The Poisoned Apple

by SeveranSnape

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

72. Chapter 72

A/N: Thanks to Grovek26, Zeehana, roni2010, the-clumsy-one and all the guests (dane21, alvira and others) for their kind reviews (even rude ones) on last chapter.

Thanks everyone for all the follows and favourites on ffnet and on pinterest.

** This is chapter is perhaps the longest that I have ever written for TPA (23k+) and concerns several topics that will be coming on future chapters and thus were included to give the story some pace. The Hearing is hopefully the first and last since I have never been to court and am not very apt in writing them. Hermione's reminisces were based on a movie clip on her teaching Ron how to play piano and her statement that her parents took her to Charing Cross Road.

*** Please read the last part of this chapter very carefully, especially Draco's testimony on his own actions. They portray the extent to which he has changed and his maturity. He's still a mixture between positive and negative and working on him is very difficult considering the fact that I want to keep all my characters as human as possible.

Acknowledgements:

The parts on Polyjuice potion, Swiss accent, casino, Italian cuisine, Giovanni's, Tuscany's weather and fruits were written after reading several articles and checking Google map. Especially the casino was written after reading an article on 'gambling in old west' when it wasn't considered a good character.

Please enjoy and don't forget to leave a review.

**I have made a page in Pinterest for TPA and the link in my profile for those who'd like to visit it.

Podere Cipressi is also on Pinterest.

For adult words and themes this Chapter is rated: M (HIGH MATURITY)

Disclaimer: The copyright to Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling. Any other characters are purely work of fiction and any resemblances are co-incidental.

Chapter 72: The Stagnant Words.

Though Draco was a student of Law in one of the most prestigious Wizarding Law schools in Europe – the Sorbonne, he has never had the fortune or misfortune, depending on what his position was, to witness a criminal trial from up close.

It was not that he never wanted. He just couldn't.

When his father Lucius Malfoy was tried after the Second Wizarding War Draco had expressed his desire to testify before the Wizengamot to save him and the remains of the their family name. He had wanted to tell them that they were actually victims of Voldemort and not his accomplices as most took people them as and therefore Lucius should be exempt of his charges.

But that opportunity never came.

It was Narcissa whose prompt actions saved her family and the last of its honour. With her convincing truth she explained to Draco how his testimony would be dismissed on the grounds that he himself was a young Death Eater and with her very convincing lie about Harry Potter's death before Voldemort she won them a plea of not guilty. Draco knew that his father had internal sources to help him come out unscathed since they had emptied half of their vault to free him but didn't have slightest idea that the person was his future father-in-law – Ebenezer Greengrass. Narcissa's clever calculations paid off well; Lucius did come out unscathed and with a light sentence of House Arrest for the rest of his life, which the Malfoy head of House dismissed carelessly with an indignant shrug.

"Mark my words, Draco, I'll be a free man very soon." He had said over a hearty drink celebrating his near-freedom once he returned home from Azkaban.

Watching his father win over everything – be it the First or Second Wizarding War with the muscle of Malfoy money behind him, Draco had thought that everything including freedom and justice could be bought if one had enough money to spend on it and since he wasn't one of those very unfortunate ones who couldn't, he was proud.

But the extraordinary fight Audré put on against Rochés and Metzner duo on Monday, 1st November, cleared that fog of long standing misconception from his mind and for the first time, he witnessed how ferocious Audré Chombrun Malfoy could be when she was in her element.

"I'd like to call upon Monsieur Draco Malfoy, a Potions researcher under the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in the Ministry as my first witness for the day." Draco heard his aunt solemn appeal before the Chief Warlock Élie Decazes who nodded in approval.

The courtroom, unlike its last two days of hearing has been opened for public on the third for reasons unknown to Draco. Even for a very spacious amphitheatre like place, it was bursting with journalists and reporters who were hungry to see, with many others like them, how the titans – Chombrun Malfoy and Metzner, thrashed each other. Draco had been to the Roman Colosseum during his visits in Italy and could smell in the air of the courtroom the same high anticipation of the spectators that preceded the entrance of the gladiators in the arena. He has also read the reports on various newspapers that were following the Trial of the Century very closely. According to them, the once renowned 'Iron Maiden' of Wizengamot, Audré Chombrun Malfoy, seemed to be losing her touch since Metzner had been winning every argument on last two hearings.

But Draco knew that his aunt, like a clever snake, was just bidding her time. It was a pity that she never went to Hogwarts. She could have been a fine Slytherin.

Hearing his name being called, Draco left his seat on the spectator's gallery and proceeded for the witness box. Once there, he took a solemn Oath to be truthful about all the information he would be providing before Audré took charge.

Draco looked down at the woman who stood before him and for the first time in his life he saw the public prosecutor and not the loving aunt. She looked almost unrecognizable in her purple Wizengamot robe and tightly pulled bun, both giving her a strange aura that made one forget everything temporarily and give her all the attention. It was only her penetrating blue eyes that reminded Draco she was none other than Audré Chombrun Malfoy.

"Bonjour, Monsieur Malfoy." Audré greeted him politely and though he was prepared for the testimony from beforehand Draco was slightly taken aback by her completely professional attitude. He could feel thousands of eyes fixed on him and one of those pairs was his own Criminal Law professor's - Olivier Metzner. Until now, his aunt had been advising him to lie low on his classes with her courtroom rival but it seemed that the time to surface has finally come.

"Can you please tell us what is the exact nature of your job at the Ministry?" in her first question Audré was so solemn that Draco suspected if she has forgotten that she was in a courtroom and not in her dovecote in the Château.

"I am a Potions Researcher under the Department of Magical Law Enforcement." Draco replied as it was already stated by Audré herself, "I work in Innovation section where I research on Potions, modify their properties and try to make them work better for the Aurors."

"Can you please tell us what is the field of your specialty?" Audré raised her eyebrows ever so slightly.

"I am currently working on Polyjuice Potion." Draco replied, his eyes now roaming on the crowd who seemed to hanging on his every word; across him behind the bar, stood forty something Augustus Rochés, scrutinizing him with the most curious look.

"Polyjuice Potion." Audré nodded understandably, "Pardon me, Monsieur Malfoy but I was never very good at Potions. My Professor at Beauxbatons thought that my brews were mere passable. I know it's a pity considering that I am renowned potioneer Josée Laval's daughter but can you please remind me what a Polyjuice Potion does and what are its chief ingredients?"

"Objection, my lord, my esteemed colleague is wasting Wizengamot's precious time in idle chitchat with her nephew." Metzner said before Draco could reply, "I therefore, call her to stay to the point and be brief."

Draco watched as Audré turned and gave Metzner a honey dipped smile, "I am being to the point, Monsieur; please have a little more patience. It doesn't cost one and even if it does I am sure you are wealthy enough to pay for it." she said before turning back to her nephew expectantly.

Draco took a deep breath. He felt like a first year student in Professor McGonagall's class answering her question.

"Polyjuice Potion is a kind of magical brew that allows the drinker to assume the form of someone else." He started, "It's a very complicated and challenging potion that even adult witches and wizards struggle to brew correctly. The potion is incredibly advanced and has two separate parts that contain steps for each part. When brewing for each part is complete the potion has to be stewed for a month before it can be used." He paused when Audré held up her hand.

"Pardon, Monsieur but I would like the Wizengamot to take note of the time and process it requires to brew Polyjuice Potion." She said, looking up at the judge Élie Decazes, who immediately scribbled it down, "It takes a month to brew the Polyjuice Potion and it's an incredibly advanced and complicated procedure." She turned to Draco again, "Please proceed." She bade.

"There are four ingredients for part one and another four for part two." Draco resumed his lecture, "Fluxweed, Knotgrass, Lacewing flies and leeches are needed for the part one. Horn of Bicorn, Boomslang skin, Lacewing flies and a bit from the person you want to turn into for the second part. After that it is required that one stews the potion for a month before its usage."

"Merci, Monsieur." Audré said, looking very satisfied, "Now as a researcher on Polyjuice Potion can you please explain how the famous Potion works?"

"Objection, my lord!" Metzner left his seat and cut in again, "I can't fathom the motive as to why my esteemed colleague is having a lengthy discussion on Polyjuice Potion. This is a very important hearing, Monsieur Decazes and my client's life and honour is at stake. It is not a potions classroom in Beauxbatons where one can idly lecture his students." He said and a few of the spectators laughed.

"My lord." Audré looked up at the Chief Warlock, "It seems that my colleague has forgotten that the trial has just begun and I am allowed some of its precious time to complete my interrogation. I therefore, ask him again to have some more patience so that I can complete what I am here for."

"Objection overruled." Élie Decazes declared, "Monsieur Metzner, please take your seat and let Madame Malfoy continue."

"Pray continue." Audré bade Draco as soon as Metzner settled down with a bitter look, "You were telling us how the Polyjuice Potion works." She reminded him.

"The ingredients used in the brewing of Polyjuice Potion like Fluxweed, Knotgrass, Lacewing flies, Boomslang skin or Bicorn Horn all basically work together to make it something that can link one person to another." Draco said, remembering the paragraph in Moste Potente Potions, "In other words it creates a duality where one person sheds his outer body for a new inner one - the one he or she is turning into."

"So according to you, Monsieur Malfoy, the Polyjuice Potion can't change a person's behaviour or personality or inherent traits?" Audré enquired.

"No, it can't." Draco shook his head, "It is made in a way that it acts only on the outer surface of the body or the organs that are responsible for one's external appearance in order to change their forms. But inner persona or internal vital organs like one's genital organs or heart or brain can't be transformed." He explained.

Audré turned to Élie Decazes, "Please take note Monsieur, that Polyjuice potion can't transform the drinker's vital organs like brain, heart or internal genital organs like testacies, ovaries or uterus. Nor can it change their persona." She said and Decazes's quill lowered down to take note, "What about voice, Monsieur, can it be changed too?" she asked Draco.

"Producing voice is a complex thing, Madame Prosecutor." Draco replied, remembering his own work on the potion, "It requires several small muscles of larynx and nerves that regulate it. Since those muscles or nerves aren't associated with our external features, they don't transform when one takes Polyjuice Potion."

By this time, the courtroom was pin drop silent. All the journalists and reporters were feverishly scribbling down the words that left Draco's lips as if waiting for something dramatic to happen.

"Merci." Audré gave Draco a smile before turning to Metzner, "Point to be noted my lord, that Polyjuice Potion doesn't change the voice of the drinker because it isn't associated with external appearance." She turned to Metzner, "Monsieur, do you have any queries to make from this witness?"

In response, Metzner simply scoffed arrogantly before casting Draco a nasty look. Realizing that his role has been played well, Draco left the witness box and returned to his seat in the spectator's gallery.

"Next," Audré said as impassively as Hermione had been the previous night, "I'd like to call upon on the witness box the Swiss Minister of Magic – Herr Jonas Furrer."

Draco had been waiting for this moment eagerly since he had learned through his now intimate connection with the French Minister Guizot as to why of all people in the world the Swiss Minister was invited to the Ministry Masquerade Ball. He couldn't deny that he was both astonished and stunned at Audré's ability to scheme everything so seamlessly.

As the Swiss Minister, a man in his fifties left his seat for the witness box people all around the Wizengamot suddenly started whispering with barely hidden excitement while Rochés and his attorney Metzner looked deeply troubled.

"Bonjour, Herr Furrer." Audré greeted the Swiss minister just as she had greeted Draco.

"Bonjour, Madame." The minister greeted back curtly.

"I know everyone is wondering why the Swiss minister has been called to the witness box for he was neither present at the party and nor is he anyway related to this trial." Audré turned to the jury and the audience, "I will explain the reason later. But for now, I can only tell that he is here as an impartial expert in Swiss language." She turned back to the minister, "Herr Furrer can you please tell us why the French Ministry contacted you?"

Jonas, the Swiss Minister, looked up at the Chief Warlock, "I was contacted by the French Ministry to give an expert opinion on some memories that took place in a party at Rochés Hotel." he replied solemnly, "The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Monsieur Sergeant…" he indicated at Draco's severe looking boss in the spectator's gallery, "…came to my office himself with a phial of memories and a request from the French Minister, François Guizot, to analyze the accent of the offender – Augustus Rochés."

"What did he say, Herr Furrer?" Audré asked Jonas, "I am curious to learn why the French Ministry contacted you of all the people."

Jonas looked very confident when he replied, "I had asked Monsieur Sergeant the same question when he came with the request and he told me that the offender is a Swiss by his family origin. That reminded me that the Rochés are indeed a renowned pureblood Wizarding family who run a hotel business by the name of Les Rochés in a place called Canton of Valais in the southwestern part of Switzerland."

"My lord, I don't understand why we are talking about hotel businesses and potions in the beginning of a crucial trial and wasting valuable time." Metzner protested again, this time violently, "We are not here to learn the geography of Switzerland." He added haughtily.

"Monsieur Metzner, I don't understand why you keep interrupting in an interrogation when everyone else is eager to know more." Élie Decazes said, waving his hand at the keen general audience and the reporters, "As the Chief Warlock of this proceeding I myself am curious to learn why a Minister was invited from a foreign country to give an expert opinion on some memories when it could be easily done by French government."

Metzner, seemingly sensing that the wind wasn't on his favour today, decided to sit down and let Audré continue.

"Pardon, Herr Furrer." Audré resumed with a polite smile, "Where was I? Oh yes, you said you were presented with a vial of memories and asked to give opinion on them. Can you please tell the court what they were?"

