A/N: Thanks to Cat130, Zeehana, SereniteRose, Grovek26, aryaaa, surugasasa, guest, avaine and roni2010 for your kind reviews in last chapter.
Thanks everyone for the follows and favourites.
**This chapter is first part of a multi-part chapter that will change the course of the story. Here, I am dealing with Hermione and Adrian's feelings and Draco's discovery of what his son thinks or portrays him as. Child psychology is very different from adults and they tend to be very passionate on their feelings. I have tried to write it like that to the best of my capability.
Acknowledgements:
** Thanks to Amberjanus for help on kid's school.
**The John Nolett's on Park Hyatt is an actual beauty salon in Paris.
**Rue de la Colombe was taken after exploring its map in Google. Other informations regarding it are courtesy to Wikipedia.
Well I guess that's all and now please enjoy and don't forget to leave a review.
**I have made a page in Pinterest, wholly dedicated to TPA, where almost all the characters as I see them (both HP and OC) as well as major and minor things are available as images. It doesn't require accounts and the link in my profile for those who'd like to visit it.
Several new images of Hermione's memories and Draco's home for her has been updated there.
**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 63: Words, Feelings, Memories and Plans (Part 1)
Insistent knocks were coming from the door and Audré frowned at her reflection in the mirror.
It was Friday the 29th morning and after spending a whole night writing down possible arguments for the upcoming hearing on Monday followed by a relaxing shower, the Chombrun Malfoy matriarch was getting ready for the day when an atypical knock resounded across her Grand Suite.
'Draco!' Audré thought and pinned the brooch on her dress before sweeping over a last glance on her reflection, 'No matter what people say about the cunningness of Malfoys, I know that he can't solve the mystery of those memories without some help from his aunt.' she thought with a contented smirk and walked over to the door to open it.
The sight that met her eyes couldn't possibly make her more surprised.
It wasn't Draco.
It was his son: Adrian.
The little boy was still clad in his red pajamas, his eyes puffy from sleep and his silvery blonde curls tousled as he looked up at Audré.
"Bonjour, grandma." He piped, "May I come in?" he asked her.
Audré's fast-action brain was still frozen from the initial shock and surprise when she nodded automatically.
Adrian entered her Grand Suite followed by his faithful rabbit - Peter.
"Grandma," the little boy stood before her like a dignified gentleman, "Mama is talking in sleep again. She is having a bad dream." His voice was urgent and pleading.
As if struck by a thunderbolt, suddenly everything became clear for Audré.
Adrian, who sleeps in the arms of his mother, must have woke up this morning to find Hermione suffering from her usual nightmares and in his urgency for the wellbeing of his mother, the little boy has left the shelters of Fideliused quarter and come over to look for help from the only person he trusted could help Hermione: Grandma Audré.
"Oh my love!" it didn't take Audré another second to wrap the concerned little boy in her tight embrace, "You are most sensible little guy I have ever laid my eyes upon!" she cried passionately.
"I am worried grandma, very very worried." Adrian's tender voice was filled with uncharacteristic apprehension, "I wake up and find Mama talking in her sleep. Every morning. I know you love Mama. I know you can help her. You sang and she stopped crying that day. Please grandma, come with me."
"Of course I will." Audré tried to sound excess cheerful to beat away the growing sense of disquiet on the new found information that Hermione was suffering from her old nightmares once again, thanks to her nephew Draco Malfoy, "Let's go." She stood up and offered him.
Adrian didn't wait another second to run out of Audré's suite and closing the door behind her, she followed him in hurried steps.
Hermione was all sweaty when they found her on bed.
"Mum…no…I lost it…my home…" she was muttering with her eyes clenched shut and Adrian climbed up on his mother, lying down and circling his little arms around her neck, "I am sorry mum…please don't leave me…"
"Mama! Mama!" Adrian's tender voice was so full of emotion that it tore Audré's heart, "Mama! Wake up! Look! Grandma is here!" he pleaded as the pained woman jerked underneath him.
"Sssshhhh…" Audré placed a finger on her lips to silence the concerned kid and bent over Hermione to examine her.
It didn't take her more a few minutes to understand what might be the topic of Hermione's nightmares. She was calling her mother desperately, yearning to share something that was evidently troubling her. Had Adrian not been present, she would have started with her healing sessions right away but without watching the memories, it would be futile. Audré smoothed Hermione's disarrayed curls and laid her chin on her sweaty forehead.
"Hermione!" she whispered into the sleeping woman's ear, "Wake up my child, wake up!" she said softly, not wanting to frighten her, "Wake up, dear!"
"Mum!" Hermione exclaimed loudly and sat bolt upright with Adrian still clutching to her bosom, "Mum!" she whispered and panted, blinking rapidly and looking around.
"Mama!" Adrian cried, "I love you!" he tightened his arms around Hermione's delicate neck and hugged her even more protectively, "I will look after you, Mama!" he proclaimed with all the sincerity of a five and half year old boy and started sobbing.
"What happened?" Hermione was beside herself in fear as Adrian cried and sniffed audibly, "What happened, my love? What happened, my little rabbit?" she asked anxiously.
The impassioned scene playing before her eyes reminded Audré of Apolline's words that Hermione and Adrian were more than just mother and son.
'…they are like one soul in two bodies…Audré!' Apolline had so rightfully put it and Audré's heart broke thinking what Draco's insensibility had caused the already traumatized woman to go through during her wakefulness and dreams in past weeks.
"Mama is alright, rabbity boo…" Hermione was trying to console her crying child, "Mama… is just… fine." She stammered.
"No! You are not." Adrian was stubborn like his damned father as he countered Hermione, "I know. I see. You talk in dreams. You cry. You call your Mama. I know you are not fine. So, I brought grandma. She will sing a song. She will help you."
