Author's special note: This note is to clarify the changes that will occur according to the criteria I fixed for the character named Draco Malfoy. As I have already mentioned earlier, I am not Draco or Hermione's avid fan, I guess my kind readers would understand how hard it is to write about two characters whom I don't worship and that are very popular and well written both by the real author and fan fiction writers. With that being said, I consider it a privilege since I would be writing them as neutrally as humanly possible. So before I started writing this fiction, which came to me on a sudden idea, I had to research extensively especially on Draco Malfoy. Not that I have a lot of time to do this, but I read the books, and read the authentic online articles about him to assess his full character. He is never mentioned a lot in the books and I didn't want my first fiction to be based on sole imagination; so I cultured his character under different lights before coming to a conclusion. Every character in HP books had a special characteristic side – Harry was known for his bravery, Hermione for her thirst for knowledge and quick-wit, Ron for his carefree attitude and loyalty. But what about Draco Malfoy? What was he? Fortunately I found the answer in the books which was a remarkable thing since it was clear but hidden in the books. For me, it was not his snarkiness or jibes or coward bullying or being brave or anything at all. It was his inherent ability to work for his beliefs – to do anything for his beliefs no matter how hard it was. That's what made him do all those things (both good and bad) in the books. He was an avid believer of what his parents taught him about his blood supremacy and he acted on it up to first five years. Later when he saw the downside of this belief, he transformed it somehow and formed a new belief which made act more humanely in last two books. This was only persistent criteria which I found that could be called Draco's real character and thus I employed it in my fiction. Here he is twenty four and grown up man; he has suffered a lot and he has his firm beliefs. His actions here though condemnable are based on his firm but somehow wrong beliefs: firstly that he loves his son, then his son would love him, then his son wouldn't do good under a step-father, and finally the lie that Hermione rather than he was responsible for his crimes against her. Those beliefs made him do awful things and I never had fun writing them; but I wanted to be true to this one criterion of him as much as possible and worked on it from my own experiences with life: that how a man who acts firmly on his beliefs may behave in different situations. So in order to change him in the most believable way, any change of his manners will be preceeded by his change of belief first. That is where Audré comes, who noticed it and tried to change his beliefs by her slow manipulations to make him behave better. I may be an amateur writer but I have seen life from very contrasting situations. It's those experiences and your love and appreciations and challenges that make me keep writing. So every time you read my Draco, i.e. the Draco in my story, please compare it with my words.
ANOTHER MOST ANTICIPATED CHAPTER IS UP NOW.
Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and follows. They were most rewarding.
Thanks to: nikki98, louisethelibrarian, arya, Ramyfan, Grovek26, v-x-y-zz, smileyk, jedilogray, kiddo, Anastasia, lisa suschenko, kiddo, chrissie and all the guests for their kind reviews.
I/R: Thanks all for liking my last chapter. I'll be PMing you tomorrow since it's already two hours past midnight in my country. *yawn*
I was planning to update on Friday but one of my regular reviewer aryaa said that it's his birthday on Wednesday so I updated it as a present for him.
Acknowledgement:
The fact that Kava beans produce dreamless sleep is an established scientific fact and that it counteracts with valerian roots to produce psychedelic reaction is also scientifically proven.
Château d'If is a real French prison in the shores of Marseilles.
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 hogwartsawards DOT weebly DOT com **replace DOT with a . The link can also be found in my profile.
THERE IS ALSO 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 28: Phoenix
Draco forced him to stand and walk back to his suite.
He walked past the books he had dropped at the door of his uncle's study without so much as a glance at them and after reaching his room, he closed the door firmly behind him.
Looking around distractedly Draco took several deep calming breaths to clear the inner turmoil that came blasting after his mother declared that she would be dead than be called as his – a rapist's mother.
His suite was plunged in semi-darkness and absolutely silent – completely contrast to the chaotic voices that clamoured through his head:
"How dare you, Draco? How dare you? How dare you do that? How dare you touch her that way? Is that the way I taught you to behave with women? Is that the way?"How could you destroy all my upbringing in just a second?" his mother's screams echoed inside his head.
"No, Malfoy, please don't do this to me. No. I am a virgin." Hermione pleaded in his head, "I never meant to kill your mother, never, Malfoy. I just tried to scare her so that I can escape from here. Please don't do this to me. You'll regret it."
