A/N: Thanks to Grovek26, Mariel, AMBERJANUS and Arindhita for your kind reviews in last chapter.
Also thanks for follows and favourites.
The album of OC's has been updated with new pictures of Draco, Hermione, Morpheus and a few glimpses of memories.
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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 55: The Heart Asks Pleasure First.
Hermione Granger was feeling explicitly relaxed when she opened the letter that has been sent to her through the official Gringotts post and her smile immediately faltered.
It said only two words:
'Watch out!'
Her heart suddenly beating against her chest, Hermione checked the envelope but found no name of sender on it.
At her office around mid-day, Hermione was checking the usual Gringotts posts that were directed to the Chief Curse Breaker when the letter with no sender happened. She frowned at the pair of words for a while before deciding to report it to her goblin boss, Geccemp.
The cheerful goblin was exceptionally grave when she found him in his office, talking to one of his goblin employees – Greepak.
"We have noticed unusual money movements from several vaults in last few weeks, Sir. Large amount of galleons have been withdrawn and even larger were deposited in vaults that were almost empty before. It is our policy not to question any transaction, sir, but I thought I might inform you about it." she heard the goblin reported as Geccemp motioned her to take a seat.
"Does it have any pattern or it is random?" Geccemp asked Greepak sharply, "Since when did it start?"
"Almost three weeks now, sir." Greepak replied from his seat beside Geccemp's enormous desk, "At first we didn't give it much thought because things like this sometimes happen when rich purebloods make an expensive purchase from their foreign wings. But it is steadily growing now. Even this morning we received a check from Monsieur Villeneuve asking to make a transaction of a hundred thousand galleons to someone named Monsieur Martin and that struck odd to me because the same man has opened an account with us only recently and it is virtually empty."
Hermione was wondering where this conversation was carrying to when Geccemp ordered Greepak to fetch him Martin's credentials and turned to her.
"Bonjour, sir, I am sorry to disturb you like this." Hermione smiled politely at his boss who smiled back, "But I received this through the Gringotts Post and the envelope doesn't have any name on it." she handed the letter on Geccemp's outstretched long-fingered hand.
"That's the second odd thing this morning." Geccemp commented as he examined the letter and its writing, "Who would want to threat you Jean?" he asked her thoughtfully.
Hermione shook her head earnestly, "I don't know, sir."
"The Gringotts post is intended for the Chief Curse Breaker so that he or she get a follow up on objects that were curse broken. It isn't supposed to be used for sending anonymous threats from them." Geccemp's beady eyes rested once again on the letter, "I don't know what to comment, Jean." he shook his head slightly, "All I can do is to investigate on how this letter reached us. I will call the goblins who are in charge of the postal section." He rose from his seat and reached for the Floo fireplace.
Hermione waited patiently for the goblins to appear in Geccemp's office.
"We receive hundreds of letters every day, sir, and divide them to their respective destinations. It is impossible to keep track of all of them." one of the postal goblins replied to Geccemp's query about the unmarked letter.
"But it doesn't have the name of a sender, you idiot, how is that you didn't notice that?" Geccemp's low growl was angry and impatient.
"That also happens with regular customers, sir, for they feel like we know them just by their envelopes." The other postal goblin answered.
"You are dismissed. Now go to your work." Geccemp was disappointed as he waved his hand at the pair of goblin and they left his office.
"I am sorry, Jean, I couldn't do anything about it." he said apologetically.
But Hermione was thinking on some other lines now for she stood up and with a thanks and nod of appreciation left Geccemp's office with the unnamed letter.
She had a hunch about who might be behind this and she was going to test that theory now.
Once in her office, Hermione took off her official Gringotts robe before donning her usual robe and checked her reflection in the mirror.
She was going to meet Alexis Delacour.
•••••
Back from his lecture class at Sorbonne, Draco was just about to come out from apparition balcony at the Ministry of Magic when he saw the familiar feminine figure of Hermione Granger at the reception desk.
His heart immediately sank two feet inside his chest and he hid himself to watch her, undisturbed and strained his invigorated auditory senses.
Since overcoming the second test dose of St. Lupus venom, he could hear almost a whisper from a distance of thirty feet with crystal clear clarity, much like the listening device that he uses.
"I am here to meet Monsieur Alexis Delacour." Hermione was telling the receptionist who was checking her wand as per Ministry protocol, "I have been here once before and you have checked my wand thoroughly then." she sounded impatient.
That Hermione had been in the Ministry once before stirred something inside Draco and he frowned.
When did she come here?
Did she come here to meet Alexis or him?
Somehow Draco knew that the world can turn upside down but Hermione would never come to meet him in the Ministry.
So the answer was clear.
She had come to meet Alexis Delacour.
And no matter how hard he tried to see reason in it, it made his guts wrench in dislike for the perfect gentleman of a nuisance – Alexis Delacour.
"Madame, you can go now." the receptionist handed Hermione a visitor's badge and curious, Draco followed suit.
It became clear to him that Hermione indeed had been to Alexis's office before for she knew the way as well as his secretary, who welcomed her with a warm smile.
"Bonjour, Madame Granger. How are you?" the secretary came out from behind her desk and almost hugged Hermione, "The anti-fungus spell that you suggested me last time was good. It did stop that stubborn fungus from growing all over my clothes." She informed her.
'So, Hermione hands out advices on fungus-fighting spells to complete strangers?' Draco frowned and whipped out his wand thankful to the privilege that only potions researchers are allowed to carry their wands inside the ministry before casting a perfect Disillusionment Charm on himself and edging near the pair, 'I need to know what else she does in Alexis's office.' he thought adamantly.
He slipped in seamlessly behind Hermione when the secretary held open the door for her and entered Junior Undersecretary's office for the second time. The first time he had been here was with Julian the night the Knights had attacked his aunt and son and Draco had hardly paid any attention to it.
To his surprise, Alexis wasn't in his office.
He watched as Hermione looked around the place and settled on a chair before Alexis's neatly organized desk.
