The Lord The Lady and The Land

Chapter 18 Test of Life

Hermione was sipping her tea and eating her toast. She looked in the morning newspaper and saw her picture. The gossip page said Hermione Granger was wearing creamy rose cameos that made an elegant touch to her gown. Hermione laughed to herself how such a ridiculous thing got in to the newspaper, but silly things like that got noticed if you were with nobility.

It was Friday but there were no classes, just study in the library or at home.
Hermione got a note for Madame Pomfrey saying she had some books that Hermione might like to take a look at, this morning, before her exams.

Hermione kissed Harry as he lay, still sleeping and stepped into the fireplace and threw down some floo powder.

The next moment she was in Madame Pomfrey’s library and the teacher had a puzzled look on her face and a teapot in her hand.

“Hello Hermione, where’s your tea cup? I can’t find it,” said Madame Pomfrey.

“Oh it was broken the last time I was here. The books toppled over and smashed the cup and the tea went all over the books.”

“How much tea did you drink?”

“I didn’t get a chance to drink any.”
The teacher stared at her, “The effectiveness of the potion fades away within a few days. You’ve missed a bit more than a week.”
Madame Pomfrey looked into Hermione’s eyes,
“Could you be pregnant girl?” looking closely in Hermione eyes.

“ I don’t know.” Hermione said simply backing up, but she knew the answer. Yes she could be. With all the lovemaking she was doing there was a good chance she could be with child.

“I guess we’ll have to wait.” Madame Pomfrey said.

Hermione went over to the table and picked up the books. They were very old ones and Hermione looked at her teacher, “ These are out dated. My books have better cures.”

“ But what if the potion or spell doesn’t work, that has been known to happen. It’s good to have another potion or spell that can do the same thing. If someone is allergic to daisies you can’t give them a potion with daisies for skin rash. And you know children get rashes all the time, just like they do colds.” her teacher pointed out.

But Hermione wasn’t really listening. Was she pregnant again? Her hand went to her belly and she wondered; if it did happen would she be able to finish school? How big will she be when she and Harry get married. That’s If she really is pregnant.

“Why don’t you go to the library Hermione, that way you can .. let things sink in,” her teacher suggested.

Hermione nodded, as she stepped into the fireplace grabbing some floo powder.
“Oh Hermione if you need some one to talk to, I’m here.” Madame Pomfrey said.

~ ~ ~ ~

Hermione landed in the fireplace with the books falling out of her hands. ‘Pregnant? No, I’m not pregnant.’

The potions that her uncle and aunt made her drink on her wedding day were the reason she got pregnant the first time. Even if I am pregnant now, I won’t really know for a few more weeks anyway. So why worry about it, just rest and eat,’ she thought, looking at the books she put the table.

She put it out of her mind and opened the books looking at the old spells and potions.
Hours went by without her noticing until a hand landed on her shoulder.
“There you are,” a voice sighed as a pair for lips touched her cheek and Hermione looked up to see Harry.

“What are you doing here,” she laughed out touching his cheek.

“You didn’t come home so I went to Poppy’s and she said you might be here.”

“What time is it?” she asked.

“Time for you to take a break and eat.” Harry said, “ 5:30”


Harry and Hermione floo-ed back to the apartment and they had dinner down in the restaurant.

As they started digging into their dinner Harry cleared his throat,
“Hermione I’m going to stay at my old place during the day so you have time to study without me hovering over you, I just want you be able to sleep in the same bed with you.”
Harry informed her.

“Harry you don’t have to do that I’m fine going to the library during the day,” Hermione stated.

“But I know you Hermione, you’ll start studying at 5:00 in the morning and forget to eat and sleep until you pass out. This way I get to see you on your breaks and I’ll drag you to bed with me.” Harry teased.

Hermione just smiled at him, she knew he was right and it was the best thing to do.
They finished their dinner and they went back to the apartment. Harry kissed her and said,
“ I’ll be back in a few hours so I can pull you away from your studying” he grabbed her roughly but kissed her sweetly, “ and give you a good poke so we can have a good night sleep, or at least one of us can,” winking at her as he stepped in to the fireplace, a green flame flashed and he was gone.

She opened one of her books, no she wasn’t pregnant and started writing.
Book after book she poured over taking notes. Hour after hour she read until Harry came home and closed the book on her,
“Sorry I’m home late, I fell sleep,” Harry said yawning.

