Changing Pasts, New Futures

Chapter 7

As I lay on the bed, and I felt his body against me, I knew I had made the right decision coming here. I needed him, I'd always needed him. He was kissing me like a man possessed, and it felt good. I felt like I was his sustenance, and it empowered me. I wrapped my arms around his waist, tugging him even closer. I could feel his desire pressed against my belly, and I felt myself melt inside knowing how much he wanted me. Needed me. His hands speared into my hair, tugging gently at the strands, I pulled my lips from his, twisting my neck to the side so he could have access. I felt him there, at my pulse point, licking and sucking and kissing. He was driving me wild; I started to buck against him, moaning as the pleasure increased. Merlin, he was good. I wanted him inside me; I wanted to feel his bare skin against mine. "Harry..." I moaned, my nails digging into his back, desperate for more.

He pulled away, and I whimpered, I didn't want him to stop touching me. "Hermione" he whispered against my skin. He kissed my forehead, my nose, my eyelids, and he continued to work his way down to my collarbone, light little kisses, sweet kisses that made my heart ache. I needed this man with every breadth of my being. I felt his hand glide up my side, skimming over my breast, my nipples peaked in pleasure, and I moaned again. I felt his hot breath caress my even hotter skin, and I knew what he was going to do next, and I held my breath in anticipation. I felt him slide the strap off my shoulder, exposing my breast the cool air, and his divine mouth. He kissed my then, his mouth teasing around my extended nipple, increasing my need, my desire. I arched my back, trying to push my breast further into his mouth. I felt him smile before he complied, and sucked my nipple into his hot welcoming mouth, his tongue flicked across the tip, shooting sparks through my body at the sensation.

My fingers slid into his hair, curling around his skull and holding him in place as he licked and sucked and nipped my breast. I didn't want him to stop ever, but I needed more. I was about to pull him up to kiss me and tell him what I wanted, when a loud ringing engulfed the room. Harry froze, his mouth leaving me as his back stiffened. He cursed lowly as he climbed off the bed. I sighed, wanting to curse whoever had just interrupted us. Harry bent down to pick up his discarded pants, and when he turned back around I noticed he had a cell phone in his hand. I watched him curiously, wondering what he could possibly need with a cell phone. I watched as he answered it, a little gruffly I was pleased to note. He wasn't any happier about the interruption then I was. As I watched, his face went pale, "What?" he half yelled into the phone. Something bad must have happened.

XxXxXx

I listened to Dustin as he explained what was going on. How the hell could something like that happen? I glanced over at Hermione. God, she looked so sexy lying on my bed, her hair disheveled and her lips swollen from my kisses, and her perfect breasts exposed to the moonlight trickling through his window. He wanted to crawl back into bed with her, and sink himself inside her and never leave. He was so hard from wanting her, but he shook himself knowing that it would have to wait. This call was an emergency.

"The barn caught on fire. We're needed back in Texas. Randy's called us all back for help." Dustin explained. I sighed, knowing I couldn't stay here if they needed me. They deserved my loyalty a hell of a lot more than anyone here in England. I glanced over at Hermione again, she had moved. She was now sitting up in the bed, her night gown straightened out and her hair smoothed back into some semblance of control. I wanted to punch someone for making me leave her again, after everything.

He finally had her here, in his bed, with him and now he had to leave. Damnit all to hell. "Ok, I'll head out first thing. Thanks for calling Dustin. See you soon." I hung up. Turning to Hermione, I knew that what I was going to say would change things.

"Everything ok?"

"Not really. I need to head back to the states. I'm needed." I shuffled around the room, turning the light on so I could find my clothes and get my suitcase packed.

"Right now?" I looked over at her and nodded. "For how long?" I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"I'm not sure. I'll find out when I get there." I watched warily as she climbed out of my bed, the silk nightgown sliding silkily down her legs to cover her body completely from my gaze. I blinked quickly and looked away, finishing up the hasty packing of my suitcase. I could feel her eyes watching me as she stood their silently.

"Can I come with you?" I whipped my head around to look at her, staring at her, shock probably on my face.

"You want to come with me to the states?" I couldn't believe it; would she really come with me? Could I take her away from this place without repercussions?

"Yes. I don't want you to leave without me. Not when we're finally together again" I walked over to her, my heart pounding, hope or fear it was hard to tell.

"I don't know if that's possible. The way things are with Ron..."I trailed off as I saw the fear and hurt in her eyes. Damn, I didn't want to hurt her. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly to my body, "I want you to come with me, you don't know how badly. But I can't risk causing more problems by taking you away if it'll make getting you out from under Ron's control more difficult. Do you understand?" I felt her nodded against my chest, and the wetness coating my skin from her tears made me want to go to Ron and beat the shit out of him.

