The Poisoned Apple Chapter 49, a harry potter fanfic

A/N 1: Had a day off so decided to sit under the blanket and write an elaborate chapter. This whole chapter is from Draco's point of view.

Thanks to everyone for their follows, favourites and reviews.

Mariel: thanks for the beautiful review. Who says you can't write a review? If you could log-in, I would be delighted to talk to you. As for your dream ending, I assure you, dear that it will be larger than your dreams. ;)

Acknowledgements:

The description of Astoria's wedding ring is courtesy to Catherine Zeta Jones' ring given to her by her husband Michael Douglas.

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.

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

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

For mature words 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 49: The Ring of Commitment

The wedding ring that Draco had given to his first wife Astoria had been a diamond one.

'Malfoys never give anything but diamonds to their wives.' – had been his father, Lucius Malfoy's proud motto and Draco, though he didn't have to earn a single Knut to buy his wife one, was glad to give Astoria a gorgeous 1920s vintage, marquis-shaped, ten-carat diamond ring with another twenty-eight smaller stones sparkling around the large diamond. It was a little display of Malfoy wealth for Lucius who had been delighted to show off his household to his new co-father-in-law, Ebenezer Greengrass, on the day of the Draco's wedding which took place at the Malfoy Manor since Lucius was under life-time house arrest and wasn't allowed to leave the manor.

Draco sighed internally at the sight of ring inside the little velvet box.

It was a plain gold ring and to Draco's extreme embarrassment with no diamonds, emeralds, rubies or any precious stones to adorn it. The only thing that drew Draco's attention to it when he browsed through hundred of rings to select a suitable one for Hermione within a price range of just one thousand galleons was the elegant floral pattern engraved on the ring that resembled daisies – the scent of Hermione.

"Twenty carats gold and the finest of its kind, Monsieur Malfoy." Monsieur Aurientalis, the proprietor of the famous Wizarding Jewelry shop 'Les Collections de la Reine' or 'The Queen's Collections' located at Place Vendome, had informed him loftily and Draco gave him a cold stare in return before examining the ring closely, "The pattern that you see on the ring is Goblin-made and hand-engraved; not by magic which most ring-makers prefer nowadays."

"Do you like it, cousin?" Lillian enquired enthusiastically, showing him the intricate work on the surface of the ring, "I think Jean will like it. She is a working woman and they can hardly afford wearing extravagant and expensive diamond rings." She explained kindly noting Draco's dismayed look on his lack of money to buy his wife a better ring.

"It is tolerable." Draco remarked with a grimace, trying not to sound rude for his sister had been most patient when helping him to choose the best ring within the restraints of one thousand galleons, "I think you are right." He agreed with her.

"Please gift-wrap this ring for us." Lillian bid the shop-owner, "I hope you are not dishearted, cousin." She inspected Draco's face cautiously.

"No." Draco lied impassively, "Besides, a graceful lady like you can never be wrong in choosing a ring for her sister-in-law." He tried to sound reasonable.

"I think this morning's match has cost you your sanity, cousin brother." Lillian commented skeptically, "You, flattering me?" she asked suspiciously.

"Why? What's wrong with flattering one's dearest younger sister?" Draco asked back, amused that Lillian actually believed him as a sly and cold reptile.

Lillian held out her hands defensively, "Please stop now, Draco, for the ants will attack your unusually sweet tongue mistaking it as a sugar bar should you continue any longer." She commented.

Draco had snorted at his sister's jibing abilities that sometimes rivaled his own and they left the shop.

The Next day being the day when the high-voltage trial will finally commence, the dinner was silent that evening.

Draco couldn't deny that his earlier anger and resentment, his injured pride upon his discovery that Hermione had purposefully ignored him ebbed away as soon as the said woman entered the dining room with Adrian in tow, who was still sporting the same scarlet T-shirt with a fluttering golden snitch printed on it that he had donned for the match earlier that day.

