Chapter 8-Temptation
Harry and Hermione made that their last night at the hotel. Harry was sure that things would be fine in spite of Hermione's questions.
"Harry, are you sure we don't have anything to worry about?" asked Hermione as she put on her pajamas in the bathroom.
Harry heard her question but decided to sidestep it for the moment. "Gee, aren't we modest all of a sudden?"
"Harry, don't ignore the question. Yes, until we are married you're going to have to live on a little cuddling and a lot of fantasy," she snickered. "I heard one of you guys ask you why you were buying the cow if you could get the milk for free," she said.
Harry felt terrible about the way the Weasley twins could talk sometimes. They thought it was funny when they were with the little group of men, but didn't take into account who could hear them. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart. I didn't let them by with talking about you that way. You know that don't you. Neither did Mr. Weasley."
"I was proud of you for telling them off, Harry. It's upsetting to think that they couldn't bother me if I had stuck to my principles," she said sadly at the door to the bathroom.
Harry felt horrible at times like these, because he knew she loved him and he had never thought less of her for making her decision as she had. "Hermione, I don't know what it is that makes some men angry enough to make crude jokes that hurt women like that. I'll admit only because I never lie to you that if that were said about anyone but you or anyone but someone I know really well, I would have laughed," he kept his eyes on hers. "I had never heard that until then, but it isn't funny now."
"How do they know our business?" asked Hermione. She stopped for a moment. "Of course, we acted like a couple of bawdy teenagers the day after, didn't we? It's my own fault."
"Don't think of it like that Hermione, because no matter what you think it probably would have slipped from me to Ron in a conversation at some point the same as it did with you and Ginny." Harry knew nothing could change the past and talking about it just made it worse for Hermione.
"I'm only upset because of that joke, Harry. I knew the consequences and I don't regret loving you," she said holding his hand to her face. "If I get the chance to repay those two I will--albeit I'll try to be ladylike." She smiled.
"Your question, Sweetheart, is about whether we are safe or not. I don't see anything that could be more dangerous than what we went through already with Voldemort. How can this even bother you compared to that?" he asked.
"I understand that, Harry. That was something that we dealt with from the moment we met and it was not your choice to get involved or not. This is asking for trouble if it pops up by going out and looking for it. You know what happens when people think that someone knows something that could hurt them." She said in a very melancholy tone.
"It is exactly the same as before, isn't it?" he answered rhetorically. "I guess that's the thing. I'm an adult. I can see things coming now that blindsided me in the past. I will not jeopardize my life or yours for stupid causes."
"Who decides it's a stupid or meaningless cause? Even I know that if the political statements I make about house-elves were to become a life-or-death issue, it would be a stupid cause-even though I feel passionate about it," said Hermione. "If I had my choice you wouldn't be in the Ministry in the line of fire at all?" Hermione covered her mouth and lowered her head.
"So, is that what this is all about?" asked Harry. "You are still worried about me."
"Harry, I will never apologize for loving you too much. If I'm being unreasonable believing that your job as it is now is dangerous, then at least you know I can keep it to myself and let you be your own man. I'll never mention it again."
"You're not being unreasonable, but listen to this analogy. If Luna told Ron to stop playing Quidditch because it was too dangerous, would that be unreasonable? He is one of the best at his position and someone might one day take a cheap shot at him. He could fall one hundred feet with a Bludger scrambling his brains," said Harry. "If the only way it could happen was someone intentionally hurting him then there would be no argument. The problem is there are certain risks that are inherent to the game. It could happen because he was distracted by a Bludger and get hit in the head with the Quaffle with no malice involved. Where do you draw the line?"
He continued, "My job is the same. Not everyone is a former Death Eater with a motive to kill Harry Potter."
"I said that I'd never mention it again. I told you how I feel and I said it was only if I had my choice. I don't have any choice in this case and I will love you and stand by you anyway," she said. "Sit down and let's figure out whether this will make me crazy working with you or not." Harry knew her surly tone was about having said anything and the fact that he would not give in on the matter.
"I think that most of the time these things will be fun. It will be fun going to parties and talking to new people and finding out what's going on in the community, but there might be a time or two where there is a specific threat and we, you and I Harry, have to decide whether the risk is worth our reputations or our lives." Hermione said with conviction. "We need to talk about those types of situations, before we get into them."
Harry could see her point. If no one ever found out what they were doing, it would be no big deal. Yet, if the opposite happened and they found out, they could lose many very good friends that mattered. Any other situation spoke for itself. "I know and that would make it hard for our good friends and children to live with." Harry added, "But don't you think we're making too much of something we haven't even been asked to do yet."
