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.

79. Chapter 79

Author's special note:

Thanks everyone for reading my story till chapter 79. Thanks to Grovek26, SereniteRose, Surugasasa, Roni2010, dragonjun, Kuro mirai and guests for their reviews on last chapter.

** 17th August 2014. The day I first mustered the courage to actually write and publish something. Today, in my country, is a year since that day and I thank you all for helping me to do it, come so far. When I uploaded the first chapter, I thought I'd be deleting it in next two hours, such was my shaky state. But thankfully I got three reviews that told me to keep up. I did that with a renewed hope.

Someone as insignificant as me never thought she'd write. I thank 'SqueakyPen' for writing 'Absolution'. It was this fanfiction that finally pushed me to the edge and I decided to write my own fiction based on rape. Those who haven't read the story, I highly recommend that you read it. Just 5 chapters long and abandoned for eight years now, this fiction made me want to tell everyone that rape is not a joke. It is something very real and very violent. 'Absolution' made me want to write the crude truths, the real fears of rape survivors and question the twisted mentality of some readers and authors who relish love stories based on it. Just because we have a platform or a love for writing, doesn't mean we can misuse it. Freedom of expression is a great gift but truth is even more important than that.

** Please read Draco's confessions carefully. They say a lot about what he feels and believes.

Thanks again everyone. I appreciate your support for my TPA even if it's a coward and one worded guest review as 'disgusting'.

You can leave a review if you like. This chapter is rated M for language. The link to TPA Pinterest page is in my profile.

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

Chapter 79: The Oneness and Two-ness (Part 2)

There were very few occasions on which Hermione had felt such restlessness numbing her senses and this afternoon, regrettably, was one of them.

She sat in Apolline's kitchen, sipping coffee from a mug and brooding. The rest of the table beside her was laid down with a large collection of afternoon tea treats: Croissants, Madelines, petit fours and so on. Apolline sat across her, watching her carefully but silently.

The excited screams and chattering of three kids drifted through the kitchen windows. Adrian was playing with his best friends, Louis and Gina and telling them about the broom ride he had on Sunday. His long awaited wish was finally fulfilled when Apolline invited the kids to come over and play in her garden. Now they were eating freshly baked cookies and chatting animatedly. It was loud enough not to be ignored, even if someone desperately wanted to do so.

"Then the broom landed. We got off. A man came with a big camera. He took our photos." It was Adrian's squeak. "Mama, me and him."

Hermione sipped the coffee and listened to him, analyzing his every word with care this time. She had been listening to their conversation for quite a long time now and noticing how Adrian had denoted his father mostly as 'he' or 'him' before his friends. It was something very new to her, this side of her son. She had seen him draw Draco a get-well-soon card that very morning and thought maybe the ice between Adrian and his biological father was melting finally. Not that it pleased her. But strangely it didn't disappoint her either. It was something in between, like that strange and unknown emotion she had been feeling since Sunday lunch.

But what now? Adrian was referring Draco in public as 'him' or 'he', as if their relationship or that card didn't matter to him at all. Was she pleased now? That her son valued her more than his so called father? She searched her soul for an answer. It didn't come.

"How nice that your papa takes you for a broom ride!" It was Gina's voice this time, complaining heavily. "My papa doesn't have time to take us anywhere. He is always very busy." She said half-heartedly.

Hermione smiled. She really liked that girl, Adrian's best friend, Gina Jeunet. She has always dreamt of having a little girl just like Gina. Also Gina, with her slightly bossy attitude, reminded her of her younger self, when she was friends with Harry and Ron. It was strange that Adrian's friend circle was just like hers had been: two boys and a girl.

Hermione remembered Julian's words about Mesrine. Gina Jeunet's father was Auror Jeunet, the same man who had been spying on Mesrine as a Muggle milkman before he disappeared mysteriously. Listening Gina resent about her father, she realized how these people sacrificed their family lives to keep others protected.

"Mine is busy too." Adrian sounded important. Hermione was again amazed at how very cleverly he avoided using the term papa and addressed Draco by a simple pronoun – 'mine'. "But my Mama is busier than him. She helps the Minister of Magic."

Surprise after surprise after surprise! Adrian has avoided talking about Draco being ill and jumped straight on to his mother's topic, something that Hermione knew he liked to talk about immensely.

"The Minister?" Louis sounded very skeptic about it, "You mean, the Minister?"

"Yes." Adrian snapped. He sounded highly affronted that his best friends didn't seem to take his mother seriously. "My Mama helps the Minister of Magic." He informed them with an air of superiority. Somewhere in his tone, a teenage Draco Malfoy bragging about his father could be heard too. "This Saturday, Monsieur Sergeant, a very big and strong man, came to take Mama to the Minister. My Mama is very brave and the very very beautiful." He said dismissively, "Look, I have curls like her." Hermione, though she couldn't see them from kitchen, visualized Adrian seizing a handful of his silvery blonde curls and pulling it to prove that he indeed has inherited this particular feature of hers.

Hermione smiled. Adrian was such a cute boy and she loved him more than anyone in the world. But at the same time, her heart filled with that same strange sadness she had been feeling for Draco. How very unfortunate that his own son didn't like to call him 'papa' or loved to look like him even though he could draw and sent him a card!

"But you look like your papa." Louis emphasized the point.

"No, I don't." Adrian was prompt and confident. "He told me." He used the pronoun to address Draco again, "He told me that I look like my aunt Lilli."

"Who is aunt Lilli?" Gina enquired this time.

"She is his cousin." Adrian, it seemed was determined to not use the words 'papa' or 'father' even for once to address Draco Malfoy. "He told me that I look completely like her and my eyes are like Grandpa Morpheus." Hermione imagined him deliberately showing them his grey orbs to prove his point.

"Really?" Louis seemed to frown upon the idea, "I don't want to look like my aunt Cecilé. She is my papa's cousin and she is very proud. She thinks she is very pretty. I don't like her. But papa says that it's rude to talk bad about elders, especially if she is your aunt. I love my looks. Everyone says I look like my papa. He is so kind and loves us a lot. I hope my little sister looks like him too."

Hermione waited to know how her son reacted and sadly, he said something completely unrelated. "Okay. Let's have a race." Adrian bypassed the topic and offered. Louis and Gina agreed and with it ended the peculiar but very important conversation she had been listening to.

She sat there, deep in thought over what she has just heard.

•••••

Apolline cast a careful glance at Hermione's direction. She was absorbed in an ongoing conversation between Adrian and his best friends. She listened to it too and couldn't help but notice that it was pretty strange.

For instance, Adrian was addressing Malfoy as 'he' or 'him' and not even once did he call him father or papa. Hermione looked deeply troubled and lost and Apolline wondered if her son's choice of a pronoun to refer to his father was the main reason.

Hermione wasn't her usual self when she arrived at her place with Adrian after the lunch, Apolline had noticed that immediately. She had smiled at her but it was a bemused smile, not the usual bright and honest one she gave her; as if she was desperately trying to hide something behind it. Apolline knew Hermione could be secretive and Adrian could be too; the boy has inherited that trait from his mother. She didn't express her concern before Hermione but when she was alone with Adrian, she asked him about everything at the Château.

What the kid told her was most interesting. Malfoy had fallen ill. Upon asking how he fell ill and internally cursing him for doing so, Apolline received an entertaining answer. Malfoy was stressed and therefore, he fell ill.

Apolline snorted and curled her lips in disgust. Men! How easily some of them broke down as if the bones they carried were made of glass instead of calcium! Being a half-Veela and a mother of three strong kids, one them a Triwizard Champion from Beauxbatons, Apolline hated any weakness about men. They were supposed to be strong, not the rape performing type of strong, but really strong. She didn't like the kinds of Malfoy, all delicate bones and his manhood only limited to his overlong member. Besides, she had seen some really stressed but strong people in her life and they had never fallen ill. She didn't need a lantern to search for one: the woman sitting before her was the biggest example and she was pregnant when it all happened.

She wondered if Hermione was thinking about Malfoy. It could be. She was Hermione after all. Personally, Apolline would have sent her rapist husband a bowl of poisoned soup to finish off his agony once and for all. Malfoy should be grateful that Apolline wasn't his wife.

They were planning a small tea party in the garden when Hermione arrived at their home. Alexis had informed his mother that very morning, over a cup of hurried coffee, that soon he would be the new Senior Undersecretary. Apolline was surprised. Senior Undersecretary at twenty nine! She could not have asked for more from her son. Later, Alexis had left for an urgent meeting Minister had called him to attend to over the unexpected escape of an important criminal in the Rochés case, still yawning and rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Right away, Apolline decided to hold a small tea party at home. She knew her son. Alexis was modest and disliked showoff even if it was for genuine reasons like a well-earned promotion. He was not the type to ask Apolline to throw a grand party and invite the entire neighbourhood to celebrate it. She was only planning to invite Hermione and Adrian to it when they arrived. Apolline was both surprised and pleased. Truth be told, she wasn't particularly looking forward to meeting Narcissa and her son. Audré and her children were fine. But Draco and Narcissa? No. After her last therapy session with Audré, Apolline was of opinion that no matter how hard she tried she could never forgive those British Malfoys for their crimes against Hermione.

There was another secret reason to want to invite Hermione and the Chombruns. Their daughter, Lillian Chombrun Malfoy. Apolline was interested to learn if she really was in love with that handsome boy, Nicolas Furrer, as it was being claimed by both parties. But after learning Draco's allegedly ill state, she discarded the plan. Audré was clearly busy with her family. She could be invited for another occasion, if circumstances permitted her; today, Hermione and Adrian would do.

With all these in mind, Apolline and Hermione sat by the table and had a cup of coffee with the cookies she had baked earlier. She watched Hermione as she listened to the intriguing conversation.

When it was finally over, Apolline thought that it was time to pursue the topic.

"Jean?" she called Hermione softly, not willing to startle her. She turned her gaze to Apolline, her brown eyes still lost and slightly unfocused. "Can I ask you something?"

Hermione smiled meekly and nodded. Apolline returned her a gentle and persuading smile.

"Is anything troubling you, my dear?" she asked her mildly. They were alone in the kitchen. Gabrielle was taking a late bath and a Gustave was at the apothecary. It was an ideal time for Hermione to confide to her if she wasn't feeling like talking before the entire family. "Can we talk about it?"

She noticed how Hermione's brown eyes were full of uncertainty when she replied:

"I want to mother but I don't know what it is."

•••••

Hermione was as honest and truthful as she could be when she confessed that she didn't know what was troubling her. In reality, she didn't know.

She was restless for several reasons. Firstly, she felt foreign to herself; secondly, she found it self-betraying, infuriating and extremely humiliating that she was able to feel something or anything at all for Draco, the man who raped her. And to cap it all, she didn't know where those strange dreams of her and that vile Slytherin were coming from. She was confused, very confused and had no source to demand some answers. All positive and negative emotions she knew were jumbled up, like the knots of a Devil's Snare and she felt trapped in it, with no light to drive it away and come out, unscathed.

But now the persisting problem of jumbled emotions and strange dreams have reached another very complex level: Adrian. After listening to his conversation with his friends, she was feeling an addition emotion: a pang of intense guilt. Hermione was considering herself accountable for it and no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't shake it off. The truth indeed was stranger than fiction and in this case, facts.

Adrian, Hermione's barely six years old son, was more mature than she had ever taken him for. Surprisingly even to his mother, the little boy knew how to handle delicate matters with truth and honesty. He knew when to talk and when to listen – a feature not very common among kids of his age. But most importantly, his conversation with his friends was a small demonstration of what he went through every day in his school and why he had withdrawn to himself whenever the topic of his father came up. And yet he had never considered sharing it with Hermione, his mother and his only friend. Somehow he seemed to have sensed that Hermione wasn't very easy around his father.

This particular revelation was killing Hermione from inside now. Was she responsible for it? Could she have avoided it had she overlooked her hatred and frustrations for Malfoy and behaved more normally or civilly with him before Adrian?

"Can we talk?" she heard Apolline offering again. Yes, she needed to talk, desperately so, but not to Apolline; not to Audré. She needed to talk to her mother, her real mother. She was the only person who could give her a proper guidance in this situation.

"Jean." Apolline was being very gentle and patient with her, "I know you are a mature woman and well capable of handling your problems. But sometimes, we don't need people to solve our problems. We just need someone to listen to us, you know, to help us purge ourselves of the things we are holding back, things that are hurting us inside. If you feel like doing so and if you trust me, the woman you call your 'mother', know this that I am here and I will not judge you for anything you confide to me." she took Hermione's hand and gave a gentle assuring squeeze.

Before Hermione knew or could stop, tears were flowing down her cheek and she rested her head on the table, shedding them silently.

"There, there, there." Apolline left her seat and embraced Hermione gently. Her touch was warm, her body was soft and safe, like the womb of a mother. Hermione melted to it.

"Mother…" she sniffed, trying to control her turbulent emotions, "Mother…I am a terrible mother…a terrible mother…I am just a failure…"

"Really? Who said that?" Apolline sounded gently surprised as both the women wrapped their arms around each other and the elder rested her chin on the younger's head. "Tell me his name, dearest. I will hang him by his bloody balls for insulting my daughter so." She actually sounded determined to do so should the situation required.

Hermione would have laughed out loud had it been a different occasion. She knew that Apolline, like Fleur, was fiercely protective of her family. But all she could do was crying and snuggling against the woman she called and considered her second mother. It was so comfortable there, with nothing but the gentle beating of her heart to accompany her. She was well aware that she was a grown up woman but somehow a mother's love was something that never grew old or tiring no matter how old one became.

"I am a failure, mother, and no one told me that." She told her, sniffing between her sobs. "After all this time, after everything that I went through, I feel like a failure. Did you hear what Adrian was telling his friends? How he was addressing Malfoy as 'he'? It showed to me clearly how…how bad a mother I am! I could have avoided it if I was careful. But no. why should I? I was busy with my hatred for Malfoy and didn't see it coming. Now Adrian hates himself. He hates himself and I am to be blamed for it."

