A/N: Happy New Year 2015 to everyone! :D
Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and follows. They were most rewarding. Thanks to Ramyfan, aryaa, Roni2010, Nikki98, happyhoper, Grovek26for their reviews.
Acknowledgements:
The Discussion on law was taken from several law articles.
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.
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For Swear words and adult theme this chapter is rated M.
Disclaimer: The copyright to Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling. Any other characters are purely work of fiction and any resemblance is co-incidental.
Chapter 43: Firefly of Curses
It would take Hermione days to get over the shock when a perfectly normal conversation turned so wrong that Audré Chombrun Malfoy fainted in the end.
Ever since the day Marie Delacroix had provided them with the letters that could be valuable in the trial against Rochés, Hermione was eagerly waiting to have an in depth analysis about them. The letters being in Audré's custody, that opportunity didn't come until Friday night when she called a meeting in her husband's study and Hermione left her son in Lillian's care to attend it.
Almost everyone in the Château except for Lillian and Adrian were present along with the one person whose presence made Hermione happy every time she saw him: Alexis Delacour.
It had been painful enough when the reserved man had avoided to be in her presence for first few weeks after her marriage with Draco Malfoy and Hermione couldn't deny that as days passed, she was discovering the man under new lights. She had always known that Alexis was a man of his words and knew his job very well, but how he executed it was something that she was curious to see. Now working alongside Alexis had given her that opportunity to discover the other side of him - the side that worked diligently, thought logically and dealt any problem with patience.
As always Alexis welcomed her with a gentle smile of his and Hermione smiled back before taking the seat beside him.
The man she neither longed nor wanted ever to lay her eyes upon was sitting solemnly in a sofa with his cousin Julian while Narcissa was sitting with Audré.
Thankfully, today Malfoy wasn't wearing blue to irritate her and Hermione didn't give his grey shirt more glances than it was required. He looked uncharacteristically calm and composed for his previous image where he would be trying to show off.
'Empty vessels always make more sounds.' Hermione thought before shifting her gaze to Audré who was giving everyone a pensive look.
"We have some new developments." She announced and Hermione concentrated on the meeting just like she used to do in Professor McGonagall's class, "Monsieur Delacour, please start." She offered Alexis.
Alexis cleared his throat and looked around the room, "I have three news for you. First," he counted on his fingers, "The Minister of Magic has agreed to grant Pasteur better food for his participation. He is also pleased that we made such progress against all odds. Second, Pasteur has expressed his desire to talk to Madame Chombrun Malfoy and third, the Delacroixes have given their testimony before the magistrate this afternoon under section 164 of Wizarding Law. It has been recorded for future references and now there is no way that they can turn back." He assured them.
Hermione had imagined Audré to be delighted with the positive outcomes but to her surprise Audré's face turned grim.
"Draco, you are studying Criminal Law now." she called her nephew, "Tell me what your esteemed teacher Olivier Metzner taught you in his Friday classes about attempted murder."
As always Hermione shifted her gaze to the window on her left to look outside when that sly Slytherin's infuriating drawl reached her ears.
"Murder and attempted murder aren't the same." Malfoy said in a delicate tone as if everyone present there were five year old child, "Attempted murder is the failed or aborted attempt to murder another person. Just like all other crimes, attempted murder consists of both an action and an intention. In attempted murder, a person must take a direct step to kill and must have a specific intent to kill that person." He paused.
"Well done," Audré said and Hermione, though not looking at Malfoy, gritted her teeth in annoyance, "I must say that Metzner is teaching you well." She commented lightly, "Now, the question is what I need to prove in Wizengamot?" she asked, "Jean, any suggestions."
Hermione startled when her name was called and she shifted her gaze to Audré, "I guess we need to prove that Rochés had an intent and he acted on it." she answered as simply as she could, trying not be her usual 'know-it-all' this time.
"Excellent." Audré gave her a smile before returning to her previous grim demeanor, "We all know that he acted on it, he was caught red handed and we have three eye-witnesses in this very room that can testify that Rochés gave the Minister those poisoned caviar: Narcissa, Draco and Monsieur Delacour." she looked at them one by one, "It was so foolish of him to do so in a party but he thought he wouldn't be caught since the poison that he used – Suicide Salt is something very rare." She said matter-of-factly, "What we lack here is the intent." She noted before shifting her gaze to her nephew again.
"Tell me Draco, what has Metzner taught you about Intent." She offered him again and though Hermione wanted very much to look away, she forced her eyes to look at the pale pointed face of the man she hated so deeply.
"You can't accidentally commit attempted murder." Malfoy said, his eyes too on Hermione's, "To be convicted of attempted murder, a prosecutor must show that the accused specifically intended to commit the crime, like in Rochés case aunt Audré has to prove that he tried to kill the Minister." He explained, "The prosecutor must not only show that the accused intended to kill…" he arched an eyebrow, "…she must also prove that the intent was to kill the specific victim, in this case Rochés intended to kill the Minister of Magic, not me or my mother or someone else." He said evenly.
"Pray elaborate more, Draco, for except you and me none here have studied law." Audré bid Malfoy.
Draco Malfoy shifted his gaze from Hermione and rested it to the man sitting beside her. Hermione noted how the eyes those were calm just seconds ago, turned cold as soon as they fixed on Alexis.
"There are two types of Intent: Intent to act and intent to kill." He said as if he was intending to kill Alexis too, "In case of Intent to act, you must have the intent to take the required actions; in other words, you have to intent to carry out the direct steps. In Rochés case, if he had indeed planned to kill the Minister and he co-incidentally bought the Potion ingredients that are used to make Suicide Salt, it won't be granted as intent to commit the direct step. He has to buy them, research and then make the Potions to be convicted that he has committed the direct step." He explained coolly, "But since there are numerous black market shops in Ruelle Les Halles from where he can procure his ingredients and he can discard left over ingredients anytime he liked, that process isn't going to help us." He said narrowing his eyes, "The only thing that points him to this Intent to Act is his own caviar – the Rochés caviar. He used it without thinking that it will lead to him directly. Caviar isn't very cheap and not so easily found. Besides, it's a food item that no one usually denies to consume. That is where his plan went wrong." Malfoy paused and took a deep breath, "The second is Intent to Kill in which case to be convicted of attempted murder, the accused must intend to cause a specific harm – namely to kill the targeted victim. Rochés can't be convicted of attempted murder if he intended to maim, frighten or disfigure the Minister." He shifted his gaze back to Hermione again which turned calm once more, "For example he offered the Minister to take the poisoned caviars knowing well that it will prompt him to kill himself and show it like some suicide. That is where we succeed in showing that he had Intent to Kill, not to harm maim or disfigure."