Jonas scratched his nose, "There were several memories in that phial and it seemed that all of them were collected from different persons who attended the same party." He said thoughtfully, "When I first entered the Pensieve, I landed beside a man who was giving orders to the waiters to bring more wine for the guests. Then the memory faded to another scene where the same man was greeting the French Minister and thanking him for coming to his hotel. The scene shifted again and this time the man was offering the Minister some caviar which he accepted gladly. The last memory was on a balcony where Monsieur Sergeant and one his men were trying to control a struggling Minister while officers were went to investigate what was the last thing he ate. Then a lady, she seemed like the hostess of the party, claimed that the Minister took some caviar from a plate offered by the man present in all the memories. The man was then put under interrogation and he said he knew nothing of the matter."

"Can you please see and tell us if the man in all the memories is present here or not?" Audré asked Jonas who immediately fixed his stare at Rochés, "That's him, Madame Prosecutor." He stated.

"Objection, my lord!" Metzner, though not looking very confident, roared again, "I already stated before the Wizengamot that my client was impersonated and he wasn't present at the time of poisoning."

"Objection overruled." Élie Decazes said sternly, "I am warning you for the last time, Monsieur. You have been disturbing the hearing from the very beginning. You certainly remember that this is a courtroom and it has some etiquette. No one is denying your client justice. You'll have your turn to prove his innocence when Madame prosecutor is done. For now, please don't interrupt."

Metzner huffed angrily and slumped on his seat.

"Merci, my lord." Audré nodded to the Chief Warlock, "So going back to our previous conversation Herr Furrer, I'd like to know what was your conclusion on the provided memories?"

"They were the same man – all four of them." the Swiss Minister replied simply, "The man who asked his waiters to bring more wine, the man who greeted the Minister, who offered him caviar and the man who was interrogated in the end were all the same man. It was him." he pointed at Rochés.

"How can you be so sure?" Audré asked Jonas, "You heard Monsieur Metzner. He already told the court that his client wasn't present at the time of poisoning. He was actually impersonated."

"But that's not possible." The Swiss Minister said, "His accent throughout all the memories was the same. It was an essentially Swiss accent. It was very subtle but I identified it the moment I heard him talk." He said matter-of-factly, "I know, Madame. I am a Swiss man."

"This is ridiculous!" Metzner slammed on his desk, "What's the meaning of this nonsense? If a man's accent is Swiss, no matter how subtle, it doesn't mean that he is Augustus Rochés."

"On the contrary it does." Audré turned to Metzner and faced him like a lioness, "The Wizengamot has already heard from Monsieur Malfoy that the potion that is used to impersonate – Polyjuice Potion, can't change voices or personality of the drinker. The Swiss Minister here told us that the accent of the man in the memories were essentially Swiss. He also stated that the Rochés are actually a family hailing from Switzerland. Can you please enlighten me any other possibilities as to why that man poisoning the Minister can't be your client Augustus Rochés?"

"Because he wasn't present there." Metzner replied chewing every word, "I have already presented alibis on his behalf."

"Then why was he caught from the scene?" Audré demanded.

"Because this is a conspiracy against my client to frame him so that he can't run on the next election for the post of Minister."Metzner shot back impatiently.

"So by your implications, Monsieur, the Ministry is directly involved in the conspiracy?" Audré asked, her eyes shining with some unknown emotion, "Monsieur Sergeant, Monsieur Julian and Draco Malfoy, Monsieur François Guizot and everyone present at the party were part of a big game. They all, from some source that is unknown to us, knew at least one month before the party was actually arranged by Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy, before she even came to France, that a party would be organized in Rochés Hotel and started hatching plans to frame Augustus Rochés. They hired a man with the same subtle accent as Monsieur Rochés, trained him to behave like him and gave him some Polyjuice Potion to impersonate him. They even involved the Swiss Minister in it and also asked me to take the case because they knew no one else would take it. So you mean, Monsieur Metzner, that the whole French government was involved in this conspiracy? That the Swiss government is also working against their own citizen? In fact the whole world has taken up the plan to frame Augustus Rochés? Right?"

The courtroom was as silent as the grave with Metzner standing ashen faced before Audré, unable to answer her.

"Wrong." Audré replied serenely, taking advantage of Metzner's silence, "Because it never was like that. The Minister, who was poisoned, never hired a Seer or peeped into a crystal ball to know if someone would be arranging a party in the Rochés hotel in near future. He never asked the Swiss Minister to help him get rid of Augustus Rochés just because that man was planning to run for the next election. In fact he was as oblivious as we all were until Monsieur Rochés took the opportunity to finish off the Minister in a party that was arranged by a noblewoman who was in the care of his rival family – the Chombrun Malfoys." She paused.

"For last two hearings, Monsieur Metzner, you have been telling us that your client was impersonated and was framed. You told the court that he was actually at the kitchen overlooking the dinner when the poisoned caviar was served to him under the guise of Rochés. You told us that he returned to the party shortly before the Minister tried to commit suicide and ran to help him when he was arrested with the false charges of attempted murder that he never committed."

"Today I proved with the help of Polyjuice Potion researcher Draco Malfoy and Swiss Minister Jonas Furrer that Augustus Rochés was indeed present when the poisoning was done. In fact it was him who poisoned the Minister with the caviar that was already spiked with the Suicide Salt. Your claims that he was impersonated and the Ministry is behind this conspiracy are actually baseless and lame. They are mere words and without any kind of scientific grounds. All your questions have been answered except perhaps one."

"Why did Monsieur Rochés try to kill the Minister?" she asked the court and his opponent lawyer.

"Do you think you can prove me a murderer by selling your precious daughter to the Swiss Minister's son for one night's pleasure Audré?" it was Augustus Rochés who spoke this time, bypassing his lawyer, "I always knew that the words that circulated about your chastity were right; that you were a seductress and so is your daughter; you two are nothing but a bunch of whores under the guise of pureblood witches."

Every single line on Rochés's face displayed nothing but pure hatred for Audré as he spoke those words that set Draco's blood on fire. He felt like running at him, dragging him from behind the bars of defender's box and strangling him with his bare hands for addressing his aunt and sister in such a demeaning way.

"Monsieur Rochés!" Élie Decazes exclaimed, looking shocked, "Behave yourself or you'll be charged with the contempt of court! Don't forget that this is your hearing."

The Swiss minister, who until now was calm, has left his seat in the witness box too. "How dare you try to defame my family for your lowly motives! My son mingling with whores?" he cried furiously, "Apologize to Madame at once or I challenge you in a Wizarding duel to solve this issue. Any time, any place. Just name it." He declared, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Did you hear that? He called her a whore?" Draco fisted his hand painfully as he heard the crowd in general whispered loudly and cast Audré scrupulous glances.

"Everyone! Silence please! This is a courtroom!" Élie Decazes banged his hammer loudly and called for order, "Or I'll be forced to call off the hearing."

"Yes, my lord, I think you should call it a day. My client isn't feeling well from all the horrible accusations laid by Madame Malfoy." Metzner tried to control the damage his client has caused by his inadvertent words, "I therefore ask you, my lord, to adjourn the court for the day."

Draco was wondering if Élie Decazes was going to accept Metzner's plea and adjourn the case when Audré held up her hand to silence everyone. She was unnervingly calm and solemn for a woman who has been insulted viciously in public.

"One minute." She said and the pandemonium died out at once, "One minute." She looked up at the Chief Warlock who nodded.

"Monsieur Rochés isn't feeling well?" she repeated, crossing her arms and approaching the man behind the defender's box, "I don't think so." She shook her head, "I think he's absolutely fine. In fact I think he is more than fine for he has finally spoken up the truth that everyone has been dying to hear for years. The truth behind Audré Chombrun's marriage to Morpheus Malfoy. Go on, Monsieur Rochés, we are all ears." She offered solemnly.

"Very well then." Rochés sneered and gave Audré a filthy look, "But before I proceed, let me remind you that I am not here to entertain anyone." He announced, addressing the crowd, "What I am about to disclose here in this courtroom before hundreds of people and reporters doesn't give me any sadistic pleasure for it concerns both of our families and its reputations. And yet I come forward to speak the truth that has been kept away from the Parisian society for decades; a truth that was hidden by this woman and her husband – Morpheus Malfoy. I should have known that she wanted to avenge me for telling the truth when that party was arranged in my hotel to frame me for this murder. But being the gentleman I am, I allowed them to carry out with it, oblivious that Audré and her children were actually hatching a plan underneath it. And you Monsieur, you challenge me in a duel?" he mocked the Swiss Minister who was still fuming, "I bet you will reconsider it after you hear the truth about the esteemed Madame Malfoy." He smirked.

"It all started years ago when my eldest brother Gaius Octavius Rochés, who is currently in charge of my son Pierre Rochés, fell in love with this woman that you see here." Rochés neglectfully pointed at Audré with his chin, "When we learned about it we tried to restrain Gaius because the woman was already well known among her classmates as 'Iron Maiden' for her cold demeanor and haughty attitude. We told Gaius that she wasn't going to be an ideal pureblood wife like we have had in our family for centuries. Many may like to spend hours in debate as to what is the exact the role of a wife in a family like ours but that is beside the point. We, the Rochés are not against gender equality but being a Rochés, one doesn't simply walk out of home like this woman does. We have certain standards to follow, certain honours to uplift. Even my wife, who is an ardent patron and benefactor in many charities, maintains them." He lifted his chin proudly, "But Gaius wouldn't listen and when he kept insisting, my mother, as per traditions followed by any decent pureblood family, sent a marriage proposal asking for her hand in marriage to her father – Renée Chombrun."

"Needless to say it was rejected." Rochés almost spat in distaste, "We were expecting it but the cause they showed for it was appalling." He paused and inhaled.

"It was implied that we were actually after their money and not at all interested in their daughter; as if we already don't have enough. Gaius was shattered and heartbroken when his true love was insulted and trodden under Audré's proud little feet." Rochés resumed as a few of the audiences shook their head in sympathy, "After suffering for monthes, he left her thought and finally settled down with another witch of our choice. Then a few years later we heard that Audré Chombrun was finally getting married to a man who has been disinherited by his family for his lawless means – Morpheus Malfoy."

"Morpheus was thrown out of his family home when he was found involved in extreme debauchery. His specialty was in tricking young naïve witches with his good looks and sweet words so that they ended up in his bed and he discarded them after they were used sufficiently enough to lose his interest in them. His actions were tarnishing the family name and he was warned and when nothing happened even with that, he was kicked out of the family home and property to pursue his own future. The characterless man then came to France and found his long awaited partner Audré Chombrun. The rest is history. Everyone knows how their wedding was boycotted by every single respectable family in Paris. I don't think a single sensible mind here should be unable to understand why I was framed. Because I was the first person to reveal the truth about them and they begrudge me for it." he said dismissively.

"But that doesn't explain why you used that 'W' word for me and my daughter?" Audré, who had been listening intently all along, asked unabashedly, "As far as I know about myself, I wasn't involved in anything like that."

"Who knows what you were involved when you met a characterless man without a chaperon? Who knows why your father, a man who turned down hundreds of respectable marriage proposals, finally accepted the proposal of a man with a reputation like Morpheus in a marriage without a proper courting? And your daughter? Spending an entire evening with a man she barely knows? Disgusting!" Rochés spat in distaste, "I can't imagine my daughter doing that in a Ball even if the man she meets is the best guy in the world. I can't think of another word to describe women like them."

"Thank you, Monsieur Rochés." Audré said in such calm demeanor as if biding him goodbye after a nice tea party, "Now that everyone knows a lot of truths I see no problem in revealing a few more." She said looking at the eager audience, "Monsieur Rochés here claimed that my daughter and I are whores. He also claimed that my late husband was a characterless man who was thrown out his family home for he liked to play with young naïve witches and their honours. I can understand that he knew about me for we lived in the same city – in Paris. But that doesn't quell my curiosity as to how he came to know of all those embarrassing truths about my husband who lived in a foreign country thousands of miles away from here. Was he there when he used those young girls?" she arched an eyebrow at Rochés.

"Sick woman! See how she gloats in talking about it!" Rochés drew the reporters' attention, "Of course I wasn't there. Your esteemed husband's brother told me all about him and his lawless means."

"His brother." Audré nodded and repeated which made Draco's heart beat very fast suddenly. He remembered Lillian's words about the defamation of Chombrun Malfoys when she took him to Dordogne valley after his Quidditch match but she never told him why Rochés would spread such horrible rumours. In fact she had avoided Draco's question telling him that only Audré was allowed to answer it. Now listening to Rochés, he understood why Lillian had said that. She had wanted to avoid the conflict and embarrassment it would bring upon.

"But why would Morpheus's brother tell you his family secret, Monsieur?" Audré's next question brought Draco out of his musings and cold to the bone he suddenly linked all the connections behind them.

Rochés, who has been very confident until this point that he has unmasked and humiliated Audré quite enough before the public, suddenly looked uncomfortable to answer Audré's question. He looked at his attorney for help but Metzner was decidedly looking away, his face contorted in barely hidden fury.

"No prompt answer this time? No objections?" Audré smirked and asked, "Pity." She commented and went to her side of the desk to retrieve a few roll of parchments which she handed to Élie Decazes, "Here is the answer, my lord." She said solemnly over Rochés apprehensive looks, "The Knights of Walpurgis." She announced.

"Objection, my lord, I already said my client isn't feeling well and he needs rest." Metzner interrupted, gritting his teeth, "I therefore ask the court to ignore whatever he said and let him retire for the day."