Indeed, Hermione blamed herself for it. Adrian was her life's work, her only son and the only person she had truly devoted herself to and the little kid was suffering due to his mother's lack of sense or extreme stubbornness, whichever way it was best put.

"Who said Adrian hates himself?" Apolline was rubbing Hermione's back, pacifying her gently. It was almost like Audré, when she hugged and comforted her. "He's not even six, dearest and he is still too innocent to understand what 'hate' is. Thankfully, that emotion is still foreign to him and I pray that it remains that way."

"Maybe." Hermione said, gulping down another fresh bout of tears. She had to admit that Adrian was too young to actually understand or feel what real hatred was as she felt it for Malfoy. But then again she had never wanted him to feel even that slightest bit of dislike towards himself for not having a father he liked or loved. It broke her heart every time she remembered his words about his looks and it pained her when she recalled what Draco's answer had been. Either way, it was always her and now she couldn't stop crying.

"Mother, I don't know why I am crying like a baby these days. I have never cried so much in my entire life." Hermione confessed shamefully. "I am a Gryffindor and they are supposed to be strong. They are supposed to be brave. They are not supposed to cry. But when I see my son getting hurt, even if it is slightest, I can't hold back my tears. It…it just starts flowing."

"It's okay, dearest. It is just fine." Apolline was very empathetic. "Even I cried like you when Alexis fell from his toy broom and broke his wrist once. He was only seven at that time and he watched in wonder as his strong and foreboding mother, the one who keeps yelling at his father all the time, was bawling like a wounded hound when they made a Muggle plaster on his fractured wrist. I was praying all the time that it was my wrist instead of his. You are a mother, Jean, and these kinds of outbursts are normal for us."

"But I am crying more than often." Hermione supplied and tried to pull herself together, "I came here to have some relief." She said, wiping her running nose on her sleeves, "And here I am, crying in your kitchen and spoiling your good mood for a tea party you have been working a whole day to arrange."

"Crying is fine, just fine." Apolline said and kissed on Hermione's head. "I told you, Jean, I am your mother and I will not be judging you for anything, including your tears. Mothers don't judge their children. They help and support them. Life is always full of man-made difficulties and complexities and one can't always be expected to react the way others want him too. I told you, dear, if you feel like it, you can tell me what is wrong. I am here to listen and if possible, relieve you of your burden of thoughts."

Hermione closed her eyes and tried to calm herself. She knew her own mother wouldn't come to her unless she was sleeping or she sensed that she was in dire need to see her. For the time being, she could tell Apolline about it.

"Yesterday, Malfoy took us for a lunch." She started from the main point of the problem. "Are you shocked?" She checked Apolline's features anxiously.

"No." Apolline replied evenly. Indeed, she looked very solemn to hear that Hermione had been out on a lunch with her rapist husband. "Alexis told me about it when he returned from the Château. He had been there to give Adrian his new sword, that Excalibur."

"Hmm." Hermione nodded. This was another strange thing. When Audré told her about Alexis's brief visit she was too absorbed in her thoughts about Draco with his sad face plastered permanently on her mind. Not for once did it occur to her to Floo and at least Owl him to know the purpose. What happened afterwards had her all thoughts centered on Draco, Narcissa, Lillian, Adrian, Mesrine and that strange dream.

"You are not angry that I accepted his lunch offer?" Hermione straightened, rested her left cheek on Apolline's right shoulder and enquired cautiously. She trusted Apolline's judgment and her approval meant a lot to her. But the half-Veela shook her head.

"Why should I be angry, dear?" she asked instead, mildly surprised. "You are an adult woman and you know what you are doing. Why I should I be angry with you for that, Jean? Is that how you know me? Judgmental and demanding? I told you that I am your mother and a mother's love is not demanding or the judging kind. She just loves. Unconditionally. That's it." She shrugged. "Besides, I have strong faith on you, as I have on Fleur or Gabrielle. Now tell me what happened after that."

Hermione was feeling pretty relieved now. The first part went well. She still hasn't been able to forgive herself for accepting Draco's offer but if Apolline, who knew the whole truth and was an avid hater of Draco Malfoy, wasn't disturbed by it, Hermione couldn't begrudge herself anymore.

"It was a nice place." She started again from her previous thread, "An English restaurant in Dordogne. Malfoy said his uncle Morpheus used to take his family there, for weekend lunch. We call it Sunday Roast in England. The restaurant was called Scarlet Pimpernel. Adrian and I really liked the place, though none of us admitted it before him."

"We were having lunch when a couple came with their twin daughters. You know Adrian, mother, he hasn't seen twins yet. I mean, Eva and Edmound are twins but they don't look like each other. So he was surprised when he saw that two people could exist in this world who would look exactly like each other. He asked me why the girls looked so. I told him that they were called twins, that when a Mama has two babies instead of one, they are called twins. He accepted it very normally. I was relieved because ever since he found out that Louis was going to be a big brother, he was dreaming of becoming one too. He doesn't say much about it but I can sense it, mother. And it pains me too because…I can't give him that."

"Okay, I understand, let's proceed." Apolline hinted subtly that she felt Hermione's discomfort to discuss this particular topic.

"So I was relieved and thought it was over," Hermione resumed, "when he said something that threw me off guard."

"Adrian asked me if his twin would have looked like him too, had he had one. I said, yes it would, if he had one and if it was a boy. Then he said that he doesn't want his twin to look like him because he doesn't like it when his friends say that he looks like his father."

"I see." Apolline remarked pensively.

"At that moment, mother, I felt really very bad for Adrian and for some strange reason, for Malfoy too." Hermione confessed with a sigh. Her tears had stopped pouring now and she was already feeling better, though what she was telling Apolline wasn't something very pleasant. "I didn't know how to control the damage or explain things in a different way when Malfoy took charge." Hermione could visualize Draco's face in her mind's eyes. "He told Adrian that he didn't look like him at all and looked like Lillian and Uncle Morpheus. Obviously it was a lie. Adrian does look like…like Malfoy and…and…" Hermione stammered for want of a better way to explain herself, "I knew he would grow up to look like the man who destroyed my life but certainly I wouldn't punish him for things that were neither under his control nor mine. I hate Malfoy but when he lied to Adrian so impassively, so…so seriously, instead of feeling angry, I was sad. This side of Malfoy was new to me. I have always known him to lie for a reason, or to get something or to uplift his so-called honour. But this time. he just lied to keep Adrian's heart."

"So that's the reason my little grandson said that he looked like Lillian and Monsieur Morpheus?" Apolline sounded thoughtful. "Now you think that you are accountable for it? That had you accepted Malfoy like any normal man, you could have spared Adrian the horror?"

Hermione nodded. It was indeed what she thought now. "You noticed how he was addressing Malfoy as 'he' and 'him', mother. Not once did he call him 'father' or 'papa'. What's more strange is that when Adrian learnt that Malfoy was ill, he made a get-well-soon card for him. This morning. And I sent it to him. And now? He's talking about the same man as if it doesn't matter to him at all. As if it was just a whim."

Apolline remained silent, deep in thought.

"Mother, I don't want my son to grow up hating himself or his image on the mirror." Hermione felt the same excruciating pain and horror she felt every time she feared that one day the gruesome truth behind Adrian's conception would come out. "When Adrian was born and I took him in my arms, I wished this one thing for my baby, that he never becomes like his father was. All these years I have tried to raise him that way, to grow up to be a gentleman, a real gentleman, like my dad or father Gustave. Even when I got married to Malfoy, I meant to save my son from his evil clutches, his upbringings. I was relieved that my son wasn't taking the path Malfoy had taken and that he doesn't like him. But that doesn't mean that he should hate himself for his looks. That is almost equivalent to his finding out the truth, the truth that I wanted to save him from."

A shudder of horror went down her spine as she thought it.

How would she take it if her only child ever found out the truth? Needless to say, Adrian would hate himself even more for being the reason behind his mother's sorrows. He would blame his birth as a possible reason behind all her sacrifices. That day, Merlin forbade, would Hermione be able to make him believe that Adrian wasn't her burden or suffering but her only inspiration to live or to want to continue with an unwanted and potentially dangerous pregnancy? That she had chosen him and wasn't under any kind of pressure to bore or bring him to this world? Would Adrian believe his mother? Who could assure her that he wouldn't go and look for revenge from his so-called father? Most importantly, should she do nothing as her only child went down in that sea of hatred?

She remembered Narcissa's words. She had said that she could do anything for her son, Draco, even after knowing the truth about him. She could beg in the streets, she could die to protect him. Couldn't Hermione lay aside her personal hatred for Draco and let her son live his life to the fullest? Wasn't she his mother?

"I think I can sense what is distressing you, Jean, my dear." Apolline said at last, "It's a battle between a mother and a woman."

Hermione didn't reply. She couldn't possibly tell her that it was more complex than that; that she was stuck in a four sided battle, no matter how easy it sounded from Audré's description that she was strong. This battle was with herself, with the mother Hermione and the woman Hermione. The woman, she knew, hated Malfoy. The mother, she knew was sad that her son was suffering. The third side, the 'inner' being she was, was split into another two halves. One side was trying to be fair in such difficult situations and help a man who had damaged her. The other, hated herself for doing so. She was not the kind who could feign or act. She has always done whatever she had felt from her heart. It was horrifying her that she was 'feeling' something for Malfoy. She was dreaming about him, dreaming about helping him and when she woke up, she was having difficulty in accepting it. She no longer knew what she felt or thought. Everything was possible for her now.

"You know, Jean," she heard Apolline start softly, "I am really proud of you."

"Proud?" Hermione repeated, perplexed. Was she joking?

"Yes, proud." Apolline affirmed, "You are Hermione Jean Granger and nothing less could expected from you, my dear." She drew her closer and hugged her tightly, "I understand you, Jean. Completely. You feel sad for Adrian that he dislikes his looks. You feel sad for Malfoy that he had to hear it from his son's lips. And you hate yourself that you feel sad for Malfoy. Right?"

Hermione nodded. From Apolline's account, it sounded pretty simple. But she didn't dare to add what had happened the previous night. First, she needed a logical answer to this abnormal feeling.

"Honestly, Jean, if it were anyone else, I would have thought that he or she has lost his or her mind." Apolline continued, "But you are Jean Granger. You saved the man who raped you. You kept the baby who was born out that violence. You sacrificed everything for that baby who no one would have thought a second time before aborting. So if you feel sad when Adrian tells on Malfoy's face that he dislikes his looks, it is completely normal. Normal only for you."

"Meaning that I am abnormal?" Hermione supplied carefully.

"No, it means that you are unique," Apolline corrected her, "and that is the reason I love you so much." she kissed fondly on her head, "You see, I have seen many women become mothers but I have never seen one like you. So compassionate, so strong, so loving and caring! It's a rarity, a gift in itself. You are not abnormal, Jean. You are just, you. You were made this way and you should never question or begrudge yourself for your unique nature."

Hermione was feeling strangely relaxed now. Apolline did know how to pacify a turbulent mind and explain things simply.

"A few weeks ago, when your sister-in-law, Lillian came to stay here for the weekend, she told us that Malfoy has given you a ring and you have accepted it." Apolline went on. Her voice was like the gentle humming of bees, the tone even and soft. "Alexis, I noticed, didn't like it. He thought you were sacrificing your happiness to make him move on with his life. He must have sensed something, I don't know what. He vowed to me that he'd protect you from Malfoy this time, that you wouldn't be sacrificing more. He is really ashamed that he didn't act earlier and you two ended up with Malfoy. I told him to accept your decision. Not that I was sad that it sounded like a defeat on your part, Jean, to accept a ring from your rapist. For me, it was your decision, dear, your decision. You are the one who suffered most and neither I nor anyone, who calls himself your family, has the right to judge you for any act of kindness that you show towards Malfoy. No. Never."

"Remember, Jean, that not every battle can be won with hatred, some are won with heart too. I learnt it from my elder brother, Adrian. He told me that a good battle is won by heart and not by brains. Here heart doesn't mean love; it means what you feel was right to do at a particular point of time."

"You, being Jean Granger, an assaulted woman who kept the baby, felt sad. In this battle between a mother and a woman no one actually won. If anyone won, it was your uniqueness, your kindness, the personality that makes you stand apart in a crowd. True that reality has hardened you but you still have not forgotten to be kind and just. There is nothing to be ashamed of, Jean. There is nothing to pine. This is perfectly fine with you."

"And Adrian?" Hermione asked hopefully. So she was she and she would be she no matter what. It was pretty relieving.

"He is your son, Jean and it is perfectly normal for him to behave just like his mother does in such situations." Apolline replied confidently, "He dislikes Malfoy. That man kidnapped him and I am afraid that no matter what you would have done, dear, things like that aren't very easy to let go. It's like that old wise saying: First impression is the best impression. I think it went very well in this case. Malfoy's first impression on his son's mind is of a violent man which he can never forget. But Adrian is your son and is bound to feel sad if even his enemy is hurt or ill. Remember how he felt sad for Pierre when he was taken away from his mother? That's exactly what you felt for Malfoy. The humane quality of sadness. Adrian has inherited it from you. Bless him, my child. I am so proud of him, like I am so proud of you, Jean. It proves once again that you are million times better Malfoy and he, even if he dies, can never be as good and unique as you."

Hermione felt shy now. She had never been complimented like this, so openly, by Apolline.

"Mother, please stop." She bade her sheepishly, "I am just a normal person."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Apolline released Hermione and rolled her eyes, "Better now?"

Hermione nodded. "Loads."

Truly, it felt thousand times better than that drink Lillian had given her or after she had yelled at Narcissa or was confirmed by Audré that she was not losing her mind or worse, was Draco's Horcrux. Such was Apolline's charm.

"Now, I think we should get up, wash our faces or the men folk," she indicated at Adrian and his friends, "will think that women knew nothing but crying over silly matters."

