A/N: Thanks to everyone for the reviews, favourites and follows.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
**I have always considered eyes as mirrors to one's mind and it has never failed me in terms of assessing my fellow human beings. This chapter deals with the 'Role of eyes and the act of looking'.
**It also deals with a mother's attempts to save her children at any cost.
Well I guess that's all and now please enjoy and don't forget to leave a review.
The album of OC's has been updated with new pictures of Draco, Hermione, Morpheus and a few glimpses of memories.
My fiction 'The Poisoned Apple' has been nominated for The Hogwarts award in the category Hermione Romance. It is posted on the site and I would like you to cast your vote on the site under 'vote' tab.
The website is hogwartsawards DOT weebly DOT com **replace DOT with a . The link can also be found in my profile.
Disclaimer: The copyright to Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling. Any other characters are purely work of fiction and any resemblance is co-incidental.
Chapter 56: The White Flags
Draco read the letter from St. Joan's for tenth time in a row before folding and passing it to Hermione over the breakfast table on Friday.
Dear Monsieur and Madame Draco Malfoy,
As Adrian's legal parents, you are requested to meet the Headmistress, Sorceress Marianne to discuss some issues that concern your son. The headmistress is available in her office during working hours every day except weekends.
Yours sincerely,
Sorceress Amélie,
Deputy Headmistress,
St. Joan's Institute for Magical Children.
Ile de la Cité, Paris.
He watched Hermione as she read the letter to see her reaction on the letter and the salutation St. Joan's have used to address them – Monsieur and Madame Draco Malfoy.
Draco was excepting Hermione to crumple the letter and throw it back to him when surprisingly she folded it before tucking it neatly inside her robes.
"Adrian, little rabbit, did you have a fight or something with any of your classmates?" he heard her asking the little boy sitting beside her who looked up with his wide grey eyes, "I thought you would tell Mama if anything like that ever happens." Draco noted that Hermione's voice was cautious and kind.
"No, I didn't." Adrian's eyes were truthful as he shook his head, "Why?" he asked.
"Because we received a letter from your school that asked me and Monsieur to meet your headmistress." Hermione replied solemnly.
"But Mama I didn't do anything." Adrian's eyes were pleading silently, "I am a good boy. I study, draw and play. I don't fight."
"I know my love, I know." Hermione stroked Adrian's curls and smiled kindly, "I know my little rabbit is a good son for his Mama." She kissed him on forehead.
Across the table Draco was deeply in thought about what could be the issues that concerns their son.
Friday being the last of his working days, Draco was planning to spend some extra time in his office to research on Polyjuice potion to modify its property when the letter addressed to both of them arrived. He was a Potions Researcher at the Innovation wing meaning that his job mainly encompassed around creating new potions or modify the existing ones to make them more suitable for the Aurors and spies under the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. His need to succeed in his latest project was growing even more since he discovered that Hermione had whipped the same potion perfectly when she was merely a second year student. Now there was no way he could fail before his wife. Not that he was taking it as a challenge against her; it was quite the opposite.
Draco remembers every potion class he had ever taken with Hermione when they were at Hogwarts. Needless to mention, that he was always proud when it came to Potions for Draco thought he was gifted in that particular subject. The Malfoys were naturally good at potions and he had it in his blood. Besides, his Head of House, Severus Snape taught them Potions and there was no way he could not be the instant hit.
But regrettably, he wasn't the best.
Muggleborn Gryffindor Hermione Granger was the best and it was the very reason Draco liked to taunt Potter and his friends in Potions class because he knew he wouldn't be punished in Snape's class and it helped him took off the frustration of being the second best.
But now the scenario was completely different.
Draco knew and believed that Hermione is the better between them. She was the first female to become a Chief Curse Breaker, an achievement that Draco was secretly proud of and he was willing to prove that he wasn't completely worthless.
Besides, if Alexis can be Junior Undersecretary at such a young age, why can't he become a Potioneer with outstanding achievements?
