A/N: Thanks to everyone who has been reading my story with patience.
Thankfully I had a leave and sat down to write this chapter.
Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and follows. They were most rewarding.
Thanks to: nikki98, louisethelibrarian, arya, Ramyfan, v-x-y-zz, Lisa suschenko, and happyhoper for their kind reviews.
I/R: Thanks all for liking my last chapter. Writing Draco and Adrian was fun. More to come. ;)
Acknowledgements:
The facts about dove were taken from several symbolism website.
Miffy is a cartoon book character created by Dick Bruna. Anyone can google and find her picture on web.
Eurostar is a high speed train that travels between London, Paris and Brussels.
The facts about Fidelius Charm were taken from Harry Potter wiki. The Charm basically ensures that one secret is hidden inside one person. It can hide people, dwelling and even objects. Hermione's quarter was Fideliused, she or Adrian were not. So the opportunity to hoodwink the Charm still remains open.
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 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.
For some adult language this chapter is rated: 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 30: Gwyn
Lavender and Chamomile scented air filled her nostrils and Hermione inhaled deeply.
She moved her right hand over them and brushed the tips of white and violet flowers that filled the meadow she was standing on.
Air, light, scent, flower and earth – all mingled in her senses and Hermione realized she had never felt such peace and comfort in her life.
She brushed her hand over the flowers again and felt their delicate petals stroking the underside her palm.
It was beautiful.
A ray of sunlight fell on Hermione's eyes and she opened them at last.
She expected to see the field she was standing on to stretch around her endlessly. But her eyes met the familiar room that she and Adrian used as their bedroom. The rays of early morning sun penetrated the semi-darkness through window curtains and the gentle breeze circulating around the room was cool and fragrant.
Breathing easily Hermione sat up and looked at the clock on the wall; it said half past seven.
Stretching her uninjured arm and yawning widely Hermione shifted her gaze to her sleeping son and found that the pillows on which his plastered arm was being supported had displaced. She bend sideways, arranged it properly in it's rightful place under her son's left arm and planted a soft kiss on his forehead before getting out of bed.
Her gaze fell on the ewer that Narcissa had sent and Hermione sighed.
Aunt Audré had been right about that woman. The potion Narcissa had sent for her had done it's job perfectly: Hermione had had a good night's sleep.
Feeling confused whether she should be angry or grateful about it, Hermione went to her balcony and looked down at the adjoining garden that was bathed in early morning light.
'What is her motive?'
'Is she after Adrian?'
'Why would she help me?'
'She hates me and I hate her.'
'She is the reason I was tortured by her son.'
'But aunt Audré told me that Narcissa Malfoy was genuinely concerned about me.'
'Why would she be concerned about me?'
Thoughts after thoughts probed her head and Hermione felt helpless realizing that she didn't know the answers.
'Have I made a mistake by taking the potion she sent?'
'Why should I take her favour?'
'But I couldn't take Dreamless Sleep either. I was feeling that I have developed resistance to it and it was not working on me.'
'Whereas Narcissa's Sleeping Mixture had done wonders. I didn't suffer from a single nightmare last night.'
'Whatever it may be! I can't take her favour unless I am sure of her motives.'
The last string of thought struck Hermione hard and she felt her fear and confusion abate at the very concept.
Overly relaxed and confident Hermione decided to start the first day of her weekly holiday with a walk around the main gardens of the Château. Her son wouldn't be up until eight thirty and it gave her a whole hour to stretch her legs around the place that she would be living for a while.
Taking her wand from her nightstand and patting Peter rabbit on his small back on her way out Hermione peeped at Gabrielle's bedroom only to find her deep in sleep.
'Perfect.' Hermione thought and transfigured her blue night dress into modest blue dress before leaving her quarters through the main entrance.
As she walked she noticed that the corridors were empty in early morning. Her quarter was on the East side of the Château and the gardens were on the Southern corner of the vast compound. Walking in a brisk pace through the long and spacious corridors, Hermione reached the gardens in almost fifteen minutes and looked around the place with interest.
Situated to the south of the Château, it's gardens stretched almost to the horizon; much of which was landscaped in classic French garden style. Hermione had been to almost all notable French gardens during her six years stay in France and she was accustomed with their pattern by now. Her eyes met meticulously manicured lawn, parterres of flowers and bushes, marble as well as tree sculptures and fountains which seemed to be located throughout the garden. The walkway was paved with shiny large cobblestones and welcomed her to walk on them.
Adjusting her sling over her plastered arm Hermione started her morning walk.
Soon she was lost in it's beauty. The place was five times larger than Delacour gardens and extremely well kept. The vast grounds reminded her of Hogwarts and it's greenhouses.
She removed a stray curl from her face and with a flick of her wand made a neat bun effortlessly before moving onto further exploration.
"Do you like my gardens?" a voice asked suddenly and startled Hermione whipped around.
Audré Chombrun Malfoy was sitting on a garden bench that was almost hidden behind juniper shrubs.
"A formal garden like this takes a lot of upkeep." Hermione commented and moved towards the elderly lady; "It is very beautiful." she said and took the seat next to Audré.
Audré looked around her garden with satisfaction, "My mother used to take care of it a lot. She loved gardens and it was she who designed it." she informed Hermione, "She loved growing things." She said serenely.
"What about you, aunt Audré? What do you like?" Hermione asked her casually.
Audré turned to face Hermione and gave her a gentle smile, "Do you like birds?" she asked instead.
Feeling curious Hermione nodded in response.
"Come with me then." Audré stood up suddenly and offered her a hand, "I'll show you what I like."