Hermione smiled at Apolline. It was the truest smile she always gave her from her heart.

They washed their faces and cleaned any evidences of recent crying. Hermione arranged her hair and helped Apolline set the tea for the tea time was almost drawing closer.

The first surprise was appearance of Eva and Edmound, her two best friends in France. She realized how badly she had missed them. Their presence made her feel loved and special, like it always did. Next came Gustave, carrying a large package of fire crackers. Adrian and his friends were jumping up and down in joy when they learned that a small fireworks display would be taking place after the tea party was over. The last man to arrive was Alexis himself, looking dead tired but pleasantly surprised by his mother's witty arrangements.

"There was no need to do all these, mother." He said, hugging Apolline and looking around the table laden with treats, "I know you love me."

With all the people she loved around her, the atmosphere changed so drastically for Hermione that she soon forgot her despair. They sat around the table, helped themselves with Apolline's superb baking and they all chatted like a big happy family.

"No discussing office at home." Apolline warned her son strictly, pouring him some tea, "We are not here to listen to your tireless tirade of Ministry meetings."

"As you wish, dear maman." Alexis bowed comically. Everyone laughed.

Hermione sipped her tea and smiled. How she had dreamt of a family just like this! Where there would be love, respect, values and good culture; where the members would take care of each other; where money wouldn't be considered the only thing; where small moments like these would be considered precious and priceless.

They had a happy tea and an even better fireworks display afterwards. Adrian's friends were bursting with joy when they returned home. Alexis gave Adrian his new Excalibur. He brandished it in the air and after having a sword fight with Edmound, jumped into his grandpa's lap for some of his favourite origami. As Apolline and Edmound settled down to talk about Gabrielle, Hermione approached Alexis for the first time since the Ball. He was sitting quietly in a corner, watching everyone talk and enjoy themselves.

"Jean," he smiled at her. Somehow, Hermione felt she wasn't affected as she used to be when he smiled at her previously. Was it another new addition to her strangeness? She waited as he shifted sideways and gave her some space to sit beside him with a respectable gap in between.

"I am really sorry that I didn't Floo you last night." she told him as soon as they were both comfortable, "I got caught up in…"

Alexis held out his hand to silence her. "It's alright, Jean. I understand. You have a family to look after and…" he shook his head when Hermione tried to protest, "I am not vexing you. Adrian and Malfoy, they are your family now and I am really glad that we are slowly getting over. You were right, Jean. We do need to move on."

Hermione, for reasons unknown to herself, was somewhat relieved at Alexis's words. She wasn't willing to tell him or anyone, as a matter of fact, what had happened the previous night. The matter has been taken care of. She has decided to help Malfoy. Apolline has explained to her that it was nothing but an act of kindness which was normal for her and Hermione was eager to keep it that way. There was no point in spoiling a good party that everyone seemed to be enjoying.

"What happened at the meeting?" she asked him something that she really wanted to know. "Any leads on Mesrine?"

"Not that I know of." Alexis replied with a sigh. "The Minister is really worried about the wellbeing of the Chombruns now; especially you, Jean, since you are the one communicating with Pasteur and our only link to him. He feels that he is accountable for it and blames himself that he brought this upon you."

Hermione was pleasantly surprised. It was true then. The Minister, as Audré had claimed, did care for her.

"We have also decided to keep news of Decazes out of press." Alexis said, "It would be a moral victory for the Knights if our citizens started fearing them for ambushing Decazes."

"But don't you think that we should warn them against the Knights?" Hermione tried to show reason, "I know a good few Ministers who lost their lives and chairs in the process of hiding the truth about Voldemort."

"That's exactly why we are not letting it out, Jean." Alexis countered, "Rochés is not Voldemort. His thugs will get over importance if we counted them in the same league as those Death Eaters. We can't afford that now."

Hermione decided not to pursue the topic. From her experiences in Britain she knew that government bodies didn't always follow common people's view. "Congratulations on your promotion. It was about time." She said instead, deciding not to talk about what she had heard about Alexis trying to resign to save her name. She knew he never did these things to gain something and would therefore be embarrassed if Hermione mentioned or highlighted the point. She could let it be one of those special gifts he had given her: their first kiss, the wrist watch, his love and loyalty, to be cherished for the rest of her life.

"Merci." Alexis smiled modestly, "Oh, I forgot. I have a good news for you."

"Really?" Hermione asked. Honestly, at this point, nothing could be a better news to her than the answers to those eight questions she had noted down on her diary. "What's it? Some more Ministry news?"

Alexis laughed and shook his head, sensing her subtle taunt. "The Minister has chosen the best person he could find to be the new ambassador on his behalf for the Rochés case: Inéz de la Fontaine."

Not knowing what was so good about it, Hermione gave Alexis a polite but skeptic smile, "Sorry?"

Alexis tried to clear her confusion, "Inéz will be doing what I used to do as Minister's ambassador, keeping in touch with Madame Malfoy on Rochés case. She…" he emphasized the word, "…is the only person everyone voted for, including myself."

"What's so special about that?" Hermione asked evenly. Her suspicion that the gender rather than the qualification might be the factor here was proving to be correct. Inéz being a woman couldn't be claimed to have affair with her, the sole reason for which Alexis had resigned.

Alexis took a deep breath, "I know what you are thinking, Jean," He said solemnly, evidently thinking along the same line as her. "But that is not the case. Inéz is a very competent witch, the only one, in fact, who ever reached this post. She is the Head of the Elite Guards, the Minister's personal Security Team. No woman has ever reached this position. All the previous Heads were male."

"I am sorry, Alexis, but I fail to comprehend why is that a big issue." Hermione said, feeling annoyed, "Women are proving themselves increasingly these days. They don't need your or anyone else's pity or special priority."

Alexis shook his head, appearing as calm as always. "I told you, Jean, it is not a gender issue. Inéz was chosen because she is a very competent witch. We could have had more like her but it's women who don't easily come forward for these posts." He said matter-of-factly.

"I object." Hermione protested vehemently, "It's the male dominated society that holds us back, thinking that we are only born to cook and reproduce for them. Don't tell me now that they were always kind patrons of women's independence."

"Jean, this is not about male domination." Alexis said evenly, very patient on the face of Hermione's outburst. "It's about choices women make. No, let me finish…" he held a hand to stop Hermione, "I am going to tell you some facts now. I know them because I have been working in the Ministry for almost a decade now. As far as I know about the French and other foreign Ministries of Magic, there are hardly any high-ranked female Aurors in their Magical Law Enforcement Departments. Why? Because, it is widely accepted that an Auror's life is the most hectic life of all. Even I have weekend holidays but they don't. They have to be in their offices almost twenty four seven. Therefore, most women, preferably married woman or new mothers, avoid it."

"But I knew quite a few good Aurors who were women." Hermione interrupted. Her mind was spinning around two names: Nymphadora Tonks and Hestia Jones. Surely there were more.

Alexis was gentle when he replied, "I am coming to that point, Jean." he said calmly, "I know how you hate it when people regard you as a woman than a human, as if they are a different species. As I was saying, there are hardly any high – ranked female Aurors in the Ministry. The job is physically demanding. Most women try to plan their families at a point of their lives and maternity leave is something not very encouraged among the Aurors. There is rule of course, but most people try to bypass it and recruit more males to have more man power. Women also face numerous problems at home when their husbands and kids complain about their continued absence from their day to day lives. A Husband needs his wife, kids need their mother. Most witches, therefore, retire from their posts of Auror once they have kids. They either go to other less demanding jobs or simply become home-makers. Inéz, is the only exception here; she is the Head of the Elite Guard. Were the female Aurors you know high ranking ones?"

Hermione got the point. The female Aurors she knew were not as high ranked as Mad-Eye Moody or Kingsley Shacklebolt was. But she decided not to reply. "Your words simply proves my points, Alexis; be it for emotional or familial reasons, it us who make most of the sacrifices."

"I never said you don't." Alexis admitted, "But I don't think it has anything to do with male domination. It simply shows how important a role you play in our lives. Honestly, if I were a woman, I don't think it would have been possible for me to be the Senior Undersecretary at twenty nine. At twenty nine, I would have been a mother of three, at least two kids, and trying to be contended with my husband and my kids."

Hermione laughed and the tension between them broke. She glanced at Apolline. She could never thank her enough for what she had done for her and Adrian. If she was the Chief Curse Breaker of Gringotts now, it was largely attributed to Apolline's relentless support on rearing Adrian. With her around, Hermione never had to worry that her child would be manhandled. She was immensely lucky to have the Delacours. They had never discriminated between Victoire Weasley and Adrian Granger. "How come Inéz made it then?" She asked Alexis after a while.

Alexis looked deeply sad. "Inéz is childless and a widow. She was my batch mate in Beauxbatons. She was married off when she was only seventeen, to a man almost thrice her age. He died two years later, when she was nineteen. She never remarried. People say she is successful because she has no family bindings and I assure you, Jean, it's mostly the women who make that remark."

Hermione nodded. Back biting and gossip-mongering was nothing new to her. She knew very well what a woman could do to another woman when she was jealous of her success. For some of them, marriage and having kid was nothing but a way to prove that they were female enough to catch men's interests and they would insistently talk about their private lives as if those who didn't have it were utter failures. "If she is so strong willed, why didn't she object to marry that old crook? I mean, she had the right to defend her choice. No one can force…" she stopped remembering how she was forced to marry Draco. Sometimes, even the most willful of peoples couldn't stop unwanted things to happen to them.

"That's another long story for another evening." Alexis realized Hermione's discomfort and offered her some croissants, "Let's leave Inéz. Tell me about your lunch. How did it go?"

Hermione considered the question for a second before replying.

"It was better than I expected it to be." She said and checked Alexis's expression for any sign of disappointment. There were none. "I expected it to be horrible." She added promptly.

"That's nice." Alexis helped himself with a croissant. He savoured the buttery taste for a moment. "It seems like Malfoy is slowly coming into his senses." He commented after a while.

"How can you say that?" Hermione hadn't meant it but the question sounded quite sharp and demanding. Alexis gave her a slightly startled look before answering.

"Relax, Jean, I am not match-making between you two."

"There is no space left to match-make, Alexis, Malfoy and I are already married." Hermione responded irritably. The topic of that marriage was always very distressful to her.

"No, Jean, it's not that." Alexis said, eyeing Hermione carefully now. "What I meant by 'coming into senses' was that Malfoy is finally behaving like a family man should. He is working, earning. He is studying and he is taking his family for a weekend lunch to spend some quality time with them. True that it took him some time to figure out but at last he is doing it."

"You seem pretty impressed." Hermione remarked coldly. Somehow she was finding Alexis's good report on Draco highly unjust and annoying. "Want to get married to him? Should I propose him on your behalf?"

Alexis snorted a laugh and shook his head. "No. But I hope you will not begrudge me if I want him to treat you well."

Hermione shrugged. "You said he works. How is his reputation in the Ministry? Does he strut the place as if he owns it and swaggers like a hippo in Ministry robes?"

Alexis shook his head again, looking amused now. "Jean. I know you hate him and believe me, I share the same feelings for him. He is the man who tormented the woman I loved for six years. But I am not blinded by my hatred and I…" he held out a hand to calm Hermione who was planning for a scathing response, "…don't blame you if you are blinded by it. Okay?"

Hermione didn't respond the way she had wanted.

"Jean," Alexis started in his most persuasive tone, "There is really no reason for you to think that the Delacours will support your union with Draco Malfoy just because he and you are married now. We stand by you and your son. Adrian is my dearest nephew, just as Fleur's daughter Victoire is my dearest niece and we'll do everything in our power to protect your rights." He said very calmly, "To tell you the truth, I have been keeping an eye on Malfoy ever since he got married to you; not out of spite or jealousy, but out of my sense of duty as your family. I was expecting him to cross a line or break a rule and do justice to his reputation but astonishingly, he didn't. Not even once." Alexis's surprise wasn't limited to his voice; it was evident in his features too. "He is completely a law abiding Wizarding citizen now. He goes to office regularly, attends to his classes, practices Quidditch and returns home at night. He doesn't drink; he doesn't talk to ladies; no flirting as it is expected of most characterless people like him; no gossiping. No fishy movement. Nothing. In fact, I have learnt through my connections in the MLE department that he didn't once complaint about his monthly salary. It's only ten thousand a month and I am sure it is nothing before a Malfoy who grew up in a Manor. He surprised me, Jean. Truly. I never expected him to change so much just from a marriage."

Hermione listened to Alexis thoughtfully, not knowing whether she should be happy or sad about it. She remembered Audré's words about Draco trying to be a better man for Hermione's sake. She remembered Draco himself telling her and Adrian that he was trying to be a good father. She had seen him slash his own throat last night. She had seen him trying to come out of a well in a dream, fighting against a demon that was his doppelganger. Did it mean that Malfoy indeed was trying to be a good man? But considering the fact that he was a Malfoy, a Slytherin and most importantly a rapist and a Death Eater at a very young age, she couldn't decide on which side of him was the real one.

"Maybe he is planning something," Hermione didn't know why she said it. Was it based on Draco's statement that he destroyed Rochés for Adrian? "And this is just the foreplay. You know, Alexis that I have every reason to distrust him."

"You do." Alexis nodded solemnly, "He kidnapped your son. Assault or not, that one act is enough to mark him as a criminal for the rest of his life. But don't let your judgment be clouded by your presumptions, Jean. It will simply hinder your normal rational thinking process."

He left Hermione to brood over his last words when Apolline called him to talk about Gabrielle and Edmound. She was planning to call it a night and return to the Château when Eva flopped on the seat beside her.

"I was watching how you two shared a deep discussion." She told her, handing a glass of water, "Reckon it is about Malfoy. Right?"

Hermione accepted the glass with a sour look. "Malfoy, Malfoy, Malfoy." She looked around in general, "As if I have anyone else in my life to talk about but him."

Eva's features grew dark. "You know, Jean, I didn't mean that." she defended herself.