"I may be Bellatrix's sister, Draco, but I never supported her method of torture. That's why I was reluctant to let the Dark Lord use our home as a base. His presence was ominous and I wanted to keep you away from him. But what did you do instead? You went and violated your own classmate!" she spat at him, "Who gave you that right? Who?" his mother's question reverberated across his mind.
Unable to think any coherent thought, Draco walked into his bedroom to reach his ensuite washroom but halted at the steps as soon as he opened the door.
The man he knew as himself was looking through a large ornamental mirror opposite him and Draco simply stared at him.
He looked arrogant; even evil with the proud smirk that he sported in his lips. His grey eyes were narrowed in indignation and his cold sneer made him practically look like Dark Lord's son.
"Who are you?" Draco whispered to the man in the mirror not recognizing his features.
"My name is Draco Malfoy." He declared proudly.
Before Draco knew what happened, his wand was in his hand and the he blasted the mirror in million pieces.
When the noise of their shattering died away, he turned around noticing that the voice inside his head was back again. He closed his eyes trying hard to stop it.
"No….no….Malfoy…no….no…." Draco could still see Hermione's thighs as it separated on it's own accord with some violent invisible force, "No…NO…MALFOY…..NO….why did you do this to me…..why? WHY?" she cried helplessly inside his head.
"Having fun with the Mudblood?" Draco heard a cold drawl and opened his eyes to see the same arrogant man staring at him through one of the window panes.
He shook his head resolutely and feeling a hot surge of anger, blasted the window pane without a seconds delay.
"You can't blast me away, Draco. I am inside you. I am you." The faceless voice cackled around him this time.
Draco's face contorted as he felt his previous anger swell inside his chest. Breathing heavily, he let out a rage-filled growl and channeled his magic through his hawthorn wand before swishing it angrily.
Every single window pane shattered under his merciless attack and Draco turned around and around launching spell after spell until there was nothing left to destroy anymore.
As he walked on the now glass covered floor, crunching the broken pieces mercilessly under his feet his aunt's voice came back to him.
"The worst lies are the lies that we tell ourselves, Draco. We live in denial of what we do, even what we think." Her voice said grimly, "We do this because we are afraid; we are afraid that the other person, who is telling the truth is right and we somehow can't accept the right."
Not caring what might be her reaction if he faced her now; Draco left his half-destroyed suite and started for his aunt's bedchamber.
•••••
Gently Audré laid down Hermione on the divan as the tormented woman slept peacefully at last.
"Zilek. Twinky." she whispered and two house elves appeared silently and bowed low.
"Take Madame Jean to her quarters and lay her on her bed." She ordered them in low whisper, adjusting Hermione's sling on her plastered arm, "Be as silent as possible so as not to disturb her son." she warned the elves who nodded silently, "And Zilek, stay with her until I go there myself. If anything happens come immediately to me." She instructed them and reached forward to stroke Hermione's brown curls.
She was speechless at how brave this woman was. It took extreme courage to wake up every day after her violation and keep waking up every morning after that. It took great mental power to rear a child who was the fruit of that abominable act and it took abysmal amount of strength to continue a life loving that child.
Hermione Jean Granger had intrigued her so deeply that Audré found herself wishing to have a daughter just like her.
The issue reminded of another certain mother who needed to be taken care of and feeling immensely confident Audré stood up, waved the elves to take Hermione before proceeding to take further actions.
•••••
Narcissa stormed into her suite and slammed the door behind her.
Unable to contain her inner torments anymore, she kicked at the nearest pouffe, sending it at the furthest corner of the sitting room.
'My son is a rapist?'
'My son?'
'My son!'
The profanity echoed around her head with such profound strength that she covered her ears in an attempt to block it and collapsed on the floor, heaving with sobs.
She didn't know for how long she cried; it could be a minute or an hour or the whole night. Every single fiber of her being burned as an unpleasant realization hit her hard: Adrian is the fruit of that heinous act done by Draco!
'My only living grandchild is a rape-child!' Narcissa choked on her sobs and pounded the floor in anguish.
She remembered the small boy who resembled so much his father. Scenes of the night he fell asleep under the bush in the garden and the morning after, when he was brought to have breakfast with them, played before her eyes. The grey eyed, platinum blond boy with angelic face had somehow captivated her with his sweet innocence and it was beyond imagination that he could the byproduct of such an immoral act.
