A/N: Thanks to everyone who has been reading my story with patience.
Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and follows. They were most rewarding.
Thanks to: nikki98, aryaaa, v-x-y-zz, Grovek26 , happyhoper, ramyfan, louisethelibrarian and KyraThePoop and cares1970 for their kind reviews.
Sorry that I couldn't answer any of the reviews there because my MD exam in Radiology and Imaging is on 28th November and I am having a nightmare with duties and studies. But your reviewers are making me write whenever I find a free bit of time and I hope you'll appreciate it and leave more LONG reviews for this chapter.
I/R: Thanks all for liking my last chapter. I had to research a lot for that idea.
Happy hoper: I love it when you say that you loved my chapter. I suggest that you don't sit on the edge of chair since it will make your back ache later ;). As for the Alexis-Lillian-Hermione part I have given some hints in this chapter and rest is in the hands of future. I look forward to your next review. : ))
Acknowledgements:
"Touching the Void" is a 1988 book by Joe Simpson. I borrowed the title because it suited the contents of the chapter.
Creepy Carrots is a story book by Aaron Reynolds.
Dialogues on Cleansweep and information on Voldemort were taken from Harry Potter wiki.
Well I guess, that's it. So enjoy and don't forget to leave a review.
This fiction of mine is getting fewer reviews than I expected. So if you can read it, you can surely 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.
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 34: Touching the Void.
As soon as Draco opened the door of his aunt's parlour, his heart missed two consecutive beats and his breath froze inside his chest.
His little son Adrian was lying on an elegant parlour divan, a book resting open over his small chest while the reader was fast asleep.
Forgetting everything around him, Draco took two tentative steps towards the sleeping boy, cautious not to wake him and when the latter showed no indication of being disturbed by his presence there, he covered the rest of the distance between them in confident steps.
The sight that met his eyes could easily melt the heart of the greatest dictator to liquid paraffin and he took it all with unbound longing.
His son's petit form was resting upon a white fluffy pillow while his plastered left arm was supported on two cushions. The book he had been reading previously was propped open against his small chest, which heaved synchronously with each breath he took. The most intriguing part of the whole scenario was the presence of a half eaten carrot that was loosely grasped by his son's perfect small right hand.
Draco looked around for the Peter rabbit and found him skulking under one of the tables, nibbling at the rich carpet; clearly it was his son who had been eating that carrot moments before he fell asleep on the divan while reading the book that had a strange name: Creepy Carrots.
Lightly shaking his head in amusement over what kinds of names Muggle's used for their children's book, Draco took it and turned the pages which were adorned with rich illustrations of some monstrous toothy carrots which were trying to frighten a rabbit. He beat down a laugh and made a mental note to buy and read it at leisure just as he had done with the tale of the Peter Rabbit by that Potter woman.
Deciding that he could spend the rest of the afternoon watching his sleeping on the divan, Draco softly chuckled when a thought hit him: that his innocent son had been bullying those 'creepy' carrots in a way by eating them.
He closed the book, placed it on the table and crouched down beside his son, a small smile of satisfaction playing languidly in his lips.
His meeting with Apolline had ended the way he had wanted it to and with the wheels of his mind now to set in motion to execute his upcoming daunting mission successfully, he had returned to Château to visit his aunt in her parlour only to stumble upon his sleeping son; no complaints there.
He watched with fascination as his son slept peacefully. However, after a few minutes the boy bumped his arm against the back rest of the divan and a soft whimper escaped his mouth, which was enough to constrict Draco's heart painfully when he realized that Adrian had inadvertently hurt himself.
'Foolish boy.' He lightly chastised him in his mind though he knew a sleeping man had no control over his movements and decided to take him to his chambers where he could sleep more comfortably on his father's spacious double bed.
Standing up and looking down at the small form that almost weighed nothing, he scooped his son's form in his powerful arms so carefully that he was sure had it been a glass of water, not a drop would have spilled on floor and then started for his suite.
Draco carried his son with extreme caution and tenderness, bathing in his fragrant breath and light hearted at being able to provide him with comfort and protection. His boy was his soul in a sense and he handled him with utmost respect and devotion. The journey to his suite took some time and Draco simply admired his son's perfect features before he shouldered open the door to enter his suite. The distance from sitting room to bedroom was covered in few long and careful strides and upon reaching his bed; Draco put the petit form of Adrian on the soft mattress before tucking him in it with the gentlest of touch.
Without further thought he took the floor beside the bed and rested his chin upon his joined palms to observe the small boy sleep peacefully on his father's bed.
How wonderfully innocent Adrian looked when he slept! Draco just couldn't get enough of the view his son provided him; with his eyes open just a fraction to reveal the white of his eye along with lower part of the grey iris that he had inherited from Draco, his silvery blonde curls tousled and his small hand still holding the carrot – Adrian was the epitome of innocence that he, Draco Malfoy, had been bestowed upon in the form of son. His angelic features were so close for him to touch and yet so distant for he feared should he touch him, he would taint his features with his dark heart and Dark Mark.