"What was it exactly that you meant then?" Hermione demanded. She was tired of that one cursed constant topic: Draco Malfoy, Draco Malfoy and Draco Malfoy. First Lillian, then Narcissa, then Adrian, then Apolline, Alexis and lastly Eva. They should give it a rest.

"You are angry." Eva replied calmly, "Let's leave it. Tell me about your research. Any progress?"

Hermione decided not to badger her friend anymore for a slip of tongue remark. They have met after quite some time now and there was no point in arguing over Draco. She wasn't going to let him or his topic haunt every moment of her life. Feeling rather pleased with herself she told her all about the Elf Sacrifice theory. When she finished, Eva's eyes were round in wonderment.

"Nostradamus, Jean! You'll be famous if that theory is proven true." She said, looking impressed, "I am sure you are right. It's got to be. Blood is the biggest carrier of curses. It's the most sacred of all liquids. Blood. I know. I am working on it too."

"Really?" Hermione was surprised that Eva hasn't disclosed anything about her own project to her. "What are you working on?"

"Werewolves." Eva replied in a hushed voice, "Top secret, Jean. I can't tell you anything about it until it's over. I'm on Unbreakable Vow. But I am hopeful that, like you, we'll soon find an answer too. We have an excellent subject this time. He is of good health and his blood is free from diseases."

"Subject?" Hermione repeated incredulously, "You mean it's a human?" It sounded almost like the Elf Sacrifice theory.

"He appears so, at least externally." Eva replied carelessly, "When I first saw him, I was shocked, sad even. But then I thought about you, Jean, and my sadness was gone. The world is round and what you do will come back to you, no matter how hard you try to avoid the consequences."

"Meaning?" Hermione frowned, unable to relate Eva's words with her situation, "How did my topic come here?"

"Because you are my best friend and I love you." Eva smiled sweetly and winked mysteriously. Hermione scowled. Something was not quite right in Eva's reply.

"Everyone! Enough talking!" she heard Apolline announce, "Come now. The dinner is served."

As the Delacour matriarch shepherded them all to join the dinner, Adrian showed her excitedly how he has learnt to make an origami bird and a horse from his grandpa Gustave and Edmound informed her how he and Gabrielle were planning to get married, Eva's enigmatic words slipped Hermione's over crowded mind. It wouldn't be until another two monthes that she would finally think about them again.

•••••

Draco woke up with an intense sense of restlessness and found himself hugging the card and letter Adrian and Hermione had sent him.

He checked the time. It was a little over five o' clock. The last of the Monday sun was on the western horizon, bathing it with a glowing red. It reminded Draco of the previous afternoon he had spent under that Beech tree, crying helplessly and trying to mend the shattered pieces of his heart. He smiled as he realized his son had sent him, Draco Malfoy, a card just a day after the announcement that he didn't like to look like him. His illness has earned him something, at least.

He sat up and kissed the letter and the card softly. Hermione's writing was almost like Adrian's or better say, Adrian's writing was almost like Hermione. Both were narrow and slanting, Adrian's one was a little loopy for he was still a kid and had ample time to improve in coming years. He read them again and decided to send them a reply.

Not having any special drawing material, he folded a piece of parchment and wondered what to draw on it. After ten minutes of fiddling with his charcoal, he decided for something that would depict Hermione and Adrian, both in a symbolic way.

It took him almost three hours to complete everything the way he wanted. He was a perfectionist when it came to drawing. Previously he used to draw rude notes to Harry Potter to irritate him. They need not to be something special. But this was different. He was sending this card to thank his son for his kind thoughtfulness. This one needed to be perfect.

Next he wrote a note to each of them. In Hermione's one, he tried to be polite and honest. He pondered over the signature he put there; he wanted it to be something different, something that was only theirs, something that would make her laugh even for once. He ended up choosing a pretty long signature.

He owled it to them and turned on his radio to listen what their reactions would be.

Minutes passed away but nothing came. There was complete silence except for occasional hooting of Gwyn and a little owl named Hedwig. After twenty minutes, Draco grew impatient and started pacing around his suite.

When his aunt came at around half past eight o' clock at night, he asked her, very carefully as to not raise any suspicions, where Hermione and Adrian were.

"They are at the Delacours." She replied, looking slightly lost. She poured him the medicine and mixed it with some water. "Tell me, Draco, what was your feeling when you had that dream?" she asked him abruptly.

Draco wasn't interested to talk about that horrific dream as he was before. The one he had with Hermione's letter and Adrian's card on his chest was a good one. They were all watching the fishes by a large pond. Hermione was telling him about her family in England. Adrian was trying to restrain his pet owl from diving into water to hunt some fishes. It was a nice and fulfilling one and Draco wanted to keep that feeling inside his heart for the rest of his life.

"Aunt, can we please not talk about that dream?" he pledged to her. "I just want to forget about it."

Audré didn't respond and after checking that Draco took his medicine, proceeded to leave.

"Aunt?" Draco called her when she was almost at the door. Audré stopped and looked over shoulder. "How is mother?" he asked her.

It would be an understatement if he said that he was mortified to think what his mother must have gone through when he tried to kill himself. He knew how much Narcissa loved him, no matter how cold and hard her exterior shell was. He knew how she would sacrifice her everything to have him safe and sound. He was a parent too and he understood her feelings very well.

"She's sleeping." Audré replied curtly.

"Is she…er…" Draco fumbled for an appropriate word, "…angry with me?" was all that he could produce.

"I think you should talk to Narcissa and ask that yourself, Draco." Audré turned to him and said. She still looked very pensive, as if something was troubling her deep inside.

"Aunt," Draco went to her and shepherded her to the nearest seat. Immersed in his own thoughts, he hadn't noticed how ill Audré looked. There were dark patches under her eyes and she looked very strained. "I am sorry, okay, I am really sorry to put you through this." he apologized sincerely. "But I just…didn't know what else to do to stop him from hurting Hermione."

"Draco." Audré sighed. "If you knew what you did!" she shook her head, "The whole family is in such a delicate situation. I need all of you alive and well and there you are, beating up your wife and trying to commit suicide?"

"I didn't mean to do that, aunt, you know that very well." Draco replied, internally ashamed that he behaved like a coward. "I would never touch Hermione the wrong way, let alone beat her. It was the monster."

"Monster or no monster, Draco, you have already touched her the wrong way, Draco." Audré said gravely, "Now it has become very difficult to explain it to her or anyone, what really happened to you. Everyone thought you have gone mad when I first told them about it. Even your mother thought so. Lillian thought you have some sort of Multiple Personality Disorder, Julian thought you were always this violent. Only Jean understood me when I told them that everyone has a dark and a light side and your dark portion is bigger because you were taught to nurture it rather than suppress."

"But it was you who told me to kill that dark side of me." Draco reminded her, "Remember, you told me to die and be reborn as a better man the night mother threw me out of her chambers? I have been trying to do that ever since then."

"But I didn't tell you finish yourself off, Draco." Audré was a skilled lawyer and knew very well how to reply prudently, "With Jean's wand nonetheless. Just think what could have happened if you had succeeded? Everyone would have accused Jean of your murder."

Draco's mouth went dry. Somehow, he hadn't considered that possibility when he lunged for Hermione's wand and slit his throat with it. All he knew was his own wand wouldn't hurt him so he needed another wand, any other wand, to threat the monster.

"Where is her wand now?" he asked her.

"Lillian has it for the time being." Audré replied, "Your blood was smeared all over it and Jean couldn't possibly touch it, let alone yield it. So, Lillian took it for a proper cleaning."

"I am sorry, aunt, I am so sorry." Draco could now imagine Hermione's face as she looked down at her blood smeared wand. "When will they return? I want to apologize to her personally." Suddenly, Draco felt that his letter was poorly written and he needed to explain himself more fully to her.

"I don't know." Audré shrugged. "I sent them there for a change of air. Even for me, the atmosphere in the Château is so suffocating now."

"Aunt, I am…" Draco was about to apologize again when Audré stopped him.

"Listen Draco," she sounded damn serious this time, "I am warning you very clearly and for the very last time." she held an index finger before his nose, "I will not tolerate any of your impulsive stunts to prove yourself before Jean's eyes anymore. No. One more time, and I am going to file for your divorce with Jean. I am not your mother who will support all your miscreant deeds. I am not your father who will tell you, 'bravo my son, I am proud of you.' and pat on your back. I am your aunt Audré and I am a complete no-nonsense woman. If you didn't realize it until now, learn it today. You are a grown up man. You are in charge of your life and your family. You are in full control of that monster you have in you and you knew it very well when you did what you did to Jean that day. Don't give me excuses that it was the monster and not you."

Draco hung his head in shame. He knew Audré was Audré and she couldn't be deterred from her path if she took up one.

"If you really want to defeat your inner darkness, if you really want to redeem yourself before Adrian and Jean, I suggest that you discipline your mind and control your emotions." Audré continued, "You told me you know Occlumency. Practice it every night before you go to sleep. Clear your mind of all emotions. Cool yourself down. Take a bath if needed and go to sleep. I am sure you'll not have those dreams anymore. Am I clear?" she demanded.

"Yes, aunt." Draco, his head still hung, muttered.

"I didn't hear you." Audré said sharply, "Am I clear, nephew?"

"Yes, aunt." Draco replied loudly this time. He looked up at her. He could easily be angry with her for being so demanding but he knew deep inside, that Audré was a good person. She was the only one who was acting like a bridge between all the members of her extended family.

"I suggest that you take your supper and start practicing Occlumency from tonight." She said, standing up finally to leave. "I'll have your food sent to you. Also, if you need anything, you can call my personal elf, Zilek. He knows what to do."

"Aunt?" Draco stopped her for the second time, remembering the trial, "How did the hearing go?"

Audré sighed deeply. "It didn't happen."

"What? Why?" Draco spluttered, astonished.

"Someone attacked the Chief Warlock Elli Decazes last night." Audré replied grimly, "He is at the St. Louis now and the Wizengamot called off today's hearing. Also, Jacques Mesrine has disappeared from his cottage. The Ministry is in some sort of mayhem and Julian hasn't returned since. We, especially Jean, have been forbidden by the Minister himself to leave the Château. But after what happened last night, she was so stressed that I had to send her at Apolline's."

She left him in deep thoughts about recent change of events. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Only three days have passed and it was feeling like it was already thirty days. Some wise man said once that bad times drag slowly and good ones flashed past.

In the end, he decided to send an owl to Dominique, asking for the homework and class lectures. He really wasn't going to stay back once he turned up in the classes by Thursday. He knew Metzner was behind his blood now and there was no way he would give him the satisfaction of cancelling his stipend.

Draco sent the letter, had his silent supper and was considering whether he should pay a visit to his mother when a knock issued on the door. Already feeling stuck and wondering if it was Hermione, he answered the door personally.

A hard slap landed on his left cheek, almost knocking his senses off. Next he saw Julian walking past him as if he was going to a Ball.

"What the fuck was that?" Draco rubbed his furiously red cheek and asked him. His cousin was three inches taller than he and more powerfully built. But that didn't mean that he was going to take his beatings face down. He was Draco Malfoy.

"That's a gift from Jean's elder brother." Julian replied carelessly, settling down on a sofa as if it was his suite and not Draco's. "In fact, I think I was being considerate keeping your ill health in mind. You should be stringed up by your bloody balls until all your blood rushes in to your bloody head."

"You…" Draco was breathing heavily now. This was so unfair. He has admitted before Audré that his actions were wrong. Why the hell should they beat him for it now?

"You, Draco Lucius Malfoy," Julian cut in. His voice was rising with every word that escaped through his clenched teeth, "listen to me very carefully." he said icily, "If you think that you can get away by beating a woman to prove your manhood, you are very mistaken. Maybe that was the trend in Malfoy Manor; maybe your father used to beat the hell out of your mother but…"

"MY FATHER NEVER BEAT MY MOTHER!" Draco bellowed, unable to take the unfairness of that accusation. His whole body was writhing in rage now and he forget that he was ill and under medication.

"DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE WITH ME, DRACO, I AM NOT YOU BLOODY WIFE OR SOMEONE YOU FUCKED SENSELESS!" Julian flared up at once, equally enraged. "Lillian told me everything. How you and Jean were not lovers, how you hated her for her blood status. How you lied to her about yourself. How you told her that you hit Jean because you thought she insulted your pureblood mother. I reckon all are lies. Everything. You are made of lies. You are made of deceit. I can see it clearly now, why Jean hates you so much. She is absolutely right in doing so. No woman in her right minds can ever fall in love in you." he twisted his lips in disgust.

Hit by the cruel truth behind that statement, Draco stared at his cousin in disbelief.

"And look at the fool I was!" Julian, it seemed was out of control angry, "I arranged that bloody broom ride so that you have you can have your dream of riding with Adrian fulfilled. I remember how you used touch that broom Adrian rode. The green German one. And I took you to a restaurant my father used to take us; just because I wanted you want to behave like a family man. I thought it was your turn to take them there, with your money and without involving me secretly. I took it too seriously when you said you wanted to be a father and a husband. I forgot that you are Draco Malfoy and for you everything is a game, everything is a joke."

Draco was overwhelmed. He walked up to his cousin, faced him boldly and showed him the bandage over the deep cut he had on the right side of his neck with one shaking finger. "You think this is joke?" he asked him accusingly. "You think I did it because it was a game?"

"Don't try to blackmail me emotionally, dear cousin." Julian spat, "You did that to my sister, Lillian. Don't try to fool me with your pitiful words or actions. And above all, don't try to persuade me by appeals to my intelligence. Tell me one thing, just one thing," the gaze of his grey eyes intensified, "How did you bed Jean if you two were not lovers and you hated her?"

"Who said I hated her?" Draco was on the verge of breaking down now.

"Jean." Julian replied with an air of supremacy, "Draco, did you force yourself on her?"

