A/N: Thanks to SereniteRose, Grovek26, cordee, Zeehana and roni2010 for your kind reviews on last chapter. I am very grateful for their subtle opinions on the story.
Thanks everyone for the follows and favourites.
**This chapter is the last installment of the four part series. This is the beginning of the last part of the story. Here I have tried to portray how our perspective on something changes with time and maturity. Both Draco and Audré will have change of heart here, based on their view of the issue that they are dealing.
Acknowledgements:
*** A big and hearty thanks to AMBERJANUS for her help in Draco's Villa and Entail law. ***
** All the placed described here in and outside France were taken from Tripadvisor and several other websites.
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.
Draco's Villa 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.
For adult theme and words, the Chapter is rated: M
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 66: Words, Feelings, Memories and Plans (Part 4)
Black and white shadows were playing before Hermione's eyes and she opened them slowly.
She was staring at the underside of a canopy of rich silver and green foliages that were strewn across the backdrop of a clear blue sky of watercolour ink.
The tree with silver and green leaves was vaguely familiar and Hermione kept looking at it, all the while trying to remember where she had seen a similar looking tree as its soft wood cracked sometimes in the high wind, making the sound of a natural wooden chime.
Where had seen the tree?
Where?
Where…
Hermione tried hard to recall while breathing in the scent of an unknown yet comforting and light aquatic fragrance that the cool and soothing air war carrying to her nostrils.
Where…
And then like a flash of lightening, she remembered.
It was the same tree she had seen her aunt Audré laid down under whenever she was stressed.
The Silver Maple tree that she once said during one of their morning strolls across the vast garden that her mother had planted just a week before her death.
What was she doing under Audré's mother's tree?
Skeptic, Hermione tried to recollect her last thoughts and this time it came with unexpected ease.
She was in her mother's arm in the midst of a terrible thunderstorm when everything went black.
She must have passed out then and she was in her mother's arm at that time…
In her mother's arm…
Feeling a sudden sense of excitement in her veins, Hermione sat up immediately and looked around for any trace of her mother.
"Mum? Mum!" she tried to stand up on her feeble legs taking the support of the tree trunk and that was when she got another surprise.
She was clad in a scarlet dress of richest silk, its smooth fabric flowing around her like a graceful swan.
Scarlet dress?
Scarlet dress!
Gryffindor scarlet!
Where did it come from?
She doesn't have one…
"Mum?" awed beyond measure, Hermione called after her mother again, "Mum, are you there? Did you give me this dress?" she felt the soft fabric between her fingers and asked, recalling how in her dream, her Muggle mother had been a witch.
"Mum?"
"Mum!"
"MUM!"
But no matter how hard she called her, no reply came and Hermione decided to leave the sanctuary of the Silver Maple tree to explore the forest around her a little more with impossible hopes that her mother was still there somewhere, waiting for her daughter and would come to her rescue whenever she was in distress.
It was a forest unlike anything Hermione had seen before and she has spent quite some time in both Muggle and Magical forest: the Forest of Dean and Forbidden Forest.
In contrast to those, she discovered as she walked on the bare ground bare feet, this forest was sunny with thick rays of sunlight perforating the lush green canopy of leaves that the tall trees has spread overhead; the grass under her feet was short and manicured; her surroundings were full of colourful mushrooms and berries hanging from the thickets under the trees.
"What is this place?" she turned around and around in astonishment and whispered to herself, trying to decipher how she got there when suddenly a pure white rabbit came running from under a thicket of wild roses.
For Hermione, it was the cutest animal she has ever had the fortune to lay her eyes upon.
As if it knew her, the rabbit came to a halt before Hermione and forgetting her enchanted surroundings she reached out to take it in her arms.
But before she could, the little rabbit hopped and jumped onto Hermione's lap.
And she encircled her arms around the quivering body of the tiny being savouring its presence with delight.
Everything was perfect.
The enchanted forest…
The dress…
The Silver Maple tree…
The scent in the air…
The rabbit in her arms…
And above all, the knowledge and feeling that she was protected…
…That no harm can reach her as long as her mother was around…
It was such a relief!
Hermione felt lighter than a feather…
…Higher than a cloud…
…Happier than a chirping bird…
"Mama! Mama!" the rabbit called her and brought Hermione out of her musings. She frowned slightly, looking down at it all the while thinking if she was in that fairy land of 'Alice in Wonderland' when the surroundings of enchanted forest and white rabbit vanished.
And her eyes opened again.
This time a pair of grey eyes was looking directly into her and they bore the same innocence and beauty of the rabbit that Hermione was holding in her dream forest under the Silver Maple tree.
"Mama? Mama? Are you alright?" the little boy's voice was full of tender anticipation as he enquired and Hermione suddenly realized the meaning of that dream rabbit in her arms.
It was none other than her Adrian. Her little rabbit.
And with pleasant surprise she realized that instead of being in her arms it was the rabbit that was holding her in his little arms that encircled around her neck.
"Mama? Are you okay?" Adrian asked her again and Hermione, awestruck and too overwhelmed to reply after the short visit in the enchanted forest, simple nodded and gave a large yawn before burying her face in her son's little chest.
She always felt so safe in those little arms even if they belonged to a five and a half year old boy.
"Yes, little rabbit, Mama is okay and alright." She said sleepily, snuggling against him, "She is in her rabbit's arms." She said fondly.
"You didn't have any bad dreams, did you, Mama?" her son's anxious voice reached her ears and Hermione shook her head slightly remembering the bizarre dream where her mum and Apolline had come to rescue her from a quicksand in Forbidden Forest and they talked for hours under a tree which was followed by storms during which she passed out.
It had been a very bad dream initially but her mother saved her from it.
And now she was safe.
In her heart Hermione knew that she was safe.
She felt strangely tranquil and drained as if all her woes had been washed away during that thunderstorm and nothing remained but a sense of purging out something that was troubling her for a very long time.
"No." she replied truthfully, "Mama is just fine." She affirmed embracing her son around his midsection, "Enough lying in, little rabbit. Now let's get up or we will be late for school."
Adrian laughed as if he was highly amused by her words, "Mama, you are so funny sometimes." He chastised her lightly, "It is Saturday."
Hermione was rendered speechless at her son's words.
The last time she remembered herself to be conscious was on Friday morning when Apolline had arrived and she fell asleep on her lap while crying. For inexplicable reasons she had thought that it had been only for an hour or two and now that she was feeling better she could persuade Adrian to attend the rest of his Friday classes. But from Adrian's words it was evident that she was wrong.
She had slept an entire day without even realizing it!
"What? I slept an entire day?" Hermione exclaimed and tried to sit up but Adrian prevented her.
"No! Mama!" he cried and forced Hermione to lie down on their bed next to him, "Don't be scared! I am here! Your man is here! I'll take care of you, relax, Mama, relax!" he embraced her even tightly and kissed on her forehead, "Please, Mama, don't cry or scream again." He pleaded.
