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.

39. Chapter 39

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, Nikki98, ramyfan, happyhoper, Hannah early 96 and v-x-y-zz for their constructive reviews.

Acknowledgements:

The information on Wand woods and cores were taken from Pottermore and Harry Potter wikia. But the analysis belongs to this author; they are no way related to J k Rowling.

Some of the dialogues resemble Draco Malfoy's dialogue in HBP. Some were taken from PS and PoA.

The information on Parisian restaurants and Le Cinq were taken from their respective websites.

The song is 'All that I need' by Boyzone which was published in 1998.

This chapter again is very long (20k+) and I couldn't curtail it for it will destroy the flow of this chapter.

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

My fiction 'The Poisoned Apple' has been nominated for The Hogwarts award in the category Hermione Romance. It is posted on the site and I would like you to cast your vote on the site under 'vote' tab.

The website is hogwartsawards DOT weebly DOT com **replace DOT with a . The link can also be found in my profile.

For adult and swear 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 39: Reason and Rhyme

Draco rinsed the washcloth in warm water and wrung it before placing it over his face.

"Cousin?" Julian's voice came from behind the closed bathroom door, "Draco? Where are you?" he called again.

"In the bathroom." Draco called back, his voice muffled due to wet washcloth, "You can come in, Julian." He bid, "I am just shaving." He added.

The door opened and sounds of footfalls echoed across the spacious bathroom as his French cousin walked in.

"What are you doing with Papa's Pensieve?" Draco heard his cousin asked him as he finally removed the washcloth.

"Watching a Quidditch match." Draco replied curtly as he squeezed some shaving cream and applied it lightly over his beard area.

"Who won?" Julian asked casually, "Or was it Gryffindor vs. Slytherin were the Slytherin lost spectacularly?" he arched an amused eyebrow.

"Slytherins never lose." Draco commented coolly as he stretched his skin with one hand and started shaving with the other, "They always win in the end." He added.

"The end, my dear cousin Draco Lucius Malfoy,…" Julian said as he settled on the edge of the bathtub, "…is very far from where you stand." He said lightly.

"I am not afraid of the distance, dearest cousin Julian Chombrun Malfoy." Draco mimicked his cousin as his blade cleaned an area over his left cheek, "It is the goal that matters to me."

"Curious." Julian smirked and winked, "That reminds me of the purpose I came here. I hope that your beauty sleep is finally over for it is Saturday and I have already returned from shopping."

Draco looked at reflection of his cousin in the mirror and arched an eyebrow in questioning manner.

"As per your wish, Jean has been given her new dress. I took her to Lá Modé." Julian informed him.

Draco's lips twisted into a small smile.

'Granger! Oh, Granger!' he thought contentedly, 'You finally have something from your detested husband. That too from his earnings not from his family vault.'

"Did she ask you anything about your sudden desire to buy her a dress?" he enquired from Julian, curious to know more.

"Why should she? I took everyone for a weekend shopping because I received my pay this morning." Julian replied, "But I paid for her dress from your money." He added to Draco's frown.

"Thank you, cousin." Draco thanked the man from the bottom of his heart, "When will you take them to dinner?" he asked, resuming his shave again.

"Possibly, tomorrow night." Julian replied solemnly, "Tomorrow is Sunday and I have already asked my secretary to book a table for three in the best Parisian restaurant - magic or Muggle. Incidentally, the Muggle restaurants in Paris are better than magic ones for they don't use magic for cooking. I think it is because they lack magic, Muggle's knowledge in Gastronomy is very refined. Like you will get the best Ratatouille in whole Paris not in a Wizarding one but in a Muggle restaurant called Chez Janou."

His left cheek done, Draco cleaned the blade and raised it to proceed for right side but stopped mid way, "Cousin, what is a Mercedes?" he asked remembering the car Alexis had brought to take Hermione to their home when she came to France.

"How come you are suddenly interested in Muggle cars?" Julian asked back skeptically.

"Just curiosity." Draco lied solemnly, "So what is a Mercedes?" he asked again, resuming his shave.

"Mercedes or more properly called a Mercedes-Benz is a German automobile manufacturer company which makes luxury cars and other vehicles." Julian replied, "Mercedes is used by upper class rich Muggles, Head of States, Royal families and celebrities. It is very famous for its superior quality and durability." He explained, "Anything else?" he asked Draco.

"Can you arrange a Mercedes to take Jean and Adrian for dinner?" Draco asked tilting his head backwards and shaving the undersurface of chin and neck.

"Should I arrange a romantic candle light dinner for you and Jean too?" Julian asked back with evident amusement.

Draco stopped on his way to shave the right side of neck, "No." he replied, "Now can you arrange a Mercedes or not?"

"Mercedes?" Julian snapped his finger in indignation, "If you want a Concord, Draco, I can even arrange that." he said proudly.

"What the hell is that?" Draco asked irritated, "I don't want a concord or foncord or anything else." He said trying to beat off his irritation and regaining his calm composure, remembering Julian wouldn't be talked like that, "I want a Mercedes and I want Jean and Adrian to ride it to go for their dinner." He said solemnly.

"Okay, Draco." His cousin held out a hand to calm him, "Your 'your majesty' of a wife and son will ride Mercedes." Julian assured him.

His mind finally at rest Draco pursued more pressing issues.

"Julian, where did you pursue your higher studies?" he asked his cousin casually.

"Me?" Julian asked pointing at his chest, "Well I joined Auror School after I completed my graduation from Beauxbatons. My build is good and I was interested in making it my career so they took me in the Ministry right after I ended my two year course." He said, "Why?"

Draco wiped the excess foam from his face with the warm washcloth and looked up to fix his stare at his cousin's reflection in the mirror, "Did you work when you studied in Beauxbatons?" he asked him.

"Now that's a really interesting question." Julian commented, "In Beauxbatons, the students are allowed more freedom than any other school in Europe. We could visit our families during weekends, we could even work part-time to earn our pocket moneys; but if that made our grades fall, then teachers would take away that privilege from us. Seventh year students can choose their preferred subjects and they can employ the rest of the time for homework or other purposes. I took Defense Against the Dark Arts for I planned to make my career there, Potions, Transfiguration and Charms. That allowed me plenty of time to work as I liked."

"What did you do?" Draco asked curious to learn more.

"I used to design Broom pamphlets for a famous Broom shop." Julian answered and Draco frowned, "I know it sounds ridiculous." He smiled.

Draco shook his head and finally turned to face his cousin, "No, it doesn't." he said calmly.

"Are you finished or are you going to shave your head too?" Julian asked him, "If not then let's get out of this place and talk outside." He offered, "I don't like echo while talking."

Deciding that he will take his bath later, Draco left the bathroom behind his cousin and went to the balcony.

"Should I ask the elves to bring us some coffee?" Julian asked as he settled on a couch and Draco took the other.

"As you wish." Draco replied and gave his cousin his fullest attention after he placed an order to bring them two coffees to the house elf who served Draco, "Please continue." He bid.

"Where do you think I gathered all this knowledge on broomsticks cousin?" Julian asked him as he placed one long leg over the over the other, "My love for Quidditch is not unknown to you. What is unknown is how it all started. While most people fall in love with game first, I fell in love with the apparatus on which Quidditch is played – broomsticks." He said smiling serenely, "I used to wonder how broom makers make a functioning broom from a branch of tree and some twigs. Have you ever paid it a thought, Draco?" Julian asked him and Draco frowned, "I mean, we go to broom shop and buy the best broom available out there but have you ever thought how the handle is made and polished or how the twigs for that tail are selected one by one?" he asked more specifically and Draco shook his head, "No." Julian noted Draco's answer, "With our money we can only buy the broom Draco, not the patience, dedication and skill that is employed to bring that broomstick to life." he commented solemnly, "The day I realized that I was more interested in what happened behind the scene than what happened in the pitch, I started reading books on broomsticks, famous Quidditch players and their choice of broom to understand this unique craftsmanship. By my sixth year, I knew almost all the different models of brooms and their specialty so well that all the six teams in Beauxbatons used to consult me before buying brooms for I could give them almost expert opinions, I could help them choose the best broom according to their needs. When I came of age, after my O . W . L . s for we in Beauxbatons sit in exam after six years not after five years like you do in Hogwarts; I decided to give it a try and applied for the post of Broom salesman in a famous shop named 'Quidditch First'. They accepted me and during weekends, I used to visit their shop to examine all the new model brooms so that when I returned to school I can design interesting pamphlets for them to boost their sale. If I have extensive knowledge on brooms now, Draco, it is because I love this section of magical science." He said with satisfaction.

Draco considered his words before asking his next question, "That means you didn't work for money?"

"Money?" Julian asked back, "What has that got to do with work?"

Draco took the mug of coffee that the elf had just brought and breathed in the magnificent aroma, "Well, common people work for money. Don't they?" he asked matter-of-factly.

Julian shook his head in disbelief and took a sip from his coffee, "No, cousin. Who gave you that wrong idea?" he asked Draco.

"Then why do people work in your opinion?" Draco asked him coolly.

Julian took a deep breath as if bracing himself and gave Draco a very solemn look, "Look cousin, I don't know who planted this ridiculous idea in your mind that people work for money; but I assure you most educated people don't do that. Yes, your assessment is true to some extent where those, who are not very educated and are very poor like street vendors, porters, common laborers work to earn their living but most of us, who are educated or understand the meaning of education, work for recognition." He said evenly.

"Money is a form of recognition." Draco countered.

"No, money is not a form of recognition." Julian shook his head, "Money is a basically an achievement."

"What is the difference between recognition and achievement?" Draco asked comically, "The meaning is basically the same – recognition and achievement." He commented.

"No, cousin." Julian replied, "There is a very thin line of difference between recognition and achievement. Like there is difference between dawn and morning; like there is difference between rain and fog, Draco, there is a difference between recognition and achievement. Recognition is a continuous process while achievement is a stationary one. Take a broom maker for example: when he makes a new and faster broom it is considered his achievement for he has discovered something on his own. But he has to make at least hundreds of brooms like that to be recognized as the best broom maker. Like you said people work to earn money; that money is their achievement. A street vendor also earns money and I also earn money. So what's the difference between us?" he asked Draco.

"You mean he doesn't have the recognition?" Draco asked skeptically.

"Exactly." Julian said, "While I work to excel myself, he works to earn. I am not saying it is a bad thing for him. The difference is, education makes us value our inner selves. We work to explore and improve and as a consequence we also earn money. But earning money isn't the only goal here. There are fifteen different warlocks in my department who want to be in my post as the second-in-command in Department of Magical Law Enforcement. But why was I chosen for it?" he asked an intent looking Draco, "Because I was better than any of them; because I worked to excel the talents I had, because I work to prove myself. Now, I am paid not for my work, Draco, I am paid for my talent." He answered, "So, in our stage people who don't work either lack the potentials or the ambitions."

Draco reflected on the answer his cousin provided.

'But Granger said she had no money to raise Adrian?'

'She said she needed money to give my son all the comforts in life?'

'If educated people don't work for money, then why did she say that? Why did she work?'

"Tell me, Julian, why did you work before you graduated?" he asked taking a sip from his coffee, "Was it because you needed money?"

"Again money?" Julian said exasperatedly, "I had the Chombrun Malfoy vault at my disposition, Draco. Had I wanted money I could have taken it anytime. I worked because it gave me confidence. I worked because it made me a man." he said firmly.

Remembering what his father had said about manhood, Draco decided to give the theory a try, "You mean you have to work to become a man? Are the Malfoys like some common mule?" he teased his cousin.

"Don't mind me using crude words, Draco, but do you think carrying a fine pair of testicles makes you a man?" Julian teased back.

"Why not?" Draco didn't even flinch at the words, "Malfoys testicles are not just any testicles." He said proudly.