It was not until that moment that Hermione noticed a third person's presence in her bedroom.
"Aunt!" she exclaimed softly, her bleary and tear-soaked eyes finally finding Audré sitting behind her, "I am sorry Adrian disturbed you like this." she said in an apologetic voice.
Audré waved her hand to dismiss her apologies, "Jean, I am shocked!" she said as gravely as she could, "Here I am, loving and caring you like my own daughter and you didn't even bother to tell me about your nightmares!" she chided her.
"Mama is always like this." even Adrian seemed determined to have his mother be scolded by Audré, "I know. Mama doesn't tell anything. She cried in…the bathroom…before we went to Brussels…but didn't… tell anyone." The little boy was choking over his tears now, "…not until… grandma Apolline… found her there…I saw it…"
His words reminded Audré of Apolline's on what she had said about Hermione discovering Draco in France:
'…I remember the day she told me…Malfoy is here…in France…at Paris…she was so shocked…that she almost drowned herself in the showers…trying to scrub herself clean…from her past…from his touch…I couldn't take her out of bathroom…and Adrian was watching…curious…why his mother was crying like that…he takes his mother as a very brave woman, Audré…and Jean was crying like that…so helpless…so scared…it took me hours to calm her down…and she took her supper straightaway and lied down with Adrian in her arms…'
"Adrian!" Hermione looked mortified by her son's honest words, "Little rabbit, Mama isn't a kid anymore. Mama is grown up and can look after herself."
"You are more grown up than for your own good." Audré remarked reproachfully, "I don't understand one thing, Jean. What's wrong in asking for help? Am I some outsider or stranger?" she demanded.
"Aunt, I am sorry if I have hurt you." Hermione voice was sincere, "I know you love me and I, too love and respect you. I know you'd help me in every way to come out of this…" she paused and stroked Adrian's curls, "You have already helped me immensely. I don't suffer like I used to do but…" she sighed, "…with the source of problem is different this time…it's personal." She looked embarrassed to confess it before Audré.
"I want my happy Mama back!" Adrian's demanded stubbornly, "I don't want to see her cry!"
"There you are!" Audré was prompt to take up the point in her favour, "Now can we talk about it?" she asked her.
Hermione sighed, "After I drop Adrian to school."
"I am not going to school!" It seemed that Adrian was in an uncalled competition to outrun his parents in stubbornness, "I am staying home and looking after you." He declared.
"No, Adrian!" Hermione cried softly, trying to persuade her distressed son, "It's not good to skip school, little rabbit. Good boys don't skip school."
"I don't care! I want to see my Mama happy!" Adrian was clinging to his mother as if his life depended on it, "I am not going!"
"Adrian…" Hermione tried gently again but Audré, realizing the true gravity of the situation prevented her.
"No, Jean. Don't insist him." She placed a hand on her shoulder and said solemnly, "Remember what you told me that day? You said you need a break. So, take it. Both of you."
"But aunt…" Hermione started when Adrian cut her off.
"I AM NOT GOING TO SCHOOL! I AM STAYING WITH MY MAMA!" he proclaimed loud enough to shake the entire Château.
"Okay…okay…" Hermione was prudent not to agitate her anxious son, "We'll stay at home. Okay? Or do you want to go out?" she enquired softly.
That was when Audré was visited by the most wonderful idea.
"Are you planning to go to the Ball, Jean?" she asked her suddenly.
"Ball…what?" Hermione's sluggish expression told Audré that she was too loaded with emotions, "I…I don't know." She replied after a while.
"WE ARE GOING TO BALL!" was Adrian's next dead-calm declaration.
Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed, "Have I got an option?" she asked Audré darkly.
"I don't think so." Audré smiled, formulating the whole day's plan in her head, "When the savior speaks, no one dares to counter him." She said pompously and patted Adrian, who was still hugging his mother tightly, "Okay, my little man, you got your wishes; you are not going to school and your dearest Mama is going to Ball. Are you fine now?"
"What about her bad dreams?" Adrian enquired, not looking up from Hermione's bosom, "What about her crying?"
"I think we - your grandma Apolline and I need to sit down and talk to your Mama about it." Audré gently assured the little boy and Hermione gave her a horrified look.
"Mother?" she asked, "No, aunt. Please I beg you." She implored, "I don't want her to know that I am…" she broke off when Adrian interrupted her for the third time.
"GRANDMA APOLLINE IS COMING, MAMA, AND YOU ARE GOING TO TALK TO HER!"
Both Audré and Hermione were rendered speechless at the ferocity of Adrian's command.
"See how concerned this young gentleman is!" Audré regained her voice first, "Even for a kid, Jean, he knows when to ask for help." She pointed out.
Hermione's face had the most resigned look ever possible for a Gryffindor as she rubbed her forehead and sighed, "I wonder who is whose Mama here." She remarked grimly.
"It's nice to have a five and a half year old Mama." Audré smirked, "Believe me, Jean, I know. I never had one." She said sincerely and stood up to leave, "Today is Friday and I was told by Apolline that she used to have a baking session on Fridays while you were there. I am going to Floo and invite her to stay so that we all can spend a good time together." She informed Hermione her initial plan, "Tomorrow we are visiting my beauty salon where you are going to have a good haircut, a nice facial and a much needed scalp massage. Any protests, Jean, and I know whom to turn to for help." She said tilting a firm chin at stubborn Adrian.
The look that appeared on Hermione's face was a clear indication that her secret nightmares have caused her more than she could ever imagine: a one-to-one talk with Apolline, a Friday baking session and an appointment at a beauty salon.
"Brace yourself, Jean." Audré winked at a silently pleading Hermione, "I am going to bring a total havoc on you." She said before walking out of her bedroom.
As she left Hermione's quarter, Audré planned her course of action in numerical order.