"Objection overruled." Élie Decazes responded firmly, "If the court can allow your client to waste its precious time with his long convoluted story about a thirty year old betrayed love it can certainly allow Madame Malfoy to continue about matters that are highly important and related to this case." He said, examining the parchments with a grave look, "Madame Malfoy, you may please proceed."

"Merci, my lord." Audré nodded and turned to the man sitting next to Draco, "I would like to call upon Monsieur Sergeant, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

On her words, Draco's boss left his seat and took his place on the witness box. After he took the Truth Oath Audré stood before him, calm as a spring morning.

"Bonjour Monsieur." She greeted him as usual, "Can you please explain it to us what are in those documents?" she waved at the rolls of parchments that were being examined by Chief Warlock Élie Decazes.

"They are our confidential reports on an underground radical group who call themselves the 'Knights of Walpurgis'."Sergeant's powerful voice boomed across the courtroom, "We have been tracking them for a while now but we are sure that they were present even before we came to know of their existence. They have been linked with a number of nasty crimes which includes mostly murders of certain eminent purebloods. In simple words, they are the French equivalent of the British Death Eaters."

"But the Death Eaters used to kill the Muggleborns or Muggles." Audré supplied, "You said that this group murdered several purebloods."

"Purebloods, yes, but not all of them." Sergeant replied, his voice whipping in the air, "The Knights targeted only those who were strong supporters of Muggleborn or Muggle's rights."

"This is utter madness!" Metzner exclaimed angrily, "I request to know from the honourable court why my ill client is being held captive for a conversation that doesn't concern him."

"As a matter of fact, Monsieur Metzner, this conversation does concern him." Élie Decazes said grimly, lifting up the roll of parchment he was reading, "Because according these government reports your client, Monsieur Augustus Rochés, is the head of this radical group – The Knights of Walpurgis."

Metzner opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again and closed it for the last time. He was pale than ever and his eyes roved calculatingly from the Chief Warlock Élie Decazes to Sergeant to Audré to his ashen faced client Rochés before he slumped on the chair.

"As you were saying before we were interrupted…" Audré resumed as if nothing has happened, "…the Knights of Walpurgis is a French equivalent of British Death Eaters. I can understand that. What I can't understand is how these two groups communicated or more precisely how is it that their dictum was the same? The Dark Lord Voldemort never got the chance to poison the French Wizarding society with his ideas of pureblood supremacy."

Even seven years after Voldemort's demise, Draco noticed how most of the audiences flinched at his name. It seemed that even in dead state, Voldemort's fear was still prevalent on their minds.

"True that Lord Voldemort didn't succeed in infiltrating our magical community, Madame Prosecutor but his followers surely did and one of them was Lucius Malfoy." Sergeant's words were like a knife stab on Draco's heart. He had heard previously that his father was indirectly associated with the Knights but that was within the confinement of his uncle's study and certainly not in a courtroom full of eager audiences who were now giving him curious looks. He felt tainted and betrayed, like an object of scrutiny because of his father's association in crimes that he, Draco, actually didn't commit.

"As per our information, Madame Malfoy, Monsieur Lucius Malfoy kept contact with Monsieur Augustus Rochés through various means." Sergeant was telling the court, "Their prime targets were the purebloods who either helped or supported Muggleborn or Muggle's rights. That's the sole reason our Muggleborn Minister François Guizot was very concerned when Lucius Malfoy's son Draco Malfoy invited him to his party at the Rochés hotel. He thought it was another plan to assassinate him because during his term in the office many aspiring Muggleborn wizards and witches joined the Ministry and flourished which made him a target for radical groups like the Knights. But miraculously and proving him very wrong, it was Lucius Malfoy's son who saved the Minister's life when Rochés tried to poison him with the Suicide Salt. I know it is hard to believe considering what this man's family reputation is, Madame, but it is the truth." He indicated at Draco.

"LIES! LIES!" Rochés screamed, breathing heavily, "I NEVER POISONED THE CAVIAR. IT WAS ALREADY POISONED WHEN I OFFERED IT TO THE MINISTER. AS FOR THOSE BLOODY KNIGHTS, I KNOW NOTHING OF IT. LUCIUS AND I WERE GOOD FRIENDS BECAUSE WE BELIEVED IN…" he stopped abruptly.

"Believed in?" Audré left Sergeant and approached Rochés in a prowling gait, "Monsieur Lucius Malfoy and you were good friends because you believed in?" she asked him temptingly.

Rochés was all red now and he looked around helplessly, trying to take back the words that have escaped his lips in a fit of anger.

"Since you are unable to complete, Monsieur Rochés, I'll finish it on your stead." Audré replied solemnly, "Lucius Malfoy and you believed in pureblood supremacy. There is no denying it now because everyone here knows it. It's an open secret. But since both of you had a lot of money you could always manage to seal a few lips with it."

"Objection, my lord, the public prosecutor has no proof that my client has prejudices against the Muggleborns." Metzner slammed on his desk and stood up, "Had it been that, I wouldn't be standing here, representing him. Everyone knows that I am a Muggleborn wizard." He said proudly.

"Objection sustained." Élie Decazes declared and looked down at Audré, "Madame, do you have any proof to support your claim?" he enquired.

"Of course." Audré tilted her head with a smile, "And here he stands." She flourished at her colleague, "For my last witness I'd like to call upon on the box, the defense lawyer Monsieur Olivier Metzner." She proclaimed confidently.

The temperature in the courtroom, if possible, dropped a few degrees as Audré invited none other than her opponent lawyer to the witness box. Everyone from the eager crowd to the jury board to the other witnesses, Chief Warlock Élie Decazes and even the offender Augustus Rochés gaped at her as Audré silently waved her hand and drew Metzner's attention to the witness box.

"Please." She said after a while when no one moved a muscle, "This trial is a crucial one, Monsieur, on which depends the life and honour of your esteemed client Augustus Rochés and you are wasting Wizengamot's valuable time." she said mimicking Metzner's earlier statement.

Draco, his mouth half open, watched as Metzner grinded his teeth one last time before approaching the witness box and taking his place there. Every single eye on the courtroom was fixed on him as he took the Truth Oath before Audré stood before him.

"Merci, Monsieur." She gave him a charming smile, "I know you are a very busy man and is in rather haste to finish today's hearing on the grounds that your client isn't feeling very well. I can understand your concern for him and therefore I have only three questions for you. First question, can you please recount to us the first case that you ever fought and won?"

Metzner's complexion had a sickly green tinge on it and he gave Audré a look of pure venom before replying.

"I don't know how this question is related to this case but since I abide by the rules of court, I'll answer it." his usual baritone voice was shaking ever so slightly, "The first case that I won was on behalf of a young witch who became pregnant after her affair with her married boss, who was almost twice her age, ran amok. When she told the father of her child about it, like most irresponsible men who indulge in extramarital affairs, he denied to take the responsibility of the baby. Heartbroken and helpless, she decided to get rid of the child and she did it with the help of some abortifacients which culminated into her having excess bleeding. She would have died had the Healers not intervened at the last moment." He paused and looked up at the Chief Warlock sitting on his right.

"When she recovered, she came to me asking for justice." Metzner resumed, "She said she had been from door to door but no lawyer was willing to take her case because her boss was very influential. She admitted that she couldn't have her baby back but she wanted the perpetrator to be punished for what happened to her so that no other young witch fell prey to another extramarital affair. I took the case, fought and won it. The man was unmasked and the court asked him to pay the witch a liberal compensation. "

"Merci, Monsieur." Audré thanked Metzner, "I always knew you are a protector of the innocent." She said looking highly amused, "My next question is, who was the judge of that case?"

Metzner seemed to be deciding on something when he replied curtly, "Morpheus Malfoy."

"Point to be noted." Audré pledged to Élie Decazes who was as stunned as the rest of the court when the name was pronounced, "The judge whose court gave the young woman justice was none other than Morpheus Malfoy." She said and turned to Metzner, "Last question, how was it, Monsieur, that the man, who himself was thrown out of his home for debauchery and toying with young women, delivered a sentence that was, in essential sense, against his own acts?" she asked solemnly.

Even in his disheartened state, Draco couldn't be more proud of his aunt. The way, Audré was flowing from one point to another even after being insulted in public by her opponent, portrayed how very extraordinarily accomplished she was in her job. She seemed to have hit a nerve for Metzner closed his eyes, evidently to calm himself before replying.

"I don't know." He replied, "But it's true that Morpheus Malfoy did deliver the justice for my client going against the influential man who had bribed almost all the members of the jury."

"Merci, Monsieur. You may leave the box, please." Audré said, her features calm and composed. She turned to the silent audience, the reporters still scribbling feverishly and let out a small sigh. Across the courtroom Rochés stood stony faced as she started her statement.

"Today, before your very eyes, the offender, Monsieur Augustus Rochés and his lawyer, Olivier Metzner, claimed several things. One: they claimed that Monsieur Rochés was impersonated and wasn't present when the poisoning was done by his doppelganger. Two: they claimed that it was in fact a conspiracy against him so that he can't run for the next election." Audré raised her hand and showed them two fingers, "Three: Monsieur Rochés told us a telltale story of two families – Rochés and Chombruns and announced in the end that my daughter and I are whores. Four: he claimed that through his unknown connections to my brother-in-law, the late Lucius Malfoy, he had learned how my husband was disinherited by his family for his shameful acts. Five: he claimed that I was behind the conspiracy of poisoning the Minister because I wanted to take revenge on him for uncovering our gruesome past." She held up five fingers in the air.

"With the help of Lucius Malfoy's son and the Swiss Minister of Magic, Herr Jonas Furrer, I proved before the court of law that his first and second claims were baseless. The man who greeted the Minister and the man who served him the caviar were all Augustus Rochés. He was not impersonated as his esteemed lawyer claimed nor was it any conspiracy against him." She folded two of her fingers, showing the audience the remaining three.

"We all heard from Monsieur Metzner, the defense lawyer's own lips, how Morpheus Malfoy gave verdict against an influential man to deliver justice to a young witch who was cajoled into an affair with her elderly and married boss. In the spectator's gallery sits Draco Malfoy, who gave his expert opinion on Polyjuice Potion, against a man who was his father's bosom friend." She indicated at Draco, "Therefore, his fourth and fifth claims that Morpheus Malfoy was disowned by his family on the grounds of debauchery and that I was seeking revenge from Rochés for telling the truth about us are also baseless. Because had I wanted that, the first person to incur my wrath would have been Lucius Malfoy's son Draco Malfoy and not Augustus Rochés." she folded another two fingers and showed the audience a last one.

"As for the claim that my daughter and I are whores, I have no means to prove that we are not." Audré said solemnly, "My grandfather was the Minister of Magic, Pierre Laval; my father was an honourable man, Renée Chombrun, who also fought for justice in this Wizengamot. My mother was a renowned potioneer and a noblewoman. Everyone knows how very respected the Chombruns are and if someone claims that ladies from of such backgrounds are whores, someone whose other four claims have been nullified, than I leave it to your common sense to judge his words on our chastity. But before I finish, I have something to share with you all." She paused and took a deep breath.

"My family suffered for thirty long years and it still does. My children are still looked down upon. They are still called children of a 'characterless father and a manipulative mother.' When my daughter dances with a man in a Ball people like Rochés call her a whore. When my son looks at any woman with polite and normal interest for opposite sex they say he is like his father – leering at women. All because of what? Why do my children still suffer?" Audré asked the silent audience.

Unbeknownst to himself Draco had leaned forward, his aunt's words whipping in the air and on his heart. He knew that the truth was terrible and concerned his dead father and yet he didn't stop her. In his heart he could feel that like him, Audré too needed some purging.

Audré's blue eyes roved over the audience, "I'll tell you why. Because their father denied to be part of a torture group. Because their uncle couldn't tolerate his defeat. Because their mother denied Gaius Rochés's marriage proposal which was a blow to their egos and by doing that their parents unknowingly earned themselves two potential enemies – Lucius Malfoy and the Rochés." Audré replied solemnly, "My husband was never thrown out of his home. He left it willingly when he couldn't tolerate the torture and torment of being a Death Eater. He came to France for some respite. But he wasn't allowed to have it. His own brother, Lucius Malfoy, decided to take revenge both on him and his newlywed wife. With the help of Rochés, who already held a grudge against Audré, he started spreading awful rumours about them like he did today, before a hall full of people in a courtroom. Therefore, it is up to your conscience to decide if my husband was a debaucher and my daughter and I are whores or not." Audré took a solemn breath and turned to the Chief Warlock.

"I know there are still many rumours that circulate about me and my family. I know those who don't believe won't believe even if the truth is standing before their very eyes. But that's immaterial. I am not here to solve my personal issues. I am here to do my job and right now we need to collect more evidences on the offender's involvement with the Knights of Walpurgis. Monsieur Sergeant already informed the Wizengamot that Monsieur Rochés is the head of a radical group who killed several prominent purebloods who helped Muggleborn or Muggles or were their strong supporters. So he had every motive to want to clear the Muggleborn Minister François Guizot from his path. I, therefore, ask for Wizengamot's permission to grant us more time to investigate the matter." She said and Élie Decazes nodded, "As for my claim that the offender is a believer of pureblood supremacy despite having a Muggleborn attorney, my two questions to everyone including the jury will be…" Audré turned to the board of juries listening to her in rapt attention, "How many of his claims were right that this claim of him should be right too? Isn't this man's testimony and eagerness to defame me in public a clear indication that he did everything knowingly and out of spite against me and my family?" she pointed at an ashen faced Rochés and sighed deeply, "That's all, my lord. Now Monsieur Metzner can interrogate the witnesses, if he wishes." she declared calmly.

