The Poisoned Apple

by SeveranSnape

An atrocious act by Draco Malfoy in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor forced Hermione Granger to leave behind everything she ever cared for. Six years later, Draco after losing all that he cared for, comes face to face with the consequences. The once innocent Apple now poisoned is his last resort. Will he leave behind old Draco and earn Hermione's trust for a new beginning? ABANDONED.

38. Chapter 38

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 aryaa, Grovek26, Nikki98, ramyfan, roni2010,surugassa and happyhoper.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

1 . This author notes with a heavy heart that though this is 2014 and we all claim to be educated and cultured, there is still malpractice of traditions and laws in our society. Honour Killing is one of those ridiculous concepts that are still prevalent in extremely traditional families no matter what their educational status might be. We, women are still subjected to discrimination in the form of sexual abuse, child abuse and underpayment than our male colleagues. Though the theme of the story is not gender discrimination, I felt like including the concept of Honour Killing here to express my detest for all sorts of violence against us: be it physical, mental or spiritual. I would also like to bring into the kind notice of my readers that I am not any of the characters that I write here. I simply write them from their point of views while keeping my views to myself which I never express in the story in any manner. This is a fiction, not my autobiography and my views hardly matters here. Being a doctor and treating patients everyday where I come to learn about their lives, I also write to make people see the wrong practices, beliefs and traditions that are still prevalent in the society so that my readers think about it; not to badger me for writing them. Those, who really want a safer world and better society for us, should work to bring the change than ridicule the author for facts that she brought to your kind notice. I ask for any constructive criticism not sarcasm and those who are unable to do that, please refrain from reading and reviewing and keep your views to yourself.

2 . Since last chapter was from Draco's point of view, this chapter is written from Hermione's point of view.

Acknowledgements:

The Black family details were taken from HP wikia.

The information on Harrods was taken from Wikipedia.

Well I guess that's all and now please enjoy and don't forget to leave a review.

One of my readers aryaa asked me how my characters looked like and I created an album with the pictures of OC's of this story to satisfy her query. Those who are interested can check it out in my profile. Based on it I have created another poll and would like to see everyone vote.

Many thanks to aryaa who created a wondeful playlist in 8tracks for this story. The link is again in my profile. ;)

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.

For adult words this chapter is rated as :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 38: Seven Surprises

Hermione never thought she could ever change her opinion of Narcissa Malfoy, but to her surprise, that happened on Friday night when she was taking a stroll in the extensive gardens of the Château.

Her last encounter with Audré Chombrun Malfoy had left her in a state of confusion and empathy for the enigmatic woman. Knowing her for barely a month, Hermione walked briskly and contemplated over their relationship from the very beginning.

At first she had been suspicious of Audré's motives. Hermione could remember her being present at the prize giving ceremony in Brussels when her son Adrian had won the first prize in the drawing competition. Later on, the Malfoy matriarch had come over to her workplace - at Gringotts and demanded to meet Hermione for reasons she didn't explain at that time. Hermione, who knew that the woman was aunt to none other the famous Draco Malfoy, had taken to the idea that both Audré and Draco were after her son.

But her suspicions were proved to be wrong very soon; for the fateful night when she was forced to marry Draco Malfoy to protect her only son, Hermione had seen a very different Audré. The previously proud and impassive looking woman had looked after her son with utmost care in her absence and following a bold denial by Adrian to accept Draco Malfoy as his father, she had taken them to the only Fideliused quarter in the Château. That night Audré had sensed Hermione's fears for her new husband and protected her from her own nephew's lawless ways.

As the time passed by, Hermione came to know the woman who hid behind that rock hard shell of Audré Chombrun Malfoy. She found her to be kind, compassionate, sensible and sensitive most of the times. Even for a woman, she had outstanding commanding power on everyone she was related to; from her children, to her sister-in-law and nephew, to Hermione and Adrian. But to attain that position in everyone's heart, Audré had never practiced her any deceitful means. She had simply been present when someone needed a shoulder to cry over and by doing so with honest and good intentions in her heart; she eventually won their heart and trust too.

Hermione turned a corner and found the bench where Audré had been sitting the day she showed her their Dovecote. Like Audré, it was also set in a strategic position; for anyone sitting there would be out the common people's sight while that person will enjoy the full privilege of watching them undisturbed.

Wrapping her shawl over upper body more securely with the help of her uninjured right hand, Hermione proceeded to sit on the bench Audré was so partial to.

The October nights in France were cold and wet with an average temperature between 9 to 14 degree Celsius and rainfall of about 50% with 79% humidity. It had rained twice that very evening and Hermione, who loved watching rain as the clouds overhead poured their hearts out, enjoyed it sitting in her balcony with a steaming mug of coffee to beat off the tiredness of her overworked body. Finally when her son was tucked in securely on their bed and she watched him fall into the blissful depths of sleep until the sun rose, Hermione allowed herself to come out of her Fideliused quarter to enjoy a night time walk in the vast gardens of Château de la Grange- Bléneau.

In the stillness of the night, Hermione could still hear Audré's song like she sang it to her just a few nights ago.

May it be an evening star,
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls,
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road,
Oh! How far you are from home

How remarkably well, Audré had understood what Hermione felt when she missed her home, parents, friends and Hogwarts! When she sang that song to her, Hermione had revisited her memories once again but there was one huge difference this time: she could no longer feel the pain of longing to see them again. There was also a moment that night when she was visited by the most unpleasant memories of her life, memories that had chased her like a relentless bull dog and haunted her dreams till Audré intervened with her magic; Hermione had never felt so tranquil until before that night when the words of Audré's song sucked the fear out of her soul and transferred it to Audré.

"Beware of Audré Chombrun Malfoy, dear, she is like a Black Hole." Audré's voice echoed across Hermione's mind and she once again lost herself in them.

Brought up parents who were always very logical, Hermione too have inherited this special trait of theirs and had acted on it all her life. The realization that Dumbledore had passed the sword of Gryffindor for the purpose of Horcrux destruction had been one of them, for she had been logical and looked past details. The 'cool use of logic on the face of fire', as her previous headmaster Professor Dumbledore had so rightfully referred in her first year when she solved Professor Snape's potion puzzle, had been another. But try as she might now, Hermione couldn't analyze Audré's actions under any kind of logic. That woman was extremely intelligent and well aware of her inner potential but the way she acted sometimes made her look like most illogical and selfish. The way she had involved Alexis Delacour in her case against Rochés was one of those few occasions that Hermione had been inwardly resentful to her. She loved the Delacours and Audré was well aware of it; then why involve them knowing that it will cause annoyance on Hermione's part and at the same time try to alleviate Hermione's past and constant pains at the expense of her own soul?

Hermione sighed deeply: it will take her another twenty years to understand the true motives and exact methods behind every action of Audré Chombrun Malfoy.

Someone was coming at her direction and recognizing the lean and arrogant form almost immediately, Hermione shrunk just a little to avoid her noticing her sitting on the bench.

To her dismay Narcissa Malfoy passed her and settled down on the bench that was just on the opposite side of the large shrub that acted like a barrier between them.

Hermione groaned inwardly. 'What a disturbance!'

The woman in question however didn't look like she was on her usual cold and cruel demeanor. She was breathing heavily and from her place on the other side of the shrub Hermione could hear them clear and loud.

'Is she Asthmatic?' she asked herself, frowning slightly, 'If so, why did she come out on a cold night like this?'

Her question was answered immediately as Narcissa let out a wail and Hermione realized that Narcissa wasn't asthmatic or breathless at all.

She was crying.

She sat there, tense and unsure what to do. True that she hated the woman who was behind her violation and wanted to have nothing to do with her for the rest of her life; Hermione also couldn't take pleasure at the sight of her enemy crying her heart out at the silence of night.

While considering whether she should leave silently or go and ask her what was wrong, Hermione saw another figure approach Narcissa's form and there could be no doubt in her mind who that tall, proud, arrogant build with prowling gait could be.

Draco Malfoy.

Sensing real danger in the presence of her two perpetrators, Hermione whipped out her wand and gripped it tight, ready to strike any moment.

'Do they know I am here?'

'Have they followed me to here?'

'What do they want from me?'

'Do they plan to kill me and take away Adrian?'

The thought of her son being taken away from her made Hermione almost want to curse the two people she hated most in the world then and there.

"Mother, you are crying?" came Draco's drawl from behind the bush and Hermione almost jumped.

It was not a question but a statement.

"Draco…" Narcissa's tear stricken voice croaked, "Just…just leave me alone."