"Grandma!" Adrian squealed and ran to Audré, who embraced him tightly instantly, "We had a lot of fun." He informed her brightly, "We went to Aunt Eva's school…watched a match…" Draco didn't fail to notice how Adrian avoided mentioning his father catching the Snitch, "…we went to Tuileries…we sailed boats…we had lunch and we came back." He narrated his whole day's activity in one breath.

"I doubt if the Minister of Magic had ever suffered from such a busy schedule." Audré commented, smiling at Hermione, "What does Minister Adrian's mother say? Was her day good too?" she enquired.

Hermione, Draco noticed, gave nothing but a tired nod as she settled on her chair, furthest from Draco's.

The dinner that followed was silent for the tension among the diners regarding the trial was palpable and Draco was thankful that he had asked Lillian earlier to keep her mouth shut about the ring he was planning to give Hermione after dinner.

"Mesrine has been tracked, maman. He is currently living as a Muggle sailor in Domfront at Normandy." Julian informed his mother soberly, "Do you want me to arrest him right now or arrest him red-handed?" he enquired.

"He has just been released from Château d'If, Julian and arresting him without a proper charge it will simple alert our enemies." Audré replied thoughtfully, "Let him enjoy the free air for another couple of days and in the meantime keep an eye on him." She instructed.

"He is completely under our control. Our spies have infiltrated the hillside small village." Julian assured his mother, "He can't move without us being informed first."

"How is that possible?" Hermione asked Julian, looking mildly interested, "You haven't put the Trace back on him because as far as I know that's impossible."

"Putting the magical Trace is impossible but Muggle trace isn't, sister-in-law." Julian winked playfully at Hermione and Draco frowned, "Mersine is acting like a Muggle and our spies are acting like Muggles too. Not for anything the Ministry of Magic is housed inside the Muggle Ministry of Defense, Jean, for we are using some of the devices that Muggle Aurors use to trace suspected criminals." He said mysteriously.

"Like what?" Hermione asked keenly.

"Like something called G. P…" Julian couldn't finish because Hermione gasped.

"You are using Global Positioning System Trackers?" she asked incredulously and Draco gave a skeptic scowl at his cousin, "Muggle tracking device? Does it work? Where did you get them? Nicked them from the Judicial Police?"

"That's a serious offense, Jean, that we – Department of Magical Law Enforcement - nicked Muggle devices." Julian chided her mockingly, "They were donated by some of our very kind and generous Muggle colleagues who are under Impe…"

"No, you didn't do that!" Hermione exclaimed without letting Julian finish his sentence, "That's illegal. That's breaking the Wizarding Law and the Minister can be thrown into prison for ordering to do so."

Julian was about to reply but Adrian cut him in, "Mama, Mama, what is globe…" he stammered, "…what is G. P ? Why will the Minister go to jail? Did Uncle Julian nick?" he asked his mother while giving a curious glance at Julian.

"Adrian, don't interrupt when elders are talking." Hermione snapped at her son and Draco gave her an irritated glare, "I want you to finish your soup in next ten minutes." she ordered him.

"But it is hot." Adrian protested showing her the steaming soup on his bowl.

"Then blow it cold and finish it without a single word." Hermione commanded before returning to her dinner while Adrian huffed.

Draco was feeling extremely annoyed seeing how Hermione treated Adrian like a House-Elf. His parents had never dared to order him and even if they did, he didn't care much. A part of him wanted to scold her for being rude to the little curious boy and a part of him wanted to scold Julian for telling her the truth about the use of Unforgivable Curse on Muggles to serve their own purposes.

'Bloody fool! Has he forgotten that Hermione is a Muggleborn witch?' he thought inside his head.

"Jean, I am sorry if I have spoiled your mood." He heard Julian said kindly, "This trial is a like a war between the Minister and Rochés and both of them will do anything to win. What are we but pawns in this game of egos?"

"But using defenseless Muggles? They don't even know that they are Imperiused while you and your esteemed Minister of Magic are using them to reach your own goals. That is something Voldemort would have done." Hermione replied, "Tell me Julian, if the Muggles are so below us – wizards and witches, then why even consider using them and if we use them, take their technology that they have built through years of works and dedication not to mention without magic, why look down upon them? Isn't that extreme hypocrisy?" she asked heatedly.

