The Poisoned Apple

by SeveranSnape

An atrocious act by Draco Malfoy in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor forced Hermione Granger to leave behind everything she ever cared for. Six years later, Draco after losing all that he cared for, comes face to face with the consequences. The once innocent Apple now poisoned is his last resort. Will he leave behind old Draco and earn Hermione's trust for a new beginning? ABANDONED.

60. Chapter 60

A/N: Thanks Mariel, Grovek26, aryaa, Cordee, AMBERJANUS, Happyhoper and roni2010 for your kind reviews in last chapter.

**This chapter is one of the darkest that I have written till now and it took me a lot of time and brain power to sit and compile. The ending of the chapter has some gruesome realizations and I tried my best not to be explicit about the mature contents. If violence isn't your cup of tea, please don't proceed further. I will take no responsibility if you dislike it for you have been adequately warned.

**This chapter reveals some of the motives of the OC character Audré.

** Until now, my readers have read Hermione's nightmares. This time it is Draco's.

AND FINALLY, GRAPE OF WRATH PART 3 IS UP NEXT.

***WARNING: SOME DISTURBING DESCRIPTION OF VIOLENCE INSIDE.

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 in link in available in my profile.

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

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

For adult theme this chapter is rated M. (HIGH MATURITY)

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 60: A Late but Little Lesson.

Draco landed smoothly on the terrace of Château de la Grange-Bléneau and helped his sister climb out of his broom.

"So how is your neck?" he waited for Lillian's opinion on his flying skills, "All sound and safe?"

"It wasn't that bad." Lillian rubbed her delicate neck and commented, "But I still stand by what I said before, brother, you can make a decent living in abduction busi…" she stopped midsentence when an unfamiliar owl landed on the balustrade and held out its leg for Lillian that bore a letter, "I can't, for the life of me, understand why is this man sending me endless letters." She said furiously and without even bothering to untie it, she send it back to the sender.

"Who was it? Is someone trying to bother you, sister?" Draco asked with a severe frown.

"No." Lillian's denial wasn't very convincing to him as she shook her head vehemently, "It was from an old customer who wants me to…have his wand replaced out of charge." She stammered slightly and Draco was certain now that Lillian was hiding something from him, "He says that it is our fault that his wand is backfiring after we polished it last week."

Draco was both curious and determined to know what was the real story behind that ill practiced lie, "You know what, Lillian, I have an idea. Let's play a game. A game of truth." He offered her calmly, taking a leaf of his aunt's interrogation session earlier that evening that resulted in the discovery of his true feelings for Hermione, "I will tell you a truth about my life in exchange of one of yours."

"Sounds like that 'quid pro quo' deal Pasteur struck with Jean. You think I am lying to you, Draco?" Lillian's tone was accusing, "I hardly lie." She stated proudly.

'And that is exactly why you were stammering before me.' Draco thought before wrapping an arm around his sister, "No, Lillian, I don't think you are lying to me. In fact, I don't think you can't lie to anyone at all." he used his velvety soft tone to convince her, "I am just curious to play a game aunt Audré taught me this evening when I asked her why Pasteur made that deal with Hermione. So, do you agree to play this game of truth with me?" he asked her cautiously.

Lillian thought over the offer before nodding curtly, "Fine." She accepted, "I know it is of no use, Draco, but…" she warned pointing an index at him, "NO CHEATING!"

"You can trust me on that." Draco shook his head as innocently as he could and settled on one of the roof top chairs before gesturing Lillian to do the same, "Ladies first." He said courteously as Lillian occupied the seat across to him.

Lillian took a deep breath, "Why is Jean always so scared of you, Draco?" she disarmed him with her first question.

Draco hadn't considered the possibility that his cousin could exhibit the inherent traits of Malfoy cleverness so unabashedly. Lillian has always seemed so down to her own business that it appeared that she wasn't interested in what happened around her as long as it didn't concern her directly. She hadn't asked him why he kidnapped Adrian, something that in Draco's opinion should have made anyone to corner and interrogate him severely.

"It is all my fault." Draco replied calmly, "I hurt her badly and she doesn't trust me anymore. Now tell me who sent you that letter?"

"One of our family acquaintances, very distant. I don't like him." Lillian replied solemnly, "Why did you hurt Jean?"

"I was extremely angry at that time. Who is that acquaintance? Someone I know?"

"No, he is maman's foster daughter's ex-fiancé. Why were you angry at Jean, Draco?"

"I thought Hermione had insulted mother. What is aunt's foster daughter's ex-fiancé trying to contact you? And who is this foster daughter?"

"Maman met this woman through one of her dead relatives. Her name is Anje. I met her ex-fiancé in a party. What do you mean by you 'thought' Jean tried to insult aunt Narcissa?"

"We – Hermione and I, had a very turbulent relationship from the beginning. She was extremely bossy and demanding…she still is and I just couldn't take it sometimes. I wasn't even sure if I could ever marry her against my families will. Father was on trial and we almost emptied our vault to keep him out of Azkaban. So, when I told her that mother wants me to get married to Astoria to save our family from being extinct…because her father was the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department… she called mother a few nasty names and I…thought she was insulting mother…and I ended our relationship then and there. What does this fiancé want from you?"

"I don't know but I guess he wants to talk to me about something. But that doesn't explain why she is scared of you, Draco. What did you do to her?"

"I…hit her…in anger…I just can't take it when someone insults mother…and I made that mistake…couldn't control myself...and that ended our relationship…she left Britain once she found out that she was pregnant…didn't bother to tell me because she thought father would kill her and her unborn child if we found out that there is a non-pureblood Malfoy. Why is this man so desperate to contact you, Lillian?"

"He behaved very rudely with me, Draco, and I think he wants me not to tell it to maman. He knows maman will be furious about it. I think he wants to get his fiancé back and maman is the only one who can persuade her to accept him." Lillian replied and sighed, "You did wrong, Draco. Hitting your girl friend just because she insulted aunt Narcissa? I mean, you could've rebuked her…made her realize her mistake but hitting?" she asked incredulously, "That must have shattered her trust on you. I mean, I know Malfoys are hot headed but they don't hit woman." She looked appalled at the idea, "I personally would never go back to the man who would dare to hit me." she said vehemently, "I am not some toy to play with and who knows when the unstable man would do it again?"

Draco regretted his words; he hadn't told Lillian half of the truths and if this was her reaction upon hearing that he had hit Hermione, what would it be if told her the whole of it?

He shuddered involuntarily at the prospect of such discovery, "I know Lillian and I am really sorry about it. I was…really angry at that time…I even apologized to her…many times…since we got married…but she wouldn't listen."

"Why should she?" Lillian flared up at once, "What do you men take us? Mere puppets on your strings? Who should dance according to your whims? How could you even think of hitting the woman you were intimate enough to share a bed?" she stood up, unable contain her anger anymore, "I think you should rub your overproud nose on Jean's shoes before she can even consider looking at you, Draco." she said and turned to leave.

"Well I surrendered before her. I even let her slap me silly." Draco leapt to his feet and tried to stop his sister, "It is still burning." He rubbed his cheek.

"So what?" Lillian arched an indignant eyebrow, "Just a few slaps in return of hitting her and kidnapping Adrian? That is an unfair underpayment." She stated, "If you are truly sorry, Draco, you know yourself that you deserved more."

"Lillian, please don't take out your anger on some bloody fiancé on me." Draco tried to calm his cousin, "I am trying, Merlin knows, how hard I am trying to make up for my past mistakes." He said with all his sincerity.

Lillian bit her lips and closed her eyes, "Draco." she said softly after a while, opening them, "Don't think that I am being biased here. I have seen you and I have seen Jean. You two, just don't…click. Then why try to keep her away from her happiness?"

"Because I…" Draco considered the word 'love', "…I know I can make her happy too. I just need some time to prove myself. After all, I am a human, Lillian and like all others, I made a big mistake…a very big mistake…but I have never hit a woman before…never…you can ask mother about me… and I am willing to amend my wrongdoings at all costs." He said earnestly, "Please don't take it against me. I need this chance. I need them, Lillian. I need Adrian and I need Hermione too. They are inseparable and I love them and need them both."

Lillian's features softened considerably, "You'd better be serious this time, Draco, because I don't think Jean will accept your apology if you fail again." she warned him seriously.

Draco smiled; it was strange that his heart has somehow grown into liking this innocent young woman and he just couldn't take it when she was angry or disappointed, "I will, Lillian, I will." He leaned forward and kissed her gently on her forehead, "This is a brother's promise to his beloved sister." He said sincerely.

"That's more like it, brother!" Lillian smiled and whispered back.

•••••

Alexis Delacour paced impatiently before the window in his office that overlooked the compound of the Muggle Ministry of Defense below.