That statement was enough to make Hermione curious to learn what was going on between the Malfoy mother and son. Non-verbally, she cast a Disillusionment Charm over her form and standing up, moved to the large shrub to peep over its many sprigs.

The sight that met her eyes was most intriguing.

While Narcissa was seated on the bench and bent sideways supporting her body on her left palm, Draco crouched on the ground just before his mother's legs; slowly he placed his right hand on his mother's right knee.

"Don't touch me!" Narcissa exclaimed and flinching slightly as she beat away her son's hand, "I told you before I don't want to be touched by a rapist."

Hermione froze on the spot.

'What exactly did she just hear?'

'Narcissa called her son rapist?'

'She called her son a..' her thought was interrupted when Draco spoke.

"Mother, please don't use that word for me." He pledged.

"Really?" Narcissa whipped her head sideways and cast her son the most contemptuous look possible for her fine pureblood features, "Why you didn't think that before you tortured her?" she asked venomously.

"Mother," Draco raised his hands in surrender, "I didn't come here to fight." He said solemnly.

Hermione never knew Draco Malfoy could speak in that tone. She watched, thunderstruck, speechless and almost bewildered as Narcissa stood up suddenly and proceeded to leave but Draco stopped her.

"Mother I remember today is your marriage anniversary." He said quietly, "Today, 1st October.'

Narcissa wiped her eyes and sniffed audibly.

"I remember how we used to celebrate the day when father was alive and well." Draco said softly, "I remember how we always threw a grand party in Malfoy manor and how you and father used to come down the grand staircase, hands on hands. I remember how you groomed yourself in best dress robes and expensive jewelry while father put on his favourite Slytherin green robes. I remember how you and father walked through the crowd as the parted respectfully and later on there was a sumptuous grand dinner. I remember, everything mother, I remember everything."

Narcissa slumped on the bench and started crying earnestly now, "I remember them too, but what is the use of remembering them now? Every good thing that I had is either destroyed or taken from me. Even you, Draco, even you are not what I dreamt you be." She said between her sobs.

Curiosity apart, Hermione was seriously considering eavesdropping in this conversation now; she was not interested in listening to the proud tales of Malfoy grandeur.

"Mother can you never let go of this topic? I told you I am sorry, mother, I told you I am sorry about that." Draco said intensely.

"And I told you that sorry is not enough for a crime like that, Draco. Do you not remember or your memory has already become weak?" Narcissa snapped back.

Hermione couldn't believe her ears now.

'Did Draco Malfoy just say that he is sorry?'

'And his mother said that sorry is not enough?'

She pinched her thigh hard and closed her eyes, hoping against hope that what she was seeing now was not real, that it some sick imagination of her over-wrought mind.

But to her dismay, when Hermione opened her eyes everything was just as it was before she closed them and Narcissa was indeed rebuking her son.

"Mother, do you not love me?" Draco asked Narcissa tenderly, "Then show me a way to come out of this. Show me a way." He cried.

"How Draco? How? Just tell me how? Tell me." Narcissa grabbed her son's collars and shook him violently, "How do you think a woman can get over a thing like that? How? Why didn't you think it when you took her to the dungeons to assault her? Why didn't you think about it before?" she asked vehemently.

Draco closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I was angry, mother, because she threatened to kill you and I thought she really wanted to kill you. I was furious beyond my own control. I don't know what happened to me at that time." he said desperately.

Narcissa let go of Draco's collars and shoved him aside, "The same lies, the same lame excuses." She said fiercely, "I was angry, mother, because I thought she would kill you." She mocked her son, "Then you should have let me die that day, Draco for I am not alive anymore. I die every single moment; I die every single time I look at that innocent woman whom you tortured. I die every time when I look at my innocent grandson Adrian. Who would believe a child like him was born out of such a violent act? But you made even that possible and I must say I am very proud of you." She spat.

Draco, who was half sprawled on the grounds now, remained silent and hung his head.

"All my life I have made sacrifices for the honour of those I loved. First for my sister, then for my family, then for my husband and then for you. But what did I get in return?" Narcissa asked the more to air than her son, "The Blacks are extremely proud and arrogant purebloods. We, the Black women, were brought up under very strict rules. I still remember how my mother Druella Black used to teach us about being a good wife and mother. We were never allowed to drink wine, for mother said virgins don't drink wine. We were never allowed to have any male companies except for brothers or cousin brothers who chaperoned us anywhere we went. We were taught never to have any intimate relationship with boys in school for that will spoil our honour. There has never been a love marriage among the Blacks. The daughters were married off on their parent's choice and she was expected to accept him as her husband at the end of courtship. Andromeda was the first person in over ten centuries to break that tradition married the man she loved." She said and rubbed her forehead, "She was the only sister whom I truly loved and cared for. She was kind and compassionate. Bellatrix, on the other hand was mad. I was scared of her, always. I remember how she used to kill our pet birds cruelly. She would open their cage and smuggle a cat inside. The cat would eat the imprisoned and helpless bird." Narcissa's eyes were shining with tear now, "Mother scolded her many times for it but she laughed and said it was a game. Killing was game for her from a very early age. Andromeda, though she looked like Bellatrix a lot, was my favourite sister. I loved her and I still love her, maybe I don't say it out loud. When she broke the Black family traditions and got married to that Muggleborn wizard Ted Tonks, the whole family was extremely furious. They even considered Honour Killing her and Ted. It was so easy and no one in the Wizarding world had the power to stop us, the ancient and noble Blacks. I was extremely worried for her. I went to mother and fell on her feet. I told her to leave Andromeda and her husband alone and in return I will do anything that they will ask me to do. She rejected me at first but when father said that I will have to marry the Malfoy heir in return of my sister's life, I had no choice but to accept."

Draco's head shot up and his cold grey eyes rested on his mother's tear stricken face while behind the shrub Hermione shuddered involuntarily.

"What do you mean, you had no choice but to accept?" Draco asked his mother sharply, "I always thought you loved father before marriage." He said skeptically.

"Lucius and love? That too before marriage? Huh?" Narcissa scoffed, "He was a year older than me when we were in Hogwarts. We never even talked to each other until they sent marriage proposal for the Black daughters. Bellatrix was set to marry Rodolphus so that left me out. And I was desperate to save Andromeda so I agreed."

"But you were happy with father and you still love him." Draco said incredulously.

"You still don't understand me, Draco." Narcissa said impatiently, "We, pureblood women were taught to love their husbands: he is your husband and it's your duty to love him and provide him with an heir. This was the motto of our education. There is no divorce among purebloods for it will destroy their honour. Why do you think Astoria tried so hard to give you an heir? She was brought up the same way we were. Even now, traditional pureblood families maintain this dogma when bringing up their daughters, though some blood traitors do not. Families like Potters, Weasleys, Prewetts and Macmillans do not follow it. But the Blacks, Greengrasses, Crabbes, Goyles, Rosiers strictly followed it to the end. The Parkinsons, though not blood traitors, are quite soft regarding it but still their daughters are not allowed to marry other than purebloods."

Hermione didn't know what to say to such ridiculous way of rearing pureblood daughters.

"You mean you loved my father out of obligation?" Draco asked quietly.

"Yes and no." Narcissa said plainly, "The Malfoys, though a pureblood family, suddenly became very unpopular due to the notion that their eldest son Morpheus fell under the spell of a French seductress and left his family for her. Their reputation was ruined. I am not saying that I hold it against Audré now but at that time, when I didn't know the real story, I imagined her the way she was represented to me. After Morpheus left, most pureblood families turned out their marriage proposals for their daughters. They thought who'd want to be associated with a family where men can be so easily seduced. What if Lucius too cheated on their daughters? So when the Malfoys sent marriage proposal to my family as a last resort and I said I would do anything to save Andromeda from Honour Killing, my father put me into acid test and told me to marry Lucius Malfoy. I was desperate at that time so accepted it with a heavy heart." Narcissa sighed, "However, my thoughts regarding Lucius turned out to be wrong for Lucius was most wonderful when it came to be a loving husband. Except for being temperamental at times, he never cheated on me. At first, I loved him because it was my duty as a wife but as time went by, I realized his true nature and fell in love with him from my heart. He became my hope after Andromeda and I obeyed his words not as a dutiful wife but as a loving and caring spouse. I believed everything he said to me and almost never questioned it. I never objected of him being an active Death Eater for my sister Bellatrix and cousin Regulus were Death Eaters too. Besides, he always took my side when your grandmother Medusa tried to abuse me. I believed every word he said about Audré and as per his instructions never told you that you have an uncle living in France. So my love for Lucius wasn't out of obligation, Draco, it was real and it is still real. The only mistake I ever made was I trusted his every word blindly. I am glad that I didn't continue to do so after his death and contacted Audré, otherwise I would have missed the truth that was hidden from me purposefully." She said calmly.

