The Lord The Lady and The Land

Chapter 13 Lose and Gain


Hermione was peeling the muddy clothes off her body as Harry got her tub ready.
“Harry, I’ve been thinking, you need an heir. Is there a possibility that any of your other lovers have had a child by you?”

She pulled off the rest of her clothes, then with Harry holding her hand she stepped in.
“No. I was always very careful about that.” Harry answered.

Hermione sat in the hot water trying to relax but was trembling as she said,
“Maybe you should… start looking for a wife. I will not give up my quest for finding a potion or charm to have children. And, I will not give you up . But many young men your age have children already. It will be harder to find a wife, the longer you wait.”

“ We still have nine months before we can get married,” Harry reminded her.
“That’s ONLY IF I CAN PRODUCE CHILDREN. If not, you have to marry some one else. I would still want to be your mistress if you want, but a wife may not stand for it.”

Harry laughed.
“Hermione? How can you be so naïve? A lot of wives don’t know their beloved husbands have mistresses.”

“My father never…”Hermione objected.

“He may not have. I’m not saying he did. But, your uncle.”

“Yes, I know he did, or at least he cheated on Marie. He had Posy.” Hermione said with revolt.

“It’s in our nature.” Harry said causally.

“ And it’s not in ours?” Hermione asked him.

Harry smiled but looked annoyed,
“I suppose.”

“You don’t think I, could get a man?”

“Oh I think you could, but one you would actually want..?”
“ I could get any available man I wanted.”

“You wouldn’t go after a married man would you?”
“No.” She said as she slid her head under the hot water.

She came up and washed away the dirt in her hair and face.
It was then she noticed that her ring finger felt different and the scar was almost gone.

Harry said something about going to the tavern for dinner, but Hermione wasn’t listening really she had a dull pain in her pelvis and she felt a bit bruised, and beat up; so she just soaked for while. But a great weight was lifted off her mind, she got to say hello and then good-bye to her son; and in a way, she knew he was now safe on her land.

~ ~ ~ ~

Hermione stayed in the tub until Harry got a little impatient and suggested she take more bathes at her apartment after doing homework.

‘Homework ..School! It slipped her mind she should be getting back, but a part of her wanted to stay home and rest. But she had a little over a month left before Christmas and the next term started. She had to get back that night or the next morning.
Hermione got out of the bathtub, got dried and dressed.

Harry had changed his pants and robe that had gotten muddied and was waiting for Hermione down stairs.
The dinner at the tavern was quiet, until Harry finally broke the silence,
“We’ve had a strenuous few days. Why don’t we stay at the estate?”
“I've got to go back to school, I have only a few weeks left, and I don’t want to get behind.” Hermione said, moving her food around, picking at it.

Hermione felt the tension in Harry and noticed that he wasn’t eating either, and he was cutting his food up in to small bits,
“Well then. I guess you should go as soon as possible.”

“May I borrow your broom, it would be faster,” she asked him.

The look he gave her made her want to cry, he looked a like an abandoned child, eyes wide, his mouth curve downward in a frown, his lips pressed together tightly. Anger faded, to be replaced by the sadest expression,
“What you can’t wait to leave?”
“I just want to do well in with my finals.” Hermione said.
“Fine.”
They walked to the carriage and drove to Harry’s estate.
He got one of his newer brooms and handed it to Hermione.
“You know you didn’t ask me to come with you.”
?“It’s Tuesday. You’re usually back here by now.”
“ We didn’t have a very good weekend I thought I might just stay in London with you.”

Hermione smiled at him and kissed Harry on the cheek and said,
“Last one to London is a rotten egg.” and ran towards the door. She was up in the air as Harry flew up beside her.
“You do know I’m good at riding a broom?”, Harry asked.
“Yes but that doesn’t mean I can’t race you,”She replied.

They landed on top of the building and walked down to her floor and in to their apartment.
Harry was quiet for most of the ride there and he hadn’t said anything since. He was lighting a fire in the fireplace.

“Harry? Are you alright?”
“Just been interesting few days. I think the hardest part was burying him.. Adam.”

Hermione just nodded and she took a deep breath to fight back the tears.
In the dimly lit room they embraced each other and both cried silently.

Harry and Hermione fell asleep on the couch. It was an owl that woke them from their late afternoon nap.

The letter was for Harry. A meeting was being held that evening to talk about the building of the bigger dock and what to do about the Malfoys who had fled England and now, most likely, were hiding in Italy or Greece.
“DAMN ! I've got to go back.”
“No! Tell them to have the meeting tomorrow night.”
“I can’t, I'm looking over more cobblestone streets and helping to fix the bridges that washed away in the flood. I have business here a few days, I just hope to see you.. it will be a late night of law making.” Harry commented.

Harry kissed her and then took his broom to the roof top, kissed Hermione sweetly again and was off.