Élie Decazes looked down at the defense lawyer who seemed to show no interest to do so. He sat ashen faced on his seat while his client, Rochés stood like a statue. The court adjourned granting Audré's pledge for more investigation and she left the Wizengamot in a tumult of applause.

Draco returned to his office shortly afterwards, his head spinning with what he has just heard. He knew his father was vindictive and proud but to what extent he could to take revenge he had no idea. He remembered Hermione's word on Lucius Malfoy when she thought she miscarried in Apolline's second batch of memories.

'If a man can attack innocent children and terrorize a whole school to take revenge on professor Dumbledore, imagine, aunt what can he do if he finds out that his esteemed pureblood bloodline is at stake if my half-blood child is born? Will he not hunt me down and kill us both?'

'Malfoys aren't humans, aunt Apolline, they are monsters. In fact calling them monster is an understatement. They are like basilisk that can petrify and kill just by looking at its prey.'

Draco remembered how his head had hung in shame when he realized that truth behind Hermione's words. Malfoys indeed were monsters.

Except of course his uncle, Morpheus, who fell prey to his vindictive brother's wrath.

He remembered his reasons behind choosing Polyjuice Potion for his research. If Hermione could whip it when she was twelve to make him divulge some truths about the Chamber of Secrets, why couldn't he?

One by one Draco's preoccupied mind went through the memories of last four monthes of his life in France and he realized how immature he had been when he first came here. Meeting his aunt and cousins, finding his son, getting married to Hermione and finally trying to be a man seeking salvation from his past crimes, this Draco wasn't the same. And somehow everything connected him to his father, Lucius Malfoy.

"I have been observing you for fifteen minutes, cousin and you seem lost in your own convoluted thoughts." A voice jerked Draco back to the reality and looking around distractedly, he spotted Julian occupying the seat across his desk, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. So lost was he in his own musings that he hasn't noticed it when the man arrived.

At the sight of his cousin Draco was lost of words. The man, who and whose family had suffered in the hands of his father's clever schemes, bend his head in shame and he stared at Julian, wondering how to explain himself.

"I… Julian, I sincerely… apologize on behalf… of my father." he mumbled after a while, not knowing how else to put it, "I don't know… how to express my… mortification and embarrassment when I learnt that…that… father was behind all these." He confessed truthfully.

Julian shook his head and smiled, "It's alright cousin. Papa forgave uncle and we, Chombrun Malfoys, don't begrudge the dead." He said solemnly.

As he smiled Draco noticed for the first time how very handsome his cousin was. It wasn't due to his looks that he has inherited more of his mother's than his father's; it was an imprint of kindness on his features that made him look good in Draco's eyes and he wondered why he hadn't noticed it all these time that they shared family meals or talks on Quidditch or other matters. He felt like an ignorant man who had never appreciated his family enough: his son Adrian until he lost all his previous ones, his wife Hermione until she broke her arm, his mother before she turned away her face from him, Lillian until she cried on his shoulder when her mother was poisoned and Julian until the man sat solemnly before him as if nothing has happened between their fathers. Was he always like this? Arrogant and ignorant? Like Hermione said in her memory:

'Proud, arrogant, lazy, extremely selfish, ignorant, manner less and above of all, lacks morale education.'

He looked at his own distorted reflections on the glass phial of potion ingredients and remembered what Hermione had said about his eyes.

'I see them first thing in the morning and last thing at night. They belong to my son, Adrian.'

'You covet me. I see a morale vacuum.'

He remembered dismissing such horrible allegations and breaking the mirror last time when he assessed his grey eyes. But it turned out that Hermione was right in everything she said about him. With his 'I love you' proclamation, he did sound like a coveting man.

"Julian, what do you see when you look at me?" Draco asked his cousin, his eyes still fixed at his many reflections, "How do I look?"

"Tough question." Julian remarked, "But I reckon you asked it to the right guy. Me." he declared with a flourish.

"Please proceed." Draco bade him curtly. He was keen to know Julian's view of him. Did it match Hermione's or differed from her?

"Ever wondered why I was promoted to be the Second-in-command in a department that is full of senior officers than I?" Julian started with a rather unrelated question, "No." he deciphered Draco's straight face correctly, "Because like my parents, I am good at psychoanalysis which helped me to catch a few high profile criminals and dark wizards that others were having difficulty." He replied, "You asked me Draco, what I see when I look at you?" he repeated the question.

Draco listened in rapt attention, eager to find out the answer from an impartial person.

"When I look at you Draco, I see a man who is in the making." Julian started, "I see a man who has changed considerably over time. I saw you when you first came here and I see you now. You were an extremely arrogant, proud, manner less, ignorant and lazy man who was ecstatic about his new found son. You were also very reclusive, not wanting to share anything even with your family. I remember how I used to wonder why Jean fell in love with you to produce a child but now I see that she wasn't altogether wrong."

Though Draco knew that Hermione and he had never been in love as his oblivious cousins took them for, he was also curious to learn what made them to change their views.

"You are a very complex man, Draco." Julian continued, his eyes probing on to Draco's as he spoke, "You have many shortcomings but unlike your father you don't cling to them or justify them as 'Malfoy Traits'. You know that you have some severe flaws in you but for the sake of your family you want to be a better man. You fight with what were you taught to be and try to rebuild yourself. Maybe you lie to protect your hide but at the end of the day you question your actions and take lessons from your mistakes. You are a mixture between very positive and very negative characters, a mix of darkness and light. It's uncle Lucius's upbringing that tends to draw you towards the dark and Adrian's innocence that compels you to come to the right path. You are dwindling in between them; trying to be a good version of Lucius Malfoy for you love both your son and your father. You just need a little bit of appreciation so that you don't lose your heart in the lengthy process."

"I will not say that this is redemption, Draco." Julian shook his head solemnly, "I will say that it is a late but necessary change that Adrian brought about. His mother had noticed it and tried to change you previously but was defeated when your father imposed that pureblood marriage on you. She couldn't do it and when you abandoned her with a child she lost her faith on you. But now, her son is doing it. You are, shall we put it like this, evolving. You are still in search of yourself, Draco, the real you."

"What is that real me?" Draco asked, awed at how simply his cousin has explained him.

"I guess we'll know when you finally find him." Julian smirked, "For now, I have this letter from maman." He handed him an envelope.

"What?" Draco tore open the envelope and unfolded the piece of parchment within.

The writing was his aunt Audré's and it read:

Dear nephew Draco,

I knew you'd be distressed when you'll finally come to know the truth about your father, a man whom you have idolized all your life. It was never my intention to humiliate your family in public for you are my family now and your uncle Morpheus cared for you. I therefore, didn't tell you about it before.

Be that as it may, Draco, I know my words will not heal your wounds. You are also going through a lot lately with your studies, job and personal issues with your wife and son and I think that it is high time that you take a break. I have already asked Julian to apply for a leave on your behalf to your Head of the Department and I hope it will be granted.

Use it well, nephew and don't forget to book a Portkey for your journey to Tuscany.

Yours sincerely,

Aunt Audré.

Draco blinked at the letter before its real meaning hit him.

'Durants!' he remembered suddenly and stood up, 'I was supposed to meet them after the hearing was over and I forgot all about it!' he thought and ran to the door.

"Where do you think you are going cousin?" Julian, smiling mysteriously, demanded.

"To book a Portkey to Tuscany." Was all that Draco could answer before he stormed out of his office.

•••••

'Specialis revelio.' Hermione cast a non verbal charm on the sapphire studded locket. Ironically, it resembled the one her mother had given her which had the same intricate patterns that were the specialties of Edwardian jewelries.

She wondered where her one was now. It had been a family heirloom. Her grandmother Hermione Leeds had given it to her bride Adeline Hastings on her wedding day and having no son of her own, Adeline had opted to pass it to her daughter on her tenth birthday.

Sometimes, when she thought how she had sold it like any common jewelry, Hermione's heart filled with guilt. But then again, she was in desperate need of money and her son was more important to her than a locket.

Hermione's fingers wrapped around the locket for one last time before she returned it to a tray full of evaluated objects.

Back in her office on Monday, she found a large bucketful of curse broken objects that had been deposited for her final approval. She also found another a hundred and fifty letters to read and answer. It seemed that her absence from office for just four days had earned him another eight days chore.

Aside from the mountainous pile of work that Hermione had just a week to finish, she had a research to conduct on permanently cursed objects, a mission to uncover the truth behind Malfoy's words on destroying Rochés and a promise to keep to her son to take him at mother Apolline's for lunch. She was also impatient to know what was happening in the courtroom now. What had Audré planned with the Swiss Minister?

The answer arrived when Claudia, her intern, walked into her lab waving a fresh issue of the Wizarding Herald before her.

"Look!" she cleared the table before Hermione and laid down the newspaper before smoothing it, "The whole Paris is in uproar." She showed her the six inches wide and flashing headline which read:

Renée's daughter thrashed Rochés.

Underneath it was another line:

An in-depth analysis and exclusive report directly from the Trial of the Century.

"Imagine, Jean, what the woman could have done to earn her an extra publication of all the Wizarding newspapers?" Claudia asked excitedly before leaning over the paper where Audré's solemn face could be seen, "Couldn't bear to read it without you. She's your in-law after all."

"She is my aunt." Hermione corrected her, detesting the word in-law that connected her to Draco Malfoy, "Now will you let me have a better look?"

"Let me read it for you." Claudia offered and before Hermione could stop her, she started reading aloud.

"In a surprising turn of events today at Wizengamot renowned public prosecutor, Audré Chombrun Malfoy (50), turned the table her opponent Olivier Metzner had set for her and showed the world once again how very capable she still was in the game of law, writes Henri Clair, special correspondent to the Wizarding Herald…"

As Claudia continued her reading, Hermione listened in awe how her aunt Audré seemed to have flown from logic after logic, witness to witness and questions after questions to expose Augustus Rochés. A once inhabitant of Delacour Residence, Hermione knew the family who lived in their neighbourhood and her son had been one of Pierre Rochés's victims of bullying. She used to consider them as a French version of the Malfoys and now, fate has it that Audré, a Malfoy by marriage used another Malfoy, her nephew Draco, to unmask him.

" '…I should have known that she (Audré Chombrun) wanted to avenge me for telling the truth when that party was arranged in my hotel to frame me for this murder.' Cried Augustus Rochés, claiming that Madame Malfoy and her daughter are actually whores, 'But being the gentleman I am, I allowed them to carry out with it, oblivious that Audré and her children were actually hatching a plan underneath it.'" Claudia let out a gasp, "How dare he call them whores?" she asked furiously, "You fanatic, lunatic, mad scoundrel!" she spat and returned to her reading while Hermione stared in the air. Even more enraging than Rochés words about Audré and Lillian was a certain point on that piece of information that hit her like a sudden blow on face.

The hotel!

The Rochés Hotel!

Of all the places in the world why did Malfoy choose the Rochés hotel for his party?

And why didn't Audré or her children stop him if the Rochés were behind those awful rumours?

Did they know something?

Was it related or was it just another co-incidence like Malfoy's spotting the Minister in a Hall full of hundreds of guests?

And why didn't she notice the point before when Lillian told her the story about her parents that Lucius Malfoy was responsible for her families suffering?

She remembered asking her sister-in-law why Audré hadn't taken revenge on Draco and her answer as well:

'Because she loves Papa and Papa always said that 'Malfoys aren't born monsters, they are made one.'' Lillian had said that night.

"Jean? Are you listening?" Hermione heard Claudia asked her and jerked back to reality when she waved a hand before her eyes.

"I…" Hermione was rapidly blinking to clear her thoughts, "Claudia, I am so sorry, I have a lot of pending works to finish before I can take my son for lunch at his grandma's and he's been insisting for days. Can you please let go of that newspaper for now and help me with these?" she said indicating the large pile of objects and letters.

"Okay." Claudia shrugged and settled down on a wooden stool opposite Hermione before folding the newspaper.

As Hermione resumed her work to finish them as fast as she could without messing up, she promised to return to the topic that was now occupying all her thoughts.

Why did Draco Malfoy choose Rochés hotel for his party and what was Audré's role in it?

•••••

The building that Draco examined from a distance had an aura of intimidation about it. Seven storied with a dome protruding from the top and made of black stones, it was situated in a part of Ruelle Les Halles that were scarcely visited by gentlemen. Around the foreboding structure stood several shops that he was sure, by the looks of them, dedicated to Dark Arts. Several ugly looking men in black robes and dragon hide boots were guarding the entrance above which a signboard boldly proclaimed:

Caésar's Casino

"Never thought a day will come when a Tricaud will enter a casino." His companion remarked ruefully from beside. In a way he mirrored Draco's state of mind too: like many respectable pureblood families Malfoys were also never associated in gambling. They qualified it as a game for lowly beings than them.

'Remember, Draco, the three 'W's that Malfoys never engage in: Muggle Whiskey, whores and wagering.' Lucius's voice echoed inside his head and remembering his role in the defaming of his own brother, Morpheus, Draco pushed the thought at the back of his head.

"Are you sure the locket is there?" Draco asked Dominique for the fiftieth time since he told him the tale of the lost locket of Hermione Granger.

Three hours ago…

Returning to his office at three o clock in the afternoon after finishing a lengthy list of errands such as booking an International Portkey to Tuscany, talking to the Durants about a possible date for their visit to his farm house and collecting his three days leave from a very satisfied looking Sergeant, Draco found two new letters waiting for him on his desk. After the gloomy weekend he had spent watching and re-watching Hermione's memories and an entire day of humiliation by her, the first breakthrough on his mission to earn Hermione's trust came when Madame Durant declared before her husband that she wanted to visit Italy as soon as possible. Draco remembering his own goal of renovating their broom cupboard into a home decent for his family offered the next day and Céline Durant accepted it with delight.

