A/N: Thanks to Grovek26, SereniteRose, Zeehana, dorklover, aryaa and guests for their kind reviews on last chapter.
Thanks everyone for all the follows and favourites.
**Finally we reach a point from where the story can take flight. I kept it slow paced on purpose until this point because all the character's emotions needed to be believable and realistic and without a prior motivation, none of them could be made to take the paths they will be taking from this chapter. This may be a fiction but I endeavor to keep it as close to life as possible.
** Also, I bring my readers to one of the most demanded events: Draco's apology. It took me nearly forty chapters to bring him to this point.
Acknowledgements:
The song mentioned in this chapter 'come what may' is soundtrack from 2002 movie Mouline Rouge.
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.
**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 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 67: The Path of Thy Feet.
Alexis always felt a strange mixture of senses engulf him whenever he was at Château de la Grange-Bléneau.
For one, he felt un-adultererd anger. The woman he loved most lived here with the man he hated most as his lawfully wedded wife. The boy he cared as his own son until he was Claimed forcefully, lived here too and Alexis felt his anger for the injustice on them swell like a giant tidal wave whenever he saw them wearing the mask of normalcy to hide their sad faces and broken hearts. A part of him, the part that was passionate, felt like throttling that insensible and selfish bastard - Draco Malfoy, to death, for what he had done and what he was making Hermione and Adrian to go through in the name of 'making a family'. Had anyone never told that Slytherin that love couldn't be obtained by force; that it could only be earned by mutual understanding and respect? If the answer was 'yes', and he knew the possible of implications of such an unhealthy relationship, what was he trying to gain by making Hermione throat him down as her husband? If the answer was 'no', what was he trying to prove? That he could make a woman accept her rapist as her beloved husband and forget the past just because they share a child together? Was that even possible for anyone to forget a violent act such as this - rape? But then again, considering Draco's affiliation with the Malfoys, who were considered one of the most arrogant and insensitive ones, how was he supposed to understand it? He must never have had anything to teach or show him what a real family was like to be.
Another part of him, the part that was empathetic, blamed himself for Hermione and Adrian's current unfortunate situation. Had he taken adequate precautions after finding out that Malfoy was stalking Hermione for her son, Adrian could have been saved and with him, his mother too.
Lastly, there was the issue of his strange attraction for Hermione's sister-in-law: Lillian. Yes, attraction was what he'd call it for now because there was no other word to describe his feelings for her. But it was not standard attraction as one expects it to be before falling in love with a woman. It was something else. It was as if they shared some unknown connection and yet couldn't stand each other's presence. Like a giant magnet Lillian was pulling him towards her and when they were close enough, something about her pushed him back and that was what made this mysterious connection between them 'strange' for Alexis. He was curious to know its origin because he was sure he wasn't drawn to the woman only for her beauty however enchanting it might be.
With all those emotions in mind, when Alexis entered Audré Chombrun's parlour at precisely eleven o' clock on the chilly morning of Saturday, the 30th October, he found it already occupied by Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy.
He halted on the doorstep.
The sight before him was quite interesting for several reasons.
Draco Malfoy's mother was dressed in a plain black dress that covered her from neck to foot. Her blonde hairs have been pulled into a high bun and she was wearing nothing but a pair of earrings made of the blackest of Jet. Considering how posh she had been in her party at the Rochés hotel as the hostess or during family dinners, she looked very ordinary in her black attire.
"Bonjour, Madame Malfoy." Alexis greeted her as politely as he could and slightly startled, Narcissa looked up from the English newspaper she was reading.
"Bonjour Monsieur Alexis." She greeted back folding the newspaper and placing it on her lap, "If you have come to meet my sister-in-law, Audré, on trial purpose, she is not at home." she said with a slight shake of her head.
Whether it was for the manner on which she spoke or the plain black dress she was wearing or the pale and sick look on her face, Narcissa's overall appearance pulled a string somewhere inside Alexis's heart. He had been expecting Draco Malfoy's mother to show pompous manners that was well suited for her family name and status but she was so simple this morning that Alexis wondered what the real reason might be.
"No, I came here to take my mother home." Alexis was slightly surprised that Narcissa seemed not to have a clue about Apolline's visit to the Château, "Father sent me. Delacours always accompany their ladies anywhere they go."
"Oh! I see. I didn't know that Madame Delacour was being our guest this weekend." Narcissa said with a small courteous smile evidently to hide her embarrassment for not knowing it, "You see, I am on Mourning these days and therefore keep to my suite. Sit, please." She offered him a seat across to her.
So that was why she was wearing black.
"I offer my heartfelt condolences, Madame." Alexis settled down and said sincerely; he knew a bit about the strict rules that were observed by traditional pureblood witches when they Mourned for their family members, "Who is it?" he asked curious to know who among Draco Malfoy's family has passed away recently.
Narcissa's face saddened considerably, "Lucius, my husband." she replied, "He died four years ago from Dragon Pox, like my father-in-law did." she sighed, "But I never got the chance to Mourn for him properly. So, I am doing it now." she looked down at her plain black attire.
"Er…" Alexis didn't know what to comment for he had never taken Draco Malfoy's mother as a person who was capable of feeling or appreciating such tender emotions, "So how long do you ladies Mourn for your husbands?" he asked instead.
"Lifelong." Narcissa replied solemnly, "But I assure you, Monsieur, it's not a liability as one might think it is." She said noting Alexis's startled expression, "Mourning is a respectable practice for upper class families like us – Blacks and Malfoys. During that period, widows are supposed to wear black dress, caps and veils for at least two years and not to enter society for twelve monthes. Also, they are not to attend any social events. One of my aunts Mourned almost forty years for her husband." she said with a tinge of pride in her voice, "Even Audré Mourned for Morpheus for almost ten years. For those of us, who loved their husbands, Mourning is not a nuisance or social custom; it's a way to offer our sincere love and devotion to our deceased life partners."
Whatever Alexis was prepared for when he decided to visit the Château to fetch his mother, it didn't include a one-to-one conversation with Narcissa on customs of Mourning. Feminine matters were hardly of any interest to him and this was Draco Malfoy's mother: the man who had raped a woman brutally, making her even more disagreeable for Alexis to carry out any form of conversation. But there was something in her entire physical appearance and her words that Alexis felt curious to continue the conversation to find out the reason Narcissa's sudden desire to Mourn for dead husband four years after his death.
"What kept you all this…" he was about to ask that question when a loud and delighted cry echoed across the room.
"UNCLE!"
It was followed by a quick run and an unceremonial jump of Adrian on his lap.
"UNCLE!" he said hugging Alexis tightly, "Uncle! Uncle! Uncle!" he exclaimed and placed a soppy welcome kiss on Alexis's right cheek.
"Adrian! Adrian! Adrian!" Alexis just loved the feel of the innocent kid whenever he was with him for Adrian had that uncanny ability to make anyone want to become a kid once again, "Adrian!" he announced with a flourish and kissed on his little forehead, "How are you doing young Monsieur savior? And how many more innocent lives have you saved after that little bird – Hedwig?" he stroked Adrian's already messy silvery blonde curls fondly.
"None." Adrian sat tight on Alexis's lap as if it was his throne, "And Hedwig is very moody. She is only eating and eating and eating. And she never flies." He complained, looking sullen about his new pet's unruly behaviour, "Yesterday, I took her out and told her to fly. I even showed her how to do it." he flapped his arms like wings, "But she didn't even try." He pouted his lips.
"Why don't you take uncle Edmound's help?" Alexis offered kindly, "He is so pleased with you that he came to my office last Wednesday just to tell me your story. He can teach you all about owls."
