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, roni2010 and guests for their reviews.
Special thanks to Nikki98 for a special information that she provided me on ice.
Acknowledgements:
The information on Veritaserum was taken from HP wikia. The concept of Scopolamine came from Truth Serum which is a range of psychoactive medications used to obtain information from subjects who are unable or unwilling to provide it otherwise. It has been used by CIA from 1963 and by KGB. (Source: Wikipedia)
The information and analysis on Black and Malfoy family house elves came from CoS, OoTP and DH.
The yacht and cruise course were written after browsing 'Paris Boats Prestige'.
The history and route were written after consulting Seine river hop in hop off cruise.
The poem is copyright to English poet Christina Rossetti.
The ice-cream parlour is courtesy to Fenocchio website.
The history of Ile de la Cite is courtesy to history of said island and Google map.
The Croix de Guerre is courtesy to Wikipedia and all the names mentioned are real.
The information on night time riding is based on night time aircraft flying and facts that are regarded by pilots.
Well I guess that's all and now please enjoy and don't forget to leave a review.
An album with the pictures of OC's of this story can be found in my profile. Based on it I have created another poll and would like to see everyone vote.
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.
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 40: The Black king and the White King.
Being the Slytherin he was Draco Malfoy was of proud opinion that the Lady Luck had some sort of favouratism for him.
If not so, how was it possible that he would be standing for an interview before the office of the Head of The Department of Magical Law Enforcement just a day after his expressed his desire to work for the same department?
He smirked contentedly: Malfoys always win in the end.
The office door opened and a pretty witch, who worked as the secretary to the Head of the Department, came out, "Monsieur Malfoy," she addressed Draco with a honey-sweet voice and an even sweeter smile, "Monsieur Sergeant has asked for you."
Remembering how his father would behave on such occasion, Draco stood up proudly and entered the office in confident steps.
The person, who was waiting for Draco behind the large and immaculately arranged desk, looked just as he remembered him – a severe looking elderly man of strong build.
"Bonjour." Draco greeted the man with as much politeness as he could muster without ruining the Malfoy pride, "I believe you are expecting me." He said solemnly.
"Bonjour," Monsieur Sergeant greeted back curtly, the muscles of his face not softening a jot, "Please take seat." He bid Draco.
Draco took the seat directly opposite the imposing man, remembering to lift one leg over the other to make him look more confident.
"Why is it, Monsieur Malfoy," Sergeant started, "that you are always there when something significant happens concerning my department?" he asked pensively.
Though Draco understood the hidden indication of the question, he preferred to remain oblivious, "Pray elaborate, Monsieur, for I fail to comprehend what you are trying to imply." He said a bored voice.
Sergeant joined his strong fingers and rested his chin on it, "You were the one who suggested Julian to check on the Minister of Magic when he was poisoned by Rochés at your party. And you are the one caught the one of the culprits of attack on your aunt and son. Do I need to explain more?" he asked sharply.
"Oh, that one!" Draco feigned forgetfulness, "Now, I understand." He said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Well, Monsieur, I hope you have no complaints that I could be of assistance in both cases; in the first one, it was my mother Narcissa Malfoy's party and as her only son it was my duty to take care of the guests." He tried to sound logical, "In the second case, those bas…" he stopped himself at the proper moment, "Pardon me for the foul word, Monsieur, as I was saying those…criminals attacked my aunt when she was returning home with my only son. They were five grown men against one witch and an underage child and while trying to save Adrian, my aunt was gravely injured. I hope you can imagine how angry I must have been as a father and as a nephew when I saw them in that state." He said solemnly.
Draco remained calm under the piercing look that Sergeant provided him following his speech.
"I am not saying that it's a crime to be in the right place at the right time." Sergeant said at last, "In fact I am impressed that you have a knack to identify to be in the right place at right time. If there is one thing that I really value in my man, Monsieur Malfoy, it is their observation power. You, though not trained as an Auror, have that power." He commented.
'How could I not be?' Draco asked himself contentedly, 'I have spent years in observing my classmates for any signs of weakness that I can use to taunt them later. After all, I am a Malfoy.' He thought smugly, 'It was I who caught Potter when he tried to smuggle that oaf Hagrid's dragon in our first year.' Draco thought, though outwardly he remained silent and tried to appear modest, which was proving to be difficult as he was not used to it.
"Your cousin Julian Malfoy told me this morning that you are a double 'O' in Potions." Sergeant at last stated what Draco had been waiting for, "Why do you seek to work in that field when you are already studying Law at Sorbonne?" he asked, frowning slightly.
Draco would be damned if he admitted before Sergeant that he needed honest money to support his son and wife. Besides, he is a Malfoy and everyone knows that they roll in gold. So, he chose to take a leaf out of his cousin's lecture.
"I am looking for some recognition in the field of Potions." He replied solemnly, "We Malfoys are generally good at Potions, Monsieur, it runs in our blood." He said with a tinge of pride, "I also had the good fortune of being taught by the one of the best Potions Masters - Professor Snape while at Hogwarts and I am keen to excel myself in that field as well as Law. Law is going to be my profession but Potions is my passion where I wish to explore my inner potentials."
Sergeant unclasped his fingers and rubbed his hands, never taking his eyes off Draco.
"We don't have an empty post at Defense Potions Department." He said evenly, "But since you are the one saved the Minister's life, Monsieur Malfoy, I'll be considerate in your case. Truth be told I like to keep them closer whom I think can prove themselves useful."
'What a Malfoy you are, Draco?' a jubilant Draco asked himself, 'This is called killing three birds with one stone. Firstly you framed Rochés, secondly you put the Minister of Magic in life debt and finally you are going to use that life debt to get the job you want.' he thought contentedly while he remained impassive outside awaiting Sergeant's final words.
"We have twenty one Potion researchers in Defense Department that are divided in three groups: Espionage, Interrogation and Innovation." Sergeant said authoritatively, "Present yourself tomorrow afternoon, Monsieur Malfoy, sharp at three o' clock. If I am to have a twenty second Potions researcher in my department, you must prove yourself worthy of it." he said sharply.
"Merci, Monsieur Sergeant." Draco said with a mixture of pride and politeness, "I will be here right after my lecture class at Sorbonne is over." He stood up and with a curt nod, left the office.
Once outside, he strode through the spacious corridor to his Cousin Julian's office which not far from his superior's one.
He knocked once before entering the office that bore the gold polished name plate:
Julian Chombrun Malfoy
Auror
Second-in-command
Department of Magical Law Enforcement
His cousin was scowling at a piece of paper as Draco settled himself on a seat before his cluttered desk.
"We gave them Veritaserum this morning." Julian said, not taking his eyes off the parchment, "They died within fifteen minutes."
Draco blinked thrice to understand what was being said to him.
"They died?" he repeated after his cousin, "Before you could question them about anything?" Draco asked incredulously, not able to believe his ears.
Julian nodded as he handed Draco the parchment he was holding, "I received this ten minutes ago." he said as Draco took the official looking report, "Can you please explain this to me?" he said looking dead serious.
Draco read the Death Certificate and attached Potions analysis report before looking up at his cousin.
"They are bloody sick." he said detestably, "I mean, I was marked as a Death Eater against my will and I know how Death Eaters use Occlumency to keep valuable information out of Law Enforcement agencies should they be caught. But this…" he shook the report, "…this is sick."
"I know, Draco, I know." Julian said somberly, "All I could figure out was that these people were already given some sort of potion that remained in inactive form until Veritaserum is used on them which activated the previous potion and killed them. Right?" he asked.