Today was the second hearing on the Ministry vs. Rochés trial and his protocols allowed him to visit Château de la Grange-Bléneau in order to know what actually happened behind the closed doors of Wizengamot.

But he was torn between desire to visit and not visit the place.

"To go or not to go, that is the question."Alexis muttered under his breath, quoting the famous Muggle play writer Shakespeare.

Apart from the fact that he had professional reasons the visit the place where the two most important persons of his life lived – Hermione and Adrian, Alexis had other motives too. For one, he was ashamed of his behaviour towards Lillian which had indirectly compelled Hermione to scream at him or rather them – him and Draco Malfoy - that she was 'no man's Hermione'; he hadn't considered the possibility that his true confession might provoke her to take drastic actions to end what was left of their relationship without giving either one of them any chance to get over it first. For another, he needed to apologize to Lillian as soon as possible not only because he felt genuinely to do so but also there was high probability that the Delacour's image might be tarnished before the Chombrun Malfoys should he not take initiatives to amend it soon.

And that brought him to the burning issue of Lillian Chombrun Malfoy.

What was it about that woman that made him notice her in that dinner party on Hermione's birthday?

Alexis had often wondered on that question and landed on the same conclusion as ever that it was her beauty and outstanding chess playing skills.

But now that he reflected on the past, he realized that it was none of the above; for Alexis believed that beauty, however eye catching it was, can't always keep a man enchanted and ensnared towards a woman; it was bound to wane away after a while and after the charm was over, nothing would be left of it except for a lingering feeling of resentment of not finding the right partner. That was the very reason Alexis, a quarter Veela himself, had never felt pulled towards any beautiful creatures that has come into his notice.

But Lillian had been an exception and now Alexis couldn't deny that his first feelings towards her were nothing but attraction and admiration intermingled with deep shame of betrayal of love and devotion towards Hermione. In his heart, he still knew that he belonged to the first woman who came into his life, Hermione, but there was no denying that there was an unknown but strong connection between him and Lillian too. It wasn't love, he was sure; neither was it infatuation or obsession for both of them required him to feel an extremely intense attraction towards the person whereas what he felt was quite the opposite; more like a slow burn whose origin couldn't be identified.

And it was the sole reason Alexis, even with mountainous pressure to visit the Chombrun Malfoy household, was unwilling to go there.

If his assumptions about Hermione were correct, which he knew he was, the woman wouldn't be visiting him any sooner and even if she was forced to do so under any circumstances, she would be very reserve and formal; just like he was at the beginning of their relationship after she was married off to Draco Malfoy. Lillian, he sighed regrettably glancing at the small stack of letters that had come back unanswered, wasn't very willing to face him either and that left him with no choice but to contact Hermione once again.

As the hour of visiting the Château drew nearer, Alexis made up his mind to pen a letter to Hermione before going there. His visit was professional and he would strive to keep it so.

He sat down behind his desk, took up the quill and unrolled one of his special letter writing parchments - light green and rose scented – that he used only for his family and special people before looking down at the empty script.

The parchment, ink and quill, all were ready except for the words that needed to be put down there.

'Dear Jean.' Alexis wrote the most appropriate salutation on upper left corner and paused.

What was he supposed to write to her?

That he was sorry for his misconduct?

Or that he wanted to meet Lillian through her help for all his letters to her had returned unopened and unanswered?

Or that he actually wanted to meet Hermione in person and talk about that day?

That he hadn't meant to dream about her or make her sacrifice her little sky of happiness that he saw in her eyes whenever they met or talked?

That he wasn't as ignorant as Draco Malfoy was when it came to other people's emotions and his outburst to Lillian was just an accident based on exhaustion and resentment.

Alexis remembered what Hermione told him about Lillian's view on Veelas.

'She doesn't like Veelas at all. She thinks that they are very temperamental. Besides, she noticed that you hardly speak to her when you are at Château. So, she was trying to avoid the invitation, Alexis. I was there when mother asked her to stay at her home this weekend. I saw her reaction on it. She tried hard to avoid accepting it but aunt Audré thought that it will be rude and made Lillian accept the invitation.'

With a guilty heart Alexis realized that his behaviour towards Lillian had simply proved her point right – that Veelas are temperamental and she shouldn't have accepted Apolline's invitation to stay with them at the weekends.

Besides, it also proved that the pretty witch wasn't all beauty but brains too for she had noticed him avoiding her whenever he visited the Château. His mother had been correct; maybe Lillian was giving him a taste of his own flavours by avoiding his presence too.

But the late realization wouldn't help him in his mission of regaining his image in the eyes of an innocent woman. It wasn't Lillian's problem that he felt a strange attraction, sensation or whatever damn it was for her. She doesn't even know about the internal conflict Alexis faces whenever he thinks of her. Then why try to defeat his personal frustration by yelling on her?

Alexis let out a heavy sigh and lowered the quill on the parchment.

It took him half an hour to compose it to his liking and he read the several times before sealing it inside an envelope.

Alexis tied the letter to one of his official owls and whispered in its ear the destination. As the owl flew out of his office and disappeared into the night sky, he watched it for a very long time before returning to his seat.

'Let's keep our finger crossed.' He thought morosely.

•••••

"Owlei, do you want carrots?"

"Owlei, do you want bread?"

"Hedwig, do you want milk? Almond milk? Tofu?"

"Hedwig!"

"Uncle, Hedwig isn't eating anything." Adrian let out an exasperated sigh and complained loudly to his uncle Edmound as he put aside the piece of tofu he was offering the frail owlet.

Hermione snorted in disbelief and looked up from the letter that she had just received from Alexis.

'Dear Jean,

If I say that I am extremely ashamed of my misconduct with you that day will you believe me?

I think not and I give you no blames for that because my behavior towards an honourable guest has already proven me otherwise. The blame and guilt are all mine and I am sincerely willing to rectify them. Since yesterday I have sent Mademoiselle Lillian three letters but they all came back to me unanswered and unopened.

I know this is my problem and I shouldn't be involving you on this but can I please ask you do me a favour? Can you please talk to your sister-in-law and ask her if we could meet and talk over the matter somewhere of your or her choice?

I will be eagerly waiting for your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Alexis.'

"If Hedwig hadn't died in that attack Eva, she will definitely die from all the extra care she is receiving now." she said in an undertone to Eva as she folded up the letter.

'Men!' she thought ruefully.

How was it that they never think before they do something?

It happened with Harry and Ron and now it was happening with Alexis too.

Hermione's first job upon returning her quarter was making a Floo call to her eccentric animal lover friend, Edmound Bellamy, so that he could come and teach her overenthusiastic son how to take care of the rescued baby owl. Not even ten minutes passed since her call and Edmound has appeared into her quarter followed by her sister Eva, who for some unknown reason looked thoughtful.

"Tell me Jean, what would be your first reaction if you find the person you hate most suffering in the most painful way imaginable?" she disregarded Hermione's earlier comment and asked her as they watched Edmound build a nest for Hedwig while Adrian helped him eagerly, "Will you be happy or sad or something else?"

Hermione frowned slightly at her friend, "Well that depends on who that person is, Eva." She replied remembering slapping Draco earlier that evening, "There was a time when things like that touched me but now…" she sighed, "…after six years of practical experience with hypocrites, I really don't care if anyone is punished or not. All I care is moving on with my life." She confessed, "What will be your reaction?" she asked her friend curiously.

"Me?" Eva seemed to consider Hermione's question seriously, "I will be shocked for sure and maybe a bit sympathetic too but when I will remember what he or she did to me or the people I love, I will be…" she paused, "…satisfied…contended and I will secretly ask for more of it to happen to him." She said firmly.

"Who was caused himself that much anger, Eva?" Hermione asked her friend playfullly, "I hope it isn't Dominique."

Eva waved her hand carelessly, "Thankfully, it isn't him, Jean." she said lightly, "Do you know there is a lunar eclipse on Wednesday night?" she asked her instead.

"No." Hermione shook her head, taken aback, "Really? I have never seen one." She confessed the embarrassing truth, "I mean I have read about it in Astronomy books and know that it happens on a Full Moon night, but never had the chance to actually witness one."

"This one will be special, Jean, very special." Eva commented with a mysterious smile, "So, who is that letter from? Madame Delacour?" she gave the letter on Hermione's hand a curious look.

"It is from her son." Hermione replied truthfully, "He wants me to do a favour for him."

"What?" Eva asked rather grimly, "You haven't asked him to forget you, Jean, or have you?" she was suddenly very serious noting Hermione's sad look on her question.

Hermione chose not to reply and instead watched at her son who was carefully placing the frail bird on her new nest.

