The Poisoned Apple Chapter 24, a harry potter fanfic

A/N: Okay everyone, after the most awaited chapter, the phase B of my story begins with chapter 24.

This phase concerns Draco and Hermione and I tried to make it as logical as possible for a mortal human like me.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some of the readers may ask me about Draco's actions in this chapter and I would like to answer them beforehand. As portrayed in books Draco was basically a teenager who was brought up in a manner that made him arrogant and insensible towards other's feelings. In her sixth and seventh book, Rowling made him look more humane but he still had bitterness inside him which was hard to completely let go. His further sufferings in 'my' story made him hardened inside except for the issue regarding his aunt Audré, his dead wife Astoria and his only living son, Adrian. Therefore any rejection on part of his only salvation that is Adrian would hurt him badly and it may drive him to take extreme measures. I have 'seen' many parents do desperate things in their despair and after losing four sons (one alive and three dead) in a row, there was no way I could portray Draco otherwise.

Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and follows. It was most rewarding.

Let me kindly remind everyone that this story is an 'Angst + hurt/comfort' one. It's not a sappy and 'rose-candle light dinner-smut-snog' type of love story. But it's a love story nonetheless which deals with different aspects of love, the diverse nature of human psychology and it's extreme possibilities. Being closely associated to human mind and body as a doctor, I would not employ my time and energy in a less challenging project. Had I not known how to end it, I wouldn't have started it in the first place. Besides, Rowling has given us writers the liberty to write by keeping her characters' adult lives out of book. Had she written more about their adult mentalities, we wouldn't have been able to write so easily on them.

In my small but eventful life, I have seen so many diverse cases similar to and even worse than Draco that I am hopeful that I can give this story a very natural and believable ending. I always believe that Nature's justice is thousand times better than Human ideas of justice and justice shall be done on both Draco and Hermione.

Many thanks for review and ideas. I simply love them and would like to hear more. I am not afraid of constructive criticisms and solid facts.

Acknowledgements:

The description of Tuileries comes after consulting several articles and Google map.

The line about 'hell deeper than my pride' is from 'somebody to die for' by Hurts. It just matched perfectly.

The description of constellation 'Draco' was taken from Wikipedia.

The ancient Greek lawgiver 'Draco' did exist and also can be found in Wikipedia. Draco's written law became known for its harshness, with the adjective 'draconian' referring to similarly unforgiving rules or laws.

Renée Chambrun and Josée Laval are real time owners of Château de la Grange-Bleneau.

Pierre Laval was in fact the 101st Prime Minister of France.

The concept of Royal jelly to conceive boy is a well known one and I read about it in my medical books. You can find it in internet though.

I have checked Draco's family tree and found there was no notable femae there. So took the liberty of twisting it my way. The family tree is available in Harry Potter Wiki.

I guess everyone knows what Hemophilia is. The concept that the Rosiers were hemophilic came from the idea that Queen Victoria was one and passed it among her four children – one son and three daughters who in turn spread it to Spain, Germany and Russia through marriage bond. Her other five children luckily escaped it.

The name of Druella Black is written under Draco's maternal grandmother in Harry Potter wiki. There is no mention of her sister Hilda, though, which I took the liberty of making up to explain the theory of inbreeding.

The inbreeding, however, was a common practice among the royal families throughout the world. The Egyptian pharaohs in fact married their own sisters.

The sacred twenty eight can be found on Harry Potter Wiki.

For adult language and content this chapter is rated: M

I guess that's all and please enjoy now and don't forget to leave a review. It took me seven days to research and write and I think I deserve all the reviews. : )))))))))

THERE IS A POLL IN MY PROFILE. FEEL FREE TO VOTE.

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 24: Muddy Blood

The Paris that awoke to Draco's tired grey eyes at seven o' clock on Sunday morning was muted by rain clouds as he walked along Quai des Tuileries – the shore that hugs the right bank of river Seine beside famous Tuileries garden - in dawn mist. Wind blew ghastly and violently shook the branches of trees along the street but he was too lost to notice the early morning beauty of the empty, pristine and ageless city.

Draco, his senses numb from brutal kicking, Cruciatus curse and shock at his son's rejection to accept him as father, had woken up half an hour ago to find himself lying on a patch of grass in his uncle's beautiful garden. Unable to decide his future course of action regarding his son, he had apparated to the place where he first met Adrian almost a month ago – the Tuileries.

"Do you hate Mama because she is not pureblood?" Adrian's innocent but strong voice echoed across his head and sighing heavily, Draco shifted his gaze towards the trees that spread their filigreed branches across the sky.

"Do you hate me because I am not Pureblood?" Adrian asked him again and Draco closed his eyes in horror just as he had done the previous night when Adrian had asked him the question.

He breathed quietly in the morning air that was heavily scented with the oncoming rain. Sounds of heavy thunderbolts echoed across the bank of Seine and soon heavy drops of rain started to fall, making the few pedestrians to walk faster and move inside nearby cafes. But Draco stood there leaning against a tree trunk, like a close eyed marble statue as the first drops of rain hit him mercilessly.

"No, you don't! You hate Mama and you hate me too because we are not Purebloods!" Adrian's accusations thundered across his mind louder than the thunder strikes that issued from the overhead clouds.

Draco opened his eyes and resumed his aimless walk again ignoring the rain completely.

He felt as if he had become a crippled man – like an essential part of his body and mind had lost forever. Despair had overtaken his earlier pride and victory while frustration had beaten down his morale of achieving Adrian's love and respect.

Even the presence of Dark Lord had not been able to make him feel so helpless.

Entering the vast statue studded 17th century Tuileries garden by the 'place de la Concorde', Draco directed his pace towards the giant octagonal pond – Bassin Octagonal.

Let for him, the famous garden was completely empty at morning hours of sudden downpour and he took a chair that lay beside the octagonal fountain, his head spinning with Adrian's voice that reverberated across it.

"No, you don't. You hate Mama and you hate me because we are not purebloods!"

'Make it stop!' he told himself feebly.

"You don't care about me or Mama and so you married a pureblood woman."

'Please stop, Adrian.' Draco pleaded the voice in his head.

"You are the reason Mama doesn't have a marriage anniversary. You are the reason Pierre talks bad thinks about Mama."

'Stop Adrian, I beg you.' Draco collapsed on the ground and knelt down before an imaginary Adrian.

"You are the reason Mama came to France to raise me with grandma, grandpa, Aunt Gaby and uncle Alexis. You don't love me or Mama like Louis's Papa loves him and his Mama."

'It is too much!' Draco rubbed his head wearily and looked at the fountain, it's water rippling in heavy downpour. 'I can't take it anymore, Adrian, I can't.' he whispered in anguish and took out his wand. With a shaking hand he pointed it to his temple and closed his eyes.

"Obliviate!" he said the incantation non-verbally concentrating hard on the memories of last night.

He expected the voice echoing in his head to vanish. But nothing happened. It continued it's repercussion inside his head.

"No, you don't…

"You hate Mama and you hate me because we are not purebloods…..

"You don't care about me or Mama and so you married a pureblood woman….

"You are the reason Mama doesn't have a marriage anniversary….

You are the reason Pierre talks bad thinks about Mama…..