Hermione couldn't deny that Malfoy or not, she was quite interested by the legal aspects of discussion. She had envisioned herself once to join the Magical Law Enforcement Department in British Ministry of Magic and hadn't Malfoy destroyed her ambitions in that career she might have been a distinguished MLE officer as Rufus Scrimgeour had once predicted.
Audré took out the letters that Marie Delacroix had given Hermione and her companions and placed them on the centre table.
"Legally we have everything on our side," she said rubbing her forehead wearily, "…but I must admit that we are still lack potential points to prove before Wizengamot that Rochés had an intent to kill the Minister. True that he has offered him poisoned caviar but Metzner will try to prove that Rochés did it unknowingly."
"But maman, we have caught the waiter who gave him the poisoned caviars." Julian interjected, "He was under Imperius. Rochés must have put him under Imperius to prove that someone else Imperiused that waiter and gave him the caviar so that it could be proven that he wasn't directly related to the crime." He explained.
Audré shook her head, "Just a waiter who was under Imperius isn't a good alibi for us, Julian." She said patiently, "I know that you even found a box of that similar Suicide Salt in Rochés office but he can easily claim that someone placed it there to frame him." She said seriously, "We need solid evidence and that's where Pasteur came. He gave us the name of one of the families who were victimized by Rochés and his merry men – The Knights. But we need to relate the Knights and those evidences provided by the families so that we can prove that Rochés was behind all those crimes and he not only had an Intent to Kill but also had an Intent to act." She looked at the letters, "Like this letters; they are unmarked. There is nothing except a few lines of threats where the Knights said that they would kill Robert Guathiot for saving Muggle soldiers. If I show this in the court, Metzner will ask me where did I get them and how does it point to Rochés?"
"Then we need to find out who wrote these letters?" Narcissa asked her sister-in-law incredulously, "That's almost impossible." She declared.
Audré shook her head again, "Not completely impossible, dear Narcissa." she said calmly, "There are many instances in Muggle cases where a criminal was caught by a simple strand of hair or a speck of blood." She said and Narcissa arched her eyebrows, "I bet Jean can tell us some stories when the discussion is over. But I won't be going through that pointless procedure." She said simply, "I will simply play some good chess movements with Pasteur and in no time, he will be telling me who used to write those letters or who executed the murder." Audré said, her eyes twinkling with a strange emotion that Hermione could identify as the one she felt when she had a new object to curse break – a new challenge, "Pasteur still doesn't know Renée Chombrun's daughter." She smirked, "It's time to prove that."
Hermione was feeling like her old times - a sense of excitation running through her veins – when she used to save her school with her friends Harry and Ron.
The discussion finally being over, she shifted her attention to the man sitting beside her, "Alexis, Adrian has sent a picture for you." Hermione took out the roll of parchment her son had given her to be handed to Alexis, "It's his first drawing after his cast was taken off and he gave it to his uncle Alexis." She said as a curious Alexis took the parchment and unrolled it.
"Excellent!" he exclaimed softly, "It's a master piece." He said and showed Hermione the drawing that her son hadn't even shown her.
It was beautiful.
Adrian has drawn a boat with a woman and a little boy on it while the giant glass pyramid of Louvre could be seen in the background. The clouds of late afternoon were evenly spread in the sky while the water of Seine was so alive that it almost rippled.
Unbeknownst to herself Hermione was crying silently, grateful that her son was so deeply observant and sensitive.
Someone offered her a handkerchief and startled Hermione looked up to find Malfoy staring down at her solemnly.
He just ruined the tender moment Hermione had been savouring with Alexis and Adrian's drawing.
Hermione closed her eyes and opened them again, this time pure hatred and venom etched in every line of her face.
She reached out and took Alexis's handkerchief that was peeping from his coat pocket and making sure that Draco Malfoy saw it, she wiped her tears with it.
The cold grey eyes blazed in fire this time and Malfoy withdrew his handkerchief slowly.
They stared at each other; Hermione proud, arrogant, hateful and venomous while Draco was furious and close to murder.
"Jean." Hermione heard Alexis called her softly, "Tell Adrian that his uncle Alexis just loved the drawing he gave him." He said smiling as pleasantly as possible in the dire situation, "I will definitely show it to maman and I am sure maman will show it to the whole neighbourhood." He said before standing up and extending a hand to Malfoy.
"So, Monsieur Malfoy." Hermione realized how hard Alexis was trying to cover up the moment's impulse on what Hermione had acted, "I hope we meet again." He said evenly.
Malfoy smirked as he gripped Alexis's hand and shook it hard before Hermione, "I do hope that we meet again." He said through gritted teeth, "We Malfoys keep our friends close and enemies…" he paused, "…closer."
Hermione felt like had it not been for the fact that she was in a meeting where rest of the family was present, she could have hexed Malfoy into oblivion for threatening Alexis so openly and shamelessly.
"We, Delacours try to behave ourselves even in the presence of our enemies, Monsieur Malfoy." Alexis said as they ended their handshake, "But we, have also stumped false pride out of those who brag about it." he said solemnly before bowing to the ladies and leaving.
Malfoy was about to leave and Hermione was watching his retreating form with hatred when Narcissa approached and sat beside her.
"The Malfoy Book of Curses have arrived this evening." She said to Hermione, who frowned trying to remember why she would be needing the book, "I have it in my suite. Do you want me to send it to you in your quarter or should I hand it to you here?" Narcissa asked Hermione, who finally remembered their conversation on elf sacrifices and books in Gringotts.
Hermione was just about to reply when a cold voice resonated across the room, "Narcissa! Do I hear it correctly that you have the Malfoy Book of Curses under your care in your suite?" Audré asked her sister-in-law.
If it was until that moment that Hermione thought she had seen Audré behave enigmatically, it was nothing compared to what she did afterwards.
When a puzzled Narcissa nodded, Audré simply tilted her head to one side and gave a hysterical laugh.
The hairs on Hermione's skin stood as the unusually high and cold laugh echoed across Morpheus's study.
"Draco," she called her nephew who has already standing on the threshold and observing his aunt with a stunned expression, "Bring the book." She bid him.