What was about Adrian that had charmed him like that?
His features, which mirrored his father's?
His innocence that was so pure it could melt even the vilest of hearts?
His tender voice that struck his heartstrings every time he spoke?
His love for flying and drawing?
Or was it all of the abovementioned criteria's?
Who would have thought that he, Draco Malfoy, the Pureblood Purebred Prince of Malfoy dynasty would fall head over heels for his half-blood son?
Had anyone predicted this when he had been at Hogwarts, that he would father the most adorable son in the world with the bookworm Muggleborn Hermione Granger, he would have thrown him from the topmost Astronomy tower.
But by miraculous turn and twist of time, he – the same Draco Malfoy - was not only proud of his half-blood son; he would thrown anyone from the said astronomy tower should he dare to insult Adrian's blood status.
He wanted to stroke Adrian's silvery blonde curls and kiss him on forehead but his fear to wake him up and scare him off stopped him. It was better this way, simply watching him sleep tucked in his father's bed.
Someone put a hand on his shoulder and Draco turned his head to find his aunt Audré staring down at him with a silent question. In return he pleaded her to remain quiet as he drew out his wand and cast a Silencing bubble around his son.
"He hurt his arm while lying on divan, aunt." he told her, "I brought him here so that he could sleep properly. I don't know where his quarters are." Draco confessed.
Audré nodded silently "I thought so! He took his potion after lunch and this is his time for afternoon nap." She explained looking at Adrian, "But he was bored stuck inside his quarters so he insisted that I read him that new story book in my parlour. I was reading it to him until he fell asleep and when an urgent Floo came from Ministry I had to leave him on divan like that. I hope he is not hurt much." She said looking concerned.
Draco shook his head in denial, "I don't think so. He looks fine now." he scrutinizeded Adrian's plastered arm supported on cushions.
"He sleeps just like you, Draco." His aunt commented suddenly and Draco frowned at her, "Both of you sleep with your eyes slightly open that shows your irises." She explained lightly.
This little piece of information that even in sleep they mirrored each other brought immense satisfaction for Draco.
"So why did you go to my parlor? Did you know Adrian was there?" he heard his aunt asked him skeptically.
"No. I wanted to see you." He told her the truth.
"Care to enlighten your aunt, Draco?" Audré asked casually.
Draco didn't take his eyes off his sleeping son as he spoke, "Apolline has accepted my request to provide me with Granger pregnancy memories in return of..." he paused.
"In return of?" Audré arched an eyebrow.
Draco turned his gaze to his aunt, "In return of being a test subject for the research to find out some damned Antisera to cure werewolves." Draco finished the earlier sentence.
"And you agreed?" Audré asked him sharply.
Draco nodded silently.
"Do you know the consequences of this test?" his aunt looked alarmed though her voice was low, "As far as I have heard about that project, it's very painful, the potency of pain matching only two other excruciating pains: Labour pain and Cruciatus Curse." She stated, "Do you really want to proceed with this?"
Turning his again at his sleeping son Draco answered, "Yes aunt I want to. I am not afraid of pain anymore; especially if it's for Adrian."
Audré shook her head in disbelief, "This is madness Draco. You are simply acting on impulse. If Narcissa knows about this she will…"
"Mother will not know." Draco cut her in midsentence, "You'll not tell her, aunt. I forbid you." He said firmly, "She's way better away from all this. It's my punishment and I have accepted this." He said evenly.
"Punishment?" Audré's tone was full of doubt.
Draco sighed, "Pain for pain aunt. I caused Granger a lot of pain and if I am to be forgiven by her I need to pay it back with pain. Besides those memories will help me know them from the very beginning." He explained solemnly.
"All these just for Jean's forgiveness?" Audré's tone changed from doubt to suspicion, "You surprise me nephew. Since when did the Slytherin's become so selfless?" she said in light sarcasm.
Draco shook his head still eyeing Adrian, who stirred feebly in his sleep and said something that sounded like 'Miffy', "It's not selflessness aunt." he said, "I am being selfish in my own way."
"Care to explain?" Audré jibed.
"Apolline will bargain for my forgiveness from Granger in return of those painful momemts I'll suffer." He stated.
Audré snorted, "Aha! Now that fits your profile Draco." She commented, "Telling someone else to do your job. But what use is this forgiveness if you don't seek it yourself?"
"I seek it aunt. I just can't ask it myself." Draco countered.
"Scared of being rejected by the Mudblood?" Audré teased.
"Don't use that word." Draco bid her sharply.
Audré's voice was full of amusement, "Why?" she asked him.
"Because I said not to." Draco replied firmly.
"Now you are scaring me Draco." Audré held her hands in surrender, "So many changes in such a short time. I wonder how many of them will last." She remarked.
"We will see to that, aunt, won't we?" Draco asked her with supreme confidence.
"Yes, of course." Audré agreed airily, "Now, Draco, I know that you want your son to be as comfortable as possible and I really appreciate the fact that you brought him for that purpose. But now I must take him to his quarters because should he wake up and find himself in your bedchamber, it will simply make the situation worse." She said calmly, "So kiss him goodbye and let me take him to his bedroom."