The woman looked calm but there was a very slight frown on her face, so subtle that hadn't Draco been observing her for last couple of minutes, he wouldn't have noticed it.
The happy mood that she had seen him just this morning when she came out of breakfast wasn't completely there. A small dark cloud had obscured the bright and sunny sky of her face while the usual luminescences of her big brown eyes were shadowed with a tinge of darkness.
Draco was wondering what it could be when Hermione leaned on her chair and closed her eyes.
An insane idea struck Draco at that moment and without thinking he acted on impulse.
He moved behind Hermione's chair and calming down all the facilities, uttered the spell that he had seen Lord Voldemort cast upon his followers numerous times, with full intention in his mind.
'Legilimens!' he thought resolutely while looking down at Hermione's slightly tilting relaxed head.
And for the first time ever in his life he was inside someone's mind and thoughts.
It was an experience like no other.
Moving pictures of variable sizes were playing around him and he was passing through them like he was riding his Thunderbolt broom. He looked around frantically for the source of Hermione's trouble but she seemed to be thinking a lot of things at once.
There was conversation regarding some letter with her goblin boss.
In another picture, she was opening a letter.
Another beside it showed Lillian telling Hermione that Audré was asleep.
Draco was wondering if he should pull out for he feared she might register his presence inside her head should he stayed too long there when all thoughts disappeared and a room just like the one he was standing minutes ago appeared.
It was Alexis's office again and Hermione was sitting on the same chair she was sitting now.
Draco frowned slightly at the memory that Hermione seemed to be enjoying inside her head when an exclamation announced the arrival of Alexis Delacour.
"What a pleasant surprise!" he announced as soon as he opened the door.
"Mother told me that you are leaving for Brussels." Hermione said looking up at the man and somehow her posture was tense, "I hope it's not something about that Portkey, Alexis?" she enquired to him.
'Portkey? What Portkey?' Draco thought curiously.
"Of course not, Jean." Alexis shook his head in way that told Draco that he was lying smoothly, "I am being sent there to attend an official meeting with the Belgian undersecretary about issues regarding their foreign students." He informed her. "I am sorry that I couldn't apply for the Portkey report because the minister has been keeping me very busy lately."
Hermione smiled at him and Draco's guts wrenched, "It's alright, Alexis. I am so sorry to disturb you like this." She said and stood up to leave, "I'll leave you with your work; you must have preparations to make for your meeting."
But before she could move an inch, Alexis moved closer to Hermione and pulled her in tight embrace which followed a kiss.
Every nerve in Draco's body was in fire. He watched them silently while his voice screamed inside his head and anger like nothing he had ever felt tore his heart apart.
Alexis was kissing Hermione before his very eyes.
His eyes were closed and his hands were rested on Hermione's elegant waist.
He seemed lost both in their interlocked lips and in her enticing molten chocolate eyes.
It was like skinning Draco alive and stewing him slowly on Fiendfyre.
It was like someone has ripped open his abdomen and hanging him from his insides.
It was like no pain Draco had ever felt.
And to make it more painful, Hermione was kissing Alexis back.
At last they broke apart and Draco noticed that Hermione was blushing so red that her heat was reaching Alexis too.
"I am sorry, Jean." Alexis said softly and still embracing her, "I don't know what happened to me suddenly. I …. I lost control…" he started but Hermione stopped her by placing a soft finger on his wet lips.
"It was the most wonderful thing that happened to me since Adrian was born, Alexis." She whispered to him, "I have never been kissed like this; like being loved, cared and protected." She said with a genuine smile, "I never thought I would be able to tell this to anyone ever again after I rejected Ron, Alexis but I feel so good when you are around. I feel safe and happy. I feel home." She said before closing her eyes and embracing him tightly.
Unable to bear anymore, Draco pulled out from Hermione's memory and slumped on the floor behind the chair she was sitting when the door of Alexis's office once again.
"What a pleasant surprise!" Alexis exclaimed.
Petrified, Draco looked around while a sense of déjà-vu engulfed him again.
Is he going to kiss Hermione again?
And will she kiss him too?
"uuuhhh…ummm…I am sorry to disturb you, Alexis," Hermione's embarrassed voice reached Draco's eardrums, "But this was delivered to me by Gringotts post this morning." she said.
Draco carefully stationed himself behind Hermione's chair, his wand tightly grasped in his hand to curse Alexis into oblivion should he try to kiss Hermione again.
But the Junior Undersecretary showed no such indication for he went behind his desk and took the letter Hermione offered him.
"Watch out!" he murmured after opening the letter, frowning deeply, "Are you sure it is for you and not for somebody else?" he examined the envelope and curious to know more about the topic of discussion, Draco stood up for a better view.
It was same letter he had seen Geccemp talking about inside Hermione's thoughts before the kissing scene turned up.
"Who else is the Chief Curse Breaker in Gringotts other than me, Alexis?" Hermione asked back, "I receive at least fifty of these letters every week where Gringotts vault owners inform me about their curse broken objects and whether the curse has returned or not. It is kind of follow up and I answer them on daily basis. Sometimes, I tell them to bring it to Gringotts should it need my personal attention, Alexis. I was expecting the same when I opened this letter and found this threat note instead." She explained and Draco read from over her shoulders the writing on the letter.
"I was wondering if it anyway connected to Jacques Mesrine, you know, the man who sent all those threat letters to Robert Delacroix that were called 'letters from grave'." Hermione's voice was slightly skeptic.
Alexis's face became grave immediately like Draco's did too.
"You landed yourself on a big trouble when you accepted Pasteur's offer, Jean. I am pretty sure now that Rochés have bought somebody inside Château d'If and they know our every movement." His voice was full of sincere concern, "I guess that they even know that you have made that quid pro quo deal with Pasteur." He bit his lip, "And if it is correct then I beg you, Jean, please step aside before it is too late." He implored.
Draco was thinking on the same lines when Hermione stood up silently and snatched the letter from Alexis's hand.
