent as a deer, as tender as a bud and as clear as water. His small cheeks here slightly pink, like the innocent blush of a bride and his small pink lips were just like his ones except for his Malfoy sneer. His silvery blonde curls were an exact replica of his ones.
Adrian was his son – he knew it for sure now. There can be no other way. Never.
Draco fisted his hands and stood up. He must not touch him here of all the places, where a single mistake could destroy his whole week's work.
He was sure now that the boy was his. 'He has sired such a wonderful boy.' he thought proudly as he went back to his seat.
Now the question that remained unanswered was: 'Who is Adrian's mother?'
•••••
Hermione was patiently waiting for Adrian to return outside the Grand Ball Room. It was almost two o' clock and he was still inside. The entrance for the participant children had an Age Line around it thus making it impossible for her to enquire about her son.
'He'll be alright.' she said to herself, 'It is just a Drawing Competition, not a Triwizard Tournament.'
The clock struck two at last and there was great rumbling noise inside as everyone moved towards door. Hermione had already instructed Adrian to look for her near the balcony and hoped that he remembered to come here.
"I hope he remembers to come here, Gabrielle, he's so small. I hope he doesn't get hurt." she told Gabrielle.
"He'll be fine, don't worry." Gabrielle comforted her, "I think I will go to the door and wait for him there and you stay and wait for him here." she offered.
"I'll be grateful." Hermione let out a breath, feeling relieved.
Gabrielle nodded and moved towards the door of the Ball Room which was already crowded with parents and children.
Hermione looked around for any sign of her son and found none. She was getting worried again when she suddenly spotted Gabrielle walking towards her with Adrian in her arms.
"My little rabbit!" Hermione exclaimed as she almost lunged forward and retrieved him from Gabrielle's arms. "Tell me, how was the competition?" she asked eagerly.
Adrian smiled happily, "It was awesome!" he replied, "One of the judges liked my picture very much. He sat behind me to see it." he said excitedly, his Grey eyes wide with joy.
"What did you draw, little rabbit?" Hermione asked, curious.
"I drew us." he motioned him and Hermione.
"You mean you drew me?" Hermione asked incredulous.
"Yes. With….a…a…. imagination." he finally remembered the particular word and replied.
Hermione was dumbstruck twice that day. She looked down at her son for a moment and decided that it was enough and they should take lunch now.
She tightened her grip around him and gestured Gabrielle to follow her to the Dining Hall.
•••••
Draco had tried to catch a glimpse of the woman that might be Adrian's mother and failed. Surely the young girl with silvery long hair and pale but pretty features was not the boy's mother. She looked so young, like she was in her teens now. But he felt like he had seen the girl before. He tried to remember but to no avail.
"Monsieur Jordeans? Monsiuer?" someone called and Draco came to his senses. He was not Draco Malfoy here, he was Jacob Jordeans.
"Pardon?" he asked and noticed that one of the patrons was calling him. He looked at the picture he was indicating.
"(Please come and see this." the patron asked him and Draco moved reluctantly to see what it was.
It was a picture unlike he had ever seen. Two rabbits were sitting on a piece of grass field surrounded by flowers – one bigger than the other. The little rabbit seemed to snuggle against the larger one who held it protectively in it's chest. His eyes automatically darted to the name of the artist. He gasped:
Adrian!
Draco was dumbstruck, surprised beyond measures, too lost to voice a single word.
This was his son's work. His son's!
"I have never seen anything like this before." the patron commented as he showed it to the other judges who seemed impressed by the picture.
"How old is he?" the judge named Sir Anton asked, incredulously.
"The list says he's five years seven monthes and three days old." one of the English patrons, Sir Thomas Cooper answered checking the magical list.
"Incredible!" the second judge Pieter exclaimed.
"Why?" Sir Thomas asked looking curious.
"Because, it's very hard to draw white things in a white background." Pieter explained to him, "It's like dipping a piece of chalk in milk. The effect may be lost." he looked at the picture again shaking his head all the while.
