DISCLAIMER: Uhm...nope. I don't even bother to check anymore. I really don't own Harry Potter, despite how much I'd like to. Man I would be rich...lol.

A/N: Okay, so this chapter has some sort of adult content. Not explicit or anything, but it's pretty much just considering what happens. It's a short chapter, but I still sort of like it. Yes, it moves very fast plot-wise, but if it didn't...the story would be even longer than it is already. It's 200+ pages, size ten font...sooooo...it's kinda gotta move fast. Anyways, please enjoy.

Chapter 5: The Difference Between Love and Lust

Maddy awoke that Saturday morning, smiling widely. She would be seeing Charles that evening, and she couldn't wait. At that moment, all thoughts of Harry had fled her mind.

As she felt around for her slippers, she smiled at the bouquet of multi-colored roses that were still in the vase on her bedside table. The Wormwoods could not understand why Maddy's disposition had changed so quickly. She had gone from being, quiet and removed during the day, to bright and cheery all around. Even Mr. Wormwood noticed her even more.

She dressed quickly, knowing that she had missed breakfast. She didn't care. She wasn't very hungry. As she hurried down the halls, she ran into Mrs. Edgar. Literally. The old woman was set off balance and nearly fell.

"Miss Maddy! I do wish you would watch where you were going!" she snapped.

"I am so sorry, Ma'am! I'm just in a hurry that's all," she didn't stop to say anymore.

Maddy's black hair bounced around her waist as she entered the dining hall. Marie, Christopher and Michael sat there waiting for her, with their books closed in front of them.

Maddy did not notice that she had not put up her hair, and sat down very quickly. She cleared her throat and opened her mouth to speak.

"You're late." Christopher said accusingly.

Maddy closed her mouth and nodded, "I am aware of that, Christopher. I just slept in this morning."

"That can get you fired you know…" Michael said in the same accusing tone.

Maddy looked at the two of them. They didn't seem to be very happy with her. She looked at Marie for help. Marie refused to look at her.

"Yes, I understand. I will never do it again…" Maddy didn't like being bossed around by ten-year-olds, but she didn't want to lose her job.

"Mother is thinking of finding us a new tutor. Someone who is more reliable…" Christopher said matter-of-factly.

Maddy felt offended. How could they dream of replacing her? She had given them six years of her life! Six years she would never get back! How dare they?!

"Father doesn't want to though," Michael said smoothly. "Father likes Miss Maddy. Father loves Miss Maddy…"

Maddy found Michael's last comment rather strange. She knew Mr. Wormwood had always been fond of her, and thought her very pretty, but surely, he never loved her. He was nearly twice her age.

"Father would rather be with Miss Maddy than Mother…" Marie said slowly. A sad look had donned her face as she stared down at the book in front of her. The boys were purposely avoiding Maddy's gaze.

Maddy's eyes widened as she looked at each of the children before her. "Who told you of such lies?"

None of them spoke. Maddy rose her voice and asked them again. Marie squeaked with fear.

"We heard Father yelling at Mother. He said it himself," Christopher spoke up.

Maddy rose out of her chair and stared at each of them in turn. None of them returned the look. She slammed her own book shut and nodded curtly. "Lessons have been cancelled. You will all go to your room. Stay there. And tonight, there will be no dessert, as punishment for lying."

The children harrumphed and exited the room. Marie paused by the door to look back at her tutor, but Maddy wasn't looking at her. Instead, she seemed to be more fascinated with the pattern the wood made in the table. Once the children were gone, Maddy made her way slowly to the library, hoping Elizabeth wouldn't be there. Luckily, she wasn't.

Maddy sat in the library for a long time, thinking to herself, her elbow leaning on the arm of the chair and her hand resting above her lip. Surely, Mr. Wormwood had never said that. Surely, the children were making everything up, because she had upset them somehow. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't.

But why would they lie about such a thing…

Maddy was muttering to herself when one of the maids came into the room. She looked up quickly.

"Uh…Miss Maddy? Mr. Wormwood would like to see you in his study…" she said timidly.

Maddy looked nervous. She stood up and brushed herself off. She wondered what he would have to say to her at a time like this.

"Miss Maddy, is this a bad time?"

Maddy shook her head. The maid looked at Maddy curiously. Her eyes were unusually puffy and a tad red. It looked like she had been crying. Maddy removed her apron as she approached Mr. Wormwood's study. She knocked twice and waited for a response. A drawling voice replied.

"Come in."

Maddy opened the door and saw Mr. Wormwood sitting in the chair behind his desk. She avoided eye contact and approached his desk as slow as one condemned to death. Her hands wrung together behind her back nervously. He didn't seem to notice.

"Miss Maddy…Miss Maddy…Maddy…Maddy…" his eyes were unfocused. "Please...take the chair..."