"Because that is how human nature is, Jean." Audré replied this time, "How many individuals do you think you can find who will actually admit that you are better than them? Almost no one. Even if he or she knows internally that you are better, they wouldn't admit it publicly because admitting is accepting the truth and we, as humans, are afraid of truth." She explained and Draco was reminded of his fake stunt to blame Hermione for her own rape, "Because truth hurts Jean, because truth always hurts." She stated calmly.

Her declaration met stone cold silence from the occupants of the table.

"Yes, Mama, truth hurts." Adrian piped suddenly, "And you hurt me when you scold me." he complained and pouted his lips, "It is truth." He proclaimed.

Draco was amazed at his son's ability to speak his mind so openly. Had his mother rebuked him when he was six, he would have been grumpy for days and coerced her to apologize to him as well as making her give him an expensive gift.

"Oh, my love!" Hermione cooed and left her dinner, "Mama is sorry." she touched her earlobes in sincere apology, "But little rabbit should learn not to interfere when elders are talking. Have you seen uncle Alexis interrupting when his parents are talking?" she asked kindly.

"But Uncle Julian isn't my parent. Monsieur is." Adrian replied innocently.

Draco could have sworn at that moment that it was the best moment of his wretched life.

'Adrian acknowledges me as his father.'

'He actually thinks that I am his father.'

'Me – Draco Malfoy.'

'Not Alexis, not anybody else.'

'I am his father and he is my son.'

'He knows it.'

'And he admitted it before everyone present here.'

He watched the pair triumphantly as Hermione rolled her eyes with a defeated sigh.

"Adrian, a true gentleman never argues with his mother." Audré said him gravely and the little boy hung his head shamefully, "That wasn't like my dear little man Adrian." she shook her head sadly.

"I am sorry, Mama." Adrian piped, left his soup and flung his arms around Hermione's neck, "You know I am your man and I am sorry. I won't argue with you again. I really really really want to be a gentleman like grandpa Gustave." He said almost tearfully.

"Okay, little rabbit, okay." Hermione patted her son gently on his back, "Don't cry now and make Mama feel awful." She said tenderly.

"I warn you, Jean Granger, if you make my nephew cry, I will throw you into prison." Julian interjected slyly.

"No! You won't!" Adrian looked up from his mother's bosom and gave Julian an angry glare of his innocent grey eyes, "I will fight you!" he said furiously.

"Tsk..tsk…tsk…" Audré tutted, "Careful Julian, for you, a six feet two inches tall giant, are in great danger from a four feet tall Knight of Peter rabbit who is committed to protect his mother till his last breath." She warned her son and everyone at the table broke into a laugh, "Have you made your last will and testimony? If not, dear son, make it today after you finish your dinner and don't forget to pass everything to your beloved sister Lillian." she patted Lillian's shoulder.

"What is last will and testi…that thing?" Adrian asked curiously in response to the cunning jibe and laughing again the table returned to its earlier light mood.

Draco was elated to the point of reaching out and bringing down the moon for his son.

'He called me father.'

'However indirectly but Adrian called me his father.'

The dinner was almost over when he started executing his plan.

"uhhmm.." he cleared his throat audibly, "Granger, can I have a word with you after the dinner?" he asked her gently.

Hermione was looking determinedly at her pudding when she nodded woodenly.

He felt Adrian gave him a stern look before moving closer to his mother protectively.

'Does he think I am going to kill his mother?' Draco asked himself incredulously, 'Why would I do that? Even that day Adrian wouldn't let me take Hermione to aunt Audré's parlour. Why?' he tried to ascertain the cause.

Draco was thankful that Hermione didn't ask Adrian to stay with them as everyone started to file out from dining room at the end of dinner.

"Little rabbit, why don't you go and take out the new story book that uncle Edmound gave you while I finish talking with Monsieur?" she offered him gently while emphasizing on the word 'Monsieur', "I will read it to when we go to bed. Okay?" she asked.