If Hermione was previously surprised that she had slept an entire day without food or waking up to go to the loo or without any knowledge of her son's whereabouts, it was nothing compared to what she felt after Adrian tried to cajole her with his sincere pleas that he was there to take care of her. The little boy was just two monthes away from his sixth birthday and here he was behaving like a mature man should – taking care of his old mother.
"Mama won't cry, little rabbit." Hermione hugged her son and said, trying to overcome the lump of emotion she felt in her throat, "Mama will never cry again. For the sake of her little rabbit, Mama will never cry again, Adrian."
"Promise?" Adrian asked, his voice calmer and his embrace slightly relaxed now.
"Promise." Hermione proclaimed truthfully, "But can we get up now?" she asked remembering that she had weekend chores which she preferred to do herself rather than burdening the house elves with it and that she had Apolline as her guest.
"No! We are lying in." Adrian declared dismissively and to make his point clear, he hugged Hermione tightly again, "You will tell me a story."
"Now?" Hermione couldn't be more surprised at her son's efforts to make her feel good, "In the morning?" she asked skeptically.
"Yes. In the morning." Adrian was just as stubborn as Hermione was and maybe even more, "Now tell me a story." He bid firmly.
Hermione took a deep breath and braced herself; she knew there was no way out once Adrian has made up his mind about something. The little boy was an exact replica of his mother who according to her mother – Adeline Granger, was as stubborn as a mule. Besides, it was Saturday morning and she could lie in late for a while.
"Fine." She huffed in feigned anger, letting Adrian think that he had won over his mother, "Once upon a time, in a distant land there was a very famous kingdom that was grand, beautiful and rich." She started her fairy tale when Adrian interrupted her as per his usual behaviour during story telling.
"What is the kingdom's name?" he asked her curiously.
"It's called United Kingdom or Great Britain. The country from where we – you and Mama hail from. It is a very old land, little rabbit, as old as the time with a very rich history and tradition. We even have real kings and queens. Queen Elizabeth the Second is the current Queen of the Sovereign Britain and 'God save the Queen' is our national anthem." Hermione replied proudly and feeling a slight pang of pain in her heart thinking of her homeland, "Anyways, one of those kings, a king who is still famous for his bravery, good heart and kindness was King Arthur."
It was one of the most beautiful mornings that Hermione spent with her son telling him the story of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table; about Merlin, Excalibur the sword and the Lady of the Lake offering it to him. It was like one of those days of her forgotten childhood when her own grandmother used to tell her the story which was considered a legend both in Muggle and magical world alike. And the name Arthur specifically reminded her of one and only Mr. Weasley, the man who had been gracious to her Muggle parents, had understood their urgency to find and destroy the Horcruxes and lost one of his sons in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Where did those innocent days of her life go?
In fighting Voldemort and his evil forces.
And now she was telling the same story to her son who has never even been to his own country.
"They say that Excalibur could cut steel, little rabbit…" Hermione was telling an awed looking Adrian about the famous sword when Apolline's voice came from the door.
"And they say it is unwise to anger a Veela." She said in a slightly demanding tone, "Even if she is a half one." She added.
"Mother? Good morning." Hermione extricated herself from Adrian's tight embrace and sat up with difficulty, "I told Adrian that we have guest but he insisted that I tell him a story."
"Guest? Am I?" Apolline scowled in an uncharacteristic way as she settled down on Hermione's bed, "In my own daughter's home?" she arched an challenging eyebrow.
"No, no, I didn't mean that, Mother." Hermione defended herself, "I was just saying that I slept an entire day and you had to take care of Adrian all alone…erm…so…" she said when Apolline silenced her with a quelling look.
"Utter rubbish, Jean, you know better yourself that I changed more nappies of Adrian than you ever did." she snapped bossily at Hermione, "So don't fret about it because I didn't come here to receive your enchanting hospitality. I know how very good you are at cooking." She said and Hermione let out an embarrassed sigh thinking her shortcomings in that particular field, "Therefore I made breakfast for us and we are waiting for you two at the table."
"We?" Hermione noticed the plural form immediately.
"Me and your sister-in-law, Lillian." Apolline replied, "I must say, Jean, that girl is very intelligent and a quick learner." She said approvingly, "I was making breakfast in your tiny kitchen when she came in to tell me that Audré has gone out on some urgent work and can't be present with us when she noticed that I was making crêpes. Do you know what she did?"
"What?" Hermione asked skeptically, having thousands of possibilities in her head.
"Helped me in making them." Apolline replied and Hermione let out an involuntary cough remembering Lillian's opinion on temperamental Veelas, "In return I taught her some of my own secrets on how to make the best crêpes in entire France." She winked proudly, "Now if you want to have that when it is still warm and good, come down as fast as your lazy butts allow you." she said dismissively and stood up to leave.
"But grandma, what about my story? Arthur and his Knights?" Adrian, it seemed wasn't giving up on Hermione's story too soon, "I want to hear about Excabilur." He protested and pouted his lips.
"Young man, you had your fair share of stories last night when I told you at least seven. Now you'll get up and get ready for the day." Apolline was pointing an index finger threateningly and Adrian immediately made his 'special sad face for persuasion' that always made Hermione laugh, "Boys and men! They are equally spoiled. Give them some liberty and they'll try to eat your head." she threw her hands in the air in defeat, "Gustave has Flooed me three times since morning, Jean, asking me where his socks, his vests and his handkerchiefs are. Holy Nostradamus! That man is fifty five now, runs an entire apothecary business and still he doesn't know where I keep his clothes. I am sure that by this time they have turned the entire home upside down. Fools! Complete fools!" she said and left with an angry huff as Hermione started laughing.
Things were turning out strange this morning.
She was feeling extremely good.
She slept an entire day without knowing it.
Her son asked her to tell him a story in the morning.
Lillian who was very disapproving of temperamental Veelas was making breakfast with Apolline.
And now Apolline was berating Gustave for his carelessness.
She wondered what more was to come.
"But Mama I am good man." Adrian was still sporting his special face of persuasion with puppy dog eyes and pouting lips, "I know where my socks are." He said matter-of-factly showing Hermione his own closet.
"Yeah you do, but that doesn't stop you from asking Mama whenever you need them." Hermione pointed out prudently and left the bed with a final stretch of her limbs.
"But Mama, Excabilur?" Adrian stomped his little feet on the bed, demanding more of Hermione's story.
"It's not Excabilur, Adrian, it's Excalibur." Hermione corrected her son and went to take out his clothes from the closet, "You heard Mother, little rabbit. We ought to be at breakfast." She said dismissively.
"I think I'll ask uncle Alexis to make me an Excabilur next." Adrian used wrong word unabashedly again, "I'll be King Adrian and I'll have my own Excabilur. I am bored of savior, Mama, I want to be a King now."
Hermione sighed deeply.
Alexis.
The name always brings out deep sighs from her heart.
What was she today and what could she have been had Malfoy not butted in?
She could have been happy with the man she loves and even had a baby for Adrian.
