A/N: There is a saying that 'a single spark can cause a prairie fire'. And this chapter is just that in two ways.
1. From an author's prospective, this chapter contains the nucleus of the story; the very incident that suddenly came to my mind this July and inspired me to spin a whole plot around it. I have never written a single fanfiction, let alone something as famous as Dramione and I am not Draco Malfoy or Hermione Granger's avid fan. But this small spark made me sit down and write a whole story. It made me to experiment with these completely opposite characters. Like mathematics I eliminated all the known variables and only worked with these two constants: Draco and Hermione, to reach believable solution. I considered every single plot twist carefully and added some drama to it just to reach this little incidence. At the same time every small detail that I took from HP books was chosen to meet this incident. So essentially the whole story started for me from here. I imagined this scenario and then added the beginning and ending of my story – The Poisoned Apple. It took my 24 chapters and 135k+ words to come to this point, the focal point of my story, just to make everything that will happen after it - believable. I guess my readers will realize now that how much effort I had put in it. I am not a perfectionist but I believe in sincerity.
2. From the story's prospective, something – something very small yet very significant will happen in this chapter that will change the whole course of the story. Because sometimes even a drop of water can hold depths of a sea in it.
Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and follows. They were most rewarding.
Due to lengthy author's note, from now on I will be posting an integrated response to all the reviews here and separately PM my reviewers. Thanks to cklls, real talk, Elased, nikki98, louisethelibrarian, arya, rainbowJH, Ramyfan, lightbabe, Grovek26 and 8Poisoned Kindness8 for their kind reviews.
I/R: Thanks all for liking my story and my characters. They are close to my heart and thus reviews are close to my heart too. Some of the questions will be left to be answered in subsequent chapters. I'd highly appreciate if guest reviews to please log in so that I can PM them. But anyways this is for real talk: Thanks for hash-tags ;). I also feel Draco could have been more revealing using his intelligence in the books. He was not a bad guy but he wasn't good either. He was something in between, constantly fleeting between two opposite realms. His character could have elaborated a little bit more.
Arya: thanks for waiting but I don't have tumblr or pinterest. Thanks for liking concept of Royal Jelly. It's real.
Acknowledgement:
The lecture on Civil law was taken from "Lecture notes on introduction of private or civil law" by Gabor Peter Palasti.
As for the healing kids without magic, the concept essentially comes from pharmacological interaction of drugs in children's body. If you pay notice you'll see kids are always given milder doses of drugs and most primary anti-biotics are chosen for them.
Diffindo is Severing Charm.
Well I guess, that's it. So enjoy and don't forget to leave a review.
My fiction 'The Poisoned Apple' has been nominated for The Hogwarts award in the category Hermione Romance. It is posted on the site and I would like you to cast your vote on the site under 'vote' tab.
The website is .com ** a . The link can also be found in my profile.
THERE IS ALSO A POLL IN MY PROFILE. FEEL FREE TO VOTE.
For adult Language the rating for this chapter is: 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 25: Spirit Bound
Narcissa was looking at her image in the mirror as she absentmindedly combed through her blonde hair, preparing herself for the night.
Somehow Draco's explanation earlier that evening that he had bedded Hermione Granger when they both were drunk was not making any sense to her.
She was Draco's mother and could sense it whenever he lied to her. She was having similar kind of sensation now.
Draco had lied to her.
'But why?' she asked herself for the fiftieth time. She knew that her son wasn't particularly fond of the woman, who was now Adrian's mother, since his school days.
Every year when their results came out during the summer holidays and Draco discovered that Granger had beaten him in every subject they took together – he would become furious and rant about it for several days.
Beside there was the issue of her blood status too - She was a bloody Muggleborn.
Narcissa was definitely sure now that her son had lied to her and there was only one way to find out the reason behind it.
Almost throwing her ivory comb on the Redwood vanity, Narcissa stood up and left her suite.
'Draco must tell me the truth.' She thought determinedly.
The door of her son's suite was ajar when she entered it without troubling to knock.
She found her son on his bed lying in a peculiar fashion. While his body was on the bed, his head was suspended from the edge, his neck tilted fully backwards. She could tell he had sensed her presence though he didn't open his eyes.
"What is it mother?" Narcissa heard Draco ask her.
"Why are you lying down like that?" Narcissa asked her son instead, feeling uneasy suddenly, "Are you alright?"
"Never better." Draco commented in a tone that suggested completely the opposite, "I guess you didn't come here at this hour of night to comment on my posture, mother." He commented lazily, "What's it?"
Narcissa was certain now that there was definitely something wrong with her son. She crouched beside his half suspended form and ran a hand through his sleek hair.
"There is something I need to know, Draco. Promise me that you'll be truthful to me." She said to him gently.
Draco turned his head sideways at her and opened his grey eyes at last, "What's it mother? You don't trust your son anymore?" he asked with a tinge of sarcasm.
"I do, Draco." Narcissa affirmed as she ran her hand through his hair again, "But something that you said about you and Granger is nagging my mind. So I just wanted to clarify it." she explained to him evenly.