"Tomorrow will be wonderful!" she had clapped in excitement, "I'll start packing from now." she said before stuffing Draco's pockets with homemade croissants which he had no other option but to accept in conjecture with forced politeness. He needed the Durants now and he needed to act as fast as he could.

Draco's mind was already planning on his short visit to his farm house where he had taken Astoria during their honeymoon in Italy. It would have been better if he was alone to relive those moments in privacy but his aunt had been thorough about it.

'Use it well, nephew and don't forget to book a Portkey for your journey to Tuscany.'

Like every other occasion she had helped Draco or guided him with her unparallel intelligence and power to perceive situations with mere instincts, Audré was again helping Draco to procure the cottage he wished to buy for Hermione and their son. He tried to visualize in his mind's eyes Hermione's face when he would be presenting it to her on Adrian's birthday: a brand new cottage just as she had always dreamt it to be - Otter's pond and in the heart of Paris, Ile de Cité, close to Adrian's school St. Joan's and the Delacours.

Will she still be stubborn and say that she will never forgive Draco?

Or will she take a leaf out of Audré's book and forgive him like she did for the crimes of Lucius?

Draco had a new spring on his steps when he took up the letters addressed to him. The first one was an official looking envelope with the seal of French Ministry on it and to his surprise it was for his son Adrian.

To, Adrian T. Granger-Malfoy,

C/O Monsieur Draco L. Malfoy

Potions researcher, Innovation section.

Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

Ministry of Magic.

Wondering what it might be this time, Draco's fingers etched to open the letter and read its contents but he controlled himself. His five and a half year old son was very sensitive about tiny issues as these and he certainly wasn't interested in incurring more of his wrath by opening a letter that was addressed to him. Stowing the letter inside his robe, Draco moved on to the next one which, to his even more surprise, was from Dominique.

Draco unrolled the small piece of parchment that seemed to have been torn in a hurry and frowned.

Dominique's handwriting said:

If you are still interested in that locket, be at Sorbonne Quidditch pitch sharp at five. Also bring some money.

D.T.

'What the hell is this?' furious and curious Draco reread the enigmatic note another ten times to decipher the meaning but in vain. He kicked at the nearest rubbish bin in frustration, sent it flying at the opposite wall and settled down before his cauldronful of modified Polyjuice Potion to spend the next two hours of his office in absent minded wondering.

Needless to say he locked his office door fifteen minutes before the actual time and went for the apparition point in the balcony near the reception.

The Sorbonne underground Quidditch pitch was deserted except for him when he arrived there exactly at five. Draco checked the dressing room for any sign of Dominique and was about to curse him loudly when the man entered featuring his characteristic airy attitude.

"Heard that you blew up our beloved Criminal Law professor in the courtroom today." He said with a smirk and sent Draco's temper straight to Jupiter, "I bet he's going to give you 'T's for your next essays." He said, looking highly amused.

"I'll knock the damn 'T' out of your filthy name, Dominique Tricaud, if you don't tell me at once what is the blasted meaning of this?" Draco grabbed his peer by his collar and shoved him against the nearest wall before taking out the note he had sent him.

"This?" Dominique was completely unfazed as he eyed the note, "It's a bit of parchment with my elegant writing on it." he stated.

"You sick fuck!" Draco spat, "Trying to play games with a Malfoy?" he tightened his grip around Dominique's collar, "Tell me where is that locket!" he demanded angrily.

"It seems like the lengthy hearing has cost you your sanity and you can't differentiate between your friends and foes, Malfoy." Dominique said coolly and Draco's grip slackened, "I think I'll return when you are back in your right mind to talk business." He shoved away Draco's hand and proceeded to leave.

"Okay, okay I am sorry!" Draco held up his hand realizing his mistake, "I am just…" he closed his eyes, "…very stressed and tired."

"That's better." Dominique curled his lips and commented, "A Malfoy asking for my mercy." He said setting Draco's nerve on fire and settling on one of the benches, "Sit."

Extremely impatient, Draco preferred to pace around the room to control his agitation and asked his moody friend to continue. What he told him in the next half hours could beat any of Rita Skeeter's phony articles on Harry Potter's new love interest.

"Remember I told you that I'll ask Clopin's neighbours about that fire?" he started with a question and Draco nodded, "Well it turned out that I was in luck." He said with a satisfied smirk, "Last night Papa invited one of his old friends for the Hallowe'en dinner at our home and it so happens that he knew Clopin very well. His name is Yves and they call him Old Yves just like Old Clopin. When I found that he was quite partial to Elf made wine, I kept the supplies ample and under the guise a very polite conversation I made him divulge whatever he knew about Clopin. Yves was drunk when he told me a very fascinating story."

Draco has had enough stories since morning for an entire decade and wasn't in a mood to listen more. He wanted to get straight to the point about Hermione's locket but controlled himself. It wouldn't do them any good if he lost his temper again. Besides, Dominique was helping him knowing what he had done to Hermione.

"Yves told me that he and Clopin were at very good terms and shared almost everything." Dominique continued, "One day in mid August of 1998, Clopin came to him almost dancing in delight. When Yves asked him what was the reason, he showed him a locket and gleefully admitted that he had bought it from a pregnant English witch who came to his shop with a French one."

"Hermione? Apolline?" Draco whispered breathless remembering the memory as if he was inside it once again.

"Clopin told Yves that he took fascination on the locket when the shabbily dressed woman showed it to him and decided to buy it at all costs. He also said that he has in fact tricked the young witch and paid her half the original price of the locket. It seemed that the witch was oblivious of the real value of an Edwardian jewelry and selling it out of desperate need for money. He was planning to pay her only one thousand galleons but the French witch bargained very hard and he was forced to pay her almost three thousand but…" Draco fisted angrily as Dominique recounted, "…it was worth almost six thousand for its antique value and the high standard sapphires it had on them."

"Clopin was very fond of that locket for several reasons. For one, he used to say that unlike magical ones Muggle jewelries are free from curses and for another he said he hasn't come across English ones. Soon after he bought it, his business flourished and he became quite rich. Thinking that it was all the locket's doing he started calling it his good luck charm. He also started spending heavily on absinthe."

"Seems like an old drunk swindler to me." Draco remarked darkly, 'Why did Apolline take Hermione to a man like him?' he thought.

"He might be a swindler but he was the only man in entire Les Halles who knew antiques like the back of his hand." Dominique said and Draco was reminded of the old Borgin and Burkes who like Clopin were swindlers but knew their job very well, "It was a fateful evening just weeks before Clopin died that he finally paid the price of cheating Jean and lost the locket." He stated gravely.

"How?" Draco was on the verge of his frayed nerve that had been through a lot in last few days.

"Caesar's casino." Dominique declared solemnly.

"Apparently Clopin was in need of a large sum of money to buy another valuable antique piece from one of his clients and decided to try his luck in a Wizarding gambling house. Let me inform you here that French Wizarding laws don't prohibit gambling. Caesar's is the only one in Les Halles and it is Ministry approved too. Yves told me that they run a betting game every Friday night where they give fifty galleons for one to the winner of the bet and thinking that he might win a jackpot if he invested a lot, Clopin gave the casino everything he was carrying with him that Friday night."

"Including the locket?" Draco asked, furious beyond any kind of description. He wanted to burn Clopin alive for using Hermione's beloved locket in a filthy game of betting but unfortunately the man was already dead and beyond punishment.

"Including the locket." Dominique affirmed, "Needless to say that his lucky charm didn't bring him luck this time and he lost all his cash and the locket to the Caesar's. Mad from grief and shock, Clopin returned to that casino everyday simply to watch it there until he died after two weeks."

"Bastard!" Draco swore loudly and kicked at the nearest locker, "Served him right for cheating Hermione. "So according to Yves her locket is still it in that casino? Even after three long years?" he gave Dominique a skeptic look.

Dominique shrugged, "Apparently, because I have never heard anyone win back what they have lost to the Caesar's." he replied, looking grim, "That's what makes them the number one in casino business in entire Wizarding France, Draco. They say that their ancestors were from Roman Caesars who were invincible and an expert in the game of betting. So there is every possibility that Jean's locket is still in their casino with thousands of other things that were won from the gamblers."

Draco considered Dominique's words with extreme care.

It so seemed that Hermione's locket was stuck in a place far below his standards, unreachable and uncared while the original owner pined for it even after six years. As he had vowed, Draco was committed to his promise to give her back everything she had lost for him. But nonetheless he had never been to a casino that was considered the best and knew nothing of numerous tricks they employed to win the game and gambling.

Should he go forward or should he retreat?

He couldn't bear to lose the locket if he found it there.

Neither could he bear to let it rot there knowing its existence.

"Draco, Caesar's is not a place for gentlemen of your breeding." Dominique said, eyeing him warily, "It's a place only for professional gamblers."

"Then I guess the place won't mind to allow a rapist too." Draco said finally, making up his mind, "Show me the way, Dominique." He proclaimed solemnly, 'I'll give that locket back to Hermione even if it required me to break every single Malfoy rules.' He thought determinedly.

Dominique shook his head in disbelief and stood up, "I should have thought twice before associating with the kinds of you."

"You should have." Draco said dismissively as he left the dressing room behind Dominique.

Once outside the protective confinements of Sorbonne they apparated to Ruelle Les Halles where Dominique guided Draco through numerous dingy and dirty alleys before they finally stood at a safe distance from the famous Caesar's casino.

"Reckon we should go inside." Draco offered, his observation of the casino being over and he stepped on the pavement.

The ugly guards with large clubs, who Draco was sure had one of their parents as a troll or maybe even both, didn't stop them as they entered the casino. It was already growing dark outside and as they walked old fashioned torches sprang into life. Draco wrinkled his delicate nose when a mixture of absinthe and other unnamed wines hit his nostrils. The echoes of their footsteps resounded across the walls as they finally came to stand on a place that looked like a very spacious lobby except for it was completely round with a large dome perched on it.

"I guess the casino isn't open for games yet." Dominique commented, checking his watch, "Yves told me that it opens at nine and closes at seven in the morning."

"Did that old crook tell you where that drunken bastard last saw Hermione's locket?" Draco asked, examining the round wall under muted light that cast an aura of mystery around them, "I see no reception where I can enquire about it unless you consider those half trolls as one." He gave a dark look at the entrance.

"Reception?" Dominique let out a short bark of laugh, "Draco, this isn't a Muggle casino where it's all polished and gleaming. This is a Wizarding casino where they mean nothing but crude business with folks who aren't sophisticated enough to understand the meaning of a ruddy reception."

"Point taken." Draco muttered, looking at a writing that glowed beneath one of the torches.

"Contra vim mortis non crescit salvia in hortis." He muttered, "Looks like the owner is quite a sophisticated man." he remarked.

"Why?" Dominique asked, astonished as their conversation made echoes across the round hall.

"See that writing over there." Draco showed him the bold proclamation in Latin, "It means 'no grass grows in the gardens against the power of death.'" He translated it, "Meaning there is no medicine against death. Why would anyone write such a thing on a wall that essentially entertains a bunch of nighttime scums?"

"Dunno." Dominique shrugged, "Now to the real point. Yves, the old crook did tell me where the drunken bastard Clopin last saw the locket. He said it's on display with other objects under the cupola." Dominique commented and looked up at the dome, "I guess you know that cupola means…"

"…dome in Italian." Draco finished the rest of the sentence, mirroring Dominique and looking up above, "Well? Are they hanging it from there?"

"I guess not." Dominique replied, looking around now, "He said under the cupola, Draco, not from it." He walked at the edge of the large hall as more torches lit up.

Then he suddenly gasped, "Nostradamus!"

"What's it?" not Nostradamus but Draco didn't waste another moment to be at Dominique's side and looked distractedly at the place he was indicating before Yves's words hit its meaning.

The old man was right.

Behind a thick glass sheet that seemed to encircle the entire round hall from end to end and extend from the floor to the ceiling above lay stacks after stacks of objects that Draco didn't even know could exist. A four feet thick layer of galleons, sickles and knuts made the base of display window upon which was placed numerous ornate boxes full of gemstones and jewelries imaginable: rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings of all kinds and designs along with some that Draco hasn't seen women wear. Every inch of the wall was covered with paintings from France, Italy, Greece, Spain and other European nations. Interspersed between them were large golden busts with weird headdresses and statues of roman gods and goddesses. He even saw several expensive brooms perched on a stand. All in all, it was very clear that no one has ever won back anything they had lost to the Caesar's.

"Where is the locket, Dominique?" Draco asked after his fifth circle around the round hall that ended with no progress, "It's like looking for a needle in a haystack."

'I told you, Draco, it's all in vain.' His inner voice was back again, 'She isn't going to forgive you even if you lay down your life for her.'

"Shut up and let me concentrate." Draco spat at the voice before taking out his wand.

'Accio locket.' He cast a non-verbal Summoning Charm, not knowing what else to do. With this huge collection, it would take him days before he could finally locate it.

But nothing happened. It seemed that the glass barrier repelled all kinds of spells and charms.

"Damn it!" frustrated, Draco kicked on the glass.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Monsieur." A voice warned him. It wasn't more than a sibilant whisper but the air carried it to him nonetheless, as if the man was standing just behind him.

Draco whipped around and so did Dominique.

They saw none but themselves, pointing wands at each other.