First, she was going to ask Apolline to stay at Château overnight during which time they will talk and give Hermione her much needed session.
Second, she will place an appointment with her Muggle beauty salon: John Nolett at Park Hyatt Hotel for the ladies.
And third, she will retrieve the memories from Draco and watch them while Apolline has her Friday baking session with Hermione and Adrian.
Nostradamus knows how these women – both Hermione and Apolline – needed to spend some casual time together to bring out what were hurting them both.
•••••
Draco was dressed in his best formal attires as he entered the premises of St. Joan's.
The caretaker he had thrashed the day Adrian got hurt was sitting idly on his allotted wooden stool and Draco didn't give him more attention than needed before he proceeded for the Headmistress's office.
With every step Draco took, his heart beat faster.
'What if the cottage is already sold?'
'What if it isn't what Hermione had wanted?'
'What if he asked a lot of money for it?'
It was the third question that filled Draco's heart with shame for it was extremely rare and unheard of a Malfoy like Draco to worry about his monetary fund while buying anything that he wanted. throughout his life, Draco had never walked the streets of Diagon Alley or the corridors of Hogwarts or the alleys of Hogsmeade without a minimum of two hundred galleons jingling inside his pockets – one of the reasons he was considered highly above all other males by the Slytherin girls. But after watching Hermione's memories where she had sold her mother's last keepsake the locket she gave her on her tenth birthday for only two thousand and five hundred galleons: an amount Draco was used to spend for his mere merriment, he couldn't be more ashamed.
As he walked, Draco's keen eyes looked for a certain silvery blonde curly haired boy among the kids playing in the courtyard but to his disappointment he found none.
'Did Adrian get injured again?' the thought was enough to stop Draco's heart beat and he considered visiting the hospital wing immediately for Adrian.
'But they would have informed me like before, wouldn't they?' he pulled out the Proteus Charmed Slate used for communication between parents and school staffs from the inner pocket of his black coat, 'It's blank.' He noted the smooth screen with relief.
'Where is he then?' Draco scanned the playing and laughing kids once again but there was no sign of his little son there, 'Did he skip school today?'
Adrian being none other than legendary Gryffindor bookworm and know-it-all Hermione Granger's son, the possibility of such a thing was close to Draco's marrying a pureblood witch to produce heir other than Adrian. That left him with one last option: ask the Headmistress about it.
Sorceress Marianne was deeply immersed in reading a small piece of parchment when Draco knocked on her office door with dignity and pride of a Malfoy.
The elderly witch looked up from her reading and fixed her eyes on Draco before nodding with a mysterious smirk.
"Bonjour Monsieur Malfoy." Marianne greeted as Draco entered her office that was decorated with plants of numerous varieties suspended in clear liquid, "You remind me of a famous Muggle saying: speak of the devil and here he is." She arched an amused eyebrow.
"Pardon moi, Madame but I didn't see you speaking to anyone when I knocked the door." Draco was courteous while his insides churned in anger on comparing him with the devil, "And I thought even in Wizarding world talking to oneself isn't considered very good sign of mental health."
"The state of my mental health is way better than someone like you, Monsieur Malfoy, whose son writes such charming paragraph on his father." Marianne's jibe wasn't wasted on Draco for immediately sat straight and serious.
"I don't understand." He was feeling an extremely bitter taste infiltrate his entire mouth, "What did you say about the paragraph?" he asked sharply.
Marianne took up the parchment she was reading when Draco came and waved it temptingly before his very nose.
"Since our kids don't go to Elementary schools before they attend Beauxbatons, we give them basic education on writing, maths and other subjects that may come handy for their future education." Her voice was solemn, "Yesterday your son Adrian and his classmates were asked to write ten sentences about their parents on their Language Class and this is what he wrote." She offered him the parchment.
Draco's fingers were numb when he accepted it and wetting his dry lips, he looked down at the writing.
His first impression was of awe: even for a kid as young as Adrian his handwriting was surprisingly good. They were large and loopy and Draco examined his son's writing for the very first time in his life.
Adrian made his 's's just like he makes them to look them grand when he writes Slytherin; his 'd' s were just like Draco's for they both shared that one common letter in their respective names; his 'a' were arrogant and flourished like his father's and while examining it, Draco just couldn't enough of the similarity between their writings.
But it was the paragraph itself that contained the biggest surprise and shock in them.
Adrian had written:
my parents
father: His name is drako malfoy. his mama is narsisa. his father is looseus malfoy. Mama says he was with her at Hogwarts school. he was a slitharin there. Gina says he looks alot like me. Grandma Adre said he and uncle Joolian work at the ministree. he playes kuidich. I saw him. I was with mama and aunt eva and he cought the snich on the mach.
"Father: His name is Draco Malfoy. His mama is Narcissa. His father is Lucius Malfoy. Mama says he was with her at Hogwarts School. He was a Slytherin there. Gina says he looks a lot like me. Grandma Audré said he and Uncle Julian work at the ministry. He plays Quidditch. I saw him. I was with mama and Aunt Eva and he caught the snitch on the match." Draco read aloud ignoring the spelling and grammatical mistakes Adrian had made, "It's perfect." He felt proud proclaiming that his son has written the most important things about him, "He even noticed that I am a Seeker."
Draco couldn't be more delighted. This short paragraph written by his only son was an incredible proof that Adrian has accepted him as his father; true that he has never addressed him by that special word that Draco craved so passionately, he has at least used that to ascertain the nature of their true relationship.
Draco felt a sense of immense achievement: as if he has won half the battle without even fighting it and now the only thing that matters in the whole wide world for him was to make Adrian call him 'father' on his own free will.