Draco was suddenly reminded of Lord Voldemort and his cruel method of punishing his followers if they didn't succeed in their appointed tasks. He himself was a living proof how that lunatic threatened to kill his mother, Narcissa in order to punish them both for his father Lucius's failure to retrieve the prophecy in the Department of Mysteries. He had also heard from his father how someone called Barty Crouch Jr. was subjected to Dementor's Kiss when he got caught by Professor Dumbledore and divulged truth about his role in the Dark Lord's return under the influence of Veritaserum.
His earlier elation gone, Draco rubbed his forehead wearily; "This report says that…" he started in a forced calm voice as he tried to beat off the unpleasantness, "One of the chief ingredients of Veritaserum is Scopolamine which alters the Higher Cognitive Function. Cognitive function means a person's ability to process his thoughts." He explained to Julian's raised eyebrows, "So if you change the thought processing and put someone in a state that he believes that he can share what he is hiding, Julian, you can basically divulge all his secrets one by one – that is what Veritaserum does." Draco elaborated as Julian leaned forward, listening intently, "You can obtain Scopolamine from a plant called Deadly Nightshade or Black Henbane." He said remembering the page on Veritaserum in Moste Potente Potions, "These men were given the same Scopolamine in an inert form when they joined the Knights so that if Veritaserum was applied to them, overdose occurs and they die from side effects like – seizure." He said grimly.
"Imagine if they can do this with their own group members, Draco, what are they capable of doing with others." Julian commented gravely, "I mean, I can really understand now, why maman killed those three men on Saturday. I think, these beasts wouldn't just be contended with killing her, they would have killed Adri…" he stopped abruptly and suddenly feeling an uncontrollable anger, Draco fisted his hands painfully.
"The situation is far worse than I thought it is." Julian shook his head thoughtfully, "I need to see Sergeant right now." he said as he stood up, "By the way, how was your interview?" he asked Draco, suddenly remembering his cousin's reason behind seeing his boss.
"It went pretty well." Draco replied, still trying to beat off the unpleasant feeling regarding Adrian's near death, "I was asked to meet him again tomorrow afternoon at three." He informed his cousin as he too stood up to leave.
Julian nodded curtly as he held open the door for Draco to follow him out, "Listen, cousin, don't tell the ladies about this." he indicated at the report in his hand that he intended to show his boss Sergeant, "I don't want them to be frightened. I will explain it separately to maman and Jean." he bid.
As they walked back side-by-side, Julian leaving Draco mid-track where he entered his superior's office, Draco finally realized how true his aunt Audré had been when she had predicted what kind of danger they would be facing working against Rochés' men.
Being a traditional pureblood wizard he is, Draco had been brought up to think that women's role in society was basically at their homes where they looked after their husbands and children; their proper education was important but not as imperative as it was for a man who was the head of the family. It was one of the reasons why Hermione Granger's superior talents infuriated him for he was continuously being beaten down by a woman and a 'Mudblood' none the less – something that any pureblood man like him would detest.
But today, this afternoon as he walked back to the Muggle lift that would take him to French Muggle Defense Department, he felt grateful that some pureblood families like the Chombruns didn't think like him and trained their daughters as they would do to their sons; otherwise his son and his aunt both would have been dead and he would have lost his only reason to live – Adrian.
•••••
Narcissa Malfoy looked around the place her daughter-in-law Hermione Jean Granger called her workshop and felt intrigued.
Across the worktable Hermione placed some of the items she had removed from the Malfoy vault earlier that day through the Goblins for she wasn't willing to visit the damned vault ever again in her life, not to mention in Narcissa Malfoy's presence – the woman whom she couldn't trust enough to be that much intimate with.
"How is Adrian?" she heard Narcissa asked her casually as she walked around her workshop and examined the various objects with interest, "I hope he is fine now."
"He is." Hermione replied curtly, "I left him at mother Apolline's place before coming here. She always knows how to take care of her grandson." She said in a deliberate tone.
If Narcissa understood her small but sharp jibe about Apolline being Adrian's grandmother, she didn't display it. Instead she walked over to Hermione's worktable and sat on a wooden stool.
"Any way I can help?" she offered solemnly and Hermione, feeling she too needed to keep her interaction with Narcissa as superficial as possible, moved over to discuss a gold flower vase.
"This vase…" she started to an attentive looking Narcissa, "…is cursed in a peculiar way. While touching it will not affect you, any flower put into it for decoration purpose will become poisonous and emit such a gas that an unsuspecting person dies if he or she inhales it. What is more interesting is that these curses are permanent for no matter what I do, they would return in a month or two." she explained to Narcissa.
Narcissa's features were thoughtful as she listened to Hermione's explanation, "My father Cygnus Black used to place curses on family heirlooms that he thought would pass outside the Blacks like the Crabbes, Goyles and Bulstrodes. He was very possessive about our heirlooms and for him it was not irrational to place curses on them." She said looking almost lost in her past, "I don't remember everything since we, women were not allowed to be in those rituals."
"Rituals?" Hermione repeated; that placing a curse can be a ritualistic occasion was new to her.
Narcissa nodded, "Yes, rituals." She affirmed gravely, "Any curse that is placed permanently needed rituals and...and…" she stammered before taking her eyes of the vase and looking down on the table, "…and a sacrifice." She ended.
Hermione felt bile rose up her throat as she realized that Narcissa's words were making sense.
"My father…" Narcissa started again, "…my father wasn't a usual Black in many ways. Most Blacks were not very receptive to other pureblood families and preferred to marry their paternal and maternal cousins. But father believed it in a different way: he used to think that male Blacks should marry females from other families so that they can have upper hand on their families. My mother was a Rosier before she married my father whereas my aunt Walburga, who was Sirius and Regulus's mother, was a Black both before and after marriage. My father's theory was that marrying the females of other families will give them access to those family's vaults whereas if Black females are married off to their own cousins, Blacks will be able to keep their gold to themselves." She said grimly.
Narcissa's words reminded Hermione of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs who used to marry their own sisters to keep their throne and influence to themselves.
"So he, my father, used to place curses on family heirlooms whenever he suspected a non-Black person could inherit it." she heard Narcissa speak again, "They were carefully placed so that only Blacks could touch them while non-Blacks would suffer from the effects of the curses. As I said before, it required a sacrifice and he used to sacrifice…" Narcissa paused.
Listening in rapt attention Hermione leaned forward automatically.
"…House elves." Narcissa finished closing her eyes tightly.
As soon the words reached Hermione's ears, she felt a shiver run down her spine.
"House elves?" she whispered, "House elves!" she repeated.
Narcissa nodded still closed eyed, "Didn't you wonder where all those elves heads came from, Jean Granger?" she asked quietly, "Not all of them were collected by my aunts. Most of them were sacrificed by my father." She said gripping the end of the work table so tight that he knuckles turned white.
As if back again in number twelve Grimmauld Place, Hermione could see the rows and rows of decapitated Elf heads that adorned on the wall.
Words burst from every corner of her shocked brain, words about Dobby, about Kreacher; but she simply stared at Narcissa unsure which one to tell first.
"As far as I remember, the sacrifices made the curses permanent." Narcissa opened her eyes at last and Hermione noticed a terrified look on them, "I can still remember how…how he used to buy elves for this purpose. Our family elves were never sacrificed because my aunts liked them a lot; like my aunt Walburga who was very partial to Kreacher." She said and Hermione remembered how Kreacher spoke very high of his 'Mistress Black', "So sacrificing our elves was completely out of question. Father used to buy elves from black market where elves were traded and those elves were sacrificed to place the permanent curses on family heirlooms." Narcissa said gravely.
