A/N: Thanks to SereniteRose, Grovek26, roni2010 and Amberjanus for your kind reviews in last chapter.
Thanks everyone for the follows and favourites.
**This chapter is the second part of a multi-part chapter that will change the course of the story. Here, I am dealing with Draco and Adrian's one-on-one interaction, his reactions and thoughts. We will also hear what Adrian thinks about his father from his own lips.
Acknowledgements:
** The lullaby in the end is 'lullaby for your sleeping girlfriend'.
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 and Adrian in childhood had 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 64: Words, Feelings, Memories and Plans (Part 2)
Draco had scarcely felt such cross when he apparated on the grounds of his uncle's Château.
"Cottage! Aahhh!" he kicked the nearby bush in anger and disgust, almost uprooting it, "That blasted place is no bigger than a broom cupboard in Malfoy Manor!" he cursed under his breath.
The morning after visiting Monsieur Durant's 'Meadowmoor Cottage' hadn't turned out as well as Draco had expected. The 'cottage' was actually a three bedroom home with a living room smaller than Draco's bathroom in Château and bedrooms the size of his entire double bed. Never been to such a place in his entire life, except perhaps Hagrid's cottage in Hogwarts, he had been subtly disdainful while making a tour around the cottage grounds as a potential customer while Monsieur Durant walked and talked about his house's glorious past – not that Draco believed a word of it - and it was only Sorceress Marianne's presence that had prevented him from leaving the elderly man's esteemed household out right. Later on, he had been forced to enjoy or better say 'tolerate' the very hospitable Madame Durant's homemade petit fours with coffee along with her constant chatter on her children for a painful half hour before he was allowed to leave their disgusting presence with the remains of his wasted dignity. Monsieur and Madame Durant were highly disagreeable in his opinion because: for one, the elderly couple were less dignified and more jolly and gay than he could tolerate them as a Malfoy and for another, their household smelt of utter cheapness from the furniture in living room to beds to scrubbed copper pots in kitchen – something that Draco's wasn't very used or fond of.
But Draco hadn't given up on the project of finding an 'appropriate' cottage for Hermione and instead visited the Wizarding Estate Office in the Ministry in the hopes of a better option. But to his dismay, the officer-in-charge, a grumpy looking bald wizard, had informed him that there was no Wizarding household up for sale within the boundary of Paris, let alone Ile de la Cité and the nearest one was twenty miles away from the French capital city.
Furious, Draco had returned to finish his Criminal Law lecture class at Sorbonne and his work so that he could ponder over the problem at hand.
"She could've asked half my arm and I wouldn't have hesitated to give her even that!" Draco had thrown in the knotgrasses on the cauldronful of Polyjuice potion, having extreme difficulty in concentrating in his work, "Where am I supposed to find a damn cottage in entire Paris?" he spat and kicked the rubbish bin, sending it on the opposite end of his office where it crashed with the wall, littering the floor with its contents.
Truth be told, Draco had hardly felt such whirlwind of emotions in his entire life and given the history that he never felt anything more than disdain, pride and jealously for most of it, it was saying a lot. His initial feeling after coming out of Hermione's pregnancy memories were of confusion: he didn't know what to do in order to defeat his inner monster and he had many unanswered questions regarding it; it was quickly superseded with a feeling of awe when his Patronus changed it shape to otter and returned to its osprey state again; Draco didn't know what to make of it: does it mean that he was deeply in love with Hermione unbeknownst to himself or does it mean that he was slowly becoming like her? Next was the sudden realization that he could get his 'otter' her 'pond' and he had left Château in excitement and hurry to meet Sorceress Marianne.
When he arrived at St. Joan's, Draco wasn't prepared for two unexpected blows: Adrian's absence from school and his paragraph on his parents. The poorly written section on Draco had devastatingly broken his heart and as a last option, he was clinging desperately on the hope that Durant's cottage would turn out to be what Hermione had always dreamt off.
But it had been a miserable failure and Draco returned home, seething in rage, annoyance and helplessness.
"We are Malfoys, Draco, Malfoys - the Money Makers." Lucius's proud voice resonated inside his head as he walked towards the entrance of the Château, "And nothing is impossible for us with the power of money."
"Yeah!" Draco retorted in anger, "Like I am going to spend my hard earned money on that pigsty! I would rather buy that shabby bar – Hog's Head and redecorate it to a cottage for Hermione than buy that Meadow moor cottage." He uttered each word of the name through gritted teeth, "What a ridiculous name! There is no meadow, no moor and it certainly isn't a cottage. Instead it should be names 'maggoty cupboard' or 'mud filled ditch'."
Draco was almost at the entrance of Château when a tender voice filled with excitement reached his ears and his anger evaporated like wisps of cigarette smoke.
It was no other than Adrian and he was finally outside the protective realms of Fideliused quarter.
Draco's extremities had gone numb the moment he realized he was about to get the first glimpse of his son in five days and he trudged at the direction of the voice like an enchanted man.
"Fly! Fly!" he hid himself behind a large shrub and watched Adrian waving his little hands like wings and demonstrating a tiny white owlet how to use her wings, "Fly, Hedwig, fly!"