The life she had always dreamt of.
A small home.
A small family.
And lots of love and happiness.
Harry…
The Weasleys…
Hogwarts…
And maybe her parents…
'Forget it, Hermione, just forget it.' she sighed internally and shook her head reminding herself the impossibility of the dream now that she was Draco Malfoy's wife, 'Some things are better left forgotten.'
"Excalibur, Adrian, Excalibur." She corrected her son again, trying to suppress her next sigh and appear cheerful before him.
"No, Excabilur!" Adrian protested giving Hermione a wicked smile.
"Excalibur!"
"Excabilur!"
"Excalibur!"
"Excabilur!"
"It's Excalibur, Adrian and we are going for a bath now." Hermione let out a fake angry growl before lifting her son in her arms.
"To the Lady of the Lake who'll give me the Excabilur! Hoorah!" Adrian was nonplussed and Hermione snorted loudly.
"Merlin save me from these stubborn men." She huffed defeatedly.
•••••
"That's quite enough, Céline, I assure you that I've been eaten enough for an entire week." Audré tried to restrain the elderly woman from pouring her another cup of hot chocolate.
The woman in question, Madame Céline Durant dismissed Audré's objections with a wave of her hand and served her a small saucer of petit fours with another cup of steaming hot chocolate.
"It's already quite cold outside, Audré." She said pointing at the window panes that were hazy from a thick layer of moisture on the inner side, "You haven't taken anything at all. Is that your family tradition?" she asked her, "Because last time your nephew came here, he hardly touched anything that I served before him." She said casting a disapproving glance at Draco's direction who seemed decidedly lost.
Saturday morning for Audré has started in a very different way.
Being insomniac, she usually never sleeps except for an hour in early hours of dawn. When she wakes up, Audré takes a tour of her gardens and sometimes when she feels like it, she takes a morning walk around her neighbourhood. It feels good to watch people like her to come out in early morning, buy baguettes from the local bakery and return home eating the ends of the freshly baked breads. Sometimes, she exchanges greetings with her Muggle neighbours who know her as a rich widower with charming children and lots of charity work. After returning to her Château, overlooking the household works for the Elves and making sure that the pantry is full Audré goes for a shower and prepares herself for the day.
That is her ideal and everyday routine.
But that routine was broken last night when she fell asleep in the arms and charms of her deceased husband Morpheus who claimed to want to do justice on his name as the Greek God of Dream and Sleep.
It had been very refreshing for Audré couldn't recall sleeping like that for a very long time.
In fact she hasn't slept for almost thirty years now.
And yet she slept last night.
Such a sound sleep it was!
Like Adrian when he sleeps in Hermione's arms.
Maybe that's why people call a good sleep 'sleeping like a child.'
And she has slept like a child last night.
A child who was five years old with no care and worry in the world.
With maman and papa to protect her from woes and worries.
And in the arms of the man she loves with all her heart and soul.
When she woke at around seven o' clock it was too late for morning walk and Audré had decided to make a few circles of her gardens before starting the day when her esteemed nephew barged into her Grand Chamber.
Audré had never seen Draco like that.
He looked haggard and disheveled.
As if he had been caught in a storm and came out unscathed with much difficulty.
And in the process something inside him had been shaken.
"What happened to Hermione? Did she survive that thunderstorm?" had been his first questions after his un-ceremonial entry into Audré's suite.
"Good morning, nephew." Audré had greeted his nephew sweetly, "Do you think I'd be here otherwise?" she asked instead, "Do you think I am the kind who'd leave Jean in that mess?" she asked him solemnly.
Draco had scratched his scalp undecidedly, eyeing Audré with concern.
"Where is she now?" he had asked her.
"Where she should be." Audré had replied lightly, remembering the enchanted forest her mother Josée Laval had described to her during their game of 'imagine your mind'. After the storm ended, she had placed the unconscious woman clad in a silk dress of Gryffindor colour of scarlet under the Silver Maple tree that was her sanctuary before leaving Hermione's dreams with Apolline. Her only goal was to make her feel safe and she prayed that she had succeeded in it.
"And where is that 'where'?" Draco had demanded stubbornly.
"In the land of Fairies, nephew." Audré replied with a specialized enigmatic smirk of hers, "Now tell me to why I owe this early morning visit of yours?" she asked him, "You could've asked me about Jean without breaking into by bedroom like that."
"Sorry, but I wanted to show you something." Draco replied as if trying to make up his mind on something, "Can you come with me, aunt?"
"Where?" Audré asked, wondering what it was all about for she had expected him to ask her numerous questions regarding the memory she had given him.
"The place that'll soon be called Otter's Pond." Her nephew replied, "Hermione's dream cottage."
"Have you found one?" Audré couldn't be more surprised at the little piece of information.
"Yes." Draco replied, "It's in Rue de la Colombe, just a street away from Hôtel Dieu." He seemed having difficulty in making up his mind, "It's exactly five minutes walking distance from Adrian's school. It's also close to Delacour residence; just as Hermione had wanted."
Audré didn't know how to feel about the sudden good news.
Should she be sad?
Did that mean that Hermione was defeated again?
And now there was no way she could challenge Draco's Claim on Adrian?
She would be forcefully stuck in this loveless marriage until Adrian turned seventeen and has to accept Draco as her husband?
And her dreams of a happy family was smothered forever?
Or should she be happy?
That Draco was slowly coming into senses and acting like he should be?
What should she do?
'You think too much, my little dove!' Morpheus's words of the previous night suddenly played inside her head, 'Nothing happens in this world without a reason behind it. 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.'
'All I can say is, since it is Draco who started it, it will be he who ends it.'
'All I can say is, since it is Draco who started it, it will be he who ends it.'
'All I can say is, since it is Draco who started it, it will be he who ends it.'
The last sentence echoed across Audré's mind thrice before she finally got its meaning.
So Draco was supposed to pay and end what he started the day he raped Hermione!
Gracious Nostradamus!
So that was what he meant by those words!
Why didn't she get that when Morpheus said that to her last night?
Was she too tired that her mental facilities weren't working properly?
Or was she too overwhelmed to have her husband by her side almost ten years after his death?
Audré didn't know the answer but after that newfound realization about Morpheus's words, there was no way she could reject such a tempting offer of visiting the place that Draco was planning to buy for Hermione and after a quick shower she had readied herself to accompany him.
Her nephew had been extremely grave during their journey to St. Joan's by Grand Floo. Audré, all the while, had wondered why they were going to her old school the day it was closed but refrained herself from asking any questions to her brooding nephew. She knew it would be revealed sooner or later. Once there, Draco's motives became clear when he asked to see Sorceress Marianne and when she came out from the Teacher's quarters he asked her to take them to Monsieur Durant's home.