Hermione was feeling overly hungry to know more what happened between Narcissa and Andromeda after their respective marriages. She had always envisioned from Kreacher's words that Narcissa and Bellatrix hated Andromeda for her marriage to a Muggleborn wizard.

"Your Grandmother Medusa was an exceptionally cruel woman, even more than Bellatrix ever could be." Narcissa started again, "I was told to obey her every word and since I was brought up that way and I loved Lucius, who loved his mother, I complied whenever I could thinking that it will please Lucius. I had to make a lot of sacrifices in order to do that for Medusa couldn't tolerate anyone being happy around her. While she wouldn't harm me physically, she tortured me mentally by teasing and taunting me about Andromeda's marriage. She even asked Lucius to kill her off with her husband and I was horrified. Lucius, thankfully rejected her offer and took my side saying that I was not to be blamed for my sister's crime." She sniffed and wiped her nose, "Lucius was the only person who could control them: Medusa and Bellatrix. I was afraid of their cruelty and he understood it very well. So he protected me from them and by doing so he earned my respect. Sometimes, when he was frustrated he wanted to…" she paused and glanced uncomfortably to her son, "but I always had the right to say no for our intimacy."

Hermione though listening intently, was becoming unsure where this conversation has taking her. What started with the topic of violation has turned out to be a Lucius-Narcissa love story and she certainly wasn't eager to hear it.

"There is a reason why I never became a Death Eater, Draco, even though my sister and husband were two of them. The Dark Lord always had a sickening way of proving one's loyalty to him and I was sure, had I joined him too, he would have asked me to kill Andromeda to prove my true loyalty to him and I just wouldn't do that. I can never kill my own sister. True that I was angry on her for leaving me like that for I had no true friends but I would never kill her and her family. That was the reason when the Dark Lord marked you against your will and sent you to kill Dumbledore threatening to kill me should you fail, I became almost hysteric. I went to Severus and begged him to look after you and that if you fail on your appointed task, he should do it. I made him take an Unbreakable Vow. Bellatrix, who was barren from the very beginning, tried to stop me, but at that time, only that one time I mustered all my courage and went to Severus. I didn't want you to become a murderer to save your mother, Draco, neither did I want to you become a violator to save your mother." She said sadly, "I could die happily as long as I know my child, my only child is innocent. But you even took that comfort from me the day you assaulted Granger."

Hermione didn't know who was sadder for the woman before her: she or Draco Malfoy. Being a mother herself, she knew what is meant for a parent to have child up on whom she can truly rely.

"Mother, please forgive me." Draco sat up from the ground he was sprawled on, "Please, forgive your son. Please." He begged.

Narcissa shook her head slowly and closed her eyes, fresh tears running down her cheek, "I can't do that, Draco, I just can't do that. I am a woman first and a mother next. You ripped me off my honour when you tortured Granger. Now I can never look up, hold my head high and say that my son is a good man, never ever. I don't know about your honour, Draco, for those do crimes like that don't have enough sense to even realize what true honour is, but you definitely took mine along with Granger's. Now the woman who lives inside this shell wants nothing more than to repent over the sins she did when she brought up her son." she fixed her bloodshot eyes on her son, who had a vacant look in his grey eyes, "All my life I loved my family and my son thinking that love could keep all evils away from you. But I loved you more than you ever deserved and spoilt you in the end. Lucius and I, tailor made you and as a result you became a monster." She tilted her head and looked up at the sky, "I never knew love could create monsters; I thought it prevented creating monsters. But look how I failed miserably in the single most important duty of my life, that is rearing my child the right way and you became what you are today – a filthy violator. I guess too much of any good thing is harmful."

Hermione's head was spinning now for this was something she could never imagine happening in next three life times. She had always expected Narcissa to take sides with her son and blame her for her violation instead. But what happened tonight was unimaginable and she just didn't know what to make out of it or how to react.

"I sent Granger an ewer of Sleeping Mixture once I found out that she was having nightmares about that incident. Thanks to you, Draco, she returned it to me." Narcissa cast a reproachful look at her son, "I don't even know where to start this relationship for I am sure she hates me and she should. I didn't pity her, I pity you and now I pity myself. All my life I sacrificed to uphold the honour of my family, my husband and even my son. But did I get in return? This?" she waved her hand in general, "This?" she asked again, "This life where I have a son who is a criminal? Had I wanted that Draco, I would have encouraged you to be a Death Eater instead of trying to protect you from that fate. You could have continued with your exploits of female victims and I would have applauded in appreciation just like my dear sister Bellatrix Lestrange would have done."

"I am not what you think I am, mother." Draco pleaded, "I never touched a woman without her consent. Never." He shook his head, "But what I did with her…it was an…I don't know…I just wanted to punish her, humiliate her…but I understand now that it was wrong of me and I am sorry, mother. I am really very sorry."

"You wanted to humiliate her? You wanted to punish her?" Narcissa asked her son vehemently, "What a wonderful way to do that!" she clapped loudly, "Wow, Draco, wow! I am impressed with your theory. You, men, always resort to that method when you want to humiliate women extremely. You think if you take their innocence and honour away, it will destroy them forever. But we, women are stronger than that, Draco. You may violate our bodies but you can never violate our souls for it is there where we are always pure, like the Blacks say 'toujours pur'. You tried to destroy that woman, Draco, but in the end she came out victorious and you failed miserably. Look at where she is standing today and where we are standing today. Her hard works paid well in the end and she has a wonderful child to raise while I have guilty heart and you have a guilty and miserable being of existence. Even after humiliating her in the worst possible way, she is the one who is respected now and we are the ones who are condemned. Thank you very much for that, Draco, thank you very much." Narcissa stood up and without so much as a backward glance at her son, she left the scene.

Not willing to see what happened next to Draco Malfoy, Hermione, still Disillusioned followed the woman, whom she had hated from the bottom of her heart, for the first time. She kept a safe distance between them as they both walked back to Château and when they entered it Hermione noticed Narcissa was swaying slightly, as if she will faint any time. For an inexplicable reason, she felt worried for her and escorted her to her quarters where Narcissa closed the door with trembling hands.

Her mind racing with the conversation she had heard just minutes ago, Hermione could only think of one person to confide to: Audré Chombrun Malfoy.

It was well past midnight but Hermione knew that the insomniac Chombrun Malfoy matriarch was always there when she was needed her. As if to prove her theory right, she found her sitting in Hermione's sitting room when she reappeared there to check on her son.

"I guess any place that holds an Audré Chombrun Malfoy doesn't need a ghost to scare its inhabitants." She said lightly smiling noting Hermione's surprise, "I came to check if you were asleep or crying silently again and found the most eligible bachelor taking his beauty sleep while his esteemed mother seemed long gone. So like a dutiful grandmother I kissed the gentleman and decided to watch over him until you came." She explained.

"Adrian is okay, I hope." Hermione enquired, settling down before Audré while trying to arrange her scattered thoughts.

"I guess he is playing with his rabbit in his sweet dreams." Audré commented, "Watching him sleep that way, so peacefully, I felt if I could be like him once again: young and carefree. I haven't slept like that for many many years." She sighed lightly.

Hermione didn't know where to start her questions. There was so much she wanted to know about Audré and now the list was growing bigger with her curiosity about Narcissa too.

"Ask whatever you want to ask, my dear, for I am certain you won't be able to sleep otherwise." Audré offered solemnly, her calm blue eyes fixed on Hermione.

"What made you think I want to ask you something?" Hermione asked, curious to know how Audré's assessments were always so nearly perfect.

The elderly woman smiled gently, "I have always believed in the role of eyes in expressing unsaid emotions. Those, who are too honest, speak too much through their eyes than their mouths do for they always speak out their hearts and those who are too dishonest also speak too much through their eyes for they try to conceal it inside their hearts. Then there is fluttering of eyes: when feeling calm and cold people don't blink much; whereas when they are sad or angry they blink repeatedly to beat off the tears. When ashamed or lying people usually don't meet gaze but when truthful or curious they look straight at your eyes to relay their sincerity. One moves his eyes too much when he hesitates to ask or talk about something. You were doing the same thing right now while your brows were frowned. So it was evident that you wanted to ask me something but didn't know how to start it." she said serenely.

