A/N: Happy Valentine's Day yall! Fair warning that this chapter is kind of fluffy since it is hearts day after all!
Advance happy birthday to my ever-supportive aunt and reader, Jessica Zamora
This chapter features a few lyrics of the song, Sexy Love by Ne-yo (who is my favorite male RnB singer, EVER!)
{Song Lyrics}
Chapter Ten: The Royal Temptress
Harry Potter woke up early in the morning with a sigh as he thought about the things that happened recently. It's been two days since Hermione woke up from her recent ordeal with the last surviving cronies of the dark wanker. Harry was granted permission by the minister to just report for two hours a day in his office and to then carry on with his most important duty - keeping the crown of Karthegenia safe. Harry could tell that Hermione is indeed getting a lot better since she was now obviously anxious and bored. He just waited for her to finally explode. Knowing Hermione, she would totally freak out with just passing idle time when she has so much responsibility. Harry was startled from his musings while laying on his bed and looking at Hermione's portrait when he heard a knock on the door. Not bothering to put on a shirt, he groggily walked towards the door to open it.
"Hermione!?", he almost yelped since he didn't expect to find her standing there wearing a lacy sleeveless Gryffindor red night gown that is several inches above her knees. Damn! Why did this woman have to be so bloody sexy?
"Harry, sorry to disturb you like this. But I really need to buy clothes and a wand. I can't keep on wearing your shirts and to have Winky clean the same knickers ever since I got here. Honestly! I can't stand it anymore! Might as well walk around without them!", she huffed and crossed her arms. Because of that, the lacy garment pressed closer to her chest for him to notice that she had no bra on. He gulped! Oh shit! It's morning! And she's standing here looking like that and I'm only wearing boxers! Quick Potter! Think disgusting thoughts! Harry decided to think about his go-to disturbing thoughts to control his rising reactions to the royal temptress in front of him. Voldemort in boxers chasing a naked Umbridge! Ah… Snape's greasy hair… Ah…
"Harry? Are you even listening to me?", Hermione was clearly annoyed by now.
"Wha?", his dumb reply came while he could feel his cheeks and probably the rest of his body get flustered.
"I need to buy clothes and a wand!", she said in a much louder voice this time.
"What about that then?", he gestured to her current attire but controlled himself to just looking at her face.
"Honestly! Winky just transfigured them for me. Besides, I can't really on transfigured clothes. I need to buy some. It's obviously a hassle for me to go to Karthegenia just to get clothes and Winky can't go there either. So, you are coming with me to buy clothes and a wand this morning!", she was clearly irritated now since there was a frown on her face.
"But Hermione! Your legs and arm still have blisters. You can't cover them with any cloth. Nor can you take Polyjuice potion or glamor them", he explained.
"Well, the condition only says that I can't have cloth touch the blisters until they become scars, right? So, I'll hide under your invisibility cloak when we buy a wand. You come with me to Diagon Alley and I'll only show myself to Mr. Ollivander! After that, we go to muggle London and I'll change the color of my hair and eyes, so people wouldn't recognize me", she explained her plan. It was clear that she really spent some time thinking about this.
"Let's say I agree to this. But what are you going to wear under the cloak? You can't walk around dressed like that even if no one else can see you!", he said in a feeble attempt to keep her safe inside Potter Manor while her wounds are still healing.
"Well if you can let me borrow a wand for a bit, as well as some jeans and a shirt then I'll transfigure them myself", she countered his weak argument.
"Well what about knickers?", he challenged while a blush was on his face again.
"Then I'll conjure some! You can't make excuses to keep me locked in here you know!", she insisted.
"Fine!", he acquiesced with a sigh and he saw her smirk in satisfaction, clearly happy that she won this argument.
"Well?", she prodded with a raised eyebrow when he just stood there.
"Well, what?"
"The wand and the clothes, please", she said with a pout which reminded him of the young Hermione he met at Hogwarts.