Hermione went to the school to see if she could find any of her teachers. She ran into Madame Pomfrey who was surprised to see her.
“ Why are you back Hermione? How is everything at home?”
“My aunt is fine she is just …. Well, she is trying to get pregnant. We have this charm on the land, that as long as one of the girls of our family stay there on the land, the land will flourish. If we leave, the land will die and since I can’t have children we fear the land will die when I die. So my aunt is trying to have another child so the land will not become barren … like me.”

“And you think this is alright?”
“ She lost her daughter and her older sister at the same time. All she has is me and the farm.”

“Didn’t she lose a husband?”

“Yes but I don’t think she mourns for him. He wasn’t very kind to her. She is not looking to remarry she just wants a child.”

Madame Pomfrey just smiled and nodded.
“ How is Harry?”
“He’s alright. It’s been a hard few days.”
“He’ll be back later this week.”
“Will you be coming over this evening?” the nurse asked.
“Yes, have you found anything?” Hermione posed.


~ ~ ~ ~

Madame Promfrey was pouring out the tea and said,
“ The tea cookies are rather good, I just got them.”
“Madame Promfrey, please don’t keep me waiting what have you found?”
“An herb, but lets not get our hopes up yet, I’m not sure if it will help. That’s why we have to see what it does. We’ll have to try it out on you.”

“Well I’m ready.”

“Chasteberry powder, it helps to get things moving again…. we hope.” Mademe Pomfrey said, spooning it out on a piece of parchment,
“Drink a little water first and then.. pour the powder in to the water and drink it down.”

Hermione did as she was told and sipped the water and then put the powder in to the cup of water and drank it down,
“Peppery.”

“Well, we will see in a day or two if it works.” Madame Pomfrey commented, “I think you should go home and get some sleep. Worry about
school in the morning, beside you only missed one day.”
~ ~ ~ ~

When Hermione got home there was a letter waiting for her. It was from Harry.

Dear Hermione,
I’m sorry I couldn’t stay the night. The meeting went well and I convinced the Ministry that we should have a large wharf so we can get more and larger trading ships in. I miss you. I miss your body lying next to mine. I can’t think of anyone else I want to be with but you.

I will be there Thursday afternoon. Time will drag on until then.
I can’ wait to see you again.
love
H.


Hermione picked up a piece of paper and put a little red coloring on her lips with some ointment and kissed it, and whispered,
“Sleep well my love.” and tied it to the owl.


Wednesday dragged on, as well as the night. Even with Susanna and Madame Rosemerta there.

“Well some men like Aniseed/licorice flavor, some mint and others vanilla. What does your lover like Hermione?” Madame Rosmerta asked.

“I’m not sure..” remembering how Harry loved the flavor in between her legs, “ Honey or honey mead?” she replied trying not to laugh.

Madame Rosemerta turned and looked at Hermione who was chuckling softly to herself.

“Is that what he likes to drink or is it what he finds deep in your flower?”

Hermione blushed.

“Do you think you are the only one he has pollinated with? I hate to tell you but many men say those things,” Madame Rosemerta teased her.

“Perfumes.. they must change with the seasons most of the time. remember to put them on lightly on the skin if not your clothes. Don’t put it on your bed, keep your sheets clean and fresh.”

Hermione remembered ‘Sheets.. the ones she burnt with Posy’s stain on them. Stain. The first time Harry and she were together, he changed the sheets because they were stained. The first spill.’
~ ~ ~ ~

Thursday finally came with rain and snow.
Hermione was walking home from school when she was pulled in to an alley way and a cloak was throw over her.

Warm lips kissed hers fervently cool hands yanked at her clothes until she felt a chill on her legs and belly. An arm pulled up her thigh and he entered her with a soft moan.
A man walked by not noticing Hermione who was up against a large box.
Then another man walked by not seeing her. Lips left lips and eagerly moved to the neck, a breast, after unbuttoning the top. A thrust deep inside and teeth were on her bottom lips gently biting. A tongue attacked hers in a playful way. A moan came from him and another thrust and the other leg wrapped around his waist. He plunged in to her with full force banging in to the box, making a few men who were walking by look about.

“God I miss you.” Harry whispered in her ear softly, “Sorry but I just couldn’t wait for you to come home.”

Hermione held on tight as he drove himself deep and hard in side her letting his seed spill in side her.

That was too quick for Hermione and Harry knew it.
“Come on let's go home and do it right,” fixing his robes and making sure Hermione was decent before pulling off the invisibility cloak.

Once there Harry acted a little nervous and said,
“Hermione what would you say if I told you we were married already.”

“I don’t know. Would that make my marriage to Draco legal?”
“No I don’t think so.”
“Then I guess we’d be married,” she said walking over to him and taking his hand, “ Why?”

“I’ve looked in to it.. to see if I can call upon the old law. To make us married for real.”

“Harry I don’t care if its legal or not” she looked in to his eyes,
“ I am devoted to you.”

His eyes dropped from hers in a sad way.
“What is it Harry?”