"They are." Julian said dismissively, "If you hang your pair beside a common man's pair without a name tag, Draco, no one is going to differentiate which pair is a Malfoy and which pair is a non-Malfoy." He said arching his eyebrows, "Testicles makes you a man externally. But working, gaining your recognition, earning and taking care of your family – that is what makes you a real man. That was the reason why I, even after securing a pair of Malfoy testicles by birth rights, worked. Because, I wanted to be a real man."

Draco preferred not to argue this time and give this new theory a thought.

All his life, he has believed in the motto that Malfoys never work because they are too rare of a species and therefore high above common people. His father had been careful not to let him associate with those people, who he thought carried that name tag, while Draco was taught that people like Weasleys worked to only earn money. Since he is a Malfoy and his family has plenty of gold to roll over for the rest of their lives, he would never need to work. Even when his aunt Audré told him to enroll to Sorbonne in order to pursue his career in Law, Draco's primitive idea had been to prove to his son that he too can be as good as his mother - Hermione Granger, though he had planned to take care of them using his gold from the Malfoy vault. But since the fateful day when Hermione had declared in Apolline's memory that she would better be a beggar than let her son be brought up by 'filthy' Malfoy gold, Draco has been compelled to reconsider the matter. Besides, his French peer in Sorbonne – Dominique – has made it quite clear that there was a valid point behind Hermione's claim that the blood stained Malfoy family gold was unsuitable to rear his innocent son Adrian.

'I don't want Granger to bear Adrian's all expenses. He is my son too and therefore it is my responsibility to contribute to his upbringing.'

'But that damn woman wouldn't take my family gold.'

'Well I can smuggle her some and how would she know that it is from my vault?'

'But that way, I'll jeopardize my son's innocent mind and spirit.'

'No! Adrian is precious for me. He is my only son. He is my life.'

'Besides, Granger is bearing all her expenses on her own. I am her husband and my father Lucius Malfoy always bore all the expenses of my mother Narcissa.'

'But Malfoys are not common mules.'

"You coffee has turned stone cold, cousin." Julian's words brought Draco back to reality and he looked down in his coffee that has turned cold.

"Cousin, I would like to know if there is a decent place where a Malfoy can work." Draco asked the question that has been nagging him since his visit in Apolline's memory.

"What kind of work?" Julian asked, "You mean for yourself?" he asked half-amused, half-incredulous.

"Is there any other male Malfoy other than me?" Draco asked back, irritated.

"There is one other." Julian answered with a smirk and Draco frowned before realizing that his cousin was referring to his five and half year old son.

"Yes, but he is still a kid." Draco said, smiling finally.

"Adrian, though a quarter of your age, Draco, is four times a man you can ever be." Julian said pompously and though the jibe was on his manhood and therefore infuriating, Draco couldn't be angry upon his cousin for telling the truth. Even at such a young age, the boy has earned ten thousand galleons on his own merit in drawing. Though it has been he, Draco who arranged all that prize money to lure his son out, it didn't necessitate for him to influence the judges to declare his son as the winner. Draco always felt proud that Adrian had won the Drawing Competition in Brussels fair and square.

"Now, tell me is there a place where…" he started but his cousin cut him.

"Yes, yes, I know." Julian held up his hand, "Where a 'Malfoy' can work." He said looking highly amused, "Well, I don't know what you can do outside your studies in Law, cousin. You are a graduate and unless you finish your Law course, you can't pursue your luck as a lawyer. But if you have any other specialty in any subject - like Potions, Transfiguration, Charms or Defense Against the Dark Arts or Flying - I can see to it." he assured.

Draco contemplated over the matter.

'What was he good at?'

'Well, he was definitely good at flying; there was no doubt there. He was the Slytherin seeker and now he is a Seeker in Sorbonne too.'

'He was good at drawing.'

'He was good at…' he considered the subjects he had taken at Hogwarts.

'Astronomy? He frowned, 'No! I don't like that subject where I have to star gaze like half-breed centaurs.'

'Care of Magical Creatures…..horrible!' Draco shuddered at the thought of Blast-ended Skrewts.

'Charms? …. Well, I am good at charms.' He assessed.

'Defense Against the Dark Arts?... Well, despite having seven moronic teachers I know plenty of spells on that subject.' He thought with satisfaction.

'Divination?...pathetic.' he dismissed the idea immediately.

'Herbology?... well, I hate soil and fertilizers but for Adrian, I will stand it.'

'History of Magic?... No, definitely not'

'Transfiguration?... I like that too. But it was taught by a Gryffindor.' He wrinkled his nose.

And then it dawned upon him.

His Head of House Professor Severus Snape had said it on his first day at Potions back in 1991.

'You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of a softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes; the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching minds, ensnaring senses…I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even put stopper to death…if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.'

'Potions.' Draco whispered softly, finally getting his answer.

In fact, if he was good at anything that he could be proud of it, it was Potions. Draco had dab- hands on the subjects his Slytherin mentor taught them and the only other person whom he could compete with was none other than his current wife and Adrian's mother Hermione Jean Granger.

That brought forth the memory of the first day in Potions when Professor Snape had asked questions to that Potty boy and his future friend Hermione Granger had raised her hand to answer them all.

Draco couldn't help but smiled at the memory of the quivering hand of an eleven year old Hermione Granger that threatened to touch the Dungeon ceiling when Snape had asked those questions.

'Always the know-it-all.' He thought.

"Are you thinking about pursuing career in Love-letter writing?" his cousin Julian teased him, "You are smiling like a love-sick shy teenager." He noted.

Draco straightened his face and made is impassive again, "No, I was thinking about an incident about an old classmate." He said.

"Funny, how you still remember and smile at your school memories, Draco." Julian said innocently, "I never thought you were capable of feeling such acute emotions. Is that particular classmate your wife now?" Julian asked with mock stern.

Draco preferred not to answer his cousin's questions and replied in a different manner.

"Potions, cousin. I am good at Potions." He said to Julian who frowned, "I had Outstanding both in O . W. L. and N. E. W. T. s." Draco informed him.

"Potions?" Julian repeated thoughtfully, "Well, since you have an 'O' in both your exams, I will see to it. In our Magical Law Enforcement Department, we have to make Polyjuice and other potions like that to spy on suspected criminals. There is also need of Veritaserum for interrogation." He informed Draco, "I had my 'O' in Potions in O . W . L. but not in N . E . W . Ts. That is pretty advanced level potions." He commented, "Well, cousin, don't worry." He assured Draco, "I will see if they need a double 'O' in the Defense Potions Department." He said and stood up with an air of finality, "And yes, maman, told me to inform you that our meeting on the case against the Rochés is after dinner at Papa's study."

Draco nodded and watched as his cousin was about to leave when something struck him.

"Julian." He called his cousin who looked over his shoulder, "Will the undersecretary come too?" he asked, his insides suddenly burning like hell.

"Delacour?" Julian asked back, "Obviously." He replied and left.

Infuriated by this new piece of information, Draco threw his coffee mug at the opposite wall and it smashed with a loud clang.

'Why did aunt call him?' he thought and stood up, striding into his suite and opening the bathroom door to take his bath, 'Can he not give Granger some rest? She is my wife now.' he thought angrily.

'But since when did you start caring for that Mudblood?' the snide voice ridiculed him, 'Let that slut have her share of fun.'

"SHUT UP!" Draco exclaimed loudly and taking off his green shirt, he threw it forcefully on the bathroom floor, "GRANGER IS PURE! AND SHE IS MY WIFE!"

'We will see to that!' the voice replied, 'With that pimp of a boyfriend worshipping her like some goddess and providing her with physical comfort, Draco Malfoy, we will see how long your 'pure' Mudblood remains 'pure'.' He cackled maliciously.

"She is pure and she will remain pure." Draco said resolutely, "My son is pure because of her and she dare not play with my son's purity."

The voice didn't reply anymore and furious, Draco stepped into the shower and turned on the water.

Since the day he had obtained the first batch of memories, Draco had spent every single moment he didn't study for his Law course to watch it again and again and again to relish and examine it for finer details. Now three days after his first visit to that memory he, Draco could tell with his eyes closed what Hermione was wearing, what she had done, how she had looked, what she had said in each of those memories. His personal favourite was the one where she helped the old woman while least favourite being the one when Alexis Delacour had kept looking at Hermione through the rear view mirror and when that Chief Librarian had offered Hermione half a pay for her work.

When Draco finished his bath, a new determination was playing in his mind and like a true Slytherin he was keen not to let any favourable opportunity go.

He towel dried his platinum blonde hair and chose a light blue shirt to wear for the upcoming after-dinner meeting.

'Lucius Malfoy's son would be damned if that Delacour boy wooed his wife from before his eyes.' He thought and donned the shirt that bore the colour his wife was somehow partial to.

•••••

Hermione had just returned from her visit to her esteemed mother-in-law when she found Lillian sitting in her sitting room while four large boxes from their earlier shopping were placed on the table.

"Maman told me to give you these." She informed a smiling Hermione, "They sent it from Lá Modé just before she was about to leave with Adrian."

"That's so kind of you." Hermione said and instead of taking a seat opposite Lillian she went to the open kitchen-cum-dining area just beside the sitting room and put on a kettle on the stove.

"Would you like some tea, Lillian?" she offered the young woman who nodded and left the sitting room to come and take a chair in the dining table.

"Do you need me to help you?" she asked Hermione, pointing at her plastered arm.

"No." Hermione replied, "I work that way in Gringotts - with one hand and it hasn't caused me any problems till now." She assured her sister-in-law.

"You should have seen Julian's face when he came to know that you are the one they call Chief Curse Breaker Jean." Lillian said, resting her face on her palm, "Brother may not say it Jean, but he is a huge admirer to that woman." she said and Hermione frowned, "No, no, not in a bad sense." Lillian shook her head noticing Hermione's frown, "What I meant is that Curse Breaker is considered an exclusively male post and you, being a woman, earned it on our merit. So he admired your skill and courage." She explained.

Smiling now, Hermione poured the tea in two mugs and placed them on a tray.

"Let me help you now." Lillian said and before Hermione could protest, she took out her wand and Summoned the mug-laden tray to her side of the table.

"You know, Jean, Adrian has given a new life to maman." Lillian said taking her mug as Hermione settled beside her, "Before he came, the Château felt so empty. Now with him and his rabbit running around and squealing all day, the place feels so alive." She said, beaming.

"Mother Apolline used to say so." Hermione reminisced how the Delacour matriarch took care of Adrian like her own grandson, "She used to say children are life of a home."

"Yes, I think she is right." Lillian agreed, "After Papa died maman became almost mad with grief. She didn't speak for a week." She said gravely and Hermione leaned forward in interest, "They were like soul-mates, you know, Jean. They couldn't live without each other. Mother mourned for a whole year before taking off her black attire. She left her post as the Chief Public Prosecutor. She almost detached herself from everything. I have never seen or heard of anyone mourning over her husband's death like that. Maman started spending more of her time inside the Château than outside and she limited her visits only to our neighbours. It was after a letter from aunt Narcissa came that she became interested in life again and when Adrian arrived he breathed a new life in maman." She said smiling now, "Maman can't start a day without seeing Adrian first person in the morning." she noted.

Hermione felt grateful for the woman who had so sincerely loved her and her son.

"Tell me more about aunt Audré." She requested her sister-in-law, "I hardly know her."

"Why you, Jean, even I don't know my maman properly." Lillian replied evenly, "Maman is very mysterious and the only person who ever understood her completely was Papa." Lillian said looking lost, "She is very loving, caring and sensitive to those whom she loves. But she is also extremely selfish and vindictive when it comes to her family. Take Adrian for example, maman will kill someone without any remorse if he or she even lays a wrong hand on him." She said seriously.

"But that's is extreme." Hermione said astonished, "I mean I will punish anyone who will abuse my child and even may injure him gravely but I will never kill him." She said, "The only time I can think of killing anyone is if he tries to kill my child." She said remembering the night when she had Cruciatus'ed Draco Malfoy and almost killed him thinking he has killed his half-blood son.

