A/N: Thanks to Kitcatscratch, Grovek26, SereniteRose, and guests for their reviews on last chapter. Thanks for the favourites and follows.
Since the Grape of Wrath chapters are very long and tough to write, and this particular one has almost twenty plus memories of various lengths to be written (from Apolline and Eva), descriptions of Beauxbatons to set the real mood, if I write even one thousand words for each memory, it will be like twenty thousand words only for them. It'll greatly dilute the mood and therefore the chapter was divided.
Acknowledgements:
**The books 'Oola the owl who lost her hoot' and 'How to babysit a Grandma' are respective properties to 'Make believe ideas' and 'Jean Reagan'.
**Altantes was a powerful sorcerer and his iron palace in the Pyrenees was featured in the 'chansons de geste', a medieval epic French poem. The names of three Maison holders were taken from a Beauxbatons fanpage. The other facts are, however, property to JKR from Pottermore. The imagination is mine.
** The Hundred Years' War was a series of conflicts waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Plantagenet, rulers of the Kingdom of England, against the House of Valois, rulers of the Kingdom of France, for control of the latter kingdom. Since it fell around the time Beauxbatons was established, I used it as a possible motive.
Well, that's all and you can leave your feedback if you like.
This chapter is rated M.
The link to TPA Pinterest page is on my profile page.
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 80: Grape of Wrath (Part 4/1)
"Aunt, do you think I was a disrespectful widower, a fake Mourner?"
Audré looked up from reading the final draft of the deed between Meadowmoor Cottage and Podere Cipressi, mildly surprised. She decided to display her emotions on her face; Draco, who was sitting with an uncharacteristic calm demeanor, perceived it well.
"Can I have the answer, please?" he said, looking pensive.
"No." Audré replied, choosing to appear honest this time.
"But Hermione thinks I am." Her nephew stated calmly. "A disrespectful widower."
Audré noted a deep despair in his tone. "Is that a statement, contempt or resentment?" she asked evenly.
"None." Draco sighed, "I was just curious to learn the truth."
"How very strange that one who chooses to hide the truth from others pursues it most diligently!" Audré commented lightly, rolling up the deed and placing it on Morpheus's desk. It was done according to her original plan. Draco was exchanging his Italian farm house with a Parisian cottage that would solely be Hermione's property, a wedding gift from her husband.
"Some truths are not meant for everyone's ears, aunt." Draco said, taking up the deed and unrolling it. His tired grey eyes swept through the contents and he nodded, satisfied. "Why do you think I am doing this?" he asked her after a while, "Letting go of the home I treasure to give Hermione her dream home."
Audré preferred not to interrupt him. She sensed that Draco was actually having his internal monologue, aloud.
"Do I not love that place enough? Yes, I do. It was a gift from my grandfather." Her nephew continued, "Do I not cherish those sweet memories of my honeymoon with Astoria? Yes, I cherish them. They are perhaps, one of the most beautiful moments of my life or what is still left of me. Do I not understand what I am letting go when I am making that exchange with the Durants? I understand it very well, aunt, I know I can never have that place back. Then why am I doing this? Am I a lovesick fool? An impulsive moron? An obsessive idiot? Or am I after the glory? A timely move to gain something bigger, in other words?"
Audré waited solemnly for the answer to come.
"No." Draco shook his head absentmindedly, "The answer is, 'no'. I am not showing off here. I am not seeking glory. I know what is at stake. I know very well what I am doing and why."
"Otter's Pond is Hermione's dream of a home that, like many other things, she had wanted to have for Adrian. She wanted it to be her sanctuary, a final rest after a whole day of hard work, a place she can call her own. She wanted to stay warm in there; have a roof over her head when it stormed outside. Her parents sold her childhood home when they moved to Australia; the Delacour Residence isn't technically her home. She is staying here, in this Château only to have Adrian not taken away from us. So basically, after six long years of immense struggle and hardship that I put her through, this person is homeless. She doesn't have a home, a place to sleep peacefully at night if you throw us out of your Château."
"I remember Astoria. She was not like the most of my gang, Pansy and others. She was different, thoughtful and kind, a bit like Hermione. I never thought I would fall in love with her, or someone like her. She once told me that women are like a birds. No matter how high or far they fly, at the end of the day they return to their nests. It's where they find peace of heart and soul, in the presence of her family."
"Hermione is that tired bird looking for a nest, aunt, a home to return to when the night grows dark. I just want to give her that nest, a place where she can sleep peacefully and be happy. Maybe, I am not the best person to do that; maybe Alexis would have been her ideal partner but I am trying my level best. I am trying, aunt, I am trying."
While listening to a thoughtful Draco muse, Audré couldn't be more amazed. Her nephew was showing great signs of maturity: being introspective, sensitive and self questioning himself. Was Morpheus right? Was there a reason that he stumbled on Adrian that day at Tuileries? Was he finally going to find his true self?
"I hope you will not begrudge Jean for her harsh words." She said, curious to see how Draco would react.
"No, not at all." Draco said, looking very calm, "After all, it was I, who poisoned this apple and I am to be poisoned in return." He rolled up the deed, slipped it into an envelope and stowed it inside his pocket. Audré was impressed. She was witnessing the emergence of a new Draco.
"Hermione had come to say that she wants me to return home by six o' clock everyday and be present when Adrian does his homeworks." He said after a moment's thoughtful silence. "Frankly, I couldn't be more delighted. It is a wonderful opportunity to know them from close and make our bond stronger. I am looking forward to it, aunt." He smiled for the first time since Hermione had left and Audré returned to finish compiling the deed. "But there is one problem to it." the smile was gone, "St. Lupus. Descartes told me that the next New Moon is on Friday, 12th November and I can't possibly be in two places at once."