Hermione wondered how the concept of slavery had always been associated with slave markets. She had read how people from different parts of Africa were captured and traded to different countries to work as slaves and ironically it matched the elf markets in Wizarding world.
"I don't know about Malfoy family heirlooms." Hermione came back to reality when she heard Narcissa speak again, "I only know how the Black heirlooms were protected by sacrificing Elves but if these curses are permanent on Malfoy heirlooms then they are bound to be based on sacrifices."
"Like Dobby?" Hermione asked about the Elf who held a special place in her heart, "Do you mean that Elves like him were regularly sacrificed to protect their precious gold?" she asked, her distaste for the family increasing with every passing minute.
Narcissa's head shot up as her blue eyes fixed on Hermione's brown pair, "Dobby? What made you think so?" she asked back, offended.
"Why not?" Hermione shot back, blood pounding through her eardrums, "After watching how your sister killed him anyone will get a clear idea what kind of fiendish families Blacks and Malfoys were."
Narcissa simply gaped at Hermione for a few moments before closing her eyes and taking a deep calming breath.
"I know…" she started in a shaking voice, "…I know my father's and husband's family are regarded like that by many witches and wizards. I admit that they are correct to some extent…" she said but Hermione cut her off.
"Some extent?" she repeated incredulously, "If what I saw in Grimmauld Place and in Malfoy manor is 'some extent' to you, Mrs. Malfoy, then I am sorry to say that you need therapy." She said firmly, "That place was filled with lunatics who thought they were practically Royal because they were purebloods. But I guess their blood couldn't save them in the end for they had to die in the hand of a 'filthy' half-blood that was Voldemort."
Narcissa held up her hands in surrender, "You didn't let me finish, Jean." she said calmly, "I admit that there are mistakes in our part – in Black and Malfoy's parts. But not all those who carried that surname were lunatics. My cousins – Regulus was exceptionally kind to their House Elves and Sirius though I don't like him, didn't believe in pureblood supremacy concept. Most of my aunts were never cruel to House Elves except for Elladora Black who started the tradition of beheading the House-elves who were too old and tired to carry the tea-trays. But you surely have seen Kreacher; if the rest of the family were to follow that tradition, Jean, his head would be hanging from the wall instead of being over his neck. As for Malfoys, when I entered their households as a newly-wed bride, my mother-in-law Medusa told me on my face that Lady Malfoys don't associate with the House-elves like Blacks do for they considered it outside their dignity. I was asked to keep distance from their horde and since I was new in their house and had no idea how it was run, I did what I was told. When Medusa passed away, six years after my marriage in 1979, most of the house elves of the Malfoy manor wouldn't come near me for anything. They would contact Lucius who dealt with them the way his mother taught him to – with cruelty." She said and Hermione felt her earlier anger ebbing away, "So, as I was telling you, those concepts regarding our families are partially true because not everyone parroted their family beliefs and it's unfair to blame one person for his or her entire family actions." she said solemnly.
Back in her senses again, Hermione couldn't deny that some of Narcissa's explanations were true. She had heard from Kreacher how Regulus had laid down his own life to save his family and the elf he loved dearly. The way Kreacher treasured Mistress Black's, Miss Bella and Miss 'Cissy's gloves proved that no matter how cruel those women were with others, they were certainly kind with their Elves, something that was very out of character for them but true nonetheless.
"So, you mean you were never involved in torturing the House-elves?" she asked Narcissa with condescending skepticism.
Narcissa shook her head and though Hermione wanted to belief she was lying, Narcissa's earlier reaction to Elf-killing ritual told her she was being truthful, "At Blacks, my aunt Walburga was very kind to them – Kreacher is the living proof of that; my mother though not as kind as her never tortured them. My father and uncle were good natured with the Black House Elves so he dispatched outside elves to use for placing the curses. At my father's women folk dealt with the elves whereas at my husband's it was other way round where male members of the family dealt with them. It was my father-in-law Abraxas first, then it was Lucius and afterwards it was Draco. We, Malfoy ladies were asked not to involve ourselves in such petty matters as House-elves and since family rules can't be broken, I and my previous daughter-in-law Astoria abided by those rules." She replied.
Hermione was eager to explore more about Narcissa-Sirius relationship but thought better of it. Their conversation this far has been more interesting as well as painful than she imagined it could be and there had been instances when Narcissa has explained the Malfoy family traditions to her, something Hermione wasn't interested to least to learn. Any further attempt to prolong it would give Narcissa the impression that she had used the cursed objects as an excuse to coerce more information on Malfoys and Blacks out of her and Hermione would be damned if she made that woman think she was slightly interested in them.
"Can you tell me where I can find references to these curses?" she asked, trying to be as businesslike as possible.
Narcissa frowned thoughtfully on her question, "Like most pureblood traditional families, Malfoys also have three vaults – the original one in Britain, one here in France and the last one in Italy." She informed an astonished Hermione, "It is a type of protective measure for it provides these families with emergency gold should one of their vaults is frozen by the Ministry of Magic." She explained, "I don't know about France but in Britain, most families have their own Book of Curses that they keep in their Gringotts vaults – away from the Ministry's watchful eyes. If I remember correctly," she said narrowing her blue eyes, "the 'The Black Family Book of Curses' was in Black vaults in Gringotts that passed to my cousin Sirius and subsequently to Potter instead of my son Draco who is a Black family descendant through me. The Malfoy Book of Curses is definitely in Malfoy vaults in Britain and if you want to take a look on it, I'll write to the goblins to bring me that copy." She offered evenly.
Not wanting to lengthen their conversation any more Hermione nodded curtly and Narcissa, taking her approval as an indication of end of their discussion, stood up.
"How long will it take for your fracture to heal properly?" she asked Hermione who looked up, astounded.
"Adrian's plaster will be removed on coming Thursday." Hermione replied, hiding her surprise, "I'll heal mine magically right after that." she informed Narcissa.
"Then I think, the book should better be handed to you after Thursday for it will need both hands to handle the book and curses." Narcissa said, placing her witch's hat on her head, "I'll write to Gringotts Britain this afternoon and since today is Monday, I hope that book will be here by Thursday." She said and with a curt wish of 'Good day' left Hermione's workshop.
Hermione sat there on her wooden stood long after Narcissa left, lost in her thoughts and Narcissa's words.
Dobby's sacrifice to save Harry's life had always made her cry whenever she was reminded of that day. That salty air, sea shore, Dobby's limp form lying in Harry's arms while Bellatrix's cruel knife stuck out of his small heaving chest, Harry's call for help to save the tiny elf and then Dobby's lifeless eyes staring into the starry sky above – snippets of these scenes blurred Hermione's vision with fresh tears every time the memory rewound itself in her mind. She had heard from Harry how Lucius Malfoy had kicked that elf before Dumbledore in his office in their second year and since then she had envisioned Narcissa to be as cruel as her husband. Had it not been for those conversations that she had overheard between Narcissa and her son as well as Kreacher's testimony about his Black Mistress's caring attitude towards him alongwith this morning's confession from Narcissa Black Malfoy herself, Hermione would have carried the same impression about the bigot pureblood witch.
When the clock struck two o' clock, Hermione finally stood up from her work bench and arranged the remaining of her unfinished works for the next day. She locked the workshop behind her and proceeded for the common apparition point inside Gringotts used by rest of the curse Breakers.
Dinner at Lé Cinq with her son had given Hermione some food for thought. She still couldn't forget the mental trauma her son had been through during and after the attack on them on Saturday. The boy may try to appear as brave his tender age would allow him but in reality his previous encounter with Draco Malfoy, when the beast kidnapped him at the dead of night, had left deep scar marks inside his young mind which has been aggravated altogether by Saturday's terrifying incidence. If she herself couldn't get over her fear over her violation when she was eighteen for over six year how could her son who was merely five and half? Hermione, who was determined to not let her son become crippled by fear for the rest of his childhood, had informed her goblin boss about Saturday's incident first thing in the morning as well as her intention to leave her office earlier for a few days to spend more time with her son at or outside home.