He needed to prove that he could be good father for Adrian.
He needed to prove that he was capable of giving Hermione all that she asked for in order to make her fall for him.
So it was actually a challenge with himself that Draco had undertaken this time.
He has to best himself.
Not to mention the fat payment he would receive should he succeed in his project. It will help him buy Adrian and Hermione their dream home.
Their home.
His home.
'Our home.' Draco was smiling at the thought unbeknownst to himself when the letter from St. Joan's was handed to him by his aunt.
"I was wondering if I could accompany Granger and Adrian to his school today." Draco used his most polite voice to address Hermione indirectly, "If Adrian hasn't done anything we need to know why Marianne called us like that."
Hermione's face was impassive and her expression unreadable when she curtly nodded.
Draco let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Lillian, dearest, what is wrong with you?" Audré asked her daughter who was mostly playing with her food, "Are you not feeling well?" Draco heard his aunt enquire and he looked up at the young woman whom he considered at his own younger sister now.
He noticed that Lillian looked downcast and lost in her thoughts.
"No, maman, I am fine." She replied with a small smile, "I was just making a list of things that I need to take for tomorrow's visit at the Delacour residence."
"Oh, I forgot that my dear sister would be travelling with an entire mobile beauty salon for a two days visit to Delacours." Julian remarked giving Lillian a sideways glance and getting a stern look from Audré in return.
"Lillian, it is just a formal visit between two families. You don't need worry about what you wear or take. Besides, Gabrielle is your good friend and between friends it doesn't matter who is better dressed." She tried to assure her daughter.
"But Audré, she is a Malfoy and Malfoys are anything but poorly dressed." Narcissa protested and Draco gave his mother a side glance.
Since that fateful night's outburst, Narcissa hadn't been anywhere near her son and it was pricking Draco's conscience. He had considered numerous times to go and talk to her personally; to beg her not to torture herself for his crime. Draco had even stood before Narcissa's closed suite door thrice in past two days but discovered that he couldn't muster the courage to knock on her door and enter. What if she fell ill from another outburst? True that his aunt Audré had been keeping him informed of his mother's condition from time to time but Draco wasn't satisfied with that. He needed to see his mother with his own eyes and this morning, al last, Narcissa had turned up at the breakfast table. Draco immediately noticed her plain black dress, something that she had worn after his father Lucius Malfoy passed away. He wondered if she was wearing it for the same reason again.
Narcissa still looked pale and ill. Her black dress accentuated it manifold and Draco felt the same bitter taste in his mouth that he had been experiencing lately.
"But, Narcissa dear, this isn't some courting ceremony or Muggle fashion show." Audré supplied, "My daughter isn't a show piece."
"But Lillian is young and it her time of life to be happy and carefree." Narcissa placed a comforting hand on Audré's who was sitting just beside her, "She isn't old and heartbroken like we are, Audré, without our husbands. Only we know what we have lost in them." she smiled feebly at her.
Now Draco was certain that his mother was wearing the black dress in remembrance of her deceased husband.
"Is that the reason you are wearing black, Narcissa?" Audré's question was politely curious.
"Yes, Audré and I am going to be a black clad widow for the rest of my life." Narcissa replied solemnly, "Lucius's memories are all I have now and I am going to be truthful to them. I couldn't even properly mourn last time because I lost my grandson Scorpius a few monthes after Lucius passed away and Astoria needed me by her side." Draco noted how Narcissa purposefully avoided mentioning him, "But now…" she sighed, "…I have time and I would like to do it properly."
Draco was contemplating on her words when Hermione broke the heavy silence that had followed Narcissa's sad proclamation.
"Mrs. Malfoy, I was wondering if you could help me in making Adrian's Hallowe'en costume." Draco was taken aback at the civil tone Hermione used to talk to his mother, "He is very excited about it."
"Yes, I am." Adrian intoned, "I am going to be Creepy Carrot." He announced happily.