"Don't worry, Adrian, she will eat when she feels better." she heard Edmound assured the young boy, "And when she does, you will have difficulty in keeping her happy." He stroked owlet affectionately, "Owls, like all other birds, have no teeth. Biting off and chewing tofu or carrot or bread isn't near as easy as gulping down a mouse. So, they will eat almost anything that has meat on it, including mammals, birds and reptiles, but they also will eat insects, fish and worms." He explained to his eager audience, "Baby owls can be very hungry, Adrian. Once, I remember watching a baby owl, a little bigger than a robin, as it swallowed down the whole back leg of a pheasant." He said with an amused look, "When the baby started, the leg was longer than the owl. It gulped and gulped, and swallowed and swallowed, and slowly, this long pheasant leg disappeared until nothing but the lower part of the leg and the foot was sticking out, like the handle of a sword in a sword swallower at the carnival." He said and Hermione laughed softly imagining the scene, "The baby then flopped down on its belly, caught its breath, stood up and doggedly worked until the rest of the leg and foot disappeared inside of him. Last spring, I watched a screech owl family feeding their babies one evening. The parents parked all the babies in a line on a Muggle telephone wire next to a flowering tree. They would then fly back and forth, picking moths off the flowers and taking them to their babies on the wire."

"Jean, you didn't answer my question." Hermione heard Eva asked her rather crossly, "Did you ask Alexis…" she was about to repeat the question when Hermione silenced her with a warning look.

"Eva, we can discuss this matter later." She said evenly, "I don't want to be overheard." She said glancing at Adrian and stood up to leave, "Don't go, okay." She patted on her friend's shoulder gently, "We will have dinner together in my quarter. I don't feel like seeing Malfoy's wretched face this evening."

Eva nodded and Hermione left for her sister-in-law's suite.

Like rest of the Chombrun Malfoy family, Lillian's suite was on the first floor and it didn't take long for Hermione to reach the place. Upon reaching, she knocked on the door and waited patiently while considering how to start the conversation about Alexis.

"Jean!" Lillian greeted her brightly as she answered the door on her third knock and Hermione noticed that her hair was wrapped and pulled up in a towel, "I am sorry I couldn't answer earlier. I was taking a bath." she said moving aside to allow her in.

"Not at all." Hermione smiled back, trying to get over the awkwardness of the incident of earlier evening, "I thought you were scared to open the door after watching me slap Malfoy like that." She settled down on a sofa in the sitting room and remarked lightly.

Lillian laughed and unwrapped her hair from the bundle of towel, "Well, he deserved it." she commented and Hermione frowned, "I am sorry I couldn't tell you about my visit at the Delacours, Jean. I have been very busy lately. The daughter of Hungarian Minister of Magic visited Monsieur Curtius for a new wand and the wandmaker has taken it very seriously." She Summoned a hairbrush from her bedroom before settling down across her.

Hermione knew that it was well practiced lie to cover the insult that Lillian suffered from Alexis and she somehow felt herself responsible for it. After all it had been her, who assured the reluctant woman that the Delacours are very generous and well mannered with their guests. But it was Lillian's open declaration that her cousin deserved being slapped in public that made her want to leave aside that topic for a while and explore the reasons behind that honest proclamation.

"What made you think that your esteemed cousin did deserve those slaps, Lillian?" Hermione asked her sister-in-law, astonished.

Lillian gave her a kind smile and left her seat, "Do you think I am blind, Jean?" she asked sitting beside Hermione and taking her hand, "Do you take me as a person who would support her cousin no matter what?" she asked her pensively, "I maybe a Malfoy, Jean, but don't forget that I am a woman too." she said softly, "I saw Adrian they day Draco brought him here by force. I saw how extremely scared he was. It was I, who chased him all around the garden, trying to console and assure him that no one would harm him. But he was so frightened that he wouldn't listen." She recounted the events of that dreadful night, "I saw how my maman cried helplessly when Adrian wouldn't come out from under that hibiscus shrub. She cried like a little girl and I have never seen her cry like that except for once when my Papa passed away. I can never forget it. No." she shook her head sadly, "Don't think that I will take sides with Draco if he ever commits a crime. It is true that I like my cousin but I stand by what I said earlier that, by all means, Draco deserved those slaps." She said firmly, "I take my identity as a woman very seriously Jean and I want you to know that I am always here to listen if you ever wish to share anything with me." she squeezed Hermione's hands lightly.

Hermione was deeply moved by her sister-in-law's confession, "I will keep that in mind, Lillian." she assured squeezing back Lillian's hands.

"But there is another thing, Jean that I would like you to know." Lillian was solemn, "This Draco that you see now and the Draco that you saw in the past aren't the same."

"What made you think so?" Hermione asked her dubiously.

"No one made me think anything, Jean. I don't jump into any conclusions without a reason." Lillian replied calmly, "I know there must be a valid reason behind your severe reactions to Draco and though I am very curious to know why it is so, I won't ask you about it. We are all grown up now and can take care of our own problems. Besides, I don't like prying into other people's private matters. But I am guessing…" she paused and held out her hands in surrender, "…guessing that it all started with Draco teasing you for your blood status. Am I right?"

Hermione suddenly had an uncontrollable desire to tell Lillian the truth about her and Draco but prevented herself at the last moment.

It won't do good to mark her son a rape child. She has always hated being pitied as an assaulted woman and wouldn't allow anyone to do the same to her son. It wasn't her fault that a monster assaulted her and Adrian was born out of it. Her son had no hands on that matter and Hermione was adamant that neither she nor her son, would be paying the price of it by being pitied or looked down upon as if it was some filthy disease.

With her hard work and good reputation in last six years, Hermione has earned herself and Adrian a respected place in the civilized society and she wasn't willing to ruin it just because some filthy rapist invaded her life or his cousins were curious to know what happened between them. If anyone actually required to answer those questions it was her damned husband - Draco Malfoy and him only; not her.

Hermione remained silent, letting Lillian take the opportunity of benefit of doubt.

"Draco…" she heard, Lillian sighed, "…he is generally as insensible as a hippo on its hind legs. I don't know how you two ended up having enough intimacy to have a baby but I am certain the fault behind your separation is entirely Draco's. If he truly loved you, he should stand by your side. But did he do instead? He bent down before his father's wishes and left you to get married to some pureblood witch to repair their reputation as Death Eater." Hermione listened, amazed how Lillian has somehow formulated the most oblivious motive behind her hatred for Draco Malfoy, "I don't blame you, Jean, if you can't trust him anymore. After all, it is because of Draco's betrayal that you left your country not even bothering to tell him that you were pregnant with his child. Not to mention that his father, my esteemed Uncle Lucius would have killed you and Adrian had he caught wind of existence of such a non-pureblood Malfoy. But by all means, it was Draco who made you suffer and you have every right to hate him for that. Adrian is your son, Jean." she squeezed Hermione's hands firmly and lifted her chin, "You are the one who chose to keep him, you went through all those hardships to bring him to this world and I can understand it completely if you don't ever want to get pregnant with Draco's child again. Maman was right; he should never have kidnapped Adrian like that. He is an extremely selfish man but being a Malfoy, Jean, he just can't help it. It is in his blood." She stated.

Hermione was now gaping at Lillian.

So that was what Draco's cousins thought about her and Adrian?

That she had an affair with Draco Malfoy which culminated in an unplanned pregnancy and when her lover decided to abide by his parent's wishes to get betrothed to a pureblood witch, he left her in the hands of fate?

Appalled, Hermione considered breaking their notion that Draco was some wingless angel but that brought her again to her previous question.

Did her hatred for Draco run deeper than her love for Adrian?

Besides, if Lillian really doesn't support her cousin's stand, would it really make any definite change in her view if she told her the truth except for gaining an extra pair of pitiful eyes for herself and Adrian?

Does it really matter now?

That after all this time that who knew the truth and who didn't?

Can they – Audré, Narcissa, Julian or Lillian – change any of the realities? Can they make Malfoy leave her and Adrian alone? Can they bring back her old life to her? Can they punish Malfoy for his crimes? Can she punish Malfoy for his crime without ruining her own life and hard earned reputation first? Should she put her son at stake to get revenge on Malfoy?

Did her hatred for Draco run deeper than her love for Adrian?

Then why bother?

After all it takes courage to hear and bear the truth; and from her earlier experiences Hermione knew that most people in this world weren't prepared to take the truth though they boldly claimed otherwise.

"Why are you telling these to me, Lillian?" Hermione asked her sister-in-law abruptly, trying to decipher the reason behind the conversation, "Do you want to soften me up?" she enquired sharply.

"Soften up?" Lillian repeated after her, "Why should I do that?" she asked instead.

Hermione shrugged, "I don't know. Why don't you tell me?" she demanded and immediately resented her words for Lillian's innocent blue eyes looked hurt.