"What do you plan to do then?" Audré was sure Draco already had something in his mind and was asking for her help to execute it well.
"I have a peer or better say a friend at Sorbonne. His name is Dominique Tricaud. I want him to be me for one evening." Draco replied solemnly.
"Do you have enough Polyjuice for that?" Audré asked, subtly conveying her approval to the good plan.
"I have some in my office." her nephew replied, "I think it will be sufficient for one night."
"But why should he help you, Draco? Does he know the truth or are you going to Imperius him?" Audré pointed out evenly.
"He knows the whole truth, aunt. I told him." Draco was intensively honest. He stood up, stretched his limbs and smoothed his clothes. "Can I count on you?" he asked her.
"I'll have Jean exempt you until you are fit enough to sit with them." Audré gave him an assuring smile as a positive answer.
"Thanks, aunt." Draco ran a hand over his left breast-pocket. If Audré was guessing it well, a photo of their broom ride was there. It was touching how he treasured their feel close to his heart.
As his nephew left the study, Audré smiled contentedly. Her manipulation was working very well.
•••••
It was almost nine o' clock and Dominique was busy helping his mother to roast some chocolate nibs when his father came in to the kitchen with the most unlikely person on earth.
"Draco!" Dominique blinked, stirring the nibs unnecessarily hard and spilling it out of the large wok.
"Malfoy." His peer stated disdainfully as he settled down on one of the chairs around the scrubbed wooden table as if it was his home and not Dominique's. As Monsieur Tricaud went back to the shop on front, he sniffed the aromatic air hopefully and gave the most charming of smiles at Dominique's mother. The reward was a large chunk of chocolate pie laid before him within two minutes of his arrival. Dominique was both curious and furious.
"Merci." Draco thanked Madame Tricaud with another most charming smile of his. "I have been to many places, Madame, both at home and abroad but I can guarantee that I have never tasted anything as good as this." he prodded the pie lightly and shoved a generous amount inside his mouth. Dominique took off his apron, threw it over his shoulders and sat across to Draco.
"So that letter about you being ill was nothing but a well constructed excuse to bunk the classes and Quidditch practices, right?" he asked, ignoring his mother's reproachful glance.
In response, Draco simply turned his head sideways and showed him a small bandage. It was almost three inches long and fresh. Dominique frowned deeply.
"What happened?" he asked him but Draco finished the pie silently, wiped his mouth on a napkin, took Madame Tricaud's left hand and kissed it chastely.
"Dear Madame, I hope you will not take it against me if I drop by sometimes only to taste that heavenly pie of yours?" he asked her in the most gentlemanly manner.
"Je vous en prie!" (You're welcome!), Madame Tricaud was a plump and cheerful lady who loved to have her children and everyone associated with them, well fed. Dominique shook his head in disbelief. Draco did know how to flatter people.
Draco next turned to him with the same authoritative aura he had when he walked into their kitchen. "Dear peer, can we have a word in private?"
"Sure. Am I not dying to have my bedroom invaded by a Malfoy?" Dominique stood up and left for his upstairs sanctuary, looking sullen. Draco followed him closely, smug.
Once there, he had the door locked and placed an Imperturbable Charm on it. Dominique sat on his bed and wondered what the secret word could be.
"If you are here to discuss Old Yves…" he started but Draco held up a hand to silence him. His features were solemn now but grave, same as it had been the day he had confessed his crime before Dominique.
"Dominique, I need your help. Badly." He settled on the only threadbare sofa and stated seriously.
"I guessed that already." Dominique replied tersely, waiting for the rest to follow.
"I want you to spend this Friday night at my uncle's Château in Courpalay…" Draco said, "…as me, Draco Malfoy."
Dominique knew Draco was capable of conjuring most hideous kinds of plans but this was by far, the most farfetched one.
"And where would the real Draco Malfoy be at that time?" he asked, taking it that a certain well known potion would be involved in it.
"Spending a rough night at the St. Lupus's Facility for the Lycanthropes." Draco answered plainly. Dominique had never heard of such a place but what followed next was most intriguing: Draco was secretly working as a volunteer for a group of researchers to help them prepare a Serum to cure the Werewolves. It was a condition set by his mother-in-law, Apolline Delacour, who in return would be giving him seven batches of Jean Granger's pregnancy memories. Every fortnightly, he was injected a dose of purified Werewolf venom called the Lupus Venom and on each lunar phase of full moon, new moon and lunar eclipse, the venom was activated making him go through excruciating pain, paralysis, nightmare and even near-death-experience until it was over by the following morning. Madame Delacour, whom Dominique had heard about from Eva for her brother was currently dating her daughter, would give Draco one month's worth of pregnancy memory for each dose of venom he survived and he was currently on his fourth dose with the new moon scheduled only a day away.
Dominique couldn't help but gulp. Even in his wildest imaginations, he could never think a Malfoy being so desperate to risk his life for some memories! But when Draco showed him three official documents of participation signed by Chief Researcher Henri Descartes, there was no doubt left in his mind: this man was deeper than he had ever taken him.
"Remember, I told you I have valid means to know what Hermione's dreams are?" Draco asked him, taking back the papers, folding them neatly and stowing inside his robe, "This is what I meant."
"But this is madness, Draco!" Dominique was feeling quite worried now, "What if you die?"
"I guess that's must be the reason why Apolline had me to participate in that research in the first place; hoping that I'll die trying." Draco said evenly, "But this man is not what she thinks he is." He shook his head firmly, "Draco Malfoy is not a weak thirteen years old teenage anymore, who'd bawl and over exaggerate a hippogriff scratch. Years of pain and sufferings had toughened him. He can take pain now; smiling."