"It's currently called Meadowmoor Cottage." He had told her in an undertone as Marianne, after greeting Audré and thanking her for accompanying Draco, left the school and started walking down the lanes of Ile de la Cité to take them to their intended destination, "Adrian's headmistress is the owner's family friend and they have her touch imbibed into their front door to prevent the…" he couldn't finish the rest of the sentence when Audré ended it with, "Possible intruders. Yes. The Touch Sensor Charms." She nodded, "Even we have that in our Château's Front Gates." She informed Draco who seemed unmoved by this new piece of information about his uncle's dwelling place.
The walk to Meadowmoor Cottage was neither time consuming nor unpleasant one for Audré. For one, Draco was right in saying that it was exactly five minutes walking distance from St. Joan's. For another, the place had the unusual yet most desired quaint charm of normal Parisian life; it was a wonder in itself for the place was in the heart of the French capital but away from the hustle and bustle of the main city. The neighbourhood was serene and quiet, almost like Château de la Grange-Bléneau in Courpalay.
Audré was contemplating on Morpheus's words as she followed Marianne and Draco up on a flight of stone steps that were roughly hewn.
'I know it sounds superstitious, dove, but I believe in signs.'
How was it possible that Draco got the home he was looking for just at the time it was required?
Was it mere luck, something that the Malfoys claim as their eternal companions?
Or a lucky co-incidence?
Or was it something bigger than that?
'This game is being run by forces that are beyond our control.' Morpheus had said to her.
A practical woman such as Audré who believed that 'man makes his own destiny' couldn't possibly take that explanation open-heartedly. It was one thing to ask for help from her mother knowing that she would always be there to help her and it was another thing to believe in fate.
Her logic said that there was no such thing as fate and yet in her mind there was feeling that there was some connection between mankind, their actions and fates.
Draco and Hermione meeting after six longs year to solve their unsettled issues; Was it a game of fates?
Was it, like Morpheus it put it, a game run by higher forces that were beyond their control?
Audré didn't know the answer.
She and Draco, both decidedly lost in their own stream of thoughts, had followed Marianne into the Meadowmoor Cottage after she opened the front gate for them with her touch. Walking down a narrow but ornamented garden path, Marianne brought them into a clearing and called for Monsieur Durant.
It turned out that Monsieur Durant was out to run some business errand but his wife, Céline Durant, who was five years older than Audré, was at their kitchen baking some croissants. She came out hurriedly following Marianne's calls to greet her early morning guests, wiping her hands in her white apron and after learning that Audré Chombrun Malfoy – Granddaughter of ex-Minister of Magic Pierre Laval, had come to visit her humble home with an intention to buy it for her nephew Draco Malfoy, she was more than happy to show her around the place.
"You can see, Madame, that we aren't rich enough to buy a house in a place like this – rue de la Colombé." She said good naturedly, showing them the beautiful and well-tended small garden full of all season flower plants, "Even at fifty five, I am well capable of doing my own chores and don't need or have an Elf." She said and Draco's disapproving snort on that remark wasn't missed by Audré, "Actually, Meadowmoor Cottage was a gift from the Ministry to my Father-in-law, the late Eugene Durant."
"Eugene Durant!" Audré couldn't help but let out a dignified exclaim.
"I knew you'd remember him from his name alone. Everyone does." Céline was smiling pleasantly, "He was your grandfather Pierre Laval's most trusted and reliable advisor."
How could Audré forget Eugene Durant?
The elderly man was her grandpa, Minister of Magic's, right hand during his term in the office and it was a well known fact among the magical community that Monsieur Laval never took any decisions on the matters of state without consulting Eugene first. So deep was his reliance on Eugene that during conversations with her father Renée, Audré's grandpa used to call him 'Walsigham of France'.
"Queen Elizabeth had Walsigham and I have Eugene." Pierre Laval used to say proudly, "Really, Renée, I am very lucky to have an advisor like him because clear-headed men like him aren't born every day. And I need him more than ever now, with the rise of the Dark Lord and plots by his French followers to throw me out my office; it's very difficult to run the office under such pressures." he had been grave in the last sentence.
"I have heard a lot about Eugene Durant. Specially from my late grandpére; he used to call him Walsingham of France." Audré said, astonished that she was finally meeting the famous man's family under such unusual circumstances, "But I was never fortunate enough to meet him in person. I was quite young when my grandfather served his term as the Minister."
"My father-in-law was an honest man, Madame Malfoy…" Céline started when Audré silenced her.
"I apologize for interrupting you, Madame, but please call me Audré." She offered and let Céline continue her earlier conversation.
"My father-in-law was an honest man, Audré." Céline emphasized the name this time with a tiny wink, "He never used his influences on the Minister to gain money, land or power. We might not be rich but we were a nice big family living in one of the suburbs of Paris from where my father-in-law used to attend his office in the Ministry every day." Céline reminisced proudly, "Everything was going on fine until Monsieur Eugene fell ill suddenly. He loved me like his own daughter, Audré and I took care of him as much as I could but he never fully recovered." She let out a sad sigh, "Since he couldn't continue his work at that state of health, he was granted retirement and your grandpére sanctioned us this cottage from the Ministry's Special Properties in return of his service to the French Ministry of Magic as well as a making his treatment free of cost for the remainder of his life."
The tea that followed was one of the pleasant ones that Audré had attended till date.
Durants it appeared had moved in the Meadowmoor Cottage after it was given under their name for a life tenancy. Their children – a son and two daughters, who were all settled in their respective lives - had attended St. Joan's like most French kids did and during that period Sorceress Marianne became their family friend. Now with their principle work done, the elderly couple was wishing to return to the land of their ancestors: Hungary.
Their home, for Audré was one of the most ideal cottages she had ever been. The property had a touch of modern facilities in it – two bathrooms with a good selection of stylish fittings and bathtubs. The style was essentially traditional with its tiled roof, stone clad floors and beautiful beamed ceilings. There were three bedrooms, a spacious kitchen with a working fireplace and many doors and windows that could be thrown open to let in fabulous light. The living room was fine by Audré's standards. What she liked most about the place was the beautiful, well-tended lawn and garden outside with numerous pot plants, a lane bordered with aromatic herbs and a wonderful kitchen garden.
But it was Draco's stony face that made her keep her opinions to herself.
From her observations she could tell that the man wasn't in favour of buying the cottage.
Audré decided to address the problem when they were in private.
"The place might be small, Audré, but we have been living here happily for more than thirty years now." Céline said proudly offering them more petit fours which to Audré's annoyance, Draco rejected as politely as he could for a Malfoy like him.
Even for a buyer-seller meeting, there was no mention of price during their tea in Céline's lawn and it ended with them making promises to visit each other again.
"I wish so much that Àlmos was here when you came, Audré. He would have been so pleased to meet the granddaughter of the man his father so idolized." Céline took Audré's hand and squeezed them in all sincerity, "But we are packing up slowly and preparing to leave for Hungary before Christmas and Àlmos had to go to Gringotts on some urgent business."
"But why make such haste?" Audré enquired, curious to know why after living in France for most part of their lives the Durants were eager to go back to their homeland - Hungary.
