Harry Potter: The Unchained Flower
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the items and such that is not and will never be used by J.K.R.
A/N: If it would be possible, could the readers leave responses to my writing? So I would know if I am doing everything right or not. No worries if you guys don't want to though, I don't live by Reviews but I do want to know if I am doing thing right. Thanks!
Chapter Five: The Lady Hermione Granger
-London, England
Harry walked towards the House of Lords with a fast pace as he clutched the letter in his hands.
It had been only a week since his return from the battlefield where he was able to push back the Americans and immediately, he had been summoned due to his so-called failures to defeat the General Washington.
Looking around the steps towards the building, he whipped out his wand and flicked it to open the door in a very unruly manner that did not befit a Lord and Duke.
Sneering at the shocked faces of the Lords and Ladies assembled, he shouted, "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS UNNECCESSARY SUMMON?"
Lord Williamson, the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, stood up from his seat and banged his mallet, saying, "LORD POTTER! DO NOT ADDRESS THE COURT IN SUCH A MANNER! REMEMBER TO RESPECT THE HOUSE AND ITS MEMBERS!"
Harry bowed in apology and moved towards the center and spoke once more in a much more well-mannered tone, "Forgive me, My Lords, for my outburst. Indeed, my blood has been boiling since this morn when I received a summon that said of my failures in the American Colony."
"Indeed! We have come to question you of the reason as to why the General Washington was able to escape when you had him in your clutches!" Asked Lord Bones.
The members of the House nodded to each other, agreeing with the statement made by the esteemed Lord Bones.
Lord Howe, Deputy Chief Whip, decided that Lord Bones had overstepped a line and spoke, "Lord Bones, why should we question the actions of our General and Duke? Is it not customary for a General to have a set time to rest before he is to provide the House of the happenings in the front?"
"That maybe, Lord Howe, but Lord Potter is not just a General but a Lord and Duke as well! His position in our Court gives him the duty to be present at all Court meetings whenever he is able!" replied a smug looking Lord Bones.
Lord Howe scratched his beard at this before replying carefully, "And yet, he has his rights as a General to have a time to recuperate."
Seeing that both parties were fighting for his sake, Harry stepped in saying, "No quarrels for my sake in this Court, My Lords. I will answer any questions this Court has for me and I bid you all to let me continue my recuperation."
"Very Well," started Lord Williamson as he flipped through some parchments, "Can you tell us the number of casualties that we and the enemy sustained?"
Harry sighed, remembering all the dead that he had seen scattered on the ground after the battle. He had never seen so many bodies just cluttered around with no organization whatsoever.
"Three Hundred Eighty Five was the last count on our casualties before I took the ship back from Long Island. For the Americans, however; it was estimated to around Two thousand."
"Brilliant!" shouted Lord Black as he and almost everyone in the Court clapped at the low casualty they sustained while the enemy took a mighty blow.
Lord Williamson and some of the old war veterans looked on grimly. They knew that lowly casualties were still too many casualties. The three hundred or so soldier who would never see their family and friends again were heroes who fought for their Empire.
Once the Court has settled down once more, Lord Williamson continued, "Can you, Lord Potter, recount to us what had happened in your short campaign?"
And so Harry did. He recounted all the steps he took. He told them of his plans, his landing and what his formations were like. Everyone grew grim once he reached the part where he had all the dead soldiers of both sides burned in funeral pyres. He ended the story with his battle with the opposing General and his escape.
"May I ask Lord Potter as to why he saw fit to burn the remains of the enemy as well? They should have been left to the dogs!" Shouted a red faced Lord Black.
Lord Granger, a newly assigned peer who was known to be silent in most sessions and speaking only when asked to speak, stood up and said, "Showing mercy towards the enemy would show them that we are still people! We do not want them to spread rumors of the British stooping so low that they would not even honor the dead, even if it is from the other side!"
Before another full-blown argument started, Harry put up his hand in an appeasing manner and said, "Thank you, Lord Granger, for that defense. As for me, I decided to honor all the fallen in that battlefield. Everyone present in that battle decided to defend their own ideals even if it meant death and the courage they showed deserved my honoring them in burial."
Lord Williamson spoke up at this and said, "Well said, Lord Potter! Now, I believe it is time for us to adjourn and continue this business of politics the next morn."
With a bang of his mallet, everyone started to get up and shake hands with each other before going out of the building.
Harry, himself, was trying to squeeze away from the crowd and get back to his manor. All he wanted to do today was sleep so he can see his Fleur tomorrow when he goes to France to visit the King Louis. But, alas, fate decided today was not his lucky day.
"Lord Potter!" said a voice he recognized.
Turning, he saw Lord Granger pulling a girl around eighteen towards him at a moderate pace.
The girl in question had brown hair with a hint of black. Her hair was brushed in a way where the hair was flowing straight but curls were present. Her face was heart shaped with a few freckles on her nose. She had a sharp look to her that made her look more regal than beautiful. Her eyes were of brown shade and her skin, pale.
Harry tried his best not to stare at her. Yes, he described her to be more regal than beautiful, but Harry always deemed that beauty is nothing compared to wit and certainly, this girl had some on her.
"My Lord Potter, may I introduce my daughter, the Lady Hermione Granger."
Harry bowed and kissed Hermione's hand before saying, "It is a pleasure to gaze at a beauty such as yours, My Lady."
