The Lord The Lady and The Land

Chapter 5


Harry and Hermione woke hours later. Marie was fixing lunch and they were both very hungry. They got dressed and came down to the kitchen.

Mr. Granger stood up quickly and bowed to Harry.

Harry smiled, nodded and blushed saying,
“ Sir if we are in public I would expect the formalities but as I’m in your house and in yesterdays attire you can act more causal in my presence.”

Mr. Granger laughed, “ Of course if that’s what you would like.”
Harry nodded.

Hermione laughed and asked, “ We’re famished. Is there enough lunch for all of us?”

“ Oh I think I can spare some chowder for you and his lordship.” Marie said stirring the large pot.

“ It smells delicious,” Harry commented.

Hermione got a stack of bowls and started cutting up a loaf of bread.
Marie filled the bowls and handed them to Harry, Mr. Granger and poured two more her herself and Hermione.

Hermione put the bread in the center of the table and out of one of the cupboards a bowl of butter. She was just sitting down to eat when an owl started pecking at the window.

The owl stuck out its leg and Hermione untied the letter.

It was from Madame Pomfrey. She opened it and it read,

I have great news I’ll be by around 2:00.
See you then
Poppy P.

**************

It seemed like time stopped for Hermione.
After lunch Hermione did a few chores while Harry had to go to a meeting.

Around two o’clock Madame Pomfrey walked up the path to the Hermione’s farmhouse.

The nurse had a big smile on her face.
“ Hello Madame Pomfrey how was your trip?” Hermione said curiously.
“Very well.” Madame Pomfrey said rubbing her hands together.

“ Candlecake has an opening in their classroom for one more student. However their lodgings are all taken up, so you’ll have to board somewhere close by. And … “ Madame Pomfrey paused and added, “ They’ve already started classes, so you’ll have to pack your things and get a move on.”

Hermione raced up the stairs to her father’s room and said,
“ Dad, Dad I got accepted. I’m going to school.” She ran in to her room
and started packing all her things into her trunk. She grabbed all her skirts and blouses neatly folding them.

Her father came into the room, “ Hermione. What did you say?”

“Dad, I got accepted. I’m packing now.” Hermione laughed.
“Hermione you can’t go. We need you here. The farm will die without you.”
“ It’ll be winter dad. Everything is dormant. This is the best time to go.” Hermione commented.

“Hermione you can’t go. You’ll be planning your wedding.” her father reminder her.

“ I can do that in the summer.” Hermione argued.

“ Hermione I can’t let you go. I’m not going to pay for it. So you might as well unpack.” Mr. Granger informed her in an angry voice, turned and went back to his room.

Hermione sat on her bed staring at the trunk, her arms folded in frustration. She couldn’t believe her ears.
A few tears ran down her face while she took in a deep breath, wiped them away and went down to the kitchen.
Madame Pomfrey had a disappointed look on her face.
“ You heard?” Hermione asked.
“ Yes.” the nurse replied.
“ Well at least you know you could have gone,” she commented.

Hermione’s cheeks got pink with anger,
“ Oh no. I’m going. Tomorrow’s my birthday and I'll be legally an adult. He can’t stop me. I just need the money.”
“Do you have anything of value?” Madame Pomfrey asked.

“Most of my belongs that had any value are still at the mansion, my hope chest fine linen, silver ware china plates some old jewelry and pieces of gold.” Hermione said sadly, “ The Malfoy's lawyer said he’d get me my dowry after the mourning period, one year.”

“Lord Harry may give you the money, are you not betrothed?” the nurse asked.

“Yes, but I fear he may think as my father does,” Hermione said wearily.
“Well you can still ask,” the Madame Pomfrey said.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hermione got a note from Harry that afternoon asking them over for dinner.

Hermione got a dress from Harry gold withorange trim. Marie got an
olive dress with gold/orange trim.
Hermione’s dad got a new coat and pants.

They rode in the carriage. Hermione, feeling nervous about the evening, kept kicking her leg into the wall of the carriage.

As they rode through the town center Hermione was looking out the window.
Mr. Flint looked at her with a disapproving look as he stood outside the tavern. She had her hair pulled up cascading in swirling curls and not covered by a bonnet or cap, no veil to cover her face and she wasn’t wearing black.

Hermione sat back in her seat hiding from his disapproving look and breathed in deeply.
They got to the Potter estate and they stepped out of the carriage.

