Chapter 5: War!

When Scarlett saw Ashley leave the dining room, she finally had her chance to talk to him alone. Without hesitation, she ran down the stairs as fast as her dress allowed and followed him into the hallway on the left. Knowing that Miss Granger would soon be investigating the library, she called out to Ashley and urged him to enter the room next door. He looked at her in confusion, but once they were both inside, she carefully shut the door. Scarlett took a deep calming breath and turned around to face her shining prince.

She had been waiting anxiously all day for this moment, but now that she was here, Scarlett almost couldn't find the words to express her deep love. Ashley, seeing her strange behavior, spoke first.

"Scarlett, what are you doing down here and why aren't you resting with the other girls?" She was nervous and fidgety and not at all like her normal self. She decided to just spit out what she needed to say, damn the consequences.

"Oh, Ashley, I love you. I love you, I do!"

Ashley, she noticed, didn't seem to be all that excited about her declaration. "Scarlett, isn't it enough that you have all the men here seeking your heart. I will be marrying Melanie. We are to announce it at the ball tonight."

Scarlett, determined to make him see reason, decided she wasn't going to take this dismissal lying down. "You can't marry Melanie because I know you care for me. You don't need her, she's so quiet and serious. No, you need me and I love you, my darling. Please say you'll marry me." She waited eagerly for Ashley to reply - her hope swelling.

"No, Scarlett," Ashley stated firmly, "we are far too different and we would never get along. Melanie and I are more suited for one another and will be married soon. You'll find your perfect match one day, you'll see, and you will thank me for telling you this."

Scarlett couldn't believe what Ashley was saying. Wasn't he the one that always came around to visit her? Didn't he always go out of his way to make sure she had a good time at all the parties? Dance with her at all the balls? Complement her on all her pretty dresses? How could he be so cruel?

"Just say it, you coward! Secretly, you'd rather marry me, but you'll only do what's expected. Instead of me, you'll have a silly meek fool who will be the perfect, doting and obedient little wife. I'd do anything for you and you're just throwing it away!"

Ashley shook his head, denying everything. "I admire your passion for life, your fire, but as far as marriage goes, Melanie and I understand each other. We have known we would marry for years, so no my dear, I will not marry you."

"How can you say that?" Scarlett asked fiercely, "You led me on! You made me believe you wanted to marry me!" She knew he wanted her - he just couldn't admit it.

"Please don't make me say things that will crush you. You will hate me for saying them."

"Why can't you say what you mean? I know you want me, but you can't admit it, you coward! Why can't you just tell the truth!"

At that point, Scarlett was so incensed, she drew back her hand and slapped Ashley harshly across the face. He stood there for a moment, shocked and speechless, before he drew himself up and calmly walked out the door. It shut behind him with a quiet click.

Left alone and feeling abandoned, Scarlett cried. Her valiant knight, her Ashley, was gone and all her future dreams were crumbling to dust. How could he marry someone else when they were meant to be? Pa hadn't thought so, but she had wholeheartedly.

What was she going to do now – now that there was nothing?

And why did she suddenly have the image of Mr. Harry Potter in her mind?

The war room concluded with the retelling of recent events at Fort Sumter so now both Harry and Ron were up to date. Because of Hermione's research, Harry knew that war would soon break out and despite knowing they'd arrive at the brink of it, they had still hoped for more time. Without a buffer, they really needed to decide quickly what to do next.

"Well, gentlemen," Harry said calmly, "you've given us much to think over. I can certainly understand your dilemma. You wish for the right to govern yourselves, but the rest of the country doesn't agree. Apparently, there is no compromise. I do have a question?" He had the feeling that this wasn't going to go over well, but he needed to sound like he was ignorant of the facts.

"Go ahead, Mr. Potter, we're all friends here!" Gerald answered jovially.

"I was wondering, is there any truth to what Mr. Butler, I believe it was, said?" Harry wanted to cringe at the shouting now going on around the room, but stayed stoic. He could tell even Ron was surprised at his nerve, but if he could take down Voldemort, he could certainly deal with this crowd.

It was Ashley Wilkes, just re-entering the dining room, who answered his question. "Well, Mr. Potter, it's true that the north has focused more on industry, while we have kept to the production of cotton and sugar cane. It's very possible they will have all the means that Mr. Butler described. But we have the passion and will to fight for our rights, and so we shall if Lincoln keeps pushing us."

That answer seemed to rally the crowd and to keep the peace, Harry nodded.

"Thank you, Mr. Wilkes, for your candid answer. I believe we will have much to consider and thank you all, gentlemen, for the lively debate." Everyone looked satisfied now so Harry decided to end things on a positive note.

Suddenly, there was a shout from outside and all the men, besides Harry and Ron, quickly exited the room to see what who causing the ruckus. The two wizards calmly stepped out into the entry hall to find people running about and rushing out the front door.

"Lincoln's calling for troops! It's war! It's war!" Harry could hear the shouting being repeated from man to man, spreading like fire that war had finally come. He turned to Ron mournfully.

"Well, mate, are you ready to live through another war?"

Ron shook his head. "Not really, but what else can we do?" Harry sighed sadly.

"Yeah. Anyway, where's Hermione? We haven't seen her in a while." He tried to spot her black and white hat within the sea of scurrying masses, but she wasn't there. "Let's split up and try to find her quickly." Ron agreed and the two took off in different directions to locate their missing friend.

While crossing the entry hall, Harry had managed to successfully dodge a few men who were running towards the exit when he suddenly bumped into someone. He instinctively placed his hands on their shoulders to steady himself.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly and then looked up to see that it was Scarlett. He immediately noticed that she looked broken. Her eyes were red and he was sure she'd been crying.

"Are you alright? Do you need assistance?" Harry asked, concerned for his soulmate. Something serious must have happened and he was starting to suspect it had to do with a certain Mr. Wilkes.

"I..," Scarlett said just as they heard a familiar voice calling out for her.

"Miss O'Hara! Miss O'Hara!"

Both Harry and Scarlett turned to see Charles Hamilton pressing against the tide of people and looking around frantically. When his eyes finally caught the two of them together, Harry could tell he was very displeased. He strode directly up to Scarlett, forcing Harry to move out of the way and ignoring the wizard completely.

