Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Hogwarts, Gringotts, the Leaky Cauldron or anything else in JKR's wonderful world. Except for the little pebble just to left of the front doors of Hogwarts. I put that there. I might own that. Maybe. But probably not.

Chapter 3: Discussions

She woke the next morning sprawled across the bed on her front, the cool softness of cotton sheets caressing her naked skin. She smiled lazily. More firsts since she had come to this place. She had always lain straight on the bed, on her back or side, never on her stomach, and she had never in her life slept one night naked. Even after having sex with Lucius she'd always bathed afterwards and put on a nightgown. Sleeping in Knockturn had been no different; After 'work' it was strip down, use a cleansing spell then put on the under shift she now used only for that purpose and go to bed.

But last night was different. Last night had been the first time a man had given her more than he had taken; a lot more! After she had finished Harry beside the table he had helped her stand then picked her up and carried her to the bed. Laying her down he had removed his robe and she'd been impressed with what she saw: a lean, well defined but not over muscular body. As he'd crawled onto the bed he leaned down and kissed her, not something she normally allowed from her clients. However, since she was going to be more a lover to him than a prostitute she decided to let him, and was glad she did. He was good - very good.

After several minutes of a wonderful snogging session he had begun working his way down her body, lips, tongue and fingers doing things to her she'd only ever heard of much less experienced. By the time he had finally reached her center, she exploded in the first ever male induced climax of her life at the very first lick. It had been astounding!

To her very great and welcoming surprise he had continued, doing things to her that only her own fingers had ever done before, and he took his time. By the time he once again brought her over the top she had been a whining, moaning, writhing mass of flesh begging for release. Once he had given it to her, she'd lain exhausted and panting for breath … and he'd started again! This time though he'd shown her what the benefits of being with a parselmouth were! In very short order she'd been screaming his name and trying to drag him by his hair up to take her in the way she wanted to be taken. Begging and pleading, saying things she would never have dreamed of saying to Lucius, he had and she thought she'd died and gone to paradise as they both found release at the same time. She would never say what they had done was make love, but it had been the best sex of her life.

She was honestly surprised later as they lay quietly that she hadn't shredded the bed linens beyond all repair.

After a long rest she had aroused him once more with teasing fingers and light caresses, rolled him onto his back, thrown her leg over his waist and, as she kissed him, lowered herself onto him for a session that was just as good in its slow, gentle way as their last joining had been in its hard, frenzied, rough pounding … and just as satisfying. They had fallen into an exhausted slumber with him spooning into her.

So here she lay, naked and feeling incredibly relaxed and good about herself after a night of so many firsts she quit counting, but one she would remember for the rest of her life.

Opening her eyes she noted the dim light coming in the window, reckoning it must be around dawn. She raised her head, not that she wanted to, and searched around the bed for Harry. He wasn't there, or in the room that she could see. Figuring he had already risen for reasons of his own, and feeling far too comfortable and relaxed to do so herself, she lay her head down, closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

When next she awoke it was to the sound of splashing water. Sitting up, she looked over to the door leading to the bath. It was ajar, as if whoever had tried to close it hadn't noticed that it hadn't. With a wicked little thought she threw off the sheets covering her and slid out of bed. She actually felt naughty, naughty! At my age! she thought, padding naked across the room to the door. Quietly stepping through, she could see Harry's blurred form through the water and steam streaked glass of the shower door. He was washing his hair and hot water splashing off his head sprayed onto her as she stepped up and wrapped her arms around his chest from behind, ran her hands up and down his taut, firm torso and wrapped her right leg around his, rubbing it up and down. "Good morning." She said lustily, nibbling his ear lobe.

He chuckled as he turned in her grasp. "Good morning. Finally decide to get up?" He asked as he slid his hands around her and down to cup her cheeks, pulling her to him.

"You weren't there, so I had no reason to." She replied, pulling his face down into a passionate kiss.

He returned it then pulled back with a smile. "I thought I only paid for last night?"

She smiled back at him, "You said until after breakfast, and I don't know about you, but I haven't eaten yet!"

She added two more firsts to her growing list: in the shower and standing up.

She finished the last bite of her breakfast, a large waffle topped with glazed strawberries, whipped cream, plain strawberries, more whipped cream in the middle and a single cherry on top, put her fork down picked up her milk and leaned back in her chair before taking a sip. "That was delicious."

Across the table Harry grinned at her. "I'll be sure to let Winky know."

"Is that what you eat every morning?"

A quick shake of the head. "Only on special occasions. You ate it like you were starving to death."

She smiled sadly. "There are expenses when living in Knockturn that have to be paid, and some of them take precedence over little things such as food."