"I've never been asked to be a surrogate mother or to skydive, Harry. Yet I know that neither is something I could do," she said.
He hated when she confused an issue with logic. "Okay, so we don't go into those situations blindly. We will talk about them and make our own value judgments."
"If you can live with that, I'm in Harry. That's all I ask. I don't want you to get that `saving-people-thing' going again and rushing off without a plan. I realize that it's not the same thing. What you have to realize is that you are fearless in many ways and I'm afraid of a lot of things you aren't. Brave is one thing, Harry. It accounts for the consequences. Fearlessness is saying, I don't care if I die. Don't put me in those spots and let me save you from really dangerous ones." She smiled and put her hand in his. "I want to have children that know their father all of their lives, God-willing."
Harry wanted to reassure her that he thought Lupin and Tonks were suffering from delusions because they had never really known anything but this fight against evil. He wanted to tell her that he thought it was all rubbish anyway. Yet, in his heart, he knew that the flames from the towers in New York were real and eventually evil would show itself again.
"Let's talk about kids, Hermione," he said propping himself up. "You brought it up again."
"I want to have children, Harry. I want more than one, but less than a full-blown Quidditch squad," she smiled. "We'll see if you love me as much when my bum is as wide as this bed after two or three kids."
"Well you'll just have to take cooking lessons to get me fat so the girls don't tempt me to cheat on you," he said coldly.
Hermione's head snapped around. "What did you just say?"
"I said you would have to learn to cook so you could fatten me up so I wasn't tempted to cheat," he repeated.
"I can't believe you said that," said Hermione "That is the cruelest thing you could have ever said."
"No, you thinking that I don't love you enough that the changes in your body would change my attitude about you were just as cruel," said Harry. "Yeah, making love to my wife would be horrible if she wasn't a supermodel. I'd just have to go find a girlfriend until I was too fat to attract anyone."
Hermione looked at him and laughed. "Men don't think of those things Harry. Don't tell me you've thought about it already. I'm not sure I want to go through that at this age."
"What would be easier, walking kids in a stroller for exercise at 23 to 29; or 30 to 35?" asked Harry. "If you want to remain slim and have a gorgeous figure for the next ten years you're not going to here me complain. The problem will be the way you feel trying to get back to that after childbirth then. I love you as you are inside as much or more than the way you look."
It must have dawned on them at the same time. Hermione said it first. "We are finding just too many things to argue about and we can't do a damn thing about them," she said. "We can't leave our hands off one another for more than a day anyway so when it happens will probably be sooner rather than later."
Harry was laughing. "I'm arguing to stay in a job I hate right now. I'm sorry, Hermione. I think I'm just trying to hard to have the perfect life."
"I don't know though Harry, learning to cook to put a little weight on your bum so girls aren't so attracted isn't a bad idea," she teased. "I just couldn't take the image of you kneeling in front of the TV with plumber's butt."
They burst out laughing, holding each other close. "You know what? That's what makes us good together Harry. We were like this when we were kids too. Two different opinions made us crazy but most times we figured it out and got on with life."
"Never thought it was like this, but if you say so," said Harry.
"It just wasn't life or death stuff. It was homework, study habits, boys being boys, and stuff like that. We were never mad at each other for very long," she said.
"That's true; I did hate the motherly aspect of our friendship sometimes. You know that's what Mr. Weasley said tonight too. He said watch a woman and how she treats those she loves, in his example he mentioned his children, that's how she'll treat you."
"He's probably right, Harry. He's seen it with seven children," said Hermione. "Get some sleep. We have to find our house soon."
She nestled in with her head on his shoulder and a hand on his chest. Harry listened to her breathing, as he got drunk with love from the aroma of her hair and perfume. He fell asleep dreaming of Hermione and their small children putting on their hats and coats.
The next morning there was a telephone call in the room at 10 AM. "Mr. Potter, I'm Jack Whitehall, I called the number listed in your search for a home and was directed to call here. I hope I'm not disturbing you. I waited until 10 when I realized it was a hotel."
"No, no problem at all Mr. Whitehall," said Harry. This was the first call they received from their advertisement in the paper. "Please, call me Harry."
"Certainly, Harry and please call me Jack. I understand that you have very specific desires for your home and it just so happens that we may meet those. I've seen your advertisement for the past two weeks, but I couldn't respond until some of my own matters were cleared up. The house is located five kilometers east of the city limits. That is approximately eleven miles from the University. Would you like to see it this morning?"
"Why, of course, yes. We would love to see it. What time would be good for you?" asked Harry.
"I am going to the property now, Harry. I should be there in, say…20 minutes or so. Would eleven-thirty or twelve be good for you?" Jack asked.