Adrian nodded cautiously and left the room with Lillian.

Draco, however, wasn't expecting what happened next.

"Aunt Audré? Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy?" Hermione called the remaining two ladies who were exiting the room, "Can you two please stay while I talk with…" she paused, "…with Draco Malfoy."

"Sure." Audré smiled and gripped Narcissa's elbow before stirring her to sit on their usual seats, "Please start, dear." She bid her.

Draco waited patiently while considering what could be Hermione's real motive behind her sudden desire to talk to him.

Hermione was staring at the opposite table when she started.

"This man calls himself Adrian's father. Does he know who a father is? What is his role in a family?" she asked.

Draco stared at Hermione, taken aback.

"Can a sperm donor be considered a father?" was Hermione's next question.

"Sperm donor?" Draco repeated after Hermione, "Do you mean that I am a sperm donor, Granger?" he asked unable to believe his ears.

"Then what else should I call a man who raped a woman and impregnated her without intending to do so?" Hermione asked in a high-pitched voice, "Will you deny that it was I who chose to keep the child? That I brought him to this world because I wanted him, loved him and cherished him? That Adrian is alive because he too wanted to come to me, not to you? That your esteemed father Lucius Malfoy would have killed us both the moment he had caught air that his ancient and puuuureeeeee blood…" she mocked Draco, "…line is going to be defiled once this child was born?"

Draco gave a flabbergasted look at his aunt and mother, who were listening carefully.

"I admit, Granger that my conduct towards you at school and afterwards wasn't acceptable…" he started on his own but Hermione cut him.

"Acceptable? Acceptable!" she turned her gaze at him now, her brilliant brown pairs blazing, "What a nice choice of word! Acceptable! Wow!" she commented and Draco bit his lip, "Calling someone Mudblood isn't acceptable! Raping someone isn't acceptable! What a great sense of judgment, Mr. Future Lawyer." She jeered him coldly.

"Fine. It was a crime." Draco admitted flatly, "Calling you a Mudb…" he paused, "…that was a crime and violating you was even bigger one." He said bitterly.

"You admit it as if it is a brave thing to do. Besides, why be so shy to use the actual word – rape?" Hermione asked boldly.

"What do you want?" Draco asked, disgusted at how the word sounded from Hermione's innocent lips, "You want me to admit that I raped you, Granger? That it is a crime?" he stood up, his blood boiling now, "Fine, I raped you and it is a crime. A very big crime." He emphasized the word, "Anything else?" he demanded.

Hermione gave a derisive laugh, "Like I care if you admit it before me or anyone else, Malfoy? You acceptance that rape is a crime won't change my life nor will it change the reality that I faced, the pain and humiliation that I went through. Your bloody words won't change anything. No." she shook her head, "I am therefore not here to ask your confession. You can keep that for your grave. I am here to make a deal."

"Deal?" Draco repeated after her.

"Yes, a deal. Just like Slytherins do." Hermione confirmed, "Maybe I am a proud Gryffindor but even I know how to make a deal with a filthy Slytherin like you. But before I go into the details of this deal, Malfoy, I want you to answer my first question. What is a father's role in a family?" she arched a questioning eyebrow at Draco.

"A father provides his family with home, food, clothing and all the other necessities and looks after them." Draco replied cautiously, eager to learn more about the deal that Hermione was willing to make with him.

"Ten points to Slytherin." Hermione clapped lightly, "Now Malfoy, tell me which of the abovementioned things you have provided to your son?" she mocked him.

Draco braced himself for he realized what was to come after it.

"None." He admitted plainly.

"Exactly!" Hermione gave Draco a saccharine sweet smile, "That is why you are a sperm donor, Malfoy, not a father." she corrected him, "Now, I am not as a cruel woman as you think who will take away your second chance of redemption." She said icily which certainly suggested otherwise, "You can be Adrian's father but…" she paused, "…I have two conditions."

Draco waited patiently for Hermione to continue.

"My son needs a home. I want you to buy it for him." Hermione declared solemnly, "How long do you think he is he going to stay at other people's homes? First at Delacour's and now at Chombrun Malfoy's? Hasn't it come to your overlarge brain that he might need his own home in future?" Hermione asked reproachfully.