•••••
"But Monsieur, I don't want to give you any kisses."
"But Monsieur, I don't want to give you any kisses."
"But Monsieur, I don't want to give you any kisses."
Adrian's voice was echoing in his head and Draco opened his eyes and blinked.
Feeling a familiar ache on his back he realized he had fallen asleep on his couch again.
His mind weary and his senses numb with the pain that his son called him Monsieur instead of father, Draco noticed that it was early morning of Saturday.
He remembered his aunt's advice which told him to have patience.
'Patience.' He snorted, 'I have never been this much patient with anyone in my life!' he reflected on his past and stood up to freshen up.
A few splash of cold water later Draco looked up at the mirror he had shattered one night ago; the image of a tired man with tousled silvery blond hair met his eyes.
He felt a sense of déjà-vu grasp him; it was like he was back in his sixth year in Hogwarts when he was assigned to kill his headmaster by Lord Voldemort. He had failed repeatedly but he had been persistent about his mission.
'Draco Malfoy never gives up.' He told his tired reflection and stood up straight, 'Draco Malfoy will never give on his only son – his Adrian.' he thought with determination.
"Cousin? Draco?" Julian's voice called from outside his bathroom and drying his face Draco came out.
"What's it, Julian?" he asked his cousin who was already dresses in sports ware and was holding two expensive shiny brooms.
"Care for some fresh air?" he asked temptingly and threw a broom at Draco's direction which he caught with his right hand easily, "I have some spare Snitches." He gave a hearty smile showing him the tiny golden winged ball.
"Where?" Draco asked his cousin skeptical, "Here? In this Château?"
"Why not, cousin?" Julian asked back, "We have a private Quidditch pitch on the western side of the Château." He said smugly, "Let's kick off." He offered and left for Draco's balcony.
Feeling that he could do well with some fresh air Draco obliged without another word. He followed his cousin to his spacious balcony where he had fallen asleep the previous night and mounted his broom.
"What's it?" he asked his cousin indicating his broomstick as he kicked off.
"That's a Firebolt Turbo." Julian replied as they sped off through the cool morning air, "One of my friends gave it to me as a Christmas present last year. They know I am completely crazy about Quidditch." He commented lightly.
Draco snorted, "I didn't know that, Julian." He said loudly guiding his broom to follow his cousin as he took them to their private pitch, "I thought all you cared about was your job at the Ministry." He commented.
"I do care about my job, cousin. I love my job. But Quidditch is my passion." Julian professed with ease, "I was the captain of our Quidditch team in Beauxbatons. I was a Seeker like you."
Draco was surprised at his serious cousin's sudden good mood and easy going attitude, "Then why don't you fly more often?" he asked curiously, flying beside him. His firebolt was obeying his slightest touch with ease.
"Well, that's not always possible, cousin." Julian replied as they directed their brooms to west, "My job is very demanding and I don't get much time. Plus Maman and Lillian doesn't care about flying at all. Lillian, in fact dislikes flying. This is a Muggle neighbourhood and I don't have anyone to accompany me when I feel like having a ride. So, most of the time I go to my friends' home to fly with them." He said casually and upon turning a corner they reached a stretch of grassy land which extended widely.
Draco looked around the Quidditch pitch. It was of standard size with three huge hoops erected on either end and at a considerable distance from the Château main building.
"It's really good." he commented with admiration, "I thought it was a Muggle Château." He added skeptically.
"It was a Muggle Château before my grandfather bought it." Julian said as he looked around the pitch and let go of the Snitch, "My Papa arranged for special permission to construct this Quidditch pitch for me when I was elected as the captain of our team. In Beauxbatons we didn't have different Houses like Hogwarts but we had four teams. Come on, let's play cousin." He offered with a smile.
Without further ado Draco directed his broom to ascend higher and started circling the pitch for a hint of golden ball.
"You never asked me to fly with you before?" he asked his cousin who was also circling like him in the opposite direction.
"That is because you were mourning, cousin, and in my opinion it is most insensitive ask a mourning man to join a game. I still remember the day Papa passed away; I wore black for a month and I would get really annoyed if anyone asked me to join them for a nice game of Quidditch. If anyone wants to mourn they should be left in peace to do so." Julian replied not taking his eyes off the pitch and it's surrounding, "But I noticed that you took off your black attire yesterday and decided to ask you if you felt like flying again." He commented evenly.
Draco was astonished at the extent of observation his cousin had paid on his part. He certainly didn't feel like flying since Astoria and his last child had died. Had Adrian not been in his life now, he doubted he would have survived without losing his sanity first.
He wanted to voice his gratitude to Julian but caught a glimpse of gold at that moment. Without delay he darted at it's direction feeling the familiar sensation of Adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Julian was beside him in no time and together they sped off towards what they suspected as the Golden Snitch.
"Ten Galleons that I get there first, cousin." Julian shouted at him putting as extra spurt of speed and outflanking Draco.
"Fifteen that I catch it before you, cousin." Draco shot back gleefully as he sped up his broom to match his cousin's speed.
The snitch was hovering over a row of Poplar and Draco extended his right arm automatically as he approached the tiny ball.
He risked a look sideways to see his opponent who face was screwed up in concentration and immediately shifted his gaze at the snitch again.
The snitch was almost at his arms distance when Draco lunged forward and grabbed it successfully in his fist. Just a second later his cousin's palm wrapped around his hand and they both collided in mid air with a sickening crunch.
Draco was almost thrown off from his broom and merely clung to it with one hand while his cousin hung from his broom as well.
"What's going on up there?" a female voice asked and Draco looked down at the direction of the voice, still grabbing the fluttering snitch tightly in his fist.
