Chapter 1.
Ginny sat at her dressing table angrily glaring at her reflection in the merrier. Her bright red hair hung loosely down her back and her eyes were flashing. She sighed heavily as she thought about her parents. Why did they have to be so irritating? All she had asked to do was go for a walk into town, and they said no. She so longed for a normal life. Every day had always been the same lessons, lessons, lessons. She wanted something different, something more.
After slapping her hand on the table she stood up abruptly. She would go anyways. Storming over to her wardrobe she swung open the door and pulled out a deep blue cloak. After slipping it on she walked over to her bed and ripped the sheets off. Tying them tightly together she threw them out one of the grand windows against the wall. As she was sticking her leg out the bedroom door swung open.
"Princess? What on earth are you doing?" Her maid Hermione dashed into the room dropping the freshly pressed linens to the ground. Running to the princess she pulled her back in.
"O my lady, where were you planning on going?" Hermione asked as she stuck her head out the window. Ginny could see she was trying extremely hard not to smile. Turning her back on the servant she sharply replied, "Into town." She glanced out the window. "I wanted to see what it was like." Hearing this Hermione did have to crack a smile.
"Well princess, its nothing much." She dipped a small curtsy then bent to pick up the fallen laundry.
"To you it might not seem like much, but its everything to me." Sighing she flopped into the feather settee by the far window.
Moving over to the bed Hermione began to remake it. "I know you long to go but you must try safer methods first."
"I did but my parents already said no." Hermione yanked at the soft cover to get all the wrinkles out.
"Well in that case," She walked over to the moping princess and held out her white-gloved hand. "Come with me." The princess glanced up questioningly at the servant girl but took the friendly hand anyways. Hermione pulled her to the door and through the winding corridors of the bright castle. The large windows let sunlight poor in. It reached every corner of the light stonewalls.
After climbing a small winding staircase they came to a stop in front of a wooden door. Letting go of the princesses hand Hermione pushed it open. Ginny's eyes fell on a tiny round room with nothing but an old brass bed, a large wooden chest at the foot of it and a small sliver of a window.
"Is this your room?"
Hermione nodded in reply and stepped into the room. Walking over to the wooden chest she lifted the lid. Inside were two dresses. The one the servant girl pulled out was identical to the one she wore. It was white with blue flower buds embroidered onto it and lace around the deep neckline.
She handed it to the princess. "Here put this on." Without question Ginny slipped into the dress. It fit her perfectly and reached just an inch off the ground. When Hermione was finished lacing up the back she went over to the chest and pulled out a small blue apron, white gloves, and a lace white cap. As Hermione was helping Ginny fit her hair in the cap the princess asked,
"What is dressing me up like this going to accomplish?"
"No one will recognize you they'll just think your another maid from the palace." Hermione replied smiling. The princess spun around abruptly and leapt to her feet, her hair falling down to her shoulders.
"O Hermione! Thank you!" Ginny gave Hermione a tight hug and both girls began to laugh.
After all of the fire red hair was in place both girls ran down the stairs and through the hallways trying to keep the respectable pace of a lady. As they passed through the steaming kitchens they both grabbed a basket and continued through the open door into the courtyard. Sunlight hit their faces and made their smiles grow.
Ginny's bright hair was tucked away in a cap while Hermione's hang loosely to her shoulders only covered by a small lace oval at the top of her head. Her curls bounced as they ran. Every royal from the kingdom was known to have bright red hair so keeping it tucked away was the only safe way to get past the guards. Both girls' hearts began to pound as they reached the castle gates. A silver clad guard stopped them when they neared the grand archway.
"Where are you maids going?" His eyes rested on Hermione directing the question at her.
She swallowed deeply then responded, "We're going into town sir. Cook asked us to run and fetch some eggs" Ginny's eyes were cast down while Hermione's were sharply looking back at the guard. He stepped over so he was standing in front of Ginny. A peace of Ginny's hair had fallen loose while they had been running. His armored hand reached up to her forehead and touched the strands of hair. He breathed out slowly.
"Very well, you may pass." He stepped aside and both girls quickly set off for the nearby town.
The rolling green hills rose around them as they strolled down the dirt path. They silently walked listening to the sounds of nature swinging their baskets back and forth. Birds sang from the trees that popped up along the pathway and the wind brushed through the leaves. The busy town grew closer and closer while the great castle was left farther behind
As they walked on, the smell of fresh bread wafted towards them filling their noses with the warm smell making them quicken their pace. Ginny's face turned to face the servant's.
"Thank you, so much for doing this for me." Hermione smiled softly at the princess and said, "I'm glad you could come with me, going into town alone can be very lonely." Both girls walked on enjoying each other's company. They reached the town moments later and froze at the start of the cobble stone street. The warmth of the town filled them from head to toe.
The street carts were covered in fresh bread and vegetables. All the shops were busy and the customers glided swiftly from stop to stop.
"We need to go and buy those eggs. The guard might get suspicious if we come back empty handed." Hermione pointed to a blue wooden cart in front of a pretty little store. Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her through the crowd toward the cart.
A portly old man sat at the side of the cart reading a thin leather book. He looked up when the two girls stopped in front of him.
"Ah, maids from the palace. I expect you will be needing quite a few eggs?"
"No sir, we only need a dozen." Hermione said handing the man her basket. He glanced up at them questioningly but picked out the ones that shinned the brightest. After wrapping them up in paper he handed the basket back to her.
"Thank you." Both girls curtsied and began to turn away when someone caught Ginny's eye. A tall boy with messy black hair was walking into the store behind the cart.
"Wait," Ginny placed her hand on Hermione's arm. "I saw something in the store window. May we go look?" Without waiting for a response the princess stepped over to the door and slipped through. Beautiful satin slippers were placed all around the room. The nicer ones in the window winked in the sunlight. Ginny glanced over at the boy. He was standing in front of a glass cabinet looking at a pair of white slippers with pink lace. She slowly inched her way over so she was standing next to him. She stood there in silence just looking at the slippers. Had he noticed her come closer? She hoped he had.
"What do you think of them? They're pretty aren't they?" He spoke in a kind voice. "I came to buy them for my sister." He turned his head and smiled. Looking kindly at the princess in disguise.
"Oh," She smiled in return, blushing slightly. "They are very lovely. I'm sure she will love them." As she finished talking he took up her hand. Bringing it up to his mouth he placed a soft kiss on the gloved fingers.
"My name is Harry, I'm delighted to meet you." An even fiercer blush was threatening to creep up onto her cheeks and her heart was pounding heavily. Deep breaths Ginny, deep breathes.
"I'm…I'm…my name is, Gi—Gwen." She felt terrible for lying about her name, but he would surely recognize her if she told him the truth. She curtsied after the introduction. His smile was sweet and his eyes made her knees weak, hopefully she wouldn't fall. The bell on the door tinkled and Hermione stepped in. After spotting Ginny she walked over and touched her shoulder.
"We must go. It's starting to get dark." Had they really been gone that long? It hadn't seemed like much time had passed at all.
"Well it's very nice to meet you Gwen." He let her hand drop and stepped away, smiling all the while. Not wanting to leave, Ginny followed her new friend out of the store and onto the street. The sun was beginning to set over the hills they had walked through earlier and the lights in the castle were beginning to be lit. Hermione turned to the princess and said,
"They will be closing the gates soon, we must hurry." At this both girls scooped up their skirts and ran heading for the narrow dirt path leading to the palace.
