Glimpse of Your Future Husband

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Glimpse of Your Future Husband

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Chapter 2: The Engagement

Hermione felt quite upset as she sat brooding at the window. She didn't even know how this all happened! It was horrible, and she hadn't any idea how to get out of it! Oh, if only her parents hadn't gotten that big surprise for her on her birthday. Yes, that was it; the big surprise.

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Flashback

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"Hermione, dear, I do wish you a happy birthday," Lady Anne said to her daughter sincerely with a happy smile.

"Oh thank you mother. What kind of cake is cook making?"

"Is that very important?"

"Quite! I'm starving!!! You wouldn't want your one and only daughter to starve on her birthday, now would you?"

"No, not at all. But listen here, your father and I have a big surprise for you!"

Hermione viewed her parents skeptically. She did not trust them when they wore those idiotic smiles and used that tone of voice. Oh no, she didn't trust them at all. Something bad was going to happen. She could feel it in her veins.

"You're engaged!"

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End of flashback

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And that was the sad story. Short, yes, but simple? Not at all! A girl just doesn't find out on her birthday that she's engaged to some guy of whom she has never even heard of! It just isn't done! At least, not in Hermione's world. She felt it was quite unfair to her.

"I wonder what made Mum get that idea. And she didn't even explain to me just why she's doing this! It's so--oh, I don't know. It just seems so unreasonable! After all, I'm only fifteen! She could at least wait a few more years! Just like her to do such an idiotic thing. Just like her to tell me _yesterday_ that my fiancé is coming to visit _today_. Isn't that just lovely? I wonder if this happens to everyone!"

Actually, she was quite certain it didn't. Sighing, she wondered what she would do. Having never associated much with men, she had hardly any idea of what she would say to this Mr. Potter, Earl of Gaveston. The title made it all the worse, of course. Her father already had such extreme airs and arrogance, and he's only a viscount! Only to think of what humongous egos an earl can achieve!

"Speaking of egos, I wonder if cook has some hard-boiled eggs in the kitchen. All this thinking is making me rather hungry. I'm sure mum won't mind a little mid-day snack."

*

Harry Potter was not at all pleased with having to spend an entire weekend at some country estate. In a weekend, he can accomplish so much in London that it would indeed be stupid of him not to feel displeased. Or at least, that's his way of thinking at it.

"I do not want to court some little miss three years younger than me. I do not want to spend the rest of my life in the country. I do not want to marry a viscount's daughter. Hell, I don't want to marry anyone! For god's sake, I have a life in London! Why must my silly cousin try to control everything? It's so--well, it's silly!"

It had certainly come as a surprise when one evening, he was called to his cousin's study and told that he was engaged to Hermione Granger, daughter of his grace, the Viscount of GorgeShire.

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Flashback

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"All right, tell me the meaning of this. Why am I engaged, yet I have no memory of proposing to any of my lady friends, or lady enemies, or lady relatives--well, that's just sick, but I suppose one can propose to one's cousin--oh wait, that's not right. No, I shan't ever propose to you, cousin. That wasn't what I meant. Oh yes, I said lady cousin, and you--well, you do somewhat resemble a lady, but that's not the point. Anyhow, why is it that I'm engaged, yet I had no idea I was, and you seem very confident that I am?

His cousin merely lifted an elegant brow at him.

"Why, I've no idea. Do you suppose it's because I have special powers?"

"Powers sent from the devil, most probably," Harry muttered to himself.

"Do you think so? How interesting. I wish I did sometimes. Then maybe I can control the rate at which you drink," the duke said with a sigh.

Harry looked guiltily at his shoe. He didn't want to look this way, but his cousin had the power to make him feel weird.

"Is that why?"

"Why what?"

"Why you had me engaged to the girl?"

"Part of it."

"And the other part?"

"So you can settle down."

"DO I LOOK FIFTY YEARS OLD OR SOMETHING? Why would I want to settle down? I'm only eighteen. Besides, you're twenty three, for goodness's sake. Look at yourself. All widowed and--"

"Shut up."

"I won't! Now I wonder why your wife died...wonder if you're so cold and--"

"That's enough," the duke said softly.

Harry shut up.

"Fine. What do you want me to do?"

"Marry her. I thought I made that quite clear."

"But...but!!!"

"No excuses. You're going this weekend."

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End of flashback

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"Now I really do wonder why Pansy died. Man, living with a guy like Draco--even I can't take it for long."

Finally spotting a mansion through the trees, Harry gave a boyish grin. A day of riding hadn't done him much good, and now he was dying for some good food.

"Whatever the case, I hope they have good cooks."

*

"Whatever the case, I hope they have good cooks."

Lady Anne gave her daughter a worried gaze. Yes, Hermione was pretty enough with her shiny brown locks and mysterious blue eyes, but this food obsession is really becoming a problem!

"You won't mention anything like this in front of the Earl."

"I know, Mum. Say, is that a horse I hear?"

Indeed it was. Harry had finally managed to reach the Granger estates and was presently knocking non-too-softly on the door.

"Yes, may I have your name, sir?" the butler asked.

"For goodness's sake, it's Potter. Let me in!"

Hardly had the butler unlocked the door when Harry pushed his way into the house. His black hair was tousled and messy, and under his eyes were heavy black bags. Watching behind the staircase, Hermione thought him quite rude and ugly.

"All right, where's the food?"

At this moment, Lady Anne strolled into the room gracefully and smiled on the young earl.

"Dinner is all set on the table. It might be a little cold, but--"

Harry cut her off with a curt nod and motioned for her to lead to the table. Hermione ducked behind the staircase and slipped into a little hidden room.

"Really, how discourteous he is. I know I shouldn't, but treating mother thus! I'll show him!"

And in saying so she opened a trunk with a wide grin.

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End of Chapter 2

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