The Lord The Lady and The Land

Chapter 20 Christmas Ghosts

Hermione went back into the hallway and returned to where she saw Harry last. He and Lady Mary were talking not too far from where they were before. Hermione would tell Harry about Lord Geoffrey later when they were alone.

“There you are!” Harry said walking towards her. He gave her a kiss and said,
“I thought I’d have to send out a search party for you.”

Hermione join in the conversation of her schooling and that she had the highest grades in the school.

“Well what about your plans for the wedding?” Lady Mary asked.

“We planning it in late summer or early fall.” Harry replied.

“Do you think you can wait that long to start a family?” she laughed at Harry.

Hermione saw Lord Geoffrey behind Lady Mary and he nodded to her.

“Well we are taking precautions,” Harry said.
“Precautions? Separate beds?” Lady Mary posed teasing him with a big smile.

“I drink a potion. Hermione still has to finish her schooling so we’ll get married and then have children.” Harry explained ignoring her teasing.

Lord Geoffrey raised a goblet and said softly, “Have a happy and wonder New Year.”
Hermione smiled and nodded to him and mouthed,
“You too,” unnoticed by anyone.

“You’re not drinking it too Hermione? After it took you so long to be able to have children I wouldn’t chance something like that.” Lady Mary commented taking hold of her hand in concern.

He smiled at her turned and slowly made his way through the crowd.

Harry looked a little alarmed and said,
“No she shouldn’t be.”

“I haven’t taken anything for a week or so,” Hermione said softly to Harry.

He smiled, “Good. I don’t mind taking potion. I don’t want to take chances right now.”

“Well I hope I am invited to the wedding?” Lady Mary posed “Where will it be. Here in London or in your beautiful village?”

“Most likely at home. We were thinking my garden at my Estate.” Harry replied.

“Who is helping you if you don’t mind me asking?”

“My aunt and Madame Rosmerta.” Hermione answered.

“Madame Rosmerta? Oh, she wonderful at throwing parties,” Lady Mary perked up smiling, “She will make sure the reception goes beautifully, the music, food and seating.”

Hermione’s legs start to feel tired so she suggested they sit and talk. They all sat down and in a few minutes Hermione was leaning up against Harry dozing off.

“Hermione are you feeling ill?” Harry asked her.

“You poor thing Hermione. All that studying must have exhausted you. What you need is a good night sleep.” Lady Mary suggested.

“Do you want to lay down in one of the bedrooms,” Harry asked.

Hermione eyes flew open and she sat up straight,
“No, no I just a little tired. I just need something cool to drink to wake me up.” and she went to the table with all the drinks and got some pumpkin juice.

She made her way back to Harry and Lady Mary and joined in the conversation of building the docks and improving the streets.

“Things are going slowly now that it’s winter. We most likely will have to wait until spring to start construction again. The water is cold and the currents are strong. The roads are all iced over so we’ll have to wait until the snow melts away.” Harry commented.

Hermione thought of what Lord Geoffrey said but stayed silent. She wanted him to disappear from her life if possible. But she had a feeling it wasn’t going to be that easy.

It was getting late and Hermione was showing how fatigued she was. Her eyes were red and she kept stretching her neck and arms.

Harry had them pull the carriage in front as quickly as possible and said his goodbyes and Happy Christmas to his friends.

Hermione curled up next to Harry and fall asleep instantly. He carried her into the apartment and laid her down on the bed without her really waking.

~ ~ ~ ~

It was early when Hermione woke up and got out of bed. They were already packed and she slept in her chemise and Harry was in his underwear. She wrapped the perfume for Susanna, Victoria and Madame Rosemerta and sent them on their way by owl. She went back in the bedroom and laid back down and fell back to sleep. A few hours later she woke and kissed Harry until he was awake. She hadn’t told him about Lord Geoffrey advances on her again, and really didn’t want to do it now but the longer she waited the harder it was going to explain why it took her so long to tell him.

“Good morning,” Hermione said. “ Harry. I haven’t told you something that happen last night.”

“What is it?” Harry asked.

“I bumped into Lord Strode last night, and he grabbed me and kissed me.” Hermione started to explain.
Harry sat up in bed with a jerk rubbing his eyes,
“What? He grabbed you?”
“I think he’s infatuated with me. He did try to convince me to get into bed with him … and mentioned giving me a house and allowance … and then mistress of his house.”