Draco sighed heavily to fight the disappointment that almost suffocated him when he realized that his aunt was being truthful. Adrian was not ready to accept his father and any forceful or tactful maneuver would simply push them further away from each other. He bent down, softly kissed Adrian's small forehead and whispered gently:
"Father loves you, Adrian and he'll die for you, my son."
His aunt took over the situation after that and with a lump in his throat Draco watched silently as Audré carried his son away from him.
He dropped his head on the pillow his son was sleeping moments ago.
'Long way to go, Draco, long way to go.' He whispered.
•••••
Audré was of opinion that she was always visited by the most interesting ideas whenever she was playing chess.
The game had been taught to her by her grandfather Pierre Laval, who apart from being Minister of Magic was an excellent chess player. He used to refer chess as the 'food of the mind' and encouraged Audré to try the most devious moves with boldness. While others always used to hide their Kings behind their Queens, Bishops, Rook and Knights, she - Audré always kept her King open at large for them to take but devised such moves that no one could touch it without losing every single of his pieces. That gave her supreme control over the game board.
That was the feeling she was having now watching her daughter trying to check mate her King with all her pieces almost gone. Between a mother and a chess player, Audré always chose the player and defeated her opponents mercilessly regardless of the relationship they shared.
Apart from the small board that she and Lillian were playing with their Wizarding chess pieces she could see that another much larger and invisible chess board where pieces were in motion already. That board had a King named Adrian and the Queen protecting him was Hermione Jean Granger. The Knight was Alexis, Bishop was Apolline and Rooks were Hermione's friends Eva and Edmound. On opposite side was a single piece, Draco Malfoy, trying to reach both the King and Queen with all the moves he could plan with that Slytherin brain of his.
Truth be told, Audré was surprised that her nephew could go to such lengths as putting himself as a test subject for memories that concerned Hermione's pregnancy with Adrian. It was clear from his words that he was acting on impulse but Audré was happy that he was acting someway other than his old coward self and that was where she was compelled to use her manipulative techniques now.
The only way this unfortunate couple – Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger - could and would work their problems out was with each other. The distance between their minds was almost like two parallel railway tracks which could only meet in infinity. But life doesn't provide man with infinite time and that is where the tracks should be laid in a way that they cross each other.
Being the superb manipulator she was, Audré had withheld her moves till now only to see how much sincere her nephew was to his words that he would seek Hermione Granger's forgiveness, something which in Audré's opinion couldn't be obtained unless he knows the present as much as the past he was relying so much upon.
'Let him see those memories to know her past and….'
"Maman, your move." Her daughter broke the string of her thoughts as she informed her that she had done her intended movement.
Audré looked at the chess pieces on the board and a small smile appeared on her lips.
'Let them work together to know each other at present. Draco is not the man he was and Hermione certainly is not the woman she was when they were at school. They can know each other only through work.' She completed her thought.
"Check mate." She moved her Rook that was hiding in an innocent corner and took her daughter's King with ease.
"Maman!" Lillian exclaimed in shock at her sudden defeat, "How could you do that?" she asked and assessed their moves.
Audré tapped her head and her smile broadened, "It's all in here, dear." She confessed, "Sometimes you save your best moves for proper time."
"But I thought you were going to use that Rook for my…." Lillian's sentence was unfinished as she deducted the path of their game, "You have been saving that from quite a long time, haven't you maman?" she asked thoughtfully.
"Yes, I was." Audré replied truthfully, "Now tell me Lillian, would you like me to invite Alexis Delacour for chess over this weekend?" she asked her daughter.
"If you think it will be good idea, you can." Her daughter opined.
"I think it will be a very good idea. What I want you to do is ask Jean to join the game with you. Can you do that?" Audré enquired.
"Hmmm…yes of course, I'll ask her to join me against Alexis Delacour. She told me she is not that good at chess and I think it will be good opportunity to teach her the rules of chess." Her daughter replied scanning the chess board between them.
'Then my dear nephew, let the game…..begin.' Audré said in her head with a contented smile.
•••••
The image that always floated in Draco's mind whenever the word 'Quidditch' was uttered was, him playing in green Slytherin robes, it's regal colour enhancing his silvery blond sleek hair and pureblood features. His one time girl friend Pansy Parkinson used to swoon on him in his green Quidditch robes and his wife Astoria quite approved of him in it.
"Green suites you well, Draco dearest." She used to whisper into his ear whenever they were intimate enough to discuss light issues.
Draco gave his Sorbonne Quidditch robes one last disapproving look and threw it over his shoulders.
"Pathetic blue robes." He muttered in annoyance, "Ravenclaw colour."
His partner for the tryout, Dominique, however looked quite happy with his blue robes, "My team in Beauxbatons used to play in royal blue." He informed an irritable Draco happily.