Forty feet below him, stood his aunt Audré with another woman in blue dress beside her; both of them looking up in the air.
'Granger.' Draco immediately recognized his classmate-turned-wife's petit form.
"It's us, maman." Julian called back and with a swift motion mounted his broom before removing his grasp from Draco's hand, "We were just having a bit of fun." He shouted back at them.
Feeling apprehensive suddenly, Draco mirrored his cousin's movement and mounted himself on his broom again.
He noticed that they were hovering over a square free standing building with quadruple tiled vault. The solitary tower like structure was standing on the grounds just behind the Poplar rows as thousands of Pigeons and Doves came in and out of it through numerous holes in the walls.
"That's our Dovecote." Julian informed him following his gaze, "It's maman's favourite place. We are one of three families who have the special privilege to own our private Dovecote." He said with a smile.
"I hope you two are not hurt." Came his aunt's concerned voice and this time instead of answering from mid air, Julian proceeded to land on the ground below.
Draco had no option but to follow him too.
They both landed smoothly on the patch of grass beside the Dovecote and Draco unmounted his Firebolt Turbo.
His first observation was that his aunt Audré was giving them both a questioning look while his wife was looking at anywhere but his direction with apparent unease.
His eyes roved up her form from head to toe, trying to identify any sign of Hallucination induced discomfort before moving to his aunt.
He found that his aunt was giving him a piercing look this time.
"We are perfectly alright, maman." He heard his cousin reply at his mother's query and he suddenly remembered the real reason behind his sudden appearance there – they were there by co-incidence; he was not following Granger.
"Do continue your game then." Draco saw his aunt wave her hands at her son in a dismissive manner, "And don't try to break each other's limb." She warned them.
"I think our little game can wait for another couple of minutes." Julian said casually and grabbed Draco's upper arm, "I guess cousin Draco still has not seen our beautiful Dovecote." He commented as he pulled Draco forward to where the ladies stood and came at a halt before them.
"Aunt Audré, I think I will come and see it another time." Draco heard Hermione appeal at his aunt, casting a sideways glance at him.
"Absolutely not, Jean." Audré protested firmly, "You came here first and you will leave with me." She said fervently.
"Cousin has already beaten me." Julian informed his mother indicating the golden ball in Draco's hand that was fluttering feebly; completely oblivious of the tangible tension between them, "But I am confident that I'll beat him next time." he said smugly.
"You wish, cousin." Was Draco's curt response with a smirk.
"I think you came to show him our Dovecote, Julian." Audré reminded her son as Draco and Hermione stood facing each other, both looking at different directions to avoid each other's eyes, "Please proceed." She motioned her hand to the solitary building.
"Come with me cousin." Julian offered him and Draco followed him silently, "In the Middle Ages, particularly in France, the possession of a Dovecote, where one could keep his pet pigeons and doves, were privilege of a Lord." He said and showed him the red bricked Dovecote, "Although they are excellent pets, cousin, the Lord's pigeons and doves were often seen as nuisance by the nearby peasant farmers, in particular at the time of sowing of new crops. That was the reason the law of right to possess Dovecotes were abolished in 1789 in France." He informed his cousin knowledgably, "But my Papa obtained a special permission for constructing our Dovecote once he heard that Maman loves pet birds as long as they are not owls and arranged all these birds for her." He said with a tinge of pride in his voice.
"I can imagine that uncle loved aunt Audré a lot." Draco commented.
"Don't say that in front of her. Ever." Julian warned him in a low voice, "Maman may not wear mourning clothes anymore, cousin, but inside she is still mourning for my father. I know that and that's the reason we never talk about him in front of her unless it is absolutely necessary. Any mention of Papa distresses Maman and it takes quite some time for her to recover." He said casting a fleeting look on his mother.
"I never knew woman could love someone that deeply." Draco confessed honestly to his cousin.
"No offense cousin, but maybe you have never been loved like that. Had you seen Papa and Maman together, you would have known what true love can be." Julian whispered while eyeing his mother carefully.
"….I had a pet dove when I was young." Hermione's voice reached Draco's ears and he strained them unconsciously, "That was before I went to Hogwarts. At Hogwarts we were not allowed pets outside owls, toads or cats, though of one of our fellow Gryffindor had a Tarantula – but you can hardly call that a pet; so I bought a cat in my third year. His name was Crookshanks." She was saying to his aunt Audré, "I gave him to my mother to take him to Australia when I left them shortly before war."
"Doves can be lovely pets, Jean." Audré said in response and Draco tuned his mind to listen to their conversation while feigning interest in Julian's demonstration of their Dovecote, "Tame, domesticated, handfed Doves are known for their sweet and gentle dispositions. Unlike parrots and softbills, Doves have a reputation for rarely trying to bite or otherwise put up a fuss with their beaks." She informed her companion, "Do you know that doves can produce their own milk?" Draco heard her ask Hermione.
"Yes, I have read about that. It's called 'crop milk' or 'pigeons milk'." Was Hermione's prudent reply, "It's an oddity in nature that birds can produce their own milk to feed their younger." She added.
Draco nodded absentminded at his cousin who was now showing him some rainbow pigeons, his mind completely tuned to the conversation that was going on behind him.
"For this unique ability, Jean, doves are often considered as the symbolism of motherhood. They also stop foraging their food just before their babies are born. This temporary starvation ensures a pure formulation of milk because otherwise their offspring would have to digest bits of solid food particles in the milk. That's another confirmation about maternal attributes as well as self-sacrifice for the sake of their progeny." Audré's informed Hermione and suddenly Draco was completely lost in the inner meaning of her wise words.