Minutes later, when Hermione apparated in Delacour grounds, her son's excited squeals made her heart fill with immense relief.
"No, Louis." Adrian was shouting at the top of his tender voice, "Uncle Julian says to grab the broom this way, not that way." She heard as her son instructed his old friend.
Hermione approached them half-amused half-curious to see how the boys played.
"Mama!" Adrian gave a loud squeal as soon as he saw his mother and ran to her like an arrow out of bow to land on Hermione's waiting arm, "Mama! You are home!" he said snuggling against her happily.
Realizing that her son's 'home' is where his 'Mama' is, Hermione breathed in the exotic scent of her innocent son, "Yes, Mama is home, my love." She affirmed and kissed his forehead softly, "Mama took leave from the goblins and came home early for her little rabbit." She said to her son.
"Bonjour Madame," she heard Louis greeted her and standing up holding Adrian's hand, Hermione greeted him back, "How is everyone at home?" she enquired of the polite young boy.
As they talked, Apolline came out and ushered them inside the house to her kitchen.
"I have packed you two a lunch basket." She showed Hermione a neatly packed basket over the kitchen counter, "I hope you will have a nice time." she said smiling pleasantly.
"MAMA, ARE WE GOING FOR A PICNIC?" Adrian's loud query almost brought the kitchen ceiling down as he jumped up and down gleefully and laughing now and Hermione nodded.
"WHERE?" was her son's next big question.
"First stop cheering loudly, Adrian." Hermione bid her son, who clamped his small hand over his small mouth, "We are going for a small cruise." She told him as soon as the kitchen was quiet enough.
Another loud outcry issued, this time from boys as Adrian and Louis both started jumping like trapezes and clapping her hand on her forehead, Hermione settled on a chair.
"We are cruising…we are cruising…we are cruising…" Adrian chanted and started zooming around the place and Hermione was reminded of Ron's tiny owl Pigwidgeon.
"Mother, I wanted to tell to something." She almost shouted over the loud joyful cries to Apolline, who summoned two tea cups and placed one down before Hermione, "I learnt something very interesting about wands from Lillian." She said as she took her cup.
"Really?" Apolline asked as she took her cup, "What?" she gave an affectionate glance at Adrian who was determined to bring the place down.
Leaving away the part concerning her and Draco Malfoy's wand, Hermione told her all about Lillian's wand that the young woman had told her before that fateful attack on her aunt and son occurred. To her surprise, instead of being astonished Apolline looked extremely grave.
"Veela hair you said?" Apolline asked back as if trying to be sure.
Hermione nodded as she noticed Apolline's grave demeanor and gestured her son, who was now singing some funny song at the top of his tender voice, "Adrian, we ladies want to talk in private for some time. Can the men leave the ladies?" she offered him gently not trying to spoil his good mood.
"The men will leave the ladies to talk." Adrian declared with as much chivalry as his five year old manhood would provide him and he left with his friend Louis for the adjacent garden.
"What is wrong mother?" Hermione asked Apolline as soon as Adrian as out of earshot.
Apolline looked completely lost in her thoughts for she didn't answer Hermione's question until after a few minutes, "No. Nothing is wrong." she gave her a strained smile, "What type of wood you said her wand was made of? Rowan?" she asked again.
Hermione nodded, observing Apolline closely as it was evident that the half-Veela was determined to hide something from her, "Mother can you please tell me what is it that you are suddenly so lost?" she asked cautiously.
Apolline shook her head this time, "I can't tell you until I figure it out myself." She replied, "The truth is, I am very intrigued by what you told me about her wand." She said thoughtfully, "Fleur's wand has Veela hair from my mother who was a Veela. My wand doesn't have Veela hair; neither do Alexis or Gabrielle's wands have it. I know Alexis's wand is made of Elder wood but he didn't buy it. It belonged to Gustave's father who passed it to Gustave as a family tradition of Claiming their next heir. But for some strange reason the wand wouldn't yield to Gustave. The next male in the row was Alexis so it was passed to him and strangely it yielded to him the moment he touched it. He had been using that wand since that day." Apolline informed Hermione.
Hermione was wondering what to comment when Adrian suddenly rushed into the kitchen, this time carrying his little rabbit and he tugged Hermione's skirt impatiently.
"Mama, Peter says he wants to go to the cruise with us." He said fixing his wide grey innocent eyes on Hermione, "When will we leave?" he asked.
Before Hermione could reply Apolline left her chair and tied the small red muffler around his delicate neck and combed his hair before placing two kisses on his cheek.
"There… my brave little grandson is ready for his ride." She stroked Adrian's cheek fondly, "Now, Jean we will talk about that later. Right now you need to take Adrian for his cruise." She said with an impatient wave of her hand.
Making a mental note to finish this conversation next time, Hermione stood up and shrunk the lunch basket so that she won't have difficulty in carrying it. They left a merrily waving Apolline at the kitchen door while Hermione apparated them both near the dock located in St Germain.
Living in one of the two natural islands in the river Seine – Ile de la Cite, Hermione had been planning for quite some time to take Adrian for a cruise on the famous river. But since the boy was very young until now and she herself was very busy with her demanding job to provide him all comforts in his life, Hermione hadn't been able to manage a instance to take him out. Besides, before her marriage she had always entrusted Adrian in Apolline and Gabrielle's care while after her marriage Audré and Lillian had taken over that role. It was not until his Saturday morning outburst at the breakfast table that Hermione had realized she had been unfair to her son, for the boy wanted his Mama, not Apolline, Gabrielle, Audré or Lillian; they could be his temporary relief but his heart was laid where his mother was. Since he had no other brother or sister of his own and unfortunately will never have them for the rest of his life as Hermione had no future plans to consummate her so-called marriage with her violator, she was determined to make up for all those days and evenings that she had spent working in Gringotts while her son waited at home for her to return.
That was when Hermione had planned to take her son for the cruise across Seine on a small private Muggle boat and informed Apolline of her plan when she dropped the little boy at her care for the day.
As per her plan, Apolline had made arrangements through Gustave to hire a boat exclusively for their use for the afternoon where mother and son will spend some quality time and share their lunch.
But the boat that met her eyes wasn't nearer to a 'small private Muggle boat'; it wasn't a boat at all.
It was a yacht.
Hermione didn't know whether to laugh or cry. What has her father Gustave done for them!
She stood there, too stunned to even make a sound as the beautiful yacht with its spacious deck and elegant looking furniture floated on water like a large white swan.
"Father!" Hermione whispered, tears of gratitude running down her cheek as she realized how deeply the elderly man loved her and Adrian.
The cry that left Adrian's mouth upon seeing the yacht must have reached the stars for Hermione saw the skipper covered his ears using his both hands and a few frightened birds left the branches of the nearby trees with raucous cries.
"MY MAMA IS THE BEST MAMA IN THE WORLD!" Adrian exclaimed excitedly as he started jumping like a kangaroo on the spot and Hermione, wiping her tears couldn't help but laughed at his joy.
The skipper helped Adrian, who was few steps away from dancing in public, to get on board followed by Hermione and when they settled themselves comfortably on the deck of the yacht, the cruise started with a gentle hum of the powerful engine.
