Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. That honor falls to JKR. This is purely fictional.
Chapter One
London 1818
Hermione Granger decided that she did not like London, not one bit. The room she was staying in was ridiculous. It was so cold that Hermione was forced to throw on pants and a shirt and cuddle up with one blanket that was not helping to keep Hermione warm. You have made your bed, and now, you must lie in it, a snobby voice in her head scolded. Ignoring it, Hermione shivered slightly, recalling the events which had led her into this particular prediciment.
"It would be our honor, Lord Diggory to accept your proposal!"
Hermione's head snapped up to glare at her mother. Her eyes traveled to her father, Lord Granger who was shaking hands with the Earl. The young man looked throughly pleased with himself. His gaze slid towards Hermione, leering at her. Hermione felt her stomach recoil at the sight of him. Lord Diggory was considered quite a catch, especially by the ladies and young girls who giggled everytime he looked at oe of them. Hermione wanted to tell them that they were free to have him, because she did not like him. Lord Diggory on the other hand seemed to find Hermione a challenge and wanted to claim her as his.
Her mother thought Hermione mad for rejecting Lord Diggory's attentions and Hermione had to bite her tongue to keep from telling he mother exactly where Lord Diggory could go for all she cared. The longer she started at Lord Diggory, the more Hermione let her displeasure be known. He only smiled at her, his white teeth flashing against his smooth complexion. To him, this was a game and he thought Hermione was a prize. The arrogant bastard.
"Mother, Father, wait! I believe I have a choice in the matter! It is afterall, my life and my marriage you are speaking of!" Hermione almost yelled, shooting straight out of her seat. Her mother frowned at Hermione, clearly wishing her daughter would sit down.
"Hermione, dear, what could ou possibly have to say? After all-"
Hermione cut her father off. She would not be forced into a marriage. Besides, the law was in her favor. No church in the county would marry someone who was not willing to wed the person opposite of them at the alter.
"Lord Diggory, as honored as I am by your proposal, I am afraid I will have to decline you."
Everyone in the room gasped, even Lord Diggory. Hermione felt a little bit of satisfaction knowing she had taken aay his cool mask. There, she wanted to shout at him, I don't like you and I do NOT want to marry you!
"Hermione!" her parents gasped. Lord Granger turned bright red, looking almose violent at that moment. Hermione gulped, fearful but too stubborn to back down. Lord Diggory stood up, his eyes cold now. Clearly, he had been expecting victory. Too bad you vile man!
"Miss Granger, I will ask you to think again before turning me away. I do not like to be rejected," Lord Diggoy said, his voice chilly. Lady Granger paled, also looking quite fearful now.
"Lord Diggory, please, my daughter is simply... she is just nervous about being a wife, especially to someone as respectable as you. I am afraid that I have spoiled her a little too much-" Lord Diggory held up a hand to quiet Lord Granger. He kept his cold green eyes on Hermione, who refused to back down.
"Be that as it may, I want to hear it from Miss Granger's mouth that she will marry me. I will not force her to the alter, but I promise you this Miss Granger, you shall never find a suitor like me!" Lord Diggory exclaimed, his voice rising until he was practically yelling at Hermione.
Lady Granger winced, lowering her eyes. Her husband too solmenly kept his head down, his hands trembling. Hermione jumped, but settled quickly. She would not be bullied into marrying him. Ever.
"Compose yourself at once sir! I will not be bullied into marrying you and I hope to God that I never recieve a suitor like you, ever!" The silence in the room was defeaning. Hermione could not believe she had just said that and appreantly neither could anyone else in the room.
"Why you little-"
"Language, Lord Diggory. I am not a piece of property that will be bought by the highest bidder and I will not marry you! If you have so much pride upon your charms, then you are welcome to take them else where because for the last time, I am no interested!"
Lord Diggory inhaled, his eyes flashing with barely concealed anger as he looked at everyone in the room. Hermione was beginning to think he would hit her with her parents' as witnesses but he calmed before her very eyes.
"Of couse, madam. If you will not marry me, then I believe that I must leave you. Before I go, however, Lord Granger, may I have a word with you? In private?" Hermione's father, so flustered that hhe was nodded, leading Lord Diggory out of the parlor and towards his study. The two men barely spared a glance backwards.
Hermione watched then leave, her body tight from all the tension that had ben building up. From the corner of her eye, Hermione saw her mother collapse into a near by chair. Startled, Hermione rushed towards her mother, hoping she had not fainted.
"Mother! Please, don't do this!" Hermione pleaded, on the verge of tears. Her mother looked away, as though the very sight of Hermione pained her. Hermione choked on a lump in her throat.
"Mother, how can you expect me to marry him? He would never take care of me or love me-" At that, her mother swung around to look at Hermione.
"Love? You stupid little fool! Love has no place in our world! You are the daughter of a wealthy family and you have always been given everything and now, when we ask something of you, you can not even do that much for us?!" Lady Granger raged.
Hermione reared as though she had been slapped. This was the last thing she had expected to hear from her own mother. Stunned, Hermione stood up, walking backwards. How could her mother say this to her? Hermione watched her mother look away in disgust. Why were they so keen on getting her married to that bloody oaf anyway? They had wealth!
"Mother... I..." At a loss for words, Hermione spun on her heel and fled, racing across the polished wooden floor to go to the sanctuary of her bedroom. As she passed her father's study, Hermione could hear low voices. One of them belonged to Lord Diggory.