"Oh, right! Come inside Hermione", he gestured for her to follow him. He led her to his walk-in closet and he sat on the bench at the center. With a gesture of his hand, he opened the drawers and the cabinets that contained his shirts, jeans, and shoes. He sat there and just looked at Hermione as she perused his shirts with a look of concentration. She finally settled for a white long-sleeved dress shirt. He almost groaned out loud when he saw her bend over one of the drawers to look for jeans she could wear. The sleepwear she had on hiked up her thighs that he could easily see her butt with the smallest effort of just looking down. The bloody temptress doesn't even know what she's doing to me! And to think I haven't gotten laid ever since we slept together five years ago. I should think of an excuse to get out of here before I jump her…
"This should work out fine!", Hermione announced happily as she held out a pair of light blue jeans and walked over to him. He sighed in relief since the torture of watching her bend over was finally finished.
"What about shoes?", he said as he looked at her selection.
"Oh, right!", she carefully dropped the clothes on the bench and walked towards the area where his shoes were. Thinking that she will bend over again, he quickly stood up and followed her.
"Tell me what you like, and I'll get it for you", he offered, and she gave him a curious look before nodding. Hermione gestured to a pair of light brown loafers, so he bent down and picked them up. Hermione took them from his hands and walked towards the bench. She spread out her choices on the bench and bit her bottom lip indicating that she was thinking hard about what to do with her choices.
"Harry, may I borrow your wand for a bit?", Hermione addressed him after a few minutes.
"Sure", Harry handed her the Elder Wand which from his invisible holster.
"Harry, I can't use the Elder Wand for this!", she didn't accept the wand he handed out.
"It's alright, Hermione. It's just for some transfiguration. Besides, its allegiance is still with me since you must defeat me to get it", he shrugged.
"I thought you'd have returned it back to where it was hidden by now", she gave him a look of disapproval.
"I promised myself I would only return it until all the death eaters are captured and you are safe in Karthegenia", he seriously informed her.
"Oh", came her whispered reply and an awkward silence followed.
"Just take it Hermione or I won't allow you to go to Diagon Alley", he said after clearing his throat. Hermione took the Elder Wand from his hand hesitantly.
"Hmmm…weird. It feels just like my wand, warm and comforting. I don't feel any difference or it being more powerful", she said with a shrug. Maybe the fact that I love her so much makes the Elder Wand work for her as well…
Harry saw that Hermione first transfigured his loafers. She made them smaller to fit her and made the design more feminine while adding a three-inch heel. After that, she transfigured his jeans into a long flowy blue skirt with distinct patterns which reminded him of a bohemian hippie look. She then glanced at the shirt then made the changes she wanted. It became smaller, was cut short to make it enough to just cover her midriff. She also made the sleeves very flowy but the cut at the top was weird. He guessed that if she wore it, her shoulders would be really exposed. He saw her smile at her spell work just like she always did when they were at Hogwarts. She was then tapping a finger on her chin, once again clearly thinking. His eyes nearly popped out when she conjured a strapless skin tone lace bra which made him gulp. He was ready to make a dash for his bathroom when he saw her conjure a matching skin tone lace thong as well. Damn this bloody temptress!
"Thanks for the clothes and for letting me borrow a wand, Harry", she gave him a light smile and handed the Elder Wand back to him which he just took in silence. Hermione gathered the top, skirt, underwear, and the shoes and walked out of the closet. Shaking his head to clear his mind, he followed her on the way out. He almost bumped into her when she suddenly halted in front of her smiling portrait that was across his bed.
"You know, I really like that picture. Maybe you should tell me how to get a copy", she looked into his eyes and stared at the picture again.
"I-I…ah…well…sur-sure. I guess", he was stuttering and blushing so hard right now.
"How did you get this picture by the way? Maybe I can get the photographer to make copies for me", she told him while he avoided her eyes but looking at the portrait and then the floor.
"I took the picture", he admitted in a whisper.
"You took the picture? But how?", she was looking at him with an eyebrow raised.
"I brought a wizarding camera with me as I dropped my memory into a pensieve. I then printed the picture choosing to make them steady. I figured they look better that way compared to wizarding ones", he explained as he felt his cheeks burn.
"Ah, I see. And the pictures on the shelf? I assume you took them as well?", she had a smirk on her face now. He only nodded in reply.