Hermione looked around the luxurious boat and felt her respect for the man, who loved her like his own daughter – Gustave Delacour, increase manifold. The elderly man had paid attention to all the amenities of their comfort during the tour and therefore rented the boat from a well known Muggle company called 'Paris Boats Prestige' which also provided soft drinks along with Petit-fours for the cruise. Hermione, who hadn't been expecting so much from her father Gustave, realized how truthfully the man and entire his family loves her and Adrian.
While the skipper busied himself over the boat's steering wheel Hermione remembering the attack on her aunt Audré and Adrian, carefully removed her wand and casted all the usual protective enchantments around the yacht that she used to cast around their tent during the Horcrux hunt and when the session was over fifteen minutes later, she noticed Adrian watching her silently with big grey eyes full of curiosity.
"What was that, Mama?" he asked her, "What were you doing?"
Hermione preferred not to answer and instead took her son in her arm, "Mama's little rabbit looks good in this red muffler." She noted at the new muffler her son was sporting.
"This?" Adrian asked as he ran his small hand over the soft wool, "Grandma Apolline knitted it for me." He informed Hermione happily.
Hermione looked down at those happy grey eyes.
Oh how adorable her son looked when he smiled like that! A glimpse on his happy face was enough to light up Hermione's heart and fill it with joy. She embraced her son more protectively and kissed him on the head.
Her spirit considerably lifted as her little son's warm and petit form snuggled against her, Hermione looked around the banks of Seine to enjoy the view.
Their embarkation being from St Germain, the place nearest to the island Ile de la Cité where Hermione had been living with her son until her marriage with Draco Malfoy; the skipper next took them upstream along the southern bank of Seine and beneath Pont au Double, the 18th century bridge with an excellent view of the famous cathedral Notre dame.
As soon as the gothic tower with its magnificent architecture came into their view, Adrian squealed in happiness and Hermione groaned.
"Mama, Mama, look." Adrian asked Hermione to look up at the cathedral that was considered the most famous in Europe, "Mama, Notre dame! Mama, my school is there." He noted happily.
Being the academic person she is, Hermione always loved the view of the cathedral that was at a walking distance from the Delacour residence. The medieval cathedral reminded her of the tragic book written on its backdrop 'The Hunchback of Notre dame' by Victor Hugo until the most tragic event of own her life happened there: her marriage with Draco Malfoy and she lost all her previous awe and appeal for the place.
Shuddering involuntarily at the memory of the midnight marriage, Hermione smiled at Adrian as sweetly as she could when an idea struck her. A poem that she had read when she was a little girl popped up in her head and with full intention to divert her son's attention from Notre dame to her, she started to recite it:
Ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do.
If you've a penny in your purse
I'll ferry you.
I have a penny in my purse
And my eyes are blue;
So ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do.
Step into my ferry-boat,
Be they black or blue
And for the penny in your purse,
I'll ferry you.
"What's that poem, Mama?" her son asked her curiously and feeling satisfied Hermione placed her chin over his small head to bring him so close that their hearts almost beat against each other.
"Mama read this poem when she was young like you, little rabbit." She replied, closing her eyes and feeling Adrian's small body with every fiber of her being, "It is called 'Ferry me across the water' which was written by an English poet Christina Rossetti. Now that I am cruising with my little rabbit on the river Seine in a boat, I was suddenly reminded of it." she explained.
"Can you repeat it, Mama?" Adrian asked and Hermione noticed the tranquil and peace in the boy's tender sweet voice; he, too was feeling his mother like his mother was feeling her son.
"Ferry me across the water…" Hermione started.
"Ferry me across the water…" to her surprise Adrian repeated after her.
"Do, boatman, do…" Hermione said smiling now.
"Do, boatman, do…" Adrian's tender voice followed her.
"If you have a penny in your purse…" Hermione added a little skepticism.
"If you've a penny in your purse…" her son added the skepticism too.
"I'll ferry you." Hermione said with a flourish
"I'll ferry you." Adrian copied his Mama's tone accurately.
Had Hermione known that reciting poems can be so fun and touching, she would have taught her son all the poems in the world by now. She continued reciting as they passed by Ile Saint-Louis, the second natural island in Seine, while her son kept repeating after her and after their third time together as the yacht took them by Jardin des Plantes – the extensive 17th century botanical gardens - the intelligent boy was reciting it himself.
Ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do.
If you've a penny in your purse
I'll ferry you.
I have a penny in my purse
And my eyes are blue;
So ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do.
Step into my ferry-boat,
Be they black or blue
And for the penny in your purse,
I'll ferry you.
Hermione wanted so much to clap but her left arm being fractured she felt so helpless. Instead she kissed her son once again on his head and praised him whole-heartedly, "Excellent little rabbit! Mama's love is the most intelligent boy in the world." She closed her eyes and embraced her son in maternal pride and bliss.
As the yacht took a downstream course across the northern bank of Seine towards Hôtel de Villé Hermione heard her son enquire, "Mama, can we eat now?" and scolding herself for getting lost in her endless thoughts she enlarged the lunch basket and opened it.
To her immense embarrassment, she found Apolline had packed them enough lunch to feed an entire troop of army. There were roast chicken and salad baguettes, Duck pâté with Dijon mustard, French shortbread cookies Punitions, Sharply vinegar-flavoured pickles made of small cucumbers that are called Cornichon pickles, assorted French cheese, Avocado and tomato salad, assorted berries of Adrian's choice and traditional French muffins lightly scented with cinnamon and nutmeg.
"Duck Pâté!" Adrian exclaimed, "Berries! Muffins! Punitions!" he examined all the food items with delight.
Shaking her head in disbelief at father Gustave and mother Apolline's efforts to make this a memorable journey, Hermione served food for her hungry and eager son as they both watched Paris from water.
They were halfway through the lunch when Louvre – the former historic palace housing a huge art collection, from Roman sculptures to Da Vinci's Mona Lisa - came into view and Adrian, though he had seen the giant glass pyramid quite a few times before, squealed loudly.
"LOOK, MAMA, LOOK!" he pointed a small finger at the impressive two storied palace and adjacent glass pyramid, "Louvre's pyramid." He noted.
Hermione stroked her son's silvery blonde curls fondly as the little boy devoured his lunch and enjoyed the view of the world famous museum from the Seine.
It was when Hermione was serving her son some avocado and orange salad that she was reminded of her pregnancy craving for a peculiar ice-cream in the sixth month and feeling amused, she decided to tell the story to her son.
"Remember the story about Mama being ill when she was going to have you, Adrian?" Hermione asked her son, curious to know how much he remembered.
"The one where an evil witch cursed you and you had a lot of pain and grandma Apolline gave you a tea?" Adrian asked back retelling the whole story in a short synopsis, "I remember it." he affirmed, "Why?" he asked her innocently.
Hermione smiled at the avocado between her fingers, "One day when little rabbit was growing inside Mama, she felt like eating Avocado ice-cream." She started, "Mama was studying in her school at that time and though ice was available there, ice creams were not." She explained.
"Avocado ice-cream?" Adrian repeated after her with a small grimace as he looked down at his plate of avocado salad, "You mean real avocado ice-cream?" Adrian asked her skeptically.
"Yes, real avocado ice-cream." Hermione affirmed, highly amused at the strange look her son imposed upon her.
"But why avocado?" Adrian asked her with a small frown, "Why not raspberry and chocolate?" he asked referring to his favourite flavour.
"Because all around the world, when Mamas are going to have their little rabbits they behave very strangely." Hermione explained patiently, "Though Mama never liked ice creams in her entire life and Mama's parents being dentists also didn't let her eat sugary foods, that one time when little rabbit was growing big and strong inside her, Mama felt like she could kill for a bite of avocado ice cream." She said to a gaping Adrian, "Aunt Eva was Mama's roommate at that time. When Mama told her that she wanted to eat avocado ice-cream, she laughed at first. But when Mama told her that she really wanted to eat it, Aunt Eva consulted her brother uncle Edmound, who was in the same class as her and Mama. Aunt and Uncle then made a plan to give Mama a big surprise." She said mysteriously.