"Thank you, Alexis, but that is not why I came to you in the first place." She was furious and Alexis stared at her, puzzled, "I came here so that you can issue me a jail pass because I want to meet Pasteur right this moment and question him about this letter." She said firmly.
'Typical Gryffindor stubbornness.' Draco thought irritably.
"But Jean, you are already in danger!" Alexis stood up too, exasperated.
"So what, Alexis? So what?" Hermione spat defiantly, "Do you think I am scared of Pasteur or Rochés or his foul men? Am I not married to Draco Malfoy in the first place? My violator. What can be more horrible for an assaulted woman to be married to her assaulter? And you talk about trivial matters like Pasteur, Rochés and Metzner?" she demanded angrily.
Draco was rendered speechless as Hermione's questions hit him.
How did he come upon in this discussion that was all about Pasteur?
"But Jean…" Alexis started again when Hermione held up a hand to silence him.
"I know, Alexis, that you love me…that you care for me and Adrian and therefore worried about us… and I thank you for this…but this is…" she closed her eyes and opened them again before approaching the man behind the desk and facing him boldly, "…but I want you…I beg you, please me leave my thoughts out of your mind and move forward with your life. I love you and I don't want to see you suffer, please…" she took Alexis's hands in her and pressed her lips on them, "…I beg you, please, move ahead and let us just be friends…because I have nothing to give you in this life…nothing…except for pain and sorrow…" her tears escaped her eyes and landed on Alexis's hands.
Hermione's honest confession left no doubts about her true feelings for Alexis and Draco felt his earlier shame was back in place and on full bloom.
He watched silently as Alexis gently encircled his arms around Hermione's shoulder and supported her head on his chest.
"Please don't cry, Jean, I can't take it…" his voice was constricted with emotion, "I can't take it when you cry because it is my fault that you fell prey to Malfoy. It is my fault that you had to marry him when he kidnapped and claimed Adrian. It is all my fault and I can't see you crying for my faults… for negligence in my part… while you are innocent, Jean, and you are suffering so much that it sometimes suffocates me to even think about it." he placed his chin on Hermione's head that rested on his chest.
Hermione sniffed audibly against Alexis, "No, Alexis, it is not your fault; it is no one's fault but Malfoy's. He is the one who destroyed my life. He is the one who took away everything from me. Don't blame yourself for me."
"But it is my fault, Jean, it is my fault." Alexis countered and sighed, "Remember your visit here in my office when you heard that I was about to go to Brussels?" he asked him and Hermione nodded feebly, "I lied to you that day and told you that I was going there on official purpose while in truth I was going there to trace Malfoy's Portkey." He said and Hermione looked up, "At Brussels, I found out that he stayed at the same Palace Hotel with his aunt Audré that you and Adrian stayed and I decided not to tell you anything about it because I thought it will simply scare you. The following night was the party thrown by the Malfoys where the Minister was poisoned by Rochés and before I could tell you anything, Malfoy abducted Adrian and forced you into this marriage. So, if it anyone's fault, Jean, that you are in this hell it is only mine for I could have warned you about him and we could have saved Adrian from being claimed."
"Don't blame yourself for it, Alexis. I already know everything." Hermione rested her head on Alexis's chest again and sighed, "Aunt Audré told me everything." She said sadly, "Do you think that had you told me everything before Malfoy kidnapped Adrian we could have stopped him?" she asked him and Draco frowned, "If so, Alexis, then you have no idea about the true nature of Malfoys. They are the worst kind I have ever laid my eyes upon and I have seen Voldemort." She said firmly and Draco's heart filled with fear of being accused again, "The Malfoys and the monsters are synonymous, Alexis, they are powerful, influential and completely insane in pride. They are the reason why I left my country and came here in the first place. If you think that Draco Malfoy would have left me and Adrian alone after finding his one living son, his heir, then you are very much mistaken. He would have killed you, hunted us down, killed me and then taken Adrian from me." her words were razor sharp and it stabbed Draco's already wounded heart cruelly, "A person who was branded with Dark Mark when he was just sixteen, a person who could Imperius others at the age of sixteen, mix poison in mead or send cursed necklace to kill Headmaster Dumbledore; a person who can assault his classmate brutally at the age of seventeen, what do think he is if not a monster? Voldemort made his first Horcrux at the age of sixteen and Draco Malfoy did his first rape at the age of seventeen. For me, there is no difference between them at all." She said dismissively and Draco hung his head, thousand times more ashamed than he was at morning, "So, don't blame yourself, please, for I am at least happy that I am alive and my son is with me and not with him. True that I am living in the monster's lair but I least I am sure that he can't harm those I love and care now. I am satisfied that his aunt supports me and not him. Even his mother, Narcissa has left him and now he is completely alone – like I was six years ago."
Alexis released Hermione and smiled kindly at her, "I know you are telling all these to me so that you can persuade me to leave your thoughts." He shook his head, "But, Jean, no matter what happens, if I live or I die, I was, I am and I will be yours and yours only. You are the first person I truly felt for and I can never forget you. So, I am here by your side to protect you, though I know that you don't need it, from Malfoy and monsters like him that walk on this world." He declared.
Draco didn't know which one was horrible: that Hermione thought he was equivalent to Lord Voldemort or Alexis was going to save his love, his wife from him.
"I know I am not alone, Alexis." Hermione wiped her tears dry and looked confident once again, "That is why I researched about the Claiming a bit and found a loop hole in it."
"Really?" Alexis took Hermione gently by her shoulder and guided her to the chair where she was sitting previously, "What is it?" he asked once Hermione sat again and he sat before her knees.