"You think I am acting like some match maker between you and Draco?" her voice was full of accusations and Hermione bit her lips, realizing her mistake, "That I have an agenda behind this conversation? You think I am like my maman, Jean, a clever manipulator?" she stood up and turned her back at Hermione, "Thank you for correcting my ridiculous notion that I can be of anyone's reliance. Please excuse me now for I am very tired and would like to take some sleep." she said and stormed out of her sitting before closing the bedroom door shut with a loud bang.

Hermione stared at the closed door for a very long time before leaving her seat.

She wasn't letting go of it until she knew what the matter was with Lillian.

"Lillian, I am really sorry." Hermione knocked the bedroom door several times, "Listen, can we please talk about this?" she turned the knob but it appeared locked from inside.

She knocked insistently once again but no answer came from inside.

"Damn it!" Hermione cursed under her breath, "Lillian, I will count five and if you don't open up by then, I will bring the savior of Paris. I bet he will be delighted to save his distressed aunt." she called from her side of the door, "One!" she started counting.

"Two!"

"Three!"

"Four!" Hermione took a long breath, preparing for the worst.

"Five!" she declared loud enough to hear the whole Château.

But the door remained locked as before.

"Okay, I am going to fetch Adrian." Hermione warned the occupant behind closed door and was about to turn away when it opened noiselessly.

"Come in." Lillian's voice bid her curtly and Hermione entered her sister-in-law's bedroom for the very first time.

The room was plunged in semi-darkness and from her place just beside the door, Hermione could detect the outlines of a four poster bed, a night stand, a reading table with a chair, a cupboard and a vanity arranged around the walls. A lone figure occupied the bed with her beck turned to Hermione.

"Lillian, I am sorry." Hermione said with genuine sincerity as she approached the lying figure, "I didn't mean to offend you. I never judged people by their parents' reputation."

"It is alright, Jean, I am used to it now." Lillian's voice was muffled and Hermione seated herself on the head end of the bed, "I know our reputation is tarnished once and for all. But believe me, Jean, I have as much reasons to hate Draco and aunt Narcissa as you have. They literally made us social outcasts."

Listening to her, Hermione realized for the first time that there was more to the story of Chombrun Malfoys and actual Malfoys than both families let out.

"I don't know why you are telling me this, Lillian."She professed honestly, "But I never saw you as Draco Malfoy's cousin. I always took you as aunt Audré's daughter and Gabrielle's good friend; someone who is courageous and civil enough to dislike the Veelas and still manage to visit their home to spend a weekend." Hermione placed a gentle hand on Lillian's shoulder, "Believe me, Lillian, I never considered you as a matchmaker between me and Malfoy. Never." She shook her head firmly.

Lillian sniffed audibly, "I am sorry for screaming at you, Jean." she said apologetically, "It is just that I have been extremely put off lately. Something is troubling me and now I can understand how you feel when you see Draco." she said and Hermione was astonished, "I promise I will never disturb you with my views on Draco." she said sincerely.

"What views?" Hermione, though uncomfortable to discuss anything that concerned her assaulter, asked curiously.

"Leave it, Jean, please." Lillian pleaded, "I don't want to leave an impression of being a drama queen."

"You are not a drama queen, Lillian." Hermione grabbed her sister-in-law firmly and turned her so that they faced each other, "I trust you. Tell me what it is?" she bid her.

Lillian sighed, wiped her eyes and sat up, "My family, the Chombrun Malfoys…" she started slowly, "…though influential and rich aren't considered an ideal family by most notable Wizarding families of France. It all started when Papa got married to maman. They met at Sorbonne when they were studying Law there. Maman never told us – Julian and I, that how they fell in love or why papa proposed her but she told us that Papa was very different from most of her classmates. While he was very serious about his studies, he never spoke much with anyone and hardly showed any interest in maman or any other girl on that matter. Maman was just out of Beauxbatons and was pursuing a career in Law like her father. I guess you already know that my great-grandfather Pierre Laval was the Minister of Magic and my grandfather Renée Chombrun was a very famous and accomplished criminal lawyer." She asked and Hermione nodded, "After my grandma died, they brought up maman more like a son – tough, so that she can face the world and take care of her own and our huge property. Most pureblood and rich families didn't approve of maman's upbringing like a man but when she came of age, many of those hypocrites asked for her hand in marriage for their sons. But Grandpa knew that they were after the Chombrun's vast wealth and maman and her career as a lawyer wasn't their concern at all." She said and Hermione listened as if it was a like one of those stories that she had read in the books, "So, he told them that it was completely up to maman to select her husband." She paused and smiled shyly, "I don't know when Papa and Maman's relationship started but she told grandpa about him when they were in their final year. At first grandpa was doubtful because Papa is a Malfoy and their reputation in France was terrible considering their association with the Dark Lord. But maman convinced him that Papa wasn't a Death Eater anymore and that he needed to second chance to prove that he can be a better man. In the end, grandpa agreed and they got married."

Hermione, who knew almost nothing about the Chombrun Malfoys expect that Morpheus was ill for some unknown reason and Audré had healed him, was listening intently to her sister-in-law's story.

"Their wedding was a grand one but many pureblood families boycotted it." Lillian started after a while, "They were furious at grandpa for choosing a Death Eater family – the Malfoys over their respectable families. They took it as an insult on their family name and started spreading rumours like 'it served grandpa right for rejecting their proposals and now he is in-laws with a Death Eater family' or 'maman must have became pregnant and grandpa had no choice but to accept Papa because he was the father of the child.' You know, Jean, in traditional pureblood families chastity is still regarded very highly and those were the days when witches hardly came out in challenging professions like lawyers. I mean it was socially acceptable that they can be teachers, writers, midwives and even Healers. But lawyers? Absolutely not." She shook her head, "I don't think anyone knows better than you how the same notion is still prevalent when it comes to Curse Breakers; that it is an entirely male profession." She said and Hermione couldn't agree more remembering how everyone used to ogle at her when she said she was a Curse Breaker at Gringotts when she started her job there, "But it was Rochés, who crossed all limits in spreading rumours and maman is still mad at them for such filthy lies."

"Rochés?" Hermione frowned, curious to find more about Audré's hatred for that particular family who once used to be her neighbour, "Why? What did they say?"

Lillian's innocent features were darker than the darkened room when she replied, "They said that Papa was a characterless man…that he was a disinherited by his family because he toyed with young ladies' honours and…discarded them once he…he had them." Hermione clapped her hand on her mouth, horrified, "And maman got married to him because they were alike…that she was a manipulator and toyed with pureblood males before her marriage." Lillian bit her lips painfully, "To make matters worse, it turned out that maman was a very clever lawyer too; she could beat her male colleagues easily and slay them in court in arguments. So, everyone who disliked her or Papa helped in spreading the rumours that maman is the most manipulative woman that ever walked on this planet."

"But why would Rochés spread those rumours?" Hermione asked, her real reason for visit forgotten, "What would they gain from it?"

"Revenge." Lillian replied curtly, her expression full of hatred, "I told you, Jean, I have no less reasons to hate Draco or his mother than you. After all, they are Lucius Malfoy's family – the man who is behind it all." She declared.

"What? How?" Hermione asked incredulously, "Lucius Malfoy and Rochés?" she asked and suddenly she remembered what Audré had told her the night she asked her to help her for the trial, "The Rochés were directly related with the Malfoys in Britain because Malfoys are actually a French family who moved to Britain in 10th century. They took their order via Lucius Malfoy and executed it with the help of a man whom the called Le Pasteur." She quoted Audré as a sudden bout of realization dawned upon her.

It all fits.

Why Audré was so eager to win the case against Rochés?

Why she was giving all her efforts to find out more about the Knights of Walpurgis?

Why she has kept Draco Malfoy as her assistant in her case against the Rochés?

She was using the thorn – that is Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's son – to get rid of the other thorn that was Rochés.

"Exactly!" Hermione, stunned, heard as Lillian exclaimed softly, "Those rumours were actually spread by Lucius Malfoy to defame his own brother. And he was successful because that practically ruined papa's reputation and made him a social outcast in Parisian upper class society. No honourable family with young daughters would invite him at their homes. No one would invite them in their Christmas Ball or party, Saining or anything. Even Papa's female secretary asked for a replacement because she thought Papa leered at her. These gossips still prevail among many families. And Rochés? Maybe their family was just a ploy in this game of revenge by Lucius Malfoy, but maman still can't forgive them for it because their game didn't stop with them. What those filthy Rochés did still haunts us – Julian and I. Our Muggle neighbours know us as their benefactors but most of the Wizarding society still use those rumours against us when they can't find a weak point. They say that we – Julian and I - are children of 'a characterless father and a manipulator mother'. They say that some spots never come off." She bit her lips painfully, "Even now, thirty years after their marriage and with Papa dead, maman hardly attends any party. She only visits her close friends and our neighbours."