"God forbid us." Julian rolled his eyes, "I personally wouldn't be anywhere near a Creepy Carrot who is armed with a sword. What about you Draco?" he seemed privately amused.
"I think even the Bloody Baron would rightfully tremble before the mighty Creepy Carrot." Draco, who was new to this piece of information about his son's selection of costume, tried to inject some cheerful mood in the mournful air like his cousin Julian.
"Who is Bloody Baron?" it was Adrian's direct question to him that caught Draco off guard.
For the first time ever, his son had considered asking him a question and he didn't know how to reply it though he knew the answer very well.
He watched Hermione apprehensively for any sign of disapproval before proceeding to answer the question.
"Bloody Baron is a ghost, Adrian." Draco started slowly, "He haunts Hogwarts, the school that your Mama and I attended when we were young." Draco noticed how Hermione was determinedly sipping her coffee, "He is also the resident ghost of Slytherin House, the House that I was sorted to."
"I know about Hogwarts. Mama gave me a picture book on it." Adrian's innocent grey pairs were fixed on identical pairs that were Draco's, "Slytherin is a snake in green colour."
"That is correct, my son." Draco, albeit annoyed about the mention of snake for it made him look sneaky, tried to sound kind.
"But why is he called bloody?" Adrian asked him again and Draco's couldn't help but feel internally elated on his son's curiosity about his father, "And what is a baron?"
Draco was about to reply when Hermione finally took over the situation.
"Adrian." she turned to her son and gave him a solemn look, "We are getting late for your school and there is also a meeting with your Headmistress." She reminded him.
Robbed off his opportunity to talk to his son properly, Draco huffed resentfully.
With everyone leaving for their work destinations, the breakfast didn't last long after that. The only significant achievement for Draco was his mother agreeing on helping Hermione with Adrian's costume.
"I will try to help you as much as I can, Jean." Narcissa assured Hermione who nodded with a courteous smile.
From his extensive listening of their daily activities, Draco knew that Hermione preferred to take Adrian by the Floo fireplace of her Fideliused quarter. But since Draco was joining them today she chose the Grand Floo instead.
He looked at his reflection in aunt Audré's parlous mirror.
Thankfully, he had chosen to wear black slacks with white shirt under a plaid sweater vest with green checkered neck tie this morning. His reflection said he looked good and suitable enough to accompany his wife and son for the first time in his life.
Hermione was wearing a deep maroon dress underneath her plain black robes and Draco stood just behind her as she took a pinch of Floo powder before throwing it into the roaring fire of Grand Floo which immediately turned green.
He stepped into the green flame after them and stationed himself beside Adrian.
Draco smiled in contentment. They must look like a family now – father and mother with their son in between them.
"St. Joan's Institute for Magical Children." Hermione's declaration was loud and clear.
As the Floo transported them past many fireplaces to their intended destination, Draco stealthily slipped Adrian's small bag out of his right shoulder.
There was no way he will let Adrian carry his bag when his father was around. Even holding the light bag gave him a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.
The interior of the school came into view once the Floo brought them to St. Joan's.
Draco stepped out of the Floo after Adrian and Hermione, who was checking Adrian for his school bag.
"Adrian, where is your school bag?" she checked his right shoulder from where Draco had slipped out the bag earlier, "Have you forgotten it at home?" she asked him, looking annoyed.
Sensing that his son may be rebuked for negligence, Draco came forward and held the bag before Hermione.
"Here, Granger, I took it from Adrian in the Floo. He didn't notice it." he offered evenly.
Hermione gave him a venomous glare before snatching the bag from Draco's hands.
"I don't want my son to grow up to be some sugar-coated frail doll, Malfoy." She said through gritted teeth, "He is going to be a tough man and the last thing that I want Adrian to tell his classmates is 'wait till my father hears about it'." she mocked Draco for his very famous dialogue.
"I don't think he would, Granger, though I assure you I will be eager to listen to anything my son wishes to share with me." Draco tried hard not to smirk at the jibe.