Hermione now feeling the hour nodded and took his hand.
The both just stripped down to nothing and flopped on to bed.
Harry snuggled up to Hermione and whispered,
“ I want you,” and kissed her cheek.
He kissed her lips and rolled on top of her; and all of her senses started to stir and a gasp escaped her lip as the head of his penis made its way to her folds, at the entrance of her core.
“I want to hear you. I want to make you moan, and cry out in ecstasy,” he whispered as he slowly pushed his way into her.

A smile grew on to Hermione lips as she felt the first waves of pleasure going through her.
Harry picked up his pace and soon Hermione was moaning, grunting and letting out high pitched cries.
This caused Harry to only go faster and for some reason feel like he was getting thicker,
most likely due to her muscles clenching him.

He slammed in to her firmly a few times and Hermione shuddered as she came.
Harry pulled out and the next moment his head was between her legs licking her juices. His tongue entered her and he hummed and moaned in delighted,
“ My mead, give me the drink I thirst,” pushing his tongue as far as it could go.
“ Em.. “ he moan, “ more,” he said.

Harry inserted a finger inside of her and licked and sucked on her bud. A huge ripple went through her and she climaxed and exploded so fast her whole body convulsed.
“YES!” Harry’s mouth was at her opening and drinking her up.
A few minutes later, she saw Harry’s face slowly rise from the curls between her legs with a huge smile plastered across his face. He paused to wipe his lips with the bed sheet.
“Thank you,” he said, panting,
“That was fantastic.”
Harry pulled the covers over them and kissed her sweetly on the cheek,
“Good night love.” and he fell asleep almost instantly.
Hermione was exhausted and still twitching from her orgasm. She also closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Hermione woke early and made a potion for Harry to drink so he wouldn’t get her pregnant if he hadn’t already. She put it into his morning tea and gave it to him with his toast.
“Harry I’ve brew you a special tea this morning,” Hermione admitted to him.
“Oh what is special about it?”
“It’s a tea that will keep you from getting me pregnant,” She told him.
“ Why did you think you were pregnant?”
“No but I didn’t get to take the potion Madame Pomfrey made me a little over a week ago and I just want to be careful. I have school we getting married in the late summer and I just want us to be ready.”

Harry looked at her with an expression she couldn’t read. He gave her a hopeful smile and murmured, “Ready now, but…”

“What?” Hermione asked.
Harry drank down the tea in one gulp, and asked,
“I have to take every day?”
“No, it lasts about twelve days, but I’ll brew some for you when you come and visit. You’re never here for very long so. I will give it to you when you arrive.”

Hermione opened her books and started comparing notes and facts. She felt Harry kiss her cheek and felt his hand on her shoulder a few hours later calling her for lunch and then for dinner a few hours after that and then bed. All week and on through the weekend this went on.

Monday came and Hermione went to her first written exam. Potions.
Professor Snape looked in to her eyes and said,
“These are quills with a no cheating spell on them,” he eyes narrowed and looked at her as if he could read her thoughts and then his eyes looked surprised and a sneer crossed his face, “Good luck.” he said.

It lasted all morning and she was exhausted. That afternoon was the practical exam where she had to make a number of potions. But in the middle of it the professor came and took away her ingredients told her to go to another classroom and gave her mock ingredients and inform Hermione that,
“You will make the potion out of these elements, you tell me what you’re doing and what you are doing it with and how much,” watching her like a hawk.

Hermione was infuriated. Why was she the only one making fake potions?
Sure, one wrong move and the cauldron could melt, explode or fill the room with a toxic smoke that would make you sick for a week.

Hermione got through the exam. The Professor looked at her as he scratched out some notes on his writing board and informed her
“ Your exam grades will be posted in the hallway at the end of the week.”


The exam for Herbology class with Professor Sprout was just as long: how to grow the plants, how to dry and what they were best for. The practical also took a long time, but wasn’t hard; just cutting up the plants and naming what they were: roots, seeds, flowers, and anything else the plants might have, like teeth tongues, and spears.

Healing spells and charms with Professor Flitwick was the easiest and fastest.

Basic Illnesses was with Madame Pomfrey and it was a challenge. Hermione swore her test was ten pages longer than the other girls tests, but the practical was a bit easier than she expected.
Everyone went into the school’s hospital ward and everyone had a job. Hermione’s job was assessing patient’s wounds. Susanna had the job of judging patient’s illnesses.
After the test Susanna asked Hermione to stay and talk with her.

Hermione met Susanna outside the exam ward on a bench were an older gentleman was sitting looking at ‘Illness and Their Cures Book.’