Céline smiled gently and shook Audré's hand, "When it comes to final resting place, Audré everyone prefers his or her homeland. No matter what my dear friend Marianne says about my outstanding baking abilities, we – Àlmos and I - are getting old and Nostradamus knows when that day comes that we will have to leave too. So, better be in our own lands before that. day arrives." She said calmly.
How very true she was!
Audré just couldn't agree more.
When it came to final resting place, everyone preferred his or her homeland.
It reminded her of one last business regarding her deceased husband.
The tea finally being over, Audré took her leave with her silent and grumpy looking nephew who had hardly spoken since their entrance into the Meadowmoor Cottage.
"Are you planning to return to Château, aunt?" he asked her finally when they came out through the Charmed gate and Marianne bade them a good day before leaving for her school on foot.
"Why?" Audré enquired, having a feeling that something extraordinary was about to happen this morning.
Draco sighed, "No…nothing…it's just that I wanted to talk to you…about some things…" he paused noticing Audré's curious look, "…outside Château." He finished the sentence.
"Okay." Audré shrugged and placed her hand on Draco's arm, "Take me anywhere you want." She said solemnly.
Her nephew's thoughtful look accentuated just a fraction before he turned on the spot and took Audré on a Side-along Apparition.
Next she was standing on a casual outdoor dining area at the open end of the central courtyard that overlooked the world famous museum Louvre. The place was sunny with chilly winds blowing the last of the flowers that were blooming in the garden around them. Even for a Saturday morning, Audré noted, the place was almost deserted and no one including the staffs of the small outdoor café who were too busy preparing for the onslaught of customers, seemed to notice that their pair has suddenly materialized out of thin air.
Audré recognized the place as one where Hermione had talked about her dreams regarding her child with Apolline on her second memory.
"Am I hallucinating, Draco, or are we really in a Muggle street café?" she asked Draco, who has already drawn out a chair for her in one of the tables along the pavement, his face impassive.
"Aunt, I thought you were observant enough to understand that I am no mood to be teased." He said solemnly, settling down on another chair opposite the one he had drawn for Audré, "Sit, please." He bid her in an oddly calm voice.
Everything was so strange about this Saturday morning that Audré didn't see it unwise to want to explore what was yet to unfold.
"If I am not mistaken, this is the place where Apolline brought Jean for some Muggle fast food when she was pregnant." Audré said, sitting on the chair appointed for her, "Are you planning to eat Muggle foods too?" she asked, giving him a curious look.
Draco placed his left elbow on the empty table and supported his chin on it, looking decidedly lost. When he spoke after five minutes, his voice seemed to be coming from a distant land.
"I watched all the memories this morning." he said, his gaze fixed on a pair of sparrows that were sitting on a branch overhead, "Again." He added.
"And?" Audré asked, interested to know what her nephew's conclusion.
"I have watched the first one many many times, aunt, and the second and the third ones just once." Draco continued, "I thought I knew their content quite well…but this time…after I watched your memory, aunt…I felt like I must watch them again to understand their real meanings…and this time, aunt…they seemed so different." he said pensively.
"Like?" Audré injected.
"They showed me a very different side of Hermione." Draco replied, his eyes still fixed on the pair of sparrows that were chirping, "She is not the woman I had thought her to be."
"And what were your initial thoughts about her?" Audré asked, waiting for her nephew to share his new found informations.
But Draco didn't reply immediately this time; he seemed to be choosing his words carefully before answering Audré.
"I was born in a family that was considered one of the most influential in entire Britain – the Malfoys." He started slowly after a while, "Money, fame, political influence, pureblood, you name it, aunt, we had it. We had all that was required to be an aristocratic Wizarding family. And we were proud to keep to the traditions; traditions that were followed by our ancestors; traditions that came down a long line of pureblood wizards. I was brought up with the beliefs that Muggleborns don't have what it took to be proper witches or wizards. They lack the 'blood' factor, aunt, the blood that made us wizard and them - Muggles." He sighed deeply, "There was no one in my home to contradict that view, aunt, to tell me that it was wrong, to tell me that blood wasn't an essential to become a wizard; magic was. Bellatrix and my father were Death Eaters. My mother, though she wasn't a Death Eater, still believed in pureblood supremacy. Our view was that magical education should be kept only within purebloods just as Salazar Slytherin had wanted. True that Dumbledore always tried to stand up for Muggleborns by admitting them in Hogwarts but at that time, I used to consider it as an foolish and abominable act to defile our traditions." he paused and shifted his gaze on Audré's face, looking solemn, "They say, 'actions speak louder than words'. What Dumbledore's words couldn't change in me, aunt, one Muggleborn witch by the name of Hermione Granger did. She was the first person who challenged me, aunt, through her good results and after thirteen years since our first meeting, she is still the one who continues to challenge me…challenge my beliefs…only this time it's with her goodness."
Audré was listening to her nephew with rapt attention.
"When I first watched those memories, aunt, I only saw Hermione suffering because of what I did to her." Draco continued, "What I didn't see at that time was why she suffered? I thought, 'okay Draco, you got your son and there is no way you should complain about it. Adrian, no matter what his mother says, is your son.'" he quoted his inner thoughts, "I thought she suffered because I raped her and she was left to face the consequences as well as this cruel world alone. I thought I had left my son fatherless; to be ridiculed for his lack of proper parentage even before he was born. I considered myself guilty for it; for making Hermione and Adrian suffer like that. But this morning when re-watched the memories, aunt, I realized for the first time what Hermione was really made of and why she still continues to challenge me."
Audré wouldn't be so unwise to interrupt such a deep conversation with her comments; so she remained silent, waiting for more to follow.
"This morning I saw Hermione's love for the baby that mattered to no one." Draco confessed simply, "I felt her love…here…" he placed his hand on his heart, "…here…aunt…I felt it here…and I kept asking myself why I didn't see it before? What had made me a blind? And why was Adrian considered worthless? Why? Because he was conceived by a horrible act. Why? Because Hermione wasn't married at that time or didn't have any boyfriend who was supposedly the father. Why? Because it was a child that could be legally disposed off. For the first time ever, I understood the extent of Hermione's love for a baby that mattered to no one. And what was more, aunt? She fought the world alone to bring him to this world. And I never saw it! Never! I must be an imbecile not to see that!" he exclaimed, closed his eyes and tilted his head backwards, "Hermione is a woman who is made of love and warmth, aunt…a woman made of outstanding courage, strength and intelligence… a woman of strong moral values and modesty…a woman who can be fierce and forgiving at the same time…a woman who can sacrifice everything she has for a baby that no one cared for… and I never saw that, aunt, I never saw that! Just as I never saw the wonderful woman behind the title of Muggleborn." He shook his head in disbelief, "Do you think I am a human, aunt?" he asked her abruptly.
Audré was so lost in Draco's words that she was knocked into her sensed by his sudden enquiry, "What made you ask me such an intelligent question, nephew?" she asked him instead.