“He proposed to you? Was he drunk?”

“No and thank you for the compliment.”

“No. He doesn’t even know you.” Harry said.

“Well he thinks he does in the biblical sense.”

“But that was once and it was a fake memory.”

“And Geoffrey wouldn’t leave me until ….”

“Hermione don’t you dare say it…. don’t you dare say you did it again.”

“But I put it in his head that he has to stop seducing women and find and fall in love with another woman and get married.” she said very quickly before Harry could get any angrier with her.

“Just tell me you didn’t undress for him again… PLEASE!” he semi-begged with is teeth clenched and his fingers curling into fists.

“No! Just unbutton the dress to make it more realistic,” Hermione told him.

“This had better be the last time for this sort of thing Hermione,” Harry said, “We’re in the public eye right now. Someday I would like to have a nice quiet life being home with my wife and children. With that ... we should get dressed and get going.”

A few minutes later, they were dressed and on their way. Harry wrapped them both in a big blanket to keep the cold away. Harry pulled out a list of names and started writing more down.

“What’s the list for?” Hermione asked.

“Well I’m having a party in a few weeks. That’s when we it will be official that we are betrothed.”

“But you already started telling people...” Hermione

“Yes, but in higher social circles you start telling people and then you have party to tell and celebrate it. If it were up to me I’d tell everyone and then just get married as soon as possible. But we’ll have a wonder summer wedding. The garden will be so beautiful.”

“It’s a list of people?”

“Yes,” Harry said.

“Mostly nobles some royals, I doubt they’ll come but it’s good to invite them. Is there anyone you want to invite? Actually I think you should have one too but have it at the estate and invite the village. The party I’m having is going to be in London.”

“I’ll start my list now of the village.” Hermione said taking a piece of parchment and began to write the list of people in her village. What food to have, what music and where to have the ballroom and dining room, until she put a charm on the garden and made it warm.

Hours went by and Hermione and Harry both fell asleep in the carriage. They were nudged out of their dreams by Sirius and Maggie. Sirius helped Harry out of the carriage and Maggie helped Hermione.

“What you two need is a hot bath to get the road and weather off your skin and bones.” Maggie suggested as they walked them up the stairs.

Hermione sat down to a hot bowl of chicken soup and a slice of fresh bread while Harry took a bath. Hermione unpacked her things and walked around the mansion. There were so many rooms she had not seen before and was eager to look at the ballroom and dining room. She went down to the first floor and peeked into the rooms. Many were dark, cold and had sheets over the furniture. She came across the ballroom. It was huge with gold leaf frame mirrors and chandeliers. Hermione walked in to the middle of the room her footsteps echoed with each touch of the floor. She could hear music playing in her head and so with no one watching she danced a waltz in the empty room thinking of what she might wear to the party.

Hermione waltzed to the other side of the room. She looked through the door to the next room, the dining room. It was huge with chandeliers but had many tables and chairs. It had a huge fireplace and over it was a painting of a woman and men that was done over hundred years ago. The man was dressed in formal nobility robes and the woman was dress in what looked like a wedding dress, flowers in one hand and her other showed her wedding ring. Hermione smiled as she noticed the woman was wearing pearls, three strands.

Hermione made her way back up the stairs to the bedroom to see if Harry was out of the bathtub. She felt a little out of breath and sat down. Harry came out of the bathroom wrapped in a warm fluffy robe.

“You going to take a bath?” Harry asked.

“Yes I feel a little cold and warm bath sound good.” Hermione replied. Hermione started to unbutton her dress, Harry’s finger joined a moment later. He peeled away the layers of Hermione’s clothes until she was naked and shiver with cold.

He pushed her on to the bed kissing her neck and whispered,
“Let me warm you woman, you’re chilled.”
Harry pressed his wet hot body against hers. She closed her eyes and it felt like the sun on her body warming it. A moment later he was at her entrance and he asked,
“How warm do you want to be?” he asked.

Hermione kissed him sweetly and smiled saying,
“I am warm enough thank you sir,” teasing him.

He mouth dropped in surprise at her and smiled,
“I will cool myself down in your well then.”