"Miss O'Hara, may I speak with you, alone?" Harry caught the tone of his voice and he didn't like it one bit. This bloke reminded him way too much of Malfoy at the moment and he was now itching to transfigure him into a bouncing ferret.

"Oh, well, Mr. Hamilton, I'm sorry, but I already promised Mr. Potter I'd show him around the grounds," Scarlett lied and Charles looked extremely put out at not getting his way. "Why don't you go find India? I'm sure she's looking all over for you." She flashed him a pretty smile and he frowned. He looked at Scarlett and then Harry. Giving up, he sighed and reluctantly turned away, most likely to find the girl in question.

"Nice save," Harry stated and she looked at him sharply.

"What ever could you mean, Mr. Potter?" Scarlett was obviously trying to use her southern belle charm on him as she would any other man.

"You know, you don't have to pretend with me. I'd rather get to know the real you," Harry said plainly and she frowned.

"What do you mean?"

He smiled at her confusion, "Well, I'd like to know who the real Scarlett O'Hara is. What does she like? What does she hate? What are her dreams?"

"I, uh," Scarlett said, unsure of herself. "No one's ever asked me that before." Harry thought she looked rather shocked, as if the idea of someone caring enough to ask was inconceivable.

"Well, I just did. So?" Harry asked, trying to prompt a response from his soulmate.

"So? So what?"

"So, what do you think?" She eyed him as if he were some alien creature and she didn't know what to do with him.

"What do I think about what?" she answered, starting to become frustrated. Harry laughed.

"Me getting to know the real you, of course," he replied cheekily. She smiled.

"I guess you'll just have to find out. Now, I think we should go find Pa to see what's happening. I doubt there will be a ball anymore and I was so looking forward to dancing!" Scarlett sighed wistfully and Harry cringed, remembering the horrible experience he had at the Yule Ball fourth year.

"Um, dancing?" Harry asked and Scarlett looked at him oddly.

"You don't dance?" she asked astonishedly. He shook his head.

"I never really learned properly and I think I have two left feet. You are welcome to try and remedy that if you think you'd be up for it." The southern belle took one serious look at Harry and replied, "I'll have you dancing circles around any of the other men by the next ball, I guarantee it."

Harry was glad to see some fire in her eyes now. The way she looked when he initially bumped into her almost broke his heart. He really did hope she could see her way past Ashley Wilkes and he'd do all he could to see it happen.

"Well, I suppose we should go look for Mr. O'Hara to see what he'd like to do next." She nodded in agreement and the two set off together to find the elusive Irishman.

Ron hadn't any idea where Hermione could be. If he only knew where he was going, he'd try to find the library, but with no knowledge of the layout of this mansion, he'd just have to keep looking. If only he had a Twelve Oaks Marauders Map...

"Mr. Weasley!" Ron, surprised at hearing a female voice calling out for him - other than Hermione's that was - turned around to see Suellen standing behind him. She looked lovely in her pink dress and he started to blush thinking that he would be speaking to her directly for the first time.

"Uh, hello, Miss O'Hara," he said nervously and she smiled. "How are you?" he blurted out suddenly and then felt like kicking himself for spitting out such a lame question.

Obviously nervous herself, she answered, "I'm alright, but I'm concerned about the war now that it's starting. So many people will be running off to enlist." She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Will you be enlisting or will you head back to England to avoid the war?" Ron thought this was a good question. What will they do?

"I don't rightly know. We just got here and we hadn't thought about any wars breaking out just as we arrived. I'd have to talk with the others to see what they want to do as I can't speak for them." He knew they would be staying, of course, but they needed to have a realistic plan.

"Miss Suellen!"

Ron saw the girl cringe at the voice calling out for her and she suddenly grabbed Ron's hand to drag him behind a pillar and away from the sight of Frank Kennedy. The wizard had seen Mr. Kennedy participating in the war talk today, but other than that, he seemed kind of quiet.

He whispered, "What's going on?" Suellen shushed him and quickly peeked around the pillar. Mr. Kennedy, not seeing her in the hall, turned around and went back outside. Once he was gone, she breathed out a sigh of relief.

"So what was that about?"

Suellen looked at Ron uncomfortably, as if she really didn't want to answer the question, but she finally relented.

"Well, Mr. Kennedy has been my only beau. I think he was looking for me before heading out to enlist. I didn't want to see him in case he proposed."

Ron frowned, "So, you're taken, then?" He didn't like the idea that his soulmate was already committed to someone else.

She hurriedly replied, "No! There was no arrangement or understanding and he's been sweet on me, but I think I found someone who would suit me better." Suellen immediately looked shocked, as if she couldn't believe what she'd just said.

Ron asked hopefully, "Who?"

Suellen took a deep breath and boldly replied, "You."

Ron grinned in relief at her answer and she smiled brightly at his positive response. Encouraged, she suggested, "Let's go find Pa to see what's going on now that the men are leaving." He agreed and followed after Suellen, completely forgetting about a missing Hermione.

Rhett Butler was speechless and damn it - he was never speechless! In less than a day, his whole world had shifted its axis as he not only learned he was a magically restricted wizard, but that he also had a soulmate. A very beautiful one to be sure and one who also proved to be from the future. He couldn't begin to imagine what life was like in 150 years, let alone how it would feel to travel that far in the past, but he was now determined to find out.

Rhett watched the door close behind the beautiful Miss Granger and then realized he was still holding the newspaper she gave him. He examined the front page closely, just to be sure he wasn't losing his mind, and sure enough, it appeared the same as before. The Daily Prophet, it was called, and dated incredibly on July 5, 2009. The glaring headline read: "The Brightest Witch in 1000 Years!" and beneath it there was a photo of the same girl he just met in what appeared to be some kind of robes. She had posed with the two men here today, Harry and Ron, and they were all smiling. He couldn't help but smile, too, as she looked happy.