Hermione could feel the person sitting beside her, Narcissa Malfoy, shaking slightly while Julian was watching his mother's mysterious behaviour with his mouth agape.
Malfoy nodded and left the study which became silent like a grave with a three motionless people staring at a woman who was highly amused and displaying it in the most uncharacteristic way: head tilted and a devilish grin pasted across her face.
The said book and the carrier – Draco Malfoy – returned almost after five minutes, which to Hermione seemed like an age.
Audré gave the book such a look that hadn't Hermione known the woman from up close, she would have thought Audré was insane.
"Put it on the floor." she told her nephew Draco who placed it on the floor before Audré.
"Bring Morpheus's portrait." Audré next bid her son, Julian and the nervous man almost jumped before running out of the north alcove to comply.
Hermione watched apprehensively as Julian brought his father's Muggle portrait and placed it before Audré, facing the Malfoy book of Curses on the floor.
What happened next was nothing like Hermione had ever seen before.
Audré, her eyes hungrily fixed on the dark leather bound tome that was thin and sported considerable age, simply slipped out of her seat and kneeled before the portrait and the book.
She smiled at the portrait and then opened the book.
The pompous writing on the first page, which was extremely yellow and frail, said it was the Malfoy Book of Curses.
Audré tore the page and before everyone's bursting eyes folded it before placing it on her mouth and chewing it.
"Audré!" Narcissa gasped while Hermione clutched her heart in horror.
But the Chombrun Malfoy matriarch didn't pay any heed to her sister-in-law's incredulous calls and kept tearing the pages, chewing them before spitting out the crumpled remains one by one.
"Maman, what are you doing?" Julian asked his mother, though he dared not to stop her, "Why are you eating the book?"
Not answering any of the queries, Audré simply kept tearing pages from the book and chewing them when Hermione noticed that her face has turned a sick tinge of blue.
"POISON!" she exclaimed, jumping on her feet, "AUNT AUDRE STOP!" She bellowed, "The pages are poisoned." She said and tried to stop Audré.
But the woman simply whipped out her wand and cast a Shield Charm so powerful that Hermione was thrown off her feet and landed painfully on the floor.
"MAMAN STOP!" Julian begged his mother, who too met the floor when the said Shield Charm stopped him from getting near to Audré.
A petrified Hermione suddenly had an idea she didn't know would strike her.
"BEZOAR!" she shouted at Malfoy, who was the only person standing on the room for Narcissa has fainted already, "GET A BEZOAR, Malfoy!" she commanded him.
The man was out of the study before Hermione could even blink and considering to follow him then discarding the idea, Hermione concentrated on the matter at hand.
She looked at the book where only a few pages were left and at Audré who was now deep blue in colour though her mouth was relentlessly chewing the poisoned pages.
"Maman, please, I beg you, stop!" Julian was crying now as he kneeled before the Shield Charm while trying to undo it, "Maman, for the sake of us – me and Lillian, please stop! For the sake of Papa, please stop!" he said as he and Hermione both tried hard to undo the Shield Charm.
Malfoy rushed into the study minutes later, panting heavily while in his hand a small glass container with bezoars was visible.
"Here." He thrust it in Hermione's hand as he too whipped his wand and tried to remove the Shield Charm.
"Blasted Shield." He cursed loudly, "I have never seen anything so powerful as this." he said as three bright rays tried to penetrate the clear shield behind which Audré was devouring the book, "I guess that's why it made so much sound when those men undid it the day they attacked aunt and Adrian fainted in the process." he commented.
A deeply cyanosed Audré tore the last page before shoving it inside her mouth, chewing and spitting out the remains.
She then gave Morpheus's portrait a solemn look before slumping heavily on the floor over the book cover.
The Shield vanished immediately.
"MAMAN!" Julian threw himself on the floor beside his mother, "Maman, what have you done?" he asked her helplessly.
As Hermione heaved Audré's head and opened her deeply poisoned mouth to shove a Bezoar inside it, a single sentence came out.
"The Book ate us, Julian, so I ate the book." Audré said before Hermione silenced her with a Bezoar.
•••••
When Healer Cloutier came out of Audré's grand chamber Draco, who was leaning against the opposite wall, straightened up and approached him.
"How is my aunt, Healer?" he asked him anxiously praying that the woman wasn't gravely hurt.
"She is fine." Cloutier announced to his and Julian's surprise, "Thanks to the Bezoar."
Draco shook his head in disbelief, still unable to comprehend why and what has happened, "Thanks to my wife Jean for her prudent action and the Château's potions lab where almost all types of ingredients are found." He commented.
Lillian came out at that moment, her eyes puffy from continuous crying and Julian embraced her with consolingly, "There, there my brave sister." He told her softly, "Healer Cloutier said that maman is alright." He informed her who sniffed audibly.
"I hope Madame Chombrun Malfoy will be up and about by morning." Cloutier said to them assuringly, "The poison in that book was very mild and I daresay, due to prolonged disuse, had lost most of its harmful effects. Otherwise Madame Chombrun Malfoy would have been gravely injured." He said grimly.
Lillian burst into a fresh bout of tears and Julian stroked her head comfortingly while hugging her more securely, "No, Lillian, dearest sister, don't cry." He begged and kissed her on forehead.
"Brother…maman is blue still now…" Lillian gave a hiccup between her sobs, "Jean saved maman…cousin Draco saved maman…I don't know if I can ever…repay that debt…" she said giving Draco a grateful look.
Draco felt a sudden surge of affection for the young woman he had no idea that existed until three monthes ago and he placed his hand on her head.
"Cousin sister." He suddenly realized what his mother meant by having a sister of his own and now he envied Julian for it, "We are bonded by blood and there is no debt in blood relations." He said firmly.
Lillian left her brother to hug Draco this time and he couldn't deny it was a very pleasant feeling to be embraced like that: like he could impart protection to a young woman who depended on him, like he was an elder brother with loving younger sister who looked upon at him at times of peril, like he was a man, who despite being a violator, could provide a woman some sense of security.
"…Cousin we have no one but maman…" Lillian was sobbing against Draco's chest as both her brother's comforted her, "…I have no one but maman…and I can't even think of living without her…" she choked.
Draco took out the handkerchief he had offered to his wife Hermione and gave it to Lillian who accepted it silently.
"I can be reached anytime by Floo." He heard Cloutier told them, "I will visit Madame Malfoy in the morning again." He said before Julian took his bag and escorted him to the Floo.