He slid inside of her with a wicked grin on his face. Harry wanted her warmth and her softness as he kissed her mouth and she knew it but he always wanted her to want him too. The way he was breathing and the way he was moving in and out of her he want to know. He wanted to hear her say something.
“You warm me, you warm me sir, give me your heat,” she begged.

“Heat you shall have,” and he plunged deep inside her again and again until she cried her release.

They fell asleep for a while Hermione woke up to a dinner call and quickly dressed skipping her bath for later.

Harry, Hermione, Sirius, and Maggie stayed up all night decorating the mansion with Mistletoe, Holly, and candles just in time for Christmas Eve. Hagrid brought over a tree and the put it in the Big Hall. Poor Maggie had to start the Christmas meal with turkey, goose, beets, yams and greens and bake the breads and the cakes.
Christmas morning came and Harry was more eager to stay in bed with Hermione than get up and have breakfast or see what he got for gifts.

Hermione felt groggy and felt sick having been up all night. Sirius got Harry out of bed with the announcement that someone was there with a letter from the Noble court and went down stairs to see what the matter was.

Hermione rolled one way over in the big bed and her stomach rolled the other. She had to run to the bathroom and Hermione felt better once she emptied whatever was in her stomach. She felt off and grungy. Hermione slid into the tub hoping to feel a little better but her stomach was still calming down and her breasts ached. She dragged herself out the tub and wrapped a towel around her body and crawled back into bed. She was dozing off when Harry came back into the room.

He had a puzzled look on his face and announced,
“Hermione I have to go to Court. They expect me sometime next week.”

“What for?”

“I’m not sure. My travels to Spain and Portugal? The docks?”

“When will you be leaving?”

“I’ll leave in a few days. It takes a day to get there. Come with me. You don’t have to go back to school for two weeks unless you need to spend time on the farm.”

“Well, I should spend some time on the farm” Hermione said.

Maggie came in and announced that Aunt Marie and Mr. Granger had just arrived and were waiting for them in the Big Hall.

Hermione dressed and went down to the big Hall.

Her aunt gave her a hug and kiss as did her father. Soon they were opening their presents.
Harry was thrilled with the broom and the riding cloak from Hermione. Hermione opened her present from her father, seeds from Australia, and South Africa.

Hermione’s aunt got her an old book telling of their house and land.

Hermione opened the present from Harry, a new book to make note in for spells,
“It’s enchanted you just touch the cover and the book opens to the pages you need.”

“It brilliant Harry. Thank you so much.” She kissed him.

He had a large smile on his face and he whispered,
“I didn’t have time to find a box for this.” He pulled out a gold bead necklace with an opal drop as big as Hermione’s thumb.

“Harry where did you get this? It’s beautiful,” Hermione commented.

“I saw it in Spain and thought it would go nice with a few of your dresses. Besides you need more jewelry. You’ve worn all it.”

“Well, not all my moms. The beads might look nice on a pearl or gem in between them.” She said.

“Or melt them down into something else.” Harry suggested.

“Harry those have been in my family for generations.” Hermione replied angrily.

Maggie walked in and announced,
“Dinner is ready.”
Everyone ate especially Hermione who had two helpings of everything having an empty stomach.

Aunt Marie and Hermione went roaming the mansion talking about what should be planted in the spring and which field they should rest.
“Have you looked at any dresses for the wedding? Or are you going to wear the same one from the first wedding,” Marie asked.

“No. I’ll get a dress. If we get married in summer it find a lighter dress and in fall I’ll go with something a little warmer.” Hermione said.

“How many people are you going to invite?”

“Harry’s got a number of nobility and others that he has to invite.” Hermione explained.

“You’ll find you’ll have to allow his position to seep in to your social and private life. Get used to it now.” Marie commented.

“Yes I know.” Hermione replied.

~ ~ ~ ~

Harry came up to the women and said,
“Maggie wants to know if either of you ladies wishes a hot drink and something to eat.”

They ended up in the dining room for hot drinks and small cakes.

Harry poured two more hot drinks and asked Hermione to come out in the balcony.

They stood there on the balcony looking out over the snow covered land, the moonlight making every thing glow.