Draco continued to look at her, waiting for her question.
"Well, Draco you said you and Granger both were drunk when you…." Narcissa trailed away, suddenly feeling embarrassed before her son, "You know what I mean," she said pointedly and Draco nodded, "I want to know how is that possible since it was you how dragged her to the dungeons and locked her up there when she almost tried to kill me in my own home. Don't you think it's a bit farfetched story to offer to your mother, Draco, especially when I know how much you dislike her?" She said in a cautious tone.
Her son however looked completely unabashed by his mother's hint that he could have lied to her. He closed his eyes again and straightened his head.
"She saved my life in Room of Requirements." Narcissa heard her son remark after a minute.
"What?" Narcissa spat, unable to believe her own ears.
Draco tilted his suspended head side to side as he spoke, "Yes, mother. As unbelievable as it may seem, she did save my life in Room of Requirements when Crabbe burned down the whole place using Fiendfyre. She and her friends – Potter and Weaselbee hoisted me and Goyle in their brooms and took us out of that burning hell. So I don't think it's very unusual of me to offer her a drink in return of her favour when she looked so upset that night. Do you still think it's farfetched story?" he asked her leisurely.
Narcissa didn't know what to respond. That piece of information was completely new to her since Draco had never talked about what had happened at the night of the battle in Hogwarts.
"Why did she do that?" Narcissa asked her son, though feeling no remorse that Granger had saved her son.
"Always remember mother that Gryffindors like to think themselves as Gods and Goddesse!" her son remarked snidely and suddenly sat up on his bed, "Satisfied now or do you have anything else to ask?" he enquired her mockingly.
"Behave yourself, Draco." Narcissa admonished her son angrily as she stood up, "Remember that I am your mother." She said to him firmly.
In response Draco eyed her in a way that Narcissa couldn't fully comprehend. She could identify the sorrow and despair in his grey eyes but there was something else too.
"That's the reason I am not going to sue you mother." He commented after sometime.
"Sue me? For what?" Narcissa asked him incredulously.
"For trying to give me an heir forcefully." was Draco's vague reply.
Unable to grasp his meaning, Narcissa simply stared at him.
"Good night, mother." Draco told her as he lied down on his bed in proper posture this time, "I am tired after prolonged star gazing with aunt Audré and would like some sleep. Please close the door when you leave." He said and turned his back to Narcissa.
Feeling extremely foolish, Narcissa left her son's suite and closed the door behind her.
•••••
It was Monday morning and the Head Goblin of Gringotts; Geccemp eyed his Chief Curse Breaker in a manner as is she had just turned to a particularly large yellow canary.
But Hermione's features were so grave that Geccemp found it difficult to console her.
"You mean you are Mrs. Draco Malfoy now?" he asked her again just to be sure that he did not miss her the first time.
"Don't say the name." Chief Curse Breaker Jean warned her boss as if he had just uttered Lord Voldemort's dreaded name.
"Very well then, you mean you are Mrs. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named now?" Geccemp rephrased his question.
Hermione couldn't help but laughed at her boss's weird sense of humour.
"You are making fun of me, Sir?" she asked him darkly, "Knowing full well how much I loathe that man?" she enquired.
Geccemp shook his head and rubbed his long fingered hands, "No, Jean, I am certainly not making fun of you." He said in a serious tone, "Rather I was pointing out their similarities. I guess that you still remember the day he came to my office, Jean and said that only purebloods can have enough power to be elected as the Chief Curse Breaker. He may not be a killer like the Dark Lord but he surely is a bigot to the bone." Geccemp commented bitterly.
"Let's leave that topic, Sir." Hermione offered to her boss, "I came here to say that I want my Gringotts Floo to be shifted to my quarters at Château de la Grange-Bleneau since I don't live in Delacour residence anymore." She said looking exceptionally sad.
"It will be attended to, Jean." Geccemp assured his employee, "Anything else that I can do for you?" he enquired.
"I thank you, sir, but that'll be all." Hermione replied and left Geccemp's office.
Geccemp had never felt like prying into his employee's private life during his service in Gringotts.
But the bizarre turn of events regarding Jean Granger and Draco Malfoy, the human equivalents of North Pole and South Pole was making him very curious for the very first time.
'The answer somehow lies with Jean Granger's son – Adrian.' he thought eyeing Hermione's retreating form.
•••••
Audré was looking at the small boy who ran across the garden as his Peter rabbit chased him.
It was as if she was watching her children grow up again.
Brought up without her own mother from a tender age of ten, Audré had raised her children with great care and had tried to provide them with everything a mother could provide her children – love, affection, guidance, mental support, safety and trust.
But even her own children weren't as unique as Adrian was. The boy was extremely innocent yet intelligent and compassionate towards his mother. He could be brave when needed and yet be shy towards strangers. He could be protective and yet reject someone he didn't think was worthy of his love. It intrigued Audré how so many contrasting characteristics could be present in such a small boy.
'May be it is because his parents are as opposite as light and darkness.' Audré thought to herself.
"Coffee?" she heard Hermione ask her and smiling gently Audré nodded at her.
