It's Only Pretend

IT'S ONLY PRETEND

The Truth

Chapter 10

Cynthia sat on her bed and placed the box from the Parkers in the center as she opened the letter attached. Her eyes widened immediately as she began reading the note.

Dear Cynthia,

I realize this letter will seem as if I'm quite mad, but please believe me when I say I am not. Inside the package I have given you is a very strong Revealing Potion.

I have reason to believe that the contract Nathan will be signing at lunch is not exactly what it may seem to be on surface level. I have an idea that I believe will prove that my beliefs are right.

Take this potion and pour it into a normal drink. Approach your husband and the Sevilles with your drink and pretend you are only stopping by to say hello. Accidentally spill the drink on the contract, and you will see it for what it really is.

Please trust me, Cynthia. If I am wrong, then all you will have is one soggy contract. Nathan will forgive your clumsiness.

Julianna Parker

Nathan walked out of the bathroom and smiled. "What did she give you dear?" he asked, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"Oh..." she hesitated while she watched Nathan pull on his robes, "...a bottle of perfume." Her stomach felt queasy.

"That was very nice. I'm going down to meet the Sevilles for lunch. We're going to sign the contract, eat a little something and then I should be all yours for the rest of the day."

"Sounds wonderful, honey. I'll see you soon," she said as she watched him leave.

She glanced down and read the letter once more. She opened the package quickly, holding the bottle of Revealing potion. She wondered how in the world Julianna could know such things but decided it didn't matter. If Julianna was right, then she definitely had to disrupt the signing of the contract before it was too late.

She grabbed her robes, slipped the bottle inside and left the room, heading straight for the bar on her way to her husband's lunch meeting.

* * * *

Hermione and Harry Flooed into her living room. She sighed as she stepped into the familiar surroundings.

"Well, we're home," she said.

Harry walked her suitcase into her bedroom and emerged smiling. "I had a great trip, Hermione. I think I'm going to go home and unpack my things. I'll Floo over later and maybe...maybe we can talk about things," he said, reaching out his hand and touching her arm.

She looked up at him and wished her stomach didn't feel so tight and uncomfortable. "Sure. That sounds fine."

He could see the concern in her eyes, but he needed to get back to his own flat and think about everything before he would be able to talk about their situation clearly.

She watched him Floo out of her flat, and when she was alone, she sat down on her couch and leaned her head back.

"Oh, I hope Cynthia goes through with it," she said aloud, "and I hope Harry comes back." She closed her eyes and tried to relax. She knew she should head up to work and began typing out her findings, but first, she needed a few moments of peace with her jittery nerves and anxious stomach.

* * * *

Cynthia ordered a Red Dragon at the bar. She didn't especially like that particular drink but the potion Julianna had given her was also red. It would be harder to notice anything out of the ordinary with the drink.

She thanked the bartender before walking away and hiding in a corner in order to open the bottle and pour the potion into her drink. It fizzled and bubbled before settling down. When she was certain she was ready, she made her way to the restaurant in which Nathan was meeting with the Sevilles.

As she approached their table, she could feel the adrenaline pumping through her body. She smiled when Victor looked up at her.

"Cynthia," he said in surprise, "how lovely to see you."

She forced her most charming smile. "You too."

"What are you doing dear?" Nathan asked, surprised to see her as well.

She tried to remain calm when she saw the contract resting between Nathan's arms. He was holding a quill in his hand as he smiled up at her. She placed her drink on the table, very near the contract.

"Oh, I wanted to stop by and wish you luck," she said sweetly.

"Well, thank you dear."

"I hope you enjoy your lunch," she began as she leaned over to kiss his cheek. While she did this, she slid her hand slightly toward the drink and tipped it over with her hand. "OH NO!" she gasped in mock distress.

Nathan slid quickly out of the way as the red liquid rushed across the table and soaked the white pages of the contract. Gavin cursed. Victor jumped up, and Damien frowned deeply. Cynthia grabbed the nearest napkin and started dabbing the papers.

"I am so sorry, Nathan!"

"Oh, that's alright, honey," he said as he picked up another napkin and began blotting the liquid away. "It's just a little wet. No harm done."

Cynthia was just beginning to think Julianna had been wrong when the words on the page started changing.

"Oh!" she gasped as she looked down. She caught Nathan's eye and his eyes widened as he looked back down.

"What is this?" he questioned immediately.

"It looks like your wife has destroyed the contract with her drink," Victor replied dryly.

"No," Nathan said, and his wife saw the red flush of anger enter his face, "this!" he demanded, holding the contract out so Victor could see exactly what he was talking about.