"Cousin? Draco?" he heard Julian call him and Draco startled back to reality, "Are you there?" he asked.
"Yes…yes." Draco nodded and turned around to see his aunt and Hermione who were now holding a pair of white doves. His eyes immediately fell on Hermione's plastered arm.
"I love doves; especially the white ones. They are very charming." Hermione's confession reached his ears and he eyed her as she released her bird in the air.
"Julian, Draco, we are leaving." Draco heard Audré informed them, finally releasing the birds, "After you are done seeing this place, join us at breakfast." She instructed them and left with Hermione.
"Cousin, are you hiding something from me?" Julian asked as Draco kept looking at the ladies retreating form.
Draco shook his head and turned his gaze to his good-natured cousin, "No" He lied smoothly, "Tell me Julian, what kind of listening devices do you use in the French Ministry?" he asked as a sudden idea formulated inside his head.
Julian gave him a curious look before answering, "Well there are many. We have almost every kind of covert listening devices there can be. We have a different department with elaborate labs where researches design surveillance and eavesdropping devices. Why?" he asked.
Draco was still looking at Hermione's retreating form when he replied, "I have an account to set with an old classmate. Can you lend me one of those?" he turned to his cousin.
"Is anyone disturbing you at Sorbonne?" Julian asked him sharply.
"No one disturbs a Malfoy, Julian, surely you yourself know that too." Draco answered smugly and looked around the bird sanctuary, "But the ladies, I have heard, have taken keen interest on me." He said lightly to prevent further questioning from Julian.
"Is that so?" Julian grinned broadly, "Then enjoy it." he advised mischievously.
"Had I been sixteen or seventeen year old, Julian, I would have considered it as a pleasure. But I am a father and a husband now and such petty pleasures are of no value to me." Draco commented evenly.
Julian gave him an inquisitive look, "Don't mind me asking, cousin, since I have no intention to pry in your private matters but I am pretty curious about you and Jean. Maman hasn't told me or Lillian anything at all. Why is she under Fidelius?" he asked Draco.
Draco knew that his cousins had been extremely polite and patient when it came to his private life till now and decided to tell Julian partial truth, "I have scared her by bringing Adrian here forcefully. She doesn't trust me at all."
"I also thought so." Julian admitted thoughtfully, "Then why don't you try to clear the misunderstandings?" he offered.
"I am currently working on it, cousin." Draco informed him, "Now don't forget to lend me a pair of listening devices. The more advanced the better. I hope you post as the second-in-command in Magical Law Enforcement Department is enough to procure one for me." He reminded Julian.
"Of course it is." Julian assured him, "But I hope you are not going to use it illegally, cousin." Julian warned him lightly.
"What made you think that I would do that?" Draco asked back with an arched eyebrow.
"Nothing. It was my duty to warn you. When do you want it, anyway?" Julian enquired.
"By this afternoon." Draco informed him, "I need to work on it during the weekend." He added so as not to raise any suspicion.
"Fine." Julian affirmed curtly, "Let's go and have another go at the game." He offered with a smile.
"Of course." Draco agreed and mounted his broom again.
As she kicked off the ground and released the snitch in the morning air, the cunning and resourcefulness of a Slytherin brain started paving out his next move.
'I need a way to breach the Fidelius Charm.' He thought and raced forward to join his cousin for another snitch hunt.
•••••
"Are you sure about it, Jean?" Gabrielle asked Hermione sharply.
"Of course, I am, Gabrielle." Hermione confirmed her query and looked at the young lady who lay half seated on her bed, "We will be joining aunt Audré and her family for breakfast from this morning on." She declared confidently. Hermione had returned from her walk a few minutes ago and the first thing she did upon arrival was waking up Gabrielle to discuss the matter with her.
"But why did you suddenly change your attitude towards them, Jean?" Gabrielle asked, clearly astonished at the aura of confidence that Hermione was radiating.
"Because, I met that bastard this morning when I went for a walk with aunt Audré." Hermione replied, "At first I thought of leaving the place to avoid him but then aunt told me stay. It is the way she grabbed my hand, Gabrielle; it gave me such confidence that I felt my old courage wake up inside me again. I am a Gryffindor and I will not lay back for a filthy loathsome Slytherin bastard like Malfoy." She said proudly, "And Adrian is not going to grow up as a coward either; he faced that monster yesterday bravely and denied his abominable request to kiss him. My son will be a brave man like his mother is. Malfoy can go and hang himself from the rafters and I surely will not give him a damn." She said vehemently.
Gabrielle yawned and stretched her limbs, "It's good to see you fighting back like that, Jean. I guess it was about time that you came out of your hiding and faced your fears." She commented sagely.
Hermione looked pleased with the comment, "I agree with you Gabrielle. True that, I am still afraid of his presence anywhere near me or my son but I'll not give him the satisfaction of holing me up inside this quarters." She shook her head adamantly, "I have faced far worse than that, Gabrielle and I am not going to let him win over me again. This Hermione Granger will fight him and his atrocious acts for the sake of her son. Adrian is mine and mine only. It is high time that he realizes that." she said fervently, "Now get up and get yourself dressed for the morning Gabrielle. We will be visiting mother Apolline's place after breakfast." She patted the young woman gently before leaving the room.
Her bedroom was still plunged in semi-darkness as the curtains hindered the full access of sunlight through the windows and Hermione moved them with a flick of her wand.
Her little rabbit stirred feebly on their bed and Hermione approached his small sleeping form.
"Adrian, Mama's love, wake up." She sat beside him and whispered gently in his little ears.