He read and re-read the paragraph several times, ignoring the rest of the portion and when he has memorized the short segment along with its spelling and grammatical mistakes, Draco, completely forgetting that he was sitting before the Headmistress Sorceress Marianne, gently kissed on Adrian's hand writing. To his surprise, he even found the writing smelt lightly of his son's enticing scent: honeysuckle and peach.
It was Marianne's heavy sigh that brought Draco to his senses and he looked at her, suddenly embarrassed at such open and shameful public display of his affection for his son.
"I can understand why you are feeling what you are feeling, Monsieur." Marianne's demeanor was solemn as she offered Draco a cup of steaming coffee, "It doesn't require one to have more than a pair of eyes to see your love for your son. I was given this piece of homework this morning by Adrian's class teacher." She took a sip from her own coffee and locked her fingers, "Young children usually don't like to sit down and write; mostly they get distracted and lose patience when asked to write something. But Adrian here is an exception." Marianne's eyes were full of admiration as she took the parchment from Draco's hand, "He has written exactly ten sentences on his father. True that there are spelling mistakes throughout the paragraph but that is beyond our point of discussion. He is very young, the youngest in this entire school but even with that he has managed to sit down and compile a whole paragraph on the given topic while most his classmates couldn't even manage to write half of it. That's an extraordinary feat considering that he is a little over than five." She paused and took another sip from her coffee, motioning to Draco to do the same.
Draco wasn't hungry neither was he thirsty for any kind of edible objects. He was simply hungry to know more about his amazingly brilliant son.
"But if you look past his skillful writing, Monsieur Malfoy, you'll see what he has conveyed even through that small piece of work." Marianne smoothed the parchment and feeling half-curious half-apprehensive Draco took it, "Pray read the rest of it." she bid him.
Frowning, Draco started reading the rest of the paragraph.
It continued as followed:
'Mama: My mama is Jean Granger. (:- ))
There was a smiling face of a little boy just beside Hermione's name and Draco suddenly realized that there were none beside his name. Feeling a hard lump in his throat, his grey eyes scanned through the rest of the paragraph.
'Her mama is Adeline and her papa is Thomas Granger. They live in Astralea. It is very far. Mama hasn't seen them for very long time. My mama is very brave. She loves me a lot. I love her a lot. I am her man. I have a sord and I will take care of her. Mama works with goblins. They are small crechars. Her bos gave me a silver loket. I wear it. Mama is Peters mama too. Peter is my rabbit. Mama calls me little rabbit. She has a white dove. Her name is guen. Mama reades a lot. She has big books. Mama lookes for tresure in her bank. I tell her to take me too. But she does not. My mama is very beutiful. More than Louis's mama. I love her kurls. She has kurls like me. Mama gives me everything. But she worryes alot. But I am a big man now and I love my mama a lot. I am her Adrian.'
With every sentence that Draco read, his heart sank deeper and deeper until he found that it was suddenly very difficult for him to even look at the paragraph.
Adrian has portrayed his undying love for Hermione in a very delicate and artful manner and before it, Draco's segment was bland – like a fine dish without any salt in it. He couldn't deny that he was hit by a pang of extreme sadness and jealously – something he thought he no longer felt for Hermione.
He looked up at the office ceiling simply to beat off the tears that were threatening to pour out of his tired eyes.
Draco still could feel in his fingers Adrian moving inside Hermione's bump – the most memorable of all feelings that he has experienced last night while watching the memories. He could feel his love, longing, his heart beating rhythmically just one name as pumped blood through his veins: Adrian…Adrian…Adrian…
But his son doesn't love him.
Adrian doesn't love his father who was willing to put down the life for him and now Draco realized why Marianne had been given the piece of homework by Adrian's teacher.
It was a mark of gulf of difference that Adrian feels for his parents.
For his father he feels obligations and for his mother he feels love. Not that Draco knew it already, but this paragraph was the written proof of the little boy's honest feelings.
His earlier triumph completely evaporated, Draco re-read Hermione's section several times when new things came into his notice.
Adrian hadn't even endeavored to capitalize the word 'father' while in Hermione's case he had been careful to use right spellings and capital letters. He has used 'father' to denote Lucius Malfoy while he has used its synonym 'papa' for Thomas Granger.
Mama says he was with her at Hogwarts School.
Gina says he looks a lot like me.
Grandma Audré said he and Uncle Julian work at the ministry.
The sentences that Adrian had written on Draco were mostly based on someone's reference; like Hermione on them being classmates or Gina remarking that they have extreme physical similarity or aunt Audré telling him that Draco works in the ministry with his cousin.
But in Hermione's segment the little boy have striven to prove that his mother was better than his father.
My mama is very brave.
She loves me a lot. I love her a lot.
Mama works with goblins. They are small creatures. Mama looks for treasure in her bank.
Her boss gave me a silver locket. I wear it.
Mama is Peter's mama too. Peter is my rabbit.
Mama calls me little rabbit.
She has a white dove. Her name is Gwyn.
Mama reads a lot. She has big books.
My mama is very beautiful. More than Louis's mama. I love her curls. She has curls like me.
It also seemed that Adrian loved his curls because he has inherited them from Hermione while he never commented on rest his physical features that were Draco's. The mention and emphasis of Hermione's curls was a clear indication.
Now reading it all over again, Draco didn't know how to feel about it: happy, sad, jealous, angry or defeated.
"Where is Adrian?" he asked Marianne instead, trying hard not to show his true feelings of extreme disappointment, "I didn't see him playing with his friends when I came here."
"He took a leave from his classes." Marianne replied plainly, scrutinizing Draco's face with her piercing blue eyes, "Madame Granger sent us a note informing us that Adrian wasn't feeling well and can't come. You don't know?" she asked him skeptically.
Even with his state of disappointment, Draco felt like returning to Château and break into Hermione Fideliused quarter to check on his only son.
Oh, how he hated being away from Adrian and Hermione!
