The Lord The Lady and The Land

Chapter 6 Hermione to Jane

Hermione woke up to the stars still twinkling in the dark sky. She looked at the young man that lay beside her. His arm draped over her body in a loose embrace. She closed her eyes and felt everything around her, the bed, the boy, and the night air and knew if she didn't get up and leave she would ruin both their lives.

She rolled off the bed and dressed quickly. Hermione wrote a note.

Dear Harry,

Sorry I had to leave so early but I have many things to do and I only have a short time in which to do them.
Love Hermione

Hermione watched him sleep for a few minutes wishing. Wishing things could be easier, wishing he would be happy that she was going to school, even proud of it. Wishing she could have a family with him within a year or two.

She wanted to kiss Harry, but feared it might wake him.
Hermione left the note on the table and made you her way through the mansion and onto the empty road.

She walked all the way home devising a plan she dreamed that night. She had forgotten the jewelry her mother had “ just in case something happened to the farm or family.”

Hermione made it home before the sun even came up. She hadn't unpacked her trunk so all she had to do was to change her clothes.
She opened her window and with a wave of her wand her trunk floated out of her room, out the window, and into the yard.

She was going to ride the cart to London and have it return home by it self but when Hermione went down stairs to the kitchen to grab some bread butter and a small container of jam when she notice twigs in a the corner. She looked again and realized it was Draco's broom. Hermione let out a small laugh and grabbed the broom.
Hermione got some rope from the barn and tied it around her floating trunk. She then tied the rope to the broom. She mounted the broom and slowly rose up into the air. It only her took two hours to get to London. Hermione landed the broom in front of the school.

To her surprise and relief Madame Pomfrey answered the door of the school’s administrators office.

“My dear girl. You made it!” Madame Pomfrey sang out.
She took a look around pulling the door closed behind her after putting Hermione’s trunk and broom inside the office and said,
“Let's go to the tea room across the street. We have a situation I have to talk to you about.”

Hermione gasped, “Did some one take the spot already?”

“Oh, No not at all.” the nurse said, “But we have to talk about … well…News travels fast sometimes and good gossip stays for a while.”

The two women crossed the street and sat down in the Teacups restaurant.

“What's the trouble?” Hermione asked sipping her tea.
“Well the story of his lordship taking you on your wedding night is still making it’s rounds. Mrs. Draco Malfoy is great news and a few too many people around here... well your life wouldn't be yours. The papers would have a field day if they knew you were here. They’d be banging down your door. I suggest we give you a new name and new identity. What is your full name?”

“Before I got married it was Hermione Jane Granger,” she said.

“Could you learn to answer to Jane?” the nurse asked.

“I think so.”
“You need a last name you will answer to...something that will get your attention... Puckle,” Madame Pomfrey suggested.

“Puckle I've heard that name before.”

“Yes, Mr. Puckle’s wake was being held the night you lost the baby.”

“Jane Puckle,” Hermione said. “Yes, I think I can remember that name.”

Madame Pomfrey took a deep breath, “Now there was a picture of you as well so...we can lighten you hair and....smile for me for a moment.”

Hermione smiled for the nurse.
“And I can ...?”

Hermione's looked in the reflection of the glass window smiling. “Shrink my front teeth?” She asked.

“Splendid idea!”

They stepped into the powder room and Madame Pomfrey shrunk Hermione's two front teeth and lightened her brown hair.

“Now you can go over to the administrator’s office. You can pick your classes and pay the tuition.” Madame Pomfrey said.

“I don't have money but I do have this jewelry.” Hermione said showing the nurse the bag.

“I'm sure the jewelry shop down street could buy them from you.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was a few blocks away but the jewelry shop was open early and was fairly keen on buying Hermione's mother jewelry. They offered her fifty pieces of gold for the bag of jewelry.

Hermione went back to the school with the fifty pieces of gold but the tuition was seventy-five gold pieces. Hermione went back to Madame Pomfrey and gave her the bad news.


Madame Pomfrey asked, “Do you have any more jewelry or something else you can sell?”