Adrian simply sniffed twice before turning away, clearly reluctant to leave his comfortable sleep.
"Little rabbit, we will be visiting grandma Apolline after breakfast." Hermione smiled at her son and said to him in a tempting voice.
"Really?" Adrian was wide awake in a second as he turned to his mother again and squeaked, "We will visit grandma Apolline and grandpa Gustave?" he asked to confirm that he had heard it right the first time.
The sight of his little son melted Hermione's heart and she leaned forward to plant a kiss on his forehead, "Really." She whispered to him.
"Peter," Adrian shouted and sat bold upright, "Wake up you lazy duck, we are going to visit grandma Apolline." He announced to his rabbit who was already nibbling at some hay in a corner.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh, "It's you who is the real 'lazy duck', Adrian. Peter woke up hours ago." she chided her excited son.
"We are going to grandma's home; we are going to grandma's home." Adrian was almost dancing as he hopped down his bed and ran to get his pet.
"Careful, Adrian." Hermione warned her overly happy son, "Don't bump your arm."
"Mama, hurry up." Her son ignored her warning and urged her, "I want to meet Louis too." he informed her.
The sight of her son being happy and scurrying around their room made Hermione so relaxed that she almost forgot that she would be meeting the man she loathed more than anything in the world that morning.
•••••
Draco turned off the shower and dried himself before putting on the green shirt he chose to wear for the day.
He was supposed to join his cousin and his family for breakfast and he was sure that his mother would be there too.
Ever since that fateful night she had announced that she would like to be dead than be as called his mother, Draco had purposefully avoided her.
He was not willing to be on the receiving end of her ire again.
Buttoning his shirt and combing his hair without endeavoring to dry them with spell Draco gave a last look at his reflection in the mirror to ensure that he didn't look tired and defeated.
'Draco Malfoy can't be defeated. He will win his son back and he will win his son's mother too.' he thought determinedly.
He had already formulated a few plans and wished to put them into action. Surely his plans would make Granger forgive him and let him be closer to his son.
Stowing his wand inside his pocket, Draco left his room and walked briskly at the direction of the dining room where he knew his mother, aunt and her family would be indulging in an elaborate weekend breakfast.
As soon as he reached there he noticed three new occupants.
Adrian, Hermione and Gabrielle were on the breakfast table with the rest of the family.
At the sight of his son Draco's heart jumped into his mouth.
The adorable little boy was wearing a navy blue T-shirt this morning with the picture of a duck that was swimming under scorching sun happily while a writing across the chest said 'So hot.. I am cool!'
Feeling conscious that he was being watched, Draco preferred to feign complete ignorance and reached the breakfast laden table before taking out an empty chair to sit beside his cousin Julian.
He pulled the cup of 'café au lait' towards him and took a casual sip before turning to his aunt and his mother, "Good Morning, aunt. Good morning mother." he greeted the elderly ladies.
His mother gave him a stony faced nod while his aunt gave him a pleasant smile and greeted back. "Good morning Draco. I forgot to ask you about your first week at Sorbonne. How was your class yesterday?" she asked casually as she looked around the table.
From the corner of his Draco noticed his son was staring at him wide eyed while Hermione was deliberately looking at her plate. They had seated themselves on the opposite side of the large dining table; Adrian was flanked on both sides by Hermione and Gabrielle.
"It was better than I expected it to be." He replied and directed his gaze to breads before him as he reached for a piece of brioches, "Yesterday I had my first lecture on Criminal Law and it was fantastic. A senior lawyer by the name of Olivier Metzner took it." he informed her and buttered the bread lightly.
Lillian sucked in a breath, "Really cousin? He is taking your classes?" she asked with astonishment before moving her gaze to her mother, "What a co-incidence, maman!" she remarked.
"What's a co-incidence?" Draco asked frowning at his cousin.
"You will know soon enough, nephew." His aunt replied in her daughter's stead, "It's better that we don't comment on it until it is official." She said firmly and turned her gaze to Adrian.
"Dear me, Adrian, what are you drawing on your plate?" she asked the little boy who Draco noticed had left staring at him and resumed drawing something on his plate dipping his little finger in tomato sauce.
"Adrian, I told you not to draw on your plate." He heard the boy's mother rebuke her son sternly, "It is against the table etiquette." She stated avoiding looking at Draco's direction.
"I am sorry." Adrian offered apologetically and tried to wipe out his plate but at that moment Lillian stood up and peered into it curiously.
"It's a rabbit, maman." She proclaimed in surprise.
"Really?" Julian asked and stood up to look at the rare piece of art eagerly.
"It's Miffy." Adrian intoned while casting an innocent look at his eager audiences.
Draco was having a hard time controlling his urge to lunge forward and take his son into his arms. He grabbed the cup of coffee instead and bit his lower lips while avoiding purposefully to look at his son.
"What is Miffy?" Lillian asked incredulously at the little artist.
"Mama, they don't know who Miffy is!" Adrian complained to his mother and turned to Draco's aunt, "Grandma, they don't know who Miffy is." He repeated his complaint in utter disbelief.
"Detention Julian and Lillian." Audré admonished her children firmly, "How dare you don't know who Miffy is? You continued insolence in such crucial matters is enraging my dearest Grandson and I, as his grandmother, will not tolerate it under this roof. You will both write essays on Miffy and submit it to Adrian before nightfall." She declared sternly.
Julian and Lillian hung their heads and remained silent.
It was Hermione who broke the silence as she broke into a rich laugh and hugged her son, "You are too much, aunt Audré." She commented at the serious looking lady, "I am sure Adrian will forgive his aunt Lillian and uncle Julian as it is their first time. Won't you my dear?" she asked her son and kissed him on forehead.