It was incredible to think that Miss Granger would make such a leap just for him. He was a man everyone would rather ignore because of a few lousy mistakes in his youth. A man who then decided that society could go to hell and he'd strive to profit from it. Peoples' memories were just too long and their forgiveness too hard to win. Rhett thought he could live forever without a good reputation, and he would have merrily continued to carry on that way, at least until a certain witch waltzed into his life. Now, he hoped Miss Granger would never be dragged down into the mud with him.

He had never cared before, but now, he wasn't so sure.

Rhett sighed, realizing that he should soon leave if he wanted to make today's train back to Atlanta. He looked at Miss Granger's picture wistfully one last time before folding the paper and tucking it into his inside jacket pocket. He'd read it later when he was alone and would hide it afterward.

Even he realized that no one could ever know.

The future blockade runner, a decision he now knew was the right one, opened the library door and exited the quiet room into chaos. As he looked down the hallway, he saw men and women running everywhere and he found Mr. Kennedy frantically searching about.

"Mr. Kennedy, I was in the library and obviously missed something big. What's going on?" Rhett asked and the awkward gentleman hurriedly replied, "Oh, Mr. Butler, it's war. Lincoln's calling for volunteers and all the men are heading off to enlist. I will be too, but I first need to get you back to Jonesboro. The barbeque is over so we can leave when you're ready. I was just looking for Miss Suellen and can't seem to find her anywhere." He kept looking around and it was obvious the girl must have ditched him. For Mr. Weasley, perhaps?

"Well, I'm at your disposal so as soon as your business here is done, I'll be ready to go," Rhett replied, hoping to catch one last glimpse of his angel in black and white before he departed.

"Oh, thank you, Mr. Butler, thank you!"

Mr. Kennedy then took off leaving him standing in the hallway. He shook his head knowing that the poor man's heart was going to get a licking. Whether it be before the war, or if he survives - after, he's still in for a rough road.

At least Rhett didn't have these issues.

While waiting for Mr. Kennedy to return from his futile search, he decided that a brandy and cigar would hit the spot. He moved across the emptying hall and returned to the place he had dramatically left earlier in the day. Rhett immediately approached the sideboard holding the liquor and poured himself a healthy measure. He took out one of his cubans from the gold case he carried and lit it with a match he found nearby. With a drink and tobacco in hand, he sat down at the elegant plantation table and leaned back, enjoying the solitude.

Rhett didn't mind, really, spending time alone. He'd been alone for so much of his adult life that it had become second nature. He would take part in social activities when necessary and, of course, he would visit Belle's for poker and entertainment, but for the most part, he remained by himself. The entrance of Miss Granger into his life was an unexpected delight, but it also brought complications.

He hadn't figured into his life that he'd find someone that could complement him so well. He was even considering marriage! Marriage, an institution that was in these times - for most - a miserable experience and entered into mainly for the sake of acceptable procreation. Women didn't feel like women unless they married and when men did, they carried on outside the marriage as if it didn't matter. As long as the wives were preoccupied with the children, they felt entitled to play.

His partner Belle had made them each a lot of money by catering to that crowd.

Now, Rhett thought, things were different. How could he still visit all the women he entertained in every port if he had someone like Miss Hermione Granger waiting for him? Even the idea of touching another woman now left him cold. How was he going to handle being separated from her for so long? He'd just met her and he already regretted the fact he had to leave. She didn't seem too torn up about it, and she was being rather pragmatic, but there was definitely a connection. One for which the idea of spoiling it with loose women made him feel ill.

Rhett sighed, thinking he'd have to take matters into his own hands from now on. He then took a large sip from his drink and began to reflect on how this day started.

The morning dawned brightly as Rhett awoke exhausted. He had stayed up way too late playing cards with the men loitering about the Jonesboro Hotel. He had easily cleaned out their pockets and figured he'd won enough to cover this trip twice over. He reached across the bed for his pocketwatch sitting on the nightstand to find that it was only 7am. Rhett realized he still had an hour to go before he had to meet up with Mr. Frank Kennedy for business dealings over breakfast.

Mr. Kennedy. What a character he was! A nervous nelly with some decent business sense which was what brought him to Clayton County in the first place. The man may have issues, Rhett thought, but what he also had was cotton, and lot's of it. He intended to buy as much as he could afford and ship it out from Charleston. The cargo would go into storage in Nassau until the demand for it escalated, thus driving prices up. He'd then be sitting on a pretty penny as long as he was willing to wait it out, which in his estimation wouldn't be too long now.

From what he knew, Mr. Kennedy was a fair man so the transaction shouldn't be too complicated. Rhett figured it would be an easy deal and then he could be on the train later today back to Atlanta. He'd wait for the cargo to be transferred onto a train to Charleston before he'd be on his way, too. Rhett would personally oversee it's loading onto his new ship which would then sail off to the Bahamas. He would be on board, of course, to ensure it was stored properly. Once the war started, he would gather up all the things Southern folks would be craving and unable to get for themselves due to Yankee blockades. After the harbors were cut off, it would take men like himself to risk life and limb to save the day.

Well, that and make a hefty profit doing it.

Now that Rhett was awake, he got up and began dressing for the day. Since he was conducting business, he felt he should wear his nicest day suit as it left the best impression. He donned his gray trousers, a white shirt, a silver waistcoat, his black and white checkered cravat, and his black suit coat. Rhett had always thought he cut a striking image by wearing this suit and for some reason he felt like he needed that today. He decided not to question it.

Once he was ready, Rhett made his way downstairs to find Mr. Kennedy already waiting for him. After a brief salutation, they both moved to the dining room where they were quickly seated. Once their orders were placed, they began their discussion.

"So, uh, Mr. Butler," Mr. Kennedy stammered, "you're looking for cotton. I've got quite a bit stored up and ready to move for the right price." Rhett held back a smirk as he could easily tell this man was a negotiating novice. He decided he'd go easy on him - for now.

"Yes, Mr. Kennedy, I'm in need of a large quantity and heard from one of my business acquaintances that you were the man to see when it came to cotton." Flattery always helped so Rhett threw in a bit to grease the wheels.

"Oh, um, I don't know about that as there are quite a few of us here with quality cotton stored up, why the Wilkes' alone are rolling in it!" Rhett almost cringed at the awkwardness of his dining companion, but since he needed to get this deal sealed, he ignored it.