"But…" Dominique desperately looked for a loophole in Draco's plan, "What if your family finds out that it is me and not you? I can't change my voice. Thanks to your testimony at the court, Draco, the entire Wizarding France knows that Polyjuice can't change the drinker's voice."
"My aunt knows everything." Draco said confidently, "She'll help you to impersonate me. With her help, Hermione or anyone would never catch a wind." He slumped on the sofa and crossed his legs, "Are you in it?" he enquired solemnly.
Dominique considered the offer for a while. Was it actually possible that he would turn away a man who was risking his soul for Jean's locket and life for a few batches of her pregnancy memories?
"Do they make Chicken and Mushroom Vol-au-vents at your uncle's Château?" he shrugged indignantly. "I am quite fond of it."
"I am sure they do." Draco smiled for the first time since his arrival; looking immensely relieved, "I'll have the elves told." He uncrossed his legs and stood up.
"Draco?" Dominique called him once the Imperturbable Charm was lifted and the door was open.
"What?" ready to leave, the blonde turned to him.
"Yohan was pretty worried today." Dominique said, suddenly remembering it, "Our next match against the Third Years is in two weeks and his precious Seeker was absent from team practice."
"Doesn't he know that I am ill?" Draco asked, frowning lightly. "Didn't you tell him?"
"I did." Dominique replied, "But it only increased his worries. Now he'll do anything to have you back on team, Draco. We don't have a reserve Seeker and the ones who tried out with us are no way near as good as you."
"Really?" Draco smirked, arching an eyebrow, "When is the next team practice then?"
"Monday." Dominique knew that smirk and was wondering what Draco was up to now.
Draco's smirk broadened. "Then on Monday, dear fellow player, we shall see how desperate Monsieur Yohan is to have his Seeker back on team." He winked and with a goodbye wave, left.
Dominique shook his head and collapsed on the bed.
Draco Malfoy should be awarded with a diamond medal for outstanding contribution to the field of conspiracy.
•••••
Hermione received two pleasant surprises upon her return on Friday afternoon. One: her son looked very happy about something. As soon as she came out of Gringotts Floo, he came running to her with a loud squeal of 'Mama!' and kissed her twice on each cheek. Hermione was startled at such manner of warm welcome but had no complaints. Two: she was told that Apolline had been to Château for lunch. She wondered why she wasn't informed. She could have returned home earlier.
Washed, changed and retired for the day, Hermione soon settled down with Adrian, hugged and kissed him to warm up her soul and rejuvenate her spirit from the day's heavy work. They talked about his day at school and she tried to find out from his tiny hints if he was still upset over the baby issue. Her son, however, showed none. Sitting comfortably on her lap with his curl adorned head resting against her bosom, he showed her three new books that he had received from his three grandmothers – Apolline, Audré and Narcissa.
"Grandma Apolline gave me this." the first book he showed her was titled 'Cunning Banana and the Case of the Slippery Shoes.' He opened the book for her and Hermione examined it with great curiosity. It turned out that the storyline was pretty funny: the said 'Cunning Banana' was actually a detective who was investigating a case of missing slippery shoes. Hermione made a mental note to read it for a good laugh.
The second book had an even stranger title: 'How to Babysit a Grandma'. It was a gift from none other than Audré. Again Adrian had the book opened for her and Hermione lightly scanned through the pages, finding it full of colourful illustrations. The storyline was unique too. A little girl paid her lonely grandma visits over the weekends and they spent some quality time together. She called those visits 'babysitting her grandma'. Ironically, it reminded Hermione of her own grandmothers. She sighed deeply and decided to read it too.
The last one was from Narcissa and named 'Oola the Owl who lost her hoot'. Interestingly, like the previous two, it was a Muggle book telling the story of an owl named Oola. Oola was a baby owl and one night, she hooted so much that her voice left her. The book was about her journey to the forest to find her hoot. It was a funny story but Hermione couldn't laugh. She wondered why Narcissa had chosen to give Adrian a Muggle story book. Adrian, however, was unaware of his mother's thoughts and read a few lines from the storybook to his own over-energetic owlet – Hedwig. The said bird, however, was busy pulling Peter's long ears.
Once the books were done with, Adrian showed Hermione his newest addition to the kingdom of pets: a tiny, green turtle.
"She is Zoom." He proclaimed happily as if it was Queen Elizabeth. He held a transparent box before her eyes. Hermione saw as an esteemed turtle was slowly trying to climb the sidewalls with its tiny limbs.
"Zoom?" Hermione blinked incredulously at the pet.
"Yes, Zoom." Adrian affirmed with a toothy grin, "Aunt Eva gave her to me."
"Aunt Eva was here?" Hermione blinked again, this time in amazement, "When?"
"After grandma Apolline left." Adrian replied, watching his new pet walk inside the box with shiny bright eyes. "She came to talk to grandma Audré about something important."
"Oh." Hermione remembered Eva consulting Audré once for her family problems and had her curiosity satisfied. "But why are you keeping it in the box, little rabbit? I am sure Zoom…" ironically the choice of name reminded her of Ron's little own Pigwidgeon aka 'pig', "…would love to stretch her little legs."
"I wanted but couldn't. Hedwig tried to eat her twice." Adrian pouted his pink lips and complained heavily. "Poor Zoom. Got scared and hid in grandma Narcissa's sleeve. Then she gave me this box to keep her." he scowled angrily at his owlet which was now pulling Peter's furry tail.
So the box was from Narcissa! Hermione rubbed her forehead and wondered if she should prevent Adrian from associating with Mrs. Malfoy. She didn't trust her on the matters of child rearing but somehow the idea sounded cruel. Hermione knew that no matter what her failure in raising her own son had been, Narcissa loved Adrian from her heart.
They were admiring the turtle and the new books when Audré, the person Hermione was looking forward to meet, finally joined them with a tray laden with treats and afternoon tea.