"It is simple. According to the Wizarding law, once Claimed, a child will only live with his parents until he turns seventeen when he comes off age because they are regarded their best protectors. Before that, they can't leave even if they want to. It's an irreversible bond and no one can undo it." Hermione stated the rules that Draco himself had heard on the night of his wedding, "The law states that a child lives where his parents live together, under the same roof, like we are living in aunt Audré's Château. But the law also states that the father should be the provider of his son's home. It can't be his relative's home or hotel or any place that is not truly permanent. Since Château de la Grange-Bléneau is Malfoy's uncle's home and not his own home, I used it as a ploy and asked him to buy Adrian his own home just beside Delacour residence. If he can't do it, which I am hundred percent confident that he can't, I have a provision to challenge this Claiming. Wizarding rules are very clear here, Alexis, a man must earn and bear the expenses of his family. There can be no exceptions about it, even for a Malfoy." She said firmly, "If I am going down, Alexis, then I am taking this Malfoy ship with me and destroy this whole cursed blood line." She fisted her hands.
Draco was at a fix whether to be angry with Hermione or to admire her intelligence and courage.
"But how long, Jean, how long?" Alexis asked Hermione with a sigh, "This negativity will destroy your own mental peace."
"No, it won't for I deserve this chance to pay him back for all the awful things that he did to me." Hermione stood up confidently, "Now, please, issue me a jail pass for Château d'If and I will Floo mother Apolline to ask her to pick up Adrian from St. Joan's."
Alexis shook his head in resignation and left Hermione who reached for the Floo fireplace in his office.
A Disillusioned Draco stood stationary, all his curiosity quelled for good.
•••••
Julian was examining a set of maps on French villages with Wizarding population when Draco walked into his office without a knock.
"Draco, what…" he stopped as soon as he spotted the look on his face.
He looked like a dead man walking.
"Julian, issue me a jail pass for Château d'If." He came to halt before Julian's desk and gave him a calm look of his dead eyes, "It is urgent."
The air between them told that it was not the time Julian demanded answers from his cousin. He rose from his seat and came out from behind his desk to stand beside him.
"What's it, cousin?" he asked Draco softly.
"I need a jail pass." Draco's voice had a hint of impatience.
"I will issue it for you but I need to know the reason." Julian tried to be reasonable.
Draco sighed and looked sideways at his cousin.
"I love someone who hates me and that person is in great danger." He replied vaguely.
Julian had a hunch who that person might be but he decided not to press the matter.
"Fine, you wait till I issue it." he took a step forward and stopped again, "By the way, what about your work?"
His cousin's answer was vague.
"What I am doing now is more important than any other work that I have done or will ever do."
Deciding not to delve into the depth of Draco's complex mind Julian left his office for the requested jail pass.
•••••
Hermione took Alexis's hand and climbed out of the boat they had been boarding to reach Château d'If.
"You could have informed Madame Malfoy about it, Jean." Alexis tried his best to appear reasonable but Hermione shook her head as they started climbing up the cliff.
"No, Alexis, aunt Audré is taking enough pressure for her own good and I don't want to cause her more tension with this letter." She replied, remembering their session of previous night and Audré sleeping at the morning, "I have been through worse when I was young and if Rochés thinks he can stop me with this letter then he is very much mistaken."
Hermione couldn't deny that she felt considerably light after her confession to Alexis. She had been wanting to tell him all those things ever since she got married to Malfoy but the reserved man wouldn't show up no matter what. Now she could guess the reason.
Alexis was ashamed for not telling Hermione about Malfoy at Brussels.
But ashamed or not, the truth can't be changed now and the road that lay before her was long and winded not to mention the difficulties with it.
No matter how defiantly she denied, Draco Malfoy was her husband.
And no matter what Alexis said, he deserved a happy life.
Hermione, no matter how lonely, unhappy or sad, wasn't going to stand on his way to it.
They reached the top of the cliff up on which stood the formidable Wizarding prison with its Dementor guarded watch towers.
They reminded Hermione of the beautiful Patronus – the osprey that ironically belonged to Draco Malfoy.
How very strange that even their Patronuses start with the same letter – 'O' – her being an otter and his being an osprey.
And they both feed on fishes too; osprey from air and otter from land.
Hermione grimaced when she realized what her sister-in-law Lillian would comment if she ever came to know the embarrassing fact.
"It is a divine connection, Jean. You and cousin are connected by destiny." She would say like the last time she told her when she examined her wand.
Hermione would destroy any destiny that will connect her to Draco Malfoy.
They passed the watch towers in silence and were just about to enter the prison complex when the pale pointed face of a grey-eyed silvery-blonde Slytherin came out from it.
Hermione stood, her mouth slightly open, facing none other than…
Draco Malfoy.
"Good afternoon, Granger." Malfoy's tone couldn't be placed as he came to a halt before their pair, "I didn't know that aunt was sending you too."
In response Hermione simply raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Aunt send me to fetch some files on Jacques Mesrine that I didn't take last time." he held a file in his right hand, "And I was about to leave when you two turned up. Does she need anything else?" he voice was toneless.
Hermione saw no reason to bother Malfoy with her own problem when he himself was the biggest botheration she had.
"No, I came to meet Pasteur." She replied curtly and tried to pass by him but the man held a hand in the air before her.
Hermione turned and faced Draco boldly.
"Can I accompany you two?" he asked her calmly.
"Have you taken up an oath to follow me even to my grave?" Hermione demanded coolly.
"I took some vows during our wedding, Granger, and I am committed to fulfill them." Draco's reply was solid.
"And pray tell that following me falls under which vow precisely?" Hermione crossed her arms over her chest.
"The vow where it states that we will carry each other's burden." Draco stated calmly.
"No one is forcing you to obey your Handfasting vows, Malfoy, and you are free to leave as you please. Only you can't break the Sacred Marriage bonds of forcing me into anything without being a squib first." Hermione replied nonchalantly.
"Then by that implication, you can't force me to leave too, Granger." Draco was so calm that Hermione felt unnerved by it.
"As if I care if you die." Hermione shrugged and shoved aside Draco's hand before entering the prison with Alexis in tow.
"I forgot to tell you in all this commotion that Pasteur has been shifted to 'Upper Echelon' meaning the highest part of this prison where only privileged prisoners are kept." Alexis informed Hermione who frowned, "The Minister issued orders yesterday when Madame Malfoy informed him about his new contribution in the trial."