So immersed was she in her grief that Narcissa didn't realize when the door of her suite opened and someone entered her private rooms.
"Do you think those tears can change the fact that you are also responsible for what happened to Jean, Narcissa?" she heard a firm voice ask her from somewhere above her head.
Narcissa looked up and found Audré's deep blue eyes, staring at her intently. She straightened up and wiped her tears.
"What do you want to imply, Audré, that I told my son to violate Granger?" she asked heatedly, recognizing the contempt in her sister-in-law's voice.
Audré gaze sharpened even more, "Not directly, Narcissa but what Draco did is an outcome of your failure in his upbringing." She commented sharply, "So you can't hold him solely responsible for his acts." She said firmly.
"How dare you, Audré?" Narcissa shot up and spat at Audré, "How dare you question my upbringing? I devoted my whole life for Draco and tried my best to raise him with proper dignity that fitted his family name. And you are blaming me for his crime?" she asked furiously.
"I am not blaming you, Narcissa; I am merely stating a fact, a truth that needed to be brought under your proud little nose." Audré matched Narcissa in anger as she straightened to her full height, "You and Lucius tailor made Draco what he became later in his life: a spoiled bigot." She pointed an accusing finger at Narcissa, "Both of you taught him the so-called greatness of being a pureblood and the inferiority of others who were not so. You spoilt him to no ends, met his every demand without question and never punished him for his wrong doings. Why? Because he is your son and heir to the throne of Malfoy kingdom." She said vehemently.
Silent tears started flowing down Narcissa's pale cheeks as Audré's statement hit home.
"You call this upbringing?" Audré continued her assault mercilessly not caring Narcissa's tears, "I have been to Malfoy Manor when Draco visited England and believe me, Narcissa that place smells badly of innocent blood. That was the home where you brought up Draco, gave him lesson that he is superior to all others because he is a pureblood and taught him to hate Muggles and Muggleborns. His father was a prominent Death Eater, his aunt was a sadistic and cruel torturer and his mother was a firm believer of pureblood supremacy. The boy harbored his parents' beliefs and acted upon them thinking it would make his family proud till he was thrust into the real war unceremoniously. But even that couldn't completely clean the venom you have spread in his thoughts about his blood status. He couldn't kill anyone voluntarily but he couldn't let go of this nonsense faith either. What happened to Jean in an aftermath of those brainwashing that he received from you and Lucius. Had you slapped him the day when he first used that horrid word 'Mudblood' instead of tonight Narcissa, I guess, he wouldn't have done what he did with that poor girl." She said fervently.
Unable to utter a single word in her defense Narcissa slumped on the nearest sofa weakly as fresh bouts of tears rolled down her cheek.
"Draco is an intelligent man; he can be great if given proper direction and can even modify his manners for the sake of his beliefs." Audré stated firmly, "I always wanted to meet him since Morpheus was almost obsessed with his nephew. I don't know how much do you know about the Malfoy family history Narcissa but Morpheus, however he might have been represented by Lucius to you and Draco, always cared for Draco. He even went to see him when he was born on 5th June 1980." She continued as Narcissa gave her a surprised look, "He took a phial of Pearlflower essence as a gift for the newborn so that he grew up healthy and without usual pureblood diseases. But Lucius insulted him saying that he doesn't have any brother and turned him down. He came back sad and dejected. I'll never forget the day, Narcissa, it was so upsetting." Audré said sadly her eyes tearful, "Ever since then Morpheus kept tab of Draco's life through professor Dumbledore with whom we worked in International Wizengamot conferences. We never contacted him personally by letter or any other means since we knew that it was all in vain; because Draco has already been brainwashed." She said grimly.
"But that is how we were brought up, Audré. I was a Black before I married Lucius and my family is in the center of 'Sacred twenty eight'." Narcissa offered desperately, "My beliefs came from my upbringing and naturally I passed it to my son."
"And the 'natural' event occurred." Audré shrugged in indignation, "I know about the Blacks, Narcissa, they are even more infamous than the Malfoys in French Wizarding society. Were you not the ones who cut their house-elves heads and stuffed it in your family home?" she taunted her, "So it's natural for you to consider everyone else, other than purebloods, as vermin. Now if you still say that it was a right thing to do than I guess you deserve to be called a pureblood rapist's mother." She said scathingly.