"Because I don't think I am." Draco said firmly, "Because someone who rapes a woman, denies all the charges, blames her for it and takes six years to finally understand the full implications of his crime can never be a human. Shite, he can't even be called an animal. He isn't fit to be called anything, aunt, anything; neither human nor animal."
'Finally, nephew, finally.' Audré thought shaking her head in disbelief, 'Finally you are coming into your senses and what a fine day have you chosen for it.'
"And instead of realizing it earlier and trying to amend what I have done, aunt, do you know what I did?" Draco, unaware of Audré's inner thoughts, continued, "I said Hermione that I love her." His eyes were wide in horror, "In Adrian's school. In St. Joan's. When she was crying because she couldn't accept me as Adrian's father. Can you believe that, aunt? How much thick skinned and insensitive I must to tell my own rape victim that I love her! Isn't that extreme degree of perversion? Was I out of my bloody mind? Where was my bloody brain?" Draco looked appalled, "After Hermione's first session I was so ashamed of myself that I couldn't face her and there I was, aunt, proclaiming my undying love for her! And Hermione? She just tolerated it. For the sake of Adrian. Just told me that I covet her and I got offended thinking that she was belittling my true feelings. But what about Hermione? Did I forget that I have belittled her all my life? Did I forget that it was I who raped her? Then why shouldn't she think that I covet her; that I want to rape her again? Why shouldn't she think that I want to make her pregnant again? What is there about me that should make her think that I am the ideal person to be her husband? What is there in me that makes me fit to be Adrian's father? What have I done except for deposing the sperm in her womb? What have I done for Adrian, aunt? What have I done for the son that I Claimed, aunt except for getting drunk and banging my head on the wall because he can't spell my name?"
'At last!' Audré thought with a sigh of relief, 'At last Draco, at long last you are thinking what you should've thought long ago.'
"You were right, aunt, I do have shortcomings." Draco admitted, "I don't have what it requires to be Hermione's husband. I don't have what it takes to be Adrian's father. Why? Because I am proud, arrogant, lazy, extremely selfish, ignorant, manner less and above of all, I lack morale education. I am a criminal, aunt, a rapist." He counted on his fingers all the seven traits that Hermione had used to describe him, "And Hermione? She is pure and innocent; she is modest, humble and hard working. She is extremely selfless, sensitive and above all she has good manners and morale strength. She is all that I am opposite of…all that I am not…all that is not me."
"Has the sun risen from the west today?" Audré finally voiced her surprise after Draco's series of confessions, "I sincerely hope I didn't die in sleep." She commented, "Or worst that this man sitting before me and berating himself is actually a Polyjuiced Draco Malfoy."
Draco was completely impervious to Audré's jibes. He looked too overwhelmed to even realize that she was taunting him.
"All my life, aunt, I never felt anything except anger, jealousy, pride and arrogance." He started again after a while, "I was told and taught that Malfoys are the best; that they get the best in everything. I was never denied anything. Never. My parents gave everything that I wanted. But the first person, like Hermione, who denied me anything, was Harry Potter." He grimaced, "I offered him my hand in friendship, aunt, I even extended my hand to him…and do you know what he did? He rejected me. Rejected my hand! Draco Malfoy's hand! Before that Bloodtraitor Weasley! Before Crabbe and Goyle, those filthy pigs that'd have done anything to be called my friends. He rejected Draco Malfoy's friendship offer, aunt and I just couldn't take it. I still can't forget it." he said detestably, "But if I can't get over my insult, aunt, how can Hermione? What have I not done to her?" Draco looked sad, "Insult? Rape? Humiliation? Unplanned pregnancy? I shattered all her dreams. I am responsible for what happened to her. But she? She corrected it with her love for Adrian." Draco's voice was moist with emotion, "She resembles Astoria so much in that aspect. Astoria. My Astoria. The epitome of patience and love."
Draco's face was sporting an uncharacteristic smile now and Audré, who was familiar with all varieties of Malfoys smiles and smirks, knew that only deep seated love for a woman could bring out a smile like that in Draco's lips.
"After the war ended, aunt, I had to marry Astoria to bring some of our old Malfoys influences back." Draco reminisced, "It was an arranged one and I had never thought that I would be marrying a woman I never knew. I must admit that I didn't like Astoria at first. True that she was pretty but she was introvert and preferred books over juicy gossips that most girls liked so much. With her love for books, she reminded me of Hermione. It was a queer feeling, aunt, my wife reminded me of a woman I had raped. But mother was adamant that I must marry Astoria and they wouldn't hear a 'no' on that matter. We got married in December 1998, the same time Hermione must be heavily pregnant with Adrian and facing all the hardships alone." he shook his head sadly, "I never regretted our marriage. Astoria was an ideal pureblood wife. She was also an ideal partner, an ideal friend." He sighed, "She was my first ever friend. I was heavily traumatized after the war, aunt, with Dark Lord making me use Cruciatus on Death Eaters; with practice of Dark Arts in Defense Against the Dark Arts class by Carrows; with this inner unease that I have tortured a woman in worst possible way no matter how I tried to defend myself, I wasn't ready for another woman in my life. But Astoria was like a breath of fresh air. With her care and love, she made me forget everything. We started with a decent courtship and it turned out that she was just what I needed at that time. I still cherish those moments, aunt, for they are the most memorable days of my life. Astoria was a living proof that someone as arrogant as Draco Malfoy could be different. She was the reason I forgot Hermione, my horrible crime and turned a new page of my life."
Audré listened to her nephew's musings silently.
"Astoria was the reason I wanted to live then, aunt and Hermione is the reason I want to live now." Draco said thoughtfully, "They are both wonderful women but Hermione is…exceptional."
"So your focus has shifted from Adrian to his unfortunate mother now?" Audré remarked lightly, "You just said yourself that you have been a pervert to tell her that you love her and now you are telling me that she is reason you want to live. Even compare her with your dead wife? Astoria?"
"Because that's the truth aunt." Draco replied calmly, "I do want to live for her. I know it sounds like I am mad but that's the truth. Hermione has changed me, her innocence, her purity has changed me. She has challenged me, aunt, made me want to question the lies I told myself regarding that rape. And you said yourself that I admire her now. Even my Patronus has started to change its form. It was an osprey and now comes out as Hermione's Patronus – otter before changing back to osprey. I don't know what it means, aunt, but maybe I am deeply in love with Hermione, unbeknownst to myself." He tried to sound reasonable.
'Gracious Merlin!' Audré clamped her forehead wearily, 'Here I am, wanting to make this man see some sense in his actions and here he is telling me that he is in love with Jean.'
"As far as I knew, Draco, you couldn't produce a Patronus." She said matter-of-factly.
"I couldn't, aunt." Draco said, "But the day Adrian told his mother that Julian isn't his father and I was, I obtained the happiest memory of my life and it was strong enough to produce a corporeal Patronus. It's an osprey - a kind of eagle." He explained.