Harry took Hermione’s hand and led her into the house,
“Dinner is just about ready. Hermione, you look lovely,” he said kissing her hand.
“So do you,” looking at his clothes. He was dressed in soft black robe with a jeweled green neck clip to match his eyes. She looked in to his face, his eyes were bright and his lips looked delicious and inviting. She gave him a sweet kiss on the mouth and he smiled.

They sat down and Hermione sat to Harry’s right as he sat at the head of the table. Sirius was at the other end of the table, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were next him.

Everyone talked about the weather and what to do about it.
“Hagrid had started to put down the cobblestones on the road when the rain began. He had to stop because the stones were moving and sinking in to the mud.” Harry commented.

“The Thomas’s had mud seeping into their house because of all the rain. They’re going to have to replace the floors.

All Hermione could think of was how to ask Harry for the money for school. She could seduce him and maybe get it that way. Or convince him to give her the money but how? He wanted her to stay at the farmhouse or more likely stay with him.

Hermione said very little during dinner and Harry asked her from time to time if
something was wrong or bothering her. She shook her head and she said
“ Just thinking.”

After dinner Harry raised his wine glass and said with enthusiasm,
“ I’ld like to make a toast, to a beautiful young woman, happy birthday Hermione!”

Everyone raised their glass and said, “Happy birthday Hermione,” and clinked glasses.

Harry leaned over and kissed her cheek sweetly.
The cook came out with a tray of sweets. Sweet cakes, jelly candy filled with liquor centers, hard cakes, and dried figs and dates stuffed with almonds.

Harry picked up a red jelly candy and bit in to it. The filling dripped down is lips and on to his chin. He laughed picking up a napkin to wipe his jaw.
He held out the other half of the jelly to Hermione’s lips so she could sample it.

As the jelly entered her mouth Harry’s fingers were engulfed by her lips. At that moment she could see Harry’s eyes bright one moment were
filling with want the next.
He swallowed the jelly in his mouth and lean over to her and whispered,
“ The only thing sweeter than the jelly candies,” he raised his hand to her cheek stoking it tenderly, “ is your mouth.”

Hermione smiled and blushed. The jelly candies were sweet fruit and it was filled with some kind of cherry liquor.

Harry walked over the window and looked out,
“ The weather seems to be warm. I think we should move this party to the garden.”

Everyone agreed. Harry opened the door to the terrace and everyone went out through the door and down the stairs. Harry pulled Hermione back.

“ I was going to wait till tomorrow to give you this,” he handed her a small
box. Hermione opened it to reveal a thin gold necklace with small oval stones, each a different color.
“Harry it’s beautiful!” Hermione breathed.

“ I think it will go nicely with the dress you have on,” Harry said as he lifted it out of the box. Harry moved her hair out of the way and wrapped it around Hermione’s neck. He then started kissing her just above the necklace.

“ Harry. Your guests!” Hermione said aloud in an effort to get his attention,
“ You should not keep them waiting.”

“ Oh God I’m aching I want you so much.” Harry moaned, took a deep breath and he took her hand and said,
“ Come on then,” going out the door and down in to the garden.

There were chairs and benches in the garden.

Mrs. Weasley walked over to Hermione,
“How are you Hermione? I mean with the miscarriage. It couldn't have been easy with all that went on .. if you need some one to talk to please feel free to call on me.”
Hermione smiled and said, “ Thank you. I think I'm alright it's just hard knowing I'm not going to have any children.”

Looking down at the ground, Hermione took in a deep breath and held it for a moment and slowly let it out.
She looked at Mrs. Weasley and smiled saying ,
“I couldn't believe you had so many children. Were they all very different experiences?”
“Oh yes. I had the same cravings, everything I ate had to have pepper on it and meat have to be burnt to a crisp,” she laughed out.
“ That is strange.” Hermione commented her smile widening.
“With the twins I had a rash on my bottom that wouldn't go away” and Mrs. Weasley whispered chuckling softly,
“And with Percy I had visions, very nasty ones.”
“Did the vision come true?” she queried .
“Some did, some didn't, mother's intuition why?”
“Oh just curious.”Hermione shook her head and shrugged shoulders.

Harry came up behind her.

Everyone was enjoying the drinks and the sweets that followed them into the yard. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were holding hands and talking softly to each other.

Sirius was talking to Marie and Mr. Granger was talking to the cook about how wonderfulthe dinner was.

“Everyone seems very happy,” Hermione commented.
Harry put his arm around her waist and said,
“ With a good dinner, good conversation and very strong sweets and drinks, it looks like everyone is good mood.”

“ Then I have something to ask you,” Hermione said, she paused taking a deep breath, “ Madame Pomfrey said that she could get me into a school..
all I need is the money.”