"Okay." Adrian said tilting his head sideways, "But Monsieur said he also knows a lot about owls too."
"Did he?" Alexis was suddenly interested to know how Draco was doing with his son, "What else did he say?"
"He said he had an owl." Adrian replied innocently, "It was a 'he'. Not a she like Hedwig. And his name was…" he tapped thoughtfully on his chin when Narcissa said:
"Aquila." She replied on Adrian's stead, "His name was Aquila. Draco's grandfather Abraxas Malfoy gave it to him on the occasion of his going to Hogwarts. Since it was an eagle owl he named it after Zeus's eagle: Aquila." She explained to her audiences.
It was then that Alexis noticed that presence of two other ladies in the parlour. One of them was his mother and the other was Adrian's mother.
Hermione, Alexis noticed, looked as beautiful as ever except for the dark circles around her eyes that indicated that she had been sleeping poorly lately. She also seemed to have lost a few pounds within just in a week because her pale violet dress was hanging quite loose on the sides.
"Bonjour, Maman." Alexis greeted his mother, "Bonjour, Jean." he greeted Hermione next.
"Bonjour." Both the ladies greeted back and Hermione, Alexis noticed, gave Narcissa a polite greeting which she replied, "I hope I find you well, Alexis." Her attitude was extremely formal with him.
"You do though I don't think I can say the same about you." Alexis gave Hermione's loose dress a knowing look, "You look stressed, Jean."
"I am fine, thank you, Alexis." Hermione said with a forced lofty smile, "It just the work load that increased considerably since last week."
"I didn't know that you were visiting us this weekend, Madame Delacour." Narcissa told Apolline, "Otherwise, I'd have made myself available for your charming company." She said offering her hand to Apolline.
"You are very kind, Madame." Apolline took Narcissa's hand and shook it, her demeanor polite but distinctively cold, "But I was here to visit my daughter and grandson."
"Why don't we have some tea and talk until Audré returns. I am sure you wouldn't say 'no' to it." Narcissa offered Apolline, "Audré, Lillian told me has gone out on some urgent business with Draco."
The tiniest of a crease appeared between Hermione's eyebrows on that information but it disappeared the moment she noticed that Alexis was watching her closely. It made him feel uncomfortable too, for it was not his nature to stare at women. So to ease down the uncomfortable silence between them, Alexis took out the box his father had given him to be delivered to his one and only grandson.
"Papa sent it for you, Adrian." he said showing him the box and Adrian's eyes lit up immediately on the prospect of having a new present.
"Really?" he almost snatched the box from Alexis's hands and started unwrapping it immediately, "What is it?" he asked eagerly.
"I don't know." Alexis shrugged, "See it yourself."
It didn't take Adrian more than ten seconds to find out what the box contained. As he opened the lid, a flock of paper birds flew out followed by a colourful rally of paper bulls, ducks, hens, horses and even a lion. Like the queue of a trained Lilliput army, they marched out of the box and using Alexis's long legs as a ladder they moved down on the carpeted floor where they formed a huge moving circle.
"I LOVE GRANDPA!" Adrian was beside himself in joy and jumped down from Alexis's lap to have a closer look on the origamis Gustave had sent him, "I LOVE, LOVE LOVE GRANDPA!" he announced happily.
It was sight to behold. Adrian was too overwhelmed by the simple but thoughtful gift from the man who loved him as his grandson and with wide surprised eyes, he followed the flying birds for a second and the marching army of animals for the next. He ran inside the circle and moved his little limbs in what appeared to be a very funny version of waltz.
"I LOVE GRANDPA! I LOVE GRANDPA! I LOVE GRANDPA!" he kept screaming the same sentence like a slogan and everyone couldn't help but laughed.
"Ingenious!" came another exclaim from the parlour and this time it was Adrian's uncle, Julian.
"I have never seen a better way to put a Flying Charm on anything other than brooms and magic carpets." He commented, walking inside the room and looking at the paper birds with awe etched on his face, "And that must be…" he looked down at the army of paper animals parading on the floor.
"Piertotum Locomotor." Hermione finished it, her expression same as Julian, "Professor McGonagall used that Transfiguration Charm to bring life to the statues and suits of armours during the Battle of Hogwarts so that they can fight with us." she smiled.
"Ingenious! Awesome!" Julian settled beside Alexis and commented, "Brilliant! Delacour you should learn some of these fine arts from your father. Unlike you, he knows how to enjoy life and be less boring." He said loftily.
"Gustave might be good a magic, Julian, but Alexis is very good at crafting wood." Apolline said, smiling at her happy grandson who was now following the flying birds around room, "He even made Adrian a pair of swords."
"Really? So you made those swords Adrian plays with?" Julian asked Alexis, as if he couldn't believe it, "I must admit that they are quite good. I think you should leave the post of Junior Undersecretary and be in carpentry business. Like Lillian who loves wands and pursuing her career in Wandlore. Who told you join the boring ministry?" he arched a comical eyebrow.
"If I should join carpentry business, Malfoy, than why don't you join the Muggle circus as one of their esteemed jokers?" Alexis asked with utmost air of supremacy, "Besides, it is universally accepted that 'boring' is the word only in the dictionary of Aurors who do nothing but brandish their wands at random directions in the name of looking for potential criminals."
Julian snorted loudly, "Who said Aurors have to be boring?" he asked looking horrified at the idea, "It is a job full of adrenaline and adventure. And I, for one, don't like to be grumpy and grouchy like most Junior Undersecretaries do. They behave as if they run the world not the Minister's office."
Alexis was about to reply when Adrian came running at him.
"Uncle! Uncle!" he called him anxiously, "I forgot to tell you. I want an Excabilur." The little boy implored, "Like King Arthur in Mama's story."
"Excabilur?" Alexis was puzzled at first and then he remembered the legendary sword of King Arthur, "Oh, you mean Excalibur?" he asked to verify.
"Yes, that." Adrian nodded vigorously, "I want one. I want a magic sword. Like this magic birds grandpa sent me. Can you make it for me?"
"Why not?" Alexis asked back, "I'll make one for…" he started when Hermione interrupted him.
"Little rabbit, you shouldn't have asked Uncle Alexis for another sword. You already have one and he is a very busy man. He hardly has time for his own leisure. Mama will buy you one." She said dismissively.
"You are mistaken, Jean." Alexis countered politely and accepted the tea Narcissa offered him, "Making a sword isn't a big deal; I can make it in just three days and I assure you that I am fine with it." he said solemnly.
"But I am not fine with it." Hermione said visibly determined to make Alexis leave the project of making an Excalibur for Adrian, "I will buy it for Adrian. I am sure any Wizarding shop in Les Halles would have their replicas."
"As you wish, Jean, but I'll still make one for my dear nephew." Alexis, who knew it was in vain to argue with Hermione, said.
Hermione was about to protest when Narcissa's words interrupted her.
"Jean, if it is okay with you, can I give Adrian is Hallowe'en costume?" she enquired.
Hermione looked at her mother-in-law, "Sure." She replied curtly, "Adrian, leave those birds for a minute and go to Mrs. Malfoy." she bid the little boy standing before Alexis, "She wants to give you your new Hallowe'en costume."
"Hallowe'en Costume?" Adrian face lit up at once at the prospect of receiving more than one gifts from his grandparents and he ran to Narcissa immediately, "Hallowe'en costume? Where is it, grandma? Is it Creepy Carrots?" he searched for any box or packet around Narcissa eagerly.
"It is." Narcissa said with a satisfied smile as she took out a box from behind her cushion, "I finished it last night and was planning to give it to you in the breakfast. But Jean and you never came out and I thought I'd wait for Audré to return." She said opening the flat rectangular box and taking out what appeared to be an orange costume the shape and size of an oversized Creepy Carrot with large goggling eyes and a comically sinister grin, "Do you like it?" she asked a gaping Adrian.