"Sharing and complaining isn't the same, Malfoy." Hermione spat at him, taking Adrian by his hand, "I guess you will never be able to gain that much confidence from my son." She said dismissively before turning and leaving Draco before the Floo fireplace alone.
He let them go and watched as Adrian ran to his friends.
"Louis! Gina!" he yelled and called his friends, "I came." He declared as he joined their small group before entering his class.
Draco couldn't help but feel jealous for his son. Adrian had so many beautiful things that Draco himself didn't have – a simple mind, innocence and ability to make friends - to name a few. Crabbe and Goyle, though purebloods, were more his bodyguards then his friends and his principle interaction with his classmates were either bullying or taunting.
Draco sighed heavily.
What hadn't he lost that he couldn't have achieved in those days.
Maybe he could have made friends like Hermione had; friends who would care for him and help him; even lay down their lives for him.
Maybe his life and fate would have been different if he were not a known bigot that he was and strived to display.
Draco watched Hermione as she slowly walked back to him.
Maybe he could have discovered this beautiful woman earlier.
And she would have been in love with him instead of Alexis Delacour.
What wouldn't Draco do to get those days back!
Draco was extremely upset when Hermione halted at a safe distance from him and ushered him to follow her silently.
He has noticed this behaviour before; Hermione always tries to keep a minimum of three feet distance between them when they are alone. Not to mention that she looks very alert and tense, as if she was expecting him to attack her.
Headmistress Marianne's office was one of the most plain yet interesting Draco had seen till date and he had been to many offices, thanks to the famous name of Malfoys.
It was a large square room with a life size Muggle portrait of an armour-clad woman on horseback hanging from the wall behind Marianne's spacious desk. Draco recognized it as St. Joan of Arc herself. The rest of the room was lined with shelves full of flowers, fruits and roots – immersed in clear liquid, some of which even Draco couldn't recognize. He reckoned only his late Potions professor could have done so.
"Please take seats." Marianne looked just like Draco remembered seeing her last time, her powerful aura emanating from her, "Would you like to have tea or coffee?" she asked them gently.
"Thank you, headmistress." Hermione politely refused the offer from beside Draco and he noticed how she dragged her chair a bit away from his so that they had quite some distance between them, "We received this letter this morning and came here to enquire what is wrong." She took out the folded piece of parchment and showed it to Marianne.
Marianne clapped twice before an elf in uniform appeared and she placed an order for tea.
"I think before I could explain anything to you, I need to ask you something." Marianne joined her fingers and placed her chin on it, "I would appreciate it very much if you two could be as much honest as possible." She said solemnly.
From the corner of his eyes, Draco saw Hermione clutched her maroon dress so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
"First, I would like to ask you a very personal question. You are in no obligation to answer it." Marianne's voice was like the calm before the storm, "How is your relationship as a married couple?"
Hermione paled considerably while Draco stared.
"I guess from your reactions that it isn't what we find in standard married couples." Marianne commented gravely, "Do you quarrel among yourselves? Yell or fight? Monsieur Malfoy, have you ever attempted to beat your wife?"
The allegations were so unfair that Draco leapt to his feet, unable to tolerate anymore.
"No! Never! I can't even dream of doing such a thing to my wife!" his exclamation was soft but full of detest "Malfoys are always civil with their wives." he looked at Hermione for support.
But the woman was ashen-faced and looking down at the floor determinedly.