“ Hermione we talked about this already. Your father needs you at home.
And I rather you stay close by, you have a wedding to plan, you..” he started to explain.

“My father has my aunt to look after him. I can come home once in a while to check on the farm,” she answered back.

She stepped closer to him and asked softly,
“You offered to do it months ago why not now.”

“ It was to keep you from having to HAVE TO marry Draco.” He remained her,

“ Why can’t you do it now?” Hermione argued.

“ I’m tired of this conversation. You are to stay home, your father and I have talked it over. It's what best.” Harry hissed pulling away from her.

“ You .. and my father know what’s best for me.” Hermione hissed back at him, “Come tomorrow I will tell what is best for me. Leaving. Leaving and going to school that what is best for me. I should have been there
months ago. So I’m going, with or without your help.” She turned, walking down
the garden path to the stairs and into the dining room.

Harry caught her arm and stopped her,
“ Hermione. Madame Pomfrey is just trying to recruit anyone she can get
to help her with her patients. If she’s really desperate for help, she 'd teach you herself. But she’s not is she? Have her teach you here.”

“ You can’t make me stay after tomorrow.” Hermione argued.
Harry’s expression was a 'do you want to make a bet' smile,
“ Yes I can.”

Hermione slowly pulled her arm away from Harry’s grip,
“ I’m going,” she said in rebellious tone.

Harry grabbed her by the waist and in seductive, teasing tone said,
“ No! Don’t make me shackle you in the dungeon Hermione because I will.”

“ You wouldn’t dare?” Hermione snapped.

Harry let go of her waist, grabbed on to her hand guiding Hermione to the other side of the mansion. He opened up a very old and creaky gate.

“Lumos,” Harry whispered. They walk down a stairway. It was dark and
cold and soon they landed on the ground level. Harry held her hand and pulled her along behind him. There were small rooms, some with bars, some with shackles and long chains.
He pulled her into one of the rooms.
“Lumos maxima.” Harry whispered and the room lit up.

Hermione let go of Harry's hand to look at the wall and the long chains and shackles that were attached to them.
Suddenly two shackles clasped on to Hermione's wrist. She panicked and screamed.
Harry grabbed her arm and slipped the cuffs off her wrist like bangles,
“No need to be frightened they're too big for you, they slid right off.”
and he removed the other, wrapping his fingers around her wrist,
“ I wouldn't have you wear these, your's would be made of jade and ivory.

He pulled her close and kissed her wrist and made his way to her palm.
“Harry this isn't the right place, its awful down here.” Hermione complained.

“IF you think this is awful,” he pull her into the hallway,” you should see the other rooms; I think they are this way. They have a stockade where a prisoner's hand and feet were trapped..

The corridor kept going on and on, it seemed to get darker and colder.

They turned a corner and suddenly Hermione was staring at a dried up human face, it’s expression was a petrified scream.
Hermione let out a small scream and clutchedon to Harry's robes, burying her face in his chest trembling.
“ Oh God . I'm sorry. I didn't know that was here.” Harry said in a started voice, putting his hand on the back of her head and caressing it, comforting her.
“ I don't think I've ever been this part of the dungeon.
“Take me out of here please.” she begged.

They turned around and made their way out. Hermione never climbed a flight of stairs so fast. She walked back to the garden and sat by the roses.
Everyone was laughing softly.

Marie came up to Hermione and said,
“ I don’t know where you were or what you were doing, but perhaps you should wash up.”

Hermione looked at her gown. It was covered in soot and dust as were her hands and she assumed her face.

Maggie got Hermione a wet hot towel to clean off her face. Maggie helped her to brush off her dress in the mudroom.

Harry came in to the room. Hermione couldn’t read his expression.
Maybe he was just a shocked at finding the corpse. One thing was Hermione was not happy about having Harry scare her by shackeling her in such a place, even if it was in jest.

“ I’ll meet you back in the garden Hermione.” he said and went to get cleaned up himself.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hermione was walking around the garden alone, away from the others.
She heard Harry’s voice and debated whether or not to continue the conversation about school with him.

She was in deep thought when all at once everyone was around her talking and laughing. Harry was next to her gently leaning on her.
“ Hermione I was just telling everyone about the dungeon.” he said.

Hermione didn’t want to be dragged in to the conversation, so she picked up a jelly candy and popped it in to her mouth. It was vanilla. She popped another some sort of caramel, a crème mint, a coffee and another vanilla.

She felt them warming her from the inside out. They also lit a fire between her legs. She realized too late that she was getting inebriated. She tried to stand but was a little shaky on her feet.