"Really? I knew Clayton County was famous for its cotton, but I was given your name as the best contact in the area." More flattery and from the look on Mr. Kennedy's face, it was working quite well.

"Well, thank you. I have 200 bushels available and I suppose I could let it all go for fifteen cents per pound." He seemed happy with that amount and Rhett had to counter. The price was good, but he was hoping for a bit better.

"The amount is about right, but I was thinking more of twelve cents per pound." Mr. Kennedy's eyes bugged out at the new price, which was probably more than he was really expecting. Rhett thought he should invite him to play poker sometime as all his moves were clearly written across his face. He watched as Mr. Kennedy tried to refocus on negotiating.

"Hmm, twelve isn't bad, but I'd be willing to drop down to thirteen cents and not a penny less." Perfect! He was going to get this load for a steal and as he suspected that cotton was going to go for well over a dollar per pound in a few years, he'd make a small fortune. He had the money so all he needed now was delivery.

"Well, Mr. Kennedy, you drive a hard bargain, but I can live with thirteen cents per pound. I have the cash on me so all we need to discuss now is delivery. I must head back to Atlanta on the afternoon train and would like to have everything arranged before I leave." Rhett smiled outwardly, but on the inside he was laughing hysterically. Mr. Kennedy looked ecstatic and before he could answer, their breakfast was served.

The two men enjoyed a leisurely meal and decided on a time when the cotton would be shipped to Atlanta where Rhett would personally take delivery. As he was feeling generous and knew that Mr. Kennedy was as honest as the day was long, he decided to pay him all up front as a show of goodwill. Rhett hoped that this connection with Mr. Kennedy would keep him in cotton for a while and if it couldn't, perhaps the simple man would point him towards his next mark. He was thrilled at the possibilities for expanding his fortune and the upcoming war would be his meal-ticket to real riches.

Rhett was a self made man and he hoped his father would choke on his success.

With business now concluded, Mr. Kennedy asked, "Uh, Mr. Butler, if you don't have plans while waiting for the train, would you like to come with me to a barbeque at Twelve Oaks Plantation? It's owned by Mr. Wilkes who is the one I said had a lot of cotton. The events at Twelve Oaks are always the highlight of the season and you would have the chance to meet all the other planters in the county."

Hmm, Rhett thought, having barbeque would beat sitting around the hotel all day. He still had hours to wait so he figured why not. If nothing else, he could have a fine meal and explore one of the many plantations in the area.

Who knows, he may just have some fun, too.

"Well, Mr. Kennedy, a barbeque sounds delightful. When are you expected to arrive?"

He replied, "Well, I wanted to get there around 9:30 so I could catch Miss Suellen early when she arrives." Rhett stared at the man, hoping for a bit more of an explanation.

"Oh, Miss Suellen is my sweetheart. I plan to marry her when she's a bit older and with the talk of war, I want to spend as much time as I can with her before I'd have to enlist."

Ah, Mr. Kennedy has an object of affection. How sweet. Rhett could care less, but, he forced himself to be congenial.

"Congratulations, then, Mr. Kennedy on your future nuptials. She must be quite the girl to catch your eye." He knew he was laying it on thick, but Kennedy didn't seem to notice.

"Oh, thank you! Miss Suellen O'Hara is the sweetest girl in the county. She has an older sister, Scarlett, who's quite the belle herself, but my heart is with my Suellen." Rhett forced out a smile.

"If you wish to be there at 9:30, what time would we need to leave. The clock on the wall is reading almost nine." Mr. Kennedy gasped.

"If you're ready to go now Mr. Butler, we should start making our way there. Believe it or not, folks start arriving early at Twelve Oaks when there's a barbeque as they're not something to be missed."

Rhett nodded and then took care of the check. Mr. Kennedy was very grateful and it was the least the future blockader could do for pulling the cotton over the poor man's eyes on this deal. Plus he took it out of his substantial poker winnings from the night before. So far this trip had been very lucrative and now he'd get to have barbeque at the largest plantation in Clayton County. Not too bad for a quick trip to the country.

They made their way to Mr. Kennedy's carriage and were soon on the road to Twelve Oaks.

The ride was awkward as Mr. Kennedy kept trying to sing the virtues of his Miss Suellen while Rhett just wanted to enjoy the day. This countryside was quite beautiful in spring, but nothing compared to his Charleston. He'd be back there soon and even though he was still cast out of the family, he always tried to catch a glimpse of his mother and sister while in town. Rhett really hoped that he'd get the chance this time before sailing off to Nassau with his newly acquired cargo.

At around 9:20, Mr. Kennedy's carriage turned into a long drive towards a magnificent Greek Revival framed by lofty oak trees. It was quite the setting and he understood now why people would flock here for parties. The display of wealth was impressive so he knew Kennedy wasn't kidding about the Wilkes' rolling in cotton. Any transaction he'd try with the owner of this plantation would never go as smoothly as the one he just brokered. Someone this rich knew exactly how to manage their money.

And could spot a shady deal a mile away.

Soon, they pulled up in front of the estate's expansive portico where guests were already entering the large home. The two men exited the carriage and Mr. Kennedy immediately greeted the owner, Mr. John Wilkes and his daughter who was standing next to him. He then proceeded to introduce Rhett.

"Mr. Wilkes, I'd like you to meet a business acquaintance of mine, Mr. Rhett Butler. Mr. Butler, this is Mr. John Wilkes, owner of Twelve Oaks, and his daughter India." Rhett could already tell that the wheels were turning in John Wilkes' mind and when the connection was made, he saw the shift in his demeanor.

"Well, Mr. Butler, what brings you to Clayton County?" Ah, he wanted to know what he was up to, Rhett thought, as us shady types need to be watched.

"I've just concluded a business transaction with Mr. Kennedy and he kindly invited me along for the barbeque. I won't be able to stay as I'm leaving for Atlanta later this afternoon." He made sure that it was clear he wouldn't be lingering in the area.