Draco slapped himself internally for overlooking the crucial point.

"I..." he started but an idea hit him, "But Adrian has a home, Granger." he replied.

"Where? In the moon?" Hermione asked coolly.

"Malfoy manor." Draco reminded her, "All the Malfoys have grown up at Malfoy manor." He stated.

"Hundred points from Slytherin." Hermione pursed her lips, "You want me to go back to place where you raped me?" she asked violently.

'Shite, Draco! Where is your bloody brain? Have you defecated them?' Draco closed his eyes at his lack of foresight for he was sure Hermione was planning to bring him on this point.

"No. That wasn't my intention, Granger, I was merely suggesting that Adrian has a home." he tried to play defensively now.

"Malfoy manor isn't a home. It can never be a home for me let alone my son." Hermione countered, "The very air there is filled with cries of innocent victims who were tortured like I was and I will never accept it as a home for my son. No." Hermione shook her head firmly, "That is what brings me to this long-winded discussion before these ladies." She gestured at Audré and Narcissa, "I want a home for my son here at France, more specifically at Paris and even more specifically beside mother Apolline's home." she declared firmly.

"But…" Draco started but Hermione held out a hand to silence him.

"I am not done." She said dismissively, "I told you that I have two conditions. One." She counted on her finger, "My son and I will not go back to Malfoy Manor and neither can you. Ever. At least not until Adrian comes of age which is not before another twelve years and two, you can't use your vault money to buy the house for Adrian. Your golds are cursed and blood stained and therefore not fit to be used for my son. So, that's my deal with you, Malfoy. Either you live in France, earn honest money and buy Adrian a house just beside the Delacour residence or you leave your Claims as his father and let us go free." She announced solemnly.

Stunned, Draco stared at Hermione for a while before turning it to his mother.

"Did you hear her, mother?" he asked her uncertainly, "She wants to take my rights to go back to my own home? That too in expense of her freedom?"

"So?" Narcissa shrugged, "What is the moot point?"

"The moot point?" Draco repeated after his mother, "Mother, are you out of your mind? Do you intend to stay here at France for the rest of your life? Leaving the Malfoy manor? The place that you called home?"

"Home is where your heart is Draco and my heart left Malfoy manor the day Lucius passed away. He was my anchor in that place for I loved him and he loved me equally." Narcissa replied somberly, "Now, that place is empty, cold and filled with cruel memories of You-Know-Who, Bellatrix and Medusa; sad memories of Astoria's death, Scorpius's death." she bit her lips painfully, "On the other hand, this place, this Château is full of young life and happiness. Full of hope and most important of all, full of people who care for me." she took Audré's hand and squeezed it gently, "Besides, I have no one in Britain, at least no one to go back to. Why should I go there when I have so many things here?"

"But mother Malfoy manor is my home!" Draco said exasperatedly, "I can't possibly stay here at France for the rest of my life."

"Fine, then, deal over." Hermione said dismissively, "Go back to your Malfoy manor but without Adrian and me because according to our Sacred Marriage Vows and your Unbreakable Vow, Malfoy, you can't force me into anything; you can't me to have sex with you, bear your many descendents, obey your orders and follow you to any place that you go. In fact, I will be more than delighted if you try to exercise your rights on Claiming and lose both your life and magical power, whichever comes first. You are most welcome to leave me with my son and our lives." She said with a flourish.

Draco was shaking with rage when he shook his head.

"Never! Granger, never!" he spat at her, "Did you hear me? My answer is N-E-V-E-R." he spelled the word, "Draco Lucius Malfoy will never let go of his son Adrian Malfoy." He said firmly.

"Adrian Thomas Granger is my son." Hermione corrected him furiously.

"Adrian Thomas Granger-Malfoy is our son, Granger, yours and mine." Draco snapped.