“How do you think you did?” Susanna asked.
“I don’t know. You?” Hermione answered, shaking her head.
“I was really puzzled by one of the cases and wanted you to look at the patient, I asked Madame Promfrey and she said not to bother you. Tell me what were you doing?”

“The same as you assessing the patients,” Hermione said.

The door opened and Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape came out of the ward together,
“Girls… your marks will be up tomorrow at noon,” she said,
“ It’s over and now you can relax and have some fun.”

The gentleman cleared his throat and slowly stood up and tucked the book under his arm,
“Madame Pomfrey? …. Professor Snape? May I have a word with you?” he asked

The teachers looked at each other and nodded, walking back in to the ward with the gentle man following them.

Hermione glanced over at Susanna and asked,
“ Do you want to go to a café? Harry won’t be back until tonight.”
“Sure, for a quick drink and then I have to get ready to go out tonight.” Susanna said.

~ ~ ~

“Well, we’ll find out tomorrow whether or not we have a bright future ahead of us,” Susanna commented.

Hermione raised her cup of tea and said,
“Here’s to a bright future, I think we will both have or hope for.”
Susanna clinked her teacup with Hermione’s.

“Though we should be drinking champagne and not tea,” Susanna commented taking out her wand and tapping their cups changing it to bubbly.

“That, we will have after we graduate,” laughed Hermione and took out her wand and change their drinks back to tea and put her wand back in her cloak,
“Don’t jinx us, we still have another term to get through.”

The two sat for a while just talking about school and then Susanna looked at the clock and gave the signal she had to go.

The two started walking down the street when a carriage drove up and a man inside called,
“Miss Granger?”

The girls turned to see who called out for Hermione.
A man in the carriage looked at them both,
“Excuse me, but which one of you is Miss Granger?”

Susanna looked at the man and stepped forward,
“Who wants to know?”

“It is business matter between my employer and Miss Granger,” he said in a snobbish tone.

“And who is your employer?” Hermione asked.

“Dr. Evans,” the man replied.

“Dr. Evans, I don’t think I know him,” Hermione commented.

“Well tell me how many physicians and surgeons do you know?” the man posed.

“Two.” Hermione said.

“One them is Madame Pomfrey. The other?” he asked.
“Dr. Stone.” Hermione replied.

“Your village doctor.” The man asked.

“Yes.” Hermione replied.
“Well, if we are going to continue this game of who you know and who I know, please get into the carriage, if not, I grow tired of this and can tell my employer you do not wish to meet with him.” the man said with annoyed tone.
Hermione looked at Susanna who whispered,
“ I bet you they’re looking for a nurse for the doctor, who’s also a surgeon. Why not check it out, just in case that bright future isn’t so bright.”

Hermione climbed into the carriage. The man introduced himself as Mr. Pettigrew
It was a large carriage, something like those she saw the other night at the party. They drove for a while, eventually leaving London and Hermione dozed off for a few minutes. She looked out of the window and it was dark.
“Had a pleasant nappy,” the man teased.

“Where are we?”
“Benningham,” the man.

They drove up a long driveway and to castle that seemed to glow in the dark.

“Isn’t it a bit late to meet the doctor now?” Hermione asked.

“No you will be having drinks in this meeting. He has been interviewing people all afternoon.” Mr. Pettigrew commented.

The carriage stopped and the groomsman helped Hermione out of carriage. There a butler showed Hermione to a waiting room and the bathroom where she could freshen up.

Hermione looked around the place, it was old but beautiful. Family must have had it for generations she thought, or he’s filthy rich…. or royality.

Hermione went to the bathroom took off her cloak and washed up. She wanted to look like a future healer and not like the country bumpkin she felt like at that moment.

Hermione sat back down again in the waiting room.
The butler opened the door so Hermione could enter a room that looked like an office.
He took her cloak and a pretty young maid gave her a cup of tea and with a little sandwich.

“ The doctor will be here in a few minutes,” the butler informed her.

A few minutes later an old man walking with a cane came in. Hermione stood and he waved to her,
“Em there you are. I’m coming.” he toddled his way to the chair in front of her.

He let out a big sigh, sat down and looked up at her,
“Well!” He picked up the papers on the table and looked them over.
“You studied at Candlecake, fine school fine school” flipping over to the next page,
“Top of your class in all subjects this term.”

Flipped to another page and looked at her with dubious looked his face,
“Your name has been in the newspapers and gossip?”
“Yes but the papers don’t always get the stories right so if you want to ask me a question about my life .?” Hermione suggested.

“You’re married?”
“Widowed, but betrothed.”
“Children?”
“No” Hermione said, “ I had a … miscarriage.”