The sight brought tears of unknown emotions in his eyes and Draco watched unblinkingly.
Adrian, wearing a bright yellow T-shirt with the picture of a Muggle aeroplane named 'Jumbo Jet' with two goggling eyes on the windows of cockpits, was trying to teach his new pet Hedwig how to fly. The owlet was walking on the grass, barely visible from where Draco stood to watch his son undisturbed and only the movement of something white and furry in the grasses alongside Adrian's feet suggested the presence of a bird there. Adrian was jumping in excitement occasionally and his face was red from all the screaming of 'Fly! Fly, Hedwig, fly!'
At that moment, Draco could lay down his life happily to be with son there as his father. Adrian's coming out of his secured quarter where Draco couldn't reach him was a mark that Hermione must be there too, overlooking her precious son as he played, destroying Draco's chance to approach and ask Adrian how he was feeling now and why he had skipped school that day.
He knew in his heart, the moment his ominous shadow would appear in the scene, Hermione would leave with Adrian unceremoniously and Draco would be robbed off the opportunity to watch him from distance.
"Wave your wings, Hedwig!" Adrian was impatient now and waving his hands like they were a pair of wings, "Try, Hedwig, try!" he implored the mute owlet.
What an adorable cute boy he was!
Draco just couldn't get enough of his son's innocent beauty. His hands still had the feeling of him moving inside Hermione's bump that he has experienced the previous night and the knowledge that this same boy was that little blessing inside Hermione, filled Draco's heart with such tenderness that he wanted to run, take his son in his arms and kiss him like proud father would; he felt like giving him all the happiness in the world just for being there, just for endeavoring to exist so that Draco could find something to live and die for in his meaningless life.
"Go to your son, Draco!" a voice whispered softly into his ears and startled, he whipped around immediately to find a solemn looking Lillian standing beside him.
"What?" Draco spluttered, unable to believe his ears, "What!" he repeated incredulously forgetting that he had screamed at the same woman just the previous day.
"I said, 'go to your son'." Lillian was calm as a morning dove, "Go!" she nudged Draco gently.
"But…Hermione…" Draco stammered, his heart dwindling between the desire to go and not go for it will cause Hermione to retreat inside her Fideliused quarter for another week, "She'll not like it." he confessed shamefully.
"Draco." Lillian's voice was bidding him solemnly, "Go." Her demeanor reminded Draco of Audré when she commanded him with supreme authority.
It was impossible to disobey such an order and Draco, bracing himself for the worst outcomes of his little exploration of father-son relationship, came out from his hiding and approached his son in measured, cautious steps.
"Hedwig, you ate two dead mice just before we came." Adrian was chastising his owlet with his hands on his hips, "You are strong now. Try to fly!" He waved his hands again, instructing her to do the same.
"Good afternoon, Adrian." Draco used his softest voice to greet his son, "How are you now?" he asked, not knowing what else to enquire.
Adrian jerked and looked up at him between his admonishing of Hedwig and asking him to fly. His innocent grey eyes widened considerably and he took several steps backwards.
"Whoa! Father means no harm, Adrian!" Draco held his hands in surrender and halted his careful steps, not wanting to frighten his son, "He just came to say good afternoon to his good little boy."
"Good…afternoon." Adrian piped, his wide stare watchfully measuring Draco's every little movement, "Monsieur." He added the damned word that always pierces Draco's heart.
'Well done, Draco. He hasn't run to his mother and complained to her.' Draco thought albeit triumphantly and formulated his next step, 'Don't rush! Go slow!' he warned himself and slowly lowered his hands "Can we shake hands?" he offered one to the little boy, "Well brought up gentlemen shake hands after greeting each other." He said encouragingly remembering how his son valued the concept of gentleman highly.
Adrian's eyes came to fix on Draco's outstretched hand and he gulped.
It was a pitiful display of gallantry, chivalry and caution for Adrian considered taking Draco's hand for quite some time before finally coming forward and grabbing it.
Compared to Draco's hard masculine palm, his son's was very soft and at least five times smaller. His entire hand hardly covered the first few digits of Draco's hand and he grasped it with maximum care and tenderness to make Adrian feel safe in his presence.
"Nice to meet you son." Draco smiled brightly.
"Enchanté." Adrian piped the French counterpart of the English greeting and withdrew his little hand from Draco's with the dignity of five year old gentleman.
Draco desperately wished he could have more of Adrian's touch but he controlled himself; it wouldn't do good to scare his poor little soul now.
"Can father stay with his good son?" Draco used the term on purpose to encourage Adrian to use the same on his case, "He knows a lot about owls." He suggested eyeing the owlet that was walking on grass without any purpose.
"You have no work at the Ministry?" Adrian was visibly very reluctant to spend more time than it was required for standard exchange of greetings with Draco, "Uncle Julian is back?" he enquired cautiously.
'Very diplomatic, son!' Draco thought remembering what Adrian had written in the paragraph about him, "Uncle Julian and I don't work in same the office, Adrian." he was very gentle in replying, "He is an Auror and I am a Potions Researcher. But we do work under the same department." He explained.