She looked in trunk and pulled out the kerchief that had the sapphire ring and the necklace Harry gave her for her birthday. Tears came to eyes and her heart ached, the jewelry she sold was just expensive jewelry, but these… these were gifts from Harry. She put them back in the trunk saying,
“No.”

Madame Pomfrey asked, “How attached are you to that broom?”

Hermione’s grim face blossomed into a smile, she was grinning ear to ear,
“I'm not.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A half hour later after haggling with the owner of the broom store.Hermione walked out of the store with seventy-five gold pieces.

She plopped the bag of pieces down on the table and said,
“I've got the tuition money and I think enough for school supplies. Now, all I need is a place to live.”

Madame Pomfrey gave Hermione a list of addresses where they take in boarders.
Hermione went to place after place. Some did not have room available, while some were too expensive, and others have black linen hanging over the doors and windows indicating that they were just getting over the infections of the plague.

Hermione or as she was going to be known as Jane Puckle decided to go to class now and look for a place to live afterwards.

She got to her Potions class very late. She was trying to be as quiet as possible entering the room but the teacher some how heard her and announced they had a latecomer embarrassing Hermione.

“Drink this,” he said as he put a small goblet in front of her.

“What is it?” She asked.

“Giggle juice. Miss Puckle if you can keep quiet after drinking this you don't have to do the homework for tomorrow.” the man said in a low voice.

Hermione drank it down and could feel it tickling her. She couldn't help but start to giggle and then laughed out louder harder and harder. When the tickling stopped she felt herself turning red with anger and embarrassment.

Herbology class with Professor Sprout went better. She didn't have her book yet but Hermione correctly answered all of the teacher's questions.

Healing spells and charms with Professor Flitwick was great also.
Basic Illnesses was with Madame Pomfrey who was asking Hermione all the questions and she answered them correctly. The girls in the class weren't sure if she was the teacher’s pet or if Madame Pomfrey was just challenging her quizzing her in front of the classes to see if she knew what she had missed, being late.

As soon as class was over a few of the girls asked Hermione
“Would like to go the library with us to study and help each other with thehome work?”

“Oh yes I would like to but I have to a few things I have to do first. Maybe later?” Hermione suggested.

“Okay we 'll be up there for a while. By the way I'm Susanna,” the girl reached out her hand to shake hands.

“I'm Jane Puckle,” Hermine replied.

“Nice to meet you Jane, you look familiar have we met before?”

“No I don't think so.”

The group of girls started to go down the hallway.
“See you later Jane.” and the girls headed for the library.

Hermione went to all the places listed on the paper Madame Pomfrey gave her. There just weren’t any rooms left.

Hermione started looking elsewhere. She ended up at the edge of the-not-so-nice area of London looking for a place to live. Six long blocks away from the school.

Mrs. Umbridge was the landlady and she showed Hermione the only room she had available to rent out. It was a very small room with only a bed, a bookshelf, a table, and a window with a warped windowsill. It was wall papered in a soft charcoal black for some reason with gray flowers.

The landlady was asking five gold pieces for a month. Hermione was desperate so she agreed. The woman informed her of the rules of the house, no men in the rooms, only in the sitting room, only one guest at a time, and no use of the kitchen.

Hermione walked all the way back to school and got her trunk and bought the school books and supplies she needed for the next few weeks.

Hermione pulled out the bread and jam she had brought with her and ate a late lunch.
Hermione caught up with the girls in the library. Susan stood up and introduced her to the group of girls. She studied with them for a while. A few of them giggled all the time they were there.
Hermione getting annoyed asked,
“What are you laughing about?”

One girl said, “One of the girls just got officially engaged and is stuck here until she learns to cook, mend and paint or play the piano. It will take her ages to learn. Or maybe she wants to stay here. Since the plague more girls are getting married to older men because they have the money and security. I don't think I could stand that, giving myself to an old man.”

“Sometimes you don't have a choice.” Hermione said sadly.

“Have you been married Jane?” the girl asked.

“Yes, I was forced into the marriage. He's dead now ...and I'm here,” Hermione said realizing she was going to have to remember who she was and what name she was going by.

“Did you not like being married?” the girl asked.