Harry grabbed his riding cloak, warm blanket and Hermione’s hand and went down the stairs and onto the grounds. They walked for a while past most of the gardens. Harry found a few trees close together where the air was still and quiet and laid the blanket on the snow.

“Just think we’ll get married somewhere here and we’ll be husband and wife,” and he pulled her against him and kissed her passionately. Her arms went around his neck. A moment later she could hear the snow give way to their weight as he lay on the blanket.
Harry undid his pants that were bulging and started to undo Hermione dress, but she stopped him.

“Harry are you mad? It is cold out here.”

“I’ll keep you warm.” he said his eyes shinnied in the moonlight.

He unlaced her top and freed her breasts. He lovingly caressed and kissed them as Hermione felt an uncomfortable soreness in them, so she whispered,
“Do you want me Harry? Do you want to be inside me?” Hermione asked breathing deeply in knowing what effect it would have on him.

“God yes I want you,” he panted.

“Then take me,” she said as she pulled up her skirts and removed her knickers and then lying back waiting with a smile on her face.

He moaned as he entered her and she felt his weight and him going deep inside her and then slowly moving out of her going in and slowly pulling almost completely out.

Hermione wrapped her arms and legs around him, kissing his neck and breathing in his scent.

Harry fell asleep on his side, but Hermione couldn’t. She felt something. She got dressed and looked around. In the corner of the garden she saw some movement and went to investigate it. She saw a boy not more than fifteen sneaking through the garden looking back towards the mansion now and again.

“Hello,” Hermione called out.
The boy looked at her curiously and then walked cautiously toward the road. He leaned up against a large tree as if he was hiding.

“Excuse me. But who are you and why are you walking around this grounds at this hour?” Hermione asked him. The boy looked strange but she didn’t know why, it was hard to see him in the moonlight.

Again boy looked curiously at her but didn’t say any thing. He peeked onto the road and then stepped onto it cautiously. Hermione watched as he ran up to a young girl who was pulling a cart. They embraced and then he gave her something, a necklace, and she put it in her pocket. He handed her something very small and then he took off a string she was wearing around her neck. The girl looked at what was in her hand and smiled at him. It was a ring and she slipped it on to her finger. The boy untied the knot on the string kissed the ring on her finger and squeezed her hand. She slipped the ring off and then added the ring to the string and then put it back around her neck.
Hermione thought she heard it jingle as thought it as though there were other things on the simple necklace. The boy pointed a wand on the ring and changed it making it smaller. The two kissed and faded away.

They were ghosts or she was hallucinating or having strange visions. But the visions only happened when she was with Harry and they we scattered. And then she thought of the poem on the wall, they meet here a different time but this place they could live their lives… but they were dead.

Hermione made her way back to a sleeping Harry. Her breast were sore and started to feel strange ... she was pregnant she was sure of it now. She lay down next to Harry wondering how to tell him. How happy he will most likely be. She closed her eyes and nuzzled up to him to keep him warm.
Harry’s arm slid around her midsection, reaching out in his sleep. It started to snow and Hermione got up and whispered,
“Harry it’s snowing. We should get back inside.”

He moaned and opened his eyes. Harry looked at Hermione and sat up suddenly and pulled her forcibly to the pile of snow saying,
“I will get you cold and then thaw you my lady,” piling up snow on her.

“Harry Stop!” she shouted seizing his arm.

He looked at her for a moment with a devilish grin and then it changed to concern.
“What is it? Did I hurt you?”

“No you didn’t exactly hurt me, I think .. I’m pregnant.”

“What ?”

“I’m pregnant Harry.”

“Good God I could have killed him. Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“I just realized it. I thought I was having a vision but I saw couple of ghosts. But my breast hurt, I was sick this morning, and there was that span of time where I didn’t drink the potion. Madame Pomfrey thought I might be with child.”

“Pregnant!” he said with a big smile, “We’re going to have a baby.”

“Let’s not tell anyone right now ok. I don’t want to bring any bad luck on us.” Hermione requested.

“Alright. We can wait to tell people. But we do have to tell Sirius, your dad, and your aunt.” Harry said.

“Yes we can tell them.”