"I'd have thought, being who you were, you could command a higher price for your … services."

"I was informed quite early in my stay there, and quite forcibly, there was a hierarchy in the alleys and new people didn't just walk in and start taking business away from those who had been there longer. Everyone started off in the same way and worked their way up, which meant being in the dives where prices are low, and the women are inexperienced. You don't want the customers to order a choice cut of meat and get offal after all do you?"

"Let me guess … Clarisse?"

Her eyebrow quirked upwards. "You know her?"

"Never met her, but her name came up quite regularly in regards to your profession. She seems to have quite the influence."

She shrugged and finished her milk. "She kept things civilized. There are rules in the alleys, and she makes certain they're enforced. Just how she does that I don't know, but she does, and the working girls are a lot safer for it."

She set her glass down. "Now, what about me? Why pick me for your woman? What's so special about me that you come down to Knockturn Alley and sweep me off my feet to a life of luxury and ease?"

"I thought it might be the revenge part."

"That too." She smiled at him.

He grinned back at her. "Are you saying yes to my offer?"

"Harry, you had me at 'clean sheets' last night. You have absolutely no idea how that sounded so heavenly."

"You didn't act like it at the time."

"That's because you were scaring the hell out of me at the time. You might not realize just how creepy you are in that outfit."

He smirked. "Why do you think I wear it?"

"Point. Now, about those plans of yours?" She really wanted to know what he was up to and how they were going to get revenge on the people who had wronged her. He'd said he was going to change the wizarding world but she wanted details.

"Before I tell you, two things: one, should you meet my other guest, be nice and be careful. I don't know quite how they'll react to seeing someone new."

"I thought you said they already knew about me."

He smiled wryly. "I also said the two of us almost killed each other, they were in a very bad place for a while and that they were better. I'm not a mind healer, Narcissa, so I really can't say just how 'better' they are."

She nodded, acknowledging the point. "Alright, and number two?"

"Other than a few weeks for a vacation around Europe, I want you to stay here at Potter Manor, on the grounds or in the house. No outside visits. I don't want anybody knowing where you are until the New Year."

Stuck in isolation for six months? Was he crazy? Well, never mind that question, he'd already hinted if he wasn't he'd come awfully close. But still … "That's over five months, Harry. What possible reason could you have for that?"

She had to admit his smirk was the most self satisfied facial expression she'd ever seen as he replied. "Because, even though the Ministry has sent me an invitation every single year, this will be the first time I go to their New Year's Eve ball and I want your reintroduction to society to fall on them all like a hammer blow."

"Ooooh! That is so positively evil! Having me show up on your arm after what I've been through and what those people did to me will be like poking them in the eye with a wand." She knew the smile on her face couldn't possibly look the least bit pleasant. "Knowing I'm your mistress will make some of those bitches break their teeth they'll be grinding them so hard in frustration." She was already envisioning the expressions she expected to see and the pleasure the sight gave her was almost illicit.

"Well, if the mistress thing isn't to your liking we can just say the money is for being my teacher."

With a wave of her fingers she dismissed that idea. "No, no, being your mistress will be a good thing for us." Wait! Teacher? What? Where had that come from? Comprehension of what he'd just said brought her out of her delicious little day dream. "Harry, what are you talking about?"

Leaning forward he rested his elbows on the table. "Last night you asked me 'why you?' It's because you're a woman born of high social status, you know everything there is to know about that status, you are single, at least to the extent your husband will never get out of Azkaban, you are in a situation you most likely desperately want to get out of, and you will do just about anything to do so. The fact you will get some measure of revenge on the people who helped put you there is also a very good incentive to help me. You have nowhere to go, no one to fall back on, and very little hope of getting back to what you were without my help. So, why not you?" He leaned back in his chair and spread his arms. "Look at me. I'm the Lord of Two Ancient and Most Noble houses, I have a seat on the Wizengamot with all the political power that comes with it, I control another and I'm rich but I don't know how to play the game. I'm muggle raised. I want to change the Wizarding World but without knowing the rules of the society you were born into, it's going to take a helluva long time to do it and I'm going to make far too many mistakes. You know the rules intimately but are powerless to do anything about it. Together we can both get what we want." He smirked again. "Besides, I take great enjoyment of the mental image of Draco's head exploding when he finds out I'm shagging his mother."

She was finally realizing what he wanted. Shaking her head at his juvenile words, though the thought was rather enticing after what her son had done to her, she said, "You want me to teach you how to be a Pureblood Lord."

He nodded. "Everything you ever taught Draco. Anything you never taught him but which would help me."