"Please...p-please take me with you" she sobbed against my chest, I just held her tighter. That made the decision for me. I didn't care what the repercussions were anymore, I was taking her away from here, and no one was going to stop me.

"Ok." Was all I could say. Then I held her a long while, comforting her the best I knew how. I didn't know how I was going to make this work, but I knew I was going to try.

XxXxXx

We didn't have time to go to her apartment and pack any of her things, and we didn't want Ron to find out what was going on, so I finished packing my suitcase, and I grabbed hold of her and apparated us to Diagon Alley. The night was still dark, and according to my watch it was 4 in the morning. None of the shops were open, and I prayed that the Goblins would still be there.

I entered Gringotts, no guards were standing out front at this time of night, and I made my way to the furthest desk, where surprisingly I found a goblin waiting. When he saw me and Hermione, he scribbled out a quick letter which then disappeared. Without saying a single word, he motioned us to the back door, and we traveled through the winding hallways until I stood outside of Ragnok's office. The goblin knocked three times and waited. The door opened and the goblin ushered us into the dark cozy room.

"Lord Potter-Black, what can I do for you?"

"Mr. Ragnok, Thank you for seeing me at this late hour. I was hoping you could perhaps perform a miracle for me. I received a call from a colleague in the states, requesting my return immediately following an emergency, and I can't say no." I sat down at a chair in front of the desk, where a single candle was burning, creating a darker, mysterious atmosphere in the Director's office.

"Ah, yes. What would you like me to do?"

"I was hoping you could produce a passport for Hermione, we were unable to collect her things from her place, and she has asked to come with me." I prayed he wouldn't try to talk me out of it. I had made up my mind; now all I needed was to get us out of there as quickly and painlessly as possible.

"I see" was the quiet reply. It was disconcerting to not be able to see the head goblin. The shadows in the office hid him well. "Let me see what I can do"

XxXxXx

The sky was still dark, but I knew the sun would rise soon. I waited impatiently for my contact to arrive. I had some juicy tidbits to sell. I stamped my feet into the gravel lined roof; my hood hid my face, and kept most of the cooler air from chilling me to the bone. As I continued to fidget impatiently, I hear a noise from behind.

Turning around I see someone walking towards me. My contact, finally. "What do you have to share?" was the gruff question.

"Harry Potter is in town. Though it looks like he isn't planning on sticking around" I said. The stranger was quiet, his face hidden behind shadows cast by the hood he wore and because of the blackness of the night.

"Where do you think he's going?"

"I'm not sure, but I was able to place a tracking spell on my cheating, good for nothing girlfriend, and if I know her, she'll run away with him the first chance she gets. All you have to do is follow the signal."

I was pretty proud of myself for thinking of that. She never knew. It was during one of those times I beat her to unconsciousness. It's exactly what that skanky little bitch deserved after treating him like a leper. She wouldn't touch him, or kiss him. All she did was pine after that lowlife coward Potter. Well this will definitely show her who she shouldn't mess with. Maybe if she spread her fucking legs every once in a while, I might have forgiven her this little transgression, but then again probably not.

"Excellent. I will be sure to let my employer know. Here." A bag was dropped at his feet. "50 thousand Galleons like we agreed, pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Weasley" The man turned and walked away. I picked up the bag, picked inside, and couldn't stop the grin that formed on my face. I had more than enough money now to do whatever I wanted. No more being looked upon as the failure in the family. I had more money than even the twins, if you didn't count their many businesses.

I turned back to look out across the city before me, I knew I should feel some hurt that she betrayed me, but a part of me always knew she would never love me, while he was still around. Well, now that won't be an issue much longer. Goodbye Harry Potter.

XxXxXx

It felt like hours had passed by the time Ragnok got back to us. He had left us in his office while he went to get everything we needed organized and ready for our departure. When he finally returned, he held in his hand Hermione's new passport, and two plane tickets to Fort-worth. He handed over the documentation, and I signed the receipt for payment, and then he surprised me with something else.

"Because Hermione doesn't have anything to take with her on this trip, for obvious reasons. I was able to procure a few things, stealthily of course. So she will be comfortable on her trip." Ragnok produced a small luggage carrier, and we both looked inside and were delighted to see a few essentials items for her. A change of clothes, undergarments, and some necessary hygienic items. Satisfied that Hermione wouldn't be too uncomfortable for this trip, I quickly made a request for money to be transferred over to my muggle bank account in the states, and an extra card to be made.

Despite it being muggle, the goblins had no problem fulfilling my wishes, and I had them put Hermione's name on it. Giving her full access to my accounts would allow her to do some shopping or sightseeing while I was working, trying to help out with this emergency.