"Was that the glass talking to us?" Dominique asked skeptically, "I don't understand this." he shook his head, "Why didn't those trolls come in to check what we are doing before the casino opened? Are we being watched?"

"You certainly are, Monsieur." The voice whispered again.

'Homonum revelio.' Draco thought and waved his wand, "Show yourself!" he cried when nothing happened.

The voice laughed, its sound resounding across the round hall and almost deafening them, "Follow the stairs." He bade.

"What stairs?" Draco looked around frantically before he spotted a rickety staircase spiraling up.

"It can be a trap, Draco." Dominique said, casting the staircase warning glances as they stood at its base, "I don't trust these gamblers at all."

"Neither do I." Draco gripped his wand tightly and stated flat before stepping on the bottom one.

The staircase was long, narrow and convoluted one, creaking at places and seemingly endless as if determined to take them to the many moons of Saturn. Draco was panting slightly when he finally came up at a landing after twenty minutes of nonstop climbing.

"I…will…never…follow…" Dominique was panting too as he came up after Draco, "…you…again." He declared.

"…thank… you…" Draco choked and wondered where he could find some water when the most extraordinary looking man showed up before them.

In an expensive black suit and boots that were offset by snow-white ruffled shirt and dazzling brocaded vest, stood a man of strong build. Huge ostentatious rings adorned his fingers while a stickpin with a large stone sparkled on his chest. From a pocket of his vest peeped an enormous pocket watch adorned with precious jewels and attached to a heavy golden chain it draped across his chest. To Draco he appeared as a male version of Professor Trelawney minus the glittering shawl.

"Welcome, Monsieur, to the Caesar's." he spread his arms wide and proclaimed, "It's not every day that gentlemen such as yourselves wander into a place like this. How may I help you?" he asked courteously.

'He thinks we have come here to gamble.' Draco immediately formulated and raised his chin. The Slytherin in him wasn't going to let go of the golden opportunity.

"My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." He declared as proudly as his father used to do in such occasions, "And this is my friend Dominique." He showed his silent companion who was casting the man wary glances, "We are here to look for a stolen family heirloom that we recently came to know was used by a filthy drunkard in a game of bet."

"Family heirloom used in a game of bet?" the male Trelawney repeated after him, "A Malfoy heirloom?" he arched his eyebrows, "Why don't we sit comfortably and talk in my office?" he offered calculatingly.

"I don't think so." Draco countered arrogantly, "My upbringings don't allow me to even set my foot in such a place let alone sit." He wrinkled his nose in feigned disgust, "I could've sent one of my men to look for it and yet I have come personally."

"Seems like whatever that family heirloom is, it is very important to you." the man remarked, "So important that you decided to go against your esteemed upbringing and climb a hundred stairs to meet me." He looked at the staircase, "Come to my office, Monsieur, let me see how I can help you."

Draco knew he was doomed but didn't protest this time. His father has taught him well how to deal with these insects of gutter and he relied on his instincts before following the man into his office.

When they came out of the Caesar's two hours later both Draco and Dominique were as silent as two graves. They walked past half troll guards and prospective gamblers as they cast them curious glances before disapparating into their respective homes.

Château de la Grange-Bléneau was unusually silent when Draco apparated back home but he was too preoccupied to notice it. He sat on the nearest garden bench and replayed the evening's events that had happened in the casino.

The man, Lucca Caesar, who was actually the owner of the casino, had shown him Hermione's locket. Like Ollivander, the wand maker, he seemed to have the uncanny ability to remember every prize his casino has ever won and asked one of his men (this one a quarter giant) to bring it for Draco as soon as he described it to him. Draco's nerves were already taut from uncharacteristic patience he had displayed all evening and when the quarter giant arrived a quarter of an hour later with Hermione's locket, Lucca hung it before his eyes.

"Is it the one you are looking for?" he waved the locket like a pendulum, "As far as I remember, Monsieur, an old drunkard by the name of Clopin lost it to us in a game of bet." He said solemnly.

Draco didn't reply and reached forward before wrapping his fingers around the locket.

It was the most wonderful feeling in the world. As if with the locket he has holding was a piece of Hermione's heart and the elation and sense of pride it gave him muted every other feelings he has ever experienced. He visualized her face, her chocolate brown eyes wide in surprise as he presented it to him; an impossible part of him even dared to dream that she gave him a kiss on the cheek before asking him to put it around her delicate neck with that enticing black little mole.

"It is the one." Lucca commented, deciphering the dreamy look on Draco's face correctly, "Can I take it back now?" he tugged the chain pointedly.

"Take it back?" Draco spluttered, his arrogant demeanor slipping away, "It's mine. That drunkard stole it from my wife and it took me years to finally locate it." he lied defensively as Dominique let out a small cough.

"I am very sorry, Monsieur." The man shook his head with a sympathetic tsk, "But the locket, however significant it might be, is Caesar's property now. You can surely afford to buy your wife another one."

"Of course, I can." Draco spat, "But it's my mother-in-law's." he said before realizing what he was actually saying.

He was calling Hermione's mother, a Muggle woman his father had neglected and he had sneered at Diagon Alley back in his second year, his mother-in-law!

Was that even possible? A Malfoy calling a common Muggle 'mother-in-law'? Wasn't that term reserved only for Astoria's mother?

He gulped and tried to compose himself. Losing his nerves in a situation like this wouldn't do them any good. Besides, the woman had called his mother a murderer and blamed her for Astoria's death. Now she didn't sound like an ideal candidate for his mother-in-law anymore.

"Okay, Monsieur." He said solemnly, trying to hide the discomfort, "Name the price of this locket."

"Price?" Lucca repeated after him, looking highly amused, "There is no price for it, Monsieur. It's priceless." He stated proudly, "This is not a common shop where you can walk in with a sack of galleons and buy whatever that fancies you. This is Caesar's - a gambling house for those who come here on their free will. True that we aren't considered countable by the more privileged class but we still are infallible. No one has ever won back anything that was lost to us."

"How can it be obtained then?" it was Dominique who spoke this time, "There must be a way to have it back." He said matter-of-factly.

Lucca smirked gloatingly at Dominique, "Now we are talking." He said and looked at Draco, "If you want it so much, Monsieur, to pursue it for three long years then I suggest that you win it back from us." He said in a challenging tone.

"How?" Draco grabbed the locket one last time before letting it go.

"Simple. Win it the way it was lost." Lucca shrugged, "Come here on Friday, Monsieur. You'll understand yourself once you see it." He said and stalked away.

Draco rubbed his forehead wearily before the Château came into view. It was then that he noticed that it looked unusually silent. There were no sounds of ladies chatting animatedly drifting out of many windows of Audré's parlour neither were the lights lit in the downstairs rooms. It appeared like a haunted mansion.

'What's wrong?' Draco thought and left his seat, 'Has the Knights attacked the Château?' he thought, a sudden sense of panic engulfing him, 'Where is Adrian? Where is Hermione? Mother?' he almost ran inside the Château.

The downstairs rooms were all deserted. Audré's parlour, the sitting room, dining hall, music room and other rooms, used or unused, were all dark with no sign of human preoccupation. His mind numb from fear and wondering where his Auror cousin was, Draco bolted up the staircase three at a time before he finally arrived on the corridor lined with suites for family members. Except for a faint light coming from under Lillian's door everything was dark.

Numerous horrific images fleeted through Draco's mind and he whipped out his wand, ready to charge at moment's notice before slowly turning the door knob and shouldering it open just a fraction of an inch.

Someone was sobbing inside and Draco was paralyzed by fear thinking that his sister has been assaulted by the Knights and left to die. He remembered that dreadful dream of him assaulting her and gulped to beat down the sense of nausea that came up with it. He wasn't going to let Lillian suffer that fate and proceeded to enter her suite when a sound stopped him.

"…who…re?" it was Lillian's heart wrenching cry that drifted through the door, "Whore, maman, whore?" She wailed.

"Cool down, dearest, cool down." It was Narcissa who spoke next, "We all know that you are not a whore. Neither is Audré." she tried to comfort her niece.

"Look at the evening newspaper, aunt!" Lillian cried, "Just look at it! It's all over there! That I danced with the Swiss Minister's son at the Masquerade Ball like a common whore!"

"Your mother defended you, Lillian. No one thinks you are a whore just because you danced with a man in a damned Ball." Narcissa's voice said dismissively, "Everyone saw what a blasted liar that Rochés was! I curse the day I decided to arrange that party in his hotel. Wasn't there any place better?"

"But she should have been more careful, Narcissa." It was Audré who stated at last, her voice like ice, "Nicolas, however nice of a gentleman he might be, is still a man and according to the rules of Ball one lady must not dance more than two dances with a particular man."

"You are saying it because Julian said that I was glued to Nicolas all evening. Didn't he, maman?" Lillian's voice was stifled with emotion and hurt, "He always insults me. Always."

"It's not Julian's fault, Lillian, don't blame him." Audré said dismissively, "He is your brother and he is supposed to protect your honour. I am sure he'd have dueled any man had he approached you the wrong way. It's you who should have been more reserve to men. Don't forget we are Chombrun Malfoys."

"Is it a crime to be a Chombrun Malfoy, maman?" Lillian cried, "How many more years should we pay the price of uncle Lucius's vengeance? How long should we burn that his soul may finally find some peace?"

As he listened to the heated argument, Draco's head hung in shame and mortification for his father's past deeds. It seemed like his actions had made Hermione to pay dearly, his father's had done the same to his uncle's family. He wondered if he still idolized the man, knowing the extent of damage he had inflicted both directly and indirectly.

He was about to enter the suite with a knock when a small figure streaked past him followed by a woman who was none other than Hermione. They seemed to have overlooked his presence in the darkened corridor and Draco wasn't altogether too eager to face his son at this state. He retreated and cast a Disillusionment Charm on him before entering the suite behind Hermione.

"What's wrong aunt?" Hermione threw open the door and asked the little group of ladies, "I returned home from mother's place and saw that the lights haven't been lit. Why is everywhere so dark?"

"AUNT LILLI!" it was Adrian's tender exclaim who finally noticed Lillian's puffy face before he ran at her and climbed into her lap, "Aunt Lilli, why are you crying?" he hitched up his yellow T-shirt (with 'cute is my middle name' written across the front) and wiped Lillian's tears with the end, "Please don't cry." he pleaded her.

"What's it, aunt?" Hermione, looking pale, asked Audré, "Why is Lillian crying?" she looked at her sobbing sister-in-law.

"It's the 'W' word that has distressed my daughter so much." Audré replied pointedly, glancing at the small stack of newspapers, "Surely it has reached your ears for it is already the talk of the town." She said dejectedly.

"What 'W' word?" it seemed that Adrian's keep ears didn't miss a single word that was uttered in its vicinity, "What 'W' word, Mama?" he asked Hermione curiously.

In response, Lillian only sobbed harder and Hermione turned, if possible, even paler.

"Adrian! Little rabbit!" She gave him an extra sweet smile, "Do you remember what grandma Apolline does when someone is sad?"

"I do." Adrian replied, still wiping Lillian's tears with his T-shirt, "She makes them a good meal."

"Then why don't we go to the large kitchen downstairs and make…" she seemed to be deciding on something, "… some pasta for aunt Lilli?" She offered and Draco was surprised how Hermione avoided lying to her son with sheer act of cleverness, "I am sure she will love it."

Adrian turned to Lillian, "Aunt Lilli, do you like pasta?" he enquired with genuine concern.

"Of..course…I do." Lillian hiccupped and tried to smile overcoming her tears, "I just love pasta. They are my favourite."

"Yes, yes, they are my favourite too." Narcissa supplied eagerly, "How about you, Audré?" she looked up at her stony faced sister-in-law.

"Anything that my dear little chef makes is my favourite." Audré replied with a gentle smile, "But be careful in whatever you make, dear boy. Your uncle Julian is a little too overeater and I am pretty sure, if allowed, he'll eat Lillian's share too."

"Okay." Adrian nodded happily, "Mama and I will make a lottttttttt of pasta." He promised and spread his arms wide before wiping Lillian's tears one last time and running out of her suite with Hermione trotting beside him.

Draco decided to reappear shortly before Hermione left and went back to the darkened corridor to lift the Disillusionment Charm and entered the suite with a knock like any normal brother.

"I heard you are crying, dear sister." He said solemnly walking over to the distressed young lady, "I am sorry, Lillian, I really am." He knelt before her and took her soft hands into his, "I apologize on behalf of my dead father." he said with all sincerity.

"I have never been more insulted, Draco." Lillian rasped, "I don't know how to go back to my office tomorrow." She sniffed.

Draco took out his handkerchief and offered it to Lillian, "You don't need to." He said when a sudden idea hit him, "I am taking you on a tour with me to Italy."

"Italy?" Lillian and Narcissa repeated incredulously, "Why? Are you going to Italy Draco?" Narcissa enquired from him.

"I am." Draco replied, straightening up and sitting beside Lillian, "After what happened today in the courtroom, aunt Audré told me to take a leave and I accepted it. I am going to my farm house tomorrow, mother and I am taking Lillian with me." he wrapped his arm around her and squeezed, "I am sure by the time we'll be back, everything will be normal."

"It is going to be normal, Draco." Audré stated solemnly, "The Swiss Minister Jonas Furrer is mortified that a simple Ball caused all these scenes in a courtroom and he'll be visiting our Château tomorrow evening. We'll talk about our children and if in the end, we find that it fits our children, my daughter will enter an official courtship with his son Nicolas Furrer. There will be no more wedding without a formal courting like it happened in our cases." She indicated Narcissa and herself.