How he loathed not knowing what happens to them when it happens!
Even with that listening device planted on that damned dove, he was unable to be by their side when his heart wanted them desperately.
"I was at my office in the Ministry last night." Draco lied convincingly, "I didn't even return home to change for the day and came here instead to talk to you about something." He would be damned if Marianne knew that he and Hermione didn't even share the same room, let alone same bed.
"Why?" Marianne asked, "Anything wrong?"
"No." Draco replied, "While working at my office last night – I am a Potions Researcher there, I suddenly remembered that cottage you told me about. Someone called Monsieur Duro or Durant wants to sell it." he said and Marianne nodded, "I would like to see it." he stated his purpose plainly.
"Aha!" Marianne's expression was unreadable like that of Severus Snape, "But I already told you, Monsieur, it doesn't fit the glory of Malfoys."
"I so happens, Madame Sorceress, that my wife Hermione…" Draco used the first name to display that he was in good terms with his wife, "…doesn't really care for Malfoy glory and pride. I asked her about the particulars of her dream home and she told me that she prefers small and cozy homes over extravagant ones. The whole point of buying a home for her is to make her comfortable in it, Madame, otherwise she already has a whole manor at her disposition in England."
"I am glad that you decided to put aside your Malfoy pride for the sake of your wife's happiness." Marianne's unreadable expression softened considerably, "I am also very hopeful that if you continue to work on your relationship, it would be repaired in no time. After all, we women, no matter how high we ascend in our careers, want nothing more than a sweet home, a loving husband with lots of happy kids."
'That's what I used to think until I met Hermione.' Draco thought ruefully inside his head, "So can I meet this Monsieur Doro or Durant or whatever?" he asked arrogantly.
"Why not?" Marianne smiled genuinely for the very first time during their entire conversation, "Their cottage isn't very far from here; just five minutes walking distance."
"Where is it?" Draco asked, feeling his subdued mood elevate considerably at the new information.
"Rue de la Colombe." Marianne stood up and took off her school robes which revealed plain Muggle attire underneath, "Or in English it can be called 'The Dove Street.'"
"Dove Street?" Draco was suddenly reminded of Hermione's pet dove – Gwyn, Audré's private dovecote and her Patronus which was also a dove, 'That can't be a co-incidence!' he stood up and followed Marianne out of her office.
"It's a very old street here in Ile de la Cité, named after a fabulous love story of a couple of doves." Marianne took out her wand, waved it and a Patronus the shape of beautiful Albatross burst out from its tip before it hovered in the air, "Tell Deputy Headmistress that I am going out for an hour." She commanded the Patronus bird which immediately flew away to carry out its order, "Let's go, Monsieur Malfoy." She invited Draco for a walk.
As Draco followed her out of the entrance that was invisible to Muggle eyes, his thoughts went back to the Adrian's paragraph that he had written on his parents as well as his absence from school.
Ever since the evening Hermione had slapped him, neither she nor Adrian had come out of their sanctuary of Fideliused quarter – not even during mealtimes. It was evident that she didn't feel like facing Draco and after his last experiment with the Lupus Venom Draco knew and understood too well what and why might be the reason.
He was the reason they weren't coming out.
He was the reason Hermione had that bad dream about pregnancy.
He was the reason that she despite being happy after her last Healing session was retiring inside her quarters – tired from all the interactions between them.
He was the chief problem and unless he got rid of what has caused him to land on this peril in the first place – the monster - she would never accept him.
But Draco was in dilemma now because the last memory had failed to provide him with possible answers on how to defeat it.
He made a mental note to ask Audré about them. There was no denying that she had superb observation skills and could help Draco in his mission.
"I don't know how much of Paris you have seen, Monsieur, but if you want to see the real Parisian life, this is it." Draco was brought out of his musings when Marianne suddenly stopped and pointed before them, "This is the entry of Rue de la Colombe."
Before Draco's eyes lay an ordinary scene but it somehow struck him with its simplicity.
Under the name of 'Au Bougnat' – was a Muggle restaurant, its worker readying the cafe for the onslaught of customers that would soon appear. A lone woman was sipping cafe crème under the ever-present window boxes with their riotous punctuation of color. The two bicycles, a preferred Parisian transportation mode, leaning gently against the cafe, completed the perfect picture.
It was simple but Hermione's words on how she liked old books and new parchments, small houses with a swing and a garden, a piano that she would play and teach Adrian made Draco realize for the first time the quaint charm of a normal life. He had been Italy for his honeymoon with Astoria but at that time he had avoided ordinary Muggle streets and lifestyles at all costs.
"Shall we proceed?" Marianne, Draco noted, was watching his expression, "Have you ever wondered how our magical community manages to live among the Muggles? Or how they erected homes and buildings well hidden from their eyes while enjoying both space and freedom? Ile de la Cité is a really crammed place. It isn't really easy find an inch of space that's not inhabited by Muggles."
"I never really cared." Draco confessed, "Malfoy Manor was built on vast lands: it's almost seventy thousand square feet only in the building, the second largest Manor in entire European magical community. Father told me that the Royal House of Hapsburg's in Austria is the first." He relayed the information to Marianne as they started walking, "The manor has 123 rooms from all kinds of suites: master's, ladies', guest's to music room, ball room, nursery, garden room, separate dining space for family members and guests, games room, library and smoking room. We have private Quidditch pitch, vast lands for garden and all kinds of games, fountains, white peacocks and three large kitchens. I have never been to places like this." he motioned at the narrow cobblestoned alleyway that winds down before them.
Marianne sighed whether it was out of irritation or resignation Draco didn't know. They halted in the midway and she started climbing a series of roughly hewn stone steps.
Draco eyed the stairway with Muggle buildings on either side of it.
It looked exactly like the stone stairways that lead to Diagon Alley from Knockturn Alley.