"Maman is like that." Lillian shrugged, "She won't let anyone to dare to even think of abusing or taking away the people she loves and cares for."

"Why is aunt insomniac?" Hermione sipped her tea and asked the question that had been playing in her mind for a while.

Lillian sighed and placing her mug on the table before rubbing her face grimly, "My Papa was ill. Don't ask me the details, I don't know." She said defensively to Hermione's deep questioning frown, "Mama treated him but while doing it she also fell ill and became insomniac like Papa."

This new piece of information intrigued Hermione to no end. She had never thought Audré could be so deeply involved with someone that she may lose her normal pattern of life for him.

"Maman lost her mother when she was very young." She heard Lillian saying and returned her attention to the young woman before her, "My grandmother died from a potion accident in this very Château. Maman was brought up by my grandfather Renée Chombrun and her grandfather Pierre Laval. They were both tough men and she became even tougher, I guess. You will not meet a woman like her for she thinks like a man while adding her feminine instincts to it to sharpen it more."

Hermione considered Lillian's words about her mother. Audré was like a man in many ways: her commanding mode, her dominating nature and selfish and proud attitude were all masculine characters while her sharp intelligence, cunning assessment, gentle care and over protectiveness were feminine characteristics. She had seen her own mother Adeline Granger, Ron's mother Molly Weasley, Fleur's mother Apolline Delacour and she has seen Audré Chombrun Malfoy too. None of them were such a perfect blend of two extreme opposites like Audré was.

"Jean, would you mind if I see your wand?" she heard Lillian asked her and feeling surprised she took out her wand and placed it before her silently.

"You must know by this time that I study Wandlore." Lillian said softly as she took the Hermione's wand and examined it with utmost care, "Vine-wood, 10¾ inches long, Dragon heartstring." She noted, "It appears new. Why?" she asked Hermione curiously.

"Well my first wand was…"Hermione paused remembering the day Greyback stunned and took her to Malfoy manor which resulted in her violation, "…was lost during the Second Wizarding War in England. So I asked the wand maker, Garrick Ollivander, to make me a new one after Voldemort died. Incidentally he re-made me the wand that I had lost during the war for he says he remembers every single one he ever sold." She replied.

"That happens with wand makers." Lillian commented wisely, "Even Monsieur Antoine Curtius, under whom I am doing my apprenticeship, remembers all the wands he ever sold and he is almost Ninety-five years old now. Your wand is very interesting, Jean." she said running and feeling the thin rod between her fingers, "Very interesting." She repeated, holding it before her blue eyes.

"What's interesting?" Hermione asked, her curiosity running high.

To her surprise Lillian placed her wand on the table and gave her a very solemn look.

"Jean, please note that what I am about to say is highly hypothetical and no way related to your current difficult relationship with cousin Draco." she said placing a hand over Hermione's hand, "Wandlore is a very subtle and vague division of magic. We can't always predict a person from his or her wand and tell who can or will be their life partners." She said gently.

"What type of answer is that?" Hermione asked surprised that Lillian hasn't given her a clear answer, "Why? What is wrong with my wand?" she asked and took her wand to examine it.

"Nothing is wrong, Jean." Lillian assured her as she took Hermione's wand from her hand again, "Please let me explain first." She requested, "Take the wood of this wand for example. Your birthday is 19th September and according to Celtic calendar that the British wand makers study, Vine corresponds to those born between 2nd and 29th September." Lillian said, narrowing her eyes to examine the wood, "In Celtic calendar Vine is also the symbol of passionate emotions at its extreme – happiness and wrath. Then there is the length which is 10 and ¾ inches. Number 10 resonates with the vibrations and energies of leadership, optimism, confidence, independence, creative powers, success, energy, originality, adaptability, determination and individuality. ¾ means powerful unfolding of inner energies, like the moon which looks ¾ full before it reaches its zenith at full moon." She explained to a now intrigued Hermione, "But the most interesting part is the core." She said softly and Hermione leaned forward in extreme interest, "It is after your husband's name and soul element: Dragon heart string." Lillian said rubbing the wand lightly.

As soon as the words reached Hermione's inner ears, she felt like snapping her wand into two and throwing it in the garbage bin.

Trying hard to control her rage, she asked for her wand and a half-somber and half-thoughtful Lillian handed it back to her.

"I have checked Cousin Draco's wand too." Lillian resumed her earlier conversation, taking up her mug and casting a Warming Charm on it, "His one is new too. It's a Hawthorn, 10 inches long and Unicorn hair core." She informed a disgruntled Hermione who replaced her wand in her pocket, "Like you, his wand wood matches his birth month: 5th June 1980. When were you born, Jean?" she asked Hermione who didn't know who how to avoid the question.

"19th September 1979." She replied curtly, bracing herself for some new hidden connection.

"September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May." Lillian counted in her fingers and snapped them in evident discovery, "You are nine monthes older than cousin and your wand is ¾ inches longer than his." She said her eyes unfocused now, "¾ of a year is nine monthes. See the connection?" she asked more to herself than to Hermione, "And lastly the core. Unicorn is considered to be the most innocent creature among all the magical animals. Their tail hair may be very common for a wand core but as an animal, there is no purer kind available in whole animal kingdom. Their innocence is sometimes associated with female innocence and virginity. It is also associated with motherhood which is the most innocent and selfless relationship in the world. So in a way Draco's wand core point to you, Jean." she said pensively, "It is actually a sin to slay a Unicorn for they are very pure." She said gravely and Hermione was reminded of her trip to Forbidden Forest in her first year with Hagrid, Harry, Fang and Draco Malfoy when Voldemort was using Quirrell to drink Unicorn blood, "For you have slain something so pure and defenseless to save yourself, Jean, you will have but a half life, a cursed life, from the moment the Unicorn's blood touches your skin."

As if a Time Turner has taken her back to that night in 1992, Hermione's thoughts were lost in the memory of that particular night when in she had seen large pools of silvery Unicorn blood on the forest grounds.

She shuddered involuntarily remembering how Draco Malfoy had breached the barrier of her innocence and shed her virgin blood the day he assaulted her. If Lillian's assessments were right then a cursed life awaits her violator Draco Malfoy.

"Have I made you upset, Jean?" she heard Lillian ask her delicately.

Remembering that her brother and sister-in-law didn't know about her violation Hermione refrained from answering and gave her a forced smile.

"What about your wand?" she asked her with false cheerfulness, "Is your husband's name etched on it too?"

"Mine?" Lillian asked and looked at her wand, "I don't know." She said.

"You don't know?" Hermione asked skeptically, "Or you know but don't want to tell me." She teased her lightly.

"I really don't know." Lillian emphasized, "I mean I know my wand. It's a Rowan wand." She said and Hermione raised her eyebrows in surprise, "I know Rowan is not a common wand wood like Holly, Elm, Walnut or Blackthorn. A Rowan wand is good for its defensive charms are especially strong and difficult to break. It is also stated that no Dark witch or wizard ever owned a Rowan wand. Monsieur Curtius says it's for 'clear-headed and pure-hearted people'." Lillian smiled shyly, "The core is also very strange: Veela hair." she said.

Hermione gaped at her sister-in-law.

"Veela hair?" she repeated incredulously.

"Yes, I know, I know." Lillian said and held up her hands exasperatedly, "How many Veelas do you meet now-a-days?" she shrugged, "But mine is a Veela hair and I was very surprised when it chose me in my eleventh year." she confessed.

It was not that Hermione knew many Veelas. Her first encounter with this semi-human semi-magical humanoids occurred during the 1994 Quidditch World Cup where she had seen how they could enchanted her male friends to the point of wanting to commit suicide to impress them. Her next encounter had been Fleur and her family, though this time the Delacours had won her heart.

"Maybe your in-laws will be from Veela family." she said to Lillian skeptically.

"Oh no, no, no, no." Lillian shook her head resolutely, "No chance." She said looking almost shocked, "I have heard how Veelas are; they are extremely proud and temperamental and I am not ending up anywhere near them. No." she shook her head again, "Besides, Jean, I already told you that Wandlore is a very subtle and vague division of magic. We can't always predict a person from his or her wand and tell who can or will be their life partners." She quoted her earlier statement.

Feeling amused now, Hermione was about to tell Lillian that the Delacour matriarch Apolline is half a Veela when Lillian asked her a completely different question.

"Jean, what kind of a person is Monsieur Alexis Delacour?" she asked Hermione cautiously.

"Alexis?" Hermione repeated, puzzled, "Why?"

"I asked you first, Jean, please answer me." Lillian noted.

Hermione struggled for an appropriate word; how was Alexis Delacour?

In her mind, Alexis was the kind of man every woman dreams to have as her life partner: loving, caring, sensible and subtle. She couldn't deny that she still loved that man and maybe it will take both of them some time to get over their past relationship to be friends again; but Hermione was certain that once they passed into that stage, Alexis will be able to start his life with another woman who will love him sincerely.

But what will happen to her? What will happen to her life? Her love?

She, Hermione Granger would be stuck as her violator, Draco Malfoy's wife in a loveless life forever.

But that way at least one of them will be happy instead of both being sad.

Besides, she had her son Adrian and she can spend her life to bring him up like a good man and especially not like his father: Draco Malfoy.

Something Audré said just last night reminded her that in long run she could be happy too.

"See how remarkably selfless we, women are when it comes to happiness." Audré had 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."

With Alexis finally settled and Adrian be the finest gentleman she ever dreamt of, an old and tired Hermione could finally breath her last happily.

But since those were her private thoughts regarding her future course of life and therefore not fit to reveal to her sister-in-law, Hermione took the safest road.

"Alexis is the finest gentleman I ever came to know." She completed her answer in one sentence.

"I don't know why everyone says that, Jean." Lillian said evenly, "I, personally find him quite rude and proud."

"Rude?" Hermione repeated incredulously, "Alexis and rude? Impossible." She shook her head firmly.

"Don't jump into any conclusion so fast, Jean." Lillian said solemnly, "I know they are your family and you love them. Believe me, Jean, I am not trying to insult Alexis Delacour. I am just telling my view based on his behaviour to me." She said calmly and Hermione frowned, "I admit that Monsieur Delacour is very polite and formal with others but he never looks at me. Even if his eyes fall on mine accidentally, he takes them off. It happened several times in your birthday party, Jean and I noticed it. He almost never speaks to me unless someone else starts the conversation first and nowadays he completely ignores me. That day in during picnic, he talked to everyone: you, Adrian, maman, Julian, aunt Narcissa and even cousin Draco; but not to me. Not even when I was standing behind him or when we were playing chess. He talked mostly to you while I was standing just beside you and directing our chess pieces. Don't you think it is arrogance and extreme rudeness to visit my home, talk to all my family members, play chess with me and never talk or look at me?" she asked rationally.

This piece of information was new to Hermione. She had always seen Alexis as an amiable man who respected ladies as well as maintained a reserve attitude towards them. That he could actually ignore the young lady whose home he was visiting, was completely out of Hermione's assessment power.

"Don't think I am the kind of woman who wants men to give her all their attention, No, Jean." Hermione heard as Lillian said to her, "I am not interested in him to the least. What interests me is his wand."

"Wand? Alexis's wand?" Hermione asked, stunned "Why?"

"Because he has an Elder Wand." Lillian replied curtly.

"Elder Wand!" Hermione repeated after her sister-in-law, unsure what to think or speak or do.

"Yes, an Elder Wand." Lillian affirmed, "Nowadays wand-makers don't make Elder Wand anymore for they think all wands made from Elder tree is ominous. They fear the Elder Wand that was called the Death Stick and avoid it at all costs. During my apprenticeship, I have met only two Elder Wands or more properly wands made from Elder wood for those were not the infamous Death Stick and believe me, Jean, they are such an interesting thing to research on." She said, beaming at the prospect.