"Well, I'll see you after breakfast then we can go to Diagon Alley", she said with a chuckle and closed the door to his room. He heard laughter outside and he swore he could hear someone mutter the word stalker while laughing. Since he was embarrassed enough as it is, he found himself chuckling as well. I'll get you for that your royal temptress!
Harry apparated himself and Hermione who was hiding behind the invisibility cloak in front of Gringotts. Antoine wanted to accompany them, but he reasoned that it's best for their son to be safe in the manor for now.
"Harry? What are we doing here?", he heard Hermione whisper to him.
"Just follow me. I need to settle something quickly before we go buy your wand", he whispered back.
"Good morning sir. I would like to speak to my account manager please", he approached the goblin teller with respect.
"Name?", the goblin replied.
"Harry Potter"
"Ah, Lord Potter. Come with me please!", the goblin led him to one of the hidden offices on a corridor before heading for the carts. They stopped in front of a door which had the crest of the House of Potter and the words Office of the Account Manager above it. The goblin teller knocked and when they heard a call to enter, the door opened and Harry with an invisible Hermione went inside before he thanked the teller who bowed to him.
"Lord Potter, how can I assist you?", the goblin greeted.
"Good morning, Sharpclaw. I need your help in getting some documents signed. The document for my heir for the House of Potter. Also, I wanted to check if the account manager for the House of Black has given you the bank statements so that I could give them to the Black heir's grandmother."
"Very well. Here you are my Lord", the goblin handed him two documents.
"Hermione? Could you come out here please", he called out and then she saw her slowly remove the cloak off herself.
"Lady Potter! Forgive me my lady for not acknowledging your presence!", the goblin bowed to Hermione who despite her confusion had a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Please do call me, Hermione, Mr. Sharpclaw. I'm not really Lady Potter", she sat on the chair opposite Harry. The goblin stared at Hermione and then at Harry with a curious look on his face. When Harry slightly shook his head, the goblin just nodded in understanding.
"Lady… Hermione, I need you to sign some documents for me, please", the goblin handed a document to Hermione. Of course, being Hermione, she read the document thoroughly with her eyebrows knitted together.
"Harry! What is the meaning of this? You made me your heir to all your money, property, shares in business, and title since May 10, 2002?", she yelled.
"I just wanted my son to be taken cared of. I didn't even know back then if our child was a boy or a girl. I have a separate document for Antoine though it says here the first-born child of Hermione Granger", he explained with panic. He knew that she would be angry about this.
"Alright! For our son's sake, I'll be his regent. You will make him heir instead of me with a stipulation that if he is not yet of age, I'll manage them in his place. But really, Harry, you know I can take care of -"
"I know you can take care of Antoine and his needs Hermione. You surely have far more wealth than I do. But it's our son's birth right!", he insisted while reigning in his temper.
"Fine! Mr. Sharpclaw, could you please revise the document with just making me regent please. Also, my real name is -"
"Antonietta Hermione Jean Granger Kournikova – Potter", the goblin finished for her.
"Well, that is correct. Minus the Potter part", Hermione blushed.
"Your majesty, as you are wearing the Lady Potter ring, in the magical world, you are the lady of the House of Potter", the goblin explained.
"Why did you call me your majesty?", she asked.
"Your majesty is Queen of Karthegenia and head of the House of Kournikova is she not?", the goblin was amused.
"Well, yes. But how did you know?", Hermione was clearly scared that her secret is finally out.
"When you wore the Lady Potter ring, it was magically recorded here at Gringotts on who the current lady of the house is. The ring will always know the real identity of the wearer."
"Oh. Will there be other records as well? Or just here in Gringotts?", she clarified.
"Your majesty, I'm almost certain that the ministry keeps a record as well since members of the Wizengamot always have a list of their current lords and their spouses. It magically updates every time the rings are worn."
"Then I must return the ring!", she insisted not seeing the pained look in Harry's eyes when she said that since she was focusing her attention of the goblin.
"I'm afraid that is not possible, your majesty. Only with Lord Potter's consent can the ring be returned."