Maddy eyed a bottle of whiskey at the edge of his desk and sat down hesitantly. He stared at her for a while, not speaking. A small smirk danced at the corner of his lips. He stood up from his chair abruptly and approached her. She stood up and moved behind the chair, starting to feel uneasy. He caught her by the arm.

"Maddy…you are beautiful…" he said. His words were slurred. He reached for the side of her face. She smacked it away.

"Sir…you're married!"

"Who cares…" He said, wrapping his arms around Maddy's tiny waist. "She's not here right now…she's in town…"

Maddy wriggled in his arms.

"I want you…"

"YOU'RE DRUNK!" She screamed. She wrenched herself out of his grasp and ran around his desk.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. She could feel his hand slipping under her dress. She tried to resist him, but he was stronger than she was. He forced her backward onto his desk, knocking the whiskey bottle onto the floor. Brown liquid spilled across the carpet, staining it.

"Mr. Wormwood!"

"Call me Mortimer…" he said, kissing her neck.

Maddy screamed again and attempted to kick him. Mr. Wormwood forced his lips onto hers and drove his tongue into her mouth. Maddy turned her head quickly and whined. His hand was almost at her hip, his fingers fiddling the sides of her undergarments.

Suddenly, anger seared through her body, and obviously through her skin. Mr. Wormwood yelped loudly and jumped backward. His hands were blistering red.

"What the hell-"

Maddy didn't stop to think about what she had done. She hurried to the door and stumbled into the foyer. She didn't bother to grab her cloak, or even tell anyone where she was going. She wanted to be anywhere that wasn't there.

Outside the door of Mr. Wormwood's study, an old woman, glared after the fleeing woman.

-----

Maddy's heels clicked along the stone driveway, as she ran into a tall figure. She looked up to see Charles looking very nervous.

"Maddy, are you okay?"

Maddy shook her head and sobbed into his shoulder. He held her close and attempted to take her back inside.

"No!" She cried, stopping short. "No…please…anywhere, but here…please…"

Charles gave her his coat and walked her to his house. When they arrived, he took her upstairs and told one of his maids to bring them some tea. Some very strong tea.

"Now, tell me again what happened…" he said, handing her a cup.

"I told you…" she sobbed, "Mr. Wormwood…he called me into his study…and he…he tried to…"

She broke off crying. The teacup fell with a smash on the floor. Charles raced to her side and wrapped his arms around her, the teacup left ignored.

"He…he almost did…he almost…" her breath was caught in her chest. Charles seemed to understand and held her closer. She leaned her cheek against his shoulder, her chest racking with sobs. "Why do men like that always seem to find me, Charles?"

"Shh…shh…" Charles hushed her. He kissed her lightly, "Don't think about it now…"

She nodded and smiled at him. He had a way of making things better.

Charles left the room so she could get undressed. She put on one of Charles's bathrobes and tied it. She entered his study to find him, looking as un-duke-like as can possibly be. His dirty blonde hair was a mess, and his shirt was untucked and partially unbuttoned. He looked nervous and tired.

"Hey…" she said as she stood in the doorway.

He looked up and smiled weakly, "Hey…"

Maddy ran a hand through her mussed hair. Charles stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets. She had never seen him look so tense.

"Charles…" she started slowly, sounding concerned. "Charles, is something the matter?"

He shook his head, "No…everything's…everything's perfect…" He paced around for a second. "Tonight was supposed to be perfect though. I mean, we were going out for dinner. I was going to be the smooth talker, you were going to be beautiful and everything… everything would go well…and…" he sighed. "It's not like I planned it to be. We're not at dinner. I'm not a smooth talker." He smiled at her reassuringly, "But you do look beautiful…"

"Oh, Charles…" Maddy blushed and shook her head. "No, no I don't…"

"Yes…" he said, approaching her slowly, "Yes you do. You know, I wanted everything to be perfect when I did this…and I don't see how any more perfect it can get…so…"

He fell to one knee, and gazed up at her, a small box clutched in his hand. Maddy's hand flew to her mouth as she stumbled backward against the doorway.

"Maddy…will…will you…b-be my wife?"

Tears started to fall from her dark eyes. She had been waiting for this moment for her entire life. Sure, she had always imagined it being someone else and happening after a long eventful relationship, but she loved Charles, and he loved her. That was all that mattered. Right?

"Y-Yes…" Maddy said, happily.

Charles removed the beautiful diamond engagement ring from it's case and slipped it onto her ring finger. She tossed her arms around him, and kissed him passionately. She had to agree. Nothing could make that night more perfect.

A/N: Okay, see, it wasn't too bad. Just the attempted rape was kind of...yeah. I dunno. That's always bothered me, no matter how un-explicit it is. Please review. I want to know if you still want to read it! Or else...I might just stop. I dunno. Let me know what you think.