"I know what an osprey is, thank you very much." Audré said irritably, "Now can you please enlighten me why you brought me here?"
"We'll talk about that after I order." Draco replied, his earlier cold demeanor back on place as he called the Muggle waiter and placed order for two Hot Dogs, "Hermione said she likes them, aunt and I have never tasted Muggle foods." He said as the waiter left with order.
Audré was in deep thought now.
True that her initial plans had been to bring Draco and Hermione closer so that they can set up an environment where they both can co-exist with peace for the sake of their son. She had asked Hermione to help her with the trial in order to make her face her fears regarding Draco and asked Alexis to join in so that Draco could learn from him. But after watching Hermione's memories and the extent to which she has sacrificed, she was questioning the appropriateness of such an act. Was Hermione entitled to a life of sacrifice just because she had chosen to keep the child she had grown into loving? Should she be punished for loving her son? Should she be forced to accept Draco just because the stubborn man was finally coming to his senses but instead of acting on them he was getting carried away?
Doesn't Hermione deserve a life she wanted?
With Adrian and Alexis?
Then what does Draco deserve?
Punishment of course, but how?
Audré rubbed her forehead warily.
What did Morpheus meant by saying that Draco will end what he started?
How was he going to end it?
For Audré there was still some chance that she could persuade Draco to let Hermione go and be happy with her own life.
Poisoning him was one of those moves and it has worked remarkably well.
Draco seems to understand what his declaration of love has affected Hermione negatively.
But it doesn't seem that he was still ready to let her go.
'Aahhh!' Audré let out an anguished cry inside her head, 'What should I do to make Draco see some sense? How can I solve this problem? What did Morpheus mean by those words that 'no matter what I did or how hard I tried to manipulate I can't change the fate'?'
"Your Hot Dogs, aunt." Draco's words brought Audré back to reality, "I am starving." He said taking a big bite from his own and nodding in approval, "Good." he said curtly.
Audré eyed her own Hot Dogs curiously.
Draco Malfoy eating Hermione Granger's favourite Hot Dogs in a Muggle street café?
How many more surprises this Saturday morning had for her?
"Tell me, aunt, how was that cottage that I showed you?" Draco asked Audré as she took a small bite from her Hot Dogs, "In those memories, Hermione said she wanted have a cottage as he home, a 'Scottish' cottage to be more precise and I have never been around or inside one except for Hagrid – that half-breed oaf we had as Game Keeper in Hogwarts. Was it good?" he asked her.
Audré was planning to say that it was horrible when someone whispered into her ears…
"Don't."
It was Morpheus.
Audré closed her eyes and tried to visualize the man who came to visit her last night.
In her mind's eyes, she could see him standing just behind her, looking highly amused.
'Why?' she demanded angrily, 'You know that'll ruin Jean's plan to challenge Draco's claim on Adrian.'
Morpheus was smiling serenely when he replied, 'I told you, my dove, this is beyond us. What is supposed to happen will happen.'
'And what is that, may I ask?' Audré asked her husband coolly.
'You'll see, dearest when time comes.' Morpheus replied, 'Now open your eyes and eat your food. Draco is giving you strange looks.'
Audré gave her husband one last angry glare before opening her eyes. Draco, as Morpheus told her, was looking at her with concern in his grey eyes.
"Are you alright aunt?" he asked her, "Do you have headache or something?" he enquired.
"No, dear nephew, I am fine." She said loftily, "As for the cottage, I'll tell you my opinion but before that, tell me this, Draco. Tell me why you want to buy it for Hermione? You said yourself that you are not fit to be her husband. Then why is it so important for you buy that cottage for her? Is it because she asked you to buy it for her? Or you want to show her that you are not Adrian's 'sperm donor'?"
"None." Draco replied solemnly, finishing his Hot Dog, "I know Hermione wants me to fail, aunt. I know she wants to challenge my Claim on Adrian should I fail to obtain a good home for him." He said and Audré wondered how Draco had discovered the truth, "I may not be a famous lawyer like you, aunt but I am studying it and I do know some Laws about the 'Law of Claiming'. I know that I have one year before Hermione can challenge my Claim on Adrian." he said solemnly.
"So basically you want to defeat her?" Audré tried to appear impassive, "And that's what you call your remorse?"
Draco sighed, "You are right, aunt, I do want to defeat someone but it's not Hermione. I want to defeat my inner demon." He replied, "He says that Hermione will never accept me as her husband but I said she will. All I need to do is kill this demon that is inside me." He said calmly, "You are also right when you said that I knew nothing of remorse when I said I was feeling it after I watched second batch of memories." he sighed, "Because, had I truly felt it, aunt, I wouldn't be angry with Hermione for coaxing me into that deal with her. True remorse doesn't involve being angry."
"Have you taken Sage tea this morning, dear nephew?" Audré enquired lightly, "You sound like a wise Sage and that's so un-Malfoyish." She commented.
"I answered all your questions aunt, but you didn't reply mine." Draco bypassed Audré's taunts and reminded her, "What do you think of that Meadowmoor Cottage?"
Audré decided to be honest this time; somehow Morpheus has never been wrong on his assumptions and her own instincts were telling her that there was so much more to happen in coming days.
"It's perfect." She replied truthfully, "Just the thing a woman like Jean would want. But how do you plan to buy it?" she asked him the million galleon question, "As per Hermione's terms you can't use your vault money to purchase Adrian his home. And a cottage like that with its location is almost out of reach for you even if you work to ten years in row to buy it."
"I know." Draco replied curtly, joining his fingers and placing his chin on it, "I know I can't use the Malfoys vault money. I know that I can't buy it with the salary I get now. I know that cottage is out of my reach even if I work for ten years in row."
"What then?" Audré was curious to know where Draco was going with this.
"Also for two reasons, I can't sell Malfoys properties in England to obtain money." Draco said thoughtfully, "For one, they are protected by Law of Entail and you know better than I do, aunt that an Entailed property can't be sold as long as there is one living male heir on the line and after me, Adrian is its rightful owner. For another, I don't want the money to have any connection with the place where Hermione was…" he paused, "…assaulted."
"You are being too sensitive for your own good, Draco." Audré commented, astonished at his honest words, "I don't think it's good for a Malfoy like you."
"Tease me as much as you like, aunt, but I am not backing off." Draco shook his head resolutely, "I am not letting go of Adrian's Claim."
"But then how do you plan to buy that cottage for Adrian?" Audré interjected, "Or more precisely for Jean?"
"There is still an option." Draco replied, his eyes on the children inside the Tuileries garden who were playing around the giant Round Pond, "Adrian used to come here with Hermione and sit around that Round Pond." He said absent-mindedly and stood up abruptly leaving Audré there.
'What is he doing?' Audré thought, alarmed as she watched Draco approaching the playing children as if on trance, "Draco?" she called after him, "Where are you going?"
But her nephew didn't reply.
It seemed that he was in a different time and different place; somewhere Audré's voice couldn't reach him.