"Hermione, can you be ready to go see a house by eleven-thirty?" asked Harry.
Hermione stretched and said, "Sure, what time is it?"
"It's 10 AM, Sweetheart," said Harry.
"Sure, why not, I'll get ready," said Hermione.
"Jack, we'll be there at eleven-thirty or shortly thereafter," said Harry elated at the prospect of finding their new home.
"Hermione, he read our advertisement two weeks ago but couldn't respond for some reason, but he says it meets our criteria," said Harry.
"We've heard that before, Harry. I'm excited, but I'm not going to get all worked up like I have in the past," she said pulling her hair up in a bun looking in the mirror. "Just don't be disappointed if it's not the one Harry."
Harry knew what she meant. She could probably tell he was more excited over this one than she was. It had been the reverse until now. "I'm just guessing there was some good reason. You remember that one we saw to the east of here but it wasn't for sale. There was no one there either." Harry said.
"Yes, what about it?" she replied.
"Well, it sounds like it might be that one, Hermione. If I have my directions right, it would be that one," he said. "We both thought it looked perfect anyway."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Harry." Hermione cautioned. "I really hope it is, but I don't want to get excited and then have to go looking again today when my hopes were already dashed once."
They packed the car with everything. "You know what I didn't do last night, Hermione?"
"No, what didn't you do?" she parroted back.
"I forgot to ask the Weasley's if I could stay with them since I no longer have my flat and there is no need to keep spending money on the hotel," said Harry.
"Harry, I'm sure that Molly and Arthur won't have a problem with you staying there," said Hermione. "Just don't get in the way of Ron and Luna."
Harry backed out of the parking space and exited the hotel parking lot. "Now what are you talking about?"
"As much as I love Ron or Neville or the twins, I wouldn't have wanted them staying at your house while we were dating. Our situation is different from theirs, Harry. You and I were engaged at twelve or thirteen and figured it out in our twenties. They're just now learning about each other. They don't need you giving Ron an excuse to hang out with the boys." Hermione said.
"What makes you think he'd want to hang out with me instead of Luna, Hermione," said Harry
"Tell me that one week before you're married you aren't wondering what it would be like to go out as a single guy again," accused Hermione.
"I'm not wondering what it would be like to go out as a single guy," said Harry. "Are you projecting that I'm going to begin to regret getting married and somehow trying to disguise it as a problem for Ron?"
Hermione looked out the window and didn't answer. "Yes, alright, I went to sleep last night thinking of what would happen to me if you decided to call it off. I had a terrible dream that you were ready to leave once life got difficult with kids. I had every horrible thought I could possibly have that meant you wouldn't want to be with me. I'm so mad at myself for thinking these stupid thoughts."
Harry smiled out the other window. "You think you are the only one who is afraid that the magic will end somewhere down the road. What if you had my children and we were divorced and I had to be a weekend Dad?" Harry said. "I have to have more trust in us than that or I'd run away from you like the plague."
She grabbed his free hand. "What is wrong with me? Wait and see what a basket case I'll be when I'm pregnant." She laughed at the thought.
Harry looked at her and said, "Maybe I'll stay with the Weasleys then too." He smiled.
"You are a rat sometimes Harry," she teased back.
Just as the main city thoroughfare turned into a two-way country road a little outside town Harry could not remember which road it was. He remembered now that he did not even ask for numbers or the address. He could not tell Hermione that he had been so excited that he had lost focus on the most important things. So he continued on the road out of town since it was the only easterly running road on the map. He immediately recognized it just a mile or two out. There was a mailbox on the road and the access road was still gravel. This had to be it.
"Harry, this one still doesn't have a sign on it," said Hermione.
"We've seen every house but this one that even comes close to our description. Anywhere else would be a waste of time. This has to be it," said Harry.
Around the side of the magnificent main house, there was a detached garage that was probably a barn at one time and there stood an SUV similar to Hermione's in it.
A moment later, an elderly man came to the rear door of the house. "Good morning, are you Harry Potter?"
"Yes, Mr. Jack Whitehall?" asked Harry.
"Yes, I'm sorry that I wasn't out front but I hoped you would come to the back. I'm not as mobile as I used to be. You see that's part of the reason there are no for sale markings. My mother, rest her soul, passed away four months ago. She owned the house and it took this long to clear everything so I could sell it. I couldn't list it until all the taxes were paid and so on." Harry felt the chills run up his spine as he took Hermione's hand.
"Jack, this is my wife, well…we will be married next Saturday. This is Hermione," said Harry. Hermione looked at Harry lovingly as he introduced her. He had said wife without thinking.