"I don't think anyone who has a pair of functioning eyes needs saying that the Château was invaded by Apolline Delacour." she waved at the tray full of freshly baked macaroons, chocolate cake and a large chunk of Hermione's favourite Banoffee Pie. "When I asked your esteemed mother, Jean, whether she always had to be a mobile bakery anywhere she set her pretty feet, she said…" she lifted her chin pompously in a perfect mimicry of Apolline, "Apolline Delacour does not visit a place with empty hands." She quoted her and Hermione roared in laughter.
"Mother says that it a tradition in her father's family to not visit any place without a gift or present." She said pouring tea for Audré and herself and giving Adrian some Hot Chocolate.
"Grandma brought Duck Pate for me." the little boy piped with a bright smile. He kept giving her tea cup furtive glances and noticing it, Hermione offered him a sip from her cup. The reward was another dazzling smile and a tea-smeared soppy kiss for her cheek only.
Hermione loved her son, his little acts of playfulness, his love for his little pets, his charming and innocent smiles and everything about him. It was a proof that though the boy shared blood connection with a man neither of them liked, he was completely different from Draco Malfoy. Adrian could smile, could love his pets, could share his things with his friends easily and treat his elders with respect: a few important humane traits that were missing from Draco's character. Hermione was grateful to have Adrian all for her own.
They had an excellent tea followed by Adrian's attempts to feed Peter some of the macaroons. The rabbit rejected it outright on his face but his little companion, Hedwig, finished it in one go.
"Why is she always so hungry?" Adrian complained heavily as the little bird gulped down a second macaroon. Hermione was strangely reminded of Ron's voracious appetite.
"Leave her be, my little man," Audré said kindly, "The poor owlet doesn't have her maman or papa owl to look after her. Maybe she is sad for them and eats to cover it up."
Adrian's innocent features saddened immediately. He looked down at the greedy owlet which was now devouring a small piece of cake. "I am sorry, Hedwig, okay? I am sorry. I shouldn't talk to you like that." he stroked the furry little bird gently. "I told you that my Mama is your Mama. You can even call her Mama. Okay? I won't mind. But don't be upset. We'll find your maman and papa soon. I'll ask uncle Edmound. He knows a lot about owls. He will find them." He bent down and kissed softly on Hedwig's tiny head, "You can eat anything you like. But don't try to eat Zoom. Okay? She is very small and gets scared."
Watching her son talk to the little owlet as if it was a human baby, Hermione's heart melted. What was wonderful kid Adrian was! What wouldn't she do to give him everything he asked and beyond; where wouldn't she go to fulfill all his dreams?
"Little man, why don't you go and show Zoom to your new fishes?" her musings broke when Audré suddenly spoke. She noticed herself being tearful and brushed them off in haste.
"There are so many things you can learn from kids." Audré said fondly once Adrian zoomed up the stairs with Zoom, "Their feelings are pure, their emotions…unadulterated and their acts...completely selfless. I won't say that there aren't a few exceptions to it but most of the kids I have met were very pleasant."
"I have always wanted Adrian to be a gentleman, aunt; a true gentleman, like my dad is, like father Gustave and Alexis are. I have always wanted to keep him away from Malfoy's evil clutches. Always. Always. Always." Hermione sighed deeply.
"You are sighing as if it's all over." Audré chastised Hermione lightly, "I am sure Adrian will grow up to be a fine gentleman, Jean, one you will be very proud of one day, one who will not let your sacrifices go in vain." She smiled, "Now to the business. I hope you are curious to know why I suddenly invited Apolline for lunch."
Hermione nodded. So her instincts were serving her right, Apolline was invited in her absence for a reason. "I was wondering when I could ask you that."
"Good." Audré seemed satisfied, "I know I could have done it while you were at home, Jean but I deliberately didn't. We, I mean Adrian's grandmothers, needed to have a nice chat with our little grandson and therefore it was carried out while you were at office."
Hermione knew Audré didn't do anything without a legit reason behind it.
"Adrian, I have noticed, is very close to his mother." Audré's features were as calm of a bedside storyteller, "He understands you in a way that no one does. He doesn't know what really happened between you and Draco but somehow he perceives it very well…not the assault of course, the trauma, the pain you experience. He calls it 'hurting his Mama'. I don't know if there ever was a better term to express it."
"I have also noticed how he avoids talking about topics that he thinks might hurt you. Draco is the first person on that list. I have never heard him discussing Draco with you or anyone; not even me. And the recent issue about babies is the other. He thinks since he will not let Monsieur's seeds be involved further, his dear Mama can't have babies. Ever. And that was what hurting him inside: the idea that his mother can never have babies. He couldn't share it with you. You'll be upset. In fact, you are upset, Jean. He couldn't take the idea of living alone either. That's why he had that magical outburst on Tuesday evening. I was not against calling Apolline but Adrian was not ill, Jean, he was depressed and he needed you, his mother. He needed to be assured that the person he loves more than anyone else in the world has heard his unspoken and deepest plea to have a sibling. He needed to be heard and be talked to, be pacified."
Tears as large as opals started flowing down Hermione's cheek but she listened to Audré, mesmerized.
"Since Adrian didn't feel like sharing his despair with you, I thought we should do the talking alone. I called Apolline and explained everything to her. She understood the gravity of the situation and decided to help. I also shared it with Narcissa. She is so depressed these days, about Draco and a younger brother she told me about, someone called Regulus. He died long ago and she didn't know. If I left her alone now, she would surely go mad. So I called her to join us and together we explained everything to Adrian."
"What did you tell him?" Hermione spoke for the first time since Audré had started.
