DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter. Short. Sweet. To the point.

A/N: Yeah, I know, I'm updating again, when I said I wouldn't for a very long time. I was just kinda bored. This chapter does have some adult themes at the very beginning. I mean, come on, there's a honeymoon. But it's not too bad at all, so don't worry. Wow, these chapters just seem to get shorter and shorter. I'm sorry about that, but I hope you'll still enjoy them.

Chapter 7: Trouble In Paradise

The wedding, a month later, was more beautiful than Maddy could have ever imagined. There were white, red and pink rose petals everywhere, and the sky was the brightest shade of blue, Maddy had seen in a long time.

Harry and Ginny did attend. So did Hermione. (Maddy had invited her a few days after she had seen her in the bookshop.) Benjamin was the cutest little thing she had ever seen. He had flaming red hair like his father, and the freckles that came with it. The eyes were unmistakably Hermione's. Ron had always had hazel eyes (you know, brown with a hint of green), but Benjamin's were big and brown. He also had Hermione's shy smile. Maddy thought she could also see Hermione's big front teeth, but this was one feature she didn't point out. Hermione had always been touchy about her teeth, until she changed them in her fourth year.

Harry congratulated the happy couple, but wore a smile that almost made Maddy puke. It was similar to that of the one Dolores Umbridge (one of their least favorite teachers) used to wear when she taught at Hogwarts. The one where she tried to look overly happy or overly nice and it just wasn't working for her.

When it was time for the bride and groom to leave for their honeymoon, everyone crowded around the limousine. When Maddy had been younger, she had imagined flying away on a broomstick after her wedding, not driving away in a car. She lived with the car though, for Charles did not own a broomstick, and probably would not take to flying one too well.

They could not say that their honeymoon was uneventful. They, honestly, never seemed to leave their hotel room. One particular night, Maddy rolled on her side to face her husband, clutching the blanket to her bare chest.

"Tell me you love me…" she said softly.

Charles leaned forward and kissed her gently, "I love you…"

"Tell me you need me…"

Charles laughed, "I need you…"

Maddy laughed and kissed him in return. Her once long black hair was cut short and was very messy. They had gone out for one day, and Maddy had decided that she was going to cut her hair. (Something she hadn't done since her fifth year at Hogwarts.)

She ran a sweaty hand through it and rolled on her back. The blanket had pulled down, exposing her naked breasts. Charles's hand caressed them slowly. Maddy giggled.

"Charles…that tickles…"

He moved closer to her side, and kissed her neck. Maddy moaned softly as he pulled the blanket over them. Giggling could be heard from under it, a little more forcefully this time. They were at it once again…

-----

When the honeymoon and love making were over, they had returned home, where reality hit them hard on the head. Charles was immediately called away to Russia. For 'business', he had told her.

Maddy grew close to the maids who worked in the manor, while Charles was away. She had no one else to talk to and almost no desire to go into town anymore. For a while, she felt quite ill and feared she was pregnant. Emma, the youngest of the maids, had called for a doctor.

It turned out that Maddy was not pregnant. Nor was she ill at all. Her health was in tiptop condition. Even still, (or more perhaps out of grief of being alone again) Maddy confined herself to her room for the time being.

Charles returned two weeks later with souvenirs galore for his wife. Maddy welcomed him home graciously, but he couldn't help but notice she looked a little frail.

"Darling, is something the matter?" he said over dinner one evening. Maddy had not touched her food.

She looked up quickly, "No, it's nothing. It's just I don't eat poultry…" She poked her fork at the chicken on her plate.

Charles laughed humorously, "Are you a vegetarian?"

Maddy shook her head, "No…I just don't eat poultry…"

"Why not?"

"I have my reasons…" she said simply.

Charles attempted to peer into Maddy's face. She looked away quickly. He placed his hand upon hers.

"Maddy, honey, is everything all right?"

Maddy nodded, but the tear that ran down her face gave it away. Charles slid out of his seat and kneeled beside her.

"Darling, whatever it is, you can tell me. Whatever it is. Whatever is bothering you…"

"Oh Charles, must you go away so often?" She burst. "I feel so alone here. I feel like an old spinster living on my own without you. Can't you just-"

"Sweetheart, if I could ignore the calls, I would, but-"

"But, Charles, you're married now! One day we'll have children. You can't just leave us whenever you damn well please-"

"Children?" Charles backed away quickly. "You never said anything about-We never discussed having-"

The conversation had taken a sour turn. Maddy gaped at him soundlessly. She could not believe what she was hearing. She had thought Charles wanted children. She could have sworn she had brought it up.

"Charles, I thought-"

"Yeah, well…you-you thought wrong!" Charles turned from her, hastily.

A sob was caught in Maddy's throat. She raised a hand to her mouth and dashed from the room. Maddy wrenched open the door to their room and dived onto the bed. She sobbed uncontrollably into the pillows. In the distance, she could hear his footsteps coming up the stairs. With a wave of her hand, the door slammed shut and locked itself.

He pounded on the door for what seemed like hours. Even his key wouldn't open it. A stronger force was keeping it shut. Magic. And he knew it. Charles slid down the door, and covered his face with his hands. Only about a month into the marriage, and he had destroyed almost everything.