"I LOVE IT!" Adrian announced happily and hugged his new costume, "It's like books." He commented examining it more closely.
"I used an Illusion Charm to make it look more realistic." Narcissa seemed equally delighted as her little grandson, "But I didn't make it alone. Your Mama made the hat, Audré made the trousers and I made the tops."
"Thank you." Adrian piped happily and without any warning, kissed Narcissa on her cheek before running to Apolline and Hermione.
Narcissa, Alexis noticed, looked stunned. She touched the place Adrian has kissed her on the cheek; it seemed that she was having difficulty in comprehending a perfectly normal kiss from her grandson and she blinked several times to finally get over the shock.
"Mama! Grandma! Look! My Creepy Carrot Costume!" Adrian showed the ladies his new costume eagerly, "It is just like that book uncle gave me."
"Yes, it is. It's very nice." Hermione nodded and praised the costume, "Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy, for all the hard work. I appreciate it." She smiled and Alexis couldn't deny that he was astonished at the way Hermione was behaving with the woman whose son had assaulted her. It seemed that they have established a form of balanced relationship where one wasn't too probing in another's life and yet contributing in it in any way she could. Narcissa's asking for permission from Hermione before giving Adrian was his own costume was a mark of decent distance and her efforts to make the costume was a sign of her tiny involvement in their lives. It was the seed of a good interpersonal relationship that will bloom in future.
But it was the knowledge that Adrian has selected the concept of Creepy Carrots, the book that he had given him, for Hallowe'en that overwhelmed him most. For Alexis it was a very subtle and innocent indication that the boy loved him almost like he did his mother. He knew Adrian almost like he knew his mother and there was no doubt in his mind now that despite Hermione's marriage with Draco, Adrian considered him as a father figure.
"I…" Narcissa seemed to be at loss of words, "I'll be back in a minute, you please carry on." She said standing up abruptly and with a forced polite smile, she was gone.
"Mama I want to show my costume and my origami to Aunt Lillian." Adrian was oblivious to the effects his one kiss has caused to his grandmother, "Can I?" he requested.
"You can." Hermione approved and without wasting another moment, Adrian was gone with his flock of birds and animals as well as his costume.
It was the retreating figure of Adrian that struck Alexis with an insane idea.
It was now or never.
"Malfoy, can I use your washroom?" Alexis placed the half empty cup of tea on the table and stood up.
"Why not?" Julian shrugged, "It's the third room on the left." He said and Alexis left the parlour hurriedly.
He needed to talk to Lillian face to face and apologize for his rude behaviour. All the letters that he had sent to her came back unopened and if he didn't take drastic measures now, his chanced of meeting her in person was fairly distant.
Alexis crossed the third room on the left and followed the sounds of Adrian's happy feet. The little boy was making it an easy job for him for he kept yelling 'don't fly there, birdie' or 'come here, horsei' at the Charmed origamis and soon he was standing outside what looked like a room guarded by a pair of shiny copper coloured door.
Curious to see what was happening inside, Alexis hid himself behind the safety of the double doors and peeped.
Adrian was jumping up and down in joy showing Lillian his new costume and gifts from grandpa Gustave. The young woman was having a hard time concentrating on the things that were flying, running and at the same time listening to what Adrian had to say about them.
"Aunt! Aunt!" he tugged Lillian's white apron on her navy blue dress, "Look, grandpa sent me magic origami and grandma gave me my new costume."
"They are beautiful." Lillian complimented, "How very nice of Monsieur Delacour to send such charming gifts for his grandson." She extended her right hand and one of the origami birds settled down on it, "Wow! They are just like real birds except that they are made of papers." She said, looking awe struck.
"And my costume?" Adrian was ready point out that his Hallowe'en attire hadn't been complimented yet, "Mama, grandma Audré and Narcissa made it for me." he informed her.
"Nostradamus! You scared the living daylights out of me!" Lillian clutched her heart feigning horror, "I am sure everyone at the Ball tomorrow night will be scared to death with a Creepy Carrot among them." she widened her eyes.
It took several minutes for Adrian to cool down and after being contented with his mission of showing his aunt his new gifts, he left Lillian alone.
Alexis hid himself and let the boy pass him before entering the place where Lillian seemed busy making something.
It was spacious chamber with multiple ceiling-high stained glass windows with mullioned colourful window panes that filtered the sunlight and created a beautiful image on the marble floor. Best quality Italian marble was everywhere, from the counter to the centre island. It also had three striking chandeliers and several state of the art oil paintings hanging around the wall. The room was almost as large as the conference room in the Ministry.
'So this is the kitchen of the Château?' Alexis thought, looking around, 'But what is she doing here?' he approached Lillian in cautious steps and asked noticing her busy over making a something in a bowl.
The answer came as soon as he was standing just an arm's length behind Lillian.
"Beat in flour mixture until smooth…" she seemed deeply engrossed in a cooking book that was propped against the wall and from his place, Alexis could see the heading of 'French crêpes' written on the top of the page she was reading, "…stir in the melted butter…well, I did that…" she looked at a bowl that she had been working on previously, it contained some kind of gooey white mixture, "…heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat…fine…pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 2 tablespoons for each crêpe… tip and rotate pan to spread batter as thinly as possible…okay, got it… and Madame Veela Delacour showed me how do that properly…" she was talking to herself absentmindedly.
'Madame Veela Delacour?' Alexis blinked, stunned at how Lillian was addressing his mother, 'She learned to make crêpes from maman?' he thought incredulously, 'Didn't Jean tell me that Lillian doesn't like Veelas?'
"Okay, we put on the griddle…" Lillian was oblivious of Alexis's presence in the kitchen, "…heat it until it's hot…" she placed her palm on the air over the heating pan to check the temperature, "…that's quite good…now we need to pour the batter…" she reached out for the bowl without turning her body and kept groping the counter blindly, "Twinky, please pass me the bowl…I can't afford to turn my head now." she said.
Alexis looked at the bowl on the kitchen counter just beside him. It was within his reach and he could pass it to Lillian easily.
But he was having the same strange feeling now. Like he wanted and didn't want to be in her presence. It was strange considering the fact that he wasn't here to offer his love to her.
"Twinky! Quick! The pan will overheat!" Lillian's voice was growing urgent now and she patted on the counter impatiently.
Using one finger, Alexis pushed the bowl within Lillian's reach.
"Thanks, Twinky." Lillian muttered, "Now we need to pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 2 tablespoons for each crêpe…fine…" she ladled out two tablespoon of mixture before pouring it onto the heated pan, "…okay, that amount should be right." She said anxiously.
Watching Lillian cook, Alexis felt like he was at one of his old Potions classes at Beauxbatons, adding ingredients and praying silently that the Potion came out right. She reminded him of one of those occasions when he was confident and anxious about the outcome of his endeavor.
"…please…please…please…don't burn…okay…don't burn…" Lillian was pleading the crêpe that lay innocent on the pan, "…please!…I want to show you to maman, and it looked so easy Madame Veela made them this morning…please don't burn now…please…"
'Madame Veela?' Alexis was at a fix whether he should be angry or amused, 'She calls my maman Madame Veela!'
"…I think it's done…oh God…oh Nostradamus…oh Merlin…please…please, make it come out perfect…" Lillian was almost bursting with excitement now that the crepe looked well cooked on one side, "…Twinky…give me that spatula…" she extended her hand at Alexis again.
Alexis looked down at Lillian's hand and then at the spatula that was hanging from a hook on the wall.