She was confused and not afraid to ask questions. "Harry, if you just wanted a teacher why the whole 'be my woman' thing? Why didn't you just ask me to teach you?"

"You have to ask?" He replied, grinning. "You're a beautiful, sexy woman and I really did want a sexual relationship with you." He suddenly looked down and began fiddling with his fingers. She could tell he was feeling guilty about the subterfuge. "I figured you could accept it if you were being paid, you know, sort of like you could say you only did it for the money if anyone asked." He sighed heavily and looked up at her. "Guess I really screwed up, didn't I? You can forget about the conditions of the sex and we'll just tell people about you being my mistress if you think that will help. Everything else though, the money, the room, that stays the same. You can stay here as long as you like."

Her low chuckle made him look confused. Quite frankly, she found his honesty refreshing. "Harry, you had every right to think the way you did. Let's be honest: I am, or rather was, a whore. It's not what I want to be, I don't like it but circumstances made me what I am. People will remind me of that fact, or refer to it behind my back, for the rest of my life regardless of whether I never do it again or not." She leaned over the table and took his hand. "But let's be clear. You made your offer in good faith because at the time I was a whore and ready to jump at the chance and the money and there's no need to feel guilty about asking. To be truthful I'm glad you did."

His brows knit together. "Huh? Why?"

She laughed. "Because last night was the first time in my life that anybody, including Lucius or anybody I've been with in the past year, put my pleasure before theirs. I actually enjoyed sex for the first time. You made me feel wonderful and that made me come to you this morning and you did it again."

He was a deep shade of red now and looking down at his hands again as she heard him mumble, "I just wanted you to feel good and like doing it with me."

"Oh, you did that alright." She said laughingly. He looked up at her without raising his head but she could see the smile he had. "If you want sex with me, fine, because I certainly would like to have more with you. And I accept all of the conditions you mentioned. They don't bother me and I'm interested to see what happens. Now, what's this about a vacation? I'd think you'd want to get started right away."

"Well, it's more like a shopping trip."

She perked up immediately. Did he mean what she hoped he meant? "What kind of shopping trip Harry?"

"You need a new wardrobe." He explained.

Yes!

"Of course, if you have new clothes you're going to need jewelry to go with them."

OH! Be still my heart!

"And from what I've seen of women that means new shoes, probably a couple of dozen pairs if I'm right." He got a look of confused concentration. "Why do women need so many different shoes? Wouldn't just a couple of pairs be enough?"

She had to shake herself out of the wonderful dream she was in to answer his question, and found the smile on her face so big she almost couldn't talk. "It's a woman thing Harry. I'll explain it to you while I'm teaching you Pureblood practices." She looked at him so hungrily he actually leaned back in his seat with a look of concern. "Where will this vacation be, if I might ask?"

"I thought we'd start in Rome and work our way back by way of Florence, Venice, Monaco, the Riviera, Nice, Paris and then back for some time in London."

She was in heaven. In all her years married to Lucius she'd been to Paris twice and Nice once and here was Harry offering a grand trip from Rome back to London, and shopping! Even if he bought her a fraction of what she wanted she'd be happy. "We'll have to be careful no one who knows us sees us if you don't want people to know we're together." She said dreamily.

"That shouldn't be a problem. We're going muggle."

Her dream shattered so completely and so hard she could almost feel a pain behind her eyes. Wincing, she looked at him. "Going muggle? Why ever for?"

She gave him credit: he was trying very hard not to laugh outright at how her expression had changed so drastically. "You just said it; we don't want anybody who knows us to see we're together." Then he did laugh. "Don't worry Narcissa; we'll nip into the local magical shopping areas here and there but most of the time we'll be acting like muggles. Trust me, you'll enjoy it."

"Harry! They're primitives! Backwards peasants barely above savages! Living like them will be torture! How will I survive without my magic?"

He smirked and shook his head. "Narcissa, they are not primitives and you will survive quite easily. As a matter of fact, where we'll be going you'll find it hard to believe you're not at your own home. I'll be there to show you how to survive and explain things to you. I really think you'll be surprised at what non-magicals can do. You'll even be able to spend any idle time you have being able to think about your revenge."

"That's another thing." She said sulkily, trying to think how she could possibly live without using magic for weeks, especially among muggles. "Other than my grand reentrance into the magical world you haven't said a thing about what this revenge is going to be."

He chuckled at her petulance. "In the muggle world they have a thing called movies…"

She looked up. "What's that?"

"Think of it as a magical painting that tells a story, like a play." He explained. "Now in this movie one of the characters says to the other 'the best way to get back at rich people is by turning them into poor people.' Is that the kind of revenge you'd be interested in?"