"What is a Potions Re..sear…cher?" Adrian had difficulty in uttering the complex word, "Do you search potions?"
Draco laughed whole heartedly for the first time in an entire week but stopped immediately when Adrian looked affronted for being laughed at.
"Sorry, I think something tickled me on my neck." Draco lied apologetically and scratched his neck, "I am quite ticklish here." He confessed and sat down the grass before Adrian unceremoniously, "No, I don't search for Potions. I make them. I invent them. I change their property to make them better."
"Oh!" Adrian was very slowly getting relaxed of Draco's presence, "Why?" he asked again.
"Well, sometimes old potions don't work well. They lose their property with time. So, my job is to make them in a way so that they work can better." Draco patted on the grass before him, "Gentlemen always sit when they talk, Adrian." he said invitingly.
Adrian eyed the patch of grass cautiously before sitting down on it – cross legged; he took care to be as far as possible from Draco without looking rude and called his faithful pet rabbit who came running to him at once, "So your work is always over so early?" he asked him, "My Mama never returned home early from work. She worked until it was dark outside." He said matter-of-factly.
Draco was reminded of long and ornamented segment Adrian had written on Hermione in his paragraph, "Like your Mama, your father works after hours too. He had been in his office for two whole days." Draco informed his son, "I, too, work hard for my son and his dear Mama." he proclaimed sincerely.
"Maybe." Adrian commented skeptically, "You said you know a lot about owls. Do you?" he changed the topic abruptly.
"I do. I had one." Draco replied, glad that the discussion on who was more industrious between him and Hermione, was finally over, "It was an eagle owl. Mother used to send sweets from home for me with it while I was at Hogwarts with your Mama."
"What was her name?" Adrian stroked his rabbit as it slid down his right shoulder.
"His name was Aquila." Draco answered with a genuine smile, "That's the name of the Zeus's eagle. Even my Patronus is an osprey – a kind of majestic eagle."
"You can make Patronus?" Adrian's wide eyes widened even more, "Mama said Mama can. On my Saining day." He seemed astonished at the achievement.
Draco was reminded of the conversation between Hermione and Sorceress Marianne on Adrian's Saining Day that he had witnessed under Disillusionment Charm.
"I can." Draco whipped out his wand proudly to produce his Patronus as a proof; now that he had Adrian before him there was no way he would let him leave without showing him that his father was as powerful as his mother, "Where is your Mama, by the way?" he suddenly noticed their quiet surroundings.
Adrian's bright face immediately fell, "Mama is ill." He replied visibly sad and disturbed.
Draco was taken aback for as per Marianne's information, it was Adrian who was feeling bad and therefore couldn't attend school, "Why? What's wrong?" he asked anxiously, suddenly remembering the Cruciatus curse that circulated through Hermione's body when she was pregnant and wondering if she was suffering from the same again, "What happened to her…Hermione?" he purposefully used the first name before Adrian.
"Mama is having bad dreams. She cries a lot." Adrian's whisper was barely audible as he started pulling out grasses and offering them to Peter who rejected them downright, "Mama is sleeping now." he said curtly and proceeded to stand up.
"Wait, Adrian!" Draco mentally kicked himself for disturbing his son in the middle of a conversation that was flowing smoothly, "Tell me more, please." He implored and Adrian stopped halfway between sitting and standing, "Maybe I can help…er…make a potion or something for her." he suggested hopefully.
Adrian seemed to consider the offer before settling down again, "Can you help Mama?" he asked suspiciously and Draco noticed how extremely similar they behaved when it came to business.
"Of course, I can." He proclaimed firmly.
"Why should you help her?" Adrian was still unconvinced, "You never liked her. You fought with her because she was not a pureblood." He pointed out the brutal truth.
'Point taken!' Draco thought ruefully and decided to clarify the issue that has been creating a rift between him and his son, "Adrian." he called him softly, "Father is very very sorry for his behaviour to your Mama. Really. He is very sorry. He should never have fought with your Mama; but father knows better now and he wants to help. Truly." He said with all sincerity, "If you tell me what has happened to her."
"I don't like people who fight with others if they aren't purebloods." Adrian seemed adamant to make Draco feel shameful at all costs, "Pierre used to do that. He said bad things about Mama; she is not a good woman; she doesn't have a husband; she doesn't have marriage anniversary; she doesn't have pureblood; I don't have pureblood." He pulled out more grasses looking extremely sullen, "My Mama is not pureblood but she is the best Mama in the world." He declared proudly.
"Of course she is." Draco wanted so much to reach out and stroke Adrian's lovely curls that he had inherited from Hermione and comfort him, "There is no doubt about that. Now tell me what happened to your Mama."
"Mama is having bad dreams." Adrian replied curtly, seemingly undecided whether he should let out more details about his beloved mother.
"Since when?" Draco, noting Adrian's disinterest, was cautious now to pursue the topic.
"For a week." Adrian replied, his innocent grey eyes on his new pet, Hedwig who was trudging across the patch of grass.