Should he tell her that he wasn't Twinky and wasn't supposed to hand her any spatulas?
Besides, why was she addressing his mother as 'Madame Veela'?
She wasn't a full Veela. She was half a Veela and that wasn't a crime.
True that she might dislike Veelas but that didn't give her any rights to address a respectable woman like that.
Apolline Delacour was their guest now visiting the place at Audré Chombrun's request.
Like Lillian was their guest last weekend at his mother's request and he had misbehaved with her just to get rid of his anger for taking sides with her cousin: Draco Malfoy.
"Twinky!" Lillian's urgent exclaim brought Alexis to his senses, "Oh my God…my crepe is burning…I told you I wanted to make them without magic…I told you to be with me…and where do you disappear when I need you mo…" she snapped, turned, saw Alexis standing just behind her and went speechless.
As if time had stopped, both Lillian and Alexis stared at each other with her outstretched hand hanging awkwardly in midair between them.
A series of emotions played on her pretty face as Lillian discovered that it was in fact Alexis who had been helping her in cooking. Her blue eyes widened considerably in surprise and amazement before they narrowed in anger remembering his harsh words. Alexis could see her jaws as they clenched tightly and her nostrils flared like an angry dragon.
"Your spatula, mademoiselle." Alexis said solemnly, handing her spatula, "I think your crêpe is burning." He notified her as the smell of burning crepe engulfed the kitchen.
Lillian didn't respond. She stared at Alexis for another second before throwing the spatula at a random direction and crossing her arm over her bosom.
"How did you get in here?" she asked him in a voice of cold fury, "This is my home and my kitchen."
"Mademoiselle, it wasn't my intention to intrude your privacy or pleasure of cooking." Alexis started in his most polite voice, "I just wanted to tell you that I am very ashamed of…" he couldn't finish his sentence and Lillian was gone without at single backward at him or her beloved crêpes.
Alexis sighed and rubbed his wearily.
With that mood and attitude how was he supposed to apologize to her?
Wasn't she making the entire thing even more complex on purpose?
But according to Hermione, it was he who started it and it should be him who finished it.
"Alexis can we talk?" it was Hermione's voice that brought him out of his musings and he found her standing before him. It appeared that she was observing him closely.
"Sure." He replied, not knowing what else to answer and left the kitchen with her.
It wasn't until they were in the gardens that Hermione finally spoke.
"Alexis, please don't take me wrong but I implore you to not become more involved than we both can afford as…" she plucked a flower from the nearest bush and said.
"As?" Alexis asked solemnly, coming to stand right behind her. He was curious to find out the extent of the relationship they shared now.
Hermione took a deep breath and turned to face him, "As ex-fiancés." She declared, determinedly looking at Alexis's eyes.
With gentle breeze that rustled the bushes and plants, it was an ideal morning for him to get lost into the depths on those brilliant and innocent brown pair that has captured his attention the moment they saw her at Gare du Nord six years ago. But as he looked back at them, Alexis felt a strange sense of sadness for the woman who was trying to be strong and in control of her life and emotions. He knew those eyes and that look, he has spend last six years of his life knowing this woman's every facial expression and looks; he knew what she was feeling now. Hermione was having an internal battle between what was right and what was accepted of her as Draco Malfoy's wife. She was sorry for letting go of their relationship, however vague that might be, and trying not to resent it for the sake of her son.
"We can still be friends, Jean." Alexis said solemnly, "Regardless of what we could have been, Jean, we can continue a decent relationship." he said matter-of-factly.
"Maybe." Hermione said, visibly making up her mind onto something, "But not now, Alexis. Right now, I have other important issues to deal with."
"Malfoy, I guess?" Alexis, being the junior Undersecretary not just for anything, knew how to coax necessary information out of anyone, "I heard that he gave you a wedding ring and you accepted it." his eyes traveled down to her left ring finger. He wondered when Draco gave it to her and why he hadn't noticed it earlier.
But to his surprise, Alexis found Hermione's ring finger empty.
"This ring…" Hermione's voice an octave high in anger as she brandished her right hand before his eyes, a thin wedding band adorning her middle finger, "…is nothing but part of a truce that I made with Malfoy for the sake of my son." she spat, "I value neither his ring nor this so-called marriage. But that doesn't mean I am going for adultery."
"Adultery?" Alexis didn't know how to react, "You call our relationship adultery?" he demanded.
Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "No, Alexis, please don't take me wrong." She pleaded and opened her eyes, "I just…please forgive me for using that horrible word…" she sighed defeatedly, "I know you are not like that…but I just need to concentrate some pretty important issues and trust me it isn't about Malfoy. It's about my son." she replied, "You know, Alexis, Adrian is more important to me than anyone or any other relationship in this world." she stated.
Alexis's anger had quelled down the moment Hermione apologized to him. Now he could see it clearly on her face; Hermione's desperation to decide the next course of her life.
"Just for a second, Alexis, try to imagine yourself as me…as Jean…" Hermione continued, "…try to imagine a woman who was raped and forced to marry her rapist to save her only child? Try to imagine a woman who recently learned that her son is suffering internally for not having a father that he could look up to? Try to imagine a woman who was called at her son's school and told that the boy feels embarrassed to acknowledge his mother's husband as his father, even though he knows that it is the truth. What will you do, Alexis, what will you do? Will you continue to dream of a man and a future that you know you can never have? Or will you try to find out a way…to make best of the worst situation you are stuck in? What will you do, Alexis?" she cried.
Now Alexis could see the difficulty of the situation Hermione was facing. Previously, he had thought that she was asking him to let go of her memories because she wanted him to be happy with her life while she suffered alone. But with Hermione explaining it more fully, it sounded so different. She was torn between her and her son's dream; her role as a mother, a wife and her heart as an individual.
"I would have done what you are doing now." he replied earnestly, "I love Adrian as my own son."
"I know you do, Alexis. Otherwise, why would you arrange my marriage with Malfoy once you found out that Adrian's safety was in jeopardy? Why would you let go of the woman you love for the sake of her son?" Hermione said, her eyes shining with tears now, "I know you are extremely selfless and don't think about your own happiness like that bastard does. I trust you and that's why I am asking…begging…pleading you, please Alexis, let me go once and for all. Let me be free."
"You are always free." Alexis proclaimed with all sincerity, "It is not my intention to imprison you, Jean, it never was. I will always respect your decisions regarding your life as long as it isn't influenced or coerced. But if it is forced or out of any kind of obligation or a sacrifice to see me happy, Jean, I beg to you to not do that to me because I can never be happy as long as you are sad. Ever."
Hermione sighed sadly, "Alexis, please, let's just forget this and start anew. We both need to move on, I for my son's sake and you, for own…or at least for mother's sake. I am not blind, Alexis, I can that she is unhappy. I know this because I am a mother too and I can read what's on my son's mind with just look on his face. No mother can be happy as long as her children are unhappy and suffering before her eyes. But I don't blame yourself for it. It's just that I don't want to spend my life with this resentment that I lost a good friend for a lover or a potential husband."
Alexis had no words to convey his feelings.
So that was it.
It was finally over and Hermione was asking them to move forward.
The moment Hermione took her wedding vows with Draco Malfoy, Alexis knew that a day would come when they both would like to move forward. It wasn't something very unnatural. It was life after all and they had certain roles to play here. But he had dreamt it to be a parting on good terms. Impossible it might sound, but he had wanted it to be without Draco and with Hermione being happy with Adrian. True that he might not be with them at that time but he would at least have the consolation that Hermione was happy wherever she was.
But now with Hermione deciding to move ahead in her life with Draco Malfoy in it, he felt sad and helpless. A part of him knew that she would suffer a lot on days to come and was therefore unwilling to comply with her request.