"Aren't you lovely? I was just looking at TV and there was a commercial for some hair care thing and you look just like that girl," said Jack. "I might be in my seventies, but I still recognize beautiful girls when I see them."
"Yes, that was probably me, but when we get married I'm leaving that business to be with Harry fulltime," she smiled.
Harry hadn't heard her talk about a commercial before, but good for her, he thought.
"Well, aren't you lucky? She gave up a career like that for you. My wife stopped teaching to take care of our boys. It's good to see that some women still value the role of homemaker and mother." Hermione liked the old man but Harry noticed a little grimace at the thought of the label of homemaker.
Jack showed them that the grounds of the home were quite large. They hadn't farmed the land here in twenty-five years due to failing health and lack of a market to sell enough to offset the income from his job as a butcher in Oxford. The house, built in the 1920's, was maintained in pristine condition for the entire 80 years. The living room was larger than Harry expected and the traditional wood burning stove still stood in the corner but a newer modern version sat next to it now. All new appliances had replaced the originals sometime in the 1980's. The upstairs featured four bedrooms. Each was large enough for two children, but not large enough for much more than a chest of drawers and bunk beds. The master bedroom was downstairs as was a large formal dining room. The master bedroom was twice the size Harry and Hermione had hoped. It was a good thing too, because the bathrooms were afterthoughts. He realized that they'd been put in after outhouses had gone out of style.
"Harry, you'll have to do some work here, I'm sure. My mother lived alone for the last fifteen years of her life so, it was sufficient to have just a bathtub and commode with a pedestal sink downstairs for her. We children were gone long before anyone thought of another bathroom upstairs and visitors always stayed with us in Oxford." Jack looked proud of his old house.
Harry looked around further. There was an old attic as big as the living room with a solid wood floor. The ceiling was still in good shape, which meant no recent leaks. There was a well on the backside of the house and an old-fashioned windmill. He'd seen pictures of these houses in magazines and it was beginning to look like a dream come true. "Do you have to get the water from the well still, Jack?"
"You can if you wish, but several years ago, actually more like 20 years ago, we had the pumps put in to make it easier for mother and save her the trouble of boiling the water for sanitary purposes. There was too much danger of the water contamination from outside sources. The filtration system took care of that," said Jack.
Hermione just walked the length of the house looking at the dark brown earth that was still free of weeds where the garden must have been. Harry watched her for a moment as she stood looking at the two trees near the road and the one in the back. He was sure she agreed that this was it if they could reach an agreement.
"So, when would it be available and how much do we need to get started?" asked Harry.
"Well, I am the sole owner which unfortunately was the cause of the delays. Therefore, there is no one else to worry about in the negotiations. I really need to get four hundred thousand for it. The estimates on the land value alone take it to two hundred seventy-five."
Harry seemed to be missing something. Many of the houses they looked at had less land than this and wanted more money. He wanted to be sure what they were talking about in terms of property. "What property are you including in that price, Jack?"
Jack showed them to the end of the property, which was only half of what Harry had expected. "Jack, are you keeping the rest of the property for a reason?" asked Harry.
"No, not really Harry, I don't want to wait for someone to come along with the kind of money the rest of the property would cost. Let the lawyers worry about that when I'm dead," he laughed. "I just want to find a nice family for the home. The land can go later. There is enough to build another home."
"What if I were to offer you enough for all the land and the home, Jack? Would we still be able to work this out?" asked Harry.
"Of course, but the price is nearly three times what I told you before. Maybe more than that," said Jack.
"Do you have an attorney, Jack? Is there one that you can recommend? I would like to get the final paperwork done within the next week if that's possible," said Harry.
Jack stood silent with his jaw drooping to his chest. "Who has nearly two million pounds to drop on a home in this day and age?" he smiled. "I guess I'd better call my attorney before you change your mind." He smiled.
Harry returned the smile as Hermione's excitement grew. "We could plant trees and make an orchard out here," she said with delight.
"I have to get with Bill as soon as possible to get the money together. Remember, he can't just walk in with twenty bags of gold," Harry said quietly.
Harry and Hermione walked into the barn-like structure and realized it was a stable. The loft above had been where hay was stored and the three stalls on each side had once held horses. They walked hand in hand in the noonday sun, laughing and carrying on. When they returned to the house twenty minutes later, Jack was standing there with a pad of paper and some notes.
"My attorney said that the usual time for clearing all of the legal documents is a minimum of two weeks, but that with half of the money in hand he could draw up documents that would allow you to take possession on the first of November regardless of any other issues. He can't legally recommend representation for obvious reasons but he said there are four other firms within a block and the one at the corner was reputable. I have the address of my attorney and that one right here." Harry took the papers from Jack and shook his hand. Hermione hugged him and shook his hand as well.