"Merlin!" Draco exclaimed, clutching over his heart and backing away. He was extremely scared now, knowing it was the truth; that he had indeed forced himself on Hermione.

"Don't swear. Give me a straight answer." Julian took a step close to him. With flashing grey eyes and powerfully built body, he looked almost like his Patronus, a prowling leopard.

"What answer?" Draco tried to fight back valiantly, "Do you want to hear an account of our…" he paused and decided not to use the word 'sex', "…intimacy?"

"Don't beat around the bushes, Draco, I am an Auror and I know very well how to get confessions." Julian said firmly, "Tell me? Did you force her into it?" he barked.

Draco was breathing heavily now, not knowing how to escape. He couldn't possibly tell his cousins the truth. They'd hate him for it and he was tired of being hated all the time.

"Draco, did you…" Julian started again.

"Boys!" It was Audré's voice who whipped in the air and silenced everything. She was standing on the threshold of Draco's suite with Narcissa and Lillian peering over her shoulder. "Are you two planning to kill me and be done with us?" she asked them icily.

Draco sighed in immense relief. He was saved, he was saved. Audré wouldn't let the truth to come out. She would save his face.

"Maman, I am extremely sorry, but I was talking to Draco." Julian replied as gently as he could in such enraged state.

"You were not talking, Julian my dear son," Audré walked to her son and looked up at his face. She was shorter than he, Julian being almost six feet and Audré being five feet and eight inches; but before her, he recoiled, "You were brawling. Like two noisy wild cats."

Julian didn't reply and hung his head.

"I thought I had men in my home." she said coldly, glaring at both Draco and Julian. "I thought I had responsible men in my home. I thought they knew when and with whom to fight. I thought they knew how to take care of their families which included two mothers, a wife, a sister and a five and half year boy. Clearly, I was mistaken." She squinted at Draco, "One of them slits his own throat at the dead of night and the other, shouts at an ill man. How wonderful! How charming! Even little Adrian is wiser than both of you put together."

Her jibe echoed across Draco's suite. No one dared to reply.

Audré turned to her son now, looking very angry but calm. "Julian, do you remember what I told you and Lillian about Jean and Draco after they got married?"

Julian nodded, his head still hung.

"Can you remind me what it was?" Audré folded her hands over her bosom. To Draco, she looked like a mother tigress.

"You told us, Lillian and I, not to interfere in their private matters." Julian replied in a low voice.

"Are you following my advice?" Audré demanded.

"Maman, we didn't ask them anything about their pasts." Julian replied, looking up at his mother finally, "Believe me. I know it's obscene and rude to ask such things. Lillian knows too. It's Draco. He lied to Lillian about his relationship with Jean and after last night's incident, I suddenly felt that I, as his elder brother, should demand some truths."

"The truth is none of your business, Julian." Audré shook her head, "The biggest truth we are presented with is that Draco and Jean have a son, are man and wife and they love their child to the moon and back. Before it, the other truths are insignificant and I assure you, my children, that Narcissa and I are well aware of them." She turned to her sister-in-law, who was very pale and ill looking. Watching his mother, Draco felt like slapping himself for bringing this on her, "Don't we, Narcissa? Don't we know the truth behind it all?"

"We do." Narcissa nodded solemnly, agreeing. She was resolutely avoiding looking at Draco.

"There. Do you, my son, think that we would let Jean be tortured or let her suffer injustice or be oppressed?" Audré asked Julian, "Do you think she entered this relationship, this matrimony without knowing anything about the possible implications? Do you think she knows not whom she is dealing with?" Julian shook his head silently, "Then what made you think you need to interfere between them? It's their problem. They will solve it. Narcissa, Apolline, Monsieur Gustave and I, the elders from both families, are here, we are looking over it. Do you think you are needed here?"

No one answered. Even Draco was looking down now, feeling highly ashamed.

"Julian and Lillian." Audré called her children who were very alert now, "You have your own life, and you have your own problems to deal with. I suggest that you deal with it, first. I can understand that we are one big family and we get concerned for others sometimes, but fighting amongst ourselves will not solve any problems. We need to keep our head cool and think before we act." She announced, "Also, my children, I'll not tolerate it if you two meddle in businesses that aren't yours. If you don't like Draco, don't mix with him. Leave him alone and leave him to rot. But don't barge into his privacy and hit him when he is ill. Got that?"

"I don't hate Draco." it was Lillian who responded from among Audré's children, "I was just hurt that he lied to me." she said, "I never asked him anything about their relationship. I knew something bad had happened between them. But when we were in Italy, he gave me an impression that they were in love. And this morning, when I was talking to Jean about last night's incident, she told me that it was not the case. It hurt me, maman. You know I don't like to be lied to."

Before Audré could reply, Draco walked to his cousin and stood before her, his gaze downward and his heart sincere. "I am sorry, Lillian." he said, "I am very sorry that I lied to you." he looked up the features that was almost like his except for the eyes. He loved her; he loved Lillian. She was his only sister and he would never do anything to hurt her or her trust on him.

"But I defend my choice of lying to you. I lied because I had no choice, because I am tired of being tagged, frowned, labeled, hated and kept away." He said looking straight in her eyes, "I am tired. Okay?" he said wearily, "I know I am not the best of men. I know I have flaws. Many of them. I am not good natured; I am not sweet tongued; I am not patient. I am proud, arrogant, foul-mouthed, bigot and lazy, to name a few." He looked at Julian, "I know I didn't have the best of fathers. I know what my father was. He was a Death Eater and a murderer. My father was not a great man as yours was. He had flaws like I have. But he never beat my mother…"

"Draco, I am sorry I said that." Julian interjected, looking highly embarrassed.

"No, let me finish." Draco interrupted. He felt he wanted to let it all out and make things clear once and for all, "But he never beat my mother and he never taught me to do so with my wife either. I was taught to treat my lady with respect and kindness. My father treated my mother with respect and kindness. You look at her black attire now; she is not Mourning just because it is her duty." He pointed at Narcissa, "She is Mourning because she loves that man and grieves his death." he turned away from all of them and took a deep breath.

"I may not be the best of men but I want to be the best of men. I am aware of my father's mistakes. He never tried to redeem himself, which my uncle did. I don't want to be like my father, though I love him and until recently he was my hero. But now? I want to change; I want to be a better man. And while doing so, I don't want to be pushed away for the past I have. Maybe it's not glorious, maybe I am not as good as you all are. But I feel, I have this intense desire to change myself for a better future. A future with Hermione, Adrian and my mother, Narcissa Malfoy."

He turned to face them again and felt everyone's gaze on him.

"Yes, Hermione is right. We were not lovers before Adrian was born. Even now, now that we are a married couple, we are not lovers. I hated her for her blood; she was a Muggleborn and I was taught to detest them. Who taught me and why, that's irrelevant here. The point is that I acted on my beliefs. I hated her."

Draco took another deep breath.

"During the war, one day in the end of March, I even remember the date, it was 29th March 1998, we..." he paused, "…we had it." He finished the sentence. He licked his dry lips before proceeding, "It was my first time. It was Hermione's first time. It was unplanned." He noticed how Narcissa was listening, tight-lipped, "It was not out of love. It was kind of rough and…"

"Nostradamus, Draco! Stop!" Lillian hid her face and cried.

"No…I want to talk…I want to quench everyone's thirst…" Draco was breathing heavily, "As I was saying…it went… rough…I had no previous experience…just…just knew a few staffs that I read in an adult magazine in Hogwarts…Pansy, my girlfriend, showed it to me…I was…I don't know what happened to me…and I implemented them…my little knowledge on Hermione…maybe I wanted to have the pleasure of making her submit to me…Pansy once told me girls liked…you know…being bossed when having it…they liked men to be on the lead…but…" he closed his eyes, "…apparently, she was wrong…because Hermione didn't like it that way."

The atmosphere in his suite was colder than the coldest of December. Draco shivered as Hermione's muffled cries echoes inside his head, louder than ever. He took another deep breath and opened his eyes.

"We parted after it was over. I never went to look for her. But from that day, everywhere I went, I had this gnawing feeling in me that I did wrong. That she should have been…treated differently. It was suffocating. I tried to shake it off but it wouldn't go. I couldn't share it with anyone too, to ease myself. Then, in desperation to save my skin, I lied to myself. I said, 'Draco, you are not accountable for it. You are inexperienced in these things. Hermione made you do it. She could have…behaved differently…'" he rubbed his forehead wearily, "I made myself to believe that it was not my fault. I believed it until even a month ago. Then suddenly, it changed. The truth emerged and slapped me hard. I realized that I was wrong and I decided to do the right thing."

Draco paused, made up his mind and faced Julian. "You asked me if I had forced myself on her. In all honesty, I don't know how to explain it to you, Julian. I don't know if you have a girlfriend or previous experience of…" he cleared his throat, "…of intimacy with ladies. But if you do, you'll understand it that a first time is a first time. It just…happens…and I am ashamed that it…I hurt Hermione…I am terribly ashamed. That was the reason I lied to you, Lillian. I have had enough hatred for a lifetime; I don't want any more of it. No one is completely flawless and innocent in this world," he paused to take some breathes, "except perhaps, Adrian." he added. "Everyone has some past mistake, past sins. The difference is some people repent on it and some don't. I regret my actions and I want to rectify them. You know the truth now. You can hate me if you like. I will not begrudge you but I will not stop pursuing what is mine: my future with my family."

Draco finished and let out a sigh. His scar was aching now, from constant talking and neck movements but he didn't care. It was over. He has told his cousins as much of truth as it was possible for him.

"I am sorry, Draco." Julian said and just as suddenly as he had slapped him, he hugged him too. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just angry that you…"

"I understand." Draco suddenly realized that he wasn't angry with his cousin. Maybe this was called a family where one didn't begrudge the other over a quarrel. "I know I am a prat."

"Men!" was all that Lillian commented before she joined them too. "They don't know what they are doing half the time."

Draco didn't counter. He loved his cousins. They were his true siblings.

"I think I should have you all to join Mouline Rouge after the trial is over." Audré commented as Draco, Julian and Lillian released each other, smiling. "Or open a drama club perhaps. The Malfoy family drama club." She announced, "With a new drama unfolding every night, I am sure I'll be a millionaire in no time just by selling tickets."

Everyone laughed, even Narcissa who was still avoiding looking at Draco. He decided to persuade her another time, when she would be better.

"Here is something for you." Julian shoved Draco an envelope, "Open it when you are alone." He said before leaving.

Slowly, everyone except Audré filed out of his suite. As she closed the door, he looked down at the envelope. His heart was strangely empty now.

"Thank you, aunt." he slumped on a sofa, "You are a savior."

"Don't thank me, Draco." Audré said slowly shaking her head, "Thank your uncle, on whom my children have endless faith; they can never imagine that the boy their father talked about being forced to uplift family name could ever perform a rape. Even with your long and convoluted confession, he didn't suspect it."

Draco didn't reply. He had nothing to say on that matter.

"My father, Renée Chombrun, was a wise man." Audré continued, still standing by the door, "He used to say that 'those who talk much, lie much.' He also said, 'partial truth is equivalent to lie.' Tonight you proved that he was right. You said a lot of things, Draco, but not the real point and you touched the truth but didn't disclose it. Truth, dear nephew, is a very strange thing. No matter how hard you try, it comes out in the end. Also there is nothing as 'relative truth' and 'absolute truth'. Either it's a truth or it's a lie. You can't choose something in between."

"Aunt, I can't tell them the truth." Draco said desperately, "They'll hate me."

"Yes, they will." Audré said, "But I will not waste my time in debating whether you deserve it or not. You know, I could've unmasked you tonight. But I didn't. Why? Firstly, I want you to confess it. Secondly, I happen to know that Jean doesn't want my children to know about it. And finally, your uncle would have saved your skin and as his widow, I have some duties towards his family. But don't think you'll always have me around to save you, Draco. Prepare yourself for the blow that is sure to come."

Draco closed his eyes and sighed.

"It's quite late." He heard Audré said, "Take your medicine and go to bed. Don't forget to clear your mind before you go to sleep."

He heard the door close and was sure that he was alone now. He sat for a while, trying to calm his mind. He felt an intense fatigue take him. After a while, he left the seat, changed into pajamas and climbed into his bed with the envelope Julian had given him. He read the name of the sender. It was someone he hadn't expected: the makers of the Aeromate broomsticks.

Draco tore the corner of the envelope impatiently and peeked inside. A photo and a letter waited to be explored.

Draco's heart beat quickened. Realizing what it was, he leaned against his pillow and carefully emptied the contents of the envelope on his lap. He reached for the letter first. It was short and formal, informing him how the Aeromate was delighted to have him try their broomstick. Draco tosses it aside carelessly. His one and only thought was the photo. He knew what it had but was afraid to touch it. What if it vanished?

It took Draco ten long minutes to reach, hold, flip and look at the photograph. No, it didn't vanish. It remained there, grasped between his index and thumb.

There were three people in the photo. One was him, the man sitting on the broom and balancing it perfectly. The little boy sitting before him was wearing Draco's most favourite T-shirt in the entire world: a yellow one with the writing 'cute is my middle name' across the chest. His silvery blonde curls swayed gently in the breeze. Draco wondered if cute was Adrian's first, middle and surname too. His son was just too cute for his father.

The woman standing beside them was none but Hermione Granger. She was wearing a lilac dress shirt with a pair of Muggle jeans. It was pretty plain and certainly not something Astoria would've chosen for such an occasion. But somehow, it suited her very well. She looked so much alive and herself in it.

Smiling, Draco went for the details now.

Hermione's unruly curls were braided neatly. She was wearing a pair of pearl earrings. Pearl, it seemed, was her favourite. Pearl necklace at the Ball and pearl earrings to go with formal attire. She was standing too erect, like an ice statue. There was a Mona Lisa smile on her face: subtle and mysterious. Her shoes were flat and black. She was wearing her wedding ring on her right middle finger. The thin chain around her neck indicated that the Cornicello was tucked inside her dress shirt.