You are the reason Mama came to France to raise me with grandma, grandpa, Aunt Gaby and uncle Alexis….

"You don't love me or Mama like Louis's Papa loves him and his Mama…

"No, don't touch me! Mama, I am scared! Don't let him touch me and Peter…..

Draco, his wet hands numb from cold rain water, gripped his wand tightly and pointed it to his chest before closing his eyes.

'I have nothing left to live for, mother. I am so sorry but I want to be with Scorpius and Astoria so badly. Forgive me.' He whispered as hot tears run down his cheek.

"Avada Kedavra" he muttered the killing curse with full intention for the first time.

•••••

Her insomnia at it's peak, Audré hadn't been able to sleep all night. She had spent it in her husband's study reading through his diaries.

Memories of earlier years of her life came flooded in as she read them. Most of them were unpleasant, horrific even, but there were some good ones too – like the day Morpheus proposed her, their wedding day, the days their children were born.

Even though she and Morpheus came from completely opposite backgrounds, they had made their marriage successful. They had strived for it and knowing her husband's mental condition, Audré had willingly sacrificed her life to make him happy and peaceful as much as possible.

'If our marriage could work, why couldn't Draco and Jean's work too?' Audré thought as she turned another page.

'The obstacle between them is the lack of trust.' She answered herself, 'I can't blame Jean for not trusting Draco. There is no way she could, can and will trust him after he tortured her like that. The question is why Draco couldn't trust Jean with Adrian?' she asked herself, "She is, no doubt, an excellent mother; even a blind can see that. Then why didn't he let her marry Alexis Delacour and continue with her life? Why did he kidnap Adrian like that when I persuaded him not to do so?'

Audré, lost in her analysis of possible reasons behind Draco's illogical distrust, was suddenly brought to her senses when loud raps issued from the door.

"Audré! Audré!" it was Narcissa's voice that was calling her and noting the urgency in it, Audré ran to the door and opened it to reveal a disheveled looking Narcissa in her night clothes.

"Audré, what is this I am hearing?" she asked her looking hysterical, "Is it true that Draco got married last night?"

"He did indeed." Audré answered evenly, "He got married to Adrian's mother and brought her here." Audré informed her sister-in-law.

"Who is she?" Narcissa asked looking terrified, "What's her name?"

Audré took her sister-in-law by her hand and guided her inside Morpheus's study, "I don't think it will be wise if I reveal her name, Narcissa. It's Draco's job." She commented, "Instead, I'll ask her come to join us for breakfast and you can see her for yourself." She offered as they took seats.

"But.." Narcissa tried to protest before Audré held up a hand to silence her.

"Where is Draco?" she asked Narcissa.

Narcissa's agitation increased at the name of her son, "I don't know. He is nowhere in the whole Château. I have been looking for him to clarify about this marriage but I couldn't find him. He is not in his suite or in the gardens or in Potions lab." She informed her, "Do you know where he could be?" she asked her anxiously.

Audré, who was the only person to witness the little showdown between father and son last night, perceived that Draco had left the Château for the time being but chose not to reveal it to the already anxious mother. She gave Narcissa a gentle smile and nodded.

"I think I can guess." She replied pleasantly, "He must be where it all began." She commented.

"Where?" Narcissa asked her looking confused.

"Tuileries garden, Narcissa." Audré replied and stood up silently, "It is where he first met Adrian. He must have gone there." Audré explained patiently, "You stay at home while I go and bring him. It's raining outside and I don't think that he's stable enough to conjure a raincoat." She said to Narcissa who immediately stood up.

"I want to go." She insisted, "I am his mother, Audré."

Audré cast a refreshing charm on her wrinkled clothes that she hadn't changed since last night, "Of course you are, Narcissa," she agreed with her, "And that's exactly why you should not go." She said remarked, "You see he's depressed about this marriage and I guess he's scared to face you thinking that you might severely question him. So, it's better that I go and bring him to Château first. Then you can question him as you like." Audré offered her sister-in-law and left the study without giving her any chance to protest further.

The grounds outside were wet from last night's downpour and Audré almost ran to the apparition point.

She closed her eyes and thought about the Tuileries determinedly before turning on the spot.

Almost immediately Audré appeared in Tuileries amongst heavy rainfall and cast an Impervious Charm on herself to protect herself from it. She then placed her wand on her palm like a compass and muttered a Locating Spell: 'Point me to Draco Malfoy!'

The wand span on her right and Audré, eyeing the famous Orangerie museum before her, turned on her side to pursue her course through the alley bordered by orange trees in rapid steps.

The garden was completely empty and soon Audré located the crouched form of her nephew sitting on the grounds beside the octagonal fountain. She almost ran to him, feeling anxious that he might be hurt.

Her nephew was completely soaked as he sat resting against the fountain wall, his eyes closed and his head tilted on one side. He was loosely holding his wand in his right hand. Audré approached him silently and sat down beside him, resting her back against the stone border of the octagonal pond.

Draco seemed to realize her presence for he opened his eyes and looked up into the sky.

"Do you have poison, aunt?" he asked her blankly.

Audré frowned at her nephew and pointed her wand towards the sky so that an impenetrable bubble appeared to protect them from rain.

"Yes, I have poison, Draco." She said to him and looked sideways at her nephew, "Why?" she asked him.

Draco seemed too lost to answer, "Adrian's voice isn't leaving my head. I tried to obliviate myself to get rid of it. When nothing happened I tried the killing curse but still I am alive. It's like my own wand won't kill it's master but I need to die. " He said in a vacant voice after sometime.

Audré, understanding the graveness of the situation cursed herself internally for not keeping a close eye on Draco. True that she was still angry with him for bringing Adrian by force but she also knew that Draco was very touchy regarding Adrian. She had seen him break down right after the first time they met in Tuileries one month ago. Since then Draco had lived by the hope of achieving his son's long awaited love. It was natural that he would resort to desperate measures to get rid of the despair of last night's rejection. Ascertaining his mental state, Audré decided to poke the sleeping dragon inside him to make him discard his ideas of death.

Audré snorted, "You want to die? Like a coward who leaves his son to face the world alone." She said mockingly.

Her jibe hit him hard as Draco's head span to her abruptly, his eyes full of fire, "I am no coward, aunt." he said through gritted teeth, "Besides, Adrian doesn't need my protection. He has his mother. He didn't let me touch him last night, remember aunt?" He asked her sarcastically.

Audré lifted her chin in a challenging manner and gave her nephew a piercing look, "Prove it, Draco." She said in a taunting tone, "Prove it that you are not a coward. Don't hide behind Disillusionment and Polyjuice anymore. Come forward and behave like a man. Go to his mother, apologize and ask her for a second chance."

Draco shook his head vigorously, "Impossible!" he exclaimed, "I'll never apologize to that Mudblood. Do you know what she did last night?" he asked Audré indignantly, "She used Cruciatus on me. Can you believe that? Saint Granger used Cruciatus on the father of her child! And you ask me to apologize to her?" he asked her incredulously.

Audré sensed that her nephew was beyond any kind of logical discussion now and took a different course to deal him.