I handed her the card, and though I could see she wasn't too happy about it, she did take it and put it in her pocket. I grabbed her hand and my luggage, and I watched her do the same, before I apparated us out to Heathrow airport for us to catch our flight out of England.

As we bordered the plane, Hermione grabbed hold of my hand; I gave her a reassuring squeeze as we walked through the portal. We took our seats in first class, and I felt the anxious feeling in my gut that I'd had since landing in England begin to ease. I was going home, and the love of my life was going with me.

XxXxXx

It had been a while since I'd been on a plane last, and I'd never been in first class before. I knew I should probably be mad that he spent so much money on me for these amazing seats, but I couldn't bring myself to argue with him. Being here, it felt unreal. The seats were so comfortable, and spacious I was able to stretch out and I laid my head on his shoulder, basking in the feeling of having him next to me. I'd always dreamed of the two of us going on vacation somewhere. Just me and him alone, no stupid reporters following his every move, no jealous best friend constantly trying to get in the way. Finally, after so many years dreaming, she was going to get her wish.

"How did you find where I was staying Hermione?" I heard him ask me. I smiled, realizing that we had both been so caught up in each other; I didn't get a chance to explain.

"Dobby. I've kept in touch with him over the last two years, and I asked him if he knew where you were. He was only too happy to tell me that you hired him as your elf to take care of you while you were visiting England. So I asked him to apparate me to your house. I thought I'd surprise you."

"I was definitely surprised." He nuzzled the side of my face, and my whole body tingled in response. "So tell me, how the smartest witch of her age gets her wand stolen from an imbecile like Ron Weasley" I blushed. Damn, I forgot about that. How do I explain that for once in my life I was a complete and utterly trusting fool?

"He tricked me. Shocking I know. In the beginning things were good. After I heard you left, I wanted to curl up and cry, but he wouldn't let me. He kept me going, and I thought to myself 'he really cares about me' so after a few months of having him around me all the time, I gave in. We started to date officially, and I had started working at Flourish part time, while I did courses at the University. I was never going to be satisfied with just Hogwarts education. I still missed some things from my old life. Ron was supportive, and my parents were thrilled. Life seemed to be going really well. I was able to finish a year's course within six months, and I had gotten my degree as a paralegal. It was a start. I was always obsessed with doing the right thing, following the rules, but you two were really good at getting me to bend them or break them, so it got me to thinking about working in the legal aspect. It wasn't much, because well, most wizards don't put any value on the muggle education system, but I knew the best lawyers were from my old life, so I kept at it.

The night I received my certificate, Ron had asked me to move in with him. He told me he loved me, and wanted to spend more time with me. I had told him I was going back to school again, to get my diploma to become a full lawyer, and he knew it would keep me so busy, that I wouldn't see him as much as before, so I agreed. I didn't know about the old archaic wizarding laws. I was learning some of the more commonly used laws for the magical world on the side, so I'd be prepared for when I opened my own law firm. But during school, my main focus was on the muggle legal system. After a while, we'd been together for over a year, and I spent more time in the muggle world, and less time in the magical I became distant. Ron was able to take my wand during that time, because my focus was on my muggle education, and I had no idea my wand was missing until months later. I still have no idea what he had done with it. Just before I could sit the exam, Ron yanked me out of school, telling me he wasn't going to pay for it anymore. He wanted me home all day, I had to quit my job and start to service him. At first I didn't understand what he was talking about. Then he told me that as his girlfriend, I had duties that I had been neglecting. He had been lenient on me because he felt I needed to get some of my muggleness off my chest before I'd be ready to commit fully to him and the wizarding world of living.

I laughed. He couldn't honestly expect me to give up everything because he was too lazy to cook his own meals? I was very wrong. He was able to pull out archaic laws stating that I was to do exactly that. Anything and everything he had told me to do. I thought I'd be able to get away, I mean seriously, he's not that bright, I was sure it would be as simple as walking out the door while he was at work. Who knew that me signing a contract stating my living arrangements with him would be so binding? Anytime I tried to leave without his permission I'd get zapped by some magical force field, causing me to be weak for hours. It drained my magical core, making the shield stronger every time. Finally I just gave up. I knew it would be pointless to keep trying. I gave in.

To make things worse, that wasn't even the worst part of the situation. I mean, yes, he trapped me in his little prison to be his own version of his mother. The worst part was when he came home drunk, and he came home drunk quite often. He would work himself up into such a fury, that nothing I did or said could placate him, he would just yell and scream at me, like everything that went wrong in his life was my fault. He would hit me, and push me around, and I had nothing to fight back with. Those months of me trying to find a way out had drained me completely and my physical strength had been depleted along with my magic. I've only just recently been able to get it back.