Narcissa sighed, "I guess we both suffered for our husbands." She said ruefully, "You because my husband wanted to take revenge and I because your husband left his home. That makes us quits."

"You forgot your sister, Narcissa." Audré reminded her evenly.

Narcissa rubbed her face wearily, "No, I didn't, Audré." she said, "How can I forget Andromeda?"

"So Lillian I hope you will start packing right away." Draco said, trying to lighten the grave mood, "While you do that, dear sister, I'll go and pay a visit to my son and his mother." He stood up to leave.

"Don't spoil the pasta, Draco." Lillian called after him, "I really love it."

"Even if I do spoil it, sister, don't worry. Tomorrow I am taking you to the land of pastas." Draco shot back and walked fast to reach the downstairs kitchen.

When he reached there after a while, it seemed like a grand cooking was underway for Hermione and Adrian's voice were wafting out of kitchen mixed with delicious smell of pasta sauce. Draco stood at the door, took off his robes and smoothed his hair and shirt. He wasn't going to face his wife and son looking like a weather worn scarecrow. Carefully, he peeped inside to assess the situation there.

The grand kitchen of Château was completely deserted except for two people – Hermione and Adrian. There was no sign of house elves in the vicinity and Draco strongly suspected Hermione might be the reason of their mysterious absence. Smokes of steam were arising from two large saucepans on the stove. As Draco watched them, Hermione tasted some sauce and gave it an approving nod.

"What happened after that, Mama? What did grandma say?" Adrian asked Hermione, who seemed to be telling him some sort of story. He was sitting cross legged on the marble counter, grating a large chunk of cheese under his mother's watchful eyes. Hermione, Draco noticed, was wearing a white shirt and a full length red skirt under a large apron. Adrian on the other hand was still on his yellow T-shirt with writings that proclaimed that cute was his middle name.

Draco shook his head in disbelief and smiled. Where did Hermione find all those cute T-shirts for their son?

"After that Grandma Adeline said that anyone can make pasta and showed Mama this recipe. She said it's the easiest food in the world." Hermione reminisced, smiling serenely, "Mum loved Italian food and so dad used to take us to a famous Italian restaurant in London. It's called Giovanni's. It's quite close to a place called Charing Cross Road. There is a pub there named Leaky Cauldron. We used to enter Diagon Alley through that pub."

Draco listened closely trying to gather more information on his in-laws, something he had never endeavored to do before. He knew from his last visit in Hermione's third batch of memories that Thomas and Adeline Granger were dentists who met when studying dentistry in Bristol Dental School and came from respectable families. They also had a home somewhere in England with a garden of daisies and a swing that was made by Hermione's father. It was sold when they moved to Australia and the new owners renovated it. Adeline seemed to have good taste in music for she has taught Hermione to play piano and loved Italian food which according to Draco himself was one of the best.

"What is Diagon Alley?" Adrian enquired, turning at his owl that was sneaking into some grated cheese, "Hedwig! No dinner for you if you eat that." he warned her and when she ignored it, he cried, "Mama! Hedwig is eating all my cheese!"

With much difficulty Draco stifled his laugh.

"So what?" Hermione came to stand beside her son and took a large chunk before shoving it into her mouth, "I am eating them too."

"MAMA!" Adrian exclaimed again, "You are so greedy!" he snatched the large bowl of cheese that was under joint attack of Hermione and Hedwig. Everything about the scene was so innocently tender that Draco wanted to stand in a corner and watch them for the rest of his life. It was so strange that these two people who he was taught to hate could make him feel so young and in their presence he felt his heart found its home.

He wondered how to approach Adrian. The boy seemed totally absorbed in his mother's story about Diagon Alley and in a very good mood after his visit to Apolline's place. He thought of knocking and entering but then discarded the idea. That would look too formal and might make him recoil. He was in a fix when a sudden idea hit him.

Draco took out the letter for Adrian and quickly folded it into a paper bird. He remembered making them for Potter that contained cartoons of him being knocked off his broom after he fainted in Hogwarts Express in a Dementor attack. He then blew the required incantation on it with the name of the receiver and the bird took flight.

Surely enough the intended result came within next thirty seconds.

"Mama! Mama! Look! A bird!" Adrian exclaimed as the paper bird flew across the kitchen and landed smoothly on his right shoulder, "How beautiful!" he took it in his palms and unfolded it, "Oh, look, it's a letter! Maybe it's from grandpa. I like it!" he declared happily and unfolded it.

Draco was suddenly very hot in the ears. The knowledge that his son liked his, Draco Malfoy's handiwork unbeknownst to him, was the biggest complement he has ever received in his entire life.

"I see." Next came Hermione's cautious remark and Draco was sure she has identified the similarity between both notes, "Wait till I come, Adrian." she said.

Draco was standing outside the kitchen with a very somber but dignified look when Hermione came out, her hands on her hips.

"Malfoy?" it wasn't a query but a statement, "I knew it was you. Otherwise, who'd do such a thing as smuggling staffs to unsuspecting people?"

"I wasn't smuggling Adrian anything." Draco countered solemnly, "I just didn't know how to give him his letter without being called a lair or a creepy Monsieur." He confessed.

"Right." Hermione pursed her lips, "You still remember what I told you last night?" she asked impassively.

"How can any man forget them?" Draco asked back with a rueful smile. All day long those words have kept echoing inside his head.

"Follow me, then." Hermione bade curtly before turning away.

Adrian was already reading the address on the envelope when Draco entered the kitchen behind Hermione.

"To…Adrian T. Granger…" he skipped the Malfoy part again, "C…O…Dra…co…L…Malfoy…" he read Draco's name both very reluctantly, "Potee…ons…re…search…er…"

"Potions Researcher." Draco corrected him and Adrian looked up, his eyes wide.

They both looked at each other for a while; Draco trying to appear as calm and gentle as possible and Adrian's eyed fleeting between Hermione and Draco cautiously.

Hermione cleared her throat, "Adrian, little rabbit, Monsieur is here to tell you something." She looked at him pointedly.

Draco cleared his throat and tried to give Adrian a very charming smile, "Adrian." he called him trying to assess the little boy's mood, "Monsieur is very very very sorry for lying about babies." He said and waited for his reaction.

"Mama is not taking your seeds." Adrian declared, giving Draco a searching look as if he was carrying them in a little bottle or a phial, "I told Mama." he looked at Hermione for assurance.

Exasperated and defeated, Draco wanted to bang his head on the nearest wall and split it open. It was so embarrassing, so humiliating, so insulting to talk about seeds with a boy of five and half years old who wouldn't let go of the topic. He wished his aunt Audré was here to control the situation.

"Adrian." it was Hermione who spoke next, her own face as red as the tomato sauce frothing on the stove, "Do you want to be a gentleman like grandpa Gustave or uncle Alexis?" she asked him.

"Of course." Adrian piped firmly.

"Grandpa Gustave is Uncle Alexis's papa. Have you ever seen him talking about grandpa Gustave's seed?" she asked him skeptically.

Adrian seemed to consider the question for a while before shaking his head violently.

"No." he said curtly, deep in thought.

"Then neither should you, little rabbit because gentlemen like uncle Alexis or grandpa Gustave never talk about these things in public." Hermione said, her tone even but stern, "It's a shame and well below gentlemen's manners. If you talk about it, it will be like…" she fumbled for a suitable example.

Draco, who was listening to the conversation and trying to learn how Hermione taught their son to behave appropriately, came forward, "Pierre." He supplied cautiously.

Hermione whipped at him, her brown eyes wide before she blinked twice and nodded.

"If you talk about seeds like that Adrian, it will sound like Pierre." She said solemnly.

"But I am not Pierre!" Adrian was clearly affronted by the comparison and he looked at Draco, "Monsieur, I am not like Pierre." He shook his head violently.

Draco was relieved beyond measure. It seemed that the highly embarrassing topic was finally over. "Of course you are not like Pierre. You are my little rabbit - Adrian." he affirmed.

"Only Mama calls me little rabbit." Adrian protested; he seemed to dislike the idea of Draco addressing him as such.

"Fine." Draco held up his hands in the air, "You are Mama's little rabbit. Okay?"

"Okay." Adrian tilted his head with a sniff.

"Now can you please forgive Monsieur?" Draco asked, keen to mend the relationship now that Hermione was on his side, "Monsieur is very very sorry." He said with a matching sad look.

Adrian looked at his mother who nodded ever so slightly.

"You'll not lie again?" he asked Draco though it sounded more like a statement.

"I'll never lie again." Draco swore solemnly.

"And you'll not hurt Mama?" was his next order.

"I promise that I'll never ever hurt your Mama." Draco swore from the bottom of his heart. What he did was already causing Hermione so much pain and he knew she was doing it as per their new truce to mask their damaged relationship in order to protect their son from a gruesome truth.

Adrian seemed to consider Draco's words before finally nodding, "Okay. I forgive you." he said curtly.

Draco let out a sigh of relief and smiled at Hermione which she didn't return. Instead she moved to check the sauce on stove and Adrian returned to his letter.

"Potions researcher…" he read aloud, seemingly determined to read it correctly this time, "Inno…va…"

"Innovation section." Draco took the opportunity to whip up a normal conversation with his son and moved forward, "Remember I told you about my job? I work to make potions better." he reminded him.

Adrian nodded, his grey eyes still fixed on the envelope (cheese lay forgotten and under Hedwig's attack). He read the rest of the address with relatively ease and tore open the envelope to explore its contents.

"Mama, it's another letter for me." he declared to his happily and ignoring Draco who was now sitting before him.

"Want me to help you read it?" he offered Adrian, noting it.

Adrian shook his head. He seemed determined to exchange as few words as possible with Draco.

"Fine, then." Draco left his seat, "Why don't you read it aloud while I help your mother in cooking?" He offered again.

Hermione was ladling some sauce on the cooked and strained pasta when Draco stood beside her.

"Can I help?" he asked her gently.

"Master Adrian…" Adrian's voice could be heard on the background as he read his letter, "We are…pleased to…"

"Overacting isn't necessary, Malfoy." Hermione muttered, grinding her teeth, "You know very well why I am doing this."

"I do." Draco admitted, "But normal husbands also help their normal wives while they cook." He supplied calmly and waited for Hermione's response.

"inform you…that you have…"

Hermione closed her eyes, took two deep breaths and opened them again before turning her face to Draco.

"Fine." She gave him an unnaturally charming smile, "Grate the cheese, if you please."

Draco knew that he wasn't taunting Hermione nor was he testing her patience but he felt a sense of elation for being included with them as they cooked pasta. He did as told, brought the large chunk Adrian had been working on with the grater.

"You look good in red and white." He told her after a minute, referring to her attire, "It suites you."

Hermione added some thyme on the sauce feigning she hasn't heard him.

"You looked very good in the Ball in that blue dress and pearl necklace." Draco finally got the opportunity to speak his mind.

Hermione turned to Draco and gave him a sickly sweet smile.

"What Malfoy? Feeling rather randy tonight? Dreaming of a good long fuck?" she whispered, "Your overlong member is finally out of control? Right?" her eyes roved down to his crotch.

Draco's mouth fell open and he wanted to vanish into thin air.

"Hermione, I was just complime…" he tried to protest, finding his voice after a while when Adrian suddenly cut in.

"Mama! This letter says I have won a prize!" He exclaimed and giving him a look of pure venom Hermione moved to enquire the matter.

Suddenly Draco just couldn't stand to be in their presence anymore. Such hatred, such neglect, such despair, such humiliation – it was intolerable and making him go mad from frustration. He felt like smashing the windowpane or bringing down the chandelier or or or…

'Or push her to the wall and kiss her roughly on the mouth…' the voice in his head suggested, '…then run your hands over her soft breasts…her inner thighs… her cunt…then thrusting into her…pistoning into her…yes…yes…that sounds good…deliciously tempting…go on, Draco…show her who the real man is …Alexis or you…'

Draco force closed his eyes and tried hard to calm his inner turmoil.

'I'll do no such thing, monster!' he screamed.

'Why not?' the voice taunted, 'You did it before. You proved to him what a man can do with a woman. Why not prove that once again?'

"BECAUSE IT'S NOT FUNNY, YOU BASTARD!" Draco bellowed, threw the bowl full of cheese on the floor and stormed out of kitchen before Hermione and Adrian's wide startled eyes.

•••••

Draco was immensely grateful to his aunt Audré for suggesting him to take a leave and spent it in his farm house – Podere Cipressi.

Today was his last day in Italy and he sat beside the large swimming pool, languidly sipping his favourite brew of Italian coffee – cappuccino and rewinding his last two days.

Being born and bred as a Malfoy had certain privileges of its own. Draco has always prided himself for having more refined taste when it came to food, drinks, clothing, perfume or other luxurious accessories, largely attributed to his extensive summer holidays to Italy and other parts of Europe except for France. It was forbidden to even utter that particular country's name in the vicinity of Lucius Malfoy and it had never occurred to Draco to disobey him.

Draco had been to his farm house mostly on summers and hardly on fall when it was quite cold. Novembers in Siena, the province of Tuscany in which his farm house was situated, was the rainiest month of the year, something that his wizened house elf had informed him as soon as he set foot on the villa with Lillian and the Durants. Tuesday, the first day of his visit, was mostly spent after showing his guests around the farm house which to his delight became Céline Durant's instant favourite.

"I have always dreamt of a place like this. Always." She had said excitedly to her husband once the tour was over, "I still resent that we couldn't take father Eugene to a place like this."