Listening to Audré's explanation, Hermione could remember meeting just one other person like her before: her previous Headmaster Professor Dumbledore.

"You speak like Professor Dumbledore." She voiced her thought honestly.

"No, I don't my dear." Audré said calmly, "Professor Dumbledore was an extremely knowledgeable person and my knowledge is very poor compared to him. But I don't think that you are awake to compare that who is better between us; I can tell something has happened that you didn't expect to happen." She said and Hermione's frown deepened, "No, I am not spying on you this time." Audré supplied noting her frown, "Your hands are restless and your breathing is slightly out of control. That is because you are trying to control your emotions regarding something that happened unexpectedly."

"I overheard a conversation between Narcissa and her son when walking in the garden." Hermione blurted out suddenly.

"Most interesting." Audré remarked lightly, "Tell me what did you hear?"

"She, Narcissa admonished her son for torturing me." Hermione stated plainly.

But instead of being surprised, Audré sighed deeply, "That has been happening for quite some time now." she commented.

"What do you mean by 'quite some time'? Didn't Narcissa know about it all along?" Hermione asked incredulously, almost rising from her sofa.

"No, she didn't." Audré replied solemnly her blue eyes fixed directly to Hermione's brown pair, "Draco lied to her regarding Adrian's birth. Remember I once told you not to answer Narcissa if she asked you about how Adrian was conceived? I knew Draco had lied to his mother to save himself from her wrath. So I wanted him to rectify it, not you."

"What did he say when he lied to her?" Hermione asked both curious and furious.

"He said it was a one night stand between you and him while both of you were heavily drunk." Audré replied, "Typical Draco." She shrugged.

"What?" Hermione spat out rising from her sofa this time, "Him and me?" she pointed at her chest, "Drunk?" she repeated, "Drunk or not, aunt Audré, I would never have any sort of physical relation with him even if he was the last man on earth. He tormented me for my blood status for six years in school. He foul-mouthed my friends. I am not the kind of woman who forgets who she is after a drink or two. Besides I hardly ever drink." She said vehemently.

"I know Jean, I know." Audré held out a hand to calm her, "But how is Narcissa supposed to know that?" she asked simply, "After your marriage and Adrian's rejection, Draco feared that his mother won't accept his only living son if she came to know about the truth regarding his birth. Narcissa was already furious that her son had a one night stand with a Muggleborn witch; so it was quite understandable what her reactions could be if she found out the truth. So Draco told her that you and your friends saved him during the battle of Hogwarts from dying in Fiendfyre. At first she believed what her son said. Though reluctant, Narcissa accepted you as her daughter-in-law and bought that Geccemp brooch to express her gratitude. She was planning to give it to you when something happened and the truth came out."

"What happened?" Hermione asked breathlessly.

"You don't remember the incident anymore because I modified your memory that night." Audré replied her voice extremely calm, "I am sorry that I did it but it was necessary." She said to Hermione's deep frown, "A day after you fractured your arm, Jean, you had a hallucination attack where you dreamt Draco was assaulting you. I guess it was some drug interaction between your Pain Relieving Potion and Dreamless Sleep. At that time, scared out of your wits, you came out to look for me but somehow collapsed on the way and Draco found you lying on the ground floor corridor instead. You were screaming and crying loudly when Narcissa and I found you with Draco. Narcissa was extremely surprised when she found you at that state and thought you are suffering from some sort of mental illness. But when you requested Draco to leave you she became suspicious and interrogated her son thoroughly. Under his mother's sharp questioning Draco confessed his crime." Hermione was listening breathlessly to Audré as she recounted the incident, "I was there Jean and I saw how Narcissa slapped her grown up son and told him that she doesn't want to be known as a rapist's mother."

Hermione had been through enough surprises for a night and now she was unsure whether she wanted to know more or not.

"That night Narcissa cried her eyes out and said she would severe all relations with her son." Audré started again and Hermione, though tired, hung to her every word, "I knew she said that out of anger and so I tried to calm her. It was evident from your reactions that you were suffering from nightmares even after six years and she was willing to help me treat your nightmares. That was when Narcissa whipped and sent that Sleeping Mixture for you. She wanted to give it to you herself but considering the hatred on your part she asked me to give it to you."

Her thoughts in jumbles Hermione simply gaped at Audré.

"Narcissa wanted to help you to treat my nightmares?" she asked after she regained her rein of thoughts.

"She did." Audré affirmed.

Hermione didn't know whether to be surprised, angry or grateful. Narcissa Malfoy slapping her son and trying to help Hermione heal was the last thing she could ever imagine happening to her.

"Tell me what else did you hear?" she heard Audré asked her and very slowly she opened her mouth to reply.

"She spoke mostly of her Black family traditions." Hermione said trying to remember Narcissa's exact words in the whirl of emotion, "She spoke of her childhood; how her mother taught them to be a dutiful wife, how cruel Bellatrix was and why she was so afraid of her, how they were not allowed to have boyfriends and how Andromeda broke all the traditions and married a Muggleborn wizard."

"I know that part." Audré interjected, "She told me about it this evening." She explained to Hermione's confused look, "Today was Narcissa's marriage anniversary and she was missing her family badly. Except for her sister Andromeda, they are all dead now. She was very upset when I met her in her suite. She told me how she sacrificed her hopes of happiness to save her sister from Honour Killing and married Lucius."

"But she was happy." Hermione supplied.

"What is the definition of happiness for you, my dear?" Audré asked her lightly.

"Happiness…for me…" Hermione considered the question and it's relation to their current conversation, "Happiness is seeing Adrian happy." She replied simply.

"See how remarkably selfless we, women are when it comes to happiness." Audré said with a gentle smile, "Most women would answer the same - that for them happiness is seeing their family, their loved ones to be happy. Narcissa was no exception. She was happy not because she, Narcissa was happy but because she, Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy – wife of Lucius Malfoy was happy."

"You mean she wasn't happy?" Hermione asked skeptically.

Audré joined her fingers and rested her chin on it, "How much do know about the Blacks?" she asked her solemnly.

"Can you please tell me how is this related to our earlier conversation, aunt?" Hermione asked, her patience and nerves running thin from repeated outbursts of emotions, "I am not interested in Narcissa's past. I want to know why she behaved like a human instead of a pureblood bigot maniac."

"Your answer lies in the question that I asked, dear." Audré replied patiently, "Tell me how much do know about the Blacks?"

Taking a deep breath and deciding to let the conversation flow Hermione answered, "I practically spent two summer holidays in the Noble and Ancient House of Blacks at 12, Grimmauld Place in London for it was the Headquarters to Second Order of the Phoenix when Voldemort returned. It was an extremely foul place with Mrs. Walburga Black's portrait that threw insults at anyone who entered the house and was full of cursed, dark objects. There was a family tapestry where some of the faces were burnt because they didn't parrot the ridiculous pureblood beliefs and chose to live their remaining lives more freely. Their dominant blood line ended with the death of Sirius Black, the last living male Black who had no child. Walburga and her husband Orion Black's other son, Regulus Black also died childless."

"Well done." Audré said with an appreciative smile, "I also did some research on that charming family when Narcissa wrote to me saying that she wants to come. Tell me more about Narcissa's family for I am sure now you know more about that family than you ever let out."

"Narcissa's father Cygnus Black was Sirius's mother Walburga's brother while her husband was Cygnus's cousin. The Blacks preferred their maternal and paternal first cousins as their spouses for they thought it kept their bloodline pure." Hermione grimaced before continuing again, "Narcissa's mother Druella, however, was not a Black. She was a Rosier and together with Cygnus she had three daughters – eldest was maniac Bellatrix, middle one was Andromeda who was disinherited and youngest was Narcissa." she finished and waited for Audré's promised answer to her question.

"I must say I am very impressed at how well you remember all those famous names." Audré said lightly, "Narcissa should be proud of her daughter-in-law." She winked.

"I read them in a book called Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy that I borrowed from the Black family house elf Kreacher." Hermione explained, "I am not interested in that ridiculous family and its even more ridiculous traditions. Besides, I read it…before I was assaulted."