You know how I said that the only way for me to pay him back, was through other means?" Harry nodded, he had been rubbing my arms the entire conversation, giving me comfort and strength, the two things I desperately needed. "I never went to him willingly. I couldn't, not after what he pulled. I never could bring myself to sleep with him before we moved in together, it just never felt right. I realized after wards that he had been hoping that me living with him would make me spread my legs quicker. He was wrong, but he also got tired of waiting. He r-raped me." I hiccupped the last part as I felt my emotions surface. I tried to stop the sobs, but Harry pulled me into his chest, murmuring soothing words into my ear as he rubbed my back. I was glad that it was out, but it was still painful for me to remember.

We were quiet the rest of the plane ride. I rested my head against his shoulder, and he kept his arm tight around my waist, letting me feel his strength. I dozed off and on, the flight attendants passed drinks and snacks to the passengers, and that whole time Harry never said a word. He just held me and looked out the window. I was worried he would hate me, feel like I was damaged goods, and want nothing to do with me. I knew I should pull away, give him the space he needed to think, but I couldn't do it. I needed him to keep me strong, and that was wrong of me. To depend so much on this man would be so easy, but it would break me completely if he decided to leave me.

XxXxXx

I was speechless after Hermione's confession. To hear what the prick did to her. The damage he had caused. I was glad that she was with me now, that I was taking her away from such an unhappy and disgusting relationship. For a man to force himself on any woman is horrid, for a man like Ron, who didn't even deserve to breath the same air as my precious Hermione, to have touched her in such a way, it made me see red. I wanted to strangle the bastard with my own bare hands. To watch the life bleed out of his eyes, and hear his gasping breaths as he begged for his life. He wasn't worth a single inch of Hermione, and yet that bastard hurt her, abused her, tainted her in a way that she had to live with for the rest of her life. I wanted to tear this plane apart, go back to England and tear every limb from his worthless hide. Shred his skin and feed it to any animal desperate enough for his pathetic flesh.

But I couldn't do any of that. Instead I held her as she cried, and I watched the world fly by through the small porthole window of the plane. I pulled myself together slowly, deep breath in, long breath out. I felt her snuggled into my side, and I felt a sense of peace and contentment fill me. What had happened in the past was just that, the past. I was going to make sure she was happy about her future. No matter what it cost me. She was my everything, and I was going to make sure she knew that. Every day for the rest of my life.

XxXxXx

I watched as the plane landed, the slight jerky movements jostling Hermione awake. I smiled down at her, she smiled sleepily back. The captain made his announcement as we moved to the terminal passageway. Once the plane stopped we both unbuckled our seat belts and grabbed our luggage from the overhead rack before disembarking from the plane. As we reached the terminal waiting area, I pulled Hermione aside and let the other people pass us.

"Hermione, before we go, you need to know a few things." She nodded her eyes on me. "First thing, they only know me as James, James Evans. So don't call me Harry when other people are around, please. Secondly, the people you're about to meet, they know about you, in theory anyways. They're amazing people, and I care about them a lot. Thirdly, this is Dallas, Texas not the place where I work, but the closest airport. I've been working on a ranch the last two year, learning how to care for horses, and deal with occasional cattle. I haven't told anyone about you coming back here with me, so I don't know what is going to happen. Do you trust me?" I knew it was stupid to ask that now, after flying all the way out here, but for some reason I needed to hear the answer.

"Yes, of course I trust you." I nodded, breathing a sigh of relief before twining our fingers together and grabbing my luggage with the other hand. We made our way to baggage claim and from there to the doors outside. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and made a quick call to Dustin.

"Hello?"

"Hey Dustin, its James. Just through I'd let you know, I've landed at Forth-Worth. I'm going to grab a taxi home. I, um, I sort of have someone with me." I glanced carefully at Hermione who only smiled back at me.

"Ok, I'll let the others know. Welcome back bud, I'll see you soon." There was a click, letting me know Dustin had hung up. Things must be really bad down there if he wasn't even going to grill me on who I brought back with me. I hailed a cab, worry engulfing me as I tried to figure out what could have happened besides the barn fire. When the cab pulled up, I helped put out luggage into the trunk and then I climbed in beside Hermione in the back, giving the driver our destination. Once we were on our way, I sat back in the seat, Hermione curled up into my side, and I began to think.

A/N: Ok, thanks everyone for such wonderful reviews last chapter. They made me soo happy, I typed this chapter up in two days. Hopefully it's as wonderful for you as it was for me to finally get this out. I gotta say, I hated having Harry back in England, too many bad things happened there. Soo now that he's back in Texas with his woman, things will hopefully get more interesting. Please review again. You never know, if they're as wonderful as last time, I might be able to punch out another chapter in a couple of days.