After her outburst at Narcissa on Sunday, Hermione had come to meet her in her suite at evening and expressed her sincere apology. Audré, who had been thinking that she would have to work harder to win back Hermione and Adrian's trust, was pleasantly surprised and without further ado had proceeded to make their bond stronger. The young mother had invited her for coffee in her quarter the following evening and from her vast experience with human nature, Audré could tell that Hermione actually wanted to talk to her.
Luckily she also wanted to talk to Hermione.
She took the mug Hermione offered her and patted the seat beside her, ready to talk.
"I know, Jean that you are curious about many things and it's natural since so many things have happened already without your prior knowledge." Audré started the conversation so that Hermione could feel at ease, "Tell me what you want to know?" she offered her gently.
"I want to know how the Great Pureblood found out about my son Adrian?" Hermione asked the question Audré was expecting.
Patiently Audré told her the circumstances in which Draco had met Adrian in Tuileries garden and proceeded to the next events that culminated to their trip to Brussels. She carefully avoided the part regarding Fleur Delacour and that ten thousand galleon prize money was actually given by Draco to his son. She also avoided mentioning how Draco kept track of Adrian under Disillusionment Charm and Polyjuice Potion since it would raise further questions as to why Audré never stopped her nephew.
Audré wanted Hermione to trust her without letting out all the information that she contained because in her fear and suspicion, Hermione might misunderstand her good intentions.
"He told us that his wife is dead. Is it true or did he just make it up to ruin my life?" Hermione asked Audré bitterly.
"Well his wife Astoria Greengrass did die almost four monthes ago during childbirth." Audré confirmed Hermione's statement, "Draco also lost three sons in a row in last four years – one born and two other unborn."
Hermione's face fell in sympathy, "Poor things." She remarked, "I mean those children, not him." She explained to Audré, "They could have lived had they been born from a different marriage." She said sadly.
Audré frowned at her, "Why do you think so, Jean?" she asked her sharply.
Hermione shrugged at her, "Well, that family is cursed." She said to her gravely, "Look at the members – Belllatrix, the great sadist; Lucius, the great bigot and last but not the least 'him', the greatest criminal. Do you think any child born in such a family could ever survive?" she asked her skeptically.
"But Adrian is his son too, Jean." Audré offered, curious to hear what Hermione said in response.
"Adrian is my son and he snatched him from me illegally. Kidnapped him from my house and blamed me instead saying that he didn't want him to grow up under a step father." Hermione retorted vehemently, "He's not even fit to be Alexis Delacour's left boot let alone be a father." She commented darkly.
Audré refrained herself from making any comments on Alexis and Hermione's relationship. Instead she proceeded on a different matter.
"Listen, Jean, I would like to advise you something." She said seriously to Hermione, "If Narcissa ever asks you anything about your relationship with Draco regarding Adrian's conception, just tell her to ask her son instead. Don't give her any straight answers."
"Why?" Hermione asked her looking astonished.
"Because it's my nephew's duty to explain it to his mother, not yours and so you'll just redirect her to her son." Audré replied evenly.
Hermione gave Audré a gentle smile before turning to her son playing in the garden.
"Adrian!" Audré heard Hermione call her son loudly, "Come here little rabbit."
"Yes, Mama." Her little boy almost ran into their sitting room followed by his rabbit,
Hermione gestured her son to sit on her lap and her son immediately complied, clutching his Peter rabbit.
"Mama, do you know Peter showed me a new kind of jump today?" Audré watched as Adrian informed his mother about the 'new jump' and Hermione listened with great interest. At last when the 'account of the great adventure' was over, Hermione kissed her son gently.
"Little rabbit, I would like you call this kind lady sitting here," she motioned Adrian to Audré, "Grandma Audré from this moment on." She instructed her son, "Okay?"
"Okay." Adrian squealed and turned to Audré who suddenly felt a lump form in her throat.
"Hello Grandma Audré." Adrian said waving at her and then held Peter's little rear paw in his little hands, "And hello from Peter too." he waved the rabbit's paw at her.
For the first time in her entire life Audré was completely speechless.
When she regained her voice after sometime, it was croaky.
"Hello from Grandma Audré." She managed to voice and spread her arms at him, "Will Adrian and Peter give a hug to their new Grandma?" she asked them weakly.
"Of course we will." Adrian said and jumped into Audré's outstretched arms.
As Audré hugged them tightly, she felt her long awaited thirst for her own grandchildren quelled greatly.
Children truly were Creator's blessing on earth.
•••••
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
As per your special request, we are sending you a copy of the medical records of your deceased wife Astoria Malfoy. We assure you that we left no stones unturned in trying to save her and her unborn son's life two monthes ago and that though we don't usually send such documents to patients' relatives, we are doing this a part of our continued effort to reassure that no one could be blamed for her untimely death. St. Mungo's takes particular pride in taking great care of their patients and will continue to do so.
Best regards,
Chriss Conrad
Adminstrative officer, St. Mungo's Hospital for magical maladies and injury.