'Brace yourself, Draco, looks like the worst is still to come.' he warned himself before following Marianne.
"With the exception of streets, Wizarding map and Muggle map of this locality vary greatly. We, wizards and witches came here first and built our homes long before Muggles came." He heard Marianne speak, "We used Undetectable Extension Charm on our lands to have more space between Muggle households and all kinds of protective spells to hide it from their eyes. Nowadays it is hard to find a Wizarding household in Paris that isn't crammed between two Muggle homes. But Châteaux like your Uncle's that previously belonged to Muggles couldn't be erased from the face of Earth; thus they stand there with pride though I am sure no one in the neighbourhood knows that it's under Wizarding ownership." She said and came to a halt before a wooden door that materialized between two Muggle ones on either side of it.
Before Draco's eyes it expanded and shaped itself into an entry door with a heavy brass knocker and a large peeping box with bars.
"Welcome to Meadowmoor Cottage." Marianne's voice was uncharacteristically happy as she announced and pushed open the door.
"Don't they have any protections against intruders?" Draco asked, astonished at Marianne's mode of entry without even bothering to knock.
"That's exactly why 'I' brought you here, Malfoy." The headmistress was unabashed as they walked side-by-side through a garden path, "That door has touch sensors – an ancient magic that we, French, use to protect our households; it saves us an awful lot of work on other protective spells. The theory is simple: the touch of family members and their close relatives are imbibed with the help of a Charm in the entry door and thus only they allowed to enter through that door without knocking. Others would have to wait outside until it is answered." She said as they walked side-by-side and came into a clearing as Draco noticed the outlines of a small house behind two large trees, "I already told you that Durant's children studied at St. Joan's and we are like families. So, I am allowed in their home anytime. Here we are." She motioned Draco to look before him.
Even before the view that greeted Draco's eyes could leave an impression on his brain, his heart sank like a heavy stone in water.
The 'cottage' as it was stated by its name was even smaller than Shrieking Shack – the most haunted house in entire Britain.
"What. The. Hell!' Draco gritted his teeth in annoyance.
•••••
"Grandma!"
Hermione shook her head in resignation when Adrian's loud cry echoed across the entire Fideliused quarter and informed all the living creatures in a radius of ten miles that Apolline Delacour has finally arrived at Château de la Grange-Bléneau.
"Adrian!" Apolline's voice was equally high and happy and Hermione left her placed on sofa where Adrian was forcibly giving her a head 'massage' to greet the woman who has never let her feel the absence of her own mother.
Ever since his morning's discovery of Hermione's torment, Adrian had been extra careful of mother and taken care of her in a manner as if she was made of glass. He had stood before her bathroom door and listened to her while she took bath, asking her repeatedly if she was crying again; he had buttered Hermione's baguettes for breakfast, made her a coffee and after the affair of breakfast was over he had insisted that Hermione laid down on sofa so that he can give her head a good 'massage'. It was nothing but gentle rubbing of her forehead but Hermione, not used to so much care, was enjoying it immensely.
"Mother!" she whispered and embraced Apolline, "I am glad you came." She said with all sincerity.
"Me too!" Adrian agreed with his mother and they both gave Apolline a double hug as Audré, the woman who has arranged it all, smiled serenely from beside them.
"All credits go to Audré." Apolline was suddenly emotional with tears of happiness, "She invited me."
"Now that's a horrible allegation, Apolline." Audré's voice was playfully reproachful, "This is our daughter's home, your sister's home and most importantly our Adrian's home. You need no invitation to come and stay here." She stated matter-of-factly.
"I took leave from Gustave's household for a day." Apolline announced once they settled down with Adrian on her lap, "Told him to run his own household. Why should boys have all the fun?" she shrugged carelessly.
"That I think is a universal rule that men folk have made for their own convenience." Audré commented, "So, what's in that basket?" she eyed the large picnic basket that Apolline had brought with her and Adrian, by his curious looks, was planning to attack.
"Something for my daughter and grandson." Apolline arched a challenging eyebrow and with a happy cry, the little boy finally started carrying out his mission of exploring the basket.
"DUCK PÂTÉ!" his loud cry that almost brought down the ceiling as he took out the first item from the basket, "I LOVE YOU, GRANDMA!" he engulfed Apolline in a tight embrace.
"Banoffee Pie!" Hermione took up the rest of unfinished job and shook her head, unable to convey her gratitude and love for Apolline, "Seriously mother, there was no need to do all these. You must have spent an entire day making them." She took her hand and kissed it fondly, "I really don't know how to thank you."
"I don't know about Audré's household, Jean, but that term 'Thank you' is strictly prohibited in Delacour household or at least in their formidable presence." Apolline snapped while stroking Adrian's curls fondly, "I certainly wouldn't visit my daughter empty handed." She announced with dignity.
"I love duck pâté. Mama, when will we eat it?" Adrian has eyeing the loaf-shaped piece of French delicacy eagerly.
"We'll share it everyone in dinner." Hermione replied solemnly and Adrian pouted his lips complainingly, "Adrian, little rabbit, didn't I teach you to share food with family?" she asked him gently.
"But it is duck pâté." Adrian protested desperately.
"Let him have it all, Jean." Audré took side with Adrian but Hermione shook her head adamantly.
"No, aunt. Unlike Malfoy, my son will learn about the virtue of charity and sharing from his mother." She stated out her resolution to not raise Adrian like Draco Malfoy, "We will share it with rest of the family during dinner whether Adrian likes it or not."
Whether it was the mention of his father's name or something else, Adrian didn't protest this time and left happily with Audré when she excused herself from their company telling that she and Adrian need to bring the necessary ingredients of baking from Château's storage.