Draco looked down at Lillian sobbing against his chest and for the very first time he saw the sister not the cousin sister in her, "Dear sister," he called her, feeling how wonderful it felt as he encircled his one arm around her and wiped her tears with the other, "As long as this brother of yours is alive, Lillian, no harm can befall you or aunt Audré or any of the ladies in this Château." He vowed, "I will protect you and so will Julian. We are committed to our ladies." He declared solemnly.
"You left the most important person." Lillian looked up and fixed her innocent and tearful eyes on Draco, who frowned, "Adrian." she said.
Even at two o' clock in the morning with his aunt recovering from poisoning Draco couldn't help but laughed at the idea of leaving out his chivalrous five and half year old son.
"Yes, Adrian and his Order of Peter rabbit." He said referring to his son Adrian as well as his rabbit, "We are here." He smiled, "Always."
Under his consoling words Lillian recovered from her shock and ushered Draco inside her mother's grand chamber.
The sights that meet his eyes were most intriguing.
Hermione was rinsing a washcloth and sponging Audré while Adrian was sitting beside her, his little head placed on Audré's chest.
"Mama, grandma's heart is beating." He told his mother, "It is like lub…dud…lub…dub…" he mimicked the sound.
Hermione, her face still white from what happened at the study hours ago, nodded and placed the washcloth on Audré's forehead while Lillian joined her.
Draco sat beside his mother, who was too shocked to flinch away and offered her the same Nerve Tonic she had made for Adrian, "Here, mother, take it." he wrapped her finger's around the small goblet with clear blue liquid, "Take it and you will feel better." he pledged her.
Her eyes fixed on Audré's lying form, Narcissa emptied the goblet in one go, "Why did she do that?" she asked though it was not clear to whom, "I have never seen anything like this…not even with Bellatrix…" she shuddered.
Draco couldn't deny that his aunt sitting and chewing down an entire book was the creepiest things he had even seen and being in presence of Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix he has some very creepy things in his life, not to mention Nagini swallowing their Hogwarts teacher Charity Barbage.
"I don't know." He muttered under his breath, "I don't know."
Truth be told Draco did have an idea why his aunt had done what she has done; but since it was clear that his mother had no idea about the violent and blood-curling past of the esteemed Malfoys, he wasn't very willing to enlighten Narcissa about it.
'Mother has had her share of bad experiences with Blacks and my grandmother Medusa.' He thought, 'Let's not rekindle it.'
How the night passed, Draco had no idea. With everyone in the Château (even Audré's personal elf Zilek crying his eyes out) in Audré's bedchamber it was mostly crowded yet silent. Adrian fell asleep beside Audré around three o' clock in the morning, his little arms encircling his grandma Audré while Hermione and Lillian sponged a feverish Audré all night. Draco asked his mother to retire in her chamber and upon receiving a reproachful look from her on his third time, he too sat silently beside Julian and waited for the morning.
The dawn came with first rays of sun lightening the eastern horizon and only when Healer Cloutier visited Audré, who has regained her usual porcelain complexion, did everyone breathe their relief.
"Madame Malfoy is fine now and I think she will come around any time." he assured the family and Lillian almost collapsed on Audré with a small cry, "I will stay here until she regains her consciousness." He said gently.
Julian had been uncharacteristically grave and silent all throughout the night. With a stern look he overruled the lady's protests and sent them and Adrian to their respective suites to take rest while he gestured Draco in Audré's sitting room.
"Maman told me that she had been to Malfoy manor when she visited England with you." He said while his eyes were fixed on Cloutier who measured potions in a goblet, "Did anything happen there?" he asked Draco.
Draco nodded and recounted the events of the day Audré had a panic attack in Malfoy manor as well as the gruesome truths that she had revealed about the Malfoy's ritualistic sacrifices.
"That book must have contained those spells and curses." Julian commented grimly, "That book must have been the cause of my parents' sufferings." He sighed, "See Draco, how some wounds run so deep that they never heal properly?" he asked Draco thoughtfully, "It is almost ten years after Papa's death and maman still hasn't forgotten how they suffered from those curses." He said gravely.
Draco reflected at his cousin's words and felt that in a way they were true in his case.
He knew that the way he had hurt Hermione Granger was deep and if she took an example from Audré, then there was no way Draco could persuade her to forgive him.
He closed his eyes and imagined the moment when he would he rejected by Hermione.
'No,' he thought resolutely when Adrian's face appeared before him moments later, 'I won't let it rest until she truly forgives me. She needs to understand that I love Adrian and I am sorry for what I did.'
•••••
Hermione looked down at the two people sleeping on her bed: Adrian and Lillian.
After Julian's firm command that the ladies have had enough and should retire until his mother comes around, Lillian had been reluctant to go back to her own room and sleep alone. Hermione, realizing her sister-in-law's fears had offered her to come to her quarter and sleep in her bed.
They had taken a very quiet breakfast at their quarter during which Adrian had patted his rabbit Peter several times and consoled the animal that their grandma Audré would be fine. Hermione wasn't sure if her son was talking to himself or to his rabbit for most of the words his said were self-consoling than intended for his pet.
She had put them on her bed while she occupied a transfigured divan to take some rest.
Hermione reflected on the events after the meeting and Audré's almost insane behaviour.
She had never seen any woman behave like that and she had seen Bellatrix which itself was seeing a lot.
What was the reason of such behaviour?
What secrets does Audré hide inside her?
Why did she say that her secrets will poison the very air Hermione breathes if she spilled them?
Never in her life had Hermione felt so curious about a person.
But in a way she did realize that Audré had saved her from some potentially harmful curses as well as the poisons embedded in the pages. She might be a curse breaker but where the very book that can be used to curse break is poisoned is not very commonly heard of.
Hermione felt grateful to the woman who had saved her and her son on several occasions at expense of her own life and soul.
She was brought back to reality when Lillian whimpered in her sleep and pushing her thoughts regarding Audré aside Hermione sat up and walked over to her sister-in-law.
"Maman…no…please…" Lillian was muttering in her sleep while her face and neck were sweaty.
Hermione was about to wake her up when Lillian sat bolt upright with a stifled scream.
"Maman…maman…" she was panting loudly, her eyes unfocused, "I want to see maman." She pushed aside her blanket preparing to get out of the bed.
"Lillian," Hermione stopped the frightened young woman who looked so pitiful, "Aunt Audré is fine." She assured her gently, "She is just fine. Healer Cloutier examined her and he is there with her and Julian."