"Prisoners can be privileged?" Hermione asked, unsure how to feel about it, "Hells have no good or bad."
"Well here it means good food, a private bathroom and a clean cell with no inmates." Alexis explained to her.
The burly jailor was waiting for them and Hermione noticed that Draco was following her like a shadow.
'To hell with him.' She thought determinedly, 'The bastard thinks I am having a date with Alexis here in Château d'If.' Hermione ground her teeth before climbing the stairs to the fabled Upper Echelon.
The cell that he found Pasteur sitting on his bed was heaven compared to the dungeon cell he was previously placed and Hermione immediately understood why they called it so.
While the cells that she had passed on her way to Pasteur were regular with bars and protective enchantments, this was completely different. The rectangular cell was bound on three sides with stone walls while instead of wall of bars, a thin blue shimmering wall stretched from floor to ceiling and wall to wall in the front.
"Good afternoon, Jean." Pasteur greeted Hermione courteously and she blinked at the man sitting before her.
It was completely opposite to the man she had seen in the dungeon cell who was close to look like Greyback the werewolf with his tangles of dirty hair and beard. This Pasteur however was clean shaved, short haired which were back brushed and with a serene smile.
"I see that you don't like my new look, Jean." Pasteur commented, looking highly amused at Hermione gaping at him, "I am disheartened." He mocked a heart ache.
"Pasteur, this isn't a time to play the role of a woman charmer. Madame Granger is a respectable lady and you will behave with her accordingly." Alexis's voice was calm but commanding.
"Thank you, Delacour for reminding me that she is not your wife." Pasteur gave Alexis a nasty smile.
Hermione was about to retort when Malfoy's voice cut in the air.
"Madame Granger's husband is here with her." He came forward and stood beside Hermione, "You would do well to remember that Malfoys don't take their wives' insults lightly."
Hermione controlled herself at the last moment.
She wasn't going to pay attention to Malfoy and his bullshit statements.
"Pasteur, we need to talk. Can you please be as civil as you so strive to look like?" she asked the man directly.
"Why not?" Pasteur asked back, "I am at the lady's disposition." He bowed slightly, "But you know my conditions – privacy and exchange."
Hermione nodded and turned to Draco first who she was sure was going to stick to her like a leech.
"Malfoy, can we please have some time alone here?" she asked him with as much cold as she could possibly mix with the forced politeness.
Draco simply blinked once before leaving her with Alexis who followed suit.
Hermione conjured a chair and sat on it comfortably.
"I have been sent this letter this morning." she took out the letter and unfolded it before holding it up in the air to show it to Pasteur, "I want to know who sent it to me and why?"
"I can't see the contents from this distance." Pasteur replied impassively, "Bring it closer."
Hermione stood up and faced the blue magical barrier that separated them while Pasteur came forward before coming an arm's distance from her.
"Watch out!" he read the letter aloud before his eyes moved and placed themselves on Hermione's, "Your eyes are chocolate brown." He commented, "I never noticed that in the dungeons."
"I didn't come here to discuss the colour of my eyes, Pasteur." Hermione tried to appear untouched while inside the hairs on her arms stood up on their ends.
"You are quite attractive considering that you are a Muggleborn." Pasteur didn't seem to hear Hermione's words, "Tell me where you met your possessive husband, the esteemed Malfoys? As far as I know they don't marry your kind."
"It is my kind that doesn't marry people like him." Hermione gritted her teeth, "Anything else that you would like add on my elegant features?" she arched an eyebrow.
"You are unnecessarily touchy about being judged by blood, Jean, I was just complementing your ability to capture the Malfoys in matrimony and Lucius Malfoy's son nonetheless." Pasteur smirked, "I guess you met him at school?"
It wasn't not a question but a statement and Hermione simply nodded.
"Hogwarts? Gryffindor I guess?"
Hermione nodded again.
Pasteur's smirk broadened, "And Malfoy was a Slytherin?"
Hermione looked away to relay that she wasn't interested to the least to discuss their school life.
"And two enemies got married?" Pasteur was clearly enjoying himself, "Do you have any children? A son preferably? Your hips are wider than your waist. Only pregnancy can cause widening of pelvis like that." he explained.
Hermione waited patiently for Pasteur's rant to be over.
"Most interesting couple. A Malfoy and a Mudblood." Pasteur commented lightly, "I think he married you because you bore him a son. Malfoys are very particular when it comes to continuing their bloodline."
"Adrian is my son and I didn't bore Malfoy a son." Hermione was unable to control her temper any longer.
"Adrian? So that is your son's name? A half blood Malfoy!" Pasteur whispered, "That is a legend in itself."
"Now why don't you tell me something about this letter?" Hermione pursed her lips and asked Pasteur.
"Oh! I am sorry that I forgot about it." Pasteur went back to his bunk bed, "You said that you received it this morning. How? Owl post?"
"No." Hermione settled on her chair once again, "It came by Gringotts post."
"Gringotts?" Pasteur was giving Hermione a curious look, "Why?"
"I work there. I am the Chief Curse Breaker." Hermione replied solemnly.
"A woman Chief Curse Breaker?" Pasteur asked back, "Never heard of it in my entire life."
"Your life still isn't over, Pasteur, and not everyone is narrow-minded like you." Hermione remarked.
"That is also true." Pasteur smirked, "Well, what made you think that I might know something about this letter? I am inside this prison and have no provision to send or receive letters."
"I thought Jacques Mesrine may be involved in it." Hermione replied.
Pasteur considered Hermione's statement for a while, "That is not totally impossible but why will he do it?"
"You tell me why." Hermione offered, "I am here to learn it from you, Pasteur."
Pasteur tilted his head sideways and eyed Hermione for a moment, "There were three of us, you know." He paused with a lost look on his face, "Like that Muggle story – three musketeers. Have you read it?"
Hermione nodded.
"Le compositeur - the composer of letters which was Jacques Mesrine." Pasteur counted one finger.