"Very well, Mr. Butler, enjoy the barbeque." Rhett knew then that he was dismissed. He supposed that this was a bridge he'd never get to cross anyway. Oh, well, at least he could enjoy another good meal before catching his train.

Rhett stepped into the house and he instantly knew these Wilkes' were over the top. The entry hall alone with it's sweeping staircases screamed of opulence and it felt like someone had been trying to overcompensate for something. He almost snorted at that thought, but luckily, he kept his poker face intact.

Walking around, Rhett observed the many men and women who had already flocked here for today's events. There was much chatting and mingling going on and he had no desire to take part in such niceties. He would try to keep to himself and see if he couldn't pick up on any interesting gossip. One never knew when a piece of information spoken carelessly could be turned into future profit. He did notice, however, that his traveling companion was skulking about the front door obviously waiting for his true love. Rhett wondered what type of girl found the odd Mr. Kennedy appealing.

He supposed he'd find out soon enough.

After about fifteen minutes of scanning the hall, seeing nothing of particular interest, he caught two gentlemen enter through the front door followed by a vision. As the men stepped to the side and out of the way, he was able to get a clear view of the goddess behind them.

She was an angel in white - yet edged in greek keyed black. Her face was delicate and her hair was set in chestnut ringlets, but her eyes were piercing - as if she could see right through to your soul. The beauty carried herself like a warrior, as did her companions, and he was instantly enthralled. Rhett knew then that he needed to meet this woman before she returned to Olympus - never to be seen again by a mortal such as him.

He watched the trio of newcomers converse and he suddenly had a twinge of jealousy. He realized he felt envious that they already knew her and he did not. He was never jealous! She seemed very comfortable with the two men, one dark haired and the other red, and he wondered what their story was. Rhett decided he would watch them all day, very studiously, to see if he could learn it for himself.

As he was staring in her direction, she suddenly stopped speaking and looked up to catch his gaze. When his eyes met hers for the first time, it was if a fundamental shift happened within him. Rhett felt strange, as if something important had just occurred, but he had no idea what it was. Unexpectedly, she smirked at him, which caught him so off guard he started to laugh. The woman then began speaking to her cohorts again while he heard a female voice call out -

"Ashley!"

Rhett turned his attention towards the voice and saw another beautiful girl dressed in green and white. It was quite a scandalous gown to be wearing at this time of day, but she obviously didn't care. He went back to looking at the trio and saw the dark one's eyes intently track the girl up the stairs where she eagerly spoke to a blond haired gentleman. The woman in white watched her friend stare at the girl and started to speak to him regarding her, he guessed. Rhett could tell the overly flirtatious one in green was trouble and if he hadn't seen his goddess first, he'd probably try to chase her just for fun. Even though he wasn't interested in her now, he did think watching her antics today could be quite amusing.

He was definitely glad he came now.

Rhett continued to watch as the blond escorted the flirt towards a second woman who was dressed very conservatively in comparison. It appeared to him that the man and the modest mouse were an item as the blond lovingly wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. As the three were talking, this act of intimacy bothered the flirt quite a bit, but she tried to wave it off. The bold girl in green then quickly parted from the couple and proceeded to flirt her way up the stairs, even with Mr. Kennedy to Rhett's surprise. It dawned on him then that this must be the famous Miss Suellen's sister, Scarlett. She then paired up with another girl to apparently gossip their way to the second floor.

Rhett shook his head, thinking about the trouble that girl will be to the man who ultimately snares her. He then suddenly realized that he probably dodged a very large bullet by seeing the beautiful angel in white first. Reminded of the dark haired gentleman who had been staring at the flirt earlier, he looked back over at the enigmatic trio to see the red head practically drooling over a girl in pink. Rhett grinned to himself because he now knew the guardians were already enamored by other women, which meant his goddess had to be unattached.

It also meant that Rhett still had a chance.

The woman said something to the two men before walking away as they were waving her off. Now that she was without her bodyguards, he figured he could find some way to approach her without their interference. Just as he was stepping towards his angel, the girl in pink got to her first.

Damn it!

Rhett, uncharacteristically frustrated at his missed opportunity, turned to see a house slave pass by with a tray of juleps. Impulsively, he grabbed a glass hoping that the drink would cool him down a bit. While tracking the girls' progress up the stairs, he decided to move forward to get a closer look. Rhett made his way over to the staircase and realized that the railing made an excellent spot to lean on and still have an excellent view.

As he watched, his angel turned to look down at him and he almost felt his heart stop. Rhett had never felt this way before and it made him both excited and petrified at the same time. He gave her his charming smile and she looked like she had seen a ghost. After a moment, she recovered, and continued speaking with the girl in pink until they were out of his sight.

Curious about the other two strangers, he turned to where they had been standing to see a boisterous Irishman call out to them.

"Mr. Potter! Mr. Weasley! There you are! How about I show you around and introduce you to all the young bucks of the county? There's no need for you both to just stand around here all day when there are plenty of folks for you to meet!" Rhett saw the newcomer slap the dark haired one on the back causing the man wince a bit. He replied, "Thank you Mr. O'Hara. Mr. Weasley and I would be delighted. Please lead the way." The red head chimed in agreeably "That would be wonderful. Thank you, sir." Mr. O'Hara then guided the two men over to the blond from earlier and struck up a conversation.

So Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley were English. That meant that his lovely angel was also an English rose. That bit of knowledge made her even more intriguing and Rhett couldn't wait to make her acquaintance. Maybe he could even catch her at the barbeque?

He could hardly believe that this was turning out to be a fantastic day!

With the barbeque finally ready, all the guests were ushered to the back yard where a veritable feast awaited them. Mr. Kennedy was right - Rhett could definitely see why no one would want to miss one. He scanned the area for his English rose, but she was nowhere to be seen, although he did find Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley entering the buffet behind Mr. O'Hara. Rhett strode to the end of the growing line and waited his turn to select a portion of each offered dish. Once he was satisfied with his plate, he noticed that the two Englishmen were now sitting at a table set for four, so he chose a nearby table to keep an eye on them.