Narcissa shook her head and broke down in tears again. Every single word Audré had uttered was true and she had no means to deny it.
She felt Audré footfalls approach her and then her sister-in-law patted her gently on her shoulders.
"I am really sorry Narcissa that you are going through this but you can't deny your part in the bigger scene." She said her gently, "Don't follow Draco's footsteps and lie to yourself Narcissa. Face the truth and do whatever you can do to reduce the damage." She offered, "I could have told all these things to you down there when you were facing Draco but I didn't. Do you know why?" she asked her calmly and Narcissa looked up at Audré in curiosity, "Because I didn't want to insult a mother in front of her child. That's a very rude thing to do. I am a mother myself and know how it feels to be blamed like that; not that my children ever did any such crime, but I still understand." Narcissa heard Audré reply, "I was not in touch with your family for thirty years, Narcissa and despite Morpheus's repeated attempts Lucius never let us anywhere near Draco or you. He even insulted Morpheus terribly using his Death Eater links in French society, something for which I will never forgive him. But still I am not your enemy, Narcissa. I don't want you to be defeated and ashamed. Had I wanted that I could have rejected your offer when you wrote me that you wanted to visit us here in France two monthes ago and that is not my intention. An eye for an eye will leave the world blind, Narcissa and it's high time that we elders open our eyes, take matters into our hands and accept our responsibilities." She said firmly.
Narcissa bit lips and nodded, unable to utter any words that could convey her gratitude towards the sensible woman.
"We as humans are never perfect Narcissa. So don't delude yourself into such notion." Audré commented and wiped Narcissa's tears from her cheek, "But we can strive to do the right thing which perhaps is the closest thing to perfection." She said wisely, "Despite whatever you said down there to Draco you are still his mother, Narcissa and abandoning your child won't lessen your responsibilities towards him. So for the first time, do something that will save your family from impending destruction. Be brave, face the truth and do the right thing." Audré offered firmly.
Narcissa never knew how or when she stood up and hugged her sister-in-law tightly, "Why were not you my sister, Audré, instead of Bellatrix?" she asked felling Audré hug her back.
"Because sometimes blood simply doesn't matter. What matters is what our soul feels towards each other." Narcissa heard Audré reply gently and release her from embrace.
Perceiving the underlying meaning of that statement she felt Audré's words acted like a soothing balm on her damaged spirit and her insides ached with need to reach her grandson and his mother for the very first time.
"What can I do for them?" she asked eagerly.
"Be patient and don't give up your hope." Was Audré's gentle reply before she left her on her suite.
•••••
Audré found Draco sitting with his back across the door that led to her bedchamber.
She stood there silently, waiting for him to stand up and move away.
Draco was resting against the door, his eyes half closed and his arms folded around his flexed legs. As Audré stood there, he made no movement except for finally opening his eyes and looking at her.
A shiver ran down Audré's spine as she looked back at her nephew's eyes indignantly. She was always accustomed to read his eyes with insane ease but tonight they held something that reminded her of another grey pair that she saw for the first time almost thirty years ago: Morpheus's eyes.
She was so absorbed in them that Audré almost missed the question Draco asked her.
"Does Granger take Dreamless Sleep, aunt Audré?"
Audré frowned at the question.
Draco seemed to understand his aunt's silent query, "Dreamless Sleep is the only potion that interacts with Pain Relieving Concoction." He said in a emotionless tone, "The main ingredients of Dreamless Sleep is Kava beans which produces dreamless sleep in thirty minutes after consumption, whereas the chief ingredient of Pain Relieving Concoction is Valerian roots which is a potent painkiller and sedative. According to Cophon's book, these two potions should never be administered simultaneously, not even on the same day since they produce hallucination." He explained, "Please check if she drinks Dreamless Sleep and if she does, forbid her." He requested.
Audré wasn't entirely surprised at his nephew's request. War and subsequent loss of his family has greatly weakened him from inside though he pretended otherwise. He was damaged but not beyond repair. She had already seen him disturbed by the fact that Jean had hurt herself for Adrian but the depth of his sincerity for her was the only question that was troubling Audré.
"Forbid whom Draco?" she asked feigning complete ignorance at her nephew's request.
"Forbid Granger." Draco replied firmly, from his place before her door.