"Audré!" Apolline sighed watching the retreating form of Adrian and Audré as they chatted animatedly over what would they need for baking, "She always comes up with such excellent excuses." She turned to Hermione, "Audré told me you are having nightmares again. What's troubling you, dearest?" she took Hermione's hands in hers.
Hermione contemplated on the question.
Where should she start?
Her life in past two monthes of her marriage with Draco Malfoy was a rollercoaster of emotions. First there was fear and insecurity for their future; then came resolution to break free from it and prove that she wasn't going to hide behind Audré or Delacours to keep Adrian and herself safe from Malfoy's dark clutches. Next was the offer to join Audré for helping her on the Rochés trial and Hermione had taken up the challenge solely to prove that she wasn't bothered by his ominous presence in her life. But her resolve started to crumble since the insensible Slytherin started showing untoward interest in her in the form wearing blue or offering her handkerchief whenever she cried - as if he hadn't damaged and intimidated her enough already. Hermione was sure he was up to something; that it was all a ploy to get nearer to Adrian and she was willing to fight the world to keep Adrian away from Draco Malfoy when the deadly blow came.
St. Joan's contacted them to inform that Adrian was silently facing social awkwardness before his friends because of his parents and Hermione, no matter how hard she tried to portray that she was a strong mother, couldn't take the shock of her son's sufferings. She would go through anything to make Adrian happy, see him smile and make sure he never felt any pain but the realization that his little son also felt the same for his mother: that he wouldn't share the truth with her lest she became depressed and sad, broke all her previous resolutions to keep Adrian and Draco apart. True that Hermione had made a truce with the damned man - feeling that she was letting him win his mission of getting closer to her son - for the sake of social customs but her insides were still burning from the resentment and unfairness of the entire affair. But before that shock was over, Alexis's misbehaviour with Lillian made her take a decision she was keeping at bay until she was ready to do so: leave him once and for all.
Hermione knew she was stuck in a loveless marriage forever or at least until Adrian came of age but Alexis was her one last hope of spending the rest of her cursed life in loving him secretly. She had tried desperately to forget about their past, tried to convince her that they could be good friends and good friends were better than good lovers but no matter how hard she tried, the memory of Alexis kissing her in his office resurfaced in her mind.
It wasn't his passion of that kiss that had touched Hermione's heart; it was the extreme care and gentle manner he had been all throughout the kiss. Even her last kiss with Viktor Krum or Ron Weasley hadn't felt that good. Before those kisses, Alexis's one might be tame but it was full of unspoken emotions that Hermione's heart craved and cried for.
Respect.
Care.
Beauty and love.
Only a person who truly loved Hermione, not her body could kiss her like Alexis did and Hermione could spend the rest of her life living that one moment of pure intimacy.
But that was impossible now.
She couldn't possible spend her life loving another man while appearing social and civil with her lawfully wedded husband. Her unhappiness in marriage bed couldn't be her reason to perform infidelity. If Draco was ignorant or abusive, she could've convinced herself that her love for Alexis was nothing but for comfort and relief from the prison of marriage. But with Malfoy taking Wizard's Oath, Unbreakable Vow, White Flag surrender and what not to prove outwardly that he 'cared' or in his own terms 'loved' Hermione, it was different. Hermione, though an independent woman, hadn't been brought up to commit adultery even though she didn't believe such outrageous claims of a Slytherin rapist.
So, now that brings her to the million galleon question: what should she do with Draco Malfoy?
She couldn't possibly kill him.
She couldn't possibly kill herself and Adrian too.
She couldn't elope with Alexis while being Malfoy's wife; that would make her an adulteress and Draco would get all the sympathy as well as reap benefit out of it. Besides, it would destroy the Delacours hard earned respect in the society if their only son ran away with a married woman and that one family has supported her all through her life in France. That would be considered betrayal of trust.
She couldn't leave France with Adrian alone; why should she run away when she had worked day and night in a foreign country to make a bright future for them? Wasn't she a Gryffindor?
And most importantly, she could never imagine falling in love with her rapist even if he cut down his heart and laid it before Hermione's feet. That option was totally out of question.
Then what should she do?
Lillian had provided her with a safe route out of the problem: watch Draco when he wasn't noticing her and take a decision based on it.
True that she could challenge the Claiming if Draco couldn't provide Adrian with a suitable home; true that he had robbed him of his money and freedom with the use of a single word of 'sperm donor' and now Draco Malfoy didn't weigh more than a common service holder. But challenging the Claim would need at least a year. She couldn't possibly land before the Ministry tomorrow complaining about her husband when the man has just joined his work. Her charges would be taken lightly and overruled, sentencing them both to a 'counseling session'.
Besides, instead of becoming tired from all the schemes against him, the cunning Slytherin was becoming more determined with each passing moment. He was spending more and more time in his studies and work. Hermione was informed by Lillian just last night that how Draco had been in his office for last two days, researching on his potions and how it has taken immense toll on him. He had returned home early on Thursday morning, exhausted and collapsed on grass before being discovered by Lillian who immediately alerted Audré and Julian. For obvious reasons Narcissa Malfoy was not informed of this incident but the family Healer was called to give Malfoy treatment.
Hermione had snorted at Lillian's words remembering how extremely tired she had been throughout her pregnancy and studies in a completely new school: Beauxbatons. How she had spent sleepless nights working on cursed objects to bring home money for her son! How Adrian was waited for his mother eagerly as she worked overtime in her office to be where she was today – the Chief Curse Breaker at Gringotts.
At least Malfoy isn't pregnant.
Mother Nature has spared him of that luxury.
Then what was he trying to gain by over working?
Family respect?
Hermione or Adrian's love?
Their respect?
Or was it another plot too?
Hermione didn't know.
It was this indecision that was making Hermione uncomfortable.