Hermione listened to Lillian, her mouth agape and her mind lost in the memories of their Horcrux hunt.

'How can she forget the Elder Wand?'

'The first member of the Deathly Hallows!'

'The wand that she read about in 'the tale of three brothers.'!'

'The mythical wand, which caused numerous deaths over its possession and at last ended in the hands of Albus Dumbledore who won it from Grindelwald.'

With that came Harry's proclamation to Lord Voldemort while they fought in the Great Hall during the final hours of Battle of Hogwarts.

'The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy.'

A year after Draco Malfoy unintentionally became the Elder Wand's master, her friend Harry Potter had overpowered him and became the new master of Elder Wand.

That memory was still vivid in her mind.

Violated just an hour ago and too tired to even cry, Hermione had been lying on the cellar floor when Dobby suddenly apparated in the cellar.

Hermione knew that Ollivander and Luna needed to be saved first so, she sent them with the Elf to be taken to Bill and Fleur's place.

But before Dobby could come to her rescue, Bellatrix, who was suspecting a possible break-in, sent Peter Pettigrew to bring her up in their drawing room.

The traitor marauder had dragged Hermione by her hair to the drawing room and thrown her on the cold floor, before Bellatrix's feet.

"Potter is coming, Mudblood." She had cackled in glee and placed her left feet over Hermione's left breast to squeeze it painfully, "We will be honoured by the Dark Lord beyond measure."

Whimpering in pain as Bellatrix continued to press heavily on her already wounded and violated body with her foot, Hermione vaguely remembered when her friends coming to rescue her. There was a fight and Bellatrix took her as hostage while they were outnumbered. Dobby helped them by smashing the chandelier to distract the Malfoys as Ron had snatched her from Bellatrix's clutches and Harry had wrestled Draco Malfoy's wands from him. The Elf next took them to Shell Cottage, lying down his life to save theirs in the process.

Hermione blinked and her quarter came into view.

Even now, more than six years later after that incident she shed silent tears whenever Dobby's sacrifice came to her mind.

She let them fall unabashed in the memory of that tiny, abused yet dignified elf.

"Jean!" Lillian exclaimed, "Why are you crying?" she asked looking shocked and incredulous, "I am sorry I said those things about Alexis Delacour. I am sorry, Jean, please don't cry. I didn't mean to offend you." She said and looked around helplessly.

Realizing her tears has conveyed a totally different message to her sister-in-law, Hermione wiped her eyes hastily.

"No, Lillian." She said, trying hard to smile, "It's not that. It's really not THAT." she said firmly, "The thing is, I also know of an Elder Wand that Lord Voldemort used to torture and kill a lot of my friends and schoolmates during the Battle of Hogwarts. So when you said about Alexis's Elder Wand, it reminded me of that cursed Elder Wand and the people who died in the battle." She lied smoothly.

Lillian offered Hermione a handkerchief and took her hand in hers.

"I am really sorry, Jean." she offered apologetically, "I am really sorry." She shook her head sadly.

"No, it's alright." Hermione regained her composure and assured her sister-in-law, "I am fine now." she sniffed lightly, "So, you were saying something about Alexis's Elder Wand." She offered hopefully.

"No, I don't think we should talk about it, Jean." Lillian said fervently, "I have already made you upset."

"For Merlin's sake, Lillian, I am not a child!" Hermione chided her sister-in-law, "Tell me more! Please!" she insisted.

Lillian sighed and gave Hermione an unsure look, "Well if you are so sure, then I will tell you everything." She said finally making up her mind, "It was a few days before your birthday that I went to the Ministry to take Julian with me to a place where I thought I could find some interesting and old wands. The shop I wanted to go to is in the darkest side of Ruelle Les Halles, something like your British Knockturn Alley and I wanted Julian to be with me for my protection. But as soon as I entered the Ministry, the receptionist told me that I have to deposit my wand to the front desk because the Ministry has enacted a new rule that no one can take their wands inside the Ministry." She explained, "I did as he told me and was pinning my visitor badge to my robes when a man came and asked for his wand. As the receptionist took it out and returned it to the owner, I saw it was an Elder Wand. I was so surprised that I couldn't think of anything for a moment and by that time the man was gone. Then I asked the receptionist about him and he said it was…"

"Alexis Delacour." Hermione finished the rest of the sentence, now finding the missing piece about how Lillian came to know about Alexis's wand, "So, you wanted to talk to him and ask him to let you examine his wand? Right?" she asked curiously.

"Not anymore." Lillian replied solemnly, "It is true that his wand is a like treasure for an apprentice like me, but I no longer seek to examine it. He may be the Junior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic but that doesn't mean I am just anybody he can ignore like that. I have never bragged about my family position, Jean, that how my great-grandfather was Minister of Magic or how my father was Chief Warlock in French Wizengamot or my mother was Chief Public Prosecutor. Even I was asked to join the Ministry after I completed my graduation but since I don't like that bureaucratic place I refrained from joining it. I feel suffocated at the idea of working there; making reports, reports on reports and more reports on reports on reports. There is no joy of creating something unique." She said vehemently, "Wands on the other talk to me. I love to hold them, use them, understand them, analyze them and finally make them." Lillian said passionately. "But that doesn't mean I am going to tolerate his arrogance to examine his wand. I may be a nobody compared to his high and esteemed position but I have my self respect and I will never compromise with it for the sake of a mere wand." She said dismissively.

Hermione could see the point in Lillian's distaste behind Alexis for she too would have felt the same had Alexis or anyone behaved with her like that.

"I am sure there is some misunderstanding here." She said gently, trying to calm Lillian, "I know Alexis for more than six years and he has never behaved that way to any lady. I am not saying it's your fault." She said as Lillian opened her mouth to protest, "The Delacours may be my family, Lillian but I assure you I will not take their side if the fault is in their part. I will ask Alexis about it." she said solemnly.

"No!" Lillian exclaimed, "Absolutely NOT, Jean, I forbid you." She shook her head violently, "I don't want forced politeness and above all let him think that I am dying to talk to him, which I assure you, I am not. I told you this, Jean because I know I can trust you to share something with you. I don't want you to act as via-media between us. I am fine the way this…this relationship is and from now on, I am going to be formal and cold with him too." she said firmly.

Being a free-spirited woman she is, Hermione understood too well how Lillian felt when she said those words and more. She could remember how angry she was on Harry when he had tried to act like a media between her and Ron when that red-headed man came back suddenly during the Horcrux hunt and said - 'Hey' – as if nothing had happened. Besides, there was nothing between Alexis and Lillian except mysterious coldness on both parts.

"Okay, Lillian, I won't." Hermione assured her gently, "I am a woman too and I know how it feels to be ignored like that."

Feeling assured Lillian finally smiled and Hermione noticed the pretty lady looked even better when smiling.

"I must say I am very curious to know more about Wandlore." She said to Lillian who beamed, "The way you described it, Lillian, it sounds like pure logic to me and I love logic." She said.

"First let me teach you some chess, Jean, then I will tell you more about Wandlore." Lillian said happily, "It is so vast a subject that I can talk all day and still there will be so much to tell you." She said, "Another thing that I forgot to tell you during our conversation is, maman told me that there will be a meeting after dinner about the trial and that everyone except Adrian should be present. She has also asked Monsieur Delacour to join and therefore I have decided not to join it and teach Adrian some new chess moves instead. Your son is very intelligent, Jean, and with proper guidance he will be a fine chess player like maman one day." She said brightly and stood up to leave.

Hermione watched Lillian as she left with a promise to come back later to teach Adrian chess and her mind went back to their earlier conversation regarding wands.

So, according to Wandlore her wand points to her…to that bastard and that man's wand points to her!

And both the men she is related to either mentally or physically own or owned an Elder wand!

Hermione sighed and left her chair.

'Why is life always so complicated for me?' she thought.

•••••

Panting heavily and clutching Adrian protectively in her arms, Audré apparated in the Château grounds.

She shifted the little boy's unconscious body to one arm and with another she cast her Patronus which took the form of a dove.

"We were attacked. Adrian is unconscious. Come to my parlour immediately." she said to her Patronus which divided into five more doves and flew at different directions.

"Son of a bitch!" Audré growled in a low voice as she almost ran to the Château carrying the little boy as well as taking care of her grandson's fractured arm.

Surely enough by the time she reached the Château entrance two people came running at her at lightning speed.

The woman reached her first, looking hysterical while being closely followed by the man who looked murderous: Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy.

"What happened to my little rabbit?" Hermione asked panting, her voice trembling as she looked at her son's unconscious form in Audré's arms, "What happened to my son?" she tried to run a hand over Adrian's head.

"Who did this?" was Draco's low and angry growl, as he too looked down at his son, "Tell me, aunt, just tell me." He demanded.

"Will you two let me take him to my parlour?" Audré snapped at them both, "I hope he is not injured." She said walking past them.

"INJURED?" Hermione screamed as Draco swore loudly, "INJURED!" she repeated and followed Audré closely while Draco tried to take a good look at the little boy between the two ladies, "Why not take him to hospital right now?" she asked feverishly.

Not paying attention to the parents' rant, Audré took her grandson to the parlour where she laid him down carefully on the divan.

Hermione almost threw herself on the floor beside the divan as she started examining every inch of her son's body with a trembling hand, "Adrian? Adrian?" she called him desperately, "Open your eyes and look up at Mama?" she cried and kissed him repeatedly.

Draco on the other hand stood like a statue beside his son's unconscious form and hysterically crying wife. His face was white but set with a blazing look in his grey eyes.

"Let him sleep." Audré bid to Hermione who fixed her bloodshot eyes on her, "I am calling our family Healer to check him." She said before proceeding to the Floo fireplace and leaving the couple behind with their son.

Draco watched as Hermione waved her wand and tore open the T-shirt that covered his son's tiny upper body to reveal his fine chest and abdomen which was smeared with blood.

"Where is all this blood from?" he asked Hermione solemnly not trying to scare the already scared woman, "Where is the bleeding point?"

"I can't find it." Hermione replied hysterically, checking her son for third time in a row and completely oblivious with whom she was sharing the room now, "Oh! This blasted plaster isn't letting me check on him properly!" she said angrily as she shoved her plastered arm away with a wince and checked Adrian's back and neck.

His hands aching to touch and feel that his son was indeed alright, Draco decided to intervene, "Granger, will you please let me…" he started but couldn't finish his sentence as his mother and cousins burst into the parlour.

"What happened?" Julian looked around wildly and spotted them, "Oh my Nostradamus!" he exclaimed.

"What? What happened to my grandson?" a stunned Narcissa came running to them, "Jean, what happened?" she asked a bewildered Hermione.

"We don't know anything." Draco replied on Hermione's stead who was crying uncontrollably over Adrian and he himself tried hard to control his emotions, "I just received aunt Audré's Patronus minutes ago telling me that…"

"…they were attacked and Adrian is unconscious." Lillian finished the rest of the sentence, "Where is maman?" she looked around anxiously, "Is she hurt?"

The woman in question entered the sitting room right at that moment with a balding man in tow carrying a bag.

"Healer Cloutier, please check my grandson." She showed him the little group around Adrian as they approached, "As far as I know, he is not hurt. But please check on him."

While the Healer asked Hermione to move away, who refused to do so and was forcefully dragged away by Lillian, Audré finally let herself sit.

"What happened, Audré?" Narcissa came forward and enquired, "How did Adrian become unconscious?" she asked while Julian came and sat beside his mother to check on her, "How were you attacked?"

"Ssshhh!" Audré silenced her sister-in-law, "Let this be over. I will tell everything later." She said, "Julian, dearest, please check me later. It is Adrian who is more important." She told her grim son.

The whole group: Hermione crying on Lillian's bosom, Draco and Narcissa standing ashen-faced by the divan and Audré sitting with her son on a double sofa waited in pin-drop silence as Healer Cloutier examined Adrian from different angles and finally stood up.