"So, you want to die instead and make Adrian an orphan." She commented leisurely, "After spending twenty years with your uncle, Draco, I thought Slytherins believed in self-preservation. Because whatever happened to Morpheus, however despair he was in, Draco, he never considered committing suicide. He always fought and fought till the end. And you, his nephew are not even man enough to go and start a new life. You are not brave enough to face the consequences of your acts. You just want to die and let it be over." She said waving her hands violently, "You want poison, Draco?" she asked her incredulous nephew, "Look inside you. Because there is no hell deeper than your pride and unless you let go of it, you are doomed till death and so is Adrian." She admonished him vehemently.

Draco's grey eyes turned to cold steel as he stared at his aunt, "What do you want me to do? Go and rub my nose at Granger's boots?" he asked with unmistakable venom in his tone.

"No" Audré replied sharply, "Since that will not be a genuine apology." She shrugged, "But you can do something else which will help you on your duty as a father." She offered him.

"What?" her nephew asked her bitterly.

"Pursue your career as a lawyer and build your own image. You said you can do anything for Adrian. Prove it by being an honourable man, Draco. Let him decide that his father is not as bad as he thinks." Audré advised him.

Draco seemed to contemplate his aunt's offer and bit his thoughtfully, "You think it will work, aunt?" he asked her after sometime.

Audré nodded hopefully, "Of course it will. At least it's a better option than death." She commented wisely.

Draco stood up immediately and dried his clothes using a drying spell, determination radiating from him like waves. He offered Audré a hand and she stood up, taking it.

"Another thing, Draco." She said as she straightened her clothes, "Do not poke the lioness. She is very protective of her child." She warned him.

Draco's raised an eyebrow at her, "I'll consider it." he said testily.

Audré smiled and offered him her hand, "Come, Draco. Let's go back to Château. Your mother, Narcissa is waiting to bombard you with questions regarding your marriage." She informed her looking amused at her nephew's irritated look, "But I want you to ask her something if you survive."

"What?" Draco asked as her dried his silvery blond hair.

"Ask her if she gave anything special to Astoria before or during her pregnancy." Audré stated.

Draco frowned at the Audré, "Why?" he asked skeptically.

Audré thanked her father for the exceptional manipulative power she had inherited from him, "Because, my dear nephew, the answer will change certain notions that you still harbour." She commented mysteriously.

•••••

Everyone played with their foods at Sunday morning breakfast in Delacour residence. Every single face was grave and looked lost. Most of the food in their plate was untouched as Apolline, Gustave, Gabrielle and Alexis eyed Hermione and Adrian's empty chairs, missing their playful fight over drinking milk.

Alexis tried to concentrate on his toast but every bite he took tasted like dried wooden crumb. There was no sweetness of raspberry jelly or softness of his mother's home baked bread on them. He remembered the previous Sunday when he had taken Jean and Adrian for dinner. She had been happy. They all had been happy. And now within just a week, the whole table had turned and he had been dropped from highest heaven to the lowest hell.

He remembered their first kiss in his office on Monday. Her lips had felt so divine. Every single word that she had said to her afterwards still rung in his ears.

"It was the most wonderful thing that happened to me since Adrian was born, Alexis." Her voice whispered at him, "I have never been kissed like this; like being loved, cared and protected. I never thought I would be able to tell this to anyone ever again after I rejected Ron, Alexis but I feel so good when you are around. I feel safe and happy. I feel home." Jean had said before closing her eyes and embracing him tightly.

Even surrounded by his family, Alexis could feel Hermione's embrace as it touched his body. He had sworn to protect them and he had failed miserably to Draco Malfoy.

That name was enough to put every single nerve in Alexis's body on fire. It felt so wrong, the way he tossed away Jean so carelessly; someone Alexis had almost worshipped for last six years.

Alexis stood up abruptly and everyone at table looked at him, startled.

"Where are you going, Alexis, without finishing your breakfast?" his mother asked him though most of her own food was untouched.

"I am done with my food, maman." Alexis said as he pulled his travelling cloak over him, "I am going to my office." he informed her.

Gustave frowned at his son, "But you said you took leave for today." He reminded him.

Alexis pecked his mother on the cheek and patted his father on his back gently, "I changed my mind, Papa." He said evenly, "I need to work and since the Minister is still ill after Friday's party, it's highly unprofessional that I ask for leave. I'll see you in the evening." He bade them goodbye and left for the Floo.

As he sprinkled a pinch of Floo on the fireplace Alexis formulated a plan to make up for his earlier defeat.

He was not going to stay still while Jean and Adrian were at enemy's hand.

'That man, Draco Malfoy is devil's right hand man and I am going to make sure he is under constant surveillance. ' Alexis thought as he stepped into the green fire that took him to his office.

•••••

Hermione stared at the names that were written roughly across the dungeon wall with blood:

Hermione Granger

Seven names meant seven days. Seven days had passed and still she was in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. She had written each of them with her own blood to mark each day of her captivity – each day that she dreaded he would come back to violate her again.

Suddenly there was a loud scratching sound of wood against stone from somewhere above and Hermione recoiled against the wall. She knew it – Hermione knew what it meant. The dungeon door had been opened and he was coming.

Draco Malfoy was coming for her.

Petrified with fear, Hermione looked around for a dark corner to hide her, but no – there was none. The once spacious and dark dungeon had somehow transformed to a brightly lit circular room with no corners at all. Feeling helpless with every passing moment Hermione looked at the stairs.

The footsteps were approaching – the strutting, arrogant footsteps. Anytime now and he would be here – to torture her again.

'I can't let that happen again!' Hermione thought frantically, 'If I only had my wand, I could have stunned him and escaped!' she checked her tattered clothes for her wand but she knew there was none.

The prowling footsteps reached the lowest steps. He was approaching her now.

Hermione's breath quickened, 'No, it will not happen to me again!' she thought and started hitting the stone walls looking for a weak spot on them.

"Filthy little Mudblood!" the footsteps stopped behind her and came the cold drawl of Draco Malfoy.

Hermione froze. She turned and looked around.

Malfoy's cold grey eyes were jeering at her helplessness and Hermione shuddered internally.

"No!" she said shaking her head.

"Yes, Mudblood, yes!" Draco said savouring every syllable.

"No!" Hermione shouted, "Don't come any closer!" she warned him.

With an arrogant smile in his lips, Draco approached two steps towards her, as if challenging her. Hermione backed away.

"I am warning you, Malfoy, or I'll…." She said trying to sound braver.

"Or what Mudblood?" Draco taunted her and approached another two steps.

"Listen, Malfoy you don't have to do this again." Hermione tried to persuade her attacker.

"True, Mudblood, that I don't have to do it again." Draco agreed mockingly and winked at her, "But I want to." He said in a sickly sweet voice, "I want to punish you. I want you to be humiliated. And though I don't crave your filthy body, I crave to punish you." Malfoy said, his eyes glinting with malice as he reached to grab her.

Hermione dodged and moved away, "No!" she screamed, "Leave me! Leave me alone!" she screamed again but Malfoy caught her and encircled his arms around throat to suffocate her.

Hermione gasped for air but the arms tightened more.

"Mama! Mama! What happened, Mama?" Adrian's frightened voice reached Hermione's ears and she opened her eyes to look into the exact grey pair that was haunting her dreams moments ago.