'Since the day she had that awful dream on pregnancy, slapped me in public and took refuge inside her quarter.' Draco immediately formulated out the timeline, 'So that is the reason she isn't coming out. Our meetings are triggering bad dreams. Hmm.' He thought, truly feeling for Hermione for the first time, "What about her crying? You said she cries a lot. How do you know?" he enquired from Adrian.
"I know because I see." Adrian seemed pretty obvious on the point, "But Mama also cries secretly. Once she cried in the bathroom. For hours until grandma Apolline came and took her out."
"When did that happen?" Draco was shocked at the new piece of information, "It didn't happen here, in this Château?" he asked for otherwise he would have known.
"No. Not here." Adrian tilted his head sideways and seemed truly reluctant to proceed with the conversation. "In grandma Apolline's home. Before we went to Brussels. Mama cried a lot one evening after she returned from her office. But don't think that Mama is a coward because she cries." He warned Draco, "She is the most bravest Mama in the world." He emphasized with two superlative degrees.
Draco was right in thinking that Adrian was taking him as his mother's contender and he desperately tried to change the view, "Of course she is! How could she not be? After all, she is a Gryffindor." He said hopefully with a tinge of pride, "Everyone knows how very brave they are!"
But instead of being pleased Adrian's innocent features grew darker and he stood up with an air of finality, "Thank you Monsieur for your kind offer but my Mama doesn't need your help." He said with such formal determination and ferocity that Draco was rendered speechless, "Mama has her mothers who love her and they will help her." he said and collecting his little owl from the ground, he left without a backward glance at his father.
Confused, defeated and sad, Draco sat on the grass long after Adrian had left, deeply in thought on how to mend his relationship with Hermione and Adrian.
•••••
Audré was devastatingly tired as she gently laid Hermione's head on pillow with Apolline's help. They tucked her in comfortably and with one last kiss on her forehead Audré left Hermione's bedroom with Apolline on tow.
The Friday afternoon had been an exceptionally emotional journey for her with so many words from Hermione who was under one of the lengthiest healing sessions: five hours, during which she had talked about her traumatic experiences to her mother under hypnotherapy.
It started with Audré and Adrian returning with their baking ingredients and finding Hermione deeply asleep on Apolline's lap who was shedding silent tears. Appalled, Adrian had been immediately ran to his mother and grandma's side. Audré was astonished at the little boy's sincere efforts to take care of his mother as he placed a comfortable cushion under Hermione's head, who was sleeping, curled into a ball on a double sofa. Apolline had cast a Silencing Spell over her and proceeded on with their Friday baking session, each too cheerful than they truly felt inside and Audré had left them to retrieve the memories Apolline had given her.
Even for a woman who was well accustomed to watching memories, some of which had contained gruesome and horrific scenes when they had belonged to Morpheus, the journey through Hermione's pregnancy memories wasn't an easy one for her. Audré had always known Hermione as a strong woman, no matter what, and her spirit to fight till the end was what made her so unique in her eyes. Hermione becoming the first female Chief Curse Breaker of Gringotts reminded Audré of her younger self before she met Morpheus, the outwardly strong and inwardly lonely young woman who first walked into the corridors of Sorbonne Wizarding Law School to pursue her career as an aspiring lawyer when there were hardly any female lawyers in magical community. Hermione's struggles with her son Adrian reminded Audré of her own struggles with her marriage to Morpheus, her hardships to uplift his damaged reputation and spirit; Hermione's determination to keep the baby she loved reminded Audré of her own when she decided to get married to the man she loved even if it was against all odds.
But these memories were a sublime indication of Hermione's vulnerability, her weaknesses, her yearnings and her susceptibility to people whose actions and words were way too harsh for a young soul as her. Previously, she had been on a boarding school fighting the Dark forces with the help of her friends. The evil had a face there: Lord Voldemort. But now, the evil was faceless; they were carried by ordinary looking people and based on their notions that they could judge Hermione just because she had chosen to keep the child she loved; just like they had judged Audré for choosing the man she loved: Morpheus.
Audré was deeply moved by Hermione's actions in those memories: her selling her mother's gift – that white gold locket - to preserve her self esteem, her efforts to save money for her child and opting for second-hand uniforms and books for her last year of education, her proud declaration on the face of abusive hags like Margot that Adrian wasn't a bastard just because she wasn't married before his conception and her true modesty with her family background that had remarkable achievements on both her parent's sides. Audré herself had heard of François Créquy – the Marshall of France – the man was famous for his outstanding bravery and now she had no doubts whatsoever on why Hermione was so brave herself.
After all, from her mother's side she was a descendent of brave soldiers: François Créquy and Joseph Hastings.
Audré had come out of those memories feeling a mixture of emotions: pride and heartache for Hermione; wrath and extreme dislike for Draco. Had he not been Morpheus's nephew Audré wondered what she would have done to him.