Shortly, to his satisfaction, the two missing ladies exited the mansion and proceeded to enter the line themselves. After making their way through, they turned to see the two vacancies. They both approached the table where the two gentlemen stood, waiting to assist them into their chairs. Once seated, they all began to eat the wonderful food prepared to perfection.

While he was enjoying his meal, Rhett began to watch everyone else and he immediately noticed the flirt surrounded by suitors. She didn't even sit at a table so they could all congregate around her as if she were a queen holding court. He watched her flirtations with each oblivious man while she kept a careful watch on the blond man in which she was clearly smitten. The man, however, was completely fixated on the modest mouse, much to the flirt's dismay. Rhett could see the dejection on her face and he almost felt bad for her.

He then looked over at his rose and she raised her head just in time to catch him staring. To his astonishment, all she did was raise a questioning eyebrow and he couldn't help but smirk back. This was his kind of woman as she had plenty of fire, but still kept it under refinement. In return, she gave him the most brilliant smile he'd ever had directed his way. It was so genuine that it warmed him and melted a bit of his iced over heart. He knew then that before he left, he had to introduce himself.

Rhett couldn't let this one get away.

Following dessert, the time of the day he'd been dreading had finally arrived. The ladies were dismissed to take their naps while the gentlemen took to brandy, cigars, and talk of war. Even though he was a southerner born and bred, he had no desire to fight in any war. His time at West Point was enough to cure him of that. He would have never gone in the first place if it hadn't been for the pressure of his father. After he was expelled for too many demerits, which he had accumulated for enjoying the libations of Benny Havens and taking a hazing prank too far - his father was furious. The nail in the coffin came when he was twenty and he foolishly took a buggy ride with that idiot girl. The carriage had an accident and he gets her home intact only to hear that he either has to marry her or lose his place in the Butler family. He declined, of course, and when the girl's brother called him out, he used his West Point training and took him down. Once the brother died, so did his standing in Charleston. Rhett was then kicked out with only the clothes on his back so he did what he had to do for survival. Now here he was here all these years later and he was still considered a pariah.

He truly hoped his rose would understand.

The men filed into the dining room where everyone was offered a drink and, if desired, a cigar. Rhett stepped to the back of the room and took out one of his own cubans. While a heated discussion evolved, as he predicted it would, he stood out of the way simply enjoying his cigar and, with cynical amusement, listening to what the county folk had to say.

The bragging and boasting wore on and Rhett, of course, had heard all this dialogue before in other places. Southerners can beat the Yankees because we're gentlemen, Yankees don't know how to fight, and the most unrealistic statement to date – the war will be over in a month. Mr. Ashley Wilkes, the famous blond gentleman, was the only one of the group that seemed to have any sense, but when Mr. O'Hara ultimately brought Rhett into the debate - he decided to be blunt. They all needed to hear the truth - even if they chose to live within their dreams of a victorious south.

"Well, gentlemen, I think it takes more than rhetoric to win a war."

"What do you mean, sir?" Charles Hamilton questioned indignantly.

Rhett replied plainly, "What I mean, Mr. Hamilton, is that the north is well equipped for war. They have industry – factories, shipyards, coal mines, foundries, and a fleet that could bottle up any southern harbor. They'd do their level best to starve us to death and all we have is cotton, slaves, and arrogance."

"I won't listen to your traitorous, renegade talk!" Rhett watched this little upstart try and intimidate him and he found it comical, but he managed to keep a straight face.

"I'm very sorry that the truth offends you."

"Apologies aren't enough, sir!" The pup even had the gall to stare him in the eye. "I've heard, Mr. Butler, that you were not only turned out of West Point, but that you are no longer received in Charleston, not even with your own family."

Ah, the low blow. Too bad it wasn't low enough. He could easily squash this insignificant bug for the insult, but he still needed to get to Atlanta tonight. Rhett smiled.

"I do apologize for all my obvious shortcomings." He then turned to the host of the party. "I hope you don't mind, Mr. Wilkes, if I walk about and take a look at your place. I seem to be ruining everyone's brandy, cigars, and dreams of victory."

Rhett gave the silent crowd a shallow, mocking bow and then left them to it. He had heard enough about Lincoln to know he would go to significant lengths to preserve the Union and deal with the slavery issue. These men just didn't have the foresight to understand that this way of life was about to become extinct. He just hoped that his rose's two cohorts weren't sucked into their illusion.

Since he now had some time, Rhett thought he'd borrow a page out of the ladies' book today and take a nap himself. He had been operating off only a few hours sleep plus he still had a bit of a train ride later. A short rest was just what he needed now that the was again persona non grata.

Rhett stepped quickly across the entry and strode down the hallway opposite of the dining room. To his left he found a set of double doors and felt that this room may have potential. He opened one and peeked in to see a well equipped library. If he wasn't so tired, he may have perused the shelves, but once he spotted a couch facing the fireplace, he knew he had found a nice spot to rest. He closed the door and proceeded to claim the fairly comfortable sofa. Rhett stretched out with a cushioned pillow under his head and he breathed a sigh of relief. As he closed his eyes, he envisioned his rose as he saw her at the barbeque – smiling brightly just for him. He smiled also remembering all the other times she'd already surprised him today.

Rhett hoped he would dream of her.

Just as he was settled in, he heard the door open and after some rustling of what he thought were skirts, he heard the door close. What came next really confused him, though.

"Colloportus, silencio, repello muggletum."

He knew enough latin to understand the they were words meant to lock the door, have silence, and repeal...muggles? What on earth was a muggle and why did he suddenly feel a strange shift in the air?

Rhett stayed still while he heard a woman gasp and squeal in excitement. He sat up quietly where he could see his rose with a book in one hand and was apparently struggling to reach another one.

"I feel like I'm at a bloody costume party! I can't believe I'm stuck wearing this bleeding death trap and my hair makes me look like a poodle!"

If he wasn't trying to stay inconspicuous, he would have been laughing hysterically at her outrage. The sound of her voice confirmed his belief that she truly was an English rose.

"Calm down, Hermione. You're here, this is your life now. Think of Harry and Ron."