"As you wish, Jean." he said finally making up his mind, "I will be true to my words that I'll respect your decisions and if this is what you want now, I am fine." He sighed internally, "But remember, I am always there when you need me. Not as ex-fiancé, not as friends but as a fellow human being."
Hermione's lips curled into a small smile, "Thank you for understanding me, Alexis. I knew you would." She said wiping her tears away.
"That's more than half an hour I have spent in washroom and if I am not mistaken, by this time everyone is thinking I have some horrible diarrhea or something." Alexis said checking his watch and smiling, trying to make the heavy mood lighter, "Knowing your brother-in-law, I am pretty sure that he will tease me for an entire week for it."
Hermione let out a laugh, "You should better leave with mother. She told me how father had been Flooing her since mornin. I guess they can't live with each other even for a moment. It looks so cute."
"You should see them fighting sometimes, then." Alexis commented, "Anyways, good day to you Jean."
"Good day, Alexis." Hermione said.
As he walked back to Audré's parlour, Alexis pondered over the events of the morning. From Narcissa to Adrian to Lillian to Hermione, he had seen them all. Everyone seemed to be trying to decide a new course in their respective lives: posh Narcissa being plain and mourning for her husband, Adrian calling Narcissa his 'grandma' and being happy for the costume she made for him, Lillian learning cooking from Apolline and Hermione making up her mind to take her life forward, it said so much about them.
Maybe, Hermione was right.
Maybe, he should really give it a rest and think about his own life for a while like everyone else was doing around him.
Maybe they were all re-directed to a new phase of their lives and this was just a transit for them.
But there was one thing, he was completely sure of.
That no matter what happened, Hermione was, is and will be his one and only love and his broken heart belonged to no one but her.
•••••
It was almost midday when Draco returned the place he called his home now: his uncle's Château.
Ever since his declaration that he wanted to sell his villa in Tuscany to procure Hermione her dream home, his aunt had been very quiet. She seemed lost in her own thoughts and Draco was slightly curious to know what they might be.
"Is something wrong, aunt?" he enquired but Audré didn't reply.
Draco was planning to ask the same question again when he saw a feminine figure walking aimlessly around the garden.
Draco's heart was in his mouth in a second.
It was Hermione.
Finally, she has come out of her sanctuary and walking in the garden.
Should he go to her?
Ask her if she was feeling better?
Or should he refrain himself from it?
Was he not aware of what Hermione felt at his presence and its long term impact on her health? Didn't Adrian say that she was having nightmares?
But despite everything, a part of Draco wanted to approach her and if possible apologize for his insensible words.
"If you are thinking what I am thinking that you are thinking, Draco, go on." He heard Audré comment solemnly from beside him, "I think it's about time that you do it yourself."
Draco looked at his aunt, astonished.
"You heard me correct, Draco." she said, looking very calm, "Go and apologize." She bid.
There was no way Draco was going to let go of this golden opportunity. If his aunt telling him to apologize to Hermione and she was the one who was giving her those sessions, she must know something to ask him to do it himself.
Without waiting another second, Draco walked at Hermione's direction in long strides.
It appeared that Hermione was lost in her own thoughts while taking a stroll around the garden. She was wearing a pale violet dress this morning, its modest cuts flowing around her graceful curves though it seemed a bit loose on the sides. Her unruly curls were being swept in the air and she kept tucking them behind her ears once a while. She was also twirling a small flower absentmindedly and Draco noticed that the ring he had given her was in her right middle finger.
When he was just an arm's length behind her, Draco halted his steps and cleared his throat audibly.
Hermione froze on her track and then very slowly, she turned to face him.
"Good afternoon, Granger." Draco greeted her with all the politeness he had in his blood as a Malfoy.
Hermione was staring at him unblinkingly.
"I just came to ask how you are feeling now." Draco said solemnly, "I heard that you are ill."
Hermione continued staring at him.
"I also came to apologize for my attitude that day at school." Draco was eager to get to point lest Hermione decided to leave suddenly without giving him ample opportunity to explain himself, "It was most insensitive of me." he admitted earnestly.
Hermione cleared her throat, "Which one?" she asked impassively.
"Pardon?" Draco blinked.
"Which one?" Hermione repeated.
That was when it dawned on Draco.
She was enquiring if he was referring to his proclamation of love or his bizarre explanation of the science of conception.
"Both." Draco replied truthfully, "I shouldn't have said that I love you. Also, I shouldn't have lied to Adrian about making babies."
"Then what else should you have done?" Hermione, it seemed, was completely unaffected by his presence, "Told him the truth regarding his birth? Told him that a man rap…"
"Please, Granger." Draco held his hand to silence her midsentence, "Please don't use that word. I know what I did. You don't have to remind me all the time. I know that I can never tell Adrian the truth behind his birth."
"That brings me back to the same question, Malfoy, what else should you have done?" Hermione's expression was unreadable.
"I should have kept my Slytherin tongue in control." Draco replied, "I realize now that how it vexed you when I said that I love you and after what I did to you, Granger, there is no reason whatsoever that you should believe me or shouldn't hate me for it."
"Is there a reason you are telling me all these things now, Malfoy?" Hermione asked him coolly, "Because if it is a new trick of yours to try to…"
"No. It is not a trick or plan or plot against you, Granger." Draco interrupted her again, "Neither is it a new scheme to get closer to Adrian. I know that isn't possible. He is your son and I am nothing to him. So, for the first time in my life I am being honest here, Granger. I shouldn't have said that I love you and I apologize for it. I understand now that it made you think that I am after your body again…that I intend to exploit it…I know I am part of what are the worst memories of your life, but I swear, Granger, I am not going to hurt you again, not now not ever." He professed calmly.
"A Pureblood Slytherin apologizing to a Mudblood Gryffindor?" Hermione arched an eyebrow.
"Don't say that word." Draco said detestably.
"Which one? Mudblood?" Hermione snorted, "Why? Are you suffering from Severus Snape Syndrome?"
"What?" Draco asked, puzzled, "I didn't get it, Granger." he confessed.
"Never mind, Malfoy, because comparing you with Professor Snape will be an insult to his memory, an insult to what he did for his love." Hermione snapped and Draco stared as to why she was praising his Head of the House, "Are you done with your long list of apologies or should I conjure a chair to sit down and listen to them all?" she asked, looking deadpan.
With all that he had done to her, Draco knew it would be very difficult to even persuade Hermione to listen to him but he was well prepared for it now. He knew his actions had been unforgiveable but he had to start somewhere.
"If you want, Granger, I can conjure a chair for you." he offered politely, "I don't wish to cause you any sort of discomfort." He proceeded to drew out his wand but Hermione drew hers before he could even reach the handle and took a dead aim at his chest.
"Don't. You. Even. Dare." She warned him in a sibilant whisper, "Never trust a snake and a Slytherin and above all, those who are a bit of both." She said icily, "Say fast whatever you want to say and be gone. I have an urgent appointment to attend."
Standing before Hermione's wand, Draco didn't know what happened to him suddenly. He knew she was being dead serious but ignoring it, he took another two steps towards her, closing the gap between her wand and his chest and stopped only when its tip was prodding painfully against his flesh, "Can I proceed now?" he asked solemnly.
In response, Hermione simply arched an eyebrow.