She was drenched in sweat and breathing roughly. Her body was on the exact posture as that of her nightmare except that she was lying on a comfortable bed instead of the cold dungeon floor. Hermione looked down at her chest and found Adrian embracing her tightly, his arms around her neck.

"Mama, are you alright?" she heard Adrian ask her again and Hermione cursed internally. She must have screamed and scared Adrian.

Hermione hugged back her son and planted a kiss on his forehead, "Mama, is alright." She lied smoothly, "Mama is fine, little rabbit!" she said firmly.

In truth Hermione was not alright and even less was she fine. She was shocked, scared, tired and trapped. She wanted nothing more than to wake up and find that everything that had happened since last night was nothing more than a bad dream.

"Mama," Hermione heard her son call her, "Mama, I am hungry and Peter is hungry too. He's chewing my sheets." Adrian informed her and Hermione sat bolt upright.

'What time is it?' she thought and looked around.

The bedroom she and Adrian were using was twice the size of their bedroom in the Delacour residence. It was elegantly furnished with a four poster bed, a nightstand and a reading table with four comfortable looking chairs. Hermione looked around the unfamiliar room and located a large antique clock which said it was half past nine already.

"Merlin's pants!" Hermione exclaimed and jumped out of her bed realizing that she had overslept two hours.

"Mama is sorry, little rabbit that Mama overslept." She said to her son as she frantically tied her messy curls into a bun. She and Adrian had slept in the clothes they were wearing last night – Adrian in his pajamas and Hermione in her white wedding robes.

'We need breakfast and we need clothes.' Hermione muttered as she approached the fireplace to see if it was connected to the Floo. She had left all her belongings in the Delacour residence as she was completely focused on Adrian's safety last night.

There was an abrupt knock at her bedroom door and Hermione stopped on her track. She hastily came back to her bed stand for her wand and cautiously went for the door.

'If it is that bastard again, I am going to hex him into oblivion.' Hermione thought fisting her hands.

"Who is it?" she asked loudly as she reached the door.

"It's me, Jean, Audré." She heard Audré's voice reply from the other side of the door.

"What was the last thing you told me last night before you left me here?" Hermione asked again, her instincts telling her to check before opening the door.

The voice remained silent for a moment before answering, "I told you to feel at home and that Chombrun's Château is at your service." Audré's voice replied and Hermione feeling relieved, removed the wards of her bedroom door before opening it.

She saw Audré in an impeccably clean pale pink dress standing at the threshold. Her eyes travelled to the wand Hermione was holding tightly and she smiled gently.

"You don't have to do that in future, Jean." She said to Hermione, "When I said that I'll not let any harm befall upon you, I meant it. Though I am a woman, Chombrun Malfoy's are men of their words. I have made special arrangements so that you and Adrian feel protected here." She assured her.

"What arrangements?" Hermione still feeling unsure asked Audré, who gestured her to go inside before she stepped in. Feeling curious Hermione followed her.

"You see, Jean, this two storied quarter is almost a separate house within the Château." Audré told Hermione as she took her to the balcony inside her bedroom, "You'll find two bedrooms with boudoirs and balconies with study on the first floor while the ground floor houses a kitchen with a dining space, a sitting room and that private garden." She informed her showing a beautiful garden bordered with low hedges, "I believe you are familiar with the concept of Fidelius Charm, Jean?" Audré asked her suddenly.

Hermione, who was looking at the garden below, turned sideways and stared at Audré, surprised.

"You mean this place is under Fidelius Charm?" she asked to her host incredulously.

Audré nodded and gave her a small smile, "I am the secret keeper and apart from me, only you know this place. Not even my daughter knows about it and no one can reach you here, under Disillusionment or under Polyjuice. Besides the Floo fireplace and the apparition point is warded too." she informed Hermione, "You can use the place as you please since you are the new Lady Malfoy and it is your home too."

Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust. 'To hell with Lady Malfoy!' she thought bitterly, "I am Hermione Jean Granger and I am no Malfoy!" she said to Audré firmly.

Audré, who was looking at Adrian as he carefully eyed her from bed, turned to Hermione and held her hands in surrender, "As you wish, Jean. I am not imposing anything on you. I was just stating that this Château is your home as much as it is mine." She said to her pleasantly, "Besides, I think you don't need to worry about anything at all. We are here and I assure you that Morpheus Malfoy's family is a complete contrast to Lucius Malfoy's one." She said with a tinge of pride, "I came here to inform you that we are waiting for you at breakfast. Of course you are in full liberty to take your meals wherever you like but my son and daughter as well as Narcissa is waiting to see the newest members in the family." She said noticing Hermione's tense posture at the mention of Narcissa's name. "My nephew however has chosen to take his breakfast in his suite and he won't be at the breakfast." She said to her evenly.

Hermione contemplated Audré's offer carefully. Half of her wanted to take their breakfast in her quarters and the other half wanted to face Narcissa boldly. She was no coward and wouldn't do any such thing that made people think otherwise.

"Very well, Madame Chombrun." Hermione addressed Audré deliberately using her maiden name, "We will be at breakfast in half an hour." She informed her.

"Thank you, Jean and please call me Audré or if you feel like it - 'aunt Audré'." Audré offered Hermione with a gentle smile, "I rather hate being addressed Madame by my family members and by marriage relation you are my daughter-in-law now." She remarked serenely, "Another thing is, Apolline Delacour sent in some of your belongings this morning and I took the liberty of asking the house-elves to arrange them for you in your closet." She told her pointing to the closet.

Hermione felt immense gratitude towards Apolline engulf her and she made a mental note to visit her real family after the breakfast. She didn't particularly feel like staying in the Château since any place with Draco Malfoy's shadow in it made her feel nauseous.

"Thank you very much, aunt Audré," Hermione addressed the elderly with the name she had suggested feeling it was wrong to dishonour her, since she is trying hard to make her and Adrian feel comfortable, "We will be in breakfast." She repeated, smiling gently.

"This Château is huge and there are many corridors. Do you want me to wait for you?" Audré asked Hermione.

Hermione shook her head, "I will be fine." She assured her, "I spent six years in Hogwarts with more corridors and staircases than this Château and I do not want to cause any more inconvenience than needed." She said firmly.

"As you wish, Jean. We will be at Dining room which is in the east side of the Château." Audré informed her and left.

"Why are we here, Mama?" she heard Adrian ask her after Audré left their bedroom and Hermione turned to face her son who was removing a piece of fabric from Peter's small mouth, "Won't we go home?"

Hermione wanted so badly to go home too but there was no way she could return to Delacour residence permanently. There was no way she could call it her home anymore. According to the Claiming law, her home was where her husband and children lived and as Apolline had already explained, there was no going back now. Making a mental note to visit the National Library of Paris for more information on Claiming, Hermione proceeded to give a bath to her son and then get ready for the said breakfast.

"We will stay here for some time, little rabbit." She said as she undressed Adrian, "There is a law saying that children live where their father and mother live and as your… your fa…father has brought to his home, we have to live here until I find a way out." She said to him firmly and took Adrian for his morning bath.