Draco smiled contentedly as he folded the letter and proceeded for the attached medical records of Astoria. After examining them carefully, he put them in his drawer and locked it, intending to show them to a renowned French Healer.
Aunt Audré's allegation that Astoria had died due to inbreeding and illogical tradition of giving birth to sons had deeply moved him. Draco was determined to pursue the whole truth even if it took him to question every single member of the 'Sacred Twenty Eight' circle. He was planning to ask his about the Royal jelly too but first he needed to make sure that such a thing ever existed.
Right now his mind was fixed on the next letter that bore an emblem of two wands crossed against each other with an elegant writing below it: 'St. Joan's Institute for Magical Children'.
Draco weighed the letter in his hand. It was heavy.
Feeling curious what could be inside; he opened the thick envelope and found a piece of parchment wrapped around a small black wooden slab with writing across the top 'Father of Adrian Thomas Granger-Malfoy'.
Not understanding why the authorities of St. Joan's would send him a piece of plain black wood, Draco unfolded the letter hoping it would explain the matter to him.
Dear Monsieur Malfoy,
Please find the enclosed the wooden slate called 'Ardiose'
As a part of informing parents if anything happen to their children while they are at school premises, we give them this small wooden slate which it embedded with Protean Charm. Should you child be left alone in the school after hours or hurts himself during sports or becomes ill during classes, we would contact his parents immediately through it. If you are not familiar with concept of Protean Charm, it is a charm that links several objects together through a common purpose.
Please keep it with you whenever your child is at school so that you could be notified easily.
Best regards,
Sorceress Amélie
Deputy Headmistress
St. Joan's Institute for Magical Children
Fascinated, Draco looked at the 'Ardiose' more carefully this time. It was like any common writing slate, measuring 2x4 inches, black which was encased in a wooden frame. The fine slanting writing across the top was white.
'So they have recognized me as Adrian's father now.' Draco thought smugly before pocketing the slate, 'Whether my son likes it or not, from now on I would be contacted as his guardian from the school.'
Draco smirked and turned his attention to dress himself for the day.
It was a beautiful Tuesday morning and he would be spending most of it in Sorbonne Law School trying to be a good father for Adrian in near future.
•••••
Audré Chombrun Malfoy, Eva and Edmound Bellamy and all the Delacours except for Alexis were talking cheerfully as they took their dinner at Hermione's new home in Château.
After shifting almost all their belongings to her new Fidelius protected quarter over Sunday and Monday, Hermione had invited the Delacours and her friends for a dinner on Tuesday night, her main goal being to assure them that neither she nor Adrian was in any kind of imminent danger from Draco Malfoy and his mother. She knew that her friends and family were very tense regarding their security.
Since their fateful encounter on Sunday, Hermione had not seen Draco at or near her quarter and was happy that the Slytherin was keeping a reasonable distance between them. Knowing the true nature of the cunning followers of Salazar Slytherin, Hermione had questioned Audré about what could be the possible reasons behind it and had been informed that Draco was giving some time for Adrian to recover the shock.
'As if I will let him come near Adrian ever again.' Hermione snorted and offered Apolline her favourite Chocolate Ribbon Pie.
Finally with dinner being over successfully and Adrian eagerly trying to feed some of the chocolate pie to his rabbit Peter, Hermione gave the Delacours and her friends a tour of her quarter. They liked it immensely and thanked Audré for the excellent arrangements she had provided for Hermione before leaving for their home at around ten thirty when Adrian yawned several times hinting that he needed to go to bed.
Hermione gave her son a quick bath and as she lied down with him on their huge bed, the only thought that was nagging her throughout the evening crushed on her with full force.
'Why didn't Alexis come to her dinner?'
Having lived with Alexis for almost six years now, Hermione knew that the man, to whom she was engaged until two days ago, was very introvert in nature and extremely decent with ladies. He wouldn't face Hermione now that she was someone else's wife, no matter she had willfully married Draco Malfoy or not. Except for their kiss in his office last Monday, Alexis had never behaved in any manner that didn't befit a gentleman and Hermione was sure that it should be she who would take the first initiative to start their relationship anew. Having thought that, Hermione made a mental note to visit Alexis's office on Friday, so that they both could have a full week to recover from their disappointments.
She felt doomed to loneliness again. Attachment to Alexis had given her a purpose to live a happy life with someone she loved but her marriage to her violator had destroyed all the chances of her happiness once again, just as it was ruined six years ago when she had turned down Ron's marriage proposal because of her pregnancy.
Hermione looked at her sleeping son, his face peaceful as he snuggled against his mother.
How she wished she could sleep like Adrian, peaceful in his mother's arms!
But there was no way she could ever sleep peacefully; when all her dreams were being haunted by the presence of a particularly vindictive silvery blonde haired man trying to violate her again and again and again.
Hermione reached for the phial of Dreamless Sleep that she kept on her nightstand and took two mouthfuls of it.
The bitter potion traveled all the way down to her stomach and Hermione closed her eyes.
She knew it was no use.
Draco Malfoy would surely visit her dreams again.