"Now let's come back to your previous question where you asked me why Narcissa behaved like a human instead of a bigot pureblood." Audré unclasped her hands and rested her head on her palm while placing the elbow on the sofa rest, "Blacks, as you rightfully said, were an extremely foul family. In fact they were extreme in all aspects of their lives: extremely proud, extremely arrogant, extremely impatient and intolerant. The only families they were ever civil to were those believed in pureblood supremacy like them - Crabbes, Rosiers, Bulstrodes- to name a few. According to them, women had three major identities in traditional pureblood society." Audré said patiently, "Firstly, they are someone's daughter, like Narcissa was Narcissa Black; secondly they are someone's wife, like Narcissa was Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy; thirdly they are someone's mother like Narcissa is Draco Malfoy's mother. Traditional pureblood families like Blacks teach their daughters to take pride in these relationships. From a very early age, Narcissa's mother taught them that a woman's honour lies in her family's honour. It is everything for her and she must do anything to preserve it. They also took extreme pride in their daughter's virginity and women were never allowed to choose their own partners. When the daughters grew old enough to be married off, elder Blacks chose a male partner from among themselves who they thought was pureblood enough to bond with their daughter and she was courted by that man. They eventually married those men for no one dared to speak against their parents decision." Audré explained and Hermione listened intently, "But the first blow to Cygnus and Druella came when their second daughter Andromeda refused to be courted by the man her parents chose for her. She told them on their face that she loved another man, a Muggleborn wizard by the name of Ted Tonks. Narcissa told me how her parents became mad with rage and decided to kill their daughter to prevent dishonor to their family. It was then that she intervened and begged for her sister's life in exchange of anything. Her parents mistook her love for her sister as her disobedience and decided to punish her too. By that time, Morpheus had left his family and he came to France looking for a sane life. His abrupt departure from the House of Malfoy caused them to suffer ridicules from some pureblood families who thought Malfoys were no longer fit enough to court their daughters. Cygnus took this opportunity and asked Narcissa to marry Lucius without letting him courting her first for during courtship, a couple gets to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement or other such agreement and if at the end of courting they decided against it, there will be no engagement and marriage between them. Marriage without being courted by Lucius meant Narcissa was practically forced to marry Lucius without even knowing him properly. Realizing that her favourite sister's life was at stake, Narcissa agreed to it and she was married off two weeks after the formal marriage proposal from the Malfoys arrived. The Malfoys were also happy with this union for it let them show the other purebloods, who had looked down upon them previously for Morpheus, that they were still capable to marry their son to one of the most respected pureblood families." She paused and took a deep breath.

"Why didn't Andromeda stop Narcissa from marrying Lucius?" Hermione asked, hungry for more.

"Because Narcissa never told her about it. Though she loved her sister dearly and sacrificed her happiness to save her, she was furious with her for leaving her in this mess though Andromeda didn't do it on purpose." Audré explained sadly, "You must see how Narcissa is behaving with Draco these days; she is tense whenever he is late but when he is before her, she doesn't even look at her. This is what happens when love and hate collide for you can't let go of one emotion to get another."

Hermione contemplated over Audré's words. Truth be told, if she found out that her son had violated a woman she would cut up all relations with him but she wouldn't be able to stop loving him as a mother. She would continue to love Adrian from a distance.

"Though Narcissa was worried about her future with Lucius when she married him, she tried hard to become a good pureblood wife and in return won Lucius's cold heart." Hermione heard Audré started again, "Lucius may be a proud and arrogant man as well as being a Death Eater, Jean, but he was a good husband to Narcissa and when Narcissa realized that, she truly fell in love with her husband. She poured her heart out and soon she became Lucius's love and comfort too. She lost herself in their marital bliss and was proud that her marriage saved their family honour. She sacrificed her own happiness to see her husband happy, even complied well with her abusive mother-in-law for the sake of Lucius's happiness. This earned her even more respect in Lucius's heart and he protected her from all sorts of verbal assaults his mother delivered to Narcissa regarding Andromeda's marriage. In this life between Narcissa Black and Narcissa Malfoy, the real Narcissa remained unnoticed. Only very recently, after she found out the truth about her son, she discovered that there was another woman inside her: the woman Narcissa; not the daughter, not the wife, not the mother Narcissa – the woman Narcissa. And the woman Narcissa, who has guarded her honour like a sacred temple, retaliated like a wounded tiger when she found out her son had violated another woman's sacred temple."

A long silence followed Audré's declaration.

Hermione, who finally understood what Audré meant about Narcissa being happy, considered the words Narcissa said to her son regarding honour:

'I am a woman first and a mother next. You ripped me off my honour when you tortured Granger. Now I can never look up, hold my head high and say that my son is a good man, never ever. I don't know about your honour, Draco, for those do crimes like that don't have enough sense to even realize what true honour is, but you definitely took mine along with Granger's.'

"I never saw it that way." She confessed after sometime, "I thought she was furious because her son had dishonored her before the society. Now, I understand what she meant by honour."

Audré shook her head sadly, "You may see Narcissa as a cold, bigot pureblood and I admit she is extremely snob sometimes, but a woman, who made such great sacrifices in her life to save the family honour, can never be as bad as you think she is." She said solemnly.

Hermione was now feeling sympathy for the woman she had so passionately hated till tonight's incident. She could see how lonely and broken hearted Narcissa might be for she had laid down her entire life to nurture her family and in the end was awarded by the harsh truth that her son was a criminal.

"Malfoy said he is sorry." Hermione said suddenly, "He said he was angry and wanted to humiliate me."

"That must have earned him another pair of slaps from his mother." Audré commented gravely.

"No, but she grabbed his collar and threw him on the ground." Hermione said thoughtfully.

"That's even better." Audré smiled contentedly.

"I don't know what to do, aunt." Hermione rubbed her head wearily, "I am so confused." She confessed honestly.

"When confused, my dear, just listen to what your heart says." Audré gave her a genuine smile and stood up to leave.

"Aunt?" Hermione called Audré, who stopped on her track and turned her head sideways to look at her, "Why did you say you are like a Black Hole that day?" she asked the other question that had been lurking in her mind.

Audré narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Is that a compliment or a condemnation, my dear?" she asked lightly.

"It is none." Hermione replied calmly now, "It is my curiosity."

"There is a saying in France that 'curiosity kills the cat'." Audré remarked with a serene smile, "And I am very fond of you, Dear Jean. Don't wish to know what I am for this soul harbours such secretes that if spilled, it can poison the very air you breathe. Live your life while you still can for you are young and there is so much life can offer you; leave this old woman alone with her darkened soul."

She left Hermione still contemplating over her last words.

There was no denying that Hermione had never felt so deeply moved in her entire life. These women - Audré and Narcissa were not as they seemed at first sight. She had considered Audré to be Draco's accomplice when she first came to know that she is Draco Malfoy's aunt. But later on it turned out that she was one who had been trying to protect her and Adrian from her nephew. Narcissa was an epitome of pride and arrogance when she had first met her during the Quidditch World Cup in her fourth year. But now she is the woman who slaps her precious son for his crime.

Hermione laid down sideways on the double sofa she was occupying and placed a cushion beneath her head while looking up at the semi-darkened ceiling. Tired from work and emotional rollercoaster, she didn't even know when she fell asleep on the sofa.

Tender lips kissed her cheek twice and Hermione slowly opened her eyes.

Her son, still clad in his red pajamas, came into view.

"Mama, why are you sleeping here?" he asked her, his almond shaped grey eyes curious, "Did the Goblins give you a lot of work? Are you going to office on Saturday?"

Hermione yawned and smiled sleeping at her son, "Mama will go to office if her rabbity-babbity boo doesn't give her another two kisses on her left cheek as well." She said carelessly while tapping her cheek.

"But Mama's rabbit will not kiss her." Adrian protested and pouted her lips, "Mama is always busy and I am bored. I want to go out." he demanded.

"That will cost you another two kisses on my forehead." Hermione argued.

"I am not kissing you this time, Mama." Adrian said resolutely, "I am going out today and you are taking me." He crossed his little arm over his chest.

Hermione shook her head in disbelief and amusement; her son truly can be stubborn like her when he wanted to.

"Okay." Hermione surrendered, "We will go out today."

"Where? When? How? Can I take Peter too?" Adrian blasted her with jets of questions.

Hermione sat up and stretched her body, "We will decide it as you take bath. Now let's go." She patted her over-excited son lightly over his shoulder.

As she striped her son off his nightclothes and cast an Impervious Charm over his plaster to prevent it from soaking, Adrian jumped on the tub of water, splashing her in the process and Hermione contemplated over last night's events.

Who would have thought Narcissa Malfoy can be sorry for her son's crime instead of being proud of it? Who could have said that she sacrificed to save her sister? And who could have guessed why she never became a Death Eater?

"Mama," Adrian sprayed some water at her to get her attention, "What do you do when someone cries?" he asked her evenly.

Hermione wiped the soap water from her face and frowned, "Who was crying, little rabbit?" she asked him.