"Mama, why is he here?" Adrian asked Hermione as she placed him inside bathtub, "Didn't you say that he married a pureblood woman and he dislikes us? Then why is he here?" Adrian's voice was full of curiosity.

"I don't know." Hermione answered truthfully, "But Mama will try to find out, Adrian." she assured her son, "Now cheer up little rabbit, because after we take our breakfast we'll go to meet grandma." She said to him brightly and Adrian jumped in joy, splashing water everywhere.

Twenty minutes later, Hermione and Adrian, bathed and dressed appropriately, came out of their quarter on their way to a very late breakfast. Knowing that the Château was vast but confident that she could still find her way, Hermione used to a simple Locating Spell to find out Audré, the only person she felt like meeting. As mentioned previously, she found the dining room on the east corner of the Château and she entered it holding Adrian's small hand tightly.

The Chombruns and Narcissa were seated around the highly polished large dining table. As she approached them Hermione noticed Narcissa's mouth fell open but she ignored her. The Chombruns however stood from their seats and courtesied at her.

"Thank you for coming, Jean and please feel at home." Audré said to Hermione, smiling brightly, "Let me introduce you to my family," she offered her, "This is my son Julian," she pointed her son whom Hermione had already seen at Gringotts, "This is my daughter Lillian." She gestured to a very pretty witch with silvery blonde hair and deep blue eyes, "and this is my sister-in-law, Narcissa Malfoy." She said motioning to the gaping woman cautiously, "and everyone this is Hermione Jean Granger." Audré introduced her with a flourish of her hands, "Now, Jean, will you not introduce us to that little gentleman standing beside you?" she asked Hermione in a tempting voice.

Hermione looked down at her son, who was staring wide eyed at the strangers from behind her leg, clutching Peter tightly. She pulled him forward and placed her right hand over his shoulder protectively before addressing her son.

"This is my son Adrian Thomas Granger." Hermione said putting emphasis on her surname while omitting the Malfoy part completely, "and Adrian, this is aunt Audré and these are her son and daughter, Julian and Lillian." She showed them to as she spoke completely ignoring a curious Narcissa.

Adrian was eyeing Lillian suspiciously, "She chased me last night." He squeaked to his mother pointing at Lillian, his innocent grey eyes wider now.

"Did she?" Hermione asked him cautiously.

"No, no, don't misunderstand." Audré tried to reassure her, "I sent her to catch Adrian because I thought he might feel better if he saw a lady. But it inadvertently scared him more. But I am sure Lillian is sorry for it. Aren't you Lillian?" she asked her daughter.

Lillian immediately stepped forward and smiled gently at Adrian, "Yes of course. I am sorry Adrian if I have scared you." She offered her apology.

"It's okay." Adrian's sweet voice intoned and Audré smiled gently.

"Now that the introduction is over, can we proceed with our breakfast?" she asked and gestured them to take seats on table.

Before Hermione could move, she felt Adrian tug at her skirt. She looked down and found Adrian motioning her to bend down.

"What is it, Adrian? She asked her son as she leaned forward.

"Mama, Peter is hungry." Adrian whispered in her ear, showing her the little white rabbit.

Hermione felt a tinge of guilt for not being attentive to the little animal, "We'll see what we can do about him." She told her son gently stroking the rabbit's head.

"I guess the rabbit is hungry too." Hermione heard Audré comment and she clapped twice.

A small house-elf appeared immediately who bowed low, "Twinky is at Madame's service." He said.

"Thank you, Twinky. Please bring the timothy hays Madame Delacour had kindly sent this morning." Audré said to the elf who bowed again and disappeared instantly.

"So the issue of Peter rabbit is settled now. Can we continue with our breakfast?" Audré enquired and gestured Hermione to the table.

Hermione was about to move forward but Adrian tugged her skirt again. Feeling irritated, Hermione leaned forward again.

"What's it now, Adrian?" she asked him loudly.

"Mama, where is he?" her son asked her in a loud whisper and Hermione froze knowing full well whom Adrian meant by 'he'.

"He…a…he…" she stammered racking her brain for a suitable answer.

"He is asleep my dear, in his room." Audré answered in her stead and smiled gently at them.

"Where is his wife?" was Adrian's next question and Hermione, who just straightened up feeling relieved, whipped around at her son.

"Adrian, it's rude to ask questions that doesn't concern you. Apologize." She admonished him sternly.

"I am sorry." Adrian offered his apology at Audré, his grey eyes tearful.

"It's alright, Adrian. I am not offended." Audré assured the little boy before moving her eyes to Hermione, "It's natural for him to be curious, Jean. You don't have to be so severe on him for it." she advised her gently.

"I beg to differ, aunt Audré." Hermione, whose temper was suddenly rising for unknown reason replied, "I don't want my son to grow up as an arrogant bully or an insensible spoiled brat." She said casting a sideways glance at Narcissa, who stood up from her seat at last, "He is my son and his manners should be fit for a gentleman." She said proudly.

"How could you talk about my son like that?" Hermione heard Narcissa Malfoy's cold voice charging at her and she turned away her face defiantly.

"Aunt Audré, please forgive me for my rudeness but I think I have had enough introduction for this morning." she said to Audré irritably, "Therefore I'll take your leave to have my breakfast in my quarters." She motioned her head at the three Chombruns, "Please be kind enough to send the hay my mother sent for Peter there." She requested to Audré before turning and storming out of the dining room leaving behind a resigned looking Audré.

•••••

It was evening and Narcissa Malfoy was restlessly pacing in her bedroom.

"It is not possible! Besides, how dare she defy me?" she said loudly to the only occupant of the room: herself.

"Draco can't do that." she said shaking her head wildly, "I am sure he can't. It must have been the girl who had approached him." She said clapping her hands impatiently.

After the revelation of true identity of Adrian's mother and her defiance towards her at breakfast table, Narcissa had not been able to concentrate on anything at all throughout the day. While she bitterly admitted that Adrian was indeed her grandson and a rather charming one too; what she couldn't figure out was how could her son and that Muggleborn ended up close enough to produce a child. She knew Draco had mellowed down considerably after the war regarding blood prejudices but that didn't mean he was going to start a relationship with a half-blood or a Muggleborn.

Another disturbing fact was that her grandson was a half-blood too. While the Malfoys befriended with half-bloods nowadays, it didn't mean their own heir would be one. The possibility of a Muggleborn bride and a half-blood grandson was making Narcissa feel extremely uneasy. Their reputation as one of the most pureblooded family was in jeopardy because of her son's impertinent act.

"Foolish boy." Narcissa swore loudly, "Don't you know how to avoid women who want to take advantage of you?" she asked furiously.

She would have continued on her rant more but Draco knocked and entered his mother's suite at that moment.

"Good Evening mother." He greeted her plainly, "You asked for me?" he enquired after her.

Narcissa, her nerves taut with rage and disbelief, lashed out like a fire breathing dragon at her son.

"Of course, I asked to see you." She confirmed as she moved forward to face her son full on face, "How could I not ask for you, Draco? After the display of your impertinent act, I surely couldn't rest until I discover the truth behind it." she said hotly.

Draco remained calm and breathed twice before continuing his conversation with his exceptionally angry mother.

"What is it, mother?" he asked evenly, "Why are angry with me?"