"Harry -"
"No, Hermione. I'm not accepting that ring back. It keeps you safe and I will always be able to tell when you are in danger and I could always find you!", he said in all seriousness.
"But what if you decide to get married?", she insisted but Harry didn't reply but looked at his account manager. There had never been a Lord Potter who changed his lady since Potter men are known all throughout the wizarding world to be fiercely loyal. Once the Lady ring is on a woman's finger, that stays there until her dying day. But Hermione didn't know that of course.
"Please do make the necessary adjustment per the lady's request, Sharpclaw", he said with a sigh.
"Yes, my Lord." A few minutes later, a new document was ready, and Hermione was handed a quill.
"Where is the - never mind!", Hermione signed her name after realizing it was a blood quill. After signing the document, the wound on the back of her hand disappeared. Sharpclaw handed the same document to Harry and he signed it with the same quill. After that, he pressed the signet on his lord ring to officially seal the document that named Hermione as regent and Antoine as his heir.
"Is there anything else I can do to serve the House of Potter?", the goblin asked.
"Thank you for all your help, Sharpclaw", Harry bowed, and Hermione followed as well, which the goblin returned. Hermione draped the invisibility cloak over herself once again before they left the account manager's office.
Harry was side along apparated by Hermione who now had blonde hair and blue eyes. After getting her new wand from Ollivander's - eleven inches of elder with a phoenix feather core - she quickly made slight alterations to her looks and took them to Westfield London's shopping district. As he walked beside her as she perused the shops for items that she needs, he can't help but notice a different side of her that he's never seen before. Hermione standing there with her off shoulder flowy crop top that highlighted her flat abdomen and slim waist and her long skirt made him realize that he has never seen her this confident and self-assured before. Maybe that's what made the difference. It could be the years she spent as a queen and a single mother. The Hermione he knew at Hogwarts and even after that had always been beautiful inside and out despite her insecurities. But the Hermione he's looking at now, Merlin! She has an air about her that exuded such subtle elegance, grace, and confidence that was sexy as hell. He noticed a lot of blokes check her out as they pass by and he couldn't blame them.
"Harry?"
"Yes Hermione?"
"I actually forgot that I don't have any money with me. Can I borrow some for now? I'll pay you back once I have my checkbook", she told him with an embarrassed look on her face.
"It's fine, you do not need to pay me back", he insisted.
"Harry, you know I can't do that. You know I have to buy some outfits for official events, right? It means I must buy the right sort of clothes", Harry didn't fail to notice the emphasis she gave on some words which made him understand. She has to buy some clothes from luxury brands if she has to come out during state visits and other events in her capacity as Queen Antonietta. Well, it doesn't matter. I can afford it anyway.
"I can afford them Hermione, you know that", he insisted. He knew that she was aware of how wealthy he was given that he was with her after the war was over and he claimed his full inheritance from the Houses of Potter and Black.
"I know that. But I can't let you do this!"
"How about this? I pay for all the items you need and whatever amount I spend you can repay it to any charity of your choice. Consider it my contribution", he shrugged.
"Alright. But I would have you be the name of the donor, I do not want to take credit for -"
"I read on some articles online that you create paintings now? And they are very much coveted? Is that correct?", he said with a raised eyebrow and he saw her blush. Typical Hermione! Still doesn't want to take compliments for the work she does.
"Well I assume they are just coveted as you say because of my identity as you know", she shrugged.
"I want you to paint something for me. And then consider all the clothes you buy as well as other items payment for them. You may then use the money you intend to repay me as contribution to a charity of your choice", he negotiated.
"Fine!", she acquiesced and walked towards a store that every red-blooded male knows of - Victoria's Secret. He remembered her rant about underwear earlier and followed her with a chuckle.
Two weeks after his shopping trip with Hermione, her wounds were finally healed so he was busy coordinating with Erik on her schedule as she starts her official royal duties. After spending all morning at the ministry to arrange the details as well as security, he exited the main fire place at Potter Manor and ran to the library where he expected to find her son or Hermione, maybe both. I wish I could live like this every single day! He had a bright small on his face as he thought about his son and his well, Lady Potter.