"Le fou – the insane who carried out the plans and…" he counted another finger.
"And Le Pasteur – the preacher, the criminal mastermind who planned them all." He arched an eyebrow.
Hermione was rendered speechless at the honest confession.
"After I was sent to prison, our chain broke." Pasteur was so calm as if he was telling Hermione a story, "But if Mesrine has taken up the pen once again then the 'fou' is coming for you, Jean, and you need to 'watch out' for no one knows when the 'insane' will strike." He warned her but his voice was emotionless.
"Are you trying to threaten me?" Hermione's voice was forced steady.
"No, I am telling you a fact." Pasteur replied, "Do you know where Mesrine is now?"
Hermione didn't feel like sharing the truth so she shook her head.
Pasteur sighed, "You are lying. I need no Legilimency to know that for I can read your honest face, Madame Granger, like an open book. You are too innocent to be here before me. I will just tell you this much today, you really need to 'watch out' because 'Le compositeur' doesn't give more than three chances."
Hermione didn't feel like talking anymore. Pasteur felt like a human version of Nagini who lured her and Harry to Bathilda Bagshot's home.
"Thanks for your kind advice." She mumbled before leaving the cell.
•••••
The man who stood before Draco was his under his silent scrutiny: Alexis Delacour.
For the first time ever, Draco was observing the man to know what was so special about him that tempted Hermione.
He had seen them share a tender moment at his office but try as he might he just couldn't find anything undignified about it.
Hermione and Alexis, both had been acting so naturally that it was tough for Draco to think that she was his wife, not Alexis's.
They blended so well with each other.
And the way Hermione had rested her head on Alexis's chest or the way he had embraced her comfortingly made Draco realize why his aunt wanted him to understand Alexis more.
He remembered Hermione's words about love not being physical but something spiritual.
That was what he had witnessed in Alexis's office.
A spiritual union.
Like the one he shared with Astoria.
She came to him when he was breaking down.
And Hermione went to Alexis when they were both breaking down.
Draco just couldn't find anything vile about it.
Why was it that Hermione trusted Alexis so much?
And loved him so much that she would tell him to move ahead in his life?
Maybe it was for this reason that Astoria said that love is like a kite.
It is free and spontaneous.
Not forced or measured.
He remembered the moment when he had confessed his love for Hermione to his aunt.
And what was his love like?
Suffocating?
Forced?
Burden?
But he can't live without Hermione and Adrian.
This much Draco was sure of.
He was planning to buy Hermione her home.
And prove to her that he loves and cares for her.
But will she accept it like the way she has accepted Alexis's?
He can't force himself upon her.
Draco was lost in his thoughts when Hermione returned to them.
"We should leave now." she said curtly to them, "I will collect Adrian from your home and return to Château." She stated.
Draco wanted so much to ask her what happened with Pasteur but something in Hermione's face stopped him.
'Don't ask, Draco, she won't tell you.' He thought, 'Just observe and learn.'
"What happened, Jean?" Alexis asked Hermione, "You look tense."
"It's nothing." Hermione gave him a smile that suggested otherwise and left for the exit.
•••••
Hermione wasn't expecting to see Apolline Delacour and Eva Bellamy in Audré's parlour when she walked in there clutching the letter.
"Mother! Eva! I didn't know that you will be coming here?" she asked them both, surprised but hiding the letter from Apolline's Veela eyes, "You didn't tell me when I went to your home to pick up Adrian."
Apolline smiled pleasantly as she patted the seat beside and motioned Hermione to sit there, "I am sorry that I forgot. I came here just ten minutes ago and found Eva with Audré." She replied, "Alexis dropped me here and went to meet Julian, I think. You know how he avoids ladies' conversation."
Relieved that Alexis hasn't told anything to his mother, Hermione settled beside Apolline and gave her friend a questioning look when Audré replied on her stead, "Eva has come to seek my legal advice about her uncle." She informed Hermione, "Now tell me how do you feel?"
"Why what happened?" Apolline immediately checked Hermione's forehead for temperature, "Are you ill, dear?"
"No, mother." Hermione tried to stop Apolline from making fuss before Audré and Eva, "I am fine. We…" she paused unsure about how to explain what happened last night.
"Jean and I stayed up late last night to work on an important issue and later on she fell asleep in Morpheus's study. I was just asking if she felt tired from overwork." Audré saved Hermione from explaining everything to Apolline from Narcissa to Draco Malfoy to her dreams about her. There were some things that she preferred to keep to her own.
"No, I am not tired." She tried hard to appear normal before Apolline, "What about you, aunt? I heard that you were sleeping in the morning."
Audré handed Hermione a cup of tea, "Contrary to the popular notion, Jean, that insomniacs don't sleep at all I would like to inform you that I do sleep for an hour from four o' clock. I just don't sleep at night. Where is my grandson?" she looked around and enquired, "I haven't seen him all day. I heard from Lillian that he is planning to invade Rome and make the queen of France because I am brave." She arched an amused eyebrow, "I am sure Apolline will be jealous when she learns that I am getting more importance from my Adrian nowadays."
Hermione laughed as she replied, "He is feeding his rabbit now and then he will have a high voltage sword fight with his uncle Julian." She gave Apolline and amused look who snorted, "The savior recently got a famous Muggle book called the 'Arabian Nights' from Edmound and it is full of adventure stories. They are also magic-related so he is pretty hyper about it and cooking up new stories everyday about how he is going to fight dark forces and become the savior of the world."
"Just like my late brother Adrian, after whom my grandson had been named." Apolline winked at Audré who chuckled, "It is their age to dream, Jean, let them have a free rein. Don't make fun of it."
Hermione realized the truth behind Apolline's statement; it was Adrian's age to dream big and be happy. He wasn't damaged like her who didn't dare to dream anymore.
"Why Arabian Nights?" she heard Audré asked her, looking interested.
"Because according to Edmound it is full of fantastic animals." Eva replied this time.