As a woman, she wanted nothing but to finish Draco off with one dose of poison like she had poisoned his caviars with Atropine Nightmare Potion to make him understand what Hermione felt in her rapist's presence; but as Morpheus's widow her duty was to take care of his living family who had come to her for help. As a sister, Audré understood the difficulty of Narcissa's situation and as a mother she felt for Hermione who had sacrificing all her happiness for the sake of her child: Adrian.
She had so many roles to play, so many pieces to move to steer both Draco and Hermione out of the peril Draco had fallen them into that Audré sometimes felt suffocated under the enormous pressure and expectations.
When she returned to Hermione's quarters at afternoon formulating the next session in her head, Apolline had had already taken care of the affair of lunch for her and Adrian and they were playing hide and seek in the adjoining garden.
Audré was immensely grateful that Apolline could read human faces and decipher their right expressions; while there, Audré had been planning to start on Hermione's session when she was already sleeping for there was the benefit of reduced inhibition. Apolline, by her intriguing ability had figured that out from one look on Audré's thoughtful demeanor and cooked up an excellent excuse to send Adrian off for a lengthy period of time.
She had asked Adrian to teach Hedwig how to fly and the innocent boy had been happy to take on the mission and left for the outer gardens with his assorted pets of rabbit and owlet.
"Do you think it was a wise idea? To send him alone like this?" Apolline had asked her skeptically, watching Adrian's retreating form, "I mean I am not very sure of that scoundrel who calls himself Adrian's father. What if he tried to approach him again?" she said in a low growl.
"Don't worry, Apolline." Audré had assured her guest with a gentle pat on shoulder and immediately sent a Patronus dove to her daughter Lillian to take care of the little boy as he played in the garden, "Adrian is his mother's son."
Apolline had smiled at her words, nodded and they had proceeded together with Hermione's session right away.
"After you left with Adrian I asked Jean what was wrong with her." Apolline offered Audré madeleines that she had freshly baked with Adrian's help, "She said she isn't prepared to accept that bastard as her husband and Adrian's father. No one could and I certainly don't blame her for that." she shrugged, "Jean told me how Sorceress Marianne called her and Malfoy at St. Joan's to talk about Adrian and what he was facing there. Honestly speaking, Audré, I am not surprised at Adrian's behaviour. I have raised that boy as much as Jean has raised him and I know him very well." She poured Audré a cup of tea, "Like you said, Adrian is his mother's son. I am not telling this merely out of emotions for the boy. I am a midwife Audré and I have seen how pregnancy shapes a child's personality even before he or she is born. It is not known how but it is proven fact among us who practice midwifery that while carrying a child inside her, a mother unconsciously passes her traits to her baby. Jean, as I have told you, is extremely secretive about her own feelings and so is Adrian. But they understand each other perfectly because they kind of share the same soul, though theoretically it isn't possible. Jean is suffering, thinking that she is causing her son to go through all these – not being able to give him a proper father and at the same time, when she is trying to imagine Draco Malfoy as Adrian's father, she is failing miserably. Adrian on the other hand, is suffering because he thinks his needs for a father is hurting his Mama for she can't accept the man who hurt her. So, they are basically in the same boat – thinking that one is suffering for the other and sacrificing their happiness thinking it's their fault."
"It's not Jean's fault, Apolline, neither is it Adrian's. It's entirely Draco's." Audré commented thoughtfully, finally identifying the root of the problem, "He should have thought better before imposing himself on them like that." she said, pondering over the new information with the ones she had gathered from Apolline's words, "Tell me Apolline, how did you know that I am planning to give Jean her session while she is sleeping? I never told you how I do it. Did she tell you?"
"No. Jean isn't the kind of woman who would tell me that she is under therapy. I know her thinking pattern very well, Audré. She shares only what makes her look strong. I can even guess the reason behind such an act: Jean thought if she told me she is suffering in her marriage, I'd blame myself for marrying her to that bastard." Apolline looked pained, "But no matter how hard Jean tries, we, Veelas have inherent power to read people's expressions and catch their lies." She confirmed Audré's speculations, "Veelas, in general, are very attractive and most people tend to fall into our charms and lie shamelessly to impress us. Had it not been for our power to decipher out the truth from the basket of lies, we, Veelas wouldn't have survived this magical community. So, when you arrived, Audré, I noticed that you watched Jean sleeping thoughtfully for a long minute and seemed to decide on something. That's when I understood you were planning to give her session while she was sleeping. Otherwise, you would've awakened her right away." She explained.
"Seems like I am not the only woman with good observations skills." Audré was genuinely astonished at Apolline's ability to observe and explain human behaviour out of it, "Let's begin before Jean wakes up."
The session that had followed had wrenched Audré of her last ounce of mental facility. She had never been this exhausted and when it was finally over with Hermione being carried to her bedroom to be put to rest for night, Audré let out a breath of contentment.
"She needs to have an undisturbed sleep." Audré warned Apolline who nodded, "This kind of session uses a lot of mind power and tires one up easily." She explained, carefully avoiding her own role in sucking up the negativity, "I am very sorry, Apolline, but I don't think I can be at dinner tonight. I am very tired." She confessed wearily, "And I will be mortified if I have to tell you to make yourself at home." she chided Apolline who suddenly pulled her to a tight embrace.