Hermione? He wondered if her name was inspired by Shakespeare. Harry and Ron? She must be referring to Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley. What did she mean by her life now? Rhett was becoming more and more intrigued with her by the minute. Unable to hold back any longer, he rose from the couch and approached her silently from behind. He needed to introduce himself and now that he had her alone, he wouldn't waste this opportunity. Rhett placed his hand on her shoulder gently to get her attention, but what happened next was a great surprise.

Whipping around quickly, Hermione had a stick jabbed into his throat. The fierce look in her eyes confirmed his original assessment that she was a warrior. To help deflate the situation, he stepped back with his hands up in surrender. Rhett then figured some humor was in order.

"Has the war started?" He threw her one of his classic smirks. "Or are they just giving out sticks to pretty ladies?"

Obviously, that was the wrong thing to say as she determinedly pointed the stick at him and shouted, "Silencio! Petrificus totalis!" He tried to open his mouth to say something else, but found no words would come out. He then felt his body snap and fall to the ground helplessly. With only a few words, this woman had him completely disarmed. Rhett looked at her with some degree of fear while she just found a seat in a nearby chair. She looked at him in resignation.

"Hello, Mr. Butler. I'm sure you have a million questions, but I don't have time to answer them all right now. I didn't anticipate this particular scenario, but you've forced my hand a bit. What I'm about to tell you will be quite shocking, but I assure you I speak the truth. I'm a witch and you, sir, are a wizard. If you can be calm, I will release you, otherwise you can listen just as well where you are. Blink one for yes, two for no."

What was this woman going on about? Magic? It didn't exist, did it? If it didn't how could she have single-handedly taken him down with only a stick and a few words? He blinked once, deciding he needed to learn more about what what happening here.

"Finite incantatum," she said and suddenly he was able to move. Rhett stood up quickly and stared at her in shock.

"So you're a witch and you claim I'm a wizard. I can't do what you just did. Are you sure you have the right man?" He was confused on how she thought he could do magic. He was certain he'd never made anything happen before just by using a few words.

"Yes, I'm absolutely sure. Oh, and by the way, my name is Hermione Granger and I'm from the future."

The future? How could anyone travel through time - the idea was insane? He started laughing and then noticed she was completely serious.

Rhett scoffed, "The future? Why would anyone come here from the future if that was even possible? That's ridiculous."

Hermione smirked at him this time and then opened up the little beaded bag she had with her. She rifled through it for a few moments before extending her arm past the elbow. Her arm kept reaching into the bag, which should be impossible. Rhett felt like he was losing his hold on reality and finally Hermione pulled out what she had been looking for. She handed something to him and he took hold of it cautiously, not knowing what would happen next. He looked at the item which turned out to only be a newspaper. He scanned the front page and the first thing he noticed was that the pictures moved. Rhett watched in awe as the scene within the frame kept repeating.

"If you haven't noticed," Hermione stated, "take a look at the date. That was yesterday's paper, from my perspective, and I had just graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Because my test scores were so high, I was recently dubbed the 'Brightest Witch in 1000 Years."

Hogwarts? Rhett thought back and suddenly recalled where he had seen that name before. He felt the blood drain from his face.

"Hogwarts? I've heard that word before. I barely remember, but my father had a letter written from someone that went there. I saw it in his study before he chased me out. That is a school?" he asked searching her eyes for the truth. She nodded.

"Best school of magic in the UK. All witches and wizards born there are invited to attend starting at age eleven. Harry, Ron and I were all sorted into the same house and became the best of friends. There is more to our story, but we all came here together for a reason. Before I get into that, I can tell you that you are a wizard and that your father blocked your magic as a teenager. If you allow me, I can check to see if I can remove the block and allow you to access your magic. I could also teach you everything you need to catch up. You see, I'm the best candidate for the job due to being an insufferable know-it-all." Hermione then smirked at that last bit.

Rhett shook his head, still not believing all of this. "My father is a wizard and he blocked my magic. Why?" He looked at her as if she could fill him in on the truth.

Hermione replied, "I don't know, I just know that he did and that I can probably undo it. I also don't know anything about magical families in America, but I can tell you that he is a pureblood and that your mother is a muggle. You are a half-blood, like my friend Harry." Rhett had no idea what any of that meant, but he did wonder why they were here.

"Why are you here? What was so important that you three left your life in 2009 to come here, almost 150 years in the past?"

Hermione looked at him and must have decided she should share her secret.

"Well, in the library at Hogwarts, I found a book which contained a very specific ritual. We had just been through a war of our own and thankfully we won." She looked at him to gauge his reaction and he had to admit to himself he was too facinated not to hear the rest. Hermione continued, "I was curious to learn how love was so powerful a force that it helped bring down the darkest wizard we had ever known. In this old, dusty book, the ritual outlined how one could go about finding their soulmate and after discussing it with Harry and Ron, we all decided we needed peace so finding our soulmates became our priority. What the ritual detailed was that your soulmate could exist in the past and it just so happened all three of ours are here, today."

There it was. The reason why he felt so strange today and why he was so fixated on her when no woman had ever held his attention. He was unsure how he should process this new information.

"Well, the ritual has two parts. The first is to allow a person to see who you soulmate is and the second part connects you with them, which in our case involved time travel. We each performed the ritual and following our results, prepared for our journey, knowing that there was no way back. This was a one way trip for us and for good or ill, we are here to stay."

She can't go back? Rhett didn't know how to feel, but he knew she was telling the truth as he could see it in her eyes. He replied, "Well, I did recognize that there was something different about you. The moment I saw you in the doorway, I was intrigued. I watched you all day as I couldn't take my eyes off you. I can imagine you saw me in your ritual, is that right?" He smirked.

"You assume correctly," Hermione confirmed. "I saw you as an image in my cauldron and actually I saw you as I did today when walking up the stairs. You were at the bottom, leaning on the railing, and looking up at me with a drink in your hand. With a potion, I was able to get your name, the details about your wizarding status, and where and when you were, which was here today. Harry and Ron have soulmates who are sisters, one who seems very interested and the other who looks like trouble.

Ah, the flirt and the girl in pink. Things were making a bit more sense now.