It seemed that she had no option other than wait for a year for Malfoy to finally accept his defeat for no matter how hard he tried, Hermione was sure that he would never find a Wizarding home in Ile de la Cité with the requirements Hermione has asked.
After that she could challenge his Claim but that wouldn't guarantee her freedom from his clutches. Malfoy might not accept it and show the Committee proofs that he had indeed tried hard and Hermione would be asked to rephrase her terms and conditions and give him another year to complete it.
And will her life be always like this?
From compromises to compromises?
From sacrifices to sacrifices?
And what should she do during these years?
Be a dutiful mother and appear civil and polite with Malfoy for the sake of Adrian?
Even share normal conversations and let Malfoy spend some time with her son?
Let go of her feelings for Alexis because harbouring such feelings in the face of a civil looking marriage would be adultery not to mention an obstacle between Alexis and his future happiness?
And it the meantime, wait either for Adrian to turn seventeen or Draco to accept his defeat, whichever came first, so that she be allowed to leave her rapist's presence once and for all?
In which direction was Hermione's life going?
"Jean?" Apolline's voice was soft and soothing, "What are you thinking about?"
Hermione couldn't possibly tell her everything; it was not in her nature to display her wounds no matter how hurt she was; so, she opted for half-truth.
"I was just wondering what should I do with this marriage." She said plainly, "I mean, I knew it would be difficult when I took vows with Malfoy but I never expected that he would really try to make this…this relationship or whatever damn it is… to work out. It was better when we were ignoring each other. I could have continued with my life while he continued his but his new stunt…" Hermione paused and tried to phrase the sentence as benignly as possible, "…I am simply not ready to accept him in my life."
"Who said you should?" Apolline asked sharply, "Under the rules of Sacred Marriage, Malfoy can't force anything upon you, Jean." she reminded her.
"He isn't but Adrian's school is." Hermione replied, "We were asked to meet Sorceress Marianne who told us that Adrian doesn't talk about his father in public. His teachers have reported it to her that he becomes upset when his friends talk about their parents before him. He even avoids answering anything on Malfoy. He is also becoming increasing sensitive about this topic and wouldn't tolerate anyone asking him anything about his parents, particularly his father. Sorceress Marianne asked us to work together to improve our strained relationship and I can't blame her because she doesn't know the whole truth." Hermione looked up at the ceiling, "That day I realized, mother, that I was a fool to believe that I can give Adrian everything. That it was extreme arrogance to think that I will not have shortcomings; that my little rabbit had grew up as secretive as his mother – hiding things from me that he thought might hurt me. I am willing to go through anything to make him happy but I just can't…" Hermione closed her eyes, "…can't tolerate being in presence of Malfoy…no matter how hard I try, mother, I just can't make myself look at him as my child's father…"
Her words hung in the air for a very long time.
"Lillian came up with a brilliant idea." Hermione started once she felt she could carry on with the extremely painful conversation, "She told me to observe Malfoy when he might not be noticing it and I, initially, agreed too. I need to take a decision, mother, I need this…" she said desperately, "…I need to know what to do…my work is suffering…I can't concentrate even on minor things…I keep forgetting…I keep having nightmares…bad dreams on losing Adrian…and Lillian's suggestion was good – it was like a fresh look to approach this old problem but…" Hermione let out an exasperated sigh, "…but that would require me to actually look at him, mother…Malfoy and I...no matter how hard I try…can't make myself look at him without having flashes of what he did to me…he still haunts me, mother…his presence makes me flinch…recoil…and I don't know what to do…" she broke off.
"Oh dear, dear, dear!" Apolline pressed Hermione's head on her bosom as she started sobbing earnestly, "It's alright, Jean, it's alright." She cooed affectionately, "Mother is here to listen."
"N..nothing…is al…right…with my life…" Hermione was crying hard now, "I got… raped…got…pregnant…had to leave…my country…my friends…everyone and…everything I loved…for the sake of…my child…came here…worked with people like…Vin…Vincent…who tried to…rape me…again…I was…pregnant…and endured numerous…insults…humiliation for being pregnant…out of wedlock…" with every word that escaped her mouth a piece of her damaged soul was shattering, "…you know mother…you saw everything…I almost died when Adrian was born…you saved us…and just when I was…feeling happy…secured…this blasted man…came out of nowhere…kidnapped my son…and I had to marry him…to save Adrian…from him…now society wants me to…accept him…why…because Adrian is having problems at his school…and he is having them…but I am a human…I can't…possibly accept…my rapist…as my husband…"
Hermione didn't know if she had ever cried like this; like there was no tomorrow, no hope for her, no life that she could call her own; like there was no escape from this curse of Malfoy except death; like she was a puppet on strings who was expected to do what everyone did regardless of what she felt inside her; like her life was a burden on herself and she was dragging it for the sake of her son – the person she loved more than anything in the world.
She hadn't cried like this when she discovered she was pregnant; didn't cry the day she rejected Ron's proposal; didn't cry the day she left England stealthily; didn't cry the day Vincent almost raped her again; didn't cry when she had to endure the excruciating pain of Cruciatus when Margot insulted her as if she was nothing but a house-elf; didn't cry when Malfoy stalked her into a café with her German colleague Günther Amadeus.
But today, on the face of extreme helplessness Hermione cried.
And with every drop of tear that escaped the boundary of her eyes, her heart and soul broke into millions of pieces until there was nothing left of it.
Until she was empty…vacant and life was completely meaningless for her.
Hermione cried until her eyes were heavy and she closed them, unable to bear the stinging feeling. She laid down her head on Apolline's lap and curled into a ball.
"Don't worry, Jean, mother is here…mother is here…mother is here…" Apolline's voice was enchanting and Hermione, for a split second wondered if she was using her Veela charms on her before finally falling into the enigmatic depths of sleep.
TO BE CONTINUED IN NEXT CHAPTER…