Draco was unavailable for any kind of comment. He was sitting on his chair looking in the air with a vacant expression: result of too many thoughts whirling inside his head.
He son was gifted even more than he was and ever could be!
"Monsieur Jordeans? Is this the winner?" he heard Sir Thomas asking him, showing him the picture of the pair of rabbits.
"Obviously." he answered automatically.
"There is none better than this." he heard Pieter comment, "The Clear Winner." he pronounced.
The judgment being over everyone moved to the direction of the Grand Parlour where a special Lunch for the judges was being hosted as Draco sat on his chair, still blinking.
•••••
Hermione took out her best dress robes: Lilac with pale golden trimming around the edges. The name of the winner for the 'Drawing For Charity' would be announced at seven o' clock that evening and she wanted to attend it looking as best as she could. She knew that she was no beauty pageant but if tried a bit, she could look quite presentable.
Adrian was taking his nap on their bed. He seemed tired after the morning's hard work and excitement. Hermione decided to visit the beauty salon of the Palace Hotel and see if they could do something about her unruly curls. She left Gabrielle in charge of Adrian and made her way for the salon.
•••••
The Grand Ball Room was bursting with people and their noise as Draco entered there a quarter to seven. He was still disguising as Jacob Jordeans while the real one still slept on the couch in his Suite.
He took his seat in the makeshift Dias the hotel authority had erected and looked around for the face that was etched into his mind: Adrian.
The boy was still not there. He felt irritated. 'What will people think if the winner is late?' he thought.
Audré was looking at him with curious expression on her face. "You look irritated, Draco?" she asked him.
"He's late." he replied curtly.
"No, he's not. There is still ten minutes." Audré reminded him.
Draco chose not to answer. The boy was depriving him of his precious ten minutes to watch him, unnoticed.
Just then he noticed Adrian enter into the Ball Room with a three women and a man. He blinked and narrowed his eyes to see them clearly, from his seat far across the door.
He could not recognize anybody except Adrian.
'How was that possible?' he thought.
Draco was brought back from his reverie as a deep voice boomed on his right and he looked up to see that Sir Thomas and Sir Anton were standing there with wands directed to their throats.
'Sonorus' they said in unison and their voice amplified.
"Good Evening Witches, Wizards and Children. Welcome to the Award Ceremony of 'Drawing For Charity'." Sir Thomas's voice boomed across the Ball Room followed by the same announcement in French by Sir Anton.
"We are very proud and pleased at the overwhelming response that we received from all of you. There were three hundred and seventy four entries and we examined each one with great care and dedication." Sir Thomas said to the applauding crowd.
Sir Anton said the same in French.
"After an agonizing struggle we were finally successful in choosing an entry as the clear winner." Sir Thomas declared. "The name of the winner is" he held his speech for a moment.
Draco did not notice he was holding his breath.
"Adrian Thomas Granger! Son of Jean Granger!" Sir Thomas announced to a deadly silent audience. "Adrian and Jean Granger please come on stage to collect your prize." he requested.
Someone started clapping in the corner Adrian was sitting with his company and Draco almost stood up to see who Adrian's mother was.
The word Granger had tore into Draco's brain and ripped through his soul!
'It cannot be!' he thought shaking from head to foot, 'It just cannot be!'
He looked bewildered as a woman in Lilac and golden robes approached the Dias holding Adrian in her lap. She climbed up the few steps, walked past directly in front of him and reached Sir Thomas and Sir Anton.
She was none other than Hermione Granger!
Draco clapped his hand to his mouth, shaking his head in utter disbelief.
Hermione meanwhile was crying and smiling at the same time as she watched the picture Adrian had drawn that morning.
"This is my little rabbit, Adrian." she said pointing the small rabbit in the picture, "and this is his mother, this is me, Jean Granger!" she announced tearfully and kissed Adrian feverishly in his cheeks.
From his seat Draco noticed that she looked exactly like the picture Adrian had drawn - the mother rabbit protectively holding her little rabbit.