"Sit, please." Marianne bid him and Draco almost slumped on his chair, "Monsieur and Madame Draco Malfoy…" she addressed them and Hermione looked up, "Your son Adrian is a very fine young boy and powerful sorcerer in the making. Five and half, he is the youngest of all magical children in this school and his teachers love him for his talent in studies, sports and drawing. I have hardly come across such a boy who is so self conscious and yet considerate to his friends and classmates. He might be young but don't think he isn't intelligent enough to understand the true nature of relationship that prevails between you." She paused and Draco's heart sank in his chest, "Adrian's teachers have reported to me of him being upset when his friends talk about their parents before him. He hardly talks about his father to anyone and if ever asked, he avoids answering. He is also becoming increasing sensitive about this topic and wouldn't tolerate anyone asking him anything about his parents, particularly his father." Marianne's every word was like knife stab on Draco's heart, "I think it is due to his distrust on his father and maybe…" she paused and looked at Draco directly, "…maybe it is originating from his beliefs that his father wants to hurt his mother. Can you enlighten me as to why he would think such a thing?"
Draco's mouth was too dry to reply.
Instead he gulped several times and breathed heavily, suddenly feeling extremely hot under the plaid sweater vest.
"I am responsible for it." Draco replied, his voice hoarse, "When I Claimed Adrian, I kind of…kidnapped him from his mother. I don't know why but I thought he might be delighted to meet his father at last…but it turned out to be quite the opposite." He gulped again to moisten his dry throat, "Since that night my only son is scared to be in my presence and calls me…" he considered telling the extremely embarrassing truth, "…and calls me Monsieur instead of father or Papa."
"But that doesn't explain why he would think you want to hurt his mother." Marianne's eyes were like storms as she spoke to Draco directly now, "If you never attempted to hurt his mother before him, like you claimed, why is Adrian so fearful about his mother's wellbeing?"
"Sorceress, please, can you tell me what he said to his teacher regarding me and his father?" Hermione almost pleaded, "Did he tell them that his father tortures me?"
"No, he didn't. I myself performed your Sacred Marriage so I know Monsieur Malfoy can't do such a thing." Marianne shook her head, "In fact, Adrian hardly ever says anything about his parents especially his father and that is what troubles me. Children, especially boys, his age constantly talk about their fathers - 'my father is this…my father is that' and what not. They want others to believe and know that their father is the best in the world. But as I said, Adrian doesn't even utter his father's name let alone tell his friends what he does. That is something extremely odd and it is the reason why I called you two in private. I want to know if you are hostile towards each other in your son's presence. Do you, Monsieur Malfoy, abuse your wife verbally? Or does she recoil when you are around her? I want to know what is it that this boy is so unwilling to talk about his parents."
Draco didn't know how to explain the situation to Marianne when Hermione came into his aide.
"You see, Madame, my son Adrian is scared of his father because of that Claiming incident. Malfoy doesn't abuse me now but since I haven't been in his touch after I…" she paused, "I conceived Adrian, I also don't feel comfortable with him around me. It is this distance in our relationship that I think makes Adrian believe that his father wants to hurt his mother."
Draco couldn't express how grateful he was to Hermione for not telling Sorceress Marianne the truth.
"If so, why aren't you trying to make up between yourselves? Or do you wish this hostility to continue until you are ready to be put into your respective graves?" Marianne's voice was sharp and annoyed, "For Nostradamus's sake, Madame and Monsieur, you are parents now. We expect you to behave maturely at least for the sake of your young son."
"We are trying, Madame, I assure you that we are." Draco backed Hermione's story desperately, "I have recently joined as a Potions Researcher in the Ministry of Magic and I am…" he faltered on his speech, "…we are also trying to put aside our differences and understand each other better." he said and Hermione nodded with him, "It is just that there is way too much awkwardness between us that needs some time to clear out."
Marianne gave them a cautious smile and handed them both a cup of tea that the elf has brought, "I am hopeful that if you try, nothing is impossible. I understand that there is distance between you but you have to work hard to close it down. Your son is suffering internally and feeling ashamed to discuss his parents before his friends. It is ruining his social life and he may become very introvert if you let this continue. I guess you know that the Ministry of Magic is very strict about child abuse however slight it is and they take our words very seriously on it. It is with regret that I am telling you this, Madame and Monsieur, if Adrian's condition doesn't improve in next couple of monthes, I would be forced to report this to the Ministry and rest assured that they will ask you two to take 'Parental and Couple Counseling' whether you like it or not. My job was to notify you and that I did. Now it is up to you." She said calmly.