"Aha! That is understandable." Audré commented, "Now Jean, can you please check what is taking Lillian so long? I called her to come at my parlour to meet Apolline at least twenty minutes ago."
Hermione was wondering what was that supposed to mean when Lillian finally walked in, looking like she would be anywhere but at her mother's parlour.
"Bonjour, Madame Delacour." she courtesied and Apolline nodded when Hermione fathomed the real reason for Lillian's hesitation.
Her sister-in-law doesn't like Veelas.
"Actually, I came here to ask Audré to let her daughter spend this weekend with us in our home." Apolline revealed the reason behind her visit, "Gabrielle had been telling me to bring Lillian for quite some time now."
The look that appeared on Lillian's pretty face was the one of the most stranger Hermione had ever seen. While she was smiling forcibly before the guests, her eyes were begging Audré not to accept the invitation.
"Why not?" Audré accepted Apolline's offer, "As far as I know, Lillian is free this weekend. Aren't you dearest?"
Lillian was having a tough time to lie to her mother and Hermione felt a surge of sympathy for the young woman who harboured unreasonable fear for Veelas.
"I am free this weekend, maman, but I wanted to spend the time to read a few books that Monsieur Curtius had suggested me." Lillian tried her best to appear polite.
"Well, it is not every day that Madame Delacour comes and asks for my daughter to visit her esteemed home, Lillian." Audré gave her daughter a warning look and Lillian nodded feebly.
"I thank you Madame Delacour and I promise to present myself at your home on Saturday morning." she told Apolline.
In the conversation that followed afterwards, Hermione almost forgot about the threat letter she had received that morning. After securing Lillian's promise for visit, Apolline left for home and Eva followed her ten minutes later.
At long last, Hermione was alone with Audré and she went for the questions that were bursting in her head.
"What did you do to me last night, aunt? I had a strange dream that I was talking to my mum. There was also a song that played inside my head all day. Was that your voice?"
Audré's smile told Hermione that she was correct in her assumptions.
"First tell me do you feel better now that you have talked to your mother?" Audré asked back.
Hermione considered the question for a second.
"Never better." she replied honestly, "But did you make me see my mum or was it just a regular dream?" she enquired curiously.
"What do you think, Jean?" Audré was calm, "True that I can make you fall asleep but do you think that I can make you see you your mother, someone, whom I have never seen myself?"
"Does that mean that mum did come to meet me in my dreams?" Hermione's curiosity overran her fears. She clearly remembered dreaming her mother with whom she had talked about her life during and after Horcrux hunt. There was an instance when she had appeared out of nowhere and castrated Malfoy to save her from being assaulted again. "But I Obliviated her. She can't remember me." she tried to appear logical.
"You see, Jean, dream is a very strange thing." Audré folded her hands on her lap and gave Hermione a pensive look, "It brings out our innermost fears and desires – the things that lay buried under conscious mind when we are awake and living a regular life. But when we sleep, the conscious mind that inhibits the subconscious mind retires and subconscious mind takes over; as a result, our fears and desires resurface. Your fears about your assault, desire to see your mother and talk to her were all buried deep in your subconscious mind. But you were afraid to face them mainly because you didn't want your heart to be break once again and go through the same despair that you faced six years ago." Audré explained, "I just helped you to unleash your dreams so that you can beat your fears regarding them."
"I saw my mum. She came to me and saved me in my dreams. She was even carrying a wand but she is a Muggle." Hermione said thoughtfully, "When I asked her about it, she told me not to look for logic in dreams." She recounted.
"She was right, Jean, dream is illogical because our inner desires are sometimes illogical. But it doesn't mean that your mum wasn't there. She was there for you wanted her to be there; a mother is someone whom we all learn to trust from the very beginning of our lives, Jean." Audré's words were like healing balm on Hermione's mind, "It is their womb that we grow up, they bring us to this world and somehow we always share a connection with them that no matter how far and away they are we can always relate to them."
Hermione remembered the dream where she had asked her mother and she had replied.
'Like doing what we liked to do to together and finding us in that. Like playing the notes that I played in piano and singing the songs that your Dad used to sing. No matter where you are, Hermione, our hearts are connected and your voice will reach us and our voices will reach your heart too. It is our hearts, Hermione my love, that we can accommodate the whole wide world.'
"I feel so good that I could at last tell her what I had been waiting for all this years." Hermione felt a stream of relief course through her, "Mum told me to play the piano and relate to her and Dad."
Audré motioned at the lone piano that lay in a corner of her spacious parlour, "What are you waiting for, then?" she offered Hermione.
How Hermione got up and sat before the beautiful piano she didn't know.
She looked down at the black and white keys.
It brought back so many beautiful memories.
Of her and her mother.
Adeline Granger was teaching her how to play the piano that she had learned from her mother.
And then she was teaching Ron who to play 'Für Elisé' – a popular piano score by German composer Ludwig van Beethoven while they were in Grimmauld Place for Horcrux hunting.
Hermione's fingers trembling slightly, she touched the keys that she had played so many times in childhood.
She closed her eyes and concentrated on her mother's kind face, smiling at her.
'Tea is ready, Hermione dear!' had been her last words to her before she Obliviated her.
"Coming mum." Hermione whispered before her fingers stated playing automatically.
•••••
Even with his heart heavy with a bizarre mixture of emotions that were predominantly – love, jealousy, regret, gratitude, shame and despair, Draco couldn't stop himself from smiling when his Adrian's tender voice reached his voice.
"Captain Sinbad, here I come!" He exclaimed loudly which was followed by sounds of wood hitting against wood.
Draco's first destination after Château d'If had been to his office where he added a few ingredients to his version of modified Polyjuice Potion. The rest of the afternoon was employed in studying and completing the essay for his next day's lecture class. His aunt's jibes that he was not in love with Hermione but playing a prank on her had brought him back to his senses and Draco had worked hard to prove otherwise. But as he completed his essays and occasionally checked the potion he felt a strange sense of déjà-vu engulf him.