“I’ve felt something. Tuesday when you were buried and you came back up. It felt like I lost …. YOU. But you’re here and I can touch you and feel you but it’s something more and I can’t put my finger on it.
He whispered, “ I know you accidentally killed your uncle and I killed your husband. Is there anything more we should know about each other?”

He looked stressed.
Hermione shook her head, “ No.”
“I just feel something missing or out of place or … maybe it something we haven’t done yet. There’s a barrier between us I can reach you and touch you but I.” He looked upset and confuse, he closed his eyes and said “Something’s in the way.”

“Harry you’ve have a few bad days that all. You just need to rest,” she said, tugging him toward the bedroom.

“Maybe your right, come lay down with me.” Harry asked her.
The two lay side by side softly talking. Chatting about their childhoods, their dreams and hopes. They fell asleep in each other arms.

Hermione woke a few hours later, feeling dazed. Harry was up and in the dining room. He was looking at the paper.

Hermione looked over his shoulder and saw the picture of her and Harry.
“Everyone will know you really are now,” Harry said.
“ School is almost over. It won’t matter.” Hermione replied.
“But then you have to come back for the next session. Do you still want to go?” Harry asked.

“Yes. I’ve gotten good grades and Madame Pomfrey is thinking of having me as her apprentice.” Hermione replied.

“Hermione! You’ve got the best grades in the school. Poppy is trying so hard to make sure she gets you before anyone else can before…” he cut himself off.

“Before what?”

“Eh … before other people know… how smart and talented you are.” He stammered out.

Hermione put her hands on her hips.

Harry looked uncomfortable a questionable smile growing on his face.

“Before what?”

Harry sighed and folded his arms on the table plunked his head down on them, “I’m not suppose to say anything.”

“Now who’s keeping secrets?”

Harry looked up and murmured,
“To many bloody strings on me. Fine I’ll tell you. When all grades are posted every doctor and hospital are coming to your school. You are their best and brightest student. Everyone is going to want you working with them after you complete your schooling. Don’t tell Poppy I told you, I owe her a few favors.”

“Such as?”

“Making sure you got through school and did not trap you into a marriage you may not want. I’ve given her money to give you lessons in etiquette and protocol.”

Hermione laughed softly to herself.

“She’s made sure your identity is protected, from the newspapers and other busy bodies. She’s the one who told me …. she wanted you out of the bad area of town. She also said ‘with one word’ she could turn you against me.”

“How?”
“To tell you the truth I don’t know but it was right after you left. She's got strings on me. Your father does too, he could disapprove our being together and that could strain our relationship. Your father wants you to get married, Poppy wants you to stay free. They both wanted you to go home for a visit.
Sirius, my uncle and aunt want me to get married to someone with a title or name and with money. I got so many people telling me what to do and when to do it.
The only thing I know I've got, IS YOU, and I don’t intend on giving you up, but with one word you could be gone by Poppy or your father. I have no control over my own life.”

“ What word could she use?” Hermione wondered out loud.

“ I honestly didn’t understand it, she called me ‘Charming one ’ but the way she looked at me I was intimidated by her at that moment.”

“What does it mean?”

He shook his head and “ I don’t know. Maybe she thinks I bewitched you, slipped you a potion or something.”

“ I sensed the two of you were always fighting or arguing about something.”
“Yeah. YOU!” he said looking up at her for a long moment, his lips puckered,
“Hermione, that was your cue to kiss me.”

She smiled, ran her fingers through his hair and her lips came in to contact with his.


“I’m getting hungry lets go out to eat.” Harry suggested.
“Alright just let me change out of my school clothes,” Hermione requested.
“Sure.” he agreed.
She changed into a pale taupe dress with the necklace Harry gave her for her birthday.

His eye lit up as she came into the room. Her hair was softly pulled back off her face. Harry helped her with her wrap and they were off.

They went to the George’s Inn and of course were seated promptly upon their arrival.
Harry ordered for them and their dinner was in front of them in minutes.
Hermione excused herself to go to the powder room.
She looked in the mirror and made sure her hair looked nice, she pinched her cheeks and remembering the day she had the cocoa and truffles and then the comment Harry made about her getting any man she wanted.

She bit down on her lips to make them redder and licked them, to make them shine. She made sure there was nothing in her teeth and slid a finger across her eyelashes and eyebrows. Looked in the mirror again to make sure she looked nice and then opened the door, back into the restaurant.
She tapped her shoes, as she was taught by Madame Rosmerta and all the men in the place looked her way. She slowly made her way to the table as men came up to her bowing, kissing her hand and offering her a drink with them. She nodded hello and thanked them for their offers, but politely declined

It took her a while to get back to their table and when she did Harry had his arms folded in front of him. The look on his face was ‘ok, I will never doubt your abilities again.. I’ve learned my lesson.’
“Are you finished with your dinner?”
“Yes, let’s go home.”