“You have another term with Candlecake?” the Doctor asked.
“Yes and then I plan to …” Hermione explained but was interrupted,
“Teach?”
“No, apprentice with one of the healers.” Hermione clarified.

“Well, I think my patient should talk to you, to see if he is willing to accept you as his future healer.”

“Sir, I have a full term left and have to be an assistant for a year before I can have my own patients. I think you should look into someone who has finished up their apprenticeship, to look after your patients.”

“Well why do you meet him first.” and the doctor got up and toddled back to the door.

Hermione sipped her tea and waited looking at the beautiful rug.

The door open and a man walked in to the room.

Hermione looked up to see Lord Geoffrey Strode coming toward her,
“Miss Granger this a wonderful surprise to see you.” he said, arms open to embrace her.
“It’s a surprise to see you too,” she said curtseying and then giving him a quick hug for his stretched out arms. They hugged for a moment and then Hermione stepped back hastily.
“Congratulations, you are the highest scoring girl in your class.” the man said holding her hands, squeezing them gently.

“Thank you Lord Strode,” Hermione said.
“Oh please,” he said as he ran his finger under her jaw to her chin, “ call me Geoffrey,
Hermione,” he asked in a provocative way. His eyes seemed to hold her stare longer than she wanted.

“So Lord Geoffrey, your physician is retiring and is looking for a replacement?”
Hermione asked, drawing her eyes away from his and to the rug she was looking at before.

“Yes I’m in need of a doctor.”
“ Are you ill now?”
“No, I’m quite healthy ..” he paused for a moment, “ Hermione would you like some dinner? I didn’t notice the hour and I’m sure you are hungry,” as they walked to the double doors in to the hallway.

All Hermione really wanted to do was to go home to Harry who, she was sure, was wondering where she was.

“ I really should get home. Marks are posted tomorrow and I…”she began to say.

“But I’ve already told you, you got the highest marks in the school. So you already know.” he remarked impatiently. Geoffrey opened the doors to the dining room and then walked Hermione to a seat.
He sat down next to her, blatently admiring her body and said,
“You can stay in bed all day.”

“ My lord you should not be so bold, I’m betrothed and..”
“Good then we understand each other. I’m not trying to hide anything from you,” and he took a sip of wine from his goblet.

"You are a fascinating woman, Hermione. Such fire and passion in your eyes, and intelligence and talent for the healing arts." He said admiring tone.

Hermione thought ‘ If I make a scene or fuss it’ll be in the newspapers or worse the town gossip circle. Just play along and get out as soon as possible without making him mad’

“I should tell you I have another term at Candlecake before I can do my apprenticeship.”
Hermione informed him.
“Still playing that game, alright if it makes you feel a little more comfortable.” Geoffrey complied.
Dinner was being served and a plate and bowl was set in front of Hermione.
Warm pumpkin soup with nutmeg, honey glazed carrots some beef with mustard spice on it and fennel bread and fresh figs.

“Yes I was hoping to get a young healer, someone who knew the old ways and the new. I wish to have a family some day and will need a kind gentle and caring healer to look after them.” he said looking at her with bedroom eyes. Hermione wasn't sure if he was looking for her to be a healer or wife.

A maid came in and gave Geoffrey a note. He read it and excused himself.
The maid stayed at the table and as soon as the door was closed the maid walked over to Hermione and said,
“Miss? Lord Geoffrey has his eye on you something fierce. He plans to seduce you.”
“Thank you, but why are you telling me this?”
“You’re betrothed. If this gets in the paper and it will, your love may not want to marry you. My Lord can be very kind very charming and a fine lover. But you must be careful he has the ear of powerful people now, the queen, her court and others just adore him.”

“He goes to the royal court?” Hermione asked,” and he’s a good lover?”
“Yes I know so. I came here looking for a job. He bedded me and then gave me this position. It’s much better than working in the fields. He is a fair man but sad man but he hides it well. He lost his pregnant wife in the plague who he loved very much.”

“ I lost my mother and cousin.”
“I lost all my family, they burnt the village down it was so bad,” the maid said.

“What should I do about him?” Hermione asked.

“You’re a witch? Cast a spell on him. He only wants you once and then the challenge is over.” the maid said.

“My wand!” Hermione said in horror, “ it’s in my cloak, get it for me please.”

The maid curtsied and went off.
A moment later Geoffrey was back with a red rose and gave it to Hermione,
“Thank you it’s beautiful.”

“It’s pales to compare to your beauty, my lady,” Geoffrey said sincerely.