Draco punched on his thigh and closed his eyes to control the overwhelming urge to kiss his innocent son. The boy was his sole reason to live and yet he was forced to stay away from him.
"Yes I will." Adrian squealed and gave the offenders a toothy grin, "You are forgiven." He added.
Julian let out an audible breath and slumped on his chair, "Thank you dear nephew. I thought I was going to end up in Château d'If." He confessed looking immensely relieved.
"Me too." Lillian agreed, "I thought it would be my last day in this Château. Julian do you think they oil the shackles properly in Wizarding prison?" she asked her brother seriously.
Her question caused both Hermione and Gabrielle to burst into another round of laughter.
Draco clumped his lips tight trying hard not to laugh out like mad.
"Why are you laughing Mama?" he heard Adrian asked his mother, "What's so funny?" he pouted his lips angrily.
"Nothing, my love." Hermione assured her almost angry son, "I just remembered something very funny." She informed him, "Why don't you tell your uncle and aunt about Miffy?" she offered him.
Adrian accepted his mother's offer and lifted up his plate to show this drawing to them, "Miffy is a she-bunny." He stated and Draco cast a sideways glance to look at it, "She is a good bunny and she lives with her Mama and Papa. She is the first bunny I ever drew." He said happily.
"And he practices her on his plate." Hermione added stroking Adrian's hair fondly.
Draco gritted his teeth painfully; ignoring his only son was making him lose his mind. The boy was sitting on the same table as he and yet he couldn't reach forward and touch him because it would simply scare him away.
Before he knew how it happened he had crushed the cup he was holding, it's shards digging deep into his flesh. Not wanting to draw any further attention to him, Draco simply moved his hand and hid it under the table.
"What a wonderful little boy!" Audré admired her grandson, "Even my children were not as talented as him at his age." She said honestly, "Jean, I am really happy to have such a brilliant boy in my household. We surely will learn a lot of things from him." She said before turning her gaze pointedly at Draco.
Draco looked back at his aunt as impassively as possible.
"On another note, I have decided to invite the Delacours over the dinner tomorrow." He heard his aunt inform her family, "It is high time that Adrian and Jean's families renew their relationships." She commented wisely.
Everyone in table murmured in agreement and the breakfast resumed again.
Apart from Julian's eager enquiries about Miffy and Lillian's declaration that she was going to take drawing classes from Adrian, it was uneventful.
In between the unmindful nibbling of his food, Draco risked a look at his mother and found her immensely interested at the conversation between Adrian and others. It seemed that everyone had forgotten about his presence in the table. Clearly his innocent son was on the centre of everyone's attention.
The thought somehow comforted him to no end.
Audré and Draco were the last on table as others filed out one by one at the end of their lengthy breakfast. He watched silently as Adrian hopped away happily while holding his mother's hand.
"Should I heal your wound or can you heal it yourself?" Draco heard his aunt asked him and he withdrew his hand from under the table.
"I prefer neither, aunt." he said removing the pieces of broken china from the deep gashes and flexing his fingers Draco left the dining room.
•••••
Hermione had never known that men were capable of feeling this deep.
She looked around her old suite in Delacour residence; her bed where she and Adrian used to sleep, her reading table upon which Adrian used to sit and draw his pictures, her window sill where she had spent many a times reading – everything and every place was just as it was when she had left it the day she shifted her belongings to Chombrun Malfoy's Château.
She knew who had kept her previous sanctuary undisturbed like this.
There was only one man who could do that: Alexis Delacour.
Only a man like him could show such a subtle emotion.
Hermione had met and befriended men over the course of her twenty-five year old life. Most of them had proved themselves as shallow as a pond when it came to delicate feelings such as love and care. The only synonym of love for them had been lust and she had somehow accepted that almost all men craved females only for their bodies rather than their inner souls.
But Alexis had been an exception. She had seen how this man respected almost every lady that traded the path of his life and yet remained reserved towards them. That was only the reason Hermione, a victim of brutal violation had felt comfortable around this man when she had arrived at the Delacour residence more than six years ago.
She could still remember the day she had arrived in Paris – it was a fine afternoon in mid June.
She had been almost three monthes pregnant at that time and according the book she had read on motherhood, witches were most certainly prohibited from undertaking long distance journey using Portkey in their first trimester. So she had resorted to Muggle transportation and bought an Eurostar ticket from London to Paris. She had arrived at the North Station and found Apolline Delacour with her son waiting for her on the platform.
The man, Alexis Delacour had taken care of her luggage and arranged a Ministry car for her so that she could have a comfortable ride back to their residence.
Of course Hermione had been very reserved towards him at the beginning but over the course of next one and a half month during which she had learned to speak French more fully to attend Beauxbatons on September, she had seen how this man had done everything to make her feel at home.
She had not understood his motives then. She had thought that Alexis Delacour was like that to almost every woman he met and maybe it was her pregnancy that had made him behave more properly to her.
He had been successful in hiding his emotions from her for six long years and just when she was about to accept this man in her life, she had been robbed of that one opportunity and bound instead to her violator for the rest of her miserable life.
As per her announcement at the breakfast, Audré had accompanied her and Adrian to Delacour residence to invite them over the dinner the next day.
She had spent some time talking to Gustave and Apolline, who had gladly accepted her invitation, and then left for her Château. While Adrian had made himself and his rabbit comfortable in his grandpa Gustave's welcoming arms Apolline had fussed over to make a sumptuous lunch for her little grandson and Hermione.