Draco donned the robe he would be wearing for the tryout session without further protest, "Your girlfriend is coming?" his question was more of a statement to Dominique who nodded silently and donned his blue robes too, "You haven't told her about us? Have you?" he genuinely asked Dominique this time.
Dominique shook his head, his features calm instead of being overly curious as to why he was being asked to keep their acquaintance secret.
They shouldered their brooms, Draco - his brand new Thunderbolt and Dominique - his Cleansweep Ultra, which reminded Draco of his comment on Weasley's Cleansweep Fives broom in their second year at Hogwarts, when he had made fun of Gryffindor's brooms by saying that Cleansweeps could be auctioned to raise money, and had suggested that a museum might like to bid on them since it was possible that they are only three years old at this point.
"That's a nice Cleansweep." He commented observing his peer's broom as they walked side by side towards the pitch, "Which model?" he asked.
"Why are you being so uncharacteristically nice, Draco?" Dominique asked back, "Everyone knows there is nothing nice about a Cleansweep. They are the cheapest broom out there and unfortunately the only thing I can buy with my own money." He said irritably, "Do you think I'll tell about you to Eva?" he asked suddenly.
"No." Draco replied honestly, "I know you will not tell her about us until you know the full story behind it."
"Wrong." Dominique countered, "I am not interested in your story if it's not related to Eva directly" he said firmly, "Our relationship is certainly not like common partners. We never boss over each other." he said dismissively.
"Why?" Draco asked curiously. He had always believed that women needed to be practiced some control over them.
"Because, love and resentment doesn't mix well." Dominique replied casually, "If you try to suffocate your partner over small things, she'll soon feel resentment over the relationship and leave you no matter how much you love her. Eva and I are happy the way our relationship is, I don't ask her unnecessary questions and she doesn't ask me either. Rest assured that even if she dislikes you for some reason, she won't ask me to avoid you. We choose with whom we mix and certainly don't boss over the other on such petty issues." He added smugly, "That is the reason she avoids rich wizards, you know. It is a common knowledge that rich men always try to control their partners."
Draco didn't reply and continued his walk with his broom over his right shoulder to reach the opening of the tunnel that would take them to Sorbonne Quidditch pitch. The knowledge that it was actually underground had been quite astonishing.
"I hope the air will not be stale there." He remarked as they entered the brightly lit tunnel and walked in brisk pace through the cobblestoned pathway that sloped slowly.
"You'll see." Dominique said mysteriously.
The tunnel was already filled with wizards and witches who were walking towards the pitch to participate in the tryout. There were flashes of blue and white everywhere.
"Why blue and white?" Draco asked his partner somewhat annoyed that there was no green in them, "Anything to do with Sorbonne?"
"Exactly." Dominique replied, "The colours of Sorbonne emblem are blue and white. We don't have different Houses here, so there is no point in using different House colours like we used in school. During a match the teams wear either blue or white depending on the year: the junior team always wears blue and the senior team wears the opposite - white." He explained.
"Ridiculous." Draco muttered and followed the throng of crowd who descended through the spacious tunnel to reach the Quidditch pitch, not very sure whether or not he should participate in tryout.
"I know a lot of people think it is 'ridiculous'." Dominique remarked from beside him and Draco jerked his head at him, surprised that his companion guessed him right, "Some say that there should be Houses in Sorbonne like they used to have in their schools. But they don't understand that dividing students in different Houses simply creates division among them. House rivalry is a horrible thing; I guess you know it because Hogwarts is famous for it." he said in a challenging tone, "Sometimes people can't get over their House prejudices even in their adult lives and misjudge others with what they were when they were at school."
Draco listened silently, realizing the truth in Dominique's words. He himself had detested non-Slytherin's for a long time and still now faced difficulty in communicating outside his Slytherin gang. While he was proud that he was a Slytherin, he couldn't deny the fact that he had been subjected to a lot of ridicule and mistrust for being a Slytherin when the war ended with Lord Voldemort's death.
His mind was now looking at the issue over a whole new light and when Draco reached the underground pitch an involuntary gasp of surprise left his mouth.
The gigantic underground stadium could house ten Hogwarts Quidditch pitches without difficulty. The six golden hoops on either side of the pitch were so wide that Draco was sure the Keeper would have a tough time guarding them all. But the most intriguing part was the earthen roof which was masked by a sky enchanted to mirror the starry sky outside while gentle breeze flowed around them. It looked as if it was actually in a vast field.
"Great Hall." He whispered remembering the enchanted ceiling of his former school.
"Any stale air?" Dominique teased him while sporting an amused smile, "Sorbonne spends stacks of galleons to maintain this beauty." He announced proudly.
Here and there were groups of interested candidates, who would be trying out for Quidditch team and Draco scanned them carefully before checking his watch.
'Quarter past seven. Why aren't they here?' he asked himself.
He stood near the entrance of the tunnel to scrutinize any newcomer while waiting for his son and wife to arrive.
Before long however he was asked to join the rest of the crowd as rules were explained to them.