"Then why doesn't aunt Audré take revenge on Lucius Malfoy's son?" Hermione asked the first question that came to her mind after the story ended.

Lillian shook her head sadly, "Because she loves Papa and Papa always said that 'Malfoys aren't born monsters, they are made one.'" She slumped on her pillow, "What Draco is, Jean, is what he made into by my uncle and aunt. I am not taking sides with him. No. I am just telling you my observations. When he first came here, he was so depressed and sad that he hardly ate or slept. When I walked in the gardens at the evening, I saw him many a times, lying on the garden bench and looking up at the sky, muttering to himself. It looked as if he was mad or was going to lose his mind very soon. But then Adrian came and he kind of found something to live for. I know he doesn't deserve Adrian but there is no denying that he loves that kid. The boy is a half-blood and there has never been a half blood Malfoy in the history of that pureblood family. But disregarding all the rules of Malfoy family bloodline purity, Draco loves that child and wants to be loved back."

"Adrian isn't his son, Lillian, Adrian is my son." Hermione reminded her sister-in-law, "And Malfoy loves or claims that he loves my son because he has taken up this ridiculous stunt to make him his bloody heir."

"Don't you see, Jean, that it is a miracle itself?" Lillian's voice was impatient, "That Draco Claimed a half-blood boy to be his heir when he can easily beget pureblood children from another marriage. Isn't that a wonder itself?"

"No, that's not a wonder, Lillian." Hermione replied, firmly, "It is a delusion and obsession."

"No, Jean." Lillian shook her head slowly, "It is not an obsession. Maybe it was in its initial stage but not anymore. I heard from maman that he stalked Adrian and you before he kidnapped him and there is no denying that it was his obsession with the boy that made Draco do so. But now? He is working to prove himself a good father. And to which criteria of obsession does it fit?" she asked Hermione, "I am not telling you to forgive, forget, or accept him with open arms, Jean. But don't you think you can just do yourself a favour by getting rid of the pain that you are going through? Can't you just, for a while, for once, observe Draco?"

"Observe Malfoy?" Hermione arched a skeptic eyebrow.

"Yes, observe, just observe him closely and you will see that there is a definite difference between the man you knew and the man he is." Lillian supplied, "Even I was fearful to be friendly with Draco when he first came here. I knew that he didn't like the French. But after Adrian came, he changed so much. He started becoming receptive to us; he even took me for a ride this evening when he found me upset in the terrace; you can't expect that kind of sensitivity from Lucius Malfoy's son who disliked the French. He was supposed to cling tightly to his believe but now he is slowly behaving like a man should. He is working, something that Papa told us Malfoys never did no matter what happened, and Adrian made him do that. He changed Draco for good, maybe not so drastically good but it is steady." She said with a hopeful tone, "Unfortunately, Draco did a big mistake by hurting you and breaking your trust in him. That is the reason you don't want to see his changes. But instead of causing him pain, it is hurting you, Jean, you are becoming increasingly resentful because you are being forced to live with a man you don't love or trust at all. Take this evening for example, you thought Draco stole Adrian when you couldn't find him in your quarter. Why? Because you have dreamt something awful and Draco had done the same thing before. Now tell me what has this distrust gained you except for pain? Are you not feeling lost when you are at work? Then why not take a step to heal yourself?"

"But how?" Hermione was on the verge of telling the truth, "How can I heal myself?" she asked desperately.

"Just for while, maybe a month, stop thinking about the past…" Lillian replied solemnly, "…and observe Draco; don't tell him or make him feel that you are observing him. No. You don't want to talk to him? Don't. Don't do anything out of obligations. Look at him when he isn't noticing you. Just look. If he is feigning or delusional or obsessed you will find it soon enough and you can surely reach a conclusion on him." She said and Hermione considered the offer, "What I am asking you, Jean, is a fresh way to assess an old problem. You have done more than that for Adrian; got married to a man you don't love or trust. Why do not you it for yourself this time?" she asked Hermione reasonably, "That is what I did when I saw Draco. I knew he didn't like me and I didn't like him either for my family has suffered in the hands of father and his puppet, the Rochés. But I told myself, 'what is wrong if I just observe the man'? I am not telling him anything and he doesn't know about it. I will just watch him for a while and if I find his emotions true, then at least, I can be at ease that he isn't feigning before me or I will not feel insecure like you do now whenever you can't find Adrian. Trust me, Jean." she took Hermione's hands and squeezed them, "Whatever happened between you and Draco isn't the end of the world. Life is always bigger than that and you need to give yourself this opportunity to be out of this peril. You need to live for yourself and for Adrian. Don't take Draco too seriously, Jean, he is almost as temperamental as the Veelas. Just do your daily job and observe Draco whenever you are near him. Finish." She shrugged, "Your distrust and insecurity is impeding your life, Jean, not Draco's. Why not let go of it for once and take a fresh approach for your own sake? And in the end, if you find that you were correct the first time, at least you can't blame yourself that you didn't try."

Lillian's words sounded almost like Curse Breaking to Hermione. It has happened many a times that she had tried to curse break an object for several days, failed and then left it for a while to come back and break the curse with absurd ease.

Lillian was right. She did need to take a break from Draco and arranger her life and set her priorities.

Alexis was right in saying that all these negativity was taking their toll on her. Her work was suffering, she was suffering from nightmares again and Hermione was determined not to let her life go out of control.

"I think I do need a break." She admitted after a thoughtful pause, "I am going mad from all this pressure."

"Why don't you go and take a bath?" Lillian offered her, waving her wand and lighting up the bedroom at last, "It helps me when I am depressed or sad or angry."

And that brought Hermione to the real motive behind her visit for she knew what might have caused Lillian to scream at her brother like that earlier that evening.

"So, how was your short visit at the Delacours?" Hermione asked Lillian casually, curious to see how she reacted, "Were they like actual Veelas? Temperamental and unsteady?"

"Not really." Lillian replied impassively as she got out of her bed, "I knew that Madame Delacour is very good at cooking but during my visit her foods tasted even better. And Monsieur Gustave Delacour was gracious."

"Thanks Merlin." Hermione let out a mock sigh of relief, "And where did you stay? With Gabrielle or in one of the guest room?" she asked, eager to find out how Lillian entered Alexis's workshop.

"Well, Madame Delacour showed me a guest room just beside some workshop, I guess. I couldn't sleep properly half the night because sounds of someone working there kept coming through the walls." Lillian was so calm that Hermione felt unnerved by it, "But in the end, I…' she paused and gave Hermione a curious look, "Jean, will you take it against me if I tell you something about the Junior Undersecretary?" she asked her abruptly.

Hermione, who was in a mood to explore the reason behind Lillian's attempts to keep her insult quiet, shook her head, feeling rather curious.

"Jean, I really don't like Alexis Delacour." Lillian so was open that it surprised her, "He isn't the kind of man I would like myself to be associated with. I know he is your family and that he is a well mannered man, but my observations tell me otherwise and I am keen to keep as much distance between us as possible. Please don' mix this with Draco." she said just the thing Hermione was contemplating, "Draco and Alexis Delacour aren't the same. Draco was raised to be a monster like his father was and he is trying to break that image. But, Alexis Delacour was raised batter than that and if he behaves in any manner that proves otherwise, I really can't help but feel sorry for his future spouse." She stated firmly.

Hermione sighed in resignation.

It was evident from her words that Alexis had crossed all limits in insulting Lillian and she wasn't willing to see his genuine feelings all too soon.

•••••

Audré gave a curious glance to her companions: Hermione and Narcissa as they sat side by side and knitted silently from the same yarn ball.

Who could have said that a day will come when pureblood supremacist Narcissa Black Malfoy would be sitting beside her Muggleborn daughter-in-law and making jumper for her half-blood grandson with such look of peace and contentment on her face?

No one; not even Audré.

The day being Tuesday, only four days away from the Hallowe'en on Sunday, Hermione had finally taken up Audré's proposal to take a day off to finish Adrian's costume of Creepy Carrots after she dropped her son to his school in the morning. Being no seamstresses, they had chosen to work solely on Narcissa's design of a Creepy Carrot costume consisting of an orange top, a pair of orange trousers and a carrot shaped orange hat with green sprouts on it. Hermione, being the fastest on the group, was already fixing a green stem on top the nearly finished orange hat while Narcissa and Audré were halfway through their respective pieces of the costume – top and trousers.

"I have never knitted anything less creepy as this." Narcissa commented as she changed the yarn and started making pattern of a widely grinning carrot with just two teeth, one in each jaw and a severely comical frown, "Trust Muggles for something like this for a Hallowe'en costume." She shook her head in disbelief.

Hermione snorted, "And trust wizards to hide something like Deathly Hallows in a children's story like the Tale of Three Brothers, Mrs. Malfoy. Muggles, at least, make their stories plain for their young readers." She countered.

