Worth Loving

Chapter 7: Deal Stroked

"Fleur," Oliver called her, taking his horse by the reigns and approaching the lake. There were bubbles visible, implying that Hermione's sister was currently underwater. "Fleur!"

The blonde beauty emerged from the crystal pond, leaving Oliver completely breathless. She looked astounding wet.

"You called?" She smiled at him.

"Yes. We are to be leaving soon, so I suggest you get ready before it gets cold," he instructed her.

"Can you hand me that cloth?" Fleur pointed at a silk blanket placed upon a tree branch.

"Of course." Oliver took it, turning around to face her.

His jaw dropped as she stepped out of the lake, water dripping off her blue bathing dress.

"Oliver!"

"Uh?"

"Can you uh, hand me my cloth?"

"Oh, I'm sorry." He stretched out the cloth for her to take, but she took his arms instead, getting him closer to her so he would put the cloth on her instead of having to take it herself.

Much to her delight, she noticed that the prince of Ithaca had not taken his eyes off her.

"What? You like what you see?" Fleur whispered seductively.

"Uh?" He had been staring at her again. He hit himself mentally as he attempted to put some distance between him and Hermione's sister. Yes, Hermione's sister. That is all she would ever be.

At his puzzled response, Fleur smiled broadly.

"Let me ask you something Oliver, how long before you go back to Ithaca?"

****

"You knew Paris?" Hermione asked, absolutely dumbstruck. Why had she not thought of that? He was, after all, part of Paris's family, whether he chose to accept it or not. She could tell that talk of Paris made him uncomfortable. However, that was not her concern at the moment.

"I did. He did not quite fit in the palace; he did not like it. He always said that he could play the part of a shepherd far more efficiently than he could play the part of prince," Harry affirmed. "At least that is what he told your mother, or so he told my father," Harry shrugged. He figured Paris was quite the smooth talker. In his opinion, he would have done anything to get Helen in bed.

"Did he? And why did he not like royalty?" Hermione's eyes sparkled with interest.

"Guess it is the same reason I don't, the superficiality of it all. That is, if he was telling the truth. He was quite unpredictable. But I don't even know why I am telling you this. I' will leave you to your books."

"But-"

"Better leave princess, the sun is setting." Harry walked away, leaving Hermione to her thoughts.

She was determined to know more and she would make sure she had access to such information.

****

"Fleur! What on earth do you think you are doing?" Hermione screamed in

indignation while Harry did his best not to laugh. Fleur was very close to Oliver and she was passing a hand through his very tense chest.

"Hermione, nice to see you. Done with your little chat?" Fleur looked at her sister, before shifting her eyes to Harry. But Hermione was in no mood for her sister's wit.

"What is that supposed to mean? You know what- I don't even care. Get on your horse, young lady!"

"Young lady? Heavens Herm, I'm not a baby. But, as you wish. Oliver, if you please." Fleur looked at the prince of Ithaca as he lifted her into the saddle, swinging up behind her.

"What the..." Hermione could not believe her eyes. Rest assured that she had been way too busy arguing with Harry all the way to their current whereabouts as to worry about where her sister was riding. But she never imagined this. No, this was out of the question.

"Are you going to get in your mare or not?" Fleur raised an eyebrow.

"I was going to ask you the same question." Hermione crossed her arms.

"I am set." Fleur threw her one of her cocky smiles.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Didn't I tell you she would be riding with me? Sorry, I must have passed that detail up." Oliver shrugged, making Hermione's anger flare up even more.

"She is?" Hermione shouted the question, but Oliver remained his calm self.

"Yes, I am aware that she does not know how to ride very well and...well, she said she did not want to put too much weight on your horse. I don't mind, really I don't."

"She does not-I'm sorry, what did you say?" Hermione was again dumbstruck. What kind of game was her sister playing?

"That she cannot ride so-"

"Oh she can't? Since when?"

"Hermione, would you-" Fleur tried to interrupt.

"Shut up Fleur or you will be booking yourself an early trip home tonight!"

"She can ride?" Oliver was puzzled. She could or she could not ride?

"Of course-"

"Not." Before Hermione was able to finish, Harry put his hand over her mouth, leaning her backwards into his body. Hermione's embrace tensed up automatically, but Harry didn't notice it. Instead, he proceeded with his current plan.