Hermione took a deep breath and breathed out,
“ I don't want to talk about it right now.”

“Oh alright. By the way my name is Padma.”

“Nice to meet you.” Hermione said.

The librarian shooed the girls out of library and Hermione found herself walking down the street to her new residence.

**

Hermione unpacked her clothes and looked over her homework. She got dressed for bed and looked at the window. She did a simple 'reparo' spell on the window to stop the drafts and conjured a fire in the small fireplace.

She lay down in the bed but when she closed her eyes she saw Harry's face. Hermione got out of bed and looked in her trunk. From the kerchief she pulled out a sapphire ring. Hermione tried to put it on but it only went over the first knuckle before she started shaking. So Hermione put it on her other hand and got back in to bed. Wrapping her left hand around her right hand as to protect it. She tucked her hands under her chin. She took a deep breath curled up in to a ball and cried herself to sleep only one day away from home and she already missed him.

The next day Hermione got to school on time.
She walked into Potions class and again the Potions Master put a goblet in front of her and told her to drink it.

“Why?” she asked.

“To see if you can resisted the urge to laugh,” he said.

She downed the drink not just that day but everyday for weeks. If any of the other girls talked in class or answered a question wrong they too had to drink the potion.

Hermione, being short on money, got a job working in an herb store. Mrs. Umbridge raised Hermione's board to eight pieces of gold for the next month and she had to buy food every day because she was not allowed to be in the kitchen. She couldn't keep food too long in the bedroom because mice would squeeze in from the other houses and eat her food and make nests out of her books and papers.

Hermione went to school in the morning, worked in the afternoon till dark and then did homework. And on Tuesday night Madame Pomfrey and Hermione researched spells charms and potions.

“How are you getting along in your classes,” Madame Pomfrey asked.

“Fine I love my classes but potions, the teacher hates us all.” Hermione commented.

“And where are you boarding?” She asked.

“Umbridge Inn. It’s six blocks away, but I can’t find any other place.” Hermione said.

“Well, you won’t find a charming farm house like yours in London,” the nurse remarked.

“Or cursed.” Hermione laugh aloud sarcastically

“Cursed?“ Madame Pomfrey said with surprise in her voice.

“Well some say it charmed, we call it cursed. Someone put a spell on our land over a hundred years ago and I can only go away from the land for a few months and then I have to return. If I don’t the land will die. And we can’t sell it. We, blood relatives, are the only ones who can really work the land. There is something about the first spill when we get married so a husband can work the land. But that’s all I know.”

The nurse smiled curiously and said, “How strange. I wonder who charmed it and why?”

“We don’t know,” shrugging her shoulders, “ Happen so long ago.”

Madame Pomfrey offered Hermione tea and talked about plants and animals in some new potions. Anything that came close to something to stimulate reproductive parts. They did this every Tuesday evening.


Hermione was there more than a month when she realized no one was writing to her, not her father, Marie or even Harry. Just as well she thought to herself, pushing down her feelings of anger and sadness. I'm far to busy to write to anyone she told herself with school, work, having tons of homework and researching she just didn't have the time. She kept herself busy, just getting enough sleep. Marie is taking care of her father, who by now probably hated her and perhaps disowned her.

Marie may not hate her but would she still mad that Hermione went off to school.

And Harry. Not a word from him. He would most certainly be furious with her. Maybe in time he'd forgive her for going. If he really loved her he would. Did he love her or just want her in his bed, sometimes young men don't know the difference between love and or lust. She loved him and there wasn't anyone else she wanted share her life with.

She looked at the ring on her finger. Maybe it was time to give back the ring. The nurse and Hermione hadn't found anything that worked yet and Hermione was fast losing all hope. She put the ring in a small box and sent to Harry with a note saying,

Dear Harry,
Since I still can't have children and I can't produce an heir for you. Here is your ring please take it and give it to someone who can give you the family you deserve.
Your friend always
Hermione

She tied the small box to the owl's leg and thought 'I have a year to get a potion or charm right so Harry and I can have children, a year.'