"You are in debt sir, and I am your only hope, as you well know. You want money and I want your daughter. You see, we have much in common."
Hermione froze at the voice. My God! We're in debt?! Her entire world seemed to tillt on is axis. She could not believe her ears.
"Yes, and you will allow me entry tonight. I will come to dinner by eight tonight and you will not deny me Hermione. I will ruin her, and we will have the wedding as planned."
Hermione blanced visibly. Ruin her? Lord Diggory wanted to come tonight and ruin her and then force her to marry him?! Hermione felt bile rise in her throat. Not only was he going to ruin her, her own father was allowing it! Dear God!
Turning around, Hermione blindly raced up the steps that lead to her room. Once in the safety of her bedroom she threw herself upon her bed. Her entire body was frozen in shock and digust. Tears pooled in her eyes and suddenly, Hermione felt furious with her parents. It was not her fault that her father had landed himself into debt. He was the one who had began gambling after Henry's death. Hermione felt some of her anger subside as a hollow ache took over. Closing her eyes, Hermione swallowed , fighting the urge to break down into tears. If only Henry had still been alive, she wouldnt be in this God forsaken mess. But, Henry was not alive. They had buried him, and he would never come back to save her.
She could not tell her mother either. The poor woman had no choice but to tsk her husband's side. It was selfish, but Hermione knew her parents could never give up their lavish lifestyle.
Hermione realized that from now on she was on her own now.
That evening, the tension in the house was so thick, Hermione was sure one could slice it with a knife. Her mother sat tight lipped at the dinner table, avoiding her daughter's eyes. Her father too looked a bit pale and sick ot his stomach. Hermione was terrified because she had come up with no plan as to how she could avoid Lord Diggory's less than honorable attentions. One thing Hermione was certain of though; she would not go down without a fight, no matter what it took.
Their butler annonced the arrival of his Lorship and Hermione swore the tension in the house had doubled. Lord Diggory strolled in, a polite smile on his lips. His gaze traveled to Hermione and his eyes gleamed. Hermione fought back the urge to take her dinner knife and stick it between is ribs.
"Good evening your lordship. I see you're back," Hermione said cooly. Lord Diggory smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.
"I told you, I am not one to give up so easily. I came tonight so that I may properly... woo you."
You goddamn bastard! Hermione thought. She bit the inside of her cheek, afraid that she might accidently let it slip.
As Lord Diggory sat down and began to enjoy his meal, Hermione felt her anger grow. Previously, she had held an intense dislike towards the man, but now, she hated him. It burned hotly inside of her, and Hermione had trouble keeping her temper even. Forcing the food down, Hermione kept a close watch on the activity in the house. Her parents were a lost cause. Her mother was avoidng Hermione as though she were some sort of witch. Her father had the gal to look shame faced eveytime Hermione stared at him. The meal was consumed in haste, and Hermione could tell that no one, aside from Lord Diggory , enjoyed the meal. It was her favorite but Hermione was too busy plotting a way to get out of the house without causing a fuss.
Well, there would probably be plenty of fussing going on, but she was planning carefully, hoping to leave without encountering her parents or any of the house hold staff.
Once the meal was over, each individual rose, none as sharp eyed as Hermione. She didn't know exactly when Lord Diggory would strike, but she would be ready when it happened. She also did not know exactly how he planned to ruin her, but Hermione was determined not to let him win. Her virtue was for her future husband and her future husband was NOT Lord Diggory.
"Might we retire to the library, Lord Diggory? I have some excellant brandy awaiting us," Lord Granger said when he caught Lord Diggory staring at his daughter. Without taking his eyes off of her, Lord Diggory nodded, grinning at Hermione who repressed a shudder of disgust.
"Brandy sounds fine sir, let us leave the ladies to their...discussion," Lord Diggory said. He turned away, following Hermione's father down the hall as the two ladies hung back.
Once their footsteps faded and the door to the library shut, Hermione spun around to face her mother. Lady Granger stood in front of her daughter looking lost and frightened. Momentarily, Hermione curbed her anger. She would save that for his Lordship. Hermione wanted to rail against her mother for not stopping this madness, but she knew her mother was caught between a rock and a hard spot. She only had so much power and well, her husband was her protector. Hermione knew her mother would choose her husband over her own daughter. Hermione let out a soft sigh, shaking her head.
"I do not know what that man is doing here mother, but I am not going to repeat myself. I will not marry him," Hermione said, turning to walk away when her mother suddenly gripped her hand. The older woman pulled her daughter into her bosom, holding her tightly. Hermione was momentaily shocked. Was this part of their plan?
"I'm sorry my dear. None of this is your fault. Your father is in heavy debt to Lord Diggory and..." Lady Granger broke off, turning away to hide her tears. Hermione began to struggle to get out of her mothers embrace.
"Let go mother. I have nothing to say," Hermione said violently. He mother's arms fell away, and she stared at Hermione through tear filled brown eyes. Hermione felt a knife stab at her chest, making it hard to breathe for a moment.
Taking her hand, Lady Granger quickly moved up the steps, glancing behind her like a criminal would do when they were on the run from the law. Hermione picked up her skirt in hr free hand, confused by her mother's actions.
"Mother, what are you doing?!" Hermione demanded when they reached her bedroom. Her mother looked determined now and Hermione did not know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
"I am going to help you escape."