•••••
According to the timetable Draco was holding, 'Introduction to Wizarding Civil Law' classes would be held on Wednesday morning between eleven and twelve by Professor Emmanuel Araguas.
It was Draco's third day at Sorbonne Wizarding Law College and by the looks of it he was doing pretty well considering that he was one of the only two foreigner students in the whole Law School.
Being the Slytherin he was, Draco had already introduced himself to the teacher's faculty as Morpheus Malfoy's nephew thinking that it was important for him to start making impressions from the very beginning.
He had already attended classes on Business Law paper I, Contracts paper I and Family Law in last two days. But what Draco was really looking forward to was Criminal Law which would be held on Friday.
Entering his class room, a large semi-circular amphitheatre with tiered seats around the open arena where their teachers stood to deliver lectures, Draco occupied the middle seat in the first row to catch his professor's immediate attention in his first class with him.
Students filed in gradually and by the time it was eleven, the whole amphitheatre was bursting with new first year Law students.
Draco took out his copy of 'An Introduction to Civil Law' and opened it. On the first page an elegant handwriting proclaimed the name of it's previous owner: Morpheus Malfoy. He ran his fingers across it.
Draco had never used second hand books in his entire life. All his Hogwarts copies were fresh when he purchased them from 'Flourish and Blotts' and he had always made fun of those who used second hand books, particularly the Weasleys.
And yet he had chosen to use his uncle's old copies for his new course of study.
He took out a fresh roll of parchment and unrolled it on the desk before unpacking were the 'Quick-quote quills' that was provided for them to copy down their lectures.
A bell issued from the corridors and Professor Emmanuel Araguas entered the huge amphitheatre.
"Good Morning everyone" he greeted his new students and looked around the class, "I believe I find you well and good." He commented brightly.
For a law teacher, Professor Emmanuel was quite remarkable. He was a tall, bald, lean man who somehow managed to smile almost always. Draco was strongly reminded of his Charms teacher Professor Flitwick.
"Now, as you all know my name is Emmanuel Araguas and I'll be teaching you 'Civil Law'." Emmanuel introduced himself and straightened his spectacles, "And I kindly ask you to be civil enough to let me continue." He said to pair of female students who were giggling in a corner.
The class immediately became silent.
"Thank you." Emmanuel said to his class, "Now, Wizarding Civil Law isn't very different from Muggle Civil law. Our law basically encompasses on Family and Inheritance Law, Comparative Contract Law, Comparative Property Law, Intellectual Property Law and partly Banking and Securities Law." He started his lecture and Draco nudged his quick quote quill to start writing.
Soon he was lost in Emmanuel's lecture and he turned pages of his uncle's book to mark it.
It was almost quarter to twelve when suddenly something started to vibrate inside his pocket.
Felling irritated Draco groped for his pocket and retrieved the 'Ardiose' St. Joan's had sent him the previous day.
Draco frowned at the write slanting writing that the slate mirrored because of the embedded Protean Charm:
Monsieur Malfoy, it is with great regret that we inform you that your son Adrian met an accident while playing with his friends during the sports period. He's alright now and being attended to but we request you to come and take him home as he has been excused of his classes.
With regards,
Sorceress Amélie
Draco's brain completely froze as he finished reading the small note. He blinked twice at it, Emmanuel's voice gradually muting away.
•••••
Hermione was on way to her lab when Claudia suddenly clamped her hand around her and dragged her in a corner.
"I heard that you got married, Jean." she said to Hermione brightly, "It never came to your mind to invite us, hm?" she complained to her mockingly.
"Who told you that I got married?" Hermione asked her intern sharply, feeling her temper rise.
"Well, it's talk of the Gringotts, my dear Jean." Claudia proclaimed proudly, "When will we get the chance to meet the lucky guy?" she asked Hermione arching an eyebrow.
'Lucky Guy?'Hermione felt like strangulating the young woman who stood before her.
But Claudia was completely oblivious of the death threat she had just issued from Hermione. She leaned forward and placed her mouth hear Hermione's quivering left ear.
"Won't you tell me how was he, you know, in…." she smiled and winked at Hermione mischievously.
The remark was enough to break Hermione's self restraints.
"Claudia," she lashed out at her intern, who recoiled, looking surprised at her sudden outburst, "I am your senior and I find it highly inappropriate to discuss such nonsense matters with my intern. Please be respectful to my privacy and don't gossip behind my back." Hermione spat at her.
"I am sorry, Jean if I have…" Claudia mumbled weakly.
"Please go back to your work." Hermione ordered her intern sternly and stormed out of the corridor.
Once inside the confinements of her lab, Hermione slumped on her chair and threw the crystal goblet on the opposite wall with such force that it shattered into tiny particles.
"How dare they talk about me behind my back?" Hermione seethed as she rocked on her chair, "Bloody gossiping goblins."
Absolutely repulsed at the idea that people were thinking she was sharing bed with Draco Malfoy, Hermione looked around wildly to find something else to thrown.
"Me and him?" she asked herself incredulously, "Malfoy? The bastard of all bastards? Sharing bed? Having …." Hermione panted heavily and stomped her feet on the ground.