They would be divided into teams to play against each other. In order to qualify for the first year team the candidates applying for the position of Seeker would have to catch the Golden Snitch in a record minimum time. Including him, there were eight candidates and if he could catch the Snitch fast enough, he would be able to beat them all.
When the briefing session was over, he scanned the crowd again but in vain.
There was no of a woman in brown curls with a silvery blonde haired small boy.
Draco hadn't quite expected them to attend his tryout, but inside his heart he had wanted his son to see that his father was a good flyer and was willing to prove to Hermione that Draco Malfoy didn't always buy his way in the team; that he too could get in his pure talent.
But it was useless now.
Dominique told him something about Eva being absent too but he didn't care.
What good was it when he had no one to play for?
The tryout started soon afterwards and he watched the match between team one and team two dejectedly where team two Seeker caught the snitch in twenty minutes.
Next was his team – team three – playing team four and fortunately Dominique was trying as Keeper in his team.
Draco mounted his broom and kicked off hard; releasing some of his anger in ground and within minutes he was high above the pitch, circling the game that commenced below.
He scanned the air for any indication of a Golden Snitch, now determined to prove himself no matter his wife or son was present.
The game was proving to be quite exciting and Draco noticed that Dominique was Keeping his end of loops very efficiently. He checked his watch impatiently.
'Two minutes.'
Draco was straining his eyes at a golden flash when a loud female scream and accompanied uproar distracted him. He tore his eyes away from that golden flash, realizing that it had been a wrist watch one of the player's was wearing and looked at the direction of the uproar.
His eyes widened at the scene below.
Hermione Granger was standing in a corner, her face contorted in immense concentration and completely oblivious to the fast approaching Bludger that had escaped the notice of the Beaters.
"Bloody Hell!" he seethed, using Ron Weasley's signature swear word before swiveling his broom and speeding up at her direction, "Does she need that skull of her's to be broken before she realizes that she is in going to be knocked out cold?" he hissed and streaked past the Beaters and escaped Bludger with one aim etched in his mind:
'Get Granger.'
The woman was looking irritated at being distracted from wherever hell she had been engrossed previously and as Draco reached her moments later, she wriggled her hand free from the witch who had been trying to pull her away from the incoming Bludger's path.
Without wasting another moment, Draco encircled his right arm around Hermione's slim waistline and in one swift motion he pulled her up in air just in time. In the wake of excitement, he hardly noticed her shudder against him as he chastised him fiercely:
"Where do you keep your eyes, Granger?" he asked her through gritted teeth, "Didn't you see that Bludger coming at you?"
He left her again on ground as soon as the Bludger rushed past their suspended form and shouted at the Beater, whose carelessness had nearly fatally injured his wife should he not intervened at right moment.
In the pandemonium that followed as an aftermath, he couldn't pursue Hermione anymore and when at last he caught the Golden Snitch at the seventh minute, he almost crushed it's feebly fluttering wings in pride and joy. To add the cherry on top, the moronic Beater was disqualified and Dominique made a spectacular sight by making thirty-five successful saves.
When the tryout ended with him being announced as the new Seeker of his team, Draco noticed that Hermione was nowhere to be seen.
A deep sense of anger and resentment tore his heart.
'What an exemplary way to show gratitude to the man who saved her head from being crushed?' he cursed under his breath.
But somehow he was happy that she hadn't brought Adrian with her.
This pitch was no place for kids like him.
•••••
Sick to gourd Hermione vomited twice, emptied the contents of her stomach and gripped the toilet seat to stop the trembling of her limbs.
"Jean, are you alright?" Gabrielle's concerned voice came from behind the closed bathroom door.
"Mama, are you okay?" Adrian's high pitched voice enquired.
"I am alright, everyone." Hermione replied, wiping her sweaty brow, "I think it's a simple case of food poisoning and vomiting will take out the toxins. Don't be worried, I'll be fine." She shouted back.
"Do you need any potions?" Gabrielle asked again, clearly not leaving any sooner now.
"Gabrielle, please leave me alone for ten for minutes and I promise I'll be just fine." Hermione tried to persuade her well wisher, "Please!" she begged.
What Gabrielle might have thought wasn't clear to her but she didn't argue anymore. Hermione heard them leave the bathroom door and she leaned against the bathtub before propping her head against it and closing her eyes.
Recollections of the evening flooded her mind and she felt the familiar revulsion at the pit of her stomach where Draco Malfoy had touched her.
She could still feel his arms around her breadth and his lips that were so close to her, they almost brushed. It simply made her want to vomit again.
As planned she had been to Sorbonne Quidditch pitch at around seven. She had been to that place before with Eva when she studied Advanced Potions there and together they used to watch Interdepartmental Quidditch matches on her invitation. The underground pitch had always fascinated Hermione as it reminded her of Great Hall and she would examine it's magical architecture with immense pleasure before and during the match.
But this evening had been a different occasion. She was not there to watch some high voltage Quidditch match; she was there to repeat what she had done to Cormac McLaggan in her sixth year.