She stared at him in shock for a few moments at the sheer brazenness of the idea. Was it possible? Could he do it? But then her mouth started to curl up into a wild, predatory grin as she considered the possibilities, as well as the irony of it. "How are you going to do that?"

"Let's just say it will be a lot easier than a lot of people think it could be, especially when the people who control the money supply are on your side." His grin matched her own in its wildness and predatory nature.

It took a moment for the implications of that statement to sink in. "You got the goblins to help you?" She asked in disbelief.

His expression grew slyer. "Oh no, I never said they were helping me. I said they were on my side. There's a difference, especially when dealing with goblins. They won't help me bring down any pure blooded houses, but they won't stop me if I can come up with a way to do it." He stood up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there are things I need to get done today and I need to get dressed so I can be about them." His smile turned a little roguish. "Unless you'd like to watch?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

She laughed at his antics. "No, not right now. I'll leave you to your dressing."

"Alright, as I said, your room is right across the hall and if you need anything just call Winky. You may explore all you like, but again, please don't go into the east wing."

"What about my things back at the Randy Boar?"

"Is there anything you really can't do without? I'd like to make your disappearance from society as mysterious as possible." He chuckled. "It will make your return just that much more dramatic."

She thought about what she'd had, a few articles of clothing, much the worse for wear now, some cheap cosmetics, maybe two sickles and a few knuts in a small hidey-hole she'd found and a bottle of water, none of which she now needed. Even the money she could do without since Harry would be paying for everything. She decided it wasn't worth the trouble to retrieve any of it and as he'd said leaving it all there, and Suzy witnessing her seemingly willing departure with the Shadow Man, would raise all sorts of questions. She smiled at the thought. "No, there's nothing I really need. It was just habit to think about it. I've discovered lately the less you have, the more possessive about it you are." She rose to her feet as well. "I'll leave you to your business and see you later."

She crossed the hall to her room and found one quite similar to Harry's, other than the color scheme was different. It was a light two tone blue she found quite pleasing and while the furniture wasn't exactly the same it was arranged in much the same way. Smiling to herself she wondered how often she would get the chance to use it for its intended purpose. Opening the door to the walk-in closet she found it was in no way even close to full, not that she had expected it to be, and to her surprise held muggle as well as wizarding clothes. Ignoring the muggle items for now she set about getting dressed, luxuriating in the feel of clean new clothes. At least, new to her.

Exploring the house took most of the morning and she was delighted that the sense of hominess, the feeling of warmth and comfort she'd first felt on her arrival, permeated the entire structure. It was so different from Malfoy Manor, with its cold stone architecture and foreboding feel. She knew she was going to enjoy living here. She even found a portrait of her great aunt Dorea Potter nee Black in one of the sitting rooms and had a delightful talk with her and her husband Charlus.

After a light lunch of salad and fruit, prepared by an elf named Tibbin, whom she hadn't yet met, she went outside to see the large patio area and gardens. The patio was like an extension of the house, warm and comforting only without the walls and ceiling, with tree shaded areas to sit and read, talk or just enjoy the day. It bordered a large swimming pool on three sides. The gardens were exact opposites of the ones she had known at Malfoy Manor. Those had been classically formal, all straight lines and fanciful designs. These were made to appear as if they'd grown the way they were naturally. Flowers and decorative shrubs and trees lined meandering paths criss-crossing the grounds, leading to sheltered benches, statuary or topiary figures in the most unexpected places.

One path led her to a large barn, behind which she could see a large fenced field holding several horses. She saw a stallion, a beautiful chestnut color, and two mares, one possibly with a foal, peacefully grazing.

"Does the Lady wish to ride?"

She nearly jumped aside as the unheard approach of the elf startled her. Collecting herself she looked down at the small being. "No thank you." She replied. "I was merely admiring them. Are you the stable keeper?"

"Yes, Lady." The elf replied with a nod. "I be Dabbit, Potter stable keeper."

She turned back to the horses. "You do wonderful work. They are truly magnificent looking animals."

"Thank you, Lady, thank you!" He said, getting a large smile at the praise. "Dabbit care very much for them all the time."

Leaving the beaming elf to continue her explorations she saw some rocky looking hills off in the distance, behind a stand of trees so large she didn't know whether to call it a true forest or not. Other stands surrounded the house, interspersed with fields and pastures. At the edge of one of the stands she could see a small house, probably a groundskeeper or gamekeepers. She thought she could see a stream as well, but didn't feel like walking that far in the rising heat of the afternoon.