"The boy is fine." He said in a gentle and assuring voice while everyone let out their breaths and Lillian let go of Hermione who sat beside her unconscious son and kissed him tenderly, "He is not injured." He said again, "He just passed out from shock. He will recover very soon but I suggest that you let him sleep as much as possible. I know what you are thinking about all this blood on him." He said to Hermione's questioning look, "They are, I guess, from Madame Chombrun Malfoy."

"Maman!" both Julian and Lillian exclaimed in unison as they came to their mother, "Why you didn't tell us?"

Audré held out a hand to silence her children, "Because I am fine and even if I am not, magic can be used to heal me." She told them, "But Adrian is very young for such kind of incident." She explained, "Healer Cloutier, does my grandson need any medication?" she asked the balding man who took a seat, "He is already taking Pain Relieving Potion." She informed him remembering the drug interaction incident with Hermione.

"I guess the child will be frightened when he comes around and therefore a good Nerve Tonic will suffice." Cloutier said as he took a piece of parchment and quill and scribbled the recipe, "This Nerve Tonic is very good for children. Give it to him twice a day for a week and he will be just fine." He handed the prescription to Hermione's outstretched hand before turning to Audré again, "And now, can I check Madame Malfoy?" he asked her solemnly.

Audré nodded and removed her hair that covered the left side of her neck, "The curse hit me here." She said evenly as the Healer came to check the wound.

Lillian, Hermione and Narcissa – all three ladies let out audible gasps as a deep wound extending from her jaw line to mid-shoulder came into view.

"You are lucky Madame it missed your Carotid arteries just by inches; otherwise you could've bled to death." Cloutier said grimly as he examined the wound, "They used Dark Magic on you." He said and Lillian burst into tears while Narcissa consoled her, "So it will take some time to heal. Can you please lie down on your right side?" she asked Audré who complied silently, "That's better. I'll seal the wound for now but I am sorry that it will leave a permanent scar." He explained.

"That's fine with me. I am not a beauty pageant." Audré assured the Healer, "Please continue." She pledged.

The whole room was silent as Cloutier first cleaned and then sealed Audré's wound with a bandage.

"There." He said softly as he finally lifted his wand tip from the freshly healed cut, "I strongly recommend that you take rest for the night and if possible take some sleep." Cloutier said gently.

"I really appreciate your concern, Monsieur Cloutier." Audré said as she sat up and Lillian came running at her side to help her, "But Audré can't sleep after what happened tonight." She said firmly.

A defeated looking Cloutier wrote down another prescription for Audré and handed it to Lillian and was shown his way to Floo fireplace by Julian.

When her family reunited again under the roof of her parlour, Audré motioned Hermione to cast a Silencing Charm over Adrian.

The tension in the room was palpable as Audré finally recounted the events of the evening.

"This Château was under Muggle ownership before my father bought it in 1955, the year I was born. Naturally the neighbourhood is mostly Muggles except for a few Muggleborn and half-blood families. We are the only pureblood family here but we maintain a cordial relationship with all our neighbours. So when I left Château this afternoon with Adrian, I took him first to meet the Wizarding families for they have been asking me about the new kid they have heard about and I was also interested in quelling their queries. Then I took him to meet a Muggle family who are very close to my heart and also live just beside our Château. They have been living there for almost a century now and I used to play with their children when I was a little girl. They were overjoyed to learn that I have a grandson now who wants to befriend their kids and we spend some time there. It was when Adrian and I were returning to Château on foot because I didn't feel like apparating for such a short distance that we were attacked." She said grimly, "Adrian was saying something about his rabbit when I felt a sharp pain on my neck and saw fresh blood. I immediately took Adrian in my arms to apparate us both but they attacked us all at once. Adrian had never seen such flashes of curses in his life and he was screaming while I cast a Shielding Charm to defend us. One of them sent a curse that broke my Shield with such a loud banging sound that Adrian, who was already frightened beyond his wit, passed out in my arms." Audré paused and shuddered, "At first I thought they have…killed him and I became mad with rage…" she fisted her hands painfully, "I killed three of them then and there while gravely injuring other two, who apparated before I could kill them too." she said solemnly.

Both Hermione and Lillian clapped their hands on their mouths as Narcissa slumped on a sofa clutching a stitch on her heart.

"I have no remorse for what I did." Audré said firmly, "Adrian is my life and if anyone so much as dares to look at him with wrong intentions, I will kill him or her." She proclaimed proudly.

A deafening silence followed her proclamation during which Adrian stirred feebly and Hermione stroked his silvery blonde curls gently.

"You did the right thing, aunt." Draco said at last breaking the silence, "I would have done the same. If there is anybody in the world, for whom I can kill and die, it my son Adrian." He said gravely, "A person who attacks a defenseless child to achieve his means has no right to live."

For the first time in her life, Hermione was ashamed to admit that she agreed with Draco Malfoy.

"Where are the bodies, maman?" Julian asked his mother seriously, "We need to recover them."

"I left them there for I was more concerned about Adrian then their filthy dead bodies." Audré replied, "Thankfully I felt his heart beat against mine when I apparated and I brought us to Château instead of taking him to hospital." She explained, "Where are you going, Julian?" She asked her son who was about to leave the parlour.

"To recover the bodies." Her son replied.

"Do you think those bodies are still there?" Audré asked back, "No. I am certain they were removed the moment I left that place to destroy evidence of attack." She said matter-of-factly, "You can still check though." She said solemnly, "I tried hard to make this trial to look like an official rather than personal affair. This was business not personal." She said firmly, "But Rochés and his Knights took me wrong and attacked me while they thought I was defenseless. But they don't know I am an accomplished Dueler for my father trained me under the best French duelers and brought me up like a son rather than a daughter." Audré stood up and looked around the room, "If they think Chombrun Malfoys are hiding behind an old widow, then they are gravely mistaken for time has come to show what we, women can do." She said so fiercely that Hermione and Lillian both stood up in determination, "It is time to teach them that if we, women can be merciful for the sake of our families we can also be extremely vindictive to save them. We are not weak as they think and we fight till death." she said raising her head high her eyes shining with tear, "Julian and Draco." She called the male members of the group, "Go to ministry and send Alexis to Château right now. Don't tell him everything. Just tell him that I want to meet him urgently in my parlour. Then go and look for those bastards who attacked my grandson. Though Draco is not a ministry employee he is the father of the child who was attacked and therefore he was full rights to be present." he instructed them, "Remember, Julian, don't disappoint me." She warned him.

"I won't maman." Was Julian's curt reply as he left with Draco who cast a longing look on his son before following his cousin.

It was Hermione who approached Audré as soon as the men left.

"Aunt Audré," she called and sat on Audré's other side, "I can never thank you enough for what you did tonight." She said gently while running her hand over Audré's bandaged neck.

"Tell these to someone who would listen, girl." Audré told her firmly, "Adrian is my grandson and there is no way anyone can touch him unless he crosses my dead body first." She gritted her teeth.

"But why do you need Monsieur Delacour?" Lillian asked her mother.

"I need him because I need to talk to that blasted Pasteur tonight. He is taking too much time. I am going to tell him that either he is talking tonight or tomorrow he will be dead at the hand of Knights." She replied before turning to Hermione, "Jean, I know you are experienced in this stuff and I can trust on you. Tomorrow morning you and Draco are going to visit those families with Alexis. I can't delay this thing any longer. I will leave the moment Alexis comes and I suggest that you all stay in my parlour instead of going back to your individual rooms." She instructed them. "Take care of Adrian and wait for us to bring you some good news."

The ladies nodded in unison and Hermione went back to her son.

As Audré watched Hermione transfigure the large divan to an even larger bed and shift her son on it, she took a deep breath to calm her mind.

'You chose the wrong person to mess with, Rochés. You chose the wrong person.' She thought determinedly.

•••••

Alexis Delacour was shifting through his papers in his study when his Floo sprang to life and the voice of the receptionist from the Ministry came in.

"Monsieur Delacour." the voice had an urgent tinge in it, "Monsieur Chombrun Malfoy has asked for your presence in your office. He says it is very urgent." The voice informed her.

It was first time in last one month since Hermione's marriage to Draco Malfoy, that Alexis hasn't spent his weekend sulking in his office at the Ministry and instead spent the day with his family which made his mother happy to no end. They had talked about Bill and Fleur's upcoming baby while discussing what could be her name over the special lunch Apolline prepared for her son.

Alexis immediately went to the Floo and threw some powder in it to establish his side of connection, "What is it?" he asked the man who had conveyed him the message, "Is he alone or his Departmental head is with him?" he asked him sharply.

"I don't know anything, Monsieur Delacour, for he didn't elaborate anything to me." The voice replied, "But he is not alone. His cousin Draco Malfoy is with him and they both looked extremely grave." He informed Alexis.

"Merci." Alexis ended their conversation and thinking what could be the matter behind such an urgent call he left his study to get dressed.

When he entered his office almost twenty minutes later it was already occupied by the aforementioned men: Julian and Draco Malfoy.

"I am sorry to disturb you like this Delacour." Julian said immediately, looking uncharacteristically serious, "But an urgent situation has come over and maman wishes to meet you right now."

"What? Why?" Alexis asked as he walked over to the men, "Is everything alright?" he enquired sharply.

"No." Julian shook his head, "Maman and Adrian were attacked by unknown men this afternoon when they were returning home." He replied and Alexis gripped the back of his chair tightly, "Adrian is fine." He assured him noticing his tense looks, "Maman wants to meet you this instant. They are in her parlour." He informed him.

Alexis nodded silently, "Who were they? Does Madame Malfoy have any idea?" he asked Julian.

"She thinks it is the Knights trying to stop her from taking the case against Rochés." Julian replied gravely, "Draco and I are going to look for them right after this conversation is over. We are not taking a big force. It will be just us and two other Aurors from my department. It's better this way because they would be expecting a big force while we can stealthily look and capture to question them." He explained.

"I wish I could go too." Alexis said earnestly, thinking about Adrian, "But Madame Malfoy must have a reason to call me like that." he said and Julian nodded, "Do you know where to look for them?" he asked the second-in-command.

"Our spies informed us that there has been some suspicious movements at the north of Paris and we are going there tonight." Julian informed him, "Good luck with maman."

"Good luck with your mission." Alexis bade as he left his office for the apparition point.

His mind in whirl and his heart filled with concern for the little boy whom he loved like his own child, Alexis appeared in Château de la Grange-Bléneau minutes later and approached the elegant establishment in darkness.

Using the Locating Spell he soon found the room the ladies used as their parlour and the most intriguing sight met his eyes.

Instead of usual sofas, divan and centre table, a large twin bed was occupying a corner of the spacious parlour where Adrian was fast asleep while his mother sat beside him looking down sadly at her son. Madame Audré Malfoy was seated beside her sister-in-law in a double sofa and whispering something to her while Lillian was rubbing Adrian's little feet gently.

Though it was not their private rooms Alexis knocked before entering.

"Bonsoir." He bade the ladies good evening and all of them looked up at them.

"I am sorry for calling you like this, Monsieur Delacour." Audré said as she indicated him to take a seat just opposite her, "Our little man has passed out and since none of the ladies can tolerate to leave his presence, he has been placed here to be nursed back to health." She said to Alexis's questioning look to the bed and its occupants.

"I hope he is fine." Alexis said earnestly, his eyes never leaving Adrian's small form and his mother, "No, stay with him." He said to Hermione who was proceeding to leave the bed to join the elderly ladies, "I am glad that you trusted me enough to call me in this dire situation." He said to Audré, "Please tell me everything." He pledged.

"I would have, Monsieur Delacour had it not been for the fact that I am getting late for an urgent appointment." Audré said as she stood up, "We need to go to Château d'If right now to meet Pasteur."

As Audré's true motive to call him became clear to him, Alexis too jumped to his feet and nodded in agreement before walking over to the bed where Adrian was lying.