Draco savoured looking at Hermione. She was so beautiful. Those eyes…that nose…those lips…that mole…the daintily wrists…the hands…the posture…the aura…everything. Together, Adrian and she were the epitome of innocence and elegant simplicity.

He thanked his cousin for his thoughtfulness. He would be glad to have some more of his hard slaps if he continued helping him secretly as this.

He sighed contentedly. No matter how bad the beginning of the day had been, it has ended well. He got a letter from Hermione, a card from Adrian and now a photo of his family with them both. He Summoned the card and the letter before lying and placing all three of them on his chest. His family was close to his heart now; closer than ever.

Draco yawned and reached for the radio knob. It was almost eleven o' clock and he expected Hermione to return home by now. He was eager to learn their reactions to his letter and imagine it from the other side of radio.

But like his previous time, no sound came. He waited for a while, straining his ears.

He could hear the slow breathing. He imagined it to be Adrian and Hermione. So they were back and already asleep. He felt a tinge of disappointment. While talking to his cousins, he has missed their reactions. He was about to turn off the radio when a music came through the speaker.

It was the same one Hermione had played the day after her first therapy session. She had called it something as…

Draco tried to remember desperately. It was something about the heart asking…

"The heart asks pleasure first!" he blurted out, remembering it suddenly. He thought the name was fine, every heart asked for pleasure; every soul sought for salvation. He closed his eyes and listened to it, imagining a Hermione in her lilac dress, playing the piano. The night breeze was gently playing with her curls. Her eyes were sparkling like the brightest of diamonds as her fingers flew effortlessly on the black and white keys. Her features were calm and serene and Draco wondered if he had truly appreciated the enchanting piece before.

Previously, he had thought it as a musical conversation between two stranded souls. But it sounded different this time, for the tempo was slower now. Draco thought it was a soul's appeal to another distant soul to join it, like his was to Astoria when he lost her. The smooth flow was that of quiet murmur of a river running to join the sea; a gentle caress on his broken heart and damaged soul. Even the tantalizing buildup was softer under Hermione's even softer touch. He imagined himself, standing beside her and listening and losing himself to it.

When Draco finally fell asleep he had a small but peaceful smile etched on his lips.

•••••

Hermione placed her son on their bed and tucked him in. Tired from all day's playing, running and party, Adrian had fallen asleep at the Delacours and she had to carry him home.

She received three letters, four to be more precise, and a small parcel upon her return. First one was a letter from Julian, explaining how Mesrine was still at large and the security around Gringotts, St. Joan's and Lillian's office has been reinforced so that they could go to their workplaces. In the end, it stated that he has had a conversation with Draco and has made sure that no further occurrences as the previous night's didn't happen in future. Hermione moved on to the second one. It was a note from Lillian informing her that the wand was perfectly cleansed now. Hermione checked the small parcel and found her wand there, good as new. The last one was a letter from Draco Malfoy. She eyed it for a while, wondering if she should open and read it.

In the end, she left it by the piano and changed her son into his red pajama. She tucked him in, took a long and relaxing bath, drank the Bliss tea Audré had recommended her for a peaceful night's sleep and sat before her most favourite musical instrument- the piano.

It took her precisely eight minutes to finally make up her mind and read the reply Draco had sent. It contained a 'thank you' card and a letter. The card bore a sketch of a little girl playing with a little rabbit on what looked like a daisy field. Hermione had to admit that it was beautifully done, even to someone who hated the artist. She opened it. It contained a small note:

Dear son,

Thank you for the good wishes. I didn't expect it. Truly.

I loved the card and the drawing on it. I didn't know that I looked that good while flying. I am sending you one of mine too. I hope you will like it, even though I am not as good as you.

I promise to be more regular with my homeworks next time. You have a wonderful Mama who looks over these things. It would be nice if you could help me with my homework.

Take care, son.

Love from,

Adrian's Monsieur.

"Adrian's Monsieur." Hermione snorted and closed the card. She read the letter next, which she was sure written for her. Like the note in the card, it was short and read:

Hermione,

I don't think I can express it enough how terribly sorry I am for last night.

Hermione snorted again. Terribly sorry! Her foot! She read on.

Even without your warning letter, I wouldn't dream of disobeying you to not let Adrian know what really happened. I am not as brave as you, Hermione and it takes immense courage to admit something as violent as that.

On another note, I never expected you to turn up at my doorstep with flowers and cards. I know I am not worthy of it but I thank you for being generous and giving me this chance. I promise that you will not regret it.

Yours sincerely,

A certain foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach.

Hermione curled her lips, crumpled the letter and used a Bluebell Flame to burn it to ashes. She washed her hands again, simply to get rid of the feeling that she had touched Draco's writing. She hated Malfoy no matter what her bloody soul thought or did.

She sat before the piano and ran her finger over the keys. They were still smooth. She struck a cord. A note played. Closing her eyes and calming her mind, she slowly started to play.

She played Adeline's favourite piece in a slow tempo: The Heart Asks Pleasure First by Michael Nyman. Her heart asked for her mother to be with her tonight, every night, in fact. She didn't know if it was night or day, summer or winter in Australia. All she knew and cared for was her mother to be here, by her side when she needed her desperately.

•••••

Audré's sleepless eyes where gazing at the stars in the infinite of night sky. As the moon slowly lost weight, they were becoming more prominent.

She contemplated over Draco's dream, Draco's words, Hermione's dream and Hermione's word. This dual dream was troubling her. It was a new thing for her and she used to consider herself quite knowledgeable on that field.

She had lied to Hermione about the dream, telling her that it was just a trick played by her stressed mind. But she it knew that it wasn't the case. There was a reason Draco and Hermione were having the same dreams at the same time.

She wondered if their souls were slowly bonding. The idea abhorred her. How could Hermione's soul possibly bond itself with her rapist's? It was one thing to help and it was another thing to bond.

She was deep in her thought when she heard Hermione playing the Pleyel. She was the mistress of this Château and nothing was hidden from her ears or eyes.

She listened to it. Hermione was playing her mother's favourite piano piece. She was calling her to be with her, to help her. Audré felt for her. She knew how it was to miss one's mother. She had lost hers when she was only ten and grew up imagining a life with her mother in it.

The music ended and Audré left her terrace. Hermione was going to have her mother tonight and every night she asked for her. She would never live like Audré did – a lonely woman; she would never be forced to compromise and live a half life no matter what Draco said or did.

Hermione and Adrian were snuggling against each other when she slipped into their bedroom, as silent as a ghost. She stood beside them for a while, looking down at their sleeping faces.

She loved them, this mother and her son. They were indeed spirit bound, a unique pair, and a living proof of what true love really was like.

She kissed softly on Hermione's temple and whispered into her ears.

"Hermione, my love, mum is here…mum is here…"

She was going to spend the night here, with them, lulling them into a peaceful slumber.

•••••

Tuesday morning seemed to look up at Hermione. She had a great time in her office.

It started with her dreaming her mother. She came to her finally. Together they played piano and talked about the recent incidents. Adeline told her not to worry; she was there to look after her. She woke up early in the morning, strangely contented and happy.

She dropped Adrian at St. Joan's. The place had half a dozen Aurors now. The kids were giving them curious glances. Hermione kissed her son goodbye and left for her office.

She spent the morning explaining her theory to her boss Geccemp who seemed highly pleased and proud.

"I knew you would do it, Jean, I knew it!" he told her, clapping his long fingered hands, "I hope they send us the invitation soon. You will have a pay rise after it."

Hermione laughed. His goblin boss was no way less amusing than Dobby.

"Geccemp, sir, you know I didn't do it for money." She said politely.

"That's exactly the reason you should have it. It's your reward." Geccemp said dismissively. "By the way, Jean, the Ministry has informed me of certain rearrangements in our security. They didn't fully explain the reason, though. Can you explain it to me?"

Hermione frowned. The Ministry didn't see it fit to inform The Head Goblin of Gringotts about the current situation? It was his bank, after all. She wondered who was making the policies these days.

"I am sorry for any inconveniences but it's all because of me." She decided to tell him the truth, "I guess you all know about the Rochés trial." Geccemp nodded, "Someone attacked the Chief Warlock the day before yesterday. It's classified information. The Ministry doesn't want to disclose it but they have tightened the securities around the places where people directly or indirectly related to the trial usually go."

"I had thought so." Geccemp commented thoughtfully, "I remember that threat letter you received. The posts are being filtered now. Aurors will be checking them before they reach you, Jean. There is another thing. New accounts are opening everyday and unusually large sums of money are being transferred between them and the existing ones. This never happened before."

Hermione sensed there was something hidden in Geccemp's message.

"Sir, do you want me to convey it to someone?" she asked him cautiously.

"By the rules of Gringotts Goblins, Jean, we are not to share our confidential information with any external sources." Geccemp replied airily, "We don't regard wizards as our masters. We are a separate being. Goblins. Wizards don't let us carry wands. Fine. We won't let them into our business. But if the Ministry wishes, they can contact us through the Goblin Liaison Office. Only then can we provide them with information that might be valuable to them."

"I understand, sir." Hermione was internally impressed by Geccemp's subtle hinting ability, "The Ministry will contact you very soon. Should I tell them to check anyone particular?"

Geccemp shook his oblong head, "I think that will do, Jean. We are already doing them a great favour by involving you." he winked playfully.

Hermione nodded and returned to her office. She had a lot to do and was relieved that Audré would be picking Adrian up from school.

How the day passed, she didn't know. It was almost seven o'clock in the evening when she finished two days worth of work and stood up, stretching her limbs. She was dead tired and needed to her son to refresh herself.

When she entered her quarter twenty minutes later, it was strangely silent. She stood by the Floo fireplace for a while, wondering if Adrian was with Audré and Lillian.

It could be. Since she was supposed be late, the kid could be with his grandma and aunt.

Hermione climbed the stairs to her first floor bedroom and was surprised to find her son there, sitting on her reading table, cross legged and drawing. Audré was sitting on the bench before the piano, reading.

"Mama's home!" Hermione announced happily. She suspected from her son's sullen look that he was angry with her for being so late. Alexis's statement about women leaving highly demanding jobs for the sake of their families was proved once again.

"How is my little rabbity babbity boo?" she walked over to Adrian, hugged him from behind and kissed on his cheek fondly, "Is he angry with his Mama?" she pouted her lips and asked.

Adrian, strangely, didn't reply. He kept drawing on his copy.

Hermione felt something was not quite right. Adrian was never like this. "Rabbity boo?" She hugged him tighter and whispered into his ears, "Mama is sorry if she hurt you but she had a lot of work today."

Adrian still didn't respond. Feeling slightly alarmed now, Hermione looked down at his drawing. He was drawing a pool full of half a dozen bright fishes. She wondered if he was angry about not having the fishes, when she heard Audré clearing her throat audibly. She looked at her direction.

"He is not mad at you." she mouthed the words to her.

Hermione frowned deeply. What was wrong with him then? Was her son being bullied at school? Did he have a row with his friends? That chance was very slim. Adrian was always a peaceful and pleasant little kid.

"Adrian, Mama's little rabbit…" she started very slowly, feeling the need to talk this one out, "…did anything happen…"

The rest of the sentence never got completed. She felt the table that Adrian had been sitting on to shake violently.

Her first thought was earthquake. But then she realized that the ground was still and only the table was shaking itself. Immediately, her sixth sense alerted her. This was no earthquake.

Within a split second, the lights went out one by one, as if a great hand had them extinguished. The keys of the piano started playing on their own accord, an unknown music was issued. The doors closed with loud bang and opened again. In the middle of all the mayhems Hermione saw her son, drawing his picture with resolute stubbornness. His innocent features were haunted and pained.

"Nostradamus!" with one soft exclaim, Audré threw herself on their pair and hugged them, particularly Adrian, more tightly. "It's alright, my little man. It's fine. There is no need to be so angry." She cooed into his ears.

No one told her but Hermione understood that her son's magic has burst out again. She has seen it once before; the day Pierre tore his favourite drawing book.

"Adrian, Mama's love, Mama's man," she hugged him as tightly as she could without hurting, "It's alright. It's fine. We can talk about this. Mama is here to listen. Okay?"

But her words seemed to intensify the unknown rage and emotion Adrian was holding back. The windows opened and started banging themselves against the frame. The temperature fell a couple of degrees; the room grew colder and darker. She heard Hedwig and Gwyn hoot, as if the mute animals were frightened by this unknown phenomenon.

"Talk to him." she heard Audré urged her, "Adrian, I know you are angry but you are scaring the poor animals." She said.

"Yes, Adrian, Hedwig is scared. Gwyn is scared too." Hermione got the hint and appealed to him, "And look, Peter is shaking in a corner. Cool down, my baby. Cool down, my son. Mama is here. Tell her what is wrong."

But Adrian didn't reply. He was tight lipped; his eyes holding such great pain that Hermione wished she was better dead than be forced to watch him like that. The shaking of furniture continued for a while. Then he passed out, limp on her arms and everything became quiet.

"ADRIAN!" Hermione exclaimed loudly. For a wild moment, she thought she has lost him forever.

"He's alive, Jean." She heard Audré in semi-darkness. "He is breathing. There is no need to panic. Everything is under control now."

Hermione was scandalized. What control? How could she not panic? Adrian has passed out after another magical outburst. "Mother! He needs mother!" she said, remembering the oil massage and potion Apolline had given her son after the first attack. She hugged Adrian and was about to leave for the Floo fireplace when Audré stopped her.

"NO!" Audré said sharply. "Don't go anywhere!" she said and took Adrian's limp form from her, "Jean, I may not be a midwife or Healer but I am a mother and I know what you are going through." She placed Adrian's head on her shoulder and patted back gently, "Your son needs his mother, Jean, not your mother. Trust me. I know what I am doing. He needs you now. More than ever."

"But he needs treatment!" Hermione cried, trying to take Adrian from Audré, "We need mother Apolline!"