She was in the smaller of two libraries she'd found looking at titles when a pair of hands gripped her waist, slid around to her stomach and up to cup and gently squeeze her breasts as lips nuzzled her ear. Laughing, she turned in his grasp to face him. "Harry! What are you doing?"

"I thought that was obvious." He replied, his hands sliding down her back to cup and squeeze her bum. "I'm looking to see if you're up for a little afternoon delight."

"Here? Now?" She laughed in disbelief.

He waggled his eyebrows at her again, wearing a lecherous grin as he proceeded to back her up towards a desk in the corner. "Why not here and now? Do you have some activity planned you haven't told me of? If you do, I bet I can make you late for it." His lips kissed and nipped their way from her ear down her neck as she bumped into the desk behind her.

She shivered at the erotic feel of his teeth giving her little bites. In truth, it was the newness of the situation that was causing her hesitation. Sex had always been a bedroom activity for her. Other than a few times at Hogwarts while she was still in school, she had engaged in it at night, in the bedroom. Any romantic fantasies of doing it any place else had been forgotten years ago. Even in the Alley, that was the way it had been.

But, as he gripped her bum, picked her up and set her on the desk then began opening her robes, his lips causing chills up and down her spine, fingers touching and caressing, she thought why not? Who's to see, to care? She knew how good a lover he was, how good he made her feel and that feeling of forbidden naughtiness was back, as if her parents might come in and catch them in the act. She giggled in delight as his thumb flicked an exposed nipple and she caught his lips with her own. Feeling needy now, she undid his belt and pants, pushing them down and opening herself for him.

There was no long bout of foreplay this time, not that she needed it she was surprised to find, before they were joined and she rode him to her first climax in a remarkably short time. But not his, and they each took from and gave to each other until he moaned in a pleasurably deep note as he filled her, which in turn ignited her second, making her cry out as well.

As she sat on the edge of the desk, panting from her exertions and listening to his labored breathing, her forehead leaning against his, she reflected on the last twenty-four hours and how her life had changed. She realized he was a horny young man but she liked the way he treated her and found that she was a more sexually open person than she had ever believed. She actually liked it and wondered what else he might have in mind. She chuckled. "You know Harry, I think I could spend the rest of my life in bed with you."

She felt him tense, going stiff as a board for a bare second before relaxing again. She pulled her head back and looked at him with concern, wondering what she had said wrong. "Harry? Are you all right?"

He smiled as he looked back at her. "Sorry about that. You just brought up a memory I haven't had in a long time."

"Something painful?" She asked, hoping she hadn't damaged her relationship with him.

He laughed lightly. "Just the opposite really, but a little shocking and nothing I want to talk about right now. But it's getting to be dinner time. I'm certain Tibbin has some wonderful food ready to be eaten, Winky won't want us letting it get cold and we're both a mess. So let us be about getting cleaned and straightened up and go eat." But before he stepped back he reached up and brushed a lock of hair back. "Do something for me?" He asked.

"What?"

"Let this grow."

She laughed. "You like long hair on your women, Harry?"

His grin told her everything she needed to know. "Yeah. Sometimes short hair styles look nice but I prefer long hair. You can do so much more with it."

"How long?"

"Till you can sit on it?" He sounded hopeful she would agree.

"Will you help me comb it when it gets that long?" She teased.

His grin mellowed to a wistful smile. "Yeah, I'd like that."

His answer surprised her. Then she remembered Miss Granger's had been to the middle of her back. Had he combed hers for her? "Alright, no cutting my hair till I can sit on it. Now, about dinner?"

He stepped back and with a wave of his hand they were both cleaned. Redoing their clothes he escorted her to the dining room.

Dinner was excellent and they sat and talked afterwards, she sipping wine, he drinking butterbeer. Their talk was mostly about what she needed to teach him about pure blood society but drifted into other subjects as well, such as travel arrangements. She was delighted at how insightful his questions were about many things. It was nice he could make idle conversation without being boring.

Finally, though, he looked at his watch. "I'm afraid I have to leave you now, I've business that needs taken care of. I hope to see you later, if not then in the morning." He got up from the table.

"Business at this hour?" she inquired.

He gave her a sly smile. "The kind of business the DMLE takes a dim view of."

"The Gray Man stalks the shadows?"

"Exactly." He smiled as he replied. "You might want to get a good night's rest. I would like to leave tomorrow about mid-morning. Don't worry about clothes, Winky knows what to do."

She smiled brightly, thinking about their upcoming trip, magic or no magic. "I'll be ready."

"Then, until the morrow fair lady, I bid you adieu." He gave her a sweeping bow and left the room to her laughter.