Draco hadn't endeavored to pay attention to their nonsense tirade about an old man's last dream and proceeded to show his cousin Lillian the extensive farms of olive, chestnuts and walnuts.

"You are selling this place for Jean and Adrian?" she had asked him, half-incredulous half-impressed, "This is an asset, Draco, not just a farm house."

Draco couldn't agree more but he also couldn't deny that Hermione and Adrian were his priceless assets than any farm house in any part of the world.

"When I was born, my grandfather, Cygnus Black III, gave me this farm house celebrating the first male child among his three daughters – Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa. It is a tradition among Wizarding bluebloods to present the newborn with a villa or an estate or even an island." Draco had said, walking with Lillian through the extensive fields that were still wet from previous night's rain. Around them the colours of November were amazingly bright and soothing. The fields were green; the woods - a mixture of dark green, yellow and brown while the olive groves were silvery. The air was heavy with the scent of mists and dew intermingled with that of wild mushrooms and ripe chestnuts.

"Bellatrix was barren." He had continued, "I guess it was because she was always so maniacally cruel. Mother never liked talking about her; neither did father. I could sense their dislike of her and never wanted to meet her myself."

"My other aunt, Andromeda ran away with a Muggleborn called Ted Tonks and was disowned by her parents." For the first time Draco used aunt to address his cousin Nymphadora's mother, "I have never met her in my life. She was another person I was prohibited to ask about. But when I was in my seventh year, I heard that her daughter got married to a werewolf named Remus Lupin. He was one of my old teacher's in Hogwarts. They had a boy and died in the battle of Hogwarts."

"Your family is very strange, Draco." Lillian had remarked, as they strolled together, "I wonder how you became like this?"

"Like what?" Draco had asked, astonished.

"So…thoughtful and gentle." Lillian had replied.

"Oh no, you are wrong Lillian. I can assure you I was never thoughtful and gentle." Draco shook his head and smiled, "I was and still am a proud, arrogant and insensitive man. You should have seen me as a teenager."

"Well I know you were a prat then." Lillian had smiled, "But isn't everyone a prat when they are teenagers, Draco? I mean that's the period when a boy turns into a man.

"But I think I was the pratest." Draco had countered, though internally delighted that his cousin appreciated him, "I was jealous of people who were better than I. Like Harry Potter and Herm…" he paused.

"You were jealous of Jean?" Lillian, however, hadn't missed the name, "Interesting." She smiled mysteriously.

"I beg your pardon but what's interesting?" Draco had asked his cousin, half curious and half cautious about not letting anymore blunders to happen.

"It's so interesting how two people from completely opposite backgrounds fall in love, get married and end up having kids." Lillian had said, "Look at my parents. Will you believe me if I tell you that maman and papa could hardly tolerate each other when they first met in Sorbonne? No, you won't but that's the truth. Now look at yourself. You said you were jealous of Jean and you two ended up married and having a cute little son like Adrian." she had said passionately, "I wonder where I'll end up."

Draco had laughed, "Well you have Sir Nicolas Furrer or shall I say Nick or more appropriately Nearly-Headless-Nick."

Lillian had laughed and blushed deeply, "Nearly-Headless-Nick? What do you mean by Nearly Headless?"

"That's the Gryffindor resident ghost. He isn't fully decapitated." Draco had replied, "So for convenience, everyone calls him Nearly-Headless-Nick."

"Gryffindor! Hm!" Lillian had nodded mischievously, "You seem to know everything about them. Especially Nearly-Headless-Nick. Why? Did he catch you red handed when you were snogging Jean in a dark corner?" she had winked.

Draco had taken the unexpected blow silently and exhaled.

"We never had…" he fumbled for appropriate words, "…as many snogging sessions as you think I had." he had said solemnly.

"But you were lovers! And she became pregnant with your child!" Lillian had exclaimed.

"Surely cousin you wouldn't do me the dishonour of explaining you how a woman becomes pregnant." Draco was now seriously considering avoiding the topic. He wasn't going to let Lillian realize that like Adrian she had been lied to too.

"It was during the war and…the Dark Lord was using our manor as his base…and she was on run with her friends who couldn't stand even my shadow…" he proceeded to explain it and get rid of her cousin's curiosity once and for all, "…it…it just happened… at the heat of moment…none of us were prepared and we forgot to cast a contraception charm… besides, it was our first time…and we were…" he had closed his eyes in horror as the memories of that fateful day resurfaced.

"Okay, okay, Draco. I understand now." Lillian had held up her hands, "Nostradamus! You are blushing like a virgin." She had laughed playfully, "But you know, your story has the same unique forbidden romantic flavour in it like maman and papa's have."

They had come to a stop under a leafless tree with round orange fruits hanging from it in abundance. Eager to move to any topic other than Hermione and his non-existent love story Draco reached for them and picked a large bunch for his cousin.

"These are called Persimmons." He had said as Lillian examined the strange fruits with interest, "There is a way of eating them. Remove the skin and stem first and then eat them fresh."

"Drake, you are so funny!"

Draco froze. It wasn't Lillian but Astoria.

Frantic, he looked around and found a young couple – the man with silvery blonde sleek hair and the lady who had green eyes – fighting over a bunch of Persimmons, just a few feet away.

It was them but only six years ago when they had come here for their honeymoon.

"Ria, wash the Persimmons before eating." The eighteen year old Draco was warning his wife, "You are pregnant."

Astoria blushed and laughed simultaneously.

"I know, drake. You don't have to remind me all the time." she said shyly.

"Mother will eat me alive if she hears her beloved daughter-in-law, Astoria Malfoy, isn't being careful enough about the baby." Draco said.

"Then Astoria Malfoy will fight the world to save her husband Draco Malfoy from being eaten alive." She said matter-of-factly.

"Draco? Draco?" Lillian had snapped fingers before his eyes and asked, "Where are you? What are you looking at?" she looked at the spot Draco had been staring.

Draco had blinked. The imprints of the past were still fresh on his retinas.

"Nothing." He sighed, "I was just…thinking of my last time here…with Astoria."

Lillian had placed a hand on his shoulder, "I am so sorry, Draco." She said somberly, "I know how it feels like to lose someone you love. We lost papa."

Draco had remained silent and resumed their walk.

"You said I am thoughtful and sensitive." He said after a while, "Ever wondered who made me like that?"

Lillian, as she took little bites of Persimmons, nodded, "Jean!"

"No." Draco replied, "It was Astoria."

"I never thought I'd fall in love with a woman like her considering the fact that I was almost forced to marry her. It was after the war and our family was on the brink of destruction. Astoria's father was a very prominent Ministry Official who believed in pureblood supremacy but was not a Death Eater. Her mother was also my mother's cousin, something that I didn't know at that time. Father was under House Arrest and mother wanted me to marry someone who could bring our old grandeur back. Enter Astoria Greengrass."

"She was very different from the usual kind I associated with. Didn't like girly gossips and preferred books more. Almost like Hermione. We courted and got married. I brought her here for our honeymoon."

"Those were the best days of my life, Lillian. I never knew I could be a different man than I was brought up to be. Almost all the important decisions of my life taken by my parents – my school, my marriage. Even the Dark Mark I bear was forged on my skin when I was sixteen and without my consent. I was sent to kill Professor Dumbledore or my mother would be murdered. Despite extreme pressure, I couldn't do it in the end but it left permanent scars on my mind."

"I became very impulsive; scared even and would do anything, go to any length to protect my mother from any kind of harm. Sometimes, I used have terrible fits of anger and could do anything under its spell. I never suffered from any kind of remorse for them for I thought the person has brought it upon themselves and I wasn't to be blamed."

"Such was my state when I got married to Astoria. At first it was nothing but a marriage of convenience. But slowly, it evolved into friendship and love. I learned to understand her and she learned to understand me."

Draco had looked up at the November sky of Tuscany. It was full of swirling black clouds. It was going to rain soon.

"I felt like my body was burning under the scorching ray of sun and it got some comforting shade of a tree in the name of Astoria Greengrass."

"I had forgotten to smile. I was angry with everything – my life, my fate, my past. But Astoria brought back those lost smiles on my lips. It was as if the smile of an angry kid has returned on a little cajoling. Like on the years of old wounds, she applied a soothing balm."

"That is what my heart feels when I think Astoria."

"And Jean?" Lillian had asked promptly.

Draco had considered her question for a while before replying, "Hermione is my passion. She and Adrian make me want to fight till the end. With Astoria there was no question of challenge or fighting. She healed me and Hermione drives me."

The rain had started soon afterwards and Draco returned to his villa with Lillian.

The rooms were the same as they had left it last time. The elves who were in charge of the place from Draco's grandfather's time had been very sincere about it. But each one that Draco entered brought on a new set of memories.

His bedroom reminded him of the nights that he and Astoria had spent, cuddling under the white sheet and making love. Draco had sat on it for a very long time, running his fingers on the now empty sheets.

"You are very naughty, Draco." Astoria said when her husband bit her nose playfully, "What if I sneezed?" she asked, snuggling her naked form against his.

"Then I'll bite on your lips." Draco breathed on Astoria's lips and to his delight she trembled like a leaf, "Ever so slightly." He said before closing the little gap.

The dining room reminded him of them having a romantic candlelight dinner just before she told Draco that she was expecting their first child. Astoria had taken extra care to dress as per Draco's liking that evening and in her green satin dress that wonderfully matched her enticing green eyes, she looked like a fairy princess directly from the pages of book.

"Is the food to your liking?" Draco was very gentle and courteous with his young wife as she scanned the table laden with the finest Italian dishes, "That's a shrimp fra diavolo." He told her when she cast a wary look on some shrimps with hot red sauce.

"Meaning?" Astoria was almost bursting with laugh at her husband's attempts to please her.

"Diavolo in Italian means devil." Draco replied proudly, "It's shrimp dipped in spicy red sauce and that's why the name."

Astoria couldn't contain her laughter any longer, "I think it should be called shrimp fra Draco." she said and her husband frowned, "Replacing the devil with Draco." she added playfully.

Draco and Astoria had their dinner in relative enjoyment with Astoria occasionally making fun of different Italian dishes' names.

"Fettuccine sounds like a mix between fat and lettuce."

"Saltimbocca? It is too salty?"

It was not until wine was served that Astoria became silent.

Slightly anxious, Draco checked if the wine was the one he had asked. It was.

"You don't like Italian wines, Ria?" Draco enquired from his silent wife.

In reply, Astoria left her seat and walked to one of the windows through which the vast farms could be seen bathed in the moonlight. To Draco's eyes she looked like a celestial being as if her beauty has suddenly increased manifolds.

"What's it, Ria?" he was beside her in an instant, "Missing home?"

Astoria nodded.

"We'll return home very soon. I know you have to attend Hogwarts." Draco said.

Astoria turned to face her husband, her eyes slightly tearful and mirroring the moon outside the window.

"Draco, promise me you'll not ask me to leave my studies." she said in an emotional voice.

Draco stared, "Why should I?" he asked, perplexed.

Astoria bit her lips and took Draco's left hand before placing it over her lower abdomen. Her lips opened only a fraction to convey something but she closed them and looked down at the joined hands on her tummy.

Though her wife didn't say anything Draco suddenly realized what she wanted to mean.

A sense of joy and thrill erupted from their joined hands that sent equal measures of them to every part of Draco's body. He stood there under the moonlight in silence, looking at his wife, their hands and her abdomen before his voice found a way to convey his emotions.

"When did you find…" he stopped when Astoria slowly looked up.

"This morning." she whispered her eyes downcast once again but her body emanated a strange aura.

"Merci, brother for the wonderful tour. I feel so fresh." Lillian's voice brought Draco back to reality. He looked down at his coffee. It finished long ago leaving nothing but the empty cup.

It was like his life. The spirit has gone leaving noting but an empty vessel that was his body.

"Madame Durant said they want to interchange your villa with their cottage." She said looking albeit disappointed about it, "It's such a wonderful place. I feel so sad that you have let it go Draco but I am sure Jean and Adrian are worth it."

At the mention of their names, Draco remembered all those hateful words of insult and moments of despair that he had been bestowed upon recently. Tomorrow he would be going back to his difficult life once again, working hard to earn their trust. But even with the prospect of such a daunting task, of other hateful words that waited him for leaving the kitchen with swear words, of nights of terror in St. Lupus and days of overwork, Draco wasn't intimidated or disheartened. He knew he deserved them all for poisoning Hermione like that pup in Audré's story.

"They are worth it, Lillian." he said at last, setting aside the empty cup and joining his fingers.

"When I first came to France, sister, I thought I was done for; that I can never stand up again or get over Astoria or our children. But then I met Adrian and realized that somewhere inside me there was still a little life remaining."

"In his innocence I found a new heartbeat that I wasn't aware of beating inside me. In his mother I discovered a woman whom I have never appreciated enough. Her hardships as a pregnant woman gave me strength and her courage gave me power to break the Malfoy norms."

"I didn't even realize when I fell in love with her…with him…with them. I had left them years ago and now that they are with me…I don't know what to do."

"Should I die and cry a little? Or should I live and kiss the joys? I don't know." Draco beat off a lone tear that has escaped his lashes.

Lillian was silent and tearful as she listened to him.

"Podere Cipressi was never more valuable to me than my family, Lillian my dear sister. I was like a kite with a broken string drifting in the air when it found its home in Hermione. Now it's time for Hermione to find her home."

"Will you let me help you in making it, Draco, my brother?" Lillian's voice was stifled when she asked after a while.

Draco smiled at her.

"Welcome on board, sister." He extended his hand to her and taking it, Lillian shook it firmly.