A/N: Thanks everyone for follow, favourite and reviews.
Now moving on to acknowledgements:
The name of the painters, mentioned here and in previous chapter, are taken from a list of well known Belgian painters. The do exist or existed once. But they were not wizards.
The lullaby is a famous Czech carol song. English lyrics by Percy Dearmer.
The dried leaves of Red Raspberry leaves is used In certain areas of Hertfordshire and Worcestershire it is a common practice for woman to use infusion of dried raspberry leaves to allay the pain of labour. The same tea is also employed empirically with satisfying results to alleviate the pain of dysmenorrhoea.
Due to use of some languages in this chapter I rate it as: M.
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: His Half-Blood Heir
Hermione was not an art critic. She had been living in Paris for almost six years and visited the world famous Louvre Museum only once - that too was done on the request of the French Ministry to examine and remove a curse from a painting that was supposedly sold by a mad wizard to harm Muggle buyers purposefully. She had seen Monalisa previously when she had visited France with her parents way back on her third year and was not tempted to explore the mystery behind her smile.
But when she saw Adrian's picture of two rabbits: the larger one protecting the smaller one who snuggled against it, she immediately understood what her son meant previously when he said that he had drawn them in imagination. Suddenly every single world famous Muggle paintings guarded in Louvre seemed extremely unworthy to her compared to her son's subtle drawing power.
She looked at her son unable to hold her tears back any longer as he smiled at her. Her vision became blurred as she kissed him again and again and again, all the while thanking the Almighty that she had been granted such a wonderful child.
"This is my little rabbit, Adrian." she said pointing at the small rabbit in the picture, "and this is his mother," she pointed at herself; "This is me, Jean Granger." she announced tearfully and kissed Adrian feverishly in his cheeks again.
She did not know how to express her joy, her gratitude, her affection to her son. All she could do was to hug him protectively in her arms like it was depicted in his drawing.
"Mademoiselle Jean, please don't keep the boy all to yourself and allow us to talk to him for a minute." Sir Thomas requested her, "We assure we will return him safely in your well protected arms." she heard him comment, amusedly, to a laughing crowd. Hermione nodded and set her son on ground carefully.
"Behave like a gentleman, just as I have taught you." she instructed Adrian, "Shake hands with them politely and address them as 'Sir'." she smoothed Adrian's robes and silvery-blonde curls and nudged him to approach the waiting judges, smiling approvingly.
Adrian gave one last nervous smile at her direction and started to walk towards the judges.
•••••
Draco was standing with the other judges who waited patiently for the winner to be freed from his mother's protective embrace and receive his prize. He saw the pair as Hermione finally released Adrian, smoothed his robes and hair before allowing him to approach towards them.
Sir Anton was the first in their row followed by Sir Thomas, Pieter, himself, his aunt Audré and Henri Matisse. Adrian walked towards them cautious like a timid little rabbit unaware of what to expect. His innocent grey eyes were wide as he blinked several times and reached Sir Anton. Draco couldn't help himself but feel proud for Adrian's nervous bravery.
Sir Anton bent down and shook hands with Adrian. He praised the boy's work and asked where he had learned that. He then handed Adrian a golden trophy, which was shaped like a small rabbit holding a brush in it's rear paw - the real time symbol of the winner, to a room full of tumultuous applause. Draco couldn't take his eye off the boy as he approached them one by one – shaking hands with them while clutching his trophy in his small hand with much difficulty. At last Adrian reached him and he knelt down to level himself with him.
Time stopped, noise faded, people disappeared from his sight as Draco finally faced Adrian. There were so many things he wanted to do: hug him, kiss him, talk to him, laugh with him, play with him and make him feel protected in his embrace just like Granger did; but he could do none. Instead he stared at him transfixed and finally extended a trembling hand to shake hands with him.
"Thank you, Sir." Adrian said and took his bigger hand in his smaller one.
His voice was tender, lively and as innocent as his eyes, Draco noted. His warm hand felt like a small soft cushion and Draco feared that his masculine rough hand might hurt it just by touching it. Careful not to cause any pain, he held Adrian's hand delicately and asked him how he felt about winning the prize, simply to hear his sweet voice once again.
"I feel happy that I can help the children of the orphanage." Adrian answered, smiling widely and the last thread of Draco's restraint broke. He pulled the boy into a tight embrace and inhaled deeply in his enchanting scent.