"That was not a statement based on my views on Muggles, Jean." Narcissa replied solemnly, "Maybe I am not very fond of them as Audré is, but I see no reason to harbour any grudge against them either. Besides, what has this prejudice given me apart from being the mother of a…" She paused and glanced at Hermione's nearly finished hat, "You knit pretty well, Jean." she said earnestly.

Hermione's features, Audré noticed, has turned rather pale as she smiled feebly at Narcissa and handed her the carrot hat, "You should have seen my first ones when I started knitting them in my fourth year at Hogwarts. Most of my housemates used to mistook them as woolen balls. But I improved soon and now my hats are hats, not woolen balls."

"Why would you knit hats?" Audré asked, trying to take the conversation away from Draco's topic, "You could buy them easily from any shop."

"It was actually a plan to free the House Elves who worked at the kitchen." Hermione replied as she fixed another green twig on the hat, "I used to knit them after finishing my homework and place them around the Gryffindor common room so that when the elves came at night to clean it, they take them and be freed. But the plan backfired because the elves realized my plan and stopped coming at our common room. And that made Dobby, another house elf whom Harry had freed, to do all the cleaning of the common room alone."

"Dobby?" Narcissa repeated after Hermione, "Isn't he the same one who came to rescue you from our home?" she asked her grimly.

"The very same." Hermione replied cautiously, "He saved me from being murdered that day."

"Where is he now?" Narcissa asked curiously.

Hermione gulped and grimaced, "He…he is no more." She stammered as if confessing something very painful, "Your sister Bellatrix's knife killed him when he disapparated and took us to Shell Cottage – Bill and Fleur's place."

A long silence followed her proclamation and Audré wondered if Hermione and Narcissa can ever converse on anything other than the topic that pained them both.

"Oh!" Narcissa looked deeply troubled, "Excuse me, Audré, I just remembered that I have to write an urgent letter to…" she paused, "…to some old acquaintance of mine." She wrapped up her unfinished work and looked at Hermione, who was looking at anywhere but Narcissa, "Don't worry, Jean, I will finish this by Sunday." She said and left hurriedly.

The environment turned highly uncomfortable after that and Audré decided to address the problem directly.

"I have never seen a more unlikely pair as you and Narcissa, Jean." she said, putting aside the needles, "The only thing that links you is that horrible incident and no matter how hard you both try, somehow your conversations always ends there."

"I didn't mean it to end there, aunt. It just…" Hermione sighed, "I might not like Narcissa Malfoy very much but she is broken now; doesn't have anything to live for. Just think where she was before with all that money and pureblood supremacy and look where she is now?" she asked Audré, "I could tell her that beloved her husband was present there when her son assaulted me and he didn't stop Malfoy; that can break all her charming notions that her husband was some kind of wingless angel. But why bother?" she asked fixing another green twig on the orange hat, "Lucius Malfoy is dead now and Hermione Granger doesn't begrudge the dead." She declared.

"I knew you would never do something like that, Jean." Audré assured Hermione, "You are too righteous for your own good, Jean." she stated, "I told to befriend Narcissa so that you can use her against Draco, remember? But you said that you can't toy with someone's trust. If you can't play with a living person, Jean, how can you play with the dead?" she asked her, "But don't worry, Jean, with me - the cold-headed plotter as Narcissa likes to refer me - around you, there is no chance that I am going to let your righteousness ruin your future."

Hermione snorted loudly, "Righteous and Hermione Jean Granger? You should see the faces of my adversaries on that remark."

"How come?" Audré asked lightly.

"I am not as good as you take me, aunt, really I am not." Hermione said, "In my fifth year, just a few monthes after Voldemort rose again, we formed a secret society in Hogwarts called the Dumbledore's Army. The Ministry wasn't very willing to do let people know that Voldemort has returned and instead of helping Professor Dumbledore fight him, they planted an awful hag by the name of Dolores Umbridge as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to subdue him. Harry tried to his raise voice against it but he landed in a detention with Umbridge. That is when we decided to take the matter in our own hands and train ourselves on self defense. We met outside Hogwarts, planned to make Dumbledore's Army and used a place called Room of Requirement as our headquarters. Everything was going on pretty well until one of us, a girl called Marietta Edgecombe, who thought that Harry was being delusional about Voldemort's return, let it all out to Umbridge and she came with her Inquisitorial Squad to catch us red-handed." Hermione's face had a lost look on it, "Malfoy, he was the leader of that blasted Inquisitorial Squad…" she spat with distaste, "…he and his gang of filthy Slytherins…the Inquisitorial Squad…" she mocked, "…caught us as we tried to fled the Room of Requirement. Malfoy caught Harry and received fifty house points and his long time girl friend, Pansy Parkinson snatched up the list of members pinned on a board." She said and Audré listened with interest, "He was taken to Dumbledore and put on detention but what they didn't know was that I had charmed that piece of parchment with Parchment Jinx in a way so that if anyone betrayed us, he or she would be punished severely. It turned out that as a reward to her betrayal, Marietta Edgecombe had to bear pimples the size of pustules, spelling "SNEAK" across her face." She let out a satisfied laugh, "During the time she bore those boils, aunt, Marietta had to cover them up with a balaclava and then thick layer of makeup, but none of those methods could completely hide them. So, you see, aunt, I am not as good as you take me." she repeated again.

"But that doesn't prove you bad, Jean." Audré countered, "It simply proves that you are a very practical person. You are not a plotter, Jean, you are a planner."

"I see no difference between a plotter and a planner." Hermione shrugged, "They serve the same purpose of reaching our goals."

"No, they don't." Audré countered evenly and Hermione frowned, "A plot is a scheme against a particular person whereas a plan is a scheme to succeed in an endeavor; it is not against a person, it is against all those people who try to stop us." She explained, "You know how to plan, Jean; you know how to fight and achieve what you cherish, punish those who come on your way of doing so. Like that girl, you didn't target her; she was punished for her betrayal. But plotting?" she asked Hermione who was listening intently, "Plotting is what I do, Jean. I target the person I want to take revenge from and I stop at nothing until I am done with him or her. Nothing." She shook her head firmly, thinking of Rochés, "I don't look for justice when I seek revenge dearest. I seek only my inner peace." She said defiantly, "But you, Jean, you can't take revenge because you are not a plotter like me and even if you do, you can never cross the limit in vengeance. Why?" she asked a stunned Hermione, "Because it will violate your inner peace and you will never do anything that will make you uncomfortable in the first place." She replied, "Do you know what I learned from that story of yours, Jean? I identified the basic difference between you and Draco. Want to know what is it?"

Hermione's looked suggested that she was curious but too shocked to ask it aloud.

"The difference is Jean, that between 'what is right and what is easy' you will always choose the 'the right' and Draco will always choose 'the easy'." Audré replied solemnly, "Your early life, your struggles as a pregnant woman and after Adrian's birth, tells me that you always go for what 'the right', no matter how hard it is. But Draco?" she arched a confident eyebrow, "He is a Slytherin and they always chooses the shortcut, 'the easy' way to their goals even if it is unethical. Draco being the leader of that Inquisitorial Squad tells a lot about his personality. He is a Malfoy and his father was a prominent Death Eater. He knew that Voldemort was back. But he backed up his father's actions and chose to torment his classmates for telling the truth that he himself knew was true." She said heatedly, "The problem with Draco is he is always used to get everything his own way; his kidnapping of Adrian instead of building himself beforehand, his forcing you to marry him to save Adrian, they are all his knack for choosing 'the easy' option. But don't think he can always get off with that." she shook her head as a mysterious smile adorned her lips, "Draco never listens to those who explain it to him with patience, Jean, and that is the reason, I think I have to employ other means to make him understand what he has done." She smirked and tilted her head, "I will have to explain it to him some other way."

"What way?" Hermione's features suggested that she was taking Audré as an insane woman, "You want to take revenge on him?"

"Revenge?" Audré asked playfully, "No." she replied, "Realization?" she asked again, gleefully, "Yes." she whispered.

"Is it something to do with the Rochés aunt?" Hermione seemed nervous, "Lillian told me something about your past and I figured out why you hate that man so much." she confessed.

"Really?" Audré was amused, "What else did my daughter tell you?" she asked curiously.

Hermione took a deep breath, "She told me to take a new look on Malfoy's problem." She replied, "Advised me to put aside the animosity for a while and observe Malfoy to see if his changes were as genuine as he claimed them to be. Honestly, aunt, I don't blame Lillian because she doesn't know what Malfoy did to me. She said that because she thinks that our strained relationship or whatever this blasted thing is, it is hurting me instead of Malfoy. But she doesn't understand that no matter how hard I try, I just can't forget or ignore his presence in my life. No wound can be healed properly while the source of assault is present."