"Thank you, Granger, for giving me a few minutes from you invaluable time." Draco started, "I assure you it won't take long. Firstly, I'd like to apologize for addressing you with that awful word when we were classmates. I was young and jealous of you for beating me in studies. But that certainly isn't an excuse to use that word. Secondly, I know it is not possible and I am not hoping it either, but I would like to apologize for what I did to you in the dungeon. I very angry when I saw you attacked my mother and I couldn't think properly. But that also isn't an excuse to be so violent and I am giving you full rights to hate me for that." He let out a deep sigh, "Thirdly, I would like to apologize for all the hardships that you have been through for me and all the sacrifices you have done to bring Adrian to this world against all odds. I can never thank you or apologize enough for them. Fourthly, I apologize for making you marry me against your better judgment and sacrificing your happiness. I was in dire need of a mean to live for and Adrian is the only one I found. I am very sorry for imprisoning you in this unhappy marriage. And finally, I am very ashamed for telling you that 'I loved you'. I forgot that we never exchanged two decent words without drawing out our wands first and there was no way a woman would believe that the man who assaulted her 'loves' her. It sounds extremely sick. I therefore, beg your forgiveness for all the sufferings, humiliations, inconveniences and traumas that my words, actions or attitude have caused you."
This was it.
The one act his aunt Audré had been insisting him to do from the very beginning: apologize to Hermione in person and not hiding behind Apolline's shadow in return of his participation in some experiment.
This was what she had been asking him for ages and after doing it, suddenly Draco felt a strange sense of calm in his heart.
As if he had been burying an agonizing truth in the depths of his damned soul that was gnawing him, impeding his judgments and now that he has finally relinquished it for a better future, he felt strangely empty yet contended.
He waited patiently for Hermione's response.
"Are you going to die today, Malfoy?" Hermione asked after a while, totally nonplussed by Draco's words, "Because your well-rehearsed words remind me of a dying man's last confession."
"I wish I could do what you ask me to be, Granger, be dead and gone." Draco said with all honesty, "But as of this morning I have no forecasts of impending death."
"Pity." Hermione said and withdrew her wand, "Tell me, Malfoy, do I look like a moron to you? Someone who would believe a single word of your so-called apologies?"
"No." Draco replied truthfully.
"Then why are you being so generous this morning?" Hermione asked matter-of-factly.
"I just thought we have to start our relationship from somewhere and why not start it from where I left it, from where I messed it up." Draco confessed, "I am willing to do anything for the sake of our better future." He stated.
"Better future? With you, Malfoy? My rapist?" Hermione tilted her head sideways, giving Draco a look that suggested she was highly doubtful that such a relationship can ever exist in distant future.
"Yes, Granger, I am willing to let go of all our previous animosities. For the sake of our son." Draco said calmly.
"Adrian is my son and I am not taking another word on it." Hermione said firmly, "He. Is. My. Son."
"Yes, he is. He is your son, Granger, and you are his mother." Draco agreed, "And I am nothing to him but the Sperm donor, as you have so rightfully stated. But I am willing to be his father. Better say, I am eager to find out if I am eligible to be his father. The father that every son dreams of having."
"If that is the reason behind your generous apology, Malfoy, I can assure you that you are wasting your breath." Hermione said, looking very confident, "You aren't Adrian's dream father. You are nothing but a terrible nightmare that doesn't seem to end."
"I know Granger but I am willing to prove myself. Correct myself if required." Draco offered sincerely, "Can you please think over my apologies and my proposal?"
"Apologies, I don't care for." Hermione tossed away half of Draco's proposition with neglect, "As for you trying to prove yourself as Adrian's father…" she paused, "I'll think about it."
Draco hadn't expected it to be so easy. He had thought that he would need another few monthes to persuade Hermione to think about their relationship. But here she was, standing before his very eyes and telling him that she would think about his proposal.
"Thank you." was all he could say before Hermione turned and left him alone, contemplating heavily on the day.
The Saturday hadn't been an usual one. This was the day he finally found out the real meaning of those memories; this was the day he admitted his feelings to his aunt; this was the day he decided to buy Hermione her cottage in exchange of his Villa that was gift from his grandfather and full of last of what remained of his beautiful days with Astoria.
This was also the day he finally apologized to Hermione and asked for another chance in life.
True that she said she would think about it, but at least, it was a start.
Suddenly, the day seemed very beautiful to Draco and he looked up at the sky above.
It was such a strange feeling: of relief, of calm, of peace, of salvation and above all, of finding a way…a path that lead him to a meaningful destination.
And Draco never knew he could feel like this.
Like he had never seen the sky before and Hermione was that sky of limitless possibilities that lay before him.
Suddenly, Draco understood what Lillian's song had meant:
Never knew I could feel like this…
Like I have never seen the sky before…
Want to vanish inside your kiss…
Everyday I love you more and more…
Yes, he was in love with Hermione. Not the ones he had fooled himself with previously, this was different.
Maybe it was not quite love; something akin to it but it was definitely more than admiration for the woman who gave him a mean to live for.
It wanted to make him give her everything he had.
Every happiness that was possible…
Every dream that was unfulfilled…
Every comfort that was obtainable…
And every pleasure that was imaginable…
Suddenly Draco felt like giving Hermione everything she ever wanted.
Home…family…friends…love…
Even that locket that her mother gave her and that chocolate which was her father's favourite…
Draco wanted to give her every single one of those.
Armed with new found realization and determination Draco left the garden on pursuit of his aunt Audré.
He found her on his uncle's study scanning the book shelves for what looked like a book or something.
"Aunt, do you have anyone who can help me in buying that cottage?" he asked her and Audré gave her a pensive look.
"Are you sure about it Draco?" she asked instead, "You will not resent or regret it later?"
Draco shook his head, "No, aunt." he replied solemnly, "I will not resent it."
Audré frowned slightly and sighed, "Fine, I'll ask one my junior colleagues to handle your matter." She said and proceeded to turn when she stopped, "By the way, what did Jean say to you?"
Draco smiled, "Will tell you in details later, aunt, but right now, I am running late."
"Late for what?" Audré asked skeptically.
"A locket and a certain brand of bittermints." Was all that Draco replied before leaving his uncle's study.
Life was so beautiful with a purpose on it and he has finally found his.
•••••
At half past three, when Hermione returned the Château with Lillian she had only one thought in her mind: get aunt Audré.
The morning after Alexis's visit, Apolline's departure and Draco Malfoy's apology had been an uneventful one. Hermione and Lillian, as per Audré's instructions and Adrian's insistence, had been sent to a posh Muggle salon: John Nolett's to get a special scalp massage and haircut for the upcoming masquerade ball. That being over Lillian took Hermione to her favourite spa of hers for a special fruit facial. Both the maneuvers provided her with ample time to think over Draco's offer and apology.
In all honesty, Hermione was astonished at how she had coped up with the situation. Draco Malfoy was the biggest nightmare of her life and she loathed having even the slightest bit of association with him. His presence was enough to poison the very air she breathed in and she wished nothing but to keep it as minimum as possible.
But this morning, while talking to him she felt none of the usual tumult of emotions she usually experienced. For some strange reason, she had been calm, very calm indeed when Draco seemingly came out of blue and enquired about her health. What intrigued her most was that how very unaffected she was in his presence when he was standing just a few inches from her. It was as if she has become immune to Draco Malfoy all of a sudden and Hermione wondered how that could have happened.
Was it someway related to her recent dream where her mother rescued her from a quicksand?
Hermione didn't know for sure.
But if there was one thing she was certain of it was that Malfoy's apology meant no more than Filch's flatus to her and she wasn't going to waste her precious time brooding over it.
As for his offer, Hermione suspected it was part of a big game plan that the Slytherin was hatching against her and she was eager to discuss her theory with Audré.
"You look good in that haircut, Jean." Lillian's words broke Hermione's musings as they walked side-by-side; she has had her own haircut and looked prettier than before, "I think you should do it often. Your curls are so gorgeous." She complimented her new medium length hair with bangs.