Her sister-in-law hugged Hermione tightly and buried her face in her bosom, "Oh Jean, I thought I have lost her…" she paused and gulped, "…I thought I lost my maman." She sniffed.
It took Hermione almost half an hour to calm Lillian to the point that she could lie down again. To relax her Hermione asked her more about wands which elevated Lillian's spirit considerably.
Almost around mid-day Audré's personal elf Zilek appeared at their room and bowed low.
"Mistress Lillian and Madame Jean," he addressed them, "Master Julian has send me with the news that Mistress Audré has regained her conscious." He informed them.
With an audible gasp, Lillian was gone before Hermione could blink twice and waking up a sleepy and puzzled Adrian, Hermione followed her too.
They found Audré smiling pleasantly as if she had just returned from a Ball.
"Lillian…Lillian…" she patted her daughter gently who sobbed uncontrollably on her bosom, "…dearest…I am just fine…" she said.
"You are so…selfish…" Lillian admonished her mother sternly, "…you didn't even think about us once before you…you poisoned yourself to…destroy that blasted book." She said furiously before standing up suddenly, "…I hate you maman…I hate you…I hate you…" she said vehemently before collapsing on Audré and pounding against her bosom, "…I hate you…" she said feebly.
Hermione waited for Lillian's outburst to be over and then let her son, who was watching the Audré and Lillian with wide eyes, to finally go and sit beside his grandma.
"Now…now…Lillian," Audré smoothed Lillian's trademark Malfoy silvery blonde long hair, "…we made a promise to our man Adrian that we won't cry again." She reminded her.
"Yes, you promised." Adrian interjected, "You promised not to cry."
The whole family under one roof, Healer Cloutier informed them that Audré was fine as well as warning the elderly woman that any negligence on her part will go unnoticed. As he left and everyone settled down around Audré like listeners sit around a story-teller, she sat up properly and sighed audibly.
"I know what you might be thinking about me." She said solemnly, "You are thinking that Audré Chombrun Malfoy is an insane woman." she replied on behalf of all as she placed an arm around Adrian and another around Lillian, "I will not blame you for I did do something that makes me look like an insane woman." she admitted, "Maybe what you are thinking is right; maybe I am insane." She said simply, "Yes, I am insane. I am insane when someone hurts my family." she said tilting her head and closing her eyes, "I am insane when they try to take away those whom I love. I am insane when I seek revenge and I am insane when they hurt innocent people to meet their ends." She said firmly, "I am no angel except perhaps Uriel." She smiled sadly, "That book…" she straightened her head and opened her eyes, "…that book and its curses destroyed my Morpheus. He spent his whole life trying to forget happened to those unfortunate people and I spent twenty years of my married life watching him suffer. I am not only insane…" she paused, "…I am extremely insane on Abraxas, Medusa and Lucius Malfoy for making my Morpheus suffer like that…and I swear I would have killed them hadn't they died first." Audré declared, her eyes blazing in fire, "Audré is insane and she will be insane if anyone dares to even touch her family, let alone harm them." she said proudly, "For I will not rest unless I take my revenge this life or another."
Hermione felt how truthful Audré was being about herself when she said she was insane.
Hadn't she felt the same when Malfoy kidnapped her precious son Adrian and appeared before her as if nothing has happened?
Doesn't she always feel the same when she sees her violator swaggering before her?
Hermione placed a comforting hand on Audré's lap and smiled at her gently, "I don't think you are insane, aunt Audré." She said firmly, "I understand what you feel when you see something that you hated all your life before you. I understand what it is like to want to take revenge. I understand you completely and I, Hermione Jean Granger don't think you are insane." She declared firmly.
"Yes, maman, we don't think you are insane." Julian agreed with Hermione, "I mean you are one of the most brilliant women there is and it is no wonder that like all brilliant people you also behave oddly sometimes." He said hopefully, "I guess that is the downside of being brilliant." he said cheerfully.
"Grandma, Peter was worried for you." Adrian, who Hermione guessed couldn't wait anymore to inform Audré how concerned he had been, "Please don't be odd again." He pledged her.
Audré bowed and smiled at Adrian and his rabbit, "As the master wishes." She said.
"I think we ladies should cook a good lunch for maman." Lillian offered them, "Today we cook and let the elves have a free day."
With a loud 'Yay' from Adrian and cheerful whoop from Julian, Hermione followed Lillian and Narcissa to reach the kitchen.
It turned out that the elves wouldn't let the kitchen go out of their hands even if Audré ordered them and so Lillian was forced to take their help for cooking a sumptuous lunch.
Hermione, who was cooking the easiest thing she can make – soup, was stirring the thick liquid while Lillian and Narcissa busied themselves over other dishes when Julian and Draco joined them.
"Maman said she will take some rest before lunch so I thought we will help you." He explained as he took the chopper and the cutting board like a butcher, "I have left Zilek standby on her suite." He informed them, "So, anyone needs help?" he asked looking around the kitchen.
"Do you even know 'C' about cooking, Julian?" Lillian asked her brother, "All you know is eating." She said dismissively.
Julian shrugged, "Well someone's got to do the eating part." He said leaving the knife and taking a carrot from the central counter while offering another to Adrian, "I should be thanked for consuming them." he said carelessly and took a bite from his carrot.
Hermione would have enjoyed the playful bashing between Julian and Lillian if it were not for the fact that Malfoy was also present there and watching her closely.
Feeling over-conscious about her physical appearance Hermione smoothed her apron over her body and made sure it hid her prominent features before warning Adrian to stay away from stove and returning to her soup – Bouillabaisse.
"Hey, Jean." Hermione almost jumped when Julian called her loudly, "I didn't know that you could make Bouillabaisse." He said as he stood up and came to stand beside her, "Where did you learn it?" he asked as he examined it with interest.
Hermione looked at the shellfish stew and smiled, "I learned it from mother Apolline. I first tasted it when I visited France with my parents in the summer before my third year." she replied, "I liked it. Later on, when Hogwarts hosted the Triwizard Tournament in my fourth year, it was one of those French dishes the house-elves served to honour the Beauxbatons delegates." She reminisced, "One of my friends Ron Weasley used it to…" she remembered how Ron placed the Bouillabaisse bowl before him to catch Fleur Delacour's attention, "…he used it to catch the attention of pretty Beauxbatons girls. He placed the bowl just before him to that they come to take the dish and notice him." She laughed.