Draco sensed the heaviness in her gentle words for Sorceress Marianne didn't appear to be like the kind of lady who would joke about such serious issues.
"I thank you, Madame." Hermione's voice was forced polite, "Is there anything else that needs to be discussed? Is Adrian doing well in his class?"
"Yes, he most definitely is." Marianne's smile was genuine this time, "In fact, he is doing excellent in spite of being at home for three weeks when he fractured his arm. It is evident that you are taking very good care of his studies. All you need to do now is take care of his young mind too."
Hermione smiled painfully and stood up to leave when Draco was visited with an insanely good idea.
"I would like to have some private word with Headmistress…Jean." Draco used Hermione's middle name instead of her first or her surname, "Can you please wait outside?" he asked her politely.
Hermione nodded silently before she walked out of the office.
"Madame." Draco turned his attention to the lady sitting before him, "My wife has asked me to buy her a home here in Ile de la Cité. She used to live at Delacour residence previously and I think, she has taken liking for this place." He explained, "We, Malfoys have our own ancestral home in Wiltshire, England but she doesn't want to go back there because she has built herself an admirable career as Chief Curse Breaker in Gringotts and I also don't want to interfere in her ambitions." Draco tried to sound very liberal and generous, "But the problem is it is almost impossible to find any house that I can buy for her and my son. You said that you have been in this school for a very long time. Can you help me in anyway?" he tried to appear as polite as possible for a classic Malfoy.
"Here? At Ile de la Cité?" Marianne frowned, "The chances of finding a Wizarding household that is for sale is nonexistent." She scratched behind her right ear thoughtfully and her frown deepened as if she remembered something suddenly, "Wait a minute, there is one but…" she paused.
Draco couldn't believe his ears when Marianne said 'there is one'. He held his breath and waited for the rest of the sentence.
"It is not very far from here. In fact, it is quite close to Delacour residence." Marianne's voice was excited but thoughtful, "Like all Wizarding households it is very well hidden and has all kinds of anti-Muggle protection. The current owner Monsieur Durant is selling it because they are shifting back to their ancestral home in Hungary." Her every word excited Draco, "But the only drawback is…" she paused, "…it is not larger than a cottage and Malfoys, as far as I know them, would prefer to live in spacious hell than a cottage."
"Cottage?" Draco's heart sank like a boulder in fast current, "No, I don't think so." He grimaced at the very thought of a Weasley like house and stood up, "But anyway, I thank you for the effort."
"Not at all, Monsieur Malfoy, I know it because Monsieur Durant's family is very close to me and all of their children were at St. Joan's. Anyway remember my words and a very good day to you." She dismissed him politely.
Draco came out of Marianne's office and found Hermione standing at the corridor, her eyes looking at something distant.
Slowly and noiselessly Draco approached at the stoic woman, who seemed to be lost in her own thoughts.
At an arm's distance, he stopped and stood beside her before looking at Hermione's profile view.
A lone tear track was clearly visible on her right cheek as Hermione cried silently.
As if on a trance, Draco reached out and placed his hand directly beneath her jaw line.
And a warm drop of tear landed on his cold fingers.
"What a terrible fool I am! What a terrible fool!" Hermione's whisper was clearly audible, "I never realized when my son grew up to hide things from his own mother. I got fooled by his innocent smiles and never saw what he hid behind it…never realized his yearning for a perfect family…like his friends Louis and Gina…" her voice was trembling and Draco's heart constricted painfully, "…never thought that he might like to have a…real father too…" she bit her lips, "…thought that I could be his mother and his father…so stupid of me to even think that…" she sniffed, "…never saw what he meant when he said Louis's Papa bought him a toy wand or a toy broom…thought he wanted the toy wand or toy broom…didn't think that he wanted his father to give it to him…" she looked up at the sky and closed her eyes, "…I worked so hard to give him everything that he needed and wanted…but I failed…and my son is suffering now…I…" she sighed, "I quit…I quit…"
If there was anyway Draco could run away from the words that were spoken by Hermione he would have considered it seriously. He wanted to run away and hide his ashamed face for her words were like thousands of needles piercing his skin.