"I am going to make sure this tiny little trick doesn't go unpunished." She said through gritted teeth and stood up to leave her lab.
She was absolutely certain that it was not Geccemp's doing. The mischievous staff goblins that relocated her Gringotts Floo were behind this act since she hadn't informed anybody apart from her boss about it.
"How dare they? Meddling with the Chief Curse Breaker?" she ranted, "I have had enough of their nonsense tricks and it's time some sense is thrust into them." She said firmly as she took the corridor leading to Geccemp's office.
But she never reached it.
Something vibrated inside her robe and feeling irritated Hermione fumbled for it.
The 'Ardiose' that St. Joan's had given her on the day of Adrian's orientation class was sporting a message and feeling confused, Hermione read it.
Madame Granger, it is with great regret that we inform you that your son Adrian met an accident while playing with his friends during the sports period. He's alright now and being attended to but we request you to come and take him home as he has been excused of his classes.
With regards,
Sorceress Amélie
Her senses numb with apprehension and all thoughts of punishing the goblins for their impertinent act completely gone, Hermione immediately turned to her heels and ran towards her office.
•••••
Draco didn't know that he could run this fast.
The news that his son had been hurt badly had rendered him speechless for several minutes and his mind had stopped working completely. Sudden visions of a dead Adrian lying in grave visited him and when he regained his coherent thoughts, the first thing that came into mind was 'Get to Adrian!'
Not caring to explain his professor where he was going in the middle of a lecture, Draco had pushed his way roughly through the sitting students and ran out of lecture hall leaving behind his belongings.
Like Hogwarts, anti apparition ward was placed around Sorbonne too and as Draco sprinted along the long corridor to reach the border beyond which apparition was possible, he made a mental note to rip apart the boy who had hurt his son so badly.
Toppling two stairs at a time and jumping on the ground floor after a lengthy run that comprised three full length corridors, five corners and six wide staircases, Draco tore to the exit located between Wizarding and Muggle colleges.
He bumped with several students who were entering and knocking off their books.
Feeling breathless Draco crossed the border and felt the wards disappear at last. He immediately turned on the spot, his mind set for only one destination - the iron gate of St. Joans's.
The familiar sensation of squeezing through a giant rubber tube was over before it even came and Draco stood before the elegant school building half a moment later.
He lunged for the half open door and entered inside the school compound, looking around wildly for Adrian.
But there was no small silvery blond haired boy who might be crying helplessly.
Draco whipped around and found the aged man who worked as school caretaker and grabbed his collar.
"Where is my son?" he spat at the hunched man, almost lifting him off the ground.
"Who is your son?" he heard the man ask him instead and Draco felt like hitting him hard.
"You idiot!" he swore loudly, "You call yourself caretaker and you don't know who my son is?" Draco shook the hunched man vigorously.
He wanted to throw the man on the ground and kick him hard for not knowing who his son might be. Draco even had half a mind to do so but a voice cut in at that moment.
"Monsieur Malfoy?" a female voice asked and Draco wheeled on his feet.
Sorceress Marianne was standing two feet away and giving him the most contemptuous look possible.
"May I enquire what are you doing with our caretaker?" she asked Draco in a displeased manner.
Draco slackened his grip from the caretaker's collar and he fell on the ground unceremoniously.
"I was asking him about Adrian." Draco answered with as much nerve as possible. Even for a woman, sorceress Marianne had an aura of extreme power around her and Draco didn't want to be on the wrong side of it.
Marianne's eyes swept from Draco to the caretaker, who was straightening his clothes and after a moment of uncomfortable silence she gestured Draco to follow her.
She took him through a door that led to a corridor and then up a staircase that led them to first floor. Draco would have admired the view of the four sided building from up there as shafts of sunlight slanted along the corridor giving it a mystic look, had his mind not been in turmoil as he followed the headmistress silently.
Soon they reached what looked like a Hospital Wing and Draco followed Marianne into it.
It was almost like the Hogwarts hospital wing except for that it was smaller and with fewer beds. Draco looked around and found one of them occupied by a small boy with silvery blonde curls who was sitting on the edge with his back on him.
"Adrian!" he exclaimed and almost ran to it expecting him to be alone and helpless.
But to Draco's immense displeasure, Hermione was already there, kneeling before the boy as a mediwitch moved her wand over Adrian's left forearm.
"What happened to my son?" Draco demanded, feeling anger starting to boil inside him, "Who did this to him?" he asked to the women before her.
Both Adrian and Hermione turned their heads to him and Adrian flinched away at his sight. Noticing her son's discomfort, Hermione immediately leapt to her feet and positioned herself between them thus obstructing his view of his son.
"You are not wanted here, Malfoy." She snarled at him and Draco felt his nerve stretch up to the point of tearing.
"I don't remember asking your opinion, mud…Granger." He spat at her and proceeded to shove her away.
"Mama, it's hurting!" Draco heard his son high pitched intone from behind Hermione, who immediately turned and knelt down before her son before putting an assuring arm around his neck.