He was so small, so fragile, so soft yet so alive for such a tiny being. Draco wanted to merge him with his body, feel his innocent soul and touch his tiny heart beating against his firm chest. Adrian was his son and he was lost in him.
With extreme difficulty Draco released Adrian after a moment and gestured him towards the other judges feeling resentful. He stood up and looked at Hermione.
She was wearing a lilac coloured dress robe with pale golden trimming around the edges of cuffs and collar. She did not look like the bushy, brown know-it-all like she used to in Hogwarts. Instead she looked like a mature and strong woman – motherhood bestowing it's gift upon her. Her brown eyes shone in pride and joy as she watched Adrian met the judges one by one and Draco could not help but feel extremely jealous.
It was Hermione's turn to shake hands with the judges as she prepared to leave the stage with her son. She gave a last look at the picture and started shaking their hands one by one, smiling and making her way across the stage. Within a minute she was standing in front of him face to face. Draco extended his right hand to her.
He knew that he did not look like Draco, but something in his attitude must have warned her because the light in her laughing eyes faded. She looked down at Draco's extended hand and then looked up at him again. She bowed her head at his direction. Then with a small smile and 'Thank you' she moved to meet his aunt without shaking his hand.
Draco gritted his teeth in annoyance and returned his hand in his pocket. He did not like being shown attitude by Mudbloods.
•••••
The way famous painter Jacob Jordeans looked at Hermione sent shivers down her spine. She had earlier seen him grasp her son like a dying man's last embrace to his beloved and did not like it. Her son was way too much good looking and attracted unwanted attention everywhere she took him. Though the boy was oblivious to his charm, Hermione knew well enough about 'Evil Eye' and did not want her son to be on the receiving end of such a malevolent glare. Her suspicions on the painter's motive solidified as she faced him confidently and looked at his eyes. They were intense and burning – trying to reach for her soul.
There was also something else there; something that she could not identify but guessed that might be deep sense jealousy. She looked down at his hands and the odd way he was offering it to her – like the tentacle of a Devil's Snare and thought better to avoid it. Instead she thanked him and offered him a curt bow before moving on to the next person in the row.
The pleasantries being over Hermione grasped her son's tiny hand and heaved him in her arms once again, wishing to put as much distance as possible between them and the painter. She hid Adrian's face in her chest, turned around and walked briskly at the direction of the company she had brought earlier, eager to leave the Ball Room as quickly as possible.
"This means celebration!" Edmound offered Hermione once she reached them.
"Yes. Let's go and celebrate." Hermione agreed not troubling to answer in French. She could feel the painter's sharp eyes boring holes at her back even across the vast Ball Room and made her away to the door hastily.
•••••
Draco could not recall how he reached his Suite. Neither did he notice when his aunt had followed him inside.
"Draco, give me Jacob's robe." he heard her voice from his right. He looked up at her.
"Who's Jacob?" he asked puzzled.
His aunt cleared her throat and extended her hand, "Never mind, Draco. Just take off the robe you are wearing." she said to him kindly.
Draco complied and handed the robe to her, who immediately left for his bedroom. Draco was now alone with his thought.
His thoughts! He rubbed his forehead wearily, 'What were his thoughts exactly?'
'What was his thought when he saw Hermione Granger?'
'What was his thought when he realized that she was Adrian's mother?'
'What was his thought when he comprehended how Adrian was conceived?'
'And what was he left to deal with now?'
He had no answer. During the ceremony he had been distracted by constant presence of Adrian to keep him from properly thinking about the magnitude of seriousness of the issue. Now that he was alone, all those thoughts broke loose and engulfed him.
'It cannot be true! This was not happening to him!'
'That boy was born from violence?'
'And mothered by Hermione Granger, of all the people?'
'Her? Her! '
'Potter's sidekick!'
'A Mudblood!'
Draco shook his head in horror and leaned against the chair he was occupying. Mudblood or not he was never in favour of rape as a torture. But that Mudblood was an exceptional case. She had tried to kill his Pureblood mother by her own wand. She had taken her hostage and threatened to harm her. He still shuddered at the thought of what might have occurred had he not attacked her from behind and subdued her. He was filled with so much rage that he did not think twice before beating and violating her.
