Chapter 4
Hermione had filled her day with studying her favourite Transfiguration book. She had always been fascinated with Animagus transformation. She knew there weren't that much of witches or wizards capable of the transformation, and even those who did try had encountered some dangerous accidents.
In fact, she'd read in the Daily Prophet that the Ministry of Magic was trying to pass a law to restrict the training for becoming an Animagus. And there was talk about having to register your ability… But for now, it was still a discussion point at the Ministry.
She had memorised the book during her years at the magical school. The adventurous part of her wanted to try the theories as soon as she'd graduated. But then she got that job with the Bojard family, and she'd barely had time to get her Apparition techniques down.
Now, though, she had all the time of the world, and the old familiar tome comforted her, in a way. It kept her mind from wandering and wondering where her man was at this moment, and what he was thinking.
It hit her today, that as much as he seemed to worry about her judgement of him, she worried about his of her, too… Did he think of her as a mistress out for money alone, out for pleasure perhaps? The more she mulled the question over in her mind, the more she became convinced of her conclusion:
Neither of them two were here for their pleasure. They both were in this situation out of a sense of duty… more or less. So if neither was in it for the fulfilment of sinful desire, they must not be doing anything really wrong?
Though she was aware of her distorted vision that created this version of the truth, it was like a safety net. They both were ashamed about the disrespectful thing they were doing, but the results of their bargain would make everyone happy… Well, maybe not her, per se… but she would save her father, and even though she was going to lose a child of hers, she'd know it would at least be taken well care of, if the amount the man was paying was anything to go by…
Besides, the child wouldn't really be hers… it was decided before it was created that it wouldn't be. She was just carrying it for someone who wanted a child, but couldn't have one… And really, if the man's wife couldn't have any children, than maybe it had been her idea to do this?
That would explain why the man was so nervous about the bargain… He didn't really want this situation to exist, but his wife couldn't bear his heir. And they both wanted a child… If he wanted to raise this child, she would help create, as their own, his wife had to know about this.
Hermione couldn't believe she hadn't thought of this earlier. It made perfect sense! And that would mean the child she was going to bring into this world was going to end up in a loving home. The home of a pureblood family, a well-off family. The child would have all the possibilities it could want for… Everything she couldn't give…
This lightened her heart considerately. She was contributing to a family's happiness. And no matter how much it might be disapproved by the outside world, she would meet her end of the bargain.
With this newfound feeling on her situation, she went up the stairs after a quick supper. He was there, again leaning in front of the fire. Hermione closed the door behind her and locked it magically, as well as putting the silencing spell in place. If he was surprised that she took charge of this, he didn't show it…
The room was dark, except for the firelight. It struck her now, what he meant the other night. The firelight was giving an almost out of this world glow to the room. It felt like they were temporarily out of reality, between light and dark…
The man didn't look up yet in her direction, but started taking out his vest. Hermione quickly followed by working on the numerous buttons and knots of her clothes. Hesitating just a moment, she glanced at him once she had taken off her corset. He was only wearing trousers and was still facing the fire.
He really did make for a beautiful scene. He was lean and muscular, but not bulky. Shadows caused by the dancing firelight shifted over his handsome face and upper body. Without analysing her actions too much, she quickly slipped out of her undergarments and under the sheets. He hadn't seen, but she was still watching him when his hands went to the front of his trousers.
From her position, she couldn't really see anything but his bare back. The firelight in front of him made it difficult for her to see anything in detail. When he stepped out of his trousers, she couldn't help but continue staring at him. The firelight was dancing around he contours of his body and she was breathless by the unexpected beauty it presented.
When he turned however, her modesty won out again, and she looked away, sensing him nearing the bed.
*
Harry had been trying but failing all day to get Miss Granger out of his thoughts. He tried to chalk his preoccupation with her up to the fact that it had been a while since he had enjoyed the company of a woman, well ever since his wedding night with Cho, now more then two years ago… But that still didn't give him the right to be counting the hours before he could feel this witch's body again.
He had trouble finishing his business at Paris, losing his concentration every so often, anxious to get back to the little Muggle pension at the shore. The business at Paris was but an alibi to place him out of Great-Britain. Today he had to visit the French Ministry, the Department of Law Enforcement to drop of some files about dark wizardry, and follow up on yet another lead he had been given about his family's murderers…
Sighing to himself he remembered the too many bogus leads he'd followed up on. But he never would ignore any hint, and so he had found himself more than once in situations that bordered on ridiculous…
This time, though, he really didn't know what to think about the situation. The lead had involved the Lestranges. A rather well-respected family here in France, but it was whispered they had a dodgy past back in Great Britain… Harry Potter had decided to look into it further, but had yet to find something in the theory that would make him believe the lead was actually leading somewhere…
Harry Potter heard Miss Granger come into the room, and was about to turn and secure the spells to insure privacy, when he heard her take care of those… A bit impressed, he decided not to turn around, and to start stripping. From the rustling noise behind him, he could guess she was following his lead.
He fought the urge to watch her strip. He knew he would enjoy seeing her uncover the multitude of layers that she was wearing, but he also thought it would make her uncomfortable. He didn't want to make the situation any more awkward then it had to be…
When he heard her slip into the bed, he took of his last remaining piece of clothing, and turned around, approaching the bed. He allowed his gaze to wander over her. Starting at the bulge her feet made under the sheets, he travelled upwards, watching the curves that were barely hidden.
Flicking his eyes over her bare shoulders, he watched her face, and wasn't that surprised to see her look away. Suddenly it registered that her shoulders had been completely bare: no strap in sight. His body reacted accordingly, and he quickly made his way under the sheets beside her.
Reaching up, he tried but failed to repress the urge cup her cheek. She was startled enough to look back at him. In the light from the fire, everything seemed so different, Harry mused. Her eyes were the softest and the hardest he'd ever seen. Such a paradox of a woman. Forgetting his place, he brought her to sit upright. Not minding the way she held the sheets tightly to cover her chest, he reached back and untied her hair from the severe bun she insisted on wearing, as was Muggle custom…
Her hair cascaded down in a wild mess of frizzy curls. She seemed quite self-conscious, the way she was patting her long wild hair. But the firelight was playing in it with delight, much to Harry's admiration…
Pushing gently on one of her shoulders he made her lie down again…
***
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