"No, he is not." Hermione snapped back. "Not until you provide him with what he needs – a home. Not until you prove that you can be a 'father'; that you can work, earn and provide him a shelter. Otherwise, you are a sperm-donor who will only ask others to scratch his lazy ass." Hermione snarled.

"I. Am. Not. A. Sperm. Donor." Draco bellowed at Hermione with equal firmness, "I am Adrian's father and if you want me to let go of my home, my freedom, my money, my everything to prove that I am his father, then it is a deal." He said raising his chin defiantly, "I am prepared to do anything for my son Adrian and no matter what you do, Hermione, you can't stop me." he challenged her.

Hermione whipped out her wand and pointed it directly at Draco's heart, "Don't. Call. Me. Hermione." she said in a deadly whisper, "That woman died six years ago, the day Jean Granger decided to keep her son Adrian."

Her proclamation met a cold glare from Draco.

"Then it shall be a deal." Hermione smirked uncharacteristically, "To make sure that you will not cheat as you always do, Malfoy, you will come to Gringotts as soon as you can and close down your vault. I would like to see how you carry out your end of the deal without your father's money." She said coolly, "Good night." she turned to leave.

"I am not finished with you, Granger." Draco said icily as he remembered his real reason to ask her to stay back, "If I am to make a deal with you, what should I call you? My victim? My wife? Or mother of my son? What?" she asked coolly.

Hermione turned and faced Draco, her face like a death mask.

"I am no one to you." She replied.

"Then there can be no deal because no one can make a deal with a 'no one'." Draco arched an confident eyebrow, "There must be a relation between two people to make any deal." He said and took out the box of ring, "Here, this is the relation I offer you if you want to make this deal." He offered her the box.

Hermione Summoned the box silently and opened the lid.

"Absolutely not!" she snarled and threw away the box along with the ring inside it, "I object to bear anything that has the slightest touch of your name or money."

"But you bore me my son!" Draco reminded her.

"Adrian is my son, Malfoy, not yours." Hermione reminded back.

"Draco! Jean!" Audré called over all the yelling, "I think that is enough for tonight. You should save some of this endless bull fighting for later so that we can enjoy it we visit Spain next summer." She said lazily, "Draco, bring the ring and Jean please accept it." she bid them both.

"No, aunt I am sorry but I cannot." Hermione shook her head firmly, "I will not bow to him."

Audré tilted and smiled at Hermione in a way that Draco was sure his aunt has some special plan running inside her clever head, "No dearest, taking the ring isn't bowing. It is Draco who is bowing for it is he who is offering you the ring, not you." She said serenely.

"But…" Hermione tried to protest but Audré held out a hand to quieten her before leaving her seat and walking over to her.

"Draco, bring the ring." She stood beside Hermione and Draco Summoned the ring non-verbally, "Come here and kneel down before your wife." She bid him firmly.

"Kneel?" Draco felt his elation evaporate, "Before her?" he asked his aunt.

"Why? What's wrong with kneeling before your beloved wife?" Audré asked looking highly amused, "Are you scared or your chivalry ran low?"

No matter what his aunt said or taunted Draco wasn't prepared to kneel before Hermione. He hadn't done it even before Astoria.

"Malfoys never kneel before their wives." Draco supplied proudly.

"Then why did your uncle Morpheus knelt before me when he offered me his ring?" Audré asked, clearly enjoying the little game of words, "Do you mean to say that he wasn't a Malfoy?" she arched a skeptic eyebrow.

"He was an exceptional Malfoy." Draco corrected her.

"You are a violator and another exceptional Malfoy, Draco." Audré smiled sweetly, "So, if you really want this pretty, gorgeous and intelligent woman to wear the ring you offered her, you must break the Malfoy Golden Rule of 'not kneeling before their wives' and give it to her humbly. Only then can Jean consider wearing it, won't you, dear?" she asked Hermione, batting her eyelashes.

Hermione stood stoically and didn't respond.

Sensing that there was no other way to give Hermione the ring he had bought for her, for Draco wouldn't be defeated this time and wouldn't back off, he approached Hermione in proud steps and was amazed when he saw that she didn't flinch and stood her ground.

