Boys and Women
"Nothing is destined to be Hermione...there's no 'magical' intervention on our sides here! We're just two ordinary people...a boy and a girl! That's it. That's all. Now go before you get yourself burned at the stake"
Frank Bryce was only a humble gardener in service of the Potter family for over fifty years. Though his job description only cited him as a weed whacker, he had become much more to the esteemed Potters. He had kept their secrets- he had kept them safe. In such dangerous times no one could afford to have one speckle of dirt on their cheeks or there'd be hell to pay. Throughout the generations, he had kept the confidence of all three Lord Potters but the newest lord proved to be the most worthy of trust. Harry Potter was dignified, courageous, and true. It was what probably saved him from being swallowed up by English society. Frank only hoped his nature would not lead to his downfall. There were so many secrets locked in the Potter residence that any man could go insane under the weight of them. The guilt could kill.
It occurred to Frank as he glanced out of his window that he had no business thinking on his lord. His energy was better spent remaining a gardener until another secret arose. As he motioned to close his tattered drapes, something caught his eye. On the far side of the lawn lay a strange object. He forced his old eyes to identify the strangely shaped thing, but could not. With a grumble of annoyance, Frank reached for his crooked cane and tiredly went to investigate. As he crossed the lawn, Frank covered his mouth and quickened his pace. The thing appeared to be a human form carelessly thrown upon the wet grass.
A naked girl was visible by moonlight as Frank stood above her. Her face was covered by a swarm of bushed hair and her body was contorted in a strange position. Her upper body shamefully exposed to his old eyes, while her lower body twisted to show her bare bottom. Out of decency, Frank tore off his shirt and covered the girl's womanhood. With cracking joints, He bent down beside her and checked her pulse. She was nearly dead, but a heart beat faintly. He pitied the poor girl, and could only imagine she was bird of paradise clipped by malevolent lover, left for dead.
Frank immediately traveled up to the estate through the servants quarters. Stillness controlled the area and Frank knew the servants slept. Frank quietly made his way to Lord Potter's chambers. He had not visited that wing of the estate since the death of Harry's father and was nervous to return. He reached the door and quietly knocked.
"Come in" Frank turned the knob and stepped into a lush world of gold and crimson. He found his master slumped over an assortment of parchment, quills, and books separate from the finery. Managing a large estate on his own was not something Lord Potter was equipped to do and did not relish in its luxuries so well as others.
Harry lifted his tired green eyes with surprise to see a shirtless yard hand. Too drained to laugh at the ridiculous state of his servant, Harry just smirked.
"Frank, how intimate of you" A hint of smile on his lips. The smile quickly disappeared when he noticed the serious look on Frank's face.
"Sir, there be a situation."
The winds had picked up as Harry dragged Frank to explore the "situation". Harry's mind was lost between the financial ordeal he was attempting to iron out and the new scandal that was rising in his own home. A naked harlot was occupying his yard and he was famous enough without this news buzzing around society.
Cold air slapped his cheeks as he came to an abrupt stop. Wind swirled thick locks of hair around a frozen face. The shirt Frank had given her was long gone and Harry spotted goose bumps trailing down her skin. Without thought he snapped off his black robe and grabbed the girl and wrapped her in it. He ignored the nervousness and guilt that came with touching her body without permission, but given the circumstances... In the same movement he hoisted her into his arms and glanced at Frank.
"Go ahead and make sure none of the servants are up. She must not be seen." Without a word Frank hobbled up to the house to survey the place for late night dwellers.
Harry cursed his bad luck. There seemed to be trouble on every turn, and he alone was asked to bear the burden. He wrangled with how to properly handle the problem. Society had taught him to order Frank to chuck the girl in the lake, but that was more brutal than he could bear. Harry's heart could not allow him to take the simple way out. He had to help the girl, despite possible scandal. She was still a person in need despite her obvious occupation.
He chanced a real look at her and found a surprise. Her face was too innocent and practical to be that of a wanton woman. He also decided if Frank were correct and she was the victim of a lover's scorn then some marks would mar her skin. From his quick scan of her earlier he had seen nothing to support that claim. And why would anyone leave her in his lawn? Why not kill her and dispose of the body? Too many things did not add up and he supposed he would not know the answers until she woke- if she did.
The wind carried Frank's call and Harry hastily traveled past the servants' quarters up to his private wing of the estate. He placed her in his room- the only place he could keep an eye on her. The only room a chambermaid would not go in without Harry's permission. He carefully placed her in his bed, with his robe still clinging to her icy skin. He hoped the bedding and fire would warm her, because he refused to touch her bare body again. He was still a decent man.
He turned to Frank who lingered at his door. "Frank, I do not have to ask you to keep this quiet." With a nod to the affirmative, Harry sighed relief.
"Do you need anything Sir?"
"A lighted path." Harry muttered under his breath as he ushered the gardener out.