"Why should I forbid her to take Dreamless Sleep?" Audré asked irritably, "Considering the nightmares she goes through, I think she needs it." she said nonchalantly, "Instead I'll tell her to throw the phial of Pain Relieving Concoction into the rubbish bin and regular painkiller potions that doesn't have those blasted Valerian roots. Simple!" she shrugged.
"No you won't do that, aunt." Draco was on his feet in an instant, demanding.
Audré arched an eyebrow at Draco and sneered, "Draco Malfoy, do you think that you have the authority or power or personality to command me, Audré Chombrun Malfoy?" She asked him indignantly.
Draco was completely unfazed by his aunt's angry reaction and stood on his ground with uncharacteristic determination in his eyes, "I am not commanding you aunt." he said evenly, "I am begging you." He said confidently.
Audré snorted and curled her lips, "Begging me for a filthy Mudblood, Draco? What's got into your head?" she asked him pointedly, "Or rather your pure blood?" she added.
Draco bit his lower lip and took a deep breath, "I thought you didn't like that word, aunt Audré." He commented grimly.
"And I thought you liked it, Draco." Audré retorted back, "Considering the number of times you used it on Jean without any remorse, as if she is some filthy vermin." She said fiercely.
Her nephew closed his eyes as if trying to forget something unpleasant and chewed his lower lip agitatedly, "I thought I liked a lot of other things too. But it turned out that none of them matter anymore." He confessed, "I was wrong in my way of dealing with her and I don't want to repeat it again." He said firmly.
"What for, Draco? What is your new agenda?" Audré asked with complete indifference at the declaration.
"There is no agenda, aunt. She is my wife and I took vows to protect her from all kinds of harm, including myself." Draco stated confidently.
Audré gave a derisive laugh, "Wife? Jean?" she asked mockingly, "Are you out of your mind, Draco? Are you still not mourning for Astoria? Then why pray tell, suddenly your mind jumped into Jean?" she teased her nephew.
Her nephew took a calming breath and gave Audré a determined look, "Here, I take it off now." he said and removed his wedding band from his ring finger, "I won't wear black anymore." He declared firmly.
Audré arched an eyebrow at her nephew, "All these sacrifices so that I don't tell Jean to throw away your precious potion?" she asked mocking amusement, "Don't you think it is a heavy price, Draco that you are paying for your Mudblood wife?" she teased him mercilessly.
Draco gritted his teeth and fisted his hands, "Aunt Audré, please don't try my patience." He pledged.
"Slytherin have no patience, Draco, so don't try to act otherwise." Audré commented, "And I am not going to fall for this little act of sudden love for your wife." She stated firmly, "You have proved that you have no remorse for your past actions and therefore I am not wasting any time to make you feel so. My priorities are Jean and Adrian now as well as their friends and family. You on the other hand, Draco can go and hang yourself from that chandelier and I can't care less." She said vehemently and tried to shove off her nephew from her path.
But Draco didn't move an inch, "Aunt, please, give me another chance. One last chance." He pleaded.
"Why?" Audré shrugged at him.
"Because I am sorry and I am taking full responsibility of my crime." Draco replied seriously.
"Sorry?" Audré repeated after her nephew, "After all you did, after all that damage you caused, you are just 'sorry'? she asked incredulously.
"Why don't you try to understand aunt? I don't know how to name the feeling that I am having now!" Draco cried in desperation, "Sorry is the closest word that I can find but..but I don't know." He confessed earnestly.
"Then try to know and then come to me." Audré said annoyingly, "Now get out of my way." She waved her hand.
Draco paid no heed to her jibe. Instead he grabbed Audré's hands painfully in his bigger ones, "No, aunt Audré, no. Please listen to me." He said stubbornly, "I am sorry, I really am." He said firmly, "I know it is not enough but please don't turn me down like that. Please give me another chance, one last chance." He pleaded to her.
Audré shook her head firmly, "Don't you understand Draco, giving you another chance is not in my hands." She said sternly, "It's completely up to Jean and I will not take that right from her." She stated fervently.
"Granger won't give me another chance, aunt. I know it." Draco said knowingly, "But I need it, aunt, I need this chance desperately." He pressed the point, "Please don't deny my request aunt, for the sake of uncle Morpheus. Don't turn me down." He pledged.
Audré sighed audibly, "What do you want?" she asked him sharply.