'She deserved to be learned her place as a Mudblood.' He had thought later. There was no need to justify his actions: he was very angry with her and she was a Mudblood – two very basic reasons behind his actions.
But every action had a reaction and today the reaction of his past action had fallen on him: Adrian.
That innocent boy who looked just like him.
That boy for whom he had searched desperately - using his time, money, power - using everything he still had.
What was he supposed to do now? Take him or leave him?
"Well the answer is simple, Draco. Don't you know?" a cold drawl asked and Draco looked at it's direction.
"Father?" he whispered, breathless.
Lucius Malfoy was occupying the seat across him, looking proud and arrogant. Draco blinked. His father was dead. Then how come he is here?
"I came to help you Draco." Lucius answered calmly.
"What help?" Draco asked bewildered.
"I have noticed that you are spending your time in the company of unworthy people. First that French tramp and now that bastard." his father answered looking annoyed.
Draco stood up in fury, "Aunt Audré is not a tramp and Adrian is not a bastard." he bellowed at Lucius.
"Pray tell, then what are they?" Lucius asked mockingly.
Draco fisted his hands, "Aunt Audré is an honourable woman and Adrian is my son." he answered seething.
"Indeed. An honourable tramp and a bastard son." Lucius laughed, "What a nice company for a Malfoy such as yourself." he commented.
"He's not a bastard! Adrian is not a bastard." Draco screamed in fury.
"Then what is he considering what you did to his mother?" Lucius asked, looking highly amused.
Draco faltered under his direct enquiry. "He is my heir." he declared after a moment.
Lucius sneered at him, "Are you out of your mind, Draco? He is a Half-Blood. And a rape child. Twice contaminated." he said, looking disgusted at the idea, "If you are so desperate for an heir, Draco, I suggest that you marry a Pureblood witch and procreate an heir. Don't even think of polluting our noble blood line. Leave the bastard and let that Mudblood of a mother to raise him."
Draco had made up his mind finally. He straightened himself to his full height and faced his father in defiance.
"You'll leave this instant." he commanded Lucius, "And will never return again in my thoughts. I want Adrian. I need Adrian. And I'll go to any end, take any measure to get him and make him mine." he said determinedly. "He's my heir and I won't let your ridiculous ideas to get on my way."
Lucius smiled at Draco, looking extremely entertained, "You'll not succeed." he announced.
Draco looked at those cold grey eyes, "Don't challenge my abilities, father. You have very little idea of what I am capable of when desperate." he answered boldly.
•••••
Ever since he discovered that Adrian had been in the same hotel with him, the only unsolved issue probing Draco's mind was finding his room. He had decided that it was high time for him to take drastic actions in order to retrieve it from the employee's of Palace Hotel.
He had visited the manager's office right after his hallucination attack and was pleased to see that his victim was there, looking pleased at his presence.
"Monsieur Malfoy?" Leopold had exclaimed and Draco smirked. He was in his full element tonight. Adrian had given him a purpose to live.
"How can I help, Monsieur Malfoy? Leopold asked as he gestured him to a seat in front of his desk and Draco took it looking exceptionally proud.
He took a box and placed it on the manager's table before opening and showing it's content to him.
"These gold bars weigh Seven Thousand Six Hundred and Forty Eight grams." he showed him the two bright gold bars placed perfectly inside the box, "Exactly as ten thousand galleons. This is the promised prize money for the boy who won the competition today and I want you to deliver it to him first thing tomorrow morning." he commanded.
Leopold eyed the gold bars with interest, "But surely Monsieur can…" he started but Draco cut in. "Remember what my aunt said previously." he warned the man, "We believe in silent charity and that was the reason why our name was not used as publicity for the competition."
Leopold nodded silently at his response.
"I believe you have strong security around your safe, Monsieur Leopold." Draco interjected.
"Yes of course, Sir." Leopold exclaimed and stood up to leave his seat. He turned his back at him and Draco struck him instantly.
"Imperio." he cast the unforgivable, non-verbally. There was peculiar sensation flowing out from his hand as the curse found it's target and acted instantly.
"Sit." Draco commanded and Leopold turned like a puppet, his face blank, and occupied his chair.
"Slap yourself." he said testing the strength of his spells. Leopold immediately complied, slapping himself hard on one cheek.