"Jean, Adrian is my grandson too and this is not an issue of ego." Audré backed away trying to restrain Hermione, "Your son has one treatment now: his mother's love. Cool down. Go, wash yourself and change your clothes. Then take your baby and go to bed. Talk to him. Whisper into his ears. Make him understand that you are by his side. Your support and love is the biggest treatment for him. No medicine or Healer can give him that."

"But…" Hermione tried to protest again.

"Jean, you are wasting your time." Audré was very gentle now. She waved her wand and the lights returned, showing Hermione the disarrayed room. "I'll take care of it. You go and do what I told you to."

There was something in Audré's manner that it didn't occur to Hermione to argue further. She hurried to the bathroom, took a hasty shower and came out in less than ten minutes, her hair still dripping wet.

Audré gave her Adrian and they climbed into the bed immediately. Hermione embraced her son, trying to merge their souls and take away all his sorrows. Audré sat beside them, watching.

"Tell him that you love him." she instructed her calmly.

"Mama loves you, Adrian." Hermione whispered into his ear. She was crying now, silently. "You are the only one Mama loves. You are her everything."

Audré nodded approvingly and motioned her to continue.

"Adrian, my little rabbit," Hermione went on, her tears falling unabashedly, "Do you know how much I love you? I remember my earlier days in France." She did remember them; she was struggling for money and her life encompassed only around Adrian then. "There not an instance that I breathed and you didn't, inside me. Even if I breathed, I did it for you, my son, I did it for you. I couldn't eat; I was thin; very thin for a woman who was going to have a baby. But I forced myself to eat, thinking that my baby will be hungry if I didn't or he'll not get enough milk when I will nurse him. There was not a moment I didn't think about you when I was in Beauxbatons and you were in Paris. There is not a place I didn't go with you in my heart, my son. I felt like I was nothing before you, as if I never existed. Motherhood is such an amazing experience Adrian, my love."

Hermione's vision was blurring now, not from tear only, from collective effect of excruciating pain that she had seen in Adrian's eyes and felt in her heart.

"Do you know what Grandma Apolline said when I was going to have you, my love?" she kissed him softly. While sleeping, Adrian looked just like the newborn baby Hermione had held on a cold January morning nearly six years ago. He was still innocent as a dove and soft as a rose petal. "She said that there is a mother in every woman and they love their babies even before they know it. I never thought I could love someone so much, so much that it would hurt me even if someone pinched you but I did. While carrying you inside me, I fell in love with you. I realized that mother was right. I loved you even before I met you. You are worth everything I have and beyond. You are my Adrian, my little rabbit."

As if he was listening to one of her bedtime stories, Adrian smiled. Hermione kissed him again.

"You are Mama's everything, Adrian, you are Mama's everything." She whispered into his ears.

She kept talking, telling him the tales from their past. Under her words, the boy calmed down and gently drifted into sleep.

Hermione spent a sleepless night beside Adrian and so did Audré. She hadn't eaten anything after the hurried lunch she had in Gringotts, but food didn't matter to her anymore. She just needed to keep her son warm and peaceful.

When the morning came, Hermione was looking at the distant horizon, her lips almost numb from constant talking but heart contented that her son was alright. Adrian slept in her arms, smiling now and she didn't feel like waking him.

"I told you, Jean, there is no greater medicine than a mother's love." Audré said as one of the elves brought them breakfast, "Let me take care of him now. You can go to office."

"But you need rest too." Hermione countered. Evidently, Audré's features were tired, something that she had hardly seen.

"Jean, there is no need to worry for me, I am accustomed to these things." Audré held out a hand and assured her, "I want you to go to your office, finish your works as soon as you can and return home before lunch. We…"

"Maman!" Lillian interrupted her. "You are here! And I thought you were working on the case and didn't disturb you." she walked over to them, noticing Adrian in Hermione's arm, "Is anything wrong, Jean?"

"No." Audré replied before Hermione could, "Adrian was a little ill last night. It was nothing serious…" she added when Lillian leaned forward to check his temperature, "…he is fine now. We'll let him sleep."

Hermione checked the time wondering if she should stay with Adrian.

"We are here, dear," Audré patted on her shoulder gently, "Don't worry. He'll be fine. I'll call Apolline if you like."

Hermione smiled and nodded. She kissed Adrian one last time before leaving him on the bed.

"Give him some tonic with his breakfast." She told Audré, who assured her with another nod, and then she hurried to get ready. Before she went to Gringotts, she was going to find out what actually happened to her son and who did it.

St. Joan's was packed with kids early on Wednesday morning. The Aurors patrolled the school. Hermione scanned the crowd and spotted Louis and Gina in no time. They were playing Kid's Exploding Snap.

"Bonjour Madame." They greeted Hermione.

"Bonjour, Louis, Gina." Hermione greeted back. She noticed them looking at her sides, as if checking for Adrian. "Adrian will not come today. He is ill."

"Ill?" Gina asked promptly, "How?"

"That's what I came to know from you, my dear." Hermione crouched down before the kids and gave them each a piece of Drooble's Best Blowing Gums. They accepted it happily. "Tell me, Louis, Gina, did anyone bully Adrian recently?"

Louis's expression was honest when he shook his head. "No, Madame." They replied in unison.

Hermione digested the piece of information. She went to enquire more.

"Did anyone quarrel with him?" she asked them with the best charming smile she could conjure.

"No." Gina replied this time. "Everyone in our class likes Adrian. He is the youngest wizard and girls think he is cute. But he doesn't like it when they call him cute. He says men are not cute."

Hermione snorted. So Adrian was preaching his dogma outside home.

"But he became strange yesterday, when I told him that maman had the baby and I am a big brother now." Louis said, looking concerned but proud, "He didn't take the mid day meal or talk to anyone during the recess. He is not like this, Madame, I know. I am his best friend."

"Me too." Gina added elbowing Louis and erecting her spine, "He was happy about the broom ride he had with his papa. I told him that my papa is too busy for these things. He said his papa was busy too…"

But Hermione wasn't listening. She finally knew what had caused her son to have that sudden outburst.

Adrian wanted a baby sister of his own and when Louis gave him an account of his new one, he couldn't take it. Somehow he has realized that his mother was unable give him one and sad, he had reconciled and retreated to himself, not wanting to talk about it to anyone, especially Hermione.

Her heart broke for her son and she realized for the first time, how mature that five and half year old boy was behind his childhood innocence. Adrian could perceive his mother's sorrow or helplessness very well; he could try to ease her pains; he was not just a kid anymore. He was an intelligent being with a sharp observation skill just as Hermione.

She mumbled a thanks and left for her office. Suddenly she felt very tired.

Hermione didn't know how the day passed. She finished her works as fast as she could, her body in her office but her mind with her son. She felt like she never appreciated Adrian fully and decided to buy him a dozen fish as he had drawn on that picture of his.

She Floo'ed Edmound and asked him to help her buy Adrian fishes. They visited a pet shop, Hermione not caring about her security or the Knights anymore. She'd kill anyone who'd come between Adrian and his new fishes, she swore determinedly. Her son was going to have everything he liked to have.

Adrian was eating berries and listening to a story Audré read to him when Hermione returned home at noon. She showed him the tank full of fishes Edmound had volunteered to carry. She expected him to rush for the fishes first.

"Mama!" but the boy came running to her instead and Hermione embraced him, losing herself in his innocent touch. "Mama, you came!"

Hermione was having difficulty in holding back her tears. She loved, loved, loved, loved and loved her son.

"Are you feeling well now, little rabbit?" she asked him, gently pressing her head on his little chest and listening to the heartbeat. He was alive and doing well.

"I am." Adrian piped. Hermione was relieved to hear his voice. He was talking to her again.

She looked up at him. There was no sign of pain in his grey orbs, as it had been the previous evening. "Then give Mama a berry-kiss." She smiled, noting the tinge of berries on his pink lips.

Adrian, sensing his mother's eagerness, gave her a soppy kiss, something he didn't prefer to give her anymore. Hermione decided to keep the wetness on her cheeks.

"Here you are, little man!" Edmound announced when he had the tank full of fishes placed beside the bed. "Mama and uncle bought Adrian a dozen fishes."

"Fish!" the boy squealed happily this time and ran for it. Hermione and Adrian had chosen all the colourful ones for Adrian. He stood before the tank and observed his new pets.

"See the orange ones?" Edmound crouched down beside him and indicated at a fat orange and shiny fish. He was at his element as soon as his obedient pupil was ready to be feed on about fishes. "That's a Gold fish. And that orange one with white and black pattern is called a clown fish."

Hermione sat on the bed, watching Edmound explain to Adrian about fishes. They even named a few together. A blue Betta fish got its name as 'Bluey' and one of the clown fishes was named 'Meeko'. The green one was a Mandarin and Adrian named it 'Mandy'.

Hermione felt Audré's eyes on her. She knew what she was asking her, silently.

Suddenly, her entire being filled with such rage, such hatred that Hermione thought she might die if she didn't release it on the one person who was behind it all: Draco Malfoy.

"It's a baby." She told Audré through clenched teeth, "Adrian's best friend Louis had a baby sister yesterday. I knew his mother was expecting but somehow it didn't occur to me to prepare Adrian beforehand. I should have talked to him about it, the day he announced that he won't let me have Malfoy's bloody seeds. I should have talked to him. But I…" Hermione slapped herself internally, "…am such a failure…such a stupid woman…such a selfish brat…whining about my own problems all the time…when my son is suffering…and I call myself a mother!"

"I must respectfully object to that last statement, Jean." Audré, as always was very calm and patient. "You are certainly not a failure and definitely not selfish."

But Hermione ignored it. Every pore in her skin was burning. She was going to divorce Draco this instant.

"Aunt, I want to divorce Malfoy. Today. Right now. I don't care if he dies. I don't care at all. I am more concerned about my son." she said in an angry undertone.

"I told you, Jean, that I will not stop you if you want to divorce Draco." Audré's was demeanor serene but serious, "Let's leave the kids," she cast a glance at Edmound and Adrian, "and talk about it in the garden."

"There is nothing to talk about, aunt." Hermione said dismissively, "I am not interested in any game. I am not interested in Malfoy either. He can die and go to hell and I can't care less. I am divorcing him and having another baby for Adrian. End of story."

"Jean, you are angry now and decisions made in anger are the worst ones we make. I don't want you to regret like Draco does now." Audré took Hermione's hand and nudged her to leave her seat, "Let's go downstairs and talk about it."

Hermione didn't protest. They left Edmound and Adrian to chatter over the fishes. The boy looked extremely delighted and was instructing Hedwig to not eat the fishes.

As they walked in the garden silently; Hermione waiting for Audré to break the silence.

She heard her heave a sad sigh.

"Having a baby is not a laughing matter, Jean, I am sure you know it better than I do." She said evenly, "You had your first baby when you were not prepared for it. You had to struggle a lot. Do you want to bring another baby in this life full of uncertainty?"

"There is no uncertainty, aunt, I want to have a baby and from Alexis." Hermione emphasized every word, "He is only person I will allow to touch me."

"Jean, I don't think you need to explain it to me or to anyone with whom you want to your next baby and why." Audré said, stopping by a hibiscus bush and checking the leaves, "It's your personal choice. But you seem to have forgotten that Adrian is still under Draco's Claim."

"I can challenge it too. I can tell or even show the Family Council the memories of how he beat me that night." Hermione said, feeling a surge of anger almost incapacitate her, "And you said you will help me in doing so. Have you already changed your mind?"

"No." Audré shook her head, "I am still willing to help you, Jean. With all my heart." She turned to her, her features every bit of honest Hermione had even seen. "Yes, you can challenge the Claim if it is proven that Draco is violent, that he beats you, that he is not a good husband and a good father. You can even give them the memory of your assault too, if you like. That's even better. But with everything, we will be stuck on the same place."

"How?" Hermione frowned.

"I told you, Jean, that Draco is a very focused man. Remember?" Hermione nodded to Audré's enquiry, "Remember you told me he said that he destroyed Rochés for Adrian?" Hermione nodded again. "Find that out and we have the greatest weapon against him. Because if he can destroy Rochés for Adrian, Jean, he can destroy everything for him, including the Delacours and even me. He'll become unstoppable once he'll have nothing to lose."

"Aren't you overestimating him, aunt?" Hermione asked, thoughtful now, "I mean this is France, not Britain."

"No." Audré replied. "Have you seen a lioness when her cubs are taken away from her or a lion when his mate or cubs are injured? They become so violent that they can eat anyone alive. Draco might not be the lion but he has that animal instinct in him. I saw it when he was following you and Adrian in Brussels. You are his mate, Jean. You have his fullest attention now. He thinks you are his last hope for a better future. He can slit his throat for you. And Adrian? He is his last living son. He said he destroyed a powerful man as Rochés for this son, in France and not in Britain. So, we will be underestimating him if we don't regard him with care."

"But you said I can divorce him!" Hermione cried in anguish.

"Yes, I did and you can." Audré replied, seemingly impatient now, "But time didn't stop after that, Jean. Things kept happening. The pieces kept moving; some in wrong and some in right direction. You can divorce him but it will tip off the balance you have achieved after two monthes of struggle. All hell will break loose if you force him to divorce you now. Draco is still under the spell of his inner monster. He'll fight. You'll fight too. A family vendetta will ensue between the Malfoys and the Delacours. And your son is the one who will suffer most in this, as he is suffering now. Bringing a baby in this situation will not solve the problem, Jean, it will simply escalate it. Try to understand, dear. I am not your enemy."

Listening to Audré and visualizing Adrian's distress both at school and home, Hermione realized she was being hasty and irrational in anger. Audré was right. Her situation with Draco Malfoy was almost similar to their Horcrux hunt and quest for the Deathly Hallows. Dumbledore had wanted them to destroy the Horcruxes; not master the Hallows. Audré was telling her to find out an answer that would lead to her ultimate freedom from Malfoy just as the Horcruxes did from Voldemort.