Harry got up and helped Hermione to her feet and they walked back to the estate.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Maggie, Sirius, and Marie were talking about what they would for spring if they felt there might another drought. Mr. Granger fell asleep in the big chair near the fireplace.

The two lovers came bouncing in arms around each other and Hermione shook her father awake and the two smiled at him and said,
“Hey, we have something to tell you dad,” and the two walked over to the rest of them with Mr. Granger.

“We have some news.” Harry said smiling.

“What is it?” Sirius asked.

“You tell them,” Hermione whispered.

Harry wrapped his hands around her waist and said,
“Hermione pregnant!”

“Oh my goodness,” said Marie, “ That’s great!” Her hand grasped her chest with the news.

“My little girl’s having a baby?” her father said as he put his arms out to hug her and embraced her.

Sirius looked a Harry and said,
“Congratulations. Now how are you going hide this from your high social circle? You’re getting married in August? Her belly will be plump with your child.”

“We’ll get married after the child is born.” Harry commented.
“Well it is good news you are having a baby,” and then leaning in toward Harry, “You won’t need to have some other woman to have your heir.” Sirius commented in a softer tone.

“We’re not going to tell any one for a few months just keep it in the family for now.” Hermione added.
They all hugged the happy couple.

~ ~ ~ ~

Later that evening as Hermione climbed in to bed she asked,
“Harry I saw two ghosts tonight, a very young man and a young girl. He gave her a ring and a necklace. Do you know of any stories about them?”

Harry shook his head pulling the covers over them,
“No, I don’t remember any. We can look it up in the estate book. It might have something there.”

Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione who was yawning and started to doze off.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hermione spent all morning looking at books on the history of the estate.
All it mentioned is that a Lord Potter’s young son William Henry Potter was a bit of a flirt with the village girls and a bit of a large ego until he fancied one farm girl who lived nearby. He was ordered by his father to stay away from the girl. He was married to another years later and had sons. He bought all the land around the estate and made a lot of his fortune in trading spices, cloth, and wines.

Hermione then looked through the book her aunt gave her for Christmas. It was very old and smelled strange, pages were falling out and missing or in the wrong order. Hermione has a hard time reading the handwriting due to the faded pages or smeared ink. It mainly contained the names and dates of children born, marriages, deaths and bigger events such as draughts, the adding or inheriting of other land due to marriages or buying or losing land, what the girls got in the dowries, and what the sons inherited by their families.
On one of the lose pages there was a few sentences Hermione made out.
After helping the woman with her broken wheel to her cart she predicted that
‘In years to come you will have a son who will make your house noble and strong and the soil under your feet will reach the ends of the village.’
Eliza Bennet betrothed to Charles Spencer. She was nearly sixteen when married had four daughters. There was a weird note that said Trisha 2nd wife had Charles’ daughter.
Then Eliza’s date of death. Hermione looked ahead at the births; all daughters from Eliza all the way to Hermione. Charles Spencer was not allowed to be on the farm after Elize’s death. His daughters reluctantly left the farm with him for a few years then returned to the abandoned farm after they begged him to return to their home. A couple of farmer tried to farm the land but none could grow weeds in the dead soil.
Everything was died until the girls set their feet on the land. The land sprang to life and produce crops soon after.

Hermione went to Marie and said,
“Well the gypsy didn’t put the curse on us.”

“She didn’t? We’ll just have to keep looking.” Marie commented.

“Are there any more books, diaries, newspapers, or anything?” Hermione asked.

“I’ll have to look or are you coming to stay for a few days.” Marie asked.

“I’ll come over when Harry goes to Court in a few days. We can look together then.”


Hermione packed a few of her things as Harry packed his.
They got into the carriage and he dropped her off at the farm and gave her a long passionate kiss, “I’m going to miss you, but I’ll be back as soon as I can. Work on the party lists and the wedding list while you have time. Once you are at school you’ll have barely enough time to do it.”

Hermione sat down and added to the lists once she unpacked. It was cold and the light fading fast so she went out to the barn and got more firewood for the night. She wondered how to break the curse and why they were cursed in the first place. She whispered,
“Please tell me why I am tied to you and you to me?” looking toward the fields.
She went in the house and drink down some warm tea and went to bed.

A few days went by and Hermione got a note from Harry,
You must join me at the court as soon as possible.
H.

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