"Monsieur's Mama." Adrian replied plainly while playing with the soap water single handedly, "It was raining. Grandma Audré and I were walking. Grandma said she will take me to terrace after rain was over. Then we heard someone was crying and a door was open. We went there. We saw Monsieur's Mama was crying. It was her room." He looked up from water, "She told Grandma to take me back to my room. So Grandma brought me here. Now I want to know if I was a bad boy last night. I didn't tell her to stop crying. Was it bad?" Adrian asked Hermione sadly.

Deeply touched her son's innocence Hermione leaned forward and kissed his wet forehead tenderly, "No, my love, it was not bad of you." She said with a smile, "You still don't know her."

"But she is a lady. Grandpa told me to take care of ladies."Adrian interjected.

"Why didn't you tell me this when you returned?" Hermione asked her son instead.

"You don't like her. It will spoil your mood." Adrian replied simply.

Struck by her young son's thoughtfulness, Hermione shook her head in disbelief and poured some water over Adrian's head, "Mama never said she doesn't like Monsieur's Mama." She said softly; in truth she didn't like Narcissa, she positively hated her.

"But you don't talk to her. You don't even look at her." Her little son frowned as much as his little eyebrows permitted him.

"I don't feel comfortable talking to her. She doesn't like Muggleborns and half-bloods and I thought she also doesn't like me and you. So I don't talk to her." Hermione tried to answer as simply as she possibly could while gently rubbing her son's porcelain skin.

"So she likes you? And me too?" Adrian asked her curiously.

"I don't know." Hermione replied honestly this time, "I don't know." She repeated, "Now Adrian, I think we will go to someplace where is not very crowded. I don't want you to bump into people and hurt your arm again." She said trying to get rid of the unpleasant conversation.

"Where? Where?" Adrian asked excitedly, "Will Aunt Eva and uncle Edmound come with us too?" he enquired.

"Let me finish bathing you first and after we take breakfast, I will Floo them." Hermione offered and Adrian squealed in joy.

Three quarters of an hour later, bathed and clad in freshly laundered clothes, mother and son appeared at the dining room to take the Saturday morning breakfast with the rest of the inhabitants of the Château.

Hermione noted immediately that Draco Malfoy was absent in the table.

Her mind still on last night's conversation Hermione's eyes instinctively moved to Narcissa, who was sitting dolefully on her usual chair.

For the first time in her life, Hermione noticed how sad and tired Narcissa Malfoy looked. Her usual cold blue eyes were bloodshot while her blonde hairs were almost tousled, as if she hasn't combed it properly in the morning. Her eyes moved at their direction but she didn't look up at them and when Audré asked her if she was feeling ill, she simply shook her head, not responding to her query verbally.

Hermione poured her son some almond milk that he was partial too and looked at the Malfoy matriarch from the corner of her eyes when a jovial looking Julian appeared to take his breakfast.

"Sister-in-law!" he exclaimed loudly and Hermione almost jumped out of her seat while Adrian spilled some of his milk, "I was looking for you." He said pompously.

"What for, brother-in-law?" Hermione asked, slightly annoyed as she adjusted herself on her chair once again and wiped Adrian's lips, "The way you addressed me, I thought you were declared as the new Minister for Magic."

"Minister? Who wants to be a minister?" Julian asked even more pompously as he settled down and pulled the coffee towards him, "I have better news than that."

"Which is?" this time Lillian jibed her brother from her seat beside her mother.

"I am taking the ladies of this Château…." He held his speech in a dramatic manner, "…for a day in shopping." he finished and looked around the table to see the effects.

"Julian, are you sure, my son, you are perfectly fine?" Audré asked her son placidly, "Did you sleep well last night?" she asked him skeptically.

"I slept very well, maman, thank you very much." Julian informed his mother with a proud tilt of his head, "I received my pay this morning through Floo and I decided to take my esteemed and honourable ladies for a weekend shopping in Paris's most fashionable Wizarding shop - Lá Modé."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh at his manner of speaking for this man sometimes reminded her of Weasley twins.

"But Mama said she will take me out today." Adrian interjected from her right side.

"Oh I am sorry, dear nephew." Julian apologized mockingly, "But the offer is valid only for ladies, not for gents. You can stay at home while I take your Mama for a shopping." He smiled brightly.

"NO!" Adrian squealed loudly, "MAMA WILL GO WITH ME!" he exclaimed while standing up on his chair.

"Adrian!" Hermione cast her son an angry glare, "Don't you ever scream at your elders." She said sternly, "Gentlemen never scream."

"I am sorry Uncle Julian." Her son apologized immediately, "I am really sorry." He repeated quietly and sat down once again, looking sad.

"Why I forget that the sun can go cold, the moon can split into two, the oceans can dry up but no one can separate Adrian from his Mama and his Mama from her Adrian?" Julian asked looking at Hermione and her son with admiration.

"Besides, the ladies need extra protection." Audré supplied hopefully, "Who is better than the little rabbit and his Order of Peter Rabbit?" she asked brightly.

Hermione felt a slight pang of guilt as she realized her son's reaction was passionate for he wanted to spend some quality time with his mother, something that she hadn't been able to provide him since he broke his arm. He didn't mean to disrespect his elders.

"Adrian!" she called him softly as he drank his milk and bread silently, "Mama will not go anywhere without her little rabbit." She assured him.

"Mama can go." Her son said quietly while avoiding to meet her eyes, "I will stay at home to look after Peter." He said and offered some hay to his pet rabbit.

"But the ladies are afraid to go out with their man." Lillian said mocking fear, "Maman, I am really not going anywhere without Adrian. You should have seen how he protected me from a butterfly that day in vineyard. Julian could never have done that." she told a very interested looking Audré, "Either it is Adrian or it is no one." She said dismissively.

Hermione, who was stroking her son's silvery blonde curls now, saw Julian as he left his chair and came to stand beside Adrian's where he crouched down.

"Adrian, dear nephew." He called him softly, "I was just joking my dear. Uncle was just joking to make you jealous. I am sorry I hurt you, dear child." He said and gently massaged his little back.

Adrian sniffed audibly, "I am always alone here. I had friends at grandma Apolline's home – Louis, Gina, Amélie, Lucas. I have no friends here except Peter. Mama is always busy. Grandma is busy, Aunt Lillian is busy. You are busy. My school is closed and I have no one to play with." He said sadly.

Hermione's heart broke at her son's honest declaration. She felt like pressing his small form into her chest and never letting him go. Oh, how she longed to spend some time with her son too, but her job was very demanding and she needed to perform her very best so that she could provide him with every comfort in the world. She would be doomed if she took Draco Malfoy's filthy, blood-smeared gold to raise her innocent son.

"Who says you don't have friends?" she heard Audré asked the little boy, who finally looked up, "Little boys and girls here are dying to know who is this new little boy in the Château and I told them I will introduce them to you once the plaster is removed. But now I think I shouldn't wait anymore. I will take you to their homes after we return from shopping. Is that okay with you, my dear grandson?" she asked Adrian, who smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay," he piped and turned his head to Julian, "Uncle Julian can I go with Mama?"

"Of course," Julian replied with a bang on the table with his powerful fist, "You are the ladies' choice." He said casting a glance the women around the table.

"Narcissa, what do you say?" Hermione heard Audré asked her sister-in-law who was rubbing her forehead tiredly, "Isn't Adrian the ladies' choice?"

Narcissa smiled weakly and sighed, "Yes, of course. Why not?" she asked Audré.

"I think you could do well with some fresh air, Narcissa." Audré advised as the breakfast resumed, "You are going with us and I am not taking a 'no' for answer." She said dismissively.

"Audré, I am really sorry." Narcissa protested feebly, "I am not feeling well." She supplied.

"You will feel well once you go out with us." Audré said gently, "Trust me, Narcissa, I am hardly wrong." She assured.

Eating her bread and cheese sandwich, Hermione was having mixed feelings regarding Narcissa now. A part of her, the part that was woman, wanted to have nothing to do with her violator's mother; while the other part, the part that was mother, could feel the other mother's pains.

The breakfast ended with the decision that they would start within an hour for according to Julian women take 'outrageously long time' to get ready and an hour should be enough for them.

As Hermione stood up to get her and her son prepared she heard Narcissa quietly enquired about her son to Audré, who replied that the man was sleeping late in his suite and his breakfast would be served to him once he woke up.

Hermione neither cared nor wished to know what happened to the wretched Slytherin and she left the table with Adrian and Lillian.