Hermione ate her dinner and let Geoffrey do all the talking.
He was charming and told funny antidotes. They both laugh heartily over the meal.

For desert Geoffrey had Hermione close her eyes and popped something sweet into her mouth. It was delicious, chocolate.

He kept trying to feed her them but she insisted that she was full.

Hermione knew she had to get out of there fast before the chocolate took affect.

“Geoffrey thank you for a wonderful dinner and everything but I have to get going home now,” Hermione insisted getting up from the table.

“I can’t let you go at such a late hour you shall be a guest in my house tonight,” he announce getting up himself.

“No Geoffrey I can’t.” Hermione said wondering if the maid was ever going to give her her wand as she headed for the door as the lord of the manner following her.

It was then Geoffrey made his move. He grabbed her and spun her to face him and very passionately kissed her. She fought back for a few moments but this was his house his home. NO ONE was going to help her. She stopped fighting him and let him kiss her.
He wasn’t forcing now he became gentler and even loving.

“Let me love you and no one will have to know, not even Harry,” he whispered to her.
Geoffrey picked her up in his arms as though she weighed nothing and carried her to a bedroom.

"Put me down my Lord," Hermione insisted.
He put her down next to the bed and started to unbutton her dress and she stopped him,
“Please I can’t do this,” Hermione said even as her core burnt wanting to be touched and trying not to breath to deeply or too shallow so she didn't look like she was excited or roused.

“Then your reputation will be ruined I can see to that,” he said hurtfully.
“No please my lord’, and she grabbed hold of his shirt at the shoulders,
“ Please my lord don’t, what have I done to you to make you want to ruin my name?”

“You’re so beautiful Hermione,” he said touching her face, her cheek, down to her neck,
“ I want you like any man would want you,” he said in a husky voice,
“Under me, your legs wrapped around my waist as I fuck you; no make love to you,
you’re worth making love to. I want to pleasure myself with a body such as yours and I want to satisfy you as well.”

“You can have any woman you want my lord.” Hermione commented.

“But I want you.” and his lips found hers and she let him kiss her.

He began undressing her again in a hurry and she put her hands on his to halt him.
“My lord you will rip my dress, let me undress myself,” Hermione said in a soft voice.
Geoffrey sat on the bed watching her.

She slowly unbuttoned her dress looking him in the eye all the while wondering where the maid was with her wand.
The dress fell slowly to the ground.
Her chemise was the next thing she was going to take off but Geoffrey got up and started to pull on the garment as he kissed her.
“No please let me, let me do it, my lord,” she cried as she fought to keep the clothing on, but it ripped a little.

“Damn you woman, I want you naked already, I’m ready for you,” he yelled in desperation.
“But I’m not,” Hermione bellowed back at him and yanked the material he had in his hand out.
“ I’m sorry my lady but your teasing has provoked me, I need to be satisfied now,” and he pulled her slip over her head with amazing speed. Shocking Hermione with the trick.

It was then Hermione saw the maid with her wand.
Hermione felt her knickers fall to the floor and she was naked.
Lord Geoffrey looked at her body with such lust, Hermione wanted to cover her self. He pressed her down on the bed with such longing that Hermione gasped.

Hermione wondered ‘How did this happen? How did this get this far so fast’ feeling the pillow under her head.

“Open you legs and it will be heaven for both of us, I promise you.” and he kissed her.
Hermione felt around on the bed board and found something heavy with a handle.

The bed warmer came down on Geoffrey’s head and knocked him out cold.
Hermione pushed him off of her with a great deal of effort.

The maid just kept saying, “ Oh dear, my lord isn’t going to like this.”

Hermione told the maid to be still as took the wand from her thankful he did not yell out in pain.

Hermione cast a forgetting spell on him first.
“Miss put a spell on him thinking he’s had you so he doesn’t go after you again.” the maid suggested.

Hermione gave him a memory of having a sexually gratifying experience with her.
Hermione got dressed and wrote him a note ‘that she had to leave early in the morning and didn’t want to disturb his sleep.’

She put a spell on him so he would sleep until noon.

Hermione thanked the maid and asked her to show her the way out of the castle so not to be seen.

Hermione walked a mile or so before she got to the town where she got into a carriage and told them to drive her to London.

It was very late when she got home.

She opened the doors to the apartment. Harry was up and ran to her shouting,
“Where in the hell have you been?”
“Hell!” she answered and kissed him passionately on the mouth.


Please review.. I don't know if anyone is really reading this or click here accidently.