"Please don't put the Bellamys and the Delacours under Fidelius Charm." Draco said evenly.
"So that you can Imperius, confound and Polyjuice them?" Audré asked indignantly.
"I won't do those things ever again." Draco said firmly, "You must understand aunt that I did those under the insane desire to see my only living child. But the last one, I mean confounding Edmound, I did it because it was the only way the potion could reach Granger." He said in a desperate tone.
Audré was genuinely astonished now, "Are you trying to fool me, Draco by saying that it was for Jean and not for Adrian." she asked teasingly.
Draco paid no heed to her sarcasm, "I meant it for Granger aunt and Granger only. But I made something that she and Adrian both can take." Draco replied, "It was essentially for Granger. Had I wanted it to be delivered to Adrian only, I would have confounded his school medi-witch and asked her to give it to Granger." He explained.
Audré sighed resignedly, "Draco, I don't know what to do with you. You are very unpredictable; one moment you are calling her Mudblood and preventing her marriage with the man she loves and next moment you are sending her potion through her friend. I really don't think I can trust you." She stated firmly.
"Granger still loves Alexis Delacour?" Draco asked her sharply.
"Now, now Draco, don't try to pretend that you are a loving and caring husband." Audré mocked her nephew, "I really don't think it suites you at all." She teased him, "I am sorry, I really can't help you." She said sternly.
Draco squeezed her hands tightly between his palms, "Aunt, please don't do this to me." He said gravely, "In the name Uncle Morpheus I promise I won't disappoint you." He said fervently.
Audré looked into her nephew's grey eyes that were sporting genuine interest, "What will you do with Jean's family and friends?" she asked him sharply.
"I won't harm them in any way." Draco replied looking somewhat relieved.
"Why do you feel such interest in them suddenly?" Audré asked evenly.
"Because they are the only link to Granger." Draco replied, "I want to use it in a positive way." He said firmly.
"And what about Jean? Are you going to apologize to her?" Audré asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't think it will do good to any of us, since she detests me like hell." Draco commented knowledgably, "Instead I'll try to soften her up a bit before proceeding to that point." he stated firmly.
"Very well Draco, I will give you one week as an observation period during which if you didn't make any significant progress, I'll call of this deal and pass these matters in Jean's capable hands." Audré agreed in a businesslike manner, "But remember, any wrong movement, Draco…" she said in a warning voice.
"And I am in Château d'if." Draco completed her sentence, "That's the French Wizarding prison, isn't it aunt?" he asked with a smirk.
"Now get of my way, Draco, my feet are aching." Was Audré's irritated answer.
Draco kissed her hands courteously and gave her a genuine smile before moving away, "I thank the day my uncle decided to marry you aunt Audré. Otherwise we Malfoys were doomed forever." He said sounding pleased and left her standing before her bedchamber.
'Really Draco?' Audré asked as she turned to look at her nephew's retreating form, 'Then let me test your real determination now. Because the path to redemption is that easy as it seems.' She thought with a confident smile.
•••••
A soft hand was running through her hair gently and liking the touch Hermione leaned onto it.
"Mum." She whispered sleepily, felling a bit groggy.
"Good morning, Jean." a voice replied gently and recognizing it's owner Hermione opened her eyes finally.
The silhouette of the elderly French woman against the rays of early morning sun met her eyes and Hermione blinked several times, "Aunt Audré!" she exclaimed softly, "Good morning. What are you doing here so early? Is everything alright?" she asked feeling astonished at her abrupt early morning visit.
Audré smiled gently and nodded before moving her gaze to the small form sleeping beside Hermione, "Sorry for disturbing you like that. I know it is inappropriate to enter someone's private chamber without prior permission but I just couldn't help myself." She said confessed, "But it's entirely your fault since your little rabbit has completely bewitched me with his innocent charms and sweet talks." She said defeatedly, "Now this old lady is helpless without her little man." she said playfully.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the honest declaration and looked sideways at her sleeping son, his fractured arm supported on two small pillows and his small mouth slightly agape as he slept, "Well he does that to everyone," she admitted fondly, 'especially to women." She added with a wink, "You should see it when we take him to public places like parks or gardens or playgrounds; almost every female present there would come and ask his name." Hermione said as she reached out and ran a finger through Adrian's platinum blonde curls.
Audré snorted, "How does it feel like to be the mother of the most eligible bachelor in whole Paris?" she teased Hermione.