Hermione blushed a bit before curtsying and replying, "The pleasure is all mine, Lord Potter."
Harry stood straight once more before looking at Lord Granger and asking, "Do you need me for anything, My Lord?"
Lord Granger smiled kindly at the boy before replying, "In reality, I do not My Lord. But my daughter has been very eager to meet the Lord Potter who was said to be the smartest of the Lords due to him turning the tide of the war in just one battle."
Hermione smacked her father with her fan before saying, "Father! Do not embarrass me!"
"Do not fear, Lady Hermione. Would you like to join me for lunch?" Asked Harry, truly wanting to learn more about his Lady Granger.
"I would be honored, My Lord!" Answered a very ecstatic Hermione before bowing towards her father and asking, "May I, Father?"
Lord Granger looked towards Harry before asking, "Would I be able to trust you my daughter, Lord Potter?"
Seeing Harry nod, he turned towards his daughter and replied, "You may. Just be sure to come home before supper, your mother would kill me if you didn't!"
Before Hermione could reply, however, Harry pulled her close to him and whispered, "Hold on tight."
Hermione only had a chance to wave goodbye as she was whisked away through apparation.
"You are a wizard as well, Lord Potter." Hermione stated as she dusted her robes off before hooking her left arm on Harry's right.
Harry glanced at her before replying, "Indeed. I know you are too due to the aura you are emanating. Although, untrained, at least you know of your status."
Hermione nodded before letting herself be walked towards Potter Manor, eager to talk to the enigmatic Lord Potter.
-After Lunch
Hermione was in cloud nine.
She was currently walking around the large garden behind Potter Manor with the esteemed Lord Potter beside her.
"So Lord Potter, have you any lady in mind for your Lady Potter?" Asked a very curious Hermione.
Harry smiled at her before replying, "I do as a matter of fact. She is in France waiting for me as we speak!"
Hermione looked crestfallen at that. She had been so hopeful that with the invitation of Lord Potter for her to share a meal, she would be one of his candidates for the Potter ladyship.
Harry saw the sad face that the lady beside him was trying hard to control and sighed, "Do not be sad, Lady Hermione. This just means that there are much better men out there for you other than ugly old me!"
Hermione smiled at the joke and replied, "So tell me, who is this French lady that has attracted the most sought out bachelor in the whole Empire!"
"The heiress to the Duchy of Brittany." Replied Harry fondly as he remembered the beautiful face of his Fleur.
Hermione gasped at this before stuttering, "T-the most beautiful lady in France, and their jewel? She is your lady-to-be?"
Harry nodded and smiled at her, "Yes, she is my flower. My Fleur Delacour."
"You speak so fondly of her." Hermione sighed as she sat down on a bench. "I hope she knows how you love her so."
"Oh she knows!" Harry laughed as he sat beside her, "And I know she loves me too."
Hermione sighed as she leaned back, a very unladylike manner if her mother was here to scold her, "I wonder what that feels like. To love and be loved unconditionally."
Harry stared at her before replying, "Your parent love you unconditionally, and I am sure, you love them back just as much!"
Hermione swatted Harry on his arm playfully before replying, "What I meant was love in terms of a man and woman! I am sure to be stuck under a loveless marriage soon."
"Who are you betrothed too?" Asked Harry curiously.
Hermione just shrugged her shoulders, "None yet. I have just had my eighteenth birthday last week so I can expect contracts being sent to my father soon."
"If I was not betrothed," started Harry as he looked in on her eyes deeply, "I would ask for your hand right now."
Hermione stared into his before replying, "Why me? There are lost of girls out there much more beautiful than me! I do know my beauty was never something that I should be proud of."
It was Harry's time to shrug, "I have no need for beauty. I value wit above everything and you certainly showed yours while were dining earlier!"
Before Hermione could reply, however, a shout rang across the garden, "LORD POTTER! WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION!"
Harry, thinking on his feet, shoves a cloth onto Hermione's hand and said, "GO! This is a portkey to your manor! Be safe!"
Once Hermione was whisked away, Harry quickly walked towards the manor and pulled out his wand. His senses were on high alert since he knew that he made some enemies when he successfully killed two thousand or so American Revolutionists with his attack and since those Americans were from Britain, it would only seem natural for them to have families here; and those families might just take out their anger on him.
Walking into the manor, he saw all his servants lined up against the wall, looking at him expectantly.
Harry stared at them before cautiously walking towards his study room, which was located at the end of the hallway.
Almost out of instinct, he pointed his wand to a startled Fleur Delacour, who was pacing in front of his study table.
Sheathing his wand quickly, he ran towards the lady and pulled her into a hug and swung her around with joy. The squeals of joy emitted by Fleur could only reinforce the fact that she was enjoying as well.
"What bring you here my flower!" Asked Harry as he kissed her lips and savoring her taste, "I was scheduled to come to you tomorrow!"
Fleur moaned with delight as she let herself loose in the arms of the man she loved and replied, "We have a problem, my Harry."
Harry looked at her and noticed that her gown was a little worn out, not like her usual gowns that were always newly washed
"What is the matter?" Asked Harry worriedly.
Fleur put her forehead on his and answered, "France is going to war with Britain."
A/N: Historical inaccuracies and accuracies are solely for the purpose of this story. Although most of the Historical References I am making are true, just not the timeline and the way they are arranged.