Taking a deep breath Draco knelt before Hermione and looked directly at her eyes before offering her the ring.

"Granger, will you please take the ring?" he asked as politely as possible under the humiliating circumstances.

Hermione arched an eyebrow and shook her head firmly.

"Draco, that was certainly an awful way to offer Jean her wedding ring." Audré chided him, "Please be more polite and supplicate."

"I can't supplicate." Draco snapped at his aunt, "I don't know how."

"Then learn and then come back with the ring. Let's go, Jean." Audré offered Hermione.

There was no way Draco would let go of Hermione without her ring.

"No, wait." He gritted his teeth, "I will try again." He said as Hermione turned to face him, "Granger, this ring is my small token of gratitude towards you for all your endeavors to give me a son like Adrian. Please, accept it." he said desperately.

"Adrian is mine." Hermione said solemnly.

"Fine he is yours." Draco assured her calmly, "Now, please accept the ring."

"I don't need a ring from you in return of bringing up my own son." Hermione said boldly.

"Rephrase your words, Draco." Audré advised him with a blessed look on her face, "Your wife doesn't like it."

Draco racked his brain for a less humiliating reason.

"Granger, I know you don't need anything in return of your love and affection to Adrian for no diamonds or pearls could ever replace what you gave to me." he remembered the lyrics of that Muggle song he had heard at the restaurant, "This ring is therefore a ring of commitment from me that I will be true to my words with you. I know you have nothing to lose so all I ask is your kind consideration." He said truthfully.

Hermione eyed Draco silently.

"I am not interested, Malfoy." She said calmly after a while and feeling defeated Draco stood up at last.

"Here, Draco, give me the ring." He heard Narcissa bidding him, "Listen Jean, a ring isn't anything compared to what this man offers you – his freedom and his money." She explained, "Not to mention his lazy ass." She added, "He bowed to you, knelt before you and gave you his commitment. Will the Gryffindor not give her enemy a fair go? You are not a Slytherin. So behave like one?"

"You know why aunt and you behave like you don't." Hermione almost pleaded.

"I know and that is why I am telling you." Audré assured her, "Trust me, Jean, you won't regret it." she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Draco didn't know what the two women communicated amongst themselves because next moment Hermione reached out and took the box.

"That's that and the deal starts from this very moment." Audré announced and a somber Hermione simply nodded before she left while Draco breathed his relief, "Narcissa, I think you can retire for the night because the grand opera between Draco and Jean is over, I guess." She commented, "Now Draco, I need to have a word with you about the case." She turned her face at Draco as Narcissa stood up and left the dining room.

"Thank you, aunt, without you Hermione wouldn't have…" Draco started once his mother was gone but Audré silenced him with an angry growl.

"Shut up, Draco! Just shut up!" she spat at him, "Do you not understand that Jean is disgusted with you? Or your foul attempts to please her?" she asked furiously.

"But it was you who said you would help me buy Hermione her wedding ring." Draco reminded her, stunned by the sudden change of Audré's mood.

"I said I will buy it for her, Draco, not you." Audré countered, "I thought I will buy it for her and give it to her when she cools down; even if it is ten years later. But it should be her choice not yours. Don't you understand, Draco, Jean isn't ready to accept you? Then why are you following her like a blood hound?"

"I just wanted to thank her." Draco replied, sounding foolish to himself.

"Thank her for what? For being a good rape victim? Not reporting you? Bringing up the son you will need once you lost all three from your first marriage? And you call this remorse? You call this maddening remorse? This? This is remorse? To agitate Jean more?" Audré panted heavily as she bombarded Draco with her questions.

Draco was silent before he replied truthfully.

"I admit that I was mad at her for ignoring me at the Quidditch match. But I bought that ring with good intentions and was planning to give it to her as a part of truce between us when she suddenly taunted me into that deal which cost me my freedom. So, I just wanted some of my dignity back when I insisted her to take the ring; to make her realize that she can't always have her way with me."