Draco smirked' "Very Good." he remarked. "Now take out the file of the guests staying here and look for Jean Granger." he commanded Leopold.
Leopold took out a keychain and opened a drawer on his right. He took out a large leather bound book as he opened it and examined it's contents. He flipped through pages and stopped at last on an entry.
Draco extended his hand to Leopold, "Give it here." he commanded.
Leopold passed the book at his direction and Draco eyed the entry.
'There. H. Jean Granger and company - Suite number 1452.' he read looking smug.
"Gemenio." he pointed his wand at the entry paper and an exact copy created itself immediately, which he took and folded to keep inside his pocket.
He passed the book to Leopold who still looked blank and commanded, "Return it to it's place and after that go and take your earlier position."
Leopold did as he was told and positioned him turning his back at Draco before the Imperius was cast.
"Obliviate." Draco said as he pointed his wand at Leopold's head and within minutes the memory was modified. He lifted the Imperius Curse then.
Leopold rubbed his head tiredly.
"Is anything wrong, Monsieur?" Draco asked feigning concern.
"No Monsieur, I just felt dizzy suddenly." Leopold answered.
"Aha!" Draco said smirking. "Surely there is no way anyone can break in here through the door or the Floo?" he enquired the manager.
"Of course not, Sir. The door and fireplace are highly protected. Even the Room Services are allowed once ensuring total safety. No one other than myself, can open the safe. Rest assured, Sir, the gold bars are safe here." Leopold reassured Draco.
Draco looked around the office and noticed open windows. He pointed the manager at them, "What about those, Monsieur?" he asked.
"They are well above ground level, Sir. In other words, inaccessible."Leopold answered looking confident.
'Fool', Draco thought and left the manager's office smiling.
Perhaps it was time to test whether his Seeker's reflexes were still intact or not.
He made his way to the reception and gave the receptionist lady a charming smile. He always knew when to use his physical charms.
"Good Evening, Monsieur." the lady greeted him, blushing slightly at his smile.
"Good Evening. I require a broom. Where can I find one?" Draco asked charmingly.
"Brooms, Sir." the lady looked genuinely interested. "Sir you can find one in our Broom shed across our private Quidditch pitch. We have the finest quality products collected from around the globe." she informed him, "Do you play, Sir?" she asked slyly.
Draco raised an eyebrow at her, "Only when I am the Seeker." he replied and started for the mentioned Broom shed.
The Palace Hotel was not just any hotel. They hosted their own swimming pool, an aquarium, a small zoo for kids and a private Quidditch pitch where children of the visiting guests spent their afternoon playing Quidditch.
Soon Draco found what he was looking for: a Thunderbolt Ultra from England. There were some foreign brooms too but he preferred to use something from his native land.
He opened the folded piece of parchment that had information on Adrian's suite and examined it. There was a map too showing him that the Suite was situated at sixth floor on the East Wing of the Palace - Third window from right corner.
Draco left the Broom shed and examined the night sky. It was clear ensuring no visibility problem. He mounted his broom, cast a Disillusionment Charm upon himself and his broom and kicked off the ground. He directed his broom at what he guessed could be the East Wing of the old Palace.
Counting floors and windows, he at last reached an open window that he suspected might be the third window from right corner. The room inside was dimly lit with candles. It looked like a sitting room. Draco went through the window and landed on the floor silently.
Suite 1452 was a royal quality one with elegant furniture and curtains. Currently it was empty. Surely it's occupant Hermione Granger was celebrating Adrian's outstanding accomplishment in some place of her choice. Draco walked around the place silently while inspecting everything carefully.
He entered the larger of the two bedrooms that the suite housed and found Adrian's red tie lying on the bed. So this was where his lived with his mother? He looked around and found some of his other belongings – a small sock crumpled under a table, a small yellow T-shirt with black stripes, some children books on a window sill and a brand new box of colouring pencils. He recognized them as the ones he had used that morning at the competition. He touched everything carefully – not moving them but trying to feel his son's presence there.
He opened the closet next. It was full of ladies clothes – surely belonging to Granger, in upper two shelves and Adrian's ones in lower two. Draco took out a red pajama top and smelled it – Peach and Honeysuckle. The smell was so Adrian – innocent, lively and fresh. He separated a small white shirt and shrunk it before pocketing it – a small relic of his innocent existence.