"Don't worry, Jean. Adrian will be fine." He assured the woman who looked up at him with tearful eyes.

"Why is that every time anything happens it ends with Adrian getting hurt?" she asked him, wiping her reddened nose, "First with Pierre bullying him, then that fracture and now this attack. That's three times in just over a month." She said, "Why my son? Why not me?" she asked wiping her tears, "The more I try to keep him out of danger, the more it finds him."

Alexis couldn't find any word to console the mother who he knew would sacrifice her life happily for the sake of her only child, her precious. Instead he kissed Adrian's forehead and bade Hermione good night before following Audré out of the parlour that was acting like some temporary headquarter.

"I have already talked to the Minister about the extra facilities Pasteur has asked for and he says he will think about them." Alexis informed Audré as they walked back towards the apparition point, "Monsieur Guizot detests that man like nothing in this world and isn't very willing to come to terms with him." He explained, "He thinks it will be considered his defeat."

Audré sighed audibly and stopped abruptly, "That man will bring his own downfall if he doesn't comply with Pasteur." She said grimly, "I thought he was smarter than that. But it seems like he needs to be understood the graveness of this situation. Now that the Knights are coming out of their hiding, soon there will be more killings than he can even imagine. What will he answer the Wizarding population when people will blame him for failure? That he denied to come in terms with Pasteur for his own personal dislike? That is enough to throw him out of his office and Rochés will win." She said with distaste, "I ask you, Monsieur Delacour, to make an appointment for me to meet him first thing Monday morning. I know it sounds harsh but if he needs to be shown the reality the hard way, so be it." she said firmly, "Because my family will not pay for his obnoxious stupidity."

Deciding that it was not the time to discuss internal politics with the already overloaded woman Alexis followed her to finally meet the famous prisoner he had so much heard of.

•••••

Hermione looked down at the recipe of the Nerve Tonic that Healer Cloutier had given her.

It was simple and would take not more than an hour to whip up.

But her heart constricted painfully at the thought of leaving her son with Lillian and Narcissa.

'What if he wakes up and I am not there to calm him?'

'But this potion needs to be made.'

'I know I can trust Lillian. But I can't leave him to Narcissa.'

'Why not bring the cauldron here and…' Hermione stopped her thought stream, 'That's ridiculous. Besides I don't have any cauldron here except for my Hogwarts one which is all rusty now.'

"Jean." she heard Lillian called her softly, "Aunt Narcissa is calling you." She informed her.

Hermione looked up silently at the pureblood witch.

"I can make it for you, if you like." Narcissa told from her sofa that was recently occupied by Audré, "I am good at Potions."

Hermione wanted to say a resolute 'No' but caught herself at the last moment.

"How do you know I am thinking about this Potion?" she asked her instead.

"Isn't it obvious?" Narcissa asked back desperately as she left her seat and walked over to them, "You are looking at Adrian and the recipe rotationally. It's clear that you want to make it but don't want to leave him here with…me." She said evenly, "Then let me make it for you while you stay with Adrian." she offered again.

"Why should you do this for a half-blood boy?" Hermione asked back calmly for she was curious to know what Narcissa offered for an explanation.

"Because he is my blood." Narcissa replied and Hermione arched an eyebrow, "Half-blood or pureblood Adrian is my grandson. He is the only hope I have now." she said earnestly, "Maybe I am not able to kill like Audré did or Draco would, but I love him nonetheless. I couldn't do anything for him when he fractured his arm. At least let me do this much for him; let me make this Nerve Tonic for him." She offered gently.

Remembering the conversation she had overheard between Narcissa and her son and her subsequent decision to test her resolution, Hermione took a deep breath and handed the recipe to Narcissa who smiled weakly.

"I'll bring it for him in an hour." She said softly as she examined the parchment, "Thank you." She said and left them casting a grateful look at Hermione.

"That's really nice of Jean." Lillian commented as she rubbed Adrian's feet tirelessly.

"Give it a rest now." Hermione preferred not to remark on what happened and tried to stop Lillian from rubbing Adrian's feet.

"Please, don't stop me." Lillian protested, "My mother is injured and has gone to meet a convicted prisoner. My brother has gone to look for the attackers. This little boy here is hurt. I need to do something to keep my mind off the horrible thoughts that are creeping into my mind." she explained, "Besides, it will keep him warm." She supplied.

Remembering how she used to read books to keep her anxiety at bay during the Horcrux hunt, Hermione smiled gently at her sister-in-law.

•••••

The men in black appeared out of nowhere in the dingy and dirty alleyway.

A cat, that was devouring on its meal from the nearby garbage pile, shrieked loudly at the abnormal phenomenon and scampered away, scared out of its skin.

The taller and powerfully built man of the four, Julian Malfoy signaled his companions to be silent as he examined his surroundings.

"That house on far left." He drew their attention to a dark cottage at the farthest end of the alley, "Suspicious movements and magical activities have been detected around it." he whispered.

The other tall but leaner man with platinum blonde hair that was now covered in a black Muggle cap - Draco Malfoy gave the cottage a sharp look and returned to his cousin.

"Its good that they haven't Fideliused it." he commented, "I guess they have more members than they can trust and Fidelius is good only when the group is small. It is no use when hundred men know a secret for it will dilute the security." He explained.

The other three men silently listened to his analysis before Julian gripped him tightly on his right shoulder.

"Draco, you are not trained for combats like this." Julian whispered to his cousin who narrowed his eyes, "I know, I know you were in Britain during the war but that doesn't mean you are reasonably trained for this kind of situation. You are not going with us, Aurors and no protests there." He said firmly, "I suggest that you Disillusion yourself and wait here by this garbage bin." He instructed him, "The magical activity around this area shows that this garbage bin is a landmark for them and acts as their apparition point. I want you to capture anyone who behaves suspiciously. Right?" he asked his cousin sharply.

Draco nodded and his cousin signaled him to take cover before they left him by the garbage bin.

It took Draco not more than a non-verbal wave of his wand on him to cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself and despite being almost invisible, he moved to a shadowed corner.

Draco looked at cottage that was suspected of being used as the temporary headquarters by the Knights. He had been in contact with Death Eaters and they had used his manor as the base during the war. From his experiences he could tell that though the house is not Fideliused, there will be other tight security measures around it.

Draco grinded his teeth as the memories of earlier that evening flooded his mind and remembering how his aunt had appeared with his bloodied son just hours ago, made him want to burn down the whole place to ashes.

'How dare they try to harm my son?'

'It is obvious that those bastards wanted to kill my aunt and kidnap or kill Adrian too.'

The thought made him grip the handle of his wand so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

His rage took flight when visions of Hermione crying over Adrian's unconscious body was played once again before his eyes and Draco swore he could kill for them just his aunt did hours ago.

Truth be told, Draco has known that his aunt was brought up to be a tough woman but he had no idea to the limit of that toughness. That a woman could kill without remorse wasn't very new to him, thanks to his beloved maniac aunt Bellatrix; but someone as cool-headed as Audré Chombrun Malfoy could kill, that too three men at once, made Draco wonder what more his aunt was capable of.

Surprisingly, so much had happened since last night that Draco was at a fix to consider which one over the other: his mother's childhood story and love for her sister she hardly spoke of, her marriage to his father Lucius in exchange of Andromeda's life, her role as a dutiful pureblood wife and subsequent true love between her and Lucius and lastly her proclamation that he had stripped her of her honour the day he assaulted his classmate to humiliate her. Extremely depressed, Draco had spent most of the night sleepless and only when the rays of sun brought forth a new day did he finally fell asleep. The later part of the day had been devoted to his sleep and thoughts regarding his mother's words. Besides, the issue that his wife was bearing his son's all expenses alone had been probing his mind since the visit down the memory lane and Draco was contemplating how to solve the problem when his cousin had walked in and informed him about the shopping trip and subsequent career advice followed.

Draco had been planning to make himself more presentable before his wife for the upcoming meeting when the Patronus dove appeared and everything turned upside down.

Now his son was unconscious, his wife and mother were crying, his aunt was injured and on a death-rage while he and his cousin were on hunt for the perpetrators.

Someone appeared in the alleyway and Draco focused his attention to the man who stood before him.

"Maudite!" (Damned woman) he muttered some swear words in French and it didn't take Draco to have another brain to realize which 'damned woman' he was referring to.

'Petrificus Totalus!'

His Disillusioned hand rotated his wand so fast and cast the non-verbal spell so accurately that the man hit on the alleyway before he even knew how it happened.

Draco walked over to the immobile body lying on the ground.

Memories of his onetime arch-enemy Harry Potter lying motionless on the floors of Hogwarts Express surfaced and Draco smirked.

"Didn't your mummy teach you not to insult your elders?" he asked the man whose pupil were dilated to the invisible attacker, "I guess she was dead before you could even start talking." Draco said and kicked him hard on his face.

A sickening crunching sound brought forth that his kick has achieved its desired effect.

"That's from my son and his mother." Draco said smirking on the broken nose and with a silent wave of his wand his prey was Disillusioned and transported to land unceremoniously on the garbage bin.

Re-stationing himself, Draco waited patiently for his cousin to appear.

Minutes dragged slowly to an hour and at last after an hour and half later Julian returned with his two comrades.

Remembering the possible use of Polyjuice potion Draco refrained from taking off the Disillusionment Charm and waited for any sign that the man before him was indeed his cousin Julian, not a Polyjuiced Julian.

"Draco?" the man whispered near the garbage bin as he cast a silent 'Homonum Revelio', "It's me, Julian." He affirmed his true identity.

As Draco took of his Disillusionment Charm as he silently lifted his index to relay that he has caught one while his cousin took his example and made a 'V' sign to indicate that he has caught another two.

"Good job." He patted Draco on his back, "Enough for tonight. Let's clear off this place." He said indicating to the unconscious bodies while Draco levitated his prey and threw the heavy body on his shoulder with a wince.

They disapparated as silently as they came leaving behind only a speck of blood on the dusty grounds that proved that Draco Malfoy's boots had once crushed the nose of his prey.

•••••

The man behind the bars gave Audré a solemn look as she settled herself before the cell.

"I knew you would come, Madame Malfoy." Pasteur said with immense satisfaction, "You may not admit it, my lady, but you and your entire team…" he indicated at Alexis and the jailor with one emaciated finger, "…need me." He smirked.

"Oh Pasteur!" Audré smiled serenely while fixing her eyes at his wicked pair, "I thought you are smarter than this." she commented with supreme confidence, "I thought you would understand that I can walk away anytime I want to but you have nothing here except for painful death or worse - the Kiss." She said with an arched eyebrow, "This man here," she indicated at Alexis sitting beside her, "is Junior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic and he has a very good news for you." She said lightly.

"Monsieur Pasteur." Julian addressed the prisoner with a frown, "I would like to inform you that the Minister said a resolute 'No' to your impertinent demands and it is therefore entirely in Madame Malfoy's hand should she like to help you or not in exchange of your co-operation to catch some lunatic criminals who call themselves the 'Knights of Walpurgis'." He stated evenly, "I know, as a well-established criminal mind, you would like to see the evidence and therefore I would like to bring into your kind notice the state of your cell, food and personal hygiene. Had Minister wanted to re-arrange your facilities according to your demands, Pasteur, you would have been in a bigger and better cell with good food and a personal lavatory."

Pasteur narrowed his eyes at Alexis and tilted his head slightly.

"Guizot is still as moron as I can remember him." He said lightly, "Well, if it is me who needs you than you who need me, why are you visiting me here at this ungodly hour?" he asked Audré mockingly.

"Because the trial starts next week and I just wanted to know whether you are still cunning enough to use your chances or let them pass by." Audré replied solemnly, "I don't have time to waste on you, Pasteur. I have more important works than sitting here talking to you about your godforsaken demands and I would really love to not visit this blasted place ever again in my life. So, tonight is your last chance to prove that you are up to the challenge. If you really care for your wellbeing, tell me the names of your associates and I will personally talk to the minister about your demands. If not, I am leaving with my team…" she indicated the men beside her, "…right now and I wish that you rot in here for the rest of your wretched life."