"Tony! Daddy's home!", he had a silly smile on his face as he entered the library.
"Daddy!", the little boy immediately closed his book, settled it on the couch and ran to his open arms.
"I missed you too, buddy!", he chuckled. I could get used to this!
"What did you do today daddy?", his son asked excitedly while taking his hand and leading him to sit on the couch.
"Well, with Mr. Roshka and the rest of the ministry officials, we were able to plot your mama's schedule for state visit and charity engagements", he said with fake exhaustion which made the boy giggle.
"So, can I come meet with Queen Lilibeth too? Maybe I can see Uncle Harry and Uncle Wil again!", the boy asked with joy.
"You didn't tell me you were close with the royal family, son?", he playfully asked.
"Well, mama says were some sort of distant relation. Besides the queen is really nice and it's fun to see Uncle Harry and Uncle Wil. They are so silly around mama that it is funny!"
"Well mama says that they used to fancy her, but she laughed it off because they are younger than her. And now that she's queen, they sometimes goof around and tease her about it. They are good friends though and they give cool presents!"
Merlin! Even the Princes of England used to fancy, Hermione? Just how many competitors do I have to go against? How could I have been so stupid! I had my bloody chance in the past and why did I have blow it?
"Daddy, are you alright?"
"Yes, Tony. I'm fine. Where is your mama, anyway?"
"Mama told me she'll be one of the rooms where she can play muggle music in. The one with a good view of the lake. She says she's having a mixture of me time and work. I don't even get it though, but, well, you know how mama is", Tony shrugged which made him chuckle.
"Don't you want to come with me, so we can see what mama is up to?", he wiggled his eyebrows.
"Nope! You go ahead, daddy. I have to finish my book", Tony gestured to a thick book he was reading, and Harry nodded in understanding.
"Well, I'll catch you later, son. I have to see what your mama's been doing", he left the library dreading about Hermione's upcoming state visit to the Queen of England especially if the two princes will be present.
He slowly opened the door on the room which Tony described to him. There she was, Hermione Granger with her back facing the large windows and we was engrossed in her painting while grinding her hips to muggle music from his iPod and some speakers which he let her borrow.
{She makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up
Just one touch and I erupt
Like a volcano and cover her with my love}
He literally felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up as he saw her grinding her hips to the beat while making progress on the painting he requested, which was a portrait of Hermione. He gave her the freedom to decide what to paint but he told her he wanted her to paint herself. She was wearing denim shorts that was several inches above her knees and what looked like a black sports bra of some sort. Her hair was tied in a bun and he had a pencil inserted on it. It was clear that she was dressed that way to avoid getting paint on her clothes but the image he was seeing, damn! She was just dancing there and completely oblivious of the world around her - so carefree.
{Sexy love, girl the things you do
Keep me sprung, keep me running back to you}
Hermione was so carefree that she even had her free hand up as she continued to dance and mouth the words of the song that she knows. He was drawn to the hair on her nape that was slightly glistening with sweat and the way her skin seemed to glow from the light coming from the afternoon sun reflecting on the large windows. Why did I ever miss this gorgeous specimen of feminine perfection in front of me? Did that bloody Horcrux affected my way of thinking? Because looking at Hermione now, he can't possibly understand why he never saw her as more than a friend during their years at Hogwarts.
{I'm so addicted to her
She's the sweetest drug
Just enough…. Still too much
Say that I'm slippin' I'm sprung on all the above
I can't help she makes me say oohoohooh}
Since he was looking at every inch of her that he could see, he didn't notice that as she was so engrossed to the beat of the music that she turned around.
"Ahhhh! Harry! What are you doing here?!", she screamed in fright and embarrassment.
"Wha?", he was still so enamored at the beauty in front of him that he didn't understand what she was talking about.
"What are you doing here?!"
"Oh. Sorry! I came to tell you… Ahh… Well… Never mind! Later, Hermione! See you at dinner!", he hurriedly ran out of the room and closed the door. And as if the fates were teasing him, he heard the parting line of the music playing…
{She makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up
Just one touch}