"Why am I angry with you?" Narcissa threw her hands in the air and laughed derisively, "You ask me that, Draco Lucius Malfoy?" she mocked her son, "Surely you understand why, but if you want to feign otherwise - fine then. I'll explain." She offered sarcastically.

"I want to know how you and Granger ended with in bed to produce a child?" she asked fiercely.

Draco continued with his calm and composed demeanor and looked at his mother straight in the blue eyes.

"Is that so important to know, mother?" he asked her coolly, "Are you not satisfied that Adrian is indeed my son?"

"Let me keep my satisfactions to myself, Draco." Narcissa answered arrogantly, "Tell me how he came into being? Did you have illicit affair with her behind Astoria's back?" she asked Draco sharply.

Draco's temper snapped at once at the suggestion of possible adultery. His cold grey eyes lit up with fire and he matched his mother with equal rage.

"How could you even say such a thing, mother?" he asked her angrily, "Knowing that I am still mourning her death and I am still wearing my wedding ring," he fisted his left hand and showed her his golden ring, "How could you even think such an abhorrent thing?" he asked.

Narcissa didn't quell in front of her son's angry reaction. "If my suggestion is an abhorrent one, Draco, then please enlighten me about the sacred relation you had with her that was deep enough to produce a child." She sneered at her son.

Draco breathed heavily and bit his lips for a moment, "Very well, mother, if you insist so much, then I'll tell you." He replied at last, "I didn't have any illicit affairs with her and I assure you that I will never have one, though we are married now." He said firmly, "It was right after the war that we met in Three Broomsticks. I was alone and she was alone too." Draco said in an even tone, "I saw stressed and sad. Crabbe had accidentally killed himself using Fiendfyre and I have never seen so many deaths in my life. So I went there to have a drink." He said rubbing his head tiredly, "I saw Granger there too. She seemed depressed for some reason and as I was not in my right mind, I offered her a drink." Draco turned away from his mother and faced the opposite wall, "We talked for some time. She said that Weasel bee had left her and went after some other girl. I still don't know how, but we both ended up drunk. The next thing I remember is when I woke up next morning, she was lying next to me on bed in one of the rooms of Three Broomsticks." He said to his mother looking mortified.

Narcissa looked bewildered at her son's confession, "You were drunk, Draco?" she asked him incredulously, "Drunk?" she repeated, "You never drink, Draco. Never. Even after Astoria's death I have hardly seen you drink. Then how could you even end up drunk? She demanded.

Draco turned and faced his mother again, "Exactly, mother. That's exactly why I don't drink anymore. Look where it got me? To be in bed with a Mudblood?" he said looking disgusted at the idea, "I was not in my right mind when it happened but it happened nonetheless and she became pregnant with my child. As far as I know, she didn't want to abort the child and also didn't want to turn him down to me. So she left Britain and came here to give birth and raise the child. And though it sounds unbelievable, I am grateful that she did that because Adrian is my only living child now and I want him to be mine." Draco said firmly.

"But he's a half-blood Draco!" Narcissa exclaimed, "There has never been a half-blood Malfoy and drunk or not, Draco you just defiled our bloodline." She said bitterly.

Draco straightened himself to his full height and raised his chin defiantly, "I apologize for my rudeness, mother, but I'll not tolerate that word 'half-blood' for Adrian ever again." He said sternly, "He's my son and I don't give a damn to his blood status. He carries my blood and that's what matters to me most. I love him and I'll do anything for him. Anything. As for his mother and my new wife, I am sorry to have caused such an impertinent and inconsiderate act that inadvertently included her to our noble family but it's irreversible now. She stays where my son stays and stays with respect and honour befitting the new Lady Malfoy. I want my son to know and feel that his mother is protected and valued." He said resolutely.

Narcissa suddenly felt all her energy and rage left her body and she walked weakly to a chair before slumping down on it. "What have you done, Draco? What have you done!" she said shaking her head feebly and closing her eyes.

Draco noticed his mother's resignation and approached her in light steps. He bent down next to her and placed his head on her lap sideways.

"I am sorry, mother, I am so sorry." He said in a strained voice, "But what's done can't be undone and I beg that you accept the reality now." He pleaded to his mother, "I have seen Adrian and there can never be a finer boy. He is a good flyer, a good artist and a good son at the mere age of five and a half." He said with tinge of pride, "It's unlucky that his mother is Granger instead of Astoria but I am willing to bypass that for the sake of his goodness and innocence. Please accept him as your grandson and behave accordingly, though he may not immediately come to you as one. Please be patient with him, give him some time to feel comfortable around you and then you'll see what a wonderful little son I have sired." Draco's lips curled into a small smile as he looked up and took Narcissa's hands in his own, "Please, mother, do this for the sake of me, your son." he prayed to her.

Narcissa hung her head and sighed. "Alright, Draco, I'll try my best." She said calmly.

Draco smiled hopefully at his mother and kissed her on her cheek, "Thank you, mother. Can I ask you something?" he said in a soothing voice.

Narcissa nodded and looked up at her son.

"Did you give any special medicine or potion to Astoria before or during her pregnancy?" she heard Draco asked her and she frowned.

"Meaning?" Narcissa asked back.

"I mean did you give her anything that was out of ordinary, something that is not usually given." Draco elaborated to his mother.

"Well, she was under Healer Brieanna, her obstetrician during her pregnancy and whatever she took was prescribed by her. I didn't give her anything." Narcissa answered looking confused, "Why do you want to know that?" she asked her son.

Draco bit his lips and looked away, "Well then, did you give her anything before her pregnancy? Anything that's not usually given?" he asked her tentatively.

Narcissa looked up into the ceiling as if trying to remember something. She was not sure what her son was enquiring her about.

"No." she shook her head after sometime, "Nothing out of ordinary for Malfoy ladies." She replied honestly.

Draco seemed to contemplate his mother's answer for a moment and then he stood up abruptly.

"I am very tired, mother." He said wearily, "I'll talk to you later. Good night." Her son said and left her suite immediately.

'Something has happened and it is causing Draco to behave like this.' Narcissa thought to herself as she watched Draco's retreating figure, 'What's it and who caused it?' she asked herself uncertainly.

•••••

Audré was sitting in her favourite chair on terrace, enjoying the beauty of new moon above and it's rippling reflection on the pool below when Draco arrived there, seemingly agitated. He took the seat across his Audré unceremoniously and looked up sharply at her.

"Aunt, what was that you told me about mother giving Astoria 'something special' during her pregnancy?" he asked her irritably.

Knowing Draco and being able to read his facial expressions like an open book, Audré knew it was a matter of time that her nephew would be charging her with that question when his mother would deny any such allegations. She gave him her most pleasant smile and clapped twice in authoritative manner.

The aged house elf Zilek appeared immediately out of thin air and bowed low to her. "Madame Malfoy calls Zilek and Zilek is at her service." He said humbly.

"Thank you very much, Zilek." Audré said to her elf, "Would you be so kind to bring us some coffee and my favourite telescope?" she requested the elf.

The elf bowed low and disappeared immediately. Audré turned to her nephew who was waiting for her answer expectantly.

"Well?" he said impatiently.