"Don't worry, Audré." Morpheus's voice came from beside her and Audré whipped around to face him.
"What do you mean by 'don't worry'?" she demanded from him.
In reply, Morpheus simply turned Audré's face in Draco's direction.
"Watch him." He bid her, "Carefully."
•••••
Draco remembers every single moment he had spent in Tuileries Garden when he came here in search of Adrian armed with his sketch.
It was a sunny morning of July and he had been awake the previous night, drawing Adrian's sketch. It had taken him twenty minutes to locate where they had collided on the pavement.
He had relived the memory before proceeding to find out the real identity of the enigmatic boy.
After scouring the place for hours under the scorching sun and asking every possible vendor about Adrian's whereabouts only one of them had told him what he wanted to know so desperately.
Adrian comes here with his mother.
They usually sit around the Round Pond.
The boy draws nice pictures.
Now almost three monthes after that incident, he was standing before the same Round Pond where Hermione used to come with Adrian before he met them.
Now there were so many kids but no Adrian among them.
There was no little boy, his face happy and red from all the running and screaming with his fellow playmates…
And no Hermione, the woman watching her son from her place on a chair, smiling…
Now the place looks so barren…to empty…so meaningless…
Like his own life without Adrian and Hermione in it…
Draco watched the kids from under a tree absentmindedly.
If there is no Hermione…
And no Adrian…
Then there is no Draco Malfoy too…
He watched the kids until his vision blurred from tears that he himself didn't know he was shedding.
What should he do?
Should he let go of Astoria and Scorpius?
Their last memories?
For Hermione and Adrian?
For their love?
But that place was all he that had!
The last of his and Astoria's love.
Their love…
Their son…
Their Scorpius…
"Draco, what are you doing hiding under that tree?"
Draco jerked back into reality and looked at the source of the voice.
Hermione was sitting on one of the green chairs around the Round Pond, wearing a light blue summer dress, her finger inserted into the book she was reading and giving him the most curious look.
"Me?" Draco spluttered, unable to believe his own eyes.
Where did Hermione come from?
"Yes you, Draco Lucius Malfoy; you sly old Slytherin." Hermione shook her head in disbelief, "What are you doing under that tree when Adrian is calling you to play with him?"
"Play with me?" Draco repeated incredulously, "Play with me?"
"Who else then?" Hermione curled her lips in annoyance, "Who is his father? You or Alexis?" she demanded bossily.
"Obviously me." Draco replied, puzzled beyond any possible measurement, when a little hand grasped his fingers and pulled him.
Looking down he found Adrian's innocent grey eyes looking up at him silently.
"Papa, will you not play with me?" he pleaded.
"Papa!" Draco couldn't believe his own ears, all his senses numb from happiness and astonishment, "You called me Papa?"
"You are my Papa, aren't you?" Adrian seemed on the verge of tears for asking him such a stupid question.
"Yes, I am." Draco reminded himself, "I am your Papa." He said more to himself than to his little son.
"Then come and play with me." his son demanded possessively.
"Yeah, right…" Draco blinked several times to clean his thoughts when a loud scream from one of the kids started him.
"Donne-moi ce bateau!" (Give me that boat!) Two little boys were fighting over the possession of a toy boat and annoyed, Draco cursed them under his breath for interrupting in what was his eternal dream.
But when he looked down again, Adrian wasn't there, calling him Papa and tugging his hand to play with him.
Frantic, Draco looked around for any trace of Hermione.
But like Adrian, she was gone too.
No Hermione in light blue summer dress, reading book on a green chair.
"Am I losing my mind?" Draco closed his eyes and rubbed his face wearily, "Why am I hallucinating in broad daylight?" he asked breathlessly.
•••••
From her place at the table, Audré watched Draco as he observed the playing kids for a very long time.
"He is imagining Jean and Adrian there." Morpheus told her, "Jean is asking Draco why he is hiding under the tree when he should be playing with his son. Is he not Adrian's father? And Adrian is calling him Papa and asking him to play with him." He explained.
Audré turned to her husband, "If you so many things, Morpheus, why aren't you helping me to get this couple out of this mess?" she demanded.
"Because they already on that way." Morpheus replied simply.
"And what way is 'that way'?" Audré asked skeptically.
"Draco is coming." Morpheus warned her, showing Audré her nephew's approaching form, "He'll tell you himself. But before I go, my dove, I'd like to remind you one curious case of Claiming loophole. Do you remember the 1904 case of Dissolution of Claim?" he asked her, "It was quite sensational."
"1904 case of Dissolution of Claiming?" Audré frowned deeply trying to remember the vague lines she had seen in Family Law book.
"That's why you shouldn't have stopped practicing after I died, Audré." Morpheus admonished her mildly, "You were a sharp woman and a very talented lawyer. You still are. All you need sometimes is a memory boost."
"Is that case going to help them in anyway?" Audré asked her husband, deep in thought.
"That'll be your last resort if Jean doesn't accept Draco at the end of game." Morpheus replied solemnly, "Remember you told me you are not a Judge, I was. So, as an experienced Judge this is my advice to you, Audré, to let Draco have his turn first and if, Audré, if Jean still isn't willing to accept him as her husband then you have the case I mentioned. That is the only way you can make Draco give Jean get what she wants: her freedom."
Audré smiled gently, "What a very fair playing Slytherin you are, husband." she shook her head.
"And what a stubborn woman you are, wife." Morpheus said and with a chaste kiss on her lips, he was gone.
Audré touched her lips.
Her husband's feeling was still there.
Warm and soft…
Gentle and assuring…
"Aunt, I am sorry for leaving you like that." Draco's words brought Audré back on her senses as he slumped on his chair, "What was I saying before I left?" he asked her.
"You said you have an option for buying Adrian and Hermione their home." Audré replied her curiosity grown manifolds.
"Yes, I have." Draco sighed, "When I was born, my grandfather, Cygnus Black III, gave me an entire villa as a birthday gift. I was the first male child among his three daughters: Bellatrix, Andromeda and my mother, Narcissa. It's a tradition among blue blooded families like Blacks to give gifts like that to their grandsons and I got mine in the heart of Tuscany, between Florence and Siena. It's called Podere Cipressi or…"
"Cipressi farm." Audré translated the name, "I know some Italian, nephew. What are you planning to do with it?" she asked although in her heart she knew the answer.
Draco rubbed his face and let out a deep audible exhalation.
"It is the place we – Astoria and I had our honeymoon" he said, looking grim, "It's also the home where our first son Scorpius was conceived. Now that they are gone, aunt, the place is priceless for me."
Audré's heart was suddenly engulfed in a deep sense of sorrow for her selfish nephew.
"I am going to sell their last memory to give Hermione and Adrian what they want, aunt. I am going to sell that farm." Draco declared solemnly, "Like Hermione's locket, that is the only way left open for me and this time, I am willing to make the sacrifice."
'Gracious Lord!' Audré exhaled, 'What am I to do now? Where will this road to perdition will lead this couple?' she thought ruefully.