There was a loud snorting sound from behind them and both Hermione and Julian turned around to see the person.
Undoubtedly it was Draco Malfoy.
"Have you got a fly stuck in your nose, cousin?" Julian asked skeptically while Hermione scowled at him, "If you think Jean isn't cooking good enough then why don't you come and see it yourself?" he challenged him.
The infuriating man had the audacity to actually stand up and join them by the stove.
Hermione was shaking slightly when Malfoy came and stood just beside her before peering into the large sauce pan.
"It looks…" he paused and looked up at Hermione's direction, who was determined to poke his eyes shall he taunt her, "…delicious." He finished.
Her all interest in Bouillabaisse suddenly gone, Hermione threw the ladle on the counter beside the stove and took off her apron.
"I am sorry, Julian," she said to Julian's questioning look as she threw the apron which joined the ladle on the counter, "The soup is almost done and I think I need a bath before the lunch." She said and before anyone could protest she was gone with Adrian.
Inside their quarter, once her son settled with his drawing book and colouring pencils to make a new drawing for grandma Audré, Hermione slipped to take a bath.
The bath was refreshing for spending half an hour sitting in the bathtub, Hermione felt her turbulent mind calm down considerably and she decided to pay a visit to aunt Audré before the lunch to see if she was feeling better.
Donning a light pink dress, Hermione left Adrian engrossed in his drawing and started for Audré's grand chamber.
It was when a cold drawl reached her ears just when she reached Audré's grand chamber, that Hermione's elated mood was punctured like a balloon.
She cautiously looked at the door and found it slightly ajar.
"…I don't like him, aunt," Draco Malfoy's voice was telling his aunt, "…that Delacour boy infuriates every time I lay my eyes upon him. Besides, he is always trying to impress and flirt with my wife." He complained.
Somewhere inside Hermione's mind a bomb exploded as the words – 'impress', 'flirt' and 'my wife' entered her ears.
Feeling that she has had enough of this blasted man and his vile mind, Hermione threw open the door to face Draco Malfoy boldly.
•••••
After Hermione left the kitchen abruptly Draco stood before the sauce pan until one of the house elves came and took over the charge of the soup his wife had prepared for the lunch.
Thankfully, Julian hadn't jibed or asked him why Hermione had left their presence when she was in a perfect good mood just moments before.
Draco had purposefully avoided telling Hermione that one of his favourite French soups was Bouillabaisse and he tasted it first time in Hogwarts when delegates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang had arrived there for the Triwizard Tournament.
So after spending some time watching his mother cook, which was a rare scene itself for his father discouraged his mother to cook thinking that it would destroy her delicate features, Draco left for his aunt's chamber to check on her and enquire if she needed anything.
The woman, being insomniac was already awake when Draco entered her grand chamber.
"Don't close the door." Audré bid him, "I feel so cut-up from the rest of my household with that door shut." She explained and Draco left the door slightly open before joining his aunt.
"I hope you are feeling well now, aunt." he said as he sat on the chair Healer Cloutier had occupied earlier to sit beside his aunt, "My wife has cooked some good lunch. She made Bouillabaisse." He smirked.
"Really?" Audré asked him, "Since when did you start caring about your wife's cooking, Draco?" she arched an eyebrow, "Narcissa told me that Malfoy ladies never cook for it is considered way below their standards. That means you never had the opportunity to taste Astoria's cooking too." She commented.
Draco couldn't deny that his aunt's assessment had been correct for Astoria had never even set her foot in the Manor's kitchen. That place was exclusively under house-elves ownership.
"I already told you that I want to buy a wedding ring for Jean." Draco decided not to respond to his aunt's views regarding cooking and chose the topic that was keeping him busy lately, "I have arranged money for it."
"I never thought Malfoys needed to arrange money." Audré smirked, "I thought it was money that arranged the Malfoys."
"Well, money still arranges the Malfoys." Draco confessed proudly, "But I don't want to spend them behind Adrian and Jean. They are pure and therefore need honest money not blood money like the Malfoys have in their vaults." He said evenly.
"Well that's a big leap considering you are none other than Lucius Malfoy's son." Audré remarked, "But since, like your forefathers you have never worked to earn before, Draco, I thought I would better inform you that you won't be able to withdraw your first pay until the first month of your job is over." She said lightly.
"Like my forefathers, I have already thought about that." Draco said placidly, "Malfoys never work without a plan. I was offered compensation money for participating as a volunteer for testing Lupus venom and I am going to claim that money to buy Jean her wedding ring." He explained, "That's my honest money."
"Honest money?" Audré frowned at his comment, "Is it the best policy or the lack of opportunity?" she asked.
"I think it's both." Draco was enjoying the playful conversation with his aunt, "But with Delacour around Jean, it guess, my efforts will be shadowed."
"Why is that so, Draco?" Audré asked him casually, "I don't think he is going to offer a wedding ring to Jean."
"Of course he isn't." Draco retorted irritably, the mere thought of Alexis offering a ring to Hermione making his skin crawl, "I don't like him, aunt. That Delacour boy infuriates every time I lay my eyes upon him. Besides, he is always trying to impress and flirt with my wife." He complained.
Audré had just opened her mouth to reply when the door of her suite burst open and the very person whom they had been talking about cantered in.
Hermione Granger.
Freshly out of bath, her hair was still wet and she was wearing a dress of rather nice shade of pink that suited her pretty well.
"HOW DARE YOU?" Hermione bellowed at Draco, "HOW DARE YOU TALK LIKE THAT ABOUT ALEXIS? HOW DARE YOU THINK HE IS FLIRTING WITH ME? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"
Draco leapt to his feet while Audré simply stared at them from her bed.
"I am your…" Draco, still startled, started but Hermione cut him in.
"YOU. ARE. MY. RAPIST." She said vehemently, "You are nothing but a filthy rapist, Malfoy and you have no rights to comment about Alexis. In fact you are not fit enough to be his toe rag." Her eyes blazing with fire, "You, who violently assaulted your fellow classmate…who looked at women like they were some…products to be used and discarded after sex…you, who always insulted me by calling me Mudblood…who are you to comment what type of a man Alexis is? Do you even know what a real man is? Do you think a real man is the one who thrusts his..." she paused, "…his genitalia inside a woman?" she asked Draco, "You being a filthy rapist, I bet you think that. Because you inherited that concept from your father, who inherited from his father and he inherited from his father. It goes all the way back to your ancestors and you are a criminal by birth."