She had spotted Malfoy right away, standing among the participants, his platinum blond hair making him a prominent figure. She had blended with the crowd and waited for the tryout noticing Malfoy's grey eyes that seemed to be scanning the crowd for any sign of her and Adrian.
Hermione had smirked in satisfaction at his agitation and anticipation.
'As if I am going to bring Adrian in this crowd?' she had thought.
Elated that Malfoy looked utterly disappointed at their apparent absence Hermione had watched as the tryout began and all the participants where categorized according to the position they intended to try for.
There were eight teams, each with seven players – Draco Malfoy one among them. The criterion to quality for the position of Seeker was to catch the Golden Snitch as early as possible: the person among all the candidates who would catch the Snitch in a record minimum time would qualify. Malfoy was selected as team three Seeker, who would be playing against team four Seeker. If he could catch the snitch before the team four Seeker did and in a record time to beat all the other six opponents, he would qualify for the position.
Hermione was waiting for the proper opportunity to Confound him and watched patiently as team 'one' played against team 'two' and team 'two' seeker caught the snitch in fifteen minutes.
Next came the tryout between team 'three' and 'four'; Hermione watched as Malfoy mounted his sleek shiny broom and kicked off the pitch. He and team four Seeker was circling the game beneath like two hawks when it happened.
Hermione was concentrating on Malfoy's moving figure to Confound him properly when someone screamed beside her. Distracted, she looked away to find another witch staring wide eyed at her and motioning her to move away.
'Certainly not!' She thought, this the best spot from where she could hex Malfoy without being noticed and she was not going to leave it at some random fool's insistence.
She looked back at Malfoy's direction only to find him not there anymore.
She cursed herself for getting sidetracked and scanned the pitch for any sign of platinum blond but the match was now a blur of blue and white streaks making it impossible to distinguish Malfoy from distance. The game was on for almost three minutes and he must have found the Golden Snitch already and gone after it.
There was a sinking sensation at the pit of her stomach.
For some unknown reason the woman beside her was tugging her now, insisting that she moved away. With resolute stubbornness Hermione wriggled her hand free.
It happened just then.
A strong arm wrapped around her waist and she was lifted off the ground she was standing on. Next moment she was in the air looking at stormy grey eyes of Draco Malfoy as he pinned her next to him while he rode his broom.
Hermione's body shook and went numb instantly. She could feel his sweat clad cheek dampening her temple, his hot breath brushing over her face and his masculine smell engulf her senses.
"Where do you keep your eyes, Granger?" Draco Malfoy asked her through gritted teeth, "Didn't you see that Bludger coming at you?"
As if to make his statement true, the whooshing sound of a Bludger went past Hermione's feet and next thing she knew was Malfoy had landed her on solid ground again.
"Hey! You moron of a Beater!" She heard him shouting at some random player, "You should be disqualified right now for failing to beat that rouge Bludger away from my wife." He shouted again and left Hermione there, who was trembling from head to foot.
Hermione was too shocked to utter a single word or even an alphabet.
What happened afterwards was completely blurred in her memory. How she came out from the underground pitch, apparated back in Château and returned to her quarters to lock herself in the bathroom was fuzzy.
He had touched her.
Touch…
Touch…
Touch…
It had made her so sick that she could only think of one way to relieve the spasm in her stomach.
So she vomited twice and emptied her stomach before resting her trembling body against the bathtub.
Malfoy's touch, his warm breath, his sweat, his scent and his voice was taking her back to that particular horrific event that occurred more than six years ago. She fought not to lose herself in the memories of that day again and closed her eyes as hot tears trickled down her cheek.
She hated to admit it but she was still scared of Draco Malfoy.
No matter what she did, how hard she tried, the fear just won't let go of her.
And now she was tired of being afraid.
What wouldn't she do to get rid of it?
With one last sob Hermione wiped her tears off. She stood up, discarded her clothes and stepped into the shower.
It would take her quite a long bath to take off Malfoy's feeling that was imprinted on her waist.
Hermione turned on the shower and stepped under the running water.
Why was it that every time Malfoy touched her, it ended somewhere around her midsection?
First it was Adrian and now it was her waist.
•••••
Who would have thought that Audré Chombrun Malfoy could make the unlikely couple of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy to sit stock-still in Morpheus Malfoy's study and not try to curse each other to oblivion?
No one.
But the scene was true to the core. While Hermione, freshly bathed and wearing a mauve modest dress, sat straight-backed on a sofa at the corner of the north alcove, where the seating arrangement of the study was designed; Draco, still sweaty after his successful tryout, was sprawled lazily on the only divan observing his wife's tense form from the corner of his eyes – trying to decide whether he should enquire the reason behind her early departure.
Meanwhile the person, who had made this impossible feat possible, Audré Chombrun Malfoy, was sitting between them and shifting through some old parchments while feigning completely obliviousness to the thick silence that hung between the said couple.