"Well, how was your meeting with Narcissa?" Audré looked completely relaxed and asked her nephew instead.

"That's not the answer of my question, aunt." her nephew said to her sternly.

"I know that and we'll talk about it. In fact it's my sole purpose to inform you something that I am convinced now that you don't know."Audré stated confidently, "But before that, Draco, tell me what you told your mother regarding Adrian and Jean?" she asked him evenly.

Draco looked away from her and tilted his head backwards to rest it against the chair, "I lied to her." He said in a strained voice.

"Such as?" Audré asked even more gently.

Draco let out a heavy breath before answering her, "I told her that we met on a pub after the war was over and we got drunk and…and…ended up in bed together." He said as if the lie was haunting him more than the actual truth.

"May I know why did you do that?" Audré asked her nephew, knowing full well what his answer could be.

"What else could I have done?" Draco asked back, "Mother was exceptionally angry at the mere idea of me bedding Granger when I was drunk as she is distressed that Adrian is a half-blood. Had I told her that I violated that Mudblood, she wouldn't have looked at my son, let alone call him his grandson, accusing him as a 'rape child'." Draco replied vehemently and looked away, "And my son will not suffer the consequences of my act." He said firmly.

Audré sighed deeply and looked up into the star studded night sky. She had been expecting that to happen. She knew that deep down Draco was ashamed of his act and would do anything to cover it including blaming his victim and lying to his mother that it was consensual under heavily drunken state.

"Imagine, Draco, if you are so scared to just admit your heinous act to your mother, how much scared the actual victim, Jean, must be!" she commented looking at the pole star, shining brightly.

Draco gave an exasperated huff and looked back to his aunt, "Aunt Audré, you are speaking as if I am some sadistic rapist who stalks women, kidnaps them , ties them up in dungeon and later on take immense pleasure in violating them." He said in a sarcastic tone, "I never said that I am proud of my actions but I am not to be blamed solely for it." he said firmly.

Audré moved her blue eyes from the pole star to her nephew who was fuming in rage.

"Well, I never said you are a sadistic rapist, Draco." She said calmly, "And that's what intrigues me the most. Why would you do such a thing if you detest it so much yourself?" she asked him matter of factly.

"Because aunt, I. was. Angry. On. Her." Draco said with emphasis on each of his words, "I was angry and I wanted to humiliate her, punish her and show her, her proper place for attacking and trying to kill my mother." He said heatedly.

"So it was an 'Anger Rape'." Audré said gravely, "I have worked on rape victims for many years, Draco and have come across a lot of these types of cases where the perpetrators deny accusations and blame their victims instead for enraging and 'making' them to do it. I used to think it was a lame excuse to avoid their true punishments. But see how I ended up with you, my own nephew, whom I know would not touch another woman without her consent and yet he has done something like that." she confessed with irony in her voice.

Draco was about to reply but Zilek appeared at that moment carrying a tray with coffee and a folded telescope. He laid them on the table and bowed low to them before disappearing again.

Audré offered a mug to her nephew and took the other for herself, "Narcissa told me that you left most of your Pureblood prejudices after the war, Draco. But the way you call Jean, 'Mudblood' without any hesitation, says otherwise. Can you explain this to me?" she asked her nephew who undid the uppermost button of his black shirt to breathe more freely.

"I don't like her." Draco answered simply and sipped his coffee, "While I don't hate her as my son Adrian accused me last night, I don't like her either. She was the one who never humbled down and always challenged me when we were in Hogwarts – be it studies, be it exams, be it reputations. She always beat me in everything." he said bitterly, "As for the pureblood prejudices, I used to follow my father's believe that Muggleborns and Muggles should be eliminated so that we wizards can come out of our hidings and claim our rightful place in the society. It was not my idea, it was Dark Lord's idea and I was told that it was correct right from the beginning. So I became fascinated with it." Draco confessed to his aunt, "But after I was assigned to kill Dumbledore, I realized that killing is not a simple task of pointing your wand at somebody and saying 'Avada Kedavra'. Killing takes true intention and I discovered that I had none. That's why I couldn't kill Dumbledore even though he was disarmed by me and was standing there defenseless." Draco's eyes had a lost look as if he had drifted in to the past, "So, I eventually became fearful of the idea of murder. I don't support killing half-bloods and Muggleborns anymore." He said firmly, "But that doesn't mean that I am going to bow down to them and proclaim them as the 'kings and queens of the world'." He said sarcastically, "I can never imagine touching them on my own will, let alone marry one. But I did even that, for the sake of Adrian." he said looking irritated, "And see to whom I got married last night – The Great Hermione Granger herself - the one woman I truly dislike despite her being Adrian's mother and that is the reason, aunt, I call her Mudblood so unabashedly." Draco said firmly.

"A confession most well phrased, Draco." Audré commented over her mug and put it down on the table before taking up her telescope and unfolding it.

"It belonged to my father, Renée Chombrun." She said showing the telescope to her nephew, "He loved star gazing and together we spent a lot of nights, sitting here and looking up at the stars." She reminisced pleasantly and waved her wand. The telescope positioned itself immediately, ready to be used.

"I am the only child of my parents - Renée Chombrun and Josée Laval." Audré said and looked at her nephew who was looking at her with interest, "My father Renée was a famous lawyer in French Wizengamot and my mother Josée was a renowned potion brewer. It was she who set up that potions lab that you use sometimes. My grandfather Pierre Laval was the 101st French Minister of Magic." Audré informed her nephew and Draco straightened himself.

"So you are the granddaughter of an ex-Minister of magic?" he asked looking surprised, "I never knew that." he said looking embarrassed.

"Well, that's not your fault, Draco." Audré said waving her hand, "We should be thankful to your father for that." she commented, "My mother passed away from a potion accident when I was ten years old. I still remember the day as if it is yesterday. I was closer to my mother than my father because I feared him for his ever-serious nature." Audré resumed her story, "After she died, father took the full charges of raising me on his own. As I have already said, I was afraid of him because he was very strong willed and intelligent but I soon found out that he a warm hearted person too. He trained me the way a boy of my age would be trained. He put me under a renowned master to learn both dueling and fencing. I am talking about 1965 and while girls my age went to sewing school to learn sewing and took dancing classes to be an accomplished dancer, father sent me to debate clubs to sharpen my wit for logical argument. He also loved travelling and took me anywhere he travelled, whenever I was at home for holidays. My grandfather, who loved me like the apple of his eyes, taught me different ways of running administration and maintaining diplomacy. It is them who made me what I am today – Audré Chombrun Malfoy." Audré said contentedly and turned sideways to look through the telescope.

"Do you know there is a constellation named 'Draco' in the far northern sky?" she asked her nephew after sometime.

"Yes, I know that. I read it when we made star charts for astronomy." Draco informed her.

"It is called circumpolar, that is 'never setting'. And it can be seen all year." Audré said as she moved the telescope northward and finally fixed it, "Here, look at it." she said offering her nephew the telescope.

Draco took it and fixed his right eye to see what his aunt was offering.

"This star is called Thuban, meaning the 'head of the serpent'. It's one of the biggest stars in the constellation and interestingly the Egyptians designed their pyramids in a way so that the entrance faced Thuban." She informed her nephew.