"Granger, that's enough." Draco, his blood boiling now, warned Hermione, "Shut this nonsense right now or…"
"SHUT UP YOU BASTARD!" Hermione exclaimed and silenced Draco, "You think you can threaten me? You think you can torture me again? You?" she pointed a threatening finger at Draco, "A filthy rapist." She spat on floor, "Taking someone's innocence may be considered a hobby amongst the esteeeeeeeeeeeeemeeeeeeeeeeeeed…" she mocked, "…Malfoys. Speaking the truth might be considered nonsense. But let me remind you that this is not Britain. This is France and you have no powers here. Your filthy golds are of no use." She said before turning to Audré, "See, aunt? See, what your nephew is really like?" she asked her, "This is the real Draco Malfoy. Not the one that shows he cares about your family. Those are all lies…those are all deceit. I bet he would have laid his filthy hands on your daughter too had he found the opportunity." She said vehemently.
That was too much for Draco. Telling his own aunt that he would violate his younger sister Lillian, the young woman he really cared about, sent Draco's temper to Jupiter and he whipped out his wand before pointing it directly at Hermione with steady hands.
"One more word, Granger, and you will find yourself dead before you speak again." He hissed.
Hermione too took out her wand but instead of pointing it to Draco, she threw it aside carelessly.
"I will speak as I want to, Malfoy." She almost whispered and walked over to Draco to stand directly before his wand, "Do whatever you can. I am not afraid of you anymore." She declared boldly.
The fiery brown pair met the blazing grey and they stood there is silence for a long moment.
"I think you two should sit and talk instead of shouting and bringing the Château down." Draco heard Audré said very quietly, "I have put a Silencing Spell as soon Jean came in, but I can't guarantee that the roofs wouldn't collapse if you continue to shout at each other like that."
"I have nothing to talk and certainly don't intend to sit in my rapist's company." Hermione said coolly, "I just came to say that for a filthy violator like him…" she tilted her chin and pointed at Draco, "…it is remarkably rude to say that someone else is flirting with the woman he violated first. Where is that special 'M' word of yours, Malfoy? The word that you always used when you called me, even in public? Scared of using it before your aunt?" she challenged Draco, "Let me help you then, my dear rapist-turned-husband." Hermione whispered and rolled the sleeve of her left forearm to show the writing Mudblood etched on her skin, "Call me Mudblood." She demanded proudly.
His anger replaced by awe, Draco simply stared at Hermione before he found his voice to respond.
"I will never call you using that word again, Granger, it was very rude of me to do so." He said solemnly and withdrew his wand from Hermione, "I apologize for it."
Hermione arched her eyebrow and scoffed, "Really? Chickened out already?" she asked coolly, "Don't feeling being like a pureblood anymore? Don't tell me you are now the greatest Mudblood lover there is."
"I apologize, Granger, I apologize." Draco said firmly and for good measures he fixed his eyes unblinkingly at Hermione's brown pair, "I apologize sincerely. I am sorry." He said earnestly.
Hermione nodded and gave a derisive laugh, a laugh that reminded Draco of the high, cold laugh his aunt Audré gave when she saw the book, "But I am not sorry to say that your apology isn't accepted." She said icily, "I don't give a damn to what you think or say or do or die. I stopped it the day you touched me with your filthy hands. I still can't forget how you tore my clothes away from me…how you pinned me to the dungeon floor…how you beat me and how to took what was precious to me…something that I had prized to give to the man I truly loved…like all woman do…" her eyes were blazing but tearful now, "…you say Alexis was flirting with me? That he is trying to impress me?" she asked and Draco's heart sank in his chest, "Alexis loves me and I love him." She declared boldly, "We love each other. Did you hear me, Malfoy? We. Love. Each. Other." She emphasized, "And it started the day he told me that he respects me, that he loves my son Adrian and cares for us. It was never physical. No. It was something that humans feel here…" she placed on her heart, "…not here." She shifted her hand to her core, "But how will you understand that? You being a violator, how can you even claim that you know what love is like?" she asked, "For you, lust is love."
Draco didn't know what and how to answer and being a Slytherin who were always prudent, that was saying something.
"Aunt Audré," he heard Hermione addressed his aunt, who was completely silent and letting them carry the conversation, "I am not going to work in this project with you unless I have Alexis by my side." She said proudly, "I don't feel safe in the presence of this man who claims that he is my husband. He makes my skin crawl and I don't want to be around him at all." She said dismissively, "When I became pregnant, I left behind everything I loved and cared – my parents, Ron, my friends, teachers, Hogwarts and my country to save Adrian from this man's family. But that was six years ago and I had no choice at that time since I wanted my child to live. But time has changed. I am not weak anymore. France is my country now. Delacours are my family and Alexis is the man I love. He cares for me and I care for him. We are not having an affair and will never do anything that's outside our dignity." She said solemnly, "But I won't leave him just because some bastard rapist suddenly turned my husband and is disapproving of my good relations with someone I love and consider my good friend." She said firmly, "I know why he is saying these things to you. He is a Slytherin and trust me aunt Audré, this particular Slytherin isn't like your husband was."
"Why am I saying these?" Draco asked Hermione, his brains almost frozen from what he had just heard, "You think I suspect you? You think that I think that you are having an affair?" he asked coolly.
"You are saying these because you are a liar. You carry lie and deceit in your blood." Hermione spat, "You are a filthy liar and you are trying to brainwash aunt Audré so that she thinks we are having some secret affair and asks Alexis not to help me. You are lying so that you can have a chance to boss around me…to dominate me." She said with a venomous look on her face, "As for that sudden proclamation that you are sorry for calling me Mudblood? It is nothing but a stunt to get nearer to my son Adrian. You think you are the only clever man in the whole wide world?" she asked indignantly, "No, you are not. You can't fool me with your lies and crocodile tears. I know you are not sorry for calling me Mudblood and even if you are, I don't care. So stop pretending and save your remaining breathes." She paused and took a deep breath, "I stand like a rock before you and my son. I am impeding your way and you are trying to take away my supports – the Delacours, Alexis, aunt Audré so that you can weaken me and force me to share my son with you." She replied and Draco simply gaped, "But rest assured Draco Lucius Malfoy, as long as Hermione Jean Granger is alive, not even your shadow is allowed near my son Adrian Thomas Granger. I swore the day I decided to keep and grow him inside my body that he will never become Draco Malfoy. Never." She said violently and without a second backward glance left Audré's grand chamber.