"What plan?" Adrian leaned forward in interest, "What surprise?" his salad lay forgotten.
Hermione remembered what her friends had done and decided to keep the secret just a little longer, "At first Mama was very desperate for some avocado ice-cream but then she thought that she might be annoying others with her problem and she felt very ashamed for telling it to Aunt Eva." Hermione said and Adrian's look immediately saddened for his mother, "She decided to forget that she ever wanted to eat such a weird flavoured ice-cream and never mentioned it before Aunt Eva again. But inside her she couldn't forget about it. Then one Wednesday when the classes were over and Mama was planning to finish her homework in the library, Aunt Eva and uncle Edmound came to her. They told her that they have a surprise for Mama and that they have granted permission from their teachers to take her to that place. Mama was very astonished for she had no idea where they were planning to take her but she trusted the twins. So she left her books and bag in the room and went out with them."
"Where did they take you, Mama?" Adrian asked breathlessly, his grey eyes almost popping out.
"They took Mama on a side-along apparition to a city called Nice where a famous Muggle ice-cream parlour called Fenocchio is situated." Hermione let out the secret at last, "That ice-cream parlour is very famous because like Barty Bott's Every Flavoured Beans they also had almost every flavour ice-cream. Weird flavours like Jasmine, Lavender, Rose, Violet, ginger, olive, chewing gum and even Mama's choice avocado was available there." Hermione told her son, "At first Mama couldn't believe her eyes. She was there…she was there to eat the weird ice cream that was making her go crazy for it." Hermione smiled lightly as the memories of that day played before her eyes when she entered the ice-cream parlour with her friends and Eva ordered the avocado ice-cream for her, "That day Mama became real friends with Aunt Eva and uncle Edmound and to celebrate their friendship Mama ate six scoops of avocado ice-cream."
"Six scoops?" Adrian repeated, "And you scold me if I eat more than two scoops." He pouted his lips in a complaining manner.
Hermione couldn't help but laughed at her son's complaint, "Okay, Mama will buy her little rabbit a big chocolate and raspberry ice-cream after the cruise is over." She declared.
Adrian left his plate on the small table and threw himself on Hermione, "Mama I love you." He said kissing her on the cheek, "I really really really really love you very very very very much." he proclaimed happily.
Hermione could swear at that moment that if her life was meaningful even after being tortured, impregnated, forced to leave her loved ones and her country, sacrificed her love for Ron and Alexis to save her child from Draco Malfoy and falling prey to the same man in the name of a marriage she didn't believe: it was all because of this innocent boy that kept her heart warm and gave her hope in despair.
It was all for her son Adrian.
•••••
If there could be a death sentence for trying to impress woman with unnecessary wit, Draco was sure it could be awarded to Alexis Delacour.
For the infuriating man had shown the audacity to visit the Château just when Draco had presented himself in his aunt's parlour in his best blue shirt to appear as likable to his wife Hermione Granger as possible and claimed that he had 'important' information on the blasted Delacroix.
The rest of his day after his interview with Sergeant and brutal discovery about the Veritaserum had been filled with more anxiety and apprehension for upon returning to Château Draco heard that his wife and son still hadn't returned home although it was almost dusk. He had paced before the apparition point waiting for them while numerous thoughts regarding a dead Adrian and Hermione popped up in his head. He had cursed his stubborn Gryffindor wife several times and only when Hermione apparated with an extremely happy and joyous Adrian, did he stop pacing and hid himself behind a large bush to observe them closely.
His son's tender voice had been filling the air with the most peculiar poem Draco had ever heard as he watched him hopping up and down while leaking a chocolate ice-cream:
Ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do.
If you've a penny in your purse
I'll ferry you.
I have a penny in my purse
And my eyes are blue;
So ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do.
Step into my ferry-boat,
Be they black or blue
And for the penny in your purse,
I'll ferry you.
Draco almost gagged to prevent him from laughing out loud, 'So this is the poem Jean has been teaching my son?' he thought half-amused half-exasperated, 'Can't she teach him some Wizarding poems?' he asked himself as he watched them disappear inside the Château.
Relief coursing through his veins Draco, too had returned to his suite and after a refreshing bath donned his best navy blue shirt while humming the song that had been playing in his mind all the day:
'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…..'
'And I wanna thank you lady…'
"Sorry for the intrusion during your singing session, cousin." He heard Julian's voice suddenly from behind him, "But maman told me to inform you that she wants the whole family at her parlour for evening tea." He informed Draco before he turned to leave, "By the way, who are you planning to thank?" he asked narrowing his eyes shrewdly, "Besides, I never thought Slytherins thanked people." He commented.
Draco resumed combing his sleek platinum blonde hair and decided to ignore his cousin, "Did you tell aunt about the deaths?" he asked his cousin.
Julian's face graved considerably at the question and he nodded, "Yes, I did. But maman said that it is not very unusual for such a radical pureblood group like them." He said before leaving Draco to his thoughts.
As he walked through the hallways to his aunt's parlour Draco couldn't say his earlier elation wasn't subsided by real fear for his family. The Knights seemed even crueler than the Death Eaters and they behaved the way just as his aunt had foreseen.
When he opened the door, the view that greeted his somehow worried eyes was most heart-warming.
His son, sporting a blue T-shirt just like his blue shirt and jeans with red muffler, was resting his small head on his aunt Audré's chest and chatting with her animatedly while his wife Hermione, wearing a pale pink dress, was giving the pair an affectionate look.
Draco walked over to the double sofa where Hermione was sitting and keeping a respectable distance between them, sat beside her.
To his dismay, the woman almost jumped out of her seat and giving him a look of pure hatred, took the seat just beside Audré to rest her head over the elderly woman's shoulder.
Draco groaned internally, 'I wasn't going to bite you Granger.' He thought, annoyed.
"Everywhere is full, I guess." He heard his cousin Lillian commented as she walked in with his mother Narcissa, "My maman is taken." She sniffed mockingly and pouted her lips noting Audré's occupied state before sharing a sofa with Narcissa just opposite Draco.
"…then we saw the big glass pyramid…" he heard his son telling his aunt, "It was Louvre. Then Mama told me a story about ice-cream."
"Ice-cream?" Audré asked, looking not less than a child herself, "Tell me more, my little man." she bid.
Draco felt Hermione's eyes flitted towards him just she before interrupted her son's oncoming words, "Little rabbit, Mama thinks it's a not good story for grandma Audré. Why don't you tell her about the Eiffel tower?" she offered hopefully.
Something in the manner she spoke made Draco suspicious, 'What is trying to hide from us?' he thought to himself.
"But Mama it's about avocado ice-cream and it's funny!" Adrian protested and before Hermione could stop him he stated his story, "Mama told me a story today." He said happily to his audiences, "One day she wanted to eat avocado ice-cream."
"Avocado ice-cream!" Audré exclaimed as if it was a food from Mars, "Very strange." She commented, "Why?" she gave a sideways glance to a mortified looking Hermione.
Adrian gave Audré a wise look, "Mama says that all Mamas want to eat strange things when they are going to have their little rabbits." He explained.
"Ooohhhh!" Audré nodded her head as if she had discovered the thirteenth use of dragon blood.