"It's very bright." Draco commented while watching through the telescope.

"Do you know who named you Draco?" Audré, who was completely sure that Draco was relaxed and interested in whatever she was saying, started executing her plan.

"No," her nephew replied earnestly as he moved the telescope to gaze at the stars, "Do you know?" he asked her lazily.

Audré smiled satisfyingly, "I do." She said curtly, "It was your grandmother, Medusa Malfoy. She named you as Draco after her Greek ancestor, the infamous first legislator of ancient Greece." She said leaning back on her chair and waiting to see the reaction.

Draco whipped around abruptly as her aunt's reply registered on his brain. "My grandmother was Greek?" he asked incredulously.

Audré nodded looking immensely pleased, "She was. You didn't know?" she asked instead.

"She died before I was even born and grandfather always became upset whenever she was mentioned, so we never talked about her." Draco replied scratching his neck.

"Now don't tell me that you don't know that your great ancestor, Armand Malfoy, who set up the famous Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, was a French wizard?" Audré asked him seriously.

Draco shook his head slowly, completely dumbstruck at the new revelation.

"How do you think the Malfoy vault, that you are using currently, is at Gringotts France?" Audré asked Draco her lips now curling into a small smile, "You are proud of you family and pureblood heritage Draco and yet you never endeavored to know more about them. Isn't it subtle hypocrisy?" she chided him.

Her nephew remained silent in response.

"Now let's go back to our previous question that you asked me when you cantered here – what was that I said about your mother giving Astoria 'something special' during her pregnancy? Hm?" Audré's tone became even but serious. "Have you ever noticed Draco that there is no female Malfoy in your esteemed family except for those who were married to the males?" she asked him.

Draco frowned, "I don't understand, aunt. How is that related to Astoria?" he asked looking confused.

"First answer my question, Draco and eventually you'll get your answer." Audré replied leisurely, "Why is that you don't have any sister, or your father Lucius didn't have any sister or any of your ancestors never had any sisters?" she asked again.

"I don't know." Draco confessed honestly.

"You never thought it was odd?" Audré asked him sharply.

"To be completely honest, I never considered it." Draco replied looking thoughtful.

"Have you ever heard of something called 'Royal Jelly'?" Audré delivered her first weapon and hit it's target smoothly as Draco shook his head looking extremely tense.

"No, I haven't" he replied, his grey eyes fixed at Audré.

"How much do you know about the sacred twenty eight?" Audré delivered her next weapon and it hit the target as Draco nodded and opened his mouth to answer.

"They are the twenty eight families that are still considered pureblood. The Malfoys are one of them. Mostly they are related to the Black family through marriage ties." He replied trying to making out connections between two questions.

"In other words, it is inbreeding. Every single family of the 'Sacred Twenty Eight' is related to one another through marriage and breeding. And if I am informed correctly, the Greengrass's are one of them." Audré stated confidently.

"Of course they are. They are an ancient and very wealthy family." Draco said proudly.

"So do you know, that Astoria was your cousin in that way?" Audré asked her proud nephew.

"No she was not." Draco said shaking his head fervently.

"Then you don't know anything about it just like you don't know that your grandmother was a Greek and that your ancestor was a French." Audré pressed her point, "Your grandmother Druella Black, that is Narcissa's mother, whose maiden name was Druella Rosier and Astoria's grandmother Hilda Rosier, were sisters. In that way, Astoria was your second cousin with whom you share great grandparents that is the Rosiers." She informed her nephew confidently.

"Who told you that?" Draco asked looking astonished.

"Your mother-in-law." Audré replied plainly, "She told me that the day we met in the graveyard. She also told me that she persuaded Astoria to marry you only because she and Narcissa were first cousins and she thought Narcissa would take great care of her daughter."

Draco slammed on the table loudly, "What does she mean by my mother would take great care of Astoria?" he asked angrily, "She did take great care of Astoria. I saw that." he said firmly.

Audré smiled gravely at her nephew and shook her head, "And that's where I beg to differ with you, Draco. I am not suggesting that Narcissa killed Astoria; rather it is your family traditions that killed her. You see, it is a rule only known among the women of your family that the first born should always be a male and never a female." She said darkly.

Draco looked bewildered at her proclamation, "But that's impossible!" he exclaimed, "A child's gender can never be fixed beforehand." He stated firmly but when Audré didn't reply his confidence seemed to falter, "Can it?" he almost whispered looking unsure.

"That is where the concept of Royal Jelly comes, Draco." Audré replied looking sad, "The concept was taken from honey bees that use it to nourish their larva. But it is a well guarded secret among those who seek a male child that this specialized secretion can assist you to have a male child. In fact, the Wizarding version of purified Royal Jelly will exclusively help to produce a male child. All the woman has to do is consume it before she plans the pregnancy. And that is how you came into being, Draco and why there is no girl in Malfoy family, except for my daughter Lillian who is the first female Malfoy in eight hundred years." Audré informed her nephew, "Your mother-in-law told me that as per family traditions, Astoria was asked to consume Royal Jelly before she planned her child and the young woman did it not knowing that it was going to kill her and all her children. Besides she was only seventeen, still a teenager. Her body was not fully mature the daunting act of bearing child." Audré said gravely, "The centuries of inbreeding among the 'Sacred twenty eight', has rendered them susceptible to all types of blood-borne diseases. The Rosiers had a notorious variety of Hemophilia, which was transmitted by females to their sons who died from it when minor injuries which caused unstoppable bleeding and the boy died dry as a leaf. According to your mother-in-law, her mother was one who transmitted it to her and she transmitted it to Astoria. Lucky for you, that your grandmother Druella was free from it and thus your mother was free from the deadly disease too. Furthermore your Greek grandmother heightened the chances of your survival because she came from a distant land and was free from this disease. Astoria, who was Hemophilic, was given the Royal jelly so that she could produce a male heir. But all the males she produced suffered from their mother's disease and died early at age from unstoppable bleeding. I heard that Scorpius died from a minor nosebleed and after repeated attempts to produce another male heir under the influence of 'Royal Jelly', Astoria too became sensitive. She also died from bleeding. Had her first child been a female, Draco, she wouldn't have died like that. So as I said previously, it is your family traditions that killed that innocent woman who wanted nothing more than to give her husband an heir. And that's why you should be grateful to Jean that she is not a pureblood. It is she, whose 'Muddy Blood' is free from all kinds of inborn diseases and your son Adrian is alive and healthy. It is her 'dirty blood', Draco, that runs in the veins of that five year old boy and makes him what he is today – a lively child, despite you being his unfortunate father." Audré finished her explanation so vehemently that Draco flinched.

Audré stood up and looked up at the beautiful night sky. "You know why the sky is so beautiful Draco?" she asked his silent nephew, "Because it is great yet limitless. It has a place for everything – stars, comets, black-holes, planets. Had the sky been a narrow space with only stars – just like the 'Sacred twenty eight' pureblood clan – it would not have been so enticing. It's the immenseness of the sky that makes it beautiful and mysterious. So next time when you call Jean a Mudblood, Draco, think about it and think about her blood that keeps your precious son alive and healthy." She said and left Draco without as much as a backward glance.