How strange that it felt just like his sixth year in Hogwarts when he had been assigned to kill Dumbledore and carry out his regular life of studies and Quidditch practice while maintaining an outward arrogant demeanor. The conversation that Draco had overheard between Hermione and Alexis had been a true eye-opener for him. He now knew what Hermione thought about him.
Draco's mouth filled with bitter taste when her words played his head once again.
'A person who was branded with Dark Mark when he was just sixteen, a person who could Imperius others at the age of sixteen, mix poison in mead or send cursed necklace to kill Headmaster Dumbledore; a person who can assault his classmate brutally at the age of seventeen, what do think he is if not a monster? Voldemort made his first Horcrux at the age of sixteen and Draco Malfoy did his first rape at the age of seventeen. For me, there is no difference between them at all.'
It was this very concept that Hermione thinks Draco isn't very different from Lord Voldemort that had hit him the hardest.
He wouldn't say that he loved being branded the Dark Mark at the age of sixteen. It was forced upon him. Neither did he like putting Imperius Curse on Madam Rosemerta or sending the cursed necklace from Borgin and Burkes or mixing deadly poison in mead that was intended for Dumbledore.
He had broken down every time he had learnt that his efforts had hit innocent targets like Katie Bell or Ron Weasley.
Well true that he didn't like any of them but he certainly wouldn't try to kill them.
But why should Hermione believe him?
Hadn't he assaulted her in the name of hatred and punishment?
Draco walked slowly toward the sound of what appeared to be a furious battle between Adrian and some unknown captain that Draco had never heard of.
He had been expecting to see Alexis but found that it was Julian.
It was a sight to behold for his six feet cousin was reconciling before the boy half his size. He was trying his hard not to fight his best and therefore letting Adrian win the sword fight.
Draco sighed deeply and tried to walk past them when Julian's voice came from behind.
"Draco, come here!" he called him, "Let's have a sword fight."
Draco simply shook away the offer and walked into the Château.
He knew his son would leave as soon as he set his foot there. Draco's mere presence was enough to scare the little boy away.
Not for anything does he call him 'Monsieur'.
Walking through the corridors, he reflected upon every reaction Hermione and Adrian had shown towards in past monthes.
Fear.
Hatred.
Distrust and disgust.
He had tried by all means to make Hermione understand that he sees her under different light now; that he doesn't consider her a Mudblood but a human. Maybe the approach hadn't been the best but his intentions were not as vile as she thought they were.
But his aunt had been right when she said that Hermione won't take Draco's dominance, no matter how slight it might be, lightly. She considers herself as a free being and doesn't follow the traditional pureblood concept of a dutiful wife like his mother or Astoria did.
Well, Hermione was an independent woman with an intelligent brain guiding her and Draco knew what a deadly combination that could be.
It was virtually impossible to tame Hermione Granger.
Neither by marriage nor by love.
Besides, now Draco wasn't even willing to do so.
There was one thing that he had learnt today from the interaction between Alexis and Hermione; that it was never out of obligation but out of will that they still harbour love for each other.
True that Alexis had started the kiss but Hermione had joined in soon.
It was as if she was starving for a bit of love and affection and Alexis had been that respite. The memories that Draco has obtained also implied that Alexis has never imposed himself upon her; instead he had just let her flow freely and been a keen observant.
And their relationship no matter how much Draco disapproved of it is in fact one of the most unique he had ever seen.
Maybe it was for this reason that his aunt Audré had asked him to observe and learn from Alexis.
Deep in his thoughts, Draco was passing by his aunt's parlour when an enticing music came to his over sensitive ears and he stood to listen.
It was something like he had never heard before.
Like two people were talking through music of piano.
Their longing was evident in the notes, as if they are separated by millions of miles but their hearts are still connected.
Their bond was strong and can't be severed even by death.
Their love was deep and they will find each other no matter what happened.
And Draco listened and listened and listened.
What a marvelous piece of music!
It spoke to him of a woman whom he knew but ignored and insulted.
A woman who was strong and brave.
Like Hermione was.
And musical too.
Like she was.
The rapid notes of the music were like Hermione flowing like water in a stream.
The slow notes were her patience and love.
Their intermingling was a flowing stream of love, beauty and patience.
And he wanted to dip his hands in that stream and drink from it to quench his thirst for love; his search for a home.
He was so tired with the spirit that he was dragging under this skin.
Hermione and Adrian was his salvation from it.
Their innocence.
Purity.
Trust.
And love was all that suddenly Draco's heart asked for.
She was the one who had made Adrian that wonderful boy he is.
And he had been a complete fool to hurt her like that.
Was he ever going to get her like the way Alexis got her?
Was he ever going to earn her respect?
And love?
Draco leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.
The kiss that Hermione and Alexis had shared played before his mind once again.
'Will I ever get you, Hermione?' he thought longingly.
"That is a gorgeous piece of music." He heard his aunt comment from inside her parlour, "What is it called, Jean?"
Draco opened his eyes.
Hermione was playing the piano!
Really?
He peeped inside the parlour and found his suspicions confirmed.
Hermione was indeed sitting behind the piano and smiling contentedly.
"It is called 'the heart asks pleasure first' composed by an English composer Michael Nyman." She replied, "It is one of Mum's very favourite and from a Muggle movie called 'the piano', where a mute Scotswoman named Ada McGrath plays piano to express her feelings. I used to wonder what she tried to convey with that music but now I understand it. Through her piano Ada was looking for what she cherished most because sometimes we can't voice what we want. We are like mutes then. But Ada's music crossed all barriers of conscious thought and took her into that dream land that she wanted to be; like you told me, aunt. Her heart was asking for pleasure in the form of comfort, relief, love and fulfilled dreams. My heart also asks the same."
Draco didn't know if he had ever heard such an open, simple but extremely truthful confession from any woman.
So Hermione's heart asks for…
Comfort…
Relief…
Love…
And fulfillment of her dreams…
And if he could give it all to her, maybe she will accept him too.
Draco's lips twitched into a sincere smile.
He finally has the answer to his question.