"The truth: the plain and simple truth." Audré replied calmly. "Apolline started with a little tale about Gabrielle. She told him that Gabrielle was almost ten years younger than Fleur. She had never considered having another baby but had her in the end. Next Narcissa told Adrian about Draco: how he was born when she had lost all her hopes of having a baby. In the end, I explained very patiently to your son that his mother can have babies and she will have it when the right time comes."
"And did he ask you when that right time was?" Hermione was actually visualizing her son listening to all the stories; his mouth slightly agape, his eyes round.
Audré smiled. "Of course, he did. He's your son, Jean. Curiosity is his second nature. He asked me when his Mama can have babies and I said that his Mama was busy helping the Minister of Magic now. Since having a baby is a great responsibility and Mamas grow pretty big at that time, his Mama needs to have some of her important jobs sorted out and then have some rest to prepare her body for it."
"So basically, you had his hopes rekindled?" Hermione asked evenly, wondering if it was a good move. "But there is a flaw in that plan, aunt. I am not having a baby with Malfoy."
"I never said that you are having it with Draco." Audré said calmly. "I just said that you'll have the baby when you are ready and when you will be ready and with whom…" she paused and smiled mysteriously, "…is completely up to you."
"Merlin! Did you tell him that I was planning to divor…" Hermione sat up straight, alarmed. Audré held up a hand to calm her.
"Please, Jean, don't over react. Let's be plain and simple here." She said solemnly, "Adrian thought his mother can never have a baby. We have broken that misconception. Now he knows his mother can and will have a baby when she is ready for it. End of story. What his mother will do is up to her, Jean, not him. He is happy to know that his mother. Can. Have. Babies. And he'll not. Be. Alone. Okay?"
"Okay." Hermione let out a relieved sigh and nodded. "Okay, aunt, okay. But did he ask you about the seeds?" she remembered it suddenly.
"He did." Audré replied, nodding, "And we had that explained to him too. We told him that his Grandpas Gustave and Lucius were with his Grandmas when they wanted to have babies. Right? But they couldn't have it. Why? Because every baby has a time to be born. That's why aunt Gabrielle was born ten years after aunt Fleur and his dear Monsieur was born when his mother had left all hopes. Time is the factor here, Jean. Seeds and eggs are not. In fact, time is the factor everywhere; in every work that we do. Nothing happens before or after the intended time. It will happen precisely when it is supposed to happen."
Having spent almost a year with a Time Turner to have her classes, Hermione fully realized the gravity of that statement. Yes, time was the factor, be it here or anywhere. That day in 1994, they were supposed to save Sirius and Buckbeak and they did it despite all the obstacles. In fact, Audré's words and explanations had her own hopes rekindled too and explained why Adrian was so happy.
"Draco told me that you want him to return home by six o' clock." Audré suddenly changed the topic. "I say it's a very good move to know him from up close."
"Yeah, I took your suggestion to have him observed well under the pretence of homework sessions. I think I can finally tolerate him." Hermione sighed. "Anyways, how is he, aunt? He looked pretty ill when I talked to him last night."
"Draco is still not doing very well." Audré shook her head sadly, "I forbade him to go to office today but he didn't listen and returned home with high fever. He's on his bed now. Narcissa and I checked him before I came here."
"There is something I want to tell you, aunt." Hermione said thoughtfully, feeling a tinge of guilt, "You know I am not the kind of person who would ridicule one for their weaknesses. That's for the likes of Malfoy. He used to tease Harry because his parents were dead. He did the same about Ron's mother and Neville, whose parents were tortured to insanity by his own maniac aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange."
"But last night, I couldn't help but taunt Malfoy. I mocked him, said that he was a wonderful mourner to marry me only two monthes after his first wife's death. I hate him, aunt but what I did was wrong. I shouldn't have done that. Besides, I have nothing against Astoria. She is dead and I feel bad for her. Poor woman." she sighed and rubbed her forehead, feeling tired finally. "A few days ago, Malfoy told Adrian that his still missed his first wife and sons. I don't mind if he misses them but his words melted my Adrian's soft heart and he decided to help Malfoy to be a father. That is when I decided to have a few points clarified."
"I asked Malfoy what would he had done if Astoria was alive and found out about Adrian. He said he would tell her that it was an accident and Adrian was a sideline Malfoy. Sideline Malfoy, aunt? Can you believe that, aunt? My son? A sideline Malfoy? Who was he kidding actually?" as she spoke, Hermione could still feel the bitter taste of hatred in her mouth, "That's when I lost my temper and taunted him mercilessly."
"Draco told me about it, Jean." Audré commented cautiously.
"My son is not a sideline, aunt. If anyone is a sideline, it's Draco Malfoy. A sperm donor." Hermione declared dismissively. "Adrian doesn't require Malfoy's name, money, property or that bloody Malfoy Manor where his mother was…" she exhaled heavily, "I am his mother. I am his father. And I am very well capable of taking care of my son."
"I am sure you do." Audré assured her calmly, "Now cool down. It's the weekends." She took up the book she had given Adrian. The boy had left them on Hermione's lap. "How to Babysit a Grandma." She read aloud the title, "Rings a bell, Jean?"
"Bell?" Hermione frowned, slightly distracted.
"Here. Read the title." Audré handed her the book with her trademark enigmatic smile.
"How to babysit a grandma!" Hermione declared officially, trying to decipher the hidden message. She looked up at Audré expectantly.
"Read it again." She bade her calmly.
"How to babysit a grandma!" Hermione read again, concentrating hard on the title. What was Audré trying to convey actually?
"How to what, Jean?" Audré seemed to be enjoying herself immensely.
"Babysit." Hermione tried to read between the lines.
"What?" Audré was laughing now.
And then it dawned on Hermione. How to babysit a grandma. "How to babysit you?" she asked her, now joining the laughter.