He was about to inspect their bathroom when suddenly the Entrance Door of the Suite swung open and loud sounds of laughter filled in the place. Draco moved to a shadowed corner as Hermione entered her bedroom with Adrian in tow, looking tired but otherwise happy. Adrian immediately ran for the bed.
"Adrian, remove your shoes before getting on the bed." Hermione told her son from her stand in front of vanity. She was undoing her braid.
"I can't remove them myself, Mama." Adrian complained standing at the foot of the bed.
Draco smirked. He too could not undo his shoelaces until he was seven.
Hermione let out a breath and approached her son. She set him on the bed and after untying the knot of the shoelace, removed them from his little feet.
Draco looked at his son's feet. They were just like his except for that they belonged to a five year old body. He watched as Hermione removed Adrian's clothes silently and soon there was nothing left except for the small blue boxers that he was wearing underneath.
He examined his body carefully. It was well nourished and the muscles looked strong for his age. His skin was flawless just as his one was. He felt as if he was looking at himself as a boy.
"Why are you always littering the floor with your clothes, Adrian?" he heard Hermione admonish him.
'So what? He is a boy. He can do as he likes.' he snapped at her in his head. 'What an irritating woman as a mother! My mother never talked to me like that.' he thought to himself.
"I am sorry, Mama. I forgot." Adrian explained.
'Do not apologize to a Mudblood!' Draco almost screamed inside his head. 'That boy surely needs some good training.' he thought.
"It's okay, little rabbit." Hermione said, now smiling at her son. She opened their closet, took out the red Pajama Draco had taken out earlier and gestured Adrian towards the bathroom.
"Come on. Let me give you a bath and then we'll go to bed. Hm?" she offered him.
Adrian jumped down from his place on the bed and ran into the bathroom. Hermione twisted her hair and fixed them firmly on a French Twist before entering the bathroom behind her son.
Draco followed her silently. He stood at the doorway as Hermione drew a bath for Adrian and then gently lowered him in the bathtub.
Draco watched them in wonder as Hermione scrubbed the little body gently. Adrian liked to play with water. He sprayed his mother with soap water several times. Draco was impressed by Adrian's playfulness.
The bath being over Hermione dressed him in his red Pajama and Draco just could not admire the sight any better.
His son looked so adorable in that small red Pajama. He followed him silently as he zoomed around the Suite looking happy. "Aunt Gaby! Aunt Gaby!" he squeaked in his sweet voice and the girl with long silvery hair that Draco had seen earlier that day, came out of the second bedroom.
"What's it, Adrian?" she asked the happy boy.
"Where's my rabbit?" Adrian asked her.
"It is in my bag. Come and take it." she ushered him to her room. Adrian ran inside and jumped on her bed.
"What are you doing?" he asked his aunt Gaby as Draco rubbed his head trying to remember where he had seen her before.
"I was writing to mum, papa, Fleur and Alexis that you won the competition." she informed as she took out his trophy from her bag and handed it to Adrian.
Adrian hugged the rabbit trophy happily. He kissed it twice and looked excitedly at his aunt Gaby. "Grandma will be very happy." he declared gleefully.
The young woman smiled and kissed Adrian on his cheek. "Everyone will be very happy." she said him, "Grandpa! Alexis! Fleur! Bill!" she counted the names on her finger.
And then it landed on Draco.
'Fleur! Fleur Delacour! The champion from Beauxbaton for Triwizard Tournament!' he almost exclaimed. He looked at the young woman now admiring Adrian's trophy.
'She is Fleur's sister.' Draco remembered, 'He had seen her when they brought her for the second task. She was the one placed underwater along with Granger. But what are Granger and Adrian doing with her? Or with her family?' he thought incredulously.
"Adrian? Where is my little rabbit?" Draco heard Hermione's voice as she was came and stood at the door. Draco looked at her - she was wearing a blue nightdress and was drying her hair in a towel.
"You are not disturbing Aunt Gabrielle, are you Adrian?" she asked her son.
"Not at all." Gabrielle protested.
"Very good. Now Adrian, it's been a long day and you need to go to bed." Hermione suggested her son. She stretched her arms at his direction and Adrian jumped down from the bed before crushing in her arms.