Hermione had been lying on her bed in her quarter to overcome her sick feeling when Audré had visited her abruptly that evening. Not in the mood to discuss with Audré about her disgusting experience at Draco's tryout, Hermione had excused herself by saying that she had a stomach ache. Audré had instructed her to take some medicinal potions and was about to leave when it occurred to Hermione to ask her why Audré had made the visit.
"I am holding an urgent meeting about my upcoming trial against the Rochés and there are matters that I think will interest you immensely." Audré had told her.
Feeling curious about Rochés, since they were her old neighbour and her son Adrian's biggest bully, Hermione had consented to join it. Besides, it would also take her mind off the revolting occurrence of tryout. So, when Audré told her the time and location, which was at Morpheus Malfoy's study at eleven o' clock sharp, she promised her that would come.
Draco however had faced a completely different scenario. He had been back from his tryout at Sorbonne and taking a ride across the private Quidditch pitch to celebrate his victory alone when Julian had called him to land. The man then told Draco that Audré had requested his presence at his uncle's study sharp at eleven for an urgent meeting. When he asked what could be the topic, Julian simply said that he didn't know.
To the Draco and Hermione's mutual predicament, when eleven o' clock arrived both had approached the study from opposite end of the same corridor and reached the study door almost at the same time. They had both halted at doorstep – Hermione alert and suspicious at Draco's presence and Draco curious to know what Hermione was doing in the meeting when the study door opened and an expectant looking Audré came out to usher them inside. Draco had silently followed after his wife.
Two people thus brought were now waiting patiently for the meeting to commence.
"I think we can start this meeting with some tea." Audré spoke at last and pointed at the tea laden tray on the table, "I assure you both that this meeting will be quite long."
Draco was not feeling like drinking anything at all so he thanked his aunt politely. Hermione however helped herself on a cup of tea.
"As I have already told Jean that this meeting is about my upcoming trial against Rochés and Draco happens knows a few facts about it," Audré said taking a small sip from her cup, "I would like to explore the background on which I will be working on and I am quite certain that it will interest you both." She said confidently, "Because this whole affair is first and foremost about someone whom you both know and fought." She said mysteriously.
Hermione leaned forward, 'She and Draco Malfoy knew and fought the same person?' she thought with a frown.
Deciphering her frown correctly Audré gave her a grave smile, "Lord Voldemort." She said.
With a gasp Draco sat up bolt upright, involuntarily grasping his left forearm, "The Dark Lord?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes, the Dark Lord Voldemort." Audré confirmed her nephew, who winced at the name, "The events that I am going to tell you took place during my adolescence and youth and I spent most part of my life fighting this monster with my husband from France." Her tone turned serious, "As I believe you both know, Lord Voldemort was a Hogwarts student from year 1938 to 1945." She started and noticed that both her listeners gave her their undivided attention, "The details of his school life and house affiliation aren't relevant to our discussion and therefore I will skip that part; according the information we have about Lord Voldemort from trusted sources, he completed his schooling at 1945 and then travelled extensively. He first came here, at France and stayed here to study our Wizarding population. By that time he had formulated his plan for his world domination and travelling was a part of finding out the weakness in each Wizarding nation. If our information on his is correct, Voldemort visited the entire Europe to survey the continent and seek power hungry fellows like him. Over the next decade and a half he gathered many followers outside Britain and he lured them to his side by saying that he wanted to bring the wizards out from their hiding. He also associated with the creatures the Wizarding society had deemed as outcasts such as Giants and Werewolves and promised them higher positions in the world where he would be the supreme ruler. After securing his foreign allies, he returned to Britain around 1969 and started the First Wizarding War against the Ministry of Magic at 1970. I was only fifteen then but I had regular news on him since my grandfather was French Minister of Magic and the his government was closely monitoring Lord Voldemort's movements in Britain. What I didn't know at that time was that I would be betrothed to someone in future who would be closely related to Lord Voldemort's very first British followers: the Malfoys." She paused.
The tension in the room was palpable as Draco narrowed his eyes at his aunt and Hermione fisted her hand at the particular name.
"Morpheus graduated from Hogwarts on 1969 – the same year Lord Voldemort returned to Britain." Audré resumed her story, "Morpheus had heard of Lord Voldemort already since he was a constant topic of discussion in Slytherin common room and when he completed his study and returned at Malfoy Manor, his parents asked him to join Lord Voldemort's cause. Morpheus was strictly against killing Muggleborns and one of the criterias of Voldemort's followers was ability to hate and kill non-purebloods without mercy. They used Unforgivables randomly and with pleasure. So he denied his parents request saying that he wasn't ready for such duties but assured them that he would join as soon as he felt like it. The War started the following year and when Lucius returned home after his graduation from Hogwarts in 1971, Morpheus was asked again to join the growing list of Voldemort's followers. This time he couldn't deny though and joined him reluctantly with Lucius on his side. After spending two miserable years at his master's service and unable to take the load anymore, Morpheus decided to leave his family and fled his country because it was well known that Voldemort would kill his traitor followers. He came here in France, kept a very low profile and when we met, he proposed me which I happily accepted." Audré said with a slight sigh and lost look in her face, "That was the background story; now let's come to the foreground story. The Malfoys eventually found out about us and disinherited their eldest son. Voldemort was in the peak of his war against Wizarding world and The Order of the Phoenix was putting on a very good defense under the guidance of Professor Dumbledore. He informed Morpheus and me about few of Voldemort's French followers and requested us to counter their slow movement with an Order of our own; that is when French wing of Order of the Phoenix – Order of Fleur de Lis – was esthablished. And guess who was the powerhouse of Voldemort's French supporters?" she asked skeptically.