"I am so glad that Jean has you by her side, Audré." The half-Veela's arms were warm and comforting as they encircled around Audré, "I can never thank you enough for helping her like this."
"Like the households of Delacours, Apolline, the term 'Thank you' is strictly prohibited in Chombrun Malfoy's formidable presence." Audré quoted Apolline's earlier statement and wondered how this woman has somehow become her friend with her dedication towards Hermione and good observation skills, "I did nothing for Jean. I did it for my daughter."
"We'll decide on that argument when you are well rested." Apolline winked mischievously and let go of Audré, "I think you can send that Patronus of yours and tell Lillian that it is safe to bring Adrian now. I am planning to spend a memorable night with my grandson." She arched a challenging eyebrow.
"Suit yourself until Audré is back on action." Audré laughed and warned Apolline before leaving Hermione's quarter.
Before she retired to her suite for the night, Audré had one last work to do: visit her damned nephew.
Draco's suite was plunged in darkness when she entered it.
"Draco?" Audré called, "Draco?"
"I am here." Her nephew's voice was slightly slurring as it carried itself from the balcony beside sitting room and feeling curious she followed it.
Draco, Audré noticed when she walked into the spacious balcony, hadn't changed from his office clothes. He was sitting with his long legs placed on the small round table before him and to her surprise, he was drinking; the smell of Odgen's Old Firewhisky lingering in the air.
"You know Malfoy men don't drink at home, Draco." Audré settled on the couch beside her nephew, who had a lost look in his face as he sipped wine from his crystal goblet languidly, "It's prohibited before women and children." she reminded him firmly.
"Like I have women and children to take care of!" Draco's voice was drunk as he snorted audibly, "I have no one, aunt! No one! No mother! No wife! No son! No home! No money! I have nothing! Nothing to care for!" He proclaimed and emptied his goblet in one go.
"Are those the words of a man who said he would do anything to gain Jean's forgiveness?" Audré teased her nephew mercilessly, "Is this your doing 'anything'? Sitting in darkness and drinking like a fish?"
"Drinking like a fish?" Draco snorted louder than before, "Then you should have seen what Adrian had written on this drunk fish at school." He said and Audré frowned, "Father…" he announced loudly, "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." He seemed to read out an imaginary paragraph, "In that writing, Adrian didn't even bother to capitalize the word 'father'. And what is more? Draco spelling is D-R-A-K-O instead of D-R-A-C-O and Malfoy is malfoy: Malfoy with a small 'm'. At five and half, the child can't even spell his father's full name properly. And there is no way I can teach him how to spell my name correctly because his mother wouldn't let me anywhere near him. She herself has taken refuge in her Fideliused quarter because she can't stand me being around her. I mean, I can understand her point of view completely…she should hate me…flinch away at my presence…I am nothing but a beast…and I have hurt her very badly…" Draco tried to pour himself some more whisky and Audré snatched the bottle from his hand, "…but, for Merlin's sake, aunt, we have a child to take care of and that child is suffering because of us!" He let out an exasperated cry.
"Because of you, Draco." Audré corrected her nephew, her voice oddly calm, "Because of you. I told you not to bring him here by force. Told you to build yourself a career and take care of Adrian from distance. I told you to not destroy the life Jean has so painstakingly built for herself and Adrian. Told you that they will hate you for doing this; told you Adrian will hate you if he came to know the truth about his mode of conception. But you didn't listen to me." She shook her head. "What did you do instead? You kidnapped that boy at the dead of night in the name of Claiming. Forced the woman you raped to get married to you so that you can have Adrian under your wings. Why? Because you have no one left. Why? Because you want nothing but Adrian and now, even when you have seen, have understood how Jean is suffering, you want no one else but her too. Why? Because in your own words, 'she is pure'. Because she is innocent and no one except for Jean can give you a child like Adrian. Bravo, Draco, bravo!" Audré clapped her hands and Draco stared at her, "This is your doing 'anything'. Congratulations."
"If you came here to torment my poor soul, aunt, then I am pleased to inform you that you have succeeded with an 'O' for Outstanding grades." Draco said sarcastically, "I know I did wrong. I never denied it. I shouldn't have kidnapped Adrian. I shouldn't have forced Hermione into this marriage. She is very unhappy. I know it. I can sense it. Merlin's sake, I shouldn't have raped her in the first place!" He let out an anguished cry, "But why don't you understand, aunt, that I am also dying inside under the pressure of these crimes that I have committed. And I can't take this anymore. Hermione's hatred, mother's hatred, Adrian's rejection…I just can't take them anymore. I am a human…no, I am beast…I am a horrible monster who should be dead…" He hung his head in resignation and hid his face in his hands, "…maybe it's impossible to believe it, aunt…but I have a heart too…and it beats for them….and thinking of Adrian and Hermione, humanizes me…when I think about her…about him…about them… I think differently. They make me want to live…they give me hope for a better life as a better man… that there will be a day when I will earn their love and respect…that Adrian will call me 'father'…and will write my name as 'Draco' instead of 'Drako'…and Hermione will accept my apology…and maybe…maybe accept me as her husband too…and I live everyday with this hope that we will have a home together…that Hermione will trust me…trust me that I will never ever hurt her again… and I will take care of her like a man should…like her husband should…" he broke off and sniffed.