Hermione's warm tears were still falling relentlessly when she faced Draco.
"Malfoy, I want my son to be happy and I am willing to do anything for it…" she paused and her eyes hardened, "…just name the price." Hermione stated.
"Price?" Draco was perplexed at the Malfoy question asked by a determinedly non-Malfoy person, "Price?" he repeated.
"Yes, the price to…make my son happy." Hermione's voice was steely hard.
"But he is my son too." Draco didn't know what else to reply.
"You…your son?" Hermione smiled but it was an ugly grimace on her beautiful face, "You mean your heir."
"No, Granger, I assure you that I know what the difference between an heir and a son is." Draco tried to calm Hermione, "Adrian is my son. I love him with all my heart."
"uhum…" Hermione nodded, "You know the difference between an heir and a son like you understand the difference between a Mudblood and a human…like you understand the difference between a rape and a punishment…like you understand the difference between love and obsession…you say what you feel for Adrian is love while in truth it is a terrible obsession to gain your heir…at any cost…even at the cost of destroying everything that I tried to build for him…so here I am now…making a deal like the one that we made just a few days ago…name a price…anything…and let my son free…let us go…"
"I can't Hermione…I just can't do that…" Draco didn't know where all those emotions were coming from, "…no matter what you say that I don't understand anything…that I am the worst kind of insensible man that ever walked on this earth…but I can't let you and Adrian go…I can't…"
"Name the price, Malfoy." Hermione's brown eyes were like molten lave, "Just name the price."
Draco didn't know what happened to him suddenly and what made him say those two words.
"Hermione Granger." he blurted out.
Hermione stared at him for a very long time.
"You want to have sex with me? Want to ravish my body once again?" her questions were so full of hatred that Draco recoiled before her.
"No. I don't want to have sex with you, Hermione. I love you." He used his last stand and defended himself.
This proclamation followed another long stare on Hermione's part.
"Love? Me?" Hermione tapped her finger on her chest, "What crime have I done to deserve this fate? This proclamation that a Malfoy loves a Mudblood?"
"You are not a Mudblood, Hermione." Draco stated openly.
"Don't use my first name, Malfoy because it sounds worse than a swear word from your lips." Hermione hissed, "As for me not being a Mudblood, I am a Mudblood and I will be one no matter how hard you try to point otherwise. I was…I am…and I will be a Mudblood. In fact, I am proud to be a Mudblood. You have taken away everything from me, Malfoy, everything that I had…just because I am a Mudblood who dared to touch your pureblood mother on self defense…and no matter what you say…do…die…cry…scream or bang your head on walls…it isn't going to change the truth…the terrible truth that you damaged my soul beyond any kind of repair…you even took away my chance of happiness with Alexis…the man who truly loves me…now I don't care about myself…I am dead for a very long time…" her voice was cold as hot rivulets of tear were pouring from her eyes, "…but I care for my son…he is innocent…he is the life of this dead woman…and if by ravaging my body once again…" she took a deep breath, "…you will let us go…then I am ready for it. Just name the place and time." she said boldly.
"I don't want to ravage your body, Granger." Draco didn't know what could possibly make Hermione believe his words, "I told you, and I am telling you again. I love you, Hermione, I. Love. You." He declared.
"Love?" had it not been a school, Draco was sure Hermione would have let out a high cold laugh, "You don't love me, Malfoy. Do you know what you do?" she asked him with a look of supreme confidence.
Draco cursed the moment he asked, "What?"