Once in her quarter, Hermione took out her son's favourite Hufflepuff T-shirt, the yellow one with brown patterns that Apolline had given Adrian and dressed him neatly in it, careful to avoid hurting his fractured arm. Next she took out her favourite lilac dress and put it on with the help of the tiny female elf who fastened the strings on her waist that gave her slim body an elegant look. Remembering Julian's remark on female folk's time sense when getting ready she braided her hair and applied a very light shade of make-up before grabbing her best purse and exited the quarter with her almost jumping son.

As per previous agreement, the ladies along with the elder and younger gents met before the Grand Floo, Château's largest family Floo that could house ten people at a time. Though she wouldn't admit it, Hermione was keen to see Narcissa and when she finally came she looked so pale that Hermione thought she would faint any moment.

Audré and her daughter both were wearing pale green satin dresses and Julian was proudly sporting a black shiny robe. Chattering happily they walked into the heatless flames of Grand Floo and Julian sprinkled a pinch of silvery Floo powder on it before declaring: 'La Mode.'

The flames turned green and Hermione clutched her son more protectively to her side as the Wizarding transport propelled them through Floo network to their desired destination.

The store that came into view once Hermione and her son came out of Floo fireplace that was stationed inside the aforementioned place, reminded her of one place: Harrods, the upmarket department store located in Knightsbridge, London, where her parents took her twice for her birthday shopping.

She looked around the place with interest while holding her son's little arm tightly over his shoulder. Though she had lived in Paris for more than six years now, Hermione neither had time nor the sense of extreme luxury to visit the famous upper class Wizarding store. She mostly preferred to shop from Muggle shops to buy T-shirts for her son and Madame Malkin's Paris branch for her daily wear robes and dresses. Apolline once offered to take her to Lá Modé, but Hermione respectfully declined thinking that a shop full of high class snobs bragging about their money was the last place she would set her foot on.

"You can find everything of your liking here, aunt Narcissa." Julian was telling a cool Narcissa who gave her nephew a forced smile.

"How may I help Madame and Monsieur?" a shop representative asked them politely.

"The ladies would like to see the dress section." Julian replied waving at the group of four ladies: Audré, Narcissa, Lillian and Hermione.

"This way please." The man beckoned them and Hermione followed him with the rest of the group.

"Mama, this shop is very big." Adrian piped watching his surroundings with interest.

"Yes, it is." Hermione admitted as she walked past rows after rows of fascinating product sections.

The lady's dress section was vast with extensive collection of dresses. There was every possible design in every kind of colour imaginable.

"What do the Madames like?" the representative asked again showing them endless rows of dresses and Hermione gulped, "Empire waist? A-line? Ball Gown? Sheath? Mermaid?" he offered politely.

"Since Lillian and Jean both are very slim they could choose any kind." Audré said to her female companions, "Narcissa and I can choose between Empire waist and A-Line for we have wider hips." She explained.

The ladies separated and moved forward looking for their desired dress while Julian settled on a sofa to wait patiently.

"Mama, buy this one." Hermione's son pointed at a green Empire waist, "No, this one." He pointed at a blue Mermaid style, "No, that one." He pointed at a pale pink frilly Sheath dress.

Hermione was at a loss of what and how to choose. It was not that she wasn't good at choosing her own clothes; she was. The problem was she needed someone to help her choose one that will look good on her. Besides she didn't like to wear dresses made with semi-transparent fabric or very low neck that uncovered her bosoms. For very obvious reasons she looked around for a modestly cut dress with high neckline and of a colour of her choice.

"Looks like you need some help, Jean." she heard a deep baritone from behind and turned around to find an amused looking Julian smiling at her.

"No, I don't." Hermione tried to sound confident, "I have already selected a few." She would be doomed if she appeared clumsy before the Chombrun Malfoys.

"Still I hope you won't mind if I offered you some help as an elder brother." Julian said smiling serenely before moving at her.

"Mama, Mama," Adrian was calling her from behind a large white Ball Gown dress, "Buy this one." He said to her.

"That's a wedding dress, my love." Hermione said before she could check herself and then bit her lower lip.

"I think, Adrian, Mama will buy something that is blue. What do you think, Jean?" Julian asked Hermione casually and she smiled approvingly at him remembering that her Yule Ball dress robe was blue and everyone said it suited her.

Julian walked among the aisle of dresses and picked out a blue dress, "This one?" he offered.

Hermione looked at the dress carefully and found that the neck line was a bit lower than her liking.

She shook her head and Julian hung the dress in its previous place.

For a man, Julian had remarkable patience to shop with ladies. Hermione soon found out that even she, as a woman, lacked the energy to cope up with the man, who was adamant to help her choose a dress.

After an hour of relentless search during which Julian showed her dress after dress after dress, Hermione at last found what she was looking for.

It was a royal blue mermaid dress where at the level of the knee the gown flared out like the tail of a mermaid. It was made of pure silk with chiffon sleeves and with high neck line while the dress was modestly cut.

"Perfect." Hermione eyed the dress and gave Julian a genuine smile, "Thank you very much, Julian, I really love it."

"My pleasure, sister-in-law." Julian bowed slightly at her, "Excuse moi," he called the nearest representative who had been watching them choose dress, "Please pack this dress for this Madame." He pointed at Hermione.

When Hermione returned at the waiting lounge she found three more dresses already packed for her.

"Who gave me these?" she asked Julian, showing the large and extravagantly packed paper boxes, who shrugged and took to one of the sofas.

Remembering Narcissa's earlier gift – the pearl brooch – Hermione decided to put aside her new found feelings and confront Narcissa for her infuriating attempts to impose herself on Hermione. Sympathy aside, she was no beggar and certainly didn't need any more alms from the Malfoys.

Entrusting Adrian to Julian's care she took out her wand and casted a Locating Spell to find Narcissa Malfoy.

The woman, when she found her, was standing with Audré and shaking her head lightly.

"No, Audré." She was telling to her French sister-in-law and Hermione hid herself in the nearest row of dresses, "I don't think I can tolerate this anymore. I neither have the courage nor the strength to face Granger and Adrian. No." she shook her head again, "I came here because I thought I would feel better. But now I am feeling worse. This girl should be in her country, with her family and friends. But where is she now? In France and with a child that she can't even show to her parents." She replied with a grimace, "I know how it feels to want to see your family. Though mine are all dead now, except for Andromeda, I long to see them again." She sniffed, "I hate Draco for doing this to that poor girl. I hate him." She said vehemently and without waiting for a response from Audré, left her there.

Hermione stood there thunderstruck as Narcissa's words hit her one by one. Her eyes were open for she saw as Audré cast an embarrassed look at her fellow shoppers before following Narcissa but her mind was again in a whirlpool.

How was it possible that the woman she knew to be so proud, arrogant and cold hearted changed so unpredictably all of a sudden?

Wasn't she the one who had cast a contemptuous glance at Hermione at Madame Malkin's when she, Ron and Harry had walked on to them in their sixth year and said, "Now that I know the kind of scum that shops here…we'll do better at Twilfitt and Tatting's."

Wasn't she one who had received her in the Malfoy Manor when Greyback stunned and took her there?

Didn't she realize that day what fate awaited Hermione? That Voldemort will torture and even may assault her to wriggle out information on Harry?

Or was she willing to trade a Mudblood in exchange of her pureblood family's freedom?

Deeply lost in her thoughts regarding Narcissa and her mysterious change, Hermione returned to the waiting lounge and to her immense surprise found the woman sitting with Audré there.

"Oh! Jean!"Audré smiled at her once she reached them, "I took the liberty to buy a few dresses for you; not that you needed it. It is just my late birthday present for you." She indicated at the boxes, that were now four in number with the addition of Hermione's newest dress, "I hope you will like the dresses and hats that I chose for you."

And that solved the mystery of the boxes.

"Merci, Aunt Audré, but there was really no need to do that." Hermione said earnestly, "You have already given me so much. Where is Adrian by the way?" Hermione asked noticing her son's absence as she settled down on a sofa.

"Julian took him to the Quidditch section." Audré replied placing a hand over Narcissa's lap to restrain her from rising, "You know boys. I guess Julian at last found someone of his own league." She smiled at her.

Hermione watched as Narcissa picked one of the magazines from the nearest table and opening it, turned its pages absentmindedly, finally settling on an article on Crocodile skin boots.

"This place reminds me of Harrods." Hermione commented after some time, "It is a very famous Muggle department shop in London. My parents took me there twice to buy me birthday presents on my tenth and eleventh birthday." She reminisced.