"The Rochés?" forgetting their indifference both Draco and Hermione asked together.
"Exactly." Audré nodded, "The Rochés." She affirmed, "The Rochés were directly related with the Malfoys in Britain because Malfoys are actually a French family who moved to Britain in 10th century. They took their order via Lucius Malfoy and executed it with the help of a man whom the called Le Pasteur." She said evenly.
"Isn't he that man we went to meet that day in prison?" Draco asked, surprised.
"Yes, he is the very same man, Draco." Audré replied, "Le Pasteur isn't his real name; it is what his followers called him. Pasteur in French means 'Preacher' and his job was to go to French pureblood families and persuade them to join Lord Voldemort's anti-Muggle movement as well as to eradicate the society of Muggleborn, half-bloods and blood traitors. He gained immense popularity among some wealthy pureblood families and they soon joined Voldemort under Rochés's banner. The interesting part is when Rochés became insecure realizing that his right hand man was becoming more influential than he could control him and decided to ditch him once and for all." She said with a smirk.
There was pin drop silence in the study when she paused.
"Trying to kill Pasteur would bring Rochés under suspicion so he devised another way to get rid of him. They framed him on the charges of murder of two Muggle families which was causing a lot of sensation at that time and Pasteur was thrown behind the bars for rest of his life. Eventually Voldemort's First Wizarding War met an abrupt end when he was blasted off his body after his encounter with Harry Potter in 1981 and the tide of the promised change in the society in the name of Muggle killing died out."
Hermione's chest constricted painfully when she remembered her friend and she bit her lip to control her emotions.
"Now, why am I talking about this man?" Audré asked his attentive listeners, "Because this man – Pasteur - can give us inside information on Rochés over his deadly hatred on Muggleborn. The Minister of Magic, Francois Guizot, also happens to be a Muggleborn wizard and that is the reason Rochés targeted him. Though Lord Voldemort or Lucius Malfoy is not there anymore to assist him, Rochés still dreams of a society where purebloods will be supreme rulers. But the Muggleborn minister is the obstacle in his mission and that is where we stumble upon Pasteur. With the help of information from Pasteur I can prove in the court that Rochés had strong motives to kill the Minister and with some more suggestive evidences I can also prove that he planned to do it in our party so that it could mask his involvement. And for that my dear, I need some help." Audré said solemnly to see the reaction.
Both Hermione and Draco were quiet but tense waiting for the help they would be asked for.
"Now, Draco is already working with me on this case. I need just another person, someone who is brave, strong, intelligent and knows Lord Voldemort and his methods from an early age. Most importantly, someone who is familiar with the feeling of being ridiculed for Blood Status as a Muggleborn." Audré turned at Hermione, "I couldn't think of anyone better than you, Jean." she said solemnly, "But since I know the nature of relationship between you and Draco and unfortunately it will require you to work closely with him, I can understand it if you deny my request." She added calmly.
Hermione was silent as she considered the words she was spoken to.
'Can she do this? Of course she can'
'Can she do this with Draco Malfoy?'
'She should and she must. This was her chance to get rid of that fear she still harboured. Besides why should the lioness back out for a filthy snake?'
"Aunt Audré," Hermione addressed her with calm and firmness in her voice, "I thank you for the timely offer and I accept it gladly." She said to Audré's relieved smile, "But I have one condition." She added before looking at Draco's eyes directly.
Draco simply arched an eyebrow at her but the accompanying coldness of his feature was absent.
"Please carry on, Jean." Audré offered Hermione over their staring contest.
"I want strict professional relationship – no foul talks, no taunting and especially no 'touching'" Hermione emphasized the word, "…no matter what the situation might be. I am well capable of taking care of myself." She declared.
Audré moved her gaze at her nephew who was giving Hermione an uncharacteristically serene look, "Agreed." He nodded and lifted his chin in positive gesture.
"Well, that's set then." Audré said dismissively, "I am glad to have two highly intelligent helping hands for me and I guess Rochés's time is finally up." She said with a light smile.
Tired from her day's work, unpleasant experience at tryout pitch and late night meeting, Hermione excused herself and left soon afterwards.
Audré watched her retreating form as she gathered the papers she had read from before finally turning at her nephew and giving him a penetrating gaze.
He was calm under her powerful look, "Draco?" she called him.
He nodded to convey that he was listening to her.
"Be very careful." Audré said in a low warning tone, "And use it well." She added with an arched eyebrow.
"Any doubts there?" Draco asked with a smirk.