"No one injured Adrian, Monsieur Malfoy." Marianne's voice informed him and Draco looked around at the headmistress who was now standing beside him, "He fell from the broom. We usually keep a close eye when kids ride broom and they are not allowed over four feet in the air but Adrian was a bit over enthusiastic this morning and reached twelve feet before suddenly slipping his grip on the handle. He is lucky that our sports teacher caught him before he completely hit the ground but his left forearm got hit by the broom thus fracturing it." she said in a grave tone.
Feeling confused whether to be angry on his son or sorry for him, Draco returned his observation of Adrian as the school mediwitch waved her wand and some gauzy fabric, cotton and a packet of cast plaster appeared.
"Well surely she can mend his fracture in a second." Draco commented realizing the mediwitch's intention to make a Muggle plaster around Adrian's fractured arm and pointed at her who was now unrolling the cotton roll, "Hogwarts mediwitch Madam Pomfrey could mend bones in seconds. Or is she not qualified enough?" he asked her arrogantly.
"Of course she is qualified, Monsieur Malfoy." Marianne replied tersely, "But you seem to have very little knowledge concerning use of magic on young children." She remarked cynically, "Children of Adrian's age are very delicate for such huge dose of magic like bone mending. If you have ever healed anybody, which I sincerely doubt Monsieur Malfoy, you would have known that it takes considerable amount of magic to heal human body against it's own natural healing time since it requires you to grow living tissue. Bone mending, though appears very easy when we look at it, takes even more magic since we are uniting two parts that are both living and hard as steel. Though part of it can and will mend his bone in a second, the rest of the residual magic will be absorbed into the child's system and produce side effects by counteracting with his own growing magic." She stated to him, "Adrian exhibited his magic just two weeks ago. His magic though extremely powerful, is still very tender. If we tamper it with by using exogenous magic to heal his bones, the excess amount of magic will be sucked up by the body to be used against it. It will hamper his magical growth greatly since our magic is fully developed and his one is still growing. That's the reason why one must never use magic to heal young kids whose magic are still immature." She explained to Draco looking annoyed at his lack of knowledge.
"But then…" Draco was about to argue but was cut in as Adrian cried loudly out of pain when the mediwitch touched his broken forearm to wrap the cotton roll around it.
"Aaaaahhh, Mama, it hurts! It hurts a lot!" Adrian whimpered helplessly and Draco rushed to his side.
"Watch it, woman!" he rebuked the mediwitch who looked up at him, clearly affronted, "That's not a doll you are dealing with. He's my son." he said feeling positively mad at her for manhandling Adrian.
The mediwitch straightened to her full height and faced Draco with defiance to match his arrogance before pointing a finger to the door, "I know who I am dealing with, Monsieur and if you don't leave this instance, I am not going to make the plaster since your rude comments are greatly disturbing my concentration." She said to him sternly.
Draco was about to retort back but Adrian whimpered again, "Mama, please tell her to hurry. It is hurting a lot." He said as tears ran down his pale cheek.
Hermione immediately stood up and hugged her son protectively, carefully avoiding the injured arm, "Please, mediwitch," she pleaded to the angry woman beside her, "My son is in pain. Leave that man and attend to him. We can surely deal with him later." She requested her while gently stroking Adrian's silvery blonde hair.
The mediwitch cast a venomous look at Draco's direction who glared back at her and resumed her work of making the plaster. Draco watched silently as she wrapped cotton roll around Adrian's small forearm and then immersed some cast plaster in water before taking it out and straightening it on a smooth surface.
Draco never really understood Muggle way of making plaster. It always appeared ridiculous to him why they did it and even more amusing was how they carried their plastered limbs for weeks making them look like Egyptian mummies. Had he not been schooled minutes ago by Marianne about possible implications of inadvertently used magic, he would have insisted that Adrian's arm was healed by magic.
He watched helplessly as Adrian started crying frankly now, clearly out of pain and weight of the newly made plaster.
"Mama," he wept clutching Hermione's shoulder tightly, "Mama it hurts so much." He sobbed painfully.
"Aren't you please going to give him some painkilling potion?" Draco asked the mediwitch, careful to emphasis 'please' in his sentence and unable to restrain himself anymore.
"He has been given a dose already." The mediwitch replied sharply, "Please don't delude yourself by thinking that it was not powerful enough." She jibed at him, "Kid's potions are not like adult's ones. They act slowly but persistently while adult's act immediately but requires frequent retakes. I wouldn't be able touch him unless painkilling potion was administered first." She informed Draco who sighed bitterly and shifted his gaze to his son.
He noticed that Hermione, who was sitting on the edge of the bed now and gently rocking a whimpering Adrian in her arms, was crying too and muttering something in his ear in a soothing voice. It sounded more like a song to Draco.
"Mama, when will the pain go away?" he heard Adrian ask her and ironically he was thinking the same thing too.
"It's going to hurt for a while, my love, but Mama will make sure you are not alone in this." Hermione said to Adrian and kissed him tenderly on his tear stricken face before looking up at the mediwitch who was making a sling now, "Madame, can you do adult plasters too?" she asked her.