Draco was extremely amused as his son continued the story where Hermione craved to eat avocado ice-cream during her pregnancy but since it was not available in Beauxbatons at that time, she couldn't consume it. Later on when she shared her feelings with her friend Eva, she and her brother Edmound made a plan to take her a Muggle ice-cream parlour where the pregnant woman ate avocado ice-cream to her heart's content.
"Maman, what did you crave to eat when Julian was going to be born?" he heard Lillian asked her mother as she served them all tea, "I never asked you about it."
Draco's eyes shifted from Adrian to Hermione, who was looking anywhere but at his direction. Her hands were shaking slightly and her face was flushed as she took the tea cup from Lillian.
'Why is she behaving like that?' Draco asked himself, 'It is just a story. Besides, I have every right to know what happened to her when she was pregnant with my child.' He thought firmly.
"I had cravings for ice." Audré replied in response to her daughter's question, "I remember crushing ice to make Ice Pops with them and Morpheus used to joke that if I ate ice at that rate, I would be giving birth to an ice sculpture instead of a human baby." She smiled at her memory.
"And what happened when you were about to have me?" Lillian asked eagerly.
"Well," Audré tilted her head to remember, "When I was going to have you, Lillian I felt like I could eat all the pickles in the world. At other times, I don't eat pickles; but that one time Morpheus collected all kinds of pickles from across Europe to satiate my cravings. After you were born I could puke thinking that I ate all those pickles." She reminisced.
"No wonder why my little sister is as sour as a pickled cucumber." Julian teased his sister, who scoffed before turning her attention to Narcissa who had been silent throughout the conversation, "Tell us, aunt, what did you crave to eat when you were about to have Cousin Draco?" she asked curiously.
Draco, who was enjoying the bitter-sweet chat over the tea, was interested to know about his mother's cravings when he noticed Narcissa opened her mouth to answer and closed it midway, "I had no cravings." She said so firmly that Draco was sure she was lying, "I had no cravings." She repeated.
Remembering their earlier conversation where his mother had accused him of stripping her off her honour, Draco realized that Narcissa wasn't willing to talk about her pregnancy before him.
"This tea is good." Draco heard his son commented as he drank tea from a saucer where Audré first poured some tea and blew it cool before offering it to Adrian, "Mama never lets me have tea. But I am a man now. I can drink tea." His pink lips were almost red from contact with the hot beverage and the sight of his son drinking tea from a saucer while sitting on his aunt's lap was so adorable that Draco could swear he had never anything more beautiful as that.
"Mama is right about tea." His aunt agreed with his wife, "You are a man but a little man nonetheless and little men don't drink tea as big men do." Audré said smiling at Hermione and Draco noticed the shift of topic eased her earlier tense demeanor.
The general conversation was pleasant and to Draco's liking until the Alexis 'insufferable' Delacour decided to butt in.
"Pasteur is proving to be extremely difficult." The man said as he settled down on a single sofa as if he owned the place, "Delacroix isn't a surname." He declared as Adrian landed on his waiting arms and gave his uncle Alexis a soppy kiss that pissed off Draco to the point of no return.
He gritted his teeth while outwardly he remained as impassive as possible, 'How dare he let my son kiss him?' he thought furiously, 'Adrian is my son! My son!' he shouted inside his head.
The only other person who didn't seem happy to Alexis's sudden appearance was his cousin Lillian and Draco noted with immense gratitude that she stood up, extracted Adrian from Alexis's devilish snare of arms and they both left when she promised to teach Adrian some interesting chess moves.
"Now that the little man is gone where he should be, I guess we can talk more freely." Julian said in a serious tone, "Tell me Delacour, what is it with the Delacroix that you discovered?" he urged the man.
Absent-mindedly rubbing his cheek where Adrian had kissed him, Alexis took out a sheaf of parchments from the inner pocket of his robe, "As I was saying before, Delacroix is not a surname." He announced handing the papers to Audré, "After Pasteur told us the name, I gave it to the WIB or Wizarding Intelligence Branch to look for any family bearing that surname. But unfortunately they couldn't provide me with any. Their Head of the Department personally contacted and informed me that there is no Wizarding family by the name of Delacroix in entire France be it Paris or other cities." He said as he took the tea Hermione offered him with a gentle smile and Draco's gut wrenched painfully, "When he said that, I thought maybe Pasteur was playing game with us and we should question him under Veritaserum." He paused to sip his tea, "Merci Jean, the sugar is fine." he assured Hermione before continuing with his main conversation, "But then an idea popped in my head. I asked my father about our family name – Delacour." he said evenly to an interested looking audience.
'Big deal!' Draco, who was observing Hermione and Alexis like a hawk from his corner, snorted.
"Papa told me that the name Delacour actually means 'of the royal court'." Alexis elaborated, "Our family residence is in Ile de la Cité which is the heart of Paris because the city was indeed founded in Ile de la Cité. Lutetia is the old name of Paris which in Celtic language means 'Dwelling in the middle of waters' since Ile de la Cité is one of the two natural islands in the river Seine. The island was the kings' residence under the fourteen century when they built two gothic masterpieces like Notre dame and Sainte-Chapelle, their palace which is now the Conciergerie, a hospital which is Hôtel Dieu and a barrack that has become Prefecture dé Police. Our family was the first to build their Wizarding residence among the kings' residences in Ile de la Cité in fifteen century and therefore they were referred to as De-la-cours…" he broke the word and pronounced each part separately, "…or 'of the royal courts'." He paused and took a sip from his cup, "It eventually became our family name – Delacours. Papa's explanation made me take a logical approach to find the history behind the name that Pasteur gave us - Delacroix." He said and a now seething Draco noticed Hermione was hanging to Alexis's every word, "At first I thought it referred to place near the cross since 'croix' is cross in French. I even said so to Madame Chombrun Malfoy." He indicated at Audré.
"Is it not that?" Audré asked, intrigued.
Alexis shook his head, "No." he said, "When I failed to find a family by the name Delacroix, I looked for records where cross was mentioned in any manner and found that Delacroix actually refers to a Wizarding family that received…" he paused and rested his eyes on Hermione, "…a Muggle military award called Croix de Guerre or Cross of War." He said to a deadly silent parlour.
"Excellent Alexis!" Hermione clapped, her face shining in delight and praise, "Excellent! Aunt Audré, don't you think he did a marvelous job with that name?" she asked the woman sitting beside her.
Shaking in rage, Draco gripped the handle of Hawthorn wand so tightly that his knuckles turned white, 'Delacour, you twit! How dare you try to impress my wife with your nice little chit-chat!' he seethed inside his head, 'How dare you look at her? How dare you smile at her? How dare you…' he lost all coherent thoughts.
His aunt on the other hand was applauding like Hermione, "I must say, Monsieur Delacour, that there must be a reason why you became Junior Undersecretary to the Minister at such a young age for I am certain now that it is because your logical approach to solve any problem." She commented pleasantly before turning her attention to Draco, "Now Draco, don't you think I was right in choosing him as your and Jean's third companion in your mission?" she asked sweetly.
Had it not been for the fact that Draco really cared for his aunt Audré and admired her intelligence, he would have screamed a resolute 'No' at her face and left the parlour dragging his wife behind him. But since none of those options were available, he gave her a curt and cold nod, "Yes, Monsieur Delacour did show a little more intelligence than a first year Hufflepuff." He commented coolly and in return earned a venomous glare from his wife.
'There, there, Granger! Now you'll know how I am feeling.' he gave Hermione look of supreme pride and confidence, 'Don't you dare forget that you are Draco Malfoy's wife, Hermione Jean Granger, not Alexis Delacour's. So you should better remain as pure as you are and don't fall under his filthy spells and charms.' He warned her through his eyes.