"You covet me." Hermione replied left Draco speechless, "You know what covet is? It is the desire to have something wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others. That is what you do, Malfoy. You covet me. I have felt your eyes moving down my body. I have felt your desire to touch me once again…feel my inside once again…exploit me once again. Have you ever looked at your eyes? Do you know what is act of looking is?" she asked, "No you don't. Do you know how those cold grey eyes looming over my face have kept me sleepless? No, you don't. Do you know what I see when I look at them?"
Draco was terrified to ask 'what' this time.
"I see a moral vacuum." Hermione replied nonetheless, "There is limitless darkness in them and with your eyes you covet me, Malfoy. You covet me and you call this love?" she arched a challenging eyebrow, "Love is what is in Alexis's eyes. So genteel that I feel safe when I look at them…so deep in emotion that I feel like drowning in them…so cool and comfortable that I find myself once again in them. You delude yourself with this notion that you understand everything, while in reality you don't. But I am not willing to correct you. You keep your coveting eyes to yourself because I am way past this emotional tortures." She waved her hands dismissively, "I asked you to let us be free so that my son and I can be happy. But it seems like you don't understand words when they are spoken kindly to you. You want to covet me with your eyes? So, be it and let us all suffer together." She said before turning to leave.
At that instant, Draco was proud that he has sorted to Slytherin and had Malfoy brains.
"Granger," he called Hermione and she stopped on her tracks, "You say that I covet you? That I want to ravage your body with my eyes? Here, I will stop it right this instant…" he took out his white handkerchief, "This is Wizarding surrender which means the words are activated as I speak them." Draco withdrew his wand and tied the ends of his white handkerchief on it like a white flag, "I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, surrender everything that I have to my lawfully wedded wife Hermione Jean Granger-Malfoy." The tip of his wand lighted up and glowed, "I surrender my eyes…my senses…my body…my soul…my wealth…my blood and my life to you. Now I am totally at your disposition. You do to me anything as you please." He declared solemnly.
It was this last thing that Draco could offer to make Hermione believe that he didn't mean to harm her anymore – the Wizarding surrender that was used during real Wizarding duels as a last resort to save life and humiliation. The hardest part was true intent to surrender and declare that one is willing to be put into his opponent's disposition. But the up side was that no wizard can kill or physically harm his opponent once he surrenders. That was against law of dueling. Furthermore, the surrendered person gets one wish to be fulfilled for being brave to come forward and surrender.
"Still the cat and mouse play, Draco Malfoy? Knowing that I can't harm you now that you have surrendered." Hermione shook her head sadly, "Name your wish."
Draco was waiting for this moment for a very long time and suddenly it was coming into being. So, he carefully chose the words.
"I want to participate more in my wife and son's lives. I want a civil relationship with them."
Hermione considered his words for a while before replying.
"I never wanted you to become Adrian's father, Malfoy, but I think keeping him away from you is simply making you to take desperate measures. You say that you love Adrian…that you love me…and now you surrender." She sounded tired "Let's stop this delusion forever. I accept your wish."
It was one of Draco's most anticipated dreams coming true
He watched as Hermione took his wand, untied the handkerchief from it before handing the wand back to Draco and keeping the white piece of cloth for herself.
Elated and relieved, Draco decided to wait for the school's midday break to introduce himself to Adrian's friends as his father.
He noticed that his little son was exceptionally quiet when he came out of his class with his friends.
"My Papa says he is going to take me to Italy next summer. We have some relatives there." Gina was telling the boys on either side of her, "What about you Louis? And Adrian?" she asked them both.
Draco wasn't going to let his son stay behind this time. He looked at Hermione who sighed and called Adrian and his friends.
"Adrian! Louis! Gina!" Hermione's voice was calm and steady.
Draco watched as the little boys and girl looked at their pair and then walked over to them.
"Yes, Mama?" Adrian's voice was as sweet as it always was and his eyes were darting between the two of them.
"Louis, Gina, meet Adrian's father." Hermione motioned a hand at Draco's direction, "His name is Draco Malfoy." She announced.