Hermione reached for the string to untie the box but the owl jumped away from her and took out the window. She cried,
“No! No come back. I changed my mind,” but the bird was up above the houses and didn't hear Hermione’s cries. She put her face in her hand, “What have I done!” and she wept.

What made things even harder was that she was lonely. She didn't have a problem making friends, but they weren't close friends. She couldn't talk to them about Harry or her family, only school and homework assignments.

It was hard being so home sick. Madame Pomfrey asked Hermione,
“You feeling ill?”

“I'm alright, I just miss my family and home,” Hermione admitted.

The next day she got a letter at lunch. To Jane Puckle.

Dear Jane,

I'm so glad you have settled in to school and I hear you are doing very well in all your studies. I'll send you a little something in a day or two.

Molly Weasley

Hermione had to fight back tears.

Hermione wrote back to her.

Dear Mrs. Weasley,

Thank you so much for your letter I was feeling a bit down and lonely of late.
I've got no one I can really talk to except for Poppy and I see her in class and Tuesday night when we brain storm and look for potions and spells for me. Anything you send me would be greatly appreciated.

Your friend,
Jane Puckle

A day later a large loaf of bread with marmalade was dropped on to Hermione’s lap at lunch along with an old paper.

The water from the flooding had receded and the new cobblestone were being laid down in the village. The village was still trying to get contracts with bigger ship to come to the docks in the spring and fall. But the ship owners wanted to have bigger piers and more of them to tie up.

She looked at the obituary listings.

There she saw Draco's picture staring back at her. Her own likeness was next to it with the caption 'his wife' looking the other way avoiding Draco. She threw the newspaper down shaking. Padma came over to her and asked,
“Jane are you alright? You’re white as a ghost.”

Hermione shook her head, ”No I'm fine. Just got startled that's all.”

Padma picked up the paper and looked back a Hermione.

“That's your husband!” she said out loud.

Hermione cringed 'How did she know? I'm not using Malfoy's name.'

A group of girls gathered around and looked at the paper.

Susanna patted Hermione’s shoulder to comfort her,
“It must have been a shock to see his face. It will get better and easier with time. That's what my mum says, my dad died a few years back.”

Hermione just nodded.
“Wow, it says here that more than one hundred people went to his funeral. Boy he had a lot of friends.”

Hermione just nodded again and kept silent.

“Look, Lord Potter attended his funeral.”
This puzzled Hermione, but she just kept nodding.

“Well at least he lived a some what a full life.” Susanna commented.
Hermione looked at the paper. There on the other side of Hermione's picture was the picture of a man who looked older than her father. John Puckle. His head wrapped in a blanket trying to stay warm. He was coughing so you could not really see his face. He looked familiar. She must have seen him in the market many times.

Her picture was next to his and everyone thought she was his wife.
Harry went to John Puckle's wake and funeral.

She wondered how he was and how the docking and shipping things were going. She missed Harry, his smile, his lips, his touch, and his smell. How he made love to her and how nice it felt to sleep with him, warm, comforting, and safe.

Hermione wrote a letter to Mrs. Weasley.

Please tell me anything you know about John Puckle. I am using his name and should know something about him and his family.


A few days later Mrs. Weasley told her all she knew about John Puckle. He was a very nice man who helped his neighbors. He was very quiet and had been married, but she died years ago. His two sons run the small farm now and are looking for wives. He was well liked and respected.

The likelihood of running into some one who knew the Puckle family was remote but she wanted to know something anyway since she adopted the name for now.

School was going great. She was getting the best marks in all her classes including Potions, which she liked but dislike the teacher who made her drink giggle juice every morning.

She was working in Professor Sprouts' Herb Shop in the afternoons allowing her all the herbs she wanted and some money but the money went quickly to pay for food and board.

After spending most of a Saturday morning in the Herb shop, Hermione stopped at the small restaurant. She didn't want to be stuck in her dark room while the sun was still out. It was the last days of October and the leaves were turning colors and the air cool and crisp.
Hermione sat down in the restaurant in a corner table with her tea and a biscuit and her nose in The Herbs Fresh and Dry, a manual on how to use herbs.

She noticed someone standing next to her as she turned a page.