Audré didn't interrupt Draco's stream of words and waited patiently for more to follow.
"I can't fail her now…aunt, now that we have nothing but Adrian…now that I have nothing but them…" he resumed in a low whisper, "…and I am trying my best…working…studying…taking part in that blasted experiment for those memories…I am tired but I am doing everything in my powers to reach her…you know, aunt, that I almost died just the day before yesterday trying to retrieve the third batch… if that isn't doing 'anything', aunt, I don't know what is?"
Audré sighed deeply.
What was she supposed to do now?
Whom should she help?
Hermione who was suffering and desperately trying to get away from Draco?
Or Draco who was suffering to get closer to Hermione and Adrian?
The game was becoming more difficult now, with so many emotions and sides involved: for Hermione, for Adrian, for Draco and for Narcissa. Then there was the question of her conscience.
If Hermione wins the battle, Draco loses it.
And if Draco wins the battle, Hermione loses it and this woman has lost everything because of him.
So has Draco.
Now, they both have no one except for Adrian as a beacon of hope for them.
"I came not to torment but to give you something." Audré vanished the remaining of the Firewhisky and transfigured the bottle into a small phial, "I thought you would need it." she placed the tip of her wand on her temple and concentrated on the memories of Hermione's session that hadn't been over half an hour ago.
"More memories?" Draco asked her skeptically once she placed the phial on his hand, "I haven't had the chance to decipher the meaning of the last batch and now this?"
"I knew you couldn't." Audré said, finally standing up, "You have certain shortcomings."
"What shortcomings?" Draco asked, sounding affronted.
"You are…" Audré paused and smirked, "…let's say you are a man and a man never understands a woman's point of view unless he receives help from her. But don't watch them now…" she warned her nephew who was eyeing the contents of the phial with an odd expression, "…being drunk, you are in no condition to think rationally and decipher what they really mean. Get up, go and take a bath, finish your supper and have a good night's sleep. Watch them only when you are ready." She advised and left Draco's suite to retire in her Grand Chamber for the night.
Even for a Grand Chamber in Château de la Grange-Bléneau, Audré's suite was nowhere near a grand one. When her father, Renée de Chombrun had bought the Château in 1955, he asked his wife to decorate any suite as per her wish and liking and Josée Laval had chosen the large suite that faced south so that they had plenty of wind and light. After her untimely death, Audré's father had shifted to a smaller suite just beside it. Audré, after her marriage, however had occupied her parent's old suite not because they were the largest in the entire Château complex; she chose them for they had her mother's personal touch. Morpheus, respecting his wife's decision, hadn't objected to it.
Now, ten years after her husband's death, Audré has not vacated her old chambers like her father did when her mother had died; true that Renée Chombrun had not been able to forget Josée for the rest of his life but he couldn't stand to be at the presence of her memories either. They were too painful for him. But for Audré, the memories of her mother and husband were nothing but bliss and sanctuary. She cherished them and grew strong on them.
The large bed that was once used by them as a couple was still made the way Morpheus liked it: with plain white sheets. The man had had enough of Malfoy grandeur for a life time and usually opted for ordinary things when it came to decorating his bedroom. Audré had kept faithful to the tradition even after his death.
Exhausted beyond any mortal description, Audré entered her bedroom and trudged across it to reach the bed that she hardly used for sleeping. She laid her tired body down on it and winced slightly as a sharp stab of pain shot up her neck as soon as it touched the soft pillows.
Numerous thoughts regarding Hermione and Draco broke out like an epidemic when she closed her tired eyes wondering how to do justice on them both.
How very strange that she had been asked to play the part of an impartial Judge while in reality she was a lawyer!
It was not her job to listen to both parties and deliver a fair sentence; that had been Morpheus's job when he was alive. Audré's job was to fight for the justice of her client using her cool intellect and knowledge in the field of Wizarding Law and those laws stated that Draco should be punished severely for his heinous crimes: rape and kidnap and Hermione should be freed from this miserable marriage.
If only there was a way to help them both because now the matter of an innocent child was also involved!
If only there was a way she could…
"You think too much, my little dove!" a voice purred softly into her ears and Audré's breath froze inside her chest.
'Morpheus!' she thought incredulously, unable to believe her own ears and carefully opening her eyes a fraction of an inch to squint.
Her husband's kind features swam into view; his face hovering just an inch from her, as he smiled serenely at her.
"Morpheus!" Audré exclaimed softly, discarding her earlier doubts, "Morpheus!" she repeated the name only to make sure that she wasn't dreaming.
"Dove!" her husband closed the gap between their faces and planted a soft kiss on Audré's forehead, "There is no need to be so shocked. It's indeed me – your Morpheus and I assure you that you aren't dreaming though in Greek Mythology, Morpheus was the God of sleep and dream." He chuckled.