"I should imagine that would be a Miss Scarlett O'Hara. Am I right?" he asked, already knowing the answer. She nodded and Rhett continued, "I hope your friend has a lot of patience as he's going to need it with her. I overheard a bit of gossip that she's quite smitten with Mr. Wilkes, but he's already set to marry a Miss Melanie Hamilton. I can't imagine that will go over well."

"She decided to sneak off to find Mr. Wilkes, most likely to confess her love, while the rest of the girls were napping. I chose to find the library as I can't understand the concept of ladies napping in the afternoon while the men are off discussing the real issues." Rhett could see her getting more agitated and she had his complete attention. "This society is so damn backwards it's going to drive me barmy!"

Rhett was shocked at her outburst, but he loved a woman who could speak her mind.

Wait, love? Why on earth was he thinking about love?

"I take it things are much different from where you're from?" he asked, truly wanting to know how everything was done in the future.

"Oh, yes. Much different, but I won't bore you with the details now when there are more important things to discuss and I have a feeling we won't have much time." Rhett wondered what was so pressing that she felt there wasn't enough time.

"I know how all this posturing will end and I can't change it. Beyond what we've already done to get here, Harry, Ron and I need to be very careful. I told you all of this since you are my soulmate and deserve the truth plus we need an ally. What you do with that, only you know. I won't hold you to anything you don't wish to have. Before today, you had your own life and ideas of how to live it and I won't be the one to push you. Now that we've met, the pull I had to come here is gone. There won't be another for me that will fit quite as well, but we have the free will to choose. Regardless, I'm stuck here for life so you can have as much time as you need to decide for yourself."

Rhett pondered over what she said and then looked into her eyes to see the fear of rejection. He didn't like the sight of it at all because he instinctively knew she was a brave, strong, and incredibly intelligent woman. How could he show anything but respect for her now that he had heard her story?

"You are a great lady, Hermione Granger from the future. I appreciate your words and will consider them seriously." Rhett almost laughed at what he was going to say next. "I've never thought myself to be a marrying man, but for you I may reconsider." He flashed her a bright smile and she laughed.

"Marriage! Who said anything about that? In the future people date to get to know each other and then they may form a committed relationship to see how well they get along long-term. Eventually, the man may propose marriage, but women have been know to do that too, and then they get married. Unfortunately, more than half of all marriages end in divorce so many people never even try and just live together. I'd settle for now on the just getting to know you stage."

What! What kind of world did she come from? Rhett was brought out of his shock by Hermione's giggles.

"I take it that this idea appeals to you?" she asked with a hint of teasing in her voice. Oh, yes, he thought he'd like that concept.

"I think I'd like to see this future of yours if the social constraints aren't so rigid. It sounds like my kind of place," he answered rakishly. He couldn't help but grin at the idea of having so much freedom.

"Well, I could show you someday as I am a witch, you recall," Hermione stated as she stood from the chair. She continued, "Well, Captain Butler, I believe I will go find my friends as they must be wondering about me by now. We will be staying at Tara for the time being under the hospitality of Mr. O'Hara. I don't know what our long-term plans are yet, but I'm going to try and encourage the boys that we should move somewhere like Atlanta where we could purchase a house. I'd like to set down some kind of roots so I can unpack and get some research done."

"Captain Butler? Research?" How did she know about his plans and what kind of research did she want to do?

"Well, you are planning on being a blockade runner, aren't you? I was able to find some historical references to you and that is all I will say for now. In regards to research, I've got a project in mind that's quite personal, but perhaps I will share it with you once I have some answers."

Rhett watched Hermione turn and start canceling the spells she had cast about the room earlier. She then approached him and daringly gave him a small kiss on his cheek.

"Stay safe," she whispered and then suddenly, she was gone and he was left alone.

Rhett felt a sense of loss at her departure and his cheek still tingled from the presence of her lips on his skin. He decided right then that no matter what, he would find her again. He would get his operation up and running once war was declared and he'd make sure to return to Atlanta as often as possible. There was no way he was ever letting Hermione Granger escape now that he knew the truth about her and himself. Rhett had finally met his match and now he had to prove he deserved her.

Besides, she left him speechless and damn it, he was never speechless!

Rhett was brought out of his reminiscing by the presence of Frank Kennedy.

"Oh, I finally found you, Mr. Butler. Are you ready to go? I couldn't find Miss Suellen so she must have gone home." He saw that the man looked extremely put out over that fact, but Rhett decided he'd be sympathetic as he himself was now in a very good mood. He rose from the chair leaving his glass and extinguishing his cigar.

He replied, "I'm sorry to hear that Mr. Kennedy. I'm ready to head back to the hotel so I can check out and wait for the train. You are going off to enlist with others now, yes?"

They were now walking towards the front door where Rhett could see Mr. Kennedy's carriage parked and waiting.

"Yes. I've got a duty to serve for the cause and I'll be right there with the rest of them. Don't worry, I'll have your shipment on tomorrow morning's train to Atlanta as promised. I have to tie up some other ends before I can report for service and that will be my first priority." Rhett nodded.

"That sounds fine. I know you will take care of everything." Mr. Kennedy gave him a nervous smile and climbed up into the carriage followed by Rhett. Once seated, Mr. Kennedy asked, "So are you glad you came with me today?" Rhett grinned showing off his extremely white teeth.

"Oh yes, Mr. Kennedy. I think today has been one of the greatest days of my life."

Mr. Kennedy shook his head in confusion, but in the end, decided he didn't want to know. How the falling out with all the rest of the gentlemen today could make him happy, he couldn't ever imagine. Oh, well, Frank thought, at least I made $13,000 today and with the war starting, he could finally enlist. Today's earnings would make a nice nest egg for him and Miss Suellen after the war. Maybe he'd even start a store in Atlanta...

The carriage drove away with both men secretly daydreaming about their women. It was too bad that only one of them really had a chance at a happy ending.

A/N: Wow! That took me a while to get this one done. I really wanted to get through Rhett's POV before concluding the chapter. I'll be moving back over to Harry and the Tara group next time. I'm going to focus on my Hermione/Salazar story for a bit now, but I'll be back. Hope you enjoyed this installment as I loved writing Rhett's part!