Draco fisted his hands in jealousy. He wanted his son to come crushing into his arms, not in Granger's.
"Good night, Gabrielle." Hermione said and left with her son and Draco followed them as they entered their bedroom. Hermione took Adrian's trophy and placed it on the mantelpiece.
"Let's keep it here for the night. Hm?" she proposed and Adrian nodded. She then placed him on the bed, tucked him in and turned off the lights before getting on the bed beside her. Adrian moved to her and snuggled against her chest. Draco took his stand at the foot of the bed and leaned against the bedpost to observe them.
"You are the best thing that ever happened to me. My little rabbity babitty boo." she cooed at her son. "I never expected to have you but when I realized that your life was in danger I was very worried. I did not want to lose you." Hermione said her voice full of emotion.
'Adrian's life was in danger?' Draco frowned and strained his ears to listen the quiet conversation.
"My life was in danger?" Adrian asked Draco's question on his behalf, "When?"
"The night you were born." Hermione replied sadly.
"Tell me about it, Mama!" Adrian exclaimed excitedly as if being in danger the night he was born was an exciting idea. "Who saved me?" he asked his mother.
Hermione remained quiet for some time and sighed heavily before speaking at last:
"Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time in a distant land called France, there was a young lady named Jean. She lived with a family who loved her very much. They were called the Delacours." she started.
"You mean Grandpa and Grandma?" Adrian asked.
"Yes. Grandpa, Grandma and their family, who loved Jean very much. She studied in a school named Beauxbaton where everyone loved and cared for her because she was a special young lady. She was going to have a baby – a little rabbit it was." Hermione continued.
"Me." Adrian proclaimed happily.
"Yes. Now Jean loved her baby a lot and waited for it to arrive sound and healthy. But there was a problem – an evil witch had cursed her badly and the effects of that curse were causing Jean a lot of pain. She feared that her baby may be harmed too." Hermione went on.
"Why did the evil witch curse her, Mama?" her son enquired.
"Because Jean was Muggleborn and the evil witch was Pureblood who hated Muggleborns. So she cursed Jean badly." Hermione answered.
"What was the name of the evil witch, Mama?" Adrian asked breathlessly.
Hermione bit her lip, "She had no name. She was very evil, so everyone called her 'The Evil Witch'." she answered, "So as I was saying before, Jean feared for the life of the little rabbit she carried inside her. What if the poor thing was affected? Then the day came when the little rabbit was about to be born. It was 4th January 1999." She reminisced.
"That's my birthday!" Adrian commented forgetting the danger his unborn self was going through.
"Yes. It's your birthday, dear. On that day Jean was having a lot of pain because the dark magic of that curse was running through her vein." She explained, "The Delacours took her to hospital where she was examined by healers. When they found out that she had been cursed, they informed her family that the little rabbit might be killed by the dark magic of the curse." Hermione said sounding sad.
Draco never noticed that he had fisted his hands and held his breath waiting anxiously to listen to rest of the story.
Hermione spoke again to her silent audience: Jean was horrified. She loved her little rabbit and wanted him to be with her. But there was nothing the Healers could do. Then mother Apolline came forward like an angel of life. She gave Jean a Muggle tea made from the dried leaves of Raspberry. She said it would ease her pain. The healers laughed at her. What could a Muggle tea do when the magic had failed? But Mother Apolline insisted and Jean took her advice. She drank the tea Mother Apolline had offered and noticed that it worked even better than the healer's magic. Her pain subsided and she was saved. Then the little rabbit was born. He was a cute one and thankfully at good health." Hermione smiled and kissed her son.
Draco let out a breath of relief.
"So Grandma Apolline saved me before I was born?" Adrian asked his mother excitedly.
"Yes. She did. That's why little rabbit's mother decided to name her son after Grandma Apolline's brother Adrian, who was brave Auror and successfully fought many dark wizards." Hermione explained kindly.
"And Thomas? Who is he?" Adrian asked about his middle name.
Hermione sighed again, "Well he's your real Grandpa, Thomas Granger. He lives in Australia with Grandma Adeline." She said.
"Why does he live there? Why does not he live with us?" her son asked.
"Because the evil witch who cursed Jean, wanted to curse them too. So she send them to Australia where they would be safe." Hermione answered.