"Pretty interesting." Audré said her blue eyes twinkling, "I must admit I would like to visit it when I go to London next time. But I assure you dear, though a not as big and impressive as Harrods, Lá Modé is the largest Wizarding department store in whole France."

They chatted animatedly for a while and Narcissa turned the pages of her magazine uncomfortably, sometimes casting side glances at Hermione's direction.

"Mama! Mama!" Hermione heard her son call her as he came almost running at her and she stood up to receive him in her arm, "Uncle Julian bought me a new broom." He pointed at the finely packed thin and slender package in Julian's hand, who walked over to them in long strides.

"Julian, you are really making me feel embarrassed now." Hermione said to the tall man, "It is enough for me that you all love Adrian so much. There was no need to spend so much on him. I don't want to spoil him from an early age by giving him everything he asks." She said earnestly.

"Adrian didn't ask it, Jean. I gave it to him." Julian supplied with a smile, "Honestly woman, you should sometimes let this kid have some fun. Besides, he is almost six years old now and it is high time that you let him out of your protective clutches; otherwise his friends will ridicule him as 'Mama's boy'." He chided her.

"I have no one but him, Julian." Hermione said to make the man understand the reason behind her excessive protectiveness, "And I want him to be better man, better than his…" she paused and lifted her chin, "…better than his father in every aspect."

Julian settled on the sofa beside Hermione and handed the package to Adrian who took it to show it to Audré, "I know what you mean, Jean, as an elder brother I can understand your point of view." He said in a low whisper to prevent others from hearing their conversation, "Please don't think I am challenging your way of rearing up our only child, No." he shook his head, "You are an excellent mother, Jean, an excellent mother and Adrian could hardly have a mother better than you." He smiled at Hermione encouragingly, "I admit that Draco is not the kind of father a child should have for he himself lacks proper manners, true sense of dignity and many other important human values. But have you ever wondered why he became like that?" He asked and Hermione frowned, "Nothing happens without a reason and what happened with Draco is completely not his own fault. It is because he was brought up that way. Besides, I think aunt Narcissa never let him mix with boys other than her precious pureblood circle and he missed the chance to learn something good and different from them. Maybe if he had that opportunity he could have been a better man than he is now. But Adrian is not Draco, Jean, though he shares half a blood with that bigot man; he is far more intelligent and receptive to others. He loves you more than anything else in the world and would never be derailed for your love anchors him to goodness. You have trained him very well and I am very impressed. Even though he is hardly six he knows the meaning of forgiveness for he forgave the boy who bullied him. He also understands how to respect his elders and ladies which I think Draco still lacks. Adrian is a fine boy, Jean, and your upbringing is right. But it is time to let him go and associate with bigger circles so that he can adjust himself and feel comfortable in their presence. That way he will be able to practice what you have taught to him and you will be able to see if your rearing was good enough. You can't always protect him from all kind of evil. Let him out and let your love guide his heart in the darkest of times." He said solemnly, "Besides, buying a broom or a book or a new set of drawing pencils can hardly spoil a child. You can spoil him without buying them; all you have to do is tell him that he is always correct in his beliefs and ways and never admonish or punish him for his wrongdoings. That's enough to turn away any child's head; like my beloved aunt and uncle did in case of my dear cousin Draco." He finished.

Being subjected to different types of theories, explanations and revelations since last night, Hermione felt too overwhelmed to comment. She looked at her son, who was showing his new broom first to Audré and then to Lillian as the young has finally come out with several large boxes carried by a shop representative.

"God bless the man who becomes your husband, dear sister." Julian commented as he stood up to pay the bills and eyed the six large boxes, "At this rate he will become bankrupt within a month of your marriage." He said mocking sympathy.

Lillian simply scoffed at her brother as Audré cast an amused look at her children's playful bashing, "He should better be careful, brother, for I am not just anybody." She said pompously.

Their shopping finally over, Hermione left with her son and rest of the group through the Floo fireplace in Lá Modé and appeared minutes later in the Grand Floo of Château de la Grange- Bléneau. Their packages will be delivered to them individually and since her quarter was Fideliused Hermione asked her one's to be delivered to Audré.

After lunch, during which both Narcissa and her son were absent, Hermione returned to her quarter, gave her son his afternoon dose of medicine and groomed him a little for Audré would be taking him to meet other the kids in the neighbourhood. She bade her happy son goodbye as well as telling him to behave himself and then laid her tired body on their bed to think over everything that has happened since last night from the very beginning.

Where should she start?

Surprise after surprise after surprise.

First surprise: Proud and bigot Narcissa is angry on her pureblood son for assaulting a Muggleborn.

Second surprise: She cared and loved her sister Andromeda to the point that she sacrificed her chances of being happy.

Third surprise: She never became a Death Eater for she feared she would be asked to kill her own sister.

Fourth surprise: She thinks her own honour was stripped off the day her son committed that heinous crime.

Fifth surprise: She is ashamed to face Hermione and Adrian for that.

Sixth surprise: She feels how Hermione feels without her parents, friends and away from her country.

Seventh surprise: She hates her son for doing this to Hermione.

Hermione rubbed her forehead wearily and considered the extremely confusing situation. Until now she had always associated Narcissa with her son's crimes: his bigot attitude, his arrogant manners, his ruthless jibes and profanity and finally her violation. After last night's revelations she was thinking over matter in a new light.

Hermione had always tried to be just while assessing others, using her logical side to analyze them. While her logic said that Narcissa wasn't as bad as she appeared, her mind said to be cautious about the Slytherin woman. She was stuck in a limbo between sympathy, hatred, skepticism and reality. For the first time in her life she wanted to talk to the woman but was suspicious thinking that it may give Narcissa opportunity practice her influence as mother-in-law over her and she will be dead before that happens. Besides there was the issue of Adrian where Narcissa might ask to be more involved with Hermione's son and there was no way she was letting them anywhere near her son until she was absolutely sure she can.

Feeling that it was enough of this endless thinking Hermione got up, combed her hair lightly and smoothed her dress before leaving her quarter.

She was going to meet Narcissa Malfoy.

The Château being a huge castle, she used the Locating Spell and found Narcissa sitting on terrace while looking up at the sky.

"Mrs. Malfoy." She addressed the elderly woman who startled and looked at her, "Can I talk to you for a moment?" she asked.

"Yes, please." Narcissa motioned Hermione to take the seat opposite to her, "I am sorry I am a bit off-colour lately." She smiled weakly, "Please continue."

Hermione took a deep breath and made up her mind, "I don't know if you know this but I am the Chief Curse Breaker in Gringotts France and it was I, who curse broke your Malfoy vault before you came here at France." She said solemnly.

Narcissa's eyebrows arched and threatened to vanish in her hairline.

"I also spent two summers in number twelve Grimmauld Place where I remember there were many cursed objects and since you are a Black too, I would like you to tell me if you know anything about how they were placed or remember any spells that were used in placing them." Hermione continued without letting Narcissa exclaim in surprise, "I have found similar things in your Malfoy vault here and though I have temporarily lifted off their curses, I would like to know the manner they were placed so that I can use it for future reference." She explained.

Narcissa interlocked her thin white fingers and gave Hermione a solemn look, "Well, I remember some of them for my father used to place them on family heirlooms that he didn't want to pass to others. I don't know how helpful it will be but I will try my best to help you in this subject." She said.

"Thank you." Hermione said and stood up, "I will appreciate it if you could visit your vault on Monday morning so that I can show you some samples." She bid.

"I will." Was Narcissa's curt reply before she turned her face towards the murky sky again.

Hermione was on her way to the door that led off the terrace when she heard Narcissa call her.

"Gra…Jean!" she used Hermione's middle name with hesitation.

Hermione turned her head without turning her whole body, gesturing that she was indeed listening to her.

"Thank you." Narcissa said, "Adrian is a fine boy and thank you for keeping him that way." She said.

Hermione wanted to turn and ask her why she said that but checked herself.

It would do no good if she became overly sensitive to anything Narcissa said. She was Hermione Jean Granger and she was giving her a chance to prove how truthful she was in her earlier words but since there was gulf of difference in their views, Hermione would keep her private feelings to herself.

As she walked back to her quarter, Hermione remembered what Audré had said to her the day she gave her Narcissa's Sleeping Mixture.

"Had you seen as much life as I have seen, Jean you would have accepted it happily."

Maybe she hasn't seen as much life as Audré had seen; maybe she was not a black hole like her. But she, Hermione Granger, had seen enough and was eager to test Audré's theory regarding it.

'Let's see Narcissa Black Malfoy, how true you are to your words.' Hermione murmured and opened the door to her quarter.