Taking the opportunity in between their casual conversations, Hermione had slipped into her old suite to look around the place that had once been her home.
Upon entry she had discovered a Stasis Spell that had been cast on the whole suite and her mind had immediately recognized Alexis's magic in the air.
She had been looking forward to meet him today so that she could have a lengthy talk with him regarding her new and unwanted marital situation. But the man had left for Ministry even on weekend and Hermione knew the reason behind it.
He was trying to drown himself in work so that he could forget about them.
They had no future together anymore and he was having a hard time accepting it just as she was having it.
Having Draco Malfoy as her husband was the last thing she had wanted in this world or another. The cruel reality sometimes constricted her chest so painfully that it became difficult to even breathe properly.
Then there the issue of the Sleeping Mixture that Narcissa had sent to her through Audré. She had met the woman on breakfast table this morning and purposefully avoided talking to her while being perfectly friendly with Audre and her family.
She knew Audré was strong, intelligent and yet compassionate woman. She had been true to her word in protecting them from Malfoy's evil clutches and Hermione knew that she could count on that woman. She had sensed that the elderly French woman guarded many dark secrets in her heart and always appeared calm, composed and collected. But sometimes she would lose her mask and broke down before she could take control.
Last night had been one of those instances when she had lost her control and opened the sadness that she carefully concealed in her heart. Hermione had seen her true feelings of being hurt and humiliated by her mother-in-law Medusa Malfoy. She had understood why Audré had taken responsibility of passing the potion to her – she had taken it as an opportunity to bridge the immense gap between a seemingly impossible relationship.
But Hermione was still not convinced. She knew Malfoys never did anything unless they got anything in return and Narcissa could never be an exception to that universal rule.
There was something that she was up to and Hermione was keen to discover it.
She took a deep breath and made up her mind.
She would pay a visit to the Malfoy matriarch once she returned to Château after lunch and ask her about her true intentions face to face.
There was no way she would accept her favour unless she precisely knew what it was for.
Sweeping a last look over her old suite Hermione left it with a full mind to enjoy her lunch at the Delacours.
•••••
Hundreds of doves gobbled around him as Draco lay sprawled on the ground beside the Dovecote while skimming through pages of 'Secret within secret: Know your Fidelius better.'
He had browsed through the Château library for an entire morning in order to find what he thought could be the ticket to Hermione and Adrian's Fideliused quarter.
He chided himself mentally for resorting to books in order to solve his problems; a trait he closely associated with Hermione Granger. While she would run into the library on every possible occasion to lay her hands on any book she deemed as readable, he Draco Malfoy resorted to his own wit to solve his own problems. Books were the last things he would consult when faced with any obstacle.
Yet he was doing it this morning because he needed uninterrupted access to his son's mother.
He had already lost one day from his aunt's allotted one week and therefore he needed to act fast in order to prove that he was indeed serious about his words.
His injured right hand bandaged in Muggle way, he scanned through the lines he had marked while reading:
"Fidelius Charm is an immensely complex spell involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person or Secret Keeper and is henceforth impossible to find – unless of course the Secret Keeper chooses to divulge it."
"A dwelling whose location has been protected by this spell is then invisible, intangible, unplottable and soundproof."
"The method for the primary Keeper to voluntarily tell another person the secret can be verbal or written. It is also possible that the primary Keeper can reveal the information to another by showing it to them."
"Once the secret has been implanted, the only method for another to learn it is for the primary Secret Keeper to divulge it to that person directly; it cannot be discovered any other way. Additionally it appears that the disclosure must be voluntary and can't be coerced by means of Veritaserum, Legilimency or the Imperius curse."
"The Fidelius Charm not only renders those residing in the charmed location as undetectable as the location itself but also does not transmit information which could counter the charm outside its sphere of influence."
Draco read the last line twice and blinked twice.
That's it. Salazar's Rod, he knew he would find a loophole in the ancient magic, however tiny that might be.
He had discovered the breach in the most ancient of spells.
'Counter the charm' – that was the tagline.
He took out the pair of small listening devices Julian had given his after their lunch.
They were shaped like small transparent insects.
"We call them 'Punaise' meaning bugs." Julian had informed him, "It is the latest model, cousin, can transmit sound from almost thousand miles radius. It can be transfigured to any form and attached to anything. Most importantly it doesn't interfere with protective enchantments." He said proudly.
What he was about to do would not counter the Fidelius Charm in any way.
His purpose would be very simple - getting information about what Adrian and his mother did every day; he would carefully avoid knowing about their precise location which was the prime goal of the Fidelius Charm.
'I don't want to know where you are, Granger, I just want to know what you do. I am not going to play the role of a stranger anymore. There is no way I can win your confidence if I don't know you better.' Draco thought with determination.
'All I need is a way to make you take it inside your quarters, Granger. Once it is there, I am pretty sure the Fidelius will not interrupt in transmission.' He thought confidently.
From his aunt Audré, Draco had learnt that simple and easy way always did it's trick.
Smirking with satisfaction Draco closed the book and scanned for a perfect white dove from among the hundred that flew around him.
His careful scrutiny won him his prize within five minutes.
'Accio' he flicked his wand lazily and the bird was summoned to him instantly.
Carefully he held the delicate bird in his left hand and directed his wand at it's small white chest.
This bird was going to act as his transmitter to Granger's Fideliused quarter.
After all what could be a better more than the symbol of motherhood to the mother of his son?
•••••
Upon a solitary but loud knock Narcissa Malfoy opened the door of her suite and found the last person she expected standing on the threshold.
Her daughter-in-law - Hermione Granger.