" That is fine Oliver. She will ride with you. Take the lead, why don't you? We'll shortly follow." Harry smiled. His smile faded quicly as Hermione stomped his foot. "Ouch! Sweet mother of-"

"Herm, something bothering you?" Oliver asked with concern. Hermione's current face told him that she obviously was not in a good mood. But as she could not answer, Harry did it for her.

"Just the fact that her sister gets to ride accompanied and she doesn't," he sneered.

Hermione had had enough. She was about to rid herself of Harry's hands and give him a piece of her mind. She did not care if it was in front of her sister or the heir to the throne of Ithaca for that matter. But Harry pressed his arm tighter around her waist, leaning her body completely against his. As a result, Hermione became paralysed. She dared not move against such a compromising position.

"Ah, don't worry Herm. I'll take you riding one of these days." Oliver smiled at her.

Harry had to keep from laughing. Had Oliver actually brought that?

"Harry can do that," Fleur pointed out, making Hermione growl.

"You saying you would like that? Put it into consideration, I will," Harry whispered, acknowledging her angry growl before looking back at Oliver. "Go on, we will trail behind."

Oliver kicked his stallion as he marched into a hard trot; Fleur leaned against his chest as he gripped her firmly by her waist.

****

"You meddle into my matters once more and I will not only stomp your foot! Got that your highness? You don't know my sister, therefore you have no right-"

"You don't either. So she wants to ride with Oliver. She is right, Herms."

"Don't you call me that!

"She is no baby. So why don't you let somebody have fun for once and spare us of your little number? If you had told Oliver the truth, according to your point of view, we would still be debating over which steed your sister was to ride, as she probably would not want to ride yours."

"Look, Harry-"

"Princess, shut up. Look at the sky. We are way past curfew. So get on your horse and stop complaining."

Harry lifted Hermione into her saddle again, swinging on his own afterwards. He rode on her back as they made their way back to the palace, after an interesting day indeed.

****

Harry decided to skip dinner that night. After his argument with the infamous Spartan princess, he decided he was in no mood to take his aunt's temper tantrums or sarcastic remarks, not to mention Hermione's own mood swings. . He did what he would not do on a normal day. After his bath, he sat down on his writing table and picked a random book.

"What?" he complained when someone knocked his door, even though he was not focused on his reading. Oliver came in, bearing a food plate.

"You should eat something." He dumped a plate with meat and fruit next to the book.

"Thanks." Harry didn't even look at him.

" What are you reading?" Oliver asked curiously. Harry never read.

"I don't know," Harry shrugged, " Something about law."

"You are not the reading type Harry. Something wrong?"

"I'm bored," Harry replied.

"Thought so. How about a round of Quidditch Polo?" Oliver asked eagerly.

Harry sighed with annoyance. Oliver was never too tired to engage in his favourite sport. But he was.

"How about I just go to bed?" Harry proposed. Anything to get out of that game.

"Fair enough. Good night then."

"Mm-mm."

No sooner than Oliver left, another knock disturbed Harry's lack of reading.

"What now?"

The door opened cautiously, revealing a robe dressed Hermione. She had evidently taken her bath just now, for her hair was still damp.

"Can I?" She stood by the door.

"You are already here, are you not? What can I do for you?" He turned his chair to give her his individual attention.

"Tell me about Paris," she pleaded.

"Really? What exactly?"

"Everything. I want to know what it was that my mother loved about him."

"Well, I would not know about that. Are you sure? The story is everything but pretty," Harry admitted. He had figured that she would come up with a request like this, since he had blurted out that he knew him earlier in the afternoon. But he still thought it was not a good idea.

"Please. I will do something for you, anything. Well, except..." Hermione lowered her head.

Harry let out a low laugh.

"Don't worry, princess. I am not going to ask you to get in my bed. In fact, I don't want anything from you."

"But-"

"Hold your horses, I will grant your request."

"You will?"

"It is what you came to Troy for in the first place, is it not? Meet me tomorrow afternoon. It will have to be here because Alexandra gets upset whenever she hears about Paris."

"Why?"

"Tomorrow. Until then, princess."

"Thank you."

Harry simply nodded as Hermione got herself out.

He sighed as he slumped into bed. Why was he doing this? When she had arrived, he had wanted her to go back home as quickly as possible. Why had he not he stroked that bargain with her?

"I want to get it out of my system," he heard himself say.

But in the back of his head he knew it was not true, as his mind played images of the beautiful princess while he slept through the night, the book long forgotten.