Audré considered Hermione's words seriously.

"I am sorry, Jean that my daughter is interfering in your private matters." She said after a while, "I never told them what happened to you, not because I was or am trying to protect Draco's image before his cousins." She said truthfully, "I didn't say it firstly because you have other important identities than being a rape survivor and I take them more seriously. Secondly, I think that it is completely up to you with whom you would like to share that incident. I never did it out of pity." She shook her head, "Besides, I always taught my children not to interfere in things that don't concern them. It is entirely Draco's problem that you don't find him fit enough to be your husband and you have every right to solve it the way you like it. Don't take Lillian's words into account. If you want, Jean, I will warn her not to talk about it to you ever again." She said firmly.

"No, aunt, please don't." Hermione looked mortified for sharing the truth, "She is kind of right. I have to get out of this mess. It is hampering my life, not Malfoy's. My work is suffering, not his. I have to curse break this Draco Malfoy once and for all. I need this, aunt, I need this break." She said desperately.

"As you wish, Jean." Audré shrugged, "If you want to look past your differences and observe my dear nephew for a while, by all means, don't hesitate. Observation if done properly, in my opinion gives out a lot about a person and who knows? Maybe you will find a way out of these sufferings. You are an intelligent woman, Jean, I trust your judgments." She assured her and took up the trouser to knit it once again.

"Aunt?" Hermione called Audré after some time, "Don't mind me asking but I am pretty curious to know what you are planning to do with Rochés for spreading those awful rumours and destroying Uncle Morpheus's reputation on Lucius Malfoy's request."

Audré contemplated the question and looked up from her knitting, "Now that you know some of those unpleasant truths, I have no trouble in confessing that I am going to give Rochés a good dose of his own medicine, Jean, the same I will do to your damned husband, Draco Malfoy, too." She smirked in contentment, "Trust me, dearest, when I say that vengeance is sweet." She winked at a very skeptic looking Hermione, "And the wheels are already in motion."

•••••

28th October, Wednesday found Draco slumped on his chair behind his office desk rubbing his forehead wearily.

He had many reasons to feel agitated and tired; for one, tonight was the night of Lunar Eclipse and his body was slowly displaying the signs of Lupus Venom; for another he hadn't seen Hermione or Adrian since that fateful evening last Monday. The woman hadn't come out of her quarters even for meals and his insides were aching to catch a glimpse of their faces, no matter from however distance it would be.

Draco leaned against his chair and sighed.

When will Hermione realize that he wasn't trying to harm her or Adrian by any means?

When will she understand that he wants to see them happy and was working even in this physical state to achieve that goal?

No Malfoy, in the history of its ten centuries, has ever been as serious to his family as he was. Life as a Malfoy was always so programmed: they would marry, have children, live and die happily; no exceptions to that.

Then why were all these awful things happening to him?

Why doesn't Hermione just see that he has changed for good?

Why is she keep him waiting like that?

Draco would have continued his endless stream of thoughts but a knock interrupted them.

"Enter." He said and looked up to find his aunt entering his office accompanied by his mother.

"Mother! Aunt!" Draco stood up and approached them hurriedly, "What a pleasant surprise!" he greeted them with a genuine smile.

"I came here to talk to the Minister about some issues regarding the trial. He would be called to testify against Rochés in the next hearing." Audré was smiling serenely as she informed Draco, "I brought Narcissa too, thinking that she might like to breathe some fresh air." She gave a glance at her impassive sister-in-law who was looking around Draco's office.

"Mother, come and sit here." Draco drew out a chair and welcomed Narcissa, "Thank you, aunt." he whispered into his Audré's ear, "That means a lot to me." he gave a deliberate look at his expressionless mother.

"Anytime." Audré whispered back with a tiny wink, "Uhum…Narcissa?" she cleared her throat audibly, "So, what do you think of this place?" she waved her at Draco's office in general.

Narcissa was peeping inside one of the cauldrons Draco was stewing Lacewing flies to enhance their properties to be added later to his modified Polyjuice Potion, "Very Slytherin." She replied, casting a glance at the green walls, silver curtains and the snake skin carpet on the floor, "Fit to be a Head of House's office."

"I will take that an a compliment." Draco commented, "What would you like? Tea? Coffee? Juice?" he enquired and was about to leave for the interdepartmental Floo when Audré stopped him.

"No need for that, Draco, it is almost lunch time and we would be returning to Château." She said and took out a beautifully wrapped lunch box from her overlarge bag, "In fact, your mother asked me to bring some lunch so that you don't have to return home for it and waste your precious time." she placed the lunch box on Draco's cluttered desk, "The menu is hers; I just took the liberty to ask the elves to pack you some sturgeon caviars that we had in the pantry."

"Thanks again, mother." Draco was delighted beyond measure, "I am going to check it out right now."

He watched expectantly as Narcissa walked around his office, he knew she was stalling, eager to know how her son found the lunch she has so lovingly prepared for him. He allowed her to do that for it gave him ample time to watch the woman as he unwrapped the lunch box.

"Caviars… sirloin steaks with sautéed onion…" he checked the food, "…broccolis…carrots…snow peas and chives…all are my favourite." He said passionately, "That's lovely." He laid the lunch box, approached Narcissa and took her elegant hands into his, "I can't thank you enough for it, mother." He kissed her hands softly.

"It's alright, Draco." Narcissa's expression was deadpan, "Don't forget to take it in." she extracted her hands from Draco's grip and turned to her companion, "Audré, I think we should leave now."

Audré nodded calmly, "Yes, I think so too. Besides, I need to drop Julian his lunch and Nostradamus knows, he wouldn't be contended with just some steaks." She laughed, "My son is a little overeater, Narcissa…" she patted on her large handbag which rumbled like a cargo, "…but as his mother, I have no complaints about it as long as he keeps himself fit." She entangled her arm around Narcissa's and started for the door, "And, Draco, don't forget to take the caviars. I told the elves to prepare them especially for you." She said before leaving him alone in his office.

Draco had never been more excited about his lunch in his entire life. He checked the clock which said it was almost quarter to two o' clock.

"Time for lunch, Draco!" He declared happily and proceeded for the adjacent basin, where he cleaned his cauldrons, to prepare himself for an afternoon of rich delicacy of his mother's cooking.

As he took his first bite of caviar adorned cookies, Draco realized how hungry he really was; skipping breakfast this morning when Hermione hadn't turned up with Adrian had taken its toll on his venom-infused body and he was hungry like a shark now. His mother had done well by bringing him a well prepared lunch.

In fifteen minutes, his plate was gleaming like a mirror and Draco was full, seeping his afternoon coffee contentedly.

He was halfway through his second cup when one of the veins in his temple throbbed painfully.

"Warning sign, Draco." he muttered remembering that he should get away as long as he can walk on his own feet and took out his Quick Quote Quill to compose a letter to his mother, telling her that he would be spending the night in his office before waving his wand to put a Stasis Charm on the cauldrons.

He sealed the letter hurriedly, folded it into a paper plane with a wave of his wand which zoomed out to be delivered to the receptionist who would send it to Narcissa and Draco was just about to left his office, when a sudden bout of nausea engulfed him and he emptied his stomach in one go.

"Damn it!" Draco cursed, looking down at the masticated remnants of his mother's fine cooking and clamped his mouth shut with his hand to fight another attack, 'Get to the Floo, Draco!' he thought inside his head desperately and staggered out of his office.

It took Draco half an hour to reach his destination, the Floo fireplace that was two floors down and at the furthest end of the reception corridor. He had to stop several times on his way to fight the increasing sensation to vomit his stomach out.

Thankfully, the reception was crowded and no one noticed a very green Draco, as he grabbed some glittery Floo powder from the flowerpot on the mantelpiece and threw it on the fire before dragging himself in.

"St. Lupus's Facility for the Lycanthropes!" He slumped on the fireplace floor and declared before vomiting again.

As the green fire rose and engulfed Draco to transport him to his intended destination along with his vomited particles, Draco felt the same unparallel pain of his first time with Lupus Venom hit him with all its might; his back muscles contracted violently and his body arched up like a slender bow. He collapsed, arched up again and moments later when he appeared in the werewolf facility, Draco was unable to even move a finger let alone come out of the fireplace on his own.

The cycle of pain continued inside the darkened fireplace until he was rescued by someone who has endeavored to peep inside and found him staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Nostradamus!" the voice yelled and Draco's auditory senses were distorted so much that it sounded like a high pitched cry of a banshee, "Monsieur Malfoy is here! Quick! Bring the stretcher!"

By the time he was taken out, lifted on a stretcher and taken to the researchers a stream of fine white foam was coming out of his mouth.