"Don't leave Apolline and Narcissa out, dear. I am sure they'll be after my blood if Adrian only babysits me." Audré nodded innocently.
"Aunt!" Hermione shook her head, mocking reproach, "You want Adrian to be busy enough to not feel lonely."
"Don't make me sound so selfish." Audré said reproachfully, "It's basically a clever scheme so that the old ladies can have the most eligible bachelor for their own too."
"Did you hear me complain?" Hermione asked, "But aunt, Mrs. Malfoy?" she was still doubtful about Draco's mother.
"Jean." Audré placed a hand on hers, "Narcissa is terribly sorry. I hope you realize that soon, dear. Sometimes, words don't convey what eyes do and I have seen her remorse in her eyes. Trust me, trust aunt Audré."
There was something in Audré's blue eyes and calm features that Hermione couldn't argue further.
"Fine." she agreed at last. "But you'll be there with Adrian anytime he is with her."
"Very well." Audré took the book, opened it and started to read, looking pretty relaxed. "Another thing, dear. Can we have your next therapy session tonight? It's been pretty long since you had your last one."
"Tonight?" Hermione considered the offer. She was planning to ask Audré for another session but hesitating since the lawyer was very busy with her case that was postponed when Elli Decazes was attacked. But now that Audré was offering it herself, she was relieved. "Fine." she nodded. "Will you put me into sleep again?" she was curious.
"Deepest of the deep sleep." Audré replied leisurely, not taking her eyes off the pages. "Don't worry, Jean. I know what I am doing. Have faith on me. I won't let you down."
"I know." Hermione stated calmly. In her heart, she knew that Audré, no matter what happened, would never let her down.
She would save the day; as she always had.
•••••
Draco still remembered the day he had been most cold in his life: on the Christmas Eve when he was just six.
With a magnificent Christmas party where notable wizards and witches starting from the Minister of Magic (if he was not a Mudblood for they would never be allowed to set foot on Malfoy Manor, no matter what) to Ministry high officials and rich purebloods (for poor and flea bitten families like the Weasleys would also be barred in the Malfoy Manor) were invited, only a day away, Narcissa Malfoy, the hostess of the party was busy putting some last minute charm of her touch when Draco sneaked out of the gigantic house and headed straight for the back gardens where a pair of squirrels had caught his eyes.
Draco loved animals or better say loved bossing them. Courtesy to Lucius Malfoy, the Malfoy Manor was full of beautiful and fascinating animals, fishes and birds collected from far and away and from an early age, Draco loved to exercise his power over them. He wasn't cruel to them of course; they listened to him, obeyed him on their own free will and Draco felt a sense of extreme superiority whenever the white peacock spread its feathers as he walked past it or the pheasants sang where he sat on a garden bench or the fishes surrounded him looking for food when he waddled the pond. He considered himself a natural animal charmer and detested anyone who would challenge his authority there, first being Hagrid whom he liked to call a slave and second being Harry Potter whom he was jealous of for taming a hippogriff.
That evening, Draco was pursuing a pair of squirrels that were the new inhabitants of the Malfoy grounds. It was deadly cold outside and Narcissa had forbidden her precious son from leaving the warmth of the house. But Draco felt restless until he had the squirrels know of his presence, make them understand who was the boss here. He put on his little boots, sneaked out of the Manor and walked carefully over the snow covered grounds to the squirrels that were hiding inside a small hollowed piece of log under a birch tree. He smiled smugly when they gratefully took the nuts he had brought for them; the first step into taming any animal was offering it food and Draco was so lost in looking at them trying to please him that he didn't notice it when his boots sunk into the thick layer of ice and froze.
It was almost nightfall and Draco, satisfied with his little excursion, stood up to leave only to find his boots and feet frozen. He was stuck in the cold.
He panicked immediately, trying to lift his feet and realizing that he was unable to do so. They were senseless, numb from cold and not listening to his command to come out of the blasted boots. Next he screamed and called for help but being pretty much away from the original Manor, his small and tender voice didn't got carried far in the howling of wind. He continued screaming until no sound was left in his voice; he even tried the elves for they would surely listen to their Master Draco, but in vain. It seemed as if the whole world was up against him, conspiring to have him frozen to death.
It was an elf named Dobby who saved him that day. Lucius liked to take this particular elf with him whenever he went; he liked kicking it before others just to showoff his superiority and power. That evening Lucius was out to invite a few last minute added guests and returned Manor with Dobby. The elf was following him quietly when he heard Draco's faint screams of help and notified his master. As first, Lucius ignored it and threatened to chain him to the dungeons for a week if he dared to trick him. But when dobby kept insisting sincerely and Narcissa came out from Manor, looking wild and tearful for Draco was missing, he immediately started searching the grounds.
They found a half dead Draco frozen and stuck under the birch tree. He was taken in immediately and Lucius left to bring home the most proficient Healer.
Narcissa spent a sleepless Christmas Eve to make sure her only child lived to see the Christmas morning. When Draco woke up the next morning, he expected his father to cane him, for he was caned sometimes when his mischievous acts ran severe but thankfully, he wasn't. Both Lucius and Narcissa looked relieved beyond any possible measurement to see him alive. But he received other punishments. His Grandfather Abraxas punished him subtly. He was not allowed to leave the Manor for an entire week.
Later on, Draco found out that house elves couldn't hear their young masters until they turned seven, the age they most likely started demonstrating their magic and hence none of the elves could come to his rescue that night, though the fact didn't stop Lucius from having them punished all.
Now almost eighteen years after that incident, Draco wondered if he was ever so cold as he was last night when the Lupus Venom finally struck.