"Jean," Audré was calm once again. "Discipline your mind, dear. Control your emotions. And for Nostradamus's sake find out what Draco did to Rochés. Use your time with him to find out the truth. I have a strong feeling that it will have a very important part to play in your and Adrian's future." She patted gently on Hermione's arm. "As for the baby issue, leave it to me. I will explain it to Adrian in a way that will be most suitable for all of us. Got me, dear?"

Hermione nodded. "Fine." she mumbled.

"Go and take your lunch with Adrian. Then take some rest." Audré was slowly walking them to the sitting room, "You haven't slept a blink last night. You are tired, angry and resentful. Rest yourself and cool down. If there is something we desperately need now, it is peace. Both inner and outer." The entered the sitting room and Audré turned to her, "Remember, wars are not won with wands or swords. We win it with our mind." she tapped on her temple and left.

Hermione stared at her retreating form for a while. Then she remembered the card Draco had sent Adrian. She smiled and left for her bedroom.

She was going to have a little chat with Draco soon.

•••••

Draco paced on his bedroom like a caged animal and growled.

Last night, he had been listening to his radio to learn Adrian's reaction to his card when unnatural sounds caught his attention. At first he thought it was some technical error in signal transferring but then Hermione screamed and went to call or bring Apolline. Draco thought he wanted to use the radio to burst into her Fideliused quarter. His son had fallen ill. Resentful and angry, he spent the night listening to Hermione and pacing on his bedroom, waiting for some good news. All the while he clutched their photo close to his heart.

When Lillian visited him after the breakfast, Draco lied to her that he was ill and needed to sleep. In reality he wanted to listen what was happening in the quarter and it was not possible with her being in his suite.

Around noon, he heard Hermione announce her arrival, heard Adrian squeal happily about his mother and some fishes. He heard Edmound. The moron was teaching Adrian about fishes. He kicked aside the pouffe in anger. He had wanted to buy Adrian the fishes, not Edmound.

He heard a whispered conversation between Hermione and Audré. He strained his ears but didn't catch anything meaningful. Edmound's babbling was masking it. He heard Hermione's voice disappear. It appeared after a while. She invited Edmound for a lunch. They had it and the man left. Afterwards, there was nothing special but Adrian showing his pet rabbit, Peter, the fishes and warning Hedwig to not eat them.

Draco turned off the radio and slumped on the bed. He rubbed his eyes wearily. He wondered if he truly needed a sleep when Audré came.

"Nephew! You look tired." She said, scanning his face and his bedroom in general, "Were you practicing dueling at night?" she commented on the untidy look.

Draco deliberately avoided looking at Audré's eyes. "I am bored, aunt. I feel stuck here." He replied.

For some strange reason, Audré seemed delighted, "Then I am sure you can help me to pen the deed for the cottage you are buying for Jean." she showed him a letter from the Wizarding estate office, "This has just arrived. The swapping of Podere Cipressi in Tuscany and Meadowmoor Cottage in Paris is complete."

Draco snatched the letter and read it. He smiled. At last, he had just the home Hermione had wanted.

"Let's not call it Meadowmoor Cottage anymore." He said, feeling happy for the first time in two days, "It's Otter's Pond. Hermione's dream home." he stretched his limbs and yawned. He was feeling quite relaxed now. Adrian was fine. He had the cottage. He could do with a nap. "Aunt, would you mind if I took a nap and pen it later?"

He expected Audré to say no but strangely, she didn't. "Yes, I will." She said, "We need this done as soon as possible. You can sleep later."

Draco stared at her for a moment. Was Audré hiding something from him? She did hide about Adrian's illness.

"Is something wrong, aunt?" he asked her.

"No." Audré looked skeptic, "Why?"

Draco carefully phrased his sentence, "I thought you don't want me to sleep now."

"I don't." Audré replied, "But why should something be wrong about it? I thought you will be eager to have it done. You said yourself that you have a little over one and a half month to renovate the home for Jean. Today is 10th November and Adrian's birthday is on 4th January."

Draco got the point and nodded. "Fine. You go. I'll be at uncle's study in ten minutes." he noticed Audré giving his radio a curious glance.

"I never thought you were an avid fan of WWN." She said. "Except for exceptional dramatic performances, you always seemed to so bland."

Draco tried to smile convincingly at his aunt and stood up to block her view of the radio. "Where do you think I get those ideas?" he asked him, "The radio." He mouthed the words.

Audré left without another word and Draco sighed in relief. He needed to be more careful with his Listening Device.

He arrived at Morpheus's study precisely in ten minutes, his face washed and wearing a new set of clothes. They sat and worked on the deed. For some strange reason Audré wouldn't let him to even doze off. Twice she forced him to drink tea and told him to buy the cottage on Hermione's name. Draco didn't object. It was his gift to her, after all.

It was almost seven o' clock in the evening when they heard a knock on the door. Next moment, the door opened and Hermione walked in.

"Good evening, aunt Audré." she greeted Draco's aunt calmly.

"Good evening, dear." Audré immediately rolled the parchment containing the deed and thrust it into a drawer, "I hope you had a nice sleep."

"I did." Hermione replied solemnly. She behaved as if Draco didn't exist between her and Audré.

"Do you need something?" Audré enquired with a carefully casual smile.

On her words, Hermione turned to Draco and said, loud and clear.

"I want to talk to Malfoy."

Draco froze. There was something in Hermione that he sensed she was not there to talk about his letter.

"Sure." Audré said and arranging her quills and other parchments, she left.

Hermione walked to the spacious desk, scanned the empty chairs and chose one opposite but furthest from Draco. She was wearing mauve shirt over a pair of jeans tonight. Draco sat on his seat, wondering what it was.

"Hermione," he uttered her name as gently as he could, "I am really sorry for…"

But she held her hand, motioning him to stop. She looked extremely calm, calmer than the night they had talked on the terrace.

"Malfoy, I am not here to listen to your insistent babbling. Nor am I here to fill my head with your lies. I came here…" she looked at him straight in the eyes. The brilliant brown pair was cold as a pool of ice. "…to ask a few questions and I warn you that I will take nothing but the truth."

Draco braced himself and nodded.

"What would you have told your first wife, Astoria, about Adrian is she were alive now?"

In her first question, Hermione had Draco's mouth to feel dry. For a fleeting second, he considered not answering it truthfully. Then he remembered his aunt's saying about partial truth being actually a lie and decided to tell Hermione the truth.

"If Astoria were alive and somehow found out about Adrian, I'd have told her that what… happened… between us was… an accident and…and I'd never have indulged myself in such shameful activity had you not seduced me into it first. Also I'd have told her that it was before our marriage and I have not cheated on her. I would never admit that I assaulted you."

"And Adrian?" Hermione arched an eyebrow. Somehow her impassiveness troubled Draco.

"I would term him as an unfortunate incident and a sideline Malfoy. The real Malfoy is Scorpius and my other kids." Draco confessed shamefully. "They were to inherit my property, name and Malfoy Manor."

He feared Hermione might lash out but strangely, she didn't.

"Thanks, Malfoy, for being honest. Your words just proved me right. You indeed are Adrian's sperm donor trophy father and hunting us was part of keeping your damned bloodline alive." she said coldly.

"No, it's not." Draco tried to appear honest, "Not anymore. I mean it's true that, at first I was intrigued by Adrian. He drew me to him. I was obsessed with him. I couldn't live a moment without him. But now it's different. Now I love him. I don't think I'd have differentiated between him and Scorpius if he was alive now. In fact, I feel Adrian is more special."

"Indeed." Hermione smiled. It was clear from her features she didn't believe a word of his true feelings.

"No, really." Draco was desperate to prove that he was not lying. "He is my son, Hermione. My real firstborn and I love him; I love him a lot. I regret that I couldn't be there when he needed me. Now, all I wish is his happiness."

"What exactly is that, may I ask?" Hermione enquired coolly. She seemed determined to make him feel uncomfortable about the fact that he didn't know anything about Adrian.

Draco fumbled for words.

"Don't know?" Hermione's lips twisted into an almost cruel smile, "I'll tell you about it then. He wishes to have a sibling, a sister preferably." She uttered the words with great care, "Like any normal kid in his age wants. Like I wanted. But I didn't have one. Therefore, I know how he feels. I bet you don't because having another sibling meant division of all the attention you were receiving from your parents. You were happy to be their only child. You said you want to give Adrian happiness. Can you give him a sister? Can you?"

Draco considered the question before answering honestly. "I can, Hermione. But, you won't have it."

He closed his eyes, waiting for her to spit on his face in anger but it didn't come.

"I knew you would say that," he opened his eyes and saw Hermione nodding wisely, "I know most men consider having kids as a proof of their manhood. They think the deeper they penetrate, the more a man they are. I didn't expect you to be any exception to that law. You still disgust me. You are a scoundrel; an insensitive mongrel; son of a... murderer. So it is pretty normal, in fact, expected of you to talk about babies as if it's nothing! After all, what is it to you? Just lying down...having a great session of fucking... Awesome orgasm... and bang! The woman is pregnant and the baby is on its way. You have no idea about the reality of baby making. After all, it was Astoria who died having babies while you lived to carry your seeds to procreate more future Malfoy progenies."

Draco thought he would have preferred being spat at than being insulted so. He understood now, why Adrian had suddenly fallen ill. It might have something to do with the babies; otherwise Hermione wouldn't have endeavoured to come here and humiliate him like this.

"My son, Adrian," he heard Hermione went on, "…never needed you, your name, your money, your bloody Manor or anything related to you, nor will he ever need those. He has his mother who is well capable of fulfilling all his dreams, including the baby and without you. But that is beside the point. If you think your new achieved realization or confessions make you look better than you already are, Malfoy; that I'll jump into bed with you as soon as you blame me for not having your baby, then you are clearly mistaken. Your words don't glorify you. It simply makes me feel sad for your dead wife. She was such an unfortunate woman. Married to a rapist, she never got to see the real Malfoy behind that mask of decency you put on. What's more, she died to give you an heir and you got married to the woman you raped just two months after her death and now you want to reproduce more. What a wonderful widower and a pleasant mourner!

"Don't say that, Hermione. Don't hit me like that." Draco was having excruciating mental agony now, "I am trying to reconcile with you. I didn't tell you the truth to glorify myself. I confessed because I wanted you to know that I am sorry for my actions. As for me being a… 'wonderful widower'…" he quoted her, "…you know that I wasn't prepared to marry you that night. I'd still be attired in black; even after marriage. Ask anyone, aunt Audré preferably. She'll tell you why I took off my mourning clothes and decided to return to a normal life just for Adrian's sake. Don't say that I never truly mourned Astoria. It hurts me like it hurts you when this baby issue comes up. Don't say that she died in vain. No. She didn't."

Draco hid his face and broke down. "Some old wounds never fully heal, Hermione, no matter how much one tries to ignore them and move on. They bleed internally. Astoria and my dead children are that old wound of mine. When I am with you or Adrian, I stop feeling them but when you deliberately bring their topic up, it starts to bleed again."

"And mine bleeds every time I look at you, Malfoy." Hermione's voice was icy, "Don't assume to know the depth of my fears and pains just because you lost your kids and wife. You shattered my soul; hurt me in the greatest possible way and I hate you, I hate you so much that…that if I could show it to you, you will ask for death as a reprieve."

Draco didn't reply. He had tasted some of the poison he had infused in Hermione the night he had the awful nightmare about assaulting Lillian. He was familiar with a bit of it now.

He heard Hermione sigh after a while. She was cool once again, the pain on her features replaced by an indifference that rivaled even Snape's. "Anyways, Malfoy. I didn't come here to scream at you or talk about my pains, but since I did both, I am having a terrible headache now." She leaned on her seat and clutched her head. "Let's have it done, then." she said with an air of finality.

Draco was tired now, praying it was not another set of insults.

"Malfoy," Hermione's voice was authoritative, "It has come to my notice that ever since you took that job in the Ministry, you tend to return home very late at night. Sometimes, you don't return at all. You spend the night outside and return home in the morning with outrageous claims that you were busy working. I don't know what sort of work it is that requires to stay away at night, if not a thief or a plunderer or what you do under the guise of work, but do not think that I am going to buy that funny excuse. If you want to fuck whores, inform me and I assure you that I will not stop you. But I will not have you do that behind my back."

"For fuck's sake, Hermione I am not fucking anyone!" Draco let out an exasperated sigh.

"Language, Malfoy and I am not finished yet." Hermione said, "Therefore, from now, no matter how busy you claim you are, you should return home before six o clock in the evening, get yourself dressed and wait for us, me and Adrian, on the next room which is aunt Audré's father's study and library. She has agreed to let us use that room. There, Adrian will do his homework. I'll do my research. You do whatever suits you but there will be no more staying out after dark. Got that?

Draco nodded. Finally, he was seeing a light at the end of tunnel. He would be able to spend some time with his family, even if it was for homework.

He wanted to thank Hermione but the moment her words were delivered to the appropriate ears, she was gone, leaving Draco alone in the study.

He took out their photo, her letter and Adrian's card from his shirt pocket. He was carrying it with him everywhere. Next he took out the roll of parchment containing the deed of Hermione's new home.

He laid them side by side. Here was Hermione and Adrian, under his right palm, and here was their new home, under his left palm. He ran a finger over their faces and the word, 'Podere Cipressi'.

He was determined now; he would do anything to have their dreams fulfilled. Hermione's home the way she liked it. Adrian's baby sister? He wasn't hoping that Hermione would agree to conceive again any sooner now, but who knew about the future? Who could have thought that one day, he, Draco Malfoy would sacrifice everything he had for the woman he had spent half his life, hating. If he could do that, couldn't Hermione lay aside her hatred and give them a chance of a new beginning? Wouldn't she consider his offer once she sensed that his changes were genuine?

Of course, there was still hope that she might reconsider her decision. She was Hermione Granger, million times better than Draco Malfoy and he was proud of it.

COMING UP: Grape of Wrath (Part 4)