"Is he poisoned? Where is all that foam coming from? Quick! Give me the sucker pipe!" Descartes instructed his team urgently as Draco was placed on the bed inside the glass chamber, "It will block his airway." He tried to clean the foam but it poured out of his mouth like endless bubbles, gagging Draco, "Monsieur, what did you take for lunch?" he asked him examining the foam.

But Draco was staring vacantly at the ceiling, unable to make a single sound.

He could hear the researchers rushing to him, trying to clean his airway so that he could breathe properly but his vision blurred and in a flash, he was somewhere else.

The air in dungeons of Malfoy Manor was cold and stale as he descended the stairs to reach the bottom. His footfalls were making an eerie echo and Draco smirked, thinking of the woman who waited for him there.

The Mudblood who had tormented him or past six years.

He found her lying on a stack of rotting straw, semiconscious and a thick chain around her neck.

"Mudblood!" Draco kicked Hermione on her emaciated stomach, "Wake up, baby, wake up and see who has come to do the honours tonight!"

"Draco!" Hermione's shrunken eyes opened a fraction of an inch, "Not tonight, please, I am still very sore." She tried to move away but Draco placed a foot on her pelvis, stopping her, "AAARRRRRGGHHHHHH!" she screamed in evident pain, "Let go! Let go Malfoy!" she pleaded.

Draco ignored her plea and undid his trousers before lying down on Hermione's frail form, "Tonight, darling, I am going to give you real pain." He whispered and relished the moment as he started ravishing her body.

Under him, the woman screamed and screamed and screamed until her throats ran dry and she passed out.

Draco was preparing for another go on the freshly violated body when Hermione's eyes opened again.

But they were not hers; they belonged to someone else; someone Draco loved and she was…

"LILLIAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" he screamed and tried to roll over his sister's naked body as it changed its form, "I THOUGHT IT WAS HERMIONE!"

"I wasn't Hermione, Draco, when you violated her. It was Lillian Malfoy all the time." his sister's voice was so weak that she could hardly speak, "Your father kidnapped me, force-fed some of our modified Polyjuice Potion so that I looked like Hermione and imprisoned me here. Now look what you did to me? Look what you did to your sister?" she started crying.

"LILLIAN, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS YOU!" Draco exclaimed and tried hard to get up but some invisible force was preventing him, "DAMN IT! WHY CAN'T I GET UP?" he asked desperately.

"You can't, Draco… because we are tied…forever now…" Lillian's voice was rasping, "…I am going to be…pregnant…now…and there is…no escape…" she dissolved into tears.

"NO! SHE IS MY SISTER!" Draco fought with all his might to detangle their joined bodies but it seemed to have a will of its own for it started violating Lillian once again, "NO! STOP IT! STOP IT! SHE IS MY SISTER!" He told his own out-of-control body, "SHE IS MY SISTER, YOU BLOODY BASTARD! LEAVE HER ALONE!"

But it seemed that his own body was unwilling to listen to him and it continued its exploits until Draco was completely spent.

"I AM SORRY, LILLIAN, I AM SORRY!" he apologized to the wailing woman underneath his heavy body, "I CAN'T STOP IT, I CAN'T BLOODY STOP IT!" he said helplessly, trying to pull out.

"You are a monster, Draco, you are…Lucius Malfoy's son and you are monster just like him." Lillian slapped Draco hard, "I should have never trusted you. You can't be my brother…You are a bloody rapist."

"I CAN'T STOP IT, LILLIAN, IT IS OUT OF MY CONTROL!" Draco bellowed at his sister, "STOP IT, YOU BASTARD, YOU ARE MY BODY! LISTEN TO ME!" he tried hard to regain control of his own body.

"Are you still not satisfied with your punishment, Malfoy?" Hermione's voice was shaking from pain she was going through, "Why don't you kill me instead and finish this torture." She said vehemently.

Draco was petrified as he discovered his body was preparing to assault the same woman once again.

"NO! NO! SHE IS MY WIFE!" Draco screamed and fought with what was left of his strength to separate their joined bodies, "NO! STOP IT! STOP IT! SHE IS MY WIFE! I LOVE HER!" He told his own out-of-control body, "SHE IS ADRIAN'S MOTHER, YOU BLOODY BASTARD! LEAVE HER ALONE!"

It was most horrible experience of his entire life, horrible more than being stuck at the Room of Requirement with a raging FiendFyre to claim his life any moment, horrible more than laying down Scorpius's dead body on his tiny grave, horrible more than lowering Astoria's elegant body in her grave beside her dead son. Draco screamed, banged his head on the floor and tried hard to stop his autonomous body that continued assaulting Hermione, Lillian, Hermione, Lillian and Hermione in turns.

Exhausted, ashamed and mortified, Draco passed out at last.

He woke up as the first rays of morning sun fell on his face. He turned on his back and groaned as a fresh bout of pain hit him.

"He is moving!" someone screamed loudly in distance and Draco opened his eyes to look around him groggily.

He was lying on a pristine white bed on a chamber flooded with early morning sunlight that was streaming through a small window. He had no idea how long he had been unconscious but he felt a strange sense of hangover linger over him. He watched as the researchers crowded around him like bees.

"…thought we lost him…"

"…couldn't find a single pulse for fifteen minutes…"

"…he wasn't even breathing…how come he survived…"

'I wasn't Hermione, Draco, when you violated her. It was Lillian Malfoy all the time. Your father kidnapped me, force-fed some of our modified Polyjuice Potion so that I looked like Hermione and imprisoned me here. Now look what you did to me? Look what you did to your sister?'

"…Monsieur Malfoy…"

'You are a monster, Draco, you are…Lucius Malfoy's son and you are monster just like him…I should have never trusted you. You can't be my brother…You are a bloody rapist.'

"…Monsieur Malfoy…"

'You can't, Draco… because we are tied…forever now…I am going to be…pregnant…now…and there is…no escape…'

"…Draco…"

'Are you still not satisfied with your punishment, Malfoy? Why don't you kill me instead and finish this torture?'

"…Draco…" Someone slapped him hard on face and Draco came back to his senses.

He blinked several times before Descartes's extremely concerned features swam into view.

"We thought you were dead, Monsieur Malfoy." the Chief Researcher was checking Draco's pulse as if he was still unsure whether the man before him was alive or dead, "What happened? How did you come back?"

How would Draco know that how did he come back?

Or why he didn't die in that horrific dream?

Or why he was still alive?

Silent as grave, Draco tried to sit up but Descartes stopped him, "No, Monsieur, you are still very weak. I think you just witnessed what we call a 'near-death experience'. You were very close to death, almost at the doorstep and yet you somehow returned; though it is not clear how. You need rest." He tried to prevent Draco from getting up.

"Are you done with my wretched body?" Draco's voice was hoarse from dryness and disuse as he gave the researcher a look of dead calm, "If so, I would like to leave this instant." He said firmly.

"Monsieur, we mean no harm." Descartes's features were sincere, "I insist that you at least give us some time to give you a proper check up." He implored.

"I am done with this place." Draco got out of his bed and balanced his aching body on floor with difficulty, "You can't hold me here against my will, Descartes." He warned the elderly man.

Descartes let out a sigh, "Fine, at least let me accompany you to your home. You can hardly stand on your own feet." he pointed at Draco's unstable gait.

'Yeah, Apolline would be handing out sweets to the whole neighbourhood if she saw me now.' Draco thought morosely as he donned his shirt that smelled of vomit, "I don't care." He snapped, "I am leaving now. Give me my papers." He bid holding out his empty palm.

The last vestiges of Draco's remaining strength ended the moment he apparated in his the garden's of his uncle's Château. Unable to walk, he collapsed on the grass beside the Apparition Point and dragged his body through the dewy grass towards the nearest garden bench.

With extreme difficulty he climbed on to it and curled himself into a ball, drawing up his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them.

He laid there motionless, listening the soft chirping of birds and rustling of leaves until a familiar face looked down at him.

"Draco? What are you doing down here?"

It was none other than Lillian and as Draco eyed his sister, he saw no signs of her being tortured or violated. In fact, she looked like a fresh flower that has just bloomed.

But the screaming voice inside his head said otherwise.

It screamed and reminded him again and again what he was.

What his true colours were that he sought so desperately to hide.

'You are a monster, Draco, you are…Lucius Malfoy's son and you are monster just like him…I should have never trusted you. You can't be my brother…You are a bloody rapist.'

"…Draco?...Draco?" Lillian placed a gentle hand on her brother's cheek, "Are you alright?"

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Draco was suddenly beside himself and he beat away of Lillian's hand mercilessly, "DON'T TOUCH ME EVER AGAIN!" he bellowed, breathing heavily.

Because now, for the first time since Hermione's assault he truly understood how she must have felt when she dreamt of being violated and why she flinched away at his mere presence.

He understood now.

He understood now because he knew how very painful it was!