Hermione clapped her right hand over her mouth to prevent her from laughing loudly as she rolled over her side, bent double with sudden burst of laugh.
"I find it rather annoying." She said at last, mocking false pride, "But I guess I can't help it since he attracts almost everyone in the vicinity unknowingly." Hermione said trying to sit up.
"Here, let me help you." Audré offered as she grabbed Hermione's shoulders and helped her sit up, "How do you feel now?" she asked her gently as she placed two pillows behind Hermione's back.
The question though asked very casually, had a queer feeling about it and Hermione looked at Audré before answering; trying to discern the reason why she felt so.
"I am fine." She replied slowly, "Why? Has anything happened?" she asked curiously.
"What should happen, Jean?" Audré asked back casually, leaning back on the chair she was occupying, "I just wanted to know about the pain in your arm." She stated evenly.
Feeling somewhat relieved Hermione looked down at her plastered arm and nodded, "It's completely gone. That Greek guy is quite good at making that potion." she informed her.
Audré nodded, "Well I am relieved to hear that." she said gently, "And that reminds me of a few questions that I wanted to ask you." She said calmly.
"What questions?" Hermione asked feeling slightly apprehensive suddenly.
"Do you trust me?" Audré asked simply.
"Of course, I do." Hermione replied honestly, trying to deduce the possible reason behind such query.
"Do you feel safe in this Château?" was Audré's next question.
Hermione was unsure how to answer that without hurting Audré's feelings, "I feel safe in the quarters." She replied cautiously.
Audré nodded understanding her hesitation, "You see Jean, this Château is magically protected and is very safe for it's inhabitants. The protection doesn't only encompass the perimeter walls but also the very air we breathe in now. No one, I repeat it Jean, no one can harm you or Adrian even without the Fidelius Charm. But I casted the Charm nonetheless, since I knew you will feel insecure where my nephew is concerned and it's very normal. I also wanted you to feel safe so that you adapt here. So you see, you have nothing to be afraid of – neither for you nor for Adrian or for anyone under your care. It's perfectly safe for you to roam the entire Château and be yourself." She said serenely.
Hermione blinked unable to believe the new information, "You mean Malfoy can't reach me anywhere inside the Château?" she asked skeptically.
"No, he can't." Audré affirmed, "I mean you will meet him in the corridors or in breakfast table if you want to but he can't approach you with any bad intentions. The magic around the Château prevents it." she informed Hermione, "Besides, I think it's high time that you leave this sanctuary and come out so that he doesn't get the satisfaction of holing you up inside here." Audré offered in a challenging tone.
"But he is a Slytherin!" Hermione still felt a bit unsure though the offer of thumping Malfoy's smug face was tempting her.
Audré shrugged in indignation, "So what?" she asked, "I was told that you are a Gryffindor and I thought that one lioness is enough to squeeze the juice out of all those sly serpents." She commented confidently, "But still, if you wish to be holed up here and give him the satisfaction of beating you, it's your choice." She remarked placidly.
Hermione felt the familiar courage stir inside her and remembering what her mother Apolline had told her before her marriage about facing Draco Malfoy boldly, she sat up straight and looked at Audré purposefully.
"I will be a shame in the name of Gryffindor if I let him win over me, aunt Audré." She said firmly, "I have always beaten him and will continue to do so, no matter what happens." She declared feeling brave inside.
Audré patted her shoulder lightly, "That's the spirit, my dear." She said encouragingly, "With that courage and determination, Jean, chances that my pureblood nephew can ever have the last laugh when you are concerned, is next to zero." She said contentedly, "I suggest that you roam around this place as you feel like and take Adrian with you too. He also needs fresh air. The compounds are vast and might I proclaim proudly, beautiful too. You won't regret it." she said smoothly.
The prospect of finally being able to get her chance to thrash the blonde arrogant man, who haunted her dreams every night, elated Hermione to no end. Audré's words had started a series of combustion in her heart and she felt braver for the first time since the man invaded her peaceful life. It was a spontaneous bravery, not the forced one she had been conjuring to pass her miserable days. When Audré left after planting a tender kiss on Adrian's little forehead a few minutes later, Hermione too left her bed and proceeded to get ready for the German delegates.
She was feeling like her old self again: the eleven year old who started her magical journey in Hogwarts back in 1991.