Adrian remained silent for a while, "When I grow up, Mama, I'll fight that evil witch and kill her. Then I'll go and find Grandpa and Grandma and bring them to France!" He declared.
Hermione smiled weakly. Her heart bled at any mention of her parents. "There is no need, little rabbit; the evil witch is already dead. Besides my little rabbit will never kill or torture anybody." she said firmly.
"Even if they try to kill me?" he asked, incredulous.
"Even if, they try to kill you. Try to injure them but never kill them. It's a great sin to kill somebody. Remember that." Hermione said to her son.
"Mama?" Adrian called her but Hermione stopped him.
"No more talk little rabbit. Now go to sleep." she stroked his small head and sighed heavily as she started to sing softly.
"Hush my baby, sweetly sleep
Do not cry
I will sing a lullaby
I will rock you, rock you, rock you
I will rock you, rock you, rock you
Feel my arms that keep you warm
Snuggling around your tiny form
Precious baby, sweetly sleep
Sleep in peace
Sleep in comfort, slumber deep
I will rock you, rock you, rock you
I will rock you, rock you, rock you
Close your eyes my darling one
'Til the new day has begun
I will rock you, rock you, rock you
I will rock you, rock you, rock you
Sleep in peace 'til day has come
Darling, darling, little one!"
Draco listened enchanted as Hermione sang the lullaby. It was same one his aunt had used on him. He almost dozed off and fell on floor and came to his senses when the song came no more. He noticed that Adrian and his mother had fallen asleep. They looked so peaceful that he envied their comfort.
He approached Adrian whose small forehead was visible and planted a kiss delicately on it.
"Good Night and sweet dreams, son." he whispered softly and left them to slumber peacefully.
He had some serious issues to attend to.
•••••
Working as a public prosecutor in French Wizengamot for nearly twenty five years had gained Audré some special abilities – good power of observation and obtaining a true confession from her clients. She also had been married to a Malfoy, one of the most complicated minds she ever came across, for twenty years. Thus she knew well when to question in order to receive an honest answer.
That was the reason that had refrained her from bombarding Draco with questions about Adrian and his mother. She had seen him during the Award Ceremony and his reactions were of pure shock when he saw the child's mother. He had clapped his hand to his mouth and shook his head vigorously – two unmistakable signs that one displays upon recognizing an unexpected person. Clearly in Draco's eyes, the woman named Jean Granger was the last person on earth to bear him a child.
Adrian was Draco's son – she was certain of it now. Their resemblances were uncanny except for the curly pattern of hair which he must have inherited from his mother. How Jean Granger came to bear Draco's child was the ultimate mystery. Audré had some very unpleasant suspicions about it but preferred not to launch them on Draco. He had just started to rely on her and she wanted to keep it that way. He had been unfortunate enough to be brought up by Lucius and Narcissa – the flagship of nonsense pureblood supremacy and was already leading a miserable life as a widower. The moment she had seen him, she decided to help him out of his self-imposed solitude and depression.
Audré had noticed Draco's agitation after the award ceremony was over and wanted to calm him. But sometimes quelling the source of agitation was the best way to deal with it. so she had allowed him to leave her deal with Jacob Jordeans.
Audré was certain that Draco went for Adrian after he left his Suite. She was also certain that if she waited patiently for a few days she would surely receive a true confession from him regarding Adrian's mother and their past relationship.
There was a knock on the door. It was past midnight and there was only one person who could approach her at such hours – Draco.
Audré left her bed and went for the door. A disheveled looking Draco was standing on the threshold. She silently ushered him inside and took their usual seats by the fireplace as Audré looked at her nephew composedly.
Draco was looking at his foot and fidgeted with something in his pocket. He looked at her after sometime and spoke at last:
"Aunt Audré can you please accompany me to England?" he asked her.
Audré was surprised but chose not to show it. Instead she tried to appear mildly interested. "I believe everything is in order, Draco?" she enquired.
"No, yes, I mean I want your help in order to find some answers." he declared.
Audré nodded, "What kind of answers?" she asked.
"Some answers regarding Adrian." Draco replied.
"From whom?" Audré asked raising an eyebrow.
Draco took a deep breath, "She's a Frenchwoman married to an Englishman, just like you were. Her name is Fleur Delacour." He answered looking dead serious.