Alexis, meanwhile, decided to ignore Draco's jibe and continued with his explanation, "As I was saying, the Croix de Guerre or the Cross of War is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during the Muggle war called World War I – a Great War between Britain-France-Russia and Germany-Austria-Hungary, again in World War II, and in other conflicts. The Croix de Guerre is commonly bestowed on French and foreign military forces allied to France who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy." He informed the audiences and Draco felt like he was back in Professor Binn's History of Magic lecture class in Hogwarts listening to his drones on Goblin Rebellions, "According to those documents…" he indicated at the parchments he had handed to Audré earlier, "…a family by the name of Gauthiot won that Muggle military honour the Croix de Guerre when one of their son Robert rescued wounded Muggle soldiers while under fire. Since then they are referred to as De-la-Croix or 'of the Cross' after the award they won - 'Croix de Guerre'. So, basically Delacroix is not a surname but a title." He finished with a smile.
Hermione, Draco noted, had gone back to her earlier trance like state as she bestowed her praise to Alexis with her brilliant brown eyes that has somehow enchanted Draco with their innocence and intelligence and unable to do anything to stop it, he simply closed his grey pair.
"Excellent work Monsieur Delacour." he heard his aunt comment heartily while others agreed with her, "Draco, dearest," she called him suddenly, "Are you feeling well?" she enquired albeit anxiously.
Realizing that everyone's eyes are on him, Draco opened his eyes and found all but Hermione staring at him. Hermione, he noted, has suddenly has taken keen interest in the chandelier that hung from ceiling and she seemed to be counting how many candles were in it.
"I am fine." Draco informed the group firmly, "I was feeling a little bored from all these lectures on Croix de Guerre." He shrugged indignantly.
Hermione snorted this time, "Just because some people have the intelligence range of a tea-spoon, doesn't mean we all have it." She commented looking determinedly at the overhead chandelier, "Those who feel bored during an interesting discussion are at full liberty to leave the parlour rather than sit here and make foolish comments." She said and Draco noted her voice was shaking from anger, "If they can't see where the door is, it is on their right." She said indicating at the parlour door.
Draco was about to retaliate like an angry dragon when Audré gave him a warning look, "Draco, dearest, surely you know how to behave like a man." she said in a dead calm voice that ran a chill down Draco's spine, "You must admit that Monsieur Delacour did an excellent job."
Realizing that it wouldn't do him any good if he angered both his wife and aunt that too before his mother Narcissa, Draco nodded and gave Alexis a cold smile, "Yes, he did." he said curtly.
"Where does this Gauthiot family lives?" he heard Hermione asked Alexis this time, "Can we go there now?" she enquired.
To Draco's delight Alexis's face, that shining like a new moon until now, fell considerably at Hermione's question, "No." he shook his head, "I am sorry, Jean. But it isn't not possible." He said solemnly.
"Why not?" Julian asked curiously, "Are they not willing to co-operate?"
"I have no way to know whether they want to co-operate or not." Alexis replied gravely, "As per Wizarding rule, I sent them an owl but they didn't reply. The owl came back empty-legged."
'So the famous Junior Undersecretary isn't as invincible as he claims to be.' Draco smirked.
"But we need them." Hermione said thoughtfully, "As soon as possible. Alexis can't you do anything about it?" she asked seriously.
Alexis shook his head, "I am really sorry, Jean. But I can't." he said apologetically, "You know the laws here and unless the Gauthiots are convicted criminals I can't issue a warrant to search their households which I am sure will result in opposite effects. We want them to help us, not hate us." He explained.
Draco was contemplating Alexis's words with a frown, 'What law? What warrant?' he asked incredulously, 'I have never heard about such ridiculous laws where one can't visit others in emergency.' He thought irritably.
Thankfully the conversation didn't last long afterwards and Alexis left promising Hermione and Audré that he will find out a way to contact the Gauthiots while Draco decided to investigate the problem more thoroughly. His opportunity arrived when Julian and Narcissa left for their respective suites while Hermione stood up and informed Audré that she will be in her quarter with Adrian for both of them are tired from cruising in Seine.
"Aunt Audré." Draco called his aunt as he took the seat beside her which was previously occupied by Hermione, "What's that Delacour said about sending an owl and warrants?" he enquired.
Audré gave him a gentle smile, "I am sorry, Draco, that I didn't explain it to you earlier. Sometimes I forget how little you know about French Wizarding society and their etiquettes." She said, "In France, if we intend to visit someone's home - someone who is not a family, we send them an owl first. Most Wizarding households are protected against unintended visitors and they don't disclose their addresses unless you send them an owl asking for their permission to visit them. Upon receiving the owl, if they feel it is safe to meet the stranger at their home they will send back the owl with their address and a landmark point where it is safe to apparate." She explained, "As Alexis said, he has already sent an owl to the Gauthiots and since they didn't respond, it is most likely that they are not interested to meet him. And unless they are declared as convicted criminals, even the Minister of Magic doesn't have the rights to visit their home forcefully. That will require a warrant issued by the magistrate." She informed Draco.
"And without their expressed permission there is no way to visit them, right?" Draco asked, looking for loopholes in the apparently weird etiquette.
"Correct." Audré affirmed as she observed Draco's frown with curiosity, "Draco, what are you planning?" she asked cautiously.
The wheels of his cunning Slytherin mind already in motion, Draco smirked at his aunt, "I think, I have found a way to visit those foolish Gauthiots." He replied as he stood up to put this theory to test.
He was almost at the door when he heard his aunt called him, "Draco, don't get caught." She warned him and looking over his shoulder, Draco nodded before leaving the parlour.
His first destination was his cousin Julian's suite where the man was towel-drying his dark hairs, clearly out of shower.
"Julian, can you tell me which broomstick is best for night time long distance ride?" Draco asked him settling down on his cousin's bed.
Julian gave him an astonished look as he threw the towel on a chair where it lay crumpled, "Going for a romantic long drive cousin?" he asked spraying some au de cologne on him standing before the mirror.
"Seems like you have a lot of experiences there, cousin." Draco teased back, "Tell me how many girlfriends you had until now? Or do you plan to marry a broomstick?"
Julian looked at Draco's reflection in the mirror and sighed mockingly, "I wish girls were as interesting as broomsticks were, cousin." He remarked looking heartbroken, "Now, jokes apart Draco, why are you in sudden need of a broomstick that is good for night time riding?" he asked keenly.
"I need to test a theory." Draco replied plainly.
"On what? Night time broom velocity?" Julian asked combing his hair.
Draco snorted, "Do you have the answer or should I leave?" he asked impatiently, leaving the bed.
Julian held up a hand to stop him, "Go to my closet and take out the Night Hawk." He briefed Draco, "Most people think that any broomstick is good for night time ride. But unfortunately it is not. Being able to see well during the daytime doesn't necessarily mean that you will see well while flying at night. While Quidditch stadiums have flood lights for night time matches one of the biggest issues when riding at night is reduced visibility due to low light. You also don't have the advantage of colour and contrast that you have during the daytime." He explained, "But Night Hawk is specialized for night time rides because they have a built in sensor that avoids clouds and terrain because these two are impossible to see when flying at night and it leads to disorientation as well as loss of control."
Feeling that he has heard enough lectures since evening for an entire week, Draco left his cousin's bedroom, "Thank you, Julian," he said as he opened the broom closet, "I knew you are a walking encyclopedia on broomsticks." He took out the sleek black broom with a golden writing 'Night Hawk'.
'Intelligence range of a tea-spoon, eh Granger? Hm?' he arched an eyebrow to the broom as he felt the finely polished handle, 'Let's see who is more intelligent – your husband or your lover?' he smirked.