Pasteur let out an audible breath and straightened his neck.

"I will tell you just one name tonight." He said solemnly, "In exchange for better food." He offered.

Audré thanked her father and grandfather for the cunningness she had inherited from them. Years of upbringing by them had taught her never to reveal her weakness before men for they would surely use it against her. Instead she had been taught to uncover their hidden weakness and use it against them when needed. Her lawyer father was particularly manipulative during his interrogation and he has passed and taught that trait to his able daughter too. This man before her, Pasteur as his followers used to call him once, might be as shrewd as a fox but his love for worldly comforts was his only weakness and Audré would be damned if she didn't use it to achieve her means.

Audré waited with patience for Pasteur to speak up.

"The first family is the Delacroix." He said solemnly.

"Address?" Audré asked back.

"I am supposed to give you the names, not the addresses." Pasteur replied carelessly, "Go, Madame, prove to me that you can help yourself for if you are unable use my clue to reach your means there is no way you can help me reach my means." He gave her a malicious wink before withdrawing inside his cell.

The jailor, who had been silent all this time, was about call his guards to beat the rest of the information out of Pasteur when Audré held out a hand to stop him.

"There is no need, Monsieur." She said loudly so that Pasteur could hear too, "I need him alive to show him who he is dealing with this time." she said and left the cell.

"Don't worry Madame Malfoy." Alexis tried to console her, "We have people in the Intelligence Department who will find out the real Delacroix in an hour. Besides, I am Delacour which means 'of the royal court' and they are 'Delacroix' which also means 'of the cross'. It denotes to one who lives near a cross symbol or near a cross road." He explained.

"You are an intelligent man, Monsieur Delacour." Audré admired the man for she hadn't thought about the name like that, "Please let me know as soon as you find out." She bid as they walked side-by-side and went past the Dementor guards to the small boat that will be taking them to the shore line.

As they boarded the boat and it started for the shoreline of Marseilles, Audré gave Alexis a deep look. How tragic that this intelligent and sensitive man was not be Jean's life partner and the innocent young woman was stuck with her insensitive and proud nephew for the rest of her life.

"Monsieur Delacour," she called him after some moment and Alexis tiled his head to listen more closely to what she would say, "I request you that you keep out of any direct contact with the family feud that will soon begin." She said him gravely, "This trial is now Chombrun Malfoys vs. the Rochés and no matter how hard I try I can't undo it now. So it will be better if you just accompany my nephew and daughter-in-law to meet those families and refrain from taking part in any direct attack or counter attack. It will put your family in jeopardy and since you live in the neighbourhood of the esteemed Rochés, I strongly recommend that you tighten your security to ensure that no harm befalls upon you and the rest of the Delacours."

"Merci, Madame Malfoy, for your concern but I can't possibly leave Jean in danger should anyone try to attack us." Alexis said solemnly, "She is like my family."

"Jean is a better fighter than you or my dear nephew thinks she is." Audré said proudly, "She stayed at home tonight to take care of her sick child for her son is her first priority, but rest assured Monsieur, had Adrian been well, neither you nor I could have stopped her from going out with Julian to hunt down those criminals." She said with a satisfied smile.

"I know." Alexis said absent-mindedly, "I know. Well, I will keep your warning and advice in mind." he assured Audré.

'You should better, Alexis, you should better. For the beginning of the end is very near.' Audré thought in her mind as the boat touched the shoreline with a gentle bump.

•••••

Draco peeped into his aunt's parlour and found it immersed in semi-darkness with just two candles placed on the centre table casting a faint and gloomy light around the spacious room.

It was three o' clock in the morning and he had been forcefully sent back to Château by his cousin Julian to take some rest while he stayed back to question those who were captured.

Silently Draco entered his aunt's parlour and looked around the place in dim light.

His mother was fast asleep on a double sofa while his aunt was lying on another, her eyes open to denote that she was in fact awake. Her cousin Lillian was sleeping on a bed that was also occupied by his son and wife, both asleep under a thin blanket.

Draco adjusted his mother's blanket over her body and walked over silently to the bed that was being used by two women and a child.

He looked down at his son's sleeping face. The boy looked disturbed for his eyes were tightly closed instead of the usual fraction which showed the white of his eyes and his eyeballs were moving side-to-side rapidly beneath the closed lids.

"He is having a bad dream." Draco annotated and leaned forward to blow a soft breath over Adrian's sweaty forehead.

'Sleep my son, sleep.' He thought with each breath he blew out, 'Father is here and he will protect you. Sleep, dear son, sleep.'

It took half an hour for Draco to finally calm his son and he noted with immense relief as Adrian's eyes opened just a fraction once again: a mark that he was sleeping peacefully.

His eyes next moved to the woman sleeping next to Adrian.

She looked just as he remembered her in Apolline's memory: brown hair running down the side of her face while rest of it fanned out on the pillow and closed eyes that hid behind the lids that magnificently intelligent and innocent brown pair that makes him wonder why he hadn't noticed it before.

He wanted to sit and keep looking at them – Adrian and Hermione – for the rest of the night. It was not Apolline's memory and there was no fear that it would dissolve just when he would start to appreciate it.

"Draco." He heard his aunt called him softly and groaning inwardly he straightened up to address her call.

"Sit." She bid him as Draco reached the double sofa she was previously lying on, "Julian told me that you ambushed and captured three of the Knight's men." Audré said as she wrapped her shawl over her body and sat comfortably, "Did they say who was behind this attack?" she asked.

Draco shook his head, "No, aunt. They are denying charges and saying that we have kidnapped them on purpose. Veritaserum can't be used without prior expressed order from a magistrate and since it was three o' clock in the morning, Julian says nothing can be done until Monday." He said soberly, "How is Adrian now? When did Granger fall asleep?" he asked solemnly.

"Adrian is fine when I last checked him on half past two." Audré replied, "Jean was planning to stay awake the whole night but when I said that she would need a fresh head for the morning's meeting with a family and I am awake to look after Adrian she agreed to take a nap just an hour ago."

"Why did you ask for Delacour?" Draco asked the question that had been keeping his head busy for a while, "Did you send for him to comfort Granger?" he asked trying not to sound suspicious.

"Always the tone of suspicion, Draco Lucius Malfoy." His aunt chided him, "Besides, what is wrong if Alexis comforts Jean? They know and respect each other."

'And love each other too.' Draco was about to voice his though but caught himself, "So, why did you call him?" he asked his aunt again.

"I sent for him because I went to meet Pasteur." Audré replied solemnly, "The damned man told me just a name – Delacroix and told me to find their address if I wanted to gather evidence against the Rochés. Delacour said he will look into the matter using his Intelligence Branch. I am waiting for it." she informed Draco.

Draco looked around his aunt's elegantly decorated parlour that now looked like a make-shift shelter house, "Why is everyone sleeping here?" he asked curiously.

"Because Draco, with all of us gone, this three ladies didn't want to separate from each other." Audré replied, "Lillian was worried for her mother and brother; Narcissa was worried for her son and grandson. So I asked Jean to stay here with Adrian so that everyone can have their own share to take care of the boy and keep their anxiety at bay." She explained, "It feels good to be together when the family is facing threat, Draco. That way we can support each other." She said gently, "Now, why don't you go to your room and take some rest?" she offered.

Draco stood up and gave his aunt a solemn look, "My son and wife is here. What am I supposed do in my room?" he asked and Audré gave her head a resigned shake.

"Fine, suit yourself." She said as she too lied down on her sofa.

Smiling contentedly, Draco took to the divan just opposite his mother's and at arm's distance from his son's bed.

He clearly remembered once making fun of Ron Weasley when he spotted him with Hermione Granger outside Shrieking Shack during their first Hogsmeade tour in third year.

"Well, well. Look who's here - you two shopping for your new dream home? Bit grand for you, isn't it, Weasel-Bee? Don't your family all sleep in... one room?"

Draco looked at the sleeping woman whom he had made fun of that day by saying that she and Weasel-king had been shopping for their new home: The Shrieking Shack.

How very interesting that twelve years after that incidence he, Draco Malfoy, was sleeping with rest of his family members in one room just to be near to that woman and their child.

'How is that he never found out before now what family comfort really meant?' was his last thought before Draco too fell asleep.

•••••

Hermione woke up suddenly and blinked to bring her vision into focus.

"Mama!" her son called her as he snuggled against her bosoms, "Mama! Sound!" he cried covering his ear with one small hand.

Remembering the Healer's words about Adrian when he would wake up, Hermione sat bolt upright and embraced her son more tightly, "Mama, is here my love." She cooed to him gently, "Mama is just here and she will never let you go or let anybody harm you."

"MAMA! BLOOD! LOTS OF BLOOD!" her son cried, thrashing against her suffocating embrace, "MAMA, LIGHTS! LOTS AND LOTS OF LIGHT!" he screamed closing his eyes.

"No, my rabbit, there is no blood here." Hermione almost cried as she tried to calm her panic-stricken child, "Look, there is no blood." She offered him encouragingly.

"Here Jean, give him this tonic." Lillian's voice brought back Hermione to her surroundings and she noticed everyone: Audré, Narcissa, Julian, Lillian and Draco Malfoy watching them with barely hidden concern.

With a shaking hand Hermione took the small goblet which contained the clear green liquid that her mother-in-law has made for her grandson.

"Mama, I am scared." Adrian almost merged their bodies as he pressed his petit form to Hermione, "I am very very very scared."

"Don't be scared my love. What is there to be scared of?" she asked her son, "Look." She offered him, "Look, there is no blood or light or noise. There is nothing here. There is only Mama and her little rabbit. Hm? Now drink this Tonic like a good boy and you will be fine, just fine." She offered him the small goblet of tonic.

Adrian's wide grey eyes looked up from his mother's chest and he examined his surroundings first.

"There is no blood." He noted searching for a tinge of red liquid.

"There is no blood, my love. Mama already told you." Hermione assured her son gently.

"No loud sound." Adrian commented, "No bright light." He said cautiously.

"No my love, no light and no sound. Just Mama and you." Hermione said as she started rocking their bodies together gently, "Mama will give you bath, we will play your favourite bubble game and then we will play more games after breakfast. How about that? hm?" she offered her son who sniffed and nodded.

"Now take this tonic." Hermione offered her son again.

"What is this?" Adrian asked her, "Is it medicine? I am tired of medicine." He said grimly.

"No, my love, it's a tonic…" Hermione stammered.

"It's a tonic for courage." Audré supplied as she came to seat beside them, "You Uncle Julian takes it regularly." She told Adrian with a bright smile, "Don't you Julian?" she asked her son with a knowing look.

"Of course I do." Julian came forward and took the phial full of clear blue liquid that was actually Nerve Tonic, "In the Ministry we, men are asked to take Courage tonic everyday to be braver. Since you have been a very brave man last night, the Ministry has sent you this tonic through me." He lied so smoothly that Hermione felt like she could believe it too.

"The Ministry sent me Courage Tonic?" Adrian asked his mother curiously.

"Yes, they did." Hermione felt guilty for lying to her son, "Now that you have become a man, my little rabbit, you must be treated like one." She said gently.

To her relief Adrian didn't protest anymore and took the tonic before her watchful eyes.

"I feel better and brave." He noted rubbing his small chest and Hermione laughed.

"Yes, you do." She kissed him on his small head, "You are my brave little man." she affirmed.

"Jean, we have some good news." She heard Audré said, "Julian, Draco and a team of four caught three men last night. At the same time, Pasteur gave me a clue."

"When are we going?" Hermione asked her aunt eagerly, "I am dying to start working on this. I couldn't do anything last night." she voiced her resentment that Draco Malfoy went out with his cousin while she stayed at home to look after Adrian.