"Of course I can, Madame." The mediwitch replied as she positioned the sling around Adrian's neck and left forearm, "The method is same for all age groups except for the time required to heal because children take less time to heal than adults. While they take three weeks to fully recover for upper limbs, adults can take an approximate of six weeks." She commented wisely.
"Then surely you can make one for me too?" Hermione asked her as she placed Adrian carefully on bed before standing up and both Draco and the mediwitch frowned at her.
'What is she up to?' Draco thought incredulously eyeing Hermione.
"Yes, I can, Madame." The mediwitch affirmed again, "But you have no fracture." She pointed out at Hermione's healthy arms.
Hermione only smiled grimly at her and before anyone could react; she whipped out her wand and pointed it to her left forearm.
"Diffindo!" she cried through closed teeth.
Spurts of red blood came out as she broke her own arm and Draco saw in utter disbelief that it snapped clearly in two halves like a matchstick broken in the middle.
"Madame!" Marianne and mediwitch both exclaimed; looking stunned as both rushed to her. Draco stood rooted to the spot unable to comprehend what just happened.
"Mama, what did you do?" he heard a sobbing Adrian ask Hermione as he crushed into her arms, "What did you do Mama?" he repeated pointing at her bleeding and broken arm.
Hermione lifted her son with her uninjured arm and placed him on her lap as a positively scandalized mediwitch guided her to the bed, "Mama made sure that little rabbit doesn't suffer from pain alone." She said through gritted teeth, laughing and crying at the same time, "Now we'll suffer together." She said to him firmly.
"No, Mama, no." Adrian protested violently, "It was my fault. Louis and I were playing game to see who could fly higher and I slipped. I am sorry, Mama. I am sorry." He started crying hysterically, "I….am…..so….rry…." he lost coherent speech as he cried harder.
Draco simply stared at the woman who had just broken her own arm and looked extremely satisfied with it, unable to utter a single syllable.
'She broke her arm?'
'Deliberately?'
'So that Adrian didn't suffer alone?'
Draco's thoughts were completely frazzled. There was no logic he could show behind such an unnatural act yet something inside told him that it was somehow the most natural.
"No, don't heal me." Draco heard Hermione warn the mediwitch sharply who had taken out her wand, "I don't want to be healed. Just clean the blood and make a plaster just like you did for Adrian." she requested her.
"But Madame, I can heal you! You don't need plaster!" the mediwitch said to Hermione looking bewildered at her abnormal request.
"I know that I don't need plaster but I want it." Hermione said through gritted teeth trying hard to tolerate the pain as the mediwitch cleaned rivulets of blood from her wound, "In fact I specifically ask for it." she conformed her request, "Please make it happen."
The mediwitch cast a very disapprovingly look at her patient before muttering 'Ferula' and a plaster appeared immediately.
Adrian was crying so hard that Draco thought he might faint anytime. For some abnormal reason his own feet were not supporting him any longer and conjuring a chair, Draco slumped on it, never leaving his eyes from Hermione's injured forearm.
The only person silent apart from him was sorceress Marianne who watched silently as the mediwitch healed Hermione's cut then wrapped a cotton roll around it before proceeding to make a plaster.
"I have been doing my duty as the Headmistress of St. Joan's for thirty years now, Madame." Draco heard as she suddenly spoke, a grim smile in her lips, "But I have never seen any mother injure herself so that her child doesn't have to suffer alone." She said shaking her head in disbelief, "Never in my career, have I seen such a unique incident!" she commented looking astonished.
Hermione smiled as she kissed her crying son on forehead, "Then I guess they didn't have a son like my little rabbit." She gently caressed his cheek, "Now, Adrian, don't cry like that. If you can endure that pain, surely Mama can too." she offered him encouragingly.
Adrian sobbed harder in response and clutched his mother even tighter, "I love you, Mama." He said to her.
"And Mama loves you too, my little rabbit. Mama loves you too." Hermione gently murmured in his ear and cradled him in her uninjured arm.
Draco watched silently as the mediwitch plastered Hermione's left forearm.
"Here is your plaster, Madame, though I still request you to let me heal you." The mediwitch said as she finished the plaster, "Your fracture will take six weeks to fully mend and I highly recommend that reconsider your decision." She said to Hermione firmly.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Madame." Hermione said as she stood up, "But I'd rather be in pain with Adrian than be painless alone." She commented and placed Adrian on ground, "Do you think you can walk, my love?" she asked her son who nodded still crying and sniffling.
"We'll accompany you to the gates." Marianne told them kindly as she waved the mediwitch and together they followed Hermione and Adrian out of the Hospital wing.
Draco, who was still looking at the spot where Hermione was sitting moments ago, stood up and proceeded towards it.
Specks of red blood were still sprinkled on marble floor like small beads of Ruby.
Draco leaned down and took a drop in his fingers, smearing it against them.
They were exactly as red as his was; as Adrian's could be and as any human being's blood would be.
"Mud…blood." Draco whispered as he eyed the blood and smeared it absentmindedly in his fingers, completely lost in thoughts.