"Great job!" Audré mocked him, "Now, listen to me carefully Draco for I am not going to repeat it again. I want those memories that you collected from Apolline." She commanded and Draco shook his head, horrified, "I knew you will deny because they must contain something that made you feel that so called remorse." She said interpreting Draco's denial correctly, "But I don't care. I don't give a damn whether you are forgiven or not, whether Apolline backs for you or not, whether you like it or not because you created this mess for yourself, Draco. You didn't ask me before you raped her so it is none of my business what you do with your bloody remorse. I want those memories because I need to see them to heal Jean. God knows how badly she needs it. Either way you can go to hell and I can't care less." She said vehemently before leaving Draco speechless.

How he got back to his suite after that, Draco didn't know.

He lay on his bed defeated, looking up at the ceiling absent-mindedly.

He had heard somewhere that there is a proverb among Muggles which says 'What goes around comes around.'

Six years ago, Hermione left her country and her home behind to save her son from the Malfoys.

Now six years later he is forced to leave his country and home in order to prove that he can be a father not a sperm donor.

Not to mention numerous hardships that she went through.

And now those hardships lay before him.

With his vault closed and main source of his money dried up, he would be forced to depend on his salary from his new job which is inadequate to buy a house for Adrian, that too beside the Delacour residence at the heart of Paris.

It was like scarcity in the midst of plenty - just like Hermione had to face when she rejected twenty thousand galleons for compensation money and worked in that library underpaid to earn her living.

And he doesn't even know how long it will take him to buy that house for his son.

It can take years.

The only hope at the end of tunnel was Adrian.

Draco's lips twitched into a smile when he remembered how Adrian had admitted him as his father.

'But Uncle Julian isn't my parent. Monsieur is.'

'Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is…'

Suddenly every sound Draco heard was Adrian's voice.

And everywhere he looked it was Adrian.

He took out his wand and pointed it at the ceiling.

'Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is…'

His heart filled with indescribable happiness, Draco waved his wand and uttered the one incantation he had been having problem since Adrian's Saining.

"Expecto Patronum!" he whispered.

A bright flash erupted from the end of his Hawthorn wand and almost blinded Draco before taking a form.

'Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is… Monsieur is…'

Draco looked at his Patronus for the very first time.

It was a beautiful Osprey.

With a regal air and eagle like features, it flew around his bedroom before landing on his chest soundlessly.

Draco reached out and stroked its head gently.

"Thanks Hermione's little rabbit for giving this Monsieur his purpose and his Patronus." He whispered happily.

««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»

A/N 2: Thanks to surugasasa, Nikki98, Grovek26, aryaaa and louisethelibrarian for the kind feedback in response to my query what can be Draco's Patronus.

Initially I went for most of what you said (except for kodomo dragon, thanks Grovek, that was a really nice idea and Owl by aryaaa – that was pretty cool idea too) – rabbit, fox, wolf, tiger, jaguar, eagle, viper. I was dwindling between coyote and rabbit when this beauty turned up suddenly in my head.

Osprey.

Here is why I chose it (I am copy-pasting the entire article found in starstaffs/animal totems/ dictionary of birds):

Osprey teaches many lessons; how to streamline your life, how carry a heavy burden, and how to dive in with pinpoint accuracy. Osprey will demonstrate the power of keen eyesight and specializing in the ability to tightly grasp your object firmly with finesse and tenacity. He shows that patience and expert timing is needed. It is time to be aware of your inner guidance which is the "sun's direction" - the sun will show the direction in which to strike so pay attention. Osprey shows that after the initial "splash" of your endeavor, situations and issues will naturally fall into place. Osprey teaches strength and finesse. It is time to trust what Osprey is telling you. Perhaps you feel out of your comfort zone? Afraid to change or of opportunities? Worried of what others think? Osprey demonstrates that you CAN put your head under the emotional water and still survive! It is ok to feel. He will also show how to build a foundation in the spiritual and physical and to ride the current of life in both worlds enabling a balance of peace and harmony. Osprey also teaches of streamlining our thoughts and emotions that also facilitate balance this within that propagates outward. These are valuable lessons to be learned.

So, tell me guys and gals, what you think about it? ;)