On his fourth time around with the poison, Draco had expected to experience extreme pain like that of Cruciatus or paralysis that would hinder his breathing and push him to the edge of death or horrible nightmares. He had ensured that Dominique took the Polyjuice Potion with his hair in it, had him smuggled in his uncle's Château to impersonate him for a night and had returned to the Werewolf facility hoping he was not late like his previous three times.
He was wrong. He was late. When Chief Researcher Descartes measured his body temperature it was already around 36°C and he was shivering. The temperature then rapidly dropped to 35° and under intense cold his body started to become numb while grey and blue patches appeared on his skin. Descartes explained that the symptoms were almost like Frostbite; the core body temperature being 37°C, human had very narrow range of functional temperature for they'd have fever at 38° and intense cold at 35°. Draco didn't care. Now he knew what was waiting for him.
The following few hours were the longest and most helpless of his already cursed him. As the body temperature rapidly descended to 25°, his blood started diverting away from the peripheries to keep his core body warm and his limbs paralyzed. Descartes had all possible means tried on him; to save his limbs for they would be permanently lost if remained bloodless for long. The result was Draco's fingers and toes were full of painful blisters when his body temperature returned to normal in the morning.
"They will slough away and new cells will be growing to replace the old ones." The Chief researcher informed him as one of his junior researchers drew out his blood. Draco didn't care. He had passed the night only thinking about those memories and Hermione; now he would be glad to depart for good.
"I hope you'll not hesitate to provide us with your semen." He startled and looked up when Descartes handed him a small container.
"Semen?" Draco repeated, extremely affronted. "What for?"
"We need to analyze that the venom is not passing into your reproductive systems and will not affect your future progenies." Descartes replied calmly.
"You mean…" Draco fisted his hands around the small container, half crushing it, "You told me, I will not be harmed!" he felt like strangling the Chief Researcher for tricking him.
"Relax, Monsieur." Descartes, it seemed was ready for such an angry outburst. "We didn't lie to you. You will not be harmed. Lupus Venom is not transmitted by secretions such as saliva or semen. They are transmitted by the venom which one produces only when he or she is a full-fledged werewolf." He explained patiently, "But this is a research and we maintain a protocol. We can't overlook any possibilities even if it is most distant. I promise you Monsieur Malfoy that if we find, even a single trace of werewolf venom in your semen, you'll be exempt of this research and we'll conclude it there."
"And what will happen to me?" Draco gritted his teeth. How dare he talked as if it was nothing?
"Simple. You'll get the first dose of Serum you are helping us to synthesize." Descartes replied confidently, "If it can heal werewolves, Monsieur, will it not be able to heal you?"
"Fine." Draco spat, satisfied with the explanation now. He stood up, donned his shirt and set out for the nearest toilet.
Fifteen minutes later, he handed Descartes a sample of the required material and stowed the money and document of participation. Before he left the werewolf facility, he made the Chief Researcher to take a Wizard's Oath that his sample will not be handled by anyone but him.
The Château grounds were deserted when he apparated there, in desperate need of a hot bath to rewarm and cleanse himself from the act of manual stimulation. He trudged through the gardens and soon, reached his suite on the first floor.
He found another Draco and his one and only aunt Audré waiting for him in his sitting room. It was a bizarre scene.
"Draco!" the other Draco exclaimed. Draco knew that it was actually Dominique but the way he was impersonating him, even his cold manner of sitting, prowling manner of walking and disdainful looks, he could hardly believe it was anyone else but him.
"Did you enjoy the Vol-au-vents?" Draco waved aside Dominique's alarm and locking the door behind him, settled on a sofa.
"My nephew has gone after his dear aunt when it comes to twisted sense of humour." Audré commented lightly. To Draco, she looked more strained than ever but strangely happy.
"How was it?" Dominique's Draco features were clearly displaying concern now. The real Draco wondered if he looked like that when he was concerned.
"I was an ice statue for more than six hours." Draco showed him the painful blisters on his fingers. "Now if you could excuse me, I would like to have a bath."
"Are you asking me to leave?" Dominique demanded with Draco's cold features.
"Never mind him, Dominique." Audré replied on Draco's stead. It seemed that they have reached a comfortable relationship within just one night for she was addressing him by his first name already. "But I think your friend is right. He had a rough night and needs some sleep."
Dominique nodded, still looking worried. He stood up, collected his things and then Audré escorted him out.
Draco waved his wand at the fireplace which roared to life, bathing him with a draft of hot air. He called Angie, his personal elf, to draw him a hot bath and enjoyed the warmth waiting for his aunt to return.
She came and came carrying the Pensieve with two bottles full of silvery swirling liquids. She set them down on the table and Draco noticed that the bottles were labeled as 'one' and 'two'.
"I know you are dying to watch them, Draco." Audré's mysterious smile was back. "I don't blame you. Anyone would. But before you proceed, I would like you to be fully prepared for what's in there."
Draco eyed the bottles, wondering what was so special about them and why they were two in number.
"The bottle labeled 'one' contains the memories, in this case from two persons: Apolline and…" she paused deliberately, "…Eva."
"Eva?" Draco's mouth fell open.
"Yes, Eva." Audré nodded, clearly enjoying giving Draco the surprise, "For your kind information, Eva was Jean's roommate when they were at Beauxbations and without her memories, your quest to find everything about that pregnancy and my purpose to give Jean an in depth therapy will be incomplete. I therefore, had Eva give me her memories. Yesterday, I invited Apolline. She gave me her memories too. I put them in the Pensieve and watched them all. Now they are in that bottle labeled 'one'."
Draco slapped himself mentally for ignoring such a crucial point. How could he be such a fool to overlook Eva, Hermione's friend and roommate? But thanks to Merlin and his late uncle, his aunt had the day saved. He was about to ask if the second bottle contained Edmound's memories too but Audré replied without him asking it.