"Good evening." Narcissa blinked rapidly and greeted the woman, not knowing what to do next.
Hermione nodded curtly, "Can we talk Mrs. Malfoy?" she asked her directly.
Feeling curious, Narcissa moved away silently to let her visitor enter her suite. Without another word her daughter-in-law entered her rooms.
"I am sorry. I was not expecting you." Narcissa voiced her inner thoughts truthfully as she turned and faced the younger woman, "Please be seated." She offered a sofa in her sitting room.
Hermione however did not accept her offer. Instead she took out the crystal ewer Narcissa had sent her the previous day and placed it on a table.
Narcissa needed no telling what her daughter-in-laws real purpose of visit could be.
"I would like to know why you sent me this?" Hermione asked her the question she had been expecting pointing at the ewer, "Why are you doing this favour to me?" she asked Narcissa sharply.
Whatever Narcissa had expected from Hermione was surely not this. She had thought that either she would send it back through Audré or accept it silently when Audré explained her feelings to Hermione. Her assessments had told her that Hermione Granger would not directly visit and interrogate her for such a petty issue since it was evident that she hated her and her son, Draco.
She, it seemed, had mistaken on her assessment. This woman was far stronger than she had expected her to be.
"I am not doing any favour on you." She replied calmly. It would not do good to anger this woman at this stage.
"Then why be so uncharacteristically generous?" Hermione taunted Narcissa.
"I have my reasons for that." Narcissa answered truthfully.
"Keep your noble reasons to yourself, Mrs. Malfoy. I have no need for them or your potion." Hermione said coolly and turned to leave.
Realizing that it was her last chance to clear the misunderstanding Narcissa stopped her angry daughter-in-law on her track.
"It was a token of gratitude from one mother another." She said to her with all honesty.
Hermione arched her eyebrow at her statement, "Pardon?" she asked.
"Draco told me how you and your friends saved him during the Battle of Hogwarts in the Room of Requirements. You are a mother yourself, surely you know how it feels when someone saves your only child." Narcissa said evenly, "I know that my explanation sounds very unnatural since I was Lucius Malfoy's wife and Bellatrix Lestrange's sister; but I am first and foremost a mother and I care for the woman who saved my son." she said genuinely.
Her daughter-in-law simply stared at her in response.
Taking the opportunity Narcissa Summoned the brooch she had bought for Hermione and placed the box on her palm.
"This is for you." She said as Hermione opened the lid to reveal the jewelry inside, "I bought it for you last Wednesday as a very small token of gratitude from this mother. Try as I might, I can never replay your debt and I therefore I kindly ask you to accept it." Narcissa said with a small smile.
"Mrs. Malfoy…. I…." Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Narcissa silenced her.
"Please don't disappoint this mother." She pledged to her.
Narcissa could see the battle that was waging inside Hermione's head between the mother and the woman. She remained silent for several moments and then looked up at her full on face.
"Very well, Mrs. Malfoy. I accept it." She said evenly, "But this doesn't change anything between us." She said firmly.
"I am not a fool to place my hopes so high." Narcissa assured her and took the ewer from table, "You forgot this." She added.
Holding both the jewelry box and the ewer in her right hand, Hermione left Narcissa without another backward glance.
Narcissa let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
Clearly, Audré had been right when she said that Granger despised being pitied.
•••••
Sunday morning was cooler than Draco had expected it to be but he didn't mind.
He was just one step shy of his goal.
He was almost sure that Granger would come to Dovecote again and that would be his opportunity to smuggle the perfect white Dove he had selected for her.
The listening device had been transfigured to a white feather and carefully attached using a Permanent Sticking Charm among the dove's white feathers where it had blended seamlessly. He had even cast an Impervious Charm upon it.
Hoping against hope that Granger's quarters were not sealed with Imperturbable Charm to prevent eavesdropping, Draco waited patiently for his wife to come at the Dovecote.
'Patience, nephew, patience.' Audré's voice echoed inside his head and Draco checked his watch.
"Eight o'clock." He muttered under his breath, "Come on Granger. Don't make me take extreme measures." He looked at the pathway that led to the gardens for any sign of the woman he had been waiting for.
His patience paid well as he heard someone was singing lightly and approaching the Dovecote.
Draco immediately hid himself behind the Poplar trees.
His felt elated when he saw it was none other than Granger.
"Go," he muttered to the dove that was perched on his shoulder, "Go to her and be a good pet." He instructed the mute bird.
Surely, charming pets were one of his specialties and the bird flew immediately to it's intended target.
"Hey!" He saw Hermione exclaimed in surprise as the dove neatly landed on her shoulder, "What's it, little birdie?" She asked happily and stroked it's small chest with one finger, "You are beautiful." She added.
The dove cooed affectionately.
"Merlin, she is perfect." Hermione was breathless as she examined it's perfect white glistening feathers, "You want to be with me?" she asked the bird gently.
The dove didn't answer but flew away only to land again on her shoulder.
Hermione was entranced by it's beauty, "Come, sit here." She offered the bird her hand who somehow complied immediately.
"Tell me bird, do you want to be with me?" she asked the bird softly.
The dove tilted her head and cooed again.
"I guess that's a 'yes' you cutie bird!" Hermione exclaimed happily, "You know I had a pet dove just like you when I was very young. Her name was Gwyn which meant 'white'. Can I call you Gwyn?" she asked the dove eagerly.
The bird cooed again.
"Gracious Merlin." Hermione cried out in joy, "Come Gwyn, let's have a walk." She announced happily and stroked it's feathers affectionately.
"Go Gwyn." Draco murmured, "Have a walk with your new mistress." He commented from behind the trees.