Draco slumped on his earlier chair and hid his face in his hands.
"Why do you always mess up when I try to make it right?" he heard his aunt asked him after some time, "Why Draco? Why?"
Unable to bear anymore blames, Draco simply looked up from his hand and gave Audré the coolest look he could conjure under those circumstances.
"What have I done?" he asked arrogantly, "Didn't you hear it by yourself? Granger said she loves Alexis and she said she won't leave him. Can you believe that? She is a married woman and she wants to continue her relationship…what was that she said it was…aha…friendship. She says she loves Alexis and at the same time Alexis is her friend." He threw his hands in air, "And she claims that I am lying? That I am being deceitful? And now you are also saying that I messed up? Who do you think you are? God?" he asked indignantly.
Audré shook her head and rested her blue eyes on Draco, "No, Draco, I am no God. But did you really listen to what she said? Did you really listen to your wife?" she asked calmly.
"Of course I did." Draco replied violently, "She almost brought the whole place down by screaming at me like a banshee."
Audré held out a hand to silence Draco and gave him a look that meant she won't be tolerant if Draco snapped at her again, "You claim that you study Law and you don't even know what's the simple difference between hearing and listening is." She said sharply, "You heard what Jean said but you didn't understand what she meant by those words; so basically you didn't listen to her. All day long you 'hear' a lot of sounds, Draco but you 'listen' only when you understand and think about it." she explained and Draco frowned, "There are several things that Jean told you and if you had the sense to listen to her words, you would have understood that how horribly you have messed up."
"Like what?" Draco asked, curious to know what his aunt thought.
Audré took a deep breath before starting, "The first thing she asked you was 'who are you?' Now tell me who do you think you are?"
"I am Draco Malfoy. I am her husban…" Draco started but Audré stopped him.
"Don't use that word with Jean." she warned him, "She is extremely sensitive about it; especially from you. Remember Draco, that you taunted her for six years and violated her on the seventh. She will never accept you as her husband the way you want her to." She shook her head grimly, "For pureblood families like yours, Draco, marrying a woman means that she is your wife and you are her husband. Just like it was with your parents – Lucius and Narcissa." She said and Draco was reminded of the conversation he had with his mother, "But for someone like Jean, who came from a Muggle heritage, where they are modern and believe in women's freedom, it is not like that. Even Wizarding families like mine never gave me that impression that if anymore marries me by any means then he is my husband. No. They taught me that a husband is someone with whom you share your life, pain, joy because you love and respect each other. Look at my daughter Lillian, she is young and her heart is full of dreams about a man who will love and respect her – whom she will call her husband after they get married." She explained, "Now God forbid if she is tortured like you tortured Jean and married off to the same man, do you think Lillian can accept him as her husband?" she asked gravely.
"No." Draco replied automatically, remembering the young woman whom he loved like his own sister, "No, she can't."
"Then how can Jean do that?" Audré asked, "Remember, Draco, she had been through a lot – physically, mentally and spiritually and the reason is no one but you. You know that you hurt her and made her suffer in a way that she didn't deserve…that no girl deserves. Now you expect her to accept you as her husband and leave behind the man who truly loved and respected her? Aren't you violating her freedom and her mind this time?"
"But she…" Draco felt a painful constriction in his chest every time the thought of Alexis and Hermione turned up inside his head.
"But she what?" Audré asked, "Remember the day I asked Jean to help me in this case and she accepted it knowing that you will be working with her? Remember what I told you, Draco? Tell me if you still remember it." she bid.
Draco still remembered those three words Audré had advised him, "Use it well." He replied, "You told me to use the opportunity well."
"What was or is that opportunity?" Audré asked again.
Draco considered the question, "To know her and…and make her feel comfortable around me?" he asked quizzically.
"No," Audré shook her head, "That opportunity is lying before your very eyes Draco and you are wasting it. You are concentrating on the Queen not on the King, Draco. In chess our goal is to reach the king."
"The king?" Draco repeated, puzzled.
"Alexis!" Audré let out an exasperated sigh, "Merlin! Nostradamus! Circe! How are you going to practice Law with that poor eye sight?"
And it all suddenly became very clear to Draco and realizing what a marvelous chess player his aunt is, he gaped at her.
"I asked Alexis to join you two so that you can observe him from up close. I want you to understand what is in that man that he has captured Jean's heart. I want you to see their relationship so that you can understand what she expects from her partner – her husband." Audré voiced Draco's thoughts, "Jean was tortured and she is supposed to be suspicious about men. But she is amazingly warm and receptive to Alexis. I want you to find out the secret. I want you to learn from him – Alexis Delacour. I want you to implement them in your life because your pureblood concept of being a 'husband' will not earn you anything more than her hatred and occasional outbursts." She said dismissively, "And trust me, Draco, Alexis hardly ever wears blue." She added.
Draco leaned against his chair and bit his lips, "I messed up." He muttered now realizing how horribly his plans went wrong.
"That's better." Audré commented, "So, instead of jibing and suspecting that Alexis is flirting with Jean and they are having secret affair, try to concentrate on how the man carries out himself. I am not telling you to copy him." She shook her head, "I am telling you to learn something that you were never taught. I know, Draco that it will be tough initially considering that you don't like him but remember that Alexis is the ideal man for Jean and if you really, truly care for her forgiveness, Draco you must know what she expects in her partner. It isn't physical because thanks to you, Jean doesn't easily trust men let alone let them touch her. It is what she said...in here…" Audré placed her hand on heart, "That was where your uncle touched me and I am still his in my body, mind and soul to the end of time." she smiled.
Draco remembered what his cousin Julian had told him regarding his mother the day they visited the Dovecote – that Audré was still mourning for Morpheus.
"I think, it was good that she said all those things today." He heard Audré commented, "She had been keeping those emotions in her heart for a long time and it was burning her from inside. Now that she erupted louder than Vesuvius volcano ever did, I hope that she will be easier to approach." She said and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder, "Now, dear nephew," she called him, "Help me stand up and go to the dining room for I am not going to miss my daughter's cooking for all the wealth in the world and Jean's Bouillabaisse is definitely my favourite soup." She smiled.
Draco shook his head in disbelief and helped his aunt on her feet, "You know, aunt Audré, I bless the day you married my uncle." He commented pleasantly.
"Don't say it too loudly, nephew…" Audré warned him and Draco frowned, "…or your father will be turning in his grave." She smirked.