"We'll be in touch over the weekend. I'm guessing your numbers and the attorney's are all here?" asked Harry at the last moment.
"Yes, yes. Oh, by the way, it just dawned on me. Hermione, are you Robert's and Anne-Marie's daughter?" asked Jack.
"Yes, I am. Why?" asked Hermione.
"They have been my families' dentists since they opened their practice together, the grandkids too. Give them my best," he said waving as Harry pulled out of the little drive and back on the access road.
"I will," said Hermione. "I wonder if Dad didn't have something to do with the timing of all this Harry. I mean maybe he brought it to Jack's attention."
"If he did, we owe him another debt of gratitude," said Harry. "That would be really good."
Late that evening, Harry prepared to go to the Weasleys for the night. Hermione was dressed for bed. Respectfully, she and Harry said good night at the door rather than in her room. "Harry, I'm not sure that I believe all this is happening. I'm so proud to be your future wife." She giggled as he recalled the little slip with Jack. "I love you. Be careful and I'll see you tomorrow." They kissed Harry stepped outside and DisApparated.
A moment later at the backdoor to the Weasleys, Harry knocked. Ginny answered. "Hi, Harry, I was told to tell you to use Percy's room.." She gave Harry one of her devilish smiles.
Harry took off his overcoat and set it over the back of the chair. It was Friday night and the house was empty except Ginny. "Where are your Mum and Dad?"
"They went to Somerset where Ron had his latest Quidditch Match. He and Luna are no doubt doing the deed in their little suite about now." Ginny seemed a little perturbed about something.
"So what's wrong, Ginny?" asked Harry. He thought nothing of it as Ginny sat on the sofa close to him.
"I'm just tired of being alone. Am I still attractive to you, Harry?" she asked. Harry could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up, but he didn't know why so he ignored it.
"You're still gorgeous, Ginny. You know that and you certainly don't need me to say it." Harry said now feeling that nervousness again as his hair tingled. Ginny's arm was on his lap.
"I'd better get off to bed, Harry. I'm not feeling like myself." She lifted her arm but made sure her soft breasts brushed Harry's cheek as she stood. "On that note, I'd ask you to join me but that would be totally out of character. Not to mention a little cold considering it's eight days until the wedding and you won't be with Hermione until then. I'm sure Hermione would notice if you didn't jump her like a wild man on your wedding night."
Harry did not know what to say. He knew what was bothering him now. This was a no win situation. If he even gave it enough thought to talk to Ginny about it, he was dead. If he gave in, he would hate himself forever. "Ginny, I'm going to have to stay somewhere else. This is just too weird."
"That's what I told my Mum too. Why can't he stay somewhere else? She said that if I've lived with being disappointed about you for this long a week wouldn't kill me. I guess she doesn't understand that it's different when the girlfriend is not here and I've already heard what a good lover you are. We're alone, Harry. It'd be our secret," said Ginny in a sexy voice. "I mean we don't have to sleep together not all night anyway. Wouldn't it feel good to just let loose one time with no need to say I love you? Why don't we just go for it like animals? Can't I even interest you in a little fooling around Harry? I can make you feel good and I know you can make me feel good."
"There is crazy. My life would be over if I even entertained these thoughts. What's wrong with you? I have to go. I can't think about this and I would never have believed you'd act like this. NEVER! I feel so sorry for you, Ginny. I do, but this is over the top," said Harry.
"Yeah, well, all guys are alike. One day you'll be lonely. Maybe not with me, but with someone. I just figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. My little wedding present to my ex- and my best friend," she smiled. "That would be sooo, gooood, Harry!" She laughed blowing him a kiss as he scrambled for his bag.
Harry DisApparated to the Four Pillars parking lot. When he got there, he realized his coat was still on the back of the chair, but he had his bag. He got a single room and decided that he would stay there this week. He did not know what he would tell Hermione, but it was not that her best friend offered herself to him. Maybe he should go tell her now, so that the story was in the open. After he checked in, he had a couple of beers from the mini-bar to relax. He fell asleep.
Hours later, Harry woke up sweating, awakened by and listening to the sounds of lovemaking in the room next to him. He was in the hotel. His heart was pounding. He tried to decide if he had dreamt the whole thing about Ginny as well. He could not take a chance that he could ever entertain those thoughts again. He had so many vivid and lust filled dreams he could not tell what was real and what was not. He just lay there praying it was all a dream. In either case, he would not be staying at the Weasley's in the near future.
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