"And here I thought they were a hairy brown version of some Muggle instant noodles." Hermione snorted and Lillian laughed, "Really, Lillian, my hair was so horrible that everyone used to make fun of it and I was left with no option but to resort to hair potions to make them straight and beautiful like yours." She indicated Lillian's silvery blond sleek hair.
"Beautiful? This?" Lillian casted her straight and long hair a backward glance, "They are just too boring. But look at you! Such beautiful ringlets you have and what would I not do to have them naturally? I think you are being too critical to your looks, Jean." she chastised her, "You are a very beautiful woman."
Hermione had nothing to offer on the matter and therefore she let go of it.
"So how was your crêpe making session?" Hermione asked her sister-in-law, eager to let go of the topic of her beauty for it was immaterial now that she was Draco Malfoy's wife, "Did mother's advice come handy?"
"It went well." Lillian lied smoothly, "But I still need to practice a lot to make crêpes like Madame Delacour. Hers are just professional and trust me, Jean, I have never tasted crêpes like hers."
"I know. But I must say that you surprised me today, Lillian." Hermione admitted, "I thought you'll stick to your old opinions that Veelas are temperamental."
"I am still sticking to it." Lillian shrugged, "Veelas are temperamental, Jean, but Madame Delacour must be an exception. She is a good woman to love you and Adrian like that. Not every Veela could be like her. Some of them that I know are very arrogant and proud." she said bitterly.
Hermione knew whom Lillian meant by that statement. She herself was a living proof of her dislike for Veelas when she first met Fleur Delacour. She had taken her as a proud and arrogant woman with dominating attitude and used to call her 'phlegm' with Ginny. But it all changed during the war and now they were family. She wondered if would be wise to ask her sister-in-law about Alexis's abrupt visit to the kitchens. She had noticed how the man suddenly became all too interested to use the washroom when Adrian asked if he could show his aunt his new toys. So, as soon as the Junior Undersecretary left, Hermione excused herself and followed him to the kitchens.
But what she saw there was a clear indication that Lillian still hasn't cooled down and Hermione couldn't blame her for that. From her personal experiences she knew that her sister-in-law needed some time to get over the shock of being insulted so.
Besides, selfish it might sound but it was Alexis's problem and he should be the one to solve it. Hermione had plenty on her own plate to deal with.
"I need to take a bath, Jean." Lillian informed her as they reached the staircase that lead to upper floors and Hermione nodded.
She needed to take a bath too but before that she had to discuss a few things with Audré.
The Chombrun Malfoy matriarch was in her husband's study when Hermione walked in there with a knock.
"I hope I am not disturbing you, aunt." she noticed a few books that lay open around Audré.
"Not at all." Audré smiled gently and closed the thick tome she was engrossed in, "You look marvelous, Jean. That hairstyle really suites you well."
"Thanks, aunt." Hermione smiled as she settled down on one of the chairs before Audré's desk, "Sending me to that Salon was a very good idea. Their scalp massage was an excellent stress reliever."
"I told you so, Jean." Audré put aside her book that was titled 'Curious Cases on Claiming', "I go there when I feel stressed. I even took Narcissa there when she was most reluctant to go. But her opinion changed after she saw Nolett's handiwork. She confessed to me that Wizarding salons don't know even half of what that one man knows alone about the art of hairstyling."
Hermione nodded approvingly still frowning at the book.
"So, tell me what brought you here in this beautiful afternoon of Saturday?" Audré asked her, "If you are thinking where Adrian is, let me inform you that he is well and good. After you and Lillian left for salon, he had an excellent broom ride with his uncle Julian and after lunch, they have gone to pick the last of the berries from the shrubbery. When they return Julian is planning to make a large box for Adrian where he can keep his origamis."
"That's very thoughtful of him." Hermione felt a surge of gratitude for the entire family for all the support and care they have provided her since her marriage, "No, but I am not here for Adrian. I wanted to consult something with you."
"Then you must first pay my consultation fees." Audré said evenly.
Hermione gaped, "Consultation fee?" she repeated.
"An extra hour of storytelling with my cute little grandson is all that I ask for." Audré stated innocently and realizing that it was a joke, Hermione laughed.
"Okay, okay." She shook her head in defeat, "You can have all the hours you like. Now can I proceed?" she asked.
Audré took a deep breath as if preparing herself for Hermione's onslaught of questions, "Please." She bid.
"Aunt, do you think that Malfoy is up to something?"
"What made you think so, Jean?"
"He apologized to me this morning."
"And?"
"Malfoys don't apologize. Ever."
"Well there are a lot of speculations in the air about what Malfoys do and don't do, Jean, and not all of them are true. Can you please tell me what Draco's exactly said?"
Hermione took a deep breath and told Audré everything from Draco's apology to his desire to be more involved with Adrian. She knew despite the fact that Audré was Draco's aunt, she'd offer her a good advice.
"Do you believe him, Jean?"
"No, aunt. Not a word."
Audré sighed, "Difficult. Very difficult." She commented, "And what of his offer? Will you consider it?"
"I said I will and that is the reason I am here, aunt."
"You want to know if it will be wise to let him be more involved with Adrian."
"That and also if he has any other plans in his mind." Hermione replied solemnly.
"Like?"
"I don't know, aunt. I know he can't take away Adrian from me unless he dies first because of that Unbreakable Vow. I know he can't harm us. I know my fears sound illogical but I still can't accept it that Malfoy is being all nice and gentleman without any ulterior motives."
"I don't blame you Jean. After what you went through and what happened to your son any woman in her right minds would think the same. There is no reason that you should believe him. So, what do you plan now?"
"I don't think I have any other option but to grant his wish and watch him closely."
"Do I detect defeat in your voice, Jean?"
"No!" Hermione exclaimed, "It is not a defeat, aunt. It's a scheme. I want to find out what Malfoy is after. What he is planning. Why he apologized. Why he is being so nice."
"Good." Audré nodded approvingly, "It's a good plan. And about time too."
"Aunt, where did you go with Malfoy this morning?" Hermione asked, curious.
Audré smiled, "Curious, are we, Jean? I went to visit one of my Grandfather's old advisors - Eugene Durant. Grandpére used to speak very highly of him; called him 'Walsingham of France'. And Draco must have gone to look for a suitable home as per the deal you made with him." She replied, "Tell me Jean, what kind of home do you want him to buy for Adrian?"
"What kind of question is that, aunt?" Hermione asked back, astonished, "You know I want nothing that is associated with him. I thought you figured it out that it was nothing but a ploy to make him fail so that I can challenge his so-called Claim."
"I know." Audré said, her expression unreadable, "I am just curious like you were curious to know where I went with Draco. So, tell me, what would be an ideal home for your son?"
"I don't like extravagant mansions or villas or Châteaux. They are just so Malfoy." Hermione replied, "I am fine with a cottage as long the people I live in there are those whom I love."
Audré nodded absent-mindedly, "Anything else you wanted to ask me, Jean?" she enquired.
Hermione considered the question. She had so many things to ask.
"I have been very stressed lately, aunt." she started and Audré listened to her in rapt attention, "Last Monday, I had an awful dream where Malfoy kidnapped Adrian and forced me to be pregnant again. It was so vivid aunt that when I couldn't find Adrian I thought that Malfoy has kidnapped him again. It turned out that he didn't but that didn't alleviate my new nightmares about losing my son."
"I knew I had to do something about it but my fears and my insecurity with Malfoy were clouding my judgments." she sighed, "But last night something happened aunt." she said remembering her dream, "I had a strange dream. I saw that I was stuck in a quicksand in the middle of Forbidden Forest. I was crying thinking what will happen to my son if I am gone. I thought that there was no one to save me from it and then…suddenly my mum came. And she wasn't alone. Mother Apolline was with her and together they pulled me out of that horrible quicksand. After that we sat together under a tree and talked for a very long time. I told her everything, aunt, everything that I have always wanted to tell her and now I feel drained. I feel drained and empty."