Softly, the door clicked. He looked up quickly, and grabbed the knob. It turned, easily. As he entered, he noticed Maddy lying on the bed, her face still buried in the pillows. He sat down next to her and placed a quivering hand on her shoulder.

"Darling, I-I'm sorry…I shouldn't have-"

Maddy sniffled, "Charles, don't apologize…"

He stroked her hair, "But, what I said…downstairs…it was horrible…I shouldn't have flipped out like that-"

Maddy looked up at him through red and puffy eyes, "Charles…just promise me, you won't leave me alone."

Charles gathered her up in his arms, but did not make a reply. She didn't care. She could hear his heart thumping beneath his chest. She could feel his slow breathing on her face. He was there at the moment, and that was all that mattered.

-----

Harry slumped down into an armchair. Ginny's hands rubbed his back and shoulders, a sly smile was looming in the corner of her lips.

"You seem tense…" she said slowly.

Harry shook his head, stubbornly, "No. I'm fine…"

Ginny pouted, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Harry said, a little more forcefully than he had intended.

Ginny's eyes narrowed as she sat down in the chair beside his. "I know who you're thinking about…" she said almost accusingly.

Harry didn't respond.

"You're thinking of her again, aren't you?" she stood up, suddenly. "For God's sake, Harry, would you give it up?"

Ginny dropped the ditzy, chatty wife act and returned to her normal attitude. The one where she loathed Maddy with a passion.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," Harry said, avoiding her gaze.

"Maddy!" Ginny said loudly. "Madeleine! Perfect little Princess Madeleine! Duchess Madeleine, now I suppose." She made a look of disgust. "Whatever her title is, everyone seems to think she's perfect. Maddy this. Maddy that. Everyone loves little Miss Maddy. Even Sirius loved her more than he loved you."

"You don't know that!" Harry shot at her. Wife or not, that was a blow a bit too far below the belt.
Ginny realized what she had said and fell silent, heaving a great sigh. She waited a moment before continuing. "Harry, you know I love you..." she started slowly. "But I'm not sure you feel the same way about me…"

Harry looked up at her, "Ginny, don't be ridiculous! Of course I love you! I'd do anything for you."

Ginny sighed, "I know that, Harry, but you also said the same thing to Maddy before you dated me…"

Harry paused, "But Maddy was just a childhood crush. You know, childhood sweethearts."

"Her 'love' turned to obsession, Harry. She did everything in her power to break us up! Everything! I doubt she'd have stopped trying, even now!" she turned to look at Harry, sharply. "Are you having an affair with her?"

"What?!" Harry stood up, "No!"

Ginny grabbed Harry's shoulders, a sudden panic rising in her voice. "Please, tell me you're not having an affair with this woman! Oh God, Harry! Please…"

Harry pulled her close to him, "No…you know I could never do that…"

"You did with Cho Chang…" Ginny's voice was slightly muffled because her face was pressed against Harry's chest. "You were still with Maddy when you dated her…"

"A mistake…but there are no feelings left for Cho. None whatsoever."

"But for Maddy…"

"I am not having an affair. She hates me…"

"No she doesn't and I know you don't hate her. You're always thinking about her. I know you're always thinking about her. Why?!" Ginny demanded.

Harry didn't know how to answer. He did not know why he thought of Maddy so often. He hoped it was because he was seeing her for the first time in ages. Being able to speak to her almost normally again. But he knew that wasn't it. There was something else. Something deeper.

-----

The next morning, Maddy woke up alone in bed. She had rolled over to see Charles's side of the bed, empty. Quickly, she stood up and headed for the door. Surely, he had not left. He must have been downstairs for breakfast.

But, Charles was not at the dinner table. Nor was he in the library, the bathroom, or his study. Maddy stood in the Grand Foyer of their monstrous house, and stared blankly at the front door. Charles's travel coat was not on the hook.

Roberta, one of the eldest maids, entered the foyer and glanced up at Maddy. Roberta only spoke Italian, so Maddy was very lucky to be fluent in most languages.

"Where is my husband?" she asked the older woman, in Italian.

"Ah…Master Penly left early this morning. He got an important call from Romania and had to leave immediately…"

Maddy frowned, "Is that all he said?"

"Si. Oh, wait…no. He said, he would be back as soon as he could."

"Grazie, Roberta." Maddy said, dismissing her, "Grazie."

Roberta left swiftly, and Maddy was left to herself again. She stood for a moment, thinking about what she had just heard. Then, suddenly, a weird feeling started in her stomach. She held her hand to it and leaned against the railing, her head spinning wildly. Unable to regain focus, she swayed dangerously and fainted on the stairs.

A/N: Ohhh cliffie. Lol. So, that's the end of this chapter. Please take the next few seconds to write me a short little review. Thank you! The next chapter will be up ASAP. Oh and to answer a few questions, yes, this is Harry/Maddy...it just isn't...yet. Don't worry, it'll show up very very very very soon. -cough- Next chapter -cough- So, please stick around. Thanks!