"I am sorry, Jean, but not today." Audré said solemnly, "Pasteur is testing my patience. He gave me just a surname – Delacroix and told me find out the entire family from it." she explained to Hermione's raised eyebrow, "I also would have liked you to start your mission from today but until we find them out, Jean, there is nothing we can do. Monsieur Delacour said he is looking for the family. Wizarding community may appear as small but they are not so. There may be more than one Delacroix and we, wizards don't have directory like the Muggles have since it dilutes our home security. He said it will take at least one day. So I suggest that you take care of you brave son and spend a whole day with him." She advised her gently.

Hermione let out a defeated sigh. She had been planning to work against those who traumatized her son like this, but it seemed like there was no choice but to wait.

"I have a good idea." She heard Julian offered pompously, "How about I take my brave nephew Adrian and his mother for a dinner tonight?"

"That's a very good idea." Lillian piped from her place beside Adrian, "I think the brave man needs to be rewarded." She supported her brother.

Hermione's face reddened as she remembered how Julian had bought her a dress just yesterday and her son a broom and now he was planning to take them to a dinner to give Adrian a moral boost.

"No…I thank you but it's really not needed." She tried to overrule the request, "We will be fine."

"That's set now." Julian said dismissively, "I am not taking a 'no' for an answer, sister-in-law. When I said I am taking you two, Jean, that means I am taking you two to dinner. This is Julian Chombrun Malfoy's final decision," he said pompously.

Hermione was about to retort on this male pattern of domination when Audré laid an assuring hand on her shoulder, "Jean, please don't argue anymore. You haven't been anywhere except for Gringotts since you came to stay with us after your marriage and that is making Adrian feel bored. The little boy cooped up here and he needs some relief sometimes." She said gently, "Take him and go to this dinner with your brother-in-law. That way we will be assured that you two are well protected too as well as enjoying yourselves." She pledged.

"Mama, please." Her son, who had been eagerly listening to this conversation, spoke up at last, "Mama, please let's go."

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed, "Okay fine. Just for my rabbit." She said.

"Yay!" Adrian almost jumped out of her lap and landed on Julian's arms.

But no one noticed that one solitary male with platinum blonde hair standing away from the group gave a satisfied smirk too.

"See you at dinner, son." he whispered before leaving the parlour finally.

•••••

Hermione let out an audible gasp as the sleek black Mercedes came to a smooth halt before her.

Her memory took her back to June 1998 when she had arrived at Gare du Nord Paris and Alexis Delacour had arranged for the same car to take her to their home.

"You brought a Mercedes?" she asked the same question but not to Apolline this time but to the man who was standing next to her – Julian Malfoy, "For me? Why?" she asked incredulously.

"Why not?" Julian shrugged as the chauffeur came down and held open the back door for them, "You are my sister-in-law and Adrian is my nephew. Besides, I want you two to have a smooth ride." He said solemnly.

Hermione blinked twice and tried to dissociate the past from the present.

She had been with child that time and she is with her son now. She had been having her reservations for Alexis Delacour for she suspected any male stranger after her assault and she was having her reservations for Julian Malfoy too because he is cousin to none other than Draco Malfoy, her violator. But with time Alexis had proved himself to be worthy of her trust and Julian too had proved that she could trust him despite his relation to his cousin.

"Mama? Are you coming?" Adrian's tugged Hermione's new dress that Julian had bought them just the day before and startled she looked down at him.

"Ladies first." Julian said pompously as Hermione finally boarded the posh Muggle car followed by her son and Julian.

"Thanks for wearing the dress." He noted as they all settled down, "It looks good on you." He commented.

Truth be told, had this been anyone other than Julian, Hermione wouldn't have taken the dress let alone wear it for the occasion of the dinner that same man was taking them. But since Audré and her children had been very supportive and understanding to her and her son since the day she came to stay at the Château with them, Hermione was putting aside her reservations for them and decided to be as frank and friendly as possible.

"The dress is nice. I like it very much." Hermione said with a smile.

"Mama, this car is big." Her son, who had been examining the car interior, remarked, "Peter likes it too." he indicated at his rabbit who was slowly wriggling his pink nose.

"No need to fuss over a simple car, dear nephew." Julian chided him, "I could have arranged better had it not been for…" he stopped mid-sentence.

"Had it not been for?" Hermione asked curious to know the rest of the sentence.

"Had it not been for Senior Undersecretary who took the Limousines to take some foreign delegates for a trip to Eiffel Tower." Julian finished the sentence and Hermione scowled.

"You have done enough, Julian." She assured him, "I don't want Limousines." she said firmly, "By the way where are you taking us for dinner?" she asked curiously for Julian still hadn't elaborated his destination.

"Lé Cinq at Champs Elysées." Julian replied curtly.

"Muggle restaurant?" Hermione asked incredulously remembering the previous night's incident.

"Don't worry, Jean, the place has been given enough protection prior to our reservation." Julian assured her, deciphering the correct meaning of her look, "Besides, Muggle restaurants are better than Wizarding one because attacking a Muggle establishment is a clear breech to International Statue of Secrecy which will earn you a life sentence in Château d'If without a trial. They could dare to attack maman because she was alone and the place she was attacked was deserted. They wouldn't dare to attack her in a crowded Muggle restaurant." He explained.

Remembering how she had apparated her friends to Charing Cross Street when Death Eaters attacked them in Bill and Fleur's wedding, Hermione didn't argue anymore.

"Mama, look at those shops." Her son, who was enjoying the view through the windows, drew her attention to some extravagantly decorated Muggle shops, "There is bright light there. Just like last night." he noted.

"Last night will never happen again, Adrian." Hermione gently stroked her son's blonde curls in assuring manner, "Mama is here. Uncle Julian is here. Grandma Audré is here. Uncle Alexis is here. Everyone is here to protect you."

"Tell me Adrian, did you show your new broom to your friends?" Julian asked her son brightly and thankfully the conversation was converted to brooms and Quidditch for the rest of the journey.

Lé Cinq, the Muggle restaurant located in Champs Elysées, had an impressive looking front and when the Mercedes stopped on the entrance smoothly, two uniformed hotel staff held open the car door for them to help them out.

Through the imposing wrought iron gates, that somehow reminded Hermione of wrought iron gates of Malfoy manor before she shook off the unpleasant feeling, they were taken to the dining room which spacious and bright, decorated in shades of gold and grey.

They walked through the boasting traditional French and English furniture and Hermione couldn't help but admire two beautiful Louis XIVth wardrobes as well as two Louis XVIth gold gilt chairs.

They sat opposite the large Regency Style wood-scuplted mirrors with gold leafing that gave a depth to the space by reflecting the view of the Marble Courtyard on the opposite side.

"Do you like the place?" Julian asked them as Hermione and Adrian settled down.

"Yes." Adrian gave his uncle the brightest smile he could conjure while Hermione nodded approvingly.

"Let the dinner begin." Julian said in his usual pompous manner and Hermione was reminded of her Headmaster Professor Dumbledore's start of term feast announcement 'Let the feast begin.'

As the starter (Roasted Foie Gras) was served Hermione noticed her son almost forgot his terrifying experience and delved into the delicious food and she realized how true Audré's word had been: her son really needed to spend some quality time with her.

"Thank you, brother-in-law." She thanked the man from her heart, who simply smiled and called the waiter.

"Do you have facilities to play song on diner's request?" he asked the uniformed Muggle waiter who nodded affirmative.

To Hermione's immense surprise Julian took out a Muggle pen from inside his suit pocket and scribbled down something on a piece of paper before handing it to the waiter.

"What did you write?" Hermione asked him curiously.

"I told them to play one of my favourite Muggle songs." Julian replied, taking a bite of his Foie Gras, "I dedicate it to you and Adrian's happiness." He toasted over his plain water.

"You listen to Muggle songs?" Hermione didn't know how many surprises she could take on a day.

"I used to listen for my roommate in Beauxbatons was a Muggleborn wizard and he would listen to any music in the whole wide world." Julian explained, "He used to make records of songs he liked and we played them in magical gramophones." He reminisced, "I really miss those days, Jean, school days were the best days of my life." he said pleasantly.

Hermione sighed for she couldn't agree more.

•••••

Draco Malfoy had been waiting patiently for an hour for his wife and son to appear at Lé Cinq accompanied by his cousin.

Now proficient at Disillusionment Charm, he had used it on himself as well as casting a Muggle Repelling Charm over the table he chose to sit that would give him an unobstructed view of his esteemed guests.

With immense satisfaction he noted that his son looked happy to be finally out for a dinner and his wife too looked pleased with the environment as well as Adrian's happy mood.

'Cousin really has an eye for these things.' He thought as he admired his cousin's choice of restaurant, 'He knows how to take care of his family.'

His conversation earlier that evening came into his mind when Julian informed him that as per his request a Mercedes has been arranged to take Adrian and Hermione to dine in one of Paris's finest restaurants – Lé Cinq.

"Cousin, do you have a taste for Muggle music?" Julian had asked him and feeling intrigued, Draco had frowned.

"That frown tells me that the answer is a 'No'." Julian had deciphered the correct meaning before leaving.

'What has Muggle music got to do with all this?' Draco thought to himself, 'Julian can be eccentric at times.' He concluded.

He watched as Adrian and his mother took their dinner and somehow he realized he was strangely contented to the sight.

'What is this?' he asked himself, 'Satisfaction?' 'Care?' 'Pride?' 'What is this feeling?'

It was when Julian called the waiter and gave him some strange written instruction that Draco finally got his answer.

A fine music started playing after a minute and it took away Draco's attention as soon as a male voice started singing:

I was lost and alone, trying to grow
Making my way down that long winding road
Had no reason, no rhyme, like a song out of time
And there you were standing in front of my eyes

Strangely enough Draco's eyes focused on his wife who was wearing a royal blue high collar dress.

A small smile appeared on his lips as he realized this was the dress his cousin had bought Hermione with his stipend money.

How could I've been such a fool?
To let go of love and break all of the rules
Girl, when you walked out that door
Left a hole in my heart and now I know for sure

You're the air that I breathe
Girl, you're all that I need
And I wanna thank you, lady

Memories of Hermione's third month of pregnancy played like a rapid reel on Draco's mind: her coming to Paris, her proclamation that she wouldn't take blood money to raise her child, her determination to work and earn her living, her way of helping the old woman carry her stuff and lastly planting those trees in the name of their unborn son – Draco was suddenly lost in everything.

I was searching in vain, playing a little game
Had no one else but myself left to blame
You came into my world, no diamonds or pearls
Could ever replace what you gave to me, girl

Draco's eyes automatically refocused on Adrian as the last two lines of the paragraph hit him.

'Can he really replace Adrian with all the diamonds and pearls of this world?'

'Wasn't his son worth everything he had and more?'

'And wasn't Granger the woman who brought Adrian to this world?'

'At the expense of her country, her family, her friends and loved ones?'

'At the expense of all that she ever cared for?'

Just like a castle of sand
Girl, I almost let love slip right out of my hands
And just like a flower needs rain
I will stand by your side through the joy and the pain

Draco didn't know why his vision suddenly blurred and blinked several times to focus his vision on his family.

The rest of the song played and ended with Draco sitting in his table in a state of trance.

The dinner ended, his son and wife left with his cousin and one by one the lights were switched off as the restaurant was closed for the night.

But Draco sat in his table as the lines of that amazing Muggle song kept playing again and again in his head:

I was lost and alone, trying to grow
Making my way down that long winding road
Had no reason, no rhyme, like a song out of time
And there you were standing in front of my eyes…

I was searching in vain, playing a game
Had no one else but myself left to blame
You came into my world, no diamonds or pearls
Could ever replace what you gave to me, girl…..

And I wanna thank you, lady

"Yes, I wanna thank you my lady." Draco whispered in the semi-darkness, "I want to thank you for Adrian, Hermione Jean Granger."