"The other bottle has my memories." She said solemnly, "And they are very complex, Draco, something you have never witnessed before: a memory inside another memory or better called a 'dual memory'. The first of two is the memory of Jean's third therapy session which took place last night and the second..." she smiled, "…well I don't want to spoil the surprise."
"Surprise?" Draco snatched the bottle and peeped into it, wondering if he should start with it first but Audré shook her head.
"No, no, Draco." she said, taking the bottle and placing it firmly on the table, "All good things to those who wait. Go and take a bath, have your breakfast, take some rest. Meanwhile, I'll have Narcissa to visit you. She is very worried though your doppelganger, Dominique, did a magnificent job impersonating you. As I said, nephew, don't rush into watching these memories. They are completely different from the ones you have watched. They are very deep, very meaningful. You have to look past them and see what's actually happening rather than what seems to be happening. Only then can you understand Jean."
Draco nodded, stomaching the gravity of Audré's words.
"As for Beauxbatons, I am certain that you don't know anything about it except for that it is a school in France." Audré said, leaning against her sofa and folding her arms. "I'll just give you a brief overview of the place so that you don't feel overly foreign when you watch the memories."
As Angie the elf, bowed and informed him that his bath was drawn, Draco dismissed her with a small and stiff nod waiting for Audré to continue.
"Long long ago, there was no school where wizards could send their children to receive institutionalized education of witchcraft and wizardry." Audré started as if it was one of the stories from the Tales of Beedle the Bard. "Morpheus told me how two wizards and two witches first set up Hogwarts for Wizarding children. It was, if I remember his words well, around 990 A. D. that Hogwarts came into being. Beauxbatons, however, is relatively new. It was established in the middle of fourteenth century, when France was having a Hundred Years War with England and wouldn't send their pupils to study at Hogwarts."
"Most French families were feeling the need of a school on the French soil to send their children to when two notable wizards, René Bellefeuille and Lucian Ombrelune and a witch, Brie Papillonlisse, first took the initiative. They talked to other scholars, wizards and witches from France and abroad. In the end, it was decided that a school would be built in the Pyrenees, the mountains that border our southern regions. But there was a problem."
"A great wizard by the name of Atlantes the Sorcier, had the entire Pyrenees under his reign. He had an iron fortress there and wouldn't allow anyone to tread the mountains without his expressed permission, let alone build a school. Presented with the problem, Papillonlisse, Ombrelune and Bellefeuille decided to meet Atlantes personally and persuade him to have a school built there."
"They met. Atlantes, as expected, rejected their proposal. He would not have anyone disturb his peace or breach his territories. Then, the clever wizard, Ombrelune, offered him something that even a great wizard like Atlantes couldn't refuse."
"He proposed to make Atlantes the Father of French Wizarding Education if he agreed with their terms. It was a great opportunity to gain glory, Draco, for wizards like Atlantes or Salazar Slytherin loved being regarded as supreme powers. Atlantes accepted the offer this time and Beauxbatons was built."
"Unlike Hogwarts, as Morpheus has told me, which is a castle, Beauxbatons is a breath taking palace made of marble and alchemic gold donated by Nicolas Flamel. Atlantes, with the prospect of being glorified, summoned the Nordic elves and mountain dwarves to build the palace and it was completed in just one year. Also, Beauxbatons has no Houses but it has three Maisons or dormitories named after the three initiators. Papillonlisse Maison is for the first to third year students. Ombrelune Maison is for the fourth to sixth years. At the end of six years, the students take the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams and move to Bellefeuille Maison for their seventh and final year of education."
Like his young son, Draco was listening to Audré's story, his mouth agape and eyes slightly round.
Audré took a deep breath. "Jean was in Bellefeuille Maison with Eva when she studied at Beauxbatons. The whole Beauxbatons palace complex is set in a valley with maximum security, a place the Great Atlantes himself had chosen for the school. It is surrounded by three waterfalls and virtually impenetrable by land or water or air. The three Maisons are set in the mountain cleaves with the palace in the centre. Water being the main element here, we used to have ice sculptures for Christmas. There is a fountain in the formal gardens that is said to have beautifying and healing properties."
Audré paused and seemed to lose herself in some thoughts. Draco, sufficiently warmed now, waited for more.
"Despite being in such a beautiful place for study, Draco as you will soon witness it, Jean was strangely quiet in those memories. Her silence was very poignant; she spoke more through her silence than through her words." Audré sighed at last, "Frankly, Draco, I never expected you to be influenced by these memories. You always struck to me as a man with very narrow perspective. But I have noticed how these memories have broadened the horizon of your mind, your views on your life. Correct me if I am wrong, but after the first memories, you started to appreciate Jean. After the second, you declared that you felt remorseful, something that you should have felt years ago. After the third, you decided to sacrifice something that was dear to you, that farm house in Tuscany." She tilted her head sideways, focusing her intense gaze on Draco. "I am curious to learn what the fourth batch will do to you, Draco; how it will change or affect you."
Draco considered Audré's words with care. She was an observant woman and right in a sense that the memories where having subtle impact on his personality. This Draco that he was today, didn't exist even two monthes ago. This positive change, this new man was an unintended gift from Hermione and to some extent, Adrian.
"Take your time, nephew, take your time." Audré said leisurely and stood up, "I'll leave you with your hard earned solitude to find some answers."
After she left, Draco sighed, rubbed his face and shifted the Pensieve and memories to his bedroom. It was only early morning of Saturday and he had an entire day before him. Also, he was planning to follow Audré's advice to take time and not rush.
It seemed as if like his son was growing up in Hermione's womb in those memories, his father too was growing up and maturing by diving and living in those memories. Certainly that didn't happen in one day.
To be continued in the next chapter…