Audré's arms automatically encircled themselves around her husband's neck and she pulled him closer, forgetting that the man was long dead and couldn't be felt bodily, "You left me alone." She complained like a young stubborn girl.
"Such horrible accusations!" Morpheus's lips were still pressed against Audré's forehead as he exclaimed, "I wouldn't dream of it."
"Don't deny it, Morpheus." Audré sniffed slightly and buried her face into his chest, trying to minimize the gap between them, "You did leave me alone."
"You sound more like our dear little grandson – Adrian." Morpheus was highly amused, "But he is five and half and you are nearly fifty." He reminded her.
"As if I care!" Audré tightened her embrace, "I don't want to be fifty, Morpheus, I want to be five again. I am tired… very very tired." She breathed in the scent of her husband, "You still smell the same…of apple and cinnamon…and I miss it so much…"
"And you feel the same...soft and warm…" Morpheus pressed a kiss on Audré's temple, "…and I wish I can hold you like this for eternity…I know what you want, dove, you want to be young and carefree once again… I know you want to have your maman, papa, me and our children together…have a nice, big, happy family and not have a care in the world. I know you are tired of this lonely life…like I was before we met…I know how you never display your weakness…your tears…your helplessness…I know, Audré, trust me I know it all…"
"I am so tired of manipulating for the sake of our family, Morpheus." Audré relished every single tiny touch of her husband against her skin, "I don't know what to do with Jean and Draco. As a mother I want to see Jean happy with the man she loves – Alexis but due to my greater responsibilities as the head of the family, I can't discard Draco to his own fate. I am not a judge, Morpheus. I am a lawyer. I fight for justice, I don't deliver justice. But look at the mess I am into! What do I do now?" she cried helplessly, "Draco is desperate to have Jean and Adrian in his life; he is doing everything in his power to have them. And Jean is desperate to get out of his clutches with her son. In between them, it's Adrian who is suffering. I can't blame Jean, she has sacrificed all her happiness for Adrian but…" she broke off when Morpheus softly kissed over her eyes.
"Listen, dove." His voice was not more than a whisper, "Nothing happens in this world without a reason behind it."
"You mean…" Audré started but Morpheus hushed her with a kiss on her nose.
"I know it sounds superstitious, dove, but I believe in signs." He said softly, "Think, dearest, with millions of kids walking on the planet Draco chose to bump into none other than his only living son at Tuileries? What more? He was a widower and childless at that time. And why do you think that happened?" he asked her.
"I don't know." Audré confessed, "Why do you think?"
"Simple, dearest, because there is an unfinished business between them." Morpheus voice made it sound obvious, "Either they are meant to end up together or the perpetrator will be punished this time for the crimes he thought would be left forgotten. And no matter what you do, Audré how hard you try to manipulate it, you can't change it."
"But Morpheus…" Audré started again when her husband silenced her with a soft kiss on lips.
"Even at fifty you still taste like our first time." he pulled away after a while with Audré basking in the glorious aftermath of their kiss, "Listen to me carefully, dove, what is supposed to happen will happen and no force can stop it now. All I can say is, since it is Draco who started it, it will be he who ends it. Meanwhile, you concentrate on what you were doing: trying to purge Jean of her painful memories so that when time comes, she can make an unbiased decision regarding her and Adrian's life. That's all we can do for now, Audré, for this game that is being run by forces that are beyond our control."
Audré didn't know what to comment on her husband's words. For her, they were strangely meaningful and yet she felt that she couldn't accept them whole heartedly. How was it possible that Hermione and Adrian suffers before her eyes and she did nothing but wait and watch?
"I told you, dearest, you think too much." Morpheus seemed to read along the lines of her thought and he turned them sideways, "Sleep now and let me do justice on my name as Morpheus." He whispered softly.
"I love you." Audré finally gave in and snuggled against her husband's warm aura, "Take me with you." She implored breathing in his intoxicating scent.
"I love you, Audré, and we will be together. But not tonight, my dove." He kissed her softly on his head, "Not tonight." He whispered.
Audré didn't know how the Greek God Morpheus made mortals to fall asleep. Her husband named after that same god had shown propensity for exactly the opposite whenever it was time to go to bed: lay awake for the fear of nightmares. But tonight, cuddled like a doll in the arms of the man she truly loved and belonged to, Audré finally realized how sleep comes.
Morpheus was humming a strange note and with each passing moment, Audré's eyes were becoming heavy with sleep.
Hush now my lady,
Hush now my dove…
The angels are watching,
From heaven above…
They know that I love you,
They know that it's true…
I'll stay here beside you,
Whatever you do…
When I wake beside you,
I feel like I shine…
I wish you forever,
And ever be mine…
A new day comes tomorrow,
When you open your eyes…
You let in the sunshine,
And all darkness dies…
The last thing Audré remembered before falling into the fathomless depth of sleep were her husband's beautiful grey orbs smiling kindly at her; and then it was losing herself in them.
TO BE CONTIBUED IN NEXT CHAPTER…