AN: I want to thank all the reviewers for their wonderful feedback, it's really appreciated. But don't think too badly about Harry. He doesn't really 'abuse' of Hermione. They don't even really know each other! She will get a small fortune for what she's about to do, and he isn't that proud of how he's achieving a dream of his… It shows in the way he really wants Hermione to understand why he's doing this… He's a very noble and righteous man, who wants an heir to love, and love him… That's all. As for Hermione, she could've married to come to the money needed, but she chose this fate, as much as Harry presented an opportunity for her not to lose her relative freedom and get the money she needed… But it will all be clearer with time…
Just a few answers to the questions:
Slytherin_Angel, thanks for warning me about the error in Cedric's name!
Austenlover, magic is keeping her alive! Magical Healing has always been much more advanced than the Muggle science!
krazyriceball718, I didn't think it was that important as long as she had to return to an Asian country, but I'm aware it could be important to others, so I apologise if anyone's offended…
AliaWest, I only meant to have Harry as a known person in the London circles, because Harry wouldn't be Harry, if he didn't have to deal with unwanted 'fame'. Also, I'm only using it as a London-society-gossip kind of fame. It's only at the 'pureblood' (including halfbloods of good reputation) society parties that he gets bothered by witches… Maybe I should've been more specific about that, but I was saving it for later… His family being wiped out, and the infant surviving that poison, it would make the whole 'pureblood' community go in shock. Sirius being a 'colourful' fellow, and mysteriously die… It just all adds to the mystery surrounding Harry Potter, and bored people who have nothing more to do than organise parties and inventing stories will milk the mystery to its juiciest… As for the Harry-Cho-thing. Harry is two things: loyal and noble. Translate these two characteristics to the 19th century and you have those two qualities with great amount. Harry made a promise to Cho to save her from scandal and to care for her in sickness and in health. He has his own reputation of nobility, and his friends' reputation, especially the ones he considers family, are also dependant on the association. He won't put his friends in a situation where they'd have to put their friendship before their reputation (or betray the friendship in favour of their reputation…)
Forest, no I do mean a little pension, like a kind of hotel/B&B thingie… You know, a house with rooms to rent out and a little restaurant… A place where mistresses can stay for the time their married lovers are in town… Or, more traditional, for travellers to spend the night…
***
Chapter 3
Harry watched the beauty in front of him. She could easily be mistaken as plain with just brown eyes, and brown hair tied in a severe knot. She wasn't at all like the exotic beauty Cho was, or the blindingly attractive Fleur, or rather Mrs. William Weasley; she didn't even have the fresh prettiness Miss Virginia Weasley seemed to posses…
But she radiated something else. Something that had him intrigued. Her gaze spoke of rare wisdom. Her posture was dignified, even in this situation. Though she seemed calm and utterly composed, there was a little spark of defiance in her eyes. Something that promised never to be beaten down. This was a woman who did not want to lose her independence, she would not surrender…
Again, Harry thought about the injustice in treatment of the Muggelborns. Pureblood witches in the wizarding world were much more respected then in the Muggle one. They could even become Minister of Magic if they had the competence and the drive to accomplish that… This witch was discriminated against in the Muggle world because she was a woman, and in the wizarding one because she was Muggleborn.
But in all fairness, he had to admit he was abusing that injustice for his own goals… When he first thought about this charade, he had thought he'd feel disdain for the woman who, for all intense and purposes, would sell her own child for money. Despite the fact that he sympathised with Muggleborns' position in life. But it wasn't the case. Despite the circumstances he couldn't help admiring her.
Harry shook his head to clear away his wandering thoughts. This was a business transaction, he shouldn't think about this woman too hard. They would meet but they could never be intimate in the real sense of the word. It wouldn't do to attach himself to her, no matter her beauty and brilliance.