"I found out this morning that Malfoy's presence doesn't affect me. It's strange considering the fact that I was having all those nightmares because of him. And now suddenly I am immune to him. Do you think that dream could be a reason behind it?"
Audré tapped her forehead, evidently lost in her own thoughts.
"Quicksand in dream, Jean, represents a need of stability in your life." she replied after a while, "A lot of time, it represents a certain relationship in your life that has trapped you which in this case is your marriage to my dear nephew. But the positive thing is that you were able to escape from it, Jean, that you had help from someone you can trust and you came out of it unscathed. I think that might be the reason that you no longer fear Draco. That quicksand was nothing but your fears regarding him and now that you are out of it you are free from fear too. Now you are even willing to find out what his motives might be. That's a very good sign, Jean. Because you are slowly getting back the control of your own life."
Audré's words always had a strangely comforting effect on Hermione and as she listened to her, she felt her old Gryffindor self wake up and roar like a lioness. She was ready again and this time there was no way she would let that filthy Slytherin win over her with his cunning schemes.
"Thank you, aunt." she thanked Audré from the bottom of her heart, "I don't want to suffer from self-pity anymore and bang my head on that wall thinking that my dreams weren't fulfilled. I am a mature woman, aunt, and I vow that whatever might have happened to me or to my dreams, aunt, Adrian's will never suffer the same fate. I'll find way out of it." She said firmly.
"That's more liked, Jean Granger, Chief Curse Breaker of Gringotts." Audré winked at her, "Will it sound too cruel if I ask you give Draco all the hard times that you can manage?"
Hermione laughed, "Not at all, aunt, I assure you that I'll try my best." She promised and shifted her attention to the book Audré was reading, "Aunt, why are you reading books on Claiming? Is there any reason?"
"I am not Draco, Jean, and not all of my actions should have a reason behind it. It's just for a light reading. To see if I remember them well." Audré replied, "Because no matter what people say, Jean, I am getting old and my memory isn't the same as it used to be once."
"Yeah." Hermione nodded and stood up, "Das kannst… du deiner… Oma… erzählen!"
"What?" Audré asked, puzzled.
"Das kannst… du deiner Oma… erzählen." Hermione said having difficulty in remembering Günther's awfully hard German words.
"Meaning?" Audré was smiling now.
"It's a sentence in German that I learned from one of colleagues Günther Amadeus." Hermione replied, "Literally it means 'tell it to your grandmother' but it is used as a response to unbelievable claims. Like if you said you are getting old and your memory isn't the same while everyone knows that you are best lawyer in entire France. 'Oh yeah? 'Das kannst… du deiner Oma… erzählen' – tell it to your grandmother, someone who will believe that."
"I have no grandmother, Jean." Audré laughed, "But I have a cute little grandson and if I tell him that his grandma is becoming old, I am pretty sure that he will believe that."
It was Hermione's turn to laugh and with it she left Audré to in her studies.
As she walked back to her quarters, Hermione had a new spring in her steps. The path that lay ahead might be difficult but finally she has overcome her fears to pursue it.
•••••
As the door closed behind Hermione, Audré returned to the paragraph that was solely dedicated to 1904 case of Dissolution of Claiming.
Returning to Château at midday, Audré's prime goal had been to find out all about the case Morpheus had mentioned in the Tuileries as a possible mean to free Hermione from the prison of marriage. After rummaging his book shelf for an entire hour, during which Draco had walked in asking for a lawyer to help him buy the Meadowmoor Cottage, she found what she was looking for.
The case was curious indeed.
It stated an incident of the year 1904 in French magical community where a witch - a mother of three, Fideliused her children and herself in her own home. The person she wanted to avoid was her husband and for that she resorted to the extremely complex nature of Fidelius Charm. Thus her husband, even though he knew the exact location of their home before it was subjected to Fidelius Charm was unable to enter his own home. He kept waiting outside where his now-invisible home was located hoping that his wife would send the Secret Keeper to allow him into it but in vain. Soon he found out the reason behind such an unimaginable act. His wife demanded that he let go of his Claim on their youngest child – a son so that she could divorce him. She claimed that her wasn't an ideal man to raise their children though it wasn't clear what she meant by the term 'ideal'. But for Audré that was beside the point. She was more interested in the manner the woman got rid of her husband's Claim in the end.
According to the Wizarding law of Claiming a Claimed child was to live at his father's home or under the same roof as his parents did until he came of age. Before that he wasn't allowed to leave except for extreme circumstances such as abuse or his parent's involvement in any sort crime. It is also the father who should be the provider of shelter to his children and wife or his Claim could be challenged.
In other words, a woman and her children are protected by law as long as they live in the place their father has provided them. But there is no mention that her husband should be actively living there too. He could be working in a foreign country or as it was in Old Times, fighting in a distant land. It will not be taken against him if he is absent from home as long as his family is living in the place he has allotted for them.
And the clever witch had seen that loophole in the Law. The Law stated that a woman was expected to live at her husband's home with her children especially with the Claimed one. And that home could be any place from the one her husband has inherited from his ancestors to the one he has bought for them to live in or a place he has rented for them to live temporarily. But the sole purpose of it should be to provide shelter to his family and as long as a woman was within the boundary of her husband's home she was protected and respected.
So there was no way that woman's husband could sue her breaking the Law of Claiming which he could have done had she left his home.
Next was the mode she used to coerce him to let go the Claim.
Tired of living outside his own home for almost two years and unable to take any legal actions against his wife, the man finally bent down before her demand that he let go of his Claim or else he'd never see his son again. Defeated and finding no other way around the problem, he had to let go of his Claim and his wife divorced him immediately after that. She also moved out of his home since it wasn't her home anymore and spent the rest of her life in an unknown location though the man was allowed to meet his children periodically.
So, that was the reason Morpheus had prevented Audré when she thought that buying that cottage would jeopardize Hermione's plans.
He wanted her to follow this case and Fidelius Hermione in the home that her husband would soon buy for her and his Claimed son. That way she was legally protected from all sides.
Morpheus's words were still ringing in her ears.
'That'll be your last resort if Jean doesn't accept Draco at the end of game. 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.'
So that would be Audré's last option should Hermione not accept Draco even if he let go of everything he had for her. She was to Fidelius Hermione in the home that her husband has given her and force Draco to let go of the Claim so that she could file a divorce.
'That is the only way you can make Draco give Jean get what she wants: her freedom.'
Hermione's freedom…
…From Draco…
And then suddenly everything was clear to Audré.
Like a giant maze that lay before her eyes she could see all paths leading out to one goal.
There was Draco's path: salvation.
There was Hermione's path: freedom.
And there was her, Audré's path: guidance and justice.
These were that paths that lay on their feet.
Audré's lips curled into a triumphant smile.
There was still some hope; hopes of Hermione's dreams coming true.
Besides, didn't Morpheus tell her that Draco will finish what he started?
Maybe all their paths were leading to that end point too.
And maybe nothing really happened in this world without a reason. Maybe Hermione was supposed to meet Draco and in the end if she didn't accept him in her life knowing that he has done everything in his power to have them, there was no way she ever would. And if that happened, Audré now has her own means to persuade her nephew to do what was good for all of them: Hermione, Adrian and Draco. Because two happy people living separately were always better than three unhappy people living under the same roof.
"Thanks dear husband." Audré whispered and closed the thick tome with a contented sigh.