“Excuse me but is this seat taken?” a man said with a low voice and a Bulgarian accent.

Hermione looked up to see Viktor Krum standing there looking at her.
“Viktor Krum ... it's very good to see you.” Hermione said.

He sat in the empty seat.

“How are you? I heard about Draco. I'm so sorry for your loss.”

“I'd rather not talk about it Mr. Krum.” Hermione said.

“Alright Mrs. Malfoy.” he replied.
She winced at the sound of her legal name,

“Please don't call me that. I'm known as Jane here. Please call me that. I'm starting a new life and I just don't want to think about the past.”

“And you must call me Viktor. Now what shall we talk about?” he asked.

“How did your Quidditch game go?” Hermione asked.

“Which one? I've had several since last time I saw you.” Viktor laughed out loud.

“Well how did they all go?” Hermione posed.

“Great! I won all of them.” He announced with a great big grin.

They talk for an hour or so and then Viktor had to go.

“Can you meet me here tomorrow for lunch?” Viktor asked.

“Yes.” Hermione answered, ”See you tomorrow.”

**

The next day they met for lunch and took a walk in a near by park.

Some children ran by and Viktor asked,
“Where is your little one?”
Hermione felt herself shiver and a wave of tears erupted.

“I lost him. I lost my son. Miscarriage.” Hermione said softly.

“I'm so sorry I didn't know. I'm sure it devastated Draco and you.” Viktor said sadly.
Hermione grabbed Victor's hand and pulled him to a less crowded area of the park.


“Viktor. I was forced to marry Draco. I didn't love him and he never loved me. He beat me. That's why I had a miscarriage. So please don't think I mourn for Draco or the life I had with him. It was awful.” Hermione hissed.

“I'm sorry, I thought you loved him,” Viktor replied. “I had no idea you were unhappy. I hope with this new life you can find happiness? And perhaps we can become good friends?”

“We can be friends, I do enjoy our talks. But I'm in school and that is very important to me Viktor.”

They walked some more without talking, then Viktor said, “It's getting late. I'll walk you home.” He walked her to the front door and then kissed hand.
“May I call on you again Jane?” Viktor asked,

“Say Thursday?”

“Yes. Good night Viktor.” Hermione said.

**

Thursday afternoon Viktor came by the Herb shop. Professor Sprout let her go early since Hermione skipped lunch to come in early and did all her work faster than usual. Viktor took Hermione for a late lunch. She was so hungry and hadn't eaten since breakfast. Her money seemed to disappear so quickly she was down to a few silver pieces, which had to last her until she got paid the next week.
So all she’d had for the last three days was tea and biscuits.

They ate at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn. Viktor put down a few mugs of ale and some slabs beef. Hermione drank wine and ate some cheese with boiled ham.

They went for a walk in the park afterwards. Viktor talked about Quidditch and told her that he had a game Saturday afternoon and asked if she would she come to it. Hermione agreed.

She talked about spells and charms. She could tell Viktor was bored with their conversation. She knew he had no idea what she was talking about. He had a blank expression on his, face but he still wanted to spend time with her. She knew she could only spend an hour or so before they ran out of conversation besides she had several homework assignments to do and talking about them made her want to look things up in her book.

Viktor walked Hermione home and asked if he could come in for a moment. She led him in the sitting room, Mrs Umbridge watching them like a hawk. Viktor sat down in a wooden chair next to Hermione and he took her hand in his. He caressed her fingers for a moment looking at them.

“Hermione“ he whispered, “I see this place and I worry that are not safe here. It's not a very good neighborhood. I could...help you get a better place.” He was now massaging her hand and wrist.

Hermione slowly pulled her hand out of his. She looked into his face, into his eyes and smiled,
“That's very sweet of you Viktor, but I'm fine here.”

He had a look in his eyes, the look just before a man kisses a woman. A look of want and need. Viktor held onto her elbow and her hand,
“Hermione what I am offering it's to show you how feel about you.”

Just then there was a knock at the front door. Mrs. Umbridge, who was spying on them, tiptoe not so quietly down the hall and yelled,
“'I'll get the door, ” as though she was in the back room running past the sitting room.


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