Shaking himself he concentrated on her female curves, and allowed him to think only about what was to happen the next moments. Avoiding her eyes, he started divesting himself, while she laid herself stiffly on the bed. In a matter of moments he crawled under the covers, next to her.
He knew what he really wanted to do with her, but he pushed the desire-driven thoughts out of his mind. This was business, nothing else. This wasn't for his pleasure, nor for hers. This was simply to create life. Rolling on top of her, he ignored her facing away from him.
He carefully, but firmly pushed her legs more apart, before settling between them. It wasn't that hard to get aroused at the feel of the swell of her breasts pressed against him, even with the cloth between. Using one hand to guide himself, when the other carried a part of his weight, as not to crush her completely, he was making his way inside her.
She was so tight and at her wince, guilt crashed upon him. How ever much he didn't want this to be pleasurable for him, since this was only part of a bargain to create a child, he couldn't help the delicious feelings overwhelming him. He felt guilty for enjoying this, while this woman was in pain, this woman who wasn't even his wife; while his wife was miles away, unconscious in a bed at his house, unable to do anything about the betrayal her husband was committing…
Harry continued to thrust softly, not wanting to cause any more pain then necessary, and tried to get himself to lose his seed as quickly as possible. When he felt her passage getting a little slicker, he allowed himself to speed up and with a groan against her neck, he came.
Catching his breath, he rolled off her. Half expecting her to bolt away, he was relieved and nervous to notice she just rolled on her side, facing away from him. When she didn't say anything, and for all he knew, she was sleeping, he continued to stare at the ceiling willing himself to fall asleep as well.
He pushed away his conflicting emotions, and it wasn't long after that he succeeded in drifting away to the land of dreams.
*
Hermione was staring at the wall in the room seemingly fascinated with the moving figures the firelight was creating. She tried to reason with herself that she should consider herself lucky. The man wasn't ugly, nor old. And though it had hurt, she felt like he could've made it much more painful if he had wanted her to suffer. Of course she felt violated, but somehow, it hadn't been as bad as she had feared.
One tear slowly slid down her cheek. Only two more nights, and then nine months…
No, better not think too much about that. It would only weaken her, and she had given her word about this deal, she would not back down…
Little sleep came to her that night, but she must have dozed off at the end of the night since she'd missed the departure of the man early in the morning…
Preparing herself quickly before breakfast, Hermione started wondering about the identity of the man. He was obviously a very wealthy wizard, he looked to be older than her, but that didn't have to mean anything. He was quite handsome, and very serious looking. It was strange in a way. If she didn't know this sordid secret about him, the situation she had with him now, she would've thought of him as a very respectable young gentleman.
Catching herself, she tried to push her curiosity aside. It would probably just complicate things if she knew who he was.
Descending the stairs, she felt a twinge in her lower abdomen. She hoped the dull pain would go away before this night. Sitting gingerly in her chair, she started breakfast, noticing the old man she had thought the day before could be her man. Now he was assisted by a giggling young beauty, and Hermione didn't have the energy to feel disapproving.
After a while the couple made its way to the exit of the pension, laughing all the while, and Hermione almost jumped out of her skin, when her man suddenly appeared beside her. Glancing around quickly to make sure nobody was there, she focused on him. He wasn't looking in her direction, and he didn't join her at the table. All to make sure no one would guess he knew her, should anyone come upon them…
"You must think me no better than that man?"
Hermione looked away from him. Were they back to that topic? Why was he so concerned about what she thought of him? Why was he worried she would think of him as a cheating husband? This was a bargain, and it didn't matter if she thought him the lowest of low… After a short pause, she answered:
"I do not have any judgement about the matter…"
She could not sort out herself what it was she felt about his standing in this unusual situation, she had enough with dealing with her own feelings… So if she didn't know for sure what her thoughts were on the matter, how could she make him understand? And why would she have to reassure his conscious?
After a prolonged silence, during which they still didn't look at one another, the man strode away, and she didn't see him until the evening…
***
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