It was getting late so the Weasleys said ‘good night’ and apparated home . Mr. Granger and Aunt Marie were getting in the carriage while Hermione was splashing cold water on her face in an attempt to get sober.

Hermione walked down the stairs to see the carriage far off in the distance.
“ Why didn’t they wait for me?” Hermione wondered out loud.

“ You’re intoxicated. You might get sick on the way home on a bumpy road.” Harry commented.

“Then I’ll walk. I've got things I have to get done in the morning” Hermione replied starting for the road.

“ You’ll do no such thing. It’s late and you’ll get lost or run down by a horse and carriage. You’ll stay here tonight,” Harry said following her.

“ You’re not going to shackle me in the dungeon again are you Harry?” she asked mockingly.

“No! I’d shackle you to my bed.” he said pulling her face to his kissing her.
‘Shackles or a ring, it’s the same thing’ her thought.
She pulled away from their kiss and said,
“ You best get small shackles then for I’m not going to your bed willingly
if you dismiss the idea of me going to school.”

“ Okay? Let us discuss it. You’d be gone for four months at least. You know no one in London or France, your father is still getting over his illness and your aunt needs your help on the farm since her husband died. I’m not going anywhere for a while; until the ships and dock business is settled.
I have to order more cobblestones for ones we lost in the flood and watch over that. Not to mention my aunt and uncle are coming for a visit with women for me to meet. I WANT YOU TO STAY HERE! There we've discussed it.” Harry face was a bit pink and he was getting annoyed.

“ You forgot one thing Harry.” Hermione said sadly.

“What’s that?” Harry query.

“ The fact that I want to go to school. I choose to go to school. I’m NOT going through this again; this practice of other people choosing my life for me. What I had to go through last time; forced into a marriage, being alone in that mad home and being assaulted at night in my bed, HAVING TO CUT OFF MY FINGER TO GET AWAY, AND LOSING MY BABY BECAUSE OF THAT BASTARD AND THAT BITCH!”
Hermione was shaking with anger, a few tears made their way down her face.

“ Our baby,” Harry said sadly, “ I lost him too.”

There was a dull pain in Hermione's heart, she wasn't the only one who suffered the loss of the baby. They embraced each other for comfort. to ease the pain they shared. Harry held her firmly in his arms. She felt his tears land on her neck. Harry kissed her, where his tears fell erasing them off her body.

Harry and Hermione walked up the stairs and into the mansion.
They walked back to the balcony, just off the dinning room and looked
up in to the sky. The stars were bright.

Harry was standing behind Hermione his lips were on her temple and his hands caressed her shoulders.

One of the servants came up to Harry and asked if he wanted his bed turned down. He had a tray in his hand of the jelly candies and without thinking
Hermione popped one into mouth.

She looked around the balcony and something in the corner caught her eye
a poem written in stone.

We will meet again my love and live the life we were denied
In another time, in this place we’ll find each other
and let history be our guide.
Where noble and common blood and germ will be mixed
the charmed couple reunited destiny will be fixed.


Harry told the servant that he would take care of the bed chamber himself.
Hermione sensed the liquor taking it’s affect on her.
She was getting warmer especially between her legs. Soon the warmth
became a throbbing need and Hermione cursed herself for eating the jelly
candy.

Harry glanced at Hermione and perceived that she was still slightly drunk but more willing to accept his advances now than earlier.

“Come,” he held out his hand, “ time to tuck you in,” he said playfully.

Hermione let herself be lead to the bedchamber. Harry had Maggie help Hermione take off her gown and dress in a nightdress.

She walked up to Harry and kissed him,
“ Good night my Lord.”

He took her hand and turned her palm up and kissed it sending a wonderful
Wave of warmth through Hermione. She moaned, “ Oh Harry, what you do to me with your kisses.” She felt her body melt under his touch; every tickle, every stroke and caress. She felt herself losing the reason why she should refuse his attention earlier.

His mouth covered hers and suddenly she was on the bed naked and he was
entering her gently, He slid in and out of her slowly, wanting it to last.

Hermione was trying to grasp what had gone wrong, she wasn't suppose to
let him make love to her. She was supposed to convince him to pay for her school. However Hermione's body was responding to Harry's touch and kiss.

Instinctively Hermione's legs wrapped around Harry's hips as his thrusts got
deeper and harder. She let out a climaxing moan and so did Harry.

They both lay panting and exhausted. Hermione cuddled up to Harry and whispered as she was falling asleep,
“ Best to shackle me now.”


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