Upon seeing the altered contract, revealing the truth beneath the layers of false ink and spells, Victor's face paled considerably.

* * * *

Two hours later, Hermione rested her head against her hand and sighed. She'd written out all the information she had acquired while on her pretend vacation. Her boss, Norman Stone, would be pleased. She knew he would. She couldn't wait for the wizarding world to be reintroduced to just how nasty and conniving the Seville clan was--trying to steal a company from a well-respected businessman. Her one regret was how much she genuinely liked the Morgans, and she and Harry had lied to them about their true identities. It made her sad to think she'd never see them again--how could they? They thought she was Julianna Parker, and that she was married to Jonathan.

She stayed at work for another hour before she Flooed back home. Then, she sat up on the couch, waiting for Harry to show up again. At midnight, she fell asleep on the couch with a heavy heart. Harry wasn't coming back.

* * * *

Hermione dragged herself off the couch the next morning when her alarm clock buzzed. She wanted to cry as soon as she woke up enough to realize that Harry hadn't shown back up like he'd said he would. What did that mean? Had he changed his mind about them?

She dressed, had coffee and managed to make herself presentable enough to Floo to work. As soon as she sat down in her desk chair, her office door slammed open.

"Granger!" her boss, Norman, bellowed.

"Yes?" she asked wearily as she glanced at the picture on her desk. Harry smiled happily and waved up at her. She reached out and pushed the picture face down.

"Got the story! Great work. I knew you'd get what I needed."

"Oh," she said in surprise. Norman rarely ever gave compliments.

He gripped the edge of her door as he made the move to shut it. "Oh, and I know I sent you down there on the newspaper's money, but don't you think you spent a bit more than necessary?"

"But--"

"--yeah I thought so. I'll take it out of your next check," he replied before slamming the door.

She dropped her head onto her arms. In another second, her door slammed open again. She lifted her head, knowing she couldn't take another round with Norman, and almost swallowed her tongue. Harry stood in her office, looking sheepish.

"Sorry, didn't mean to burst in without an appointment," he said quickly as he crossed the room.

"That's okay," she said quietly, looking at him with sad eyes.

"And I'm sorry that I didn't Floo over last night. I needed some time," he said, walking around her desk to stand beside her.

"It's okay, Harry. Listen, if you want to forget this ever happened, I completely understand--"

He pressed his fingers to her mouth and dropped down in front of her. He reached into his robes and pulled out a tiny black box. Hermione's heart shuddered in her chest and fell to her feet.

"I needed some time to find the perfect ring," he said, grinning at her and holding up the opened box. "I want you to marry me, Hermione. Pretending to be your husband spoiled me, and I liked it. I want you to be mine...forever."

Hermione's eyes filled with tears. "But...but...are you sure?" she asked, reaching hesitant fingers out toward the box.

Harry laughed. "Of course, I'm sure."

"It's so beautiful," she whispered as she began to smile widely.

"So, what do you say?"

She looked at Harry and immediately threw her arms around his neck. "Yes! Yes! Oh, God, yes!" Harry stood up, lifting Hermione to her feet and holding her close. "I was afraid you'd changed your mind about us," she whispered against his neck, wetting his robes with her tears.

He pulled away from her just enough to look into her eyes. "Never." He touched her face before kissing her. "Let's put this ring on."

"Oh," she said, having momentarily forgetting about it. She held her finger out to him and he slipped it on. "It's perfect."

"And it's real," he winked.

"And we aren't pretending," she teased back.

"That's right," he replied, "and we aren't pretending. Not anymore."

He pulled her into a kiss, and she thought she'd never been happier about anything in her entire life. She broke off the kiss, and before Harry could question why, she picked up her wand and cast a Locking Charm on the door to her office.

She grinned mischievously up at Harry. "Now where were we?"

"Are you sure you've never read my mind before?" he asked, slipping his hands beneath her robes.

"Why?" she asked curiously, giggling when he nipped at her ear.

"Because I always had this fantasy of you, in your office...on your desk."

"Harry!" she said, flushing with embarrassment.

"What? I'm a man. You're a sexy woman. Can you really blame me?" he asked, sliding her robes off her shoulders. She shivered beneath his touches.

"I suppose I should cast a Silencing Charm," she whispered as he lifted her up and sat her on the desk.

"Good idea," he mumbled against her neck.

Hermione moaned as Harry moved his hands against her. When she looked down at her left hand and saw the engagement ring, she smiled in absolute pleasure. She would grant Harry one of his fantasies because he was granting one of hers. She would be Mrs. Harry Potter.